Chapter 278. Where Does Conflict Arise? (3)
Splaaaaash!
The sound of slicing through the water was incredibly sharp.
Booom! Boooom!
The river water at the stern exploded, propelling the speedboat even faster.
Surprise flickered across Gang Ryang's face.
"Th-that's incredible, Brother!"
"Don't talk right now. I need to focus."
"Yes, sir!"
Yeon Hojeong thrust his palms alternately with heavy motions.
Booooom!
The river surface erupted once more, adding even more speed to the boat.
'It's been a while, so it's tougher than I thought.'
This wasn't a palm technique for striking an enemy.
It was a method of gently pushing against the water's surface and detonating it at the precise moment.
It didn't consume an excessive amount of internal energy, but it required far more delicate control than a standard palm strike.
Whoooosh!
For a split second, the speedboat tilted slightly.
Yeon Hojeong shouted.
"Brother!"
"Sorry about that, Yeon-je! I lost my balance for a moment!"
"Spread your weight lower and wider!"
"Got it!"
Simply unleashing powerful palm force wasn't enough to accelerate the boat.
To maintain proper balance as it surged forward, Mo Yong Woo's role at the bow was crucial.
He had to increase his weight using a technique akin to Thousand-Jin Droop, all while fine-tuning the equilibrium without hindering speed.
Muk Bi and Gang Ryang rowed on the left and right, while Yeon Hojeong boosted velocity from the stern with precise palm force.
The speedboat cleaved through the Yangtze at an unprecedented pace.
How much time had passed like this?
"Yeon-je, how's your internal energy holding up?"
"I'm good. If it runs low midway, we'll take a quick break."
There was no need to abandon their roles just because time was short.
A single mistake could lead to disaster, potentially delaying them even more.
Mo Yong Woo was newly impressed by Yeon Hojeong's composure.
He seemed reckless at first glance, but he always kept the big picture in mind.
In any case, as time wore on, they grew accustomed to their respective duties.
A touch of leisure began to appear on their faces.
"Yeon-je."
"Yeah?"
"What do you make of what that boatman said?"
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
"Feels like the Divine Physicians' Association pulled some strings, but I'm not certain."
"Hmm."
At that moment, Muk Bi spoke up.
"I still don't get it."
"What don't you get?"
"This Divine Physicians' Association—how can it be that powerful? It's just a group of doctors, right? Sure, they might have money, but..."
Muk Bi had a deeper knowledge of medicine than expected.
Of course, she hadn't received formal training; she'd picked it up on her own in Gwanil Valley to treat wounds and illnesses.
So while she understood intellectually, it didn't resonate emotionally.
How revered physicians were, how exceptional their treatment.
"Even from a martial artist's perspective, doctors aren't to be trifled with. Obviously. You can handle minor injuries yourself, but when it's serious, you need a physician."
"Hm."
"But the physicians valued by the imperial court, government offices, and common folk are on another level entirely from those in the martial world."
"Meaning they're even more important?"
"Of course."
Mo Yong Woo picked up the thread.
"Skilled physicians often serve as personal healers to high officials and nobles. Naturally, their influence grows, and they amass not just wealth but power rivaling mid-level bureaucrats."
Muk Bi furrowed her brow.
"That much?"
"I don't know what scale you're imagining, but it's likely beyond what you think, Muk Division Head. If warriors and soldiers deal in death, physicians deal in life. They must be accorded respect."
"Ugh."
"Not to put it crudely, but isn't that why we're escorting the Western Divine Maiden? A top-tier physician like her is worth a fortune to retain."
"I see. Now it makes sense. Their power isn't raw martial might—it's influence derived from their own value."
"Precisely."
Yeon Hojeong spoke up.
"Moreover, our Central Plains physicians don't casually pass on their knowledge. There have been attempts, but others in the field shun or threaten them, claiming it devalues medical knowledge."
Muk Bi sighed.
"What's so precious about it?"
"It's precious enough. That's their intellectual property, after all. The problem is they disregard others' free will too much. Medicine is a complex field anyway—hard to learn even if you want to."
Gang Ryang chimed in.
"It's simple."
Muk Bi glanced at him.
"Simple how?"
"The process."
"What process?"
"Few can exert influence over river folk."
"Oh? Yeah?"
"Yes. Does Sister know? Like us Black Path folks, there are water bandits plaguing the Yangtze."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
"Yangtze River Route Stronghold."
"Exactly."
Gang Ryang continued with a reluctant expression.
"Green Forest bandits or the Yangtze River Route Stronghold—they're all Black Path riffraff. And Black Path groups have to watch out for government eyes more than White Path does. Unless you're a major sect with overwhelming force."
"Hm. So?"
"Those with connections to the government can wield massive influence over the Black Path."
"What's that got to—oh?!"
Muk Bi gasped in realization.
"Then the Divine Physicians' Association...?"
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"If it's an alliance of renowned Central Plains physicians, they undoubtedly maintain close ties with the government."
"But we only took three days to reach the Yangtze, and they've already...?!"
"Martial world intel or government intel—doesn't make much difference. If they set their minds to spreading word, they can."
Yeon Hojeong sighed, yet his palm strikes maintained a steady rhythm, now second nature.
"That's why we're rushing."
"What on earth did the Western Divine Maiden do to deserve this?"
"Their reasons don't matter to us. All that counts is entering Jiangxi Province as fast as possible."
In any event, acquiring the speedboat had worked out well.
Muk Bi, mid-row, tilted her head at a sudden thought.
"But it's weird."
"Huh? What's weird?"
She frowned.
"A group with that kind of pull was way too deferential, even to famous figures like you, Young Master Yeon, or Lord Mo Yong."
"The boatman?"
"Yes. Blocking the river route in three days isn't something just anyone can do. And from what we've heard, the Divine Physicians' Association has no reason to fear the Martial Alliance."
It wasn't about martial power—it was influence.
With deep government ties, the Association had no need to fear each other inherently.
Of course, that assumed good relations.
Government or martial world—both had the means to target the other's personnel if things soured.
"Perhaps..."
Mo Yong Woo frowned.
"It might be the boatman's personal issue. The expression he showed us didn't seem feigned."
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"I think so too."
"Then, as you said, Yeon-je, the Western Divine Maiden could be in real danger. If the boatman handled it as a nomination candidate, the Association might ignore that and strike directly."
"Yeah, possible."
"Talking it out like this, you're right—we need to hurry."
"Agreed."
Yeon Hojeong turned to Gang Ryang.
"Stick to lightness skill training for now. If you lag, I'll leave you behind, so keep up."
Gang Ryang grumbled.
"You said that at our first meeting too—always threatening to ditch me."
"Tch."
"Understood. Don't worry."
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
"Damn it. I just hope nothing happens until we get there."
Unfortunately, the heavens didn't grant his wish.
After smoothly crossing the Yangtze and blazing into Jiangxi Province with absurd lightness skill, the group received shocking news from the Beggar Clan branch.
"Big trouble! A mysterious group attacked the clinic where the Western Divine Maiden is staying!"
"Those bastards!"
"Thankfully, she's on the run! The attackers ignored the patients and are pursuing only her!"
"Who's helping her?!"
"The Beggar Clan. We're avoiding direct intervention just in case and focusing on misdirecting the attackers."
"Good work. We'll take it from here."
"You need to hurry. By some stroke of luck—or whatever—she's deftly evading their targets while moving, but we can't guarantee how long that holds."
"We're heading out now. Just one question."
"Their identities, right?"
"Yes. Any guesses?"
"Nothing yet."
"Damn. Alright. Keep at it a bit longer."
"Safe travels. Fortunately, she's heading north too, so you should meet in a day if you push."
Fwoooosh!
The group accelerated southward.
Thankfully, they kept pace with Yeon Hojeong's lightness skill.
Mo Yong Woo was a versatile warrior to begin with, Muk Bi surpassed Yeon Hojeong in lightness skill alone, and Gang Ryang clung doggedly with sheer endurance.
A day passed like this.
Mo Yong Woo's eyes blazed.
"Yeon-je!"
"I felt it too!"
To the left, in a distant forest path by a valley branch, sharp killing intent prickled.
Yeon Hojeong sensed intuitively: that refined killing aura was unmistakably an assassin's.
And the presence being pursued felt extraordinarily vivid, almost mystically so.
Thump!
His heart burned hot.
Thump-thump!
Vermilion Bird Qi ignited, surging his heartbeat.
Whiiiiiir!
White winds gathered at his feet.
His muscles bulged, and his true energy raced through his nerves at double speed.
Astonishingly, his Four Gods Qi was denser now than before his emergence from seclusion.
He'd entered a realm where it grew on its own without dedicated training.
Weeeeeeng!
To contain the intensified Four Gods Qi, Bi-ra Jin-gyeol unleashed even greater power.
Even Bi-ra Jin Qi evolved to house the grown Four Gods Qi.
This symbiotic advancement among the tangled true energies was faster than anything from his Black Dark Emperor days.
Yeon Hojeong's right foot slammed into solid rock.
Kabooom!
As he shot forward like a flame, he spotted a blonde woman, covered in scratches, fleeing desperately.
'The Western Divine Maiden!'
Yeon Hojeong's face lit up instantly.
But.
'Huh?'
His brightening expression froze.
"Huff... huff!"
The Western Divine Maiden racing breathlessly toward them.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes shook wildly at the unstable, flickering energy emanating from her body.
"...The Three Sects?"