At the end of the dimly lit path, lined with torches, he stood.
He was different from the Blood Flame Cultists encountered thus far.
Hair of red, streaked with strands of black.
A sinister aura emanated from him so intensely that Jung Yeonshin could feel it against his skin.
Blood Master Swordsman.
His appearance was exactly as described.
It was said that the red hair of the Blood Flame Cult martial artists reflected their core energy, and that traces of black returning to their hair signified reaching a state of refining their true energy.
'This won't be easy.'
The Blood Master Swordsman approached with his sword drawn, his furious expression radiating an aura as sharp and deadly as hundreds of blades.
"You insignificant wretch, you dared to interfere with the affairs of our cult. I will replenish my blood with your suffering!"
"You mean to harvest my energy using blood techniques?"
It wasn't a question born of curiosity. He had already calculated the distance before he even spoke.
A mere boy, appearing sixteen or so, taking on an entire branch of the Blood Flame Cult alone?
It was unimaginable.
And the one slowly advancing with sword in hand must have been just as certain of his victory.
Even after slaughtering numerous cultists, that certainty hadn't wavered.
For this Blood Master Swordsman, who had begun regrowing black hair, stood at a level beyond ordinary red-haired cultists.
'Here I go.'
True energy surged from his fully opened energy core, coursing through his body.
Jung Family Movement Arts embraced the principles of the Limit Releasing Technique while circulating through his meridians.
'I need to strike first before closing in.'
He had learned the value of a preemptive attack by defeating a Blue Rank master of the Heavenly Squad.
Thud!
Stepping onto the unnamed footwork technique he had honed, he spun in a wide arc.
Focusing his core energy into his waist and thighs, the speed of its circulation surpassed what he had achieved at Jung Manor.
Channeling that gathered power in an instant, he unleashed a devastating kick using the Radiant Demon Arts, tearing through the air with threatening force.
Whoosh!
The Blood Flame Cultist Swordmaster, who had been advancing with torches at his back, displayed a flicker of surprise but swiftly bent backward, dodging Jung Yeonshin's kick.
"Hmph!"
In retaliation, the Swordmaster slashed his sword with a furious expression—but this was precisely what Jung Yeonshin had aimed for.
Clang!
Striking the ground sharply with his descending right foot, he lunged forward with deadly speed.
His body leaned low, severing the distance between them in a fleeting moment.
Accompanied by the rushing wind of his approach, his outstretched left hand targeted the opponent's wrist.
It was the Joint Lock, the first technique he had ever learned at Jung Manor, guided now by instinct through his Radiant Demon Arts.
The Swordmaster's eyes widened.
Not out of fear, but out of sheer outrage—his expression seemed to scream, "How dare you?"
As someone who had reached the ranks of a master, such an approach was unthinkable to him.
But Jung Yeonshin was no longer the boy who had failed to prevent his clan's massacre.
His left hand extended gracefully, and the Joint Lock Technique merged with the movements of the Radiant Demon Arts.
"What the…!"
The Swordmaster's gasp of shock was no different from the cries of the Blood Flame Cultists scattered lifelessly at the cave entrance.
Jung Yeonshin knew how to use his youthful appearance as a weapon, like a predator's fangs, once he bit down, there was no letting go.
With his hand gripping the opponent's pulse, the monstrous strength of his Jung Clan's Movement Arts surged forth.
"Arghhh!"
The opponent screamed in agony, yet, as expected of a master, sinister waves of energy began to radiate from above and below.
Even without looking, Jung Yeonshin could tell.
The Swordmaster intended to knee him and shatter his head with a hand strike.
But the Swift Sword Strike, gripped in reverse, was already in motion.
-The Radiant Demon Arts follows no formalities.
The teaching of his mentor, Ma Jin.
Even though more than a month had passed since he inherited those words, his voice echoed in Jung Yeonshin's mind with a hint of laughter.
At that moment, layers of compressed energy focused into his right arm.
Imagining the mythical giant Pangu pushing back the mountains, he thrust the blade in his fist inward.
At this point, it wasn't even about sword techniques anymore, it was raw, unrestrained force.
"Gaaaah!"
The sword pierced deep. He could feel the dissipating energy waves as the opponent's aura crumbled.
Jung Yeonshin spoke calmly.
"You've only ever inflicted pain on others. That much is obvious just by looking at you you've never experienced it yourself."
"Urghhh!"
As he applied more pressure, the Swordmaster's screams faltered and broke into gasps.
By now, Jung Yeonshin was practically holding the man in his arms, feeling the fading vitality seep away.
Even so, his resolve, hardened by witnessing his clan's destruction, remained unshaken.
"There's a saying in the martial world—beware of old men, women, and children."
He whispered into the Swordmaster's ear, though it seemed the man could no longer hear him.
Without hesitation, Jung Yeonshin pushed the man's body aside, letting the now lifeless corpse collapse to the ground.
'I only needed to kill one Blood Flame Cultist in Zhenping County.'
Somehow, he had ended up wiping out an entire branch of the cult.
In the end, it was a great achievement, so there was no reason to dwell on it.
And yet, the bitter taste lingering in his mouth likely stemmed from the sight of the emaciated children collapsed around him.
He thought of Jung Manor.
"Go to a better place."
Kneeling down, he gently closed each of their eyes.
* * *
"Did you draw your sword? What happened? Are you alright?"
Baek Miryeo's first words upon seeing Jung Yeonshin descending the mountain carried a tone of genuine concern.
Her gaze, which now felt almost sisterly, wasn't unwelcome.
Drenched in someone else's blood, clad in the white martial robes of Desolate Fortress, and carrying an unconscious child on his back, it was no surprise she'd react this way.
"It's not my blood. I found what appeared to be a Blood Flame Cult branch."
"A Blood Flame Cult branch! I knew it…"
Baek Miryeo nodded and spoke again.
"It's a relief that you're unharmed. Tell me what you observed. How many did you fight? Their hideout's discovery means they'll react soon. We need to prepare."
"There were eight red-haired Blood Flame Cultists. One strong opponent with mixed black and red hair as well."
"The Blood Master Swordsman…!"
Her eyes widened slightly. Before Jung Yeonshin could say anything, interrupted by her exclamation-like remark, Baek Miryeo spoke, pouring out words in her usual manner.
"Right, if a Blood Master Swordsman was there, then it must have been a branch of the Blood Flame Cult. They've infested this area too. Regardless of their mission, the Blood Flame Cult is an extermination target for Desolate Fortress. You've accomplished something great, so take some rest. Chung Myung and I will handle the rest."
"...I fought nine of them. Sending soldiers should be enough."
"Didn't you say eight, plus one? Nine, you say... and you think soldiers will suffice? Hmm…?"
It was only then that Baek Miryeo seemed to sense a discrepancy in Jung Yeonshin's calm demeanor.
Her brows furrowed, and gradually, surprise spread across her face.
"Lightning Genius, are you saying… you defeated all the Blood Flame Cultists, including the Blood Master Swordsman, alone?"
"I killed them all."
"Ha…!"
It was a peculiar exclamation, more astonishment and admiration than doubt.
At that moment, someone landed lightly from above.
With movements as light as the scent of grass, Chung Myung leaned in with a shocked expression.
"You took down an entire Blood Flame Cult branch on your own?"
"They had already turned it into a slaughterhouse with blood."
Jung Yeonshin replied, his expression difficult to read.
Their gazes lingered briefly on the child slung over his back.
"Damn cultists."
Baek Miryeo muttered.
"…Those Blood Master Swordsmen possess strange regenerative abilities. You didn't get stabbed from behind, did you?"
Chung Myung asked as if changing the subject, then continued.
"Sorry. This is something we should've briefed you on earlier. Blood Master Swordsmen are seen as reapers by the common folk and even among lower-level martial artists. There aren't many masters in the entire central plains capable of defeating them. It's not easy for such knowledge to spread."
Baek Miryeo nodded, wearing an unusually apologetic expression.
"This is truly our oversight. It's fortunate you're unharmed... though in Desolate Fortress, we occasionally hear stories about other sects. Even those who barely managed to kill a Blood Master Swordsman often end up skewered from behind because they didn't know about the regenerative properties of their blood techniques."
"Even skilled martial artists wouldn't be able to avoid it. You're lucky you made it through."
Chung Myung smiled approvingly.
Jung Yeonshin, who had been silently listening, slowly nodded.
"Regeneration, you say. So they had something like that."
He unfastened the arm supporting the child and brought his hand forward. Strands of red and black hair fell from his grip.
The head of the Blood Master Swordsman.
Its pale face and unclosed eyes made it look even more gruesome.
"..."
Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo fell silent for a moment.
"Well… regeneration abilities, sure."
Chung Myung muttered with a faintly sour expression, while Baek Miryeo patted Jung Yeonshin's shoulder, looking impressed.
"You deserve recognition for this. Good attitude."
"Indeed… this isn't an ordinary feat, especially for a newcomer to the martial world who just earned their white rank in Desolate Fortress."
Chung Myung examined the severed head closely before speaking again.
"The black hair only started growing recently. That branch must have been relatively weak."
Baek Miryeo shook her head.
"Regardless, discovering and single-handedly destroying a Blood Flame Cult branch is no small accomplishment. Even the Seventeen Captains or Heavenly Squad would covet Lightning Genius rather than diminish this achievement. A white rank, not even a blue, accomplishing this—it's more than remarkable."
"Of course."
Chung Myung nodded, then slapped the shoulder of Heon Wonchang, who had approached quietly and was staring at the Blood Master Swordman's head with bated breath.
"It's dead. What are you afraid of?"
"Ah, I-I'm not scared! I've ended plenty of bandits and river pirates myself!"
The group laughed, reminded of how he'd acted when they first arrived in Zhenping County.
What followed was out of the Radiant Demon Squad's hands.
When the local magistrate saw the severed head of the Blood Master Swordsman, he turned pale and sent soldiers immediately.
Rumor had it that several soldiers wet themselves upon seeing the Blood Flame Cult's hideout in ruins.
The magistrate, realizing terrifying blood demons had been operating nearby, grasped Jung Yeonshin's hands repeatedly in gratitude.
The Blood Master Swordsmen's infamy was far greater among civilians than their martial prowess.
The corpses left at the hideout were not children from Zhenping County.
It was suspected that the cultists had kidnapped them from neighboring areas, but the lack of clarity about whether martial artists were involved prevented the information from reaching Desolate Fortress.
After spending four days resolving the incident—
"If you ever visit again, please stop by!"
The magistrate, now exceedingly polite, gazed up at Radiant Demon Squad's group on horseback.
It was a scene both familiar and completely transformed from their first encounter.
Especially the way the magistrate's eyes burned with admiration toward Lightning Genius.
Though Jung Yeonshin had little experience with the outside world, he could sense the magistrate's gaze wasn't entirely pure.
—He probably wants to curry favor with a promising young martial master.
Chung Myung's amused voice echoed in his mind.
'Zhenping County's magistrate, Yoo Geun. So this is his life.'
Jung Yeonshin thought, nodding slightly and watching the magistrate's bright smile.
Perhaps the man had more depth than he appeared to have.
For him to recover so quickly after such humiliation was almost impressive.
"My name is Yoo Geun of Zhenping County! Please remember it well!"
The group turned their horses and left Zhenping County behind.
It was a long yet short, peaceful yet brutally concluded incident.
Radiant Demon Squad and his group's first mission in the martial world ended with Lightning Genius's solo achievement carved into history.
* * *
The return journey was more leisurely. They even extended breaks for their horses to feed.
Thanks to that, they didn't have to watch Heon Wonchang's face go pale too often, though he still occasionally looked glum.
"Lightning Genius accomplished such a brilliant feat, yet I… I did nothing…"
"That's actually normal. Guarding against the cultists' atrocities was more than enough."
At first, Baek Miryeo tried to console him, but after the same complaint several times, she fell silent with a blank expression.
Instead of camping, they stayed at inns, taking their time before entering Yangyang.
The first thing that caught their eyes wasn't Yangyang's outer walls but the towering fortress of Desolate Fortress.
Jung Yeonshin smiled faintly.
Though he hadn't been there long, he felt an odd sense of nostalgia.
"The atmosphere seems lively."
Chung Myung remarked.
"It's been ages! After completing our first mission, I'll finally visit Yangyang's First Pavilion."
Heon Wonchang grinned, as if energized by the bustling road leading to Desolate Fortress.
Merchants, hawkers, and travelers moved busily, exuding an infectious vibrancy.
Even Heon Wonchang's earlier gloom seemed to fade.
"Not you—the people here. It's more than usual. Wait a moment…"
Chung Myung closed his eyes and listened, making the group fall silent.
"Ah, I heard it. There's a big event. Knowing Desolate Fortress, it's probably to honor someone's achievement."
"Me too. The former Divine Sword Squad Captain is returning."
Baek Miryeo's words made Jung Yeonshin momentarily stiffen.