STBS 05

Chapter 05

“W-what did you just say?”

“I said you’re not worthy of your titles. Are you deaf?”

“You, you filthy worms!”

The Anhui Twin Fiends flew into a rage and charged at Namgung Hyeok.

“Hoyeong. Take the one on the left. I’ll handle the one on the right.”

“Haha, got it!”

Hoyeong laughed heartily and swung his massive demon-slaying blade in a wide arc.

Startled, the charging Twin Fiends quickly retreated a step to evade the attack.

In that opening, Namgung Hyeok immediately swung his sword toward the man on the right.

Clang!

A metallic roar echoed across the battlefield.

“What the—?!”

The Right Fiend of the Anhui Twin Fiends was shocked by the immense pressure radiating from his hand.

Just one clash—and his skin had already split, blood spilling out.

If things had gone slightly worse, he might have dropped his sword entirely.

Gritting his teeth, he forced Namgung Hyeok back.

A reddish sword aura gathered around his blade.

“You bastard! So you’ve got some skill after al—”

Whoosh!

But his words were cut short.

Flames erupted violently from Namgung Hyeok’s sword.

The Right Fiend stared, mouth agape.

It was clearly sword energy—but the difference between theirs was overwhelming.

“W-wait!”

Screeech—BOOM!

A shockwave far greater than before exploded outward.

If he hadn’t manifested sword aura, his blade would have been cut in half or shattered outright.

‘What kind of monster is this…!’

Cold sweat pouring down, the Right Fiend stepped back.

In that opening, Namgung Hyeok’s thrust pierced his shoulder.

“Aaaagh!”

The man screamed.

Flames burst from the wound, intensifying the pain.

He twisted his body desperately to pull the sword out, but the more he struggled, the deeper the wound became.

“P-please… spare me…”

Slash!

His words were cut off.

Namgung Hyeok pulled the sword free—and in the same motion, severed his neck.

“Urgh-ha!”

At nearly the same time, Hoyeong’s blade cleaved the Left Fiend diagonally.

The Left Fiend died without even a scream.

The infamous Anhui Twin Fiends—destroyed in an instant.

“Wooooaaahhh!!”

“The Third Young Master defeated the Anhui Twin Fiends!”

The morale of the Namgung Family’s Huainan branch skyrocketed.

Even in the dark dawn, the flames from Namgung Hyeok’s sword were clearly visible.

“W-what the hell is this!”

And the same sight was seen clearly by the Golden Star Sect.

Jeon Ilsang, who had just arrived with his men, widened his eyes in shock.

The Anhui Twin Fiends were top-tier experts even he would struggle against.

Yet they had been killed without exchanging even a few moves.

That meant if he fought, the result would likely be the same.

“Damn it! Everyone, hold them back!”

Jeon Ilsang shouted, planning to use his subordinates as sacrifices to escape.

But—

“Ugh…”

“If we fight, we’ll die…”

The Golden Star Sect warriors hesitated.

They had already realized: charging meant death. So they refused to move.

But the Huainan branch did not hesitate.

“Push forward!”

Namgung Hyeok seized the opportunity.

Huainan forces swarmed the terrified enemies, who either surrendered or fled in panic.

“You bastards! I said stop them! What are you doing?!”

Jeon Ilsang slashed at his fleeing men in rage.

But nothing changed—they simply ran past him.

“Damn it!”

In the end, he abandoned the plan of using his men as shields and fled.

But before he could even take a few steps—

Screeeech!

“…!”

BOOM!

He barely managed to block the terrifying strike that tore through the air.

The impact forced him several steps back as he coughed up blood.

“Cough!”

A single blow had caused internal injury.

And there, standing before him, was Namgung Hyeok.

“Everyone else might be spared—but you won’t escape.”

“You bastard! Do you think you’ll survive after laying a hand on me?! Don’t come closer!”

“Oh? Sounds like you’ve got backing.”

“The Heretic Alliance will not stay silent! If they send their experts, your declining Namgung Family is finished!”

Perhaps because death was so close, Jeon Ilsang began spilling secrets he should never have revealed.

Namgung Hyeok smirked.

So that’s where the backing was.

“The Heretic Alliance… so that’s your support.”

“I-I told you! So hurry and—”

He couldn’t finish.

Namgung Hyeok’s sword lunged for his neck.

“Ghk!”

Jeon Ilsang barely deflected it.

But he could not block the heat imbued within the strike. His skin burned as he staggered back.

Follow-up slashes rained down.

Whoosh! Slash!

“Graaagh!”

Finally, a finishing blow took his life.

Jeon Ilsang collapsed, clutching his bleeding neck.

Namgung Hyeok raised his burning sword and shouted with inner force:

“I have taken the enemy commander’s head!”

“Wooooooaaaaahhhh!!”

A thunderous cheer erupted.

Morale surged sky-high for allies, while enemy morale collapsed entirely.

At that point, the outcome was decided.

The Golden Star Sect was completely overrun by the Huainan branch.

A flawless victory.

* * *

The Namgung Family was thrown into chaos upon hearing the news.

They had already been shocked when they learned the Third Young Master had departed alone with only one subordinate.

But within a day, a victory report arrived that left them stunned.

The Huainan branch leader’s letter was filled with praise for Namgung Hyeok.

“What exactly happened?”

“He made flames erupt from his sword?”

“He turned the tide of battle with just two people?”

“That’s impossible…”

At first, no one believed it.

But then another message arrived the next day.

This time, it reported that Namgung Hyeok and the Huainan branch had conquered the Golden Star Sect.

Even more shocking—he had killed Jeon Ilsang, the sect leader, along with the Anhui Twin Fiends.

And they had even discovered that the Heretic Alliance was behind everything.

It was an unbelievable achievement.

So when Namgung Hyeok returned, he was met with an enormous welcome.

“Woooooahhh!”

“The Third Young Master has returned!”

“Welcome back!”

Namgung Hyeok looked at the crowd silently.

Beside him, Hoyeong laughed.

“Feels like the battlefield again, doesn’t it, Commander? Same thing back then—returning after a mission and being welcomed like this.”

“Yes. But there were also those who did not welcome us.”

At the end of Namgung Hyeok’s gaze stood Namgung Jangcheon and his faction.

Their expressions were complicated.

They clearly hadn’t expected him to achieve such great merit.

“I’m back, Uncle.”

Namgung Hyeok spoke calmly.

Jangcheon quickly composed himself and nodded.

“You’ve done well. You’ve worked hard. You’re not injured?”

“I’m fine. Has anything happened to the family?”

“No. Though the Huainan branch leader mentioned you used a rather unusual martial art not from our family…”

“I learned it on the battlefield.”

“May I see it?”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, Namgung Hyeok drew his sword.

Clang.

The blade shone under the sunlight.

And then—

Whoosh!

Flames engulfed the blade.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

The burning sword left a powerful impression on all who saw it.

“W-what is the name of that martial art?”

Even Namgung Jangcheon looked unsettled.

Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly as he sheathed his sword.

“Holy Flame Supreme Sword Technique (Seonghwa Mugeuk Sword). It is not an evil art, so you may rest assured.”

“Seonghwa Mugeuk Sword…”

The name was repeated softly by someone in the crowd.

It was etched into the minds of the Namgung Family.

“Shall we go inside now?”

“Yes. You must be tired—we’ve kept you too long.”

Jangcheon stepped aside.

Namgung Hyeok and Hoyeong entered the Namgung estate with confident strides.

* * *

The first person they visited after handing over their horses was Namgung Cheon.

“You’re back. You weren’t injured, were you?”

Namgung Cheon greeted his younger brother warmly.

Namgung Hyeok nodded slightly with a faint smile.

“I returned safely, brother.”

“I heard you accomplished great merit. I’m proud of you.”

Tears welled at the corners of Namgung Cheon’s eyes.

“No one in the main family will be able to ignore you anymore. Hyeok, you’ve truly suffered.”

He remembered how Namgung Hyeok had been ten years ago—completely alone, with no one on his side except him.

But now, everything had changed.

Then he turned to Hoyeong.

“Thank you as well for helping Hyeok.”

“Haha, I simply did what I was bound to do as someone who followed the Commander from the north. No need to be so formal.”

Hoyeong laughed.

Namgung Hyeok looked at them softly, then spoke.

“Brother. How is your condition?”

“I’ve improved greatly thanks to you. Soon I may even be able to resume training.”

“Do not push yourself. If you start training now, it will draw attention.”

“Attention?”

“Our uncle.”

“….”

At those words, Namgung Cheon’s expression darkened.

“He is seriously aiming for the position of clan head. You are an obstacle to him. If you start training again, he will act openly against you.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? I can’t stop training forever…”

Namgung Cheon trailed off helplessly.

Namgung Hyeok responded calmly.

“For now, I will draw his attention to me. And at the same time, I will expand both our influence.”

“Expand our influence? How?”

“Like this.”

His expression turned serious.

“I intend to form a private armed force within the clan—one that follows only us.”

At those words, Namgung Cheon’s eyes widened in shock.