Preparing came first before setting out.
Jung Yeonshin ate a lot. The Azure-Eye Demonic Swordsman, Chung Myung, immediately recognized him with insight no less than that of the leader of Law and Order Squad and instructed the servants to bring more chefs.
Thus began the banquet of the Radiant Demon Squad, with vice-leader Ak Surim in attendance.
The warriors of the Radiant Demon Squad, inheritors of the Lightning Genius' martial lineage, were well acquainted with their leader's refined speech and his mastery over Radiant Energy.
They found the matured demeanor of their leader unfamiliar yet welcomed it greatly.
It was home.
It had to be, for everyone in the Radiant Demon Squad.
As soon as he returned, Jung Yeonshin focused his attention on Baek Miryeo. He had no choice. His older sister, whom he had regarded as his eldest sibling, had been the blood relative of the late leader of the Pure Demon Alliance.
She had lost a blood relative to the Young Lord of the Ming Cult, who was increasingly perceived as the embodiment of monstrous chaos.
Just as Baek Miryeo and the other members of the Radiant Demon Squad had filled the void of Jung Yeonshin's solitude, he, too, wished to be her strength.
— Our paths diverged. There is no room for sympathy.
Baek Miryeo was as cold as ever.
Wave Swordswoman, inheritor of the Heavenly Demon martial lineage, and a protector of the people. Even if the warriors of Desolate Fortress each had different temperaments, they all shared a common disposition.
— I only ask… that if a mission ever takes us west, I be sent alone. I must visit the grave at least once.
At that moment, Jung Yeonshin only nodded in silence.
He erased the excess wine that Ak Surim had overpoured with Three Samadhi True Fire. Meanwhile, his mind wandered to the members of the next mission.
'My brother and Hye-ah must be doing well. The Chief Steward who left for Shaolin too…'
The rough texture of his sleeve brushing against the marble table felt coarse.
As he moved toward the door, he paid no attention to the Seventh Apostle.
Though his body, reborn through Rebirth of Bones and Flesh, never strayed from martial intent, it often provoked various sensations and impulses, hunger included. It was simply part of adulthood that had to be endured.
He opened the door and spoke.
"The mnemonic verse of Internal Energy Regulation should have shown some effect."
Rustle.
The response was slow. The sound of someone shifting lazily in bed. Was she doing it on purpose?
The conduct of the Seventh Apostle, even for a brief moment, held Jung Yeonshin in his office longer.
"Our Taesa gave you the second phrase, didn't he? You surely memorized up to that point."
"I was fifteen."
"Guess I forgot again. Those Profound Martial Alliance bastards are terrible, aren't they?"
A voice as soft as silk. But Jung Yeonshin was skilled at distinguishing truth from lies in her speech.
Even though she had mastered concealment, disguise, and all manner of deception techniques, this was still a lie.
"You're not a monkey."
"Hm?"
"Don't act carelessly. That royal, Zhu Yeon-jeong, whose arm you tore off—you have no idea how much power she might have amassed. People like her should never be judged based on martial prowess alone."
And it was true. Despite being imprisoned by his maternal grandfather, she had managed to appear outside.
Among all the royal figures Jung Yeonshin had encountered, none had seemed inept at political maneuvering. Even if Zhu Yeon-jeong had lost her martial prowess, she could not be dismissed as a mere scarecrow.
His warning was to prevent the Seventh Apostle from catching Zhu Yeon-jeong's attention.
"I just won't be seen, then?"
A response with a hint of laughter.
Jung Yeonshin left the room without answering.
Strangely enough, she was both unreliable and reassuring.
She had mastered the Graceful Body Technique of the Blood Flame Cult to the highest level.
Among the four greatest movement techniques in the world, she had honed hers to the extreme. The only ones who could detect her when she was hiding would be those with an outstanding achievement in the Art of Sense Refinement, and even then, only a few in the black rank.
'Even if something happens…'
Even if something were to occur, Jung Yeonshin possessed enough merit, power, and justification to handle it.
He had not forgotten his maternal grandfather's expression as he proclaimed his uniqueness before the royal family. Even the way he spoke of being indebted to his grandson had an elegance akin to the Supreme Demon of Sacred Blood.
"See you."
Leaving the farewell of the Seventh Apostle behind, Jung Yeonshin stepped out of the pavilion. As he walked, he sorted through his thoughts on how to deal with her, separate from any notions of repaying kindness.
* * *
General Affairs Bureau, Grand Assembly Hall.
"The First Sword of Namgoong from the Martial Dragon Association has been spotted moving together with the leader of the Yeoryeong Sect. There are also rumors that the leader of the Dark Night War, having completed Internal Energy Regulation, made contact with them in Southern Direct Province. The timing coincides with when the Peng Clan requested assistance from the Divine Sword Order's leader."
A scholar with an imposing presence spoke.
At the cracked round table sat the Chief Administrator, Lin Jinming.
Jung Yeonshin listened silently to the situation report. With such a long absence, the state of the martial world had shifted drastically.
Even for the security of Desolate Fortress, which stood akin to a sect, there was much to learn.
He slowly parted his lips.
"…Didn't the two Thirteen Celestial Demons fall to the Divine Sword Order's leader's Dragon Ring Sword? If the leader of the Dark Night War has risen again, should we not also consider the possibility that the Martial Dragon Association's leader has recovered as well?"
"If the First Sword of Namgoong and the Martial Dragon Association's leader are leading the vanguard together… It's hard to imagine anything more dreadful. However, rumors abound that the leader of the Dark Night War possesses obscure arts as a remnant of a faded noble clan. Meanwhile, the Martial Dragon Association's leader is nothing more than a lunatic with only martial prowess. It's unlikely that the leader of the Dark Night War would share his arts with such an unruly man."
The Chief Administrator shook his head and added,
"The Demonic Faction has never been known to unite."
"But they are now, taking advantage of the famine."
"…There is no alternative. Not only the minor sects but even some of the major factions have long since begun organizing mass uprisings. The current era is growing ever closer to an age of chaos. Since you were in Shaanxi, near Beijing, you may not have felt it, but things are different further south. Right now, all we can do is trust in the judgment and strength of the Divine Sword Order's leader…"
"..."
"Amidst people starving to death or being killed by looters all across the land, even envoys from the royal palace are arriving, leaving us uncertain on where to place our priorities."
The Chief Administrator's words carried the weight of a lament.
Jung Yeonshin recalled the man whose sword hilt he had stepped on. The legitimate son of King of Radiant Bloom, a distant relative of the current Emperor. His name was Duke Sword Authority Zhu Zhe.
"What business does the royal palace have here?"
"They are asking us to handle the northern front. The region ruled by the Yo Tribe and the War Gods."
"Didn't the Three Great Martial Masters of the Royal Court receive martial arts from His Majesty and depart for battle?"
"They did, indeed. But it is not mere meddling on their part. Recently, a rare fertile land has fallen under their administration… There are many different regions in the north, after all."
Manpower was lacking, and the situation surrounding the main stronghold was far from favorable.
Although Desolate Fortress appeared lively, as if celebrating with a Splendid Wings Step banquet upon Jung Yeonshin's return, it was mostly due to the efforts of the fortress' masters trying to boost morale through demonstrations of Supreme Martial Techniques.
Jung Yeonshin glanced at the sunlight breaking through the open ceiling before speaking.
"Haven't enough of the black rank gathered? The mission assignments must be made swiftly."
He had no intention of staying in the main stronghold for long.
It was different from usual. Every leader who had gone missing during the mission to assassinate the Young Lord of the Ming Cult had once exchanged martial arts with Jung Yeonshin.
They were his fellow martial masters.
Even the mystical resonance of the name, Yelu Zhen, was enough to stir his restlessness.
"As you heard, excluding those stationed for the defense of the stronghold, we must choose between two major missions—north or Ming Cult. Among the many troubling matters concerning the black rank, no one has volunteered for the northern mission. They are all like you, leader Jung. Their comrades matter far more than the royal granaries."
"I heard there will be a competition when multiple squad leaders desire the same mission."
"Yes. A general agreement has already been reached. Though the Duke Sword Authority will not be pleased."
"There will be no duel."
"Of course. Not everyone possesses short-battle decisive techniques like you, leader Jung. We cannot afford to wager mission assignments on duels that could drag on for an unknown number of rounds. It will be over quickly. After you and vice-leader Ak departed, the others have been discussing various methods among themselves…"
It meant that disputes over missions were not always resolved through combat alone.
Jung Yeonshin suddenly recalled the sight of Xiahou Wei-Jin being struck by his grandfather.
He wondered how they would settle things this time.
Just then—
"This letter… it must be a mission report?"
The Chief Administrator suddenly unfurled a scroll that had been sitting on the round table.
So far, their conversation had been strictly business, leaving little room for acknowledging the achievements of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader.
Those who performed great deeds in martial arts deserved proper recognition.
"The reports from Divine Spear and Supreme Demon of Sacred Blood alone were intriguing enough, but I wonder what your perspective, leader Jung, will add. Let's see… hmm?"
Scholars who worked within the martial world often had a common habit, they would first scan through a document as a whole.
Urgent missives, after all, could mean the difference between life and death for several individuals.
The Chief Administrator's eyes widened as they quickly moved to the last part of the letter.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
Judging by the presence, it was a scholar from the General Affairs Bureau. When Jung Yeonshin inquired, he was informed that someone had arrived from a fabric store.
Ordinarily, cloth merchants merely bought and sold textiles, but the tailor from the store near Desolate Fortress was known for practicing martial arts and weaving threads by hand.
There were even rumors that he was a master of the Rapid Golden Flow Hand technique.
"Looks like my new attire has arrived. I will go down first."
Jung Yeonshin spoke.
He left the Chief Administrator frozen in place and descended to the first floor, where he received his new black robe.
The moment he donned it, he immediately sensed that it was befitting of his elevated stature.
The golden character 'Desolate' embroidered on his shoulder seemed to have grown longer, much like his hair.
As he ran his fingers over the rough, golden embroidery, the tailor—who had a face as rugged as a battle-worn warrior—watched him carefully.
"You asked for a larger character upon your promotion… Doesn't it match your prestige, Squad Leader?"
Jung Yeonshin, about to say something, simply gave a small nod instead.
His movements had now reached a level where he could effortlessly evade the hands of Heon Wonchang, but it was too late to request another before setting out.
He merely hoped that this would be his last black robe.
* * *
Central Training Grounds of Desolate Fortress.
Green pine needles fell gently from the vast, clear blue sky.
A mild spring breeze carried warmth through the air. The sensation as it brushed against one's skin was soft.
The process leading up to the squad leader competition proceeded swiftly.
Despite the rank of the black rath being higher than most official titles, there was no delay in organizing the event—it was concluded in a single day.
Even though the stronghold was vast, news had already spread, and crowds had gathered, creating a bustling atmosphere.
In these tense times, there were few occasions for such an event.
Despite restricting entry to only formal warriors of the stronghold, over a hundred people had gathered around the massive combat stage, murmuring among themselves.
"That's really the Radiant Demon Squad's leader? Are you sure?"
"I heard it clearly myself."
"Does that even make sense?"
"He must have undergone the Rebirth of Bones and Flesh."
All gazes converged on one figure.
A young man with a sword, its hilt grotesquely misshapen.
Though his body was woven with refined muscle, his face remained gaunt.
Amidst this strange contradiction, there was little trace left of the boy he once was—except for his eyes, gleaming under the sunlight like precious gems.
"He's lost a lot of weight. I wonder how he will look once his features fill out again."
"How much stronger has he become?"
"Is that really the same adorable…?"
"Lower your voice, you fool."
Even among the warriors of Desolate Fortress, reactions were divided.
Some showed disbelief, while others gasped in admiration. A transformation of such magnitude at a young age was bound to appear mysterious to anyone.
Amidst the murmurs, informed speculation arose.
"Vice-leader of the Divine Sword Order, leader of Ruyi Spring Squad, leader of the Blood Preservation Squad, leader of the Law and Order Squad, leader of the Dark Current Squad, leader of the Radiant Demon Squad… Quite the lineup."
"There's also a representative for the Obeying Heaven Squad."
"They say the competition will be conducted through the Protective Energy Technique."
"It's fortunate that the First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong collapsed. We should be thanking the leader of the Ruyi Spring Squad."
"If it's a Protective Energy Technique match, doesn't that favor the leader of the Dark Current Squad? How many are participating?"
"The leader of the Blood Preservation Squad's mastery of Protective Energy shouldn't fall far behind the leader of the Dark Current Squad's."
"They have different strengths. Very few in the martial world have survived after witnessing the Supreme Demon of Sacred Blood's movement technique. This time, he even dueled the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader. Nineteen forms—so he withstood nineteen seconds and still lived…"
"Five hundred and nineteen seconds."
A quiet voice corrected them. The white-robed warriors who had been talking turned in alarm.
At some point, the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, Lightning Genius, had passed behind them from the entrance of the training grounds.
Jung Yeonshin slowly stepped onto the combat stage.
Two people were waiting. They stood forming a triangle.
The reason high-ranking figures of the black rank were sitting around like street performers at a marketplace was simple.
The martial world had entered an era of chaos. The warriors of Desolate Fortress were easy targets for the world's hostility. This was meant to boost their morale by reaffirming the strength of the squad leaders.
'Splendid Wings Step has become a trend.'
Jung Yeonshin briefly glanced at the tall, black-robed woman dusting off her feet on one side. Bukgung Ah, leader of the Ruyi Spring Squad. Judging by the nature of the competition, her limbs seemed slightly more threatening than usual.
"Hm?"
Their gazes met. A faint blue glint flickered in Bukgung Ah's eyes.
"You almost gouged my eyeball out earlier. Speaking of Splendid Wings Step without even recognizing the original technique."
"Bukgung Senior's Splendid Wings Step is not something to be belittled."
Jung Yeonshin responded calmly. At the same time, Bukgung Ah's lips curled into a smirk.
"A branch is still a branch. The original is by no means weak, but my Splendid Wings Four-Steps won't be easily devoured by your martial arts. Ah, though for now, I'm still a few steps ahead."
Kkuung—
She pulled both elbows backward in place.
A heavy wave of energy rippled from the muscles on her back, clearly connected as one—more akin to a shockwave than mere force.
"Did you say 'Four-Steps'?"
"There's plenty of room for refinement. Your footwork is quite profound."
"Four-Steps."
Jung Yeonshin murmured softly.
Bukgung Ah, having glanced at him, stepped forward.
"It's as if your child has grown up. Let's cross feet once. Before midnight, at least one of us has to set out."
"Very well."
A rare, clear arc formed on Jung Yeonshin's lips.
Step.
A match to change one's appearance through the Protective Energy Technique.
Under the brilliant sunlight, he took his first step forward, sensing Bukgung Ah's gaze fixed on the Meteor Sword at his waist.