Whatever unease Jung Yeonshin felt, the girl was beautiful.

PAT.

She stepped two paces farther out from among the Martial Dragon Society members. Approaching with graceful bearing, she offered a slight, silent bow. Even her slow movements exuded elegance.

“Please allow me to assure you that we have no intention of opposing you.”

The girl spoke in greeting, her smiling face utterly relaxed—even before the Desolate Fortress's foremost combat unit. Whatever her intentions, she clearly possessed uncommon nerve.

“Identity. Business.”

Yeon Soha stepped forward to meet her. As the Divine Sword Unit's youngest member, he supposedly handled all its unpleasant chores. His clipped words bordered on rudeness, but no one seemed to mind. Neither did Jung Yeonshin. This must be the face the Divine Sword Unit presented to outsiders.

‘They have to appear strong before every martial house in the world...’

The boy took another look at the Divine Sword Unit's masters: Yeon Soha standing at the front with a thug's swagger, the Divine Sword Squad Leader looking as though he were out for a stroll, and Ak Surim resting her weight on one leg with her hands clasped behind her back. They showed none of the solemn intensity one might expect, yet they were more threatening than anyone.

Nor was it just those three. Every one of the unit's twenty warriors harbored formidable power. And qi was not all they possessed. Serving at the forefront of the Desolate Fortress's missions, they must have fought their way through countless battlefields. They had to be stronger than most masters of equivalent standing.

‘Could I bring them under my command?’ Jung Yeonshin wondered.

To achieve his goal, he would have to lead them. It was not something he could contemplate attempting now. It hardly even seemed possible. To occupy the Divine Sword Squad Leader's seat, he first had to serve as the Divine Sword Unit's deputy leader. Yet the current deputy, Ak Surim, was a Black supreme master who looked capable of giving even Ma Jin a serious fight.

‘Of course she is. She's even achieved Rejuvenation. I can't begin to guess how far she's progressed in her internal qi art.’

His eyes met Ak Surim's just then. She winked at him, but he calmly looked away and faced forward.

“And who might you be, young master?”

The conversation between the Martial Dragon Society girl and Yeon Soha was continuing.

“I asked first. Showing us what unorthodox trash you are?”

“Now that I look at you, I understand. They say the Divine Sword Unit has an exceptionally sharp broom. You must be Yeon Soha, the Divine Sword's Keen Broom?”

“You have an uncanny knack for picking the epithet I hate. Looking for a fight, are you?”

“Forgive me for failing to recognize you. Clear those away.”

The latter command was not directed at Yeon Soha. Five or six blood fiends, their reason utterly consumed by Blood Art, were charging toward them. They had broken away when the Blood Flame Cult changed course. Even after feeling the Divine Sword Squad Leader's wave of qi, they had ignored the Blood Master Swordsmen's commands.

Their eyes rolled with a crimson gleam, tongues hanging from their mouths. Unable to withstand their own attainments in Blood Art, they stood on the brink of qi deviation.

They were plainly out of their minds, but there was no mistaking where their eyes were fixed as they ran. They were after Jung Yeonshin. Their approach from ahead and to the side made that clear as well.

‘I remember them.’

He had seen those faces at the Blood Flame Cult's headquarters. They appeared to have left before the day of the attack, escaping disaster by carrying out other duties. Their clumsy mouths seemed to be forming words. Grand Preceptor. O Grand Preceptor, protect us...

‘The fortress master told me the Blood Flame Cult Leader is alive. But he can't possibly be unscathed. He must still be dealing with the aftermath of that battle.’

The boy merely stroked his sword hilt. They said that in the martial world, those who created debts and grudges had to settle them themselves. Nor could he let these madmen keep babbling about the Grand Preceptor. Prepared to intervene if necessary, he moved up directly behind Yeon Soha. His bearing now showed a fair measure of a seasoned martial artist's experience—remarkably early, considering his age.

“I heard the Blood Flame Cult's headquarters fell. They've become a rabble now, haven't they? And with so many branches, too.”

The Martial Dragon Society girl spoke, glancing at Jung Yeonshin. The society's warriors behind her had just obeyed her command to clear them away. That casual remark had powerful consequences. The masters immediately sprang forth, their sweeping weapons radiating formidable sharpness.

These were the guards of a girl who appeared to hold high status. Seemingly drawn from the finest elites of the Thirteen skies, they slaughtered the blood fiends in moments with swordsmanship, saber techniques, and other martial arts. The unorthodox factions differed from the Orthodox. They did not hold back merely because their opponents were unorthodox too.

“Not bad with their blades.”

Yeon Soha whispered to Jung Yeonshin with a sneer. The boy watched the dying blood fiends in silence. When he received no response, Yeon Soha shrugged and snorted at the Martial Dragon Society girl.

“Putting on airs without lifting a finger. You're not a martial artist, are you?”

“There is no one in the Martial Dragon Society who isn't a martial artist,” the girl said with a smile. “Nor do we have any fools who would fall to such lowly blood fiends.”

“And if we did, it would only be right for them to disappear.”

The words from that lovely face were cold. Her composure suggested that losing a few warriors under her command would not trouble her. It was fitting for the Martial Dragon Society, a gathering of people so obsessed with martial learning that they had turned their backs on their own schools.

‘The Martial Dragon Society. I've heard they don't harm ordinary people.’ A rarity among the Thirteen skies.

That was why the Divine Sword Unit had not bothered drawing first. Such was the Martial Dragon Society. Its members had entered various sects as disciples, extracted the essence of their martial teachings, and abandoned their schools. They reportedly sought advancement by sharing martial arts with people from other factions.

They disrupted the unwritten laws of the Central Plains' Murim. Traitors who corrupted their own traditions. Factions were classified from Murim's perspective, and the Martial Dragon Society openly defied the martial world's ethics. That made it unorthodox. Its exceptional strength, even among those factions, made it one of the Thirteen skies.

‘The Desolate Fortress sees things differently.’

If they did not disturb the people's livelihoods, there was no reason to oppose them—as long as ordinary people were not caught up in the fights they waged among themselves.

Jung Yeonshin watched the warriors returning from killing the blood fiends. Not all had escaped unharmed. One had a long slash wound on his arm, yet the Martial Dragon Society girl smiled silently even at her own man's serious injury.

“Your attainment is lacking.”

“I will train harder.”

There was nothing else in their exchange. Even a hint of anger would have been more reassuring. They truly belonged to the Thirteen skies, their conduct strange enough to earn the martial world's label of unorthodox. Yet every Divine Sword Unit master except Jung Yeonshin took it in stride. They looked as though they had dealt with at least ten of the Thirteen skies.

“Thanks for taking care of them for us. So, what's your name and position?” Yeon Soha asked calmly.

“Calamity-Bound Consort,” the girl said.

Jung Yeonshin had often heard that the martial world was full of strange people, much like the Divine Sword Unit itself. He had asked two questions and received one answer. Her name must also be her position. Yet it was difficult to guess what that status meant. Yeon Soha seemed equally puzzled.

“A queen consort bound to calamity? I don't understand.”

The girl, the Calamity-Bound Consort, merely smiled. Hearing that talk of calamity, Jung Yeonshin fingered his Desolate Sword again.

The Martial Dragon Society was said to forsake propriety and convention to pursue martial learning alone. He did not make the mistake of underestimating his opponent. No encounter with the Thirteen skies had ever ended easily, from the time he entered the Desolate Fortress until now.

He was growing accustomed to this. When the boy thrust out his sword without letting down his guard, his opponent had to choose: die through carelessness, or die after giving everything.

‘If she truly holds high rank in the Martial Dragon Society...’

The Calamity-Bound Consort might be a genius rarely seen in this world, or she might have been born with an ability as rare as those of the noble race. Failing that, she might already be an established master past sixty, like Ak Surim. From past to present, that was said to be the nature of Murim's uppermost ranks.

“I came to pay my respects to the Divine Sword Squad Leader,” the girl said courteously. “The duel between the Namgoong clan head and the Desolate Fortress's divine sword left a profound impression on me.”

“You have my admiration, Squad Leader. Anyone would have dearly wished to witness it.”

“And there's no other reason? You didn't want to test the waters?” Yeon Soha asked, lifting one leg at an angle. The Calamity-Bound Consort shook her head.

“Our society is an alliance devoted solely to martial prowess. How could we act rashly before the Divine Sword Squad Leader, who stands just below the pinnacle of all martial learning?”

“Below the pinnacle?”

“The greatest under heaven is the Desolate fortress master...”

“The Martial Dragon Society. They did say it was a gathering of oddities.”

The Divine Sword Squad Leader had interrupted her. For the first time, tension appeared on the Calamity-Bound Consort's face.

“Our fortress master is not someone the likes of you may discuss as a martial artist. How dare you set the master of the Desolate Fortress atop the ambitions of martial-world riffraff? If you want to discuss the greatest under heaven as a mere warrior, I alone suffice.”

It was arrogant. He had called himself the greatest under heaven. Yet it felt natural. Excluding the Desolate fortress master as he had suggested, Jung Yeonshin could think of few others worthy of being called the pinnacle.

‘The Blood Flame Cult Leader, the Tyrant Sword Tribe Lord, the Zhongnan Sect Leader, the Zhongnan Sword Immortal...’

They all possessed tremendous martial power. The Zhongnan Sword Immortal, in particular, was the only person besides the Desolate fortress master to have seen through Jung Yeonshin's constitution. Yet the Divine Sword Squad Leader's presence was subtly different. Rather than seeming exceptionally more powerful, he felt more sharply defined. It was hard to imagine him losing any fight.

“...”

As the Calamity-Bound Consort fell briefly silent, Ak Surim approached Jung Yeonshin's side and spoke.

“You, little novice. I get the feeling you're here for something else.”

She chuckled, a savage edge to her faint smile.

“I already know. You were giving our Lightning Genius a very sly once-over. Your qi waves were positively blatant.”

“Ah.” A small exclamation.

The Calamity-Bound Consort's face brightened slightly, as though she had been waiting for those words. Her smile deepened, almost uncanny in its allure. Then her ruby lips moved.

“His epithet is Lightning Genius, correct?”

A hand lovely enough to be called a slender jade hand pointed at Jung Yeonshin.

“I saw a remarkable duel. So I would like to invite him. To our society.”

That was when the boy's expression betrayed his sense that everything had fallen flat. A great disappointment seemed to thump past his heart and into his Middle Dantian. For a moment, he could not hide his expression. What Martial Dragon Society? What greatest under heaven?

“Of course, I would never presume to ask him to leave the Desolate Fortress for another school. Merely...”

“If your business is solely with me...”

Jung Yeonshin turned his head as he spoke. He was addressing Ak Surim and the Divine Sword Squad Leader. He no longer paid the Calamity-Bound Consort any mind.

“I believe we can continue on our way. Our mission is complete, so we should return promptly.”

“... Really? Yes, we should, shouldn't we?”

The Divine Sword Squad Leader sounded bewildered. Jung Yeonshin had grown used to his many different sides by now and merely nodded in silence. The squad leader smiled.

“We have no particular business here either. Let's be on our way. You agree, honored predecessor?”

“... This expedition is yours to command.”

Ma Yeonjeok's answer was brief. There was something ominous in the way he glared at the Martial Dragon Society group. The Calamity-Bound Consort's mention of his grandson seemed to have offended him.

STEP.

They simply began moving again. The Divine Sword Unit's masters paid no heed to their distance from these potential enemies. The entire party passed right by the Martial Dragon Society.

“What...”

The Calamity-Bound Consort's incredulous stare burned against him, but Jung Yeonshin walked on without concern. He even closed his eyes to organize the insights he had gained from examining the Divine Sword Squad Leader's interior. He could walk perfectly well that way.

How far had they walked? By the time even the distant aftermath of the landslide had faded behind them, a sudden waft of fresh bodily fragrance reached him. Jung Yeonshin furrowed his brow and edged away. He knew even with his eyes closed. It was Ak Surim, the Desolate Divine Spear.

“Hey, hey. What was that? Why did you do it? Such a pretty girl saw your martial prowess and invited you.”

“... Her hands.”

“Hm?”

Jung Yeonshin slowly opened his eyes.

“She had lovely hands. For someone who called her subordinate's attainment lacking.”

“Ah.”

Ak Surim's lips curved, as though expressing pride in him.

“They say an unrivaled swordsman's palms hold a barren harvest. They mean the calluses. Not every martial art leaves traces on its practitioner's hands, but the arts I practice do. I had no interest in her martial learning.”

“Hmm...”

“If this Calamity-Bound Consort possesses an innate ability, there is nothing for me to learn... And if she is a master who has achieved Rejuvenation, it means she has neglected her training since then, giving me even less reason to listen to her. The world's martial arts are constantly advancing. Rather than entertain someone like that, I thought it would be better to seek instruction from you, Senior Ak.”

“You're quite an interesting one, aren't you?”

Just as Ak Surim's smile widened further, the Divine Sword Squad Leader abruptly stopped walking and spoke.

“Anyone watching us? Everyone, tell me. Quickly.”

“No. I don't think so.”

No sooner had Yeon Soha answered than a sound rang out.

BLEARGH!

With that thoroughly undignified noise, the Divine Sword Squad Leader vomited a great gush of blood. It was a considerable amount, like pouring out water scooped from a mountain spring in a straw rain cape. Only its black color differed. It was evidence of internal injury. He had shown them the Namgoong clan head's defeat and death in a short, decisive battle. Perhaps this was the inevitable price.

WHOOSH!

The Divine Sword Unit's masters employed their Mobility Arts and moved into formation, forming a protective circle around the squad leader.

“The Namgoong clan head. His strongest opponent in nearly three years. It's not every day you face one of the Eight Great Family heads,” Ak Surim said, shaking her head. Worry clouded her small face.

The Divine Sword Squad Leader bent over, bracing both hands on his knees. He kept spitting out the stagnant blood he had held back, and Jung Yeonshin could only watch him warily. The blood was red again now. The boy slowly spoke.

“If you have been holding it in all this time, you should not have entertained the Martial Dragon Society. Even if it aroused their suspicions, that would have been the right choice. I have heard that your person is a treasure of our fortress. You should consider your health...”

“Lightning Genius? What are you saying? However far I push myself...”

The Divine Sword Squad Leader chuckled through bloodstained lips. For an instant, his eyes seemed to flash with light.

“Could I possibly compare to you?”