Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 189

Returning Home

“What did you say?!”

Mok Bi’s eyes widened in shock.

“You mean, you’re the person in charge of this operation?”

“To be precise, I’m more like the hidden power behind it,” Yeon Hojeong replied awkwardly.

“I might be taking the lead in the field, but since Hu Gae will be joining us, the highest rank will probably go to him.”

“That’s not the issue right now!”

“Then what is the issue, you fool?”

Worry clouded Mok Bi’s face.

“You said that Duel King, Yangcheon, is a monster that even your father couldn’t handle, right?”

By now, she knew enough about the martial world of Jianghu.

Even so, it was difficult for her to imagine the strength of a master she hadn’t seen in person. However, knowing that even one of the top masters she knew, Yeon Wi, found it hard to deal with such a formidable opponent, she couldn’t help but be concerned.

But there was something else she was truly worried about.

“We still have to go.”

“It’s not about going or not. But isn’t it true that the Moyong Family Head will be leading the operation?”

Yes, that was the part Mok Bi was worried about.

She had witnessed countless times the deeds Moyong Gun committed while standing beside Yeon Hojeong. Although she didn’t consider herself as clever as Yeon Hojeong, wasn’t Moyong Gun dangerous enough as it was?

“If the Moyong Family Head decides to act…!”

“This time, he won’t.”

“What?”

“This time, he won’t target me. Although he might play some tricks.”

“Are you sure?”

“I think so.”

In other words, he wasn’t entirely certain. It was only natural, as even Yeon Hojeong couldn’t fully grasp Moyong Gun’s intentions.

A troubled expression settled on Mok Bi’s face.

“If this time, he really doesn’t intend to….”

“I asked for it.”

“What?”

“This operation wasn’t originally planned with me in mind. I personally asked the Moyong Family Head to let me go.”

“…Why?”

“There are many reasons. For one, I thought it could reduce unnecessary sacrifices and allow for more flexibility.”

“Is that really all?”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“Of course, that’s not the only reason.”

Mok Bi didn’t probe any further. If he intended to tell her, he would have done so without her needing to ask.

However, there was one thing she wanted to confirm.

“Let me go with you.”

“No.”

“….”

“I can’t take you on this mission. You need to rest for a while.”

“Why?”

“Both you and I stand out too much. After wiping out the Black Path sect, rumors about you have likely spread far and wide in that region.”

“The same goes for you, doesn’t it?”

“I can manage just fine without an axe.”

“….”

“Your combat skills are decent, but they’re not reliable enough to protect your life in a truly dangerous situation. One wrong move, and you could really lose your life.”

“Every battle we’ve faced until now has been just as dangerous.”

“The difference is significant. It’s one thing to put out a fire in a village, but jumping into a forest fire is on a completely different level.”

Given the way Yeon Hojeong spoke, it seemed the situation was indeed extremely dangerous.

With a serious expression, Yeon Hojeong continued, “However, there is a role I want you to take on.”

“…What is it?”

“It’s something that could take a while. There are just too many variables.”

“….”

“But in the end, we need to escape from Yangcheon’s territory. I suspect that we won’t have the luxury of a leisurely or stealthy retreat.”

“….”

“When the situation is nearing its conclusion, I’ll immediately request reinforcements. I’d like you to join that support unit.”

Mok Bi’s eyes wavered.

She understood. In reality, there was no strict need for her to be part of the support unit.

Yeon Hojeong was trying to persuade her. Normally, he wouldn’t hesitate to say harsh things that might leave scars, but now he was asking her to remain with the support unit instead.

Mok Bi, who had been quietly watching Yeon Hojeong, sighed.

“When do we depart?”

“It’s not certain yet. I’ve heard it could be as soon as a week, or at most within a fortnight.”

“A week to a fortnight….”

Mok Bi nodded.

“Alright.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing, Yeon Gongja?”

Yeon Hojeong spoke with genuine regret.

“I’m sorry for asking a notorious demonic cultist, who enjoys chopping off heads, to hold back….”

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Yeon Hojeong staggered, having been struck squarely in the abdomen.

“This… this bastard hit me?!”

Mok Bi snorted loudly in response.

“Go and die, would you!”

“You damned brat!”

Mok Bi stomped off into her quarters, clearly fed up with Yeon Hojeong’s inappropriate joke.

Yeon Hojeong, who was rubbing his stomach, let out a small laugh.

“Well, at least it seems like she’s worried.”

For a moment, he furrowed his brow.

“When did she manage to train herself again? Damn, that really hurts. I almost threw up!”

Even though she wasn’t an expert in combat techniques, the strength behind her punch was undeniably impressive. If she hit with full force, she could probably shatter a rock.

Yeon Hojeong sat down on the wooden bench and sighed deeply.

“Whew, there’s just no time to rest.”

This was the reality.

With the Fanatical Three Teachings constantly eyeing the Central Plains, they had to keep moving. Reinforcing and concentrating their forces was essential to be fully prepared for the enemy’s invasion.

Yeon Hojeong collected his thoughts.

‘This mission might finally unite the righteous factions of Jianghu.’

If they found solid evidence that Yangcheon was connected to the Fanatical Three Teachings…

If that happened, everyone would turn their attention to the outer regions, without him needing to say a word.

‘If that happens, there would be nothing more to wish for.’

Of course, they would also need to unite the Black Path. Even that task alone wouldn’t be easy.

Lost in thought, Yeon Hojeong scratched his head roughly.

“Damn it, I need to put aside these complicated thoughts for now. It’s time to focus on the task at hand.”

At that moment, a stern voice interrupted his thoughts.

“I didn’t expect that the task at hand would be something like this.”

Yeon Hojeong let out a bitter smile. He had already sensed his father’s presence.

“You’re here?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Wi asked bluntly, “You’ve involved yourself as a key player in this?”

“That’s correct.”

Yeon Wi remained silent for a moment.

Yeon Hojeong felt a twinge of nervousness. Though his father had changed a lot from the past, a person’s true nature doesn’t easily change. It wouldn’t have been surprising if his father had started scolding him.

After what felt like a half-second pause, Yeon Wi spoke.

“You said you would take something away since you’ve given something. But now, it seems you’ve not only failed to take anything but have also thrown yourself directly into the enemy’s maw.”

“That’s not the case.”

“What do you mean?”

“I intend to use that maw to bite off a piece of the enemy. If it were anyone else, they would have been devoured before they could even bare their fangs.”

“…”

“Of course, there’s also something else I plan to take.”

“And what is that?”

“A Tang disciple.”

Yeon Wi’s eyes gleamed.

“A Tang disciple?”

“I intended to bring over one of the Tang disciples who has been working closely with Moyong Gun.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Of course. Though, I wasn’t expecting them to change their mind immediately.”

This was something Yeon Wi hadn’t anticipated.

It was clear that his son was indeed sharp. Regardless of whether such a method would actually work, the direction of his thinking was entirely different from his own.

Yeon Wi sighed.

“You should have at least informed me in advance.”

Yeon Hojeong bowed his head slightly.

“I apologize. I have no excuse when it comes to this matter.”

“Hah.”

It must have been frustrating.

The leader of the first ever special unit within the Wulin Alliance? That was certainly something to celebrate.

But no matter how prestigious the position, being in a combat unit meant that he would inevitably face more battles than anyone else.

Some might say that, as a martial artist, gaining more experience is something to be happy about.

Yeon Wi agreed with that sentiment. But human emotions don’t always follow logic.

Yeon Hojeong was his son. While it was important for him to learn and grow, it wasn’t something a parent could celebrate when their child was constantly thrown into life-threatening situations.

And now, it wasn’t just any dangerous mission, but one where he also had to consider the possibility of betrayal from his own allies. How could a father not be worried?

“Hu Gae is going with you, I heard.”

“Yes. I didn’t expect it.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“I’ve had many conversations with Hu Gae over time. Though he may seem frivolous at times, I’ve found him to be a person of great depth and warmth. His abilities, of course, are beyond question.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s fortunate to have such a person with you.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“I’ll return safely. Don’t worry.”

“Easier said than done.”

Yeon Wi looked up at the sky.

Soon, the sun would be at its zenith. There was still some time left before the meeting.

‘Danger… so much danger.’

Yeon Wi closed his eyes.

His son was heading into a perilous situation, yet there was little he could do to protect him. While Yeon Hojeong was certainly skilled, a parent’s instinct is to provide any possible safeguard.

“You’ll leave the axe behind, won’t you?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Wi turned.

“Follow me.”

The father and son headed to the clearing where Yeon Wi had previously fought Gonggong Daeja.

Yeon Hojeong looked around.

‘It’s changed.’

It seemed that someone had been training here rigorously since then.

The scene was completely different from what he had seen before. The ground had been leveled, and the broken or cut trees had been cleared, but the traces of battle couldn’t be entirely erased.

‘Hmm?’

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes suddenly glinted with surprise.

‘What is that…?’

There was a sinister mark on the stump of a felled tree.

The stump was riddled with dozens of stab wounds, making it look as though it might crumble with a single touch. While the marks themselves weren’t particularly impressive, the deep penetration of energy through those marks was astounding.

‘Penetrating Sword Technique… This is an incredible level. It looks like these marks were made with a single strike.’

If that sword strike had landed on a human body?

‘The penetrating sword energy would have torn through the nerves and shattered the internal organs.’

It was a terrifying martial art.

What was even more startling was the familiarity Yeon Hojeong felt from the marks.

“Yes, I did it,” Yeon Wi said, as if reading his son’s thoughts.

“I’ve been training in the Iron Sword Technique, focusing on maximizing the sword’s lethality.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes wavered.

“This doesn’t seem like a technique you would use.”

“That’s true. But it’s also not untrue.”

“Pardon?”

“My pursuit is the martial art of the Middle Path. The Middle Path encompasses all forms of martial arts. If you can wield a fluid living sword, you must also be able to wield the most dreadful killing sword.”

“…!”

“I’ve decided to embrace the path of ruthless killing that I’ve long avoided.”

“…I see.”

It was impressive.

With just a change in mindset, his father had managed to execute such a fearsome sword technique. This was the martial path of a swordsman who had begun to transcend his own limits and approach the pinnacle.

Yeon Wi asked with an unusually stern expression, “You’ve had quite a few fierce duels with me over the years, haven’t you?”

“Yes. You even used lethal techniques.”

“That’s right. But this father of yours has never once used a truly sincere lethal strike against you.”

“…”

“Today, I intend to do so.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes shook once again.

Wooooong.

A beautiful, pale green light began to radiate from Yeon Wi’s fingertips.

“I won’t draw my sword. But for a short while, I’ll treat you as an enemy worthy of death and fight with that mindset.”

“…!”

“Prepare yourself. Let me warn you in advance, I will be giving it everything I have.”