Chapter 56: How About Granting Me a Favor of Recognition?
In the pitch-black darkness, Yeop Hyeon ran with Gang Gu on his back. In truth, this was no great burden for him. Back in Qingcheng, he had grown accustomed to life in the mountains.
Before long, Yeop Hyeon arrived back at the underground palace and headed straight for the bamboo house behind it.
The bamboo house, which had already been thoroughly plundered, held only a few pieces of furniture.
Yeop Hyeon laid Gang Gu down on the bamboo bed and draped his own robe over her.
"Rest well. I'll stand watch outside."
Gang Gu silently watched Yeop Hyeon's retreating figure.
Stepping outside, Yeop Hyeon plopped down in the clearing. He pulled a small doll from his bosom. It resembled Yeop Ryeong, carved by Yeop Hyeon himself. He had carved one of his own likeness too, but that one was with Yeop Ryeong.
Gazing at the doll, Yeop Hyeon smiled faintly. As if struck by a thought, he drew another doll from his bosom. This one looked like An Ranxiu.
Holding both dolls in his hands, Yeop Hyeon broke into a bright smile.
Just then, Yeop Hyeon looked up. A man was approaching from the distance.
It was the wild-haired man who had fought him at the cave entrance. A massive black axe was slung across his back.
Yeop Hyeon rose quietly to his feet.
The man strode right up to Yeop Hyeon, then veered toward the bamboo house.
Yeop Hyeon stepped in front of him.
Without a word, the man unleashed a punch.
It was a terrifying force, like a mighty river bursting its banks.
Crack!
In an instant, the solid ground around them split open.
Yeop Hyeon's expression remained impassive as he countered with a strike of his own.
Fist Collapse!
Sword intent churned over Yeop Hyeon's fist.
Boom!
With a thunderous roar, Yeop Hyeon's figure was pushed back to right in front of the bamboo house. The man staggered back six or seven paces as well. The spot where they had stood was utterly shattered.
Only then did the man speak.
"Sword intent, fist momentum... You're a quasi Martial Dao Grandmaster!"
Yeop Hyeon slowly clenched his fist. In that moment, his fist momentum enveloped the man.
"I have no confidence in killing you. But I'm certain I can inflict severe wounds. Even if you claim that weapon, you'll die by someone else's hand."
"Inflict severe wounds on me?"
The man reached back and drew his axe, speaking as he did.
"I'd like to test that claim!"
At that moment, a brilliant sword glow erupted from Yeop Hyeon's palm as the Spirit Water Sword manifested.
One Sword Determines Life and Death!
The man's expression grew heavy for the first time.
Yeop Hyeon swung his sword with a grin.
"Go ahead and test it!"
Whoosh!
The man's enormous axe hurtled toward Yeop Hyeon. Surrounding earth shattered under the overwhelming, tyrannical power radiating chilling light.
Just then, the tip of the glowing Spirit Water Sword, shooting forth, clashed with the axe.
Boom!
A single powerful impact split the massive axe, sending it flying back toward the man.
As the man hastily grabbed it, his body was hurled back over ten zhang.
Coming to a stop, he examined his hand. His palm was already torn open, gushing blood.
The man looked up at Yeop Hyeon.
"Great Sword Cultivator! Sword intent! Sword-Martial Dual Cultivation!"
Yeop Hyeon addressed the man.
"How about granting me a favor of recognition?"
Recognition?
The man narrowed his eyes at Yeop Hyeon for a moment. Slingshotting his axe back onto his back, he replied.
"I am Zuo An of the Daeun Empire. Don't forget the debt you owe me today!"
With that, Zuo An vanished.
Yeop Hyeon watched the direction he had gone. In truth, his mention of recognition had been a desperate bluff to buy time.
Yeop Hyeon still didn't grasp his own value. A quasi Sword Dao Grandmaster drew immense interest from countless factions. Befriending one offered boundless advantages.
In this brutal world, having a powerful warrior as a friend was of utmost importance.
Moreover, Yeop Hyeon was not just a quasi Sword Dao Grandmaster—he was also a quasi Martial Dao Grandmaster.
Sword-Martial Dual Cultivation!
Forming a bond with such a figure was akin to gaining a supreme-grade weapon.
Most crucially, the man had no confidence in defeating Yeop Hyeon. A fight would leave them both gravely wounded. Thus, he chose to forgo the supreme-grade weapon and grant Yeop Hyeon that recognition instead.
Gazing after Zuo An, Yeop Hyeon absently touched his chin and muttered.
"Huh, did I underestimate myself? I had no idea I was this popular!"
Right then, a woman emerged from the darkness. Recognizing her face, Yeop Hyeon's expression hardened.
Bei Chen!
Bei Chen looked at Yeop Hyeon and said.
"The most dangerous place is often the safest. Your ploy was clever enough. But you severely underestimated the allure of a Dochik. Did you not know my backers are watching with bloodshot eyes?"
Yeop Hyeon raised his sword and advanced on Bei Chen.
"No thought of granting me recognition?"
"Recognition? What nonsense is that? Still half-asleep?"
"......"
It didn't work this time.
Bei Chen slowly approached Yeop Hyeon. A green glow flickered in her palm.
She wasn't underestimating him in the slightest. Truth be told, no one who had entered here could be taken lightly.
Thus, she intended to go all out from the start.
Seeing his scheme fail, Yeop Hyeon drew his sword without hesitation and charged.
'No choice but a frontal assault!'
In an instant, Bei Chen's figure blurred, leaving an afterimage as she vanished.
Boom!
With a sound like an explosion, Yeop Hyeon's body was blasted back to the bamboo house.
Bei Chen reappeared in her original spot.
Yeop Hyeon regripped the Spirit Water Sword. He was genuinely startled. Her strength lived up to the rumors.
Bei Chen's grave expression didn't waver. She had gauged his power from that single exchange.
As Bei Chen moved to strike again, Gang Gu suddenly emerged from the bamboo house.
Standing beside Yeop Hyeon, Gang Gu glared coldly at Bei Chen.
"How about the two of us?"
With those words, Gang Gu drew a golden saber from her waist. As it trembled, saber light flashed between the gaps.
Seeing this, Bei Chen chuckled lightly.
"Unleashing a supreme-grade weapon at the Soaring Realm? You'll need days of recovery at least—yet here you are, putting on a show!"
Bei Chen charged straight at Yeop Hyeon and Gang Gu.
'Quick decisions!'
Yeop Hyeon kicked off the ground and swung his sword at Bei Chen. But it was blocked by her palm glowing with faint green light.
Right then, Yeop Hyeon's sword slipped from her grasp like water off a duck's back, angling oddly toward her wrist. Bei Chen pulled back just in time to evade.
But Yeop Hyeon's sword twisted again, slashing diagonally.
Bei Chen retreated a pace, dodging the sword glow.
In that instant! Golden saber light plummeted toward her crown.
Bei Chen's pupils contracted as she thrust both hands toward the ground.
Boom!
Just before the golden saber could touch her, green light erupted from her hands once more. The recoil propelled her body backward.
"How dare you!"
Bei Chen snarled with killing intent, but Gang Gu retorted with a cold laugh.
"Did you think I had no such means left?"
Bei Chen's face twisted.
"Is that so? Let's see how many more swings you can manage!"
The moment Bei Chen shouted, Gang Gu's figure shot into the air.
Vast power surged from Gang Gu's body, pressing down on Bei Chen.
Dochik!
Bei Chen's expression turned deadly serious. Leaving several afterimages, she wheeled around and fled.
She lacked confidence in facing Gang Gu's supreme-grade weapon. If she took a serious wound, others would reap the benefits.
Weren't countless people waiting outside to fish in troubled waters?
As Bei Chen vanished, Gang Gu slowly descended from the air.
"Let's go inside!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded and followed her into the bamboo house. The moment they entered, Gang Gu staggered and collapsed. Yeop Hyeon caught her in alarm and lifted her to the bed. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
He wiped it away hastily and said.
"Is that Dochik so precious you'd trade your life for it!?"
Gang Gu shook her head.
"You wouldn't understand."
"You could die!"
Gang Gu met Yeop Hyeon's eyes and spoke.
"Do you know the state Kanguk is in right now?"
Yeop Hyeon simply gazed at her silently.
Gang Gu closed her eyes and continued.
"Kanguk is riddled with countless sects. They care only for nurturing their disciples and expanding their own power, giving no thought to the nation's fate. Moreover, the two colossal forces—Chwi Seon Ru and Chang Mok Academy—ignore Kanguk entirely. They're absorbing talent to bolster themselves. How many of Kanguk's warriors, once absorbed by them, truly care for the country?"
Gang Gu opened her eyes and looked at Yeop Hyeon.
"Do you know why we can't easily wage war against the imperial court? Because we can't mobilize Kanguk's factions. Those indifferent to the nation's fall will never fight the court. But if Kanguk truly collapses, who suffers? Not Chang Mok Academy or Chwi Seon Ru—the common folk."
Yeop Hyeon sighed softly, listening quietly to Gang Gu.
"That's not all. Chwi Seon Ru has monopolized every profitable venture in the country. The national treasury is in dire straits. Selling this supreme-grade weapon could secure three years' worth of funds."
She shook her head sadly.
"The tens of thousands of soldiers under me haven't received pay for two months already."
"Is that why you came here?"
"Why else?"
"I... I understand your plight, Princess. But hope requires life to sustain it. What's a mere weapon if you're dead?"
Yeop Hyeon glanced toward the door.
"That woman hasn't fully retreated. Next time, she'll bring more people. She even said her superiors crave this weapon too. As long as you have it, escaping scrutiny will be hard."
Gang Gu slowly closed her eyes and said.
Suddenly, Yeop Hyeon's brows shot up. His face turned icy as he spoke to Gang Gu.
"Hand over the supreme-grade Dochik weapon!"
At his words, Gang Gu stared at him in disbelief. Yeop Hyeon spoke in an even colder voice.
"Hand it over!"