Chapter 55. Where the Wind Blows (5)
"Lord. A letter has arrived from the eldest young master."
"Give it to me."
Yeon-wi, receiving and unfolding the letter, his eyes gleamed.
'He's fast.'
It said he had already reached Ha-nam. Even accounting for travel on horseback, it was an incredible speed. He must have changed horses several times.
'He's trying to make the Moyong family anxious.'
Yeon-wi instantly grasped Yeon Ho-jeong's intentions.
He was once again surprised by his son's initiative. He himself had become the head of the family and accumulated countless experiences, but his son had not.
Swift movements to unsettle the opponent. A startled opponent would reveal unexpected openings, and exploiting those openings would disarm the enemy.
It was the way of a seasoned veteran. Even Yeon-wi would have struggled to come up with such a response immediately.
Moreover, in capturing the recent spy, he had personally infiltrated the enemy camp, taunted them, and exposed the truth.
It was a bold approach. A wise drive. A method that did not shy away from risk to defeat the enemy.
As a father, he was worried, but as a warrior, he couldn't help but admire the response.
'In any case, since Ho-jeong has made his move, the Moyong family will try to make contact somehow. But given the distance, they're likely to seek the assistance of a reliable ally.'
Yeon-wi's eyes deepened.
He recalled his conversation with Yeon Ho-jeong before he left.
'It must be the Myeong family.'
'What makes you think so? In truth, there are plenty of forces that could ally with the Moyong family. There's no need to specifically ally with the family known as the best under heaven.'
'Still, it's the Myeong family. It has to be the Myeong family.'
'I'm asking you why you think that.'
'…I can't give you a definite answer. But it will become clear during this trip to Ha-nam. Who the Moyong family has joined hands with.'
It was still a mystery. Why did he think the Moyong family had joined hands with the Myeong family?
Yeon-wi also didn't believe the Moyong family had acted alone. The risks were too great.
But the allied organization didn't necessarily have to be the Myeong family.
'…'
However, there must be a reason why his son said that. Through a series of events, he had come to trust Yeon Ho-jeong's keen insight and judgment.
After a moment of thought, Yeon-wi called for Lee Baek-hyeon.
"Contact the Iron Rodent branch chief. Tell him to check if there are any sects or organizations connected to the Myeong family near Gangseo and Zhejiang provinces."
"Yes, sir."
Yeon-wi, deep in thought with his fingers interlocked.
A sharp glint flickered in his eyes.
"…What if it really is connected to the Myeong family?"
Then, he would not hesitate to draw the Family Head's Sword.
* * *
The young man guided Yeon Ho-jeong to a secluded forest.
Being led into a forest at sunset. Even knowing where the other party came from, it was bound to be unsettling.
But Yeon Ho-jeong's expression was utterly indifferent.
There was no sign of fear, anxiety, or suspicion. Nor did he seem tense or excited.
He was simply calm, very calm. At least, that's how it appeared outwardly.
The young man, Myeong Do, frowned.
'Is this guy not even nervous?'
The number one family under heaven, the Nine Provinces Myeong family, had called for him. Even if he was the eldest young master of the Byeoksan Yeon family, it was normal to be nervous.
But this guy showed no sign of it.
"What's that?"
"What?"
"The axe."
"It's my weapon."
Myeong Do said, exasperated.
"You use that huge axe as a weapon? Not a sword?"
"Yes."
The Byeoksan Yeon family's primary martial art was swordsmanship.
Their swordsmanship was so renowned that people said this:
"It is not as soft as the sword of Wudang, nor as precise as the sword of Huashan . It is not as solemn as the sword of Namgung, nor as fierce as the sword of Moyong. Yet, the Yeon family's sword is strong. Its straightforwardness is the epitome of orthodoxy, and in a way, it can be considered the most suitable for righteous martial arts."
The Yeon family had only been counted among the Seven Great Families for fifty years, yet they had gained such great renown not simply because they were righteous.
It was because they were strong. Their swordsmanship was worthy of representing the Central Plains.
Despite possessing such incredible swordsmanship, their family's power was the smallest among the seven. A gentleman does not flaunt himself, which was why the martial artists praised them.
"Even though you're the eldest young master, you use an axe?"
"What's wrong with that?"
Myeong Do frowned even more.
"I've been meaning to say this, but could you fix your tone?"
"Do you think your tone is full of courtesy?"
"…"
Well, since he had demanded his time on their first meeting, he had no room to talk.
But Myeong Do openly expressed his displeasure.
The Myeong family was the number one family under heaven. Although counted as one of the Seven Great Families, they were on a different level from the other six.
In the martial world, strength is power, and fame is status.
In other words, the Nine Provinces Myeong family was akin to the highest aristocracy of the martial world. Perhaps the Shaolin, but not a small family like the Yeon family could challenge them.
'He's probably feeling pretty full of himself right now.'
He inwardly scoffed at Yeon Ho-jeong.
He had heard that he had made quite an impression at the gathering of rising stars.
It was understandable that he would be arrogant. He was a guy who had been ridiculed as a "dog son of a tiger father," and now he had even earned the fancy nickname of "Gwangpungsa."
'Enjoy it while it lasts.'
How many masters had risen to prominence only to disappear without a trace? Myeong Do thought Yeon Ho-jeong would be no different.
After walking for about two igak (about 30 minutes), the light of a campfire came into view.
Myeong Do gestured toward the campfire with his chin.
"Go on. Someone is waiting to see you."
"I will."
"Leave that behind."
Myeong Do pointed at the axe.
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled and headed toward the campfire without a word.
Myeong Do's eyes turned cold.
"There's a limit to how much arrogance I'll tolerate. Put it down now."
Yeon Ho-jeong continued to walk silently.
Myeong Do's eyes filled with killing intent.
"How dare you…!"
Just then.
"Let him be."
A clear voice came from somewhere.
Myeong Do, who had been about to act, flinched. An order had come from someone he couldn't disobey.
In the end, he could only glare at Yeon Ho-jeong's back with murderous eyes.
Yeon Ho-jeong didn't care about Myeong Do. He had no interest in small fry to begin with.
He thought about the voice he had just heard.
'Impressive.'
The inner force contained in the voice was of a rare depth. It was safe to say it was the inner force of a peak expert.
'They've brought quite a few.'
Moreover, he could sense more than one or two presences. They were huddled together, so it wasn't precise, but there were at least twenty.
His senses were accurate.
"That's a huge axe! It must be incredibly heavy, yet you carry it around so easily."
As he approached the campfire, he saw a woman sitting with about twenty warriors standing behind her.
The owner of the voice was a woman. She appeared to be around the same age as Myeong Do, with delicate features.
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
"So, who are you?"
"Oh? A fresh reaction. They said you had a rough personality, and it seems they were right."
The woman said with a smile.
"My name is Myeong On-ji. You've probably never heard of me, right?"
"No."
"Haha! How embarrassing. Usually, people at least pretend they've heard of me."
Thump!
Yeon Ho-jeong, leaning against a tree with his hand resting on the axe he had placed on the ground, said with an indifferent face.
"If you called me here, tell me why."
Myeong On-ji's eyes sparkled like stars.
'He's not an ordinary character.'
Whether someone is rough, timid, indifferent to others, or highly cautious.
Any type of personality is fine. The real problem arises when you don't know the other person's personality.
In that respect, this young man, Yeon Ho-jeong, was not ordinary. His tone was rough, but his personality was unreadable.
"By the way, where did Hu Gae, who came with you, go? I had my people check the taverns, and they said he disappeared."
She was saying that they had searched the taverns in that short time.
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
"He's a free spirit, so I don't know. So, what's the business?"
"Oh, I see."
Myeong On-ji said with a bright smile.
"You came alone? Did you know we were coming?"
"I've lived a life where annoying pests are abundant. I came thinking this was just another one of those gnats."
"If it's a gnat, will you swat it?"
"Is it a gnat?"
It was a provocative tone.
Myeong On-ji's face was calm, but the expressions of the warriors behind her changed.
They didn't exude killing intent. But they were ready to kill at a moment's notice.
Even though they knew the opponent was the heir of the Byeoksan Yeon family.
"You've got guts, haven't you? Didn't Myeong Do tell you we're from the Myeong family?"
"What does it matter if it's the Myeong family or whatever if you're going to be a fool worse than a bug?"
"My, my."
At this point, even Myeong On-ji couldn't just stand by and listen.
"You can't keep being so difficult. What if you get hurt before I even tell you the business?"
"Then hurry up and tell me. I think I've said it several times already. Are you perhaps lacking in comprehension?"
Myeong On-ji's eyes turned cold.
Even for the leader of the Myeong family's intelligence organization, the Amsadae, it was hard to maintain composure.
Contrary to her appearance, she was already over thirty years old. But she was also not of an age to be leading an intelligence unit.
That's what made her so remarkable. To become the head of an intelligence organization at that age required exceptional ability and talent.
Maintaining composure was also one of her great abilities. But this rude brat was shaking it.
"Interesting. You're an interesting fellow."
Myeong On-ji continued with a smile.
"You don't like wasting time with useless chatter, do you? Fine, let's get straight to the point."
"…"
"How's the Yeon family doing these days? Are you all living peacefully without any problems?"
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled coldly.
She says she'll get to the point, but she's asking about the Yeon family. Even though she's heard everything from the Moyong family.
This is the way people in intelligence organizations or those who handle information speak. They say they're getting to the point, but they subtly probe the other person.
It wasn't to confirm the information, but to check the other person's reaction.
Myeong On-ji's expression, tone, and manner of speaking were based on the thoroughly trained, or rather, typical rhetoric of an intelligence operative.
"It's been chaotic."
"Oh? What happened?"
"Some foolish family planted a few spies, you see. We're having a back-breaking time rooting them out and cleaning things up."
Myeong On-ji's expression hardened.
She had intended to ask subtly, but he told her everything outright. She was even more surprised because she hadn't expected him to be the type to reveal such information.
"You're telling us that…?"
"And."
Sssssk.
Yeon Ho-jeong stroked the blade of his axe and continued.
"There were also some wolves trying to swallow up our family along with that foolish family, weren't there?"
"…?!"
Perhaps it was because of the light from the campfire.
Myeong On-ji's eyes seemed to flicker intensely.
"Come to think of it, isn't it strange? The ones in the biggest hurry right now should be the Moyong family, but you came to find me before they did. The Moyong family aren't so incompetent that they'd let themselves be preempted."
"That's…"
"The title of 'number one under heaven,' you obtained it in such a pathetic way, didn't you?"
Wooong.
Killing intent slowly rose from the axe.
"Since you obtained it so easily, it shouldn't be hard to break it apart, don't you think?"
