Chapter 105: Rethinking the Premise (5)

From the day after his talk with his father, Yeon Hojeong shut himself in for three days.

And when three days had passed, he left his quarters and went straight to the Great Training Ground.

It wasn’t to train alone. He naturally spoke with the household warriors and trained together.

Yeon Hojeong’s regimen was brutal. It was commonplace to drain stamina to the limit, and he did not hesitate to use live spears and swords in ways that threatened the warriors’ lives.

It was excessively dangerous. It was a little barbaric, too, and wholly different from the Yeon family’s training methods thus far.

At the same time, he drew a bright line between public and private.

After training that felt like dying, he always ate with the warriors at the training ground. He traded cheerful jokes with them, and before long the warriors let down their guard toward him.

They naturally realized it. The First Young Master did not see them as mere tools to be used.

You could tell without an explanation if you stayed together. The First Young Master of the Yeon Clan, Yeon Hojeong, regarded the warriors as parts of one body, and wanted everyone to become stronger by a tier.

Another fifteen days passed like that.

As time went on, more warriors joined the training.

Yeon Hojeong received them with a smile—and then drove them mercilessly with training run as if it didn’t matter if they died.

But astonishingly, no warriors dropped out.

For all his ruthlessness, Yeon Hojeong had a meticulous side. He tended to each seriously injured warrior in person, and if someone wouldn’t be able to train the next day, he made sure they rested.

It was a side he had never shown. Yeon Hojeong, who had seemed nothing but endlessly strong, was now among his subordinates—and at last showed the bearing befitting the First Young Master of the Yeon Clan.

Another fifteen days.

After a month of training in earnest, seven-tenths of the household warriors were taking part in Yeon Hojeong’s regimen.

Excluding those out on assignment or standing watch, that was nearly everyone.

Though the warriors’ training had changed from before, Yeon Wi did not interfere. He simply watched, silently, as Yeon Hojeong and the warriors became one. That was how much he trusted his son.

Time flowed again.

When summer’s harsh sun lost its force and the cool wind of early autumn began to blow—

The energy of the Yeon family’s warriors, once as clear as that cloudless sky, had become as keen as a peerless sword. Not their natures, but their stance as martial men had changed. They now possessed a hardened mental strength such that they could respond instantly to anything at any time.

It was as if they all had become Yeon Hojeong.

And that, indeed, was what Yeon Hojeong wanted.

CRACK!

“Ghh!”

At a mercilessly driven punch, Yang Heum coughed blood and fell.

Yeon Hojeong grinned.

“You lost, didn’t you?”

He could smile after nearly killing a man.

Amazingly, Yang Heum rasped and grumbled between dry coughs.

“Damn it, not even seven exchanges.”

From below the training platform, Shin Mo spoke in his characteristically deep voice.

“Yang Heum. What kind of manner is that before the First Young Master?”

“Hrrk!”

“Being injured is no excuse.”

“Hack, hack! Kkhaaak!”

Shin Mo’s face scrunched up.

Lately, these brats kept ignoring the Captain. He might have to pick up a cudgel soon.

Yeon Hojeong waved a hand.

“I’m fine. No need to go that far.”

“But, First Young Master—”

“It’s enough that they fear the Captain. I prefer it that way.”

Shin Mo cleared his throat.

“I’ll fix their manners.”

“That’s the Captain’s purview, so I won’t meddle. And yes, it’s time you tightened things.”

Yang Heum’s face went ashen.

“I was just talking to myself. I would never—ever—to the First Young Master—”

“Hey. You’re noisy. Get to the medical hall. If you don’t treat that internal injury properly, it’ll be a pain.”

“Ah, yes.”

Scratching his head, Yang Heum climbed down from the platform.

Given the atmosphere, it didn’t show, but Yang Heum’s internal injury was fairly severe. Without unusual grit he would have struggled to walk out on his own.

Even so, there was no wobble in his gait. Through recent training he had embodied strong stamina and endurance.

In Yeon Hojeong’s eyes, the household warriors were only now becoming proper martial men.

‘The rest, each unit captain can handle.’

When a man sees blood often, his hands naturally grow rough and his temperament sharp.

It was the job of captains like Shin Mo to plane down that part. They had discussed this in depth beforehand, and the captains were carrying out rigorous instruction in the Way of Chivalry alongside the regimen.

“First Young Master. How about a bout with me this time—”

“No. Busy.”

Yeon Hojeong stepped down from the platform.

Shin Mo asked,

“Is today’s training finished here?”

“How could it be? Only mine is finished. You lot—wrap up what you were doing.”

“Ah, are you busy?”

The Shin Mo of the past wouldn’t have asked like this. He too had been colored, in his way, by this more flexible mood.

Smiling, Yeon Hojeong clapped Shin Mo on the shoulder.

“Work them properly while I’m gone.”

“Sir?”

“See you.”

Yeon Hojeong headed straight for his quarters.

Just as he reached the front—

SWEEEAK! THAK!

Without even looking, Yeon Hojeong thrust out his left arm and snatched the incoming arrow from the air.

He spoke in a bored tone.

“Slow.”

“It couldn’t be helped.”

Mookbi appeared from the shadow under the wall.

“I threw it by hand.”

“If you’re going to target, aim for the chest or abdomen—what’s with the shoulder?”

“I thought you might actually die.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Ever seen a tiger get hurt by a falling leaf?”

“That comparison’s a bit much.”

“Quiet.”

Mookbi asked,

“Done early {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} today? Where are we going?”

“Get ready.”

“Ready?”

“Word from Master Artisan Pyeon. He’s brought in a bow you can use, so you’re coming too.”

Mookbi’s eyes sparkled.

“R-really? Give me a moment!”

She scampered into Yeonryeowon.

At times like this, she seemed like a child.

‘With that innocent face, she’s turned more than a few men into cripples.’

Mookbi had joined the warriors’ training multiple times—and in sparring with warriors who underestimated her, she shattered most of them.

She was fast and strong. Even without a bow, her basic close-quarters striking overwhelmed the household warriors.

‘That body method really is broken.’

As befit a master of an extreme body method, her lower body was practically a weapon. With a light whipping kick, the warriors’ bones snapped in a scatter.

Steel is threatening even without an edge. Mookbi’s body and internal force were precisely that.

‘Body method... just as well. We’ll temper it on the way.’

After washing and changing into fresh clothes, Yeon Hojeong headed straight to the Clan Lord’s study.

“You’re here.”

“Yes. And...”

Yeon Hojeong looked with a weary eye at the heap of documents piled to one side.

“You’re still busy.”

“So it has turned out.”

“Is Department Head Lee not acting as general manager?”

“He is not.”

“Find someone quickly. You’ll collapse from overwork.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“No matter how great a master you are, there’s no winning against paperwork.”

“I’ll do what I can, then hand it to Department Head Lee. If it’s too much for him, he’ll find someone.”

Truly pitiful.

He could already hear Lee Baekhyeon’s wails in his ears. Lee, too, practiced the Yeon Clan’s internal arts—but had he tempered himself enough to endure this murderous workload?

“Going to Master Artisan Pyeon?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Wi looked Yeon Hojeong up and down.

“Master Artisan Pyeon is a great man, but aren’t you pressing too hard?”

Yeon Hojeong coughed.

Watching him silently, Yeon Wi shook his head.

“With a temperament that urgent, what good will it do?”

“It’s a trip I had to make anyway.”

“Tsk. I wondered why you came by in broad daylight.”

After stopping by Pyeon Ilgang’s smithy, Yeon Hojeong planned to head straight to Zhejiang.

Officially, it was preliminary investigation to expand the family’s business into Zhejiang—but the real goal was Mo Yong-woo. Through the Beggars’ Union, he had been checking Mo Yong-woo’s whereabouts every five days.

Luckily, the man was still at the Zhejiang branch.

The days were growing cold. Winter would hamper maritime trade. Like the Yeon Clan, they would be busy without a moment to breathe.

From the drawer under the table, Yeon Wi drew out a small pouch of gold.

“I prepared this just in case, but I didn’t expect to give it to you so soon.”

“What is it?”

“Money. Don’t go sleeping rough in the name of training. The weather’s turning.”

“Understood.”

Yeon Hojeong bowed quickly.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

“Go safely and return whole.”

“Yes. Oh? Where’s Jipyeong? Haven’t seen him lately.”

Yeon Wi clicked his tongue.

“You only just noticed he’s gone?”

“......?”

“I sent him to an acquaintance for a bit. It has already been twenty days.”

“......That long?”

“I even sent Bi Eung and Jo with him.”

“Ah? Come to think of it, those guys did say they were going away for a while...”

“......”

“......”

“Do you see how oblivious you are?”

“I can’t do two things at once.”

“Silence. Before you leave, he said he wanted a meal with you. But when he saw you training with the warriors, he just left. Spend time with him when you return.”

Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips. He’d been so frantic he hadn’t even realized.

‘I’ll have to reflect.’

No matter how busy, there are things you must not miss. As an older brother, he felt sorry toward his younger brother.

“In any case, I’ll be back soon.”

“Very well.”

****

“Master.”

“You’ve come.”

His appearance was markedly changed from two months ago.

His beard was bushier and his body somewhat leaner. He must have poured himself into work these past two months.

Master Artisan Pyeon laughed as he spoke.

“Remarkable.”

“Sir?”

“You and this young lady both. Only two months have passed, yet you’re different from then. The rough, bristling edge to your energies has quieted quite a bit.”

He could see even that?

Pyeon was the sort who could identify a warrior’s weapon at a glance. If it was him, this was no empty flattery.

‘Has my energy changed so?’

Qi moves by intent, and intent is affected by the heart.

His heart had changed, so naturally his energy had as well. Training with the household warriors, the bristling edge of his energy had instead settled into stillness.

Yeon Hojeong sighed.

“Unlike us, it seems you’ve had needless hardship.”

“Bah! Hardship? Don’t say that. I am a man who takes the craft of blades as his lot. For one who works with fire and iron, creating a fine weapon is a mandate of Heaven.”

Pyeon burst into hearty laughter.

“Fortunately, it seems the effort bears fruit. I hope it pleases you.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“With such confidence, I’ll look with the coldest eye I can.”

“Of course. It’s a fellow that must accompany you through a rough world.”

With that disposition, such confidence could only come if he had poured in his whole soul.

“Come, in with you.”

Heart pounding, Yeon Hojeong entered the smithy.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw it there in the far corner: a colossal axe standing set.

Yeon Hojeong’s mouth fell open.

“How is it? Does it look the part?”