Chapter 381: A Tiger and a Lion Are Different (1)
Flap!
Yang Cheon, with his upper body bare, looked at the giant bronze mirror.
In the bronze mirror, there was a middle-aged man with a well-trimmed beard. A middle-aged man who possessed a body that had transcended its limits and ultimate internal energy, despite being over sixty years of age.
Yang Cheon raised his hand to his chest.
Then, the middle-aged man also raised his hand.
Swish.
As he stroked the center of his chest, a tingling pain seemed to arise.
‘Yin Desolate Divine Palm.’
The Yin Desolate martial arts were the main martial arts of the Evil Lust Cult Leader.
Implemented as incredibly wicked lethal techniques in all areas of the fist, palm, finger, and leg, the Yin Desolate martial arts were divine skills that even Yang Cheon, who had traveled throughout the Central Plains and experienced all sorts of martial arts, had experienced for the first time.
‘I heard that if one is struck by the Yin Desolate martial arts, their heart meridians would burst sooner or later, and they would have no choice but to die.’
It was a tricky martial art to deal with, but he had seen many lethal techniques that endangered one’s life with a single hit. In fact, some of the Penetrating Strength in Yang Cheon’s own martial arts were of that kind.
However, the Yin Desolate Divine Palm was definitely different.
‘It unconditionally touches the heart meridians. Not any other part. It solely bursts the heart meridians.’
It was an amazing lethal technique, but at the same time, it could not be said to be a very efficient lethal technique.
Originally, the hidden energy implemented through the exertion of internal energy had the property of penetrating the body and exploding.
The timing of the hidden energy’s explosion varied arbitrarily depending on the type of martial art, the caster’s realm, their intention, and so on. If one overlaid qi on the hidden energy and let it penetrate, the victim could groan in pain for a month before their blood vessels or internal organs burst and they died, or their insides could explode and they could die in a single strike.
The important thing was that one did not know in which part of the body the hidden energy would explode. Therefore, it was fatal, but if one was lucky, it could end with losing a single arm, and if the heavens helped, the weakened hidden energy could just burst the skin and vanish.
The Yin Desolate martial arts were different. Yin Desolate was a martial art focused solely on bursting the heart meridians to kill the opponent instantly.
It was a terrifying martial art, but as long as one protected the heart meridians with true qi in advance, the probability of death decreased drastically. In other words, if it was someone who had never experienced it before, it was as dangerous as other hidden energies, but once one knew its characteristic, the danger level dropped rapidly.
If there was no significant difference in martial arts levels, one would not die from being hit once. No, as long as one defended properly, they could definitely protect their heart meridians, even if they suffered internal and external injuries.
‘In other words, bringing out the Yin Desolate martial arts means harboring the will to kill the opponent for sure. Because if the opponent survives against that martial art, one’s own weakness could be revealed to the whole world.’
Yang Cheon glared at himself in the bronze mirror.
A terrible killing intent lingered in his two eyes that blazed like fire.
“…I definitely blocked his martial arts.”
The golden palm print stamped on his chest was nothing more than a trace. He thought so.
Then, after losing consciousness once, Yang Cheon concentrated his consciousness on this palm print.
However, even after looking at it tens and hundreds of times, he could not find any problem with this palm print. Literally just a trace, it did not cause any problems at all, such as disturbing his internal energy or harming his primal essence.
‘I checked every single nerve, subcutaneous fat, and muscle nerve. Even so, there was no abnormality.’
The Evil Lust Cult Leader’ enlightenment regarding the Yin Desolate Divine Palm might have transcended its limits, so he could have controlled it to simply cause internal injuries and end it or to make him lose consciousness.
However, there was no way he would not have noticed it. That was strange.
‘Just why…?’
Thoughts bit the tails of thoughts.
Yang Cheon, who had been glaring fixedly at the bronze mirror, soon sighed.
“This isn’t what’s important right now.”
To be exact, there was a more important problem left than this.
“…Are you saying they have already taken control of the government office in Henan Province?”
Yang Cheon felt dumbfounded.
“They are acting so recklessly that it’s absurd. No matter how much they are aiming for the Central Plains, to think they would even extend their hands to the government office.”
He recalled Murong Jun’s face.
That scary face stained with disgust and anger.
‘I will ask you again. Did you join hands with the Evil Lust Cult? Are you in the same boat as the Three Cults?’
‘Why can’t you answer! I’m asking if you are a foolish guy who used the barbarians as a backing, contracted with the ignorant me, and tried to hand over the entire Central Plains to them, starting with the Murim Alliance!’
Yang Cheon gritted his teeth.
“These bastards…!”
Rumble!
The entire great hall shook from his blazing anger.
He was angry. That he had heard such abusive language from the mere Clan Head of the Murong Clan.
He was angry. The fact that such a thing was happening in a place he didn’t know, a place that even a person of power who had come to exert immense influence over the Jianghu didn’t know about.
And he was ashamed.
‘Have I become so corrupted that I have to hear abusive language from a guy like that.’
He wasn’t ashamed towards Murong Jun. He was ashamed of himself.
Yang Cheon, who had been emitting his internal energy out of anger, soon sighed.
“I’m tired.”
He was tired. He wanted to just rest without thinking about anything.
But he couldn’t do that. He was not a free body right now. As the supreme head of the Black Dragon Manor, the Black Path Alliance, he couldn’t waste a single day.
‘Are you asking if we should be together?’
Yang Cheon closed his eyes.
‘Join hands with the White Path and destroy the Three Cults?’
Why was it? His chest felt stuffy.
Yang Cheon recalled Murong Jun’s words again.
‘The White Path and the Black Path have clashed for hundreds of years, but we are still people of the Central Plains! Even if our values and cultures are different, we are all people of the Central Plains! But you clung to foreign powers to build such a force and put on airs? Can you truly say that you are not in the same boat as the Three Cults!’
It was ridiculous nonsense. Considering the miserable lives of the Black Path people who had suffered at the hands of the hypocrites of the White Path so far, Murong Jun’s words were overly self-centered remarks.
Even so… the Black Path wasn’t clean either.
‘The Three Cults? Or the Murim Alliance? Just who should I go against? No, is it a situation where I definitely have to fight?’
Yang Cheon sighed.
‘I don’t know. I really don’t know. Was I such a stupid and incompetent guy?’
He had already told Murong Jun. That he would step aside and give him some help so that he could catch Yelu Jeok.
Those words themselves were proof that he could not make a cool-headed judgment. The reason being that Yelu Jeok was an evil beast dispatched by the Three Cults.
He should have said that he would not spare his full support, not just some help. No, he should have said that he would personally catch him and beat him up before their help.
At the very least, if he had made up his mind to strike the Three Cults, it would have been normal for those words to come out.
“Just what am I doing this for…”
It was then.
“Manor Lord!”
“…What is it.”
“The head of the Murim Alliance’s mobile unit is requesting an audience with the Manor Lord!”
Yang Cheon’s face distorted fiercely.
“Cut the bullshit. Tell him that if they don’t pass through Hunan Province within three days, I’ll catch and kill them all!”
That’s right. This was his current state of affairs.
Even stepping forward himself at the mere call of the Clan Head of the Murong Clan was enough to make him burn with anger, and now the mere commander of a unit was asking to see him?
‘I’ll beat him to death!’
Then, White Rat’s voice was heard again.
“…Manor Lord.”
“What is it now?”
“If he was not someone I knew, I too would have dealt with it first and reported later.”
Yang Cheon shouted angrily.
“What kind of nonsense is that! Speak in detail!”
“It’s Jeong.”
“What?”
“It was the former head of the intelligence department, Jeong.”
“…?!”
Yang Cheon’s eyes flashed.
He reached out his hand towards the stone door.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The heavy stone door opened wide at the massive Void Manipulation.
In front of the open stone door, White Rat was kneeling.
“What did you say just now?”
White Rat’s voice trembled slightly.
“The head of the Righteous justice Army, a mobile unit of the Murim Alliance, Yeon Ho-jeong.”
“…!”
“He was precisely the former head of the intelligence department, the one who called himself Jeong, the descendant of the Martial Ancestor Sect.”
Flash!
Yang Cheon’s eyes spat fire.
* * *
“Huuu.”
Faint smoke flowed with a soft sigh.
Hunan had a warmer climate than Henan. However, the mountain air after darkness had descended was still cold.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was looking up at the sky full of starlight, closed his eyes.
‘I can feel it.’
Vwoong. Vwwooong. Vwwwooong.
He couldn’t quite gauge where it was coming from.
However, it was certain. The air of this mountain and beyond the mountain had changed distinctly.
‘I can feel it. A killing intent that transcends imagination.’
A bitter smile was cast on Yeon Ho-jeong’s lips.
‘So this is a strong person who has reached the limit. To think that I can feel the trembling of the air even when the distance is this far apart.’
He wasn’t feeling it with his five senses.
It was his sixth sense. As he entered Hunan, Yeon Ho-jeong’s senses were extremely sharpened, and as time passed, those sharpened senses stood up even more keenly, scanning the air all around.
Thud.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who put down his Crazy Dragon Axe, stroked the chin of his warhorse, Red Wind.
Brrr.
Red Wind boasted a large and robust physique like the legendary Red Hare. It had better stamina than the Ferghana horse, which was said to be the best among horses, and it was stronger than any horse in the Western Regions.
After stroking Red Wind’s chin and bridge of the nose for a long time, Yeon Ho-jeong spoke.
“I’ll be back for a moment.”
Swish.
As if waiting, Murong Yu and Muk Bi stood up.
“Let us go with you.”
“Right.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It’s a meeting with a bad friend full of love and hate, and an enemy. I don’t really want to drag many people along.”
“But…!”
“If a battle breaks out by any chance, I can’t guarantee anyone’s safety. Rather, if we flock together, we’ll only needlessly stimulate Yang Cheon’s nerves.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“Don’t worry. The Yang Cheon I know would never point that fist at me.”
“…Will you be alright?”
“I’ll be fine. Of course I’ll be fine.”
Clang!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who pulled out the Crazy Dragon Axe and rested it on his shoulder, turned his body.
“I’ll be back before dawn, so get some good rest.”
“…Yes.”
“And Gang Ryang.”
Swish.
Gang Ryang, who was hiding in the darkness, stood up from his seat.
Yeon Ho-jeong glanced at Gang Ryang.
“Will you go to see the face of your enemy?”
Gang Ryang nodded.
“It wouldn’t be bad to take a look in advance.”
“In advance?”
“He is someone who will die by my sword in the future. I’m saying this in advance, but even if it’s you, Brother, I won’t hand over his life.”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“You sure have good guts. Alright, let’s go together.”
After stationing the Righteous Justice Army in the mountain like that, Yeon Ho-jeong took Gang Ryang and crossed a path of over fifty li.
Not long after, a large open clearing appeared in their eyes.
A chillingly flat and clean open clearing bathed in the bright moonlight.
And there were two people there.
‘Yang Cheon.’
The sight of Yang Cheon sitting on a flat rock with his fingers interlocked was as brutal as a crouching lion.
Even though he wasn’t emitting any qi wave, his enormous presence was revealed. It was as if he was looking at a lion right before it hunted.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was quietly looking at Yang Cheon, confidently moved his steps.
It was then.
“Disciple.”
Despite the considerable distance, Yang Cheon’s calm voice could be clearly heard all the way to Yeon Ho-jeong and Gang Ryang’s ears.
“Why don’t you test with your martial arts if that damn bastard walking over there is real?”
PAAAANG!
As soon as Yang Cheon’s words ended, a woman with a good physique dashed forward at an incredible speed and threw a punch.
Lightning struck in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.
BOOM!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who repelled the woman with a destructive strike of the Crazy Dragon Axe, spoke in a calm voice.
“It truly is a reunion of hot-blooded men. Fists first before we even exchange words?”
“…”
“Have you been well, Manor Lord Yang?”
Yang Cheon raised his head.
At that moment, the moonlight seemed to crumble, and only darkness filled the world.
“…Rat.”