Thanks to Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo's consideration, the two in white were able to head straight to the chamber in the pavilion.
It was said that the discretion of the blue-clad martial artist, trusted by everyone in Desolate Fortress, came with universally acknowledged martial prowess.
At times like this, it was certainly different from the military.
"Now that we're here, I don't feel like heading out again. I suppose we'll have to visit Yangyang's top tavern next time."
Heon Wonchang joked.
"I should just loosen up a bit and head to bed."
"You'll probably train for about one full hour. You're something else, Jung Yeonshin."
He no longer even bothered to make a tired expression. It was just a given now.
Traveling together, Heon Wonchang gradually began to regard Jung Yeonshin as if he were from another world.
Perhaps a figure from a strange, otherworldly realm, even more remarkable than the noble clans.
To him, having his own martial path and discipline, it was actually better if a fellow member like Jung Yeonshin grew stronger.
Despite his seemingly carefree words and actions, he had an admirable character worth learning from.
"Rest well."
Jung Yeonshin gave a small smile and left the pavilion.
On his way to the small martial hall, senior members greeted him warmly.
A few flinched after receiving Jung Yeonshin's martial salute.
They were mostly those with keen senses, seemingly feeling the shift in his energy after another mission.
"Lightning Genius's changed."
"If you only sensed his aura, you wouldn't even recognize him. Sure, boys his age grow quickly, but…"
"This is completely different. The phrase 'renewed daily' might apply only to him."
"We won't have it easy anymore, will we?"
No one refuted the last comment casually thrown out by the blue-robe martial artist.
Instead, silence spread among them.
For a boy of sixteen or seventeen to pose even a slight threat to a martial expert in blue within Desolate Fortress was astonishing in itself.
Jung Yeonshin let their words drift past him.
His sense of time was different from theirs.
If he wanted to survive, shouldn't he be able to stand on par with the Sword Master's might before turning twenty?
From white to blue, then black like Ma Jin, and finally to the purple he had never seen.
The Sword Master of Purple, Radiant Demon Squad, who unified seventeen factions with his martial strength, was at that level. There was no room for leisure.
"Hoo."
He arrived at the small martial hall before he knew it.
The maze-like structure of the Imperial Tomb always welcomed him in its own way.
Avoiding rooms that emanated auras indicating occupants, he entered an empty training chamber.
It occurred to him that the year had changed.
He was now sixteen years old. In civilian life, it was the age when one would start building a household after marriage.
Jung Yeonshin might have followed that path too.
Unlike most martial clans, who didn't mind delayed marriages, the Jung household was different.
As a minor martial family and large landowner, their customs were closer to those of common folk.
'I wonder what kind of person I would have married.'
A meaningless thought. He quickly dismissed the idle musing, focusing his energy through the Jung Clan Technique to clear his mind.
He began to move slowly.
As he released his core energy, the Radiant Demon Arts erupted, tracing countless trajectories in preparation for various scenarios.
It was the martial sequence of the Fist-and-Leg Technique.
Swoosh! Whoosh!
A close-range hundred strikes. After a wide sweep with his leg, he stepped in and unleashed a straight punch.
The wave of force generated by his focused energy rippled through the air.
The battle with the Blood Flame Cult made him appreciate Ma Jin's teachings.
Having perfected the Jung Clan Technique and forged an exceptionally strong body, Jung Yeonshin recognized that close combat was different from sword techniques.
It was a fighting style that fully utilized his unique strengths.
'I want to perfect the Fist-and-Leg Technique.'
As time passed, relying on his youthful appearance as a sword-like weapon would become more difficult.
He couldn't always depend on exploiting the enemy's complacency.
He needed to sharpen every weapon at his disposal.
'Is there something I can draw inspiration from?'
Jung Yeonshin stood frozen in his punching posture, lost in thought.
A sky-blue light flickered before his eyes.
* * *
"What was the character of Lightning Genius at the boundary between life and death? How did he treat his companions?"
At the top of Radiant Demon Squad quarters, in the residence of the Radiant Demon Squad Captain.
Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo, having returned from their mission, sat conversing with Ma Jin.
"The boundary between life and death?"
"…."
Chung Myung repeated with a blank expression, while Baek Miryeo remained silent. Was there even such a moment?
Ma Jin's face held a look of curiosity.
"You said there was the Blood Flame Cult. If a branch-level force was operating covertly, don't tell me the two of you handled it just to protect those in white? Reports tied to carrier pigeons have limited space. Explain in detail."
"Well…"
Now that they thought about it, their mission as blue-robe martial artists hadn't been a single task. Observing Lightning Genius's character seemed to have been considered more important than the original mission regarding Zhenping County.
Baek Miryeo knew this. Ma Jin's intense questioning left no doubt.
Lightning Genius must have been considered a potential successor to lead Radiant Demon Squad in the future.
And that was why it was more unfortunate, they had nothing to report.
"…He wiped out the Blood Flame Cult branch single-handedly. There wasn't a chance to observe much. All I can say is that despite the arduous journey, he never forgot his manners. He didn't seem particularly interested in his outstanding martial skills."
"…."
Ma Jin fell into silence, lost in thought.
The impact of hearing that Lightning Genius had single-handedly destroyed the Blood Flame Cult branch was immense.
This was the realm of experts, recognized even among the Nine Great Sects, Eight Great Clans, and Thirteen Skies, as well as the warriors of Desolate Fortress.
It was difficult to express such skill merely as outstanding.
"Chung Myung."
Ma Jin's gaze shifted to Chung Myung, the sole member of the noble clan in Radiant Demon Squad.
There was a well-known story about the eyes of noble clans seeing the essence.
After founding the nation, the first empress—referred to as the 'Ancestor's Ancestor'—exposed rebels among her officials and revealed their treachery.
Similar to the current emperor, who had once faced the 108 Arhats Formation of Shaolin to gain insight into their martial arts, she was said to possess one of the greatest martial abilities in history, leaving a lasting impression for over a century.
Even commoners knew this tale.
Noble clans inherently had senses that differed from ordinary people.
There is a reason why the final test in Desolate Fortress is a private audience with the Lord of Desolate Fortress.
What Ma Jin wanted to confirm was whether he possessed qualities worthy of leading a martial force beyond mere succession.
"Lightning Genius, you say? He's exceptional for his age. He has a heavy killing aura but knows how to control it. There's something inherently extraordinary about his character."
Chung Myung said with a light laugh.
"A heavy killing aura?"
"Isn't that to be expected? That kid never spoke about any personal ties throughout the journey. Just from his words and actions, it's clear he's well-educated."
"I think so too. Both of the new recruits seem to have already severed ties with their families in some way."
"I see. Not surprising, but still…"
Ma Jin tapped his fingers on the table, then slowly nodded.
"Succession aside, taking care of those who've become part of the family comes first. There's plenty of time. I wonder how many more unexpected feats he'll accomplish. It'll be rewarding to raise him up."
"I think so as well."
"I'm curious when he'll turn blue. It doesn't feel too far off."
Though it resembled a casual chat more than a formal report, night gradually descended over the Radiant Demon Squad quarters.
* * *
The Next Morning.
"Lightning Genius, the Lord summons you."
One of Radiant Demon Squad's senior white-robe members called Jung Yeonshin. His tone was different from before.
It felt far more cautious, perhaps due to the news of the recent mission, which had changed how people viewed him.
He could no longer be treated as just a promising junior.
Whenever he was in the grand martial hall, he would overhear whispers like, "He faced the Blood Flame Cult…" at least a few times—even three days after returning.
Of the thirty-six members of Radiant Demon Squad, ten were white robe. For someone at that level to single-handedly take down a Blood Flame Cult branch was almost unheard of.
Rumors even suggested he might become the youngest to don blue robe in the shortest time ever.
"Yes, I'll go up."
Jung Yeonshin clasped his hands respectfully.
Whenever he heard people praise him, he made a conscious effort to remain humble.
He did not believe an untrusted master could ever become the Sword Captain.
Perhaps because of this, the way others regarded him grew warmer by the day, to the point that he sometimes felt it himself.
'Is this about a new mission?'
Desolate Fortress warriors were guaranteed a month of rest after a mission, but he didn't take that promise literally.
Who could predict what might happen in the Jianghu?
"Come in."
Ma Jin's deep voice rang out the moment he stepped onto the far end of the quarters.
It seemed he sensed his presence immediately, even though Jung Yeonshin had trained to blend into the wind and grass.
Jung Yeonshin was impressed, acknowledging Ma Jin's strength as he opened the door and entered the room.
Then he paused slightly.
Ma Jin's expression was graver than ever, the scar across his face so stiff it seemed frozen in place.
"Is something wrong? An important mission?"
"Even though you've achieved unprecedented feats, you're not yet ready for a significant mission in Radiant Demon Squad. Of course, expectations are high."
Ma Jin's scar twitched, as if he were trying to smile in approval.
"It's not a mission. But it's something far beyond one. The Lord has summoned you."
"The Lord of Desolate Fortress…?"
The image of emerald-green eyes flashed through his mind. He couldn't comprehend it.
"Is it common for the Lord to call back white-robe warriors after their initial audience?"
"It's unprecedented, which is why it's unsettling. I can never guess her intentions."
Ma Jin gestured gravely.
"Still, there's no time to waste. Let's go."
Following Ma Jin, Jung Yeonshin stepped out of the Radiant Demon Squad quarters.
The main fortress, where the Lord resided, was quite a distance away.
Even though Jung Yeonshin kept pace with Ma Jin's brisk steps, it took long enough to finish a cup of tea.
Along the way, all attention focused on Jung Yeonshin.
Perhaps it was due to Ma Jin's scar, as the black-robe Captain of Radiant Demon Squad was known for leaving battlefields looking like scenes from hell.
Everyone recognized him, and their gazes naturally shifted to the boy following half a step behind.
"That's Lightning Genius of the Radiant Demon Squad."
"The one who killed the Blood Master Swordsman?"
"He looks even younger than I expected."
It was said that Jung Yeonshin was the only boy in all of Desolate Fortress wearing white robes.
It still felt strange to be recognized by strangers.
Maintaining a calm expression, he quietly followed behind Ma Jin.
Before long, they arrived at the main fortress where he had passed the final test of Desolate Fortress.
"Let's go."
Ma Jin strode forward without hesitation, and the guards didn't stop him.
Whether it was due to Ma Jin's presence or trust in the Lord's power was unclear.
After climbing the long stairs, they reached the Lord's chamber.
The doors opened wide on their own.
A cool breeze brushed Jung Yeonshin's cheek. The first thing he noticed was her.
The Lord of Desolate Fortress sat casually against the trunk of a massive tree that pierced through the office like a coiled serpent.
Her deep green eyes, like pools holding the weight of the world's oceans, passed over Ma Jin and fixed on Jung Yeonshin.
She raised her smooth, porcelain-like hand, which seemed too delicate for someone possessing such martial prowess.
"Come closer."
"Greetings, my Lord."
Following Ma Jin's lead, Jung Yeonshin offered a formal salute before taking in the others present.
Two figures.
First, the elderly man caught his eye.
Sharp features, a broad build.
His snow-white beard, devoid of a single stray hair, flowed down to his chest.
He wore a purple robe with an upright collar that matched his imposing aura.
'A purple master surpassing even Ma Jin.'
Were it not for the Lord's presence, his overwhelming energy might have dominated the room.
Beside him stood a boy with striking looks and a slightly arrogant demeanor.
His black-and-white eyes fixed on Jung Yeonshin with a challenging gaze.
"So, you're Lightning Genius of the Radiant Demon Squad. I am Ma Yeonjeok, former captain of the Divine Sword Squad."
The purple-robed elder's voice carried immense authority.
It was easy to imagine him referring to himself as "Master" had the Lord not been present.
"My grandson wanted to see a peer among masters, so I spoke to the Lord. It's good to meet you."
While Ma Yeonjeok spoke, Jung Yeonshin's focus shifted back to the Lord.
She remained silent, raising the corner of her lips slightly as if to say:
—If you desire it, I'll grant recognition.
It wasn't telepathy, there was no trace of energy flow.
The voice seemed to resonate directly in his mind, like the legendary Wisdom Voice of Shaolin's supreme monks.
'Why is she treating me this well?'
Jung Yeonshin felt both curious and uneasy as his eyes turned toward his maternal grandfather.