Chapter 316 – Hyeon Won (11)

The eyes of the man sitting on the rock met Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze.

Zing.

A resonant sound rang in his mind.

For a moment, it felt as if they had exchanged swords. It was the communion of supreme masters.

Jeong Yeon-shin sensed an incredibly powerful energy wave.

‘It feels like he’s melted his sword into his internal energy. He’s an extremely powerful sword master.’

It was no ordinary energy fluctuation. While he sensed fragments of deep internal energy, the image of a sharply honed piece of metal also came to mind.

The qualities of swordsmanship cultivated over a lifetime were fully imbued in his internal energy.

He appeared to be in his forties, but his strength belied his age. In the martial world, he would be considered barely middle-aged.

“You… are who I think you are,” the man said slowly.

“You’ve reached the realm of carrying a sword in your heart. Your blade is so sharp it’s hard to ignore.”

“Your energy is also quite well-cultivated,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied with his habitual modesty.

At that moment, Jeon Baek, who had been frozen at the edge, gasped. Perhaps they were acquainted? It seemed like unimaginable rudeness.

The swordsman in white didn’t even glance at Jeon Baek.

He merely raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Arrogant b*st*rd. But you have the qualifications. I didn’t think the rumors would be true… If the Slaughter Sect’s treasure falls into your hands, it would be disastrous.”

He had instantly seen through Jeong Yeon-shin’s physical condition.

His following muttered words were clearly audible. That this might be the only chance to kill him.

Saaaa.

The sound of rain hitting the ground intensified. The patter of muddy water endlessly splashing at their feet felt pungent.

The white-robed swordsman sitting leisurely before him now was certainly not someone he could have encountered by chance.

He had the distinctly robust feeling of the Profound Martial Alliance. He must be one of the Three Martial Venerables renowned throughout the martial world.

The size of the martial world is equivalent to the breadth of the continent. It’s as vast as several countries put together.

The Light Blade Venerable, said to have the swiftest and most destructive swordsmanship in all of Henan, was reportedly a woman.

She was presumed to be Goon Yu-rin’s master. Then, could this be the Flying Blood Venerable who had mastered variations and single-handedly split dozens of ships on the Yangtze River?

‘But the Profound Martial Alliance’s Flying Blood Venerable was said to wield twin swords.’

In any case, he was a powerful figure demonstrating that Jeong Yeon-shin had fully integrated into the upper echelons of the martial world.

He had reached a position worthy of being a companion to Shaolin’s Four Great Vajras. None of the figures he encountered now were ordinary.

Perhaps his upper dantian, which had nearly reached the state of returning light to illuminate the self, was drawing in powerful individuals. Like a fateful power that contained divine skills.

‘For one so young to have such profound energy… usually that would indicate noble family origins,’ adult Jeong Yeon-shin recalled his maternal uncle’s advice.

It was different from before he had attained the rank of Radiant Demon Wing Leader. The lives of his subordinates now depended on the squad leader’s judgment. He needed to cultivate an eye for judging people.

Rustle.

Suddenly, the sound of clothes brushing against each other came from beside him. The formless internal energy permeating the silk fabric was deep and dense.

“I wondered if what I saw was real. You’re going to kill my guest? By whose authority?” came Goon Yu-rin’s distinctively hoarse voice.

She had stepped forward beside Jeong Yeon-shin with her shoulders squared.

With her head held high and her hand on the blade on her back, her invisible aura was tremendous.

“Why are you intervening now? When I nearly died at the hands of the Green Forest Bandit Chief, you didn’t move an inch. I thought there was no secret guard then.”

They seemed familiar with each other.

The white-robed swordsman’s reaction was similar.

“I knew the young lady would find her own way out. This situation is different.”

His face looked as if he were dealing with something trivial. His attitude suggested he found lengthy explanations bothersome. Though he used honorifics, there was no particular reverence in his tone.

A knife-sharp wrinkle formed between Goon Yu-rin’s brows.

“How is it different? In terms of danger, the Bandit Chief Moon Breaker was more…”

“This is none other than the imperial sword. That one’s skill is powerful enough to drive Reborn Hidden Dragon to death. As a high-ranking official of Desolate Fortress who has surpassed the limits of age, if you consider our sect’s position, you should rightfully stay away. The influence the current Radiant Demon Wing Leader can have on the martial world… Your small head probably can’t properly gauge it. I understand. Just step back.”

His boredom was evident in his somewhat lengthy speech.

His tone of explanation was almost like admonishment. He had the air of an influential sect member placating a childish superior.

Clang!

Goon Yu-rin drew her large blade. The afterimage of the blade’s trajectory scattered dust as it disappeared.

She held the weapon as large as her body in one hand as if it were a wooden stick.

“Your tongue is long. Stop with the deception.”

Her voice had now changed to sound like a beast’s growl.

Her pitch-black hair billowing behind her with powerful energy waves looked like a young general’s battle robe.

“You’re following your brother’s orders, aren’t you? It’s hard to have me die away from home with an honored guest nearby. It becomes difficult to naturally drive me to my death with the blind daggers or poison needles of mere assassins. That’s what this is about, right?”

The Profound Martial Alliance’s young master had been mentioned.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s fingers twitched slightly as they approached the sword at his waist.

Though he had never met him, this was a figure he held a grudge against. The cowardly sword master who had tried to kill commoners indiscriminately and had his head cut off.

Some time later, he had faced subordinates of the Profound Martial Alliance who had come for revenge.

They were troops sent by the young master to kill him, but due to the great variable of Azure Qilin’s Emperor Sword Form, they had failed to achieve their goal.

‘They say the grudges of the martial world persist even after washing one’s face with gold powder.’

The enmity formed when he first entered the martial world continued even now as he approached the purple rank.

Jeong Yeon-shin freshly realized the quagmire-like nature of the martial world. Would he now encounter enemies lying in ambush everywhere he went?

“The young lady’s words and actions are still rash,” the white-robed swordsman slowly shook his head.

“Your subordinates are listening. Refrain from unfounded speculation.”

He remained in his half-reclining position on the rock.

Did he have tremendous confidence in his cultivated swordsmanship? He remained calm even while taking in both Jeong Yeon-shin and Great Master Won Jeok who stood motionless.

“Cut the crap. You’re worried because your subordinates’ eyes are the Alliance Leader’s eyes? How dare you tell such obvious lies…” Her body trembled, showing how furious she was. This was not the Goon Yu-rin who had been composed to the point of seeming self-centered.

The appearance of an heir to power whose pride had been greatly wounded showed through.

“I know everything. You have to compete with the Murong family for the treasures left in the Heavenly Demon’s Tomb, and you don’t like that I’m bringing in a powerful variable, right? After getting involved in the succession battle, you’re making such petty excuses…”

“That’s enough. Your idle talk is too long.”

Jeong Yeon-shin cut off her words.

He had roughly grasped the circumstances surrounding him.

‘Things are becoming clear.’

The Slaughter Sect guarding the Heavenly Demon’s Tomb.

The Murong family and Profound Martial Alliance coveting the Heavenly Demon’s legacy.

Within the Profound Martial Alliance, Goon Yu-rin and the young master were competing for succession rights.

The swordsman before him had sided with the young master, while Goon Yu-rin, who had also been seeking the Slaughter Sect, had unintentionally drawn in even Shaolin’s Four Great Vajras by treating Jeong Yeon-shin with honor.

For the Profound Martial Alliance young master’s side, there could be no more unsettling variable than this.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

“You said the village was dead. Is the lack of human presence your doing?”

Asking about the safety of the common people came before his purpose. This was the attitude of most Desolate Fortress martial artists. At the same time, Won Jeok, who had been watching with half-open eyes beside him, uttered a low Buddhist invocation.

“Amitabha…!”

There was amazement in the voice of Shaolin’s Four Great Vajras.

For a moment, Jeong Yeon-shin felt as if he were a five-year-old child and quickly shook off the feeling. This was a situation he needed to approach seriously. Even if his shaven-headed maternal grandfather was beside him.

“……”

The white-robed swordsman did not answer.

He merely smiled strangely. The way his somewhat taciturn lips curved up like a sword blade was irritating. He did not look kindly upon Jeong Yeon-shin.

“I asked what you did. Answer me.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said.

“The youngest black-rank. One favored by the Desolate Fortress Lord, of noble birth, the Flower Shadow King of Sichuan, in Shanxi you’re called the Lotus Nezha…”

The Martial Venerable of the Profound Martial Alliance continued slowly. While looking at Jeong Yeon-shin, he never lost sight of Great Master Won Jeok.

“Nothing has been beyond your reach, has it?”

“…?”

“It must have seemed like the world existed for your sake. Though I’ve been watching from afar recently, seeing how you’ve even enthralled the Profound Martial Alliance’s young lady and Shaolin’s Four Great Vajras, I understand. The reason the Yu Ling and Tyrant Sword Sect Leader wanted to kill you. Moreover, you’re of the Tyrant Hero’s bloodline, so you could even pressure the Nine Great Sect Leaders who have been living in comfort among themselves with the Mount Hua Covenant. It’s troubling…”

Ting— Ting—

He tapped his index finger with the hand supporting his upper body. Though his fingertip seemed to be hitting the rock surface, the sound that rang out emitted a strange vibration.

Looking closely, he wasn’t tapping the rock surface at all. A long, colorless transparent sword lay sprawled alongside an iron sword.

They were indeed twin swords.

“That’s the Glass Spirit Sword. Be careful,” Goon Yu-rin said through gritted teeth.

She didn’t mention the man’s identity. There was no need to.

The Profound Martial Alliance’s Flying Blood Venerable.

An extremely powerful swordsman said to wield two divine weapons like wings.

He was the youngest among the Three Martial Venerables. Exceptionally, he had become the sword master of the Profound Martial Alliance’s young master at a young age. They said his innate sword talent was terrifyingly formidable.

There was a famous anecdote about the Mount Heng Sect Leader of the Nine Great Sects speaking to him.

He had told the young Flying Blood Venerable to come up to Mount Heng. It was an invitation to join from an absolute figure of the Nine Great Sects. The martial world had been in an uproar over that incident.

It was none of Jeong Yeon-shin’s business.

“I’ll ask one last time. What did you do to the village commoners?”

He spoke while slowly tempering his whole body’s muscles with the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

The minute true energy inherent in his 365 acupoints moved slowly.

Invisible contractions and relaxations continued from his thighs up through his waist, finally reaching both shoulders and wrists. He was assuming a combat stance.

‘This is no time to worry about internal injuries.’

Perhaps sensing that subtle energy, the Flying Blood Venerable’s white clothes twitched slightly.

“There’s no need for me to take risks here,” he said.

“Leave the young lady behind and go back. I won’t interfere with whatever else you do in Shanxi. Once you turn away from this path, the village will return to normal.”

“What makes you think I’d trust that?”

“I stake this venerable’s name on it. Isn’t that a proposal the squad leader of Desolate Fortress should rightfully accept?”

His meaning was clear. It meant he had taken the villagers hostage.

“Why don’t you just speak plainly?” Yu Hyeon, who had been silent, stepped forward.

The plum blossom embroidery on the young Taoist’s sleeve hem fluttered elegantly.

“I know why you Profound Martial Alliance people can’t distinguish between heaven and earth. You receive the imperial court’s protection in exchange for nurturing martial forces to send to the northern frontier, right? I can understand why you’re reluctant to get involved with Yeon-shin. Unlike before, he’s become burdensome to deal with. Perhaps the imperial court might even revoke your sect’s privileges.”

There was no wavering in his gaze, and his words were crisp and clear.

He would have spoken just as directly even if Jeong Yeon-shin and Won Jeok weren’t beside him. This was the spirit of the Nine Great Sects.

The Flying Blood Venerable chuckled.

Swish.

As he slowly stood up, grasping the transparent Glass Spirit Sword and one precious sword, the falling rain began to be pushed away in all directions. He had properly raised his internal energy.

He opened his mouth.

“Our sect’s affairs are a great undertaking. Do you think one Radiant Demon Wing Leader can replace the martial power supplied to the northern frontier? No one in the world would think so.”

“That’s purely your opinion. Couldn’t the perfected Zhuge Clan Leader do it?”

Yu Hyeon retorted. He had somehow sneaked behind Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder.

“Nonsense,” the sword master of the Profound Martial Alliance laughed.

“Now I see that the current Radiant Demon Wing Leader lacks the martial prowess to defeat Revived Dragon alone. Even accounting for internal injuries, it’s the same. Given your age, that’s only natural. I don’t know what method you used at the time, but surely Desolate Fortress’s Divine Spear must have contributed greatly.”

Jeong Yeon-shin did not reply. He simply focused on tempering his body.

The Slaughter Sect, Murong family, Profound Martial Alliance.

The Flying Blood Venerable was a core fighting force of the Profound Martial Alliance. If he were to fall here, even the martial forces that had entered Shanxi would inevitably falter.

Rather, it would be Jeong Yeon-shin’s side eliminating the Profound Martial Alliance variable in advance.

The only problem was the villagers who had been driven out by his subordinates.

It was then.

Perhaps they had the same thought while making eye contact?

“Will you turn a blind eye to the common people? One signal and they’ll all be massacred,” the Flying Blood Venerable said with twisted lips.

He stood upright on the rock, holding two swords. An extremely stern quality flowed from his whole body. At the same time, the undergrowth in all directions trembled.

With a rumbling that shook the earth, the presence of dozens of martial forces approached. It was as if they were saying the Radiant Demon Wing Leader who had not recovered from his internal injuries was their share.

The Flying Blood Venerable was the commander.

His position was different from Goon Yu-rin who stood beside Jeong Yeon-shin.

“He’s a person who has perfected our sect’s sword techniques into twin sword arts. His talent wasn’t satisfied with just one blade,” she said, moving her lips with a resigned expression.

“You won’t be able to face him in your current condition. Even if you are the Lotus Nezha, right now…”

Jeong Yeon-shin stared blankly at her.

“What are you saying? We agreed to go to the Slaughter Sect.”

“I’ll just go back on my own. Sorry for causing trouble. With one of the Four Great Vajras who adores you by your side, you should be able to break through. It was quite enjoyable.”

Rustle.

Goon Yu-rin’s rough hair swept across his field of vision.

Her movements were extremely light, contrary to what she had told him. Behind her leather shoes that trampled the snowy ground, a faint wave-like pattern remained.

It was the energy wave of movement techniques. Despite her words and actions that seemed to give up on everything, she intended to get close to the Flying Blood Venerable and stab him with a blade.

“The common people, the common people.”

The Flying Blood Venerable’s sneer deepened.

“Desolate Fortress spreads hostages throughout the world. Seeing how even the world-renowned Radiant Demon Wing Leader can’t move, it seems worth considering killing everyone here…”

“Namu Avalokitesvara.”

A low Buddhist invocation rang out.

It was right beside Jeong Yeon-shin. Won Jeok, who had been standing still, moved.

Thud.

Shaolin’s martial arts were said to be solemn. Just one step gave an incredibly heavy feeling.

Jeong Yeon-shin forcibly heightened his senses. His upper dantian in his mind was instantly filled with a mystical light.

He focused all his energy perception on Won Jeok beside him. With his unique sense that pulled at time like straw, never stopping.

‘I was curious. This will surely be helpful.’

The sound of conifer needles rustling above his head ceased.

The wind flowed extremely slowly.

The surrounding scenery and presences were the same. Jeong Yeon-shin could now see Won Jeok’s back in front of him.

And the orange hem of his monk’s robe soaring in a straight line toward the Flying Blood Venerable.

‘That is…’

There was no particularly swift or urgent energy.

Just a feeling of moving the body. Yet in the slowed world, only Won Jeok was moving. He continued toward the Flying Blood Venerable.

Some kind of passage was felt. Along with a majestic mental image.

– Forgetting movement, there is no distinction in space.

It wasn’t visible. Only a suction force pulling at the skin existed.

Jeong Yeon-shin forcibly lifted his foot as if entranced. He paid no attention to his thigh muscles tightening on both sides as if being wrung out.

He sensed something in Won Jeok’s movement technique. As he traced back through the distant years engraved in Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Excellent Skills with his senses, he felt an tremendous sense of kinship, as if his mind was being carved.

A warm comfort moistened his chest.

For a moment, it felt as if he had touched fingertips with someone. With inspiration transcending eras.

A massive name flashed through his mind.

Bodhidharma.

‘Left behind by someone exactly like me…’

Swish-

Won Jeok stepped on the empty air he had soared into.

He rode the texture of the wind with his leather shoes. He fully entrusted his body to the suction force of the linear space.

His vision blurred. Was it because he had forcibly entered the realm of transcendence? Even blood speckled his sight intermittently. It seemed a few blood vessels in his eyes had burst.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid no heed and stretched out his leg. As if swimming through the air.

Once, twice, three times…

…When he came to his senses, he was standing with both feet on a transparently chilling sword blade like a fan. It was one of the divine weapons of the Profound Martial Alliance called the Glass Spirit Sword.

Whoosh-!

An icy winter wind scraped past his skin. The time passage of Shaolin’s secret skill Vajra Immovable Body Technique had been released.

Below, the Flying Blood Venerable looked up at him with an expression of shock, while beside him, Won Jeok was pressing down on another iron sword with his hands behind his back.

“Hmm?”

The renowned elf monk who suddenly met Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes slightly opened his mouth. It was rare for the old monk to express emotion. It meant he was extremely surprised.

“How did you get here, patron?”

“I’m used to this sort of thing…”

Jeong Yeon-shin mumbled vaguely.

[TL Note- Show off]