“Hm.”

Yeon Wi looked around.

It was snowing again. He had drawn up even his Inner Qi and swept it clear in an instant, yet already one layer, then two, had piled across the ground again.

“It really is pouring down.”

Part of him thought there was no point sweeping snow that would only pile up again anyway, but in the end, it still had to be done. It made walking easier, for one thing. And once it started, it would almost certainly pile up to nearly a full foot, so if he left it alone, it would only become even more troublesome later.

SCRITCH, SCRITCH.

Yeon Wi swept the snow again.

He had plenty of time, and there was nothing in particular he needed to do. Besides, as he kept sweeping, stray thoughts stopped rising. Unexpectedly, it had something of the effect of meditation.

How much time had passed like that?

Hm?

Yeon Wi, who had paused for a moment, started sweeping again.

A little later—

“What a strange sight.”

Yeon Wi looked toward the gate.

Beyond the open gate stood Tang Gwan, wrapped in fur-lined clothes.

“The head of one of the Six Great Clans, sweeping his own courtyard. Do you truly have that little to do?”

Yeon Wi answered calmly.

“I happened to have a little time today.”

“No thought of having your subordinates do it?”

“I have no one beneath me here. And if someone has to do it in the end, whether it’s a subordinate or myself, wouldn’t it be better if I do it?”

“That sounds nice enough.”

The trademark sneer in Tang Gwan’s voice had not changed. His tone, too, was as sharp-edged as ever.

Yeon Wi rested both hands atop the end of the broom.

“So then, what brings you all the way here without so much as sending word?”

“Do you have any liquor?”

Yeon Wi smiled.

“I have very fine liquor.”

Tang Gwan snorted.

“I’ll give you a chance to apologize. If it isn’t good liquor, I won’t accept your apology for the rest of my life.”

“Don’t worry. I have Confucius Family Liquor brought in directly from Shandong. I hear this year’s production was only a third of last year’s. I sweated quite a bit getting hold of it.”

Tang Gwan let out a derisive laugh.

“So this so-called world-famous liquor turned out to be Confucius Family Liquor?”

“This batch is particularly exceptional. Have a drink yourself, and you’ll understand what I mean.”

“Hmph!”

Tang Gwan stepped into Warbreaker Pavilion.

“Stop sweeping and set out the drinks. You don’t need to serve any food.”

“Let’s do that.”

Tang Gwan looked around.

“I don’t feel anyone’s presence. I heard that brat had gone to escort the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions. Looks like he already left.”

He was obviously talking about Yeon Hojeong. Yeon Wi nodded.

“He left three days ago.”

“Good. It’s nice not having any irritating bastard around.”

“Ha ha ha.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because that means you don’t find this person irritating, doesn’t it? I feel a little sorry for my son, but surely I’m still better company than he is?”

“You are free to be delusional. Whether you’re actually tolerable or not is something I’ll decide after I’ve had a cup.”

“Very well.”

After dusting off the broom, Yeon Wi led Tang Gwan to the downstairs door.

“Come in.”

*****

“Hah! Hah!”

Gangryang’s eyes were completely unfocused.

That was not all. His entire body was covered in ugly slash wounds, and every last one of them was deep. If the blade had gone even a little deeper, it would have cut through bone.

“We stop here for today.”

“Kuhk! Th-thank you for your hard work!”

“You worked hard too.”

Thud!

Gangryang collapsed on the spot.

The snowfield, pure white a moment ago, had been stained red with blood. Anyone seeing it would have mistaken it for the aftermath of a massacre.

Watching the match from a distance with his arms crossed, Mo Yong-woo clicked his tongue.

“Commander Yeon.”

“Just call me what you usually do. There’s no need to hide it in front of them.”

“...Brother Yeon.”

“What?”

Mo Yong-woo shook his head.

“Isn’t this a little too brutal, no matter how you look at it? You nearly killed Swordsman Gang for real.”

Yeon Hojeong snorted.

“If this much is enough to kill him, then he’d be better off dead.”

“Hah! You really are merciless.”

“The Ghost Sword art «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» he learned pursues a tyrannical, practical heavy sword. That suits his nature too. If I don’t push him this way, he’ll never reach its true meaning in his entire life.”

“Hmm.”

“Otherwise, he’d have to learn it in a bloody real fight. Better to take a few beatings from a master who knows what he’s doing than that.”

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes lit up.

“I’ve heard your Four Spirit Martial Art is also a battlefield martial art.”

“It doesn’t compare. That’s what makes Ghost Sword so extraordinary. It’s unbelievably fierce and practical, yet the sword intent behind it runs very deep. If he devoted himself to the sword alone, by the end of his life he could become a powerhouse equal to anyone.”

“Then why drive him so mercilessly?”

“Because neither he nor I have the temperament to wait until the end of his life.”

That was a remark perfectly suited to Yeon Hojeong.

Mo Yong-woo smacked his lips.

“We should stay at an inn tonight. At this rate Swordsman Gang will really die— hm?”

Rustle.

Gangryang staggered to his feet. His breathing was still rough, but there was already strength in the hand that brushed the snow off his body.

Mo Yong-woo’s mouth fell open.

Yeon Hojeong smirked.

“Scary, isn’t it?”

“H-how?”

“He was born with absurd stamina, and the Ghost King True Qi he learned boasts recovery ability that’s practically at the level of demonic arts when he concentrates. Give him three or four days, and the wounds he took just now will be as good as if they never happened.”

“What?”

Three or four days to recover from those vicious internal and external injuries. Mo Yong-woo could hardly believe it.

“Hoo.”

Gangryang let out a deep breath. For all his recovery ability, he had lost so much blood that his face was pale.

“You really have no mercy, brother.”

“Recover as much as you can by tomorrow. We’re doing this again. You need to learn how to face an opponent even when you’re not in perfect condition.”

“Yes.”

The two of them exchanged absurd words as if they were perfectly ordinary.

Yeon Hojeong shrugged.

“Anyway, like brother said, we should stay at an inn tonight. We’ve run out of food too.”

The one most delighted by that was not Gangryang, but Mookbi.

“Good. We should’ve done that ages ago.”

“You want to wash up?”

“...Seriously, you—”

“I was just asking. Isn’t that an overreaction?”

“Shut up!”

And so the group headed to an inn in Chaoyang County, Hubei Province.

The place was bigger than expected. It was crowded too, and because of that, the mood inside was lively.

“Get some rest. I’m going to stop by the Beggars’ Union branch for a bit.”

“Going alone? Wait a little. I’ll wash up and go with you.”

“No, it’s fine. You all wash up first.”

Yeon Hojeong went straight to find the Beggars’ Union branch.

The branch was not far from Chaoyang County. Then again, the Beggars’ Union’s branches were spread across the Central Plains like a spiderweb, so no matter where one went, there was always at least one hidden away nearby.

“I am Yeon Hojeong, Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps of the Martial Alliance Field Force.”

“We were notified in advance. You’ve come a long way. What information would you like first?”

“The Divine Maiden of the Western Regions, first.”

As if he had been waiting for that, the branch chief answered at once.

“The Divine Maiden of the Western Regions is currently staying in Shanggao County, Jiangxi Province. It seems she intends to treat as many patients as possible before Commander Yeon arrives.”

“I see.”

“However...”

“Hm?”

The branch chief frowned.

“It seems word has been spreading quietly that the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions is headed for the Martial Alliance. The medical associations in Jiangxi Province are controlling the medicinal ingredients.”

Yeon Hojeong’s face hardened as well.

“They’re doing that even while sick people are waiting for treatment?”

“Their position is that if people are sick, they should come to them instead of going to her.”

“What kind of lunatics are those?”

“Exactly. But the medical associations exist throughout the Central Plains, and their influence is so extensive that it’s difficult to openly rebuke them.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned cold.

“A little jealousy would be one thing, but those people have crossed the line.”

“I say this just in case, but if you have any intention of touching them, I advise you to move carefully.”

“I’ve seen too many cases where people obsessed over caution and failed to do what needed to be done.”

The branch chief sighed. So they said the Green Mountain Tiger Commander Yeon Hojeong had a fiery disposition. From the look of things, the Jiangxi medical associations were about to have a miserable time of it.

Yeon Hojeong waved a hand.

“Don’t worry so much. I’ll watch the situation and respond flexibly.” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

“I understand.”

Only then did the branch chief’s face ease. Then again, no matter how fiery his temperament, a man known as the greatest of the younger generation under heaven could hardly charge in completely without restraint.

Of course, the branch chief had no idea just how far Yeon Hojeong’s idea of flexibility actually extended.

“In any case, it looks like I should get moving as soon as possible. Thank you.”

“It was nothing. Is there any other information you’d like?”

A smile touched Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“My father said the second one has been keeping the Beggars’ Union informed.”

“Ah, you mean Second Young Master Yeon Jipyeong.”

“That’s right.”

“One moment, please.”

The branch chief rummaged through a pile of documents, then soon returned holding a single sheet of paper.

“It says he hasn’t been gone long. He has already entered Anhui Province, and will most likely pass through Mount Jiuhua, enter Jiangxi Province, then continue north from there.”

Yeon Hojeong’s expression brightened at once.

To get from Jiangsu Province, where the Yeon Clan was, to the Martial Alliance in Henan, all one had to do was cross the river in Anhui and enter Henan directly.

So if Yeon Jipyeong was deliberately passing through Mount Jiuhua and into Jiangxi Province, there was a high chance he was coming to see him.

Jipyeong.

Yeon Hojeong thought of Yeon Jipyeong.

A pale, gentle face. Clear, deep eyes filled with a boy’s innocence and a moral conviction built on chivalry.

Have you been well all this time?

He had been so busy he had barely thought of his younger brother. Now that he considered it, two full years had already passed.

He must have grown a lot by now.

There were not even ten days left until the year turned. His younger brother would soon be eighteen.

I wonder how much he has grown.

A private smile rose at the thought, and Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Thank you. I’ll still be able to hear news about Jipyeong from the other branches, correct?”

“Of course. It isn’t such a distant region, and the order has already come down from above. No matter where you go, you’ll be able to hear updates about your younger brother.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re too kind. I wish you safety for the rest of your journey.”

With that, Yeon Hojeong left the Beggars’ Union branch.

As he walked down the street, deep in thought, people kept sneaking glances at him.

He was tall, dressed in light armor, and on top of that had an axe as large as a man’s body slung over his shoulder. It was only natural that people stared.

“No way... right?”

“Come on, no way. It can’t be.”

“But that huge axe... that thing looks insanely heavy. If he isn’t that Green Mountain Tiger Commander from the rumors, who else would carry an axe like that around?”

“Aren’t axes fashionable these days because of the Green Mountain Tiger Commander? Do you really think that young man is the real one?”

“Y-you think not?”

They kept shooting uncertain looks his way, but no one dared step forward and speak to him.

Whether they did or not, Yeon Hojeong remained lost in thought.

They’re controlling the medicinal ingredients...? Were the medical associations really that powerful?

He knew that the medical associations existed. But he had only known of their existence, not the extent of their influence.

I can’t treat this as just a matter involving the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions.

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

If the Martial Alliance is going to build a dedicated medical institution, smooth distribution of medicinal ingredients will be essential. If the medical associations control that, this could become a serious headache.

A sigh came out on its own.

I’ve wound up worrying about the strangest things. I should stop thinking and get some real rest today.

It was just as Yeon Hojeong returned to the inn.

“Wooooooah!!”

An enormous cheer exploded from the top floor.

Yeon Hojeong looked up toward the upper story and felt his vision go dark for a moment.

“...Did you idiots come here on a picnic?”

Three familiar presences were stirring where that roar of celebration had come from.