CHAPTER 194

"Back when you fought Eun Clan's First Fist, did you not feel anything strange?"

Zhuge Qing-ya's voice was clear and pleasant to the ear. It carried a resonance reminiscent of the Lord of Desolate Fortress, a sound that gently tickled the eardrum.

Due to mastering the secret art of Sight Arts, the true energy from the Dongjiao Acupoint seemed to extend to the nape of the neck.

However, the girl's complexion did not match her steady tone. Her expression, indifferent as it was, was oddly rigid.

"Strange?"

Jung Yeonshin asked back, absentmindedly stroking his left hand, the one without a sleeve. The left sleeve of his black long robe, inherited from Ma Jin, had been torn off along with his arm.

Whenever he faced a formidable foe or recalled one, he became acutely aware of his sleeveless side.

The bare flesh of his missing left arm made him fully grasp the weight of his position as a Squad leader of Desolate Fortress.

"You said I would have to face elite martial artists. Does this involve Fist Grand Duke Eun Hwaryun?"

"Yes, definitely."

Zhuge Qing-ya answered quietly.

There was an intent behind her words.

She knew her words needed to carry conviction. Moving the Radiant Demon Squad Leader of Desolate Fortress was no trivial task.

Even Lightning Genius himself could not act carelessly. After all, those who had reached the black rank were akin to strategic weapons in grand sect wars.

Even if it wasn't overtly expressed, the Martial Alliance held deep wariness toward the Radiant Demon Squad Leader, as though he carried a thunderbolt in his heart.

Even among the Eight Great Clans, having more than two warriors of such caliber was difficult.

Even among the martial aristocracy, whose prestige towered above all, they were the true pillars of their clan's renown.

He could not be seen as just another boy of his generation. Zhuge Qing-ya understood this precisely.

'He's not someone who can be moved by a single person's testimony.'

If she approached this carelessly, even the treasured jewel of the great Zhuge Clan would face severe consequences.

She had to start with something Jung Yeonshin would find convincing.

Zhuge Qing-ya swallowed dryly and took in the boy standing before her.

"Eun Hwaryun completely dismantled my Infinite Blossom Fist Strike technique. She was a decent martial artist."

The boy replied nonchalantly. It had been quite some time since he created the Infinite Blossom Fist Strike.

Since he had yet to achieve the unity of essence, energy, and spirit, he had to endure the black rank with a variety of martial techniques. The way Eun Hwaryun wielded her fists had offered him new forms to experiment with.

The Infinite Blossom Fist Strike could still evolve. The Martial Alliance had accomplished what the leader Law and Order Squad of Desolate Fortress could not.

There was no choice but to acknowledge that.

"A decent martial artist..."

Zhuge Qing-ya bit her lower lip ever so slightly. It was a rare display of emotion.

She was born with an extraordinary sense of perception, yet had lived a life suppressed under the tyranny of the Zhuge Clan's leader.

Even now, she was reading the aura of the Radiant Demon Squad Leader. Her uneasy heart repeated the same thought—what if he refused? She had no alternative plan.

However, the boy possessed an intuition that replaced mere perceptiveness. His brows narrowed slightly.

"I told you not to beat around the bush, didn't I? And not to chase after phantoms. Get to the point. The decision is mine to make."

Zhuge Qing-ya's eyelashes trembled.

She had never encountered such speech outside her family.

Was it because his voice was imbued with the true energy of a divine martial art?

Despite being plain, his words were different from her father's, and yet, her lips parted instinctively.

"…I examined the corpses of those who fell to you. It was on Zhuge Clan Leader's orders. I calculated the trajectory of your swordplay based on the patterns left in the sword scars, and I analyzed the resonance of the attacks from the pressure left behind. Eun Hwaryun received that counter-technique from an external source."

"Corpses?"

"The corpse of the Azure Qilin Namgoong Young Hero, whose body bore similar wounds, is also here, in the Martial Alliance."

The girl spoke quietly, yet with great difficulty.

Jung Yeonshin's expression disappeared as his brows knit together at the word "corpse". He did not ask any further questions.

In a split second, the Baihui Acupoint beneath his upper dantian dismantled every nuance of Zhuge Qing-ya's energy.

Was her statement true? Did she have an underlying agenda? No, her intent did not matter. His upper dantian's intuition accepted her words as truth.

Perhaps due to the expansion of his Baihui Acupoint, it felt eerily clear, like the abilities of an enlightened lineage had manifested.

Slowly.

The boy recalled this unfamiliar sensation.

Suddenly, the autumn wind turned chillingly cold. It felt as if something was drilling straight down into the crown of his head. A single wave that had risen in his mind now settled like a serene pond.

His intellect and emotions moved in sync.

Had he grown since the time his uncle lost his arm?

Or perhaps, as his limbs visibly lengthened, his unsettled emotions had tempered his Baihui Acupoint.

Jung Yeonshin secured two justifications.

Before taking action, he ensured he had a reason to do so.

The Martial Alliance had turned a blind eye to the exploitation of commoners, and they had used corpses to develop counter-techniques.

These two were enough. No matter how renowned Zhuge Clan Leader's prestige was, it would not save him from being deposed.

Jung Yeonshin reasoned to himself.

The Radiant Demon Squad Leader was not moving out of personal anger.

Slowly, he opened his mouth.

"I know your clan's formations are set up everywhere. Lead the way."

"Infiltration is impossible. There's no way but a direct assault."

"Because of the formations?"

"Yes. If you don't follow the predetermined paths, the guards will notice. The same applies even if the spell formations or mechanical traps are destroyed. It's actually faster to go through the open route."

Previously, Zhuge Cheon had attempted to test the Radiant Demon Squad Leader with formations and ended up thoroughly humiliated.

Zhuge Qing-ya had formulated her plan assuming that Lightning Genius had a way to break through formations. Still, it required martial prowess at the peak level.

"My father and the leader of the Murong Clan are away. I don't know why, but even in the middle of the Opening Tournament, they left around this time. If we don't act now, we won't get another chance. If we delay any further, the returning clan leaders will obstruct us. We need to secure the corpses to justify our actions and ensure our safety."

At that moment, Zhuge Qing-ya, who had been whispering quickly, suddenly scanned her surroundings.

"By the way, where are the others? The White Qilin and the Lazy Flame Dragon would be of great help..."

"They went to greet the distinguished guests in my stead, since I had to prepare for Bimu."

"Ah, the Sichuan Tang Clan..."

The boy moved forward, leaving Zhuge Qing-ya's sigh behind. He strode through the great gate of Cloud Fragrance Courtyard, stepping past the threshold.

The girl hurriedly followed and took the lead. Zhuge Qing-ya did not hand over a map of the Martial Alliance.

To depose her father, she had to expose his misdeeds as a chivalrous warrior.

With her mastery of Sight Arts, she had planned everything. She placed her faith in the nature of the Radiant Demon Squad Leader, revealed through the scars on the Azure Qilin's corpse.

It was said that the people of the Central Plains loved to gamble.

Zhuge Qing-ya had that same disposition.

'If I fail, I'll never see the light of day again.'

She thought to herself. If she failed, she would be nothing more than a slave bound by Sight Arts.

She staked her entire life on the Radiant Demon Squad Leader—for herself and her brother.

She wished to live a righteous life as a martial artist of the Orthodox Sects.

"This way."

Zhuge Qing-ya's fingertips brushed against Jung Yeonshin's wrist. The touch was soft.

Then, she gently wrapped her fingers around his hand.

Feeling the sharp gaze piercing her nape, Zhuge Qing-ya lowered her head slightly and muttered an excuse.

"We need to draw attention. Stealing the corpses in secret would be meaningless if the returning clan leaders simply buried the truth. If people believe the Zhuge Clan's daughter and the Radiant Demon Squad Leader are romantically involved... people will follow us anywhere. The Opening Tournament has drawn more spectators than ever. I will clear things up later, I promise."

"Have you not trained in light footwork? Just walk faster."

To Jung Yeonshin, this held no significance.

Even as they emerged onto the main avenue lined with Martial Alliance's halls, he remained indifferent.

No matter what gazes fell upon him, he paid no heed.

His blazing upper dantian's white clarity was eroding his reason.

The Azure Qilin was an eternal rival he would never face again.

A great wound had been inflicted upon the pride of martial artist Jung Yeonshin.

Along with an overwhelming sense of moral fury.

Now that he had determined his course of action, all that remained was to unleash his blade.

The murmuring crowd trailing behind them as they whispered and watched from the shadows felt utterly insignificant.

The scandal stirred by rumors of romance between two of the highest-ranking young martial artists wasn't something he cared to address.

These dozens of people would waste their time gossiping and tearing apart these rumors until Jung Yeonshin was past his twenties.

But right now, the boy had no room for distractions.

Before him, standing directly in his path, were the martial artists of the Zhuge Clan.

They stood before the only gate embedded in the walls surrounding the cluster of grand halls, guarding it like a fortress.

The expansive architecture beyond them showcased the overwhelming power of the Zhuge Clan. Even the curvature of the rooftops was elegant, as though carved by a master artisan.

"Young Lady and leader of the Radiant Demon Squad, this is where you must stop."

There were five of them. Their gazes passed over Jung Yeonshin and Zhuge Qing-ya's shoulders, prioritizing their mission over their allegiance to their young mistress.

They seemed more concerned with the crowd trailing behind them, their expressions uniformly stern.

The only exception was the middle-aged man in green robes leading the group. His sharp, angular jaw made a strong impression.

"This area is privately reserved for the Zhuge Clan. I won't ask how you two became so close, but if you're out for a stroll, I recommend heading west toward the lakeside near the Alliance's grounds."

The man's smile carried a mix of difficulty and curiosity.

Jung Yeonshin parted his lips to speak.

"They say they are defiling the corpse of the Azure Qilin, Namgoong Se-jin."

"...."

"As the martial artist who has inherited his sword intent, I must confirm it. Move aside."

"Absurd, I have never heard of such a thing before…"

The man spoke with an indifferent expression. Jung Yeonshin tightened his grip on his wooden sword.

For a moment, the man's expression crumbled, only to recover swiftly. Jung Yeonshin's suspicion deepened.

"A master who dominated the Opening Tournament could not possibly act with such lawlessness. Are you serious?"

"Do not waste words. I will not repeat myself."

"What a frightening joke. Do not do this. This place is the heart of the Martial Alliance. Even as the Squad leader of Desolate Fortress, you will regret this."

Despite the words, the tone was playful. The following words were much the same.

"More than that… I, too, have trained in Swift Sword. Your duel with Sage Cheon Joo left quite an impression. Among the techniques you displayed, rather than the devastating sword move at the end, your upper-stance swift sword caught my eye. A strike that fast, yet fit for regular use… I have never seen such a technique before. If it has a name, tell me."

He was trying to change the subject.

His eyes, however, contradicted his tone. Even as he spoke, he was unmistakably taking a hostile stance.

The four behind him, gripping their sword waves, were the same. Rather than making way, they were prepared to fight to the death.

—If you do not turn back, you will be cut down.

The martial artists of the noble clan spoke through their martial energy.

"Is the name of a sword move more important than my purpose here?"

Jung Yeonshin asked with a smile. With his free hand, he pulled Zhuge Qing-ya's sleeve, drawing her behind him.

The soft touch of silk brushed against his palm before slipping away.

The man's question.

It made him reaffirm the meaning of his new sword move.

The first strike of a technique is usually a test, a means of measuring the opponent.

A swordsman, in the height of concentration, uses his gaze to pass judgment on the training his opponent has accumulated. A swift sword, one that has reached the peak, pushes the enemy to their limits, forcing them to reveal their worth.

There is a saying—Judgment Cut.

To determine right and wrong, to distinguish superiority and inferiority. To fully assess the opponent.

And in this moment, the intent held within his grasped wooden sword was dedicated entirely to one person.

Even the chill autumn air could not subdue the veins rising on the back of his hand.

The name of the technique had been decided.

This was a declaration from Radiant Demon Squad Leader, Lightning Genius, to the Martial Alliance.

The way you examine the dead, and the way I do, are vastly different.

The first form.

"Judgment Qilin."

The boy answered. The words slipped between his teeth.

Step.

As he took a step forward, rage surged within him, and the martial vibrations coursing through his entire body grew wilder than ever.

The opposing martial artists reacted swiftly. They instantly understood there was no room for negotiation.

"Do not let him enter!"

"Do not yield the first strike!"

Their swords were drawn in unison. The movements of all five were synchronized as if they were one.

The Three Laws Five Elements Sword Formation of the Zhuge Clan. A secret art of joint assault. It was as if they had merged their auras into one.

As they charged, a great cloud of dust rose from beneath their feet. It swirled endlessly, blending with the formless martial energy.

The young Radiant Demon Squad Leader paid it no mind.

At some point, he had already raised his wooden sword high above his head. A lofty, sky-reaching upper stance.

With his legs, he stomped the ground.

Boom!

From his leather shoes, cracks spread through the floor like an earthquake.

The force rebounded from the ground to the soles of his feet.

Hwaaaak!

The additional momentum from his footwork condensed into the wooden sword, causing a fierce vibration to form. His black robe billowed violently.

The rapid convergence of his entire body's energy into a single sword path was unimaginably fast.

A tempest descended upon the wooden sword raised high.

In a single instant, as the boy's gaze settled, his brown blade slashed downward, tearing through the air.

Kwooooong—!

It was as if a firebomb had exploded.

A storm-like shockwave erupted as the wooden sword shattered into dust.

Struck by the compressed gale, the martial artists were hurled away, crashing through multiple walls before collapsing.

None had taken a direct hit from the sword path, yet not a single one of them could stand.

Only two, possessing extraordinary body-reinforcement energy, gasped for breath, their faces stricken with horror.

A massive wall began to collapse.

Rumble—

A deafening sound echoed as thick dust filled the air. The vibrations beneath his feet surged upward like rising floodwaters.

Step.

Jung Yeonshin moved forward without a word, glancing briefly at Zhuge Qing-ya.

The girl's body flinched.

His black eyes gleamed sharply.

Beneath his sleeveless left side, his bare arm was covered in bulging veins, a result of his internal energy surging violently.

His pulse pounded with intensity. The hem of his black robe, draping his clean right arm, contrasted starkly against it.

This was the power of a strategic weapon in the grand martial wars.

"Keep walking."

The boy said.