Chapter 48

Zou (2)

"Yanshen, we cannot just leave that child alone."

An old voice echoed.

It was in the office of the Lord of Yihuang City.

An elderly martial artist in a purple robe and a black-clad demon hunter sat respectfully before the Lord of Yihuang City.

Sunlight streamed through the completely open wall. A greenish light settled on the Lord of Yihuang City's hair.

The demon hunter glanced at his father.

"The closer he gets, the more he can step back. He seems to feel no emotion towards kinship. I can guess how he grew up after his sister left. They said he was an abandoned child."

"Someone like the head of the Zheng family dares to—"

Ma Yanze, Yanshen's maternal grandfather, had the same expression as the demon hunter, one of deep disdain.

"What face do we have to blame that family? We didn't even know about the destruction of their clan until we saw his potential, and only then did we speak of kinship. Not cursing an unknown maternal grandfather can be considered gentlemanly."

It was in front of the Lord. His voice was not loud.

The demon hunter maintained a cautious attitude while speaking sharply.

"He has grown into a proper martial artist, but he is not yet twenty. Despite this, he is clear-headed and discerning, making him harder to deal with than adults. Do not try to control him."

"From the fact that he does not seek the benefits of a large family, it is clear that he knows it could backfire. He wants to stand alone, undisturbed by the winds. However, for that very reason—"

Ma Yanze spoke each word clearly.

He looked at the Lord of Yihuang City, whose expression was hard to read.

"Even more so, we cannot leave him alone. If the Son of Heaven, the Emperor, is the sky, then Yanshen can be the brightest sun in that sky. The current leader of the Divine Sword Corps is not enough. Yanshen can become a precious sword worthy of being by the Lord's side."

"That is for the Lord to decide. It is not a matter for a retired father to discuss."

The demon hunter turned his eyes away from his father, giving him a rebuke.

At the end of his gaze was the most revered person. The absolute ruler whom everyone in Yihuang City served.

The Lord of Yihuang City's face rarely changed. The story that she favored Seomye was not unfounded.

She is like the sun's radiance. Even when she seems warm, she is like the sun that indifferently illuminates the world. It has always been so.

Her red lips, which had not moved, finally did.

"Continue."

She said. Even lying diagonally on a tree trunk, her presence was different.

The demon hunter swallowed. Few people were unaware of the absolute martial prowess that even a purple-robed elder could not easily match.

Her unchanged appearance of twenty years since the Ming Dynasty was also a testament to this.

To the people of Yangyang, she was a living Jade Emperor.

"It is still a distant matter. However, it has been decades since the Lord mentioned retirement and the division of the family."

Ma Yanze stroked his white beard as he spoke.

"My thoughts are as follows. Instead of sending the child on missions, we should keep him at the manor for ten years and train him to become a complete martial artist. To prevent him from being tainted by the shallow waters of the martial world at a young age... During this process, we can arrange a marriage and build his martial prowess, which will change him. He will become a divine sword that only the Lord can wield."

"......Yanze."

The Lord of Yihuang City spoke. Her beautiful face showed no emotion.

"Yes, Lord."

"Do you have any ulterior motives in your heart?"

"Ulterior motives, you mean......"

"You are no longer the former leader of the Divine Sword Corps. I see you only as a blood relative of the Yihuang Ma family. Are you trying to elevate the family's reputation?"

"......"

The demon hunter knew his father's character. He had never failed to obtain something he was completely focused on.

His rise to the leader of the Divine Sword Corps was also due to this nature.

Suddenly, Ma Yanze bowed his head.

"The Lord is right. It was a difficult thing. It was truly painful to pass the divine sword to the current leader. I am a decades-long friend of the Lord. Let me speak frankly."

"Father! Be careful with your words!"

The large-bodied demon hunter fidgeted.

"You have never shown this attitude if it wasn't for your sister's matter. You don't have to forgive me. The family must continue to exist. Even if we become dust, we will be revered and enjoy an immortal life. In the end, what remains of a human is only their name."

"Enough."

The Lord of Yihuang City's low voice pushed away Ma Yanze's earnestness.

"Seomye's affairs are for me to decide. You should not use the authority of the bloodline anymore."

Her voice had a strange transcendence. Her robe brushed against the branches of the tree rooted at the pinnacle of the world.

Swoosh.

The Lord of Yihuang City, with her bare white feet, slowly descended and lifted her head.

Sunlight gently settled on her transparent face.

"Magwangyuk, it is best to set out now. Take care of Seomye."

She said to the demon hunter.

"I will follow your command."

The demon hunter, who became even more respectful, bowed.

* * *

Yanshen stood still, thinking.

It was different from when he struck the neck of a late-stage Heartless martial artist. There were many eyes watching.

The imperial road, which stretched to Huizhou, was very large, and the pedestrians passing by seemed endless.

This was the territory of the righteous martial world. There was a lack of justification for murder.

'He might turn the Nangong family into an enemy. Huizhou can't handle it.'

He can't kill him here. It's fine. Giving him a comparable sense of shame will suffice.

Yanshen thought about what the Chief of the Yihuang City's Dao You Yuan had said.

The Yihuang City often prepares for the mission target's appearance. This was also the case during the Blood Flame Sect's Seven Assassins mission.

If it was something prepared for so long, it was not surprising.

The appearance of the face in the portrait, which depicted facial features, resembled the man in front of him.

It was an unexpected encounter. He was flustered and couldn't immediately compare them.

'What if the guy just passed by?'

Yanshen reflected. If he had to weigh the mission against martial arts practice, the mission was obviously more important. He should not be negligent in observing his surroundings.

While he was lost in thought for a moment,

"Are you not curious about my nickname? Your words are ridiculous. A rootless scoundrel is showing off absurd pride."

The young man of the Huangbo family laughed and said. Yanshen slowly shook his head and spoke.

"You should know when to stop being absorbed in your own world. The Huangbo family? It's small when viewed in the context of the world. You are insignificant."

"......You're delusional. A normal person wouldn't be enough."

The young man's lips curled downward. The guy stepped forward. Even though it seemed random, his steps were disciplined.

It was immediately felt that the advanced footwork was integrated. The fluctuation of his inner energy was not ordinary.

His posture suggested that any response was possible while walking.

'Good.'

Yanshen's gaze completely locked onto the young man's body. It had been like this since the start of the duel.

Even if the onlookers who gathered at the mention of the Huangbo family looked at him with pity, he paid no attention.

He was finally facing the martial arts of one of the Eight Great Families of the righteous world. He was curious about the level of the power that was said to be the pinnacle of secular martial arts.

Yanshen took a step. The inner energy of the Zheng Family's technique gathered at the Yongquan point under his foot.

It was the first step of the Whirlwind Step. Dust rose slightly from his heel.

He intended to gauge the gap between the Eight Great Families' martial arts.

Swish! Boom!

The young man of the Huangbo family drew his sword and struck the ground with a True Foot.

From the waist of his leaning body, a dazzling blade emerged.

The sword path, which drew an extremely narrow ellipse, extended straight.

Yanshen raised his right hand.

Clang!

He deflected the side of the sword with the back of his hand. The eyes of the onlookers widened. It was a skill that no one here could believe.

Yanshen shook his hand. The sword force that hit him with the vibration was light.

Thanks to the diagonal steps of the Whirlwind Step, he had completely avoided the shock wave of the sword strike.

"What!"

The guy's expression was dazed. He seemed unable to process what had just happened.

This time, Yanshen stepped forward.

Boom!

With the amplification of the inner energy of the Time Extreme Classic, the power of the Timeless Ultimate Fist burst from his left arm.

The sword the guy reflexively raised was pushed upward.

Yanshen's inner energy, which had spread throughout his body, was already running through his meridians.

The Shenshu point on his right waist burned with inner energy.

In an instant, the erector spinae and the iliopsoas muscles of his lower back were filled with powerful force. The sequence that followed was instantaneous.

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