"Yunshin, we cannot leave that child alone like this."
An old voice echoed in the room.
It was the office of the lord of Yiphuang City.
An old warrior dressed in purple robes and a martial artist in black sat respectfully before the lord of Yiphuang.
Sunlight streamed through the completely open wall.
A halo of light shimmered in the lord's hair, tinted with a pale green hue.
The martial artist shot a glance at his father.
"The closer we get, the more we can retreat. It seems he feels no emotion towards his bloodline. I can only imagine how he grew up after his sister left. He was said to be a child abandoned."
"How dare a mere commoner speak like that?" The maternal grandfather of Jeong Yunshin, Ma Yeonjeok, wore the same expression as the martial artist.
It was one of disgust.
"How can we blame that family? They were unaware of their impending doom until they saw his talents. Not cursing at a stranger who is your maternal grandfather is already a sign of nobility."
They were in front of the lord.
The voice itself was not loud.
The martial artist maintained a cautious demeanor while speaking sharply.
"He has grown into a proper martial artist, yet he is still not even twenty. Despite that, he is clear-headed and knows how to distinguish right from wrong, making it harder to deal with him than with an adult. Do not fear him."
"Just by not blindly seeking the benefits of a large family, it is clear he knows the consequences. He wants to stand alone without being swayed by the strong winds. However, because of that..."
Ma Yeonjeok spoke each word clearly.
He then looked at the lord of Yiphuang, whose expression was difficult to read.
"We must not leave him unattended any longer. If the Son of Heaven, the Emperor, is the sky, then Yunshin could become the brightest sun in that sky. The current lord of the Divine Sword Sect is insufficient. Yunshin will surely become a treasured sword worthy of standing by the lord's side."
"That is for the lord to decide. It is not something my retired father should discuss."
The martial artist, having rebuked his father, turned his gaze.
At the end of his line of sight was the most revered person, the absolute being worshipped by all in Yiphuang City.
The lord of Yiphuang showed little change in his expression.
The rumors of favoritism towards Seomye were not unfounded.
She was like the brilliance of the sun, approaching warmly yet indifferent, illuminating the world.
It had always been this way.
The red lips that had not moved at all finally spoke.
"Continue."
Her voice carried a strange transcendence, even as she lay alone against the tree trunk.
The martial artist swallowed hard.
Few were unaware of the absolute power that even the purple ginseng could hardly contend with.
Her appearance, unchanged at twenty, had remained the same since the Ming Dynasty.
To the people of Yangyang, she was a living Jade Emperor.
"It is still a distant matter. However, it has already been decades since the lord mentioned retirement and the golden division of the family."
Ma Yeonjeok stroked his white beard as he spoke.
"This is my thought. Instead of sending that child on missions, we should keep him in the family for ten years and teach him to become a martial artist. We must prevent him from being tainted by the vulgarity of the martial world at such a young age... During that time, if we arrange a marriage and build his strength, things will change. He will become a divine sword that only the lord can wield."
"Yunjeok."
The lord of Yiphuang opened his mouth, his beautiful face devoid of emotion.
"Yes, my lord."
"Do you have no malice in your heart?"
"To say malice..."
"You are not the current lord of the Divine Sword Sect. You only appear as a blood relative of the Yiphuang family, seeking to elevate the family's reputation."
"..."
The martial artist understood his father's character.
He had never failed to seize what he was completely devoted to.
It was likely due to this nature that he had been able to rise to the position of lord of the Divine Sword Sect.
Suddenly, Ma Yeonjeok lowered his head.
"The lord is correct. It was hard to bear. It was truly tragic when I had to pass the treasured sword of the Divine Sword Sect to the current lord. I have been a close friend of the lord for decades. Let me speak frankly."
"Father! Please choose your words carefully!" The large-framed martial artist fidgeted.
"You would not have shown such an attitude if it were not for your sister's matter. You need not forgive me. The family must endure for a long time. Even if we die and turn to dust, we will still be revered and live an immortal life. In the end, what remains for humans is only their name."
"That is enough."
The lord of Yiphuang's low voice pushed back Ma Yeonjeok's earnestness.
"I will decide on Seomye's matter, so do not place the authority of blood relatives above me."
Her melodious voice carried a strange transcendence.
The hem of her garment brushed against the tree rooted at the pinnacle of the world.
Seongye.
The lord of Yiphuang, with her bare white feet extended, slowly raised her head.
Sunlight gently settled on her transparent face.
"Ma Gwangik, it would be best for you to depart now. Take care of Seomye."
She spoke to the martial artist.
"I will obey."
The martial artist, changing his demeanor to one of greater respect, raised his fist.
Jeong Yunshin stood quietly, lost in thought.
It was different from when he struck the neck of the late Huji of the Shimmuryeon.
This was a place with many eyes watching.
The large coffin that had been opened was immense, and the passersby stretched endlessly.
This was the territory of the righteous martial world.
There seemed to be insufficient justification for murder. 'I might turn the Nangong family into enemies.
I cannot handle it in Huji.' He could not kill here.
It was fine; he could give them a corresponding humiliation.
Jeong Yunshin recalled the story of the governor of the General Office.
Yiphuang City often prepared for the appearance of the target of their mission.
The Blood Flame Sect's Seven Masters had done the same during their missions.
If it was something prepared for so long, it was needless to say.
The appearance preparation was a drawing of facial features, and the image that came to mind resembled the man before him.
It was an unexpected encounter.
He was so flustered that he could not immediately compare. 'What if he just passed by?' Jeong Yunshin reflected.
If he weighed the mission against martial arts training, the mission would naturally take precedence.
He should not have been careless in observing his surroundings.
While he was momentarily lost in thought, a voice interrupted.
"You are not curious about my alias? Your words are amusing. A lowly creature with no roots is being unreasonable."
A young man from the Huangbo family chuckled.
Jeong Yunshin slowly shook his head and opened his mouth.
"Being lost in your own world is appropriate. The Huangbo family? In the grand scheme, it is small. You are insignificant."
"… A madman, it seems. Ordinary will not suffice."
The young man's expression darkened.
He stepped forward.
Though it seemed he was stepping recklessly, there was a method to his stride.
The essence of footwork was evident in his movements.
The waves of energy were unusual.
It seemed he could respond to any situation while walking.
'Good.' Jeong Yunshin's gaze was fully fixed on the young man's body.
It was from the moment the sparring began.
As soon as the name Huangbo family was mentioned, the crowd of onlookers looked at him with pity, but he did not care.
Finally, he faced the martial arts of the Eight Great Families.
He was curious about the extent of the power that claimed to be the pinnacle of secular martial arts.
Jeong Yunshin took a step forward.
The essence of Jeonggadonggong gathered at the Yongcheon point beneath his feet.
It was the first step of the Hwanikbo.
Dust lightly rose from his heel.
He wanted to gauge the gap between the martial arts of the Eight Great Families.
Sreung! Kwang! The young man from the Huangbo family drew his sword and struck down with a powerful blow.
The dazzling blade of the treasured sword rose from his waist, leaning forward.
The sword path drew an extremely narrow ellipse and extended straight out.
Jeong Yunshin raised his right hand.
Zheong—! He flicked the side of the sword with the back of his hand.
The eyes of the watching martial artists widened.
It was a skill that anyone here would find hard to believe.
Jeong Yunshin shook his hand.
The force of the young man's sword felt light against the vibrations.
It was thanks to the steps of Hwanikbo that had already moved diagonally.
He had completely avoided the trajectory of the sword strike.
"What!" The young man's expression went blank.
He seemed unable to accept what had just happened.
This time, it was Jeong Yunshin who advanced.
Puh! With the amplification of the essence of the Shigeukgyeong, the energy from his outstretched left arm burst forth with the experience of the Shihwa Mugeukgyeong.
The sword that the young man reflexively raised was pushed upward.
The essence that had already spread throughout Jeong Yunshin's body surged through his entire blood vessels.
The Shinyu point on his right waist ignited with internal energy.
In an instant, the erector spinae and the large lumbar muscles in his lower back were filled with powerful strength.
The subsequent connection was instantaneous.
Twisting his body, he thrust his right fist straight out.
A loud sound echoed from the young man's solar plexus.
It struck true.
The smooth texture of the Huangbo family's fabric wrapped around his fist.
The energy of the Shihwa Mugeukgyeong erupted explosively.
Bang! The young man's body flew as if struck by a cannonball.
Jeong Yunshin slowly opened his right hand and looked down.
The flow of energy was clear.
Ma Gwanggyeol was blending into the martial arts of the Huangbo family.
"The martial arts of the Huangbo family seem profound."
He spoke.
"You are nothing special."
His words were calm, mixed with disappointment.
Clearly, the face resembled the appearance preparation of Yiphuang City.
Still, such a person could not be the young lord of the Huangbo family.
He was said to be a genius of the Sun God lineage.
He had heard that the Baekgirin Nangong Hwa-shin he had seen before had not shared hands with the young lord of the Huangbo family.
Due to the age difference, he had anticipated defeat.
"He cannot be the young lord. Perhaps he is a second son?" There was no answer to Jeong Yunshin's question.
Everyone seemed to have lost their words.
Even though the number of onlookers gathered around the coffin had significantly increased, they remained silent.
He slowly turned his gaze.
The expression of the woman who had been arguing with the young man was blank.
Disbelief was evident in her gaze as she looked at the young man convulsing on the ground.
"How could a lowly creature... This is absurd..."
"I did not kill him. If it is the Huangbo family, they must have some kind of miraculous medicine, right? He will easily recover after taking it."
"This...!" The woman turned her head sharply, her eyes fierce.
A chill could be felt from the upward curve of her eyes.
"You, I will remember. I am Huangbo Myeongrin. From the Chusilmun family. I will not forget."
"I have the leisure to accept your hand. Shall we continue the spar?"
"..."
"If it is the martial world, you would not have sent only the young ones. Is there no adult? Is the young lord not here?"
At that moment, someone grabbed Jeong Yunshin's arm.
It was Shin Sobin, her eyes wide with surprise.
At the same time, energy surged from her lips.
It was a telepathic message.
- Senior.
Isn't the provocation a bit excessive? We should be cautious of the surroundings.
If the Huangbo family comes, it will turn into a chase.
Even though she was speaking telepathically, it felt like a whisper.
She seemed completely frightened.
Jeong Yunshin tilted his head slightly, feeling bewildered. 'Provocation? What kind?' He had not even begun yet.
He slowly took a step forward. 'The mission is everything.'
There was a particularly agreeable point about being part of Yiphuang City.
The justification of serving the people was clear.
The merit he needed to build to survive was pure.
At least, it had been so far.
The sects that could not be classified as righteous or unorthodox were called Jeongsajigan.
Currently, the Chusilmun family, which Jeong Yunshin's group had disguised themselves as, was like that.
They avoided malicious behavior and did not raise a banner for the alliance.
They lived in the martial world for profit and fame.
'Then I should imitate Jeongsajigan.'
Before long, the attendants of the Huangbo family had gathered.
They surrounded the fallen young man and Huangbo Myeongrin.
Jeong Yunshin circulated his energy throughout his body.
At the same time, as soon as he stepped down, a gentle breeze brushed past his ear.
In an instant, the people of the Huangbo family expanded rapidly.
He pierced through them all with a technique like a leaf riding the wind.
"Eh!"
"What!" Various gusts of wind brushed past his back.
Jeong Yunshin could see Huangbo Myeongrin feeding a pill to the young man lying down.
As she sensed his presence, she raised her head, her face twisted in shock.
"I challenge you to a spar. You were the one who spoke of roots. If you are a martial artist, accept it."
Jeong Yunshin grabbed the back of Huangbo Myeongrin's neck and lifted her up.
The momentum was terrifying.
No one could interfere.
It was then.
"Wait. That is enough."
A young man holding a gourd spoke with a smile.
The smell of alcohol wafted through the air.
He looked to be about ten years older than Jeong Yunshin.
Although he wore a silk martial outfit, he approached with a worn appearance.
He had even bitten into a poppy flower, looking completely like a recluse yet handsome.
The smile on his face, shadowed by dark eyes, was languid.
"My younger siblings spoke incorrectly, but that is a bit much."
A hot energy radiated from his entire body.
It felt as if he had mastered a tremendous fiery technique.
The words that flashed through Jeong Yunshin's mind were 'Sun God lineage.'
It perfectly matched the appearance preparation.
He was indeed the young lord of the Huangbo family.