Natural Enemy (3)
Tear!
Myeong Cheon ripped the letter to shreds in a fit of nerves. His face flushed beet red. He was livid.
Myeong U-san swallowed hard. Lately, the family head had been on edge over lifespan issues. He’d snap at the slightest provocation, but Myeong Cheon had never been this furious before.
“Yeon Wi, that dog who deserves to drink piss!”
Not “Yeon family head,” but Yeon Wi. Proof his rage had peaked.
Myeong U-san spoke quickly. “We just need to catch one thing.”
“What?!”
“Make this one piece of intel disappear. The conference is today. If Moyong family head exposes the Yeon family’s dealings, they’ll summon Yeon Wi within days.”
“Who doesn’t know that?!”
“We need to send troops.”
“What?!”
“Dispatch the finest masters from the main house. Hunt down those Jiangsu merchants, then detain Yeon Wi.”
Killing intent flickered in Myeong Cheon’s eyes.
Whoosh!
It burned like flames. Red fire actually erupted from spots all over his body.
Myeong U-san paled. He’s gotten even stronger.
The family head from days ago was a far cry from this one. His qi had exploded in volume. Increased qi didn’t always mean greater skill, but to unconsciously emit this much pressure meant his martial prowess had risen too.
“I hate to say this, but… you need to calm down first.”
He braced for the backlash. Surprisingly, after much grumbling, Myeong Cheon took a deep breath and settled himself.
“You’re right.”
“……!”
“It’s an unexpected snag, but once we clear this mountain, everything falls into our hands. No need to rush and botch it.”
Myeong U-san bowed his head. “A wise call.”
“Yeon Hojeong’s still out there?”
The question hit like a sneak attack—at least to Myeong U-san.
“Yes.”
Myeong Cheon sneered coldly. “Fitting for that bastard’s son. He sure knows how to bark.”
“He’s stronger than we imagined. I’d love to send troops and wipe him out, but that would…”
“Spark a war. I know. No point wasting effort on one kid.”
Relief washed over him. Myeong Cheon was still angry, but reason had returned.
“Once today passes, the Yeon family becomes Murim’s public enemy. But Yeon Wi can’t catch on. He’s not at the conference, so it’ll take time for the letter to reach him.”
“Exactly.”
“So we need a decisive move to divert his attention?”
“Astute as always.”
Myeong Cheon rose. “We could send all the Death Swords and wipe out the Yeon family. But we can’t.”
“Right. Plus, Moyong family’s spies in the Yeon house are rooted out. The Death Swords would take heavy losses.”
“No reason to send them, then.”
“Pardon?”
Myeong Cheon grinned ferociously. “He’s head of one of the Seven Great Families. We can send overwhelming forces, but we can’t just kill the family head. No justification.”
“True.”
“But create justification, and we can take out Yeon Wi too.”
“What?!”
“I’ll go myself.”
Myeong U-san’s eyes bulged. Mad glee and terrifying ambition blazed in Myeong Cheon’s gaze.
“The head of the world’s top family disciplining one of the Seven Great Families. Talk? Who cares. Pin some excuse on him, start a fight, and kill Yeon Wi.”
“F-Family head! That’s…!”
“I’ll be the justification myself. I’ll make it so.”
The surest method—and the most reckless.
Myeong U-san pressed on. “It’s too dangerous! Moyong family head will topple the Yeon family at the conference! No need for you to—”
“Who else is fit if not me?!”
His thunderous roar shut Myeong U-san up.
Myeong Cheon exuded killing intent. “Our house’s shame is there. If it reaches the provisional Murim Alliance, it’ll hit the Yeon family hard—and us too.”
“Th-That’s true, but…”
“No idea how they found out, but perfect timing. We devour Jiangsu now, and we’re truly the world’s top family.”
Myeong U-san bit his lip. Truth be told, Myeong Cheon going to the Yeon family was fine. No, as he said, it was the surest way.
But why the unease? The strange war clouds over Henan seemed to drift to Jiangsu too. And now the family head was heading right into them.
“And.”
Whoosh!
Flames rose from Myeong Cheon’s hand with terrifying momentum. Ecstasy bloomed on his face.
“Isn’t this the perfect chance to test the world’s supreme martial art our ancestor left?”
“……!”
“You said it yourself. In ten years, Yeon Wi could reach the Thirteen Heavenly Seats.”
“That was just a rumor floating around…”
“Let’s verify it.”
Myeong Cheon grinned with bloodthirsty delight. “I’ll test if he’s worthy—personally, as head of the Nine Provinces Myeong family.”
* * *
“Watch the Myeong family’s south and east gates right now. Gather every Beggar Sect disciple in Henan. Monitor them no matter what.”
“Wh-Why all of a sudden?!”
“High chance Myeong family head’s heading to Jiangsu.”
“What? Himself?!”
“They’re convinced the main house becomes Murim’s enemy at the conference. Meaning only one loose end left.”
“Even so, Myeong family head personally…?”
“Head or not! They’ll send forces that overwhelm us! We can’t let them leave Henan!”
“Damn it! Too many variables! You sure about this?”
“Not variables—that’s the only option! Once the provisional Murim Alliance forms, their rep will head straight here! Myeong family has no other chance to erase their shame!”
“Tch! Fine! I’ll trust you this time too… Huh?!”
“What now?”
“We can’t let them out of Henan?”
“Obviously!”
“We’re short-handed? You think we can stall them?”
“We clash head-on, like it or not.”
“No. That won’t work. You’re too desperate. If you’re right, we can’t stop Myeong forces alone.”
“I’ll head out first.”
“Wait half a day.”
“Why, damn it?!”
“What I wanna know is, you lunatic—wait half a day. We’ve got company coming.”
“What…?”
“Even if Myeong moves, they’ve got limits on speed south. Don’t worry. Beggar Sect grips every back road in the Central Plains. We’ll beat them there for sure.”
“……”
“Trust me once, twice, three times.”
Rumble!
The Myeong family’s south gate swung open.
“Let’s go!”
Neigh!
Dozens of sturdy horses burst out spiritedly. Gleaming golden coats—prime Han Xue horses, so-called thousand-li steeds of priceless stock. Legs longer and slimmer than ordinary horses, speed at least double.
Thud thud thud!
Behind the thundering Han Xue horses, six more—shorter but bulkier and tougher—pulled a massive carriage. Ornate beyond belief, easily mistaken for an emperor’s palanquin.
Myeong Cheon rode inside that vast carriage, built solely for the world’s top family head. No chairs—just a huge silk bed for comfort on the move.
“Heh, solid lineup.”
Through a small forward window, he saw family warriors driving the dozens of Han Xue horses.
Whoosh.
Even the wind seemed to flee in awe. Over fifty masters, each astride a Han Xue horse—postures utterly unshaken by the dynamic gait.
Not bad.
All were branch family elites raised as Death Swords. Even before learning the Four Divine Arts, each rivaled or surpassed the Myeong Hak brothers. Now, each had mastered a Four Divine Art suited to their style.
Fifty-two such masters. Plus three hundred Red Dragon Army troops trailing the carriage—inner court forces like the White Dragon Army, the strongest of the Four Dragon Armies.
And himself. The strongest family head in Nine Provinces Myeong history—or so he believed.
This force could sweep a minor power like the Yeon family with ease.
They’re not fully refined, though.
The fifty leading masters hadn’t matched his mastery. They needed at least a year more, which irked him.
But it’d do.
Take Yeon Wi first.
He’d pick a fight by any means. Yeon Wi couldn’t dodge it. The Yeon family would crumble—and their dirt on the Myeong would vanish.
Genius strategy, really. Family heads should stay dignified, never move lightly. But shattering expectations with an unforeseen strike—that was true tactics.
“Kek!”
Good mood. Great, even. Heart pounding strong. Sturdier than before, thanks to Phoenix Qi.
“Hope we arrive sooner.”
How much time passed? A day, then midday of the second.
Neigh!
Myeong Cheon frowned. The lead Han Xue horses slowed, then whinnied in unison.
What’s this?
Then—
……?!
His face hardened.
Whoosh.
The wind from afar carried terrifying killing intent. No ordinary pressure—even he, head of the Nine Provinces Myeong family, flinched.
Myeong Cheon spoke. “Who dares block the road?”
“F-Family head!”
Panic laced the voice.
“What?”
“It’s Yeon Hojeong.”
“……What?”
“Yeon family’s eldest son, Yeon Hojeong. He’s blocking the road.”
Surprise filled Myeong Cheon’s eyes. “Yeon Hojeong? How the hell did he know?!”
“I-I don’t…”
Clunk!
Myeong Cheon flung open the carriage door and leaped out. Thud. In a blink, he stood atop the carriage roof.
His eyes shook.
“Hey.”
At the forked road ahead, a lean youth stood with a monstrously huge axe slung over his shoulder. Bloodstained white robes and coldly sunken eyes were striking. Mysterious aura radiated from him—presence so overwhelming, eyes were drawn inexorably.
“You…?!”
“You wouldn’t crawl out no matter how loud I yelled, so what choice did I have? Had to come fetch you myself.”
Myeong Cheon’s face stiffened. The voice from thirty jang away rang as clear as if whispered in his ear. Incredible inner power.
Yeon Hojeong flashed a meaningful smile.
“Finally caught you, you thieving bastard.”