[Chapter 91]
Creak.
The muscles in his arm, taut from pulling the bowstring, bulged with tension.
Thud.
The old man's neck was gripped tightly, veins bulging on the forearm that held him.
It was a standoff of sharp edges. With Baek Gungcheon's skill, he could target any part of Yeon Hojeong's exposed body behind the elder.
The problem was that Yeon Hojeong was no ordinary opponent either. A single misstep, and the old man's neck would snap instantly.
…
A heavy silence settled.
Baek Gungcheon, with fierce eyes fixed on Yeon Hojeong, slowly lowered his bow.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"You've made a wise decision."
"Release the hostage."
"Indeed, the hostage proved to be of value. I can't possibly let him go."
Baek Gungcheon's face twisted.
Yeon Hojeong spoke up.
"What's your name?"
"I have no name to give to the likes of you."
"I thought as much. Then, let me ask you one thing."
…
"Are you Mokbi's ally?"
Baek Gungcheon remained silent.
It seemed he had no intention of answering. Yeon Hojeong tensed his arm.
Crack.
"Gurgle."
The old man's face turned blue.
Baek Gungcheon's eyes quivered.
"Who is Mokbi?"
"You don't know Mokbi?"
"I don't."
"Your stance, the way you lower your body from half an inch to an inch before shooting, and even using the Dragon's Nest technique…"
"!"
"And yet you claim not to know Mokbi?"
Shock spread across Baek Gungcheon's face.
"To know of the Dragon's Nest, who are you?!"
Yeon Hojeong was momentarily at a loss for words.
'An interesting fellow.'
The archery displayed yesterday was truly remarkable. Such skill, coupled with an efficient body technique, was enough to earn the title of master.
But he was too honest. Naturally blunt, his honest nature was written all over his face.
"I'm the one asking the questions. For the last time, do you truly not know Mokbi?"
"…I don't. There is no archer by that name."
He had unwittingly mentioned the term 'archer.' But he didn't even realize it himself.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes deepened.
'A pseudonym?'
It was possible. After all, not many in the martial world operated under their real names.
"What is an archer?"
Baek Gungcheon clammed up, finally realizing his mistake.
Yeon Hojeong continued.
"You killed the Open Path. The situation has escalated enough. If you don't intend to make things worse, you'd better start talking."
"…Release him."
"If I intended to release him, I wouldn't have captured him in the first place."
"Have you no pride? To take a powerless old man as a hostage with your skills, you should be ashamed."
"Enough with the ineffective provocations. This isn't a duel; it's a fight."
Yeon Hojeong glanced at the old man.
"And a powerless old man, you say?"
"…?"
"You've sealed away a decent amount of internal energy. Your skin may sag, but your muscles are still firm. Maintaining such a body and energy requires considerable training."
"What…?"
"You haven't checked properly, have you?"
Tap.
Yeon Hojeong pressed a pressure point on the old man, paralyzing his body.
"Even after pressing the pressure point, the rebound was significant. If you hadn't used any internal energy, it wouldn't have been possible."
Baek Gungcheon's eyes wavered.
He had seen the pressure point being pressed. The opponent's finger had hesitated. He had felt strong resistance from the point.
To produce such resistance unconsciously, one would need the internal strength of a first-rate master.
'Such internal strength? How?'
Baek Gungcheon looked into the eyes of the old man, Gopyeong.
Gopyeong's eyes were shaking as if an earthquake had occurred. With the pressure point pressed, it seemed even the mute point was hit; he couldn't even open his mouth.
"…Gopyeong?"
The Gopyeong he knew had not cultivated even a nail's worth of internal energy. He was a doctor, unknown to the world, who had devoted his life to medicine.
"And the same goes for Chaksimhong."
Baek Gungcheon looked at Yeon Hojeong again.
He had pressed the hostage's pressure point and even sealed the mute point. Yet, there was no gap. With his forearm around Gopyeong's neck, a little pressure would compress the carotid artery.
"Since when did Chaksimhong become a poison that sucks the life out of people? Such a poison is extremely rare, even among Gu poisons."
"…Are you saying it's not?"
"Of course."
Yeon Hojeong glanced down at Gopyeong with an icy gaze.
"Chaksimhong is a type of settling poison. It latches onto the internal organs and causes degeneration. It particularly affects the heart because it's derived from a mineral poison that has been refined."
"!"
"However, it doesn't work on those with robust bodies and some freedom in their internal energy flow. The true energy expels the poison before it can settle in the organs. In other words, it's a mid-to-low-grade poison that doesn't affect masters who have cultivated a certain level of internal energy."
Chaksimhong was a poison used by only a few in the dark alleys of the underworld.
In other words, it wasn't easy to identify, and not many sought to do so.
There were countless poisons stronger than Chaksimhong. It might work on third-rate thugs or common underworld factions, but not on masters.
Even Yeon Hojeong had once been doused in Chaksimhong.
Yet, he was unharmed. As soon as he inhaled it, the Hongcheon energy expelled the poison. Even the Jujak energy prevented it from touching the heart and eradicated it.
For a master like Baek Gungcheon to be poisoned by such a mid-to-low-grade poison? Nonsense.
"In short, I don't know if this man is a doctor, but he's not the weakling you think he is, and you're not poisoned by Chaksimhong."
Baek Gungcheon's expression contorted.
He asked Gopyeong.
"Is what this young man says true?"
Gopyeong was mute, unable to speak.
Baek Gungcheon said to Yeon Hojeong:.
"Release Gopyeong's mute point."
"I refuse."
"What?"
Yeon Hojeong poured out his cold words.
"I've stripped away the illusion and revealed the truth. But I'm not one to show unwarranted kindness to strangers."
"?!".
Whispers of Tension
The air crackled with tension as Baek Gungcheon's aura flared, a desperate honesty seeping through his murderous intent. Time was of the essence.
"This is no time for wordplay! Release him now!"
"You're in no position to command me. Answer my question if you don't want to waste more time."
"Ugh!"
"Now."
Despite the urgency, Yeon Hojeong's face remained impassive.
His cold demeanor and demanding words exerted a strong pressure on Baek Gungcheon, a stark contrast to the latter's frantic state.
Finally, Baek Gungcheon spoke.
"The 'Phantom Archer' refers to the new candidates for the 'Sun Piercer' within the Valley of Piercing Sun."
"The Valley of Piercing Sun? Is that a group of archers like you?"
The Valley was a name that should have remained hidden.
But Baek Gungcheon was in a hurry. If Gopyeong wasn't the physician he knew, he needed to find another, and fast.
"Yes."
"A sect I've never heard of."
"The Valley of Piercing Sun isn't just any martial faction. It's the Cult of Deicide, serving the Sun God and existing solely to slay him."
Deicide: a religion dedicated to killing gods.
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
'Deicide…?'
He recalled Mokbi's words.
'Their god is base. That's why I despise the Cult of False Grace.'
Mokbi, usually reserved and emotionless, had shown rare anger.
"So, it's not a martial faction, yet it teaches formidable archery."
"Of course. The only way to kill the Sun God is through archery. Just as the legendary Houyi shot down nine suns, we aim to reach the heavens with our bows."
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
'I can't make heads or tails of this.'
Mokbi had never mentioned anything about this. It seemed they were some kind of religious group.
'Hmm?'
A sudden thought struck Yeon Hojeong.
"Your numbers are few, aren't they?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your group, the Valley of Piercing Sun's archers, and what exactly is a 'Sun Piercer'?"
Desperation deepened on Baek Gungcheon's face.
"Haven't I told you enough?! Release him… now!"
Crack.
Gopyeong's face reddened with strain.
Baek Gungcheon gritted his teeth.
"To become the 'Sun Piercer' of the Valley, the Phantom Archers must compete."
"Compete?"
"A battle to the death."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
"So the last one standing becomes this 'Sun Piercer'?"
"Yes."
"Don't tell me you're in the midst of this competition right now?"
"Yes! So release him immediately!"
The battle for the title of Sun Piercer.
'So Mokbi…'
Was he the last one standing?
But why didn't he return to claim the title? Is there a reason?
"One last question."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes settled calmly.
Even amidst the urgency, Baek Gungcheon realized this question was of utmost importance to Yeon Hojeong.
"Your age… roughly mid-twenties. Tall, just under six feet, not using a longbow like you but a hornbow. Your main martial art is…"
"Baek Hyang?!"
Yeon Hojeong's eyes widened.
"Baek Hyang?"
Baek Gungcheon stuttered.
"Do you know Hyang?"
The tone was familiar, like calling a brother, cousin, or close friend.
"Not personally… but it sounds about right."
"If you're talking about age and height, it can only be Hyang. Among the Phantom Archers in this competition, only Hyang is in his mid-twenties. And Hyang uses a hornbow."
"Fine. So where is Baek Hyang?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I don't know his exact location. But he's likely near Mount Palgong. He hasn't moved since the competition began."
Yeon Hojeong, who had been silently observing Baek Gungcheon, finally released Gopyeong.
Baek Gungcheon's eyes sparkled.
Whoosh!
"Gah!"
Gopyeong gasped for air. A sharp finger wind had released his mute point.
It was a display of profound internal energy. Not just an expert archer, but a master of martial arts with knowledge and training at the highest level.
Baek Gungcheon lifted Gopyeong, almost grabbing him by the scruff.
"Is what this young man said true?"
"Cough! How could you! Do you really think I'd deceive you!"
"Enough, I don't need anything else. Just answer this one thing."
Baek Gungcheon's eyes blazed with an indescribable emotion, overwhelming the man before him. Gopyeong's face stiffened.
"You can cure Garim's condition, right?"
"…"
"Why can't you speak! Can you treat the 'Seven Yin Meridian Blockage'?"
Then, Yeon Hojeong spoke.
"Seven Yin Meridian Blockage?"
Baek Gungcheon looked at Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
"Seven Yin Meridian Blockage? Don't you mean the 'Nine Yin Meridian Blockage'?"
"What?"
"Is there such a thing as the Seven Yin Meridian Blockage? Isn't it the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage, where excessive Yin energy accumulates, freezing all eight extraordinary meridians, eventually cutting off life itself?"
"?!?"
"Only seven of the extraordinary meridians freeze? Is there such a precise illness?"
Baek Gungcheon glared at Gopyeong.
Yeon Hojeong scowled.
"Isn't he just a con artist?"