Ak Bi, the Spear King of the Ten Supremes, was killed in a duel to the death. Furthermore, he had not fallen to the Blood Cult, but was slain by a son of the Namgung Clan, who sent his head flying with a single swing of his sword in front of hundreds of witnesses.
Her statement dragged the honor of their patriarch, a member of the Ten Supremes, and their entire clan through the mud.
""Gulp...""
The crowd held their breath, cautiously observing the situation. Even after the fight ended, no one dared to speak, as if the domain of the Royal Sword Style had expanded to a radius of hundreds of meters. Only after some time did they begin to murmur to themselves.
"I-I can't believe what I just saw. To overwhelm the Spear King so completely..."
"Was that really the Spear King who was beheaded?"
"After seeing a battle that shook the world, you still want to deny it? Who else could wield a spear like that?!"
The two peerless masters had engaged in a world-shaking battle, forcing most to watch from afar, and with the fight against the Blood Cult still raging, hardly anyone could hear each other.
"But the severed head that arrived this morning was definitely..."
"These are chaotic times. Two of the Ten Supremes dead in less than a year..."
"It's more accurate to say one was replaced. The Thunder God of the Namgung Clan has ascended as a new Ten Supreme."
"Was that really the Spear King who was beheaded?"
"Despite their recent tragedy, the Namgung Clan is still the Namgung Clan. To think they produced another peerless master so soon after losing one..."
Everyone was stunned. The two peerless masters had engaged in a world-shaking battle, forcing most to watch from afar, and with the fight against the Blood Cult still raging, hardly anyone could hear each other. Even so, the image of Ak Bi's head flying as he knelt was seared into their memory. They would not forget the sight of Namgung Su beheading him as if executing a traitor.
Even so, the image of Ak Bi's head flying as he knelt was seared into their memory. They would not forget the sight of Namgung Su beheading him as if executing a traitor.
Namgung Su gazed for a moment at Ak Bi's agonized face, then lifted his head.
[Are you all right?] the Divine Azure Dragon Sword asked concernedly.
Namgung Su nodded slightly. He appeared unharmed, but his internal injuries were severe. He had pushed himself considerably to end the fight quickly.
[Shouldn't you ask your comrades to stand guard while you circulate your energy?]
Ak Yeonhwa's eyes sparkled. She instinctively realized this was the secret passage Ak Bi had mentioned. "Where's that place, Uncle?"
Namgung Su shook his head. "...I don't think there's time for that."
I'm used to this level of pain, anyway.
Namgung Su nodded, and the three of them went to find Ak Jinheon.
He masked his pale complexion with a stoic expression and surveyed his surroundings. Most martial artists who met his gaze looked away, but not everyone regarded the new Ten Supreme with awe.
"Patriarch...!"
The atmosphere among the Ak Clan martial artists was particularly tense. Many glared at him, their faces filled with rage and hostility. Only fear of his formidable strength held them back.
Namgung Su steeled his heart.
I was prepared for this.
Killing the patriarch of a murim family naturally incurred the resentment of its members, and grudges in the jianghu were not to be taken lightly. Still, it had to be done, and he was confident he could endure the consequences. In fact, had he let Ak Bi live, the man would have stirred up more trouble with his silver tongue. He had no choice but to nip the potential threat in the bud.
Supporting the heavily injured Ak Yeonho, Ak Yeonhwa glanced at her clan's martial artists, then turned to Namgung Su. "Our Patriarch went mad after being captured and subjected to the Blood Cult's evil arts."
He scanned his surroundings, tightened his grip on his sword's hilt, and began, "If you have a problem with me..."
"Listen well, Ak Clan!" a grief-stricken cry rang out.
To save as much time as possible, Namgung Su decided to search for the secret passage with them.
Everyone's attention shifted from Namgung Su to the Young Lady of the Shandong Ak Clan.
Supporting the heavily injured Ak Yeonho, Ak Yeonhwa glanced at her clan's martial artists, then turned to Namgung Su. "Our Patriarch went mad after being captured and subjected to the Blood Cult's evil arts."
"...!" A shock greater than when their patriarch's head had fallen spread through the Ak Clan martial artists.
[Master Namgung, please let me take care of this,] Ak Yeonhwa communicated.
Even after the fight ended, no one dared to speak, as if the domain of the Royal Sword Style had expanded to a radius of hundreds of meters.
Namgung Su remained silent in acknowledgment, neither confirming nor denying the claim.
Ak Yeonhwa continued, "Our Patriarch couldn't even recognize his own flesh and blood and tried to kill me. If Master Namgung hadn't arrived in time, Yeonho and I would have lost our lives."
The Ak Clan martial artists fell into great confusion. Why was the Young Lady, who should have been the most furious about her father's death, defending Namgung Su?
"N-Noonim?" Startled, Ak Yeonho stared at her, his eyes asking why she was telling such a lie. Her statement dragged the honor of their patriarch, a member of the Ten Supremes, and their entire clan through the mud.
This is the best way, Ak Yeonhwa conveyed with her eyes, before taking a deep breath to compose herself. Gathering her resolve, she explained, "In his final moments, the Patriarch briefly regained his sanity due to terminal lucidity. He wished to die an honorable death as a martial artist, not become a puppet of the Blood Cult. That is why he personally asked Master Namgung to behead him. I heard it all myself."
The martial artists of the Ak Clan felt their strength drain away, leaving behind only a burning hatred for the Blood Cult.
"How dare those Blood Cult bastards..."
"Unforgivable!"
Ak Yeonhwa commanded the Ak Clan, "Martial artists of the Ak Clan, aim your spears not at our clan's benefactor, but at our true enemy!"
""RAAAAHHHH!""
The battle resumed.
Amidst the sporadic fighting, Namgung Su approached Ak Yeonho, who Ak Yeonhwa was supporting.
Ak Yeonho forced a smile. "Hyung-nim..."
"How are your injuries?"
Many glared at him, their faces filled with rage and hostility.
"It's nothing a little rest won't fix."
For a moment, Namgung Su frowned, but soon nodded. He did not believe Ak Yeonho's boast, but shouts and screams were erupting from all directions. He couldn't afford to focus only on his colleague. "You can rest now. I'll take care of the rest."
"Wait, Master Namgung! There's something you should know," Ak Yeonhwa called out, then lowered her voice as much as possible. "I've been told there's a secret passage out of the canyon."
"...Please explain in detail."
Ak Yeonhwa candidly relayed the story she had heard from Ak Bi, that a secret passage existed somewhere within the canyon. If they could find it, they could safely evacuate the injured and the students from the battlefield.
After hearing the story, Namgung Su nodded. "Is there anyone who might know about this secret passage? Ak Bi couldn't have built it alone..."
"Uhm... Ah!" A face suddenly came to Ak Yeonhwa's mind. "Uncle Jinheon might know."
Ak Yeonhwa commanded the Ak Clan, "Martial artists of the Ak Clan, aim your spears not at our clan's benefactor, but at our true enemy!"
Ak Yeonho tilted his head. "My father?"