Chapter 468 – Peerless Grand Battle (3)

The medical skill to reattach the left arm.

The Divine Physician and Jeong Yeon-shin stayed up all night.

The time it took to perfectly reconnect all the blood vessels, nerves, and muscles, as well as the “Three Yang Meridians of the Hand” that connected the arm through the shoulder to the entire body, was both brief and lengthy.

As the reattachment progressed, the Divine Physician’s complexion worsened accordingly.

By the time the medical skill accompanied by martial sorcery was nearing completion, his face had turned so pale it seemed he might cough up blood at any moment.

—Elder, are you alright?

A complexion that suggested he had suffered some severe internal injury. Earlier, he had spoken as if he could sense the killing intent of blade-wielders, and now it appeared that none of his words had been exaggerated.

He was sharp yet decisive in his likes and dislikes, and also extremely honest.

—I must go now… I’ll need to lie down for three days.

—I will certainly repay this debt.

—How dare you mention repayment when you’ve already spoken of the world? I barely accepted your request because you’re the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader. Your time no longer belongs to you.

If not his own, then whose was it? There was no other way to interpret it. He meant the common people of the world, the ordinary citizens. It reminded him of High Sword True Man.

The Divine Physician who had reattached Jeong Yeon-shin’s arm left with words that he would remain secluded for some time.

Even amidst such complete exhaustion, his refreshing quality did not fade. He was mysterious with a temperament different from other elf clan members.

‘Rather than human…’

Perhaps like a tree branch moving with mystical spirituality.

Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly shook his head. The Divine Physician was a great benefactor. There was no need to rudely pry into his origins or clan. It was enough to harbor gratitude.

It was then.

“Blood truly works in mysterious ways.”

An old beggar approached Jeong Yeon-shin, who was basking in the sunlight in the courtyard of the Mu Family Estate. The sound of his straw sandals dragging on the ground was subdued.

Despite his generally shabby appearance, a dignity stemming from the years flowed from him.

Otherwise known as Dragon Head Sect.

The number of beggars spread throughout the world, their history of beating ownerless dogs, was comparable to the head of a dragon, hence the name Dragon Head Sect.

Naturally, the leader of the Dragon Head of the world had to be a peerless master.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled what Shin Hwang had told him.

—The current Dragon Head Sect Leader has mainly two epithets. Divine Beggar is his usual name, with “Divine Light” referring to his movement stepping technique comparable to the speed of spreading sunlight. As someone who has mastered extremely lofty pursuit techniques, you should never allow his hand to touch your body. The General Affairs Office of the main fortress assumes that the current Sect Leader has obtained the Ten Thousand Li Pursuit Fragrance.

The Annihilation Team Leader of the Divine Sword Group was a taciturn person, but he pursued perfection in official matters.

Even as he left the Mu Family Estate after receiving some kind of request from Jeong Yeon-shin, he advised him about potential situations.

—Though he’s known to have a scholarly temperament, he’s thoroughly exposed the private lives of those who have once crossed him, causing many to lose face. It’s said he even knows the sleeping habits of various masters.

‘A fearsome individual.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought about the beds he had damaged over time.

“I am Yeon-shin of the Jeong family.”

He respectfully raised both hands together. The current Beggar Sect Leader was of the same age as the former Divine Sword Group Leader, making him a far senior to Jeong Yeon-shin. It wasn’t awkward to show the utmost courtesy.

To begin with, he needed the Beggar Sect Leader’s help to enter the battlefield of the Nine Great Sects’ leaders. The faint energy waves he had been sensing from the righteous path’s absolute masters had long disappeared without a trace.

Hangzhou was enormously vast, and beneath its waterways and rock formations lay immense underground passages. There was a high possibility that the Taimo Mountain Castle Lord had sealed off the surroundings with formations.

Meanwhile, the Beggar Sect Leader still hadn’t received treatment for the sword wound in his abdomen.

Since the Divine Physician was now bedridden, recovery seemed remote. Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t anticipated this either. It was regrettable.

Swish.

Divine Beggar, who had been staring intently at Jeong Yeon-shin, slightly turned the toe of his foot.

It was as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have. There was a hint that something wasn’t right.

“Aren’t you the acting head of the Divine Sword Group? Your formality is excessive for a first meeting.”

“How could I treat a great senior lightly? I’ve long heard of your illustrious reputation, Sect Leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said as he lowered his cupped fist salute.

The old beggar’s lips twitched faintly.

“…Your name has also been shaking the four seas. I’ve long wanted to see you with my own eyes.”

Divine Beggar.

Typically, the epithets of martial world figures are often exaggerated.

Nevertheless, there’s always a reason why a nickname is attached to the name of a master.

Regardless of Shin Hwang’s advice, Jeong Yeon-shin recalled what Taoist High Sword had once explained during a pastime in Mount Hua. It was a story about a peerless master who greatly disliked Tyrant Hero Ma Yeon-jeok.

—Great Wild Divine Beggar is the Beggar Sect Leader when drunk. He’s a master of Drunken Fist. When he gets drunk, he sees nothing around him and uses the sky as his blanket and the earth as his bed like a vagrant—that’s what it means. But many juniors interpret it as someone who has mastered the history of the martial world. Your maternal grandfather particularly liked that epithet. Said he was a small but big bear.

It was just as Jeong Yeon-shin was trying not to think about bears.

“The world.”

The Beggar Sect Leader opened his mouth.

“That was an impressive statement. It’s fitting for someone who aspires to the seat of the Divine Sword Group Leader to make such a declaration. Judging by the Eternal Candle Divine Physician’s reaction, those words of yours were not exaggeration but sincere.”

A voice with deep resonance.

Unlike his small stature, his presence was heavy.

“You’re too kind.”

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze to the side. It was partly out of embarrassment, but also because he liked the Divine Beggar.

Usually, when old masters of the previous generation looked at him, they immediately mentioned his maternal grandfather, but the current Beggar Sect Leader spoke as if Tyrant Hero wasn’t even on his mind.

‘He’s a weighty person.’

If there had been talk of being worthy of the former Divine Sword Group Leader’s grandson, it would have been difficult to associate with him.

Or perhaps the Nine Great Sects leaders who had participated in the Mount Hua Agreement hadn’t given Divine Beggar any particular information. Either way, it didn’t matter to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“However, there’s one thing that concerns me…”

Divine Beggar lowered his voice. A somewhat dry feeling emanated from his aged voice. It was also like a chilly winter wind.

“I am listening.”

“People who have seen someone with speech and conduct like yours often think of the phrase ‘self-importance.’ There’s no defense against joint attacks in this world. A martial path master who is isolated without friends, no matter how powerful their martial arts…”

“Acting Group Leader! Where have you gone? Acting Group Leader!”

A young man’s shout interrupted Divine Beggar’s words. It was a voice that rang out from a distance. There was also a girl’s voice loudly calling, “Over here!”

Desolate Divine Hero Hyeon Won-chang and Blood Radiance Successor Shin So-bin.

[TL Note – I have no idea where did Blood Radiance Successor come from, maybe a new nickname for her just being dropped casually without any context.]

They were young prodigies who had made names for themselves at the grand Mount Hua Agreement. In particular, Shin So-bin, dressed in a blue robe that hung down to her trouser cuffs, had gained fame after demonstrating martial prowess equal to Little Sword Queen in a bloody battle.

The suffix ‘Successor’ in her epithet signified an heir whose martial arts were wholly forged in the essence of Transcendent Martial  techniques.

“Is it alright to get up now?”

“Well, if it had been properly attached, Jeong family dynamic technique would… Group Leader, are you alright…?”

People gathering toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

Not just these two. After Brilliant Jade Sword God, Mount Hua’s Hidden Dragon Yu Hyeon, who was considered worthy of Mount Hua’s full attention, and Tang Family Head Tang Yun-hwang quickly traversed several rooftops to approach.

They gave Divine Beggar a brief silent salute before examining Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Hey, I’ll say this now, but how did you fight to that extent? If you were going to return empty-handed anyway, you could have fled not only for the common people’s sake, but also for your own. Is this really attached properly?”

“The energy flow in the Three Yang Meridians around your shoulder is still chaotic. I don’t think you should rashly go out…”

Tang Yun-hwang’s words trailed off. He seemed to have already guessed what was happening in Hangzhou. He was once the absolute master of Sichuan.

He was closer to the Beggar Sect Leader, who had now taken a step back with a strange expression, than to the later-generation masters now gathered around Jeong Yeon-shin.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“My thanks are late. You’ve traveled a long way.”

“The members of the main family wanted to come as well…”

Tang Yun-hwang didn’t seem to take Jeong Yeon-shin’s courtesy seriously. Rather, he appeared reluctant about Jeong Yeon-shin walking into a battlefield of peerless masters.

Divine Beggar also softly dissuaded Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Don’t push yourself. If the rain dragon appears, all efforts will be in vain anyway, but there’s already sufficient power to block the Dragon Summoning Ritual Formation. Despite some complications, haven’t the leaders of the Nine Great Sects gathered? All that remains is to entrust ourselves to fate.”

“This junior has business with the Taimo Mountain Castle Lord and Ming Cult Leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had slightly raised his elbow, rotated his shoulder in a full circle. In that instant, a “jjeojeojeojeong—” sound burst forth with a semi-transparent wave.

This was because all the flow of internal energy interlocked like a formation mechanism due to the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

Immediately, he was at full strength.

“The more hands, the better, right?”

“……”

As silence fell over the gathering, Yu Hyeon’s single exclamation rang out. What’s that about?

Only after he broke the silence did Jeong Yeon-shin speak.

“I’ll be departing. The rest of you should seal off Hangzhou as we discussed yesterday. I’ve left the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader’s message with Desolate Divine Hero, so the government office will also take action.”

His speech and conduct differed from before. It was a bit more flexible and more precise. Soon after, he made eye contact with Divine Beggar.

“I need your help, senior. This junior doesn’t know which direction the Nine Great Sects leaders are currently taking.”

“Unlike you, I wasn’t chosen by the Divine Physician.”

Divine Beggar replied with his hands behind his back. Somehow, he seemed displeased. To Jeong Yeon-shin, he appeared as an old man who had realized what transcendence was.

He was also a very grateful senior. After all, he never mentioned the bed or Ma Yeon-jeok.

“If you lend me your eyes, this junior will be your hands and feet.”

Observing Divine Beggar who wasn’t readily answering, Jeong Yeon-shin moved his lips toward a distant roof.

—You.

—……

—Follow me.

In that moment, the tiled roof rippled like a dark red mist.

***
Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

The Administrative Office of Desolate Fortress was favorable to the newly appointed Purple Rank.

Internally too. It had been since the boy in a blue robe embroidered with the golden character “Desolate” had paid respects to the officials of the main fortress, calling them the pillars of Desolate Fortress.

All this time, the Administrative Office had been discreetly accommodating Jeong Yeon-shin, regardless of the Grand Administrator’s instructions.

It was they who shifted the blame to eunuchs whenever various high officials had their necks put on the line due to Desolate Sword, Northern Light Sword, and Remaining Thunder.

“Isn’t government office business clearly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court? You should have thoroughly monitored before such things happened. If the main fortress’s mission fails, who will take responsibility? Will you explain to the Emperor why the tributes are missing?”

“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying… The Zhejiang Provincial Governor hadn’t heard about this beforehand? Are you in your right mind bringing this letter? Are you suggesting that the Governor stationed at the frontier should know the movements of the main fortress’s Purple Rank in advance?”

“He’s alive! How many times must I tell you he’s survived!”

Despite the thick ink fragrance, it wasn’t pleasant. This was due to the excrement smell from the spiritual birds raised by elf clan nobility.

It was a hall lined with dozens of grayish stone desks. Dozens of officials were moving their mouths while writing with brushes.

It was so busy and chaotic that they hadn’t even secured separate reception rooms. Like merchants in a marketplace, they responded to visitors without even making eye contact with the officials they faced.

“Excuse me, but is this proper etiquette?”

“I’ve heard they sell such things in Beijing. This humble one only knows how to read the names of the main fortress warriors in the personnel registry, but has never taken the imperial examinations…”

“……”

The Administrative Office officials often entertain external high officials.

They connect the martial forces under the Divine Sword Group with missions, monitor their movements through various secret agents and branches, comprehensively assess the external civilian conditions and government office circumstances, and filter all sorts of information in the first instance.

In the midst of this, they coordinate positions with government offices filled throughout the world.

This includes not only the imperial court in Beijing but also local government offices.

Among them, the attitude of the Administrative Office officials was consistently strong. This was because they had nothing to lose.

Those who gave up on the imperial examinations and entered Desolate Fortress. At this moment, they were at the center of the martial world in turmoil due to the confrontation between Jeong Yeon-shin and the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader.

“News travels fast, really fast. When did this happen that it’s already here?”

“Given the nature of the matter, of course! The Administrative Office even deployed Flash Arrow Birds. Aren’t those raptors normally reserved for when the northern front breaks or when the Fighting God descends south?”

“Can we relax a bit now? The entire martial world is in chaos. Places where rumors haven’t spread will soon be the same, won’t they? I mean, the Unorthodox Path’s Finest Sword…!”

“Relax? What are you talking about? I heard Beijing is debating daily whether to gather non-existent imperial troops and send them to Hangzhou… And they say the Emperor has long gone north.”

The word “chaos” was apt.

In the top floor of such a bustling Administrative Office hall, three people were sitting around. They were the Grand Administrator, the Elder Council Head, and King Qiong-ming.

Sarak.

The sleeve of a young man dressed in a deep blue Four-Clawed Dragon Garment rustled. This was because a sheet of paper was being crumpled in his grip.

The only one in the current main fortress who could handle a letter sent to the Administrative Office of Desolate Fortress so casually was King Qiong-ming.

“He’s disappeared again?”

His long ears trembled slightly.

It was a report about Jeong Yeon-shin. Content stating that he had vanished abruptly after being recognized by the Divine Physician and having his external wounds treated. The warriors of the Desolate Fortress Hangzhou branch ultimately failed to keep up with the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader.

“…We cannot lose him again.”

Grand Administrator Lim Jin-myeong’s bushy beard moved.

“I humbly report to King Qiong-ming. When Master Jeong’s life or death was wrongly reported, it had a tremendous impact on many government offices. How did the Sima unorthodox path, as well as the martial noble families who acted at that time, the so-called Eight Great Families, respond? If things had gone wrong…”

“I know. So?”

“The Forest Treading Squad Leader, Radiant Demon Wing Leader, Law Enforcement Wing Leader, and Martial Ultimate Hall Leader of the main fortress’s Divine Sword Squad are on standby.”

“…Quite a gathering. What about Yong Hye-myeong?”

“He and the main fortress’s Hidden Sword are beyond the gate where news cannot reach.”

“That’s right.”

After responding thus, King Qiong-ming was briefly silent. Then, a royal sigh flowed across the round stone table in the Grand Administrator’s office.

“The world is in turmoil. Yes, I underestimated the new Purple Rank… Desolate Day Extinction. Now…”

It was then.

Suddenly, a clear bell sound rang out. A sound like jade beads rolling on a gentle breeze. The sound originated from the white rafters of the inner castle visible through the window.

In that moment, even King Qiong-ming fell silent, along with the Grand Administrator.

The snow-white beard of Elder Council Head Shin Byeok, who had been maintaining silence all along, trembled. An aged voice flowed from his mouth.

“The Fortress Lord has arrived.”