Chapter 134: The Price of Greed (4)

The Sword Immortal, Tak Muja.

One of the Immortal Sovereigns within the Thirteen of Celestial Ascension, and an invincible master said to stand at the absolute pinnacle of Wudang Sect’s martial arts in this era.

They say it’s meaningless to argue who stands higher when Immortal Sovereigns fight one another, but at least in terms of when their names first shook the world, One God and the Two Immortals were a few years earlier than the Three Emperors and Four Kings.

So people of the world, with respect, said that One God and the Two Immortals were the ones closest to being number one under heaven. Leaving pure skill aside, it was an assessment made based on age and fame.

The Sword Immortal was one of those Two Immortals, and a master evaluated as the strongest among those who had inherited the Daoist sword lineage.

And that disciple was now standing in front of Yeon Hojeong.

Okcheong, disciple of the Sword Immortal, huh.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed sharply.

Yeah, I’ve heard that name before.

It was said that when Tak Muja, praised as Wudang Sect’s greatest martial talent since the sect’s founding ancestor Three-Winds True Person, first saw Okcheong, he’d lauded him as someone born with the talent of a Martial God.

That rumor had spread across the Central Plains in an instant. It was earthshaking enough that a supreme master like Tak Muja had taken on a disciple at all—but then he’d called that disciple’s talent that of a Martial God, so of course it became the talk of the world.

But...

Yeon Hojeong remembered the Daoist name Okcheong.

Okcheong is dead.

Back when Yeon Hojeong had made his name as the Dark Emperor.

Before the Four Yin Cult pushed fully into the Central Plains, they had gone around killing the troublesome masters one by one.

One of those was Okcheong. And at the time he died to the Four Yin Cult’s schemes, it was known that Okcheong had already reached the realm of an Immortal Sovereign.

He died back then. And now I’m seeing, in this era, someone whose face I never even saw in my previous life.

A trace of curiosity colored Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“Okcheong... I’ve heard plenty about you.”

Okcheong’s brow twitched.

He’d heard plenty? For a first meeting, the tone was rather arrogant.

But Okcheong didn’t care about the other man’s manner of speech. The only thing that mattered to him was a duel with a master who could give him the foothold he needed to break through his wall.

“Are you Yeon the Tiger General?”

It seemed he’d taken the epithet Green Mountain Tiger General and the name Yeon Hojeong and mashed them ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) together.

Yeon Hojeong grumbled.

“Don’t go changing other people’s names as you please. I’m Yeon Hojeong.”

“I know I’m being rude. But I still ask this favor, even at the risk of discourtesy.”

SCRAPE.

Right there, Okcheong went down on his knees. There was an air of grim resolve about him.

“Please, I beg you to duel with me.”

Yeon Hojeong glanced sidelong at Mookbi.

Mookbi’s body shivered, then she turned her head away. It seemed she was fed up with the vicious fate of accidents and incidents that followed Yeon Hojeong around.

Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.

“I’m in the middle of training. Sorry, but come back later.”

“Then I’ll wait here until your training is finished.”

What a damn single-minded bastard.

“You’re going to wait while the snow’s coming down like this?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll have icicles hanging off your hair.”

“......”

“Good grief.”

With a look like he just couldn’t understand, Yeon Hojeong asked:

“Why are you so set on dueling me, specifically?”

Okcheong’s mouth opened naturally.

“I heard that the Tiger General of Green Mountain’s martial arts are as fierce and violent as a brushfire, a battle style that gives the opponent no room at all to counterattack.”

“Mm.”

“And that you’re a practical fighter whose offensive-heavy, unconventional way of combat is already a complete school of its own, with transitions between attack and defense flowing as naturally as water.”

“That rumor’s cringe enough to make my fingers curl.”

“I decided you’re exactly the opponent I need right now.”

Okcheong pressed his forehead to the snow-covered ground.

“Please, grant me your instruction.”

Yeon Hojeong looked at Mookbi.

Watch and learn, you brat. Show my father at least this much sincerity someday.

“Can’t be helped, then.”

Okcheong raised his head.

In eyes that had been full of emptiness, a faint spark of life seemed to grow.

WHOOOM.

Resting Mad Dragon (Axe) across his shoulders, Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Let’s have a bout.”

“Thank you. Truly, thank you. I will never forget this favor.”

“There’s no need to call it a favor. For all you know, you might be the one who wins.”

SLLIK.

Okcheong drew his sword.

It was the Pine-Grain Ancient Sword, pride of Wudang Sect. Its tip was gently rounded and its blade somewhat dull—a formal iron sword of the Daoist tradition.

Yeon Hojeong quietly watched him.

Okcheong took a deep breath, then slowly sank lower into his stance.

HUMMMMM.

A blue aura rose on the Pine-Grain Ancient Sword.

In that instant, Mookbi felt a chill.

Sharp.

The blade of the Pine-Grain Ancient Sword itself clearly wasn’t honed keen, but once that clear aura clung to it, it began to exude a terrifyingly razor-edged killing intent.

It meant Okcheong’s sword had been honed that sharply. It didn’t feel like the martial arts of Wudang, which aimed at the path of immortality.

And that sharpness was real. One misstep and it felt like she would be cut before she could even blink.

Just as Mookbi was looking at Yeon Hojeong with worried eyes—

“Hm...”

Yeon Hojeong scratched his cheek.

“Can I start?”

“Sir?”

Okcheong blinked like an idiot.

Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.

“In that case, I’ll begin.”

FLASH!

What—!

Okcheong flinched in shock. Yeon Hojeong, who’d been standing five jang away, had somehow closed to within one jang.

His movement speed was incredible. By instinct, Okcheong unfolded the Wudang style that represented the sect’s swordsmanship, the Supreme Polarity Wisdom Sword.

At the same time, Mad Dragon (Axe) moved like a bolt of lightning.

CLAAANG!

With a single rising blow, the Pine-Grain Ancient Sword snapped—

THUD!

“GUUURGH!”

—and a Yeon Clan Fist, a single Green Wave strike that spun like a whirlwind, sent Okcheong’s eyes rolling back.

Clutching his belly and trembling, Okcheong collapsed on the spot.

Just before he lost consciousness, Yeon Hojeong’s voice reached his ears, growing more and more distant.

“What the hell is wrong with this idiot? The match started, so why the hell did he go and relax his body... Wudang arts are all like this... No wonder he died...”

“HAAH!”

Regaining his senses, Okcheong shot upright.

“Huff, huff! Ugh.”

Without thinking, he grabbed his belly.

A dull ache rose from his abdomen. It hurt so much his eyes almost filled with tears.

“Uuugh.”

Okcheong drew up the Primordial Unity True Formula.

HUMMMM.

Primordial Unity Qi rising from his lower abdomen lessened the pain in his belly.

Now he felt he could live.

Okcheong looked around.

Where is this?

A room. A fairly spacious room, though there weren’t many clothes in sight.

Then the last memory before he blacked out surfaced in Okcheong’s mind.

“Haah! The Tiger General of Green Mountain!”

That was right. He’d asked the Green Mountain Tiger General Yeon Hojeong for a duel, and in only two exchanges he’d taken a hit to the abdomen and passed out.

Two exchanges... I went down in just two exchanges...?

Okcheong couldn’t believe it.

Brrrrr.

His tightly clenched fists shook uncontrollably.

Recently, a heart demon had settled in, and his martial arts had fallen into stagnation. But the martial arts he’d built up from childhood until now were carved deep into his bones.

He had the skill to subdue any run-of-the-mill master within three sword strikes, yet he couldn’t even endure two exchanges?

This can’t be. I have to see him again.

At that moment—

CLANG! CRACK!

“Guh!”

He heard a strange grunt and the sound of someone collapsing in a heap.

Okcheong turned his gaze to the window.

It seemed he was on the second floor; looking down below the window, he saw a tall young man with a splendid axe resting on his shoulder, staring down at someone.

“Son of a... How many times is this now? I really wish they’d stop coming already, damn it.”

His voice was dripping with irritation.

In that instant, Okcheong snapped fully awake.

Yeon Hojeong!

WHOOSH!

Hurling himself out the window, Okcheong landed on the ground.

Yeon Hojeong turned to look at him.

Okcheong started to open his mouth, then flinched. The face of Yeon Hojeong looking at him was flushed red like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

“Now what?”

“......”

“If you’re awake, go back to your own quarters.”

It was an atmosphere that made it hard to speak up.

But Okcheong couldn’t back down here.

“My apologies. This poor Daoist caused needless trouble for the Tiger General of Green Mountain. You truly are a man of such martial skill that all under heaven would be amazed.”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

From the way he was talking, it sounded like he might actually go back soon. Forcing down the anger boiling up inside him, Yeon spoke.

“I’m still a long way off. That’s why I’m training, isn’t it?”

“Of course.”

“In any case, go back for now. I left your sword on the table; you can take—”

“My apologies, but may I ask for just one more favor?”

“......”

“Please. I can’t go back like this.”

“Get into stance.”

“...Sir?”

When he raised his head to look at Yeon Hojeong, Okcheong felt his knees almost go weak.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes were blazing with terrifying killing intent.

“I said get into stance, you damned Daoist.”

“Uh? Ah, yes.”

Without meaning to, Okcheong took up an awkward stance. It was the starting form of Wudang Seven Stars Fist.

“Good grief.”

BOOOOOM!

The piled snow shot up to the height of a three-story building.

Luckily, Okcheong’s body only flew up to about the height of the second floor before falling. Thank heaven, there didn’t seem to be any broken bones.

As his consciousness faded again, Yeon Hojeong’s voice reached Okcheong’s ears.

“Next time I’ll just crack their legs. Mookbi! Take care of this guy from the Kongtong Sect too... Ah, these crazy bastards really came again... Die, you son of a bitch...!”

“HAAH!”

Okcheong’s eyes flew open again.

“Huff, huff! Cough! Cough, cough!”

A shallow cough came out of him on its own. There wasn’t an ounce of strength in his body.

“Uuugh!”

Barely managing to raise himself, Okcheong rubbed his jaw.

Did it break?

His last memories resurfaced one by one. A half-palm of Yeon Hojeong’s, coming in at a speed the naked eye couldn’t follow, smashing into his jaw, his body flying through the air and then slamming into the ground.

If not for his tempered body and the Primordial Unity True Formula, at least one part of him would have broken clean through.

No, it was a miracle his jaw hadn’t been shattered. If the other man hadn’t held back, his head might have flown off outright.

Okcheong looked out the window.

“Night already...?”

Just then, a cool voice spoke.

“Yes, it’s night.”

“Geh!”

Startled, Okcheong snapped his head toward the voice.

There was Yeon Hojeong, sitting alone drinking with Mad Dragon (Axe) resting on his shoulder. The candle lit in the middle of the table and the way he tilted his cup made the scene oddly eerie.

“Y-Young Master Yeon?”

“I told you not to chop up my name.”

“...Sir?”

“I said don’t call me Tiger General, you brat.”

“Ah, yes!”

Why was that? Okcheong couldn’t stop his speech and behavior from becoming polite all on their own.

After staring at him for a moment, Yeon Hojeong spoke with a bitter smile.

“Now that you’re back in your right mind, go on home. I need to finish this and get some sleep.”

“Ah...!”

Only then did Okcheong realize he’d taken over Yeon Hojeong’s bed.

He scrambled off the bed and bowed his head.

“I—I’ve caused you trouble.”

“Long as you know, you can go.”

“Ah... But, if I may, perhaps...”

With a blank face, Yeon Hojeong lifted Mad Dragon (Axe).

The blood drained from Okcheong’s face.

“Gasp! I’m not asking you to fight! Absolutely not.”

“......?”

“......”

“Hmph.”

THUNK.

Dropping the axe, Yeon Hojeong went back to his drink.

Okcheong swallowed.

Even when he’d been in normal condition, that man had taken him down in two exchanges. In his current state, he wouldn’t last even a second. In fact, he hadn’t lasted.

He’s an incredible powerhouse. He’s around my age, so how can he be this strong?

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“If you’ve got nothing to say, go back.”

“...Is that really all right?”

“What? I can’t hear you, you brat. Speak up.”

Hesitating, Okcheong finally blurted it out.

“C-could I receive instruction from you, great hero?”

“Ah, so that’s what it was? You should’ve said so sooner, idiot.”

With a cold look on his face, Yeon Hojeong stood up. He really was ready to finish this to the bitter end.

“Gasp! I—I’m not asking you to fight! I mean exactly what I said—guidance, just guidance!”

“...Hm?”

“I—I’ll come again tomorrow! Please tell me where I’m lacking! I promise I won’t ask you to fight me!”

“......”

“......”

“...Hmph.”

THUNK.

Setting Mad Dragon (Axe) down, Yeon Hojeong waved his hand.

“Fine, come again tomorrow. I’m going to sleep.”

“Yes, sir!”

Okcheong left Army-Breaking Pavilion faster than he ever had in his life.