The night in the Northern Capital was bright.

Was it because it was a ruin that nothing could cast shadows upon?

Under the sky where all the constellations glimmered faintly, distinct shadows lay across the features of several Black Commanders.

“......”

Each silently stared at Jeong Yeon-shin.

Lord of Seonmok Ridge Cheon So-so, Commander of Destruction Shin Hwang, Commander of the Forest Hahoe Wi-jin, and even Commander of the Heavenly Dragon Corps Wi Ji-geuk.

“...Why are all of you... here?”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s question was calm, but inwardly, he felt otherwise.

Thanks to Full-Body Emission and the ultimate state of Jeong Family’s Internal Art, he could even regulate his heartbeat.

However, like most people, Jeong Yeon-shin’s heart also resided in his emotions.

It wavered at times due to the Apostles or enemies, and was constricted by the deaths of those he cherished.

Under the deep starlit night.

The Great Blade Commander Hak So-seon, Master of Wu Geuk Pavilion Geum Cheong-won, and Lord of Yeouicheon Bukgung Ah had already left the Northern Capital with their respective martial forces.

—“Like hell it’s fine.”

—“Master, when the time comes that you need strength, you must call for us. In the meantime, take care of yourself. We’ll procure potent elixirs or skilled physicians during the mission.”

—“This is insane.”

The three seemed like they still had more to say.

But not all commanders can defy a Master.

If the master of the Ascendant Sword had said to proceed swiftly with the mission, then leaving quickly was the right choice.

What remained afterward was the current state of those around Jeong Yeon-shin.

Each one looked as if they had business with the highest-ranking officer before deployment.

Had Jin Myeong-jo been among them as well, the pressure would have been greater.

Fortunately, he had already departed with the Blood King Clan for the former base of the Bloodflame Cult. It was to rapidly regenerate the arm he had lost to Mun Gok.

“Please spare us a moment of your time.”

It was a middle-aged man with a gaunt frame and sunken eyelids—Commander of Destruction Shin Hwang—who slowly spoke.

He carried the unconscious Namgung Hwa-shin on his back like luggage.

“What should we think of you, Master?

How should we act?

What will put our hearts at ease?”

It was utterly unexpected.

Commander of Destruction was the very one most unflinching about the nature of war.

The deaths of Ipwang warriors were ordinary matters, and Shin Hwang was the one who subtly, yet frequently, reminded others of that.

He treated Jeong Yeon-shin no differently.

At the same time, a sudden voice echoed near Jeong Yeon-shin’s ear.

—You must soothe them carefully.

—Mun Gok?

—The black-ranked members of the Divine Sword Corps have evolved into killing spirits after enduring battlefields of the Demon Realm. Even Commander of the Heavenly Dragon Corps Wi Ji-geuk, who was already a killing spirit, has progressed significantly.

As if to prove Mun Gok’s sudden message, Wi Ji-geuk was off to the side, staring directly at Mun Gok with clear eyes.

He had immediately reacted to the inner sound that reached Jeong Yeon-shin.

The other commanders were the same.

Though none had ever openly shown rejection toward Mun Gok, they had never once taken their eyes off him either.

Liu Yuan Star General Mun Gok did not follow Jeong Yeon-shin out of admiration.

He was a giant who moved by his own convictions.

It was wise to remain vigilant, wondering whether he might one day roar again at the Divine Sword Corps.

Yet Mun Gok seemed to welcome such wariness.

—The combined power of the Black Ranks was a great variable, even for me. With warriors this powerful, the more earnestly they act, the more their true worth shines. The excellence of a sect leader lies in making the strong willing to stake their lives...

—Enough. This isn’t the time for schemes.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly met the gazes of his seniors.

Under the starlight, senior and junior faced one another.

Perhaps, this scene would be the last.

A tranquil silence lingered briefly.

Then Cheon So-so abruptly asked,

“Besides Ounsan Grass Tea, what do you like?”

Such a personal question had never been asked throughout the Jeong Household and Ipwang Fortress.

Jeong Yeon-shin hesitated, wondering what kind of jest he could craft out of his remaining life, and fell silent—like a broken mechanical soldier.

“...I liked watching hydrangeas. The colors are diverse.”

“I once grew some. The ones here just drink a lot of water and never bear fruit.”

“Isn’t blooming and withering enough?”

“That’s strange. You never went flower-watching back home, did you?”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded.

Cheon So-so, gazing at him for a moment, moved her lips.

“Was there a hydrangea garden in Shin Yae-hyeon?”

“Yes. When I stayed there, there was. It’s probably withered by now, though...”

“I’ll bring it back to life. Let’s hold the next One Blade of Wonpyeong Ceremony there. Whether it’s a year or two from now.”

Lord of Seonmok Ridge.

It was said to be a post granted only to those with divine bloodlines.

Naturally, Cheon So-so was a pureblood noble who had inherited secret arts that could revive the earth’s energy.

Just as noble blood fiends possessed regenerative powers.

If it was Cheon So-so, she might be able to restore the spiritual ground of the Jeong Household, which had been desolated.

Though that too would be only temporary.

Another famine of near-calamitous scale would sweep Shin Yae-hyeon again.

“The next One Blade of Wonpyeong...”

Jeong Yeon-shin pictured the Divine Sword Corps Master and Commanders seated amidst a field of hydrangeas.

A premonition from his upper danjeon?

In it, the one wearing the Ascendant Sword was not himself.

A faint curve touched Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips.

“That sounds good.”

It was then that Hahoe Wi-jin stomped the ground with one foot.

Boom!

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“Once I’ve properly stabilized Jiangxi, I might head to Tianxia Tree myself. To someone who succeeded in the northern campaign with a purple rank, nothing is too valuable. Unless the Tianxia’s core is filled with cowards unworthy of the world...”

“Hahoe Senior, just please protect the civilians. I’ll handle my matters myself.”

“Then who’s going to protect you? We’re all subjects of the Ming Empire too. At least in this regard, I’ll act as I see fit!”

Standing beside Jeong Yeon-shin, Mun Gok chuckled softly.

“A place like Ipwang Fortress today needn’t cling to the Ming Empire.

No matter the imperial court, they will surely protect you well.”

Though his words felt dry like the northern wind, one person, familiar with such air, spoke up.

“Would you pass this to Myohwa? That even as the solemn head of the Zhongnan Sect, loyalty to Jianghu’s bonds must come before clan affairs.”

It was Wi Ji-geuk, Commander of the Heavenly Dragon Corps.

Unlike Namgung Hwa-shin, who had lost consciousness from the commanders’ ambush, the ever-fainting Yullyeong Master Yun So-yu was slumped on his back.

“Once I’ve fulfilled my order to summon a physician, I’ll return to visit Lord Jeong. We won’t give up anything.”

And so, one by one, they dispersed.

Cheon So-so and the Lord of Seonmok headed to Shandong, where Ak Su-rim’s family resided.

Wi Ji-geuk and Yun So-yu, along with the Heavenly Dragon and Yullyeong Divisions, went to Henan, where traces of Youngchok Divine Doctor remained.

Hahoe Wi-jin volunteered to confront the vanguard of the uprising in Guangdong by the so-called Four Sacred Martial Alliance.

Grumbling about what the Imperial Army was doing, Jeong Yeon-shin had already ordered him to avoid engagement.

Meanwhile, Shin Hwang continued to stare silently at Jeong Yeon-shin.

Even until Jeong Yeon-shin finally spoke again.

“I’d like you to remain here with the Resonance Division to defend the capital.

According to reports, His Highness the Prince of Gungmyeong has long disappeared.

You and the Lord of Suncheon Ik have heavy duties, senior.”

“...I accept the order.”

But to Jeong Yeon-shin, the reply sounded different.

As if he intended to create countless independent missions under his own authority as a Black-Rank Commander.

Aside from guarding the capital, he intended to prolong the tenure of the current Divine Sword Corps Master for as long as possible.

Anyone could feel that intent.

‘They don’t call him the Silent Morning Lord for nothing.’

The phrase was said to have been gifted to him by the civilians of Hokwang Fortress—“The King of the Silent Dawn.”

“Take care of yourself.”

With those final words, Shin Hwang disappeared with Namgung Hwa-shin. Naturally, the Destruction Division, Suncheon Ik, and the Resonance Division followed him. Among them, Suncheon Ik's Shin Bin-bin offered Jeong Yeon-shin an especially respectful nod. All that remained in the ruin were those Jeong Yeon-shin had chosen to accompany him.

“......”

The Divine Sword Corps, Hуeon Won-chang, Shin So-bin, the Seventh Apostle, Mun Gok, and Jeong Yeon-shin himself.

A group that no emptiness could dare to intrude upon.

Hуeon Won-chang scratched the ground aimlessly as if his mouth itched for something to say, the Seventh Apostle simply blinked her red eyes like she found the One Blade of Wonpyeong discussion boring, and Shin So-bin was still stepping on the edge of Jeong Yeon-shin’s shadow with a dazed expression.

Is this going to be okay? 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Jeong Yeon-shin questioned the decision he and Mun Gok had made.

“We should probably set out as well.”

Mun Gok continued in a calm tone, like someone well-acquainted with the geography of the Central Plains.

“From here to Shaanxi is quite a ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) distance. During the journey, we’ll at least have the chance to get to know each other more deeply. That in itself should offer a measure of amusement.”

* * *

The long journey dragged on with tedium.

Before long, they reached the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi.

Wispy feather-clouds rippled gently across the blue spring sky, trailing above the mountain ridges stretching below them. And there it was—before their eyes stood the five peaks of Mount Zhongnan.

The Southern Five Platforms of Zhongnan.

A place where small temples and shrines were quaintly scattered, and deep within, behind a veil of pale mist, stood the shadowy silhouette of a grand palace structure. It felt like the traces of time and countless sword strikes had been buried into the natural landscape.

The Zhongnan Sect.

“Even the Central Plains now feels like a Demon Realm.”

Hуeon Won-chang let out a faint laugh and pointed ahead.

“Spring’s arrived, but all the branches are bare, and it looks like men with swords are filling this mountain like they’re leaves.”

He was right.

They had come straight down from the Northern Capital, and upon arriving at the Qinling Mountains, the path leading up to Zhongnan was blocked by a crowd.

Each individual held considerable internal energy, and arguments had already broken out.

“How can you not know you’re blocking the main path to Great Zhongnan? This is the third day now!”

“I am Sword Guard Jeong Jung-san. Are you saying the Zhongnan Sect owns the entire Qinling Mountains? If so, what does that make the honor of Mount Hua? I’ve heard that the current sect leader of Zhongnan has been frequently traveling to Mount Hua recently—if he’s taken a lover there, this would be a great discourtesy.”

“You insolent bastards...?!”

“It was the leader of the Demonic Cult who personally revealed it—this entire mountain range was the tomb of the First Heavenly Demon! Naturally, there’s no rightful owner to the treasures of the dead. But we’re here to stop this sacred mountain from being overrun by every petty thug. If anything, we should be thanked. Don’t treat us like ruffians.”

“You’re just after the martial arts of that demonic grandmaster, aren’t you? Betting that the Heavenly Demon’s legacy is buried somewhere on the Southern Five Platforms!”

What a mess, muttered Yeon So-ha of the Divine Sword Corps as she shook her head.

“Every path we take is filled with conflict. Obstacles from the very start... Do we help the crumbling Zhongnan Sect first? Why is everyone falling apart?”

That was when a tremor rumbled from the heart of the commotion.

KWAHHHHHHH!!

A violent swirl of yellow clay dust surged upward, and a massive shockwave swept across the ground, reaching their feet. The spiraling wind carried a mix of opposing energies—tyrannical waves of demonic energy and the clear resonance of proper martial force.

A small earthquake silenced all speech for a moment.

“It’s that cave again... It always ends up like this. One of the Grand Elders of Zhongnan will be coming down soon.”

“We should go.”

“Seems we’ll need to summon the elders resting near the Clear Peak. No way they can sustain that gathering speed for long. Just avoid Grand Elder Yeo Il-shin and it’ll be fine.”

The crowd blocking the mountain path began to scatter to the sides. Just then, a girl’s voice rang out from beyond.

“How can people who turn nasty from hunger call themselves righteous warriors?”

“Hye-a, stop provoking them. Starving Jianghu warriors are the most dangerous.”

“Everyone get lost! Only heroes stay!”

Only the Divine Sword Corps could stand tall at those words. Even before the girl’s martial pose fully formed, they instinctively stepped in front of Jeong Yeon-shin.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt his niece Jeong Hye tilt her head slightly behind him.

“...?”

The mountain path, now momentarily cleared of the crowd, led upward to Mount Zhongnan.

At its front stood blood fiends, Yozoku, and assassins.