Yeop Ryeong, I Crave the Meals You Cook
In a certain gorge, a gateway glowing with blue light came into view. The vortex swirled in a taiji pattern, exuding an air of profound mystery when seen from outside.
At that moment, a young man emerged slowly, leading a bloodstained longsword.
It was Yeop Hyeon.
Mu Yun Qi and the other two approached him.
"So this is the entrance to the Biyeong secret realm!"
At Ji An Zhi's words, Yeop Hyeon slowly closed his eyes.
"I don't know what's inside, but I have to go in. But you..."
"Enough, enough!"
Mu Yun Qi waved his hand dismissively.
"You and your nagging mouth! You go in first and draw their attention. Meanwhile, I'll find Ryeong!"
Yeop Hyeon glanced at Mu Yun Qi once, then wordlessly stepped into the gateway.
Mu Yun Qi paused before the gateway, steadying his breath.
"Hoo... Ryeong-ah... please be safe... I want to eat the food you made..."
In an instant, Mu Yun Qi was sucked into the gateway.
Back at the gateway entrance.
About half a shichen after Yeop Hyeon and the others vanished, countless shadows appeared from all directions, converging before the gateway.
Among them, an old man stared piercingly at the gateway—it was I Hyeon-chang, dean of Changmok Academy. A black-robed figure approached him.
"Dean, he's no ordinary fellow."
"That's exactly why we must kill him!"
I Hyeon-chang muttered without taking his eyes off the gateway.
"No matter the cost..."
Meanwhile, atop a tree not far away, two old men watched the gateway.
They were Gang Wol-cheon, former lord of Kanguk, and Gu Lu-ju of Chwiseonru.
"Gu Lu-ju, who would've thought Chwiseonru would side with us."
"The feeling is mutual. If this gamble fails, the Kanguk imperial family will face brutal retaliation from Changmok Academy."
"Hahaha! Isn't Chwiseonru in the same boat? Since we're here, why not join hands for now?"
Gu Lu-ju fell silent.
"Haha, Gu Lu-ju. This time, those old monsters might step in themselves. What I'm saying is, let's keep those old monsters from ruining the young ones' fight."
"Hm... very well."
At Gu Lu-ju's reply, Gang Wol-cheon turned toward the gateway, his expression grave.
It was a gamble.
As Gu Lu-ju said, the Kanguk imperial family was staking everything on this.
If they succeeded, the imperial family could surpass Changmok Academy and reap immense benefits. With Yeop Hyeon's close ties to Princess Gang Gu, success would bind him fully to their side.
Yeop Hyeon's talent would shine brighter with time, bringing long-term gains to Kanguk.
But failure meant total enmity with Changmok Academy—they might even ally with the authorities for revenge.
We cannot fail!
Gang Wol-cheon's eyes slowly closed.
As an elder statesman, he never wanted this risk. But Gang Gu was already racing toward Jeoguk. Her actions represented Kanguk, forcing him to commit fully.
"Sigh... I should just marry her off soon..."
Atop a massive boulder, a woman in dragon robes stood tall with hands clasped behind her back. Her long hair casually swept back evoked霸道 dominance and majesty.
It was Cheok Bal-eon.
Behind her stood an old man and an elderly woman.
Cheok Bal-eon gazed imperiously at the gateway.
"Even to save his sister, to show up knowing it means death... Is he a fool, or just ruled by emotion?"
The old man behind her replied.
"A fool, of course. With talent rivaling An Ranxiu, if he'd bided his time a bit longer, he could have toppled Changmok Academy..."
"Quiet!"
The elderly woman snapped at him.
"In my eyes, your judgment is the foolish one!"
Cowed by her aura, the old man sulked silently.
"Your Highness, this old woman believes that boy is one of the rare true men who values loyalty and righteousness."
"Loyalty matters, but won't he just throw away his life needlessly?"
"No. His life or death is secondary. If his sister were dying and he didn't show, even becoming a Sword Immortal wouldn't make him a man."
The old man interjected.
"Can't you speak more ladylike?"
The elderly woman glared, and he shrank back, zipping his lips.
Cheok Bal-eon stared into the distance.
"Gang I-yi means that if he hadn't come today, even as a future Sword Immortal, he wouldn't earn true respect."
At that moment, a black-clad man rushed up from afar and knelt on one knee before Cheok Bal-eon.
"Your Highness! Dean I Hyeon-chang of Kanguk's Changmok Academy demands why we broke our promise and didn't send men after Yeop Hyeon."
Cheok Bal-eon tossed a single word at him.
"Tell him to scram."
The black-clad man vanished, muttering in confusion.
"Is that really how I should relay it...?"
How much time passed? When Yeop Hyeon opened his eyes after passing the gateway, he found himself on a vast plain. Towering mountains encircled him, and a clear blue sky stretched overhead.
The Biyeong?
The so-called secret realm felt no different from the outside world—save for its isolation by special seals.
Then Yeop Hyeon furrowed his brow. Ji An Zhi and the others were gone from his side!
Scattered to different locations?
Wrinkles deepened on his forehead.
He worried, but time was short. Yeop Hyeon hurried forward, seeking Yeop Ryeong and reunion with his comrades.
Soon, a man blocked his path.
The man gripped a black spear, eyeing Yeop Hyeon. As he opened his mouth to speak, Yeop Hyeon launched himself.
Closing several zhang in a flash, the man leaped skyward, thrusting his spear down.
A peak Soaring Realm expert!
Scarlet flames bloomed from his spear, engulfing Yeop Hyeon instantly.
But a clear sword cry rang out, extinguishing the flames. Yeop Hyeon's form reappeared several zhang from the man.
The man turned his head, murmuring softly.
"I should have struck first..."
Then his head tilted oddly and rolled to his feet.
Yeop Hyeon stared at his raised hand. His palm was a bloody mess, his arm drenched in gore.
Had he not struck first, their fates might have reversed. Even if not dead, both would have suffered grievous wounds. The man's spear bore powerful spear intent, wielded with an earth-grade mid-tier weapon.
Yet Yeop Hyeon slew him because he preempted the man's full power.
Full force unleashed would have inflicted irrecoverable damage without Earth Battle Armor.
So it's true—only each kingdom's top prodigies are gathered here.
Yeop Hyeon rummaged in his bosom for a jade vial. A pill dropped into his mangled palm.
Jinchang Dan!
Worth tens of thousands of gold taels per pill... A pity, but he needed peak condition for contingencies.
The battles had just begun.
Yeop Hyeon approached the corpse, picking up the spear. Indeed, a superior spirit weapon.
He tossed it into Gyeok Ok Tower with a previous spear and some gold, then pressed on.
A small river, barely ten zhang wide, soon barred his swift path.
Approaching cautiously, he stabbed into the water without warning.
A water jet erupted with a man's figure, landing swiftly across the river.
Sheathing his sword in his robe, he hid his hands in wide sleeves, glaring at Yeop Hyeon.
"How did you know?"
"Who knows."
Having fought much in the mountains since childhood, Yeop Hyeon knew prime ambush spots intuitively.
From entering the Biyeong, he'd sensed he was prey, others hunters lying in wait. Every step demanded vigilance.
A moment's lapse meant death!
His hunch proved right.
Yeop Hyeon gave the man no more time. His sword shot from his hand like lightning.
The startled man thrust both hands forward.
Clang!
Golden claws emerged, blocking the sword. But Spirit Water Sword was Mingjie mid-grade; blocking it with a mere superior spirit weapon was absurd.
As it vibrated fiercely, the claws shattered. The horrified man retreated hastily.
Then Spirit Water Sword veered into the river's depths.
Gurk!
A death rattle echoed from underwater. Soon, the water turned red.
"You... how did you know..."
"Wouldn't a weakling like you attacking alone raise suspicions?"
The black-robed man glared, shock evident. Not just skilled, but wise too.
"I'll withdraw here!"
As he turned to flee—
Slash!
Yeop Hyeon's sword cleaved his throat from nowhere.
The man crumpled by the riverbank. Yeop Hyeon wiped the blood from his blade, muttering.
"Sorry, but no."
Then—
Rustle!
Footsteps on fallen leaves behind him. The river before him boiled. The ground beneath trembled violently.
Intent Realm!
A mighty intent enveloped him.
Opening his palm, Spirit Water Sword returned. Yeop Hyeon gazed at it fondly, whispering.
"Whoever's behind me dies in one strike. Sound good?"
Whiiing—
A clear sword cry resonated in the utter silence.