Chapter 298. A Battle Without Bells (2)
Winter had a way of making the sun set especially early. As the sun dipped toward the distant west, Muk Bi stormed into Pa Gun Pavilion, huffing and puffing.
"Where the hell is that bastard? Today, I'm gonna end him for good... Huh?"
Muk Bi, who had been fuming just moments before, broke into a radiant smile.
"Pyeong-ah."
"Huh? Sis, you're here?"
Yeon Jipyeong greeted her warmly. It hadn't been long since he'd regained his senses, and this was their first proper face-to-face since then. They'd fought side by side in battle, but things had been too hectic for any heartfelt talk.
"You're up? How's your body feeling?"
Yeon Jipyeong flushed, looking a bit embarrassed.
"I'm fine. It's embarrassing. It wasn't like I needed to lie around that long."
"What are you talking about? That was your first real battle. A shock like that is only natural."
Muk Bi reached out and wagged her hand above his head.
"Speaking of which, you were tall back then too, but damn, you've really shot up, haven't you?"
"Have I grown that much...?"
"Of course. You're taller than me now."
He was still shorter than Yeon Wi or Yeon Hojeong, but he'd surpassed Muk Bi. Considering she was tall for a woman, his growth was downright dazzling.
Muk Bi flashed a sly, mischievous grin that didn't quite suit her.
"Tall, handsome, and talented to boot. You're gonna make all the heroines of the jianghu swoon."
She nudged him playfully with her elbow, her face full of mischief. Yeon Jipyeong waved his hands in flustered panic.
"Heroines? No way, that's ridiculous. I'm not at the age to think about that stuff yet..."
"Think about what? What kind of stuff?"
"S-Sis!"
"Hahaha!"
Muk Bi burst into rare, hearty laughter. Maybe she was just thrilled to find someone her teasing actually landed on.
Yeon Jipyeong cleared his throat awkwardly.
"You've changed a lot too, Sis."
"Me?"
"Yeah. You seem a lot brighter than before."
"Do I? Well, yeah, after all the crap I've been through. Being a quiet wanderer was getting too damn bleak anyway."
To Yeon Jipyeong's eyes, Muk Bi's transformation went beyond just her personality.
She's amazing!
He could sense a newfound leisure from her, something he'd never felt before. It stemmed from the dignity of true strength. No matter the situation or battle, she exuded the aura of a master who never panicked. His once naive sister had weathered the storms of the jianghu and emerged changed. Yeon Jipyeong saw it as tremendous growth in its own right.
Impressive.
Yeon Jipyeong's smile deepened.
Sis is starting to resemble Big Bro before I knew it. What a perfect pair they make.
Muk Bi narrowed her eyes.
"What? What's with that meaningful smile?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing."
"What is it? You got something to hide from your sis after all this time?"
"It's not that..."
Yeon Jipyeong said with an innocent face,
"I was just wondering when you and Big Bro might tie the knot. I'm looking forward to it."
Muk Bi's face froze solid. It wasn't just surprise. For a moment, Yeon Jipyeong panicked, wondering if he'd said something wrong.
"D-Did I say something out of line...?"
"That damn bastard!"
"...Pardon?"
"Come to think of it, where is that idiot? You know where Yeon Gongja is? He should've come back to the lodging."
Yeon Jipyeong pointed upstairs in bewilderment.
"He said he had some thinking to do and went to his room..."
"I'm gonna kill him!"
Muk Bi bolted inside without a backward glance. She was so worked up that the door slammed open with a cannon-like boom.
Yeon Jipyeong panicked.
Did Big Bro mess up somehow?
Judging by Sis's fury, staying put might lead to disaster. He hurried after her.
Muk Bi raced up to the second floor in an instant and flung open Yeon Hojeong's door.
Bam!
"You lazy asshole, dumping the kids' training on me and slacking off in here while I'm dying of exhaustion...!!"
Muk Bi abruptly shut her mouth.
Yeon Jipyeong grabbed her sleeve in alarm and tugged.
"S-Sis, calm down. Let's at least explain to Big Bro what happened..."
"Shh."
"Huh?"
Only then did Yeon Jipyeong notice Yeon Hojeong's state.
Hummm.
Hummmm.
A faint emerald true energy flowed from Yeon Hojeong, who sat cross-legged on the bed.
What?
Yeon Jipyeong's eyes widened. Yeon Hojeong's closed eyes and cross-legged posture looked utterly serene. Yet the vivid green true energy emanating from his body radiated terrifying power, in stark contrast to its clear glow.
What stood out was the flow of the true energy.
It's converging inward?!
Normally, true energy projected outward at this level would create intense energy waves detectable by sensitive masters. But Yeon Hojeong was different. Yeon Jipyeong only realized the ferocity of his circulation after seeing it firsthand. Out in the courtyard, he hadn't even noticed his brother had entered meditation.
The emitted outer energy immediately converged back inward, boosting the density of his power.
What kind of technique is he cultivating to produce this?
Then, Muk Bi whispered softly.
"It's started."
"Pardon?"
"I told you before. His leap forward was coming soon. He was just waiting to decide when to start, and looks like today was the day."
"What do you mean?"
"The Five Divine Arts of the Yeon Family."
"...!"
"He's stabilizing his great accomplishment in Bi-ra Jin-gyeol while cultivating one of the Yeon Family's Five Divine Arts."
Yeon Jipyeong's eyes shook.
That endlessly powerful deep green true energy...?
True energy carrying the scent of verdant shade. In an immense forest that sunlight couldn't pierce, a legendary divine beast from myth writhed undiscovered. Hidden ferocity lurked there. It appeared peaceful and stable on the surface, but within that forest crouched a being that could tear the heavens asunder.
Dragon Embrace Divine Art!
Yeon Jipyeong's jaw dropped.
Right after Bi-ra Jin-gyeol, he's learning the Dragon Embrace Divine Art?
The Yeon Family's Five Divine Arts were all stable orthodox techniques, each with distinct traits. Among them, Bi-ra Jin-gyeol was the least distinctive, but that made it ideal for harmonizing body and mind, boosting overall prowess.
The Dragon Embrace Divine Art stood at the opposite extreme. An orthodox art, yet unlike Bi-ra Jin-gyeol's protective nature, it pursued raw output and emission maximization. A ferocious technique that amplified the power of all employed martial arts.
The most destructive and overwhelming among Yeon Family arts, its heightened output increased inner energy consumption, suiting short, decisive battles over prolonged ones.
The reason Big Bro chose Bi-ra Jin-gyeol is obvious. It complements his temperament, style, and skills perfectly.
Yeon Hojeong's martial arts could be summed up in two words: fast and strong. He was swift, and overwhelmingly powerful. His movements flashed like lightning, his techniques crashing like avalanches. Which meant he risked overkill.
Even perfectly mastered arts could harm the user if they drew excessive blood. In that regard, choosing Bi-ra Jin-gyeol showed brilliant foresight. He'd ascended to his current realm without once succumbing to heart demons.
That was exactly what worried Yeon Jipyeong.
Is it safe for him to learn the Dragon Embrace Divine Art now?
He recalled his brother's style. Chopping assassins targeting Gi U-hui like firewood with ruthless precision. A war god's dance—explosive power paired with chilling calm that dominated the battlefield. He wielded such bold, blood-boiling arts without ever losing composure. Restraint even mid-tier masters struggled to maintain.
What if his brother, cultivating the Dragon Embrace Divine Art, lost that cool head even slightly?
...
Yeon Jipyeong felt his fists clench tight.
It's just needless worry. Big Bro's a genius beyond my measure. If it's time, then it's time.
He trusted his brother. His ability, talent, and that inexplicable fate. Still, the unease lingered—an instinctive anxiety only blood kin could feel.
How much time passed?
Foooo...
A deep exhalation carried green mist. It evoked poison arts, but the true energy bore the rich scent of a forest after rain.
Ziiiiing.
A strange sound—like gears grinding somewhere in Yeon Hojeong's body.
Even Yeon Jipyeong, versed in Yeon arts, couldn't fathom what was happening inside.
If Yeon Wi were here—the Sword Sage of Bi-san, who could wield unmastered arts to mastery with a mere incantation—he'd have pierced it instantly.
A faint smile touched Yeon Hojeong's lips. Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down his temples and cheeks.
It's done!
Success at last.
So this is the beginning of the Yeon Family Divine Pellet—the fusion of the Five Divine Arts.
Yeon Family Divine Pellet.
A sphere of true energy condensed to extreme density. Hundreds, thousands of invisible threads woven into ultimate culmination. Like a spirit beast's inner core, manifested as gaseous essence.
The Yeon Family Divine Pellet enabled the supreme secret art: reassembling the Five Divine Arts into the Yeon Family's pinnacle technique. It resided at the body's core—the middle dantian.
Regulating emotions and viscera there signified Yeon Hojeong's inherently fierce nature.
The pellet's position varies by cultivator. Lower dantian for some, upper for others.
He hadn't known this as the Black Dark Emperor. Back then, cultivating Hong Cheon-gi, mere incantations couldn't reveal the pellet's infinity—requiring multiple divine arts.
Yeah, this is better.
Father knew of it too, yet never pursued multiples—adhering to his own martial path.
Without his past life's insight, Yeon Hojeong might've stopped at Bi-ra Jin-gyeol.
What I need now isn't deep martial pursuit—it's raw, practical power.
Even so, he hadn't expected the pellet. He'd aimed to overlay Dragon Embrace Divine Art atop Bi-ra Jin-gyeol's foundation—no inner core intended.
Four Gods Martial Arts!
Without balance among the Four Gods' energies, formation would've been impossible. And that explained its middle placement: the Four Gods Qi governed the body's organs.
"Hup!"
Yeon Hojeong inhaled sharply, snapping his eyes open.
Hummmm.
Clear, profound gaze pulsing with power ready to burst forth. The new force replacing Bi-ra Jin-gyeol: Dragon Embrace Divine Art.
"...It's done."
Fatigue crashed over him like a wave. Yeon Hojeong eyed the pair with a weary face.
"Why'd you barge in without warning... Huh?"
Thud!
He collapsed onto the bed.
The shocked duo rushed to him.
"Yeon Gongja!"
"Big Bro!"
Then, Yeon Hojeong let out a soft snore. Extreme exhaustion had forced him into sleep.
Muk Bi glared at him in disbelief.
"...He's not faking it, is he?"
She found Yeon Hojeong utterly infuriating.