The Strong Survive (1)
A long, drawn-out sigh escaped her lips.
Drops of sweat fell steadily, forming a small puddle on the floor.
Bu Seon, who had been clutching her knees and gasping for breath, slowly drew in a deep inhale.
Whoooong.
As she breathed deeply, the amount of natural energy pouring into her body increased dramatically. She guided that vast influx according to her cultivation method, and gradually, it transformed into a fierce, savage, dark-crimson energy that piled up neatly within her dantian.
Grrrrrr.
The internal energy seemed to growl like a wild beast.
Amazing.
Bu Seon repeatedly clenched and unclenched both fists.
She had been so exhausted that collapsing on the spot wouldn’t have been strange, yet after only a few cycles of breathing, accumulation, and circulation, vitality was already surging back into her body.
The more I refine it…!
She recalled the Blood Lion Qi.
The Blood Lion Qi was also a divine art worthy of being called one of the greatest in the martial world. Unlike the orthodox sects of the White Path, which emphasized mental and spiritual cultivation, this was a martial art designed purely for combat. It could truly be considered the representative martial art of the Black Path.
But the Black Lion Qi was on another level entirely.
It took the endlessly savage and combative nature of the Blood Lion Qi and added profound depth to the study of martial arts itself. The density and rotation of true energy, the recovery speed during circulation, and the sheer volume of accumulation were all far superior.
Of course, not just anyone could draw out this level of efficiency. Bu Seon had refined the Blood Lion Qi with her life on the line and had mastered its fundamentals. Only because of that was she able to utilize nearly all the advantages of the Black Lion Qi.
Whatever the case, Bu Seon had no doubt that the Black Lion Qi was one of the greatest absolute martial arts in the entire history of the Black Path.
“Impressive.”
Startled, Bu Seon whipped around.
When had he arrived? Yeop Seong stood there.
Interest gleamed in Yeop Seong’s eyes.
“I already knew your realm had far surpassed the third. Seeing it in person, your growth is truly remarkable. But I knew something else as well—that you’ve been refining a different martial art than before.”
Bu Seon’s eyes grew cold.
“Even between senior and junior disciples, you should know that spying on someone’s personal training is rude, right?”
“Don’t worry. I only just arrived.”
“……”
“And even if I had watched, what part of your martial art could I possibly learn from?”
It was overwhelming confidence.
Bu Seon shook her head.
“What brings you here?”
Yeop Seong let out a short laugh.
“I don’t think you and I have the kind of relationship where we sit down for tea. Obviously I came with a purpose, and I’m sure you already know what it is.”
Whoooong.
A faint dark-crimson true energy rose subtly from Bu Seon’s body.
“Are you here to decide on the successor?”
“Deciding the successor is Master’s authority. However, eliminating competitors is the privilege of the potential successors.”
His words were a clear threat.
A subtle tension appeared on Bu Seon’s face.
Even in perfect condition, Yeop Seong was someone she would struggle to defeat. No matter how mysterious the Black Lion Qi was, with more than half her internal energy already spent, she had no chance of victory against him right now.
I let my guard down too much.
She had expected that someone like Yeop Seong would at least formally set a date for a proper fight. She never imagined he would suddenly show up and suggest settling the successor dispute right then and there.
But.
This is my fault. I’m standing in the middle of the wild. I should have realized there are beasts everywhere ready to tear out my throat.
That was the way of the Black Path. Even the potential successors of the Black Dragon Department, the alliance of the Black Path, were still people of the Black Path. It was only natural for them to strike when their opponent was weak.
Bu Seon glanced to the side.
There was a small passage there—one she had personally created as an escape route in case of emergency.
I have no choice but to look for an opening and run.
There was no need to fight a battle she couldn’t win. She was confident in her ability to escape.
At that moment, Yeop Seong spoke.
“There’s no need to be so tense.”
“……?”
“In truth, I came to test you. If I saw an easy opportunity, I was planning to launch a surprise attack right away. Even though you’re weak, there’s still the third, and I have to be careful not to get injured myself.”
Bu Seon’s eyes turned icy.
“So you’ve changed your mind now?”
“On the way here, I heard a strange rumor. For the time being, I won’t be targeting either of you.”
“What rumor?”
Yeop Seong leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
“What do you think of that guy named Yeon Hojeong?”
Bu Seon frowned.
Why was he suddenly bringing up Yeon Hojeong?
“I think he’s an astonishing person.”
“Is that all?”
“At barely twenty-five years old, he has already cultivated martial arts stronger than his own older brother. That alone makes him a monster.”
For a brief moment, Yeop Seong’s eyes flashed.
A smile resembling a sneer played on his lips, and the sight was incredibly eerie.
“Are you certain?”
“That’s not what my eyes tell me. Honestly, I’m not even sure if he’s that strong.”
“Yet you still say such things?”
“I trust Master’s eyes more than my own.”
“Hoh.”
Yeop Seong twisted his head from side to side.
Crack!
A chilling sound echoed through the cave.
“So Master said that bastard is stronger than me?”
“He never made a direct comparison. But while speaking of Yeon Hojeong, he did say this: Within ten years at the latest—five at the earliest—another powerhouse of the Sacred Heavens will appear in the world.”
“……”
“He said that excluding the Holy Thirteen Seats themselves, it would be hard to find anyone who could face him as an equal. In that case, no matter how low we estimate him, he can’t possibly be beneath you, Senior Brother.”
“I see.”
Yeop Seong furrowed his brow. It was impossible to tell whether he was expressing rage or mockery.
“So Master really said that? Quite the generous evaluation.”
Despite his expression, his voice sounded almost leisurely.
Bu Seon paid it no mind. Whether Yeop Seong believed in Yeon Hojeong’s strength or not was none of her concern.
“In any case, he does seem to be an extraordinary person. The rigid Martial Alliance wouldn’t choose just anyone as their representative. There can’t be many with that kind of ability.”
“Indeed.”
“The astonishing title of the greatest young master under the heavens, and a young expert who played the decisive role in toppling the Guju Myeong Family—one of the Seven Great Families of the White Path…”
A chilling smile spread across Yeop Seong’s face.
“I like him.”
Bu Seon frowned deeply.
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of recruiting him, Senior Brother?”
“Why? Does that seem impossible to you?”
“At the very least, it’s certainly an interesting idea. Not just anyone, but the representative of the White Path… Trying to bring him to your side. Even in a successor struggle, isn’t that crossing the line?”
“Crossing the line? Why don’t you tell me what the line is?”
“……”
“Then let me ask you this. Even though we are clearly senior and junior disciples, the fact that I came here to slit your throat while you were weakened—does that not cross the line?”
Bu Seon stared at Yeop Seong in silence.
Yeop Seong chuckled.
“I didn’t want to say this, but neither you nor the third can ever defeat me.”
“……”
“No response?”
“Whether I say yes or no, it doesn’t mean anything.”
“The outcome is unknown to everyone?”
“Interpret it however you like. It’s none of my business.”
“Hahaha!”
Yeop Seong burst into loud laughter.
“You’ve really grown a lot. To think you’d dare play word games in front of me.”
“If someone can’t accept sincerity as sincerity, that’s a flaw in their own character, not mine.”
“Your tongue has improved as much as your martial arts.”
“It’s good to be good at something, isn’t it?”
Yeop Seong, who had been quietly watching her, shrugged.
“This is quite entertaining. Before coming here, there was no one who dared speak such nonsense in front of me. It feels refreshing.”
He turned his body.
“Train hard. Who knows? If I become the next vice-lord, I might appoint you as the assault captain of the main headquarters.”
Bu Seon asked before she could stop herself.
“What is the rumor?”
“Hm?”
“You said you heard a rumor on the way here. Weren’t you going to tell me about it?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I only told you the reason I won’t ambush you. I never said I would explain what that reason is.”
Without even looking back, Yeop Seong waved his hand.
“The next time we meet, you’d better be nervous.”
And with that, Yeop Seong disappeared.
Only after the tension finally eased did Bu Seon let out a sigh.
“Damn it. He really is strong.”
It was then.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Bu Seon looked up in shock.
At some point, Yeop Seong had approached without a sound. He now gripped both her wrists, his fierce eyes gleaming right in front of her face.
…!
The power was monstrous. Her wrists felt like they were about to snap. Even while circulating the Black Lion Qi, she couldn’t shake him off at all.
“Second.”
Yeop Seong’s voice, coming from right in front of her, was both gentle and extremely menacing.
“Stop struggling so much. If you keep thrashing around saying you’re going to defeat me, even my desire to forgive you will start to waver, won’t it?”
“……!!”
“When we meet again, I’ll be watching your attitude. I’ll see whether your training is truly meant to defeat me, or if it’s simply martial cultivation done for my sake.”
Bu Seon’s cheeks trembled.
Yeop Seong smirked and lightly tapped her forehead with his own.
“Get a grip. There are positions you can aim for, and positions you cannot. If you want to live out your natural lifespan, you need to know your place.”
Yeop Seong released his grip on her wrists.
Bu Seon continued glaring at him.
He turned away.
“You worked hard. Reaching that realm must have taken tremendous effort.”
Shhh.
Yeop Seong vanished. This time, he was truly gone.
“Ugh.”
Bu Seon rubbed her left wrist. Her right wrist was fine, but a sharp pain radiated from the left one. It was cracked.
With nothing but grip strength, he had fractured her wrist. The power was terrifying.
Yeop Seong trains in the Blood Lion Qi. I train in the superior Black Lion Qi. Yet the difference in power is…?!
It wasn’t just strength. The gap in internal energy was overwhelming. Both in quality and quantity, it was on a completely different scale from hers.
But.
“Sorry, but I won’t give up.”
If she were the type to fold under threats like this, she would have tucked her tail long ago.
She was Yang Cheon’s disciple. And among all his students, she had been the first to earn his recognition.
Bu Seon believed in her own effort and her venomous determination.
Wait a minute.
Bu Seon’s eyes deepened.
He asked about Yeon Hojeong… That means the rumor must be about him.
From the way he spoke, it seemed Yeop Seong was planning to bring Yeon Hojeong to his side.
Bu Seon’s eyes narrowed.
I need to look into this.
Striking when the opponent was weak was basic survival in the wild.
And the weak one wasn’t always her. Even the strong could be wounded at any time, and if one aimed for that moment, even the greatest powerhouse in the world could face a threat to their life.
Shhh.
Bu Seon’s figure disappeared from the spot.
The fight had begun long ago.
“Hm?”
Yeon Hojeong looked to the side.
After passing through a maze-like network of caves, he had arrived in front of the outer building of the Black Dragon Department.
And standing beside it was a middle-aged man radiating a ferocious presence.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
Yeop Seong spoke casually, his face overflowing with leisure.
Yeon Hojeong let out a short laugh.
“Do you have business with me?”
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be waiting here.”
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Yeop Seong looked around.
“This place is too open. And too bright.”
“……”
“I know a good teahouse outside. Care to join me for a cup of tea?”
“I don’t know much about tea. Alcohol would be better.”
“Haha!”
Yeop Seong laughed loudly.
“I like your taste. I prefer alcohol over tea too. Let’s go. My treat.”
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
“My father also told me never to refuse free drinks.”