Chapter 210 – Blue (4)

Baek Seo-goon had long enjoyed the wealth and power of an evil faction grandmaster.

Like other supreme masters of the Thirteen Evil Sects, she had made a name for herself. They called her a monster of the martial world.

Unlike the righteous martial world, the evil faction martial world did not adhere to petty codes of conduct.

If a faction’s influence and personal martial prowess made finding a rival difficult, one could live a life envied by any monarch.

She posed as the Sword Venerable of the evil factions, burying her days as a servant. She had to do so.

Though this world did not scrutinize one’s origins as much as the righteous martial world, revealing a lowly birth among the mid-tier leaders of grand factions often invited scorn.

Origin was the foundation. The homeland where one was born and raised was the root.

This was a natural perception. It held true in the martial world as well. It was filled with warriors who regarded their factions as equal to their hometowns.

The meaning of one’s native land carried special weight in this world.

Jeong Family Estate of Xinye County, Baek Seo-goon of Jeong Family Estate, Baek Seo-goon of Xinye County…

Boredom had settled into a heart dulled by wealth and glory.

She differed from the Heart Martial Alliance elders who reveled in luxury until death. She lost her zest remarkably early.

Was it because she had turned away from the years that formed her roots? At some point, even precious Yongjing tea began to taste like plain water.

Drinking the famed Xifeng liquor, renowned across the martial world, no longer brought intoxication.

[TL Note– Xifeng liquor, also known as Xi Feng Jiu, has a history dating back over 2,200 years to the Qin Dynasty. It was originally called the “Qin drink”.]

The Heart Martial Alliance’s eldest son, who claimed affection while shamelessly clinging to her, seemed trivial.

Even slashing his face left her unmoved. Had the alliance leader objected, she would have walked out of Heart Martial Alliance herself.

Though accustomed to wealth and glory, she had no desire to abandon the sect willingly, yet Baek Seo-goon’s life grew increasingly tedious.

Amid this, a master from Jeong Family Estate emerged into the martial world.

Upon the alliance leader’s request, she faced Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword with considerable delight.

She sensed dignity in the boy. From Jeong Yeon-shin’s refined demeanor, a deeply nostalgic fragrance wafted.

Ten Perilous Moves.

One of the well-known secrets of Go was embedded within. It taught that sacrificing a single stone to seize the initiative was key.

The stance of a master strategist. It was also called “profound meaning.”

Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost Baek Seo-goon was renowned as a sword demon for her mastery of the blade.

She keenly perceived the intent within sword techniques. This was especially true because the swordsman she faced was kin, bearing the elegant visage of Jeong Pan-yue.

She realized anew that her years born and raised in Jeong Family Estate were not without value.

The kindness shown to her, a servant, by Jeong Dae-myeong, and the teachings of Jeong Pan-yue, remained vivid.

Jeong Yeon-shin had, in a sense, restored her roots.

“What a farce.”

She muttered, looking down at Jeong Family Estate’s second son.

Another face reflected in her eyes.

A countenance imbued with Pan-yue’s elegance.

Jeong Yeon-shin. The third child of Xinye County’s Jeong Pan-yue.

She assumed he had grown under unparalleled tutelage.

The traces of dynamic techniques polishing his entire body, the calm yet aggressive grip on his sword hilt, and martial achievements that could establish a sect all bespoke the teachings of a prestigious lineage.

She regarded him as a noble young master, rivaling the Ming Cult’s young leader in grandeur.

Even his haughty nature did not feel like a flaw. His informal speech as a Desolate Fortress Leader felt oddly endearing.

‘That such a thing could happen in this world…’

Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost Baek Seo-goon recalled her drinking session with the Hao Clan Leader.

She accepted drinks without pouring any. Sitting as if it were natural, she heard a shocking tale.

“…He didn’t grow up pampered… That’s the rumor about Desolate Fortress’s Jeong Yeon-shin. Strange, isn’t it? To build such prowess at that age alone. Xinye County became a backwater after that fiend ravaged it in the late Yuan era, so who knows how much to trust the villagers’ tales.”

She received a description of Jeong Family Estate’s second son’s appearance from the Hao Clan Leader.

She came to verify the rumors’ truth. Even while traversing the land with lightness skill, she doubted it.

Could a boy tracing such refined sword paths have truly grown up despised?

Though Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes seemed solitary when they met, she attributed it to his clan’s downfall shaping his temperament.

To her, Jeong Family Estate had been a rather warm martial household.

Jeong Yeon-shin.

He was a legacy left before the Jeong Family Estate head passed. A gem polished with radiant meaning.

From a third-rate martial household, he rose to discuss the martial world as a Desolate Fortress Leader. He was a child who imbued her early days at Jeong Family Estate with greater worth.

She didn’t want to believe the Hao Clan Leader’s words. Not until Jeong Jung-san, gripped by panic, spoke.

“…Father distanced himself. It was so from birth.”

It came from a Jeong Family Estate kin’s mouth. More shocking than any supreme master’s strike.

“…Pan-yue truly…? This seat honed perception beyond your petty mind’s grasp, so if falsehood taints your demeanor, I’ll shatter your bones instantly. Pan-yue distanced Jeong Yeon-shin? Why so?”

“…I, I speak only truth! In our county, a child born killing its mother is deemed cursed!”

“…Continue.”

“…There’s a Taoist temple called Spirit Wonder Pavilion in the village! The master there said so too. A child harming the land’s energy… No one would befriend Yeon-shin. Father made it so, bearing the duty of a great landowner.”

“…Surely not, such folly…?”

For days, she gave Zhongnan disciple Jeong Jung-san only water.

She heard many tales and asked even more questions.

Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost Baek Seo-goon was Heart Martial Alliance’s second-greatest master.

As an evil faction authority, she was adept at draining human resolve.

The pampered Jeong Jung-san lacked the capacity to withstand her interrogation. Day and night, he poured out his younger brother’s life.

His trembling voice etched into Baek Seo-goon’s ears.

All exceeded imagination.

A sharp energy wave flickered colorlessly from her brow. The divine sword at her waist twitched on its own.

Her mind and energy had fused.

A secret technique of sword flight, manifest through three-flowers gathering at crown. Her swordsmanship responded to her emotions.

Baek Seo-goon’s lower lip quivered faintly.

“That fool’s stubbornness…!”

Jeong Pan-yue was a wretch. He gifted servant Baek Seo-goon fond memories, yet burdened Sword Venerable Baek Seo-goon with unbearable shame.

Her hand shook. The time shared with Jeong Yeon-shin felt like yesterday.

The sunset stretching their shadows across Seven Peaks Valley remained a cherished memory.

‘Yet that child…’

He stood alone.

“…Had this seat not made a grand choice, I might have walked Xinye County holding your hand. It’s fine as is. You’ve received the love I couldn’t give aplenty. Your complexion looks so hearty.”

She recalled her words to Jeong Yeon-shin. And what else?

“…I’m curious how you were raised.”

“…”

Her lips parted slightly. A long exhale, like a silent groan, escaped.

Heart Martial Alliance’s Sword Venerable felt unworthy. A piercing sensation in her chest confirmed it.

The years she thought reclaimed were tainted. Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t polished by Pan-yue’s hand. He was stained instead.

“…You’re not entirely useless, it seems. Zhongnan Sect’s pursuit has caught up. The surrounding presence is quite noisy.”

She murmured as if chanting. Deep thought consumed her.

Jeong Jung-san flinched, looking up at Baek Seo-goon from his knees, but she didn’t meet his eyes.

How could she quell the shame and guilt searing her chest?

“Zhongnan is preparing for Tyrant Sword Sect’s raid, you said. This seat will lend a hand.”

If she severed a few Tyrant Sword Sect masters’ heads as tribute, might she earn some favor from her little master?

She was willing to spar with Zhongnan riffraff against Tyrant Sword alliance leader.

‘I can’t face him empty-handed.’

She knew Jeong Yeon-shin cherished his subordinates deeply. Though he seemed otherwise, his affection was strong, perhaps especially for his Zhongnan niece.

Even if mistaken, it mattered little. Rumors held that Jeong Yeon-shin and Tyrant Sword Sect clashed at Mount Zhongnan too.

Tyrant Sword Sect heads would suffice for a courteous gesture.

The Sword Venerable’s thoughts flowed freely.

She heard Jeong Yeon-shin had dealt with Namgung Clan of South Zhili.

The new Leader’s Radiant Demon Wing was gaining fame with various tales even before its full deployment.

Thirteen Evil Sects’ leaders accessed even more secretive tidbits.

One was that White Qilin, born of a clan assassin dubbed Shadow Sword, served as Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s subordinate.

Swish.

Suddenly, Baek Seo-goon’s pale hand brushed her ash-gray hair behind her ear.

She thought.

I’ll become your Shadow Sword.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

***

White-rank warrior Ma Woong was a master of Desolate Ma Family.

A late-blooming talent, he donned white robes at twenty.

Highly promising. Only Jeong Yeon-shin and White Cat Shin So-bin were anomalies.

Should he aim to join Divine Sword Group ranks, many squads would extend their hands.

“I refuse to fall.”

Amid the rivalry between Lady Zhu Lianting, the clan’s imperial daughter-in-law, and Ma Jin, the newly appointed head, Ma Woong sided with Zhu Lianting.

Despite being Ma Jin’s distant cousin. It was a decision born of long deliberation.

He had witnessed the clan elders’ martial prowess wane pitifully.

The pinnacle was the former head.

Tyrant Hero Ma Yeon-jeok.

Ascending to purple-rank at thirty, he stunned the martial world. His era was near-legendary.

They said he capably stood in for the rarely active Desolate Fortress Lord. From youth, he spread Desolate Fortress’s banner far and wide.

‘Yet.’

Even such an unrivaled supreme master couldn’t escape decline.

Such was Desolate Ma Family’s martial arts. A domineering path that hastened self-destruction for loyalty to the Desolate Fortress Lord.

Harmony Flower Divine Technique practitioners soared quickly and fell just as fast.

It scarcely differed from evil faction arts.

Due to clan tradition and ethos, even the Lord did not intervene. Only kin could voice concerns in this family matter.

Yet the clan clung to Harmony Flower Divine Technique. Their ancient heritage technique was the treasure that forged their fame as Desolate Fortress’s foremost martial house.

Desolate Ma Family produced the most masters among headquarters’ noble clans.

Even the haughty administrative office constantly anticipated their supply of strength. It was the might of eight-headed carriages.

“The side is clear.”

“Let’s change shifts for a moment.”

A small pavilion encircled by a garden.

Five warriors shifted positions variously.

One leapt atop the pavilion roof, while four guarded the cardinal directions discreetly. Ma Woong took the main gate.

Desolate Fortress is a vast place. Such secluded spots abound.

Crickets chirped clearly. A faint glow filtered through dense pine needles.

Winter’s scent faintly mingled with the transparent sunset radiance.

Autumn had departed. It tugged a piece of Ma Woong’s heart as it ascended.

‘Lady Zhu is right.’

Zhu Lianting, bearing the imperial Golden Immortal Eight Methods, had summoned Ma Woong privately and ordered him.

Ma Jin’s hasty rise to head was suspicious, so he must closely monitor former supreme head Ma Yeon-jeok’s condition.

Ma Woong was, in essence, a spy for Zhu Lianting’s faction. He served her willingly.

To fully adopt Golden Immortal Eight Methods. He believed it was for the clan’s good.

On his way here, he had left several markers.

Zhu Lianting’s subordinates were likely following.

Former head Ma Yeon-jeok’s safety was itself a grave matter. He warranted utmost protection.

New head Ma Jin had no right to move him alone. Even in utmost secrecy, it was the same. Clan elder council approval was required.

Now it was a matter of time.

The political blowback on Ma Jin would be immense. Zhu Lianting, with her vast connections via Golden Immortal Eight Methods, would ensure it.

That lofty imperial noblewoman never failed to achieve her aims.

Even the clan’s seasoned elders in her faction would deem it inevitable.

‘Head, forgive me. The clan must change.’

As Ma Woong inwardly apologized.

A sudden gust grazed his face.

Boom!

His vision blurred. A blue-rank master’s terrifying energy wave descended before him like an illusion.

A woman with strikingly long black hair trailing behind spoke. She too wore blue robes.

“Cheong Myeong, why did you strike without permission?”

It was Bewitching Sword Demon Baek Mi-ryeo. Known across headquarters for her sword-like nature, skill, and beauty.

“Don’t take it personally and listen. The Leader permitted me to strike first and report later. Just me. Anyway… this guy’s shady. That’s how he looks to me.”

The handsome man in a blue turban tilted his face upward. Was he using movement techniques?

No.

Ma Woong realized belatedly. He appeared so because Ma Woong himself was collapsing.

‘Radiant Demon Wing… noble clan demon sword…!’

He barely turned his head. His eyes widened as if tearing.

When had he appeared?

A black robe’s hem fluttered long.

A fierce surge erupted!

In an instant, over a dozen blue-rank masters flanked him, encircling the area like a wall.

They were familiar Radiant Demon Wing warriors. At that moment, their surging energy waves swept over the foliage like a tidal wave.

The protective wall of formidable elite warriors was a black-rank master’s hallmark. More potent than any technique, it was near-mythical authority among civilians.

A force that crushed all schemes instantly.

The Leader had arrived.

Step.

Radiant Demon Wing Leader Jeong Yeon-shin crossed the pavilion’s threshold with a calm gait.

No one could stop him.

[TL Note- Starting tomorrow, the release schedule will be two chapters a day. 4 chapters end up taking too much time leaving no time for myself. Instead of feeling burned out later, i’ll just change the schedule for now. In rare cases of huge cliffhangers, i might consider dropping more than 2 chapters.]