Same Bed, Different Dreams (2)
Yeon Hojeong, the beggar, and So Cheong burst out of the beggar den. Far down the mountain path, three beggars were descending.
So Cheong's eyes widened. "Why are they suddenly...?"
In that instant, Yeon Hojeong's eyes flashed. "Hold onto this until I come back for it."
Thud! He tossed the axe carelessly and shot forward.
Whoosh!Roar! He flung open his lungs with White Tiger Qi, heated his heart with Vermilion Bird Qi. At the same time, he poured Bi-ra Jin-gyeol into his legs.
Boom! Yeon Hojeong surged ahead faster than ever, a grave shadow crossing his face.
Killing intent!
Flash! From the rear of the descending beggars, a sharp spike of killing intent erupted.
Yeon Hojeong's eyes wavered. "Danger!"
Splat! One beggar collapsed, spewing blood. It wasn't the torso—his head. Something had struck the back of his skull dead-on, piercing through his forehead and embedding in the ground.
An arrow?!
"Aaaargh!"
The remaining two beggars accelerated wildly, terror rendering them half-mad. Yeon Hojeong pushed his speed even harder.
Boom! Booom!
He was fast, but at the same time, too slow. The distance was too great. Faster than before, but not enough to close the gap in a heartbeat.
Damn it!
Splat! Another beggar tumbled, his head likewise pierced.
Yeon Hojeong looked up. Atop the distant peak stood a figure, clearly drawing a massive greatbow. The image burned into his eyes.
From there?
Incredible. Over seventy jang in straight-line distance. Hitting the head precisely from that far.
Flash! Another sharp killing intent surged. The distance shrank rapidly. Now just over ten jang from the beggar.
For a split second, crimson flames flickered in Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
Roar!Boom!
With three steps of Blood Wing Swing Heaven, he closed the gap in an instant. At that moment, the bowstring was released.
Whiiiiiish!
Fearsome speed. The air around the spinning arrow swirled like a vortex. An unbelievably swift straight shot.
Fast. I'll miss.
Grabbing the beggar would take longer than the arrow piercing his head. In that fleeting moment, he judged.
He infused Black Tortoise Qi into his outstretched hand.
Boom! "Guhk!"
The beggar flew backward. The rebound force of North Heaven Twelve Walls.
Shwick! Splat!
The arrow grazed the beggar's forehead, nicked Yeon Hojeong's arm, and thudded into the ground. He swiftly yanked it free and charged up the mountain path.
The beggar would live. Internal injuries inevitable, but his life was spared—that was something. Now, the priority was that nameless archer.
Capture that archer, and it was done.
Startled by the miss, perhaps? The archer, who had paused to watch, nocked another arrow to the greatbow.
Creaaak! The bowstring's tension echoed even here. It demanded immense strength.
No way...
A name flashed in Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
Muk Bi?!
Was that really her? Could he encounter Muk Bi this soon, and by chance?
Doubts flooded him, but now was the time to clear his mind. That archer's arrow was aimed squarely at him.
The archer released.
Twaaaang!
Simultaneously, Yeon Hojeong shifted diagonally left.
Splat!
The arrow punched through a tree trunk and into the earth. He'd realized it when the Open Faction beggar died—this was monstrous power. It pierced a massive tree like tofu, shaft and all burying into the ground.
That penetration—even Yeon Hojeong couldn't block it head-on. Mid-flight interception or evasion were the only options.
And it wasn't easy to snatch mid-air.
Boom! Booom!
Yeon Hojeong closed in rapidly.
What the...?
The archer didn't flee. He drew three arrows from his belt, nocking one. A clear threat.
As the distance narrowed, the razor-sharp killing intent stung his forehead.
This guy...
Even in urgency, Yeon Hojeong couldn't hide his puzzlement.
Build's different.
Larger than Muk Bi. Not her, then. Taller frame, longer limbs. Crucially, Muk Bi used a composite bow, not a greatbow. Her specialty was rapid chained shots with a custom composite bow.
Yeon Hojeong's gaze turned icy. Not Muk Bi. No need to hold back.
Crimson energy erupted from his heart, flooding his body in an instant.
Kwaaang!
Ultra-speed Blood Wing Swing Heaven vaulted three boulders at once. A sudden burst.
The archer panicked, firing his remaining two arrows.
Splat! Splat!
Misses. This was a battle of distance.
Blood Wing Swing Heaven drained inner energy heavily—unsustainable in chains—but no choice now.
Creaaak!
The bowstring drew again.
Whoosh!
He released Vermilion Bird Qi and Blood Wing Swing Heaven, switching to Bi-ra Jin-gyeol footwork. Slower than Blood Wing Swing Heaven, but smoother, more fluid.
Twenty jang!
At this range, even if he fled, Yeon Hojeong could catch him.
His eyes fixed on the archer—then bulged wide.
Whoooosh!
Just one arrow. A common wooden shaft, not even a special iron one.
Yet this pressure...?
Spinning thread force?
The qi concentrated at the arrowhead whipped up a massive vortex. High-level spin drawing in all surrounding air.
The problem? Yeon Hojeong knew that technique.
His mouth gaped.
Dragon Fang Cannon!!
The archer released.
Bwooooom!!
The air seemed to burn. Recognizing it, Yeon Hojeong abandoned interception. He hurled himself behind a tree.
The vortex arrow slammed into it.
Kwaaaang!
It shredded the thick trunk whole, pulverized a boulder, and cratered the earth.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The tree toppled, shattered rock sprayed everywhere.
Crack! Craaack! Rumble!
Rocks collided, ricocheting into more trees, shoving others aside. One arrow's devastating power triggered a small landslide.
The unstable hillside amplified it into an uncontrollable disaster as trees fell and rocks rolled.
Kwakwakwa boom!
The fifteen-jang area ahead of the archer was devastated.
Rumble...
The quake finally stopped. Dust billowed everywhere.
The archer slightly lifted his bamboo hat. A glint flashed in his sharp eyes.
"...Got him."
Fifteen jang—close enough to sense presence. None emanated. Dead for sure.
Should I get the last one?
One beggar escaped. One had seen his face. For safety, eliminate all.
Then—
Tap tap.
Numerous footsteps approached from afar. Martial artists among them.
No choice.
Anyway, at this point, being seen didn't matter. He'd only tried killing to be thorough; the carriage was already rolling.
One thing nagged: that youth charging till the end.
Impressive skill.
Never imagined he'd force out Dragon Fang Cannon. Without it, capture was possible.
Swish.
The archer turned. Business done.
But he should have checked more carefully.
Flash.
A shadow had already crested the ridge, eyeing the archer's escape path.
* * *
"So, did you get them all?"
"Yes."
"Good work. Here, take this."
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. You and I, clinging to life on the edge—same boat. No need to be grateful every time."
Baek Gung-cheon took the pill from the old man and bowed slightly.
"Cough! Cough! Urk!"
Hacking harshly, he vomited blood. The old man sighed.
"How long since the last?"
"...Three days."
"You fool, if the seizures shorten, you should say so."
"..."
"So frustrating."
Rummaging through herbs, the old man pulled out a pitch-black pill.
"Take this too."
"Thank you."
Swallowing both, Baek Gung-cheon sighed softly. The effect was swifter than expected—his body eased instantly.
But he knew this wasn't good. Fast relief meant harsh poison, and needing it signaled his body was already ruined.
"A question."
"What?"
"How much time left?"
"..."
"Movements duller than before. Less strength drawing the Jiao Dragon Greatbow. Lately, inner energy faintly dissipates."
"...Inner energy loss."
The old man sighed deeply.
"Already that far."
"...That bad?"
"As I said before, Zixin Hong is poison yet not. Upon poisoning, toxin gathers at the heart. No immediate antidote means death. The heartbound toxin endlessly devours vitality."
"I know. You told me."
"Your will and cultivation keep you alive. But Zixin Hong is vicious. Unable to easily drain your primal essence, it targets inner energy instead."
"..."
"Once it drains enough, end comes. Heart meridians rupture—instant death on the spot."
"That's why I ask. How much time."
"Half a month."
"..."
"At most. Could be five days if shorter."
Despite the shock, Baek Gung-cheon's expression held steady.
"Ga-ryeong's ritual is tomorrow?"
"Yes. As said, seven days and nights."
"Five days... seven nights..."
Baek Gung-cheon stood.
"Start today."
The old man urgently objected. "No. You spat blood—rest today."
"No time. Don't know when he'll show again. Must prepare now."
"What if you collapse!"
"Give me strong pills to avoid that."
"Sigh."
Resigned, the old man fetched a small box from under the table.
"Made it just in case. Two morning and evening."
"You've worked hard."
"You've borne the hardship."
"And will continue to."
Taking the box, Baek Gung-cheon headed for the door.
Then—
"Since when did Zixin Hong turn into a fatal illness?"
Slap!
Baek Gung-cheon whipped around, drawing his bowstring in lightning speed.
His eyes flashed. He spotted a shadow leaping through the window.
Thwip!Whiiiiiish!
Surprise crossed Baek Gung-cheon's face. A graze.
Boom! Creaaak!
Nocking again, but too late. The intruder flowed like gentle waves, subduing the old man in a breath.
"Gah!"
The old man's back straightened rigidly. The youth behind twisted his arms and throttled his throat, eyes gleaming.
"We already exchanged greetings, right?"
Baek Gung-cheon's eyes shook. "You...!"
"Your reflexes are art. Stance too—spitting image of that guy."
Yeon Hojeong said coldly. "Lower the bow."