The Unseen Battle is More Frightening (2)
After their first real battle in the Dae Byeol Mountain Range, the Myeol Sa Army followed Yeon Hojeong's lead southward into Henan Province, toward Cheonjung Mountain.
Throughout the journey, Yeon Hojeong never once descended into a county seat. He stuck stubbornly to the mountain paths, pushing his lightness skill to the limit until exhaustion made further movement impossible for some.
On the third day of racing along those winding trails, Muk Bi asked, "Is there a reason we're sticking to these twisty mountain roads? Feels like we're taking the long way around for nothing."
"There is."
"What is it?"
"To avoid contact with anyone outside our group."
Many were still reeling from the shock of their first kills. Nothing stabilized their hearts or bonded them faster than time spent together. But Yeon Hojeong didn't stop there. During breaks, he chatted with the troops about this and that. They all pretended otherwise, but plenty secretly feared him after seeing how he'd crushed the enemy in battle.
He drew a clear line between his battlefield self and his everyday one. And through endless talk and empathy, he coaxed them into accepting both sides naturally.
His efforts bore fruit faster than expected. By the fifth day, not a single warrior in the Myeol Sa Army feared or dismissed him.
Yeon Hojeong was strong. But he was just as playful, and somehow mature in his mischief. It was the innate charm he'd never shown as the Black Dark Emperor. Conversations with family, life in the Yeon household, faith in himself—they'd quietly reshaped him. The cutthroat Black Dark Emperor Yeon Hojeong had finally returned as the true eldest son of the Yeon family.
A few more days passed, and the Myeol Sa Army reached the eastern foothills of Cheonjung Mountain.
"Army Leader."
"What?"
Dong Ho hesitated. Fresh from his first kill, he hadn't regained his old chatterbox energy. But curiosity was in his blood—he always had to ask.
"So... who's our next enemy?"
"Don't know yet."
"Huh?"
"Huigae will send word separately. No engagements until then."
"Th-then where are we headed?"
"Told you. Cheonjung Mountain. We're almost there."
"We thought there were enemies on Cheonjung Mountain."
"Of course not."
"Then what are we doing here?"
Dong Ho's question echoed everyone's. The entire Myeol Sa Army stared at Yeon Hojeong with puzzled eyes.
He held up three fingers.
"Three months."
"Pardon?"
"I'll hone your combat senses to the max over three months."
"......!"
"Moving as one unit comes later. We've traveled easy so far. Now we train you into real fighting forces."
Yeon Hojeong grinned confidently.
"How about it? Ready to become true murim warriors?"
No one answered. But their eyes burned like flames.
They came from different worlds, with varied skills and dreams. But they shared one goal: forging their martial arts to stand tall in the murim world.
"If you're ready, let's start. Fair warning—it's gonna be brutal for three months."
* * *
The blizzard and razor winds had faded into memory. One month passed, then two, then three. Bone-chilling gales turned to warm spring breezes, carrying flower petals instead of snowflakes.
"Whoa."
Jegal A-yeon couldn't hide her awe at the distant mountains ablaze in color.
"Beautiful. So beautiful, right?"
"Sure is."
"How's spring in Habuk?"
"Not this refreshing. Kinda makes you cough, you know?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Still better than winter, though. That one's brutal."
"Never been to Habuk. Gotta visit someday. You'll treat me to something tasty, right?"
"You got it. Return the favor when my brother and I swing by Hobuk."
"No worries, bear boy."
"......"
"What's up?"
"Can't you drop the 'bear boy'?"
"You look like one to anyone."
"Fine, then I'll call you fox girl."
"What's wrong with that?"
Her bold acceptance left him speechless. Paeng Manho snorted.
"Cute. Fox and bear? Straight out of Grandpa's old folktales."
"No idea."
"You know, the sly fox tricks the bear..."
"Don't remember sitting on Grandpa's knee for stories. We weren't that cushy."
"Weird. No folktales from the Jegal house, the fountain of knowledge?"
"Finished Thousand Character Classic at five, straight into Four Books and Three Classics. No time for fairy tales."
"Chills. Too harsh, no?"
"Was back then. Not anymore."
Jegal A-yeon's face beamed with pure refreshment. Paeng Manho shook his head.
"Jun's probably dying right now."
"Getting his heir training, the punk. Serves him right."
Why gloat over heir lessons? Jegal A-yeon had her quirks. Sharp as a ghost, knowledgeable, but no thirst for power or grand dreams.
Guess I'm similar.
His twin, Paeng Daeho, was the classic hero type. Paeng Manho hated hassle, just wanted freedom—a black sheep.
He thought of Yeon Hojeong.
Hope he's having fun.
Yeon Hojeong from the Later Generation Summit had left an indelible mark. One wish: fun. That fun could be hearty laughter or chilling edge. Either way, roaming the jianghu with him promised no boredom.
"Anyway, sis, time to pick up the pace."
"Huh?"
"Past noon already."
"Cough! Run, bear boy!"
"Quit calling me bear boy!"
Whoosh!
Their lightness skills were swift. They blew past a village edge into Cheonjung Mountain, nearing the rendezvous.
But pinpointing it was tricky. Dense trees and blooming flowers blocked the view.
Paeng Manho smacked his lips.
"Great. Why pick a spot like this..."
"Over there."
"Pardon?"
"There, bear boy. Obvious, right?"
"You're the weird one for spotting it. Looks blocked solid. No way."
"Hopeless. Follow me. Sis'll teach you."
"Huh? Wait, really going? Looks wrong. Seriously?"
Trailing her hesitantly, Paeng Manho's eyes widened.
What the—?
A faint air current snaked through tangled branches. Jegal A-yeon pointed at a trunk with her index finger.
"Would've spotted it faster from below. Bear boy, hack 'em."
"Huh? Oh! Right!"
Swoosh.
Paeng Manho drew his massive blade from his back and swung hard.
Crack-crack-crack!
Fierce blade winds shredded the tough trunks.
Jegal A-yeon whistled.
"Big guy, huh? Strength's decent."
Paeng Manho rolled up his sleeve, flexing a mountain of muscle gleaming in the sun.
Her verdict: harsh.
"Gross."
"......"
"Let's go."
"Yes, fox."
"Fine by 'fox,' but say 'sis' properly."
"Yes, fox."
"Gonna trap you in a formation for three days..."
"After you, sis."
"Good."
They slipped through. Bickering playfully, but Paeng Manho inwardly admired her insight.
How'd she know?
The narrow cave-like gap opened to a three-zhang-wide clearing. Scenic, but wind-trapped—stagnant air, faint qi flows hard to detect.
She sees the world in 3D. No other way.
That eye wasn't just for paths. Terrain tactics, enemy prediction, formations—it revolutionized strategy. A strategist glimpsed a mystical world Paeng Manho couldn't fathom.
"They're not here yet."
"Soon."
"Yeah, time's about up..."
"Not that."
Jegal A-yeon eyed the eastern peak, a sly smile forming.
"Right on time."
"Pardon?"
Then—
......!
Paeng Manho stiffened.
What the hell?
Dust rose from the distant eastern ridge. It swelled visibly.
Snap-crack-boom!
Trees toppled in sequence down the slope. From afar it seemed slow; reality was terrifying speed. Each earth-shaking roar snapped three or four trunks.
Soon after—
"......Hmph."
Rooooar!
As the dust neared, the still air churned violently. Winds shifted. The onrushing figure superheated the atmosphere.
Finally, the leader came into view.
Jegal A-yeon smiled. Paeng Manho's eyes bulged saucer-wide.
"What a racket."
Boom!
Each toe-touch exploded air now. The ragged scholar-type youth, massive axe slung over his shoulder, moved at wind speed.
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong's final kick halted three zhang away.
Jegal A-yeon raised a hand.
"Who curses a quiet arrival? What's the—"
Swish.
From high above, a woman descended. Not as filthy as Yeon Hojeong, but her clothes were dirtied. Her strong yet fluid grace wove an ethereal aura.
Pat.
Muk Bi landed gracefully, two steps ahead of him.
"Faster now?"
"You saying that? Started late and still beat me? Insane."
"I'll take it as praise."
Yeon Hojeong waved at Jegal A-yeon.
"Yo, long time."
"......Uh? Oh, yeah, long time!"
"Skin's glowing. Powder now?"
She smirked.
"Porcelain's my natural shade."
"Hilarious."
As she opened her mouth again, he waved her off.
"Hold up. Kids are arriving."
Right on cue, fifty-odd men and women appeared.
Jegal A-yeon and Paeng Manho's puzzled looks turned to bewilderment.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"O-out! It's out!"
"Gah! Huff huff!"
"N-no more... let us live, or stop... wanna stop."
"Grrrrk......"
Staggering into the clearing, they collapsed one by one. Not a finger twitched.
Jegal A-yeon was floored. Paeng Manho whispered cautiously.
"Did they recruit the Myeol Sa warriors from the Beggar Sect or what?"