Hyeol Yeom Gyo (4)
Hwaak! In the next moment, Jeong Yeon-shin stood before the leader of Hyeol Yeom Gyo.
It was a swift movement, a testament to his mastery of the Bo Sin Gyeong.
The sudden gust of wind had caused the leader's white hair to flow wildly.
Was the leader a symbol of absolute faith? No one dared to act recklessly.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly reached out and grasped the Dan Hwan.
The leader of Hyeol Yeom Gyo did not stop him.
He merely opened his palm and looked at Jeong Yeon-shin with interest.
"Are you narrowing the blood passage?"
Jeong Yeon-shin murmured quietly.
The Dan Hwan in his hand appeared vividly before his eyes, dark red as if it were congealed blood.
He spoke, "If the vital energy is blocked, how can one live? It is indeed poison. It kills people."
"It would be useful when you reach the realm of a disciple. Cultivate your entire body's blood passage through true energy. You will be able to endure it."
"You must know that the role of the upper Dan Hwan in the creation of martial arts is significant. Wouldn't that render my usefulness obsolete?"
"Even if your talent is extraordinary, it will take considerable time. By then, won't you have overcome one of the weaknesses of our sect?" The leader of Hyeol Yeom Gyo spoke with a slight smile, a perplexing expression.
'You trust this person? That's nonsense.' Jeong Yeon-shin assessed the reality.
The moment he changed the flow of the battlefield, he was cut by the indifference of the Namgung clan.
It was not the behavior one would expect from the honorable family of Baek Gi-rin and Namgung Hwa-shin.
They approached with a similar attitude to the Huang Bo clan.
Now that the distrust toward the righteous sects was clear, even the words of the leader of the demonic sect did not come across as sincere.
It was hard to believe anything.
The martial world was an unreliable place.
They even said that the poison was not something one could consume immediately.
He could not see any usefulness in it.
'They say it would be worth consuming only when one becomes a disciple? The disciples of Hyeol Yeom Gyo are not much different from the black color of the entrance to the city.
They are telling me to remain a slave to martial arts for a long time.' However, in this place, he had to comply.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded and tucked the Dan Hwan into his robe.
The leader of Hyeol Yeom Gyo, with a satisfied expression, clapped his hands once more.
"It is only natural for a common disciple to possess the Initial Blood Technique. However, it is far too small a vessel to contain the talent of the heavens."
Following his gesture, another attendant approached.
Jeong Yeon-shin looked at the two books presented in the attendant's hands.
"Mara Hong Blood Technique. I bestow the vision of the disciple upon you."
The leader of Hyeol Yeom Gyo concluded with a voice full of laughter.
Jeong Yeon-shin silently accepted the manual for the Mara Hong Blood Technique.
It seemed to have been copied not long ago.
The texture of the paper felt new.
'The inner workings of the disciples of Hyeol Yeom Gyo...' The supreme secret of the demonic sect had now entered his possession.
Jeong Yeon-shin instinctively sensed what kind of event this would lead to.
The blood river flowing beneath the thirty-six steps of the leader's hall came to mind.
Was it a vision of the upper Dan Hwan? Or perhaps it was merely a figment of his imagination.
However, the many high-level masters present showed no signs of concern.
It seemed to be the boldness unique to deeply cultivated sect members, combined with their long experience in the martial world and the confidence born from their profound martial arts and insight.
In truth, this place was their sanctuary.
'Not yet.' Escape by one's own power was impossible.
However, it seemed he could deal a blow.
In the manner of the entrance to the city.
How much merit would he gain if he harmed the main sect of Hyeol Yeom Gyo? 'Perhaps they might give me a piece of fruit.'
Jeong Yeon-shin did not worry about his survival. 'Hyeol Yeom Gyo.
By capturing me, they have pinpointed the location of their large-scale forces.' The image of the leader of the entrance to the city arose.
An absolute being standing at the pinnacle of noble families that wield all kinds of powers.
Despite harboring distrust toward the martial world, her figure was vivid in his mind.
Given the clues provided, it would not be strange for anything to happen.
'I said I stepped into the main sect for the first time.
It is an unprecedented event.
A distance of about a month from Cheong Ya Valley.
If I could sweep through the circle...' While lost in thought, the leader of Hyeol Yeom Gyo spoke again.
"There are parts that the disciple must not touch."
"Speak."
"The act of purifying the murky true energy of this demonic sect within our bodies... is the fundamental doctrine of our sect. It is a sacred manual that draws out the mission through instinct."
"......"
"Do not touch it."
He was saying not to alter the manual that absorbs true energy and incites madness.
Hyeol Yeom Gyo, the demonic sect of the thirteen heavens.
It would be easy to choose a sacrifice to first learn the improved martial arts.
Jeong Yeon-shin turned around silently.
His obedient demeanor would only raise greater suspicion.
"Take the example!" An explosive aura surged from the body of the third disciple behind him before settling down.
It seemed the leader of Hyeol Yeom Gyo had intervened.
The seventh disciple approached with quick steps and crossed her arms.
A glance revealed her face, which wore an expression of ecstasy.
Her lips, flushed red, gave off a madman's appearance.
"I can't wait for the rebirth of the Blood Technique. How long will it take? Hmm?"
"......"
From waking up in the seventh disciple's house to arriving at the leader's hall, Jeong Yeon-shin began to sharpen the blade of his heart, experiencing something that would never happen again in this world.
"Changing the Initial Blood Technique is up to you. However..."
The seventh disciple, reclining on the bed, spoke while looking at Jeong Yeon-shin, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor.
"The Mara Hong Blood Technique is different. You must tailor it to suit me."
She rose from her seat and licked her lips, her white face filled with desire.
She approached softly and began to stroke Jeong Yeon-shin's hair.
It was hair that had not even had the chance to be observed by Ma Yeon-jeok and Ma Jin.
If they had the opportunity to touch his head directly, they would have immediately noticed his constitution.
Many seniors who had stroked Jeong Yeon-shin's head were present.
Yet, even his maternal relatives dared not do so.
It was thought to be due to a sense of guilt.
The seventh disciple's lips approached his ear.
"I will show you everything. The operation of true energy, the movements of the muscles that create the Bo Sin Gyeong, every single detail."
She whispered seductively.
Was there an underlying thought that it did not matter since he was destined to die? Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth while keeping his eyes closed.
"So this is the hierarchy of Hyeol Yeom Gyo. Is it permissible to scheme without the leader's knowledge?"
"The leader values the Initial Blood Technique. The many disciples are content to live without being pursued. Even if the manual for the Mara Hong Blood Technique changes slightly, it will not drastically elevate the disciples' martial prowess. But you..."
In an instant, the seventh disciple's hand grabbed his head tightly.
Her red jewel-like eyes filled Jeong Yeon-shin's vision.
"Are you not going to create a martial art just for me? Really? How dare you?"
"Let go. I was unraveling your lowly Blood Technique manual."
"Ah."
In an instant, the strength in her grip faded.
The seventh disciple's face turned sulky as she pulled away.
She began to sweep Jeong Yeon-shin's hair aside with both hands.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I interrupted something sacred. I'm sorry. I was terrible. I'm sorry."
"......"
Jeong Yeon-shin had already grown accustomed to the seventh disciple's fluctuating emotions.
It had not even been a night since he regained consciousness.
What mattered was not this.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly rose from his seat.
The seventh disciple, with one red eye wide open, looked up at him.
Her expression was not one of wanting to kill.
After a moment of looking down at her, he spoke.
"I need to take a walk. Let's see your Bo Sin Gyeong."
"Alright!" The seventh disciple, her face brightening instantly, stood up and lightly grabbed his sleeve.
How should he use the Myeol Ma Cheong Gang Su to break this hand? Jeong Yeon-shin pondered.
Creeeak.
As soon as they stepped out of the room, he sent true energy into the Yong Cheon Hyul beneath his feet.
Although the cold blood energy was lurking in his veins, there was no difficulty in operating the lightness skill.
It was because he was born with the ability to control true energy.
The seventh disciple smiled at him.
Hwaak! The two masters began to weave through the village of the demonic sect.
Jeong Yeon-shin could clearly see the main sect, yet no one stopped them.
It made him curious whether there was another source of absolute confidence.
"Did you hide it with a formation? This place."
His words pierced the air, reaching the seventh disciple's ears.
A strange smile appeared on her lips.
"Yes. It’s the I Yeon Hyeol Yeong Jin. You probably haven't heard of it? It is the most profound technique of our sect. It has become increasingly solid over hundreds of years."
"Indeed."
It was said that the royal family had the blood of noble families flowing strongly within them.
To construct a city while avoiding their gaze? There was no way except through the arts or formations that dealt with the principles of all things.
Hyeol Yeom Gyo was famous for its blood techniques that had long entered the realm of sorcery.
It would not be strange if they protected the city with strange sorcery.
"I want to look around the outskirts."
"You want to find a way to break it?" The seventh disciple smiled brightly.
To Jeong Yeon-shin, sorcery was not an unknown realm.
He had already created a martial art that could break the blood technique.
It meant that the essence of sorcery had entered his perception.
Yet, the seventh disciple seemed to enjoy leading Jeong Yeon-shin, as if it were a pleasure to engrave her Bo Sin Gyeong in his eyes. 'She is underestimating me.' She had carried the weight of hundreds of years in her mouth.
It was only natural for her to have a confidence close to complacency, having lived safely within the main sect for so long.
It did not matter what kind of talent the blue master from the entrance to the city possessed.
The gazes of the Hyeol Yeom Gyo masters he had seen in the leader's hall.
There was another expression behind their looks, as if they were gazing at a precious object in their hands.
The I Yeon Hyeol Yeong Jin.
It was a formation of nature that could not be broken even by the Myeol Ma Cheong Gang Su.
Woong.
Jeong Yeon-shin confirmed the strangely rippling space at the outskirts of the village.
It was an astonishing mystery.
It was cut off from the outside.
Only the wind, twisted in a peculiar manner, moved freely in and out.
He heightened his senses with his innate perception.
He felt the energy waves emitted by the formation, dissecting them one by one. 'Are they planting energy?' Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes widened.
Rocks, grass, trees.
They had been bound together using some method, filled with true energy.
The strange arrangement caused a phenomenon close to concealment.
The entire village was hidden, enveloped in the formation of internal energy.
It was a harmony referred to as sorcery.
He had found a clue to supplement his insufficient power, thanks to the arrogance and complacency of the seventh disciple and her companions.
Bang! A blue lightning bolt struck.
A blue inspiration flickered in Jeong Yeon-shin's mind.
The lightning intertwined, beginning to form the skeleton of light.
It was the manual for operating true energy.
It was directly connected to three techniques: Myeol Ma Cheong Gang Su, Geom Ga, and the formation.
It expanded and rotated without pause.
"Isn't it magnificent? It’s the barrier of the heavens. Can you feel that it doesn’t matter whether your poison is a drug or not?" He had to hide his understanding from the chattering seventh disciple.
Jeong Yeon-shin tried to contain the blue light that was about to burst forth from his eyes, slightly closing them.
He aimed to appear despondent for a moment.
"This is why I can't trust the major sects...!" The emaciated figure of Heon Won-chang muttered.
He seemed unaware that the leader of Jong Nam Pa, Wi Ji-myo-hwa, was standing before him.
Her expression was grave.
"The Namgung clan... they put on a show for appearances. They acknowledged the achievements of the young hero from Seomyeo and granted a token to Heon Won, so it seems."
"If it weren't for the young lady, I wouldn't have received it! Isn't that clear? They are despicable!"
"......"
The two wanted two things: punishment for the Namgung clan and to track down the whereabouts of Ma Gwang-ik, the young hero.
Wi Ji-myo-hwa, who had to stay away due to the radius of Jeong Yeon-shin's sword technique, had clearly seen it.
She had witnessed Jeong Yeon-shin crossing the battlefield in a straight line, arriving right before the heads of the Namgung clan, while no one came to support him.
They had watched as the young swordsman, who had collapsed in the arms of the disciple, was taken away.
Had they intended to cut off the budding sprout that would become the royal family's divine sword? 'They clearly tried to kill a righteous hero.' Wi Ji-myo-hwa thought.
It was indeed a despicable act, even trusting the enemy's sword to attempt it.
However, rescuing Jeong Yeon-shin was even more urgent.
"We have sent a precious object to the main sect. Support will be on the way. Jong Nam Pa does not forget its debts. They have also sent aid to Shaolin and Hwasan, so some response will come in some form."
"...... I am very grateful."
Heon Won-chang replied with reddened eyes.
He had often expressed his indignation during this time.
Even now, twenty days had passed since the battle at Cheong Ya Valley.
The two had returned after rummaging through the landowners and the capital near Cheong Ya Valley.
Heon Won-chang had remained at the government office as a martial artist of the entrance to the city.
He had received news from senior martial artists.
"You were here."
Cheong Myung was the first to find them.
His expression had turned very cold.
It seemed a chill hung in the air around him.
"I have heard the circumstances. Wait. The martial world will come rushing in."
His tone was very stiff.
Wi Ji-myo-hwa, who had exchanged pleasantries with Cheong Myung, asked back, "When you say the martial world is coming rushing in...?"
"Martial artists from Shaolin, including the young master of the So Sin Seung, the disciples of Hwasan, and the martial artists who beg for a living under the permission of the government in Nam Jik Rye, have all been gathered. The martial aristocrats from Nam Jik Rye, Ho Gwang, Jiangxi, and Henan have also been summoned in large numbers. The rise of the demonic sect is also a matter of the nation. There is no justification to refuse."
Cheong Myung's blue eyes stared intently at Wi Ji-myo-hwa.
"You. You said you were the heir of Jong Nam Pa. If you want to build your reputation, there is no better opportunity than this. Do well."
"...... Even so, isn't it a hastily gathered force?" Wi Ji-myo-hwa said, her expression serious.
"Even if the heavens align, it is a problem. It does not seem that we have the strength to strike the enormous Hyeol Yeom Gyo."
Heon Won-chang, wanting to save Jeong Yeon-shin more than anyone, questioned coldly.
Even if the three factions joined together, they would only be a fraction of the main sect's strength.
The same went for the martial artists and martial officials of the martial world.
No matter how many numbers they had, the strength of a disciple was a different matter altogether.
Cheong Myung slowly shook his head.
"That degree of difference is meaningless."
"Why...?" Heon Won-chang asked, bewildered.
Cheong Myung fell silent for a moment.
His beautiful face was not as usual.
It was stiff, completely rigid.
He slowly parted his lips.
"The leader is coming."