Chapter 131 – Azure Flame (4)

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Tang Clan Leader and the Tang siblings maintained calm expressions.

No one scolded Hyeon Won-chang.

Without showing any displeasure, they simply stood quietly watching Jeong Yeon-shin.

The Desolate Divine Hero’s muttering was ignored.

“This may sound strange, but if you collect moonlight from several full moons, the water gains mysterious properties,” Tang Yun-hwang said with a slight smile.

For a moment, he spoke with extreme respect, but his tone soon shifted to a more casual one.

This was because Jeong Yeon-shin had requested to be addressed less formally at the Desolate Fortress Kuizhou branch.

Even polite speech felt burdensome coming from one of the Eight Family Leaders.

Even though the boy was somewhat detached from the murim, his status was still highly revered in the murim.

Yet Tang Yun-hwang never switched to casual speech.

“We call it Spiritual Water. It can substitute for the craftsman’s spirit nature that only manifests when heaven’s timing aligns. A mystical substance like dragon veins or spirit veins. This is why our ancestors who started the family’s martial lineage chose to settle here.”

The sound of water flowing from the artificial mountain seemed to gently wrap around Tang Yun-hwang’s calm voice.

It was a place with wonderful ambiance.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded while running his hands over the hilts of his two swords.

“I can only express my gratitude.”

“The divine weapons that periodically emerge from our family originate from this Spiritual Water. Though not common, they’re not exactly rare either. It’s still too early to speak of repaying grace, so please refrain from expressing thanks, teacher.”

He spoke with a faint smile. The beard thickly covering Tang Yun-hwang’s lips gave him a friendly appearance.

He seemed to possess both an inherently cheerful nature and the demeanor of one consumed by revenge.

The scene was still vivid in the boy’s eyes.

Tang Clan Leader’s gesture as he swept away Fierce Sword Ge Siliang and the other Thirteen Evil Sects warriors with Myriad Heavens Flower Rain had been utterly merciless.

Yet his manner toward Jeong Yeon-shin was so deferential it hardly seemed like the same person.

“We’ll melt it down again mixed with steel that’s already been immersed in Spiritual Water. Weight and surface area are the issues, but your sword should be manageable for the Spiritual Water. Both are typical three-foot swords. Width less than one inch. Standard weapons for martial artists.”

Tang Yun-hwang’s eyes scanned Jeong Yeon-shin’s paired swords.

The Desolate sword had already been revealed before, but for the Northern Light sword he seemed to judge its form just from the hilt and scabbard.

His words about martial artists’ weapons were accurate. Three feet equals one meter.

It was a blade length that commoners who hadn’t learned martial arts would need both hands to wield.

Tang Yun-hwang and the Tang siblings’ eyes followed Jeong Yeon-shin’s fingers as they touched the sword hilts.

When his fingertips briefly touched the Desolate sword, Tang Yun-hwang spoke again.

“It’s common yet famous. It’s very well-made. I’m curious who the craftsman is. Though it’s a standard issue weapon of Desolate Fortress…”

It was a sword that had long contained Jeong Yeon-shin’s Radiant Sword Style.

As rumors said iron clan-made weapons grow with their owners, even if mass-produced for distribution, it had become most familiar in the boy’s hands.

At one point he thought there couldn’t be a sword in the world that suited him better.

Now was different. He had created the Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law and temporarily reached black rank.

He would soon face supreme masters repeatedly, the sword’s edge had already been worn down.

‘The sword won’t hold up.’

It would be hard to withstand the enemies’ terrifying internal energy and sword techniques one after another.

Originally weapons were consumables.

That’s why the word “standard issue” was attached to the Desolate sword.

The fortress warriors constantly received quality weapons whenever they returned from missions.

This was because the masters that Desolate Fortress warriors had to face usually had techniques that could damage metal.

There was a limit to protecting the sword with internal energy.

Swoosh.

Jeong Yeon-shin drew both swords at once.

Tang Yun-hwang’s eyes immediately swept down the Northern Light sword.

Sunlight refracted off the wave patterns flowing down the blade.

It was a sword he had received as a reward after achieving merit at the Blood Flame Sect’s headquarters.

“A rare precious sword.”

Tang Yun-hwang said.

It seemed to satisfy the eyes of the Tang Clan Leader renowned as a master craftsman.

Even to Jeong Yeon-shin, the Northern Light sword had something special. It caught the wind well.

Though the Desolate sword was also flawless in balance, Northern Light sword felt different – harder yet better at cutting through air.

He just hadn’t had many chances to imbue it with sword energy.

‘Because I used the Desolate sword when creating the Radiant Sword Style.’

There had been many urgent situations, so he had unconsciously continued to use the sword he was most familiar with.

It was a small vicious cycle. Now, it seemed time to let it go.

Jeong Yeon-shin who had gone through many life-and-death battles with a standard issue sword had now entered a new realm.

No matter how attached he was, a divine sword would be helpful in fighting to solve his short lifespan.

“An excellent choice. This one is much better after all. Its foundation is more precious.”

Tang Yun-hwang said while receiving the Northern Light sword’s hilt that Jeong Yeon-shin handed over.

“A weapon whose blade rarely breaks is a divine weapon. While firmly maintaining the blade, it completely entrusts the battle’s outcome to its owner’s martial arts alone. You must know well how powerful techniques unleashed with peace of mind can be, teacher.”

“Yes. Forgive me for asking, but could you tell me how long it might take?”

The boy quietly asked. Tang Yun-hwang immediately burst into hearty laughter.

“Such caution rather makes me feel slighted. Please speak freely and I’ll answer anything. For forging a new divine weapon, it will take about a month. Since we want to mix in spirit nature-imbued meteorite steel most ideally. I’ve already informed our family’s master craftsmen. I will be the one wielding the hammer.”

“Clan Leader. As I heard earlier, did you say you’ll mix in and melt meteorite steel?”

Lazy Flame Dragon asked with a somewhat surprised face.

It was an extremely rare mineral. Some said it was metal taken from a comet that fell to the earth.

If tempered properly according to secret recipes, it could create an unbreakable strong sword.

Though heavier than iron of the same volume, meteorite steel was called a treasure.

For some martial artists, even that was a factor in increasing sword energy.

Even a small amount was hard to put a price on.

Spirit nature-imbued meteorite steel from a prestigious family also famous for blacksmithing was even more so.

Combined with the Spiritual Water-soaked Northern Light sword through a master craftsman’s hands, it might gain some divine power worthy of being called a divine sword.

Everyone present knew this.

“Never mind that. Teacher. We’ll handle the sword, so we should discuss other matters now.”… Tang Yun-hwang waved his hand. He seemed to want to ease Jeong Yeon-shin’s burden.

While carefully placing the Northern Light sword in the artificial mountain’s water flow, Tang Yun-hwang spoke again.

“There’s a matter as important as the divine weapon. I know the suspicions of you and the other Desolate Fortress masters. The thunderclap bombs.”

“…”

“Senior Beggar had already given a hint. Along with saying he came to the City of Renowned Craftsmen’s cliff to deliver that message. He said several Blood Flame Sect members, he had long been watching, entered our main family. All with shaved heads.”

“Blood Flame Sect…!”

As Hyeon Won-chang swallowed hard, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.

“The Elder Council Leader from our fortress also disappeared while chasing an apostle. We hope to find even a small clue.”

“But it’s extremely difficult to root out. If someone communicated with the Blood Flame Sect, and in our family of all places… they must not be an ordinary figure in our main family. Because it’s not easy to create secrets in the long-established Tang Clan.”

Tang Yun-hwang’s expression looked pained.

The Clan Leader himself was speaking of what might be family shame.

The boy thought.

The Hwangbo and Namgung families they had dealt with would have massacred the Desolate Fortress masters before them in the name of eliminating threats.

The Tang Clan Leader before him was different.

He doesn’t have the aura of a pure Taoist, but he has integrity. He’s a great hero of the secular world.’

As Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly admired him, the conversation continued.

It was a discussion that increasingly made the difficulty of the matter felt. Unable to watch anymore, Lazy Flame Dragon sighed with a bored face.

“Of course it would be hard to find an old snake long hidden in the Tang Clan. It must be a terrifying viper. Whether in schemes or poison techniques.”

Though Hyeon Won-chang made an exasperated expression, the Tang Clan Leader actually agreed.

“Young Master Hwangbo’s words are right. Our family’s old bloodline members are mostly sinister and deep in schemes. They might be hiding in dark corners laughing at those searching for them.”

“Just why would someone from our family communicate with an evil sect…? I really…”

Tang Li-li’s brows were furrowed. She had looked uncomfortable throughout the conversation.

Poison Dragon Tang Li-hua was the same. They had cultivated Tang Clan martial arts with talent everyone revered.

It was a life that had never felt lacking, even briefly. Since the Tang Clan’s power wasn’t weak either, it was even harder to understand.

Tang Yun-hwang smiled at his daughter.

“I know your martial talents have bloomed brilliantly and amazingly. But it’s been far too long since our family has seen Myriad Heavens Flower Rain. Perhaps they sought alternatives. Whether coveting blood technique verses that could build power separate from the Reverse Origin Three Yang Technique, or joining hands to investigate something else…”

“It could be both.”

Namgung Hwa-shin suddenly said. But it was a conversation without answers.

Like an incident sinking into a quagmire, thus their first day at the Tang Clan drew to a close.

* * *

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

“Your young talents are quite amazing. Desolate Fortress’s blessings are excessive.”

“Do you mean White Qilin… or Lightning Genius?”

It was a deep cave. Aged voices echoed in the darkness.

“Both are here. The boy Lightning Genius has already been polished first. He reached the black rank.”

“Heh, heheh…”

A senile laughter broke out intermittently.

“Black rank… I saw him during the competition before the duel with Namgung. He was overflowing with talent… truly in full bloom… amazing, truly amazing.”

“He fulfilled my lifelong wish on his first journey to Sichuan. Heaven doesn’t hear my calls – I beseeched heaven my whole life to grant inspiration for Myriad Heavens Flower Rain, yet my worthless son took my life’s desire. Your Lightning Genius…is very dangerous. He was born with the talent to bring divine martial techniques into the realm of skill.”

That story.

It was words putting firm strength into a weak voice.

The voice that had only been giving feeble answers became very clear.

“That’s also amazing. I don’t want to hinder him any further. Why are you keeping this old man alive?”

“Still not enough. Something’s strange with my grandchildren’s bodies. Though we clearly implemented much of Lightning Genius’s body diagram, the results aren’t satisfactory. Our grandchildren can’t wield talent like that boy. I’ve also thoroughly examined your body with blood technique and Three Yang Technique qi.”

At the same time hearty laughter burst out.

“You don’t understand the word genius. It literally means heaven-granted martial talent, how dare humans try to violate it with human effort? It is a futile struggle. Be content with your lot.”

“Speak as you please. Elder Council Leader of Desolate Fortress.”

* * *

The next day.

Jeong Yeon-shin was invited to the Tang Clan Supreme Elder’s banquet.

It was expected. The conflict between Clan Leader and Supreme Elder hadn’t ended.

They were a murim family where blood and power intertwined.

The Supreme Elder who had held full authority wouldn’t easily let go of power.

The banquet hall was magnificent.

The interior size rivaled an ordinary training ground.

Along with cicadas’ noisy cries, the scent of grass wafted in through the windows.

The old wooden tables arranged in a square shape were also elegant.

Ten people sat in each row.

Dancers and musicians added to the festive atmosphere as the banquet reached its peak.

Everyone was holding wine cups or picking at delicacies, exchanging greetings and discussing martial arts.

Some were discussing the situation in Sichuan.

“They say young demonic path masters gathered in Shunjing Prefecture. Truly the end times. Evil path trash openly walking around in broad daylight calling themselves young talents.”

“I heard the Qincheng Sect Leader passed away. They say he was killed by a peerless swordsman.”

“You mean the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader? That’s nonsense… Rather, the rumor that the Diancang Sect’s Little Sword Queen set out with Emei and Qincheng Sect disciples seems more credible and interesting. Our Dragon Phoenix Twin Poisons should suppress them at least once.”

Jeong Yeon-shin had already received several wine cups. All were the Supreme Elder’s people.

He had just finished receiving guests with sword discussions in the west hall.

Just appropriately dealing with them brought smiles to their faces.

That’s when it happened.

““It’s getting tiring just listening to the chatter. You there.”

It was the Supreme Elder beside Jeong Yeon-shin. He wore the same golden robe as when they first met.

Perhaps he was deliberately not dispelling the alcohol to appear drunk. Or maybe he was pretending to have blurred vision.

―Must be a terrifying viper.

Lazy Flame Dragon’s words flashed through his mind.

[TL Note- This is the moment Yeon-shin realised that supreme elder is the traitor.]

“You there, Lightning Genius. What are you thinking so deeply about? Your face shows concern. Though you have everything in the world.”

“…”

“Is that not so? Desolate Fortress’s black-rank master.”

The Supreme Elder quietly asked. His aged breath seemed to carry something deep.

Suddenly, silence fell over the banquet hall.

The sharp gazes of the masters were entirely focused on Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Just.”

The boy calmly opened his mouth.

I was curious about the purpose. You didn’t mention the chatter just now.”

“Ah… that’s right. That’s understandable.”

The corners of the Supreme Elder’s mouth rose.

A smile tinged with subtle madness. Movement like his face would tear.

“I called you out of curiosity. That day, you passed on Myriad Heavens Flower Rain’s technique to my son. It was a truly incomprehensible form. Just grabbing and releasing hands, how did our Clan Leader come to control flower petals? As a martial artist I tried not to ask, but also as a martial artist I simply couldn’t contain my curiosity.”

It was a banquet hall with masters gathered to escort him on all sides.

Even words without force became pressure in this place. The Supreme Elder quietly asked.

“Could you show this old martial artist? Apart from Myriad Heavens Flower Rain already in our family’s possession, I’m very curious about your martial technique. Is that too shameless a request?”

“…No. It’s not difficult.”

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.

It’s the words of the most respected person in the house I’m indebted to. If it’s the person with the highest status in the Tang Clan, it must be the Supreme Elder, right?”

“No, no. The young ones supporting our family are truly the noble ones.”

The Supreme Elder shook his head slightly in humility. A smile played on his lips.

Small cheers rang out from the masters seated in the hall.

“Then.”

Jeong Yeon-shin extended his hand to the Supreme Elder.

At the same time he operated the Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law. Tang Clan Supreme Elder.

Unlike the Thirteen Evil Sects warriors who had witnessed Sword Demon Fist Ma’s death up close.

The dharma power of the Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law wasn’t as flashy as what the Thirteen Evil Sects warriors had witnessed up close when Sword Demon was killed.

He had built the framework of the divine technique verses using the Diamond Sutra and Vegetable Root Discourse.

Heavy inside the body, subtle on the outside.

The nature of divine techniques mastered by major faction experts was extremely valuable information.

The Thirteen Evil Sects masters who noticed the Luminous Wheel’s dharma power were all dead.

Only Ten Perfections Sect likely knew through Spear-axe Sword Su Jin-lang.

But Sichuan’s land was vast, and there were limits to how fast information could travel.

They had even recovered all treasures including the spiritual object Su Jin-lang had carried.

Unless it was the previously known Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm, the abilities of the Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law were still top secret.

Swoosh.

The wrinkled hand met the young hand.

Yet inwardly the boy thought that no matter what, this couldn’t be the family’s Supreme Elder.

Kwaaak!

A groan burst forth. It came from the Supreme Elder’s mouth.

“…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin was rarely flustered. Inside, Hyeon Won-chang and Lazy Flame Dragon spoke simultaneously.

Saying there couldn’t be another martial family in the world this chaotic.

“You b*st*rd!”

“Remove your hand at once!”

Those seated on either side leapt up. Their reaction speed was extremely fast. Their movements were like lightning.

At some point they had reached into their robes, and the Supreme Elder’s warriors were each drawing weapons.

As if there was nothing to consider, they immediately threw them.

Hidden weapons and silver threads came rushing in like rays of light from all directions.

Jeong Yeon-shin extended his left hand. Waves of absorption and emission spread from the Labor Palace and Lesser Palace points in his palm center.

Along with it was the Luminous wheel’s rotating force technique that began spinning instantly.

In the room shaking with wine cups and plates and various items flying up, the divine technique verses arose with genius-like pulsing.

‘Myriad Heavens Flower Rain.’

Hwak!

The incoming hidden weapons paused briefly, then whirled around as if to scrape the entire room clean.

In an instant they changed masters. Along with a storm buffeting the air, all the light rays returned exactly as they came.

The hidden weapons struck their owners’ bodies. Blood sprayed in all directions.

The Tang Clan Supreme Elder’s face was pale. His expression showed he had never imagined this outcome.

“This… this is…”

His trembling voice trailed off as he collapsed in his seat.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***