Power, and the Wall (4)

“It’s been a while, Brother.”

At Bu Seon’s greeting, Yeop Seong gave a small nod.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes. More or less.”

Yeop Seong’s gaze drifted toward the distant back of Jeon Hong, who was walking far ahead.

“That guy… and you as well…”

His eyes were completely different from when he looked at Jeon Hong. When ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they returned to Bu Seon, a sharp glint flashed across them.

“You’ve grown astonishingly.”

He already knew of Bu Seon’s talent.

She possessed sufficient talent. However, she lacked the vessel to discuss ruling the world. In terms of pure talent alone, the third disciple, Jeon Hong, had once been the one comparable to him.

Yet today, the sight before him was far beyond his expectations. The very person he had considered lacking in talent had broken through the Martial Wall, while Jeon Hong, with his right arm severed, couldn’t even properly stabilize his own qi.

Of course, even that unstable qi was now on a level that could no longer be compared to the past.

“I’d heard the rumors, but you truly shattered the wall of martial mastery.”

He had heard it, but he hadn’t believed it. That was because he knew Bu Seon’s talent too well.

Bu Seon nodded.

“I was lucky.”

Yeop Seong shook his head.

“If that realm could be broken through with luck alone, it would be an insult to the countless masters who have struggled to pierce that wall. Whether it was talent or effort, you’ve achieved something truly remarkable.”

Though he spoke that way, even Yeop Seong believed that some measure of luck had followed Bu Seon.

But luck did not solve everything. He purely acknowledged Bu Seon’s effort and venomous determination.

“If you have time later, I’d like to request a spar.”

She spoke casually, but for Bu Seon, it was quite a display of courage.

The reason was simple. In the Dark Faction, a spar was on an entirely different level from those of the Orthodox Faction.

In other words, it was no different from actual combat. If one died during the spar, it was their own responsibility, and any underhanded tactics were tolerated.

In their case, it was even more serious. Because they were competitors.

They were the kind of people who would seize any excuse to kill one another. Though they called each other brother and sister in name, in the end, they simply saw one another as obstacles blocking their own brilliant futures.

And yet here was Bu Seon, fully aware of that, asking him to teach her a lesson.

Yeop Seong nodded.

“Whenever you wish.”

“Thank you.”

Bu Seon bowed at the waist.

“I’ll head in first.”

“Go on.”

A moment later, once Bu Seon had disappeared, Yeop Seong let out a small chuckle.

“She’s grown a lot.”

She must have known full well that her martial arts were weaker than his. The fact that she could still say such a thing showed that her temperament itself had grown stronger.

This development of character was more precious than any growth in martial prowess. If she can show me a side like that, I won’t be able to look down on her like I used to.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Yeop Seong glanced around.

“Still, this place really is vast. It’s been so long since I last came that I don’t even know where anything is.”

He grumbled quietly as he walked down the path.

A short while later.

Two of the core leaders who had been lined up in the grand hall followed after him.

With his arms crossed and one leg brazenly crossed over the other, Yeon Hojeong’s appearance was uncharacteristically serious.

The Spear King…

Spear King So Hyeon-lip.

The martial world was generally divided into the Orthodox and Dark Factions, with the two major alliances representing their respective sides.

However, beyond the Martial Alliance and the Black Dragon Department, the Jianghu contained countless other masters and organizations.

There were even many who belonged to neither faction, freely wandering the world. If one considered pure numbers, such independent warriors likely outnumbered those of the Orthodox and Dark Factions combined.

Among the Holy Thirteen Seats, there were also masters who belonged to neither side. And not just one or two.

Martial artists affiliated with either faction tended to believe that the power of those who walked between righteousness and wickedness would be inferior to those rooted in one side or the other.

Yet, as if to mock such prejudice and arrogance, four of the Holy Thirteen Seats were masters who walked the middle path.

Spear King So Hyeon-lip was one of them.

So Hyeon-lip had begun making his name known in the martial world around the same time as the King of Combat, Yang Cheon, who now led the Dark Faction alliance.

Having learned his martial arts from a reclusive expert, he emerged into the world past the age of forty and engaged in exactly one hundred sparring journeys. He achieved complete victory in all one hundred.

Unlike Yang Cheon, who had grown stronger through repeated bloody defeats, So Hyeon-lip had already been powerful the moment he stepped into the world. Otherwise, he could never have maintained a record of undefeated victories.

Some criticized him, claiming he had only chosen fights he could win—selecting mediocre warriors for his spars.

But those criticisms vanished the moment the identity of his hundredth opponent was revealed.

It was the Blood Hearing Divine Demon, Yul San.

Yul San.

In his prime, he had been the last great master representing the Demonic Path—one of the three major factions that had once dominated the martial world, overwhelming both the Orthodox and Dark Factions.

Yul San, known as the living terror of the Central Plains, had been So Hyeon-lip’s final opponent.

And So Hyeon-lip had shown the terrifying sight of defeating him after a grueling battle that lasted over twelve hours—a man who had once shattered even the Plum Blossom Sword Formation of Mount Hua’s previous generation masters.

From then on, his title became the Spear King. And before long, the name Spear King had claimed a seat among the Sacred Heavens, the strongest in the martial world.

The Demonic Path has now declined to the point where even claiming the banner of “Demonic” is taboo. But Yul San was different. He was a true master who proudly declared himself the legitimate heir of the Demonic Path.

If the rumors were true, the Blood Hearing Divine Demon’s martial prowess had not fallen far short of the current Sacred Heaven powerhouses.

So Hyeon-lip had entered the martial world at the age of forty and defeated Yul San just before reaching sixty.

It was more than enough strength to occupy one of the Sacred Heaven seats.

The Spear King established no sect, took no disciples, and had no sworn brothers or sisters. He was known simply as a seeker who had staked his entire life on a single spear.

That was what the world believed.

However, according to the information about So Hyeon-lip written in the letter Yang Cheon had given him, the man was far from the word “seeker.”

They say he’s the easiest one? Which means the others will be even harder.

Yeon Hojeong recalled the ten transcendent beings classified as the Ten Immortal Emperors among the Holy Thirteen Seats.

These ten were the masters closest to being the strongest under the heavens.

Among them, Hyeok-ryeon Hwi in particular deserved attention.

The Blood Hearing Divine Demon Yul San had called himself the legitimate heir of the Central Plains Demonic Path, but in truth, that title should have belonged to Hyeok-ryeon Hwi.

The absolute master of the Demonic Path, which had collapsed so thoroughly that only a handful of sects remained.

The Demonic Immortal who had willingly taken on the yoke of “demonic,” built a palace in a remote, unknown region no one could find, and continued the lineage of the Demonic Path.

A man who had never properly revealed himself to the world.

The reason Hyeok-ryeon Hwi’s name had risen among the Holy Thirteen Seats was extremely simple.

It was because of a single statement from the Fist God, Mu-heo—the greatest monk of the current generation and the one closest to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠being the strongest under the heavens.

That single remark had caused the mysterious figure known as Hyeok-ryeon Hwi to be called one of the Sacred Heaven powerhouses. It showed just how much weight Mu-heo’s words carried.

Including Hyeok-ryeon Hwi, four of the Ten Immortal Emperors—excluding those from the Orthodox and Dark Factions—walk the middle path.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.

Will it even be possible? Can I succeed in turning all four of them into allies?

In the beginning, he had never intended to make all of them his allies.

But since he had been given this mission, he wanted to unite them all as one. In reality, that would also be of great help.

The operation to bring the Spear King to our side… I cannot think only of that. I must obtain the maximum possible gain. Which means this single mission is crucial. I need to use my head well.

Yeon Hojeong was deeply lost in thought when—

“Brother!”

“Hm?”

Snapped out of his reverie, Yeon Hojeong lifted his head.

Kang Liang smiled as he spoke.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Just this and that. Why?”

“There’s someone outside.”

“Someone?”

Only after hearing those words did Yeon Hojeong realize that his senses had become sharply heightened.

Once his senses were alert, he immediately knew who had come.

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Let them in.”

“Understood.”

Once Kang Liang left his seat for a moment, Yeon Hojeong reflected on his own condition.

What’s wrong with me?

It had been the same when he first arrived here, and it was the same now.

I keep making mistakes that aren’t like me at all.

This was enemy territory.

Although they had formed an alliance, it was still correct to treat it as enemy territory. In that case, he should always keep at least one thread of his senses razor-sharp.

But right now?

This is dangerous.

On the way to the Black Dragon Department, Pae Yul and Kang Liang had been with him, but if something happened here, the two of them would struggle to stop it.

Yeon Hojeong slapped his own cheek with a loud smack.

Get a grip. It’s good to focus, but I must not forget who I truly am.

A short while later, Jeong-an entered.

“Lord Yeon.”

“You’re here?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Not bad. Your true qi has deepened considerably in such a short time.”

Jeong-an smiled back at him.

“That’s just like you, Lord Yeon. The first thing you talk about the moment we meet is martial arts?”

“It’s the biggest change, isn’t it? It’s obvious you’ve been working hard.”

“Really?”

“I may curse, but I don’t say empty words.”

“Why are you cursing again?”

Jeong-an burst into bright laughter.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sparkled.

She’s become much brighter.

It wasn’t just her true qi. The Black Dragon Department was an organization of her enemies, yet after spending a long time there, her temperament had grown brighter and her qi deeper.

The result of training with greater focus than anyone else in a place more difficult to concentrate in than anywhere else. Just as Shaolin monks deliberately practiced facing the wall, it seemed Jeong-an’s arduous training had borne excellent fruit.

“Were things handled well at the Martial Alliance?”

“Thanks to you.”

“I’m glad.”

“I’m relieved to see you seem to have been doing well too. It puts ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my mind at ease.”

“Yet you still made me come find you first? You didn’t even think about it, did you?”

“I did think about it.”

“Seriously.”

Her brightened appearance somehow reminded him of Muk Bi.

Yeon Hojeong chuckled softly, then changed the subject.

“Anyway, you seem to be doing well, but what about the others? For example, Yeon Sim.”

“Ah…”

Jeong-an’s face darkened.

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“It looks like you’ve met her a few times in the meantime.”

“Actually, I saw her this morning. She came to find me herself…”

“She came to find you? Yeon Sim did?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Jeong-an let out a sigh.

“She said she was grateful for everything until now, and that it seemed the time had come for her to leave.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Leave… That won’t do.”