"...."
The wind blew over the cliff, sweeping through the vast undergrowth.
The sound of the wind brushing against the scattered rocks was particularly loud. It meant that people had fallen silent. And they had every reason to.
The death of the Demonic Faction sect leaders.
The tightly woven order of a grand city had been utterly shattered. For anyone from Xi'an, it was a moment that evoked a peculiar feeling.
Countless figures had gathered atop the peaks of the canyon.
Some sat haphazardly beneath the undergrowth, others climbed trees, while some sat with solemn dignity atop palanquins dressed in silk garments.
A long procession of groups, similar yet distinct in their own ways.
And then.
The murmurs of those who broke the silence grew louder.
"For what reason has the deceased appeared and displayed such skill…?"
"The deceased? Look at his face. He's absurdly young."
"Who in the world is he…?"
"You, go and find out the identity of that Radiant Sword group. If they plan to settle in Xi'an, we cannot let this slide. Think of them as equals to the elites of the Nine Great Sects or the Thirteen Celestial Demons. Investigate them thoroughly."
"Will that be enough? The order of Xi'an is going to change."
"I know. Hm, the Northern Deep Inn that the leader of the Sublime Land Sect used will be vacant. Let's use that. Inform the market broker, no, I will go personally."
People began to move. Messenger pigeons flapped their wings and soared in all directions, piercing through the thickets.
Their response was swift. Many departed in a flurry, kicking up dust with their light-footed movements.
Amidst the commotion, beneath the brown pine needles.
Cloud Dragon Sword Wei Ji Myohwa was also gazing down at Jung Yeonshin.
Her stance differed from the other martial elites.
She gripped her sword tightly as if ready to dash out at any moment, her translucent blue veil drawn before her face. Even so, she could not hide the refined demeanor of a noble disciple.
The presence of an exceptional swordswoman naturally drew attention.
Her elegant jawline, her physique, and the aura surrounding her, everything about her stood out. Many cast sidelong glances in her direction.
She paid them no mind.
'Lightning Genius Young Hero…'
No, he could no longer be called a young hero. Who would dare address the leader of the Divine Sword Order's Seventeenth Squad so lightly? Even with personal ties, 'Young Leader' would be the limit.
A soft melancholy flickered in Wei Ji Myohwa's eyes.
She had roamed the martial world with the boy who once donned blue robes and struck down the Hwangbo branch family. A fond memory. The nostalgia of it carried a gentle fragrance.
Back then, chivalry was everything to her, and she had her senior brothers from the Zhongnan Sect who shared her ideals. Her master and grandmaster were still alive and well.
At first.
She and Jung Yeonshin had investigated the Nine Yang Unified Arts of the Sword Immortal together. Even their grandmaster had been involved.
'He succumbed to Energy Deviation.'
Seeing the boy effortlessly draw forth the Radiance Sword Style, she was stricken with grief. She had once been convinced of her own potential to become the world's greatest, only to realize how insignificant she truly was.
But that was fine. She had escaped her inner demons after hearing their grandmaster's words regarding Jung Yeonshin's lifespan. It was not from a lowly sense of relief, it was an awakening born of compassion.
All of these memories were intertwined with the Zhongnan Sect.
The green hills, the scarred cliffs across the ravine, the boy dancing with his sword bathed in light, Wei Ji Myohwa watching in a daze, the grandmaster of the Zhongnan Sect letting out a hearty laugh… Zhongnan Mountain, the scent of nostalgia.
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader of Desolate Fortress had reminded the Zhongnan Sect's foremost disciple of her home.
A strange thing. Perhaps it was fate.
Gratitude welled up in her. And along with it, an even greater emotion.
Unconsciously, she bit her lower lip.
'I'm sorry… I truly am…'
She had failed to protect Jung Hye-ah. Against the Heaven Spanning Net of two from the Thirteen Celestial Demons, she had lost her. No matter how much she searched, she could not find her.
It was despairing.
And then she had heard rumors that the leaders of Xi'an's seven demonic sects were facing an unknown opponent.
She never expected it to be Jung Yeonshin. Not even in her dreams. Not when she had yet to find Jung Hye-ah.
"You seem to have much to say. I have blocked my vital points. Speak freely."
The swordswoman wearing a straw hat, who had been staring intently downward, spoke.
Beneath the loosely tied chin strap, strands of gray hair flowed down messily. It was none other than the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon, Baek Seo-gun.
She, too, had been drawing attention alongside Wei Ji Myohwa.
Though she exposed locks of her peculiar silver-streaked hair, not a single person dared to speak her name aloud.
For she lived in a world far removed from them. A being of supernatural prowess. The second-in-command of the Thirteen Celestial Demons was naturally perceived as such.
She was simply being observed for her extraordinary aura, much like Wei Ji Myohwa.
Her silk sleeves, which shimmered with a liquid-like sheen, draped elegantly as she stood with poised dignity. Her bearing exuded nobility.
Her ever-indifferent lips curled slightly, her gaze fixed upon the young leader below the canyon.
"That instinct of his… it's a treasure. Worth engraving in the history of the martial world."
Baek Seo-gun spoke.
"They say he carries the blood of a fallen hero. It must be the result of that wretched Jung Ban-ak's face… Somehow, despite that pathetic man's lineage, a boy like him was born. A sight for sore eyes, after being subjected to my insufferable young lord."
"I cannot go down there."
Wei Ji Myohwa muttered, prompting Baek Seo-gun to smirk.
"Is it that pitiful guilt of yours? How terribly fragile. And arrogant. You actually believe you could have shattered the Heaven Spanning Net of those two from the Thirteen Celestial Demons? That's an absurd self-reproach. If anything, with that boy's kind nature, he would be the one to console you."
"…Even you hesitate to approach. You claim to have ties with Young Leader Jung…"
"...."
Baek Seo-gun fell silent.
—You have been showered with the love I never could give. Seeing the color in your cheeks tells me as much.
It was her own voice. A careless tone, enough to intrude upon a mind filled only with the sword.
She recalled the words she had spoken to Jung Ban-ak's son, feeling a strange turmoil.
The inner conflicts of a mere Zhongnan disciple were irrelevant.
Yet, an unfamiliar regret and shame had taken root. She realized she had been deluding herself all along.
'He's grown even sharper. His physique has hardened. He changes by the day.'
Lightning Genius Jung Yeonshin.
Even as she looked down at the face she had longed to see again, she found herself unable to step forward. Despite being the second-greatest sword master in the Profound Martial Alliance.
With her martial arts, it would take but a single step to reach him, yet between the possibility of becoming his wet nurse and the title of a Sword Sovereign who shook Henan Province, her heart wavered.
She had never once worried about the seven sect leaders. No matter how strong they were, they were still beneath the Thirteen Celestial Demons.
Breaking the Radiant Demon Squad's treasured sword was beyond their reach. That was how she saw it.
"He is…"
She slowly parted her lips.
"…a child who may shake the world. The Lord of Desolate Fortress is one who discusses the fate of the world. All seventeen before her have done so. Lightning Genius will be no different. I shall aid him when the time comes. I will meet him then."
The swordswoman with an ornate blade spoke in an antiquated manner.
She was the embodiment of contradiction, dressing up her inner turmoil in grandeur.
Her slightly raised chin appeared lofty, though her heart said otherwise.
Wei Ji Myohwa did not point it out. There was no need.
—He does not have long to live.
The words of the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan.
Wei Ji Myohwa knew the lifespan of the dear boy. Radiant Demon Squad's leader, Lightning Genius.
Amidst the brief but intensely burning life, one of the few remaining blood relatives had been kidnapped.
It was an incident that fanned the flames of her guilt.
The Cloud Sword Dragon of the Zhongnan Sect lightly parted her lips again and again.
'I'm sorry, truly sorry…'
Soon, a sharp determination began to glisten in Wei Ji Myohwa's unwavering eyes.
At the same time, her fingers traced a strange line as they slid down the length of her sword's ridge at her waist. It was a movement that seemed to be recalling something.
* * *
"Ah, no, our leader cleaned them all up. Those bastards were vicious, but in the end, they were still just leaders of a demonic sect."
Lazy Flame Dragon approached, his lips curled in a smirk. He was accompanied by Radiant Demon Squad's senior disciples.
A flatland beneath the canyon.
Scattered corpses and pools of darkened blood filled the sight, yet Lazy Flame Dragon's lighthearted tone seemed to lessen the oppressive stench of blood just a little.
Amidst the grim scene, only the masters of Radiant Demon Squad exuded vitality. Heon Wonchang, Shin So-bin, and Zhuge Qing-ya were there as well, their faces still showing clear complexions despite their exhaustion.
As expected of scions of renowned clans, their faces even retained a sheen of radiance.
Jung Yeonshin glanced at Lazy Flame Dragon and shook his head.
"Since when did that opium addict master the Radiant Arts Secret?"
The prodigy of the Solar Divine Meridian, doomed to an early death, had mastered Radiant Arts Secret at an astonishing pace. As if he encountered no obstacles at all, he hadn't even asked a single question.
Like savoring a delicacy, he flicked his hands a few times in interest, then simply nodded, as if the journey had been worth it.
"That's something I'd like to get my hands on. Looked quite amusing."
Lazy Flame Dragon gestured toward the leader's hand with his chin.
"Just clean up."
Jung Yeonshin turned slightly, dismissing him outright.
Beneath the black sleeves, he was in the midst of retrieving the strands of his thread-swords.
His wrist cuffs fluttered continuously under the suction of Full Sky Flower Rain's mnemonic verse. The thin strands of thread-swords shimmered faintly as they were drawn in.
Lazy Flame Dragon clicked his tongue.
"The more I look, the more I realize, you're greedier than I am."
"For someone so slow-witted, you sure spout nonsense. One should not covet treasures they cannot handle."
Jung Yeonshin casually responded while discreetly observing his subordinates.
Feigning indifference, his gaze swept over the masters of the Radiant Demon Squad. He had hoped none of them were injured, and fortunately, it seemed that the Radiant Arts Secret had fulfilled its purpose.
Only a few martial artists showed signs of exhaustion from depleted internal energy.
Just as he felt reassured, his eyes met those of Chung Myung, Baek Miryeo, Heon Wonchang, and even Shin Sobin.
They were all looking at the leader's hands, where the thin strands of sword threads had been gripped bare-handed. The blood on them was beginning to dry.
'How unnecessary…'
Jung Yeonshin turned away with deliberately calm steps.
'There are many martial techniques that can be incorporated together. It's quite entertaining.'
He tilted his neck slightly from side to side on purpose, thinking that it had been a worthwhile gain. He had restrained himself from using certain techniques, allowing the sect leaders to display their full strength.
In reality, it had taken only a few breaths, yet limiting himself had been more difficult than expected.
It didn't matter.
He had filled a few more pages of The Comprehensive Overview of Destruction. These were the martial arts of the sect leaders who once ruled over vast Xi'an.
The life-and-death duel between leaders had been worth it. The canyon, which had fallen into eerie silence, was now filled with murmurs among the gathered martial artists.
A thousand-year-old city.
The great city of Xi'an had fallen into the hands of the Radiant Demon Squad. In this moment, everyone had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips.
"Kang Hyosu, go with Shinmyo and inspect the local government branches. Reports never reached us despite Xi'an reaching this state. Find out whether it was due to unavoidable circumstances or if they were in collusion. If it's the latter, deal with them with immediate execution."
As he finished speaking, he adjusted the long, flowing black sleeves of his robe.
The material differed from the robust fabric of Desolate Fortress, yet it clung to his skin well. If he had not joined his sect, he might have worn such clothing.
"Yes, leader."
A towering swordsman clasped his hands together in salute.
It was Kang Changmu, a top martial artist from the Forest Striding Squad. Because his moniker was Dawn Tree Sword, he was simply called Kang Hyosu. Likewise, Baek Miryeo was referred to as Shinmyo.
Shin So-bin seemed displeased with the hastily assigned name.
She shot Jung Yeonshin a brief glare with her round eyes, only to break into a chuckle when their gazes met. Despite having just taken part in slaughter, she remained audacious. As expected of a noble scion of a prestigious martial clan.
"One remains."
Heon Wonchang spoke in an unusually indifferent tone.
As if wiping away lingering murderous intent, his hand brushed over his sword's surface, smearing it with dried blood. To his comrades, it was a familiar sight.
The gazes of the Radiant Demon Squad's thirty elite warriors focused on a lone man standing idly. He was Jang Gi-il, the leader of the White Sun Sect.
He had a sturdy physique draped in golden robes. Until now, he had been staring blankly at the lifeless body of the Sublime Land Sect's leader beside a tree trunk. Then, slowly, he turned toward the leader of the Radiant Demon Squad.
— Desolate Fortress' Radiant Demon Squad must purge the lowly ones.
That had been the command. And he was the only surviving sect leader.
Jung Yeonshin had deliberately excluded him from the range of his techniques, and Jang Gi-il had likewise refrained from joining the combined assault.
"I heard you betrayed the main Zhongnan Sect as a branch family member. Show me your worth."
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader spoke.
"…Jung Jungsan of Xinye County."
Jang Gi-il, who had been silently watching the young master, finally opened his mouth. Xi'an was where the main Zhongnan Sect resided.
It meant that everyone knew about the connection between the powerful rising star of Desolate Fortress and the disciples of Zhongnan.
"I know where your brother is."
* * *
The outskirts of Xi'an were complex.
This was due to the city's long history. Over countless years, it had served as the capital for many nations.
Many martial sects had sprung up within the urban landscape. Naturally, countless pathways had formed over time, some to the point of being unkempt and disorderly.
A narrow alley draped in chilling shadows.
The winter wind blew in from outside, brushing against the aged walls.
A bleak atmosphere lingered as the wind traced long cracks along the alley walls, while from a distance, the faint clamor of the city could still be heard.
It barely trickled through, crumbling against the sound of heavy footsteps.
Thud!—!
"I finally got this bastard…!"
"Look at how he's blocking! Where's that sword stance of yours?! The noble swordsman of Zhongnan Mountain, huh?!"
"Did this guy really train under the Nine Great Sects? He did, right?!"
It was two men and a woman.
All three were dressed in the same gray martial robes. Surrounding a single person, they sneered with young, unblemished faces while kicking at him.
Thud! Thud!
The man curled up on the ground was taking a brutal beating. The sound of heavy blows echoed dully against the yellow fabric of his clothes.
It was a day of utter misfortune for Jung Jungsan.
After parting ways with the terrifying Baek Seo-gun, he had roamed around in search of Jung Hye-ah's whereabouts.
Jung Jungsan was a martial artist trained in light-footed movement. While he couldn't dare challenge the main forces of the Thirteen Celestial Demons, he had ambushed and retreated against their subordinate factions in hopes of gathering information.
He had placed considerable faith in his Taiyi Formless Sword.
It had all been in vain.
The outcome was always the same. If not for his proficiency in certain emergency escape techniques, he would have long since been captured and killed.
And so, he had spent his days dragging his weary body through the backstreets, striving to fulfill his duty. As Jung Hye-ah's uncle, as a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.
"You're not running your mouth now, huh? You used to act all high and mighty when Zhongnan was intact!"
"You call yourself the brother of Desolate Fortress' Radiant Demon Squad's leader? Go ahead, bring him here! Oh wait, you have no sect anymore."
"Not that it would matter. You think you could handle the Ghost Spirit Sword? You're just a pathetic rat relying on your connections."
The remaining disciples of the Sublime Land Sect were thoroughly enjoying themselves. How could they not? Their world had changed, Zhongnan Sect had been annihilated, and now, their sect ruled.
Karma.
Jung Jungsan thought bitterly. Call for his brother, Jung Yeonshin?
This situation was his own reflection.
Back when he was a reckless youth in Xinye County, he had led his peers like a gang leader, tormenting his ominous younger brother.
He had once rejected the Jung Clan Movement Arts offered by those small hands, only to later set his friends upon him, asking if he thought his body was that sturdy.
Looking back, he had been truly wretched.
'What face do I have left?'
Smack!—!
"Ugh!"
Jung Jungsan gasped as a strike landed on his solar plexus.
It was about time to use his emergency escape technique.
Then, suddenly.
Above the heads of his assailants.
Whooosh!
Like an unexpected bolt of lightning in the night, a pitch-black shadow descended. It was like a divine descent. Dust from the alley scattered into the air, greeting the arrival of an unfamiliar presence.
It was almost like a whirlwind. In an instant, an overwhelming pressure spread in all directions, suffocating the space.
As if the winds of the world had all been drawn into one place.
Boom!—!
The intruder, radiating an overpowering presence, drove a powerful kick into Jung Jungsan's abdomen. A fierce shockwave erupted at that moment.
Jung Jungsan, his breath completely cut off, was flung forward like a leaf caught in a storm. The sheer force of the kick was terrifying.
It had been a full-force strike. As the materialized presence of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader loomed, his piercing gaze flashed. The black hem of his robe billowed long behind him.
"This is infuriating."
Step.
Planting his foot firmly into the dust, he muttered curtly.
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