Thanks to Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryo’s consideration, the two White-rank individuals were able to head straight to the sleeping quarters of the pavilion.

It was said to be the discretion of the Blue Warrior, trusted by all in Desolate Sect, along with universally recognized martial prowess.

At times like this, it was certainly different from the military.

“Now that we’re in, I don’t feel like going out again. I’ll have to visit Xiangyang’s Best Tavern next time.”

Heon Won-chang joked.

“I should also stretch a bit and then get into bed.”

“You’ll probably train for about two hours. Young Master Jeong is quite something.”

He no longer even makes an expression of being tired. Just a face that says, “I guess that’s how it is.”

As they journeyed together, Heon Won-chang gradually treated Jeong Yeon-shin as if he were from another world.

As if he were a more fascinating character from a different realm than a noble.

He believed that since he had his own chivalry and martial arts, it was better if Jeong Yeon-shin, his peer and colleague, became stronger.

Apart from his seemingly frivolous words and actions, Heon Won-chang thought Jeong Yeon-shin had a personality worth learning from.

“Rest well.”

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled slightly and left the pavilion.

Throughout his way to the small martial arts hall, he was greeted cheerfully by his seniors.

There were also a few people who flinched upon receiving Jeong Yeon-shin’s fist salute.

Mostly those who seemed to have keen senses, they appeared to have felt his changed energy after completing the mission.

“The prodigy has changed.”

“Looking at his energy alone, it’s almost unrecognizable. They say boys around that age grow well, but…”

“It’s a completely different story. The phrase ‘constant self-renewal’ can only be applied to that friend here.”

“It won’t be easy for us anymore, will it?”

No one could argue with the Blue Warrior who blurted out the last words.

They all fell silent simultaneously.

For a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy to have even a slight chance against the Blue-rank masters of Desolate Sect was a wonder in itself.

Jeong Yeon-shin barely listened to his seniors’ words.

His sense of time was different from theirs.

If one wanted to live, shouldn’t they be able to discuss the martial power of the Divine Sword Squad Leader just before turning twenty?

From White to Blue, then through Black like Ma Jin, and even to the unseen Purple.

Someone like Radiant Demon Wing, the Purple-rank Divine Sword Squad Leader who encompassed seventeen levels of martial power, was at that level. There was no room for leisure.

“Phew.”

The small martial arts hall, which he had arrived at before he knew it. The maze-like place of the Imperial Tomb greeted him as always.

Avoiding the rooms where qi seemed to flow as if occupied, he entered an empty training room.

Come to think of it, the year has changed. Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Now sixteen years old. In the civilian world, it was around the age to hold a wedding ceremony and start a family.

Jeong Yeon-shin would have been the same.

Unlike typical martial arts families who didn’t mind if their children’s marriage was delayed, the Jeong family was different.

As a third-rate martial arts family and major landowner, their customs were closer to those of common people.

‘I wonder what kind of person I would have married.’

A meaningless imagination. He immediately raised the Jeong family’s dynamic technique to erase such idle thoughts.

He began to move slowly.

As he released his true energy, the Radiant Demon Formation rose immediately, drawing various trajectories while considering all sorts of situations.

It was the flow of the recommended fist method and footwork.

Swoosh! Whoosh!

A close-range hundred strikes. After a big kick, he stamps down with a true step and then throws a straight punch.

The air trembled at the wave of force deliberately raised.

He had truly felt Ma Jin’s teachings in the fight against the Blood Swordmaster’s* sword.

T/N- Blood Master Sword changed to Blood Swordmaster.

It was Jeong Yeon-shin who had perfected the Jeong family’s dynamic technique and created an incredibly strong body.

Close combat was different from sword techniques. It was a fighting style that directly utilized his unique strengths.

‘I want to properly create a fist method.’

As time passes, it will become harder to use his youthful appearance like a divine sword.

He couldn’t always rely on catching enemies off guard.

He needed to take out all the weapons he could use and sharpen them keenly.

‘Is there anything I could draw inspiration from?’

Jeong Yeon-shin, lost in thought while maintaining his punching stance.

A sky-blue light flashed in his eyes.

* * *

“What was the prodigy’s character like when standing at the boundary between life and death? How did he treat his comrades?”

At the very top of Radiant Demon Wing’s pavilion, in Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s quarters.

It was a place where Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryo, who had returned from their mission, were talking with Ma Jin.

“The boundary between life and death?”

“……”

Cheong Myeong asked back with a blank expression, while Baek Mi-ryo remained silent. Was there such a thing?

Ma Jin’s face showed perplexity.

“Didn’t you say there was a Blood Swordmaster? That means a branch-level force was operating in secret. Don’t tell me you two handled it alone to protect the White-rank? The records bound in the transmission document have spatial limitations. Explain in detail.”

“Well……”

Come to think of it, the two Blue-rank masters had more than one mission. The instruction to observe the prodigy’s character. Now it seemed that this was considered even more important than the original mission in Jinping County.

Baek Mi-ryo knew. There was no other reason why Ma Jin was asking so pressingly.

It would be difficult to do this if he wasn’t considering the prodigy as the next generation Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

That’s why it was even more regrettable. There was nothing to say.

“···Without a chance to see anything, he annihilated the Blood Flame Sect’s branch. The prodigy, alone. All I can say now is that despite the arduous journey, he never forgot his manners. He didn’t seem to be interested in the outstanding martial prowess he currently possesses.”

“······.”

Ma Jin fell silent with a pensive look on his face. The shock of single-handedly destroying the branch, including the Blood Swordmaster’s sword, was like that. 

A realm where even the likes of Nine Sects, Eight Families, Thirteen Heavens, and the level of Desolate Sect could be called masters.

It was hard to express it even with the word outstanding.

“Cheong Myeong.”

Ma Jin’s gaze now turned to the only member of the Elf clan in Radiant Demon Wing.

There was a famous story about the eyes of the Elf clan, said to see the essence of things.

After the founding of the nation, the story goes that the “Great-Great Empress Dowager”, who became the consort of King Taejo, arrested some officials and revealed that they were traitors.

Like the current emperor who single-handedly faced the Hundred and Eight Arhat Formation of Shaolin Temple’s martial arts to witness it, she was known to possess one of the best martial arts in the world and cast a enormous presence in the imperial court for over a hundred years.

Even the common people knew about it.

Inherently, the five senses of the Elf clan were different from those of the Han people in some ways.

That’s why the final test of entering Desolate Sect is a private meeting with the lord of Desolate Sect in the first place.

What Ma Jin wanted to confirm was the qualifications as a leader of the martial power that went beyond that.

“You mean the prodigy? He’s excellent for his age. His killing intent is quite strong, but he knows how to handle it properly. In terms of temperament, there’s something more extraordinary about him.”

Cheong Myeong said with a light smile.

“His killing intent is strong?”

“Isn’t it obvious? That friend, throughout the journey, never mentioned anything about his background. Judging by his words and actions, it’s clear that he’s learned, but…”

“I think so too. The two new recruits this time seem to have already severed ties with their families in some way.”

“I see. It’s not something I haven’t thought about······.”

Ma Jin tapped the table with his fingers. Then he slowly nodded his head.

“Before thinking about a successor, taking care of the ones who have become our family comes first. There’s plenty of time. Like this time too. I’m curious to see how many more unexpected achievements he will make. It’ll be fun to nurture him.”

“I think so too.”

“I do wonder when he’ll become a Blue-rank. It doesn’t feel too far off.”

These conversations were closer to a chat than a report. The night sky slowly draped over the Radiant Demon Wing pavilion.

* * *

The next morning.

“Prodigy. The Grand Master is calling for you.”

A Radiant Demon Wing White-rank senior called out to Jeong Yeon-shin. His tone was different from before.

It felt much more cautious. As the results of this mission became known, the way they looked at him changed.

They could no longer treat him merely as a junior with outstanding qualities.

Whenever he was in the grand martial arts hall like this, he would definitely hear words like “the Blood Swordmaster······” a few times. Even now, three days after his return.

Among the thirty-six members of Radiant Demon Wing, ten were White-ranks, so it was a rare occurrence for a White-rank to single-handedly discuss a branch of the Blood Flame Sect.

There were even talks that he might become the youngest Blue-rank in the shortest time.

“Yes, I will go up.”

Jeong Yeon-shin politely clasped his hands.

Whenever he heard people highly evaluating him, he tried to maintain an even more upright demeanor.

He didn’t think an absolute master without popularity could rise to the position of the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

Perhaps thanks to that, the way people looked at him was improving day by day. To the point where he himself felt warmth.

‘Is it a new mission?’

Although they guaranteed a month’s rest for a warrior of Desolate Sect who had completed a mission, he didn’t fully believe those words.

How could one predict what would happen in a martial arts sect?

“Come in.”

As soon as he reached the end of the pavilion, Ma Jin’s thick voice rang out.

It seemed like he had sensed his presence right away. Even though he was training to fully embody the techniques of the wind and grass.

Admiring that he was indeed the Grand Master, he opened the door and entered the room. And he slightly flinched.

Ma Jin’s face had become extremely serious. The scar across his face looked as if it had hardened permanently.

“Did something happen? An important mission?”

“Although you are showing unprecedented achievements, it’s not yet to the extent where Radiant Demon Wing can entrust you with what could be considered an important mission. Of course, the expectations are high.”

His scar wriggled. It seemed like Ma Jin was trying to smile in his own way, showing that he was proud.

“It’s not a mission. Well, it’s not something that can be compared to an ordinary mission either. The lord has asked me to bring you along.”

“The lord of Desolate Sect······?”

The absolute ruler with green eyes came to mind. It was incomprehensible.

“Are there cases where a White-rank warrior who has finished an interview is summoned again?”

“There is no precedent, so I’m not at ease. I can’t fathom his intentions at all.”

Ma Jin gestured with a grave expression.

“Even so, we can’t delay. Let’s go.”

He followed Ma Jin, who was leading the way, and left the Radiant Demon Wing pavilion.

There was quite a distance to the main castle where the Lord of Desolate Sect resided.

Even though Jeong Yeon-shin matched Ma Jin’s pace and walked briskly, it took about the time to drink a cup of tea.

During that time, all the attention was focused solely on Jeong Yeon-shin.

Perhaps it was because of the noticeable scar on Ma Jin, wearing the black martial uniform of Desolate Sect, that caught people’s eyes.

Everyone recognized the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, who was said to create scenes of hell in every battlefield he passed through.

At the same time, attention was also focused on the boy walking half a step behind.

“It’s the prodigy of Radiant Demon Wing.”

“The one who killed the Blood Swordmaster······?”

“He looks even younger than I thought.”

It was said that the existence of a boy wearing a white martial uniform was unique to Jeong Yeon-shin in all of Desolate Sect.

It was still unfamiliar to be recognized by strangers he had never met before.

Jeong Yeon-shin maintained an indifferent expression and silently followed behind Ma Jin.

And soon they reached the main castle where he had taken the final test of Desolate Sect.

“Let’s go.”

Ma Jin entered without hesitation, and the guard warriors did not stop him.

It was unclear whether it was due to the prestige of a black-rank master of Desolate Sect or trust in the martial power of the Lord of Desolate Sect.

The two climbed the long stairs and reached the front of the lord’s room.

Simultaneously, the door opened wide on its own.

A cool breeze brushed Jeong Yeon-shin’s cheeks. The first thing that came into view was, of course, her.

The Lord of Desolate Sect, sitting diagonally on the trunk of a tree that pierced through the office like a giant snake.

Her deep green eyes, as if containing all the water damage in the world, glanced over Ma Jin and fixed on Jeong Yeon-shin.

She slightly raised her hand, which was so white and smooth that it was hard to believe she possessed martial arts reaching the heavens.

“Come here.”

“We greet the lord.”

Only after following Ma Jin’s example and greeting with a fist salute did he recognize the others.

Two people. The first to catch his eye was the old man.

Sharp eyes, large build.

His pure white beard without a single hair reached down to his solar plexus.

The purple robe worn over his seemingly firm body uniquely had a standing collar.

It matched very well with the old man’s strong and sharp impression.

‘A purple-rank master who even surpassed the Grand Master.’

A powerful aura flowed through his entire body, which would have felt uniquely intense if not for the presence of the Lord of Desolate Sect.

Next to him stood a boy. He had a somewhat arrogant look but was strikingly handsome.

He stared at Jeong Yeon-shin with eyes of distinct black and white, his gaze feeling challenging.

“So you’re that Radiant Demon Wing prodigy. I am Ma Yeonjeok, who once led the Divine Sword Squad.”

The old man in the purple robe spoke. His voice was incredibly spirited.

So much so that one might think he would have called himself the leader if the Lord of Desolate Sect wasn’t in the center.

“My grandson wanted to see a master of his age, so I mentioned it to the lord. It’s nice to meet you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze, having let Ma Yeonjeok’s words go in one ear and out the other, turned elsewhere.

The Lord of Desolate Sect, who wasn’t saying much. She slightly raised the corner of her mouth as if to say, “Do as you please.”

-I will officially recognize you if you wish.

It wasn’t a sound transmission. There was no feeling of energy flow at all.

More fundamentally, it was a voice that resonated in his mind. Could it be the Wisdom Light Mind Speech that the supreme martial monks of Shaolin were said to use?

‘Why is she being so nice to me?’

While feeling puzzled, Jeong Yeon-shin looked at his maternal grandfather.