Chapter Title: What Takes Priority Over Family Laws (4)
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"Phew, brother. That was nerve-wracking."
"Huh? What was?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong let out a groan.
"I was on pins and needles, thinking Father would blow up at you."
He must have been terribly tense watching his brother speak so freely to their father.
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled despite himself.
"Hey, you fool, what do you take Father for? Some army officer? Our superior?"
"Well, no, but..."
"No matter what anyone says, Father's our father, and we're his sons. If we want to be close to him, who's to say otherwise?"
"Heh."
Yeon Ji-pyeong stared blankly at Yeon Ho-jeong. It was as if he'd never thought of it that way before.
Yeon Ho-jeong pinched his brother's cheek.
"You rascal."
"Ow ow ow! That hurts!"
"Don't be so scared of Father."
"Huh?"
The smile Yeon Ho-jeong gave his brother was incredibly gentle, utterly unlike the Black Dark Emperor, the terror of the orthodox martial world.
"Do you think Father wants to be all stiff and formal in front of his kids? With the family laws and rules in place, he's just setting an example."
"Ah..."
"Though, yeah, he might be going a bit overboard even so."
"Gah!"
"Father's lived his whole life like that, and he'll keep doing so. His love for his sons won't change either."
Yeon Ho-jeong turned away.
"Don't wait around for affection, and don't expect rewards. It'll be tough, but it's better for your mental health."
"I-Is that so?"
"It's not like only parents have to wait for their kids, right?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong smiled as he watched his brother walk off into the distance.
"Yeah, when you put it that way."
His brother had been the first to let go of his resentment toward him. But it was his own courageous actions that had confirmed the result.
His relationship with their father was a little different, but on the whole, it was much the same.
"...Still scary, though."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day at dawn.
"Greetings, Young Master."
Unlike before, the gate guardians saluted crisply.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
"I'm here to see Father."
"Yes, sir."
They must have been informed ahead of time. The sword and Taoist guardians opened the door to the family head's chambers.
The scene inside the wide-open door felt strangely novel.
"The Family Head is currently at the training ground. Please head there."
"Got it."
Passing through the modest bamboo grove behind the family head's chambers led to the open training ground.
Whooo.
As Yeon Ho-jeong headed to the training ground, he suddenly felt a strange vibration rising from his dantian. Even without focusing his intent on his internal energy, his true qi writhed.
'Resonance.'
The Flying Swallow Qi seemed at a loss. It was as if the true qi itself was frightened—or excited.
It was because of Yeon Wi.
Hummm.
From Yeon Wi, seated cross-legged in the center of the training ground, a beautiful aura rose.
He'd never learned it, but he knew what technique it was. Amid the pressure dominating the entire training ground, the sharp and lofty atmosphere was overwhelming.
'Sword Extreme Thought Qi.'
Sword Extreme Thought Qi was one of the Five Divine Arts.
'Impressive.'
It wasn't a matter of great accomplishment or not.
The qi, honed countless times, had surpassed saturation and been compressed, only to expand again until it filled his entire body.
His understanding of true qi was on another level from ordinary martial artists. It was as if it proclaimed, This is the Family Head of the Yeon Family.
Humm. Hum.
The emanating qi slowly receded.
"You're here."
He spoke even while circulating his energy.
The most vulnerable moment for a martial artist was during energy circulation and regulation. Requiring utmost concentration, one became insensitive to external qi, and even a minor shock could lead to irreversible disaster.
Yet Yeon Wi was free even from that danger. Such was the realm of the Yeon Family Head.
'At least not below the South Palace Family Head.'
Having clashed with the orthodox martial world, he knew the levels of the Nine Great Sects and Seven Great Families better than anyone. In Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes, his father's martial arts rivaled the top among the Seven Great Families.
"Are you prepared?"
"Yes."
"Sit here."
Yeon Ho-jeong stepped onto the training ground.
Though only slightly elevated, it felt like climbing impossibly high stairs.
Yeon Ho-jeong sat in the center and assumed the cross-legged position—right where Yeon Wi had been circulating moments before.
"Recite the Azure Net True Formula."
Yeon Ho-jeong calmly recited the incantation.
Yeon Wi's eyes gleamed.
"You've memorized it perfectly."
"Yes."
He sat behind Yeon Ho-jeong and placed his hand on the Mingmen acupoint.
"Move your Flying Swallow Qi according to the Azure Net True Formula. I'll assist with the true qi transformation."
Hummmm.
No sooner had Yeon Wi spoken than Yeon Ho-jeong drew up his Flying Swallow Qi.
Yeon Wi's eyebrows twitched.
'Too hasty, as expected.'
He understood the sentiment. Bound to the Flying Swallow Heart Method for a decade, he must be eager to learn a superior art right away.
But impatience made attaining great success in a divine art difficult. He'd mentioned it yesterday, yet it seemed he hadn't fully accepted it.
Yeon Wi calmly guided the boiling Flying Swallow Qi.
'Once the circulation ends, I'll give him another stern talking-to...'
That was when it happened.
Weeeeeeng!
In an instant, the Flying Swallow Qi surged at full power.
Yeon Wi had only guided one full circuit. Yet the Flying Swallow Qi boiled madly.
'Danger!'
Rumble!
Yeon Wi, trying to control it, was startled.
The Flying Swallow Qi raced through his meridians at tremendous speed—faster and more passionate than anything he'd ever seen.
And yet soft.
Natural and splendid. Like a fierce river flowing along its course.
Weeeeeeng!!
After several circuits in storm-like momentum, the Flying Swallow Qi began to change.
In color, it was like pale green waves turning to the blue of a cloudless sky. The color of azure heavens—a blue net.
It changed. The true qi.
To a higher realm of qi, even more majestic.
'Azure Net True Qi!'
The speed of transformation from Flying Swallow Qi to Azure Net True Qi was beyond imagination.
Sizzle!
Even the shape and size of the dantian changed. Like a comfortably spacious house expanding into a palace.
It was a shock unlike any other. Even Yeon Wi himself had spent a full fortnight just on the true qi transformation when switching from Flying Swallow Heart Method to Sword Extreme Thought Qi—and his father had rarely praised him as exceptionally fast.
His son was different.
In less than half a shichen of circulation, he'd converted nearly all his Flying Swallow Qi to Azure Net True Qi.
'How is this possible?'
A moment later.
"Hoo."
Regulating his breathing, Yeon Ho-jeong slowly gathered his qi.
Yeon Wi was shocked once more.
'He's gathering the qi skillfully. As if he's done it his whole life.'
It had only been nudged once, yet the cart had already descended the mountain and reached its destination.
'Remarkable.'
Flash!
Yeon Ho-jeong opened his eyes.
A fierce light dwelled in them, different from before. Pupils tinged faintly blue slowly returned to their original color.
"It's done."
"I see."
"Thank you for the guidance."
Yeon Wi gazed steadily at his son.
There was no joy on the boy's face. Just endless calm.
As if he'd known it would turn out this way.
"You didn't need my help."
"Yes."
An honest answer.
"But feeling Father's qi made it a meaningful moment."
For once, Yeon Wi couldn't grasp what that meant.
After another silence, he spoke a half quarter-hour later.
"You said you know all the Five Divine Arts' incantations?"
"Yes."
"You chose the Azure Net True Formula for its stability, no doubt?"
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
"That's right."
All Five Divine Arts were perfectly balanced, without excess or deficiency. Yet each had distinct characteristics.
Among them, the Azure Net True Formula was the most majestic and stable. Even vigorous operation burdened the body less than the other divine arts.
Yet it matched their output. Considering Yeon Ho-jeong's temperament, it was the right choice.
Yeon Wi hesitated unusually.
Something had come to mind to say to his son. But even he didn't know what it was.
A moment later, he nodded.
"If you hit a wall, come find me then."
"Understood."
"Good work."
There wasn't much conversation, like yesterday. Yet father and son had shared far more.
As Yeon Ho-jeong bowed and descended the training ground, his gaze lingered on the weapon rack.
It held a multitude of weapons.
"You train with many weapons?"
"A true martial artist should wield even a mere tree branch with the full power of their art. To that end, one needs understanding of as many weapons as possible."
It was sound logic.
The martial world was unpredictable—who might kill you, when. In the worst moments, one had to unleash the best martial arts.
Yeon Ho-jeong had learned it through battle; Yeon Wi through self-cultivation.
"May I take a few?"
"Hm?"
Yeon Wi grew curious what this astonishing son would ask for next.
"Help yourself. Which ones?"
"An iron staff first."
"Iron staff?"
"Yes."
"And?"
Yeon Ho-jeong's lips curved in a smile, but his eyes darkened with an inscrutable ferocity.
"An axe."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...So, full recovery will likely take five or six months."
A middle-aged man looked down at the young woman, her body splinted all over, and asked.
"Internal injuries?"
"Not as severe as one might think. The real issue is mental trauma rather than internal."
"Mental trauma?"
"Yes. She seems to have suffered a great shock. The internal injuries will heal soon, and the external ones in half a year, but the psychological damage is beyond treatment."
"I see."
The middle-aged man, Namgung In, appeared far calmer than expected.
He patted the physician's shoulder.
"She was a wild one, but she's still a child of the South Palace Family. She'll overcome a mere wound to the heart. Please give it your all."
The physician bowed as if honored.
"Of course. Roughly half a year at most—she'll recover faster, I assure you."
"I'm counting on you."
Namgung In patted his shoulder several more times before leaving the infirmary.
He gazed up at the sky for a moment.
A young man approached him.
"Father."
"Hyeon, is that you?"
He was a strikingly handsome man, his elegance reaching the heavens, yet his sturdy build lent him a mystical air.
Namgung In's second son, Namgung Hyeon.
"How's Sang-hwa?"
"She got it bad."
The father never exaggerated or boasted. If he said it was bad, it was truly severe.
Namgung In shook his head.
"From what I've heard of the incident, Sang-hwa was at fault. I sent her out to learn and gain experience, but it seems she only worsened."
"She's always been arrogant and proud. If she uses this as a foundation to grow, it'll be for the best."
"I think so too."
"But."
Namgung Hyeon's eyes grew icy.
"Learning the value of life from bandits doesn't mean we forgive the bandits."
"The opponent is the Yeon Family."
"A house with only fifty years of history."
"A house that turned the Six Great Families into Seven in just fifty years. Martial artists aren't fools. Without the qualifications, they wouldn't dare stand alongside them."
"No matter how great, they touched the South Palace Family."
"The justification lies with the Yeon Family."
Namgung Hyeon fell silent for a moment.
Namgung In spoke calmly.
"Your uncle already apologized."
"Apologized?"
"Yes."
The corner of Namgung Hyeon's mouth lifted.
"Then the Yeon Family will let this slide?"
"They would have even without the apology."
"But now they'll feel secure."
"Likely."
"Uncle erred, but he handled the aftermath swiftly and well."
"If we were going to press the Yeon Family, it amounts to that."
Namgung In looked at his son.
Even seeing the chill in his son's eyes, Namgung In's expression remained serene. The unchanging face resembled Yeon Wi's, but the nuance differed.
"Do you plan to endure this, Father?"
"Of course. I'm not about to pick a fight with such a power over one ruined child."
His kind, serene face delivered cold words.
Namgung Hyeon smiled even so.
"As it should be. The family head can't act rashly over something like this."
Namgung In gave a subtle smile.
"Planning a visit to Jiangso Province?"
"Why would I? With justification on their side, haste gains nothing."
"Then?"
Namgung Hyeon asked in a meaningful tone.
"When is the gathering of the Seven Great Families' rising stars this year?"
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