"Desolate Fortress...! It's the Desolate Fortress Martial Force! Golden Hero! This won't do!"
"What kind of martial art is that?! I've never even heard of it, it's the Azure-Eye Demonic Swordsman!"
"Young Master! You must retreat... Hngh...!"
A wave of radiant lights splattered blood across the battlefield. Twenty warriors of the Radiant Demon Squad encircled the Heaven Spanning Net, pressing in.
Limbs were severed, heads flew. The whiteness of the snow-covered ground darkened, turning crimson, only to be painted white again.
Jjeong—! Peo-eok!
The predatory gazes that had been fixated on Jung Yeonshin, waiting for an opportunity like a pack of jackals, were utterly shattered. Now, only panic and screams of agony filled the air.
The faces of the Radiant Demon Squad experts were taut, their expressions sharp with tension. There was an unfamiliar force in their stance.
Baek Miryeo, who had cut down ten vagabonds in an instant and advanced, was no different.
With an expression of fury, she glared at Jung Yeonshin, her already piercing gaze now as sharp as a treasured blade.
Jung Yeonshin thought to himself.
'She's upset because I came out without a word.'
"I have something to say, but before that... may I act as your sister, Leader?"
"You are my sister. You always have been."
"Ah."
Baek Miryeo's eyelashes quivered slightly. Her lips seemed to relax just a little. Was she at a loss for words? He wasn't sure why.
'She won't scold me. That's a relief.'
A faint chuckle slipped from Jung Yeonshin's lips.
"The youngest squad leader… What a pleasant sight."
"Leader of Mount Hua."
Jung Yeonshin glanced behind him. The long, flowing hair of Yulha Nangnang brushed against his ear.
"Your breathing has deepened."
"I've crossed the threshold. Thanks to the hemostasis you applied, and also thanks to my breathing through the Violet Dawn Sacred Arts."
"I'm relieved to hear that."
"I can sense the energy of my disciples, whom I left behind in my impatience. Unlike you, I am not a well-loved leader. I shall surely be scolded upon my return. If you have anything left unsaid, speak now."
Jung Yeonshin did not hesitate.
"May I ask why you were so soundly pushed back?"
"Cheeky, aren't you? Is that how it seemed?"
Yulha Nangnang chuckled.
"If Bin Do had truly been overwhelmed, do you think he would have just walked away?"
It was a lighthearted voice but carried a heavy question. Jung Yeonshin answered with silence.
What kind of person was the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader?
"You must carefully consider his schemes. But before that… when your martial arts deepen, and you face him as a true adversary, remember this—trying to win with sheer swordsmanship alone will not work. You will only end up countered. You must have an original technique of your own."
"…I understand what you mean."
"By now, he should be limping back home on his right leg. His right half is paralyzed. He suffered greatly from the Invisible Wind Stride. Never in my life have I accumulated so much force into an opponent's body. If I had just one more breath… I would have taken off that wretched head of his."
"Your words are growing rough, Leader."
"Haven't we grown rather close? We've shared our lives, what bond could be deeper than that? Come visit Mount Hua anytime. I'll serve you tea with Plum Blossom Pills dissolved in it."
As they chatted, the sounds around them faded.
The highland's silence descended with the drifting wind. The collective combat techniques of the Radiant Demon Squad had demonstrated their true value.
In the wake of the whirlpool of radiance, only the cold snow and lifeless bodies remained. The Radiant Demon Squad had spared no one, not even those who fled. Such was the temperament of a military force.
"Leader! Look at the state of your body again!"
"I'm sorry. Had I died babbling about opium, I would have deeply regretted it. You are someone who should live far longer than I."
"Are you exacting revenge on us? We knelt and apologized for what happened with Shaanxi's Number One Demon..."
Just as they were closing in on Jung Yeonshin one by one—
"The energy of the Hidden Fragrance Drift is rising from below. But before that..."
Yulha Nangnang lifted both hands, wrapping Jung Yeonshin's right hand in hers. The warmth of her touch enveloped his hand and palm. He flinched slightly.
"Truly, thank you. Lightning Genius, Jung Yeonshin."
* * *
The Great Chaos of Mount Taebaek became a widely discussed event.
For four days, it remained a hot topic in the Shaanxi martial world.
The martial prowess of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader was a subject of controversy in the region, despite many having witnessed it firsthand. Debates over its authenticity continued.
This intensified once the identities of the high-level experts who perished on Mount Taebaek were revealed.
Anyone hearing their names would hesitate to believe it. The results of the battle seemed almost miraculous.
Thus, the overwhelming dominance of the youngest squad leader of Desolate Fortress garnered as much attention as the battle between the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader and the Mount Hua Sect's leader.
There was little disagreement that the current leader of the Radiant Demon Squad was immensely powerful.
Such discussions drifted from the eaves of a secluded manor.
A rarely visited estate.
"The Desolate Fortress Lord will bear fruit. The present Radiant Demon Squad's
leader is a thunderbolt poised to shatter the old order."
A quiet, measured voice spoke. A man cloaked in black robes continued speaking slowly.
He stood tall on the ornate edge of an antique rooftop, his face mostly hidden under a wide-brimmed hat, revealing only his long, black beard.
"Indeed… This Yeoryeong's master misjudged Lightning Genius, and you were right. I admit my mistake. But the Mount Hua Sect's leader is different. You should have killed her. Just as you punished the Zhongnan and Qingcheng sects for their role in the fall of the Dali Kingdom."
Below him, leaning against a grand pillar, the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader spoke.
"She is the last true divine sword in Shaanxi. Without her presence, I would have to roam endlessly to find an equal opponent. That is inefficient."
"You left her gravely wounded, didn't you?"
"The Starlight Sword Deity breathes through the Violet Dawn Sacred Arts."
"I'd like to speak of your connection with her. It was rather deep, wasn't it? Even if it was long ago."
"Blame my talent."
"Ridiculous, you unpredictable madman. You were said to have meditated on the Duan Family Time-Surpassing Technique for a hundred years after your defeat at Zhongnan. You must have lost your humanity in the process. Even you don't understand your own heart anymore. At this point, your title suits you better than your name. The Tyrant Sword of Madness. I'm surprised you even retain logic and a thirst for revenge."
"..."
"The Starlight Sword Deity... It was a rare opportunity. Mount Hua has closed its gates, and the Supreme Sword of Wudang has gone to protect them."
"The Supreme Sword?"
"It's too late, so put aside any foolish thoughts. Since ancient times, when the Nine Great Sects close their gates, they accumulate immense power. Those who once focused on charity now hone nothing but their martial arts. When the gates open again, plum blossoms will bloom in full—do you think you can handle the Starlight Sword Deity when that day comes? Even among the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects, her sword talent is unparalleled."
"That would be delightful."
"If you need a whetstone to temper your enlightenment, I could stand in for Mount Hua Sect's leader. I have always been curious about the Duan Family Time-Surpassing Technique that even the imperial family failed to obtain. A supreme mental art that traps one's consciousness in an eternal instant… It was originally the torture technique of the Dali Kingdom, was it not?"
"You are not a suitable opponent. Only those who have deeply mastered the Jung Clan Divine Sword can contend with me…."
Suddenly, the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader vomited black blood. In the vast expanse of dirt, there was a single patch of white marble beneath his feet.
Blood dripped onto the square stone, a chilling sight.
Above him, Yeoryeong Sect's leader lifted his head.
"Look. No one in the world has ever used Hidden Fragrance Drift as an internal mastery technique. No absolute master could defeat the contemporary Mount Hua Sect's leader unscathed. Your arrogance was excessive."
"That is why I spared her. Desolate Fortress' Lord understands all the martial principles of the orthodox world."
"Isn't that just polishing Lightning Genius' brilliance even more? The more radiant the Demon Squad's leader becomes, the more inevitable it is that the noble Desolate Fortress' Lord will decline. I am prepared to cut down the seventeen generations of the Divine Sword Order, one by one. The moment your obsession with perfection turns into foolishness, I will abandon the Tyrant Sword Tribe and no longer overlook your madness."
"You should reconsider the World Tree's divine presence, rather than my so-called madness."
The Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader responded calmly before vomiting another mouthful of black blood.
Saaaaa—
A white mist rose from his lips. It was Three Samadhi True Fire, incinerating the stench of blood.
"Jung Clan, Lightning Genius…."
He murmured suddenly. Yeoryeong Sect's leader sneered.
"The contemporary Radiant Demon Squad's leader… It seems he barely managed to survive his descent from the mountain. He might have died if things had gone differently. Why don't you become his shadow guardian instead? You could serve as the escort for a boy who possesses the world-changing talent you lack."
"A vessel that cannot hold the World Tree's divine essence is meaningless. If he dies, so be it. I simply won't be the one to shatter his potential."
"I was joking, you stubborn fool. I will no longer intervene regarding Lightning Genius. If he is swept away and dies in the vast storms of Jianghu, so be it. Focus on your recovery. The world's power balance is already too unstable. I have done enough… but there are still a few fortresses that boast impregnable defenses. Next is Hebei's Peng Clan."
"Leave."
The dismissal was soft but profound. Yeoryeong Sect's leader ignored it and muttered to himself.
"Time to choose a new young lord."
Step.
The Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader slowly sat in a meditative pose and closed his eyes.
His sharp nose exhaled quietly, his breath scattering into the winter winds that swept through the silent manor.
* * *
"Hearing the details, it's no wonder Yeoryeong Sect and Blood Flame Cult are enraged. After putting all that effort into their joint attack on black rank, the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader just slipped away."
"The leader's family… Isn't this similar to what happened back then? I can't guess the reason."
"That's why absolute masters are often called monsters. Even the purple-robed elders of the Imperial family…"
The Radiant Demon Squad returned to Zhongnan's secular martial clan in Xi'an.
A plaque was hung on the enormous halls of the Zhongnan Seven Great Masters, under Jang Gi-il's White Sun Sect—one of the largest estates in Shaanxi's major city.
Deep within the manor was a small pavilion beside a tranquil lake.
"It's a pleasant sight."
"Hmm, they do seem like peers."
"Did the leader grow taller? Something feels off. Looking at their limbs, they almost seem like father and daughter."
The Radiant Demon Squad's masters were sprawled across rooftops, halls, and floors without concern.
Sunlight reflected off the lake, shimmering in white waves. The atmosphere was lighthearted.
After consuming a decoction made from the Thousand-Year He Shou Wu, Jung Hye-ah finally regained consciousness. Their long journey through Shaanxi had come to an end.
While Radiant Demon Squad and Jung Yeonshin stirred up great chaos in Shaanxi, Seven-Finger Ghost Sword of Yeoryeong Sect—who had impersonated the sect leader of some sect—had been slaughtered by Blood Preservation Squad's leader Jin Myeongjo.
Jin Myeongjo had not made a personal appearance. He had only sent a message apologizing for failing to stop the Tyrant Sword Tribe's leader.
He added a postscript saying that he was too ashamed to face his juniors and would send them an elixir as compensation.
[I lasted five hundred seventy-nine seconds before falling off Guiwei Peak. I lost consciousness immediately after. It was certainly more than nineteen sword moves, but still… it's terribly embarrassing. I'm just relieved that you're safe.]
[Senior Supreme Demon of Sacred Blood, I am learning much from you. As a newcomer, I am awed by your martial prowess. Your noble character, as well as your skills, serve as an example for my training. I deeply appreciate your guidance and protection.]
Jung Yeonshin, after sending his reply, turned to look at his niece. In the distance, his companions were watching him.
"No, a little lighter."
"Like this?"
Jung Hye-ah responded in a youthful voice, her round cheeks moving slightly.
Jung Yeonshin knelt on one knee to match her eye level. His faint smile reflected in her bright, inquisitive eyes.
As he grasped the shoulders of her black martial attire, tailored to her small frame, he gently infused a bit of Radiant Aura.
"From your dantian to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, you need to create a continuously circulating circle. Then, your body will feel a little warmer. Your true energy will transform, like a mother's embrace."
"Mom...?"
"…No, like Cloud Dragon Sword."
"Wei Ji Sazil! Yes! Sazil is the best!"
Jung Hye-ah answered bravely, her eyes reddening slightly. Jung Yeonshin gently patted her head.
"When you softly touch the Sea of Energy Acupoint in your lower dantian, as if it were Wei Ji Sazil, the true energy flowing through your body will return through the Mingmen Acupoint on your back. During this process, your bones and muscles will strengthen, and your meridians will become more resilient. Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
"Good. That's why it's called Dynamic Energy Movement. You have to guide your true energy while thinking of Wei Ji Sazil for it to be effective."
"I know Small Circulatory Cycle! But Mingmen Acupoint is hard… The Sword Immortal Grandpa helped me with it."
Jung Hye-ah lowered her little head.
She rubbed the ground with the small embroidered shoes she wore, and for a moment, her clumsy uncle fully realized the weight of her loss. She had lost too much at such a young age.
Jung Yeonshin applied a gentle yet firm pressure to her shoulders.
"Even a young monkey can do this. There may be some slow-witted martial artists who can't, but Hye-ah will be fine. Let's take it slow. It'll be fun."
Jung Hye-ah didn't answer immediately.
Her large eyes briefly rolled downward.
"Uncle."
"Hmm?"
"It's strange."
"The mnemonic verse? Did another thought cross your mind? Just say whatever you want."
"The words… they don't sound right. It's weird… I'm not surprised."
"What?"
Jung Yeonshin's eyes widened just as—
Screech—!
Suddenly, a swallow cut across the sky, dropping a message tube on its own. It was a familiar spirit creature of the General Affairs Bureau.
Perhaps it had been raised by the same noble family, as it carried a temperament similar to Baiyan, the bird Jung Yeonshin had sent to Jin Myeongjo.
Snatching the letter, he immediately unsealed it.
Ssa-ak.
Intricately written cursive script unfolded before him. It was unclear whether it was an official document or a personal letter.
[The Divine Sword Order's leader of the main headquarters launched a solo assault on the meeting site of the Martial Dragon Association's leader and the Dark Night War Division Leader. This occurred immediately after Divine Sword Order members were struck down by Dark Night War Division's archery techniques. The Divine Sword Order's leader inflicted fatal wounds on both of the Thirteen Celestial Demon Lords before returning to the main headquarters. Collapsed. Requires escort to a recovery site.
Come and rest. You're the only one left with a clear mind. I miss you, our Lightning Genius.
—Acting leader of Divine Sword Order's, Ak Surim.]
[T/L: Please support me AND read further chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans.]
[T/L: Subscribe for a membership on my Buy Me a Coffee page and receive 15 extra chapters upon joining, along with daily updates of one chapter: buymeacoffee.com/revengerscans ]
[Additional Info: If anyone is facing the issue of payment on Ko-Fi, please contact me on revengerscans1@gmail.com]