[Chapter 40]
"Father."
"Come in."
Yeon Hojeong entered the master's room.
Thud.
As soon as Yeon Hojeong stepped in, a thick smell of sweat vibrated.
Yeon Wi's eyes shone.
"Were you training?"
"I'm fine. I was thinking of stopping around now."
Yeon Wi scanned Yeon Hojeong's body from top to bottom.
He was wearing a tight-fitting martial uniform instead of the usual robe. The sweat-soaked uniform revealed his body curves.
'He's grown.'
Yeon Hojeong's body had changed beyond recognition.
His long legs had swelled up moderately and became solid like iron pillars. He still had a slender physique, but his shoulders, chest, and arms were much firmer than before, and his muscles were more defined.
It was hard to believe that this was the result of only a few months. It was thanks to the extreme training, the adequate nutrition, the proper rest, and the inner power that enabled super recovery.
Of course, it was easier said than done. Anyone would have a hard time doing such training, which could make them collapse. It meant that he had an extraordinary willpower.
"I remember you were even thinner a couple of months ago."
"I thought I was going to die."
"That's why I didn't stop you."
"Do you think I would have grown this much if I listened to you?"
In fact, the father and son had seen each other for the first time in almost eighty days. It was because Yeon Wi deliberately didn't call Yeon Hojeong.
No matter what, he didn't even show his face once. He was a tough guy, even though he was his son.
"It seems like you have established some system."
"Yes. I think it's time to make some changes."
Yeon Wi turned his eyes to the documents and said,
"Sometimes, stop by and have a cup of tea."
Yeon Hojeong smiled and answered.
"I will."
"Sit down."
"Yes."
Yeon Hojeong sat down and asked.
"What did you call me for?"
Did he have to call him only when he had something to say?
He felt that way, but he actually had something to tell him. Yeon Wi quickly reviewed a few documents and handed him a letter.
"It came for you."
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head. Did he have any letter for him?
'Huh?'
He remembered there was one place.
Yeon Hojeong hastily opened the letter. Soon, his eyes sparkled.
Give me the reward, you thief.
He almost burst into laughter as soon as he read the first sentence.
Damn it! I thought I could finish the investigation quickly, but it was much harder than I expected. You knew it, right? Yeah, you knew it. F**k, I wasted a lot of money by doing you a favor.
What do you mean by money to a beggar? This guy seemed to forget that he was a loser.
Anyway, I've done most of the investigation. I was going to visit you in a couple of months, but I'm sorry for being late. I'll be there in a fortnight, so prepare some delicious food. I'll make a scene if you don't satisfy my taste.
He was talking like this, so he must have suffered a lot.
But Yeon Hojeong knew. The fruit was bigger as the process was harder.
'The investigation is over.'
He could have sent the results by letter, but he came to tell him in person.
'It's either one of two things. He had to keep it secret, or the content was too massive. Or maybe both.'
Yeon Hojeong's eyes deepened.
'In a fortnight… It might be a bit tight.'
If Gadeuksang had brought enough information, it was time for Yeon Hojeong to move.
He had to prepare his body as much as possible until then. He never knew when something would happen in the martial world. He had to grow at least one more step than now.
"There's a name, Gadeuksang on the letter."
Yeon Hojeong looked at Yeon Wi.
Yeon Wi still had his eyes on the documents and asked.
"Is he a loser of Gae Bang?"
"Yes."
"When did you make a connection with him?"
"I made it at the banquet."
A smile appeared on Yeon Wi's lips. It was so faint that he couldn't even tell if it was a smile.
"You did well."
Yeon Wi knew how the young people looked at Gae Bang. But seeing that he sent a letter, he seemed to have built a good relationship.
"Gae Bang is mentioned along with Gudae Munpa. It's very important to maintain a good relationship with the successor of such a faction."
"I don't have to approach him like that. He's a good person."
"Of course he is. Who else would put up with your harsh personality and head?"
Yeon Hojeong coughed.
"Anyway, he said he would come in a fortnight. I hope you welcome him as a guest."
"He's the successor of Siman Gae Bang. Not to mention he's your friend. Of course he's welcome."
Yeon Hojeong put the letter in his chest.
Yeon Wi didn't ask about the content of the letter. He thought there was a reason why his son didn't tell him.
"Then I'll go…"
"Are you going to end your training there today?"
"Yes? Oh, yes."
Yeon Wi got up from his seat.
He was looking at the documents until the end, but he seemed to have something awkward to say. He took off the robe he was wearing.
"Follow me."
Behind the master's room.
It was the place he visited when he transformed the Biyeon Simbeop into Byeokra Jingi.
'I felt it then, but it's very nice.'
The state of the training hall was good, but it was also nice that it wasn't messy.
Yeon Wi stood in the center of the training hall and asked with his back bent.
"Are you still practicing Changbong Sul?"
"Yes."
Yeon Wi pointed to the weapon rack with his hand.
"Pick one."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes shone.
Pick a weapon? There was only one thing that meant.
'Are you going to spar with me?'
He felt his heart pounding for a moment.
He had never sparred with his father. He had a memory of being taught by his father when he was very young, but it was only a painful memory.
Yeon Hojeong went to the rack and looked around for a few spears.
"Are you serious?"
"What do you mean?"
"Will you look at me seriously?"
Yeon Wi's eyes shone.
"If I wasn't, would I have called you?"
As soon as he said that, Yeon Hojeong picked up a spear.
It wasn't just a long spear. It was a long weapon with crescent-shaped blades on both sides of the long spearhead, the Fangtian Ji.
'Nice.'
The spear was made of iron from the shaft to the blade, and it was very heavy. Yeon Hojeong swung the Fangtian Ji around and smiled with satisfaction.
"Then I'll use this."
"Did you also practice Jidao Sul?"
"It's an extension of Changbong Sul. I think this is the best for now."
Yeon Wi thought.
'This is the best? Does that mean he can improve more in the future?'
He watched his son quietly and picked up a sword from the rack.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes widened.
"Is that a Heavy Sword?"
Yeon Wi paused.
"Do you recognize it?"
"Yes. It's not ordinary in terms of weight."
What Yeon Wi held was similar in shape to the ordinary swords (佩劍) of the Central Plains. But this sword was a heavy sword that he had asked a master craftsman (名匠) to make deliberately heavy.
Yeon Wi was surprised by his son's insight.
'He can see through the nature of the weapon.'
It was amazing. Even his second son, who had a good sense, couldn't see this.
Swoosh. Thud!
The scabbard that fell to the ground made a heavy sound.
"Come up."
Yeon Hojeong took a deep breath.
'I'm nervous.'
His father was a strong man. He felt that he was the top of the seven great masters just by the aura he felt before.
But the reason Yeon Hojeong was nervous was not because his father was strong.
Thump.
Yeon Hojeong, who entered the training hall, hung the Fangtian Ji on the weapon rack.
Yeon Wi's eyes deepened.
He felt the solidity without any gap in his son's posture, who slowly lowered his stance and hung the Fangtian Ji on his shoulder.
"Do you know why I wanted to see your martial arts?"
Yeon Hojeong heard a different word from his throbbing heart.
"I don't think there's a big reason for you to see my martial arts."
"You're right. But today, there's a clear reason."
"What is it?"
Yeon Wi suddenly closed his mouth.
Yeon Hojeong's face was puzzled.
"Why are you doing that?"
"…I'll tell you after the duel (對武)."
"I understand."
Yeon Wi took a stance.
Woo woo woo.
The steel sword emitted a faint vibration.
Yeon Wi's stance was unique. He straightened his waist and held his back with his left hand. The steel sword in his right hand was lowered, and he even looked at the tip of the sword instead of Yeon Hojeong.
It was a graceful posture. But no matter how he looked at it, it wasn't a practical stance.
But Yeon Hojeong could face the steel-like aura that was hidden in his gentlemanly (君子然) appearance.
Swoosh.
The hair stood up from the anticipation.
The refined inner power stabilized his body, and the lowered sword tip had a tremendous power that could cut the sky in an instant.
Woo woo woo.
Since when?
The intangible aura that flowed from Yeon Wi gradually bound Yeon Hojeong.
It was a sharp and eerie aura. It was so sharp that he was afraid to touch it with his hand.
'Sword Extreme Thought Qi (劍極思氣)!'
One of the five great inner powers of Byeoksan Yeon Ga.
It was the ultimate inner power that condensed the extreme aura to increase the quality, and then increased the quality again to the extreme.
'And that stance… it's Gentleman Eight Sword Stance (君子八劍勢).'
If Sword Extreme Thought Qi was one of the five great inner powers, Gentleman Eight Sword Stance was one of the three great sword techniques of Yeon Ga.
In other words, Yeon Wi was going to show the best martial arts of Yeon Ga. He would adjust the power as he pleased, but bringing out two absolute techniques at the same time meant that he was serious about this duel.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes had a blue light.
Thud!
With a powerful shock, Yeon Hojeong gripped the Fangtian Ji with both hands and lowered his stance even more.
Yeon Wi's eyes sparkled.
'That gripping technique (把指法) is?'
It was a posture that looked like he would chop the bottom of a tree with an axe.
It was as unique as Gentleman Eight Sword Stance. The only difference was that Gentleman Eight Sword Stance was static (靜), while Yeon Hojeong's stance was dynamic (動).
Whirring.
A gust of wind cooled the heat between the two.
"Come on."
"Here I go."
Yeon Hojeong rushed towards Yeon Wi.
Toooong!
The sound of hitting the ground was like the sound of a war drum (戰鼓).
Yeon Wi's eyes shone.
'He's fast.'
He closed the distance in an instant and swung the Fangtian Ji.
Zzzzzak!
A slash that came in diagonally.
It was a ruthless slash. As if he was swinging at an enemy, not a blood relative, his spine chilled at the fierce power and speed.
Yeon Wi's sword gently rose to the middle.
Kaaaang!
The Fangtian Ji bounced off.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes shone.
'Amazing.'
The weight of the Fangtian Ji, which was made of iron from the shaft to the blade, was more than three times that of the sword his father held.
But it bounced off lightly. The inner power in the sword body (劍身) was shocking enough to be amazing.
He realized from this strike. The light exchange in the beginning was meaningless.
He had to go full power. His father's martial arts, Yeon Ga's inner power, were enough to handle everything of Yeon Hojeong.
Kwang!
Yeon Hojeong's shock vibrated the whole backyard.
It was a stronger shock than ever. Yeon Hojeong used the rebound force from the ground to unleash a strike that was like a ray of light.
Whoo!
Yeon Wi's eyes widened.
The momentum of the Fangtian Ji that seemed to split even a mountain was truly ferocious. Apart from the power, the momentum alone was enough to be called a master of the world.
Yeon Wi swung his sword briefly.
Zzzzzz!
The Fangtian Ji bounced off.
As if he expected it, Yeon Hojeong's body spun on the spot. At the same time, the Continuous Palm (連環掌) poured out towards Yeon Wi's chest.
It was a strike that pierced the emptiness.
Yeon Wi's eyes were surprised.
Puuuuuk!