CHAPTER 211

Kukukung.

The glow of the setting sun that had been streaming in from the edge was cut off by the sliding stone door.

With a heavy thud, the firmly shut door seemed to whisper words of resolve to the newly appointed Radiant Demon Squad's leader. That was how Jung Yeonshin understood it.

His fingertips brushed against the rough door handle.

Thud.

He entered the inner quarters of the hall, a space prepared by Ma Jin, the Desolate Ma Clan Leader.

His uncle had many responsibilities.

Because he was the newly appointed head.

It was said that the discipline of a martial family became harder to maintain the more powerful its members were.

The Desolate Ma Clan was a prestigious family, one where even the one-armed Ma Jin found himself struggling.

The letter Ma Jin had sent to Yeonshin carried a sense of exhaustion. Words were written within, emphasizing how much needed to be proven.

He hadn't even come to see the Bimu between Yeonshin and Cheon So-so, the leader of the Immortal Spirit Wood Squad.

"Couldn't" was the more accurate way to put it.

He remembered what Chung Myung had said during their exchange earlier.

The mysterious clan's eyes, they claimed, could somewhat see through their opponent's thoughts. It was a well-known fact.

The man whom Chung Myung had subdued earlier had undoubtedly been a warrior from the Desolate Ma Clan.

There was only one reason this unsettled him.

'Zhu Yeon-jeong.'

The transfer of a purple rank master was akin to handling a high-priority mission.

At Yeonshin's request, Ma Jin had overstepped his limits.

He had secretly smuggled Ma Yeonjeok out. It was clearly beyond the authority of a clan leader. If this truth were to be revealed, Ma Jin would find it hard to avoid responsibility.

'Perhaps this is what Zhu Yeon-jeong was aiming for.'

If they failed to show results, that would be the outcome.

Given the legal structure of the Desolate Fortress, ordinary results would not suffice.

It didn't matter.

Yeonshin took this mission seriously, but he didn't find it insurmountably difficult.

He had the Jung Clan Movement Arts and the Grand Revitalization Pill.

He was confident that vitality would blossom within his grandfather's body. That was why he hadn't asked the Fortress' Lord for protection.

She, before being a master, was a presence far too overwhelming to approach. Transcendent was the right word.

He couldn't imagine himself, nor the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, relying on her for assistance.

He'd rather clash head-on with Zhu Yeon-jeong a hundred times.

Such decisiveness was no longer youthful arrogance.

It was the discretion he exercised as the grandson of Ma Yeonjeok and the squad leader of the Desolate Fortress.

With that thought, he entered the nearest room. The first thing that caught his eye was the face of Ma Yeonjeok, lying on a large bed.

The elderly man's eyes were closed, his body frail and thin. The once-lustrous white beard now appeared dry and withered. The aura of a peerless master was hard to find.

"Grandfather."

Yeonshin whispered cautiously.

There was no response.

It wasn't until he moved closer to the head of the bed that Ma Yeonjeok's wrinkled eyelids trembled. Soon, blurry pupils emerged beneath them.

The old man's gaze settled on his grandson's handsome face. His softened eyes deeply pierced Yeonshin's heart.

"You have returned…"

A faint curve appeared on Ma Yeonjeok's lips.

It was a warm, affectionate smile. Yeonshin, for the first time in a long while, felt the warmth of family that he had always yearned for as a child.

Because of that, he found it difficult to part his lips.

"I left the Summoning Pill for you. Why didn't you take it?"

He had learned about this through the letter sent by Ma Jin.

The Shaolin Summoning Pill.

It had been kept untouched, with instructions written to visit at any time and take it back.

When Ma Yeonjeok learned that the pill was a reward from his grandson's mission, he had stubbornly refused to take it.

—Yeonshin, your grandfather's stubbornness is impossible to overcome.

Ma Jin had included that warning. He claimed Ma Yeonjeok had threatened to sever all ties if they dared to force him to take it.

Recalling the letter, Yeonshin's lips subtly curved downward.

Ma Yeonjeok's smile deepened slightly.

"Wasn't that pill a reward from your mission? How could I possibly take it?"

"I hoped you would."

"What did you just say?"

Ma Yeonjeok's white eyebrows lifted slightly.

He reacted instantly. His eyelids trembled, as if he were touched.

It was the first time Yeonshin had ever used that word. The awkwardness tickled his mind, crawling up to his scalp.

Without realizing it, Yeonshin composed himself and quickly changed the subject.

"I came to see you for another matter today."

"No, what did you say just now?"

"I obtained the Grand Revitalization Pill from the Murim Alliance. I'm here to restore your vitality."

The newly appointed Radiant Demon Squad's leader spoke of the priceless treasure as if it were no more than a simple tonic.

He did so on purpose. There was no other use for it.

The Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown was an inevitable realm he would reach. Even with the limited time given to him, that much was clear.

There was no reason to prioritize himself over his grandfather, who could pass away at any moment.

"I've heard of your achievements. Truly impressive. Yeonshin, your martial prowess is already at a level where you can speak of the world. Even Sword Saint Hyun So-baek, that old man, isn't just any ordinary figure…"

Ma Yeonjeok smiled faintly as he widened his eyes. He had even referred to the Sword Saint by the nickname Sword Obsessed, a playful dig only someone like Ma Yeonjeok could make.

"That Revitalization Pill… When I was younger, I desired it once. It was a miraculous pill we couldn't obtain, no matter how hard we searched. But…"

The old man, with a smile still on his face, continued.

"That pill belongs to you. I cannot take it."

"You saved me from the hands of the Blood Flame Cult Leader. If you hadn't acted in time, I wouldn't be here. Please give me a chance to repay that debt. I am now the leader of the Radiant Demon Squad. I refuse to live while indebted."

Yeonshin's words, rare in their length, carried a sense of duty in his level tone.

Today would mark the conclusion of the purpose behind his contributions to the Murim Alliance.

Through Ma Yeonjeok's Demon-Slaying Azure Steel Palm, he had felt the love only blood relatives could give. Seeing his grandfather restored to health would be the true reward.

"I told you, I cannot take it. This is a matter of principle and duty."

"There is no such duty in this world."

Yeonshin didn't need the pill. The merit he would gain from restoring Ma Yeonjeok's vitality was more than enough.

With that much, he could catch up to his predecessors. Thinking beyond that would be unnecessary.

But Ma Yeonjeok slightly turned his gaze aside.

A stubborn dismissal.

"This old man… has never been a proper grandfather to you. How could I shamelessly accept something like that? I should go and scold Ma Jin for this. How dare he relocate my frail body for such a matter…"

His words were slow and measured, his face pale and worn.

But his furrowed brow unmistakably displayed his anger toward Ma Jin.

Yeonshin decided not to prolong the argument.

In his grandfather's determined stance, he glimpsed traces of the man's youth.

Had he not likely disoriented his enemies on the battlefield in the same way? His demeanor toward his fellow warriors must have been similar.

Yeonshin thought to himself, 

'I must not become like my grandfather.'

He slowly opened his mouth.

"As you said, the Grand Revitalization Pill is mine. I will use it as I see fit. There is no room for you to interfere. I will handle it."

"…"

"I'm opening it."

He took out the small wooden box containing the Grand Revitalization Pill from his robe.

The sandalwood box was no larger than the palm of his hand.

A faint fragrance wafted out. Even while sealed, it exuded a clear, divine aura.

The pill, infused with the secret arts of the Sage Monks, was said to possess miraculous effects.

The moment he had received it from Lady Ye at the Murim Alliance, he had known it was the real deal.

This pill was undoubtedly a treasure.

Click.

He lifted the lid of the small wooden box, now warmed by his touch.

At the same time, the scent of the pill disappeared. The pearl-white pill, rounded like a pebble, seemed to guard its own potency.

As if imbued with spiritual energy, it carefully concealed its power. Truly, it was one of the marvels of the martial world. Just as he had heard since childhood.

But Ma Yeonjeok didn't even glance at the Revitalization Pill.

The old man's eyes gazed directly at his grandson.

"If I said I wouldn't take it, do you intend to force it into my mouth…?"

Jung Yeonshin didn't answer.

He had once absorbed the Plum Blossom Pill for Yoo Hyun of the Mount Hua Sect, and that had been when his internal energy was still in its nascent, white stage.

Now, with his mastery of the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel enhancing his inner energy manipulation, it was a different story altogether.

He could do it again, and better this time.

Swish.

Yeonshin boldly took out the Grand Revitalization Pill and swallowed it. There was no taste, no scent.

The mystical pill melted down his throat naturally, with a calm yet extraordinary force. It traveled swiftly, seemingly reaching his lower abdomen within moments.

"Grandfather, please excuse my discourtesy."

He gently pushed aside the silk blanket covering his grandfather.

The old man's eyes, which had been wide open and fixated on his grandson, hardened. It was likely because of the hand pressing directly on his lower dantian.

"Transfer of energy through the body…!"

Ma Yeonjeok muttered in a strained voice.

A technique that transfers internal energy to another person. It was a forbidden art due to the extreme physical toll it took.

But it didn't matter. For the current Jung Yeonshin, those side effects would not arise.

The Radiant Demon Squad's leader, with his talent, had no room for hesitation. There were more urgent matters at hand.

'It's fast.'

He didn't have time to gauge his grandfather's reaction.

This was different from the Plum Blossom Pill. The Grand Revitalization Pill had already fully integrated into his body the moment he consumed it.

A firestorm erupted within the Stone Gate Acupoint of his lower dantian.

Before he could even complete the grand circulation of energy through his upper torso's meridians, a surge of energy shot upward.

Wuuuuung—

A low, resonant hum vibrated from within him. His entire body felt hollow, as if his muscles had become vast, empty caverns.

The reason was simple: his meridians, capillaries, and acupuncture points were now filled with unprecedented energy.

The power of the Grand Revitalization Pill was immense.

Now he understood why Songshan Shaolin held the reputation of being the best in the Central Plains. The Grand Revitalization Pill was their most guarded secret treasure.

It was said that countless monks from various lineages had worked for decades to create just one pill.

The force now spreading through his meridians hardly felt like medicinal energy, it was so refined it seemed pre-purified.

It was almost unbelievably pure. He barely needed to activate the circulation of his Jung Clan Movement Arts.

A heavy pulse thumped repeatedly below his navel.

"Not the Fusion Fist Technique, but the Jung Clan Movement Arts is what you must operate."

Even while speaking mid-circulation, his energy remained steady.

This was the power of his innate control over internal energy, coupled with the abilities of the Jung Clan Movement Arts, which harmonized movement and energy flow.

He guided the energy forward. From his fingertips, which pressed against his grandfather's lower abdomen, a transparent ripple spread.

Wuuung.

If his energy were rejected now, both of them would risk Energy Deviation.

"Haah…"

Ma Yeonjeok let out a soft sigh and closed his eyes.

Yeonshin's lips curled faintly upward.

For the second time, he was tending to the body of a purple rank master. After the previous Divine Sword Squad Leader, this was his predecessor.

Yeonshin's consciousness descended into the vast, universe-like body of the purple rank master.

Just observing it poured countless realizations into him.

How his muscles and meridians had been arranged when they were strong, where his most frequently used acupuncture points and muscle clusters were located, how his body's system of movement had been constructed based on those traces, and how the forms of his three dantians had developed.

He gathered all that knowledge and began channeling the energy of the Revitalization Pill through his grandfather's acupuncture points.

As he did, he recited the most crucial mnemonic verses of his martial arts.

Mother…

The intent of the Jung Clan Movement Arts intertwined with the force seeping into Ma Yeonjeok's body.

It was as if a daughter were embracing her father.

Suddenly, Ma Yeonjeok's eyebrows darkened. Even the wrinkles near his eyes momentarily smoothed out.

It was the sign of an impending transformation.

* * *

"There's word that the Heavenly Squad has requested reinforcements. It seems they're having a hard time."

"I heard. The Golden Wings Sect has been acting strangely. Who knows what those lunatics are plotting? At least the Tang Clan has been cooperative, working closely with the Heavenly Squad. Still, there's a rumor going around that the Heavenly Squad Leader lost to the Golden Wings Sect Leader. I wonder if he managed to escape with his life."

"Is the Obeying Heaven Squad still out of contact? They said the messenger pigeon hasn't returned."

"There isn't even a branch office in Xinjiang, so what can we do?"

"That place has always been a Demonic Realm. Didn't the previous squad leader lose someone important there?"

"Why bring that up now…"

This was the conversation of the Radiant Demon Squad's blue-rank warriors.

Encircling the hall, their senses were sharp as blades, yet they spoke with composure.

Most of them had far more experience in the martial world than their leader, Jung Yeonshin. Their knowledge and insight were broader as well.

It meant they were adept at staying alert without letting it wear them down.

"What's more concerning is the Demonic Faction's Sect Leaders. There's a rumor that Lady Yeo Ryeong and the Heavenly Squad Leader are touring the Thirteen Celestial Demons. It seems the formation of the alliance left quite the impression."

"The Thirteen Celestial Demons forming an alliance? That's a nightmare."

"If that truly happens, even our headquarters won't be able to handle it."

"Enough. That's not something the Demonic Faction could pull off."

"Regardless, this is an unprecedented era of chaos. Probably because of the famine. They say food is scarcer than silver, so it's no wonder the Sect Leaders are becoming more daring…"

Just then—

From beyond the main gate, a distant voice rang out.

"You're right. An era of chaos is indeed coming."

Though the speaker hadn't raised their voice, it resonated clearly.

The blue-rank warriors had already sensed the presence. None of them were surprised as they turned their heads.

A middle-aged woman, draped in an ink-black cloak, stood before them.

Her silk garments had been dyed as dark as the night itself. Her slender face exuded grace and authority.

She was enveloped in the overwhelming aura of the Golden Immortal Eight Methods, a martial technique of the imperial family, and the coldness in her eyes made it seem as if she were gazing down upon the world.

Zhu Yeon-jeong of the Desolate Ma Clan.

"Yet here you are, sowing division. How disgraceful, meddling in family affairs where you don't belong."

Her crimson lips parted, and her words were as sharp as blades.

[T/L: Please support me AND read further chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans.]

[T/L: Subscribe for a membership on my Buy Me a Coffee page and receive 15 extra chapters upon joining, along with daily updates of one chapter: buymeacoffee.com/revengerscans ]

[Additional Info: If anyone is facing the issue of payment on Ko-Fi, please contact me on revengerscans1@gmail.com]