Chapter 34: Certainty (4)

On that day, Namgung Hyun held a grand banquet. The intention was for everyone to gather and unwind after the competition. However, the main person did not attend the banquet.

There was one more person who did not attend the banquet.

It was Yeon Hojeong.

The juniors felt disappointed. Regardless of the reason, Yeon Hojeong was a major topic of conversation at this gathering. Many people wanted to talk to him.

However, people also understood.

After his confrontation with Chuseong, Yeon Hojeong had engaged in martial arts exchanges with the juniors and finally fought with Myeonghorim.

He must have been exhausted. He needed rest.

Thus, the last night of the juniors' gathering was deepening.

* * *

It was a rather cold night.

Yeon Hojeong, who had come out to the backyard of his lodging, was sitting in a cross-legged position. He was nearing the end of his cultivation.

"Hmm."

A turbid aura was expelled with his exhalation.

At Choseongru, he had killed Mabang, overwhelmed Dang Yangxian, driven away Chuseong, and fought with Myeonghorim.

In fact, with his current level, these were impossible feats.

Of course, the interpretation of the Bokrajinjul was nearly complete, reaching the pinnacle. Thanks to the insight and knowledge of the Black Darkness Master, the cultivation speed was unimaginably fast.

Still, there were limits. At least, it was not yet a level recognized in the martial world.

Yet, the reason he could gain the upper hand in all the battles was one.

Experience.

His enlightenment, deeply ingrained in his experience, was that sublime.

His level was high enough to compensate for his insufficiently refined internal energy and body.

However, experience and enlightenment cannot replace everything.

Shiver.

Yeon Hojeong's shoulders trembled during his cultivation.

It was due to the overuse of his muscles and nerves. His body could not keep up with the fights that were possible with his mind and instincts. Forcing his body to do so was causing it to break down.

This was also the reason why his basic cultivation had not ended for over half a day.

"Ugh."

Yeon Hojeong's pale face gradually regained some color.

'Is it done?'

Now, the recovery was complete. Although he was not fully healed, he could move without difficulty.

"Huff!"

Yeon Hojeong relaxed his posture and lay down.

'My body aches.'

His entire body throbbed. It felt as if his joints were creaking.

'I need to train more thoroughly. The training I've done so far is not enough.'

He clenched his fist.

The strength did not fully reach the end. It seemed he needed to rest for a whole day to recover.

Whoosh.

As his body lost its strength, his Xuanwu Qi naturally activated.

His kidney function began to activate. As the kidney function activated, the movements of other organs gradually improved.

'This should be enough.'

He had done everything he could. With the activation of the Xuanwu Qi, the recovery time would be faster.

Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky.

The night sky was very clear. Although it was not a full moon, the moonlight was abundant, and the starlight was mysterious.

A beautiful scene that could make anyone stare blankly.

However, the look in Yeon Hojeong's eyes as he gazed at the sky gradually turned cold.

"Yes, it was the Myeong family."

To be precise, it was the martial arts of the Myeong family.

The reason for his certainty was one. While the internal energy and techniques could be similar, the method of using true qi was almost impossible to mimic.

The reason why the cultivation method of internal energy has separate formulas and verses is due to the strictness of the transmission process. And in that process, the method of using true qi accounts for more than 90%.

In other words, each sect's cultivation method of internal energy follows a distinct characteristic. It is impossible to mimic unless they are from the same lineage.

Moreover, the sword technique that Myeonghorim used.

A simple technique that emphasized power and speed.

'That was originally a sword technique, not a palm technique.'

He remembered it clearly. Twenty-six years ago, the attacker who broke his brother's spine used a powerful palm technique.

The reason he did not immediately recall the attacker's martial arts when he saw Myeonghorim's sword technique was that the palm technique was originally the sword technique that Myeonghorim used.

'...'

The fist that lacked strength was trembling. Remembering that moment, strength naturally flowed into it.

'Yeon Ping.'

Something welled up in his chest.

Even in a situation where his brother's spine was broken and he was on the verge of death, he did not look at him. He knew that turning his gaze would reveal his brother's position.

However, Yeon Hojeong heard Yeon Ping's cry in his heart.

'Run, brother!'

He thought that tears of blood were just an exaggerated expression. He had once mocked the idea that only sick or injured people shed tears of blood.

But when a person is truly sad, they shed tears of blood.

Yeon Hojeong was like that.

No matter how much he cried, the red tear marks did not fade even after four days and nights. That's how deep his resentment was.

'Never again.'

Swoosh.

The grass where Yeon Hojeong lay gradually withered. The intense killing aura he emitted was killing the weeds.

'Never again will I leave any regrets.'

At that moment.

"You're quite ruthless."

Yeon Hojeong's eyes lit up.

A person came into view in his suddenly standing eyes.

"Ah, ruthless, ruthless. I can't even approach, it's so scary. Oh, my hands."

"Yong..."

"Not the leader of the Beggar Gang, but a member."

"Ah."

"By the way, why don't you control that killing aura? I came with the Zhuge family, but they were so scared they went back to their lodgings first."

Yeon Hojeong was surprised. He didn't even realize he was emitting a killing aura.

Swoosh.

The eerie atmosphere gradually calmed down.

Gadeuk Sang honestly admired.

"Really, the more I see, the more impressive you are. Killing aura is a manifestation of will, and the stronger the mental strength, the stronger the killing aura."

"..."

"I don't know why you harbor such a killing aura, but you are truly remarkable."

Yeon Hojeong stood up.

His body was still aching, but he was not someone who could sit and face this person.

"What brings you here?"

"Here."

Gadeuk Sang showed two large bundles.

"Didn't I invite you to have lunch with me? But you skipped it."

"Ah..."

"Ah? Hahaha! You can even make such a sound? The more I see, the more charming you are. Right?"

Yeon Hojeong pointed to an outdoor table.

"Let's eat there."

"Sure. I brought some alcohol too."

He must have already drunk a considerable amount. Gadeuk Sang's face, illuminated by the moonlight, was flushed.

Thus, the two sat down.

"Yeon Ping?"

"He's having a great time right now. As you know, his personality is really good. Everyone wants to be around him."

"I see."

"Here, have a drink."

Yeon Hojeong politely raised his glass.

Gadeuk Sang chuckled.

"Don't be so formal. There's no need to be polite even to a beggar."

"Give it to me."

"Ha! I've heard you're quite stubborn, haven't I?"

Yeon Hojeong, who received the glass, filled Gadeuk Sang's glass this time.

Gadeuk Sang did not maintain formalities. But it looked natural. The freedom of the king of beggars who roamed the world was evident.

"Let's have a drink."

"Sure."

The two drank their glasses in one go.

"Wow, the Seven Great Families must be quite wealthy. This is the famous Shaoxing wine, right?"

"It seems so."

"I've never tasted it before. After always drinking cheap rice wine, this famous alcohol is making my head spin."

He scratched his throat, gathered phlegm, and spat it out.

He casually lifted one leg and patted his belly, the epitome of freedom. But it didn't make him look unpleasant at all.

"Are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine."

"Looks like it. You overused your muscles, but you've already recovered. That's impressive."

Yeon Hojeong's eyes lit up.

He recognized the overuse of muscles at a glance. Indeed, he had an eye that was not ordinary from when he was young.

"Indeed, not just anyone can become a member of the Beggar Gang."

"Of course not. Only the most beggar-like can become a member."

The tone was a bit peculiar.

Yeon Hojeong chuckled.

Gadeuk Sang laughed in return.

"Your smile is really nice to see. Don't tense your face, just smile like that."

"I'll smile more often when I have something to smile about."

"Hahaha! That's true. It seems that recently, there hasn't been much for you to smile about, right?"

There was a knife in the laughter and a dagger in the joke.

Yeon Hojeong did not try to hide it.

"Would a person with many things to smile about be causing such a commotion?"

"That's true. I heard you took care of the eldest son of the Dang family yesterday?"

"You heard that too?"

"I counted up to seventy-six times and gave up. Everyone was talking about it, their lips swollen."

"He seemed to have been poorly educated."

"He did. But it was a bit too much. The Dang family won't just sit still."

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

"It doesn't matter."

It doesn't matter.

A statement that can be interpreted in many ways. But at least, it didn't seem like he had given up on life.

Gadeuk Sang, who was about to ask a deeper question, suddenly laughed and raised his glass.

"Here! Let's have another drink!"

"Sure."

The two drank one after another.

It was a strange gathering. Gadeuk Sang met Yeon Hojeong for the first time today.

Yet, the atmosphere between the two was deep and comfortable, like old friends. It formed naturally without any effort.

Thus, half an hour passed.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"During the Choseongru incident."

"..."

"The leader said that he owed his life to the Yeon family. If you ever meet him, he asked to convey his gratitude."

Yeon Hojeong chuckled.

"You don't even find it awkward to mention it?"

"Ho? How did you know?"

"Just a feeling."

"It's not just a feeling. No matter how evil a person is, if they burn someone alive, who wouldn't be scared?"

Yeon Hojeong did not respond.

Seeing his reaction, Gadeuk Sang was convinced.

'He's not devoid of emotion.'

He clearly recognized what he had done and how it was perceived.

But this young man would not change his beliefs or standards. Because it was right for him.

Gadeuk Sang, who had been staring at Yeon Hojeong, stretched exaggeratedly.

"Phew, I'm tired after drinking so much. Since we're almost done, let's clean up."

"Before that, can I ask one favor?"

Gadeuk Sang's eyes widened.

A favor? The Yeon Hojeong he knew was not the type to ask for favors.

He became interested.

"What kind of favor?"

"Not really a favor, but a request."

"A request... We make a living by handling information, so we deal with big money. But since we're both members of the White Way, do we really need formal procedures? I'll tell you if I can, so just tell me what it is."

Yeon Hojeong mentioned a few things.

Gadeuk Sang's face stiffened.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"..."

"The first request I can handle. The second is even easier. But do you know how difficult the third request is?"

"That's why I'm making a request."

"..."

"If it's too difficult, you can back out."

"Huh? Who said it's difficult? It's not difficult, not difficult! I can do it."

"Indeed, you are the Beggar Gang."

"However, I'm curious. I won't charge you for the request, but I'd like to know the reason."

Yeon Hojeong's eyes glowed blue.

His eyes, resembling the moonlight, were eerie like a ghost's.

"If the Beggar Gang investigates properly... you'll know even if I don't tell you."

You'll naturally know during the investigation?

Gadeuk Sang smiled.

"A challenge. The more I see, the more you seem to be beyond your years in manipulating people."

"I'll take it as a compliment."

"It's more than a compliment. What are you, really?"

"I am the eldest son of the Boksan Yeon family, Yeon Hojeong."

Gadeuk Sang was sure that was not all.

He stood up.

"Well, regardless, I'll go first. I'll let you know about what you requested in the near future."

"Secrecy?"

"Are you teasing me? Of course."

"Understood."

Gadeuk Sang turned with a smile.

"Be careful tomorrow. The young beasts with wounded pride might try to tear you apart."

With those meaningful words, Gadeuk Sang disappeared.

Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky.

The moon was still there.

A half-moon, not quite full, that resembled his cold eyes.

"Should I start running now?"

Whoosh.

The grass under Yeon Hojeong's feet withered instantly.