Shin Gyeom-dae (3) Jeong Yeon-shin was not particularly upset.
The leader of Shin Gyeom-dan had not stepped back because he promised a reward.
It was more of an unintentional act.
Rather, the sense of dissonance coming from the multifaceted nature of the leader was significant.
The absolute powerhouse who had shown his true strength spoke as if he were a frivolous person.
It was indeed awkward.
“Leader, you’ve deceived us. It’s a complete trick,” said Yeon So-ha, frowning as she continued. “I knew it would be like this. It’s always like this. The ones who bring shame to the main faction are that old witch and the leader. You’ve completely tarnished your prestige in front of a junior you just met.”
“No, it wasn’t a lie,” the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan shook his head. “Seom-ye, I hope you don’t misunderstand. I was talking about our friendship with Shin Gyeom-dae. It’s something to be proud of…”
“You have no shame. It seems you’re comfortable dealing with the aftermath of the fierce battle,” said Ak Su-rim, standing with one leg bent, chuckling.
Her attitude was like that of a village ruffian.
She laughed at the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan with the face of a girl who looked to be around Jeong Yeon-shin’s age.
The boy thought she was strange as well.
“The main faction keeps its promises. What do you think? Traveling together until we pass Yangyang?”
“I can’t go as far as the main city. I have a mission to continue. It’s always like this… there’s no time to rest.” Yeon So-ha quickly interjected.
“…” Jeong Yeon-shin did not respond.
He simply gazed at the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan.
As their eyes met, the leader slightly turned his head while adjusting the purple robe, a stark contrast to his demeanor when he was in battle.
At that moment, it began weakly.
Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly felt a vibration beneath his feet.
It was different from the aftermath of the battle.
It felt like a strange tremor rising from very far away.
Slowly, subtly, it began to seep into the soles of his feet.
“Ah…?” Ak Su-rim’s face changed in alarm.
The sound coming from above was unusual.
It was gradually growing louder.
In less than a breath, it seemed everyone present sensed it.
At the same time, the crowd that had been spread along the ridge began to shout and scatter.
“The mountain spirit…! The mountain spirit is angry!”
“Isn’t this the divine punishment for the tyranny of Ip Hwang-seong?”
“Landslide! It’s a landslide!” The cries of those who lived off the Nangong family mixed in.
However, no one paid any attention.
“We need to leave, right?” Ak Su-rim’s dazed muttering was the beginning.
The energy of the Shin Gyeom-dae masters, including Yeon So-ha and the leader, surged.
“This is all because the leader clashed loudly with the head of the Nangong family…”
“Get to the rear! Take care of Baek Gi-rin first!”
The term landslide was indeed fitting.
Dust began to rise from several massive peaks on either side of Cheong Ya-gok.
It was a thick and enormous cloud of yellow dust.
The soil began to wash away along with the piles of stones.
Boom! Jeong Yeon-shin also glanced at Nangong Hwa-shin.
The senior of Shin Gyeom-dae, with a grand physique, was carrying him like a sack.
The end of the martial arts competition was brought about by nature.
It was a disaster caused by the fierce clash between the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan and the head of the Nangong family.
‘A disaster created by a human body.’
Understanding! Jeong Yeon-shin ran alongside the senior who was carrying Nangong Hwa-shin.
He was a handsome middle-aged man.
He smiled at Jeong Yeon-shin, then was startled to see Ma Yeon-jeok, who was keeping pace beside the boy.
“What are you doing! Did you swap your energy with a slug?” Ak Su-rim, who was running ahead, shouted back.
She was sprinting with a spear strapped to her small back, appearing the most relaxed among the Shin Gyeom-dae warriors.
Even while running, she twisted her body this way and that.
Her face was that of a girl, yet she looked after the masters like a mother.
Rather, it was the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan, who was smiling faintly, that was concerning.
His movements were slow.
Considering his martial arts level, it was truly hard to believe, yet he seemed to struggle to keep up.
The energy that had been so neatly organized was now unraveling like a tangled thread.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes widened slightly. ‘The leader’s internal injuries are severe.
I can’t even guess the consumption of his energy…’ He recalled the moment right after the head of the Nangong family had died.
He casually told the leader to regulate his breathing.
This was a place where countless martial artists were watching in broad daylight.
How much weight did the strongest martial artist under the lord of Ip Hwang-seong carry? Jeong Yeon-shin felt the position of Ip Hwang-seong anew.
He must not show any flaws to anyone.
To show a weak appearance in front of the various martial arts sects? From that moment, the challenges that Ip Hwang-seong would face… ‘I can’t even imagine.’ The boy thought.
And he was completely convinced.
The leader of Shin Gyeom-dan was currently hiding his internal injuries with superhuman patience, as much as he was inaction.
He tried to guess the underlying reasons behind the overwhelming speed at which the martial arts competition had ended.
Was there not a desperate effort from the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan? Each of the eight families could act as absolute beings in the martial world.
Was there any warrior who could remain intact after facing the head of the Nangong family? Only the transcendent lord of Ip Hwang-seong came to mind.
Even with his very limited perspective, it was the same throughout the central plains.
The leader of Shin Gyeom-dan, who was left with severe internal injuries, was an unreal existence.
“Leader, should I carry you?” Yeon So-ha said lightly.
It wasn’t just Jeong Yeon-shin who noticed.
The strongest force in Ip Hwang-seong was Shin Gyeom-dae.
There were many who had insight comparable to the boy.
Just because their leader did not show any signs did not mean they could not perceive the unnatural state of the purple master.
Many had already quietly surrounded the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan.
“Hmm. That would be too conspicuous.” The leader did not deny it.
“Don’t talk to me because it’s hard. All of you.” He joked as he accelerated.
His thick thighs seemed to move his body purely with physical strength.
Despite his scholar-like appearance, he had a highly refined physique.
However, it seemed that his energy could not support him.
Understanding! Jeong Yeon-shin stepped slightly forward.
Up close, it was indeed noticeable.
Each step he took felt very heavy.
At this point, it was a matter of stamina.
Boom!
“We need to get somewhere out of sight quickly,” Ak Su-rim muttered as the thunderous sound chased after them.
She seemed to be one of the youngest members of Shin Gyeom-dae, but her usual light demeanor had vanished.
Ak Su-rim was the same.
She nervously flicked her flowing hair and kept glancing at the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan.
“Faster! We don’t know how far this will go!”
“Those people, aren’t they from Ip Hwang-seong? How did they get here so quickly…” In the midst of this, many warriors were fleeing through the ridge and the gorges of Cheong Ya-gok.
Each one had learned lightness skills.
The glances they cast towards the masters of Ip Hwang-seong, including the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan, were unusual.
The territory of Nangong Se-ga was entirely under the control of the Nangong family.
How many direct descendants who died today were entangled with hidden grievances? There would also be countless people tied by gratitude and interests.
“If only we could have a moment of energy recovery… it would be a bit better…” Ak Su-rim bit her lip.
The speed of their escape was too slow compared to the reputation of Shin Gyeom-dan.
It was because they were matching the pace of the leader who had just fought fiercely.
“It’s only the leader himself. There’s no one who could do that while running with lightness skills.” Yeon So-ha whispered, looking around.
Among the martial artists fleeing from nature’s wrath, there were also masters.
Some of the crowd seemed to be leisurely looking around, which was dangerous.
If they continued to keep the Shin Gyeom-dae in sight, they would inevitably feel suspicious of their speed. ‘It’s fortunate that it’s at a very far distance.
A normal voice wouldn’t reach the masters.’ It would be better if it were in front of the common people.
However, the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan must not appear weak to the martial artists.
Boom! Boom!
Now, the inner side of the gorge was collapsing.
The wrath of nature, raised by martial arts, was approaching as an unresistable disaster.
Jeong Yeon-shin observed the expressions of the Shin Gyeom-dae masters.
The ease that seemed like they could joke around even if the sky fell had faded.
It was a crisis.
Since this was an event that drew the attention of the entire martial world, there would be many who openly opposed Ip Hwang-seong. ‘Assumptions and certainties are worlds apart.’
If two or three of the eight families gathered, could they easily kill the leader of Shin Gyeom-dan? Anyone could say that.
There wouldn’t be many who would deny it.
The history of the martial world spoke.
Even if the martial arts level reached the heavens, adversaries would surely appear.
However, seeing a powerless appearance in reality was another matter.
The time and place were also special.
“Leader, breathe properly! We’re going to be in trouble! How long have we been running?”
“There are a tremendous number of people gathered here. It seems like they came to see the Thirteen Heavens. If things go wrong, there are plenty of those who would join forces to bury us first. Without the leader, it would be a bloodbath.”
“Baek Gi-rin will surely die.” It was the Shin Gyeom-dae masters, including Yeon So-ha.
Their desperate words echoed with their breaths.
It was almost comical.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought calmly.
It would be better to send a signal.
The leader of Shin Gyeom-dan chuckled and put strength into his body.
A long breath escaped from his tightly closed lips.
He looked like a wounded tiger trying to escape.
This was because packs of wildcats were running alongside him.
Ip Hwang-seong was essentially the enemy of the entire martial world.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s sect, along with Jongnam and Shaolin, treated him with unusual fairness.
“Grandfather.”
“Speak, Yeon-shin.” Ma Yeon-jeok replied calmly.
He looked like a legendary immortal running beside them.
“Can’t you use your lightness skills and the energy recovery technique at the same time? Grandfather, you are also a purple master.” Jeong Yeon-shin asked directly.
If it was the purple rank, he must have refined all three dantians to the utmost.
The division of energy operation is an absolute realm of perception.
It is usually beyond common sense.
It meant that the upper dantian was significantly involved.
“……It’s difficult right now.” After a moment of silence, Ma Yeon-jeok continued. “The martial arts of the Ma family are indeed rough and fast. They accumulate quickly and scatter early. Unlike the martial arts of the old sects, it is difficult to maintain skill. It’s just easier to build extreme martial prowess in youth.”
“Is that why you’ve been in the leader’s position since you were a young pup?” Ak Su-rim, who had come closer, scoffed.
Ma Yeon-jeok’s eyes widened.
“A pup? You were a blue-nosed brat back then.”
“It’s nice to be old. What’s wrong with being a brat? Let’s maintain our dignity, our former leader.” She shot back, turning her gaze.
As she brushed her hair aside, her eyes met Jeong Yeon-shin’s through the flowing strands.
She flicked her pitch-black hair, darker than her black robe, aside.
“Hey. There’s a way, right? You’ve been rolling your bright eyes since earlier.”
“…That’s right.”
“By the way, you seem to use your upper dantian quite well? Your hands were like that. Even though you haven’t entered the realm of ascension, your sense of time was strange. That’s right! Hurry! Do it quickly!”
The vision of the black high master, who had returned to the realm of the living, was indeed remarkable.
Jeong Yeon-shin briefly closed his mouth.
At the same time, Ak Su-rim chattered impatiently.
“What’s wrong? What’s the problem?”
“It’s just that the leader is entrusting the Mingmen point to a martial artist he just met…”
“What do you mean?” The leader of Shin Gyeom-dan asked back.
His breathing was noticeably rough now.
At the same time, there was a voice ringing as a warning from both sides of the Shin Gyeom-dan camp.
“Those are the guys from the Mu Ryong Hoi, aren’t they? They’re coming down the gorge. It seems they’re determined to check things out. If the leader releases his energy, they’ll turn back immediately.”
“There’s also the Sin Mu-ryeon on the left side. I can see the Blood Flame Sect as well. Those blood demons are not exterminated.” He referred to the four locations of the Thirteen Heavens.
While they were running, Ak Su-rim moved closer to Jeong Yeon-shin.
Her energy spread, filling the air with her scent.
“Seom-ye, is that the blue robe and the golden shining yellow ornament? If you don’t believe that, what will you believe? Leader, say something. This girl’s energy seems very extraordinary.”
“Seom-ye, I allow you to touch my precious body.” The leader of Shin Gyeom-dan was humorous even in the midst of crisis.
Ak Su-rim grabbed Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand with her small hand.
Without a hint of hesitation, she led him to the leader’s back.
The palm of the girl’s body was quite soft. ‘The calluses are shallow.
The return to the realm of the living isn’t all that good.’ He thought while activating the Jeong Ga Dong Gong Jin technique.
If the body woven from long training were to fly away due to the return to the realm of the living, it would be something to consider only in old age.
Perhaps it was because they had crossed a great mountain.
Even at the moment he placed his hand on the leader’s back, his thoughts continued. ‘Old age…? That’s right.
First, I want to grow old.’ The boy wished.
The question left by the blue dragon also needed to be pondered while alive.