Join our discord to get notified about new chapters.
Chapter 150 – Contact
by Heavenly CatRead only at nineheavens.org
Translated by Nine Heavens!
***
A rising talent had ascended to Radiant Demon Wing’s black rank.
The rumors spread instantly, along with word that his age had barely left childhood.
It was an unprecedented event that no one had heard of before.
Even in the murim, said to be full of unfathomable mysteries, this was extremely extraordinary. His talent, achievements, and martial power were all extraordinary.
The city center of Xiangyang Prefecture surrounding the fortress became abuzz. This was natural.
A supreme master equivalent to the leader of the Nine Great Sects’ military force had been born.
It was an event that would put even the major sects across the Central Plains on alert, beyond just Huguang Province.
That’s what it meant to be a Leader of Desolate Fortress.
‘Hmm.’
Jeong Yeon-shin felt how the world around him had changed. Through the delicate touch examining his whole body.
A middle-aged man in blue silk clothes was examining the boy’s physique as if cultivating hand techniques.
“Please extend your arm this way.”
Despite his rough appearance, his manner was respectful. As if addressing his master.
Jeong Yeon-shin silently raised his right arm. The man slightly bent his knees at the small gesture and measured the length.
He lightly held a silk measuring tape on both ends and placed it from the boy’s shoulder to wrist.
His hand movements were extremely meticulous. Even at a glance, he clearly wasn’t being careless.
“You seem used to this.”
The Grand Administrator said. Both sides of his black beard lifted slightly.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer. There was nothing else to say. He had come at Grand Administrator Lin Jin-ming’s summons.
After tallying his remarkable achievements at the Administrator’s main hall, this was the situation he encountered upon arriving at the annex.
The office in the annex with its subtle wood fragrance was different from usual. A tailor said to be from Xiangyang’s finest fabric shop was waiting.
Usually merchants dealing in fabric only bought and sold cloth, but Xiangyang Prefecture was developed in many ways in terms of logistics and lifestyle.
This was because the massive Desolate Fortress was established here.
Even the white rank warriors’ wages were paid in silver. The city couldn’t help but be vibrant.
“Come to think of it, they say the Leader grew up in a wealthy landowner’s household? So…”
“I’m just pretending to be calm.”
Jeong Yeon-shin quietly answered.
He wasn’t offended by the Grand Administrator’s casual mention of the Jeong family estate.
Rather, it made him feel more comfortable. The head of the Administrator’s Office sitting to one side watching the boy was experienced.
His tone and way of speaking put the young supreme master’s mind at ease.
The boy even voiced a slight concern.
“Lately I feel my cultivation has grown shallow, so I’m a bit worried.”
The Grand Administrator laughed while seated.
“That’s natural for Leader Jeong’s age. It’s the time for thinking of spring. Even having aversion to reasonable things, how much more so in the murim full of arrogant martial artists? After the rising talents with great ambitions around twenty, it’s the second most common age for young practitioners to die in duels.”
“Die in duels.”
As Jeong Yeon-shin echoed the words.
“That’s what this old man has experienced…”
His smile deepened as he gazed at the boy.
“But such concerns are fitting for rising talents your age. Your martial arts are mighty beyond your years. Your status is incomparably high too.”
“It’s too early to hear talk of being mighty.”
The boy spoke while thinking of the other Leaders. The Grand Administrator shook his head.
“The murim of the Divine Sword Group’s Radiant Demon Wing Leader is naturally at the upper echelons even in the vast martial realm. You won’t be sitting with young rising talents even at the Martial Alliance gathering. That’s enough. Surely Leader Jeong wouldn’t use rude speech to the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects or Thirteen Evil Sects?”
“…”
It was words that gave food for thought. As Jeong Yeon-shin fell silent.
“It’s done.”
The middle-aged tailor said while stepping back.
“Making clothes with heavenly silkworm silk normally takes a full month, but since your duties are urgent, I’ll try to reduce it to seven days. It should be possible if I put aside other work.”
They said he was a rare master craftsman. That all the black robes of Desolate Fortress were woven by his hands.
He made items impervious to blades that wouldn’t be damaged even by ordinary energy waves.
Though he only took a humble attitude before Desolate Fortress’s Grand Administrator and Radiant Demon Wing Leader, among the common people of Xiangyang Prefecture he was a renowned craftsman and wealthy merchant who wanted for nothing in the world.
“Thank you, Master Zhang.”
Jeong Yeon-shin cupped his hands in thanks.
“Rather, it is my honor. I know of your achievements beheading countless blood demons. It was an honor to touch the body of such a noble warrior.”
Master Zhang bowed his head with a calm expression.
It was a response that made it hard for Jeong Yeon-shin to hide his embarrassment. He immediately turned his head to the Grand Administrator.
“My eye level and arm length change daily. Even if clothes are made like this, they’ll need to be refitted before long, but is it alright to repeat this multiple times? Heavenly silkworm silk isn’t ordinary material.”
“It’s not something for the Radiant Demon Wing Leader to worry about. The fortress’s wealth comes from all under heaven. With the Emperor on our side, what’s a few pieces of cloth no matter how many sets are made? It’s always been that way. It’s not like Leaders only fight overwhelming battles.”
The Grand Administrator spoke calmly. They were words that made the boy nod.
He felt the status of Radiant Demon Wing Leader while being fitted for new robes. He also received the Grand Administrator’s advice before returning to the murim.
He had just finished tallying the achievements accumulated in Sichuan.
He said he would transport an unprecedentedly large reward.
He heard wealth would be pouring into the Radiant Demon Wing quarters. He said he even sent special grade spirit pills through Blue Eyes Demon Sword Cheong Myeong.
‘Now ordinary supply spirit pills won’t be much help. The density of the Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law is too high.’
The boy thought. Special grade items might be different.
After expressing thanks to the Grand Administrator, he left the Administrator’s Office. He said Law Enforcement warriors would be guarding the rewards delivered to the hall.
His seniors with those law enforcers that everyone avoided were pitiful.
But the boy’s steps turned in the opposite direction from his quarters.
Step.
His footsteps continued.
Desolate Fortress’s Leaders weren’t completely free. Unlike blue rank, there was a set schedule. This time he had to attend the Leader gathering.
He heard it would be held at the Wish for Peace Sword Hall located in the inner area of the vast fortress. The place where he had confronted Obeying Heaven Wing Leader before.
‘The mission is decided, and they said we’ll discuss the details.’
As he received gazes from the many people he passed on the road, now that his face was known to all warriors in the fortress through the black rank promotion ceremony… Some whispered with flushed faces. Young women his age and masters touching their swords were no different.
But unlike blue rank, no one rashly challenged him to duels unable to contain their competitive spirit. They didn’t even carelessly approach to speak.
The boy moved his steps with slight satisfaction.
‘No troublesome matters. This is convenient.’
A Leader’s hierarchy was strict.
***
Read only at nineheavens.org
Translated by Nine Heavens!
***
Usually three or fewer military forces under the Divine Sword Group were stationed at the fortress.
There were opinions that even that was leaving too many to watch over the vast murim’s security.
There were even Leaders who didn’t see each other during their active service.
The number of black rank supreme masters currently in Desolate Fortress was that exceptional.
Divine Sword Group’s Divine Sword Squad Vice Leader.
Law Enforcement Leader, Radiant Demon Wing Leader, Azure Sky Squad Leader, Obeying Heaven Wing Leader, Annihilation Team Leader.
Counting the previous Radiant Demon Wing Leader, there were seven black ranks. Adding each military force made it a force unmatched anywhere under heaven.
There was a reason some Leaders who had been outside returned to the fortress. Discussion about the Martial Alliance gathering was needed.
The justification for forming the alliance was in Desolate Fortress’s use of force.
To respond to the rapidly changing murim situation along with famine, having only three seats filled at the Wish for Peace Sword Hall wouldn’t do.
But there was an uninvited guest. That’s how it seemed to Jeong Yeon-shin.
“Diancang?”
The boy muttered.
Before the round table surrounded by eighteen stone seats.
At one side of the massive table, Diancang Sect’s great disciple sat in a specially prepared chair. Her beautiful face smiled at Jeong Yeon-shin.
As sunlight entering through the windows brushed the marble stone seats.
The light reflecting white from the stone seats touched her cheeks.
“Nice to see you. It was a very impressive duel.”
The woman waved with a seemingly innocent face. Little Sword Queen Qu Su-yu.
After accompanying on the return from Sichuan, she had observed up to the black rank promotion ceremony.
She showed no signs of leaving, but Jeong Yeon-shin thought it was rather fortunate.
The Martial Alliance gathering was unknown territory. Orthodox martial arts he had never experienced would be rampant. The same went for orthodox sect masters.
Since she had safely guided the purple rank elders to the fortress, the Diancang great disciple would be a good ally.
‘It’s enough if she takes my side when needed. As a great disciple of the Nine Great Sects, she should have a strong voice at the alliance.’
As he just slightly nodded his head toward Little Sword Queen, her lips curled up strangely.
She seemed somewhat excited. A mysterious person.
While hard to guess her inner thoughts, she showed obvious favor toward Jeong Yeon-shin.
She reminded him of Seventh Apostle.
‘…Don’t trust her with my back. Don’t say anything needy either.’
He had received favors multiple times from someone he considered an enemy. He didn’t want to increase the confusion.
He turned his head as if ignoring Little Sword Queen. His smiling uncle came into view.
“Diancang’s Qu Su-yu came as a witness. Yeon-shin, you sit too.”
Ma Jin said while patting the seat beside him. Unlike Little Sword Queen, it meant to sit in the stone seat.
It was natural as a fortress Leader. Jeong Yeon-shin sat beside his uncle.
“The clothes suit you well.”
It was a woman’s voice. The breath mixed in her voice was firm.
Just one word was enough to tell. How deeply she had cultivated mind techniques.
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head with slight surprise.
Law Enforcement Leader Woon So-yu was staring intently with pitch-black eyes.
He had received her greeting. Perhaps his conduct earlier recalling Hyeon Won-chang had achieved its intended effect.
The boy was once again conscious of his clothing.
It was a black robe with the left sleeve bottom part torn off. He had specially requested and received it from his uncle who tried to lend new clothes.
“It harmonizes with your unique energy. It’s not unsightly. Along with your reputation and principles, it seems it could become a symbol of sorts.”
“You said unique energy?”
“Dry and static. Like an old master who has lived their full life.”
She fell silent after answering briefly.
Seeing the faces of the other Leaders and his uncle, only Jeong Yeon-shin seemed to disagree. These days storms and waves frequently arose in his heart.
‘Again.’
Suddenly both his knees grew cold.
The boy slightly furrowed his brow. The cartilage that only hurt when he was young was acting up bit by bit. Not enough to affect using martial arts.
But in the realm of supreme masters where an inch’s difference determined life and death, he had to learn daily about his noticeably changing hand length and eye level.
The necessity had grown stronger lately.
‘Have to mind the Radiant Wing footwork too. Legs getting longer is good for nerves and leg strength but.’
As he was inwardly sighing.
“If everyone’s here, let’s begin.”
The short-haired girl who had been looking at him with sisterly eyes spoke. She was the strongest supreme master among the seven black ranks.
Desolate Divine Spear Yue Shou-lin. She opened her mouth while smiling like a mischievous child with her half-exposed face.
“It’s decided that Lightning Genius will go mess with the detestable Martial Alliance? Any objections?”
It was the characteristically free-spirited speech of the Divine Sword Group’s Divine Sword Squad. She was worthy of being considered for next Divine Sword Group Leader with her mighty martial arts.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought. Since she spoke like that, he really wouldn’t need to focus only on reconnaissance.
‘The looser the mission regulations the better. Just don’t cause trouble.’
Lightning Genius inside nodded his head. He seemed ready to dance. The boy deliberately ignored it.
“…”
While no one could say anything to the question asking for objections.
One person raised their hand. Obeying Heaven Wing Leader Ha Do-won. A man showing muscles through sleeves unsuited to a robe.
As the direct superior of White Qilin Namgung Hwa-sin who had been sharp toward Jeong Yeon-shin, he wore quite a stern expression.
“See, no one? Our Lightning Genius, do whatever you want! Dismissed!”
Yue Shou-lin stamped the floor while holding her spear.
***
Read only at nineheavens.org
Translated by Nine Heavens!
***
Join our discord to get notified about new chapters.
0 Comments