RUMBLE—!
Yeon Hojeong’s rampage showed no sign of stopping.
To everyone’s surprise, he was charging in the opposite direction from Mookbi and the others. Ordinarily, he would have secured his allies first before turning to face the enemy, but this time he was acting completely differently.
BOOM! RUMBLE—!
What stood out most was Mad Dragon’s destructive power. Yeon Hojeong was displaying even greater strength than he had during his spar with Yangcheon.
This was not because of the Wood Spirit Pill Yangcheon had given him. Their spar had been brief, but Yeon Hojeong had begun incorporating the fragments of martial insight he had gleaned from Yangcheon into his own martial arts.
As expected.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
He swung Mad Dragon with such violence that its shaft bent beneath the strain.
The Blue Sky True Formula and the Dragon Cannon Divine Art, unified within the Yeon Clan Divine Core, revolved explosively and discharged an enormous volume of True Qi. That unleashed True Qi supported the White Tiger Qi from behind, leaving nothing under heaven beyond its power to destroy. Whether building walls or boulders, everything shattered into powder and scattered.
His instantaneous force emission is clearly inferior to mine, but Yangcheon’s method is superior when it comes to producing sustained destructive power.
In both its structure and its techniques, the Four Spirit Martial Art was unquestionably the finest under heaven. Supported by the Four Spirit Qi, those techniques approached perfection in every aspect—attack, defense, evasion, and counterattack alike.
It possessed no particular technique that could be called a sure-kill move, as other martial arts did. The uninhibited techniques of the four spirits, manifested according to the needs of the moment, were themselves sure-kill moves. That was precisely why it was the strongest martial art.
And that principle was inseparable from the very foundation of martial expression.
Rather than gathering an immense quantity of True Qi and unleashing it as raw destructive force, the Four Spirit Martial Art responded to the opponent’s attack and delivered the optimal strike.
The optimal path was the shortest, and the shortest path was the strongest.
That was why the Four Spirit Martial Art was a battlefield art. One had to eliminate an enemy quickly and immediately face the next.
And because of that, there are inevitably things it misses.
It was said that if one reached the Yellow Dragon Divine King Art—the Yellow Dragon Qi, regarded as the ultimate secret of the Four Spirit Martial Art—one could overwhelm all under heaven through qi arts alone.
But that remained a distant goal.
For now, Yeon Hojeong had to use the Four Spirit Martial Art to wage fierce battles against opponents stronger than himself. To do that, he needed a wider range of applications that would make it even more formidable.
Of course, the foundation would always remain the Four Spirit Martial Art.
The key was what martial principles he used to wield it.
And in his fierce clash with Yangcheon, Yeon Hojeong had learned something immense.
It’s always new.
Wonder spread across Yeon Hojeong’s face.
The world he had believed he knew so well—the world he had even prided himself on mastering in certain respects—never failed to reveal something new, as though mocking his confidence.
Another master had taught him a principle he had failed to perceive, in an area he had never once considered himself lacking.
The world is vast, and learning has no end.
RUMBLE—!
After blasting away the last boulder and opening an enormous path, Yeon Hojeong finally stopped.
SWISH!
Sima Hyeon caught up in an instant and came to a halt beside him.
“Where are we going?”
Yeon Hojeong gave a faint smirk.
“You followed me without even knowing where I was headed?”
“Didn’t you tell me to follow you?”
“I met you for the first time today, and yet you followed without hesitation?”
“......!”
“Your skill is unquestionably impressive. It’s difficult to believe someone your age could have reached such a level. Your eye for people is fairly sharp as well. I’m curious to see how far you’ll grow.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.
“But there are clear gaps in you. And they aren’t the kind that can be filled through effort alone. I suggest you become more cautious from now on.”
At some point, Yeon Hojeong had begun speaking to Sima Hyeon as though addressing a junior.
Surprisingly, Sima Hyeon did not even notice the change. Yeon Hojeong’s strength and the force of his aura made the shift feel completely natural.
Sima Hyeon’s brow twitched.
“I hardly think this is the time to lecture me.”
“There is no wrong time to learn. Even in the middle of a crisis, you may find something worth stealing from your enemy.”
“.......”
“If you wish to soar higher, never neglect an ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) opportunity to learn. You won’t hear a lecture like this anywhere else, but I won’t charge you tuition.”
“Forget it. Why did you flee all the way out here?”
Sima Hyeon looked behind them.
A horrifying trail of destruction lay exposed before his eyes. Yeon Hojeong had smashed through the outer wall of the abandoned building, then plowed onward through every boulder and stone barrier in his path. The road he had carved was enough to inspire awe in anyone who saw it.
It truly is incredible.
No matter how great the Green Mountain Tiger Commander’s reputation might be, he was still merely a younger-generation master.
That was what Sima Hyeon believed. It was what most of the world believed.
But rumors were only rumors.
What astonishing strength. Whatever else may be true, in terms of sheer destructive power... he may rival that man. He may even surpass him.
Yeon Hojeong spoke.
“The assassins will be here soon. You know that, don’t you?”
“I do.”
The assassins who had attacked the abandoned building had failed to pursue Yeon Hojeong and Sima Hyeon because Sima Hyeon had used hidden weapons and poison mist to cut them off.
But that had only been a temporary measure.
No matter how skilled Sima Hyeon was, unless he had personally mastered poison arts or used some extraordinary hidden weapon or explosive, they were bound to catch up eventually.
“Did you come this far because you trusted me?”
“Of course not. Why would I gamble everything on the strength of some stranger I’d just met? I’m not that reckless.”
“Then why?”
Yeon Hojeong surveyed the surroundings.
“Before meeting you, I investigated the terrain around this entire area. If we were attacked, where would the best retreat route be? If no suitable route existed, where should I create one? I gave it considerable thought.”
“......!”
“I also finished discussing how my subordinates were to respond if we withdrew, where we would rendezvous afterward, and what their first objective should be.”
Sima Hyeon’s eyes wavered.
Yeon Hojeong looked at him.
“No matter how strong an individual may be, he cannot overcome the power of an organized group. But even a large group can be helplessly defeated by a much smaller force if it fights without a plan. That is elementary.”
“.......”
“You should rely solely on your own strength only after you have done everything within your power and still have no other choice. Those who understand nothing claim that strength is the greatest value in the martial world. The real experts know better. They understand that situational awareness and intelligence are every bit as important as power.”
Yeon Hojeong turned away.
“Take that to heart, unless you want to be forcibly retired from the martial world.”
Retirement from the martial world.
It meant death.
Sima Hyeon stared silently at Yeon Hojeong’s back before tossing out a question.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
Given how far things had gone, Sima Hyeon could no longer keep himself from asking.
“Why are you telling me these things?”
“A moment ago, you said you didn’t want to hear them, and now you’re asking questions? Still, fine. It may be better to distract yourself for a moment than to remain tense without pause.”
“.......”
“Because I took a liking to you.”
“In what way? You know nothing about me.”
As if.
“I don’t. But sometimes you simply get a feeling.”
Sima Hyeon smiled coldly.
“That is contradictory. According to everything you’ve said, advising me merely because you have a good feeling would also be—”
“I said that situational awareness was as important as intelligence. And situational awareness is not limited to quickly understanding a situation. Instinct honed through long experience matters as well.”
“.......”
“In any case, the Yin God has already discovered your rebellion. In other words, our cooperation has already been forced upon us.”
CLINK-CLINK!
Yeon Hojeong unwound the Flood Dragon Chain from his upper body.
“Even temporary allies are still comrades. Giving you this much costs me nothing.”
CLANG!
Yeon Hojeong hooked the Flood Dragon Chain to the ring at the end of Mad Dragon’s shaft and surveyed the area.
Sima Hyeon’s gaze deepened.
There was something deeply ominous about the sight of Yeon Hojeong suddenly attaching a chain to his axe.
“What are you doing?”
CLINK. CLINK.
As he wound the Flood Dragon Chain around the entire shaft of Mad Dragon, Yeon Hojeong answered.
“To survive in the martial world, you cannot charge forward with your eyes fixed on only one thing. This is the safest retreat route I could select after consulting with the Beggars’ Union. But there was one problem.”
“A problem?”
“If attackers were already in the area, they might have anticipated that we would choose this route.”
“......!”
“Whatever I know, the enemy may know as well. That is why one needs double and triple contingencies. Only after even those have failed can you resort to that tired old saying: do all one can, then await the will of Heaven.”
Sima Hyeon swiftly scanned their surroundings.
The crimson current of Yin Fire and the white current of Yin Cold merged, driving his senses to their absolute limit.
But he detected nothing.
Apart from the gentle whisper of the wind, he could sense neither noise nor presence.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“Pointless.”
“What?”
“You learned the Yin God’s martial arts. An assassin’s art, no matter how advanced, cannot work against a master who has cultivated the same kind of discipline. It will inevitably be suppressed.”
“......?!”
“Even if you are a genius, you cannot defeat your master with your current strength.”
Yeon Hojeong stamped down powerfully.
BOOOOM!
The stamping step erupted without warning, its force truly immense. The ground shook across a radius of more than sixty yards.
At that instant, Sima Hyeon felt something faint brush against his sensory perception.
The moment he sensed it, his face turned pale.
“When an assassin’s martial arts reach their pinnacle, Killing Intent alone can disrupt a target’s senses. It is even easier against a lesser practitioner who has learned the same kind of art. Merely disturbing the flow of the other person’s True Qi can reduce him to a helpless fool.”
Yeon Hojeong slowly swung Mad Dragon.
WHOOOOOM.
The invisible wind itself seemed to change direction with the movement of the axe blade.
Then it happened.
BOOOOOOM!
A tremendous explosion rang out from the distant end of the passage Yeon Hojeong had smashed open.
Surprisingly, the assassins had not caused it.
More precisely, it was the clear shockwave of Daoist martial arts—deflecting the assassins’ attacks, defending against them, and returning the force in kind.
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
“Tch. Late as always.”
A moment later—
SWISH!
Okcheong, his entire body drenched in blood, arrived beside Yeon Hojeong in an instant.
“Supreme Commander! Are you unharmed?”
“I’m fine. What about you?”
“I’m fine. Still full of energy.”
“Then take care of this idiot. As I told you before, he absolutely cannot be allowed to die. Guard him with your life.”
Okcheong gave a fist salute.
“I obey the Supreme Commander’s order.”
Sima Hyeon found himself dumbfounded.
“Guard him? Are you referring to me?”
“Yes, you fool. Now that your master has appeared, you’re less useful than a pebble in the road.”
SHING.
Yeon Hojeong drew the White Dragon Axe.
Mad Dragon, its shaft tightly wrapped in the Flood Dragon Chain, rested in his right hand. In his left was the immaculate hand axe, White Dragon.
WOOOOONG!
White Tiger Qi enveloped Yeon Hojeong’s entire body, radiating a terrifying fighting spirit.
Yeon Hojeong roared.
“COME OUT!”
RRRRRROOOOAR!
The terrifying White Tiger Roar made the mountains, rivers, trees, and grass tremble.
“Good grief.”
WHOOSH.
About fifty yards in front of the group, a man and a woman appeared with a passing gust of wind.
They were Yayul Jeok and Soh Bang.
Yayul Jeok spoke in a calm voice.
“You detected our presence? You are far more impressive than I expected.”
FWOOSH!
Horrifying Killing Intent filled Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
“So you’ve come, you bastard in charge.”
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