Chapter 392: Shadow of the Yin God (6)
Before entering Guangdong Province, Yeon Ho-jeong’s prediction regarding the opponent’s response was largely divided into three.
First, watching.
In the assassin world, caution is a virtue. The ones who were more cautious than any other martial artists living on the thin ice of the Murim were exactly the assassins.
They watch until the end. Even if they gain the certainty that they can slit the throat, they only extract information such as weaknesses and strengths, and hide thoroughly.
Of course, that is in a normal case. Guangdong Province had already become an area tightly grasped by assassins headed by the Yin God. Let alone the Yin God’s ability being at the level of a Nine Sects sect leader or higher, and the current Yin God even being from the Evil Lust Cult.
There was no way they hadn’t heard the rumor that the Martial Generals of the Divine Fire Cult were annihilated. If so, there is a high possibility that they wouldn’t just be watching even after hearing the news that a unit was dispatched from the Murim Alliance.
Therefore, second, quietly watching and then at a certain point dispatching all the assassins that can be mobilized to form a Heaven and Earth Net.
An assassin is threatening just by existing. It’s said that even around the level of a peak master, one can read and react to the murderous intent of considerable first-rate assassins, but if they slip up even for a moment, getting hit is the same.
Of course, they would have to ride the environment. In other words, they could send a few assassins to gauge the level of the detached unit, and then lure them to an advantageous location to annihilate them all at once.
Personally, Yeon Ho-jeong placed the highest possibility on this second case. Because between those who already know everything about each other, there was no reason to waste time for nothing.
However, in this case, there is the disadvantage of having to take the risk that their existence will be completely revealed to the outside world.
There is a huge difference between being a top secret and letting the whole world know of an actual existence. It is exactly a matter of public sentiment, and in this kind of situation, both the Murim Alliance and the Three Cults side would inevitably bear an enormous burden.
It has the highest possibility, but it’s not an overwhelming probability. That was what Yeon Ho-jeong thought.
And finally, the third, sending a peak master of the extreme ultimate to eliminate the leader of this side.
It is the most assassin-like action while also being a case where they don’t have to announce the existence of the Evil Lust Cult to the world. They already know about the Three Cults, but it could be seen as a method to exploit the Murim Alliance’s weak point, which makes it difficult for them to announce the existence of the Three Cults while risking the entire Central Plains falling into chaos.
In other words, it could also be called the smartest judgment. However, for this third case to be established, one prerequisite is needed.
And the person equipped with that prerequisite was approaching Yeon Ho-jeong right now.
‘Strong!’
That’s right.
To take care of the enemy leader, the Yin God couldn’t step forward himself. Even just to prepare for unexpected situations, the leader couldn’t stand in the vanguard at the very beginning.
If so, there had to exist at least an absolute peak master capable of eliminating the enemy leader. Only then could the third case be established.
‘But to think it would be a peak master directly dispatched from the Evil Lust Cult!’
Hwareureureureuk!
A qi flow that was stale yet sticky like mud dominated the air.
It approached while gently pushing away the fierce fighting spirit produced by Yeon Ho-jeong’s White Tiger Qi. It was as if the seawater of the North Sea waving the river of blazing flames was driving it.
Chiiiiiik!
The Yeon Clan’s Divine Elixir spun and added power to the White Tiger Qi.
Most of the efficacy of the Wood Spirit Elixir handed over by Yang Cheon was passed on to Gang-ryang. However, a part of it contributed to increasing Yeon Ho-jeong’s internal energy, and thanks to that, not only did he recover all the internal injuries he suffered during that time, but he also gained internal energy that was amplified, albeit slightly, compared to before.
As a result, Yeon Ho-jeong’s internal energy now didn’t lack even compared to Muk Bi’s massive internal energy whose source was unknown.
With that much internal energy, there would be few people who could challenge the current Yeon Ho-jeong at least in the operation of true qi. Because how efficiently one uses an enormous amount of internal energy is entirely dependent on enlightenment.
Pususeuseuseu!
The tiger wind of the White Tiger Qi causing a gust was being pushed back little by little.
The vast internal energy, and the qi wave of Yeon Ho-jeong who operated that internal energy more efficiently than any absolute peak master, were being pushed back.
This was entirely being pushed back in the power of internal energy. No matter how great Yeon Ho-jeong’s enlightenment was, if he fell behind in the actual density of power, he had no choice but to be pushed back in a confrontation of internal energy.
Just like during the time with Beon Jak.
‘A strong person of the Evil Lust Cult who has reached the limit. Moreover, this demonic qi……?’
It was a martial art he knew. It was a familiar true qi.
‘……Blood Drinking!’
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes exploded.
Kwaaang! Hwareureureureuk!
A terrifying Vermilion Bird Qi dwelled in the Twin Palms Yeon Ho-jeong thrust out.
That Vermilion Bird Qi smashed the trees stretching long to the left and right and formed a huge wall of flames. Since it was firepower poured out as if he had made up his mind, four or five broken trees instantly fell onto the official road, creating a wall of fire.
At that time, the peak master approaching while causing a storm of demonic qi threw a punch.
Boom!
A fist wind of tremendous power smashed the burning trees to pieces.
Boom!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s response was swift. He blocked the pieces of wood exploding out with the Northern Heaven Twelve Walls of his left palm, and further raised the concentration of the scattering sparks with the Red Flame Six Killing Art of his right palm.
He manifested the Black Tortoise Qi, which is Water Qi, and the Vermilion Bird Qi, which is Fire Qi, simultaneously without an inch of wavering. Even while manifesting the Two Qi of Yin and Yang simultaneously, his internal energy did not break down.
Surprise lingered in the eyes of the approaching peak master, Xiao Fang.
Kwaaang!
Xiao Fang couldn’t break through the wall of fire and landed in front of it.
Like that, with the wall of fire in the middle, the man and woman faced each other. Although their vision was dizzy from the continuously swaying flames, the two people could still accurately recognize each other.
Soon, a strange sign appeared on Xiao Fang’s face.
“Yeon Ho-jeong?”
“……”
“Hmm, seeing that ignorant axe and iron chain, it seems you are indeed the Evil-Annihilating Army Commander Yeon Ho-jeong.”
Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t answer. He just looked at Xiao Fang with numb eyes whose meaning couldn’t be known.
Xiao Fang ignored the opponent’s eyes. From the beginning, she didn’t even want to know the opponent’s mood or thoughts.
“Anyway, why are you playing this kind of prank? With your level, you should have been able to infer my power at least roughly, right? This kind of thing has no meaning to me.”
“……”
“You don’t want to answer? Or are you frozen from fear?”
Xiao Fang smiled coldly.
“You brought quite useful kids. The archer bitch behind you looks quite threatening. Plus little kids who learned Taoist martial arts? Quite good.”
While Muk Bi might be possible, she even noticed the existence of Ok-cheong and Yeo-guk who were waiting in the forest quite far away. It was a passage where one could see how sharp Xiao Fang’s senses were.
Xiao Fang, who was quietly examining Yeon Ho-jeong’s face, shrugged her shoulders.
“It seems you received a shock. Well, you have a reason to. With that level of skill at that age, you have the qualification to become sufficiently arrogant. While you are at the age to look at the world arrogantly, a strong person like me suddenly appeared. Seeing that you aren’t even showing pride in the midst of it, surely……”
Rumble!
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong’s Twin Palms once again created a sea of fire in the forests to Xiao Fang’s left and right.
This time it was a speed so fast that even Xiao Fang had a hard time reacting. Since he controlled the exploding murderous intent with the Vermilion Bird Qi while putting the White Tiger Qi at the forefront, and then burst it out all at once, he had reason to do so.
Hwa-ah-ah-ah-ah-ak!
Front, and left and right.
Hot Fire Qi overflowed from all directions except the rear.
Xiao Fang frowned.
“What are you trying to do?”
Yeon Ho-jeong shouted.
“Muk Bi! If you see an opening, don’t hesitate and shoot! Approaching is absolutely forbidden!”
Paa-ah-ah-ang!
As soon as those words ended, Yeon Ho-jeong pierced through the wall of fire and approached Xiao Fang.
It was Blood Wing Sweeping Heavens unfolded in an instant. Naturally, its speed was indescribable. It was to the point that even Xiao Fang stiffened her face for a moment at Yeon Ho-jeong’s explosive movement speed.
Hwareureureureuk!
The flames screamed in joy.
The left hand overflowing with Vermilion Bird Fire Qi flew towards Xiao Fang’s face. A strike that prioritized speed over destructive power, the sharply raised fingertips aimed at Xiao Fang’s adam’s apple.
Xiao Fang was dumbfounded.
‘He chooses a frontal confrontation?’
The opponent probably wouldn’t even know her properly. To put it another way, in a situation where they hadn’t even exchanged names, he suddenly launched an attack overflowing with murderous intent.
Even if that could be understood, what was more dumbfounding was the gap between her and the opponent.
Xiao Fang could be confident. That even if there were three of Yeon Ho-jeong, it would be hard to catch her.
The gap between her and the opponent was that big.
‘He’s a more reckless bastard than I thought. Well, since he’s young.’
The speed was fast and the sharpness of the left hand was also superb.
But that was all. She was just surprised by the unexpected movement.
Xiao Fang, who quickly regained her composure, moved to block Yeon Ho-jeong’s left hand with relaxed hand movements.
It was then.
‘……?!’
Xiao Fang’s eyes changed suddenly.
‘What is this?’
In that moment that split an instant.
She could feel the trajectory of Yeon Ho-jeong’s left hand, which had been moving as fast as lightning, subtly changing. It was a sensation she could feel because Xiao Fang’s actual skill was above Yeon Ho-jeong’s.
‘He coils it?’
Seureureuk!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s Red Flame Six Killing Hand moved lightly like a feather and coiled around Xiao Fang’s wrist.
Xiao Fang urgently burst out her true qi.
Boom!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s left hand was pushed back as if bouncing off.
The series of internal energy operations… gathering true qi, circulating true qi, progressing force emission, changing the force, and finally bursting explosive force… had truly reached the level of a divine technique.
Even with only a moment of time, he was a terrifying peak master who could freely operate internal energy and even change the properties of the force emission. It wasn’t that Yeon Ho-jeong couldn’t do it, but compared to the time, he couldn’t use a force emission technique as powerful as Xiao Fang’s.
But it’s fine.
There was a reason for everything why Yeon Ho-jeong hit the wall of fire and dared a frontal confrontation against Xiao Fang, a peak master several moves above him.
Buuuuwoong!
The huge axe blade of the Crazy Dragon Axe rose diagonally from the lower left.
For a moment, Xiao Fang felt goosebumps breaking out from the momentum spewing from the Crazy Dragon Axe.
‘What is this? What is it?’
Swaeaaeaaeaek!
Considering the weight of the axe, it was being swung at a ridiculous speed. But Xiao Fang had the skill to respond sufficiently to that speed.
Even so, Xiao Fang felt her body stiffen momentarily.
Because of the murderous intent spewing from the Crazy Dragon Axe? Not at all.
‘Why from this direction……?’
Now there was no time to delay. Xiao Fang quickly used a kicking technique to strike up the axe blade of the Crazy Dragon Axe.
Crack!
It’s heavy.
Even though it was a kicking technique delivered with an abundance of Blood Drinking Demonic Qi, she felt considerable pain in her instep and shin. It meant the axe was heavier than it looked, and the true qi contained in the axe was also beyond expectations.
But right now, that wasn’t the problem.
Hwiiiiiik!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who rotated his body, aimed for Xiao Fang’s jaw with a kicking technique that seemed to coil upwards.
Xiao Fang, who was about to immediately launch a follow-up attack, was surprised and stepped back.
Paa-ah-ah-ang!
It wasn’t a kicking technique struck with elasticity, but a heavily struck-up kicking technique. And yet, there was a sound of air bursting. It was an enormous power.
Huk!
Xiao Fang’s body stepped backward. The movement technique that instantaneously moved a distance close to five zhang was dazzling.
Yeon Ho-jeong lowered his leg with a calm face.
The corners of Xiao Fang’s eyes trembled.
“……You, what are you?”
From the hand technique unfolded with the left hand, the slash struck up with the axe, to the ascending kick aimed at the jaw.
In that sudden close-quarters combat, the trajectory of the Blood-Drinking Palm she was about to use was blocked tightly from the start. It was to the point where it was difficult to use her hands properly even once.
Destruction.
The destruction method of a divine technique against the Blood-Drinking Palm was there.
“You, what kind of bastard are you!”
Yeon Ho-jeong shouted.
“Form a formation!”
Flash!
Ok-cheong and Yeo-guk, who had moved through the sea of fire on the left, aimed their swords while burning their true qi from five zhang behind Xiao Fang.
It was the activation of the Evil-Annihilating Three Killing Formation, Small Three Killing Formation.
Only then did Yeon Ho-jeong look at Xiao Fang and say.
“You came well, Half-blood.”
“……?!”