Chapter 157 – Chivalrous Hero (4)

The Chongyang Gang leader’s head hit the ground with a thud. The corpse maintained its balance briefly before losing it and collapsing as Jeong Yeon-shin sheathed his sword.

The prefectural magistrate’s lips parted slightly. A streak of blood marked her cheek—blood that had sprayed from her husband’s neck.

Without glancing at the corpse, she only stroked her cheek where traces of her husband remained.

“My lord…”

She muttered with a somewhat detached expression. She seemed resigned after witnessing Desolate Fortress’s black rank power manifest.

That was why her expression hadn’t changed since facing Jeong Yeon-shin.

Not being an ignorant country magistrate, someone of her position would always keep watch on Desolate Fortress.

It meant she knew well their status, martial power, and conduct.

“Young Leader, will you kill me too?”

She asked.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer immediately.

She was different from the martial artists whose necks he had been cutting. There was much to find out.

Why the prefectural magistrate had aided in plundering despite lacking nothing, what nerve made her act right under the Martial Alliance and Wudang Sect’s noses.

[TL Note- Mount Wu has been changed to Wudang Sect. It was a typo in previous chapters.]

Also, they said they had entertained Deep Martial Alliance masters—what schemes those who appeared matching the Martial Alliance opening had.

“Let’s hear it.”

Huguang Province was comparable in size to a small nation.

As prefectural magistrate, one of only seventeen such positions in Huguang, she held power over eight county magistrates.

Rashly killing her would burden anyone. She might even have connections to the imperial court.

Jeong Yeon-shin wanted to resolve his immediate questions first.

“Lead the way.”

He led his group into the hall with the prefectural magistrate in front.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

***

“Word of you has reached all prefectures in Huguang Province.”

The prefectural magistrate spoke while slightly lifting her teacup. Perhaps she had noble blood mixed in.

Her fingers, unusually slender and smooth for her apparent age, lightly brushed the top of the cup.

“When a new Leader emerges under the Divine Sword Group, a message arrives to all seventeen of us in this vast land of Huguang. Your identity and status are such that you must act with caution.”

No change showed in her expression despite losing her companion. Do officials become monsters no less than martial artists upon taking office?

Prefectural magistrate. Your Honor the Prefect.

Before the Song Dynasty, they were called grand protector. A fourth-rank official position.

Three ranks higher than widely known positions like county magistrate or imperial censor.

Commanding unparalleled power in civilian life with assistant magistrates, circuit intendants, and vice prefects under them, there was reason for the title “Your Honor.”

Thus, her words demonstrated the status of Desolate Fortress’s black ranks.

“Does it disgust you?”

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked.

The Mount Hua disciples behind him drew sharp breaths. It was conduct unimaginable among civilians, but the prefectural magistrate’s expression remained calm.

Did she fully accept the Divine Sword Group’s squad leader’s status? Or perhaps she was just deeply calculating.

“Disgust? Such personal words are unfamiliar. Any official with a properly functioning head would acknowledge your necessity.”

The prefectural magistrate brought the teacup to her lips. After moistening her throat with tea, she opened her mouth again, her face showing no particular expression.

“The evil acts committed by lawless martial artists are hard to stop with government troops. That’s natural. What productivity is there in what those who live by martial arts do? While soldiers help commoners plow fields, raise livestock, and build houses, martial artists only train in ways to kill people. They know nothing else and contribute nothing to the nation. They should at least be strong, shouldn’t they? Those ones.”

She stared intently at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“That’s why Desolate Fortress is needed. Though your numbers are few compared to the Central Plains, the symbolism of the world’s greatest sect protecting people’s livelihoods firmly supports us.”

“We don’t protect plunder and massacre.”

The boy replied in a calm voice.

However, coming from the mouth of a Desolate Fortress black rank master, it carried unique weight.

The three men guarding behind the prefectural magistrate put their hands on their waists. They were the remaining government troops.

They seemed ready to draw swords against Jeong Yeon-shin if needed. When the weak yield first strike to the strong, it’s over.

But they couldn’t hide their trembling hands. Just Jeong Yeon-shin’s indifferent gaze had done that.

“Stay still.”

The boy said briefly. Did it reach as a command? Their hands all left their weapons at once.

The Luminous Wheel energy imbued in his voice was heavy. A bitter smile formed at the prefectural magistrate’s lips.

“You are a monster of incredible power. How at that age.”

“Be quiet. Is food so scarce? Why did you commit plunder in an innocent village?”

He asked, cutting to the chase. At the same time, her smile disappeared.

“I said I acknowledge Desolate Fortress’s necessity. Meaning I keenly feel the need for martial power to suppress martial artists.”

“Keep talking.”

“…But soldiers are weak, and even for me as prefect, it was difficult to invite imperial court masters. That’s why Desolate Fortress exists… but you who are busy watching all the Central Plains, we officials can only wait our turn to become the next mission target. Even Desolate Fortress’s numbers are but a handful compared to all under heaven, no?”

“…”

“Can’t raise private soldiers with a prefect’s salary either. So I privately took a martial artist as a husband. Using taxes to feed and clothe martial artists would make me a traitor, so I counted sacrificing some people under my rule as tribute. Sacrificing one to protect ten. Rather than wait for Desolate Fortress’s sword to arrive, I wanted to punish the lawless ones myself. Even if it meant feeding this Chongyang Gang.”

“Isn’t that treason too?”

“In tax accounting, one cannot deceive the Censorate’s eyes. Quite ridiculously, it’s easier to gloss over a village disappearing. Aren’t all sorts of rabble calling themselves martial artists disturbing the nation? You must have seen countless tragedies from Xiangyang to here. As famine spreads, martial artists don’t restrain from showing off martial arts. The sight of lawless ones without even residence permits running wild, unable to tell right from wrong…”

The prefectural magistrate showed clear emotion for the first time.

Blue veins stood out on the back of her clenched fist. Jeong Yeon-shin stared indifferently at that intensity before parting his lips.

“Did the Martial Alliance and Wudang Sectcondone your actions?”

In that moment, the Mount Hua disciples held their breath. It was a very important moment.

This reckless young Radiant Demon Wing Leader might do anything to the orthodox alliance and Nine Sects’ leaders depending on the prefectural magistrate’s answer.

The prefectural magistrate opened her mouth readily.

“Wudang Sect wouldn’t know of this. Those immortal-like ones rarely descend their mountain. Along with Shaolin, they receive the most imperial support after Desolate Fortress, so they only occasionally come down to eliminate demonic path groups.”

“The Martial Alliance?”

“They did condone it. I am prefect of Yunyang, bordering Hanzhong in Shaanxi. ‘We won’t particularly interfere with the prefectural magistrate’s affairs, so please help facilitate goods exchange between Hanzhong and Yunyang’… that’s what they sent.”

“It’s a message sent to a prefectural magistrate. It couldn’t have been verbal.”

Hyeon Won-chang said with wide eyes.

He had briefly used honorifics out of respect for the Leader, but his speech returned. The boy didn’t particularly mind.

“Show the letter.”

Jeong Yeon-shin demanded. The prefectural magistrate silently took out a string-sealed document from the table.

Hyeon Won-chang received it on behalf of the young Leader and tore off the string.

Soon, the paper backed with green silk was fully spread before the Desolate Fortress masters’ eyes.

A curse escaped Hyeon Won-chang’s mouth.

“The Zhuge Family Head’s seal… damn them.”

“Prestigious families aren’t orthodox sects after all. All are hypocrites seeking power except the Nine Sects.”

Lazy Flame Dragon said lightly. Namgung Hwa-shin remained silent with sunken eyes. He seemed deep in thought.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently gestured with his chin. The resealed letter was passed back to the new Radiant Demon Wing Leader from Hyeon Won-chang’s hands.

The boy received the document and put it in his breast. The bird received from Eunuch Ming Yu stirred once in his chest.

A blade to pierce the Martial Alliance’s heart had entered the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s hands. It would be the start of tremendous merit.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth again with a face showing little interest.

“Last thing. Talk about the Deep Martial Alliance. Are they targeting the Martial Alliance?”

“The Deep Martial Alliance’s forces are coming.”

* * *

Jeong Yeon-shin only kept the prefectural magistrate’s words in one corner of his mind.

It was enough to focus on the upcoming confrontation with the Martial Alliance. It was hard to predict what variables might arise at the Opening Tournament.

He decided to devote all mental effort to the Martial Alliance.

Watching for possible ambushes and working to enhance the Radiant Sword Style’s power even during the Opening Tournament came first.

‘It’ll be hard to wield fist techniques before the Alliance Leader called a peerless swordsman. I should transform sword techniques first.’

He released the commoners imprisoned in the manor’s annex.

After hearing their consistent testimony of suffering terribly even while alive, he beheaded the remaining government troops with the prefectural magistrate’s approval.

They said even more commoners had been massacred while resisting. Jeong Yeon-shin’s group had also seen piles of corpses in the village they visited earlier.

Only Yunyang’s most noble official remained.

They made her kneel in the middle of the training ground. Jeong Yeon-shin stood blankly like an executioner beheading a criminal.

“Whatever my cause.”

The prefectural magistrate spoke.

“I acknowledge committing crimes amounting to treason. Since Desolate Fortress’s Leader came personally, it’s right I give this head. That’s how order under heaven is maintained.”

She spoke in an archaic manner. She must indeed have noble blood.

Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t swayed by her detached attitude. He gripped his sword handle with a hand that looked strong to anyone.

“Is this okay?”

Yu Hyeon standing to one side asked an aimless question.

It was understandable. Someone of prefectural magistrate rank would have countless connections in the Forbidden City.

No matter how noble a Desolate Fortress Leader was, it wasn’t something to do rashly.

Even the eunuch who had acknowledged Jeong Yeon-shin and given the spirit beast wouldn’t have expected executing a fourth-rank official. At most, perhaps a seventh-rank county magistrate.

‘Not my concern.’

The Crown Prince’s face flashed through the boy’s mind. Along with his words.

-You may call me senior brother.

Whatever position the prefectural magistrate held in the Forbidden City’s politics, whatever hands those connected to her might reach out with, he could block it once.

Considering even the Eastern Depot that Eunuch Ming Yu belonged to, that was even more so.

“Continue cutting down the lawless ones. You seem unlikely to fall easily. One who carries out revenge for innocent weaklings is a martial hero. As Desolate Fortress Leader, you would comfort hundreds and thousands of souls.”

The prefectural magistrate said. Did she have some grudge against martial artists?

Looking at her fierce eyes again, it was far from any nobility. It just came across as one face of the tragedy being born in troubled times.

“Right. Starting with you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t think complexly. If there was someone to cut down, he cut them down.

Things that hindered his path toward the World Tree’s fruit, particularly irritating figures, Tyrant Sword Leader who led the Jeong family massacre, the countless orthodox masters who would test him at the Martial Alliance tomorrow…

“As Radiant Demon Wing Leader, I say.”

The boy slowly parted his lips.

“Since this departure, you have been the most lawless.”

With his words, sword light flashed from his fingertips.