Welcoming Guests (1)
“Trouble’s broken out.”
“Trouble?”
“Yang Cheon has cut off contact with Saneumgyo.”
“……”
“No word from the Sa Gun Seven Leaders we sent as his trusted aides. The Black Sheep, one of the Twelve Branches Gods said to be Yang Cheon’s elite, vanished from his base without a trace.”
“For them to notice the Sa Gun Seven Leaders’ disappearance directly means some of our spies planted in Muk Ryong Bu are still alive?”
“The evaporation of the Sa Gun Seven Leaders, and the death of the new intelligence chief at the hands of the Moyong family head—that was the last intel from our spies.”
“So all the spies we scattered in Muk Ryong Bu have been caught?”
“For now… that’s how it looks. If they hadn’t all vanished, we wouldn’t have gone a full month without contact.”
“Impressive.”
“……”
“I warned you time and again. Don’t underestimate Yang Cheon. The Sa Gun Seven Leaders? We never should’ve sent those greenhorns as our representatives. They thought they could slip a leash around his neck, but look how ridiculous it’s turned out.”
“……”
“What’s Saneumgyo’s reaction?”
“Silence.”
“Must be quite humiliating. Though they deserve the scorn.”
“And… there’s one more report, though it’s not fully verified.”
“Out with it.”
“Yang Cheon may have struck some kind of deal with the Moyong family head.”
“With the Moyong family head?”
“Yes.”
“They said he killed Muk Ryong Bu’s intelligence chief, so why a deal?”
“The exact reason’s unknown. The intel’s reliability isn’t high either, but Moyong Gun returned safely to the Martial Alliance despite meeting Yang Cheon face-to-face, and a woman presumed to be his daughter was spotted entering Muk Ryong Bu.”
“Ho.”
“Makes you wonder if there wasn’t some deal. Of course, as I said, it’s just speculation.”
“Speculation or not, when you piece together the sequence, it seems highly credible.”
“Yang Cheon’s capable of it. But Moyong Gun has no reason to deal with him.”
“No reason… Do we have any personal intel on Moyong Gun?”
“We do. Not in great detail.”
“Check it out. His temperament, how much the Moyong family has expanded since he became head—dig into all of it.”
“Understood. But why?”
“If the Moyong family head is hiding ambitions, he’d have ample reason to deal with Yang Cheon.”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t they say they’ll elect a Martial Alliance Leader next year?”
“……!”
“The alliance is newly formed. They’ll want someone stable for the inaugural leader position, someone who can provide steady governance.”
“Shaolin……”
“Or the Wudang Sect. High chance it comes from the Nine Great Sects. But the board can always be shaken. If someone shows exceptional prominence beyond the norm, they could seize the leader’s seat.”
“I see. So the Moyong family head……”
“I’ve heard Moyong Gun’s ambitions are vast. His skill at presenting himself to the world is supposedly top-notch too. We need a deeper investigation.”
“I understand.”
“If Moyong Gun has joined hands with Yang Cheon……”
“……”
“Then we might shake this board ourselves.”
“Isn’t that risky? Especially if Saneumgyo gets involved……”
“Saneumgyo handles the black path. We’re after Moyong Gun. Different battles.”
“Ah!”
“Gather everything on Moyong Gun.”
“As you command.”
Chwarrrrrlk!
The Jiao Dragon Chain pierced the air with terrifying force.
Ting ting ting!
The steel links batted away the volley of arrows.
Surprise flickered across Muk Bi’s face.
Paaang!
Yeon Hojeong, with the chain wrapped around his hand, charged at ferocious speed. It was the Vermilion Bird step, incarnation of the Southern Heavens.
No matter how confident Muk Bi was in her lightness skill, she couldn’t afford to relax against Blood Wing Swing Heaven.
Thud thud thud!
Muk Bi widened the gap with Dragon Tail Swift Step and drew her bowstring without an arrow. An invisible arrow of pure qi—the Formless Bullet.
Taaaaang!
The Formless Bullet scorched the air with power unlike before.
Fire lit Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
Kwaang!
In an instant, his swift step shifted to one of power and advance. White winds howled, forming the White Tiger’s Overlord Step.
Yeon Hojeong, chains coiled around both fists, unleashed a mad flurry of double punches.
Poof!
The Formless Bullet shattered, and twin fists of wind targeted Muk Bi’s body.
Fast, sharp strikes. A ruthless art that showed no mercy.
Then, Muk Bi’s body moved in an uncanny way.
Paaak!
She shot forward like lightning, reaching the wall beyond the training ground in a blink.
Thud!
Kicking off the wall, she leaped—only to land on the opposite wall in the next instant.
Pabababak!
Dragon Tail Swift Step wasn’t just fast. It encompassed elasticity, flexibility, long-distance travel, short bursts, attack support—every aspect of lightness skill, the pinnacle under heaven.
Innate bounce amplified by extreme training, combined with Muk Bi’s monstrous dynamic vision, created a staggering spectacle.
Papapapapang!
Stone dust sprayed from all directions.
Papang! Tatatatang!
The air’s explosions sharpened further.
“W-what the hell?!”
Paeng Manho’s voice was thick with shock.
It wasn’t just him. Every Myeol Sa Army soldier watching Muk Bi gaped, mouths agape.
She erased every zone in the training ground with her movement. Her speed was so blinding, the naked eye could barely track it.
Like a thick brush dipped in white paint slashing dozens of straight lines in a frenzy.
Astonishingly, even at that velocity, her toeholds on ground and wall looked crisp and clean.
Hmm.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.
Impressive, but stamina drain must be insane.
Muk Bi’s art was dynamic. Her lung capacity likely rivaled his own.
But this couldn’t last forever.
She’s aiming for a short fight. But she knows my reaction speed. Arrows from blind spots won’t land—I’ll dodge them all. So then…
Kurrrr rumble.
Invisible waves seemed to crash from all sides.
Yeon Hojeong had summoned Black Tortoise Qi.
Omnidirectional barrage!
His guess was spot on.
Puuuung!
A Formless Bullet loaded with massive resonance hurtled at him. Not one—dozens.
Muk Bi crisscrossed every direction, firing with each move, but so fast it sounded like a single blast.
Wuuuuung!
Bi-ra Jin-gyeol surged like lightning.
The world slowed.
Yeon Hojeong counted the incoming Formless Bullets.
Forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-n… fifty-nine? Ten per move?
He couldn’t hold back admiration.
Insane. She devised this art?
But no time to gawk. A moment’s lapse could fell even him.
Then.
If the foe transcended norms, he’d counter beyond norms.
Black water qi cloaked his hands.
Kwaaaaang!
Pupupupupu!
The training ground crumbled, belching thick smoke.
“Aaaagh!”
“Dodge!”
“Shit, we’ll die just watching!”
Myeol Sa Army soldiers recoiled in panic. The shockwave alone threatened internal injuries.
Thwoooong!
Muk Bi, soaring skyward, looked deathly pale. Her qi drain and bodily strain were immense.
Yet her expression shone bright.
Nine Dragon Annihilation Formation landed perfectly. Didn’t expect it to work in real combat.
Nine Dragon Annihilation Formation wasn’t from Nine Dragon Heaven Breaking Bow.
Learned from Yeon Wi, but her own creation.
Fusing Dragon Tail Swift Step’s bounce and speed with Nine Dragon archery’s destructiveness—her unique art.
Room for refinement, but its firepower outstripped even Dragon Fang Cannon.
Kurrrung!
Dust settled, revealing the obliterated training ground.
Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.
Where’d he go?
A direct Nine Dragon Annihilation Formation hit left no corpse intact.
But not for Yeon Hojeong. She knew his prowess; he’d handle this with ease.
Yet he was gone. Only a massive crater in the center.
No way?!
Did it actually hit him? For real?
Taak!
Muk Bi dropped swiftly, scanning everywhere. Panic etched her face.
“Yeon… Young Master Yeon!”
Then—
Kwang!
Chwarrrrrlk!
The Jiao Dragon Chain erupted from underground, snaring her ankle.
“Gasp!”
Kwaduduk!
Her foot sank to the ankle into the earth, chain-bound. Monstrous inner strength.
Even bracing instantly, it buried to her ankle. Considering her qi reserves, utterly brute force.
Shock bloomed on Muk Bi’s face.
Underground?!
Kwakwakwa!
With earth-shaking roar, Yeon Hojeong burst from the left subsurface.
Muk Bi’s hand reacted on reflex.
Ting ting ting!
Four Formless Bullets in that instant—inhuman reflexes.
But Yeon Hojeong was faster.
Dodging with fluid steps, he closed in and unleashed Tiger King Nine Thunder Strikes.
Kwang!
“Kuh!”
Muk Bi crumpled in place.
Her Hong Ryeon Palace bow flew far off.
A normal hit would’ve sent her flying, but the chain on her ankle prevented evasion or proper defense.
“Nngh.”
“You alright?”
Yeon Hojeong grinned wickedly.
“I win.”
Muk Bi grumbled petulantly.
“That’s cheating.”
“Cheating how?”
“Hiding underground? Where’s the rule allowing that?”
“Real battles have no rules.”
“And what’s this on my ankle? Tie me up and beat me?”
“That’s on you for dropping your guard. You didn’t think I’d be pulverized without a trace by that art, did you?”
Truly infuriating guy.
Muk Bi muttered.
“Untie it already. Can’t even budge.”
As Yeon Hojeong unwound the Jiao Dragon Chain from her ankle, he said,
“Still, not bad.”
“Huh?”
“That attack. Most foes couldn’t even dream of dodging. Though to land every shot, it needs way more finesse.”
Joy lit Muk Bi’s face.
“It was good?”
“Yeah, but not battle-ready yet. Qi and stamina drain are too high. Fine if it kills outright, but miss and you’re dead.”
“……Yeah.”
“Polish it more. Once complete, it’ll be a flawless decisive weapon.”
“Yes.”
The Myeol Sa Army soldiers were floored by the duo’s monstrous spar.
They knew it’d be fierce, but this crossed into excess.
And it hit home anew: their commander’s strength.
Not a scratch on Yeon Hojeong amid that apocalyptic assault—truly beyond human.
“Army Leader!”
Yeon Hojeong, about to suggest grabbing a bite, turned.
Far off, Jegal A-yeon waved.
“Guests are here… What the hell?! Who trashed the training ground? You two sparring?”
“Ahem.”
“Ah, if you’re gonna fight, go to some mountain valley! What’s this mess?!”
Yeon Hojeong pointed at Muk Bi.
“Deputy wrecked it. I just hid underground.”
Muk Bi shot him a betrayed glare.
Jegal A-yeon grumbled.
“Tch, repairs’ll cost a fortune.”
“But why?”
“Guests arrived. Hurry.”
“Who?”
Jegal A-yeon pointed upward.