The Three Lords, and the Wall (6)
The Three Lords.
It was a title referring to the three individuals among the Holy Thirteen Seats who stood apart from the Ten Immortal Emperors.
Though clearly beneath the Ten Immortal Emperors in power, excluding those ten left no doubt that these three were the strongest masters in the Central Plains. Despite the noticeable gap in their abilities, the fact that they were grouped under the same banner of the Sacred Heavens spoke volumes about how unfathomably high their martial prowess had risen.
They were true experts who, though younger than the Immortal Emperors, received treatment on par with or exceeding that of the elders of the martial world.
Their ages had not even reached sixty. In other words, they were the same age as, or even younger than, the sect leaders of the Nine Great Schools.
Yet at such an age, they had earned the title of Sacred Heavens. The Three Lords were monsters whose talent was evaluated as equal to, or even surpassing, that of the Immortal Emperors.
“The Three Lords, huh.”
Yang Cheon stroked his beard with his fingers.
“The Blood Jade Demonic Lord, Gwak Jun, openly walks the Demonic Path like the Blood Hearing Divine Demon or the Demonic Immortal, Hyeok-ryeon Hwi. I don’t know who taught him, but his martial prowess is the real deal.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Then there’s the Mad Soul Ghostly Lord, Gok Gyeong. He’s a typical member of the Evil Faction. But he’s never once called himself part of the Black Path or the Evil Faction.”
“Have you met him before?”
“I saw him once before I established the Black Dragon Department. I wanted to recruit him.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.
A meeting between the King of Combat—one of the Holy Thirteen Seats—and one of the Three Lords was an extraordinary event in itself. The fact that no rumors had spread meant Yang Cheon must have approached him in complete secrecy.
“How was he?”
Yang Cheon grimaced.
“He had no manners whatsoever.”
It was a very Yang Cheon-like assessment.
“The bastard suddenly threw a punch at me, saying let’s fight. I was so taken aback I nearly got hit. He didn’t seem like a battle-crazed lunatic, though. He just hated the idea of me being evaluated as his superior.”
“So he’s the type who obsesses over fame?”
“How many martial artists in the jianghu don’t care about fame? In that regard, he was actually quite easy to read.”
Judging by how harshly he spoke, their first meeting must have left a truly terrible impression.
Yeon Hojeong asked with a smile, “So how did the fight end? You didn’t lose, did you?”
“What kind of question is that? I knocked him down in thirty exchanges. If I had dragged it out, he looked ready to keep charging even if all his limbs were broken.”
“You were merciful enough to spare him.”
“We’re both from the Black Path, after all. Even now, I have zero intention of taking him under me, but the future is unpredictable.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes deepened.
“Setting that aside, his talent was more than enough to bear the name of the Sacred Heavens. I can’t even begin to guess how much he must have grown in the years since then.”
“Hmm.”
“Honestly, thirty exchanges sounds short, but if I hadn’t looked for openings, he could have lasted over a hundred. The difference between him and the Immortal Emperors was clear, but a single mistake could have flipped the outcome.”
That was the nature of combat. No matter how high their realms, an absurd variable could produce an unexpected result.
For example, even if Yeon Hojeong and Yang Cheon fought, Yeon Hojeong’s defeat would be almost certain when considering their attained realms, internal energy, and destructive power. Yet if a ‘miraculous’ stroke of luck and variables came into play, even Yang Cheon could lose.
There is no such thing as a hundred percent chance in battle. That was what made fighting so interesting.
“What about the Blood Jade Demonic Lord?”
“I’ve never seen him. But a trustworthy friend of mine said this.”
Yang Cheon clicked his tongue.
“In ten years, the name Blood Jade will be spoken on the same level as the Immortal Emperors. But in fifteen years, Blood Jade will stand above them.”
“Oh?”
“My friend isn’t particularly strong in martial arts. But his eye for people is genuine. If he said that, the odds are high it’s true.”
Yeon Hojeong did not ask who that friend was.
“Then have you met Mak Won?”
“No.”
Yang Cheon shook his head.
“But the number of people who know his secret—more precisely, ‘their’ secret—is extremely small. I am one of them.”
“That makes sense. Even the Martial Alliance doesn’t know about it.”
Yeon Hojeong pulled a sheet of paper from his robe. It was the information document on So Hyeon-lip that Yang Cheon had given him before.
“To think Mak Won was So Hyeon-lip’s junior disciple brother.”
It was true.
The Spear King, So Hyeon-lip, was said to be a seeker who had staked his life on a single spear, with no master, no senior or junior brothers, and no disciples.
But the truth was different. He had a junior brother, and the two were currently on bad terms.
The Hundred Weapons Divine Lord, Mak Won.
He was one of the Three Lords and the junior disciple brother who had studied under the same master as So Hyeon-lip.
“I don’t know why their relationship as senior and junior brothers fell apart. But will that be alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you would start by winning over the Three Lords. If you bring Mak Won to our side, doesn’t that make it highly unlikely the Spear King will join us?”
“Wouldn’t the opposite also be true?”
“Well, that’s true.”
Yeon Hojeong rested his chin on his hand.
“In any case, I’ll start with the Three Lords. We don’t know the Blood Jade Demonic Lord’s whereabouts, and the Mad Soul Ghostly Lord seems unpleasant, so I’ll aim for the Hundred Weapons Divine Lord first.”
Yang Cheon, who had been quietly watching Yeon Hojeong, tilted his head.
“But why did you come to that decision? Is there a particular reason you must start with the Three Lords?”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“I’ll tell you that in due time. Whatever the case, it would be good if all of them come over to our side, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmm.”
It seemed there was something he couldn’t speak about. Or perhaps he simply didn’t feel like telling him.
Yang Cheon nodded.
“Fine. Then let’s begin with Mak Won.”
“As for information on him…”
“I know where he is. Mak Won never tried particularly hard to hide his location.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Still, the more information we have on him, the better for persuasion. Wait one month. I’ll gather as much information as possible.”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“One month is too long. I’ll depart in ten days. Please send me information on him as it comes in.”
“Do as you wish. But why ten days?”
“There’s a weapon I want to get used to.”
“A weapon?”
“A spear.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes sparkled.
“You know how to use the spear as well?”
“Of course. I’m not carrying one right now, but you know what kind of weapons I’ve wielded, don’t you?”
“Hmm, that’s true. The Mad Dragon Axe, was it?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, to handle such a heavy and long weapon, one must be a master of the spear. Come to think of it, it would be hard to find anyone who handles a spear as well as you.”
Yang Cheon smiled.
“Why? Do you think spear arts will be necessary when persuading Mak Won and So Hyeon-lip?”
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
“It’s not that I haven’t thought about it, but I’d appreciate it if you considered it pure martial fervor. Lately, my existing weapons just don’t feel right in my hands.”
“Don’t feel right in your hands… That must have started even before you reached ‘that’ realm, right?”
“Do you have a guess?”
“I do. But I have no intention of telling you.”
It wasn’t that he disliked Yeon Hojeong’s growth. Even if he explained it, Yeon Hojeong wouldn’t understand, and he believed such problems were better overcome alone.
Yeon Hojeong stood up.
“Please provide me with a training ground. And a spear.”
“Of course, I’ll…”
Yang Cheon, who had been nodding, suddenly stroked his chin.
“Spear arts, you say?”
“Hm?”
“Aren’t you quite skilled in cavalry tactics as well, after leading the Righteous Army?”
“I’m not sure if I’m skilled in cavalry tactics, but I seem to be quite capable in mounted combat.”
“Is that so?”
A meaningful smile spread across Yang Cheon’s face.
Yeon Hojeong spoke with a slightly uneasy expression.
“What are you trying to make me do this time…”
“Since you’ve been dispatched to headquarters, it would be good for you to take on a suitable position.”
Yang Cheon grinned.
The deeper his smile grew, the more sullen Yeon Hojeong’s expression became.
***
“Yeon Hojeong?”
“That’s correct.”
Hwang Seok-tae’s face hardened.
“Did I hear that correctly? You’re appointing Yeon Hojeong as a special adjutant to the main unit?”
Baek Seo shook his head.
“To be precise, it’s temporary. Also, due to the special nature of the position, it is not beneath yours. Though called an adjutant, the only one who can give him orders is the Vice-Leader.”
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss.”
Hwang Seok-tae turned his body.
“I refuse. Find another unit.”
“This is a direct order from the Vice-Leader.”
Hwang Seok-tae’s body flinched.
No matter who he was, he could not refuse an order from Yang Cheon, the supreme leader of the Black Dragon Department. Refusal was insubordination, and insubordination meant death.
Setting everything else aside, Hwang Seok-tae respected Yang Cheon. His strength, his spirit, and his position were all objects of worship.
That was why he was even angrier.
He understood that the young man was skilled, but he was not even thirty years old yet. It was hard to understand why Yang Cheon paid so much attention to such a person, and he personally detested the figure known as Yeon Hojeong who received the Vice-Leader’s favor.
“Why our unit of all places?”
“I hear Yeon Hojeong is quite accomplished in spear arts in addition to the axe and iron chain. Considering his martial prowess, there probably aren’t many in headquarters who could match him.”
“You call that an explanation…!”
“Furthermore, Yeon Hojeong is the representative of the Orthodox Martial Alliance. He is not someone we can shove into an ordinary unit and treat poorly.”
Unlike his usual self, Baek Seo tried to soothe Hwang Seok-tae with kind words.
“Please understand. Isn’t your unit the strongest in the Black Dragon Department?”
Though he was trying to placate him, the statement itself was no lie.
The Dragon Fang Iron Cavalry.
It was currently the strongest combat unit possessed by the Black Dragon Department. Moreover, unlike most martial world combat units, it was a cavalry force.
But they were not only skilled in horsemanship. Every single one of them was a warrior fully versed in infantry combat as well, allowing them to utilize their already overwhelming power with even greater efficiency.
Their number was one thousand, and the unit commander, Hwang Seok-tae, had reached the Transcendent realm. He was one of the hidden powerhouses of the Black Dragon Department.
Hwang Seok-tae, who had been staring silently at Baek Seo, turned his head away.
“Since it is the Vice-Leader’s command, I will accept it. However, I will be the one to judge whether or not that bastard is fit for our unit. Do not interfere with how I handle him.”
“Do as you see fit.”
After Baek Seo left, Hwang Seok-tae looked down at the base of the cliff.
Due to the nature of their troops, the Dragon Fang Iron Cavalry rarely entered the interior of the Black Dragon Department. They mostly repeated training on flatlands and in the mountains, and naturally spent many days camping outdoors.
‘The greatest rising star under heaven?’
The strongest rising star of the Orthodox faction, the one shaking the Central Plains with the title of Wall Mountain Tiger.
Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes grew cold.
‘A mere brat.’
They said his talent was outstanding and his insight astonishing, enough to leave even the Vice-Leader in awe.
But that was one thing, and this was another. The Iron Cavalry had its own rules.
‘I need to crush his spirit from the start so he doesn’t cause unnecessary trouble.’
Half a shichen later.
Three men were walking toward them from afar.
‘They’re here.’
Hwang Seok-tae recognized Yeon Hojeong at a glance. He had seen him in the grand hall before.
Soon, Yeon Hojeong’s group arrived in front of Hwang Seok-tae.
Yeon Hojeong offered a fist salute.
“I am Yeon Hojeong. I will be in your care for a while.”
Hwang Seok-tae lifted his chin.
“If you don’t want to be treated like leftover scraps, you must prove your usefulness.”
It was a cold and arrogant attitude. Considering Yeon Hojeong’s position, suddenly speaking down to him was already rude.
Kang Liang’s eyes changed, and Pae Yul’s aura grew fierce.
On the other hand, Yeon Hojeong’s expression remained perfectly relaxed.
“The only way for a martial artist to prove his usefulness is through strength. Do you wish to see my martial arts?”
Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes flashed.
“I do.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
The Orthodox Path had its ways, and the Black Path had its own. And he was a man more familiar with the ways of the Black Path than anyone.
“Gather your men. I’ll show you exactly who I am.”
“…?!”
“Or would you like to receive my spear right now?”