It was noon.
The blazing sky stretched over like a massive roof, intensely blue.
The deep azure tiles of the elegant, curved roof radiated a dignified charm, echoing the noble lineage of this place.
Thud!
A white shoe stomped on the training ground, leaving a deep indentation. The energy surging from the Yongcheon Acupoint on the sole of the foot was precise and disciplined.
The martial arts stance of the young girl brought to mind the image of Ma Gwang-ik. Her punch was no different.
Whoosh!
Her fist pierced through the empty air. The sleeve extending from her wrist billowed in a crisp, white arc.
It was a ferocious motion. The force from her small fist swept across the air like a gale, cutting through it.
This was Stonewall, the second move of the Ultimate Polar Flower Fist.
But she didn’t stop there. Her martial arts flowed seamlessly, unbroken.
Swoosh!
She unleashed a spiraling torrent of energy, her stance whirling with power. The energy dispersed even the dust at her feet as she transitioned to the third move.
It was Flameflow. Her punch, delivered with a forward step, bloomed like a flower.
Invisible waves of force surrounding her right arm scattered in all directions, resonating with a relentless roar that reverberated through the air.
Crack!
The sound cut through the atmosphere as she let her strength ebb, bringing her feet together. The transparent energy that had gathered around her right arm dissipated, scattering into the air.
Her long, braided hair fluttered lightly in the faint breeze, momentarily glimmering as it rose.
The girl straightened her posture with precision, lowering her hands.
Even the recoil of finishing her moves required her to harmonize her entire body. Each move carried tremendous energy.
The Ultimate Polar Flower Fist was, at its core, a style of single-strike martial arts meant for short, decisive battles.
The key lay in its powerful and swift transitions. Carelessly executed, it could strain the practitioner’s body.
Ma Gwang-ik’s Shin So-bin understood the art deeply.
"The more I train, the more I realize... This is a discipline of mastering one’s body. I must master it."
As her martial arts proficiency deepened, she felt closer to her senior. She could wholly grasp the principles he pursued in his techniques, along with the profound meanings embedded in them.
It was a set of concise and straightforward techniques that discussed thunderous force with serene resolve.
Mastering such direct and intuitive techniques was no easy task. They demanded significant reliance on the practitioner’s innate sense. This was why the martial artists of the Seomye lineage often possessed exceptional aptitude.
Among them, Shin So-bin was exceptional.
She had not yet reached the pinnacle. She couldn’t fully embody the principles or infuse her techniques with immense energy.
Only her senior, the founder of the martial art, could achieve such mastery. After all, it was a relatively new discipline.
Still, she was content with her progress.
With her attainment of the eighth level in the Ultimate Polar Flower Fist and her mastery of the Hwanik One-Step, she could confidently consider herself the finest among the Seomye martial artists.
Even Blue-Ranked warriors wouldn’t surpass her level of understanding.
“You’ve reached the level of Fist Shadows. A truly commendable achievement.”
The words came from a tree trunk on the edge of the training ground. A woman with sharp eyes slowly stood.
“That martial art suits you well. Just the shadows alone reveal its solidity. I was worried at first, but I can feel reassured now. Besides, the creator of the technique is your direct superior.”
Shin So-bin turned her head toward the speaker, silent for a moment. She did not respond immediately but instead observed her elder relative.
A middle-aged woman dressed in splendid clothing, her white longsword at her side.
The calm and subdued aura emanating from her body was proof of her achievement as a swordswoman.
She wore an orange long robe adorned with white lines that shimmered in the sunlight, giving off an air of elegance.
The serene energy that enveloped her perfectly complemented her stately appearance.
“And yet...”
Shin So-bin frowned as she opened her mouth.
“You still don’t accept it, do you? You’re only keeping me here because you’re displeased that I turned my back on the Heavenly Martial Sutra. It’s because you don’t like me practicing a martial art without history.”
“You know that’s not the reason, don’t you? There’s simply an order to the martial arts that the direct lineage of the family should prioritize.”
Her elder replied softly.
Shin Seol-ha, head of the Ipwang Household, was known as a woman who elevated the family’s status.
"Moon-Shaking Azure Sword" Shin Seol-ha.
She was renowned as a peerless swordswoman and a celebrated mentor who nurtured the talents of her kin.
Unlike other household heads, she had not formally joined Ipwang Fortress’s martial hierarchy but was still respected. Privately, she was Shin So-bin’s mother.
... (continued in next part)
"Consider this carefully. Our household has produced countless masters over generations. Each one of them filled the ranks of the Divine Sword Corps. They abandoned the Ipwang name and took on identities like the Divine Sword Corps or the Annihilation Corps. And rightly so. That is the reason noble households under Ipwang exist and the duty they must fulfill.
"However..."
Shin Seol-ha's calm eyes suddenly hardened as her lips moved.
"If even the direct lineage follows that path, won't the name of the household fade away? The lifeblood of martial households lies in their techniques. You’ve reached White Rank at an age comparable to Ma Gwang-ik. You have the potential to surpass Blue Rank and aim for Black Rank in the future. Can't you see how important your unique legacy will be?"
She spoke as she approached Shin So-bin, her words directed toward the cherished daughter of the Ipwang household. The White-Ranked martial artist of Ma Gwang-ik's lineage did not agree. Instead, she furrowed her brows.
"That’s just another way of dismissing us. You're implying that our leader's lineage isn't worthy of replacing the family’s Heavenly Martial Sutra. It sounds like you’re just focused on raising the family's prestige."
"Still the same stubborn stance."
"That’s exactly what I wanted to say."
"The Heavenly Martial Sutra has a long and rich history. It’s certainly not inferior to Ma Gwang-ik’s unique martial art. Your uncle, who laid its foundation, honed it as his masterpiece. Surely you haven’t forgotten that the leader of the Annihilation Corps is your maternal uncle?"
"But he’s not a master of the Heavenly Martial Sutra. He’s a practitioner of the Dual Divine Flames technique. According to you, he must’ve only used the sutra as a stepping stone. He even reached Black Rank later than our leader did."
"The martial arts of the Seomye lineage won’t necessarily guarantee the same growth as Ma Gwang-ik."
Shin Seol-ha’s lips closed firmly after finishing her words.
Shin So-bin sighed.
"How long are you planning to keep me confined here?"
"I told you until you reflect. Yet your tone hasn’t changed at all. They say Ma Gwang-ik's demeanor is rough... I had only heard rumors, but I didn’t expect this extent. Please, show your household’s head the respect she deserves."
"I can’t agree with your decision, head of the household. Even the reasoning seems unjust. My sister insulted my superior first. As a martial artist of Ma Gwang-ik's lineage, I only acted to discipline her properly. It was a fair duel. How many times must I explain myself? What will outsiders think of this?"
"I’ve heard enough. Ma Gwang-ik will return soon to seek you. I will meet with him and discuss matters directly."
"With our leader?"
Shin So-bin’s face turned slightly pale. Even her straight brows trembled faintly under her dark bangs.
Embarrassment and concern were clearly etched across her face. It was a look that spoke volumes about her apprehension.
"From what I’ve heard, he’s a man of principles. He even goes out of his way to show courtesy to the scribes in the Command Office. His reputation is outstanding."
"..."
"Despite his bloodline as a descendant of renegade heroes, all concerns about his character have been dispelled. He’s regarded as someone worthy of becoming the next leader of the Divine Sword Corps in decades to come. I will greet him with due respect."
Shin Seol-ha smiled faintly as she spoke.
A brief silence followed. Shin So-bin did not respond.
"The head of the household versus the leader of our faction... this is beyond me to handle."
The girl recalled an age-old truth: in the martial world, Ipwang Fortress was known as a bastion of strict order.
Its adherence to the principle of survival of the fittest reflected her leader’s temperament—a force akin to a storm.
***
Shin Hyul-geukma Jin Myeong-jo slowly opened his eyes, seated in a meditative lotus position.
Through his half-closed eyelids, faint light streamed in. The sunlight filtered through the windows of Wonpyeong One-Sword Hall, its blunt warmth creeping forward.
The sensation on his skin felt unfamiliar.
It was no wonder—this was no place to gather his thoughts.
The Grand Commandant stood nearby, holding a document bound in green silk.
"This concerns the number of weapons to be supplied to each combat unit...."
"Skip it."
The speaker was a man once known as a rogue hero. His youthful appearance might make one doubt his reputation, but only for a moment. His words and martial prowess left no room for such disbelief. If he wasn’t a rogue hero, who could be?
He did not treat all matters equally, though this dismissive behavior had been repeated several times.
No one dared to object. The dignified atmosphere of Wonpyeong One-Sword Hall remained undisturbed.
Hahoe Wi-jin and Ak Su-rim, who once upheld the meeting's decorum, seemed to have completely withdrawn. They either bowed their heads or pretended to focus on unrelated matters, their demeanor almost pitiful.
Hahoe Wi-jin, his hands resting on his knees, remained motionless. He resembled a Shaolin monk who had spent decades training by staring at walls, devoid of his usual spirited and unconventional nature.
Rumor had it he had spent years under the rogue hero's command in his youth. It seemed he still couldn't shake his subservient posture.
Ak Su-rim was even more detached. She sat far from the rogue hero, pulling the newly appointed Ma Gwang-ik Lord into a seat beside her. As time passed, she sipped tea while occasionally glancing at Seomye.
She was the most advanced among the Black-Ranked in terms of internal energy mastery. For her, a brief moment of contemplation felt endlessly prolonged.
Her slightly upturned eyes, fixed on her young junior, carried a faint air of wistfulness.
The aura of Heavenly Strength Dragon and Ipwang Divine Spear mirrored hers. To many, it was a scene hard to believe.
Even Seonmok Lord Cheon So-so and Yullyeong Captain Yun So-yu sat quietly, their gazes slightly lowered. Gone was their earlier fervor to challenge Jin Myeong-jo, born of shared bloodline grievances. Their dignified silence seemed intended to project a more graceful image.
"Ha!"
Jin Myeong-jo scoffed inwardly. Among all these illustrious noble figures, not a single one dared assert themselves before the rogue hero.
Yet he, too, suffered in silence. The round table had been broken, forcing the leaders into closer proximity.
The faint energy emanating from Ma Gwang-ik’s body felt like it was scraping against his skin.
He could not afford to show his discomfort.
He had recently reduced a request for three Blue-Ranked warriors, accompanying a single letter, to only two. It was a bold display of seniority.
This ostentatious act had brought its own results, but if discovered, he risked being challenged to a duel.
"Damn it...!"
Jin Myeong-jo straightened his posture, keeping a composed expression. His upright bearing made him stand out the most in the room.
At once, Ma Gwang-ik’s piercing gaze landed on him. His jet-black eyes seemed to glint. Seomye had deliberately avoided the gaze of the Ipwang Divine Spear.
"Will Ma Gwang-ik Lord be undertaking the Shaanxi mission alone?"
Jeong Yeon-shin abruptly broke the silence.
The Grand Commandant gave an uncertain nod.
"Nominally, yes. However... we’re more concerned about encountering the Blade Specter Lord, rather than the high-ranking imposter from Baekyang Sect."
"Shaanxi is vast, almost rivaling a small nation. Aren’t such concerns overblown?"
"It’s unlikely, considering that Baekyang Sect is located in the northern part of Shaanxi. However, Ma Gwang-ik Lord is a rising star representing our faction’s future. It would be prudent to send scouts. We’re currently considering Bo Bloodlord due to their exceptional sensory range, which stems from their unparalleled yin energy. They could retreat before encountering the Blade Specter Lord."
"Hmm...?"
Jin Myeong-jo’s crossed arms twitched slightly.
He spoke with forced composure, his voice steady despite his internal effort.
"That seems excessive. Does the Commandant doubt Ma Gwang-ik Lord’s martial strength? With Seomye's sensory range and protective techniques, few in the world pose a threat to him. I consider this junior an equal peer among the faction lords. Such oversight seems unnecessary for someone of his caliber."
Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips twitched ever so slightly.
Recognition from his faction’s kin filled a void rooted in his childhood at Jeong Household. It approached him with warmth he’d never imagined, even fostering closeness with Ak Su-rim despite her stern demeanor.
"If Senior Ak or Senior Jin were scouts, that would suffice."
Meanwhile, Ma Yeon-jeok, uncharacteristically pleased, spoke up.
"You’ve spoken well. That rogue’s luck with talented allies must be strong. In the time since I’ve laid down my Divine Sword, quite the capable one has appeared."
He laughed as he continued.
"Go ahead."
"..."
The Grand Commandant, seated beside Ma Yeon-jeok, turned the page of his document naturally.
"Lastly, there’s the matter of rank promotions for the unranked and White-Ranked warriors. These are critical tests tied to promotions to White and Blue Rank. Ma Gwang-ik Lord, would you oversee them? Both Heavenly Forest Lord and Seonmok Lord must head directly to the Ming Sect’s main hall due to pressing matters."
"That’s fine."
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded readily. He recalled undergoing his Blue Rank test under the observation of the Annihilation Corps Lord.
Now, it was his turn to oversee the test as a faction lord. He had already recommended promotions for Heon Won-chang and Tae Yeom-ryong.
The Grand Commandant smiled.
"Excellent. Let’s conclude today’s meeting here."
"Your efforts, Grand Commandant, and esteemed seniors, are greatly appreciated."
Without delay, Jeong Yeon-shin stood. His grandfather’s unexpected interruption had left him restless.
He could address the misunderstanding about Pabaek Chongram in his absence. For now, saving face took precedence.
Clack.
Jeong Yeon-shin began walking. He planned to head directly to the Ipwang Household.
His goal was to retrieve his junior, Shin So-bin, and resolve the ongoing conflicts with Ma Gwang-ik’s faction.
"Yeon-shin, why leave in such haste? I fear your impatience will bring calamity in the future. Let me teach you the art of tea ceremony."
"Perhaps next time, Grandfather."
He left without looking back.
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.