"You should consider growing your hair out...?"
These were the words of the one who stood as the sole guardian of the Heavenly Tree—a being of absolute power.
The notion of them joking was almost unthinkable. Their very existence carried a weight that made even the most trivial words impossible to dismiss. Jeong Yeon-shin knew better than to take anything lightly.
He recalled the time when he sought to rescue Hyeon Won-chang. To gather intelligence, he had engaged in debates and sparring matches with local martial artists.
Through those interactions, he learned the subtle art of earning goodwill. Sometimes, it meant losing in arguments or conceding small battles for the sake of a larger connection.
One detail stood out in his mind: high-ranking masters often grew their hair long. That insight stayed with him.
‘If the Fortress Lord herself acknowledges the heads of my faction as masters, surely that means they’ve reached that level,’ he thought.
It was said that the Black Realm marked the achievement of merging the Three Flowers Converging at the Crown and the Five Qi Stored in the Organs into a harmonious flow. At this level, one’s inner energy directly responded to their intent.
The Black Realm was a domain capable of standing toe-to-toe with the elders of the renowned Nine Great Sects.
At such a level, concerns like someone grabbing long hair in close combat would no longer matter.
Jeong Yeon-shin concluded that he could grow his hair out once he had firmly set foot in the path of ascension.
The thought was brief. He locked eyes with the emerald gaze of the Ipwang Fortress Lord once more, and she spoke.
“Your resolve is clear. My words were frivolous.”
A faint smile graced her lips.
“Even in a world where the strong brush shoulders with death daily, your intensity does not falter, Seomye. That is commendable.”
“...I am honored by your words,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied.
“There is no need for gratitude or apology.”
Her voice was as gentle as a mountain breeze. She continued, her tone calm but resolute.
“The Fortress is not one to withhold rewards. You have achieved much through your ambitions, and I summoned you here to grant what you are due. Accept what is yours.”
Finally.
The long-awaited words from the Fortress Lord ignited a stir within him. He tried to calm himself, but his heart pounded wildly.
Even a deep exhale failed to suppress the excitement that surged with every beat of his heart.
The Fortress Lord must have been aware of everything, yet her serene smile remained unchanged.
Time seemed to slow. Her lips moved once more.
“Your accomplishments are significant. I shall bestow upon you two things.”
Her beauty, which testified to her unparalleled martial prowess, didn’t register in Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind. His focus was singular—etched into his memory was the image of her face, which appeared barely older than a woman in her early twenties.
“First, for uncovering the main base of a cult that threatened the lives of many. Second, for ensuring the eradication of their rebellious forces without incurring needless sacrifices.”
“...”
The first merit, however, was largely an unintended consequence. It was the result of the Seventh Apostle’s interest in Jeong Yeon-shin’s talents.
Still, he felt no shame. What mattered in this moment was the reward soon to be granted.
“Your merits are sufficient. You are qualified to be tested.”
At her words, her hand rose again.
Unlike a martial artist’s typical calloused hand, hers was pristine white, smooth, and deliberate. Something extraordinary began to happen.
Behind her, the moonlight seemed to ripple as if drawn by her hand, warping and bending unnaturally.
It was a sight that defied comprehension. No mortal hand could achieve such a feat. To Jeong Yeon-shin, it felt almost divine.
“This—”
Whoosh.
The massive tree trunks encircling the chamber exhaled a gentle breeze, brushing against his skin.
The moment the moonlight’s radiant breath kissed the leaves of the Heavenly Tree, their green hues deepened.
“The fruit of the Heavenly Tree. A mere fragment of it.”
The object that formed in her hand resembled a shard plucked straight from the moon’s reflection on a tranquil lake. A faint beam of light emerged above her palm, its glow soft yet otherworldly.
“...”
Jeong Yeon-shin remained silent. A stray breeze from the open air outside teased his neck. No matter how many marvels he had witnessed, this one stood unmatched.
Even the vibration in the air seemed holy. His gaze remained fixed on the fragment of light resting on the Fortress Lord’s hand.
It felt... alien. Unlike typical elixirs rumored to amplify one’s martial strength, this piece emitted no overwhelming energy. Instead, it was steeped in a sacred presence.
“You may have heard of its nature,” she said, breaking the silence.
He raised his head, meeting her deep, forest-like gaze. She studied him quietly.
“All you have heard is wrong. This is no mere elixir of immense power.”
“You spoke of qualifications. Then what...?”
“You will know when you feel it.”
Her hand extended forward, bringing the fragment closer. The closer it came, the more mysterious it seemed, as though it didn’t belong to this world.
“Consume it,” she instructed.
When Jeong Yeon-shin unconsciously raised his hand toward the fragment, the Fortress Lord gently shook her head.
“It will lose its potency if it leaves my body. You must bring your mouth to it.”
A “mystical treasure”—the term came to mind.
Such treasures were legendary, encompassing objects imbued with incomprehensible properties. The Heavenly Tree’s fruit shard was no exception, joining the likes of mythical swords, rare elixirs, and spirit herbs that had assumed humanoid forms.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s thoughts swirled.
‘It loses potency if detached from her? Is the Fortress Lord herself tied to the Heavenly Tree?’
He was filled with unspoken questions but dared not voice them. Overstepping his bounds now would be foolish.
He remembered the words of his senior, Cheongmyeong: “The higher the rank, the more you come to know. But knowledge requires patience.”
For now, he accepted the fragment without hesitation. He bent his head toward her outstretched hand and opened his mouth slightly.
The tip of his lower lip and the bridge of his nose barely brushed against her hand when—
“Hm?”
A soft sound escaped him as the Fortress Lord withdrew her hand.
“That doesn’t suit you,” she remarked coolly.
Her tone remained calm, yet the fragment of light shifted, descending from her fingertips.
Swoosh.
Her hand moved, guiding the fragment not toward his mouth, but toward his forehead. It drifted closer, aligning with the path that led directly to his upper dantian.
Her slender fingers touched the space between his brows.
At that moment—
“Ah!”
His breathing halted abruptly.
It was as if his consciousness had been swept into a boundless abyss. An overwhelming surge of sensation enveloped him, a flood of incomprehensible experiences roaring through every fiber of his being.
Fwoosh!
It wasn’t power. It was a torrent of awareness.
For an instant, he was the Fortress Lord herself.
Through her eyes, he saw himself reflected—a shadowy figure in her tranquil yet piercing gaze. Every element of existence became tangible: the texture of air, the subtle changes in moonlight, the shift of life itself.
The sensation was intoxicating, maddening. It was as if time itself had slowed to a crawl, leaving him teetering on the edge of comprehension and chaos.
Then, suddenly—
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“It is done.”
Her voice shattered the spell. Time resumed its natural flow.
Whoosh.
Jeong Yeon-shin staggered, struggling to regain balance. His body felt heavier, as if burdened by the echoes of a realm far beyond his reach.
A soft hand steadied him.
“You’re not ready,” she murmured.
He raised his head to meet her gaze. “What do you mean... by ‘not ready’?”
“Your current realm is insufficient to fully accept the fruit. Devote yourself to cultivation.”
“What... What purpose does it serve?”
“I tested your capacity to accept the Heavenly Tree’s spirit. Once your vessel is fortified, you will not perish so long as the Heavenly Tree stands. You will live eternally.”
Her words were staggering.
Jeong Yeon-shin understood the implications. The fragment was a medium to share the Heavenly Tree’s vitality. The reward was far greater than he had anticipated.
Still dazed, he managed to ask another question.
“Then... the experience I just had, what was that?”
Her lips curved faintly.
“It was inevitable.”
Swoosh.
Her hand, which had steadied his shoulder, withdrew.
“And a gift.”
“A... gift,” he repeated.
He descended the massive tree, his senses returning to normal. Yet the memory of the incomprehensible world he had briefly glimpsed burned vividly in his mind.
“May fortune favor you until you reach Nanjili,” she said, her voice lingering as he departed.
Jeong Yeon-shin offered her a calm bow.
“May peace be with you as well, Fortress Lord.”
As the doors closed behind him, he stepped into the moonlit path. His shadow stretched long across the ground, signaling the approach of dawn.
***
The Next Day, Ma Gwang-ik’s Grand Martial Training Ground.
Through the General Administration Office, an official document was issued—a letter detailing the next assignment.
Seated in the center of the martial training ground, Jeong Yeon-shin unfolded the dispatch regarding the assignment allocation.
Senior martial artists, encircling him in a wide formation, gazed down at him. Their gathered presence, all focused on him, struck a slightly humorous image.
“The name Seomye has been included in the duel delegation. It’s really written there.”
“It is indeed an honorable recognition. Were I only ten years younger...”
Some of the seniors, possessing a more refined mastery than Jeong Yeon-shin, had already scanned through the document.
The young martial artist skipped the preamble and read directly from the section marked “List of Participants.” His gaze quickly reached the core details.
[In the duel to the death, the following five individuals are to be condemned:]
Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes widened in surprise.