[Chapter 72]
"Commander, a report has come in. Yeon Hojeong has made contact with the Blue Faction and is moving south after their annihilation!"
"Is that so?"
Myeong Woosan clenched his fist.
'It's done.'
The Blue Faction was, in a sense, no different from bait.
Given Yeon Hojeong's known character, it was unlikely he would be captured without a fight. Being escorted to the prestigious family without resistance would have been a welcome outcome.
In the end, people would have witnessed Yeon Hojeong's merciless nature. It was the moment when rumors became truth.
This was as far as it went. Myeong Woosan, who had turned Yeon Hojeong into a major criminal with just the Blue Faction, had no intention of wasting more troops.
"Contact the three brothers. Tell them to engage in battle where there are many people. We must capture Yeon Hojeong with overwhelming force."
"Understood."
Myeong Woosan could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
'It's finally over.'
Thinking about it, it was a ridiculous way to be defeated.
Yeon Hojeong was formidable. With martial arts beyond imagination, combat power beyond expectation, and responses beyond anticipation, he had thrown the prestigious family into disarray.
But upon further reflection, it seemed that not everything was due to Yeon Hojeong alone. While he was the main focus, there seemed to be something else gnawing at the family's flesh.
He couldn't pinpoint what it was. An unsettling feeling kept nagging at his mind.
'…Well, it doesn't matter now.'
Myeong Woosan would never know. That it was fate.
Yeon Hojeong had accelerated the wheels of destiny with his own efforts and sacrifices. He simply wanted to bring it all down with his own hands before it collapsed on its own.
Myeong Woosan, the prestigious family, they were all unaware.
"Anyway."
After reviewing several documents, Myeong Woosan fell into thought.
"It's too fast, even if it's fast."
The prestigious family had spread the rumor that Yeon Hojeong was the suspect in the unresolved crimes of Jiangsu Province.
It was manipulation of information to gain legitimacy and justification. The family had also taken measures to spread the rumor quickly.
But it had spread too quickly.
Normally, it would take at least five days for a rumor to spread, but the information released near Jeongju and Gaebong had spread throughout Hanam in just three days.
Myeong Woosan was flustered by this incredible speed. Myeong Cheon scolded him, asking what the problem was, but unintended events always caused issues.
'Could it be Gaebong? It can't be.'
If Gaebong had fanned the flames, it would make sense for the whole of Hanam to be abuzz in just three days.
The problem was the reason. Gaebong had been helping Yeon Hojeong until now. It would make sense if they tried to quash the rumor, but there was no reason to inflate it.
Therefore, the likelihood of Gaebong being responsible was low.
Then who could it be?
"…Right, as the head of the family said, let's overlook the trivial matters. It's not important right now."
He was wrong.
He should have persisted on that point to the end. He should have relentlessly dug into which organization had inflated the rumor and why.
Of course, by the time he found out, the situation would have already grown out of control.
* * *
Whispers of power hummed through the air as Yeon Hojeong walked the warrior's path, contemplating his martial arts.
'Byeokrajin-gyeol has reached eighty percent mastery.'
Before leaving his clan, Byeokrajin-gyeol had been at a mere sixty percent. Now, it had ascended two whole levels.
Knowledge of Byeokrajin-gyeol was complete in his mind. It was just a matter of embodying the enlightenment, naturally hastening his progress.
Yet, such rapid advancement in such a short time was unheard of. Had he focused solely on Byeokrajin-gyeol, he would be hovering near seventy percent by now.
'It's thanks to the Four Divine Beasts' Martial Arts.'
The White Tiger's Force, the Black Tortoise's Vigor.
Thanks to these dual energies, his body could handle a greater total of qi. With every breath, he expelled impurities, maintaining peak condition.
What was once a stream of qi within him had widened into a river. The quantity and quality of flowing qi surged.
A ceaseless cycle of improvement. Thus, the mastery of Byeokrajin-gyeol soared on a steep upward trajectory.
With each step, a pale blue aura rose from his feet like smoke, a mystical sight. It was both a display of control and an ongoing cultivation of his martial arts.
He was fortifying the outer walls of his dantian with Byeokrajin-gyeol.
'Eighty percent… still not enough.'
Despite the swift progress, he felt lacking.
The prestigious family might unleash an unforeseen master. Should a supreme expert emerge, even Yeon Hojeong, the hero of the realm, might find himself overwhelmed.
'Indeed, heading towards the prestigious family seems folly.'
The family was, without doubt, the foremost in the world, likely harboring countless masters.
'I should have reached ninety percent. If only I could achieve that now.'
But it was impossible, at present.
There was one immediate way to elevate his Byeokrajin-gyeol.
'If I could summon one more of the remaining Divine Beasts' Qi…'
He had called upon the Black Tortoise and unlocked the White Tiger.
There was no need to seek out the other Divine Beasts' Qi in life-or-death battles. Balancing the White Tiger's and Black Tortoise's Qi and continuously expanding them might eventually summon another.
Time, however, was scarce.
In the end, he must face the conclusion with Byeokrajin-gyeol at eighty percent.
'If, in this upcoming battle, I could summon one of the remaining two.'
Yeon Hojeong's eyes sparkled with determination.
'Which should I choose between the Vermilion Bird and the Azure Dragon?'
Whichever he obtained, his body and martial arts would greatly improve.
But summoning them wasn't everything. Even possessing all Four Divine Beasts' Qi required endless cultivation. Unlike Byeokrajin-gyeol, which had measurable levels of mastery, the Divine Beasts' Qi was boundless, deepening endlessly.
'In other words, I must first perfect Byeokrajin-gyeol before conquering the other Great Divine Martial Arts. Considering that, perhaps the Azure Dragon over the Vermilion Bird…'
The Azure Dragon's Qi would transform not only his body but also the martial arts he was learning. Its nature was transformative, and having already obtained the White Tiger, its counterpoint, the effect would be magnified.
'Is it even possible?'
Yeon Hojeong licked his lips in anticipation.
'For now, let's make the best use of what I have.'
The Black Tortoise's Qi, the first he summoned, had grown significantly through interaction with Byeokrajin-gyeol.
The White Tiger's Qi, however, was still distant. Though it had settled through training and life-or-death battles, it was only at one-fifth the level of the Black Tortoise's Qi.
He must cultivate the White Tiger's Qi first. That was the order.
"Great Young Master."
Yeon Hojeong turned around.
It was Shinmo.
"Why?"
"Is this really alright?"
Not much distance remained to the prestigious family's domain. Half a day more, and they would enter its territory.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Why? Are you nervous?"
"Of course."
Honesty was one of Shinmo's many virtues. He also knew when it was appropriate to reveal his sincerity.
"They are desperate to capture you, Great Young Master. Yet they sent the Blue Faction…"
"To turn rumor into truth. To confirm it before everyone's eyes, that's their intent."
"I believe so too."
A chill of foreboding emanated from Shinmo's eyes.
"They won't waste troops anymore. They'll send the real deal. They intend to send a master to prevent us from entering the family's domain, to drag us away."
"I agree."
Shinmo sighed inwardly.
He knew all too well. This rough, reckless, yet wise Great Young Master saw through the enemy's schemes.
Yet he still headed towards the prestigious family, trusting in something. But as Shinmo, who had taken on the role of the Great Young Master's protector, he couldn't help but worry.
Yeon Hojeong casually said,
"If you're that worried, why not unleash the power you've been hiding?"
Shinmo's eyes widened in shock.
"Pardon?"
"Wasn't it? You've sealed away some tremendous inner strength, haven't you?"
Shinmo was taken aback.
"How did you know?"
"How? It's visible, that's how."
"You could see it?"
"I didn't feel it before. But when I saw you this time, that's when I realized."
Amazement filled Shinmo's face, gradually giving way to admiration.
"You're incredible, Great Young Master. No one has ever seen through this power before."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
"But that power, it feels familiar. Is it the family's martial art?"
"Yes. The family head passed down the Dragon Embrace Martial Art to this unworthy one."
Surprise flickered across Yeon Hojeong's face.
"The Dragon Embrace Qi?"
"Yes."
The Dragon Embrace Martial Art was one of the family's Five Great Divine Martial Arts.
If Byeokrajin-gyeol was the most stable and the Sword Extreme Qi the sharpest, the Dragon Embrace Martial Art was renowned for its destructive force in releasing energy.
Yeon Hojeong smiled faintly.
"If anything happens, I can just hide behind Chief Shin."
"No, no. Even with the divine medicine, if it weren't for the Dragon Embrace Martial Art, I would have lost control and fallen into demonic possession. I'm still far from mastering it."
"So you've been hiding it. You haven't fully controlled it yet."
"That's right."
"Can you release it, though?"
"For a moment, yes."
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"Keep that power hidden. There's no need to reveal your trump card to the enemy."
Shinmo's expression hardened.
"Understood."
The Great Young Master seemed determined to see this through.
'I can't stop him.'
Once he decides to do something, he sees it through to the end. That was the Yeon Hojeong Shinmo knew.
Then there was no other choice. Even if it meant laying down his bones here, he must protect the Great Young Master.
And so, Yeon Hojeong and his party continued southward without hesitation.
People who saw them were startled and fled. The rumors had spread much faster than their travel.
Yeon Hojeong remained composed. Unaffected by the angry or fearful gazes, he simply walked on.
'The sun is setting.'
As the sun began its descent behind the western mountain ridge, the world was bathed in the warm, empty hue of the setting sun.
Night was approaching.
A night filled with a chilling breeze and a silence that harbored sinister intent.
'…'
Just before entering the domain of the prestigious family.
'…What is this?'
Yeon Hojeong felt an odd sense of déjà vu.
The wind carried something familiar, a presence that was both murderous and challenging.
"Great Young Master."
"I know."
Tension painted Shinmo's face.
"Three formidable masters. All at once."
"Indeed."
Even with focused vision, the distant path remained unclear.
From there, three figures approached with ease, followed by three hundred warriors whose military aura dwarfed that of the Blue Faction.
Three supreme masters leading a combat unit, a force of arms.
In that moment, Yeon Hojeong's eyes wavered.
'Strong.'
Their martial arts were strong, astonishingly so.
In terms of simple martial prowess, they were several levels above the current Yeon Hojeong. Three such masters represented a formidable force.
But…
'Why does this feel so familiar?'
Yeon Hojeong's surprise wasn't due to their strength. After dispatching the Blue Faction, it was time for such masters to appear.
The issue was their aura.
Being masters of the prestigious family, they naturally practiced its martial arts.
And those martial arts felt familiar to Yeon Hojeong. It was an energy he had felt before.
'When exactly?'
Stop.
For the first time, Yeon Hojeong halted in his tracks.
"Great Young Master?"
"…"
Whoosh.
A low wind swept across the ground.
Shinmo, looking at Yeon Hojeong with confusion, suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
Screech!
From the soles of his feet, the Byeokrajin-gyeol surged forth.
But this energy was different from usual. The mystical pale blue Byeokrajin-gyeol had turned into a terrifying and ominous blue frenzy, supporting Yeon Hojeong's body.
Whooooosh!
A gale began to swirl around the low-lying wind.
"Gasp!"
"Ugh!"
The entire vanguard took several steps back.
Shinmo, in panic, shouted,
"Great Young Master!"
Crackle! Crackle!
Following the blue frenzy and the white storm, a dark chill swept in.
It was a cold, dark energy from the north, the end of life, the final destination of the world, filling Yeon Hojeong's eyes with the aura of death.
Roar!
Somewhere in the west, the roar of a tiger king echoed.
The axe, containing both the White Tiger's and the Black Tortoise's Qi, writhed uncontrollably.
Byeokrajin-gyeol, White Tiger Qi, Black Tortoise Qi.
Three distinct divine energies rose simultaneously.
"…You could have appeared a bit slower."
His voice trembled.
Was it fear, or was it ecstasy?
"I could have waited longer. No, I could have waited forever."
Rumble! Rumble!
The axe vibrated fiercely, as if eager to be swung, filled with a dense murderous intent.
"I didn't expect to meet you so soon."
His pupils, filled with icy madness, pierced through the three leading masters.
Yeon Hojeong lived in the present, but his eyes scanned the past.
'Father.'
His father, who had defended against the enemy's relentless assault with an ironclad sword.
And the leader of the monstrous swordsmen who had left his father's body bloodied.
'Brother.'
His brother, who had chosen to flee to secure the future of their clan, avoiding confrontation with the enemy.
And the leader of the monstrous palm strikes who had broken his brother's spine.
And the vanguard of the ancient Yeon family, who had broken through the grand gates and invaded.
Yeon Hojeong's sclera gradually reddened.
A single emotion bridged the present and the past, the past and the present.
It was the sky-shattering rage towards an archenemy.
Boom!
With one step of the White Tiger.
With that single step, Yeon Hojeong vanished from his spot.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of explosive sounds rapidly receded into the distance.
"What, what's that?"
The burly middle-aged man at the forefront looked up in shock.
A beast that had crossed the vast distance with just the White Tiger's Descent soared high into the sky.
Flash!
Was it the sunset's light, or was it the spray of bloodthirst?
The dark lord, with eyes ablaze with flames, lifted a colossal warrior high above.
"Nice to see you, friends."
The axe fell upon the man's crown.
Sssssssk! Thud!