Why Aren't You Coming With Me Now?
Yeop Hyeon raised an eyebrow, and Muk Won nodded.
"That's right. It's a training lineage passed down from long ago. But due to certain reasons, it was nearly wiped out, and now only a tiny handful of successors remain. The two of us are the last full inheritors of Yudo, bearing the responsibility to revive it."
"Why me, of all people?"
Muk Won chuckled lightly at Yeop Hyeon's question.
"The two of us have attended Canglan Academy under Dean Canglan, as well as Cangmu Academy in Qingzhou. They bear the name of academies, but aside from academics, they focus solely on elevating students' martial prowess. To them, students' knowledge or ideals mean nothing."
Muk Won met Yeop Hyeon's gaze squarely.
"Just as we were on the verge of giving up, Gu National Scholar brought us here. Seeing how Dean Yeop treats us filled us with hope. And for someone so young to have already reached near Sword Lord attainment—it's nothing short of miraculous."
"How did you discern my cultivation!?"
Yeop Hyeon exclaimed in surprise.
He had certainly concealed his power within the Dochik.
Muk Won smiled in response.
"If I'm not mistaken, there's a Dochik within your body."
They can detect the Dochik?
Yeop Hyeon's expression grew grave. He had underestimated these two.
"Don't worry. We harbor no ill will toward you, nor do we have the strength for it."
They had already witnessed the sword immortal's power before.
No— the martial art she displayed was one even a sword immortal would struggle to emulate. Perhaps she was something beyond even that, they thought.
The realization sent cold sweat trickling down their backs.
Of course, their choice of Yeop Hyeon stemmed from the academy's guiding principles he had proclaimed upon founding Canglan Academy.
Yeop Hyeon's emphasis on scholarship and the nation was crucial to them. What they sought was to spread academic pursuits and Yudo philosophy. If Canglan Academy grew after embracing their ideals, Yudo would naturally spread far and wide once more.
And another reason: Yeop Hyeon was extraordinarily strong.
People don't listen to the words of the weak. In that regard, he was the perfect choice.
Silence fell for a moment.
Muk Won and the others waited quietly for Yeop Hyeon's reply.
Soon, he spoke.
"But I don't even know what Yudo is."
Muk Won laughed.
"No need to worry about that. If you ever find flaws in Yudo later, you can cut ties with us anytime. Joining Yudo is merely formal—you can ally with other powers without issue if you wish. We only ask that you act as our representative, or lend your name when we hold scholarly gatherings to spread Yudo thought. In return, we'll support Canglan Academy with all we have."
At that moment, Bong Nam, who had been listening from the side, stepped forward.
"In short, it's mutual cooperation for scholarship, without hierarchies."
Yeop Hyeon finally broke into a broad smile.
"If that's the case, there's no problem at all."
"Hahaha! Just as we hoped!"
Muk Won handed Yeop Hyeon the box containing the twelve golden figures. Yeop Hyeon accepted it without refusal.
"But how do I use these?"
"Simple. Infuse them with spirit energy. Awakening one requires about a hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones. Remember, the duration is roughly one gak."
Yeop Hyeon was stunned.
"A hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones per figure!? And only for one gak? You're not mistaken, are you?"
"Hahaha! That's how potent they are. Awaken all twelve, and even a Myriad Laws Realm expert could fall."
Yeop Hyeon shook his head with a wry smile.
He currently had just over a million top-grade spirit stones. Awakening all twelve would exhaust them entirely—for a single gak!
Too expensive, too short!
These golden figures were truly for use only when death loomed inescapably. One activation, and he'd be penniless.
Then Muk Won spoke again.
"One more thing: We're entangled in worldly grudges too. Openly aiding you might harm you and Canglan Academy. We'll help from the shadows."
Yeop Hyeon grinned.
"If you help, I'll be grateful!"
"Haha, mutual aid—no need for formalities."
Muk Won added, as if recalling something.
"By the way, do you still remember Gu National Scholar?"
"Of course!"
"She's a Bingdo Jeonin, in the same boat as us. The one she chose is Ninth Princess Gu. Daeun Empire's mobilization could be her opportunity. Since you're in the Imperial City, why not meet her? You might gain something."
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Understood. After I leave, I entrust Canglan Academy to you both, though it'll be a burden."
Muk Won stroked his long beard.
"Worry not. Go carefully and return safely."
Yeop Hyeon nodded lightly and parted ways.
Gazing at his retreating figure, Muk Won murmured.
"He might be our sole hope in the Qingcang Realm."
"Likely so. The pity is his myriad enemies: Cangmu Academy, the Shadow Realm, and now Daeun Empire... Sigh, troubling!"
"No matter. As our only hope, we won't let him fall to them."
Finishing with the two, Yeop Hyeon entered the Canglan Hall.
There, Yeop Hyeon, Ji An Zhi, and Bai Ze sat around a table for the first time in ages.
Before them lay four dishes and a soup.
Yeop Hyeon set down his bowl after slurping the refreshing broth.
"Tomorrow at noon, we'll depart with the students."
"Instructor Yeop, I'm going too."
"Me too!"
Bai Ze and Ji An Zhi spoke up eagerly.
As Yeop Hyeon silently regarded them, Bai Ze continued.
"Instructor Yeop, this battle may be the final one. We return together or are buried at Gaeyang Fortress together."
Yeop Hyeon remained silent, so Bai Ze pressed on.
"Waiting here for news would torture me. Let's all go. What do you say?"
Finally, Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Fine. We all leave together tomorrow!"
"Great! Haha! Another bowl, friend!"
By the time they finished eating, dusk had deepened over Giun Mountain.
Yeop Hyeon slipped quietly from Canglan Hall and sat on the stone steps. From his bosom emerged a small wooden doll.
It was the Yeop Ryeong doll.
Yeop Hyeon gently stroked the doll resembling his sister. Considerable time had passed since she left his side.
I wonder how she's faring...
He couldn't bear the worry for his only sibling.
His grip tightened on the doll. To reach Jungto Sinju, he needed to strive even harder.
Jungto Sinju, North Border.
The vast North Border spanned tens of thousands of li, locked in eternal blizzards and frozen rivers—an land of extreme cold.
At its center stood a palace of ice. Within, numerous women gazed up at the platform.
Atop it sat a girl of thirteen or fourteen, legs crossed in meditation.
Her ice-transparent hair flowed as immense energy poured ceaselessly from her body. But it was blocked before seeing light, by a cold light barrier.
Soon, her energy surged stronger, shaking the barrier slightly.
The surrounding women paled and retreated hastily. A beautiful matron clenched her fists, murmuring tensely.
"Don't... please... not now... Breaking through to Myriad Laws Realm now wouldn't be good for you. Endure... you must endure..."
Against her plea, the girl's energy intensified.
In her hand was a small wooden doll.
A bamboo grove outside the Jiang Kingdom's Imperial City.
Though night had fallen deep, Yeop Hyeon didn't sleep. He entered a bamboo grove beyond the city, where a small bamboo house stood.
Light leaked from within, as if someone were home.
As Yeop Hyeon approached, the door opened as if expecting him. He paused briefly, then entered. Inside sat Gu Jiu in her wheelchair, a thick book on her lap, covered by a blanket.
She smiled lightly at his arrival.
"It's been a while. I'm ready— we can leave anytime."
Yeop Hyeon looked mildly surprised.
"You knew I was coming?"
"Of course!"
"You'll come with me?"
"Any reason not to?"
Yeop Hyeon stepped closer.
"Why do you want to go?"
Gu Jiu shook her head.
"It harms neither you nor Jiang Kingdom. Isn't that enough?"
Yeop Hyeon fell silent, then nodded.
"More than enough!"
"Haha, then let's go!"
"Now? Where to?"
"Gaeyang Fortress!"
"I planned for tomorrow noon."
Gu Jiu met his eyes firmly.
"If we don't go now, it'll be too late."
Yeop Hyeon's eyebrow twitched.
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, Gu Jiu handed him a note. Reading it, his pupils dilated, and he bolted outside. The fallen note read:
Black Flame Cavalry will arrive soon!
Black Flame Cavalry?
Yeop Hyeon had heard of this terrifying army that chilled the spines of all neighboring nations.
Even Gang Gu and Gaeyang Fortress's soldiers couldn't stop them.
Just then, he rushed back into the bamboo house.
"You want me to go ahead? Why aren't you coming with me right now?"
Gu Jiu pointed to her legs.
"How?"
"..."
"Chen Bo left to handle matters in my stead. I'm alone now."
Yeop Hyeon nodded and scooped her up, dashing off.
"Hey! You could just push the wheelchair—why carry me!?"
"...What? I can't hear over the wind!"
"..."