To the Hometown (4)
A flicker of interest crossed Yeon Hojeong's face.
"This is quite an intriguing situation."
"Is it?"
Paeryul smiled. A chill hung in the air from that grin, shadowed by the silhouette of a ferocious predator.
"I figured you'd understand. From what I see, you and I aren't all that different."
"Is that how it looks to you?"
"Of course. You're nothing like those stuffy old hermits. The old sects and great families—they all try to live like lofty cranes. But aren't you the tiger that rips into its prey without hesitation?"
"You're thinking too highly of me."
"I don't care how you see yourself. It's how I see you that matters."
Cheok Gang fidgeted uncomfortably between them.
"M-Master."
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong raised a hand to silence Cheok Gang. His eyes had already turned serious.
"Are you serious?"
"Hm?"
"If I defeat you, you'll obey my orders without question. Not just pretend to die if I say so—you'd actually lay down your life."
Paeryul's face hardened.
"When I was young, like that kid over there, I heard I was nothing but trouble plenty of times. But even those who hated me acknowledged one thing."
"And what was that?"
"I never go back on my word."
The corner of Yeon Hojeong's mouth curved up. Surprisingly, his smile bore a striking resemblance to Paeryul's.
"One word, no takebacks... That's a vital virtue."
"So, does that sway you a bit?"
"Were you that hungry for a fight?"
Paeryul chuckled dryly.
"You're cut from the same cloth as me after all. You saw right through it, huh?"
"Even someone without our kind of instincts would notice."
"Is that so."
"If you were that desperate for a match, why not grab anyone and spar? You don't strike me as the type to pull punches out of consideration."
Paeryul shook his head.
"Wrong. Sure, I'm no gentleman, but at my age—with an elder's position in the sect—I can't completely ignore the sect's dignity."
"But serving under a much younger junior is fine?"
"If you beat me."
The air grew thick with tension, heating up gradually. Paeryul's smile deepened.
"You're in rough shape, inside and out. Get some treatment first, then..."
"Any rules?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Do you want a spar to test each other's skills? Or a real fight where heads could roll at any moment?"
"The latter, obviously."
"Got it."
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"I'll trust you understand real combat."
"Of course..."
It happened in that instant.
Whooosh!
Paeryul's eyes widened. Yeon Hojeong had closed the distance in a flash and unleashed a single palm strike.
The heavy, advancing palm technique seemed to suck in the surrounding air. It was the Yeon family's secret art, Anti-Dragon Palm.
'Hup!'
Boom!
Paeryul retreated with elastic footwork and shouted.
"What the hell is this?!"
In that moment, Yeon Hojeong stomped the ground with explosive force.
Kaboom!
The palm force surging from the follow-up strike flew at twice the initial speed. It was unavoidable. Blocking it seemed daunting against the overwhelming pressure.
'No-mind!'
Too many thoughts. Paeryul immediately drew his sword.
Shing!
The Anti-Dragon Palm's force split in two.
Bang!
The severed palm energy slammed into the ground, upheaving the earth on both sides.
Paeryul's voice boomed with fury.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Wham!
Yeon Hojeong gave no answer. Advancing with the mighty presence of White Tiger Overlord Step, he unleashed a storm of twin fists.
Paeryul's eyes widened.
'Incredible power!'
The curving barrage of punches was perfection itself. Every strike traced the fangs of a massive beast.
No room to hold back. Paeryul's sword spun at high speed, whipping up a lethal sword wind.
Whish-whish-whish!
Crash!
"Kuh!"
Brutal force. Hastily executed, it hadn't reached half its full power, but Whirlwind Dancing Willow Forty-Eight Swords was one of Point Cang Sect's prized secret sword arts.
Yet its power had been crippled at the root. This went beyond disrupting the technique—it pinpointed and shattered the flow of the opponent's martial art, a brutally practical fist barrage.
Whoosh!
Sudden as it was, no panic. Paeryul's body spun rapidly, slipping to Yeon Hojeong's right rear in an instant. Exquisite movement.
The miraculous footwork of Point Cang, Shrinking Shadow Step.
From the rear, Paeryul slashed down in one breath. The target: dead center of Yeon Hojeong's back. A strike that would inflict severe injury whether dodged or blocked.
Then—
Clang!
Paeryul's eyes bulged.
'Bare-handed?!'
Without even turning, Yeon Hojeong thrust out his hand. The sword strike met it squarely.
A strange dark azure energy overflowed from the blocking hand. Black Tortoise Qi.
The rebound unique to Black Tortoise Qi sent Paeryul's sword flying back.
Crack!
And it didn't end there. As if anticipating it, he gathered his full power, spun, and whipped up his toe—the speed like lightning.
Speed equaled power. This kick, as swift as a quicksword, promised devastating force.
'Can't meet it head-on.'
He had to evade. Blocking would push him back, but dodging opened counterattacks.
Splat!
The air tore as the toe shot forward, shredding the hem of Paeryul's robe.
'Here!'
Paeryul's sword aimed for Yeon Hojeong's throat. Perfect timing, impeccable angle. Impossible to evade.
In that instant, fire blazed in Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
Ssssh.
Horror etched Paeryul's face. The sword tip pierced empty air.
Strong attacks bred openings. He'd exploited that gap, yet Yeon Hojeong's form had vanished from sight.
'W-Where?!'
Suddenly, a chilling killing intent curved up from below.
Wham!
Thud!
"Kuh!"
He sensed it and dodged, but a fraction too late. The low-rising kick struck his thigh.
Screee.
'Damn.'
Pain surged from his thigh. But he'd been lucky. A direct hit without dodging would have snapped bone, torn muscle and flesh flying.
Fearsome attack power. Paeryul was awed by his foe's ironclad body techniques.
'That was a feint?!'
A flash-like kick as feint to lower guards, followed by the lethal strike. The mark of a battle-hardened veteran.
Even the feint packed enough power to cripple if it landed.
'But!'
This time for real. Gritting through the thigh pain like shattering bone, Paeryul unleashed elastic sword strikes.
Yeon Hojeong's pupils dilated. Paeryul caught the shift in his eyes. Clearly, the opponent was rattled this time.
Then, Yeon Hojeong's hand moved in a bizarre twist.
'...?'
Paeryul's eyes widened.
'What...?!'
Hummm.
Like a snake, or a dragon. Flexing with boneless fluidity, Yeon Hojeong's hand rotated in, surging with verdant glow.
That glow instantly ensnared Paeryul's sword and hand.
Splat!
Ting!
'Broken.'
His wrist snapped. The firmly gripped sword soared into the sky.
Whoosh!
Paeryul leaped back, shuddering at the mystical energy from his rear flank.
He'd been flanked. Despite watching closely.
No flashy fire-like killing intent, no heavy water-like flow, no light wind-like agility.
Yet it was soft. Soft yet majestic, swift and profound. A footwork terrifying enough to blank the mind.
Ultimate evasion, primed for ruthless counter. Azure Dragon Qi, Azure Dragon Cloud Step.
Current Paeryul couldn't pierce its enigmatic essence.
Seizing position with Azure Dragon Cloud Step, Yeon Hojeong thrust his fist.
Hummm!
A warm breeze seemed to cling around the swirling fist power. A clear strike, yet layered with destructive force to blast foes away, radiating menace.
Azure Dragon technique, Dragon Flock Three Forms.
Bam-bam-bam!
"Gahk!"
Paeryul flew with a groan, crashing into the wall.
Crackle.
Dust and stone chips sprayed from the cracked wall.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
His face was somewhat pale, but no sign of pain.
"I win."
"Kuh-huk!"
Paeryul dropped to one knee right there. His legs had given out; he couldn't stand.
'Such monstrous martial arts.'
Had it been full intent, it wouldn't have ended there. Yeon Hojeong's arts were ruthlessly practical and overflowing with destructive power.
If he'd held nothing back at the end, Paeryul's ribs would shatter, organs pulverized, body a bloody mess smashing through the wall another three zhang.
Paeryul's face flushed red.
'He held back... or I'd be dead.'
People hushed it, but everyone knew. Yeon Hojeong was the pinnacle of the young generation.
Paeryul finally felt it true.
Others acknowledged his talent and achievements; Paeryul had witnessed his combat prowess and tactical brilliance firsthand.
'Where the hell did he learn these tricks?!'
He looked up at Yeon Hojeong with trembling eyes.
Yeon Hojeong breathed heavily. Pushing qi despite severe injuries had deepened his internal wounds.
"Impressive, Senior Brother."
"Koff! Kuhuk!"
"Honestly, I thought it'd end in three exchanges. You seemed so off-guard."
"...That obvious?"
"Yes."
Drip.
Yeon Hojeong's nose bled. Overexerted qi and accelerations had damaged the mucous membrane.
He wiped the flowing blood and continued.
"You've had a lot on your mind lately? You didn't show your full strength."
Paeryul's eyes wavered.
"Your sword tip wavers, movements half a beat slow. My arts demand practical counters, but your body can't keep up."
"..."
"I could've won without the ambush."
Cheok Gang, who'd watched the sudden bout in a daze, snapped to and blurted.
"C-Commander! Even so, an ambush?!"
Yeon Hojeong chuckled dryly.
"You said you wanted real combat. Can't actually kill alliance members, so I had to end it quick."
"B-But!"
Then Paeryul spoke.
"No excuses."
Yeon Hojeong and Cheok Gang looked at him.
Paeryul staggered to his feet, strength returning.
"Whatever the reason, I failed to respond properly. My loss."
"But Master!"
"Ambush or fair fight—dead is dead. You know that."
"..."
Paeryul sighed. The perilous aura from before was gone.
"That, from a body not even healed. You're something else."
"Your arts were formidable too, Senior Brother. You barely touched Point Cang's secrets."
"Weren't you the one who stopped me?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled faintly.
Sharp insight. Defeated, but his martial sense was exceptional.
Paeryul closed his eyes. Crushing fatigue washed over him.
"I thought fighting you would mean days of bloody brawling."
"That so."
Paeryul gave a wry smile.
"I lost."
"Good fight."
"I said it, didn't I? One word, no takebacks."
"You did."
"I'll serve under you."
Cheok Gang gaped at Paeryul.
Yeon Hojeong said gravely.
"It'll be dangerous. You sure?"
"How much worse than your fists?"
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"Congratulations. Joining a kid way below you."
Paeryul's face crumpled like crumpled paper.
"Congrats to you. Gaining a Point Cang elder as a subordinate."