Yeon Wi, who had returned to his residence to rest, saw Mookbi staggering out into the courtyard.

Yeon Wi’s eyes widened.

“Daughter-in-law.”

“Ghk! Ah—Father, you’re back?”

“Yes. But...?”

Sssht.

In an instant, Yeon Wi appeared in front of Mookbi.

He seized her wrist and checked her pulse. In that moment, Yeon Wi’s face turned cold.

“Who was it?”

“Huh?”

“Who did this to you? This internal injury is nowhere near ordinary.”

“Ah, this is...”

Mookbi stumbled through an explanation of what happened.

Yeon Wi clicked his tongue.

“You did a recklessly dangerous kind of training.”

“I-I did?”

“You forced your true energy to reverse and even twisted your established breathing method to attempt an attack... It’s easy to say, but it’s never easy to load your very soul into a single strike meant for a Certain Kill.”

It wasn’t just “not easy.” In everyday life—where it was hard to feel danger instinctively—it was practically impossible.

“Your concentration is truly remarkable.”

A master stabilizes internal energy through their own breathing and optimizes the body’s movements.

In other words: Mind–Qi–Body Unity. That could be seen as the preparatory step toward complete resonance of Essence–Qi–Spirit.

She had forcibly warped that structure to implement an extreme martial technique, so it wasn’t strange that her body had been damaged. If Mookbi’s realm had been higher, it would’ve been even more dangerous than this.

Of course, if her realm rose, she wouldn’t need to train like that in the first place.

“What did you say the heart method at the root of your internal energy was?”

“The Living Bow Steel-String Method.”

“Right. I heard that heart method is thoroughly centered on Dynamic Training.”

“Yes.”

Mookbi shifted one step with an awkward face.

“So I came out to circulate my energy, too.”

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“That’s not good.”

“What?”

“Maybe you used to do that, but when you’ve suffered internal injury, Dynamic Training can’t be called efficient. Haven’t you learned any heart method that allows Seated Training?”

“Ah! I learned one.”

Vast Heaven Qi.

Because it focused on explosive internal-energy amplification, it was naturally also good at controlling increased internal energy. As a supporting heart method for the Living Bow Steel-String Method, it was the perfect fit.

“Good. Then use Seated Training to manage the internal injury. I’ll call my Therapist.”

“Ghk! Th-that’s not necessary...”

“You mustn’t take internal injury lightly. Especially for martial artists like Hojeong and you—people who are likely to be deployed in real combat—you need to be even more careful.”

Beneath the strict tone, subtle worry and warmth seeped through.

...

Why was it?

Was it because she’d never suffered internal injury this severe before? Was that why her emotions felt unsettled for no reason?

A question she would normally never ask slipped out before she could stop it.

“Father.”

“What is it?”

With a confused expression, Mookbi asked,

“Why are you so good to me?”

It was a bold question.

Yeon Wi answered with an expression that said she was being oddly formal about it.

“Aren’t you my son’s friend? Like I told you before—this was the first time Hojeong ever brought a friend home.”

That was exactly what confused Mookbi.

She knew enough about the world now—especially about the world of the martial arts. In this world, trusting someone “for no reason” was as dangerous as anything.

Yet he treated her this well just because she was his son’s friend.

Yeon Wi was the Clan Lord of the Yeon Clan—counted among the pillars of the great clans. That such a man would treat her well for such a romantic reason sat badly in her gut.

“What if I’m a spy? Like the one the Mo Yong Clan sent before...”

Yeon Wi smiled.

It felt like he was getting used to smiling more and more. Seeing Yeon Wi’s smile, Mookbi felt her heart warm.

“What spy in the world is as sloppy as you?”

“...Ugh.”

“Do you know what I learned while rooting out the Mo Yong Clan’s spy together with Hojeong?”

“...”

“That sincerity can’t be trained into someone.”

Mookbi’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Wi shook his head.

“The reason it’s hard to root out spies is because people don’t intend to read sincerity. At least, that’s what I think.”

“...”

“You find me difficult, don’t you?”

“Huh? Ah—th-that’s...”

“I know why. But I have no desire to make you uncomfortable. And I have no intention of pleading for that feeling from you, or forcing it onto you.”

“...!”

“Won’t the day come, eventually, when you understand the sincerity of the one you call ‘Father’?”

Mookbi felt her throat tighten for no reason.

“I... trust you, Father.”

“Yes. That’s enough.”

He called her his son’s friend, but Yeon Wi had already begun to see Mookbi as a daughter. He only had two sons—but more than that, he liked Mookbi’s character.

Mookbi was pure. She’d lost a fair amount of that purity as she went through the world, but her nature itself was gentle. In some ways, that gentleness was even more striking than his second son’s.

“More importantly—where is Hojeong?”

“Ah! Young Master Yeon had an appointment, so he stepped out for a bit.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

He was, after all, the head leading an Independent Field Force. He was in a position where he’d inevitably have this and that appointment.

“For now, circulate your energy first. At your level, in three or four days, you won’t have much trouble using martial arts.”

“Yes!”

That was when—

“Excuse me.”

Yeon Wi turned his head. Someone had come to the Army-Breaking Pavilion.

“Who is it?”

“A delivery has arrived under the name Yeon Hojeong of the Yeon Clan of Green Mountain, to the Army-Breaking Pavilion in the ALLIANCE OF THE MARTIAL WORLD’s inner fortress.”

“A delivery?”

“Yes. It’s an item from Jiangsu Province.”

What is it?

Yeon Wi opened the front gate. A warrior set down one large box.

“I’ve delivered it, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Good work.”

Yeon Wi lifted the box and gave it a shake.

Rrk. Chrrring.

The sound of the box scraping—and the clinking of small metal pieces striking each other.

Yeon Wi tilted his head, puzzled.

What was this? It seemed to be made of metal, but it didn’t feel like a saber or sword.

Then Mookbi’s eyes lit up.

“Could that be...?”

“Hm?”

“Could it be something Grandfather sent?”

“Grandfather?”

“Ah—Divine Craftsman Pyeon.”

Yeon Wi’s eyes brightened.

A strange excitement rose on Mookbi’s face.

“I think Young Master Yeon’s item is finished.”

*****

It’s been a while.

His chest burned hot, but his head was strangely cold.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a bastard like this.

A man who’d tell the Tang Clan’s master his hospitality was stingy, demand liquor, and throw his weight around like that—truly, it had been a long time.

No—calling it “a long time” might be too generous. It wouldn’t be wrong to say it was the first.

Everyone Dang Gwan faced trembled, anxious and afraid, because they’d heard the Tang Clan of Sichuan’s name—its reputation as the most vicious under heaven.

Of course, nerve was nerve—and rudeness was rudeness.

Dang Gwan had no intention of forgiving Yeon Hojeong’s brazen attitude.

“Bring out liquor?”

“Wuliangye.”

“You’re thoroughly insane. You should be grateful I’m not killing you with one palm.”

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“Why are you so angry?”

“What did you just say?”

“If anyone has reason to be angry, it’s me. No matter how old you are, you seem to be taking people too lightly.”

It was an absurd thing to say.

Killing intent gathered in Dang Gwan’s eyes.

“You can hear the reason after you go to the underworld.”

Tsss.

Yeon Hojeong looked at Dang Gwan’s left hand.

The energy creeping up from it was impressive beyond words. Even before Poison Aura, the density of his internal energy itself was overwhelming.

With internal energy like that, he was nearly on par with Mo Yonggun. He wasn’t “the master of Sichuan” for nothing.

Same as ever.

He wasn’t talking about Dang Gwan’s temperament.

He was talking about how Dang Gwan began his martial arts.

“Is that the Forbidden Gaze Hundred Poisons Hand?”

Dang Gwan’s brow twitched.

He stared at Yeon Hojeong for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“You know this martial art?”

“Forbidden Gaze Hundred Poisons Hand cripples combat power, then you bind the target with the Iron Net Divine Web’s hidden-weapon technique, and cut the life with Life-Severing Palm.”

“...!!”

“And you chose the Three Strikes chain—so you must think I’m not an easy opponent. If you thought I was easy, you would’ve tried to end it in one blow with Ten Refined Poison Palms. Isn’t that right?”

Shock fell over Dang Gwan’s face. He was so stunned he didn’t even notice that Yeon Hojeong’s tone had subtly changed.

“You...?!”

“You’re wondering how I know your habit of implementing martial arts?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled, sticky and cold.

“Then you should’ve educated your son’s mind properly.”

“What?!”

“He was terrified out of his mind and babbled on about things I didn’t even ask.”

“...!!”

“I smashed your son to that state, so I figured I’d clash with you at least once someday. Good thing I memorized it.”

Dang Gwan’s gaze shook.

“Yangseon told you?”

“Who else would’ve told me?”

“That’s nonsense! Yangseon would never tell you that!”

“Believe it or don’t. That’s your choice. What matters is that I’m a guest, isn’t it?”

At some point, Yeon Hojeong had righted a fallen chair and sat down.

Dang Gwan stared at him with a face stained by shock—then a chill smile spread across his lips. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

“You’re lying.”

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“What an interesting man. Are you thinking I watched you?”

“...”

“Anyway, when are you going to serve the liquor?”

Confusion settled over Dang Gwan’s face.

Could it really be true?

He looked at Yeon Hojeong’s face again.

...!

Unbelievably, Dang Gwan couldn’t read Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.

People might point fingers at him for being narrow and vicious, but he ruled the Tang Clan—judged the most dangerous in the martial world. His instincts were no worse than any hardened veteran of the rivers and lakes.

Yet even to him, it didn’t show.

The other man’s true heart.

The ability to separate truth from lies at a glance—didn’t work on Yeon Hojeong.

Dang Gwan spoke.

“...Truly. Yangseon told you?”

“Is that really what matters right now?”

“Shut up! Answer my question clearly!”

“Why would I?”

“...?”

“I came to hold you to account. I didn’t come here to be interrogated.”

Yeon Hojeong muttered low.

“That idiot Tang Yangseon tried to turn the tables on me, too—are Tang men all like this?”

Dang Gwan was dumbfounded.

“You... have you truly lost fear?”

“No.”

“Then how dare you show that kind of insolent attitude in ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) front of me—!”

“And who are you?”

“...?!”

“You seem to think you’re incredibly great, but that’s arrogance. Someone truly great knows how to look at themselves coldly.”

Words that flipped his insides over.

At this point, behind the anger swelling as if it might burst, admiration surfaced. Aside from his father, there had never been a single person who provoked his temper this far.

Sssssk.

The killing intent spreading from Dang Gwan’s body thickened exponentially.

“One thing’s clear now.”

“Hm?”

Mo Yonggun misjudged you. If you’re annoying, you just kill and be done with it—so I don’t know why he’d praise you by calling you a monster.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled coldly.

“Mo Yonggun is smarter than you. He knows how to worry about the backlash.”

Dang Gwan smiled just as coldly.

“Or maybe it’s because his Poison Aura is weak.”

“You look like a man who doesn’t think.”

“You already have more than enough reasons to die—there’s no need to be so impatient about adding more.”

“That’s funny. I’ve got a move that can ruin you, too. Want to hear it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous—”

“Why did you do it?”

“What?”

FWOOSH!

Yeon Hojeong’s pupils burned red.

“Why did you use the Crimson Demon Society to try to kill us, you bastard?”