“Departure authorization from the Alliance.”

The guard glanced at the small document Yeon Hojeong held out and nodded.

“Authorized.”

RUMMMMMBLE.

The northern gate, Black Tortoise Great Gate, began to open.

Just like Blue Dragon Great Gate, it was overwhelming to see even a second time. The sight of that towering, massive iron gate moving was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

At the head of the group, Yeon Hojeong took the first step forward.

The late-generation experts, who had been hesitating and watching each other, began to follow him one by one.

“Hoo, the air is nice.”

It was the same Mount Dabae, but leaving the Alliance of the Martial World still felt different. He hadn’t even spent a full month inside the Alliance fortress, yet stepping out made everything feel far more refreshing.

Yeon Hojeong spoke to Mookbi.

“Heart pounding a little?”

“Sorry? Ah, yes.”

“What’s with that face? Why are you so stiff?”

“What did I do?”

“You’re completely frozen. Don’t tell me you’re suddenly scared.”

“Of course not.”

Mookbi now had a clear grasp of the level of martial arts she had attained.

She was strong. Strong enough that, given a favorable environment, she could even bring down Yeon Hojeong himself.

Which meant she would not lose even if she fought an elder-level figure from one of the great orthodox sects of the Nine Sects and One Union or the Six Great Clans. At her age, mid-twenties, that level of combat power was enough to call her a genius among geniuses.

In other words, her nerves had nothing to do with stepping outside.

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Feeling awkward?”

“...”

“Is it just uncomfortable because you’ve never met these people before?”

“It’s not that they make me uncomfortable.”

With her face stiff as stone, Mookbi answered honestly.

“I just don’t know how I’m supposed to deal with them...”

She was still learning about the world. She had seen enough and she learned quickly, but starting to build relationships with strangers from scratch was still difficult.

Yeon Hojeong understood her.

“Don’t worry too much. You don’t need to force yourself to get close. Just keep this one thing in mind.”

“Sir?”

“As long as you’re with me, there’s going to come a day when you have to lead an organization of your own.”

“...!”

“No matter where your life goes from here, you’re better off learning how to lead people. If you plan on surviving in a world this rough, anyway.”

Mookbi nodded. She understood what Yeon Hojeong meant.

“All right, we’ve left the Alliance, so let’s enjoy the fresh air and move out.”

Just then—

“Um, Young Master Yeon.”

Yeon Hojeong glanced back.

It was Yun Ho who had spoken.

“I had a question...”

“Go ahead.”

“We’ve at least left the Alliance together, but... does that mean all of us have passed?”

“Passed? What are you talking about?”

“I mean, have we actually joined the Independent Field Force under your command, Young Master Yeon?”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“I’m the one who ran around until the soles of my feet were burning to make those invitations. If you came, of course we’re going together.”

“Ah...”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“N-no. It’s just that I...”

As Yun Ho hesitated, Dongho, bold as ever, spoke up.

“We haven’t been told anything, any of us.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes glinted.

Dongho lowered his head.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dongho, first disciple generation from MOUNT HUA SECT. I studied under White-Brilliance True Person.”

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Keep going.”

“To be perfectly clear, Senior Brother Yun and I came because we wanted to join the Field Force with you as commander, Young Master Yeon. But among the others, there are definitely some who came just because their curiosity was piqued.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Whatever their reasons, what I wanted to say is that sending us out of the Alliance without saying anything beforehand is a bit...”

“You’re saying I didn’t take you into consideration.”

Dongho smacked his lips.

“I don’t mean it quite like that. I was just curious.”

A smile spread across Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“We’ll talk about the details once we reach our destination. I’d appreciate it if you could hold out until then.”

“Ah... yes.”

“Hm?”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“Hey, you over there!”

Okcheong jumped.

“M-me?”

“Yeah, you.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

He looked utterly on edge. With his hands plastered to his thighs and his back ramrod-straight, Okcheong was like a clueless new recruit.

“Why did you come? I never gave you an invitation.”

“Ah, well...”

“You punk, you planning to stab me in the back when I’m not looking?!”

“Gasp! I-I’d never do that!”

“Then why did you come, huh?!”

“I—I came because I wanted to be with Great Hero Yeon!”

Yeon Hojeong scrunched his face up as far as it would go.

“Drop the ‘Great Hero’ stuff. And what exactly do you think you’re going to do, tagging along with me?”

Swallowing hard, Okcheong answered.

“Thanks to Great Hero Yeon, I was able to correct my mistakes.”

“I told you not to call me ‘Great Hero,’ damn it.”

“...Yes, sir.”

“I told you before, didn’t I? You don’t need any more spars with me. I said if I’d walked you to the door, it was your job to open it and step through.”

“Of course. However, I still have much to learn. Not just in terms of martial arts—I decided I needed to learn about the world as well.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.

“Learn about the world?”

“Yes. While receiving your guidance, Great—no, Young Master Yeon, I realized something. I’ve spent my entire life deep in the mountains, pursuing the Sword Immortal’s path, and because of that, my martial arts became far too rigid and fixed.”

“Don’t make excuses. Whether it was mountain training or anything else, the reason your martial arts got rigid is just that you were lazy and stupid.”

“...Yes, that’s true. In any case, I gained a lot from our spars. I realized that, even if it’s late, now is the time for me to step out into the world!”

“And going out into the world somehow guarantees your martial arts will improve?”

“...”

Okcheong fumbled for words and came up empty.

Yeon Hojeong’s brows had been knit tight, but now his expression relaxed.

“Still, I can’t say it’s a bad thing that you’re moving for the sake of change.”

“R-really?”

“Just don’t end up regretting joining under me.”

“I will never regret it.”

His eyes were steady. Like Mookbi, Okcheong knew nothing of worldly affairs, but there was weight behind his words.

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“All right, I’ll take you.”

“Thank you!”

“Damn it, I left you out on purpose because I didn’t want to have to deal with the Sword Immortal giving me the stink eye. I just hope he doesn’t beat me bloody later for ‘ruining’ his disciple.”

Grumbling to himself, Yeon Hojeong started walking again. Okcheong, face flushed with excitement, hurried {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} after him.

After a dozen or so steps, Yeon Hojeong glanced back.

“What are you all doing? Not coming?”

“...”

“If you don’t come, I’m leaving you all behind.”

Only then did the late-generation experts begin following after him. Their faces were full of shock and astonishment.

“What the— is that really Okcheong?”

“S-seems like it...”

“Did he really just say he received guidance from Young Master Yeon?”

“No way... Master Okcheong is the Sword Immortal’s sole disciple, why would he...?”

“This is no joke. This is seriously no joke.”

Their astonishment was only natural.

The Okcheong they knew might not have been one of the Twin Dragons and Three Peaks, but his presence already surpassed them.

Putting aside his actual skill, he was someone anyone would treat with respect. After all, the Sword Immortal himself had said Okcheong possessed the talent of a Martial God.

And yet, even if Green Mountain Tiger General had been making quite a name for himself lately, the idea that he was teaching Okcheong? No matter how they looked at it, it sounded absurd.

Just then, a woman with a wide-brimmed bamboo hat pulled low spoke.

“If it’s true, that’s actually a good thing.”

Everyone turned toward her.

She was the leader of the women in monastic robes. There were fifteen of them, and each held a long spear about seven feet in length.

They were disciples of Emei Sect.

“The Sword Immortal, one of the top experts of the orthodox martial world, and Master Okcheong, his sole disciple whom he acknowledged as having the talent of a Martial God.”

“...”

“If Young Master Yeon is capable of giving guidance to someone like Master Okcheong, I’d say that proves he has what it takes to handle disciples from the Nine Sects.”

The late-generation experts’ expressions shifted subtly.

She was right. Whatever their personal circumstances, most of them had failed to become the very best in their sects.

They were not the absolute top, but they still had the pride of being from the Nine Sects and One Union. If the person who might become their commander lacked ability, that would wound their pride even more.

Of course, not everyone agreed.

“You can’t know someone’s true skill until you see it for yourself.”

Their gazes turned to one swordsman.

He was the leader of five Daoists whose blue-and-white robes fluttered in the wind—Daoist Yeo Guk of Kunlun Sect.

“Master Okcheong is certainly outstanding, but his aura isn’t as razor-edged as a sword. He’s the Sword Immortal’s disciple, so I’m sure there’s something different about him, but he doesn’t seem as great as the rumors make him out to be.”

The Emei disciple, Song Yeongyeong, spoke.

“Even if Master Okcheong’s martial arts aren’t as amazing as the rumors, he still studied under the Sword Immortal. If Young Master Yeon is qualified to teach someone like that, it means his martial arts are extremely formidable.”

“I’m not denying that.”

Yeo Guk’s eyes followed Yeon Hojeong’s back.

“You can tell how strong Young Master Yeon is just from how he carries himself. It’s embarrassing to admit, but even within my own sect, I’ve never seen anyone show footwork as refined as his. Excluding our elders, of course.”

“...”

“However, the level you’ve attained and how well you fight are two different things. And the ability to lead a group is something else again.”

Song Yeongyeong nodded.

“You’re right.”

“Whatever Young Master Yeon is thinking, I just hope this Field Force turns out to be worthy of us staking our lives on it.”

Time passed like that.

After traveling for more than half a day at full speed, they arrived at a valley.

It was a remarkably beautiful valley. And the modest house nestled against it made for a picture-perfect scene.

“This is the place.”

Yeon Hojeong lifted his head and looked up at the sky.

“It’ll be evening soon... We made it with time to spare.”

WHUMMMM.

Jade Wave True Qi flowed out in a gentle wave, sharpening his senses.

They’re not here yet. But if the deputy’s intel was right, they’ll be here soon.

Yeon Hojeong spoke to Mookbi.

“Mookbi.”

“Yes.”

“Go up to that hill and hide. If anyone approaches, let me know.”

Though puzzled, Mookbi obediently nodded.

“All right.”

“Just in case, let me make this clear—do not pick up your bow. No matter what happens, you are forbidden from attacking. Understood?”

For him to put that much emphasis on it, this clearly wasn’t a trivial matter.

Mookbi nodded and took off.

FWOOOSH!

“Gasp!”

“S-so fast!”

It was like she’d just stamped her foot on the ground once, and in the next instant she was already up on the hill beyond the valley.

Her mastery of movement arts was terrifying. Even Yeo Guk of Kunlun Sect, who had trained movement arts that ranked among the very best within the Nine Sects and One Union, widened his eyes.

Impossible. That kind of speed? And that ease in her footwork...?

That archer wasn’t even using her full strength. He could see that much.

And yet she still had that speed and stability.

It wasn’t just Yeo Guk. Everyone there stared, spellbound, at the spot where Mookbi had gone. Not a single one of them would have been able to come close to matching her movement arts.

“Fast, isn’t she?”

The late-generation experts turned to look at Yeon Hojeong.

THUD!

The sound of Mad Dragon (Axe) slamming into the ground made several of them flinch.

“Now it’s time for us to do our part.”

At some point, Yeon Hojeong’s expression had turned serious.

“All right then, how am I going to bundle you rabble together into a single unit?”