The Huangbo family members who had been standing fell over, particularly those who were in a precarious state.
The blue-robed experts, who seemed momentarily dazed, quickly grabbed their juniors.
The protective barrier of internal energy, like a guardian spirit, arises from one's will.
If one loses consciousness, even a white-robed expert is no different from a third-rate martial artist.
The external martial arts realm of becoming as solid as a diamond, known as the Indestructible Diamond Body, was merely a legend.
The faces of the blue-robed experts laying down their juniors were filled with bewilderment.
"It really is sound-based martial arts."
"How is that possible? To control energy so delicately."
"They've applied the power of the sword in a peculiar way. At this level, it's in the realm of secret techniques."
Their conversation already penetrated the essence of martial arts.
Such was the level of the blue-robed experts of Yiphuang City.
They were said to have dedicated their lives to martial arts, more talented than anyone from their hometown.
They were individuals who would be called experts anywhere in the vast martial world.
Understanding the principles of martial arts came first.
Whether it was envy or admiration, that came afterward.
Eventually, the blue-robed experts began to converse among themselves.
"It's a martial art I've never heard of. To penetrate the white-robed's protective energy..."
"Since it's the white-robed of Yiphuang City, it ended in fainting. It would indeed be overwhelming. Especially in a group battle without an equal or superior expert. There would be many limitations, but the strengths are clear."
"The problem is that it harms allies. Isn't it worth mentioning for solo missions?"
Even in front of the leaders, they didn't hesitate to discuss martial arts.
They simply stated the facts.
In Yiphuang City, no one could criticize them for it.
"It seems the mental energy consumption is considerable."
The leader of the Myeolseom group spoke while looking at Jeong Yeon-shin.
Jeong Yeon-shin responded with a silent bow.
He wasn't wrong.
Raising the sword's name while infusing it with dispersing energy was an art impossible without exceptional senses.
The swordsman required extreme concentration.
Jeong Yeon-shin also felt not insignificant fatigue from just one execution.
"Such delicate energy manipulation. Naturally. It would be difficult to use suddenly in a chaotic battle. It's best to unleash it at the start of a fight. It would also have the effect of dampening morale."
He was already giving advice.
He seemed very interested.
"Even so, we can't just send one expert. The mission isn't light."
It was the leader of the Changcheon group, stroking his chin while looking at Jeong Yeon-shin.
The leader of the Myeolseom group nodded.
"I'll add two more. It's a mission to strike the Huangbo branch in Pyeong-eum County, Jinan. Any volunteers?"
Many raised their hands at once.
It seemed there were about thirty.
Not only from Magwangik but also from the Myeolseom and Changcheon groups, there were volunteers.
It was the sound-based martial arts of the sword.
Did they want to witness an unheard-of martial art in action? A few blue-robed experts chuckled awkwardly.
"Magwangik would be better. It's right for the leader to decide."
"There's no one else but Magwangiljo, who has worked together before. It's best to attach Illyeon Sword and Cheonganma Sword."
"Do as you wish. Then..."
The eyes of the Myeolseom group's leader, which flashed darkly, turned to Jeong Yeon-shin.
"Prove it wasn't reckless. Just prove it with strength. So no one can blame you for being rash."
He spoke as he turned away.
The hem of his dark robe fluttered without hesitation.
"Thank you for your consideration."
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had sheathed his sword, bowed to the leaders and seniors.
"Where did you learn it? There's no such martial art in the main family."
"Is it a secret technique of the Yiphuang Magas?"
It was when the blue-robed experts, full of curiosity, tried to approach.
Majin's body blocked them.
He led Jeong Yeon-shin to another place.
Several seniors stopped with expressions of regret.
It was a customary event where it was revealed that Jeong Yeon-shin had the blood of the Yiphuang Magas flowing in him.
No one found it strange.
Majin, who had reached the entrance of the mountain range connected to the plains, asked quietly.
"That sound-based martial art. Did you create it?"
"Yes."
Jeong Yeon-shin answered calmly.
The scar on Majin's face twitched.
"Why didn't you mention it earlier?"
"Which martial artist reveals all their martial arts? It would be easy to be defeated and die a dog's death. This time, I had no choice. I didn't even think about it."
"You're not wrong."
"Did you meet me alone to ask that?"
"It's something else."
Majin shook his head and spoke.
"Yeon-shin, you almost died on this mission. Listen. Long-lived martial artists often have a good grasp of their grudges."
"······."
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyebrows twitched at the mention of longevity.
"You, the reaction of the martial world is unusual. The fights of martial forces aren't just full-scale wars. The battles of informants are no less. The General Bureau reported it. They said there are people inquiring about the whereabouts of the Yiphuang City expert."
"If it's a grudge..."
"Just from what we've heard, it's the Paegeomjong, Simmuryeon, and Hyeolyomgyo. It was commendable to cut down the disciple of the Paegeomjong leader and the Eight-Armed Demon Sword. However, both were successors of martial arts with a thick layer of martial artists within the Paegeomjong. There are bound to be many sharpening their swords."
"I can understand Simmuryeon. I once beheaded a late-stage expert there."
"They called her Geomyehwa. I heard she was famous in the Ho-gwang and Hanam areas as a girl with both beauty and swordsmanship. It seems she had a fiancé. You should be wary not only of the Seonggajang family but also of the man who was said to be her lover."
"······."
Jeong Yeon-shin silently agreed.
"The most troublesome is still Hyeolyomgyo. If you didn't have the Myungjeongdan, you would have had to return to Yiphuang City."
Majin continued with a heavy tone.
"There was no martial art like your Myeolma Cheonggangsu. You were bound to be a target. You could have encountered the Seven Demons at the Yongbong Meeting. It was a great fortune to avoid that witch. The Hyeolyomgyo apostles are working hard to expand their influence across the central plains. The distance must have been considerable."
"That's right. I'm not yet at the level to face an apostle head-on."
When he first revealed the Myeolma Cheonggangsu, he had taken out the eyes of the Seven Demons.
Thanks to her carelessness and the chaos of battle, he had gained heavenly luck.
Jeong Yeon-shin realized anew that he had made many enemies.
Not just ordinary enemies.
They were the Thirteen Heavens of the demonic sect, comparable to the Nine Schools and Eight Families.
"If you want to walk the martial world, you have to bear it. Even so, you've gone too far. It's unprecedented to have made so many formidable enemies in such a short time. Especially at your age."
"It sounds like you're saying I'm doing my missions properly."
"You're truly a martial artist now. There are many who hold grudges against you. Always be vigilant when you're out in the martial world. Remember that."
Majin's voice carried a hint of concern.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded calmly.
"I've been running without rest."
Before continuing to do so, he felt as if he had briefly sharpened the sword in his heart.
The fact that all his enemies were the Thirteen Heavens, the giant factions of the demonic sect, was gratifying.
The Paegeomjong and Hyeolyomgyo were his enemies as well, and the more of them he cut down, the more his achievements would accumulate.
"The Huangbo family is also part of the demonic sect, isn't it?"
As he returned to the group with Majin, he immersed himself in mental training.
It was to use the sword more efficiently.
He had to continuously hone his energy manipulation.
Jeong Yeon-shin was growing stronger, regardless of Majin's warning.
"The white-robed will not participate in the full-scale battle."
It was the voice of the Myeolseom group's leader.
They were starting to organize the mission.
Hyeonwonchang and Shin Sobi were selected.
They couldn't participate in the mission to strike the Huangbo family.
They were tasked with holding back the late-stage experts of the Yongbong Meeting and the remnants of the Huangbo family's guard.
Jeong Yeon-shin had to seek advice from a blue-robed senior of the Myeolseom group separately.
"The martial arts inherited by the Pyeong-eum branch are mainly heavy sword techniques. If you lightly counter, you'll be pushed back. Remember Gokji, Cheoktaek, and Sohae. As you know, they're the acupoints of the arm joints. Firmly infuse your energy and divide your sword strikes."
He quickly familiarized himself with the martial arts characteristics of the Pyeong-eum County Huangbo branch.
Three days had passed since the battle on the plains.
"They really left us alone. It seems your sound-based martial arts are quite reliable, Seomye."
Cheongmyeong laughed with an amused expression.
Jeong Yeon-shin, along with the three blue-robed warriors of Magwangiljo, had just arrived at the southern end of Shandong Province.
It was a marketplace where almost no human presence could be felt.
The Pyeong-eum County, where the mission target was said to be based, was indeed quiet.
Most of the merchants who had set up stalls and laid out their goods were elderly men or old women.
Baek Mi-ryeo, who was playing with her long hair, glanced at the displayed accessories and spoke.
"The main family of Huangbo in Janggu is adjacent to the Yellow River. It's a vast river. If they escape by boat, it'll be troublesome. To secretly control the area near the river, it's right to send the minimum number to strike the branch."
They said the spring in Shandong Province was dry.
The atmosphere of the marketplace felt even more parched.
The villagers, who looked at the group with swords, didn't seem frightened.
Their faces, marked with fatigue, lacked vitality.
"There are no able-bodied men in sight. It seems they've really been taken for labor."
"The Changcheon group and the General Bureau have confirmed it several times. There's no way it's wrong. If it weren't a martial family, the imperial army would have risen. It's fortunate, as it wouldn't be good for the people's livelihood if the army were dispatched."
Cheongmyeong spoke nonchalantly.
In fact, Jeong Yeon-shin had been contemplating whether to hide the mark of Yiphuang City again.
He had been thinking about it continuously until they arrived in Pyeong-eum County.
This mission was different from the previous ones involving the Thirteen Heavens of the demonic sect.
The Huangbo family was a renowned martial family in the righteous martial world.
He wanted to see the reality.
"We can just go to the Huangbo branch and ask what's going on."
With Jeong Yeon-shin's words, the three of them simultaneously took a step.
It was a light step infused with internal energy.
The energy that filled the veins of their bodies pushed them forward.
The speed gradually increased.
Only then did the surrounding people, startled, rapidly recede into the distance.
Reporting the people's livelihood to the imperial court without concealment was a secondary concern.
They had heard about the magistrate of Pyeong-eum County.
He was said to be a very peculiar person.
If what they knew was correct, the magistrate would also be at the Huangbo branch.
They headed straight for the manor, which housed the largest group of pavilions in the village.
Even though there was no plaque hanging, they could feel it was a martial family.
It was because they could sense the waves of internal energy from within.
Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin's sprint overtook the other two.
It was a mission to adapt the unique sound-based martial arts of Magwangik Seomye to actual combat.
Jeong Yeon-shin, grateful for the opportunity, didn't want to disappoint the expectations of the two.
He immediately applied the secret technique of the True Wall of the Shihwa Muguk Fist.
Bang!
The shattered door fragments scattered in all directions.
It was as if they had encountered a storm due to the residual force of the powerful energy wave.
Jeong Yeon-shin momentarily hesitated at the scene that unfolded before him.
A drinking party was taking place in the large yard in front of the main gate.
A small pond on one side caught his eye.
It was a place decorated with sculptures of various mythical creatures.
Among the grass by the pond, not only the Four Divine Beasts and a qilin but also a strange beast with wings could be seen.
There were people sitting on the large rocks surrounding the pond, holding cups.
Even when they saw the group, they didn't stop raising their cups.
"Ah."
The person who had been laughing among the five beautifully dressed women raised his head.
He was a noble-looking handsome man with a yellow cornelian cherry flower tucked behind his long ear.
The attendants, who had been busily moving around, glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin's group and then silently continued their tasks.
"Today, too, the heroes of our Jinan have come. The gate doesn't stand a chance!"
The noble man raised his hand high.
The sleeve of his light green official robe fluttered.
He continued to speak as if he were dealing with a very familiar matter.
"Why not leave Shandong and inform a place like Yiphuang City? I can't understand at all. What confidence do these amateurs have to challenge the Huangbo family?"
"······."
Jeong Yeon-shin was silent for a moment.
Cheongmyeong and Baek Mi-ryeo also seemed unable to speak.