Myeol Sa Army (2)
His expression was serious, but the words coming out of his mouth were extremely radical.
Yeoguk furrowed his brow.
"Ohapjijol?"
At that moment, Yun Ho nodded.
"Young Master Yeon is right. We are ohapjijol."
Most of the later-generation talents, led by Yeoguk, turned to look at Yun Ho.
Yun Ho smacked his lips.
"Since the topic has come up, let's talk about it. How many among us gathered here have truly resolved to join the remnant army led by Young Master Yeon?"
No one could argue with that—it wasn't wrong.
Yun Ho's face grew solemn.
"Any group in the world with an unclear purpose can only be called ohapjijol. Even if its members are each exceptional talents."
"Mm."
The later-generation talents let out low groans.
Yun Ho asked Yeon Hojeong,
"Am I correct?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled faintly.
"Half right."
"Half?"
"You're ohapjijol because you haven't united as one, and ohapjijol because your skills aren't outstanding either."
Yun Ho's face stiffened.
Skills...
He was a first-generation disciple of the Hwasan Sect. Though he hadn't learned all of Hwasan's secret arts, he was confident he could single-handedly wipe out any ordinary band of mountain bandits if he ventured into the jianghu right now.
It's frustrating.
Yun Ho let out a quiet sigh.
But in front of that man, I have no choice but to admit it.
Over the past few days, Yeon Hojeong had accepted challenges from countless later-generation talents.
And he had won every single one.
Overwhelmingly, at that.
Yun Ho himself hadn't lasted more than three exchanges in any of their five spars.
In other words, it didn't matter how high a realm they'd built—it was irrelevant.
Yun Ho couldn't beat Yeon Hojeong.
He hadn't even landed a single successful strike, let alone posed a real threat.
In the end, Yun Ho was weak, and Yeon Hojeong was strong.
That was all there was to it.
Yeon Hojeong spoke.
"But you said something interesting. That each of you has different purposes?"
Yun Ho replied with a awkward expression.
"Of course that's true."
"Of course?"
"...?"
"You mean it's obvious? Why say 'of course'?"
"What... do you mean?"
Yeon Hojeong furrowed his brow.
"Doesn't that mean most of you are pathetic weaklings who use 'caution' as an excuse and can't even stake your lives on the path you've chosen?"
"...!"
The later-generation talents' faces visibly hardened.
Yeon Hojeong's gaze turned icy.
"I did tell you when I made my proposal. That the Independent Remnant Army is the first organization established by the Martial Alliance in decades, operating independently of the Alliance's politics to carry out autonomous missions."
"..."
"A unit with that kind of uniqueness demands a matching sense of responsibility. I even added that you should think it over carefully since time was short. Don't you remember?"
Yun Ho stammered.
"Y-you did say that, but..."
"We're all people walking the edge of a blade. If you've come with resolve, you should stake your lives on it. Surely you didn't think you'd just wander the jianghu for fun, play around a bit, and then head back to your sects?"
The later-generation talents fell silent as if their mouths were glued shut.
In truth, most of them had been thinking exactly that.
At that moment, a young man spoke up.
"As if."
Yeon Hojeong turned his head.
He was a young man, almost the same age as Yeon Jipyeong—perhaps just one or two years older.
Point Cang Sect.
Surprisingly, he was the only one from the Point Cang Sect.
Yeon Hojeong asked,
"Your name?"
"Cheok Gang."
"A disciple of Point Cang Sect?"
"A first-generation disciple of Point Cang Sect."
"Right, Cheok Gang. So you're saying you've staked your life on this?"
"Of course."
The mild-looking young man had eyes brimming with unyielding resolve.
"I'm going out into the world. To hone my martial arts. But martial arts not staked on one's life can't possibly be strong."
Cheok Gang's voice carried strong conviction and faith.
"I was thinking along those lines when Commander Yeon came to us. I saw it as an opportunity. That's why I came."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"You want to hone your martial arts in the gulf between life and death?"
"It wasn't a purely selfless motive. I apologize sincerely for that. But it is true that I've come prepared to bury my bones here."
Cheok Gang clasped his hands in a formal salute.
"Please take care of me from now on."
His spirit was impressive.
Seeing the youngest among them show such resolve, shame crept over the faces of the other later-generation talents.
They lacked that level of sincerity.
"I spoke of the Independent Remnant Army's uniqueness and the need to think carefully. But I never said what our unit would actually do. And yet, hoping to enlist with your lives on the line isn't easy."
Yeon Hojeong returned Cheok Gang's salute.
"Whatever your reasons, I won't be a commander you're ashamed of. Thank you for joining me."
He raised his head and scanned the later-generation talents.
Most hung their heads in shame, while a few scowled.
"Why only bow your head to Cheok Gang?"
Yeon Hojeong furrowed his brow.
"You all should have received my salute. But now, I don't want to bow to any of you except that friend Cheok Gang."
"..."
"Feel the shame. Before martial arts, you've already lost to Cheok Gang in your very outlook on life."
At that moment, Yeoguk spoke up.
"I'll apologize for that part."
"Your name?"
"Yeoguk of Kunlun Sect."
Yeoguk continued.
"Yes, I remember. You were sincere. But I wasn't as sincere as you. I know I must look like some half-baked opportunist who's just shown up after a long absence. I apologize."
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"Good. I accept your apology."
"But talking about our 'outlook on life' feels like nothing but an insult to us."
Yeoguk's eyes deepened.
"That friend Cheok Gang is undoubtedly impressive. Regardless of age, coming to an organization with unclear purpose prepared to stake your life—that's no ordinary feat."
"True enough."
"But it can also be called foolish. You should only stake your life where it's truly worth it. An individual's life isn't that light."
Yeoguk pointed at Yeon Hojeong.
"You know that weight, which is why you thanked Cheok Gang, isn't it?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"That's true too. You're sharp."
"Indeed. But not everyone can be the same. We must recognize those individual differences."
Yeoguk shook his head.
"You don't need to apologize for the insult. Just understand that we didn't come here lightly."
It could grate on the nerves depending on how you heard it.
But Yeoguk's words had their own logic.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
"Yeoguk, was it?"
"Yes."
"I'd prefer if you stayed until the end."
Yeoguk furrowed his brow.
Stay until the end?
What did that mean?
Yeon Hojeong crossed his arms.
"If it weren't for your special circumstances, I wouldn't have pointed out your attitudes either."
The later-generation talents' eyes widened.
Special circumstances?
Yeon Hojeong's voice grew chilling.
"Yeoguk."
"Speak."
"You could return to Kunlun Sect or stay in the Martial Alliance and live comfortably. So why join here?"
"...!"
"Can't become the best? Or did you want to run away?"
Yeoguk's face hardened starkly.
And it wasn't just him.
Most of the later-generation talents wore similar expressions.
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
"The reason I was late when you gathered under Pa Gun Pavilion's sponsorship? I was checking your positions in your respective sects."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"The prized talents your sects hold so tightly wouldn't just come to me on a whim, right? I was curious about your circumstances."
The later-generation talents' faces flushed red.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
"If what I saw is true, you should be even more ashamed."
He looked at Yeoguk.
Yeoguk was biting his lip.
"Yeoguk."
"..."
"Say it again. Is there any reason I should treat you the same as Cheok Gang?"
Yeoguk had nothing to say.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"But you're not entirely wrong. I got a bit heated too. I didn't intend to insult you, but it could certainly come across that way."
"..."
"You said no need to apologize, but I'll do it anyway. People have different natures and upbringings, yet I judged you all by my own standards."
"..."
"I'm sorry."
Yeon Hojeong's apology was sincere.
But in a way, it was worse than no apology at all.
Accepting it would make them truly pathetic.
As the later-generation talents filled with endless shame and inexplicable anger—
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed at Muk Bi's sound transmission.
There was nothing strange about it.
The Dae Byeol Mountains spanned three provinces.
The Martial Alliance was located at just one point on Dae Byeol Mountain.
However, at this moment—when news of the Alliance's founding was spreading across the Central Plains—it was definitely suspicious.
The one who had detected their suspicious movements and uncovered their identities was Gadeuksang.
And Gadeuksang had immediately relayed that information to Yeon Hojeong.
That was why Yeon Hojeong had brought the remnant army here.
"And one more apology."
The later-generation talents looked up at Yeon Hojeong.
For an instant, they flinched involuntarily.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes were terrifyingly cold.
Yet burning just as hot.
His indescribably mystical gaze blazed with a strange dignity none of them had ever felt before.
"No matter what circumstances brought you here, I absolutely will not allow any of you to leave."
"...?!"
"Bored? Testing the waters? Arrogant, sure—but do you think I'd let go of forces like you? There's no young experts with your level of power anywhere in the Central Plains."
Yeon Hojeong smiled coldly.
"From the moment you gathered under Pa Gun Pavilion's sponsorship, you're mine. Reject me? Not possible. Once you're under my command, the only way out is death."
It was a terrifying declaration.
Far too provocative for the prideful later-generation talents of the Nine Great Sects.
Yeoguk ground his teeth, about to speak—then felt an inexplicable sense of wrongness.
What is it?
His eyes wavered.
Didn't that man just say he wanted me to stay until the end?
A man saying he wouldn't abandon anyone, that there's no escape short of death—why say that?
Didn't it contradict?
What the hell is he thinking...?
At that moment, Muk Bi sent another sound transmission to Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong opened his mouth.
"Now, I'll tell you the true purpose of establishing this remnant army."
"The enemies you'll face from now on are demons who can easily kill even peak masters with schemes and viciousness beyond imagination."
"Think of it as warming up before facing the real deal. I'll warn you now: if you don't kill them, they might kill you."
"Alright, your first mission."
Whoosh!
A group brimming with murderous intent emerged from deeper in the ravine path.
They reeked of blood.
Even before considering their martial prowess, the chilling killing intent radiating from them was hair-raising.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed with azure light.
"Annihilate the enemy."