The Path Forward (5)
Dang Gwan led Yeon Hojeong to a training ground located not far from his residence.
It was an outdoor training area, but it had been poorly maintained. Cracks and broken sections marred the surface everywhere. Although the Martial Alliance had grown rapidly, there were still many spaces within its grounds that remained underutilized like this.
Yeon Hojeong whistled.
“It’s huge.”
“It is.”
“With proper repairs, it could accommodate training for an entire army corps. To think a place like this existed. It seems the main headquarters still has a long way to go.”
“Which makes it perfect for training alone.”
Training.
The word somehow felt out of place coming from Dang Gwan. He always seemed like the type of man who would remain arrogant and aloof forever.
“Come up.”
“Yes.”
As Yeon Hojeong stepped onto the training ground, he immediately noticed that the floor was damaged in multiple places. It melted. The surface had both shattered and melted at the same time.
It was the trace of poison arts.
The marks were extremely faint, but to someone with Yeon Hojeong’s discerning eye, they were clear enough to read. It’s not primarily fist, palm, finger, or foot techniques. There were traces of those as well, but the dominant element was throwing weapons.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed. He infused the throwing weapons with poison qi before launching them. Impressive.
It wasn’t simply coating them with poison. Penetrating the weapons themselves with toxic energy and maintaining it until the moment of impact was no ordinary feat.
Regardless of the application method, the underlying activation principles alone would be incredibly complex. And it wasn’t just one or two weapons—if he wanted to scatter dozens at once, he would need to operate multiple intricate formulas simultaneously. The level of complexity would be enough to make one’s head spin.
This was precisely why the Tang Family’s martial arts were so fearsome. They weren’t something anyone could easily approach, and even a once-in-a-generation genius would struggle to reach great heights. One needed comprehensive knowledge of both poison and hidden weapons, and then the unimaginable effort and intellect required to integrate that knowledge into actual martial techniques.
He’s still lacking.
During his days as the Black Dark Emperor, Dang Gwan had been known as the Ten Thousand Poison Emperor, a name that struck terror across the murim.
But that reputation had been the result of Dang Gwan deliberately concealing his true abilities. While he had displayed unparalleled mastery over poison—enough to earn the title of its sovereign—his real secret technique had never been poison at all. It had been his throwing weapons.
Compared to his days as the Ten Thousand Poison Emperor, he still has many shortcomings. The traces make that clear. However…
Yeon Hojeong looked at Dang Gwan once more.
The man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, turned away. It seemed he was lost in his own thoughts.
He’s progressing through the stages with certainty. He knows exactly what form his future peerless secret technique will take.
Yeon Hojeong inwardly marveled. A true genius.
The Dang Gwan of that era had not been a man of many words.
He couldn’t afford to be. Whatever the reasons, Yeon Hojeong had been the king of the dark path, while Dang Gwan had been the second-in-command of the righteous murim.
Still, Yeon Hojeong knew that Dang Gwan had inherited that “legendary” secret technique from his father, Dang Hyeong.
An incomplete secret art. That means the current Dark King is also in the process of refining this martial art.
To pass on an unfinished technique to one’s child—it spoke of immense confidence in the art.
And comparing the technique the Ten Thousand Poison Emperor had displayed with the traces left here, it was highly likely that Dang Gwan had single-handedly perfected it without the Dark King’s help, creating the strongest secret technique in the Tang Family’s history.
Dang Gwan spoke.
“At your level, simply acquiring a new weapon wouldn’t prevent you from using it effectively in real combat.”
“Of course. Though I won’t be able to draw out its full potential yet.”
“Naturally.”
Dang Gwan turned around.
For a moment, Yeon Hojeong flinched. The look in Dang Gwan’s eyes as he stared at him was more serious than ever before.
“Do you know why I wish to show you this technique—not to your father, not to my daughter, but to you?”
“I do not.”
It was the truth. This was one thing even Yeon Hojeong could not read in the man’s intentions.
Dang Gwan’s expression grew slightly pained as he continued.
“I saw the secret technique your father demonstrated to the One Sword Warrior. It was truly remarkable. A martial art like that cannot be taught by another. It is something one can only obtain through endless, blood-coughing effort and relentless pursuit—a technique created solely for oneself.”
“I agree completely.”
“That is why your father would not have sought advice from anyone. There was no need, nor any meaning in doing so. He would have simply devoted himself endlessly to the martial path until he grasped that absolute single sword.”
“Correct.”
“However, my martial art is different from the one your father possesses.”
Fire ignited in Dang Gwan’s eyes.
“My technique possesses countless forms. It is not a single strike, but the sum of chaotic strikes and linked strikes. The internal energy operation is extraordinarily complex, and it draws out even true qi exhaustion.”
“……”
“Your father—the Yeon Family Head’s enlightenment is supreme. At least when it comes to the sword. The problem is that his enlightenment is heavily biased toward the sword. Unless he later reaches the pinnacle of swordsmanship and attains mastery over Ten Thousand Martial Arts, he would not be able to see the shortcomings of my technique as clearly as you can right now.”
It was a shocking statement.
Dang Gwan was convinced that Yeon Hojeong would be able to evaluate his martial art better than Yeon Wi could. And he was saying so directly to the person in question.
Yeon Hojeong was greatly surprised.
He had not expected Dang Gwan to hold him in such high regard, nor had he imagined the man would openly reveal the weaknesses of his own technique.
“Your father’s martial art is unchanging pure strike. Mine is multifaceted chaotic strike. Your father’s technique is simple yet powerful. Mine is varied and razor-sharp.”
Srrrk.
Dang Gwan raised both hands.
Tssst.
A dark green mist flowed from his fingertips, slowly wrapping around his entire body. It looked as if two massive green vipers were coiled around him in protection.
“I will not show you everything. Nor will I show it twice. But if there is anything you see or feel, I want you to tell me exactly as it is.”
Yeon Hojeong’s expression turned strange.
“Is this the repayment you demand in exchange for granting me the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes?”
“It is.”
“It looks like I’ll be giving ten in return for receiving two.”
Dang Gwan let out a small chuckle.
“No one knows whether your advice will amount to one or ten.”
“Of course. That said…”
Srrng.
There was no scabbard to hold the blades, yet the chilling sound rang out as he lifted the twin axes.
“I will experience it directly.”
“……?!”
Dang Gwan’s eyes widened.
“You mean to receive this technique with your own body?”
“There is no better way to properly understand a technique whose formulas and principles one does not know than to face it directly.”
“You arrogant brat! This is no ordinary martial art! Even I cannot yet control its power or direction properly! That is how dangerous this technique is!”
“Then all the more reason to clash with it head-on. So that I may offer you satisfactory repayment.”
“……!”
“Do not worry. If I end up dying like this, it will be due to my own lack of ability. I will not hold any resentment toward the Family Head.”
It was a meaningful statement.
In the past, Yeon Hojeong had lost his life to a cow hair needle launched by Dang Gwan. Coming from him, the weight behind those words carried a completely different gravity.
And Dang Gwan felt that weight in Yeon Hojeong’s words.
“Do you truly wish to die that badly?”
Srrrk.
Yeon Hojeong lowered his stance.
As if he had trained this martial art his entire life, the hand holding the White Dragon Axe extended naturally forward while the hand holding the Black Dragon Axe remained fixed in front of his upper right body.
“Shall we begin?”
Tssst, tssst.
The dark green mist that had been coiling around Dang Gwan slowly seeped back into his sleeves.
After staring at Yeon Hojeong for a long moment, Dang Gwan gave a small nod.
“Controlling the poison qi will not be easy. However, I will not use extreme poison. If you feel any symptoms of poisoning, immediately assume a lotus position and purge the toxin.”
“Understood.”
“……”
“You foolish bastard.”
Chiriririring!
In an instant, glittering fragments of metal flowed out from within his sleeves in a steady stream.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed. Empty air manipulation.
It was hardly surprising. That secret technique of Dang Gwan’s was an absolute art that could only be performed after one had at least reached the level of empty air manipulation.
Hwarururuk!
Vermilion Bird fire qi surged from Yeon Hojeong’s body.
Hwooooong.
Meanwhile, pure white smoke rose from both feet planted firmly on the ground. The White Tiger Gold Qi and White Tiger Dominance Steps were manifesting naturally.
Feeling the two energies, Dang Gwan nodded inwardly. The harmony between fire and metal qi was superb, and their intensity was tremendous. At Yeon Hojeong’s current level, it seemed he would not die, at least.
“I’m starting.”
Hweeeeeeeng!
Following the fluid circular motion of Dang Gwan’s hand, the glittering path of the hidden weapons moved with beautiful precision. Flower Rain Art, First Chapter.
Chiring! Chiriririring!
Tiny daggers, smaller than a thumb, collided with one another and produced a chilling sound.
Even though he had seen the technique before, Yeon Hojeong felt his body tense instinctively. He had witnessed this secret art sweeping away enemies in a single stroke, but he had never faced it himself.
Flash!
A dark green glow erupted from Dang Gwan’s pupils.
“……”
Gale Style.
That was the moment.
Hweeeeeeeeeeeeng!!
A ferocious gale tore through the air as if ripping the atmosphere apart. Two massive streaks of light shot straight toward Yeon Hojeong. ……!!
Shock appeared on Yeon Hojeong’s face. It’s different!
It was different from the secret technique the Ten Thousand Poison Emperor had displayed in the past.
No—it was a variation of that technique, but the nature was completely different. If one were to classify it as a form, it was a direct frontal assault that stood in complete opposition to the technique from before.
It was as if two enormous imugi made of thousands of iron scales were racing toward him, each trying to overtake the other. Damn it! Does this technique change its attack range and direction with every single style?!
It was as if his vague expectations had been completely overturned.
Yeon Hojeong quickly took one step forward.
Kwaaaang!
With a stomp more urgent and powerful than any before, the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes, blazing with Vermilion Bird fire qi, swung at terrifying speed.
Vermilion Bird Arts, Red Flame Six Kills Art.
Flower Rain Art, First Chapter—Gale Style.
Two extreme killing techniques collided head-on.
Jjeojeojeojeojeojeojeojeong!
The countless crescent moons drawn by the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes generated violent gusts as they struck down the flying fragments of daggers.
The speed was truly astonishing. Even though this was his first time properly wielding them, Yeon Hojeong’s twin axe technique had already reached the realm of a master.
Jjeojeojeojeong! Pshk!
Yet even with such incredible axe work, he could not block every fragment. The barrage of hidden weapons came in like a storm, and their sheer number was beyond counting. Even for Yeon Hojeong, a perfect defense was impossible.
Jjeojeojeojeojeong! Pshk!
He deflected nearly all the weapons in front of him, but a few that rode the strange currents slipped past his axes and grazed his forearms before flying off behind him.
Pupupuk! Sasasasasak!
Both of Yeon Hojeong’s arms were instantly drenched in blood. Dozens of hidden weapons—not just one or two—had sliced across his forearms.
Damn.
Chiiiiik!
White smoke rose from the wounds. The Vermilion Bird fire qi was burning away the poison qi that had penetrated his body.
But the real problem wasn’t the poison. What kind of power is this?!
The impact transmitted through the twin axes was tremendous.
Each individual hidden weapon carried frightening force. Having to strike down hundreds of them caused the shock to accumulate from his wrists and elbows all the way up to his shoulders.
It was a terrifying linked attack. The endless barrage of dagger fragments looked like scattering flower petals, yet their destructive power was like a rain of iron.
Yeon Hojeong grit his teeth and endured. The moment he carelessly lowered his axes, that terrifying storm of hidden weapons would shred his upper body into thousands of pieces, turning him into a bloody mist.
Jjeojeojeojeojeong! Kwang!
After blocking the Gale Style with hundreds of axe strikes, Yeon Hojeong used one final powerful stomp to redirect the curving trajectory of the final hidden weapons upward into the sky.
“Hooook!”
Yeon Hojeong let out a deep breath. Damn it, this really isn’t easy.
At that moment, Dang Gwan spoke.
“Did you catch all of it?”
Without answering, Yeon Hojeong simply looked at him.
Dang Gwan, who had been watching with a surprised expression, unconsciously let out a small laugh. He had seen the anticipation, astonishment, and burning passion on Yeon Hojeong’s face.
“Do you want to take more?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“Very well.”
Chiriririririring!
As if rising from nowhere, fragments of daggers gathered above Dang Gwan’s head to form a massive dark cloud.
Death scales filling the entire sky. Each one resembled a flower petal made of light.
“Then I shall give you just a taste.”