Chapter 15 – Growth (1)
The wind harshly swept past his ears. As Yeon-shin sprinted with all his might, his body movements merged seamlessly with the principles of the Fatebreaker’s Codex.
Yeon-shin reached for his sword.
“I’ll cut him down in one strike.”
A commotion broke out in the village’s vast field. People were shouting for him to stop, while a red-haired man burst out laughing, saying they had no right to speak like that. They hadn’t noticed yet, as they were quite some distance away.
Then it happened.
Whoosh!
The edge of a bandana brushed against his cheek and flew away. It was Cheong Myeong, who had overtaken him with incredible speed.
The level of Soaring Grace, where one skims over the tips of grass, was truly worthy of the elven race. The footwork of the Jeong family couldn’t compete with the Desolate Fortress.
Recently, he had been trying to develop essential self-defense techniques like lightness skills and footwork, but he lacked inspiration.
“Damn it.”
Eventually, even Baek Mir-yeo overtook him with her movement, and Won-chang tapped him on the shoulder, saying he’d go first.
In terms of movement skills, Yeon-shin still hadn’t reached the level of a White Uniform from Desolate Fortress. He knew this himself.
“Mm.”
His eyes moved keenly.
Beyond the fields and livestock pens stretched many houses. Further out, green hills extended to the mountains outside the village, with dense forests that seemed unusual.
It looked like a mountain suitable for hiding.
“They said he comes to the village periodically to cause trouble.”
The Central Plains were vast. Countless people lived in each district. The frequent appearances indicated that he must be hiding nearby, and there wouldn’t be many places where he could conceal his red hair.
It was well known that Blood Flame Sect members were forbidden by their doctrine to wear hats or bamboo hats.
Yeon-shin glanced down as he changed direction.
The body of the Blood Flame Sect member, who had blocked Cheong Myeong’s swift strike, was thrown backward. It meant he couldn’t handle a Blue Uniform from Desolate Fortress. What would happen if Baek Mir-yeo joined in?
“Just in case.”
He ran towards the hills.
As he passed the frightened eyes of the villagers and reached the entrance to the mountain path, he realized he had made the right choice.
“Get out of the way!”
A man with disheveled red hair came running, his blood-red martial arts uniform showing signs of wear.
It was surprising how he had shaken off Cheong Myeong and Baek Mir-yeo.
Yeon-shin placed his hand on his sword and spread his fingers wide before gripping the handle tightly. Simultaneously, he initiated Demon’s Light and aimed his sword.
Swoosh—
An intangible force akin to healer energy began to emanate from his body. He lowered his upper body and entered a stance with his right foot forward.
The swift Demon’s Light he executed was something even the high-level Blue Uniforms had struggled to counter.
“Kid? No, what is that…!”
The Blood Flame Sect member, who had been charging with a demonic face, showed a flicker of surprise. He then gritted his teeth and changed direction.
“Huh?”
Where was he going? Yeon-shin was stunned.
It was a moment where all his experiences of facing enemies head-on became meaningless. It was a shock to see the guy run away in the actual martial world.
Yeon-shin realized that he lacked the footwork and speed to catch a Blood Flame Sect member. In the end, he could only watch the back of the retreating figure helplessly.
“This is a mess.”
Cheong Myeong, who had approached without him noticing, gave a bitter smile.
“Yeon-shin, don’t blame yourself. It’s our fault.”
“He had a lifesaving technique. It was a self-defense skill suitable for escaping, typical of a Blood Flame Sect member.”
Mir-yeo sighed as she arrived.
A lifesaving technique was exactly what it sounded like—a hidden martial art to save one’s life.
In his case, it seemed to be his footwork. It was completely opposite to Yeon-shin’s abilities.
“A footwork faster than the Soaring Grace used by the elfs? That guy, they said he hasn’t been with the Blood Flame Sect for long.”
Yeon-shin couldn’t help but ask. Myeong’s bitter smile deepened.
“Those bastards are like that. They gain power through techniques that blur the line between sorcery and martial arts. Some of them fuse martial arts rapidly by burning both their own and others’ blood. It’s a trade-off for their lifespan. That guy must have had a particular talent. His swordsmanship didn’t keep up with his lightness skills.”
“It’s strange that he’s acting alone for so long. Blood Flame Sect members aren’t known for their independence. There’s more to this.”
Mir-yeo spoke with a thoughtful expression.
She glanced at Yeon-shin, who was slightly lowering his head in frustration, and continued.
“We all guessed it, but the guy’s base must be nearby. Given his strange obsession, he won’t just retreat.”
“How about we take a break outside for once and wait leisurely?”
“…Yeah, you do that. Damn dwarf.”
Myeong leaned back with his fingers interlaced behind his head, while Mir-yeo glared at him with narrowed eyes.
As they conversed for a bit, they saw Won-chang running towards them, panting.
“Won-chang. Your overall martial arts attainment is decent. It matches a White Uniform. But your stamina doesn’t keep up. You might think your current level is enough, but in the martial world, you’ll rarely face an opponent in perfect condition. It’s lacking.”
Mir-yeo spoke in a detached tone. The flustered Won-chang bowed apologetically.
Yeon-shin’s eyes lit up. There was a reason why Ma Jin had sent these four.
It was a tradition in Desolate Fortress for Blue Uniforms to oversee the training and achievements of White Uniform warriors.
It was a rare opportunity for top-level martial artists to personally guide them for their journey into the martial world.
A benefit hardly found anywhere else in the Central Plains.
“And as for Yeon-shin…”
Receiving Mir-yeo’s gaze, he flinched inwardly. Her eyes were softer than usual.
“Your foundation is surprisingly well laid. Even among the Nine Great Sects and the Eight Great Families, such cases are rare. I knew when I saw you running without any tricks. Physically, there’s no one in the Blue Uniform who can match you, not even scrawny dwarfs like Cheong Myeong.”
Mir-yeo scanned Yeon-shin’s physique with an unbiased look and smiled contentedly.
“A martial artist needs to have a good body. With such a physique, you can’t help but master any martial art.”
“That’s right. Don’t be discouraged by the movement skills for now.”
Myeong, not minding being called scrawny, smiled and patted Yeon-shin’s shoulder.
The awkward expression of the Desolate Fortress warrior, looking envious, was also left behind.
Yeon-shin changed the subject, feeling rewarded for dedicating his childhood to Jeong Family Dynamic Training.
“Is it okay to stay at the government office? I was quite harsh.”
“What if it’s not? We’re from Desolate Fortress. He should cooperate with us.”
“That’s right. The discomfort is his, not ours. Thanks to you, that official must have realized his position.”
Myeong agreed with Mir-yeo. It seemed like a trivial matter to them.
But the authority of the magistrate in his hometown of Xinye Country had been significant.
It reminded him of the Desolate Fortress’s prestigious position.
An unprecedented sect that was unmatched in both the martial and government worlds.
“I’ve really joined a comfortable place. I just need to do my part.”
He only needed to consider the opponent’s strength deeply, without worrying about the group’s power.
How many places like this existed in the vast world?
“By the way, would you like to learn how to walk?”
“Walking? Do you mean self-defense techniques?”
Yeon-shin questioned, seeing Myeong’s puzzled expression. Cheong Myeong scratched his head.
“I can’t teach you our sect’s martial arts… but I can show you how elves move. Usually, people can’t do it even if they know, but you might be able to.”
“Elven movement techniques!”
Won-chang exclaimed. His expression was desperate, as if begging to be taught as well. This time, Yeon-shin fully understood his reaction.
Having encountered many elves recently, he had become desensitized to their exotic features and long ears. Yet, in most of the Central Plains, elves were still seen as celestial beings.
Their realm was that deep and exclusive.
Their unaging beauty, extraordinary agility, and the clan’s reputation as companions of nature often made them the stuff of myths among common folk.
Won-chang pleaded earnestly.
“To witness the elven movement techniques is an unparalleled opportunity! Please, grant me this chance as well!”
“Sure, sure. How could I discriminate against a fellow Demon Wing? It’s just that most people can’t use it even if they learn it…”
Cheong Myeong’s face showed even more discomfort. Mir-yeo shook her head beside him.
“Just show them. Why worry about disappointment already?”
“Well, someone once accused me of not teaching the essentials and doubted for over a year. In the end, they couldn’t master it.”
“Who are you talking about? There aren’t many such people. No one in Demon Wings has mastered it.”
Mir-yeo, pretending not to know, turned and said she’d scout the village.
Myeong watched her leave with a chuckle, while Won-chang muttered dejectedly.
“No one in Demon Wings mastered it? Is it truly a technique exclusive to elves…”
“It’s not systematically structured. It’s just a way of walking and running.”
Suddenly, dust swirled at Myeong’s feet. Without any flow of qi, his trousers fluttered in the wind.
“Watch.”
He lightly kicked off the ground and soared, without making a sound.
With elegant movements, he stepped on the side of a tree several times before standing on its top branch. It was beyond human.
The Desolate Fortress warrior, who had approached in a daze, craned his neck and gaped upward.
“Without using qi, it’s as if qi is supporting him.”
Yeon-shin watched Myeong intently, recalling his movements.
Myeong, closing his eyes momentarily on the tree, inhaled the forest air before descending like a feather.
He landed as softly as a falling leaf, again without any noise.
It was a remarkable and terrifying self-defense technique. Moving without a trace was like having a lethal weapon.
Yeon-shin pondered deeply.
“Do you… understand?”
Myeong, approaching with a doubtful expression, asked and then flinched alone.
“Did I disturb your meditation?”
“No. I was thinking about how to create wind with qi. I don’t have the powers of an elf…”
“What…!”
Myeong’s eyes widened at Yeon-shin’s casual words.
“You perceived the natural energy at a glance and comprehended it? How is that possible…!”
“Isn’t that why you showed me? A few ideas came to mind. If I break down the movements into steps and intermittently release qi… ah.”
Yeon-shin, who was gradually falling into a trance, returned to focus and smiled at Cheong Myeong.
“Thank you for the excellent inspiration. I often feel guilty for just taking from Desolate Fortress, but I believe I can significantly contribute to this mission.”
“……”
Cheong Myeong stared blankly at Yeon-shin, who even showed courtesy by bowing.
Won-chang, wearing a similar expression, approached.
“Shall we unpack at the lodging? For Master Jeong’s sake.”
“…Yes, let’s do that.”
The three walked towards where Mir-yeo had gone, slightly trailing behind.
Yeon-shin, walking a bit behind, was constantly glanced at by Myeong and Won-chang.
As if the chaos caused by the Blood Flame Sect was a distant memory, the cool spring evening breeze of the first season gently touched their shoulders.
By the time they leisurely arrived at the government office in Jinpyeong County, the sun had fully set, and the sky was bathed in the warm hues of dusk.
The four members of Demon Wings settled in the government office.
Yeon-shin, who had released the pressure points of the magistrate, immersed himself in the basics of the movement technique, not showing any signs of a typical martial world novice.
He went to bed, contemplating martial arts, brushing off the fearful glances.
‘If I think ahead about my movements and release qi intermittently with each step…’
Yeon-shin slowly closed his eyes.
Cheong Myeong, who had been sleeping in a hammock strung between trees, groggily opened his eyes.
He enjoyed the sunlight that woke up the vegetation along with him. Smiling pleasantly, he glanced down.
A boy stood silently with his eyes closed in the clearing below.
Clad in his Desolate Sword at his waist, he enveloped his entire body in calm energy.
Perhaps it was confidence in his current training, indifferent to anyone watching.
Myeong smiled in admiration.
In the midst of the sunbeams piercing through the leaves,
With the morning sunlight, Yeon-shin’s body briefly swayed.
Then, a light dust wind rose from his step, and his body spun as he kicked off the ground, scattering leaves.
Cheong Myeong’s eyes widened.
“Crazy…!”