Chapter 158 – Radiant Demon Wing Leader

The sound of her collapse was bleak.

The prefectural magistrate’s silent body fell, having received a fatal sword strike.

Perhaps her hypocritical intentions in life had led to this.

The sight of her blue official robes staining black with blood as she lay sprawled ungracefully seemed strangely natural.

The commoners certainly thought so.

“Hero, thank you…!”

“Desolate Fortress and Mount Hua, we are enlightened!”

These were the people freed by Hyeon Won-chang’s swift action. They each bowed their heads or gave formal salutes.

Meanwhile, intense praise continued. Many spoke of receiving grace.

However, it was hard to accept their thanks with joy. Sadness stained the faces of those who had lost property and family.

It was a snapshot of the current world.

“Let’s go,” said the boy in the black robe.

Yu Hyeon, who had been watching carefully, quietly approached.

“We can go together to the Martial Alliance. Though you’d find it anyway, it’s really crowded there now.”

“Right,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied briefly, taking the lead of the group. He was accompanied by the commoners who had been used as hostages to subdue martial artists.

Hyeon Won-chang occasionally made jokes while guiding them.

He said that since Desolate Fortress had come, lawless martial artists wouldn’t dare act up, or that he’d give his hero’s headband to children who didn’t cry.

The Chongyang Gang had several boats, with one being quite large. It could easily fit fifty people.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s group and the commoners all boarded at once.

Instead of the village men, who were too weak from hunger, Lazy Flame Dragon and Hyeon Won-chang rowed.

Jeong Yeon-shin urged Lazy Flame Dragon beside him to move faster.

“Your hands are slow. This isn’t a time to be lazy, is it?”

“I’ll reach blue rank right when I return. How frustrating.”

When they returned to the village they had first stopped at, the Diancang disciples greeted the group with expressions like they’d seen ghosts.

“That child disappeared,” said Little Sword Queen Qu Su-yu.

She meant the village boy—the one who had told Yu Hyeon and Jeong Yeon-shin’s group about the village’s tragedy.

In the end, he had been driving martial artists into a tiger’s den. Without saying a word about the government troops and hostages led by the prefectural magistrate.

It was an act of delivering prey.

Martial artists who cultivated martial arts generally had more possessions than commoners.

In the current world, mountain bandits referred to martial masters encountered on quiet mountain paths.

Inevitable plunder. Such were troubled times.

The Chongyang Gang leader, who even robbed martial artists, had simply met a predator called Radiant Demon Wing.

That village boy, too, was proof of the chaotic world. But evading the Diancang masters’ attention to vanish was another matter.

“He must have been a martial artist. Specialized in concealing energy waves and born with good martial talent,” Jeong Yeon-shin dismissed it briefly, looking at the mountain range stretching toward Hanzhong.

Rather than the village boy, he thought of those he had just killed. There were those who weren’t martial artists.

Though they aided in plundering commoners, they were government troops and officials.

Among them, the prefectural magistrate had accepted her own death and even given the Martial Alliance letter.

It was a different kind of first kill. Like when he killed the Tyrant Sword martial artist at the Jeong estate.

From burying the enemies’ corpses, including the prefectural magistrate, until now, Jeong Yeon-shin had pushed any lingering thoughts to a corner of his mind.

It was familiar. He had always done so since becoming a martial artist aiming for the World Tree’s fruit.

‘I am Radiant Demon Wing Leader,’ the boy thought.

He closed and opened his eyes once. The blue light that had flashed in his pupils calmed again.

“Nameless, bring writing materials,” Jeong Yeon-shin ordered.

Lazy Flame Dragon twisted his lips as he laid out the four treasures of the study. Jeong Yeon-shin wrote a letter there.

[TL Note- Four Treasures of the study: Brush, inkstick, paper, and inkstone]

<To Ming Yu, from Desolate Fortress Radiant Demon Wing Leader>

It was a letter to his colleague.

“Sword energy has seeped into the writing. Truly a martial artist’s calligraphy,” Lazy Flame Dragon remarked, letting out a small exclamation as he watched the brush strokes written in one go.

“I noticed when they called you Lightning Genius martial lineage. You must have written some secret manuals in your youth. Ah, this is your youth now.”

“Please deliver it well,” Jeong Yeon-shin said to the spirit beast, ignoring Lazy Flame Dragon’s comment.

The white swallow tilted its head once before flying up from the boy’s hand. A letter densely filled with writing was already tied to its leg.

“Let’s go,” Jeong Yeon-shin said after sending off White Swallow.

The villagers, who had been blankly watching the spirit beast surrounding the group, quickly lowered their heads. At the same time, they burst into cries.

“Hero, please let us repay your kindness!”

“At least a meal… no…” A woman in shabby skirts trailed off. There was no way they could serve a meal.

Though the noble boy in black had bestowed the food and supplies from the Chongyang Gang to them, the devastated village didn’t even have proper hearths.

Rebuilding came first.

“I’ll stop by on my return. If this village is standing again then, I’ll gladly accept a meal with gratitude as a side dish,” Jeong Yeon-shin said kindly.

The woman and villagers took turns grasping the boy’s hand with tears in their eyes.

It was a point of warmth in troubled times. Hyeon Won-chang, too, was surrounded by men and women, young and old. It took quite a while to break free.

“When entering the Alliance, you should meet the Alliance Leader first,” Little Sword Queen said, looking at Jeong Yeon-shin with strange eyes.

The boy silently nodded while mounting his fine horse. Lazy Flame Dragon, Hyeon Won-chang, and Namgung Hwa-shin took positions on the left, right, and rear.

Behind them, the villagers either bowed with thumbs clasped or respectfully pressed palms together.

They were Taoist and Buddhist etiquette, respectively. It was as if they were treating him as a divine being rather than a human.

The boy felt a strange emotion. He had done what was common for a Desolate Fortress martial artist.

But it was his first time directly hearing commoners’ praise. It was because he had only repeated missions and immediate movement.

It’s fortunate the World Tree’s fruit was at Desolate Fortress. He could accumulate achievements while feeling such warmth.

Jeong Yeon-shin waved once toward the village while turning his horse.

‘They said the Martial Alliance Leader is Sword Star,’ the boy thought. Now he had to carry out his original mission.

‘For a person to be called Star as a title. How skilled with the sword must he be.’

He recalled his Radiant Sword Style—sword techniques originating from Zhongnan Mountain’s cliff. Many martial artists had seen the duel with the Namgung family.

Since the sword method’s form was known to all under heaven, he needed to reinforce it without anyone knowing… The martial world was full of mysteries. He didn’t overconfidently assume he would naturally dominate the Alliance Opening Tournament.

Even if he won, as Desolate Fortress’s representative, he couldn’t be humiliated in the guidance sparring with the Alliance Leader.

‘Law Enforcement Leader was helpful. Let’s apply every inspiration that comes to mind to sword techniques. From now until the Alliance Opening Tournament ends.’

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

The Martial Alliance headquarters in Hanzhong was reaching peak scenery.

The heat that had densely clung to summer leaves was painted over with transparent air.

It suited the atmosphere emanating from the majestic palace complex and countless people.

“Lord Zhuge, did you return those things to the Namgung family?” one man asked.

“Yes, they were borrowed items to begin with. We obtained everything we needed,” replied Lord Zhuge.

“Were there any traces left?”

“Isn’t there Mount Mo in South Zhili? The Mo Mountain Sect sorcerers that Namgung immediately invited then seem to have played their role. Thanks to their magic, all corpses didn’t rot, so examining the sword wounds on the bodies was easy.”

“Hmm…”

“The Divine Sword Group Leader’s sword techniques were indeed peerless divine arts. Even the cut surfaces were in the realm of secret techniques. Without the family’s secret teachings, it would have been hard to analyze. Also, Lightning Genius’s forms… analyzing them revealed they were no ordinary secret techniques. Worthy of becoming Desolate Fortress Leader at the youngest age indeed.”

“…They said the Namgung Elder Council Leader was the only direct line member who didn’t fight. Truly chilling revenge. Even the fact he readily transported the corpses of his son and grandson…”

“Namgung was already devoured by the branch family, wasn’t it? It must have been just final struggles.”

Middle-aged men with precious swords at their waists walked proudly.

A path spread across smooth stone ground, palace-like halls stretching in all directions, golden sand glittering on the intersecting paths…

There was even a temple built to invite Shaolin monks. Now it was occupied by young martial artists.

“Honestly, this is the first time I’ve heard of the ‘Dull Sword’ at the alliance meeting. It’s a strange concept in our region. If it’s about ‘striking later but hitting first,’ isn’t it just superficial?”

“I agree. If you have the ability to strike later and subdue your opponent, why wait for the first move? If you’re already far superior to your opponent, a sword strike that can’t be blocked even if known is on a different level. It can’t be compared on equal terms.”

Men and women with brilliant spirit sat anywhere, discussing martial arts.

They had laid out weapons glittering brilliantly in the sunlight on the ground.

All wore colorful martial clothes woven with silk.

Due to their noble status, they always bathed cleanly, and having cultivated orthodox martial arts, their skin texture was different.

Regardless of gender, they looked magnificent and noble.

“Some speak of martial arts that don’t exist in the world. Thousand Jin Hammer is like that too. How can a human body increase non-existent weight?” one person asked.

“That seems a matter of terminology. In our Guangxi martial world, it means secret techniques for properly maintaining lower body balance. Skills for unleashing footwork, true steps, and internal energy as one. I heard Wudang Taiji is also an art of firmly maintaining one’s balance while adjusting the opponent’s center of gravity, am I wrong?” another explained.

All the men and women chatting had outstanding appearances. They seemed completely unrelated to the famine outside.

The Martial Alliance gathering was an unprecedented place of exchange. It was a banquet for especially noble martial artists.

The world was incredibly vast, and it was very rare for noble orthodox martial artists to gather from all across the Central Plains.

They had been busy acting like royalty in their vast home territories.

That was until now.

Here they met those of matching status. They couldn’t help but be excited.

It was then.

“Isn’t it about time we should go? The elders ordered us to do something,” Murong Mingjun said.

From the Murong clan of the northern rivers, he was a handsome young master famous for lofty sword techniques north of the Yangtze.

He was also privately the young lord of the Murong clan.

“We received word that those with the rough ‘Desolate’ character entered Hanzhong territory. Let’s get up now,” he added.

“I received the orders,” said a scholarly young man with a weak impression. He stood, and the green scholar’s robe suited his atmosphere extremely well.

Due to his transcendent appearance, which seemed to bring spring to autumn air, many gazes from some of the women discussing martial arts were focused on him.

Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian.

“They said to confirm Lightning Genius’s sword techniques. I didn’t know I’d become a sacrificial stone in Go…” Zhuge Xian muttered.

A boy with extraordinary eyes smiled slightly.

“Well, if a mid-level master fought Lightning Genius and lost, it would greatly lower the Alliance’s face… Above all, it’s because Brother Zhuge’s fan techniques and eye techniques are outstanding. Who knows? You might put up a fight.”

“Well,” Zhuge Xian replied with a bitter smile.

“Regardless of age, the opponent is a Desolate Fortress Leader. Given the rumors, and that such a strict Divine Sword Group wouldn’t make a low-rank their Leader. Whatever happens, I’ll lose, so come at least one ke later. I don’t want to show an embarrassing sight.”

[TL Note- One ke is a unit of time equalling 14.4 min or one hundredth of a day.]

He said this while placing his foot on the second-floor railing of the temple.

Step.

As he took one step, wind arose. His figure disappeared as if flying away.

It was like a picture of body lightness technique. Men and women alike let out brief exclamations.

“He’s broken down the boundary between divine steps and lightness technique. As expected of Fan Dragon. No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem likely to lose easily…”

“He’s been planning revenge since losing to Emperor Sword Form with both hands raised. There must be results from his closed-door training.”

Some looked at that sight dully. Murong Mingjun also inwardly muttered, “What an unlucky b*st*rd.”

‘He means he’s an important figure directly connected to the Alliance elders. While I, too, must earn father’s trust.’

Though their thoughts differed like that, they were an alliance of orthodox sects.

The young martial artists decided to follow Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian’s request. It was the attitude of orthodox righteous path martial artists respecting their opponent.

They each passed one ke in discussion and idle chat.

“What about Miss Ye?”

“I don’t know either. She doesn’t seem to be participating today.”

“Young Hero Ak seems lovesick. Isn’t it too obvious?”

“Don’t act like it’s just me!”

…Talk of the currently most famous woman in Hanzhong, complaints about lecherous elders, free spirit speaking of racing unhindered across the martial world, romance budding between talented men and women, topics returning again to martial arts…

One ke was very short for vigorous martial artists. They rose from their seats in succession.

“I saw Lightning Genius’s appearance. Is he really that handsome in person?”

“Our Alliance martial artists aren’t lacking in looks either. Rather, I’m curious about his martial power level. Just how strong must he be for the Alliance elders to even mobilize spies to track Lightning Genius’s movements.”

“There was a strange rumor. About the Hwangbo family’s young master and White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin…”

Their steps were very fast, befitting the Alliance’s promising talents. They reached the headquarters’ main gate at once.

‘Hm?’

In that moment, Murong Mingjun sensed something big had happened. Were they spectators? The crowd blocking his view was tremendous.

Even though the Alliance’s main gate was about ten times wider than an ordinary fortress entrance.

Not just Alliance martial artists, but commoners doing business in Hanzhong and escorts seemed to have gathered.

“What is this?”

“Is that a person…!”

It was small murmuring compared to the numbers. Meaning they were completely absorbed in the sight they were seeing.

Murong Mingjun instantly leapt up, pushing off the ground.

Whoosh!

He landed at once on the wall spread on both sides of the entrance. Many martial artists seemed to have had the same thought.

There were already dozens at the same eye level.

No one turned to look at the noble swordsman of the Murong clan. This, too, was unprecedented.

Murong Mingjun lowered his gaze, then widened his eyes.

“…!”

A handsome boy was standing on the fan Zhuge Xian held. He was extremely elegant. It was the bearing of a supreme master.

It was hard to believe.

Given Desolate Fortress’s characteristic of position substituting for seniority, Lightning Genius’s standing far transcended the rising talents.

However, Fan Dragon’s fan techniques were considered supreme in Hanzhong. Gathering Infinite Wind Fan Technique.

Rumors had once spread that it could match White Qilin Namgung Se-jin’s Emperor Sword Form.

‘Though that was until losing to White Qilin in twenty exchanges at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering…’

But Zhuge Xian’s age wasn’t low. As someone who had exchanged words with Scorching Divine Meridian’s Lazy Flame Dragon, there was a nine-year age gap with the investigated Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

Fan Dragon clearly had the fame and achievements to take an important Alliance position. Meaning he was a master counted among even the noble young martial artists.

‘Yet isn’t this simply being toyed with?’

Murong Mingjun activated his clan’s peerless eye technique. His vision instantly became hazy.

Only the boy in black robes remained especially clear in view.

‘What…!’

Radiant Demon Wing Leader Jeong Yeon-shin.

The minute muscles in his limbs were constantly tensing and relaxing. It was a sight of creating dozens of types of rising movements hard to measure.

With gentle wind wrapped around his whole body, the black robe hem fluttering created a mysteriously profound sight.

Small bursts of energy throughout his body supported and distributed his weight.

Weak energy waves continuously emitted wind.

It was like an immortal’s appearance. What kind of movement technique could this be?

“Radiant Demon Wing Leader! What are you…!” A middle-aged man running from afar shouted. He had a spear strapped to his back.

He seemed to be from the Yue family of Shandong. An Alliance elder had stepped forward, unable to watch anymore.

Meanwhile, Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian swung his iron fan left and right, but the young Leader’s straight legs standing above remained unmoved like a crane’s.

Desolate Fortress’s black rank grace transcended imagination. The pitch-black sleeves swaying behind his hands clasped at his back were the finishing touch.

The movement technique appeared elegant enough to be unbelievable even while watching.

“Since a rising talent of your prestigious Alliance requested a duel with this Leader…” the young Radiant Demon Wing Leader glanced down at him and said, 

“I am just imparting a lesson.”