Chapter 242: Shut Up and Pucker Up!
Canglan Academy.
The door burst open, and Yeop Hyeon stepped out from inside the room.
He threw his head back toward the sky and drew in a deep breath.
"Refreshing!"
At that moment, Gu Jiu appeared before him, wheeling her chair forward.
"I came because I have something to say."
"What is it?"
"After we decided to unite all the forces of Qingzhou, out of thirty-six clans and twenty-seven sects, only one clan has agreed to join us."
"What!? Why?"
"They believe the Ma Sect and Gui Sect came to Qingzhou solely because of you. They see this as having nothing to do with them..."
"......"
Yeop Hyeon was at a loss for words.
In his view, unity and resolve were paramount for survival in such a crisis.
What meaning was there if Qingzhou fell?
Yet even now, people chased their own selfish gains.
Humans were inevitably self-serving creatures.
Of course, Yeop Hyeon could be selfish at times too. But he knew full well when to set that aside.
The warriors from Jungto Sinju invading Qingzhou was like foreign invaders storming the homeland. Locking the gates and feigning ignorance in such times was utter folly.
When they barely had enough strength to band together against the outsiders, they were content to watch the fire from across the river!
Did they not realize they were next if he fell?
Everyone had to defend their own land—it was only natural.
"They're hoping for a fluke. That everything will resolve if you just die. It's tragic they don't grasp that the rest will die far more cruelly."
Surprisingly, Yeop Hyeon smiled.
"Let them do as they please."
"You're not angry?"
"Why should I be?"
Gu Jiu fell silent at his retort.
Yeop Hyeon chuckled and continued.
"I can't expect everyone to feel as I do. I'll just lead those who wish to help us and protect Qingzhou. Everyone has the right to choose. However..."
His smile faded gradually.
"The sects and clans ignoring Qingzhou's crisis now will never set foot on any land I control. And they'll be excluded from the protection of the Canglan Dao Soldiers."
Gu Jiu nodded lightly.
"I understand. The Ma Sect and Gui Sect will head straight for Jiang Kingdom once they enter Qingzhou. Any countermeasures?"
Yeop Hyeon merely smiled in response.
"What is it?"
As Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow in confusion, Yeop Hyeon pointed to his grinning face.
"Fool, look at my face. This smile means I'm ready to face them!"
With that, he burst into laughter and walked away.
"......"
Yeop Hyeon climbed to the back mountain. A cool breeze greeted him as he reached a wide-open cliff.
At that moment, an elder approached from behind.
It was Sa Do-myeong.
"The Ma Sect and Gui Sect are coming. What are your plans?"
"Tell me about their forces."
Sa Do-myeong began explaining at Yeop Hyeon's request.
"Six or seven at the early True Law Realm, at least twenty at the Law Realm, around forty at the Myriad Laws Realm, and two hundred Divine Fusion Realm experts besides. Both sects also command Dao Soldiers—their numbers are unknown, but they're no weaker than your Canglan Dao Soldiers."
"That's all?"
"Forces like the Ma Sect and Gui Sect always hide an ace or two. I don't know what it is."
Sa Do-myeong stared into Yeop Hyeon's eyes.
"What now?"
"As planned. You handle the True Law Realm experts; I'll take the rest."
"Of course we'll manage the True Law Realm ones. But I'm doubtful you can handle the rest alone."
"Hahaha, should I just surrender then?"
Sa Do-myeong's expression darkened instantly.
Yeop Hyeon grinned.
"Why the scary face over a joke? Even if I surrendered, they'd never let me live—and I know that better than anyone."
"Good that you do!"
Ignoring Sa Do-myeong's cold tone, Yeop Hyeon gazed at the sky and murmured softly.
"That's all I have to say. You take the True Law Realm; I'll handle the rest."
Sa Do-myeong stared intently at Yeop Hyeon's face.
"Don't disappoint us."
With that, he vanished in an instant.
Soon after Sa Do-myeong left, Muk Won approached with a box. Inside lay twelve golden figures.
"Using the Yu family's secret arts, we've recreated the twelve golden men. Once awakened, they'll match even True Law Realm experts. But operating them once requires at least ten million high-grade spirit stones minimum."
Yeop Hyeon took the box and nodded lightly.
"That's... fine."
"Ten million per golden man."
'Ten million each!?'
Yeop Hyeon nearly dropped the box.
That meant awakening all twelve would cost at least 120 million high-grade spirit stones.
Muk Won looked at the dazed Yeop Hyeon.
"They'll be invaluable at the crucial moment."
"Sure, but... the spirit stone consumption is insane..."
Muk Won patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"No need to worry. Everyone knows the Dean has stockpiled plenty."
"......"
Once Muk Won left, Yeop Hyeon stood alone on the cliff again. Moments later, he pulled a transmission stone from his bosom.
The news that the Ma Sect and Gui Sect were leading tens of thousands of warriors toward Jiang Kingdom spread like wildfire across Qingzhou. Rumors twisted it into claims that they wouldn't have come if not for Yeop Hyeon.
As the gossip warped further, some even demanded he sacrifice himself to save Qingzhou. Even voices rose within Jiang Kingdom itself.
Jiang Kingdom, imperial palace.
An elder sat at the entrance to the throne hall, a small black puppy flattened on the ground before him, tongue lolling out. A middle-aged man stood ahead. They were Gang Wol-cheon and Jiang Kingdom's lord, Gang Won.
"Father, vicious rumors about Yeop Hyeon are spreading rapidly within Jiang Kingdom."
"Drive them all out of the country! If any such talk emerges from the imperial household, root them out, demote them to slaves, and exile them beyond the palace walls!"
"Isn't that a bit excessive?"
Gang Wol-cheon shot Gang Won a piercing glare.
"Excessive? Do you actually think Yeop Hyeon is why Qingzhou is in this mess?"
"No, of course not. I suspect the Ma Sect and Gui Sect are behind these rumors. They're scheming to isolate him and turn public sentiment against him."
"Anyone with a brain knows it's nonsense..."
Gang Wol-cheon looked up at the distant sky.
"Who could have foreseen Qingzhou turning into a land of death? If Yeop Hyeon falls, Qingzhou will follow—and the survivors will be worse off than dogs. Why can't they see that? Go proclaim far and wide that Jiang Kingdom fully supports Yeop Hyeon and will share his fate."
Gang Won bowed to Gang Wol-cheon and departed.
The mood at Canglan Academy was gravely heavy as well. They too had heard the Ma Sect and Gui Sect were coming.
These two sects were utterly unlike the Jungto Sinju warriors they'd faced before. Even among Jungto Sinju's elite, the Ma Sect and Gui Sect ranked at the pinnacle.
Forces incomparably vast compared to Canglan Academy.
Yet not a single one fled.
Meanwhile, the Ma Sect and Gui Sect, traveling swiftly via cloud ships, reached Cho Country in a single day after entering Qingzhou and accepted their surrender.
They caused no trouble in Cho Country—in fact, they even reassured them. This only made the people there believe even more that the sects had come solely for Yeop Hyeon.
As the situation unfolded, Wol Country openly sided with the Ma Sect and Gui Sect, denouncing Yeop Hyeon.
Not just Wol Country—more and more clans and sects began aligning with them.
The Ma Sect and Gui Sect didn't linger in Cho Country, heading straight for Jiang Kingdom. At their speed, they'd arrive in less than three hours.
Back at Canglan Academy.
Gu Jiu visited Yeop Hyeon's quarters.
"Jeoguk's lord, Cheok Bal-eon, has arrived with ten thousand elites and a hundred Golden Guards. She wants to stand with Canglan Academy."
Moments later, Yeop Hyeon's voice came from inside.
"Got it."
Suddenly, a woman strode up and flung open the door.
Yeop Hyeon turned his head, and Cheok Bal-eon marched right in.
She wore thin white armor that clung tightly to her body, accentuating her voluptuous curves to the bursting point. Her casually tied black hair enhanced her bold aura.
She stopped right before Yeop Hyeon and stared down at him silently.
Yeop Hyeon said nothing either.
For a long while, they simply gazed at each other. Finally, Yeop Hyeon spoke first.
"Sit."
Instead of sitting, Cheok Bal-eon glared at him.
"Still mad about that one comment from back then?"
"Of course. I went to Jeoguk purely to help you—no ulterior motives."
Cheok Bal-eon lowered her head.
"I misspoke then."
Hearing that, Yeop Hyeon wondered if he'd overreacted.
But that day, he truly had been furious. Her words had insulted him when he'd acted out of pure intent to aid her.
Cheok Bal-eon looked at him.
"Still, no matter how angry, just walking away like that?"
"Argh, I was really pissed, okay!"
Yeop Hyeon pointed to his face.
"Look, even you think I'm handsome, right? Women all over Qingzhou swoon over me! So how could I not get mad when you made it sound like I was after your body?"
"I didn't say that!"
"You did!"
Cheok Bal-eon glared at him furiously.
As Yeop Hyeon opened his mouth to retort, she thrust her face close and snapped.
"Fine, shut up and pucker up."
"......"