[Chapter 52]
Flash!
A streak of blue brilliance permeated the cliffside.
Sssss.
A sword scar, a full yard in length, appeared on the cliff bathed in blue light.
It was an astonishing sight. Despite being struck with supreme sword qi, the cliff bore only the scar, without a sound of cutting or a loud bang.
Such was the incredible cutting power of the sword qi. When the destructive force was compressed to the extreme, nothing but the cut remained, leaving no other trace.
It was a realm beyond the dreams of even skilled swordsmen. A remarkable martial art that was hard to surpass even with a lifetime dedicated to the sword.
"Hmm."
An elderly swordsman tilted his head at the sight of the scar on the cliff.
"Is it still too much? I thought this time it would work."
Shring.
The sound of the sword sheathing was as smooth as flowing water.
The elderly man stretched mightily.
He seemed to be in his fifties, but his exposed upper body was covered in remarkable muscles. The muscles, far from appearing sluggish, seemed compressed to the extreme, like marbled beef.
"Sigh, I must devote myself to the sword for a while longer. Just a yard, I'm still far off."
Then, a beautiful voice was heard.
"If you say so, it makes me seem too insignificant."
"Have you arrived?"
Moyong Yeonhwa smiled brightly as she looked at the cliff.
"Amazing. To leave such a scar from this distance. I wonder when I'll even be able to imitate it."
"Haha, such ambition. To have cultivated such martial arts at your age is already an incredible feat. Compared to your father's time, you're no less than a genius."
"Don't lie. I heard that when you were my age, you had already mastered the North Wind Sword."
"Mastering and manifesting martial arts are different matters. While I may have achieved more in martial arts, I didn't have the natural ability to manifest it as you do. You can be proud."
Moyong Yeonhwa shrugged her shoulders.
"I always feel proud. But I believe the more ambition, the better."
"That's not wrong, but be careful not to be consumed by your greed."
"I'm not so lowly, Father."
"Indeed, whose daughter are you?"
The elderly Moyong Jun laughed heartily.
Moyong Yeonhwa smiled back and took out a letter from her bosom.
"There's good news."
Moyong Jun's lips curled up instinctively.
It was a red letter. His heart warmed just from the anticipation.
As Moyong Jun read the letter, a gleam appeared in his eyes.
"The main house has succeeded?"
"So it seems."
"Having found the essence of martial arts, will the issue of longevity be resolved?"
"That remains to be seen. The martial arts of the main house are strong. They lack nothing compared to ours."
Moyong Yeonhwa gazed at the cliff.
"Comparable to that supreme sword force?"
"That, I cannot say. However, I've had a light exchange with the head of the main house before."
"Oh? I haven't heard about that."
"It wasn't a duel to the death, just a check of skills. Not something to be spread far and wide."
Moyong Yeonhwa's eyes sparkled.
She was the one who received the most information from her father in the household. He would tell her everything, even the smallest details.
But not everything. There were a few things he did not share, even with his own daughter.
That's why she respected Moyong Jun. She wanted to emulate his caution and sharpness, even at the pinnacle of the family.
"How was it? The martial arts of the head of the main house."
"It was impressive."
"You rarely say someone is impressive."
Moyong Jun shook his head.
"Among the seven great family heads, none are to be taken lightly. Externally, it's said that the head of the main house and the head of the Yeon family compete for the top, but that's unknown until they actually face off."
"Like Father, are the other family heads hiding their strength?"
"Of course. Unlike the main and Yeon houses, the five traditional families never fully reveal their strength."
Moyong Jun's gaze deepened.
"Even considering that, the martial arts of the head of the main house were remarkable. If he finds the essence of martial arts, I expect it won't be inferior to our secret teachings."
"That's amazing."
"It's not for nothing that they've maintained the name of the greatest family under heaven."
Moyong Yeonhwa smiled wryly.
"It's a pity. Now we won't be able to use that title anymore."
Moyong Jun read the last part of the letter.
As if to emphasize, the fine writing was bolder than the rest.
"Tsk tsk, head of the main house. It was good to find the ancestral martial arts, but your greed was too much. How can you shamelessly claim to be the greatest under heaven after killing hundreds of innocent workers?"
Surprisingly, Moyong Jun knew all about what the main house had done.
It was a dark plot meticulously planned since the day he became the family head. He had planted 'eyes' not only in the main house but in all the families of the seven great houses.
In some families, he even infiltrated professional spies, creating secret passages and safe houses within them. The Yeon family was a notable example.
Of course, it wasn't easy. It required astronomical sums of money and trustworthy people. Even for Moyong Jun, it wasn't something that could be prepared in just a decade or so.
This great undertaking was a joint effort with his father, the previous family head.
"I proved my abilities to my father, your grandfather. Even at the cost of defeating my own brothers."
"I know, Father."
"You too are proving your abilities to me. When you're confident, bring your plans to me. If they're satisfactory, I'll entrust the family to you."
Moyong Yeonhwa smiled confidently.
"I'm preparing steadily. Don't worry."
"Heh heh heh."
Moyong Jun found his daughter's boldness utterly delightful. His sons were talented, no doubt, but they never dared to cross the line.
It was why he favored her. Moyong Yeonhwa, inheriting his blood, possessed a cold, iron heart, ready to cut down even kin if necessary.
A talent far more crucial than a divine skill-touched mind. It was ruthlessness.
"By the way, has there been any word from Yeon's family?"
"Not yet."
Moyong Jun clicked his tongue.
"Such a frustrating sage. A man famed for his decisive swordsmanship, capable of splitting waves, yet so timid in this regard."
"It seems he dislikes adventure by nature."
"That may well be. The head of Yeon's family had no interest in expanding his power even in his youth."
"Moreover, he'll be more cautious this time. It's not easy to receive business proposals thrice. He must be in deep contemplation."
Moyong Jun smiled.
"If the family line is to be preserved, it would be wise to agree readily."
That's when it happened.
From afar, a warrior clad in black martial attire and a mask approached swiftly.
Swoosh.
The warrior knelt before Moyong Jun and spoke in a stiff voice.
"Family head."
"What brings you here at this hour?"
"There's been a problem."
"A problem? What kind?"
"It's been five days without contact from our informant in Yeon's family."
Moyong Jun's eyes grew cold.
The informant was required to report daily. Even if trouble arose, it wouldn't exceed three days.
No contact for five days meant something had happened to the informant.
"Could Yeon's family have noticed? That seems unlikely."
He hadn't considered Taekyung a liability. Doubting a steward who had been rooted in the family for nearly a decade wasn't easy.
The real issue was the true spies and the informant. Even if Taekyung was caught, Nyle and Janghak couldn't be exposed. They were the real ones. Taekyung was merely a cover to fully plant Nyle and Janghak.
"It's hard to ascertain the exact situation. We're currently probing their information trading post, Tongcheon-dan."
"Do so swiftly."
"Yes."
Moyong Yeonhwa furrowed her brows.
"What could it be? Janghak is a top-class informant. He's not one to make mistakes."
"Being human, mistakes are inevitable. Whether it's due to external factors or something else, we must consider."
Moyong Yeonhwa shook her head.
"We should prepare for the worst, just in case."
"Of course. If Yeon's family truly has discovered the spy, we must bury the matter before any noise arises."
Moyong Jun frowned.
"Huh! Must I draw my sword already?"
* * *
"Up to seven places in total."
"I see."
"It seems we must…"
Lee Baekhyun hesitated before speaking resolutely.
"Our family, too, should fortify the entire estate, just like the other families."
Though counted among the seven great families, their history was short, spanning over 150 years.
Yet, the current structures of Yeon's family, save for a few ruined ones, remained as the ancestors had used them. With nothing to take and nothing to fear, they saw no need for new construction.
The same went for Yeon Wi.
Or rather, he had no particular attachment to buildings. They were only preserved because his father, the previous family head, had been stubborn about it.
But given the circumstances, there was no choice.
"Summon Master Pyeon."
"Do you mean Pyeon Ilgang, the divine craftsman?"
"Indeed."
Lee Baekhyun tilted his head.
"Master Pyeon's skills are beyond question, but… isn't he a blacksmith rather than a civil engineer or a mechanic?"
Yeon Wi looked at Lee Baekhyun.
Startled, Lee Baekhyun bowed his head.
"My apologies. I will bring him immediately."
"Master Pyeon is…"
"Yes?"
"Master Pyeon is well-acquainted with the great masters of mechanics."
"Ah!"
"Bring him here."
"Yes, yes! Understood."
Lee Baekhyun left the family head's room.
Yeon Wi, hands clasped behind his back, gazed out the window. His silhouette seemed lonelier than usual.
Yeon Jipyeong sighed inwardly. Even without expression, he could tell his father was feeling frustrated.
Of course, he was shocked too. Steward Taekyung had been kind to him as well.
But it wouldn't be as hard on him as it was on his father. As a person, as the head of the family, his father must have been greatly affected.
"Father…"
"Let's finish up and then rise."
Yeon Jipyeong looked at Yeon Hojeong in surprise.
Yeon Wi turned around.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
Yeon Jipyeong cocked his head.
"Leaving? Brother, where are you going?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"A trip to the Central Plains."
"What?!"
What was this sudden talk?
Yeon Wi asked.
"Have you not decided on a destination?"
"I was about to discuss that with you, Father."
"Hmm?"
Yeon Hojeong picked up a letter from the table.
"We've caught the spy, so we can breathe a sigh of relief, but what about them? They must be panicking."
"Of course."
"Then we must see what measures they will take next."
Yeon Wi's eyes sparkled.
"We've erased all traces of the Moyong family. It will be difficult for them to grasp our situation, so they'll likely try to find out through Tongcheon-dan."
It was an accurate judgment.
Yeon Hojeong was a man who had experienced chaos in a world full of lies. Yet, even without such experiences, Yeon Wi could anticipate the enemy's moves.
Innate wisdom and ability never fade. Yeon Hojeong felt a weight lifted from his heart.
"Indeed. Publicizing this matter would only harm them, so they must approach cautiously."
"The problem is what happens after. The moment they learn of our situation, it's unpredictable what they might do."
It was inevitable.
Yeon Wi had almost no connection with Moyong's family. Therefore, he didn't know much about them.
Knowing the opponent is essential to deducing their tactics. Yeon Wi's weakness was not having built connections with others.
"In short, neither side knows the other's situation."
"Exactly."
"And yet, we can predict the enemy's initial move."
"That's also true."
"Then we have only one option."
Yeon Wi and Yeon Jipyeong looked at Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong's expression was significant.
"After blinding the enemy, we strike at an unexpected point."
"?!?"
"With that in mind, my destination is decided."