Chapter 160 – Radiant Demon Wing Leader (3)

“Is that a human hand? The Radiant Demon Wing Leader?”

Wind Water Mystic Master Zhuge Qian’s eyebrows rose.

Several wrinkles appeared on his forehead, revealing his shock. He stared at the opposite side with a stiff expression.

Swish.

The hand that had pierced through the curtain. The five fingers possessed both a smooth yet firm quality.

It hadn’t just pierced through a single layer of silk.

Hum.

The Go stones scattered around trembled slightly.

They were about ten black and white stones used to activate the formation. The formation laid during the Alliance’s establishment was sinking.

The Heavy Wind Spreading Wall Formation activated with just a few Go stones was in truth an absolute art far surpassing what was visible.

Spirit power was imbued in all materials. It was installed according to Wind Water Mystic and the Book of Changes.

From ridge beams, crossbeams, eaves, foundation stones, to rafters and other pillars.

Meaning it shouldn’t be broken like this.

“What…!”

Formation techniques were arts difficult to define in a few words. Unlike martial arts, they had no fixed verses.

The branches divided into countless streams. Only one commonality existed – they were studies that toyed with the principles of all creation.

Unless one had cultivated the formation martial arts of heterodox sects, it wasn’t easy to approach as a martial artist.

This was especially true for orthodox martial artists who cultivated straightforward, profound internal energy.

To break it with energy emission required tremendous power – the Heavy Wind Spreading Wall Formation installed in this office could withstand even a sect leader’s single strike.

‘How.’

Breaking through in one strike like that meant stepping into the realm of miracles.

It wasn’t possible without cultivating extremely rare and outstanding martial arts.

Like the two great masters who left immortal footprints in the martial world.

Zhang Sanfeng who mastered the source of the Eight Great Divine Incantations of Taoism.

Bodhidharma who as a Buddhist grandmaster incorporated Buddha’s dharma power into martial arts.

Hum!

Divine waves spread from the straight extended hand. They were energy waves invisibly wrapping around the office.

Zhuge Qian who had cultivated both martial arts and formation techniques immediately felt it.

The Heavy Wind Spreading Wall Formation was disappearing as if it had never existed. The wealth and effort put into the office vanished in an instant.

‘Indeed, not just earthly internal energy! Taoist? No, Buddhist power mixed in…!’

It was truly instantaneous.

Energy waves carrying an extremely pure feeling. Could there be internal energy this pure elsewhere in the world?

Equipment that took long time and massive cost was neutralized without a trace.

If he had clashed with martial arts instead it might have been much easier to deal with.

“Really…?”

The questioning words flowed like a sigh. An answer came immediately.

“You said enter so I stepped in.”

The green silk curtain creating the formation’s boundary was lifted with one gesture.

As the green silk hem fluttered down, a boy wearing pitch-black robes was revealed.

He wore the black leather shoes that had shown beneath the curtain earlier.

He brushed off his hand once to drop the green silk curtain and lightly stepped in, with a strange dignity emanating from his whole body.

“This Leader hasn’t committed discourtesy, has he? Just removing what was in the way.”

The boy said. His expression was indifferent unlike his age. No, perhaps it was fitting for his age.

Since his status and martial arts could discuss all under heaven, every action carried great weight. His state of mind was hard to guess.

‘That’s definitely Desolate Fortress black-rank.’

Zhuge Qian thought. Regardless of age, he had ability befitting the attire. It meant he was a monster.

The boy in black robes who had torn apart the formation technique in one move. The pressure emanating from his whole body far transcended the realm of rising talents.

To many martial artists’ eyes he wouldn’t even appear human.

“…Welcome Leader. I am Zhuge Qian, acting commander-in-chief of the Martial Alliance.”

Zhuge Qian maintained a calm expression with difficulty.

He felt something major would happen if he didn’t act as if nothing had occurred. He deeply regretted it.

Attempting to grasp his character was certainly needed. But he hadn’t known he possessed martial arts that could break formation power.

He had planned to provoke some anger then dissolve the formation as if nothing had happened.

But the young Leader before him clearly wouldn’t let it pass.

“Is this how your Alliance treats envoys?”

“…You speak incomprehensible words. You seem fatigued from the long journey, so it would be right to receive you again on a better day. How about resting in good quarters I’ll provide?”

“I am Radiant Demon Wing Leader Jeong Yeon-shin. Show proper respect befitting my status.”

The young supreme master of Desolate Fortress gave no room for excuses.

As he slowly stepped toward the Grand Strategist’s seat where Zhuge Qian sat, the sound of his pitch-black robe hem brushing was especially clear.

He had raised protective energy. He was fully prepared.

In one step he conveyed his willingness to draw swords over having his dignity damaged.

“This wasn’t done by one person’s will. Since this is a matter between Martial Alliance and Desolate Fortress.”

The boy in black robes parted his lips.

“Apologize to me on behalf of the Alliance.”

He didn’t speak of it as Zhuge Qian’s individual act. He broadened the clash with the formation into a matter between the Martial Alliance and Desolate Fortress.

His words struck like swift swords in succession.

The white rank warrior of Desolate Fortress who alone attended the Radiant Demon Wing Leader clicked his tongue. Our Leader has descended.

“…”

Zhuge Qian was silent for a moment. He understood how the boy before him had risen to Leader’s hierarchy.

He was already a martial artist. Even setting aside martial power.

He spoke well. He had decisiveness too. He overlapped with a beast that wouldn’t release its grip on the enemy’s neck.

The Go stones laid out to activate the Heavy Wind Spreading Wall Formation became a self-defeating move. It was a blunder. He had damaged the Alliance’s dignity at first meeting.

He stared silently at the boy. An expressionless face met his view.

As acting commander-in-chief, Zhuge Qian thought.

‘If this shameful situation isn’t limited to my individual matter?’

Wind Water Mystic Master Zhuge Qian hadn’t risen to Virtuous Heaven Squad Leader through individual martial power alone.

While skilled at handling formation techniques, he had broad insight and cultivated considerable martial arts, which led to being highly valued by the Zhuge clan lord…

Should he call the warriors stationed in this hall? How much manpower and time would be needed to subdue that black rank?

Zhuge Qian himself wouldn’t be safe. After gathering people to suppress one Desolate Fortress Leader, what then?

Kill and destroy?

The Alliance wasn’t fundamentally one.

Tremendous chaos would arise, and they couldn’t stop rumors spreading after many witnessed that sight.

He didn’t think they could capture the Radiant Demon Wing Leader without any disturbance. They would suffer massive damage.

They couldn’t deny nothing happened either. Due to traces of the broken formation.

It seemed this Radiant Demon Wing Leader was versed in formation techniques. Just his appearance scanning surroundings with hands behind his back was enough to guess.

Where else had he seen such formations?

Looking into his history, he had achieved merit in annihilating Blood Flame Sect headquarters – perhaps it was related to breaking their formation techniques.

‘This is bad.’

He broke the Heavy Wind Spreading Wall Formation in one move. Having martial arts affecting formations and having eye technique to scan formation patterns were separate elements.

Someone that capable would search the office and find the damaged materials.

‘We must avoid forceful response. Losses outweigh gains.’

Zhuge Qian slowly opened his mouth. His hands raised to his chest in martial salute trembled slightly.

“…I committed discourtesy to Radiant Demon Wing Leader. As a member of the orthodox Martial Alliance, I apologize.”

Apologize. Words he had never uttered as Virtuous Heaven Squad Leader came out softly.

Only before the clan lord had he said such things. And that was when he was just a component of the Virtuous Heaven Squad.

A faint arc formed on the boy’s lips.

“I’ll take one thing. Since you can’t deny nothing happened.”

The young Radiant Demon Wing Leader raised his left arm. The loose robe sleeve fell to his shoulder.

Amid revealing an arm with clear definition from training, storm-like energy gathered in the boy’s palm.

“…!”

Kwaaaaa-!

Tremendous suction force arose.

The breathing technique for internal energy operation transcended limits.

Amid wood fragments scattering overhead, the office ceiling was being torn off and collapsing entirely.

Hazy dust spread. Through gaps in the vision-blocking dirt, Zhuge Qian’s eyes showed shock.

‘Myriad Heavens Flower Rain…?!’

Thud!

“It’s clearly engraved.”

Jeong Yeon-shin caught a fragment of the broken beam while calming his technique. As he lowered the wood piece in his left hand below his eyes.

The characters ‘As Ordained by Law’ were written in majestic calligraphy. It was indeed traces of a formation.

It felt similar to what he had sensed from Blood Flame Sect’s Two Flame Blood Spirit Formation. Divine energy lingered.

“It seems no ordinary power. Is this the Zhuge clan lord’s calligraphy?”

The boy muttered. Fierceness appeared on Zhuge Qian’s face as he regained composure.

“…Do not carelessly speak of the clan lord.”

“Hmm?”

“He is above you in both seniority and status.”

“This Leader received teachings from the Fortress Lord.”

“…”

No martial artist discussed seniority before noble clans. Especially with the Fortress Lord. They said she was most revered among clans.

Zhuge Qian’s mouth closed. The dozen or so Alliance warriors who had urgently rushed to the office amid the commotion also fell silent.

They were faces that somewhat guessed what had occurred.

“Mind your conduct.”

Hyeon Won-chang said. It was what Jeong Yeon-shin had said to Lazy Flame Dragon earlier. The young Radiant Demon Wing Leader just lightly patted Hyeon Won-chang’s shoulder and turned around.

Though the commotion was large, only objects were damaged. Zhuge Qian, the office’s owner, showed no traces of combat.

As the Martial Alliance masters withdrew in succession, only Jeong Yeon-shin’s voice rang out briefly.

“Let’s meet again another day. Since quarters are already arranged, I’ll have servants guide me.”

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

The relationship between secular orthodox sects and Desolate Fortress was not simple. It was even more so before the Martial Alliance formed.

Until then, righteous path sects had not shown hostility toward Desolate Fortress.

Desolate Fortress was the sect most actively protecting people’s livelihood in all under heaven.

Though they might curse their methods of using force behind closed doors, they couldn’t openly condemn them before the world.

As long as the righteous martial world’s banner lay in chivalry and justice, that’s how it had to be.

But they weren’t close either.

Desolate Fortress’s conduct made it so. They didn’t consider martial artists’ circumstances.

They didn’t mind orthodox sects’ opinions in caring for common people.

They exposed hypocritical conduct as is, and showed no hesitation in wielding swords to the point of annihilation.

Nominally orthodox martial sects pursued both chivalry and justice. Righteous path, orthodox path, orthodox sect, righteous sect.

They were martial art sects seeking fame through titles meaning righteousness.

But in reality, the Central Plains’ chivalry did not align with justice.

They were quite different.

Even when viewed against the teachings of the Four Books and Three Classics, it was quite a bizarre belief.

“For example, when a family that committed crimes faces annihilation…”

Lazy Flame Dragon tapped the table with his large hand. Jeong Yeon-shin and Namgung Hwa-shin sat together around it.

“If a third party connected to that family dies fighting alongside them at their annihilation, they’re called a chivalrous hero. For maintaining loyalty and conviction until death. That’s the realistic sentiment of the martial world.”

“I thought I had experienced enough of the martial world.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said. Lazy Flame Dragon smiled languidly.

“The world of noble fighters is fundamentally crude and foolish. That’s why they can’t get close to Desolate Fortress. If they want to maintain their chivalry, that is.”

Fragrant Melody Court.

It was the residence assigned to Jeong Yeon-shin’s group.

True to its name, it had tremendous elegance.

Just opening the door revealed a loft built above the outer gate. The entrance was two stories high.

The mountain model in the center of the courtyard was beautiful too. It was small rocks carved and placed by the garden pond.

It was certainly treatment befitting honored guests.

Except for one thing. The location was quite deliberate.

“So you’re saying we could face provocations at any moment?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked. Lazy Flame Dragon tilted his head toward his shoulder.

“That’s possible. Don’t you hear voices from all directions? The footsteps constantly echoing are like thunder too. Well, it’s natural since we’ve occupied a residence built in the middle of the Alliance. I heard over a hundred martial sects joined the Alliance… Don’t you feel their blatant scheming even without knowing the Alliance’s intentions?”

“I see.”

“Hmm… but why are you smiling? This young master wants to die at his appointed time.”