Chapter 486 – Desolate Day Extinction (5)

A strand of wind sways lengthily before scattering. Like the soft green hair of the Desolate Fortress Lord, which always carried the scent of grass blades.

Rustle.

The hem of a purple sleeve tinged with subtle golden light lightly scraped across the old roof tiles.

Behind Jeong Yeon-shin’s back.

The Desolate Fortress Lord gazed at him intently, and with just one small gesture of her eyes, the surrounding atmosphere became minutely distorted.

The tranquil roof they had climbed onto lost its sense of reality like a dream.

But Jeong Yeon-shin did not turn around.

He feared showing unsightly words and actions. He truly wished to become a gentleman. Regarding Baek Mi-ryeo’s safety… he could not blame the Desolate Fortress Lord for what he himself had failed to accomplish.

However.

Couldn’t he at least ask?

“Master.”

“Speak.”

A crystalline voice tickled his ear. Jeong Yeon-shin still kept his eyes slightly downcast. Still in a roughly crouched position.

“Do you know what became of Radiant Demon Wing’s Bewitching Sword Demon?”

He asked.

There was no variation in his tone. It was to maintain his composure, but Jeong Yeon-shin momentarily worried whether his words might have sounded cold to his master. But he did not show it.

He asked not as the disciple Lightning Genius, but in his capacity as Desolate Fortress’s purple.

Once, Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hye-myeong had said that only those wearing purple robes could discuss Desolate Fortress’s major and minor affairs at the same eye level as the Fortress Lord.

His maternal grandfather Ma Yeon-jeok and Elder Council Head Shin Byeok were naturally included, as was Jeong Yeon-shin. He had to rightfully exclude personal feelings.

Then.

“I said she would be returned at an appointed time.”

Her answer fell slowly.

The next moment, Jeong Yeon-shin was suddenly close to the Desolate Fortress Lord’s face. Like a beam of light, he had turned his body and kicked off the ground toward her.

The reverse wind from that series of movements spread wide dust, and their hair of different colors flew in opposite directions.

Step—

After a very long time.

The master and disciple of Desolate Fortress faced each other.

It was the first time since Jeong Yeon-shin had undergone his transformation.

“Who is returning whom? Do you mean the Ming Cult Leader said she would return Bewitching Sword Demon?”

Rustle.

At this moment, his forehead nearly touched the chest of the Desolate Fortress Lord, his limbs had grown much longer. The disciple had grown taller.

Jeong Yeon-shin naturally stepped back and met her eyes.

“…Master.”

“Your words are correct. That is what was decided.”

The Desolate Fortress Lord’s lips moved slightly.

Soon after, she gazed intently at Jeong Yeon-shin. Eyes like countless leaves melted together and molded.

The deep green gaze symbolizing the world’s foremost martial artist dyed the surroundings in silence. Her eye light was like dew holding moonlight on a spring night.

“If you have more questions, ask them here. You must melt away all doubts harbored in your heart to prevent heart demons from arising.”

Courteous and gentle words and actions. The Desolate Fortress Lord’s voice was as calm as ripples on a lakeside.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s mouth immediately opened.

“Invincible is said to mock even heaven itself. Can such a promise be trusted? No… before that, I can’t believe that you, Master, would make such an arrangement with that person.”

Certainly.

The martial prowess of Invincible with her restraints released was immeasurable.

She might really need to think of Jeong Yeon-shin some time later.

But he had never imagined the Desolate Fortress Lord being defeated by anyone. Even now, such a scene did not form in his mind.

“The Ming Cult child cannot defy me.”

The Desolate Fortress Lord said. Jeong Yeon-shin fell silent for a moment while daring to hope his master’s answer would continue. It could be called silent urging.

Soon her lips slowly opened again.

“…Because I am your master. Moreover, she cannot force her will upon me through martial arts.”

“She is someone with whom you have no emotional attachment.”

“That child will be different.”

“I apologize, but I still cannot accept this.”

“The emotions of a demon facing death are inevitably more primal and intense than anyone’s heart. That child values you more than you think.”

Suddenly the technique name “Smoke Lingering Thought” flashed through Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind.

A martial art that disrupted the naturally opposing relationship between dharma power and demonic energy. It was an ultimate technique that interfered with certain principles.

With that method, Invincible had become able to clash hands and press bodies with Jeong Yeon-shin.

It was a divine skill born of obsession.

Magic means unpredictable possessiveness. A temperament that does not discriminate means to obtain something.

The reason Ming Cult Leader Invincible could not defy the Desolate Fortress Lord lay there. She did not want the one and only master of Jeong Yeon-shin in the world to speak carelessly about herself.

She pathologically avoided third-party intervention in their relationship. Taking Baek Mi-ryeo was her own choice, but the Desolate Fortress Lord’s words and actions were merely an annoying variable.

The Desolate Fortress Lord’s words continued thus:

“She already regards you as a companion born under the same heavenly mandate. A demon who craves your understanding and recognition. That child cannot lie due to learning sorcery techniques that value true words, and I, as one who guards the World Tree, must speak only truth. Both of us can distinguish truth from falsehood through our upper dantian, so we exchanged definitive answers.”

Had she been sensing Jeong Yeon-shin’s heart? Her story was unusually long.

“You spoke of heavenly mandate.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had briefly gazed into the Desolate Fortress Lord’s jade-like eyes, slowly opened his mouth.

“My heavenly mandate lies with you, Master.”

“……”

The Desolate Fortress Lord’s words were momentarily cut off. But Jeong Yeon-shin was not.

“I have not yet heard an answer. What was your reason for sending Invincible away?”

“You will grow greatly because of that child. There was no reason to break your touchstone prematurely.”

She said.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s view differed. He would not have cared about touchstones or anything else. Invincible’s immediate death would have been far more important.

But he could say nothing.

He had failed in the mission he had set for himself as purple. He was even in a situation where he had received life-saving grace. If he blamed his master here, he would become lower than a maggot.

He could not even question Desolate Fortress’s duty. He had to bury the wildfire-like anger rising in his chest.

“…When will Bewitching Sword Demon return?”

“She said she would come with spring.”

Referring to the beginning of spring.

It was just now entering winter. Too late. So late that there was no knowing what Baek Mi-ryeo might experience in the meantime. But the Desolate Fortress Lord’s face remained only peaceful.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt anger surge again… anger at himself. If only he had been a little stronger. If only he had been more active in joint training with the Seventh Apostle.

‘Seventh Apostle…!’

He immediately opened his mouth.

“What became of that Blood Flame Cult noble?”

“Since she clung close to me while holding you, I struck until she fainted.”

“…You took action? Why?”

“She was bothersome.”

The Desolate Fortress Lord said briefly.

* * *

The main gate of the Mu Family Estate.

The eight groups that had come seeking Jeong Yeon-shin were still arrayed before the estate. It was like they had established a siege formation.

It was extremely noisy.

Under the tranquil wingbeats of an owl that had flown southeast to survive winter, white feathers suddenly began falling toward them but were swept away by strong winds.

Bang!

An explosion burst in front of the main gate. From within, a hearty voice rang out thunderously.

“How can your hands be so loose!”

A man with sharply pointed ears shouted.

His attire consisted of dark navy robes hanging long, with sleeves bearing dragons instead of the sun and moon that symbolized the Emperor.

The ceremonial dress of a king positioned directly below the Son of Heaven. At this moment, colorless waves flickered along his extremely solid-looking arms. It was the aftermath of a punch he had personally thrown.

It was Prince Hong Huang, who governed the western regions of Guangdong.

Swoosh—

On the opposite side, Cheong Myeong was pushed back, carving a long furrow in the ground before regaining his balance.

Radiant Demon Wing Blue-Eyed Demon Sword. Though he showed no immediate signs of defeat, neither did he display his usual killing intent. He merely shook dust from his sword once.

Rather, it was Prince Hong Huang whose expression was alive.

An impression clearly showing belligerent nature. Under the nose bridge bearing thick noble clan blood, his lips twisted slightly. It was an expression tinged with disappointment.

“I heard you were the right hand of Lightning Genius of the Jeong family, but your spirit falls short of your reputation.”

“……”

Cheong Myeong did not answer.

Neither did Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin standing behind him. Only Yue Shou-lin nearly shouted something, but she could only furrow her brow because she faced not only Prince Hong Huang’s forces but two other princely forces as well.

The pressure pressing down on the rough soil was tremendous.

Among the groups spread widely around them, the martial artists of the ‘Four Provinces Martial Alliance’ and ‘Guan Xu Merchant Alliance’ were in confusion.

The party of Zhejiang’s Provincial Governor and the military forces from the Five Military Commissions’ Supreme Command only watched from a distance.

The reason the situation had reached this point.

Face was the problem.

Even though all those who had arrived here had business with Jeong Yeon-shin, that didn’t mean they should bend their backs regardless of face. This was especially true for imperial family members and government officials.

Since the Desolate Fortress Tyrant Hero had crippled the previous eunuch supervisor, a network of mutual support had been woven among the various imperial family members.

It was to guard against the Tyrant Hero’s methods.

So that no one would suffer such treatment, countless Zhu clan members deepened their friendships and displayed such power.

This was alongside constantly reporting their every move to the Emperor so as not to appear treasonous.

Naturally, many became clean, and incidents of losing heads to inspection disappeared. Of course, Desolate Fortress had long lost justification to do anything to them.

But the imperial family’s prestige remained intact.

They were fundamentally of higher status than Desolate Fortress’s martial artists. This was true even for those who maintained minimal forces to guard the homeland, separate from the imperial family masters mobilized en masse to the north.

—You guys get lost first, and you others will have to wait a bit.

As soon as the Guan Xu Merchant Alliance leader was rebuffed by Yue Shou-lin, a warrior from Prince Hong Huang’s forces stepped forward.

—Are you planning to keep the Prince standing in the marketplace?

—The nation’s sword is healing his internal injuries. You could show some consideration, couldn’t you? Or if you promise to stay only in the outer courtyard…

—Impudent.

Thus conflict arose.

An era of rampant martial power. Mighty strength was the primal justification for rule.

Naturally, there were no weak martial artists among the high-ranking imperial family members, and among them were quite a few who combined exceptional talent with belligerence.

They rarely entered the world of jianghu martial artists only because their status was different.

“Especially since Desolate Fortress’s Radiant Demon Wing received the martial art called Radiant Art Bond from the new purple, didn’t he? Why won’t you give me a chance to broaden my experience?”

Prince Hong Huang was the same.

His origins differed from those who were born common and obtained office to rise to the ruling class.

“I already greatly respect Lightning Genius of the Jeong family, so Lightning Genius must also consider my face.”

The young Prince Hong Huang said. His expression had changed to glare fiercely at Cheong Myeong. In a world where various rumors and reputation were power itself.

He could not tolerate being turned away at the door in the lands of the Zhu imperial family. The same applied even if the opponent was purple.

With the Emperor dead and Yao tribe masters moving south.

It was a chaotic era of everyone for themselves.

“Choose one of two options.”

He continued slowly.

“The rumor that Blue-Eyed Demon Sword under Lightning Genius’s command did his utmost to stir this Prince’s interest. Or the extremely reasonable matter of you receiving the princely residence with utmost courtesy in place of Lightning Genius.”

Whoosh!

Suddenly dust spread like fog.

It was an energy wave raised by Prince Hong Huang. Golden radiance covering his body in five layers while emitting a resonant humming sound. It possessed an extremely subtle yet ironclad temperament.

The Zhu clan secret Golden Immortal Foundation Tiger Armor. An ancient protective energy.

“I’m interested in both plotting political affairs with Lightning Genius and personally experiencing the martial arts he created.”

Prince Hong Huang continued quietly.

“I know what you’re worried about. You’d fear the aftermath when even the smallest scratch appears on us. But this Prince won’t pressure your superior due to status. It’s a chaotic era anyway. I don’t think such things would work. All of this is merely your unfounded worry.”

His words penetrated the facts. The reason Cheong Myeong had blocked the way worrying about harm to Jeong Yeon-shin’s recovery, yet couldn’t properly attack.

Because this was an opponent of different caliber from the imperial Desolate Ma Family member Zhu Lian-ting, whose dantian the Tyrant Hero had once destroyed.

Feudal enfeoffment.

A king who governed land granted by the Emperor.

Someone of purple rank couldn’t be free from Beijing’s central political circles. If he rashly caused trouble as a subordinate, harm would come to Jeong Yeon-shin in some way.

It would be better for Cheong Myeong to take several lethal techniques with his body. Even Yue Shou-lin was restraining herself with the cultivation befitting an old jianghu veteran…

Swish.

Cheong Myeong silently re-gripped his sword. Suddenly Prince Hong Huang’s lips faintly rose. His protective energy tinged with subtle golden light had now risen to cover even his face.

“If you won’t step aside there, you’ll need to prepare to die. Though Lightning Genius is young, he should be able to make this degree of public-private distinction.”

[TL Note- i hope JYS continues the family tradition with this imperial member.]

Something Desolate Fortress’s martial artists inevitably had to endure. Even when the opponent spoke of death without particularly lowering his voice.

The hierarchy of status pressed down on Desolate Fortress.

Neither complete jianghu people nor officials with separate government posts. Literally civil-military intermediates. Foreigners unwelcome from either side.

The sunlight that had been pouring down with the dry winter wind stood like a wall in the void. It was an extremely transparent color.

Suddenly the sky distorted.

A reddish form was descending like divine punishment from the void. There was no sound of breaking through air.

Like early-blooming sunset taking human form, the human shadow that had torn diagonally through the atmosphere trampled Prince Hong Huang’s chest while colliding with the ground.

Kwaaaaaaaaang—!

The Golden Immortal Foundation Tiger Armor’s internal energy barrier shattered into pieces. It was truly an instant.

The gale that struck belatedly swept up the fragments of golden true energy like dust. Simultaneously, semi-transparent shockwaves spread like waves, creating earthquake-like reverberations.

Urk!

Prince Hong Huang, who had been planted into the ground back-first, coughed up blood. Instantly the surroundings froze in shock.

The youth who had suddenly intruded.

Under transcendent features, a purple robe fluttered. His identity was clear.

“…You, huff…”

Disbelief gathered in Prince Hong Huang’s eyes.

“This matter, how do you… plan to handle it…?”

Empty breaths mixed between each word segment. This was not something to happen in such broad daylight, in a place where watching eyes were spread everywhere.

Even the merchant alliance figures who had been watching the series of events with interest were hastily turning their eyes away.

“Handle?”

The human shadow asked back.

“You didn’t… think of the consequences?”

“You spoke casually of the death of Desolate Fortress martial artists. Such words and actions are only permitted to His Majesty. The power of life and death, that is.”

“Absurdly… theoretical talk…”

Prince Hong Huang was clearly an extraordinary person. From the way he snorted despite receiving an unbearable strike unexpectedly.

“The late His Majesty… chose me. A king governing part of Guangdong. Your bloodline… is different from mine. With a status that cannot… replace this Prince, how dare you…”

“In all the world, are you…”

Among the fragments of protective strong energy gleaming golden in the sunlight, the human shadow spoke dryly.

“The only Zhu clan member?”

[TL Note- oh the deja vu.]