Chapter 389: Shadow of the Yin God (3)
“A communication has arrived.”
Zhuge Wen-hu’s face was exceptionally bright.
“It says Grand Commander Yeon has succeeded in the trade with Manor Lord Yang.”
Agitation lingered in Yeon Wi’s eyes. He clenched his fists without realizing it.
Tang Kwan smirked.
“I’ll have to see Yang Cheon in a new light. If he didn’t get angry at that arrogant brat’s tongue, it is safe to see him as a saintly gentleman.”
As Yeon Wi’s tension relaxed, Tang Kwan’s title for Yeon Ho-jeong changed again. Unlike his appearance, Tang Kwan had a meticulous side to him.
“Although it is a relationship that could go awry at any time, he will be of great help in this mission at least.”
“If that person named Hong Gwan, who is known as Yang Cheon’s disciple, is a pawn of the Three Cults, Yang Cheon could also become an ally.”
Zhuge Wen-hu shook his head.
“We have to wait and see more on that. Yang Cheon is too burdensome of an existence to just make an enemy. The Three Cults side will also try to appease him at least once.”
Tang Kwan tilted his head.
“I heard from that arrogant brat that the Three Cults also have quite a few peak masters capable of fighting a close battle with the strong people of the Saintly Heaven?”
“Of course the story would be different if they are prepared to wage an all-out war. However, since ancient times, the standard tactic of war is to gain the maximum effect with the minimum damage. There is no way the Three Cults wouldn’t know that.”
“Hmm.”
“Furthermore, the Three Cults are in a position of picking a fight with us. And we are in the middle of fighting in our own mainland.”
“Even a dog eats one move in its front yard, is that it?”
“……By analogy, we become the dogs?”
“Whatever it is, it means it’s advantageous for us, no?”
“That is correct. It was the same when we went to catch the Eighteen Martial Generals of the Divine Fire Cult the other day. We defeated them quite easily thanks to Grand Commander Yeon’s wits and strategy, but the geographical advantage cannot be ignored either. The Three Cults are not used to the geographical features of the Central Plains, and the majority won’t even know well where is where.”
“Could they have tried to wage a war without even that much preparation?”
“They must have prepared at least the Full Map of the Central Plains. However, nevertheless, they went as far as to wage an infiltration war. They know that fighting in the land of the Central Plains is disadvantageous for them.”
“I see.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“The influence that a psychological advantage gives in a fight is greater than thought. The opposite is also true. In the fight with the Eighteen Martial Generals, they must have been very flustered.”
“The Yeon Clan Head’s words are correct.”
Zhuge Wen-hu let out a sigh.
It was a sigh showing signs of relief, not frustration.
“In any case, we have crossed one big mountain. Let’s discuss the rest after this mission is successful.”
“Let’s do that.”
“There is one remaining problem in this mission. Just how much power that person named Hong Gwan has……”
It was then.
“Is anyone inside?”
In an instant, the three people were greatly surprised.
The voice heard from outside the office was a very familiar one.
The surprising thing was that they hadn’t felt any presence while ‘that person’ came all the way here. Because the members of the Military Strategy Department happened to be busy so they hadn’t even stationed people, they couldn’t help but be even more surprised.
Zhuge Wen-hu got up from his seat.
“Please come in.”
“Then excuse me.”
Deureureuk.
The door opened and a monk revealed himself.
It was Master Kong-kong.
* * *
Dudududu.
The sound of horse hooves of the warhorses driven by the Righteous Justice Army was truly full of confidence.
The majority of the soldiers didn’t know exactly what work their leader, Yeon Ho-jeong, had handled and come back from. It was the same for Yeon Ho-jeong, but Murong Yu also knew well that it was more beneficial not to relay more information than necessary to his subordinates.
However, one thing was certain.
That their leader, the Tiger General of Green Mountain, Yeon Ho-jeong, had fought with the Combat King Yang Cheon, the master of the Black Dragon Manor and one of the Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats.
That fact became an opportunity for the soldiers to view Yeon Ho-jeong anew, and at the same time instilled confidence in them facing this mission.
Of course, they didn’t think Yeon Ho-jeong had beaten Yang Cheon. That was impossible. Because all the strong people of the Saintly Heaven were invincible monsters boasting martial prowess like gods.
However, just the fact that Yeon Ho-jeong picked a fight with the Combat King under heaven sent the soldiers’ morale soaring endlessly.
Their leader was not a simple strong person, but a person with enough hot-blooded guts to pick a fight with a peak master of the Saintly Heaven.
At a time when the soldiers’ morale had risen so high it was hard to rise any further.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was actually leading the front and driving Red Wind, was introspecting inside himself.
‘What is this.’
Yeon Ho-jeong inwardly clicked his tongue.
‘I clearly heard it was an appropriate one? What kind of thing did he give me?’
Uwoong. Uuuuwoong.
The Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir was spinning frighteningly.
It wasn’t that a fight broke out, nor was he consciously spinning his internal core, but the Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir was spinning at high speed as if he had drawn up internal energy with all his might.
There was only one reason.
‘It’s sucking it in.’
The medicinal power of the spirit pill filling his lower Dantian was quickly refined and gathering into the Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir. And yet, there was still enough medicinal power left to make his lower Dantian ache.
The lower Dantian of Yeon Ho-jeong, who had reached the realm of the Ultimate, was wider and deeper than other absolute peak masters.
Yet medicinal power was still densely packed in that large Dantian.
‘I don’t know about other things but.’
Yeon Ho-jeong clicked his tongue at Yang Cheon’s guts.
‘I have to recognize his hot-bloodedness.’
He recalled Yang Cheon’s face steeped in fatigue after finishing all the treatment.
And his voice too.
‘Your words were right. My true qi was contaminated by the demonic qi of the Evil Lust Cult Leader, that damn bastard. Thanks to you I completely escaped from his demonic hands, so this is truly a matter to be thankful for.’
‘But I won’t give a separate greeting of thanks. You are still an enemy of the Black Dragon Manor. But sending you away just like this won’t save my face. Someone who saved the life of the Combat King deserves to receive an appropriate reward.’
‘It’s called the Wood Spirit Elixir. Don’t take it somewhere else and consume it right here.’
Even Yeon Ho-jeong, who knew a lot, heard of a spirit pill called the Wood Spirit Elixir for the first time. Of course, he didn’t have much knowledge about alchemy. So much so that he didn’t even know well the names of the spirit pills possessed by the Nine Sects One Gang and the Six Great Clans.
However, it was clear that the Wood Spirit Elixir was an extraordinary spirit pill.
‘When looking at it from the outside I only felt an appropriate medicinal power, but actually consuming it, this is no joke.’
Uuuuuuuwoong!
A faint blue-green radiant light leaked from Yeon Ho-jeong’s two eyes.
He wasn’t operating the Jade Gauze True Qi or the Dragon Robe Qi. He was operating the Azure Dragon Art.
‘The Wood Spirit Elixir is based on Wood Qi. The Azure Dragon Qi is the incarnation of Wood Qi, a true qi optimized for sucking in the power of this spirit pill.’
That wasn’t the end.
Wood generates Fire, so as the Azure Dragon Qi blazed up, the Vermilion Bird Qi, which was Fire Qi, naturally received power and grew fierce, and as the Vermilion Bird Qi grew stronger, the Black Tortoise Qi, which was Water Qi, also produced power with a deeper sense of depth.
As all Three Divine Qi gained a higher dimensional level of spiritual qi like that, the White Tiger Qi naturally followed up, strengthening the entire Four Gods Qi.
The problem was.
‘God damn it.’
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.
‘What kind of intention is this? I said I would take it slowly later, but the medicinal power is too strong!’
The density of the medicinal power transcended imagination.
Even for the current Yeon Ho-jeong, it was difficult to replace all the medicinal power with internal energy in a short period of time. It must have been a precious item counted on the fingers even among the spirit pills possessed by Yang Cheon.
‘Is he saying to gulp this down, come back, and have another refreshing fight.’
Given Yang Cheon’s personality, he really might have aimed for that and given it to him. Well, it must have been fun, but it wouldn’t mean he didn’t feel a lack.
‘At this rate, it will hinder the mission.’
However, he neither had the confidence to absorb all the medicinal power before arriving at the destination, nor the intention to throw away the remaining medicinal power.
‘Then……’
Yeon Ho-jeong looked around.
Anyway, a spirit pill wasn’t very necessary for him. It would be good to eat, but thanks to his Essence, Qi, and Spirit having developed in perfect balance, he couldn’t draw out all the efficiency even if he ate a spirit pill.
Unless it was used for treatment like Yang Cheon, it meant there was no need to eat a spirit pill.
‘It would be better to share it instead.’
He looked at Muk Bi.
Muk Bi was driving her horse while watching the front with sharp eyes.
‘Muk Bi wouldn’t need it much.’
Since she had broken through the Wall of the Martial Arts´ End, the efficiency of spiritual power would have drastically decreased. Even if that wasn’t the case, Muk Bi was originally above Yeon Ho-jeong when limited to internal energy. There was no reason to share the medicinal power with her.
In the same context, it was the same for Murong Yu.
‘Then?’
But to share it with all the soldiers, the medicinal power wasn’t that strong. Even if possible, grabbing each one and guiding their internal energy would take too much time.
‘Hmm.’
Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips.
‘There’s no other way.’
In the end, the person to pass the medicinal power to was decided.
[Gang-ryang. Come to the front.]
At Yeon Ho-jeong’s telepathy, Gang-ryang drove his horse faster.
Gang-ryang looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with questioning eyes.
“Why did you call me, older brother?”
Even though the sound of horse hooves was so loud, Gang-ryang’s voice properly stuck into Yeon Ho-jeong’s ears. He adjusted the sound with internal energy so that others couldn’t hear it and only the target could hear it.
Delivering an unwavering tone to the opponent even on a dynamically moving warhorse. Just looking at that, one could tell how much Gang-ryang’s martial arts had improved.
Yeon Ho-jeong said.
“You, can you circulate your qi while driving a horse?”
“That much is laughable. Who do you take me for.”
“Then I will share some internal energy with you, so make it yours within two days.”
“……Yes?”
Gang-ryang’s expression immediately became bewildered.
“What do you mean by that?”
Yeon Ho-jeong told him everything about what had happened at the Black Dragon Manor and what his current condition was.
Gang-ryang said as if it was absurd.
“Then, you still haven’t digested that?”
“I told you I haven’t, you punk.”
“No rather than that, you are giving that precious thing to me?”
“We don’t have time. We will arrive at the destination in three days. I will pass over seventy percent, so use whatever means necessary to make it yours. Got it?”
“N, No!”
Gang-ryang looked back without realizing it.
Yeon Ji-pyeong was far behind. Perhaps still engrossed in the sword, Yeon Ji-pyeong was moving his lips with a blank expression.
And yet, he thought he was driving the horse quite well. It was also proof that he hadn’t been completely eaten by Sword Principles.
“Older brother. Give it to Ji-pyeong. I am fine.”
“No, not Ji-pyeong.”
“Yes?”
“Passing on stronger internal energy to Ji-pyeong right now is actually a poison. I will take care of Ji-pyeong myself later, so you receive this medicinal power.”
“B, But older brother!”
“Don’t tell me.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned cold.
“You aren’t trying to say you don’t want to receive it because it’s a spirit pill given by an enemy, right?”
“……”
Gang-ryang, who was quietly looking at Yeon Ho-jeong, soon nodded.
“Since you say it to that extent, I understand. I will receive it.”
“It will be enough to completely finish your foundation. After receiving this medicinal power, don’t go somewhere and say you lost because you lacked internal energy.”
“I wouldn’t say such an embarrassing thing.”
“Yes, you thought well.”
Yeon Ho-jeong placed his hand on Gang-ryang’s Mingmen acupoint.
“I will move it at once. Brace your spirit.”
“I under…… Heok!”
Uuuuuuwoong!
The air in the area instantaneously vibrated frighteningly.
He condensed the Wood Qi that fully filled his lower Dantian to the limit and transmitted it at once. It was just hard to make it his own; condensing and transmitting the energy itself wasn’t a very difficult art.
Hu-wook!
Gang-ryang’s face flushed red.
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“I will put you to good use in this mission. Brace your heart firmly!”
Three days later.
The Righteous Justice Army entered Guangdong Province, the southernmost tip of the Central Plains.