Chapter 52

Gathering

No one would have admitted it at first. If they claimed to be a righteous sect, it would be even more so.

Hwangbo Myeongrin sneered again. Her eyebrows didn’t even twitch.

“I used your fellow disciple as bait? You must be seeing things. Or perhaps—”

Her lips curled up. A smile devoid of any hesitation formed.

“Are you trying to defame me? You, a nobody without any roots.”

“It’s you who lacks roots.”

Jeong Yeonshin wasn’t the one who said it. His hand, which had been restraining the two, pushed Hyun Wonchang back.

The leader of the Iphwang Seong, who had stepped forward, spoke. The way he stroked the hero’s feather on his forehead and smiled slightly was picture-perfect.

“Your words don’t sound like those of a learned person.”

“What?”

“You must have received countless elixirs since you were young, right? I’ve heard that there are Shandong dishes called Lu cuisine. I know that one of their specialties is a dish where various ingredients are wrapped in dumpling skins. Perhaps you’ve been eating elixirs wrapped in the Four Books and Five Classics. Your family must have taught you the Confucian way, right? If the Hwangbo family is a renowned family, then this must be a lie.”

His words flowed like clear mountain water.

“The moment you send the message, our value will disappear. You might even try to kill us, right? The timing of sending it will be decided by us.”

“Think about it. It’s not a one-time thing. You need to consider the size of Namjikrye and Shandong. That bird needs to keep flying back and forth.”

“...You’re right.”

Silently acknowledging his mistake, he seemed to be wary of Jeong Yeonshin’s strength.

If he were injured, he could still lead to mutual destruction. In the martial world, it was called "dying together."

‘This guy has become quite cautious.’

Jeong Yeonshin looked up at the bird’s tail as it flew away and then lowered his head.

Hwangbo Myeongrin was glaring at him as if she wanted to kill him. In contrast, the young man couldn’t lift his head.

They could never reconcile. Yet, they had to travel together.

"Whoever brought the blood demons, we need to combine our strength. It seems they’ve even come to kill the young disciples of Yongbong Assembly."

It was Tae Yeonryong.

He glanced at both sides and then stuffed a peony into his mouth.

His eyes, which had been staring blankly, now fixed on Jeong Yeonshin as he chewed the flower bud.

* * *

Twenty days had passed. They had evaded the Blood Flame Sect’s pursuit several times.

The vast net had started in the south. They couldn’t return to Huizhou.

Instead, receiving protection from the Hwangbo family coming from Jinan would be faster.

The entire group looked like beggars. They had been forced to travel on mountain paths, far from the main roads.

It was a plain at the end of a long mountain range. They were now close to Shandong.

‘Now it’s a race against time.’

Jeong Yeonshin thought. He was already tired of hunting and eating wild animals.

Even when they slept, one of the three, including Ma Gwangik, had to stay awake.

They couldn’t fully trust the Hwangbo siblings and the other young disciples.

Enough time had passed. The mission was a success. The Hwangbo family and Iphwang Seong would be coming from both sides.

If the battlefield was Shandong, it wouldn’t be strange for either side to arrive first. It was a sudden mission.

‘They’ll come at the same time.’

The Blood Flame Sect found it difficult to infiltrate spies due to their sorcery. The Hwangbo family was different. They were the ones who had rushed out without knowing.

If they crossed over to the north of Namjikrye, they couldn’t avoid the eyes of Iphwang Seong.

Iphwang Seong had been watching them for a long time. It was an old strategy.

Ma Gwangik and the others, including the martial force, had likely hidden themselves and were waiting at the rear.

“The family’s guard unit is coming. It’s over now.”

Hwangbo Myeongrin had completely regained her confidence. She spoke openly.

When the Hwangbo family’s guard unit arrived, the Blood Flame Sect’s pursuit team would be meaningless. She commanded the group, leaving Tae Yeonryong and the young man behind.

“Those are them.”

Hyun Wonchang muttered. The moment they descended the mountain, he saw a group of warriors charging towards them.

They were a group of thirty or so warriors in crimson martial robes. The aura they emitted was very powerful, and there was a sense of military discipline.

“Lina!”

A towering middle-aged man ran at the forefront. His lightness was astonishing.

His restrained aura quickly closed the distance.

Jeong Yeonshin compared himself to his full-strength self. The years of training were different. He wasn’t confident he could win easily.

“Bajian Uncle!”

The free-spirited atmosphere of the martial world seemed to apply to the family as well.

Hwangbo Myeongrin hugged the middle-aged man. His hands, which stroked her head while laughing, were truly thick.

“I’m relieved. Truly relieved. You’ve worked hard. Really.”

From the side, Hyun Wonchang sent a telepathic message to Jeong Yeonshin. Bajian Hwangbo Jun.

He was the younger brother of the current Hwangbo family head. He was also said to be one of the top swordsmen in Jinan, Shandong Province.

“However, the young master...”

Bajian turned his eyes. At the end of his gaze was Tae Yeonryong, roughly sitting on a rock.

“You dressed a bastard in the attire of a successor. He should be grateful. Are you making the direct bloodline suffer like this?”

“Anyway, he’s only a successor for about five more years. What does it matter how he lives?”

“This guy!”

“You’re calling me a successor without even showing respect.”

Tae Yeonryong chuckled. Bajian, who had been staring at him for a while, turned his head.

‘This family is also not normal.’

Jeong Yeonshin’s eyes met Bajian’s piercing gaze.

Tae Yeonryong was a bastard.

If they had valued the short life of a doomed bloodline, they would have severed ties with the family and sent him to Iphwang Seong.

He had already guessed the truth. It seemed they were using him as kindling to elevate the family’s reputation and create a good story.

“The story of a Qingse without a crest. Your tale was written in the narrow space of the message.”

Bajian smiled at Jeong Yeonshin. The killing intent in his smile was authoritative.

“Cut off one of your arms as a tribute to Chusilmun. I will forgive your rudeness.”

“Cut off his head. The humiliation was immense.”

Hwangbo Myeongrin interjected. Bajian’s smile turned gentle. He even nodded.

“Do as you wish.”

It was clear. Were all martial families like this? It seemed they should be seen as local gentry, not righteous martial artists.

“Chusilmun’s Jugo. We will start now. Are you prepared for the family’s interrogation?”

Hwangbo Myeongrin, who seemed to be enjoying it, even smiled mischievously.

Jeong Yeonshin didn’t answer. Just as he was about to draw out his newly mastered sword technique, Bajian’s steps stopped.

Whoosh! Bang!

Someone landed behind Jeong Yeonshin. The impact was tremendous.

It seemed they had leaped from a hill behind them. The ground-shaking impact was incomparable to the Bieilitan.

He knew without turning around. The surging aura was very familiar.

“Leader!”

It was Shin So-bin’s shout. Jeong Yeonshin’s uncle. Ma Gwangik, the leader of Majin, had descended.

Bang! Bang!

Two auras of similar size descended like meteors. They seemed to be on either side of Majin.

The dust raised from the hill reached them.

The aura was as ancient and dignified as the Changcheon, and the qi was solemn and eerie. This was also familiar.

The leaders of Changcheon and Miesham. The leader of Changcheon had given him a spirit pill when he first entered, and the leader of Miesham had overseen his Qingse promotion.

There was another. Someone who had always eaten and slept with him after he entered.

Whoosh!

The afterwind from the lightness of Ma Gwangik’s Qingse experts swept the area. There were about twenty of them.

He could feel them stopping behind the leaders, standing in the high and dignified Boshinjing. It wasn’t over yet.

More groups of similar size descended and spread out to the left and right. Their auras were on par with Ma Gwangik’s.

They must be the Changcheon and Miesham of Iphwang Seong.

The seventeen leaders of the Divine Sword Corps, who upheld the world’s livelihood. They were said to be invincible when two or more gathered.

“Shimye!”

Whoosh!

With Qingming’s shout, a long object rushed towards the back of Jeong Yeonshin’s head.

Jeong Yeonshin, who only slightly twisted his body, caught it in one go. The sensation in his palm was different.

It was the Iphwang Sword. He immediately sheathed it with the Buming Sword at his waist.

Another one flew over. The white pill caught in Jeong Yeonshin’s hand emitted a fragrant aroma.

Qingming seemed to have seen through his internal injuries. It was the Myeongjeong Pill from Shaolin Temple.

That was it. Shimye had completed the supply.

Boom!

The Iphwang Seong Divine Sword Corps.

Jeong Yeonshin trembled at the overwhelming display of auras rising like a wildfire.

Was there a more powerful force in the world?

He felt an invisible momentum supporting his right hand as he drew his sword.

At the same time, Hyun Wonchang approached. His steps were light and quick, as if he were about to fly.

He grabbed the cloth covering Jeong Yeonshin’s shoulder with one hand and tore it off.

Rip!

A rough 'Hwang' character was revealed. It was a golden inscription indicating a direct disciple of the Iphwang Seong leader.

Someone unknown gasped.

“Bajian Hwangbo Jun.”

Jeong Yeonshin spoke calmly.

He slowly rolled the Myeongjeong Pill in his left hand, and a deathly silence enveloped the plain.

“Let’s begin.”

He said, lowering his sword.