CHAPTER 260

The Seventh Apostle curled her lips into a smile.

"Your temperament has changed a little, hasn't it? Just like a raging storm, much like a poison-based martial art. Ah, come to think of it, how old is my Taesa…?"

"Raging storm?"

Jung Yeonshin briefly repeated the words, more to himself than as a question.

He didn't react much. It seemed to refer to the turbulent years of adolescence when one feels the passing of spring and autumn deeply, but as the current leader of the Radiant Demon Squad, it wasn't something that particularly resonated with him.

That was something Lazy Flame Dragon, who could never break free from poppies, would have experienced.

He himself was already an adult who had shared a drink with the squad leader. It wouldn't be long before he surpassed the senior members of the Radiant Demon Squad in height.

"I will not strike first. I shall repay your kindness."

Jung Yeonshin spoke calmly.

It felt as if only the two of them existed atop the pure white mountain peak.

Even as the Bukgung siblings and Jang Sun-il gradually approached from a distance, the presence of the Seventh Apostle remained strikingly distinct. She was like a poppy blooming in the snowy field.

"What...?"

But there was a vacant look in the Seventh Apostle's voice.

It was right after she had questioned herself. Her eyes trembled slightly, and her focus blurred.

For a moment, her sharp canine teeth subtly revealed themselves between her lips before quickly disappearing. A strange reaction.

The pain inflicted on one's teeth was as unbearable as a deep wound. If struck correctly, it could shake an opponent's composure.

Because it existed within one's breath, it was also difficult to guard with internal energy reinforcement.

That was why, unless they were complete novices, martial artists rarely bared their teeth outside of their sects. Yet, the Seventh Apostle's demeanor was uncharacteristic of a master at the pinnacle of martial prowess.

Especially when she stood face-to-face with the squad leader of Desolate Fortress.

'She's always been like this.'

Jung Yeonshin thought nothing of it and simply opened his mouth to speak.

To him, a life debt was never something that weighed heavily.

He was running through the martial world just to avoid an early death. How could he overlook the grace of having his life saved? And it wasn't just his life.

He had saved his uncle, as well as his comrades from Desolate Fortress.

Jung Yeonshin wanted to face his mother after death and tell her proudly that he had lived well, thanks to her. That perhaps she had chosen the wrong husband.

To do so, he could not become like his father. He had to cherish the things that had come to him.

"Your energy manipulation is somewhat unrefined. Listen to me carefully and refine it. And do not appear before me so carelessly. As long as you lead the Blood Demons, you and I cannot coexist. That much is obvious."

"...."

"Let us settle our debt here. Listen, what you have been seeking, your own Mara True Blood Art—is here."

In an instant—

"Aaaah—!"

The Seventh Apostle clutched her ears and screamed.

—From the Governing Vessel Meridian, Blood Preservation and Essence Warming, from the Conception Vessel…?

Jung Yeonshin had barely uttered the first line of the mnemonic verse through transmitted sound when he slightly parted his lips. What was this?

"Don't do that! Don't repay me!"

The long fingers that once tore apart enemies now pressed tightly against the outer edges of both her ears.

She had struck the Ear Gate Acupoint, where nerves were densely concentrated. It wasn't something one would do recklessly, yet she had temporarily deprived herself of her hearing.

And that wasn't enough, she screamed, drowning out Jung Yeonshin's voice. She sounded like a wailing bat.

"...."

Jung Yeonshin shut his mouth.

For the first time, someone had rejected the martial arts of Lightning Genius, leader of the Radiant Demon Squad.

This was no ordinary behavior. He had never imagined such an extreme reaction, not even in his dreams.

'How can this be? My mnemonic verse is superior.'

Jung Yeonshin had never experienced this before.

Until now, he had never considered the concept of pride.

But now, he thought he was beginning to understand. Was this what it felt like to be displeased? It was different from when other masters boasted about their profound techniques.

It was incomprehensible. If one wanted to survive the turbulent martial world, wasn't it rational to make practical choices?

He spoke again.

—The imagery flowing through the Conception Vessel must be kept cool. It differs from the Blood Preservation and Essence Warming mnemonic of the Governing Vessel Meridian…

"Aaah! Aaaaah—!"

Jung Yeonshin furrowed his brows slightly. What was this?

"What are you trying to do? Weren't you the one who needed the mnemonic verse?"

He had not forgotten the Seventh Apostle, who had once pressed against his shoulder and grinned at him with her crimson eyes.

My Taesa, my young Taesa. That was what she had called him at the main sect.

Her composure, madness, and obsession that day had been thick and lingering, befitting the nobility of the Blood Flame Cult.

Yet at this moment, her screams did not stop. It was as if she had lost her mind.

She kept covering her ears and avoiding his gaze, glancing at him occasionally, but refusing to look at his lips.

"Comrade! Is there a problem—?"

"The being before you is a monster akin to a great warrior of our land! Assume battle formations!"

The shouts of Bukgung Hu and Bukgung Rin rang out from behind. Despite the stark difference in their martial prowess, they had begun charging the moment the Seventh Apostle screamed.

They moved alongside a spreading chill, most likely employing their defensive internal energy to the extreme.

'So, all this over sharing a campfire?'

Jung Yeonshin stepped in front of them, blocking the Seventh Apostle's line of sight.

"Do not follow any further. The nobility of the Blood Flame Cult cannot stand beside me."

"I can't see! I can't hear anything!"

She clutched her head with both hands and shook it violently.

And then,

"Don't speak! I'll kill you! I won't kill you, but I will! Just stop! Please stop!"

She spat out nonsense, and her Pure Blood Robe flared dramatically.

Her energy resonated with her emotions.

Unstable waves of energy rippled outward in all directions, momentary flashes of crimson surging through the air.

Suddenly, immense power wrapped around her legs. It was a completely different way of manipulating internal energy, one that fueled movement both internally and externally.

Boom!

The Seventh Apostle kicked off the ground. Her hands still did not leave her ears.

As dust swirled outward in concentric circles beneath her feet, a crimson figure vanished with a sharp whoosh.

It was as if she had used Instant Step. She leaped over ten zhang in a single bound.

From her retreat, there was none of the elegance or eerie grace characteristic of the Blood Flame Cult.

It was an undeniable retreat.

A Demon of the Thirteen Celestial Demons, fleeing.

A sight hard to believe, even after witnessing it.

The leader of the Radiant Demon Squad was mildly shocked.

Because his mnemonic verse had ultimately been rejected. Was Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown truly so great?

"Comrade."

Bukgung Hu had silently approached him, his silver-tinged eyes flickering as he glanced at Jung Yeonshin.

Their comrade did not pursue the noble of the Demonic Faction. He simply stood still, watching.

The strange contemplation on his expressionless face was undoubtedly the deep reflection of a great warrior.

Despite valuing etiquette and reason, the martial warriors of the Ice Palace respected strength above all. That was what compelled Bukgung Hu to speak.

"Accept my apology. It is a shameful thing to have offered a great warrior protection. My eyes were no better than those of a dead wolf."

His words were rough, yet sincere.

Bukgung Rin, standing beside him, placed a calloused hand on Jung Yeonshin's shoulder.

A faint tremor passed through her firm grip, yet she remained composed.

"Would you not marry me?"

The noblewoman of the Ice Palace said.

"...."

"Ah, you men call it 'taking a wife', do you not? But by the customs of your land, my intent aligns more with 'marriage'. In our tundra, honoring a strong warrior means…"

But her proposal, which should have been shocking, did not reach Jung Yeonshin.

It was too trivial to even be called a joke.

The ability to pioneer martial techniques was the only companion Jung Yeonshin truly possessed.

It had given him a sense of maternal warmth in the Jung Clan Manor, a place that treated him as if he didn't exist. That alone made it invaluable.

'Anyone can see that my Mnemonic Verse is superior.'

Jung Yeonshin stood still for a while, waiting until Bukgung Rin finally closed her mouth.

The mountain ridge extending was both high and long. They had to cross several snow-covered peaks.

More and more martial artists appeared along the path. The sheer number was staggering.

People of all manner of appearances roamed the area. Among them, a handsome man sat inside a palanquin carried by four individuals, flashing a subtle smile as he passed.

"You're still alive, I see. That bastard must have failed. No, leave him be. It seems he's worried about those Thirteen Celestial Demons at the top, but for me, this is turning out quite well."

"Is there a reason to wait?"

"He's keeping his identity completely hidden. That means I now have more cards to play. I can minimize the losses."

"What do you mean?"

"If I manage the situation properly, I can control that treasured sword as I see fit. Just thinking about it excites me. To exert my influence over a lofty genius I had only read about in documents… it's like standing face-to-face with the protagonist of an epic tale. I'm tempted to turn this palanquin around and have a conversation with him right now."

"Hmm…"

The presence of the escort swordsman standing beside them was overwhelming. From the sword at her waist, an invisible, frost-like sword aura flickered ominously, yet her expression remained indifferent.

Even as she cleared a path with her display of force, her face remained as silent and composed as ever.

No voices spread.

As expected of a gathering place for extraordinary individuals, each person was using internal techniques to suppress their energy, ensuring their conversations remained private. To the onlooking crowd, only the occasional movement of lips was visible.

Even that was difficult to decipher, as many used the Art of Lip Synchronization to conceal their words further. Unless facing someone directly, it was nearly impossible to read their lips.

"Are they warriors of the Great Northern Sect?"

"They seem to be from a powerful noble family."

The gathered crowd was as numerous as tree branches. They stretched out densely in every direction.

From Jung Yeonshin's viewpoint alone, there were already hundreds of people, all radiating an unmistakable presence, each casting sharp glances at his group.

"They must be after the Thousand-Year Old 'He Shou Wu'."

"It's said that just one root can keep a person full for a hundred days. Not to mention the immense boost in internal energy."

"If a child were to consume it, they might grow up holding latent strength equal to a thousand jin."

"Watch your tongue…! There are rumors that all kinds of esteemed figures have gathered here! Who's to say that man isn't the leader of the Radiant Demon Squad, the one from the Murim Alliance's Opening Tournament?"

"Even so, this is the far end of Shaanxi. Aren't they just passing through after finishing a mission? There's no way Desolate Fortress itself would come all the way here."

"Would the imperial watchdogs sit back and watch as martial artists seize such a valuable treasure?"

Though Jung Yeonshin appeared young, no one openly picked a fight.

Instead, they were sizing each other up.

Those without true skill hadn't even made it past the entrance.

Anyone who had reached the midsection of the mountain, where boasting and brawling were everyday occurrences, was clearly someone to be wary of.

It was safe to assume they possessed at least one formidable technique, whether it was a deadly hidden weapon or a one-strike-kill ultimate move.

That applied to everyone on this ridgeline.

If anyone acted rashly, they would inevitably suffer losses.

The idea that striking first guarantees victory only applied when there were clear sides to a fight. No one wanted to be the first to start a chaotic battle.

Only those with nerves of steel dared to casually speak.

The siblings from the Ice Palace were among them.

Just as Jung Yeonshin adjusted the diagonal strap of his roughly slung satchel, Bukgung Hu spoke while brushing the frost off his hair.

"What is that? Weren't you keeping it wrapped in defensive energy even while fighting?"

"A book."

"Looks like more than just one or two. Is it a martial arts manual?"

"No. It's just a collection of notes with a lot of commentary. Rather messy."

"Why bother carrying something like that? Wouldn't it be better as firewood?"

"I plan to use it soon."

The face of Heavenly Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-Jin briefly crossed Jung Yeonshin's mind.

The Divine Sword Order's squad leaders of Desolate Fortress had no need for annotations, yet he had humbled himself to accommodate those of lower levels, ensuring they could understand.

He was a senior worth respecting, someone remarkable in his audacity.

The Bukgung siblings had shown noticeably more interest in their comrade ever since he had slain the Wave King.

"And that?"

Bukgung Rin's finger pointed toward Jung Yeonshin's shoulder.

It was wrapped in a broad, pitch-black cloth. His well-defined deltoid and biceps were fully exposed, as if the fabric was merely an additional layer rather than a proper covering.

"You'll find out soon."

Jung Yeonshin replied calmly, though he complained inwardly.

Perhaps he had requested it to be wrapped too tightly.

Just then, a peculiar movement stirred within the crowd.

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