Chapter 251: The Time of the Freezing Wind (1)
Read more at Nineheavens.org
The Evil-Annihilating Army and the Operations Group safely returned.
Since this mission was conducted in secret, the regular warriors did not think much of their return.
However, the upper echelons were different. They genuinely rejoiced at the safe return of the Operations Group, and they were greatly satisfied that they had successfully accomplished their mission.
After all, it was a task of infiltrating the enemy camp with extremely little prior information and extracting internal intelligence. It was a task with a low probability of success even if a top-class spy was sent, yet a few members of the Operations Group had pulled it off, which was truly a feat worthy of being called a great achievement.
Thus, Yeon Ho-jeong’s group returned to the Murim Alliance.
The Operations Group, which had departed during the time when late summer transitioned into early autumn, had now returned.
Before they knew it, a freezing winter wind was blowing at the foot of the Dabie Mountains.
* * *
“This brat.”
Yeon Wi said with a smile.
“Did you not have the presence of mind to send a letter this time either?”
It was spoken like a joke. It was fortunate enough that he had returned alive without any major issues from an operational area where it was difficult to send even a single intelligence document, let alone a letter.
Yeon Ho-jeong cheerfully received his father’s words.
“There were simply too many annoying bugs pestering me. I did write one a few times, but the watchful eyes were so severe that I couldn’t bring myself to send it.”
“You speak well, brat.”
“Whose son am I?”
“Are there any places where you are hurt?”
“Of course not.”
“Right, then that’s fine.”
Yeon Wi took large strides and tightly gripped both of Yeon Ho-jeong’s shoulders.
“You returned well. It is truly fortunate.”
For the first time in a truly long while, a comfortable smile rested on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face as well.
His father rejoicing like this was not because he had succeeded in his mission. He was simply happy that his son had returned safely. Even if he had failed the mission, his father’s reaction would not have been different from now.
That made Yeon Ho-jeong’s heart feel warm. After continuing a life full of tension, finally meeting his family around whom he could comfortably ease his mind made him feel incredibly at ease.
Yeon Wi made an amused expression.
“By the way, it seems you definitely lived while walking on eggshells.”
“Pardon?”
“With your speed of development, I expected that by now you would have little lacking compared to this father of yours, but you aren’t much different from before your departure.”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“You know you shouldn’t say such things wherever you go, right? Isn’t it amazing enough that I have achieved this level of martial realm at my age?”
“This brat has only increased in arrogance in the time I haven’t seen him.”
“I’m just saying we should acknowledge reality. And to be honest, even if I had put effort into training every day, how could I have dared to hope to even reach the tip of my father’s toes?”
“Hah! Now even flattery?”
“What do you mean flattery? The realm father has achieved is fully deserving of praise.”
In truth, Yeon Wi’s martial arts had also greatly developed since Yeon Ho-jeong’s regression. Yeon Ho-jeong could feel that his father’s aura had become far more serene and stealthy than before.
That was not because Yeon Wi’s martial arts had regressed. Rather, it meant that Yeon Wi’s explosively grown true qi had condensed to its limit, perfectly controlling even the energy radiating outward.
‘Then again.’
He had been so busy that he really hadn’t had time to train.
However, his father before the departure and his father now were different again. There was no way his father hadn’t been busy, yet even amidst that, he had comprehended the Martial Path.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression gradually turned serious.
‘I definitely need to reflect on this.’
This mission had truly been a continuous series of tensions. It was to the extent that it was difficult to even get proper sleep, let alone train his martial arts.
However, even that was ultimately just an excuse. If he had made time somehow, wouldn’t he have been at least better than he was now?
Of course, if he had done so, it would have hindered the mission.
‘Whatever the case, it’s not like I had absolutely zero time to train. Wasting free time just because it was an important mission is clearly my fault.’
There were simply too many opponents he had to fight in the future. Thinking about that, it seemed he had been too relaxed.
‘Let’s tighten up a bit more. This kind of mindset won’t do.’
Seeing his son’s stiffened expression, Yeon Wi spoke as if he felt embarrassed.
“I was merely making a joke. Considering how dangerous and important the mission you took on was, how could you have had any time to train? Do not take it to heart.”
Yeon Ho-jeong relaxed his stiff expression.
“No. Thinking about it, there was definitely time I could have utilized. Since we don’t know what will happen in the future, it seems I need to live a bit more busily.”
“Living with excessive tension is never a good thing. In any case, your hardships during the mission must have been considerable, so rest well for the next few days and soothe your exhausted mind and body.”
“Of course I must. If I am to run again, wouldn’t I need to rest properly?”
“Right. That is enough.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been looking at Yeon Wi with a smile, stiffened his expression once again.
“Also, Father.”
“Speak.”
“Regarding Murong Jun…”
“Stop.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“Is the matter concerning him so urgent that you must explain it right this instant?”
“…Of course, that is not the case.”
“If so, let us discuss that matter later. In any case, the words you have for us and the report you submitted to the Alliance cannot possibly contain the same content, so if it is not an urgent matter, it seems it would be fine to hear it after you have rested sufficiently.”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“Do not think of anything else, and rest well for the time being. You have worked hard.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled back.
“Understood. I will do so.”
* * *
Although he pretended to be fine in front of Yeon Wi, it seemed his mind and body were indeed exhausted in reality.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who washed thoroughly and went to his residence to lie down, only opened his eyes the next day when the setting sun was casting its glow. He had slept straight for nearly thirteen shichen (26 hours).
“…I feel dazed.”
Yeon Ho-jeong scratched his head.
“How long has it been since I slept this deeply?”
Rumble.
Having slept off all his accumulated sleep debt and waking up, he immediately felt hungry.
Wasn’t his body truly honest? Yeon Ho-jeong rose from his seat with a bitter smile.
Piyuuung! Smack!
As he came down to the first floor and headed to the courtyard, he heard the sound of the air being torn.
‘Oho.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled brightly.
Piyuuuuung! Smaaaack!
The sound of the tree branch tearing the air was truly sharp enough to give one goosebumps.
“Hmm.”
Muk Bi smacked her lips.
“With this much, there is some level of achievement.”
The tree branch fired from the Red Lotus Bow pierced the wall. It was truly an amazing feat.
And what was even more amazing was that the tree branch was a rotten, hollow one.
Poof.
The tree branch lodged in the wall turned into powder and scattered. The well-controlled internal energy had been released.
A sense of pride colored Muk Bi’s face.
“With this level of internal energy operation…”
“It’s incredible.”
“Gah!”
Startled, Muk Bi turned around.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had appeared at some point, was sitting on the wooden bench with his legs crossed.
“Wh-when did you arrive?”
“Just now.”
“Make some presence when you walk around!”
“I made all the presence I could. Why would I kill my presence and waste my internal energy?”
“Ah…”
“It seems your concentration has gotten better. You’ve definitely improved a lot.”
Muk Bi blushed. She seemed embarrassed.
“I’m still far off. I’m taking the steps, but to break through the Wall of the Martial Ancestor, it’s still…”
“Oho? I suppose you were serious? About breaking through the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End.”
“Of course. Didn’t I tell you? That I would at least rise to an equal realm as you, Young Master Yeon.”
“You were blowing off the heads of those vicious Dead Soul Group bastards while snorting, what do you mean.”
“Ahem.”
“I feel like your combat efficiency already doesn’t have much difference from mine? Archery definitely is terrifying, though.”
“That’s just the characteristic of archery, it doesn’t mean I am strong.”
“My father is one thing, but you shouldn’t go around saying things like that either. You’ll get stabbed in the back of your head.”
“It’s because everyone’s standards are different.”
Yeon Ho-jeong rose from his seat.
“Whatever, have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s great. If your training is done, let’s go eat together.”
“Shall we?”
Thus, the man and woman left the Army-Destroying Pavilion and headed to the dining hall within the Alliance.
The Murim Alliance was more quiet than expected. Not only was it dinner time, but because the weather had turned cold, the warriors did not come and go as actively as before.
Muk Bi grinned.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Hmm? What has?”
“Going to eat together. Didn’t you miss the Murim Alliance dining hall?”
Yeon Ho-jeong grumbled with a face stained with fatigue.
“I missed even the wild grass growing on the walls of the Murim Alliance. Damn it. I somehow succeeded, but as expected, that kind of mission really doesn’t suit my temper.”
“Considering that, I heard the results were incredibly good?”
“Since they were robbed by just someone of my level, it shows how much of a flawed organization the Black Dragon Manor is.”
“Is this a new way of bragging?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re full of yourself.”
“I’ll poke your eyes out.”
Muk Bi burst into a fit of giggles.
Looking at her like this, it seemed Muk Bi had also changed quite a bit from before their departure. Should he say she had become brighter than back then?
‘It’s good to see.’
One’s innate nature wouldn’t change, but when one is happy, they laugh, and when they are sad, they cry. Wasn’t that how people lived?
Now Muk Bi also looked much more human. Yeon Ho-jeong genuinely welcomed her change.
“By the way, aren’t the higher-ups calling for you? You submitted a report, but you still have to report the situation of that time separately, don’t you?”
“Father said he would block them for me. He told me to attend the Honored Guest Meeting three days later. I can report it then.”
“It seems it’s not an urgent matter?”
“For now.”
Depending on where one placed the value, it could be an incredibly urgent matter, or it could be something that was fine to be somewhat relaxed about.
Before that, the commanding officer, Murong Jun, had not yet returned to the Alliance. It would paint a better picture for Murong Jun to submit the report rather than Yeon Ho-jeong, the leader of the Operations Group.
As that topic came up, he naturally thought of Murong Jun.
‘He isn’t a pushover who would die from just this much.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned cold.
‘I am curious as to when he will return. Depending on his time of return, I will be able to guess what you obtained.’
He was certain that Murong Jun had not died.
It was intuition, not reason. If he were a human who would die from this level of disturbance, he wouldn’t have caused him trouble from the very beginning.
Yeon Ho-jeong fell into thought for a moment.
Muk Bi, who was quietly observing Yeon Ho-jeong’s face, asked in a somewhat cheerful voice.
“By chance, do you know about that?”
“By chance, I don’t know about that. What is it?”
“The Demon-Sweeping Army Commander.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes gleamed.
“Why? Did something happen?”
“It’s not a bad thing. Rather, something incredibly joyful happened for that person.”
Muk Bi smacked her lips.
“Army Commander Murong broke through the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End.”
“What?!”
It was truly a surprising matter.
“Exactly when?”
“It should have been the day before we departed. It seems Army Commander Murong’s side deliberately blocked the rumors, but does blocking it really block it? Thanks to the loose lips of the soldiers belonging to the Demon-Sweeping Army, the rumor quickly spread throughout the entire Murim Alliance.”
“Hoh!”
Honest admiration arose on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“He already reached that point in the few months I haven’t seen him? He’s truly amazing, isn’t he?”
“Indeed.”
Muk Bi’s face became somewhat sullen. She also had her primary goal set on the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End, yet since she was delivering the news that someone else had reached it, she couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste in her mouth.
Yeon Ho-jeong continuously smiled and stroked his chin.
“It seems I truly saw one person correctly. How long has it been since he set his mind and started training for him to already reach the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End… Hehe, he truly is a man whose future is highly anticipated.”
It was then.
Seeing a person approaching from afar, Muk Bi grumbled.
“I don’t know if his future is anticipated, but it’s certain that he was a tiger in his past life.”
“Eh?”
“Speak of the devil and he appears, right there.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at the place Muk Bi pointed at.
There, Murong Yu was walking over with a smile.
“…Hmm, seeing that self-confident smile makes me feel like my enthusiasm is completely deflating somehow.”