Chapter 86

### Contention (5)

When Jeong Yeonshin saw Nangung Mi, the head of Changryeong Hwaju, from a distance, he told Nangung Hwashin to give him ten seconds.

Even though his opponent was Nangung's young master, he still wanted to gauge the gap between Nangung Mi and himself. They had already met, after all.

He thought he might be able to break his spirit first.

But the situation had changed.

Just as he was about to carry out his original mission and engage in a friendly match, Nangung Mi had implicated the servants of Hyunsa Gate as part of the evil faction, thereby enhancing his reputation.

He had turned the tables, winning the hearts of the people of Muchang.

It had become difficult to simply cut down the members of the Iphwang and Nangung families in a life-or-death battle.

The martial artists of Iphwang Castle always needed to maintain the support of the people.

That's why he took out the pure-blood powder and put on a mask. Jeong Yeonshin quietly observed Nangung Hwashin.

"Mercy in your hands..."

Nangung Hwashin trailed off, seemingly lost in thought for a moment.

"...But, the order has changed."

He lifted his head. The sunlight coming from afar enveloped his handsome face.

With a face that deserved the praise of "white kirin," he spoke, his gaze on Jeong Yeonshin, firm and steady.

It was a look of genuine concern for his comrade.

"Nangung Mi is a direct descendant. Judging by his aura, he seems to have recently consumed a world-class elixir. The praise for being the best among the juniors is not an exaggeration. Yinhan Zhiqi (陰寒之氣), Hanbing Zhiqi (寒氷之氣). There are many terms, but Yin Qi cultivation is extremely difficult."

Nangung Hwashin said.

"The aura starts by freezing the meridians, rapidly reducing the fluidity of the qi circulation. The speed of internal energy release and absorption becomes significantly slower, and the explosive power of the muscles drops sharply. The longer you engage in combat, the more your body becomes extremely sluggish. The power of the true qi specialized in Yin-Yang and the Five Elements is truly terrifying."

His tone was as serious as his expression. He was talking about the nature of the elements, not just the level of martial arts.

Jeong Yeonshin nodded.

"To create such an internal energy with an elixir... If the family's capabilities are at this level, it's understandable why they have a strategy to use the Nangung family, which has only been stripped of its leadership, to counter the evil factions."

"He might have received a suitable mind technique to dissolve the elixir that fell to Changryeong Hwaju, or he might have invited a trustworthy high-level expert. This is a family that has the power to do so."

Influence, wealth, or martial power. They must have used every means to cultivate the only direct descendant of the Nangung family.

"To skip the accumulation process with an elixir..."

Jeong Yeonshin muttered.

Accumulation. Accumulating energy. In the martial world, there were many people who spent long years accumulating true qi through techniques like the qi circulation method.

It was common to hear of people who had practiced for sixty years, a jiazi (甲子).

When a martial artist spoke of achieving enlightenment in a mind technique, it meant they had found a more suitable concept for absorbing energy.

'Always lacking in accumulation.'

Even after consuming a high-quality elixir, it was still the case.

Even Nangung Hwashin, standing right in front of him, had deeper internal energy than himself. The gap was due to the limitations of his birth.

That's why he was trying to create a mind technique that would speed up the accumulation process.

"Not just skipping, but gaining even more powerful strength."

Nangung Hwashin's face looked bitter as he turned his head away.

He continued.

"The strength of a family that exists solely for the direct descendants. It's different from Iphwang Castle. The world-class elixirs that pass through the main castle can only go to the royal family. Even if it's done in secret."

"...The elixir I received wasn't small either."

"It will be even more. It's only natural."

Perhaps thinking about opposing his half-sister, Nangung Hwashin's lips trembled again.

"Changryeong Hwaju and Cheonggirin are like the towering Taishan mountain and the towering tree of the Nangung family. I'm not belittling you, Jeong Xiaoxian. Even if your martial arts level is the same, there are martial arts that are difficult to counter. I'm like that too. I joined the mission to overcome my heart demon, but I'm not sure if I can overcome it in time."

He clasped his trembling hand. Nangung Hwashin smiled awkwardly.

'This mission has many meanings.'

Jeong Yeonshin thought.

The main castle of Iphwang Castle had issued the mission to govern the martial world, and Jeong Yeonshin, whose life was on the line, had joined to earn merit. Nangung Hwashin, who had been despised, had come to avenge his mother and erase the past.

'He wanted to defeat me in the competition to fight the young master. Does he have a grudge with Cheonggirin too?'

The young man stared at Nangung Hwashin.

After observing him for a while, he slowly opened his lips.

"I can't lift your spirits, but—"

"Haha, I don't expect that from you, Jeong Xiaoxian."

Behind Nangung Hwashin's small laugh, Jeong Yeonshin continued.

"I can bring down Nangung Mi."

* * *

A woman with porcelain-white skin slowly bit into a peach.

The luxurious tiger skin on the chair she was sitting on suited her well, as she rested her hands on the armrests like a ruler.

She moved her small mouth leisurely and spoke.

"Do it."

Nangung Mi's command was a death sentence for some.

The bodies of those who remained at Hyunsa Gate trembled with uncontrollable fear.

The servants had already been crippled. Next were the attendants.

The martial artists of the Nangung family's Changryeong Hwa approached. Their auras were spreading from their bare hands.

Their eyes, looking down at the attendants, were completely indifferent. They were not looking at equals.

"Please, spare us! Please!"

"I was forced to come here!"

The law of the Ming Dynasty did not allow private torture.

In the Great Ming, the common people were the emperor's property, and no one could defy this.

However, the Central Plains were vast. It was a land that the imperial court could not fully oversee.

At this moment, Nangung Mi's command was above the law of the Great Ming. Even more so in the nearby Nangung family.

"I won't kill you."

She smiled thinly, a smile that exuded dignity.

"I will only seal your dantian. You have learned the vicious mind techniques of the evil factions. As the loyal dogs of this corrupt Hyunsa Gate, who knows what evil you might inflict on the common people outside after the sect's downfall?"

"I have never learned... Ahh!"

The moment the martial artists of Changryeong Hwa moved, screams erupted from all over.

The pain of having the dantian destroyed was not light. It involved tearing the Qihai point (氣海穴) in the lower abdomen with a special technique.

How could one endure the feeling of blood vessels being completely severed? One could never be in a complete state again.

Dozens of attendants rolled on the ground. Blood and internal bleeding occurred simultaneously.

Bloodstains began to seep through the floor of the central hall of Hyunsa Gate.

Some of the workers of Hyunsa Gate were lucky enough to be selected as Nangung Mi's servants.

They stood to one side, not daring to make a sound. Their faces were tense, and they could hardly breathe.

"Clear the area and gather the people. We will distribute the wealth of this insignificant evil faction and hold a feast."

Nangung Mi said.

In the Nangung family, her command was above the law of the Great Ming. What she said was immediately carried out.

It was dusk. The early summer sun cast a golden hue and elongated the shadows of people.

Under the watchful eye of a Changryeong Hwa martial artist, the attendants did not dare to act rashly, and the training ground of Hyunsa Gate soon turned into a banquet hall for the people of Muchang.

The Nangung family's experts had eradicated Hyunsa Gate. It was not a small piece of news.

Local dignitaries gathered of their own accord, even without an invitation.

"What a relief!"

"The Hyunsa Gate scoundrels, they got what they deserved!"

"The Snow Mountain Fairy has come in the name of the Nangung family. Look at that jade-like skin. She's not like us."

"She possesses noble martial arts. It's truly a blessing."

The table they had dragged out from inside Hyunsa Gate was very large. Dozens of people sat around it, eating and drinking.

They were mainly the owners of merchant guilds, escort agencies, and military officials in Muchang.

The head of the prefectural school, which taught in Muchang, also neatly stroked his beard