Chapter 378: Stagnant Water is Bound to Rot (3)
Huuuuung.
The blowing wind gently rustled past the ears.
Sarak.
A leaf blown in by the wind brushed past the tip of the nose of Yeon Ho-jeong, whose eyes were closed.
At that moment, a streak of light spewed out from afar.
Piyuuuuuung!
A single iron arrow fired, tearing the air, accurately aimed at the leaf.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
Puck!
The White Dragon Axe swung upwards briefly split the iron arrow in half.
Considering its speed and fierce penetrating power, it felt like it had been split too easily. It was partly thanks to the axe which was not lacking to be called a Divine Weapon, but it was also evidence that the supply of power was perfect.
Muk Bi twanged the bowstring.
Pipipipiping!
As many as five invisible arrows were fired.
It was a five-shot volley of Invisible Bullets. And they were not just fired in straight lines.
Some arrows flew straight, and some arrows flew drawing curves. Some arrows flew somewhat slowly, and other arrows flew so fast that it was hard to even react.
It was an amazing archery technique that added confusion to the opponent’s response.
Yeon Ho-jeong swung the twin axes at a terrifying speed.
Puck-puck-puck-puck-pung!
Five invisible bullets were destroyed with a time lag.
Huung.
The leaves rose high into the sky at the shockwave spewing out.
Piiiiiiing!
Muk Bi, who hadn’t lost her target, fired one arrow that raised a massive gust of wind.
It was the Nine Dragons Heaven-Shattering Bow, Dragon Fang Cannon. The arrow fired tearing the air created power like a cannon.
Flash!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who flew high into the air and stood in front of the leaf, swung the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes diagonally.
Kwaang!
As the air shook, Yeon Ho-jeong’s body flew slightly backward.
Uuuuung!
Even while flying backward, he spewed out force with the tips of his toes. The leaf pushed back with a hook glided along Yeon Ho-jeong’s body.
Muk Bi urgently fired an arrow.
Pipipipipiping!
The arrow of an archer who had broken through the Wall of the Martial End was so fast and powerful that it would be hard for even a master of one or two steps higher to react.
Puck-puck-puck-puck-puck-pung!
However, Yeon Ho-jeong’s axe technique blocking all those attacks was no longer in a realm where the level of its state could be discussed.
With extremely sharp qi sense, he saw through all the movements of the arrows. At the same time, he used the most efficient Four Gods Martial Arts at that moment to draw out maximum efficiency with minimum movement to defend, which was truly a ghost-wailing skill.
Seureuk.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who lightly landed on the ground, hung the twin axes on his waist.
“Tsk.”
Rattle!
Muk Bi, who flew in with an amazing movement technique, landed softly in front of him.
“I thought it would break through in five clashes.”
“Your arrows have become even faster and sharper. The supply of power is also completely free. Your level has definitely gone up compared to before.”
“Even so, I couldn’t even hit a single leaf.”
“Because I was blocking it.”
“That’s an amazing confidence.”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“Thanks to you, I’ve gotten completely used to it. Thank you.”
At Yeon Ho-jeong’s level, he could handle even a weapon he grabbed for the first time at a level not lacking to be called a master.
But that was exactly just up to there. The important thing was beyond handling the weapon well according to its purpose, making it completely melt into his own martial arts.
Fortunately, Yeon Ho-jeong’s understanding of weapons was higher than anyone else’s, and since he was proficient in both axes and bare-handed combat, he was able to completely make the Black and White Twin Dragon Axes his own in a short time.
Muk Bi asked.
“It certainly feels different from the Crazy Dragon Axe. The destructive power of a single strike has decreased, but it feels faster and more precise.”
“It’s the difference in the shape and weight of the weapon. Moreover, the Crazy Dragon Axe is, so to speak, an extreme weapon of destruction based on the spear and blade. The destructive power of a single strike doesn’t fall behind any weapon under heaven, but without the wit to respond to changes, weaknesses will inevitably arise in defense and continuous strikes.”
“On the other hand, the Black and White Twin Dragons are proficient in changes and continuous strikes, and they are exceptionally outstanding in defense as well. Though the power of a single strike has decreased.”
“That’s right.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be a big problem at Young Master Yeon’s level either. Without putting it into words, the destructive power of the Crazy Dragon Axe is immense enough to almost be called a siege weapon. If you’re dealing with people, you don’t necessarily need that much destructive power.”
“Instead, it’s good when dealing with a master who has reached a higher realm than me. Especially when a pincer attack is needed.”
Muk Bi spoke with a curious face.
“Is it very difficult?”
“What is?”
“Young Master Yeon… you’re a person who has already reached the ultimate realm.”
She was probably talking about his martial arts during his time as the Dark Emperor.
Yeon Ho-jeong gave a bitter smile.
“Of course, my enlightenment right now is that of my time as the Dark Emperor. However, the gap between my physical body and internal energy is still significant. I am putting in effort to fill that gap, but well. A method to reach that realm all at once doesn’t come to mind.”
“It’s fascinating. I heard that the martial arts of the Central Plains are usually based on the divine arts of Buddhism and Daoism, so enlightenment is more important than anything else.”
“That’s correct.”
“In other words, I know that even if the physical body and internal energy are lacking, if enlightenment has touched the ultimate realm, the body and qi develop terrifyingly to match that enlightenment.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“The Four Gods Martial Arts are on a different track from the martial arts of Buddhism or Daoism. Of course, if you trace its roots, it wouldn’t be completely uninfluenced, but the Four Gods Martial Arts are strictly fighting techniques that exclude enlightenment. So there are no techniques that can be grandiosely called a finishing move. Its main purpose is simply to kill the enemy with the most efficient movement in that moment, in that battle.”
“Did you call it the Vermilion Bird Art? You said that was a killing art?”
“A killing art is just a killing art. Of course, the power increases and the killing intent thickens as it goes into the latter half of the techniques, but it’s a difference in the efficiency of the skill, not a focus on power.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Tell me about it.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“Because it’s such a complicated martial art, I guess it had the flavor of pondering over it. How comfortable it would have been if the techniques were rigidly set like other common martial arts.”
Although he spoke like that, Yeon Ho-jeong did not doubt that the Four Gods Martial Arts were the strongest martial arts when it came to mundane fights.
It clearly has forms, but it can be freely transformed according to the situation. So it is difficult to cultivate, and therefore if one becomes a master, they can respond at any moment.
In other words, just cultivating the Four Gods Martial Arts can dramatically increase one’s overall understanding of techniques. Of course, the person cultivating it would find it so difficult that it would make them furious.
“But you know.”
“Huh?”
Muk Bi tilted her head.
“If Young Master Yeon achieved that much of a realm before the age of fifty, it means there was an overall improvement in skill from the first time you cultivated the Four Gods Martial Arts, right? And quite significantly at that.”
“Well, that is true.”
“Even if the Four Gods Martial Arts are not martial arts of enlightenment, Young Master Yeon has already stepped into that realm.”
“And so?”
“It’s just strange. You said that since the Four Gods Martial Arts are martial arts of the battlefield, their development and utility are maximized in life-and-death battles, but somehow I feel that Young Master Yeon’s martial arts increase is not the same as before.”
“…!”
“Ah, that doesn’t mean Young Master Yeon’s level is low. Rather, it’s immense. I haven’t even seen the tail of the realm Young Master Yeon resides in. However…”
Muk Bi laughed awkwardly.
“I just had that thought. For some reason, Young Master Yeon is a person who makes me have such expectations. After a day passes, you’ve grown yet another level, and even though I clenched my teeth and put in effort to follow that, when I raise my head, you’ve already advanced further.
“”Hmm.”
“So these days I think, ‘this person also had a human side after all’.”
In Muk Bi’s own way, it was something she said quite carefully, but the shock Yeon Ho-jeong received was quite large.
‘Is that so? Does Muk Bi’s words make sense too?’
Although the Four Gods Martial Arts are not martial arts of enlightenment, when he thought about when he first regressed, his physical body and true qi had definitely grown terrifyingly.
Of course, it wasn’t just because of the Four Gods Martial Arts. It was also thanks to the Jade Gauze True Formula, and because the realm he achieved as the Dark Emperor was full of understanding and efficiency regarding qigong, he was able to develop faster than anyone else.
But now…
‘What is it.’
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shook.
‘Am I stagnating? Without even realizing it?’
He looked down at his two hands.
His hands, which had been full of calluses, had become smooth again as true qi was activated before he knew it. It wasn’t that there were no calluses at all, but they weren’t as thick as during his time as the Dark Emperor.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sank deeply.
‘In my own way, I was putting in effort constantly, but was that effort too inertial.’
That wasn’t the case.
Yeon Ho-jeong put in effort with a clear goal in every moment. His eyes were fixed on his time as the Dark Emperor, and his true qi was always sharply honed to rise to that realm.
But why is there no growth like before? Just as Muk Bi said, it’s a path he had already walked before? Furthermore, it’s not like there weren’t fierce battles, right?
“Young Master Yeon.”
“…”
“Young Master Yeon?”
“Huh? Uh? What?”
Muk Bi let out a fake cough.
“Sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but your father has come.”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head.
Yeon Wi was there.
“Father.”
Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“Were you training?”
“Ah, yes.”
His worries were deep momentarily, but he couldn’t show it in front of his father.
Yeon Ho-jeong straightened his expression.
“Have you come regarding the matter of Murong Jun?”
“That’s right.”
“How did it go?”
Yeon Wi gave a bitter smile.
“That man, he is definitely not an ordinary person.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“It’s a success. Manor Lord Yang has decided to open the path. He said that, but looking at Clan Head Murong’s face, it seems we will also be able to receive implicit support.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips.
“As expected of Murong Jun.”
Even though he had obtained an income in his own way, Yeon Wi’s expression was not that bright.
Yeon Ho-jeong soothed him with good words.
“Don’t feel too regretful. Murong Jun is a thorough person. We can no longer reveal his relationship with the Black Dragon Manor externally to bury him, but if we can change Yang Cheon’s mind with this, we can consider it a profit greater than that.”
That’s right. What Yeon Wi proposed when asking Murong Jun for a favor was exactly burying his relationship with the Black Dragon Manor.
The leader of a prestigious Orthodox faction made a deal with the leader of the Black Path Alliance? If known to the outside, it would truly be an event that shakes the world. Not only would Murong Jun’s political life be completely obliterated, but his life could also be lost.
That wasn’t all. If that fact became known, the Murong Clan would also fall into the mud. They wouldn’t be driven to the point of a public enemy of the Murim like the Nine States Myeong Clan, but they would have no choice but to live without being able to straighten their shoulders forever.
Yeon Wi, strictly speaking Yeon Ho-jeong, tried to move Murong Jun with that as a condition. So to speak, it was a promissory note, but it could be seen that he made a deal with the opponent with a promissory note that had certain effectiveness.
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“It’s not because we lost a card to take down Clan Head Murong. It’s just…”
“Yes?”
“It’s just because I feel suffocated. Not everyone in the world will have the same mind as me, but still, aren’t we being too selfish towards each other? I thought the Combat King Yang Cheon was a great hero who knew faith and loyalty and had guts even if the path he walked was different, but it’s bitter that in the end he was also just an ordinary martial artist blinded by the desires of the mundane world.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
It was a laugh with bitterness mixed in.
“Desire tempts people regardless of who they are.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Yeon Wi took a deep breath.
“Whatever happened, the deal with the Black Dragon Manor Lord has ended with this. Now…”
“It’s time for us to run wild.”
“That’s right.”
The light in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes changed.
“Vice Commander Muk.”
Muk Bi bowed her head.
“Yes, Grand Commander.”
“Convey the order to all members of the Righteous Justice Army to gather in front of the South Main Gate within two shichen.”
“Yes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked up at the sky.
“The Emperor of the assassin world… Is it ‘that’ lineage after all?”