[Chapter 92]
After the clash, Gopyeong lay bleeding and fallen.
From him, they learned much. It was mostly Baek Gungcheon who did so, with Yeon Hojeong merely assisting occasionally.
Upon discovering the truth, Baek Gungcheon's face was a picture of utter dismay.
"…I've been deceived."
A look of discomfort marred Yeon Hojeong's face.
Normally, one would rage uncontrollably upon being deceived. But Baek Gungcheon did not. He seemed to have lost his spirit to utter desolation.
"It's my fault… because of me, Gareyong…"
Gareyong was Baek Gungcheon's daughter.
The divine archers of Gwanilgok could neither marry nor have children. The divine are symbols of perfection and must not mingle with the mortal world.
Yet, Baek Gungcheon had secretly formed a bond with a mortal woman. It seemed he had only recently learned of his daughter's existence.
And that she was ill.
He learned of his daughter's existence and illness during the competition. That's why Baek Gungcheon caused such an uproar.
Yeon Hojeong opened a box on the bed. Inside were several dark pills.
They were the medicines Gopyeong had given to Baek Gungcheon. Or, more accurately, poison.
In short, Baek Gungcheon's life was short because of Gopyeong, or precisely, his backer.
"Baek Sokeung, was it? The swindler sent it to you."
"…"
"I didn't know the position of Yeshin was so coveted that one would resort to such deceit to attain it."
Baek Gungcheon looked up at Yeon Hojeong.
His expression was vacant, as if his soul had departed.
Deceived by a swindler sent by a rival, he had endangered not only himself but also his daughter. Even a seasoned warrior's mental fortitude would struggle to bear such a burden.
Yeon Hojeong, looking down at him, asked bluntly.
"How about you?"
"…"
"Which is more important to you, your daughter, or winning the competition?"
Suddenly, Baek Gungcheon's eyes blazed with a terrifying light. He seemed transformed in an instant.
"I never coveted the title of Yeshin! I just wanted to care for my daughter in place of my deceased wife…!"
He couldn't finish his sentence.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"Lead me to your daughter."
"…What?"
"We need to see her condition to know if she can be saved."
Baek Gungcheon's eyes widened.
"What, what did you say? You can save Gareyong?!"
"I didn't say I could save her. We need to see her condition first."
"You, you're not a physician, are you?"
"I'm not the one who will heal her. I'm not even sure if the one I call will come. But we have to try as far as we can."
A spark of life returned to Baek Gungcheon's face.
"Th-thank you! If Gareyong's illness is cured, I owe you my life…!"
"I have no need for a life worth so little. Instead, do me a favor."
"Of course! Of course!"
Yeon Hojeong smiled faintly.
"Deal, agreed."
Gareyong was a girl not yet ten years old.
Having seen Gareyong's condition, Yeon Hojeong realized her situation was quite dire, though her life was not in immediate danger.
He immediately sought out the local chapter of the open village.
"Send a renowned physician to the north end room on the second floor of the Cheongsaru Pavilion. It's for a young child with severe internal injuries. Tell them to prepare in advance."
"Understood."
"I have somewhere to go for a while, so please assign someone trustworthy to the child."
"Don't worry."
"And send this letter to the Jegalsega. It's urgent. It needs to be as fast as possible."
The person Yeon Hojeong wanted to call was none other than Tongcheonsini.
Not just anyone could summon a physician of Tongcheonsini's caliber. Since Jegalaeyeon had looked after his own body at her request, he hoped to ask her for help this time too.
Having made these arrangements, Yeon Hojeong took Baek Gungcheon with him.
"Cough!"
Baek Gungcheon spat out a dry cough. There was no blood, but his complexion was deathly pale.
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
"Just tell me the location and wait here."
"I'm finished."
"…"
"I don't know how my body ended up like this, but I know one thing. My life won't last much longer."
"…"
"If I had taken the medicine he gave, it would have shortened my life even more. At least that's a relief."
"The pain will be intense. I don't know much about the medicine, but it seemed to have a strong analgesic effect."
"But it will shorten my life even more."
"…"
"When I think of the pain my daughter has endured, this is nothing. And… I can't forgive him."
"Baek Sokeung, was it?"
"If it were just me, I might have let it go, but he touched my daughter too. Baek Sokeung is mine to deal with."
"You can do as you please with that. But before that."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
"Just lead me to where Baek Hyang is."
"…Alright."
And so, the two set off for Anhui Baekgongsan.
Whoosh!
Baek Gungcheon's movement technique was astonishing.
Despite his condition, he moved as nimbly as a bird soaring through the sky. His movements were fast yet efficient, minimizing the use of his internal energy.
Baek Gungcheon glanced sideways.
Yeon Hojeong was running with a grimace. His breathing was fine, but it seemed difficult for him to go any faster.
"That's strange."
"What is?"
Baek Gungcheon spoke while displaying a rapid movement technique. It was possible because of his exceptional skill and Yeon Hojeong's tremendous stamina.
"Your martial arts are incredibly combative. Honestly, they seemed no less than the Kuryongpacheongong."
"…"
"But your movement technique is lacking. Are you just running on your internal energy?"
Yeon Hojeong licked his lips.
"I have good stamina, so it's fine."
"Stamina is finite. Movement techniques are useful."
"I should have learned a decent one when I had the chance."
"Shall I teach you one?"
Yeon Hojeong was inwardly surprised.
"You'll teach me a movement technique?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Why?"
"Why indeed?"
Baek Gungcheon tilted his head, puzzled by Yeon Hojeong's questioning response.
"Thanks to you, I could summon a skilled physician. And to learn that old Gopyeong was a swindler. It's only right to repay a debt of gratitude, isn't it?"
The words were true, but…
'What's with this guy?'
It dawned on me that I hadn't even known Gopyeong was a fraud.
For a master like Baek Gungcheon, discerning truth from lies should be no challenge. At the very least, suspicion was warranted.
Yet, he was deceived. Far too easily.
And it wasn't just that. Even in despair, once deceived, one should not so readily erase doubt about oneself.
Despite this, Baek Gungcheon harbored no suspicion towards Yeon Hojeong. He only expressed boundless gratitude.
And to top it off, he even offered to teach a movement technique. It was something he could certainly do for a lifesaver, but still, it was something one might hesitate over.
'He lacks experience.'
Yeon Hojeong finally understood the reason behind Baek Gungcheon's foolish naivety.
'He's hardly been out in the world. He knows of it, but hasn't felt it.'
Never deceived by others, never attacked without reason, not even a petty quarrel.
He was transparent. A lifetime devoted to martial arts, but devoid of real-world experience.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"I'll decline."
"Why?"
"I plan to find and learn a movement technique suited to my body. I appreciate your sentiment, but I'm fine."
"But…"
"Tell me when we need to speed up. I'm confident in my stamina."
Baek Gungcheon nodded.
"Understood."
How long had they run?
"I have a question."
"What is it?"
"How do you know Baek Hyang?"
"…"
"And it's not just that. You knew of Yongapo. Yongapo is one of the secret techniques of Guryonggung, known only to those of Gwanilgok."
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
"That's difficult to explain."
"Alright."
Surprisingly, Baek Gungcheon didn't press further. He didn't want to trouble his benefactor.
Yeon Hojeong thought to himself.
'He's completely detached.'
His heart had left Gwanilgok. Without such detachment, such a reaction was impossible.
'Intriguing.'
To so coldly turn away from a place to which he had devoted his life. It seemed Gwanilgok was not such a commendable group after all.
Yeon Hojeong shelved his thoughts on Gwanilgok. After all, the important matter now was Mokbi, or rather, Baek Hyang.
A day passed.
The two climbed a ridge of Palgongsan.
"Over there."
Baek Gungcheon pointed to a relatively low peak.
"I don't know if she's still there."
"If not, there's nothing we can do. Thanks for the guidance."
"It's nothing."
"And…"
"Speak."
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
"You know the situation, but you killed a member of Gaebang. And Gaebang will call someone to heal your daughter."
"…"
"If you're still alive after your revenge, go and apologize."
Baek Gungcheon nodded.
"If I'm still alive by then, I will certainly do so. If I die…"
"I'll pass on the message. But it would be better if you could do it yourself."
"Thank you."
Then it happened.
Boom! Kugugung.
Their eyes turned towards the source of the loud noise.
Several trees were blasted to smithereens. The distance was immense, but the size of the trees made the destruction visible even to the untrained eye.
And there was more.
Kugugung! Ujijeung!
Dozens of lethal forces intersected, and a whirlwind tore through, shattering trees and rocks alike.
The destructive power was immense. It was the archery of someone who wielded their inner strength.
A look of astonishment crossed Baek Gungcheon's face.
"Guryonggung technique!"
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong descended the mountain at a terrifying speed.
After a moment's hesitation, Baek Gungcheon followed suit, leaping into the air. Baeksokeung might be there.
Pabababak!
Despite a late start, Baek Gungcheon caught up to Yeon Hojeong in an instant. Even though Yeon Hojeong hadn't focused on his movement technique, the speed was jaw-dropping.
Then, a burst of fiery energy erupted from Yeon Hojeong's body.
Bang! Kwakwang! Bang!
With each step, a tremendous boom echoed. The gap between him and Baek Gungcheon widened again.
Baek Gungcheon's eyes widened.
'What's that technique?'
No, it wasn't a technique, but a step.
It was the step he had shown when he killed the witness from Gaebang. Within the combat zone, it seemed even faster than Yongbisunhaeng.
To use such a step consecutively and charge forward…
'Incredible inner strength. That's why he declined the movement technique.'
Whoosh!
Baek Gungcheon increased his speed. In an instant, he was right behind Yeon Hojeong.
Then, at some point, Baek Gungcheon overtook him. Using Hyeolikhwicheon consecutively would consume a lot of inner strength, so he was managing his stamina and inner strength.
But it was fine. The two were almost upon the battlefield.
Bang! Kwajijijik!
A small rock levitated, then smashed several trees as it fell.
Pat!
Baek Gungcheon kicked off the rolling rock and soared up. His movement was as light as a feather.
Kwang!
Yeon Hojeong, who had shattered the rock with a tremendous fist force, charged forward.
Then, Baek Gungcheon's roar, now out of sight, was heard.
"Baeksokeung!!"
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
The Vermilion Bird energy warming his heart suddenly tightened.
Flash!
Yeon Hojeong covered a distance of twenty Zhang in a breath and climbed up the ridge.
He looked upon the battlefield, where dozens of great trees had fallen, leaving devastation in their wake.
Baek Gungcheon, firing his great bow with terrifying speed.
A middle-aged woman, dodging all the arrows with incredible evasion skills.
And in a secluded spot, a woman drawing her crossbow from behind an unbroken great tree.
"Mokbi!"