Hyeon Won-chang beside him lightly brushed his eyes with the back of his hand.

For a brief moment, Jeong Yeon-sin thought it was understandable.

He saw twenty Blood Swordmasters pulling out identical thunderclap bombs from their bags.

It felt utterly unreal. This was how evil sects dealt with enemies who had mastered supreme martial arts.

Their attitude was to kill by any means necessary. As if they all applied martial techniques to throwing, afterimages rose from their hands.

KWAAANG!

There wasn’t even time to shout a warning. He stomped the ground using the Fate Defying Scripture on his lower body meridians and waist vertebrae points.

Even though he avoided a direct hit, his body flew against his will. His ears rang as if struck by a bell technique.

It felt like his marrow was being shaken.

THUD!

His entire body ached. He couldn’t move for a moment.

“Kuk, keuk!”

While falling and coughing blood, he felt it. Internal damage. There was a strong burning sensation rising from his stomach.

BANG! BOOM! ROAR!

The ground rose like waves in all directions. The pristine feeling of the Lotus Pavilion was instantly swept away by dirt and dust.

Groans echoing from everywhere added to the horrific scene.

‘Insane.’

The Blood Flame Sect’s breaking technique for the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm wasn’t martial arts. It was extremely meticulous.

T/Note- Demon-Destroying Blue Steel Hand has been changed to Azure Unyielding palm. Both mean the same however, i changed it to match the context of the technique.

They had already realized there was no chance of winning in a direct confrontation.

‘Thunderclap bombs. Since they’ve been declared an evil sect, they’re not concerned about the imperial court.’

It was the same last time. He remembered the explosion that had crushed the Righteous Heaven Sword Family’s formation.

Despite their supposedly large influence, they moved mysteriously while hiding their main base.

These were ones who had immediately tracked and followed Jeong Yeon-sin’s movements. The Blood Flame Sect’s tracking technique was said to be in the realm of sorcery. Knowing the Gu Gwa was Lightning Flash, they wouldn’t be careless.

‘Senior Cheong Myeong said it many times.’

He remembered him mentioning the Sichuan Tang Sect. They were renowned for poisons and hidden weapons.

There were no other explosive bombs in the world that could work at a speed effective against martial artists.

They were supreme thunderclap bombs triggered by inner power. Were they imprisoning dwarf craftsmen too?

‘It’s too early to be certain they received help from the Tang Sect.’

Regardless of who was behind it, these couldn’t be common items. Some martial arts take precedence over group power.

Fatal breaking techniques were especially so. Those fellows must have gone to extremes too.

Should he be relieved that the Blood Flame Sect’s apostle hadn’t come personally?

‘What about Young Hero Hyeon and Shin So-bin?’

Jeong Yeon-sin’s eyes moved as he staggered up. He could feel a familiar energy beside him.

Through the thick dust, he saw a figure guarding the surroundings. It was Hyeon Won-chang.

He seemed to have benefited from his extraordinary eye technique.

-What about Shin So-bin?

-She said she was going to scout Hwangbo Myeong-rin’s side before they came. She must have headed to the pavilion.

Hyeon Won-chang, who had immediately turned around, replied with sound transmission. His behavior had changed.

Words that conveyed only the essentials revealed the gravity of the situation.

The Blood Swordmasters who had now closed the distance were using both swords and thunderclap bombs.

Their purpose was clear. The massacre of Desolate Sect’s Lightning Flash and the orthodox sects’ rising talents.

They were rebels using explosive bombs privately. The imperial court might raise a massive military force.

Those fellows were always taking risks too. They could be called a fanatical sect.

Hyeon Won-chang, who had approached, flinched at seeing the battered Jeong Yeon-sin.

-Can you move?

-To the pavilion.

Jeong Yeon-sin said briefly. Simultaneously, he ran with Hyeon Won-chang while hiding their presence as much as possible.

His whole body felt like it was being torn apart. Though the distance wasn’t far, time felt extremely long.

When they approached while avoiding direct combat, they could see above where the dust was relatively thin.

Hwangbo Myeong-rin, who had been escaping with the family’s young masters at the pavilion, quietly slipped to the very back.

Shin So-bin was right in front of her.

The moment Shin So-bin, who had been watching for the Blood Flame Sect, was momentarily caught from behind, Hwangbo Myeong-rin quickly struck Shin So-bin’s back. It was completely point-blank range.

Having already circulated an enormous amount of true qi before striking out, Desolate Sect’s youngest white-rank member allowed one hit, unable to respond in time.

It was a sneak attack from extremely close behind. Shin So-bin’s body bounced up like a bow from Hwangbo Myeong-rin’s technique that couldn’t distinguish front from back.

She had been at the back of the line. No one seemed to have seen it.

“Th-that!”

Beside the enraged Hyeon Won-chang, Jeong Yeon-sin’s eyes sank.

‘Before counting to five, she’ll hit the lake surface. Distance is seven zhang. If she falls like that, it’ll draw attention.’

T/Note- 7 Zhang is about 23.33m

He analyzed the situation in an instant and calculated the lightness technique distance. The true qi already spread throughout his body rushed forth.

First were the Supporting point below the hip, the deep gate point right below on the back of the thigh, and the bubbling spring point on the sole.

He forgot the pain of his meridians that were even slightly bruised.

KWAK!

He stomped the ground with Desolate Sect’s lightness technique. It was swift. He ran close to the ground like a rushing gale.

In three steps he reached the edge of the clearing, and on the fourth step he touched the edge of the lake and leaped.

HWAAAK!

Shin So-bin of the Shin family. Her young face with tightly closed eyes rapidly enlarged.

Though she always showed an all-knowing attitude, she was still a precious daughter of a prestigious family.

She seemed to have never experienced a sneak attack like Hwangbo Myeong-rin’s sudden strike.

She was conscious. Jeong Yeon-sin immediately felt her breath. The internal injury didn’t seem deep either.

‘That’s enough.’

The true qi of the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique painfully rushed. It traveled from the latissimus dorsi muscles on his back, through the shoulders, down to the forearms.

T/Note- The Latissimus dorsi is a large, flat muscle in the lower back that helps with upper body movement and breathing.

His inner power took on the softness of the Moon Spirit Harmony Technique.

He stretched his left hand to embrace Shin So-bin’s waist, and with his right hand grabbed the outer railing of the pavilion, spinning like a leaf.

It was an elf clan’s body technique that deflected impact.

Tak.

The small landing felt like an impact. This was the first time he’d been this injured since entering the murim.

“Shin So-bin. Footwork.”

He muttered quietly as soon as they landed inside the pavilion.

Regardless of attitude, it was said she followed orders promptly. Energy immediately spread from Shin So-bin’s legs as she opened her round eyes wide.

Her slim waist was good for using as a weapon. Jeong Yeon-sin swung his junior who was still in his arms.

PHEOK!

A Blood Flame Sect member approaching from the side was struck by her feet and tumbled.

As expected, it couldn’t have been just Blood Swordmasters. It was a pursuit encirclement.

The Heaven-Spanning Net he’d only heard about seemed to be forming from the Namgung family’s territory.

Was it natural since they weren’t concerned about the imperial court’s reaction?

“Thank you… Senior! Are you alright?”

Her long, thin eyebrows rose high. Shin So-bin examined him with an extremely surprised face.

Jeong Yeon-sin silently shook his head.

“Let’s go.”

He rejected her attempt to support him. They needed to leave the Lotus Pavilion quickly.

The two who jumped down together landed in the middle of the chaotic battlefield. Hyeon Won-chang hurriedly joined them and whispered.

“They’re coming up from the south.”

“Northwest. Let’s go up along the waterside.”

“It could be a trap?”

Shin So-bin replied. Meanwhile, she was greatly rubbing her waist where Jeong Yeon-sin’s arm had touched.

Was she trying to lighten the mood in this urgent situation? She stared directly at Jeong Yeon-sin’s eyes as if deliberately not avoiding them.

She didn’t approach too boldly. He almost smiled despite the pain that seemed to split his entire body.

“We have no choice. Because of the lake, we must choose between two options.”

Jeong Yeon-sin spoke calmly. It was words determining their subsequent actions.

“Let’s go.”

The blue-rank warrior Lightning Flash’s order fell. The three immediately began running along the lakeshore.

It wasn’t mindless escape. It was the direction where Hwangbo Myeong-rin had gone up gathering her brothers and family disciples.

‘The Blood Flame Sect is just a common obstacle.’

He thought while forcing himself to move. The mission was top priority.

His current physical condition wasn’t something to worry about. He couldn’t lose the Hwangbo family.

The explosions that had been echoing from afar had subsided. The thunderclap bombs were no longer exploding.

Whether they were saving them or had run out was unknown. He remained alert, unable to lower his guard.

“Seems they’re busy killing other rising talents. Makes me feel guilty.”

“Why should we feel guilty when it’s the Blood Flame Sect accumulating sins?”

After running for a while, they seemed to have gained some breathing room. Both Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin’s words made sense.

The situation made him newly aware. It was the price the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm had to pay.

Now Desolate Sect’s Lightning Flash must live with the Blood Flame Sect hanging on his back. Anger and guilt intermingled.

‘Blood Flame Sect. I’ll split your skulls every time I see you.’

Jeong Yeon-sin thought calmly.

“There they are!”

Hyeon Won-chang pointed ahead. Jeong Yeon-sin had already noticed.

They were rising talents from various martial arts prestigious families including the Hwangbo family. There didn’t seem to be any injured.

With swift lightness techniques, they were already running up the path that reached the mountain range.

Escape was natural in this situation.

It was said that even among Blood Swordmasters, the exceptional ones’ martial might reached Desolate Sect’s blue level.

This was understandable from how the Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle had matched Ma Jin in martial might.

Such meticulous and powerful fellows. There couldn’t be a gap in their middle-ranked masters.

“Oh? Over there!”

It was a young man who kept glancing back while climbing the mountain path.

He pointed at Jeong Yeon-sin’s group disguised as Chasing Truth Sect.

The family’s rising talents turned and stopped. They waited until Radiant Demon Wing’s three people climbed nearby.

Frost seemed to flash momentarily in Hwangbo Myeong-rin’s eyes as she stood in the middle.

“What’s with that appearance? Your condition looks very serious! Anyway, it’s good your limbs are intact.”

Lazy Flame Dragon spread his arms wide. His expression greatly welcomed Jeong Yeon-sin.

It was also burdensome as he was chewing opium poppies that he seemed to carry by the armful.

“With this level of chaos, the main family will be coming from above, and Namgung from below. It won’t take long. You’re someone to discuss martial arts with me. I’ll specially help get you some miraculous medicine. I have that much authority. Even though there are many who gossip about being illegitimate.”

“Brother!”

Hwangbo Myeong-rin pushed Lazy Flame Dragon.

Were they half-siblings? No respect was visible in her attitude. She immediately approached Jeong Yeon-sin.

‘What should I do.’

Jeong Yeon-sin thought while looking at Hwangbo Myeong-rin. If it were a mission where he didn’t have to hide his Desolate Sect affiliation, even his current internal injury wouldn’t be a problem.

Taking the Clear Righteousness pill received from Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong would solve it.

He couldn’t bring it. He left it with Cheong Myeong along with the Desolate Sect sword.

Shaolin’s internal injury medicine containing elf clan secret techniques had a very strong clear fragrance.

Any master who had trained their senses even moderately would be able to detect it.

He had heard through Desolate Sect’s information network. The Little Divine Monk enjoyed praise as much as his visible temperament showed.

They said he traveled the martial world speaking about Desolate Sect’s prodigies.

The whereabouts of the rare Clear Righteousness pills would inevitably become known too.

“You mongrel.”

Hwangbo Myeong-rin glared at Jeong Yeon-sin. Perhaps due to the thunderclap bombs’ aftermath, her face was covered in grime.

Her fundamental noble air hadn’t disappeared. Her features themselves were quite delicate and pleasant to look at.

It would have been even more so if not for her arrogant expression.

“You. What’s your identity? Those sect swordsmen clearly came targeting you. You said Chasing Truth? What grudge did you bring here?”

“…..”

“Answer. Do I look amusing to you?”

After briefly scanning others around, Jeong Yeon-sin slowly opened his mouth.

“Are they all family young masters? The rising talents from minor sects must have died or scattered.”

“Don’t change the subject. Don’t put on airs. I can tell just by your wretched appearance. Your internal injury is clearly visible. Can you still show off your meager martial might now?”

Hwangbo Myeong-rin said with a sneer. Her hair, having lost its luster, swayed.

The angered Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin tried to step forward. Jeong Yeon-sin shook his head while extending his arm.

He stepped forward with his aching foot. He slowly stood face to face with Hwangbo Myeong-rin.

Their eyes met at a very close distance, and her beauty containing malice looked particularly ugly.

“You tried to use my martial sister as bait. At the Lotus Pavilion.”

He said.

The quiet mountain path began to fill with tension.