The next morning, mission preparations were complete. Jeong Yeon-shin received a travel pack containing various items, provisions, and travel expenses.

As a blue warrior, they said he had to be responsible.

Additionally, the characters engraved on the Desolate Sect martial uniform were covered with silk pieces. It was quite exquisite.

“It’s a place dealing with famous families. Since it’s a dangerous mission, we don’t change disguises.”

Do Yu-won from the General Administration Office nodded at Ma Jin’s words.

“Official Desolate Sect martial uniforms contain thread from a celestial being called Heaven Silkworm. It’s quite valuable, so there’s one thread at each vital point. They’re embroidered vertically. It can buy extremely brief moments against horizontal slashes or thrusts.”

“Since reinforcing with iron plates wouldn’t escape masters’ discerning eyes. It would draw unnecessary attention.”

“Ah how could you cover this! The everything of me and Sir Jeong!”

Hyeon Won-chang showed signs of pretend outrage.

While stroking his right ‘Hwang’ character with his left hand, he caressed the ‘Hwang’ character below Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder with his right hand.

It was very bizarre. Jeong Yeon-shin moved slightly away.

Hyeon Won-chang made a slight crying face and said.

“Isn’t the Mount Hua Sect enough? I find it hard to agree. Now Desolate Sect will soon be going too!”

“Quiet down, Desolate Divine Hero.”

At Ma Jin’s calm words, Baek Mi-ryeo approached. Only then did Hyeon Won-chang shrink back.

Moving slightly away, he muttered words others couldn’t understand. Junior Shin So-bin shook her head.

“Aren’t you the same year as Senior Lightning Flash? I wonder if the secret journey will go smoothly.”

“Sir Hyeon is different from appearances. It must be your needless worry.”

“I hope so. It’s my first mission too, and we’ll start coordinating now. I only briefly witnessed Senior Lightning Flash’s martial arts during the promotion ceremony, right? I’m curious if you can show skill matching your fame while traveling the martial world too.”

Shin So-bin raised her lips. It was a bold smile.

Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t particularly interested. He just hoped she wouldn’t hold him back.

Since becoming blue-level wasn’t the end, they said black-level, the next promotion uniform, carried the rank of squad leader.

There was an even more distant difference than from white to blue-level.

‘I’ve taken one step. Now there must be no mission failures.’

The anxiety felt when failing to subdue the Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle arose.

He didn’t want to experience it again. That was why it didn’t matter whether the Huangfu family’s young master had Solar Divine Meridian or whatever.

Just accumulating merit was all. Jeong Yeon-shin clasped his fists to Ma Jin.

“See you later.”

“Yes, the moment you complete the mission we clash with the Hwangbo family. Let’s meet then.”

Ma Jin said nodding his head. Then after brief silence, when he opened his mouth again the scar at his mouth corner looked sheepish.

“…Missions can fail. Think of your safety first.”

He knew it wasn’t words as Radiant Demon Wing Leader. Jeong Yeon-shin bowed silently to his uncle.

Unlike maternal grandfather Ma Yeon-jeok, he couldn’t just push away Ma Jin who felt complete guilt and kept trying to approach.

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze slightly.

“Don’t overdo it later either, squad leader. They say the Hwangbo family head is a counted master in Shandong.”

“It’s not sparring but war. We’ll attack together.”

Ma Jin replied with a slight smile.

Shaking his head as if disappointed, Jeong Yeon-shin mounted the brown fine horse beside him.

Feeling the saddle firmly supporting his bottom, he lightly patted the horse’s neck.

When living at the Jeong family house, he thought of companions for life like thousand-li horses. It was different.

Since Desolate Sect was a place that constantly changed fine horses, it was hard to grow attached to horses.

“Please take care until the post station.”

Jeong Yeon-shin leaned over and whispered. He raised the reins while various Radiant Demon Wing seniors saw him off.

Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin also approached on horses from both sides.

“Traveling through murim again. Always thrilling.”

Hyeon Won-chang said with a grin. Jeong Yeon-shin briefly looked at Shin So-bin glancing sideways as if untrustworthy before flicking the reins.

It was his first mission as a Desolate Sect blue warrior.

* * *

Just covering the Desolate Sect mark felt like entering a different world.

Was it because he had to lead the group without seniors? He felt emptiness even though Hyeon Won-chang was there.

The background that made people show respect or fear had disappeared.

‘I heard there’s also contempt that Desolate Sect masters experience in the murim.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. Since he hadn’t experienced it yet, what approached had to be different.

The destination was Huizhou in South Zhili. There was a post station route that went slightly around from Xiangyang to Huizhou.

It was different from missions until now where they had to take long horse rest times.

The group galloped quickly.

Shin So-bin was skilled at horseback riding befitting a direct descendant of a prestigious family.

Though riding horses long was another matter, it wasn’t a hindrance at all.

Hyeon Won-chang also rode very well. He said touring murim should be enjoyed after missions.

Twenty days passed. Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t have the internal force to traverse between cities with lightness technique.

The two white-levels were the same. They had to rely on horses.

Nothing particular happened until they arrived near Huizhou.

It was so even though forest bandits and river bandits were everywhere.

When Hyeon Won-chang came from Shaanxi to Xiangyang to take the Desolate Exam, he said he met countless ones, to the point it seemed like all boasting.

‘I’m getting a feel for it.’

Meanwhile Jeong Yeon-shin had been refining sword songs. It was to gradually advance into the realm of sound techniques.

He was also breaking down Moon Spirit Harmony Technique’s chants. It seemed he could create new internal energy techniques at least before the Dragon Phoenix Gathering ended.

Woong.

It was where the official road approaching Huizhou came into view.

Under an unusually large ginkgo tree by the road, Northern Light placed on Jeong Yeon-shin’s crossed legs rang.

The Desolate Sword wasn’t there. Since he had to hide his affiliation, he left it with Cheong Myeong.

‘Increasing sword sound size has become easy.’

Infusing internal energy into the sword to prevent it from breaking easily. It was a common technique. That’s how it was in the world of masters.

Jeong Yeon-shin went further.

He felt the essence of sound. He split two strands of true energy using Fate Defying Scripture’s principle and put them in the blade.

The sound grew louder as the finely rippling energy waves intensified.

Goong!

The mysteriousness of true energy was amazing.

Extremely delicate operation that would be difficult even with innate sense brought unprecedented resonance.

He could control the pitch of sounds.

Sound techniques came from imbuing radiating true energy into the melody spreading from here.

‘The power of this martial art will ultimately be determined by internal energy quantity.’

There were more problems. They said sound techniques were also profound martial arts.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword songs with shallow years of training had difficulty distinguishing friend from foe. He thought of Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin.

Sending sound transmission to protect ears with internal force before casting sound techniques? How nice it would be if fights only happened with that much leisure.

Even so, the sense of achievement was great. Because it would show great effectiveness in one versus many battles.

“You said sword songs? Indeed it draws tremendous attention.”

It was Shin So-bin in white clothes. Her black pupils sparkled with interest.

She approached with rustling steps, placed her hands on her knees and bent her waist.

Her long tied hair flowed glossily.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought he didn’t understand why someone not even a master would grow their hair like that.

It was because it was good for grabbing during close combat.

“Sorry.”

Jeong Yeon-shin apologized while letting his thoughts flow away.

Huizhou was an extremely large city.

They said merchant groups carrying items like high-grade tea leaves or silver coins frequently went in and out of this tremendously prosperous place.

The relatively safe official road went without saying. There were many passersby glancing this way while passing on the opposite road.

“I find it pleasant to hear! It has quite a bit of elegance!”

Hyeon Won-chang grinned while tearing into provisions.

Was it because the ‘Hwang’ characters were covered? He seemed strangely pleased at receiving attention.

That’s when there were people slowly approaching.

“Looking at them, they seem to be attending the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. Truly arrogant.”

“Making sword sounds without even fighting in broad daylight? What could it be if not showing off meager martial arts?”

They were young men and women with extraordinary energy.

They wore luxurious yellow silk martial uniforms, but Jeong Yeon-shin first saw the swords at their waists.

They were martial artists. They looked like people from prestigious families.

A youth wearing a hero’s headband on his forehead like Hyeon Won-chang and a woman with slightly upturned eyes.

Both looked about twenty. Their faces showed some youthfulness.

Behind were groups that looked like attendants.

Before Hyeon Won-chang could say anything, Jeong Yeon-shin stood up first.

“I was rash. Your words deeply resonate in my heart.”

When he respectfully clasped his fists, the man and woman’s postures changed. They returned the greeting identically as if having learned etiquette for a long time.

Though it seemed almost reflexive behavior, their conduct had discipline.

“…He readily admits fault. Not bad to see.”

“Maybe because we showed energy waves due to irritation. He must have been scared.”

Both man and woman were arrogant yet dignified. It immediately brought to mind the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.

They said many rising talents from famous families would attend. These people must be so too.

“Your name and sect?”

The man asked slightly raising his chin.

They said there were various types even among famous families under heaven. Considering etiquette was like that too.

While there were humble ones like Sword Dragon Wei Ji Myo-hwa, stories of arrogant rising talents from famous orthodox sects weren’t rare either.

‘They seem like murim family people.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. This could be martial nobles who act like kings in their settled regions.

It was an era when exchanges between people like at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering weren’t frequent.

Having lived like royalty in their own world, that’s why incidents like the Hwangbo family’s forced labor seemed to happen.

The youth slightly raised his eyebrows.

“What are you thinking so much? Speak without hiding.”

“I am Gu Gwa of the Chasing Truth Sect.”

“Chasing Truth Sect? Never heard of it. Someone without roots then.”

The woman beside the youth said mercilessly. Faint contempt settled on both their faces. Their tone also changed.

The youth opened his mouth while twitching his thick eyebrows.

“Right. As you see, we are the bloodline of an orthodox famous family. You’ve heard of the Hwangbo family? Since I know all orthodox sects attending the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, if your sect is between righteous and evil, I can’t let you go nicely.”

“I must enlighten you. You, who can carelessly use the realm of raising sword sounds.”

The woman stepped forward and added. She seemed very accustomed to satisfying emotions by wielding prestige.

“……”

The Hwangbo family? Though Huizhou was just a bit further, Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t believe it for a moment.

The appearance drawn in the young master’s description received from Ma Jin came to mind belatedly.

The face resembled it.

He had heard Ma Jin’s drunken story during the banquet celebrating blue-level promotion.

His sister who left him, Jeong Yeon-shin’s mother, was married into the Jeong family in a truly absurd way.

They said martial world fate was like suddenly striking wind and rain. Was this situation no different from that?

He felt Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin’s energy waves strengthening as they watched from behind.

Though he had thought it would take long, it could end quickly too. He gave thanks to Buddha and the Primordial Heavenly Lord.

There was no need to endure particularly.

Since he had to handle the Hwangbo family’s young master and make him mobilize the family’s power, it was originally a mission requiring bloodshed in the orthodox realm.

‘We should definitely take proper justification.’

First he lowered his clasped hands and opened his lips.

“To speak of roots.”

Jeong Yeon-shin revealed his original personality without hiding.

“Though the Hwangbo family’s prestige is high, your attitude is rude even after hearing my sect’s name. Is that murim courtesy? Your insult has scratched my sect’s honor. Each speaks of the other’s flaws. How could a martial artist talk like that?”

“What…?”

Was it something they hadn’t experienced? For a moment expressions disappeared from the man and woman’s faces.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt the presence of onlookers beginning to gather.

He continued in a clear voice.

“I first made courtesy and apologized. I revealed my sect and name even facing your unreasonable words and actions. You speak of lacking roots while mentioning the Hwangbo family? Could you endure if you were me? I request sparring.”

“Words flow like mountain streams.”

The youth’s mouth corners curled up. He raised his arm and pushed back the woman frowning her fine brows.

Blood vessels protruded on the forearm revealed between sleeves. He seemed to have tremendously refined blood energy.

“Good. I didn’t like from the start that a sect between righteous and evil was invited to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. My title is…”

“Not curious. Come.”

Cutting off his words, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly gripped Northern Light’s sword wave.

Suddenly Sword Art Flower of the Deep Martial Alliance whose neck had flown came to mind.