Chapter 16

Growth (2)

Over several days, Jung Yeonshin devoted himself to practice.

Although Cheongmyeong sometimes made a strange face when he saw him, he was such a free-spirited and detached person that he didn't mind.

The mystic techniques of the Ming Clan were too captivating to focus on anything else.

Lightness is the essence of flying. The mystic techniques of agility are inevitably influenced by the ability to move lightly.

It didn't take long for the inspiration from Cheongmyeong's movements to transform into a set of techniques.

Although he had only grasped the basic framework of the energy manipulation, there was still much room for improvement, but as the founder of a martial technique, one must thoroughly understand its essence.

"Between a cultivator who learns and a grandmaster who creates, even a single achievement at the beginning cannot be the same."

Baek Mirei said.

While tracking the traces of the Blood Flame Sect members and being on guard against their re-invasion, Ma Gwangik and his group felt that Jung Yeonshin's movements were changing day by day.

Although Jung Yeonshin didn't care about others' opinions, they didn't secretly watch his practice.

They could only guess his progress based on the principle that a high-level martial art would naturally change a martial artist's demeanor.

"That's the quality of a grandmaster. I can't deny it, but it's hard to believe even when I see it. Our leader chose to focus on his own cultivation instead."

After seeing Jung Yeonshin on the hammock bed, Cheongmyeong started sleeping in the official residence.

One month. The time since they encountered the Blood Flame Sect members.

It was a wasted effort. Not that they couldn't see the enemy again.

The cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens in the village continued to die one by one.

They could clearly feel that the Blood Flame Sect members' purpose was not to slaughter the livestock but to torment the villagers.

However, they didn't come to the farmland. It was because Cheongmyeong was keeping a close eye on it.

Cheongmyeong was satisfied with his role as a threatening scarecrow, regardless of how many animals died.

That's why there were arguments.

When Baek Mirei planned the tracking and patrol routes, Cheongmyeong would go to the hammock bed, saying he needed to soak up the sunlight.

Baek Mirei, who was frustrated, alternated between taking Hyun Wonchang and Jung Yeonshin with her.

"That guy. It seems he's not alone. He knows our patrol routes. This time, a horse died."

The problem was that the stable was far from the official residence due to Jihyeon's aversion to the smell.

A horse is not an ordinary asset. It would be more valuable than any other material in this place, Jinpyeong County.

Hyun Wonchang, who had quietly approached, looked up at the hammock bed.

His expression was not pleasant. It was because he had become more comfortable with Jung Yeonshin over time, as he received basic martial arts principles.

"Why are you so calm? Are you really from the Ming Clan? A horse died."

"Yesterday it was a pig."

Jung Yeonshin said as he passed by.

"Our Ming Clan is friends with the forest, not with horses and pigs."

Unless you die, you won't understand. Cheongmyeong added.

"Then I'll destroy their three generations somehow."

Jung Yeonshin chuckled and walked to the washing area.

Ming Clan experts from Iphwang Castle were generally free-spirited and didn't feel the weight of a sword, he said.

They were different from the typical image of immortals that people usually think of.

As a Iphwang Castle warrior, Jung Yeonshin gradually came to understand the world.

After washing and returning, a feast was prepared. Jihyeon, who was plump, rubbed his palms and observed.

On one hand, he seemed to think that Jihyeon would become a courtier if he succeeded and rose to the capital, but on the other hand, it was understandable because he had seen martial artists racing over the farmland for a month.

"Come, come in."

Jihyeon smiled awkwardly. It seemed he had made some kind of decision after avoiding them for a while.

Jung Yeonshin, who wasn't particularly interested, sat down with Ma Gwangik's group and had a conversation.

How to change the surveillance network, how many helpers they could get, and whether they should launch a search and extermination operation despite the vast surrounding mountains.

Through such meetings over the past month, Jung Yeonshin realized that there are many types of battles in the world, and the short, decisive battles preferred by most experts are not easily achieved in reality.

After the meal and a brief practice session, he went to bed in a familiar spot.

The night of the peaceful Jianghu was filled with the chirping of nightingales, which sounded like a short bamboo flute.

* * *

The next day, Jung Yeonshin set out alone. He easily obtained permission from Baek Mirei and Cheongmyeong.

It was because they evaluated the efforts of the helpers, who were afraid of Iphwang Castle experts, as ineffective.

The two experts rated Jung Yeonshin's chances of winning in a direct confrontation with the Blood Flame Sect members very high.

A fast runner would find it hard to defeat the current Seumye.

'This is strange.'

In Iphwang Castle, where the eyes of the Jung Clan saw no separate realm of the Immortal World, it sometimes felt quite strange to be fully recognized by the Blue Warriors.

'It's not bad, though.'

It might be due to the rapid improvement of his agility techniques or his mood.

He felt his steps were much lighter as he climbed the mountain.

Unlike Cheongmyeong, he was in a position where he couldn't afford to be relaxed.

Until yesterday, he had focused on practicing to improve his agility techniques, but he couldn't continue doing so.

Feeling stifled, he decided to overlook the entire county from the mountain top.

While thinking about combining his practice with the exploration, he wandered through the mountain paths that the group hadn't searched.

It was around sunset when he discovered a strange hut in front of a cave.

The shape of a door or passage. The group's efforts over a month had finally borne fruit.

'The smoke was escaping through another tunnel. They must have been eating more than just Wallgokdan, which is why we couldn't find it.'

Without much thought, he turned his back.

If it came to a situation where he had no choice, he wouldn't hesitate to risk his life.

However, he had no intention of deliberately creating variables in a situation where he had some leeway.

He had entered Iphwang Castle to survive and seek the fruits of the Heavenly Tree.

If he died meaninglessly, the fruits or anything else would be meaningless.

With a moderate tension and excitement, he stomped on the ground as he descended.

"Who are you?"

He met a red-haired man who was climbing up, his teeth sunk into the neck of a dead young boy.

Although his face was unfamiliar and his clothes were shabby, his hair was clearly red like blood.

Blood Flame Sect.

Just as he had heard, there were those who stole the vitality of children to enhance their martial power.

A place that didn't decline even after being designated as a heretical sect by the empire.

It was said that the Blood Flame Sect's Blood Techniques were cultivated in various ways, to the point where even Iphwang Castle experts shuddered.

Jung Yeonshin, who faced the reality of the rumors, observed the man's posture, stance, and aura.

'An assistant. One of the Blood Flame Sect members who was watching our backs.'

He slowly moved his hand to the sword hilt.

"An armed young punk. The aura of a strike, the character 'Hwang' embroidered on the white martial robe..."

The man, muttering as he looked Jung Yeonshin up and down, curled his lips.

"Just as I heard. Thanks to a young punk from Iphwang Castle, I can achieve some merit. I'm not like my brother who fled from you. I'll curse your bad luck..."

Swoosh!

A white light flashed, and the man's head flew off.

The child, who fell lifelessly from his hand, and the body, which stood for a moment without a head, soon collapsed behind the young boy.

Jung Yeonshin, who had already stood next to the man, swung his sword to shake off the blood.

"Let's end this now."

He muttered.

To speak of the law of the jungle? Fine.

The men, who were holding corpses like the one he was playing with, fell.

Through the broken hut, he could see the interior of the cave, where torches were placed here and there.

This was clearly a branch of the Blood Flame Sect. Indeed, the Blood Flame Sect members in Jinpyeong County were nothing.

'Can I handle this alone?'

He calculated his chances before entering. Survival and boiling blood were separate matters.

However, perhaps because he made a loud noise at the entrance, a powerful aura was already emanating from deep within the cave, as if they had noticed him.

The waves of energy in the air were both sinister and powerful.

"Kill him!"

A gruff voice echoed, pounding like a heart. At the same time, the sound of footsteps came from all directions.

'Two, three, ... five.'

Five subordinates and one branch leader.

He had heard that the branch leaders of the Blood Flame Sect were genuine experts, known as Blood Master Swords.

A sword that teaches and guides. But before he could gauge whether he could match the man, the sect members charged in.

"How dare you come this far!"

"Pay with your blood!"

Among the five red-haired men was the one from Jinpyeong County.

He made a surprised face for a moment, then seemed to think it was a good thing and rushed forward with his sword.

He seemed to be emboldened by his comrades on either side.

Jung Yeonshin didn't retreat but took another step forward.

Boom!

The sound of the True Step digging into the stone floor pushed back the sound of the men's footsteps.

Ignoring the hesitation of the men who were charging with killing intent, he loaded the Chukma Technique onto his Iphwang Sword.

He felt the wind of the Ming Clan wrapping around his rotating body.

The first kill in Jungga Village was a Blood Flame Sect member. This strike was different from that time.

Swoosh!

A silver trajectory was etched in the air between the flickering torches, influenced by the Chukma Technique's energy waves.

Three bodies were split by a single sword stroke. He could feel it through the sword.

The Blood Flame Sect members, who had charged without recognizing it, fell with the same expression.

The shock belonged to the two survivors.

The Blood Flame Sect member from Jinpyeong County hastily stepped back, but Jung Yeonshin, like a leaf riding a typhoon, struck with the Chukma Technique.

The sound of the sword tearing through flesh marked the end of the man's revenge.

"What is this...!"

The last man, who took a step back, was cut down by the next swift strike without recognizing it.

Jung Yeonshin, who shook off the blood, glared into the deep darkness.

What kind of ripple would occur if the first white Iphwang Castle expert to leave the castle killed a Blood Master Sword? He wasn't curious about that now.

Step.

The clear sound of the sword accompanied his slow steps.

The Iphwang Sword hummed, praying for the martial fortune of its only companion.