CHAPTER 175

The newly appointed Radiant Demon Squad Leader mocked the Sword Sovereign of Henan Province. Both figures were significant enough to represent their respective factions.

These were no ordinary sects—Desolate Fortress and the Profound Martial Alliance. The clash of these two peak masters was a monumental event.

"…Your sword intrigues me."

Baek Seo-gun said, the Eternal Heaven Sword Demon, quietly.

She raised her left hand slightly. It wasn't an offensive move, just a light gesture, sweeping her half-white hair—barely reaching the nape of her neck—backwards.

Her movements exuded the primal instinct of a master.

From her white nape to the Taiyang Acupoint at her temple, waves of energy emanated. It was immensely powerful.

For the first time in nearly three years, a top master, once deemed a blade demon by the King of Flames, revealed their eagerness. It was rare enough to make even the military formation of the Profound Martial Alliance falter momentarily.

Jung Yeonshin silently observed her. The irregular surges of energy radiating from her were incredibly intense.

Her inner energy didn't appear to stem from Demonic Faction cultivation, yet the flow of her energy was as free-spirited as if it mirrored her nature.

She was the type whose swordsmanship was difficult to predict.

'Strong.'

He thought, replaying the recent exchange in his mind.

The boy had initially aimed for Baek Seo-gun's head, intending to sever it in a single second.

His instincts told him she was no ordinary swordsman the moment they clashed.

The internal injuries from his earlier fight and the physical toll from his prior sprint were severe. A quick resolution was the only option.

But he was blocked by technique.

Baek Seo-gun's defensive maneuvers were astounding. Like wielding the Spirit Heaven technique, she had caught his striking blade mid-flight and turned it into a counterattack.

Her thrust, like a flash of light, seemed to say, "If my head splits, your heart won't survive either." It was a terrifying counter.

Jung Yeonshin retracted his technique and deflected her sword. He felt the weight of her swordsmanship.

The residual force from the exchange swept past Baek Seo-gun's neck.

Masters don't reinforce their hair with protective energy. It's bound to be cut by sharp sword energy.

The boy's concept of long hair as a symbol of mastery was shattered in that moment.

"Talking about qualifications."

The Radiant Demon Squad Leader, clad in black robes, said calmly.

Baek Seo-gun didn't respond. She merely turned towards the boy in silence.

The faint sound of her crimson leather boots tapping against the stone floor echoed beneath her long, red pants.

The dense energy she carried seemed tangible.

"…"

A silence hung in the air.

The encroaching formation of Profound Martial Alliance warriors froze.

Even the skilled martial artists from Alliance appeared dazed, unable to comprehend the scene before them.

Arriving after the Little Sword Queen, Murong Mingjun and Gongsun Min were equally speechless, though their expressions differed.

The young master of the Murong clan regarded the youthful expert who had exchanged blows with Baek Seo-gun with a solemn gaze, while the heir of the Gongsun clan couldn't hide his admiration.

Their feelings were completely opposite.

"I'll ask again."

Jung Yeonshin finally spoke, facing Baek Seo-gun.

"Do you know my family?"

Holding his sword downward, he carried himself as an equal to the Sword Sovereign of the Profound Martial Alliance. It was an unimaginable sight anywhere else in the vast Henan Province.

Yet Baek Seo-gun no longer rebuked his lack of decorum. It was as though, as a noble swordsman of the Demonic Faction, she acknowledged the black-robed challenger of Desolate Fortress.

"Of course."

She said with a laugh.

"I might know more about the Jung family than you do. I heard you left home to study at a young age. You're barely younger than I am. I've lived twice as long, after all."

"Were you a guest of my family?"

"Who knows? Was the Jung family ever the type to host martial arts masters as guests?"

Baek Seo-gun's lips curled into a slight smile, while Jung Yeonshin remained silent.

The two stood, facing each other—one in red martial robes, the other in a black robe—creating a stillness that filled the air.

When the boy fell silent, the conversation ceased, and the vast circle of martial artists and young warriors of the Murim Alliance surrounding them dared not interrupt.

"A beggar crossing a barley threshold in a famine."

The radiance of Desolate Fortress was palpable in its clarity.

"A man claiming dignity through his sword."

Heon Wonchang stood unaffected by the encircling formation's gaze.

The earlier audacity he had shown towards the Lazy Flame Dragon now seemed out of place.

Leaving behind a junior disciple who seemed stunned, Heon Wonchang opened his mouth again towards his squad leader.

"That Eternal Heaven Sword Demon is a peculiar one. If you wish to defeat her and her martial formation, it might be best to offer a wager that piques her interest. She's not one to act according to rationality. If it intrigues her, she'll gladly accept."

"Interesting. You're sharper than you look."

Baek Seo-gun raised her long lashes, looking surprised.

She turned her gaze back to Jung Yeonshin, her eyes scanning his entire frame with a curious intensity.

Her gaze resembled that of an artisan admiring a masterpiece.

"You've grown well. I once thought your father had some skill in nurturing talent. For the head of a third-rate martial family, he polished a vessel few could dream of and died. He must have had no regrets at the end. It's a good thing."

Her expression carried genuine satisfaction, as though she'd found solace in Jung Yeonshin's existence.

"…"

The boy's lips curled slightly into a faint smile.

As Baek Seo-gun tilted her head slightly, Heon Wonchang muttered from behind, 

"Turns out, she's just full of talk."

But her focus remained entirely on Jung Yeonshin.

"This truly is unexpected. To think a descendant of the Jung Clan would join Desolate Fortress. Your father lacked the spirit of a chivalrous hero. Were you relying on support from your maternal family?"

Even as she faced the swordsmanship of the Radiant Demon Squad Leader, Baek Seo-gun remained composed, showing even greater interest in the boy.

Her words, a blend of questioning and monologue, reflected a self-centered disposition. Yet her gaze seemed to imprint even the boy's breaths into her memory.

Indeed, she was peculiar.

"It's strange to face you now. Seeing your face reminds me of Ban-ak."

She said, absentmindedly playing with the ends of her hair. A top master, a martial incarnation circulating energy throughout their entire body.

The sound of her hair rustling from the energy resonated audibly. It seemed she liked the short hair.

"Ban-ak?"

Jung Yeonshin reflexively asked back. It was his father's alias. Could they have been closer than he thought?

"If I hadn't made a significant choice, I might have walked through Xinye with your hand in mine. As it stands, it's fine. You've clearly received plenty of love in my stead. Your complexion is excellent. I'm curious how they raised you."

Baek Seo-gun said with a smile in her eyes.

Did she mistake the capabilities of Jung Clan Movement Arts as the outcome of his parents' devotion?

At that moment, Heon Wonchang, unable to bear it any longer, interjected.

"The Tyrant Sword Tribe and the Profound Martial Alliance are no different. Blind men, all of them."

"Hm?"

"Even if you know the Squad Leader's maternal family is connected to Desolate Fortress, you wouldn't know the intimate circumstances of his household. That much is understandable. But speaking as though you do? That's a different matter."

He spoke of family matters. Baek Seo-gun's eyes gleamed sharply.

"Speak more."

She said.

In an instant, all attention shifted. Baek Seo-gun wasn't the only one to focus.

The Lazy Flame Dragon, the Little Sword Queen, Gongsun Min, and even the Murim Alliance members and Profound Martial Alliance warriors all turned to listen.

Though their allegiances and reasons varied, they all had their own interests.

Information about the new Radiant Demon Squad Leader was rare and highly sought after in Jianghu.

The boy's expression darkened.

'Heon Wonchang is buying time. I need to think of a way to escape.'

This situation wasn't meant for life-or-death combat.

It teetered on the edge between tension and laxity, owing to the peculiar and unrestrained nature of Baek Seo-gun. A temporary peace.

Jung Yeonshin's own caution contributed as well. He was in the heart of enemy territory. A reckless battle could cost his comrades their lives.

Two hundred martial warriors and Baek Seo-gun herself.

Without the presence of an uninjured Radiant Demon Squad Leader, it was an impossible fight.

Originally, Jung Yeonshin had planned to block the canyon to buy time for his comrades to escape. He thought it might be feasible for a short while.

'No, it won't work.'

The information passed down by the Sword Saint was wrong.

The martial prowess of Baek Seo-gun, undefeated in Henan, had been underestimated. She was far stronger than he had heard.

Despite encountering sword techniques she had never seen before, she had survived a single exchange unscathed.

In the world of peak masters, even conceding the initiative without suffering harm was remarkable. Predicting victory was nearly impossible.

'Even the soldiers here are trained in martial arts. I can't handle this.'

The boy slowly parted his lips.

"My inner strength was supposed to be known only to the Radiant Demon Squad."

"I'll keep my mouth shut." 

Heon Wonchang immediately closed his lips. Even when the Lazy Flame Dragon jabbed him in the side, asking for details through sound transmission, he didn't say a word.

The Little Sword Queen and Gongsun Min also showed great interest, though they seemed to restrain their questions due to the solemnity of the situation.

Suspicion flickered across Baek Seo-gun's face.

"Speak. What is it that this seat supposedly misjudged?"

"Go back to the Profound Martial Alliance and find out. That's the task of this squad leader."

"This seat's task was to look upon your face."

"That's not my concern. Stop pillaging and return. If you don't comply, count half of your subordinates as already headless."

The Radiant Demon Squad Leader, who still held his sword, spoke calmly. It was a composed warning.

Having seen him clash swords with the Sword Sovereign of the Profound Martial Alliance and even cut her hair, no one would take it as an empty threat.

And indeed, the encircling formation stirred for a moment. Even with the disciplined expressions of the trained martial formation, they couldn't hide the ripples of energy in the air.

They could kill the Radiant Demon Squad Leader, but if this formation suffered devastating losses, the victory would be meaningless.

Baek Seo-gun stared silently at the boy for a moment.

She slowly opened her lips.

"You're definitely the son of Jung Daemyung, but you're not like him. I want to know about your life."

"This squad leader is no longer curious about you."

"You, it's obvious you're not in perfect condition. How many days have you been running? Did you come here in one stretch from Western Peak Road?"

"…"

"Take a moment to rest. Your sword aura is impressively sharp, but I don't want to face a sagging sword."

"What's your reason for offering kindness?"

"There's a connection with the Jung family. It's been a long time since I cast it aside, but seeing you stirs a strange sentiment. Are there any survivors?"

"There are none."

"You're lying. Never mind. I'll find out later. Have you learned to drink?"

"I don't indulge."

"That's a pity. With a body as trained as yours, even most poisons would likely act as medicine. At most, it would just loosen you up."

Suddenly, her lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile.

"Now that I think about it, I've never received a drink from a direct descendant of the Jung Clan in my entire life."

"…Are you suggesting we share a drink here?"

"For every cup I receive, I'll spare one of your subordinates. Judging by how they charged in without hesitation, you seem to value your comrades. I'll stake my title and release one for each cup. Your subordinates will stay bound here."

It was a conversation that defied common sense. Jianghu was said to be full of eccentric and extraordinary individuals, and Baek Seo-gun was undoubtedly one of them.

Even beyond her reputation as a mysterious top master who wielded the Spirit Heaven, she was peculiar.

She was someone who had grown up in a rural family dispute, experienced countless rare treasures and lofty authority for far too long, and whose spirit had dulled.

Her pursuit of traces of Lightning Genius in Hanzhong, upon hearing rumors of the Jung Clan, was for that very reason.

She couldn't pass up even the smallest spark of emotion.

Like minor officials who, after a long time, retire to their hometowns in search of peace.

And so, a drinking table was set.

With a single cup and a single flask, two top masters sat facing each other.

Two hundred people surrounded the simple drinking setup, filling the largest hill in the Seven Crowds Gorge with a quiet crowd. The atmosphere was tense and cold.

"You drink first." 

Baek Seo-gun said, gripping the flask with her long fingers. It was the same hand she used to wield her sword.

As she looked at the boy with a faint smile, he, too, took in the sight of her entire form.

When she grabbed the flask, her pinky moved last. It would likely be the same when she gripped her sword.

The flow of energy from the Shaochong Acupoint, beside the smooth nail of her pinky finger, was the weakest.

[NOTE- Shaochong Acupoint is on the radial side of the little finger, about 0.1 cun from the corner of the nail.]

It meant her swordsmanship was incredibly free-flowing. When not wielding the Spirit Heaven, she seemed to use an elegant swift sword technique.

Her right arm, visible beneath the crimson sleeve, was etched into his sight. The sleekly refined muscles stood out as his gaze fell upon the smooth curves.

Her form was that of an exceptionally agile master swordsman, yet the shadows running from her triceps down to the extensor muscles beneath her thumb were slightly darker.

Her entire body was like a treasured sword. It was a structure optimized for fluid and dynamic sword techniques.

It was worth developing further using the Jung Clan Movement Arts.

'Should I also blend the principles of the Infinite Blossom Fist into it? A sword technique resembling the gusting winds of the Seven Crowds Gorge.'

Ever since he began creating a new sword style, his perspective had shifted yet again. The whole world transformed into inspiration for swordsmanship.

As if a sword had been placed atop his widened Baihui Acupoint, he absorbed both people and nature as nourishment.

Inside the boy's head, lightning bolts of inspiration constantly flickered. To discuss divine arts through swordsmanship, a single technique was never enough.

He grew stronger even while seated.

The young Radiant Demon Squad Leader raised his cup amidst the twilight.