He was disregarded by a boy who was still very young.
A woman who dared to call him "you" upon their first meeting.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought to himself that a noblewoman from a prestigious family with high martial arts skills would never tolerate such disrespect.
"I am indeed the mother of that child. My name is Zhu Yan-zheng," she said, smiling gently.
The sudden change in her expression was somewhat shocking. 'Zhu family?' The elegance of her demeanor brought forth a strange assumption.
Jeong Yeon-shin immediately asked, "Are you of royal blood?"
"Indeed," she replied.
Even after hearing her answer, he found it hard to comprehend.
The father of Ma Se-in was also a distant relative.
If he were a man outstanding enough to marry into the royal family, he would have been famous by now.
He could not guess what kind of circumstances had led to this.
"You seem confused. Very few know of my origins. Please understand," she said, her hair adorned with jade ornaments.
Her round ears were distinctly Han.
This indicated a distant royal lineage.
The last emperor to take a concubine was the founding emperor.
It was said he had more than forty consorts.
The direct descendants of the royal family were different.
They did not take secondary wives or concubines.
They only accepted one noblewoman as their spouse.
In contrast, many descendants without ties to the royal authority were free to have multiple wives and concubines.
Zhu Yan-zheng seemed to be the daughter of such a person.
"I am honored to meet you, Madam Zhu."
He acknowledged her but did not bow.
It was said that once a woman marries out, she becomes an outsider.
Even if she bore a trace of the founding emperor's blood, that was the case.
She was no longer a person of the Ming royal family in the Forbidden City.
If she had married outside of Beijing, she was already a person of the Ma family.
This meant she was a member of the martial world.
"What a bold one you are," Zhu Yan-zheng said, her lips curling into a smile.
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly raised his head.
Her reaction was unexpected.
He had thought she was someone desperate to protect her son's inheritance rights.
Was he mistaken?
The servants around them did not act recklessly either.
They quietly took in Jeong Yeon-shin with their eyes.
"Please sit comfortably. This banquet is for you," she said.
"Then, I thank you."
He briefly acknowledged her and took a seat at the banquet table.
Ma Se-in quietly followed and sat beside his mother.
Musicians entered.
Perhaps due to the spacious hall, they began to play from a distance.
The elegant melodies spread softly, filling the atmosphere.
"I wanted to test your character," Zhu Yan-zheng began.
"It has been twenty years since I left Beijing, and yet, here I am. Sometimes, the authority ingrained in my behavior may hurt the feelings of others, so I hope you can be generous in your understanding."
"..."
Her words were unconventional.
Jeong Yeon-shin fell silent for a moment. 'What is this?' It was vastly different from what he had imagined.
What could her intentions be?
As the sound of the guqin and the flute created a gentle melody, those seated at the banquet table fell into a brief silence.
Only the sound remained.
The world of masters was different.
Jeong Yeon-shin felt the subtle threads of scrutiny directed at him.
He possessed a sense beyond the level of martial arts, allowing him to barely detect it.
He chose not to show any signs of discomfort.
"I am curious about your purpose," Jeong Yeon-shin asked openly.
Both sides were hiding their intentions.
However, it was the inviting side that seemed to be at a loss.
There was no reason for him to bow down.
A smile appeared on Zhu Yan-zheng's lips.
"I am accustomed to speaking in riddles since birth, so the straightforwardness of martial artists always feels strange to me. Many have praised you. They say you are a pillar of the Yihwang family... It seems to be true. They say Ma Guang-ik's disciple is exceptionally brave."
"..."
"I have heard that your martial arts are quite remarkable. Perhaps there is no one of your age who can compare. I am curious about many things. How is it that someone from the Jeong family, whose martial arts are not particularly impressive, possesses such skills? And..."
She reached for a white jade bottle and smiled.
"What was your reason for rejecting the position of heir during the ceremony?"
Jeong Yeon-shin gathered much information from Zhu Yan-zheng's few words.
He confirmed two things at this gathering.
The first was indeed about martial arts.
Many were curious about the origins of the skills of the disciple.
It was well known.
The reason he had risen to the blue rank in the shortest time at such a young age was likely due to this.
Jeong Yeon-shin had already demonstrated his martial arts several times in front of everyone, and none of them were from the Yihwang family.
This was also true before he received martial arts teachings from the lord of the Yihwang family.
The recent stories of his missions would likely raise more questions.
It was due to the appearance the lord of the Yihwang family had shown upon his return. 'Why did you bring it all the way to my home...?' He felt more gratitude than resentment, making it hard for him to complain inwardly.
And the second.
This was likely the main point.
"You asked about my intentions," Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly.
"I believe I made it clear that day. My aspirations lie within the martial world and my home, so I do not wish to be tied down by the prestige of my maternal family. If it is Ma Se-in, he will surely become a great head of the family."
"Your character is quite bold," Zhu Yan-zheng said, covering her mouth as she laughed.
It was a graceful sight.
Jeong Yeon-shin gazed at her intently.
She referred to the Yihwang family as her home.
A distant royal family had fully settled into the Ma family, taking on the role of the matriarch.
This was rather favorable.
There was no need to make an enemy out of this.
Drawing a line would suffice.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke as if he had not finished his words.
"Therefore, I hope to avoid entanglements with your family in the future. What I desire is a complete severance. This would help in avoiding unnecessary conflicts."
"..."
A brief silence fell.
The smile that had been on Zhu Yan-zheng's face vanished.
Ma Se-in's expression also stiffened.
In the banquet hall, only the sound of instruments flowed softly.
The reaction was strange. 'Shouldn't they be the ones making demands?' Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
Ignoring the atmosphere, he continued speaking.
"My maternal family has already severed ties with me, have they not? Please answer me. Before you publicly speak and tarnish the honor of the Ma family."
He deliberately exaggerated his words.
Yet, Zhu Yan-zheng's face only showed confusion.
"... How can this be? Do you believe that the martial arts you received from the lord will guarantee your power? You are mistaken. The Yihwang family is not such a place."
"I intend to live entirely as Ma Guang-ik's martial artist, and I simply wish for the name of the Yihwang family not to be attached to the title of 'disciple.' Wouldn't that be a pleasant thing for you, Madam Zhu?"
"..."
"You speak of difficult matters so calmly," Zhu Yan-zheng said slowly.
"Why is that?"
"You have already stepped into the political struggles of your maternal family. The moment you revealed your talents while carrying the blood of the Ma family, this was bound to happen. Those who say you should be made the heir, those who argue that you should be used as a sword to elevate the name of your maternal family, and those of us who do not wish for you..."
She smiled faintly.
"In any case, it is true. The moment you sever ties with your maternal family, a great storm will arise regarding responsibility. If you wish to avoid backlash, you will have no choice but to do whatever it takes."
"How amusing."
"Weren't you the direct disciple of the lord? Child, your existence is already that significant. Even if you speak of severance, your maternal family will cling to your hem."
"It is hard to remain in this position."
Jeong Yeon-shin stood up.
He turned away rudely, yet no one scolded him.
In the realm of politics, they were clearly masters.
The unwavering performance of the musicians accompanied him as he left.
Days passed.
Jeong Yeon-shin focused on his training in the Ma Guang-ik's hall.
During this time, the faces of Zhu Yan-zheng and the elders of the Ma family filled his mind.
Their intentions were not shallow.
They had initiated a type of conflict he had never experienced before.
Those in power were doing everything they could to entangle him.
It was a significant problem. 'What should I do...?' He lay on his bed, lost in thought.
Originally, he had intended to provoke them to become enemies he could not associate with.
He thought that if he experienced the martial arts of a prestigious family in the process, that would be enough.
But now, it was different.
Their cunning far surpassed Jeong Yeon-shin's.
They were prepared to endure anything.
A completely different kind of conflict.
Those of high status were obstructing him.
This was indeed what Jeong Yeon-shin had feared.
The time he would be drawn into this would far exceed the support he would gain from accepting the Yihwang family.
He briefly considered revealing his constitution and lifespan to his maternal grandfather. 'I can never trust him.' He immediately dismissed the thought from his mind.
He had grown up as a child who did not belong to the Jeong family.
His maternal family had not reached out to him.
The time of his growth had been like that.
Once he stepped into the martial world, he witnessed the actions of the Huangbo family.
They claimed to be the pillars of the righteous martial world while wielding power for personal gain.
What about the Namgung family, which was called the number one righteous family? They had plotted to kill Jeong Yeon-shin, who had helped them.
There was more.
In the Blood Flame Sect, he had seen the depths of humanity.
It was simply an abyss. ...
Distrust.
Only distrust remained. 'Are they targeting the lord of the Yihwang family?' His maternal grandfather was a power-hungry man.
Even after severing ties with his daughter, he tried to treat her son as a grandson.
He had done so out of utility.
He did not know how to shake Jeong Yeon-shin's weaknesses.
'Should I meet the lord? Would it be acceptable to create a debt instead? I need to build up my merits.' The sixteen-year-old boy, a master in his own right, was in deep contemplation.
He burrowed into his bedding.
Even the dim glow of the sunset was dazzling.
The room of Ma Guang-ik was truly his sanctuary.
Here, he could lay down the burdens of a martial artist without worrying about prying eyes.
He did not have to force himself to ignore the life that had a set time.
Slowly, he curled up his body, just as he always did.
He felt the orange glow of the sun's edge in a daze.
How long had it been like this?
"Jeong So-hyeop! Jeong So-hyeop!" A familiar voice jolted him awake.
It was Heon Won-chang's voice.
A loud aura surged toward the hall of Ma Guang-ik.
He could also feel the presence of many seniors.
Those who had seen off the lord and Jeong Yeon-shin had returned.
Creak.
Three people entered immediately.
Heon Won-chang, Cheong Myeong, and Baek Mi-ryeo.
Jeong Yeon-shin, already sitting up, smiled faintly.
They were comrades who had come to rescue him from the Blood Flame Sect.
He welcomed them gratefully.
"What brings you here?" Heon Won-chang, who had been observing him closely, suddenly asked.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
What kind of wind had blown them here? If he could not even trust these people, there was no need to cling to the fruits of his labor.
He did not need a wine cup.
The tranquil air of dusk replaced the need for wine and snacks.
The moment Jeong Yeon-shin began to speak, Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo raised their internal barriers significantly.
It was a qi barrier.
The sound could not escape.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke of his family matters, revealed his constitution, shared the remaining time, and mentioned the Yihwang family.
"..."
A silence as calm as the setting sun followed.
Before long, the expressions on Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo's faces faded.
Heon Won-chang silently shed tears.
The lord of the Yihwang family sniffed once and said, "Let's first go to the Ma family. I have thought of a good plan."
"Yes?"
"Listen carefully."
He said this and whispered for quite some time.
Even with the strong qi barrier of the two blue masters, it was so.
It seemed as if they were plotting something.
Upon listening, it truly was so.
"Let's go!" Heon Won-chang, wiping his eyes with his white sleeve, stood up.
The other three also rose.
At the same time, Cheong Myeong patted Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder, and Baek Mi-ryeo hugged him from behind.
Without needing to say more, he understood.
It was the concern of comrades who shared their lives, the understanding of masters who took blades as their companions.
Jeong Yeon-shin, feeling awkward, followed Heon Won-chang's back.
For a moment, he truly felt like the youngest.
The four of them soon arrived at the residence of the Yihwang family.
Two guards stepped forward.
"Please state your identity and purpose."
"No. It seems the disciple is here. You may open the door."
Heon Won-chang shouted loudly, ignoring the guards.
"Yan-zheng─!" His voice, filled with internal energy, shook the evening air.
It was said that very few knew of Zhu Yan-zheng's origins.
There must be some private matters involved.
However, this was not something the masters of Ma Guang-ik needed to consider.
"After all, we are under the lord. Even the crown prince is flustered, so what of a married distant royal family..."
Cheong Myeong said with a sly smile, tapping the ground.
The fact that the Cheong An Sword was a pure-blood noble family was already well known.
"What is this!"
"Do you know who you are calling?" The guards rushed over with bewildered faces.
Heon Won-chang unleashed a silent technique.
He brushed off their hands and repeatedly shouted Zhu Yan-zheng's name.
An unexpected commotion broke out in the night.
Jeong Yeon-shin, slightly turning his body, turned away as if he were not part of the group.