A Shift in Perspective (5)
The day after his conversation with his father, Yeon Hojeong shut himself away for three straight days. When he finally emerged from his quarters, he headed straight for the grand training grounds—not to train alone, but to naturally strike up conversations with the household guards and train alongside them.
Yeon Hojeong's training was brutal. Draining his stamina to the absolute limit was par for the course, and he didn't hesitate to swing real spears and swords at the guards' throats, endangering their lives. It was an excessively dangerous method, somewhat barbaric even, and completely divorced from the Yeon family's traditional training ways.
At the same time, he drew clear lines between superiors and subordinates. After sessions that pushed them to the brink of death, he always ate with the guards right there on the training grounds. He traded cheerful banter with them, and before long, their wariness melted away.
The guards came to realize it instinctively, without needing it spelled out: the eldest young master didn't see them merely as useful tools. Through their time together, it became clear that Yeon Hojeong, the Yeon family's heir, treated them like extensions of himself and simply wished for everyone to grow stronger.
Two weeks passed like that. As time went on, more and more guards joined in the training. Yeon Hojeong welcomed them with a smile and drove them mercilessly with training so intense it felt like death was optional.
Surprisingly, not a single guard dropped out. Yeon Hojeong was harsh yet meticulous. He personally tended to those with severe wounds and made sure anyone who couldn't continue the next day got proper rest. It was a side of him they'd never seen before. The endlessly powerful Yeon Hojeong, training alongside his subordinates, finally displayed the dignity befitting the Yeon family's heir.
Another two weeks. A full month after committing fully to the training, seven out of ten household guards were participating alongside Yeon Hojeong. Excluding those on missions or guard duty, nearly everyone was involved.
Yeon Wi paid no mind to how the guards' training had changed. He simply watched silently as Yeon Hojeong and the guards became one. It was a sign of how much he trusted his son.
Time flowed on. As summer's scorching sun lost its fury and early autumn's cool breezes arrived under clear skies, the Yeon guards' auras—once as pure and clear as cloudless heavens—sharpened like peerless swords across the land. It wasn't their temperament that had changed, but their bearing as warriors. They now possessed ironclad mental fortitude, ready to respond instantly to any crisis. It was as if they had all become Yeon Hojeong. Precisely what he had hoped for.
Crack!
“Gah!”
Yang Heum spat blood and collapsed from the merciless punch. Yeon Hojeong grinned.
“I win, right?”
He nearly killed the man and had the gall to smile. Astonishingly, Yang Heum grumbled through a fit of deep coughs.
“Damn it, couldn't even block seven exchanges.”
Sin Mo, standing at the edge of the training grounds, boomed in his characteristically gruff voice.
“Yang Heum! Watch your mouth in front of the eldest young master.”
“Cough!”
“No excuses for getting injured.”
“Cough cough! Kyaak!”
Sin Mo's face twisted. Lately, these fools kept ignoring the family head's words. He might have to crack some skulls soon.
Yeon Hojeong waved it off.
“It's fine. No need to be so harsh.”
“But young master—”
“Just fear the family head. I like it this way.”
Sin Mo cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I'll correct their manners.”
“That's on you as captain. I won't interfere. Though yeah, it's about time to rein them in.”
Yang Heum paled.
“I was just mumbling to myself. I would never disrespect the young master...”
“Shut it and get to the infirmary. If you don't treat this internal injury properly, it'll give you headaches for days.”
“Ah, yes sir.”
Yang Heum scratched his head and shuffled off the grounds. The mood hid it well, but his injuries were serious. Only exceptional endurance let him walk out under his own power. Yet his gait showed no falter—a testament to the stamina and grit forged in recent training.
To Yeon Hojeong's eyes, the household guards were finally becoming true warriors.
The rest is up to the unit leaders.
When people see blood often, their strikes grow heavier and tempers sharper. Polishing that edge was the leaders' job, like Sin Mo's. They'd discussed it in depth beforehand, and the leaders were instilling thorough lessons in the way of righteousness alongside.
“Young master, how about sparring with me this time...?”
“No. Busy.”
Yeon Hojeong descended from the grounds. Sin Mo asked,
“Ending training early today?”
“Of course not. Just me. Finish up what you were doing.”
“Ah, you're occupied?”
The old Sin Mo wouldn't have pried like that. Even he was softening in this flexible atmosphere.
Yeon Hojeong clapped Sin Mo's shoulder with a grin.
“Keep 'em drilling hard while I'm gone.”
“Pardon?”
“You heard me.”
Yeon Hojeong headed straight to his quarters. As he arrived,
Thwip!
Thwack!
Without looking, he extended his left arm and snatched the incoming arrow mid-flight. In a bored tone, he said,
“Too slow.”
“Had to be.”
Muk Bi emerged from the shadows by the wall.
“I threw it barehanded.”
“Aim for the chest or gut next time. Shoulder? Really?”
“Didn't want to actually kill you.”
“Hilarious. Ever seen a tiger nicked by a falling leaf?”
“Overkill metaphor.”
“Quiet.”
Muk Bi tilted her head.
“Wrapping up early today? Where to?”
“Get ready. You too.”
“Ready for what?”
“Word from Pyeon Il-gang. He got the bow for you, so you're coming.”
Muk Bi's eyes sparkled.
“R-Really? Wait just a sec!”
She dashed into the annex. So childish at times.
Turning grown men into wrecks with that innocent face.
Muk Bi had joined the guards' training multiple times, smashing most who underestimated her in spars. She was fast and overwhelming. Even without her bow, her basic hand-to-hand crushed the household guards.
Her movement arts are just broken.
True to her extreme lightness skill, her lower body was a weapon in itself. A casual kick snapped bones like twigs. Unsharpened steel was still deadly—Muk Bi's body and inner energy embodied that.
Movement arts... perfect timing. Time to temper it on the way.
After washing up and changing in his quarters, Yeon Hojeong headed to the family head's office.
“You're here.”
“Yes. And...”
Yeon Hojeong eyed the towering stack of documents with dismay.
“Still swamped, I see.”
“So it seems.”
“Isn't I Baekhyeon handling chief steward duties anymore?”
“No.”
“Hire someone already. You'll collapse from overwork.”
“I'll manage.”
“Even masters aren't invincible against paperwork.”
“I'll dump it all on I Baekhyeon when it's too much. He'll hire help if he has to.”
Poor guy. Yeon Hojeong could already hear I Baekhyeon's wails.
He'd trained in Yeon arts too, but could he endure this workload?
“Off to Pyeon Il-gang?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Wi scanned him head to toe.
“Pyeon Il-gang's impressive, but aren't you investing too much?”
Yeon Hojeong coughed awkwardly. Yeon Wi shook his head at the silent stare.
“With your impatient nature, who would serve you?”
“Had to go anyway.”
“Tch. Figured there was a reason you dropped by midday.”
Yeon Hojeong planned to visit Pyeon Il-gang's forge first, then head straight to Zhejiang. Officially for preliminary scouting to expand Yeon business there, but really for Mo Yong Woo. Through the Beggars' Sect, he tracked Mo Yong Woo's location every five days. Good—he was still at the Zhejiang branch.
Days were cooling. Winter would hit maritime trade hard. The Yeons would be run ragged too.
Yeon Wi pulled a gold pouch from his desk drawer.
“Prepared this just in case, but didn't expect to hand it over so soon.”
“What's this?”
“Money. Don't rough it sleeping outdoors under the guise of training. Weather's turning cold.”
“Understood.”
Yeon Hojeong bowed deeply.
“I'll be off then.”
“Come back safe.”
“Yes. Oh? Where's Jipyeong? Haven't seen him lately.”
Yeon Wi clicked his tongue.
“You only now notice he's gone?”
“...?”
“Sent him to an acquaintance twenty days ago.”
“...That long?”
“Even took Bi-eungjo with him.”
“Ah? Come to think of it, they mentioned heading out somewhere...”
“...”
“...”
“See how oblivious you are?”
“I can't multitask.”
“Quiet. He wanted a meal with you before leaving, but saw you training with the guards and just went. Keep him company when he returns.”
Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips. Too caught up to notice.
Need to reflect on that.
No matter how busy, some things can't be neglected. He felt guilty as a brother.
“Anyway, I'll be back soon.”
“Go.”
* * *
“Elder.”
“You've arrived.”
His appearance had changed starkly from two months ago. Beard thicker, frame slightly shrunken. He'd thrown himself into the work.
Pyeon Il-gang grinned.
“Impressive.”
“Pardon?”
“You and this girl both. Just two months, yet so different. That sharp, jagged aura has settled nicely.”
He even noticed that? Pyeon Il-gang could discern a warrior's weapon at a glance. No empty flattery from him.
Has my aura changed that much?
Qi moves with intent, intent with the mind. A changed heart naturally shifts the aura. Training with the guards had calmed his once razor-edged presence.
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
“Unlike us, you've been through needless hardship, elder.”
“Nonsense! Hardship? Don't say that. I'm a bladesmith by trade. For one who wields fire and iron, forging a fine weapon is heaven's mandate.”
Pyeon Il-gang bellowed a laugh.
“The toil seems worth it. Hope it suits you.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“With such confidence, I'll judge it coldly.”
“Naturally. It must brave the harsh world at your side.”
Even his temperament made such assurance rare. He'd poured his soul into it.
“Come in.”
Heart pounding, Yeon Hojeong entered the forge. Right away, in the far corner, stood a massive axe. His jaw dropped.
“What do you think? Does it look the part?”