Chapter 155 – Swordsman (2)

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

He was with Little Sword Queen’s group, but Desolate Fortress’s mission personnel numbered only four.

With Jeong Yeon-shin in the lead, Lazy Flame Dragon, with his unorthodox martial arts, rode on the right, while Hyeon Won-chang, acting as his advisor, rode on the left.

Namgung Hwa-shin took the rear, owing to his naturally calm disposition and stable sword techniques.

“I feel enlightened every day. Desolate Fortress seems to value looks and martial talent equally.”

Those were Little Sword Queen Qu Su-yu’s words at departure. No one responded.

Even Piercing Sun Sword and Diancang Dancing Sword ignored their sect’s senior sister.

They were still awkward with Jeong Yeon-shin’s group. They should be seen as traveling companions rather than colleagues.

‘They said another black rank would join us. I think it might be Senior Yue.’

The Martial Alliance was a tiger’s den. Even with the extraordinary martial power of the three, excluding Hyeon Won-chang, that remained true.

In terms of size, the alliance would surpass Desolate Fortress.

Though they couldn’t mobilize military force-scale personnel since it was a diplomatic mission, the Administrator’s Office wouldn’t simply leave a promising new Leader unprotected.

He had heard there would be support. They would follow at a distance.

Radiant Demon Wing was excluded. There weren’t many uninjured seniors.

He had just appointed Blue Eyes to serve as acting Radiant Demon Wing Leader. Their conversation before departure remained vivid.

“It feels like just yesterday I lent you my robe. Anyway, Radiant Demon Wing needs reorganizing too. Even though this mission only takes a small group as envoys, when you return, you’ll need to recruit personnel from other military forces.”

It was a voice tinged with laughter.

It was a private conversation. Jeong Yeon-shin took his senior’s advice to heart.

“Lightning Genius’s martial lineage has spread through all sorts of military forces. Your reputation is good enough; next is fame. How much renown the Leader has in the martial world is also quite important. What do those who live by the sword have besides martial arts and fame? The name Lightning Genius needs to grow bigger for other Leaders to accept you.”

The noble swordsman, who had been close since his entrance, had an innocent yet somewhat cynical side.

It meant he didn’t mince words.

“Your opponents are people who have wielded swords as black ranks for over ten or several decades. Even Obeying Heaven Wing Leader is called the ‘Monster of Maling River Grand Canyon’. They’ve all built fame while exercising black rank martial power over long years. Their reputations have trust and time built up.”

Obeying Heaven Wing Leader was someone who clearly distinguished public and private matters.

He fully acknowledged Jeong Yeon-shin’s achievements and martial power. However, he maintained an inflexible attitude regarding Namgung Hwa-shin’s transfer.

That must be why Blue Eyes brought up reputation.

“Among those with some name in the martial world, have you seen anyone who doesn’t know our previous Leader? The standing of Desolate Fortress Leaders in the martial world is tremendous. The cases they’ve been involved in and achievements they’ve built up are countless.”

They were words explaining the world Jeong Yeon-shin had to live in.

“Usually, it would be hard to catch up, but the mission you received this time might greatly narrow the gap. Depending on how you handle it.”

He said the Martial Alliance Opening Tournament was a big opportunity.

‘Since it’s an alliance where all sorts of orthodox sects gather, the effect of one achievement would be double that of usual times…’

Saaah—

Suddenly, an autumn wind brushed past his face.

The thoughts buried in that transparent autumn breeze continued no further. Jeong Yeon-shin gripped the reins and spurred his fine horse.

The group galloped endlessly.

Though there were post stations in Hanzhong, their destination, there was no post road from Xiangyang, where Desolate Fortress’s main fortress was located, to Hanzhong.

This meant the path under the fine horses’ hooves couldn’t draw a straight line.

Three days, four days, five days… They had no choice but to take quite a detour.

They passed several ruined villages.

“This one’s done for too.”

“So many people needing help…”

“Senior White Qilin, if you keep giving out silver, you’ll have no monthly pay left. It’s work just shaking off the people who cling to us.”

It was certainly troubled times. The world was already one where famine bred plunder, and food was scarce.

This was something Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t felt much growing up. Whatever the family customs, he was raised in the Jeong estate of wealthy landowners.

Even after entering Desolate Fortress, he hadn’t worried about food. The effects of poor harvests hadn’t yet reached the world’s greatest sect.

Food could still be bought with money. It was just expensive.

Moreover, there weren’t many places Desolate Fortress martial artists passed through during missions.

Only decent inns and government offices, or completely secluded fields and forests.

Jeong Yeon-shin was the same. Camping, luxury inns, Kuizhou branch, Sichuan Tang clan…

The places he had passed before reaching black rank didn’t show prominent effects of crop failure. Starting with Sichuan, which was isolated as a basin.

It was land among the most fertile in all under heaven. Even in Kuizhou, hadn’t countless spectators watched Jeong Yeon-shin’s battles?

However, the west he visited after long seemed different.

Rumors spread of bandits running rampant and sects everywhere acting like warlords. The sights Jeong Yeon-shin encountered from horseback were like that too.

Those without even a copper coin to their name, or those who struggled to make a living by hunting, frequently engaged in plunder.

He could feel with his own eyes how the effects of poor harvests were spreading across all under heaven.

‘It’s especially bad here.’

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly pulled the reins to stop his horse. His companions also lined up behind the boy leading the group.

The western edge of Yunyang Prefecture in Huguang.

Thick smoke rose from all over the village by a small lake. Crying could also be heard.

It was more devastated than anywhere they had passed. Yet the Martial Alliance’s Hanzhong was right ahead.

A suffocating silence hung in the air. These were traces of plunder.

“…”

Clop clop.

Jeong Yeon-shin spurred his horse again. He made it walk slowly toward the village entrance.

“I don’t know what Mount Wu has been doing. They should be the closest of the Nine Great Sects.”

Little Sword Queen spoke. At the same time came Hyeon Won-chang’s reply.

“It’s problematic to look to martial sects first when discussing public safety. I don’t know what the government is doing.”

The tone indicated both were unsatisfactory. Come to think of it, Hyeon Won-chang had strangely despised the major sects from before.

Jeong Yeon-shin hoped he could hear this aged friend’s life story someday. Before he died.

For a while, only hoofbeats rang out. Until they approached the tragically destroyed wooden fence.

While no one opened their mouths, Lazy Flame Dragon pointed to one side and spoke… “That’s traces of energy waves? Those gouges there. They were hit by martial artists.”

Was he trying to lighten the mood? The tone was somewhat glib.

Having roamed all over as the rogue young master of the Hwangbo family, such experiences seemed common.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer. These were bandits who had run wild in a village not far from the Martial Alliance and Mount Wu.

It would be difficult to carry out with ordinary martial arts and courage.

It was when they crossed the collapsed fence. A boy came running. Around Jeong Yeon-shin’s age.

Running urgently with the half-ruined village at his back, though his appearance was shabby, there was determination in his eyes.

“Hero! You’re warriors of Desolate Fortress, right?!”

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin felt a very small sense of achievement. The rough “Desolate” character embroidered on his shoulder seemed to have served its purpose.

Now anyone could recognize it even from the front.

Unless he had to change into Ma Jin’s clothes, Hyeon Won-chang would have no more chances to meddle.

Hearing clicking tongues behind him gave a slight feeling of satisfaction. It was his clothes after all.

“What happened here?”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had set aside brief thoughts, asked carefully. It was a completely different attitude from dealing with martial artists.

The inhaling sounds of the Diancang disciples and Lazy Flame Dragon grew louder. They seemed somewhat surprised.

“Whether martial world or disposition, he’s unique.”

Lazy Flame Dragon muttered glibly.

“If this young master had been born a commoner, he would have received the young Leader’s care. With a short-lived fate and whole clan massacred, how pitiful indeed.”

The tone seemed somewhat teasing. Though the words approached self-mockery, they held refinement.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid no particular mind and looked down at the boy.

As the village boy stared up at the black-robed boy on horseback, anger and sorrow were clear on his face.

There was no need to ask further. He had lost his property and family.

“Tell me about your enemies.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said.

They had nearly reached their destination of Hanzhong. With time to spare, shouldn’t he, as Desolate Fortress Leader, listen to a commoner’s grievance?

Anyone could see this village had been victimized by martial artists. It wasn’t something to ignore.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Mount Hua’s chief disciple recalled a certain curse. It was said to be used by traveling performers from the east.

‘Got screwed.’

Mount Hua Hidden Dragon Yu Hyeon concluded after consideration. They said getting screwed meant being obstructed.

Using the meaning literally, he had been thoroughly screwed.

He had arrived early at the Martial Alliance headquarters.

Staying in his assigned quarters grew terribly boring.

Among the rising talents he had seen at the Martial Alliance, none caught his eye.

Those slightly older were absorbed in the blind beauty called “Lady Ye”.

As if bewitched by the nine-tailed fox spoken of in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

‘The clan brats are disgusting, and the Nine Great Sects’ warriors are so slow they haven’t even arrived.’

He thought of deviation.

He figured it would be better to roam all directions with spirit steps.

Planning to train Mount Hua’s secret technique Dark Fragrance Drifting while taking a walk with his martial brothers who were older, they reached Shaanxi’s border.

They saw a half-ruined village.

It started with hearing the plea of a village boy left behind. They heard his tear-soaked grievance.

He said they were plundered by a sect based on an island by the lake.

“It wasn’t a sect of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable or Buddha. They built a manor on the island and came regularly to plunder. When pigs or calves grew, or when crops ripened, those b*st*rds would come take everything. If we resisted, they would beat us to death…”

“What?!”

Mount Hua’s disciples with high principles were enraged. Chivalry rose in their chests.

“Recently, they took all our remaining food. Said they had to entertain martial artists in iron armor…”

“How did you know they were martial artists? They could have been soldiers.”

Yu Hyeon’s martial brother asked. The village boy answered immediately.

“Those b*st*rds called themselves ‘heroes of the Deep Martial Alliance’. Isn’t the Heart Martial Alliance one of the Thirteen Evil Sects?”

“…A major sect based in Henan, what are they doing at the edge of Huguang?”

From then on, the Mount Hua disciples discussed among themselves.

“From one end to another, the distance is close.”

“Even so, it’s suspicious. What nerve? The Martial Alliance that opened ceremonies isn’t far from here.”

Apart from the unease, Yu Hyeon’s group crossed to the lakeside island. The village’s tragedy was terrible enough to warrant it.

Originally, a martial hero was one who carried out revenge for the wronged. As disciples of the Nine Great Sects, it was hard to simply pass by.

The Deep Martial Alliance appearing as if matching the Martial Alliance’s opening was also problematic.

It seemed to foretell an unusual incident. They needed to find clues.

‘I was too confident in my martial power.’

Yu Hyeon recalled. His hands were tied behind his back.

This was the training ground of a well-built manor. He sat back-to-back with three martial brothers.

Contempt showed on the faces of those surrounding and looking down at them. There were easily over twenty.

Among them, a woman in blue official robes and a man holding a large sword stood out.

They were husband and wife.

‘How could we win when a fairly strong martial sect joined hands with a prefectural magistrate to take hostages? When power and martial force are corrupt together.’

He hadn’t known the Yunyang prefectural magistrate was involved. It became very troublesome.

They weren’t opponents to carelessly face, but they were all captured. Because those b*st*rds took villagers hostage and threatened them.

“This is quite a dilemma.”

The woman wearing an official hat opened her lips. She held the highest authority in Yunyang.

She was the prefectural magistrate.

From the moment one cultivates martial arts, they begin breaking free of physical constraints. The same goes for innate gender differences.

It wasn’t rare for female masters of the demonic path to easily slaughter a hundred strong men. Internal energy aptitude didn’t discriminate between men and women.

Most of the Thirteen Evil Sects leaders were women, and among the Nine Great Sects, the Emei Sect’s leader was a nun who unmatched all under heaven.

In an age when noble clans were revered as immortal clans.

Song Dynasty customs had collapsed. Noble women entered official positions.

Since Ming’s founding, the “previous previous” empress dowager who directly involved herself in imperial politics as a noble had overturned the concepts of all under heaven.

She permitted women to take the imperial examinations… The existence of noble clans and martial arts was significant. The world had transformed.

Noble ladies across the realm passed the provincial exams to become recommended men, and through metropolitan and palace exams competed for ranks among the successful candidates.

The current Hanlin Academy grand academician was Zhuge clan lord’s sister.

That the prefectural magistrate was a woman was nothing. The problem was only that the couple were demonic sect riffraff and a corrupt official.

“My wife’s words are right. They are truly a dilemma. To hand them over to the returned Deep Martial Alliance masters would reveal our actions in capturing Mount Hua masters… but letting them go like this makes no sense.”

The man standing beside her spoke. He was the island’s owner and leader of the Chongyang Gang.

He was also the villain who had directly commanded the plundering until now.

“Killing and burying them is right after all. Even if pursuers come, my wife can just deny it. Who would doubt the prefectural magistrate’s words?”

“The same words for how many days now.”

Yu Hyeon responded listlessly. His extraordinary talent showed in his disposition of treating everything as trivial.

“Aren’t you both hesitant to behead us? To be honest, if your wife wasn’t a high-ranking official, would you have survived my hand? What if she was just a county magistrate instead of prefect? Your head would have been pickled in plum fragrance. Know what sword fragrance is?”

“This b*st*rd not knowing his place…!”

“Mount Hua disciple, be silent. Though we spared you for old times’ sake, your reckless behavior crosses the line.”

The prefectural magistrate spoke while restraining her enraged husband. Yu Hyeon snickered and lowered his head. His conduct showed contempt for the corrupt official.

It was his maximum resistance possible now, but it seemed not to reach her, who had navigated the treacherous political world to become prefectural magistrate.

“In famine, there is no high or low status. However, officials and swords must play their roles for commoners to live properly. Though I don’t fail to understand your chivalry, the vessel of those who govern the nation is greater. Do not apply your shallow standards.”

The prefectural magistrate said.

That couple completely looked down on commoners. Yu Hyeon didn’t answer.

Another day passed like that.

As his qi scattered from poison, his stomach seemed to cave in.

Even Mount Hua’s uniform lost its nobility. The shrunken plum blossom pattern testified to Yu Hyeon’s situation.

It was then.

Step.

Black leather shoes entered his downcast view.

“You’ve developed a bad habit. I heard you’ve been beaten by Lazy Flame Dragon too.”

A boy’s voice echoed.

“……?”

“It’s become a habit to leave the elders of the sect behind. You’ll die like that.”

The tone was calm.

“……!”

Yu Hyeon suddenly raised his head.

At that moment, a figure that was hard to believe had appeared came into view.

It was a boy with a sword at his waist.

The sunlight poured down behind him, creating a halo around his roughly draped black robe.

The “Desolate” character on his shoulder shimmered with dazzling golden light.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***