Chapter 89. Same Bed, Different Dreams (1)
It was past midnight. Moyong Gun, having sent Yeon Hojeong off, sat alone nursing his liquor amid the cold, untouched food.
"Kuh, how long has it been since I drank this much?"
He had deliberately suppressed his internal energy, letting the alcohol seep in. His neck and face flushed deep red as a result.
Moyong Gun wore a hazy smile. He was reminiscing about his conversation with Yeon Hojeong.
'But this permit, sir. Isn't it utterly useless?'
'What insolence! It bears the Moyong family seal.'
'I don't trust evidence from someone I don't trust. And before trusting anyone, I analyze the situation first. You and I—we're both far too greedy to proceed on mutual faith alone, aren't we?'
'......'
'I'll leave this here. Buy me a drink sometime later.'
Moyong Gun glanced at the permit lying nearby.
"......A slippery eel of a man."
Incredible. The word didn't do him justice—no matter how many times he said it.
"Listen, Hojeong. You're perfect in every way, but you overlooked one thing."
Tzztzzt.
The permit fluttered through the air amid rippling killing intent, landing atop a greasy dish.
"A jagged stone gets chiseled smooth. They say a needle in a bag pricks through on its own—that the truly outstanding reveal themselves without effort—but that doesn't hold in the martial world. Do you know why?"
He muttered as if Yeon Hojeong sat beside him.
Moyong Gun grinned.
"Martial artists worry too much. They can't leave a protruding needle alone. Once they spot one poking out, they grab it and twist it off."
He was too outstanding to leave be. Sharp-minded, quick on the uptake. He grasped the heart of matters instantly, piecing situations together to divine the flow. Such a man must never receive too much information. He'd analyze and synthesize it, uncovering the hidden truth beneath. Nor could he be given much time—even without data, he'd deduce events and peer right through them.
A tricky one. He couldn't be left alone.
"Ideally, he'd taste some bitterness in Anhui. Or has he already?"
Moyong Gun turned. Astonishingly, a burly man in his forties stood in the room's shadowed corner, arms crossed.
"You knew I was here?"
"Haha! Of course. How could I miss your signature windy internal energy?"
The man's eyes sank deep. The moment he revealed his presence, a subtle pressure like mist emanated from him. No ordinary master.
"Why not come sooner? You could've gotten a look at Yeon Hojeong."
"Not interested."
"Heh, same as ever."
"So, just leak it to the Namgung family?"
"Exactly. As you know, the source must never be revealed."
"Namgung family head is sharp. He won't buy info without a source."
"But he won't just sit idle either. Curiosity alone will make him move."
"One question?"
"Ask away."
"Why obsess over this Yeon Hojeong?"
Moyong Gun's eyes chilled instantly.
"Because he's too exceptional."
"That much?"
"Not even twenty yet. And here I am, tense over a kid like that. Even when I ousted my brothers and seized the family head seat, none were like him."
"......"
"Get it? At his age, he sees exactly what I see—a monster. And his martial prowess is top-notch too."
"......"
"If he keeps growing, who knows what terrifying beast he'll become."
The burly man felt a chill in his chest. He knew Moyong Gun well—his abilities, his nature. He didn't trust him, yet couldn't escape him either.
'Someone who makes the great Moyong Gun tense......'
The man spoke. "What if the kid catches on?"
"No matter. Even if he spots the trap, he won't strike back."
"How can you be sure?"
Moyong Gun smiled. "He knows the terror of public opinion. That's why we're leaking it to the Namgung family."
"......"
"Love is a fearsome thing. And pride, just as much. To the Namgung, Yeon Hojeong is that sort."
"......"
"Well then, shall we begin?"
Moyong Gun raised his cup.
"Results don't matter. What counts is the conflict. Whether he dies, gets smashed, or crawls back alive—it'll be quite the show."
* * *
Having sent the Chaeng-eungdae back to Yeon Manor, Yeon Hojeong savored rare solitude.
Thrum!
His ascent along the mountain path was light and swift. No ordinary man could match that speed carrying an eighty-geun iron axe on his shoulder. It deserved the name of first-rate lightness skill.
'Tiring, as expected.'
He trained his lightness skill using minimal internal energy. Unlike after the later-generation summit, when he'd practiced Jin-gak by heavily drawing it up with maximum power. Now, he pushed it out lightly with minimal force.
Light, push, scatter, release, soft—these five essences formed the core of lightness technique.
Only when fully embodied and unconsciously wielded did one reach the realm.
'Still lacking.'
The Four Gods Martial Arts Yeon Hojeong practiced was unrivaled under heaven. But he'd never specialized in lightness skills. Even as the Black Emperor. What mattered was fighting and killing, not pursuit. Besides, his stamina was unmatched in the Central Plains; he could run days without tiring.
But now was different.
'Need to bolster my lightness skill. To avoid past regrets.'
At least then, he had trusted subordinates. Now, everything fell to him alone.
'Must master it all. Become omnipotent.'
Thrum!
He accelerated. A day passed, two days, yet Yeon Hojeong pressed on. When exhausted, he'd drink water and scarf down rice balls. No sleep. Only on the third day did he collapse spread-eagled on some nameless wild hill.
Brutal training. Surviving it was a blessing.
The next day, after over six hours' sleep, he resumed lightness training, racing toward Bagong Mountain.
Days later, he finally entered Anhui.
Whoosh!
Torrential rain poured. It'd rage another four or five days at least. Yeon Hojeong halted his training. Entering Anhui meant stepping into the battle zone. Now, build stamina, maintain peak condition.
Splash! Splash!
Slipping down the rain-soaked path several times, he descended. At last, he reached Shanyin Inn, a grand establishment in Taihua County, Anhui.
"Best rear garden room, south-facing. And draw me a bath."
"Y-yes, sir."
To preempt beggar treatment, he flashed a gold nyang. The errand boys' attitudes flipped.
The inn bustled, but none pegged him for the rumored figure. His imposing axe couldn't offset the wretched state. A relief—fatigue was his enemy.
"Uaaah."
Two hours later, bathed and devouring a full table of food, Yeon Hojeong collapsed onto the bed.
"......You train like a maniac. Are you really the Black Emperor?"
The next day. After sleeping all day, he woke at dusk to a peculiar presence outside the window. He rose.
"Nngh. Who's there?"
Astoundingly, a calm voice drifted from atop the roof beyond the window.
"From Huangfeng Pavilion."
"Huangfeng Pavilion?"
"The Moyong family's intelligence arm."
"Ah."
He'd demanded intel from Moyong Gun. One piece: Anhui info. The Namgung dominated Anhui Province, but its vastness defied total grasp. Hence Huangfeng Pavilion agents lurked.
"Mid-report. I'll return tomorrow, same time."
"Thanks."
Swish.
A neatly sealed letter floated in from outside.
Different from Beggar Sect handling. The sect seemed scattershot but was far more organized, professional. No wonder called the White Path's top intel group.
Huangfeng Pavilion Mid-Report
Myeong Heo-rim's traces spotted. Has not yet exited Henan Province. Estimated position tracked via signs.
Safehouse location at Bagong Mountain: [coordinates/method described]. Entry requires specific protocol—observe from exterior.
Continuation tomorrow.
"Hm."
Sleep and fatigue vanished in an instant.
"Faster than expected."
Even choosing mountain paths for lightness training, he'd outpaced Myeong Heo-rim. The man hadn't left Henan yet. Inevitable—he moved in utmost tension, ever vigilant.
Huangfeng agents hadn't pinpointed him exactly, just approximated via traces.
'If I pursue from behind, he won't hit Bagong Mountain. Better go ahead and wait.'
The letter noted the safehouse spot. Useless without entry method, but waiting outside sufficed.
"In that case."
Yeon Hojeong's eyes deepened.
"I can meet her first."
Truthfully, no need to take this job. Moyong Woo mattered ten thousand times more than Myeong Heo-rim. But ignoring Muk Bi's presence? Impossible.
A faint smile touched Yeon Hojeong's face.
"Wonder what that lady was like in her youth."
Muk Bi was taciturn. Her past? Unknown. She always wore a mask. Only Yeon Hojeong had seen her true face.
The smile faded to indifference.
"Jinjian Gate."
Why had Muk Bi exterminated it? She wasn't one to loose arrows without cause. Even with Black Emperor Castle's top-three extreme arts, she refrained from needless killing. She knew restraint, responsibility. That's why Yeon Hojeong cherished her.
He rotated his wrist. Crackle—his arm loosened refreshingly.
"Time to move."
Anticipating Muk Bi soon, hunger eluded him. He'd stuffed himself before bed anyway.
He placed a foot on the windowsill.
Thrum!
A few days' dedicated training had lightened his springing technique noticeably.
From Taihua County's heart, he shot to the outskirts, soon spotting a shabby beggar den.
Paak!
"Gyaak! You scared me! Wh-who are you?"
Yeon Hojeong drew a black token from his bosom. The beggar's eyes sharpened.
"All Central Plains branches received the signal for later generations. Greetings, Young Master Yeon."
"Here for some info."
"Huangfeng Pavilion...?"
Even knew of his Huangfeng tie. Impressive network.
"Don't mesh with them. For intel, Beggar Sect's the way."
The beggar grinned.
"What info do you seek?"
"That Anhui Blood Bow at Bagong Mountain..."
Then—
Kraaack!
A faint scream erupted from the distant south. Yeon Hojeong and the beggar's faces changed.
Thrum!
The pair exploded from the beggar den.