I Didn't Say Anything
Too greedy?
At that moment, Yeop Hyeon had every reason to act that way.
The Sado family and other factions were using him to stand against Hogye Meng. As the one bearing the brunt of all that danger at the forefront, he naturally had to demand as much as possible.
If he didn't seize what he could now, he'd just end up used and discarded.
True friends deserved his full sincerity, while the rest were merely sources of profit.
Instead of cultivating, Yeop Hyeon decided to catch up on some long-overdue deep sleep.
The night passed, and early in the morning, Sa Do-myeong came to visit.
This time, he'd brought fifty True Realm-grade weapons, along with rare elixirs perfect for Divine Fusion Realm warriors.
Sa Do-myeong set the spatial ring on the table without a word and vanished.
Yeop Hyeon pocketed it with a broad grin.
Finally, the Chang Lan Dao Soldiers could be armed head to toe in True Realm gear.
Even in Jungto Sinju, only the wealthiest factions could field Dao Soldiers equipped like this. In other words, even if he marched them straight to Jungto Sinju right now, few units could match them.
After a brief surge of excitement, Yeop Hyeon stowed the ring and headed to his personal training chamber.
The sword technique he planned to practice this time was One Sword Determines Soul.
It was a gift from the Heavenly Maiden. Back when he was only at the Penetrating Nether Realm, it'd been too much for him, so it'd gathered dust until now.
With his realm far higher and his swordsmanship insight deepened, he figured it was time to give it a shot.
Meanwhile, Sa Do-myeong, who had vanished from Canglan Academy, reappeared amid the clouds.
He flew through them for a while before halting at a thick cloud layer.
Just then, a voice echoed from the dense clouds to his left.
"That bastard's greed knows no bounds. We need to get tough here, or he'll start treating us like walking treasuries."
Another voice came from the clouds on his right.
"You're right. And at his age, he's already a Sword Emperor? His talent surpasses our wildest imagination. I'm seriously worried we're raising a tiger cub..."
Sa Do-myeong glanced between them and spoke up.
"Sorry to interrupt, but if we don't budget for some spending, it'd be wise to cut ties now. Our enemy isn't Yeop Hyeon—it's Hogye Meng. Who else in Qingzhou could stop Jungto Sinju's warriors if not him? Or are you two planning to step up yourselves?"
The clouds fell silent.
Sa Do-myeong pressed on.
"His greed is understandable to a degree. He can't handle all those Jungto Sinju warriors alone, just like he said. The spirit stones and gear he's asking for—we can all chip in without much strain. And once it's over, we kill him and reclaim everything, right?"
"Hm... Still, raising that tiger cub worries me."
As the voice from the right cloud grumbled, Sa Do-myeong turned that way.
"Between Yeop Hyeon and Hogye Meng, which scares you more?"
"Hogye Meng, of course."
Sa Do-myeong nodded.
"Our enemy now is Hogye Meng, not Yeop Hyeon. We need to expose their schemes fast and pull more factions to our side—Upper Realm groups, Lower Realm powerhouses, anyone Hogye Meng has oppressed. They'll join us gladly. No one wants to fatten up under Hogye Meng's shadow forever. For now, we soothe Yeop Hyeon and use him like a dog to achieve our goals. Even if we have to devour him later..."
In the training chamber.
Yeop Hyeon stood with his sword pressed right against his brow. No energy emanated from him at all.
One Sword Determines Soul!
This technique couldn't be called ordinary swordsmanship—it targeted the opponent's soul directly. It was especially devastating against soul bodies.
Against regular warriors, though, it wouldn't match the lethality of Ten Zhang One Kill or One Sword Determines Life and Death.
He was honing it not for the present, but for the day he might face soul entities.
As Yeop Hyeon threw himself into mad training, Qingzhou's situation was shifting bit by bit.
Since Yeop Hyeon and Yeon Man Ri returned, Jungto Sinju warriors couldn't rampage as freely.
Yeon Man Ri guarded the Daeun Empire, while Yeop Hyeon watched everywhere else with piercing eyes.
Qingzhou's outskirts had long been ravaged, leaving only the empire and Yeop Hyeon's territories as tempting targets.
Right now, the Daeun Empire and Canglan Academy were Qingzhou's twin pillars.
Canglan Academy especially tantalized with its astronomical bounty on Yeop Hyeon—complete with Hogye Meng's seal.
Take him out, and they could ravage Jiang Kingdom, Jeoguk, and Ganguk at will. The academy's wealth, including its top-grade spirit vein, would be up for grabs.
Countless hunters eyed Yeop Hyeon. Only the truly mighty dared act.
A plain on Jiang Kingdom's outskirts.
Three mercenary bands raced toward the imperial city at breakneck speed.
Jungto Sinju boasted ten massive mercenary groups. These were the strongest three.
Huangquan Mercenary Corps, Wangja Mercenary Corps, and Mad Lion Mercenary Corps.
Excluding leaders, their combined forces numbered thirty. The twelve on the left were Mad Lion—peak Divine Fusion Realm elites radiating thick auras. Some had even transcended it.
Clad in gleaming black armor, they wore black long sabers at their waists—each about four feet, edges razor-sharp.
Round black shields on their backs were scaled like blades, jagged and deadly.
All True Realm treasures.
Their mounts resembled Chang Lan Dao Soldiers' black flame horses but bulkier.
The Mad Lion leader, "Mad Lion," was a hulking brute nearing three hundred jin, shirtless to bare a chest tattoo of a man-eating lion.
To the right, Wangja Mercenary Corps—only ten strong, but their auras outshone Mad Lion's.
Gold-armored, they gripped golden spears, golden longbows on their backs. Slender golden arrows adorned their wrists.
True Realm gear again.
Their rides were wolf-like spirit beasts, Storm Wolves, leaving deep paw prints. At full sprint, even black flame horses couldn't catch them.
Their leader, "Wangja," was a fresh-faced youth of barely twenty.
In Jungto Sinju, Wangja ranked third among Yo Yeolbang. Everyone knew his name. He often boasted of being born to be a king.
Between them rode Jungto Sinju's mightiest: Huangquan Mercenary Corps.
Nine members including their leader, yet even top factions feared touching them. Rumors said Hogye Meng had quietly courted them.
Mixed men and women in mourning garb, wide hats, gray-white cloaks.
Oddly, no auras leaked from them—their realms unreadable.
They rode ordinary horses.
Their leader was a woman, identity unknown, face veiled in white silk.
Silent and swift, they closed on Jiang Kingdom's imperial city. Their target: Yeop Hyeon.
About a hundred li out, the Huangquan leader halted. Her band followed.
Mad Lion and Wangja reined in, turning back.
She opened her palm; a scroll dropped from the clouds.
Unfurling it revealed detailed intel on Yeop Hyeon—daily routine, favorite foods, all laid bare.
Her eyes scanned it swiftly. She refolded it and faced the city.
"Nineteen years old. Sword Emperor. Wields two Heavenly Realm swords, uses sword techniques estimated Heavenly Realm or higher. Dual sword intents: one offensive, one defensive..."
Her brow furrowed slightly.
"Something wrong?"
Wangja asked curiously. She pocketed the scroll.
"Hanging such a massive bounty on someone like this... Doesn't sit right."
"You think Hogye Meng's hiding something?"
She said nothing. Mad Lion bellowed.
"Hiding or not, who cares? We just lop off Yeop Hyeon's head! You scared we'll get chewed out?"
Ignoring him, she stared ahead. The others followed her gaze. A man approached from afar—sword box on his back, blade in hand.
He stopped before them, smiling lightly.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Yeop Hyeon."
Mad Lion slowly clenched his fist, cold glint in his eyes.
Yeop Hyeon stepped closer, face hardening.
"Do you know why such a huge bounty hangs on my head?"
"I don't give a damn! I just kill you and—"
"Let him speak!"
As Mad Lion lunged, the woman stopped him.
He hesitated, fist dropping, but his killing intent thickened.
Yeop Hyeon ignored it, continuing.
"A power like Hogye Meng could crush me quietly if they wanted. So why the convoluted mess? Curious, aren't you?"
"Are they training you or something?"
Wangja countered.
Yeop Hyeon shook his head vigorously.
"I didn't say anything. Uh... Absolutely, I'm no relation to Hogye Meng..."
Suddenly, he raised his sword at them.
"Anyway, I'll wait outside the city. Let's settle it there!"
With that, he turned and retraced his steps.
The mercenaries stared, a mix of confusion in their eyes.