Chapter 169 – Implementation (5)

“Flying sword? Anyone can do that.”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered while clasping his hands behind his back. Silence flowed briefly.

The Heart Martial Alliance master who had been thrown back from the watchtower was falling. His shocked exhale revealed his disbelief.

He fell helplessly like a bird that had lost its wings, though the single strike hadn’t killed him instantly.

Energy waves could still be felt, just unstable.

‘Of course.’

The boy thought.

It wasn’t a flying sword technique. He didn’t know such supreme sword arts yet. That realm was still beyond his comprehension.

The principles of Myriad Heavens Flower Rain just appeared like a flying sword. He tried it since the topic came up. No energy waves were mixed in.

Since it wasn’t a shower of small blades cutting blood vessels one by one, it lacked the power to instantly end a martial master’s tough life.

That was fine. He did it deliberately.

“The blade is quite sharp. You maintained it well.”

The boy said.

The young Radiant Demon Wing Leader gestured with his chin toward the fallen Heart Martial Alliance master.

He glanced at Murong Ming-jun, who was staring at him in shock. The meaning was clear – retrieve the sword and bring back the fallen enemy.

Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly muttered. Looking at you makes my neck stiff.

“What…!”

Murong Ming-jun’s eyes widened. Born into a prestigious family claiming Xianbei ancestry in Liaodong, he was raised as heir to a very noble martial clan.

[TL Note- Liaodong is a peninsula in Liaoning province in Northeast China.]

He never bowed his head except to family elders. Even at the Martial Alliance headquarters, sect leaders of minor sects showed him respect.

He never imagined suffering such humiliation from a boy not yet fully grown.

‘I was rash to hold that banquet.’

While feeling humiliated, he thought as a noble. His mind cooled.

The banquet hall where Yue Yu-lin tried to probe the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s character. Murong Ming-jun had borrowed the venue and personally sent invitations.

That seemed to have made the Radiant Demon Wing Leader wary.

Outside the Alliance, Jeong Yeon-shin was different. He acted as a completely different supreme master of higher status.

Murong Ming-jun took unwilling steps while feeling the gaze on the back of his head. It was cold and arrogant energy.

‘Let’s see if you can act this way back at headquarters.’

Murong Ming-jun lifted the groaning Heart Martial Alliance master onto his shoulder.

He saw the annoying youth nod – the one called Desolate Hero Hyeon Won-chang, who reportedly changed his hero’s headband style daily.

“Our Leader says that though he borrowed your sword hastily, his admiration exceeds any apology. The Murong family’s precious sword truly lives up to its fame. With just emission principles’ thrust, it broke through that one’s protective energy.”

It was words that maintained face while mocking the opponent. It also elevated his own Leader.

He reminded that the strike had subdued the Heart Martial Alliance master without much energy. The meaning was to do whatever was ordered without complaint.

“…”

Murong Ming-jun returned silently and lowered the martial artist’s body. He hadn’t pulled out the sword due to concern about bleeding.

Jeong Yeon-shin looked down at him. His condition was clearly poor.

He was only enduring the piercing wound through a martial artist’s characteristic vitality.

By then, the ambushed enemies had begun rushing in.

BOOM!

The sound of them kicking off the ground was rough from all directions. The echoes were powerful. It was no ordinary footwork.

Men wearing leather armor charged like massive war horses.

The energy waves they emitted from their Bubbling Spring acupoints at their feet created strange shockwaves. The continuous echoes sounded like hoofbeats.

The Heart Martial Alliance. The martial force raised by Henan’s regional king.

After a brief chase, they clashed in earnest. Jeong Yeon-shin recalled traveling with Namgung Se-jin.

He had seen the essence of orthodox sword techniques that eliminated enemies on horseback.

The scene was vivid of him wielding the Emperor Sword Form to unhesitatingly behead Heart Martial Alliance warriors.

It meant even he thought they deserved death. 

Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin. If not pushed by family matters, would he be here now?

The boy quietly moved his lips.

“Keep two alive.”

Lazy Flame Dragon and Hyeon Won-chang reacted immediately. This was real combat. The two moved without even answering.

The nameless and white ranks of Desolate Fortress faced the Heart Martial Alliance’s pursuit blocking team.

WHOOSH!

Energy waves erupted from both sides. Energy carrying heat and killing intent. Screams first rang out from Lazy Flame Dragon’s direction.

Along with the smell of burning flesh. The sound of air being cut also came from Hyeon Won-chang’s side.

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin slightly lowered his head. The man pierced by Myriad Heavens Flower Rain’s flying blade was gasping.

He didn’t look like he would live long. The sword borrowed from Murong Ming-jun had pierced through his abdomen from below.

With one sword strike cutting from below the chest through stomach and liver to pierce out his back, there was no hope in a place with only martial artists.

Internal energy-reinforced vitality barely maintained his breathing.

The man seemed to know this too. Though his chest heaved, his pupils were calm.

It was the gaze of a martial artist facing the three paths to the afterlife. A martial master’s presence remained powerful even facing death.

[TL Note- The three main paths to the afterlife in Hindu tradition are Karma Yoga (path of selfless action), Jnana Yoga (path of knowledge), and Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion). Each path suits different temperaments but leads to the same goal of spiritual liberation, with practitioners typically following the path that best matches their nature.]

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth.

“I heard you fill your bellies through plunder while training martial arts. Walking the path of martial arts during famine must be no easy task.”

“Kill… me.”

The man said while gasping. Had he cultivated breathing techniques to quite a level?

His breathing was surprisingly steady despite the fatal wound. The boy stared at him blankly then spoke.

“You, you were defeated by Desolate Fortress’s Radiant Demon Wing Leader. Remember that.”

He stood with dignified bearing. The man lying at his feet looked up at him.

The boy only lowered his eyes slightly to meet his gaze.

“This Leader is the Fortress Lord’s direct disciple. How does it feel to be pierced by a true flying sword? A supreme technique you could never learn in your lifetime.”

“At that age with black rank… and a flying sword too. Hard to believe.”

The man smiled faintly. His broken speech came in fragments.

“So the rumored Radiant Demon Wing Leader truly exists.”

“I showed you respect. Are you willing to answer my questions?”

Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly.

Only then did some emotion cross the man’s face. The Radiant Demon Wing Leader had revealed his martial name and technique.

A black rank supreme master of Desolate Fortress known across the world had shown him courtesy.

For a martial artist of the demonic path, it was something hard to experience in a lifetime…

“Hah.”

His weakened exhale ended in laughter.

He was facing death. Indescribable feelings were inevitable.

Even a monster of the Thirteen Heavens was still a martial artist and human. The man slowly opened his mouth.

“At death’s door… I have no military secrets left to keep. What do you want to know?”

“Your routes.”

“Two paths. West Peak Road and Seven Multitudes Gorge…”

“Numbers? Tell me each.”

“One hundred fifty and two hundred.”

“Which way is Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost?”

“Don’t know.”

“What?”

“The Sword Ghost comes and goes to the mountains to train as he pleases. He shows no interest in leading. His two disciples decide the destinations. I don’t know which way he joined.”

The man’s speech became smoother. The final flash before death.

The last internal energy breath being expelled with vitality. Jeong Yeon-shin compared the man’s words with Sword Star’s documents.

He recalled the precious map in his mind and reviewed the information.

The scale and flow of movements largely matched. It seemed trustworthy.

The boy silently looked down at the man for a moment.

The prone man’s breath was scattering. Despite attachment to life, he seemed satisfied as a martial artist.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought of his uncle. Harbinger of Death Ma Jin. His uncle’s mighty presence galloping across the martial world had been enormous.

Even before Jeong Yeon-shin entered Desolate Fortress. The Radiant Demon Wing Leader was already known throughout the martial world.

His Radiant Demon Energy and noble weapon techniques, his fame as a hero protecting commoners from martial artists were complete.

That’s why that Heart Martial Alliance master could close his eyes with a satisfied face.

Because a noble one had decorated his end.

‘Though they are demonic path warriors who steal others’ grain, destroy families, and show no mercy to commoners’ lives.’

The boy who suddenly recalled the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader calmly parted his lips.

“Actually it wasn’t a flying sword.”

“What…?”

“Just a simple emission principle. You probably have no intention to apologize to this village’s commoners. When you open your eyes in the Sword Tree Hell, tell them you were killed by a boy not yet twenty.”

[TL Note- In Buddhist and Hindu cosmology, Sword Tree Hell consists of towering trees covered in razor-sharp blades and thorns, where sinners are forced to climb repeatedly. As they ascend, the blades tear their flesh while demonic birds attack them, and when they reach the top, they fall only to be forced to climb again, continuing this cycle of torture.]

“…!”

The man’s eyes widened.

Jeong Yeon-shin coldly scanned his upper body. His fairly well-developed muscles were clenching around the piercing wound.

He had trained external techniques to quite a level. It was a realm hard to reach without eating well regularly.

He was an inhuman being who had sucked the blood and tears of commoners.

The boy spoke again.

“A body built through plunder. How worthless.”

It was an icy tone.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader evaluated his worth. Words that would deeply impact any martial artist.

Little Sword Queen beside him sharply inhaled, and the focus in the man’s eyes blurred slightly.

THUD!

Lazy Flame Dragon, who had returned, kicked the man’s head. A short bone crack rang from his foot.

Instant death. His neck twisted and he died.

“Well, I’ll let my foot get dirty to this extent. Leader, just make sure to properly record my merit.”

Lazy Flame Dragon said with a grin.

He seemed to have extensive combat experience from his days as the Hwangbo family young master. He showed no hesitation in killing enemies who had lost means to resist.

Unlike his playful words, determination showed in all his conduct.

When reorganizing Radiant Demon Wing after returning to the main fortress, there would likely be times he had to be given the vanguard even if reluctant.

‘From nameless to blue rank, is a two-rank promotion at once possible? Should I use my influence as Leader?’

The boy thought. It was worth considering. Without showing it outwardly, he curtly ordered:

“…Clean up.”

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

“Clean it up.”

Lazy Flame Dragon said while looking around at the Martial Alliance’s young martial artists. This was a place to honor the dead commoners.

Since he had used his strength, he meant for them to dispose of the Heart Martial Alliance warriors’ corpses. Hyeon Won-chang beside him leisurely nodded.

Silence still flowed until then.

***

Yue Yu-lin’s reaction was clearly negative. Her slight frown showed her disapproval.

She had never thought well of Jeong Yeon-shin from the start.

She couldn’t be pleased seeing him mock an enemy who had lost the ability to resist.

But she was the only one frowning.

Zhuge Xian and Murong Ming-jun remained calm. Their thinking was broad. They had deeply cultivated both martial arts and scholarship.

They could guess what lay beneath the young Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s words and actions.

‘Is this the temperament of a noble hero? The clan lord will be wary.’

‘If personality is reflected in sword techniques, techniques with many openings would be perfect for facing the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.’

They recorded the boy’s conduct in their minds like writing with brush and ink.

How this would be used would depend on the future moves of the Martial Alliance, Zhuge clan and Murong clan.

“You can use Myriad Heavens Flower Rain like that? How do you focus the absorption energy operation to a single point?”

Little Sword Queen Qu Su-yu asked openly while pretending to mutter to herself.

Curiosity gathered in her languid downcast eyes. She was simply showing interest in martial arts.

Her eyes met with the young boy in black robes.

The boy had been ignoring the Diancang Little Sword Queen since Sichuan.

Despite being slighted, Little Sword Queen Qu Su-yu just smiled blankly. She only kept requesting teachings.

Endlessly. Continuously.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled Diancang’s Sun-Piercing Sword Technique. It was a sword art said to pierce the sun.

A technique famous throughout the world. The boy thought. The Radiant Sword Style has no thrusting moves.

“Oh? Want to try? My sword energy is always ready.”

Little Sword Queen asked brightly. She had ghostly intuition.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s interest was slightly piqued too. He was in the middle of weaving new sword techniques.

If it was one of the Nine Great Sects’ sword arts, it could be tremendously helpful. After killing Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost, it would be worth seriously considering.

“Later.”

The boy who shook his head opened his mouth.

“They said West Peak Road and Seven Multitudes Gorge. We’ll split up. I’ll divide the group. With killing Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost as top priority…”

It was then.

“Young Master Murong.”

Gong Sun-min, who was about Jeong Yeon-shin’s age, stepped forward. He was staring intently at the sword Murong Ming-jun had pulled from the corpse.

Greed showed on his face. It didn’t suit the lightning-like spirit light flashing in his eyes. He looked quite desperate too.

“That sword, sell it to me.”

“What?”

Murong Ming-jun asked back.

“How much would a Murong family precious sword be worth…? I brought quite a lot of gold.”

“What are you saying?”

“I know everything. It’s a sword that held the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s Myriad Heavens Flower Rain. If I say it’s the sword used by Flower Shadow King Lightning Genius in Sichuan, any wealthy merchant would spare no expense. It would be an incredible collector’s item.”

“…”

“Please give it to me, I beg you.”

An untimely dispute broke out.

They say many martial artists live in their own worlds. With diverse learning being rare and the world being vast, this was natural.

Though the Four Books and Three Classics’ teachings were lofty, the values of martial clans who had become superhuman through martial arts cultivation varied dramatically.

Some were refined while others were barbaric and selfish. Such were these troubled times.

Both Murong Ming-jun who wore an incredulous expression and Gong Sun-min who had even grabbed the sword handle were the same.

It was hard to predict in advance how the Martial Alliance masters would each behave.

‘Creating new sword techniques while killing Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost, then crossing swords with Sword Star after winning the Alliance Opening Tournament…’

Without the Martial Alliance martial artists, he could enjoy that process more.

After keeping his mouth shut briefly, Jeong Yeon-shin thought. He should only take Zhuge Xian and Little Sword Queen.