[Chapter 66]
Moyong Jun shook his head as he alternated between reading two letters.
"What a bold move," he remarked.
"What's going on?" inquired a voice.
"This trip to Hanam might just turn out to be a waste of time."
"Huh?"
Moyong Jun showed the letters to Moyong Yeonhwa.
Her eyes wavered.
"The Blue Wolf Ghosts?!"
Moyong Jun smacked his lips.
"The head of the Myeong family must be serious."
"But to send the entire Blue Wolf Ghosts? Isn't that overkill?"
"It's necessary."
"What?"
"The Myeong patriarch's love for his child is terrifying. After his second son returned beaten black and blue, could he stay idle?"
"Well, that's true."
Moyong Yeonhwa hadn't immediately thought of that reason because Moyong Jun was not that kind of person. Even if his child died, he would preserve his strength.
And she agreed with her father's rationale. One couldn't burn down the family's power for a single child.
"Does Yeon Hojeong know about this?"
Moyong Jun shook his head.
"Whether he knows or not, it doesn't matter."
"I know the Blue Wolf Ghosts are a fearsome group. But I don't know their exact strength. Are they really that formidable?"
"They have never failed before."
"But they might have only faced weak opponents?"
"That's unlikely. And if it were true, it's even more problematic. It means they've come because they think Yeon Hojeong is a worthy opponent."
"!"
Moyong Jun's face lit up with interest.
"In the midst of this, isn't this guy's reaction interesting?"
"I don't know. It seems reckless to me."
"It may seem reckless. But it's not just simple recklessness."
"What do you mean?"
"He knows I'm in Jeongju, yet he says he'll clean up once more before coming. Even if he's confident he can handle it, it's not easy to do so."
That was true.
There's no need to take the long way when there's an easier path. The hard way isn't always the right way.
"The more justifications, the better… He's both wise and violent. A man of contradictions, truly not ordinary."
Moyong Yeonhwa sighed.
"One thing's for sure. He has a knack for wearing people out."
"Ha ha ha!"
"The Blue Wolf Ghosts… I've heard they're almost like assassins."
"Ambiguous bunch."
"What?"
"In terms of martial arts, none of them can match you. There are first-rate among them, but no top-tier."
Moyong Yeonhwa frowned.
"But they captured the Hyeongsanjeomhyeop with just five? A master on par with the elders of the Cheongseong faction?"
"Does martial prowess equate to killing ability?"
"What?"
"A skilled martial artist can easily kill others. But that doesn't make them an expert in murder."
Moyong Yeonhwa nodded.
She knew it intellectually, but had never felt it.
In the martial world, anything can happen. A third-rate blade can take a first-rate life.
But she had never met a true killer. She didn't know how efficiently they could kill, how cruel they could be just to take a life.
So it didn't feel real. Just five took down Hyeongsanjeomhyeop? Could that be true?
"The Blue Wolf Ghosts would destroy an entire area just to kill their target."
"Really?"
"If the target is in a village, they'll burn the village. If in a forest, they'll burn the whole forest. If the target is well-liked, they won't hesitate to tear a child apart in front of them or kidnap and assault a woman."
"!"
"They shake the target's psyche first, then move in. They plan their tactics after making contact. Poisoning drinks is common, and they'll kidnap civilians' families to send s*****e attackers."
Moyong Yeonhwa's face turned pale.
"They're like demons."
"Demons indeed. That's why they're strong. They'll do anything to achieve their goal."
"And they've been safe doing all this?"
"The Myeong family has their back."
Moyong Jun's face showed a flicker of interest.
"Before the Myeong family supported them, they hid thoroughly. Their stealth and elusiveness are unmatched."
Moyong Yeonhwa nodded.
Now she understood how just five could take down Hyeongsanjeomhyeop. With such dirty tactics, even the respected Hyeongsanjeomhyeop would be turned upside down.
Moyong Jun looked out the window.
"A hellish strategy that even the elders of the nine great sects couldn't withstand. It's a battle of wills before skill."
"Can Yeon Hojeong really win?"
"The odds are low. Most martial artists value personal power over strategy and tactics. But if he somehow wins…"
A chill passed over Moyong Jun's face.
"Even I would have to be wary of him."
* * *
After a night indulging in fine food and drink, Yeon Hojeong didn't rise until noon the next day.
"Ugh, that hit the spot!"
The alcohol had long been purged from his system. Perhaps that's why he felt such psychological satisfaction and his body seemed completely relaxed.
"Rest is indeed vital," he mused, having shaken off the fatigue of many days with just one day of rest.
"Time to get ready."
After a light session of internal energy practice on his bed, he attended to nature's call and then devoured the rice balls and steamed pork he had packed the night before.
"What a refreshing start to the day."
With two water flasks strapped to his waist, he stretched his limbs.
"Let's see, first things first…"
Having warmed up, he pulled out a dagger from his robe. This was one of the items he had asked Jumsoi to fetch from a nearby ironmonger the night before.
Of course, it wasn't just one. Nineteen more were concealed within his robe.
"Paid a pretty penny, but the quality is subpar," Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
Well, it's not like he was going to duel with these daggers. They should suffice for their intended purpose.
Yeon Hojeong gazed outside.
The weather was splendid. It was such a fine day that it seemed a shame to spend it grappling with crazed killers.
Flash!
A glint of light caught his eye from a distant building.
Yeon Hojeong infused his dagger with his internal energy, making a low hum.
"Wonder if I can finish this before dusk."
He tensed his abdomen and spun around.
Whoosh! Thud!
The glint disappeared.
A distant scream followed.
"Got one."
Axe in hand, Yeon Hojeong stepped onto the windowsill.
He left the money on the bed. A pity about the change, but he couldn't afford a detour to the main tavern. Innocent lives might be lost.
"Time to clean up the trash!"
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong soared into the sky.
He quickly ascended to the rooftop of the building opposite and surveyed his surroundings.
"Not bad."
Having taken one down, all eyes should be on him.
Yet, he felt no murderous intent. Dozens of gazes, yes, but none with the intent to kill.
"They're well-trained. Clearly, they've been schooled in the art of killing."
Boom!
He leaped across rooftops with ease.
His movement technique might not match the grandmasters', but his endurance was unparalleled.
"Efficient use of internal energy sets me apart from other masters."
Boom! Boom!
He moved between buildings with no hint of danger.
His balance, honed by wielding heavy weapons, was beyond that of an ordinary master. His physical abilities had greatly improved since acquiring the White Tiger Qi, both in quality and quantity.
If he chose to flee, few could catch him.
Suddenly, Yeon Hojeong sensed a faint killing intent.
Bang!
A dagger flew like an arrow, striking true between the eyes of a disguised enemy.
His senses had become so sharp that even the slightest hint of killing intent prompted an immediate response.
Yeon Hojeong picked up speed.
Bang! Thud! Bang! Thud!
He took down six more within ten miles. They died without knowing why or how.
Yeon Hojeong 's eyes gleamed.
"That's the spot."
He spotted an old temple in front of a low hill.
As he approached, a sinister feeling washed over him. The temple was emanating an ominous aura.
"No sign of life."
He could sense killing intent but no presence. Meaning, no one but the enemy was hiding there.
Whish!
A white wind swirled around his axe.
Yeon Hojeong leaped high and unleashed the Tiger King's Wall-Breaking Blow as he landed to the left of the temple.
Boom!
The ferocious energy from his weapon obliterated the temple's aged walls and pillars.
Splash!
Blood sprayed everywhere. Two hidden enemies were instantly killed.
But one survived.
Swoosh!
It was an astonishing attack.
A spear flew through the crumbling wall and the curtain of blood, a perfect strike even amidst the chaos.
Ting!
The spear, hurled with deadly intent, rebounded off Yeon Hojeong 's axe with a metallic clang.
With a whirlwind kick, he sent a large brick flying from the crumbling wall.
Boom! Crunch!
The sound of a skull shattering echoed; the brick had claimed its target.
Yeon Hojeong accelerated.
Boom! Boom!
In an instant, he scaled the rocky summit.
As he ascended, he struck the cliff face with his fists.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His punches, laden with internal energy, hit the rock twelve times in a zigzag pattern. Despite the force, the cliff remained unmarked, the enemies oblivious to his actions.
Whoosh!
With agile movements, Yeon Hojeong reached the top and turned to face his adversaries.
Thirty warriors stood before him, clad in dark blue uniforms, a mix of men and women of varying ages.
And there, amidst them, was the woman he had seen the day before, Langpao.
Her eyes were hardened with seriousness.
"Who are you, really?" she demanded.
Yeon Hojeong smirked.
"You tried to kill me without even knowing?"
"You're the eldest son of the Byuksan Yeon family?"
"That's right."
"Nonsense."
Ferocity flared in Langpao's eyes.
"A righteous sect's master, and a greenhorn with no experience in the Jianghu, handling us this skillfully? Such a far-fetched tale."
"Take that up with the Myeong family who sent you."
"…!"
Yeon Hojeong sighed as he looked down at them.
"Hyeongsanjeomhyeop, such a naive man. To meet his end at the hands of such incompetence, it truly shows the vanity of walking the edge of a blade."
Langpao, gazing up at Yeon Hojeong , shouted,
"Dokra!"
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The Blue Wolf Ghosts released their poison bombs.
The spread of the chilling blue smoke was astonishingly fast, faster than Yeon Hojeong 's movement technique.
Yeon Hojeong watched the rising poison smoke. Within it, the enemy would be preparing their secondary attack, watching his every move.
He laughed, holding his axe. He wouldn't dance to the Blue Wolf Ghosts' tune.
"Compared to the Black Emperor's assassins, you're barely toddling."
He swung his axe with vigor, unleashing the full sequence of the Tiger King's Wall-Breaking Blow.
Bang! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The cliff, internally fractured by his heavy-handed technique, collapsed entirely.