The sound of the campfire crackling became more pronounced. In the twilight-like glow, dry wood and foliage shriveled with sharp snaps.
"...."
The siblings who had come from the Ice Palace silently gazed at the boy in black robes.
Jang Sun-il, the young guide who was also warming himself by the fire, shifted uncomfortably as he glanced at his companions.
The twin siblings, with their luminous, snow-white sheen on both their faces and attire, seemed undoubtedly of noble birth. If they were truly from the Ice Palace, then they belonged to one of the most renowned martial factions beyond the Ming Dynasty's borders.
A place where the supreme art of Ice Techniques was said to reside. It wouldn't be surprising if they had individuals of status comparable to their companion.
If a fight broke out, Jang Sun-il was certain he wouldn't survive.
The martial artists of the great sect were seen as supernatural beings by common folk. Just the aftereffects of their clashes could freeze him solid and shatter his body.
The young herbalist cautiously opened his mouth, carefully arranging the words he had learned through his studies of martial texts.
"Uh… I don't mean to say you misspoke. It's just that perhaps there's a slight misalignment between your intent and your words…."
"Hmm?"
Jung Yeonshin tilted his head slightly. He had spoken perfectly fine.
How did they take his words? The elder of the twins, Bukgung Rin, curved her lips into a smile.
"An interesting fellow. You seem to be at an age where meditation and reflection matter most, yet…"
Her laughter was hearty. It was so genuine that it was immediately clear it wasn't just for show.
A bold spirit like the northern wind. The frost-tinted, blue-white hair only added to the impression. The same went for the man beside her, Bukgung Hu.
"A young warrior with a taste for ancient humor. To endure eternal winter, one must be without fear. Your gallant nature is much like our homeland's. I find it quite agreeable."
He spoke with a faint smile.
Jung Yeonshin suddenly felt as though his irritation had lost its steam.
What was the point of picking a fight with those who received his displeasure so lightly? The world was full of troublesome martial artists who didn't know their place.
A memory of his first encounter with Heon Wonchang surfaced.
—Are you also here to enter Desolate Fortress, junior brother?
He had suddenly sat beside him and spoken like that. Just like these two. Approaching without hesitation, with an unfamiliar stride and rhythm.
As if they would one day walk the same path to his grave.
"Sit down, however you like."
He returned his head to its original position as he spoke.
They did not hesitate. The sound of grass crunching beneath their steps approached. The two of them walked over and sat down without reservation between Jang Sun-il and Jung Yeonshin.
With one knee drawn up and an elbow resting on it, they mirrored each other perfectly. Perhaps because of this, their arrogant posture struck Jung Yeonshin as somewhat amusing.
He spoke.
"Thousand-Year-Old 'He Shou Wu'?"
"Of course. Isn't that the purpose of everyone gathered here?"
Bukgung Rin replied.
She then glanced at Jung Yeonshin before slipping her hand into her garments.
Jang Sun-il flinched for no reason.
Swish.
What she withdrew was not a concealed weapon. In her palm, which had turned white, as if displaying the culmination of her Ice Techniques, was a glowing sphere.
The small orb shimmered with a blue radiance, as if it held the sky within.
Jung Yeonshin's brows furrowed slightly.
"They say handling luminous pearls shortens one's life."
"This is no luminous pearl. It's a jewel crafted from fragments of Ice Essence. It contains a slight trace of Cold Energy, useful for internal cultivation."
"Cold Energy?"
"I caught the scent of coldness from you."
Bukgung Hu, seated beside his sister, said offhandedly.
The siblings' eyes gleamed with a soft white light. They seemed to sense traces of the Moonlight Harmony Technique that Jung Yeonshin had received from the Lord of Desolate Fortress.
They had already detected the refined energy infused with the Transcending Law Radiant Wheel. Coming from the Ice Palace, it was no wonder they could perceive a kindred energy within him.
Even at close range, this was no ordinary feat. They lived up to the reputation of their enigmatic sect.
Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips.
"Unnecessary."
"It's a gesture of camaraderie. You shared your fire with us."
Bukgung Rin extended the crystal sphere as she spoke. Her tone was composed.
"That act carries great meaning. In our homeland, at least. Judging by the frugality of people here, I suppose it's no different in these lands."
Bukgung Hu added to his sister's words. Jung Yeonshin glanced at the crystal sphere.
"It looks valuable."
"It's rare in the markets… but not for those in our palace. Accept it as a modest token of gratitude."
Bukgung Rin lightly shook her clenched hand. There was a refined dignity in her simple gesture, a reflection of their doctrine of equivalent exchange.
They were unpredictable. They carried precious artifacts yet had no flint to start a fire.
A clear distinction in demeanor between themselves and their subordinates. If their words about losing their attendants were true, then they were likely high-ranking figures of the Ice Palace.
'It might be useful for that poppy addict.'
Jung Yeonshin promptly took the crystal sphere. A cool sensation wrapped around his palm.
Across from him, Jang Sun-il gazed enviously.
"You truly are from the Northern Ice Palace. I never thought I'd meet masters from the Outer Lands…"
Bukgung Hu chuckled.
"Outer Lands. Such a Central Plains expression."
The term referred to the lands beyond the Great Wall. Unlike the term Secluded World, which implied detachment, Outer Lands denoted a region untouched by Ming imperial authority.
It described warriors from distant lands, often aggressive, who actively engaged in worldly affairs.
A bead of cold sweat formed on Jang Sun-il's nose.
"Oh, was I being rude…?"
"Forget it. Let's just talk. Our homeland's priests say that the afterlife is composed only of what one has seen and heard in life. That's why our warriors often roam. I'm curious, why are two young boys braving such a perilous battlefield? Isn't it too early to seek spiritual herbs?"
Bukgung Hu, draped in noble dignity like his sister, inquired.
"My niece is sick."
Jung Yeonshin repeated the same words he had told Jang Sun-il earlier, his tone indifferent.
Only the sound of the fire crackling filled the silence. The expressions of Bukgung Rin and Bukgung Hu turned peculiar.
"Quite the opposite of us, then."
"At your age, no less. You're compassionate. We came to surpass our rivals back at the palace…"
Bukgung Hu trailed off.
The two seemed to be strangely moved.
The noble siblings from the Ice Palace softened noticeably. The firelight shimmered over their pale cheeks, creating a dreamlike play of light and shadow.
They were aristocrats raised in martial clans, carrying an air befitting their status. Yet they differed from the notoriously xenophobic warriors of the Outer Lands.
"We're not much different from you."
Jung Yeonshin replied curtly.
But their expressions did not change. Until the last vestiges of sunset had fully darkened, they continued their quiet conversation with Jung Yeonshin and Jang Sun-il.
The rough and unassuming warriors from the Outer Lands turned out to be quite talkative. The dusk's silence was soon filled with warm darkness and pleasant voices.
"I'd like to propose traveling together. Whatever happens next."
"My sister makes a good suggestion. We'll protect you. You don't intend to leave the mountain until this matter is settled, correct?"
They had grown close. A natural camaraderie had formed.
Jung Yeonshin judged them from a vantage they were unaware of.
The martial capabilities of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader saw the Ice Palace siblings as harmless. They bore no hostility. If needed, they could protect Jang Sun-il.
The four of them ascended the mountain.
The higher they climbed, the more people they encountered.
Though the rumors had long spread, no one had yet claimed to have obtained the Thousand-Year-Old 'He Shou Wu'.
At this point, retreating could be just as dangerous,those below, forming tight formations, would find them suspicious.
Most of the armed men were dangerous bandits.
"You lot seem promising! Do you have the 'He Shou Wu'?"
"Let us search your belongings!"
The mountain's midsection was a battlefield drenched in blood.
Every time trouble arose, the Bukgung siblings stepped forward.
Jung Yeonshin witnessed the weapons caught in the twins' hands freezing over and shattering into pieces multiple times. It was an absolute technique that wielded Cold Ice Energy to perfection.
Clang!
"Keuh—!"
The momentum behind their palm techniques proved that they were indeed authentic combat techniques. The execution was incredibly fierce and powerful, yet when the stance was completed, it exuded an air of elegance.
"There are so many weaklings for how greedy they are. Back home, they wouldn't even make a decent meal for wolves."
"Our promise to protect you wasn't an empty one. You should consider it a stroke of fortune."
Bukgung Rin and Bukgung Hu had no shame in boasting about themselves. They firmly believed that taking pride in their own achievements was only natural.
Jung Yeonshin nodded inwardly and committed their words to memory. He had crossed paths with heroes like the Divine Sword Order's leader and Ak Surim, and he was now in competition with them.
As the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, his position in vying for merits wasn't so different from that of the Bukgung siblings.
If something sounded reasonable, he had to accept it and make it his own. He wasn't in a situation where he could afford to be picky.
'I've been gaining a lot lately.'
Underestimating someone just because they moved clumsily was a mistake.
They said few had actually seen a dung beetle roll a ball, but watching it firsthand, he found it worth learning from.
Lost in thought, Jung Yeonshin suddenly spoke. He was standing with one foot lightly resting on a rock, overlooking the distant ridges.
"What happened to your attendants?"
"Ah."
"They weren't weak. Their heads had turned completely red."
The siblings' expressions darkened. They seemed to be referring to the Blood Demons of the Blood Flame Cult.
"You two don't seem like the type to struggle against mere foot soldiers. You could probably handle even a proper Blood Master Swordsman."
At his words, their eyes widened slightly. Bukgung Hu, who was standing atop a corpse, quickly responded.
"You actually know how to assess the Blood Flame Cult? I figured your knowledge wasn't ordinary."
"Did a lot of them come?"
"There were more than just a handful. We were fighting five when suddenly twenty, then thirty appeared. Red-haired ones, with a few black-haired ones mixed in. It was completely overwhelming. We had no choice but to flee. They charged at us like they were trying to turn this entire Mount Taebaek into their domain… You should've seen it."
"There was even one wielding twin sabers. We didn't even consider engaging him."
Bukgung Rin added.
"They called him the Wave King. Only warriors of the highest caliber in our homeland could stand a chance against him. He spread a terrifying aura wherever he went. Just the thought of taking a single hit from him felt impossible. That day, I lost any desire to look down on the Central Plains."
She ended her words with a frown, trembling slightly, something uncharacteristic for a noble of the Ice Palace.
From a distance, Jang Sun-il reacted as if he had been struck by lightning.
"Wave King Kim Si-hu!"
His hushed exclamation was warranted. Even Jung Yeonshin recognized the name.
The king of those who sold their swordsmanship for salt and coin.
A wandering swordsman of immense renown, straddling the lines between righteousness and lawlessness. He was a figure few dared to provoke, not because of political connections, but due to the sheer excellence of his martial prowess.
A supreme master who had left countless legends between Henan and Shaanxi, known to have inherited the exclusive techniques of a one-lineage sect.
"He took a request from the Blood Flame Cult?"
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader murmured quietly. It seemed he had become a target for assassination.
"Sh-should we… go back down? If we cross this ridge, the 'He Shou Wu' should be about half a day's journey away…."
Jang Sun-il, standing further away, spoke cautiously. Jung Yeonshin tilted his head, as if finding his words strange.
"Didn't you come despite hearing rumors that the Tyrant Sword Tribe or Mount Hua's sect leader would be arriving? There were even rumors about the Thirteen Celestial Demons and the First Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult."
"The Thirteen Celestial Demons and the First Apostle are like immortals… but the Wave King is different. They say he's incredibly brutal. When a sect that suffered from one of his jobs tracked him down, he ripped off their sect leader's head with his bare hands. If there's profit involved, he won't hesitate to do anything!"
Jang Sun-il explained, his throat visibly trembling.
'Isn't that what martial artists are?'
Jung Yeonshin mused to himself, shifting his foot slightly.
"Unfortunate. Even those who eagerly spread rumors about me will have to die."
A voice rang out from above a rocky outcrop to the left, coarse and brimming with energy. The sheer force behind it distorted the surrounding air in patches.
Step.
The man revealed himself.
The hem of his scarlet pants shimmered flamboyantly.
He wore garments embroidered with golden thread and adorned with twin sabers, their scabbards painted with white clouds. His appearance was more befitting of a king than a mere vagabond.
"I am Kim Si-hu."
A man with a sharply defined jaw, his beard meticulously trimmed.
His presence dominated the terrain like a tiger ruling its domain, his entire body enveloped in an invisible yet palpable aura.
The perception of a supreme martial artist was extraordinary. He spoke, and reality bent to his will.
"What…!"
"They say one should never speak of tigers carelessly…!"
Bukgung Rin and Bukgung Hu crouched slightly, their gazes locked upward. They were visibly shaken.
Though not much older than Jung Yeonshin, they were now coming to terms with the fact that nothing was impossible in the martial world.
Yet, the Radiant Demon Squad's master did not look at the Wave King.
Beyond him, a sinister flow of energy flickered. It followed the refined phrases of the Demon Roaring Blood Art, a technique he had previously encountered.
The adjusted scripture had only been a few chapters short of completion. Had someone altered its mnemonic to refine it in their own way?
'She can sense me. The Wave King means nothing to her.'
There was no escaping it now. He had to face her.
Jung Yeonshin slowly turned his gaze. His eyes met Kim Si-hu's.
The Wave King smirked.
"You, I can tell just by your face. You're the one who caused all this. Thanks to you, I've secured plenty of salt."
He spoke as if he already knew Jung Yeonshin's identity. Despite his smile, his entire musculature was subtly flexing and relaxing.
At any moment, he could draw his sabers and strike. Yet, there wasn't a trace of arrogance in his stance.
A survivor of many battles.
The Radiant Demon Squad's leader spoke calmly.
"Come down."
"Isn't it proper for the younger one to move first? I'll yield the first move to you."
The Wave King lowered his chin, his lips curling into a deeper grin.
Distance and position were crucial, even in duels between supreme martial artists.
Elevation could slightly influence the strength of a strike or the effectiveness of energy waves. A difference as thin as a sheet of paper could determine life or death.
Kim Si-hu was a pragmatic man. He valued the advantage in battle over honor.
"You make a fair point."
Jung Yeonshin did not continue the battle of wills.
Drawing the Beiming with his right hand, he raised his left palm and invoked the essence of the Radiant River.
The Transcending Law Radiant Wheel split into two opposing forces, colliding within his palm like clashing thunderbolts.
As he tightened and released the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian in his left arm, the lightning that had gathered in his palm remained contained.
'Activation.'
Kwaaaaaa!
A vortex of overwhelming energy swirled in his grasp, an unrelenting storm.
A surge of energy, violent and ceaseless, swept through the air like a typhoon. His black robes flared wildly.
"That's…!"
The Wave King's eyes widened. The Seventh Apostle's presence trembled.
There was no time to wait. Jung Yeonshin struck.
He slammed his force into the rock wall that Kim Si-hu stood upon.
Kwaaaaaaang—!
A deafening explosion echoed in all directions like a resounding clap of thunder.
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