Chapter 199 – Head-on Breakthrough (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Pae-yul’s eyes widened.

“What is it, you guys?”

Ga Deuk-sang took a martial salute.

“We greet Martial Uncle.”

Following behind him, the three men and women also bowed their heads.

“……?”

Pae-yul was flustered.

It was surprising enough that they came with bloodstains all over their clothes, but what was up with this appearance of bowing so deeply their heads seemed to touch the ground?

‘Why am I your martial uncle?’

Those words almost burst out of his mouth without him realizing.

Pae-yul barely recalled Yeon Ho-jeong’s words before parting with the group.

‘We are descendants of the Martial Ancestor Sect. We are martial siblings, and you, Senior, will act as our martial uncle. We will set the mood, so you just need to play along.’

‘What kind of childish play is this?’

However, when actually called Martial Uncle, he felt a bit strange.

Pae-yul cleared his throat.

“You’ve arrived.”

His tone was full of awkwardness. Only then did the four people straighten their waists.

“But what’s with that blood?”

Ga Deuk-sang licked his lips.

“Some petty scoundrels were following us. The second one caught almost all of them, but as the remaining ones tried to escape, we scattered and caught them one by one.”

Who was the second one…?

Tang Sang-ah stepped forward sensibly.

“I’m sorry. If I had been more thorough, you wouldn’t have had to lift a finger.”

“Aho, Junior, don’t say that. Wasn’t it already very secretive? And who would have known that there would actually be guys following our trail.”

“By the way, who could it be?”

“I wonder? Seeing their pettiness, it seems like they might be from the White Path, but the White Path can’t exert any influence in this region.”

“Then it must be the Black Path.”

“Probably.”

Zhuge Ah-yeon-yeon slipped in and played the role of the immature youngest.

“But isn’t this going to become a problem for no reason? We’re on our way to meet people from the Black Path right now. What was the name? Yang…”

Yeon Ho-jeong immediately blocked Zhuge Ah-yeon’s mouth. Zhuge Ah-yeon pounded Yeon Ho-jeong’s shoulder as if she were suffocating.

Yeon Ho-jeong spoke calmly.

“It’s confidential, Junior.”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

“I told you before, didn’t I? Many people have been ruined because they moved their mouths wrongly. You also need to be a bit more serious… Keuk!”

Yeon Ho-jeong staggered. Zhuge Ah-yeon-yeon had struck his abdomen with her elbow.

Zhuge Ah-yeon-yeon spat.

“Where are you putting your hands when you haven’t even washed them!”

“Cough!”

“Huh? Are you okay?”

“I’m not okay, you punk!”

Pae-yul looked at the four men and women with hazy eyes.

These guys were having fun.

At times like this, an elder of the sect should step forward. Pae-yul said in a somewhat dignified voice.

“There are many eyes watching. Behave yourselves.”

“Heh!”

Pae-yul looked at Ga Deuk-sang with glaring eyes.

Ga Deuk-sang, who quickly wiped away his laughter, cleared his throat.

“I apologize. I choked on my saliva.”

“I’ll see you separately.”

“…Yes.”

Yeon Ho-jeong looked around.

‘This should be good enough.’

This tavern was quite large. Despite the late hour, quite a few people were sitting here and there, drinking alcohol.

Slide.

The Azure Dragon Qi flowed out from Yeon Ho-jeong’s fingertips.

Among the True Qis of the Four Gods, the Azure Dragon Qi was the most sensitive yet as soft as the Black Tortoise Qi, making it good for delicate work.

The invisible energy spread in all directions.

‘Are there nine?’

There were nine people in the large tavern who had learned internal energy.

It wasn’t a larger number than expected. But rather, this was normal.

Even though the Black Path had secretly taken control of the entire Hunan Province, this was a small city located at the western edge of Hunan.

Moreover, the Black Path had a thin layer of experts. This number could rather be considered many.

‘They’ll be going up step by step from the bottom.’

Yeon Ho-jeong suddenly looked at Tang Sang-ah.

Tang Sang-ah was having a conversation with Zhuge Ah-yeon-yeon, laughing as if something were very interesting. The heads of the two families were anxious to devour each other, but their children seemed as close as real sisters.

‘She has to play the role of the bait well.’

Yeon Ho-jeong had no doubt that her presence would make the group’s mission much easier and more efficient.

“Well, shall we have a meal too?”

That night.

Whooooong.

The energies of the four colors swirled around Yeon Ho-jeong, who had come out to the bamboo grove on the outside of the backyard and sat in a lotus position.

It was like looking at spirits. The four energies of black, white, red, and blue were wrapping around his body, shining brilliantly like fireflies.

It was a mysterious sight. It felt as if some will of Mother Nature was protecting him, rather than the energy coming from his body.

‘Good.’

Yeon Ho-jeong felt satisfied.

‘Finally, a balance has been achieved.’

After returning to the past, the first thing he had learned was the Black Tortoise Qi. Naturally, the concentration of the Black Tortoise Qi had been the highest.

However, the energies of the Four Gods grew and repeated control while being organically intertwined with each other. It was extremely natural considering the logic of Water producing Wood, and Wood producing Fire.

And when these four energies achieved balance in quality and quantity, from then on, the four energies would progress together gradually.

In the Martial Arts of the Four Gods, this state was called the state of ‘Jeongsik (貞式).’ it meant that all energies stood straight and were not biased toward one side.

‘With this, one stage has been passed.’

After completing the True Qi of the Four Gods, the first gateway to be passed was none other than Jeongsik.

Yeon Ho-jeong completed it after breaking through the Wall of the MartialArts’ End.

This was the reason he had tried not to draw out all his energy until he reached the limits of his body and True Qi. This was because even if it were the same progress, progress from a higher place would lead to high efficiency and realization.

“Whew.”

Yeon Ho-jeong, who exhaled lightly, opened his eyes. Then he picked up the long spear lying beside him.

‘Not bad.’

It was an iron long spear he had obtained from a nearby blacksmith after finishing his meal.

Since it used the iron in its entirety, its weight was not negligible, but it was not a problem at all for Yeon Ho-jeong, who used to swing the Crazy Dragon Axe that weighed over eighty catties.

Yeon Ho-jeong grabbed the middle of the spear shaft and spun it.

Woosh. Woosh.

The sound of the spear shaft spinning in a circle and cutting through the wind was heavy yet refreshing.

‘The center of gravity is well-balanced. The spearhead is also moderately long. I was lucky.’

The Crazy Dragon Axe was an excessively flashy weapon. It was the same for the Flood Dragon Chain.

At this time, when the alias of the Tiger General of the Green Mountain was vibrating the Murim, he could not bring two eccentric weapons that were bound to attract everyone’s attention. So the weapon he chose was the spear.

To handle the axe, the first thing he had mastered was spear and staff techniques. With a spear and bare-handed boxing, the power gap with the Crazy Dragon Axe could be minimized.

Yeon Ho-jeong kicked off the ground.

Pwaaaaang!

Moving a short distance, he unfolded powerful spear techniques.

Phubububuk!

In an instant, the spearheads, which had increased to more than ten, created identical marks in the center of ten bamboo trees.

A look of surprise appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.

‘I thought I would have regressed because I hadn’t handled it for a while, but I feel like I’ve actually grown more?’

This would also be possible because he had achieved the Jeongsik of the Martial Arts of the Four Gods. Since there was no waste of power, the spear techniques had also become more refined.

Pararararak!

The spearhead cutting through the wind emitted a stylish brilliance.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s movements were loose yet fluid, unlike his usual self.

It was as if he were dancing rather than practicing martial arts. At the same time, the attack power of the cutting and stabbing spearhead did not decrease.

Ssssk!

The bamboo leaves that had fallen to the ground soared along the tip of the spearhead.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes spat fire.

Thud!

When he struck the ground with the spear shaft, dozens of bamboo leaves that were swimming in the air along the spearhead were shattered into pieces.

“Mm, good. It’s enough.”

He wanted to practice for another half a day if he could, but it seemed better to wrap it up here today.

“Is it you Martial Uncle?”

At that sudden question, a snort was heard from the place where the darkest shadow fell even in the bamboo grove.

“There’s no one around, so why don’t you throw away that spine-chilling title?”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“You never know.”

“Needless to say for you, my senses are not that easy either.”

“That’s why I’m saying it. I’m afraid that tension might loosen with that ‘just in case’ mind.”

“If an expert who even disrupts both of our senses has already intervened, shouldn’t we consider this mission a failure?”

It wasn’t a wrong statement.

Yeon Ho-jeong crossed his arms while holding the spear.

“The night is deep, why did you come out without sleeping?”

“I was beaten to the punch by you. I thought I’d practice.”

“I see. I’ve had enough of this. Use it.”

“Before that.”

Pwaaaaang!

Pae-yul’s sword flew in like an arrow.

It was an amazing surprise attack. It was remarkably fast and sudden, but no killing intent was felt in it. That was why it was an even more terrifying sword strike.

Yeon Ho-jeong uncrossed his arms and kicked up the end of the spear shaft with his foot.

Jjang!

The sword that passed by the spear shaft stopped.

Piiiiing!

Bamboo leaves rotated along the spear shaft that rotated in place.

Yeon Ho-jeong grabbed the spear shaft.

Whoosh.

The wind stopped.

Pae-yul let out a sigh.

“As expected, it doesn’t work.”

“It was a wonderful surprise attack. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a sword strike that killed killing intent to that extent.”

“You have a cocky tone. By the way, a long time? It seems your life has been quite fierce too.”

Yeon Ho-jeong just smiled without a word.

Pae-yul just looked at him without even sheathing his sword.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Not really.”

“Then may I go now?”

“No.”

“Eh?”

Only then did Yeon Ho-jeong read Pae-yul’s hesitation.

A seriousness appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.

“Is there a problem?”

“If it’s a problem, it’s a problem.”

“What is it?”

Pae-yul was silent again.

It was clearly visible that his hesitation was growing. Yeon Ho-jeong became tense.

After a moment of silence, Pae-yul opened his mouth.

“If it’s the Martial Ancestor Sect, shouldn’t we not bring out our respective secret techniques anyway?”

“That’s right.”

“The reason you brought the daughter of the Tang family is also because it’s difficult to read the routines of hidden weapons, right?”

“There’s that reason too.”

Pae-yul cleared his throat.

“Look at this for now.”

“Yes?”

Ssrararak!

Pae-yul’s sword cut through the air.

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes widened.

‘What is this?’

It was a sword technique with soft lines, unlike Pae-yul.

Of course, that didn’t mean the power was low. Rather, the technique of counterattacking with a one-hit kill attack after drawing the enemy in with a fluid sword path was superb.

‘Was there such a martial art in Diancang?’

Well, if it was at the level of the Nine Great Sects, there would be several martial arts comparable to the representative secret techniques put forward by each sect.

‘It’s less practical than before, but the level of the sword technique itself is higher.’

After a while, Pae-yul stopped his sword.

His face was slightly flushed. There was no way he would be out of breath with this level of martial arts demonstration.

“Ahem! How is it?”

“Is it a martial art of Diancang?”

“Well… yes.”

Yeon Ho-jeong said honestly.

“It’s an outstanding sword technique. The sharpness and extreme aspects unique to Diancang have decreased, but instead, the harmony is very solid. Especially the counterattack technique is amazing.”

“I-is that so?”

“Yes. However, although there are gaps here and there in the flow of the link, it’s an overly attractive martial art to catch faults? As you reach a higher level, the practical beauty seems to be complemented.”

Pae-yul’s face brightened.

“Do you think it will work in real combat?”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

“It seems that you have a very high understanding of that sword technique, Senior. It feels like you’re wearing perfectly fitting clothes.”

“Haha.”

Pae-yul burst into laughter, pleased as could be.

“Well, if you saw it that way, that’s enough.”

“Yes?”

“Ahem! I’m going first.”

“What about practice?”

Pae-yul disappeared without even answering. For some reason, a sense of excitement could be felt in his footsteps.

Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.

“What was that all of a sudden? It’s like an idiot who runs away after only confessing unilaterally.”