Chapter 471: At the Martial Alliance (5)

“Huff! Huff!”

“You finally made it?”

Gangryang stood with both hands braced on his knees, his entire body drenched in sweat as he gasped for breath.

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Take deep breaths. When you’ve pushed your heart and lungs to their absolute limit, sometimes it’s better to inhale deeply and exhale fully rather than use the breathing pattern from your cultivation method.”

Gangryang couldn’t even answer. He wasn’t in any condition to speak in the first place.

“Don’t sit or lie down just because you’re exhausted. Get your breathing under control first.”

Though he still couldn’t speak, Gangryang followed Yeon Hojeong’s instructions and drew in a deep breath.

After repeating it several times, his breathing quickly settled. Breathing itself lay at the heart of internal qi cultivation, so masters of internal arts possessed control over their respiration far beyond anything an ordinary person could imagine.

Even taking that into account, Gangryang’s control was exceptional. Enough that even Yeon Hojeong, who had taken physical training to its limits, found it surprising.

“Whew. I knew I was going to lose, but...”

Gangryang pounded his thighs. There was truly no strength left in them.

“No matter how hard I push myself, I can’t close the gap.”

“Ghost Shadow Divine Steps is a first-rate lightness skill. What you just showed was the absolute limit you can reach at your current level. You can be proud of that.”

“Does that mean there’s no way I can match your speed unless I cross the Wall of Martial Arts?”

“That’s a different matter. Ghost Shadow Divine Steps may be fast and endlessly versatile, but it isn’t a martial art designed solely for running, is it?”

Ghost Shadow Divine Steps was considered first-rate because it was an outstanding footwork art in its own right.

It was so exceptional that it could also serve as a movement art, and it fell short of no lightness skill under heaven. Even so, there was inevitably a difference between it and a movement art created expressly for achieving the greatest possible speed.

“Try modifying it yourself someday. Improving a martial art specifically for speed will be valuable training in its own right.”

“Understood.”

“Still, you certainly trained your stamina properly.”

Gangryang shrugged.

“All martial arts are performed through the body, aren’t they? If the body isn’t complete, you can never see the full extent of the martial arts you possess.”

“Exactly.”

Yeon Hojeong leaned his back against a tree. Despite having run at such speed for more than two double-hours, not a single drop of sweat marked him.

“We’ll rest for one quarter-hour, then move. Drink some water.”

“Yes.”

He had run until he was utterly exhausted, yet they were only going to rest for one quarter-hour.

Gangryang did not complain. A martial artist who had cultivated Inner Qi possessed a body fundamentally different from that of an ordinary man. Besides, if this was another aspect of training, then even being given half a quarter-hour should have been enough to keep him from grumbling.

Gangryang began regulating his breathing and internal energy through a standing exercise.

Yeon Hojeong watched him with satisfaction for a moment, then looked around.

We’ve already passed through Henan.

The Dabie Mountains were visible in the distance.

Once they crossed that mountain range, the Martial Alliance would truly be right in front of them. Even now, the market town below was crowded with more people than could easily be counted.

There had never been this much traffic in the past. After the Martial Alliance was established and the surrounding economy came alive, people had naturally begun to gather.

It seemed the Martial Alliance’s foundations had finally become firmly rooted.

Maybe...

Yeon Hojeong’s gaze deepened.

There could be enemy spies or couriers hiding among the people in that market.

Finding an enemy operative with no information whatsoever, armed with nothing but the certainty that a spy existed, would be grueling work.

But it could not be postponed. Information from inside the Martial Alliance was likely reaching the enemy at every moment. If that was the case, the spy had to be found as quickly as possible.

Of course, they could not rush.

They could not afford to take their time either, but if they acted too hastily and frightened the spy into hiding completely, that would be even worse.

Who could it possibly be?

Yeon Hojeong closed his eyes.

Which of all those councillors is an agent of the Three Creeds? No... there’s no guarantee there’s only one.

Whoever it was, the person was truly formidable.

Many of the councillors were sharp-eyed and highly intelligent. Conducting espionage while surrounded by giants like them without displaying the slightest hint of suspicious behavior was beyond anyone of ordinary ability.

Yeon Hojeong himself was not certain he could manage it.

Outside of martial arts, this person is exceptionally skilled at concealing themselves. Even more so than an assassin.

The thought of assassins brought Sima Hyeon to mind.

What decision did that bastard make? Will he choose to join me? Or will he return to the darkness?

In his previous life, Yeon Hojeong had never joined hands with Sima Hyeon. Before Yeon could have even reached out to him, Sima Hyeon had already become one of the great powers of the assassin world.

When I think about it, he really was incredible.

He had killed Yayul Jeok by himself, become the next Yin God, and brought the assassin world under his control.

The current Sima Hyeon might still be painfully rough around the edges, but his potential alone was undeniably first-rate.

There are so many geniuses in this world.

Gangryang, Yeon Jipyeong, Mookbi, Jeongan—every one of them possessed talent rarely seen.

Can I truly guide people like them properly?

“Brother.”

“Hmm?”

“One quarter-hour has passed.”

“Ah. Has it?”

“What were you thinking about so seriously? Does coming back to the Martial Alliance after so long have your heart pounding?”

“Sure. My heart’s pounding so hard my blood pressure’s about to shoot through the roof.”

Gangryang snorted in amusement.

“Your mouth must be watering at the thought of catching that spy.”

“I’m thinking of seasoning him properly before I cook him.”

Yeon Hojeong tapped the ground a few times with the tip of his foot.

“All right. Let’s move.”

“Brother.”

“What?”

“Why didn’t you bring Mad Dragon? Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter much when you still have the Black-White Twin Dragons and the Flood Dragon Chain.”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“This happens sometimes. Normally, losing a weapon I’m accustomed to should make me uneasy, but every now and then, for some reason, I simply don’t feel like reaching for it.”

Gangryang’s eyes gleamed.

“You don’t feel like reaching for your weapon... Did you gain some new enlightenment?”

“Hell if I know. It’d be nice if that were the case, but if it isn’t, there’s nothing I can do about it. What am I supposed to do when I just don’t feel like using it?”

“Do you think a day will come when I don’t feel like reaching for my sword?”

“Who knows? You and I practice different martial arts, and we see the world differently.”

Yeon Hojeong patted Gangryang on the shoulder.

“Whether I have Mad Dragon or not, I can still bring out the full extent of my martial arts. That’s enough.”

In other words, he was taking absolutely nothing for granted.

Gangryang nodded.

“True. I doubt you’ll need Mad Dragon just to catch a spy.”

“Enough chatter. Let’s go.”

“Sounds good.”

BOOM!

The two kicked off the ground.

Their movement arts carried them forward without the slightest loss of speed from when they had first begun running.

He doesn’t feel like reaching for it...

Watching Yeon Hojeong’s back, Gangryang thought.

Brother is a great martial artist. There’s no way someone like him would simply lose interest in a weapon that’s practically an extension of himself. If anything, it would be natural for him to treasure it even more.

Yet Yeon Hojeong had said he did not feel drawn to Mad Dragon.

He had not merely said he did not feel like touching it. When a martial artist ceased to feel the urge to reach for a weapon, there was a good chance he was passing through a transitional stage toward another transformation.

Gangryang remembered a conversation he had once had with his father.

“People say a swordsman should never let go of his sword, even in death. In one sense, that is true. A swordsman must become one with his sword to display his full ability, so how could he simply put it down? But they say that when one’s enlightenment deepens far enough, there eventually comes a moment when the sword is no longer necessary.”

“No longer necessary?”

“A realm where one can perform sword arts without holding a sword. A realm where one can cut an opponent without ever swinging one.”

“...!”

“When such a realm begins to reveal itself—when one encounters something so profound—I’ve heard that a martial artist begins to question the very necessity of the weapon.”

“...”

“Of course, that realm is far beyond your father’s reach.”

Gangryang’s eyes trembled.

The Mind Sword...!

He had no way of knowing whether Yeon Hojeong had truly entered the realm of the Mind Sword. Leaving age and cultivation aside, even Yeon Hojeong himself could not say what was happening to him, so it was probably not the Mind Sword.

But if this was part of the process leading him down that road...

Then Yeon Hojeong’s growth could no longer be described even with a word as extreme as explosive.

Brother, I don’t usually think things like this... but please slow down a little. I’m already having enough trouble keeping up with you as it is.

At that moment, Yeon Hojeong spoke.

“What are you doing? Your form is slipping. Focus and keep up.”

Gangryang snorted.

“Yes, yes. Of course. I’m the one who has to keep up, after all.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I said don’t worry.”

“Hmm.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes gleamed.

“What a fine move. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

“I thought you might not.”

“Haha. You thought I might not? You’re starting to read your father’s mind now.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa replied evenly.

“They say someone you’ve clashed with often enough becomes much like a friend. Once I began watching your habits, eventually I started being able to read your thoughts as well.”

“Impressive. You’re better than your father. I still can’t read what you’re thinking.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa gave no reply.

She knew exactly why her father could not read her habits or her thoughts.

No. It isn’t that he can’t. He simply doesn’t bother.

To Mo Yonggun, Go was merely a way of organizing his thoughts.

He did not particularly try to defeat his opponent. His play changed according to his mood and whatever concerns occupied him that day, and through those moves he sorted through his thoughts.

On this board, his enemy was not the person sitting across from him.

His enemy was himself.

Mo Yonggun stared intently at the board for a while before suddenly laughing.

“I’ve lost. I can’t think of another move.”

“Then I won.”

“Yes, you did. How large is the difference?”

“Six points.”

“That’s considerable. Leaving me aside, your skill has improved frighteningly fast.”

As Mo Yonggun began clearing the stones, he asked,

“Well? Have you learned anything from playing Go?”

“People often say the whole world exists on a Go board.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa gave a bitter smile.

“Honestly, I’m not sure I understand. If life really were like Go, I think it would be terribly boring.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you would always need an enemy.”

Mo Yonggun burst into hearty laughter.

“True. Go can only be played if you have an opponent. Life is different. A person can live perfectly well on their own.”

“I’ve still learned a great deal from it.”

“If you truly wish to learn, there is nothing in any field that cannot teach you something. Your martial arts have improved considerably of late. It seems Go has had a beneficial influence.”

After clearing away the last of the stones, Mo Yonggun asked,

“What are you doing this evening? If you have time, perhaps you could have dinner with your father for once—”

At that moment—

“Clan Lord.”

Mo Yonggun turned toward the door.

“What is it?”

“A message has arrived from Strategist Je Gal.”

“He wants to meet?”

“Yes. It appears to be an invitation to dinner.”

Mo Yonggun grumbled.

“That man...”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa smiled.

“Go ahead. I don’t mind eating alone.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be, Father.”

Then the warrior outside the door spoke again.

“And, Clan Lord.”

“Is there something else to report?”

“...He has arrived.”

“Hmm?”

“The Supreme Commander of the Righteous Justice Corps—the eldest son of the Yeon Clan—has just returned to the Alliance.”

In an instant, Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s eyes turned cold.

Mo Yonggun leaned back in his chair.

“So he’s finally here.”

“Shall I send word to him separately?”

“No. Let him reunite with his family first.”

That was what he said, but Mo Yonggun’s gaze had already changed.

So you’ve come?

There was much he needed to discuss with that man.

A great many things.

Mo Yonggun rose from his seat.

“...Unless this is something trivial, I suppose dinner will have to wait.”