Mo Yonggun came out of his quarters and faced Yeon Hojeong standing in the path.

“......”

A strange silence flowed between them.

Mo Yonggun was the first to break it.

“Are you going out to a battlefield?”

Yeon Hojeong spoke with an expressionless face.

“If it has anything to do with you, a battlefield would be preferable.”

“Your high opinion of me is sweet every time I hear it.”

He said that, but Mo Yonggun felt a subtle tension rising in him.

Yeon Hojeong had come fully armed.

He was not dressed as the Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps. Over a high-quality red martial outfit, he wore a fairly thick white long robe. Setting aside how well it suited him, the weapons hanging from his body were vicious beyond description.

Inside the long robe, a black-gray iron chain crossing diagonally over his upper body from both sides looked as solid as armor.

On his shoulder rested Mad Dragon, the famous weapon of the Green Mountain Tiger Commander, and at his belt hung two hand axes that looked sturdy enough, like swords.

That was not all. On the outer sides of his shins, short blades were tied along with tightly wrapped gaiters. He had surely hidden more weapons somewhere that could not be seen.

To call him fully armed felt inadequate. He truly had the bearing of a warrior going to war.

Mo Yonggun opened his mouth with a cold expression.

“I understand well enough that your qi arts are extraordinary. That technique just now, sending Killing Intent only at me without harming anything else, is impossible without a deep understanding of qi arts.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Now explain. Why did you come all the way here at this late hour and reveal Killing Intent toward me?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

That smile, cold beyond measure, slowly raised Mo Yonggun’s heartbeat bit by bit.

What is this?

He was not surprised by Yeon Hojeong’s skill or his Killing Intent. He could feel that Yeon Hojeong had grown another step beyond before, but he already knew how talented the man was.

What put Mo Yonggun on edge was Yeon Hojeong’s sudden behavior.

Though they had always faced each other with blades drawn in spirit, Yeon Hojeong had never once come at him this aggressively.

There was definitely something unusual here. What frightened him was not Yeon Hojeong’s martial force, but his intention.

“Let’s move first. I know a place suitable for a conversation.”

Mo Yonggun laughed coldly.

“A conversation?”

“That’s right.”

After staring fixedly at Yeon Hojeong, Mo Yonggun clasped his hands behind his back.

“Lead the way.”

“I will.”

Yeon Hojeong turned and started walking.

Following behind him, Mo Yonggun thought.

What is going on?

Could his daughter have been caught sending information to Ink Dragon Manor?

Impossible.

Of course, nothing in the world was perfect. But Mo Yonggun was certain the process by which Mo Yong Yeonhwa had sent information to Ink Dragon Manor had not been discovered.

It was not that he trusted his own thoroughness. He could tell from Yeon Hojeong’s reaction. If that had been caught, Yeon Hojeong would have stayed silent instead, or counterattacked through hidden maneuvers.

It isn’t Ink Dragon Manor. Then what?

Of course, he had set many other things in motion. But all of them were being carried out outside the Martial Alliance. Most of them were matters handled for the revival of the clan, so they were not things outsiders had any right to nitpick.

In that brief time, Mo Yonggun organized his thoughts.

It isn’t something I or the main house did.

Yeon Hojeong’s back, walking ahead with his waist perfectly straight, looked as if it would not bend even before a landslide.

Is there something I don’t know?

After the rest he had taken and his conversation with Mo Yong-woo, Mo Yonggun had recovered his former self.

He had returned to the self from the past, when his intuition and intellect had been honed to a razor’s edge.

He had returned to the man who, with terrifying political ability, had created the decisive opportunity for the Martial Alliance to be founded.

That was why he could tell. The reason Yeon Hojeong had come today was no ordinary matter. It was not to attack him or bury him, either.

No, is that not it either?

The Killing Intent Yeon Hojeong had just aimed at him had been real. Its density had been drenched in a savagery that could only arise from sincerity.

Either way, I’ll find out soon enough.

He would soon learn why this young monster had come looking for him.

How much time had passed like that?

“Here?”

“You’ve been here before?”

“Of course.”

Mo Yonggun chuckled.

“It’s one of the many fighting grounds scattered throughout the Alliance.”

It was the place where Venerable Gonggong had taught Yeon Hojeong and Mo Yong-woo before the combined Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting forces departed to annihilate the Corridor Band.

“A suitable place for a conversation......”

The corners of Mo Yonggun’s mouth rose.

“Was that conversation to be held with blades?”

“Who knows.”

Yeon Hojeong also laughed coldly.

“That depends on what kind of person you are.”

Mo Yonggun gestured with his chin toward Yeon Hojeong’s legs.

“You use short blades as well?”

“If necessary.”

“If necessary...... Does that mean when you are putting your entire body and strength into a fight?”

“I have never once failed to do my best in real combat. It simply depends on who the opponent is.”

“When facing me, you would rather have more weapons?”

“That’s right.”

THUMP!

The thick blade of Mad Dragon sank into the ground.

WOOOOONG.

An unusual qi wave began radiating from Yeon Hojeong’s body. The Yeon Clan Divine Core was activating.

“Before real combat, we’ve never truly measured each other’s martial arts, have we? Not counting the few fists and kicks we traded as if playing around.”

Mo Yonggun chuckled.

“That is true. We were always only saying with words that we would kill each other or spare each other.”

“Since things have come to this, shall we lightly exchange a few moves?”

“A few moves......”

ZIIING! ZIIING!

Blue lightning began flashing from Mo Yonggun’s fingertips.

“Exchanging moves sounds good. A martial artist reads sincerity from another’s martial arts. I wanted this as well.”

“Good.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled and lowered his stance.

“Let’s begin.”

Mo Yonggun nodded.

“Come.”

PAAK!

Yeon Hojeong’s charge was clean.

It was not his usual straight, swift rush. It was certainly fast enough, but anyone could tell he was not using his full power.

Yeon Hojeong swung Mad Dragon.

WHOOM!

He was not putting his whole strength into it, but the sound of a heavy weapon weighing more than eighty geun cutting through the air was still nothing but savage.

Mo Yonggun’s hand moved.

JJEOOOOOEONG!

With a clear metallic ring, Yeon Hojeong retreated three or four steps.

Mo Yonggun frowned.

“You aren’t showing even thirty percent of your ability.”

“We agreed to keep it light.”

“That is not what I meant. A swing made with less than thirty percent of your strength is already this much...... You truly are strong.”

“I’m coming again.”

PAAK!

He was faster than before. But it still was not enough to confuse Mo Yonggun’s senses.

The two men’s weapons collided head-on.

JJEOOOEONG!

A heavier impact rang out than before.

Yeon Hojeong, who had taken several steps back to offset the shock, opened his mouth.

“Do you remember the Medical God Association?”

FLASH!

Mo Yonggun crossed the space in an instant and reached Yeon Hojeong’s flank.

“I do.”

JJEOJEOJEOJEONG!

In a short instant, powerful shock waves burst from the weapons that collided.

SWISH!

Thin tree branches shook in the fierce gust.

It was not a full-power clash, but it was already a battle between masters who had surpassed human limits. Even a light exchange of moves was at a realm where the shock waves alone could damage outside objects.

Gripping the shaft of Mad Dragon with both hands, Yeon Hojeong aimed the end of the shaft at Mo Yonggun’s side.

HOOOOOOONG!

Mo Yonggun dodged like the wind and flicked his finger. It was a sharp finger-wind.

THUD!

The finger-wind passed Yeon Hojeong, who had twisted his body with exquisite timing, and punched a small hole through a tree.

“I heard from the strategist. The reason you hate the Medical God Association.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“Did you?”

“I did.”

JJEOOOOOEONG!

If not for the weapons constantly crossing, it would have seemed as if they were truly having a casual conversation.

This was a sword duel between masters so skilled that they could unfold the martial path they had learned and cultivated even from the realm of the unconscious. The depth and tenacity of their breathing surpassed imagination.

That was why they could speak like this while clashing fiercely.

“I dislike the Medical God Association too. For a different reason than yours.”

“They are vermin under heaven. To begin with, it is outrageous for people whose trade is healing human bodies to form a faction and seek power.”

“I agree with that thought. No, that reason is almost all of it. It’s why I dislike them.”

“I already found them displeasing, yet they dared to reach even for the Martial Alliance. If I had been the Martial Alliance Leader, I would have already ripped the Medical God Association out by the roots.”

“You would have.”

PAAAAAK!

Yeon Hojeong, who had been handling Mad Dragon exquisitely against Mo Yonggun, suddenly unleashed a kicking art.

It was a powerful short kick aimed at the upper body. As if he had been waiting for it, Mo Yonggun bent his head back.

BOOOOOM!

The kicking art cracked the empty air like a whip, and the air exploded.

“To you, the Martial Alliance is sacred ground. In the eyes of someone who wants to become the master of that sacred ground, those who dared to touch the Martial Alliance could never look good.”

“You understand well. Though I don’t know why you’re bringing this up now.”

JJEOOOEONG! JJEOOOOOEONG! BOOOOOM!

Yeon Hojeong was shoved back hard. He had allowed a strike from Mo Yonggun’s palm force.

Even so, he took no damage. Yeon Hojeong’s skill in diverting attacks was impressive, but it was also because the power loaded into Mo Yonggun’s palm force was weak.

Yeon Hojeong lowered his stance again.

“How did you end up so obsessed with the Martial Alliance?”

“Ridiculous. Obtaining the Martial Alliance is no different from obtaining the world. Born a man, aiming for the world is perfectly natural.”

“The Martial Alliance is not the world. It is only one part of the world.”

“The largest part under heaven.”

“Are you confident you can face Ink Dragon Manor?”

SHHK.

Mo Yonggun, who had been about to attack, lowered his sword.

Staring at Yeon Hojeong with clear eyes, Mo Yonggun soon shook his head.

“If you are trying to sound me out on that subject, stop. In any case, you have already concluded that I must have some kind of relationship with Yangcheon, haven’t you?”

“You saw that correctly.”

“Whatever it is, I do not wish to speak of that matter any further.”

“Is that so? Then how about this subject?”

“......?”

“There is an unknown organization that has infiltrated the authorities and the imperial palace. And one of those unknown organizations watched Yangcheon’s back and greatly helped him establish Ink Dragon Manor.”

“......!!”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes shook.

In that instant, Killing Intent like flame burst from Yeon Hojeong’s body.

BOOOOOM!

Yeon Hojeong charged with an explosive roar and swung Mad Dragon with ferocious strength.

BANG!

Mo Yonggun staggered backward.

It did not end there. A second strike followed the first, then a third, then a fourth, and the speed of that linked assault was like lightning.

BANG! KURURURUNG! BOOOOOM!

With heavy explosions, Mo Yonggun retreated again.

His mental focus had been disrupted by that shocking statement. That was why he failed to respond properly to the change in Yeon Hojeong’s momentum.

Even accounting for that, Yeon Hojeong’s strength was tremendous. The shaft of Mad Dragon, heavy yet elastic, bent visibly under the fury of his assault. It was a mighty martial art that could have blown away even a steel fortress gate.

Fssssss.

Red Killing Intent burned like fire.

Vermilion Bird Qi rose through the thick dust. Lurking within it was the madness of a white beast bearing the horns of an Azure Dragon, the wings of a Vermilion Bird, and the shell of a Black Tortoise.

A monster of four spirits as one, seeking only attack.

“I do not know how much words like this mean to a bastard like you, but even so, I will ask. I want you to answer with the path you have lived, with the history of the man called Mo Yonggun, on the line.”

HOOOOOOONG.

The wind blew.

As the dust cleared, Yeon Hojeong appeared and glared at Mo Yonggun with eyes full of Killing Intent.

In his right hand was Mad Dragon. In his left, the Flood Dragon Chain that had come loose at some point coiled like a serpent.

He was in ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) a complete battle stance.

“If you know about the Three Creeds, spit it out quietly. You know lies won’t work.”