NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 124
Chapter 124: The Moment of Resolve (6)
As autumn passed, the chill of winter crept ever closer.
“Finally…”
The biting wind was piercingly cold. Even clad in fur, a chill settled in the belly.
“It’s time to prepare.”
Moyong Woo’s gaze, lifting to the cloud-laden sky, was filled with a certain resolve.
“This is it.”
“Yes, Branch Chief.”
“Take good care of the branch until I return.”
Lee Geon’s eyes sparkled.
“Do you truly intend to go alone?”
Moyong Woo smiled.
“I’ve lived a solitary life before meeting you. There’s nothing new about it.”
“I see.”
“Moreover, I’ve declared my intent to reform our clan, but that doesn’t mean the Zhejiang branch can neglect its duties. If we fail, many will starve.”
“…”
“Please, take good care of it.”
“I’ll manage it as best as I can until you return.”
“Your administrative skills far surpass mine. I trust you completely.”
Moyong Woo picked up the treasured sword hanging on the wall.
‘…’
A wistful look crossed his eyes as he gazed at the sword.
“Then, see you later.”
“Please take care of yourself.”
With that, Moyong Woo left the branch alone and immediately set off by land.
Why? He knew taking a boat would be faster, but his feet chose the land route of their own accord, and he didn’t try to change that decision.
Half an hour into his journey by land, he realized his choice was right.
“I never expected to meet you here.”
Surprise flickered in Moyong Woo’s eyes.
“Yeonje (younger brother)?”
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
“Let’s talk about the formalities later. It doesn’t feel right after so long.”
A look of joy appeared on Moyong Woo’s face.
Some people never grow on you no matter how many times you meet them, while others capture your heart at first sight.
For Moyong Woo, Yeon Hojeong was decidedly the latter. Perhaps seeing Yeon Hojeong made him reflect on his past self.
“Did you have business in Zhejiang? Such a coincidence.”
“What business would I have in Zhejiang, other than meeting you?”
Moyong Woo’s eyes widened.
“Did you come to see me?”
“Yes.”
“Ha, we said we’d meet after our first operation succeeded, and yet you came without contact.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“If you still haven’t made up your mind, I came to give you a word. Even if you have, there’s something else I wanted to say.”
“Something to say?”
Yeon Hojeong looked into Moyong Woo’s eyes.
They shone like bright stars. Despite the dark sky, the aura of determination and his uniquely kind atmosphere had a charm that made one feel good.
“I’m thinking of joining under Moyong.”
“Yes, that’s my intention.”
“Thank you for following my thoughts.”
“I should be the one thanking you. Meeting you made me realize how passive I’ve been living. It’s all thanks to you.”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“You just needed a catalyst. You’ve always been capable of making the right decisions. I wish you had more confidence in yourself.”
Moyong Woo burst into hearty laughter.
“Why all the kind words today?”
“Why, what’s so strange about it?”
“Ha ha ha!”
Yeon Hojeong’s pointed tone was truly endearing. Moyong Woo felt his heart lighten.
“So, what did you want to tell me?”
“…”
“Yeonje?”
That’s when it happened.
Boom!
With a sound like a drum, Yeon Hojeong’s body surged forward at a terrifying speed.
Moyong Woo’s eyes flashed.
Clang!
A giant light dragon was blocked by Moyong Woo’s treasured sword.
The response was dazzlingly fast. But Yeon Hojeong’s attack didn’t end there.
With mystical movements, Yeon Hojeong gathered strength in the light dragon and relentlessly pursued Moyong Woo.
Whirl! Clang!
Moyong Woo kept retreating, blocking Yeon Hojeong’s attacks.
A single strike could split rocks, and the destructive force was so powerful it could crumble stone walls, yet Moyong Woo’s martial arts, blocking all attacks with a single sword, were nothing short of miraculous.
How long did the assault last?
Flash!
Moyong Woo’s eyes gleamed.
‘He disappeared?!’
Yeon Hojeong vanished in an instant, completely out of sight.
Then, as if intense sunlight poured from the cloud-filled sky, an illusion struck.
‘Up!’
Moyong Woo looked up.
‘…!!’
Descending at a fearsome speed, Yeon Hojeong’s body was ablaze with red energy. The splendid and eerie energy unfurled behind his shoulders like a curtain, resembling a pair of wings.
Overwhelming firepower. Terrifying killing intent.
Moyong Woo’s sword instinctively followed the swordplay.
Clang!
It was an incredible martial art.
Swinging that heavy weapon like a master of swift swordplay, he almost lost grip of his sword.
Whoom!
Moyong Woo’s sword erupted with a resounding sword cry.
Flash!
A blue sword shadow overlaid the pouring energy and sent it soaring high into the sky.
Rustle.
Yeon Hojeong’s figure landed ten paces in front of Moyong Woo.
‘Hmm.’
Moyong Woo felt his hand holding the sword tremble faintly. He hadn’t fully dissipated the shock.
But that wasn’t all.
His waist was stiff, and his knees ached. The burden on his body had become severe after receiving a series of fast and heavy attacks.
‘An extraordinary martial art.’
This was the first time Moyong Woo had actually fought Yeon Hojeong.
Indeed, it was a formidable martial art. No, it was much more intense than he had anticipated.
Because he knew Yeon Hojeong hadn’t used his full strength.
“Did I, the foolish brother, make a mistake against you?”
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
“There was no mistake, but after exchanging a few moves, it feels a bit frustrating.”
“Frustrating? Why?”
“Why don’t you counterattack when you can?”
Moyong Woo smiled.
“How could I, as the elder, draw my sword against my younger brother?”
“Tsk.”
“However, my brother’s martial arts were so formidable that I had no choice but to draw my sword. I’m not keen on dying just yet.”
Yeon Hojeong nodded quietly as he observed Moyong Woo.
“It seems you haven’t rusted a bit.”
“Were you worried that this elder brother’s skills wouldn’t be reliable?”
“How long has it been since we’ve had a proper match?”
“Are you speaking of actual combat?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I can’t quite recall.”
“There’s no better education for a warrior than real combat. I couldn’t sense the unique aura of a swordsman in you, so I struck, but fortunately, you’re not someone who would fall easily.”
Even the strongest martial artist can be sent to the afterlife with a single ambush.
Moyong Woo was different. It had been a long time since he’d seen real combat, but his instincts were still sharp. It must be the years of daily martial arts practice that shaped the Moyong Woo of today.
“Not perfect, but not bad either. It’ll do.”
Swoosh.
Moyong Woo sheathed his sword.
“So, what did you want to tell this elder brother?”
“Stay strong. If you’re going to be Moyong’s man, be it decisively.”
“I doubt that’s what you came here to say.”
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“I’m also heading to the Martial Alliance.”
Moyong Woo was taken aback.
“You’re going to the Martial Alliance too? Don’t tell me you plan to join me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Then?”
Yeon Hojeong looked off into the northwest.
The direction where the Martial Alliance was located.
“At the start of the new year, the leaders of the Nine Orthodox Sects and the Six Great Families will gather to discuss the founding of the Martial Alliance. My family plans to depart in five days.”
“And?”
“Yes, I’ll be going to the Martial Alliance with my father.”
A look of pleasure crossed Moyong Woo’s face.
“Then again…”
“Sorry, but our family isn’t as cold-hearted as yours. We’re quite harmonious. Do you think there’ll be time to meet in such a vast place?”
“…Hmm.”
“Well… we might meet, but it’s likely to be as enemies.”
The smile on Moyong Woo’s face instantly hardened.
“Enemies…”
“Yes, enemies. Of course, you’d have to fully commit to being under Moyong to even be considered a worthy adversary.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
The two men looked at each other in silence.
It was Moyong Woo who broke the silence.
“Did you hear about the warning from the Moyong main house?”
“Yes.”
“You were right, Yeonje. If I hadn’t thought to go directly to the clan leader, they would have kept a constant watch on me.”
“Moyong isn’t foolish.”
“And thanks to Yeonje, who understood the leader’s character and intentions, I’m stepping into the world once more.”
“I don’t care for undeserved praise.”
“Be on your guard.”
Yeon Hojeong blinked.
“I didn’t expect such words from you. Telling me to be on guard?”
“I’m prone to mistakes. I’ll try not to, but I think there will come a time when I’ll surprise you.”
“You’re joking. Mistakes are bound to happen when you work. It’s only natural to be vigilant.”
“Just remember this: I won’t apologize for any mistakes I make in the future. It’s better to move forward than to waste time feeling sorry for you.”
“Oh?”
“So, I apologize in advance. I’m sorry.”
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
“That’s a fine attitude. I hope you remain steadfast in that resolve.”
Moyong Woo bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for everything. Let’s both do well in the future.”
“Likewise.”
With that, Moyong Woo left first.
The sky was filled with dark clouds, but somehow, the path Moyong Woo walked seemed to be bathed in sunlight.
From a distance, Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.
“Now I understand why father is angry about not receiving a letter of well-being. It’s like watching a three-year-old.”
At that moment, Mukbi emerged from behind a large tree.
Her appearance, with her hair tightly tied back, was different from the past and radiated health.
“You’re ten years older than Young Master Yeon. What child are you talking about?”
“You’re six or seven years older than me, and you’re still like a child.”
“How am I like a child?”
“You always seem like a child to me.”
“Tch.”
Mukbi fumbled at her waist and pulled something out.
“Eat this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s rice balls.”
“Any jerky? I want some meat.”
“Who are you calling a child?”
“You’d understand if you choked on rice balls as much as I have. But why pack rice balls for a journey of several days instead of jerky?”
“Because rice tastes better.”
“You have a peculiar taste, as always.”
“So, you’re not going to eat?”
“Give it here. I’m hungry.”
“Making such a fuss when you’re going to eat anyway.”
“You’ve really grown up.”
“That’s not how you talk to an adult.”
The two of them spent a long time laughing and chatting as they finished off the rice balls.
* * *
“Where are you off to again?”
“…”
“That rascal, he’s getting craftier by the day. Won’t you come back immediately?”
“Oh, please. I’ve already mastered the Front Ten Forms, the Back Eight Forms! All eighteen palms of the Descending Dragon!”
“You’ve only mastered them in theory, not in practice. You’re still far from ready. Come back right now.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You’ll really die, you know.”
“Master! The world is undergoing tumultuous changes, and you want me to just sit here? I need to go out and see what’s happening!”
“The kids will bring us any information we need. Stop your nonsense and come back quickly.”
“I don’t want to. I’m going.”
“Going where, you crazy fool!”
“To the Martial Alliance!”
“What are you going to do there!”
“Go to the Martial Alliance… Huh? Aren’t you going, Master?”
“Ahem. I’ve informed them I won’t be attending.”
“…”
“Eh? What? Hey! Where are you going? Come back here quickly! When did that rascal learn to use the Autumn Wind of a Thousand Leagues to such an extent? Huh! Now that I’m older, I can’t even catch up. That damned fool, when he comes back, I’ll make sure he can’t sit down for a while, really.”