Zhuge Hyeon's fan technique had been fun.

It was a diversion unlike anything he had experienced. The movements felt unfamiliar. For Jung Yeonshin, who had always had to move through life alone, the sensation of entrusting his body to an outside force and letting it move on its own was entirely new.

He had only ever watched his brothers from the Jeong Clan Estate mingle with the children of Xinye County.

The Zhuge Clan's exquisite fan technique had filled a tiny part of the loneliness he had felt then. Even he found it strange.

He had envied the swings they rode during the Dano Festival as they prayed to a noble-race earth god for a good harvest. Now, however slightly, that childhood envy had faded.

Back then, he had not even been allowed near the playthings. They said he would defile them.

Yet what he had wanted then was affection, not really a ride on a festival swing.

'The Fan Dragon has helped me in so many ways.'

Zhuge Hyeon was also the one who had given him the first clue to Sword Thunder, Ridge-Cleaving Form. He was a gentleman beyond all comparison with the Supreme Flame Dragon.

Of all the friendships he had made at the Alliance, this might well be the most valuable.

"If you visit Hanzhong again, I will show you a changed Zhuge Clan," Zhuge Hyeon said.

His younger sister, Zhuge Cheonga, had relinquished her claim to the clan leadership. She was different from Ak Yerim.

Having concentrated so heavily on the eye technique that had earned her the epithet Still, Deep Eyes, she lagged behind in overall martial prowess.

To serve as a clan head required formidable martial attainment. Noble clan heads were superhuman figures who combined mastery of lofty martial arts with the management of their clans' affairs.

Thus, Zhuge Hyeon would succeed to the position.

He possessed the talent and understanding to reach the level of a clan head in time. The Fan Dragon had always been highly regarded. He had merely fallen short of the Zhuge clan head's standards, and now, they said, Sleeping Dragon Reborn had become almost a forbidden phrase within the clan.

He would receive his training as successor without difficulty.

Jung Yeonshin nodded silently. He had just been thanked for shouldering Zhuge Cheonga's burden.

He had finished all his farewells, starting inside. He would see Sage Cheon Joo, Yoo Hyun, and Tang clan head Tang Unhwang again someday. All that remained was to go home.

"We will meet again."

"There are plenty of unorthodox factions in Liaodong, too! If you come to subjugate them, please visit our house!"

The speakers were a woman with a vacant expression and sharp qi emanations, and a boy whose jet-black eyes sparkled.

The Young Sword Empress and Gongsun Min.

His ties to them were no trivial matter either. His upper dantian's energy detection seemed to tell him so, pricking his mind faintly with a cool sensation.

He had been too occupied to face the Sun-Shooting Sword Art of Chwi So-ok, the Young Sword Empress. Yet he had a premonition that one day he would surely broaden his experience through the thrusts of the Diancang Sect.

It was probably a feeling he could trust. His Baihui point had grown by eight parts, after all.

'Will the day come when I can use this power of premonition in battle?'

No answer came to that sudden question. Jung Yeonshin slowly turned away.

The two figures waiting far ahead, watching their black-robed junior, gave him a nod.

Ak Surim and Xiahou Weizhen. Their very bearing made it clear that they wanted nothing to do with the Alliance.

Jung Yeonshin slowly began to walk. His pitch-black robe shifted where it trailed about his feet.

SCUFF.

Zhuge Cheonga and Lady Ye followed.

Their blue and white trouser hems brushed softly over the ground at their feet. They would be accompanying him all the way to the Desolate Fortress.

They were said to be a reciprocal delegation. The Alliance Leader wished to pursue friendly relations with the fortress.

Zhuge Cheonga spoke of repaying a personal debt. She hoped to become a guest warrior in the Radiant Demon Squad under Jung Yeonshin.

Heon Wonchang guessed that the girl had noticed Yeonshin's unusual constitution. He said that, judging by her willingness to walk into their midst, she seemed to value her life.

'Is it pity?'

He sensed no sinister ulterior motive. Zhuge Cheonga's nature was clear and transparent.

It had been so ever since she herself proposed joining them. He simply found her true thoughts difficult to read.

In that case, he would have to leave the decision to the Desolate Fortress's Command Bureau.

She would be a tremendous asset to the short-handed Radiant Demon Squad. An expert in eye techniques would help them navigate all manner of situations.

"Do not approach the captain without due consideration."

"He's right. You two would do well to keep your distance. You'll only make things needlessly tiring."

Heon Wonchang and the Supreme Flame Dragon passed Zhuge Cheonga and Lady Ye. Namgoong Hwashin silently overtook the women as well, taking his place behind Jung Yeonshin.

Their footsteps slowly ground against the earth. They made for quite a reassuring escort.

Jung Yeonshin felt Lady Ye's and Zhuge Cheonga's gazes. They seemed to be staring steadily at his back.

Their dispositions were quite unlike that of the Sword Star, who had said he would not make a fuss by coming out to see him off.

'What I gained at the Alliance was swordsmanship and people.'

Those who had come with him, and those now joining him.

Fallen leaves lay thick along the roadside, cushioning his soles as softly as cotton.

They said the dry leaves scattered through the martial world represented ties and time, accumulated layer upon layer.

With every mission, his life grew richer alongside his Baihui point.

The name Jung Yeonshin would endure. Even if he could not accept the Fruit of the World Tree.

'Where will my next mission take me?'

He departed, leaving the Alliance's main gate behind him. It was truly over.

* * *

The Desolate Fortress's Command Bureau.

Long desks stretched across the room in rows and columns, their appearance deeply antique. Made of red sandalwood, they shone with a dark brown luster.

Seated well apart, clerks wrote with their brushes. The rich fragrance of ink permeated the room.

There were easily several dozen of them filling the seats. Their air was no less stern than that of the warriors.

The seat of honor stood at the farthest end.

A burly man in a brown robe sat there. He was middle-aged, with a thick black beard and a bearing like steel.

The Desolate Fortress's chief administrator. He made the black-robed young man standing before him look slender.

"Isn't that from the Eastern Depot? I wondered what it was, seeing it tossed aside like that."

The black-robed supreme master facing the chief administrator spoke.

Jin Myeongjo. Captain of the Desolate Fortress's Blood-Preserving Squad.

His skin was pale, his features slender. The qi emanating from his entire body lent his black robe a chilly quality.

He jerked his chin briefly toward one side of the chief administrator's desk. Something strangely sinister showed even in that small gesture. It was an air he had been born with.

The chief administrator glanced at the letter lying carelessly on the corner of his desk. Then he slowly spoke.

"The eunuch Myeong Yeo lodged a complaint. With the prefect losing her head right at the outset, his prospects must have looked rather bleak. In truth, even I hadn't foreseen things going that far."

The corners of his mouth rose as he continued.

"The eunuch took me to task, unable to say a word directly to Young Master Jung. I could feel the Eastern Depot eunuchs' woes in his handwriting. Personally, I find it immensely satisfying, seeing them grovel whenever even the slightest connection to imperial blood is involved. These are the fellows who used to pit themselves against our captains."

Chief Administrator Im Jinmyeong was a man who would shout even at black-robed warriors over staffing and budgets. His own martial attainment was high as well.

Thus, he spoke informally to captains younger than himself.

The captain of the Radiant Demon Squad, who had been granted the fortress master's martial arts, was the sole exception.

Blood-Preserving Squad Captain Jin Myeongjo accepted the chief administrator's informal address without objection.

"I've heard plenty about the new captain of the Radiant Demon Squad. I was acquainted with the prefect of Yunyang myself."

"Her greed was excessive. It would have ruined her one way or another. She simply had the misfortune to fall to Young Master Jung's sword. Very early, at that."

"I hear he took her head on the spot."

"Young Master Jung's methods have suited this fortress perfectly since he first joined. You could call him the embodiment of the Desolate Fortress. His swordplay is truly noble. Isn't an unhesitating sword strike the very virtue of our warriors?"

The chief administrator spoke with a satisfied smile. Jin Myeongjo tilted his head slightly, lazily drawing his brows together.

"There are rumors that the new Radiant Demon Squad captain enjoys the favor of the emperor's grandson and heir. Apparently they aren't entirely without foundation? I thought it was idle gossip."

"I wouldn't know. Who would?"

"At any rate, I hope the fellow doesn't return."

"Hmm? Why?"

"Hasn't the Radiant Demon Squad lost a good portion of its strength? Several combat units will have to make sacrifices to replenish its ranks. Our Blood-Preserving Squad alone has four or five members of the Lightning Genius martial lineage. It's quite a headache."

"As I understand it, they're distributed fairly evenly among the seventeen squads."

"I don't want to give them up."

"Who would? Accept it. This is hardly the first time it's happened."

"I'll have to take part in another sparring match."

"Isn't that because you refuse to hand your subordinates over willingly? Be grateful for the sparring system. Without even that, we'd distribute personnel the way the military does. By force."

"Please don't drag the military into this. I've long thought this system out of keeping with the times. This isn't some contest to choose a spouse through martial prowess. Why must I hand over the subordinates in my care if I lose a wager?"

"You're quite something. You don't want to lose your subordinates, but you can't be bothered to spar either."

"Surely I'm not the only one?"

"I suspect you are. The other captains are positively eager. Not because they don't want to give up their subordinates, but purely because they see it as a chance to exchange blows with the newcomer."

"..."

"Aren't you curious about the new Radiant Demon Squad captain? He's the grandmaster of that Demon-Slaying Gentle Flowing Strike you detest so much. The Forest-Treading Squad captain and the Immortal Wood Spirit Lord are particularly keen. A man who isn't even of the noble race, wielding such an auspicious hand technique."

"Not keen to fight him, but eager to meet him, surely. Aren't they members of those noble lineages?"

"Really, now."

"Now I'll have to run into them again over this. I've been avoiding them because I'm sick of being treated with contempt and told to go join the Blood Flame Cult."

Blood-Preserving Squad Captain Jin Myeongjo spoke acidly. He made no effort to hide his sarcasm, but the chief administrator did not bother pointing it out.

A black-robed expert of the Desolate Fortress was not subordinate to the head of the Command Bureau, regardless of Im Jinmyeong's informal manner of address.

"This is irritating. I really should have taken any mission I could and run away..."

He truly was disgusted. The pale-faced young man roughly tousled his hair, which was whiter still than his complexion.

Waves spread irregularly between his long, slender fingers. His qi emanations were eerie yet refined.

The chief administrator, who had been watching him dourly, lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Don't worry. These are troubled times. You'll have to leave again soon enough."

"After I spar with the Radiant Demon Squad captain, you mean."

Jin Myeongjo's sarcasm was listless. The chief administrator nodded blandly.

"You only returned recently yourself. Missions assigned to black-robed warriors are based on meticulous calculations by the Command Bureau. Conditions in the martial world, the course of events, the martial prowess of the opponent and the captain, the combat unit's personnel... Even after considering everything before issuing a mission, something always goes awry. That is the martial world. It inevitably takes time."

"Yes, well, I understand your pay was cut over the Radiant Demon Squad incident in Sichuan. I hear the Elder Council Leader gave you a thorough dressing-down?"

"Enough about that. In any case, a clash of divine techniques..."

The chief administrator smiled as he took tea leaves from a desk drawer.

"It will be a feast for the eyes."

* * *

Jung Yeonshin had to leave his three subordinates behind.

"Lightning Genius. Over here."

"The newcomer ought to walk in front."

Ak Surim and Xiahou Weizhen called for the new captain of the Radiant Demon Squad.

They were the black-robed seniors who had saved him from the Zhuge clan head. He could hardly refuse.

Leaving the Desolate Fortress's Forest-Treading Squad experts, a sea of blue robes, behind him, he found himself accompanied by the curious gazes of supreme masters.

The three walked abreast along the broad highway.

First, Jung Yeonshin had to endure Ak Surim's chatter. She tipped her head up to look at her junior, jet-black lightning flashing in her eyes.

The light in her eyes alone revealed a terrifying degree of internal-energy refinement.

"You called it Sword Thunder, Ridge-Cleaving Form, didn't you? Are any of its forms still unnamed? Any left over, I mean."

"The one the Sword Star gave me was the last."

"How many forms are there?"

"Three sword forms."

"There'll be more, won't there? It can't end with three. Your swordsmanship will grow along with your attainment. Now that you've laid the foundation, more is bound to follow."

"There is something I would like to ask."

"Hmm? Ask anything."

Ak Yerim replied with a bright smile. After acknowledging her with a respectful glance, Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips, recalling his maternal grandfather lying half-dead.

"Can Rejuvenation affect the Baihui point?"

"Hmm? Why do you ask?"

"If my grandfather takes a Great Restoration Pill, his internal energy might be renewed... He recently learned a good Movement Art, so I thought that with luck, he might even reach the realm of utter perfection. But I do not properly understand the state of unifying essence, qi, and spirit. I wonder whether purified core energy affects the head as well."

"Hmm?"

"I would like to know whether your speech and behavior were similar to what they are now before you regained your youthful appearance, Senior Ak. There is nothing more behind my question, so I hope you will not misconstrue it."

It was an innocent question.

The Desolate Divine Spear's light manner of speaking suited her present self. She was a supreme master who had turned back her body's time.

Her bearing was most distinctive. The contrast between her appearance and her martial power created an incongruous air.

Yet surely Ak Surim had not maintained this same manner of speaking and acting before her Rejuvenation.

The people of the martial world valued face and honor above all else.

Even experts of the evil and unorthodox paths carried themselves in a manner befitting their qi emanations.

Ma Yeonjeok was his only grandfather.

If the Movement Art, a Great Restoration Pill, and heaven-sent fortune together enabled him to turn back the years, that would be wonderful.

But if he were no longer the Ma Yeonjeok of old, Yeonshin thought he would feel a little sad. That was why he had asked.

Ak Surim's small lips pressed shut.

"Hahahaha!"

"What an audacious brat! Saying that to the Desolate Divine Spear!"

The laughter had burst from Xiahou Weizhen, the Thousand-Fist, Dragon-Strength Retainer.

He had been looking down at the two of them sullenly, only to explode with laughter the instant he saw Ak Surim's reaction.

Perhaps it was because of his enormous frame and abyss-deep martial power. His resounding laughter was like thunder.

"You're telling her to act her age! You've quite a tongue for a Han! You must know a thing or two about provoking people!"

"No. I know little about provocation either."

Jung Yeonshin answered calmly.

A choking sound came from behind him. He could clearly sense the presence without turning around.

The Supreme Flame Dragon, who had been walking with his hands clasped behind his back, spat out the poppy he had been chewing with a laugh-tinged breath. The captain of the Radiant Demon Squad drew his brows together. What?