Thanks to Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo's consideration, the two white-robed warriors were able to head straight to their sleeping quarters in the squad hall. Such discretion, they were told, was afforded to blue-robed warriors, whose strength was universally acknowledged and whom everyone in the Desolate Fortress trusted. At times like these, the Fortress was decidedly different from the military.

“Now that we're back, I can't muster the energy to go out again. Xiangyang's Finest Tavern will have to wait,” Heon Wonchang quipped.

“I think I'll loosen up a little and go to bed myself.”

“Which means you'll train for a good two hours. You really are something, Young Master Jung.”

He no longer even looked appalled. His expression simply accepted it. Over the course of their journey, Heon Wonchang had gradually begun treating Jung Yeonshin like someone from another world—an otherworldly figure more wondrous than even the noble race.

He said he had his own chivalric ideals and martial path, so it was all the better if Jung Yeonshin, his fellow warrior of equal standing, grew stronger. Despite his frivolous words and manner, his character was admirable enough to learn from.

“Get some rest.”

With a small smile, Jung Yeonshin left the hall.

The seniors he encountered on his way to the smaller training ground greeted him warmly. A few started when he returned their greetings with a martial salute. They were mostly people whose energy detection seemed especially keen, and apparently sensed how his bearing had changed yet again over the course of the mission.

“Lightning Genius has changed.”

“You'd hardly recognize him from his presence alone. Boys that age do grow quickly, but still.”

“This is something else entirely. He's the only one here we could truly call a new man with each passing day.”

“He won't be an easy opponent for us anymore, either.”

No one could contradict the blue-robed warrior who tossed out that last remark. They all fell silent at once. A boy of fifteen or sixteen with even the slightest chance against a blue-robed expert of the Desolate Fortress was a marvel in himself.

Jung Yeonshin paid little attention to his seniors' words. His sense of time differed from theirs. If he wanted to live, shouldn't he be strong enough to be compared to the Divine Sword Squad Leader by the time he was about to turn twenty?

From white to blue, then black like Ma Jin, and finally the purple he had never even seen. That was the standing of the purple-robed Divine Sword Squad Leader, who oversaw seventeen martial squads like the Radiant Demon Squad. He had no time to spare.

“Whew.”

Before he knew it, he had reached the smaller training ground. As always, the place greeted him like a labyrinth within an imperial tomb. Avoiding rooms that emitted waves of qi and thus seemed occupied, he entered an empty training chamber.

Come to think of it, the year had turned, Jung Yeonshin reflected. He was sixteen now. Among ordinary people, this was the age to begin marrying and establishing a household. He would have done the same.

The Jeong Clan Estate was unlike the typical martial family, which thought little of delaying its children's betrothals. As a third-rate martial house and a family of major landowners, its customs were closer to those of common folk.

'What sort of person would I have married?'

A pointless fancy. He soon activated the Movement Art and cleared away his wandering thoughts. Slowly, he began to move. As he released his core energy, the radiant demon arts immediately stirred, tracing varied trajectories as he envisioned all manner of situations. These were the combat paths of fist, palm, and kicking arts.

SWISH! WHOOOSH!

Close-quarters unarmed combat. He swept his foot out in a broad kick, then brought that same foot down in a forceful stomp and drove a straight punch forward. The air roiled under the waves of martial force he deliberately unleashed.

His fight against the Blood Master Swordsman had brought Ma Jin's teachings home to him. By mastering the Movement Art, Jung Yeonshin had built an extraordinarily resilient body. Close-quarters fighting was different from swordsmanship. It was a way of fighting that made full use of his exceptional strengths.

'I'd like to develop a proper fist and palm art.'

As time passed, it would become harder to wield his youthful appearance like a divine sword. He could not exploit his enemies' carelessness forever. He needed to bring out every weapon at his disposal and hone it to a keen edge.

'Isn't there something I could draw inspiration from?'

Jung Yeonshin sank into thought, his fist still extended. A sky-blue radiance flashed through his eyes.

* * *

“What was Lightning Genius's character like on the boundary between life and death? How did he treat his comrades?”

In the captain's quarters at the very top of the Radiant Demon Squad hall, Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo were speaking with Ma Jin after their return from the mission.

“The boundary between life and death?”

“...”

Chung Myung echoed the question with a blank expression, while Baek Miryeo remained silent. Had there been such a moment? Puzzlement crossed Ma Jin's face.

“Didn't you say there was a Blood Master Swordsman? That means an entire branch's fighting strength was operating in secret. Surely you two didn't take care of it yourselves to protect the white robes? There's only so much room in a report tied to a messenger pigeon. Tell me in detail.”

“Well...”

Come to think of it, the two blue-robed experts had received more than one assignment. They had also been told to examine Lightning Genius's character. Judging by Ma Jin's reaction now, he seemed to have considered that more important than the original mission in Zhenping County.

Baek Miryeo understood. There was only one reason he would question them so insistently. He would hardly do so unless he had Lightning Genius in mind as the next captain of the Radiant Demon Squad. That made it all the more regrettable: she had nothing to tell him.

“... He destroyed the Blood Flame Cult branch before we had a chance to observe anything. Lightning Genius did it alone. All I can tell you now is that he never forgot his manners, even during an arduous journey. His own exceptional martial prowess didn't seem to interest him.”

“...”

Ma Jin fell silent, his face lost in thought. That was the impact of single-handedly defeating an entire branch, Blood Master Swordsman included. It placed the boy in a realm where he could be called an expert even by the standards of the Nine Great Sects, the Eight Families, the Thirteen skies, and the Desolate Fortress. Even “exceptional” scarcely described it.

“Chung Myung.”

Ma Jin's gaze turned to the Radiant Demon Squad's sole member of the noble race. There was a famous story about the eyes of that race, said to perceive the essence of things. After the dynasty's founding, the grand empress two generations back, who had become the founding emperor's consort, had arrested several ministers and exposed them as traitors.

Like the current emperor, who was said to have faced the Hundred and Eight Arhats Formation alone to experience Shaolin's martial arts, she was known to possess some of the greatest martial prowess under heaven. For over a hundred years, her immense presence had loomed over the imperial household. Even common folk knew of her.

The noble race's five senses were inherently different from those of the Han people in certain respects. There was a reason the last test of the desolate fortress trial was a private audience with the Desolate fortress master. What Ma Jin wanted to verify went beyond that: the boy's aptitude to lead a martial squad.

“Lightning Genius? He's remarkably admirable for his age. His killing intent is quite strong, but he knows how to control it properly. There's something even more extraordinary about his temperament.”

Chung Myung spoke with a light smile.

“Strong killing intent?”

“Isn't that only natural? He never said a word about his roots throughout the journey. Yet his speech and conduct make it obvious he's had an education.”

“I agree. It seems both our new recruits have already had their ties with their families severed in one way or another.”

“I see. It's not something I hadn't considered, but...”

Ma Jin tapped the table with a finger, then slowly nodded.

“Succession matters, but looking after those who've become our family comes first. We have plenty of time. This mission proves it, too. I wonder how many more unexpected feats he'll accomplish. It'll be rewarding to nurture him.”

“I think so as well.”

“I do wonder when he'll earn his blue robe. It doesn't feel all that far off.”

Their conversation was closer to a friendly chat than a report. Slowly, the night sky settled over the Radiant Demon Squad hall.

* * *

The next morning.

“Lightning Genius. The captain is calling for you.”

One of the Radiant Demon Squad's senior white-robed warriors called to Jung Yeonshin. His tone had changed. It felt far more careful. As word of the mission's outcome spread, people had begun to see him differently. They said they could no longer treat him as merely a gifted youngest member.

Whenever he was at the main training ground like this, he would invariably hear someone say, “A Blood Master Swordsman...” at least a few times. Even now, three days after their return.

Of the Radiant Demon Squad's thirty-six members, ten wore white robes. At that rank, even discussing taking on a Blood Flame Cult branch alone was almost unheard of. There was even talk that he might become the youngest blue-robed warrior in the shortest time ever.

“Yes. I'll go up.”

Jung Yeonshin respectfully clasped his hands.

Whenever he heard people speaking highly of him, he tried to conduct himself with even greater propriety. He did not believe an absolute master without the people's respect could rise to become Divine Sword Squad Leader. Perhaps because of that, the looks people gave him grew warmer by the day—warm enough that he could feel it himself.

'A new mission?'

Though Desolate Fortress warriors returning from distant journeys were guaranteed a month's rest, he did not take that promise at face value. Who could predict what might happen to a martial organization?

“Come in.”

The moment he reached the top of the hall, Ma Jin's deep voice rang out.

He seemed to have sensed his presence immediately, even though Jung Yeonshin was training to make the movement technique of wind and grass blades second nature. Admiring the captain's skill, he opened the door and entered. Then he hesitated slightly.

Ma Jin's face was utterly grave. Even the scar across it seemed frozen in place.

“Has something happened? An important mission, perhaps?”

“Your achievements are unprecedented, but you're not yet ready to be entrusted with what the Radiant Demon Squad would call an important mission. Naturally, I have high hopes for you.”

His scar twitched. In his own way, Ma Jin seemed to be attempting a proud smile.

“It's not a mission. But it's nothing a normal mission could compare to, either. The fortress master has ordered me to bring you to her.”

“The Desolate fortress master...?”

The green-eyed supreme master's image rose in his mind. He could not understand it.

“Does she ever summon a white-robed warrior again after their interview?”

“There's no precedent. That's why I'm uneasy. I simply cannot fathom what she's thinking.”

Ma Jin gestured with a somber expression.

“Even so, we can't delay. Let's go.”

Jung Yeonshin followed him downstairs and out of the Radiant Demon Squad hall. The main keep where the Desolate fortress master resided was a fair distance away. Even walking briskly to match Ma Jin's pace, it took as long as drinking a cup of tea.

Along the way, Jung Yeonshin was the focus of everyone's attention. Was it because of the conspicuous scar on Ma Jin, the Hell Slaughterer, in his black Desolate Fortress uniform? Everyone recognized the captain of the Radiant Demon Squad, who was said to turn every battlefield he passed through into a vision of hell. Their eyes also converged on the boy walking half a step behind him.

“It's the Radiant Demon Squad's Lightning Genius.”

“The one who killed a Blood Master Swordsman...?”

“He looks even younger than I expected.”

Apparently, Jung Yeonshin was the only boy in white martial robes in the entire Desolate Fortress to begin with. Being recognized by complete strangers still felt unfamiliar. Keeping his expression impassive, he followed Ma Jin in silence. Soon they reached the main keep, where he had undergone the final test of the desolate fortress trial.

“Let's go.”

Ma Jin strode inside without hesitation, and the guards did not stop him. Whether that was due to the authority of a black-robed Desolate Fortress expert or their faith in the fortress master's martial strength, Jung Yeonshin could not tell.

The two climbed a long, long staircase and reached the fortress master's door. At once, it swung wide on its own. A cool, refreshing breeze brushed Jung Yeonshin's cheek. As expected, she was the first thing he saw.

The Desolate fortress master sat at an angle upon the trunk of the tree that wound through her office like an enormous serpent. Her deep green eyes, which seemed to hold all the world's forests, passed over Ma Jin and settled on Jung Yeonshin. She slightly raised a hand so white and smooth it was difficult to believe she possessed martial prowess that reached the heavens.

“Come here.”

“I greet the fortress master.”

Only after following Ma Jin's example and offering a martial salute did Jung Yeonshin notice the others. There were two of them. The old man caught his eye first.

Sharp eyes. An imposing build. A pure white beard, without a single stray hair, fell to his solar plexus. The purple robe draped over his sturdy-looking body had an unusual upright collar. It suited his stern, incisive appearance extraordinarily well.

'A purple-robed expert who surpasses even the captain.'

Intense waves of qi flowed over his entire body. Without the Desolate fortress master present, his presence would have seemed unrivaled. An unfamiliar boy stood beside him. Though his expression looked a little arrogant, he was strikingly handsome. He stared steadily at Jung Yeonshin with eyes of sharply contrasting black and white, his gaze seeming to issue a challenge.

“So you are the Radiant Demon Squad's Lightning Genius. I am Ma Yeonjeok, former leader of the Divine Sword Squad.”

The old man in purple spoke in a voice brimming with vigor. So much so that Jung Yeonshin felt he would have styled himself “This Seat” had the Desolate fortress master not occupied the center of the room.

“My grandson wished to meet an expert his own age, so I spoke to the fortress master. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Letting Ma Yeonjeok's words pass in one ear and out the other, Jung Yeonshin looked elsewhere. The Desolate fortress master said little. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, as if telling him to do as he pleased.

—If you wish, I will formally acknowledge it.

It was not sound transmission. He sensed no movement of qi at all. The voice had resounded in his mind on a more fundamental level. Could it be the Wisdom-Light Mind Speech said to be used by Shaolin's most exalted warrior monks?

'Why is she being so good to me?'

Wondering, Jung Yeonshin turned his gaze to his maternal grandfather.