Chapter 114
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The Three Dragons' Link Formation
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Leaving the Righteous Alliance headquarters, Yu Hyun and his group headed straight northwest, traveling nonstop for a full ten days before arriving at Dangang Village near Wudang Mountain.
Upon reaching Dangang Village, they made a beeline for the Righteous Alliance's local branch to wash off the grime of their journey and shake off their fatigue.
Why not climb Wudang Mountain itself since they were so close? Not a chance.
What kind of place was Wudang? It was the sacred heart of Taoism, standing tall alongside Shaolin as the twin pillars of the martial world.
If Shaolin dominated with fists and staffs, Wudang reigned with swords and palms.
They couldn't possibly ascend to such a stronghold of the orthodox martial world—the very heartbeat of it—in their current ragged state, a place that had endured for ages under the single banner of Wudang.
Even if their own Great Latent Dragon Squad was currently unremarkable, they would soon shake the world with their fame. Out of respect for that future prestige, they had to clean up and shine before paying a visit.
Yu Hyun paused for a moment, scanning his companions, and slowly nodded as if confirming his own judgment.
They really didn't look human.
Even if Wudang was full of dignified Taoists, showing up like this would invite nothing but disdain.
The trip from Wunan to Dangang Village wasn't mere travel—it had been a hellish ordeal for the Three Dragons, something they'd never endured before.
Straight ahead, no detours.
There were no breaks, none allowed.
They learned to dive when they hit water, scaled cliffs with bare hands, and hacked paths through forests battling trees.
Naturally, their appearance now rivaled that of beggars who'd rolled in the dirt for a decade.
Staring blankly at his men—men who'd believe you if you called the Three Dragons the Three Beggars—Yu Hyun shook his head and urged them onward.
* * *
Finally staggering into the Righteous Alliance's Dangang branch, they unpacked, ate, and savored the rare respite.
"Dangang Village is pretty lively. Without the Alliance branch, snagging rooms would've been tough."
"It's because Spring Festival is coming up."
"Spring Festival?"
"Yes. Only a few months left."
"So... a few months still to go..."
When Yu Hyun asked with a puzzled look, Gae Du-sin explained what he knew.
Spring Festival marked the start of the new year with grand celebrations.
One key custom was pasting talismans and writings on doors and walls to pray for blessings.
That's why people flocked to Wudang months in advance, paying hefty donations for talismans infused with Taoist power.
Yu Hyun listened quietly, then clicked his tongue.
Nice words, but it all stemmed from human frailty and superstition.
As if pasting that stuff created blessings out of thin air or banished misfortune.
Why shell out money for such nonsense?
The more he thought about it, the more incomprehensible it seemed, furrowing his brow slightly—until he glanced at the three in front of him and scowled deeper.
Frailer than chicks fresh from the egg.
Come to think of it, these guys were the ones who really needed talismans. Who knew what fights lay ahead?
If they ran into Na Ha-chu or Bang Hae-gun without him around, they'd drop dead in seconds.
Personal training was fine, but grabbing some Wudang talismans first couldn't hurt.
Decision made, Yu Hyun spoke with a grave expression.
"Kids."
"Yes, Captain."
"I've been thinking hard, and you all need to get stronger."
"......?"
"So I'm going to have you train in something different from before."
"......!"
Yu Hyun's words lit up the weary eyes of the Three Dragons.
Fatigue? What was that?
Nangong Seong and Gae Du-sin had already reaped the benefits of his devilish training, and even Dang Sa-dog—who hadn't tried it yet but had heard plenty—swallowed hard.
Training unlike before. Training to grow stronger.
What words could tempt a martial artist more?
"Wh-what kind of training?"
Nangong Seong asked, face taut with tension.
The other two looked just as eager. Gae Du-sin was snorting through his nose.
"Link formation."
"Pardon?"
"What did you say?"
"Link formation?"
Maybe because their expectations were sky-high, bewilderment spread across the Three Dragons' faces.
"Uncle? What do you mean? Link formation?"
"Why?"
"Pardon?"
"You don't know what a link formation is?"
"......"
Yu Hyun tilted his head and scowled, prompting awkward smiles from the Three Dragons.
Who wouldn't know what a link formation was?
Link formation. A staple in countless sects across the Central Plains, letting weaker fighters tackle stronger foes.
Especially their families—households so renowned everyone knew their unique link formations.
"Uncle, it's not that I don't understand the concept. Link formations aren't easy. To execute them seamlessly, you need to know each other's martial arts better than anyone. For masters from different sects thrown together hastily..."
"Where are the masters here?"
"Pardon?"
"You a master?"
"......"
Nangong Seong's face flushed crimson at Yu Hyun's words, clamping his mouth shut.
"Then you, beggar boy? You a master?"
"......"
"You, poison boy?"
"......"
No one answered.
"Master" was always relative. Compared to Yu Hyun, they were rank amateurs, plain as day.
Sure, they were all top talents from their clans and sects—Nangong Seong had even tasted the realm of qi reinforcement.
"Can't even flash your clan plaque anywhere without shame... If you're masters, flies are dragons, you idiots."
"......"
The Three Dragons' faces twisted at Yu Hyun's blunt words.
They'd never been called lacking or inferior before, but coming from him, rebuttal felt impossible.
"Think about it. Iron Escort Agency's Na Ha-chu. Haenam Island's Bang Hae-gun."
"......"
"If the Water Dragon King or I hadn't been there, what would've happened to you?"
"......"
"The enemies we'll face ahead are strong. You're weak."
The Three Dragons pouted at his words stabbing right at their hearts.
"Close your eyes and picture it. Yesterday, you three sparred with me. Ten bouts, ten losses. That's your current level."
"Ugh."
"Mm..."
"Sigh."
The merciless follow-up drew groans as each nursed their mental wounds.
"Why'd you lose?"
"......?"
"It was three-on-one in name only—basically one-on-one. While one attacked, the other two barely joined in, hanging back."
"......"
"But what if you'd used a link formation against me?"
"......!"
The Three Dragons' eyes widened at Yu Hyun's hypothetical.
Nangong Seong, hovering between peak intent and nascent qi reinforcement. Gae Du-sin and Dang Sa-dog at peak intent.
Even accounting for power loss in linking, three at their level would easily double in strength.
Eyes gleaming with hope, the three suddenly deflated in unison, faces falling as realization hit.
How could they, with their wildly different martial arts, link up smoothly like flowing water?
"Tsk tsk. You're too fixated on meshing your martial arts perfectly. No wonder you can't see it."
"......"
"Du-sin."
"Yes?"
"What's your specialty?"
"Uh... lightness skill?"
"Right, dodging. No one in close combat dodges like you. And your knack for minimizing impact—top-notch."
"Well... scavenging on the streets as a kid meant beatings galore, and even in the Beggars' Sect, getting thrashed by senior beggars was daily routine."
"It's an elite skill. Toughness isn't common."
"Heh... hehe."
Gae Du-sin grinned sheepishly at the unexpected praise, ducking his head.
"Seong, you?"
"Sword...?"
"Right. Since training the Seven Emotions, you wield strength, weakness, softness, hardness at will."
"Yeah, all thanks to you, Uncle."
"Especially with wave qi—that amplifies your power enough to shatter foes in one blow."
Nangong Seong nodded proudly at Yu Hyun's words.
"Finally, Sa-dog."
"I'm specialized in hidden weapons. Strongest in the Central Plains, you could say?"
"......"
Buoyed by his friends' praise, Dang Sa-dog shrugged boastfully.
...Strongest in the Central Plains was bullshit, but his long-range prowess was real.
"Now think. Du-sin excels at dodging and tanking hits lightly, so in close quarters, he focuses solely on binding the enemy's movements. Seong hammers with raw power. Sa-dog picks off gaps from afar. See?"
"......!"
After a moment's thought, the Three Dragons' eyes flew wide, mouths agape in enlightenment.
Yu Hyun shook his head at their identical expressions, like one person.
Clansmen and sect disciples were such a pain. Never thought to blend their obvious specialties.
While Gae Du-sin stalled, Nangong Seong unleashes devastating close-range strikes, Dang Sa-dog covers from distance and exploits openings.
Call it the Three Dragons Link Formation?
With proper practice, they'd handle strong foes no problem.
"What do you think?"
"It... could work."
"Might even be decent..."
As Nangong Seong and Dang Sa-dog nodded, Gae Du-sin—still dubious after much deliberation—ventured cautiously.
"Um... Captain?"
"Yeah?"
"If we fight like you say, I'll be exposed to every enemy attack... Seems way too risky."
"......"
Yu Hyun nodded calmly at Gae Du-sin's earnest objection, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Beggar boy."
"Yes?"
"What's a beggar's fate, in your view?"
"......Uh, a life of mooching?"
"Nope."
"Then?"
"Scavenging, getting beat, and dying on the roadside."
"......"
Gae Du-sin's face went slack at Yu Hyun's words.
...Was that crap for real?
But Yu Hyun's dead-serious tone left him speechless.
"Alright, rest up and huddle together. Brainstorm which techniques to use in the link formation and the attack sequence. Recall our spars— you'll come up with something solid."
"......"
"I'll go sightsee Dangang Village for a bit."
Yu Hyun patted Gae Du-sin's shoulder encouragingly once more and headed out.
"Hmm, worth a shot."
"Yeah. Link formations don't require identical martial arts, right?"
"Exactly. Say we're facing Uncle. Du-sin dodges lethal blows, tanks or evades to pin him down. I dive in from the left with Lightning Flash Thirteen Thunders."
"Good. I'll scatter Heavenly Maiden Flower Petals in that gap?"
"Oho? Nice. If Du-sin holds just a few exchanges..."
Nangong Seong and Dang Sa-dog eagerly swapped ideas, citing their best techniques.
"Um, guys?"
"Yeah?"
Gae Du-sin, who'd listened quietly, spoke up gravely.
"Hypothetically, in a bout with the Captain."
"......?"
"What if he slips my pin? Won't I eat your Lightning Flash Thirteen Thunders and Heavenly Maiden Flower Petals full-force?"
"......"
Dang Sa-dog and Nangong Seong paused at the earnest question, then murmured on.
"One sacrifice..."
"A noble offering. Next link: amplify the Emperor Sword Form's first stance with fury to pressure the foe."
"Hmm, heavy... I'll follow with Nine Rings Slaughter."
"......"
H-hey. You heartless bastards.
Ain't it too reckless just 'cause it's not your necks?
And that ain't a link formation—it's a scapegoat setup!