Four Gods Unleashed (2)
A month later.
“Whoa! Big brother! Look over there! Isn’t that carriage huge?”
“Yeah.”
“My god, I’ve never seen such a big, fancy carriage before! Anhui Province really is a feast for the eyes compared to our Jiangsu.”
“Is it?”
“Gasp! Big brother! Did you see that just now?! That carriage is tiny but so fast! How can a carriage like that even exist?”
“No idea.”
“Let’s ride one like that someday! Okay?”
“Maybe.”
“Hehe, you promised! Right, big brother?”
“Sure.”
Yeon Jipyeong’s face was flushed with excitement. It was his first time stepping foot in a foreign land.
Anhui Province bordered the Yeon family’s home in Jiangsu Province, but the climate, culture, and everything else felt worlds apart.
Watching his thrilled little brother, Yeon Hojeong’s expression was one of utter boredom.
“You like it?”
“Of course! Don’t you, big brother? Isn’t this your first time in Anhui too?”
He’d been here at least a hundred times before.
“To be honest, I want to travel the whole world someday. I’m dying to see more of it. I’ve always wondered how people live in other regions.”
It’s all the same everywhere.
Cultures and looks differ by region, but people are people. Good ones smile and endure even when struck from behind; bad ones rage even when treated well.
That’s what the world Yeon Hojeong had seen was like.
“Um… and also.”
“Huh?”
“I’m even happier to be out here with you, hehe.”
His silly grin and head-scratching were surprisingly cute.
Yeon Hojeong smiled back at Yeon Jipyeong, but his face slowly soured.
His father had suddenly popped into his mind.
‘What an impossible man.’
After hearing Yeon Hojeong’s answer in the bamboo grove, his father had glared at him for a long while before storming back to the family head’s quarters.
Yeon Hojeong had wondered if his rough speech had offended him, but the next day, his father summoned him and said:
‘Upon second thought, sending Jipyeong alone feels uneasy. The same goes for you, of course. But you’re already eighteen—old enough to handle your own. If you swear not to cause any trouble, I’ll let you go with him.’
It wasn’t a place he wanted to go, but sending Jipyeong alone did feel awkward. Besides, wasn’t he at the heart of the feud between the two families? He didn’t want to burden his little brother with that.
‘If they don’t intend to stir trouble, neither do I.’
‘Even if they pick a fight, endure it.’
‘That, I can’t promise.’
‘I’ll say it again: enduring insults isn’t patience—it’s cowardice. But a man doesn’t bark back at a dog’s yapping. First discern if your foe is man or beast, then act. Understood?’
‘…….’
‘No answer?’
‘Well… I’m not exactly the patient type myself…’
Yeon Hojeong had spent the next three days in horse stance training. Without patience, he might not have endured it.
And so, they’d arrived in Anhui far earlier than planned.
His father had strictly ordered them to adapt to the climate ahead of time and bond with the other early-arriving later-generation disciples to learn what harmony meant.
‘What a strange man.’
Yeon Hojeong had always seen him as rigid and rule-bound, but this felt emotional somehow.
Still, he understood his father. How could he not be angry when his son was veering off the path he’d envisioned?
‘Well, it’s a good opportunity too.’
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes blazed with fervor.
‘I can confirm it.’
Even if it strained things with his father, he wouldn’t have come if there was nothing to gain here. He could’ve done plenty else in that time.
There was one reason he’d come so willingly.
‘Can I uncover the enemy’s true nature?’
This later-generation summit included heirs from families who’d one day lead their clans. If the enemy was among the Seven Great Families, their heirs likely knew of attacks on the Yeon family.
Even if not, similarities in true energy or martial arts might slip through.
‘First, rule out Namgung, Moyong, and Dang.’
Those three families—he’d seen them often while fighting alongside the White Path against Saneumgyo. He’d never sensed any resemblance to the enemy’s arts in their experts.
That left three families.
‘Paeng, Jegal, and Myeong. I need to watch these three.’
“Big brother?”
“Yeah?”
Yeon Jipyeong asked with an anxious look.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“Uncomfortable? Why?”
“No, just…”
Yeon Hojeong smiled. His grim thoughts about the sect-destroying fiends must’ve shown on his face.
“Not uncomfortable at all. I’m excited too.”
In more ways than one.
“Hehe, then shall we find our lodging first?”
“Sounds good.”
At that moment, a deep, resonant voice rang out.
“Won’t you travel further today?”
Yeon Jipyeong involuntarily shrank back. The low, heavy timbre made his gut rumble.
Yeon Hojeong replied.
“Nah, we’re stopping here.”
“Understood. Then we’ll scout lodging. Please wait a moment.”
The man greeting them with a fist salute appeared to be in his early forties—a middle-aged swordsman. He was Sin Mo, captain of the Chaeng-eungdae.
The head of the Yeon family’s elite Chaeng-eungdae unit, known as one of Gangdong’s top swordsmen—a peak expert.
“No need. We’ve got a place in mind.”
“Pardon?”
“Choseong-ru.”
The group was in Hwahyeon County, Anhui Province. To its northeast flowed the Ojiang River, famed for the legend of the West Chu Overlord’s Four Faces Besieged by Song.
Choseong-ru was a tavern with a prime view of the Ojiang—known mostly to locals.
Sin Mo asked, surprised.
“You know of Choseong-ru?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s not a place outsiders would know…”
“Heard about it somewhere. You know it, Captain Sin?”
“Yes, it’s not far from Jiangsu, so I’ve stopped by a few times.”
“Lead the way then.”
“Understood.”
Sin Mo differed from Gang Yun in many ways. His martial prowess outstripped Gang Yun’s, and he seemed more prudent. True to a Yeon family warrior, he distinguished public from private meticulously and gave his missions his all.
Stronger warriors abounded, but few as reliable.
That’s why Yeon Wi had assigned him to his sons.
And so, the Yeon brothers, Sin Mo, and a squad of twenty Chaeng-eungdae warriors headed to Choseong-ru.
“Whoa!”
Choseong-ru bustled with activity. Even in the chill, crowds came year-round, drawn to the Chu Overlord’s legend.
“Grab rooms and rest. We’ve got time, so head out in four or five days.”
“Yes, sir.”
The group unpacked in Choseong-ru’s rear garden. Yet the Chaeng-eungdae guarded the brothers rigorously, dividing their twenty-one members—including the captain—into three shifts.
Yeon Hojeong, emerging with an iron staff, clicked his tongue.
“Why don’t you all rest too?”
“We’re fine.”
So rigid.
“Alright, work hard then.”
They were under the family head’s orders, after all. Yeon Hojeong saw no need to press.
“Hm, this spot looks good.”
Whoosh, whoosh.
Yeon Hojeong spun the staff, finding its balance.
Sin Mo’s eyes gleamed as he watched.
‘Familiar.’
The one-handed spins exuded proficiency, like years of staff training.
‘Didn’t he use a sword before?’
Even en route here, Yeon Hojeong hadn’t skipped training—but only circulation exercises and slow fist forms. Sin Mo had never seen staff practice.
Thud!
The staff struck the ground sharply.
“Let’s go.”
Yeon Hojeong flicked the staff’s end with his toe.
Twang!
It spun with a menacing hum. Gripping the center with both hands, he whipped it into a whirlwind.
The cold, dry air fled before the staff.
“Hup.”
Thud!
With a powerful stamp, Yeon Hojeong unleashed his staff arts in earnest.
Whoooosh!
Sin Mo, watching quietly, watched his eyes widen more and more.
Whoosh! Whoooosh! Crackle-crack!
The staff work grew faster and more precise over time. He handled the hefty weapon—barely under twenty catties—like a natural.
Centrifugal force boosted speed at the right moments; precise cuts made thrusts fluid and beautiful.
A smile tugged at Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
‘It works.’
En route, he hadn’t trained staff but the Yeon family’s foundational fist art, Yeon Family Thirteen Fists.
He’d wanted to ingrain flexibility and bodily poise. It had paid off.
Now, the Whirlwind Staff Technique was truly shining.
A bit more practice, and it’d be battle-ready.
‘Good, might as well keep going.’
Crack!
Bi-ra Jin-gyeol stabilized his body.
The staff tip pierced air like a blade; its base crushed down with weight.
The spinning staff drew in air like a majestic river.
Sin Mo, marveling at the unexpectedly fine skill, soon jolted in shock.
Crack! Bang! Booom!
The fluid, river-like staff flow turned rigid.
The iron staff hacked the air relentlessly.
What had been a graceful dance grew crude in an instant.
“Too stiff,” Sin Mo muttered.
He glanced aside. It was Yang Heum of the Chaeng-eung squad one.
The young warrior, on early shift, had come to watch Yeon Hojeong train.
“The forms are breaking down. He doesn’t look tired, but he’s clearly unfamiliar with the staff.”
“Does it seem that way?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. It’s high-level staff work, sure, but like that…”
“The Young Lord understands staff arts perfectly.”
“What?!”
“Crude as it looks, there’s no wasted motion.”
Yang Heum couldn’t comprehend.
“Those… weird moves?”
“You see only the forms? Not the true energy in the staff?”
Sin Mo’s gaze deepened.
“The Young Lord wields a staff that most efficiently destroys the enemy’s body—tailored even to the true energy’s nature. That’s why it looks crude.”
“……”
“That staff art likely derives from a swift, passionate heart method.”
Adjusting staff flow to inner art traits?
Yang Heum couldn’t believe it. Even he, a first-rate warrior, struggled with that.
Sin Mo’s eyes wavered.
‘Such talent?’
He could scarcely believe his own words to Yang Heum.
At the Young Lord’s level, it was something one wouldn’t dare attempt—yet he did it effortlessly.
‘Blood will tell.’
A moment later.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Yeon Hojeong stopped training.
“Good enough for now.”
“Young Lord.”
“Hm?”
Yeon Hojeong turned. Yang Heum stood there.
“Chaeng-eung Squad One, Yang Heum.”
“And?”
“If it’s not rude, how about sparring forms with me? No inner energy.”
A bold proposal. Sin Mo’s face hardened.
“Yang Heum! How dare you be so insolent to the Young Lord? Back to your quarters at once—”
“Sounds fun.”
Sin Mo stared at Yeon Hojeong in astonishment.
Yeon Hojeong grinned, spinning the staff.
“I could use a partner anyway.”
“An honor. I’ll prepare at once.”
“Great.”
Yeon Hojeong smirked.
“Don’t hold back just ‘cause I’m the Young Lord, okay?”
* * *
The next day.
Jegal A-yeon’s face lit up as she toured Choseong-ru.
“Whoa! Impressive! Worth coming early!”
“S-Sis.”
“Huh?”
“Lots of people. Please watch your words…”
“What’s wrong with my words? I just call good things good.”
“Sigh, that’s why you keep getting dragged into trouble. Like those guys yesterday…”
“It’s fine. They didn’t know I’m the Jegal eldest daughter.”
“That’s the problem! Better to settle it cleanly…”
“Look at this coward, all spineless. Be bolder, huh?”
“Don’t you think you’re too carefree? And why bring gender into it?”
“Quit yapping and eat. My stomach’s about to kiss my spine…”
Then—
Thud!
“Arrrgh!”
A savage scream echoed from Choseong-ru’s rear garden.
Jegal A-yeon’s eyes widened.
“You heard that too, right?”
“……N-No.”
“You did, jerk!”
“I didn’t! I swear!”
“Fine, you stay here.”
“Please! What trouble now?!”
“This punk? You hear that scream and say that? What if it’s some innocent beauty in distress? Huh?!”
“Sounded like a guy with phlegm…”
“Anyway, something fishy’s up! For justice, I gotta check it out!”
“Sis! Wait! You’re really going? Sis! Siiiis!!”