The World Does Not Change (6)
“Cough!”
Baek Seo’s eyes widened.
“V-Vice Leader.”
Yang Cheon slowly opened his eyes. For some reason, his hazy gaze carried a deep weariness.
“……Baek Seo, is it.”
“Yes, Vice Leader. Are you alright?”
Yang Cheon didn’t answer. Only after closing his eyes again, taking a deep breath, and checking his body’s condition did he finally speak.
“So I collapsed.”
His tone was calm. It was the voice of an absolute ruler who never lost his composure, no matter the situation.
Only then did Baek Seo truly realize that his lord had regained his senses.
“Yes.”
“What did the physician say.”
“They haven’t pinpointed the exact cause yet.”
“Hmm.”
“However……”
“Speak.”
Baek Seo hesitated for a moment before steeling himself and speaking firmly.
“According to the Intelligence Chief’s diagnosis, something ominous was felt emanating from the wound on your chest, Vice Leader.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes flashed sharply.
“My chest?”
“Yes. Given the circumstances, I entrusted your diagnosis to the Intelligence Chief—please forgive me.”
It wasn’t something that required forgiveness. On the contrary, Baek Seo’s efforts to uncover the cause by any means were commendable. What was surprising, however, was that the Intelligence Chief had discerned something even the physicians hadn’t noticed.
“Where is the Intelligence Chief now.”
“That’s……”
Yang Cheon looked at Baek Seo. An uncharacteristic embarrassment was plain on his face. Astonishingly, there was even a hint of regret in his expression.
Yang Cheon instinctively knew something was gravely amiss.
“Explain. What happened after I collapsed.”
“As you command.”
Baek Seo bowed his head deeply and recounted everything without omission.
Yang Cheon’s face twisted viciously.
“Heuk Yang, that bastard?!”
“Yes.”
He had known Heuk Yang was still connected to Saneumgyo. But he never imagined the man would betray him so openly. Moreover, the Intelligence Chief had said the collapse was due to the scar on his chest. Regardless of how he knew, that scar was from the wound inflicted by the Saneumgyo Leader’s Yin Wasteland Divine Palm.
And Heuk Yang had betrayed him.
Something clicked into place in his mind.
“Is he locked in the prison?”
“Yes. But during the process of capturing him, the Intelligence Chief sensed urgency. He’s in quite a battered state.”
“As long as he’s alive, it’s fine.”
Yang Cheon sat up. Baek Seo felt his breath catch under the overwhelming aura of absolute dominance radiating from his entire body.
“As long as he’s alive, that’s enough.”
“And……”
Baek Seo gritted his teeth. Heuk Yang’s betrayal was a massive shock, but there was something even more shocking.
“The Intelligence Chief…… appears to be dead.”
Killing intent filled Yang Cheon’s eyes.
“Explain. In detail!”
* * *
“Hoo.”
Jegal A-yeon gasped for breath.
Crack!
Yeon Hojeong swiftly approached and placed his hand on her Mingmen acupoint.
Woooong.
Operating his Black Tortoise Qi, he created a passage for his true energy to seep in, then poured Azure Dragon Qi through it. Unless there was a major issue with her heart or lungs right now, he figured the gentler Azure Dragon Qi would be more suitable than the ferocious White Tiger Qi.
Woooong.
Color returned to Jegal A-yeon’s face.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
He’d dispelled her fatigue with Azure Dragon Qi and drawn out some stagnant energy with Black Tortoise Qi, but it wasn’t a fundamental solution.
It wasn’t just Jegal A-yeon. Dang Sang-a, Gadeuksang, and Paeryul had all depleted a significant amount of their internal energy as well.
Stamina was one thing, but their dwindling inner energy was the real problem.
“Damn it, I shouldn’t have gotten so worked up.”
In urgent situations, rigidity was the enemy.
Jegal A-yeon grumbled in a playful tone.
“You think you’re the only one? We were all fired up.”
“Kek.”
“What’s with that weird noise.”
“Got nothing to say.”
She’d tried to lighten the mood, but in the end, dozens of innocent civilians had died. The atmosphere wouldn’t lift easily.
Yeon Hojeong asked Gadeuksang, “Gang Ryang?”
“See that peak bathed in moonlight? He’s waiting there.”
“Half a shichen at most, and we’ll meet up.”
Yeon Hojeong turned to Paeryul. “Is Senior alright?”
“What do you take me for? I could run three more days.”
“The situation will wrap up within three shichen.”
“Didn’t I say three days?”
“Got it.”
Paeryul glared fiercely, but that was it. If Yeon Hojeong hadn’t shown up on time, the entire squad would’ve turned into a bloodbath. He could thank him until his mouth wore out.
“Dang clan girl?”
“I’m fine.”
“You look the most composed. Good stamina.”
Dang Sang-a forced a smile. She said she was fine, but her accumulated fatigue was no small matter either.
Paeryul asked Yeon Hojeong, “By the way, the spear?”
“Left it behind. Figured they’d believe I was dead that way.”
“Hm.”
Yeon Hojeong was strong enough barehanded. But with his heavy weapon, he was far stronger.
Yeon Hojeong smiled. “We’ve put some distance, and barring any issues, half a day more down this path ends it.”
“That’s the problem. Issues might crop up.”
“It’ll work out somehow.”
Paeryul’s eyes narrowed. It’ll work out somehow? Hard to believe those words came from Yeon Hojeong.
Woooong.
Yeon Hojeong activated his ocular prowess.
Gang Ryang’s over there, huh.
This was the northernmost tip of Hunan, near Cheon Ja San. Once they crossed it, they’d enter Hubei. The moment they set foot in Hubei Province, Muk Ryong Bu’s forces would have to halt their pursuit.
“Alright, let’s push a bit more.”
Whoosh!
The group ran on. Brief rests alternating with all-out flight. Their speed was sufficient, but their stamina visibly waned.
How much more time passed?
……
Yeon Hojeong, running at the rear, narrowed his eyes deeply.
“Senior.”
“Speak.”
“Just in case, I’ll check the rear. Take the squad ahead first.”
Paeryul’s eyes flashed. In the dark night, their gazes clashed silently in the air, sparks flying. The exhausted group hadn’t noticed this wordless exchange.
[They’re on us?]
[Yes.]
[Strong?]
[If I don’t cut them off, it’ll be trouble.]
[Damn it.]
Paeryul intended to say he’d handle it himself. But Yeon Hojeong subtly shook his head.
[Take care of the squad.]
[……]
[That’s an order as field leader.]
Paeryul gritted his teeth and turned away.
Flutter!
He tossed his Blood Wind Cloak to Yeon Hojeong and shouted curtly, “Let’s go!”
Whoosh.
Three figures dashed after Paeryul.
Yeon Hojeong watched them with a smile, but his eyes met Jegal A-yeon’s. Her gaze trembled violently. Even in her fatigued haze, she’d realized why he was checking the rear.
Yeon Hojeong waved with a grin, signaling not to worry.
Crunch.
With that, the entire group vanished from Yeon Hojeong’s sight.
Whoosh!
Turning back the way they’d come, Yeon Hojeong shot forward explosively.
They’re there.
He couldn’t sense Cham Baek Dan’s presence. Over twenty ri separated them now, so it was expected.
In other words.
These guys are skilled enough to overtake the early-starting Cham Baek Dan by a wide margin.
Yeon Hojeong took a light breath.
“As expected, nothing in this world comes easy.”
Shrr.
Loosening his stance smoothly, he suppressed his Four Gods Martial Arts and drew Bi-ra Jin-gyeol to its limit.
Woooong.
Bi-ra Jin-gyeol resonated with the air. A clear, sky-blue energy settled in his pupils.
Here. Come this way.
Whoooosh!
The blowing wind felt chilling. The atmosphere writhed.
The experts, who had spread out widely, suddenly converged into a sharp, awl-like formation toward a single point.
And that formation targeted none other than Yeon Hojeong’s position.
Sorry, but you’re not setting foot in Cheon Ja San.
Flutter!
He shed his outer robe, incinerating it with Vermilion Bird Qi, and donned Paeryul’s Blood Wind Cloak. Pulling the hood over his nose hid more than half his face.
“Huuu.”
Yeon Hojeong exhaled slowly, relaxing his power.
How much time passed?
Crunch.
On the dark mountain path, the sound of someone stepping on fallen leaves echoed.
Yeon Hojeong still had his eyes closed, exhaling steadily. A peak expert’s breathing was longer and more solid than an ordinary person’s, but his was exceptionally prolonged.
Crunch, crunch.
Judging no immediate threat, perhaps, over thirty experts began emerging from the darkness one by one.
“……”
A strange silence descended.
Moments later, someone spoke.
“The collapse of Muk Ryong Bu’s entrance, the mysterious expert who massacred three and four squads of Cham Baek Dan. Suspicious figures suspected of ties to the Moyong family.”
“……”
“Where is the rest of your group?”
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong drew a deep breath.
Woooong.
The Bi-ra Jin-gyeol enveloping his body radiated a more intense, brilliant blue glow.
The man watching Yeon Hojeong silently spoke again.
“Last chance. Where is your……”
Then, Yeon Hojeong’s breathing stopped.
“Hup!”
Splatter!
The head of the man who’d opened his mouth exploded into pieces.
Yeon Hojeong had closed the distance like a beam of light, shattering the head in one strike. His eyes now brimmed with the majesty of a mountain king.
Grrrrr.
A beastly growl escaped Yeon Hojeong’s throat. It was a demonic roar utterly unlike Cheong Ho’s tiger bellow.
“Kill him!”
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.
Fast.
No sign of agitation despite their leader’s death. Their aura betrayed none.
And this efficient movement.
Sa Hon Jo?
Muk Ryong Bu’s assassination specialists. A league apart from Cham Baek Dan’s murder ghosts. Within Muk Ryong Bu, they were the death squad embodying inevitable killing.
And if Sa Hon Jo had mobilized?
Yang Cheon’s awake!
Whoooosh!
Boom!
The explosive strike of Tiger King Nine Thunder Strikes sent three Sa Hon Jo members flying. The sound alone suggested an exploding shell.
Despite the devastating power, the three merely staggered briefly without dying.
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
Whoosh!
Four short swords flew from exquisite angles. Yet the killing intent on them was too faint. One might doubt if they were truly meant to kill.
Flutter flutter!
The Blood Wind Cloak billowed gorgeously, evading all four blades.
Yeon Hojeong’s legs whipped like a windmill.
Papapapak!
Four precise hits, one per foe, yet not a single death.
The rear Sa Hon Jo members had immediately closed in, dispersing the force.
Damn.
Their ability to distribute power was astonishingly refined. One-on-one, he could end it in three exchanges, but the more there were, the exponentially harder they became to handle.
“Damn it, this’ll drag on.”
No choice. For the group, the mission, and himself, he had to take them down somehow.
If I don’t finish these guys, Yang Cheon will step in for real. Or maybe he already has.
Yeon Hojeong’s cheek twitched.
If only they’d go after Moyong Gun!
Roooar!
Vermilion Bird Qi surged, unveiling the extreme slaughter art, Hong Yeom Yuk Sal Gong.
Boom!
At that moment, the Myeol Sa Army entered Cheon Ja San.