Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 145

The Army Against Evil

Thud!

Yeon Hojeong turned his head after killing the last member of the Eumsabang faction nearby with a chopping motion as if splitting firewood.

Clang! Clang!

The iron chains that had wrapped around his massive torso broke into pieces and fell to the ground.

Neigh!

The horse let out a distressed cry, seemingly frightened by the ominous energy emanating from the man it was carrying.

At that moment, the man swung his large fist.

Thud!

The horse, its head shattered, collapsed with its legs buckling. The man dismounted with a natural movement.

“Huff.”

The man, who exhaled a rough breath, stared blankly ahead. Although he had been ruthless when killing the horse, he now looked like a lifeless puppet.

He was a strange figure.

Despite emitting an indescribably ominous aura, his eyes were dull and vacant, giving him a look of idiocy at a glance.

Yeon Hojeong’s gaze deepened.

‘Who is that guy?’

Until he moved, his presence was extremely faint. However, after breaking the chains, he exuded an overwhelming aura that matched any skilled master.

‘He’s strong.’

Since his return, the strongest opponent he has faced was Myeong Cheon.

Myeong Cheon had mastered a variant of the Vermilion Bird Technique. While his level could be compared to Yeon Hojeong’s father, he was powerless against Yeon Hojeong’s martial arts, which were their absolute counter. Additionally, the Vermilion Bird energy had already ruined Myeong Cheon’s upper dantian, preventing him from showcasing his true abilities. This was why Myeong Cheon was defeated by Yeon Hojeong.

Aside from Myeong Cheon, the most memorable master was Mongui. Although he had been swiftly captured due to Mok Bi’s assistance, Mongui was a formidable opponent with whom victory could not be easily assured in a one-on-one duel at the time.

This man, based on his aura alone, was even stronger than Mongui.

‘At least a level higher.’

Just then, A-gwang shouted.

“Pyeongsan! As your master, I command you! Kill them all!”

Whoosh!

Before the words even finished, the gigantic man called Pyeongsan appeared before Yeon Hojeong.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Incredible speed!’

Bang!

Pyeongsan’s fist shattered the ground.

With lightning-fast movements and brute force, Yeon Hojeong would have had his left shoulder shattered if he hadn’t retreated three steps in time.

A-gwang’s eyes widened.

“Deal with that guy later! Kill those old sect scum first!”

Swish!

Pyeongsan charged at Yeon Hojeong again.

Surprisingly, he did not follow A-gwang’s command. His once-vacant eyes were now solely fixed on Yeon Hojeong.

“That bastard!”

A-gwang was flustered.

In contrast, Yeon Hojeong felt relieved.

‘It’s better this way.’

If a master of this level targeted the latter disciples, it would be a tough situation. Although he wouldn’t let anyone die, they might miss the leader of this group.

That meant…

‘One-on-one. I just need to defeat him.’

Yeon Hojeong quickly arrived at this conclusion and his body moved instantly.

Flash! Thud!

Pyeongsan’s body shook violently.

Yeon Hojeong, who had pushed him back with a high-level kick, rushed forward like a storm and struck with his Reversing Dragon Palm.

Buzz!

Rather than an attack, it was a repelling move. Pyeongsan’s massive body floated up and was flung backward.

‘Good.’

The oppressive aura affecting the latter disciples had receded significantly. Now he could use his full strength.

Bang!

With a powerful step, Yeon Hojeong unleashed a white whirlwind.

Finally, he unleashed the death-dealing Tiger King Nine Lightning Strikes of the White Tiger Technique.

Voom!

The Heavenly Dragon Axe, slicing through the air, aimed at Pyeongsan’s upper body like a tiger’s claw.

A crazed look appeared in Pyeongsan’s eyes.

Clang, clang, clang!

He blocked the terrifying seven consecutive strikes with his fists.

Whoosh!

A faint trace of blood appeared on Pyeongsan’s fists. He couldn’t completely deflect the ferocious attack of the Heavenly Dragon Axe.

But even that was an impressive feat.

Yeon Hojeong’s internal energy, skill, and the exceptional Heavenly Dragon Axe.

Blocking an attack that would defeat most masters within five moves with bare fists was no ordinary feat. It showed the extraordinary power concentrated in his fists.

The two martial artists clashed head-on.

Clang! Boom!

The resonant sound of metal clashing was accompanied by a thunderous roar.

This was a purely combative fight that allowed no evasion or counterattacks. It was a life-and-death battle, focused solely on crushing the opponent.

Splash!

Pyeongsan’s forearm split open, soaking in blood. His skin couldn’t withstand the fierce pressure of the White Tiger energy.

Slash!

Yeon Hojeong’s sleeves were also torn apart. His arms, exposed through the shredded sleeves, were similarly bloodied like Pyeongsan’s.

It was a clash of strength so evenly matched that it was hard to determine a winner.

Yeon Hojeong, who had been relentlessly attacking with the White Tiger King’s aura, suddenly shifted his body.

Swish, swish, swish!

He transitioned from a martial art of strength to one of speed. Kicking Pyeongsan’s thighs, sides, forearms, and shoulders, Pyeongsan’s attacks faltered.

‘An opening!’

It was a gap created by a skillful combination. Yeon Hojeong didn’t miss it.

Whoosh!

In an instant, he closed in on Pyeongsan.

Despite being in a position where it was difficult to wield his axe, his aura remained unchanged. Pyeongsan instinctively raised his knee.

At that moment, Yeon Hojeong’s white wind turned into the black turtle’s armor.

Bang!

With an immense counterforce, Pyeongsan’s stance collapsed surprisingly easily. It was the absolute defense of the Black Tortoise Technique’s North Sky Twelve Walls.

Was it a swift switch to offense?

No, it wasn’t.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yeon Hojeong, advancing with the fierce steps of the White Tiger King, had the shape of the turtle shell become more pronounced on his upper body.

Incredibly, he advanced while pushing the Black Tortoise Technique to its limit. He was attacking using a defensive technique, not the White Tiger or Vermilion Bird Techniques.

Pyeongsan’s face darkened with the light of black and blue.

Bang!

Pyeongsan’s body was flung and crashed into the ground.

“Puhwaak!”

He spat out a large amount of blood from his nose and mouth. The immense counterforce of the North Sky Twelve Walls had inflicted severe internal injuries.

‘Good.’

Perfect defense can become an invincible attack.

Though it was too heavy to be used lightly, it could produce such power if used at the right moment.

‘This level of achievement is enough.’

As time passed, the speed of his martial art transitions increased, and his body became conditioned to handle that speed.

Yeon Hojeong’s martial prowess had grown to this level during the two months he had refined his skills before coming to the Murim Alliance.

And it wasn’t over yet.

Whoosh!

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes, once darkened by the black aura, now shone with a sun-like intensity.

“Kaaargh!”

Pyeongsan, vomiting blood, rushed at Yeon Hojeong again. He was once again using the martial art of strength and destructive fist technique.

Whoosh!

A confused look appeared in Pyeongsan’s eyes. Yeon Hojeong, who had been in front of him, vanished.

Where did he go?

Flash!

Yeon Hojeong, using the ultimate speed technique of the Reaper, Blood Wings Soaring to the Heavens, had appeared behind Pyeongsan.

From the swinging Heavenly Dragon Axe, a burning red aura emanated like flames.

Bang, bang, bang!

Speed so fast it was almost invisible.

Yeon Hojeong, who had lowered his stance and raised the Heavenly Dragon Axe high, resembled a Vermilion Bird folding its wings.

Slash.

Red lines appeared all over Pyeongsan’s body.

Moments later.

Splash!

Pyeongsan, his body split into twelve pieces, met his end.

Swoosh.

Yeon Hojeong, regaining his stance, took a deep breath.

‘It worked.’

The Ruler of Namcheon, the Supreme Killing Technique of Suzaku.

It was the moment when the Hongyeom Six Killing Techniques of Suzaku, following the Ho King’s Guwall Se of Byakko and the North Sky Twelve Wall of Genbu, were perfectly realized.

‘But…’

Yeon Hojeong, who was looking down at Pyeongsan’s shattered corpse, had a strange expression on his face.

‘Did this guy receive training from that person?’

One of the Thirteen Heavenly Seats.

He could vaguely see the martial arts style of Yangcheon, the King of Duels, the only one among the Immortal Kings affiliated with the dark sect.

‘…It doesn’t matter now.’

The person Yeon Hojeong had clashed with until the end when creating the Dark Emperor’s Castle was none other than Yangcheon.

The moment he killed Yangcheon and established the Dark Emperor’s Castle, Yeon Hojeong was recognized as the Grand Master of the dark sect by everyone.

‘He’s someone I’ll have to face eventually while unifying the dark sect. Now is not the time to worry about him.’

Yeon Hojeong turned to A-gwang.

A-gwang’s eyes were filled with intense fear.

“Y-you monster!”

Even before fighting Pyeongsan, this guy had already overwhelmed him. But now, it seemed he hadn’t even revealed all his skills back then.

The martial arts Yeon Hojeong displayed, using his true strength, was enough to be praised as having created his own school.

Yeon Hojeong aimed his Gwangryongbu at A-gwang.

Startled, A-gwang took a few steps back.

“It’s time to end this.”

Paaaak!

Without looking back, A-gwang dashed towards the valley entrance. It was hard to climb over the piled-up rocks, but fighting Yeon Hojeong was even harder.

Sangyo also followed A-gwang. There was no point in continuing the fight any further. They had to, at least, preserve their lives.

In a calm voice, Yeon Hojeong spoke.

“Mok Bi.”

Tiiiiiiing! Puhpuk!

Two arrows whizzed past Yeon Hojeong’s face and pierced through the backs of A-gwang and Sangyo’s heads precisely.

The battle was over.

* * *

“Phew, that was tough.”

Sitting on the bare ground after laying down his Gwangryongbu, Yeon Hojeong looked at the late-stage apprentices.

Their faces were marred with indescribable shock.

It was understandable. They were from the prestigious nine great sects of the righteous faction and had trained in martial arts for a long time. The fact that they couldn’t use even thirty percent of their proud martial arts in actual combat was a huge shock.

Moreover, all fifty of them were protected by only two people, Yeon Hojeong and Mok Bi.

The wounds inflicted on their minds were greater than those on their bodies.

“Pretty brutal, isn’t it? The reality of actual combat.”

It was more than brutal. The blades of the attacking enemies, charging without reason, were pure terror. It was hard to execute even one basic martial arts move.

“I apologize for not warning you beforehand. However, I want you to understand one thing. I never imagined you would be so utterly helpless.”

It was a provocative remark aimed at their pride.

But why? They couldn’t even get angry at those words. The shock and disheartenment they felt were that immense.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned cold.

“Shall I tell you something surprising?”

“…”

“My friend, Mok Bi, this archer, hasn’t been through many real battles either. But she managed to utilize over eighty percent of her skills in real combat.”

Indeed, Mok Bi’s martial arts were strong.

But they realized that in real combat, one’s mindset was more important than the level of martial arts.

Even if one reached the pinnacle of martial arts, panic could lead to death. The blades of the martial world don’t pause for three seconds or stop in front of the throat.

That was the reality of combat. To survive, one must kill the opponent before being killed.

In other words, they owed their lives to Yeon Hojeong. Even if it was a life-or-death scenario forced by Yeon Hojeong.

With clear black-and-white eyes, Yeon Hojeong looked at the late-stage apprentices and spoke.

“There will be countless situations like this if you stay with me. I plan to target only the most vicious members of the dark sect.”

“…!”

“As I said, I have the power to decide your life and death at will. And my authority is protected by the alliance laws of the Martial Arts Union.”

“…”

“From the moment you followed me, you became my subordinates. However…”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“If you’re such useless brats that you can’t even properly swing your swords against these rookies, then that’s quite problematic. So I’ll give you one last chance.”

“…”

“I’ll count to ten. Those who don’t leave before then will fight alongside me to purge the dark sect from this moment on.”

A sinister smile appeared on Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“One, two, ten.”

“…?”

“Oh? No one’s leaving? As expected of members from the nine great sects, you all have guts.”

Yoon Ho spoke in astonishment.

“H-hey, weren’t you counting to ten? How did you go from two to ten?”

“My decision, kid. Don’t argue.”

“T-this is ridiculous.”

Yoon Ho, flustered. Yeon Hojeong, with a mischievous face.

The late-stage apprentices unknowingly began to chuckle. The tension was so high that even a small joke lightened the atmosphere.

As the serious atmosphere slightly eased, Yeon Hojeong spoke in a sincere voice.

“Since you’ve come this far, throw away your reasons and fight properly. As your leader, I’ll make sure at least you won’t die disgracefully.”

Song Yeongyeong asked with a smile.

“You’re not guaranteeing our survival?”

“Walking a path on the edge of a blade. Who knows when something will happen? I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”

Yeon Hojeong stood up.

In the eyes of the late-stage apprentices, Yeon Hojeong no longer seemed like the eldest son of the Yeon family.

Yeoguk casually asked.

“What’s our unit’s name?”

“What name?”

“Our combat unit’s name.”

With a more respectful tone and the use of “our.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled and said.

“Myeolsagun. We are the Myeolsagun.”