CHAPTER 247

"Master, we have arrived."

One of the mounted warriors escorting the carriage spoke.

He was wearing a striking navy-blue martial robe.

Holding the reins of his fine steed, he gave a subtle gesture to one of his subordinates, a practiced motion that revealed his familiarity with command.

The subordinate, having received the silent instruction, swept his gaze around before speaking.

―All commoners in the vicinity, refrain from movement for the next hour. The Magistrate is attending to state affairs, and his clarity of mind must not be disturbed.

His voice carried internal energy, enforcing control over the road.

The carriage of the Magistrate of Xi'an Prefecture was extravagant.

From the elegantly curved eaves at its roof's edge, reminiscent of a grand hall, to its antique design, it naturally drew the eyes of the people.

Faces that had been peeking out from the windows along the street quickly withdrew. Those who had hesitated nearby hastened their steps and moved along.

Rustle.

A slender woman with the demeanor of a scholar was the first to step out of the carriage.

Dressed in a formal green official's robe, she carried a sword at her waist, bound with a red tassel.

It was the insignia of a Tribunal Officer, ranking fourth among the officials of Xi'an Prefecture, yet holding authority second only to the Magistrate.

She was a official, overseeing the nation's punishments, a position that required both administrative and martial prowess.

The waves of energy surrounding her body shimmered, though colorless, their presence was undeniable.

A Tribunal Officer.

In a world where supernatural warriors existed, an official had to know how to protect themselves.

Her gaze, as she surveyed the inn with a face neatly adorned with an official's cap, was sharp and piercing.

"Please step down, the ground is firm. The warriors of Jianghu have not dared to cause conflict on the official roads."

She spoke.

Step.

"Xi'an is truly a comfortable place."

A burly man stepped off the carriage as he spoke.

"The roads stretch out in every direction, meticulously planned. Such a vast and structured highway is rare. Receiving an appointment here is a tremendous fortune. Even after years, I still think the same."

"Indeed, His Majesty's grace runs deep."

"The Radiant Arts Leader must think the same. He has acquired a land of treasures. Jianghu warriors, after all, are those who carve their sustenance with the sword, but how many prosperous cities like this exist under the heavens? It was a most wise decision."

"...."

"One lives in a fine place. Your leader must have an eye for such things."

Adjusting the wide sleeves of his blue robe, he spoke as if reciting poetry.

Magistrate Wang Weishu had already begun his maneuvering. He understood the sensibilities of warriors well.

He spoke with the assumption that all conversation would inevitably reach the ears of the Radiant Arts Leader.

While reinforcing the authority of the government, he also ensured the pride of a formidable leader of the Demonic Faction remained intact.

"Let's go."

Wang Weishu said.

* * *

The commoners had died.

The incident at Great Moon Gorge was not small in scale.

Hundreds had plummeted from the peaks severed by the Ghost Spirit Sword's strikes. Every one of them perished horrifically.

This was different from the deaths of wandering swordsmen. Those who were not warriors of Jianghu had been utterly slaughtered within it.

"The fault does not lie with the leader."

Chung Myung scratched the back of his head, speaking.

"It wasn't a collateral effect of the battle. That senile demon did it on purpose."

He was sitting lazily on the edge of the tea table. The Radiant Demon Squad was gathered around.

Even Baek Miryeo and Heon Wonchang had joined in the annex of the inn. It was entirely an informal setting, allowing them to converse as seniors and juniors.

"I did not say anything."

Jung Yeonshin replied calmly.

His breathing was deep. Even with his entire upper body wrapped in bandages, he remained composed.

Thick white wrappings covered his torso, and over them, he wore only a loosely draped long robe. Right now, his upper body was under the scrutiny of Baek Miryeo.

Everyone had seen the gruesome wounds. The sword energy scars carved across his body formed sharp lines.

A severity not seen even in Lightning Genius' injuries. The worst he had endured since joining Desolate Fortress.

"It must hurt terribly."

Baek Miryeo's eyes, scanning the deep red bloodstains, carried concern.

Jung Yeonshin had to suppress the awkwardness rising within him. This was different from his grandfather's chaotic intrusions.

He had never been in such a condition before.

His internal wounds were as severe as his external ones. Even after executing Azure Flame-First Form, he had forcibly unleashed Infinite Blossom Fist Strike.

Because of that, he managed to prevent the escape of the Tyrant Sword Tribe's Elder, but the backlash had severely weakened the meridians of his upper body.

Only after applying the Radiant Demon Squad's highest-grade golden wound salve and consuming internal healing pills had the deterioration halted.

Despite the famine, countless warriors of the Radiant Demon Squad had scattered across the land to procure medicine for him.

Jung Yeonshin had told Lazy Flame Dragon to just hand over some opium, only to be met with alarmed refusals.

―Focus on your recovery. We'll find good medicine.

―They say one is influenced by the company they keep. We should start questioning that brat first. What dragon? He's a drug dealer.

―Oh? Not that I planned on giving it to you anyway.

Even as the entire area was abuzz with the gruesome death of the Ghost Spirit Sword, the inn remained unnervingly peaceful.

'A day or two of rest won't be enough.'

Just as Baek Miryeo bit her lower lip slightly, Chung Myung, who had briefly glanced at the leader, spoke with a hazy grin.

"How old was our leader again? Already taking down the Tyrant Sword Tribe's central figures?"

He was asking knowingly.

His intent to change the subject was blatantly obvious.

The Azure-Eye Demonic Swordsman was known to be icy and ruthless to those he deemed unworthy, but ever since Lightning Genius' initiation, he had been particularly accommodating.

A faint smirk tugged at Jung Yeonshin's lips.

"Seventeen...."

The answer came out like a sigh, suppressed by pain.

Chung Myung's face showed puzzlement.

"Hm? The year hasn't turned yet. The solstice is soon, but still."

"Wasn't it sixteen?"

Heon Wonchang interjected abruptly.

"Ah."

A quiet exclamation slipped from Jung Yeonshin's lips.

Without realizing it, he had calculated his age based on his dwindling lifespan.

With only about two years and a few months remaining, he had naturally thought of himself as seventeen.

From the time he wore the blue robe to when he donned black, he had lived that way.

It made gauging his goals easier.

"...."

A brief silence settled.

―The Magistrate has arrived!

A voice infused with internal energy rang out, thundering through the inn.

Their tea table trembled as though struck. Baek Miryeo, Chung Myung, and Heon Wonchang's eyes sharpened.

Jung Yeonshin muttered quietly.

"Magistrate...?"

* * *

"I am overjoyed to meet a hero of this era. They say you executed the Ghost Spirit Sword. At first, I could hardly believe it. Ah! I am Wang Weishu, a Third-Class Magistrate, overseeing the core of Shaanxi's Eight Prefectures. In martial terms, I am the highest authority of the government in this region."

Magistrate Wang Weishu had an appearance that exuded uprightness.

His words, at a glance, sounded perfectly reasonable.

Even if one wished to conclude the conversation quickly, his rank dictated that the meeting would inevitably stretch on.

The head of the Demonic Faction was not even worthy of comparison when it came to power and authority.

"I know that the Magistrate holds the rank of Third-Class."

"Indeed, unlike the ignorant wretches who fell by your hand, you seem different."

"Such flattery is excessive. I heard that the leader of the Sublime Land Sect was a great person, having passed the provincial exams. Before stepping into the Demonic Faction, he was known as a talented figure, excelling in both martial and scholarly pursuits. There's no way he wouldn't have known the rank of the Magistrate."

Jung Yeonshin spoke calmly, seated across from Wang Weishu in the center of the inn.

He had not even revealed his identity, yet the Magistrate had come to visit him.

This was before Kang Chang-mu and Shin So-bin had even returned from their investigation into the local officials' past conduct.

The mission of the Desolate Fortress' squad leader had walked in of its own accord.

―Something smells off.

―Just say the word, and I'll behead those bureaucratic scum.

Chung Myung and Heon Wonchang's telepathic voices reached him. Jung Yeonshin merely tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment.

Beside him stood Baek Miryeo, and beside Wang Weishu, the Tribunal Officer stood like a loyal escort.

Jung Yeonshin could feel the keen gaze scrutinizing the bandages wrapped around his torso and chest.

It was the gaze of the woman who had introduced herself as a Tribunal Officer.

She was the one overseeing all property confiscations, imprisonments, and executions of the Ming Dynasty's subjects in this vast region. Someone who had to be ever-vigilant against assassinations by martial artists.

From her sharp jawline and tightly pressed lips, her domineering nature was evident.

A faint energy ripple flickered across her brow, revealing traces of Sight Arts training.

'She's assessing my condition and martial prowess.'

Jung Yeonshin immediately realized this.

He lifted his head and locked eyes with her. At the same time, the Tribunal Officer, as if anticipating the exchange, sharpened her gaze, and the force of her energy intensified.

Jung Yeonshin remained unfazed and simply stared back at her.

In that instant, a faint flicker of Scripture of Origin Ability activated, his blue pupils piercing through the Tribunal Officer's gaze, revealing the depths of profound and intricate studies.

"…!"

The Tribunal Officer swiftly averted her gaze.

She failed to completely conceal the panic spreading across her face. The information embedded within his gaze, the sheer structure of his energy, had surged toward her like an overwhelming force, nearly suffocating her.

A brief wave of terror washed over her. Had she lingered any longer, she might have become a mindless husk.

She inhaled sharply, her thoughts racing. 

'This is not human, I must escape.'

Yet she had no chance to speak.

The Radiant Arts Leader's gaze did not allow it. Like a spider that had lured its prey into its web.

"…There's no profit in treating me this way."

Wang Weishu, who had witnessed the result of the silent battle between Jung Yeonshin and the Tribunal Officer, finally spoke. His displeasure was evident in his expression.

He knew when to assert dominance. Magistrate Wang Weishu was a man who understood how to wield power.

Unlike the recently deceased Magistrate of Unyangbu Prefecture in Huguang Province, who had foolishly pursued wealth and luxury in plain sight.

'That fool was likely murdered by some lowly swordsman pretending to be a chivalrous warrior.'

Wang Weishu thought to himself.

The Magistrate's role had once been called the prefect before the Song Dynasty.

Exercising authority in broad daylight, where all could see, was far more effective than handling matters in secrecy. The Magistrate of Unyangbu had been foolish.

Leaving evidence of killing a magistrate was dangerous. Even the mightiest warriors of Jianghu would have to fear the Manifestation of the Martial Arts Hall in Desolate Fortress.

The magistrate was called "Master" because he commanded Tribunal Officers, General Administrators, and Advisors. His personal safety was never just an ordinary matter.

Unlike local soldiers, those under his command possessed supreme Lightness Skill, making escape nearly impossible.

'An invisible military force, indeed. Think carefully, there is nothing you can do to me.'

Even just the presence of the mounted warriors stationed outside the inn was enough to remind them of the magistrate's influence.

To be able to rear such fine warhorses in a time of famine? That alone was proof of his immense power.

Wang Weishu gazed at the young prodigy before him, speaking.

"You seem to dislike beating around the bush. If you can agree to a few minor conditions, I shall recognize you as the true Overlord of this Great Land. Your martial prowess in executing the Ghost Spirit Sword more than qualifies you."

"…You'll recognize me as the ruler of this land?"

"You heard correctly. My authority is far greater than you imagine. I can ensure that the Imperial family does not interfere in our governance."

"...."

Jung Yeonshin silently studied the magistrate before finally parting his lips.

"How do you plan to cover up the massacre of commoners at the hands of the Ghost Spirit Sword? There is no way the Imperial family will not send investigators."

"You worry over nothing. Famine has made death by starvation a common occurrence. Tax collections will not change much, and as long as the Imperial Tribute remains untouched, everything else is just a matter of political maneuvering. Fortunately, the Imperial Censorate is quite accommodating to my intentions."

"The Imperial Censorate."

Jung Yeonshin repeated briefly before speaking again.

"You intend to fill the Imperial Tribute with plundered wealth?"

"Don't worry. I will share it generously with you. As I said before, just abide by a few simple agreements."

Wang Weishu continued with an indifferent expression.

"The entire Shaanxi Province is turning into Demonic Faction territory. Ever since the Zhongnan Sect was eradicated, the situation has escalated. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but the Blood Flame Cult has been thriving alongside them. Swordsmen like the Blood Master Swordsmen have been deceiving entire villages, turning them into cultists before vanishing. Those who have fallen under their influence are completely incomprehensible. Once a commoner is transformed into a Blood Fiend, they can only create more of their kind. They are no longer sane, they neither till the fields nor pay their taxes."

"...."

"Whenever rumors of red-haired figures emerge, go and exterminate them. If you wish to maintain your dominion over this land, you must do so. The moment I summon you, you must drop everything and come immediately. Even the Seven Major Sects you destroyed pale in comparison to this offer. I won't ask for more. Just take what is necessary to sustain yourself from the ignorant masses."

"Blood Flame Cult. That's useful information."

"You are reasonable. Those who reach the pinnacle of martial arts fall into two categories—either they are scholarly and shrewd, or they are eccentric geniuses. You, my friend, are exceptionally wise."

Wang Weishu stroked his jet-black beard.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, until the Radiant Arts Leader muttered his next words.

"There's no need to wait for Kang Hyosu and Shinmyo to return with evidence."

"Hm?"

"Arrest him. If he resists, behead him."

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