Chapter 6

(2)

The late cold was freezing the early morning air of the rear mountain of Jeongjajang.

Jeong Yeonshin thought.

If the wind blowing through the valley had a color, it would be grayish-white.

The people of Jeongjajang, who once ruled the county, lay down their bodies beneath the seeds that would sprout next year.

They carried and buried the bodies throughout the night.

Jeong Yeonshin, the chief steward, a few surviving workers, and the martial artists of Zhongnan Sect were covered in dirt beyond description.

The nephew, huddled to one side, repeatedly cried and fell asleep.

Jeong Yeonshin glanced at Hyea and spoke.

“It’s over.”

“Yes, it will be a sad mountain. Even though it had no name.”

The chief steward agreed. Jeong Yeonshin shook his head.

“No, Jeongjajang is over.”

“...”

“Great Swordsman Dangae, Great Fist Master Muryeong. I am grateful for your help once again.”

Leaving the dejected chief steward behind, he bowed to the martial artists of Zhongnan Sect.

Despite being dirty with mud, their eyes were full of vitality.

They returned the bow with a respectful posture, showing respect even to a mere boy.

“It’s not a family of disciples anymore.”

“Moreover... It’s hard to say it’s not our responsibility for not preventing it.”

Following Dangae, Muryeong's thick eyebrows showed a solemn expression.

Jeong Zhongshan, who had prepared to leave with them, was holding his nephew Jeong Hye and looking at his third brother gloomily.

He seemed to have changed a bit after the bloodbath.

“How can one apologize with just words for the long-standing matters.”

Jeong Zhongshan said, his face looking weary.

“I’ll show you when we meet again. I will work hard, so you must survive.”

“Even though you are starting to learn Zhongnan martial arts late, you don’t have outstanding talent. That’s how I see it.”

Jeong Yeonshin spoke the truth to his senior for the first time in his life.

It felt refreshing, as if he should have done this long ago.

“You must train to the point of exhaustion. And protect Hyea well.”

“...I understand.”

The martial artists of Zhongnan Sect, his second brother, and the young nephew left.

Turning around, the chief steward, carrying a bundle, stood with the workers.

“Where are you going, Chief Steward?”

“I said I made a network. There are small branches of Jeongjajang in various places in Nanyang. Since the Jeong family’s bloodline still exists, I should support them with the remaining assets.”

“Jeongjajang is gone, isn’t it?”

The chief steward smiled faintly.

“We are a major landowner family. The farmlands we own are not limited to Xinya.”

I didn’t know he was such a trustworthy person. He was an extraordinary figure, even for Jeongjajang.

“I’m going to Yihuang City. I hope to see you occasionally.”

“Of course.”

The chief steward also practiced martial arts and could take care of himself.

“I hope you live a long life. Take care of yourself.”

“I wish you success, young master.”

It was a farewell to both the chief steward and Jeongjajang. The chief steward looked at the back of the boy who didn’t turn around.

‘I hope you live a long life...? After receiving the favor of the previous generation, have I ever heard such words from the Jeong family’s bloodline?’

Jeong Yeonshin felt his presence but didn’t bother to turn his head.

A new atmosphere surrounded his steps as he trampled through the grass.

* * *

It was the first time he had left Xinya County.

Although he could follow the main road with detailed directions from the chief steward, he inevitably drew a lot of attention.

On the main road, the ground was beginning to welcome the sunlight as dawn broke.

The main road connecting Nanyang and Yangyang was also a route linking Henan and Huguang provinces.

There was a major road leading to Shanxi not far away, so he had to occasionally check if his bundle was still intact.

He met many people.

“Not a common beggar, it seems.”

“Isn’t that brocade? Using brocade for martial attire...”

“Brocade? But his appearance...”

The guards of a passing escort company whispered.

He had heard that groups from merchant caravans or escort companies could turn into bandits on the road.

Jeong Yeonshin walked silently, keeping his hand close to his sword.

‘It’s tough.’

He couldn’t use the less-traveled mountain paths, as he was a newcomer to the world of martial arts with little experience. Getting lost would be a disaster.

But vigilance alone wouldn’t solve the problem.

Predators who coveted clothes and wealth were everywhere. It was a world where bandit killings were common.

Eventually, he got into a confrontation with wandering swordsmen, and the ruffians paid with their lives for underestimating the young swordsman.

Compared to the thirteen thousand martial artists, they were ridiculously weak, leaving him bewildered.

‘What made them attack?’

Though called ruffians, among the martial artists commonly seen on the road, few had properly entered the realm of inner energy cultivation.

It was a world where knowledge was precious.

From Xinya to Yangyang.

For high-level martial artists who could use flying techniques, it was a short distance.

But for Jeong Yeonshin, who was not skilled in such techniques, it was a journey filled with the troubles of the martial world and bloody real combat.

Among them, no one could block his fast sword technique. As he cut down the ruffians with his sword, the Jeong family’s internal energy technique merged with his swordsmanship.

It was different from when he had only trained his body alone.

Swinging his sword in real combat while using the internal energy technique, his body changed once again.

His muscles adapted to explosive power, and his flexibility increased.

Fast sword, fast sword, and more fast sword.

The originally fast Fast Sword Technique was now invisible even to his own eyes.

With his body, the foundation of martial arts, actively changing, the effectiveness of his internal energy inevitably increased.

‘Is this what they call a new technique?’

Thanks to the lifetime of practice that led to his mastery of the Jeong family’s internal energy technique, he could even see the transformation of his changing body.

One week.

A time of first camping and sleeping on a hard bed, enduring the cold night air.

“Huh.”

The boy entered an inn with a sigh and unpacked his bundle. He had arrived in Yangyang.

A city that had been thriving since the establishment of Yihuang City.

Every day, tens of thousands of people enter and leave, and thousands of goods are traded.

It can be considered one of the major cities in Central China in terms of trade volume and cultural level.

“Things are getting worse! The Xing family is really thriving! They say they can’t sell because there’s no alcohol.”

The conversation of what seemed to be merchants.

After securing a room and ordering a meal from the waiter, Jeong Yeonshin listened.

“People from all over Central China gather with dreams of rising to the top. There are even martial artists who throw money around.”

“These days, there’s no day or night in the taverns. Martial artists who came to take the entrance exam are drowning in alcohol!”

“Yihuang City is indeed impressive.”

“Of course! It’s like saving a dying Yangyang and feeding it to the point of bursting!”

“Wow, what a metaphor! Hahaha!”

While the others were different, Jeong Yeonshin also agreed with the last statement.

He could feel the incredibly high prices from the accommodation fees, and he knew that staying for another month would deplete his funds.

He thought he had brought enough money secretly from the Sword Sect.

At that moment.

“Are you also here to take the entrance exam for Yihuang City?”

A young man sat opposite him with a friendly smile.

The sword at his waist was not an ordinary fine sword, and most notably, the blue sash tied around his head was striking.

A hero’s sash, a decorative item.

Nowadays, it’s not used unless one is trying to look stylish, and this one even had a dragon embroidered in gold thread.

“What about you?”

“Ah! I didn’t introduce myself. I was just amazed to see a younger challenger.”

The young man continued with a smile.

“My name is Xian Yuanchang. I came from far away in Shanxi.”

“I am Jeong Yeonshin from Xinya.”

“Xinya? Where is Xinya?”

“It’s a county in Nanyang, Henan.”

“You came from nearby! The journey must have been easy. I fought with bandits in the Green Forest and raced with the water bandits of the Water Gang! The water skills of the Water Gang were really fierce!”

“...I guess my journey was easy.”

Jeong Yeonshin brushed it off.

“So, it seems we are comrades preparing for the Yihuang City entrance exam.”

“What’s your business?”

“I just want to build a friendship! We can exchange information. Almost no one passes the Yihuang City exam on the first try. It’s a one in a thousand chance, and even then, it’s usually the promising young talents from prestigious martial families. Most people pass after multiple attempts, like the second, third, or tenth try.”

“Is there an exam?”

He opened his eyes wide as if to say, “You didn’t know?” His exaggerated expression suited him well.

“It’s called the Yihuang Exam! Yihuang City is different from ordinary sects. Just like taking the civil or military exams to enter government service, there’s a separate exam to enter Yihuang City.”

“So that’s why there are so many people...”

“Whether you have a foundation or not, the moment you enter, the city opens up a place of learning and opportunity, so it’s strange that martial artists from all over the world don’t flock here. Thousands of people are said to be practicing various martial arts to pass this exam.”

Yihuang City.

If you want to strike the world with a single weapon, go to Yihuang City, and even officials will look up to you.

A common saying. A cradle of martial arts that could make anyone’s heart race.

Since the imperial court, which dominates all of Central China, has directly moved to suppress martial sects, it is said that Yihuang City is filled with elixirs and advanced martial arts gathered from the nine provinces.

“Some people prefer traditional major sects. That’s really ignorant. A sect established by commoners being stronger than Yihuang City? Then why don’t they establish their own empire and become emperors? How is the Great Ming Empire maintained? They collect protection taxes and donations in their regions and are worshipped like kings.”

“I see.”

Jeong Yeonshin nodded half-heartedly. He wondered if this person had a grudge against major sects.

“Anyway, coming to see the Yihuang Exam is a great choice... if you can pass.”

He suddenly looked depressed.

Jeong Yeonshin found Xian Yuanchang quite interesting.

He had never seen someone whose mood fluctuated so much.

“If you pass, you’ll immediately become a promising young talent, the best among your peers! If you’re a martial artist of Yihuang City of your age, you’ll be an outstanding new master without a doubt.”

Xian Yuanchang’s tone lost its energy again as he spoke with a smile.

“...But the walls of Yihuang City are as high as its prestige, almost dizzyingly so.”

“Yes, I see.”

Just as Jeong Yeonshin was getting tired of the conversation, the food arrived.

Kung Pao chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and other chicken and vegetable dishes.

He was happy just to smell them after not eating properly for days.

Xian Yuanchang, who watched him eat with a complicated expression, spoke.

“So, how about we go to the exam together tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

Jeong Yeonshin answered nonchalantly.

He was actually happy to learn that he could enter through an exam.

He didn’t want to ask for help from the unknown relatives on his mother’s side.

It was a resolve and a bit of arrogance not to become pitiful even if his life was at stake.

* * *

The next day.

“You made it.”

Standing in front of Yihuang City, Jeong Yeonshin was no longer the third son of Jeongjajang.

A swordsman who had endured a particularly harsh week as a child with wealth. The boy had become a martial artist.

‘It’s incredible.’

Looking up at the main gate, he was amazed. It was a scale he had never heard of.

The city, standing shoulder to shoulder with the clear blue sky, displayed a massive presence.

“It’s impregnable.”

Xian Yuanchang, standing beside him, muttered with a mesmerized look. Jeong Yeonshin silently agreed.

The city walls, rising in layers, looked solid.

The vast area it enclosed seemed to stretch endlessly.

A moat surrounded the city, forming a vast water belt.

The massive main gate, wide open, exuded the confidence of a place claiming to be the best in the martial world.

Jeong Yeonshin took a slow step forward.

There was a training ground enclosed by a fence in front. It must be the first exam site that Xian Yuanchang mentioned.

“Let’s go.”

“Sure.”

The two approached the registration desk at the front and stated their names.

The registration officer, dressed in a scholar’s attire, wrote it down and confirmed.

“Nanyang, Henan. Jeong Yeonshin from Xinya County, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Enter the training ground.”

He turned after receiving one of the round tokens stacked on a large table. The token had the character for thirteen (十三) engraved on it.

‘It’s chaotic.’

Not only were there examiners and candidates, but also spectators, merchants, and gamblers.

Yihuang City seemed to allow this, as if encouraging people to watch and enjoy.

“Here.”

As they passed through the fence gate with Xian Yuanchang, an examiner called them.

He wore neat martial attire and exuded a solid aura, comparable to the thirteen thousand martial artists.

The examiner said,

“The first exam is the Fast Sword Technique.”

“Huh?”