[Chapter 81]
The aura of Yeon Hojeong was formidable.
Ziiing! Ziiiiing!
The White Tiger Energy, heated to its limits, clung to the blade of the axe. Over the steel's inherent color, a white radiance was cast, making it seem as if a celestial general wielded a divine weapon.
Boom!
Myeong Cheon realized something was amiss.
'This can't be happening.'
The residual energy of Yeon Hojeong within the great sword's blade was infiltrating the sword energy, diminishing its power.
Myeong Cheon shouted,
"You fiend! What kind of demonic technique is this?"
"Demonic technique?"
Yeon Hojeong snickered.
"The demonic technique is what you've learned!"
Crash!
Another charge ensued. The White Tiger's Dominance Stance, combined with the Continuous Advance, amplified the weight of the axe several times over.
Bang!
Myeong Cheon's thighs swelled.
This strike was truly heavy. It felt as though the weight of Mount Tai was pressing down, and his muscles seemed ready to burst at any moment.
A murderous intent flared in Myeong Cheon's eyes.
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong staggered. He had allowed a hit from Myeong Cheon's overwhelming strength.
It was an attack meant to kill in one blow, yet Yeon Hojeong released it like a series of continuous strikes. His momentum was exceptional, but a moment's hesitation made the entire energy wave seem unstable.
Thud!
Myeong Cheon stomped the ground fiercely.
"Scum, how dare."
His voice, pausing after each word, blazed with ominous madness.
"To think a lowly brat like you could challenge me!"
The onslaught was relentless. Moreover, the opponent's energy had a strange ability to scatter his inner strength.
He couldn't release it. The new power he had gained.
But now was different. Myeong Cheon finally had the time to unleash the Phoenix Divine Technique to its fullest.
Roar!
The energy, burning like a wildfire, seemed ready to engulf Yeon Hojeong whole.
Whoosh!
It was an incredible surge of power. He unleashed all his strength, fueled by rising anger.
A terrifying energy spread in all directions, so fierce that even the surviving assassins retreated ten meters away.
Flutter!
A Blood Demon Horse, close to Myeong Cheon, with broken legs writhing, bit its tongue and died. It had suffered a mental shock from the explosive energy and killing intent released right before its eyes.
"Yes, that's right."
Looking down at the dead Blood Demon Horse, Myeong Cheon wore a smile tinged with madness.
"I can always cut off a head. But to see you squirm like a bug with severed limbs, that's what will quench my anger."
The Phoenix Divine Technique, now unleashed, seemed to have pushed his murderous intent and madness beyond their limits.
Myeong Cheon's face, dripping with vicious intent, was truly that of a demon. Even the energy he emitted was incredibly sinister and dark.
Inner strength arises and is created according to one's thoughts. The fact that the energy was so gloomy indicated how desolate his mind had become.
Yeon Hojeong raised his Black Tortoise Energy.
Sizzle!
Mirages rose from the empty air.
'He's indeed strong.'
While raising the Black Tortoise Energy, Yeon Hojeong naturally set up the Northern Heavenly Twelve Walls. Despite not being attacked, the surface of his inner strength shield was boiling. The energy Myeong Cheon was emitting was that toxic.
'But…'
Whirr!
Yeon Hojeong's eyes pierced through Myeong Cheon's interior.
'With that level.'
Red energy rose from the dantian, boiling in the heart like lava.
It was power beyond the norm. Such immense energy had gathered in the heart without balancing with other energies, ensuring self-destruction.
Moreover, a red thread crossed from the neck to the philtrum, reaching the forehead. The Vermilion Bird Energy had invaded the upper body.
It was a critical situation. But he wouldn't die just yet.
That pleased Yeon Hojeong. He didn't want to see self-destruction due to a fake Vermilion Bird Technique.
Whoosh.
Yeon Hojeong took a smooth yet heavy step.
Despite stepping on the ground, there was no sound. It was quiet and gentle, like water seeping in.
The absolute defense technique, the Unmovable Strange Pillar's stepping method.
"What are you doing? Don't waste time."
Yeon Hojeong flicked his hand,
"Come at me."
Roar!
The hand and arm that had been flicking shot back.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes sparkled. Myeong Cheon had already reached him.
'So fast!'
The speed was incredible. He had completely lost sight of him in an instant.
Myeong Cheon swung his great sword.
Clang! Sizzle!
Indeed, the Black Tortoise Energy was formidable.
It somehow blocked the swift sword strikes, invisible to the eye. Moreover, water is the natural enemy of fire. The Black Tortoise Energy, meeting the fiery energy, grew terrifyingly in strength.
Whoosh! Boom!
It was the strike of a giant. The axe split Myeong Cheon in two.
'Gone?!'
But it was merely an afterimage. The axe had cleaved through empty air.
So where was Myeong Cheon?
Yeon Hojeong's body erupted with blood.
His entire back felt scorching hot, boasting the formidable power of Myeong Cheon's martial energy—the Phoenix Flame Hand.
This power was on a different level from the White Tiger's energy that the sword wielded. Even with a powerful weapon like the great sword, it couldn't suppress the invading flames.
Yeon Hojeong stepped into the Unmovable Strange Pillar stance once again.
Whooosh!
Around his body, the hexagonal armor took shape distinctly.
Simultaneously, Myeong Cheon's full-scale attack began.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Whooosh!
It was fast.
Fast and powerful. The momentum from his speed was directly channeled into the sword, and the weight was immense.
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong spat out blood once more.
Even against the opposing force, the Black Tortoise Energy couldn't fully block the invisible sword strikes. Moreover, water was the natural enemy of fire, and the Black Tortoise Energy, meeting the fiery energy, grew even more formidable.
Whoosh! Boom!
It was a giant's strike. The axe seemed to split Myeong Cheon in two.
'Gone?!'
But it was merely an afterimage. Again, the axe had cleaved through empty air.
So where was Myeong Cheon?
'…?!'
At that moment, a single flame pierced through Yeon Hojeong's mind.
'A divine technique?'
No.
In the Four Divine Martial Arts, there was no such thing as a divine technique. Only martial techniques for combat and defensive techniques existed.
That was right. There were no divine techniques.
Then what was Myeong Cheon using now?
'Blood Wing Sky Strike (혈익휘천)!'
Flash!
The movements of the Vermilion Bird, freely soaring through the sky, were finally realized in Yeon Hojeong's hands.
Myeong Cheon shattered the ground.
"Fall!"
Boom!
With a thunderous noise, the earth split open.
Myeong Cheon, who had been about to burst into laughter, suddenly felt something strange.
'…?'
The Black Tortoise Energy he had just unleashed.
His hand was in contact with Yeon Hojeong's blood-stained hand.
A surge of red energy rose.
It wasn't Myeong Cheon's Phoenix Energy. Rather, it was smaller but much brighter and purer—a true flame, unmistakably fiery.
Whooosh!
The energy flowed into Yeon Hojeong's hand.
Myeong Cheon's eyes widened. The opponent had vanished right before his eyes.
'So fast!'
The speed was incredible. He had completely lost sight of him in an instant.
Myeong Cheon swung his great sword.
Clang! Sizzle!
* * *
"Shouldn't we be making our move now?"
"…"
"Houge?"
Just then, a violent explosion thundered.
Boom!
Even from this distance, it sounded as if our eardrums would tear apart. Had we been in the midst of that fierce battle, we would have had to use all our internal energy just to protect our hearing.
Gadeuksang's eyes deepened.
'Yeon Gongja.'
He recalled his conversation with Yeon Hojeong.
'What did you say?!'
'…'
'Has this gentleman lost his mind? What do you take Myeong Cheon for? He is the head of the greatest family under heaven, the head! At the very least, he is on par with your father!'
'I am aware.'
'It doesn't seem like you know. Even if one is to go mad, they should do so gracefully. How can you even think of fighting Myeong Cheon? Do you take him lightly just because you've eliminated a few warriors from his family?!'
'That's not the case.'
'Then why, for heaven's sake! Even you cannot defeat Myeong Cheon!'
'I can win.'
'…!!'
'Any master below Myeong Cheon is too much for me. But I can defeat Myeong Cheon.'
'This doesn't make any sense…'
'Moreover, this is the last time.'
'The last time?'
'The chance to capture the leader of the beasts that went to kill my parents and siblings.'
'…'
'Did you not say to trust you? I trust you. So please, trust me in return.'
'…Damn it.'
'I will not lose.'
Gadeuksang saw an indescribable resentment and immeasurable anger in Yeon Hojeong's face.
It was an old emotion, piled up and neither melting nor breaking. The only way to release that emotion was to defeat the desired enemy.
'Damn it, even so…'
It's regrettable, but in reality, the Yeon family hasn't suffered any harm so far. It's not something to accumulate such resentment and anger over.
However, Gadeuksang couldn't stop Yeon Hojeong.
Because he saw the anxiety and anticipation that surrounded those gloomy and fiery emotions. Like someone who had been waiting their entire life, his eyes were filled with complex light.
"Houge."
"If we go in now…"
Gadeuksang licked his dry lips.
"If we go in now, a melee will break out. It would be better to surround the remaining stragglers after the fight has ended."
"But if we leave it as is, Yeon Gongja will be in danger!"
"He says he can win."
"What, what did you say?"
"Let's trust him. I didn't call the sect leader and the Shaolin family branches just to fight them. It's to make sure they can't even twitch."
"That may be so, but…"
"Enough blood has been spilled. Let's not create unnecessary sacrifices."
That's when it happened.
Flutter!
From high in the sky, a dark bird descended at a terrifying speed.
Gadeuksang's eyes shone.
He stood up and reached out his hand.
Flap-flap!
The bird that landed on Gadeuksang's wrist with elegant wingbeats was, surprisingly, a crow.
Gadeuksang hurriedly unfolded the letter tied to the crow's ankle.
Lee Cheolgyeong tilted his head.
"Whose letter is that?"
"…"
"Huh?"
Gadeuksang clenched his fist and grinned.
A sense of relief and fatigue washed over his face.
"It's a declaration of martial law."