The contest for dominance (3) Bang! The rebound from the martial technique was tremendous.
Jeong Yeon-shin immediately channeled his inner energy into his right arm's meridians.
The long twelve meridian pathways of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine surged with the firmness of Jeong Ga-dong-gong.
It was a move to prevent dislocation from the powerful aftermath.
Crack! Even so, he was pushed back.
The sensation beneath his feet felt rough, carving grooves into the dirt floor.
The tension storm that exploded in all directions stirred up the yellow dust, clouding his vision. 'As expected.' The sensation of the impact was shallow.
In that fleeting moment, the energy of the Seven Star Path had surged away with a swift new technique.
Jeong Yeon-shin had evaded the strike that came from close range.
It was a reaction as if he had anticipated it.
She was as agile as a clever maiden.
The Seven Star Path was clearly weaker than when it was whole.
The evasion had been a fraction too late.
However, it was not as weak as it appeared.
The sight of her being severely weakened was an exaggerated disguise.
She was still powerful.
Perhaps she intended to evoke pity.
"What is your scheme?" Jeong Yeon-shin said, gazing through the dust.
The figure of the Seven Star Path had retreated five steps away.
With a single gesture, a hot summer wind swept through, clearing his vision.
Long, flowing black hair accompanied by red eyes and lips that curved like a crescent moon were revealed.
"You've created a martial technique that didn't exist before, haven't you?" The Seven Star Path lightly touched her abdomen.
The red silk robe clung to her as if soaked in water.
She had failed to fully absorb Jeong Yeon-shin's tension.
This meant that her usual protective energy was momentarily breached.
The implications were significant.
She had gained the ability to deliver a strike that could penetrate even the black domain.
It would one day become a life-saving technique for Jeong Yeon-shin.
"Hitting is one thing. The issue is accuracy."
It was difficult to infuse speed and precision.
The signs of the technique's development were loud, and the flow of power was immense.
Jeong Yeon-shin tried to suppress his sense of achievement as he focused on the Seven Star Path.
The madman was speaking.
"Even though it wasn't a direct hit, it's still like this..."
A naive smile lingered on her lips.
"If you had hit me properly, I would have had a hard time surviving. Incredible!" She looked at him with a face filled with excitement.
It seemed as if her eye, opposite the black eye patch, sparkled with red.
"I see. What are you plotting?"
"You're asking something obvious. I'm trying to bring Taesa..."
She lowered her single eye slightly, trailing off.
Her attitude had changed.
In that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin felt the truth of the martial world.
There was no reason to think otherwise.
It was because he had grown stronger.
Namgung Hwa-shin was with him.
The term 'freedom' was merely a possession of the strong.
The stronger one was, the more dignified they became.
The truth of the martial world was clear.
The martial prowess had risen with the appearance of the Island Fairy.
The powerful aura radiated from the White Qilin.
The injured Seven Star Path was a force that was hard to subdue without injury.
Just like before, she could not recklessly attempt to kidnap him.
Jeong Yeon-shin made a resolution. 'I will end this during this martial journey.' It would be hard to see the Seven Star Path in such a state again.
He had to deal with her the moment she showed any sign of weakness.
Excluding the Sword Master, she was clearly the greatest future threat.
"My Taesa. Let's go together, okay?" The Seven Star Path said with a look of desperation.
It was almost a plea.
It was amusing to see someone who absorbed the vitality of others act like this.
Where had the top master of the sect who had captured him in the past gone? Jeong Yeon-shin observed her expression.
The center of her bright red lips was slightly raised.
It seemed she viewed the situation as a dilemma.
She found it hard to subdue Jeong Yeon-shin but had no intention of leaving.
Was she planning to cling to him like when they were in the main sect?
"Your blood energy."
He spoke.
Immediately, a flush appeared on the Seven Star Path's face.
"Huh?"
"I completed the technique. It's contained within my body."
Whoosh! As he operated the technique, the energy surged.
It was the moment he unleashed the Mara Great Blood Technique.
The intangible wave of energy began to burst forth from his entire body.
The calm atmosphere he originally possessed exploded into a powerful aura that enveloped Jeong Yeon-shin.
The sound was like a snake's hiss, adding to the mischief.
Ssssss— Jeong Yeon-shin's face remained calm.
There was not a trace of the low madness unique to blood energy.
The pure energy, known as the bloodline energy from the Blood Flame Sect, surrounded his body.
In an instant, the blue robe of the Fourth Technique appeared to be a pure blood robe.
He had fully completed the transformation of the technique while pondering the Fourth Technique.
He had only brought forth the murderous intent and explosiveness unique to blood energy.
It was a change that any master familiar with the Mara Great Blood Technique would feel.
"Ah..."
The Seven Star Path's exclamation was close to joy.
It was the moment she opened her mouth with a face flushed with excitement.
"It's the Hundred Character Technique. For every time you block my ambush, I will give you four characters."
Jeong Yeon-shin said quietly.
He was betting the martial technique on this.
He directed the ambush toward the disciple of the Blood Flame Sect.
"Namgung So-hyeop and I will move as we are. You must maintain a distance of at least three hundred paces. Do not approach any closer. The only one who can get close is me. If you disobey, I will take one of your arms. Even if I die, I can still take one of your limbs."
Jeong Yeon-shin's voice, while operating the blood energy, became rough.
Namgung Hwa-shin, who was beside him, thought to himself.
It sounded like the voice of a demon that had risen from the Buddhist Eight Hot and Eight Cold Hell. 'Namgung So-hyeop's mind is deep.
He is not acting recklessly at all.' Jeong Yeon-shin admired the character of the White Qilin.
Even in a situation where there was no other way, he was silently enduring his unreasonable words.
Even as a righteous martial artist, he felt grateful for it.
"What did you say?" The Seven Star Path laughed with an amused expression.
It was a declaration that she would attack unilaterally.
Accepting it was a strange suggestion.
Four characters out of a hundred.
It meant she would have twenty-five opportunities to deliver a fatal blow to a master above her.
Even if she were to ambush him, she would not be able to kill Jeong Yeon-shin.
Her mad obsession and past actions were proof of that.
Yet, if she tried to capture him clumsily, she would have to face the combined might of the Island Fairy and the White Qilin, who would disregard their own lives.
Now, even she was hesitant about that.
In her injured state, she might lose an arm.
It was like a snake trying to approach a curled-up hedgehog.
The initiative had shifted.
"If you accept, then move away now."
Jeong Yeon-shin said.
A faint smile lingered on the Seven Star Path's lips.
"You might give me a fake technique, you know?"
"I have no intention of playing tricks. Would a master of your caliber not feel any discomfort?"
"What if you don't ambush me?"
"You are no different from the other sects. There are those who do not understand the kindness of others. The grudge you created is yours. You will die by my hand."
He answered calmly.
In the martial world where one lives by the blade, he had been oppressed in his freedom.
He had to bear an unwanted position and live in constant tension.
He had spent over a month like that.
He had no intention of forgiving her.
She did not respond immediately.
After staring at Jeong Yeon-shin for a while, she slowly parted her lips.
"Four characters are too few. Six characters."
She immediately proposed a negotiation.
Her tone was light.
The atmosphere shifted.
A slight look of panic appeared on Namgung Hwa-shin's face.
Jeong Yeon-shin, standing side by side with her, tightened his grip on the sword he had placed on the table.
"You're quite the madman of the sect."
He muttered as Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.
"I'm not a merchant."
"Six characters."
"Five."
"Alright. I guess I'll get to taste my Taesa's blade to my heart's content?" The Seven Star Path smiled brightly.
Suddenly, a wind blew between the three of them.
The sun above seemed to have lost its original heat.
The aftermath of the unleashed blood energy was immense.
The trees lining the road began to lose their greenery.
The dry wind carried the energy, scattering the leaves aimlessly.
"..."
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly withdrew the Mara Great Blood Technique.
He was trading the martial technique and the threat to his life.
This too was a sight of the martial world.
"Go."
"I'll see you later."
The Seven Star Path's greeting was unnaturally calm, evoking a late sense of tension.
Three hundred paces was a delicate distance.
The moment a master began to approach, he could respond.
However, the Seven Star Path would also observe her companions with her refined techniques.
Sending a messenger or even dispatching a single letter would not be permitted.
Rustle.
Her pure blood robe fluttered red.
With a small sound of footsteps, she swiftly distanced herself with a light body technique.
Namgung Hwa-shin, who had been quietly observing the back of the Seven Star Path, spoke up.
"From the start, a storm has blown. If you try to return, you will immediately cross three hundred paces."
"That will likely be the case. It is a reasonable distance, so she would have accepted it."
"Your courage is remarkable. I thought we would have to settle things here."
"The sects are selfish. They are reluctant to fight unless it is a battle they can win. Even if we die, they would be willing to sacrifice one of that madman's limbs, so they complied."
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had experienced many hardships in a short time, spoke.
Namgung Hwa-shin nodded his head in agreement.
"However, do you really intend to strike first twenty times?"
"We cannot allow her to recover. If we do not capture her now, she will become a formidable opponent. We must strike while she cannot unleash her regenerative abilities. Of course, when I make my move..."
"Naturally, I must accompany you. Do not worry. I will gain experience alongside the disciple of the Blood Flame Sect."
Namgung Hwa-shin smiled as if it were fine.
For a moment, his eyes, facing Jeong Yeon-shin, were clear, sharing a bond as comrades.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
"This time, I believe we can return alive. The mission will succeed."
"Of course."
From the very first day of the mission, variables had arisen.
Thus began the strange journey through the martial world.
It had been seven days since Namgung Mi, the lord of Changling Flower, left her family home.
She had given the martial artists of the Changling Flower lineage the opportunity to accompany her.
It was a matter that required only a small gesture and a smile.
Six had followed her.
She did not bring any attendants.
It was because she anticipated a rough journey through the martial world. 'Too cumbersome.' It was of little concern.
She naturally took the martial artists of Changling Flower as her attendants.
The charm of a strong and beautiful direct descendant's smile was great.
The six elite martial artists took it upon themselves to handle the trivial tasks of the journey.
They regarded this trip as a mission to punish the unruly forces of the Yuhwang Province.
"Is it a martial contest or a life-and-death struggle? Truly rude and tragic."
"Do you think I would immediately rush to support without knowing who that brat is? It was a battlefield. It is only natural to assess the situation first."
"Hah! There is no law that states we must welcome the martial artists of Yuhwang Province!" They moved along with the family's steeds and soon arrived at Wuchang, a city with a relay station.
After passing through two more prefectures, they would reach Yangyang, where Yuhwang Province was located.
The Daebang faction, known for its exceptional intelligence, had a rough understanding of the behavior of the martial artists of Yuhwang Province.
They maintained the fact that they preferred the relay roads.
As soon as they entered the city, they moved according to their plan.
Bang! The wooden sign that read 'Wise Master Sect' shattered into pieces.
The sect name, meaning 'virtuous master,' was misleading.
In reality, it was a sect that plundered the common people under a beautiful facade.
"What kind of fools are you?!" The head of the sect, who had been shouting, lost his head to a single sword strike.
It was the icy strike of Namgung Mi, which froze even the rooftops.
Under the sun shining down like a curtain, the chill emanating from her body transformed into white mist.
"What the...?" The enemies hesitated.
The appearance of the fairy wrapped in cold ice seemed to transcend the mortal realm.
There was no one to oppose her.
The martial artists of the Namgung family were the same.
They were on a different level from the local sects.
With a flash of sword light, the members of the Wise Master Sect fell helplessly.
In less than half a shichen, they had been exterminated.
They immediately stepped back into the marketplace of Wuchang.
"Look here!" At a glance, those wearing high-quality martial robes emerged, covered in blood.
The fights among the martial artists were so loud that they spread quickly.
The faces of the people, mixed with fear and panic, widened in shock.
The martial artist of Changling Flower held up the head of the Wise Master Sect's leader.
"Here, the lord of Changling Flower, Namgung, has beheaded the leader of the unruly sect! The place where the Wise Master Sect stood will become a branch of the Namgung family, so you may rest assured and continue your livelihoods!"
"The Namgung family... the Namgung clan?"
"If it is the lord of Changling Flower... is she not a part of the renowned Nine Phoenixes?"
"With that beauty and aura. No wonder..."
The martial artists of Wuchang, who had been observing the situation, whispered among themselves.
The common people, who had been anxious about getting caught up in the power struggles of the martial world, also heard.
People began to gather.
The commotion did not last long.
The astonished gasps quickly turned into cheers.
It was said that the Namgung family, known as the number one family in the righteous martial world, would personally protect them.
After repeated famines, food had become scarce.
Now that the violent actions of some martial artists were beginning to affect the lives of the people, what mattered most was the safety right before their eyes.
"What is happening?"
"The Namgung family! Truly, truly thank you!"
"The lady is truly beautiful. She is like a fairy..."
People of all ages praised the Namgung family.
Namgung Mi responded to the cheers mixed with the white sunlight with a beautiful smile.
The cheers grew even louder.
"My brother should have been here."
She murmured with a smiling face.
Namgung Se-jin, the Blue Qilin, could not come.
The position of the lord was heavy.
He could not leave recklessly and was waiting for the official schedule of the martial contest against Yuhwang Province. 'Easy.' Namgung Mi chuckled playfully.
She had easily grasped the hearts of the people of Wuchang while welcoming the royal family's envoys.
It was a trivial matter that did not require much effort from her family.
She simply disliked the Yuhwang Province, which roamed the martial world alone, shouting for the people's livelihood.
Everyone would support her.
It was only right.
At that moment, someone shouted, "You wicked and ruthless scoundrels! How could you kill innocent servants?!" A boy was running away quickly.
His speed was remarkable, and there was a strange dignity in his demeanor.
Killing servants? The crowd buzzed.
Public sentiment could change this quickly.
Since it was an event of a family wielding power in the secular world, it was even more so.
The sects that practiced the way in the mountains or the Yuhwang Province, which raised the banner of helping the people, would be followed by suspicious eyes. 'Insignificant beings.' Namgung Mi's lips curled up even more.
It was a pure white smile.
When the third-rate martial artists, who could hardly sense her aura, fled, she had refrained from killing many.
Among them, there might have been those who had not practiced martial arts.
It might not have been her but the martial artists of Changling Flower who had struck them down. —Keep quiet.
She sent a short signal.
It was when a martial artist of Changling Flower, who had nodded slightly, stepped forward.
At a distance where they could no longer hear, two people whispered in the corner of an inn.
"Namgung So-hyeop."
"You did well. To deal with my sister, you must do this. She has been through a lot since childhood. I did not think she would remain quiet at home, but it was worth waiting a day at the relay station. It seems I made a good choice to buy extra clothes. It was also a great help that we moved as if we were being chased by the Seven Star Path."
"I don't think there is a reason to delay the martial contest."
"It seems her temperament has changed to be quite difficult..."
"I sensed uncontained yin energy."
"Indeed. There is no way for her martial achievement to change drastically, so it seems she has consumed a powerful elixir. If she intends to unleash her energy, it would be difficult to approach her..."
"Ten seconds."
"Huh?"
"It might be enough in ten seconds."
The boy said.