TL: FoodieMonster007
Translator’s Note: Vice Sect Leader has been changed to Underboss for accuracy.
WHOOSH!
A sharp slice of sword qi cut through the air, severing more than half of the Underboss’s thick beard. Luckily, he had been on the run for so long that he never let his martial arts training slip, especially his footwork. Dodging just in ti, he avoided the full force of the attack, though the razor-sharp energy grazed his neck.
Blood trickled down, staining the remnants of his beard red.
Panicking, the Underboss staggered back, retreating with all his might. “Stop him! Throw the nets!” he roared.
Over a dozen steel nets and ropes, tied at the ends like nooses, flew toward Dokgo Jun, montarily blotting out the sky.
“You lot… You don’t deserve to live,” Dokgo Jun snarled through clenched teeth. The fury in his eyes burning brighter than ever, he advanced, charging straight at the incoming nets and nooses.
Lately, while patrolling the slums, he had seen too much. The streets were filthy and slly, and people barely survived day to day. He had always known such things existed, but to see it with his own eyes was different. It was raw, heart-wrenching.
“Why are you so eager to tornt good people?”
Every ti he witnessed the atrocities committed by the Scarlet Tiger Gang, every ti he heard the tearful pleas of the wronged, every ti he saw the blank, skyward stares of children abandoned in the streets, Dokgo Jun had to fight down the urge to kill.
“A martial artist must always remain calm.”
“You are the prodigy of the murim. Carry yourself with dignity, and be cautious of anything that might tarnish your reputation.”
“Never bring sha to the family na by acting recklessly!”
These teachings had been drilled into him by the elders of the Dokgo Clan. As their prodigy, Dokgo Jun was expected to be rational, discerning, and careful in both word and deed. His father, in particular, was strict on this point.
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“Jun, so people look down on our clan because we were founded by freelancers. They underestimate our martial arts, thinking it’s crude and simple. Never let them look down on you.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Good. I trust you. We may be going through so tough tis now, but in your generation, we will rise again as the world’s strongest clan.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Haha, what a fine young man you are. That puts my heart at ease!”
“……”
Dokgo Jun believed in his father and the elders. He believed in the Nine Swords of Dokgo, which they had refined and perfected. Trusting that he would one day grasp the true essence of this sword art, he had practiced diligently. Now, however, the swordsmanship he had worked so hard to master felt stifling.
This is so frustrating.
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He had been playing with a sword since he could walk, but never before had he felt such frustration. He didn’t want to swing his sword like this. He wanted to pour all his strength and focus into a single strike.
A fierce battle raged within him, between his impulsive thoughts and the teachings of his family. The steel nets and nooses were closing in on him.
Biting his lip, Dokgo Jun made a decision.
“I won’t hold back any longer.”
With a single slash, he unleashed all the pent-up anger he had been holding back.
ROAAAAR!
In a single slash, the dozens of nets that had darkened the sky were sliced in half, as if the heavens themselves had parted.
Stunned speechless, the n who had thrown the nets stood staring, their mouths hanging open.
“Ha… Haha…” Dokgo Jun laughed, staring blankly at his sword amid the chaos. “So this is… the Nine Swords of Dokgo…”
Suddenly, he felt a spark ignite in his mind, but it was only a small piece of the puzzle.
Just a little more. If I swing my sword just a little more, I think I’ll be able to understand it completely!
Fortunately, there were plenty of enemies in front of him to help with that.
“More… I need more…” he muttered to himself, charging at the terrified foes.
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WHOOSH!
Two heads flew off in an instant. Without a mont’s hesitation, Dokgo Jun dodged a spear thrust from the side, spun halfway around, and slashed through another thug’s waist.
SPLATTER!
Blood soaked his martial arts uniform and hot droplets splashed against his cheek.
These were his first kills. Under normal circumstances, he might have been petrified with shock, but now he was in a trance. With eyes as cold as ice, he searched for his next target.
Sensing an enemy approaching from behind, Dokgo Jun spun around.
“Die!” a high-ranking lieutenant of the Scarlet Tiger Gang shouted, swinging a massive broadsword several tis larger than Dokgo Jun’s blade.
Though the sheer weight behind the attack was formidable, the technique was crude. There was no need to confront it head-on. Even so, Dokgo Jun didn’t want to evade or parry. Instead, he t it with a powerful strike.
CRACK!
The broadsword snapped in two. Startled, the thug dropped the broken sword and stumbled backwards.
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Seizing the opportunity, Dokgo Jun closed in and drove his sword into the man’s heart. Without missing a beat, he retrieved his blade and swung it at the next adversary.
SMASH! CLANG! SPLAT!
Wielding his sword as if possessed, Dokgo Jun shattered the weapons of every opponent who crossed his path.
“More… Just a little more…” he mumbled desperately, searching for more enemies to strike.
Though he had seen no progress for months, all those grueling hours of training had not been in vain. The experience allowed him to quickly internalize his newfound insights.
He rampaged like a wolf among sheep.
“What the hell? Is he really poisoned?”
“How are we supposed to fight soone like that?”
“Aaagh! My arm!”
At first, the Scarlet Tiger Gang mbers fought bravely, but fear soon overwheld them, and they began to retreat.
Hiding behind his subordinates, the Underboss shouted furiously, “He’s poisoned! He can’t hold out much longer, so just buy ti! Anyone who runs will die by my hand!”
The Underboss wasn’t entirely wrong. As ti passed, Dokgo Jun’s movents began to falter. He had suppressed the poison with his inner qi, but the more he exerted himself, the faster it spread.
Suddenly, his vision beca blurry, and his sword arm trembled.
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“Ugh…” he groaned, blearily raising his blade to et his enemy’s weapon.
CLANG!
…And for the first ti since the battle began, he failed to break it.
Dokgo Jun frowned. “Fuck…” he started, then caught himself.
Did I just swear? Must be Hyonwon Kang’s fault… How is he doing?
Worried, Dokgo Jun turned around to check on Hyonwon Kang. Since he had less inner qi, it would be much harder for the delinquent to endure the poison.
Fortunately, Hyonwon Kang was standing, unhard, next to the unconscious woman.
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Who is that with him?
A tall man stood beside Hyonwon Kang, hands clasped behind his back. Unfortunately, it was too dark, and Dokgo Jun’s vision too blurred from the poison to make out the man’s face.
Just then, Hyonwon Kang shouted in panic, “Idiot! Behind you!”
“So, you think you can underestimate us, huh?” a voice filled with killing intent rang out from behind Dokgo Jun.
“Ugh!!” Dokgo Jun barely managed to block the surprise attack, stumbling backward several steps from the force. This attack carried far more qi than any he had faced until now.
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The Underboss of the Scarlet Tiger Gang and a bald giant stepped forward.
Licking his blade, the Underboss sneered, “You did this to my n? I’m going to at least take an arm off to settle the score.”
“Hyung-nim, let’s just kill him.”
“Child, if you kneel, I won’t kill you. You don’t really think you can beat us in that state, do you?”
“I am not a child,” Dokgo Jun said, wiping the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. Right now, his appearance was pitiful. He was panting heavily from fighting against many foes while poisoned, and although he had no serious injuries, his body was covered with nurous cuts.
Still, he had no intention of compromising or backing down. Retreating against thugs was not an option for soone who represented the Azure Dragon Academy.
Standing tall, Dokgo Jun raised his sword, aiming it directly at the Underboss’s forehead. Despite his exhaustion, his blade did not waver as he declared, “I am the Student Council President of the Azure Dragon Academy…”
The Underboss gulped. For a mont, Dokgo Jun’s slender sword seed more massive than any broadsword. How does a dying brat have such presence?
Taking a mont to catch his breath, Dokgo Jun continued, “I am the Sword Dragon Dokgo Jun!”
The Sword Dragon’s blade began to dance once more.
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