Chapter 74

Maga (2)

She was disrespected by a mere child. A woman who called her son "you" on their first meeting.

Jeong Yeonshin thought. A noble lady with high martial arts skills from a prestigious family would never tolerate such disrespect.

“I am indeed that child’s mother. My name is Ju Yeonjeong.”

She smiled gently once. The sudden change in her demeanor was somewhat shocking.

‘Surnamed Ju?’

The thought of a distinguished family came to mind. Jeong Yeonshin asked directly.

“Are you of the royal family?”

“Yes.”

Even after hearing the answer, it was hard to understand. Ma Sein’s father was also a distant relative.

A man with enough merit to marry into the royal family would have been well-known.

He couldn’t guess what had happened.

“You seem confused. Few people know about my background in the main family. Please understand.”

Her hair was tied up with jade decorations. Her Han ethnicity’s round ears were prominent, indicating her distant royal lineage.

The last emperor to take a concubine was the founding emperor. It was said that he had over forty concubines.

The direct descendants of the emperor were different. They did not take secondary wives or concubines.

They were said to only marry one distinguished lady.

On the contrary, many descendants who had no connection to the imperial power were free to have secondary wives and concubines.

Ju Yeonjeong seemed to be the daughter of such a person.

“I greet Lady Ju.”

He bowed politely but did not prostrate himself. She was a distant relative. Even if she had a trace of the founding emperor’s blood, it didn’t matter.

She was no longer a figure of the Ming imperial family in the Forbidden City. Having left Beijing and married, she was now a member of the Ma family.

A martial artist.

“Such a bold boy.”

Ju Yeonjeong’s lips curled up.

Jeong Yeonshin lifted his head calmly. Her reaction was unexpected.

He thought she would be someone desperate to protect her son’s succession rights, given her use of "you." Perhaps his assumption was wrong.

The attendants around her also did not act rashly. They silently observed Jeong Yeonshin.

“Please sit comfortably. This gathering is for you.”

“...Thank you.”

He briefly bowed and took his seat. Ma Sein quietly followed and sat next to his mother.

The musicians entered. Thanks to the spacious hall, they began playing from a distance.

The ancient melody spread softly, adding a sense of grandeur to the occasion.

“I wanted to test your character.”

Ju Yeonjeong spoke.

“It’s been twenty years since I left Beijing, yet I still carry the authority that can hurt people. I hope you can be lenient.”

“...”

Her words were unconventional. Jeong Yeonshin was momentarily silent.

‘What is this?’

This was very different from what he had imagined. What was her intention?

Amid the gentle sounds of the zither and flute, the people at the gathering were silent for a moment.

The world of martial artists was different.

Jeong Yeonshin felt the continuous streams of inner strength probing him.

His sensitivity to qi was beyond his martial arts level, allowing him to barely detect the subtle probing. He didn’t show any reaction.

“I am curious about your purpose.”

Jeong Yeonshin asked bluntly.

They both had their intentions hidden. However, the side that invited him was in a disadvantageous position. There was no reason to be overly polite.

A smile formed on Ju Yeonjeong’s lips.

“You are very straightforward.”

Ju Yeonjeong covered her mouth and laughed. She had a refined demeanor.

Jeong Yeonshin stared at her intently. She was someone who referred to the Ma family as the main family.

A distant relative of the royal family, she had settled into the Ma family and was now the lady of the house.

On the contrary, this was good. There was no need to make her an enemy.

It was enough to draw a line. Jeong Yeonshin continued as if he had more to say.

“Therefore, I hope to have no further ties with the main family. My desire is to sever all connections. This would help avoid unnecessary conflicts.”

“...”

A brief silence fell. The smile on Ju Yeonjeong’s face disappeared. Ma Sein’s expression also stiffened.

In the silent hall, only the soft melody of the instruments continued. The reaction was peculiar.

‘Shouldn’t it be the other way around?’

Jeong Yeonshin thought. He continued without regard for the atmosphere.

“Didn’t you already sever ties with my mother’s family? Please answer. Before I publicly denounce the Ma family’s honor.”

He deliberately exaggerated. Yet, Ju Yeonjeong’s face only showed confusion.

“...How can you say that? The martial arts you learned from the City Lord are supposed to guarantee your authority. You are wrong. The City of Azure is not such a place.”

“I intend to live solely as a martial artist, Ma Guangyi. I don’t want the name of the Azure Ma family to precede my nickname, Shenyi. Isn’t that a favorable outcome for Lady Ju?”

“...You speak so calmly about difficult matters.”

Ju Yeonjeong slowly said.

“Why is that?”

“You have already stepped into the political struggles of the main family. The moment you revealed your talent with the Ma family’s blood, this was bound to happen. There are those who say you should be made a successor, and others who argue you should be a sword to enhance the main family’s prestige, and then there are those who don’t want you...”

She smiled faintly.

“Whichever side it is, the moment you sever ties with the main family, a storm of responsibility will arise. To avoid the backlash, they will do whatever it takes.”

“Ridiculous.”

“You are not the City Lord’s direct disciple? Boy, your existence is already so significant. Even if you speak of severing ties alone, the main family will cling to your every move.”

“I can’t stay here.”

Jeong Yeonshin stood up. No one shouted at him as he turned and left rudely.

In the realm of politics, they were clearly masters.

The musicians’ continuous performance escorted him.

* * *

A week passed.

Jeong Yeonshin focused on his cultivation in the hall of Ma Guangyi. During this time, the faces of Ju Yeonjeong and the Ma family elders filled his mind.

Their schemes were not shallow. They had engaged him in a type of conflict he had never experienced.

High-ranking figures were putting all their efforts into involving him. It was a significant problem.

‘What should I do...’

He lay on the bed, lost in thought. Originally, he intended to provoke a conflict and become an irreconcilable enemy.

If he could experience the martial arts of prestigious families in the process, that would be enough.

Not anymore.

Their seasoned experience far surpassed his. They were willing to do anything.

A completely different kind of conflict.

Powerful figures were getting in the way. This confirmed Jeong Yeonshin’s concerns.

The time he would be entangled in would far outweigh the support he could gain from the Azure Ma family.

He briefly considered revealing his constitution and lifespan to his maternal grandfather.

‘Absolutely impossible to trust.’

He immediately dismissed the thought.

He grew up as a child who didn’t exist in the Jeong family. His maternal relatives never reached out. The time of his growth was a factor.

After entering the martial world, he witnessed the behavior of the Huangbao family.

They claimed to be pillars of the righteous martial world but used their martial prowess for personal gain.

What about the Nangong family, known as the first family of the righteous world? They plotted to assassinate Jeong Yeonshin, who had helped them.

And then there was the Blood Flame Sect, where he saw the depths of human nature. It was just a dark abyss.

...Distrust. Only distrust remained.

‘Aiming for the head of the Azure City Council?’

His maternal grandfather was a power-hungry man. He tried to treat his grandson well even after severing ties with his daughter.

He did it for his usefulness. Jeong Yeonshin didn’t know how he would be manipulated.

‘Should I meet the City Lord? Would it be acceptable to owe him a favor? I need to build a reputation.’

The sixteen-year-old martial arts prodigy was in deep thought.

Swish.

He slipped into the bed. Even the dim sunset was blinding.

Ma Guangyi’s room was his sanctuary. A place where he could lay down his martial spirit without worrying about prying eyes.

He didn’t have to pretend to ignore his predetermined life.

He slowly curled up. As always.

He felt the orange light of the sunset faintly. How long had it been?

“Jeong Xiaoxia! Jeong Xiaoxia!”

A familiar voice stirred his consciousness. It was Xian Yuanchang’s voice.

A powerful aura surged toward Ma Guangyi’s hall. He could also sense the presence of many seniors.

The people who had left with the City Lord and returned were now back.

Creak.

Three people entered immediately. Xian Yuanchang, Qing Ming, and Bai Miyue. Jeong Yeonshin, who had already risen, smiled faintly.

These were the comrades who had come to rescue him from the Blood Flame Sect. He welcomed them gratefully.

“What’s the matter?”

Xian Yuanchang, who had been observing him intently, suddenly asked.

Jeong Yeonshin slowly opened his mouth.

What was the wind? If this life was one where he couldn’t trust even these people, there was no need to be bound by the outcome.

Even without wine, the tranquil evening air served as a substitute for the aroma and snacks.

The moment Jeong Yeonshin spoke a few words, Qing Ming and Bai Miyue raised their inner strength barriers significantly. It was a qi curtain, preventing any sound from escaping.

Jeong Yeonshin began to tell his story.

He spoke about his family affairs, his constitution, the remaining time, and the Azure Ma family.

“...”

A calm silence, like the sunset, followed. Qing Ming and Bai Miyue’s faces had lost all expression.

Xian Yuanchang silently shed tears.

The Azure Hero cleared his throat and said.

“...Let’s go to the Ma family first. I have a good plan in mind.”

“Really?”

“Listen.”

He whispered for quite a while. Even with the two blue-rank martial artists’ strong qi curtains, it seemed like they were plotting something sinister.

But it was indeed so.

“Let’s go!”

Xian Yuanchang wiped his eyes with his sleeve and stood up. The other three also rose.

Qing Ming patted Jeong Yeonshin’s shoulder lightly, and Bai Miyue hugged him from behind.

He understood without further words. The concern of comrades who had shared life and death, the understanding of martial artists who had made their blades their companions.

Jeong Yeonshin, feeling a bit awkward, followed Xian Yuanchang. For a moment, he truly felt like the youngest.

The four quickly arrived at the Azure Ma family’s residence. Two gatekeepers approached.

“Please state your identity and purpose.”

“No. It’s Xiaoxia Jeong. You can open the gate.”

Xian Yuanchang ignored the gatekeepers and shouted loudly.

“Yeonjeong!”

He infused his voice with inner strength. The powerful voice shook the dusky evening air.

Ju Yeonjeong said few people outside knew about her background.

There must have been some private matters. However, it was not something the Ma Guangyi martial artists needed to consider.

“After all, we are under the City Lord. Even the crown prince is at a loss, so what can a distant royal relative do...”

Qing Ming laughed slyly and kicked the ground. The fact that the Azure Hero was a pure-blooded noble was already well-known.

“What is this?”

“Who do you think we are calling?”

The gatekeepers ran over, looking flustered. Xian Yuanchang displayed his silent footwork.

He shook off their hands and kept shouting Yeonjeong’s name. An unexpected drama unfolded in the quiet night.

Jeong Yeonshin, who had slightly adjusted his body, turned his head as if he wasn’t part of the group.