Jing Yanshin suddenly recalled all the martial arts he had learned from the Heavenly Gold Martial Arts in Yuhuang City.
He had given away everything except for the Zhengjia Donggong.
His martial arts were constantly advancing.
Martial arts that had stopped in the secret arts were trivial compared to one's lifespan.
What kind of merit would he return with? The essence of the martial arts he had gifted could be converted into merit.
The value was calculated based on universal power enhancement.
This meant he did not rely solely on the insights of the high-level masters.
It was different from the values held by the people of the martial world.
There were said to be standards unique to the imperial family.
"The Myeolma Cheonggangsu had no beginners, yet it returned with high merit. It was said that the power of the law and martial arts was rare."
There was a reason he suddenly thought of the merit of martial arts gifting.
Jing Yanshin kept his mouth shut, his eyes wide open.
"I asked for your hand."
Namgung Mi was smiling provocatively in front of him.
Her wet hair hung down to her white neck, and she looked at Jing Yanshin as if she had never been annoyed by the summer rain. 'Has she noticed something?' Jing Yanshin recalled the hidden identity of the Blood Flame Sect.
If discovered, it would become troublesome.
He suddenly wondered if Namgung Mi's head was worth something like the Shihwa Muguk Kwon.
She was a direct descendant of the Pak family.
It might not be inferior to the Pak family's Eight Horrors Nachal Sword.
Beyond martial prowess, the value was like that.
Namgung Mi opened her mouth again, still smiling.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm just curious about how much you've honed your swordsmanship."
"Are you trying to blatantly gauge the enemy's achievements?" "Enemy? How could you be an enemy? Unless you were to once again shake the reputation of your main family."
"You have no shame. Your opponent is the young hero Baek Gi-rin."
"But I'm curious about you."
She leaned in slightly, looking very mischievous.
The light shining in Namgung Mi's eyes reminded him of the Seven Star Sword.
It meant she had some schemes. "……."
Jing Yanshin chose not to respond further and took a step forward.
They had now arrived at the Namgung family.
There was no reason to give them a pretext.
"Perhaps they have become a good pair."
The sub-master said something absurd.
He smiled gently while looking at his younger sister and the boy.
It felt different from Namgung Mi.
Jing Yanshin decided not to engage with the siblings.
He moved silently alongside Namgung Hwa-shin, soon facing the largest hall in Huiju.
The walls on both sides were as wide as city walls.
He had seen it once while heading to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, but it was indeed too large to be called just a family residence.
The reason people referred to it as a family was evident from its appearance.
"Namgung..."
Namgung Hwa-shin muttered as he looked up at the plaque on the main gate.
Jing Yanshin gazed at his companion.
The usual steadfast aura he possessed was nowhere to be seen.
The reason Jing Yanshin easily defeated Namgung Mi lay in the compatibility between the Zhengjia Donggong and the Ice Binding Martial Arts.
Could Namgung Hwa-shin defeat her? He would have to overcome the loyalty oath of the sorcery and the intense cold. 'The General Headquarters spoke of inheritance.' The Yuhuang City expedition team said that all opponents must be endured for the mission to be meaningful.
The Namgung leadership had to be replaced with a collateral branch.
"It is an honor to have such outstanding individuals in our main family."
The sub-master nodded to the gatekeepers with a smile.
His gesture towards the main gate exuded confidence.
Jing Yanshin slightly nodded and stepped forward.
Finally, they had arrived at the Namgung family.
He unpacked his bag and took a bath.
Assigned to a guest room, Jing Yanshin changed into a spare Yuhuang City martial robe.
He was soon invited to the main banquet of the Namgung family.
Was there a martial art that trained one to be thick-skinned? Jing Yanshin thought as he sat in the elegantly decorated room.
Men and women dressed in luxurious silk garments, the sub-master and Namgung Mi were present.
They were seated around a massive oval dining table.
Next to the boy sat Namgung Hwa-shin.
His body trembled slightly, enough for everyone at the table to notice.
At first glance, there was no one who was not a master.
They were all different from the sub-master.
Did they consider those without a legitimate birth as nothing? No one seemed to pay attention to Namgung Hwa-shin.
The eyes of the direct descendants were solely focused on Jing Yanshin.
"You are the Seongyeo."
Jing Yanshin looked at the one who called him.
It was a middle-aged man whose elegant azure robe suited him well.
He was known as the embodiment of the Namgung family.
His facial features were distinct.
The faces of the sub-master, Namgung Mi, and Namgung Hwa-shin were all present within him.
Jing Yanshin suddenly glanced at the waist of the Namgung family leader.
A bluish sword hilt was hanging there.
The inscription engraved on the sword was faintly revealed in the light of the lantern.
"The ambition to soar above the clouds, yet the southern wall is too high." - Even if one has the intention to transcend the mundane, they cannot surpass the southern wall.
Due to the story tied to the sword, it was famous for its metaphorical meaning.
It was also known as the Southern Wall Sword, a symbol of the Namgung family.
It was said to be a legendary sword crafted by the Iron Clan.
A divine aura enveloped the owner of the Namgung family.
Did he feel Jing Yanshin's gaze? The Namgung family leader smiled faintly.
"Do you know of the chaos caused by the Ming Sect in the Cheonsan? The previous great leader of our family killed the three deities of the Ming Sect. It was a treasure bestowed by the emperor, but there have not been many opportunities to take it out. Thus, I am grateful to you. Is there any other way to compare with the master of the Divine Sword?" "I find it hard to bear the praises of the family leader. I have already heard apologies and thanks from the sub-master."
Jing Yanshin replied calmly.
He was pointing out the Namgung family leader's behavior of not apologizing for the Cheongya Valley incident.
He soon felt it.
Namgung Hwa-shin's breath had become slightly rough.
Now it was pitiful.
"It is surprising that you can say that even after seeing the Southern Wall Sword."
The woman seated to the left of the family leader spoke.
She was the most elegantly dressed master at the table.
"The wall that protects the world is my husband and children. Does Yuhuang City discuss the people's livelihood? If that is truly the case, then they should not have sent the life-and-death duel invitation. It is due to your narrow-mindedness that this has occurred. Even if you cannot see the world broadly, how dare you utter apologies?" The Namgung family leader's wife was more shameless than Namgung Mi.
"I understand that the character of the Changnyeong Hwa-ju is external."
Jing Yanshin spoke calmly.
It meant that his daughter, Namgung Mi, resembled her.
The wife’s brows furrowed.
It was a rudeness she had never experienced as a noblewoman.
Immediately, the energy from around six people surged.
Jing Yanshin could not hold back and stood up.
After all, they could not do anything to him and Namgung Hwa-shin now.
He had come with his actions revealed.
It was an event that gathered the attention of the martial world.
When entering the Namgung family, he had felt various presences behind him.
The opening of the Gu Pae Il Bang, the bat-like Hao Moon, the female spirits of the Sapa Thirteen Thousand... there must be more than a few.
"Last time, you betrayed me, who was an ally. Now, I have walked into your home unarmed, yet your family's patience in not killing me while ignoring me is astonishing. You have managed to conceal your true nature well. Perhaps it is due to the gazes of the world focused on this duel."
"Sub-master. Do not treat that child lightly."
The Namgung family leader's wife said coldly.
The sub-master was horrified.
He had been listening with an uncomfortable expression all along.
"Now it is the matter of the child! Please, all the elders..."
At that moment, a powerful vibration erupted from above the high ceiling.
The table and all the furnishings trembled violently. [You unworthy seed! What did you just say—!] An old voice struck all directions like a tremendous earthquake.
It was filled with immense energy.
The Six Harmonies Transmission.
The voice echoed throughout the heavens and earth, marking a moment of transcendence.
It was the moment the ceiling shattered.
Kwang! A violet divine form descended right in the middle of the table.
It was like a bolt of lightning.
The imposing figure radiated energy that seemed to suffocate the breaths of everyone present.
A mist-like dust rose late.
Amidst the thick dust, an old man stood up.
"Speak again."
The voice that had unleashed the Six Harmonies was now filled with rage.
His eyes were sharp like blades, and his large frame was imposing.
His pure white beard reached down to his chest, exuding an air of dignity like a renowned brush.
The violet robe he wore was tightly woven with muscles, and the collar stood upright like his character. 'Grandfather.' Jing Yanshin stared blankly at Ma Yeonjeok.
It was not just the boy.
The masters of the Namgung family were all taken aback, while the old man sitting to the right of the Namgung family leader murmured.
"The Divine Sword Master..."
"Namgung Elder Wonju. Are you still trapped in the distant past? When did I pass down my Divine Sword to the next generation?" The Yuhuang Mage Master Ma Yeonjeok said coldly.
He looked back at the Namgung family leader.
It was absurd for someone without any justification to oppress their grandson.
Anger once again surfaced on Ma Yeonjeok's wrinkled face.
"Are there ungrateful beings in the world who dare to discuss the death of my grandson! The lord has not commanded the extermination of the Namgung mixed-blood family!" "The mother spoke carelessly. Master Mage, please calm your anger."
The Namgung family leader spoke calmly.
He appeared serene amidst the turbulent waves of energy.
After glaring at him for a moment, Ma Yeonjeok opened his mouth again.
It seemed he had suppressed his anger.
Only his eyes glowed with a color that seemed ready to ignite at any moment.
"The duel date is on the seventh night. Prepare humbly."
"Indeed."
The Namgung family leader replied.
Only then did Ma Yeonjeok turn his body.
His gaze met Jing Yanshin's, and for a moment, it trembled.
It was as if he was glancing at his grandson.
In an instant, the atmosphere changed.
"I apologize for not being able to accompany you from the start."
"No, I heard you received a mission from the lord."
"I completed it early. I saw you when you entered Huiju; a rather powerful blood ghost was lurking nearby, aiming for your back. I could not intervene easily."
"A blood ghost...?" "It seemed to be a disciple of the cult."
Ma Yeonjeok, who had a troubled expression, continued.
"You need not worry now. The elder of the main family is pursuing them. Even if he is an old man who is not very sharp, his strength is certain, and he will soon bring back that witch's head."
"The elder...?" "Let us change our residence. How can one comfortably cultivate in such filthy waters?" Jing Yanshin nodded slowly and followed Ma Yeonjeok.
Namgung Hwa-shin stood silently beside the boy.
He only glanced back once.
They unpacked their belongings at the largest inn in Huiju.
Everything, including the bed and drinking water, was of the highest quality.
Jing Yanshin surrendered himself to time and consciousness.
In the meantime, he received a proposal for a "winning streak" from Namgung Mi.
It was a suggestion to start with the younger ones, allowing the winner to continue the duel.
It seemed she intended to surrender after defeating Namgung Hwa-shin and Jing Yanshin.
"What a trivial matter, not understanding the situation. The Namgung people are quite something. How can they overlook such arrogance?" Ma Yeonjeok clicked his tongue while scanning the letter.
Jing Yanshin looked at Namgung Hwa-shin.
"I would like to accept it. What do you think, Namgung young hero?" If accepted, Baek Gi-rin's performance would not be necessary.
Only after Jing Yanshin was defeated by the sub-master would it be his turn.
The boy would rather it be that way.
Having traveled with the Namgung siblings earlier, he understood that Namgung Hwa-shin's spirit was the problem.
He had been raised as the leader of the Namgung family's assassin group.
The prohibition against harming direct descendants had penetrated into the realm of sorcery.
Baek Gi-rin's dramatic victory was a vain expectation.
Realistically, it was so. 'It is something one would hear in a heroic tale.' Jing Yanshin thought. "……."
Would he cause trouble in Yuhuang City? Would he struggle to achieve revenge for his mother? After much contemplation, Namgung Hwa-shin said he would accept the winning streak.
He would have another opportunity to overcome the past.
That day, Jing Yanshin stayed quietly by his companion's side for a long time.
Days passed.
While refining his martial arts, it was already the seventh night.
Perhaps it was because he had been moving without rest.
He began to quietly delve into his martial arts, and another world unfolded.
A great shift in perspective occurred. 'Shihwa Muguk Su (時華無極手) Jeosa Cho...
I might be able to complete it in actual combat.' On the day of the life-and-death duel between Yuhuang and Namgung, Jing Yanshin leaned against the bed.
He suddenly closed the book of the Diamond Sutra he had been looking down at.
The phrase "Responding without attachment, this life is a mind" was folded along with it.
"Today is the day! How exciting."
"Where did you hang it?" "It must be in Namjigye. It would be hard to count the number of latecomers who could defeat the sub-master in this world."
"It is meaningless. How do you view the Divine Sword Master of Yuhuang City?" "Then what about the Namgung family?" It felt like just yesterday when the sub-master spoke of poor harvests, yet Huiju was enjoying an unexpected boom.
It was thanks to the many people who had come to witness the duel that shook the heavens and earth.
People from all walks of life, including martial artists, merchants, commoners, and royalty, gathered.
It was a day when the commotion of the great city reached its peak.
It was said that gambling with money was rampant.
The streets seemed to be boiling with madness.
"Jing young hero."
Namgung Hwa-shin called him with a stiff face.
Jing Yanshin slowly rose from his seat. 'Namgung Mi is not the problem.' The boy thought of the sub-master.
Every time he thought of it, his mind was ablaze with excitement.
The fear of death, the pride he had gained as a martial artist, and his interest in the supreme divine sword, the King Sword...
Now it was time.
He could see nothing.
The moment he stepped out of the inn, the scenery of the city unfolded, the gaze of the unfamiliar Divine Sword Master glanced at him, and even the strongest of the Divine Sword under the Ten-Seventeen seemed to fade away.
Before he knew it, he was standing in the middle of the Cheongya Valley, which had captivated him.
He had moved in a daze. ―――! The vast gorge was filled with people.
"Changnyeong Hwa-ju! Just look this way once! I am in love with you!" "The Seongyeo of Yuhuang City! Do not touch a single hair of our lady!" "Seongyeo Jing young hero! Please uphold justice in the martial world!" They gathered like an army preparing for battle, shouting like thunder.
It was a grand spectacle as if all the martial world of the Central Plains had gathered in this place.
"I wanted to know who you were, but I guess I will have to look into the body of a corpse."
Namgung Mi stood there with a mischievous smile.
It seemed the duel was about to begin.
Surrounded by the Namgung family and the warriors of the Divine Sword, left, right, front, and back.
"You and Hwa-shin. It was impossible to develop feelings."
Namgung Mi's lips moved.
The treasured sword in her hand shone brilliantly.
The power that surged forth carried a chill and approached swiftly.
Woong! Jing Yanshin activated the Zhengjia Donggong with fervor.
It was the first time since consuming the high-grade spirit pill, except when facing the Seven Star Sword.
He regarded the enemy before him as the Blood Flame Sect's Seven Star Sword.
Only by doing so could he end it quickly.
The energy of the Great Achievement level surged.
The energy channels in his body began to fill with a majestic flame.
The Four Directions.
Namgung Mi stepped lightly, her movements were mysterious.
She approached gracefully, making it hard to predict her next move.
The warriors of the Namgung family were said to have studied the Book of Changes and were knowledgeable about the Eight Trigrams.
It was said that they contained the principles of formations in their martial arts.
In that moment, Jing Yanshin took a step forward with the reflection of the light.
Just like when he broke through the energy of the Yuhuang City lord to seize the Thunder Line.
With a step, the wind that arose from his toes pushed away all the energy.
He unraveled everything that dazzled his eyes in one step.
Namgung Mi's elegantly swaying body came to a clear stop, as if the curtain had been drawn.
"Ah...?" Did she also perceive the foresight of the upper dantian? Extreme fear clouded her beautiful face.
She looked unrecognizable.
Perhaps the incomplete swordplay she had shown earlier had instilled overconfidence in her.
She had underestimated him far too much. 'Now, we are no longer companions.' Kiiing! A beam of light gathered in Jing Yanshin's right hand.
He drew his sword like a comet and struck upward.
The blade of the Yuhuang Sword pierced through the protective energy of the Namgung family, tearing it apart mercilessly.
The trajectory of the Guanghua Sword extended without restraint.
In an instant, the white light severed Namgung Mi's neck.
He felt it in the hilt.
He had completely beheaded her.
Hwaaaak! The energy that had been condensed in the sword blade stirred up a fierce wind.
The Yuhuang Sword returned, tracing a halo-like path, and it sheathed itself back into Jing Yanshin's scabbard.
It was a single strike.
"I have no interest. Whoever you are."
The boy calmly murmured to the corpse.
The vast Cheongya Valley fell silent like an extinguished ember.