Chapter 381 – Under Heaven (5)

Rain poured down in fine streams.

It was right after a thunderous roar had erupted from Yunhui Peak, where the leaders of the major factions and the Radiant Demon Wing Leader had gathered.

Saaaa—

Two men wearing wide-brimmed bamboo hats had hidden themselves in some bushes.

It was a spot with lush green leaves above and a clear view of the village below the mountain.

These men remained calm even as rainwater pooled on the brims of their hats and dripped down, as if they could see straight ahead.

They had their backs to the endlessly towering Yunhui Peak.

“It’s chaos. The situation is dire both on the peak and below,” said the middle-aged man carrying a sword. His dry voice was immediately swallowed by the rain. It was the perfect place for a private conversation without wasting energy on sound transmission techniques.

“I wanted to see what was happening up there first,” said the young man beside him with a grin.

The small brush and book he held were not getting wet from the rain, likely because they contained some spiritual energy.

“Isn’t the true face of the current Radiant Demon Wing Leader the talk of the town these days among those in the know at the Court of Judicial Review, or rather, those familiar with state affairs? There are widespread rumors that the Governor-General recognized his stern character and quickly established connections, while on the other hand, even the Imperial Bodyguards treat him like a butcher…”

“He’s the bloodline of the former Divine Sword Group Leader. That should make him a gentleman, no?”

“Well… In any case, I didn’t expect to be reporting on a Desolate Fortress Black-rank from here. My hand is itching to write about such a high-status individual… If nothing happens on Yunhui Peak, he’ll come down soon, right?”

The young man said this while twirling his brush between his fingers. The middle-aged man who had been responding calmly shook his head.

“Don’t forget how the eunuch Ming Ye suddenly fell from power. Hasty judgments are dangerous.”

“I have no intention of inserting my own opinions into the text. I need to be cautious, given that the subject is the grandson of the Tyrant Hero.”

“Reporting the facts as seen is the job of the Court of Judicial Review. If you want to live long in the imperial palace, observe the facts and speak only the facts. Even this is a privilege we enjoy… The Radiant Demon Wing Leader is a candidate for Desolate Fortress Purple-rank. Personnel matters themselves are now major state affairs, so if you get entangled in the wrong business, you could be dragged to the execution grounds no matter how good your family background is.”

“Come on, would they really cut off my head? Even that eunuch Ming Ye was just demoted to labor supervisor…”

“You’re being too complacent. This is different.”

“Huh?”

“Purple-rank isn’t just any person. It’s… a final decisive weapon universally acknowledged by the country. Not only Desolate Fortress and the Court of Judicial Review, but also the Eastern Depot, the Jinyiwei, and even the Five Military Commissions and the Court of Judicial Review all give opinions on Purple-rank appointments. Would the life of a mere Court of Judicial Review Recorder matter in that? Especially when that Tyrant Hero could burst in at any moment.”

“Ah…”

The Court of Judicial Review. The imperial central censorate.

At this moment, the conversation between the Investigating Censor and the Recorder did not leak outside. It wasn’t just that they had hidden their presence in the falling rain.

The Court of Judicial Review’s dharma treasure for concealment. The Investigating Censor was infusing his internal energy into the rolled-up scroll.

Only those who had extremely refined their sensory techniques would be able to barely detect the two men if they searched the surroundings thoroughly.

The Recorder sighed.

“Come to think of it, this was a poisoned chalice. I shouldn’t have tried to just alleviate my boredom… But I can’t pretend not to see a Black-rank right in front of me…”

“Just keep your eyes straight ahead. It’s also our job to carefully observe their actions. The local magistrate here is completely neglecting his duties. It’s very serious.”

The Investigating Censor spoke coldly while looking at the road that wound around between the village and Yunhui Peak.

Rustle rustle—

The distinctive silent movements of lightness techniques. Small footsteps overlapped endlessly.

It was an enormous scale.

Martial artists of all appearances were moving along the long mountain road.

There seemed to be at least several hundred. It was difficult to find any etiquette or propriety among the rough voices.

“Everyone from the Wind Blade Sect has come.”

“Isn’t that Iron Heart Chopping Blade? I heard he learned a thing or two from Yu Ling…”

“It’s best not to mess with the bodyguards of high officials who came to watch. It’ll be troublesome.”

“We can just rob some merchants.”

“Wait, isn’t that a Desolate sword? They must have killed a White Martial Artist, but where did they…”

“Don’t falsely accuse others! The sword hilt is different! Let’s be a bit quieter!”

They chattered noisily among themselves.

There were those clanking large swords with chains attached, swordsmen exuding the aura of lonely ascetics, and even groups of dozens with completely identical wall-walking footwork that suggested they came from the same sect.

All sorts of bizarre characters endlessly passed before the eyes of the Court of Judicial Review officials.

Golden Wing Sect, Ten Perfections Sect, Pure Demon Alliance.

Added to that were the sects following those three and other Sima Evil Path martial artists.

Rumors said that even martial artists who had bowed their heads to Yu Ling and the Tyrant Sword Sect had entered Sichuan.

The Recorder slightly lowered his head with a nauseated expression.

“Sima Evil Path, righteous and evil paths, wandering swordsmen… Not just those under the Thirteen Evil Sects, but even those hoping for some scraps have all gathered. These must truly be chaotic times.”

“They intend to sweep away the righteous path gathered on Yunhui Peak as soon as they come down. That’s a dragnet. With the three Thirteen Evil Sects leading directly, they see not just the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, but even the sect leaders of Qingcheng and Emei as great prey.”

“With that many people, even a Shaolin high monk who has mastered the Arhat Fist would be swept away in the crowd. We’d need at least a dozen or so imperial guards or imperial troops…”

“What imperial troop nonsense are you talking about when we can barely handle the Yao tribes in the North? The garrison troops in each province are at their limit just maintaining public order.”

The Investigating Censor said this while glaring at the end of the procession.

“I hope the local magistrate here sent word to Desolate Fortress in time. No matter how mysterious the actions of martial artists, with a scale like that, there should have been time to notice something was amiss.”

“How many officials who haven’t taken bribes from Yu Ling’s people are there? With just a request to turn a blind eye to martial affairs, and a knife actually held to their throat, few would refuse.”

“……”

“And with forces of that scale… it would be difficult to do anything with just two or three from the Divine Sword Group’s Seventeen, right? It would be fortunate if they weren’t completely wiped out.”

The Recorder said. The Investigating Censor did not answer immediately.

The more years of famine, the more corrupt officials there are. That’s the way of the world.

It’s the same for the martial world. The righteous path only flourishes when the world is prosperous.

Chivalry that immediately bestows food on the common people is helplessly compared to the greased blades of the Sima Evil Path.

This is why martial veins that didn’t clearly distinguish between righteous and evil paths have started to bow their heads en masse to the Thirteen Evil Sects.

“…By the time they return, my energy will be completely exhausted too. We should find a place to hide.”

The Investigating Censor said.

A martial artist of Desolate Fortress with an excellent supply level. A rare official possessing dharma treasures.

Either way, they were targets for plunder. They did not fear retaliation. It was a time when indiscriminate killing had become common.

“The fields seem more dangerous, so let’s stop by that village and rent a house. A pouch of salt should be enough to stay comfortably for ten days.”

The Recorder said. The Investigating Censor sighed.

“How do we know when those Sima Evil Path b*st*rds will burst in?”

“They’re opponents who have to face the Radiant Demon Wing Leader and the Nine Sects. The houses will still be there, so there’s no reason for them to waste energy first. We should be able to handle any dregs who can’t even consider that.”

“That’s true.”

It was just as the two were about to move.

“Master! Get a hold of yourself!”

A distant cry rang out faintly from behind. An energy wave as strong as the group of Sima Evil Path that had just passed was felt.

The Investigating Censor and Recorder froze in place.

“The Radiant Demon Wing Leader isn’t here! You can open your eyes now!”

“Lord Bonggong’s words are strange. It’s as if you’re saying the Master of Ten Thousand Soldiers is afraid of the Radiant Demon Wing Leader. How could that be? He was just defeated once, we can get revenge…”

“We need to do this to wake up the Sect Leader’s Turtle Breathing Great Technique! The vital energy needs to rise all the way to the Baihui acupoint! I just went to command the underlings for a moment, what disaster is this! Great General! Great General!”

A chill ran down the Recorder’s spine as he heard those words.

Turtle Breathing Great Technique.

A martial art for slowing breathing and heartbeat and even concealing vital energy. It wasn’t originally an assassination technique. It originated from wars between nations.

It was a way for defeated generals to survive. By spreading the Turtle Breathing Great Technique while using corpses as blankets, one could pass as a dead person.

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader Master of Ten Thousand Soldiers had been defeated by the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

He had survived by pretending to be dead.

“Sect Leader! You can rest easy now! It’s not that terrifying Radiant Demon Wing Leader, but our sect’s martial artists who are here! Sect Leader is not a coward, is he? Instead of the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s Eternal Blossom Fist that you fear even in dreams, this Bonggong’s warm hand is here!”

“Kuhek…!”

Soon after, the sound of airways opening rang out. The Investigating Censor and Recorder could clearly hear the intense inhales and exhales.

It was obvious whose breathing it was.

“Ten Perfections Sect Leader…!”

It was the vitality of a Thirteen Evil Sects leader.

Not only their innate fate, but their primordial qi itself was different.

The pinnacle of the Sima Evil Path. Going through all sorts of hellish situations naturally made one proficient in the art of survival.

The Recorder sharply turned his head toward the Investigating Censor.

“This is a big problem, isn’t it?! If the Ten Perfections Sect Leader who left Yunhui Peak commands that group of Sima Evil Path that just passed by…”

“It is indeed a big problem.”

The Investigating Censor replied briefly. He was now blankly staring past the Recorder’s shoulder.

“Did you hear me properly? What I said…”

“All of heaven has gathered. The pillars that were supporting the order of this country.”

“What?”

“The Eastern Depot said the Divine Sword Group Leader had finally committed treason…”

Boom—!

A wind that suddenly blew in.

It was just for an instant. There was a sensation of it coming down from the distant sky, but it brushed past the Recorder’s head with a strangely heavy weight.

It was like dozens of massive typhoons rushing in at once.

The Recorder was from a particularly prestigious family in the Northern Capital. From a young age, he had learned the secret eye techniques of the Court of Judicial Review.

When he raised his head, he saw several pitch-black comet tails.

They were extremely far away. Forms that leapt between mountain ranges, using clouds as stepping stones like the Great Dipper constellation.

They looked tiny due to the vast distance, yet seemed as if they would arrive soon.

“It’s dangerous.”

The Investigating Censor muttered.

“What?”

“That peak must not become a battlefield for the martial world. Whether it’s the Radiant Demon Wing Leader or the sect leaders of the Nine Sects, someone needs to come down. The common people who have climbed the mountain will be swept up.”

The Investigating Censor slowly continued. It was like he was talking to himself.

“But who would dare throw themselves alone into that dragnet of just three peerless masters?”

It was then.

In the center of the village they had been looking at earlier.

Splat! Jjeoooong—!

Suddenly, two figures appeared, their forms distorted. It was in the middle of an open space surrounded by houses. For an instant, hundreds of streams of light flickered between the two silhouettes.

How much tremendous power was contained in each beam of light that was unleashed? While compressing even the leftover energy that should have burst outward into gusts and driving it into the opponent, boom boom— thunderous roars shook the earth.

The village that had been deathly quiet.

A small child who had snuck out to play on a swing gaped in astonishment, while a young Taoist with long ears gritted his teeth with his back to the child.

It was Two Walls Sword Lord, the Qingcheng Sect Leader. While pursuing the Pure Demon Alliance Leader, he had confirmed the approach of the Golden Wing Sect Leader. It was a village. He had no choice but to descend.

“Golden Wing Sect Leader! Let’s move elsewhere!”

The short woman tilted her head slightly to the side. As if asking why bother.

“Move aside. There’s a dharma treasure buried behind you.”

A melodious voice flowed from her lips. Her speech and conduct treated the new Qingcheng Sect Leader like a child.

Saaaa—

Her black hair, which came down just enough to lightly cover the nape of her neck, swayed languidly even amid Two Walls Sword Lord’s sword strikes.

The jade gourd bottle in her hand emitted a sweet wine fragrance as it met the sword winds.

Only her blurry right hand was moving.

Her slender shoulders rose and fell leisurely as if following a musical rhythm. Her movements exuded transcendence. The disparity was clear.

Two Walls Sword Lord, who had been protecting even the child behind him, soon revealed his defeat.

His blue and red sword strike trajectories undulated strongly once, then scattered in all directions with a jjeojeong sound.

Whaaaak—!

As Two Walls Sword Lord staggered back and coughed up blood, the Golden Wing Sect Leader was about to strike down on his crown with her hand blade but suddenly tilted her waist to the side. Like a village girl peering past an adult’s side to see something strange.

She moved her lips.

“Hello.”

“……”

“He’s on the peak. I was on my way up.”

The Golden Wing Sect Leader slowly lowered her arm. Her long orange sleeve hem lightly brushed the ground.

Thud.

An extraordinarily handsome young man was walking over, gripping a divine sword gleaming in the sunlight.

His pitch-black robe hem silently brushed past the swing that Two Walls Sword Lord had been protecting, and from that point, the air began to crumple.

The distorted space was clearly visible even to the naked eye.

“Ah…?”

The child who had fallen behind the swing gently floated up and drifted backwards. It was because a robust breeze had burst forth from the young man’s body.

Among the village people who had evacuated, those who remained began to flee in terror, carrying the child.

Rustle—

Jeong Yeon-shin shook the divine sword Remaining Thunder once.

“I enjoyed watching the duel. What’s next? Is it three consecutive victories?”

The Golden Wing Sect Leader asked expressionlessly.

Her tone was strange. As if she were engaged in some game. Wasn’t she always like this when offering sacrifices in the rain dragon’s formation?

“Execution.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly.