Chapter 177 – Autumn Sword (5)

Among the warriors of Desolate Fortress, one remained alone at the Martial Alliance headquarters.

White Qilin, Namgung Hwa-shin.

He was the focus of attention. The Azure and White Qilin were once known as the greatest brothers in the martial world, both in character and martial arts.

Anyone could see that Namgung Hwa-shin was a noble warrior. He was also known as the next Obeying Heaven Wing Leader.

While some envied him, those who showed goodwill were overwhelmingly more numerous.

When Jeong Yeon-shin left his position, messages seeking Namgung Hwa-shin increased rapidly.

Many had kept their distance due to Ma Jin’s reputation as the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

Namgung Hwa-shin had to handle all sorts of situations.

When he received letters requesting duels and arrived at the meeting places, he found words sharpened like swords instead.

“Actually, I’ve admired Young Master Namgung since the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.”

“…”

“After the Opening Tournament ends, it will be hard to see you, so I gathered my courage to tell you. Please don’t answer right away.”

He heard this from a female warrior of a sect under the misty moonlight.

Some secretly sent love letters, while others directly confessed their feelings. This was how relationships formed between martial artists.

It was a familiar situation to him. He had received countless confessions even before joining Desolate Fortress.

It had been that way since attending the Dragon Phoenix Gathering with Namgung Se-jin and Namgung Mi.

He just hadn’t expected it at the Martial Alliance gathering. He continuously rejected them.

“I appreciate your feelings. However, I cannot become a son-in-law.”

“…!”

Not everyone approached with pure intentions. Some clearly intended to recruit a warrior with a bright future.

They said over a hundred sects had signed the Martial Alliance’s petition.

Using romance to approach outstanding men and women was not uncommon since ancient times.

Namgung Hwa-shin turned away with a bitter feeling.

He had once had a matching love.

She was the daughter of a small merchant group leader trading tea leaves in Nanjing. She was poisoned on Namgung Mi’s orders.

This was while Namgung Hwa-shin was being raised as the family’s hidden blade. A prestigious family’s assassin could not form bonds with outsiders.

He had to bury his love in his heart. After that, no woman caught his eye.

“I know you didn’t inherit the Emperor Sword Form. From the start, this one wanted to witness Young Hero’s Sky Soaring Boundless Sword.”

“I once received guidance from Azure Qilin in life…”

Competitive spirit and wariness ran rampant. But this much was bearable.

The truly malicious ones were those using marriage proposals and those prying about the temporary Leader.

The former was tolerable. The latter was the problem.

“I’m not asking about Desolate Fortress’s organization, I’m just curious…”

“Speak.”

“About the Radiant Demon Wing Leader. What is the young black rank’s standing in Desolate Fortress? Isn’t it strange that the head of a military force reaching heaven’s pinnacle isn’t even twenty? Is he worthy of White Qilin’s complete loyalty…?”

“…”

“Though it was a fair duel, didn’t he pierce through Azure Qilin’s body? For someone who killed your brother, I’m very curious how outstanding his character must be. I heard many rumors that he’s extremely arrogant.”

“He is a transparent person. He does what needs to be done, worries when there’s cause for concern, and shows anger when he should be angry. His way of expression just appears aloof. If you want to know more, you should come to Fragrant Melody Court. This Namgung will tell you with his sword.”

“A sword? And here I thought you were gentle…”

No one actually came to Fragrant Melody Court.

Those with shallow minds typically had shallow martial arts. It took considerable resolve to cross swords with White Qilin.

“Young Hero Namgung, a letter has arrived from the Beggar Sect.”

He received the document from a servant waiting at Fragrant Melody Court.

It came from the Senior Beggar of the Beggar Sect.

It was an invitation. The text invited him to the Martial Alliance leadership meeting. As Desolate Fortress’s representative.

Since the envoy leader, the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, was away, he was to represent him as a blue rank.

He immediately set out.

He took his seat in the meeting hall filled with illustrious masters. There were only two others his age.

A handsome beggar and a woman with white cloth covering her eyes. The woman’s appearance was more striking.

With her smooth jawline and high bridge of nose suggesting supreme beauty, she possessed a uniquely mysterious presence.

Even her smallest gestures captured everyone’s attention, regardless of gender.

They said she represented the Ye family. She had contributed massive funds to establishing the Martial Alliance.

‘A key figure.’

As Namgung Hwa-shin was memorizing her and Senior Beggar from the Beggar Sect.

“This is regarding the Opening Tournament schedule.”

A middle-aged man in green robes spoke.

Wind Water Mystic Master Zhuge Qian. The acting commander-in-chief with pitch-black eyebrows. Namgung Hwa-shin’s eyes sank coldly.

They said he had tried to scheme against the Leader with formations before. He had a bad feeling.

“There are many opinions to move up the opening ceremony slightly. With the world on the brink of disaster recently, they say we should declare the Alliance’s establishment early to embrace the martial world’s hearts. It seems quite a reasonable request…”

Namgung Hwa-shin’s eyes widened.

It was very blatant interference. It meant they would exclude the Radiant Demon Wing Leader from the Opening Tournament.

They seemed willing to endure rumors of scheming out of fear of Desolate Fortress’s master.

They appeared to want to prevent the situation of an extremely young Radiant Demon Wing Leader making the Alliance’s masters look foolish.

‘How has the orthodox martial world become so petty.’

Few showed disapproving expressions. Only Mount Hua’s Taoists and Tang family warriors.

Besides Mount Hua, none of the Nine Great Sects attended, and the prestigious families couldn’t be counted on from the start.

Even Sword Star, the Alliance Leader, was nowhere to be seen. The rumors of him being a figurehead seemed true.

Acting commander-in-chief Zhuge Qian had raised an issue that was essentially already decided.

Namgung Hwa-shin thought.

‘I must stop this.’

Immediately the rough and powerful swordsman’s hand rose. All the masters seated in the meeting hall had expected this.

The prestigious family members showed faint sneers. The acting commander-in-chief also smiled politely.

“Though envoys have no voting rights… I will listen to Young Hero Namgung’s opinion. Please gather your breath and speak.”

It was then.

Suddenly Zhuge Qian’s smile faded. Another arm rose in the meeting hall.

It was a snow-white delicate hand.

The young lady of the Ye family playfully twisted her hand back and forth.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Seven Multitudes Gorge.

Formless energy waves filled the hill. They originated from the new Radiant Demon Wing Leader holding his sword high. They approached like wind cutting flesh. The gorge’s strong wind seemed to ripple transparently.

Just from the signs, one could tell it was an upper stance.

Baek Seo-gun had seen this sword form before. It was the form exchanged when the Radiant Demon Wing Leader asked if he had the qualifications to look down on Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost.

While feeling her hair tickling her nape, she opened her mouth.

“Back then you were in a hurry. I was curious how it would look properly displayed.”

She spoke while facing the sword wind head-on.

Baek Seo-gun’s arm brushed the air. Her gray short hair rippled proudly. Her sword swam through the air following the principles of QiControlled Sword.

With mighty sword energy imbued in the blade. The true qi extending from her whole body’s meridians and eight extraordinary vessels transformed into free-flowing sword force.

The Eight Illusions Divine Technique’s power breaking through the blade and embracing it clearly transcended common principles.

This was the power of prestigious family martial arts.

It stops the practitioner’s aging and grants the noble QiControlled Sword.

She had achieved the realm of sword control inherent in the Eight Illusions Divine Technique and escaped the Ten Rules.

The Go principles Pan Yue had taught as a pastime no longer helped Baek Seo-gun’s life.

-Don’t “Sacrifice Stone to Take the Initiative” and “Don’t Be Greedy” contradict each other? You say sacrifice stones to take the initiative, but also not to be overly ambitious?

-How foolish. How are they contradictory? Take the initiative with relaxed shoulders. Even if you sacrifice some stones, don’t be hasty.

The young master she had served was wrong. For a supreme master who had stepped into the realm of Qi-Controlled Sword, Sacrifice Stone and Gain the Initiative and Don’t Be Greedy were useless.

Baek Seo-gun had lived arrogantly. She kept her shoulders tense and chest out. She endured no losses.

She was a being who could do so.

She lived that way until everything became meaningless.

As Henan’s Sword Ghost, she extended her hand as the Jeong family estate’s servant. Her sword flew up like a swallow and transformed into lightning.

The crimson sunlight distorted on the blade. The sword charged.

It pierced through all the wind streams spreading from the young Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s sword.

The boy stood still holding his sword in upper stance.

[TL Note- If you’re curious about what upper stance looks like- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMF9HxltVSA]

After just following Baek Seo-gun’s sword with his eyes, when the blade entered within three steps he swung down his divine sword.

A boom rang out. Tremendous shockwaves shook the ground. It was a mighty sword rarely seen in the world.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s movement didn’t stop. While pushing back the sword that had struck down with his divine sword, he took a step forward.

That one step was unbelievably fast. It was the realm of incorporating sword energy into footwork. A gale swept through.

The boy’s next foot landed four zhang ahead.

Boom!

The ground caved in with a crunch. It was terrifying true steps.

Crack!

As soon as Jeong Yeon-shin took one step he advanced again. He used the true steps’ explosive energy as propulsion. His whole body seemed to have become a thunderbolt.

He paid no mind to the flying sword being rapidly retrieved from behind. The stance of Compete for Initiative.

He spared no effort in creating openings for attacks. Without looking, he thrust his sword backward.

Clang!

The flying sword was deflected. A powerful impact traveled down to his thigh. His lower body took tremendous strain.

He hadn’t completely shaken off the Flying Sword either. Baek Seo-gun’s blade hummed while rotating, then overtook the boy while slicing his side.

Pain spread as if receiving a straight cut. It was extremely hot.

He didn’t care. Now just ten steps ahead. Baek Seo-gun’s eyes were slightly widened as she caught her sword.

He had stepped into a supreme master’s sword domain without even being able to steady himself. It was a natural reaction.

Thanks to the Flying Sword’s power, she took a sword stance at incredible speed. It was a middle stance aiming for the opponent’s heart.

The sword moved on its own according to her desired stance.

‘Good.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought while sprinting with lightness technique.

Energy sensation arose in his upper dantian. Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost’s sword domain flowed into his mind.

From her left foot stepping forward, he calculated the sword form through her sword stance and energy waves’ patterns, thin breathing, and movement of biceps visible through her shoulder hem.

An incredibly precise and swift sword strike was about to manifest.

The boy activated the Luminous Wheel’s principles.

He silently recited the core verses in his heart.

‘Mother.’

His muscles reacted. His right arm contracted slightly. It was a subtle movement.

From the side of his shoulder to the upper arm muscles, it was imperceptible to the outside.

Only the true qi in the Large Intestine Meridian wrapping the right side of his arm bounced up with tremendous elasticity.

Boom!

The second form of the nameless sword technique.

The ground facing his lowered sword burst. Rough vibrations arose. He directly drew in all the accumulated explosive force from the collisions.

It was an insight into chain techniques. The power gathered in the Hidden Yang acupoint behind his thigh transparently whirled and transferred to his sword.

A gale arose in an instant. Dirt scattered in all directions.

The rushing wind split into dozens of streams. The sword’s trajectory was singular.

He approached as if ignoring Baek Seo-gun’s extending sword.

The boy in black robes swung the Northern Light horizontally while passing her. A long silver light flickered.

Clang-!

He struck properly. The sensation in his grip was heavy. Baek Seo-gun’s sword bounced up as is.

The sunlight on the blade danced wildly in the air. Along with silence.

“…”

A somewhat dazed gaze examined the boy’s back. The Radiant Demon Wing Leader who had lowered his sword was slowly turning around.

His footsteps approached strangely imposingly.

The energy waves emanating from the Heart Martial Alliance’s military force surrounding them stopped.

They had momentarily held their breath. It was the reaction of low-ranks facing a supreme master’s divine might.

“…You contained whole-body explosive force in one sword. With overwhelming intensity.”

Baek Seo-gun who muttered blankly extended her hand into the air.

Her sword floating down was drawn into her grip.

Though it was peerless Flying Sword principles, she felt no particular emotion from her own technique. It wasn’t from familiarity.

Only the boy’s sword path remained clear in her mind. It was a sword form with completely different qualities from her own graceful hand gestures.

She would win if they exchanged more moves. She had achieved Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and Five Qi Return to Origin. She could overwhelm with superior internal energy emission.

Besides Divine Spear, few among Desolate Fortress’s black ranks could match her. But the bet was on taking the initiative in one exchange… Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost had lost to the Radiant Demon Wing Leader. The teachings received as the Jeong family estate’s servant had once broken through the Sword Ghost’s stance.

The boy’s single sword strike disregarding bodily harm as he charged in was truly frightening.

“The Ten Rules, Compete for Initiative.”

She slowly parted her lips.

“My past… was neither meaningless nor hazy.”

She muttered as if momentarily entranced. Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer.

Then.

Baek Seo-gun smiled faintly.

“Usually a master’s sword reveals their past life… Child with Pan Yue’s face but unlike Pan Yue, who are you?”

“Will Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost confirm her promise? You said you’d return to the Heart Martial Alliance headquarters?”

The boy asked back.

Baek Seo-gun’s smile deepened.

“Yes. I’ll do that. I’ve lived a leisurely life anyway. Since I received something from the Jeong family estate, I’ll repay the favor over long years. Thanks to what you taught me.”

“Long years, is it.”

Jeong Yeon-shin briefly echoed.

Baek Seo-gun quietly stared at the boy before her. What was he thinking?

After mentioning years he closed his lips and said nothing. There were many strange aspects about him.

It was then.

The military force parted to make way. Lazy Flame Dragon who approached swaggering blurted out.

“Need support?”

“Not needed.”

“Let’s go then.”

“Alright.”

On the high gorge’s hill.

The setting sunlight wrapped around the peaks like transparent silk.

The twilight’s rays flowed down with the wind. Along with the receding pitch-black clothes. Two people were descending below the gorge.

Baek Seo-gun blankly watched the back of the rejuvenated Pan Yue.

She felt both a wistfulness that made her freshly realize the flow of time, and strange emotions.

“Your sword harvests connections.”

She muttered.

No matter how she looked at it, he had grown up well. She thought she should thoroughly investigate the Jeong family’s annihilation.

Though Pan Yue seemed to have raised him according to her expectations, the Divine hero child’s words bothered her.

Henan’s Sword Ghost had easy access to Shaanxi.

She recalled the Alliance Leader. He was unmatched in gathering intelligence about the martial world.

She would have to investigate Jeong Yeon-shin’s background thoroughly when she returned to headquarters. She wanted to know what kind of life he had lived.

Swish.

Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost Baek Seo-gun turned around. The ornate patterns embroidered on her crimson martial clothes moved.

Finally, the sun set.

The boy descending Seven Multitudes Gorge and the woman gauging her path from the hill.

Their shadows stretched long on either side. They were the shadows of a young noble and his servant.

Even then, Jeong Yeon-shin did not consider his sword techniques complete.

They originated from inspiration from Sword Star. They needed to end with Sword Star.

‘Just two forms so far.’

He was reviewing his sword techniques while walking silently with Lazy Flame Dragon when they met Hyeon Won-chang, who hadn’t gone down yet. He had been waiting in case he needed to intervene.

He said he would have jumped in if needed. The boy shook his head with a faint smile.

One by one, Little Sword Queen and Gong Sun-min joined them. Murong Ming-jun was truly gone.

They didn’t see him even by the time they reached the Martial Alliance headquarters’ main gate.

“Hmm? This is strange.”

Lazy Flame Dragon who was leading through the crowd said. Jeong Yeon-shin had felt it too.

Tremendous cheers erupted from inside the vast headquarters. It sounded like hundreds of people. This was no ordinary matter.

“Excuse me, what’s happening inside?”

Hyeon Won-chang grabbed the arm of a passerby to ask. He was a man wearing neat green martial clothes.

He frowned while examining Hyeon Won-chang’s profile, but the moment his gaze landed on the “Desolate” character on his shoulder, he startled and even stuttered.

“The Op-Opening Tournament! That’s why!”

“Is it like a festival eve?”

“Not the eve – the Opening Ceremony was three days ago! The Tournament is already in its third day…!”

The pleased expression on Hyeon Won-chang’s face hardened.