Jung Yeonshin, who had been moving forward, cast a glance at the Divine Sword Order's leader.
He spoke of eye level. He certainly wasn't referring to the hunched gaze of a monkey.
The Divine Sword Order's leader of Desolate Fortress. Jung Yeonshin held deep respect for his one and only direct superior.
The Formless Sword of Energy he had unleashed when he executed the Namgoong Clan's leader—Jung Yeonshin still couldn't fathom how he had drawn it.
"You don't have to make it easy for me."
"What an audacious brat. I like it. You can look forward to this."
The Divine Sword Order's leader grinned slyly.
Just then—
"We've arrived."
A clear voice rang from above. It was the guide, a master from the noble bloodline. But even without the announcement, it was already obvious.
A brilliant light had filled the view ahead. Through the foliage, the scenery opened wide.
A lake.
The moonlight lay perfectly upon its surface, undisturbed by even the slightest ripple.
The winter chill had dissipated before he even realized it.
A fresh scent of spring wafted in. The enormous moon painted the water as if brushing a layer of blue pigment over it.
A windless zone. The faint breeze that had been stirring in the air dispersed behind Jung Yeonshin, as if bowing in reverence.
"Go on in first. I'll be lying here, resting. The water's energy is remarkably divine, I need to refine my inner force first. And I have no interest in watching a naked man."
Without hesitation, the Divine Sword Order's leader lay down on the spot. He closed his eyes, indifferent to whether the guide stayed or left.
Jung Yeonshin nodded silently, then removed his uncle's long robe and his own outer martial attire.
Sarak.
His bandaged upper body was revealed. Bloodstains still lingered in places.
The sword wounds left by masters did not heal easily. Their energy was simply too potent.
Jung Yeonshin reached to remove his bandages entirely, but his hand suddenly froze.
'A gaze. It wasn't just one or two.'
Eyes were fixed on him from all directions, accompanied by a densely packed energy wave.
An ambush from the Dark Night War?
No. It leaned more toward the orthodox than the demonic factions. This was the internal energy of the Tianzhu Sect. The form of their energy waves was familiar.
Perhaps because they were a rural sect, they didn't bother concealing their innate aura. His upper dantian sensed their curiosity as vividly as if he could hear their thoughts.
They wanted to see how his body was structured.
Was the knowledge of noble sects so different from the outside world?
'Disgusting.'
Jung Yeonshin furrowed his brows and walked straight into the lake. Only then did the presence of the noble masters gradually recede.
Water splashed around his feet, rising to his thighs. The gentle waves wrapped around his waist.
And suddenly—
Thump—
His heart's Radiant Wheel pulsed.
'The Lord's…?'
Jung Yeonshin's lips parted slightly.
A faint ripple of light spread across the moonlit lake.
* * *
Tree trunks sprawled freely within the hall.
"The young ones showed great interest."
"It's to be expected. When was the last time we welcomed an outsider?"
The surrounding walls bore deep brown hues.
Vines and leaves, bathed in soft radiance, adorned the area as five figures sat around a massive tree trunk.
Two elderly men, their eyes marked with wrinkles. The sect leader, Chung Bohwa. And a younger man and woman.
As the aged masters conversed, the younger ones occasionally interjected.
"That child, Shin So-bin, displayed remarkable martial arts. To produce such force despite her stature… I was tempted to ask her for the mnemonic verse of her shockwave technique, though that would have been improper. Such refined movements."
"She must be of the Desolate Shin Clan's bloodline. A single true strike, and Nansong's fighting spirit was completely shattered. They say the warriors of Desolate Fortress are like unsheathed swords… but to be overpowered by a child? That direct-line thrust—it wriggled through the air in a mere instant. She controlled the wind itself with her shockwave."
Their hushed words drifted like a gentle breeze.
"The scapula… it must have been a linear discharge from the Tianzong Acupoint. Only the Radiant Demon Squad and its leader would know the mnemonic verse, but even with a well-trained body, that kind of strike is daunting."
"The concept is simple, but to fully manifest an idea into martial arts, that makes it a true technique."
"Even so, losing in a single exchange is a disgrace. Nansong will refine the Heavenly Dao Sword before they leave. He must reclaim his honor…"
"You speak like the Han people, Elder Kwon. I thought you had forgotten your ties with those we befriended during the Ming Cult Grand Tournament. Seems these outsiders have reignited your fighting spirit."
"My wife…"
This was a gathering of swordmasters.
They did not idly quarrel over techniques. Instead, they dissected the essence of the martial arts they had witnessed that morning.
For once, the gathering shed their indifferent façades, revealing genuine intrigue.
"They called it the Radiant Arts Secret? That was even more astounding. Normally, the term 'Secret' is reserved for grand disciplines. And yet, that art was worthy of the name. A mnemonic verse that strengthens power through energy collisions… Even the refined energy manipulation of the Nine Great Sects would struggle to dream of such a feat. The intricacy of its internal circulation—it's too fascinating."
"Agreed. No ordinary mind could have conceived such a level of mastery. The accumulation of force through colliding energy waves was astonishing. It merged countless martial arts together."
"My wife, perhaps it's time we discussed something else. The current Radiant Demon Squad's leader moves with the grace of our lineage. He wasn't born dark-skinned—Chung Myung must have taught him. In that case, he's not entirely an outsider. We could entrust him with the sect's long-cherished wish…"
"Elder Kwon, that is not possible. His features, rare as they may be in the secular world, are unmistakably curved at the ears. He lacks the qualifications. We cannot pass our sect's secrets to an outsider. Moreover, Chung Myung is an expelled disciple."
"Understood, for now. Still… I wonder where Chung Myung is. I don't sense his energy at his residence."
"He is at Chung Su's grave. He must have missed his younger brother."
A younger man with jet-black hair answered.
The sect leader, Chung Bohwa, finally spoke.
"Do not carelessly utter the name of an expelled disciple. This concludes our discussion on Desolate Fortress. Feel free to analyze martial arts freely, but do not speak to those who have abandoned the principles of our sect. The Dark Night War is a greater concern. Recent movements have been unsettling."
"The flow of natural energy outside is peculiar. Enormous, even. We should consider the One Kill Every Ten Li technique…"
"Yet another sign of impending death. They must have realized we have received important guests. The Divine Sword Order's leader and the Radiant Demon Squad's leader cannot be viewed merely as usable forces."
"Understood, Sect leader."
A man bowed his head.
"How long do you intend to keep the lake open?"
A young woman asked. It was Gi Geomhyang, also bearing jet-black hair.
Despite losing to the Lazy Flame Dragon, she had attended the meeting, pressing a hand to the injured area near her diaphragm.
"Until they recover naturally."
Gi Geomhyang's eyes widened.
"You mean… full recovery? That's unheard of."
"I was deeply moved by the Radiant Demon Squad's leader's character. Martial artists of such caliber rarely possess such character. Not even in the secular world have I seen such a thing."
"Ah…"
"Every word he spoke was genuine. His praises for Nansong and Geomhyang were heartfelt. There was not a single trace of deception."
A gentle curve formed on Chung Bohwa's lips.
She glanced at the masters seated around her.
"You all felt the same, didn't you?"
They nodded. Even the elder woman who had questioned his qualifications agreed.
"Indeed. The current Radiant Demon Squad's leader should be treated with the respect he has earned."
Just then—
The surrounding foliage rustled violently. A panicked voice erupted from outside.
"Ha-hyun and Mae-hyang's birds have died! Arrows! Energy-infused arrows! You must come and see this!"
* * *
The noble clans raised sacred beasts.
Far more intelligent than messenger hawks, these creatures possessed divine insight.
And now, their bond had been severed.
One warrior disappeared, then another.
It continued. All of them had been assigned to patrol the mountain ridges.
Their bodies were found impaled by arrows or lifeless in villages.
With the arrival of the Divine Sword Order's leader and the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, the number of missing warriors had increased drastically.
There was only one possible culprit.
The Tianzhu Sect had mortal enemies.
Those who could not rightfully be called bright—the shadowed clans of the Dark Night War.
The noble masters entered battle readiness.
Sitting on a stone wall, Heon Wonchang absentmindedly tapped his heel against the surface, murmuring to himself.
The end of his Hero's Ribbon fluttered at the back of his head, but the usual brightness in his demeanor was missing. It had been that way ever since he lost to Gi Geomhyang of the Tianzhu Sect.
Swish.
A cascade of jet-black hair swept past him. Shin So-bin had leaped onto the wall. She wasted no time speaking.
"A mortal enemy for this long… this isn't a one-day issue, is it? Honestly, Tianzhu Sect isn't even something you need to be worrying about. The real problem is your expression, Wonchang-senior. The poppy addict says you look too gloomy, it's ruining the view."
"It's Heon Wonchang."
"Relax your face a bit. Acting all pathetic just because you lost once."
"Lost once? Our leader has never lost a fight. And I… I lost using the Radiant Arts Secret. I've tarnished the name of the Radiant Demon Squad."
"All we expect from the Sacred Warrior is a bit of talking, though?"
"Brat, you talk too much."
A faint smile touched Heon Wonchang's lips.
Household. Sect.
Ties bound by deep connections and secret martial arts brought people together. The Radiant Demon Squad was drawing closer to a true sect unified under the Lightning Genius' martial lineage.
With leader Jung Yeonshin at the helm, they were like sworn siblings, bound by something stronger than blood—an unyielding bond forged in the treacherous world of Murim.
"Did leader Yeonshin tell you anything? He practically lives by the lakeside, but I feel like it's been forever since I saw him. He should at least show his face."
"So that was your real aim."
"It's not like I can go see him myself. What if I accidentally run into him while he's… unclothed?"
"You're acting all troubled, but you seem eager to go."
Shin So-bin only responded with a playful smile. Heon Wonchang shook his head and spoke again.
"Don't let your guard down. This place isn't like the Blood Flame Cult—some ruthless grand faction. There's no impenetrable fortress here. Instead of solid walls, they use illusions to distort perception."
"I knew something felt off. They keep acting overly cautious even though we're inside a formation."
"They say intruders still make their way in every now and then. The old feuds between the noble bloodlines run deep, and the battles here are laced with madness. I can feel it, the killing intent is overwhelming."
"Chung Myung senior's younger brother got caught up in it, didn't he? Come to think of it, Order's leader hasn't been around either… Anyway, what about leader Yeonshin?"
"The Order's leader and leader Yeonshin have been talking nonstop, while recovering. They weren't just having a casual chat."
"Huh…? Is the squad leader receiving some special teachings from the Divine Sword Order's leader? That's never happened before, has it?"
"No, it hasn't."
Heon Wonchang nodded calmly.
* * *
Son Sangmyung of the Endless Division of the Dark Night War had an exceptionally broad field of vision.
He was born into a noble lineage. His perspective was entirely different from that of common Han masters.
Even if they shared the same level of internal energy cultivation, his hand techniques alone put him above two or three opponents. Given enough space, he could handle even ten at once.
Hwaaah!
Dark Sky Bow Ghost Son Sangmyung sprinted. Even while exerting himself at full speed, the only sound that followed him was the faint rustling of grass underfoot.
His vision narrowed and sharpened continuously. This was a world of speed granted only to his clan. Even the fundamental nature of his Protective Energy Technique was different.
He smiled as he ran.
At last, he had been chosen.
He had infiltrated the village founded by their clan's traitors. It was time to purge the undesirables.
'The lake first.'
He reminded himself.
He needed to mark his target for One Kill Every Ten Li with Pursuit Fragrance. He didn't think about what came after.
It was said that the target couldn't be confronted with conventional skill. The moment Pursuit Fragrance was applied, he might die.
That was fine. His mission was to send such a being to their death.
Once the divine fragrance marked its target, the arrow formation would span an immense distance, ensuring a fatal strike.
The shot fired by Bonggong would never miss.
It was the secret art that had elevated the Dark Night War to the Thirteen Celestial Demons.
It had already claimed the lives of many black-clad warriors of Desolate Fortress. That was how their sect had built its reputation as an unrivaled faction of assassins.
'This will be a grand finale.'
Swish.
In the next moment, his vision widened.
The scent of water mixed with the moonlight drifting through the silent air. A vast lakeshore unfolded before him.
There, standing with her back turned, was a woman with ears as keen as a sword tip.
Her golden hair cascaded down to her waist. She appeared to be watching something in the distance.
There was no reason to avoid her. No need to. Efficiency meant nothing in this moment.
Saaah…
'A lowly bloodline.'
Son Sangmyung lunged to kill her.
The energy from the Bubbling Spring Acupoint at the soles of his feet wrapped around the ground in silence. The wind brushing against his eyes grew faint.
He pulled a dagger from his robes and gripped it in reverse. The movement was flawlessly swift and silent.
In an instant, he closed the distance. The woman's back grew larger in his view.
Hoo…
Just as he was about to strike, his body froze.
The moonlight had thickened. Something held his gaze in place.
Suddenly, an unmistakable presence surged forth.
A quiet yet overwhelming energy rippled from not far ahead.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
In the middle of the lake, bathed in the soft glow of the moon—
SPLASH… SPLASH…
Each step sent transparent ripples across the water's surface.
A figure was walking across the lake, stepping upon the pale blue moonlight reflected on its surface.
Their jet-black hair swayed, nearly reaching their shoulder blades. And along with it, an eerie, domineering aura resonated in the air.
A youthful face, yet one possessing an enigmatic divinity.
A power so dense it felt as if the entire world belonged solely to him.
Son Sangmyung's vision expanded vertically.
He had unknowingly widened his eyes.
"The Art of Water-Stepping…!"
A boy was walking on the full moon.
[T/L: Please support me AND read further chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans.]
[T/L: Subscribe for a membership on my Buy Me a Coffee page and receive 15 extra chapters upon joining, along with daily updates of one chapter: buymeacoffee.com/revengerscans ]
[Additional Info: If anyone is facing the issue of payment on Ko-Fi, please contact me on [email protected]]