Chapter 25

Bopbeop

"Was there a Blood Flame Sect?"

Majin muttered. The scar on his face deepened seriously.

"It wasn't just anyone, but the Blood Demon Sword... "

"This proves that the incident in Jinping County wasn't just luck."

It seemed Baek Mireu recognized the gravity of the situation, as she frowned deeply. Behind her, Cheongmyeong merely stroked Jeong Yeonshin's head, praising him.

"There are traces of the Regeneration Skill being activated. It's definitely the Blood Demon Sword."

For some reason, Hyeon Wonchang showed an unexpected demeanor.

He didn't stick out his tongue or shake his head as if enlightened.

He was examining the Blood Demon Sword, confirming the excessive marks on its surface.

Majin spoke up.

"This isn't normal. It's an impossible event."

"The Blood Demon Sword isn't that common."

Baek Mireu nodded slightly.

"Whether in the orthodox martial world or places without sects, this is an issue we need to investigate. The expansion of the Blood Flame Sect is a significant matter. If they've developed their techniques and placed a Blood Demon Sword in each county, it means the number of their disciples has also increased. Those with completely black hair. If their numbers have swelled as well... it's terrifying."

"Of course."

This time, even Cheongmyeong seemed to agree, nodding his head.

"Seomye's achievement is not insignificant. It seems like events follow you. Bringing back this information and credit will influence the martial world. The Black Sect of Rihuang will have to respond."

After a moment of staring at him, Majin continued.

"Yes. You want to climb Zhongnan Mountain."

"I am a monk. I can't help but worry about my nephew's safety."

It seemed like his words indirectly criticized the Black Sect of Rihuang.

Majin's face stiffened awkwardly. He rarely looked so troubled as he spoke.

"Can the Chief Elder not distinguish between public and private matters? How can you handle it?"

It was a cutting remark.

"..."

"His skills are outstanding. Please send him. Record this as a solo achievement."

"You've been caught in a trap."

Cheongmyeong finally received a jab from Baek Mireu.

As he groaned, Majin, who had been lost in thought, slowly spoke.

"That's true. It's a difficult request to refuse. Let's make a bet."

"A bet?"

"Try to block one of my moves. One move is enough. If you can neutralize or evade it, I'll send you. To stand alone in the martial world, you need that level of skill. Moreover, I'll promise you another reward."

"Understood."

The group was surprised, but Jeong Yeonshin nodded calmly.

* * *

They headed to the backyard of the inn. Jeong Yeonshin and Majin both ignored the gazes of others.

It was a place for a single move exchange.

High-ranking experts from Huashan Sect approached, asking for the reason.

After hearing the general situation, most of them cautiously requested to see the move.

Majin readily agreed.

"Thank you."

The Huashan Sect martial artists formed a circle, blocking the view of the commoners.

"Chief Elder Magwang's move. Isn't he comparable to a senior master among the Black Sect of Rihuang?"

Yu Hyun asked the Heavenly Master. As the leader of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, he replied affirmatively and added:

"In a chaotic battle, he would be even stronger than me. His nickname is 'Netherworld Executioner,' meaning he completely dominates the battlefield. Many elders of prestigious sects have met their end at his hands, despite their pretentious evil deeds."

"Even receiving a move from him seems terrifying."

"Facing such a high-level expert, even a peer of our generation would find it hard to avoid being struck in a single move."

Yu Hyun's eyes turned to Jeong Yeonshin, who stood opposite Majin.

Jeong Yeonshin, the islander. His hand was lightly placed on the sword, feeling the wind.

His face showed no significant emotion.

Jeong Yeonshin was calm, thinking he would merely reveal the martial arts he had learned. He slowly spoke.

"Will you give me some time?"

"Of course. Since I intend to show a strike that even a white-robed expert would find hard to handle, you should sharpen your senses."

It sounded like he would go easy, but Majin's standards would be different.

Chief Elder Magwang. A black-robed high-level expert. There were said to be no more than thirty in the Black Sect of Rihuang.

Jeong Yeonshin closed his eyes. He began to observe his body, first awakening his lower dantian.

The energy accumulated in his eyes spread throughout his body.

While circulating his true qi throughout his body, he also tried to bring out the heightened senses he had gained from the Tanglang Sect.

For an ordinary martial artist, that experience might have faded, requiring intense practice to retain.

Jeong Yeonshin was different. Once he had truly felt the sensation, it became entirely his.

Using a chance encounter to further advance was unnecessary.

'Show me.'

Like Sun Wukong's transformation technique in the legend.

He could see Majin's body from all angles, even the back.

Combined with his unique ability to sense energy, his senses were at their peak.

"I'll let you go first."

Jeong Yeonshin rarely joked, but he did this time.

Majin chuckled and raised his hand. It was a thick, powerful sword finger.

His martial arts were said to be the essence of Magwang's techniques, meaning he had mastered all weapons to a profound level.

He could skillfully handle any weapon that fell on the battlefield, even discarded wine bottles.

'His hand must be the most terrifying.'

The gathering aura gave it away. Now he understood why a white-robed expert would find it hard to handle.

The density was on a different level.

With such a palm technique, even a thick city wall could be shattered in one strike.

'I need to dodge.'

He calculated. Blocking it clumsily would result in severe injuries.

Jeong Yeonshin completely lowered his hand from the sword.

The spectators were puzzled as Majin's massive figure lunged forward.

Bang!

His Bodyguarding Qi was not subtle. It was direct and brutally fast.

It felt like a condensed typhoon was crashing in.

Even this wasn't his full speed, yet Jeong Yeonshin could barely sidestep.

Whoosh!

Majin controlled his movements with astonishing precision.

A slight twist of his toes changed the flow of power. The trajectory of his sword finger, slicing through the air horizontally, aimed for Jeong Yeonshin's head.

Jeong Yeonshin continued to observe Majin's movements. A faint blue glow flashed before his eyes.

His current Bodyguarding Qi wouldn't allow him to escape.

The body movements of the noble race, as told by Cheongmyeong, were not techniques, so he needed a clear intention to take a step that would open a path.

'Just one step.'

The trajectory and direction of force that Majin would create formed complex lines in his mind.

His Baihui point felt like it was burning.

He needed to determine the posture, the flow of true qi, and the timing to place his foot.

A single footprint that would tear through the gale began to form in his mind.

At the same time, he felt another dantian stirring near his heart. It was a fleeting moment.

A single thread of inner power from the Jeongga School momentarily activated his middle dantian and passed through.

Even for a brief moment, the strengthened true qi spurred the creation of a new technique.

This wasn't the realm where some high-level experts could slow down time.

Jeong Yeonshin's thought process was lightning-fast. That was all.

His innate talent manifested in this moment.

Thud.

Kwaah!

The moment Jeong Yeonshin took a step, an incredible shockwave flipped his hair.

He felt the fierce wind from the explosion behind him.

"..."

Dust flew, but no one spoke.

Everyone present was a master who lived and breathed martial arts.

The step Jeong Yeonshin had just taken was extraordinary, and anyone could feel it.

"That step just now."

Majin's lips moved while his hand remained in the striking position.

"What was it? I've never seen it before."

"I just took a step. Because I saw a path to live."

"Truly incomprehensible talent. Still, even now."

"I'll name it Hwan-eok Bop (Wing Transformation Step)."

Jeong Yeonshin said calmly.

The origin of Magwang's name was not complicated.

It derived from the Black Sect of Rihuang, the wing that exterminates the demons of the Great Ming Empire.

The name Hwan-eok Bop was different. The character for 'light' in the name revealed Jeong Yeonshin's affection for Magwang.

Majin, Cheongmyeong, and Baek Mireu's faces couldn't help but soften.

Majin straightened his posture and slowly spoke.

"I permit Seomye to go to Zhongnan Mountain."

"Wow!"

Hyeon Wonchang ran over, shouting in excitement, praising the incredibly mysterious step.

While his body jolted from being grabbed, Jeong Yeonshin quietly thought.

'Hwan-eok Bop.'

It was just one step now. How many more steps he could take was unknown.

If it extended to ten steps, would it reach the realm of a Divine Sword Sect leader?

"A world-defying genius has emerged from the Black Sect of Rihuang."

"It's not a pleasant matter, but the potential of this newcomer is boundless. It will be enjoyable to watch."

"I'll come to visit, so don't turn me away!"

Amidst the admiration of the Huashan Sect experts and Yu Hyun's envious gaze, they returned to the guest room.

A warm atmosphere permeated among the gathered Magwang experts.

"To stand alone in the Zhongnan Sect, you'll need more than just a white robe."

Cheongmyeong chuckled.

What was he talking about? Jeong Yeonshin's eyes were filled with confusion.