Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 165

The Essence of the Dark Struggle

The next morning,

Buuuuung!

The Kwangryongbu, cutting through the air, gleamed in the sunlight.

“Hmmm.”

Yeon Hojeong’s body, drenched in sweat, was faintly trembling.

For the first time since breaking through the Muzongjibyeok, he was training with all his strength. He couldn’t unleash his destructive techniques, so he carefully controlled his internal energy to avoid destroying his surroundings.

‘Still not quite there yet.’

Surprisingly, using the Cheongryonggong, which he had learned recently, was easier. Cheongryonggong focused on evasion and counterattacks, minimizing wasted energy.

In contrast, Jujakgong was a vicious killing technique, Baekhogong was an aggressive attack with no retreat, and Hyeonmugong was an impenetrable defense, but still vulnerable if not properly controlled.

‘No matter how much more difficult the other three divine techniques are to control compared to Cheongryong, there shouldn’t be such a gap since I learned them much earlier.’

Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘It’s because of Byukra Jinryeol.’

Mastering Cheongryonggong had completed the Four Divine Energies (Sasinki), and the completed Sasinki had elevated to a higher level due to their synergistic effects.

The problem lay with Byukra Jinryeol. As the foundation of the Four Divine Energies, Byukra Jinryeol had matured on its own, achieving the Ten Star Great Achievement, to match the high concentration of energy.

‘I need to completely make Byukra Jinryeol my own before I can touch the Four Divine Martial Arts. The Sasinmu is just an extension after all.’

Byukra Jinryeol was different from Hongcheonki. If it were Hongcheonki, which endlessly aimed to amplify internal energy, this problem wouldn’t have surfaced as much.

‘But Hongcheonki can’t aim higher. It’s my own shortcomings, after all.’

One of Yeon Hojeong’s strengths was taking responsibility seriously without looking for excuses when problems arose.

‘If I refine Byukra Jinryeol now and incorporate all Five Great Divine Skills (Odaesingong)…’

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘I should ask father tonight.’

Unfortunately, his father was not at the residence at the moment.

Although both served in similar positions, their roles differed. Yeon Wi had a keen eye for commerce and was temporarily serving as an advisor in managing the funds of the Murim Alliance.

Yeon Wi, along with Jegal Munho, was the busiest among the servants.

“Finished training?”

“Hmm?”

Yeon Hojeong looked at Mok Bi.

She was also drenched in sweat. Since she had been training before Yeon Hojeong came to the garden, she must be quite exhausted as well.

“Any progress?”

Mok Bi gave a bitter smile.

“Not really.”

She, too, was a master on the verge of breaking through Muzongjibyeok. Beyond simple training, deep contemplation was necessary to reach that level of understanding.

Yeon Hojeong looked up at the sky.

‘There’s still plenty of time.’

Yeon Hojeong, holding the Kwangryongbu, spoke to Mok Bi.

“How about it? Want to take a shot?”

“Huh?”

“They say enlightenment is important for achieving higher realms. But enlightenment is often nothing special.”

Mok Bi’s face showed curiosity.

This was the advice of a master who had broken through Muzongjibyeok. It was worth listening to, regardless of their friendship.

“Then what is it?”

“First, what do you think enlightenment is?”

“Enlightenment is just that, enlightenment.”

Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.

“How did you reach your current level? Did something suddenly come to you?”

“Ah…”

“Not, right?”

Mok Bi nodded with a bitter expression.

“I just worked hard, and before I knew it…”

“That’s it. Working hard. But that’s just the basics. What’s important is how useful your efforts are.”

“Useful efforts?”

“Do you remember why I taught you Hongcheonki?”

Mok Bi’s eyes sparkled.

“I remember.”

“Mastering Hongcheonki didn’t directly improve your Nine Dragon Archery. But through training in Hongcheonki and combat, you could overlay sensory shooting techniques onto your archery.”

“…!”

“Aiming higher is necessary, but it’s also crucial to fully utilize what you can gain from where you are now.”

Mok Bi’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Hojeong tapped the Kwangryongbu.

“My martial arts, the Four Divine Martial Arts, truly begin after mastering all four techniques. In other words, I was already fully prepared to break through Muzongjibyeok even before obtaining Cheongryonggong.”

“I see.”

“Don’t just look up; look around you. If you explore and grasp things here and there, you’ll find yourself at a higher place than before.”

In the end, enlightenment is just a play on words. Martial arts grow by simply breaking away from fixed ideas and shifting your thinking. That is enlightenment.

Talking about enlightenment that can’t be described in words or writing is not relevant at their current level.

“You’re an archer. As an archer, it’s hard to feel the intensity of life and death compared to a boxer or swordsman. It’s due to the nature of your weapon, not the level of your martial arts.”

“That was also why you taught me hand-to-hand combat.”

“Right. You need to face people. In the end, martial arts is a field that struggles to progress without opponents.”

Mok Bi looked at Yeon Hojeong with an expression of awe.

“Where did you get all this knowledge?”

Yeon Hojeong snorted.

“Experience.”

“You’re not old enough to have such experience.”

“Experience is like the level of martial arts. Age doesn’t matter. There are plenty of middle-aged masters weaker than you.”

“True.”

Thud.

Yeon Hojeong drew a line on the ground with Kwangryongbu.

“I’ll stand right here, so take a shot. Really try to kill me.”

Mok Bi’s face tensed.

“Will you be okay?”

“Who’s worrying about who?”

Mok Bi smirked at Yeon Hojeong’s playful remark.

“You’ll regret it if you get a hole in your head.”

“Humph.”

Woo-woong.

A blue aura arose from Yeon Hojeong’s body. It was Byukra Jinryeol.

“One shot. If you can’t get me with that one shot, you’re dead. Shoot with that mindset.”

“…Alright.”

Thunk.

Mok Bi stepped back.

A too-close distance makes it easier to read. Whether using archery or hidden weapons, you need to keep a reasonable distance for maximum effect.

“Ready?”

Crack.

Mok Bi placed a steel arrow on her Hongryong Bow.

There was no reply. Her eyes were already focused on Yeon Hojeong.

Yeon Hojeong inwardly smiled.

‘In this aspect, you’re definitely not an ordinary person.’

She was more a hunter than a warrior. Instead of confronting the enemy boldly, she refined martial arts to kill her opponent.

In the past, it was said that if Hyeogamje and the Divine Archer joined forces, they could kill even the strongest. This was not idle talk.

Hyeogamje was a warrior, and the Divine Archer was a hunter. No better combination for killing the enemy.

And now,

In the present, which is also the future, the two were training every day to regain their sharp glory from the past.

Hoooong.

The flow of the atmosphere changed.

The air currents converging on the Hongryong Bow were nothing short of chilling.

Yeon Hojeong’s face hardened.

‘Good.’

No matter how much he had reached the peak, a moment’s carelessness could still mean death.

Especially since Mok Bi was a master archer. Yeon Hojeong could see things she couldn’t, but her archery was still a threat to anyone.

Carelessness means death. If she truly aimed to kill, he had to respond with the same level of seriousness.

Tzztzztzz.

Yeon Hojeong aimed his Kwangryongbu at Mok Bi.

Just lifting and aiming the long, heavy axe at an opponent required immense strength.

He could do it before, but now it was different. Yeon Hojeong’s posture, aiming Kwangryongbu without any shakiness yet fluidly, was unwavering.

A level where one could embody contradictory principles.

Mok Bi broke into a cold sweat as she watched Yeon Hojeong, the supreme master with the title of “Mountain Tiger” and “Lotus.”

‘…’

Swoosh.

A chilly wind blew.

‘I can’t see it.’

Mok Bi, who had already regarded him as prey, turned into a reaper solely focused on claiming his life.

Even with such a reaper’s eyes, no gap could be seen.

‘Or rather…’

There were too many gaps, making it problematic.

Any place she aimed at seemed to hit. Yet, any place she aimed at also seemed to miss.

‘It’s natural.’

She subtly adjusted her posture while aiming the Kwangryongbu at him.

She narrowed her shooting radius, an ideal stance when facing an archer.

‘If I shoot half-heartedly, I’ll definitely miss, and in a blink, he’ll take my head off.’

The scene played out in her mind.

Yeon Hojeong’s characteristic explosive attack and merciless strike would blow her head off.

‘Then…’

Wooong! Wooong! Wooong!

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes shone.

The Hongryong Bow moved

slightly, slightly, disturbing the direction and timing of the shot.

It was a classic response. That subtle movement alone made defense and evasion twice as difficult.

Swoosh!

The wind grew stronger.

Mok Bi smelled the wind. The distinct, stuffy smell of metal heightened the tension.

‘It’s Baekhoki.’

The white aura rising from beneath seemed to gauge the timing of the attack.

That white tiger’s wind was warning.

If you miss, I’ll attack immediately. One attack, and you’re dead.

Drip.

Another trickle of cold sweat ran down.

‘What should I do? Where should I aim to catch him? The Dragon Fang Cannon (Yongapo) is strong, but Yeon Gongja can easily block it.’

Then it happened.

‘Huh?’

Mok Bi’s eyes shook.

‘Why do I have to use Yongapo?’

Yongapo was the most confident technique from the Nine Dragon Archery.

But that destructive power wouldn’t work on him. Should she still stubbornly stick to Yongapo?

Suddenly, Yeon Hojeong’s words came to mind.

‘What’s important is how useful your efforts are.’

Yongapo can’t catch Yeon Hojeong.

Then?

Hooooong!

A peculiar grey aura surged from Mok Bi’s feet.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Hongcheonki?!’

At that moment, Mok Bi released the string.

Thaaang!

The steel arrow, wrapped in grey mist, shot out like lightning.

Even Yeon Hojeong, who had broken through Muzongjibyeok and maximized the quality of his senses and internal energy, couldn’t perceive it slowly.

‘Lower body.’

In a split second.

Yeon Hojeong realized that Mok Bi’s arrow was aimed at his thigh. It seemed to come straight at first, but at some point, it arced downwards in a short, curved trajectory.

‘Is it still too much?’

Yet, Yeon Hojeong’s hand was already moving downward. As the arrow flew, his instinct read the killing intent and moved his hand.

‘Anyway, it’s a failure.’

Just when Yeon Hojeong’s left hand was about to catch the grey steel arrow.

Boom!

Surprise flashed in Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.

The fired arrow split vertically and multiplied into five.

‘Yuryong Sanjeon Bullet?!’

Popopopop!

Yeon Hojeong staggered.

Four of the five split arrows embedded in the ground, and one was caught in Yeon Hojeong’s hand. The tip of that one slightly pierced his thigh.

Had he not caught it in time, it would have made a hole.

“…Wow.”

Yeon Hojeong involuntarily let out an exclamation.

“Wasn’t Yuryong Sanjeon Bullet a technique that couldn’t be used at this distance?”

Yeon Hojeong looked back.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Huff, huff!”

Mok Bi, gasping for breath, was positioned behind him with her bow drawn without an arrow.

The Kwangryongbu was also touching her collarbone.

Mok Bi spoke, panting.

“Huff! Huff! I forcibly reversed the qi flow, but did it still not work?”

“It’s a pity. It’s a pity, but…”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Well done. You put everything into that shot.”

Mok Bi grinned.

As she smiled, her face gradually turned pale and then blue. The severe internal injury from reversing the qi flow and forcibly contracting her breath was taking its toll.

Thud!

Unable to withstand the tension, the Hongryong Bow fell to the ground. Mok Bi also lost consciousness and collapsed.

Yeon Hojeong quickly caught her.

A look of pride crossed his face.

“Well done.”