Chapter 46

Preparation (2)

Taesun approached.

Jeong Yeonshin stood still, sword in hand.

Swordsmanship. At this moment, the foundation of the art that could handle a group was being formed.

"Let's meet again."

Taesun Juyunmyeong said.

That was it. Taesun did not reveal any more emotions. It seemed he had lived like that.

'Does this mean I shouldn't die somewhere?'

Jeong Yeonshin took a bow and then raised his head. After Taesun entered the armory.

Cheongmyeong slowly approached and put his arm around Jeong Yeonshin's shoulder.

"That's how it is with people's kindness. You can't get it all at once. If you want to be the leader of the Shinjeom Corps, even kindness is insufficient. You need to build trust. Consistency is the answer."

"That's right. In any case, I should start by building merit."

Jeong Yeonshin answered without hesitation.

He sheathed his sword and fastened it to his waist with the Iphwang Sword. A sword was a consumable item. A sword that never dulled was said to be a rare and famous sword.

The touch of the newly acquired Bukmyeong felt pleasantly cool.

"Go in first. I have a place to go."

"Alright."

Cheongmyeong answered plainly and turned around.

Cheongmyeong of the Cheongan Demon Sword. Despite his seemingly warm demeanor, he was a person who felt no particular regret about anything.

Jeong Yeonshin watched his back for a moment before moving.

It was around sunset, the agreed time. At the end of his steps through the twilight, the main hall of the Iphwang Castle was there.

Without any particular restraint, he entered and climbed the stairs.

Since he had turned blue, he felt as if he had completely blended into the Iphwang Castle.

"Seomyeol..."

The moment he uttered the name that had become his courtesy name after the ceremony.

The thick stone door of the castle lord's office opened on its own. Just like when he was in the Iphwang City.

Now, he could sense a slight aura.

It was called "Hollow Air Capture." A realm where one could touch things without even touching them.

Perhaps a fragment of the martial arts that had single-handedly destroyed the royal family of the Dai Dynasty.

'He's not stopping me.'

It seemed to be an acknowledgment. Jeong Yeonshin bowed once and stood up.

That was enough. One does not bow more than once to a living person.

This was the custom in Zhongyuan, where Taoism had taken root. The same was true in the martial world.

He sat in front of the Iphwang Castle Lord, who wore a faint smile.

Up close, her face was astonishingly pale and transparent.

She laughed softly.

"That's not it. Show me your back."

Her light breath brushed against Jeong Yeonshin's cheek. It was a very delicate exhalation.

He wondered how much cultivation he had accumulated to have such deep breathing.

Jeong Yeonshin turned his body in awe.

'I thought she would teach me the incantation first and then guide the true energy.'

It seemed she wanted to finish the transmission of martial arts quickly. He remembered when Yuxian, a disciple of the Huashan Sect's leader, had received the energy from Zisodan.

Jeong Yeonshin could speak while cultivating energy. It seemed the Iphwang Castle Lord could do the same.

"It's called the 'Moon Spirit Harmony Knot.' It's my unique martial art."

Her hand touched Jeong Yeonshin's back. It was very warm.

Despite her appearance like a sister, it felt like the touch of a mother he had never met.

Rumble.

A purity of inner energy that he could never have imagined penetrated his body.

A clear and pure energy, as if the energy of nature had been directly stored, entered.

His entire body's meridians and blood vessels began to fill in sequence. It was a movement to show the energy accumulation path of the Moon Spirit Harmony Knot.

"This is how it's done. Feel it."

Jeong Yeonshin relaxed his mind and closed his eyes.

With the Iphwang Castle Lord's voice teaching the incantation, he felt the flow of true energy.

As time passed, his will began to guide the energy on its own.

"Yes. That's right."

Her low voice encouraged the flow.

Half an hour was sufficient.

The fingertips of the Iphwang Castle Lord, which had been pressing on his back, lifted, and her inner energy dispersed.

Jeong Yeonshin learned the divine skill with one circulation of the incantation. It was enough.

Her breath, tinged with a smile, tickled his neck. Her whisper reached his ear.

"If you have any problems, come and ask."

"Thank you for the reward."

Jeong Yeonshin turned and bowed respectfully. She smiled again.

On the way from the office to the Majin Hall.

His heart was elated. Jeong Yeonshin realized anew the vastness of the world of martial arts.

It was different from the true energy manipulation of various sword techniques and fist techniques.

He felt the existence of a supreme martial art that could draw and store the energy of nature.

Perhaps due to the castle lord's consideration, the Moon Spirit Harmony Knot did not reject the energy of Jeongga Donggong.

Like her aura that seemed to embrace all things.

"Very good."

He muttered to himself, feeling a surge of inspiration.

He could probably create a heart method that surpassed the third rank immediately.

'I miss Seongin.'

He was very grateful to his distant relative, Masin, and his mediocre maternal grandfather, Mayeolji.

* * *

Jeong Yeonshin devoted himself to heart method cultivation and creation until the next evening.

Sitting under the bed to cultivate inner energy was something he hadn't done since his childhood.

Focusing solely on the living energy inside and outside his body wasn't a bad experience.

When he completed the grand circulation of his entire body, Do Yuwon from the General Affairs Department came to Jeong Yeonshin's room.

"Indeed, this is something to celebrate. Another direct disciple of the castle lord has been born."

Do Yuwon said with a broad smile, carrying two sets of blue clothes on his arm.

"That is...?"

"You received new martial clothes just the other day, but you need to wear something different."

Do Yuwon carefully unfolded one of the clothes in his arms.

It was martial clothes. There wasn't much difference from the blue martial clothes the Iphwang Castle Lord had given him during the promotion ceremony.

The only difference was the color of the 'Rough Yellow' embroidered on both shoulders and the back.

The character 'Hwang' (荒) was embroidered in gold thread.

"Those who have received the castle lord's martial arts have a symbolic significance regardless of the color of their martial clothes. You will inevitably become famous in the martial world. Therefore, it is appropriate for you, Jeong Xiaoxie, to receive the ritual of the castle, just like the other royal family members. The General Affairs Department has prepared it."

"I see. Thank you."

Jeong Yeonshin accepted the blue martial clothes with gold embroidery.

At the same time, Do Yuwon, who had a look of realization, added.

"In fact, I observed the eyes of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, who has already received instruction. The castle lord doesn't care, but we, the subordinates, are different. However, it seems he let it slide this time."

Jeong Yeonshin nodded calmly and saw him off.

He immediately changed his clothes and left the room. There was a summons from Majin.

The gold characters were very noticeable.

The eyes of the seniors he met everywhere widened.

He brushed off their questions and arrived at the main training ground, where Majin and the other Iphwang Corps members were gathered.

The new member, Shin So-bin, who had been assigned to the corps this time, was also there.

"Xiao, Xiaoxie! What is that dazzling golden appearance?!"

After Jeong Yeonshin casually accepted Hyunwon Chang's fuss, Majin spoke.

"I'll speak plainly. We all agreed to the short mission cycle. First, under the leadership of the blue Seomyeol, Hyunwon Chang and Shin So-bin will take the primary mission. The three of you are suitable. We need young faces."

"Young faces?"

Jeong Yeonshin asked quietly. He suddenly remembered the young monk from Shaolin who had talked about the romance of young martial artists.

"There are some people who are called upright and fair martial families by the public. You must have heard of them. The Huangfu Family."

Majin said. He twisted the scar on his lips.

"In fact, it's different. The Changtian Sect has already uncovered their secrets long ago. Those people are mobilizing the common folk to rebuild their family estate. Without any compensation, and preventing them from engaging in their livelihoods. They are forcing labor on the people without any royal directive."

"Despicable bastards!"

"It's a common occurrence."

It was a moment of contrasting reactions from Hyunwon Chang and Shin So-bin.

The martial artists of large sects are superhuman. They possess a power that can practically act as deities in the lives of the common people.

With the human resources at their disposal, there are those who cannot help but abuse their power.

"There are over a thousand forced laborers. The issue of public livelihood directly related to tribute is a very sensitive matter. There are limits to turning a blind eye to the local martial gentry. However, we must put great effort into punishing the righteous sects, and all public sentiment and perception must be on the side of the Iphwang Castle... "

Majin paused for a moment and continued.

"The Huangfu Family has completely dominated the land of Jinan in Shandong. They act like a royal family. There are limits to exposing their behavior. Seomyeol, you are important."

"What is the mission content?"

"Go to the Dragon Phoenix Assembly with the two white ones and hide your identity. This time, the assembly is being held in Namjeokye under the auspices of the Nangong Family. Shandong is right above, so the young master of the Huangfu Family will also be there."

Majin paused and then spoke, finally assigning Jeong Yeonshin's fourth mission.

"Your mission is provocation. Irritate the young master so much that he goes crazy. Make him feel that he cannot rest until he mobilizes his family to eliminate you. You must make the Huangfu Family's power move significantly, revealing the cracks in their dominance over the entire Jinan region."

"What happens if I succeed?"

"While you are in Namjeokye, we will immediately extract reliable witnesses and evidence. It's something we've been preparing for a long time. Three out of the seventeen Iphwang Corps will gather. The Majin Hall, Changtian Sect, and Mieom Corps will attack the Huangfu Family together."

He was talking about destroying one of the eight major families of the righteous martial world.

It was truly a massive undertaking. The cooperation of three Iphwang Corps units was also significant.

There are at least thirteen major sects in Zhongyuan, and seventeen are scattered across the vast world to carry out missions.

When three groups gather, they can be considered invincible.

'Crazy...!'

Jeong Yeonshin felt a shiver. Hyunwon Chang and Shin So-bin also seemed to be in shock, their eyes wide open.

He opened his mouth as calmly as possible, needing to ask the most important question.

"About the young master of the Huangfu Family. If the situation or his behavior is not favorable, can I take his head?"

"That's up to the blue warrior's discretion. The hierarchy of blue signifies that you can take responsibility for anything."

Majin answered with a smile. Baek Mireu, who was standing beside him, said with a worried expression.

"Seomyeol, be aware that this is a very dangerous mission. Don't overdo it. That young master is destined to die. He was born with a short-lived constitution despite his immense talent. It's already well-known."

Cheongmyeong added a word.

"He's a genius of the Taiyang Divine Meridian. He's quite strong."