"My own, you say? This elixir?"
"Yes. Each division of the Divine Sword Squad is equivalent to the core forces of the Nine Sects. The budgeted supplies include elixirs and spirit pills. Not many, though... Of course, nothing as grand as Spiritual Essence Jade Oil or the Millennium Snow Ginseng. I've heard Shaolin has Great Rejuvenation Pills, but that's outside my jurisdiction."
Ma Jin grinned.
"You look like you want me as your master. Unfortunately, the laws of Desolate Fortress prohibit master-disciple relationships among its martial artists. It's to prevent personal ties from interfering with missions."
"I appreciate it, but I hadn't considered it that far."
"Understood."
"Should I at least bow to show my respect? Is it alright to kneel here?"
"Try it if you're not afraid of the strict laws coming back to haunt you."
Ma Jin tossed the elixir with a chuckle.
Jung Yeonshin gazed at the elixir in his hand.
He had never seen anything like this in the Jung family household—never even had the chance to look at one.
It wasn't because the head of the family disliked him. It was simply that no remote martial clan could have something like an elixir.
"With your level of true energy, you should see significant effects. Have you ever taken an elixir before?"
"No, I haven't."
"You can't dissolve the elixir's energy with ordinary circulation. Mishandle it, and you'll waste the precious effects. I can assist you. Let's go."
"Captain."
"Yes?"
"Why are you being so good to me?"
It was a question no worldly person would have asked.
It was the kind of question only a boy with nowhere to turn could voice.
The scar crossing Ma Jin's face twitched with amusement.
"I'm not giving you special treatment. It's the same for everyone in Radiant Demon Squad. After facing life-or-death missions a few times, you'll understand."
He patted Yeonshin's shoulder and walked past him.
Jung Yeonshin stared at Ma Jin's retreating back before slowly following.
He lightly tapped the arm of Heon Wonchang, who looked on enviously.
* * *
News spread quickly, there had been ripples.
It wasn't just the two elite squads present at the sparring match.
"A hidden dragon! I heard your side got an amazing talent."
"A hidden dragon?"
"What? Everyone's talking about it. That young swordsman who joined your White Division—didn't he spar with Heavenly Squad? Isn't Gu Ik-hwan from Heavenly Squad a skilled swordsman? He couldn't possibly have embarrassed the Blue Division of Desolate Fortress."
"I wouldn't call him a hidden dragon, but he's definitely a monster. How should I put it... I feel more nervous than excited about him."
"Nervous?"
Baek Miryeo from Zen Sword Demon spoke again to the martial artist from another squad.
"He's diligent and humble, though occasionally annoying when he blurts out truths without considering tact. But fundamentally, he's polite. However..."
"However?"
"He dissects martial arts disturbingly well. Chung Myung, don't you think?"
A blue-eyed man in a headscarf beside her gave a slight smile and nodded.
"It's a talent I've never seen before."
"When I use 'inch force' during sparring, somehow, he ends up replicating the technique nearby in a different stance. It's irritating, but when I look back, his form has become even more refined. There's something inherently brilliant about how he reinterprets techniques—it makes me reluctant to display secret martial arts in front of him."
"He's already absorbing them before mastering them."
Chung Myung added casually.
"Exactly. I think if he hadn't entered Desolate Fortress, he would've died somewhere as a wandering fighter."
"Would any martial sect have let such a talent live?"
Before they knew it, Baek Miryeo and Chung Myung were deep in conversation. The martial artist, pushed to the sidelines, frowned.
"What are you two talking about? Are you mocking me? I don't get it."
"Neither do I."
Baek Miryeo muttered and signaled Chung Myung to take care of the intruder.
Radiant Demon Squad's pavilion. Chung Myung, Baek Miryeo, and other elite Blue Division members had formed a natural perimeter.
Martial artists were stationed in hidden positions, perched on rooftops, or chatting with visitors without leaving their spots.
At the center of this defensive network, inside the pavilion—
Jung Yeonshin and Ma Jin sat.
Ma Jin placed his hand on the boy's back as he spoke.
"I don't know how much of the elixir's effects you can absorb. Even if it seems to fall short of expectations, do not act recklessly. Internal energy can always be accumulated, but if your energy circulation or meridians are damaged, it will take years of recovery to fix them. Remember this if you don't want to be stuck in stagnation."
"Yes, Captain."
Radiant Demon Squad's effort toward their youngest member was astonishing.
To Jung Yeonshin, it felt excessive—almost overwhelming. Was this what being part of a squad meant?
A strange emotion tickled his scalp, one he had never experienced before.
"Listen carefully. It's surprising, but since you've already achieved the Great Circulation, this should be easier for you. There's no need to circulate energy through your lower-body meridians. Imagine connecting the top and bottom of your torso by linking the Ren and Du meridians as one. Place the elixir's energy into the flow and keep circulating it until it dissolves completely. If your circulation falters, I'll intervene, so don't panic."
"Yes."
Jung Yeonshin put the pill in his mouth.
He chewed, but it had no distinct taste.
They say top-grade elixir like Shaolin's Great Rejuvenation elixir melt instantly upon touching the tongue.
This one required chewing and swallowing.
Soon, the energy from the elixir began to rise inside him.
The process finished in the time it took to drink two cups of tea.
Ma Jin didn't even get the chance to assist. He now wore an expression of resigned understanding.
"…Congratulations. You absorbed all of it. Completely."
"Yes. The surge of energy feels incredibly solid. It's incomparable to what I had before."
Experiencing an elixir for the first time, Jung Yeonshin marveled as he observed the flow inside his body.
It was exactly as described.
His previously meager energy wasn't even on par with the supply-grade elixir of Desolate Fortress.
"I can't believe I fought with such low energy. Now, I finally feel like I have enough to match my rank in White Division."
Ma Jin spoke with visible relief.
"I need to step outside. Both you and the seniors—I can't handle this."
"Feeling overwhelmed?"
Ma Jin's scarred face shifted into what was now a familiar grin.
"Don't be. After a few near-death encounters in the Jianghu, it'll feel natural. The stronger your martial arts, the better."
"And I'll earn merits along the way?"
He had to survive first, of course, only then could he repay their kindness.
Seeing Ma Jin nod, he murmured as if talking to himself.
"I want to enter the Jianghu[Martial World]."
He thanked his seniors repeatedly, offering respectful bows more than a dozen times.
He was nearly exhausted just from showing proper etiquette.
"Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo don't even feel like martial artists—they casually pat my shoulders and ruffle my hair."
Excessive physical contact among martial artists was usually uncomfortable.
The Jianghu, where gratitude and grudges are tangled in chaos.
How could one know if someone might use internal heavy-handed techniques to shake their body from within?
Despite earning favor from the seniors after the sparring match with Heavenly Squad, Jung Yeonshin still felt he hadn't fully blended into Radiant Demon Squad.
His energy grew stronger after taking the elixir, but his mind was utterly exhausted.
Returning to his quarters felt different.
"You're training again?"
Heon Wonchang asked, looking exasperated. Jung Yeonshin gave a slight nod and left the room.
'The Grand Martial Hall feels too crowded right now.'
The Radiant Demon Squad had two types of training grounds.
The Grand Martial Hall was used for group training to prepare for coordinated battles, disseminating mission details, and reinforcing laws.
But Jung Yeonshin was now heading toward the Small Martial Hall, where Radiant Demon Squad's experts trained in techniques other than Radiant Demon Squad's core martial arts.
Passing by the Grand Martial Hall, he spotted a large structure without a roof.
It resembled a labyrinth built above ground, and even from the outside, the waves of energy resonating inside were anything but ordinary.
Clearly, he wasn't the only one training.
For someone with a decent level of internal energy, identifying another's energy flow wasn't difficult.
He walked past rooms that were occupied, looking for an empty space.
Even if no energy could be sensed, he avoided any room with a cloth curtain, serving as a door—since it might be occupied.
Finally, he found an empty training room.
—Youngest!
It wasn't a shout but a transmitted voice, following the etiquette of the Small Martial Hall.
One never knew when someone might achieve a breakthrough, so care was always taken.
Turning around, he saw Baek Miryeo from Zen Sword Demon, radiating waves of energy from both hands.
She exuded a sharp aura, her disciplined body suggesting mastery of domineering techniques, making her hard to approach.
He approached cautiously at her gesture.
—What's the matter?
Though he had learned voice transmission alongside Radiant Demon Squad's core techniques, he was still a bit clumsy.
His voice was supposed to be solid and directed, yet it still felt like a light breeze.
It was due to his lack of internal energy refinement, often called fire timing .
Fortunately, Baek Miryeo didn't seem to mind much.
—I need a sparring partner. Care to join?
—Did you make progress? Congratulations.
—Just a small breakthrough. You're not going to back out after showing such skills during the sparring match, are you?
—The noise might be loud. Will it be alright?
—Let's step outside.
They left the Small Martial Hall. After walking silently for a while, Baek Miryeo spoke as they neared the Grand Martial Hall.
"Apologies if you had other plans for training. I'm just feeling rushed—a sudden insight came to me."
"This might actually be better. Solo training can be done anytime, but it's a rare opportunity to spar with the Zen Sword Demon's Palm Strike techniques."
"My ultimate techniques specialize in swordsmanship. Why mention palm strike techniques?"
"Your hands were focused even with your sword sheathed. If you had been practicing unsheathing techniques, it'd be different. But with your skill, you could easily transition into quick strikes regardless."
Baek Miryeo smiled warmly at his calm remarks.
It was a smile that somehow suited her sharp eyes.
"Just call me Miryeo."
As they talked, they arrived at the Grand Martial Hall.
A few martial artists were training openly, unconcerned about showcasing their techniques, while others were practicing Radiant Demon Squad's core martial arts.
"Let's see how we match up."
"I'll let you take the lead."
Since arriving at Desolate Fortress, Jung Yeonshin had grown used to hearing seniors offer the first strike.
His audacious response made Baek Miryeo smirk as she gestured for him to begin.
She was unarmed, while Jung Yeonshin drew his sword without hesitation.
Surprisingly, his wrist was instantly caught.
She had closed the distance and seized it with a lightning-fast grab.
It was an incredibly swift joint-lock technique.
Even a seasoned martial artist wouldn't have noticed the hand coming in.
'Not yet. Radiant Demon Squad's style.'
His left hand remained free.
He tried to strike using internal energy flowing through his fist, but they were too close, making it hard to build power.
Instead, she pressed in even closer.
And then—
At a distance of barely an inch, Baek Miryeo's hand struck his abdomen.
"Ugh!"
It was a surprisingly powerful short strike, considering the distance.
His body was forced back, but her grip on his wrist remained firm.
Without hesitation, Jung Yeonshin's Radiant Demon Squad techniques guided him, and he delivered a knee strike imbued with condensed true energy.
With a thud, his arm was released, and Baek Miryeo stepped back, massaging her forearm.
Her expression mixed astonishment with satisfaction.
"You controlled your energy flexibly with that knee strike. I sensed it earlier, but your one-inch efficiency has definitely improved. You could push even further."
She seemed genuinely pleased.
"Were you training one-inch techniques?"
"A swordsman skilled in Radiant Demon Squad can't rely solely on the blade. In close combat, one-inch strikes are incredibly useful. If someone's body is covered in protective energy, this can shatter it first."
Jung Yeonshin spoke cautiously.
"May I make a suggestion, even as an inexperienced newcomer? I've always been sensitive to energy flow, and something about your internal energy caught my attention."
"You can see the flow of core energy? Even for you, that's a stretch."
"I only observe the ripples of energy radiating outward along with the strike patterns. How could anyone see core energy sealed within the body?"
"That's impressive enough. Such sensitivity... maybe only senior ranks like Purple or higher possess it."
Baek Miryeo referred to the hierarchy of Desolate Fortress, which ascended from White to Blue, then to Purple and Black.
Though briefly surprised, she quickly regained composure.
"Still, I'm curious. Go on."
She finished with a playful smile.
Jung Yeonshin spoke cautiously.
"Recently, the Captain taught me palm strikes, but your technique seems more suited for internal heavy-handed techniques than one-inch strikes. The way you manage energy flow seems optimized for those methods."
"Hm?"
"If you had channeled core energy instead, it could've... Oh, have you already mastered internal heavy-handed techniques at that level?"
"What?"
Baek Miryeo's eyes widened slightly.