The Eldest Son of the Bi-san Yeon Family (1)
“Family head. A guest from the Beggar Sect has arrived.”
“Bring him in.”
A moment later, Cheolgon-gae entered the family head's chamber.
Even Cheolgon-gae, infamous for his sly demeanor, couldn't dare play the fool before the head of the Yeon family.
“I'm Cheolgon-gae. I believe this is our first meeting.”
His face was drenched in sweat from who knew how long without a wash. Yet Yeon Wi's expression remained unchanged.
“I'm Yeon Wi. Pleased to meet you.”
A simple greeting carried immense dignity. Cheolgon-gae felt his throat inexplicably tighten.
He's terrifying.
It was like gazing upon a divine sword. The pressure was overwhelming.
The Judge Sword. They say he'll ascend to the Thirteen Seats of Sage Heaven in ten years—no exaggeration there.
One roar to cleave the sea, an iron sword to chase away evil. Those were the words describing Yeon Wi, head of the Yeon family. Seeing him now, there was no hyperbole in those fearsome epithets.
“I must leave soon for other business, so I'll report only what we've investigated so far.”
Yeon Wi's eyes gleamed. Not even half a month had passed since the order—yet Cheolgon-gae seemed to have uncovered something.
“Very well.”
“Please take a look at this.”
Jiangsu Province Forces Affiliated with the Myeong Family
(Closer ties to the Myeong family listed toward the right)
◈ [Various minor forces] → Gogeom-bang (Ancient Sword House) → [Closer affiliates]
He carefully drew a folded letter from his ragged robes and offered it respectfully. His beggar-like appearance belied the letter's exquisite quality.
Yeon Wi's eyes sharpened as he unfolded it.
“I intended to investigate as far as Zhejiang, but time is short, so I've compiled only Jiangsu for now.”
“These forces listed here?”
“Yes. All have ties to the Myeong family. The ones farther right have deeper connections.”
Yeon Wi's eyes flashed with sharp insight as he scanned it quickly.
“Gogeom-bang?!”
“A familiar name, isn't it?”
“Don't tell me they've allied with the Myeong family too?”
“Not exactly an alliance—they've simply taken a lot of money from them. We've found evidence they're reporting on the Yeon family's movements.”
Yeon Wi felt a hollow ache inside. Gogeom-bang was a trading partner of the Yeon family. Over half the weapons used by their household guards came from there.
So the main house has been quietly crumbling like this, all along.
Cheolgon-gae spoke up.
“That's why I came to ask directly.”
“What do you mean?”
“There are surely Myeong family lackeys in Zhejiang too. But investigating them would yield little.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because the Moyong family reached Zhejiang first.”
“……”
“Their Zhejiang branch is raking in massive profits from maritime trade. Even the Myeong family wouldn't dare poke around there.”
“I see.”
“Yes. Rather than chasing shadows there, I believe we should dig deeper into Jiangsu's forces right away. That's why I came in person.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“Your thinking is sound.”
“Shall we begin immediately, then?”
“Before that.”
Yeon Wi pulled a letter from his robes and handed it over.
“Deliver this to my son.”
“Ah, to the young master?”
“Yes. Sorry to trouble you.”
“Haha! No problem. It's not like I'm doing the work myself anyway.”
He stuffed the letter into his robes, then asked as if it had just occurred to him.
“Um... by any chance.”
“If it's food, I already said—head to the guest hall, and they'll guide you.”
Cheolgon-gae smacked his lips. Does this guy really think I'm just a beggar?
“Not that. Have you received any separate letters from the young master?”
“Nothing beyond word of his arrival in Henan.”
“Ah……”
Cheolgon-gae was genuinely flustered. He hasn't even told his own father? Isn't that too much?
Yeon Wi's eyes flashed.
“Has something happened to him?”
“Pardon? Oh, no, it's not that……”
“……”
“……No helping it. I'll tell you.”
Cheolgon-gae cleared his throat repeatedly and relayed Yeon Hojeong's current situation.
Yeon Wi's eyes wavered.
“The Myeong family?!”
“Yes. That's why he's even dragged in the Moyong family.”
Yeon Wi was dumbfounded. He could overlook not telling him—things must be hectic. But the idea itself was absurd.
Teaming up with the Moyong family to strike the Myeong family? What kind of insane strategy was that?
This is serious.
A misstep could ignite war between families!
“If we unnecessarily provoke the Moyong family head……”
“Eh, I worried about that too.”
“Hm?”
“He's actually coming.”
“……?!”
“Moyong family head Moyong Gun has truly set out from Hunan.”
Cheolgon-gae elaborated further. All intel on Yeon Hojeong's recent activities had already reached the Beggar Sect. With Huigae traveling alongside, it was only natural.
“Hm.”
Yeon Wi's eyes gleamed.
“Hearing the details, I now understand what Hojeong is aiming for.”
Of course, he couldn't grasp every nuance. He still didn't know how he'd pinpointed the Myeong family as the puppet master. And now he'd even captured their intelligence network? That part made his vision blur momentarily.
He'd feared the boy's wild temper had finally gotten him in over his head.
But hearing the full sequence, he could see how Yeon Hojeong planned to deal with the Myeong family.
The concern was...
“He's drawing in the Myeong family?”
“Yes. And that will likely... be quite dangerous.”
Cheolgon-gae hastily added,
“Of course, the Beggar Sect has dispatched experts to surround the area, so there shouldn't be any issues.”
“I understand.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I understand.”
“Ah... yes, sir.”
“Good work. Grab a bite in the guest hall before you go.”
Cheolgon-gae scratched his head sheepishly. He'd said he'd leave soon, but free food? No way he'd refuse.
“Th-then, if you insist... I'll humbly accept a meal. Ahem!”
With that, Cheolgon-gae departed.
Yeon Wi immediately summoned Sin Mo.
“You called, family head?”
“How many Chaeng-eungdae members are currently outside the estate?”
“The entire Chaeng-eungdae is stationed within the household.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Sin Mo looked puzzled.
“But why do you ask...?”
“Head to Henan.”
Yeon Wi's gaze turned icy.
“The entire Chaeng-eungdae goes to Henan to protect Hojeong. If necessary, release your seal.”
* * *
The murmur of crowds filled the air.
Kaifeng in Henan was a historic ancient capital. Close to the capital Zhengzhou, its floating population was enormous. Daytime brought throngs, and night was no different.
As people strolled the markets, laughing and chatting, their eyes flicked toward one spot.
“Hm, how much for this?”
“……T-two taels.”
“Two taels? For this?”
“Y-yes!”
“That can't be right—it's too cheap.”
“Ah……”
“Selling too low leaves no profit. Here, five taels—throw that in too.”
“Wha—th-thank you!”
The young man laughed as he grabbed his snacks and walked on. His freely flowing hair and neat attire were striking. Tall but slender, he looked like a refined scholar—handsome, too.
But what he had slung over his shoulder was anything but ordinary.
Is that an axe?!
Yeah, but...
Never seen one that huge! Wouldn't even work on a battlefield.
Can a person even carry that?
And his face doesn't even change color? What kind of monstrous strength?
Slung boldly over his shoulder was a massive axe. Not a sword or spear—an actual axe. And enormous. The haft was spear-length, over six feet, and thick as well. The blade alone was twice a grown man's shoulder width—nearly the size of a person's torso.
Overwhelming in size and intimidation. On someone who least looked the part, it was all the more imposing.
Kaifeng's crowds included plenty of martial artists, so people weren't easily fazed. But this youth was different. His appearance demanded attention.
Yeon Hojeong glanced around. As expected, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Different from the black path.
Black path back alleys teemed with weirdos wielding anything. Giant scissors, ten swords at once—plenty of lunatics.
Black and white paths spanned the Central Plains, but Henan was home to Shaolin and the Myeong family. No foothold for black path folk.
Hence the stares felt novel.
I've looked around enough. Time to slip away.
Three days from the port to Kaifeng. Four more days wandering its markets. The Myeong family had surely spotted him.
One, two... six.
Since yesterday, he'd sensed the 'eyes' on him. From one or two, now six. And it stopped at six.
Pot's hot enough.
Snacks in hand, he left Kaifeng's central streets for a quiet bamboo grove. Few places without people—woods it was. At least the bamboo offered fine scenery.
Snap.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed. Far behind, bamboo rustled. Wind? Or footsteps? Ambiguous.
They're on me.
Disciplined gait. Mature training evident. Nothing like the Dark Serpent Squad, yet oddly similar.
Dark Serpent Squad...
Yeon Hojeong recalled Myeong Onji. The Diamond Guardian arts that shattered the family gate—her wielding them.
Any among them trained in that art?
An art hardening the whole body like iron armor, drawing immense defensive power and divine strength.
If so, once more... Hm?
A sudden thought made him tilt his head.
But it's strange.
When Myeong Onji unleashed it, his vision had spun. He'd opened with killing intent from sheer rage.
But now, calm, recalling it brought an eerie sense of familiarity.
Because it was the art that razed his family in his past life? No—something off.
The more he thought, the more it slipped away like a fading dream. Myeong Onji's art stirred an inexplicable familiarity, leaving him puzzled.
……
Lost in thought, Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
Enemy at my heels, and I'm woolgathering?
Deeper into the grove, he spotted a large boulder.
Thud!
He set down the axe, sat, and began eating his rice balls. Well-made, perfectly seasoned—delicious.
The rice balls reminded him of Yeon Jipyeong.
'Hungry, right? Eat up. I'll bring more tomorrow.'
Yeon Hojeong chuckled unwittingly.
“You punk. While your brother's brawling with outlaws in a far-off land, you're choking down meals?”
He wanted to tease like that. Yeon Jipyeong would pout and kick at the dirt.
Thinking of his brother brought his father to mind. Strict face hiding deep affection.
'If the world calls my son a demonic path fiend, I'll put that world beneath my sword.'
Father.
His mood lifted. A feeling unknown in his Black Dark Emperor days. Comrades then, but no family.
Now it was different. Not black path alleys—a family he'd yearned for across decades. A home to return to made his heart steady.
Smiling at thoughts of family, Yeon Hojeong spoke calmly.
“First meal of the day. Wait till I'm done.”
Twang! Thud!
The rice ball vanished from his hand. An arrow had struck it down.
Yeon Hojeong grumbled.
“This punk's rice balls always suffer.”
He descended the boulder and faced forward.
Ten men now stood there. The middle-aged one in front asked,
“You're Yeon Hojeong?”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Yes. I am Yeon Hojeong, the eldest son of the Bi-san Yeon family.”