Chapter 36

The wind was howling fiercely.

It was as if a typhoon was approaching, with a gale that stirred the atmosphere. However, it wasn’t entirely a natural phenomenon. The gust was caused by a group of people sprinting at an unbelievable speed.

They ran. Kicking off the ground, sometimes leaping with just the tip of their feet on a blade of grass.

At the forefront of the group was Namgung Woo.

Among the various movement techniques showcasing their unique abilities, his speed and stability were undoubtedly the best. The Thousand Miles Courtyard Steps, which allowed him to traverse a thousand miles as if it were his own backyard, was truly in a league of its own.

“Eungong! You’re too fast! The others can’t keep up!”

Beside Namgung Woo, Paeng Ha-ryeong, who was kicking off the ground with all her might, shouted as she caught up.

Her movement technique, the Divine Wind Riding, was second only to the Thousand Miles Courtyard Steps.

Unlike the Thousand Miles Courtyard Steps, which created ripples around the body to block attacks, the Divine Wind Riding focused solely on speed and breaking through. Thanks to this, Paeng Ha-ryeong could barely keep up with Namgung Woo, even if it was only because he was holding back for their sake.

“Where are the horses?”

The soft voice carried through the air, reaching Paeng Ha-ryeong’s ears clearly. It was a testament to his advanced internal energy control.

“They’re all exhausted!”

From the beginning, they hadn’t been running solely on foot. The Paeng Family had provided horses—two per person.

As a prestigious family controlling the Tianjin gate of Beijing, the Paeng Family had considerable wealth. They had readily provided dozens of horses and warriors at Namgung Woo’s request.

But even horses had their limits. While horses had excellent stamina compared to other animals, they couldn’t keep up with martial artists. Humans, despite their frailty, were among the top creatures when it came to endurance.

This was evident from the fact that relay stations were typically set up every 100 li (40-50 km). A horse at full gallop couldn’t run more than 50 km.

Legendary horses like the Red Hare or the Flying Shadow might have gone further, but the horses provided by the Paeng Family couldn’t match that.

“…Let’s rest for a bit.”

Beijing was close.

Namgung Woo sensed an unusual flow of energy from Beijing, which was just a few dozen li away.

Though no suspicious signs were visible yet, the inspiration he had once touched beyond the heavens warned him that something was about to happen there.

‘Entering without stamina would only lead to a futile defeat.’

Namgung Woo walked over to the Yang Brothers, who were nearly collapsed, and sat behind them.

He placed his palms on their meridians.

“Huff, huff, Captain…?”

“Pant…Captain?”

“I’ll use the Qi Transfer Technique. Sit cross-legged and circulate your energy.”

The Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy was a higher-level counterpart to the Yang Brothers’ Lightning Energy. There was nothing better to quickly restore their depleted internal energy.

As Namgung Woo finished the Qi Transfer and stood up, Paeng Ha-ryeong approached him as if she had been waiting.

“Eungong.”

“Yes?”

“Is there a reason you’re in such a hurry? When you first spoke with Ye-ryeong, you said we had ten days… It’s only been half a day since we left Tianjin.”

“I have a bad feeling. It’s going to happen soon. We don’t have much time.”

Personally, Namgung Woo had no obligation to protect Beijing.

He didn’t consider himself a Ming person, nor did he intend to throw his life away to protect strangers.

The only reason he was going to Beijing to prevent the impending disaster was that it was a place where he could fully unleash his martial arts.

But if there were acquaintances in Beijing, the story would be different. The Yopyeong Escort Agency was still there.

Though they had escorts, only their leader was a Peak Master. They were too weak to withstand the tragedy that would engulf Beijing.

‘I owe the Yopyeong Escort Agency.’

They had treated Namgung Woo with utmost hospitality, even though he had only come on Song Chaeji’s recommendation. Knowing they were in danger and leaving them to die didn’t sit well with Namgung Woo’s nature.

“Mother has also requested support from the Moyong Family. They should arrive in seven days…”

“Seven days is too late.”

Namgung Woo’s intuition could be off. After all, intuition often lacks concrete evidence.

But it definitely wasn’t seven days. It might not be tomorrow, but it certainly wouldn’t take seven days.

“Miss Paeng, you should rest now too.”

“Understood. If you’re tired, Eungong, take the medicine right away.”

The medicine Paeng Ha-ryeong referred to wasn’t ordinary wound medicine or tonics.

It was a spiritual elixir. The Paeng Family, who had traveled across the Central Plains to destroy the Ghost Gate and collect rare treasures, had a considerable stock of such elixirs. They had readily opened their storerooms when Namgung Woo said Beijing was in danger and they needed to save it.

Even now, Namgung Woo carried three precious pills from the Paeng Family’s secret stash.

‘They’ve been a tremendous help.’

The Paeng Family’s elite force, the Northern Sky Unit, led by Paeng Mu-ho and Paeng Ha-ryeong, along with fifteen other members—all Peak Masters.

In addition to Namgung Woo and the Yang Brothers, they had provided two horses per person, totaling forty fine steeds.

Not only that. The three of them had completely changed their clothes and weapons.

Though not made of Heavenly Silkworm Silk, their martial robes and cloaks were woven with Spirit Silk, which could block ordinary swords.

Their swords were made of White Lotus Pure Steel, mixed with a small amount of Mystic Iron, usually reserved for the Paeng Family’s direct descendants or elders like the Northern Sky Unit’s leader.

If the spiritual elixirs were included, the Paeng Family had likely spent more than a mid-tier sect’s annual budget on this single expedition.

They repaid what they received. The Paeng Family was faithfully adhering to that ancient adage.

‘It’s a grateful thing.’

As Namgung Woo reflected on the support provided by the Paeng Family, the events of yesterday naturally came to mind.

§

Before they could even rejoice at the news that Paeng Ye-ryeong had taken a great step in overcoming the Heavenly Punishment, Namgung Woo’s declaration struck the Paeng Family like a bolt from the blue.

“Beijing?”

Beijing was in danger.

When Moyong Hye heard this from Namgung Woo, she was so bewildered that she asked what he meant.

Before Moyong Hye could correct herself, thinking she had misheard, Paeng Ye-ryeong spoke up.

“It’s true, Mother. I saw it too.”

Without Paeng Ye-ryeong’s support, Moyong Hye’s common sense would have continuously questioned Namgung Woo’s words, despite him being a great benefactor.

“Beijing… even with the Imperial Family there?”

The number one power in the world.

The Ming Imperial Family.

They weren’t just powerful in authority. They had real martial strength.

The Hongwu Emperor’s decree that the emperor must learn martial arts and reach at least the level of a Peak Master showed the Imperial Family’s obsession with martial power.

Moyong Hye wasn’t just muttering in shock for no reason.

The Imperial Family had four Peerless Masters.

Two of them were among the Three Poles and Twelve Honored Ones, half within the martial world, while the other two had left the martial world to serve the government.

Though three of them were outside Beijing, challenging the Imperial Family meant making enemies of all of them.

‘And the Imperial Family hides its strength. They might have secretly recruited one or two Peerless Masters or nurtured them internally…’

If so, they would be facing five or six Peerless Masters. Was that even possible?

As much as it was hard to believe, the words of Paeng Ye-ryeong and Namgung Woo were also highly credible. Paeng Ye-ryeong had shown foresight before. Though the scope was small and the impact not significant, her ability to see the future had been proven.

Moyong Hye pondered for a long time. Then, Paeng Ja-ryeong’s words tipped the scales in her mind.

“…There have been rumors before. That he didn’t return to the Imperial Family but truly ascended… Everyone thought it was a baseless rumor, but if it’s true…”

There was a being who had tilted the balance of power between the martial world and the Imperial Family in favor of the latter.

Though he belonged to the Imperial Family, he suddenly entered the martial world to test his skills and subdued all the so-called Peerless Masters alive, becoming a legendary figure.

His appearance turned the Two Poles into the Three Poles, and the martial world trembled, acknowledging him as the number one in the world.

“If he’s truly gone, then the Imperial Family might dare to act… In that case, there’s logic to the future that Benefactor and Ye-ryeong saw.”

Namgung Woo didn’t fully understand the conversation between Moyong Hye and Paeng Ja-ryeong, but one thing was clear.

The Paeng Family’s leaders were starting to believe him and Paeng Ye-ryeong.

“Benefactor, how could the Paeng Family stand idly by while you pursue justice? We will spare no effort in assisting you.”

§

‘They really meant it.’

Namgung Woo ended his reminiscence by touching the clothes he wore and the sword at his waist.

Even Namgung Woo, who had worn clothes from hundreds of years in the future, was surprised by how comfortable these clothes were and how well the sword fit in his hand.

“Eungong, it seems we can start again.”

The sprint resumed.

At dusk, as the boundary of twilight divided the world in two, they all caught sight of Beijing.

“My God…”

“It’s really true…?”

And they were horrified.

Above Beijing.

Disrupting the boundary of twilight, black smoke was rising.