First Fist of the Eun Clan, Fist Grand Duke Eun Hwaryun.
During the Opening Tournament of the Murim Alliance, she was the second most formidable opponent after Sage Cheon Joo of Mount Hua.
It was known that the Zhuge Clan had stolen the corpse of the Azure Qilin to investigate traces of the Lightning Genius' martial arts, and that the deconstruction method was passed on to Fist Grand Duke by the Zhuge Clan's leader.
In reality, the Radiant Demon Squad's leader at the time had struggled immensely during that bimu. Even the Radiant River technique had been dismantled with ease.
Now, Jung Yeonshin found himself calmly facing someone who had once been such a difficult opponent.
Only a few months had passed, yet to him, it felt like decades.
Such was the nature of his perception of time and martial progression.
"..."
Eun Hwaryun did not respond. After rendering the eldest son of the Gui Clan of Shaanxi unconscious, she now displayed a composed demeanor, as if she had never been enraged in the first place.
A serene, mirror-like state. The tranquility of a supreme master.
Her gaze was deep.
Her pupils absorbed the sunlight, turning her eyes an intense shade of black.
She had activated the Sight Arts of the Eun Clan using an immense amount of refined energy.
Even in terms of inner power refinement alone, she seemed superior to Jung Yeonshin. The evenly cultivated energy circulating her body suggested she could unleash a devastating technique at any moment.
And yet, there was a sense of unease in the way she observed Jung Yeonshin.
Had she, as a peak-level martial artist, sensed an unprecedented level of skill?
"Has your martial prowess improved…?"
She repeated the words of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader.
The way her long eyebrows lifted did not appear displeased. Rather, it seemed as if she had suddenly realized something important.
Instead of hostility, she seemed to be recalling an old memory.
Shhhh—
The tension between two supreme masters. The winter sunlight grew harsher as the wind brushed over the transparent surface of the frozen lake.
The energy exuding from both of them was overwhelming, even when compared to the forces of nature.
The young noblemen seated at the pavilion murmured amongst themselves.
"The Roaring Sky Mad Blade of the Gui Clan, taken down in a single move… Was that just a liquor bottle? They say a true master can sever a hundred heads with a mere reed."
"Truly, their reputation is well-deserved. But who is that person…?"
"I believe he is a guest of the Gongya Clan. I heard he played a major role in exterminating the Blood Demons."
"Well, of course, we all know that. What I meant was, why is the revered First Fist of the Eun Clan… Hmm."
Eun Hwaryun's behavior was indeed peculiar.
She seemed to be acquainted with Geom Un-bi, the leader of Mystic Heaven Sect, but it was highly unusual for a noble figure of the Eight Great Clans to be familiar with a wandering swordsman.
They lived in entirely different worlds.
At that moment, Eun Hwaryun finally spoke again.
"The way you speak is strange. Do you think you can claim victory just because you once wounded my arm so severely? You are a child who has risen through endless victories, that much is clear. You have the right to be arrogant, but understand that before true masters who can strike your weakness, such arrogance is nothing more than foolish bravado."
"You take words too literally. I was praising your strength."
Jung Yeonshin ran his fingers over the hilt of his sword, feigning composure.
Behind him, the noble lady Gongya Jung let out a short gasp, while the young master Gongya Su exhaled in awe, unafraid. Even as they reacted, Jung Yeonshin expanded his senses, scanning his surroundings.
'First Fist of the Eun Clan understands my martial prowess.'
She and the Zhuge Clan's leader had been planning to establish a new sect together.
He had unexpectedly appeared at a gathering meant to assess and recruit talents, and she had likely perceived him as a significant variable.
However, he could not afford to waste Ultimate Thunder on her. He could only maintain a state fit to fight Ak Surim for a handful of breaths.
He had to save Ultimate Thunder for the precise moment against the Zhuge Clan's leader.
'I can't waste it on the First Fist of the Eun Clan.'
This was a dire situation.
The shortage of manpower in Desolate Fortress was nothing new, but recently, even Ak Surim, who had been guarding their stronghold, had been deployed on missions. Their situation had become truly dire.
The movements of the Thirteen Celestial Demons and the Eight Great Clans had been anything but ordinary.
The purple ranks had embarked on their own assignments.
His grandfather's trail had vanished without a trace, and even the Divine Sword Order's leader, once recovered from his internal injuries, had become nothing more than a name spoken in rumors.
There would be no reinforcements. Success in his mission meant survival.
"Come."
Jung Yeonshin spoke. They were already locked in a standoff. There was no option but to assert dominance.
If the Zhuge Clan's leader stood with the First Fist of the Eun Clan, then he had to make them believe that reinforcements from the Desolate Fortress Divine Sword Order were present as well.
Hwaak!
In an instant, Eun Hwaryun's form blurred, and she appeared right in front of him. The ground beneath her feet trembled violently, sending powerful vibrations that reached even Jung Yeonshin's footing.
Her speed was terrifying. It was the supreme movement technique of a martial artist who had dedicated their life to close-combat precision.
At the same time, Jung Yeonshin's hand sliced through the air.
A deep hum reverberated as the power of his supreme technique distorted the atmosphere.
He had now reached a state where he could achieve the same condition as Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown when unleashing a single-strike technique.
Eun Hwaryun, gripping his forearm from below, was visibly shocked.
Radiant River.
KWAANG!
It detonated above her shoulder. The monstrous force shook even her formidable physique. Her unbound hair billowed wildly to the opposite side.
'She's the same as ever. Short movements, immense arm strength.'
Jung Yeonshin calmly considered his next move, his gaze steady. A firm grip coiled around his elbow.
The calloused hand of Eun Hwaryun had slid past his forearm, nullifying the Radiant River technique.
The seasoned precision in her breath and energy dispersion was befitting of the First Fist of the Eun Clan.
The formless defensive energy she had wrapped around herself, like armor made of hardened calluses, had become even more impenetrable.
It was fine. A few more strikes, and it would shatter into pieces. The Radiant River still churned fiercely in the Laogong Acupoint of his other palm.
Sshhk.
It was at that moment, as Jung Yeonshin casually grabbed Eun Hwaryun's wrist with his left hand.
"…Truly chilling. However, if your preparation is insufficient, you should not exchange further blows. You will draw his attention."
She spoke with an old-fashioned tone, as befitting someone who had once been the heir to the Eun Clan. Their eyes met at close range.
What is this?
He suddenly felt that Eun Hwaryun's demeanor had shifted. She now appeared detached, as though she no longer regarded Jung Yeonshin as her focus.
She merely clenched and unclenched her opposite hand, the habits of a martial artist deeply ingrained in her movements.
Was this her original nature, before she had allied with the Zhuge Clan's leader?
Come to think of it, she must have noticed that Jung Yeonshin was concealing his identity. Yet, she had not mentioned it outright.
She had merely accepted drinks from the Shaanxi noblemen with a look of disapproval, then had grown serious when she heard her martial prowess had improved.
There was no knowing what had transpired between her and the Zhuge Clan's leader during that time.
She spoke.
"I do not wish to fight you. Not yet. Yes, I have yet to leave anything behind…"
"Save your nonsense for the underworld."
Jung Yeonshin tightened his grip on her wrist.
Boom—
The second Radiant River erupted with a deep, resonant impact. It was on the verge of tearing through the defensive energy of the Eun Clan. A sequential barrage of powerful strikes.
A miraculous technique that would leave anyone in shock.
The faint detachment in Eun Hwaryun's eyes was replaced by astonishment.
And then.
Jung Yeonshin suddenly let go.
Whiiiish—
Fragments of colorless energy scattered across the back of his hand.
Merely the prelude to the technique had unraveled the defensive energy coiled around Eun Hwaryun's wrist. The Shaanxi noblemen, who had been staring intently, recoiled in terror.
But the Radiant Demon Squad's leader had more pressing concerns.
He felt an immense gaze upon him. The hairs on his body stood on end.
Zhuge Clan's leader, the Sleeping Hidden Dragon.
The eyes of an absolute master, holding a fan.
For now, he remained just outside Jung Yeonshin's field of vision. Only a fragment of his gaze had touched him. Yet, even that sliver of presence felt as though an immense fortress wall was crumbling down.
A truly transcendent existence.
The comparisons to the purple ranks did not seem far-fetched.
"Let go of me here. We will settle this later. Soon."
Eun Hwaryun spoke.
Sabak.
Amidst the stunned gazes, Jung Yeonshin slowly turned away.
The Gongya siblings, frozen in place, glanced at the First Fist of the Eun Clan before following after him.
Some noble clans in Shaanxi held regular gatherings.
At the center of one such gathering was Gui Il-tae, a formidable contender for victory in the upcoming Bimu tournament and the acting leader of the Gui Clan of Shaanxi.
His defeat at the hands of the First Fist of the Eun Clan had not cost him his honor.
He had simply risen later, received praise from her for his endurance, and offered her a drink. Losing consciousness at the hands of a top martial artist of the Eight Great Clans was no disgrace.
'I only need to focus on my main objective. The Fist Grand Duke has the Zhuge Clan's leader behind her. I just need to win at the martial tournament.'
The Eight Clan Leaders were not human. They were beings beyond mortal shells, closer to divine entities.
Once he secured the protection of one, cementing the Gui Clan of Shaanxi's influence would be effortless.
If he proved himself as a prodigy with exceptional combat instincts, he could even learn the Zhuge Clan's leader's secret techniques.
'If my clan aligns itself under him, if I am accepted into the newly established sect, Moon Castle Sect…'
Gui Il-tae was the son of a once-renowned general who had fallen from grace. He aimed for a greater horizon.
To achieve that, the influence of the Gongya Clan had to be diminished.
Recently, a wandering swordsman, Geom Un-bi, had emerged as a guest of the Gongya Clan, further emphasizing the need for an alliance.
Many sought to uncover the martial lineage of Mystic Heaven Sect's sole successor.
It was of utmost importance.
Geom Un-bi, despite being younger than Gongya Su, had demonstrated martial prowess beyond comparison. If the Grand Young Lady, Gongya Jung, managed to unveil a brilliant technique at Bimu, they had to be prepared.
It was a thunderous challenge.
They had already analyzed all the martial techniques of the Gongya Clan. That was precisely why this was so concerning.
"Our clan could not trace his origins either. Judging by his speech, he seems to be from Henan, but with Shaolin overseeing that region, it's difficult to send covert agents…"
"Sending people all the way to Henan Province is inefficient. How many li is that? It's not like we're the Beggars' Sect, Yeoryeong Sect, or Hao Clan."
"We were short on time from the start. My apologies, Radiant Sky Blade."
"How could that possibly be your fault? Pay it no mind. It's much the same for me."
Gui Il-tae and five other men and women walked along the outer gardens of the Gongya Clan estate.
Beneath their silk garments, polished to a sheen, well-crafted leather shoes pressed into the ground with a soft, crisp sound. A faint trail of footprints marked the snow-covered earth behind them.
Sabak.
The sound of their steps carried an air of confidence, ingrained in their very movements.
They did not need to feign their presence, noble-born warriors carried themselves with a natural grace. The Protective Energy Technique they had trained in since childhood made their strides light yet bold.
The winter garden, lush with evergreen pines, felt like a world of their own.
"Gongya Jung's energy flow has changed somewhat. She seems to have learned a rather decent technique, one that allows her to manipulate internal energy in an entirely new way…"
"Even so, this tournament is a stage set for the young lord of the Gui Clan. Wandering swordsmen do not rely on the refined legacy of grand martial arts, but rather on experience and instinct. Compared to the profound techniques of the Gongya Clan, it's as if he is wearing an ill-fitting robe."
"There is a reason why the martial lineage of noble clans does not fade with time. A technique that has merely been forged in the wilds cannot withstand a complete martial system refined over generations. If it turns into a prolonged battle, victory is inevitable."
"But are we certain that guest of theirs is truly a wandering swordsman? How could someone acquainted with Lady Eun…"
"He must be. His manner of speaking is nearly insolent, and Lady Eun did not deny it when I questioned her."
The conversation grew cautious.
Each of them prided themselves on their intellect and insight, and so they measured their words carefully.
Even after confirming that no one else was around, they remained wary.
"If necessary, I will verify it myself. Last time, he seemed preoccupied with nothing but alcohol. If we invite him to a banquet, I can observe his table manners. A mere wanderer would never have learned the proper etiquette of the nobility. He will eat like a savage."
Gui Il-tae spoke calmly.
And then.
"Ah, ah? Senior Poppy, what are you doing! We need to go around! They're nothing, I'm telling you! The mission! Remember the mission! We can't get involved here!"
A hushed, yet urgent voice rang out, a young girl straining to suppress her panic.
"Just now, who…?"
The noblemen's expressions sharpened like honed blades.
Each of them tightened their grip around their weapons, energy surging violently from their hands. The moment Gui Il-tae stepped forward.
"Say that again. I didn't quite catch it."
A lazy voice drifted through the air.
But there was no time to respond.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A rapid succession of shockwaves overlapped in translucent layers.
Explosive fragments of impact burst behind Gui Il-tae and the other five, striking the backs of their heads.
They were flung forward, toppling like frogs sprawled on the ground, each of them taking a direct hit.
The commotion was absurdly loud.
Jeobeok.
A man landed in their midst, standing with one leg slightly bent.
"Filthy wretches."
From where he stood, the snow at his feet melted away. Wisps of hazy breath, like tendrils of smoke, curled from his lips.
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