Chapter 200 – Radiant Demon Wing

Jeong Jung-san descended the mountain clad in martial attire.

The neatly arranged yellow robes suited him well. His rugged facial features lent him the air of a martial artist.

By now, many below Mount Zhongnan recognized him.

The identity of a named disciple of the Zhongnan Sect had grown more familiar than being the second son of the Jeong Family Estate. His days were devoted to diligent training.

Three months prior, he had been relieved from serving the Zhongnan Sword Immortal.

“You have grasped the basics. Since you are no longer a burden, you may now descend.”

This came after he had mastered the initial techniques of the Supreme Formless Sword. He had immersed himself in practice until he could execute the sword techniques blindfolded with proficiency.

The rumors about his half-brother, heard unwittingly, drove this dedication.

Each time he visited the foothills, he encountered unbelievable tales.

“They say a boy stepped into a duel between Desolate Fortress and the Namgung Family.”

“Azure Qilin has died, has he not? A pity and a shock. Does this not mean a young talent surpassing Namgung Se-jin has emerged?”

The news of the Namgung Family’s young master being slain came first.

A figure who, if met at the Jeong Family Estate, would have been revered sky-high. A youthful master often compared to Sword Dragon Wei Ji Myo-hwa.

The story that he had met his end at Jeong Yeon-shin’s hands had swept as far as Xi’an.

He had once reunited with his younger brother, who had become a white-rank of Desolate Fortress. It was hard to believe.

Yet he could not dismiss it outright.

He had witnessed the prowess and talent of the brother he once scorned. The sword strike that severed the neck of the Eight Fierce Rakshasa Sword lay within the realm of extraordinary ability.

Even if he had joined forces with exceptional masters like Cloud Sword Dragon, Shadowless Fist, and Precipice Sword, it could not be denied.

He had always thought his brother’s fame would one day resound through the martial world. It had merely happened sooner than expected.

As more time passed, even that seemed trivial.

“Villagers from Sichuan who came for trade spoke of strange things. They say the Ten Perfections Sect and Pure Demon Alliance are nearly ruined, reducing goods flow…”

“The extravagance of those evil factions fueled local commerce. Was it not all wrung from the common folk’s blood? Only the merchants shuttling goods lament, while the people’s praise likely echoes through Sichuan’s valleys.”

“Many supreme masters died. The Ten Perfections Sect’s Fierce Sword fell to the Tang Family Head, while Pure Demon Divine Hand, Sword Scorpion Demon, and Blade Fist Demon perished to Desolate Fortress’s Jeong Yeon-shin. They say Sichuan’s martial world is upheaval…”

“Jeong Yeon-shin? The boy who fiercely clashed with Azure Qilin? Surely it is an exaggerated rumor.”

“Well… They call him the Radiant Demon Wing Leader now, so it might be true. The exploits of Desolate Fortress’s youngest Leader are quite clear. Any trade caravan of decent scale is well-informed, often more discerning than most martial factions.”

“Even so, how can one trust such tales? Unless you are from Huguang or Sichuan… Every child knows martial arts are hard to master. Desolate Fortress must have propped up a talented youth as its face.”

“Let us wait and see. Word is the Radiant Demon Wing Leader joined the Martial Alliance’s Opening Tournament.”

These were conversations overheard in Xi’an’s market district.

The streets buzzed with activity.

Xi’an, at the foot of Mount Zhongnan, was a grand city. Crowds thronged its paths. Caravans and armed escorts transporting goods led the way.

Merchants chatted among themselves at their stalls, inn assistants leisurely opened doors at lodging houses, and wanderers roamed, picking up rumors.

Despite many shops closing due to famine, the area retained its vibrancy.

Among them, men standing with hands behind their backs along the roadside discussed martial world affairs.

Their attire stood out. Immaculate green and blue robes. They were the owner and tailor of a well-known fabric shop in Xi’an.

‘It is no mere exaggeration.’

Jeong Jung-san, pausing mid-step, nearly rebuked the shop owner dismissing it as nonsense but held back.

Playing the elder brother now felt shameful. It was beneath his station. A Zhongnan Sect initiate versus the Radiant Demon Wing Leader of Desolate Fortress.

He felt indebted to Jeong Yeon-shin. As a benefactor to the Zhongnan Sect, he had uplifted both him and his neice.

He ought to stand up for his brother, yet memories of his younger self flickered before him.

A scene where Zhongnan disciple Jeong Jung-san’s dignity was trampled.

‘Damn it.’

It was about seven years ago, yet it felt like yesterday.

During a village feast hosted by the Jeong Family Estate, he had kicked the hand of a boy holding a noodle bowl in a corner, berating him to return to his room.

—“Want to fit in? I kicked you because your groveling irked me. Go learn some menial skill. What was it, Jeong Family Labor Technique…?”

Jeong Jung-san remembered his own words.

The village peers behind him had jeered too. They knew the Jeong Family’s direct line scorned the third son.

That day might have been Jeong Yeon-shin’s tenth birthday.

His father had said the land’s energy in Xinye County must purge the misfortune of the child who caused his mother’s death.

On his son’s tenth birthday, he had gathered the villagers to pray for the fields’ prosperity.

The people of Xinye County, gorging on meat and wine, praised the Jeong Family Estate head heartily.

Jeong Jung-san, then a leader among the village children, had been no different.

That was but one facet.

Similar, or even worse, incidents had occurred frequently.

Now, they lingered as hellish regrets.

The more he embraced the Zhongnan Sect’s stern teachings, the greater his guilt and shame grew.

The people of Xinye County were likely fretting over when the Desolate Fortress Leader might pass through their village.

“They say the Hwangbo Family’s young master supports the Radiant Demon Wing Leader. Could a large share of the merit belong to Lazy Flame Dragon? Even if Jeong Yeon-shin is truly the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, their experience differs.”

“You keep saying ‘let’s wait and see,’ yet persist. Do you harbor resentment toward this rising talent?”

Regardless of Jeong Jung-san’s feelings, the fabric shop merchants continued discussing the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, a candidate for the martial world’s greatest of their generation.

Martial world rumors were grand entertainment for common folk.

Who was strongest? What feats had been achieved? Which martial art could claim regional supremacy?

At that moment.

The green-robed fabric shop owner suddenly collapsed.

His pristine, grass-colored robes stirred up dust. A woman’s chilling voice accompanied it.

“There is no exaggeration in the rumors of Radiant Demon Wing Leader Jeong Yeon-shin.”

The voice came from beside Jeong Jung-san. Had she struck the shop owner with a palm wind?

The instant he registered her presence, his consciousness faded amid the tailor’s startled cry. A faint sting pricked his nape.

He had helplessly exposed his sleep acupoint. Despite wielding the Zhongnan Supreme Mind Technique, drowsiness overwhelmed him.

“Shopkeeper! No! Forgive us! We did not recognize a master…!”

The tailor’s frantic bow narrowed vertically in his vision. Soon, Jeong Jung-san’s sight plunged into darkness.

As he stumbled, losing balance, an icy sensation gripped his forearm.

An utterly inhuman touch. A firm grasp seized him roughly.

The hand of a supreme master. His mind faded, yet terror flared like wildfire.

‘The Tyrant Sword Elder…?’

The second son of the Jeong Family Estate thought. Rumors had circulated that the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader was heading north.

Jeong Jung-san had been en route to place a grain order for a trade guild under the Zhongnan Sect’s directive. The sect might not have stockpiled food before the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader arrived.

With this faint conjecture, his consciousness slipped across time. At some point, the sensation against his back shifted.

He had been dragged to an alley, it seemed. The clamor of Xi’an’s market faded into the distance.

Thwack—!

A sharp impact on his cheek jolted up to his crown. It felt like a backhand strike.

Though winter was still distant, a chill spread as if he were buried in snow.

“Rise.”

The commanding tone suited the voice perfectly.

The figure did not treat Jeong Jung-san gently. With a single gesture, his consciousness snapped back like lightning.

A terrifying mastery of energy manipulation. She had briefly infused a small burst of internal energy to jolt his mind.

“Ugh…”

Opening his eyes with a dazed groan, he saw the ends of gray hair cascading down, brushing his vision.

A pitch-black sword hilt at her waist exuded a daunting presence.

How long had it harbored such refined energy? It seemed to draw in darkness itself. A divine sword imbued with its master’s spirit.

She was.

Her energy wave alone set her apart. It pricked Jeong Jung-san’s skin as if tangible.

A rare powerhouse in the martial world. Beyond the Nine Sects, Eight Families, and Thirteen Evil Sects, no other possibilities came to mind.

The one who had forcibly taken him was a supreme master who roamed the heavens.

“Are you Jeong Jung-san, son of Jeong Dae-myeong? Speak falsely, and I will rend your tendons and shatter your bones.”

Her voice was like frost on autumn sunlight, scraping coldly down his spine.

The tendon-rending, bone-shattering technique of a supreme master was among the rarest and most refined tortures in the martial world. It was said to truly disjoint flesh and bone.

With energy sustaining consciousness, one could not even faint to escape the agony.

‘Madness…!’

A hostile supreme master loomed over him in a market alley.

Rising panic surged toward terror. Overwhelming fear gripped his mind.

“…Yes.”

Jeong Jung-san squeezed out the reply through a constricted throat.

“You resemble him somewhat…”

Her words trailed off. A flicker of doubt crossed her face as she stared at him.

Bloodlines are indeed mysterious. Muttering to herself, she spoke again.

“I command you to recount all you know of Jeong Yeon-shin’s childhood.”

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

Meanwhile

It was a day of clear blue skies. The Desolate Fortress delegation, swelled tenfold, stood beneath a transparent expanse of heaven.

The Forest-Treading Squad outnumbered the Radiant Demon Wing contingent. Those gathered to see them off were even more numerous.

Some had sought to study Jeong Yeon-shin’s martial arts under the Zhuge Family Head’s orders.

Jeong Yeon-shin had willingly engaged in duels to scrutinize their techniques closely.

They had filled pages of the Breaking Guide and still shown goodwill toward the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

His status as a Desolate Fortress Leader fostered this. He appeared as a humble figure despite his high rank.

Including the Qingyi Sect Leader from Fujian and his first Opening Tournament opponent, Seop Woon-cheol, many masters offered respectful salutes.

“We will protect our region’s common folk so as not to shame you, Leader.”

“I admire you, irrespective of my brother-in-law’s affairs. May you prosper.”

Jeong Yeon-shin returned the gesture with clasped hands, though his thoughts lingered on Namgung Hwa-shin.

White Qilin, seeing his elder brother’s body again, wore a face steeped in contemplation throughout.

How did a younger sibling feel? Jeong Yeon-shin, lacking deep affection for Jeong Jung-san, could not easily fathom it.

‘I should seek Senior Yue’s counsel.’

While pondering the heart of his most reliable subordinate, Jeong Yeon-shin realized anew that he had become the head of a martial contingent.

Namgung Hwa-shin’s return to his own squad would make meetings scarce for a time. Much required consideration.

Upon returning to headquarters, he must reorganize the Radiant Demon Wing. For the sake of strengthening their forces.

The journey back would pass swiftly. To replenish the blue-ranks lost to heavy casualties and train the unnamed disciples, deep planning was essential.

Competition among Leaders was said to be fierce. Their subordinates’ achievements reflected the black-ranks’ prestige and merit.

‘Missions will not always be assigned to small groups.’

Jeong Yeon-shin was deep in thought when—

“Thank you.”

Yue Yu-lin of the Shandong Yue Family filled his view.

Her unbound hair draped over her white shoulder robes. The spear shaft slung across her back shifted loosely with her breaths.

She raised a formal clasped-fist salute toward Jeong Yeon-shin. Her tone had changed.

“I, Yue Yu-lin, have learned much from the Radiant Demon Wing Leader of Desolate Fortress. I apologize for troubling your peace with my immature recklessness.”

Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin’s body had been interred in the Martial Alliance’s communal cemetery. The grounds were vast.

A place for wanderers among the Alliance’s martial artists without sects.

The Sword Star’s now-favorable stance ensured no unfortunate incidents would arise.

The Namgung Family could not claim the body.

The martial world’s most shameful scandal had been exposed. They could only wait for the rumors to subside.

At the Martial Alliance headquarters’ main gate, thronged with passersby.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s triumph in the Opening Tournament was a leading topic in recent Hanzhong discussions. It was not just the common folk who spoke of it.

In terms of attention, the Alliance’s martial artists surpassed them. Such was the strangeness and astonishment of the event.

“Moreover, you enabled my sworn brother’s peace. My gratitude knows no bounds.”

Yue Yu-lin paid no heed to the surrounding gazes. Her salute deepened into a bow.

Her hands fully clasped and waist bent, respect seeped from her posture. A thank-you not as a martial artist, but as a person.

“May you prosper.”

Jeong Yeon-shin offered a brief well-wish. He hid his awkwardness within his returning salute.

Even during their journey to West Peak Road, they had barely exchanged words. As a Desolate Fortress Leader, he simply did not show it.

Next came Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s eyes warmed with fondness. His gaze shifted instantly.