Chapter 122. The Moment of Resolve (4)
‘Yeon Gongja!’
Muk Bi bit her lip. She was hiding atop a tree about twenty zhang from the battlefield.
She hadn’t formally studied concealment techniques, but she had a knack for stealth. That was the nature of an archer. Sniping demanded expert camouflage and cover.
Slrr.
Before she knew it, an arrow was nocked on the string of her Hongryeon Palace.
She recalled Yeon Hojeong’s sound transmission.
‘It’s not just about numbers. There’s a master there. Save your arrows for him.’
A master? She hadn’t sensed anything like that.
But her eyes now spotted one swordsman emanating an aura surpassing even Yeon Hojeong’s.
‘Incredible!’
Muk Bi swallowed unconsciously.
‘He might even be stronger than Yeon Gongja. And Yeon Gongja’s already consumed a good deal of his internal energy and stamina fighting those assassins.’
This was dangerous. They said battles between masters were decided by a sheet of paper’s difference.
Even in a one-on-one duel without the assassins interfering, it was risky.
‘I absolutely can’t let that happen.’
Muk Bi made her full preparations. If the enemy’s sword threatened Yeon Hojeong, she’d unleash a volley of arrows.
Mong Ui scanned Yeon Hojeong’s body.
‘Well-trained.’
Unlike his slender frame, his physique was perfectly balanced. Every muscle was evenly developed without a single flaw.
And that axe.
‘A divine weapon.’
He didn’t know who forged it, but it was a weapon worthy of awe. Even Mong Ui, who favored the sword, felt a momentary greed.
“Impressive.”
Mong Ui’s eyes gradually darkened.
“I’d heard you were a formidable warrior. Having single-handedly withstood the Myeong family’s forces, I figured you deserved the reputation. But I didn’t expect this level.”
Yeon Hojeong furrowed his brow.
‘What’s with this guy?’
Those dull eyes were oddly irritating. He reeked of blood. A thick, fishy stench permeated his entire body.
‘But he’s cultivated orthodox arts. And to an extraordinary degree.’
Shing.
Mong Ui drew the sword from his back. It was unique. A longsword over four chi long, yet its blade was only half the width of a typical one. Perhaps that made it seem even longer and sharper—like a needle honed to a razor edge.
‘Similar to a hyopbonggeom.’
A hyopbonggeom was a cylindrical sword with a blunted, rounded edge. It maximized thrusting power.
Mong Ui’s blade was essentially that, but with a lethal edge.
Tzztztztzt.
An ominous energy flowed from Mong Ui’s body.
Yeon Hojeong’s expression hardened.
‘He’s strong.’
This man surpassed his current physical prowess and internal energy. At around forty years old, he’d accumulated astonishing martial skill. Not quite at the super-peak level, but certainly at the forefront of what they called peak masters.
Mong Ui glanced around and shouted.
“You lot are useless. Get lost.”
The assassins remained silent. Confusion clouded their eyes. Their target was Yeon Hojeong, but the client was telling them to leave. Logically, they should obey. But the client had killed their leader. Their ally was under attack—they should fight back. Yet it didn’t look feasible.
Mong Ui shook his head.
“That’s why you’re nothing but tools.”
That was when it happened. Yeon Hojeong caught sight of Mong Ui’s sword scattering into afterimages.
Pububububuk!
A small hole pierced the foreheads of a dozen nearby assassins.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes widened.
Mong Ui said calmly.
“You couldn’t handle me anyway. Without your leader, you can’t even mount a coordinated assault.”
“……”
“Scram.”
Sushuk.
The assassins withdrew. There was no longer any reason to fight.
Mong Ui took a deep breath.
“Fine air. Even with the stench of filthy rabble’s blood… I’ve always missed the atmosphere of a battlefield.”
“What the hell are you?”
Mong Ui eyed Yeon Hojeong.
Wuuuung.
A white true energy flickered around the Gwang Yong Bu. It emanated a majestic, unyielding aura.
“Why’s a Point Cang swordsman gunning for me?”
For a split second, Mong Ui’s eyes wavered.
“You… know me?”
“Hard not to.”
Yeon Hojeong nodded toward his sword.
“That swordplay you just used—it’s Point Cang’s Sail Geombeop.”
Sail Geombeop.
Point Cang’s supreme and strongest sword art, once hailed as the world’s swiftest sword—a legendary technique.
Mong Ui wielded such a specialized blade because the Sail Geombeop focused on thrusts. Every form except one was a piercing strike.
“You recognize the Sail Geombeop? A lost art even in modern Point Cang.”
Impossible. Yeon Hojeong knew it because Point Cang’s leadership had used it during the Saneumgyo uprising. Point Cang couldn’t have lost it.
‘Or maybe this bastard returned it?’
Wuuung.
A murky killing intent flared in Mong Ui’s eyes—the gaze of a murderer who’d slain countless souls.
“Can’t let you live.”
“You came to kill me anyway. Don’t make me laugh.”
“I sent the assassins on purpose. To see if you were worth my blade.”
“……”
“You exceed expectations. You’re qualified to face my sword. If I’d known your caliber, I wouldn’t have held back the assassins.”
Yeon Hojeong gave Mong Ui a strange look.
Mong Ui’s cheek twitched. There was something about Yeon Hojeong’s gaze that grated on the nerves.
“Hey.”
“……No manners at all.”
“Who’s backing you?”
“What?”
“Who’s the one behind you? Myeong family remnants? Moyong Gun? Not the Namgung house, I think.”
Mong Ui was inwardly startled but didn’t show it.
“None of your business.”
“Yeah?”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Anyway, we fight, right?”
Mong Ui sneered.
“You think you can win?”
Paaaaang!
Yeon Hojeong shot forward like a beam of light.
Mong Ui was shocked. He’d prepared for a surprise attack, but not this speed. And with that heavy axe weighing dozens of geun?
Kwang!
He attacked with fists despite wielding an axe—a strike that pierced defenses.
‘Fast! But…’
Paak!
Yeon Hojeong pulled his arm back. A long sword cut marred his forearm—Mong Ui’s longsword.
‘Fast.’
Not even unleashing the Sail Geombeop, yet blindingly swift. The art itself specialized in speed.
“Let’s see how long you last with that cumbersome weapon.”
Suddenly, Mong Ui’s sword split into dozens.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.
Jjejejejejeong!
The four-chi blade moved at unbelievable speed, targeting Yeon Hojeong’s vital points. Even without the Sail Geombeop, it far exceeded a peak master’s dynamic vision.
‘…’
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.
Jjejejejejeong!
Sparks flew from the Gwang Yong Bu’s blade, then vanished. The impact lingered heavily. Swift swords usually lacked weight, but Mong Ui’s carried substantial mass.
But.
Kuung!
Stepping into the White Tiger’s first tread, Yeon Hojeong swung the Gwang Yong Bu from low to high.
A sneer crossed Mong Ui’s face.
‘Fool.’
Fast for a heavy weapon. But before the axe reached him, he could land ten cuts.
Mong Ui’s sword flashed like lightning.
Pabababapak!
Blood sprayed from Yeon Hojeong’s body—Mong Ui’s blade marks.
‘……?!’
Mong Ui’s eyes bulged.
‘What the—?’
The axe had already swept his pant leg and reached his knee.
‘Why isn’t it cutting?’
It had cut. But only flesh. Despite the numerous wounds and bleeding, no fatal blows.
Incomprehensible.
‘Is his body impervious to blades?!’
That instant, splitting a fraction of a moment, he glimpsed the translucent black energy flowing through Yeon Hojeong’s body.
‘What’s that?’
Mong Ui couldn’t know it was the Northern Black Emperor’s Black Tortoise Qi.
Ossak!
The axe was now inches from his crotch.
Bu aaaang!
Mong Ui leaped back. In that brief moment, five steps.
Incredible speed.
Beonjjeok!
A massive dust cloud erupted as the upward-swinging Gwang Yong Bu burst with brilliant white energy.
Kwaaang!
Tremendous destructive power. A ferocious strike rarely seen.
If he hadn’t retreated seven more steps, the axe’s gale would have torn his flesh.
‘This won’t do.’
Through the rising dust, Yeon Hojeong’s black silhouette appeared.
Mong Ui lowered his stance.
‘End it in one strike.’
Cheok.
Mong Ui pulled his sword back. Sun-like radiance poured from his longsword.
The Sail Geombeop.
Then, he saw Yeon Hojeong’s shadow raise its arm.
‘Too late. Die!’
Mong Ui swung.
Beonjjeok!
The lightning-fast sword cleaved the dust toward Yeon Hojeong’s heart. Swifter than ever.
That was when it happened.
‘……?!’
Three arrows streaked across Mong Ui’s vision in a diagonal line.
Jjejeong!
“Kuk!”
One missed; two struck the blade. The side-shot arrows carried immense internal energy.
Mong Ui’s swift sword grazed Yeon Hojeong’s thigh.
Instantly, a thick black spear shaft pierced the dust, swelling in Mong Ui’s sight.
Ppakak!
“Kraaak!”
Mong Ui flew backward.
Teoreung!
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed as he prepared to finish it. Mong Ui kicked off a tree and lunged again.
His nose smashed, front teeth shattered—yet he attacked. Remarkable endurance.
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Die already, you bastard.’
Huwuk!
Yeon Hojeong dropped his stance. Mong Ui’s sword sliced empty air.
Pububuk!
“Guk!”
Mong Ui tumbled to the ground. Three arrows embedded in him: left shoulder, left thigh, left side.
Paaaak!
Muk Bi charged into the fray.
“Eek!”
Mong Ui, ignoring agony, tried to rise—but froze. The terrifying woman approaching drew her bow without an arrow.
Muk Bi released.
Tiiing!
Peuk!
Mong Ui spewed blood and collapsed.
Paaang!
Muk Bi pinned his legs and nocked the Hongryeon Palace. Close-range rapid fire.
Pubububuk!
Five Muyoungdan shots slammed into his back. Merciless.
Mong Ui shuddered, then closed his eyes—unconscious from severe internal injuries.
“Whew, got him.”
“……”
“Why’re you staring like that?”
“You’re brutally fierce, huh?”
“Pardon?”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“Ruthless as hell.”
“Anyway, what do we do with him?”
“Carry him. Got questions.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll take him.”
“You’re hurt.”
“Enemies are still around.”
“Huh?”
Yeon Hojeong looked down the mountain.
“Scattered wolves are eyeing us.”
“Ah!”
“Don’t look for Jipyeong. He can’t get dragged into this.”
Muk Bi nodded.
“Got it!”