Trembling (5)
The sword hummed.
What?
Yeon Wi, who had been leaning against a tree and wiping away sweat, turned his gaze toward the sword planted in the ground.
What is this?
Yeon Wi tilted his head. The sword definitely resonated on its own just now, didn’t it? A master of his caliber would not be mistaken.
Besides, he was no longer the Yeon Wi of the past. Ever since the Justice Army had been established and his eldest son, Yeon Hojeong—who now led the You Army unit—had marched off to war, Yeon Wi had devoted himself to training with greater focus than ever before.
That training had been conducted alongside Dang Gwan, frequently incorporating Jegal Mun-ho’s strategic advice. It was, without exaggeration, the highest quality cultivation possible.
Perhaps that was why. Yeon Wi’s Sword Limit Qi had transcended mere mastery and stepped into another realm entirely. He had also perfectly completed one of the Absolute Three Swords.
And that realm was—
The wind swept in, stirring the blade.
Yeon Wi sat with both arms resting atop his raised knees. He had not reached out, nor could any flow of internal energy be detected. Yet the sword was moving of its own accord, attempting to leap free from the earth.
Yeon Wi’s eyes gleamed.
With a smooth shing, the blade slid free and floated gently into the air, coming to a perfect stop before him.
It was an eerily natural display of empty-hand object manipulation. The control was so refined that not even a trace of internal energy could be sensed. It felt less like a martial technique and more like the sword was being guided by pure will alone—an overwhelming display of mastery.
Yeon Wi reached out and grasped the hilt.
The sword hummed once more.
Was it rejoicing at being reunited with its master? Or had some unknown force triggered the resonance?
After staring at the blade for a long moment, Yeon Wi lifted his head and gazed at the sky. A faint smile touched his lips.
“Hojeong?”
He didn’t know why his eldest son’s name had slipped out so naturally in that moment.
Yet it felt good. It was as if his own growth had been mirrored by his son’s—perhaps even surpassed. And it wasn’t only Yeon Hojeong. The next face that rose unbidden in his mind belonged to his second son, whose youthful innocence had long since vanished.
Before departing for the Martial Alliance, the boy had swung his sword in near frenzy. Yeon Wi had worried endlessly about him. Now, however, he somehow felt certain that his second son had overcome every trial and grown into something magnificent.
As Yeon Wi continued staring at the heavens, a voice called out to him.
“Something good must have happened.”
The sarcastic tone had grown so familiar it now felt almost affectionate.
Yeon Wi replied calmly, “The sunlight is pleasant, that’s all.”
Dang Gwan squinted up at the sky and frowned. “It really is nothing like Sichuan.”
“Is that so?”
“Come visit someday and see for yourself what kind of land Sichuan truly is.”
“I’ve heard it sees fewer sunny days than most regions of the Central Plains.”
“They say dogs bark when the sun rises there—do you think that saying came from nothing? Living in a place like that would make anyone gloomy.”
Yeon Wi let out a burst of laughter before he could stop himself. Dang Gwan’s words had genuinely amused him.
“Then are all the people of Sichuan dark by nature?”
“Something like that. Anyway…”
Dang Gwan’s eyes sparkled. “You’ve grown again in such a short time?”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw it earlier. You wielded empty-hand object manipulation as naturally as breathing.”
Yeon Wi shook his head. “Surely such a minor trick is effortless for the Tang Family Head. Compared to your skill, mine is still at the toddling stage. I remain far behind.”
In terms of raw movement, Yeon Wi’s assessment wasn’t wrong. Dang Gwan’s control over hidden weapons was the pinnacle of delicacy and precision.
Yet Dang Gwan had sensed something indescribable in Yeon Wi’s technique. It felt as though the sword had moved not by internal energy, but by pure intent.
Sword Control?
Dang Gwan shook his head unconsciously. No, not yet.
He had witnessed true Sword Control before—from none other than his own father. The realm his father had displayed was like an entirely new world. He had never imagined human capability could reach such heights.
Naturally, Yeon Wi had not yet attained that true realm.
But…
He’s touching it. The Yeon Family Head’s enlightenment is already grasping the tail end of Sword Control so naturally.
A wry chuckle escaped Dang Gwan. That age, that level of martial prowess, and this speed of growth… truly vicious.
Since arriving at the Martial Alliance, Yeon Wi’s progress could only be described as dazzling. And surprisingly, the same resurgence of stagnant growth had occurred within Dang Gwan himself.
Understanding an entirely different martial principle becomes the catalyst for explosive advancement…
Of course, such a thing wasn’t possible for just anyone. Both men had poured heart and soul into creating new martial arts. Only through relentless contemplation and blood-soaked effort had they achieved this level of growth.
And the existence of their children surely played a part.
They had once shared such a conversation.
“Are you not afraid?”
“Of what?”
“Your second son is certainly a genius. But that bastard Yeon Hojeong has surpassed even him. At his age, with that level of attainment, he will soon become a master who surpasses even you, Family Head.”
“Hehe, just hearing it fills me with boundless joy.”
“Only joy? You feel no fear?”
“What is there to fear? My child has grown so much that he now stands at a level to surpass his own father. That is a joy and emotion no other enlightenment could ever provide.”
“Hmm.”
“However, I cannot simply remain idle.”
“Cannot remain idle?”
“As a father, it would be immeasurable joy for my son to surpass me. Yet as a martial artist, I wish to become an even higher wall for him—a greater catalyst for his growth.”
“……”
“If I thought only of the sword, there would be no need to sweat like this. I could simply contemplate and contemplate. But as both a martial artist and a father, I must grow stronger.”
“Even if the boy eventually surpasses you?”
“Then I will gladly accept defeat. It would likely be the happiest and most beautiful defeat in the world.”
Dang Gwan had chuckled. The happiest and most beautiful defeat in the world. Easy for you to say.
He had never considered such an approach before. In the Tang Family, even blood brothers were merely rivals. More than that, Dang Gwan had wanted nothing more than to trample over his father, Dang Hyeong, rather than understand him.
But this father and son were different. Even as they cherished and loved one another, they constantly pushed each other forward. Could this too be called benevolent competition?
Whatever the case, one thing was certain—there were no other father-son relationships quite like theirs.
Dang Gwan recalled that conversation once more.
“Then what about you, Tang Family Head?”
“If you’re looking for parental boasting, you’d best stop. I have no child with that much human warmth.”
“Hahaha, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what?”
“Aren’t you constantly striving to show Sang-ah higher realms and broader worlds?”
“You’re mistaken. I think only of myself. Helping you is also for my own growth.”
“Hehe.”
“Don’t laugh.”
“Hehehe.”
“I said stop laughing.”
The conversation had ended as casually as water mixing with water.
Yet inwardly, Dang Gwan had been shaken. Yeon Wi’s words had struck closer to the truth than he cared to admit.
Cultivating myself for someone else? He had never lived such a life. Whether as parent or child, such thoughts had never applied to him. At least, that was what he had always believed.
……
With complicated eyes, Dang Gwan looked at Yeon Wi and cleared his throat.
“When does today’s training end?”
“It can end at any time, and it can begin at any time. Isn’t that the nature of training?”
“Easy for you to say.”
“But why do you ask? Are you suggesting we share a drink after so long?”
“In this current climate, how could alcohol even go down my throat?”
Dang Gwan’s eyes flashed.
“What do you make of it? Deung Cheon-gyo’s bomb of a statement.”
He spoke the man’s name without hesitation.
Yeon Wi shook his head. “What is there to think? Everyone knows now, and Abbot Gong Gong Dae-sa has shouldered the remaining political burden. I only regret that we could not lighten that load for him.”
“That’s not what I mean. There was a reason we kept the existence of the Three Sects hidden until now, wasn’t there?”
“There was.”
“Yet now that reason has turned to foam. Jegal Mun-ho has been investigating the envoys, but the work has barely progressed beyond the halfway mark.”
Dang Gwan’s gaze sharpened instantly. “It cannot be Moyong Gun. That bastard.”
The statement came out of nowhere, yet Yeon Wi nodded in agreement. “I think the same.”
“At first I suspected Deung Cheon-gyo himself might be the spy, but the more I consider it, the lower that probability seems.”
“Probability is only probability. Still, I agree with you, Tang Family Head.”
Yeon Wi offered a bitter smile. “The Three Sects have been meticulous enough to infiltrate both the imperial palace and the government, even supporting the creation of the Black Dragon Department. There’s no way they would make such a careless mistake.”
“I agree.”
Yeon Wi, who had been quietly regarding his sword, rose to his feet and sheathed it.
“The situation has changed, but there is nothing we can do right now. If we move rashly, we risk startling the grass and alerting the snake.”
“It’s frustrating.”
“Jegal Mun-ho will soon call for our assistance. Until then, let us refrain from hasty speculation.”
Yeon Wi appeared far more composed than expected. Given his usual personality, such calm was unusual. Wasn’t he the type to tighten his own reins even further in times of crisis?
Dang Gwan studied him for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
“When?”
“Hm? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“That bastard Yeon Hojeong. When did he say he was coming?”
Surprise flickered across Yeon Wi’s face. “How did you know?”
“It’s written all over your face. If that bastard wasn’t on his way, or if there wasn’t some groundbreaking development, you wouldn’t be showing this kind of leisure.”
“Hehehe. The Tang Family Head’s insight is truly remarkable.”
“It’s not that I’m remarkable. It’s that the Yeon Family Head has become an easy man to read.”
The cold, rigid Yeon Wi of the past would have been impossible to decipher, even for someone like Dang Gwan. But the current Yeon Wi carried enough ease to let his emotions show clearly.
“Word arrived that he will depart in five days.”
“Five days…”
“However, it seems he won’t be coming straight to the alliance. He mentioned he has places to stop along the way.”
Dang Gwan frowned. “If he’s coming, he should come quickly. What detours is he taking now?”
“Hehe, I don’t know either. But what trouble could there be?”
Yeon Wi gazed far into the southern distance—toward Guangdong Province, where his two sons waited.
They must have grown tremendously. Perhaps even beyond me.
Even though large windows allowed daylight to pour in, the room somehow remained dim.
Within that shadowy space, an unsettling conversation unfolded.
“Isn’t this move too reckless this time?”
“……”
“Deung Cheon-gyo is certainly suspicious enough. But that suspicion won’t hold for long. Jegal Mun-ho is no ordinary man. He will soon realize that the spy among the envoys is someone other than Deung Cheon-gyo.”
“……”
“I truly cannot understand this.”
“You…”
The shadow’s voice slithered like a snake crawling across damp earth, dragging out each syllable.
“There is no need for useless worry. Simply do as you are told.”
“As if I wouldn’t. So, what would you like me to do next?”
“An order will come down soon. Until then, simply maintain the appearance appropriate to your position.”
“Understood. And I have one request.”
“……”
“Do not visit at this hour. It makes my skin crawl thinking we might be discovered.”
Srrrk.
The moment the words left his mouth, the shadow vanished.
It was a feat difficult to believe even after witnessing it. Whether it was a movement technique or some form of sorcery, it was impossible to tell.
A sneer formed on ‘his’ face.
“Still as foul-mouthed as ever.”
At that moment, a young voice called from outside.
“Sect Leader. It is I. Are you within?”
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes. I have brought the item you requested.”
“Hehe, well done. Come in.”
The swaggering tone he had used moments ago—like some street thug from the marketplace—vanished instantly, replaced by the refined, archaic dignity befitting the leader of a prestigious sect.