CHAPTER 313

The Great Diamond of Shaolin chuckled nonchalantly.

Jung Yeonshin, who had been constructing a strategy in his mind, quietly observed the scene.

'How benevolent he is to his juniors.'

Earlier, Gun Yurin and Yoo Hyun had noticed his internal injuries. If it were the great master Wonjeok, he would have understood his condition with just a glance.

Though he had sternly requested a duel, the intensity of his energy was similar to Jung Yeonshin's. It was a sign that he intended to match his internal energy and exchange blows accordingly—a monk with profound cultivation.

Moreover, that smile—he had seen it often from his maternal grandfather.

Even though he had never understood what mechanism moved the facial muscles that way, it always approached him with a tingling sensation. It was a familiar expression, one that Ma Yeonjeok would occasionally wear when looking at him.

Sometimes, it felt oddly embarrassing. But seeing the Great Diamond of Shaolin making the same expression, he realized that he had been narrow-minded.

'Did he let go of his suspicions just by watching my energy circulation, even after I held hands with the daughter of the Profound Martial Alliance's leader…?'

A true monk.

Jung Yeonshin's eyes filled with admiration.

Like Shaolin, the Jung Clan Manor was also based in Henan Province.

All the children of Xinye County grew up hearing about Shaolin's reputation.

For them, the Four Great Diamonds of the thousand-year-old monastery on Mount Songshan were akin to Buddhas who wielded martial arts. The word 'idol' could not even begin to capture their reverence.

Hem.

Suddenly, Wonjeok cleared his throat.

"Watching you, benefactor, makes my arms go weak. It would be best to heal both your internal and external wounds before we exchange blows. I was hasty."

As expected—Jung Yeonshin murmured inwardly.

'He has a vast heart.'

A trace of goodwill surfaced on the Radiant Demon Squad's leader's face. The old monk of Shaolin's thousand years was indeed as he had imagined in his childhood.

The esteemed monks of the noble sect, almost akin to living Buddhas. He recalled the days when he had watched the village children playing "Hundred Steps Divine Fist" with envious eyes from afar.

He felt slightly triumphant. I met them in person.

"The night wind is chilly. Let's move to the bonfire." 

Jung Yeonshin said, extending his hand to guide them.

Thus, the duel between the Radiant Demon Squad's leader and the Great Diamond was postponed.

…And so, the five people sat around the bonfire again, each with a different expression.

Yoo Hyun let out a sigh, a mix of relief and regret. Meanwhile, Tian Po lowered his head, gauging the mood around him.

Gun Yurin, who suddenly scratched the back of her head, seemed to be deep in thought, her lips subtly curling inward.

Meanwhile, the Great Diamond Wonjeok finally came to his senses. The loud crackling of flames colliding with firewood filled the air.

'That… is a talent that defies the heavens.'

The Radiant Demon Squad's leader had genuinely cultivated Buddhist power. Even if it was hard to believe, he had to accept it.

Even though he had studied Buddhism alongside Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong, one of the Eighteen Arhats, he had refined his Demon-Vanquishing Buddhist Power in a mere moment—something that, for even the most esteemed monks, would be as brief as a fleeting instant.

If that were possible, then the reverse must be as well.

Because his aptitude was simply on a different level.

A great master who constantly created new things, he could likely generate an Energy of Profane Destruction, one that reversed the forces of Eradicating Evil and Establishing Justice.

Did the martial arts of the orthodox sect have no weaknesses?

That boy, tapping his foot to an odd rhythm across the bonfire, was destined to become the nemesis of countless sects.

Underneath that lightly moving foot, numerous warriors would one day kneel.

'In truth, the actions of the current Radiant Demon Squad's leader are nearly undefeated.'

Particularly against an opponent he met for the second time, he was said to never lose. That was the rumor Wonjeok had heard since descending from Mount Songshan.

Someday, this would become a grave issue. Even Wonjeok could feel it already.

A man of Desolate Fortress, who held human lives dear yet viewed the martial world with utmost disdain, had joined hands with the daughter of the Profound Martial Alliance's leader to achieve his goal.

Wonjeok considered himself a wandering monk, a warrior lost in delusion, a vengeful ghost who honed his fists and staff to one day face the Heavenly Demon again.

And now, he was facing a tremendous threat to the martial world.

How should he respond?

'Amitabha.'

The wrinkles deepened on his usually smooth forehead beneath the finely drawn Buddhist seals.

At that moment—

"Monk, have this."

The Radiant Demon Squad's leader handed over a mushroom he had been roasting over the bonfire.

"It's winter oyster mushroom. It has an excellent flavor."

Under his meticulous care, it had been roasted to a golden brown.

Wonjeok, momentarily stunned, took it as he glanced at the Radiant Demon Squad's leader.

His twinkling eyes made him look youthful, just as he did when conversing with Mount Hua's Hidden Dragon, Yoo Hyun.

To the eccentric old monk, it wasn't particularly impressive.

The only problem was that the rich aroma, mingled with Radiant Demon Squad's leader's refined demeanor, carried with it lingering traces of the Buddhist power he had just unleashed, drifting in the transparent night air like a whisper.

A smile of fulfillment spread across the Great Diamond Wonjeok's lips. Whatever happens, so be it.

"Your kindness is appreciated, benefactor."

"You always seem to enter silent meditation whenever you're around me." 

Yoo Hyun sighed helplessly.

"So,"

Gun Yurin, who had been quietly taking in the scene, finally spoke.

Her arms rested lightly on her knees, as if ready to draw her sword at any moment. No matter the situation, she never let down her guard.

"I don't know what will happen to this group, but that guy over there already agreed to help me destroy the Slaughter Sect."

"Can we come along?"

"No."

"I wasn't asking the Profound Martial Alliance's leader's child."

Yoo Hyun turned toward his Desolate Fortress' companion.

Gun Yurin, who also glanced at Jung Yeonshin, muttered irritably. I'm the employer here.

"You still want me to accompany you, even with my ties to the Nine Great Sects?"

Jung Yeonshin asked.

For a moment, Gun Yurin's eyes gleamed.

"What does it matter whether you cut an ox's throat with a sword or a crescent blade? All I need is the meat—Slaughter Sect. With someone of your caliber helping, I don't have to worry about any unforeseen variables."

"What if I betray you?"

"Then that's just my fate. But honestly, isn't it more likely that I'd die from a blind poison dart thrown by some nameless assassin? I have a good eye for people I eat with. I trust my own judgment over things like status or background. You don't turn your blade the wrong way. You're humble, fair, and, above all, honest."

There was even a touch of madness in her expression.

How had she been raised?

The ambition to behead her brother and claim the Profound Martial Alliance for herself was laid bare. Her spirit was overwhelming.

Jung Yeonshin remained silent.

He had encountered a truly exceptional mind.

Hearing something so plainly honest left him with nothing to say.

"What can a guy like you even do? Look at the people here—do you even realize how formidable they are?"

With a chuckle, Yoo Hyun pulled out a wooden box from his robe.

"Leader told me to give this to you. But judging by your breathing, you can't take it yet. It's an elixir that affects the lower dantian. Your meridians must be in good health to absorb it—otherwise, it's no different from poison."

Swoosh.

He extended it toward Jung Yeonshin. A faint, fragrant scent, mingled with an almost mystical energy, seeped through the box's crevice.

Jung Yeonshin slowly accepted it.

The warmth of the wood was reassuring, like the goodwill of Yoo Hyun and Yulha Nangnang.

"Tell your leader I'm grateful. I only receive grace from the Sect Leader."

"Actually, she said that you saved her instead."

Yoo Hyun grinned.

"An elixir? Come to think of it, you did mention some mysterious pill as a reward for your cooperation."

Gun Yurin casually stirred the bonfire with a crudely whittled stick.

"For someone like you to not have a single pill, isn't that a bit odd? Your appearance screams noble son, you carry a precious sword, and your swordsmanship is refined enough to practice Sword Projection."

She spoke as if in passing, her tone indifferent.

But despite her earlier words about trusting her own judgment, she seemed tense—like someone testing the strength of a stepping stone before crossing a stream.

"...."

In the silence, Jung Yeonshin met her gaze.

Then, suddenly, Gun Yurin smirked.

"Even if there is a ferocious dragon, as long as you don't touch its reverse scale, it will bring rain to dry land. After all, it was born to carry rain clouds with it. Disaster is merely a matter of how one approaches it."

Jung Yeonshin realized it. Both sides had already guessed each other's identities.

'A pill, huh.'

He had already consumed most of the mysterious medicine he carried in his pouch.

The lingering effects of the techniques left by the Zhuge Clan's leader had surpassed the efficacy of any medicine. Even after reducing his stash to only two remaining pills, there had been little noticeable improvement.

He needed more supplies. That was why he had mentioned the medicine.

"There's a reason for it."

"Hmm, that makes sense. My apologies."

Tap.

Gun Yurin struck the bonfire a few times with a stick and smirked.

Jung Yeonshin, giving a slight nod, lowered his gaze. He felt the emptiness in his robes.

There had been a pouch of mysterious pills tucked inside, but it had been completely crushed during battle.

The attacks of an absolute master had nearly disregarded the internal energy barrier Jung Yeonshin had wrapped around himself.

Allowing even a single blow meant a piercing wound, an inevitability. The Zhuge Clan's leader's strikes were akin to hell itself manifesting in the present world.

The realm of absolutes.

Jung Yeonshin felt it keenly. He truly needed a proper body-strengthening technique.

'When will I find a solid internal energy structure? I need to craft it properly…'

Without proper techniques, even the finest martial arts were nothing more than a child's string game.

Like fabric, where the invention of the material itself was crucial, he needed an internal energy barrier that not only complemented his body and senses but also enhanced his defense.

Silk and hemp held no appeal. Especially since the upper-class protective gear he had obtained already covered his entire body.

It was obvious what he needed to achieve alongside Sword Projection.

Perhaps in Slaughter Sect, or from Great Master Wonjeok, he could find some inspiration.

"Let's leave before sunrise tomorrow."

"I, too, shall accompany the young benefactor for the time being."

An unusual group had formed.

In the twilight draping the snow-laden forest, various interests intertwined.

* * *

"This should be far enough. Stop."

A deep voice echoed as if resonating within a cave.

Three figures stepped onto the snowfield.

The world was covered in pristine white, yet not a single footprint remained.

The Seventh Apostle treaded lightly across the snow using the Snow-Stepping Without Traces. The hem of her Pure Blood Robe fluttered, dyed in an unusually deep crimson—almost as if it reflected her inner thoughts.

'Did it work?'

She cast a quick glance at the man clad in thick fur that reached down to his ankles.

A massive figure. Even estimating conservatively, his height was well over seven feet.

The back of Profound Martial Alliance's leader, Gun Wi-hoo.

As his presence gradually expanded, he no longer seemed human.

It was simply in his nature.

It felt like standing before a fortress armed with hundreds of cannons.

Not only was it impossible to challenge, but even approaching it felt like a gamble with one's life.

Even for the Seventh Apostle, it felt that way.

She wondered—should she have run away after all?

'No, I had to make sure Taesa wasn't being manipulated. This was the best choice.'

Back in Taiyuan, as she admired the breathtaking presence of Taesa, the Profound Martial Alliance's leader had suddenly appeared behind her.

It was as if he had sliced through the air itself with his Sky-Sundering Steps—there had been no prior indication of his arrival.

There was no choice but to be alarmed.

Especially for the Seventh Apostle—though she hadn't shown it outwardly.

A meeting between the gravely wounded Taesa and the Profound Martial Alliance's leader could not be allowed.

The masters of demonic sects were utterly base; if they encountered talent beyond their grasp, their first instinct was to destroy it.

Just like how the Blood Flame Cult's leader, whom she had crushed underfoot, had once tried to kill Taesa when he was young.

It was fortunate that Taesa's energy flow had weakened. His internal injuries were severe enough that not even a trace of Buddhist power could be sensed. To any observer, he would appear as nothing more than an exceptional martial artist.

To the leader of the Profound Martial Alliance, he was nothing more than an insignificant fly.

Thinking of it that way, she felt her face heat up for a moment, then let out an uncharacteristic sigh of relief.

The Profound Martial Alliance's leader seemed puzzled by Baek Seo-gun's silence.

He hadn't treated the Seventh Apostle with any particular kindness. Instead, his mere presence exerted a terrifying pressure, forcing them ahead and further away from Taiyuan.

Even when he occasionally exchanged words with Baek Seo-gun about sword techniques, he never directly addressed the Seventh Apostle.

He simply forced their path through sheer dominance, as if he had taken Blood Flame Cult's supreme prodigy as a hostage.

The absolute masters of the martial world were all enigmas. Their thoughts were impossible to comprehend.

The Seventh Apostle didn't mind.

Her mind was preoccupied with Taesa's safety.

As long as a direct encounter between Taesa and the Profound Martial Alliance's leader had been prevented, as long as Taesa had remained unnoticed, that was enough.

That was all that mattered.

That was what she told herself, as she ran her fingers through the ends of her jet-black hair beneath her crimson shoulders.

Rustle.

'Now… how do I escape?'

She was about to feign indifference, when, in an instant, her vision turned stark white.

This was different from the snowy landscape.

Before she could even register what was happening, an overwhelming force struck. Something had crashed down upon her with absolute speed.

Kwaaaaang—!

The thunderous impact followed only after she had already felt the blow.

As she reeled from the intense wind pressure, she struggled to maintain consciousness.

She could taste the blood rising to her lips.

The Profound Martial Alliance's leader had slammed her with his shoulder.

A technique of Extreme Shoulder Strike.

Crunch!

Even with both feet planted firmly in the snow, she was pushed back for a long distance.

Two deep grooves stretched across the pristine snowfield, spanning dozens of yards. Profound Martial Alliance's leader had become a mere dot in the distance.

Yet, his voice sounded as if he were right beside her.

"The Protective Energy Technique of bats is unmatched in the world."

Whoosh—!

Before she knew it, he was already behind her, showing his back.

An unimaginably swift movement technique.

Rather than a mysterious step technique, it felt as though he was overwhelming the distance with sheer brute force—yet, it was incomprehensibly fast.

"Now, it won't be easy for you to move those feet in the wrong direction, no matter the situation."

The snowfield that surrounded her vision was blindingly bright.

"Your Demon Roaring Blood Art is an outdated and crude technique. The True Energy Pathways are well-documented now—you should abandon the idea of escaping."

Only the Profound Martial Alliance's leader could make such a statement.

They had traveled for two days, a group of great martial masters on the move.

Even as an absolute master, Profound Martial Alliance's leader was astoundingly meticulous.

His nature was to eliminate every possible variable.

It was said that the Radiant Concealed Art, the technique he had mastered, was the pinnacle of blunt techniques, allowing no room for an opponent's evasion.

Far away, Baek Seo-gun wore a troubled expression, but the Profound Martial Alliance's leaders interrogation began without hesitation.

"Speak. For what reason have you been watching over my daughter?"

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"Your heartbeat is exceedingly calm. I see that you are telling the truth."

The Seventh Apostle instinctively realized, this monster had mastered the art of handling people.

"Then, moving on."

His absolute voice continued at a deliberate pace.

"There is also Lightning Genius from Desolate Fortress. The one who was with my daughter."

At that moment, her body froze.

It felt as though her heart had plummeted into her stomach. Still, she deliberately curved her lips into a smooth arc.

It was thrilling.

"Did your Profound Martial Alliance start working with the Hao Clan now?"

"You guessed why a lowly thing like you would show deference to my Sword Sovereign—because you are from the Jung Clan Manor of Xinye County."

Profound Martial Alliance's leader continued.

"I also heard that you ventured deep into Desolate Fortress, calling Ye Clan's leader your grandfather. It was difficult to believe, but you openly bragged about it before slaughtering the Blood Demons of Shaanxi."

"There were a lot of survivors, now that I think about it. They were like flies."

"I know that you hold Lightning Genius in particular regard. I have also been keeping an eye on him."

"What, are you planning to give your lackluster son some lessons? You might want to check if that kid's head is still attached. My Taesa…"

She suddenly fell silent. She had sensed something strange.

This king of a martial force, one who ruled over an army of warriors, was concealing a sinister agenda. A scheme directly tied to Taesa's fate.

"Continue speaking. Tell me everything about Lotus Nezha."

"…I don't know anything else."

Step.

The sound of snow crunching echoed behind her.

The movement, as he turned toward her, was heavy. The sheer weight of his presence shook the air.

"I know how Blood Demons cling to life. Do you wish to die in utter ruin?"

His words were not idle threats, even when spoken to one of Blood Flame Cult's highest apostles.

He was leader of the Profound Martial Alliance—nothing was beyond his reach.

From behind her, his voice came again.

"You truly have nothing to say?"

"Mm-hmm."

Her bloodstained smile deepened.

"I don't know."

At that moment.

The Seventh Apostle's gaze shot toward a distant ridge.

"Ah…?"

Then, her eyes widened. Her shoulders tensed up.

"Grandfather!"

Whoooom—!

The snow-covered ground caved inward, forming a massive concentric crater.

An unprecedented wave of force surged forth.

A colorless energy swept past them, chilling their very bones as it brushed against their garments.

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