Fragment (6)
To lead an organization, one needed far more than a single talent.
Setting legitimacy aside, a leader required exceptional martial prowess, keen insight, and wisdom. If wisdom was lacking, they needed at least the charisma to draw people in.
In short, no one should rise to the top with only one strength. Countless organizations led by such one-dimensional figures had collapsed overnight or been humiliatingly pushed aside by superior talents.
Take Peng Mu-gang of the Peng family. On the surface, he appeared as the very model of a Peng warrior—bold, direct, and hot-blooded. Yet hidden beneath that exterior was a formidable man with razor-sharp intuition and masterful skill in conversation.
Deung Cheon-gyo was different.
Good or bad, the man was exactly as he appeared. Hot-tempered, arrogant, possessing overwhelming martial strength, and completely unconcerned with how others saw him—he never bothered to hide his true nature.
For the leader of a mediocre sect, such traits would be fatal flaws. But when that leader stood at the head of the Kongtong Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, the story changed entirely.
In worldly terms, he commanded one of the most prestigious orthodox sects in the righteous path. There was no need to conceal himself or waste time overthinking things. The sheer weight of the Kongtong name was enough. He occupied a position that most martial artists in the world could not afford to disrespect.
The same likely applied to the warriors of the Kongtong Sect. When the leader himself displayed such a fiery—or to put it bluntly, unbearably arrogant—personality without restraint, his subordinates could hardly be expected to behave differently.
Yeon Hojeong had questioned that very personality. Deung Cheon-gyo has been like this since he was young. Among the materials Jegal Mun-ho had gathered, the records concerning Deung Cheon-gyo were unusually extensive. It meant the man had never tried to hide himself, nor had he worried about information leaking out.
Those records revealed that Deung Cheon-gyo had been notorious for his explosive temper from the moment he joined the sect. He was not, however, a fool. His personality overshadowed it, but he could scheme as well as anyone when he chose to.
He simply disliked doing so. Did he intentionally allow the information to spread? Watching Deung Cheon-gyo’s face flush crimson then drain pale, Yeon Hojeong considered the possibility. If he was already affiliated with the Three Sects before entering the Kongtong Sect, this personality could be an act. Failing to control the flow of information might have been a deliberate calculation to broadcast his arrogant nature to the world.
After thoroughly analyzing the documents, the group had narrowed their list of suspicious individuals to two.
Deung Cheon-gyo was not among them.
Even so, Yeon Hojeong suspected him. In truth, he suspected every single elder.
“You insolent whelp!”
Deung Cheon-gyo clenched his fists, and an aura far more powerful than before surged from his body. Rage had completely overtaken him.
“Injuring my disciple wasn’t enough? You dare call me a spy? Have you gone completely mad in your desire to die?!”
“From the Three Sects’ perspective, there are several people in the Martial Alliance who are particularly troublesome,” Yeon Hojeong said, smiling coldly. “I happen to be one of them.”
“Having your disciple throw a blade at the Justice Army commander… that is exactly the sort of thing a spy would do, is it not?”
“Shut your mouth!”
“If not, then what?”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.
“When a man makes a promise, he should prepare accordingly regardless of his position. Did you truly believe that I, facing the sect leader of the Kongtong Sect, would simply rub my hands together and cower before you?”
“Will you only stop that vile tongue of yours after I rip it out?!”
“In that case, it would be best if you left the Martial Alliance immediately.”
“What?!”
“Whether in martial arts or temperament, you are different from the rest, yet as an elder of the Martial Alliance you are excessively arrogant. From the way you are acting toward me, it seems you have tormented your subordinates quite thoroughly. Regardless of your position, the Martial Alliance has no need for such a person.”
“You bastard!”
“Do not misunderstand. The Martial Alliance exists to uphold order and peace, not to wield power. If you wish to brandish that precious authority of yours, return to Kongtong Mountain and bully your disciples like rats.”
Deung Cheon-gyo's eyes exploded with murderous rage.
“A mere child who has learned a few paltry techniques dares to disrespect his superior! Even if I must relinquish my position as elder, I will break all four of your limbs and teach you what order truly means!”
“I’ll pass on the lecture. There isn’t a single person in the entire alliance who understands order less than you.”
“Die!”
With a thunderous boom, Deung Cheon-gyo charged forward at terrifying speed.
This was on an entirely different level from before. Despite his fury, he no longer underestimated his opponent.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes blazed with power.
The moment his foot stamped down, the force of the White Tiger’s Dominion erupted, creating a devastating explosion before Deung Cheon-gyo could fully close the distance.
Kongtong Sect secret technique. A fast, light hand art infused with Heavenly Thunder Demon-Subduing True Qi. Even for Yeon Hojeong, taking this strike to the head would mean instant death.
Deung Cheon-gyo’s hand streaked toward Yeon Hojeong’s skull.
Yeon Hojeong spun in place, his body moving with impossible fluidity to evade the strike.
Deung Cheon-gyo’s eyes widened in shock.
He had not expected the boy to dodge so easily. The position Yeon Hojeong chose was the perfect blind spot for a counterattack. A chill ran down Deung Cheon-gyo’s spine.
Yeon Hojeong's palm pressed down on Deung Cheon-gyo's knee with crushing force, disrupting his balance completely.
Deung Cheon-gyo’s stance crumbled for a split second. Yeon Hojeong immediately followed with a series of devastating kicks.
Yet Deung Cheon-gyo had not become the leader of the Kongtong Sect through luck. His martial foundation was genuine.
With astonishing agility, he retreated ten steps in an instant, completely evading the leg techniques despite his compromised position. It was a display of movement that seemed impossible for a man well past his middle years.
“You bastard…!”
Yeon Hojeong offered no further reply.
The gap in skill was clear. Though Deung Cheon-gyo refused to acknowledge it, Yeon Hojeong’s martial arts had already surpassed his own.
Still, this was only if they fought with full power. I cannot handle him too violently.
Whatever else he was, Deung Cheon-gyo remained an elder of the Martial Alliance. Since the other party had struck first, a proper explanation might prevent him from being thrown into prison even if he was beaten bloody.
But problems would arise later.
Among the elders were others just as radical as Deung Cheon-gyo, and some obsessed with authority. Not everyone was like Gong Gong Dae-sa or Yeon Wi. They might not be able to punish him directly, but they would nitpick his every action and obstruct him at every turn.
Yeon Hojeong could not afford to create such enemies. Not yet.
Kongtong Sect secret technique. The finger wind twisted like a serpent, as sharp as sword energy and nearly impossible to evade or block.
Deung Cheon-gyo closed the distance once more. His footwork seized every forward angle with masterful precision. His personality left much to be desired, but his martial arts were undeniably at the level of a grandmaster.
I must watch for the unique movement patterns of the Shinwha Sect.
Yeon Hojeong could not be certain whether the spy had been sent by the Shinwha Sect, the Sahm Sect, or the Mad Blood Cult. But if his opponent’s techniques revealed the distinctive circular patterns of the Shinwha Sect, the probability that Deung Cheon-gyo was the traitor would skyrocket.
He read every shift in position, every fist, palm, finger, and foot technique, either blocking or evading while analyzing the flow.
A moment later, he reached his conclusion. As expected, there is nothing. It was better this way. Deung Cheon-gyo was perfect for the role he had in mind.
With a flash of movement, Yeon Hojeong’s lightning palm struck out. Deung Cheon-gyo was forced backward, his face twisted with humiliation. Not only had every one of his attacks been evaded, but the counter that followed had struck at a nearly impossible rhythm, its power reverberating through his very bones.
“This… this bastard!”
By now, even a fool could see the truth.
Deung Cheon-gyo’s face contorted with rage. “You dare show leisure while facing me?!”
“You have neglected your training,” Yeon Hojeong replied calmly. “Is dealing with a kid whose blood has not even dried yet already too much for you?”
“You—!”
With a sharp sound, the sword that had been at the far end of the training ground flew into Deung Cheon-gyo’s hand. Though the distance was short, the fact that he had used the empty-hand grasping technique was still impressive. It was not the pinnacle of the art, but it was not something an absolute master displayed lightly.
Deung Cheon-gyo drew the blade without hesitation.
The moment the sword left its sheath, his momentum changed completely. Everyone knew that the strongest martial art of the Kongtong Sect was its swordsmanship, and the one wielding it now was Deung Cheon-gyo himself.
The strongest secret technique of the Kongtong Sect. The moment the sword was drawn, the entire atmosphere shifted.
Before he could even begin his attack, fiery true qi ignited beneath Yeon Hojeong’s feet.
Deung Cheon-gyo swung reflexively. There was no time to execute the Demon-Subduing Sword Art. Yeon Hojeong’s speed was simply too overwhelming.
The White Dragon Axe, drawn at terrifying velocity, smashed into the flat of Deung Cheon-gyo’s blade with a deafening explosion. The sword was knocked off course, flying upward.
The Flood Dragon Chain connected to the Black Dragon Axe spiraled outward, wrapping tightly around Deung Cheon-gyo’s forearm and upper arm.
Yeon Hojeong yanked with all his strength.
Deung Cheon-gyo’s feet gouged deep furrows in the ground as he desperately resisted. But it was futile.
Yeon Hojeong’s raw physical power was already enough to overpower first-rate experts without inner energy. Infused with the speed of the Vermilion Bird and the strength of the White Tiger, even Deung Cheon-gyo could not endure.
The handle of the flying White Dragon Axe slammed into Deung Cheon-gyo’s wrist.
With a pained grunt, the sect leader of the Kongtong Sect dropped his sword. The sound of the blade clattering to the ground echoed loudly across the training ground.
The renowned leader of the Kongtong Sect had been subdued and disarmed before he could even fully display his swordsmanship.
Deung Cheon-gyo stared at Yeon Hojeong in utter shock.
“Even so, attempting to kill the commander of the Justice Army unit? Is that not excessively cruel?” Yeon Hojeong asked calmly.
“…You!!”
“It was not a spar. There was clear killing intent. Had I not subdued you, I would have died or been crippled.”
Yeon Hojeong’s gaze turned icy.
“You will have to spend some time in the prison.”
“Nonsense! You dare throw me—the sect leader of the Kongtong Sect—into prison?!”
It was then that a cold voice cut through the air.
“How unsightly.”
Deung Cheon-gyo whipped his head around in surprise. He had not sensed the newcomer’s arrival at all.
Moyong Gun stood atop the wall with his arms crossed, staring down at Deung Cheon-gyo with eyes as cold as frost.
“For an elder of the Martial Alliance to show such a pathetic display. No matter how angry you were, attempting to kill someone within the alliance itself is unacceptable.”
“Patriarch Moyong! This is—!”
“Having witnessed the entire sequence of events, this is not a matter that can simply be overlooked, even for an elder.”
Moyong Gun turned to Yeon Hojeong.
“Commander Yeon, are you unharmed?”
“I nearly died, as you can see.”
“That chain of yours may not be suitable as rope, but it seems perfect for binding. We should escort Sect Leader Deung and his disciple to their new accommodations safely.”
“Do not worry.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled at Deung Cheon-gyo. To the sect leader’s eyes, that smile looked a hundred times more demonic than any evil spirit.
“I will personally escort you to the finest cell available. Do not resist. Come along quietly.”