Humans, by nature, tend to wary of what they cannot comprehend.

Jin Cheonhee had never expected to be understood.

Wasn’t that why he chose to walk a path of singularity, not solitude?

Namgoong Woon wore a troubled expression. “Thanks to you, things have gotten a bit complicated for me.”

“Hmm, I see. Still, judging by how you’ve kept things under wraps, it seems you intended to let me pass without much fuss.”

“Your provocative letter suggested you had a reason. But the clan elders seem to have other ideas.”

Whine-

As if sensing its master’s isolation, Hwanggu rubbed its forehead against Jin Cheonhee’s hand, offering comfort.

Sure, saving Thieving Phantom’s granddaughter is a strange endeavor.

For a righteous faction like the Namgoong Clan, killing Thieving Phantom would be just. For the Demonic Cult, killing her now would align with their interests. Even for the unorthodox factions, torturing and killing her to claim her stolen treasures would be the norm.

Yes, it’s strange.

Only Jin Cheonhee sought to save Thieving Phantom and her granddaughter. A choice made possible by his knowledge of the future. Namgoong Woon was merely pointing out how this defied common sense.

Jin Cheonhee let out a small sigh. “So, you’re blocking my path to Thieving Phantom.”

“Stay one day at the Namgoong Clan, Jin-au. We’ll treat you as an honored guest with the utmost courtesy.”

“Is that the Namgoong Clan’s way?”

At Jin Cheonhee’s question, Namgoong Woon chuckled.

“Then what way do you want, Jin-au?”

Jin Cheonhee rested his hand on the hilt of his Ice Clarity Sword and took a step forward.

Step.

“Let’s do it the martial world’s way.”

“Strange. For you to say that, Jin-au. I can’t figure out your angle. But this puts me in a bind.”

Instead of drawing his sword, Namgoong Woon waved his hand dismissively.

“I have no intention of fighting you. I don’t know what the elders are thinking, but my stance hasn’t changed.”

Jin Cheonhee fell into thought.

Or perhaps, Yeo Ha-ryoon wondered, was he merely pretending to think? Had he already decided from the start, feigning contemplation to avoid seeming too outlandish?

After a brief pause, Jin Cheonhee spoke, “How about this?”

“What?”

“I’ll challenge the Namgoong Clan’s vaunted Great Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Formation[1]. If I win, you stay out of Thieving Phantom’s affairs. How’s that?”

“Haha, what’s that supposed to—”

Before Namgoong Woon could refuse, a gruff voice cut through.

“Challenging our Great Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Formation! Aside from the Three Venerables, even the Two Emperors or Two Eccentrics couldn’t survive our sword formation. You’re bold to make such a claim!”

A stranger approached, but Jin Cheonhee seemed to recognize him.

“I greet the Thunderforce Sword[2].”

Namgoong Cheong, the Thunderforce Sword, earned his title for wielding a blade like lightning.

Jin Cheonhee quickly sent a voice transmission to Yeo Ha-ryoon.

[The younger brother of the Namgoong Clan leader, known to be at the Transformation Realm. Famous for wielding the Emperor Sword Form with boldness.]

Outwardly, he continued, “Or how about a one-on-one duel? I think you, Great Hero Namgoong Cheong, could share a fine bout with me.”

Yeo Ha-ryoon sensed his hyung was deliberately acting belligerent.

“Transformation Realm at your age… the martial world’s rumors weren’t empty. How does someone so young achieve such mastery?”

“Thanks to my master.”

“I heard the Blood Scaled Crazed Killer raised a monster.” Namgoong Cheong provocatively used Jin Cheonhee’s master’s old nickname, then said, “Fine. Will you face the Great Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Formation?”

Namgoong Woon interjected urgently, “Uncle…!”

“Don’t stop me. I’m curious. Does he have the skill to challenge our formation, or is it youthful arrogance?”

Ignoring Namgoong Woon’s protests, Namgoong Cheong stepped forward.

“Very well. If you survive the formation, we’ll let you pass, as you say. But if you fail, you’ll pay dearly for your hubris. Are you still willing?”

Jin Cheonhee let out a faint sigh of relief, so subtle only Yeo Ha-ryoon noticed.

He continued, “Fine. But I’ll face it with my sworn brother. One more shouldn’t matter, right?”

Namgoong Cheong burst into incredulous laughter.

“Fine. For the sake of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion, I’ll allow it. But a sword has no eyes, so guard your own life.”

It meant death would be their own fault—and he’d fight in earnest.

But Jin Cheonhee wasn’t one to back down.

“Agreed.”

Yeo Ha-ryoon saw a blue glint flicker in his brother’s eyes.

***

The Great Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Formation.

As its name suggests, it’s a sword formation composed of warriors trained in the Namgoong Clan’s secret art, the Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Arts.

While the Emperor Sword Form is the clan’s pinnacle technique, it alone didn’t build the Namgoong Clan’s legacy. The Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Arts, a peerless art rivaling the Emperor Sword Form, embodies the vast sky within its blade.

Jin Cheonhee sent a voice transmission to Yeo Ha-ryoon.

[The Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Arts is like that. Hard to grasp just from words, right? Theoretically, it shares some similarities with the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts.]

[How so?]

[The Emperor Sword Form aligns with the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts’s direction. It actively uses formless qi to overwhelm opponents, like the Heavenly Demon’s Domineering Step.]

[I learned about renowned martial arts during my cult training.]

[The Azure Heavens Boundless Sword Arts is the opposite.]

[Opposite?]

[It uses formless qi to control oneself. Like a ship spreading its sails at sea, moving with the wind.]

He tried explaining the complex martial art simply, but its essence remained intricate. Jin Cheonhee worried if Yeo Ha-ryoon would understand.

His concern was unfounded.

[I get it. It amplifies the sword’s path with formless qi.]

[Exactly. In that sense, it’s less versatile than the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts, which can do both.]

[So the Namgoong Clan’s techniques specialize in one aspect.]

[Correct. But focusing on one makes its power immense.]

[Then I can guess the formation’s nature.]

[Oh? What’s your guess?]

Jin Cheonhee was curious about his protagonist brother’s answer.

[They transfer inner energy to amplify their strength, enhancing everyone in the formation to their limits. Right?]

Jin Cheonhee couldn’t help but laugh.

[Spot on. Our Ha-ryoon’s sharp, isn’t he?]

[Enough flattery. What’s the counter?]

Jin Cheonhee snapped his fingers playfully.

[Here’s the plan…]

The two swiftly exchanged ideas via voice transmission.

They followed Namgoong Cheong, Namgoong Woon, and Namgoong Yeon to the backyard of a merchant building operated by the Namgoong Clan, just outside Wuhu Port.

Though called a backyard, it was a bare, expansive plot, roughly half the size of a typical school field.

Sixteen warriors with sharp auras awaited them.

“Are you ready?” Namgoong Cheong asked.

Jin Cheonhee smiled softly. “Ready.”

“I’ll say it again: once the formation activates, we won’t hold back.”

“Even if my arrogance costs my life, my master won’t question it.”

Would the Divine Doctor White Dragon really not care? Yeo Ha-ryoon doubted it, but he had no intention of stopping Jin Cheonhee. As long as they fought together, that wouldn’t happen.

Jin Cheonhee added, “But I have one thing to discuss.”

“What?”

“I know the Namgoong Clan is tight-lipped. I’d like what happens here to stay within these walls.”

“Hmm.”

Namgoong Cheong paused.

Jin Cheonhee thought, It doesn’t concern me, but if someone sees Ha-ryoon’s martial arts during the fight, they’ll question his origins.

In a martial arts novel with a Demonic Cult protagonist, the world was relatively lenient toward the cult. Everyone knew it existed in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, yet instead of wiping it out, they settled for occasional skirmishes.

If the protagonist were from a righteous faction, the Martial Righteous Alliance would’ve rallied, shouting, “Let’s storm the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains!” and charged in. That’d be the novel’s climax, or the start of a death-and-rebirth arc.

If the protagonist died as the Heavenly Demon and reincarnated in the righteous faction…

In an unorthodox or neutral setting, the cult’s role might depend on whether it had a heroine—and if she was the world’s greatest beauty (a critical factor).

As the Supreme Heavenly Demon, Yeo Ha-ryoon’s world was kinder to the cult, but lives were still cheap by their standards.

“I’d prefer we don’t probe each other’s martial origins.”

“…”

As the protagonist, Yeo Ha-ryoon operated in a world where the cult had some leeway, but Jin Cheonhee didn’t want to trouble the White Dragon Medical Pavilion. He’d conceal the cult’s distinctive techniques, but just in case…

“The White-Robed Divine Dragon is thorough. You were provoking like you’d walk the path of supremacy, but now you seem a different person. Is that why they call you a madman?”

“What do you think, Thunderforce Sword? Do I seem mad?”

“Wanting to save someone everyone else wants dead fits the ‘mad’ or ‘eccentric’ moniker. But it’s strange. You’re too rational to be mad, yet challenging our formation suggests otherwise. Hmm.”

Jin Cheonhee clasped his fists in a martial salute.

“Whatever happens to me, I’ll keep it silent. I swear this on the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s name.”

“Fine. Then what happens here stays here. I swear this on the Namgoong Clan’s name.”

Namgoong Cheong raised his hand.

At his signal, the sixteen warriors took their positions.