Advance Payment
Those who wouldn't share hardships with him could never share wealth or honor either.
Yeop Hyeon felt no heaviness in his heart as he watched the crowds depart. If anything, knowing who his true friends were left him feeling lighter.
Meanwhile, more and more people were gathering at the city gates.
At that moment, Mu Yun Qi, standing beside Yeop Hyeon, shouted with a face full of fury.
"Those damn bastards! They swarmed in like bees when they heard about the spirit vein in the city, but the moment trouble hits, they scatter like the tide going out!"
Geom Cho-cho, nearby, burst out laughing.
"Humans have always been like that—swallowing the sweet and spitting out the bitter. Sorting out our true allies through this mess might actually be a blessing."
Bai Ze nodded.
"Yeah. Better off without scum like that!"
Mu Yun Qi gave a wry smile.
"I know that. But you saw it too—they're blaming Yeop gangju for all this! Have they already forgotten that without him, we'd all be dead by now!?"
Yeop Hyeon lightly patted Mu Yun Qi's shoulder.
"Even if the whole world turns its back on me, as long as I have you all, it's fine. No need to get so worked up."
With that, Yeop Hyeon turned and headed back into the city. Mu Yun Qi muttered bitterly at the somehow lonely sight of his retreating figure.
"Yeop gangju, truth be told, I'm scared too. But... brothers should face life and death together. Even if we're backed into a corner, I won't abandon you and run."
Right then, Bai Ze suddenly swung a fist at Mu Yun Qi. Startled, Mu Yun Qi reflexively threw out his own punch.
Bam!
A dull thud echoed as Mu Yun Qi skidded back a dozen zhang.
"Hey, you lunatic! What's your problem!? Eat something bad!?"
Bai Ze looked at him and said,
"Nah, your words were so admirable, I just wanted to pat your head."
"......"
Geom Cho-cho covered her mouth, chuckling at the sight.
As time passed, even more people streamed out of the city. Some Canglan Academy students packed their things and left as well. But the academy made no effort to stop them.
While the city emptied, warriors from Jungto Sinju kept pouring in outside. Strangely, neither the Ma Jong nor the Gui Jong showed any signs of movement. They even threatened severe punishment for anyone who acted rashly.
And so, Gangguk's Imperial City unexpectedly enjoyed a period of peace.
Jungto Sinju, Upper Realm, Sado Family.
That day, Ma Jong's sect lord Go Myeong-heo arrived unannounced at the Sado family.
Sensing his presence, Sa Do-myeong appeared in the air, looking down at him suspiciously.
Go Myeong-heo cupped his fists first and spoke.
"Brother Sado, I've come urgently with one pressing question. I hope you'll tell me the truth."
Sa Do-myeong eyed him displeased.
"Ask away!"
"What exactly happened at Mansu Mountain back then?"
At those words, Sa Do-myeong's expression darkened sharply. Noticing it, Go Myeong-heo waved his hand.
"Brother Sado, there's no malice here. I simply want to know what occurred that day."
After a long hesitation, Sa Do-myeong finally spoke.
"At Mansu Mountain, two True Law Realm experts, over a dozen Myriad Laws Realm warriors, and hundreds of fighters vanished without a trace. Yet no word of it spread through Qingcang Realm. What force do you think could pull that off?"
Hogye Meng?!
The name that flashed in Go Myeong-heo's mind was none other than Hogye Meng.
"Yuk Jon Ju of Hogye Meng was there too. You should seek him out for the full story."
Go Myeong-heo narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
Sa Do-myeong continued.
"Hogye Meng inciting you Ma Jong to invade Qingzhou must have some ulterior motive. You know what kind of people they are. In my view, the Ma Jong won't conquer Qingzhou—they'll suffer massive losses and retreat."
With that, Sa Do-myeong vanished from before Go Myeong-heo.
Standing there lost in thought for a while, Go Myeong-heo turned toward Changmok Academy instead.
Changmok Academy's dean, Yeo Gyeong, flushed red at the mere mention of Hogye Meng from his lips and shouted,
"Hogye Meng... those vile, shameless wolf bastards... the scum of Qingcang Realm!"
She flicked her sleeves in disgust and stormed off, refusing to say more.
Watching her go, Go Myeong-heo retraced his steps, a look of resolve on his face.
Qingzhou's Canglan Academy.
Now, with twenty students gone, only twenty-six remained.
Fortunately, not a single Changlan Dao Soldier had left.
The Imperial City, having lost over half its people, fell into an eerie quiet unlike before. Even some Gangguk soldiers had fled among them.
Those who left the city didn't go far—they pitched tents outside, waiting for the Ma Jong and Gui Jong to deal with Yeop Hyeon so they could return.
In one of Canglan Academy's underground training chambers.
Yeop Hyeon faced Luk Ban-jang and the Bi Jeok Bandit mercenaries. They'd actually arrived at the academy some time ago, but he'd deliberately kept them hidden.
All of them had family back in Jungto Sinju. Exposing them too soon might invite pressure from Hogye Meng.
Yeop Hyeon opened his hand, and seven jade boxes dropped before the mercenaries. As they looked at him puzzled, he smiled.
"Inside are extreme-grade superior weapons. Perfect for you all."
The mercenaries exchanged glances, then grinned and accepted them. No reason to refuse Yeop Hyeon's goodwill.
Seeing they took them without protest, Yeop Hyeon grinned. Their bond had grown so close that formalities were unnecessary. These were people who'd rushed from distant Jungto Sinju to aid him—he couldn't send them away empty-handed.
They quickly equipped the gear. In an instant, an aura rivaling Myriad Laws Realm experts emanated from the seven of them.
If they reached Myriad Laws Realm themselves, they'd be capable of slaying Law Realm foes.
Luk Ban-jang and Neunghan, already at Myriad Laws Realm, could handle Law Realm experts with ease.
Luk Ban-jang turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"So, when do we start?"
All eyes turned to him.
"No rush. When the fight begins, I'll call you. Rest up till then."
Luk Ban-jang nodded.
"Alright, I'll catch some shut-eye. Wake me when it starts!"
As she left, Yeop Hyeon lingered, studying their faces closely. His heart was a bit complicated.
Brothers!
Back in the Ye family of Qingcheng, he'd never shared true bonds with his blood kin.
It was only after leaving, meeting Mu Yun Qi, Bai Ze, Ji An Zhi, Gang Gu, Luk Ban-jang, and others one by one, that he first felt the warmth of brotherhood.
Without friends to share life's ups and downs, even the greatest riches and glory meant a lonely existence.
Snapping from his reverie, Yeop Hyeon smiled.
"Tonight, let's drink hearty!"
"Hey, you can't leave us out of this!"
Bai Ze and Mu Yun Qi appeared. Brushing past Yeop Hyeon, they shared deep embraces with Neunghan and the others.
The training chamber soon filled with laughter and clinking glasses.
Midway through the revelry, a thoroughly drunk Neunghan approached Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop hyung, you were pretty pissed when we left back then, huh?"
His voice boomed, drawing all eyes as glasses paused.
Yeop Hyeon slammed his cup down, feigning anger.
"Pissed? Damn right! How'd you feel in my shoes? Penalty: three shots each. Beg forgiveness after you down 'em!"
Neunghan and the mercenaries glanced at each other, then guzzled wildly.
Draining his third in a flash, Neunghan pulled Yeop Hyeon into a fierce hug and collapsed, mumbling,
"Yeop hyung... this time, I won't leave you alone... We'll all die together if we have to......"
"Die together if we must!"
"Die together!"
The room erupted anew.
Moments later, Yeop Hyeon rose and stepped out. He couldn't afford to get drunk—with enemies possibly attacking.
Deep into the night at Canglan Academy.
No stars or moon—just silence pressing down on Yeop Hyeon.
Slumping on the stone steps before the chamber, he rummaged in his robes and pulled out a small wooden doll. Yeop Ryeong's doll.
Since parting from her, not a moment passed without thinking of his sister. She might have grown taller now, perhaps even stronger than him, but to Yeop Hyeon, she'd always be that little girl.
As he gazed endlessly at the doll, a black-clad figure appeared before him.
"Follow me."
The figure turned without another word. Yeop Hyeon followed silently.
They arrived in a secluded forest behind Canglan Academy's mountain.
The black-clad man stopped, shed his cloak.
Go Myeong-heo!
It was Ma Jong's sect lord.
His gaze fixed on Yeop Hyeon.
"Not surprised?"
"Why summon me at this late hour, Ma Jong lord?"
Go Myeong-heo stepped forward. Killing intent wrapped around Yeop Hyeon.
"If I strike now, I could kill you."
"Heh, that old coot from Am Jong and Sado family said the same. By now, weeds must choke their graves......"
Go Myeong-heo glared, then spoke.
"The Ma Jong withdraws."
Yeop Hyeon said nothing.
Go Myeong-heo frowned, radiating killing intent.
"You won't let us go quietly?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"I don't care, but some won't want you retreating just like that."
"You mean Hogye Meng?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded. Go Myeong-heo clenched his fists in rage.
"I have an idea... care to hear?"
"Speak."
"We put on a show. Fool the world and Hogye Meng. But I can't help for free... say, ten billion top-grade spirit stones, and I'll play along!"
Go Myeong-heo raised a brow.
"Greedy much!"
Yeop Hyeon shrugged.
"Then it's off. We'll settle tomorrow. Whether Ma Jong crumbles or we do—bring it!"
Yeop Hyeon turned to leave without looking back.
Go Myeong-heo blocked him hastily.
"How do we fool them!? Tell me the plan!"
Yeop Hyeon extended an empty hand.
"Advance payment, sir."
"......"