The guards rushed at Yephyeon, but he was faster.
The lead guard was flung backward. Yephyeon leapt into the air and extended his foot toward another guard. The guard struck by his kick was sent tumbling into the corner. Riding the momentum, Yephyeon clenched his fist and swiftly struck toward the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder took a long step forward and unleashed a palm strike at Yephyeon.
Bang!
It was a clash of fists and palms. The Grand Elder was pushed back about ten paces.
Yephyeon didn't move an inch.
The Grand Elder opened his mouth in disbelief.
"Impossible! Your dantian was surely damaged, yet where is this strength coming from?"
Yephyeon narrowed his eyes and stared at the Grand Elder.
"How do you know my dantian was damaged?"
The Grand Elder only glared at him, saying nothing. Seeing his reaction, Yephyeon realized that the assassin who ambushed him at Namsan had undoubtedly been sent by the Grand Elder!
A murderous intent settled in Yephyeon's eyes. At that moment, a voice rang through the hall.
"Yephyeon, that's enough!"
It was Yeplang. Yephyeon glanced at him and relaxed slightly.
'Fine. Just wait two days. Then I'll deal with everything at once.'
Yephyeon quietly turned and left the hall. The guards couldn't stop him as he passed, only looking at Yeplang. The Grand Elder, still bewildered, said,
"Yeplang, even though the life-and-death duel is in two days, your brother was just attacked! And yet you say nothing…"
Yeplang interrupted.
"Do not worry. He deserves to die, but it must be in two days. Gather all the martial artists in Cheongseong then. Let them witness my duel with Yephyeon. After that fight, my fame will soar to the heavens!"
The Grand Elder raised his eyebrows and asked,
"What do you mean?"
Yeplang smiled.
"To attract the attention of the Sansang factions, I need fame. If I defeat Yephyeon and make my name known throughout Cheongseong, naturally, they will notice me too."
"But they exist in heights beyond reach. Their attention cannot be easily drawn."
"Do not worry. After playing with him and defeating him in two days, the limits of your heart will be somewhat satisfied."
The Grand Elder nodded in approval, then suddenly spoke, as if recalling something.
"Though Yephyeon's dantian is destroyed, the martial might he just displayed is formidable. He must not be underestimated!"
Yeplang only smiled silently. In his mind, Yephyeon could not be a rival. The Grand Elder's momentary struggle against him was simply due to his own weakness. Yeplang saw Yephyeon only as a stepping stone to his own glory.
Back at his residence, Yephyeon quickly fed the Yangshin Pills to Yeplang. Watching her anxiously, he berated himself for forgetting the medicine earlier.
Slowly, Yeplang opened her eyes. Seeing Yephyeon tense, she smiled.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah, it's not so cold anymore."
"I was wrong. This will never happen again. Never!"
Tears welled up in Yeplang's eyes.
"Brother, I wanted to die rather than be a burden to you. But just now, I was so scared. The thought of dying and leaving you alone… I want to live with you, always!"
Yephyeon's eyes moistened. Yeplang wiped her tears as well.
"Brother, let's survive and stay together forever!"
Yephyeon linked his pinky with hers.
"Then let's do this. Neither of us dies first!"
With their pinkies linked, Yeplang felt her heart calm. Yephyeon lifted her onto his back and stepped outside. Today, he decided to spend time with her instead of training. Yeplang was more important to him than anything in the world.
As they left the Yeph residence, the Grand Elder sent people to follow them, worried they might escape. Yephyeon noticed the tail but remained unfazed. As long as they didn't interfere with his time with Yeplang, it was fine.
Cheongseong had a population of just over two hundred thousand, making it one of the smallest cities in the kingdom. Yephyeon and Yeplang spent half a day exploring before preparing to return. As they neared the city gates, a woman rode rapidly toward them from outside.
She wore a pristine white robe, untouched by dust, holding a sharply gleaming silver spear. Her flawless face and striking eyes made her perfection incarnate. Yephyeon had never seen such beauty in his life—beauty unforgettable even with a single glance.
Her presence drew all eyes near the gates. They, too, were captivated by her beauty. Suddenly, her horse stopped in front of Yephyeon and Yeplang. She looked at Yephyeon in surprise.
"A hidden realm?"
Yephyeon was startled. His realm had been thoroughly concealed with the help of the Celestial Maiden. No one, not even the Grand Elder, had been able to sense it.
Yet this woman had seen through it immediately. She raised her spear at Yephyeon.
"So you must be Yeplang, the one who has reached the Heaven-Earth stage. That explains why your realm was hidden. Your foundation is solid as well. Good. You are worthy to face my spear. I am An Lansoo. Shall we see how you handle my spear?"
"An Lansoo?" someone shouted.
"Impossible… That woman is the genius An Lansoo, who appears in the kingdom perhaps once in a lifetime!"
The crowd murmured in shock.
Yephyeon's eyes widened. There was no one in the kingdom who didn't know her name.
The kingdom's greatest prodigy!
Before turning eighteen, she surpassed the Sky-Emptiness stage to reach the Aerial Mastery stage, becoming the youngest spear master in the kingdom's history. Rumor had it she had already grasped the Essence of the Spear, potentially destined to become a Grandmaster of Spear Techniques. Unprecedented in five hundred years of history, she was rewriting history itself.
Her reputation had grown even further through challenges across thirty-six cities, yet no one had ever properly withstood her spear. Even Heaven-Sent or Heaven-Earth individuals could not match her.
Yet, despite pointing her spear at him, she showed no arrogance, only calm. Yephyeon raised his head and spoke.
"You've come to the wrong person."
An Lansoo furrowed her perfect brows.
"What do you mean?"
"I am not Yeplang, the one who has reached Heaven-Earth. He is inside the Yeph residence. Go there."
Her gaze faltered.
"You are not Yeplang?"
Yephyeon nodded. An Lansoo scrutinized him slowly.
"This is unexpected. In this small Cheongseong, two individuals with hidden realms reaching the Heaven-Earth stage appear simultaneously!"
After a pause, she continued.
"Still, you are worthy to face my spear. Shall we?"
Yephyeon hesitated. If he dueled a famous spearman like An Lansoo, his reputation would instantly spread. But it would also expose his hidden abilities before the life-and-death duel, which could be dangerous. The devious Grand Elder might use Yeplang as leverage.
Yet refusing to challenge did not suit his character. After a moment's thought, Yephyeon looked at her.
"Very well. But how about two days from now?"
An Lansoo shook her head.
"You are not worthy of making me wait two days."
She moved to leave, but Yephyeon grabbed a wooden practice sword from a nearby stall and, in an instant, struck a single strand of hair from his head. It split perfectly in two.
An Lansoo stopped in her tracks, staring at him in surprise.
"You hide your skills well. To reach this level at such a young age… not common in the kingdom."
Yephyeon met her gaze steadily.
"Two days from now, our duel. Are you ready?"
A smile spread across An Lansoo's face. This man dared to challenge her boldly, not just to witness her spear but to face it. She looked at Yephyeon again.
"Very well. We shall see in two days. But first, I need to meet Yeplang. Do you know where the Yeph residence is?"
Yeplang smiled.
"Sister, we belong to the Yeph family too. Come with us!"
An Lansoo looked at Yephyeon.
"You were originally part of the Yeph residence?"
"You could say that."
She nodded gently.
"To have two prodigies at once… the Yeph family is lucky. If nothing goes wrong, second-rate families should be no match."
Yephyeon and Yeplang headed toward the Yeph residence with An Lansoo. Her arrival caused a stir. The Grand Elder personally came out with the elders to welcome her. Even with the Yeph family's recent power surge, An Lansoo hailed from the royal city—a force unmatched by a hundred Yeph residences combined.
When she expressed interest in seeing Yeplang's skills, the Grand Elder could hardly hide his joy. Though he disliked the siblings, he outwardly greeted An Lansoo with a formal bow.
"Miss An, we are honored to have you visit the Yeph family. Please, come inside."
"I'll decline for now. Is Yeplang here?"
"Yes! Absolutely!"
The Grand Elder instructed an elder to bring Yeplang. Then, he barked at Yephyeon and Yeplang.
"What are you two idiots standing around for? Get out of the way!"
An Lansoo frowned. Yephyeon retorted immediately.
"What does it concern you?"
Yephyeon and the Grand Elder were like fire and water. He had no intention of preserving the Grand Elder's face in front of An Lansoo. Before the Grand Elder could react, An Lansoo spoke.
"And this person?"
The Grand Elder's voice softened artificially.
"This is Yephyeon. Originally, he was the crown prince but was dethroned for lack of talent and arrogance. However…"
An Lansoo interrupted.
"You said he lacked talent just now?"
"Yes. At eighteen, he remains at Fifth Rank Martial Stage. Not extraordinary, would you agree?"
'A swordsman with a hidden realm, ordinary?'
An Lansoo said nothing, only staring at Yephyeon. Clearly, there was more between Yephyeon and the Yeph residence.
The Grand Elder continued.
"Miss An, Yephyeon has challenged Yeplang to a life-and-death duel for the crown prince's position. If you don't mind, we request you attend as a witness for the duel in two days."
An Lansoo alternated her gaze between Yephyeon and the Grand Elder.
At that moment, Yeplang, who had been summoned, appeared in the hall.
'So that's Yeplang?'