Chapter 292 – Lotus (11)

“……”

A brief silence fell.

The expressions of the aristocrats who had come to visit the wandering swordsman Geom Woon-bi’s quarters changed in various ways.

Some raised their eyebrows as if doubting their ears, while others nodded their heads, saying his martial prowess warranted such arrogance.

There were even masters who showed anger on behalf of the Gui family head. They sought the status gap between a wanderer and an aristocrat.

All of them had lived like mountain gods of the common people as martial aristocrats.

They were beings whose words and reactions were naturally accepted in the Shanxi martial world.

“Surely you weren’t talking to the Gui family head? Dust, you say?”

“That’s going too far. More importantly, isn’t it problematic that he responded with a soliloquy to the Gui family head’s polite words? He’s too impudent. No matter how strong a wanderer is, what can he do alone?”

“You all can say what you want. I came to exchange pleasantries.”

Though there are differences in martial prowess between regional martial worlds, the consciousness of aristocrats is generally awakened.

They hadn’t recklessly rushed over after seeing the release of powerful energy waves.

There were countless people who came while gauging who the other party was and how they should conduct themselves based on their position and temperament.

Recruitment, persuasion, sword discussion, friendship…

The faces of the Gongya siblings standing to one side of the group were different from usual.

Young Family Head Gongya Jeong revealed her anxiety while smoothing her neat sleeve, while Second Young Master Gongya Su showed his admiration by lowering his sharp gaze.

“Sect Leader Geom has made enemies. How should we handle this…”

“But that was Sect Leader Geom’s energy wave just now, right? How can that be possible? It’s an unbelievably high level of martial arts. I knew he was strong, but to think it was to this extent.”

“Sect Leader Geom?”

“Well, he’s a much greater master than me, and his manner of speech and appearance are cool too. At a glance, he seems to have been raised nobly when young, but there’s a strangely rough quality… Are all wanderers like that? I didn’t know there were people who would act like this in front of the Gui family head!”

“Be quiet. This isn’t helpful for Sect Leader Geom.”

Gongya Jeong calmly scolded her brother.

Concern gathered in the corners of her eyes. As someone who had been gifted martial arts techniques, she wanted to repay the favor with appropriate achievements.

She didn’t expect problems to arise on Geom Woon-bi’s side, thinking the issue was with her own accomplishments.

‘It’s understandable. How could he have a good impression after hearing Gui Yitai’s abusive words…?’

Many people had seen it at the banquet.

The Gui family head’s son had spoken of Geom Woon-bi’s origins to his face.

He called him lowborn. Along with words telling him to serve the eldest daughter well since he came as a guest.

After hearing such words at a banquet attended by most of the people here, it was natural for the Gui family head’s dignified attitude to come across as overbearing at this moment.

It was then.

“Only the leaders remain.”

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly said.

It was a massive mission carried out by three black-ranks.

He wanted to prepare more thoroughly and boldly.

The ground he was standing on now felt like Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian’s fan rather than the Gongya family estate. To finish off the absolute master of mystical martial arts, ordinary preparations wouldn’t suffice.

The leaders of the Shanxi aristocrats at the front glanced back.

It was right after encountering Sky-Jade Sect Leader Geom Woon-bi’s terrifying energy wave. None of them seemed to want innocent sacrifices from their followers.

The Gongya siblings, along with other young disciples and some servants, dispersed in droves.

Soon, Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth again.

“Follow me.”

His words were close to commands. But they seemed to fit him like well-tailored clothes.

At the same time, the Shanxi Gui family head’s large body flinched violently. He looked furious, unable to contain his anger.

“Look here, look here, your impudence knows no bounds! Do you know who you’re spouting such nonsense to?! Even if a wanderer’s martial prowess is formidable, there’s no excuse for such rudeness!”

His voice was tremendously loud. It seemed to tear at the night air.

The profound energy that would be condensed deep below his navel in the iron armor was impressive, befitting the family head of a renowned family that could shake an entire prefecture.

Jeong Yeon-shin did not answer.

Whoosh!

Silently, he stretched out his hand and a fierce wind brushed against the threshold.

Soon after, a set of pitch-black long robes rose up on their own.

With a rustle, the sound of fabric brushing against itself rang out, and amid the sleeve floating through the air, the character “Desolate” (荒) appeared sporadically.

“Do I still look like a wanderer to you?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly as he grasped the black garment that had been pulled up.

At the same time, two jet-black sets of robes appeared and fluttered greatly behind the Shanxi aristocrats.

The black-rank seniors arrived upon seeing their junior’s energy wave release.

Divine Sword Squad Vice Leader, Radiant Demon Wing Leader, Blood Guardian Squad Leader.

The three owners of Wish for Peace Sword Hall had gathered in a foreign land. It was enough to make the martial aristocrats far from Hubei tremble.

In fact, they silently closed their mouths and observed the three figures’ reactions.

“Leave those guys alone.”

As soon as they sat around the table in the annex, she opened her lips. It was while spreading an invisible, densely woven energy curtain around them.

Yue Shou-lin continued speaking.

“We’re screwed.”

“Pardon?”

“It seems Zhuge Clan Leader found out. No, it’s more accurate to say he was prepared from the start. Blood Extreme found the formation medium. Near the tournament grounds.”

“I see.”

“You’re not surprised? Lightning Genius, are you perhaps angry? Your demeanor is different from usual.”

“It’s just my personal matter. Let’s discuss the mission first.”

“Hmm… Alright.”

Yue Shou-lin shrugged her shoulders once.

Jin Myeong-jo, who was sitting somewhat close to her side, trembled his hand slightly upon hearing his junior’s words.

That gesture gave Jeong Yeon-shin a small measure of comfort. Senior Divine Blood Extreme Demon cares for his juniors’ affairs as if they were his own.

“The synergy between Valor Fist Lord and Zhuge Clan Leader is close to invincible. There are martial artists who achieve a remarkable increase in combat power the moment they fight together. Because their martial arts complement each other well. Those two are such a pair. Terrifyingly so.”

“Then we should separate them.”

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly responded to Yue Shou-lin’s words.

There was no other way.

It was said that the formations deployed by the grandmaster of mystical martial arts rivaled divine skills.

Zhuge Clan Leader’s goal was to select the talented at the martial arts tournament.

There would be things he had prepared to eliminate variables. There was no reason to fight in the realm of such a supreme master.

“Look at our Lightning Genius’s confidence! That’s right! To properly face him, we need to deal with Valor Fist Lord first.”

“Then…”

“Blood and I will block Zhuge. Blood’s energy sense is incredibly wide. We should be able to buy some time somehow. Well, maybe before you arrive…”

[TL Note- Yue Shou-lin is referring to Blood Guardian Squad Leader as just ‘Blood’.]

She trailed off slightly while winking one eye.

“My spear might have already pierced that b*st*rd’s head.”

“Understood.”

“More importantly, what really happened? Tell this big sister everything.”

“Yes, grandmother.”

As the night deepened, a quiet conversation continued.

It was a discussion that would soon turn the Shanxi martial world upside down.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

The sun hung high in the sky.

It was weather where transparent sunlight thoroughly filled the winter air.

“From this moment, this place is the cradle of martial arts!”

Rough voices infused with energy spread widely.

They exaggeratedly packaged the martial arts tournament for young warriors, but it sounded plausible thanks to the crowds densely surrounding the tournament grounds.

At the center of the tournament grounds.

“The many renowned figures of Shanxi spoke of fair matches! Countless young masters who will expand our horizons have thrown down the gauntlet, so you all must carefully observe today’s brilliant matches and spread word of them throughout the land without fail!”

A middle-aged man wearing white scholar’s robes led the proceedings. Tremendous cheers filled the surroundings.

Wooooooah!

The vast slopes of Xingping Mountain in Luan County, Shanxi.

[TL Note- Xingping Mountain seems to be fictional. I could not find any info on it existing irl.]

A tournament ground had been hastily constructed, and despite the venue and schedule changing abruptly, hundreds of people had gathered.

Most were dressed well enough to weather even years of famine. Not only silk clothes, but palanquins, carriages, and fine horses were in abundance.

For those with means, the movements of martial aristocrats were a top priority to monitor.

This was because the grudges and power dynamics between the strong directly affected the ownership of commercial rights, land, and shops.

“The one who will open the curtain on this tournament is…”

The man in scholar’s robes drew out his words. At the same time, the awnings surrounding the edges of the tournament grounds shook violently.

It was the young aristocrats seated there releasing their energy, wishing to raise their martial prowess and fame.

Mixed with the strong winds blowing through the mountain valleys, it created a great disturbance.

Just as many in the crowd let out exclamations at that sight.

Whoosh! Boom!

The center of the tournament grounds caved in. White light flickered over the cracks that spread in all directions with a creaking sound.

It was an energy wave that shattered the auras of the novices that had been rippling in all directions.

As soon as the figure that had suddenly descended straightened up, cries of astonishment rang out from all around.

“Elder Yan has…”

“It’s Valor Fist Lord!”

“Valor Fist Lord Yan…? Could it be…”

“It’s Yan Family’s First Fist! The Yan Family’s First Fist is here!”

The crowd that had been listening intently let out wild cheers. It was much louder than when they had heard the tournament’s opening declaration earlier.

It was to the extent that those gathered close to the tournament grounds had to cover their ears mid-shout.

Soon, Yan Hwa-ryeon opened her mouth.

“I’ve come to avenge my defeat.”

It was a voice that cut straight through the massive commotion. The caliber of the energy imbued in it was different.

As the surroundings were dyed in silence, she spoke again.

“There are no traps. Reborn Hidden Dragon is not coming. He had to go carry out other schemes to prevent the Martial Alliance from coveting Shanxi. I’m the only one here. I stake my lifelong martial arts on this statement.”

“Um… Elder Yan…”

As the scholar in charge of the proceedings cautiously approached her, it was then.

The Gongya family head leapt up with urgent lightness skills from under an awning and pulled the scholar in robes back by his nape.

Whoosh.

The backlash of the lightness skill stirred up a brief wind. Yan Hwa-ryeon’s short black hair below her nape swayed darkly.

“Gongya family head.”

“Elder Yan.”

“I’m indebted to you in Shanxi. I received much help in a foreign land.”

“It was my pleasure to be able to broaden my horizons.”

“As much as possible, don’t get entangled with the Gui family. It’s best not to form deep ties with Reborn Hidden Dragon either. Martial lineages that reach out for outside help tend to lose their own spirit… I realized it too late.”

“……”

“A middling sect like the Gongya family should bow appropriately and walk alone appropriately. If you struggle to imitate those who stand alone in the martial world, your legs will be torn apart. For example, someone like that.”

Yan Hwa-ryeon twisted her body slightly and jerked her chin forward.

Rustle.

A black figure gracefully ascended the tournament grounds.

With a height that had grown quite tall at the boundary between youth and adulthood, he was wrapped in an indescribable aura.

It was the one she had to face.

“So it’s Sky-Jade Sect Leader. I heard a wanderer of young age reached the realm of a master.”

“Has Elder Yan been defeated by him before?”

“I saw them exchanging moves briefly. At a glance it seemed evenly matched, but…”

The surrounding whispers grew thick.

However, the supreme masters paid no heed to anything as they stood face to face.

Sky-Jade Sect Leader Geom Woon-bi, Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been examining Yan Hwa-ryeon with a complex gaze, spoke as the Gongya family head led away the man in scholar’s robes.

“Zhuge Clan Leader is not coming, you say?”

Yan Hwa-ryeon nodded.

“That’s right. I didn’t tell him about you. The current Reborn Hidden Dragon has laid out his own pieces on every path he will tread. He was prepared to crush anyone who came from Desolate Fortress, so he’s not bothering to stick to the schedule. That’s what it means to be a truly transcendent master. You must keep this in mind without fail.”

“…The Gui family’s followers fled, but couldn’t he have guessed?”

“Those people were killed without anyone knowing. It seems to be the work of Blazing Moon Great Slaughter Sect… But now is not the time for me to speak of this. I too am in the dark about that matter.”

It was the sect of Slaughter Chivalry, who was always mentioned when discussing the tournament’s victory.

After a moment of silence, Jeong Yeon-shin asked again.

“What is your purpose?”

“I wanted to stop. Reborn Hidden Dragon has lost his dignity. What I fell in love with was a scholar immersed in sorrow after losing his wife, not an absolute being who has thrown away his life for a great cause and fallen into depravity.”

Yan Hwa-ryeon’s calm voice swept across the tournament grounds on the winter wind.

Regret could be felt. Along with killing intent that seemed to scrape the skin dryly.

‘She’s sincere.’

It came across that way even without deliberately gauging with his upper dantian.

Now he was more concerned about the surroundings than her. This was a place with many powerful figures who looked down on wanderers.

The dregs of Shanxi. Those who wield dozens of disciples like sharp swords.

There were many unfamiliar faces. Parasites of the martial world. They had come straight here without visiting the Gongya family.

‘Worthless specks of dust.’

He sensed their presences from the vantage point of standing on Fan Dragon’s fan… Do they think in terms of a martial artist’s honor rather than the interests of famine? The energy waves stirring under the awnings seemed impatient to help Yan Hwa-ryeon.

They seemed likely to irritate his nose if they entered as dust, having eaten some sort of elixir.

It was a gathering where few had not connected with Zhuge Clan Leader.

There had been some hesitation about restricted movement, but now was the time to find freedom through status. So that no one would dare to intervene.

Swish.

Jeong Yeon-shin placed his left hand, which had emerged from between his sleeveless garment, on his right forearm.

A soft texture could be felt. It was a layer of fabric wrapped around his arm.

Riiip!

He tore it off with a great pull. The sensation in his grasp was pulverized by energy waves and rapidly shortened.

At the same time, the stirring presences all around began to quiet down one by one. It was only a small portion. The majority rather stood up from their seats.

“What’s going on? What is this?”

“It’s the character for ‘Desolate’!”

“Desolate Fortress! That’s the character for Desolate Fortress!”

“How can this be? A black-rank from Desolate Fortress has come!”

Exclamations erupted from all around.

The young aristocrats who had been looking down on Jeong Yeon-shin with disdain now had their faces drained of color. Some even stumbled backwards, nearly falling over.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid them no heed. His gaze remained fixed on Yan Hwa-ryeon as he slowly drew his sword.

The gleaming blade of Northern Light Divine Sword emerged, its edge shimmering with an otherworldly radiance.

“Let us begin,” he said calmly.

Yan Hwa-ryeon nodded, settling into a fighting stance. “Indeed. Show me how much you’ve grown, Radiant Demon Wing Leader.”

The air between them seemed to crackle with tension as two supreme masters prepared to clash.