Yeop-hyeon's act of killing Jinsang left her subordinates frozen like stone. He withdrew his foot and moved to stand beside Yeop-ryeong.
"That woman only pretended to be in danger to buy herself time. Then she would have intended to kill us."
Yeop-hyeon explained why he had killed Jinsang, worried that his sister might see him as a cold-blooded man.
"Whether you are right or wrong, I will always be on your side, brother."
Her words warmed his heart. He turned his gaze toward the men before him.
"What do you intend to do? Do you plan to see blood as well?"
The men before him were, at most, fourth-rank martial artists. They posed no real threat to Yeop-hyeon. The man who had spoken before glared at him and shouted.
"Who are you!?"
"I am Yeop-hyeon of Cheongseong."
"Cheongseong… Yeop-hyeon… So you are a martial artist of the Yeop family!"
Yeop-hyeon's expression darkened.
"I am not a member of the Yeop family."
The man looked unconvinced. He gestured, and the martial artists standing behind him approached to retrieve Jinsang's body.
At that moment, Yeop-hyeon lightly kicked the corpse. A black pouch tied to Jinsang's waist fell into his hand. The man's face turned extremely dark. His eyes glinted with murderous intent as he shouted.
"Our Jin family will not forget Cheongseong's Yeop family!"
They could not risk attacking Yeop-hyeon. They had seen Jinsang, a Great Martial Officer, fail to resist even once before dying.
Of course, Yeop-hyeon had attacked unexpectedly, but even a surprise strike is a test of skill. To them, Yeop-hyeon was simply beyond their capacity. They mounted their horses and disappeared with the corpse.
After the martial artists left, Yeop-hyeon opened the black pouch, a smile spreading across his face. Inside were sixteen spirit stones.
Spirit stones are stones that contain the spiritual energy of the world. A martial artist can gain great benefits by using them during training. Spirit stones are ranked: low-grade, high-grade, supreme-grade, jade-grade, immortal-grade, and divine-grade. Even low-grade spirit stones were rare in all of Cheongseong, yet this pouch contained nothing but high-grade stones.
And among them was a supreme-grade spirit stone! Just one low-grade stone could be worth a hundred gold taels, enough to sustain a family for ten years.
Sixteen spirit stones at this level!
Yeop-hyeon tucked the pouch safely into his clothing. He had no idea how Jinsang had obtained so many.
But neither Jinsang nor the men pursuing her would have given up these stones easily.
If a gold mine was a noble family's lifeline, spirit stones were a means to elevate a family's power and status. Gold mines gathered martial artists; spirit stones cultivated their strength.
The stones Yeop-hyeon had just acquired were enough to train even Great Martial Officers. He quickly extinguished the fire and placed Yeop-ryeong back in the carriage, anticipating the Jin family's pursuit.
Half an hour later, as he predicted, a middle-aged man and an elderly man appeared at the scene. The middle-aged man was Jin Bae, head of the Jin family and a martial artist of elite rank. The elder behind him was also elite. Scanning the surroundings, Jin Bae spoke in a low voice.
"I heard that a prodigy named Yeop-rang has appeared in the Yeop family… Could it be him?"
Cheongseong and Naseong were some distance apart, and the Jin family, not being a major power, lacked strong intelligence. They did not yet know the full situation of the Yeop family. The elder behind Jin Bae answered.
"There is no proof he is Yeop-rang, but he is certainly a martial artist of the Yeop family. The Yeop family cannot escape responsibility for this!"
Jin Bae nodded and spoke coldly.
"I will go to the Yeop family to confirm what happened. The one who killed Jinsang could not have gone far. Jin Yak! Pursue him. If he is Yeop-rang, do not underestimate him!"
Jin Yak nodded and vanished into the darkness in an instant. Remaining at the scene, Jin Bae clenched his fists and shouted in a cold voice.
"How dare the Yeop family…"
He disappeared into the shadows.
On a dark night road, a carriage raced under the faint light of the moon.
"Brother, why did that woman bother us back there?"
"Because we looked easy to deal with."
"Just because we looked easy, does that give her the right to bother us?"
"That's how it is. The world does not spare those who seem weak. You have to be ruthless to live peacefully in this world!"
"Brother… you killed someone again…"
"Yes, and I will kill even more in the future."
"Why?"
"Because of my temper. I cannot let anyone mess with me!"
Through the long night, the carriage kept moving. Yeop-hyeon drove while Yeop-ryeong leaned against him, asleep. He moved carefully, not wanting to wake his sister.
[You really cherish your sister!]
Cheonnyeo's voice echoed in his mind, and Yeop-hyeon smiled.
"Who doesn't cherish their own sister?"
[You are fit to be a brother.]
Yeop-hyeon chuckled softly at her words.
"Cheonnyeo, I'm curious. They say a Sword Immortal can cut mountains and rivers. Is that true?"
[Yes!]
Yeop-hyeon's heart raced at her answer. Secretly, he longed for the mystical state of a Sword Immortal, flying across the world on his sword and overlooking mountains and rivers.
[If you train hard, it is not impossible.]
Yeop-hyeon smiled.
"I want to fly with my sword and show Ryeong all the wonders of this world."
[You are already a Sword Immortal in spirit!]
Yeop-hyeon smiled faintly and urged the horses onward.
An hour later, dawn broke and the world brightened. Rain began to fall, its intensity making it difficult to continue driving the carriage. Yeop-hyeon quickly surveyed the surroundings and spotted a mansion halfway up the mountain. From a distance, it appeared old and desolate. He raised an eyebrow.
'How is there a mansion this deep in the mountains?'
Though slightly uneasy, the worsening rain and strong winds left them no choice. Yeop-hyeon pulled out the map he had received from Jang-ryeol and confirmed there were no danger markers nearby.
Relieved, he drove the carriage to the mansion. The door was open. Approaching, he saw the house long abandoned and overgrown with weeds along the walls.
Seeking shelter from the relentless rain, Yeop-hyeon led Yeop-ryeong inside. Others were already there: an elderly man in a gray robe and a boy around eighteen. They too seemed to have sought refuge from the rain.
The elderly man glanced at Yeop-hyeon and his sister before averting his eyes. The boy beside him smiled faintly and nodded. Yeop-hyeon nodded back, finding a suitable spot to settle. He lit a fire and began roasting two turkeys. The boy's eyes gleamed as he approached Yeop-hyeon.
"I am Gang Mok-gi. May I know your full name, sir?"
"Yeop-hyeon."
"What a coincidence to meet like this."
Yeop-hyeon gestured to the turkey over the fire.
"Would you like some?"
Gang Mok-gi nodded absentmindedly, and Yeop-hyeon handed him a turkey. He accepted without hesitation and began roasting it himself.
Gang Mok-gi looked at Yeop-hyeon.
"Hmm… You are an elite martial artist, but your fundamentals are strong. I doubt there will be much difference between us."
Yeop-hyeon's hand paused briefly over the turkey.
"I cannot gauge your true strength."
He had no way to predict Gang Mok-gi's martial arts skill, and Gang Mok-gi felt the same about Yeop-hyeon. Narrowing his eyes, Gang Mok-gi asked.
"Shall we test it?"
"Of course!"
An elder interjected from the side.
"Do not provoke the weak!"
Yeop-ryeong frowned, clearly annoyed.
"Grandfather, my brother is really strong! Who are you calling weak?"
The elder looked at her. Yeop-hyeon, smiling at his sister, spoke.
"Then let's spar using only two moves each."
The two took positions in the open space, facing each other.
"Shall we begin?"
Gang Mok-gi asked. Yeop-hyeon nodded. In an instant, Gang Mok-gi vanished from his original position. Yeop-hyeon saw his fist already heading toward his chest. At the same time, Yeop-hyeon's fist struck toward Gang Mok-gi's chest.
Thwack!
Both were pushed ten steps back simultaneously before stopping. Gang Mok-gi's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"You have a stronger body than I expected."
"So do you."
Yeop-hyeon's punch felt as if it had struck iron. Gang Mok-gi laughed.
"Our nation is indeed full of talent. Since I left the royal palace…"
"No!"
Suddenly, the elder interrupted Gang Mok-gi. Gang Mok-gi looked at him, clearly frustrated.
"Kakno, now that we're here, why spoil all the fun by worrying?"
The elder shook his head.
"The outside is dangerous."
Gang Mok-gi laughed.
"Don't worry. He seems bold and straightforward, unlike those sly types."
Turning toward Yeop-hyeon, Gang Mok-gi assumed a fighting stance.
"Yeop-hyeon, let me introduce myself properly. I am Gang Mok-gi, the Tenth Prince of Gang Nation."
Prince!
Yeop-hyeon feigned surprise. To meet a prince from Gang Nation here was unexpected. He quickly adjusted his stance.
"I am the nameless soldier, Yeop-hyeon!"
Gang Mok-gi burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, a nameless soldier! With your skill, fame would come easily!"
Yeop-hyeon shook his head silently. Empty fame meant nothing to him. It often brought death rather than honor.
At that moment, the rain eased. The elder stood.
"Your Highness, it is time to leave."
Gang Mok-gi nodded and walked to the fire, holding a roasted turkey. He pulled a jade pendant from his chest and handed it to Yeop-hyeon.
"Yeop-hyeon, this is my insignia. It may be useful in the royal city. Ah, please do not refuse. Otherwise, you will not get to enjoy this perfectly roasted turkey!"
Yeop-hyeon accepted the pendant, and Gang Mok-gi smiled.
"Farewell, then!"
Gang Mok-gi and the elder disappeared outside. Yeop-hyeon watched their departing figures for a long moment.
The elder outside asked in a deep voice.
"Your Highness, do you intend to recruit him?"
"He is a master swordsman, but even without using his sword, his skill is exceptional. Had he shown his full strength, I could not have guaranteed victory."
Gang Mok-gi looked toward the desolate mansion.
"He is truly impressive. The long journey here was worth it."
The elder hesitated, then spoke.
"I saw that his foundation is solid and his combat ability is not weak. Yet he is a loner, belonging to no family or sect. Eventually, he will face limits. Without power, he cannot greatly aid Your Highness. That is why the Crown Prince and Ninth Princess sent no one to Cheongseong."
Gang Mok-gi smiled lightly.
"My eldest brother's mother comes from the Jade family, the second strongest in Gang Nation. Even the Emperor fears them. My sister commands half of the nation's forces as a commander. Ordinary geniuses like Yeop-hyeon would not catch their attention."
"Then why have you come all this way?"
Gang Mok-gi lowered his voice.
"My power is insignificant compared to theirs. That is why even a small connection is valuable. Who knows? Today's encounter may bring great benefits in the future."
The elder shook his head. Swordsmen of master rank were rare, and to them, only a true swordmaster held real significance.
Yet in Gang Nation, there was only one swordmaster.
And he was over ninety years old. In the past fifty years, no other swordmaster had emerged.