Black and White Martial Emperor

“A message has arrived.”

Je Gal Munho’s face was notably bright.

“It says that Supreme Commander Yeon has successfully concluded his deal with Vice Manor Lord Yang.”

Yeon Wi’s eyes shook with emotion. Without realizing it, he clenched his fist tightly.

Tang Gwan snorted.

“I’ll have to see Yangcheon in a new light. If he didn’t lose his temper at that insolent bastard’s mouth, you could call him a saint.”

Once Yeon Wi relaxed, Tang Gwan’s way of referring to Yeon Hojeong changed again. Contrary to his appearance, Tang Gwan had a considerate side.

“The relationship may turn at any moment, but he will be a great help in this operation, at least.”

“If this man called Hong Gwan, said to be Yangcheon’s disciple, is a pawn of the Three Creeds, Yangcheon may become our ally as well.”

Je Gal Munho shook his head.

“We will need to watch a while longer. Yangcheon is too burdensome an existence to make into a simple enemy. The Three Creeds will also attempt to win him over at least once.”

Tang Gwan cocked his head.

“I heard from that rude bastard that the Three Creeds have quite a few masters who could fight the Supreme Heavens’ strongmen to a draw.”

“Of course, that changes if they are prepared to wage an all-out war. But throughout history, the principle of war has been to achieve the greatest effect with the fewest losses. The Three Creeds cannot possibly be ignorant of that.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, the Three Creeds are the ones picking this fight with us. And we are fighting on our own soil.”

“So even a dog gets an advantage in its own yard?”

“...That comparison makes us the dogs.”

“Whatever we are, the point is that it favors us, isn’t it?”

“It does. The same was true when we went after the Divine Flame Cult’s Eighteen Warrior-Generals. Supreme Commander Yeon’s quick thinking and strategy let us defeat them rather easily, but we cannot disregard the advantage of terrain. The Three Creeds are unfamiliar with the geography of the Central Plains, and most of them probably do not even know what lies where.”

“Would they really start a war without preparing even that much?”

“They must have acquired at least a complete map of the Central Plains. Yet they still resorted to infiltration warfare. They know that fighting on Central Plains soil puts them at a disadvantage.”

“I see.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“The influence of a psychological advantage in battle is greater than one might think. The opposite is true as well. In the battle against the Eighteen Warrior-Generals, they must have been deeply unsettled.”

“Clan Lord Yeon is correct.”

Je Gal Munho let out a sigh.

It was not a sigh of frustration, but one of relief.

“In any case, we have crossed one great mountain. Let us discuss what remains after this operation succeeds.”

“Let us.”

“There is only one issue left for this operation. Just how powerful this Hong Gwan truly is...”

Then—

“Is anyone inside?”

The three men were startled.

The voice from outside the strategist’s office was exceedingly familiar.

What surprised them was that they had sensed no presence from that person on the way here. The members of the strategist’s office had been too busy to post guards outside, which made it all the more startling.

Je Gal Munho rose from his seat.

“Come in.”

“Then excuse me.”

Creak.

The door opened, and a monk appeared.

It was Venerable Gonggong.

*****

THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD.

The hoofbeats of the Righteous Justice Corps’ warhorses rang with unshakable confidence.

Most of the troops did not know exactly what their commander had gone to handle before returning. Like Yeon Hojeong, Mo Yong-woo knew well that it was better not to give subordinates more information than necessary.

Still, one fact was certain.

Their commander, Green Mountain Tiger Commander Yeon Hojeong, had fought Yangcheon—the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor and one of the Thirteen Seats of the Supreme Heavens.

That fact made the troops look at Yeon Hojeong anew, while also filling them with confidence for this mission.

Of course, none of them believed Yeon Hojeong had defeated Yangcheon. That was impossible. Every powerhouse of the Supreme Heavens was an invincible monster whose martial prowess rivaled that of gods.

Still, the fact that Yeon Hojeong had challenged the Fighting King himself sent the troops’ morale soaring beyond measure.

Their commander was not simply strong. He was a man bold enough to pick a fight with a master of the Supreme Heavens.

By the time the troops’ morale had risen as high as it could possibly go—

Yeon Hojeong himself, riding Red Wind at the head of the column, was looking inward.

What is this?

Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue inwardly.

I distinctly heard it was supposed to be nothing special. What the hell kind of thing did he give me?

HUMMMMMM. HUMMMMMMMMM.

The Yeon Clan Divine Core was spinning ferociously.

There was no battle underway, and he was not deliberately circulating the core. Yet the Yeon Clan Divine Core was rotating at high speed, as though he were drawing up every ounce of his Inner Qi.

There was only one reason.

It’s absorbing it.

The medicinal force of the spiritual medicine filling his lower dantian was being rapidly refined and drawn into the Yeon Clan Divine Core.

And even then, enough medicinal force remained to make his lower dantian feel tight and swollen.

Yeon Hojeong’s lower dantian, having reached Limitlessness, was broader and deeper than those of other Transcendent Peak masters.

Yet even that enormous dantian was still packed solid with medicinal force.

I’ll give him this much, at least.

Yeon Hojeong marveled at Yangcheon’s audacity.

The man certainly knows how to be generous.

He recalled Yangcheon’s exhausted face after all the treatment had ended.

And his voice as well.

“You were right. My True Qi had been contaminated by that damned Perverse Lust Cult Leader’s evil qi. Thanks to you, I have completely escaped his clutches. That is truly something to be grateful for.”

“But I will not offer separate thanks. You are still an enemy of Ink Dragon Manor. Even so, I cannot simply let you go. My pride would not allow it. A man who saved the Fighting King’s life deserves a reward equal to the deed.”

“This is a Wood Spirit Pill. Do not take it elsewhere. Consume it here, now.”

Even Yeon Hojeong, who knew a great deal, had never heard of a spiritual medicine called the Wood Spirit Pill. Of course, his knowledge of pill-making was not extensive. He did not even know the names of all the spiritual pills possessed by the Nine Sects and One Union or the Six Great Clans.

Still, one thing was certain.

The Wood Spirit Pill was no ordinary spiritual medicine.

It only felt moderately potent when I looked at it. But after swallowing it... this is no joke.

HUMMMMMMMMMM!

A faint blue-green gleam seeped from Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.

He was not circulating Jade Wave True Qi or Dragon-Embrace Qi.

He was circulating the Azure Dragon Art.

The Wood Spirit Pill is founded on Wood Qi. Azure Dragon Qi is the embodiment of Wood Qi—the True Qi best suited to absorb this pill’s power.

And that was not all.

Wood gives rise to fire. When Azure Dragon Qi blazed, Vermilion Bird Qi—the Fire Qi—naturally gained strength and burned more fiercely. When Vermilion Bird Qi strengthened, Black Tortoise Qi—the Water Qi—would in turn become deeper and more powerful.

Once all Three Divine Forces obtained spiritual energy of a higher level, White Tiger Qi would naturally rise with them, strengthening the entire Four Spirit Qi.

The problem was—

Damn it.

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

What the hell is he thinking? I told him I would take it slowly later. The medicinal force is far too strong!

The density of the medicine’s force exceeded imagination.

Even for Yeon Hojeong, it would be difficult to convert all of it into Inner Qi in a short time. It was undoubtedly among the most precious spiritual medicines Yangcheon possessed.

Did he give me this because he wants us to have another good fight when I come back?

With Yangcheon’s personality, that might truly have been his intention. Their bout had been enjoyable, but Yangcheon must not have found it wholly satisfying.

This could interfere with the mission.

Yet Yeon Hojeong was not confident he could absorb all the medicinal force before reaching their destination, nor did he intend to waste what remained.

Then...

Yeon Hojeong looked around.

Spiritual medicine was not particularly necessary for him. Taking it would certainly help, but his essence, qi, and spirit had already developed in perfect balance. Even if he consumed more medicine, he could not fully draw out its efficiency.

Unless it was being used for treatment, as Yangcheon had used it, there was no real need for him to take spiritual medicine.

It would be better to share it.

His eyes turned to Mookbi.

She was guiding her horse while watching the road ahead with sharp eyes.

Mookbi has little need for it.

Having broken through the Wall of Martial Arts, the efficiency of spiritual energy would have fallen dramatically for her. Besides, even in terms of Inner Qi alone, Mookbi had possessed more than Yeon Hojeong from the start. There was no reason to share the medicine with her.

For the same reason, Mo Yong-woo was no different.

Then who?

Giving it to all the troops was not an option. The medicinal force was not potent enough to spread among that many people. Even if it were, personally guiding each of them through their circulation would take far too long.

Hm.

Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.

No choice, then.

In the end, the person who would receive the medicinal force was decided.

[Gangryang. Up front.]

At Yeon Hojeong’s voice transmission, Gangryang urged his horse forward.

He looked at Yeon Hojeong curiously.

“What did you call me for, Brother?”

Despite the thunderous hoofbeats, Gangryang’s voice entered Yeon Hojeong’s ears clearly. He had adjusted the sound with Inner Qi so that it would reach only his intended target and remain unheard by everyone else.

Delivering an unwavering voice to another person from atop a warhorse in constant motion showed just how much Gangryang’s martial arts had improved.

Yeon Hojeong said,

“Can you circulate your Inner Qi while riding?”

“That much is nothing. Who do you take me for?”

“Then I’ll give you some Inner Qi. Make it yours within two days.”

“...What?”

Gangryang’s expression immediately went blank.

“What do you mean by that?”

Yeon Hojeong explained everything that had happened at Ink Dragon Manor, as well as his current condition.

Gangryang spoke as though dumbfounded.

“So you still haven’t digested all of it?”

“That’s what I’m telling you, you brat.”

“More importantly, you’re really giving that to me? What a waste.”

“There’s no time. We will reach our destination in three days. I’ll transfer more than seventy percent of it to you, so make it yours by whatever means necessary. Understood?”

“Ah, no!”

Without realizing it, Gangryang looked back.

Far behind them was Yeon Jipyeong. Yeon Jipyeong was still engrossed in the sword, moving his lips with a vacant expression.

Yet he somehow continued guiding his horse. That was proof that he had not been completely consumed by the principles of the sword.

“Brother, give it to Jipyeong. I’ll be fine.”

“No. Not Jipyeong.”

“What?”

“Giving Jipyeong stronger Inner Qi right now would only be poison. I will take care of Jipyeong in time, so you take this medicinal force.”

“B-but, Brother!”

“Surely—”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned cold.

“You are not about to say you do not want it because the spiritual medicine came from an enemy.”

“...”

Gangryang stared at Yeon Hojeong for a moment before nodding.

“If you put it that way, all right. I’ll take it.”

“It will be enough to fully complete your foundation. Once you receive this medicinal force, never say you lost because your Inner Qi was lacking.”

“I would never say something that pathetic.”

“Good. You made the right choice.”

Yeon Hojeong placed a hand on Gangryang’s life meridian.

“I’m transferring it all at once. Focus.”

“Understood—gh!”

HUMMMMMMMMMM!

The air around them shuddered violently.

Yeon Hojeong compressed the Wood Qi filling his lower dantian to its limit and transferred it in a single burst. Making it one’s own was difficult, but compressing and transferring the energy itself was not such a difficult feat.

Whoosh!

Gangryang’s face flushed bright red.

Yeon Hojeong grinned.

“I’m going to put you to proper use in this mission. Brace yourself!”

Three days later.

The Righteous Justice Corps entered Guangdong Province, at the far southern edge of the Central Plains.