Chapter 41: The Flaw in Discipline (1)

Yeon Ho-jeong's body staggered.

The hand that had unleashed the Yeon Hwan Palm turned red. In an instant, Yeon Wi had also neutralized the attack with a palm strike.

Whoosh!

A faint aura rose from Yeon Wi's extended hand.

'Fanryong Palm (反龍掌)!'

It was one of the peak martial arts of the Yeon family. Not only was its single strike powerful, but it was especially unmatched in counterattacks.

However, Yeon Wi was even more surprised.

"Is that the Yeon Hwan Byeon Palm?"

"Yes."

Crack!

Before his answer was even finished, Yeon Ho-jeong launched another assault.

Thinking he would charge straight in, he suddenly lowered his stance and swung the Fangtian Ji.

Despite the close distance, the blade of the heavy and cumbersome Fangtian Ji accurately swept at his ankles. It was unaffected by the distance.

Yeon Wi's sword grazed the training ground floor.

Clang! Clang!

The sword, scraping along the ground, deflected the Fangtian Ji. Once again, the Fangtian Ji failed to achieve its purpose.

The spear shaft, rebounding, drew a perfect arc and aimed for Yeon Wi's side. It was a faster attack than when he swung the blade.

Zing!

It was perfect.

Yeon Ho-jeong was amazed. His father's martial arts had reached the realm of perfect integration of attack and defense.

Zing! Bang! Crack!

No matter how many times he swung the Fangtian Ji or attacked with Quanjiao Santada (散打) to create openings, he could not break through. Not a single effective hit was allowed.

'To have refined it to this level!'

Before his internal energy or sword power, his martial path itself was nearly perfect. It was a martial art that had reached the pinnacle of completeness, with nothing to add or subtract.

'Impressive!'

During the Black Darkness Era, Yeon Ho-jeong's martial arts far surpassed Yeon Wi's.

However, even then, Yeon Ho-jeong could not achieve the perfect integration of attack and defense that Yeon Wi now possessed. It was a matter of skill rather than realm.

If Yeon Ho-jeong's martial arts emphasized extreme strengths,

Yeon Wi's martial arts were like a steel fortress that tolerated no single flaw. It was the epitome of orthodox martial arts, a true embodiment of the White Tiger martial arts.

'Good.'

The thought of his first sparring match with his father had already vanished from his mind. Yeon Ho-jeong, facing a martial artist who was a rare sight in the martial world, felt a burning competitive spirit like never before.

Crack! Bang! Boom!

Yeon Ho-jeong's martial arts became even more intense.

The heavy Fangtian Ji increased its speed even further. The continuous flow of spear techniques targeted Yeon Wi's entire body.

Zing!

All the heavy attacks were blocked.

It was fine. Yeon Ho-jeong believed that his father would not be hurt.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the speed increased, the destructive power grew, and as the destructive power increased, his movements became more agile.

A light shone in Yeon Wi's eyes.

'Impressive.'

He was amazed by his son's martial arts.

'Such intense and bold martial arts.'

The Beilajin Jue, which stabilized his center of gravity, was so fierce that it was hard to believe he had mastered such a stable technique.

Did this mean his balance of attack and defense was off? No, it didn't.

Zing!

A short, powerful sword strike was blocked by the spear shaft.

He used attack as defense. Instead of just blocking, he enveloped and countered the opponent's attack in one fluid motion. It was an extreme martial art.

At this level, it couldn't be criticized for being overly aggressive. Defense was also an attack, and attack was an even stronger attack. It was a practical martial art that relentlessly pursued the enemy, a battlefield technique that aimed to survive by defeating the enemy before they could strike.

'Furthermore...'

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yeon Ho-jeong was not just skilled with the spear shaft.

The moment a spear strike seemed to be coming, a kick would fly, and if the kick was blocked, a palm or fist would follow. If the palm or fist was evaded, the Fangtian Ji would come again, and the moment it was deflected, a subtle foot technique would come into play.

He didn't rely solely on weapon techniques just because he held a weapon. It was a true fight. He didn't overpower the opponent with powerful martial arts but rather used grappling techniques to exploit and topple the opponent's weaknesses.

What was even more impressive was the nature of the grappling techniques that exploited these weaknesses.

'Basic techniques?'

The Yeon family's thirteen volumes, the Yeon Hwan Byeon Palm, the Gogong Jok (拷空脚), and the Chufeng Bu (秋風步).

Each was a basic martial art of the Yeon family. They didn't have great power but helped build the basic skills of a martial artist.

To achieve such efficient attacks with these techniques?

'Could I do the same?'

A master calligrapher doesn't discriminate against the brush.

That saying applied to his son. He was using basic martial arts, like calisthenics, to face the head of the Seven Great Clans.

Yeon Wi's eyes changed.

Zing!

A powerful sword strike forced Yeon Ho-jeong to step back.

He had seen enough of his son's martial arts. Just by seeing this much, he could understand the realm his son had reached.

Just as Yeon Wi was about to speak,

Crack!

He charged at an incredible speed, something he had never shown before.

In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong closed the distance and swung the Fangtian Ji like an axe.

Yeon Wi was taken aback.

'How is this possible!'

This sword strike was not simple.

It carried a strong elastic force to push the opponent back. Just maintaining balance should have been a challenge.

And yet, to approach at this speed?!

Yeon Wi quickly raised his sword.

Zing!

The sound of the spear and sword clashing echoed beyond the training ground, reaching the head's quarters.

It was the most explosive and powerful strike so far. Yeon Wi's sword trembled slightly.

Huff!

Yeon Ho-jeong, lowering his stance like lightning, unleashed a terrifying series of techniques.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang.

Yeon Wi, blocking his son's martial arts with almost supernatural skill.

'Now I understand.'

Yeon Wi finally realized why his son had undergone such extreme training.

'To gain this level of stamina.'

Yeon Ho-jeong's attacks came without a moment's rest.

Each strike was powerful, a typical one-hit kill technique. But to create such explosive strikes, physical strength and endurance were essential in addition to internal energy.

Yeon Ho-jeong's martial arts were speaking. No, they were proving.

This is me.

The martial arts I pursue are like this. I seek the ultimate offensive power without compromise.

Yeon Wi's eyes closed.

Boom!

With a terrifying roar, the steel sword drew the shape of lightning.

Crack!

"Ah."

Yeon Ho-jeong's body was pushed to the end of the training ground.

It was a level of power far beyond the previous elastic force strike. Sharp pain shot through his hands holding the Fangtian Ji.

"That's enough."

Swish.

Yeon Wi, who had already left the training ground, sheathed his sword.

Yeon Ho-jeong felt a sense of regret.

'I almost had it.'

While attacking his father's impenetrable martial arts, he had found the key to summoning the White Tiger.

Just the techniques and insights were not enough. Summoning the White Tiger, which specialized in attack, would significantly enhance his internal energy, physical strength, and martial arts.

'It's a shame, but there's no other way.'

If he could handle two of the Four Divine Beasts, he could summon the others through practice.

But not the White Tiger. It could not be easily summoned without a life-or-death struggle. The Four Divine Beasts' martial arts were born on the battlefield.

'That's how impressive Father's martial arts are. Even without a life-or-death battle, he can summon the White Tiger.'

Yeon Ho-jeong, relaxing his stance, looked at Yeon Wi with a strange expression.

'How did he refine such martial arts?'

Clang!

Yeon Wi, placing his sword on the rack, asked.

"How was it?"

"Excuse me?"

"What do you think of this father's martial arts?"

Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes sparkled.

"I think they are nearly perfect."

"Perfect?"

"Yes. There is room for improvement, but it seems you are pursuing a flawless, perfect martial art. Your attacks and defenses, evasions and counterattacks, are balanced, aiming for the middle way."

He confidently stated that there was room for improvement.

Yeon Wi was not upset by his son's words because they hit the mark.

"Do you understand?"

"Isn't it harder not to understand? Each martial artist has their own specialty, but I couldn't see any in you."

"..."

"An all-encompassing martial art. That is your martial art."

A genuine surprise appeared on Yeon Wi's face.

"Your insight is truly remarkable. No one has ever seen through my martial path, but my son could."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Yeon Wi, looking at his son, sighed.

"I wanted you to follow in my footsteps."

"Excuse me?"

"Six months ago, you changed after the ancestral rites. I don't know why, but as the head of the family, I was pleased with your change."

"Ah, yes."

"But now..."

"..."

"A little disappointing."

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

"If I have done anything wrong, please tell me. I will correct it."

"You haven't done anything wrong. That's why it's disappointing."

Yeon Wi's face showed both pride and disappointment in his son.

"Before being the head, as a father of two sons, I wanted my sons to follow my path. You can call it greed or stubbornness."

"..."

"But you have already taken a different path. Through your martial path, I could faintly understand what you are pursuing."

"What is it?"

"You don't want to be the head of the main family."

Yeon Ho-jeong's face stiffened.

His son wasn't the only one who hit the mark. Yeon Wi, through his son's martial arts, had accurately gauged his son's inner thoughts.

"Seeing your changed self, I have been pondering this. Today, I am certain. Your aspirations are not here but towards the world."

"..."

Yeon Wi, folding his arms, looked up at the sky.

His eyes, gazing at the cloudless sky, held an unusual wistfulness.

"I didn't tell you why I wanted to see your martial arts, did I?"

"Wasn't that the end of what you just said?"

"No."

"Then what is the reason?"

"I wanted to see if you, as the deputy head, had the right mindset through your martial arts."

"!"

Yeon Ho-jeong was surprised.

'Deputy head...'

It was a position he had never considered.

Yeon Wi shook his head.

"Truly a pity. I wanted to test your capabilities as the head, but as a father, I am frustrated to know that your aspirations are not bound to the family."

"..."

"Indeed, the world doesn't go as planned."

Yeon Ho-jeong couldn't say anything.

After a long look at the sky, Yeon Wi turned around.

"Your martial arts were impressive. Let's spar more often."

"..."

"Good job."

Yeon Wi walked towards the head's quarters.

Watching his father's back, Yeon Ho-jeong spoke.

"Father."

Yeon Wi turned around.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

"Even if our paths are different, my heart is always here. To protect the family, I will face the world, even if it means being called a demon."

"Nonsense."

Yeon Wi resumed his walk towards the head's quarters.

"If the world calls my son a demon, I will place that world under my sword."

"..."

"Rest now."