At the end of the dimly lit path illuminated by the return torches, there stood a figure.
He was different from the blood flame cultists I had seen until now.
His hair was a mix of black strands among the red, and an ominous aura enveloped him, sending chills down Jeong Yeon-shin's spine.
The Blood Scythe Cultist.
He looked just as I had heard.
It was said that the red hair of the blood flame cult warriors displayed their internal energy through their hair, and the gradual return of some of the hair to its original color indicated that he had reached a level of refining his vital energy. 'This won't be easy.' The Blood Scythe Cultist approached with a furious expression, drawing his sword, exuding an overwhelming and fierce presence as if he could shoot out hundreds of piercing beams.
"You insignificant being has disrupted the affairs of our sect. I shall spill my blood through your pain!"
"Are you planning to siphon my vital energy with blood energy?" I asked, not out of curiosity but rather weighing my options before speaking.
A boy of around sixteen taking on a branch of the Blood Flame Cult alone? It was unimaginable.
The certainty of that thought must have been present in the mind of the one slowly approaching with the sword in hand.
Even after slaying several cultists, the Blood Scythe Cultist, who had begun to grow black hair, was at a different level from the pure red-haired blood flame cultists.
'I must go.' The vital energy that surged from my open dantian raced through my body.
The vital energy of Jeong Ga Dong Gong began to circulate through all three meridians while containing the principles of the extreme realm. 'I must strike before he gets too close.' I realized the effectiveness of a preemptive strike by defeating the blue master of the Sky River.
With a thud! I stepped on the unnameable leaf's footwork and spun around sharply.
The vital energy concentrated in my waist and thighs.
The speed of my internal energy was different from when I was at Jeong Ga Jang.
In an instant, the gathered power struck out with the Ma Gwang-gyeol's technique, tearing through the air menacingly.
Whoosh! The Blood Flame Cultist, who had been approaching with his back to the torch, showed a look of surprise on his face, but at the same time, he leaned back to avoid my kick.
"Hah!" He retaliated with a furious expression, and that was where Jeong Yeon-shin's decisive move came into play.
With a swift motion, I kicked the ground with my right foot, descending rapidly.
My body tilted downward, breaking the rhythm of his sword strike in an instant.
The wind swirled around me as I closed in on the unguarded enemy.
My left hand, extending in the gust I created, aimed for his wrist.
The first strike of Jeong Ga Dong Gong, which had been unleashed before the extermination, was the golden snake that instinctively led me.
The Blood Scythe Cultist's eyes widened in shock.
It was not surprise but rather a furious expression that seemed to say, 'How dare you?' Such an approach was absurd for someone who had reached the level of a master.
However, Jeong Yeon-shin was no longer the boy who could not withstand the extermination.
My left hand extended gracefully, and the golden snake was enhanced by Ma Gwang-gyeol's technique.
"What...!" In the end, the astonished sound he let out was no different from the blood flame cultists sprawled at the entrance of the cave.
Jeong Yeon-shin knew how to use his appearance and age like the teeth of a beast.
Once bitten, it was over.
The grip that clung to him contained the monstrous power of Jeong Ga Dong Gong.
"Ahhh!" His expression was one of pain, yet the master was different, as a sinister energy spread from above and below.
I could tell without seeing.
He was trying to knee me and crush my head with a knife hand.
However, the swift strike of the reversed grip of the Blood Scythe Sword came first.
- Ma Gwang-gyeol does not discriminate against techniques.
The teachings of the demon.
His voice, which I had learned over a month ago, seemed to carry a hint of laughter at this moment.
At the same time, the vital energy, layered with the principles of the extreme realm, gathered in my right arm.
Recalling the myth of the giant Pangu who pushed aside mountains, I thrust the sword held in my fist inward.
At this point, I unleashed raw power that did not even require a sword path.
"Ugh!" It penetrated deeply.
I could feel the dissipating energy.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.
"You only brought pain, didn't you? I can tell just by looking. You've never been on the receiving end."
"Ughhh!" As I pressed even harder, his screams turned into choked gasps.
Now, I was almost cradling him, feeling the fading vitality with my whole body.
It was a sensation that could not even bear a crack in the hardened values formed through extermination.
"There is a saying in the martial world. Be cautious of the elderly, women, and children."
I whispered into his ear, but it seemed he could not hear.
Jeong Yeon-shin carelessly pushed his body away.
The Blood Scythe Cultist lay sprawled, now a corpse.
'All I had to do was kill one blood flame cultist from Jinpyeong-hyeon.' Somehow, I had cleaned up the branch of the Blood Flame Cult.
In the end, I had achieved a great feat, so it was all good.
Yet, the reason for my bitter taste was likely due to the sight of the boys and girls collapsed here and there, emaciated.
I thought of Jeong Ga Jang.
"Go to the paradise of Murung."
Jeong Yeon-shin sat down and closed the eyes of each one.
"You've shared the sword. What happened? Are you alright?" The first words from Baek Mi-ryeo upon seeing Jeong Yeon-shin descend from the mountain.
Her concerned gaze, now feeling quite sisterly, was not unpleasant.
After all, it was not even mine, but I was covered in blood, and I was carrying a child who was not breathing on my back.
"It's not my blood. I found what seems to be a branch of the Blood Flame Cult."
"A branch of the Blood Flame Cult! As expected..."
Baek Mi-ryeo nodded and then spoke again.
"I'm glad to hear you're alright. If you have any information about their composition, please share. How many did you engage? Since their hideout has been discovered, there will be some movement. We need to prepare."
"There were eight blood flame cultists. I also saw a strong one with mixed black and red hair."
"The Blood Scythe Cultist...!" Her eyes widened slightly.
Before Jeong Yeon-shin could say anything due to her exclamatory remark, Baek Mi-ryeo poured out her words in her usual manner.
"Yes, if the Blood Scythe Cultist was there, it must be a branch of the Blood Flame Cult. They were also lurking here. Whatever the mission, the Blood Flame Cult is a target for extermination in Jinpyeong-hyeon. You've done a great job, so take a rest now. Cheong Myung and I will go."
"... I fought nine. You can just send the guards."
"Weren't there eight plus one? If it's nine... Did you just say the guards would be enough? Hmm...?" Did she finally feel something off about Jeong Yeon-shin's calm demeanor? Baek Mi-ryeo furrowed her brow.
Then, her face gradually filled with surprise.
"Seomye. Are you saying you single-handedly defeated the Blood Scythe Cultist and the blood flame cultists?"
"I killed them all."
"Hah...!" It was a strange exclamation.
It seemed more like pure surprise and admiration than doubt.
At the same time, someone descended from above.
With a light movement, a scent of grass wafted through.
Cheong Myung approached with a surprised expression.
"You mean you turned a branch of the Blood Flame Cult into a mess all by yourself?"
"They were already making a mess with blood."
Jeong Yeon-shin replied with an expression that was hard to read.
The two's gazes briefly lingered on the child on his back.
Damn those cultists, Baek Mi-ryeo muttered.
"... The Blood Scythe Cultists have a strange regenerative ability, but you weren't stabbed from behind, were you?" Cheong Myung asked, seemingly trying to change the subject, and continued speaking.
"I'm sorry. We overlooked the fact that this is something you should have been informed about quickly. The Blood Scythe Cultists act like reapers in the civilian world, and among the masters who have the power to kill them, there are not many across the central plains. It would not be easy to share this information."
Baek Mi-ryeo nodded, and for once, she showed an expression of apology.
"This is truly our oversight. I'm glad to see you're safe, but... in Jinpyeong-hyeon, we hear bits and pieces of such news. It's a story from another sect. Even after barely defeating the Blood Scythe Cultist, they were pierced from behind and died due to their regenerative blood energy."
"Unless one is a considerable master, anyone would fall victim. You did well to remain safe."
Cheong Myung said with a pleased smile.
Listening quietly, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded.
"Regenerative ability. So that's what it was."
He released the arm that had been supporting the child.
As he extended his hand forward, the red and black hair fell away.
The head of the Blood Scythe Cultist.
Without even closing the bulging eyes on the pale face, it looked even more gruesome.
"...?" Cheong Myung and Baek Mi-ryeo fell silent for a moment.
"Yes... the ability to regenerate. Such a thing does exist."
Cheong Myung replied with a somewhat displeased expression.
In contrast, Baek Mi-ryeo patted Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder, saying he was impressive.
"You must definitely take credit. That's a good attitude."
"Yes, indeed... It's not an ordinary achievement. Especially for a newcomer to the martial world who has just become a white in Jinpyeong-hyeon."
Cheong Myung continued, examining the head of the cultist.
"The black hair has only recently appeared. That branch must have been quite weak."
Baek Mi-ryeo shook her head.
"Regardless, the merit of single-handedly finding and defeating a branch of the Blood Flame Cult cannot be belittled. Even if the Seomye and even the blue masters covet it, they cannot diminish the merit. It's not just the white who accomplished this. It's an event that goes beyond mere astonishment."
"That's for sure."
Cheong Myung nodded and patted the shoulder of Han Won-chang, who was beside him.
Before long, Jinpyeong-hyeon had arrived, and the group was quietly gazing at the head of the Blood Scythe Cultist.
"He's dead. What is there to fear?"
"Ah, no, I'm not scared! How many lives have I taken from the Green Forest and the Waterway thieves!" Seeing him, who seemed to have returned to the first time he came to Jinpyeong-hyeon, the group laughed.
What happened next was left in the hands of Ma Gwang-ik.
After seeing the head of the Blood Scythe Cultist, Ji Hyun sent the guards.
There were stories that some guards had wet themselves upon seeing the blood-soaked branch of the Blood Flame Cult in disarray.
Ji Hyun, realizing that terrifying blood demons had been lurking nearby, held Jeong Yeon-shin's hands with both of his and repeatedly expressed his gratitude as if he had never been afraid.
The infamous reputation of the Blood Scythe Cultist was even more famous among the civilians than among the martial artists.
The corpses sprawled in the branch were said not to be the children of Jinpyeong-hyeon.
It was presumed that the blood flame cultists had captured them nearby, but it was unclear whether their disappearance was the work of martial artists, so it had not flowed into Jinpyeong-hyeon.
After four days of sorting out the incident,
"If you have another mission next time, will you please stop by again?" Ji Hyun, now exceedingly polite, looked up at Ma Gwang-ik's group.
The scene was similar to their first meeting but completely different.
Especially the gaze directed at Ma Gwang-ik, the Seomye, was burning.
Jeong Yeon-shin had not experienced much of the outside world, but he could sense that what was contained in Ji Hyun's eyes was not just pure respect.
- It seems he wants to connect with the martial world masters he has only heard about, even with the promising late-stage disciples.
It was Cheong Myung's voice mixed with laughter.
'Jinpyeong-hyeon's Ji Hyun.
So this is that person's life.' As I nodded slightly, I thought while looking at Ji Hyun, who was smiling brightly.
Perhaps he was a person of great capacity.
It was somewhat admirable that he could be like this despite having experienced such humiliation.
"I am Liu Jin of Jinpyeong-hyeon! Please remember me!" The group turned their horses and left Jinpyeong-hyeon behind.
The long yet short, peaceful yet brutally concluded incident had come to an end.
The first venture into the martial world by Ma Gwang-ik and the two whites concluded with the solo achievement of the Seomye.
The return journey was a bit more leisurely.
We took quite a long time for the horses to eat.
Thanks to that, I could not help but see Han Won-chang's face turn pale, but on the way, he often wore a sad expression.
"Jeong So-hyup has achieved a brilliant feat, yet here I am, having done nothing..."
"Rather, that's normal. Just preventing the misdeeds of the Jinpyeong-hyeon cultists while being vigilant is enough."
At first, Baek Mi-ryeo tried to comfort him, but after a few more repetitions of the same thing, she fell silent with a blank expression.
Instead of camping out, we stayed at an inn and slowly entered Yangyang.
The first thing that caught my eye was the massive fortress of Jinpyeong-hyeon, even larger than the outer fortress of Yangyang.
Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly.
Although I had not been there long, the feeling of joy was strange.
"There's a lively atmosphere."
Cheong Myung suddenly said.
"Indeed, it has been a long time! Since I have completed my first mission, I think I will go to Yangyang's best tavern."
Han Won-chang had started to smile brightly at some point.
The road leading to Jinpyeong-hyeon had that effect.
The bustling energy emitted by merchants and hawkers, people of various appearances bustling about was immense.
Even the gloomy appearance of the Jinpyeong Shin Hyup was blown away.
"No, not you. I mean the people here. More than usual. Wait a moment..."
While riding, Cheong Myung closed his eyes, and the group fell silent.
It was due to the sensitivity of the Ming clan's unique keen hearing.
Thanks to Cheong Myung, who had kept watch over the group for quite a long time, no one had taken the night watch.
"Oh, they say that person is coming. It must be a big deal for everyone here. Considering how our Jinpyeong-hyeon treats those who have made great contributions."
"I just heard it too. The previous leader of the Divine Sword Sect is finally coming."
At Jeong Yeon-shin's body stiffened at Baek Mi-ryeo's words, she glanced at him with a strange expression before speaking again.
"If he challenges the position of the elder, he cannot simply overlook the sentiments of Yangyang."
"The head of the Jinpyeong-hyeon Elder Council would be closer to the royal family than the head of the Yangyang branch. I think every person here would at least get a handful of rice. If it's a good harvest, how much more excited would they be in a bad year?"
"It seems he has already entered."
"Yes. They say he passed by with a boy in front of his horse. That boy seems to be the adopted son of the Jinpyeong Horse Family, which had many rumors. I heard he has great talent."
However, Cheong Myung soon began to urge the horses as if he had no interest.
"Talent, huh."
Baek Mi-ryeo chuckled, her long black hair swaying with the horse's steps.
She turned her head slightly to glance at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"...?" He nodded calmly.
As he stroked the horse's neck, the four of us, Ma Gwang-ik, soon arrived at the main gate of Jinpyeong-hyeon.
It marked the end of a long mission.