Lying on Brushwood and Tasting Gall (8)
Thwack!
The branch flew silently before embedding itself into the iron plate.
Sssrrk. Plop.
It had stuck into the plate, but only the tip penetrated by an inch. As the wind blew, the branch wobbled back and forth before finally giving way and dropping to the ground.
"Hm…."
Regret flickered in Muk Bi's eyes.
'Still a long way to go.'
She gazed down at the branches laid out on the bench. Astonishingly, every single one was unrefined—just snapped off as they were. No arrowheads, no fletching, not even straight enough to serve as proper arrows.
And yet Muk Bi had shot them straight into the iron plate. Truly terrifying archery.
"Impressive as always, Captain."
Ok Cheong stuck out his tongue in awe.
"The bow's draw weight is monstrous, but controlling it so you don't snap the branch—that alone must be incredibly tough, right?"
"Yeah, sure."
Muk Bi just smiled nonchalantly, as if it were nothing.
Ok Cheong picked up one of the branches, his face full of wonder.
"How in the world did you…? Huh?!"
Crack!
The branch snapped in his hand. Bewilderment spread across his face.
"It's all rotten inside? Were these rotten branches?"
"Yep."
"Gah!"
Branches that crumbled with the slightest pressure—she'd nocked them on a first-rate bow that even drawing took effort, loosed them, and planted them into the iron plate. Precisely into her target, no less.
Ok Cheong felt awe wash over him.
"How intricate must your internal energy control be in that split second? Even in our Wudang Sect, hardly anyone can manipulate their energy with that level of finesse."
Muk Bi shook her head.
"You just don't know. There are probably more than you think. I'm still a novice."
"…If you're a novice, Captain, then what am I?"
"Not even at novice level. So train harder."
"Yes, ma'am."
Even in her casual tone, there was an undercurrent of strict discipline. It hadn't been long, but training the Myeol Sa Army soldiers had instilled in her a certain commanding presence. And no one worked harder than she did each day. Before they knew it, the soldiers had come to genuinely respect the quiet, kind-hearted Muk Bi as their superior.
Of course, she hadn't yet realized her own growth. She had something far more important than Myeol Sa Army training.
'I need to get stronger.'
Muk Bi picked up a wooden arrow from the ground. It was a properly fletched shaft with a sharply honed tip.
She nocked it into her Hong Ryeon Palace bow.
Krrrk.
As she drew back her arm, the bowstring stretched taut with fearsome tension.
'At least as strong as Young Master Yeon… or more.'
Piiiuuung!
The wooden arrow shot skyward, vanishing from sight in an instant.
The arrow was gone, but the lingering sensation in her drawing hand was vivid. And it told her plainly: still not enough.
Muk Bi gave a wry smile.
'Father said he's resting tomorrow. I'll ask for more instruction then.'
It had been a short time, but she'd received much guidance from Yeon Wi. He wasn't the gentle sort of teacher. He weighed criticism heavier than praise, and he didn't explain things in exhaustive detail. Rather than breaking down the principles step by step, he guided his students to ponder and internalize them on their own.
But he never skipped essential explanations, and he pointed out mistakes without hesitation. Not affectionate, but an excellent master.
Muk Bi's keen senses had allowed her to progress at an astonishing rate. Yet this level barely qualified as "hear one, know ten." She was far from "once-in-a-century genius."
Yeon Hojeong, on the other hand—though people whispered it quietly—was a monster who appeared maybe once every hundred years.
That was why Muk Bi couldn't settle for this. To her, who believed she had to become at least as strong as Yeon Hojeong, her current realm was merely a stepping stone.
But she didn't realize it. Something had grown even more noticeably than her martial prowess.
'Why do I need to get stronger? The reason doesn't matter. What matters is that I want to.'
A more mature mindset.
Goals for life? She didn't have any yet. She wasn't sure if she'd ever develop them, even after ten or twenty years.
But if there was something she wanted right now, she pursued it without excuses.
Training with Yeon Wi had advanced her martial arts; leading the Myeol Sa Army soldiers had forged her spirit. Now, she had reached a stage where she questioned herself and sought answers through her own power.
"How are the kids? Resting well?"
"Probably? Even on a day off, they'll be training in their quarters."
"Yeah?"
"Yep. You're so diligent, Captain."
Muk Bi blinked.
"Come to think of it, what are you doing here?"
Ok Cheong scratched his head.
"I came to ask a favor, but now I don't need to."
"A favor?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"Well…."
Ok Cheong cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Lately, I've felt my martial arts stagnating. I feel like I'm grasping sword principles day by day, but my body can't keep up."
"…?"
"I thought sparring with someone whose style counters mine might give me answers… but after seeing your skills, Captain, I've changed my mind."
Muk Bi smiled.
"I'm fine with it. If you want to spar, anytime."
"Ah, I'm good now too. Feels like I don't need to."
"Why?"
"Fighting a wolf might work, but a tiger? Doubt I'd gain insight from that. The gap has to be just right, but this…."
"You won't know unless you try, right?"
Ok Cheong gave a warm smile.
"Normally, yeah. But now I get it. Some things you can learn without fighting."
Muk Bi's eyes gleamed.
'Ok Cheong's grown too.'
Looking closely, his aura had deepened into something profoundly subtle. The energy emanating from him was so soft and natural that she hadn't noticed until now.
That was Wudang's martial art. An energy that approached like mist or clouds, enveloping softly. Wudang's pursuit of ultimate naturalness was finally opening its path for him.
"I'll head out first, then."
"Sure. Let me know if anything comes up."
"Yes, ma'am."
Ok Cheong strode out of Pa Gun Pavilion with light steps.
Muk Bi set down her Hong Ryeon Palace bow and looked up at the sky. It was clear, but the clouds moved briskly. The weather had turned chilly before she knew it.
"…Is everything going well?"
* * *
The next morning.
'Not yet, huh.'
Having finished bathing and changed into neat robes, Yeon Hojeong sat on the steps of the manor courtyard.
'Hurry up, or it'll give me a real headache.'
Yeon Hojeong was waiting for word from Moyong Gun.
Reorganizing Muk Ryong Bu's structure was, in a way, just buying time. It would leave a strong impression, but to seal this deal properly, he needed tangible results—trade goods that showed real progress.
And the one promising to prepare them was Moyong Gun.
Yeon Hojeong, who had been staring at the sky, closed his eyes.
'If he's late, no choice. I'll have to improvise.'
Moyong Gun's cooperation was practically free money anyway. Without him, Yeon Hojeong would have had to infiltrate Muk Ryong Bu's depths alone.
Of course, he had confidence. Confidence he could win Yang Cheon's trust.
'It'll just take some time.'
Then Dang Sang-a's voice came from beside him.
"It's chilly out here. Why are you sitting outside?"
"Chilly? This is just refreshing."
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
Dang Sang-a hesitated a moment before sitting next to him.
Yeon Hojeong eyed her curiously.
"What? Something to say?"
"Not exactly 'something to say,' but…."
"What?"
Dang Sang-a smacked her lips.
"That was all an act, right?"
"What was?"
"You know… yesterday."
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head, then suddenly grinned as it clicked.
"Killing that monkey bastard?"
"That too. And the killing intent."
"What, did he look like some world-shaking demon lord to you?"
"If anything, worse."
She must have been pretty shocked, judging by how direct she was.
Yeon Hojeong turned to her.
"Hwa Won, was it? That guy's the type to clash repeatedly. When the conflict's inevitable, better to crush their spirit from the start."
"I see."
"Yeah."
Dang Sang-a's eyes wavered.
"But you killed someone."
Yeon Hojeong cocked his head.
"So?"
"…?!"
"Muk Ryong Bu is the enemy. Hwa Won aside, the guy I killed yesterday harbored real killing intent. Twice."
"But even so…."
"He could've sparked trouble. Especially that type—they're liable to overdo their loyalty without orders from their lord. If I'd let him live, he'd have hounded us relentlessly."
"That's just a possibility."
Yeon Hojeong cut her off sharply.
"Even a penny's worth of risk that could harm us, I'll eliminate it."
"…."
"This is the black path. Muk Ryong Bu is enemy territory. One slip, and we all die."
"…!"
"I have to watch out for the mission and the whole group's safety. If you expect humane responses from me, sorry, but head back now."
Dang Sang-a's eyes deepened.
"Because I've done my part?"
"You heard?"
"Yes."
"Right. You've fulfilled your role perfectly."
"…."
"Don't get the wrong idea. Doesn't mean you're useless. Having an expert like you makes things easier."
Dang Sang-a stared at him quietly before sighing deeply.
"I didn't know you were this extreme."
"Not trying to offend, but I didn't expect you all to be this soft either."
"Soft?"
"Forgot already? We're dealing with the black path and Yang Cheon."
"…!!"
"Things going smoothly doesn't mean drop your guard, right?"
Dang Sang-a swallowed involuntarily.
Yes. The opponent wasn't just one sect—it was the entire black path. And at its apex sat one of the Sacred Heaven Thirteen Seats.
No one could call that foe "easy" with a straight face.
"Facing that, you want me to uphold justice and chivalry? Even if there was a way, I wouldn't choose it. I hate risking the mission on methods I can't fully trust."
Especially now.
'With Muk Ryong Bu likely allied with the Three Sects.'
Yeon Hojeong suppressed the surging rage.
'I need solid intel. Yang Cheon might not be involved with them.'
Of course, the odds were near zero. But he didn't jump to conclusions. He wanted clear, irrefutable proof.
He had to be cautious. Certain.
For no one else but himself.
'Plenty of time. Don't rush and screw it up.'
In truth, to Yeon Hojeong reborn in the past, the Myeong family were the ones he most wanted to slaughter. The Three Sects hadn't targeted just the Yeon family, but the Myeong had annihilated them for personal gain, with no grudge whatsoever.
But in scale of calamity, the Three Sects dwarfed them. They'd sought to erase the entire martial world from the start.
That was why it gripped him tighter, excited him more.
Taming those emotions was ordeal enough.
"Sorry."
"Hm?"
Dang Sang-a sighed.
"I wasn't trying to criticize you, Lord Yeon. Just… a bit shocked."
Thinking back, she'd memorized and sniped black path informants she'd never even seen. And they hadn't bared killing intent like Won Gak.
'I've let my guard down.'
Moving with Yeon Hojeong, he handled most things. She'd forgotten the initial tension and sense of purpose.
Even after seeing allies die in the Tang Ma Myeol Sa coalition operation.
'We're deep in enemy territory.'
A chill ran down her spine anew.
Missions came in all forms. Some charged to annihilate foes; others, like this, deceived and stole intel.
So even if they laughed outwardly, inwardly they had to sharpen their blades.
'The war's still raging.'
Dang Sang-a bowed her head.
"I must've acted like a total rookie."
Yeon Hojeong sighed inwardly. Fair enough. He'd probably owe her a personal apology after this mission.
'What a mess.'
He spoke up.
"Let's stay sharp just a bit longer."
"Yes."
That was when.
"He's here!"
Ga Deuksang came sprinting from the distant wall like the wind.
"A letter arrived."
Yeon Hojeong shot to his feet. He swiftly took the letter from Ga Deuksang, his eyes flashing for a moment.
"…Alright. Time to meet Yang Cheon."