The incident of the deathly martial arts of the Myeolmun sect was a significant event.
Recently, it had been the talk of the town in Muchang.
The influence of the martial arts sects that held regional power extended even to the common people.
The situation was even more dire with the Sa faction.
Those who had settled in the city were the ones who increased the burden of taxes on the citizens by three or four times.
They collected protection fees under the pretense of maintaining public order.
They did not discriminate between coins, silver, daily necessities, or even people.
As the famine continued, the authority of the government rapidly declined.
For the topic of Muchang's streets to change, it meant that ordinary events would not suffice.
"Blood Demon?"
"Keep your voice down. I told you, it's not just a Blood Demon. That warrior from the Namgung family took care of them in an instant..."
"That makes sense. There are rumors that a noble bloodline of the Sa faction is involved. If Muwi is that capable, it could very well be true. Be careful of your neck. You never know when you might become a sacrifice for their blood arts."
In a corner of the marketplace, four or five people gathered, whispering among themselves.
"Ah... it seems the nights will become quiet. I should just stay home as the sun sets."
"You might have to do that for a while."
"Quiet...!"
One middle-aged man whispered in shock, as if he had exhaled his surprise through his breath.
From a distance, the surroundings were growing quiet.
Three figures passed through the street.
Among them, a woman stood out.
With skin as white as jade and dressed in deep blue attire, she looked like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.
Everyone present recognized her as a renowned martial artist.
She was the leader of the Namgung family, known for her beauty, martial prowess, and achievements.
"So they are..."
Someone muttered.
Rumors had spread widely.
The tale of Namgung Mi, who had fallen to a lone state after losing her guards to the noble of the Blood Flame Sect.
It was said that Baek Girin, Namgung Hwa-shin, and the Seongyeo Jeong Yeon-shin had come to protect her in a life-and-death resolution.
The martial artists of Muchang were said to be in awe of their bravery.
The outstanding newcomers of the Yip Hwang Province could not help but draw attention.
If they did not meet an unfortunate end, they would surely become top-tier martial artists in the Jianghu.
"Did you say her alias is Seongyeo?" Namgung Mi suddenly spoke.
Her tone was casual, as if looking down from above.
It seemed she no longer cared about the outside gaze.
Perhaps she knew there was nothing she could do.
Jeong Yeon-shin did not respond.
He had already shared a rough bond with her.
The boy was not shameless enough to casually answer someone who did not know his true face.
Moreover, he was about to die soon.
He had no desire to engage in conversation.
"Now it seems everything is provoking my mood?" Namgung Mi said, her lips curling slightly.
There was a relaxed demeanor in her posture as she stepped lightly.
The deep blue fabric of her attire flowed like a royal garment.
She must have known that the term 'protection' was merely a pretext, and in reality, she was close to being a captive of Yip Hwang Province.
"..."
Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at her.
It seemed she was born that way.
She had grown up like a royal of Namjigye.
Due to her bloodline from the Namgung direct line, she had built her own solid world.
Despite experiencing great turmoil, her attitude towards the world remained unchanged.
The fact that the mask of the pure-blooded evil spirit was Jeong Yeon-shin was something even the average martial artists of Yip Hwang Province would find hard to recall.
'Insignificant.' The boy thought.
How would he appear in the eyes of Namgung Mi, who looked down upon him with her innate arrogance? From what he had experienced, it seemed she regarded him as nothing more than a trivial matter that had triggered the life-and-death resolution between Yip Hwang and Namgung.
'There’s no need to reveal myself.
My identity is useful for other missions as well.' Jeong Yeon-shin maintained an indifferent expression.
He did not treat Namgung Mi as a person.
The only one who appeared noticeably uncomfortable was Namgung Hwa-shin, who had witnessed the words and actions of his half-sister.
"Namgung Mi. Mind your manners. Jeong So-hyeop is the direct disciple of the Lord of our clan. He holds a status as noble as yours."
"Our Hwa-shin has become more skilled at jokes than martial arts," Namgung Mi said, her lips curling upward.
"Is a disciple of a powerful being who lives in misery considered noble? Unless the meaning of nobility has become a joke."
"What?"
"How long will the Lord of Yip Hwang stay above the clouds? The martial artists of Jianghu are not fools. The Huangbo family, the Blood Flame Sect, and even our clan. Where will it end? Do you think the Palga and the Shibcheong will just sit and wait for such arrogance?"
"..."
Namgung Hwa-shin fell silent with a serious expression.
To Jeong Yeon-shin, he appeared very soft.
Perhaps it was due to having grown up as the leader of the Black Abyss, indoctrinated with loyalty to the arts.
It was frustrating to see him falter in a small argument while facing the enemy of his mother.
Namgung Mi turned her head with a smirk, glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"Kid, you too. You haven't received the true martial arts in full, have you? Those related to the royal family would never give everything away. What difference is there between you and us, who rely solely on blood? Pathetic half-breed."
"The term Palga sounds strange," Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly.
"What?"
"It’s now the Seventh Family. No, perhaps the Sixth Family sounds better. What do you think? After all, they are all bound to diminish easily."
"You are now..."
It seemed she had not anticipated such a retort.
Namgung Mi's eyes widened in surprise, and she laughed dismissively.
Jeong Yeon-shin quietly interrupted her.
"Maintain the meaning of a formal duel. Even if the character of your Namgung family is lowly, the reason we show respect is that the level of our martial arts depends on our opponent. Is there no weight to someone who would fight alongside me for life and death? How absurd is that?"
"..."
"If you didn’t understand, feel free to chatter as you wish. It only means that your capacity is limited."
As Jeong Yeon-shin finished speaking, he turned his head again.
He caught a glimpse of Namgung Mi's face, which was twisted in anger, but he thought only that the conversation had dragged on too long.
She was not worth more than ten breaths of time.
"A half-breed talking about capacity?" Namgung Mi retorted with a sneer, but her mouth fell silent for a while.
Even if she behaved arrogantly and without reason, she was still the daughter of a prestigious family in Jianghu.
It seemed she had no words to say to someone who spoke of status.
Afterward, her expression changed slightly when looking at Jeong Yeon-shin.
Though her attitude remained haughty as if looking down on him, Jeong Yeon-shin occasionally sensed a hint of self-reflection in her demeanor.
Namgung Mi, the leader of the Namgung family.
What kind of feeling had she received? For a moment, she recalled the mask of the evil spirit but then dismissed the thought.
The pure-blooded aristocrats and the Ma Gwang-ik Seongyeo were different.
'Even her tone is like that.
It wasn't a provocation.' He thought it was nothing to worry about.
Meanwhile, the boy suddenly apologized to Namgung Hwa-shin.
"What I said about Namgung..."
"No, it's fine. I feel relieved in my own way," Namgung Hwa-shin said cheerfully, waving his hand.
Both he and Namgung Mi ignored her scoff.
Thus, a peculiar group was formed.
The half-siblings of the Namgung family, Jeong Yeon-shin, and even the distant figure of the red-eyed Chilsado.
Their relationship would only last until the life-and-death duel against the Namgung family.
Namgung Mi and Chilsado had to die.
However, the winds of the Jianghu were said to be merciless.
It was possible that not just the two, but all four of them might perish.
'Chilsado, Cheonggirin.' Jeong Yeon-shin recalled his two main objectives.
He hoped that he and Namgung Hwa-shin would complete their mission safely.
As they reached the Namgung family’s location in Namjigye, they had no choice but to pass through Hwangju.
The route of the relay station dictated it.
It was the only path leading from the land of the Hohwang Province to Namjigye.
The group entered a large inn.
"It would be better to rest here for a while and then continue our journey. It seems troublesome rumors are spreading."
"They said once we pass this road, we will reach Hwijoo. That would be good," Jeong Yeon-shin replied to Namgung Hwa-shin as they walked toward an empty table.
Namgung Mi and Namgung Hwa-shin followed closely behind.
Jeong Yeon-shin and Namgung Mi sat side by side at a table where all four gathered.
Namgung Hwa-shin sat opposite them.
It was an intentional arrangement.
Jeong Yeon-shin trusted the eyes of Namgung Hwa-shin, who had trained in the family’s martial arts for a long time.
The sharp gaze of the white giraffe scrutinized his blood-related sister closely.
If he moved carelessly, he would be ready to draw his sword immediately.
Namgung Mi, however, seemed unconcerned.
After ordering food from the waiter, she stared at the sutra of the Diamond Sutra that Jeong Yeon-shin had taken out.
"Buddhist scriptures? So you are a Buddhist?" Jeong Yeon-shin did not engage, as he always did.
From here, they were close to Hwijoo.
It meant they were within the influence of the Namgung family.
The news of the duel must have spread more widely than in any other region.
It meant they had to be wary of variables.
Even this inn was already bustling.
"What a prosperous time, a prosperous time. Martial artists from all over Jianghu are gathering here."
"It’s the duel between the Yip Hwang and Namgung families. Where else can we see the martial arts of such noble martial artists?"
"I can’t believe the leader of the Divine Sword Sect and the head of the Namgung family are really going to clash. Until I see it with my own eyes, I’ll probably feel this way."
"Namgung must win. If Yip Hwang Province wins..."
"The waters of Hwangju will surely be shaken. For our trading group to survive, stability is best."
It seemed to be a common topic of conversation here.
There was no reason to speak loudly as if to be heard by the martial artists of Yip Hwang Province.
Since it was a usual conversation, all sorts of discussions reached Jeong Yeon-shin's ears.
Those who had already seen the martial attire of Jeong Yeon-shin and Namgung Hwa-shin fell silent.
Those who had not were chattering away.
"It hasn’t been long since the young master of Namgung revealed his sword, has it? They say his opponent is Seongyeo, a latecomer. He made a great contribution during the Blood Flame Sect incident."
"Isn’t this a duel to determine the pinnacle of Jianghu? I’m curious which side will prove to be the true latecomer."
"The young master is indeed a young master. How can he be judged by the term latecomer?"
Namgung Mi, who was sitting next to Jeong Yeon-shin, smiled smoothly as she listened to the conversation.
She turned her head slightly to look at Jeong Yeon-shin, laughing softly, and said with a faint smile.
"What they say isn’t entirely wrong. In your eyes, which only see the immediate, our Namgung family may seem no different from the Sa faction. However, at least to the common people, we are indeed a righteous faction without equal in the world. When there is a flood, we distribute food for relief, and when the Sa faction’s scoundrels cause trouble, the warriors of Namgung step in."
"..."
"With the level of a latecomer, you cannot withstand the imperial sword form of the direct line of the family. Moreover, my brother has trained to a level that makes it hard to predict the form of the sword. Isn’t that a sufficient reason for your defeat? Furthermore, our Namgung family has done nothing for the common people..."
Namgung Mi said with a faint smile.
"It means you can comfortably close your eyes beneath my brother's sword."
"Isn’t it tiring to talk? Such meaningless chatter."
At Jeong Yeon-shin's indifferent reply, her smile deepened.
The expression on her white face was strange.
"Or..."
"…?"
"It might be good to surrender first and throw yourself to the main family. I’ll let you wash my feet. I’m serious."
Washing feet.
It was a phrase Jeong Yeon-shin had uttered when pretending to be a noble of the Blood Flame Sect.
'Am I being tested?' Or was it just meaningless provocation? As Jeong Yeon-shin pondered the intent behind her words, suddenly—
Whoosh!
A sharp wind, like dozens of blades, rushed in.
It was a black wind carrying the form of a person.
Jeong Yeon-shin and Namgung Hwa-shin reacted to the astonishing speed.
Instead of drawing their swords, they activated their martial arts.
A truly powerful energy seemed ready to tear their bodies apart.
However, the intruder did not target them.
Bang!
With hair as dark as ebony, the figure glided through the air with a transparent sheen.
A hand, slicing through the air like a swift sword, grasped both of Namgung Mi's cheeks.
Her fingers were as white as hers.
In that motion, she lifted Namgung Mi into the air, radiating a wave of overwhelming martial prowess.
"You."
The red lips of Chilsado curved into a smile.
"What did you say?"