Chapter 378: Stagnant Water Is Bound to Rot (3)

Hooooong.

The breeze brushed softly past Yeon Hojeong’s ears.

Rustle.

A leaf carried by the wind drifted past the tip of Yeon Hojeong’s nose as he stood with his eyes closed.

At that instant, a streak of light flashed from far away.

Piyuuuuung!

An iron coin tore through the air, aimed precisely at the leaf.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes snapped open.

THUD!

With a short upward swing, the White Dragon Axe split the iron coin in half.

Considering its speed and fierce penetrating force, he had cleaved it far too easily. That was partly thanks to an axe worthy of being called a divine weapon, but it was also proof that his control and distribution of power had reached perfection.

Mookbi plucked the bowstring.

Pipipipiping!

Five invisible arrows shot forth.

It was a five-shot barrage of Formless Shots. And they did not all fly in straight lines.

Some arrows came directly at him, while others curved through the air. Some flew somewhat slowly, while others were so fast they were difficult even to react to.

It was superb archery, designed to throw the opponent’s response into confusion.

Yeon Hojeong swung both axes at terrifying speed.

PUH-PUH-PUH-PUH-POONG!

The five Formless Shots were destroyed one after another, each at a different instant.

Whooom.

The shockwave sent leaves soaring high into the air.

Piiiiiiing!

Without losing sight of the target, Mookbi fired an arrow that whipped up an enormous gale.

It was Dragon Fang Cannon from the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Shattering Bow Mastery. The arrow ripped through the atmosphere with power akin to cannonfire.

Flash!

Leaping high into the air, Yeon Hojeong positioned himself before the leaf and swung the Black-White Twin Dragon Axes diagonally.

KWAAAAANG!

The air trembled violently, and Yeon Hojeong’s body was pushed slightly backward.

Wooooong!

Even as he flew back, he released force from the tips of his feet. The leaf, abruptly shoved backward, glided along in Yeon Hojeong’s wake.

Mookbi hastily fired again.

Pipipipipiping!

The arrows of an archer who had broken through the Wall of Martial Arts were so swift and powerful that even masters a step or two above them would struggle to respond.

PUH-PUH-PUH-PUH-PUH-PUH-POONG!

Yet Yeon Hojeong’s axework, which deflected every attack, had long surpassed any realm one could measure by ordinary standards.

With extraordinarily sharp sensory perception, he saw through every movement of the arrows. At the same time, he employed the most efficient form of the Four Spirit Martial Art for each moment, defending with the least movement and the greatest efficiency.

It was skill enough to make ghosts weep.

Srrrk.

Yeon Hojeong landed lightly on the ground and hooked the twin axes at his waist.

“Tch.”

Flutter!

Mookbi came flying over with an astonishing movement technique and landed softly in front of him.

“I thought I could break through in five exchanges.”

“Your arrows have become faster and sharper. Your control of power is completely fluid now. You have definitely improved compared to before.”

“And still, I could not hit even one leaf.”

“I was blocking them.”

“That is quite the confidence.”

Yeon Hojeong gave a faint smile.

“Thanks to you, I have gotten completely used to them. Thank you.”

At Yeon Hojeong’s level, even a weapon he had only just picked up could be handled well enough to earn him the title of master.

But that was all.

What mattered was not merely wielding a weapon properly for its intended purpose. It was making that weapon wholly melt into one’s martial art.

Fortunately, Yeon Hojeong understood weapons better than anyone, and he was skilled in both axes and bare-handed combat. Because of that, he had been able to make the Black-White Twin Dragon Axes entirely his own in a short time.

Mookbi asked, “They definitely feel different from Mad Dragon. The destructive force of a single strike has decreased, but they feel faster and more precise.”

“It is the difference in shape and weight. Besides, Mad Dragon is, in essence, an extreme weapon of destruction built around the principles of the spear and blade. Its power in a single strike does not fall behind any weapon under heaven, but without quick wits and adaptability, it inevitably has weaknesses in defense and linked strikes.”

“In contrast, the Black-White Twin Dragons excel at variation and linked strikes, which means their defense is exceptional as well. Though their single-strike power is lower.”

“That is right.”

“Well, at your level, that probably is not much of a problem. Mad Dragon’s destructive power is immense enough to call it a siege weapon. Against people, you do not necessarily need that much power.”

“It is useful when facing masters at a higher level than me. Especially when coordinated attacks are necessary.”

Mookbi looked curious.

“Is it very difficult?”

“What is?”

“Young Master Yeon... You have already reached the ultimate realm once before.”

She must have been referring to the martial arts he had attained during his days as the Dark Emperor.

Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.

“Of course, the realization I possess now is the realization I had as the Dark Emperor. But there is still a considerable gap between my body and Inner Qi. I am trying to close that gap, but... I cannot think of any way to reach that realm in a single leap.”

“It is strange. I heard that Central Plains martial arts are generally based on the divine arts of Buddhism and Daoism, which makes realization more important than anything else.”

“That is true.”

“In other words, even if the body and Inner Qi are lacking, once one’s realization reaches the ultimate realm, the body and qi develop frightfully in order to match that realization.”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“The Four Spirit Martial Art follows a completely different path from Buddhist or Daoist martial arts. Of course, if we trace its origins, it would not be entirely untouched by those influences. But the Four Spirit Martial Art is, above all else, a thorough combat art that excludes realization. That is why it does not have forms grand enough to be called sure-kill techniques. Its sole purpose is to slaughter the enemy with the most efficient movement possible in that instant, in that battle.”

“Was it Vermilion Bird Art? You said that was a killing method.”

“A killing method is still only a killing method. Of course, the later forms grow more powerful and carry denser Killing Intent, but that is a difference in the efficiency of the technique. It was never focused on raw power.”

“It is complicated.”

“So it is.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Perhaps it was because it was such a complicated martial art that it was worth worrying over. How much easier would it have been if the forms had simply been fixed like those of common martial arts?”

Though he said that, Yeon Hojeong believed without a doubt that the Four Spirit Martial Art was the strongest martial art for worldly combat.

It possessed clear forms, yet could be freely altered according to the situation. That was why it was difficult to cultivate, and why a master of it could respond to anything at any time.

In other words, cultivating the Four Spirit Martial Art alone dramatically raised one’s overall understanding of forms.

Of course, it was difficult enough to make the one cultivating it burn with frustration.

“But.”

“Hm?”

Mookbi tilted her head.

“If you reached that level before you were fifty, Young Master Yeon, then that means your overall skill must have improved greatly from the moment you first began cultivating the Four Spirit Martial Art.”

“Well, that is true.”

“And even if the Four Spirit Martial Art is not a martial art of realization, you have already walked that realm once before.”

“And?”

“It is strange. You said the Four Spirit Martial Art is a martial art for the battlefield, and that its development and utility are maximized in life-and-death combat. Yet somehow, it feels like the growth of your martial arts is not the same as it used to be.”

“......!”

“Ah, I do not mean that your level is low. Quite the opposite. You are incredible. I have not even caught sight of the tip of the realm you inhabit. It is just...”

Mookbi smiled awkwardly.

“I simply had that thought. For some reason, you are the kind of person who makes others expect that from you. A day passes, and you have grown again. Even when I grit my teeth and work hard just to keep up, I look up and find that you have already gone farther ahead.”

“Hm.”

“So lately, I have started thinking that you really do have a human side after all.”

Mookbi had said it rather cautiously in her own way, but the shock Yeon Hojeong received was considerable.

Come to think of it, Mookbi has a point.

The Four Spirit Martial Art was not a martial art of realization, but when he had first returned to the past, both his body and True Qi had certainly grown at a frightening pace.

Of course, that was not solely because of the Four Spirit Martial Art. It was also thanks to the Jade Wave Art, and because he possessed the understanding and efficiency of qi arts he had attained as the Dark Emperor.

But now...

What is this?

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes trembled.

Am I stagnating? Without even realizing it?

He looked down at his hands.

His hands, once covered in thick calluses, had gradually become smooth again as his True Qi activated. The calluses had not vanished entirely, but they were nowhere near as thick as they had been in his days as the Dark Emperor.

Yeon Hojeong’s gaze sank deeply.

I have been making constant efforts in my own way. Have those efforts become too habitual?

That was not it.

Yeon Hojeong had always trained with a clear goal in mind. His gaze was fixed on the level he had reached as the Dark Emperor, and his True Qi was always honed to a razor’s edge as he sought to climb back to that realm.

Then why was he not growing as he had before? As Mookbi said, this was a path he had already walked.

And it was not as though he had lacked fierce battles.

“Young Master Yeon.”

“.......”

“Young Master Yeon?”

“Hm? Ah. What is it?”

Mookbi cleared her throat.

“Sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but your father is here.”

Yeon Hojeong turned his head.

Yeon Wi stood there.

“Father.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“Were you training?”

“Yes.”

For an instant, his thoughts grew deeper, but he could not show that before his father.

Yeon Hojeong straightened his expression.

“Did you come because of Mo Yonggun?”

“That is right.”

“What happened?”

Yeon Wi gave a bitter smile.

“That man truly is no ordinary person.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was a success. Vice Manor Lord Yang agreed to clear the way. He said it in those terms, but judging by Clan Lord Mo Yong’s expression, it seems we may receive tacit support as well.”

Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.

“As expected of Mo Yonggun.”

Despite having gained something, Yeon Wi’s expression was not particularly bright.

Yeon Hojeong tried to comfort him.

“Do not be too disappointed. Mo Yonggun is meticulous. We can no longer reveal and bury his relationship with Ink Dragon Manor, but if we can turn Yangcheon’s heart with this, it is a greater gain.”

That was right. The condition Yeon Wi had offered when he asked Mo Yonggun for help was that they would bury the connection to Ink Dragon Manor.

The leader of a prestigious Orthodox faction had made a deal with the head of a Dark Path alliance?

If that became known outside, it would shake the entire world. Not only would Mo Yonggun’s political life be completely destroyed, but he might even lose his life.

That was not all.

Once the truth came out, the Mo Yong Clan would be dragged into the mud as well. They would not be branded public enemies of the martial world like the Ming Clan of the Nine Provinces, but they would never again be able to hold their heads high.

Yeon Wi—more precisely, Yeon Hojeong—had intended to move Mo Yonggun with that condition.

It was like a promissory note, though one with unquestionable value.

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“It is not because we lost a card that could bring down Clan Lord Mo Yong. It is simply...”

“Yes?”

“It is simply frustrating. Not everyone’s heart is the same as mine, but still... How can people be so selfish? Though the Fighting King Yangcheon walked a different path, I thought he was still a bold hero who understood honor and possessed true generosity. Yet it is bitter to learn that he, too, was only an ordinary martial artist blinded by worldly desires.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

It was a smile tinged with bitterness.

“Desire tests people without regard for who they are.”

“Yes. It seems that is so.”

Yeon Wi drew a long breath.

“In any case, our deal with the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor has ended here. Now...”

“It is time for us to make our move.”

“That is right.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes changed.

“Vice Commander Mook.”

Mookbi bowed her head.

“Yes, Supreme Commander.”

“Tell every member of the Righteous Justice Corps to assemble before the southern main gate within four hours.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky.

“The king of the assassin world... So it really is that lineage?”