Chapter 393 – Carpet (2)

A noble woman with black hair flowing down to her shoulders lifted the sleeve of Judge Sword. Her blue eyes gleamed.

Rustle—

The hidden needle that had been stuck to the palm of the frozen man was revealed. It was precisely in the hand that had been pointing at Jeong Yeon-shin.

It was clearly a hidden weapon.

A master of the martial world can kill with even a blade of reed grass, so this was not an innocent man who had been harmed.

Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader Cheon So-so, as a squad leader of the Divine Sword Group who must protect the common people, intended to say as much.

“…?”

But it was a meaningless action. The gazes of the spectators surrounding them had already shifted elsewhere.

This was because a grayish-white forest had suddenly appeared in the wasteland on the outskirts of the city.

It was extremely lush and vast. The pavilions built high here and there throughout it emanated an ancient, oppressive aura.

The formation had been completely dismantled.

It was no different from when the Blood Flame Sect’s Two Flames Blood Spirit Formation had been shattered beneath the feet of the Desolate Fortress Lord.

A mystical sight for common people and even most martial artists. The true face of one of the Thirteen Evil Sects had been revealed to the world.

Dark Night Palace.

The major faction of ghost archers. More notorious than any assassination sect in the world.

Their behavior was no different from the other Thirteen Evil Sects, as they often plundered granaries under the banner that lowly Han people should not receive the earth’s blessings.

No one paid attention to whether Judge Sword was alive or dead.

At least the common people didn’t. They had witnessed something that could only leave them terrified.

“That, that…?!”

“What kind of magic is this?”

“Divine spirit… a young immortal has descended! I said his appearance was extraordinary!”

A few reactions were different.

The eyes of those with healthy complexions or wearing expensive clothes grew grave.

Some didn’t think long and quietly scurried away with hurried steps.

“Well, I thought it strange that trade volume hadn’t decreased much despite the famine…”

“If that’s really Dark Night Palace, isn’t this serious? There will just be a bloodbath!”

“Let’s go back quickly. We need to lock our gates securely.”

These were people well-versed in worldly affairs.

Not only masters with keen energy sense, but even miscellaneous martial artists who had learned martial arts by observation in marketplaces or third-rate martial academies began to retreat far away.

As the dark forest filled the wasteland, energy waves emanated from the outsiders. The powerful, unobstructed waves of internal energy were creating strong winds.

The presence of the group, already consisting almost entirely of handsome men and beautiful women except for a few, was received as the manifestation of divine generals from the immortal realm, something the people of Guizhou had never experienced.

Rough dust rose far and wide.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced down at the sword he held in one hand. There were cracks all over the white blade surface. It was the recoil from the Sword Song.

‘A sword is a consumable.’

Even if all the Ten Perfections Sect Leader’s weapons were divine martial treasures, the same would apply. If it cost just one weapon to break Dark Night Palace’s formation, it could be considered a cheap price.

Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin gently caressed the sword energy at his waist. Remaining Thunder was not a weapon but a soul.

Swish.

After expressing his gratitude to Cheon So-so with a silent bow, he approached Xiahou Wei-jin.

The Forest-Treading Squad Leader carried a bundle on his back containing precious supplies including the Ten Perfections Sect Leader’s eighteen types of weapons, jerky, water pouches, and salt.

As a squad leader of equal rank, he had taken a sword without a word through void absorption, but he couldn’t return it the same way.

Jeong Yeon-shin considered himself a junior well-versed in etiquette and principles.

“How did you do that? The principle imbued in that single sword strike was extraordinary.”

Xiahou Wei-jin, who had slightly bent his waist, asked.

Jeong Yeon-shin wrapped the Ten Perfections Sect Leader’s sword back into his bundle. He might need to use it again in the near future.

“Isn’t it obviously Sword Song? Something rarely enjoyed by the imperial family in Beijing.”

Heavenly Dragon Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji said as he trudged over. His glancing eyes couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince inspired me.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said. Interest formed on Wei Zhi-ji’s face.

“The Crown Prince? You have a connection with His Highness?”

“Come to think of it, I heard the ‘Desolate’ character on your shoulders was originally golden. The Fortress Lord must have taught you, making you sworn brothers.”

It was the Supreme Martial Hall Leader. As he approached with his artificial leg clanking slowly, he seemed more interested in Jeong Yeon-shin’s scabbard than the forest spread out to one side.

“Thank you for broadening my knowledge. It’s different from the Sword Song of the Forbidden City. I found it extremely interesting that it’s focused on killing rather than enjoying elegance like the imperial family.”

“Are you familiar with Beijing’s martial lineages?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked. The Supreme Martial Hall Leader smiled pleasantly.

“I’ve seen them occasionally. I’ve even secretly worked as a martial arts liaison for the imperial guards. Anyway, about what you just did. It was a single-strike form and you even controlled its direction. Is it a unique martial art?”

The gazes of the senior squad leaders were fixed on Jeong Yeon-shin. He felt somewhat embarrassed.

Answering briefly with “yes,” he stepped forward, and Yue Shou-lin, who had somehow come to his side, followed with a slight smile. The grayish forest stretched out before them.

Jeong Yeon-shin, looking down at the top of Yue Shou-lin’s head, opened his mouth.

“Do you think the Dark Night Palace Leader is inside?”

“No. If something happened to Group Leader Yong, no matter how vast the martial world is, we should first consider these two.”

“I understand Yu Ling Leader. Is the other one the Dark Night Palace Leader?”

“Yes. He’s someone who can shoot the Ten Li Instant Kill from twenty li away, all thanks to being severely beaten by Group Leader Yong in the past. The grudge runs deep.”

“Twenty li away…?”

Not human. Literally a transcendent being beyond the world.

I heard he was someone who could single-handedly subdue a country’s military forces equipped with numerous thunderclap bombs, so his archery martial arts had reached the heavens.

“With eyes that can see so far, he wouldn’t be stuck in his sect’s headquarters. That place is probably guarded by the Young Palace Leader.”

Yue Shou-lin said while pulling up the spear on her back. She didn’t seem particularly tense, but she wasn’t treating it like a casual outing either.

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly muttered.

“The Young Palace Leader of Dark Night Palace…”

“He’s quite different from the abundant rising talents of the Thirteen Evil Sects. He’s quite precious. There might be a reward if we capture him?”

Thud.

The senior squad leaders who had turned their gaze from Jeong Yeon-shin began to move in unison. It was right after they realized their modest junior had some reservations.

Heavenly Dragon Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji smiled wryly as he undid the rope at his waist with a single gesture.

“What’s so precious about him? Is he a sect leader of the Nine Sects?”

At that moment, Yue Shou-lin’s spear shaft thumped his head repeatedly. Along with words calling him a northern bumpkin.

“It’s because he’s connected to the Beijing imperial family. The faded clans consider him a royal descendant. He’s essentially the leader of traitors.”

Faded clans.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled the Great Ming Code he had read thoroughly as a child.

It told of compatriots with long ears and small stature returning to their homeland, destroying the wicked Yuan, and establishing the country with the founding emperor.

It was said that Dark Night Palace was a major faction that had sided with the Yuan Dynasty at that time. Even after being designated as traitors following the founding of the Ming, they weren’t pushed out.

The headquarters that had been extremely secretly hidden.

Masters who became elusive with just a bow, enough to be considered the foremost in the martial world.

“You broke it, so lead the way. This will be the finishing touch.”

Yue Shou-lin chattered.

Jeong Yeon-shin could guess what was omitted in her latter words.

A merit worthy of purple rank. Though the damp air from the forest spreading before his eyes brushed against his skin, he silently began leaving shallow footprints as he pushed back the dirt.

His seniors followed him.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

“A suspicious group has entered?”

“They are martial artists including many noble clan members. Their physiques and appearances are all extraordinary, they say.”

Voices without inflection were exchanged. They were extremely indifferent.

A handsome youth half-reclined on a throne woven with tree vines was listening to the report.

He had ashen gray skin and ears that protruded like knife tips.

His skin was that of a barbarian.

But his ears testified to his noble bloodline.

A clan as lofty as noble clans though more despised than the Han people. The silk blue robe embroidered with dragon patterns in silver thread suited him extremely well.

On one of the youth’s shoulders perched a bird with extremely sharp feathers, tilting its head.

The man prostrated before the throne looked up at the youth with everyday reverence.

“The state of the martial world is turbulent, so we must not be careless.”

“Yes. They might be the black-rank masters of rumor. I will inform the outer reconnaissance team.”

The kneeling man bowed his head. His archaic manner of speech. It was conduct befitting not a subordinate but a royal of a country.

His appearance was also similar to the youth’s features. Ashen skin and long ears like Liu Bei of Shu Han.

The Young Palace Leader of Dark Night Palace nodded silently. While picking up a reddish grape from a silver tray placed on the armrest of his throne and putting it in his mouth.

It was then.

Suddenly, the Young Palace Leader’s eyebrow twitched.

“…The Nine Provinces Imperial Glory Formation has been broken.”

“I will go and investigate.”

The subordinate didn’t question. He immediately stood up and looked at the Young Palace Leader.

A casual command fell from the mouth that was chewing the grape.

“Open the gates of the Ten Li Instant Kill. All ten of them.”

“I receive your command.”

The subordinate began moving his lips on the spot. It was the Ten Li Sound Transmission, said to be difficult to master even among Dark Night Palace’s numerous mystical techniques.

It took only an instant to transmit the order to the watchtowers surrounding the Young Palace Leader’s hall.

“…I have informed them. Now I will go outside…”

“First evacuate the children of those who went out for harvest. The Ten Li Instant Kill alone won’t be enough. Activate the Night Soul Flame King Formation, Nine Calamities Heaven Bow Group, and Destruction Palace Trance. You may also mobilize all one hundred bow ghosts of my direct Thunder Arrow Wall.”

It spoke of Dark Night Palace’s hundreds of years of history.

It meant everyone except those the Palace Leader had taken to kill the Divine Sword Group Leader. It was a force close to everything the sect possessed.

The Young Palace Leader stroked the head of the grotesque bird.

“The Ten Li Instant Kill will buy us time at the entrance.”

Simultaneously, a roaring sound began. The hall decorated with black marble shook with booming sounds.

Dust fell from various parts of the ceiling, and vibrations that had spread from outside flowed into the great hall. It was because the Ten Li Instant Kill, comparable to artillery bombardment, had begun to be fired.

It was a situation like being struck by lightning. Such a thing had never happened to Dark Night Palace.

The subordinate bowed his head.

“You must leave now. I don’t know what’s happening, but since they’ve managed to find our sect and even tear through the formation… I estimate their force to be at least three Black-ranks.”

His voice was earnest. His words and actions contained a heart no different from a loyal subject. But the youth shook his head as he rose from his throne.

“Do you know the meaning of the word ‘dignity’?”

“Young Palace Leader…!”

“It’s the grace befitting one’s status.”

In the next moment, a massive bow appeared in the Young Palace Leader’s hand as if by magic.

It was a great bow with the center of the string reinforced with red leather, and dragon heads with open mouths carved at both ends of the bow.

“When I don’t know how many martial artists of our sect will lose their lives, how could I turn my back on the common people of our clan and take steps to leave?”

“……”

“I am of a status that should rightfully die rather than flee. My karma runs deep.”

It was then.

Bang— Jjeojeojeojeong—!

The sound of arrows and weapons colliding, and all sorts of pavilions being shattered. Faint battle cries also rang out.

One corner of the Young Palace Leader’s mouth rose slightly.

“The Night Soul Flame King Formation has been swept away by a girl’s spear strike. It must be the Desolate Divine Spear. In the southwest, the Nine Calamities Heaven Bow Group hasn’t managed to hit even a single shot on the famous Blood Guardian Squad Leader. The Palace Leader was supposed to bring back the Divine Sword Group Leader’s head… what is this strange turn of events?”

“The Destruction Palace Trance has been penetrated by five of them. One, three, six… astonishing internal energy cultivation…! Even the formation of the Ten Li Instant Kill is collapsing! It seems to match the Black-ranks of the Divine Sword Group! You must flee regardless of dignity…!”

The subordinate’s voice, which had been gradually trembling, finally ended in a great cry.

In an extremely short time, the clan’s characteristic composure had been scattered. It was because they were facing something unprecedented.

They had encountered a natural disaster without warning. The danger they had thought would give them some leisure had arrived right before them without even allowing time to drink a cup of tea.

This couldn’t happen no matter which faction of the martial world they faced as enemies.

The grotesque bird perched on the Young Palace Leader’s shoulder flapped its wings.

“I cannot show my back to those lowly ones. How can I change what I was born to be?”

The Young Palace Leader, who had nocked a long arrow to his bowstring, continued slowly. His voice was still calm.

“It’s already a dead end. I wonder what the lowly one who arrives here first will look like…”

Kwaaaaaaang—!

Before the Young Palace Leader could finish speaking, the ceiling shattered into pieces.

In that moment, an arrow shot from his great bow turned pitch black and traced a trajectory like the night sky, and a leather shoe that had come down through the faint dust from the ceiling precisely stomped on the fierce arrow shaft in mid-air.

It was an extremely refined gait. As the dust scattered widely, a long leg was revealed.