Gaining the Shadows
“You seem to come here quite often.”
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue as he crossed the vast basin toward the main hall.
He glanced at Kang Liang.
Kang Liang’s mouth hung open as he looked around in every direction.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
“……”
“Looks like the den of some three-headed, six-armed monster.”
“It’s far more heavily guarded than before. I can feel a sense of dissonance from the entrance that I never noticed last time. They must have set up hidden mechanisms and formations.”
“Incredible. Considering the scale of this place……”
“It must have cost an astronomical sum. Still, even if it’s underground, the security is excessive. At this level……”
‘This isn’t a castle. It’s a prison.’
Yeon Hojeong muttered inwardly. No one could predict what path Yang Cheon would take from here.
But one thing was certain.
‘Yang Cheon has no intention of ending things here.’
It wasn’t because of the underground terrain. It was because of Yang Cheon’s own ambition and aspirations.
‘He’ll build a fortress rivaling the Martial Alliance itself. I don’t know when, but when that day comes, this place……’
It might truly become a massive prison.
After a brief moment of thought, Yeon Hojeong turned his gaze to Jeong-an.
Her face was stiff, as though she wore a rigid mask.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Are you all right?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if you’re all right.”
“Ah, yes.”
Jeong-an answered reflexively, then sighed and shook her head.
“Honestly, I’m not all right.”
“Of course you’re not.”
Jeong-an let out another sigh.
“Thinking about it, the Commander was right. I was a fool who knew nothing. If you hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t even have been able to enter this place.”
“At the same time, if the Black Dragon Department’s experts hadn’t overlooked your unresolved anger, they might have tracked you down and killed you.”
“……”
“That’s possible too.”
“So, do you regret it?”
“Never.”
Jeong-an gave a bitter smile.
“I have no regrets about my decision. I’ve simply realized once again how much there is in this world left to learn.”
“The world was made by people. If you want to understand the world, you have no choice but to start by understanding people.”
“……”
“To understand people, you have to meet many of them and talk with them. That’s what relationships are. Through relationships, people see the world.”
“I see.”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“It’s just my own thought. Everyone thinks differently.”
With that, Yeon Hojeong fell silent. He had plenty of his own thoughts to sort through.
‘Yang Cheon.’
What had kept him awake all night wasn’t whether he should simply hand over the matter of Botam.
The Botam issue had to be resolved. Only the timing and method remained in question.
What truly troubled him was Yang Cheon’s words.
‘As you said, to face the Three Sects, the orthodox and unorthodox factions must join hands.’
‘Naturally.’
‘Yet until now, that topic has never been properly discussed. That’s why I asked you. Are you willing to stake everything to destroy the Samin Cult?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I like you. Your martial arts, your insight, your resourcefulness, your drive—everything. But what I like most is that ruthless heart of yours that refuses to set limits when pursuing what you’ve decided on.’
‘Thank you for the praise.’
‘Come as a dispatched agent.’
‘A dispatched agent?’
‘Not as a spy like before, but as an official envoy of the Martial Alliance. Come to headquarters.’
‘……?!’
‘In this war, the Martial Alliance can never be the main actor. The reason is simple—they only stop weighing their own interests and start moving after the fire is already at their feet.’
‘That’s……’
‘Don’t deny it. I know you find that part frustrating as well.’
‘Once the Alliance Lord is chosen, things will change.’
‘When will the Alliance Lord be chosen? At the earliest, next year, no?’
‘……’
‘Even if we assume the election happens early next year, half a year remains. As you know, that’s more than enough time for the enemy to run rampant.’
‘That still doesn’t explain why I should be dispatched to the Black Dragon Department.’
‘You are the political core of the Martial Alliance. But you lack the power to unite the Martial Alliance as that core. How can you bind the interests of so many sects together in such a short time? Of course, no one could manage that.’
‘……’
‘Leave that field to trustworthy people. Instead, stop wasting your strength on pointless matters and come to the Black Dragon Department. Come, and let’s properly crush the Samin Cult together. If you make up your mind, I’ll grant you enormous authority to use the headquarters’ troops and resources as needed.’
‘A spine-tingling offer.’
‘It’s what I wanted to say most today. Think it over. If your heart moves, come find me. I hope it doesn’t take too long.’
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.
‘He’s not entirely wrong.’
Yang Cheon, freed from the Shadow Emperor’s poison, had become a completely different person from the Yang Cheon of the past.
Or perhaps this was his true nature all along. The insight of a giant who had fought the world for decades and ultimately seized victory to earn the title King of Combat was second to none.
That Yang Cheon was saying the Martial Alliance could not be the protagonist of this war.
Yeon Hojeong thought it might be true, and it might not.
At least the current Martial Alliance could not be the protagonist. As Yang Cheon said, too many sects had gathered, and none of them could remain free from their own interests.
But if the Martial Alliance became the one Yeon Hojeong envisioned, then it could become the protagonist of this war.
‘Brother.’
Moyong Woo still had many shortcomings.
Yet Moyong Woo possessed insight and intellect that would not lose to any veteran, along with a far more intuitive and clear sense of righteousness than their worn-out notions of justice.
He excelled at leading people, and his virtue and popularity were outstanding. He was perfectly suited to set the Martial Alliance right even after the war ended.
However.
‘The real question is whether the name Moyong Woo will be accepted by those who believe seniority and position are the minimum qualifications.’
Of course, seniority and position mattered. But they were not absolute.
Still, many people knew this yet could not accept it deep in their hearts.
Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.
‘If they knew how old I was when I founded the Black Emperor Castle, they’d all be shocked.’
Was it only possible because it was the unorthodox path? That was true to some extent.
But if one had sufficient ability, leading an organization—whether orthodox or unorthodox—posed no real problem.
‘Damn it. The world really doesn’t go the way I want.’
Yeon Hojeong scratched his head vigorously.
Kang Liang spoke with a sulky expression.
“You should wash up.”
“I’m cleaner than you.”
“Then shut up.”
Before long, the group reached the front of the main hall.
Yeon Hojeong asked Jeong-an,
“Are you mentally prepared?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Yeon Hojeong spoke to Baek Seo.
“Announce us.”
Baek Seo did not even turn his gaze toward Yeon Hojeong.
“Lord. We have brought guests.”
“Let them in.”
Kugugugugung.
The moment the words ended, a massive stone wall began to move.
Considering the width and thickness of the wall, the fact that such a heavy stone barrier moved by mechanism alone was astonishing. Jeong-an and Kang Liang stared with their mouths agape at the majestic sight.
‘Familiar stairs.’
The group climbed the stairs under Baek Seo’s guidance.
Suddenly, Jeong-an flinched.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“Calm down.”
“But……!”
“I know. The Yeonhwa Sect members are here.”
Emotion flickered across Jeong-an’s face.
“Don’t tell me they’re really…… in the Black Dragon Department……”
“Get a hold of yourself. Don’t say a word once we’re inside.”
Eventually, the group stepped onto a long carpet.
“Have you arrived?”
From the distance, a voice filled with delight echoed from the grand chair.
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“Neither did I. That makes it even better. It seems you made up your mind quickly.”
Yang Cheon gestured with his hand toward the space before him.
“Come.”
The three walked across the plush carpet until they reached the foot of the grand chair.
That was when it happened.
Hwaaaaaak!
A terrifying wave of killing intent shook the group.
Turning their heads, they saw two women with shocked expressions. One appeared to be a middle-aged woman nearing old age, while the other seemed roughly the same age as Jeong-an.
“J-Jeong-an?!”
Jeong-an looked at her with trembling eyes.
“Yeonhwa Sect Leader.”
Jeok-yeon stared blankly at her before suddenly shouting.
“You bitch! How dare you crawl all the way here!”
The reaction was far more violent than expected. Even Yeon Sim, standing beside her, looked flustered.
Hearing that voice filled with rage and even a hint of killing intent, Jeong-an thought,
It’s over.
Botam—at least the Botam of this generation—would never regain its former glory.
Jeong-an closed her eyes.
Sparks flew from Jeok-yeon’s eyes.
“You filthy bitch! You’re just like that wretched Cheonan’s descendant! When you see an elder of your sect, you should immediately bow your head! You beast worse than an animal……!”
At that moment, a sharp gust of wind erupted.
Hwaaaaaak!
A horrifying heatwave sealed Jeok-yeon’s mouth shut.
Ziiiiing!
The spinning Yeon Family Divine Elixir released an enormous surge of true energy.
That energy pushed the Vermilion Bird Flame Art to its absolute limit.
Hwarururururuk!
Overwhelming heat and unimaginable killing intent bound Jeok-yeon’s body.
Jeok-yeon’s face turned pale.
An unbearable aura poured from the red-eyed youth glaring at her. The pressure was so terrifying that she could barely breathe.
Yeon Hojeong spoke calmly.
“Shut your mouth.”
“W-What!”
“She hasn’t done anything wrong enough to deserve insults from trash like you. If you dare to foul the air around us again, I’ll blow that useless head of yours clean off.”
“……!”
Jeok-yeon’s face flushed red and blue.
“How typical of the Cheonan Sect! How dare you collude with some demonic scum……!!”
In that instant, Yeon Hojeong’s fist wind exploded like a flash of light.
Kwaaaang!
With a thunderous roar, Jeok-yeon staggered backward until she hit the wall.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t Jeok-yeon who blocked Yeon Hojeong’s fist wind. Yeon Sim stood in front of her, sword drawn and staggering.
Even though she had blocked the attack, the aftershock was so powerful that it pushed Jeok-yeon back as well.
It was a martial art that could only be described as monstrous strength.
Yeon Sim’s eyes trembled.
‘Incredible martial arts!’
The power felt from a single exchange was truly beyond imagination. Though she had instinctively used her swordsmanship, the sheer force of the impact made no sense.
A glint flashed in Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
‘It’s her.’
She looked much younger and fresher than before.
‘This girl is the future Sword Queen.’
She was the very Sword Queen he had met and spoken with during his time as the Black Dark Emperor.
But the surprise lasted only a moment.
Yeon Hojeong laughed coldly.
“You’re not involved. Step back. If you don’t, you’ll die with her.”
Yeon Sim swallowed hard without realizing it.
The opponent’s words were not a mere threat. The killing intent radiating from him felt so genuine that she truly believed he would kill her as well.
At that moment, Yang Cheon spoke.
“Isn’t that enough for greetings?”
“……”
“Tone down that killing intent. The atmosphere is far too murderous.”
Yeon Hojeong stared at Jeok-yeon for a while before withdrawing his killing intent.
Hwook.
When it erupted, it was like a mountain. When it vanished, it was like smoke.
His control over his aura was completely free. It was the divine inner energy manipulation of a monster beyond genius.
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
“Why don’t you clean up before welcoming guests?”
Yang Cheon smiled.
“Is there any need for that between us?”
“What exactly are we to each other?”
“Well, I’m not sure yet, but I have a feeling we’ll become something quite splendid.”
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
“Pour the drinks first. Something good, not the cheap stuff.”