As Jeong Yeon-shin casually countered the ambush with a single move, the two prodigies of the Hwanikdae moved with equal swiftness.
Whoosh—
Namgung Hwa-shin and Tae Yeom-ryong's figures blurred, dissipating like smoke.
By the time the Toxic Dragon and Toxic Phoenix siblings realized what had happened, the two had already closed the distance. It was as if they stretched a single moment into eternity.
Shing!
Namgung Hwa-shin drew his sword, its tip now pressed against Toxic Phoenix's throat.
The pale-blue hue of the White Kirin's Ipwang Sword glowed faintly, while clear and sharp energy emanated from Namgung Hwa-shin's still figure.
Meanwhile, Tae Yeom-ryong's hand hovered ominously near the back of Toxic Dragon's neck. Despite not releasing a trace of his characteristic fiery energy, the immense power radiating from his calm frame was unmistakable.
The two moved with precision, fully confident that Jeong Yeon-shin would not falter. This allowed them to exploit the siblings' momentary lapse in awareness.
“Shall I kill them?” Tae Yeom-ryong asked lazily.
“K-kill us? You’re going to kill us?” Toxic Dragon stammered, his pale complexion glistening with sweat.
Half-blooded Iron Tribe, Jeong Yeon-shin thought, scrutinizing their odd physiques.
The siblings were diminutive in stature, barely reaching his shoulders. Their proportions were balanced but unusual, with small heads and narrow shoulders.
Rumors about the Iron Tribe's legendary craftsmanship producing near-mythical weapons seemed less exaggerated now, seeing the siblings' uncanny build.
When Jeong Yeon-shin remained silent, neither Namgung Hwa-shin nor Tae Yeom-ryong answered. The silence pushed Toxic Dragon to exclaim in frustration.
“That man! He brought up Thunder Explosives first! He mentioned the Tang Clan! Who wouldn’t react like that when their clan is accused of treason? Our family would never break the Imperial Code!”
If what he said was true, then his immediate attack might be somewhat understandable.
If the Imperial Army were to rise against them, the Tang Clan would have no choice but to retreat into the mountains, losing everything.
“....”
“We didn’t even load our projectiles with significant energy! We only wanted to incapacitate you! You could tell just by blocking them, couldn’t you?”
The words spilled from him rapidly, like the desperate pleas of a commoner. Despite his unique stature, his outburst revealed a childlike innocence.
“The Tang Clan?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked curtly, already suspecting the answer.
“They are the Toxic Dragon and Toxic Phoenix,” the Beggar Sect’s successor, Hu-gae, confirmed, nodding from a distance. He still appeared dazed, likely processing what he had just witnessed.
Was that a demonstration of throwing technique?
Effortlessly countering the Tang Clan’s strongest hidden weapon techniques was no small feat.
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Jeong Yeon-shin's earlier move bordered on divine technique—its precision and swiftness beyond what most warriors could fathom.
The sheer reflexes and finesse he displayed were unparalleled. Even in the realm of expert martial artists, such a counter would be nearly impossible without innate talent.
No one could wield internal energy in such a way.
Even high-level masters of the Three Blossoms Converging to the Summit technique wouldn’t achieve this level of precision.
Using a kicked stone to intercept segmented projectiles... It was a display of pure skill and instinct, almost unimaginable.
Jeong Yeon-shin. I’ve heard the reports, but he’s truly a figure to be watched. His name must be added to our directory.
The successor internally evaluated Jeong Yeon-shin: Currently upper-mid tier; future potential, exceptional.
The rumors of his martial prowess alone justified such a high evaluation.
Jeong Yeon-shin was beginning to transcend the realm of Post-Heavenly Realm martial artists.
The Hwanikdae prodigy's current position and connections, coupled with his latent potential, demanded attention.
This could change at any moment. What else will he show?
Hu-gae’s innate curiosity only deepened.
Now that all the key players in Sichuan’s martial society are gathered, the spark is about to ignite. Perhaps I should tag along and watch the explosion.
But amidst his musings, the heir of the Beggar Sect overlooked one critical detail.
He had been so focused on assessing Jeong Yeon-shin’s talents that he failed to consider the Tang Clan's movements.
Hiss—
A venomous energy filled the air, creeping like a mist. The aura carried a chilling intent, laden with killing intent.
Figures emerged from the shadows, clad in green garments. The seven warriors exuded a razor-sharp aura, their presence suffused with the deadly precision of the Tang Clan’s techniques.
Some carried swords, others wore spiked gloves, and a few had rows of throwing knives strapped to their belts.
Despite their small number, none of them seemed like they could be underestimated.
“The Sichuan Tang Clan...” Hu-gae muttered under his breath, his face darkening.
"Release them,” demanded a burly man in the lead, wearing thick gauntlets. He appeared to be the commander of the Tang warriors.
“If even a single hair falls from our young master or lady, I swear we will perish together.”
Jeong Yeon-shin noted the Tang Clan's disposition in that one statement.
The mention of protecting their "master's hair" hinted at their insular pride, while the readiness to "perish together" indicated their ability to assess their enemy's strength.
The Tang Clan—or Tang Sect, or simply Tangga—had many names in the martial world. They were notorious for their ruthlessness.
"Double the gratitude, tenfold the vengeance." A phrase synonymous with the Tang Clan's philosophy.
Their dichotomy of strict realism and unparalleled pride often led to infamously vicious tactics.
“Such an unpleasant scent,” Tae Yeom-ryong said with a faint smile, casually brushing Toxic Dragon's neck with fingers that radiated faint heat. The gesture was a blatant provocation.
“You bastard!” the commander bellowed, stepping forward, but was interrupted.
“Stop.”
The voice belonged to Toxic Phoenix, the young woman still held at Namgung Hwa-shin’s blade.
Her calm demeanor belied the situation. She did not so much as glance at her brother's predicament, instead fixing her black eyes on Jeong Yeon-shin.
The Tang warriors froze at her command.
“We’ll apologize, but we won’t grovel,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “The claim about us producing Thunder Explosives... it’s the first we’ve heard of it.”
She paused before continuing.
“If you were in our position, wouldn’t you react the same way? If some stranger accused your family of treason and endangered its survival?”
“Bold words,” Tae Yeom-ryong said. “Do you even know who you’re talking to? Our leader here is a lot like me—his clan’s already been destroyed.”
Toxic Phoenix’s eyes widened in surprise.
Jeong Yeon-shin cast a sidelong glance at Tae Yeom-ryong, who smirked faintly but turned his head away, avoiding his gaze.
“...We apologize for our harsh words,” she said softly, bowing her head slightly, despite the blade at her throat.
The gesture was graceful and dignified, reminiscent of a well-educated noblewoman.
Jeong Yeon-shin furrowed his brow slightly. For reasons he couldn’t yet identify, the siblings evoked a strange sense of familiarity.
“Leader.”
Namgung Hwa-shin’s calm voice called out to Jeong Yeon-shin. Their eyes met, and Namgung Hwa-shin’s gaze was steady, silently asking what to do with the siblings.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer. Instead, he moved.
Tap!
A small stone split into two mid-air, striking precise pressure points on the siblings' bodies.
The stones hit the Yin Jiao Acupoint just above their dantians, disrupting their internal energy flow.
“That lazy kick of his,” Tae Yeom-ryong muttered. “I’d hate to be on the receiving end.”
“This way,” Jeong Yeon-shin said, leading the group onward.
Jeong Yeon-shin gestured calmly, and Namgung Hwa-shin and Tae Yeom-ryong nudged the Tang siblings forward.
The Sichuan Tang Clan warriors flinched as if struck by lightning. Invisible sword qi lashed out like a storm.
Hwaak!
It was the Limitless Sky Sword Technique of the White Kirin, Namgung Hwa-shin. Fine dust billowed, and the ground split into deep furrows.
“The first to strike was you. Even if you claim you did not aim to kill,” Namgung Hwa-shin spoke coldly.
His tone carried a new edge. He was no longer the reserved swordsman of old. His refined swordsmanship now seemed capable of cutting down anyone without hesitation.
I’ll need to speak with him once this mission is over, Jeong Yeon-shin thought as he silently watched the scene.
The four of them drew closer. Jeong Yeon-shin broke the silence, pointing to the marks on the ground.
“This is where the trail of Ma Gwang-ik ended. Over there—that’s the mark of a Tang Clan secret art, isn’t it? Explain what you know.”
His words were blunt and direct. Tae Yeom-ryong added his own threat without hesitation, speaking casually despite the situation.
“Don’t waste time trying to lie. I doubt you’ve ever been tortured by True Heat Qi before.”
“...”
“We don’t know the full details,” Toxic Phoenix hesitated before Toxic Dragon answered.
“We only assumed it was our father’s handiwork,” he continued.
“The Tang Clan Leader?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked in return.
It was well-known that the Tang Clan's leader wandered the martial world. The story of how he had lost his wife to the schemes of two factions within the Thirteen Heavens and left his clan after the elder master forbade retaliation was infamous.
The legend of how he sought revenge against the great factions alone had become widespread folklore.
“...The traces left here weren’t ours. They were from our father’s martial arts. We knew it at first glance. No one but him could recreate Ten Thousand Flowers in the Rain like that,” Toxic Dragon said with a bitter smile.
Toxic Phoenix added, “We erased his traces as quickly as we could and waited here, hoping he might return.”
“Yes, keeping it hidden from our grandfather,” Toxic Dragon muttered grimly.
“We can only guess why Ma Gwang-ik and our father crossed paths,” Toxic Phoenix continued.
Her words made Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes flash.
“Speak,” he ordered.
Pressed by his overwhelming presence, Toxic Phoenix turned pale. She slowly opened her mouth.
“We don’t know exactly what happened, but we heard that forces from the Ten Battle Alliance and Pure Demon Lotus of the Thirteen Heavens passed through this area. It’s possible Ma Gwang-ik clashed with them. We suspect our father may have intervened.”
“You’re saying the Tang Clan Leader might know the full story,” Namgung Hwa-shin commented. Tae Yeom-ryong tilted his head slightly.
“You’re awfully forthcoming. Isn’t the Tang Clan supposed to be the most venomous of all the righteous sects? What’s your angle?”
At those words, the Tang siblings shifted their gaze to Jeong Yeon-shin. Toxic Phoenix slowly spoke.
“...Because someone of your caliber might understand us.”
Beside her, Toxic Dragon began to grin, his childlike demeanor emerging again. It was a sudden and baffling change, as though someone had knocked something loose in his head long ago.
“The world feels so simple to us. Everyone else seems so slow. Conversations about martial arts are pointless because no one can keep up.”
“The hardest part of mastering Ten Thousand Flowers in the Rain is entering the technique. But with someone like you, we might have an interesting dialogue. As long as you don’t bring up Thunder Explosives, of course,” Toxic Phoenix added, her black eyes glimmering with curiosity.
Jeong Yeon-shin was silent for a moment before he spoke.
“I’ve heard much about Ten Thousand Flowers in the Rain. It’s one of the most famous forms of martial arts, renowned for how throwing weapons rain down like streams of light, guided by the wielder’s will.”
“That’s exactly right!” Toxic Dragon exclaimed with excitement.
“If that’s the case, the core principles are straightforward. The challenge lies in the refinement of hidden weapon techniques and internal energy harmonization. Techniques like Three Blossoms Converging to the Summit or Five Qi Returning to the Origin are the key to mastering its power. The instructions themselves aren’t complicated.”
“What did you just say...?” Toxic Phoenix trailed off, her voice laced with shock.
Jeong Yeon-shin crouched down and picked up a few stones from the ground.
Once you understand the nature of a phenomenon, that’s often enough.
Hwaak!
A sound seemed to resonate from his crown. Jeong Yeon-shin reversed the flow of understanding, much as he had done when witnessing the overwhelming force of the Devil Master and creating the counter-arts of Floral Harmonization Fist.
But this time, he was on a different level. As his Baihui Point opened naturally, the power of his upper dantian surged, driven by the despair that sharpened his potential.
“If what I’ve heard is correct, the energy should be used like this.”
Crunch.
The stones in his hand crumbled into fine pieces, infused with the full intensity of his inner energy.
The fragments swirled in a perfect vortex, forming a small but controlled spiral.
“You see it, don’t you? This is correct, right?” he asked.
The Toxic Dragon and Toxic Phoenix siblings stared, speechless. Jeong Yeon-shin spoke again.
“I hope you recognize it. Time is short.”
“...”
“The technique is simple. It just requires a bit of skill. If you still don’t understand after watching, I’ll teach you. But in return, you’ll tell me everything you know about the Tang Clan Leader.”
The siblings remained frozen in silence, as though paralyzed.