The Shadow of the Yin God (3)
Jegal Mun-ho’s face was unusually bright.
“We’ve received word from the alliance.”
“Commander Yeon has successfully closed the deal with Vice-Leader Yang.”
A storm of emotion surged in Yeon Wi’s eyes. Without realizing it, he clenched his fist tightly.
Dang Gwan gave a short, dry laugh.
“I’ll have to look at Yang Cheon in a new light. If even that rude brat’s tongue couldn’t rile him up, we might as well call the man a saint.”
Once Yeon Wi’s tension eased, Dang Gwan’s manner of referring to Yeon Hojeong shifted again. Despite his rough exterior, the patriarch of the Sichuan Dang Family possessed a surprisingly meticulous side.
“The relationship could sour at any moment, but he will still prove to be a tremendous help in this mission.”
“If that Hong Gwan—known as Yang Cheon’s disciple—turns out to be a pawn of the Three Sects, then Yang Cheon himself could become an ally.”
Jegal Mun-ho shook his head.
“That remains to be seen. Yang Cheon is far too burdensome an opponent to treat as a simple enemy. The Three Sects will almost certainly try to recruit him at least once.”
Dang Gwan tilted his head.
“From what I heard from that rude brat, the Three Sects have quite a few experts capable of fighting the Holy Thirteen Seats on even ground, don’t they?”
“Of course, if they were prepared for all-out war the story would change. But as history has shown, the iron rule of warfare is to achieve maximum effect with minimum damage. The Three Sects are surely aware of this.”
“Hmm.”
“Besides, the Three Sects are the ones issuing the challenge. We are fighting on our own soil.”
“So even a dog gains an edge in its own front yard—is that what you’re saying?”
“……”
“By that analogy, we’re the dogs?”
“Whatever the metaphor, the advantage lies with us, does it not?”
“It does. The same was true when we moved to capture the Eighteen Martial Generals of the Shinwha Sect. Thanks to Commander Yeon’s resourcefulness and strategy, we subdued them with surprising ease, but we cannot ignore the geographical advantage. The Three Sects are unfamiliar with the terrain of the Central Plains, and most of them likely don’t even know where they are.”
“Would they truly launch a war without that level of preparation?”
“They would have secured at least a complete map of the Central Plains. Even so, they still chose infiltration tactics. It means they already know that fighting on our land is disadvantageous to them.”
“I see.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“The influence of psychological advantage in battle is greater than people realize. The reverse is equally true. During the fight against the Eighteen Martial Generals, they must have been thoroughly rattled.”
“Patriarch Yeon is correct.”
Jegal Mun-ho let out a long breath. It carried the color of relief rather than frustration.
“In any case, we have cleared one major obstacle. Let us discuss the rest after this operation succeeds.”
“Agreed.”
“The only remaining variable in this mission is the extent of that man Hong Gwan’s power……”
It was then.
“Is anyone inside?”
The three men flinched in unison.
The voice drifting in from outside the office was painfully familiar.
What astonished them was that they had sensed no presence at all as “that person” approached. To make matters worse, the military department staff were all occupied and no guards had been posted, amplifying their shock.
Jegal Mun-ho rose from his seat.
“Please enter.”
“Then I shall impose.”
Slide.
The door opened and a monk stepped inside.
It was Gong Gong Dae-sa.
The thunder of hooves from the warhorses driven by the Uijeong Army overflowed with confidence.
Most of the soldiers had no idea what exactly their leader, Yeon Hojeong, had gone to handle and returned from. Yeon Hojeong understood this, and Moyong Woo knew well that it was better not to give his subordinates more information than necessary.
One fact, however, was undeniable.
Their commander—Byeoksan Tiger General Yeon Hojeong—had fought the master of the Black Dragon Department and one of the Holy Thirteen Seats, the King of Combat Yang Cheon.
That single truth became the moment the soldiers saw Yeon Hojeong in a new light and planted unshakable confidence in them as they set out on this mission.
Of course, none of them believed Yeon Hojeong had actually defeated Yang Cheon. Such a thing was impossible. Every master of the Sacred Heavens was an invincible monster who displayed god-like martial prowess.
Yet the mere fact that their leader had dared challenge the King of Combat under heaven sent the soldiers’ morale soaring without limit.
Their commander was not merely strong—he was a man bold enough to pick a fight with one of the Sacred Heavens.
At the precise moment when the soldiers’ morale could rise no higher, the man at the forefront—Yeon Hojeong, riding the Red Wind— was quietly examining his own internal condition.
What the hell is this?
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue inwardly.
I was told it was moderate. Why would he give me something like this?
The Yeon Family Divine Elixir was spinning at terrifying speed.
No battle had broken out. He wasn’t even consciously rotating his core. Yet the elixir spun at high velocity as though he were drawing up every ounce of his internal energy.
There was only one reason.
It’s absorbing it.
The medicinal power of the spirit medicine that filled his lower dantian was being rapidly refined and drawn into the Yeon Family Divine Elixir. Even so, enough power remained to make his lower dantian feel bloated.
Having already reached the Limitless realm, Yeon Hojeong’s lower dantian was wider and deeper than that of any other supreme peak expert. That vast space was still packed full of medicinal energy without a single gap.
If nothing else.
Yeon Hojeong could only marvel at Yang Cheon’s boldness.
I have to give him credit for being so decisive.
He recalled the exhausted face of Yang Cheon after the treatment had ended.
And the man’s voice as well.
“You were right. My true energy had been tainted by the demonic energy of that damned leader of the Sound Demon Cult. Thanks to you, I have completely escaped his grasp. This is truly something to be grateful for.”
“But I won’t thank you outright. You remain an enemy of the Black Dragon Department. Still, simply sending you away would damage my reputation. Anyone who has saved the life of the King of Combat deserves suitable compensation.”
“It is called the Wood Spirit Pill. Consume it here and now—do not take it elsewhere.”
Even Yeon Hojeong, with all his accumulated knowledge, was hearing the name Wood Spirit Pill for the first time. His understanding of elixirs had never been deep; he didn’t even know the names of most of the spirit pills held by the Nine Great Schools and the Six Great Families.
Yet it was immediately clear that the Wood Spirit Pill was no ordinary treasure.
On the surface it only felt moderately potent, but the moment I took it… this is no joke.
A faint greenish-blue radiance leaked from Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
He was not operating the Byeokla True Energy or the Dragon Robe Energy. He was circulating the Blue Dragon Technique.
The Wood Spirit Pill is rooted in wood energy. Blue Dragon energy is the very incarnation of wood energy—the perfect true energy for absorbing the power of this pill.
That was not the end of it.
Wood generates fire. As the Blue Dragon energy blazed, the fire energy of the Vermillion Bird naturally swelled in response. When the Vermillion Bird grew stronger, the water energy of the Black Tortoise drew forth an even deeper power.
Once all three divine energies reached a higher plane of spiritual energy, the White Tiger energy would rise naturally along with them, strengthening the entire Four Gods energies.
The problem was—
Damn it all.
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
What is he thinking? I told him I’d take it slowly later, but the medicinal power is far too dense!
The concentration of energy defied imagination. Even in his current state, converting all of it into internal energy in a short time would be difficult. It had to be one of the most precious treasures among the spirit medicines Yang Cheon possessed.
Is he hoping that after I consume this and return, we can have a proper fight?
Given Yang Cheon’s personality, it was entirely possible he had given it with exactly that intention. It would have been entertaining, but the man clearly hadn’t felt completely satisfied either.
This could interfere with the mission.
Yet he had neither the confidence to absorb everything before they reached their destination nor any intention of discarding what remained.
In that case…
Yeon Hojeong glanced around.
In truth, spirit medicine held little value for him. Consuming it would be beneficial, but because his essence, energy, and spirit were already perfectly balanced and refined, he could not draw out its full efficiency. Unless he needed it for healing like Yang Cheon, there was no reason to take it himself.
It would be better to share it.
His gaze fell on Muk Bi.
She was riding with sharp eyes fixed ahead.
It won’t be of much use to her.
Having broken through the martial wall, the efficiency of spiritual power for her would have dropped drastically. Even without that, Muk Bi had always surpassed him in pure internal energy. There was no need to share it with her.
The same logic applied to Moyong Woo.
Then who?
Distributing it among all the soldiers was impractical—the medicinal power wasn’t abundant enough. Even if it were, guiding each person individually would take far too much time.
Hmm.
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
No choice, then.
The recipient had been decided.
[Kang Liang. Come forward.]
At Yeon Hojeong’s transmission, Kang Liang urged his horse forward faster.
Kang Liang looked at him with puzzled eyes.
“What is it, Brother?”
Even amid the thunder of hooves, Kang Liang’s voice reached Yeon Hojeong’s ears with perfect clarity. He had adjusted the sound with internal energy so that only the intended recipient could hear it.
To deliver an unshaken tone while riding a dynamically moving warhorse—simply witnessing that was enough to see how much Kang Liang’s martial arts had grown.
Yeon Hojeong spoke.
“Can you circulate energy while riding?”
“That’s child’s play. What do you take me for?”
“Then I’ll share some internal energy. Make it yours within two days.”
“……”
Kang Liang’s expression immediately went blank.
“What do you mean by that?”
Yeon Hojeong explained everything that had happened inside the Black Dragon Department and the state of his own body.
Kang Liang spoke as if the idea were absurd.
“You still haven’t digested it?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“More importantly—you’re giving something this valuable to me?”
“There’s no time. We’ll reach the destination in three days. I’ll transfer more than seventy percent, so use every means at your disposal to make it yours. Understood?”
“Ah, no!”
Without thinking, Kang Liang glanced backward.
Far behind them was Yeon Ji-pyeong. The boy was still lost in the sword, muttering to himself with a dazed look. Yet he somehow managed his horse. It was proof that he had not been completely devoured by the sword principle.
“Brother. Give it to Ji-pyeong. I’m fine.”
“No. Not Ji-pyeong.”
“Why?”
“Giving him stronger internal energy right now would only harm him. I will take care of Ji-pyeong myself later. This medicinal power is for you.”
“B-but Brother!”
“Don’t tell me,” Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned cold, “you’re about to say you don’t want to accept an enemy’s gift?”
“……”
Kang Liang stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding.
“If you put it that way… I understand. I will accept it.”
“It will be enough to completely solidify your foundation. After you absorb this, never let me hear you say you lost because you lacked internal energy.”
“I won’t embarrass myself by saying something like that.”
“Good. You’ve made the right choice.”
Yeon Hojeong placed his hand on Kang Liang’s vital point.
“I’m transferring it all at once. Stay focused.”
“Underst—Hup!”
The air around them shook violently.
Condensing the wood energy that filled his lower dantian to its limit and transferring it in one go. Making it one’s own was difficult, but condensing and delivering the energy itself was not a particularly hard technique.
Whoosh!
Kang Liang’s face flushed bright red.
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
“I’ll put it to good use in this mission. Steel your resolve!”
Three days later, the Uijeong Army entered Guangdong Province, the southernmost region of the Central Plains.