Chapter 552 – Demon Realm (7)

As soon as Jeong Yeon-shin seized full control of Yeoktru Castle, he marched to Shame Extreme Castle. It was half a day’s journey to the northwest.

Moving the military force was not difficult.

Thanks to killing Flame Heat Divine King with bare hands, he had gained the favor of the martial military forces. A very simple yet difficult feat. They said it was very much like Yao tribe conduct.

It had been quite a while since the northern gatekeeper had spread the details of that incident far and wide. Thanks to that, the monsters of Yeoktru Castle were prepared to follow Jeong Yeon-shin.

Thus, in the land of Shame Extreme King, who had built her castle with earthen walls.

Thunder crashed for two days.

All of it originated from the reverberations of Jeong Yeon-shin’s incomplete fist techniques.

The resistance was fierce.

Not only did the Yao tribe defending the castle possess deep martial arts, but an old woman who was said to preside over Shame Extreme Castle’s rituals was a great obstacle.

—Who are you! How can you so disregard the Fighting God’s will! If a Northern King is to strike another Northern King, he should not step forward himself but should rightfully send forth a great warrior instead…!

She possessed unparalleled sorcery martial arts alone, but at the same time she was not alone.

She faced the siege using all sorts of dharma treasures and formations, and using countless common people as sacrificial offerings. Through methods of draining their innate energy.

Climbing the castle walls was difficult.

Every time Yeoktru Castle’s martial military forces leaped up high, they would be struck by countless blade winds that came rushing at them and be driven down into the ground.

In the end.

He could only kill her after deploying Ultimate Thunder.

Jeong Yeon-shin burst her heart with movements that split an instant into instants.

Before she, with eyes wide open, could utter her last words, with his right hand surrounded by colorless transparent flower petals.

‘Sword songs are impossible to deploy, Qi-Controlled Sword Strikes should be restrained, and ultimate techniques like Ultimate Thunder… should only be used for about one hundredth of the time it takes to blink an eye, after first surveying both allies and enemies.’

The Acting Divine Sword Group Leader disguised as Northern King Yelu.

His original identity must not be revealed. The moment his identity was exposed, he would draw together all the Northern Kings.

Each was a general of a hundred battles and a northern jianghu person, and also truly kings.

There were said to be at least ten or so.

In southern terms, one would have to assume the danger level of sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects or the Thirteen Evil Sects whose bodies were steeped in killing intent, or at least the heads of the Eight Great Houses.

Moreover, there was no law saying there couldn’t be someone exceptional like the Namgung Family Head among them. It was literally another jianghu.

Demon realm.

The absolute beings of the northern lands would not hesitate to join forces in killing Jeong Yeon-shin, even while they opposed each other.

There was no being under heaven who could withstand such a situation alone. It might be unprecedented throughout ancient and modern times. Who could single-handedly handle the most powerful jianghu in history?

Without fail.

Jeong Yeon-shin would certainly meet his death. Should his original identity ever be revealed.

That was why this mission required complete preparation.

It was certainly something the Divine Sword Group Leader could attempt.

If properly successful, the world surrounded by war and famine would at least be free from warfare. For the time being, at least.

“Playing Northern King is also manageable.”

The masked Jeong Yeon-shin muttered low.

Inside a roughly built tent, surrounded by semi-transparent energy barriers. It was while departing from Shame Extreme Castle toward the next destination.

Suddenly a small presence stirred.

It was Shin So-bin, who had been sitting cross-legged beside him. Her exhalation made a turbid sound as it hit the silver mask.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked calmly.

“What are you dissatisfied with now?”

“This current situation. We should be exercising restraint even if it’s not enough, but you’ve drawn all the attention of the northern jianghu. I may be just a blue-rank nobody who dies in wild mountains all the time, but what if something happens to the Group Leader?”

Words shot out like a skylark.

Like a younger sister Jeong Yeon-shin had never had. Shin So-bin had become increasingly nagging lately, and Jeong Yeon-shin would listen silently then point out only the parts that were difficult to tolerate.

“Not Group Leader, but Acting Group Leader.”

“That’s right.”

Shin So-bin immediately accepted what needed to be acknowledged. But not everything else was like that.

“Who’s outside right now?”

“Demon Contempt Blade, the former Yeoktru Castle Lord, the northern gatekeeper. And farther away, Northern Blade is probably watching us.”

It was Jeong Yeon-shin’s immediate answer.

“You know well!”

Suddenly Shin So-bin stretched out both legs from her seated position. She had unfolded her cross-legged posture.

“If we’re jointly attacked by those four, could we survive here? There are three supreme masters plus an absolute master equivalent to the Five Greatest Swords under Heaven…”

“Still, I could extract us. That fellow Northern Blade’s cavalry martial arts of human-horse unity that he’s trained in isn’t tremendously fast in speed. It’s strong in power.”

Jeong Yeon-shin thought about how to fight that monster-like war horse and Northern Blade.

He might be pushed back in a head-on collision. Northern Blade’s cavalry martial arts was an extremely powerful technique that combined the Yao tribe’s characteristic fierce strength with the power of a spirit horse.

‘If we fought, I’d have to extend most techniques other than straight thrusts in curves.’

If he struck the sides of the human-horse combination with gently curving feints, wouldn’t opportunities open up?

If he was caught by a counter-attack in return, then it would truly become difficult.

But Northern Blade would not try to do anything to Jeong Yeon-shin until the Fighting God appeared. That one thing was certainly true.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly.

“I just need to properly infiltrate the northern jianghu. That’s the path to safety.”

“You’re saying war is a means to infiltrate the north?”

“The Northern Kings’ mental transmissions are said to cross over a thousand li. Since I’ve already killed Flame Heat Divine King, if I flee from here, I’ll be greatly suspected and eventually caught.”

A fairly long story unfolded gently. Shin So-bin did not interrupt Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, and he continued calmly.

“Even if I cut off the heads of one or two Northern Kings who pursued me, that would be the limit. In the end, I’d be trapped in a dragnet composed of absolute masters. If I’m jointly attacked, it’s over. It’s better to show the same temperament as them like this.”

As the Divine Sword Group Leader, Jeong Yeon-shin was looking squarely at the situation he faced.

The Northern Kings of this land were similar to yet different from the Thirteen Heavenly Lords.

Even while coveting each other’s interests, when times came to compete in national power through wars with the Ming Dynasty and such, they would unite like a lie.

Absolute masters accustomed to battlefields…

—Even though each possesses Transcendent Martial Art, most don’t hesitate to join forces. The Imperial Three Great Masters and Three Direction Grand Commanders had to run around the Dragon Spring Accupoint like sparks flying. You should know that those damn Yao tribe fellows are all warriors yet plunderers, and also generals.

Grand Commander Quan Yu-li’s advice. It was the most frightening part of the north.

‘Even what happened in Hangzhou…’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Without the help of Divine Monk Beomheo and Jade Flame Sword God Lady Lu Xian and Taoist Two Walls, what would have happened if he faced the Dark Heaven Emperor and Unorthodox Finest Sword?

Also, in Sichuan, without Venerable Cypress Flame and Taoist Two Walls, if he had faced Golden Wing Sect and Pure Demon Alliance Lord, Ten Perfections Sect Leader all at once alone?

“So-bin, let’s be careful.”

“……”

Shin So-bin, who had slightly opened her lips as if to retort something, ultimately closed her mouth again.

Jeong Yeon-shin guessed her inner thoughts. There had been no flaws in the words of the contemporary Acting Divine Sword Group Leader.

Perhaps he had taken a step closer. To Yong Hye-myeong, who though seemingly glib and careless at a glance, ultimately always created the best results from a grand perspective.

“Devote yourself to training. You too will have a day when you must reveal your prowess. Perhaps in the near future.”

“…Me?”

The conversation ended there.

Thump!

Suddenly some energy wave struck the tent. True energy operation that showed no particular courtesy. A very crude feeling, yet the density of internal energy was as thick as any Desolate Fortress noble clan leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin immediately dissolved the energy barrier.

“King! O King!”

A rough voice shook the tent. A voice carrying very heavy internal energy – it was none other than Demon Contempt Blade, whom Yelu had ultimately failed to cut down when he went out alone.

Wuung—

Remaining Thunder vibrated slightly at his waist. It had been moving like this occasionally since failing to penetrate Demon Contempt Blade’s protective energy. It was certainly worried about becoming like the incompetent Lazy Flame Dragon.

“I’ll pretend to sleep.”

While Shin So-bin, who had resumed cross-legged position, quickly closed her eyes.

“King! I’m coming in!”

A giant human shadow entered without hesitation, pushing back the tent’s entrance.

At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin carelessly placed one foot on the chair. He leaned his back diagonally backward, naturally looking down at the uninvited guest from a low position.

“Your business?”

With Ming Cult Leader Young Heavenly Demon Invincible’s conduct, it was somehow a comfortable posture for his mood. It was also a posture that made it difficult for anyone to guess Jeong Yeon-shin’s identity.

The human shadow that had stridden into the tent hesitated as soon as he saw that appearance. Because he felt he might die if he made a wrong move.

“…Morale is low. The most important thing in this land’s military camps is plunder, but there has never been a king who directly prohibited it until now. Until you stopped the plundering of Shame Extreme Castle.”

He was a man large enough to remind one of the Yao tribe.

Like Jeong Yeon-shin and Shin So-bin, he had covered his face with a plain mask. It would be because of his position as a southern turncoat staying in Howling Heaven Castle near the Great Wall.

He carried a dao as huge as his body on his back, and rumor followed him that he had committed a great crime in the Hebei Peng Family in his youth and been driven out.

But no one in Yeoktru Castle knew what that crime was.

He appeared to be in his forties.

He was about an uncle to Peng Yu, who was famous as one of the Five Marvels of Resplendent Brilliance. He might be a close relative of the current Peng Family Head, but what was important to Jeong Yeon-shin was something else.

‘I need to make him completely Northern King Yelu’s person… but he’s an unpredictable existence.’

He was an absolutely necessary person.

—How many renowned masters are under your command?

A question directly connected to a Northern King’s authority.

At the same time, it was a matter that determined other Northern Kings’ movements.

Jeong Yeon-shin had to completely establish himself as one of the pillars forming the northern jianghu’s order.

At the same time, he had to ensure that multiple Northern Kings wouldn’t rashly touch him. Because he couldn’t hide his true ultimate techniques forever in fights with absolute masters.

The blade-wielder before his eyes was someone who could help with that task and more. At least in terms of martial power and reputation.

“You’d better think deeply. The military forces of Yeoktru Castle dragged here by you are missing proper supplies and grumbling, so it could be said your qualifications as a Northern King are being doubted.”

Blunt speech.

Though he didn’t know what he had heard from the northern gatekeeper, Demon Contempt Blade had followed Jeong Yeon-shin but wasn’t being very cooperative.

Naturally he seemed to regard Northern King Yelu as about a rolling stone.

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly to the side.

“Were you originally very dissatisfied with everything?”

“No. Not at all. Until that damn Acting Divine Sword Group Leader currently holding the Great Wall blew away me and Howling Heaven Castle with a Qi-Controlled Sword Strike.”

“Ah, because you lost your foundation as Howling Heaven Castle Lord?”

“The war has temporarily ceased due to the fight between the Fighting God and Emperor Qian-ling. No one in this northern jianghu knew that the Desolate Fortress purple would suddenly launch such an absurd sword strike. It was truly conduct befitting his epithet. Yes, Lightning Gen—”

Cough.

Suddenly Shin So-bin interrupted his words with a small cough. Thanks to that, Jeong Yeon-shin could maintain Northern King Yelu’s identity.

‘Is that fellow really necessary?’

It was when he looked at Demon Contempt Blade and thought this.

“And there’s this too. It came from Shame Extreme King… aside from appeasing Yeoktru Castle’s warriors, you should think seriously about it.”

Thunk.

Demon Contempt Blade threw down a letter.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes immediately took in long phrases as he unfolded the correspondence. It was a warning written with thick, almost intense running script.

[To the hot-blooded one.

You climbed to the position of Northern King yourself, then shamelessly trampled my land as if you knew nothing.

Ignorant one.

You have gone against the laws created by the Fighting God.

To completely trample the mighty southern jianghu requires no loss of strength.

How many compatriots were lost to the selfish strong ones of the south just now? If the Northern Kings had not withdrawn their axes from each other, all fights would have been certain defeats.

Send forth a proxy warrior. Whether it be your successor or a great warrior you have subdued matters not.

Northern King must not fight Northern King.

If you have no one who can completely represent your prestige and dignity, martial arts and name, then you lack the qualifications to sit on the throne yourself.

Remember this.

You, Northern King Yelu who replaced Flame Heat Divine King, cannot act that way again.

If you commit such a wretched act again, all kings of this land will race on the wind to reach where you are.

Therefore… I, Shame Extreme, ask you.

Are you a strand of our northern wind?

Or are you southern sea breeze that can never wash away the fishy smell?

You must answer with actions.

If you cannot send forth a proxy warrior, you will be regarded as lacking the qualifications of a Northern King, and I will come to either make you a proxy warrior or strip you of the Northern King position you climbed to yourself. Not just this Shame Extreme King, but all Northern Kings who follow the Fighting God.]

The moment Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes reached the end of the text, the eyes behind Demon Contempt Blade’s mask across from him also caught that sight like a ghost.

“It’s a dangerous situation. Anyone can see it’s not good.”

Demon Contempt Blade spoke with affectation. Watching how Northern King Yelu would react immediately.

But Jeong Yeon-shin was inwardly feeling fresh shock. Because this was the first time he had been threatened by letter.

Moreover, this Northern King Shame Extreme possessed a more elegant calligraphy style than Jeong Yeon-shin when using Chinese characters.

‘He was said to be close to the Fighting God.’

[TL Note- ‘He’ here is referring to Northern Blade.]

Northern Blade, who had been the Fighting God’s left arm.

Conversely, the Southern Emperor, who was worthy of calling himself the Fighting God’s right arm in all aspects including strength and strategy. He was actually the current greatest in the north.

But now he saw there were many other figures too.

Divine Beggar, said to compete in lightness skill with the world’s fastest, was like that, and Shame Extreme King, who had sent a threatening letter to Jeong Yeon-shin immediately, was also formidable.

Northern King Shame Extreme.

A monster of strange power whose entire body was said to have turned transparent through protective strong energy achievement comparable to the Fighting God.

‘If she challenges me, could I kill her without ultimate techniques?’

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered inwardly. This is burdensome.

It was the first thought he had in what might be his last mission.

Had the vessel that was the fifteen-year-old loner of the Jeong estate grown wide enough to contain a nation?

“I don’t know.”

Jeong Yeon-shin grumbled.

Immediately Demon Contempt Blade burst into loud laughter, and the energy wave fluctuations arising from it slightly lifted the tent.

It was only an instant before the grayish winter wind that entered through the gap caressed Jeong Yeon-shin’s ankles.

“Your Majesty, surely you won’t make that insignificant girl a proxy warrior. Rather, try asking me with your fist techniques as condition. I’ll think about it positively.”

“……”

“Listen. Even Dragon Sound Sasa King’s proxy warrior is rumored to have a half-dragon body like the Divine Sword Group Leader, and moreover the delegate of the one who will newly become Northern King, the Ice Palace Lord, is receiving all of Ice Palace’s expectations…”

Whatever Demon Contempt Blade was babbling.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt a familiar energy wave from the wind that had caressed his ankle and disappeared.

Whether because it belonged to someone he had already formed a connection with, or because of the transcendent function of his Baihui acupoint that had become immeasurably broad lately.

Sword.

The mental image of a single blade was within it.

It was different from Heaven Conquering Sect Leader’s which had been numerous enough to form a tsunami. Literally a single sword. It felt like a wanderer’s weapon with notches here and there.

Jeong Yeon-shin intuited.

That a star in human form had entered the north. An existence otherwise called Sword Star in the south.

Hanzhong Martial Alliance Leader Hyeon So-baek.

—‘Evergreen Blade’ would suffice. May its greenness flow unbroken like the Yangtze River. Might I gift it the name Nine Verdant River?

He had once named one of Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword techniques, and was the absolute master of the sword who had been recovering in Hangzhou after being struck by the Dark Heaven Emperor’s Transcendent Martial Art.

He couldn’t know for what reason he had crossed the Great Wall.

So Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly tilted his head. What kinds of things were happening in the south now?

‘I haven’t seen him for too long… would he still treat me kindly?’

He suddenly asked Demon Contempt Blade.

“Do the recent Northern Kings resolve all disputes through contests between proxies? Because of the Fighting God who hoped they wouldn’t die?”

“That’s right.”

“I see.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered.

His words ended there.

“What…?”

Only after a moment did Demon Contempt Blade’s eyes fill with bewilderment, but Jeong Yeon-shin did not continue the conversation.