At the Martial Alliance (6)
The Pagun Pavilion residence, which he had not seen in a long while, was as impeccably clean as ever.
Kang Liang whistled.
“Everything’s still perfectly organized.”
“It is.”
“The Patriarch must have cleaned it himself every day, right?”
“He probably did.”
“Even the Patriarch… He should leave chores like this to the servants.”
“Unless he’s extremely busy, he tends to handle things personally.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled. Father. There was no trace of his father’s presence in the residence. He must have stepped out for a moment.
“Go inside and rest for now.”
“What about you, Brother?”
“I need to report to the higher-ups. That I’ve returned.”
Kang Liang chuckled.
“You really have incredible stamina. I’ll rest first then.”
“Alright.”
Yeon Hojeong, having emerged from the Pagun Pavilion once more, turned his steps toward the Military Affairs Department.
It was then. …?!
Yeon Hojeong halted his steps.
This aura…?
He turned his head.
From a wide clearing quite a distance from the Pagun Pavilion, where no buildings stood, a powerful aura was shooting toward him.
Considering the distance, it was an incredibly profound display of internal energy control. Even for Yeon Hojeong, it was right at the edge of his range.
A smile spread across Yeon Hojeong’s face.
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong forcefully kicked off the ground and shot toward where the aura called him.
In an instant, he closed the distance. With one final step, he leaped high into the sky, and a wide-open field filled his vision.
And in the middle of that field, a swordsman sat in lotus position.
Swish!
Yeon Hojeong landed and approached to about three zhang from the swordsman.
At that moment, the swordsman with closed eyes spoke.
“You left the Mad Dragon Axe behind.”
“Yes.”
“It is a weapon akin to your other self. How could you entrust it to your subordinates?”
“My hands weren’t reaching for it.”
“To already be neglecting your weapon… It is quite concerning.”
“You can say that again. At first I wondered if I had reached the realm of the Heart Sword, but no matter how I think about it, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“Having your mind drawn to a weapon does not necessarily mean you have attained the Heart Sword. However, even if it is not the Heart Sword, it is not an insignificant realization.”
“I hope that’s true.”
“Have you not yet seen the true nature of that realization?”
“No.”
“In that case, let us confirm together what that realization is.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
In that instant—
Flash! BOOM!
Yeon Hojeong, who had drawn the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes at some point, struck the spot where the swordsman had been sitting.
The power was so immense that, despite it being a slash, the shockwave flipped the ground over in a radius of more than one zhang.
“Typical of you.”
Whoooosh.
The swordsman—Yeon Wi—who had soared high into the sky let his clear eyes meet Yeon Hojeong’s.
“Now, then.”
Clang!
With a powerful draw of his sword, Yeon Wi’s figure moved like lightning.
In the air, stepping on invisible, formless footholds, he charged at terrifying speed.
The speed was so fast and fierce that even Yeon Hojeong was seeing it for the first time since his return. For a moment, the image of the First Martial General Beon Jak flashed through his mind.
The sword and axes of the two clashed.
KAAAAANG!
The formless shockwave spread in all directions, violently tearing apart the weeds across the field.
“As expected, your strength is impressive.”
Yeon Hojeong’s smile deepened.
“Whose son do you think I am?”
Clink!
Crossing the axes in an X and releasing explosive force, he sent Yeon Wi flying far back.
It was powerful enough to shatter an opponent’s weapon, yet not a single scratch appeared on Yeon Wi’s sword.
Yeon Wi took a powerful step forward.
THUD!
An intense stomp uncharacteristic of him.
Following that, Yeon Wi’s sword emitted a brilliant radiance.
Flash! BOOM!
The sword energy shot across five zhang and shattered upon colliding with Yeon Hojeong’s twin axes.
Veins bulged on Yeon Hojeong’s forehead. He’s strong!
It was the strongest among strong swords. The sword energy was rough and destructive, unlike his father’s usual style, yet within it lay the refined true energy and explosive techniques of orthodox swordsmanship.
It was a terrifying single strike. Yeon Hojeong was genuinely surprised by his father’s sword power. He’s grown. Even more than before!
His own rapid progress was to be expected. He had already experienced those realms before.
But he hadn’t expected his father’s progress to be this fast. For a martial artist who had already reached a certain level, pioneering such a high realm in just a few months was truly rare. I can feel it. Father’s efforts.
The history of effort was evident in that tremendous sword energy strike.
To reach this level, he must have endured heart-wrenching mental agony. Yeon Hojeong could feel it completely.
Swoosh!
Yeon Wi, who had closed the distance fiercely, swung three swords like lightning.
It could not be thought of as the movement of an ordinary iron sword. Even though it was an iron sword without a craftsman’s soul infused, the fact that it could withstand such speed and internal energy was awe-inspiring.
The Black and White Twin Dragon Axes moved busily.
Clang clang clang! Clang clang clang!
It did not end at three swords. The three swords were merely one technique; once that form ended, four swords rushed in, and after four, five swords followed.
If the early sword energy had been the pinnacle of the strong sword, the current chain sword was the essence of the fast sword. He swung so rapidly yet struck with precise position and unwavering sword force.
Strong and fast. There lay his father’s new power that broke the framework of the Yeon family’s orthodox swordsmanship.
Whoooosh!
While amazed at the realm his father had achieved, Yeon Hojeong was not merely standing there in awe.
Clink! Clink clink!
The movements of the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes parrying the sword sped up as well, harmonizing with Yeon Wi’s fast sword.
It was a speed impossible to achieve with the Mad Dragon Axe. Because they were much lighter and shorter hand axes than the Mad Dragon Axe, they could respond to Yeon Wi’s speed. Had it not been for the twin dragon axes, he would have withdrawn his body long ago and aimed for openings.
Swoosh!
Yeon Hojeong’s legs moved with elastic power.
A whip-like kick that coiled and crushed aimed for Yeon Wi’s left arm.
In that instant, Yeon Wi retrieved his sword and moved his left arm smoothly.
Swish!
The coiling force from the leg spun Yeon Hojeong’s body once in the air.
Using internal energy on a simple joint-locking technique, he had elevated it to the art of four ounces moving a thousand pounds. It was an imaginative and technical feat that would leave even supreme peak experts gaping.
Yeon Hojeong’s spinning foot shot out aggressively.
BANG!
He blocked with his left arm against the sword sheath, but the impact was not fully dissipated. Yeon Wi’s body slid backward. So strong.
It was a kick like a cannonball flying and embedding itself. Even with his posture broken, he twisted his body’s center to deliver full power.
In that short moment, instead of panicking, he delivered the best strike with optimal movement.
His son’s practical combat ability had not dulled at all. Rather, it seemed to have developed even more sensitively than before.
Swoosh!
Yeon Hojeong, who had corrected his posture, immediately launched an attack.
Closing the distance and unleashing a technique like a beast’s fangs—this was the White Tiger’s Tiger King Nine Thunder Strikes.
It was completely different from using the Mad Dragon Axe. The same form, yet faster and sharper. Even while handling two weapons, there was no disruption in the forms.
An overwhelming pressure beyond imagination. Yeon Wi’s sword moved with precision.
Clang clang clang clang!
If the axes moved decisively, the sword pierced sharply.
Iron Sword Great Extension Thirty-Six Forms—the Yeon family’s secret sword art and a martial text containing all of the Yeon family’s sword studies.
That sword art was systematically dismantling the ferocious Tiger King’s martial arts. It was a divine technique of a sword art that could present the appropriate response no matter what attack the opponent launched. This won’t work.
He hadn’t even reached the final form of the Tiger King Nine Thunder Strikes, yet he was already losing finesse.
A perfect response, a gentleman’s sword study that prevented martial implementation from the root.
If he continued without realizing this, he would be defeated as is.
Yeon Hojeong’s foot stomped powerfully on the ground.
KABOOM!
The resounding stomp that seemed like it would cause an earthquake was even heavier than Yeon Wi’s.
Flash! KAAAAANG!
The cross-slashing twin axes’ strike temporarily sealed Yeon Wi’s sword art.
Shrrrrrrk!
In that brief moment, he moved the Flood Dragon Chain coiled around his upper body using the art of seizing objects from the air.
Clack! Clack!
The Flood Dragon Chain linked to the rings at the ends of the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes’ handles.
Yeon Hojeong swung both hands widely.
KAAAAANG! KAAAAANG!
A look of surprise appeared on Yeon Wi’s face.
The long extending iron chain, and the axe blades of the black dragon and white dragon connected to that chain, boasted an astonishingly wide attack range.
And it was strong. It wasn’t simply used like a whip; the power of the slashing strikes was stronger than when swung by hand. The speed is slower. But it is supplemented by its versatility.
Clang! Kaaang!
Before he knew it, the distance between father and son had widened. He struck the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes in succession with his sword, but the axes that came wriggling like snakes were trying to coil around his body again.
An amazing technique. Creative weapon operation. Regardless of relationship or realm, Yeon Wi felt awe at Yeon Hojeong’s martial implementation. A broader perspective, implementing martial arts more creatively. Truly remarkable.
Flash!
Yeon Wi closed the distance.
As if there was no problem at all in closing the distance, he rotated his body, creating a storm of iron chains and twin axes. It was a violent movement that prevented closing the distance beyond a certain point.
Yeon Wi swung his sword powerfully.
Clang clang clang clang clang!
The sword striking the axes and chain seemed to scream.
It was like an impenetrable fortress. There seemed no path to break through.
Of course, Yeon Wi was no ordinary martial artist.
BOOOOM!
Striking a half-dragon palm in the direction of the rotation doubled Yeon Hojeong’s rotational speed.
This was something even Yeon Hojeong had not anticipated. A technique that added to the rotational force to make one collapse on their own—it was as impressive as the joint-locking technique elevated to four ounces moving a thousand pounds.
Yeon Hojeong’s feet planted into the ground.
KABOOM!
The ground flipped over, slowing the rotation, and in that gap, Yeon Wi’s sword aimed for Yeon Hojeong’s midsection.
It was a timely attack. An ordinary martial artist would absolutely be unable to avoid it.
Fortunately, Yeon Hojeong was no ordinary martial artist either.
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong, who had pushed his body’s reaction speed to the limit with the exploding Vermilion Bird fire energy, momentarily leaned his upper body back, causing the sword aimed at his midsection to pierce empty air.
BOOM!
The kick he thrust out at the same time exploded its force right in front of Yeon Wi’s torso. If he had not blocked with the half-dragon palm anticipating the counter, he would have suffered quite a severe internal injury.
The ability to turn crisis into opportunity—there was probably no other practical combat martial artist as outstanding as Yeon Hojeong when walking the line between life and death.
Clink clink clink!
Yeon Hojeong, who had once again created distance, retrieved the Flood Dragon Chain and gripped the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes again.
Yeon Wi’s face flushed red. Even he had his fighting spirit fully ignited by his son’s irregular and powerful martial arts.
“You have truly grown tremendously.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“It is an honor.”
No matter when he heard it, his father’s praise made him feel good. He did not care about being acknowledged by anyone else, but his father’s recognition always excited a son.
Whooooosh!
As the burning fighting spirit added to the father and son’s auras, the resulting wave of energy that burst forth was beyond imagination, like pouring oil on fire.
Yeon Wi’s eyes changed.
“I will go all out now.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes became similar to his father’s.
“So will I.”
Flash!
The two moved toward each other like lightning.
A truly martial reunion. They were blood relatives but also martial artists. The father and son of the Yeon family who acknowledged each other conversed in this manner.
And so, the two’s spar only ended after half a day had passed.
It was a way for the men of the Yeon family to relieve their pent-up feelings, understanding each other’s past days better than any greeting could.