Chapter 104: Rethinking the Premise (4)

PAAANG!

Having emptied all of his internal force with the final palm, Yeon Hojeong dropped where he stood.

“Huuuu.”

It had been a long time since he had trained nothing but bare-handed striking, and that all day for several days.

Unarmed close-quarters fighting is training necessary even for those who aren’t dedicated fist artists. On the small scale, it’s good for conditioning the body; on the large scale, it’s good for sharpening reaction speed and senses.

But Yeon Hojeong’s bare-handed striking went beyond such a level.

Even without the axe, his full power did not lag far behind. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his fistwork alone formed a complete school.

Leaning back against a small rock, Yeon Hojeong let his internal force unspool naturally.

Vvvooom.

With his inhalation, White Tiger Qi rose of its own accord. Drawing in more air, more natural energy, White Tiger Qi spread that energy through his whole body.

As blood circulation quickened, Vermilion Bird Qi of the heart grew active. As a set amount of turbid energy gathered from the rapidly turning flow, Black Tortoise Qi of the kidneys surged up and expelled all turbidity.

Vvvvvoooom.

As the Three Spirit Qis rapidly restored his flesh, Jade Wave True Qi also rose naturally and bolstered his strength.

“That’s today’s training.”

Since returning to the family estate, he hadn’t wasted a single moment. It was a process of looking back on the martial arts he had walked thus far while ceaselessly confirming the road he would take forward.

Thankfully, though he didn’t have Yeon Jipyeong’s kind of talent, he had his own Way, honed in the midst of the slaughterhouse.

That was why he could grow this strong in such a short span.

“Now it’s about time......”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes glinted.

“To choose.”

His goals after return divided broadly into two.

First, to prevent the extermination of the clan.

Second, to prepare for the Three Fanatical Churches’ invasion of the Central Plains.

For the moment, the clan’s extermination had been prevented. The Mo Yong Clan remained, but Mo Yonggun would not recklessly assault the Yeon clan. In other words, there was time.

What about the Three Fanatical Churches?

There was time there, too. But unlike the family’s enemy—whom he could strike first because they were clear—preparing for the Churches’ invasion was an undertaking far too broad and vague.

He did not know detailed information about them. He only knew they had their base somewhere beyond the frontier, and that their power was without precedent.

With limited information, complete preparation is difficult. Then all that remains is to make every preparation possible.

‘Only—what unsettles me is this.’

There was only one reason to stop their invasion: because his people would be in danger.

But they weren’t the only danger.

‘Mo Yonggun.’

Unlike the Mo Yonggun who became Alliance Lord, the Mo Yonggun of now was nothing short of the incarnation of greed.

It is the difference between a man who has everything and a man who wants everything. Mo Yonggun would do any vicious thing to stand at the summit of the Central Plains.

And within a short time, he would surely move to strike the Yeon clan.

More precisely, to strike him.

“Bringing the Mo Yong Clan to heel, and preparing for the Three Churches. I can’t choose just one. I have to do both at once.”

Hence his thought of Mo Yong-woo.

If not for Mookbi, he would have headed straight to Zhejiang after capturing Ming Heorim.

‘It’s certain Mo Yonggun fanned the Namgung Clan. He must have wanted Namgung and me to clash.’

He would have hoped for even the smallest friction. Their relations weren’t good to begin with, and he would have known that by temperament Yeon Hojeong wouldn’t treat Namgung warmly.

But thanks to Mookbi, he had been able to turn Namgung’s gaze. It was, so to speak, a situation of killing two birds with one stone.

This time would be the same.

“Two birds with one stone... set up Mo Yong-woo as a counterweight to check Mo Yonggun, and at the same time create political allies who can help seize the Alliance of the Martial World.”

It wasn’t something he could do alone. Even if it ran contrary to rectitude, he would use everything around him for the result.

In a sense, he had to be more ruthless than in the days of the Dark Emperor.

Unconsciously, Yeon Hojeong smiled wryly.

“One way or another, I wasn’t fated to live at an easy pace.”

He rose, washed clean with a quick rinse, and headed for the Clan Lord’s quarters.

“First Young Master?”

“I’ve come to see father.”

It was late at night, but he knew he wouldn’t be sleeping.

The gate swordsman bowed.

“Please wait.”

A moment later, the gate swordsman returned.

“Word has come. Please enter.”

“Thank you.”

On his way to the Clan Lord’s quarters, Yeon Hojeong changed direction. He had sensed his father’s strong presence in the rear garden.

When he stepped into the rear-garden training ground, he saw two figures moving quickly.

SWISSH! JJEEEOONG!

“Hff!”

Driven back by a forceful cut, Yeon Jipyeong sucked in a breath.

Yeon Wi set his sword upright at mid-line.

“Again.”

PHAAAK!

Even with breath that ragged, his approach speed was swift.

Leaning on the wall and watching Yeon Jipyeong, Yeon Hojeong’s gaze deepened.

‘He’s pushed past his limit.’

JJJEEEOOONG!

Yeon Jipyeong’s sword tempo was fast.

It wasn’t a level at which he should be able to express such rapid, ferocious sequences of cuts. Yet he was, in fact, doing so.

Yeon Hojeong looked into Yeon Jipyeong’s eyes.

They were glazed.

Half his mind had flown away. His stamina and internal force had bottomed out. It wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.

Forms from Iron Sword Great Derivation were unfolding unconsciously.

No matter how great a genius, one cannot unconsciously manifest a sword canon learned only recently. That was why Yeon Jipyeong’s sword, uncharacteristically for him, was savage and vicious.

After blocking dozens of cuts, Yeon Wi suddenly thrust out his left hand.

THUD!

Without even a groan, Yeon Jipyeong was flung far back and crashed to the ground.

Sllrp.

At the same time, Yeon Wi, who had appeared behind Yeon Jipyeong, placed a hand to his chest.

Vvvvvoooom!

A cold, razor-edged energy flowed into Yeon Jipyeong’s body.

“Hoo.”

Yeon Jipyeong’s breathing normalized in an instant.

Not only that. Stimulating myriad acupoints within, he expelled turbidity and, transferring a small measure of internal force, catalyzed internal growth with a high-density sword-essence killing will.

Surprise flickered over Yeon Hojeong’s face.

‘Force Transmission Across Bodies?!’

Qi has the property of trying to follow a higher quality. The trace of Yeon Wi’s qi remaining in Yeon Jipyeong’s body would both repair damaged meridians and ceaselessly draw Yeon Jipyeong’s qi up to a higher plane.

‘As expected.’

A formidable attainment in internal force.

Force Transmission Across Bodies beyond a certain degree can damage the caster’s own internal force. Yeon Wi was holding to a knife-edge, elevating Yeon Jipyeong’s internal level.

“Sit cross-legged.”

“Kh—! Sir? Ah, yes!”

Perhaps his mind had returned—Yeon Jipyeong immediately sat cross-legged and ran his internal force.

He focused in an instant and entered regulated breathing and circulation. It was a concentration that wouldn’t startle even if lightning fell at his side.

“You’re here?”

“Yes.”

Only then did Yeon Hojeong step up onto the training ground.

Yeon Wi asked,

“How do you see it?”

“Sir?”

“This kind of training.”

Yeon Hojeong answered frankly.

“I think it needs to be harsher.”

“Do you.”

“Jipyeong will grow well on his own. But if we raise him with halfway-harsh training, I believe he’ll face confusion later in his own training methods.”

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“I find myself surprised by your disposition again. I thought this harsh enough.”

It was harsh. Not content with exhausting stamina and internal force to the dregs, he had driven him until his mind blanked and then led him to express sequences of the sword unconsciously—no easy task.

“A martial artist grows most explosively at the brink between life and death. Those who do not stake their lives have clear limits. No matter how great their talent, those who haven’t faced the fork of life and death are but halves.”

He said something chillingly cold with a smile.

Yeon Wi gazed at Yeon Hojeong.

“Is that how you grew—because you fought with your life on the line?”

“Yes.”

To speak more precisely: that’s how it was in the Dark Emperor era. Not a single day of the year in peace, seeing blood.

Only, after he grew strong, he did not cling solely to life-and-death duels.

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“Jipyeong is not yet ready.”

“That is also true.”

The most important things in a life-and-death duel are resolute decision and an awl-like killing will.

Someday he would have to be forced to learn that mindset, but not yet.

“Well then, for what have you come?”

After a brief pause, Yeon Hojeong asked,

“The Alliance of the Martial World will be founded soon, yes?”

“Yes.”

“As the head house is one of the Six Great Clans, the heads of the Nine Sects and One Union and the Six Great Clans will at minimum be elected as elders of the Alliance, or as public officers.”

“Likely so—if the Alliance persists.”

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“The Alliance to be founded now is temporary. It hasn’t even been decided whether to concentrate the orthodox path’s strength.”

“After meetings among the heads, they’ll summon various renowned masters and representatives of minor schools to decide.”

“Likely so.”

This was the exact point.

Yeon Hojeong spoke bluntly.

“I would like father to cast a vote in favor.”

Yeon Wi’s eyes widened.

“In favor?”

“Yes.”

“In favor... in favor, you say. You deem the Alliance of the Martial World truly necessary?”

“I believe it must exist.”

“What is your reason?”

“Because we need a deliberative body that can restrain—not only the Nine Sects and One Union and the Six Great Clans—but the many orthodox schools.”

Yeon Wi’s expression shifted.

“Because of this Ming Clan affair?”

“Not entirely, though that is not without relation.”

“Mm.”

“And one more thing.”

“......?”

“I also believe it # Nоvеlight # is time for father to spread the wings you have kept folded until now.”

“......Spread my wings?”

“Yes.”

“You say a dangerous thing. Surely you mean...?”

Yeon Hojeong spoke a single line more serious than any he had uttered.

“The Alliance Lord’s seat should be left for the one befitting it. But the Alliance Lord needs men of purpose to seize the world at his side.”

“......!!”

“And I believe there is no one better than father among those men.”

It was an astonishing statement. Yeon Wi hadn’t known his son had thought even this far.

He fixed his sharp gaze on Yeon Hojeong.

On Yeon Hojeong’s face one could glimpse a certain resolve and even tension. But in those clear, deep eyes, there was no greed.

‘...No lust for power?’

His son’s aim lay upon the world. Yet he did not want him to walk the road of world-dominion—boisterous to hear, but filled only with blood and death.

Thankfully, he saw no sign in his son of an ambitious man who wanted to seize the world. At least outwardly.

After watching his son a long time, Yeon Wi spoke.

“I would prefer you not to concern yourself with such matters yet.”

“.......”

“Lest you misunderstand, I’ll say it. This father is in no way belittling your ability. Setting martial arts aside, the insight and response you showed against the Ming Clan were already enough to reach the world.”

“It’s nothing worth mention.”

“Nonsense. That is a talent in a realm wholly different from martial talent or gifts of strategy. I called it talent, but in truth it was something unknown that cannot be expressed by the word talent.”

“.......”

“You read the flow of a world you had not experienced, and with strong confidence in yourself you faced the world alone and overcame it. It is beyond the category of talent—an ability that could properly be called a divine eye.”

Father did not know. That he had lived for decades tussling with the world.

That as the Dark Emperor he had fought not to win but to live, had trained not to grow strong but to kill.

So father called it talent, even praised it with the grand phrase “divine eye.”

“You are a genius in a different sense than Jipyeong. But your gift comes with danger.”

“Danger......”

“Yes, danger. It is a gift exposed to a demon that could corrupt even a daoist or monk who spent a lifetime in cultivation.”

Yeon Hojeong closed his eyes.

He could understand in his heart what his father would say.

“You fear I will be ruled by desire.”

Warmth colored the stern face of Yeon Wi.

“If you’ve thought that far, you are truly remarkable. He is my son, yet I cannot quite think of you as a hot-blooded youth.”

“You would have me not concern myself with such matters for fear desire will sway me?”

“As if. You will not go astray.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Because I believe.”

“.......”

“Only, I don’t wish to see you grow weary already. You can call that a parent’s obstinacy, or say it is an old generation’s excessive worry.”

“.......”

“Because I trust you, I do not wish to push onto my son a burden I can carry.”

Yeon Hojeong opened his eyes.

He understood his father’s heart. And hearing his father’s words, he realized he himself had had no leeway.

After he had sunk deep in thought for a long while, Yeon Hojeong finally spoke, an interval later.

“Promise me just one thing.”

“Speak.”

“Whenever things are hard, please don’t try to solve them alone. Call for me.”

A smile touched Yeon Wi’s lips.

“Isn’t that why I’m sending you to Zhejiang?”

“......Well, there is that.”

Yeon Hojeong scratched his head.

As the worry that had hung over his heart cleared, his shoulders felt somehow lighter. With a brightened face, he said,

“No matter what anyone says, I’ll walk my own road. Don’t regret it later, saying you should have listened to your son.”

“When did I ever say I ignore your words?”

“Sir?”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“As for casting a vote in favor of founding the Alliance of the Martial World—I will contemplate it deeply.”

Considering the devastating power of the Three Fanatical Churches, even starting to prepare now would likely be insufficient.

But Yeon Hojeong felt it would be fine.

A hastily patched garment is quick to fray. At least in this matter, he thought his father’s choice would be better than his own.

It was urgent, but it was fine. As father believed in him, so too did Yeon Hojeong believe in father.

He believed the life wisdom his father had realized would hold.

“Looks like I worried for nothing. Seeing it like this, I’m still a long way off. Thanks to you, father, I realized something big.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me tell you what I realized thanks to you.”

“Sir?”

“Feeling your change, I realized a parent’s role on this stage called the world is two things, no more.”

“What are they?”

“To protect my family, and to wait forever.”

“.......”

“You have grown enough that you don’t need my protection. Then there is only one thing left for me to do.”

Turning his body, Yeon Wi walked toward Yeon Jipyeong and spoke.

“I will wait forever. I will hold anything. When it’s hard, come to your father anytime.”