TUUUUNG!

It was a single step with unusual force poured into it. With a stride nearly at true-advance, his body shot out more than seven jang.

Though force was loaded into that one step, his movement looked astonishingly supple. Even with the Mad Dragon Axe—over eighty cattie—slung on his shoulder, he ran as lightly as a cat.

As expected!

His speed had grown far faster than before, while his inner-force consumption had dropped to one-third.

Training body methods in a specialized way had clearly boosted efficiency. If he someday perfected Heaven-Bestowed Transit Flight, he was already eager to see how far he could go in a single breath.

Running along at a crisp clip, Yeon Hojeong suddenly spotted a boulder sitting in the middle of a mountain path far ahead.

FWAAAK!

He seemed to glide, then in the next moment slipped onto the mountain path. It was exquisite body control.

Yeon Hojeong swung the Mad Dragon Axe.

KWAANG!

With a loud crash, the boulder rolled to the side.

He had slammed with the broad face of the axe, but he had also pulled up White Tiger Qi with ten-tenths of his gong power for that strike. Normally, it should have split rather than roll.

Yet the rock didn’t shatter; it rolled. That meant his inner-force control was superb.

I need to tune it a little more.

He caught the hairline fractures tracing the rolling face of the rock. He’d thought he’d pushed it cleanly; the shock had left a remnant.

It’s because of the Mad Dragon.

When a divine weapon on the level of the Mad Dragon Axe receives a martialist’s inner force, it naturally draws out power beyond the wielder’s base.

Of course the might would surpass what it had been when he wielded an iron axe. Besides, the strength Yeon Hojeong now carried wasn’t the same as back then.

I have to refine myself until I can control even the weapon’s own power at will. I’m still a long way off.

Power you cannot completely command is not true strength.

That was why Yeon Hojeong had taken up an eighty-cattie axe, and why he swung an Iron Cable whose very use in forms was difficult.

If he could freely handle those two instrument-weapons, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’d established the highest realm in external arts.

Iron Cable, huh.

Thinking of the Iron Cable brought his conversation with Master Artisan Pyeon to mind.

“I couldn’t find any Iron Cable worth your use. Even a cable forged hard—if you hang the Mad Dragon on it, it’ll break quickly. Your inner force is what it is, too.”

“Is that so.”

“So I even thought of making one myself, but I had to give it up. It’s certain that would take longer than crafting the Mad Dragon.”

“It’s fine. The Mad Dragon is more than enough.”

“No, that won’t do. I didn’t make an axe for you to swing. I made the weapon of the martial man named Yeon Hojeong. In that case, I have to take responsibility all the way to the Iron Cable.”

“Tch.”

“Fortunately, someone I know managed to obtain Soft-Form Ghost Iron.”

“Pardon?”

“You haven’t heard of it, have you? Soft-Form Ghost Iron [N O V E L I G H T] is the most uncanny iron among all the irons scattered across the world. The metal energy it holds is so dense that when you run inner force through it, its shape changes. It can lengthen and shorten.”

“...Such an iron exists?”

“I couldn’t believe it either—until I saw it with my own eyes.”

“The world truly has wondrous things.”

“In any case, that person owes me a favor, so I’ll be getting a little Soft-Form Ghost Iron. I’ll combine it with other iron and make you an Iron Cable.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“A generous man indeed.”

A person who made weapons his life’s work.

He had received a great favor. The man had said making a good weapon for a good martialist was a great joy, and he wouldn’t even take money. That made Yeon all the more apologetic and grateful. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

I should buy a thank-you gift to bring back.

With that vow deep in his heart, he picked up speed.

FWAAAAAANG!

To cleave the air at high speed—there was nothing so exhilarating.

Advancing while interleaving body-method training, he soon saw Hangzhou. And there, too, was the famed, most spacious and splendid Lake Delicacies Grand Joy Pavilion.

TUUUNG!

In just two steps, Yeon Hojeong vaulted over the wall.

He cleared that high wall far too easily. Before learning the body method, he would have had to kick off five or six times.

“Hoo. Running around hard all day has worn me out.”

Today, he was absolutely going to eat something delicious in abundance and get a deep rest.

He entered their lodging and moved to knock on Mookbi’s door—then paused.

Hm?

Focusing his sense of qi, he felt no trace of a person inside the room.

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“What, that rascal? Already went to eat?”

Well, the sun was already setting. They hadn’t had a proper meal for days; maybe she meant to eat a lot while she had the chance.

Grrrrk.

Yeon rubbed his belly.

“How petty. Could’ve waited a little so we could eat together.”

It was a ridiculous thing to say. How would she know when he’d return and wait to eat with him?

Grumbling, Yeon Hojeong went up to the very top floor.

There she is.

He hadn’t even reached the top before he spotted Mookbi at once.

Though he treated her like one of the guys, objectively Mookbi was a beautiful woman. A face that would draw eyes wherever she went.

Yeon Hojeong smiled and started to raise a hand—then halted.

“Why don’t you hurry up and apologize!”

“Unbelievably ill-mannered. What lowly household could produce that?”

“Hey. Standing there gaping won’t solve anything, will it?”

In front of Mookbi, a dozen or so men and women had gathered.

Some were knitting their brows, some were openly venting anger, some wore faces full of contempt.

Amazingly, every one of them was glaring at Mookbi. And Mookbi, looking somewhat at a loss, was edging back.

A young man at the head of the group smirked.

“Why aren’t you answering? If you’ve committed a wrong, shouldn’t you at least apologize?”

Mookbi stammered.

“I did apologize.”

“Apologize? That was an apology? Just one word—‘sorry’—and that’s it?”

The youth, Ha Seok, tilted his chin up, arrogant.

“If you’ve committed a grave offense, you kneel and press your head to the floor. That’s what counts as an apology.”

Discomfiture tinged Mookbi’s face.

She had grown up in Sun-Piercing Valley, a closed group. She’d learned basic propriety, but she had lived severed from society, and had spent most of her childhood shooting the bow alone, without friends.

When conflict actually broke out, it was only natural her mind would go blank. That was an issue separate from the strength of martial skill.

“You want me to bow?”

“Why? Does that hurt your pride? If you’ve injured someone, you ought to bear a responsibility fitting the act. You don’t even know that?”

Mookbi’s neck flushed red.

“Injured? And besides, they were the one who was rude first.”

“Rude... so you really are a crazy bitch.”

It was a fairly vulgar slur.

Even for Mookbi, this was a situation impossible not to anger her. Face flushed, she said,

“I apologized even though I didn’t have anything to apologize for. Shouldn’t you be the ones apologizing to me instead?”

If it were anything else, she would usually step away first. It showed just how wronged Mookbi felt.

Ha Seok snorted.

“I don’t care to keep bickering with something so base. Kneel right now and apologize to Miss Dong. If you don’t like that, then hand over something of equal value.”

“...What did you say?”

“We are heirs of the greatest houses of Zhejiang. We’re not people a half-baked martial drifter like you can treat however you please. The only reason we’ve held back is your party’s status.”

Mookbi’s face hardened.

By “party,” he meant Yeon Hojeong. Which also meant they knew of Yeon Hojeong.

“But since you’re the one who did wrong, naturally you must take responsibility yourself, no?”

“That’s only right. But...”

“If you so hate to apologize, then lick Miss Dong’s foot. That would be proper manners.”

At Ha Seok’s words, the men and women with him burst into loud laughter.

Mookbi was dumbfounded.

Even a woman with little experience of the world could tell this situation wasn’t normal.

The atmosphere around them was peculiar, especially.

They’re avoiding it.

There were about twenty people dining on the top floor.

Amazingly, not one of them stepped in. A few seemed to have no interest at all, but most were deliberately pretending not to notice.

So this is the martial world?

She was angry, and more than angry, she felt disappointed.

At the same time, she grew cautious.

Young Master Yeon.

These people knew Yeon Hojeong. If there was any sort of connection between them and Yeon Hojeong, she absolutely could not act.

Even if not, she couldn’t cause a scene. Though she had never shown it outwardly, she regarded Yeon Hojeong as a benefactor.

Whatever happened, she must not become a burden to her benefactor. That was the code she knew.

“In that case...”

Ha Seok was about to open his mouth again when—

“Young Master Ha.”

The dozen men and women turned to the side.

At a table by a window a fair distance away, Mo Yong Yeonhwa was sipping tea.

“That young lady may be quite at fault, but you’ve been a bit too mischievous as well, Young Master Ha.”

“R—really? Hahaha!”

Ha Seok scratched his head awkwardly.

He had been so overbearing before Mookbi, yet he was remarkably cautious before Mo Yong Yeonhwa. It laid bare the clear pecking order of strength.

“Even if the other side is much at fault, it would be a pity for your reputations to be blemished by getting tangled in something like this, wouldn’t it? I think it best to let it rest here.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa looked past Ha Seok to the girl behind him, Dong Sobang.

“How about you, little Sister Sobang? Is it fine?”

Dong Sobang thrust out her lower lip.

She rubbed the back of her hand.

“It still hurts a bit... but whatever, it’s fine. Let’s say I got bitten by a dog.”

“You’re mischievous too. Even so, thank you for thinking that way.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa turned to Mookbi.

“They must have been terribly startled. As you can see, they’re scions of Zhejiang’s great houses, not used to vulgar quarrels.”

“...”

“You must be quite startled as well; I’ll apologize on their behalf.”

Mookbi looked at Mo Yong Yeonhwa in silence.

Ha Seok clicked his tongue.

“Truly a woman with not a shred of manners.”

“Young Master Ha.”

“But this is too much. She ought to at least offer proper thanks to Miss Mo Yong.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa smiled and said,

“It seems she also isn’t used to vulgar quarrels. Please understand.”

“Ahem!”

Then Mookbi opened her mouth.

“Is it normally like this?”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s face showed puzzlement.

“Are you speaking to me?”

“Yes.”

“What did you ask?”

“I asked, is it normally like this.”

“What is?”

“The martial world— is it normally this petty?”

For a moment, a killing edge flashed in Ha Seok’s eyes.

“You bitch!”

“Young Master Ha.”

At Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s voice, Ha Seok closed his mouth. But he was breathing hard, clearly furious.

The men and women who rose with him were the same. Their eyes toward Mookbi looked to carry blades.

Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s voice turned a shade more serious.

“That’s a dangerous remark. As I said, these are scions of Zhejiang’s great houses. But if you want an answer...”

“...”

“Well now? I don’t think this is petty. If you had sincerely apologized, would they have gotten this angry?”

“I did apologize sincerely.”

“Apologies are not only words and expressions. At times there’s also a posture that must suit status.”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa ended with a smile.

“You seemed unaware of the ways of the world, so I didn’t let this get bigger. But keep this in mind— if they had decided to blow this up, it could have grown without end.”

“...”

“I hope that answers you sufficiently. Now, please finish your meal.”

Just then—

“Is there any need for that?”

Mo Yong Yeonhwa’s face hardened.

Mookbi turned her head toward the voice. Yeon Hojeong was there.

Yeon Hojeong spoke in an even tone.

“If something’s blown up, you see it through to the end—why cut it off in the middle? Go on, make it bigger.”