Chapter 321: The One Who Lights the Sacred Fire (3)
Two days later.
“Hmm.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes sank as deeply as a lake.
“So it was like that?”
“That is correct.”
He managed his facial expression since it was a place where he was drinking tea with his father. However, Yeon Wi saw through that a layer of frost was mixed on his eldest son’s face.
“The final intelligence stronghold of the Divine Fire Cult is near Xuchang. Seeing that the third one is Mount Tianzi, there should be at least two more places to send information other than Xuchang in case of an emergency.”
In the case of liaisons who snatch and exchange information, they operate countless strongholds.
Among them, the most important strongholds are none other than the first stronghold and the final stronghold. Leaving aside the mainly operated strongholds, it is safe to prepare several places for at least the first and final strongholds.
If they were properly snatching information, there were many cases where they placed more than ten strongholds. Even so, four places could be seen as a small number.
“They must have built the strongholds judging that the Murim Alliance side does not know of their existence.”
“That is probably it. However, each and every stronghold looked poor. They were probably built temporarily, and as time passes, they will start building them properly one by one.”
“Yes, that must be it. By the way…”
Yeon Wi clicked his tongue in amazement.
“Are you saying you caught up to the flying carrier pigeons one by one?”
“That is correct.”
It meant that he had swept through completely from the Dabie Mountains, where the Murim Alliance was located, through the second stronghold to the third, Mount Tianzi, and from Mount Tianzi to the final Xuchang before returning.
Before discussing the high strength of internal energy or stamina, this was a matter of mental power. If it weren’t for the extreme mental power of trying to catch it no matter what, he couldn’t have caught up no matter how good his stamina was.
He even said he checked again one by one in reverse order on his way back.
He knew his son was fierce, but he didn’t know he was this tenacious.
‘Is it to be expected?’
His son said that after living for decades, he had returned to the past again for an unknown reason.
Yeon Wi did not doubt for a moment that his son’s confession was true.
Regardless of how absurd of a story it was, Yeon Wi did not doubt for a moment that his son’s confession was true. And recalling those words, his son’s tenacity wasn’t something he couldn’t understand.
“You have suffered greatly. Get some sleep today.”
“I am fine. This much is nothing.”
“You brat, you haven’t been able to rest properly after traveling that long distance, have you?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.
“Rather than regretting the past at a crucial moment, it is better to move until the soles of my feet sweat even if I feel like dying now.”
“…”
“For now, the situation within the Alliance is quiet. If Master Kong-kong gives a reply soon, I think I can make a move after that.”
“Hmm.”
“I will focus on this side for the time being. Father, please do not take your eyes off the flow of political strife.”
The words were a request, but the tone was more resolute than ever before. A terrifying intensity exuded from Yeon Ho-jeong, who had properly made up his mind.
Thinking about it, his son had been laying his hands on too many places until now. While busy keeping Murong Jun in check and paying attention to the Evil-Annihilating Army, he predicted the future of the Murim Alliance and even kept an eye on the stirrings of the Three Cults.
It was absolutely not something one person could do. Although it was precarious, his son held onto all of that until the end and endured.
Yeon Wi’s eyes shone.
“It seems I have placed too great a burden on you while paying attention to ‘people’ until now. It will be different from now on. This father will properly keep an eye on the flow of political strife, so do not worry about anything and run forward.”
“Thank you.”
“But before that.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“Unless it is a situation where someone’s head will fly off right away, I still wish for you to rest today.”
“Father.”
“This is neither an order as the Clan Head, nor a recommendation as a father. It is a favor.”
“…”
“Just as you said, rather than regretting at a crucial moment, it would be better to do your best when you can make an effort. However, in this father’s eyes, your complexion right now is far too unwell.”
It wasn’t simply because he looked tired.
Was it because he was running after seeing one of the Three Cults for the first time in quite a while? Yeon Ho-jeong was in a somewhat excited state.
That excitement and killing intent, worry and anger, resolve and conflict were all felt by Yeon Wi.
“The eldest son I know is a genius who knows how to look one move, two moves ahead even in an extremely excited state. But I cannot see that in your current appearance.”
“…!”
“Let us rest just for today. I wish for you to rest and cool your head.”
“…I understand.”
Yeon Ho-jeong sighed.
“Since you say so, Father, I will not wander outside today.”
Yeon Wi stood up with a satisfied smile.
“I heard the merchant world south of the Yangtze River is fluctuating quite a bit. Just in time, a Honored Guest Meeting has been scheduled regarding that matter, so it will be difficult for me to return until midnight. I will be back after attending the meeting and checking on the Honored Guests, so get a good rest.”
“I understand. Take care.”
“Alright.”
Like that, Yeon Wi left the residence.
Yeon Ho-jeong let out a sigh as if he was frustrated.
“Rest.”
He used Gi Wu-hui properly for the first time, and at the same time, he found out the intelligence stronghold of the Divine Fire Cult.
And now, he had to take the lead in setting up watchtowers using formations around those intelligence strongholds. Naturally, there was no time to rest.
However.
“Yes, let’s rest just for today.”
He trusted his father. He trusted his father’s eyes and trusted his heart.
Such a father says that he is different from his usual self. If his father said so, then it was so. The gaps or sloppiness that he himself didn’t even know of had been visible in his father’s eyes.
Of course, he didn’t think this urgency would disappear just by resting for a day, but he planned to calm his mind as much as possible.
Yeon Ho-jeong lay down on the bed just like that.
He was in such an excited state that the sound of his heartbeat could be heard like thunder. Yet, when he actually lay down, his eyelids were strangely heavy.
However, Yeon Ho-jeong’s head was still spinning rapidly.
‘The political strife is handled by Father and the Strategist, intelligence by the Successor, Murong Jun by Older Brother, and the Evil-Annihilating Army by Muk Bi. They are all trustworthy people, but humans are never perfect. Sometime soon, a creaking spot will appear somewhere.’
Yeon Ho-jeong bit his lip.
‘A single trivial problem can also collapse an entire organization. Such cases are not common, but in the current situation where nothing can be neglected, I cannot let go of the tension.’
Truly, it felt like his head was going to split open for the first time in a long while.
His mind kept going to the Three Cults, but if he focused on that side, it felt like gaps would appear on the other side.
It wasn’t because he couldn’t trust people. It was because he knew the affairs of the world that well.
Of course, there was no guarantee that the problem would be solved if he stepped in. Thinking like that, his current worries could be said to be useless worries.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been racking his brain for a long time, eventually sighed.
“This is not resting.”
He deliberately made up his mind to empty his head.
If one forces themselves to empty their head, rather, the idle thoughts never cease. Even so, Yeon Ho-jeong concentrated.
Just how much time had passed like that?
‘…’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s breathing sound gradually became even.
He was definitely quite tired, it seemed. Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression as he fell into a deep sleep looked strangely exhausted.
Half a day later.
Bang!
“Jeong!”
The door opened and Zhuge Ah-yeon entered.
Her under-eyes were also pitch-black, as if she had suffered quite a bit. Still, seeing her bright eyes, one could tell that she had produced some results.
“I found it! It just so happens there is a perfectly fine formation in the main family… Huh?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon frowned.
“This guy made a person work and then he falls flat on his back and sits around sleeping? Is there such an evil boss!”
Zhuge Ah-yeon, who had been huffing and puffing for a while, eventually sat on a chair next to the window.
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s expression, who had been looking at Yeon Ho-jeong with a distorted face, gradually changed to an expressionless one.
‘Well, true.’
She knew Yeon Ho-jeong’s personality. Even if she spoke like that, Yeon Ho-jeong did not have the personality to make subordinates work while he slipped back and played.
‘If anything, he would have done even harder work.’
Besides, if she had come in making such a loud noise, it was normal for him to wake up from his sleep. No, he would have read her presence and woken up even before she shouted.
Yet, for him to be sleeping completely oblivious to the world meant that Yeon Ho-jeong’s fatigue transcended imagination that much.
Zhuge Ah-yeon, scratching her head, took out a few well-folded papers from her embrace.
“Tch, I worked hard to find it. Well, since it’s not a very urgent matter.”
Anyway, the enemy’s strongholds weren’t going to disappear right away. Formations could be constructed in a few days as long as the environment matched, so it would be better to give him enough rest when he was resting.
‘Enemy, huh.’
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s expression became serious.
‘There is a certain faction aiming for the Murim?’
She heard that there was such an organization for the first time this time.
Of course, she did not blame Yeon Ho-jeong, asking why he was only telling her now. The fact that both Yeon Ho-jeong and her father had spared their words until now meant there was a good reason for it all.
‘Seeing Jeong and Father so tense, it definitely means they are no ordinary enemies.’
It was when she was spreading the wings of her imagination about the’enemy’ for a long while.
“Um…”
A cautious voice was heard from outside the door.
Zhuge Ah-yeon blinked her eyes.
“Who is it? Oh? Is it Ji-pyeong by any chance?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Come in, come in.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong carefully opened the door and entered the room.
Zhuge Ah-yeon smiled and waved her hand.
“I can’t even see you often because I’m busy.”
“Indeed. Have you been doing well, Older Sister?”
“Of course. Wow, seeing you again, Ji-pyeong is truly a good boy. I wish my rude younger brother would watch and learn a bit.”
“Cough.”
“By the way, Jeong is sleeping? Did you come because you have business with Jeong?”
“Ah, yes. But he is sleeping.”
“Tell me about it. I also came because I have business, but he was completely knocked out.”
“…”
“…”
“…Ahem! Are you waiting here?”
“Huh? Uh, of course. If I come back later and this guy wakes up and I have to go looking for where he wandered off to again, it’d give me a headache.”
“I-I see.”
Sitting next to someone sleeping and waiting was also a truly peculiar thing.
Zhuge Ah-yeon wiggled her hand.
“Why don’t you come and sit down a bit too? Since it turned out like this, be this Older Sister’s conversation partner.”
“Y-yes?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong was flustered. Because no matter what, chattering right next to his sleeping older brother seemed completely wrong.
“There is a flat wooden bench outside. Wouldn’t it be better to have our conversation there?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon wagged her finger from side to side.
“Seeing as he is still sleeping even though I shouted with abdominal breathing, he’s really in a deep sleep. Look, not a single sound of his breathing bounced even when you came.”
“T-that is true, but.”
“Ehei, don’t be like that and come sit here.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong sat across from her as if he had no choice.
Zhuge Ah-yeon smiled and spoke.
“By the way, I didn’t realize it when I saw you a little while ago, but you’ve improved tremendously, haven’t you? If you make up your mind and fight me, I might even lose?”
“How could that be possible.”
“No. It seems you don’t feel it, but your aura is like…”
The two people talked while smiling more comfortably than expected. Of course, Yeon Ji-pyeong occasionally checked on Yeon Ho-jeong and lowered his voice.
Like that, the time of half a shijin flew by.
Perhaps because it was deep in the mountains during winter, the sun set quickly. Before they knew it, the scenery outside the window was gradually being dyed vermilion.
Zhuge Ah-yeon laughed heartily and said.
“I’ve met a fun conversation partner for the first time in a while. I feel like the fatigue that accumulated all this time is completely blown away.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong formed a smile that looked serious.
“I am also glad that you relieved your fatigue through our conversation.”
“You’ve truly become a full adult. Somehow you are more mature than your older brother.”
“Cough! N-no! Absolutely not.”
“What do you mean no, I am saying that is how I feel.”
“Cough, cough!”
“Did you catch a cold?”
“…No.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon giggled and laughed.
“Come hang out at our residence sometimes. I’ll treat you to some good tea.”
“I will frequently come see you from now on, Older Sister.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon, who was smiling with satisfaction, suddenly looked at the sunset light shining through the window.
“It’s red. It looks like a fire broke out somewhere.”
“Indeed.”
“Ugh, I hate fire.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you remember when we first met? The heart method I learned is a divine art based on Wood Qi, so I was almost pushed back by force by that damn pervert bastard.”
“Ah!”
“Since that time, I get sick and tired just looking at fire. They say I just need to cultivate the divine art to the point where I won’t be suppressed by Fire Qi, but I don’t know how many years it will take to achieve great completion.”
“Since your comprehension is so outstanding, Older Sister, you will achieve it faster than anyone…”
It was then.
“That’s right.”
The two were startled and looked at the bed.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had woken up from his sleep at some point, stroked his chin.
“What is sensitive to Fire Qi is Wood Qi and Water Qi… Yes, that’s right. That is the same even in front of the Divine Fire.”
“Gasp! When did you wake up?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled brightly and grabbed her arm.
“Let’s go. I thought of a good idea.”
There wasn’t even time to ask where.
Paaang!
The two people who directly threw their bodies out the window instantly became distant dots.
Yeon Ji-pyeong could hear Zhuge Ah-yeon’s voice moving away at a rapid speed.
“Hey, you damn bastard! Not once but twice… Get your hands off… Should I kill you…!”