The One Who Lights the Sacred Fire (7)
Kurrrung!
“Hm?”
Yeon Wi looked up at the sky.
“Well now, thunder on a day like this. How bizarre.”
“Indeed.”
Jegal Munho let out a sigh.
“In any case, Commander Yeon has been terribly busy these days. I knew that, yet I let it slide because he handles everything so well. But hearing the family head's words, I realize I've been too thoughtless myself.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“Don't say that. Does the strategist have only one or two things to handle? If even someone busier than my son speaks like that, how can I show my face?”
“Heh heh.”
Jegal Munho smacked his lips.
“Since we've divided the tasks that way for now, at least Commander Yeon can focus on his own duties. That's some small relief.”
“Still, the worry remains the same. That boy's rage toward the Three Mad Faith Cults pierces the heavens. I can't help but fret that he might make a mistake out of impatience.”
“Heh heh! Even the Yeon family head is a father through and through. No matter how grown a lion cub becomes, it remains a child in its sire's eyes.”
“Hmph.”
“Don't worry too much. Commander Yeon is a genius whose cool reason shines as brightly as his forceful drive. Even if he faces danger, he'll find a path to survival. Put your mind at ease.”
“That's true, but...”
It was then.
“Father!”
Jegal A-yeon's voice rang out from afar.
Jegal Munho peered out the window in surprise.
“A-yeon? What are you doing here at this hour...?”
Paaak!
Jegal A-yeon leaped straight to the windowsill in one bound. Though not quite on Yeon Hojeong's level, her lightness skill was exceptionally refined.
“Big trouble! Jeong followed an enemy expert!”
“What?”
“And that expert's cultivation is no joke. He's someone who even made Jeong tense up! I've never seen Jeong that on edge before!”
“...!”
“We need to send someone discreetly! Anything could happen!”
Druruk!
Yeon Wi rose from his seat. His eyes had already turned icy cold.
“Strategist, summon Inspector Gadeuksang. A-yeon, guide me.”
* * *
Kwaaang!
Whoosh!
With a thunderous boom, the flames split sharply to either side.
Puuuung!
The high-speed rotating fist wind shattered the fire and tore straight through the air.
Pupupung!
Kwarung!
True to the claim that he wasn't going all out, the firepower erupting from Gyeok's hands was tremendous in its might. The explosive force was impressive, but the scattering flames from the shockwaves were a threat in themselves.
Yeon Hojeong's Vermilion Bird Qi from the Four Gods Martial Arts was unrivaled under heaven in terms of fiery arts, yet it couldn't match the blaze Gyeok unleashed.
Parururuk!
Yeon Hojeong's body spun rapidly, shedding the Azure Furnace Pure Fire Art flames.
Chiiiik!
Even with Black Tortoise Qi cloaking his entire body, steam rose from his skin. The Azure Furnace Pure Fire's heat was simply too intense.
“You bastard!”
Gyeok's hand whipped toward Yeon Hojeong's back.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed.
Thuk!
Chwaaaak!
The diagonal upward axe strike cleaved the Fiery Flower Divine Palm force in two.
Falling behind in a raw firepower contest? No concern at all.
Yeon Hojeong had the Black Tortoise Art, which countered fire perfectly, backed by the regenerative Azure Dragon Qi and the advance-specialized White Tiger Qi. His Yeon Family Divine Pellet, harmonizing the Four Gods Qi flawlessly, ran deeper than anyone's. Moreover, his divine combat sense and supreme insight dissected Gyeok's martial arts thoroughly.
Yeon Hojeong swung the axe again.
Peok!
Peok!
It was an unbelievably swift slash. Not the Gwangryongbu, but a hand axe forged from fine iron. Far lighter than the Gwangryongbu—only five pun in weight—but that enabled godlike speed.
Pupupuk!
Weaker than the Gwangryongbu, but compensated by velocity. The madly whirling axe sliced or burst every flame Gyeok spewed, rendering them useless.
This bastard...!
Gyeok's face twisted.
With an expressionless face and cold eyes, Yeon Hojeong poured axe strikes and palm force upon him—he didn't seem human at all.
What kind of monster is this?!
Unlike the blazing flames he emitted, Gyeok's mind cooled rapidly.
At that age, wielding such terrifying combat techniques? Is this even possible?
It wasn't mere practical skill. Even at a distance, he aptly used axe and palm to slice or explode the true qi barrier, seizing attack lines. Only a qi mastery genius or veteran master could employ such methods.
Gyeok himself had only recently grasped them.
“You bastard!”
Kwarung!
If the Fiery Flower Divine Palm's power was like crashing waves, the Flame King Eight Fists struck like a solid hammer.
Puuuuk!
Blood sprayed from Yeon Hojeong's mouth. He took the perfectly timed blow head-on.
Without the Bi-ra Jin-gyeol fused into his Yeon Family Divine Pellet, it would have been near-fatal.
Paaak!
Gyeok closed the gap instantly and seized Yeon Hojeong's shoulder.
Chiiik!
The clothing on his shoulder charred. Both of Yeon Hojeong's shoulders blistered with burns in a flash.
As Gyeok tried to infiltrate with Fiery Flower Divine Palm from the grip, an inexplicable chill made him release.
Chwaaaak!
“Eek!”
The limp hand, jointless as if boneless, rose from below, carving a long gash across Gyeok's upper body. An axe slash.
And not a shallow flesh wound. Despite the blunt edge, the cut from left hip joint to right shoulder was deeply grooved.
Gyeok endured the agony and thrust his fist wildly.
Puuk!
Blood burst from Yeon Hojeong's mouth again.
Gyeok's eyes lit up.
His reactions are slowing.
The opponent's response speed was gradually declining. Naturally so. Their inner energy reserves differed vastly from the start. Holding out this long while taking wounds was already inhumanly impressive.
Yet power gaps were insurmountable. Yeon Hojeong clearly surpassed in combat techniques like practical skill.
But Gyeok also possessed excellent techniques, and crucially, deeper reserves. That disparity created this situation.
In a quick clash, it might differ, but the longer the fight dragged, the worse for Yeon Hojeong with his shallower energy.
Gyeok's fists gained even greater power.
Kwang!
Kwarung!
Peok!
Yeon Hojeong spat blood repeatedly, retreating. Even while unleashing deadly fist strikes, Gyeok couldn't help but admire his foe's prowess.
What a fearsome monster!
The scales tipped decisively. By damage and energy consumption, the opponent was already defeated.
Yet he parried or evaded the powered-up Flame King Eight Fists one by one. Internal injuries accumulated from shockwaves, but no decisive blows landed.
Gyeok's eyes darkened coldly.
Monstrous bastard! He must die here.
His initial battle lust had vanished, replaced by wariness toward Yeon Hojeong.
How does someone that young wield such arts?
He looked barely past thirty. Yet his inner energy neared the Eighteen Martial Generals', and his combat skill exceeded it. Was the cult leader's youth like this, hailed as a historic genius?
Gyeok shuddered more at Yeon Hojeong's absurd potential than his current strength.
Even Yeon Hojeong, the Central Plains' top later-generation talent, isn't this level. This must be some retired master's...
Gyeok's eyes wavered.
Wait, Yeon Hojeong?
His gaze fell to the opponent's hand.
An axe. But didn't they say the guy uses a massive battle axe?!
Kwaang!
Seizing that split-second flinch, a counterattack flew. Gyeok swiftly retreated a step.
Pupung!
He opened an escape momentarily, but Gyeok was no pushover. Maintaining peak Azure Furnace Pure Fire Art output, he pressed with Fiery Flower Divine Palm again.
Victory was sealed. No way to lose if he stayed vigilant.
Gyeok was certain.
His astonishment lingered, though.
Right, so this is Yeon Hojeong!
Dong-gak's letter flashed in his mind.
If this is really Yeon Hojeong, that half-wit bitch fell for his fake intel. How does he know so much about us...?
It was then.
Amid the exploding azure flames.
Gyeok realized Yeon Hojeong's eyes burned more fiercely than at their first clash.
His body hair stood on end.
Danger!!
Pak!
On instinct, he aborted the attack and leaped sideways.
Then, Yeon Hojeong reached out.
Puung!
“Urk?!”
Gyeok panicked. A translucent water barrier had blocked his back.
The water force was so intense his entire back stung with cold.
For a moment, even his Azure Furnace Pure Fire Art wavered.
As the startled Gyeok realigned his azure qi.
Puuk!
“Kuhuk!”
Gyeok's mouth gaped. The axe, flashing like lightning, smashed and embedded in his right shoulder blade.
Shockingly fast. Such velocity required near-max Azure Furnace Pure Fire Art output.
Impossible for someone vomiting blood with depleting energy.
And that wasn't all.
Chwaaaak!
“Kuaaaak!”
As he tried to pull the axe, Black Tortoise Qi erupted from it, surging into his entire right upper body.
Tremendous penetration. He'd bound infiltration explosive force to the axe before throwing.
Yeon Hojeong kicked off the ground.
Kwaang!
Flames blasted backward with the boom.
Lightning-fast, Yeon Hojeong seized Gyeok's hair and swung his knee.
Ppak!
No scream this time. The massive patella crushed his nose, left cheekbone, and left eyeball entirely.
Spurt!
Blood gushed from nose and mouth as Gyeok collapsed unwittingly.
Then, airborne Yeon Hojeong slashed toward Gyeok's left collarbone.
Puuuk!
Gyeok's remaining eye bulged.
Yeon Hojeong's hand pierced flesh, gripping the left collarbone. Veins bulged like spiderwebs on his left forearm.
Kwaduduk!
“Aaaak!”
He ripped out the collarbone raw. Brutality beyond pale or black path masters.
Juuuruk!
Bleeding profusely from the left upper body. Vessels along the collarbone severed.
At least no arteries—small mercy.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
His ragged breaths normalized swiftly. The Yeon Family Divine Pellet's power.
“Good instincts. I waited for your max output, and you retreated right away.”
He'd accepted minor damage to win with less injury. Severe wounds inside and out, but no fatal ones—that proved it.
Had Gyeok pressed harder, Yeon Hojeong planned to infiltrate Black Tortoise Qi through his pores at the critical moment for reversal.
“Well, a win's a win.”
“Cough!”
Gyeok, hacking dirtily, glared up with his one eye.
Ziiing!
Ziiiiing!
Yeon Hojeong's shaken aura normalized terrifyingly fast.
Whoosh!
His low, spreading presence.
Gyeok's mangled mouth slowly opened.
Impossible!
The opponent's aura, astonishingly, was stronger than at first clash. Not just close to his own—nearly equal.
Was he hiding his power?!
As if reading his mind, Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“To savor fine food, you must endure a bit of hunger first.”
“...!!”
“Anyway.”
Jeok!
Yanking the axe from Gyeok's shoulder, Yeon Hojeong said flatly.
“Ready to be diced, kid?”