Chapter 141. Myeol Sa Army (1)
“Permission to leave the alliance.”
The guard eyed the small document Yeon Hojeong held out and nodded.
“Granted.”
Rumble rumble rumble.
The northern gate, the Black Tortoise Gate, swung open. It was as majestic as the Azure Dragon Gate in the east—even more so on a second look. The sight of that impossibly tall and massive iron gate grinding into motion was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Yeon Hojeong, at the front, took the first step. The late-generation disciples, who had been hesitating and glancing around nervously, began to follow one by one.
“Whew, the air's fresh out here.”
It was the same Dae Byeol Mountain, but stepping out of the Mu Rim Meng felt refreshing all the same. He hadn't even spent a full month inside, yet leaving made everything feel clearer, lighter.
Yeon Hojeong turned to Muk Bi.
“Heart pounding?”
“Pardon? Oh, yeah.”
“What's with the stiff face?”
“What do you mean?”
“You're frozen solid. Scared all of a sudden?”
“No way.”
Muk Bi now had a precise grasp of her own martial prowess. She was strong—strong enough that, given the right terrain advantage, she could even take down Yeon Hojeong himself. In other words, she could hold her own against elder-level figures from the Nine Great Sects or the Six Great Families of the White Path martial world.
At her age in her mid-twenties, that level of power made her a genius among geniuses.
So her tension wasn't from venturing outside.
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
“Feeling awkward?”
“……”
“Never seen these faces before, huh? Kinda uncomfortable?”
“Not uncomfortable, exactly.”
Muk Bi answered honestly, her face rigid.
“I just... don't know how to act around them.”
She was still learning the ways of the world. She'd seen plenty and learned fast, but building relationships with strangers from scratch remained a challenge.
Yeon Hojeong understood.
“Don't sweat it too much. No need to force closeness. But remember this one thing.”
“Yes?”
“As long as you're with me, the day will come when you'll need to build your own organization.”
“……!”
“No matter how your life unfolds from here, learn to lead people. If you're gonna survive this brutal world.”
Muk Bi nodded. She got it.
“Alright, now that we're out, let's head out fresh and ready.”
That was when it happened.
“Um, Young Master Yeon.”
Yeon Hojeong glanced back. It was Yun Ho speaking.
“I've got a question...”
“Shoot.”
“We all left together, but does that mean we're all accepted?”
“Accepted? What're you talking about?”
“I mean, are we really joining the independent detachment under your command?”
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
“I'm the one who ran all over the place pitching this to you. If you showed up, you're in.”
“Ah...”
“What? Problem?”
“N-no. It's just...”
As Yun Ho hemmed and hawed, Dong Ho boldly spoke up.
“We haven't heard a thing.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed.
Dong Ho bowed his head.
“Greetings. I'm Dong Ho, a first-generation disciple of the Hwasan Sect. I studied under Baek So Jin-in.”
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“Go on.”
“To be clear, Senior Brother Yun and I came because we want to join the detachment you lead. But some here might just be tagging along out of curiosity.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. Whatever the reason, what I'm saying is... leaving without any prior discussion feels a bit...”
“Like I didn't consider you guys.”
Dong Ho smacked his lips.
“Not exactly. Just curious.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“We'll talk details when we reach our destination. Hang tight till then.”
“Ah... yes, sir.”
“Huh?”
Yeon Hojeong scowled.
“Hey, you!”
Ok Cheong jumped.
“M-me?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Yes, sir!”
He stood ramrod straight, hands glued to his thighs—like a green recruit.
“Why'd you come? I never invited you.”
“W-well...”
“You sneaky bastard, trying to stab me in the back?!”
“Gasp! No way!”
“Then why're you here?!”
“I wanted to serve with Great Hero Yeon!”
Yeon Hojeong scowled deeper.
“Drop the 'Great Hero' crap. And what good's tagging along with me gonna do you?”
Ok Cheong swallowed hard.
“Thanks to Great Hero Yeon, I corrected my mistakes.”
“I said drop it.”
“……Yes, sir.”
“I told you before—no more spars with me. I walked you to the gate; going through it was on you.”
“True. But I still have much to learn. Not just martial arts—the world itself.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
“The world?”
“Yes. Through your guidance, Great Hero—no, Young Master Yeon—I realized I'd spent my life chasing the Sword Immortal Path in deep mountains, but it made my arts too rigid.”
“No excuses. Mountain training or not, rigid arts mean you were lazy and dumb.”
“……Yes, you're right. Anyway, our spars opened my eyes. It's late, but I know now: time to face the world!”
“And you think going out there guarantees your arts improve?”
“……”
Ok Cheong trailed off. Yeon Hojeong, frowning fiercely, soon relaxed.
“But moving for change? That's not bad.”
“R-really?”
“Don't regret joining my crew.”
“Never.”
Ok Cheong's eyes burned with sincerity. Like Muk Bi, he was naive to the world, but his words carried weight.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“Fine. You're in.”
“Thank you!”
“Damn it, I kept the Sword Immortal's precious disciple out on purpose to avoid screwing up his training. Hope he doesn't beat the crap outta me later.”
Grumbling, Yeon Hojeong moved on. Ok Cheong followed, face flushed with excitement.
After a dozen steps, Yeon Hojeong looked back.
“What're you waiting for? Move!”
“……”
“Stay behind, and I'll leave you all.”
Only then did the late-generation disciples hurry after him. Shock and awe filled their faces.
“What? That's really Ok Cheong?”
“S-seems like it...”
“Did Ok Cheong just say he's learning from Young Master Yeon?”
“No way... He's the Sword Immortal's only disciple. Why would he...?”
“This ain't right. Something's off.”
Their whispers were justified. The Ok Cheong they knew outshone them in presence alone, even if not in the One Dragon Three Peaks. Anyone deserved respect, regardless of raw skill. The Sword Immortal himself called him a martial god's talent—how exceptional must he be?
Yet the rising star of Bi-san Yeon Family was teaching him? Absurd.
Then a woman in a bamboo hat spoke.
“If it's true, that's great.”
All eyes turned to her. Leader of the monk-robed women—fifteen strong, each wielding seven-foot spears. Disciples of the Ami Pa.
“The Sword Immortal, one of the White Path's top masters, and his sole disciple, whom he deems a martial god's talent: Daoist Ok Cheong.”
“……”
“If Young Master Yeon can teach him, he must have what it takes to handle Nine Great Sect disciples.”
The late-generation disciples' expressions shifted subtly. True—most weren't their sects' best, but they carried pride as Nine Great Sect elites. A leader without skill would bruise that pride more.
Not everyone agreed.
“Skill's only known by seeing it firsthand.”
Eyes turned to a swordsman in flowing cyan robes—leader of five daoists from the Kunlun Sect: Yeoguk.
“Daoist Ok Cheong... impressive, but his aura isn't razor-sharp. As the Sword Immortal's disciple, he's exceptional, but not as formidable as rumored.”
Song Yeon-gyeong of the Ami Pa replied.
“Even if Daoist Ok Cheong isn't that great, he trained under the Sword Immortal. For Young Master Yeon to teach him means his arts must be outstanding.”
“Not denying that.”
Yeoguk's gaze followed Yeon Hojeong's back.
“You can tell his strength from his gait alone. Embarrassing to admit, but even in my sect, few juniors match that refinement—adults aside.”
“……”
“But attainment and combat differ. Leadership's another matter entirely.”
Song Yeon-gyeong nodded.
“Fair point.”
“No idea what Young Master Yeon's planning, but I hope this detachment's worth joining.”
Time passed. After half a day of foot techniques, they reached a valley.
It was stunningly beautiful, with modest homes hugging the stream like a painting.
“This is the place.”
Yeon Hojeong looked skyward.
“Almost You hour... made good time.”
Hummm.
Bi-ra Jin-gyeol qi flowed subtly, sharpening his senses.
'Not here yet. But per Huigae's intel, soon.'
He turned to Muk Bi.
“Muk Bi.”
“Yes.”
“Climb that hill and hide. Signal if anyone's coming.”
Muk Bi blinked curiously but nodded.
“Got it.”
“And no bow. No attacks, no matter what. Clear?”
His emphasis signaled gravity. She nodded and unleashed her footwork.
Whoosh!
“Gasp!”
“F-fast!”
One kick off the ground, and she was atop the hill overlooking the valley. Terrifying proficiency.
Even Yeoguk, whose Kunlun footwork ranked top among the Nine Great Sects, gaped.
'Impossible! That speed... and the casual ease from her toes...?'
She hadn't gone all-out. He could tell. Yet that velocity and poise...
Not just him—everyone stared, mesmerized. No one there could mimic it.
“Fast, right?”
The disciples eyed Yeon Hojeong.
Thud!
Gwang Yong Bu slammed into the earth, startling some.
“Time for us to do our part.”
Yeon Hojeong's face hardened.
“Now, how to forge you ragtag bunch into one force?”