Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 32. Conviction (2)

Namgung Hyun’s body stiffened. So did the audience.

Namgung Hyun had lost face greatly by confessing his mistake. It would be hard for him to show his face for a while.

But if Yeon Hojeong did not accept his apology, the matter would get serious. From now on, it would be a matter of pride rather than face.

Yeon Hojeong smiled faintly.

His smile looked very bright.

“As you know, I am a person who likes martial arts.”

What was this out of the blue?

“It was good that you confessed your mistake, but the ending was too dry, wasn’t it?”

Myung Horim’s eyes shook.

“…Don’t tell me, you want to have a duel with Namgung’s brother too?”

Under the cold silence, the sound of swallowing saliva was heard.

No one here had not seen Yeon Hojeong’s skill.

Yeon Hojeong’s martial arts were strong. Not just at the level of late-stage masters, but he was a master who could compete in the martial world.

If his spear tip pointed at Namgung Hyun, Namgung Hyun would not be safe. What would happen then?

War. The Namgung clan would never let this go.

Yeon Hojeong chuckled.

“The duel with Chuseong was a contest of pride between martial artists. But since Namgung’s son has apologized, I don’t want to make a big deal anymore.”

“Then?”

Yeon Hojeong looked around.

“As you all know, the late-stage masters’ meeting is more like a friendship than a meeting, isn’t it?”

“So?”

“It’s good to share friendship over a drink, but there’s nothing better than exchanging hands to truly get to know each other.”

“…!”

“Whatever it is, you need exchange and self-reflection to grow. Martial arts are the same. If you want to make friends, let’s do it like martial artists.”

Boom!

Yeon Hojeong casually threw a spear.

Surprisingly, the target was Yeon Jipyung.

Clang!

Yeon Jipyung skillfully caught the spear.

Everyone’s face was amazed.

Yeon Jipyung was the youngest in this gathering. But he caught the flying spear without any trouble.

Yeon Hojeong came down from the martial arts stage.

“Peng Sohyup.”

“Huh? What? Me, me?”

“My brother’s talent is the best in our clan. But he is still young, that’s also true. Will you give him some guidance?”

“Uh?”

Yeon Hojeong looked at Yeon Jipyung.

Yeon Jipyung was also nervous. But when he saw his brother’s eyes, he smiled.

‘Brother, you’re really like a snake.’

‘Good is good. Since it’s come to this, learn a lot.’

Yeon Jipyung bowed politely to Peng Daeho.

“I am Yeon Jipyung of the Byeoksan Yeon clan. Can I ask for some guidance from Peng hyung?”

With a dumbfounded face, Peng Daeho looked at Yeon Hojeong and Yeon Jipyung and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! I’m all in! Are all Yeon clan people like this?”

“I’m the only odd one. If my father finds out about this, he won’t leave me alone.”

“Hahaha! Good! I was itching for a fight thanks to Yeon hyung!”

“Please be gentle.”

“Gentle? Seeing your brother’s skill, I’ll be the one who gets hurt if I’m gentle!”

Peng Daeho turned his back and shouted.

“Hey! Manho!”

“What?”

“Don’t be embarrassed and just sit there, go and learn some from Yeon hyung!”

“…You saw Yeon hyung’s skill, right? I feel like I’ll get beaten like a dog.”

“Kid, that’s all learning!”

“Uh!”

Peng Manho walked sluggishly towards Yeon Hojeong.

“Please be gentle?”

“Let’s get hurt as much as we can learn.”

“Ah, damn.”

Yeon Hojeong looked around with a curious eye. People blinked their eyes.

Yeon Hojeong chuckled and dragged Peng Manho to the corner of the martial arts stage.

That was the end.

He turned his back without saying anything, and that stimulated the blood of the late-stage masters.

Rest if you want to rest; do whatever you want. He didn’t say anything like that, but Yeon Hojeong’s expression already said it all. And you call yourselves martial artists.

Their chests boiled. It was not anger, but fighting spirit.

Then, Myung Horim said.

“Come to think of it, Yeon’s son has a point.”

His voice broke the awkward atmosphere.

“Friendship is good, but we are martial artists, aren’t we? We stake our lives on a sword. Come to think of it, this opportunity is not common.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed as he walked away.

Whether he knew it or not, Myung Horim continued in a cheerful tone.

“Well, who wants to try the martial arts of the Myung clan?”

Then, Mo Yongyeonhwa stepped forward.

“I’ve been curious about the martial arts of the Myung clan for a long time. Can I try it this time?”

“It’s an honor for me.”

The atmosphere heated up.

Starting with the Yeon brothers and the Peng brothers, Myung Horim and Mo Yongyeonhwa also joined, and the other late-stage masters also started to look around.

They were already excited after seeing the thrilling fight between Yeon Hojeong and Chu Seong. They felt sorry for this heated feeling if they just stayed still.

“Huh! Well, it’s a bit sudden, but…”

“What can we do? Everyone says so. And I was itching for a fight anyway. I’ve been resting too much for a few days.”

“Right? I’ve never rested this long when I was in the clan.”

“Jegal Sojeo! Let’s have a go!”

“Hey, Jegal Sojeo is with me…”

“Mo Yong clan’s kid. Do you want to learn something from this sister?”

“I’m not a kid, okay? But are you strong, sister?”

The silent courtyard gradually regained its vitality.

At first it was awkward, but that was only for a moment. People who were embarrassed to step forward also stopped thinking when the stage was set and the atmosphere heated up.

Soon, the whole courtyard became a training ground for the late-stage masters.

They exchanged hands seriously with each other, and those who had no partner practiced their inner strength with cloud movement technique. And when they felt they had learned enough, they switched partners and had duels.

As if a spark had burned the whole mountain, the whole field was filled with the sound of energy and explosions.

Gadeuk Sang looked at Yeon Hojeong with a strange face.

Yeon Hojeong was facing Peng Manho in the corner of the martial arts stage. His expression and gestures seemed to be sincere.

“What a strange person.”

The late-stage masters and the guards seemed to have forgotten what had happened before. They didn’t care about the fierce battle anymore.

‘I wonder if he has something he wants…’

Gadeuk Sang scratched his head.

‘Huh! He’s swaying the mood of all these people by himself?’

He was not an ordinary person. He was excellent in martial arts and eloquence, as well as in leading the atmosphere to his liking.

But he didn’t hate it. He didn’t force the other person, but he guided them to act on their own.

“Hello.”

“Huh?”

Gadeuk Sang looked to the side.

Jegal Jun was there.

“I am Jegal Jun of the Jegal clan.”

“Ah! I know, I know.”

“Senior’s martial arts are amazing. If you don’t mind, can I ask for some guidance?”

Gadeuk Sang laughed without knowing.

It was not for any other reason. He was surprised by Jegal Jun’s proposal, and he also felt his hands itching. He was also swept away by this atmosphere.

Gadeuk Sang admitted that fact shamelessly.

“Good! Let’s have some fun!”

“Thank you!”

Everyone was passionately competing with each other’s martial arts.

Namgung Hyun was not there.

* * *

Bang!

Namgung Hyun, who had returned to his residence, punched through the wall.

“Huff huff!”

His face was red-hot, and his expression was twisted with anger.

“Damn it! Damn it!”

He couldn’t control his rage. Namgung Hyun punched the wall wildly.

“Aaah!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

He was so angry that he couldn’t even gather his inner power properly. His two fists were stained with blood in an instant.

‘What a humiliation.’

It was the first time in his life that he had suffered such a disgrace.

He grew up with a cold reason and a brilliant talent, receiving the evaluation that he would be the pillar of the Namgung family in the future. He had an elder brother who was the crown prince, but he never thought that his talent was inferior to his brother.

How much did his father trust him to entrust him with this matter? It was that much.

But what is this? He couldn’t even touch the nose of Yeon Hojeong, and he was humiliated in front of everyone.

This was not a normal thing. He stepped in to clean up the mess that Namgung Sanghwa had caused, but his actions were also very petty.

Now everyone was swept away by the atmosphere and was training, but when the training was over, anyone would tell this fact to the outside.

Namgung Hyun’s face turned even redder. He felt like his head was going to explode when he imagined people whispering behind his back.

“I’ll kill him…!”

He was so angry that he didn’t even like Namgung Sanghwa.

“Thunderbolt bastard! I told you not to cause trouble, but you made this situation worse? You dog-like!”

If it wasn’t for Namgung Sanghwa, he wouldn’t have had any reason to suffer this humiliation.

Yeon Hojeong didn’t bring up his younger brother for nothing. He used Namgung Sanghwa’s evil deeds as a pretext to blackmail him.

‘Crazy bastard!’

Yeon Hojeong was also a crazy guy. If he brought up that matter in front of everyone, his family would also suffer. The Namgung family would never forget this shame.

But his eyes were real. He really had the atmosphere of killing everyone.

So he intervened, and the result was the worst.

“I’ll kill him. I’ll definitely kill him!”

It was a voice full of killing intent.

The one who gave him the first humiliation in his life. Namgung Hyun sincerely wanted to kill Yeon Hojeong.

‘Why does Ayeon like that guy?’

He thought of the guy and Je Gal Ayeon came to his mind.

‘…!!’

Namgung Hyun could clearly see it. The disappointed look of Je Gal Ayeon towards him.

The burning anger swayed again.

Je Gal Ayeon shouldn’t have looked at him like that. He would rather have pitied him, but he shouldn’t have looked at him with those eyes.

“Damn it…!”

He didn’t like it.

He didn’t like anything. This situation, Yeon Hoeong, and even Jeal Ayeon.

Namgung Hyun shouted after breathing heavily for a while.

“Jingok!”

A moment later, a sword master entered. He was the oldest among the guards who came with Chuseong.

“Did you call me?”

“…”

“Your Highness?”

Namgung Hyun raised his head.

Jingok flinched when he saw his eyes.

“Where is that bastard getting treated right now?”

* * *

“I learned a lot!”

“Me too. You’re amazing, the martial arts of Penga. You deserve to be called the loser of Habuk.”

“Hahaha! I haven’t even mastered half of it yet. Please teach me again later!”

“Sure. But you… are you okay?”

“I have a sturdy body!”

“That bruise on your shoulder, did you get hit by an iron rod?”

“…Well, I’ll go ahead!”

Peng Daeho ran off to find someone else.

Myung Ho-rim took a deep breath.

‘It’s hard.’

His shoulder was sore after facing several different martial arts.

‘Did I finish them all?’

That’s when it happened.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Myung Ho-rim turned his head.

Yeon Hojeong, with an iron rod on his shoulder, was standing there with a cold face.

“You’re the last one.”