Chapter 188 – Bond (3)

Jeong Yeon-shin had unleashed the Azure Flame Slash against the Sword Saint and now experienced exhaustion.

A sword technique is a method that moves the body and internal energy in unprecedented ways.

Such destructive motion comes with a cost. A one-strike killing technique inevitably carries recoil.

After his duel with Taoist Cheon Ju, the boy’s sword techniques no longer moved as dynamically as they had before.

He overcame opponents after Taoist Cheon Ju using the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. He forcibly tightened, bolstered, and expanded his body’s meridians and muscles.

Naturally, many of his full-body tendons had stiffened considerably. They couldn’t fully keep up with the Luminous Wheel Technique’s flow.

Fortunately, no black-rank caliber foes emerged after Taoist Cheon Ju.

The martial world is a realm woven with grudges and favors. A warrior must always prepare for sudden attacks.

On a bustling thoroughfare with countless passersby, he had no choice but to heighten his senses.

It is a practice martial artists call the Path of Sensitivity. Jeong Yeon-shin had been cycling the Luminous Wheel Technique through the head meridians since leaving the Martial Alliance headquarters.

That’s how he heard it.

A warrior with a formidable energy wave was appraising Lazy Flame Dragon.

“There he stands like a cat. He’s an intriguing kid—does he want to share a drink with me? I’m Yan Hwa-ryeon.”

The voice was somewhat hoarse. The diction was unclear.

Jeong Yeon-shin distinctly caught the supreme master’s murmur. It was a woman’s voice, slurring like a drunkard’s.

Though it seemed directed at a third party, it was clearly meant for him.

The boy’s lips parted slightly.

“Let’s go up,” he said.

“Let’s do it,” Lazy Flame Dragon replied with an odd expression. His intuition was uncanny.

Already, the meridian between his ear and eye throbbed faintly red. The energy flow stood out at the Sun acupoint near his temple.

The Blazing Yang Energy that the Hwangbo Family heir wielded was conspicuous anywhere. Countless passersby on the thoroughfare glanced over.

It had been so since leaving the Martial Alliance headquarters until now. Lazy Flame Dragon had strode confidently, unbothered.

He, too, had been gauging Jeong Yeon-shin’s condition.

Leaving vigilance solely to the young Leader wasn’t feasible. Even if delicate energy control drained mental strength, it was the same for him.

He’d raised his Path of Sensitivity early on, persuading Jeong Yeon-shin to relax.

The Scorching Divine Meridian’s internal energy was said to burn lifespan to surge limitlessly.

It was a talent that naturally cleared blocked meridians and filled them with blazing yang energy. In terms of energy reserves alone, it surpassed his Leader.

‘I’m just a bit dull,’ Lazy Flame Dragon thought.

He smirked inwardly while guiding the young Leader.

“You’re a bit dull.” Those were words Jeong Yeon-shin had said at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. He no longer denied it.

Swish.

He opened Clear Crane Tower’s doors.

It was said to be Hanzhong’s finest tavern and inn. The hinges between the wall and door were heavily oiled.

The interior unfolded without a sound.

Orange lanterns were strung in rows, people clinked cups and snatched snacks amid the clamor, and a space was hollowed square from the second floor upward.

The usual glances that scanned newcomers locked onto the pair and froze.

“…”

The place, filled with merchants and warriors alike, fell silent.

Lazy Flame Dragon’s noble air, honed as Shandong’s mightiest clansman, was striking. Despite chewing opium poppy, dignity flowed from his shadowed eyes.

The presence from the Scorching Divine Meridian pressured surroundings without intent.

He stepped in leisurely, the plain cloth hem brushing the threshold seeming like silk.

“It’s a vibe the Leader’s never experienced. Liquor tastes best in places like this—not some dull, stuffy family pavilion.”

He grinned lazily, flicking his hand from back to front.

There was a playful edge to his guiding gesture, yet it suited him oddly well.

He was a rare noble escorting a single boy.

Jeong Yeon-shin entered, clad in coarse black robes. They were worn from long battles, the ebony having lost its sleek sheen.

Instead, his hair gleamed more. It had a natural luster.

“They’re…”

“They look awfully familiar, don’t they?”

People began whispering. It was a common scene in Hanzhong’s bustling streets lately.

He was clearly a youthful swordmaster. He had striking features and distinctive attire. The left sleeve of his black robe was roughly torn off.

Only the right sleeve hung long. A small, rugged “Desolate” character in white adorned his shoulder.

Jeong Yeon-shin wore a spare robe from Ma Jin. He’d lost his original one to Taoist Cheon Ju’s slash.

His uncle’s robe was slightly roomier and easier to move in. He didn’t much miss the shredded one.

“This humble servant is Clear Crane Tower’s steward. Today brings the honor of three lifetimes. That the Radiant Demon Wing Leader graces us…”

A man, seemingly in charge, stepped forward, clasping his hands high. He was not a mere waiter, but a middle-aged man in fine silk.

His response was swift. It was a scene showing how far the boy’s fame had spread in Hanzhong.

Perhaps it was due to driving off the Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost and the Heart Martial Alliance’s forces. Combined with his Opening Tournament renown, he seemed to have won the people’s hearts.

‘It could be useful later,’ the boy thought.

He recalled a document seized from a slain regional magistrate.

It was evidence that the Zhuge Family Head had deliberately ignored the Heart Martial Alliance’s pillaging.

To overturn the Martial Alliance, where many supreme masters like family heads sat, and emerge unscathed, he’d need multiple supports.

‘Cause, public support, and at least minimal force,’ he considered.

Ousting the Zhuge Family Head was a task to undertake as the Radiant Demon Wing Leader right after securing the Great Rejuvenation Pill.

If successful, it’d lead to significant merit.

Desolate Fortress leaders had discretion in mission execution. Rising to purple rank required amassed achievements.

He’d heard it often from Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo of the Radiant Demon Wing cohort. Ordinary feats wouldn’t surpass the Desolate Fortress Divine Spear, Yue Shou-lin.

‘Letting it slide would wrong Lazy Flame Dragon too,’ he reasoned.

The Hwangbo Family was annihilated for privately exploiting commoners.

The boy had taken their heir as a subordinate. Despite the Martial Alliance’s size, overlooking the Zhuge Family was tough.

At minimum, the family head must face consequences. Such was the new Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s intent.

“Since Desolate Fortress’s Leader has arrived, a seat befitting your rank…”

“The top floor will do.”

Jeong Yeon-shin cut off the steward’s words.

The man’s eyes widened briefly at the honorific from the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, then drooped with unease.

“There’s a prior guest. She’s one whose identity I can’t easily disclose to you, Leader…”

“I have an appointment with Yue Yu-lin.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said, sensing the Shandong Yue Family’s young talent’s energy wave. The steward’s face brightened instantly.

“Ah! It’s a gathering of noble youth!”

“Noble youth. That’s fairly apt, in its way.”

A voice tinged with amusement rang out. It was that hoarse tone again.

Lazy Flame Dragon seemed to catch the slurred speech too. The Hwangbo heir’s dull eyes narrowed.

“It looks like your final hurdle, Leader. She’s the Yan Family’s First Fist. They say she wields protective energy like a fortress wall with a human body.”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded silently. That’s why he didn’t turn from a supreme master’s first meeting offer.

His eyes pierced much. With his body unwell, he needed to assess a foe of immense renown beforehand.

They were led by the startled steward and ascended to the top floor.

“May you find it enjoyable.”

Clear Crane Tower’s steward guided them, then descended without watching their encounter.

It was a shift from his earlier demeanor. He was a man versed in martial world ways.

He knew how trivial an inn was in the martial world. He’d stepped back to protect himself.

“Hanzhong’s finest, huh…”

Lazy Flame Dragon muttered.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***  

A woman leaning against the wall greeted Jeong Yeon-shin. She was half-reclining and raised a cup.

Across from her, Yue Yu-lin tilted her head down. She seemed embarrassed by her drinking companion.

“Ah.”

It was an odd exclamation.

She was the Yan Family’s First Fist. Valor Fist Lord Yan Hwa-ryeon squinted with a faint smile.

“He handsomely exceeds the rumors. I can’t gauge a few years ahead. He’s too fine to be crushed by the Yan Family Fist.”

“You’d occupy a bed too. Tomorrow, that is.”

He replied lightly to her casual remark.

Unlike his lips, the boy’s eyebrows didn’t move. His jet-black eyes studied Yan Hwa-ryeon closely.

She wore a sleeveless robe on both sides. The curves of her biceps and triceps were starkly visible.

Blue veins pulsed faintly with robust internal energy.

Her physique was wholly unlike the Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost Baek Seo-gun’s and left an impression. A fist master’s body differed from a pure swordmaster’s.

Yan Hwa-ryeon’s lips curved. Had she mastered liquor techniques?

She was known to be past forty, yet no wrinkles marred her smiling mouth. She could pass for Yue Yu-lin’s sister.

“Desolate Fortress kid, what’re you staring at?”

“What.”

The boy’s reply was curt.

Short answers suited foes. It was a habit grown lately.

Yan Hwa-ryeon’s smile deepened. The young Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s manner seemed to please her.

Her lowered eyelashes quivered with an energy wave. A supreme master’s competitive spirit stirred.

“Those sneaky eyes. You’d best drop any dark thoughts. Unless you’ve the skill to look down on me as lesser. I can’t just take any man as a groom. I might soon be family head, you see.”

She said.

She bantered idly like Lazy Flame Dragon.

‘Next family head,’ he thought.

Months ago, the Heart Martial Alliance Lord had crushed the Yan Family Head’s neck. It was a major event.

Alongside the Tyrant Sword Leader killing Qingcheng’s sect leader, it dominated talk.

Desolate Fortress Headquarters classified it as a purple-rank incident.

She was the Yan Family’s First Fist.

Valor Fist Lord Yan Hwa-ryeon’s other title was Zhenzhou Yan’s Last Resort. Her fame was deliberately raised to preserve family privilege.

The Yan Family was one of the Eight Great Families. It was a fist technique lineage famed across the martial world.

Prestigious martial families acted as regional royalty across the realm.

Their scale was said to be immense. Ordinary fame couldn’t sustain such dominance.

‘A martial faction’s fame and power stem from symbolic masters. Like our fortress lord,’ the boy thought.

The Yan Family’s affair was widely known. Yan Hwa-ryeon had stepped up for the slain head.

She was at least a black-rank supreme master. That’s why he hadn’t avoided this meeting.

If she was his equal, he must know her. In the peak realm, even a butterfly’s flap could affect a sword technique’s precision.

‘One step from the Great Rejuvenation Pill. Yan Hwa-ryeon’s the last,’ he mused.

Meanwhile, Yue Yu-lin’s eyes darted between Yan Hwa-ryeon and Jeong Yeon-shin. They were wide with surprise.

Their sudden casual address felt alien. It was hard to accept in the righteous martial world.

This was especially true with Jeong Yeon-shin’s youth.

Without Desolate Fortress’s rank-based etiquette, he’d have faced elder reprimands long ago.

‘This boy acknowledged the Namgung Family…’ she thought.

Her thoughts aside, the two supreme masters met.

It would impact the Opening Tournament’s endgame somehow.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader and Yan Family’s First Fist were arguably Hanzhong’s biggest event now.

Yan Hwa-ryeon, lounging, fumbled the feast table, then lifted a jade bottle.

Her grin was that of a pure drunkard. It seemed true no supreme master lacked eccentricity.

“I want to be served by a handsome kid. Will you pour me one?”

She handed the bottle to the boy. Lazy Flame Dragon’s lips twisted up.

“It looks like Aunt Yan’s liquor-possessed. Her manners are freer than mine.”

“They’re about your level. It’s fine.”

The young Radiant Demon Wing Leader replied.

He quietly approached and took the jade bottle with one hand. Yan Hwa-ryeon, beaming, offered her cup.

It was as if she dared him to try something, her chin raised.

Tap.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently began pouring.

Simultaneously, internal energy surged from his heart’s luminous wheel. It raced to the palm gripping the bottle.

Hum.

The Two Rivers liquor in the jade bottle carried a heavy energy wave. The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s power began testing her through the drink.

In Clear Crane Tower’s top floor ambiance, with cool breezes flowing, a supreme masters’ world unfolded.

Amid deathly silence, a low vibration brushed the autumn wind.

Then.

Yan Hwa-ryeon’s arm trembled faintly. The veins on the back of her cup-holding hand twitched.

The boy parted his lips slowly.

“This is my liquor service as Leader. Mind your manners.”