"...You speak of lineage."
"You seem to already know. Quite bold."
The green eyes of the Lord of Desolate Fortress remained calm. Jung Yeonshin, who had been overwhelmed, slowly nodded.
"I am indeed the descendant of the previous leader of the Divine Sword Squad Leader. His grandson."
"You're about to ascend as the Elder of council, yet you still hold onto stubbornness. You bear a wound."
"That is not something Your Lordship needs to concern yourself with. It is merely a trivial family matter."
"Such matters are never trivial. It's just hidden beneath a well-kept body. You look as though you've only lived about fifteen years. Yet, it's true that outsiders have no say in this. Matters of blood must be resolved by blood."
"My apologies."
Jung Yeonshin spoke without the slightest hint of remorse or unease.
He saw no connection between the transcendent aura of an absolute master and their words touching upon his family affairs.
Perhaps sensing this sentiment, the corner of the Lord's lips lifted ever so slightly.
"I like your spirit. You came here with a goal, yet you refuse to bow. It's entertaining."
'She saw through me.'
It wasn't surprising. An abnormally open Baihui Acupoint? Even Jung Yeonshin himself had recognized this peculiar constitution.
It wasn't strange for a supreme master like the Lord of Desolate Fortress to see through it at a glance.
"Can someone like me survive if I consume the fruit of the World Tree?"
"The effects may be somewhat exaggerated, but yes. You can achieve what you desire."
"Can I obtain it?"
At Jung Yeonshin's bold question, her smile deepened slightly.
"That depends on you."
"That answer suffices for now. Thank you."
Jung Yeonshin offered a cupped-fist salute and asked again.
"Am I now considered a warrior of Desolate Fortress?"
"Yes. You may leave now, future leader of the Divine Sword Squad."
It was hard to tell whether she was teasing him or genuinely acknowledging his potential.
It also sounded like he might gain the fruit of the World Tree upon becoming the leader of the Divine Sword Squad.
With a faint smile, she appeared somewhat playful as Jung Yeonshin left the office filled with trees.
Descending to the first floor, he was greeted by Heon Wonchang, who appeared flustered.
"What on earth happened up there? Please, tell me! You took especially long. What did the Lord of Desolate Fortress say? Did you pass?"
"It's personal, so I can't elaborate. But yes, I passed. Why are there so few people left?"
"Everyone left except for Namgoong Hwashin! Those who stood there blankly were all sent away! I'm so nervous I could die!"
Only White Qilin's Namgoong Hwashin remained.
As their eyes met, Namgoong Hwashin gave a polite nod with a smile.
Returning the gesture, Jung Yeonshin turned his head to find Heon Wonchang climbing the stairs like a man heading to his doom.
"There's nothing to worry about. Good luck."
Heon Wonchang waved weakly at Jung Yeonshin's encouragement.
* * *
"Hahaha! Desolate Fortress! I'm now the Divine Hero of Desolate Fortress!"
Heon Wonchang had passed. Given the location, his whispered cheers felt unreliable.
Though Jung Yeonshin was glad for someone he briefly befriended, he honestly had no clue about the selection criteria.
"Desolate Fortress's gates are more open than I expected."
"What do you mean?"
Heon Wonchang blinked.
Without answering, Jung Yeonshin looked toward a middle-aged man in scholar's attire approaching them.
"Welcome to Desolate Fortress. I am Gi-Daesung, under the General Affairs Bureau. I'll guide you to your temporary lodgings until your assignment is decided. Please follow me."
"When will our assignments be determined?"
Jung Yeonshin inquired.
"The division heads will select you. Expect it to take about seven days. Now that you've officially become warriors of this castle... Ah, we can discuss this while walking."
Jung Yeonshin, Namgoong Hwashin, Heon Wonchang, and another swordsman who had passed followed Gi-Daesung.
"Do you know what Desolate Fortress primarily does?"
"To stop Murim's martial artists from overthrowing the Imperial Family"
"Heon Wonchang is partly correct, but that's more of a major responsibility than a routine task. Our main work is something else entirely. It involves preventing or suppressing large-scale disputes in the martial world. White Qilin Hwashin should be aware. The Namgoong Clan's events have often been thwarted by Desolate Fortress."
"Yes."
Namgoong Hwashin nodded briefly.
Noting his unexpectedly composed expression, Jung Yeonshin felt curious.
Leaving such a renowned family suggested there were complicated circumstances outsiders wouldn't know.
Gi-Daesung, who brought up the topic directly, also seemed far from ordinary.
"No one knows how conflicts in the martial world may escalate. Even a rumor about the discovery of the grave of the Heavenly Demon can stir chaos across the land. Those seeking peerless martial arts manuals or elixirs might not stop at fighting each other, but their movements alone cause turmoil."
Pausing for a breath, Gi-Daesung continued.
"Ruthless martial artists don't differentiate between fellow warriors and commoners. The resulting disorder disrupts security so severely that it feels as though the empire itself exists in a separate world. As if an unknown Tomb of the Heavenly Demon summons the King of Hell."
"The Disaster of the Heavenly Demon's Grave..."
Heon Wonchang muttered, his expression suddenly heavy.
Gi-Daesung nodded.
"It's been seventeen years now. It's not just demonic sects causing trouble. Even the orthodox sects, including the Nine Great Sects and the Eight Great Clans, aren't free of greed and conflict. The mid-tier clans and sects passing down martial arts to small groups are often worse. While the groups vary, their members differ even more. Leaving them unchecked leads to civilian casualties, unrest, and disruptions in taxes, which ultimately destabilize governance."
"..."
"That's why the Imperial Family pours enormous wealth, resources, secret manuals, and martial experts into supporting this place. Desolate Fortress. Your duty will be to eliminate martial artists who disturb the people's peace."
"I already assumed as much, but why such a lengthy explanation when I only asked about assignments?"
Heon Wonchang asked.
"It means we're short on people. More precisely, we lack capable and trustworthy talent. The workload and scope are simply too vast."
"People dropped like flies today. Well, I passed."
"...And so, distributing the few selected talents appropriately takes time. About seven days. Ah, we're here."
Gi-Daesung, who had looked briefly displeased, pointed to a building as splendid as the others.
'The inn at my family's house was a stable by comparison.'
While Jung Yeonshin was thinking this, Gi-Daesung cupped his fists.
"Good luck. Attendants inside will guide you."
Seven days and nights passed.
The pavilion where they were assigned to stay was even more luxurious than it appeared. Each person was given a high-quality private room, reflecting the immense support provided by the Imperial Family.
Behind the pavilion, there was even a training ground, allowing them to practice at any time.
And finally, they moved to a new residence.
Their assignments had been determined, and they were directed to the exclusive quarters and training grounds of the seventeenth division to which they were now affiliated.
"Good luck."
"You too, Namgoong Hwashin."
After exchanging farewells, they parted ways.
During this time, strange rumors spread within Desolate Fortress.
It was said that the seventeen combat squad captains under the Divine Sword Squadhad held martial bouts to recruit new warriors.
"The subordinates who witnessed the Desolate Fortress Tournament caused a commotion. They demanded we recruit either White Qilin or Lightning Genius."
Ma Jin, the leader of the 'Radiant Demon Squad', one of the seventeen divisions, bore a horrifying scar.
A ghastly wound slashed diagonally across his face, from the left to the right.
The injury was so severe that it was a wonder he was still alive, and his aura exuded a rugged and overwhelming presence.
"You, Lightning Genius."
He fixed his gaze on Jung Yeonshin.
The sharp glint in his piercing eyes hinted at immense true energy, but Jung Yeonshin had already faced the Lord of Desolate Fortress and said everything he wanted to say.
"Yes."
His response was calm. His expression didn't change, and Ma Jin nodded.
"I see spirit in you. Men like you don't die easily."
They were in the training ground of the Radiant Demon Squad.
The space was vast, easily accommodating five hundred people, and an assortment of weapons stood displayed along one side, an impressive sight.
The adjacent pavilion was even more massive compared to the one they had waited in previously.
Around them, about thirty men and women sat or stood, watching the two new recruits.
"The combat divisions under the Divine Sword Squad in Desolate Fortress are akin to the martial clans of the Central Plains. Here, you will learn martial arts and carry out missions. Everyone here is your senior brother or sister."
"Division Leader Ma, I have a question!"
It was Heon Wonchang, who seemed unfazed by the intense atmosphere but instead looked excited.
"Speak."
Ma Jin nodded.
The Radiant Demon Squad had recruited two of the four new members.
While waiting earlier, Jung Yeonshin had heard that Ma Jin was considered one of the strongest among the seventeen division leaders, and seeing him today confirmed it wasn't mere rumor.
Meanwhile, Heon Wonchang, still brimming with excitement, began speaking rapidly.
"Thank you for allowing me to ask! Does learning martial arts in the Radiant Demon Squad mean that everyone here shares the same techniques?"
"No. Your unique techniques are your own. What you will learn and teach here are the martial arts of the Radiant Demon Squad. The rest is not mandatory."
"Ah! So we'll learn the famous 'Radiant Demon Arts'...!"
His face was filled with awe. Even after entering Desolate Fortress, his Yellow Dragon Hero Sword fluttered at his side, reflecting his excitement.
'The Radiant Demon Arts.'
Jung Yeonshin had heard of it before.
The Radiant Demon Squad were already famous among the seventeen divisions.
They had once clashed with the twenty-four elite Plum Blossom Swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect and emerged without suffering a single casualty.
It was an incident that reinforced the claim among enthusiasts that Desolate Fortress stood at the pinnacle of martial strength.
"If you want to survive, you'd better master it."
Ma Jin's words carried the weight of a northern frontier general. His stern expression emphasized his seriousness.
"Although Desolate Fortress is affiliated to the Imperial Family, attacking its warriors is not considered treason. That's why you must constantly grow stronger here, because if you don't, you'll die."
"Why isn't it considered treason?"
Jung Yeonshin asked. Before Ma Jin could respond, Heon Wonchang jumped in.
"For the Imperial Family, treason must be punished by exterminating the entire clan. Without such punishment, the empire's authority and the monarchy's sanctity would be compromised. At least, that's how they see it."
"...You're insane."
Ma Jin chuckled but didn't interrupt.
"But the martial world is full of eccentrics, those who lose their sanity practicing demonic arts, or those so swift in movement that they can evade officials and vanish into remote mountains. That's why imperial dignity can't be applied to warriors tasked with confronting martial artists."
Jung Yeonshin gave a slight nod.
Heon Wonchang, despite his usual frivolous demeanor, occasionally showed flashes of insight, particularly when discussing the origins and power structures of martial clans.
His ability to infer the Imperial Family's reasoning based on the dynamics of the martial world was another example.
His hostility toward major sects and the depth hidden beneath his lightheartedness hinted at a complicated background.
"Heon Wonchang is right. That's why you must grow stronger. If you ask that guy who returned from a fight with Namgoong's First Sword, he'll explain it better."
Ma Jin gestured toward a handsome man in a blue headscarf, casually seated.
His striking features and gentle impression contrasted with his carefree aura. The scarf tails at the back of his head swayed in the breeze.
He was clearly no ordinary person.
"The King-Style Sword Arts is terrifying."
The man waved his hand as he spoke.
It was surprising.
The King-Style Sword Arts was a peerless martial art practiced exclusively by direct heirs of the Namgoong Clan.
Even Jung Yeonshin, despite living in a secluded area, had heard of it.
'And Namgoong's First Sword is said to be one of the strongest masters in China.'
Although the man's energy didn't seem particularly overpowering at first glance, a closer look revealed that the flow of true energy around him was tightly controlled.
The fact that he survived a confrontation with Namgoong's First Sword spoke volumes about his skill.
"Well then, let's start with you, Lightning Genius!"
The man in the headscarf jumped to his feet. Apparently, this had been prearranged, as Ma Jin stepped back.
He strode toward Jung Yeonshin, his loosely tied sword at his waist swaying slightly, drawing attention.
With a grin, he spoke.
"If you've come here at your age, you must have quite the talent. Let's see it, your aptitude with the sword. I'm very good at spotting talent."
"You say you're good at recognizing talent?"
Jung Yeonshin asked reflexively.