The guide followed closely behind, claiming to be a local of the town.
When speaking of the common folk who toiled without knowledge of martial arts, a certain image came to mind.
The man who introduced himself as "Zhang San" fit that image perfectly.
"Is it really just you, my lord? Are you sure you're headed to the Tanglang Sect?" His eyes, smaller than Jeong Yeon-sin's, trembled with uncertainty.
Clad in shabby hemp clothing, the worn pouch he held reflected the image of a family man struggling to make ends meet.
Jeong Yeon-sin understood his reaction.
The underworld was different from the common thugs lurking in back alleys.
The black-hearted gang sought revenge on anyone who reported them to the authorities, while the sect members had mastered martial arts.
It was only natural for him to feel anxious.
"I am enough."
"Such remarkable spirit! But, please reconsider. The Tanglang Sect is not made up of ordinary folks. They have dozens of skilled martial artists. I heard that even a mere junior member single-handedly swept through the streets of Yeonho."
"Remarkable spirit? You seem well-versed in the arts."
It was not common to hear such words.
In some places, expressions that were taken for granted were often known only to those educated in the countryside.
"I am just a villager who has not passed the imperial examination."
He felt relieved that they could communicate.
Seongnam was a large city, and it would take a night’s rest to reach Yeonho County.
"Could you tell me more about the Tanglang Sect?" Jeong Yeon-sin asked as he walked ahead.
At the same time, he took out a small pouch of salt from his robe and handed it over.
The currency was given in silver coins, but it was too much to give to someone else, and he had no small change.
The travel expenses were covered by the margin.
Zhang San opened the pouch discreetly and his eyes widened as he spoke.
"They came three years ago, conquering the streets of Yeonho. There are not many places in Seongnam without the influence of the Jongnam Sect, and Yeonho County was one of them. They took more than a dozen people as servants. Their misdeeds were severe, but they seemed to have charmed the local officials."
"…Martial arts? Has anyone seen their skills?"
"I’ve heard they use all kinds of weapons. I’ve seen them from a distance a few times, and they wielded not just swords and spears, but also oddly shaped blades… They were so fast that it was hard to follow with the eyes. In one swing, they took the heads of two men."
They were quite strong.
Although their martial arts system was not established, it seemed they had indeed mastered some skills.
With that level of ability, they could be considered members of the sect.
"Are many still captured? What is the government doing?"
"Even the local officials are in cahoots with the Tanglang Sect, so there’s no one to help…"
Jeong Yeon-sin suddenly had a thought.
Could a martial artist in Seongnam behead a government official?
They spent a night at an inn they encountered on the road.
Jeong Yeon-sin and Zhang San arrived at Yeonho County.
As they crossed over a hill, a lively village came into view.
They had passed by several caravans loaded with various goods.
Although it was a county of the same level as Sinya, it was much more developed.
It seemed to be somewhere between a city and a village.
"I know where it is."
Under the clear blue sky, a particularly large and ornate building stood at the end of the road.
The characters on the signboard were visible even from a distance.
It was not as grand as Ma Gwang-ik's, but it was certainly better than Jeong Gajang's.
The spacious front yard could have easily served as a training ground.
"You may leave now. Thank you for your guidance."
After exchanging pleasantries, he turned back.
As he headed toward the largest street that ran through the village, he sensed a presence following him.
It seemed to be Zhang San.
He could not understand the reason.
'Could it be that a family member was taken?' It was possible that his wife or daughter had been captured.
They entered a street that resembled a marketplace.
Stalls lined the sides, and merchants were calmly exchanging meat and grains.
The sounds of bargaining were not loud.
Everyone seemed to be cautious, turning their heads to observe the surroundings when a shocking sight caught their attention.
"…."
People were tied up with ropes as if they were criminals.
All of them were women.
Five martial artists armed with swords sat carelessly guarding them, while their families could only watch with tearful eyes, unable to approach.
Would they lose their heads if they made a sound? The atmosphere was starkly different on either side, as if it were a custom of the village.
"It seems that Seongnam was indeed established for a reason."
He spoke deliberately as he approached.
The martial artists had caused the laws of the land to crumble.
The Central Plains were said to be vast, making it difficult for the imperial court to grasp local affairs if a few local officials and powerful factions conspired together.
"Are those guards? Are the tied-up people truly criminals?" No answer came back.
As soon as Jeong Yeon-sin finished speaking, one of them threw a dagger that sliced through the air.
It was a surprise attack.
Jeong Yeon-sin swiftly caught it and unleashed a quick strike, releasing the tension in his grip.
Yet, the power of the blade was still formidable.
The dagger pierced through the air like a bolt of lightning.
Thud! The man who was struck in the forehead collapsed to the ground.
The four others, who had shown a moment of confusion, quickly stood up one by one.
"You have some skill, boy. Where did you learn your martial arts?"
"Your stance was strange. Did you learn properly?"
"You were quite fast. It seems you prepared for today."
"Tell me, what martial arts was that you just displayed?"
Perhaps it was because he had thrown the question casually, but their reactions were surprisingly calm.
One would expect a band of reckless thieves to be hot-headed, yet the ones before him seemed to carry an air of someone who had tasted all the pleasures of the world.
It seemed they truly had.
"What’s in a name for a mere trick?" Jeong Yeon-sin murmured calmly as he drew his sword.
The pristine blade of the renowned weapon gleamed in the sunlight beneath his hand.
Their expressions shifted.
"If you offer it to the sect leader…"
Whoosh! At the end of the glimmering trajectory, blood erupted.
The one who had mentioned the sect leader knelt, his lips stained red.
Before he knew it, Jeong Yeon-sin stood among them.
With a leap that felt like he was riding the wind and a spin like a leaf, he unleashed his sword strikes.
Before the other three could turn around, the white blade flickered and vanished.
Ma Gwang-gyeol's swift sword technique.
The sensation of cutting through three times transmitted through his hand.
It was a feeling he had grown accustomed to.
"Shii…" One of them uttered a word before dying.
It sounded like a curse.
Jeong Yeon-sin turned and cut the ropes binding the captives.
The women clasped their hands in gratitude, yet they could not openly express their joy.
In the direction they kept glancing, the Tanglang Sect's stronghold lay ahead.
'It doesn’t seem like they are merely taking in servants.' He walked along the path, pondering.
He held his sword down without sheathing it.
The street had fallen completely silent.
Everyone retreated, keeping their distance.
He could hear the whispers of old men lamenting the fate of an innocent hero who might perish.
Only Zhang San followed closely behind.
'It’s a group battle.' It was said that unparalleled masters could handle entire armies alone.
The purple of Seongnam would be no different.
Ever since he had slain the Blood Demon Sword, he had been thinking of solo missions.
No matter how he pondered, there were limits to the achievements he could gain by moving alongside the masters of Ma Gwang-ik.
If he walked the martial world alone, he could not avoid facing dozens or hundreds of blades.
Short-term confrontations with old enemies often existed only in the romantic tales of storytellers.
One must also possess the martial arts capable of withstanding the blades of a group.
He was learning from every battle.
Even he did not know what kind of path his mind would carve out.
Even if he were not facing the martial arts of masters.
'Tanglang Sect.' He glanced up at the main gate they had arrived at.
Up close, the signboard was even larger.
The characters spelling out "Tanglang Sect" were magnificent, almost as if a dragon were in motion.
'It seems a third-rate sect has threatened a scholar.' He thought it was excessive as he kicked the gate open forcefully.
Was Yeonho County truly their territory?
To greet the swordsman who had slain five of their martial artists, about thirty of their members stood lined up in the training ground.
News had spread remarkably fast.
"That brat?" A middle-aged man stood alone on the stairs leading into the main building, grimacing.
His gaze fell on the clothing.
It was astonishingly extravagant.
From divine beasts to dragons, all sorts of mythical creatures were depicted on his robe.
'Insane.' Was he a traitor? Wearing a dragon robe like that.
It made him realize just how disconnected the martial artists were from the country.
"Bring him here in pieces. No, it’s been a while since I’ve tasted blood. I’ll do it myself."
The one who appeared to be the sect leader descended.
Jeong Yeon-sin felt a sense of unease.
They said the Tanglang Sect was a vicious band.
He expected they would at least take hostages.
They were the kind of people who would take women at will.
If they were a debauched sect, they would likely have one person forcibly taken alongside them.
Yet, it seemed only these individuals remained.
'Where have the captives gone?' While he pondered, the members of the Tanglang Sect surrounding him were mostly large in stature.
They exchanged no words, merely grinning sinisterly.
"Meeting a hero is not an easy feat."
The sect leader walked down and drew his sword.
The narrow blade emitted a wave of energy.
If it were the Jeong Yeon-sin of that time, he would not have been able to win against such a master.
The sect leader continued, "What brings you to our main sect? Your short life is regrettable."
"What is your name?"
"What does it matter to a man about to die?"
"I need to know who the sect leader is to present my achievements."
As he spoke softly, he summoned the energy of Jeong Gajang.
The moment he merged with the energy of the renowned sword, he felt the sect leader's sword intent.
The sect leader thrust his sword, as if to pierce through a mere stick.
He too used a swift sword technique.
Having mastered the art of handling the blade, he could see the path of the sword strikes.
Clang! He struck upward.
It appeared calm, yet it contained the layered energy of the ultimate technique.
The sensation of being pushed back was vivid.
The sect leader's face turned pale as he felt the overwhelming force of the strike.
"Attack!"
In an instant, the Tanglang Sect members around him rushed in.
Sharp spears obscured his vision.
As if to prevent a strike aimed at the sect leader, Jeong Yeon-sin’s renowned sword struck first, cutting through the incoming blow.
Swish! As the spear tip was severed, the weapons of the other members approached him closely.
Even daggers flew through the air.
For the first time, he faced such a multitude of weapons at once.
Swish! The moment he dodged an attack aimed at his right arm, a wheel-like weapon grazed his back.
Glancing quickly, he swung his renowned sword in a horizontal strike.
The man holding the disc-shaped blade grinned, but his head flew off in an instant.
The expression that froze at the end of his life flashed before his eyes.
'It hurts.' A sharp pain spread through him, awakening his senses.
In that moment, he revealed a talent he could hardly believe in himself.
He could see the lines created by all the blades, and the path he needed to take began to form in his mind.
'Strike, pass through, strike again.' The overlapping energy of the blades evolved into Jeong Yeon-sin's swift sword technique, merging with his own.
The path of the sword, visible only to his eyes, struck down the weapons, causing them to collide with one another.
A dagger deflected off his renowned sword and lodged itself in another's heart.
One spear was dodged, and he pierced the throat of another who was attacking from the side.
"Ugh!"
"Ugh…"
Their eyes darted around.
Every weapon approaching him felt like a strange sensation, igniting a peculiar awareness.
It was as if another version of himself was looking down from the heavens, taking in the movements of the four corners.
He had completely surpassed the realm of expectation.
With movements that rode the wind, he freely navigated the space between the blades.
Someone kicked up sand, and another was caught in it.
The sect leader's narrow blade, thrusting toward him, was clearly of a different caliber.
Jeong Yeon-sin spun like a whirlwind and struck the side of the narrow blade.
Clang! The one who nearly dropped his sword vanished back into the crowd, shouting, "An incredible achievement! However, your sword path is too simple. Your swift sword has already pierced through…"
His voice carried the weight of countless battles.
There was no hint of anxiety.
It sounded remarkably relaxed, yet the moment he faced Jeong Yeon-sin, who had surpassed all attacks like a blade of grass, the sect leader lost his words.
'I was told to seize the initiative.'
In an instant, the energy surged like a wildfire throughout his body.
He thought of his hand as the sword.
The experience of the Shihwa Mugeuk Sword began to rise through his arm.
The first stage, the true wall.
It was possible.
Even now, the somewhat unfamiliar formless power was contained within his grasp.
He could also feel the energy of Ma Gwang's technique supporting his footwork.
In a split second, he firmly grasped the path of the renowned sword.
Boom! The distance closed in an instant, as if propelled by a storm.
The sect leader's eyes widened in shock.
With a downward strike from above, he brought his sword down.
"This…!"
The moment the sect leader opened his mouth, a blinding white light flashed.
The merciless sensation coursed through him like a shiver.