CHAPTER 171

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Zhuge Hyeon let out a puzzled exclamation. A glimmer of light flickered in his eyes as he gazed at the Profound Martial Alliance's camp.

"The barracks… they're all empty. Judging by the piled-up starvation pills and jerky, they haven't left for good. Should I call it the confidence of the Thirteen Celestial Demons… They've only left behind a few guards. About five."

"You can even smell the aroma of alcohol. Seems they've been drinking." 

Jung Yeonshin said.

The boy lightly touched the sword hilt. Judging by appearances, the information Zhuge Hyeon provided was something one could roughly see and sense with one's eyes and intuition.

The function of Sight Arts typically lies in enhancing dynamic vision. What the boy currently needed in actual combat was the ability to modify and refine his swordsmanship.

'If I were to create a new Sight Art, it would have to be something conceptualized within the realm of extraordinary techniques, like the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel.'

For now, no inspiration came to him. It was nowhere near comparable to the swordsmanship crafted using the Radiance Sword Style and the foundation of the Sword Immortal.

Sight Arts are a far more subtle and mystical martial art.

He had yet to reach the level where he could nurture a sense of spirituality and imbue it into martial techniques. Not yet.

'It's boring. I've never felt any lack in sensory abilities….'

To Jung Yeonshin, martial arts carried a special significance.

On one hand, it was a diversion to erase loneliness. On the other hand, it was a means to extend his life.

His was a desperate existence. He couldn't afford to cling to futile endeavors. His interest waned, and his state of mind was subtly revealed in his tone.

"Let's just go and wait."

His voice was indifferent. Zhuge Hyeon and Ak Yerim swiftly turned their heads.

"Captain, what did you say…?"

"You mean, go and wait there?"

Zhuge Hyeon seemed to ask for confirmation, but Ak Yerim's retort was sharp. Anyone might have reacted similarly.

It was a temporary base of the Thirteen Celestial Demons. It wasn't a place one could casually mention as if it were a stroll destination.

Jung Yeonshin, the Radiant Demon Squad Leader.

Despite his youthful appearance, his bearing and demeanor exuded an air far older than his age.

To those who hadn't traveled with him in the martial world, it was hard to form a clear impression.

At that moment, distrust was evident on Ak Yerim's face. Her expression betrayed suspicion that he might be inexperienced or rash by nature.

Step.

By then, the boy was already moving forward. From the perspective of the young Radiant Demon Squad Leader, the one trapped in a well was Ak Yerim herself.

How could the sheltered flower of a renowned family, nestled safely in Shandong, understand?

The experiences gained from roaming the martial world had granted even a seventeen-year-old boy insight surpassing his years.

'A group of over a hundred skilled martial artists set up camp.'

The boy thought to himself.

Martial world experts tended to avoid disorder. Even when forming groups, they pursued a solitary form of romance in dominating the martial world.

Especially those affiliated with the Thirteen Celestial Demons—they wouldn't gather in groups to raid commoners.

Neither efficiency nor temperament would allow for it.

To venture out en masse and return en masse? That was the work of conscripted soldiers with minimal martial training.

Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips, sensing Ak Yerim's hesitant presence behind him.

"You're just a rookie who doesn't understand the martial world."

"What… did you say?"

Hearing such words from a boy far younger, Ak Yerim's eyebrows shot up.

Jung Yeonshin continued, unfazed.

"The real problem arises when they return one by one. Did you, by chance, think of waiting until then to fight them? I didn't expect such cowardice. You've trained in Ak Clan's Spear Art, haven't you? Your predecessor in the Divine Sword Squad wasn't like you."

If anything, he was too reckless and spirited. The boy held back his further thoughts.

He was referring to Ak Surim, the Desolate Divine Spear. Ak Yerim's expression flinched. She looked as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"You sound just like the elders in my clan, for someone your age…."

Her voice trailed off.

But the boy, the avatar of tempestuous storms in his youth, paid her no mind.

"This mission was doomed from the start—like throwing eggs at a rock. It's a task born of the Murim Alliance's poor politics. Facing the martial forces of the Thirteen Celestial Demons with this small number of people is absurd."

The boy felt he had already talked too much. It was all meaningless chatter, not even related to martial arts.

"Stop where you are!"

By then, the group had been discovered. Warriors clad in leather armor charged toward them from about ten paces away.

Their sprint was incredibly fast.

Their steps, akin to hoofbeats pounding the ground, stirred a cloud of dust behind the five men.

"Don't kill them, even by accident."

The leader of Desolate Fortress gave the order to the Murim Alliance's warriors. He didn't wait for their response.

Thump.

The young Radiant Demon Squad Leader stepped forward, circulating the Radiant Wheel within his heart.

The energy of the technique surged through the meridians of all his limbs, enveloping his entire body like the wind.

His black robe fluttered lightly. It was a full-body emission of energy, without launching a single attack.

"Gasp…!"

Before they could even collide, the enemies recoiled in fear. The same was true for his allies.

Leaving behind Zhuge Hyeon, who quietly inhaled as if recalling a fan-dance performance, and Ak Yerim, who froze as if seeing a bizarre creature, the boy kicked off the ground.

Whoosh!

Using the Wind Body technique, he left behind a trail of black afterimages. Jung Yeonshin deliberately drew his sword.

He immediately activated the mnemonic verses of the Radiance Sword Style. He intended to observe his swordsmanship in actual combat against the enemy warriors.

A faint halo of light formed on the blade of Beiming. He swung it horizontally.

Swick!

He stepped firmly using the body-movement technique.

The full weight of his momentum carried into the sword strike, and a flash of light severed the right arm of the leading enemy.

The resistance was nonexistent.

From the faint glint at the tip of his blade, the enemy's arm and sword fell limply to the ground.

"It's the Radiant Demon Squad Leader!"

The enemy shouted as he retreated. His quick-wittedness was impressive.

The speed at which he connected the situation, rumors, and his opponent's appearance was astounding.

This was one of the reasons the Thirteen Celestial Demons were known as a great faction. It was something to remember.

"Subdue them."

The boy's words were directed at Ak Yerim and Zhuge Hyeon, who had caught up to him.

Jung Yeonshin didn't stop walking. Four enemies remained.

Profound Martial Alliance.

They called it a martial force.

With so many members, the individual skills of the experts were inevitably diluted. They seemed about as skilled as the white ranks of Desolate Fortress.

In a bandit market, they might pass as undefeated martial artists.

With over a hundred of them gathered, they'd likely demonstrate tremendous combat power.

But at this moment, they were few in number and had to face the Radiant Demon Squad Leader of Desolate Fortress.

Buzz!

The wind brushing against their sleeves carried the sword light of Beiming. Another man's arm fell.

The tendons in the legs of two others were severed. It was done in a single breath, with overwhelming martial prowess and decisive precision.

Zhuge Hyeon and Ak Yerim were relegated to pressing the blood-sealing acupoints of the incapacitated enemies. In an instant, the warriors' limbs were paralyzed.

In the midst of this, one remaining man's reaction stood out. He evaded the Beiming Sword by deflecting it, tracing a white arc in a semicircle.

The brilliant blade skimmed the tip of the man's nose, who leaned back, before returning.

Following Heon Wonchang's advice, the strike was executed with seventy percent of its full strength, but even so, it was impressive.

"I've seen someone use similar sword techniques before." 

The man said in a rough voice.

It was a man with disheveled hair. He seemed to be referring to a martial artist from the Lightning Genius' lineage, which had refined the Radiance Sword Style.

The warriors of Desolate Fortress often traveled to various parts of the Central Plains to carry out their missions.

It wasn't uncommon for them to clash with martial artists of the Thirteen Celestial Demons.

"There must be quite a few like you." 

The boy said.

An unknown martial artist had recognized the swordsmanship of the Radiant Demon Squad Leader.

Even though he was from the Thirteen Celestial Demons, in the face of the black robes of Desolate Fortress, he was no different from a vagrant.

Perhaps those who experienced the same sword techniques had come together to study and refine their countermeasures. There was no other explanation.

It was not an uncommon occurrence.

The martial arts of prominent families were always subject to being dismantled. Their loftiness came with many adversaries.

Most prestigious martial arts sought countermeasures through different methods than Jung Yeonshin. They relied on diverse techniques and comprehensive manuals.

The usual approach was to respond with dozens of varied techniques.

Clang!

As he exchanged blades with the man, Jung Yeonshin thought,

'The techniques of renowned families are intricate and offer numerous choices for counterattacks.'

Such things didn't exist for the up-and-coming martial sects. That was precisely why the major factions had managed to retain their status for so long.

They analyzed and broke down their opponent's martial arts, then inscribed highly practical derivative techniques into their own manuals.

The martial artists of the Lightning Genius' lineage were facing what they often encountered.

It was also what the Murim Alliance was doing to Jung Yeonshin.

In retrospect, it was rather satisfying. They were more meticulous than the Leader of Law and Order Squad. Perhaps because her martial arts were overly advanced.

Instead of attempting to grasp the essence of the Radiance Sword Style, they were content with severing its branches.

The martial artist of the Profound Martial Alliance, on the other hand, had done otherwise, which was satisfying.

'I should craft a new form for the Radiance Sword Style, based on its mnemonic verses.'

It was a technique he had created in his immature white-rank days.

Much of it had been inspired by the sword scars engraved on the cliffs of Zhongnan Mountain, but he hadn't made significant revisions since then.

There was plenty of room for improvement.

He twisted his wrist to deliver another horizontal slash. The man immediately reacted, raising his sword opposite to Jung Yeonshin's direction.

As the boy swung the Beiming Sword outward from within his embrace, the man extended his sword-wielding hand toward Jung Yeonshin.

The man tilted his blade slightly toward his own head.

He created a slanted path. From the man's fist gripping the sword emerged an aura that flowed outward.

Crash!

The blade of Beiming grazed the man's weapon, leaving a scratch, and climbed upward. At the same time, the man twisted his body, escaping the trajectory of the sword aura.

It was a move that grasped the linear trajectory of the Radiance Sword Style. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

It was indeed a moment to be pleased. To fend off the techniques of Desolate Fortress' black-robed swordsman was an accomplishment.

Jung Yeonshin silently observed the man in his sights, his sword strikes unceasing.

Upon closer inspection, the man appeared to hold a fairly high position within the formation.

"Thank you." 

The boy muttered. The man flinched.

Buzz.

The Radiant Wheel Technique rotated within the boy's palm, which grasped the sword's hilt.

He didn't summon more internal energy. Instead, he altered the sword technique. The diagonal sword path curved into a gentle arc.

The light aura surrounding the blade also spiraled along the curved trajectory. It brushed past the man's raised defensive stance.

The man's defensive maneuver was ridiculed. It was as if he had opened the path for Jung Yeonshin's sword to advance.

'I only changed it to a curve.' 

Jung Yeonshin thought, the interest fading from his expression.

What had the man been so proud of?

"…!"

The man's eyes widened. That was as far as he got.

Boom!

The boy mercilessly slashed through his upper body. A dull sensation came to his hand, which gripped the Beiming.

It cut through the man's protective energy and dug into his ribs, erasing any potential for future threats.

If, by some twist of fate, the man were to survive, it could endanger the martial artists of the Lightning Genius' lineage.

Splat!

As the sword was withdrawn, a spray of blood erupted.

The open autumn forest path stretched vividly before him, as did the fresh blood that spattered across the ground.

Red streaks marked the ochre soil, bright and distinct, like a painter's strokes made with lavish pigments.

It was a testament to the absence of excessive force in his sword strike. Not a drop of dead blood was spilled.

During the clash, no internal injuries had been inflicted. Only the lifeline had been severed with precision.

The man's lifeless body collapsed at Jung Yeonshin's feet. The dull sound of its fall echoed faintly.

Swish!

The black-robed boy flicked his sword once.

Then, gripping the divine sword, he lowered his head slightly, adopting a meditative posture that clearly indicated introspection.

His refined face, with eyes closed, exuded a peculiar elegance. Long lashes cast downward.

He resembled the youthful swordsman often depicted in traditional landscape paintings featuring noble protagonists.

Eyes brimming with solitude. Swordsmanship bordering on divine.

The boy carried an air of mystery.

While his actions and words displayed boldness, he exuded a calm akin to the peerless masters of Taoism.

It was as if he were a practitioner nearing transcendence.

'As if he doesn't have much time left to live….' 

Ak Yerim thought, snapping out of her daze as she stared at the Radiant Demon Squad Leader.

The absurd thought startled her, and she bit her lower lip, brushing her long, braided hair aside as she chastised herself. This was no time to lose focus.

She forced herself to speak.

"…The Radiant Demon Squad's Leader is a cruel person. That skill—he wasn't even using his full strength. He toyed with him before killing him."

"Cruel? Perhaps it's the opposite." 

Zhuge Hyeon replied, who had a steel fan tucked into his belt.

"To clash blades with a master of that caliber to one's heart's content—it depends on how you see it. It might be too soon to judge the Captain's character."

"…."

"For now, let's extract information." 

He added.

There were four subdued enemies left alive.

Taking the lead, Zhuge Hyeon interrogated the remaining ones, careful not to disturb the Radiant Demon Squad Leader's meditation.

He asked many questions.

How many of them had scattered? What was their return cycle? Where had their leader, the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon, gone?

No answers were forthcoming. The mouths of the defeated were like vaults with no keys, firmly shut.

It was characteristic of the Thirteen Celestial Demons' martial artists. The one who had spoken earlier to Jung Yeonshin was an exception.

"No matter." 

The boy said, breaking his meditation.

The group settled in the center of the enemy encampment. It was the young Radiant Demon Squad Leader's decision, one that spoke of remarkable audacity.

"Who are you? Which sect are you from?"

"Desolate! Desolate Fortress…!"

The raiders who had gone out for plunder began to return.

They seemed to move in groups, returning in tens and eights.

Every single one who charged in with weapons drawn was killed in turn.

The sunset hue on Jung Yeonshin's Beiming Sword gradually deepened into the red of blood.

He held Zhuge Hyeon and Ak Yerim back, stopping them from assisting, while he alone reviewed his swordsmanship.

Earlier, the enemy who had confessed had claimed there were a hundred and fifty of them.

It hadn't been a lie.

Two days passed. The encampment was filled with corpses, all bearing the marks of the sword.