Tigers and Lions Are Different (3)
Flash!
Yang Cheon's eyes sharpened in an instant.
"You'll cure me of the Shadow Emperor Divine Palm's poison?"
"That's right."
Yang Cheon didn't ask how it was possible or how Yeon Hojeong knew the method.
"So that was it? Your lifeline?"
"It's merely one of several countermeasures."
"A countermeasure."
"As you said, I didn't come here without any preparations. I have a great deal to do."
Yang Cheon pressed aggressively.
"And that 'great deal' is crushing the Three Sects?"
"It is."
"Then infiltrating the headquarters as the intelligence chief by deceiving me—was that also to strike at the Three Sects?"
Yang Cheon couldn't even be certain whether the Shadow Emperor Divine Palm's master was truly poisoned. In other words, this was the first moment he had learned he was definitely poisoned.
Yet he asked about Yeon Hojeong's goal first. It seemed he considered escaping the poison a trivial matter.
An astonishingly bold temperament. After Moyong Gun's rebuke had cleared his mind from the sweetness of power, Yang Cheon was finally regaining his original self through this confrontation with Yeon Hojeong.
Tsk.
Yeon Hojeong found Yang Cheon burdensome.
Before coming here, he had thought the man would be easy to handle. Now it felt as though several cannons were aimed at him.
He's a difficult man. I don't know how I managed to catch someone like him in the past. Still……
Yeon Hojeong's smile deepened.
"……
You look good."
"What?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself."
"Enough with the nonsense. Answer the question properly."
Yeon Hojeong's expression changed.
"That's right. My ultimate goal is the Three Sects."
"As I thought?"
"I know what you want to hear, Lord Yang. So I'll keep it simple."
"I'm listening."
"I didn't infiltrate the Black Dragon Department solely because of the Three Sects. At the time, I received information that you were building power, and for the sake of the martial world's future, I needed the Black Dragon Department's confidential intelligence and control over its forces……"
Yeon Hojeong's explanation was clean and concise, without any fluff.
Kang Liang listened and felt a quiet surprise.
Big brother isn't just an outstanding warrior and army commander—his diplomatic skills are exceptional too.
He knew Yeon Hojeong's usual way of speaking well. He also knew his personality.
Yet now, Yeon Hojeong's explanation was neatly packaged—brief and easy to hear, tailored to Yang Cheon's character.
Words could change the listener's mood depending on how the same truth was delivered. In that sense, Yeon Hojeong's ability to read people combined with this rhetorical skill was a powerful advantage as a diplomat.
Yang Cheon nodded.
"I understand. Why the Martial Alliance sent you, and what the headquarters wanted to gain."
"……"
"The more I hear, the more absurd it becomes. So we were dancing in the palm of the Martial Alliance all along."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"Before that, the Black Dragon Department struck first, so let's call it even."
"Struck first? What do you mean?"
"Didn't you secretly steal quite a few merchant groups that were under contract south of the Yangtze from the Martial Alliance? Whether you received help from the Saum Sect or not, building the Black Dragon Department was your choice. But raking in money from the shadows hurt us quite a bit too."
"'Steal' is a bit much. Merchant groups are just merchant groups. If there's a better trading partner, they'll switch without hesitation. How can you call that stealing?"
"Think of it the other way. If we had taken several of the Black Dragon Department's major businesses, wouldn't you feel wronged?"
"……"
"There's only a paper-thin difference between fair competition and strategic seizure. What creates that difference is intent. In that regard, you've inflicted astronomical losses on the Alliance."
Yang Cheon's eyes deepened.
"That habit of calculating so cleverly never changes."
"Because it's the truth."
"Still…… you're not wrong."
Yang Cheon nodded.
"Very well. I'll consider the matter of you infiltrating and disrupting the headquarters settled with this."
It was a refreshingly straightforward acknowledgment. He wasn't pretending—he truly intended to treat it as if it had never happened.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"The conversation is flowing quite smoothly."
"Don't misunderstand. That doesn't mean I'll spare your life and send you back."
Yang Cheon wore a mocking smile.
"I said we'd call it even in the conflict between factions. I never said I'd forgive you for deceiving me. That score must be settled differently, no?"
"You're quite particular. Just admit it—you were the fool who got fooled."
"Since a fool got fooled, I need to at least hold the knife for payback. Isn't that right?"
The conversation was utterly ruthless.
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
"The Shadow Emperor Divine Palm—I suppose I'll have to cure it after all."
Yang Cheon straightened his posture again.
"Before I hear that, let me ask one thing."
"What is it?"
"If you free me from this poison, what do you want from me?"
"Didn't I say it was the price of my life?"
"Tell me the truth."
"……"
"You know it. I've become harder to deal with, but no matter how things turn out, I won't kill you. At least not now."
"……
You're sharp."
"I had vaguely suspected the symptoms were from the Shadow Emperor Divine Palm. But I couldn't be certain. After losing consciousness once, there were no aftereffects."
"You think so?"
"I do."
Yang Cheon asked seriously.
"I'll be direct. Are you telling me how to escape this because you want to bring me to your side?"
He sees right through it. Even that far.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"That's right. I heard you said you'd help 'this time,' but not that you'd become our ally completely. At least, that's what Moyong Gun said."
"……"
"You're the King of Combat. Shouldn't you pay back the one who left that wretched mark on your chest?"
"And that would benefit you people."
"It would benefit you and your subordinates at the same time. After all, their target isn't the Martial Alliance—it's the entire Central Plains."
"……"
"It would have been nice if we'd met as friends. But we've already come too far to share drinks with pure intentions and no ulterior motives."
Yang Cheon chuckled.
"Friends at your age? That's ridiculous."
"Whatever the case."
"In other words, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
"Something like that."
Yang Cheon stared at Yeon Hojeong for a moment, then smiled coldly.
"That's not all, is it?"
"……"
"There was something in your earlier words I didn't quite understand. Your words and tone were based on truth yet carried tremendous persuasiveness. But whether consciously or unconsciously, you were particularly sparing with your words about one person."
"……"
"Moyong Gun."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes deepened.
"Do you want to eliminate Moyong Gun?"
"……
Yes."
"Using me as the blade?"
"That's not it."
"No? Why?"
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"My father always told me not to cross the line."
"……"
"Whether I use you or join hands with you, it's for a greater cause. I have no intention of bringing in dark faction forces to deal with internal enemies."
"I don't see the difference."
"I didn't either. And honestly, I still don't fully understand. But I have a vague sense of what my father meant when he said not to cross the line."
"So you don't want me to deal with Moyong Gun?"
"That's right. We'll handle him—me, and us."
"That's not it."
Yang Cheon's eyes gleamed.
"Even if you say you'll deal with Moyong Gun, the one who can truly shake his foundations is me. So at the very least, you need to maintain a decent relationship with me."
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"Correct. That is precisely the best outcome the Alliance's military commander desires."
"There's no need to actually strike the Moyong Family, but we do need to subtly let Moyong Gun know that our relationship isn't bad……"
Yang Cheon nodded.
"Very well. All my questions are answered."
It was a clean acknowledgment.
Yeon Hojeong spoke.
"Then the Shadow Emperor Divine Palm……"
"From now on, let's change the subject of this conversation."
Swish.
Yang Cheon rose from his seat.
Whoosh.
The cold mountain wind grew hot once more.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes deepened.
"What do you mean?"
"In the dark path, there has always been a rule. Not from when alleyway thugs fought, but from the era when the dark path had its own nobility. And those who consider themselves the true heirs of the dark path still live by that rule."
Crackle! Crackle!
A strange light flashed like lightning within the rising smoke.
It was different from the lightning of Moyong Gun's Noejeonggong or the radiance of Yeon Wi's Jeol-dae-il-geom. It looked like lightning yet resembled flame, and though like flame, it also resembled a blade.
"There are many rules, but there's only one you need to remember."
Whoosh!
Yang Cheon's hair stood on end, shooting upward.
"Kuh!"
Bu Seon groaned and retreated over ten jang. Kang Liang did the same.
Only Yeon Hojeong remained, gripping the shaft of the Mad Dragon Axe embedded in the ground, his eyes as deep as an abyss as he gazed at Yang Cheon.
"A traitor is given a chance to defend themselves. If the defense is deemed reasonable, all grudges are settled by severing one limb."
"……"
"However, if the traitor refuses to defend themselves, they are immediately executed. That is the rule of the dark path."
"……"
"Of course, there are exceptions. If the traitor has circumstances, and those circumstances are understood and accepted, then the blade carries the ancient principles of the jianghu. That is……"
"Three moves."
Yeon Hojeong spoke calmly.
"If one withstands the executioner's three moves, all grudges are settled immediately."
A glint flashed in Yang Cheon's eyes.
"You know that too?"
"I do."
"I don't know where you heard it, but you're right. If you endure my three moves, I'll let the wind carry away all the grudges between us."
Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.
"Endure three moves…… If I can't and die, I won't be able to cure the poison either."
"It doesn't matter."
Rumble!
The ground where Yang Cheon stood cracked like a spiderweb.
Yang Cheon, radiating a dark crimson glow from his entire body—the oppressive aura of an absolute master unleashing his full power after so long—was beyond imagination.
"I am the lord of the dark path and the King of Combat. Resolve the grudge or lose a limb—choose for yourself."
Yang Cheon grinned savagely.
"You're not the type to die quietly, are you?"
"……
This could have been settled easily, yet you insist on making it so bloody."
Boom!
With a fluid motion, Yeon Hojeong lifted the Mad Dragon Axe and extended his hand with a refreshed expression.
"I'll receive the King of Combat's three moves."