“Amusing fellow. How dare you right to my face.”

Thieving Ghost’s mouth corners rose.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid no attention and continued walking. He didn’t stop advancing.

He had heard about Thieving Ghost. They said he was a master of Geumnasu.

His title didn’t mean he fought like one possessed. He was called Thieving Ghost because he stole like a ghost.

“Do you know the meaning of my title?”

Thieving Ghost asked with a smiling face.

He likes to brag. Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Though the distance narrowed without any reply, Thieving Ghost’s chattering didn’t stop.

“I am Thieving Ghost because I take anything. I took your senior brother’s foolish eye too.”

“Senior brother?”

The guy laughed loudly at Jeong Yeon-shin’s question.

“Not senior brother, I suppose. Isn’t Desolate Sect a sect without hierarchy? Unable to call masters ‘master.’ The Radiant Demon Wing Lord who taught you must be the same. That dull fellow must be wandering aimlessly through the mountains and fields.”

“What’s your purpose? Didn’t you take the Great Violet Pill?”

Jeong Yeon-shin stopped briefly and asked. Now the distance was very close.

About five steps. He could even see the calluses embedded in Thieving Ghost’s hands that kept opening and closing.

One leap would be enough to split the guy’s body with power to spare.

“The one you can’t call senior brother. Blue Eyes Demon Sword’s neck.”

Energy waves flowed from the empty left sleeve end of the guy. It was a reason Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t understand.

“You risk the Mount Hua Sword Saint and Squad Leader returning early?”

“You don’t understand the meaning a martial artist’s hands hold. Fine. Though I played along because they said you were quite promising, you’re no different from those ignorant ones.”

This time Thieving Ghost took a step.

He seemed to be saying he couldn’t yield Cheong Myeong’s neck in the inn to others.

The energy he exuded was extraordinary. He could probably exchange several moves with a blue-level master.

Boom!

Jeong Yeon-shin put his mind into the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique he had already raised.

The Radiant  Sword Style’s incantations  unraveled from his head. At the same time, there was true energy sprouting from his hand like the sun bleeding.

There was no need to wait. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately struck upward with the Desolate Sword. A dim stream of light rose following the sword blade.

Swish-!

The sword strike missed. It was the first time since creating the sword technique.

Thieving Ghost’s body technique was truly ghost-like as his title suggested. His movement of turning his body while rushing in was tremendous.

His outstretched hand afterward curved like a snake along with an ominously flowing energy wave.

It looked like it would wrap around Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword-holding hand.

‘Grappling Hold*. Quite advanced.’

T/N- In previous chapters Grappling hold was translated as Joint Locks.

He captured Thieving Ghost’s technique in his eyes.

The history of Grappling Holds  imbued with internal energy was long. They said it was originally a martial art created by a general from a long-fallen country.

A method that showed off martial prowess in military camps was passed to constables, imperial guards, and finally to the martial world.

All its contemplation was in subduing the opponent’s arm to make them defenseless.

Even now that true energy operation methods had developed, its essential meaning hadn’t changed.

Thud!

He twisted his body, ducked, and pushed forward.

A technique commonly seen even in back alleys. It was a move striking with the body.

A short wind whirled around his entire body.

The spiral force wave imbued in his movement destroyed any chance of being caught from behind.

The spiral technique of Eternal Blossom Fist harmonized with Cheong Myeong’s teachings. Thieving Ghost’s eyes narrowed as he stepped far back.

“An Elf clan’s body technique? No. Since it’s originally a martial art Han people can’t follow, only the form is similar but it’s a new martial art.”

“You talk too much.”

“I looked into you.”

Thieving Ghost continued immediately.

“The Blood Flame Sect is a fearsome force. They respond appropriately to sprouts that could become great enemies. Not only do they send assassins, but they also dig up the past. They uncovered everything. That you’re from the Jeong family that was annihilated in Xinye County, Henan. Hao Sect suffered hardship and spilled the information.”

“……”

“Child of the Jeong family. You buried your family members in the back mountain, didn’t you? I wonder what’s become of that place now? You greatly antagonized the Blood Flame Sect.”

“What?”

“You took the Blood Swordmaster’s head? Would they leave your hometown alone? They dug up the mountain. And finally burned it all.”

Jeong Yeon-shin adjusted his grip on his sword wave. He remembered the servant who called him for breakfast every morning.

Along with his father who acknowledged his son at the end of his life. The family members who had distanced themselves from him approached with love and hate.

“You. You have black hair but don’t look like a sect member. Are you an apostle?”

“You think all Blood Flame Sect martial artists learn blood techniques. You really are new to the murim.”

“Yes.”

A dying man’s martial arts don’t matter. Jeong Yeon-shin grumbled.

He raised his energy once more. True energy filling and circulating through the eight extraordinary meridians in his body.

Along with Fate Defying Scripture operated through layering principles, the intensity of the energy waves began to fluctuate.

The senses of martial artists facing life-and-death battles transcend normal categories.

They say you feel the opponent’s heart closer than a lover’s. Thieving Ghost’s lips twisted upward.

“A youngster would kill me? I’ll bury you along with Blue Eyes Demon Sword’s remaining eye.”

The moment he mentioned Cheong Myeong’s eye, Jeong Yeon-shin’s thoughts entered a different realm.

‘When do martial artists, murim people despair?’

First would be when their sect’s master, senior-junior brothers, or themselves face death.

Second would seem to be when they become unable to practice martial arts.

Then, in what case do martial arts-obsessed murim people receive shock comparable to these two?

Cutting off limbs wasn’t enough. Revenge. It was the emotion right after the desire for survival.

“Hup!”

Thieving Ghost exhaled shortly. Simultaneously, his extraordinary body technique unfolded again.

The hand that claimed to steal everything in the world unleashed the advanced principles of Grappling Holds.

Jeong Yeon-shin took a step and moved his right hand holding the sword wave.

Like lightning extinguishing, the Desolate Sword hid its body in its scabbard. At the same time, he met the enemy completely empty-handed.

He stretched out his right hand. It looked exactly like the opponent’s Grappling Hold.

Thieving Ghost’s face, which had smirked as if taking it as arrogance, was hidden.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand shadow created a strange afterimage.

It was a small movement. With one hand gesture, he deflected Thieving Ghost’s Grappling Hold.

“…!”

That trajectory was clearly in the realm of rising martial arts. The move itself was a dimension higher.

Later start, earlier finish. Jeong Yeon-shin’s slower hand reversely grabbed the enemy’s wrist first.

Simultaneously, Jeong Family Dynamic Technique’s supernatural strength took effect. It had been quite a while.

The crushing grip completely sealed the opponent’s movements by itself. To the extent that acupoint strikes weren’t even necessary.

“You, how could you…!”

Cold sweat formed on Thieving Ghost’s face.

He seemed unable to even think of kicking. It was hard to believe he had been leisurely just moments ago.

“This seems better. Your technique wasn’t that advanced.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said indifferently.

Thieving Ghost’s face became almost panic-stricken. It seemed to be dyed with terror.

He had witnessed the sight of his unique martial art being instantly stolen and blooming in the enemy’s hands.

“Shall I teach you the incantation?”

When he asked quietly, Thieving Ghost’s head flinched. This time Jeong Yeon-shin smiled.

Wouldn’t he tell? The guy seemed to realize soon as his face gradually changed. From longing to despair.

Jeong Yeon-shin stole and destroyed his life.

‘This is it.’

He realized his own method of dropping evil path martial artists into the abyss.

Martial artists’ martial arts were also called accumulated achievement. It meant their very life built up over long time and effort.

It was enough to deny that.

It was simply a matter of displaying their martial arts in a better form. Right before their eyes as they exchanged moves.

Thieving Ghost’s wrist caught in the right hand was crushed.

Swish.

While hearing the guy’s scream, Jeong Yeon-shin drew the Desolate Sword from his waist with his left hand in reverse grip.

* * *

He went up to the inn carrying Thieving Ghost’s head.

There had been Blood Flame Sect masters who attacked the inn with Thieving Ghost. However, it was already cleaned up.

Ma Jin had returned and defeated the Blood Flame Sect group together with the Mount Hua Sect masters.

All of Radiant Demon Wing except Jeong Yeon-shin had responded too. Then Ma Jin said he watched Jeong Yeon-shin’s fight while sitting on the windowsill.

“You…”

The scar across Ma Jin’s face kept twitching.

As if having seen something he shouldn’t have, he opened his mouth several times before sighing.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid no attention to his maternal uncle’s expression full of complex emotions.

“I’ve accumulated many achievements. Please record them properly.”

He said while holding out Thieving Ghost’s head. In his other hand he held a wooden box taken from the guy’s bosom.

Inside the small box was a miraculous medicine with energy he had never seen before.

The Great Violet Pill. If discussing rank, it would be the highest achievement.

Ma Jin opened his mouth while showing a dazed expression.

“…Blue level won’t be far off. You’ll be able to request a promotion test soon. It will be the shortest time. And naturally the youngest.”

“Promotion test… I’ve heard of it. I’d like you to explain in detail next time. It seems there’s something more urgent now.”

“Yes. The Mount Hua Sect has been hit.”

He followed Ma Jin to another guest room. The inn was almost half destroyed.

However, the innkeeper’s expression was rather good. He said he was promised compensation in the name of Desolate Sect and the Mount Hua Sect.

“Hmm.”

Jeong Yeon-shin let out a low sound. The face of the boy lying like dead on the bed was familiar.

Yu Hyeon, the Mount Hua Sect’s head disciple.

He was the bold friend who had said he would visit Desolate Sect after crossing hands with Jeong Yeon-shin.

“He used up all his true energy. Saying he would protect his senior brother.”

Cheon Ju, who had been standing at the bedside, glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin and said.

His sharp impression as the Sword Saint of Hwasan had softened.

Jeong Yeon-shin knew the reason. The dantian is not like a porcelain vessel.

It was an organ that contained minute energy from birth. They said it gets damaged if completely emptied.

Some even called that minimal energy primordial true energy.

He remembered hearing that its quality was no different from internal energy and could be withdrawn and deposited.

Jeong Yeon-shin carefully opened his mouth.

“If it’s depletion of true energy, can’t we just replenish it? I know it’s a common thing.”

“You’re right. Disciples showing the same symptoms have already gotten up and dusted themselves off.”

“Then Yu Hyeon’s internal energy…”

“We can’t help Hyeon. As the sect leader’s disciple, he learned the Purple Mist Divine Technique.

Not all Hwasan faction martial arts are the same. The internal energy training is completely different.”

Cheon Ju spoke gravely. His expression didn’t change even seeing the Great Violet Pill from Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand.

He meant they needed a master who could dissolve and transfer energy on behalf of the unconscious Yu Hyeon.

“What you retrieved is indeed a grace. The Great Violet Pill’s energy could substitute for the Purple Mist Divine Technique. However, dissolving the miraculous pill’s energy must be done delicately. The half hour remaining for Hyeon is far from enough…”

Cheon Ju’s words were cut off. Ma Jin beside him was moving his lips.

He seemed to be sending a telepathic message. Cheon Ju’s eyes widened as they turned to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Did you get permission for me to do it?”

Ma Jin nodded at Jeong Yeon-shin’s question.

“Yes. Swallow it now. This too will become your achievement.”

He didn’t ask about the details. He already knew enough. It was when Jeong Yeon-shin had won against the Azure Sky Squad warrior.

He had absorbed Desolate Sect’s supply pills at an amazing speed.

It ended before Ma Jin could even put his hand on the life gate acupoint at the center of his waist to help.

They said the Radiant Demon Wing Leader was a match for the Mount Hua Sword Saint. Was there trust like between close friends between them?

Cheon Ju, who gave permission right away, also seemed to have amazing composure.

“Then.”

He laid Yu Hyeon face down. After placing his hands neatly, he sat cross-legged beside him.

With Cheon Ju’s tacit approval, Jeong Yeon-shin took out the pure white pill and swallowed it.

Along with a fragrant scent, the Great Violet Pill dropped into his body.

‘So there are miraculous medicines that dissolve right when eaten.’

The idle thought was brief. He moved his true energy from the stone gate acupoint where the lower dantian was.

The Great Violet Pill crumbled within the major heavenly circuit circulating through the upper body’s meridians, and that much energy began to rise.

He realized when the power increased. The Great Violet Pill was a miraculous medicine specialized for a certain true energy operation method.

He had heard that pill-making techniques also grew in eating history along with martial arts.

One year came to mind. That was the time it would take for someone who hadn’t studied Mount Hua Sect internal energy to settle the Great Violet Pill’s true energy in their body.

Extracting energy and refining it into true energy were separate matters. They said the gap grew larger the higher grade the miraculous medicine.

‘Without one year of closed-door training… it would be no different from another’s true energy with internal force technique applied.’

That seemed to be why the Blood Flame Sect group and Thieving Ghost hadn’t taken it immediately.

‘In that time, it would be better to learn my martial arts. Still, I can use it while sending energy to Yu Hyeon.’

It was a fortuitous opportunity.

It seemed time to fully open his slightly opened middle dantian. Baek Mi-ryeo’s words came to mind.

That one must hold enormous energy in the body. The Great Violet Pill would be more than enough.