Chapter 49

Yongbong Assembly

Jeong Yeonshin stared at the young master of the Huangbao family for a moment before turning her head.

The reaction of Huangbao Minglin, whose collar was gripped by her right hand, was amusing.

At first, he looked bewildered, as if he had encountered something unimaginable in his life.

Perhaps it was because of the murderous intent in Jeong Yeonshin's eyes that he was slow to react.

"You... you scoundrel...!"

Suddenly, a wave of energy spread from Huangbao Minglin's right hand. He had trained in a highly esteemed martial art.

He was a martial artist from a prestigious family, which could be felt from his refined aura.

While her true qi was circulating throughout her body, Jeong Yeonshin immediately made her move.

Pak!

White powder clung to the hand that struck Huangbao Minglin's face. She didn't care.

She hit him once, twice, three more times. At this moment, she was perfectly imitating a martial artist from a prestigious family.

"Huff!"

Her breath passed by, and the technique of the hidden hand was embedded in Jeong Yeonshin's hand.

Due to the small amount of true qi, his skull must have been shaken.

Huangbao Minglin seemed unable to regain his senses. His expression suggested that he couldn't believe what was happening.

In an instant, the energy wave in her hand disappeared.

"Oh."

The young master of the Huangbao family intervened. He had a smile tinged with drunkenness.

"Already annoyed? Think about the elders of the family."

As he spoke, his hand moved in a peculiar way, aiming for Jeong Yeonshin's arm, which was gripping the back of Huangbao Minglin's neck.

It was hard to distinguish between feints and real moves, as if he had mastered the Drunken Fist technique.

It was what she had been waiting for. Jeong Yeonshin activated the叠加 of true qi from the Hand of the Corpse in her right arm.

She shook her hand slightly, and Huangbao Minglin's body fell backward. He met the young master's attack with a mix of shame and a groan.

Pak!

The shadows of their hands intertwined. The power in the young master's arm was incredibly heavy and hot.

It was hard to imagine how he could remain unscathed with such heat in his blood vessels.

'This is the power of a supreme martial art.'

Jeong Yeonshin raised another stream of true qi. An intangible barrier immediately enveloped her arm.

It was the defensive barrier known as the Protective Qi. With repeated achievements, it would become the famous Protective Aura.

The heat that reached her skin was slightly reduced.

Pak!

The situation changed. They both tried to grab each other's wrists, but the complexity of the techniques was astounding.

Jeong Yeonshin had developed her technique by absorbing the methods of the Corpse during her mission at Huashan Sect.

However, the opponent's technique was outstanding, full of wit and creativity.

It felt as if she was sparring with a slightly more experienced version of herself.

"Goodness."

The young master, with a light smile, spoke. His eyes sparkled with interest, and the shadows under his eyes seemed to have a hint of vitality.

"There's another one like me?"

He even had the leisure to speak. His power and experience were different. Jeong Yeonshin gradually felt the pressure.

The young master's hand, imbued with power, grew stronger and stronger.

Pak!

A powerful rotational energy burst. Jeong Yeonshin's hair, which had reached her shoulders, flew backward.

She was about to be swept away by the force. She had been meditating while heading to the Nangong family.

* * *

"The atmosphere is peculiar."

Hyeon Wonchang said.

Huizhou was a very prosperous city. It was said that there were many merchant guilds due to the massive flow of goods.

Indeed, the roads inside the city were exceptionally well-paved, and people were bargaining noisily everywhere.

However, the expressions of the passersby were not entirely happy. Hyeon Wonchang shook his head after dismounting.

"Is there a poor harvest here too? The tea leaves of Huizhou are very famous, but it won't be easy to taste them."

"Recently, there have been many poor harvests. It's happening all over the Central Plains. Who knows what the world will become."

Jeong Yeonshin listened to Hyeon Wonchang and Shin So-bin's conversation in passing. She was deeply engrossed in martial arts while heading to the Nangong family.

The process of studying the techniques in her mind and gaining insights was called mental cultivation.

Even while walking and meditating, her practice efficiency did not decrease.

From the moment she entered the Yiphuang Sect, her life itself was composed of martial arts.

"We've arrived. Indeed, it's grand."

Hyeon Wonchang sighed with admiration in front of the main gate of the Nangong family. There was a hint of bitterness in his tone.

The pavilions of the Nangong family were as clean and grand as their reputation.

Though not comparable to the Yiphuang Sect, it was a rare and powerful presence among families.

"Welcome. Are you here for the Yongbong Assembly?"

Even the gatekeepers had restrained manners and speech. Jeong Yeonshin nodded and made a fist salute.

"I am Guo from Chushil Sect."

"......Confirmed."

The guard, who took the paper Jeong Yeonshin offered, nodded.

It seemed he had memorized the list. The guard in green martial robes spoke.

"Please forgive us, but this time the Yongbong Assembly is not held within the family compound. Due to a significant event at the main house, the venue has been changed. We hope for your understanding."

"Then where...?"

"There is a pavilion called Lianhua Pavilion to the north of Huizhou. I will call someone to guide you."

The atmosphere was peculiar. It seemed they did not take the Yongbong Assembly seriously. Something must have happened within the Nangong family.

'Hmm.'

Jeong Yeonshin suddenly felt a strange sensation. It was a feeling that spread from her head.

The unique aura of the Thirteen Thousand, which she had sensed when facing the Blade Sect and the Blood Flame Sect, was approaching. It was rough and sinister.

This was the realm of intuition and foresight that had recently been finding her unexpectedly.

'Has the Thirteen Thousand attacked?'

Her heightened senses led to one conclusion. Jeong Yeonshin followed the guide without showing any reaction.

She also ignored Shin So-bin's whispers from the side.

It took quite a long time to get there. It seemed even riding a horse would have been a long journey.

The mishap at the Yongbong Assembly, which the hosting sect should have been responsible for, seemed to be a secondary issue.

Instead, it felt like they were even more reluctant to reveal the inside of the family.

"You can stay at any inn nearby in the name of the Nangong family. We hope for a good connection."

The guide, showing the refined manners characteristic of a prestigious family, moved away. No one bid them farewell.

The group had no choice but to turn their heads. The powerful auras were stirring.

Kwang!

The waves of the lake surged. White foam fell back after catching the sunlight.

Under the luxurious pavilion by the lake, a handsome young Taoist and the Huangbao family's Taiyanlong were clashing swords.

The young Taoist was familiar. The plum blossom emblem on his robe indicated he was from Huashan Sect.

There were many men and women watching the duel from various spots, including the pavilion's roof and the railings.

At least thirty people were visible, all young but exuding the aura of experts.

Young talents.

It was a very unfamiliar scene for Jeong Yeonshin.

Having repeatedly engaged in bloody battles as a mission, it was the first time she saw young disciples from various sects.

Seeing a few peers felt strange.

"That Taoist is said to be the chief disciple of Huashan Sect. His power is truly deep."

"He is said to have taken the Zisodan. Even so, isn't it dangerous?"

"Taiyanlong's eyes are bloodshot. He rarely draws his sword."

"How dare he, a senior, act so shamelessly!"

The expressions of the family's children, Taoists, and monks, who seemed relatively older, were serious.

Jeong Yeonshin immediately understood.

Due to the immense heat from his power, Taiyanlong's eyes were bloodshot from chewing poppy seeds.

He was completely different from when he faced Jeong Yeonshin. The madness in his smile was palpable.

He had abandoned all family and dignity.

"Are you giving advice to someone with such poor talent? What could you leave behind if you were in his place! It's futile!"

It seemed there had been an argument, and he was shouting wildly. The wave of true qi was deafening.

Yuxian, who had received the energy of the Zisodan from Jeong Yeonshin, looked distressed. Fear was evident on his face.

Blood was flowing from the torn Huashan Sect robe as Yuxian continued to back away.

No one seemed to dare to intervene. Not even Huangbao Minglin and his brother.

Every time the sword strike burst, those with shallow inner power shrank back.

Taiyanlong's martial power was of a different level. His technique was also incredibly perceptive.

"What do we do!"

"Bai Xiaohao has gone to get help!"

The Nangong family was a secular family. It was a gathering of many successors.

They had the strength to push away the elders to enjoy camaraderie with their peers. The troubled Nangong family. The rebellion of the young, suppressed by the family.

Jeong Yeonshin stepped into the premature chaos. She hadn't even introduced herself yet.

The young talents seemed to have just recognized her, their eyes wide open. She was already standing next to Taiyanlong.

"You again! Still a worthless one!"

Taiyanlong's madness spread.

His eyes, which turned to glare at Jeong Yeonshin, were filled with killing intent. The fierce light was visible.

Bang!

It sounded like a cannon from the army. Yuxian, who barely blocked the sword strike, was sent flying.

At the same time, Taiyanlong's hand, which struck Jeong Yeonshin, showed no mercy. With a tremendous wave of true qi, he aimed directly at her head.

Kwaak!

It wasn't the sound of energy colliding. Jeong Yeonshin's hand moved in a strange trajectory.

She pushed his arm with her forearm and lowered her wrist.

In an instant, she inserted the inside joint of his arm between her thumb and the other four fingers.

'This works.'

She gripped it simultaneously. The stacked true qi from the Hand of the Corpse was embedded in her hand.

She applied pressure to the Neiguan point, where the arm bends, and enveloped it with her inner power. It was a point strike, completely draining his strength.

His power remained, but her technique was superior. Taiyanlong's expression suddenly became blank.

"What...?"

Their movements stopped. Jeong Yeonshin stared at him silently before speaking.

"You said talent, right? I'm different from you."

"What?"

Jeong Yeonshin was close to his chest, a distance where even a close combat was difficult.

She could feel the heat radiating from his entire body. She didn't find it hard to approach.

"You are a bit slower."

Jeong Yeonshin whispered. There was no particular emotion in her tone.