"Was there really a Blood Flame Sect?" Ma Jin muttered, his scarred face twisting in seriousness.
"Of all people, the Blood Saber Sect..."
"It proves that the incident in Jinping County was no mere coincidence."
Bai Mi Lye furrowed her brow, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
Behind her, Cheong Myeong simply patted Jeong Yeon Shin's head, expressing his admiration.
"There are traces of regenerative abilities. The Blood Saber Sect is definitely involved."
For some reason, Hen Won Chang displayed an unexpected demeanor.
He neither clicked his tongue nor shook his head in disbelief.
Instead, he examined the sword's surface for excessive marks.
Ma Jin spoke up.
"This is abnormal. Such a thing is hardly possible."
"The Blood Saber Sect is not that common."
Bai Mi Lye nodded slightly.
"Whether in the righteous or demonic martial world, this is a matter that needs investigation. The expansion of the Blood Flame Sect's influence is a serious issue. If they have developed sorcery and placed a sword in each county, it could mean that the number of their apostles has also increased. Completely transformed beings. If they have grown in number..."
"That would be terrifying."
"Of course."
This time, Cheong Myeong seemed to agree, nodding his head.
"Seom Ye has made significant contributions. It seems that incidents follow you. Handling that and bringing back information and achievements will impact the martial world. The Yip Huang Province will respond."
After a moment of staring blankly at him, Ma Jin spoke again.
"Yes. I want to ascend to Jongnam Mountain."
"I cannot allow that. I can only worry about my nephew's safety."
Was it that his words sounded like a roundabout criticism of the Yip Huang Sect? Ma Jin's face stiffened awkwardly.
For once, he looked genuinely troubled as he said, "We have just received news ourselves. But Jongnam Mountain is dangerous now. The Pakeum Jong are different from the Blood Flame Sect."
"We can't simply label them as demonic. They blend righteous and demonic martial arts. They are madmen obsessed with becoming stronger, lacking any sense of propriety."
Bai Mi Lye added, her slightly raised eyes filled with concern.
"Indeed. Above all, we have not received any orders. We should focus on our assigned tasks."
Ma Jin and Bai Mi Lye seemed reluctant to send Jeong Yeon Shin away.
Only Cheong Myeong, standing beside them, foolishly defended the youngest of the Ma family, Ma Gwang Ik.
"The Grand Master could judge the situation and issue orders at his discretion, you know?"
"..."
Bai Mi Lye shot a sharp glare, and Ma Jin continued.
"To be honest, how could we send you into Jongnam Mountain, not knowing if you would return?"
"Excuse me?" It was a question that could not be helped.
However, everyone present, except for Jeong Yeon Shin, seemed to share the same sentiment.
"If the people of Yip Huang Province know your talents, it is a cause for concern."
"Even if it is an overreaction, it is still true. No one can resist the temptation, especially with blood relatives involved. There was even talk of the Hwasan Sword Sect being a guest."
Bai Mi Lye, along with Cheong Myeong, nodded in agreement.
Jeong Yeon Shin understood that there was another reason Ma Jin was worried, one that they did not know.
It was likely because he had not settled in the Yip Huang Sect.
"What if the Grand Master cannot distinguish between public and private matters? Is the trust I built in Ma Gwang Ik worth nothing?" He spoke with a calm face, but his words struck hard.
"..."
"You have made a clear achievement. Please let me go. Record this as a solo accomplishment."
"You've put me in a difficult position."
Cheong Myeong was elbowed by Bai Mi Lye.
With a groan, Ma Jin, who had been lost in thought, slowly spoke.
"That is true. It is not easy to refuse outright. Let us make a wager."
"A wager?"
"Try to receive my first strike. One moment is enough. If you can neutralize or evade it, I will let you go. To stand out in the martial world, you must have at least that level of skill. Additionally, I will promise another reward."
"Understood."
Amidst the surprise of the group, Jeong Yeon Shin nodded readily.
They headed to the backyard of the inn.
Jeong Yeon Shin, of course, along with Ma Jin, did not care about the gazes of others.
It was a place for exchanging a single strike.
Masters of the Hwasan Sect approached and asked what was going on.
After hearing the general situation, many of them cautiously requested to see a demonstration.
Ma Jin casually permitted it.
"Thank you."
The Hwasan martial artists surrounded them, blocking the gaze of the common folk.
"To think Ma Gwang Ik would emerge from Yip Huang Province. Isn't he comparable to the masters of the sect?" Yoo Hyun asked Cheon Joo.
As the leader of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, he answered affirmatively and added, "In a brawl, he would be stronger than me. His alias is 'Fallen Star.' It means he completely dominates the battlefield. There are many elders of prestigious families who have met their end at his hands due to his hypocritical tyranny."
"Receiving a single strike seems terrifying."
"Facing such a high-level master, even a simple gesture would be daunting. In just a moment, there is the potential for instant death. Unlike our martial artists who seek the ultimate in swordsmanship, his martial arts are honed for practical combat. If you think of the martial arts of the battlefield reaching their peak, nothing could be more frightening."
"Even if it is Jeong Yeon Shin, I wonder if he can handle it. Among our peers, there is hardly anyone who could withstand a single strike."
Yoo Hyun's gaze turned to Jeong Yeon Shin, who stood facing Ma Jin.
Ma Gwang Ik's Seom Ye.
He lightly rested his hand on the sword, feeling the wind blowing against him.
His face, which did not seem to show much fluctuation in emotion, remained unchanged.
Jeong Yeon Shin simply thought of revealing the martial arts he had mastered.
He slowly spoke.
"Will you give me some time?"
"Take as much time as you need. Since Baek Seok wishes to show a strike that is hard to bear, you should sharpen your senses."
It sounded like he was saying to take it easy.
However, Ma Jin's standards were different.
Ma Gwang Ik.
A high-level master in black.
It was said he was not yet thirty in Yip Huang Province.
Jeong Yeon Shin closed his eyes.
He contemplated his body and awakened his lower dantian first.
The energy that had been dormant throughout his body began to rise.
He aimed to circulate his true energy throughout his body while also drawing upon the sensations he had learned from the Tanglang Sect.
For an ordinary martial artist, that experience might have slipped away, requiring them to focus on training.
Jeong Yeon Shin was different.
Once he had truly felt a sensation, it belonged to him entirely from that moment on.
There was no need to waste time trying to advance through coincidence.
"Show me."
Was this how the legendary battlefield figure, Sun Wukong, performed his clone technique? He could sense Ma Jin's body from all directions, as if he could see even the back of him.
With his unique sensitivity to energy, he reached a state of complete readiness.
"I will concede the first move."
Jeong Yeon Shin rarely made a joke.
Ma Jin, who chuckled, raised his hand.
The thickly built stance was set.
His martial arts were said to be the purification of Ma Gwang Gyeol.
It was said that he had truly mastered all weapons to a master level.
He could skillfully handle all kinds of weapons that fell on the battlefield, even the wine bottles scattered on the ground.
"Then, his hands must be the most frightening."
Just by observing the gathering energy, one could guess.
He understood the meaning behind the words that Baek Seok would find it hard to bear.
The density of the energy was on a different level.
With that level of martial arts, one could easily break through even a thick city wall in a single blow.
"I must avoid it."
He calculated.
If he blocked carelessly, he would suffer serious injuries.
Jeong Yeon Shin completely lowered the hand he had raised for the sword.
As the spectators could not hide their astonishment, Ma Jin's massive figure charged forward.
Boom! His defensive energy was not shaken.
It was direct and brutally fast.
It felt as if a condensed typhoon was crashing in.
This was not even his full speed, yet Jeong Yeon Shin felt overwhelmed just by turning his body to the side.
Whoosh! Ma Jin controlled his movements with astonishing precision.
By slightly twisting his toes, the flow of power shifted.
At the end of the trajectory that sliced through the air, Jeong Yeon Shin's head was positioned.
Even until that moment, Jeong Yeon Shin was observing Ma Jin's movements.
A faint blue light flickered in his eyes.
With the defensive energy he had cultivated, he could not escape.
The movements of the noble family that Cheong Myeong had taught him were not mere techniques; they required a clear intention to open a path.
"Just one step."
The trajectory and direction of power that Ma Jin would create drew complex lines in his mind.
The Bai Hui point on the crown of his head felt as if it were igniting.
He needed to determine the posture and the operation of true energy at what moment to step.
A single step that would pierce through the gap of the raging wind began to form in his mind.
At the same time, he felt another lower dantian sprouting from his heart.
It was a fleeting moment.
A thread of inner energy from Jeong Yeon Shin activated the lower dantian for an instant.
For a brief moment, the strengthened true energy fanned the flames of a new cycle.
This was not the realm of some high-level masters who felt time slowly.
Jeong Yeon Shin's thought process was as fast as a flash of lightning.
That was all.
His innate talent manifested in this moment, in the realm of nothingness.
Step.
Crack!
The moment Jeong Yeon Shin took a step, an immense force swept through, lifting his hair.
He felt the fierce wind created by the explosive power behind him.
"..."
Dust swirled, but no one spoke.
Everyone in the hall was a master who lived alongside martial arts.
They could all feel that the step Jeong Yeon Shin had just taken was extraordinary.
"That movement just now."
Ma Jin's lips moved as he maintained his stance.
"What was that? I have never seen it before."
"I simply took a step. I could see a way to survive."
"..."
"Truly an incomprehensible talent. Even now."
"I shall name it Hwan Ik Bo."
Jeong Yeon Shin said calmly.
The origin of Ma Gwang Ik's name was not complicated.
It came from the meaning of the wings of Yip Huang Province that vanquished the demons of the Great Ming Empire.
The name Hwan Ik Bo was different.
The inclusion of the character for 'shine' reflected Jeong Yeon Shin's warmth, who belonged to Ma Gwang Ik.
Ma Jin, along with Cheong Myeong and Bai Mi Lye, could not help but soften their expressions.
Ma Jin straightened his posture and slowly spoke.
"I allow Seom Ye to go to Jongnam."
"Wow!" Hen Won Chang shouted as he rushed in.
He was filled with excitement, showering praises for the remarkably mystical step.
As his shoulders were grabbed, Jeong Yeon Shin quietly thought.
"Hwan Ik Bo."
For now, it was just one step.
How many steps he could take was uncertain.
If it grew to around ten steps, would he reach the realm of the Divine Sword Sect's leader?
"A peerless talent has emerged from Yip Huang Province."
"It is not entirely a pleasant matter. However, it is the step of a new generation with limitless potential. There will be joy in watching."
"I will come to visit, so do not turn me away!"
Returning to the guest room amidst the admiration of the Hwasan masters and Yoo Hyun's envious gaze, warmth filled the air among the gathered masters of Ma Gwang Ik.
"If you wish to act alone in Jongnam, it seems that being in white is still insufficient."
Cheong Myeong said with a smile.
What was he saying now? Jeong Yeon Shin's eyes filled with confusion.