“…Desolate Sect?”

The one who broke the silence with a mutter was the young master who had cautioned the wandering warrior.

His appearance changed from casually chatting with the two women seated with him. Along with slight bewilderment, he seemed to hold interest.

The wandering warrior rolled his eyes up and down.

“Are you truly a Desolate Sect martial artist?”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer.

“Our sect was insulted by your mouth. Don’t think my patience will last long.”

It was Hyeon Won-chang speaking with a rare serious expression. The moment he draws his sword, killing intent will be revealed.

Having witnessed Hyeon Won-chang’s fights, Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t want to waste time.

Keeping his mouth shut, he twirled the remaining chopstick with his index and middle fingers. The wandering warrior’s complexion changed drastically.

“I-I had no intention to insult Desolate Sect. I just…”

“I’m not interested in your business. You said Blue Eyes Demon Sword lost an eye. Talk about that.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, with his hand on his sword wave, looked at him clearly.

“Thieving Ghost! They said the Blood Flame Sect was behind Thieving Ghost! Several Blood Swordmasters and an apostle of the Blood Flame Sect clashed with Radiant Demon Wing, and while protecting a commoner family, they met with misfortune…”

“……”

He thought it was just like Chyeong Myeong, who was particularly kind in the Radiant Demon Wing.

“After the Tyrant Sword Sect, it’s the Blood Flame Sect?”

Hyeon Won-chang muttered with a frightened expression. Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded.

They hadn’t even seen the hem of clothes from the other eleven of the Thirteen Heavens. It seemed only these two kept getting entangled repeatedly.

It seemed to be because Henan and Shaanxi were the main areas where they operated.

“You must have wagered your neck when running your mouth.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said. Perhaps due to the force like spirit imbued in his voice, the wandering warrior’s body stiffened.

From the Praying Mantis Sect to the Zhongnan Sect and Tyrant Sword Sect. He had fought repeated group battles where blood flew freely.

His temperament couldn’t be the same as before. Jeong Yeon-shin was gradually advancing as a martial artist.

“I-I apologize!”

The guy made a deep bow. His attitude was as if seeing a messenger of death.

The name Desolate Sect and the move Jeong Yeon-shin had shown seemed to make him that way.

“It’s the first time drawing the Desolate Sword has felt so wasteful.”

Unlike Hyeon Won-chang’s words, Jeong Yeon-shin felt like he was looking in a mirror.

The sight of throwing away pride to preserve life. One’s own neck is that precious.

The scene the wandering warrior created didn’t feel like someone else’s business. That was himself.

Radiant Demon Wing’s Lightning Flash who must trade with the Desolate Sect Lord for achievements.

“Just eat. Pay the innkeeper for the table.”

He said unconsciously. He thought it was something even he didn’t understand. Was he hoping fate would show him such leniency too?

“At that age with such martial power, he could be arrogant…”

“Indeed, masters of famous sects have dignity.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s attitude seemed to be taken as a strong one’s mercy.

It must be because he had shown energy waves that could gauge martial prowess even with chopsticks.

Not just the other wandering warriors, but even the men and women who seemed to be from noble martial families showed admiration for his composure.

The wandering warrior who stood up called the innkeeper and paid for the table Jeong Yeon-shin had broken.

Though he wanted to leave his seat, his appearance clearly showed he was enduring out of fear.

The young master rose from his chair and approached Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Could your title perhaps be Lightning Flash?”

When he nodded, the interest on his face seemed to deepen.

“After White Qilin Namgung Hwa-sin, I see someone who will become Desolate Sect’s light. Truly pleased to meet you. I am Jin Yul of the Jin family from Shaanxi.”

“Desolate Sect’s Radiant Demon Wing, Jeong Yeon-shin.”

Hyeon Won-chang and Jin Yul’s companions also exchanged greetings. They said they were daughters from nearby martial arts halls.

The original people sharing the table awkwardly left their seats. Jin Yul had given them coins.

“I’ve long admired Desolate Sect’s martial artists. When one belongs to a small family like ours, we must stay close to the commoner’s world as well as the martial world. Seeing Desolate Sect’s sword strikes against the martial world makes my heart feel refreshed.”

He said with a smile.

“Desolate Sect’s rising talent. I heard there’s been a master lately whose martial prowess far exceeds his age. They said he’s active in Shaanxi, and it seems to be you, small lord.”

“Elder Brother Jin’s ears are quite sharp!”

While Jeong Yeon-shin awkwardly bowed without answering, Hyeon Won-chang praised Jin Yul with a smile. He looked very satisfied.

“Since you’re from Radiant Demon Wing, it seems you’re heading to Lantian County. May I request to accompany you? I know it’s presumptuous at first meeting. However, I wish to form connections with Desolate Sect’s masters.”

“Sir Jeong, what do you think?”

Hyeon Won-chang didn’t agree thoughtlessly.

Though he seemed to treat Jeong Yeon-shin like a younger brother, he never went against the hierarchy.

The blue robe acknowledged by Chyeong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo was above all whites.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth.

“You can guess our destination? Do you know the circumstances in detail?”

“After the battle between Zhongnan and the Tyrant Sword Sect, the Radiant Demon Wing and the Mount Hua faction are now the hottest topic in Xi’an’s martial world. Everyone’s eyes are on them, so even those of us from small and medium martial families can’t help but know about the big events in the martial world.”

Jin Yul answered without losing his smile. Jeong Yeon-shin looked at him for a moment before nodding.

* * *

Xi’an was one of the foremost cities in the Central Plains.

Since Lantian County was the county at the eastern end of the metropolis, it required quite a long ride from the inn near Zhongnan Mountain.

During that time, Jin Yul and Hyeon Won-chang became quite close.

“That’s when I shouted. Desolate Sect’s Lightning Flash Jeong Yeon-shin! Has beheaded the Tyrant Sword Sect elder! …My shout then must have been no less than Shaolin’s lion’s roar. All the martial artists of Zhongnan Sect and Demon Blade Sect turned their heads. You should have seen it.”

“Would a Desolate Sect martial artist speak falsely? How could I not believe it?”

The two were originally good-natured. They quickly dropped formalities and spoke comfortably.

Jin Yul was unlike someone from a small martial family in many ways. His insight was incredibly rich and he knew how to lift others up.

He had a noble-like dignity and an atmosphere that drew people in.

Even Hyeon Won-chang, whose mouth corners had quickly risen high, exchanged conversation with a face full of goodwill.

“Did Sir Jeong really behead the Eight Fierce Rakshasa Sword?”

One of the martial arts hall daughters riding together asked.

Her tanned face that seemed to have been devoted to training was full of curiosity.

Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.

“It was merely taking advantage of the situation. Senior Sword Dragon, Senior Shadowless Fist, Precipice Sword, and Sir Hyeon had drained his strength. An elder of the Thirteen Heavens is a master of a different level.”

“I did receive one move! But Sir Jeong’s brilliant strike was the finishing touch!”

Hyeon Won-chang laughed heartily. He seemed very pleased with Jeong Yeon-shin’s praise.

“Let’s take a short rest.”

Jin Yul, who was laughing together, suggested. The sun was high in the sky.

It was time for a meal, and thanks to a stream flowing near the road, they could water the horses.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded.

Hyeon Won-chang volunteered to take care of the horses. Leaving him behind gathering the reins one by one, they headed to the stream.

As he bent down to fill his flask taken from his bosom with water, Jin Yul, sitting close on the left, glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin and opened his mouth.

“Sir Jeong, do you perhaps use your left hand as well?”

“I use my right hand for sword techniques. Though I’ve learned some fist techniques superficially.”

“I see. Then your left side must be a weakness.”

His tone was plain as if discussing daily matters. The casual tone made him realize the content belatedly.

Swish.

He thrust a dagger with amazing speed without even raising energy force.

Jin Yul’s sneak attack was incredibly stealthy. It was as if this was how a swift sword technique would be with a dagger.

Jeong Family Dynamic Technique’s true energy rose from within his body. The internal energy filling his entire body’s meridians was heavier than before.

Jeong Yeon-shin had been prepared since allowing them to accompany him.

Jin Yul was too extraordinary for someone commonly seen.

Despite meeting him at the first inn they stopped at after coming down from Zhongnan Mountain.

‘As if he had been waiting.’

It was the moment he operated Eternal Blossom Fist’s key technique in his left arm. A chilling sword light rose from the diagonal.

The trajectory that flashed and rushed instantly cut through Jin Yul’s neck.

Splash!

“I knew this would happen.”

Hyeon Won-chang stood over the corpse that had planted its upper body in the water puddle.

He grabbed Jin Yul’s clothes and wiped his Desolate Sword.

His face was peaceful as if he had never been friendly with the corpse. Jeong Yeon-shin stared at him blankly.

“I was about to do it.”

“My intuition is no less than Sir Jeong’s.”

Hyeon Won-chang, who grinned, kicked Jin Yul’s head.

As soon as it fell into the stream, something like ink dyed the clear spring water black.

From the top of his head, bright red hair began to show.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who briefly glanced, opened his mouth.

“It seems he was an assassin from the Blood Flame Sect.”

“You’ve become a target. They must have recognized Sir Jeong’s heroic deeds and fame. Now you’re truly an enemy of the Blood Flame Sect. As a martial artist, you’ve truly established yourself – I’m incredibly envious.”

“What about his other companions? The ones who said they were martial arts hall daughters.”

“They must be crossing the River Styx.”

They were all the same. Hyeon Won-chang grumbled.

It seemed they had been ambushed immediately while Jeong Yeon-shin was briefly getting water.

He thought this was how grudges in the martial world were formed. They said it was a mountain and forest made of blades.

Blade Mountain Sword Forest. He finally realized he had truly stepped into the real martial world.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s reaction was composed. Like Jin Yul’s tone when he muttered just before the assassination attempt.

“We should arrive in half a day.”

“Let’s go quickly.”

* * *

“Yeon-shin. I heard you accumulated unbelievable achievements.”

Chyeong Myeong said with a smile. He had a plain cloth wrapped around his head, crossing his left eye.

Even his shabby appearance couldn’t seem to suppress his prominent nose bridge.

He was a senior who was both grateful and somehow annoying.

He thought only he and Hyeon Won-chang would cause worry for the Radiant Demon Wing.

Chyeong Myeong just kept smiling brightly.

“Killing an elder of the Thirteen Heavens. Even I haven’t done that yet.”

“It was reckless. Fortunately nothing serious happened.”

Baek Mi-ryeo’s gaze swept over his entire body as she grabbed his shoulders with very cold hands.

Hyeon Won-chang beside him seemed to speak with his expression. Asking why she wasn’t being lenient with him.

The four people sat around in the guest room where they first stayed when meeting the Hwasan faction.

“What happened? It seems even the squad leader isn’t here.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s question, Baek Mi-ryeo opened her lips.

He thought her fingers brushing back her sideburns were whiter than usual.

It seemed like the aftermath of using some martial art to the extreme.

“Our sect leader went in pursuit with the Mount Hua Sect masters including the Sword Saint. The Blood Flame Sect behind it has been revealed. It’s a different aspect. We can’t know what they’ll try with the Great Violet Pill, but now there’s a high possibility of support coming from the main sect.”

“What about Senior Chyeong Myeong’s eye?”

“Thieving Ghost used hidden weapons. I was dealing with three Blood Swordmasters at the time. This fool could have dodged completely, but there happened to be civilian houses behind. He had no choice but to block it with his sword.”

“What kind of hidden weapon was it to…”

“The Sichuan Tang Clan’s trigger-type hidden weapon tube. Called the Flying Strike Bomb. Its power is tremendous.”

Though she answered gently, her momentum hadn’t diminished.

She seemed to have become very sharp, but the tactless Chyeong Myeong cut in with a slight smile.

“I also cut off his left wrist. Anyway, we need to raid the Tang Clan sometime. Rumors are spreading that they’re secretly making fire bombs too. Should we make that our next mission?”

That’s when it happened.

Boom!

“There is no next for you lot.”

Some explosion came before the voice. Moving faster than that, Chyeong Myeong grabbed Jeong Yeon-shin and Hyeon Won-chang’s necks and pulled them down while muttering.

“Whatever the Squad leader is doing, isn’t working.”

Crash crash crash-!

A tremendous flash bombardment pierced through the window. It was like a sideways downpour.

They would have been pierced through. Because the Great Ming Empire’s lifestyle was standing, not sitting.

Baek Mi-ryeo, who had already reacted like a beast, was crouching as if looking for a counterattack, but her eyes widened seeing Jeong Yeon-shin who immediately stood up and leaped through the window.

He had instantly shaken off Chyeong Myeong’s arm. Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision narrowed as he rushed.

A middle-aged man with a small build entered his sight.

‘What is this? The Great Violet Pill wasn’t the goal?’

The powerful energy waves that had penetrated the inn weren’t just one or two.

Baek Mi-ryeo’s telepathic message saying she would handle the Blood Flame Sect brushed past his ear.

“Blue robe over white clothes. You must be Lightning.”

The middle-aged man greeted Jeong Yeon-shin with a smile. His loose silk sleeve cuffs caught the eye.

Killing intent was spreading as if slaying Desolate Sect’s masters was his life’s purpose.

“You handle lightning? Too grand a title for a youngster.”

People who recognized him were appearing one by one. Was this how martial world fame was built?

“Are you Thieving Ghost?”

He approached unhesitatingly like a martial artist who didn’t know about probing attacks. He didn’t even wait for an answer.

As he drew his sword while walking straight ahead, dim waves of light from the Radiant Sword Style rose.