Chapter 258 – Ascension (8)

The sound of the campfire burning stood out. Dry wood and bushes crackled and shrank within the sunset-like glow.

“…”

The siblings who claimed to hail from the Ice Palace merely stared at the black-robed boy.

Jang Sun-il, the guide boy warming himself by the fire, fidgeted as he glanced at his companion.

From their faces and attire, the twin siblings exuded a glossy whiteness that suggested noble status at a glance. If they were from the Ice Palace, it was a martial faction renowned beyond the Ming Dynasty’s borders.

It was a place that could contend for supremacy among the world’s ice-based martial lineages. It would not be surprising if they harbored individuals rivaling the divine might of his companion.

If a fight broke out, Jang Sun-il, at least, would not emerge unscathed.

To common folk, martial artists from great factions were universally seen as monstrous prodigies. The mere shockwaves of their clashes might freeze and shatter his body.

The herb-gathering boy opened his mouth with great caution. He struggled to arrange the literary phrases he had learned for martial training into coherent words.

“Well… it is not that you spoke out of turn. I just wonder if the true intent of your words and your actions might be slightly misaligned…”

“Hm?”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s head tilted slightly to the side. He had spoken properly.

How had they interpreted his reaction? The elder twin, Bei Gong-lin, curved her lips into a smile.

“An interesting friend, are you not? You do seem of an age where meditation and introspection matter…”

Her laughter was hearty. It was immediately clear that it was not a facade crafted for appearances.

A temperament like a fierce northern wind. It strangely matched her frost-tinged blue-white hair. The same applied to Bei Gong-hui standing beside her.

“A young warrior with a flair for old-fashioned jests. To endure an eternal winter, one must be fearless. Your bold spirit is not unlike our land. I rather like it.”

He spoke with a faint smile on his face.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly felt as if steam were escaping him.

What was the point of arguing with those who took his storm-like irritation in stride? How many tiresome and oblivious martial artists roamed the world?

He recalled his first encounter with Hyeon Won-chang.

“Little brother, have you come to join Desolate Fortress too?”

He sat beside him abruptly and said that. It was the same as these two. They approached with an unfamiliar stride and pace, without hesitation. As if they might one day walk to Jeong Yeon-shin’s grave in the same manner.

“Sit however you like.”

He said, turning his head back to its original position.

They did not decline, as expected. The sound of footsteps treading grass drew near. The two walked over together and sat boldly between Jang Sun-il and Jeong Yeon-shin.

Even the way they pulled one knee toward their bodies and rested an elbow on it was identical. Perhaps because of that, their haughty demeanor struck Jeong Yeon-shin as somewhat amusing.

He spoke.

“The thousand-year Ginseng?”

“Of course. Is that not the goal of every martial artist who came here?”

Bei Gong-lin answered.

She then glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin and slipped a hand into her robe. Jang Sun-il flinched for no reason from the side.

Swish.

What Bei Gong-lin drew forth was not a hidden weapon. Held in a hand whitened as if showcasing her mastery of ice techniques, a small orb glimmered faintly.

A blue radiance flowed across its tiny surface, as if it contained the sky itself.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s brow narrowed slightly.

“They say keeping a luminous pearl close shortens one’s life.”

“It is not a luminous pearl. It is a gem crafted from fragments of ice essence. It harbors a trace of frigid ice energy. It should aid in energy circulation.”

“Frigid ice energy?”

“I sensed a cold aura from you.”

Bei Gong-hui, seated beside his elder sister, spoke as if tossing the words out.

The siblings’ eyes glowed with a subtle white light. They seemed to have detected traces of the Moon Spirit Harmony Technique bestowed upon Jeong Yeon-shin by the Desolate Fortress Lord.

They had perceived the true energy already melded with the Luminous Wheel Technique. Coming from the Ice Palace, their ability to discern a similar energy within subdued waves was extraordinary.

Even with their close proximity, it was no ordinary feat. They were indeed members of a mysterious great faction.

Jeong Yeon-shin parted his lips slowly.

“Is there a need?”

“We mean to treat you as a companion. You shared your fire with us.”

Bei Gong-lin said, extending the hand holding the crystal orb. Her tone was calm.

“It is a significant gesture. It is so in our land. Judging by the stingy hearts here, it seems the same applies.”

Bei Gong-hui supported his sister’s words. Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the orb.

“It looks precious.”

“It may be rare in marketplaces… but not to our palace folk. Take it as a modest token of gratitude.”

Bei Gong-lin shook her fist lightly with the orb in hand. The rough gesture carried a dignity of fair exchange.

They were hard to pin down. They carried rare items yet did not bother with flint.

Their bearing distinguished the tasks of underlings from their own conduct. Given their mention of losing servants, they were likely part of the Ice Palace’s ruling class.

‘It might help that poppy addict.’

Jeong Yeon-shin took the orb readily. A cool texture wrapped around his grip.

Jang Sun-il, sitting across, looked on with envy.

“You two must truly be from the Northern Ice Palace. To meet masters of the outer martial world, known only by tales…”

Bei Gong-hui chuckled.

“Outer world. A truly Central Plains-like term.”

It meant beyond the Great Wall’s fortresses. It differed from the term “beyond the mundane,” which referred to reclusive lands.

Thus, an outer martial artist denoted a warrior from a distant foreign land, beyond the Ming Empire’s reach.

They were individuals with a wild, rugged nature who actively engaged in worldly affairs.

Cold sweat beaded on Jang Sun-il’s nose.

“Uh, did I offend…”

“It is fine. Let us talk. The priests of our land say the afterlife is shaped solely by what one sees and hears in life. That is why our palace’s strong ones often wander. I am curious why two boys brave this perilous battlefield… Is it not early to covet rare herbs?”

Bei Gong-hui spoke, his entire presence cloaked in a noble aura like his elder sister.

“My niece is ill.”

Jeong Yeon-shin repeated the same plain answer he had given Jang Sun-il.

For a moment, only the sound of the fire burning echoed. The expressions of Bei Gong-lin and Bei Gong-hui grew strange.

“The opposite of us, then?”

“At that age, no less. You are full of compassion. We came to outshine our palace rivals…”

Bei Gong-hui trailed off.

The two seemed subtly moved.

The faces of the noble siblings from the Ice Palace softened. The firelight and shadows on their white cheeks swayed dreamily.

As martial aristocrats from a ruling class, they carried a composure befitting their status. Unlike the typically insular outer martial artists, they were not exclusionary.

“There is little difference between us.”

Jeong Yeon-shin replied curtly.

Yet the siblings’ expressions did not change. They continued speaking gently to Jeong Yeon-shin and Jang Sun-il until the last rays of the sunset on the horizon fully darkened.

The rough yet simple martial aristocrats from the outer world were remarkably talkative. The silence that had lingered in the twilight was filled with warm darkness and pleasant voices.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

“We would like to propose traveling together. Whatever happens afterward.”

“My sister makes a fine suggestion. We will protect you. You do not plan to descend the mountain until this is over, do you?”

They had grown quite friendly. A natural bond had formed.

Jeong Yeon-shin was a powerhouse unknown to the noble siblings. From a position they could not fathom, he assessed their worth.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s upper dantian perception deemed the Ice Palace siblings harmless. They bore no hostility. They could protect Jang Sun-il in a pinch.

The four ascended the mountain together.

The higher they went, the more people they encountered.

Though the rumors had spread long ago, no one had emerged claiming to have harvested the thousand-year Ginseng.

At this point, descending after giving up was also an issue. Those forming defensive lines below would inevitably suspect them.

Those wielding blades were mostly dangerous bandits.

“They look promising! Could they have the Ginseng?”

“Let us check their belongings!”

The midsection was beyond words. It was akin to a blood-soaked battleground.

Each time the group faced trouble, the Bei Gong siblings stepped forward.

Jeong Yeon-shin witnessed weapons caught in their hands freeze and shatter into pieces multiple times. It was a supreme technique wielding frigid ice energy adeptly.

Clang!

“Argh!”

Their claim that staff techniques were their innate specialty held true. The force of their palm strikes was fierce and powerful, yet a refined air flowed when they concluded their stances.

“Many are frail compared to their greed. In our land, they would not even suffice as wolf fodder.”

“Our promise to protect you is no empty word. Consider it heaven’s fortune.”

Bei Gong-lin and Bei Gong-hui did not shy from boasting. They deemed it rightful to take pride in their achievements.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded inwardly, taking their words to heart. They viewed figures like the Divine Sword Group Leader and Yue Shou-lin as rivals.

As the Radiant Demon Wing Leader, his position of vying for accomplishments was no different from the siblings.

He had to internalize any plausible advice. He was not in a position to be picky.

‘Lately, I have gained much.’

One should not underestimate others for being slow in action.

They said few had seen a pill bug roll in person. Having observed it, he found it worth learning from.

As Jeong Yeon-shin mulled over his insights, he spoke suddenly. He stood with one foot lightly resting on a rock overlooking the opposite ridge.

“How did you lose your servants?”

“Ah.”

“They were not weak. The red-haired ones.”

The siblings’ expressions darkened. They seemed to refer to the Blood Flame Sect’s blood demons.

“You two… your prowess does not seem one to struggle against ordinary sect members. You could likely best most blood flame sword practitioners.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, their eyes widened slightly. Bei Gong-hui, stepping over a bandit’s corpse, quickly spoke.

“You can properly gauge the Blood Flame Sect? Your knowledge seemed extraordinary…”

“There were many, I suppose?”

“Not just a few. We were facing five, then they swelled to twenty or thirty in an instant. Red-haired and black-haired ones mixed sparsely. It was beyond handling. We had no choice but to flee. They charged as if turning Mount Taibai into their domain, disgustingly relentless… You should have seen it.”

“A big one wielding two massive sabers was beyond reckoning.”

Bei Gong-lin added as if supplementing.

“They called him the Rogue King, I think. Only a top warrior from our land could face him. He exuded a fearsome aura relentlessly. Blocking a single strike seemed impossible. That day, I lost any thought of underestimating the Central Plains.”

She concluded with a furrowed brow. Her body trembled slightly, uncharacteristic of an Ice Palace noble.

Jang Sun-il, standing at a distance, reacted as if struck by lightning.

“The Rogue King Jin Shi-hu!”

His hushed shout was warranted. Jeong Yeon-shin had heard the name too.

The king of those who sold their swordsmanship for salt and coin.

A ronin of immense renown. A rogue straddling the line between righteous and evil, yet few dared challenge him. His martial arts were profound.

A supreme master said to have left countless feats across Henan and Shaanxi. He had inherited a solitary lineage and dominated the martial world.

“He took a commission from the Blood Flame Sect?”

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader muttered quietly. A target to eliminate, then.

“Should we… descend…? If we cross this, the Ginseng might be half a day away…”

Jang Sun-il spoke in a highly cautious tone from afar. Jeong Yeon-shin asked back, puzzled.

“Did you not come despite hearing rumors of the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader or Mount Hua’s sect leader arriving? There were tales of the Blood Flame Sect’s First Apostle too.”

“The heads of the Thirteen Evil Sects and the Orthodox Faction are like immortals above the sky… The Rogue King is different. They say he is utterly ruthless. When a sect harmed by his commission pursued him, he tore off their leader’s head with his hands. If profit is at stake, he stops at nothing!”

Jang Sun-il explained. His throat trembled as he spoke.

‘Is that not what martial artists are?’

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head inwardly and shifted his toes.

“A pity. I must kill those who spread tales of me so freely.”

A voice came from atop a rocky hill blocking his left view. The rough tone carried immense power. In an instant, the surrounding air distorted in patches.

Step.

The figure emerged.

The hem of crimson trousers gleamed vividly.

His ornate robe bore golden tassels, and he carried two sabers adorned with white cloud patterns. His attire befitted the title of king more than rogue.

“I am Jin Shi-hu.”

A man with a neatly trimmed beard revealed a sharp jawline.

He exuded an aura as if dominating the mountain like a tiger. The colorless energy waves cloaking his body felt like armor.

The perception of a supreme master was extraordinary. Speaking of him had summoned him.

“What…!”

“They said not to carelessly mention a tiger’s wrath…!”

Bei Gong-hui and Bei Gong-lin looked up, lowering their stances. They were visibly shaken.

Not old enough to judge Jeong Yeon-shin’s age, they seemed to realize anew that nothing was impossible in the martial world.

Yet the Radiant Demon Wing Leader did not look at the Rogue King.

He sensed a bewitching energy wave rippling beyond. It flowed from afar, following the mantra of the Mara Roaring Blood Technique he had once encountered.

He recalled that the text, tailored to the Seventh Apostle, had been nearly complete with only a few pages left. Had she altered the mantra to her liking and mastered it?

‘She senses me. She does not care what becomes of the Rogue King.’

There was no avoiding it now. He had to face her.

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze slowly. His eyes met Jin Shi-hu’s.

The Rogue King smiled.

“You. Seeing your face, I understand. You are the one who caused this mess, are you not? Thanks to you, I secured plenty of salt.”

He seemed to know Jeong Yeon-shin’s identity. Despite his expression, his muscles tensed and relaxed repeatedly.

Ready to draw his sabers and strike at any moment, he showed not a hint of underestimation.

A seasoned ronin indeed.

The Radiant Demon Wing Leader spoke calmly.

“Come down.”

“Should a junior not move first? I will yield the first strike.”

The Rogue King lowered his head, his lips curling deeply.

Distance and position were critical. Even in battles between supreme masters.

Vertical gaps slightly influenced the power of foot techniques and energy waves. A hair’s breadth could decide life or death.

The Rogue King Jin Shi-hu was pragmatic. He valued combat advantage over face.

“Listening, it makes sense.”

Jeong Yeon-shin did not prolong the standoff.

He drew the Northern Light Sword with his right hand while raising the principles of Brilliant River with his left palm.

The Luminous Wheel Technique split into two energies, clashing like thunderbolts in his palm.

Simultaneously, he tightened and released the Yang Brightness Large Intestine Meridian of his left arm. The lightning in his palm lingered.

‘Activation.’

Boom!

An overwhelming current swirled from his grip. It was ceaseless.

The energy wave, whipping and sweeping the air fiercely, grew like a typhoon. His black robes fluttered violently.

“That is…!”

The Rogue King’s eyes widened. The Seventh Apostle’s presence trembled.

There was no time to wait. Jeong Yeon-shin struck the stone wall the Rogue King stood upon.

Boom!

A deafening roar erupted like a shiver, echoing in all directions.