[Chapter 76]
"What? Is that really true?"
"Unbelievably, it is. The battle that started last evening continued until this morning, and so far, no one has been able to defeat Young Master Yeon."
Gadeuksang's mouth twitched in disbelief.
"How can that be? The head of the Myeong family isn't a fool. He wouldn't have sent opponents that were easy to handle, right?"
Biho-gae swallowed hard.
"Just yesterday, they dispatched Myeong-hak, Myeong-hwi, and Myeong-heon, three of their top experts."
"What?! Who are they? The names sound familiar…"
"I only found out during my investigation. They are experts from the Myeong family's side branches, and when those three brothers join forces, they can suppress even the highest elders of the Nine Martial Arts Factions."
"That skilled?"
"At the very least, that's the level they're at. The analysis from Oijak Pavilion is never wrong."
"Huh…"
Gadeuksang shook his head.
"It's like I'm dreaming."
He knew of Yeon Hojeong's martial prowess.
Of course, there might be techniques he hadn't shown yet. But those were just techniques, a different matter from actual skill.
Yeon Hojeong was a formidable force. At the tender age of nineteen, he was already capable of easily pushing seasoned peak-level masters to their limits.
With such talent, he could very well be on par with the Twin Dragons and Three Phoenixes. In fact, based solely on innate ability, he might even surpass them.
But that was all. He was undoubtedly a genius, but still an unfulfilled great vessel. There were countless martial artists stronger than Yeon Hojeong in the Central Plains.
And yet, he was confronting the Myeong family's experts.
'What in the world is going on?'
Originally, Yeon Hojeong's role was to be bait.
Literally, to buy time. With his unmatched eloquence, he was to stand firm in front of the crowd, asserting the Myeong family's martial misconduct and his own innocence as part of the primary plan.
The secondary plan was himself. If the Myeong family tried to take Yeon Hojeong by force, he, as a member of the Open Sect, would step forward to proclaim Yeon Hojeong's innocence.
For that purpose, he had been gathering information all night. Not to defend Yeon Hojeong, but to collect evidence of the Myeong family's illegal activities.
Of course, that alone wouldn't be enough to damage the Myeong family. But it could buy some time.
Until when? Until the grand assembly.
During that time, with everyone's attention on the Myeong family, he planned to rally the sects of Hanam connected to the Open Sect and pressure the Myeong family.
'The core of this plan isn't to corner the Myeong family. It's to buy time to investigate the source of the rumors after making them falter.'
It seemed complex, but it wasn't. With Yeon Hojeong's capabilities and the Open Sect's intelligence network, the plan was entirely feasible.
But Yeon Hojeong had ruined it.
"Madman. I told him not to fight, over and over."
"Sir… Afterward."
"What!"
"Shall I tell you something even more serious?"
Gadeuksang's face turned pale.
"There's something worse than this?!"
Biho-gae hesitated, then spoke.
"…He's doing it."
"Speak clearly! Make sure everyone can hear!"
"Y-Young Master Yeon is… He's demanding the head of the Myeong family to show himself."
"What?"
"He's saying not to waste his precious subordinates and to come out in person."
"!"
"I don't know what kind of reckless act this is. No matter how you look at it, it would be better to retreat now… And he's been chopping down the Myeong family's experts like firewood…"
"That's not it."
"Yes?"
Gadeuksang's eyes sparkled.
"He's doing well amidst all this."
"D-doing well? You mean it's good that he's calling out the head of the greatest martial family?"
"Exactly. He's drawing the attention of all of Hanam."
Even though they hadn't exchanged a single letter.
Gadeuksang instantly understood what Yeon Hojeong was intending.
'He means to dig up the Myeong family's corruption before the grand assembly.'
The entire attention of Hanam is focused? The Nine Provinces Myeong family is included in that gaze.
After gaining the title of the greatest martial family, the Nine Provinces Myeong family is being challenged for the first time, not by an aged master but by a green youth.
They must be fuming.
With all eyes on Hanam, they can't send an assassin, and since his innocence is clear, they can't just kill him.
Besides, he's the eldest son of the Seven Great Families; killing him would be too much. The death of a subordinate or a side branch member is a separate matter from the direct bloodline.
"Should we release the secret assassins now, just in case?"
"Are you mad?! That would give the Myeong family a reason to kill Young Master Yeon!"
"Ah…"
"The secret assassins should be released after the grand assembly. What we need to do now is dig up the Myeong family's misdeeds."
In the end, the decisive blow will be delivered by the Mo Yong Sect. Until then, he just needs to expose the Myeong family's corruption, bit by bit, to prevent them from touching Yeon Hojeong.
"Oh, and there's one more thing I haven't mentioned!"
"Report everything at once! What is it?!"
"Lee Cheol-kyung has appeared."
Gadeuksang's eyes widened.
"Lee Cheol-kyung? That Lee Cheol-kyung?"
"Yes."
Lee Cheol-kyung was a top expert among Shaolin's lay disciples, renowned for his strength.
As a lay disciple, he had been taught several of Shaolin's ultimate martial arts, a genius with innate talent. His age was similar to Gadeuksang's, but his martial arts were already at the level of the Nine Martial Arts Factions' elders.
The Twin Dragons and Three Phoenixes could become the Three Dragons and Three Phoenixes because of him, and that wouldn't be strange at all. In fact, in some regions, they already called them the Three Dragons and Three Phoenixes, including Lee Cheol-kyung.
Moreover, he was leading the Golden Fist Sect, a powerful faction among Shaolin's lay sects, even though he had just passed his thirtieth year.
The Golden Fist Sect was one of the top ten sects among Shaolin's lay factions. Its influence was immense in Hanam.
"Why would he suddenly…?"
"Suddenly? For the Myeong family, this is an unprecedented situation, and it's a rare event in the history of Hanam's martial world. It's natural for him to take action."
"I see… But where is he now?"
"He was seen not far from Young Master Yeon's party at a tavern."
"Is that so?"
Gadeuksang smiled slyly.
"This might turn out to be easier than I thought."
"Huh?"
"You! Spread the word to all the beggars in Hanam, Hubei, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang at once! If they find any businesses or organizations related to the noble house, tell them to shake them down without mercy!"
"Ah, understood! And what about Hugae?"
"I'm off to confront that madman!"
As Gadeuksang hastened, the layers of grime on his soles peeled away with his swift steps.
The atmosphere in the Beeksanyeonga of Jiangsu Province was the epitome of somberness.
"…This is the situation now."
"…"
"What shall we do?"
Yeon Wi, gazing out the window, remained motionless.
Cheolgonkae internally sighed.
'Is this to be expected?'
Even a man as steadfast as Cheoldam can't help but waver when his child's life hangs in the balance.
But he couldn't move just yet. He was the family head. In these times, if the noble house were to recklessly stir trouble in Jiangsu, Yeonga could be shattered to pieces.
Besides, hadn't he already sent the Changungdae? For the head to move again would be to lower the family's dignity.
And yet, he couldn't just watch his eldest son's crisis unfold. It was enough to drive one mad.
Then, Yeon Wi spoke.
"Branch leader."
"Yes, family head."
"The Moyong family head has sent letters to the leaders of the Nine Schools and the Seven Great Families, suggesting a council meeting."
Cheolgonkae's eyes sparkled.
"It's already arrived."
"It arrived this morning."
"Do you plan to attend?"
Yeon Wi slightly lifted his head, looking up at the sky outside the window.
"I have no intention of going."
"…"
"If I move now, the stability of our territory will be shaken. In times like these, the best strategy is to hold our ground."
A look of regret crossed Cheolgonkae's face.
Yeon Wi's voice trembled ever so slightly. He must be yearning to rush to the council meeting.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"Please tell me."
Yeon Wi turned around, his expression as indifferent as ever.
"Take this."
He handed over a rather thick letter.
Cheolgonkae, holding the letter, looked at Yeon Wi with a puzzled expression.
"What is this?"
"Something I had my merchant investigate separately."
"A merchant?"
"Yes."
"May I… take a look?"
"Go ahead."
Cheolgonkae unfolded the letter.
His eyes widened in shock.
"Truthfully, I couldn't care less if the noble house falls. But they've crossed the line by coveting our land, so a warning should suffice as a conclusion."
"Gulp."
"However, my son's death is an entirely different matter. Before being a family head, as a father, I cannot forsake avenging my son."
"…!"
"Blood will flow like rivers. Many innocents will die. While I wish for my son's safety, I have no desire to kill the blameless."
"…"
"So, send this to the noble house as a warning."
"Fa-family head. If we send this to the noble house, their blades will turn towards you."
"That may be."
"This alone won't bring down the noble house. But if this becomes known, the noble house will have to relinquish their title as the foremost under heaven."
"That's why I'm telling you to send it."
"Ra-rather, sending this to Moyong family head and revealing it sequentially at the council meeting would be…"
Suddenly, Yeon Wi's eyes emitted a terrifying brilliance.
"More than the disappearance of the noble house from this world!"
"…?!"
"My son's life is more important to me."
"Family head."
"I've never properly embraced my child even once. And now, he's grown up so fast, out in the world, fighting alone for what I should be responsible for."
"…"
"Send it to the noble house head. As a warning. Make sure it doesn't get lost along the way."
"…Understood."
"I apologize for raising my voice."
"No, it's I who should apologize. I was blinded by the desire to eradicate evil and failed to consider your feelings, family head. Please forgive me."
He's not one to apologize easily. It must mean he's feeling anxious.
"I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry. It will arrive within three days."
Cheolgonkae hurried out of the family head's room.
Yeon Wi looked out the window again.
"…It's clear."
The cloudless sky was infuriatingly clear. So clear that he wanted to tear it apart with the sword technique of Cheonra.
"Just hold on a little longer. Just a bit."