Chapter 171 – Implementation (7)

“Hmm?”

Zhuge Xian suddenly let out a questioning sound. A light flashed in his eyes as he stared at the Heart Martial Alliance camp.

“The tents… they’re all empty. Seeing the dried food and meat stored, they haven’t completely left. Such confidence is typical of the Thirteen Evil Sects… they only left five guards.”

“There’s even wine in the air. They’ve been drinking,” Jeong Yeon-shin said.

The boy lightly touched his sword. Even with normal vision and energy sense, he could see and feel what Zhuge Xian had described.

Eye techniques mainly enhanced dynamic vision, but what he needed now was practical experience to transform his sword techniques.

‘If I were to create new eye techniques, it’d need to be divine like the Luminous Wheel. But…’

No inspiration came immediately. It couldn’t compare to sword techniques, where he had the Radiant Sword Style and Sword Star as materials.

Eye techniques were far more subtle and mysterious martial arts.

He hadn’t reached the level of independently creating spiritual energy to imbue into martial arts. Not yet.

‘Boring. I’ve never felt lacking in my senses either…’

Martial arts held special meaning for Jeong Yeon-shin.

They were both entertainment to erase loneliness and a means to extend his life.

His life was desperate. He couldn’t dwell on things that wouldn’t work. His interest scattered, and his mood immediately showed in his voice.

“Let’s go wait,” he said.

It was an indifferent tone. Zhuge Xian and Yue Yu-lin quickly turned their heads.

“Leader, what did you say…?” Zhuge Xian asked, seeking confirmation.

“Wait, you mean?” Yue Yu-lin’s question was sharp. Anyone would feel the same.

This was a temporary base of the Thirteen Evil Sects’ Heart Martial Alliance. Not a place to speak of lightly, like going for a walk.

Radiant Demon Wing Leader Jeong Yeon-shin.

His age stood out even more than his black robes.

Those who hadn’t traveled with him had much to consider.

Immediate distrust showed on Spear Phoenix Yue Yu-lin’s face. Suspicion that he was inexperienced and rash was clearly evident.

Step.

By then, the boy was already walking forward. From the young Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s perspective, Yue Yu-lin was the one with limited vision.

She wouldn’t know, having stayed sheltered in her prestigious family in Shandong.

The experience gained racing through the martial world had given even a seventeen-year-old boy insight beyond his years.

‘Over a hundred masters have set up camp,’ the boy thought.

Masters of the martial world typically disliked crowds. Even when forming groups, they pursued the romance of dominating the martial world.

Moreover, martial artists of the Thirteen Evil Sects wouldn’t band together just to plunder commoners.

It made no sense in terms of efficiency or temperament.

Going out in masses and returning in masses? That was for conscripted soldiers with shallow martial arts.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips. He could sense Yue Yu-lin standing confused behind him.

“You’re the amateur who doesn’t understand the martial world,” he said.

“What did you say…?” Yue Yu-lin’s eyebrows rose at being called an amateur by a boy many years her junior.

Jeong Yeon-shin continued without minding her reaction.

“Did you think about waiting until they all return to fight? I didn’t know your courage was so small. You trained the Yue family spear techniques? Senior Yue at Divine Sword Squad wasn’t like you.”

Rather, she was too unrestrained. The boy swallowed the rest of his words.

He meant Divine Spear Yue Shou-lin. Yue Yu-lin’s brow twitched. Her expression showed she was dumbfounded.

“Speaking like an elder at that age…” she trailed off.

It didn’t reach the ears of the young old man who had become the embodiment of youth’s storm and stress.

“This mission is like hitting a rock with an egg from the start. It happened because of the Alliance’s poor politics. Fighting the Heart Martial Alliance’s military force with these numbers makes no sense,” the boy thought.

His words had unusually lengthened. They were worthless words. Not even about martial arts.

“You there! Stop!”

By then, they had been spotted. Martial artists wearing leather armor charged from ten zhang away.

Their footwork was incredibly swift.

Body protection techniques that sounded like horse hooves striking the ground. Dust clouds rose behind the five of them.

“Don’t kill them even by accident,” the Desolate Fortress Leader ordered the Alliance martial artists. He didn’t wait for a response.

Thud.

The Young Radiant Demon Wing Leader extended his foot while rotating the Luminous Wheel in his heart.

The Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law spread through all his meridians, wrapping around his whole body like wind.

His pitch-black robe hem fluttered slightly. He had released whole-body energy waves without even attacking.

“Hah…!”

The enemies were terrified before even clashing. His allies were the same.

Zhuge Xian, who had inhaled slightly as if recalling fan techniques, and Yue Yu-lin, who had stopped in her tracks as if seeing a strange creature, were left behind as he kicked off the ground.

Whoosh!

The Wind Body movement technique left black afterimages. Jeong Yeon-shin deliberately drew his sword.

He immediately operated the Radiant Sword Style’s verses. It was to observe sword techniques in actual combat against the Heart Martial Alliance martial artists.

Faint light gathered on the Northern Light divine sword’s blade. He swung it horizontally.

Slash!

He properly planted his footwork with body protection technique.

The weight of his true steps fully transferred into the sword strike, and a beam of light flickered at the lead enemy’s right arm.

He had clearly cut. Yet he felt no resistance in his hand gripping the Northern Light’s blade.

The enemy’s sword and arm fell together at the end of the faint light beam. It was a lifeless fall.

“It’s the Radiant Demon Wing Leader!” the man shouted while retreating. He was quick-witted.

His speed in processing the situation, rumors, and opponent’s appearance was incredible.

It must be one reason the Heart Martial Alliance was called a major sect. It was worth noting.

“Subdue them,” the boy said. He meant Yue Yu-lin and Zhuge Xian, who had followed close behind.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s steps didn’t stop. Four enemies remained.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Heart Martial Alliance.

They called it a military force.

With such numbers, the quality of individual masters had to be lower. They seemed about white rank by Desolate Fortress standards.

They might act as undefeated warriors in the wandering martial artist market.

When over a hundred gathered, they would show tremendous combat power.

But at this moment, they were few and had to face Desolate Fortress’s Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

Hum!… 

The Northern Light’s sword light accompanied the wind brushing their sleeves. Another one’s arm fell.

Two had their leg tendons cut. It happened in one breath. It was an overwhelming martial might with decisive movements.

Zhuge Xian and Yue Yu-lin only needed to strike the pressure points of those rendered unable to resist. The martial artists’ limbs were instantly paralyzed.

Meanwhile.

The remaining one’s response was different. He dodged while deflecting the Northern Light. The white trajectory drew a semicircle.

The pure white blade brushed past the nose of the man who had thrown his head back.

It was a sword strike with only 70% power, as Hyeon Won-chang had advised, but it was still amazing.

“I’ve seen someone… who uses similar sword techniques,” the man spoke in a rough voice.

He was a man with disheveled hair. He seemed to mean a martial artist of the Lightning Genius lineage who had cultivated the Radiant Sword Style.

Desolate Fortress warriors deployed across the Central Plains for missions.

At the Heart Martial Alliance’s level, clashing with them wasn’t rare.

“There must be quite a few like you,” the boy said.

A nameless soldier had recognized the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s sword techniques.

Even as a Heart Martial Alliance martial artist, he was no different from a wanderer before Desolate Fortress’s black rank.

Had they researched together with others who had experienced the same sword techniques? It was hard to think otherwise.

They said it wasn’t rare.

Famous martial arts were always targets for breaking down. The more profound, the more enemies they had.

Most renowned martial arts found countermeasures differently from Jeong Yeon-shin. They had diverse variations and thick secret manuals.

They said the usual method was responding with over dozens of varied forms.

Clang!

He thought while exchanging swords with the man.

‘They say prestigious families’ ultimate techniques have profound principles and many options for strikes.’

New martial sects’ masters didn’t have that. That’s why many major sects maintained their positions for so long.

They comprehended and broke opponents’ martial arts, then added highly practical derivative forms to their own secret manuals.

He was facing what Lightning Genius lineage martial artists would often experience.

It was also what the Martial Alliance was doing to Jeong Yeon-shin.

Being on the receiving end felt quite good. They were more thorough than the Law Enforcement Leader. Rather, it was because her martial arts were too powerful.

She could just sever the segments rather than grasping the Radiant Sword Style’s form.

This Heart Martial Alliance martial artist didn’t do that, which was satisfying.

‘I should create new forms based on the Radiant Sword Style’s verses,’ he thought.

He had created it at a very immature white rank.

It was sword techniques that heavily referenced sword marks carved on Mount Zhongnan’s cliff, but he hadn’t significantly modified it since.

There had to be much room for improvement.

He twisted his wrist to swing horizontally again. The man immediately responded. He raised his sword opposite to Jeong Yeon-shin.

When the boy swung the Northern Light outward from his chest without minding, the man’s sword-holding hand extended toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

He slightly tilted his blade toward his head.

He had created a slope. Energy waves flowed from his fist gripping the blade.

Clang!

The Northern Light’s blade left a scratch on his sword as it rode up. At the same time, he twisted his body to escape the sword force.

It was a move that had comprehended the Radiant Sword Style’s straight trajectories. A faint smile formed at his lips.

Of course, he would be satisfied. He was receiving Desolate Fortress’s black rank sword strikes.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently took in the man’s appearance while not stopping his sword strikes.

Looking now, he seemed to hold quite a high position in the camp.

“Thank you,” the boy muttered. The man he faced flinched.

Hum.

The Luminous Wheel rotated in his palm gripping the blade.

He didn’t draw up more qi. He changed his sword strike. The diagonal sword path curved gently.

The sword energy waves wrapping the blade curved with it. It was a trajectory that brushed past the man’s vertically raised sword.

His defensive form was mocked. It had opened a path before Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword.

‘Just changing to a curve,’ the boy thought. The interest on his face disappeared. What had he been so proud of?

“…!” The man’s eyes widened. That was all.

Boom!

He mercilessly cut the upper body. A dull sensation came to his hand gripping the Northern Light.

It had cut through the man’s protective energy and dug into his ribs. He wanted to eliminate any possible future trouble.

If he happened to survive by some fortune, Lightning Genius lineage martial artists might face threatening situations.

Splash!

Blood spurted as he pulled out his sword.

The autumn forest path spread out very clearly, and the blood sprayed at his feet was just as vivid.

Red bloodstreams dotted the yellow earth. They were clear and distinct. Like a painting where the artist hadn’t spared paint.

It meant no unnecessary energy waves had been released in the sword strike. There was no stagnant blood.

It was because he hadn’t caused internal injuries during their exchange. He had accurately cut only the lifeline.

The man’s body collapsed at Jeong Yeon-shin’s feet. A small thud rang out.

Whoosh!

The boy in black robes shook his sword once.

Then he slightly lowered his head while holding the divine sword down, appearing to anyone as if entering meditation after gaining insight.

His handsome face with closed eyes created a strange figure. His long eyelashes lay down.

He looked like a young swordsman from a landscape painting of prestigious families.

Melancholic eyes. Sword techniques reaching divine realm.

The boy had a strange atmosphere.

While showing unhesitating movements and conduct, he emanated qualities usually felt from Taoist grandmasters.

It was like the prayer of an ascetic with only years left before ascending to immortality.

‘As if he has little time left to live…’ Yue Yu-lin, who had been staring entranced at the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, suddenly came to her senses. She had had an absurd thought.

She hurriedly bit her lower lip while brushing back her long braided hair. She scolded herself. There were other things to focus on.

She forced her lips apart.

“…The Radiant Demon Wing Leader is a cruel person. That energy, even at a glance, it wasn’t your full power. You toyed with him before killing.”

“Cruel? It might be the opposite,” Zhuge Xian with his iron fan at his waist immediately answered.

“He got to exchange swords to his heart’s content with a supreme master, so it depends how you look at it. It seems too early to discuss the Leader’s character.”

“…”

“Let’s extract information,” Zhuge Xian said.

There were four enemies they had subdued without killing… He took the lead in interrogating the remaining ones. He took special care not to disturb the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s meditation.

He asked many things.

How many had scattered where, what their return cycles were, where their leader Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost had gone.

He received no answers. The men who had decided to remain silent were like safes without keys.

It was fitting for Heart Martial Alliance martial artists. The one who had spoken before Jeong Yeon-shin had been a special case.

“It’s fine,” the boy who had ended his meditation said.

The group had settled in the middle of the enemies’ camp. It was the young Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s decision. His courage was surprising.

“Who is it? Which sect are you from!”

“Desolate! Desolate Fortress…!”

The ones who had gone plundering returned.

They seemed to move in teams. They came back in groups of ten, eight.

As they charged in with weapons drawn, he killed them in return.

The sunset glow on Jeong Yeon-shin’s Northern Light gradually reddened with blood.

He stopped Zhuge Xian and Yue Yu-lin who tried to help, reviewing his sword techniques alone.

The one who had revealed their movements earlier had mentioned 150 men.

It wasn’t a lie.

Two days passed. The camp filled with corpses. They all died from sword wounds.