Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 13. The Four Gods Activate (3)

When Jegal Ayeon and Jegal Jun (Zhuge Jun) arrived near the backyard of Choseong Roo.

Boom! Ka-ah-ah!

The heavy sound that shook the air, the sound of metal and metal clashing and resonating, filled the backyard.

“Kruk!”

A stifled groan escaped. A short sound that showed the will to somehow endure.

“Hey! Your lower body is empty!”

“Eek!”

Yang Heum, who had bandages all over his body, quickly lifted his left foot.

But the heavy iron rod was aimed at his abdomen, not his lower body.

Thud!

“Kuk!”

Yang Heum, who groaned, staggered and soon collapsed. He tried to endure, but his legs gave way to the shock that spread throughout his abdomen.

“Hmm.”

A satisfaction that no one had seen appeared on Yeon Hojeong’s face.

‘I was right.’

A faint mist rose from the hand holding the iron rod.

‘My family’s heart method would make me stronger.’

He had learned the martial arts of the Yeon Family since he was young. But after his family was exterminated, he met his master, learned new martial arts and glimpsed into a new world.

That is, there was a separate internal energy heart method that gave him the reputation of Heukamje. But he boldly decided to learn the martial arts of the Yeon Family.

Yeon Hojeong recalled his master’s words.

‘In fact, if your level was good when I met you, I wouldn’t have passed on Hongcheonki (Hong Tianqi). You can draw out the true power of Sasinmu (Four Gods Martial Arts), but you can’t see beyond that. Of course, Hongcheonki and Sasinmu would be enough to make a generation rich.’

Hongcheonki was a heart method that excluded enlightenment, focusing only on the enhancement of internal energy. It was the best heart method for those who entered martial arts at a late age.

But there were many heart methods in the world that surpassed Hongcheonki.

Of course, the divine arts of the Yeon Family were also higher than those of Hongcheonki. Especially, the highest divine art (divine skill) of the Yeon Family, which could only be achieved by learning the five divine arts to the extreme, was said to be a heart method that would make a mark on the martial arts history.

The reason why Yeon Hojeong memorized all the formulas of the five divine arts for Yeonwi was because of that. He had to touch it whenever he was ready.

‘It’s better than Hongcheonki.’

He could tell that Byeokrajin-gyeol was better than Hongcheonki just by looking at the amplification of the force.

‘If I achieve more, I can learn Sasinmu (Four Gods Martial Arts) right away.’

He relaxed his posture with satisfaction, and Yang Heum’s voice reached his ears.

“This, this trick…”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“Trick? That’s annoying.”

Yang Heum, who got up holding his stomach, couldn’t even hold his posture properly. It wasn’t fatal, but it was quite a shock.

“You said it was your lower body, didn’t you?”

Yeon Hojeong was incredulous.

“Do you have to attack only the lower body because the lower body is empty?”

“Ha, but!”

“If I had put the force on the iron rod, you wouldn’t have been able to get up like that. Are you going to argue that it’s unfair even after you die?”

Yang Heum bit his lip.

He knew what Yeon Hojeong was saying. In fact, it was not something to say as a Changyeongdae member to belittle it as a trick.

But he was angry. From yesterday to today, he had lost to Yeon Hojeong in all twenty-three fights.

Yang Heum couldn’t believe it.

The skill of the great master Yeon Hojeong, was already known to everyone in the Yeon Family. He had recently won against the daughter of Namgung Family, but the martial artists of Yeon Family didn’t think it was a fair fight.

He couldn’t even win once against such a great master? It was unbelievable, considering the quantity and quality of his internal energy.

“Well, anyway, it was fun. Thanks to you, I learned how to swing people around for sure.”

It was a remark that ate away at the opponent’s pride.

When Yang Heum was about to shout to fight again,

“Yang Heum.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“Retreat.”

Yang Heum clenched his teeth and bowed his head.

“Thank you for your teaching, great master.”

“Me too.”

Yeon Hojeong looked at his mentor.

“I need to wash up. Take care of the back.”

His mentor’s eyes sparkled.

“Did you know?”

“What else would I not know?”

“…I understand. Rest well.”

“Uh, thank you.”

With that, Yeon Hojeong walked to his quarters.

On the side, Yeon Jipyung, who was watching the fight, followed him.

“Brother! Brother! You’re amazing!”

“What?”

“How can you not lose a single match against a Changyeongdae member? You’re amazing! And when did you train that staff technique?”

“When you were playing.”

“Hey!”

The brothers went into their quarters, bickering.

The mentor, who had been watching them until they disappeared, turned his head.

“You two, come out.”

Swoosh.

The Jegal siblings appeared with sheepish faces.

The mentor said in a cold voice,

“You look like descendants of a famous martial arts family, but don’t you know that it’s rude to peek at other people’s training and fighting?”

Jegal Jun bowed his head politely.

“I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and stared blankly. It’s a mistake that has no excuse. I apologize.”

It was an apology without any excuses.

Regardless of right or wrong, the mentor admired Jegal Jun’s appearance. He was much younger than the great master, but his behavior was very mature.

He was calm, even while apologizing sincerely. The mentor felt that his guard against the other party had faded considerably.

He was about to open his mouth.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Jegal Jun twisted.

“Hey, you rice bucket!”

“Ah, why are you doing this again!”

“Do you know who he is?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Wow, are you really a Jegal? How are you going to lead the three families with that head? I remember him as soon as I see him.”

“…Huh?”

Jegal Ayeon, who had coughed a few times, greeted the mentor nicely.

“Long time no see, great master.”

The mentor’s eyes widened.

“Jegal? Then you guys are…?”

“Hehe, it’s been five years, right? We met in Hobuk.”

“Ah!”

Surprisingly, the mentor had met the Jegal siblings before.

Five years ago, there was a villain who committed all kinds of crimes in Hobuk. He was a man who was skilled in martial arts and acted boldly, and no one could catch him.

It was the Jegal family who executed him, and the mentor joined them in the martial arts journey somehow. The mentor made a connection with the Jegal family then.

Jegal Jun also seemed to remember and looked at the mentor in surprise.

“Huh! The great master of the Mad Wind Sword?!”

The mentor coughed.

“Don’t mention that embarrassing nickname.”

“Then the person who used that staff technique was?”

“He’s the great master of the Yeon Family.”

“Ah!”

Jegal Jun looked at the quarters where the Yeon brothers had entered with a new face.

The name of the Byeoksan Yeon Family was hot even among the seven great families. It was inevitable, as they had risen to the top of the martial arts world in less than fifty years.

Jegal Ayeon asked with a smile.

“I heard that you became a vassal of the Yeon Family. Byeoksan Yeon Family is a martial arts family that everyone admires. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Although they had only spent a few days together and met again after five years, there was no awkwardness between the mentor and the Jegal siblings.

That’s how the life of the martial arts world is. It’s helpful to get along well, even with shallow ties. The mentor, as well as the Jegal siblings, were well aware of that.

“Are you here to participate in the late-season meeting?”

“Yes!”

“Yeah, the kids from back then have grown up so much.”

Jegal Ayeon whispered with a wicked face.

“Do you have time? It’s a coincidence that we met, how about a drink?”

“Sis, sis!”

The mentor smiled and shook his head.

“Well, I have a connection with you, but now I’m only the leader of Changyeongdae of the Yeon Family. I have to protect this place, so let’s drink later.”

“Heh, then how about this? Why don’t you go to Habee with us, great master?”

“That’s right.”

“Come with us!”

“With you?”

“Yes! Anyway, the Yeon brothers will also participate in the meeting, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

The mentor glanced at the quarters of Yeon Hojeong.

“I’ll have to ask the great master first.”

“Hehe, okay!”

“By the way, did you come alone? What about the escort?”

Jegal Ayeon grumbled.

“Well, that stubborn old man…”

Suddenly, Jegal Jun covered Jegal Ayeon’s mouth from behind.

“Ahahaha! Great master! Then we’ll see you again tonight! It was nice to see you, great master!”

“Ugh!”

“Let’s go! Let’s go, sis!”

“Puhah! You, you bastard, you touched my mouth with your dirty hands…!”

“Ah, come on!”

Jegal Jun dragged Jegal Ayeon away in a hurry. He seemed to be in a hurry, as he even used his internal energy to pull him.

The mentor shook his head as he watched the siblings disappear in an instant.

“They’ve grown up very lively.”

* * *

“Then I’ll tell him that.”

“Okay.”

The mentor left and Yeon Jipyung scratched his head.

“Are you really okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… going with the Jegal siblings.”

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“What’s wrong with that? We’re going to see them at the meeting place anyway.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Besides, we have a connection with the great master Shin, right? That means there’s less risk of getting stabbed in the back. It’s not much left, but it’s better to have one more master with us.”

“Hey, brother. They’re the children of the Jegal family. Of course they won’t stab us in the back.”

“The rotten woman of the Namgung family was the daughter of a crumbling house, so she acted like that.”

“…That’s not it, though.”

“This is the martial arts world. There are murderers in the alleys and saints in the back streets. You should get rid of that fixed idea quickly.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Jipyung looked down with a deflated expression.

Yeon Hojeong messed up his hair.

“Ow!”

“I’m just saying, kid. You go and rest too.”

“Huh? Aren’t you eating, brother? It’s time for dinner.”

“I’ll eat after a rest. My arms and legs are sore. If I can’t get up, just eat first.”

“Ah!”

He was tired from fighting all morning without resting.

Yeon Jipyung got up with an apologetic face.

“Rest well. I’ll be back later.”

“Yeah.”

That’s how Yeon Jipyung left the room.

Yeon Hojeong’s face, which was full of smiles, gradually cooled down.

“Jegal?”

He felt the energy of the Jegal siblings while he was fighting.

‘They’re different. The nature of the true energy, and the way of using the internal energy.’

He saw the nature of the true energy when he noticed their existence, and he felt the way of using the internal energy when Jegal Jun dragged Jegal Ayeon away.

‘They’re definitely different from the attackers. But… I’ll have to check them out on the way to Habee.’

He hated the hassle, so he allowed the Jegal siblings to join him for this reason. He was quick-witted and had a keen sense, but he tried to analyze more now, not just relying on his intuition.

‘I wish I could see their martial arts properly.’

Yeon Hojeong’s wish came true sooner than he thought.

That night, when Choseong Roo was bustling with many guests.

Crash!

One of the outer doors of Choseong Roo collapsed.

“You damn Yeon bastards! I wondered where you went, but you were hiding here! Come out right now!”