It was at that moment, lying on a high tree and gazing at the window, that the Seventh Sage clearly saw and heard.
The voice of a trivial being approached with a distinct tone.
It was due to the sensitivity of the Blood Art's perception.
He had cast a spell to capture even the faintest breath of the small sect leader.
His sharpened hearing was absorbing everything around him.
"Submitting first and throwing yourself to the main family wouldn't be bad. I'll just wipe my feet. I mean it."
The voice of the lowly Namgung mixed-blood sullied his ears.
He took a step forward.
It was a movement made without thought.
He had to punish someone who did not know their place.
As always, the movements of the Seventh Sage were executed the moment he decided.
Wrapped in the raging wind of the protective technique, he burst through the entrance of the inn in one go.
Before long, he was slowly lifting the cheek of the Namgung scion, gripping it tightly.
The sensation of the powder on his face was utterly disgusting.
He could not frown.
For the boy who would create a unique divine art was looking at him.
He forced a smooth smile.
"You."
He felt the cold gaze of the young Taesa, which always excited him.
The Seventh Sage thought, "My small and precious Taesa, your dignity is my prestige."
"What did you say?" He asked the Namgung mixed-blood, whose face he was holding.
Namgung Mi could not answer.
With wide eyes, she only let out breaths filled with pain.
Silence fell over the inn.
The fragments of the broken door clattered loudly, scattering about.
The appearance of the Seventh Sage was that sudden.
His unique presence made it even more so.
The explosion of energy that rushed in with the new technique was tremendous.
"……."
All eyes in the inn turned to Jeong Yeon-sin and his group.
It was a place where many were discussing the Namgung and the entrance.
Many seemed to recognize the Namgung's martial attire at once.
Waves of surprise spread.
"Is that Namgung?" "With that blue and that age……."
"More than that, that, that……!" A martial master who had raised their perception to the extreme was a rare existence.
There was none in this inn.
However, the power of the Seventh Sage intimidated people regardless of their level of perception.
It naturally exuded a chilling aura that seemed to penetrate to the bone.
It was a characteristic of a powerful martial master.
"That outfit is bright red."
Jeong Yeon-sin thought.
The red robe covering the Seventh Sage was clearly of pure bloodline.
It was strange for a high-level master of the Blood Flame Sect to disguise themselves.
It would have been more fitting to hide their presence with a refined protective technique.
"There is no other choice."
They had to be driven away.
Even if the pure bloodline did not bear the mark of the Blood Flame Sect, it had to be done.
He and Namgung Hwa-sin were nominally part of Namgung Mi's group.
"If they want to carry the justification of the martial arts competition……."
The boy exchanged glances with Namgung Hwa-sin.
The exchange of gazes happened in an instant.
At that moment, "Hoo……!" A groan mixed with breath escaped from Namgung Mi.
The fingers of the Seventh Sage pressed harder against her cheek.
It looked as if he was torturing her.
It seemed that an unseen technique was already targeting Namgung Mi's blood channels.
"You are not answering."
Just like his calm tone, there was no change in the Seventh Sage's face.
The small smile on his face was terrifying.
Even his silky black hair and divine red eyes approached the appearance of a seductress.
"……."
The inn had completely sunk into silence.
With the strength of a master of that level, it would take only a moment to distort her face.
Jeong Yeon-sin changed his mind.
If Namgung Mi died here, the responsibility would fall on Namgung.
He had to persuade the Seventh Sage, whose mind was hard to read.
He immediately sent a message.
"What are you doing?" No answer came back.
It was no different from Namgung Mi.
Jeong Yeon-sin stared at the Seventh Sage.
She was showing only the side of her face without turning her gaze to him.
However, it seemed that the hand gripping Namgung Mi's face was no longer applying pressure.
It meant she was listening.
"Disgusting blood demon. I can't read your intentions."
The boy placed his hand on the sword of Namgung and slightly lifted his right heel.
It was a common stance for drawing a sword.
The internal energy was different.
The moment he activated the energy of Jeongga Donggong, a solemn aura wrapped around him.
The energy also surged from Namgung Hwa-sin, who took a similar stance with a serious face.
A gentle breeze arose in the room.
It even contained killing intent.
"It was a promise made in the name."
Jeong Yeon-sin spoke again through the message.
"You have broken it right before my eyes. Three hundred pieces have become one."
"……."
"I am very disappointed, Seventh Sage."
At that moment, the shoulders of the Seventh Sage shrank.
It was an unbelievable sight.
In an instant, the delicate figure hidden behind the overwhelming energy came fully into view.
The pure bloodline did not shine in the attire of the Heavenly Silk Sect.
"Is it Heo Cho?" Jeong Yeon-sin calmly looked for an opening.
He barely suppressed the impulse to strike.
If he rushed in carelessly, he would be countered.
Was the noble sage of the Blood Flame Sect deceiving him? He almost failed to continue the next prompt.
"Are you suggesting we disregard the promise of the martial arts exchange?"
"……."
"There are twelve seconds left in the agreement of the Mara Blood Art and the strike. You mean to cut everything off with your own hands? Your current behavior suggests so."
"No……."
The Seventh Sage muttered faintly.
Her head even tilted slightly downwards.
Jeong Yeon-sin's brows furrowed.
It felt very unfamiliar.
It was also quite disgusting, like Namgung Mi.
How many heads had perished at the hands of that author, and it was a mockery of them.
How much blood must have been shed to cultivate such powerful blood art? He was angry at the absurdity.
The energy that rose from Jeongga Donggong passed coldly over the back of his neck.
It was the intention of the Seventh Sage.
From the level of the martial arts realm, she could be called a sage.
"The opening is blatant. Can I kill her here?" Jeong Yeon-sin was already raising the energy of Ma Gwang-gyeol.
Translucent threads arose from within him.
Invisible strands transformed into the trajectory of his mental sword path.
The sharp lines emerged from his mind and stretched out, but at that moment, they crumbled helplessly before the Seventh Sage's body.
It meant that no strike from the Gwanghwa Sword Technique could deliver an effective blow in one hit.
A feeling came from the realm of intuition.
"I need to join forces with the Namgung scion."
The white-haired Namgung Hwa-sin understood Jeong Yeon-sin's senses.
There was no need to discuss the order of the strikes.
With their current skills, they could fully match each other.
If every strike against the Seventh Sage was blocked, they had to create variables with a quick exchange of a few seconds first.
It was the moment Jeong Yeon-sin was about to draw his sword.
"Because of this."
The smile vanished from the Seventh Sage's lips as she spoke briefly.
With a single motion, she turned Namgung Mi's body and seized her neck.
It was in an instant.
She slammed Namgung Mi's head onto the table.
It flowed as naturally as a stream.
Bang! The table and her forehead collided violently.
The vibration was tremendous, and it did not end with just one hit.
The gesture of striking down carried a sense of malice.
It seemed as if the gazes of the crowd were not even in her mind.
Bang! Bang! Sounds like the wind escaping from Namgung Mi's lungs continuously escaped from her mouth.
She was also a master who had cultivated martial arts.
She did not lose consciousness immediately.
Each time she collided and rose, her breath sounded like she was gasping for air.
"Come in and see."
It appeared to Jeong Yeon-sin as a provocation from the Seventh Sage.
Without further delay, he operated the Gwanghwa Sword Technique.
The energy of Jeongga Donggong instantly took on the essence of brilliance.
Woong! It was the moment when the flow of energy from his entire body responded before even half a breath had passed.
A white sword light erupted from his right hand.
At the same time, the Gwanghwa Sword Technique burst forth from his waist like rays of light.
Swaak! He had expected this.
There was no sensation of being caught.
The Seventh Sage immediately stepped back, executing her footwork.
Before evading, she had thrown Namgung Mi onto the table.
No one paid attention to the collapsed Namgung Mi.
"That's enough for now."
Jeong Yeon-sin, while keeping the Seventh Sage in his sight, casually swept his gaze over the table.
He saw Namgung Mi with a red forehead, her eyes slightly blurred.
"Huh……."
"Just now, was that a sword strike? I heard there are several promising late-stage talents in Namgung."
"It truly is a feast of refined martial arts!" The crowd exclaimed as if watching a spectacle from the next house.
Even the fact that he had just drawn his sword did not seem strange to their eyes.
The blue-clad master of the Namgung sect, who had touched the sword technique, was seen exuding a formidable aura and engaging in a battle of energy.
It was hard to speculate otherwise.
"At least that's a relief."
Jeong Yeon-sin felt a mix of relief and strangeness.
None of those in the inn had fled their seats.
Irregular and strong breaths filled the air.
The tension and excitement were felt simultaneously.
When else would they witness such a fierce battle among masters?
The city of Hwangju had three major roads.
Each led to the regions of Ho-gwang, Gangseo, and Namjik.
With the bustling trade and flow of goods, many martial artists were said to pass through.
The rumor that only those with great courage ventured out was true.
They did not flee just because a fight broke out among masters.
"The common folk are indeed quite diverse."
Jeong Yeon-sin felt a sense of broadening his horizons but did not let his guard down.
He could not take his eyes off the Seventh Sage, who had her head bowed.
He did not know when she would unleash her technique.
Even if she had gathered dozens of firecrackers, they would not be more frightening than her.
"Namgung scion."
"Do not worry about the half-second difference. I will support you immediately."
A reliable voice came from the back diagonal.
Jeong Yeon-sin nodded slightly.
It was the first time he had turned the narrow inn into a battlefield.
If Namgung Hwa-sin had mastered the Mu-ae Cheong-ryu, he believed they could respond flexibly.
At that moment, the Seventh Sage suddenly turned.
She looked as if she had lost her spirit.
She lightly stepped out and walked out of the inn, appearing unreal.
"Come back again. I will let you hit once."
It was her message.
She retreated, speaking of an ambush.
As soon as she left the inn, the presence that had soared above the roof gradually faded.
Jeong Yeon-sin stood still, gripping the Namgung sword.
"If that is true, I must cut off your right arm first. I will not offer my neck."
He did not concern himself with the unpredictable inner thoughts of the Seventh Sage.
The achievements and merits he would gain from taking the life of the sage of the Blood Flame Sect were secondary.
He had to kill her, just like Namgung Mi.
"Oh…… the young master of the Namgung sect has driven away the scion of the evil sect."
"What could their identity be? They seemed to be of the Blood Flame Sect."
"They are probably not a blood demon. Their hair was black. Could they be a sage?"
"Weren't their eyes red……? I don't know. I only saw their profile."
The onlookers could hardly approach Jeong Yeon-sin's group.
They merely talked among themselves.
Even if they did not value their own lives, facing a master was different here.
The sudden uproar ended blandly.
While it might have looked fine, it was absurd to Jeong Yeon-sin.
Did he ultimately control the Seventh Sage? Jeong Yeon-sin found it hard to accept that.
"I must stand firm with strength. Relying on the enemy's goodwill is only so far. It is beyond common sense."
It was at that moment of inner resolution.
Namgung Hwa-sin, who had not sheathed his sword like the boy, approached.
His expression was complicated as he looked at Namgung Mi.
"We need to find a physician. If left like this, it will be hard for her to stand in the martial arts competition."
"……That would be wise."
Jeong Yeon-sin slowly nodded.
The peaceful day had passed in a whirlwind.
Their group could not leave Hwangju immediately.
Namgung Mi had to be able to move for their mission to hold meaning.
Four days passed.
During that time, they found a physician in the city to show Namgung Mi and rented a separate room in the inn to stay together.
Only Namgung Hwa-sin responded to the occasional groans of Namgung Mi in her sleep.
"Is even an enemy considered kin?" Jeong Yeon-sin silently immersed himself in the creation of new techniques and internal arts.
He lay down, lost in thought.
It was a deeper meditation than ever before.
Even until the light of dawn gently swept through the guest room, he remained so.
On the fifth day, when the sun illuminated the entire world, Jeong Yeon-sin and Namgung Hwa-sin received a visit from a group of warriors.
They brought a loud noise even before arriving at the inn.
It was as if a festival was taking place.
There was no other reason than the energy and presence they exuded.
Namgung Mi's energy seemed to revive.
A white face looking at Jeong Yeon-sin from the bed was tinged with a sneer.
Amidst the commotion, it seemed to speak with its expression.
No matter who you are, you must listen to my words.
"Cheong Gi-rin! It is Cheong Gi-rin, the Namgung scion!"
"Namgung Se-jin is in Hwangju……?"
"That inn! I heard there are martial artists from the Namgung sect!"
Cheong Gi-rin Namgung Se-jin.
The younger brother of the Namgung family had come directly after hearing rumors about his younger sister.