The Yin God's Shadow (6)
Before entering Guangdong Province, Yeon Hojeong had divided his predictions about the enemy's response into three broad categories.
First: observation.
In the world of assassins, caution was a virtue. Assassins were more meticulous than any martial artist navigating the thin ice of the murim.
They would watch until the end. Even if they grew certain they could take a life, they would only extract information about weaknesses and strengths, remaining thoroughly hidden.
That was how it worked under normal circumstances. Guangdong had already become a region firmly under the control of assassins led by the Yin God. Moreover, the Yin God's abilities surpassed those of the heads of the Nine Great Sects, and the current Yin God was even a former disciple of the Saum Sect.
There was no way they had missed the rumors that the Shinwha Sect's martial generals had been annihilated. Therefore, it was highly likely they would not simply stand by and watch after hearing that a force had been dispatched from the Martial Alliance.
That led to the second possibility: waiting quietly before deploying every available assassin at once to form a heaven-spanning net.
An assassin was a threat by their very existence. While peak-level experts could generally sense and react to the killing intent of first-rate assassins, a single mistake still meant death.
Of course, they would have to account for the environment. They might send a few assassins to gauge the level of the allied forces, then lure them into favorable terrain for a single decisive strike.
Personally, Yeon Hojeong considered the second scenario the most probable. There was no reason to waste time when both sides already knew everything there was to know about each other.
However, this approach carried the drawback of risking complete exposure of their existence to the outside world.
There was an enormous difference between keeping something secret and revealing its actual existence to all under heaven. Public sentiment was at stake, and in such a situation, both the Martial Alliance and the Three Sects would inevitably bear tremendous burdens.
While this possibility was the greatest, it was not overwhelmingly likely. That was what Yeon Hojeong believed.
And finally, the third possibility: sending an overwhelmingly powerful expert to eliminate the opposing leader.
This was the most assassin-like course of action while also avoiding any need to reveal the Saum Sect's existence to the world. It could be seen as exploiting the Martial Alliance's weakness—they already knew about the Three Sects but could not afford to plunge the entire Central Plains into chaos by publicly acknowledging them.
In other words, it was the smartest judgment. However, for this third scenario to work, one prerequisite condition was necessary.
And the person who met that condition was now approaching Yeon Hojeong.
'Strong!'
Indeed.
The Yin God could not personally step forward to deal with the enemy leader. Even in preparation for unforeseen circumstances, the leader could not take the vanguard in the opening clash.
Therefore, there had to exist at least one supreme expert capable of eliminating the enemy leader. Only then could the third scenario come to pass.
'But to think it would be a top expert dispatched directly from the Saum Sect!'
Whoosh!
A muddy, sticky, and viscous aura seized the air.
It approached while gently pushing back the fierce fighting spirit generated by Yeon Hojeong's White Tiger Qi. It was like the surging waters of the North Sea crashing against a river of burning flames.
Hiss!
The Yeon Family Divine Elixir rotated, infusing power into the White Tiger Qi.
Most of the effects of the Mokryeongdan that Yang Cheon had given him had been passed on to Kang Liang. However, a portion had contributed to strengthening Yeon Hojeong's internal energy, allowing him to fully recover from his internal injuries and even gain slightly more amplified inner power than before.
As a result, Yeon Hojeong's inner power was now no less than Muk Bi's enormous reserves, whose origin remained unknown.
With that level of inner power, there were few who could rival the current Yeon Hojeong when it came to the application of true qi. No matter how vast the quantity of inner power, how efficiently it was used depended entirely on one's enlightenment.
Whoosh!
The gusting wind of the White Tiger Qi was gradually being pushed back.
Yeon Hojeong's aura, which possessed vast inner power and operated it more efficiently than any supreme expert, was being overpowered.
This was purely a matter of raw inner power. No matter how extraordinary Yeon Hojeong's enlightenment was, if he fell behind in the actual density of power, he would inevitably lose in a contest of inner energy.
Just like with Beon Jak.
'A Saum Sect expert who has reached the extreme. Moreover, this demonic energy……?'
It was a martial art he recognized. A familiar true qi.
'……Blood Drinking Art!'
In that instant, Yeon Hojeong's eyes blazed.
Boom! Whoosh!
A terrifying Vermilion Bird Qi infused the twin palms Yeon Hojeong thrust forward.
The Vermilion Bird Qi extended left and right, shattering trees and forming a massive wall of flames. The firepower was unleashed with clear intent, causing four or five broken trees to collapse instantly onto the road, creating a barrier of fire.
At that moment, the expert who had been approaching while generating a storm of demonic energy threw a punch.
Boom!
A tremendous fist wind shattered the burning trees into pieces.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Yeon Hojeong's response was swift. He blocked the flying wood fragments with the North Heaven Twelve Walls from his left palm and intensified the concentration of the scattering flames with the Red Flame Six Kills Art from his right palm.
He simultaneously manifested the Black Tortoise Qi of water and the Vermilion Bird Qi of fire without the slightest tremor. Even while manifesting yin-yang heterogeneous qi at the same time, his inner power showed no signs of collapse.
A look of surprise appeared in the eyes of the approaching expert, So Bang.
Boom!
So Bang failed to break through the wall of fire and landed before it.
With the wall of flames between them, the man and woman faced each other. Though their vision was distorted by the constantly flickering flames, the two could still clearly perceive one another.
Soon, a strange expression surfaced on So Bang's face.
"Yeon Hojeong?"
"……."
"Hmm. Seeing that ridiculous axe and chain, it seems you really are Yeon Hojeong, the commander of the Myeolsa Army."
Yeon Hojeong did not reply. He merely gazed at So Bang with an unreadable, emotionless stare.
So Bang ignored the look in his eyes. She had no interest in the other party's mood or thoughts to begin with.
"By the way, why the childish tricks? Someone of your caliber should have been able to roughly gauge my power. This kind of thing means nothing to me."
"……."
"Don't feel like answering? Or did you freeze up in fear?"
So Bang laughed coldly.
"You brought along some fairly capable kids. That archer girl in the back looks quite threatening. And those little ones trained in Daoist arts? Not bad."
She had even detected Ok Cheong and Yeo Guk, who were waiting in the forest some distance away—Muk Bi was one thing, but this showed just how sharp So Bang's senses were.
After quietly studying Yeon Hojeong's face, So Bang shrugged.
"You look shocked. Well, I suppose that's understandable. At your age and with that level of skill, you have every right to be arrogant. Just when you're at the peak of looking down on the world, a master on my level appears right in front of you. The fact that you're not even trying to put on airs shows that you're……"
Rumble!
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong's twin palms once again turned the forests on either side of So Bang into seas of fire.
The speed was so great that even So Bang struggled to react. He had kept the White Tiger Qi at the forefront while controlling his explosive killing intent with Vermilion Bird Qi, only to release it all at once.
Whoosh!
Scorching heat surged from every direction except the rear.
So Bang frowned.
"What are you trying to do?"
Yeon Hojeong shouted.
"Muk Bi! If you see an opening, don't hesitate—shoot! Do not approach under any circumstances!"
Bang!
The moment the words left his mouth, Yeon Hojeong burst through the wall of fire and closed in on So Bang.
It was the Blood Wing Flash Heaven technique, executed in an instant. Naturally, the speed was indescribable. Even So Bang's face hardened for a moment at Yeon Hojeong's explosive movement.
Whoosh!
The flames let out a cry of ecstasy.
His left hand, brimming with Vermilion Bird Fire Qi, flew toward So Bang's face. It was a strike that prioritized speed over destructive power, with fingertips sharpened to target her throat.
So Bang found it absurd.
'He's choosing a head-on confrontation?'
The opponent likely knew nothing about her. In other words, without even exchanging names, he had launched an attack filled with killing intent.
That much could be overlooked, but what was even more absurd was the gap between them.
So Bang could confidently say that even if there were three of Yeon Hojeong, they would struggle to capture her.
The difference between them was that vast.
'He's more reckless than I thought. Well, he's young.'
His speed was fast, and the sharpness of his left hand was excellent.
But that was all. She had merely been surprised by the unexpected movement.
Quickly regaining her composure, So Bang moved to block Yeon Hojeong's left hand with a relaxed gesture.
That was when it happened.
'……?!'
So Bang's eyes changed.
'What?'
In that split second, she sensed the trajectory of Yeon Hojeong's left hand, which had been moving like lightning, shift subtly. It was a perception only possible because her actual skill surpassed Yeon Hojeong's.
'Wrapping around?'
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong's Red Flame Six Kills Hand moved lightly like a feather and coiled around So Bang's wrist.
So Bang urgently released her true qi.
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong's left hand was flung backward as if repelled.
The series of inner power operations—from gathering true qi, circulating it, releasing power, changing the force, to the final explosive release—had reached the level of divine technique.
She was a terrifying expert who could freely manipulate her inner power and even alter the nature of her power release with only a moment's time. While Yeon Hojeong was not incapable of the same, he could not execute a power release as potent as So Bang's within the same timeframe.
But that was fine.
There was a reason Yeon Hojeong had erected a wall of fire and engaged in a direct confrontation against So Bang, an expert several levels above him.
Whoosh!
The massive blade of the Mad Dragon Axe rose diagonally from the lower left.
In that instant, So Bang felt a chill run down her spine at the aura emanating from the Mad Dragon Axe.
'What? What is this?'
Whoosh!
Considering the axe's weight, the swing was impossibly fast. Yet So Bang possessed the skill to respond to that speed.
Even so, she felt her body momentarily stiffen.
Was it because of the killing intent radiating from the Mad Dragon Axe? Not at all.
'Why from this direction……?'
There was no time to hesitate. So Bang quickly executed a footwork technique and struck upward at the Mad Dragon Axe's blade.
Clang!
It was heavy.
Even though she had infused her kick with abundant Blood Drinking Demonic Qi, she felt considerable pain in her instep and shin. It meant the axe was heavier than it appeared, and the true qi contained within it exceeded her expectations.
But that was not the issue right now.
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong, having spun his body, launched a sweeping kick aimed at So Bang's chin.
Just as she was about to deliver a follow-up strike, So Bang was startled and retreated.
Bang!
It was not a kick delivered with elastic force but one that struck upward with solid weight. Yet the sound of air bursting rang out. The power was tremendous.
Whoosh!
So Bang's body retreated backward. Her movement technique, which instantly covered nearly five jang, was dazzling.
Yeon Hojeong lowered his leg with a calm expression.
So Bang's eyes trembled.
"……What are you?"
The hand technique with his left hand, the upward slash with the axe, and the ascending kick aimed at her chin.
In that sudden close-quarters exchange, the trajectory of the Blood Drinking Palm she had intended to use was blocked from the very start. It was difficult to even properly use her hands.
It was a counter.
A divine counter technique against the Blood Drinking Palm was present there.
"What the hell are you?!"
Yeon Hojeong shouted.
"Form the formation!"
Flash!
Ok Cheong and Yeo Guk, having moved through the sea of fire on the left, positioned themselves five jang behind So Bang and unleashed their true qi while pointing their swords.
The Myeolsa Three Kills Formation, the Three Kills Minor Formation, was activated.
Only then did Yeon Hojeong speak while looking at So Bang.
"Welcome, half-baked one."
"……?!"