A Direct Challenge
Yeon Hojeong’s first greeting was quite impressive.
“Master Bong, I greet you. I am Yeon Hojeong, the commander of the Uijeong Army.”
He did not address the other man as the head of the Namgoong family, nor did he introduce himself as the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family. It meant he had come purely on official business. At least, that was the surface reason for his visit.
Namgoong In smiled and pointed to the seat opposite him.
“Sit.”
Yeon Hojeong took the seat across from him. Huh. Though he had seen the man a few times in passing, this was the first time they had met alone like this.
Perhaps that was why the other man looked different somehow. He’s no ordinary fellow. With his straight back, chest held high, and clear, deep eyes, it was impossible to think of him as a young man of his age.
Regardless of his martial prowess, the man himself seemed exceptional. The aura that naturally emanated from him, even without conscious effort, was already that of a grandmaster.
Namgoong In clicked his tongue inwardly. To think we tried to butt heads with such a genius without even properly recognizing him.
His second son, Namgoong Hyeon, and his third daughter, Namgoong Sang-hwa.
The start of their bad blood had been Namgoong Sang-hwa. Though they had managed to smooth things over by now, the fault had originally lain with her.
Furthermore, Namgoong Hyeon, who had approached with such confidence to resolve the matter only to be blinded by lust and defeated without even putting up a fight, looked truly pathetic.
In the martial world, there is no ability more important than recognizing an opponent’s capabilities. In that regard, Namgoong Hyeon and Namgoong Sang-hwa had a problem.
Even though they were his children, it was truly frustrating.
“Do you hold your liquor well?”
At Namgoong In’s question, Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“On occasion.”
“How about it? I was drinking alone because I was feeling lonely anyway. Would you care for a cup as well?”
“If you offer, I’ll gratefully accept.”
Namgoong In smiled and filled Yeon Hojeong’s cup.
“Come, let’s have a drink.”
The two men emptied their clinking cups in one go.
“It seems this is the first time we’ve met like this, just the two of us.”
“Yes, it is.”
“A private audience with the greatest rising star of the world. Though I am the head of the Namgoong family, this moment feels truly glorious. After all, you are the unparalleled monster who completely erased the existence of the Two Dragons and Three Phoenixes, once hailed as the pillars of the next generation of the martial world.”
At one time, the Two Dragons and Three Phoenixes had been a title symbolizing the young rising stars.
The talents of the Two Dragons and Three Phoenixes were evaluated as approaching or even surpassing the Sacred Heavens Thirteen Seats. Whether that was true or not, they were geniuses who commanded such admiration from the people.
But the names of those five geniuses had been completely buried. All because of Yeon Hojeong’s existence.
A young expert who suddenly appeared in the world and took the lead in crushing the Nine Great Families. His unconventional debut, his terrifying methods, and his monstrous talent that reached the level of a great sect leader in his early twenties had propelled Yeon Hojeong to become a true rising star.
Moreover, the timing of Moyong Woo’s appearance had been perfect. When he, who had trained relentlessly in the Martial Alliance, broke through the wall of the Martial Master, people marveled that the two of them possessed invincible talents that no other rising star in the world could hope to match.
The Tiger God Twin Positions, or the Tiger Sword Twin Positions.
It referred to the strongest warrior among the rising stars, the Wall Mountain Tiger General Yeon Hojeong, and the strongest swordsman among the rising stars, the Geon-gon Tiger General Moyong Woo.
However, generally, when one said Tiger General, it meant Yeon Hojeong, while Moyong Woo was distinguished by being called the Geon-gon Divine Sword or Geon-gon Sword Hero.
Naturally, people rated Yeon Hojeong higher than Moyong Woo. Not only because of his position and achievements, but also because he had broken through the wall of the Martial Master at a younger age and faster than Moyong Woo.
“Do you remember our eldest?”
He was referring to Namgoong Pyo, the young master of the Namgoong family.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“I do.”
When everyone had gathered at the Martial Alliance for the founding ceremony, the Yeon family and the Namgoong family had encountered each other in the middle.
Yeon Hojeong had seen Namgoong Pyo then. He was around the same age as Moyong Woo, a swordsman with confident eyes, a hint of arrogance, and considerable sword qi.
Namgoong In smiled and said, “You’ve been busy, so you might not know, but Pyo was greatly shocked when he saw you. At the time, your martial arts were similar to Pyo’s. That alone must have been a huge shock.”
“I understand.”
“But after that, once you became the leader of the Myeolsa Army, criticized the world, and even broke through the wall of the Martial Master, he looked completely shaken.”
“I see.”
“So, before you went on your mission to Guangdong, I sent him and Hyeon back to the main family. A martial artist must clash with the world to grow stronger. After realizing there are many geniuses greater than himself, his attitude has changed a lot.”
In that regard, he was genuinely grateful to Yeon Hojeong. He thought his son’s arrogance was justified confidence, but if one couldn’t be stimulated even after such a monster appeared in the world, that was just stupidity.
In that sense, he couldn’t help but be grateful to the one who had stimulated his son’s competitive spirit and jealousy.
Of course, the most beautiful ending would be if his grown son could easily crush that greatest rising star.
“Thanks to you. I’m grateful.”
“You’re too kind.”
Namgoong In smiled.
He rarely revealed his true feelings in front of others. He always tried to smile, and now it had become a habit. That was why his smile looked extremely natural, contrary to his true feelings.
“The small talk has gone on long enough. Well, let’s set that aside for now. You said you came to see me on official business?”
“Yes.”
Namgoong In stroked his beard.
“I didn’t expect the commander of the Uijeong Army to come see me on official business at this hour. If there’s something, it would be sufficient to follow proper procedures or bring it up as an agenda through the military council.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Because while it is official business, from another perspective, it isn’t.”
“Interesting. Let’s hear it.”
“It’s late, so I won’t beat around the bush. I’ll speak honestly, so if you respect me as well, Master Bong, I hope you’ll answer honestly too.”
“Hahaha, why are you being so scary? Very well. I’ll do that, so let’s hear what you have to say.”
Yeon Hojeong spoke directly.
“Please help us.”
“Hmm? Haha, what do you mean all of a sudden?”
“I’m asking you to join hands with the other masters, led by the military advisor, so that the Martial Alliance can operate as it should.”
Namgoong In’s eyes sparkled.
It was a casually thrown remark, but not an easy one to accept. The weight of its content was considerable.
“Haha, what do you mean by that? We masters are doing our best in our own ways for the justice of the martial world. Our intentions are no different.”
“I wanted an honest conversation, and you agreed.”
“Surely you’re not saying that I’m lying?”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“We are in a situation where an unprecedented enemy is targeting the entire continent. In other words, it is time for the entire Central Plains martial world to unite against a common foe. You couldn’t possibly be unaware of that fact, Master Bong.”
“I know it well enough. That’s why we must unite even more, and even if that weren’t the case, if it’s for the sake of the world, we should naturally do so.”
“I know that your words are sincere, Patriarch.”
“Haha, thank you for understanding.”
“But even if everyone unites for the world, there must be someone who leads that role.”
“……?!”
“What I’m talking about is precisely that. It would be good if someone with excellent ability, outstanding character, and overflowing confidence led the Martial Alliance. However, if the desire for power takes precedence over all that, then such a person should not lead the alliance.”
The smile disappeared from Namgoong In’s face.
“Your words have bite. Are you saying that I am such a person?”
“Several masters, including Master Moyong, must have had similar thoughts.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.
“I don’t know if you truly harbor such thoughts, Master Bong. However, I do know that you are not the kind of person who would make a misguided choice because of the rudeness I’ve shown today. You are not someone who would abandon the greater cause because of displeasure.”
He offered both carrot and stick.
He couldn’t tell from the words alone what the other thought of him.
Of course, Namgoong In knew how Yeon Hojeong saw him. He could tell from his gaze and demeanor, excluding the words.
“You seem to see me as a somewhat dangerous person.”
“Yes.”
It was an honest admission.
Namgoong In asked as if tossing the question.
“Why do you think that?”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“An experienced chef can tell what’s wrong with a dish just by smelling it.”
“That’s a rather unpleasant metaphor.”
“You can think of it as me comparing myself to a chef, not you to a dish.”
“In other words, you detected traces of such desire in me?”
“Yes.”
Namgoong In’s lips curled up.
“It’s an unprovable, purely personal thought and judgment, isn’t it?”
“With that unprovable sense, I caught spies and put a stop to Master Moyong’s ambitions. Now many people trust my senses.”
Namgoong In’s gaze sharpened.
“Is this a threat?”
“If you have such ambitions in your heart, Master Bong, then it could be a threat.”
Namgoong In quietly looked at Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong didn’t bother to hide his expression or gaze. He looked at him with a faint smile, making it difficult to read his true intentions.
Some time passed like that.
“Very well, let’s think about it this way.”
Namgoong In clasped his hands and leaned his upper body forward.
“Suppose I do have such ambitions. And because of those ambitions, suppose I would stop at nothing, even resorting to despicable acts, for my own gain, even in a situation where unity is crucial.”
“…….”
“What does that have to do with you? As long as I don’t harm others, that should be fine.”
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“I agree that as long as one doesn’t harm others, it’s fine. The problem is that it does cause harm.”
“What?”
“With the appearance of the unprecedented enemy known as the Three Sects, the continent must become one. In a time when we should trust each other, cherish each other, and even sacrifice ourselves, if a master of the Martial Alliance were to commit those ‘despicable acts’ for personal gain, and if that fact were to be exposed, what would the people of the world think?”
“…….”
“From a strategic standpoint as well, such a person must be excluded. Moreover, because they are that foolish and ignorant, I believe they should not become the core of the alliance.”
“Ignorant?”
“They are ignorant. In a time when war is imminent and we’re all walking on thin ice, how can we call someone smart who mistakes this for an era of warring states and is only eager to fill his own belly?”
“……!!”
“Even Master Moyong, upon learning of the Three Sects’ existence, stopped the factional fighting and joined hands with us. Even an ambitious man whose ambition has reached its peak knows what is truly important.”
For a moment, Namgoong In’s eyes wavered slightly.
Yeon Hojeong continued in an even firmer voice.
“I still don’t clearly know where the line lies in my actions. However, I do know that there is an order to all things. Yet among the elders with much learning and experience, there are those who dismiss even what young people like me know as acceptable.”
“…….”
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but since I joined the Martial Alliance, I’ve crushed all such people. I didn’t care about their status.”
Yeon Hojeong’s previously firm face softened slightly.
“What about you, Master Bong? Are you a chivalrous hero who lends a hand for the world as a master of the Martial Alliance? Or are you an ambitious man who runs across the fields in excitement without even looking where he’s going to lie down?”