The Moment of Resolve (3)
“Huh?!”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Hehe, it’s nothing, sir. My back just stung for a second.”
“Hoho, did a bug bite you?”
“Seems like it.”
Yeon Jipyeong rubbed his back—more precisely, the spot just below his nape.
What was that? A bug, really?
It felt like something sharp had jabbed right in. It nagged at him, but he decided to ignore it. Now wasn’t the time to fuss over a bug bite.
“Hmm, time to pull it out.”
Screeech!
As the cold mountain wind hit the glowing red sword, its surface gradually darkened. Yeon Jipyeong’s mouth fell open.
“In-incredible.”
The old man burst into laughter. “You’ve seen it plenty of times already.”
“Still! Whoa, it’s hot.”
“Step back.”
The old man plunged the heated sword into a massive water jar. Sssssss!
A burst of grayish-white steam spread everywhere in an instant. The heat and humidity were overwhelming. The water filling the jar boiled away in seconds.
“Hoho, one more hammering and it’ll be done.”
“Wow.”
“That impressive, is it?”
“Yes! It’s amazing. I want to try making one myself someday.”
It was a bold statement, but the old man let out a hearty laugh. Yeon Jipyeong’s brash tone brimmed with pure innocence, and that had won the old man over.
“If you’re serious about walking the path of a true craftsman, come find me anytime. I’ll build your foundations solid.”
“Hehe, I don’t think that’s for me.”
“Hohoho!”
“Anyway, it’s truly amazing. I had no idea making a single sword took this much effort.”
The old man replied in a cheerful tone. “Nothing in this world yields good results without devotion. Isn’t martial arts the same?”
“You’re right.”
“So treat it well. It’ll be your companion through the harsh winds of the world ahead.”
“Of course! I still can’t believe it—me, so young, receiving a sword from you.”
“Tch! Foolish boy, craftsmen don’t judge by age, and neither should warriors. If you’re worthy to hold the sword, you hold it. And you are more than worthy of mine.”
“Heehee.”
“It’s forged from the purest steel, without a speck of impurity. How well you cherish it will determine its true power.”
“……”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“……”
“Jipyeong?”
Yeon Jipyeong had turned his head, gazing toward a distant peak. His eyes deepened. The old man was inwardly surprised. Those clear, profound eyes now shimmered with a subtle sharpness. It was a gaze Yeon Jipyeong had never shown before.
A swordsman’s eyes, through and through.
A moment later, Yeon Jipyeong turned back.
“Sorry. I must’ve imagined it.”
“Hohoho.”
“What’s next? I can’t wait to see the rest!”
“One more hammering. This should finish it.”
Thud! Claaang!
The clear ring of hammer on steel echoed grandly, almost like war drums on a battlefield.
* * *
Boom!
The swing of the Gwangryongbu cleaved two assassins in half at the torso.
Crash!
Yeon Hojeong didn’t recover the axe. Leaving it extended from the swing, he smashed the head of a distant assassin with a left fist strike.
One axe blow, one punch—three assassins dead.
Thoom!
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed. The moment they lost three, the front line of assassins pulled back to regroup.
Not bad.
The assassins were forming a formation? Any martial artist worth their salt would scoff. But an assassin squad’s formation was threatening in a different way from a regular battle unit. It was their nature.
Fwssh fwssh fwssh!
Sparks seemed to fly in the empty air.
Damn.
The assassins advanced in a horizontal line. Their speed wasn’t impressive, but the troops behind them were the problem. Assassins excelled at suppressing their killing intent—and unleashing it in exaggerated bursts. Amplification, convergence, condensation, release—they wielded it freely.
A hundred elite assassins each unleashing chaotic killing intent made the air itself dizzying.
Yeon Hojeong’s expression turned icy.
This qualifies as top-tier elites.
He’d once clashed with those called Cheongrang from the Myeong family. But they were half-baked. Hailed as murder experts, their power started with shaking the opponent’s mind. Impressive, yes—but scattered. With a steady heart and efficient tactics, they were easy prey.
These were different.
Papapapang!
Hidden weapons from the rear line arced down like projectiles. Each no bigger than a fingernail, but their number surpassed hundreds.
Yeon Hojeong took a single, powerful step forward.
Kaboom!
Fallen leaves exploded into the air from the ground. The front horizontal line wavered slightly.
Flash!
Charging with White Tiger Galloping Step, Yeon Hojeong unleashed Tiger King Nine Thunder Strikes.
Whoosh!
Splat!
Two dodged, but three didn’t. Crimson blood mist painted the sky.
That’s when Yeon Hojeong saw the front assassins raising slender tubes to their mouths.
Papapapapap!
Dozens of poisoned needles shot toward him.
Bang!
His honed movement technique made evasion effortless. Soaring high, he spotted the rear-line assassins.
A lot of them.
Far away, they’d seemed manageable. Up close, the difference was stark. Swarming killers glared, drawing weapons. A chilling sight.
This is ridiculous…
Who sent these assassins? Where did they come from? He shoved the questions aside. Facing their siege formation, Yeon Hojeong felt the Black Emperor instincts buried deep in his chest stir.
Flash!
His body plummeted at terrifying speed. Thousand-Jin Drop—a high-level qi technique increasing weight with inner energy.
Astonishingly, he landed behind the front horizontal line.
Right in the heart of the assassins.
Kaboom!
The hulking figure with the massive axe unleashed a storm of ferocious strikes upon landing.
Splat splat splat!
A dozen assassins around Yeon Hojeong were shredded and flung away. Monstrous power. His unique martial arts, honed over time, now fused with the Black Emperor’s killing aura. One-on-one or outnumbered, no one could stop him now.
“Raaagh!”
Splat! Splat!
The eighty-plus jin Gwangryongbu whipped horizontally and vertically, tearing assassins like rags.
Woooom!
Azure Bi-ra Jin-gyeol fortified his body, and the Western Sovereign White Tiger’s arts swept the killers away.
The barrage was too fast, too powerful. Caught off-guard, the assassins shattered indiscriminately. In moments, over forty lay dead.
Papapap!
The assassins didn’t sit idle. Yeon Hojeong was a beast trapped in their midst, no matter his prowess.
They swung their weapons wildly.
Shrieeeek!
Attacks rained from all sides—front, back, left, right. No space to dodge.
Fleeing airborne? They’d anticipated, ready to loose hidden weapons mid-leap.
Interesting.
White Tiger Qi concentrated in his right hand’s Gwangryongbu and left fist.
Bwooom!
Craaaack!
The rotational shockwave of his emitting energy deflected most attacks.
Pfshk! Slash!
Three or four sword cuts marred Yeon Hojeong’s body. Shallow, but the poison on the blades was the issue. Assassins coated every weapon—even cheap ones—with at least paralyzing toxin.
The assassins’ eyes gleamed with bloodlust. Got him. One wound was enough. The potent paralyzer would dull his movements.
They believed it utterly.
Kaboom!
Crimson fire qi erupted in a terrifying aura. Enveloped in red, Yeon Hojeong’s form flashed like lightning.
Splat splat!
Kaboom!
Heavenly Slaughter’s explosive charge. Blazing Vermilion Bird Qi fused with ultra-fast Blood Wing Swing Heaven obliterated a segment of their formation.
Shraaa!
Bursting flesh and a net of blood in the sky looked surreal. Their attacks scored wounds repeatedly, but he never slowed. If anything, he gained momentum over time.
Then, a rear assassin shouted.
“Disperse!”
Flash!
The assassins scattered at frightening speed. Abandoning the siege, they retreated first. His skill was too superior for chaotic melee.
“Huff!”
Yeon Hojeong, breathing raggedly, looked every bit the lone general surviving a charge through enemy ranks. Hidden weapons studded his body, over a dozen sword wounds besides.
Fwaaah!
Wiping blood from his mouth, his killing aura surged like a massive vortex.
The assassin leader, Sa-geuk, clicked his tongue.
What the hell makes him this strong?!
No terrain advantage—hell, he’d plunged into their midst for a frontal brawl. Yet in that short time, they’d lost over seventy. So shocking, he’d delayed the dispersal order uncharacteristically.
How impressed he was by Yeon Hojeong’s prowess.
Siege that monster? They’re insane.
As Sa-geuk ground his teeth inwardly, Yeon Hojeong spoke.
“I don’t expect you to spill easily, but I’ll ask anyway. Spit!”
He spat blood-mixed saliva, glaring murderously at Sa-geuk.
Sa-geuk flinched.
“Who sent you?”
An astonishing question. He’d heard “Who are you? Where from? Why kill me?” plenty. But “Who hired you?” was new.
Meant this was routine for Yeon Hojeong. A master of anti-assassin warfare, veteran of countless such scraps.
Sa-geuk replied.
“Where’s the woman who was with you?”
“What’s it to you?”
“…Fair enough. Doesn’t matter.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sharpened.
Just as I thought—me.
They only needed to nab him. He’d suspected, but now confirmed.
Hold on, Muk Bi.
Muk Bi wasn’t as far as Sa-geuk thought.
Wait for my signal. Stay hidden, no matter what.
A frontal breakthrough against a siege was reckless. But he’d chosen it anyway, thanks to that nagging incongruity prickling his mind.
Then, Sa-geuk’s eyes gleamed. Simultaneously, Yeon Hojeong’s fist whipped backward.
Boom!
A white gale-force punch obliterated an assassin’s head. The one who’d tried poisoning his exposed back with a needle.
Sa-geuk groaned inwardly.
Damn it, no one said he was this strong!
Superior in martial arts, senses, combat skill—every aspect. A monster.
Can’t do this. Fall back, observe, then night assassination.
Just kill him—that’s all. They’d requested siege, but now? No choice.
Sa-geuk raised his hand. “Down the mountain! Attack again at night—”
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed. Sa-geuk’s vision blurred, and he collapsed. A neat round hole pierced his chest.
“You heard the contract—honor it. We paid up front.”
From behind the rear assassins, a hazy shadow approached leisurely.
Yes, that’s him.
No time for tactics, but he’d used himself as bait for a frontal assault precisely because of that.
“But… yeah, this is pointless now.”
Yeon Hojeong asked, “You?”
The middle-aged man, Mong Ui, nodded. “Yeah. Me.”