Chapter 125 – Samadhi True Fire (5)
by Heavenly CatRead only at nineheavens.org
Translated by Nine Heavens!
***
It was a world where swords ran rampant.
The front gate of Desolate Fortress’s Sichuan branch was always busy. Various people visited.
Merchant groups seeking stable trade with martial masters, commoners coming to report grievances to Desolate Fortress instead of government offices, wanderers hoping to learn even basic moves of supreme martial arts.
The wide roads extending left, right and front were never quiet.
It was the same now. Only the nature of the crowd was different.
The usual passersby had retreated to the sides, watching the strangers with faces showing concern and excitement.
“That’s the Ten Perfections Sect.”
A spectator muttered.
He was a dignified-looking merchant wearing yellow silk clothes.
Merchants with both fine attire and experience were usually well-informed about martial world news. Martial sects were like veins where large amounts of goods flowed.
They constantly consumed martial robes, weapons, food supplies and other resources, as well as tremendous military power that affected civilian life. Through both righteous and forceful means.
Merchants had to be sensitive to martial world affairs. Especially in times of famine like now.
“Starting from their leader… truly formidable. The Fierce Sword actually came in person. Light green martial clothes, dual swords, thin hand weapons… with those sharp features, it must be him.”
“You mean the brother of Ten Perfections Sect’s Sword Scorpion Demon?”
A man beside him asked. The merchant nodded.
“That’s right. Though they’re sworn brothers, not blood related. But they say his sword techniques are equally fierce.”
“High praise indeed.”
“Of course, Sword Scorpion Demon Du Gu-gwang probably exaggerated his sworn brother’s prowess but…”
“Isn’t Fierce Sword’s fame second only to Sword Scorpion now? The Qincheng Sect and Emei Sect or whatever… anyways, he’s still famous. They say he showed off Ten Perfections Sect’s hidden weapon techniques right in front of experts from the Nine Great Sects and Tang Clan. Split their wine cups in half.”
“That was just showing off in front of younger generations. He wouldn’t dare try that with the Tang Clan’s veteran masters.”
“You seem to have connections to the Tang Clan?”
He asked playfully. The Tang Clan Leader wearing a human skin mask didn’t answer.
He silently watched a group approaching from across the street.
If they continued straight ahead, they would pass right by Desolate Fortress’s Sichuan branch.
A young man’s voice was heard first.
“Lord Feng-gong. We should remain cautious. Considering the experts from our sect and Pure Demon Alliance who entered the City of Renowned Craftsmen…”
It was the western entrance of the Sichuan branch.
About twenty people.
They carried swords, clubs and whips.
As people on the street fearfully passed by, their movements seemed very practiced.
It showed in their very steps. There was a calm yet firm spirit. All of them were like that.
The young man who spoke continued. He naturally wore a crescent blade on his back and a precious sword at his waist.
“Du Gu-gwang and Pure Demon Divine Hand were there. Though the Sichuan branch is insignificant, we must consider reinforcements from Desolate Fortress’s main fortress. Since they had forces comparable to Radiant Demon Wing, that must be how they escaped the City of Renowned Craftsmen. We should be mindful of unknown experts.”
“…”
The man called Feng Gong didn’t answer. He was a middle-aged man wrapped in composure like armor.
His sleeveless green martial clothes revealing muscular arms were striking.
He wore dual swords at his sides and three daggers could be seen protruding from behind his waist.
Though heavily armed, he gave off a neat impression.
“I don’t underestimate them.”
Ten Perfections Sect’s Feng Gong, Fierce Sword Ge Siliang spoke slowly.
“I’ll simply fulfill my duty. Since the sect leader granted me full authority, I naturally wish to repay his grace by honing my skills. Trusting in my own abilities and displaying my martial arts will be enough.”
That’s when it happened.
“Hey―!”
A rough shout like a street thug’s shook the air, reverberating like a lion’s roar.
The approaching force was massive. Tremendous internal energy was imbued.
Right Across from them
Unlike the Ten Perfections Sect, there were only about ten people. The approaching group’s momentum was incredible.
They seemed like they would smash through walls rather than go around them. Their qi was extremely tyrannical from the start.
Pure Demon Alliance.
The appearance of the man in front was distinct.
His carelessly disheveled hair was like a lion’s mane, and with just a black shoulder cape worn over his bare chest, his torso covered in scars was exposed.
His muscles were chiseled like stone and his build was huge. He must have been eight chi tall.
[TL note- 8 chi = 2.6m]
A massive blade was strapped to his back. It was the size of a pillar.
Anyone could see he had cultivated both internal and external martial arts. The Thirteen Evil Sects’ Blade Fist Demon.
His blue eyes characteristic of the Western people common in Pure Demon Alliance flashed. His hair was light brown.
“If it isn’t the swordsman from the Impoverished Sect?”
He asked with a grin. Impoverished Sect. It was mocking the name of the Ten Perfections Sect which meant completeness.
[TL note- Impoverished is a satirical inversion for the term Perfections in the Ten Perfections Sect.]
It was an insult even most supreme masters would hesitate to use.
Sword Demon Ge Siliang calmly nodded his head.
“Blade Fist Demon senior still looks healthy. Thanks to Pure Demon Divine Hand’s death?”
“That’s regrettable.”
“Really?”
“I’m glad there’s one less person eyeing the next Alliance Leader position, but I lost the chance to personally break his Mist Veiling Fourteen Palms. How could I not regret it? I just hope the Desolate Fortress b*st*rd who broke his arm isn’t pathetically weak. Wonder who it was. Must be a Radiant Demon Wing Leader.”
His voice was full of strength. Ge Siliang shook his head.
“Didn’t you come here to build merit? If you really thought the expert who faced both major sects was unharmed, you wouldn’t have come.”
“Your petty insight is amusing. But somewhat accurate.”
Blade Fist Demon continued with a laugh.
“You know me quite well.”
“It’s easy to deduce. Since only a purple-rank could do that, but would Desolate Fortress’s purple-ranks have the leisure to come to Sichuan?”
His tone was strange. Ge Siliang closed his mouth after those words.
The groups from Ten Perfections Sect and Pure Demon Alliance had now met. The main gate of Desolate Fortress’s Sichuan branch was right beside them.
They had arrived together as if it was planned. They seemed to have coordinated their distances while approaching.
“The Tang Clan is here too. Wonder what those sneaky ones are after.”
The corners of Blade Fist Demon’s mouth rose. It was a vicious smile.
He sensed a presence hiding on the road straight ahead from the gate. It was the Tang Clan’s characteristic concealment technique.
Being extremely skilled, Ge Siliang and Blade Fist Demon were supreme masters who could act like kings in Sichuan.
***
Read only at nineheavens.org
Translated by Nine Heavens!
***
Only the Tang Clan Leader could deceive their qi sense.
Ge Siliang opened his mouth.
“I don’t think it’s dangerous. The Tang Clan’s weakness has already been exposed. I heard they’re licking the Blood Flame Sect Leader’s boots, so they might help us if needed. Isn’t Desolate Fortress’s destruction the wish of the entire murim?”
“Except for the monks and Taoist priests of the Nine Sects.”
The young man standing behind Sword Demon Ge Siliang answered. His pessimistic tone contained confidence.
The tyrannical spirit characteristic of the Thirteen Evil Sects’ major factions wasn’t exclusive to Pure Demon Alliance or Blood Flame Sect.
The pride in each of their martial arts was tremendous.
“…”
The spectators affected by their spirit had fallen silent.
The majority of commoners pressed against walls, wanderers standing prominently on various pavilion roofs, and some martial artists sticking to railings like spiders with Wall Crawling Technique.
Only the experts of the Thirteen Evil Sects were releasing their presence.
They stood at the pinnacle of the murim. That was the status of warriors from major factions said to rival the Nine Sects.
It was more than enough to overwhelm all the spectators gathered here.
The Pure Demon Alliance experts wearing black shoulder capes smiled. They seemed to be savoring the silence.
That was the essence of those who cultivated martial arts. They elevated their realm to feel themselves.
They pursued presence and power that overwhelmingly affected others.
The Thirteen Evil Sects didn’t discriminate in methods for this. That’s why they were called the demonic path.
Meanwhile, the Ten Perfections Sect warriors’ faces were calm. As if out for a stroll.
“Let’s begin.”
Ge Siliang said. The air around the young man beside him began to boil. Along with tremendous energy waves, he shouted:
―Imperial dogs, show yourselves!
There was a moment of silence.
The masters waited silently.
Rather than charging in and killing indiscriminately, they wanted to damage Desolate Fortress’s prestige in front of spectators.
They had lost their elite groups. As demonic path major factions, they needed to trample Desolate Fortress to save face.
“Wonder if anyone’s still intact. If it’s too boring, that’s no fun either.”
Blade Fist Demon said. The Ten Perfections Sect youth secretly sneered. They came here for this, and now this bear-like guy was putting on airs.
‘Shallow b*st*rd.’
That’s when it happened.
Creeak―
Desolate Fortress’s Sichuan branch gate moved. The loud sound approached strangely calmly.
The large door opened just slightly. A boy appeared in the gap.
While tremendous silence pressed down on the street, a young swordsman wearing a black robe woven from ebony walked out.
The sleeves of his black robe were uneven. One side was torn off.
Two swords were worn simultaneously at his waist, the sight strangely fitting.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
“You.”
His gaze was clear. It was on Pure Demon Alliance’s Blade Fist Demon. Anyone could tell from his large build.
The boy calmly continued.
“Your aura is the same as those underlings I saw below. There was one called Pure Demon Divine Hand too. Have you come for revenge?”
“Child. Are you worthy of speaking of the Divine Hand’s title?”
Blade Fist Demon asked. His lips held back a sneer.
Yet his attitude wasn’t defenseless. His right foot had already stepped forward.
It was a fighting stance. The supreme master, rare in Sichuan’s body, had reacted. It meant he sensed something strange from the boy before him.
“Worthy?”
Jeong Yeon-shin’s head tilted slightly. Cunning conduct. Even his lips drew a small arc.
Anyone could see it was a provocation.
The corners of Blade Fist Demon’s mouth curled up.
“Desolate Fortress must be quite short on people. I can tell you’re a fairly outstanding young expert since your spirit is unusual. But qualification is another matter. Can you alone discuss sect affairs with us? While wearing that ridiculously black robe.”
He had already noticed the rough “Desolate” character embroidered on the black robe. It was a supreme master’s eye technique.
It was laughable. Though they say strange things abound in the murim, examining closely they’re all confined within the framework of common sense.
Even being blue-rank at the boy’s age would be shocking.
Black was out of the question. It was as absurd as imagining an object floating in mid-air.
“Discuss sect affairs? Didn’t you come for war?”
Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked.
Raucous laughter burst out. It was from the Pure Demon Alliance side intoxicated on demonic energy.
But Blade Fist Demon’s expression rather sank.
As the boy in front of him breathed, the flow of his internal energy became clearer.
It was a level only a top expert could sense. The aura of divine power.
Blade Fist Demon calmly opened his mouth.
“You seem ignorant of major factions’ rules. If we constantly waged all-out war, a thousand years wouldn’t be enough to build this much power. That’s why duels exist in the murim.”
“You mean the Pure Demon Alliance will withdraw if I defeat you?”
Jeong Yeon-shin asked. A faint smile formed at the corners of Blade Fist Demon’s mouth.
“Are you really qualified to negotiate with me? You must be from a sect of dogs raised by the imperial court. How lacking in people they must be.”
He too made provocations. They were words fully meant for an enemy.
The world of warriors who would do anything to cut off an opponent’s breath with blades.
The cold wind that had swept in while scanning the approach began to howl. It felt very dry.
The spectators who were already holding their breath seemed to completely stop breathing.
Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth again. While smoothing the hem of his pitch-black sleeve with his other hand.
“I said this to the one called Pure Demon Divine Hand.”
“You are mentioning Divine Hand again. Speak.”
“A corpse’s tongue is long.”
The boy said.
Read only at nineheavens.org
Translated by Nine Heavens!
***
Edited by Mgt
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