* * *
Desolate Fortress, white rank.
For the successor of the Desolate Ma Clan, it was merely a passing status, a temporary position necessitated by circumstance.
Even if the white robes of the Fortress commanded reverence in most regions of the martial world, it meant little here. It was merely a temporary lowering of status to which one had to conform.
For Ma Se-in, this was the case.
Step, step.
The young noble walked forward, his eyes starkly black and white in contrast.
It was well known that Ma Se-in's mastery of Fusion Fist Strike was unmatched among his peers, yet even he had to bow his head to certain mid-level warriors from the provinces, warriors clad in blue.
Such was the law of the Fortress. White rank was the lowest of the official hierarchies.
However, his treatment did not reflect that status. Not only the servants but even some senior warriors held him in high regard.
This was both a recognition of the Desolate Ma Clan's long-standing dedication and an acknowledgment of his temperament.
"Young Master Ma, a rare sight indeed. Where are you headed?"
"I received a summons from the First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong."
Ma Se-in answered briefly, accompanied by a young martial artist draped in the same white robes.
The blue-clad master, who had been making conversation with an easygoing expression, visibly flinched.
Ever since Ma Se-in mentioned the First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong, his expression had grown sour.
"Isn't that place in ruins? I heard it's still in the middle of reconstruction…"
"Where else would the returning Ruyi Spring Squad's leader reside? Not in the Ruyi Spring Squad's Pavilion, but among the black-ranked warriors' seats, asleep."
"Right, of course, of course. Safe travels."
The blue-clad master gave a perfunctory nod and hurried off, his large frame moving with surprising haste.
Step, step.
Ma Se-in, watching him leave, resumed walking.
At the far end of the wide, snow-white path of the Fortress, the half-collapsed First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong awaited.
Swish.
The escorting martial artist at his side moved swiftly to keep pace.
Like Ma Se-in, he also bore the white rank.
His name was Ma Ung, a young warrior rising in fame within the Fortress. Within the Desolate Ma Clan, he had mastered a diluted form of Jung Clan Movement Arts, second only to Ma Se-in himself.
It was said that in his quarters hung a painting of the Magpie Bridge, depicted with crows and magpies, alongside a single kite shaped like a hawk.
"Young Heir, that senior's reaction was odd. Could this matter harm your reputation?"
He spoke cautiously.
Ma Se-in slowly shook his head.
"Anyone would react that way upon hearing I'm meeting Ruyi Spring Squad's leader."
"I'm not well-versed in the rumors of the Fortress. I haven't been here long…"
"I know. There's no need to worry."
"I've heard much about the squad leader's temperament. That her qualities are unparalleled in history, yet she's notoriously difficult to predict. Is that true? It concerns me."
"It'll be fine. I've only seen her a few times in my childhood, from behind my grandfather, but… I haven't done anything wrong. Besides, she's not the only black rank residing in the Fortress right now."
Ma Se-in's voice remained composed.
As did his manner and speech. He was a collateral descendant of the Radiant Demon Squad's leader, an heir nurtured within a prestigious lineage.
Rumors spread that after building ties with Lightning Genius and experiencing his mother Zhu Yeon-jeong's affairs, his presence had broadened.
Ma Ung, nodding in thought, spoke again.
"Now that I think about it, the stationed forces within the Fortress remain unchanged. Even though we've lost all contact with the Forest Striding Squad and leader of the Immortal Spirit Wood in Xinjiang."
"Standing forces are being strengthened. Ever since the Elder Council's leader performed Geumbun Sesu, there have been no purple ranks protecting the Fortress. There are also rumors that the Fortress Lord has left again. If that's true, at least three Martial Force Squads must remain behind."
Currently, Ruyi Spring Squad's leader and the Annihilation Squad, alongside Scorching Abyss Squad, were defending the Fortress.
Meanwhile, Obeying Heaven Squad's leader, Forest Striding Squad's leader, and leader of the Immortal Spirit Wood had completely disappeared.
It was a matter shaking the very foundations of the Fortress. One of the most significant incidents since the reformation of Desolate Fortress.
The vast lands of the nation made long-term missions common.
It wasn't rare for a single mission to last over a year. Some blue rank masters, especially those of the Dark Current Squad, had spent twenty years outside the Fortress without stepping foot back.
Only Radiant Demon Squad's leader, the youngest ever to attain black rank after Ruyi Spring Squad's leader, was an exception.
However, the fact that the Fortress Beasts hadn't returned for such an extended period was an entirely different problem.
Death in the line of duty.
That was how it was described in the military-minded culture of Desolate Fortress.
"This is the first time since the founding of the nation, isn't it? Could there be some unknown demon lurking in Xinjiang?"
"Who knows… The General Affairs Bureau must be in turmoil. Sending more reinforcements would be like pouring water into a bottomless pit. It's not like the purple ranks have any leeway either."
"If two reinforcements weren't enough, should we send three more… No, that would be a tough decision as well."
"This isn't some gambling game. High-ranking officials wearing black robes don't move lightly. Worse, if we misstep, we could lose six or more black ranks in Xinjiang. Can you imagine the risk?"
The General Affairs Bureau of Desolate Fortress took the movements of black ranks extremely seriously.
In the ongoing battle of sects, a transcendent master could sway the tide of war. Such individuals were treated like mountain spirits wherever they went.
Yet, the probability of such a master remaining within the Fortress as one of its Seventeen Guardian Swords was slim.
Even being favored by the Fortress Lord was a precarious matter.
Ma Ung's shoulders sagged slightly. He too was a warrior of Desolate Fortress.
"There's no clear solution. No wonder the martial underworld often mocks the Fortress. To the eyes of those with no allegiance, we must seem like a giant beast, shackled from all sides."
"Don't mind the rabble. In the end, leaving Fortress defense aside, it would be best if two massive forces akin to black-robed were deployed instead. The General Affairs Bureau will decide soon enough."
As they walked, the undergrowth parted before them, the path gradually widening.
The oddly informal yet clearly defined dynamic between master and escort continued as they neared their destination.
"What do you think this summons is about? The Ruyi Spring Squad's leader, I mean."
"We'll find out soon enough."
With Ma Se-in's final words, their vision opened up.
Before them lay the martial arena, a space reserved for only the most exalted individuals.
A vast, empty clearing without so much as a single weapon rack, seemingly unremarkable at first glance.
Instead, what stood out was the ruin beside it, where artisans bustled about—remnants of what had once been a grand hall.
The remnants of a place still called the First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong.
Yet, the arena held a significance nearly equal to that of the Grand Assembly Hall.
It was the one place where those clad in black robes could, on occasion, cross swords.
The only location exempt from the Fortress law that prohibited personal duels among comrades.
As the two master and servant of the Desolate Ma Clan stepped into the Martial Arena, they held their breath.
There were predecessors already present. A young man and woman.
"...."
At a glance, neither seemed to be past their twenties, yet both had jet-black long robes trailing to their feet.
Had they already begun a duel?
Standing silently in the center of the open grounds, they faced each other, casting an eerie stillness over the surroundings.
Ma Se-in swallowed quietly.
'Leader of the Scorching Abyss Squad and Ruyi Spring Squad's leader…'
The man was Scorching Abyss Squad's leader, renowned for his Protective Energy Technique.
Spirit Steps, Yoo Jung-myung.
His ears were sharp like a sword's edge. With a face that immediately brought to mind the noble-blooded Ming Clan, his complexion was calm, and the energy flowing around him was impossibly pure.
A perfectly fitted black robe wrapped his solid frame.
"You're here."
With a brief glance toward Ma Se-in, Yoo Jung-myung spoke.
"Shall we begin, then?"
The black-robed woman facing him chuckled.
"You're talking about the cards in your hand, aren't you? Aren't you ashamed to have them taken after hoarding them all to yourself?"
Her black robe was extravagant. The hem, split into multiple layers like some ceremonial dress, rippled in the air like flames, shifting ceaselessly as if embodying an endless circulation of internal energy.
The dark trousers beneath, loosely draping her long legs, were clearly suited for swift footwork.
Ruyi Spring Squad's leader.
Dragon Fist, Bukgung Ah.
Her name meant "fang", a character some critics claimed suited her more than her title.
"Boy from the Desolate Ma Clan, just stand right there."
Bukgung Ah spoke.
It was an order from the Ruyi Spring Squad's leader.
Ma Se-in did his best to suppress his confusion.
He knew much about this monstrous prodigy standing before him. The greatest talent of Desolate Fortress, at least until Radiant Demon Squad's leader knocked on the Fortress' doors.
She had donned the black robe at an unprecedentedly young age and took barely any time to stand shoulder to shoulder with extreme masters like the Annihilation Squad's leader and Desolate Divine Spear.
It was said that she frequently clashed with Dark Moon Overstepping Spear, Ak Surim, within First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong, yet even after mocking her as an old hag, the only thing that ever got destroyed was the Assembly Hall itself.
"Do not issue orders so carelessly. He does not belong to you."
Yoo Jung-myung spoke quietly.
His noble features, inherited from his prestigious bloodline, made his rebuke ring with a divine authority, like that of a celestial deity. Behind Ma Se-in, Ma Ung fidgeted uneasily.
Bukgung Ah's white cheeks curved into a soft dimple.
"Uncle Yoo still has much to learn."
She smirked, arms crossed, and beckoned with a single curled finger.
"Since when do peers order each other around? Isn't this place made for settling such matters? Last time we clashed, it ended in a single exchange—shall we go again?"
Ruyi Spring Squad's leader, Dragon Fist.
By age alone, she was closer to the young generation. So was her level of provocation.
Among masters, duels took on many forms.
There were prolonged battles showcasing superhuman endurance, like the infamous Seven-Day Duel, and those that ended in a single move.
The variables were endless, the nature of one's martial arts, personal temperament, compatibility, momentary choices, terrain, even the weather.
It was why one-move duels were common even among those of equal standing.
Yoo Jung-myung, however, was a man of deep self-discipline. He refused to be drawn into the battle-crazed provocations of Bukgung Ah.
"Isn't the purpose of this meeting to strengthen the Fortress's forces? If you wish to earn the cooperation of subordinates, you should treat them properly."
"Why would I need cooperation? I just need to see for myself."
At the same time, a fluttering sound came from her sleeve, and suddenly, a book page flew into the air.
It was an immaculate display of Void Grasp.
Dozens of pages spread out like wings and floated between the two squad leaders. The cover bore the words Splendid Wings Step.
"This is a footwork manual."
Then, with a mere tilt of her chin—
From the ruins beside them, marble fragments soared into the air with a heavy hum, embedding themselves into the ground of the arena. They took the crude form of seats.
A flawless display of absolute control over internal energy.
While Ma Se-in's eyes widened in shock, Bukgung Ah casually dropped into one of the makeshift seats, crossing her legs. Her gaze swept over him.
"You're from a clan of movement arts… I'll see you later. I've always been curious about what that sacred relic Uncle Yoo cherishes so much is really like."
The manual of Splendid Wings Step drifted toward her.
A scene so surreal, it felt as though they had stepped into another world.
The Desolate Ma Clan's master and servant remained silent, as did Yoo Jung-myung, standing stiffly in place.
His gaze, however, was filled with deep regret as he stared at the manual in Bukgung Ah's hands.
Without a word, she began to read. Her black eyes, gleaming like trapped lightning, scanned the pages.
"The pillars go over there!"
"It's going to collapse again anyway! Stop refining here! You're wasting precious energy!"
For a while, only the voices of the short artisans reconstructing the First Sword Hall of Wonpyeong echoed through the air.
But Bukgung Ah's reading did not take long.
Suddenly, as she flipped through the pages, her brows furrowed.
"Was this written to be read?"
"…Pardon?"
Ma Se-in, still lost in the situation, instinctively responded.
Realizing it too late, he flinched.
But Bukgung Ah paid him no mind, her gaze shifting toward the Radiant Demon Squad's Pavilion.
"What kind of temperament does this author have? Has the Heavenly Demon Sovereign's Steps entered the Fortress?"
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