Heon Wonchang's remark was quite comical—wit rarely heard in Hanzhong. Laughter spread through the spectator stands surrounding the platform, though not loudly. His target was an imposing swordsman of the Murong clan. They could hardly mock him with raucous laughter. Few present could afford to disregard the Martial Alliance's displeasure. Only the Desolate Fortress Sacred Warrior could get away with it.

"... A word of advice: keep your subordinate under control."

The Ridge-Treading Sword Squad captain spoke with the young Radiant Demon Squad captain's extraordinary blade still against his neck.

"He's an impudent little mudskipper. A wastrel who stretches his legs without checking whether there's room to lie down. Captain, one day he'll drag you down. A man who so freely earns the enmity of great factions has a predictable end. He's ruined his chances of a peaceful life in the martial world."

He spat out the words.

Heon Wonchang, the great hero of Desolate Fortress, had become someone to watch among the Radiant Demon Squad captain's companions—second only to Jung Yeonshin. That had been true ever since he played a major role in securing his captain's participation in the founding ceremony. Backed by the strength of the Desolate Fortress delegation, he knew how to sway public opinion. Give him the slightest justification and he would launch into a sword dance. He was particularly deadly to the orthodox martial world.

The Ridge-Treading Sword Squad captain narrowed his eyes.

"A warrior who commands a combat unit ought to answer for his subordinates' conduct. Your downfall may be nearer than you think. None of the noble warriors of the great righteous factions will take kindly to a fellow like that."

He spoke as though genuinely concerned. Keeping his sword leveled, the boy tilted his head slightly.

"Didn't you just lose in one exchange? You talk too much."

"..."

"How disgraceful. Get off the platform."

Jung Yeonshin tightened his grip on the divine sword Northern Radiance and turned its blade. He nudged the man's nape with the flat, then swept the sword downward and sheathed it in a picture-perfect motion. The middle-aged swordsman stepped back, biting his lip. Anyone would have found it humiliating.

'He's the sort who'd practice bed-kicking arts.'

The boy marveled anew at the effectiveness of the feint method bestowed on him by the Desolate Fortress Master.

Practicing it alongside his work on his new swordsmanship had brought its success rate against equals to roughly thirty percent. Unless the opponent was a supreme master specializing in eye techniques, falling for it meant facing death. That more than compensated for its drawback: it rarely worked twice.

'A sufficiently concentrated feint steals the opponent's breath.'

The skills at Jung Yeonshin's disposal as captain of the Radiant Demon Squad multiplied by the day. Like the venerable masters of the martial world with their countless outlandish methods, the boy was entering the realm of extraordinary eccentrics. He was maturing into a fully fledged Black rank of Desolate Fortress.

THUD.

The Ridge-Treading Sword Squad captain wheeled around, his pale-pink trouser hems savagely sweeping the air. In that moment, the Murong clan's distinctive colors paled before the Radiant Demon Squad captain's black robes.

"... Victory goes to Lightning Genius."

Zhuge Cheon, serving as referee for the matches, spoke from the edge of the platform.

Only then did cheers rise here and there from the stands. Reluctance to shame the Alliance's warriors was one thing; few felt any need to restrain their enthusiasm for the Desolate Fortress master. Wherever the boy glanced, cries occasionally erupted, from spectators of every age and sex.

"Over here! Please look over here! How can anyone look like that? He's like one of the noble race!"

"The Ridge-Treading Sword Squad captain is one of the Murong clan's foremost swordsmen..."

"What an eye-opening experience this keeps turning out to be! Sochil, pack our trading goods within the next two days and keep your eyes on the main gate. We'll follow them back to Xiangyang. That should make our journey wonderfully safe."

"Let's establish a connection with the new Radiant Demon Squad captain. We mustn't leave it any later, must we?"

Leaving the clamor behind, Jung Yeonshin walked away, drawing together the disordered black collar of his robes. It was the second day since he had forced his way into the ceremony. The Ridge-Treading Sword Squad captain had been his final opponent today. Once again, the boy had sent every challenger off the platform. A clean sweep. In another two days and nights, his mission would end, whatever the outcome.

"How is the sword wound the Sword Demon gave you?"

The Supreme Flame Dragon caught up with him, appearing at his side with an elusive movement technique.

They were on the narrow path behind the platform, reserved for ceremony participants returning to the Alliance halls. The crowds could not approach it. Warriors standing guard on either side ignored the pair. Only a few acknowledged the young Radiant Demon Squad captain with respectful glances.

"It's improving."

The boy murmured the reply, glancing at Heon Wonchang as he landed lightly beside them.

"Our great hero earns his keep ten times better than the Supreme Flame Dragon."

Jung Yeonshin spoke softly. The response was immediate.

"Have no worries, Captain. The Radiant Demon Squad is like the two-headed bird that shares a single life. All its warriors beat their wings alongside you. Every word I utter serves solely to benefit our squad and elevate you. I have no cause to lose heart."

Heon Wonchang grinned.

"If there were ten of this young master, you'd have to form a whole new combat unit."

The Supreme Flame Dragon, lately reduced to the squad's resident freeloader, offered a sly rejoinder. Trading idle chatter, the party reached the Court of Graceful Fragrance.

The Martial Alliance had assigned them these lodgings. Contrary to the leadership's intention to make the place a center of trouble, it was serving a different purpose. More and more people were sending messages out of goodwill rather than hostility.

The Desolate Fortress masters had driven a flag bearing the character for Desolation into the platform in open provocation. Refusing their challenge was not an option. The founding ceremony had been forced to change its format. They had to breach the wall of martial might erected by the young supreme master and break that flagpole. That was how people in the martial world upheld their honor.

Over two days, twenty-three Alliance masters had fallen in succession. The Radiant Demon Squad captain had demonstrated a truly fearsome presence. Even with the ten-exchange limit, not a single bout had ended with the victor uncertain. The Desolate Fortress captain's strength was becoming known far and wide. Visitors were inevitable: merchants interested in doing business in Huguang, escort agencies seeking assistance on their routes, and Alliance warriors whose intentions were difficult to distinguish between friendship and espionage.

BANG! BANG!

It was hardly surprising to hear knocking now, though only a quarter of an hour had passed since their arrival. Seated in the open hall overlooking the courtyard, Jung Yeonshin heard a familiar, affectionate voice.

"Yeonshin!"

It was a boy's voice. This visitor had nothing to do with his tournament results. Only one person in the Alliance could address him so casually.

"Come in," Jung Yeonshin answered evenly.

Before the servants could approach, the gate opened of its own accord. The person peeking inside was not Yoo Hyun of Mount Hua. A somewhat vacant-looking young woman entered with a mischievous smile: Chwi So-ok, the Young Sword Empress. A dark treasured sword dangled at the waist of her vermilion silk fighting clothes. She held a jade-green gourd in one hand.

"I tried moving my laryngeal muscles with core energy. I suppose it sounded fairly convincing..."

With her free hand, she awkwardly brushed back the hair below her ear. This time, the voice was her own.

Prodigies born with a feel for manipulating internal energy could sometimes control parts of their bodies at will, much as with disguise arts. The central principle of Jung Yeonshin's Wind Body movement technique had the same origin: whole-body Burst Discharge. The major difference was that he employed changes in pressure points and muscles throughout his entire body.

Remaining seated upright, the boy regarded the Young Sword Empress.

"What brings you here?"

"I'd like to share a drink to thank you. This is 'grain tea.'"

She gave the jade gourd a little shake.

She had been captured alongside the Supreme Flame Dragon by the Sky-Swimming Sword Demon's Martial Alliance forces occupying Seven Multitudes Gorge. She had always shown a keen interest in Lightning Genius's martial arts, but since his rescue, she had become as familiar with him as Yoo Hyun. The same held true of Gongsun Min, who appeared behind her.

"My greetings to the Radiant Demon Squad captain. Are all you young masters of Desolate Fortress well today?"

The broad grin was quite unreserved. Gongsun Min had reportedly managed to claim Murong Mingjun's sword—the treasured blade Jung Yeonshin had used to perform Blossoms Raining Across the Sky. On an earlier visit, Gongsun Min had proudly announced that it now stood on display in the Gongsun clan heir's guest quarters within the Alliance.

"Now I've seen everything. Diancang's next sect leader impersonating Mount Hua's successor-disciple?"

The Supreme Flame Dragon muttered in disbelief, sprawled at the table before the courtyard pond. The Radiant Demon Squad's unranked disciple, the oldest person present, continued while chewing a poppy.

"No alcohol. Our captain hasn't finished growing yet."

He was making up any excuse that came to mind.

'What clumsy consideration.'

Jung Yeonshin knew why his incompetent subordinate, whose only distinction was his age, was acting that way. It was because of the sword wound inflicted by Baek Seogun's qi-controlled sword. The wound had been left by Henan Province's Sword Exalted. The internal energy imbued in the sword strike's wave of force ran incredibly deep. Drinking would introduce alcohol's toxicity and affect the injury.

His match with Mount Hua's Sword Saint lay ahead. The Radiant Demon Squad warriors were concentrating on bringing their captain into peak condition. Namgoong Hwashin had even gone out to seek potent supreme healing medicine through his connections. The leader of Mount Hua's Plum Blossom Swordsmen would be a difficult opponent even in perfect health. He was said to be a swordsman who could well claim to be the strongest below the elders' generation.

The Young Sword Empress, however, knew none of this. She had not witnessed Jung Yeonshin's duel with Baek Seogun. Her effort to lift her naturally downturned eyes made that plain. She looked as though she had heard something bizarre.

"But didn't he drink with the Sky-Swimming Sword Demon last time...?"

"This young master said no."

The Supreme Flame Dragon looked at her with clear, innocent eyes. The Young Sword Empress's expression went blank.

"Who is that young lady?"

Heon Wonchang, standing guard beside Jung Yeonshin with his arms folded, abruptly asked. His raised chin, as though approving of the Supreme Flame Dragon's handling of the situation, suited him rather well. Gongsun Min smiled faintly and introduced the girl who had accompanied them.

"She's the Fan Dragon's younger sister."

"I am Cheonga of the Zhuge Clan."

Zhuge Cheonga offered a small clasped-hands salute, gazing steadily at the new Radiant Demon Squad captain. The cherished Zhuge daughter had exceedingly peculiar eyes. Even their gleam was unusual. A leaflike radiance flickered through her jet-black pupils. A glance was enough to suggest an extraordinary degree of refinement in her eye technique.

'She's cultivated a rare ultimate technique to remarkable depths.'

A hint of interest appeared on Jung Yeonshin's face.

"Make room. I'll join you."

"Captain?"

"I'm not drinking."

Brushing the Supreme Flame Dragon aside, the boy sat at the courtyard table. Gongsun Min's face brightened. The Young Sword Empress shook her bottle with a look of needless disappointment.

"I was curious what sword paths you'd trace when drunk."

A dozen or so servants hurried ceaselessly between the kitchen and courtyard. They seemed to have received instructions from the Alliance leadership. As though the earlier change to the ceremony schedule had had nothing to do with the Radiant Demon Squad captain, they spared no effort in serving the Desolate Fortress party. Their thoroughness suggested a determination to leave no grounds for further complaint.

"They're serving better food than at our hall... Are they slighting us because we're one of the Nine Great Sects?"

The Young Sword Empress murmured from the seat beside Jung Yeonshin.

Wispy clouds cleared above the table, swiftly laden with food and drink. The weather was bright. Seated at its head, the boy regarded Zhuge Cheonga across from him. She looked his age.

"You. Tell me what you want."

"..."

Her current expressionlessness suited her. Her black hair, tied in a single tail, hung below her sky-blue collar. Its ebony sheen seemed to proclaim her exalted birth. Even meeting the eyes of the much-discussed Radiant Demon Squad captain did not alter her complexion. Her face was as impassive as snow, her bearing immaculate. Slowly, Zhuge Cheonga parted her lips.

"Having heard of your distinguished martial learning, Captain, I came to request a debate of the sword."

"Not the kind where a wandering master humors some highborn inferior. Lady Zhuge knows a tremendous amount about martial principles. She's a close friend of my betrothed, so I know her well. I think you'll find her worth talking to."

Gongsun Min chattered, eyes shining toward Jung Yeonshin rather than Zhuge Cheonga.

"A debate of the sword."

The young Radiant Demon Squad captain spoke.

"So that's why."

"What do you mean?"

Meeting the Desolate Fortress Black rank's gaze, Zhuge Cheonga asked calmly. Jung Yeonshin answered at once.

"Taiyang."

"...?"

"Tongziliao."

He continued tersely, naming pressure points on the face.

"Sibai, Zanzhu, Yintang. You're using an eye technique. Its power fluctuations are novel. You could employ them in the palm, too. I can't know how you manipulate internal energy through the fine meridians without opening your clan's secret manual, but if you adjusted the pattern a little and channeled it into a fan, would that become the Endless Gathering Winds Fan Art? It's quite unusual, that ultimate technique of your family's."

Comprehensive Compendium for Breaking the Righteous Path—Zhuge Clan.

The corners of the boy's mouth lifted slightly.

"You're interesting. Very well. Recite your insights to your captain here. I'll answer you."

"..."

All at once, the clear autumn air brushed the young warriors' skin. Sunlight shattered across the rippling pond beside their feet. A breeze swept over it like a soft brushstroke in a landscape painting, lifting a few autumn leaves into the air. The presence of nature became unusually vivid.

It was the silence the Radiant Demon Squad captain had created.

He meant for her to stop using her eye technique before they spoke.