Chapter 47. The Wind Blows (2)

Punch!

A firmly clenched fist burst through the empty air in quick succession.

This was not mere unarmed practice without inner strength. The fist, imbued with formidable inner power, was no less than a deadly weapon. It was the fist technique of a peak master, capable of piercing a log and shattering a rock with a single blow.

Despite sweating profusely, the relentless fist training did not stop. On the contrary, it seemed to gain momentum as time passed, with the speed of the punches increasing even more.

Swoosh!

After a while, Yan Hozheng picked up the spear that had fallen to the ground with his foot.

He naturally grasped the spear and swung it with a terrifying momentum.

Boom!

The long spear spewed fire.

A spear is a heavy and long weapon. While it is easy to deliver a powerful strike, it is difficult to execute a series of techniques (lian huan ji).

However, Yan Hozheng's spear technique was different. It was impossible to tell how he swung it, but he delivered explosive strikes one after another, with almost no gap between each attack.

After swinging the spear for a while, Yan Hozheng reversed his grip on the spear shaft and threw it.

Boom!

The spear pierced through a thick log and embedded itself in the ground.

It was a terrifying force.

“Huff, huff.”

The training was so intense that it disrupted his breathing. Yan Hozheng, panting heavily, had a deep blue aura flickering around his body.

His ragged breathing quickly returned to normal. Even with the help of inner energy to facilitate oxygen supply, the speed of recovery was excessively fast.

“Phew.”

Yan Hozheng sat down on the flat ground.

A heavy voice came to him.

“Is your training over?”

Yan Hozheng lifted his head.

In the distance, his father stood with his hands behind his back.

“Have you come?”

“It looks more like you're venting your anger rather than training.”

“...”

“Restoring your disrupted breathing so quickly is extremely difficult. It seems that your extreme physical training is effective.”

“Indeed.”

It was a night with a bright moon.

Under the bright moonlight, Yan Wei sat down next to Yan Hozheng.

“You are now a true master. You are worthy of being called a peak master.”

“Thank you.”

There was no sincerity in his voice. It was too terrifying to be joyful with just this level of achievement, considering the future that lay ahead.

However, Yan Wei expressed pure amazement at his son's level.

At nineteen, he had surpassed the head of the family's martial force. No matter how high the level of martial arts he had learned, his growth rate was incomprehensible. Among the young talents of the seven major families, it was doubtful if anyone of Yan Hozheng's age had achieved such a level of martial arts.

Apart from Shaolin, Wudang, and Huashan, it would be hard to find such a talent even among the Nine Sects and One Sect. Considering his skills from half a year ago, his growth rate was almost impossible to find in the history of martial arts.

Despite achieving such a remarkable feat, his son was not satisfied. On the contrary, he seemed to think he was still far from his goal.

Even though he knew how outstanding his achievements, growth, and skills were.

Yan Wei said in a passing tone.

“Is there something troubling you?”

Yan Hozheng could not answer.

He could have said there was nothing and that it was just part of his training. However, he did not want to lie to his father about this feeling.

“You are too intense.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean your killing intent.”

Yan Hozheng's eyes wavered.

“Did you sense it?”

“Would I be the head of the Yan family if I couldn't sense it?”

Yan Hozheng was constantly adjusting his killing intent. While he might unconsciously emit it, he did not release it indiscriminately.

However, Yan Wei was Yan Wei. Considering the distance from the head's room to the guest hall, his sensitivity was beyond imagination.

“What is it that angers you so much?”

Yan Hozheng looked at Yan Wei.

Under the moonlight, Yan Wei's face seemed a bit more gentle than usual.

For a moment, Yan Hozheng felt a lump in his throat.

‘There are people targeting the main house.’

He wanted to say it. At least for this moment, he wanted to tell his father everything.

But he couldn't.

His father, though seemingly indifferent to others, was meticulous enough to observe every detail. He would want to know how he found out and why he hadn't said anything until now, and whether it was truly the case.

Unfortunately, he couldn't. According to history, the attack by the Ming family was less than a year away. It might even happen sooner.

“I just feel frustrated.”

“About what?”

“Various things.”

Yan Wei fell silent for a moment.

He had something he wanted to say to his son. But seeing his son now, it seemed unnecessary to bring it up.

Yan Wei took a book from his sleeve and handed it to Yan Hozheng.

“What is this?”

“Take it.”

There were no words written on the cover of the book.

Out of curiosity, Yan Hozheng opened the book, and his eyes widened.

Yan Wei said,

“It's a transcription. Burn it after you have mastered it.”

“How could you... give this to me?”

“I observed your martial arts and thought about what you lack.”

He had considered his martial arts. It was strange to think that such a person would do so, but it made him feel peculiar.

“Your martial arts are one-strike fatal attacks that do not consider follow-up strikes. At least, that's the impression. While there is room for improvement, your formidable physical strength serves as the nourishment for your explosive attacks.”

“...”

“But look. Your breathing was severely disrupted just now. The reason is that the martial arts you practice are extremely draining.”

“That's true.”

“You will improve in the future. But the process of improvement is the problem. If I were to give you an agile evasion technique, given your nature, you would never retreat.”

He had seen it correctly.

Yan Hozheng could do anything, including fleeing, hiding, or evading, if necessary. But if he thought it was unnecessary, he would relentlessly push to defeat his enemy.

His nature was one of no retreat. His martial arts were designed to survive by killing the enemy before being killed, which was the essence of his martial arts.

“That's why I prepared this.”

Yan Hozheng looked at the three characters written on the first page.

Fan Long Zhang (Reversing Dragon Palm).

It was a counter-attack martial art his father had used during their sparring a fortnight ago. While its single strike was powerful, it truly shone when used in counter-attacks, making it one of the main martial arts of the Yan family.

“The world of martial arts is terrifying. You don't fight while considering your opponent's condition. Even a first-rate master can be killed by a third-rate sword in the world of martial arts.”

Yan Hozheng's eyes wavered.

“Did you know?”

Yan Wei shook his head.

“I didn't. Until just now.”

“...”

“I was wondering when to give it to you. It might be a bit late, but with your intelligence, you should be able to use it in real combat soon.”

Yan Hozheng's hand tightened around the book.

In fact, Yan Wei's worry was unfounded. Yan Hozheng had the Four Divine Martial Arts.

Xuanwu provided complete defense, Baihu handled relentless attacks, and Qinglong was responsible for evasion and counter-attacks.

While Xuanwu was rarely used unless in extreme situations, Qinglong was different. Qinglong's techniques were versatile and complemented Yan Hozheng's extreme nature.

‘...’

However, no matter how outstanding the Four Divine Martial Arts were, could they be more precious than the heart his father had shown him?

“I will accept it gratefully.”

Yan Wei stood up.

“When do you plan to leave?”

That's right.

Yan Hozheng planned to leave the family.

Staying within the family would make it difficult to prevent the Ming family's invasion. Seeing and confirming things firsthand before fighting was the method Yan Hozheng had learned through his life experiences.

“If nothing happens, I plan to leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow... tomorrow.”

Yan Wei closed his eyes.

Yan Hozheng did not know what his father was thinking.

After a moment, Yan Wei said,

“Follow me.”

* * *

To Yan Hozheng's surprise, Yan Wei took him outside the family compound.

The market was quiet. It was well past midnight, so it was natural. Except for a few taverns that served alcohol late into the night, it was dark.

After circling around Gongyang Lou, the father and son arrived at a small forge, which was quite far from the river.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

It seemed that someone was still hammering, even past midnight. The heat was intense, even from a distance of about fifty feet.

Yan Wei spoke.

“Old Tien. It's me, Yan Wei.”

Clang!

The hammering stopped.

After a moment, an old man with a white beard walked out of the forge.

He was short but very sturdy.

Despite the cold weather, he was shirtless, revealing his rugged shoulders and thick chest.

“Have you come?”

The old man's voice was unexpectedly calm, contrary to the fierce tone one might expect.

“I'm sorry for coming so late.”

“What's there to be sorry about? By the way, who is the young man next to you?”

“He is my eldest son.”

Yan Wei turned to Yan Hozheng.

“Greet him. He is Tien Yigang, the divine blacksmith.”

Yan Hozheng didn't know who he was, but he seemed to be no ordinary person. He bowed respectfully.

“I am Yan Hozheng. It is an honor to meet you.”

The old man smiled. Despite a lifetime of working with fire and iron, his expression was as warm as a spring breeze.

“Your eyes are so fierce, I thought you might be his father. You remind me of your younger self.”

“Was I like that?”

“It was hard to get close to you for fear you might cut me. But compared to your son, you were a gentleman. If you were a fine sword, your son is a divine sword. His edge is razor-sharp.”

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Yan Wei's mouth.

Tien Yigang looked at Yan Wei, surprised. He had never seen Yan Wei show any expression like a smile before.

“Are you getting old?”

“It seems so.”

Tien Yigang examined Yan Hozheng from head to toe.

“Curious. Your eyes are the same, but your aura is completely different. Even though he is your son, he is not calm.”

“...”

“Not a sword, but an axe?”

Yan Hozheng's eyes widened.

Tien Yigang was not a martial artist. While he had cultivated some inner strength, it was only at the level of a health practice. Yet, he could identify Yan Hozheng's primary weapon at a glance.

‘Impressive.’

When someone reaches the level of a master, their perspective on the world changes.

A good blacksmith is a friend to martial artists. Just by recognizing Yan Hozheng's temperament, one could gauge Tien Yigang's skill.

“Is this the one you ordered two weeks ago?”

“Yes.”

“Ha ha, I'm seeing many unexpected things today. You didn't give a sword to the eldest son who should be leading the family?”

Yan Wei shook his head.

“So, is it still far from completion?”

“Not at all. I finished it two days ago. It's not a new one, just a modification of an existing one.”

“Let me see it.”

“Wait a moment.”

After a while, Tien Yigang brought out a weapon.

Yan Hozheng's eyes widened at the sight of the weapon.

“It's heavy, isn't it? To wield such a thing at your age, you must have achieved remarkable martial arts.”

Thud!

The vibration transmitted to the ground was tremendous.

It was an axe. An axe, but of enormous size.

A six-foot-long, thick spear shaft with a blade as large as an adult's upper body. It was a war axe, almost identical in shape and size to the one Yan Hozheng