Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 122: The Moment of Decision (4)

‘Young Master Yeon!’

Mokbi bit her lip.

She was hidden at the top of a tree, a good twenty paces from the battlefield. She hadn’t learned the art of stealth, but she had a knack for it.

That’s what being an archer is all about. For a sniper, professional hiding and cover skills were essential.

Swoosh.

Before she knew it, she had nocked an arrow on the bowstring of her Red Lotus Bow.

She recalled Yeon Hojeong’s telepathic message.

‘It’s not just the assassins. There’s a master among them. Save your arrows for that master.’

A master? She hadn’t sensed anyone of that caliber.

But now, in her sight, there was a swordsman emitting a stronger aura than even Yeon Hojeong.

‘Incredible!’

Mokbi swallowed her saliva without realizing it.

‘He might even be stronger than Young Master Yeon. And Young Master Yeon has already expended a lot of his internal energy and stamina fighting the assassins.’

It was dangerous.

Battles between masters could be decided by the thinnest of margins. Even a one-on-one duel without the assassins could be perilous.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Mokbi was fully prepared.

If the enemy’s sword threatened Yeon Hojeong, she would let loose a volley of arrows.

* * *

Mong-ui appraised Yeon Hojeong’s physique.

‘Well-trained indeed.’

Despite his slender appearance, his body was ideally balanced. Every muscle was evenly developed, not a single one lacking.

And that axe.

‘A divine weapon.’

He couldn’t tell who made it, but it was a weapon worthy of awe. Even Mong-ui, who primarily wielded a sword, felt a momentary greed for it.

“Indeed.”

Mong-ui’s eyes gradually darkened.

“I heard he was a formidable opponent. He faced the might of a prestigious house alone, so I thought he must be impressive. But I didn’t expect this extent.”

Yeon Hojeong furrowed his brows.

‘What’s with this guy?’

His dull eyes were oddly irritating.

He reeked of blood. A pungent scent of blood was deeply ingrained in him.

‘But he has mastered the righteous path, and at an astonishing level.’

Swoosh.

Mong-ui drew the sword from behind his back.

His sword was unique. It was a longsword exceeding three feet, reaching almost four, but the width of the blade was only half that of a typical longsword.

Perhaps that’s why it looked longer and sharper. It was like looking at a needle with its edge honed.

‘It’s similar to a Hyupbong Sword.’

The Hyupbong Sword had a cylindrical blade, its edge rounded off to maximize the power of thrusting.

Mong-ui’s sword was like a Hyupbong Sword with an edge.

Tssssss.

An ominous aura flowed from Mong-ui’s body.

Yeon Hojeong’s face hardened.

‘He’s strong.’

This man surpassed his own physical abilities and internal energy.

He seemed to be around forty and had accumulated remarkable martial arts skills. He wasn’t a supreme master, but among those called peak masters, he was at the forefront.

Mong-ui looked around and shouted.

“You are of no use. Leave now.”

The assassins remained silent.

Their eyes were filled with confusion. Their target was Yeon Hojeong, but their employer told them to leave. So they should leave.

But the employer had killed their leader. They should avenge their ally, yet it seemed not an easy task.

Mong-ui shook his head.

“This is why you are nothing more than tools.”

Then it happened.

Yeon Hojeong caught a glimpse of Mong-ui’s sword scattering like an afterimage.

Thump-thump-thump-thump!

Small holes appeared between the brows of about ten assassins standing close to Mong-ui.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes widened.

Mong-ui spoke calmly.

“You can’t handle me anyway. You’ve lost your leader, so you can’t mount a systematic attack.”

“…”

“Just go away.”

Swish.

The assassins retreated. There was no longer a reason to fight.

Mong-ui took a deep breath.

“The air is good. It’s tainted with the stench of filthy blood… but I’ve always missed the air of the battlefield.”

“Who are you?”

Mong-ui looked at Yeon Hojeong.

Vroom.

A white energy flickered in the Kwangryongbu. It had a majestic and robust aura.

“Why would a swordsman from Jeomchang target me?”

Mong-ui’s eyes wavered for a moment.

“Do you know who I am?”

“It would be harder not to know.”

Yeon Hojeong pointed at his sword with his chin.

“The sword technique you just used, that’s Jeomchang’s Shooting Sun Sword Technique, isn’t it?”

Shooting Sun Sword Technique.

It was considered the ultimate and strongest sword technique of Jeomchang, once hailed as the fastest sword under heaven, a legendary skill.

Mong-ui wielded such a unique sword because the Shooting Sun Sword Technique was primarily a thrusting technique. Except for one move, all the techniques were stabs.

“To recognize the Shooting Sun Sword Technique… a technique even lost to the current Jeomchang.”

That couldn’t be.

Yeon Hojeong recognized the Shooting Sun Sword Technique because the leaders of Jeomchang had used it during the chaos at Sa-eumgyo. It was impossible for Jeomchang to have lost it.

‘Or did this guy return it?’

Vroom.

A dark, murderous intent, rose in Mong-ui’s eyes.

The gaze of a murderer who had killed countless times.

“I can’t let you live.”

“It’s not even funny, considering you came here to kill.”

“I sent the assassins on purpose. I wanted to see if you were worthy of my sword.”

“…”

“You’re better than I expected. You’re fully qualified to face my sword. If I had known you were this skilled, I wouldn’t have bothered bringing in the assassins.”

Yeon Hojeong looked at Mong-ui with a strange gaze.

Mong-ui’s cheek twitched. Yeon Hojeong’s eyes had a peculiar power to irritate people’s nerves.

“Hey.”

“…You have no manners.”

“Who’s behind you?”

“What?”

“Who’s behind you? Is it the hidden remnants of a prestigious house? Or the Moyong army? It doesn’t seem like the Namgung family.”

Mong-ui was inwardly startled but didn’t show it.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Is that so?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Anyway, we just have to fight, right?”

Mong-ui scoffed.

“Do you think it’ll be a fight?”

Boom!

Yeon Hojeong’s body moved like a flash of light.

Mong-ui was taken aback.

He was prepared for a surprise attack, but he didn’t expect it to be this fast. And wasn’t he carrying a heavy weapon that should weigh dozens of pounds?

Bang!

He attacked with martial arts even though he was holding an axe. It was a strike aimed at catching him off guard.

‘Fast! But…’

Crack!

Yeon Hojeong pulled his arm back.

A long cut was on his forearm, inflicted by Mong-ui’s longsword.

‘Quick.’

It was fast even without using the Shooting Sun Sword Technique. The martial art itself was specialized in speed.

“Let’s see how long you can last with that cumbersome weapon.”

Suddenly, Mong-ui’s sword split into dozens.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sparkled.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

The four-foot longsword moved at an incredible speed, targeting Yeon Hojeong’s vital points.

It was a speed that defied belief, even to the eyes of a peak master. And again, without using the Shooting Sun Sword Technique, he was displaying swordsmanship that far surpassed the dynamic vision of a peak master.

‘…’

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

Dozens of sparks flew from the Kwangryongbu’s axe blade and then disappeared.

The impact on the axe blade was significant. Normally, a swift sword didn’t carry much weight, but Mong-ui’s sword was sufficiently heavy.

But then…

Boom!

Yeon Hojeong, having taken a step of the White Tiger’s Descent, lifted his Kwangryongbu axe from low to high.

A smirk appeared on Mong-ui’s face.

‘Foolish boy.’

For a heavy weapon, it was fast. But before the axe could even reach him, he could land ten slashes.

Mong-ui’s sword moved like lightning.

Slash-slash-slash-slash!

Blood spurted from various parts of Yeon Hojeong’s body, marks of Mong-ui’s longsword passing through.

‘…?!’

Mong-ui’s eyes widened in shock.

‘What is this guy?’

The axe had already swept up from the hem of his pants to his knees.

‘Why isn’t he cut?’

He was cut, but only flesh and blood.

Despite the numerous cuts, not a single one was fatal. It was incomprehensible.

‘Is his body impervious to swords and knives?!’

That’s when it happened.

In a split second, he saw a translucent black energy flowing throughout Yeon Hojeong’s body.

‘What is that?’

Mong-ui couldn’t know that it was the Xuanwu Qi (Black Tortoise Energy) from the Northern Black Emperor.

Chill!

Suddenly, the axe was close enough to touch his groin.

Boom!

Mong-ui leaped back. In that brief moment, he retreated five steps. It was at an incredible speed.

Flash!

With a massive cloud of dust, the Kwangryongbu soared upward, bursting with brilliant white energy.

Bang!

The destructive power was immense.

It was a powerful attack rarely seen before. If he hadn’t retreated another seven steps immediately, he would have been torn apart by the powerful wind generated by the axe.

‘This won’t do.’

Within the rising cloud of white dust, Yeon Hojeong’s shadowy figure with the sword was visible.

Mong-ui lowered his stance.

‘I’ll finish this with one strike.’

Click.

Mong-ui retracted his sword to the rear. A brilliant radiance burst from his longsword, like sunlight.

It was the Shooting Sun Sword Technique.

Then, he saw Yeon Hojeong’s shadow raise an arm.

‘Too late. Die!’

Mong-ui swung his sword.

Flash!

A sword strike swift as a ray of light cut through the dust, aiming straight for Yeon Hojeong’s heart. It was faster than ever before.

At that moment…

‘…?!’

Mong-ui saw three arrows, drawn in a diagonal line, flying towards him.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

One missed, but two struck the blade.

The arrows, coming from the side, were filled with tremendous internal energy. Mong-ui’s swift sword had just grazed Yeon Hojeong’s thigh.

Suddenly, a heavy black spear shaft cut through the dust and zoomed into Mong-ui’s view.

Crack!

“Aargh!”

Mong-ui was sent flying backward.

Crash!

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sparkled as he was about to finish the fight. Mong-ui, who had crashed into a tree, shot towards him once again.

His nose was smashed, and his front teeth were all broken, yet he still attacked. It was remarkable endurance.

Yeon Hojeong inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘Farewell, horseman.’

Whoosh!

Yeon Hojeong lowered his stance. Then, Mong-ui’s sword cut through thin air.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Mong-ui rolled on the ground.

Three arrows were embedded in his body: his left shoulder, left thigh, and left side.

Slash!

Suddenly, Mokbi entered the fray.

“Yikes!”

Ignoring the excruciating pain, Mong-ui tried to stand up but was startled. He saw a woman approaching at a terrifying speed, drawing her bowstring without an arrow.

Mokbi released the bowstring.

Twang! Thud!

Mong-ui spat blood and fell face down.

Boom!

In an instant, Mokbi stepped on Mong-ui’s legs and pulled the bowstring of her Red Lotus Bow.

Point-blank rapid-fire.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

Five shadowless bullets (Invisible Bullets) exploded on Mong-ui’s back. It was a ruthless attack.

Mong-ui trembled and then closed his eyes, knocked out by the severe internal injuries.

“Phew, finally caught him.”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re incredibly violent, aren’t you?”

“What?”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“You’re brutally savage.”

“Anyway, what should we do with this guy?”

“We have to carry him. There are questions to be asked.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll carry him.”

“You’re injured, aren’t you?”

“There are still enemies left.”

“What?”

Yeon Hojeong looked down the mountain.

“Scattered wolves are lurking around, eyeing this place.”

“Ah!”

“Let’s not look for a level ground. We mustn’t get involved in the fight.”

Mokbi nodded.

“Yes!”