Silence flowed.
Amidst the corpses of the elite warriors raised by the Young Lord of the Murong Clan, gifts were being mentioned.
The words of Lotus Nezha carried immense weight.
At this moment, the black-robed nobleman, with a travel pack slung roughly over one shoulder and a sword hanging from his waist, was the one who had slain the leader of the Zhuge Clan, who had sought to dominate the lands of Shaanxi.
In the Shaanxi region, where no dominating sect existed now, his influence surpassed that of any sect leader.
Even the next leader of the Slaughter Sect had to carefully choose his words in front of him. No matter how much Kim Jon-hwi had grasped the hearts of Shaanxi's common folk, the same held true.
"…A gift, you say."
Chivalrous Slayer slowly opened his mouth.
"Rather, it should be our sect presenting a gift to the leader of the Radiant Demon Squad. That would be proper."
"...?"
"You have reforged Seon-hwi into a magnificent dark sword, have you not? The Kim Clan is in your debt—a great debt, indeed…"
Kim Jon-hwi spoke with a faint trace of amusement in his voice.
"I carried a deep grudge. During the Heavenly Demon Tomb Rebellion, I was but a child, powerless to protect Seon-hwi from the Murong Clan's schemes. All I could do was resent the elders who failed to shield him. My foolish brother left unfinished business, and the leader of the Radiant Demon Squad has now taken up that task in his stead… I do not know how to express my gratitude. If it were up to me, I would even offer a family heirloom. After all, there is no blood relative left to inherit it."
His voice resonated gently. It was a pleasant tone to listen to, his words flowing effortlessly like a stream.
The debt of the Kim Clan.
From another perspective, it carried a profound meaning.
The leader of the Radiant Demon Squad had mentioned gifts in exchange for raising his right arm, yet Kim Jon-hwi claimed it was they who owed him instead.
It sounded as if Heon Wonchang's roots and identity aligned more closely with the Slaughter Sect than with the Radiant Demon Squad.
Was this an attempt, through mere flattery, to reclaim the Sacred Warrior from him?
'If he crosses the line further, I will have to tell him to draw his blade.'
Jung Yeonshin silently gazed at the man in the black hat before him.
Though he had not introduced himself, Jung Yeonshin could already tell who he was. His lower jaw resembled Heon Wonchang.
A bold, brushstroke-like jawline, descending sharply—almost identical. Beneath the wide brim of his black hat, his shining gaze was reminiscent of Namgoong Se-jin, the Azure Qilin.
His aura was clear, despite being a man who walked the path of death.
The man in the black hat suddenly smiled.
"For you, any interpretation of our Bronze Sect would be considered correct. After all, we would not dare to object in the slightest."
Regardless of Heon Wonchang's allegiance, there was an overwhelming sense of goodwill. Even the way he spoke lightly about sect traditions conveyed it.
The tradition of the Slaughter Sect—the practice of allowing a powerful outsider, one strong enough to threaten the Heavenly Demon Tomb, to determine the fate of the Bronze Sect.
To those unfamiliar with its doctrine, that was all they knew.
At that moment, Heon Wonchang stepped forward slightly.
"He is my elder cousin. His courtesy name is Chivalrous Slayer, his name is Kim Jon-hwi."
Jung Yeonshin gave a small nod. His expectations had been correct. The elder brother of Heon Wonchang by blood, a man possessing the heroic spirit of Namgoong Se-jin.
He decided to let it go, just this once.
He wished for Heon Wonchang to find peace whenever he recalled his family. He hoped it would be different from the Jung Clan Manor.
It was the reason why the Venerable Hero of the Desolate Fortress wanted to resolve all past grudges and return.
"My, I was absentminded. Keeping a distinguished guest waiting… It's the first time we've ever opened this place to an outsider, and I hesitated, unaware of my own ignorance."
With a slightly sheepish smile, Chivalrous Slayer extended his hand toward the depths of the cave. His gesture was somewhat exaggerated.
"Welcome to the successor of the Grand Moon Slaughter Sect and the Golden Clan Slaughter Sect."
* * *
They descended a long path. It had taken about half an hour.
Darkness surrounded them. No light penetrated the abyss, yet a faint breeze could be felt, as though it were drifting from a distant place.
Jung Yeonshin walked alongside Heon Wonchang, following Chivalrous Slayer's guidance. This was the meridian of the assassins.
A sect that could not avoid having many enemies. It made sense for them to have established themselves in such a secluded place.
"Leader, when we passed through the main gate, did you not have companions with you? I recall seeing two figures—a young man and a young woman."
The brief echo of the words reverberated through the surroundings.
It was Heon Wonchang's voice.
Jung Yeonshin slowly opened his mouth, his gaze illuminated with the azure glow of the Heaven-Piercing Technique.
He reconstructed the flow of energy he had projected outward, scanning the damp cave walls in their entirety.
"When the Young Lord of the Murong Clan attacked, they were thrown aside and fled elsewhere…."
"Then, you weren't particularly close to them? May I ask their identities?"
"She is likely the daughter of the Profound Martial Alliance's leader—Gun Yurin, the wielder of the Phoenix-Killer Red Sword."
Chivalrous Slayer, Kim Jon-hwi, spoke as he led the way.
The bluish glow of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader's eyes behind him seemed to weigh on his mind, though he refrained from looking back, only shifting his trapezius muscles in small twitches.
Then, Heon Wonchang suddenly let out an exclamation of shock.
"The child of the Profound Martial Alliance's leader?!"
Through the cave, the reverberating echoes carried his astonishment.
And then, Chivalrous Slayer's voice followed, flowing like a melody.
"It is certain. Unlike the elders, I make sure to personally gather and memorize facial recognition records. Unlike the fools who failed to recognize the famed Lotus Nezha of Shaanxi. Our sect's intelligence network in Shaanxi is second only to the Beggars' Sect and the Hao Sect, and yet they let such invaluable knowledge decay in obscurity, dying in vain, much like those arrogant martial artists intoxicated by their own power."
"Master, have you been poisoned? Where's the silver needle? The silver needle… where did I put it…."
The sound of frantic rummaging accompanied Chivalrous Slayer Kim Jon-hwi's voice, which had lost some of its vigor. With a slightly subdued expression, he suddenly stepped forward and pushed open the stone door that had blocked their path.
"We've arrived."
Rumble—
A straight vertical slit opened, allowing the glow of torches to flood in.
Beyond lay an underground plaza. It was so vast that one could mistake it for a training ground hidden within the depths of a cavern.
The air was thick with the scent of ink.
An incredibly peculiar scene unfolded before them.
Rows of stone tables filled the underground space, upon which a translucent energy ceaselessly settled. Amidst this, black-robed martial artists sat upright, their postures as disciplined as the scribes of the General Affairs Bureau of Desolate Fortress, each wielding a brush and transcribing something onto parchment.
They seemed to be recording transmissions descending continuously from the ceiling.
Murmuring voices intertwined like a monotonous chant.
They paid no attention to the arrival of Jung Yeonshin's group, completely absorbed in their assigned tasks. At a glance, their fixation made them appear almost delirious.
"The Grand Ceremony of the Forbidden City, Beijing… The three supreme martial artists of the imperial family depart with ten thousand troops. Rumors claim that the emperor personally devised a martial art to counter the Northern God of War and bestowed it upon them…."
"Sichuan Province, the leader of Golden Wings Sect challenges the leader of the Tang Clan to a duel of life and death. The exchange is rumored to involve the secret formula of Full Sky Flower Rain and the technique of Heaven-Flipping Dragon Cleave…"
"The leader of Pure Demon Alliance was slain by the Young Lord of the Ming Cult. The battle reportedly lasted a thousand exchanges, with firebolts striking down like divine wrath. Invincible Laughing Heaven, Yelu Zhen, declared at the heart of the Pure Demon Alliance's main hall that his sorcery is the highest-tier technique closest to that of the First Heavenly Demon. The remnants of the Ming Cult are expected to fully absorb the Pure Demon Alliance. Meanwhile, due to some strange phenomena, numerous individuals are finding themselves unable to leave Xinjiang. It is advised that our sect refrains from awaiting further updates…."
Were they using Thousand Li Hearing Technique and Hundred Li Transmission in conjunction?
This was a glimpse into a meticulously woven information network. Martial artists proficient in communication techniques were likely stationed at regular intervals, functioning like relay posts to replace messenger birds or mounted couriers.
Only a sect as influential as the Hao Sect, which was frequently mentioned alongside the Nine Great Sects, could possibly achieve such a feat. And yet, the energy waves carrying messages from the ceiling of this cavern were a testament to the sheer power of the Slaughter Sect.
To an unknowing commoner, this sight would have appeared supernatural.
However, Jung Yeonshin was astonished by something else. His brows lifted instinctively.
The news he heard upon entry was no ordinary information. At least two of these reports were directly related to him.
The rumor that the leader of Golden Wings Sect had challenged the Tang Clan's leader to a duel was enough to shake the martial world, but the matter of the Pure Demon Alliance and the Ming Cult's Young Lord was even greater.
'The Young Lord of the Ming Cult is still alive?'
The Obeying Heaven Squad had long departed for Xinjiang, followed by the Forest Striding Squad and the leader of the Immortal Spirit Wood.
Had the rumors been conflicting? The vastness of the Ming Empire meant that information rarely arrived promptly or accurately.
That was precisely why countless martial artists still roamed unaware of the face of Jung Yeonshin, leader of the Radiant Demon Squad. Official reports often diverged from reality.
The delayed fulfillment of the three elite squads' mission was likely a result of the same phenomenon.
It was highly probable that the death of the leader of Pure Demon Alliance had come first, and only afterward would reports emerge claiming that the three squad leaders had slain the Ming Cult's Young Lord. That was how Jung Yeonshin preferred to think of it.
"It will be fine."
Heon Wonchang patted him lightly on the shoulder.
Jung Yeonshin, who had remained silent, gave a small, wordless nod.
Then, something entered his field of vision—a vast wall.
Beyond the disciples of the Slaughter Sect, who were diligently transcribing messages, was a massive cavern wall bearing a long, comet-like scar.
No, upon closer inspection—
It was a stone pillar. The scarred section of the wall had been carved out and reassembled here.
It was a glimpse of a process only those trained in martial arts would think to undertake.
'A sword mark…?'
A flicker of light crossed Jung Yeonshin's eyes.
"One of my disciples went to retrieve the Young Lord of the Hwangbo Clan and the heir of the Desolate Shin Clan. They should be arriving soon, accompanied by the few remaining elders of our sect who still hold some measure of dignity. Hm? Ah…."
Chivalrous Slayer approached with light steps, then let out a peculiar exclamation.
"For a swordsman of your caliber, it is only natural to be captivated. Though for our sect, it is nothing more than an unforgettable disgrace."
"A disgrace, you say?"
"That sword mark belongs to the leader of the Murong Clan. It's what shattered the Heavenly Demon Tomb into pieces over a decade ago…."
Chivalrous Slayer Kim Jon-hwi trailed off.
Though he was a man who usually sought pleasure and lighthearted conversation, he found it difficult to maintain such an attitude when speaking of his sect's deep-seated enmity.
"It is a mark of our determination never to forget. More than a dozen elders turned into fools after spending years in seclusion, meditating on how to overcome it… But the old masters are too stubborn, so we've left it as it is. Once I become the Sect Leader, I intend to destroy it immediately…."
Jung Yeonshin wasn't listening.
He stood motionless, staring at the massive sword mark, which spanned at least three jang in length. Kim Jon-hwi's words faded into the background.
Suddenly, blue streaks of light from the Heaven-Piercing Technique extended from his eyes, scanning the rough surface of the cavern wall. A faint breeze swept through the underground chamber, brushing coolly against the ground.
Lotus Nezha murmured.
"There is no strength in the grip."
"What did you say…?"
"Yet, how could a sword strike be strong enough to be called a falling star…?"
At that moment—
Jung Yeonshin's voice was abruptly drowned out by the words of the Slaughter Sect disciples. Their previously calm tones now carried a sense of urgency.
"Azure Dagger reports an anomalous trace of the Blood Flame Cult's Apostle. A straight line of bloodstains in the snowy fields has remained unwashed for three days. Intelligence suggests that an eerily beautiful woman passed through the well-town of Heumyang County. Given these circumstances, we suspect it to be one of the Apostles of the Blood Flame Cult. Additional reports indicate that her movements appeared extremely impaired…."
"White Blade reports sighting traces of the Profound Martial Alliance's leader in the northern snowy fields. The marks left by the Radiant Concealed Art, which carved a spiral over a hundred jang in radius, remain visible. The Profound Martial Alliance's leader, Gun Wi-hoo, despite his usual dignified manner, is known to personally interrogate even beggars of the Beggar' Sect. All sect disciples in Shaanxi must be warned to take refuge in safe houses immediately. The forces of the Profound Martial Alliance are converging from all directions."
"Black Sword reports witnessing a cloud split in half at the southern border of Taiyuan Prefecture near Yuzhou. It is presumed to be the Meteor Sword of the leader of the Murong Clan combined with Void Stepping. All disciples stationed in Taiyuan must return within one hour. Urgent—extreme urgency."
And then—
Boom! Boom! Boooooom—!
A heavy roar reverberated through the underground chamber, akin to a meteor crashing down. The walls trembled violently as fine stone dust cascaded like waterfalls from various crevices.
In an instant, the surroundings became enveloped in a thick, pale cloud of dust.