Chapter 84. The Wind Does Not Break (2)
“Urgh.”
He was startled by the sound coming from his own mouth. So I can make noises like this too, he thought.
Damn it.
It had been half a month since his life-or-death duel with Myeong Cheon. For an ordinary person without martial cultivation, it would have been a wound that left them bedridden for months. But for him, who had survived countless asura fields beyond counting, it was nothing special.
I figured I'd be back on my feet in about ten days.
Wooong.
As he circulated his inner energy, strength flowed into his limbs. He'd recovered nearly eighty percent of his depleted energy, and his Three Divine Qis were thriving vigorously. And yet, he was still in this state.
The wound was healing far more slowly than it should have—unnaturally so.
Why?
His power overflowed, and his physical strength had returned. If the injury wasn't healing within the expected timeframe despite that, it had to be a problem with his qi.
Seated in the lotus position, Yeon Hojeong sank deeply into his inner body.
A moment later.
Whoosh!
Fiery red flames blazed—the Vermilion Bird Qi. Though the last of the energies he'd acquired, it was the most vigorous among the Three Divine Qis. Yeon Hojeong attributed this to his own temperament.
If Black Tortoise is the shield and White Tiger the spear, then Vermilion Bird is destruction incarnate.
It was such a fearsome energy that he hesitated to unleash it unless he intended to kill. In other words, its immense growth was proof that his heart still burned with thick killing intent.
Moreover, since his regression, he'd never felt death breathing down his neck as viscerally as he had in the fight with Myeong Cheon.
The Vermilion Bird Qi grew in proportion to the intensity of the crisis. His own killing intent and extreme sense of peril had fueled it to this level.
Yeon Hojeong also inspected his White Tiger Qi and Black Tortoise Qi.
Nothing wrong there either...
All three energies—White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—were fine. They differed in nature, but each had settled stably.
After thoroughly examining his body for a long while, Yeon Hojeong finally released the lotus position.
“No point chasing an answer that won't come.”
His body was recovering, at least. That was enough.
It was just as he rose from his seat.
“Young Master.”
“Ah, Captain Sin.”
“Um... we have a visitor.”
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
Again?
He was currently recuperating in a medical quarters somewhat removed from the Myeong family estate. Though the distance was considerable, it was still within their territory.
And perhaps because of that, martial artists from all over had been flocking here. It was only natural for curiosity to run high now that the Myeong family had been branded public enemies of the martial world.
Up to now, nearly a hundred people had come seeking Yeon Hojeong. He'd turned them all away, citing his treatment, but some had been utterly shameless, throwing tantrums. In the end, Sin Mo had even been forced to draw his sword a few times.
“I want to be alone. Send them away.”
“That's just it...”
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head. On second thought, Sin Mo would have handled it unless it was someone exceptional.
“Who is it?”
At that moment, a majestic voice boomed like thunder.
“It's me!”
She'd apparently forced her way in. Peeking out from behind Sin Mo was a woman with her head thrust forward.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes widened.
“You...?!”
“Hehe, surprised?”
“...”
“Whoa, that shocked? Heh, didn't expect that from you.”
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
“Jegal A-yeon.”
“Hey!”
Jegal A-yeon shrieked.
“You already forgot my name? Is that it? Making me feel all neglected like this!”
Yeon Hojeong chuckled. Now he understood why Sin Mo had looked so troubled. Still, Jegal A-yeon was one of the few he'd gotten close to during the conference.
“What brings you here?”
“What do you mean? The martial world's in an uproar because of you—gotta visit as a friend!”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“It's not because of me. It's the Myeong family that's got everyone stirred up.”
“Look at you dodging. But you're the spark that lit it all.”
Yeon Hojeong replied indifferently.
“It was personal bad blood. There was never any grand reason from the start.”
Jegal A-yeon smiled.
“Maybe not at first, but one popped up later, right?”
“No way to win alone. So I buried them all.”
His calm words sent chills down the listener's spine. No way to win alone? That implied he'd initially planned to take them on single-handedly.
Feasibility aside, the mere thought was extraordinary. And realizing he couldn't, he'd wiped out the entire Myeong family. Whether by force or strategy, eradicating a powerhouse like the Nine Provinces Myeong family in such a short time was no small feat for anyone.
Jegal A-yeon sighed.
“How'd you turn into such a monster at your age?”
“Calling someone a monster? Harsh words.”
“You know it's harsh?”
“No big deal.”
“There you go again. Fix that old-man talk already.”
“'No big deal' isn't old-man talk.”
“Ugh, you're making me tired already.”
“Then go.”
Jegal A-yeon snorted and marched right up, plopping down beside him. Yeon Hojeong scowled.
“Hot. Scoot over.”
“Liar.”
“Can't you see the weather? Move.”
“Nope! I'm your dharma protector—be grateful.”
“Cultivation's done. No need for protection.”
“Such an ingrate.”
Jegal A-yeon pulled a small golden pouch from her sleeve.
“Here, take this.”
Yeon Hojeong blinked dumbly.
“What's this?”
“Worried it's poisoned? Just take it if I say so.”
He accepted the pouch. Jegal A-yeon whipped her head away.
“Aigoo, even my dad's such a pushover. Giving away spirit pills to a guy like you—what's so cute about him?”
“Spirit pill?”
“It's a treasure called the Small Heaven Machine Pill. Eat it.”
Her tone had gotten a bit rough. Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
“What's a Small Heaven Machine Pill?”
Jegal A-yeon's jaw dropped.
“You don't know the Small Heaven Machine Pill?”
“Nope.”
“The Small Heaven Machine Pill? As in Small Heaven Machine Pill? That Small Heaven Machine Pill?”
“I said I don't know, man.”
“Hey! We're both from the Seven Great Clans—memorize the spirit pills each sect boasts about!”
“Why bother? Knowing won't let me steal 'em.”
“Give it back.”
“Don't take back what you gave.”
Jegal A-yeon fumed. She was clearly getting heated.
Then Sin Mo spoke cautiously.
“The Heaven Machine Pill is the Jegal clan's prized spirit pill. It divides into the Great and Small varieties, but even the Small Heaven Machine Pill is a treasure that greatly aids inner energy cultivation.”
Yeon Hojeong's ears perked up. He'd felt anticipation from the term “spirit pill,” but this sounded even better than expected.
“Yeah? So eating this boosts my inner energy?”
“The spirit pills refined by great sects all condense medicinal power to its utmost limits. They're nothing like the common elixirs floating around the jianghu.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes. It will greatly aid in restoring the Young Master's inner energy damaged in this battle.”
Yeon Hojeong glanced at Jegal A-yeon. She met his gaze with a smug, see? expression.
He nudged her arm with his elbow.
“No Great Heaven Machine Pill?”
“...Wow, good restraint. Don't think I just spared you—you almost got smacked for real.”
“Well, thanks anyway.”
Jegal A-yeon was flabbergasted. What was the Small Heaven Machine Pill? Though inferior to the Small Round Pill for raw inner energy gain, it excelled at stabilizing the body and universally enhanced one's innate power regardless of its nature—a treasure among treasures.
Yeon Hojeong grinned sheepishly. Seeing her stare blankly confirmed it was something impressive. Truth be told, he already owed her plenty, gift aside. He'd come all this way to deliver it.
Jegal A-yeon shook her head.
“Dad, even for a benefactor, this feels off.”
“Benefactor?”
“Ah, forget it! Eat it already!”
“Gonna eat first.”
“Argh!”
His talent for annoying people was peerless. After fuming for a while, Jegal A-yeon finally turned her back.
Sin Mo smiled and spoke.
“Since your friend is here, why not share a meal?”
“With her?”
“Yes. Without the Jegal clan's aid, you wouldn't have recovered so swiftly, Young Master.”
It was slow enough.
“What do you mean?”
“Before the battle, they preemptively secured Hanam's top physicians, just in case. Your condition was dire then, wasn't it?”
Would've been fine either way...
“Yeah.”
“The day you lost consciousness, the Tongcheon Divine Physician examined you personally before leaving.”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed. He knew the Tongcheon Divine Physician—one of the top three healers in the jianghu, renowned even among those called divine physicians.
He looked at Jegal A-yeon. She still sat with her back turned, arms crossed tightly. Clearly sulking.
Yeon Hojeong poked her side.
“Meal?”
“Eek! Hey! You crazy bastard—where you poking?!”
“Buy you something tasty. Eat?”
Jegal A-yeon cleared her throat. Her face flushed slightly, but her perked ears betrayed her interest.
“Ahem! You buying something tasty?”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Yeah. I'll get whatever you want.”
Truthfully, he felt indebted to her in many ways. Beyond this help, he'd suspected her—and the entire Seven Great Clans, for that matter. Being especially entangled with her, he'd been colder than necessary.
“Eheheh.”
Sin Mo inwardly chuckled at her dopey grin.
Right at that sweet age.
Then Yeon Hojeong asked.
“So, what's the situation with the Myeong family?”
“Ah...”
Sin Mo's face grew troubled.
“Is it okay to tell you?”
He'd withheld details to avoid hindering recovery. But seeing him today, it seemed fine.
“I know the gist from the physicians' chatter. Just want the details.”
“Understood. Then...”
That was when it happened.
“What situation? It's like a funeral house over there, kid.”
Shing!
Sin Mo's sword flashed toward the rear like a streak of light.
“Whoa? Nice aura. All that talk of Wild Wind Sword, and you've got some real sword energy.”
Sin Mo's eyes sharpened.
“Who are you?”
The old man grinned. Though past seventy, his teeth gleamed white like Gadeuksang's.
“Beggar chief.”
“...?”
“Heard my disciple got his lungs filled with wind thanks to some bastard. Came to see what kind of punk it was.”
“...!”
Sin Mo's eyes wavered.
“Could you be the Dragon Head of the Beggar Clan?”
“That's me.”
Clack!
Sin Mo sheathed his blade and cupped his fists crisply.
“I am Sin Mo, captain of the Bi-eungdae of the Bi-san Yeon family. Greetings to the Beggar Clan's Dragon Head.”
The Dragon Head, Hwajincheon, burst into laughter.
“They said it's a house of gentlemen, and your subordinates are managed impeccably. Haven't chatted with your family head yet, but seeing you tells me his character.”
“You overpraise me.”
“Haha.”
“Please leave now.”
“...Huh?!”
The smooth conversation cut off abruptly.
Sin Mo stated flatly.
“The Young Master is recovering. No unauthorized persons allowed.”
Hwajincheon's eyes sparkled. Even the Dragon Head of the world was being told to leave without permission.
Stiff one.
He liked it. As Hwajincheon opened his mouth to speak with a grin—
“Captain Sin.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“It's fine. He's already in—what's the point.”
“...Understood.”
Sin Mo stepped aside.
Hwajincheon eyed Yeon Hojeong. Seated calmly in lotus position, he resembled a painting. A mystical aura enveloped him entirely.
Hwajincheon's lips curved up. Subtle admiration glinted in his eyes.
No wonder Gadeuksang's impressed.
Yeon Hojeong rose and cupped his fists.
“I am Yeon Hojeong of the Yeon family.”
Hwajincheon regarded him steadily. Calm, with an air of leisure.
“Rumors call you the world's top butcher, but you're more normal-looking than I thought.”