Chapter 410 – Beijing (2)

The Nine Great Sects will win.

The young Taoist’s boast was remarkably calm. Even after claiming to be the world’s finest.

Did he not care about the Eight Great Clans?

For someone who appeared to be only about twelve or thirteen years old, it was the kind of speech and conduct that could only come from treating the Eight Clans’ families like insignificant beings.

In the midst of his head tingling from the alcohol that had somehow become as thick as fog, Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the past.

The days of wearing white, blue, and black robes in succession, clashing with masters from the various Eight Clans. Throughout all those battles, there was never a time when he had a hundred percent chance of victory.

With just a few years of living in a village, even stray dogs in the marketplace become smarter than most children, so what about monkeys who have accumulated hundreds of years of lethal skills in the forest of swords that is the martial world?

Martial warlords of the martial world who have inherited the cultivation between orthodox path and evil path for generations. That’s what the martial clan nobles Jeong Yeon-shin had encountered were like.

‘His spirit is remarkable. This child could sympathize with my heart.’

Jeong Yeon-shin almost stroked the boy’s head. It was because he was pleased with the young Wudang disciple’s magnanimous spirit.

A young Taoist who had only cultivated martial arts in the mountains, lacking manners and worldly knowledge. Setting aside his manner of speech, he wasn’t different from Jeong Yeon-shin.

One might call him Lightning Genius who doesn’t know etiquette. At this moment, along with the smell of alcohol, a sense of kinship washed over him. Words of encouragement naturally flowed from Jeong Yeon-shin’s mouth.

“Yes, the Nine Sects will win.”

From a distance came the voice of Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya, who was sitting with her legs elegantly crossed. Isn’t he drunk?

Beside him, the young Taoist uttered the Taoist title “Primordial Peace.”

[TL Note- Primordial Peace is Cheon Ju’s Taoist title.]

“…Though your speech and conduct are like the heroes of bygone years, it’s fortunate that your heart seems to contain humility.”

“The Taoist’s insults are quite archaic.”

Jeong Yeon-shin retorted casually. He knew. Even if a child had cultivated supreme martial arts, their inner self was like that of common people.

A child should not be treated with a sharp attitude.

The young Taoist’s expression became somewhat strange.

“Whatever you say, it’s not particularly unusual. More importantly, there seems to be something we need to clarify here. Do you truly intend to participate in the martial competition wearing a black robe?”

“The purple robe isn’t something you can wear just because you want to. It requires the Emperor’s permission and the City Lord’s recognition…”

“Aren’t you wearing it right now?”

Jeong Yeon-shin pretended to half-listen and brushed aside the young Taoist’s words. Then he grabbed the top of the Five Rhymes Herb, which was shaped like a flower bud.

“Lightning Genius, as you know.”

Yong Hui-myeong, who had been looking at Jeong Yeon-shin with a somewhat pleased expression, opened his mouth.

“This isn’t about someone giving a signal. Annihilation Team Leader is right. This Five Rhymes Herb might seem like a trivial amusement at first glance, but there’s nothing better for practicing coordination before passing the examination. Let’s tear it off according to our instincts.”

“Does the Group Leader ever practice with someone?”

Jeong Yeon-shin rubbed the rough tip of the Five Rhymes Herb with his index finger and thumb.

Yue Shou-lin on his right was playfully tapping her knuckles together and teasing him, but he tried to focus as he met Yong Hui-myeong’s eyes.

“You’re asking about purple coordination. If we can just match the speed of our hands and feet, there’s nothing we can’t do. Are faction wars only fought one-on-one? There are actually more chaotic battles.”

Yong Hui-myeong, who had raised the corner of his mouth with a smirk, continued.

“As you know… there’s no rule that says so-called peerless masters will always attack on the same day and time. Some day when your luck isn’t good, if you get trapped in something like Taimo Mountain Fortress’s Heaven-Splitting Nine Destitution Formation, then you’ll have to wait for support. Anyway, the martial world is incredibly vast.”

Taimo Mountain Fortress. One of the Thirteen Evil Sects of the Sima Evil Path.

A sect that had secretly contributed to the dragnet designed to kill Yong Hui-myeong earlier. It was said they practiced only spell martial arts.

The martial world is vast indeed. The danger of combined attacks surrounding Desolate Fortress couldn’t be emphasized enough.

“It will be difficult for the Divine Sword Group to gather like this again. Let’s practice coordination once before dispersing. It should be quite interesting.”

Though he had said there would be no signal, his words coincidentally became the starting point for drawing.

It was right after Forest-Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin’s large fingers twitched as if it was difficult to just keep listening.

Following that, the moment Yong Hui-myeong, Yue Shou-lin, and Cheon So-so’s fingertips moved.

—It seems the poor one’s words didn’t properly reach you. Does the Radiant Demon Wing Leader truly intend to participate in the Mount Hua Agreement as a Black-rank?

A mental imagery humming like the Buddhist Wisdom Light Heart Speech. A small arm intervened from Jeong Yeon-shin’s left.

It was the young Taoist.

His hand gently slipped in and pushed down Cheon So-so’s hand.

A Golden Silk Hand that seemed to cut through time itself. The martial principle imbued in a single gesture was incredibly profound.

—I must show that this goes against both the conventions of the martial world and the principles of fairness. You should step back.

“…!”

It was when Cheon So-so’s snow-white fingertips were about to fall away after brushing across the leaf’s surface. Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin grabbed the young Taoist’s hand.

Woong—

Colorless waves arose. The air became semi-transparently distorted by the fierce energy waves characteristic of the Eternal Blossom Fist.

But it didn’t go far. This was because the young Taoist removed Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand with a single twist of his wrist.

The strength in that gesture was powerful yet extremely gentle, and even at this moment, it was as lofty as a river flowing out beyond the Divine Sword Pavilion without stopping.

‘Wudang Cotton Palm…?’

Jeong Yeon-shin accelerated his thought process while recalling one of the Nine Sects’ divine skills widely known throughout the world.

Keeeing!

It was a sound that rang from the Baihui acupoint at his crown. A feeling of moments being endlessly fragmented, with each instant stretching out.

While the surroundings slowed down, he had entered a realm where he alone moved at lightning speed.

The young Taoist’s hand cut through it calmly. It was heading toward the top of the Five Rhymes Herb.

His Wudang Cotton Palm didn’t lose its speed even in Jeong Yeon-shin’s peerless realm.

‘Fast.’

Jeong Yeon-shin raised the Eternal Blossom Fist once more. The air rippled intensely as if hit by summer sunlight.

Tuk—

The moment he grabbed the boy’s wrist with a grip imbued with firm strength, the hem of the Wudang Sect’s Taoist robe embroidered with sword and pine gently rose.

The boy, who had greatly bent his elbow, immediately struck Jeong Yeon-shin’s forearm to break free.

Within the gap between the bottom and top of the large green flower bud… two trajectory streams hazily entangled there, spreading a clanging resonance.

A pattern of shaking off the opponent’s hand, being caught, and breaking free again repeatedly.

They say even the most trivial matters can become grounds for a fight in the martial world, but Jeong Yeon-shin never thought he would be the one involved.

Even now, he couldn’t properly understand his own heart. He just wanted the Divine Sword Group to tear off the Five Rhymes Herb.

—Your mental imagery is extremely intense. It’s like a waterfall on the other side of the Sword-Releasing Ground. Yes, how could someone with such martial presence not act as purple?

It was then.

The young Taoist, who had drawn a small circle with one arm, firmly pressed Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand.

In that moment, a tremendous force was applied. It was as if the current of the Yangtze River had been expelled from a palm.

Wudang Cotton Palm. Jeong Yeon-shin instinctively realized it despite being drunk.

All the force that the two had expended during their exchange had completely returned to him. Riding the invisible flow of taiji.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand fell downward.

At the same time, the young Taoist’s mental imagery resonated.

—Know your status and strength. There are few in the martial world who could compete with me and the Golden Silk Hand to this extent, even if you searched the entire world.

They say Wudang Sect’s palm techniques can claim to be the world’s finest when compared with any other sect’s palm techniques.

The Golden Silk Hand is even more so. It’s a technique that focuses on blocking the opponent’s strikes.

‘Then.’

A friction sound like lightning striking arose from Jeong Yeon-shin’s grip. It was the precursor to the Brilliant River palm technique.

Did that tyrannical aura reach all the way to the seat next to him? In that moment, a look of alarm appeared on the young Taoist’s face.

—Hey, you! How could you…! Were you trying to destroy everything?!

With that, Jeong Yeon-shin learned one thing. Even Wudang’s supreme Taiji couldn’t erase the Brilliant River.

Since there was no way to win with the Golden Silk Hand anyway, that was enough. In the bigger picture, he had won because of that.

Swish.

A hand white as jade gently rose to grasp the top of the Five Rhymes Herb.

It was Immortal Tree Spirit Squad Leader Cheon So-so.

She was a supreme master who had achieved Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown. There was no way she would remain still during the brief moment Jeong Yeon-shin and the young Taoist were exchanging moves.

Woong—

Yong Hui-myeong’s energy that had been transparently surrounding the Five Rhymes Herb faded.

While the young Taoist hesitated, the five people of the Divine Sword Group casually tore off the leaves of the Five Rhymes Herb.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin’s time returned to normal.

The Five Rhymes Mountain Vegetable Dish, spread out like blue flower petals. It was just like what Jeong Yeon-shin had once seen at the Jeong family mansion. A fragrant aroma spread.

“You could have just said so. As if to prove you’re a martial artist.”

Yong Hui-myeong said as if tossing the words aside.

The young Taoist, who had been looking up at Jeong Yeon-shin blankly, cleared his throat.

“Apart from wind-water, this doesn’t seem to be an auspicious place.”

“It seems that way. The dignity that was hanging high on Wudang Mountain has fallen several times.”

Yong Hui-myeong replied with a smirk. The young Taoist, who had taken his gaze off Jeong Yeon-shin, shook his head.

“I can’t even deploy the Ten Sections Brocade here…”

An extraordinary supreme skill is mentioned. Wudang’s Ten Sections Brocade. It was a name that ranked at the top among all palm techniques in the world.

Considered differently, it meant that apart from the Ten Sections Brocade, there was no other palm technique to bring out against the Brilliant River.

Yong Hui-myeong wore a somewhat shameless expression.

“Let’s look forward to the Mount Hua Agreement. We can compete then.”

In that moment, the young Taoist’s face turned reddish, like that of someone his age.

“What’s the point of looking forward to next time? He says he’s coming as a Black-rank!”

“I don’t understand why you’re so angry. Wudang is a sect specially favored by the Emperor, and the martial prowess of its disciples should fear nothing under heaven.”

“This fellow really…?”

The young Taoist, who had exhaled a long breath, closed and opened his eyes. He no longer looked at Yong Hui-myeong but raised his wine cup toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Because my desire to see your martial arts came first, I have committed a great discourtesy in this place. I will deeply apologize, so would you accept this cup?”

“Of course, of course. Don’t keep mistakes in your heart. At your age, that’s allowed.”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded magnanimously.

His head felt fluffy. This was because he had drawn out energy without expelling the alcohol from his body.

“…Yes, take a cup.”

The young Taoist offered him a cup. In that moment, dazzling sunlight sparkled on the transparent wine. It was the scene that occurs when orthodox energy seeps into water.

Jeong Yeon-shin also knew. They say the purer one’s energy, the clearer the water becomes.

It became famous thanks to an anecdote about the Shaolin Abbot who had manifested at a dharma assembly in Henan Province.

The story goes that while teaching that one can become Buddha by reflecting Buddha in one’s heart, he used the lake water behind him as a mirror to preach to the common people.

The wine cup now extended to Jeong Yeon-shin also clearly contained the diagonally tilted sun.

It meant tremendous internal energy had been imbued. To receive the cup, ordinary techniques wouldn’t suffice.

“The hand movements we exchanged earlier weren’t enough. I want to properly gauge your achievement.”

The young Taoist said.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded roughly while thinking. How deep his competitive spirit is, like a child.

It was as he was extending his hand toward the wine cup.

“That won’t do.”

Yong Hui-myeong, who had leaned his upper body forward, firmly grabbed the cup.

In that moment, the sun that had been contained in the wine cup was erased as if it were a lie. Internal energy operation close to miraculous. It was a move by Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hui-myeong.

“While experiencing the Wudang Cotton Palm might be a great experience for Lightning Genius, who will soon live in the purple martial world…”

He continued leisurely.

“Revealing the technique of primal energy operation explicitly in front of an immortal of the Nine Sects is a different matter. Taoist, you must maintain boundaries.”

“…I came here for nothing. My dignity is in tatters.”

“Please leave now. We will end this gathering.”

“Very well. There’s nothing more to say here. I’ll look forward to next time.”

In that moment, the boy’s form scattered without a trace.

Only a cool breeze remained, sweeping through the pavilion. It was a protective technique as if embodying clouds with his body.

“By the way.”

Yong Hui-myeong, who had downed his cup, laughed. His eyes turned to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“There are few people in the main fortress who could treat Wudang’s High Sword like that. I’ve witnessed something rare today.”

“What?”

Jeong Yeon-shin questioned somewhat slowly.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Perhaps because it was near the wealthy metropolis of Wuchang, the sound of roosters crowing swept through the dawn from early morning.

The leaders of the Divine Sword Group had spent the night at the inn behind the pavilion. The innkeeper was waving his hands outside the blinds.

“Will this be enough? Even a single set of bedding must be very precious these days…”

“No, no! It’s already a great honor just to have hosted you, and even if you leave like this, I will boast about this for generations to come!”

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin was paying for the bedding that had been torn during the night. Someone urgently called his name from a distance.

[TL Note- Was he kicking his legs again?]