Chapter 207 – Blue

Jeong Yeon-shin issued instructions regarding duel challenges while sending a message to the Desolate Ma Family.  

He requested they coordinate all family affairs to arrange a quiet meeting.  

Lady Zhu Lianting, Ma Sei-in’s mother, weighed on his mind. A royal descendant, she was inscrutable and authoritative.  

Ma Yeon-jeok’s consumption of the Great Rejuvenation Pill required utmost secrecy. If it were Ma Jin, he would grasp the intent between the lines instantly.  

“As soon as a reply arrives, I must stand by Grandfather’s side,” Jeong Yeon-shin thought.  

Meanwhile.  

“There are four white-ranks who didn’t join the City of Renowned Craftsmen mission, plus Hyeon Won-chang, making five in total. Likewise, two blue-ranks avoided the City of Renowned Craftsmen mission, with the blue-rank total at seventeen,” Cheong Myeong reported in a clear tone.  

Their positions had shifted.  

Jeong Yeon-shin sat in the office chair. Facing a finely carved marble desk, Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo sat opposite as guests.  

Their chairs were smaller than the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s grand seat.  

Even without tea, a tranquil atmosphere prevailed.  

Had the matter not been grave, they might have brought out Tieguanyin tea.  

“Seventeen blue-ranks and five white-ranks… It’s a force awkward to call a major faction’s elite. It fits, yet it doesn’t. Originally, we had twenty-six blue-ranks and ten white-ranks. Unnamed disciples don’t count as strength,” Cheong Myeong said, his expression calm.  

He showed no sentiment about the diminished force.  

It stemmed from the deaths of comrades they had lived with like siblings.  

Lamenting the loss of strength made no sense, and expressing regret anew felt redundant after so long.  

Baek Mi-ryeo, beside him, brushed her hair behind her ear.  

“You’ve seen the ledgers, so you know. Fewer members naturally mean less budget. The real issue is the limit on missions. Radiant Demon Wing can’t handle Mount Hua Sect’s twenty-four Plum Blossom Swordsmen anymore. The small gap widened vastly. A Divine Sword Group Squad unable to fully counter a major faction’s elite will inevitably lag in merit,” she explained evenly.  

Her words were irrefutable, a cold assessment of their state.  

Their ambiguous strength made deployment in major incidents impractical, inevitably reducing accrued merits.  

This tied directly to Radiant Demon Wing’s prestige and hindered Jeong Yeon-shin’s path to purple-rank.  

Hence the weighty discussion.  

Cheong Myeong’s aura was chillingly clear, and Baek Mi-ryeo’s face bore no expression. They knew Jeong Yeon-shin’s condition.  

The new Radiant Demon Wing Leader spoke.  

“We should aim for eighteen blue-ranks and seven white-ranks. That’s where we start.”  

“Why?” Baek Mi-ryeo asked, her brow narrowing.  

Cheong Myeong tilted his head slightly beside her.  

Even white-ranks, let alone blue-ranks, possessed skills rare in regional martial circles.  

They were not common warriors. Only in a grand faction like Desolate Fortress would they be considered lower-tier, making recruitment far from easy.  

Blue-ranks were exceptional. When Jeong Yeon-shin borrowed Cheong Myeong’s blue robes, he alone eradicated Shaanxi’s Praying Mantis Sect.  

A single treasured sword capable of facing a mid-sized faction.  

Desolate Fortress blue-ranks were core headquarters strength. No Leader relinquished them lightly.  

When Jeong Yeon-shin mentioned borrowing White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin, Pure Heaven Wing Leader Ha Do-woon’s sensitive reaction was natural.  

Reflecting now, Jeong Yeon-shin felt a twinge of regret.  

He continued calmly.  

“Forest-Treading Leader Senior Xiahou promised their transfer. There was a deal. Dawn Tree Sword Kang Chang-moo, Steel-Cutting Blade Wanderer Huo Yoon-cheol, and Deep Chivalry Fist Gongye Mi-ryeong will join us. Prepare to receive them. I’ll be busy, so you two must handle it.”  

“You’ve been back a few hours…!” Baek Mi-ryeo exclaimed with a laugh-tinged sigh.  

“You meant it? Sending duel challenges to the Leaders. Honestly, I wanted to dissuade you—losing would be humiliating—but I can’t now.”  

Cheong Myeong grinned. A rare smile since entering the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s office.  

They had watched Jeong Yeon-shin shatter limits repeatedly. Surprise was no longer fresh.  

Only pride remained. Baek Mi-ryeo’s eyes curved into crescents, lightening the mood instantly.  

“Earlier, some fool mentioned you not acting like a Leader. He’ll apologize tomorrow,” she said.  

“Such a rash one came to greet you?” Cheong Myeong asked.  

Even his gentle breeze-like aura softened into a blunt texture. Had Jeong Yeon-shin not worn black robes, he might have ruffled his hair.  

The famed noble clansman swordsman laughed.  

“Twenty-four would suffice. That much could handle missions against a major faction’s elite smoothly. I know Dawn Tree Sword from Forest-Treading—he wields a blade well. You’ve gained a fine card.”  

“What’s the progress on the City of Renowned Craftsmen Iron Clan’s prosthetics?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked.  

He recalled Ma Jin and Oh Wol-hyang. While his uncle ascended to Desolate Ma Family head, blue-rank master Oh Wol-hyang remained with Radiant Demon Wing.  

A woman who treated Jeong Yeon-shin like a son since his initiation. Before losing her left arm at City of Renowned Craftsmen, she was called the Benevolent Radiance Blade.  

Baek Mi-ryeo smiled faintly.  

“The energy prosthetic should be complete within a month. Don’t worry about that.”  

“Good to know.”  

Relief washed over him. Nodding, Jeong Yeon-shin continued slowly.  

“Let’s focus on securing six blue-ranks. I need to gauge how many black-rank seniors I can handle.”  

“Preferably your lineage, right? Easier to train. The stronger the squad, the better,” Cheong Myeong said with a smirk.  

He began counting on his slender fingers.  

“Counting squads whose Leaders are resting… Blood Guardian and Immortal Tree Spirit each have three blue-ranks trained in your arts. It was chaos. Those with decent native techniques focused on Fate Defying Scripture; others took Radiant Sword Style, Eternal Blossom Fist, or Radiant Wing Step. Some wandered here for advice. Shin So-bin gained popularity there.”  

“Shin So-bin…?” Jeong Yeon-shin echoed.  

Her cat-like face came to mind. A spirited girl who even bantered with Lazy Flame Dragon.  

A peer of Jeong Yeon-shin’s age, she was the cherished gem of the Shin Clan under Desolate Fortress.  

Her exceptional talent earned her white robes and marked her as a successor to Jeong Yeon-shin’s legacy. She was currently staying at her clan’s pavilion, he’d heard.  

“I know she adopted my fist techniques,” Jeong Yeon-shin said.  

Cheong Myeong nodded.  

“Regardless of robe color, she’s a pioneer of your lineage. She excels at Eternal Blossom Fist and Radiant Wing Step. She practically worships you. Recently, she trounced her sister in Pure Heaven Wing—Shin Bin-bin. Seems she complained you treated White Qilin like your subordinate.”  

“She challenged her to a duel over that?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked.  

“Shin So-bin didn’t hold back and got dragged back to her clan. When packing, her expression… she looked relieved. Anyway, plenty happened while you were gone.”  

“The Shin Clan overstepped. I’ll bring her back soon,” Jeong Yeon-shin said.  

“Your calm tone is downright chilling,” Cheong Myeong remarked, his smile deepening.  

“Then let’s talk Leaders. Blood Guardian Leader and Immortal Tree Spirit Leader… facing them as foes offers no easy answers. Their prowess aside, their techniques are tricky. Blood Guardian Leader’s a mysterious one—rumors abound. Some say he mastered evil arts; others, he’s the Blood Flame Sect Leader’s ba*t*rd.”  

“I know Immortal Tree Spirit Leader well,” Baek Mi-ryeo interjected. “She honed northern ice techniques. A master of ice arts, so beware her Internal Heavy Palm Technique. She excels at freezing foes’ insides. Her strikes are as ruthless as evil faction masters, and she shuns personal ties with Han people. You’ll need a life-or-death resolve to challenge her. Frankly, I’m worried.”  

Their words flowed on.  

“Good,” Jeong Yeon-shin thought.  

He cherished such moments. Returning home to chat with his pseudo-siblings felt rare yet familiar. Discussing tense matters, his mind softened like melting wax.  

Perhaps because he had faced the Alliance’s hostility.  

He parted his lips slowly.  

“Evil arts and ice techniques? Then I have a chance.”  

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

The next day.  

Three events erupted simultaneously.  

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s triumphant return from the Martial Alliance’s Opening Tournament was known before his arrival.  

Thus, headquarters buzzed from the start. No need for fresh fanfare, it implied.  

A new event here meant news rivaling his victory.  

The Forest-Treading Squad’s masters’ reassignment became known.  

From Forest-Treading to Radiant Demon Wing.  

Many predicted Radiant Demon Wing’s weakness would persist under a new Leader.  

The Divine Sword Group’s bedrock was forged by towering masters, after all.  

The shift of Dawn Tree Sword and others shattered that forecast, sparking fervor.  

“How could Forest-Treading Leader…?”  

“He’s not one to let go easily. A man of fierce pride. I drank with him once—his presence choked the air.”  

“Did he secretly duel Radiant Demon Wing Leader?”  

“Thousand Fists Dragon Vassal lost? No way…”  

“Be it a duel or not, a wager happened. He wouldn’t show such favor to a Han without cause.”  

“Then Radiant Demon Wing Leader won somehow. A mysterious figure. His feats at that age are extraordinary.”  

Whispers spread across Desolate Fortress’s expanse.  

Elite masters swapped tales, and high-ranking officials and merchants at headquarters eavesdropped.  

The new Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s profile began forming among civilians.  

Second was the Breaking Guide’s reveal.  

Not publicized externally. The Desolate Fortress Lord was no fool.  

The Alliance united hundreds of factions to counter Desolate Fortress. No need to draw the entire martial world’s eyes.  

Letters reached the Leaders: convene at Wish for Peace Sword Hall tomorrow.  

Black-rank masters received the Lord’s sealed orders simultaneously. Friendships existed among them.  

The rare summons sparked countless guesses.  

Divine Sword Deputy Leader and Forest-Treading Leader hinted at understanding but kept silent.  

They focused on another matter.  

[“…Thus, this Leader humbly challenges Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so to a duel, proposing the victor’s terms be followed as agreed.”]  

Jeong Yeon-shin’s notice adorned Desolate Fortress.  

Not a personal matter. It represented Radiant Demon Wing. No room to defer as a junior.  

His words brimmed with boldness and provocation.  

The content thundered like a cannon, yet the handwriting was neat—akin to Ming dynasty standard regular script (kaishu).  

Master transfers within the Divine Sword Group were sensitive. They were headquarters’ pillars.  

A Leader must heed the myriad gazes across the vast grounds, convincing even the uninvolved.  

A Desolate Fortress Leader embodied headquarters.  

Highly autonomous yet bound by many ties.  

Forest-Treading Leader’s quiet decision had used one chance. Further moves required headquarters residents’ acknowledgment.  

Jeong Yeon-shin’s notice detonated like a bomb.  

Crowds gathered.  

The central training ground swelled with hundreds—headquarters warriors to visitors.  

Artisans, merchants, officials, and servants mingled. Immense tension tautened the air.  

“I’m from near Shaanxi. They say the new Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s swordsmanship is peerless. At his age, he’s less man, more spirit.”  

“I’ll broaden my insight with Immortal Tree Spirit Leader’s Frost Heaven Flowless Ice Technique. It pacified Outer martial circles, they say. Had I honed my ocular skills more, I wouldn’t fear missing it…”  

Curiosity and excitement boiled.  

A clash of Leader-grade masters was a spectacle, even for martial novices.  

A rare sight in life. Even Desolate Fortress masters seldom saw such outside black-rank promotions.  

On the duel platform, two Leaders faced off.  

Radiant Demon Wing Leader, sinews bared on his left arm, and Immortal Tree Spirit Leader, ebony bangs veiling her brow.  

Both in black robes, of similar height. Their auras were extraordinary, their presence alike.  

Energy waves rippling from their bodies flickered transparently. Only Immortal Tree Spirit Leader’s leaf-tip ears stood out.  

Amid their silence, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.  

“Let’s begin.”  

He felt no gratitude. Divine Sword Group Leaders always faced challenges. They could not refuse duels.  

Desolate Fortress personnel affairs resembled combat. Jeong Yeon-shin, too, would one day receive a junior black-rank’s challenge.  

He knew little of Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so yet. Today’s duel and tomorrow’s Wish for Peace Sword Hall meeting would reveal her.  

For now, he knew one thing.  

She scorned Han folk as much as Xiahou Wei-zhen. Rarely speaking at Wish for Peace Sword Hall, she was deemed eccentric.  

She conversed only with Ma Yeon-jeok, Grand Administrator Lin Jin-ming, Divine Sword Group Leader, and Yue Shou-lin, it was said.  

“…”  

As expected, she did not reply. She merely stirred her internal energy silently.  

Rustle.  

Her black robes fluttered under sudden energy ripples. A divine white aura enveloped her.  

Clad in cold winds like a northern blizzard immortal. The realm of energy manifestation. Her internal energy exuded immense mystique.  

Gasps erupted. Some exclaimed the return of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden.  

Jeong Yeon-shin sensed it. This was a divine technique.  

“Luminous Wheel,” he commanded his heart’s radiant cycle.  

Kiiing!  

A sound reverberated within. The Luminous Wheel Technique’s core spun like a whirlwind.  

Internal energy from his middle dantian surged to his lower dantian below the navel. Stored power flared like lightning.  

Externally, an auspicious energy wave blazed like wildfire.  

The next instant.  

Hoo—  

His vision filled with Cheon So-so’s face.  

Her movement technique was blindingly swift. The gap closed in a flash. She favored quick resolutions, it seemed.  

Their eyes met—her calm blue gaze glinting with frost-like radiance.  

In his accelerated perception, her hair, flung by reactive energy, brushed his sidelocks.  

A biting chill struck his face.  

She yielded no first strike.  

Whether her nature or unease at Jeong Yeon-shin, he could not tell.  

Hwaaa—!  

From the side.  

White wind swept all directions. Like swirling snowflakes.  

He had faced ice techniques before, but this unseen hand was of another caliber.  

A strange sensation tickled his upper dantian. Her technique bore a spirit that amplified its might.  

A divine skill, indeed. Only Luminous Wheel Technique could counter it.  

Tszzzt.  

His body dulled before contact. She wielded Internal Heavy Hand Technique without touch. Unlike typical ice energy.  

Cold seeped into his skin, stiffening meridians from blood points upward. His black robes crackled as they froze.  

She seemed to draw all moisture around her. An utterly surreal sight.  

In that fleeting moment.  

Jeong Yeon-shin exhaled sharply. A brief breath.  

Light flared within.  

Luminous Wheel Technique raced through his minor meridians with fiery intensity. Pre-kindled energy filled his meridians and blood points.  

The energy’s motion was ferocious. The wheel’s spin was lightning itself.  

Without invoking triple-flame evolution, a terrifying dynamism surged.  

Then, as Jeong Yeon-shin seized Cheon So-so’s right hand—  

Crack!  

Frost encasing them shattered upward.  

Amid sunlight bathing them, ice fragments scattered, casting seven-colored gleams.  

“…?”  

Cheon So-so’s face showed expression for the first time. Slightly dazed.  

“Now,” Jeong Yeon-shin said, gripping her wrist with his left hand.  

“This junior strikes.”  

Saaa—  

Frost shards halted mid-descent. Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s robes fluttered ceaselessly.  

An absorption-emission incantation from full-body emission. A technique born anew via Wind Body Movement Technique.  

Ice fragments floated around his black robes.  

Boom-boom-boom-boom—!  

His right hand wove mystical patterns. From the Labor Palace and Lesser Mansion acupoints, opposing energies clashed like thunder, tearing apart.  

Blood-point energy and mystic force from Luminous Wheel Technique roared like a storm.  

Myriad Heavens Flower Rain, Brilliant River.  

“…!”  

Some discerning onlookers leapt up.