Chapter 62. The Eldest Son of Beksan (2)

Myeongchisan was quite surprised.

"Huh."

The wind rustling through the bamboo grove stirred the collar of Yeonhojeong's robe.

It seemed as if he would be scattered by the wind. A desolate aura filled his entire body.

"A formidable opponent."

He had heard that Yeonhojeong had not yet reached the age of twenty.

However, the atmosphere was very peculiar. Despite facing ten high-level experts, he did not seem the least bit shaken.

Moreover, his stance?

"Free."

Even standing still, he seemed ready to dash in any direction.

Despite not showing any signs of exceptional agility, this young man possessed a mysterious aura.

Myeongchisan was genuinely impressed.

"Yeon's family has finally caused trouble. Did they raise such a talented person?"

Yeonhojeong asked calmly.

"Did you come from the Myeong family?"

His voice was lower and softer than expected. He had heard that Yeonhojeong was rough, but there was no sign of that in his voice.

"Yes."

"Later than I thought."

"Later... Does that mean you knew we were coming?"

"Hard to miss. Is there any place in Henan where the Myeong family's eyes don't reach?"

"What? Haha!"

Myeongchisan couldn't help but laugh.

He was bold and arrogant.

Yet, Myeongchisan didn't dislike his confidence. There were no such outstanding warriors in the Myeong family.

Myeongchisan smiled and said,

"It's surprising that you can remain so calm in front of the warriors dispatched by the Myeong family. I like that."

"I don't like men."

"You're quite eloquent. I've spent my life wielding a sword, so I envy someone like you who can speak so well."

Yeonhojeong's eyes sparkled.

"Strong."

A peak expert.

But he was not an ordinary peak expert. He was far superior to even the renowned assassin Chuseong and the head of the secret service, Myeongonji.

Myeongchisan believed that he had spent his life wielding a sword.

Despite hearing such words from a junior, he did not get angry. That composure was the composure of a true expert.

'This could be dangerous.'

But that was good.

Meeting such a man as his first opponent was truly fortunate.

"I'll introduce myself. I am Myeongchisan of the Myeong family's Cheongbaegmubyeong (Clear and White Martial Soldiers)."

Cheongbaegmubyeong.

It refers to a group of warriors in the Nine Provinces Myeong family who do not hold any official positions and only focus on martial arts.

They are not part of any combat units and are not assigned to household duties. In exchange for not holding any official positions, they are deployed for specific missions when ordered.

In other words, they are troubleshooters. However, they are not ordinary troubleshooters.

The Cheongbaegmubyeong is a group with many members from the collateral lines of the Myeong family, whose lineage is difficult to trace.

"And these are from the Homyeongjeon (Protector of the Myeong Hall)."

Yeonhojeong shook his head.

"I don't know what organization that is."

"Hehe, it's fine even if you don't know. There's no need for you to know."

There was no need to know, but it was worth being cautious.

Myeongchisan was a strong expert. But the nine warriors he brought were also formidable. While their actual combat abilities were unknown, each of them possessed martial arts skills two or three levels higher than the secret service members.

Yeonhojeong tilted his head.

"So, what brings you here?"

"Didn't you say you knew we were coming? There must have been a reason for that, right?"

"Secret service?"

Myeongchisan's eyes sharpened instantly.

"Secret service... Did Myeongonji, that child, even recite the unit's name?"

"He recited it before I asked."

"That's impossible. That child is not someone who received half-hearted training."

"He must have recited it to avoid being chopped to death with an axe."

Myeongchisan's face hardened.

He read the truth in Yeonhojeong's words. Yeonhojeong was not lying.

'Could it be?'

The mention of the axe also troubled him.

Myeongchisan's voice dropped slightly.

"I'll ask directly. Where is the secret service?"

"Would you have let them live if they came to kill you?"

Came to kill you?

"Nonsense. They never intended to kill you."

"How can you be so sure when you weren't even there?"

"Enough with the word games. I'll ask again. Where is the secret service?"

"The Myeongs are all the same. Even that woman was like that."

Yeonhojeong smiled.

Rumbling.

The mysterious aura was gone, replaced by a faint blue-green energy that emitted a fierce aura.

"It was a life-and-death battle. There was no reason to show mercy."

"......Did you kill them all?"

"Would I be dead if I hadn't?"

"You! Speak clearly! Did you really kill the secret service?"

Whoosh!

Yeonhojeong's eyes, which had been on the axe at his feet, turned cold.

"I killed them."

Whoosh!

A fierce killing intent erupted from Myeongchisan's body.

It wasn't just him; the warriors from the Homyeongjeon also emitted a fierce killing intent.

It was a genuine killing intent. They were ready to tear Yeonhojeong apart at any moment.

Myeongchisan said in a low, calm voice.

"I was ordered to bring you, but there were no specific instructions about your condition."

"......"

"You should be prepared to lose a limb."

Whoosh.

The fierce aura gradually turned into a killing intent.

Yeonhojeong smiled faintly.

"Will such soft threats work?"

Myeongchisan shouted.

"Subdue him!"

In an instant, the warrior at the end drew a horn bow.

Whoosh! Twang!

The speed of drawing the arrow and pulling the string was lightning fast. In a flash, the arrow was already flying.

The arrow aimed for Yeonhojeong's thigh, intending to restrict his movement.

Thud!

The archer's eyes widened.

"You use good arrows. You must be rich."

The arrow was caught in Yeonhojeong's hand. It was a natural move, as if he had expected it to aim for his thigh.

Yeonhojeong's eyes turned cold.

"Thanks to you, I couldn't even eat. Damn you."

Thud!

He stomped the ground hard and threw the arrow.

Whoosh! Thud!

"Ugh!"

The archer staggered, clutching his shoulder. The arrow had pierced his left shoulder.

It was faster than shooting with a bow. It seemed as if he had mastered the art of hidden weapons.

Myeongchisan's eyes gleamed.

'Fast!'

An archer who has honed his skills is naturally quick. He needs to create distance to shoot arrows, so it's natural.

Yet, the archer couldn't even react to the arrow. If he hadn't instinctively leaned his upper body, it would have pierced his chest.

"Use your full strength!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Eight experts rushed at Yeonhojeong.

Their footwork was faster and more aggressive than the secret service. In an instant, they closed the distance and swung their weapons, creating a flawless formation that left no room for water to seep through.

Yeonhojeong swung his axe.

Clang!

Seven weapons were deflected. But one sword managed to split the air and left a wound on Yeonhojeong's shoulder.

Yeonhojeong's body spun like a whirlwind.

Crack!

The swordsman was slammed into the ground. He had been hit by the Myeong family's high-kicking technique.

"Ugh!"

The swordsman, who was trying to get up, spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed.

Surprise flashed across Myeongchisan's face.

'In one strike?'

The warriors of the Homyeongjeon train their external skills as rigorously as their internal skills. They must be able to block an enemy's sword with their bodies in dangerous situations.

Yet, a warrior with such a sturdy body was felled by a single kick.

'Penetrating technique!'

Crack!

Yeonhojeong charged.

The remaining seven warriors also swung their weapons, pressing him.

'Different.'

They were clearly on a different level from the secret service. If the secret service were wolves, these were wolves. Each of them had a clear role and position.

One strike could lower their fighting strength. The formation was designed with that intention.

Given the situation, he had no choice but to use his full strength from the start.

Boom!

The shockwave was even stronger than when he threw the arrow.

Yeonhojeong swung his axe like a windmill.

Clang! Boom!

It was an overwhelming display.

The weapons that met the axe blade either lost their teeth or broke.

No matter how well-made the weapons were, the weight difference was insurmountable. Especially with Yeonhojeong's internal energy enhancing the axe's hardness.

Crack! Thud!

A warrior hit by Yeonhojeong's fist spat out blood and collapsed.

Whoosh! Thud!

He swung the flat side of the axe, striking the chest along with the weapon. The warrior flew through the air, breaking a dozen bamboo poles before collapsing.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

One warrior stood out with his sword strikes. He attacked with a fast and agile sword, which Yeonhojeong blocked with a spear.

The continuous sword strikes did not stop. Yeonhojeong, who was blocking the attacks with the spear, executed a high kick.

Crack!

The swordsman, hit in the temple, collapsed on the spot.

Myeongchisan's eyes widened.

'Strong!'

Yeonhojeong was a formidable opponent.

Not just in martial arts, but in combat ability.

'Flow... No, that's not it.'

Thud!

Another warrior collapsed. He wasn't even in direct combat; he was knocked down by the tip of the spear as it recoiled.

'This guy reads weaknesses.'

He could see the weaknesses in the formation at a glance. He knew where the vulnerabilities were, who to target, and what actions to take next.

Myeongchisan couldn't help but be impressed.

'Talent. He doesn't just break through by force; he thoroughly exploits weaknesses to bring down his opponents.'

He clearly wasn't a martial bone. His body structure was not suitable for martial arts.

Yet, he fought better than anyone.

He had met countless warriors, but none fought as efficiently as Yeonhojeong. He ruthlessly exploited weaknesses while charging in like a fierce beast in direct combat.

He wasn't a martial artist. He wasn't a warrior.

He was a fighter. A thorough winner who knew how to win.

Myeongchisan pushed off the ground.

Whoosh!

Yeonhojeong's eyes flashed.

He tripped the remaining warrior and struck him with the flat side of the axe.

Thud!

The jaw, teeth, and ribs shattered and flew. It was aimed precisely at the direction Myeongchisan was approaching.

Whoosh.

Myeongchisan grabbed the warrior's collar and spun him around.

And there, Yeonhojeong was already in front of him.

"I've been waiting."

"You!"

A heavy pukdo (a type of saber) was drawn from Myeongchisan's waist.

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed through the bamboo grove.

It was a full-strength battle from the start. Yeonhojeong was pushed back a few steps by Myeongchisan's explosive saber strike.

Myeongchisan's eyes gleamed with killing intent.

He admired his opponent, but admiration was just admiration. This guy had killed the secret service and his nephew, Myeongonji.

He couldn't forgive him.

Thud!

The footwork to close the distance was so fast it made one's tongue curl.

His body was full of elasticity. His movements were on a different level from the warriors of the Homyeongjeon.

Yeonhojeong swung his axe.

Clang! Clang!

It was an incredible display of martial arts.

He deflected the heavy axe, which weighed eighty kilograms, without a single scratch on his blade. The blade, protected by powerful internal energy, became a more fearsome weapon than Yeonhojeong's axe.

Their weapons clashed spectacularly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

They collided at an incredible speed. It was a straightforward and intense battle.

Rip!

Blood spurted from Yeonhojeong's chest.

He deflected the heavy weapon and, in a split second, rotated the blade to cut through. The wound was shallow but a shocking blow.

Thud!

The punch from the Myeong family's Thirteen Strikes was blocked by the knee.

His defense was as fierce as his attacks. His martial arts were a combination of offense and defense, making him a formidable opponent.

'Right.'

Thud!

Yeonhojeong's mouth bled from the kick he couldn't avoid.

Even as he spat out blood, his eyes never left Myeongchisan.

'With this guy.'

Whoosh! Crack!

Myeongchisan also faltered. Yeonhojeong's elastic kick had shaken his upper body.

His concentration reached its peak in an instant. In front of an opponent who could potentially harm him, Yeonhojeong's will became as sharp as a blade.

'With this guy, it's possible.'

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A faint blue-green energy swirled, and a dark northern aura rippled.

It was the energy of the Black Tortoise. But it wasn't the energy he had raised to perform the Northern Heaven's Twelve Walls.

It was a martial art he had already prepared. The energy he had already cultivated.

The energy, guided by the Black Tortoise, was slowly revealing itself.

'With this guy, I can summon it.'

Myeongchisan's blade swung mercilessly.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A terrifying blade wind shot out. It was a cutting wind that could sever his right arm along with the axe if he didn't block it.

Yeonhojeong's eyes turned white for a moment.

'Wind.'

At that moment, the world slowed down.

The rustling bamboo leaves moved like waves, and Myeongchisan's movements seemed sluggish as if stuck in mud.

In the midst of it, the invisible blade wind appeared as a white light.

Yeonhojeong's thigh muscles bulged.

Boom!

The shockwave from his foot striking the ground resembled a tiger's roar. The muscles in his arms, holding the axe, swelled like an angry bull.

'Come out!'

Whoosh!

A white wind rushed into his lungs.

A cold and cool white energy spread through his entire body like lightning.

Yeonhojeong's mouth opened involuntarily.

Hiss!

With the roar of the Mountain King, his axe began to move in an inexplicable way.