Behind Jeong Yeon-shin.
The Young Sect Leader, who had let out a long sigh, caught up to him with large strides. At the same time, the hem of the windproof robe that came down thickly to the feet fluttered once, gently settling the dust that Jeong Yeon-shin had stirred up.
The internal energy manipulation of the most noble person in Ming Cult was refined to the point of habit.
"My friend."
The Young Sect Leader who had caught up placed a hand on Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder.
"Aren't your words contradictory? Those fellows who strut around thinking they're the greatest in the world – I too want to overturn their luxurious banquet tables."
Chillingly soft, snow-white fingers grasped the cloth covering the "Desolate" character.
Traces of the Bare Hand Demonic Technique cultivated to the extreme. To someone unaware, they might appear merely as elegant hands, but not to Jeong Yeon-shin who knew the other's identity.
"Let go."
"Let go."
A smooth voice overlapped beside him. It was the Seventh Apostle's cold command.
Her gaze sweeping over the Young Sect Leader's body was strangely knife-like.
The Young Sect Leader, who had shrugged the shoulders hidden beneath the windproof robe, lowered their hand.
"Madam, please be understanding. Though words like 'husband and wife share the same fate' have long lost their meaning among noble clans, I now have matters to discuss closely with your husband…"
With the rustle of cloth, the Seventh Apostle took a step back. She slightly turned her body and lowered her slender eyelashes.
Her immediate withdrawal of interest, followed by deepening breaths. The subtle movements of her toes back and forth made it seem as if she had fallen into footwork practice like a lie.
Still an unpredictable temperament. Sometimes showing madness-tinged obsession and devotion, while at other times revealing the dignity and self-respect characteristic of Blood Flame Cult nobility.
Jeong Yeon-shin could hardly guess her thought process. It was more difficult to fathom than any incantation he possessed.
'This isn't some opera.'
His irritation faded. Feeling a strange sense of emptiness, Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the Seventh Apostle's profile before turning his gaze toward the Young Sect Leader.
The expression beneath the silver mask was noticeable. As when they first met, the corner of his mouth was raised diagonally, but even to Jeong Yeon-shin with his excellent discernment, it was an inscrutable face.
"Before getting to the main point, let me offer advice as your senior in the martial world."
"…?"
"The most precious thing that heaven has granted to lowly humans is time. It's even more so for people like us two. As for how many years you have left… I can't quite see clearly."
The Young Sect Leader, who smiled faintly as if saying "You've managed to achieve Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown," continued slowly.
"Enjoy your life. Don't create regrets."
It was a strange tone. Various complex emotions could be felt from those words.
The Young Sect Leader, despite showing a crooked demeanor, never seemed to hide his feelings.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn't fall into sentimentality. With so many precious relationships around him now, he had no reason to pity his innate circumstances.
He focused on something else in the words.
Even the peerless master who had defeated the Pure Demon Alliance Leader couldn't read his lifespan.
'He mentioned Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.'
It seemed that the state of unity of essence, energy, and spirit concealed his physical condition from transcendent gazes.
He had already been concerned about the eyes of peerless masters he would face as enemies, but now it seemed those worries were unfounded.
"A Ming Cult descendant speaking of heaven's permission."
Jeong Yeon-shin said.
The Young Sect Leader merely raised one corner of their mouth. As if to say, what does that have to do with you?
Then, feigning distraction, they pointed to one side.
"Look at that village youth coming out of the butcher shop. While pretending not to, he's slowly approaching us. If I'm to avoid capturing and killing him, we'll have to converse through sound transmission."
Eyes and ears were spread everywhere. Today's Sichuan martial world was extremely chaotic.
Ten Perfections Sect, Pure Demon Alliance, Golden Wing Sect.
Tang family, Emei Sect, Qincheng Sect.
The land with the most major factions in the world.
Even if the Pure Demon Alliance Leader had been burned to death by Ming Cult's Young Sect Leader, that was the extent of the damage to Sichuan's Thirteen Evil Sects.
The Ten Perfections Sect Leader, who had his energy absorbed by the Blood Flame Cult Leader in the past, still acted as an absolute being.
The righteous path was different.
A year ago, the Qincheng Leader was killed by the Tyrant Sect Leader.
The Tang Clan Leader, who had suffered severe internal injuries long ago due to family matters, exchanged moves with the Golden Wing Sect Leader and was overwhelmingly defeated in his fallen state.
Only the Emei Sect remained intact.
The situation in Sichuan's martial world was heavily tilted toward the Thirteen Evil Sects . As the Young Sect Leader said, they needed to be cautious in all directions.
"Sound transmission?"
The Seventh Apostle tilted her head slightly with her eyes closed.
Simultaneously, Jeong Yeon-shin felt an invisible energy barrier enveloping their surroundings in a hemisphere. The irregular energy waves characteristic of the Mara True Blood Technique. Outside noise instantly disappeared.
The Young Sect Leader's eyes narrowed into crescent shapes.
"Well… anyway, Radiant Demon Wing Leader, you should become a human sacrifice as I briefly mentioned. The situation isn't something you can handle by going directly to the meeting place."
"With the three of us here, the balance of power is right. No matter how many masters from the Golden Wing Sect and Ten Perfections Sect are present."
"Do you think that crazy Golden Wing Sect Leader will simply hand over the sacrifices or allow us to accompany the rain dragon?"
"We can at least establish an equal footing."
"I doubt it. The Golden Wing Sect Leader likely has a large formation deployed on his body. One that restricts the opponent's movements and makes their own martial arts more powerful…"
The Golden Wing Sect's formation.
Though even its name wasn't known, it was famous. It was said to be capable of moving formations freely and boosting the energy of martial artists who had learned certain incantations.
A technique originally designed for groups of martial artists to hunt massive spirit beasts, it was said to demonstrate terrifying power even in sect wars.
"Can't you dismantle the formation or make it your own in that place? I've done it before."
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke with a somewhat disappointed tone. In the past, he had spent days working on the Blood Flame Cult's main branch's Blood Flame Spirit Formation before blowing it up.
If one had learned spell martial arts, it should be done in an instant, not days.
"Hmm."
The Young Sect Leader's head tilted slightly to the side. Is this how my enemies felt?
"…The problem is the owner of the formation in that place. The Golden Wing Sect Leader has mastered both spell techniques and martial arts. They say he once withstood the Ten Transformations of Gold from Wudang Sect's First Sword, with a formation on one hand while emitting energy waves of martial arts from the other – a true master of Yin-Yang Heart Technique. A Sima Evil Path sect leader who couldn't even touch Wudang Sect's secret techniques."… I could do that too, but the Golden Wing Sect Leader is no pushover. The Young Sect Leader moved their lips.
Jeong Yeon-shin's response was indifferent.
"Excuses."
"From the beginning, you should abandon the idea of confronting the Golden Wing Sect Leader head-on. Your martial arts will be incompatible."
"Explain in detail."
"The Golden Wing Sect Leader's martial arts have subtleties in killing the most auspicious spirit beasts in the world. It's called the Dragon-Slaying Heaven-Treading Technique. It places all Taoist and Buddhist energy beneath its feet… and would be especially fatal to your remarkable dharma power."
"Dragon-Slaying Heaven-Treading Technique…"
Jeong Yeon-shin repeated softly. The resonance in his mouth was significant.
Something he had never experienced before. He had gained the upper hand against many opponents, but he had never faced energy that was specifically incompatible with his own.
The Young Sect Leader, who had fixed their dark blue eyes on him, concluded gently:
"It would be better for you to just create sword winds from behind me. Well, changing your energy structure isn't something only I can do – you could too, but wouldn't the response be faster from someone who hasn't cultivated incompatible martial arts to begin with? I'm also more versed in spell martial arts. I hope you'll naturally follow my reasoning."
They spoke raw facts in a gentle manner.
Jeong Yeon-shin felt as if he were looking into a cracked mirror. It wasn't particularly pleasant.
***
***
Chengdu, Sichuan.
A mansion with walls as high as city fortifications.
On the main gate's signboard, the characters for "Golden Wing Sect" were written in straight, angular strokes. It was said to be the work of the Golden Wing Sect Leader, who disliked the phrase "dragons and serpents soaring."
Yet the mansion was crowded with people who looked up at the strange calligraphy and exclaimed in admiration.
Hundreds of people were lined up, creating noisy conversations, dust, and sounds of sword sharpening.
"Those who have come to take the test, come this way! Here, over here!"
"I'm first today!"
"Hold this stone and try to crush it with just your grip strength. That's all. Nothing more."
"Is that… the test?"
"Yes."
"What, no forms? Just measuring the level of internal energy?"
"Exactly."
"I've never heard of guests being received this way. Why judge a martial artist's level by power alone without examining their forms?"
"If you're not confident, leave. Or would you like to discuss the sect's rules with the elders?"
"No…"
Many entered confidently only to walk out without even drawing their swords.
The martial artists standing guard or administering tests behaved with utter disregard. No one considered the Golden Wing Sect to be of the righteous path from the beginning.
This was the scene the day after Jeong Yeon-shin had entered the mansion as a guest.
Golden Wing Sect.
It was said they had been regularly accepting wandering swordsmen for some time. It appeared to be for human sacrifices.
"You look quite remarkable."
An admiring voice.
It was a secluded stream by a separate building. Jeong Yeon-shin stared at the martial artist in orange martial attire standing before him. A Golden Wing Sect warrior. She appeared to be under thirty.
Jeong Yeon-shin had been called out after seeking sleep in an unfamiliar guest room for just one day. Along with a message that there was work for him.
"If you passed the test, you must have internal energy worth using as foundation… and a good talent has arrived just in time."
"What's the task?"
Jeong Yeon-shin asked abruptly.
At this moment, his mood was extremely uncomfortable.
He had felt this way since separating from the Seventh Apostle, who had to pretend to be blind to conceal her identity, and throughout his brief stay at the Golden Wing Sect. Jeong Yeon-shin thought: It can't be because of that woman.
[TL Note- Poor JYS already misses his wife.]
With a slight exhale, the warrior's mouth curved into an arc. It was a smile that revealed the free-spirited temperament characteristic of the Sima Evil Path or even the righteous sects.
"Your speech lacks respect, but… considering the job you'll have, that's fine. Follow me. We're going to the Sect Leader."
A completely casual attitude, as if addressing a wandering swordsman. Despite "guest" originally referring to an honored visitor.
But there were more important matters at hand.
"The Golden Wing Sect Leader?"
"You've been assigned as an attendant."
Jeong Yeon-shin didn't answer, just blinked once. The warrior explained with an understanding expression:
"The Sect Leader never stops cultivating embryonic breathing by practicing internal techniques. Without considerable internal energy, it's literally difficult to even approach. You can consider it as if the imperial sword form famous in the southern ceremonies is constantly deployed."
"Shouldn't a sect leader's attendant be someone from within the sect?"
"Fellow disciples who have learned martial arts must devote themselves to training without exception. That's also a sect rule. It's why we bring in people from outside."
The warrior answered calmly. Her speech was orderly, suggesting she had some education. She gestured for Jeong Yeon-shin to follow.
"It won't be too difficult. Just follow the orders given."
"I don't understand why I was chosen."
"Your appearance."
She glanced back at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"The Sect Leader prefers beautiful things. Both in martial arts and daily life."
Jeong Yeon-shin stopped thinking.
And recalled his conversation with the Young Sect Leader.
—Let's say, for argument's sake, that our attack goes exceptionally well. This body, close to a Heavenly Demon, and you, far more powerful than I was at that time, push aside both the Ten Perfections Sect and Golden Wing Sect. But what if they flee? Can we catch the Golden Wing Sect Leader who is said to climb dragon scales like his own backyard mountain? If we're concerned about your companions' well-being, we must first enter the formation they open for us.
—So, hide our identities and infiltrate the Golden Wing Sect?
—Someone like you could deceive any peerless master. Your skill at concealing energy is exquisite. I would believe it to be a branch of divine skill.
—Hmm.
—It's the first time I've seen you smile so contentedly. Anyway, I'll connect you, me, and your wife with the Earth-Following Demonic Technique. It's a shadow spell. When the time comes, send your energy down to your feet.
Thud.
By then, Jeong Yeon-shin had arrived at a pavilion with golden-red tiles along with the warrior guiding him. It was a place as silent as ice.
"The Tang twins will soon come to see the Sect Leader, and you can treat them somewhat rudely. Don't think of them as children of a prestigious family. The Sect Leader will permit it even if you spill tea on them."
Then six-directional spirit energy rang out.
[Enter.]
A woman's voice that suppressed the surrounding silence.
It was the Golden Wing Sect Leader.
The voice of the absolute being said to control the life and death of many monsters with incredible power was extremely dry.
'An attendant, huh.'
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly stepped toward the strongest person in Sichuan's martial world.