Chapter 17

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At the end of the path faintly illuminated by torches, the enemy was there.

He was different from the Blood Flame Sect members I had seen so far.

His hair, with black strands mixed in among the red.

The ominous aura enveloping his entire body was palpable even to Jeong Yeonshin's skin.

Blood Blade Sword.

His appearance was just as I had heard.

However, Jeong Yeonshin was no longer the boy who couldn't withstand the destruction of his clan.

The graceful left hand, guided by the instinct of Jeong Yeonshin, added the technique of Ma Guangjie.

"Wha...!"

In the end, the enemy's scream of shock was no different from those of the Blood Flame Sect members scattered at the cave entrance.

Jeong Yeonshin knew how to use his appearance and age like a predator's fangs. Once he bit, it was over.

The grip that clung and seized the pulse was filled with the monstrous strength of Jeong Yeonshin.

"Aaaah!"

The enemy was in a state of mental confusion due to the pain, yet even as a high-level practitioner, a sinister aura spread from his body.

"There's a saying in the martial world. Be cautious of the old, the women, and the children."

The enemy, who seemed to be unable to hear, was pushed away by Jeong Yeonshin. The Blood Blade Sword, now a corpse, sprawled on the ground.

‘I only needed to kill one Blood Flame Sect member in Jinping County.’

By chance, he had cleared out a branch of the Blood Flame Sect.

Ultimately, it was a significant achievement, so it didn't matter.

However, the bitter taste in his mouth was probably due to the emaciated bodies of the boys and girls scattered around.

Jeong Yeonshin thought of Jeong Jang.

"Go to the Wuling Peach Blossom Spring."

Jeong Yeonshin squatted down and closed the eyes of each one.

* * *

"You've split the sword. What happened? Are you alright?"

The first words Baek Mireu said upon seeing Jeong Yeonshin descending from the mountain.

Her worried gaze, which now felt somewhat sisterly, wasn't unpleasant.

Initially, he wasn't wearing his own clothes but a white martial robe splattered with blood, and he was carrying a lifeless child on his back.

"There were eight red-haired Blood Flame Sect members. I also saw one with black and red hair mixed together, a strong one."

"Blood Blade Sword...!"

Her eyes widened slightly. Before Jeong Yeonshin could say anything, Baek Mireu continued.

"So, the Blood Flame Sect branch was here. They were parasites in this area. Regardless of the mission, the Blood Flame Sect is a target for extermination by the White Robe of Yibang. You've done a great job. Rest now. Qingming and I will take care of it."

"Eight and one. I fought nine. Sending soldiers would be enough."

"Eight and one? Nine, you mean? You just said soldiers would be enough? Hmm...?"

Only then did Baek Mireu notice the calmness in Jeong Yeonshin's demeanor.

Furrowing her brows, her face gradually showed surprise.

"Remarkable. You just said you defeated the Blood Blade Sword and the Blood Flame Sect members alone?"

"I killed them all."

"Hot...!"

It was a strange exclamation, more of pure surprise and admiration than doubt.

At that moment, someone dropped from above.

A light body movement and a scent of grass. Qingming looked up with a shocked expression.

"You turned a Blood Flame Sect branch into a mess all by yourself?"

"The enemies had already made a mess with blood."

Jeong Yeonshin answered with an unreadable expression.

Their gazes briefly lingered on the child on his back. Damn cult bastards, Baek Mireu muttered.

"Blood Blade Sword has a strange regenerative ability. Didn't you get stabbed in the back?"

Qingming asked, seemingly trying to change the subject.

"I'm sorry. We should have warned you about this. Blood Blade Sword is almost a god in the civilian world and lower martial circles. High-level practitioners capable of killing them are rare. It's not easy to share such information."

Baek Mireu nodded, rarely showing a look of regret.

"This is truly our oversight. I'm glad you're safe, but... even at the White Robe of Yibang, you might have heard some stories. A practitioner who barely managed to defeat a Blood Blade Sword but didn't know about their regenerative ability ended up being stabbed in the back and died."

"Anyone, not just an ordinary high-level practitioner, would have been in trouble, but you managed to survive."

Qingming smiled approvingly.

Listening quietly, Jeong Yeonshin slowly nodded.

"Regenerative ability. I see."

He released the arm supporting the child from behind. As he extended his hand forward, red and black hair flowed down.

The head of the Blood Blade Sword. His white face and wide-open eyes, which hadn't been closed, made him look even more terrifying.

"..."

Qingming and Baek Mireu were silent for a moment.

"Yes... regenerative ability. It does exist."

Qingming finally answered with a dubious expression. In contrast, Baek Mireu patted Jeong Yeonshin's shoulder proudly.

"Your achievement must be recognized. It's a good attitude."

"Indeed... it's not just an ordinary achievement. For a newcomer to the White Robe of Yibang, it's even more significant."

Qingming examined the head of the Blood Blade Sword carefully.

"The black hair has only recently appeared. That branch was likely quite weak."

Baek Mireu shook her head.

"Regardless, the achievement of finding and defeating a Blood Flame Sect branch alone cannot be underestimated. Even the 17th and 18th generation members would envy you, but they can't diminish your achievement. A White Robe, not a Blue Robe, accomplished this. It's more than just remarkable."

"That's only natural."

Nodding, Qingming patted the shoulder of Xian Yuanchang, who had quietly approached and was staring at the head of the Blood Blade Sword.

"He's dead. What are you afraid of?"

"A, a, I'm not afraid! How many bandits from the Green Forest and Shuoluai have I killed with these hands!"

Seeing him revert to his initial state, the group laughed.

Afterward, the matter was out of Ma Guangyi's hands.

Ji Xian, who was shocked by the head of the Blood Blade Sword, sent soldiers.

There was a story that a few soldiers wet their pants when they saw the chaotic scene at the Blood Flame Sect's Jinping County branch.

Ji Xian, knowing that terrifying blood demons had been active in the area, repeatedly expressed his gratitude, holding Jeong Yeonshin's hands as if he had never been afraid.

The infamy of the Blood Blade Sword was even more well-known among civilians than in the martial world.

The bodies lying in the branch were not from Jinping County but were presumed to have been captured from nearby areas. The disappearances hadn't been linked to martial practitioners, so they hadn't reached the White Robe of Yibang.

After four days of sorting out the incident:

"Will you visit us again when you have the chance?"

Ji Xian, now extremely courteous, looked up at Ma Guangyi and his group on horseback.

A scene similar to their first meeting but completely different. Especially, the look in Ji Xian's eyes at Ma Guangyi was burning.

Jeong Yeonshin, who hadn't experienced much of the outside world, could sense that Ji Xian's gaze held more than just pure respect.

-He wants to connect with a promising martial prodigy, doesn't he?

Qingming's telepathic message was tinged with amusement.

'Ji Xian of Jinping County. This is his life.'

Jeong Yeonshin nodded slightly, thinking as he saw Ji Xian smile brightly.

Perhaps he was a person with a larger capacity than he appeared. It was somewhat admirable that he could act this way despite the humiliation.

"I am Liu Jin of Jinping County! Please remember me!"

The group turned their horses and left Jinping County.

A long and short journey, peaceful but cruelly concluded.

The first martial excursion of Ma Guangyi and the two White Robes ended with Jeong Yeonshin's solo achievement.

* * *

The return journey was a bit more relaxed. They took quite a long time for the horses' feeding.

Thanks to this, they didn't see Xian Yuanchang's face turn pale, but on the way, he often made a sad face.

"Jeong Xiaohao has established a brilliant achievement, but I haven't done anything..."

"At least you guarded and prevented the evil deeds of the Blood Flame Sect members in Jinping County. That's enough."

At first, Baek Mireu tried to comfort him, but after a few repetitions, she remained expressionless and said nothing.

They stayed at inns rather than camping, slowly entering Yangyang.

The first thing that caught their eye was the massive fortress of the White Robe of Yibang, larger than the outer walls of Yangyang.

Jeong Yeonshin smiled slightly. It was a strange feeling of familiarity despite the short time.

"The atmosphere seems lively."

Qingming suddenly said.

"It's been a long time! Having completed our first mission, I want to visit the best tavern in Yangyang."

Xian Yuanchang had been smiling all along. The road leading to the White Robe of Yibang made him feel this way.

The vitality emitted by the bustling people, merchants, and various passersby was immense.

Enough to dispel even the dejected appearance of the White Robe of Yibang.

"Ah, not you. The people here. It's more lively than usual. Wait a moment..."

The group fell silent as Qingming closed his eyes on horseback, accustomed to the keen hearing of the Ming Clan.

Thanks to Qingming, no one in the group had stood guard during the long mission.

"Ah. He's here. It's a big event for everyone. Considering how the White Robe of Yibang honors those who have achieved great deeds..."

"I just heard it too. The former leader of the Divine Sword Squad is finally here."

Jeong Yeonshin's body stiffened slightly at Baek Mireu's words.

She glanced at him with a puzzled look and continued.

"If he challenges for the position of the Elder Council, he won't overlook the public sentiment in Yangyang."

"The leader of the Elder Council of the White Robe of Yibang is closer to the imperial court than the branch leader of Yangyang. Each person might receive at least a bushel of rice. How excited they must be in a bad year, not to mention a good harvest?"

"He seems to have already entered the city."

"Yes. They say he was riding with a young boy in front of him. The boy is likely the adopted son of the famous Yihuang Ma family. I heard he has tremendous potential."

However, Qingming soon urged his horse, seemingly uninterested.

"Potential."

Baek Mireu's black hair swayed with the horse's steps as she smiled.

She turned her head slightly to look at Jeong Yeonshin.

"..."

He nodded calmly.

After a while, stroking the horse's neck, the four people of Ma Guangyi's group arrived at the main gate of the White Robe of Yibang. The end of a long mission.