Chapter 110 – Heavenly Dragon Brigade (5)

Supreme Ultimate Sword Emperor, Hyeon Cheon-ja.

Prajna Martial Emperor, Great Monk Gak-won.

Thunder Sword Emperor, Namgung Jin.

Divine Sword Emperor, Kang Yu-hyeon.

Sword Empress, Hwa Un-wol.

Excluding the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor and the Phantom Emperor, all the supreme masters of the Central Plains sat watching Yu-jin.

Yu-jin hid his bewilderment, maintaining a stoic expression. It was only a matter of meeting people he was bound to meet eventually, just a little sooner.

And though he had revealed his Transformation Realm state, Kang Yu-hyeon likely already knew he had reached the Profound Realm.

Although the enemy knew him, Yu-jin also knew the enemy and himself. Thus, there was no need for fear.

Composing himself, Yu-jin came to a stop about ten paces from the five supreme masters.

“To reach the Transformation Realm at your age is truly remarkable.”

The first to speak was Hwa Un-wol. She wore a noble smile, like that of a benevolent saint, not the panting face of pleasure from when she was in his arms.

Feeling a slight sense of dissonance at her appearance, Yu-jin bowed his head slightly and replied.

“You praise me too much.”

“How old are you this year?”

The one who spoke this time was the Prajna Martial Emperor, Great Monk Gak-won.

“I am twenty-five.”

At Yu-jin’s words, an emotion that could be described as surprise or astonishment appeared on the faces of the supreme masters, excluding Kang Yu-hyeon and Hwa Un-wol.

While they too had fortuitous encounters that allowed them to reach the Profound Realm, it had taken them at least ten to twenty years longer than Yu-jin to reach the Transformation Realm.

Even the Divine Sword Emperor Kang Yu-hyeon, who reached the Profound Realm in his forties, and the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor Lee Hwan, who was not present and reached it in his fifties, were considered immense talents who would be remembered in the annals of martial history. Yet they too had only reached the Transformation Realm in their thirties.

In other words, Yu-jin was highly likely to be remembered as the master who broke through to the Transformation Realm in the shortest time.

‘At this rate, it will be difficult to even scold him.’

The Thunder Sword Emperor, Namgung Jin, who had been glaring at Yu-jin as if to devour him, let out a sigh.

Honestly, from his perspective, Yu-jin had been quite infuriating. Just as he and Namgung Hwa-rin had promised marriage and were in the midst of preparations, a letter suddenly arrived from the Cheonsan Lee Clan.

It was a plea to accept Lee Hye-yeon as Yu-jin’s concubine.

Since they had also sent wedding gifts, and considering the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor’s position, the Namgung Clan ultimately accepted.

In any case, it did not affect Namgung Hwa-rin’s position.

‘But the Imperial Family…’

The news that Yu-jin would marry the Imperial Family’s only princess, Ju Yun-hui, and become the Prince Consort had greatly flustered Namgung Jin and Namgung Ok.

They knew that becoming a Prince Consort meant he could never marry other women.

But they soon heard that such restrictions did not apply to Yu-jin.

Still, they couldn’t understand it. Why would the Imperial Family push for the marriage between Yu-jin and Ju Yun-hui without imposing such a restriction?

Now, Namgung Jin could understand the attitudes of the Hegemon Heaven Saber Emperor and the Imperial Family.

Yu-jin was the greatest genius he had ever seen.

‘The Transformation Realm at that age…’

Namgung Jin had taught Namgung Hwi and helped him reach a state very close to the Transformation Realm.

But that was the limit. Beyond that point, it wasn’t something that could be taught; one had to break through the wall of the Transformation Realm through their own efforts.

And countless people were thwarted by this wall, never reaching the Transformation Realm in their entire lives.

Although Namgung Hwi had encountered the wall at an early age, there was no guarantee of when he would break through.

But Yu-jin, at the mere age of twenty-five, had shattered that wall and proudly reached the Transformation Realm.

‘I must secure him.’

While he was lost in thought, Yu-jin answered each of the questions from the supreme masters of the martial world, and they all smiled in satisfaction.

“The martial world of the Western Regions is currently sending small groups of masters in all directions to slaughter the people of clans who could not bear to leave their homes. The Heavenly Dragon Brigade is a combat unit created precisely to eliminate these small groups of masters. We felt we were lacking against the masters of the Western Regions, but now that you, the leader, have reached the Transformation Realm, and with the Moon Empress joining, I can entrust the other children to you with peace of mind.”

Hearing the words of the Supreme Ultimate Sword Emperor, Hyeon Cheon-ja, Yu-jin simply smiled.

“Ordinarily, having reached the Transformation Realm, you should be granted the title of ‘King.’ However, I believe the time is not yet right.”

Yu-jin understood Hyeon Cheon-ja’s words. They were clearly aiming for a more dramatic moment.

For instance, when Yu-jin and the Heavenly Dragon Brigade achieved a great feat, if the news that Yu-jin had become a new Transformation Realm master was revealed, people would surely welcome the emergence of a young hero with great enthusiasm.

‘So heroes are made, not born?’

Of course, it wasn’t entirely like that. Someone lacking in their own ability could not become a hero.

After a little more conversation, Yu-jin was told to withdraw and rose from his seat.

[It seems we need to meet. Come to the Hwa-un Pavilion at the Hour of the Rat tonight.]

Just then, Kang Yu-hyeon’s telepathic message reached him.

Thinking that what was to come had finally come, Yu-jin clenched his fists for a moment, but then immediately relaxed his body.

[I will do so, ‘Father’.]

Yu-jin replied with a telepathic message of his own and walked forward.

* * *

“Hah… Hah…”

Yu-jin looked down at Namgung Hwa-rin, who was panting beneath him, and covered her naked form, messy from his release, with a blanket.

Though only he and Namgung Hwa-rin were in the room now, just moments before, Yu-jin had taken each of the women he had ever embraced.

Thanks to that, his member was now completely spent, but separate from that, the fullness of internal energy filling his entire body made him feel refreshed. It was as if he was in his best condition in a long time.

“I couldn’t face ‘Father’ without doing at least this much.”

Yu-jin planted a kiss on the lips of Namgung Hwa-rin, who had fallen completely asleep, exhausted from their encounter, and then stepped forward.

At that, Na Ye-jin, Han So-un, Bukri Eun, Hwa Un-wol, and Eun Seol-rin revealed themselves before him. Though they had all been taken by him, they had recovered quickly and followed.

“I won’t be causing a big scene today. The location isn’t right for it. So there’s no need to get too close.”

The women nodded at Yu-jin’s words. Then, Yu-jin headed towards the Hwa-un Pavilion with them.

As he entered the Hwa-un Pavilion, a picturesque artificial lake, beautifully manicured greenery, harmoniously arranged stalagmites, and a tasteful pavilion came into view. Kang Yu-hyeon stood atop it.

“Catch.”

Kang Yu-hyeon sent a wine cup flying. The cup flew through the air at a slow, leisurely pace and stopped right in front of Yu-jin.

It was a sign that his skill in manipulating objects through the void had reached its peak, but Yu-jin was not surprised. Why would he be surprised by something he could also do?

Next, Kang Yu-hyeon uncorked a wine bottle and shook it. The wine that shot out from the bottle flew across the air and landed precisely in the cup Yu-jin held, filling it to the brim.

Knowing that Kang Yu-hyeon was not the kind of petty man to resort to tricks, Yu-jin drank the cup without hesitation.

‘Good wine. Does becoming the clan head mean you only drink the finest liquor like this?’

The feeling was indescribable. A liquid like a drop of heaven’s dew swirled in his mouth, leaving a powerful impression.

After finishing, Yu-jin lowered the empty cup and looked at Kang Yu-hyeon.

“When did you find out?”

Kang Yu-hyeon asked, looking down at Yu-jin. To someone who knew nothing, this question without a subject might have sounded like sudden nonsense, but Yu-jin was different.

He understood the question. Kang Yu-hyeon was asking Kang Yu-jin when he had learned the truth about the clan head.

“It was truly by chance. I found a useful martial arts manual, and inside it was a discolored piece of paper. On it, the ‘truth’ was written. It was penned by someone who recorded the final ‘truth’ before being struck down by you.”

“Such a thing still remained within the clan? I thought I had destroyed them all. That was my mistake.”

Though Kang Yu-hyeon said this, his face was filled with an expression of amusement.

Yu-jin continued to speak.

“To be honest, I couldn’t believe it. It was too absurd a story. But after meeting the previous Shadowless One, I realized that absurd story was the truth.”

“The Shadowless One, is it? They always bothered me, and it seems they’re bothering me once again.”

But contrary to his words, Kang Yu-hyeon did not erase his smile. Even as the truth was revealed from Yu-jin’s lips, he remained composed.

“What should I call you? Should I call you Father, or should I call you Ancestor?”

Hundreds of years ago, a young swordsman from the north arrived at Poyang Lake in the south.

The young swordsman taught the sword to the villagers who were being tormented by rampant river pirates, and soon, along with the villagers he had taught, he annihilated the pirates on Poyang Lake.

Eventually, he and the villagers were able to take control of the area around Poyang Lake. After that, the young swordsman established a small clan with the villagers, accepting talented individuals and expanding their influence. The clan created in this way was the True Dragon Sword Clan.

The young swordsman’s name was Kang Myeong-un, the founder of the current True Dragon Sword Clan. Known as the Heavenly Sword Emperor, he was the greatest master of his time.

Even after hundreds of years, the Heavenly Sword Emperor was still an object of respect for many people.

But there was one thing people did not know.

“The world may not know, but I always found it strange. The reason the True Dragon Sword Clan is called the greatest clan is because in every generation, at least one Profound Realm master has emerged. But this is truly a strange thing.”

Just because a Profound Realm master raises a disciple, it doesn’t mean the disciple will also become a Profound Realm master. If the disciple even reached the Transformation Realm, the Profound Realm master could be said to have done all they could.

Both the Profound and Transformation Realms were a matter of enlightenment, and since each individual’s enlightenment was different, not even a Profound Realm master could do anything about that part.

That was why there were countless sects and clans that produced a Profound Realm master in one generation but failed to properly pass on that enlightenment and fell into ruin in later generations.

But the True Dragon Sword Clan was different. In every generation, it unfailingly produced a supreme master who had stepped into the Profound Realm.

And it wasn’t always a direct blood relative, but sometimes someone who wasn’t even under the clan’s watch.

However, people only focused on the fact that a Profound Realm master had emerged, paying no attention to what lay beneath the surface.

The only one who had taken an interest was the first Shadowless One, and after finally learning the truth, he was relentlessly pursued by the True Dragon Sword Clan until his death.