Black and White Martial Emperor

The wind was rather cool.

But even the chill of the autumn air couldn’t dampen the bustle of the marketplace. Countless people were calling out, trying to draw customers into their shops.

It’s been a while.

Once he was actually outside, all thoughts of the Jade Wave True Formula vanished.

This was the first time he’d stepped into the marketplace since returning to the past. A flood of emotions rose inside him.

Just the same.

This was the street he’d wandered endlessly as a child.

But after the Yeon Clan’s annihilation, he had never once come back. Each time, he feared it would drag up memories of his dead family.

“Not bad.”

“Hehe, right?”

Yeon Jipyeong’s face was flushed with excitement. It was the first time he had ever gone to the market with his elder brother alone.

“Brother, are you feeling unwell?”

“Mm?”

“Your walking looks a little odd.”

“Ah, it’s just—”

His internal qi had suddenly leapt up by two whole stages.

On top of that, he had cleared quite a number of blocked blood paths. As qi surged back and forth through them, power naturally filled his body.

A mismatch between body and qi. Even when he tried to walk slowly, his pace would quicken on its own. It was the inevitable imbalance of a physique not yet tempered to match.

I’ll suffer for this later.

Physical toughness was every bit as important as internal force. To forge this still-unripe body to the level of the Dark Emperor would require hellish training.

As Yeon Hojeong was rolling his shoulders round and round—

“Ah! Over there! Let’s go there!”

The place Jipyeong pointed at was a clean, elegant tavern.

“That’s Ancient Sun Pavilion.”

Ancient Sun Pavilion was a tavern famous even in the southern parts of Jiangsu Province. The prices were rather high, but it was well-known for its cuisine and its view.

“Oh, you’ve been there, Brother?”

“A few times.”

It wasn’t a place tied to fond memories.

About half a year before the Yeon Clan’s destruction, perhaps? In despair, he had drunk heavily, and many of those times were here at Goyang Pavilion.

I really lived foolishly.

He had smashed furniture in drunken rages and gotten into brawls that left him beaten half to death.

It was a place where both his body and his spirit had been in ruins.

“They say the fish dishes are especially famous. Let’s eat fish, Brother—fish!”

“Why not.”

“Huh? But you eat fish? Didn’t you dislike it?”

Hojeong shrugged.

“Eat while you can. Anyway, is this your first time there?”

“Hehe, actually I’ve been once. With friends.”

“Friends... from Attentive Prosperity Academy?”

“Yes! They’re all good friends.”

The Yeon Clan had always stressed both letters and arms more than most martial families. They never expected their children to become great scholars, but at minimum, they were to be educated above the common level.

That principle remained unchanged even now that the clan had risen to the rank of the Seven Great Clans. Jipyeong’s study at Attentive Prosperity Academy was part of that tradition.

Hojeong smiled.

“Learn well. Knowledge never hurts.”

With a guileless face, Jipyeong asked,

“But Brother, will you still not go back?”

“To Attentive Prosperity Academy?”

“Yes!”

“No. I won’t.”

Hojeong had first attended the academy himself. But two years ago, he cut it off entirely to focus on martial arts.

A faint shadow crossed Jipyeong’s face.

“Oh... I see.”

Such an honest kid.

It was pitiful, but he still had no intention of returning. Not because he hated learning, but because he felt there was no more he needed.

“You get along well with your friends, then?”

“Of course. Ah! And this time, the academy received short-term guest students!”

“Guest students?”

“Yes! They’re from renowned martial families of Anhui. One of them is even from the Namgung Clan!”

He spoke brightly, as if his disappointment had never existed.

Hojeong frowned.

“From Namgung?”

“Yes! Surprising, right?”

Was that so?

He couldn’t recall. Back in those days, he had cared about no one but himself.

Namgung... the Namgung Clan.

The greatest household of Anhui, bordering Jiangsu.

Counted among the Seven Great Clans alongside the Yeon Clan, but with a far older history.

Namgung meant swords. In the past and in the present, no family was more famous as a Sword Clan than the Namgung.

Even after the Murong Clan produced their peerless Sword Immortal, that truth had not changed.

“Brother?”

“Mm?”

“Why do you look like that? You don’t look pleased.”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

The two of them finally entered Ancient Sun Pavilion.

The tavern was quieter than expected. Though four stories tall, there seemed to be fewer than ten people inside.

“Lucky us, Brother! Let’s go up to the fourth floor!”

“Alright.”

On the fourth floor, the view was excellent. The wide-open windows let the wind rush in, cool but more refreshing than cold.

“Nice, isn’t it? Isn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m glad we came.”

Though he had visited this place often before, it felt new, almost like a first time.

Sitting by the window, Jipyeong eagerly ordered dishes: a fish specialty and a couple of stir-fried vegetables. The cost was far from cheap.

“Isn’t that too expensive?”

“I saved up a lot of allowance!”

“You’re paying?”

“Of course! I told you I’d treat you!”

True enough, he hadn’t brought money himself.

Hojeong smacked his lips.

“Then I’ll enjoy it.”

“As much as you want!”

It looked as if he meant to buy every dish on the menu. With sparkling eyes, he was as delighted ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) as an excited puppy.

Hojeong found such a younger brother endearing—and at the same time, burdensome.

Such a bright child.

And he had been jealous of him, even cruel to him. He had never beaten him or cursed him, but indifference can sometimes be the harshest cruelty of all.

So even if it weighed on him, Hojeong forced himself to smile in front of Jipyeong. The regret of past wrongs was that heavy.

Beaming at him, Jipyeong asked carefully,

“Um...”

“Mm?”

“You don’t feel bad or anything, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean... if something’s bothering you, or anything like that.”

Hojeong tilted his head.

“Not really. Nothing’s happened.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Why? Do I look that gloomy?”

“No! I was just worried.”

“Foolish boy.”

Hojeong turned to the window, wanting to take in the view.

Watching him, Jipyeong secretly sighed in relief.

He must be fine.

Captain Kang Yun’s handling of things had been understandable as a Yeon clansman. But in front of his younger brother? Anyone would feel humiliated.

Fortunately, his elder brother seemed unbothered. If anything, Jipyeong only felt guilty that his brother had endured such a thing because of him.

Then, still smiling, Jipyeong tilted his head curiously.

“But Brother...”

“Mm?”

“I’m not sure I should say this, but...”

“What is it?”

“Your Flying Swallow Qi feels more vigorous.”

Oh?

“You noticed?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. At first I wasn’t sure, but you really seem different from before.”

Hojeong looked at him with new eyes.

He sensed that?

His dantian had awakened and the Flying Swallow Heart Method had reached great completion—but unless one examined his pulse, those were subtle changes.

Hojeong was adept at concealing the circulation of qi. And since the method itself wasn’t a particularly advanced art, the difference outwardly was not large.

Yet his younger brother had seen right through it, even without first-rate skill.

“I’ve mastered the Flying Swallow Heart Method.”

Jipyeong shot to his feet in surprise.

“R-really?!”

“Yes.”

Was it too sudden to believe?

“Congratulations! Truly, congratulations, Brother!”

So he believed it.

Jipyeong congratulated him with genuine joy, as if it were his own achievement, fists clenched and shaking with excitement.

Hojeong was grateful, but more than that, he was astonished.

I knew he was talented, but...

A quiet admiration rose on his face.

This kid’s a monster.

Talent in martial arts usually came in two forms: a superior body or a superior mind.

But Jipyeong’s gift surpassed both.

He has instinct.

Beyond physical gifts or keen insight, instinct was rarest of all. The power that overwhelms logic and reason. A natural-born faculty.

In other fields, who could say? But at least in martial arts, Jipyeong’s instinct was second to none.

And his physical talent, too, was already said to be the finest in the clan.

Properly trained, he’ll make a name for himself soon enough.

Flushed with excitement, Jipyeong declared,

“You’ll get strong quickly, Brother! I know you will!”

“Yes. I must.”

It was a moment where they had both surprised each other.

Soon after, the food arrived.

Even while eating, they laughed and talked. Mostly Jipyeong chattered, but Hojeong wasn’t entirely silent either.

They finished their meal quickly and ordered tea. The rising steam gave off a fragrant aroma.

“Brother, since your heart method is complete now, let’s train together!”

“No.”

The rejection was more firm than expected. Jipyeong hunched his shoulders.

“Why not?”

“Because our ways of training differ. Later, perhaps, but for now, it’s best if we each train alone... hmm?”

Hojeong turned his gaze toward the stairs.

“What is it, Brother?”

“....”

“Brother?”

“Quite impressive.”

Impressive? What is?

As Jipyeong tilted his head, he suddenly felt a faint aura rising from the first floor.

His eyes widened.

“A master?!”

No, not a master.

A true master had to be able to express their attained realm beyond ninety percent in real combat. Only then did the title fit.

By that measure, there was no true master among those coming up from below—or so Hojeong thought.

Still, the realm they had reached was significant.

Especially for that age.

The qi carried a fresh, lively vigor. They couldn’t yet be twenty.

“Ah!”

Jipyeong exclaimed.

“Why? Do you know them?”

“Yes! I don’t know who the master is, but the qi feels familiar. It must be one of my academy friends.”

An academy friend?

“Then go say hello.”

“Huh?! Really?”

“If you didn’t know, that’s one thing. But if you do, you can’t just ignore them. Go on.”

Jipyeong hesitated, then stood.

“Then, Brother, I’ll be quick. Please wait a little.”

“Take your time talking.”

With that, Jipyeong hurried down the stairs.

Hojeong propped his chin on his hand with a smile.

So cheerful.

Perhaps it was because he himself had grown up in darkness.

Even as he gathered the Demonic Path, he had gained some social skill, but never that brightness. Often he had found conversation bothersome.

That was why he liked this about his brother. It was a trait he himself lacked.

Grow up bright. The world is harsh, but you don’t need to be grave every moment.

He hoped his younger brother would grow into someone magnificent. Now, that was all Hojeong wished for him.

As he sipped tea and looked out the window—

“Here, right?”

“Oh! Even just the third floor feels different!”

Noisy voices carried up from below.

And among them, Jipyeong’s flustered one.

“W-wait a second. I need to speak to my brother first...”

“Come now! We only want to say hello, why make a fuss? It’s not like you’ve rented the whole fourth floor. Let us take a look too.”

“Ah...”

Confusion shaded Jipyeong’s voice.

A moment later—

“Wow, what a view!”

“Glad we came up!”

Hojeong turned to look.

Jipyeong’s face, caught between two unfamiliar young men and one young woman, looked thoroughly troubled.