Signs of Collapse (6)
The woman's face made it difficult to guess her age.
She was clearly middle-aged, yet somehow looked far younger than her years. If one studied her closely, she seemed near fifty, but at a glance she could pass for thirty—a peculiar countenance.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes deepened.
“Emei.”
An Emei Sect elder, and a master one level above Songha Sinni.
Though only one level higher, her combat prowess was in an entirely different league. Within her distinctly Emei aura, a razor-sharp killing intent stood out sharply.
She carried the presence of a true martial artist rather than a Buddhist disciple. It was the aura of someone who had slain countless people—nearly that of a murderer.
The woman asked, “Where is Songha?”
“None of your concern, bald nun.”
“What?”
Yeon Hojeong smirked.
“An Emei elder wearing silk and powder? And that hair hanging down to your shoulders—what’s that about?”
“……”
“I can’t sense the serene Buddhist incense of Emei from you. The cheap scent of powder is enough to numb my nose.”
The corner of the woman’s mouth lifted. Though displeased, she seemed to regard him with amusement.
“You’re an insolent brat.”
Her tone was coarse.
It was impossible to imagine such speech coming from an Emei disciple. Moreover, it sounded completely natural, as though she was accustomed to foul language.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed. Interesting.
The aura of the woman before him—former nun though she was—was remarkably striking.
She was someone who treated killing as a daily meal. In other words, she was accustomed to the taste of blood.
Yet despite radiating such a strong scent of blood, she thoroughly underestimated her opponent.
To carry that much bloodlust, a martial artist would have to survive dozens of life-and-death battles. In short, one needed extensive experience in the martial world.
Those with rich experience never underestimated their opponents. No matter what insults they hurled, their eyes would focus with extreme concentration to assess the enemy.
She lacked that.
The smell of blood was overwhelming, yet strangely amateurish.
Her combat ability was clearly excellent based on her aura. However, compared to the thick stench of blood, even that felt ambiguous.
“I’ll ask one last time. Who are you?”
“If a fight breaks out here,” Yeon Hojeong said, tilting his head, “you, former nun, will be the one who gets torn apart.”
“What a ridiculous fool.”
“Once I tear you apart, I’ll make your identity known to the world. That’ll send the Emei Sect’s reputation plummeting.”
The woman snorted. “Quite the imagination.”
Yeon Hojeong studied her quietly, then chuckled.
“Threats involving the Emei Sect don’t work on you. There’s not a shred of affection or concern for Emei in your eyes.”
“Where do you get off running your mouth—”
“You don’t care what happens to Emei… Your heart has already left the sect.”
The woman’s face hardened.
Yeon Hojeong rotated his wrist. Even in that slow motion, a series of crisp cracks echoed.
“Whether it’s elsewhere or not, one of the Emei pawns in Nakwonso is definitely you, isn’t it?”
For an instant, the woman’s eyes wavered.
“How do you know about Nakwonso?”
As expected.
She had fallen straight into such a simple, obvious trap. Her combat power was high, but her experience in the martial world was clearly limited.
Yeon Hojeong nodded. “So Nakwonso is real. The information was accurate after all.”
Only then did the woman realize she had been played.
“You damned bastard…”
“Quite a few eyes watching us.”
Yeon Hojeong gestured with his chin toward the building where the assassins had been lurking.
“Shall we change locations?”
The woman smiled coldly. “Do you have the courage?”
“Lead the way.”
“Insolent brat. You don’t value your life—”
“Lead the way.”
“……”
“Want to die right here?”
The woman snorted. “I don’t know who you are, but your life ends today.”
“That’s your problem. You try to kill people without even knowing who they are.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Those unprepared for ruin always rush straight toward it.”
“You!”
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong’s figure blurred.
Crack! Crack-crack-crack!
In an instant, he moved left and right before reappearing before the woman.
Her eyes trembled.
Yeon Hojeong jerked his chin. “Lead the way. I’ll follow just fine.”
“…Who the hell are you?”
The woman was flustered.
Judging by his apparent age and aura, he should have been insignificant.
Yet the movement he had just displayed was so swift it deserved to be called extreme speed. Even she, one of Emei’s top elders, couldn’t track how he had moved.
Yeon Hojeong spoke. “Not leading?”
“……!”
“From now on, I won’t repeat myself more than once. If you don’t understand after one warning, I’ll tear your limbs off in front of everyone.”
For a moment, the woman felt a chilling dread.
He didn’t reveal killing intent or glare at her. He simply spoke calmly, as if passing by—and that made it all the more terrifying.
Yeon Hojeong repeated, “Lead the way.”
The woman hesitated, then turned and began walking.
At that moment, a faint sound reached her ears.
Crack!
Her eyes shook. Another Black Eye assassin had lost his life to the man’s hands. How is this possible…!
The Black Eyes’ stealth techniques were first-rate. They were true professionals who never revealed even a trace of killing intent when attacking.
Yet this man had pinpointed every assassin’s location and killed them in an instant before returning. What… what is this?
She was bewildered.
She had never heard of such a master existing in Sichuan. Though she had frequented Nakwonso frequently over the past two years, she had always paid close attention to surrounding information. Who the hell is this man?!
The woman swallowed hard.
Somehow, it felt as though a black panther was silently approaching from behind.
Thus, with awkward steps, she led Yeon Hojeong forward.
She had come prepared to resort to torture or murder if threats failed, yet now she herself was being led by the nose.
She didn’t even realize it.
Some time later.
In an alley not far from the three-story building where Yeon Hojeong had slain the assassins.
Thud.
The woman stopped. Yeon Hojeong stopped as well.
“I’ll ask again.”
Strength had returned to her voice.
Clear confidence could be felt. Yeon Hojeong smirked.
“Your name is—”
“Called in three or four people?”
“What?”
“You’re acting all confident after summoning a few mediocre fools. It’s a little funny.”
“……!!”
Yeon Hojeong rolled his shoulders lightly.
“You brought me to a good spot. Even if a fight breaks out here, the noise won’t reach the streets.”
The woman turned around.
Her eyes gleamed with cold killing intent.
“Who are you?”
“Who are you?”
“……”
“If you want to know your opponent’s name, you should give yours first.”
“Madman! I have no name to give to the likes of you!”
“Why? Scared?”
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
“Afraid you can’t even catch me, so you won’t reveal your name?”
“……”
“I don’t understand why someone with such a timid heart would get involved in dangerous business. If you’re a nun, you should live quietly offering prayers like a proper nun.”
The woman’s face twisted.
It was truly remarkable insolence. Even knowing it was provocation, she couldn’t suppress the anger rising within her.
“You dare act like this when I’ve been holding back!”
“Then come at me.”
Yeon Hojeong’s face turned expressionless in an instant.
The change was lightning-fast. Blue flashes flickered in his eyes. It was as though he had become a different person.
“Come and try to subdue or kill me. Stop flapping your tongue.”
The woman ground her teeth.
But only for a moment.
“You’re going to die anyway. No need to dirty my own hands.”
“Everyone who’s stood before me has said the same thing.”
“Arrogant!”
At that moment—
Whoosh!
Scorching flames erupted from Yeon Hojeong’s body.
The sudden burst of heat was immense. It was so intense that even the woman standing three jang away was startled and retreated ten steps.
“Hmm.”
Amid the blazing flames, Yeon Hojeong stroked his chin.
“Poison, is it?”
Shock spread across the woman’s face. How is this possible!
Whoosh!
The raging crimson flames were so ferocious that even the air seemed to hold its breath.
The heat was tremendous, but even more astonishing was the aura that made such powerful flames seem ordinary.
It felt as though gravity had suddenly increased three or four times. Her body grew heavy, and her feet refused to leave the ground. Such an absurd aura…!
Even after breaking through the wall of the supreme realm, she had continued refining Emei’s martial arts for a long time.
Her skill ranked among the top three in the Emei Sect, excluding only the previous generation and the sect leader, Bok-ho Satae.
Yet this master was struggling to control her own body from the opponent’s mere aura. She had never imagined such a day would come. Could it be?!
The woman’s eyes shook as though struck by an earthquake.
“…Sage Heavenly?”
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong removed his bamboo hat.
That alone was extraordinary. With such intense flames, even if his body remained unharmed, his clothes should have been damaged to some degree. No matter how excellent one’s control over true qi, there were clear limits.
Yet Yeon Hojeong’s robes were completely intact. Even the bamboo hat near his palms—the core of his qi projection—showed no damage. Extraordinary internal energy mastery!
He was a master whose ability to control true qi had reached the absolute peak.
“Your shame knows no bounds.”
Whoosh!
The volcanic flames that had been erupting suddenly condensed into Yeon Hojeong’s left hand.
Flash!
A small sphere floating above his palm emitted such brilliant light that it was difficult to look at directly.
Yeon Hojeong swung his hand.
Thud!
The sphere of flame shot forth like a beam of light, piercing cleanly through a wall.
“Gah!”
A pained scream erupted from beyond the wall.
“Aaaagh!”
Crash!
Along with the scream, a man burst through the wall, his entire body engulfed in flames.
His clothes had already been reduced to ash. He tried desperately to suppress the flames with his internal energy, but his level of power was insufficient to extinguish the Vermilion Bird Fire Qi.
Yeon Hojeong spoke coldly, “You seem to be from the Tang Clan. I have no interest in learning your name. Just die.”
Whoosh! Thud!
The man, writhing in agony, finally collapsed to the ground, unable to endure any longer.
Even after falling, the flames did not extinguish. Amid the acrid smell, his body gradually shriveled.
He was dead—burned alive.
The woman’s body trembled violently. She had seen much blood, but she had never witnessed someone die so horrifically.
“Remember? I said I wouldn’t ask twice.”
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong raised his fist.
“What’s your name?”
The woman couldn’t answer. She could only stare at him with a terrified expression.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“I’ll start by ripping off your limbs.”
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong charged at terrifying speed.
Crash!
Simultaneously, four masters burst through the walls.
Sword, palm, dagger, fist.
Qingcheng, Tang, and Emei techniques swirled together, threatening Yeon Hojeong.