Chapter 309: Reversal (3)
“I’m glad the snow has stopped.”
“I agree.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong looked at the gait of Muk Bi, who was walking beside him.
Yeon Ji-pyeong’s height had already surpassed Muk Bi’s. But now, Muk Bi was a head taller than Yeon Ji-pyeong.
The reason was nowhere else.
“Sister, you are truly amazing.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“That you are naturally performing Trace-less Snow-Walking? It’s a realm beyond my imagination.”
It was so.
Due to last night’s heavy snowfall, the entire Dabie Mountains had become a snowfield. The warriors had cleared the paths where people walked to some extent, but the Murim Alliance itself was so vast that they hadn’t even cleared thirty percent yet.
Yeon Ji-pyeong was on his way, stepping heavily into such snowy paths, while Muk Bi was walking naturally over the accumulated snow.
Her feet did not sink into the snowfield. It was a movement technique that was hard to believe even after seeing it with one’s eyes.
Muk Bi smacked her lips.
“Since I am confident in at least my movement techniques. However, I’m a bit worried because it seems only my movement techniques are developing lately.”
“How difficult it is for even one martial art to develop to that extent.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong clicked his tongue.
It was said that when lightness arts reached the ultimate realm, one could run on the water surface (Water-Surface Flying), walk on snow without leaving a trace (Trace-less Snow-Walking), and even move by stepping on grass blades (Grass-Surface Flying).
Beyond that ultimate realm, it was said that if the realm of lightness arts reached the realm of a God, even Void Treading was possible.
Not a Void Treading where one simply bursts shockwaves in the air to allow for momentary flight or gliding, but a true Void Treading where one literally fires off without stepping on land. That is also called Land Flying Technique in other words.
In Yeon Ji-pyeong’s view, it seemed like Muk Bi would be able to use true Void Treading within ten years. That was a realm where it would not be lacking to be called the best under heaven, limited to movement techniques.
‘To the point of performing Trace-less Snow-Walking unconsciously.’
For the current Yeon Ji-pyeong, it was impossible to properly operate Trace-less Snow-Walking even if he poured in extreme concentration and his entire soul’s internal power. It was a passage that allowed one to know how terrifying the level of Muk Bi’s movement technique realm was.
“When I saw before, Brother’s movement technique was also at a great level.”
Muk Bi chuckled.
“Young Master Yeon is well-versed in many areas.”
“Even so, it seems hard to compare to you, Sister, when it comes to movement techniques.”
“That’s not wrong. Even so, if we enter a match, I’ll probably lose?”
“What?”
“If we fight in an open field, my win rate will go up quite a bit, but if we fight in a forest or engage in street fighting, I’ll almost certainly lose.”
“Why do you think so? Of course, Brother’s realm is high.”
“When facing battle, the resourcefulness in response that Young Master Yeon shows can truly be discussed as the best under heaven. The more complex the surrounding situation is, the more obstacles there are, the more advantageous it becomes for Young Master Yeon.”
“I-Is that so?”
“Because he is so skilled in unconventional methods. Perhaps if we only consider combat techniques in a melee, it would not be enough even if we discuss ancient and modern times beyond being the best under heaven?”
There was a feeling that the public evaluation toward Yeon Ho-jeong was strangely low.
Of course, since he was called the best rising star under heaven, it was hard to see it as low in itself, but there was a corner where he was undervalued compared to the ability he possessed. That was because Yeon Ho-jeong’s rough personality was uniquely highlighted.
A person who could accurately see through Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts level. One of those few people would be Muk Bi.
Yeon Ji-pyeong smiled.
“Brother has truly become an amazing martial artist.”
Muk Bi, who was staring intently at Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face, felt a bitter smile inside.
‘It wouldn’t be easy even to be like this.’
No matter how close a relationship was, it was human nature to feel jealous if the opponent was superior to oneself.
Surprisingly, not a single such sign could be seen in Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face. It wasn’t a made-up expression, but he was truly rejoicing in Yeon Ho-jeong’s excellence.
“Aren’t you frustrated?”
“Pardon? By what?”
“Even if he’s your brother, don’t you think he’s too outstanding, or that he’s gone so far that you can’t even catch up?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong burst into laughter in spite of himself.
“Isn’t it better to see a brother superior to his younger brother than the other way around? I want Brother to become the strongest under heaven, whom no one can compare to.”
“Ho.”
“Of course, I should also strive to become a younger brother who doesn’t fall behind such a reputation of Brother’s.”
Muk Bi shook her head.
“Are you satisfied with that?”
“I am satisfied?”
“…….”
“That doesn’t mean I intend to place limits on my growth while being mindful of Brother. That would be an insult to Brother. Well, I wonder if I can even reach Brother’s feet even if I run with all my might though.”
A few years ago, the two resolved their past disappointment with Yeon Ho-jeong’s apology.
It was the moment Yeon Ho-jeong changed and, furthermore, the point where momentum was attached to Yeon Ji-pyeong’s development. Although they separated not long after sharing a deep friendship, Yeon Ji-pyeong had embraced that friendship until now.
Furthermore, his father and brother had entered the Murim Alliance and were raising the family’s reputation. From Yeon Ji-pyeong’s position, he had no choice but to strive with blood and sweat so as not to become a hindrance to such a father and brother.
‘That’s why he knows.’
Muk Bi smiled.
‘Both his father and Young Master Yeon purely congratulated Ji-pyeong on his development. To Ji-pyeong, that praise would be the best reward for the hardships of the past three years.’
They are a truly great family in many ways. In a sense, it could be said to be ideal, and in some parts, they also showed appearances that were hard to understand.
However, Muk Bi liked this tight-knit affection of the Yeon family. It wouldn’t happen, but she just hoped that this affection would not waver for the rest of their lives.
“By the way, shall we increase our speed? At this rate, all the food will get cold.”
“Let’s do that.”
The two had gone to the restaurant early in the morning to pack delicious food. It was because they thought he might be hungry since Yeon Ho-jeong’s cultivation had become so long.
The two kicked off from the ground.
Pak!
When Yeon Ji-pyeong kicked off the ground, a huge amount of snow scattered.
On the other hand, on the ground Muk Bi kicked off from, only an extremely minute trace remained. The lightness arts of the two had such a great difference.
How long had they run like that.
‘Eh?’
Muk Bi’s eyes became sharp.
‘Shockwave?’
It wasn’t an intense shockwave. However, a low and dull vibration could be felt faintly shaking the air.
A moment later, Yeon Ji-pyeong also felt an unusual flow of air.
“Sister?”
“It’s been like that since a while ago.”
Muk Bi’s face hardened.
“This Qi delivered minutely…… it is definitely Father’s true qi.”
“Yes. And Brother’s qi as well.”
“Eh? Is it?”
“Yes?”
Muk Bi could not read Yeon Ho-jeong’s qi. However, Yeon Ji-pyeong felt Yeon Ho-jeong’s qi.
It was evidence that the sensitivity of his qi-sensing was extremely outstanding. Since there was a difference in skill, he was below Muk Bi in reading the overall flow, but in terms of delicacy, he was actually above Muk Bi.
“Shall we go for now?”
“Good.”
Paaaaak!
The two increased their speed.
Half a gak passed, and the main gate of the Army-Destroying Pavilion appeared in their eyes.
Vroooooooom!
As they got closer to the Army-Destroying Pavilion, the vibrations being delivered became even lower and fiercer.
A moment later.
Boooooooom!
The two people’s eyes widened.
Inside the main gate, beyond the wall, snow could be seen exploding. The snow piled up near the wall had burst out due to the shockwave.
‘A duel?!’
In an instant, Muk Bi read an unusual fighting spirit.
She abruptly grabbed Yeon Ji-pyeong’s collar.
Boom!
Muk Bi, holding Yeon Ji-pyeong, soared with immense elasticity and then landed on the roof of one of the buildings of the Army-Destroying Pavilion in an instant.
Yeon Ji-pyeong, who was admiring that amazing movement technique realm anew, suddenly lowered his head at the aftermath of the force swirling below.
And there.
The two people whom Yeon Ji-pyeong most trusted and followed were engaging in an enormous brawl.
Shoooooooo! Shick! Shoooo!
Yeon Wi’s long sword mercilessly cut through the air.
Sack! Sasasack! Sasack!
It seemed as if even the outer air emitted by Yeon Ho-jeong was being cut along with the air.
It was a series of violent slashes unlike the usual Yeon Wi. To think of how sharp a series of attacks he was driving, it seemed as if he could even split a three-story building if he contained the Sword-Limit Thought Qi that had reached its extreme peak.
Pabababack!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s footwork, avoiding such a sword of Yeon Wi’s, was exquisite itself.
He avoided it by a hair’s breadth without parrying. He did not retreat either. As if aiming for close quarters combat, he continued to dig into the brutal battlefield where his limbs could fly off if he made even a small mistake.
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
Vroooooooooooom!
The air began to tremble frighteningly.
It was as if a sick beast were letting out a low cry. It was a bizarre sound wave generated from the hand axes Yeon Ho-jeong was wielding.
Clannnnnnnnng!
For the first time, a collision sound was heard.
It wasn’t the collision sound of a sword and an axe clashing. It was the sound let out as the true qi generated by Yeon Ho-jeong’s slashes full of vibration and Yeon Wi’s incomparably radical slashes collided.
Shhh.
The two people retreated three or four steps. They had failed to overcome the shockwave.
Muk Bi’s eyes wavered.
‘They are similar?!’
It was a well-matched power.
Aside from the difference in internal power or enlightenment, Yeon Ho-jeong’s power itself was not pushed back by Yeon Wi. If one considered the orthodox internal power that Yeon Wi had accumulated so far, it was truly an astonishing matter.
Paaaaak!
Yeon Ho-jeong charged again.
Booooom!
Yeon Wi also aggressively charged toward Yeon Ho-jeong.
No matter how much he engaged in a duel like a real battle, Yeon Wi always led the match while receiving or avoiding Yeon Ho-jeong’s attacks. It wasn’t that he was taking it easy on his son, but such a process was the characteristic of the martial arts Yeon Wi employed.
But it was not so now. In a way, he was wielding footwork and sword techniques that were even violent without control, and he was even overwhelming Yeon Ho-jeong’s ferocity.
Clang-lang-lang-lang!
Even though the weapons did not clash against each other, a massive metallic sound erupted.
Yeon Ho-jeong faltered. Even if he was not pushed back in power, the opponent was Yeon Wi. No matter what kind of rough sword strikes he employed, within them was the mysterious Sword Intent that had been polished and acquired over a lifetime.
If he set his mind to drive it, he could employ offensive power beyond Yeon Ho-jeong’s. That was the martial art of Yeon Wi, a Sword Master who had reached the height of the Middle Way and attained mastery in all martial arts.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s hand axes were wielded at a frightening speed.
Clang-clang! Slam! Boom!
Now even explosive sounds erupted. At last, the weapons of the two had begun to clash. it was a brutal close quarters combat where a life could fly off even with a sword strike of one inch or an axe strike of half an inch.
Clang! Boooooooom!
Yeon Ho-jeong retreated more than ten steps. He had been hit by a counterattack from Yeon Wi’s Reverse Dragon Palm.
Yeon Wi, who was about to approach immediately and fire a slash, suddenly twisted his body at the minute Qi Wave he felt.
Boom!
The hand axe, which flew as fast as Muk Bi’s arrow, was embedded in the wall. If Yeon Wi had not read that Qi Wave in time, the axe would have pierced his upper body.
Yeon Ji-pyeong’s mouth fell wide open. Muk Bi also swallowed hard.
The duel full of killing intent between Yeon Wi and Yeon Ho-jeong. The two momentarily lost their words at the battle so vicious that it was unimaginable for it to be a match between father and son.
“Phew. Phew.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s breathing gradually became rougher.
“Hah.”
Yeon Wi let out a short breath and raised his sword to the middle position.
“A Flying Sword in that situation. It’s truly like you.”
“It’s truly like you as well, Father. To read that and avoid it.”
The two people looked at each other and gave short smiles.
Eyes burning red. Since it’s like father, like son, the eyes of the two people, full of killing intent, resembled each other perfectly.