Chapter 29: The Reason to Fight (4)

Murmurs rippled.

The training ground was packed with younger-generation heirs and escort warriors who’d come on the rumor.

The Azure Hawk Squad was there, of course—and their faces were wretched.

“First Young Master!”

“Oh, Captain Shin.”

“W—what is happening here?”

Yeon Hojeong shrugged.

“Messy to explain. Anyway, this is where we are.”

Shin Mo’s expression hardened.

“This won’t do. We have to cancel this bout even now.”

“Can’t do that.”

“First Young Master! That man is—!”

“I know that beast’s level well. His temper’s trash, but the density of his intent is impressive. He’s fought hard, by the look of it.”

He’d read the man’s power on feel alone.

On a normal day, Shin would have praised that sense first—but not now.

“I’ll go cancel it myself.”

“Captain Shin.”

“First Young Master!”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“If you make a scene trying to cancel this, that hurts the house’s honor more.”

“...!”

“That’s why I said the situation’s complicated. Since it’s already set, trust me and wait. Fretting endlessly is not a retainer’s only virtue.”

Shin Mo bit his lip.

How could he not understand Yeon Hojeong’s intent? But the opponent was too much.

Even he wasn’t confident he could handle Chu Seong easily. Yes—if he “unsealed” himself he could overwhelm him within three exchanges, but by the strength the world knew the Azure Hawk Captain for, Chu was a master against whom even a close fight was plausible.

He’d seen Yeon Hojeong’s skill with his own eyes, but against Chu, it would be hard. And as the Yeon Clan’s First Young Master, Hojeong would receive no mercy from Chu’s hand.

“Anyway—what I asked you for?”

“Sir? Ah—yes! I’m holding onto it.”

“You didn’t bring it. Never mind.”

Yeon Hojeong took up a spear propped to the side. It was a long spear, a shade over six feet, bought from a nearby forge.

“You’re... using a spear? You won’t meet him with staff work?”

“The spear is better.”

Just then, Je Gal Ahyeon and her younger brother came running with Yeon Jipyeong in tow.

Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.

“I should get up there before the fuss starts.”

Tap!

He vaulted onto the platform.

He crossed more than ten paces in a single light step that looked more like a glide than a leap.

Chu Seong was already atop the platform, arms folded, looking at him.

“Are you ready?”

“You?”

Chu smiled—the kind of face that says he didn’t need ‘preparation’ to deal with the likes of him.

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“No need to drag it out. Shall we begin?”

“Fine. But spear work?”

“Yes.”

Chu’s brows drew together.

“I heard the Yeon Clan of Green Mountain majors in blade and sword.”

“I don’t need that much to discipline you.”

As provocations go, there wasn’t one sharper.

Tsssss—

A murderous pressure lifted off Chu Seong.

The chattering stilled at once. People were startled by the weight of his presence.

Power, yes—but more than that, the ferocity of his nature. He was like a carnivore with prey in sight.

And Yeon Hojeong?

Whoom. Whooom.

He spun the long spear idly with his fingers, and fallen leaves skated along the edge.

Hmm. That’ll do.

Its balance was subtly different from an iron staff.

But he’d registered the “subtle.” The moment his hand felt it, half the spear art was already in his body.

Whirr—clack!

Faster and faster, then an elastic stop.

Resting the spear on his shoulder, he dipped his stance.

Mmmmm—

A faint blue light flickered in his pupils.

Chu’s eyes gleamed.

Not bad.

His True Qi felt very stable—worthy of a first-class appraisal.

And that was all. At that age, that much was expected of a younger scion of the Seven Great Clans.

So, just that much.

A thin wash of disappointment crossed Chu’s face.

He’d wondered if there’d be something more; there wasn’t. At least the stance looked decent.

“Shall we start.”

“Good. I’ll yield you three moves.”

“Three... moves?”

Chu gave a small smile.

“You’re facing the captain of the War-Sword Corps newly founded under the great Namgung Clan. You said you’d hold me accountable—take three moves, at least.”

Arrogance saturated the words.

But he was a man entitled to say them. Everyone who heard, conceded as much.

Gazing at Chu, Yeon Hojeong let his stance unwind.

Chu tilted his head.

“Why?”

“Three moves, is it?”

“Yes.”

The blue in Yeon Hojeong’s eyes dimmed to flatness. He let go of Jade Wave True Formula.

“What are you doing? Not fighting?”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“What do you mean?”

A vague smile touched his lips.

Chu frowned. The smile felt... off.

Sssss—

Gripping the spear at mid-shaft, Yeon Hojeong slowly raised it until the tip faced Chu.

...?!

A prickling ran across Chu’s chest.

Killing intent?

No.

It wasn’t killing intent—it was edge. From a common iron spear bought at a forge, a needle-fine keenness was pouring out.

And the instant Chu felt that edge—

In that instant, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes went perfectly to nothing.

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“...”

“Good. If your sword leaves the scabbard before three breaths, I’ll kill you.”

And then, Yeon Hojeong’s attack began.

Step. Step.

He crossed the platform toward Chu in utterly ordinary fashion. Neither fast nor slow. Just plain walking.

But Chu’s face was tightening.

What is this?

Slowly. Very slowly.

Watching Yeon Hojeong approach without a hint of visible pressure, Chu felt a nameless chill.

A gambit...?

When the distance had shrunk to a bit over ten paces—

Yeon Hojeong lifted the spear.

He raised it overhead like a great blade. It was the motion of hefting a broadsaber or an axe, not a spear.

What is he doing?

All around the platform, heads tilted. Why handle a spear like that? Does such a spear art even exist?

At that exact instant of collective focus—

Thoom!

Yeon Hojeong stamped the platform.

The whole stage seemed to shake. At the same time, the six-foot spear dropped straight for Chu’s skull.

Chu’s eyes shuddered.

W—What?!

A spear crashing down at terrifying speed.

He could evade it. He could even flick a hand to break its pattern.

But he found he couldn’t easily choose either.

—Hah!!

In that instant he saw a vision swallowing the world.

In a lightless void, he stood alone atop a cliff—and a mountain-axe fell on him like Mount Tai.

Its size, the mass that shoved air aside, the savagery that made the earth tremble—so overwhelming that despair surged through him in a flash.

D—Dodge—!

Behind the great axe, a pair of eyes looked down at him.

And those eyes curved like a crescent.

Eeek!

Chu crossed his forearms high.

The shaft slammed onto them.

Thud!

“Kh—!”

His knees dipped.

Heavy!

A monstrously heavy blow.

It wasn’t spear work. But neither was it just staff work.

It was the axe’s savagery, the blade’s chill, the staff’s pliancy, and the spear’s edge—all fused into a single terrifying strike.

Damn!

Vmmmm!

He drew up inner force in a rush and poured it into both arms.

Pain ripped through his forearms—so sharp he half-thought they’d snapped.

But Yeon Hojeong was only beginning.

Crack!

A stamping step—drive the foot hard, seize the rebound up from the legs.

One step forward, another stamp. This one rang deeper, louder than the last.

And the second strike crashed in.

Flash!

After the vertical smash, his grip slid to mid-shaft and he thrust.

Fast!

Fast enough to make him forget the pain at once. The spearhead whipped for his heart, a predator’s killing will riding its edge.

Twitch—

His fingers spasmed.

Instinctively he nearly drew and cut. But this was the second attack—no, not even a formal move. Just the second hit.

Tch!

Chu worked his footwork at speed. He understood he could not take it bare-handed.

Fwoom!

The thrust bored through the air—felt as if it might reach a distant wall across the yard.

...!

Cold blossomed along his flank.

No time to check. But instinct knew. He had not fully avoided that point.

Cut.

And deep. A little slower and the spear would have reached his viscera.

Damn—!

His loosened mind tightened at once. His back straightened; his shoulders loaded.

He had thought he’d dodged—he hadn’t. That was how fast the thrust had been.

The third attack came in.

Yeon Hojeong’s wrist turned supple on the shaft.

Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

A dozen spear shadows flew at Chu.

One-handed spear work. And fast—so fast the afterimages showed.

...!

More shocking was the timing and the claim of angles.

With an odd cadence, the points scrambled his perception. And the entries were exquisite—he’d seized the no-escape lines. Those thrusts came on like a beast lunging with jaws gaping.

Darkness crowded Chu’s vision.

If you can’t evade, you must block—but each point carried a vicious edge. Which was real?

Death?!

A foreign sensation took his whole body.

And the moment he felt it, his hand moved on its own.

Clang!

Yeon Hojeong’s spear snapped off to the right.

“Kh!”

At the same time Chu’s body twisted back on a diagonal. A blue sword studded with gems had leapt into his hand.

Sword work.

He hadn’t merely taken or deflected—he had met force with a cut of his own and reduced both their attacks to nothing.

Chu’s eyes trembled.

He had almost died.

Truly nearly died. That exchange was lethal. Had he not drawn and unfolded forms, his body would be sporting three or four holes.

How long had it been since he felt fear? Since he tasted tension?

“You failed to endure.”

Startled, he looked up at Yeon Hojeong.

The spear rested on his shoulder again, and his eyes were cold.

“I told you—if you couldn’t endure three, I’d kill you.”

“...!!”

“Three inches of tongue should weigh a thousand catties. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Let me show you why.”

Crack!

Yeon Hojeong pounced like a beast.