Infamy and Fame (6)
“What did you say?”
Surprise flickered across Moyong Gun’s face.
“You’ve placed the Myeol Sa Army under your command?”
Moyong Woo, who had just moistened his throat with a sip of tea, spoke calmly.
“I haven’t placed them under my command. We’ve merely agreed to set out together for the first campaign.”
“Didn’t you just say you’ve put the Myeol Sa Army beneath you?”
“To be precise, the plan is to move the Myeol Sa Army under the main force for the first campaign and annihilate the enemy. Of course……”
Moyong Woo continued, his face tinged with unease.
“I intend to use them as shields.”
“Shields?”
“The Myeol Sa Army achieved great merit in a short time. In other words, their prowess has already been proven.”
Moyong Woo’s gaze drifted toward the window. The dawn air felt thick and heavy.
“I know you find Yeon Hojeong, the army’s commander, distasteful. From what I’ve seen, he’s not a bad man, but he’s certainly dangerous.”
“……Dangerous, indeed.”
“We’ll campaign together this time and gauge his capabilities. Since I’ve been named Supreme Commander for the first outing, he’ll have to follow my orders.”
“Hah!”
“If the Myeol Sa Army wipes out the enemy, that’s all to the good. After all, I’ll be the one who commanded them. I’d prefer their casualties to be minimal, if possible.”
Surprise dawned on Moyong Gun’s face once more.
“To become Supreme Commander of the Tang Ma Myeol Sa forces on your very first campaign…… But what if it’s a trap on his part, or some scheme?”
“Then I’ll execute him on the spot.”
“……?!”
“Anyone who disobeys the commander’s orders will be dealt with according to military law. I have no intention of tolerating subordinates who act on their own.”
“What if he challenges you to a duel?”
“I’d win.”
“What?”
Moyong Woo let a faint smile play on his lips.
“We exchanged a few light blows. His martial arts were impressive, but he seemed to have quite a serious injury.”
Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.
Yeon Hojeong was injured? It was possible, but given his exceptional martial prowess, his recovery should be swift. If he still hadn’t healed, just how grave was the wound?
“Even assuming he’s in perfect condition, I’d have the edge by half a move—at the very least, we’d be evenly matched.”
“Is that so?”
“At least for now. For his age, his skills are remarkable. His potential is boundless.”
Moyong Woo’s eyes grew cold.
“That’s why we must stop him.”
Moyong Gun was genuinely startled by the look in his brother’s eyes. He hadn’t thought the boy capable of such an expression.
“A flower that won’t grow in our garden must be uprooted swiftly. If it can’t be pulled out, then we prune it back whenever time allows.”
Moyong Gun’s mouth fell slightly open. Those were words he himself had once said to Moyong Yeonhwa.
Blood can’t lie, after all.
A pleased smile spread across Moyong Gun’s lips as he gazed blankly at his brother.
Excellent.
He had been delighted by his youngest brother’s growth over the past few months, but deep down, he’d worried that the boy’s resolve might soften, his claws dull. Seeing him now, those fears proved groundless.
Moyong Woo was kind by nature. But the blood coursing through his veins carried the spirit of the Moyong family, which had roamed the wilds of the northwest, crushing and unifying all foes.
Once he set his mind to something, he saw it through.
Moyong Gun was greatly satisfied by his brother’s newfound determination.
“In other words, you’ll use the Myeol Sa Army as an ornament for the Tang Ma Army?”
“I’ve heard Yeon Hojeong is exceptionally capable, but now that he’s under my command, he’s nothing more than a knight on my chessboard to rack up merits.”
Moyong Woo gave a wry smile.
“I don’t prefer such methods, but to reach the top, I see no choice. This isn’t the time to seek the righteous path—we need the swiftest one.”
“Precisely.”
Moyong Gun nodded repeatedly.
“You’ve seen it clearly. If we’d built an unshakeable foundation of power against any assault, that would be one thing, but now is the time to cast aside morality and charge ahead. Your insight is truly remarkable.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Nonsense. Such discernment isn’t forged overnight. You should take pride in it.”
Moyong Woo shook his head.
“It’s just an application of the tricks I used against the Zhejiang merchants. Whether they work remains to be seen.”
“Hahaha.”
Moyong Gun knew how his brother had tamed the Zhejiang trade houses. He’d borrowed the main family’s blade to swiftly seize those thorny enterprises, even securing the position of Grand Duke in the process and fully claiming the trade alliance.
Conceiving such a scheme was easy enough; executing it boldly was another matter. In short, Moyong Woo possessed both brilliant intellect and unflinching resolve.
Promising, indeed.
Seeing this display, Moyong Gun felt it wouldn’t sting too badly if Yeon Hojeong landed a blow.
The Yeon family had their ace in Yeon Hojeong, but so did they—with his perfect counter.
“You look beyond immediate gains and play the long game. Good—keep at it.”
“Yes.”
A puzzled look crossed Moyong Gun’s face.
“But how did you secure the Supreme Commander position over the unified relief forces? He wouldn’t have submitted so easily.”
“I merely put his mind at ease.”
“What do you mean?”
Moyong Woo smiled bitterly.
“It’s not the fierce wind that strips away thick clothes, but the scorching sun. I didn’t oppose Yeon Hojeong—I joined hands with him.”
“……!!”
“Now the board will turn interesting.”
* * *
The next day.
“What the hell?”
Yeon Hojeong stared at Muk Bi in utter bewilderment.
Even after months in the mountains, Muk Bi’s attire had always been impeccable. She refused to show a sloppy appearance to the troops.
But now?
“Did you plant weeds in your scalp or something? Why’s your hair sticking up like that?”
“……Ugh.”
Muk Bi, staggering, flopped onto the bench.
Yeon Hojeong frowned. A deep breath brought a wave of alcohol stench.
“How much did you drink this time? Hey! Circulate your inner energy and purge the poison right now.”
“No.”
“No my ass.”
“Jegal A-yeon said this morning we’d do hangover recovery together. She promised to show me how it feels……”
“Damn it all to hell. Instead of nursing a hangover, pull the bowstring one more time.”
“Can’t break a promise.”
“Break that kind of promise! Drink only what you can handle—not enough to wreck your body every time!”
“Ah, enough. My head’s pounding—shut up already.”
Yeon Hojeong didn’t stop his nagging.
“The Way of Liquor isn’t about guzzling mindlessly when you’re in the mood. It’s drinking only as much as you can manage. Take me, for example. Even after drinking like that, I never need to purge the poison with inner energy the next day……”
Muk Bi trembled under the barrage of words.
“Argh, I said enough! Be quiet!”
“Ahem.”
“I can handle myself, so why do you keep……”
“Cough.”
Suddenly, Muk Bi felt a chill. She bolted upright in alarm.
There stood Yeon Hojeong, grinning broadly, and……
“Gasp! Father!”
Yeon Wi cleared his throat repeatedly.
“You seem to have drunk heavily.”
“Ack! N-no, sir! I mean, no! I just……”
Yeon Hojeong cut in.
“Looks like she let loose and poured every drop down her gullet. Even on leave, that’s no excuse—her posture’s a total mess, isn’t it?”
Muk Bi’s face drained of color.
Yeon Wi gave a slight smile, which to her eyes looked utterly terrifying.
“You’ve fought enemies for months—must have been grueling. I understand.”
“F-Father, it’s not……”
Yeon Hojeong interjected again, infuriatingly.
“Still, that’s no way to be. Bad habits form just like that. Shouldn’t we give her a proper scolding before it sticks, Father?”
Yeon Wi cleared his throat once more. It wasn’t wrong, after all.
He spoke in an unusually gentle tone.
“Drinking is fine, but excess harms the body. I fear for your health.”
“Gah!”
Muk Bi hastily smoothed her hair and bowed at the waist.
“I-I’m sorry! I’ll take my leave now!”
“Go rest more. We’ll hear the full details later.”
“Yes!”
Yeon Hojeong grinned as she fled.
“Hangover cured.”
The alcohol must have burned off in an instant. He chuckled wickedly.
Yeon Wi smacked his lips.
“Bi-a still fears me greatly.”
“Thanks to you, we got a fine show.”
“Don’t tease her too much. She’s a good girl.”
“That’s why it’s fun. No need for breakfast now.”
Yeon Wi chuckled helplessly.
“Anyway.”
He scanned Yeon Hojeong from head to toe.
“You’ve returned without serious injury.”
At the council in Musung Hall, they’d only exchanged glances amid the proceedings. This was their first private meeting since his return.
Yeon Hojeong bowed deeply.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome.”
Yeon Hojeong rose. After a good sleep, his complexion was far brighter than days ago.
“Wasn’t the forced march too harsh? I heard the troops lacked real combat experience, giving you cause for concern.”
“Nothing beats actual battle for learning. They all grew tremendously.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“You must have put in great effort.”
“I can’t deny it.”
“Stay vigilant as always, just as you have been.”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
That was it. No need for trivial chatter—he knew how much his son had endured.
“You should rest too, Father. You were up all night in meetings.”
“I’m fine.”
Not mere words—Yeon Wi truly felt no fatigue. Unless he pushed his body to extremes through brutal training, staying awake for days posed no issue for one who had surpassed the pinnacle.
Yeon Hojeong’s face gradually filled with surprise as he smiled at his father.
“What happened in my absence?”
“Hm?”
“You’ve changed.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes sparkled.
“Your eyes can perceive it.”
“Even without drawing your sword, I sense razor-sharp sword qi permeating your entire body. It’s not tension in your frame—just your true energy honed to a lethal edge.”
Yeon Hojeong couldn’t hide his admiration.
“Did you break through another stage in just a few months?”
“The sorrow of parents with overly gifted children. Fearing you’d catch up, I trained diligently in my own way.”
The great Yeon Wi had trained hard. Coming from a man who rarely spoke thus, it must have been hellish days indeed.
“Impressive.”
As in all realms, martial arts grew harder to advance the higher one climbed. Yeon Wi was among the top martial artists of the Six Great Families’ heads. For him to elevate his realm in mere months was no small feat.
Yeon Wi smiled faintly at his quietly gazing son.
“Before we chat, I’d like to see your martial arts—surely sharpened to a keen edge by now. What say you?”
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
Bzzz.
His cherished inner art sensed a kindred spirit and thrummed with excitement, circulating on its own. The Bi-ra Jin-gyeol was raring to go.
“I was about to ask the same. Shall we?”