CHAPTER 57

The Hwangbo Clan was an ancient lineage.

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Hwangbo bloodline rose in Shandong and established their base in its center, Jinan.

During that time, there were grandmasters who honed the clan's martial arts.

The martial prowess of the united bloodline grew increasingly formidable. It was an era of turmoil. They seized vast lands of the Yuan Dynasty without hesitation.

Even when the Ming Dynasty, said to have descended on rays of light, came to power, it remained the same.

The Hwangbo Clan adapted to the new Ming Dynasty and began to be called a local aristocracy.

Thus, the birth of a martial clan took place. They acted as the rulers of Jinan for generations.

"Mom, when is brother coming back?"

A girl, around fifteen or sixteen years old, slammed an axe into the ground next to some household items.

Their family had been woodcutters for two generations in Pingyin County, Jinan.

Learning martial arts wasn't easy, but those who could read often kept books on energy circulation techniques.

The Three Talents Heart Method , decreed by the Imperial family, had increased labor efficiency.

It was said that even uneducated folk could gradually draw upon the energy of the heavens and earth.

It was a secret technique of the Ming Dynasty that imbued strength into the body and land, creating mighty men and fertile fields.

A middle-aged woman, who was braiding a straw rope while seated, spoke.

Despite her ragged hemp clothes, her tone carried dignity, and her pronunciation was crisp.

"The Hwangbo Clan took him in. Let's be patient. Your brother might return as a martial artist. Even if he becomes just a gatekeeper for that powerful family, we won't go hungry."

"These days, the trees in the backwoods are terrible. Mr. Ma keeps lowering the prices. Why wasn't he taken?"

The girl complained.

Although she was fairly skilled with the axe for her age, she wasn't truly a mighty figure.

The Three Talents Heart Method was miraculous, but it was closer to a health cultivation technique. The girl's ability to work as hard as grown men was due to her exceptional talent.

Mr. Ma, who seemed to have ties with the Hwangbo Clan, had even begun to forcefully persuade her to join them.

The startled mother whispered,

"Taken? Watch your words. They say the warriors have ears like bats."

"They're probably all feasting with the magistrate. It's nice that those loafers who used to pester me were taken away, but at this rate, we'll starve to death. The wood is cheap, and there's barely any food. Whatever comes in, the magistrate and those Hwangbo guys take it all."

"Watch your words!"

The middle-aged woman, who had screamed in a whisper, calmed her breathing and spoke.

"The Hwangbo Clan is a prestigious family that protects us. It was the same even when your grandfather passed the imperial exam."

"Grandpa again!"

"He said that people outside Jinan are constantly exploited by martial artists. At least we don't face such things. If only your father hadn't been a gambler, we would've lived properly."

"Exploited? Isn't that what the Hwangbo guys are doing? If brother were here, imagine how much he could earn."

"Goodness! Criticizing the orthodox sects is dangerous!"

The girl, who was slapped lightly on the back, grumbled and left the house.

"What orthodox sect? They're just people who kill heroes! Mom, you always twist words! Didn't you teach me how to read?"

Her mother's scolding voice leaked through the closed door, but the girl ignored it and walked away.

Was it because she walked without thought? She suddenly found herself in front of the largest estate in Pingyin County—the Hwangbo manor.

She quickly turned away after glancing at the grand estate.

"Ah?"

"You're just in time."

A deep, resonant voice called out. A strong hand grabbed her by the scruff and lifted her.

"Seems one of the branches has been wiped out by those thugs from Desolate Fortress."

"Mr. Ma, Mr. Ma?"

Her body was turned around abruptly. A middle-aged man dressed in yellow silk stood with a blank expression.

He murmured as he walked toward the shattered gate.

"You might serve as an answer to them. What does righteousness mean?"

* * *

The Sword Song. The power revealed by the sword's soundwave was devastating.

"What in the world…"

Hwangbo Mei-wei, the Deep Abyss Sword, blankly surveyed the manor.

Corpses and unconscious bodies lay sprawled everywhere, forming a chain-like pattern.

The battle had ceased.

Even the servants, who had retreated after setting the table, timidly peeked out.

"What, what is this?"

"Why are they lying down? They're bleeding."

"They're not moving? Are they dead?"

Shrill screams erupted as they witnessed the carnage.

Energy surged from Hwangbo Mei-wei's hand as she gripped her sword.

Despite her elaborate attire, her hand betrayed the traces of rigorous training.

She was undoubtedly a rare swordswoman. Her lips barely parted, but her voice exuded murderous intent.

"How dare you."

"...Soundwave martial arts are rare in this world."

The magistrate murmured.

The elegance of a refined noble who had come to enjoy the spectacle had vanished.

He gazed intently at Radiant Demon Squad's three warriors with heavy eyes.

A few breaths of time passed. Jung Yeonshin took a long inhale.

The Moonlight Harmony Technique emphasized controlled breathing.

Recalling the long and thin breaths of the Desolate Fortress' Lord during training, he calmed himself.

'I overdid it.'

The technique for utilizing internal energy in sword resonance required extreme precision. It strained his senses to the limit.

It involved embedding emitted energy into the sound generated by internal energy.

It was a martial art that heavily relied on the upper energy center's capabilities, a technique akin to magic.

"You spoke of elegance? Why are you silent now?"

Feigning composure, Jung Yeonshin felt intense fatigue.

His head felt like it was wrapped in a wet cloth.

It was his first time using the sword resonance to its full extent. He had to if he wanted to kill martial artists instantly.

Even against those weaker than himself.

Natural defensive energy acted as a barrier of internal energy. To pierce their ears and kill them with resonance, he had no choice but to go all out.

'I can't use it twice. Even once was too much.'

His once vibrant body felt drained.

In the realm of martial arts masters, life and death hinged on the slightest margins.

If even one opponent equaled him in skill, it would be a grueling battle.

'Hmm?'

While observing his internal state through the Moonlight Harmony Technique, Jung Yeonshin froze.

At the crown of his head.

It was unmistakably different from the morning.

With his innate sensitivity, he detected a change within a single day.

His Baihui acupoint had expanded—by about three days' worth.

'My hand.'

His index finger trembled amid combat. It wasn't due to a lack of strength.

It was a momentary panic.

The primal fear of death had suddenly surfaced.

For an instant, the abyss swallowed him.

Manipulating energy was akin to using muscles.

Without exerting intent, to freely control inner energy at will was said to be the mark of a supreme master.

States of internal energy cultivation, such as Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown , Five Energies Returning to the Origin , and Ascending to the Peak , were described as steps in this process.

Jung Yeonshin's innate sensitivity was different. It was like climbing an enormous mountain.

'I'll think of a plan later.'

A fight for survival was imminent.

He forcibly drew his consciousness back, pushing the anxiety to one corner of his mind.

Just as he had buried the shock of his first kill during the Jung Clan's massacre.

'Focus on martial arts first. Do I need to reach the black level to avoid recoil?'

Jung Yeonshin's ability to control energy relied heavily on his naturally gifted upper dantian.

Without an essential transformation in his internal energy, he operated his true energy purely through sensitivity.

Such acts that transcended limits inevitably carried repercussions.

"Golden threads, a disciple of the Lord of Desolate Fortress."

Hwangbo Mei-wei, the Deep Abyss Sword, muttered as she slowly approached.

The scene surrounding her was the reward for Jung Yeonshin's effort.

The shattered encirclement he had destroyed was truly overwhelming.

A blue-ranked warrior had single-handedly crushed the forces of one of the eight great clans' branch families.

"..."

Jung Yeonshin stood tall without speaking a word.

How did he appear to her?

Hwangbo Mei-wei's steps were cautious. She had started moving with measured footwork, yet no distinct momentum could be felt.

Jung Yeonshin simply stared at her.

'Hwangbo Mei-wei, the Deep Abyss Sword.'

She was, after all, the head of the branch family.

The image of her wearing red lipstick and fawning over her husband alongside countless concubines was entirely separate.

There was no doubt that the martial arts she had accumulated were profound.

Jung Yeonshin had reached this point by exploiting his enemies' carelessness. He could not allow himself to be placed in the opposite position.

Srrng.

He grasped the blade of his Desolate Sword and slowly drew it.

"Hwangbo Mei-wei, I remember what you said."

"...Just because you belong to Desolate Fortress doesn't mean the blood of a lowborn becomes noble. You're not worthy of speaking to me."

"You mentioned arms first, filthy heretic."

Jung Yeonshin spoke quietly, his head pounding.

His overstrained upper dantian felt like it was burning white-hot, but he transmitted a voice message to Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo.

He told them he viewed this as a solo mission.

A request not to intervene.

To surpass the black level and advance to the purple rank—there was no other path except through bloodshed.

There would be battles teetering on the edge of life and death. The experience of executing martial arts in this chaotic state was necessary.

That's why he spoke.

"Come."

At that moment, he sensed movements crossing the manor's threshold in the distance.

But now was not the time to pay attention.

Whoosh!

A massive surge of energy erupted from Hwangbo Mei-wei's sword as she charged.

The blade was exceptionally wide. It was exactly as the senior blue-ranked warrior from the Annihilation Squad had described.

The martial art inherited by this branch of the Hwangbo Clan utilized a heavy sword. Its stances rarely wavered and remained unyielding.

A direct and powerful energy wave surged toward him with incredible force.

He had circulated his true energy several times just to make it this far. It was a thoroughly prepared strike.

Clang!

When Jung Yeonshin countered with his Desolate Sword, he nearly lost his grip.

He had tried to deflect the blow as much as possible, but even then, it was close.

At the same time, his dulled senses sharpened again.

Thud!

He stepped back.

Simultaneously, his instincts took over. Twisting his elbow, he redirected her energy wave toward the inner thigh muscles along his lower back.

His knees bent naturally.

As the residual force from the intercepted strike flowed from his glutes to the back of his thigh, her strength became his.

Core energy erupted from his retreating leg.

Boom!

Without stomping down, his advance surged forward.

In an instant, the force that had flowed through his relaxed muscles reversed and exploded.

The energy coursed to his hand gripping the sword, emitting an intangible yet massive wave.

The air trembled.

He returned her heavy sword strike with his own.

The force released from Jung Yeonshin's sword generated a windstorm as he swung upward.

Bang!

"Huff!"

Hwangbo Mei-wei's sword, about to deliver a second strike, was sent flying.

She hadn't let her guard down.

It was Jung Yeonshin's instincts and refined strength.

For a brief moment, her stunned face flashed in his vision.

The instant her sword was sent spinning, he prepared his second strike.

Slash!

He clearly felt resistance as his blade cut through.

A faint glow trailed behind the Desolate Sword, now stained with blood.

Hwangbo Mei-wei's right arm was severed.

"Ugh!"

She staggered back, exhaling sharply.

Jung Yeonshin flicked his blade clean.

In that moment, he stood as the victor.

This was not about talent alone.

It was his ability to sharpen his edge even while exhausted.

His instincts possessed a strength that defied classification by martial ranks.

"Next time, he might head out into Jianghu alone."

Chung Myung's lighthearted voice came from behind.

Jung Yeonshin took slow steps forward.

Blood dripped from the tip of his lowered blade as he approached Hwangbo Mei-wei, who was hastily striking her pressure points to stop the bleeding.

Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips.

"You said this."

He stepped forward without hesitation, raising the Desolate Sword slightly.

At this moment, he destroyed a branch of the Hwangbo Clan single-handedly.

It seemed excessive as the price for three days' worth of life force.

At least, this wasn't something a blue-ranked warrior should have achieved alone.

Already, the face of the Lord of Desolate Fortress came to mind.

"After the arm, you mentioned the neck."

He spoke.