Chapter 165. The Essence of Dark Struggles (5)
The next morning.
Whoooosh!
The Gwang Yong Bu sliced through the air, glinting in the sunlight.
“Hmmm.”
Yeon Hojeong's body, drenched in sweat, trembled faintly. This was the first time he'd trained at full power since breaking through to Mujongjibyeok.
He couldn't unleash his destructive techniques fully, so he'd relied on precise control of his inner energy to prevent damaging the surrounding objects.
'Control still isn't perfect.'
Paradoxically, deploying the Azure Dragon Art he'd only recently mastered felt smoother. The art emphasized evasion and counterattacks, minimizing wasted power.
In contrast, the Vermilion Bird Art was vicious and murderous, the White Tiger Art an unrelenting forward assault that knew no retreat. The Black Tortoise Art offered impenetrable defense, but poor control still created openings.
'Even if the other three divine energies are harder to control than Azure Dragon, I've practiced them far longer—yet this gap...'
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue inwardly.
'It's because of Bi-ra Jin-gyeol.'
Mastering Azure Dragon had completed the Four Gods Martial Arts, and the unified energies had elevated to a higher realm through their mutual generation cycle. The issue lay with Bi-ra Jin-gyeol.
As the foundation for the Four Gods, Bi-ra Jin-gyeol had evolved on its own to match the dense energy, reaching the tenth seong of great accomplishment.
'I need to fully assimilate Bi-ra Jin-gyeol before touching the Four Gods arts again. The Four Gods are just branches, after all.'
Bi-ra Jin-gyeol differed from Hongcheon-gi. If Hongcheon-gi focused solely on amplifying inner power endlessly, this problem might not have surfaced so prominently.
'But Hongcheon-gi can't take me further. It's all my own shortcomings, one way or another.'
When problems arose, he never sought excuses—he took responsibility seriously. It was one of Yeon Hojeong's strengths.
'If I refine Bi-ra Jin-gyeol now and fully integrate the Five Divine Arts...'
His eyes sparkled.
'I'll ask Father about it tonight.'
Unfortunately, his father wasn't at the residence. Though both held the title of bonggong, their duties differed. Yeon Wi had a keen eye for commerce and had temporarily taken on an advisory role managing the Martial Alliance's funds.
He was the busiest among the bonggong alongside Jegal Munho.
“Training over?”
“Hm?”
Yeon Hojeong glanced at Muk Bi. She was soaked in sweat too. She'd been training before he even arrived in the rear garden, so she must be exhausted.
“Any progress?”
Muk Bi gave a wry smile. “Who knows.”
Of course. She was a master on the cusp of Mujongjibyeok herself. Breaking through required not just training, but profound realization.
Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky.
'Plenty of time.'
He shouldered the Gwang Yong Bu and turned to her. “How about it? Fire one at me.”
“Pardon?”
“They say realization is key to higher realms. But realization? It's not that special.”
Curiosity lit Muk Bi's face. These were words from a Mujongjibyeok master—not just anyone, but someone she knew well. Worth hearing.
“Then what is it?”
“First, what do you think realization is?”
“Just what it sounds like—realization.”
Yeon Hojeong tsked. “How'd you reach your level? Some flash of insight?”
“Ah...”
“Nah.”
Muk Bi nodded awkwardly. “Just kept at it, and suddenly...”
“Exactly. Persistent effort. But that's basic. The key is useful effort.”
“Useful effort?”
“Remember why I taught you Hongcheon-gi?”
Her eyes gleamed. “Yeah.”
“Mastering Hongcheon-gi didn't boost your Nine Dragon Heaven Breaking Bow directly. But combining it with close-quarters training added instinctive precision to your archery.”
“...!”
“Aim high, sure—but have you fully extracted what's available from your current position?”
Muk Bi's eyes wavered.
Yeon Hojeong tapped the Gwang Yong Bu. “My Four Gods Martial Arts truly begins only after mastering all four. Meaning, I was ready for Mujongjibyeok even before Azure Dragon.”
“R-right.”
“Don't just look up—look around too. Explore, fumble, and suddenly you'll find yourself higher than before.”
Realization was just wordplay in the end. Shifting perspectives, shattering preconceptions—that spurred growth. That was realization.
The ineffable kind couldn't be discussed at their level anyway.
“You're an archer. Archers struggle more to feel life's raw edge than fist or sword fighters. Not due to skill, but weapon nature.”
“That's why you taught me close combat too.”
“Yep. So face a person. Martial arts thrive on opponents, after all.”
Muk Bi eyed him wonderingly. “Where'd you even learn all this?”
Yeon Hojeong snorted. “Experience.”
“You're not old enough for that kinda experience.”
“Experience is like martial realms—age doesn't matter. Plenty of middle-aged masters lag behind you.”
“True.”
Thud.
He drew a line in the dirt with the Gwang Yong Bu. “Stand right here. Fire away—like you mean to kill me.”
Tension shadowed her face. “You sure?”
“Who should be worried?”
She chuckled at his playful tone. “Too late for regrets with a hole in your head.”
“Eep.”
Hummmm.
Azure energy rose from Yeon Hojeong's body—Bi-ra Jin-gyeol.
“One shot. Fail to take me, and you die. Shoot with that mindset.”
“...Alright.”
Twang!
Muk Bi widened the distance. Too close, and it'd be readable. Archery or hidden weapons needed space for full power.
“Ready?”
Click-clack.
She nocked an iron arrow on the Hong Ryeon Palace. No reply—her eyes locked on him.
Yeon Hojeong smiled inwardly. 'See that focus? You're no ordinary killer.'
Less warrior, more hunter. Not trading blows, but honing arts to slay utterly.
In the past, the Black Emperor and Divine Bow could fell even the world's greatest. Warrior and hunter—the perfect pair.
And now, returned from past to future, they honed daily to reclaim that razor glory.
Whoooosh.
The air shifted. Currents bending toward the bowstring's tip felt chilling.
Yeon Hojeong's face hardened. 'Good.'
Even at supreme mastery, a lapse meant death. Especially against an archery master like her.
He saw what she couldn't, but her shots threatened anyone. Slack off, die.
A life-risking strike demanded his own.
Shhh.
He aimed the Gwang Yong Bu at her. Lifting the long, heavy axe required monstrous strength.
He could before, but now it was different—unshakable yet fluid. Harmonizing opposites.
Muk Bi sweated coldly, facing Bi-san Yeon Family's young lord, supreme master.
'...'
Whish.
A chill wind blew. 'Can't see it.'
Viewing him as prey, she'd become the reaper. Even reaper eyes found no gap.
'Or rather...'
Too many gaps—the problem. Every aim seemed sure to hit, yet sure to miss.
'Natural.'
He shifted slightly while aiming—narrowing strike radius. Ideal against archers.
'Half-hearted shot misses; he'll close in a blink and decapitate me.'
The image formed: his explosive power, merciless killer, severing her head.
'Then...'
Humm! Humm! Humm!
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed. The Hong Ryeon Palace twitched subtly—disrupting aim and timing via the nock.
Textbook response. That eerie motion doubled defense/evasion difficulty.
Whiiish!
Wind strengthened. She smelled it on the iron—thick, tense metallic tang.
'White Tiger Qi.'
White energy surged from his feet, gauging attack timing. The tiger's wind warned: miss, and he strikes. One blow, you're dead.
Sweat trickled again.
'What now? Where to aim? Dragon Fang Cannon is strong, but Young Master Yeon blocks it easily.'
Then—
'Huh?'
Her eyes shook. 'Why am I fixating on Dragon Fang Cannon?'
Her proudest from Nine Dragon Heaven Breaking Bow. But its raw power wouldn't faze him.
Why cling?
His words echoed: 'The key is how useful your effort is.'
Dragon Fang Cannon couldn't take him. So?
Whoooosh!!
Gray ethereal energy erupted from her feet.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed. 'Hongcheon-gi?!'
She released.
Bang!!
Gray-misted iron arrow thundered like lightning. Even with heightened senses post-Mujongjibyeok, it wasn't slow.
'Lower body.'
In that split instant, he realized: aimed at his thigh. Straight at first, then curving low in short-range arc shot.
'Still too much for her?'
His hand already dropped low. Instinct read killing intent at launch, adjusting position.
'Failure anyway.'
As his left hand snatched the gray arrow—
Pop!
Surprise in his eyes. The arrow split vertically into five.
'Wandering Dragon Scatter Electric Shot?!'
Papapapak!
He faltered. Four hit ground; one he caught. Its tip grazed his thigh.
A fraction slower, and it'd pierced.
“...Holy.”
He admired unwittingly. “Wandering Dragon Scatter Electric Shot isn't for this range, is it?”
He turned. “Right?”
“Hah! Hah!”
Panting Muk Bi held empty draw behind him. Gwang Yong Bu touched her collarbone.
She gasped. “Hah! Forced qi reversal... didn't work?”
“Close. Real close, but...”
He smiled. “Good job. You went for the kill.”
She grinned. Then her face paled, turning blue—internal injuries from qi reversal and breath constriction.
Ting!
Hong Ryeon Palace dropped. She collapsed unconscious.
Yeon Hojeong caught her swiftly. Pride shone on his face.
“Well done.”