The Martial Alliance (5)
The sound of ragged breathing filled the air.
“Huff! Huff!”
“You’re finally here?”
Kang Liang was bent over with both hands on his knees, his entire body drenched in sweat.
Yeon Hojeong smiled and said, “Take deep breaths. When you’ve pushed your cardiopulmonary limits to the extreme, sometimes it’s better to breathe in and out deeply rather than following standard breathing techniques.”
Kang Liang couldn’t even respond. He wasn’t in any condition to speak.
“Don’t sit or lie down just because you’re tired. First, focus on regulating your breathing.”
Though he couldn’t speak, Kang Liang followed Yeon Hojeong’s instructions and took several deep breaths.
After repeating the process a few times, his breathing quickly calmed. Breathing itself was the core of Neiga Gigong, or internal family energy cultivation. As such, the breathing control of internal energy experts far surpassed ordinary common sense.
Even taking that into account, Kang Liang’s breathing regulation was exceptional. It was impressive enough to surprise even Yeon Hojeong, who had reached the pinnacle of physical training.
“Haa… It was only natural that I’d lose,” Kang Liang said, slapping his legs. He truly had no strength left.
“No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to close the gap.”
“Gwiyeong Shinbo is an ultra-first-rate lightness technique. You simply showed the limit of what you can achieve at your current realm. You should be proud.”
“Does that mean unless I break through the martial wall, there’s no way I can catch up to your speed, Brother?”
“That’s a different matter entirely. Gwiyeong Shinbo is fast and ever-changing, but it wasn’t created solely for running, was it?”
Gwiyeong Shinbo was evaluated as ultra-first-rate because it was an excellent footwork technique in its own right.
It was so outstanding that it could even be used as a body technique, and it lacked nothing when compared to any lightness skill in the world. Still, it was inevitably different from movement arts specifically designed for pure speed.
“Modify it yourself later. Improving martial arts for the sake of speed will be a valuable lesson in itself.”
“Understood.”
“Still, your physical conditioning is solid.”
Kang Liang shrugged.
“All martial arts are performed with the body. Without a completed physique, how can one reach the peak of their techniques?”
“Exactly right.”
Yeon Hojeong leaned his back against a tree. Despite running at full speed for over two hours, not a single drop of sweat could be seen on him.
“Let’s rest for one incense stick of time before we go. Drink some water.”
“Yes.”
Even though he had run until near exhaustion, Yeon Hojeong only suggested resting for one incense stick. Yet Kang Liang didn’t complain. A warrior who had cultivated inner energy possessed a body fundamentally different from that of an ordinary person. Besides, if he considered this part of training, he wouldn’t utter a word of protest even if told to rest for only half an incense stick.
Kang Liang regulated his breathing and inner energy while standing. Yeon Hojeong watched him with satisfaction before scanning their surroundings.
‘We’ve already passed through Henan.’
The Dabie Mountains could be seen in the far distance. Once they crossed the mountain range, the Martial Alliance would truly be right before them. Down below, the marketplace was already bustling with countless people coming and going.
In the past, the floating population hadn’t been this large. But after the Martial Alliance was established and the surrounding economy flourished, people naturally gathered.
Yeon Hojeong thought that the foundation of the Martial Alliance had become quite solid.
‘Perhaps…’
His eyes deepened.
‘There may be enemy spies or contacts among the marketplace crowd.’
Finding the enemy’s agents without any information, relying solely on the certainty that spies existed, was an exhausting task.
But it couldn’t be delayed. Information from inside the Martial Alliance was likely flowing to the enemy by the minute. Thinking about that, they needed to catch the spies as soon as possible.
Of course, they couldn’t rush recklessly. Nor could they afford to be too relaxed. If the spies went into complete hiding because of hasty actions, it would be a disaster.
‘Just who could it be?’
Yeon Hojeong closed his eyes.
‘Among all those elders, who is the spy for the Three Sects? No, there’s no guarantee there’s only one spy.’
Whoever it was, they were truly remarkable.
Many of the elders were sharp and intelligent. To operate as a spy without showing the slightest suspicious behavior among such giants was something that couldn’t be done with ordinary skill.
Even Yeon Hojeong himself wondered if he could pull it off.
‘A bastard with exceptional ability to hide himself, beyond just martial prowess. Even more so than an assassin.’
At the word “assassin,” Sama Hyeon came to mind.
‘What decision will that guy make? Will he choose to stand with me? Or will he return to the darkness?’
In his previous life, he had never joined hands with Sama Hyeon. By the time Yeon Hojeong could even reach out, Sama Hyeon had already become a colossal figure in the assassination world.
‘Thinking about it now, it really is impressive.’
He had killed Yayul Jeok with his own power, become the next Shadow God, and unified the assassination world.
Although the current Sama Hyeon was still quite clumsy, his potential alone could truly be called ultra-first-rate.
‘There are so many geniuses in this world.’
Kang Liang, Yeon Ji-pyeong, Muk Bi, Jeong-an—all of them possessed rare talent.
Could he properly guide such remarkable individuals?
“Brother.”
“Hm?”
“One incense stick has passed.”
“Ah, has it?”
“What were you thinking about so deeply? Is your heart racing because it’s been so long since you last visited the Martial Alliance?”
“Yes, my heart is pounding so hard I might get high blood pressure.”
Kang Liang let out a small chuckle.
“You must be drooling at the thought of catching the spy, huh?”
“I’m planning to season him properly and cook him up nicely.”
Yeon Hojeong lightly tapped the ground with his toes.
“Alright, let’s move.”
“But Brother.”
“What?”
“Why didn’t you bring the Mad Dragon Axe? Well, you still have the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes and the Flood Dragon Chain, so it probably doesn’t matter.”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“It happens sometimes. When a weapon you’re familiar with disappears from your hand, you should feel uneasy, but there are times when your hand just doesn’t reach for it.”
Kang Liang’s eyes sparkled.
“Your hand doesn’t reach for your weapon… Have you gained some new enlightenment?”
“I don’t know, you idiot. If that’s the case, it’d be great, but if not, there’s nothing I can do about it. If my hand doesn’t want to go for it, what can I do?”
“Will there come a day when my hand won’t reach for my sword either?”
“Who knows. You and I practice different martial arts and see the world through different eyes.”
Yeon Hojeong patted Kang Liang on the shoulder.
“Whether the Mad Dragon Axe is with me or not, I can still display one hundred percent of my martial arts. That’s all that matters.”
It was a declaration that he would never let his guard down.
Kang Liang nodded.
“True. I suppose you wouldn’t need the Mad Dragon Axe just to catch a spy.”
“Enough chatter. Let’s go.”
“Alright.”
Bang!
The two kicked off the ground.
Just like when they first started running, their movement arts showed no decrease in speed whatsoever.
‘His hand doesn’t reach for it…’
Staring at Yeon Hojeong’s back, Kang Liang thought to himself.
‘Brother is a great martial artist. There’s no way such a person wouldn’t reach for a weapon that’s practically an extension of his body. It would be normal for him to cherish it even more.’
Yet Yeon Hojeong had said his hand wouldn’t reach for the Mad Dragon Axe.
It wasn’t simply that he didn’t feel like touching it. When a warrior’s hand stopped reaching for his weapon, it was highly likely to be a transitional period leading to another transformation.
Kang Liang recalled a past conversation with his father.
‘People say a swordsman should never let go of his sword even in death. That’s generally correct. A swordsman who must become one with his blade to display his true power—how could he do so if he lets go of his sword? However, they say that once enlightenment deepens, there will come a moment when the sword is no longer needed.’
‘Not needed?’
‘A realm where one can unfold sword arts without holding a sword. A realm where one can cut down an opponent without swinging a blade.’
‘…!’
‘I’ve heard that when such a realm begins to reveal itself, when one encounters that truly magnificent state, they start contemplating the necessity of weapons.’
‘……’
‘Of course, that realm is still far too distant for your father.’
Kang Liang’s eyes trembled.
‘Heart Sword…!’
He couldn’t be sure if Yeon Hojeong had truly entered the Heart Sword realm. Since even Yeon Hojeong himself couldn’t say for certain, regardless of age or realm, it probably wasn’t that yet.
But if he was in the process of walking that path…
Then Yeon Hojeong’s growth could no longer be described as merely explosive.
‘Brother, I don’t usually think like this… but please slow down just a little. It’s already hard enough to keep up.’
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong spoke.
“What are you doing? Your posture is breaking. Focus and stick close.”
Kang Liang chuckled.
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’ll catch up properly.”
“What was that?”
“I said don’t worry.”
“Hmm.”
Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.
“A brilliant move. I didn’t think that far.”
“I thought you might say that.”
“Haha, you thought so? It seems you’ve begun to read your father’s mind.”
Moyong Yeon-hwa replied calmly, “You once said that people you’ve clashed with many times become like friends. After observing Father’s habits, I eventually started to read your thoughts as well.”
“Impressive. You’re better than your father. I still can’t read your thoughts.”
Moyong Yeon-hwa offered no reply.
She knew exactly why her father couldn’t read her habits and thoughts.
‘No, it’s not that he can’t. He simply chooses not to.’
To Moyong Gun, Go was simply one way to organize his thoughts.
He didn’t particularly strive to defeat his opponent. Depending on his mood or worries that day, he would play differently to sort out his mind.
On this board, his true enemy wasn’t her. It was himself.
Moyong Gun, who had been staring intently at the board, suddenly burst into laughter.
“I lost. I can’t see the next move.”
“It seems I’ve won.”
“Yes, you won. By the way, by how many points?”
“Six points.”
“That’s quite a lot. Not only have I gotten worse, but your skill has improved frighteningly fast.”
While clearing the stones, Moyong Gun asked, “How was it? Did you gain any insights while playing?”
“People often say that the world exists on a Go board.”
Moyong Yeon-hwa gave a bitter smile.
“To be honest, I don’t really understand. If life were truly like Go, it would be far too boring.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because there always has to be an enemy.”
Moyong Gun let out a hearty laugh.
“That’s true. Go can only be played with an opponent. But life is different. You can live it entirely on your own.”
“Still, I learned a lot.”
“If you seek to learn in any field, there is nothing you cannot learn. Your martial arts have grown significantly lately. It seems Go has had a positive influence.”
After clearing all the stones, Moyong Gun asked, “What are you doing for dinner? If you have time, perhaps eat with your father for the first time in a while…”
It was then.
“My lord.”
Moyong Gun turned his head toward the door.
“What is it?”
“A message has arrived from Strategist Jegal.”
“Does he want to meet?”
“Yes. It appears to be an invitation for dinner.”
Moyong Gun grumbled, “That man really…”
Moyong Yeon-hwa smiled and said, “Go ahead. I can eat alone.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Father.”
At that moment, the warrior’s voice came from outside the door once more.
“And, my lord.”
“Is there more to report?”
“……”
“He has arrived.”
“Hm?”
“The great heir of the Uijeong Army, the eldest son of the Yeon family, has just returned to the Alliance.”
For a moment, Moyong Yeon-hwa’s eyes turned icy cold.
Moyong Gun leaned back in his chair.
“So he’s finally here.”
“Shall I send a separate message?”
“No need. He’ll want to spend time with his family first.”
Though he spoke that way, Moyong Gun’s eyes had already changed.
‘He’s here?’
There was much he wanted to discuss with him. In many ways.
Moyong Gun rose from his seat.
“……If nothing urgent comes up, I suppose dinner will have to be postponed.”