“Yeon-shin, we cannot leave that child like that.”

An old voice rang out.

It was in the Desolate Sect sect leader’s office.

An old martial artist in purple robe and Ma Jin in black martial uniform sat respectfully before the Desolate Sect Lord.

Sunlight draped on the completely open wall. There were pale green light clusters gathering in the Desolate Sect Lord’s hair.

Ma Jin glanced at his father.

“The more we approach, the more he can withdraw. He seemed to feel no emotion toward blood ties. I can guess how he grew up after my sister left. They said he was an abandoned child.”

“How dare the likes of the Jeong family.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok, made the same expression as Ma Jin. It was close to disgust.

“What face do we have to blame that family? We didn’t even know about their annihilation until seeing his talent and then spoke of blood ties. He could be called a gentleman just for not cursing at a maternal grandfather he’d never met.”

It was before the sect leader. The voice itself wasn’t loud.

Ma Jin maintained a careful attitude while speaking biting words.

“Though he grew up as a proper martial artist, he’s still a child not yet twenty. Yet he’s clear on right and wrong with distinct priorities, making him harder to deal with than adults. Don’t try to keep him in your grasp.”

“Just seeing how he doesn’t blindly seek benefit from large families shows. He must know it would return as poison. He tries to stand alone without being swayed by strong winds. But because of that.”

Ma Yeon-jeok spoke each word straight.

In the end he looked at the Desolate Sect Lord wearing an expression hard to guess her thoughts.

“He must not be neglected even more. If His Majesty the Emperor is heaven, Yeon-shin could become the brightest sun in that vast sky. The current Divine Sword Squad Leader is insufficient. Yeon-shin could surely become a precious sword worthy to keep by the sect leader’s side.”

“That’s for the sect leader to decide. It’s not something for you, retired father, to discuss.”

Ma Jin who rebuked his father turned his eyes.

At the end of his gaze was the most noble person. She was the absolute being all of Desolate Sect revered.

There was rarely change on the Desolate Sect Lord’s face. Talk of her favoring Lightning Flash didn’t arise without reason.

She was like the sun’s radiance. Though seemingly approaching warmly at a glance, she was sunlight indifferently illuminating the world. It had always been so.

Her red lips that hadn’t moved finally moved.

“Continue.”

She said. Though lying alone diagonally on the tree trunk, her presence was different.

Ma Jin swallowed. Few didn’t know of her absolute martial power that even purple masters found hard to discuss winning against.

Her twenty-year-old appearance unchanged since Ming’s establishment was also so.

To the people of Xiangyang, she was a living Jade Emperor.

“It’s still a distant matter. But it’s already been decades since the sect leader spoke of retirement, washing hands in gold basin.”

Ma Yeon-jeok said while stroking his white beard.

“My thought is this. Rather than sending that child out on missions, first keep him in the main fortress for ten years and teach him to complete him as a martial artist. So the martial world’s vulgar waters don’t stain him at a young age… During that process, as he builds martial power while determining marriage, things would change. He would become a divine sword that only the sect leader could wield.”

“…Yeon-jeok.”

The Desolate Sect Lord opened her mouth. No emotion dwelled in her beautiful face.

“Yes, sect leader.”

“Is there no evil in your heart?”

“By evil you mean…”

“You are not the former Divine Sword Squad Leader now. You only appear as Desolate Ma Family bloodline. Trying to raise the family name.”

“……”

Ma Jin knew his father’s personality. He had never failed to obtain something he became completely absorbed in.

Being able to rise to Divine Sword Squad Leader must have also been thanks to such nature.

Suddenly Ma Yeon-jeok lowered his head.

“The sect leader’s words are right. It was hard to endure. When passing the Divine Sword Squad Leader’s precious sword to the current lord was truly miserable. I am the sect leader’s friend of decades. Let me speak honestly.”

“Father! Choose your words carefully!”

The large-built Ma Jin fidgeted restlessly.

“If not for your sister’s matter, you’ve never shown such attitude. You don’t have to forgive me. The family must endure long. Even when we become dust in death, we’ll enjoy immortal life being revered. Originally all that remains of humans is their name.”

“Stop there.”

The Desolate Sect Lord’s low voice pushed away Ma Yeon-jeok’s passion.

“I will decide Lightning Flash’s matters, so do not put family authority first anymore.”

Her clear voice carried strange transcendence. Her clothes brushed against the tree rooted at the world’s peak.

Rustle.

The Desolate Sect Lord who slowly stepped down extending her pure white bare feet raised her head.

Sunlight lightly settled on her transparent face.

“The Radiant Demon Wing Lord should set out now. Take care of Lightning Flash.”

She spoke toward Ma Jin.

“I receive the command.”

Ma Jin who made his conduct even more respectful raised his clasped fists.

* * *

Jeong Yeon-shin stood still thinking.

It was different from when he cut the Deep Martial Alliance rising talent’s neck. It was a place with many watching eyes.

The official road stretching to Huizhou was very large, and passing travelers extended endlessly.

This was orthodox martial realm. It seemed insufficient as justification for killing.

‘I might even turn the Namgung family into enemies. I can’t afford that in Huizhou.’

I couldn’t kill here. That was fine. I just needed to give comparable shame.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought of General Administration Office Do Yu-won’s words.

He said Desolate Sect often had appearance descriptions of mission targets. It was so during the Blood Flame Sect Seventh Apostle mission too.

He said it went without saying for long-prepared matters like this.

Since appearance descriptions were drawings of facial features, the image that came to mind resembled the man before him.

It was an unexpected encounter. Due to being flustered, he couldn’t compare immediately.

‘What if he had just passed by?’

Jeong Yeon-shin reflected. If weighing between mission and martial arts training, the mission was obviously priority. He shouldn’t have been negligent in watching surroundings.

It was while he was briefly lost in thought.

“Not curious about my title? Your words are funny. A rootless thing showing unreasonable stubbornness.”

The Hwangbo family youth said with a snicker. Jeong Yeon-shin slowly shook his head and opened his mouth.

“Being absorbed in your world should also be moderate. Hwangbo family? Looking at all under heaven, it’s small. You are nothing.”

“… He is a crazy one. Ordinary methods won’t be enough.”

The youth’s mouth corners lowered. He strode forward. Though seeming reckless, his steps had method.

It was immediately felt that rising martial arts study was melted in his footwork. The true energy waves were unusual.

His conduct seemed capable of any response while walking.

‘Good.’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze completely captured the youth’s body in his vision. It was from the moment sparring began.

When the name Hwangbo Family was mentioned, he didn’t care even though the gathered onlookers looked at him with pity.

Finally facing an Eight Great Families’ martial arts. He was curious how strong the power said to pursue the pinnacle of secular martial arts was.

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward. Jeong Family Dynamic Technique’s true energy gathered in the bubbling well point under his foot.

It was Hwan Yeok-bo’s first step. Dirt dust lightly rose from his heel.

He intended to gauge the level difference with Eight Great Families martial arts.

Swish! Whack!

The Hwangbo family youth drew his sword while stamping down a true step.

From his waist with forward-tilted upper body, the precious sword’s dazzling blade rose up.

A sword path drawing an extremely narrow oval extended straight out.

Jeong Yeon-shin raised his right hand.

Clang-!

He deflected the sword’s side with the back of his hand. The watching martial artists’ eyes widened. It was a skill hard for anyone here to believe.

Jeong Yeon-shin shook his hand. The guy’s sword force that came with vibration was light.

It was thanks to Hwan Yeok-bo’s step that had already advanced diagonally. He completely deflected the sword strike’s force wave.

“What!”

The guy’s expression became blank. He seemed unable to accept what happened instantly.

This time Jeong Yeon-shin advanced.

Pung!

Force from Eternal Blossom Fist burst from his left arm extended with Fate Defying True Scripture true energy amplification.

The sword the guy reflexively raised was pushed up as is.

True energy already spread through Jeong Yeon-shin’s whole body was running through all meridians.

The kidney transport point at his right waist blazed with internal energy.

Instantly his erector spinae and lower psoas major muscles contained powerful strength. The linked combination was instantaneous.

He twisted his body while extending his right fist straight. A thud sound rang at the guy’s solar plexus.

It struck properly. It was the moment the smooth sensation of Hwangbo family fabric wrapped his fist surface.

Eternal Blossom Fist Advancing Thunder’s force wave explosively burst forth.

Bang!

The guy’s body flew as if hit by a shell.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly spread his right five fingers and looked down. The moves were clear.

Radiant Demon techniques were melting into unique martial arts.

“The Hwangbo family’s martial arts seem deep.”

He opened his mouth.

“But you are nothing special.”

It was calm words. Disappointment mixed in his voice.

The face clearly resembled Desolate Sect’s appearance description. Still, such a guy couldn’t be the Hwangbo family’s young master.

They said he was a Solar Divine Meridian genius. He had heard even White Qilin Namgung Hwa-sin he saw before wouldn’t exchange moves with the Hwangbo family’s young master.

They said he predicted inevitable defeat due to age difference.

“Probably not the young master. Perhaps a Second Young Master?”

There was no answer to Jeong Yeon-shin’s question. It seemed everyone lost words and closed their mouths.

It was so even though the number of onlookers gathered on the official road was considerable by now.

He slowly turned his gaze. The woman who had picked a fight with the youth wore a blank expression.

Disbelief seeped from her gaze watching the guy convulsing on the ground.

“How could trash… Impossible…”

“I didn’t kill him. The Hwangbo family should have miraculous medicine? He’ll get up fine after taking it.”

“You…!”

The woman who sharply turned her head had fierce eyes. Cold energy could be felt from her upturned eye corners.

“You, I’ll remember. I am Hwangbo Myeong-rin. Gu Gwa of the Chasing Truth Sect. I won’t forget.”

“I have leisure to receive your moves too. Shall we continue sparring?”

“……”

“A martial family wouldn’t send only youngsters. Are there no adults? The young master?”

That’s when someone grabbed Jeong Yeon-shin’s arm. It was Shin So-bin who was surprised with round eyes.

Simultaneously energy waves spread from her lips. It was sound transmission.

-Senior. Isn’t the provocation a bit excessive? We should check nearby geography. If the Hwangbo family rushes in it will become a chase.

Though speaking by sound transmission, she whispered. She seemed completely scared. Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly. He was puzzled.

‘Provocation? Which part.’

He hadn’t started yet. He slowly took steps.

‘The mission is everything.’

There was a particularly pleasing point about belonging to the Desolate Sect. The justification of civilian life was clear.

The merit he had to accumulate to live was clean. At least it had been so far.

Sects that couldn’t be classified as orthodox or evil were called between righteous and evil.

The current Chasing Truth Sect disguised as Jeong Yeon-shin’s group’s sect was so. While avoiding vicious conduct, they didn’t place their banner in chivalry either.

They lived the martial world for profit and fame.

‘Then should imitate between righteous and evil.’

The Hwangbo family’s attendants had gathered before he knew it. They surrounded the fallen youth and Hwangbo Myeong-rin.

Jeong Yeon-shin circulated true energy through his whole body. Simultaneously as soon as he stepped, a fair wind stream wrapped his ears.

Instantly the number of Hwangbo family people increased rapidly. He pierced through them all with body technique like a wind-riding leaf.

“Huh!”

“What!”

Various empty winds brushed his back.

Jeong Yeon-shin could see Hwangbo Myeong-rin feeding medicine to the lying youth.

Her face contorted as she raised her head at the presence.

“I request sparring with you too. You were the one who spoke of roots. If you’re a martial artist, accept.”

Jeong Yeon-shin grabbed Hwangbo Myeong-rin’s nape and pulled her up. His momentum was terrifying. No one could interfere.

That’s when it happened.

“Wait. Stop there.”

A youth holding a flask spoke with a smile from one side. Wine smell wafted strongly.

Perhaps ten years older than Jeong Yeon-shin? Though wearing silk martial clothes, his appearance seemed worn as he approached.

In his mouth, he was biting a raw opium poppy, and he had the complete appearance of a handsome man who had become a degenerate.

His smile with eyes shadowed in black was languid.

“Though my siblings spoke wrongly, that’s a bit harsh.”

Blazing hot energy burned from his entire body. His emitted momentum was mighty as if having learned some tremendous scorching yang divine technique.

Solar Divine Meridian. The words brushed Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind.

It completely matched the appearance description. This guy was the Hwangbo family’s young master.