[Chapter 78]
With a vicious rip, Myeong Cheon tore the letter to shreds.
His face flushed a deep red, a clear sign of his seething rage.
Myeong Usan swallowed hard.
The family head had been on edge due to recent longevity issues. Minor irritations often set him off, but never had he been this furious.
"The nerve of that scoundrel, not even a drink could cool my anger!"
It was not the family head he referred to, but 'Yeon Wi' – a testament to the peak of his fury.
Myeong Usan spoke up quickly,
"Just one catch is all we need."
"What?!"
"If we can dismiss this piece of information, all will be well. The grand council meets today. If Moyong, the head of the other family, reveals our affairs, they'll summon our family head within days."
"Who doesn't know that!"
"We must deploy our forces."
"What?!"
"We need to send our best from the main house. Find those merchants in Gangso Province and eliminate them, and detain our family head."
A murderous intent flickered in Myeong Cheon's eyes.
Flames seemed to engulf him, as if red fire blazed from his very being.
Myeong Usan's face turned pale.
'He has grown stronger.'
The family head of a few days ago was nothing like the man before him now.
His Qi had surged explosively. While not a direct measure of skill, such an outpouring of energy unconsciously indicated a significant increase in martial prowess.
"I apologize for speaking out of turn… but you must calm down."
He braced for a reprimand.
Surprisingly, after a moment of grinding his teeth, Myeong Cheon took a deep breath to settle his heart.
"You're right."
"…!"
"Though this trouble arose from an unexpected quarter, once we overcome this hurdle, everything will fall into our hands. This is no time for rash actions."
Myeong Usan bowed his head.
"A wise decision."
"Is Yeonhojeong still unaccounted for?"
The question felt like a sudden attack, at least to Myeong Usan.
"Yes."
Myeong Cheon smiled coldly.
"So, the son of that dog knows how to bark, does he?"
"He is stronger than we imagined. I'd like to deploy our forces and sweep him away, but that would lead to…"
"War, yes. I know. There's no need to waste our strength on one young pup."
It was a relief. Though still angry, he seemed to have regained his composure.
"After today, our family will be the public enemy of the martial world. But Yeon Wi must not catch wind of it. He's not attending the council, so it will take time for him to receive the news."
"That's correct."
"So, we need a decisive move to divert his attention?"
"Your judgment is astute."
Myeong Cheon rose from his seat.
"If we send all our Death Swords, we could annihilate their family. But that's not an option."
"Indeed. Especially since our spy within their ranks has been exposed. The loss of our Death Swords would be tremendous."
"Then there's no need to dispatch them."
"Excuse me?"
Myeong Cheon's smile turned vicious.
"He's the head of the Seven Great Families. Even if we sent overwhelming forces, we couldn't just eliminate the head without cause."
"That's true."
"But if we create a cause, we can eliminate Yeon Wi as well."
"Excuse me?!"
"I shall go myself."
Myeong Usan's eyes widened.
Myeong Cheon's eyes gleamed with perverse pleasure and terrifying ambition.
"The head of the greatest family will go to punish the head of the Seven Great Families. Dialogue? Such things are unimportant. I'll provoke a fight under any pretext and kill Yeon Wi."
"But, head of the family! That's…"
"I, as the leader, will provide the justification. I will make it so."
It was the most certain yet reckless plan.
Myeong Usan hurriedly continued.
"That's too dangerous! Moyong, the head of the other family, will bring down ours at the council! There's no need for you to go…"
"Who else is fit for the task if not me!"
Myeong Cheon's roar silenced Myeong Usan.
He exuded a deadly aura.
"Our family's secret lies there. If that fact reaches the temporary martial alliance, it will be a severe blow not just to their family, but to ours as well."
"But, still…"
"I don't know how they found out, but it might be a blessing in disguise. If we take this opportunity to seize Gangso Province, we will truly become the greatest under heaven."
Myeong Usan bit his lip.
Truth be told, it didn't matter if Myeong Cheon went to their family. In fact, as he said, it was the surest method.
But why the unease?
A strange sense of impending battle that had been brewing in the southern martial world seemed to have spread to Gangso Province. And now the head of the family was heading right into it.
"And…"
Flames burst forth from Myeong Cheon's hand, exuding a fearsome power.
His face lit up with ecstasy.
"Isn't this the perfect opportunity to test the greatest martial skill left by our ancestors?"
"…!"
"You once said that in ten years, Yeon Wi would be worthy of joining the ranks of the Thirteen Seats of Shengtian."
"That was just a rumor…"
"Let's see for ourselves."
Myeong Cheon's smile was filled with deadly intent.
"I, as the head of the Nine Provinces' leading family, will personally test whether he is truly worthy."
* * *
"Immediately keep watch over the southern and eastern gates of the Myeong family. Gather all the open path warriors in Hanam. We must keep a vigilant eye on the Myeong family at all costs."
"Why the sudden urgency?!"
"There's a high chance that the head of the Myeong family is heading to Gangso Province."
"What? In person?!"
"They're convinced that at the grand council, our house will be declared the enemy of the martial world. In other words, they have only one more move to make."
"But for the head of the Myeong family to go himself…"
"Whether it's the head or not! We will send at least an overwhelming force to surpass our home! We cannot allow them to leave Hanam!"
"Damn it! There are too many variables! Are you certain about this?"
"It's not about the number of variables; there's only one option left! Once the temporary martial alliance is formed, its representative will head to our home! The Myeong family has no other way to erase their disgrace!"
"Fine! I'll trust you this time too… Huh?!"
"What now?"
"They can't be allowed to leave Hanam, you say?"
"Isn't it obvious?!"
"We're not enough on our own, are we? Did you think we could somehow buy time?"
"Whether it works or not, we have no choice but to confront them now."
"No, that's not right. You're too hasty. If it's as you say, we alone can never stop the Myeong family's forces."
"I'll go ahead first."
"Let's wait just half a day."
"Why, for heaven's sake?!"
"I want to ask you, you madman! Just wait half a day. There are others who will join us."
"What…?!"
"Even if the Myeong family moves, there's a limit to how fast they can go south. So don't worry. We have control over all the shortcuts throughout the central plains. We will surely get ahead of the Myeong family."
"…"
"Trust once, trust twice, trust thrice."
Boom!
The southern gate of the Myeong family opened.
"Let's go!"
Heeheeheeng!
Dozens of robust horses galloped out spiritedly.
They were renowned steeds, their bodies shimmering with golden fur. Their legs were longer and slimmer than ordinary horses, and their speed seemed to be at least twice as fast.
They were Hanhyeolma, the so-called thousand-mile horses, a breed of priceless value.
And there were dozens of them.
Thud thud thud thud!
Behind the swiftly galloping Hanhyeolma.
Six horses, slightly shorter but much sturdier and solid in build, were pulling a massive carriage.
The carriage was extravagantly ornate. To any onlooker, it could be mistaken for an emperor's palanquin.
Inside the spacious carriage sat Myeong Cheon.
A carriage built solely for the head of the greatest family under heaven. Instead of chairs, it was furnished with a giant silk bed, allowing for comfortable travel.
"Haha, reassuring indeed."
Through a small window at the front of the carriage, Myeong Cheon could see the family's warriors leading the dozens of Hanhyeolma.
Whoosh.
It was as if even the wind was startled and fled.
Over fifty masters rode the Hanhyeolma, each with a posture unshaken by the dynamic movements of the horses.
'Quite satisfactory.'
All of them were high-level experts raised by the Death Sword lineage.
Even before mastering the Four Spirits' Divine Arts, each had reached a realm beyond that of the Myeong scholarly brothers. They had each chosen and mastered a Divine Art that complemented their existing martial skills.
There were over fifty such masters. And behind the carriage followed three hundred of the Red Dragon Army.
Like the White Dragon Army, they were the internal forces, the strongest among the Four Dragon Armies.
And then there was himself.
Destined to be the strongest head in the history of the Nine Provinces' noble family, he stood among his troops. With such a force, even the lesser Yeon family would be easily swept away.
'If only it were complete.'
The fifty vanguards, though skilled, had not mastered their inner energy as he had. They needed at least a year more of cultivation, a slight disappointment.
But it was still acceptable.
'First, we capture Yeon Wi.'
He was determined to provoke a fight by any means necessary. Yeon Wi would have no choice but to engage.
And with that, the Yeon family would meet its end, along with the Myeong family's secrets.
Such a brilliant strategy, wasn't it?
Traditionally, a leader must be dignified and not act rashly. But overturning that convention with an unexpected strike was the essence of strategy.
"Heh!"
He felt good. Exceptionally so.
His heart was pounding, stronger and more vigorous than before, thanks to the Phoenix Energy.
'If only we could arrive a day sooner.'
Time passed.
On the second day at noon.
Heeheeheeng!
Myeong Cheon frowned.
The Hanhyeolma horses at the front began to slow down, then suddenly stopped in unison.
'What's happening?'
That's when he saw it.
'…?!'
Myeong Cheon's face hardened.
Whooosh.
A terrifying killing intent rode the wind from afar.
It wasn't ordinary; even he, the head of the Nine Provinces' noble family, flinched.
Myeong Cheon spoke out.
"Who dares block our path?"
"Head of the family!"
Panic tinged the voice.
"What is it?"
"It's Yeonhojeong."
"…What?"
"The eldest son of the Yeon family, Yeonhojeong, is blocking our way."
Surprise flickered in Myeong Cheon's eyes.
"Yeonhojeong? How did he know?!"
"I'm not sure…"
Thud!
Myeong Cheon opened the carriage door and stepped out.
Whoosh.
In an instant, he was atop the carriage roof.
Myeong Cheon's gaze wavered.
"Well, well."
In the distance, at the fork in the road.
A slender young man with an absurdly large axe slung over his shoulder stood confidently.
His white robe stained with blood, and his eyes coolly settled. He exuded a mystical aura so powerful it demanded attention.
"You…?!"
"Shouting for you to come out didn't work, so what choice did I have but to come to you?"
Myeong Cheon's face set into a scowl.
The voice from thirty paces away sounded as if it were right beside him—a testament to immense inner strength.
Yeonhojeong smiled meaningfully.
"I've finally caught you, thief."