Mo Yong-woo’s eyes wavered.

‘Astounding.’

He stood over six chi tall, a man whose frame at first glance looked slender. He wore martial attire underneath, and the white long robe draped over it seemed to gently soften the sharp impression.

He was tall, yet his build was neither big nor small. Coupled with the strange air radiating from his whole body, it was like looking at a single stalk of bamboo.

If not for the refined qi quietly spilling out of him, Mo Yong-woo might have thought, what a well-featured scholar.

‘To carry qi this vigorous?’

It was a qi that even felt faintly mysterious. Mo Yong-woo had never seen a person with such an extraordinary presence.

And that axe.

Even at a glance it was a treasure worthy of being called a divine weapon. From the thick yet chilling, keen edge of the axe blade, a grand, heroic ferocity surged.

It was a weapon rarely seen in the martial world. And because such a weapon was being held by a slender youth, the sense of pressure only grew.

At present, when one described such an appearance in the martial world, only a single person came to mind.

And this youth had forthrightly finished introducing himself in his own mouth.

“If you’re Yeon Hojeong... of the Yeon Clan of Green Mountain?”

“That’s right.”

Mo Yong-woo rose from his seat.

He gave a short cupped-fists salute.

“I am Mo Yong-woo, Zhejiang Branch Chief of the Mo Yong Clan. It is an honor to meet the famed Green Mountain Tiger General.”

It was a surprising greeting.

Mo Yong-woo was older than Yeon Hojeong. Not by a year or two, but by ten years at least.

Even so, he observed formality. At this pre-dawn hour, in a moment that could quite reasonably be taken for a suspicious visit.

Yeon Hojeong likewise set down the axe and returned a formal salute.

“I, Yeon Hojeong, eldest son of the Yeon Clan of Green Mountain in Jiangsu, greet the Mo Yong Clan’s Hidden Dragon.”

Mo Yong-woo’s face hardened.

The Mo Yong Clan’s Hidden Dragon. A truly meaningful turn of phrase.

Mo Yong-woo was about to open his mouth when Yeon Hojeong lifted the axe.

“May I have a cup of tea?”

He was saying: let’s speak inside.

Mo Yong-woo nodded.

“...Come in.”

Srrk.

Yeon Hojeong stepped in through the window into the office.

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes wavered.

‘An astonishing body method!’

The movement of his body defied ordinary principle. It was extremely supple, yet full of decisive force.

He had seen only a single motion, but his sense of alertness toward Yeon Hojeong deepened another shade.

“I don’t have good tea leaves. I ask your understanding.”

“I drink anything well—no need to worry.”

“Understood.”

Seated with the axe set down, Yeon Hojeong looked at Mo Yong-woo.

Mo Yong-woo said nothing as he brewed at one side.

Curiosity would have been natural. The silence could have felt awkward enough to prompt idle words. But he devoted himself to brewing without speaking.

Strictly speaking, while brewing, his awareness kept tracing over Yeon Hojeong without cease.

‘Still the same.’

Prudent.

For some reason an edge was drawn tight, and yet the courtesy and upright qi ingrained in him were just as before.

No—brighter than before. Compared to the Mo Yong-woo of back then, worn by worldly grime and made desolate by the Four Yin Cult’s turmoil, he now exuded a far more human scent.

Only, he was thoroughly suppressing it himself.

‘As I expected.’

A blue light shimmered in Yeon Hojeong’s pupils.

‘There is no one but this man. Only this man.’

After a moment, Mo Yong-woo set a teacup before Yeon Hojeong.

“It’s been a while since I last brewed; I’m not sure the taste will be decent.”

“The fragrance is good.”

Yeon Hojeong drank without hesitation.

Mo Yong-woo’s gaze deepened.

‘To drink without the slightest suspicion.’

He didn’t know whether that was boldness or familiarity with him. For Mo Yong-woo, information about the other party was in extremely short supply.

“They say your renown as a hero under heaven is wide... yet to come alone in the dead of night like this...”

They say: the good do not come; those who come are not good.

The rivers and lakes are dangerous. If someone you have never met comes calling, and at such a late hour at that, strict vigilance is only proper.

Even if the Beggars’ Union had played the go-between.

“Congratulations.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have succeeded in brewing a delicious tea.”

“That is fortunate.”

The answer was stiff.

Guardedness was audible in his voice. If one were to be frank, it was a frank reaction.

Mo Yong-woo opened his mouth.

“The air has grown rather chilly. At a glance you seem a formidable master, but even the greatest under heaven do not easily escape a head cold.”

Why have you come breathing the icy pre-dawn air?

He circled around to say it, which only made it the more fearsome a question. It meant idle wordplay would not pass.

Yeon Hojeong’s smile faded.

“Before we talk, allow me one thing.”

“I will listen.”

“I don’t like speaking in circles. If it sounds a bit rough, I ask your understanding.”

“You need not worry about that.”

“I know you are having a hard time right now.”

He skipped all preface and said it.

Perhaps that was why? Mo Yong-woo was briefly at a loss. The talk broke off as he pondered what that meant.

Seizing the off-beat as his own, Yeon Hojeong began to take the lead in the atmosphere.

“I hear there’s been quite a ruckus over profit-shares among Zhejiang merchants.”

“...!”

“And I also hear the Branch Chief is overseeing the coordination of the maritime trade interests in Zhejiang.”

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes deepened.

“How did you know?”

“If it concerns you, I have been looking into it for a long time. Of course, I reviewed it again before coming here.”

It was both puzzling and chilling.

Being watched without knowing it is never pleasant.

Yet rather than feel displeased, Mo Yong-woo found himself curious about his counterpart’s intent. Why was this young tiger—the youth rumored even to be a hot-blooded man of chivalry—keeping watch on him?

“You mean you investigated me?”

“That’s right.”

Watching Yeon Hojeong with clear eyes, Mo Yong-woo shook his head.

“If you intend to control the maritime trade of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and take the profit, it would be best to give up that thought even now.”

“That matter is doable without borrowing the Branch Chief’s strength, so I have no particular thought of giving it up.”

It was a remark that could prick pride. But nothing changed in Mo Yong-woo’s qi.

His qi was like a clear lake. A heavy body of water upon which hardly a ripple rose.

“In that case, it is all the more a question. There is no reason to not only investigate me but come to visit in person.”

“I will help you.”

“...Help me? What do you mean?”

Looking at Mo Yong-woo, Yeon Hojeong thought for a moment, then spoke.

“Are you not a man who stepped down from the Mo Yong Clan Lord’s ruthless line?”

“...!!”

“As I see it, it was so in the past and is so now—you seem to be under pressure from the main house.”

Mo Yong-woo’s expression changed at once.

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“It seems my guess is right.”

“How could you...?”

“Because I know a certain amount about the man called Mo Yonggun.”

Yeon Hojeong’s gaze changed.

At the thought of Mo Yonggun, even his eyes altered at once. And before that sharp gaze, a chill ran through Mo Yong-woo’s chest.

“Mo Yonggun is an ambitious man. His greed has no end. There is no problem with a person living with desire, but the problem is that because of that desire, the blameless are dying.”

“...!”

“What’s more, his ambition is thoroughly personal. If it were in service of a great cause there might be room to consider, but Mo Yonggun lives each day harshly with an ambition that cannot even be excused by that.”

Even as he spoke, Yeon Hojeong felt a needless bitterness. For he himself did not possess some lofty righteousness or chivalrous spirit.

Honest surprise showed on Mo Yong-woo’s face.

At the same time, deeper suspicion took root. The one who had investigated him now claimed to know his elder brother—the Clan Lord of one of the Six Great Clans—quite well.

Whatever he had come thinking, it was certain he was someone to be extremely on guard against.

“But you are different. You do not want something grand. You merely want the people within your fence to eat well and live well.”

“...”

“I don’t know if you are aware, but if not, I will tell you. Justice and fellowship—that is where they begin. Only one who knows how arduous it is to guard one’s own fence can cry out for justice.”

“Justice, fellowship...”

“I also cherish my own, yet I don’t think I’m a particularly righteous man. I’m closer to a villain.”

“...”

“The Right Way is not a road just anyone can walk.”

Yeon Hojeong wet his throat with a sip of tea.

“So I will help you. If you are being pressed by the clan over the Zhejiang Merchants’ Alliance matter, I will make sure to settle that part.”

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes wavered.

“Help me... May I ask the reason?”

“The reason...”

“Yes. The reason.”

Mo Yong-woo drew a breath.

With a single deep breath to steady himself, he added in a firm voice.

“I don’t know if you know, but I am greatly confused. I did receive a letter from the Hangzhou branch chief of the Beggars’ Union, but a young master I have never once met has suddenly come and says he will help me.”

“That’s right.”

“If that were all, perhaps. But you said you have investigated me for a long time. You seem to know my elder brother, the Clan Lord, quite well, even.”

“I know him very well. In a sense I may know the Mo Yong Clan Lord better than you do.”

“Better than I... Fine. Let’s grant that.”

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes sharpened.

“Do you think I can readily accept your help as I am now?”

“It would be difficult.”

He had expected a rebuttal, but the man simply agreed. Mo Yong-woo gave a wry smile.

“That’s right. Moreover, you are the eldest son of the Yeon Clan of Green Mountain. If it becomes known I received help from you, the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) main house will erupt.”

“Are you afraid?”

“What do you mean?”

“I asked if you are afraid of Mo Yonggun.”

It was a provocative question.

Mo Yong-woo spoke with a stiff face.

“I do not know what you mean. And one more thing—you seem to speak too carelessly of the Clan Lord of the main house.”

“To me, he is a man who can be my enemy at any time—that is only natural.”

“...?!”

Enemy? What was this suddenly?

“He joined hands with the Ming Clan and tried to annihilate the main house. Mo Yonggun even personally infiltrated agents.”

“W-what did you say?!”

“If I had not seized the agent with my own hands and blown the Ming Clan to pieces, the main house might already be walking an irreparable path.”

With trembling eyes, Mo Yong-woo looked at Yeon Hojeong.

Yeon Hojeong’s expression was plain. It was not the face of a man telling lies.

‘Elder Brother...!’

What was more frightening was that the Mo Yonggun he knew was fully capable of such a thing.

Unconsciously, Mo Yong-woo sighed.

“How could you be like this. How can you keep doing such lawless things...”

Adding sigh upon sigh, Mo Yong-woo rose and abruptly bowed low.

“I will apologize in my elder brother’s stead. I do not know if you can forgive, but as his blood, I have no face.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.

Mo Yong-woo prostrated in silence. Though he himself had not committed a mortal sin, he offered a sincere apology.

Could the other be lying?

Mo Yong-woo’s discernment was real. He had an extraordinary talent for grasping the false and the true. It was one of his many strengths.

Yeon Hojeong opened his mouth.

“If he puts away his lawless ambition and steps down from the front line, the main house can forgive him.”

Mo Yong-woo raised his upper body.

He bit his lip.

“For now... regarding that part, I will personally speak to my elder brother...”

“But Mo Yonggun will never give up.”

“...”

“You just said you would apologize in your brother’s stead, did you not?”

“...?”

“If that is sincere, instead of using petty methods, how about making a proper apology?”

“...What would you have me do?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Stand at the summit of the orthodox martial world.”

“W-what?!”

“Become the greatest giant under heaven who sways the orthodox paths. On the day you subdue the orthodox martial world, I will forgive you.”