“It’s a relief the snow stopped.”

“It is.”

Yeon Jipyeong looked at Mookbi’s gait as she walked beside him.

Yeon Jipyeong was already taller than Mookbi. But right now, Mookbi stood a full head higher than he did.

The reason was not hard to see.

“You really are incredible, Mookbi.”

“Hm? What is?”

“You’re using Walking on Snow Without Trace so naturally. It’s a realm I can’t even imagine.”

That was right.

Because of the heavy snowfall overnight, all of Mount Daebyeol had become a field of snow. The martial artists had cleared the paths people used to some degree, but the Martial Alliance itself was so vast that less than thirty percent had been cleared.

Yeon Jipyeong was plowing forward through the snow, while Mookbi was walking naturally over the accumulated snow.

Her feet did not sink into the snowfield. It was a movement technique so unbelievable that even seeing it with his own eyes did not make it seem real.

Mookbi smacked her lips.

“I do have confidence in my movement technique. The problem is, lately it feels as if only my movement technique is improving.”

“Do you know how hard it is to improve even a single martial art to that degree?”

Yeon Jipyeong clicked his tongue in amazement.

They said that when lightness arts reached their extreme, one could run over the surface of water, walk over snow without leaving a trace, and even tread across blades of grass.

And beyond that extreme, when the realm of lightness arts reached the level of the divine, even Void-Stepping became possible.

Not Void-Stepping that merely allowed an instant of flight or gliding by bursting a shock wave in the air, but true Void-Stepping, literally shooting forward without setting foot on land. It was also called the land-flight art by another name.

In Yeon Jipyeong’s eyes, Mookbi seemed likely to achieve true Void-Stepping within ten years. In movement technique alone, it was a realm worthy of being called greatest under heaven.

She’s using Walking on Snow Without Trace unconsciously.

For Yeon Jipyeong as he was now, properly operating Walking on Snow Without Trace would be impossible even if he poured in extreme concentration and all of his Inner Qi. That alone showed just how terrifying Mookbi’s realm in movement technique was.

“When I saw him before, my brother’s movement technique was also at an incredible level.”

Mookbi gave a faint laugh.

“Young Master Yeon is skilled in all kinds of areas.”

“Even so, I don’t think he can compare to you in movement technique.”

“That isn’t wrong. But if it came to a fight, I’d probably lose.”

“What?”

“My chances would go up quite a bit if we fought in open ground, but if we fought in a forest or an urban battle, I’d almost certainly lose.”

“Why do you think that? Of course my brother’s realm is high, but still.”

“When Young Master Yeon enters battle, the adaptability he shows is worthy of being called the greatest under heaven. The more complicated the surroundings are, and the more obstacles there are, the more advantageous it becomes for him.”

“I-is that so?”

“He’s so skilled with irregular methods. If we’re talking only about combat arts in a chaotic melee, even calling him the greatest under heaven might not be enough. You could probably compare him across all of history.”

The world’s evaluation of Yeon Hojeong felt strangely low.

Of course, since he was called the greatest of the younger generation under heaven, it was hard to say that was low in itself. But for the abilities he possessed, there were parts of him that were undervalued. That was because Yeon Hojeong’s rough personality stood out so strongly.

There were only a handful of people who could accurately see through Yeon Hojeong’s martial level. Mookbi was likely one of them.

Yeon Jipyeong smiled.

“My brother really has become an amazing martial artist.”

Mookbi quietly studied Yeon Jipyeong’s face, then smiled wryly inwardly.

It really can’t be easy to be like this.

No matter how close someone was, it was human nature to feel jealousy when the other person was superior.

Amazingly, there was no trace of that on Yeon Jipyeong’s face. It was not a staged expression. He was sincerely happy that Yeon Hojeong was so outstanding.

“Doesn’t it frustrate you?”

“What? What does?”

“Even if he is your older brother, don’t you ever think he’s too outstanding? That he’s gone so far ahead you can’t even chase after him?”

Yeon Jipyeong burst into laughter without realizing it.

“Isn’t it better to see an older brother more outstanding than his younger brother, rather than the younger brother being better than the older one? I want my brother to become the greatest master under heaven, someone who can’t be compared to anyone.”

“Oh?”

“Of course, I’ll also have to work hard to become a younger brother who doesn’t fall short of that reputation.”

Mookbi shook her head.

“And that satisfies you?”

“It does.”

“......”

“That doesn’t mean I plan to limit my own growth while watching my brother’s reaction. That would be an insult to him. Well, even if I run with everything I have, I doubt I’ll even reach his feet.”

Several years ago, the two brothers had resolved their old hurt through Yeon Hojeong’s apology.

That was the moment Yeon Hojeong changed, and furthermore, the point when Yeon Jipyeong’s growth began to gain momentum. Although they had parted not long after sharing deep brotherly affection, Yeon Jipyeong had carried that affection with him until now.

Beyond that, his father and older brother had entered the Martial Alliance and were raising the family’s reputation. From Yeon Jipyeong’s position, he had no choice but to work hard enough to shed blood and sweat so he would not become an obstacle to such a father and brother.

That’s why he knows.

Mookbi smiled.

Both Father and Young [N O V E L I G H T] Master Yeon sincerely congratulated Jipyeong on his growth. To Jipyeong, that praise must be the greatest reward for the hardship of the last three years.

In many ways, they were truly an impressive family. In one sense, they could be called ideal, and in another, they sometimes showed sides that were difficult to understand.

Still, Mookbi liked the strong affection within the Yeon family. It would never happen, but she only hoped that affection would never waver for the rest of their lives.

“Anyway, shall we start picking up the pace? At this rate, all the food will get cold.”

“Let’s.”

The reason the two had gone to the dining hall early at dawn was to pack up tasty food. Yeon Hojeong’s circulation of power had gone on for so long that they thought he might be hungry.

The two kicked off the ground.

PAAK!

When Yeon Jipyeong kicked off the ground, an enormous amount of snow scattered into the air.

By contrast, only the faintest trace remained on the ground Mookbi had kicked. That was how great the difference between their lightness arts was.

How long had they run like that?

Huh? 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Mookbi’s eyes sharpened.

A shock wave?

It was not an intense shock wave. But she could feel a low, dull vibration subtly shaking the air.

A moment later, Yeon Jipyeong also sensed an unusual flow in the air.

“Mookbi?”

“It’s been like this for a while.”

Mookbi’s face hardened.

“This faint qi being transmitted... it’s definitely Father’s True Qi.”

“Yes. And my brother’s qi too.”

“Hm? It is?”

“What?”

Mookbi could not read Yeon Hojeong’s qi. But Yeon Jipyeong could sense it.

It was proof that the sensitivity of his sensory perception was extremely exceptional. Because there was a difference in skill, he was below Mookbi when it came to reading the overall flow, but in terms of delicacy, he was actually above her.

“Should we go for now?”

“Good.”

PAAAAAK!

The two increased their speed.

Half a gak later, the gate of Warbreaker Pavilion came into view.

WOOOOOOONG!

The closer they drew to Warbreaker Pavilion, the lower and fiercer the transmitted vibration became.

A moment later.

BOOOOOOOM!

Both of their eyes widened.

Inside the gate, beyond the wall, they could see snow exploding. The snow piled near the wall had burst outward from the shock wave.

A spar?!

In that instant, Mookbi read an unusual fighting spirit.

She abruptly grabbed Yeon Jipyeong by the collar.

BOOM!

Mookbi, carrying Yeon Jipyeong, sprang upward with tremendous elasticity and landed in an instant on the roof of one of Warbreaker Pavilion’s buildings.

Yeon Jipyeong, who had been marveling anew at her astonishing realm in movement technique, suddenly lowered his head toward the aftermath of force swirling below.

And there—

The two people Yeon Jipyeong trusted and followed most were locked in a ferocious melee.

SHIIIIIIK! SHIK! SHIIIK!

Yeon Wi’s long sword cut mercilessly through the air.

SWISH! SWISH-SWISH-SWISH! SWISH-SWISH!

It seemed to cut not only the air, but even the external qi Yeon Hojeong was releasing.

It was a series of violent cleaving strikes unlike Yeon Wi’s usual self. The linked blows he drove forward were so sharp that if he poured in sword spirit at its peak, they looked capable of splitting even a three-story pavilion apart.

PABABABAK!

Yeon Hojeong’s footwork as he avoided Yeon Wi’s sword was exquisiteness itself.

He did not counterattack. He dodged by a hair’s breadth. But he did not retreat, either. As if aiming for close combat, he kept digging into the lethal battlefield where one small mistake could send his limbs flying.

In that instant, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

WOOOOOOONG!

The air trembled fearsomely.

It was like the low growl of a diseased beast. The strange sound wave came from the hand axe Yeon Hojeong was swinging.

JJEOOOOOEONG!

For the first time, the sound of collision rang out.

It was not the sound of sword and axe striking each other. It was the sound spat out when the True Qi created by Yeon Hojeong’s vibration-filled cleaving strike and Yeon Wi’s indescribably violent cleaving strike collided.

SHHHK.

The two men stepped three or four paces back. They had not withstood the shock wave.

Mookbi’s eyes shook.

They’re equal?!

It was a contest of equal strength.

Setting aside differences in Inner Qi or enlightenment, Yeon Hojeong’s strength itself was not being pushed back by Yeon Wi. Considering the orthodox internal force Yeon Wi had built up over all these years, that was simply astonishing.

PAAAAAK!

Yeon Hojeong charged again.

TU-U-U-U-UNG!

Yeon Wi also charged aggressively toward Yeon Hojeong.

No matter how close to real combat their spars had been, Yeon Wi had always led the fight while receiving or avoiding Yeon Hojeong’s attacks. It was not because he was going easy on his son; that process was simply the nature of the martial arts Yeon Wi used.

But not now. He swung footwork and swordsmanship that were violent enough to seem almost savage, with no restraint at all, and instead overwhelmed even Yeon Hojeong’s ferocity.

JJEOJEOJEOJEOJEONG!

A brutal metallic sound erupted even though their weapons had not struck.

Yeon Hojeong staggered. Even if he was not being pushed back in strength, his opponent was Yeon Wi. However rough the sword strike he used, within it lay a wondrous sword intent forged and embodied across a lifetime.

If he resolved to press the attack, he could wield offensive power beyond Yeon Hojeong’s. That was Yeon Wi’s martial art—the martial art of the Sword Master who had achieved the extreme of the center and become versed in all martial arts.

Yeon Hojeong’s hand axe swung at a fearsome speed.

JJEOJEOJEONG! BANG! KWANG!

Now explosions also burst out. At last, the two men’s weapons had begun to collide. It was a vicious close-quarters battle where a sword strike of one inch or an axe stroke of half an inch could take a life.

JJEOEONG! BOOOOOOM!

Yeon Hojeong retreated more than ten paces. He had been countered by Yeon Wi’s Reverse Dragon Palm.

Yeon Wi, who had been about to close in immediately and unleash another cleaving strike, quickly twisted his body at the faint qi wave he suddenly sensed.

KWANG!

The hand axe flew like one of Mookbi’s arrows and embedded itself in the wall. If Yeon Wi had failed to read that qi wave in time, the axe would have pierced through his upper body.

Yeon Jipyeong’s mouth fell open. Mookbi also swallowed.

Yeon Wi and Yeon Hojeong’s Killing Intent-filled spar. Faced with a vicious duel unimaginable as a contest between father and son, the two of them lost their words for a moment.

“Hoo. Hoo.”

Yeon Hojeong’s breathing gradually roughened.

“Hup.”

Yeon Wi drew in a short breath and raised his sword to the middle guard.

“A flying sword there. That is just like you.”

“And that is just like you, Father. You read and dodged that?”

The two looked at each other and smiled briefly.

Eyes burning red. Like father, like son—their Killing Intent-filled eyes were strikingly alike.