Chapter 310: Reversal (4)
Yeon Ji-pyeong took a step forward without realizing it but was restrained by Muk Bi.
“Si-Sister?”
Muk Bi shook her head.
“Don’t interfere. It is not a stage that you or I can intervene in.”
“B-But!”
“Even if an outcome is reached, it will be reached by Father and Young Master Yeon. Besides, those two would not engage in such an exchange without a proper reason.”
“……!”
“Stay still. That is what is right for now.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong bit his lip.
Although she spoke like that, Muk Bi was also no less troubled than Yeon Ji-pyeong.
‘Just why?’
No intention could be seen in the spar between Yeon Wi and Yeon Ho-jeong.
No, one intention was clearly visible. However, Muk Bi wanted to believe that she had misread that intention.
‘Is it real?’
Muk Bi’s eyes deepened.
‘They really seem to be in a momentum to kill each other.’
Muk Bi, who had repeated countless actual battles with Yeon Ho-jeong, had now reached a realm where she could sensorially grasp the void and substance of momentum.
That sense was sounding an alarm. That it was real, a life-and-death struggle that would continue until someone died.
‘That wouldn’t be the case, but…’
There was absolutely no way. She felt it when talking with Yeon Ji-pyeong, but she knew how deep the solidarity and affection of the Yeon family were.
Furthermore, Yeon Wi had come to know Yeon Ho-jeong’s past. Yeon Ho-jeong was one thing, but Yeon Wi was feeling a great sense of debt toward Yeon Ho-jeong.
There wouldn’t be any trouble even in the slightest possibility. However, even while knowing that, those watching had no choice but to be anxious.
‘If a truly dangerous moment comes…’
An archer’s dynamic visual acuity is more than double that of an ordinary martial artist.
It might be different if she were the opponent, but if she was watching, she could intervene at any time.
‘At that time, I…’
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s aura changed abruptly.
Wharrrrr!
He was spewing an overwhelming Fire Qi as if he would burn down the entire Army-Destroying Pavilion.
It was the Vermilion Bird Qi controlled by the Yeon Clan Divine Elixir. Despite controlling it perfectly, its temperament seemed twice as strong and rougher than before.
Muk Bi’s eyes widened.
‘Vermilion Bird Art?!’
The art of the Vermilion Bird is an absolute killing move.
Since Yeon Ho-jeong’s control of martial arts was more outstanding than anyone else’s, he could protect people even with the Vermilion Bird Art, an extreme killing move, and unfold terrifying killing methods even with the Black Tortoise Art, the art of absolute defense.
However, the intention of the current Vermilion Bird Art was too clear.
‘Killing intent!’
Hwaaaaak!
The killing intent raging like a tidal wave was real. He was in a momentum to really kill his own father, the Clan Head of the Yeon Clan.
Yeon Wi was the same in showing an amazing appearance.
Pababababak!
Dozens of sword marks were engraved on the ground where Yeon Wi stood.
Zzzzzing! Zzzzzing!
It was as if formless blades carved into hundreds and thousands of pieces were swimming around Yeon Wi’s body. The invisible blades of killing intent, it was Yeon Wi’s true aura determined to sincerely cut the opponent.
Even though they were father and son, the temperaments of the two were too different.
If Yeon Ho-jeong’s killing intent was like boiling lava, Yeon Wi’s killing intent was coldheartedness itself. If Yeon Ho-jeong’s wave of qi was as fierce as a surging wave, Yeon Wi’s wave of qi was as cool and ominous as the night sky before a storm.
Although their temperaments were so different, it was not that there were no similarities at all.
Destructive power.
The fact that the waves of qi emitted by the two top masters possessed enough destructive power to kill a person without even touching them when directed with purpose was similar.
The waves of qi, killing intent, and will of those two collided head-on.
Kwazzzzik! Kwaddddd!
The power of the emitted external qi was too strong. Even though they stood three zhang apart, the ground between the two split open.
It was a collision of terrifying waves of qi. That collision was so bloody that it felt like it would blow away all the buildings and walls of the Army-Destroying Pavilion.
Chiiiiiii!
The two killing intents of different natures collided and created a grayish smoke.
And a moment later.
Hook!
The vicious waves of qi of the two disappeared simultaneously, without anyone going first.
“…….”
The two facing each other.
Paaaaak!
The one who moved first was surprisingly Yeon Wi.
Yeon Wi’s movement, shot like an arrow from a strong bow, was on a different dimension in speed from a moment ago.
As he closed the distance in a single breath and thrust his sword, a sword strike like a lightning flash aimed for Yeon Ho-jeong’s Adam’s apple. He was in a momentum to kill with a single sword.
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong’s hands came up slowly.
Even though he moved slowly, he blocked the front before Yeon Wi’s sword strike could reach. It was a mysterious trick.
Tuuuuuung!
Yeon Wi’s sword qi brushed past Yeon Ho-jeong’s shoulder.
It was an amazing rebounding force. An invisible wall of steel had bounced off Yeon Wi’s sword qi.
Huuuuk!
Yeon Ho-jeong dove into Yeon Wi’s embrace.
Yeon Wi’s eyes flashed.
He thought he was using fists and kicks, but he rolled his body round and attacked with his entire upper body. It was a technique hard to find in the martial arts of the Central Plains, a body slam.
Kwang!
Along with a loud explosion, Yeon Wi stumbled and stepped back.
It was not that he was pushed back in strength. Of course, Yeon Ho-jeong’s rushing power was great, but if they had clashed strength against strength, there was no way he would be pushed back.
However, his stepping back was to dissipate the shock and at the same time carry out a follow-up attack.
Flash!
Yeon Wi’s sword was swung like a thunderbolt.
The sword qi cutting in while drawing the character’之’ as if it had become an actual thunderbolt was exquisite.
Tung! Pishuk!
He thought he had bounced off the slash by hitting the back of the sword, but it was a miscalculation. The sword qi that came down curved and cut Yeon Ho-jeong’s thigh just like that.
‘Dangerous.’
If it had gone just a bit deeper, half of his thigh muscle would have been cut off.
He survived thanks to the rebounding force of the Black Tortoise Qi. If he had been using the Vermilion Bird Qi, his leg would have been cut off and his father’s hand would have been ruined beyond recovery at the same time.
Yeon Ho-jeong did not panic.
Today’s fight was that kind of fight. It was a battle more bloody and enjoyable than a fight with any formidable enemy, and yet a battle to prove his own future.
If he could prove that future full of faith, what would it matter if his limbs were severed?
‘However, I still have much to show you.’
Kuuuuuuung!
The cry of a mysterious creature of unrecognizable form seemed to be heard from somewhere in the air.
Yeon Wi, who was about to carry out a follow-up attack, felt his body suddenly stop.
It was a truly amazing experience. Being controlled in his body’s movements by being crushed by the opponent’s powerful aura rather than his own will was something that could not happen considering Yeon Wi’s current realm.
‘It’s coming.’
At the same time, Yeon Wi could tell.
That Yeon Ho-jeong was implementing a powerful martial art that he had never shown him until now. That he was trying to put his everything into this blow and hand it over.
His intuition was accurate.
Splash! Chwaaaaaak!
The sound of crashing waves delivered a fierce pressure.
In an instant, Yeon Wi felt a pressure as if the hairs on his entire body were standing up. He intuited that something unusual would come, but it was because he only realized now that the power was beyond his expectations.
Huuuuuuuuung!
The world turned dark.
It was as if he had fallen into a deep sea where not a single point of light entered. The power of the Black Tortoise Qi emitted by the power of the Yeon Clan Divine Elixir was exuding such a tremendous concentration that even the great Yeon Wi would be tense.
And in front of that.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s left and right hands, which had been directed toward the upper and lower sections respectively, met in the middle section.
Clap!
The sound of palms meeting was cheerful.
And that cheerful sound was immediately buried by the terrifying explosion that burst out afterward.
Kwaaaaang!
This time, even Yeon Wi was pushed back in strength.
‘Shockwave?!’
It was a powerful shockwave spewed out by clashing both hands. It was an offensive power similar to a tidal wave, as if the heavy pressure of the deep sea caused an explosion of true qi to sweep everything away.
Tadadadadak!
Even after stepping back more than ten steps, the center of his upper body continued to be pushed back. It was a qigong power that pushed away with a tidal wave-like force.
Yeon Wi drove his sword into the ground.
Kagagagagak!
The sword bent as if it would break.
It was a pressure that caused the sword to bend even though he poured in Sword-Limit Thought Qi. It was as if a fire bomb without gunpowder had exploded in front of his eyes.
Chiiiiiii!
Greyish steam rose from Yeon Wi’s body.
If he hadn’t wrapped his entire body in Sword-Limit Thought Qi, he would have truly suffered a setback. It was an excellent choice to enter a completely defensive posture instead of countering the attack.
“Huuu. Huuu.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s breathing became even rougher.
It was certain that it was a blow dealt with all his might. However, even so, considering Yeon Ho-jeong’s physical stamina, it felt like he was exhausted too quickly.
It was because of the Dragon Robe Divine Art.
Although he was perfectly controlling the Four Gods Qi from the Dragon Robe, the explosive power of the divine art itself was not yet followed by his body. Even Yeon Ho-jeong could not escape the characteristic of the Dragon Robe Divine Art, which squeezed the practitioner’s physical stamina and muscle strength to the limit.
Ching!
Yeon Wi, who pulled out the sword driven into the ground, looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with deeply sunken eyes.
Yeon Ho-jeong took a deep breath.
Wuuuuuuung!
With that one breath, his true qi was already turning stable. The stabilization of breathing and the recovery power of true qi were truly amazing.
The corners of Yeon Wi’s mouth went up.
“Can you do more?”
Hook!
Before long, Yeon Ho-jeong’s body appeared at Yeon Wi’s rear left.
Even though it was not the Vermilion Bird Qi, he was fast. This time it was not the Black Tortoise but the Azure Dragon. He approached from an unexpected blind spot using a flexible and fast movement technique.
Yeon Wi’s sword moved again.
Crack! Kwang!
The sword and fist of the two collided, creating another powerful shockwave.
Chwaaaak!
A diagonal sword mark appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s chest.
Peooong!
Yeon Wi’s left sleeve exploded as if it were bursting. His exposed forearm was swollen bright red.
Kwang! Kuuuung! Boom!
The martial arts of the two clashing as if possessed were worthy of being called art in themselves.
Although it was an ominous and overbearing match, all the martial arts that could be shown as a martial artist were melted within it. Not only offense, defense, evasion, and counterattack, but also killing methods and saving methods, the summation of all martial arts under heaven was here.
And Muk Bi could only see it then.
‘It changes.’
When Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial art changed, Yeon Wi’s martial art also changed.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial art itself was a vicious certain-kill with a single blow even without using the Four Gods Martial Arts. Yeon Wi fought his son by modeling after such martial arts temperament of Yeon Ho-jeong.
When the son raised killing intent with the Vermilion Bird Qi, the father also responded with a blade-like killing intent.
When the son showed heavy defense and shockwaves with the Black Tortoise Qi, the father also showed a complete defensive sword and composure.
When the son used a forward-moving attack without retreat with the White Tiger Qi, the father also did not back down while wielding the upright gentleman’s sword.
When the son unleashed fast and soft handwork with the Azure Dragon Qi, the father also used extremely composed and light sword power.
Yeon Wi was literally taking in all of Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts identically. As if telling him to look at himself.
Even if it was not exactly the same, as if indirectly teaching him that this was exactly his martial art.
And through such a match, Yeon Wi was also analyzing his son’s martial arts and facing his son’s present and future.
A moment later.
Peooong!
It was an explosion that felt more refreshing than heavy.
The appearances of the two who stepped back far after that blow were very rough.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body was covered in blood from being cut here and there, and Yeon Wi’s clothing and hair were also greatly disarrayed by Yeon Ho-jeong’s fierce martial arts.
Thus the two stood and looked at each other for a long time.
The first one to speak was Yeon Wi.
“The Tang Clan Head said it. That as a supporter, it is time for me to start moving.”
It was too out of the blue for words spoken after finishing a bloody fierce battle.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.
“It is time to start using my head.”
“How do you want this father to move?”
“Father, you are moving in your own way. That is what I think.”
“Are you planning to fight alone in the shadows?”
“Unfortunately, I am skilled in such tactics.”
Considering why this spar broke out, it was a remark that could sound quite provocative.
However, Yeon Wi just laughed.
“A sword is truly scary only when it is inside its scabbard.”
“I know.”
“I will trust that you will know when to draw it.”
“I will pay attention to it in the future.”
Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“I’m going now.”
“Father.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you for forgiving me.”
Yeon Wi turned his body.
“Since you have already reflected, what is there to forgive or not? Even if you harm innocent people and everyone points their fingers at you, this father at least will not give up on you.”
“…….”
“Still, do not cross the line.”
“Yes.”
“Gama. Rest well.”
Thus Yeon Wi left the Army-Destroying Pavilion.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who stared at the main gate for a long time, slumped down in his spot.
He wore a bitter smile.
“He should have cursed at me and slapped my cheek instead.”