Chapter 589: Chapter 589

Before the gates of Yeokluseong (Yeoklu Fortress).

A cold tension hung in the air like a layer of thin ice.

The Ipwang Fortress Divine Sword Corps was entering its second battle. No shards of spears or waves of palm force had burst forth just yet—but the moment they fell behind, a fatal situation was bound to unfold.

The outer walls of Yeokluseong were vast and long, large enough to encircle an entire metropolitan city. Hundreds stood atop the ramparts, looking down at Jeong Yeon-shin.

Not only were there commoners and martial artists who had lived in Yeokluseong for generations, but also drifters from the Demon Realm who had stopped by, wandering martial artists from all over, and others who came—whatever their reason—to glimpse the growing power of Jeong Yeon-shin, even from afar.

A young man in a gray winter cloak, with a fur-lined hood, was among them, crouched on a corner of the rampart.

He was the “Lone Sword Tiger” of the Thirteen Heavens’ Simmuryun.

The next Sword Lord in line.

He had learned the sword under Youngcheon Sword Demon Baek Seo-goon, and sought to perfect her Eight Illusions Divine Art. He had voluntarily taken on the position of intelligence officer.

His plan was to roam the martial world freely until the day came when he would become the next Sword Lord.

Because it is not closed-door training that makes one strong—it ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) is the world itself.

More than anything, he had no desire to get involved in the political conflict between the Simmuryun Lord—who had lost her arm somewhere unknown—and her daughter.

He slowly scanned his surroundings. Then pulled the wolf-fur hood lower over his face.

‘So in the end, that mad master didn’t even entrust herself to Jeong Ban-ak’s son.’

An order had come from the Simmuryun Main Sect.

Track the movements of none other than the monster of the Imperial Yellow Faction, Gwangya Ilmyeol. The order had been sent by Gun Yu-rin, acting on behalf of Ryonju and successor of the Simmuryun Lord.

But to the Lone Sword Tiger, the whereabouts of his master Baek Seo-goon mattered more than anything.

Her martial skill continued to grow, unlike many other young powerhouses, and the new insights into the Eight Illusions Divine Art were rightfully his to inherit.

‘It’s confirmed her tracks vanished at the Murim Alliance gathering.’

That chaos, when the Alliance in Hanzhong was torn apart by the sudden uprising of the Dark Heaven Emperor Cho Ryeol, and the Alliance Lord Hyeon So-baek was left half-dead.

Baek Seo-goon had been staying as a guest of the Murim Alliance at the time and had supposedly lent Hyeon So-baek her aid. Naturally, the Lone Sword Tiger had come not to chase Jeong Yeon-shin, but to track the Sword Saint.

To ask what had happened.

With the information he had gathered from his travels, he could now piece together a coherent picture.

He was confident he could make the Sword Saint speak. After all, tucked within his cloak was a map fragment—a grave where an unknown Heavenly Demon lay buried.

A copy of the legendary treasure map once possessed by the late Mo Yong Clan Leader.

The Simmuryun Lord had acquired it through a secret deal with the Mo Yong Clan Leader, and Gun Yu-rin, as the heir, had been holding onto it until she gave it to the Lone Sword Tiger.

Back then, she had been busy trying to win people to her side.

It wasn't the complete version, of course, but it was a treasure of many uses.

It could be used to bargain with the Sword Saint, or to enter the tomb of the ancient Heavenly Demon with Baek Seo-goon and refine the Eight Illusions Divine Sword.

That’s why he had shifted his gaze below the ramparts now, as a kind of multitasking.

‘For the Sword Saint to join Gwangya Ilmyeol...’

He couldn’t ignore the order from the Simmuryun Main Sect entirely. After all, the identity of Yaryul—the rising North King—had been revealed.

Even for the Lone Sword Tiger, who had focused solely on Baek Seo-goon, it was a startling development.

‘Those damned Myungryu agents.’

He had struggled to avoid their gaze.

Before he knew it, the entire wilderness around Yeoklu had become infested with Myungryu operatives.

They were scattered and disguised in all sorts of ways, but only someone trained in the inner principles of the Eight Illusions Divine Art could perceive them, like the Lone Sword Tiger.

A woman dressed as a Han old lady practicing Reverse Return Breathing in the inner market streets, a traveling peddler testing the Hwanik Step in a far corner of the Cheonggwang Plain, an old man clinging to a distant cliff of Haebing Mountain like a spider using Wall Lizard Skill...

All those Myungryu agents—one could say—were part of Gwangya Ilmyeol’s field of vision. The Myungryu Commander was likely receiving constant reports.

Of course, that was assuming Jeong Yeon-shin's consciousness was intact.

The Lone Sword Tiger had seen it.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s combat instincts, the transcendent impact of his single strikes. His movement speed was ridiculous—perhaps not at the level of Shin Tu, but still extraordinary.

And if his external durability and battle endurance were also like that of Mun Gok, then among the entire Demon Realm, only the God of War would rival him. It was said that combining the traits of all the Six Liu Yuan Star Lords would result in a war god.

A man possessed by a literal god.

That’s not human. The young deputy leader of the Divine Sword Corps wasn’t either.

Many North Kings were surely watching Jeong Yeon-shin now, trying to seize an advantage. Whether by joint attack, or through some lethal stratagem.

So not only around the Lone Sword Tiger, but across the whole rampart, martial artists kept their eyes fixed below.

Their thoughts were obvious. They wanted to assess everything.

What condition Jeong Yeon-shin’s body was in.

How many more battles he could endure, physically.

Whether, if they struck right after the fight, they could storm Yeoklu Fortress and take what they wanted.

‘Gwangya Ilmyeol... he was already drawing too much attention as a North King.’

The Lone Sword Tiger thought.

Seomye Jeong Yeon-shin was an astonishing individual.

Now, there were surely very few who could face Gwangya Ilmyeol alone. Still, the world was vast and filled with forces.

Enemies could come at any time, calculating the nature of his secret arts or assessing his available strength.

At this moment, the gates of Yeokluseong were no stage for celebrating victory.

Rather, they were closer to a guillotine—watched by the eyes of southern noble families and the Demon Realm. Like giant wolves waiting for a moment of weakness.

“...You’re saying the body of the North King Yaryul is intact?”

Suddenly, a voice dropped down toward the fortress walls. It was filled with surprise.

That was the beginning. One by one, martial artists of the Demon Realm who had been watching below began to murmur.

“It’s not even Mun Gok.”

“It doesn’t make sense. After all that fighting...”

No one hesitated to express open horror or admiration for an enemy.

Most of them were Yozoku.

But the Lone Sword Tiger didn’t care for the awe of those monstrous brutes. From the start, he had been a sword-obsessed demon sunk deep into his own blade.

No matter how transcendent someone’s martial power was beyond his world, what mattered to him was the completion of his own art—and his master Baek Seo-goon.

That is, he could observe Seomye Jeong Yeon-shin with objectivity—as part of his mission. Through eyes trained in the secret techniques of the Eight Illusions Divine Art discovered at Jeong Household in Shinya-hyeon.

‘Something’s strange...’

The breathtakingly handsome youth clad in a crimson long coat.

His jet-black hair was matted with blood. The originally violet hems of his robes were soaked too—making him look eerily like a noble of the Bloodflame Cult.

Maybe it was that infernally good-looking divine sword at his waist.

He slowly passed through the ranks of cavalry lined on either side. There was power in his stride. Enough to silence everyone on the ramparts above.

But oddly, it felt slow.

And somehow, awkward—like a puppet show moved with invisible strings. As if some dark experts nearby were moving his limbs through Air Grasping Technique.

Now that he thought about it, the focus in his eyes was vague. Only the gleaming white aura in his pupils masked it slightly.

‘This must be reported...!’

Just as he reached that thought, a large shadow fell across the Lone Sword Tiger’s head.

A sharp stench followed immediately.

Along with blood dripping thickly from above.

He jerked his gaze upward—only then did he see the owner of the shadow. A member of the Myungryu Clan, massive enough to rival most Yozoku, was now glaring down at the Lone Sword Tiger with a look of irritation.

"Why are you staring like that?"

A voice echoed from that colossal body like it was coming from a cave.

The Lone Sword Tiger cursed inwardly. Damn it.

That face was on the appearance watchlist drafted by the Simmuryun. It was none other than Cheonrim Captain Hahoe Wi-jin. Someone he should never have allowed to get this close.

‘No—wait, this bastard’s condition...?’

The massive bleeding was one thing. But there was also the pungent stench coming off his skin, clear evidence of exposure to Blazing Heat Palm Technique. Likely caused by the Celestial Radiant Armor of Liu Yuan Star Lord Mun Gok.

Now that he thought about it, Mun Gok had retreated in a mangled state as well.

There was no way the seven dark warriors who faced him came out unscathed. These weren’t just any opponents—they were up against someone whose body was practically diamond-hard thanks to transcendent external martial arts.

There was an opening to escape. Maybe even some breathing room.

At least, until Bukgung Ah, Lord of Yeouicheon, stepped down beside him.

“What the hell are they doing?”

She spoke as she cast her gaze down from the wall.

Her eyes scanned Jeong Yeon-shin’s surroundings.

There stood Tae Yeom-ryong, grinning faintly as he glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin’s left leg. And there stood Heon Won-chang, the Ipwang Great Hero, holding the Sword Saint in his arms—Lone Sword Tiger’s target.

Walking with similar strides were the commanders of the Light Blade Squad, Azure Sky Unit, and Bright Wing Lord Ma Gwang-ik.

Bukgung Ah answered her own question.

And then—hiss—smoke rose from her long legs, stained with blood.

It was the effect of a surging true energy meeting the cold air of Yeokluseong. Her qi channels, connected to the Yongcheon Point, were in the process of cooling.

This too was unnatural.

A master on the level of the Black Triumvirate would never allow even the slightest waste of qi. These dark-tier monsters turned even the friction of their energy into destructive force.

The Lone Sword Tiger was now certain. The Divine Sword Corps’ actual strength was not nearly as overwhelming as it appeared. Even if they seemed to be gathering like wolves, poised to claim Yeokluseong as their own.

‘That’s another report-worthy detail...’

This place was full of bluff and posturing. If Jeong Yeon-shin or the commanders weren’t given time to recover, everything could collapse like a sandcastle.

There wouldn’t even be time to fully establish themselves. Such was the nature of the northern Demon Realm.

Beneath the six stars of winter.

There were other North Kings besides the Liu Yuan Star Lords.

Naturally so. It was the Demon Realm that bore the brunt of the Ming Dynasty’s northern force.

Even now, murmurs spread among those too low-ranking to realize new dark-tier warriors had arrived.

“That violet cloak fluttering like a cloud... he’s going to vanish soon. He fought the monster of Northern Jianghu—it must’ve been some sorcery, like our clan's priests use.”

“Yaryul is the deputy leader of the Divine Sword Corps...?!”

“Do you think a single gust of the wasteland’s wind is the end? What happens when the other North Kings beneath the Six Stars join forces and come crashing down?”

Yeokluseong was packed from top to bottom.

There were too many people.

They were watching as the Demon Annihilation Blade and the Northern Gatekeeper stepped forward. The southern martial artists had retreated in confusion, stunned by the revelation of Yaryul’s identity.

Only one man—the acting head of Mount Hwa Sect—was approaching Jeong Yeon-shin, but the Lone Sword Tiger, who was looking for a chance to slip away, couldn’t have cared less.

Even those gutsy enough to point fingers didn’t dare make eye contact with Divine Sword Corps Leader Yong Hui-myeong. Who knew what would happen if you caught his eye?

‘Unless the winds of fortune are on their side, the Divine Sword Corps will be wiped out before they can ever settle in the North.’

Those sent to track Mun Gok and Yeom Jeong were beginning to return, but how many of them had intact qi channels or functioning limbs?

Simmuryun would need to act fast.

Either pull their secluding master out of closed-door training and send her to support Ipwang Fortress, or remain silent and maintain position in the South.

The Lone Sword Tiger twisted his heel. He had to leave this spot for now.

Even if he crossed paths with Jeong Yeon-shin or the Sword Saint, it was better to be seen as a guest than to be dragged off like a criminal by Cheonrim Captain.

Heavenly Power Strength God Hahoe Wi-jin’s eyes flared wide.

The Lone Sword Tiger ignored him and funneled all his qi to the Yongcheon Point. If his black sword had even one tooth left, now was the time to run.

That is, until a black-clad man with white hair landed in front of Jeong Yeon-shin, descending with the sound of a bat's wings.

A woman in a red robe landed beside him, her garments flowing like silk. But it was the white-haired man—untainted by even a speck of dust—who stood out. His appearance was immaculate to the point of compulsion.

He wasn’t wounded at all.

No internal injuries either.

At least, none visible.

‘New Blood Returning Star? What kind of battle did he fight against the Liu Yuan Star Lords...?’

Hahoe Wi-jin’s massive hand slammed down on the Lone Sword Tiger’s shoulder, but the latter only staggered and stared blankly.

How could anyone escape a fortress coiled around by peerless masters?

Meanwhile, below Yeokluseong.

New Blood Returning Star Jin Myeong-jo’s knees gently folded beneath him. It was a graceful movement, as if his legs had simply given way.

The Deputy Commander of the Divine Sword Corps went down on one knee.

The posture of a supreme master.

Those who had doubted Jeong Yeon-shin’s consciousness fell silent, one by one. Soon, all eyes—Lone Sword Tiger’s included—were drawn to the scene: the Wandering Sword, Gwangya Ilmyeol, New Blood Returning Star, and the Bloodflame Cult Leader, all together.

“Isn’t that the Bloodflame Cult...?”

Tae Yeom-ryong muttered, but no one responded.

Soon after, even the warriors with the yellow character 荒 (Wilderness) carved into their shoulders were admitted into Yeokluseong. The faint brilliance of the Radiant Blade Formation blurred the night sky.

It was only after that several North Kings requested an audience with Jeong Yeon-shin.