Chapter 306 – Hyeon Won

“Here stands the true divine sword of the country!”

The symbolism of the term “divine sword” was tremendously significant across both military and civil realms. It was especially so when used by a Deputy Commander of the first rank to praise Radiant Demon Wing Leader Lightning Genius.

The crowd spread widely around them.

Many of the Shanxi aristocrats’ expressions twisted strangely.

The Gongya Family estate was filled with a desolate silence. Even the sound of stone fragments rolling across the ruins could be clearly heard.

Slowly.

Dozens of local powerful figures assumed prostrating positions. Silk robes of various colors brushed against walls, tiles, and the skeletal remains of pillars, creating soft sounds.

As each rose from their knees to stand upright, a dignified prayer-like reverence worthy of royalty began to flow from them.

Martial aristocrats.

They had built their power through internal energy and techniques. Appropriately avoiding the eyes of officials, they had acted as absolute rulers over the common people.

Without major sects in Shanxi, they had easily become martial families worthy of being called aristocrats after controlling the military’s swords and spears through various survival tactics. Nothing stood in their way.

Woong.

A faint resonance of energy waves was occurring between them.

Their internal energy had been woven like threads to create a form of multiple sound transmissions. From then on, no conversation leaked outward.

“What is happening…?”

“He called him a divine sword!”

“I didn’t mishear after all.”

“I don’t understand. Why is he being so favorable? He has tarnished the dignity of the Five Armies Command…”

“This is the worldly wisdom of a monster in Beijing politics. He must have his own calculations. It must be beneficial not to antagonize Radiant Demon Wing Leader here.”

“This isn’t just avoiding hostility—it’s at the level of forming a friendship!”

Zhuge Clan Leader and Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

Both were martial artists from foreign lands. Lightning Genius would soon depart, and Zhuge Liang had crossed the River Styx.

Meanwhile, the Shanxi martial artists at this gathering would continue to live in this land.

“I was thinking of teaching Divine Blood Extreme Demon a lesson… Would that displease the Deputy Commander?”

“I’m not sure. Judging by his demeanor, his favor seems limited to Lightning Genius…”

“Quiet. Seeing how Radiant Demon Wing Leader greatly cherishes his seniors, I don’t know what he might do with the Deputy Commander backing him.”

“That’s right. I heard he’s of the Tyrant Hero’s bloodline.”

These were mostly conversations among martial aristocrats who extremely pursued fame.

In the famine-stricken martial world, survival took precedence over following the righteous path; spreading one’s martial might was more important. Face was secondary.

They had planned to challenge the black-rank from Desolate Fortress to a duel to demonstrate their outstanding martial prowess.

It was naturally planned for the moment Lightning Genius beheaded Zhuge Clan Leader. The aim was to prevent the names of foreign martial artists from disrupting the existing order.

By doing so, they intended to further solidify their rights to land, shops, and livestock farming.

“What a pity, what a pity.”

Looking at the three black-ranks from Desolate Fortress who had fought the fierce battle, it was hard to say there was no possibility.

Divine Blood Extreme Demon Jin Myeong-jo seemed to have been severely wounded even before the decisive battle. The blood that had flowed from his abdomen while protecting the sphere containing Radiant Demon Wing Leader would have filled several gourds and more.

Now he stood firmly at a distance with his arms folded, but the recovery of his wounds, etched like straight lines by the Yin and Yang Divine Whip, was noticeably slow.

Desolate Spear Yue Shou-lin, who was narrowing her eyes at the Deputy Commander, was in a similar state.

Having received Zhuge Clan Leader’s concentrated restraint, she showed signs of serious internal injuries. She would likely struggle even to operate her three meridians’ true energy.

“We must give up.”

“Let’s just placate the Gongya Family appropriately.”

“I was planning to buy the farming rights in Pingyang Prefecture at a bargain price, but that’s become empty talk now. Since the Gongya clan has connections with Radiant Demon Wing Leader…”

“Weren’t we too harsh on the Gongya Family? Our disciples were going in and out of their storehouses as if they were their own bedrooms.”

“If we apologize first, what can they do? It’s not like one Gongya clan can oppose all the martial families of Shanxi.”

Conversations continued with an air of indifference. Their eyes kept assessing the appearance and condition of the three black-ranks.

Where else could they see Divine Blood Extreme Demon and Desolate Spear in such a battered state?

Lightning Genius, who had even suffered a penetrating wound to his shoulder, was beyond mention.

Everyone had confirmed the extremely weakened energy waves immediately after he beheaded Zhuge Clan Leader.

He must have experienced severe internal energy depletion to kill a peerless master.

His sagging shoulders looked incredibly heavy, as if his entire body had been soaked in blood that had yet to stop flowing.

If not for his appearance and the presence of his black robe, he would have looked merely like a boy of his age.

He was prey for the wolves.

There was no need to actively antagonize him.

In an era where etiquette and law were losing meaning, they could politely request a duel and show just a slightly inferior performance, and the aristocrats at this gathering would praise each other.

As someone who had easily withstood the techniques of a black-rank.

Shanxi was their land. It would be even better if the Desolate Fortress side refused the duel. It would be an opportunity to restore the face of the aristocrats that had been tarnished by Zhuge Clan Leader’s manifestation.

Creating and spreading rumors like “the black-rank is reluctant to engage with Shanxi martial families” would be no trouble at all.

“Let’s watch for an opportunity. They’ll need to spend a long time in recovery anyway.”

A middle-aged swordsman who had casually draped a fur coat over his silk martial robe muttered. Like other aristocrats, his entire body exuded luxury.

However, some aristocrats with calm gazes did not join in the conversation that resembled a dangerous gambling table. They only briefly shared their opinions.

“The martial prowess Lightning Genius displayed, what he did… it’s equivalent to cutting down the entire Zhuge family. It’s truly shocking. I think we should rightfully feel fear first…”

“Indeed. Was Zhuge Clan Leader in an ordinary state?”

“From the beginning, Desolate Spear and Divine Blood Extreme Demon are monsters who can show incredible power even with just a handful of energy. If you consider facing Desolate Spear Yue Shou-lin without counter methods like Zhuge Clan Leader did, well, it sends chills down my spine.”

Afterward, they kept their thoughts to themselves.

What would be the aftermath of all these events, whether the duel could end appropriately, whether they had failed to consider future troubles…

And they realized.

The era where hunger and possessiveness robbed reason, the times when chivalry was losing its fertility, giving way to martial might.

“Before I became Deputy Commander, I once met the Tyrant Hero… Lightning Genius, your face doesn’t greatly resemble his. Your temperament… no, your spirit seems somewhat similar though.”

“What did you say?”

“Oh my, I seem to have misspoken. Don’t look so serious.”

“You mean by misspoken…?”

“……” The aristocrats quietly observed the Deputy Commander and Lightning Genius.

Standing on ground cracked like Shanxi’s farmland, faintly hearing Desolate Spear’s giggling.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

An extremely grand feast was held.

It was like the preliminary for the martial arts tournament. The most historic Gongya Family in Pingyang Prefecture hosted the banquet.

The fragrance of delicacies and famous wines mixed over the massive U-shaped table.

“I didn’t expect the Deputy Commander to step forward so publicly. I know he’s been troubled by the movements of the Heart Martial Alliance’s martial forces, so I wonder if there will be collaboration between Desolate Fortress and the military.”

“I don’t know how the situation in Shanxi will unfold from now on. How many sects have decided to join under Transcendence City Sect…”

“Sister, try this. The braised beef is sliced very thinly. It looks like a swordsman’s work.”

“My disciple has figured out the location of the assassins. Soon there will be an opportunity to wipe them all out…”

Dozens of conversations intertwined like tangled threads.

The main topics were descriptions of the day Zhuge Clan Leader was killed and speculations about the aftermath of that event.

The atmosphere was different from the eve of the martial arts tournament.

The aristocrats conversed in hushed tones across the silk tablecloths, while the three black-ranks from Desolate Fortress talked among themselves within a semi-transparent energy barrier.

The three had appeared despite their serious injuries.

It was to show the resilience of the squad leaders and to make amends for the damage inflicted on the Gongya Family. They couldn’t just complete their mission after causing trouble for the family that had aided Desolate Fortress.

They needed to avoid a situation where negative rumors would accumulate, extremely restricting the movements of their subordinates.

Meanwhile, a great many glances were cast at Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

He didn’t mind.

Jeong Yeon-shin held his cup with the ease of someone familiar with the way of drinking, occasionally rolling it slightly in his palm.

He was in the midst of refining his martial arts through sword discussions with his seniors.

Occasionally, Jin Myeong-jo would uncomfortably glance at that sight, with his foot resting on the edge of the energy barrier.

“Your recovery period could be extended. You can enjoy alcohol after that.”

Divine Blood Extreme Demon said sternly.

Jeong Yeon-shin briefly closed his mouth and compared his height with his senior.

“……”

He was still a head taller than himself.

Eventually, he silently placed his wine cup on the corner of the table.

His fingertips brushing against the cup revealed his regret. With a short life, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy much.

“…Anyway, Senior Jin’s foot technique has countless variations in the direction of energy release. I thought it might be possible to form a brief formation with instantaneous energy. There was a lot of it in the main branch’s Thousand Gold Weightless Drum.”

“Hmm.”

“I think it would be more beneficial to use the Eight Trigrams as an axis rather than the Six Harmonies. For someone like you, senior…”

“You mean it’s better to choose the one that can create more variations. With my energy sense, I should be able to control it adequately.”

Jin Myeong-jo spoke while cold sweat ran down his back. Taking the initiative was his specialty. It was the same in conversation.

If you cut off words in advance, they can’t branch out and spread, making it easier to maintain face.

A seasoned black-rank was prepared for any situation.

‘As expected of Senior Jin.’

The corner of Jeong Yeon-shin’s mouth rose slightly. It felt like talking to a person for the first time in a while.

“Senior, you are correct.”

The brief rest given after the fierce battle was enjoyable. He felt strongly that he would reminisce about today someday.

“Today, just pour it in! You can pour it all in! Huh?! Who did our Lightning Genius kill? None other than Zhuge Jian, who committed such a filial impiety that even the Jade Emperor would be shocked and overturned! I’m saying he killed Zhuge Jian!”

A strong smell of alcohol rose from under his chin, along with slurred speech.

It was the culprit who had made Jeong Yeon-shin create an energy barrier despite his pain, before the sword discussion.

Yue Shou-lin reached out with her small hand as if to pat his backside. Jeong Yeon-shin avoided it with a familiar movement.

“His swordplay was absolutely artistic! Cut through both protective energy and dantian at once, huh? Kyaha…!”

“Grandma.”

“She’s trying to forget the pain in her three meridians through intoxication.”

Jin Myeong-jo said.

“Zhuge Clan Leader’s counter method for the Yue Family Spear was extremely vicious. It was worthy of the Zhuge family, renowned for their eye techniques. He seems to have studied the Shandong Yue family for a long time.”

“Then, the reason Senior Yue’s energy waves are unstable is…?”

“He focused more on cutting off true energy than techniques. Since the Yin and Yang Divine Whip, as a mystical secret skill, can interfere with the foundation of internal energy, it must have been no ordinary backlash. Think of it as torture equivalent to having your muscles separated and bones broken while protecting you.”

“What do you mean, muscles separated and bones broken! It was nothing!”

Yue Shou-lin grinned and reached out her hand.

She was shorter than Jeong Yeon-shin. Raising her palm high seemed like she was trying to pat her junior’s head.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t avoid it.

Finding this amusing, she just patted her junior’s back a few times.

“Well done, our youngest! You’ve become my strongest competitor now. Even Annihilation Team and Wish-fulfilling Spring Team will have to be on guard.”

The three squad leaders of Desolate Fortress.

There was no gap to squeeze through. That’s how it appeared from the outside.

Even the Gongya Family’s eldest daughter and second son, not to mention the Shanxi aristocrats, could only watch from a distance.

‘It was a difficult mission.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought of the companions who would shield the squad leaders when they were exhausted.

The reason for a fortress’ existence. At this moment, he simultaneously recalled the letter from an unidentified person and Lazy Flame Dragon’s letter.

[The ruffian of the Hwangbo family, the illegitimate child of Blazing Moon Great Slaughter Sect, and the treasured jade of Desolate Divine Sword are in my possession. Radiant Demon Wing Leader, come to Taiyuan Prefecture immediately upon seeing this letter and thrust your Northern Light Divine Sword into the largest tombstone at the burial mountain.]

[…A letter with all sorts of babbling will be coming to you, but please wait a little. If the squad leader steps forward again like in Shaanxi, the Radiant Demon Wing old fogies will come to bury me.

Anyway, I’ve found a clue to unlock the internal energy restriction of Great Tongue Sword. Honestly, I didn’t think this would really exist.]

It was then.

Thud.

The Deputy Commander approached, his gray fur coat fluttering beneath the brim of his pitch-black official hat. He was scanning the surrounding aristocrats with cold eyes.

“Radiant Demon Wing Leader, I have urgent matters to discuss with you.”