He was at the end of the path dimly lit by torches.

He was different from the Blood Flame Cult members seen so far.

Hair with strands of black mixed in among the red.

The ominous energy surrounding his entire body was palpable even to Jeong Yeon-shin’s skin.

Blood Master Sword.

His appearance was as rumored.

It was said that the red hair of Blood Flame Cult martial artists revealed the refinement of their inner energy through their hair, and that some of their body hair gradually returning to its original state meant they had reached a level of purifying their vital energy.

‘This won’t be easy.’

As the Blood Master Sword approached with an angry face, sword drawn, his aura was incredibly fierce, as if shooting out hundreds of blades.

“You worthless thing, you’ve ruined our sect’s affairs. I’ll replenish my blood with your pain!”

“You mean to steal vital energy through blood techniques?”

It wasn’t a question asked out of curiosity. He had been gauging the situation before blurting it out.

A boy of fifteen or sixteen single-handedly taking on a branch of the Blood Flame Cult? 

It was unimaginable.

The same confidence must be underlying the mind of the one slowly approaching with sword in hand now.

It was the same even after killing several cult members.

The Blood Master Sword, who had started growing black hair, was on a different level from the pure red-haired Blood Flame Cult members.

‘Here I go.’

The vital energy arising from his wide open dantian rushed through his entire body.

The vital energy of the Jeong family’s dynamic technique began circulating through all the meridians of his body while embodying the Fate Defying Scripture.

‘I need to overwhelm him before he gets close.’

He had realized the effectiveness of striking first by defeating the blue expert of Azure Sky Squad.

Thud!

He made a large half turn while stepping in the footwork of the unnamed leaf.

Vital energy concentrated with strength in his waist and thighs. The speed of mobilizing inner energy was different from when he was at Jeong family manor.

The air was threateningly torn as he unleashed the Radiant Demon Formation technique with the force gathered in an instant.

Whoosh!

A look of surprise flashed across the face of the Blood Flame Cult swordsman approaching with his back to the torches, but at the same time he avoided Jeong Yeon-shin’s back kick by leaning back his chest.

“Hup!”

And as he thrust his sword forward with an angry look, that’s where Jeong Yeon-shin’s trump card lay.

Thwack!

He sharply rushed in, kicking off the ground with his right foot that swiftly descended through the air.

Body tilted low. It was a movement that cut off the timing of the sword strike in an instant.

A gust of wind accompanied his body movement as he rapidly closed in on the careless enemy.

His left hand stretched out amidst the self-generated divine wind, aiming for the opponent’s wrist.

It was the Grappling Hand, the first technique he had unleashed at Jeong family manor before its destruction, guided by instinct from the Jeong family’s Dynamic Technique.

The Blood Master Sword’s eyes widened to the point of tearing.

It wasn’t surprise. His expression was one of rage, as if saying ‘How dare you’.

As someone who had reached the level of an expert, such an approach was absurd to him.

However, Jeong Yeon-shin was also no longer the boy who couldn’t handle the flames of his family’s destruction.

His left hand stretched out gracefully. The Radiant Demon Formation’s momentum was added to the Grappling Hand.

“What…!”

In the end, the cry of shock he let out was no different from the Blood Flame Cult members sprawled at the cave entrance.

Jeong Yeon-shin knew how to use his appearance and age like the fangs of a beast. Once he bites, it’s over.

The monstrous strength of the Jeong family’s dynamic technique was imbued in his grip as he latched on and seized the opponent’s pulse point.

“Aaaagh!”

He seemed unable to think straight from the pain, but as if to show he was still different as an expert, sinister energy waves spread from above and below.

He could tell without looking. The opponent was trying to strike upwards with his knee and smash down with a knife hand to the head.

But the swift sword technique of the Desolate Sword, now gripped in reverse, came first.

– The Radiant Demon Formation does not discriminate between techniques.

The teachings of Ma Jin.

His voice, which he had received instruction from over a month ago, seemed to have a hint of laughter in this moment.

At the same time, vital energy overlapped with the time acupoint principle gathered in his right arm.

Imagining the giant Pangu* from mythology pushing back a great mountain, he thrust inward with the sword gripped in his fist.

With raw power that didn’t even need a sword path at this point.

“Gyaaah!”

It went in deep. He could feel the energy waves scattering into nothingness.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“It seems you’ve only inflicted pain on others. I can tell just by looking. You’ve never experienced it yourself.”

“Huaaagh!”

As he applied even more force inwards, the man’s screams were cut off with choked sounds.

Now almost embracing him, he felt the fading life force with his whole body.

It was a sensation that couldn’t even crack the values that had hardened through experiencing his family’s destruction.

“There’s a saying in the martial arts world. Beware of the elderly, women, and children.”

He spoke into the man’s ear, but it seemed he didn’t hear.

Jeong Yeon-shin indifferently pushed the man’s body away. The Blood Master Sword collapsed, already a corpse.

‘I only needed to kill one Blood Flame Cult member in Jinping County.’

Somehow he ended up clearing out a branch of the Blood Flame Cult.

In the end, he had accomplished a great feat, so it should be a good thing.

Yet the reason for the bitter taste in his mouth was likely due to the emaciated boys and girls collapsed here and there.

It reminded him of Jeong family manor.

“Go to the paradise of Peach Blossom Spring*.”

Jeong Yeon-shin crouched down and closed the eyes of each one.

* * *

“You’ve split your sword. What happened? Are you alright?”

Those were the first words Baek Mi-ryeo said upon seeing Jeong Yeon-shin come down from the mountain.

Her concerned gaze, now feeling somewhat like an older sister’s, wasn’t unpleasant to him.

Initially, it made sense, given that he was wearing a blood-soaked white martial arts uniform that wasn’t his own, and carrying a lifeless child on his back.

“It’s not my blood. I discovered what appears to be a branch of the Blood Flame Cult.”

“A Blood Flame Cult branch! As expected…”

Baek Mi-ryeo nodded and spoke again.

“I’m glad you’re alright. Tell me what you’ve learned about their composition. How many did you engage? Now that their hideout has been discovered, they’ll make some kind of move. We need to prepare.”

“There were eight Blood Flame Cult members with red hair. I also saw a strong one with mixed black and red hair.”

“Blood Master Sword…!”

Her eyes widened slightly. Before Jeong Yeon-shin could say anything more after her exclamation interrupted him, Baek Mi-ryeo continued speaking in her typical manner.

“Yes, if there was a Blood Master Sword, it must have been a Blood Flame Cult branch. They’ve been parasitizing here too. Whatever their mission, the Blood Flame Cult is a target for elimination in Desolate City. You’ve accomplished a great feat, so rest now. Cheong Myeong and I will go.”

“…I fought nine. You can just send the garrison troops.”

“Didn’t you say eight plus one? If it’s nine… Did you just say the garrison troops would be enough? Hmm…?”

Perhaps she finally sensed something off about Jeong Yeon-shin’s calm demeanor.

Baek Mi-ryeo furrowed her brow. Then, gradually, a look of surprise spread across her face.

“Lightning Flash. Are you saying… you single-handedly defeated the Blood Flame Cult members, including the Blood Master Sword?”

“I killed them all.”

“Ha…!”

It was a strange exclamation. It seemed to be pure surprise and admiration rather than doubt.

At the same time, someone dropped down from above.

With a light movement and the scent of grass, Cheong Myeong leaned in with a surprised expression.

“You turned an entire Blood Flame Cult branch into a wasteland by yourself?”

“They had already turned it into a bloody wasteland.”

Jeong Yeon-shin replied with an expression that was hard to read.

Their gazes briefly rested on the child on his back. “Damn cult b*st*rds,” Baek Mi-ryeo muttered.

“…Those Blood Master Sword types have strange regenerative abilities. You didn’t get stabbed in the back, did you?”

Cheong Myeong asked as if trying to change the subject, then continued.

“I’m sorry. We overlooked something we should have told you quickly. Blood Master Swords act almost like grim reapers in the civilian world and lower martial arts circles. Experts with the martial prowess to kill them are rare throughout the central plains. It’s not easy for such information to be shared.”

Baek Mi-ryeo nodded, showing an unusually apologetic expression.

“This is truly our oversight. I’m glad you seem unharmed, but… Even in a place like Desolate City, we hear such news bit by bit. It’s a story from other sects. After defeating a Blood Master Sword with great difficulty, they died from being stabbed in the back because they didn’t know about the regenerative power of their blood techniques.”

“Unless you’re quite an expert, anyone would fall victim to it. You’re remarkably unscathed.”

Cheong Myeong said with a pleased smile.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been listening quietly, slowly nodded.

“Regenerative ability. So that’s what it was.”

He loosened the arm supporting the child on his back. As he extended his hand forward, red and black hair fell.

The head of the Blood Master Sword. It looked even more gruesome with its wide-open eyes unclosed on the pale face.

“……”

Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo were silent for a moment.

“Right… Regenerative ability. That does exist.”

Cheong Myeong eventually replied with a somewhat disgruntled expression. On the other hand, Baek Mi-ryeo patted Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder, saying it was admirable.

“We must certainly acknowledge your merit. That’s a good attitude.”

“Yes, certainly… This is no ordinary achievement. Especially for a newcomer to the martial world who just became a Desolate City white rank.”

Cheong Myeong continued, examining the head closely.

“The black hair hasn’t grown for long. That branch must have been quite weak.”

Baek Mi-ryeo shook her head.

“Regardless, the merit of single-handedly discovering and destroying a Blood Flame Cult branch cannot be underestimated. Even the Seventeen Mansions, or even the Azure Sky Squad members, might covet Lightning Flash more but couldn’t belittle this achievement. It was done by a white rank, not even a blue rank. This goes beyond simply being surprising; it’s a significant event.”

“That’s obvious.”

Cheong Myeong nodded and slapped the shoulder of Heon Won-chang, who was standing nearby. Heon Won-chang had approached at some point and was staring at the Blood Master Sword’s head while holding his breath.

“It’s dead. What are you afraid of?”

“Ah, I-I’m not scared! Do you know how many bandits and river thieves have met their end by these hands!”

The group laughed, seeing him seemingly return to how he was when he first arrived in Jinping County.

The subsequent events were out of Radiant Demon Wing’s hands.

Ji-hyeon, who was shocked upon seeing the severed head of the Blood Master Sword, sent garrison troops.

There were stories that some of the garrison soldiers wet themselves upon seeing the Blood Flame Cult’s Jinping County branch turned into a mess.

When Ji-hyeon learned that terrifying blood demons had been secretly operating nearby, he grabbed Jeong Yeon-shin’s hands with both of his own and repeatedly expressed his gratitude, as if he had never been hesitant before.

The notoriety of the Blood Master Sword was even more famous among civilians, separate from their martial arts prowess.

The corpses strewn about the branch were said not to be children from Jinping County.

It was presumed that the Blood Flame Cult members had captured them from nearby areas, but since it was unknown whether their disappearances were the work of martial artists, news hadn’t reached Desolate City.

After spending four days wrapping up the incident.

“If you have occasion to visit again, would you please stop by once more?”

Ji-hyeon, who had become exceedingly polite, looked up at Radiant Demon Wing’s mounted group.

The scene was similar yet completely different from their first encounter. Especially the gaze directed at Radiant Demon Wing’s Lightning Flash seemed to burn.

Though Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t experienced much of the outside world, he could sense that what was in Ji-hyeon’s eyes wasn’t just pure respect.

-It seems he wants to make connections with the martial arts expert he’s only heard about, and even more so with a promising young talent.

It was Cheong Myeong’s telepathic message, tinged with amusement.

‘Ji-hyeon of Jinping County. So this is that person’s life.’

As he nodded slightly in response, Jeong Yeon-shin thought while looking at Ji-hyeon’s bright smile.

Perhaps he was a person of greater capacity than he appeared.

It was somewhat admirable that he could act this way despite experiencing such humiliation.

“I am Yu Geun of Jinping County! Please be sure to remember!”

The group turned their horses and left Jinping County behind.

The incident, which had been long yet short, peaceful yet cruelly concluded, was finally settled.

The first venture into the martial world for the two Desolate white ranks of Radiant Demon Wing ended with a record of Lightning Flash’s solo achievement.

* * *

The return journey was a bit more leisurely. They even took quite long meal breaks for the horses.

Thanks to this, they didn’t have to see Heon Won-chang’s face turn pale white, but on the way back, he often made a pitiful expression.

“Young Master Jeong has accomplished a brilliantly unparalleled feat, while I have done nothing…”

“That’s actually more normal. Just keeping watch and preventing the atrocities of the Jinping County cult member is enough.”

At first, Baek Mi-ryeo tried to comfort him in her own way, but after this was repeated a few more times, she said nothing with an expressionless face.

Rather than camping out, they stayed at inns and slowly entered Xiangyang.

The first thing that caught their eye was the fortress of Desolate City, even larger than Xiangyang’s outer walls.

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled slightly. It was strange to feel a welcoming familiarity despite not having stayed there for long.

“The atmosphere seems somewhat excited.”

Cheong Myeong suddenly said.

“It’s been so long indeed! Having completed our first mission, I think I’ll visit Xiangyang’s Best Tavern.”

Heon Won-chang had been grinning from ear to ear at some point. The main road leading to Desolate City had that effect.

The energy emanating from the merchants, touts, and people busily going about their business in various attires was tremendous.

Enough to blow away even the dejected appearance of Heon Won-chang.

“No, not you. I mean the people here. More than usual. Just a moment…”

The group fell silent as Cheong Myeong closed his eyes while on horseback. They were accustomed to the keen hearing characteristic of famous clans.

It was thanks to Cheong Myeong that none of the group had to stand night watch for quite a long time.

“Ah. It seems that person is coming. This will be a windfall for everyone here. Considering how our Desolate City greatly honors those who have achieved merits.”

“I just heard it too. The former leader of the Divine Sword Unit is finally…”

At Baek Mi-ryeo’s words, who had also been listening, Jeong Yeon-shin’s body momentarily stiffened.

She glanced at him as if finding it strange, then spoke again.

“If he’s challenging for the position of Elder Council Head, he wouldn’t pass up the public sentiment in Xiangyang.”

“The head of Desolate City’s Elder Council would be closer to the imperial family than even Xiangyang’s branch leader. This street, I think each person might get at least a measure of rice. How excited they must be in times of poor harvest, if not in times of abundance?”

“It seems he has already entered the city.”

“Yes. I heard he passed by with a boy riding in front of him on the horse. Apparently, that child is the adopted son of the much-rumored Desolate Demon Family. I’ve heard his qualities are extraordinary.”

However, Cheong Myeong soon began urging his horse forward as if uninterested.

“Qualities, huh.”

Baek Mi-ryeo’s jet-black long hair swayed with the horse’s steps as she smirked.

She turned her head slightly to the side and glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“……”

He nodded slightly with a calm expression.

After stroking their horses’ necks and matching pace with the group for a bit, the four people of Radiant Demon Wing soon arrived at Desolate City’s main gate. It was the end of their long mission.