Body-Sword Unification, which let him sense even the wind blowing against his sword. The sensation from that moment was still vivid. Through his sword, he had read Chung Myung's techniques, which his eyes had utterly failed to follow.

Internal energy. Core energy was a wondrous thing. It revealed the realm of higher mastery without his needing to see with his eyes or feel with his skin.

'Core energy is nature itself. Wouldn't simply following its lead be enough?'

The icy touch of the Desolate Sword's hilt felt warm to him. Following the formula of the radiant demon arts, core energy rose throughout his body and began to spread beyond it. The sensation was like the faintest of breezes.

Along with that gentle breeze, he surveyed another tower standing tall beside the fallen bricks. A mere glance at its joints built a translucent image in his mind, as though he could see straight through it. Where to strike, with how much force, and at what angle.

Force, surroundings, and target came together in a threefold union to create a single trajectory. This was what was called a combat path.

His breathing settled. His right hand rose, holding the Desolate Sword still in its scabbard. He drew up not a trace of internal energy to augment his physical strength. He merely swung at ease, following the single form his core energy guided him through.

In that instant, the world lost its color in his awareness.

A twisting of muscle began in his pectoralis major, passed through his deltoid and brachialis, and reached his finger flexors, forging the path of force as though tempering a sword. It then converged into a single sword trajectory that traveled toward the tower.

Just before impact, every joint in his body locked momentarily into place. The optimal moment, the perfect strike.

THUNK!

RUMBLE!

The fallen bricks looked much like those Ma Jin had broken beside them.

He had grasped the radiant demon arts. All that remained was to hone his skill until he could use them in actual combat.

Jung Yeonshin struggled to contain the excitement welling up within him. Sliding his scabbard into his belt, he glanced at Ma Jin. The man's expression was even more extreme than when Yeonshin had sparred with Chung Myung. By now, it hardly felt surprising.

"This. What in the..."

"I think I'll need plenty of actual combat experience. Ordinary training won't be enough to put the radiant demon arts into practice when an instant decides life or death."

"..."

"Now I understand what you meant about engraving it into my body. Thank you for the lesson."

Ma Jin, a man counted among the strongest in the Divine Sword Squad's seventeen squads, said nothing for a long while.

* * *

"That boy. He's strange."

One of the Radiant Demon Squad's experts muttered the words. He wore blue robes bearing the character for Desolate—meaning wild or untamed—on both shoulders and his back.

Everyone present wore the same martial robes. The fifteen or so warriors drinking in the lavish tavern looked as though they understood at once. There was only one person he could mean: the boy who had lately monopolized conversation within the Radiant Demon Squad.

"I used to hear that a lot myself. Before I came here, that is."

"You were a peerless prodigy? Tell us something new."

"How many warriors who passed the desolate fortress trial do you think have never been called prodigies?"

"Couldn't say. I grew up in the Fortress."

A faint scent of liquor accompanied their remarks. This was one of the finest taverns in Xiangyang, whose streets bustled thanks to the Desolate Fortress's presence.

No one bothered circulating internal energy to drive out their intoxication while enjoying themselves. Those who lived abstemiously and devoted themselves solely to training had not come in the first place.

The Radiant Demon Squad expert who had first raised the subject spoke again.

"Exactly. 'He's strange' is what ordinary people tend to say about geniuses and prodigies they can't understand."

"Right. We only became ordinary after coming here. Looking back, I can't say I like it."

A flushed man across from him chuckled and tossed back his cup as he replied. Then he added,

"But you're saying that to us, that boy is the strange one?"

The experts laughed in disbelief.

"Has anyone ever seen the captain make a face like that?"

"I hear he's already using the radiant demon arts proficiently."

"Can't you tell from the way he swings his sword? He's completely changed. There's a proper bearing to him now. When he went at it with Chung Myung, he was like a young beast that had grown up without its parents."

"I couldn't believe it even as I watched."

As they talked about the absent boy over their drinks, a comparatively youthful-looking man spoke up.

"I like that Lightning Genius fellow's character. With all that talent, he isn't arrogant."

"Sometimes he's so brazen it leaves me speechless. Either way, we'll know his true character as soon as he comes back from one major mission."

"In any case, wouldn't the fortress master have taken notice of talent like that?"

"He would have met her at the final stage of the desolate fortress trial. With those eyes of hers, she'd have seen through him at once. She might have something arranged for him."

"Unless something goes wrong, he'll become one of the first experts people name when they speak of the Desolate Fortress. Won't he rise from white robes to blue in no time?"

"He might. If he survives."

Several of the experts nodded.

"Still... what those bastards are saying is laughable."

One of the Radiant Demon Squad warriors turned toward a wall as he spoke. The woman beside him grinned, letting her martial presence rise.

"They're jealous, aren't they? Apparently they made a huge fuss, telling their captain he had to bring back either Lightning Genius or White Qilin. And in the end, they got neither."

Raucous laughter erupted.

At the same instant—

CRASH!

The wall beside them shattered.

The Radiant Demon Squad experts deflected the fragments exploding in every direction, charged with core energy, using their chopsticks or wine cups. They smirked as though this had happened more than once before. Each seemingly leisurely gesture embodied profound martial principles.

"My apologies for interrupting the Radiant Demon Squad experts' enjoyment."

These warriors, too, wore the blue martial robes of the Desolate Fortress. One man stepped forward to speak, but in contrast to his words, every hem of his clothing fluttered. He had drawn up all his core energy.

"If you know that, why don't you leave quietly? We were just getting into the mood. Our youngest is so very talented, you see."

The woman, already radiating a commanding presence, spoke with a broad smile. Her sharply defined features and cold eyes formed an expression anyone would recognize as deliberately provoking. It was enough to make even someone who had no intention of fighting draw a blade.

"Sun Lotus Sword Enchantress. Are you asking for a fight?"

"I thought you heavenly squad people were the ones asking for it. 'He might have some talent, but there's an obvious limit to how far he'll go in the Radiant Demon Squad'? How is that anything but picking a fight? You bastards knew we were right here listening, and you still spouted that nasty drivel."

As she spoke, her voice grew increasingly strained, as though she were grinding her teeth. Her martial presence mounted with every phrase. Finally unable to contain her own anger, she sprang to her feet and glared at the heavenly squad warriors.

"Draw your swords. Let's see those eighteen forms of your precious heavenly squad's Clear Sky Swordsmanship."

"Sun Lotus Sword Enchantress Baek Miryeo! Watch your words and conduct!"

"Who are you to order me around? Come at me! I'll smash you within ten forms!"

Xiangyang's finest tavern descended into chaos.

* * *

"Did you hear that our seniors had a brawl with the heavenly squad warriors?!"

Heon Wonchang had come bursting into his room in a flurry of excitement first thing in the morning.

Jung Yeonshin tilted his head and spoke.

"Doesn't the Desolate Fortress have its own laws? I understand that fighting other Fortress warriors with martial arts outside the training grounds is grounds for disciplinary action."

"When did you find time to read the Fortress's code of laws? Anyway, I think you're right. They've all been looking miserable since they were forbidden to go out."

"What were they fighting about?"

"Well, apparently they were drinking in a tavern when a heavenly squad warrior picked a fight. He said your talent would never bloom in the Radiant Demon Squad, Young Master Jung."

"... They crossed swords over something like that?"

"You still don't understand Murim, young master. That's the very essence of this martial world! One careless remark comes back at you as a naked blade, and by blocking it and overcoming it, you make your name and roam the world freely. Shouldn't you be pleased? Our Desolate Fortress seniors got angry on a new recruit's behalf! If it were me, I wouldn't know what to do with myself!"

The Desolate Fortress Sacred Warrior gazed at him with a face full of desperate envy.

'Weren't they just angry because someone insulted the Radiant Demon Squad?'

Baffled by words he could not understand, Jung Yeonshin closed his mouth. Then his eyes widened slightly.

'This is an opportunity, isn't it?'

How great a merit would he have to earn to obtain the fruit of the world tree, revered by every member of the noble race in the world? There was no way he would not need his comrades' help in the process.

They said owing one another their lives was the surest foundation of trust among martial artists, but building up as much goodwill as he could beforehand would not hurt.

'Calculating how to earn their trust is embarrassing. Ridiculous, even.'

But he had to survive first. He simply had not shown much of it before the Desolate Fortress Master; he truly did not want to die young. He had to eat the Fruit of the World Tree.

"Now that I hear it, you're right, Brother Heon. It makes me angry. To think our seniors had to get so furious over me alone that they even crossed swords."

Jung Yeonshin sprang to his feet.

"Yes! That's it! You really are a chivalrous man who understands what's right!"

'Is this really when you call someone chivalrous?'

Heon Wonchang even applauded, nearly making him feel awkward, but he worked to compose an expression of quiet anger and left the room. Surely he was not imagining the anticipation in the footsteps following behind him.

He went to the Radiant Demon Squad's training ground. Some of the seniors lounging about looked even more dispirited than usual. Being forbidden to go out seemed to be a more serious punishment than he had expected.

Jung Yeonshin, who had never drunk so much as a cup of liquor for fear of harming the Movement Art's energy circulation, found it difficult to understand how they felt.

"It's our youngest two."

"There aren't any lessons today. Did you come all this way just to train?"

"You don't have to do that while you're still in white robes."

"No, that's exactly when you should do it more. An admirable attitude."

The seniors welcomed the two newest recruits. Jung Yeonshin returned their greetings with a martial salute, then walked straight up to Ma Jin, captain of the Radiant Demon Squad.

"Have you hit a stumbling block? Ask away."

Ma Jin, who had left saying he needed to think about how to teach him, looked tired as he spoke. An expert of his supreme caliber was hardly likely to feel physical fatigue so easily. As he had said, he seemed to have devoted considerable mental effort to Jung Yeonshin.

'Seeing this, I might actually start taking this seriously.'

As Jung Yeonshin thought this and immediately began to speak, he felt a little more at ease.

"I'd like to have a sparring match."

"All right. Pick anyone you like. Any of them will oblige."

Watching Ma Jin rub his forehead as he answered, Yeonshin shook his head.

"Not someone from the Radiant Demon Squad. I want to face the heavenly squad."

The training ground fell silent in an instant. Everyone knew why he had mentioned the heavenly squad.

"... You must have heard about yesterday. There's no need to get so furious over something like that. Calm down."

'I'm not worked up, though.'

Ma Jin looked down at him with both bewilderment and pride on his face.

"What do you mean? I only want to see the Clear Sky Swordsmanship I've admired for so long."

"You're not calming down at all. Too much hot blood can be a problem, too."

Yet the Radiant Demon Squad seniors visible behind him did not look as though they thought this was a problem at all. Many seemed beside themselves with pride.

These veterans of a hundred battles, said to be the equals of the Nine Great Sects' experts, were already sending pride surging from their eyes like a Burst Discharge. Their reaction exceeded anything he had intended, enough to give him goosebumps.

For now, he spoke.

"I want to pit the radiant demon arts against a renowned sword art. Please give me permission, Captain."

'Gain actual combat experience with the radiant demon arts, see an advanced sword art, and earn the seniors' goodwill.'

Three birds with one stone, he thought. He even seemed to have achieved the last one already.

"Are you serious? They may be under the same roof as us in the Desolate Fortress's Divine Sword Squad, but they aren't the Radiant Demon Squad. You haven't learned the same martial arts as the heavenly squad, nor have you fought alongside them. They won't go easy on you."

"That's exactly what I want."

Whistles erupted around them at Jung Yeonshin's brief reply.

"Now that's spirit worthy of representing the Desolate Fortress!"

"I want to see what he'll be like fully grown."

"If he can just hold his own, he'll be worth entrusting the next generation of the Radiant Demon Squad to."

Amid the remarks, Ma Jin, too, gave a small nod. The Desolate Fortress stood at the heart of Murim, a world where people made themselves known through martial skill and courage. No expert could look unfavorably on a fifteen-year-old swordsman showing such spirit for the Radiant Demon Squad's honor.

"Very well. I'll inform the heavenly squad captain."

A day later, a match was arranged between the Radiant Demon Squad's Lightning Genius and a warrior of the heavenly squad. Officially, it was a friendly exchange.