Natural Enemy (7)
Thud!
Myeong Cheon's body staggered back. Whoosh!
The energy blazing from his hand raced up his wrist, elbow, and shoulder, spreading through his entire body in an instant.
Boom!
The ground trembled as he shifted his foot to steady himself. He hadn't even used a proper stance or footwork technique. Yet the earth shook as if struck by an earthquake.
Haaa.
Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky without realizing it. White vapor rose from his slightly parted lips.
Humm! Hummm! Hummmm!
A transparent red glow swirled beneath his clear skin, coursing through his whole body. Sizzle!
The Black Tortoise Qi retreated in surprise to his kidneys. Humm! Hum!
The red light enveloping his body encountered the White Tiger Qi. Whoosh!
Though utterly different energies, an inexplicable sense of kinship washed over him. The White Tiger Qi surged for a moment, enveloping the red light and settling it into his heart.
Crackle! Crackle! Whoosh!
The center of his blood-soaked robe burst into circular flames. Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded far stronger than usual. The force squeezing his blood vessels grew terrifyingly intense. Each pulse sent blood racing dozens of times through his body in a flash.
Hot. His heartbeat quickened, and his body temperature soared. Though a heat no human body could endure, the red light drove Yeon Hojeong's temperature even higher. Sizzle!
His form blurred in an instant. The extreme heat of his body clashed with the cold air, spewing steam.
Myeong Cheon and the Four Inspectors. Even the Red Dragon Army lined up behind the carriage. All of them stared at Yeon Hojeong.
But none could move.
'……!'
They had to swing their swords right now. Kill him immediately. Their emotions screamed as much.
Yet another emotion crashed over them like a tsunami, forcing their bodies to freeze. It was fear.
Siiiizzle!
Amid the pale steam, red radiance flickered wildly. Swoosh!
Suddenly, the steam cleared, revealing a young man crouched there, shrouded in red energy. Thump!
The sound of his heartbeat echoed like thunder in everyone's ears. Thump! Thump!
Yeon Hojeong slowly straightened his upper body. Whoooosh!
A white wind rose from his feet, shooting the heat permeating his body skyward. A whirlwind of red and white—or crimson and white.
The winds of the West Heaven, infused with the sun god's scorching heat, howled in ecstasy.
The Vermilion Bird of the Four Gods symbolizes the fire god of , representing summer. It governs the heart among the five viscera and six organs, invigorating life force.
The White Tiger maximizes lung function, granting immense stamina, reinforced muscles and bones, and formidable recovery. The Black Tortoise purges impurities for ironclad protection while preparing for the worst possible scenarios.
But White Tiger and Black Tortoise Qi alone didn't elevate offense, defense, and physical stability to their peak.
True security meant killing before being killed—surviving by slaying first. That was the essence of battlefield martial arts, the true meaning of killing techniques.
The White Tiger Qi, infused with heaven and earth's energies, resonated with the Vermilion Bird Qi, unleashing explosive power output.
It enhanced heart and lung capacity to extremes, manifesting the heavenly slaughter art that burned foes like beams of light with infinite output.
That was the Vermilion Bird.
Kill before dying, then kill the killer again. Among the Four Gods Martial Arts, it was the fastest and most ruthless.
Yeon Hojeong opened his eyes. Whoosh!
Myeong Cheon suddenly felt an inexplicable thirst. Hot. His throat parched. It felt like every drop of moisture in his body had evaporated.
The moment that brat opened his eyes and glared, the sensation hit him.
"I've been waiting."
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong, axe in hand, stomped forward with unyielding force. White Tiger Overlord Step.
"I'll end this quick."
Myeong Cheon's face twisted again. Though the youth's mystical aura dominated the scene, Myeong Cheon's killing intent hadn't died.
"What trick is this?!"
Whoosh!
Myeong Cheon's form vanished. Astonishing divine footwork. Few techniques in the entire martial world could match that speed.
But Yeon Hojeong saw it. Myeong Cheon's movements, the direction he aimed for even before moving, traced red lines in his vision. He even foresaw the technique and target.
Claaaang!
Myeong Cheon's eyes bulged. Yeon Hojeong parried the rear strike with an identical counter. Insane reaction speed.
But the axehead's destructive power was even more terrifying.
"Urk!"
Bam!
Myeong Cheon's body flew and crashed into the dirt.
"Eek!"
He somehow regained his posture and prepared Phoenix Flying to Heaven Sword again.
'……?!'
Myeong Cheon's eyes widened in shock. Yeon Hojeong had vanished.
'Where?!'
Boom!
"Gah!"
Myeong Cheon spewed blood and bounced sideways. Thud!
His eyes bloodshot, Yeon Hojeong appeared where he landed and drove a fist into his gut. The punch sank wrist-deep—a perfect hit.
"Urk!"
Myeong Cheon vomited blood. Blazing heat from his abdomen dismantled the Phoenix Qi, pounding through his five viscera and six organs. Terrifying penetration power. Phoenix Qi couldn't block it.
'H-how is this bastard...?'
And this speed—what the hell? When had he closed the distance?
Myeong Cheon gritted his teeth and unleashed Phoenix Palm. Boom!
The innocent palm strike cratered the ground. Yeon Hojeong had already vanished.
Three zhang and a chi away—beyond Phoenix Palm's range. Jaw-dropping speed.
Within combat range, it outpaced even Phoenix Flight.
Not mere footwork—a step technique specialized for annihilating foes. It harnesses explosive power for extreme speed. Simple, yet unmatched in velocity. Among the Four Gods' steps, it consumes the most inner energy.
And the assault.
Riiip!
The air tore with a sharper screech than expected. Shattering the wall of atmosphere, Yeon Hojeong flanked Myeong Cheon.
Myeong Cheon instinctively swung his sword. Clangclangclang!
Weapons clashed, sparking real flames.
'Urgh!'
Myeong Cheon staggered back. Overpowered in raw strength. That power stemmed from speed, enabled by the Vermilion Bird Qi scorching his heart.
Riiiip!!
Myeong Cheon saw Yeon Hojeong balloon in his vision.
"You filthy bastard!"
His greatsword traced a cross. Flying Phoenix Cross Blade from Phoenix Flying to Heaven Sword.
Flash! Boom!
The cross sword qi obliterated the carriage he'd arrived on. Devastating sword art. Even with disrupted inner energy from invading Vermilion Bird Qi, he unleashed this. Fitting for the head of the world's top clan.
'As expected, strong.'
Even gripped by madness, outmaneuvered psychologically, inner energy crippled. Myeong Cheon was still formidable. Despite halving his power, frontal victory wasn't assured.
This was a Seven Great Clans' patriarch. Master of the supreme clan.
However.
"Your martial arts will be mine too, as your master."
Thud!
Chain Flying Swallow Palm struck his midsection upward. Myeong Cheon spewed blood and floated into the air.
Yeon Hojeong, glaring fiercely, poured Vermilion Bird Qi into his axe.
Black Tortoise for defense, White Tiger for offense. Then what of Vermilion Bird?
Instant death technique.
The South Heaven's ruler, flame incarnate's calamity, struck Myeong Cheon's body.
Thudthudthudthud!
"Gaaargh!"
Blood sprayed everywhere. Whoosh. Thump!
Myeong Cheon rolled across the ground. Drenched in gore. His body, shredded by the six-chi great axe, was a horrific sight. Not dead, but immobile.
Yeon Hojeong stood tall; Myeong Cheon writhed pathetically. Victory decided.
"Huff!"
Yeon Hojeong's face paled blue.
'Pushed too hard.'
Slashed twice by Myeong Cheon's sword. Deep wounds tearing veins and nicking bone. Awakening Vermilion Bird Qi amid severe internal injuries, then suppressing the foe with explosive movement. His vision spun.
Fizzzz.
This was the limit. The mystical aura from Yeon Hojeong faded swiftly. The Three Gods Qi dispersed.
The Four Inspectors and Red Dragon Army, dazed by the duel, snapped to.
"I-impossible!"
Myeong Jeokryang bellowed.
"What are you fools doing?! Kill him now!"
"Kill him!"
The Four Inspectors charged Yeon Hojeong. The Red Dragon Army drew blades from the rear. Desperate crisis.
"Stand down!"
Boom!
A thunderous sword qi sealed the Four Inspectors' advance. Yeon Hojeong looked up.
"Young master! Are you alright?!"
Yeon Hojeong smiled bitterly.
"You broke the seal after all."
A majestic aura rose from Sin Mo's body—utterly different from his original power. Manifestation of one of the Yeon Family's Five Divine Arts: Dragon Embrace Divine Art.
Sin Mo shouted.
"Chaeng-eungdae, protect the young master!"
"Yes, sir!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Dazed by Yeon Hojeong's godlike duel, they now drew swords with resolve to die for him.
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
'This is bad.'
The Four Inspectors were one thing, but holding off the Red Dragon Army too? Even with rear reinforcements, it'd devolve into chaos.
Then, a booming voice erupted as if on cue.
"Warriors of the Myeong Family, declared public enemies of Murim—kneel where you stand!"
"Woooah!"
Hundreds of warriors surged from the Red Dragon Army's rear. Astonishing numbers. Each executed restrained footwork with veteran precision.
Leading them: Gadeuksang and I Cheolgyeong.
Gadeuksang bellowed again.
"All Myeong Family warriors, kneel! You've been declared public enemies of Murim!"
Horror spread across Myeong Jeokryang's face.
"W-what?!"
"The Provisional Martial Alliance has declared the Nine Provinces Myeong Family public enemies! Resist, and none of you will escape death!"
"What nonsense is this?!"
Gadeuksang's eyes gleamed. He drew a document from his bosom.
The heads of the Nine Great Sects and Seven Great Clans hereby declare the Myeong Family public enemies of Murim. All affiliates are subject to pursuit and execution orders upon resistance.
'……!'
"Drop your weapons now! Any resistance means pursuit orders on every Myeong Family member from this moment!"
Myeong Jeokryang paled. A beggar with eight knots—the Open Faction's Sub-Division Leader. From his mouth came "public enemy of Murim" and "pursuit order."
Flustered Four Inspectors and Red Dragon Army turned to Myeong Jeokryang.
'Th-this...!'
He couldn't grasp the situation.
Gadeuksang smirked.
"Not dropping them?"
'……!'
"Fine, your fault—the Myeong Family's done for."
Gadeuksang turned to I Cheolgyeong.
"Sword Pavilion Leader! Send word to the Division Leader now! Issue pursuit orders on the entire Myeong Family!"
"Understood."
Myeong Jeokryang panicked.
"W-wait! We'll drop them! Just hold on!"
"You punk! Should've done it sooner!"
Gadeuksang grinned at Yeon Hojeong and subtly thumbs-upped.
"Ain't I cool?"
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"I did all the work, and you take credit."
"Bullshit, you crazy bastard. You wanted to fight."
"No words left."
"Kekekeke."
Cackling heartily, Gadeuksang tilted his head.
"Huh? What're you doing?"
Yeon Hojeong gripped his axe and rose. Even one step looked grueling.
"Rest a bit? You look half-dead."
"Still got work."
"Work? What work?"
"Revenge."
"……Huh?"
Yeon Hojeong walked toward the fallen Myeong Cheon. His eyes burned with feral killing intent.
"He said he'd hack off my limbs. On second thought, that sounds like decent revenge."
"……?!"
"Don't try stopping me. I spared him on purpose."