The boy repeatedly sat down and stood up with a large piece of wood on his back. Clear muscles were visible on his back. He occasionally took a horse stance while sitting.

This was Jeong Yeon-shin, the third son of the Jeong family in Henan, who turned fifteen this year.

“Young master, it’s time for the banquet!”

A servant shouted from far away at the entrance of the training ground. The boy with thick eyebrows did not respond.

‘I should finish up.’

He only put down the wooden pillar and roughly picked up his discarded top after doing ten more repetitions.

His build is not large. However, the muscles covering his entire body were reminiscent of diamonds even without exertion. 

An unusual physique. Not only did his body not look his age, but it was strange enough to seem like a different species from ordinary people. Even to himself.

‘The Jeong Family Dynamic Technique… It’s fully established now.’

His martial arts were different from the typical meditation of sitting cross-legged and absorbing natural energy.

He abandoned the family’s mental cultivation technique that just involved sitting and breathing meaninglessly. 

He deconstructed the incantations. The mental technique was reinvented as a dynamic technique that accumulates energy while moving.

This was because he could easily manipulate energy from a young age, and the endurance and elasticity of the meridians throughout his body where internal energy flowed were on a different level from ordinary humans.

He once believed there was fraternal affection among his half-brothers. He went around recommending they try learning it.

The responses he got were extremely conventional:

“You created martial arts?”

“What if you go mad from practicing it? Will you take responsibility if someone dies?”

“Do you think you have the qualities of a great master?”

Seeing the sincere mockery and sneers that came back, he gave up. The boy no longer created martial arts incantations.

It was a day when he was hurt by his indifferent family head and then his brothers. It hurt more because their words were right.

‘A great master, huh.’

The term “great master” in the martial arts world had a different meaning from its general usage. It referred to the founder of a martial arts style worthy of establishing a sect.

Excluding those like Zhang Sanfeng of the Mysterious Sect and Shaolin’s Bodhidharma, who were Great Masters in both religion and martial arts, there were no strong people who claimed that the founders of the other nine great sects, who created the true lineage of martial arts study, were not Great Masters.

It’s a grandiose story.

Jeong Yeon-shin had never even thought about being a great master, and didn’t place much significance on creating martial arts.

He just wanted everyone to be healthy together.

He steadily practiced only the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique by himself. He probably also had the desire to show off.

The effects were clear. The areas stimulated when practicing swordsmanship or training the body became powerful.

The internal energy strengthened and compressed the muscles. The result was his current body.

‘It’s reached its peak. Now.’

He was certain.

The effectiveness of the martial art he roughly named the Jeong clan’s dynamic technique had reached its limit.

From what he realized while training, his body could not get any stronger than this.

Unless it was the heavenly Shaolin monks, it seemed like a rare physique even in Henan province.

That is, if he wasn’t just a frog in a well looking at the Henan sky.

“Young master!”

“I’m coming.”

Jeong Yeon-shin casually replied to the servant’s urgent call. He knew why they were acting like that.

The head of the Jeong family was a strict and patriarchal figure, and his mother was the third wife who died after a difficult childbirth.

It was an era when superstitions were rampant. This backwater was especially bad.

He was a child who killed his mother and was born after a difficult labor. No one in the family looked upon him favorably. Not even the family head.

‘As long as the food is good, it’s fine.’

Jeong Yeon-shin walked while thinking nonchalantly.

Because there were no blood relatives here who cared for him, he naturally became focused solely on martial arts.

He had no grand ambitions like gaining fame and prestige or making a name for himself in the martial arts world. He simply enjoyed studying martial arts.

As he was passing by the guest quarters, he heard the sound of guest disciples reciting texts.

“Recite Chapter 1, Section 4 of the Great Ming Code.”

“The compatriots with long ears and small stature returned from the gates of heaven, destroyed the evil Yuan, and established the great Ming with Taizu.”

“Chapter 1, Section 8.”

“A giant demon chased after the compatriots, but the gates were closed in time and it could be annihilated.”

These were familiar passages to Jeong Yeon-shin as well. He smiled as he passed by.

“You’re late, foolish one.”

His eldest half-brother greeted him warmly when he reached the banquet hall.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s chest muscles twitched as he was glared at with narrow eyes.

“It’s been a while, brother.”

“If you’re late, hurry up and take a seat.”

Jeong Nam-san, the eldest son of the Jeong family, said with a snort.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slightly and looked around as he sat at the far end of the long dining table.

The family head sat at the head of the table with the first and second wives on either side, followed by Jeong Nam-san and his wife and daughter down to Jeong Yeon-shin’s fifth older sister.

It was against reason for him to be seated at the lowest position while younger siblings were present, but he had long been a direct descendant in name only due to the family head’s indifference and the nagging of the first and second wives.

‘It was convenient because of that.’

Since he wasn’t responsible for important family duties, he had no obligations or responsibilities. But the meals were still good, so he could focus on training.

‘They must be overjoyed.’

The family head’s smiling gaze was directed at the second son with the angular jaw.

This was a farewell dinner for the second son who would soon be going to study Taoism martial arts.

The largest sect in Shaanxi province, which rivaled small countries in size.

Now it was one of the major sects, competing with Mount Hua sect for the honor of being the top sect in Shaanxi.

Becoming a disciple of one of the nine major sects of the martial arts world was a great honor.

The banquet was quite lavish, even as the continent was rotting from famine.

When the family head raised his cup, the family members followed suit.

“Since my late father, who was a disciple of the Southern Edge Sect, founded our family, I have devoted my life to reviving our clan. If I had wanted to make a name for myself in the world, I too would have inherited the Taoist techniques! But how could I abandon the family business? I am overjoyed that my son will now follow in my father’s footsteps and climb Mount Zhongnan.”

“It’s a good day.”

“Congratulations, brother.”

The family head claiming he could have become a Taoist disciple if he wanted.

The family members flattering the head and second son.

In the martial arts world, it was better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon to enjoy a satisfying life.

The Jeong family was the de facto law enforcement and major landowner of the county.

A martial arts family with influence rivaling the county magistrate in Xinye County.

In the vicinity, they were not envious of the major sects.

‘Even if you join the Southern Edge sect as a low-ranking member, you’ll just be cleaning the ancestral tablets of the senior disciples.’

Jeong Yeon-shin just ate his fill.

“Wouldn’t recent Southern Edge Sect be considered half a rank above Mount Hua sect?”

“Brilliant new masters have come down from the mountain.”

“Looking at the Shaanxi tournament, that certainly seems to be the case. The Cloud Sword Dragon beheaded the leader of the evil sect forces that erupted in the audience. Though the Plum Blossom Sword Masters are said to be strong, they’re probably no match for senior brother Sword Dragon.”

The second son was already calling the Southern Edge sect’s rising star “senior brother” as if he had become a disciple.

Jeong Yeon-shin chuckled softly as he reached for a rice cake, but stopped.

The family head was looking at him with disapproving eyes.

‘Should I have joined in the flattery?’

The family head slowly opened his mouth.

“I hear the third spends all day in the training ground. How is your progress with the Jeong clan’s Divine Sword?”

“The principles of our family’s martial arts are difficult for me to grasp, so it’s hard to make much progress. I’m ashamed.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered politely, sitting up straight.

The Jeong clan’s Divine Sword is the family’s unique martial art.

As with anywhere, the name was grandiose, but in reality it was a sword technique cobbled together with limited understanding from the first half of the Southern Edge’s Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords.

This was generally how secular disciples of Taoist sects like the Southern Edge and Mount Hua established their own styles.

By the sect rules, it would be a grave crime deserving of extermination of the entire clan.

However, the reality was different – if appropriate donations were regularly made to the main sect, they would turn a blind eye.

The main sect received wealth and provisions, while the secular branch gained protection under the main sect’s name.

It was beneficial for both sides.

‘I focused more on the dynamic technique because of the Divine Sword.’

There was too much that needed fixing.

Even at a glance, the sword paths that didn’t make sense were glaringly obvious.

If he formally joined, it was clear he wouldn’t be able to bear it without modifying the sword technique.

There are cases where childhood wounds determine one’s behavior in youth.

That was the case for Jeong Yeon-shin.

His brothers’ mockery irrationally drove the boy to focus solely on the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

The family head clicked his tongue.

“The first and second sons are already approaching mastery. Though your efforts are commendable and I won’t ask further, you should reflect on whether you are truly putting in effort in the training ground.”

“I will heed your advice.”

Jeong Yeon-shin clasped his hands and bowed, waiting until the family head’s gaze moved away. He paid no mind to how the siblings around him were looking at him.

‘Showing interest will only hurt me.’

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his attention back to the banquet.

As he put properly fried chicken in his mouth, he vaguely listened to the conversations going on around him.

“With the evil sect incident in Guanzhong and all, the situation doesn’t look good. Chief Steward.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

“Are the information networks being set up well? I’m not expecting anything like the Beggar Sect or Hao Clan. But we should at least be able to keep up with the major sects’ secret agents, don’t you think?”

“We should be able to manage at least here in Xinye.”

“Good, good.”

That’s when it happened.

“Southern Edge masters have arrived!”

It was the voice of Zhang, who worked as the gatekeeper. In an instant, the banquet hall became chaotic.

They had received word that someone would come to pick up the Jeong family’s second son, but they hadn’t expected the timing.

“Quickly, quickly welcome them! No, I’ll go myself!”

The family head, who had been sitting solemnly, hurriedly stood up to prepare to greet the honored guests.

Everyone present was the same.

‘I’m curious.’

Jeong Yeon-shin dislikes bothersome affairs. Normally he would have quietly slipped away to the training ground.

But this was one of the nine major sects. It was different when it came to Taoist masters.

When else would he be able to see renowned martial artists from a major sect with fame throughout the world?

“I wonder what kind of master has come?”

“Surely not the Cloud Sword Dragon? Or perhaps some elders?”

The siblings looked like children for once, filled with anticipation.

Jeong Yeon-shin blended in with the crowd and headed towards the main gate with them.

The family head, who had rushed out first with qinggong, was bowing deeply with clasped hands to three people.

“I am at a loss for how to receive such esteemed guests at our humble home. I am Jeong Dae-myeong, the head of the family.”

The three people returned the greeting, but the appearance of the woman at the front was unusual.

Golden hair like melted gold and long leaf-like ears.

Her features were beautiful yet alien, like a fairy descending from heaven.

“An Elf…!”

The eldest son Jeong Nam-san muttered like a groan. Glancing back, he was staring shamelessly. Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘So Elvess really do look like what we’ve learned about. How interesting.’

Xinye County was renowned as a hub of trade and transportation, but after the landscape changed due to battles between strange beings at the end of the Yuan dynasty, it remained a small village.

It’s not easy for villagers to meet Elves.

The “compatriots of the Central Plains” who were said to have descended from heaven and founded the Ming with the first emperor could only be seen in Beijing, military camps, the major sects, or prestigious families.

‘An Elfl doctor came to the house when I was born, they say.’

He doesn’t know the details.

He couldn’t ask the family head, and the servants who might know avoided Jeong Yeon-shin.

“I am deeply grateful for your warm welcome. I am Yeo Il-shin, an elder of the Southern Edge sect.”

The Elf Southern Edge elder smiled. It was a beautiful smile that made one’s eyes feel refreshed, but no one with any knowledge dared to smile back.

‘An Elf elder of a major sect?’

Then she must be a founding contributor to the Great Ming Empire. Elves were said to not age.

She likely played a big role in driving out the Yuan dynasty along with the Southern Edge sect’s founding ancestor.

“I… I failed to recognize an immortal!”

It wasn’t just the family head.

The family members behind him, as well as guests who had come out to watch from here and there, all clasped their hands and bowed deeply. Some even prostrated themselves.

‘Isn’t that going too far?’

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had bowed moderately with clasped hands, slightly raised his head.

At that moment, his eyes met Yeo Il-shin’s, who was looking at him strangely.