Chapter 338: Aiming at the Light (6)
Murong Jun, who came out of his residence, faced Yeon Ho-jeong standing on the path.
“…”
A strange silence flowed.
The first to break the silence was Murong Jun.
“Are you heading out to a battlefield?”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with an expressionless face.
“If it’s a matter related to you, war would be better.”
“Your high evaluation is always sweet to hear.”
Although he said so, Murong Jun secretly felt tense.
Yeon Ho-jeong had come fully armed.
It was not the attire of the Evil-Annihilating Army Commander. He wore a quite thick white long robe over a high-quality red martial uniform, and putting aside how good it looked, the weapons worn on his body were incredibly bloodthirsty.
Inside the long robe, the dark gray iron chain crossing his upper body diagonally left and right looked solid like armor.
On his shoulder hung the Tiger General of Green Mountain’s famous weapon, the Crazy Dragon Axe, and on his waistband hung two quite solid-looking hand axes like swords.
That was not all. On the outside of his shins, short swords were tied along with tightly bound gaiters. Most likely, he had other weaponry hidden in places not revealed on the outside.
It was an outfit that made the phrase’fully armed’ pale in comparison. It was truly the appearance of a warrior heading out to war.
Murong Jun opened his mouth with a cold expression.
“I know well that your qi manipulation art is amazing. That technique of shooting killing intent solely at me without causing any harm elsewhere is a trick impossible without a deep understanding of qi manipulation.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“Now will you explain? The reason you came all the way here at this late hour and revealed your killing intent to me?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
That incomparably chilly smile raised Murong Jun’s heart rate little by little.
‘What is it?’
He wasn’t surprised because of his skills or killing intent. He felt that he had grown yet another level from before, but he knew Yeon Ho-jeong’s talent well anyway.
The reason Murong Jun was tense was because of Yeon Ho-jeong’s unexpected action.
Although he was confronting Yeon Ho-jeong with a sharp edge, the guy had never once come out radically like this.
There was definitely something unusual. It wasn’t Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial power but his intentions that were frightening.
“First, let’s move. There is a suitable place for conversation that I know of.”
Murong Jun smiled coldly.
“A conversation?”
“Yes.”
Murong Jun, who had been intently glaring at Yeon Ho-jeong, put his hands behind his back.
“Lead the way.”
“I will.”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his body and moved his steps.
Following behind him, Murong Jun thought.
‘What is the matter?’
Don’t tell me my daughter got caught delivering information to the Black Dragon Manor?
‘That can’t be.’
Of course, there is no perfection in the world. However, Murong Jun was certain that the process of Murong Lotus Flower sending information to the Black Dragon Manor had not been discovered.
He didn’t trust his own thoroughness; rather, he could be certain looking at Yeon Ho-jeong’s reaction. If that had been caught, Yeon Ho-jeong would have either remained silent or launched a counterattack through behind-the-scenes maneuvers.
‘It’s not the Black Dragon Manor matter. Then?’
Of course, besides that, he had caused many other things to happen here and there. But those were all matters proceeding outside the Murim Alliance. Even those were mostly handling matters for the revival of the clan, so it wasn’t something for others to argue about.
In a short time, Murong Jun organized his thoughts.
‘It’s not because of what I or the main family did.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s back, walking with his waist straight, seemed like it wouldn’t bend even in the face of a landslide.
‘Is there something I don’t know about?’
After his recent rest and the conversation with Murong Yu, Murong Jun had regained his past self.
Just like in the past when he had sharply honed his intuition and intelligence.
He had returned to the him of that time who had created the decisive momentum for the founding of the Murim Alliance with terrifying political power.
Because of that, he could know. That the reason Yeon Ho-jeong visited today was no ordinary matter. That it wasn’t to attack or bury him.
‘No, is it not that either.’
The killing intent Yeon Ho-jeong shot at him a moment ago was real. Its density was heavily dyed with a bloodthirstiness that couldn’t emerge unless it was sincere.
‘Whatever it is, I will find out soon enough.’
Why this young monster had come to find him.
How much time had passed like that.
“Is it here?”
“Have you been here?”
“Of course.”
Murong Jun chuckled.
“It’s one of the several fighting grounds located throughout the Alliance.”
It was the place where Master Kong-kong had given teachings to Yeon Ho-jeong and Murong Yu before the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army departed to annihilate the Gray Wolf Squad.
“A good place for a conversation, you say…”
The corners of Murong Jun’s mouth rose.
“Was that conversation a conversation of swords?”
“Well.”
Yeon Ho-jeong also smiled coldly.
“That would depend on what kind of person you are.”
Murong Jun pointed at Yeon Ho-jeong’s legs with his chin.
“Do you also handle short swords?”
“If necessary.”
“You handle them if necessary… Do you mean a time when you literally use your full body and full power?”
“There has never been a time when I didn’t do my best when engaging in actual combat. However, it would depend on who the opponent is.”
“When facing me, it is better to have many weapons?”
“That is correct.”
Thud!
The thick blade of the Crazy Dragon Axe embedded into the ground.
Uuuuung.
An unusual energy wave emanated from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body. The Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir was activating.
“Before actual combat, we haven’t tested each other’s martial arts all this time, have we? Excluding the few exchanges of fist and kick moves like a joke.”
Murong Jun chuckled.
“That’s true too. We always only talked about killing and saving with words.”
“Since things have turned out like this, shall we lightly exchange some blows?”
“Exchange blows…”
Jiiiing! Jiiiing!
Blue electric light began to flash from Murong Jun’s fingertips.
“Exchanging blows sounds good. Originally, a martial artist is someone who reads true intentions from the opponent’s martial arts; it is what I wished for as well.”
“Good.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and lowered his stance.
“Let’s begin.”
Murong Jun nodded.
“Come.”
Pa-ak!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s dash was refreshing.
It wasn’t his unique linear and fast dash. It was fast enough, but anyone could tell he hadn’t used his full power.
Yeon Ho-jeong swung the Crazy Dragon Axe.
Bu-ung!
He hadn’t used his full power, but the sound of the heavy weapon weighing over eighty jin cutting the air was still incredibly bloodthirsty.
Murong Jun’s hands moved.
Crack!
Along with a clear sound of iron, Yeon Ho-jeong retreated three or four steps backwards.
Murong Jun frowned.
“You aren’t even showing three tenths of your true skills.”
“Because we decided to do it lightly.”
“That’s not what I mean. To think swinging it with less than three tenths of your power is to this extent… you are truly strong.”
“Here I go again.”
Pak!
It was a faster speed than a moment ago. But it was still not enough to confuse Murong Jun’s senses.
The two people’s weapons clashed head-on.
Jjeo-eong!
A heavier sound of collision erupted than before.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who offset the shock by retreating a few steps, opened his mouth.
“Do you remember the Medical God Society?”
Flash!
Murong Jun crossed the space in a single breath and reached Yeon Ho-jeong’s flank.
“I remember.”
Crack!
A powerful shockwave erupted from the weaponry that clashed in a brief moment.
Saaaak!
Thin tree branches shook from the strong gust of wind.
It wasn’t a collision with their full power, but it was already a fierce battle of masters who transcended human limits. No matter how light the exchange was, it was a realm that dealt damage to external objects with just the shockwaves.
Yeon Ho-jeong, holding the shaft of the Crazy Dragon Axe with both hands, aimed for Murong Jun’s flank with the tip of the shaft.
Huuung!
Murong Jun, who evaded like the wind, flicked his finger. It was sharp finger wind.
Thwack!
The finger wind that passed Yeon Ho-jeong, who exquisitely twisted his body, pierced a small hole in a tree.
“I heard from the Strategist. The reason you hate the Medical God Society.”
Murong Jun smiled.
“Is that so.”
“Yes.”
Crack!
If it weren’t for the continuously crossing weaponry, it really seemed like they were having a comfortable conversation.
It was a spar of skilled masters who could unleash the martial path they learned and practiced even in the realm of the unconscious. The depth and tenacity of their breathing transcended imagination.
That was why such a conversation was possible even while violently clashing.
“I also hate the Medical God Society. For a different reason than you, though.”
“They are the scum of the world. In the first place, it is absurd that those whose profession is to heal human bodies form a faction to aim for power.”
“I agree with that thought. No, that reason is almost everything. The reason why I hate them.”
“I would have viewed them unfavorably anyway, but they dared to try and touch the Alliance itself. If I had been the Alliance Leader, I would have already pulled out the roots of the Medical God Society.”
“I suppose you would have.”
Paaaak!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was dealing with Murong Jun while exquisitely handling the Crazy Dragon Axe, suddenly unleashed a kicking technique.
It was a powerful short strike kick aimed at the upper body. As if he had been waiting for it, Murong Jun tilted his head back.
Peo-eong!
The air burst from the kicking technique that whipped through the empty space like a whip.
“To you, the Murim Alliance is a Holy Land. In the eyes of one who wishes to become the master of that Holy Land, those who dared to try and touch the Murim Alliance would not look pretty.”
“You know well. Although I don’t know why you’re bringing up such a story anew.”
Jjeo-eong! Crack! Boom!
Yeon Ho-jeong was pushed back with a huk. He had allowed a single strike from Murong Jun’s palm force.
But even so, there was no damage. Yeon Ho-jeong’s skill in deflecting attacks was amazing, but it was also because the power loaded in Murong Jun’s palm force was weak.
Yeon Ho-jeong lowered his stance once again.
“How did you become so obsessed with the Murim Alliance?”
“What a funny thing to say. Obtaining the Murim Alliance is no different from obtaining the world. Being born a man, aiming for the world is an extremely natural thing.”
“The Murim Alliance is not the world. It is only a part of the world.”
“It is the largest part of the world.”
“Do you have the confidence to deal with the Black Dragon Manor?”
Seureuk.
Murong Jun, who was about to go on the offensive, lowered his sword.
Murong Jun, who stared at Yeon Ho-jeong with transparent eyes, soon shook his head.
“If you’re trying to test that part, stop. Aren’t you assuming that I have some kind of relationship with Yang Cheon anyway?”
“You saw well.”
“Whatever it is, I don’t want to talk about that anymore.”
“Is that so? Then how about this story perhaps?”
“…?”
“That there is an unknown organization that has infiltrated the government and the Imperial Family. And that one of that unknown organization gave great help in establishing the Black Dragon Manor while backing Yang Cheon.”
“…!!”
Murong Jun’s eyes trembled.
In an instant, flame-like killing intent erupted from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.
Boom!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who dashed with a roaring sound, swung the Crazy Dragon Axe with formidable power.
Kwang!
Murong Jun staggered and retreated backwards.
That was not the end. Going beyond the first strike, he came striking in with a second, third, and fourth strike, and the speed of that chained attack was fast as lightning.
Kwang! Rumble! Boom!
Along with heavy roaring sounds, Murong Jun retreated backwards once again.
His mental energy was disturbed by the astonishing remark. Because of that, he couldn’t properly respond to Yeon Ho-jeong’s change in momentum.
But even taking that into account, Yeon Ho-jeong’s power was immense. It was an attack driven so hard that the heavy and highly elastic shaft of the Crazy Dragon Axe visibly bent. It was a mighty martial art capable of blowing away even a steel fortress gate.
Puseuseuseu.
The red killing intent burned up like flames.
The Vermilion Bird Qi rising through the thick dirt dust. What lurked within it was the madness of a white beast wearing the Azure Dragon’s Horn, the Vermilion Bird’s Wings, and the Black Tortoise’s Shell.
A monster of the Unity of the Four Gods aiming solely for attack.
“I don’t know how much meaning these words will have to a bastard like you, but I will ask regardless. I want you to answer risking the path you have lived, the history of the person called Murong Jun.”
Huuuuuuung.
The wind blew.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who revealed his appearance as the dust cleared, glared at Murong Jun with eyes full of killing intent.
In his right hand was the Crazy Dragon Axe, and in his left hand, the Flood Dragon Chain, which had uncoiled at some point, was coiled up.
It was a state of complete combat readiness.
“If you know about the Three Cults, spit it out obediently. You should know that lies won’t work.”