Chapter 55: To Where the Wind Blows (5)
“Family head. A letter has arrived for the young master.”
“Hand it over.”
Taking the letter and unfolding it, Yeon Wi's eyes gleamed.
Fast, isn't he.
It said he'd already reached Henan. Even riding horseback nonstop, that was an astonishing speed. He must have changed horses several times.
He's trying to put the Moyong family in a panic.
Yeon Wi instantly grasped Yeon Hojeong's intent. He was once again amazed by his son's decisiveness. He himself had accumulated countless experiences as family head, but his son had none of that. Yet here he was, throwing the enemy off balance with swift action. A flustered foe would reveal unexpected gaps, and striking those gaps would disarm them completely. It was the way of a battle-hardened veteran of the old school.
Even Yeon Wi might not have thought of such a response on the spot. And when they'd caught that spy earlier, he'd boldly infiltrated enemy territory, toyed with them, and exposed the truth. It was audacious. It was wisely aggressive. It was a method that embraced risk to crush the foe. As a father, it worried him, but as a warrior, he couldn't help but admire it.
In any case, with Hojeong moving like this, the Moyong family will try to make contact somehow. But the distance is an issue, so the odds are high they'll seek reliable allies.
Yeon Wi's gaze deepened. He recalled his conversation with Yeon Hojeong before departing.
‘It has to be a prestigious family.’
‘Any reason you think that? In truth, there are plenty of factions that could ally with the Moyong family. No need to link up with the so-called greatest clan in the world.’
‘Still, it's a prestigious family. It has to be.’
‘That's why I'm asking for your reasoning.’
‘……I can't give a definite answer. But it'll become clear during this trip to Henan. Who the Moyong family's partnered with.’
Even now, it puzzled him. Why was he so sure the Moyong family had allied with a prestigious house? Yeon Wi didn't believe the Moyong had acted alone either—the risks were too great. But it didn't have to be a prestigious family.
…….
Still, there must be a reason his son said it. Through these events, he'd come to trust Yeon Hojeong's keen insight and judgment.
Yeon Wi, lost in thought for a moment, called for I Baekhyeon.
“Contact the Beggar Sect's Cheolgon-gae branch head. Ask him to check if there are any sects or organizations near Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces connected to prestigious families.”
“Understood.”
Yeon Wi pondered deeply, fingers steepled. A sharp glint shone in his eyes.
“……If they truly are connected to a prestigious family?”
Then he would draw the Judge Sword without hesitation.
* * *
The young man led Yeon Hojeong deep into a secluded forest. Guiding him there at sunset. Even knowing where they'd come from, it was bound to feel off-putting.
Yet Yeon Hojeong's expression was utterly impassive. No trace of fear, anxiety, or suspicion. No tension or excitement either. Just calm—profoundly calm. At least on the surface.
The young man, Myeong Do, frowned.
This guy's not even nervous?
It was a summons from the supreme clan, the Nine Provinces Prestigious Family. Even as the eldest son of the Bi-san Yeon family, he should be tense. But nothing showed on this one's face.
“What's that?”
“What?”
“The axe.”
“My weapon.”
Myeong Do scoffed in disbelief.
“You use that massive axe as a weapon? Not a sword?”
“Yeah.”
The Bi-san Yeon family's signature was the sword. Their swordsmanship was so renowned that such a question even arose.
“Not as fluid as Wudang's swords, not as refined as Huashan's, not as majestic as Namgung's, not as fierce as Moyong's. Still, the Yeon sword is strong. That straightforwardness is the pinnacle of orthodoxy—fitting for the righteous path's martial arts in every sense.”
Though only fifty years since the Yeon family was named among the Seven Great Families, their fame wasn't just from righteousness. It was strength. Their swordsmanship could represent the Central Plains.
Yet despite such arts, they remained the smallest among the seven. A true gentleman doesn't flaunt himself—that was why the martial world praised them.
“And you're the young master, using an axe?”
“So what?”
Myeong Do's frown deepened.
“I've been meaning to say—you need to fix that attitude.”
“And you think yours is dripping with courtesy?”
“…….”
Fair enough—they'd demanded his time out of the blue. But Myeong Do openly showed his displeasure. The Prestigious Family was the pinnacle. Though counted among the Seven Greats, they were a cut above the other six. In the martial world, power was authority, fame was status. The Nine Provinces Prestigious Family was the martial world's uppermost nobility. Unless it was Shaolin, a minor power like the Yeon family had no business challenging them.
Shoulders all puffed up from some recent fame, huh?
He inwardly sneered at Yeon Hojeong. He'd heard of his flashy performance at the later-generation gathering. No wonder his neck was stiff. The guy who'd been mocked as a "tiger's cub" had even earned that flashy moniker, Stormwind Lion.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
How many geniuses shone bright only to vanish without a trace? Myeong Do figured Yeon Hojeong would be no different.
After walking over two li, campfire light flickered into view. Myeong Do nodded toward it.
“Go on. Someone who wants to see you is waiting.”
“Sure.”
“Leave that behind.”
Myeong Do pointed at the axe. Yeon Hojeong smirked and headed for the fire without a word.
Myeong Do's eyes chilled.
“There's a limit to tolerating arrogance. Put it down now.”
Yeon Hojeong kept walking silently. Murderous intent flared in Myeong Do's eyes.
“You dare……!”
Then—
“Leave him.”
A clear, resonant voice from somewhere. Myeong Do flinched, hand poised to strike. It was an order from someone he couldn't defy. In the end, he could only glare daggers at Yeon Hojeong's back.
Yeon Hojeong ignored him. He'd never cared for small fry anyway. He recalled that voice.
Impressive.
The inner energy carried in it held rare depth. Peak expert level, without a doubt.
Brought quite the entourage.
And the presences he sensed weren't just a couple. Clustered together, hard to count precisely, but at least twenty.
His senses were spot-on.
“That's one massive axe. Must weigh a ton—impressive you lug it around.”
Near the campfire sat a woman, flanked by over twenty warriors standing at attention. She was the voice's owner. Around Myeong Do's age, with delicate, refined features.
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
“So, who are you?”
“Oh? Fresh reaction. They said you were rough around the edges—spot on.”
The woman laughed.
“I'm Myeong Onji. Never heard of me?”
“Nope.”
“Hoho! You're embarrassing me. Most would at least pretend.”
Thud! Setting down his axe and resting a hand on it, Yeon Hojeong leaned against a tree, face impassive.
“You called me here—spit out the reason.”
Myeong Onji's eyes sparkled like stars.
Not your average personality.
Rough or timid, indifferent or guarded—any temperament was fine. The real problem was not knowing it. In that light, this Yeon Hojeong was no ordinary youth. His speech was crude, but his true nature was unreadable.
“By the way, what happened to that tagalong from earlier? We checked the inns—said he vanished.”
They'd searched the inns in that short time.
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
“Guy does his own thing—I wouldn't know. So, what's the business?”
“Oh ho, I see.”
Myeong Onji beamed.
“Came alone, huh? Knew we'd show?”
“Life's full of annoyances. Figured you were more of the same flies buzzing around.”
“Want us to swat 'em?”
“Are you flies?”
Provocative tone. Myeong Onji's face stayed calm, but the warriors behind her shifted their gazes. No overt killing intent. But at a word, they'd strike to kill. Even knowing he was Bi-san Yeon's heir.
“Gutsy one. Didn't Myeong Do tell you we're from the Prestigious Family?”
“Doesn't matter if it's Prestigious Family or whatever—trash is trash.”
“Heh.”
Even Myeong Onji couldn't just sit through that.
“Keep acting all twisted, and it'll be no fun. What if you get hurt before we get to business?”
“That's why I'm telling you to hurry up. How many times do I have to say it? Comprehension issues?”
Myeong Onji's eyes cooled. Even as leader of the Dark Death Squad, the Prestigious Family's intelligence unit, maintaining composure was tough. She looked young, but she was over thirty. Too young for such a role, which made it all the more remarkable. It demanded exceptional talent. Keeping calm was one of her finest skills.
Yet this insolent punk was shaking it.
“Fun. You're a fun guy.”
Myeong Onji smiled and continued.
“Don't like wasting time on chit-chat, right? Fine, straight to the point.”
“…….”
“How's the Yeon family these days? All peaceful, no issues?”
Yeon Hojeong flashed a chilly smile. Straight to the point, yet probing about the Yeon family. After getting the full scoop from the Moyong, no doubt. Classic intel operative tactic—test reactions under the guise of business.
Myeong Onji's expression, tone, and phrasing were textbook trained operative: polished, typical spy talk.
“Total mess.”
“Eh? What happened?”
“Some idiot clan planted spies. Ripped 'em all out and cleaned house—back's killing me.”
Myeong Onji's face hardened. She'd meant to probe subtly, but he laid it all out. Shocking, from someone she hadn't pegged as the sharing type.
“And you tell us this……?”
“And.”
Shing. Yeon Hojeong stroked the axe blade as he went on.
“There were vultures trying to gobble up the main house with those idiots, right?”
“……?!”
Was it the firelight? Myeong Onji's eyes seemed to waver.
“Weird, huh? Moyong family's the most desperate right now, but you got here first. Moyong aren't so incompetent they'd let themselves get scooped.”
“That's……”
“That 'greatest under heaven' signboard—really clinging to it pathetically, aren't they?”
Vmmm. Killing intent seeped from the axe.
“Easy come, easy go—splitting it shouldn't be hard. What do you think?”