Power and the Wall (2)
Yang Cheon, one of the Holy Thirteen Seats and the strongest warrior in the Jianghu with no equal in combat techniques.
The man standing before them was none other than that same Yang Cheon's eldest disciple.
Impressive.
Pae Yul's first impression of Yeop Seong was pure astonishment.
Incredibly fierce.
Whoosh!
An invisible, formless energy enveloped his entire body.
His uniquely ferocious aura was so intense that it wouldn't be strange to call it magnificent. It felt less like facing a person and more like standing before a massive beast. Before even considering the King of Combat's martial arts, his innate temperament was that of a wild animal.
And...
Pae Yul's eyes traced over Yeop Seong's hands.
The backs of those hands were as thick as a bear's paws. With that much internal energy, he should have been able to shed every callus cleanly, yet layer after layer had formed again through relentless training until they looked like this.
And those thick hands were covered in countless scars. Cuts, punctures, tears that had healed over and over—the clear traces of brutal training.
Strong. He was strong.
It was the first time Pae Yul had ever looked at someone else and thought those words.
Beyond mere martial power, the man himself was strong. Someone born with such strength had continued high-intensity training that crushed and healed his hands repeatedly until now.
Thump.
Pae Yul felt his heart pounding violently.
Of course, it wasn't from fear.
I want to fight him.
Age or martial realm didn't matter.
The moment he saw Yeop Seong, an intense competitive urge surged through him. He wanted to risk his life in a battle against this beast-like man who refused to settle for his natural talent and trained like a monk every single day.
Chzzzzzt.
A fighting spirit so fierce it bordered on ecstasy.
There was no way Yeop Seong, whose martial prowess rivaled the leaders of the Nine Great Schools, could have missed Pae Yul's killing intent.
Yeop Seong's eyes deepened.
"Not bad."
Not bad?
It was an utterly rude and provocative tone. The kind of words that only came out if one viewed the other as beneath them.
But.
"Oh? You want to see this 'not bad' martial art of mine?"
Pae Yul grinned wide enough to show all his white teeth.
Considering his towering pride, it was a wonder he hadn't drawn his blade already. He had simply been that captivated by the opponent's strength.
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong raised his hand.
"Calm yourself, senior."
Pae Yul's eyebrows twitched.
Part of him wanted to start a brawl with the man right then and there, but he forced his mind back under control. He had come to the Black Dragon Department on assignment with Yeon Hojeong, not to wander the world looking for fights.
Yeon Hojeong looked down at Yeop Seong and asked.
"Yang Cheon's eldest disciple?"
"......"
"Did the Lord call you here himself? I was under the impression he rarely concerns himself with his disciples' business."
Yeop Seong's lips twitched.
"Lord Yang... That's quite an arrogant way to address him."
"This meeting can't be a coincidence. So, why are you blocking our path?"
Yeop Seong's eyes narrowed to slits.
A young man in his mid-twenties looking down at him from horseback.
His frame wasn't particularly imposing, nor did he radiate intense fighting spirit or overwhelming dignity.
He looked more like a scholar who had picked up a bit of martial arts. At least on the surface. If one didn't know better, they might have mistaken him for a literary student buried in books.
Yet this young man was addressing his master—the great Yang Cheon of the Jianghu—so casually.
"You're Yeon Hojeong?"
A faint smile touched Yeon Hojeong's lips.
"Are you blocking the path of someone you don't even know?"
His response was utterly relaxed.
Yeop Seong's eyes narrowed further. He didn't like the opponent's completely composed attitude.
"I heard the Martial Alliance sent you."
"And?"
"I'm disappointed."
Yeop Seong looked Yeon Hojeong up and down.
"No matter how I look at it, you don't seem like the kind of talent my master would praise."
"......"
"Just how remarkable is that silver tongue of yours that it could charm even a powerhouse of the Holy Heavens?"
"Hey."
Yeon Hojeong spoke with a bored expression.
"I'm asking why you're blocking the path."
"......"
"If you just wanted a little chat, step aside."
Yeop Seong's eyes flashed.
The opponent's words were excessively arrogant, but he had to acknowledge the sheer audacity.
"I heard righteous faction types are all obsessed with etiquette and formalities, but you seem different from the rest of them at least."
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
"You're the one who only says whatever he wants."
He turned to Pae Yul and Kang Liang.
"Let's go."
Clatter.
Yeon Hojeong urged his horse forward, riding straight past Yeop Seong.
Pae Yul gave Yeop Seong one last regretful look before following, while Kang Liang didn't spare the man a single glance.
Yeop Seong stared at Yeon Hojeong's back with an unreadable expression.
Usually, when a conversation reached this point, most people would explode in anger or start a war of nerves. They wouldn't simply let it slide. Martial artists especially.
Yeon Hojeong was different.
Even after seeing him—the eldest disciple of the King of Combat—he hadn't shrunk back at all. He wasn't overwhelmed by the atmosphere or swayed by the conversation.
He's just going his own way.
Yeop Seong didn't think Yeon Hojeong was ignoring him entirely. The man was clearly aware of him but saw no reason to engage further, so he had simply continued on.
That made sense. As Yang Cheon's eldest disciple, his reputation alone rivaled the leaders of major sects.
That was what made it impressive.
I'm not sure if he's someone Master would truly pay attention to, but at least he's not the kind to be dismissed as a mediocre martial artist.
Yeop Seong smiled.
It was a dangerous smile.
This won't be boring at all.
The Black Dragon Department, which he hadn't returned to for several years while carrying out his own missions and training.
But not long ago, his master had summoned him. The reason was that a representative from the Martial Alliance would soon arrive, and it was time for him to take up a position within the department.
Normally he would have made excuses and focused solely on his own training, but hearing that the dispatched person was Yeon Hojeong had sparked his interest.
Yeon Hojeong.
The eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon Family in Gangdong and the prodigy called the greatest rising star of the current generation.
Leader of the Martial Alliance's strongest righteous force, the Uijeong Army, a genius warrior who had completed every near-impossible mission assigned to him without fail.
There were quite a few of Yeop Seong's people inside the Black Dragon Department. It wasn't by design; since he was closest to being Yang Cheon's successor, people from all sides had subtly aligned themselves with him.
From them, Yeop Seong had gathered plenty of information about Yeon Hojeong. Especially the fact that his master was interested in the man and had even sparred with him.
His master rarely sparred with his own disciples. Yet he had given guidance to a rising star from the righteous faction.
All those stories had brought Yeop Seong here today.
"But it's strange."
Yeop Seong tilted his head.
"Did he lose his martial arts? Or..."
Called the greatest rising star under heaven, yet no proper aura or energy waves could be felt from him.
To be precise, it was a rather mysterious presence. He had clearly learned martial arts, but the energy he gave off was far below expectations. Even giving him every benefit of the doubt, he didn't seem to reach the level of a peak expert.
It's not like he's cultivated to the point of fooling my senses.
Whatever the case, he was definitely an interesting one.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Yeop Seong walked toward the Black Dragon Department. He had come ahead because meetings would be difficult once inside, but he hadn't gained much information.
Still, his interest had been piqued. That was enough.
Flash!
Yeop Seong's body became a streak of light as he shot past the three men. He was entering the Black Dragon Department first.
Kang Liang let out a small laugh.
"If that guy was in such a hurry, I don't know why he bothered blocking our path in the first place."
Pae Yul shook his head.
"He probably just wanted to get a look at our faces."
"Senior, you looked completely taken with the guy back there."
"Don't make me laugh. Does he look like a woman to you?"
"You looked like you were ready to draw your blade at any second. Though yeah, his temperament alone was frighteningly savage."
Pae Yul's eyes deepened.
"That much is true."
He turned to Yeon Hojeong.
"What about you? What did you think?"
"Sorry?"
"That Yeop Seong fellow."
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
"He must have come because his master called him. I didn't sense any particular ill intent."
His tone suggested he hadn't given the slightest thought to Yeop Seong's strength or presence.
Pae Yul frowned.
"He's dangerous. His whole temperament is screaming it."
"That may be."
"Doesn't it bother you? As Yang Cheon's eldest disciple, he must hold considerable influence inside the organization."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Not particularly."
He knew Yang Cheon well.
Yang Cheon was a cold man who only showed affection to disciples he had personally acknowledged. Bu Seon was a perfect example.
Even though he displayed affection, he never granted them real authority. He treated them strictly as disciples, only assigning missions when necessary.
Depending on what Yeop Seong showed Yang Cheon moving forward, he might earn real power someday, but not yet.
And Yeon Hojeong truly wasn't concerned about Yeop Seong. In both his past and present lives, he had seen far too many men like him to count.
But still... it did serve as a fresh reminder of reality.
Yeon Hojeong took a deep breath.
He had breathed the air of Hunan countless times before, but the air here felt different.
This was the air of the Black Dragon Department.
The air of the dark path, thick with the stench of blood.
It was completely different from the ambiguous, moderately damp air of the Martial Alliance. This air was dry and vicious. Every breath stung his lungs as if flecks of metal had been mixed into it.
Yeon Hojeong, who had focused solely on reflecting on his own martial arts during the journey here, finally realized at this moment that he had stepped into a new world.
He vigorously spurred his horse forward.
"Let's go."
When the group reached the entrance of the Black Dragon Department, twelve elite warriors stood in formation.
They were the Twelve Earthly Branches.
These were the new high-level experts of the Black Dragon Department, which now possessed a completely different fighting force than in the past after being fully replenished following the deaths of its previous members during the last mission.
And.
Whoosh.
When Baek Seo, standing at the center, took one step forward, the combined aura of the Twelve Earthly Branches swept across the area.
It wasn't meant to pressure Yeon Hojeong's group. This was their own quiet, solemn way of greeting the dispatched representatives from the Alliance.
Baek Seo cupped his fist in respect.
"On behalf of the Twelve Earthly Branches serving under the Black Dragon Department Lord, I greet the dispatched representative from the White Path Martial Alliance, Hero Yeon. This one is called Baek Seo."
It was different from the encounter with Yeop Seong. If the other side showed such courtesy, this side had to respond with matching dignity.
He's gotten stronger.
Looking at Baek Seo, Yeon Hojeong dismounted and returned the gesture with precise formality.
"Yeon Hojeong, commander of the Martial Alliance's Uijeong Army, greets the Twelve Earthly Branches of Mukryong. Please take good care of us."
Baek Seo nodded.
Rumble!
The moment he finished speaking, the gates of the Black Dragon Department opened.
The massive, dark cave entrance looked even more menacing, like the maw of an endless abyss.
"The Lord is waiting. Let us go inside."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Let's go."