Chapter 520 – Sunset (11)

Adults were beings with many worries.

Even after giving quite plain farewells, they had many peculiar things to say. Enough to make Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been immersed in strange sentiments, want to quickly return to his true nature even with his confused mind.

Yong Hye-myeong and Ma Yeon-jeok.

Those recognized as divine swords of the nation.

If anyone were to witness the Transcendent Martial Arts of two Divine Sword Group Leaders in one place, their minds would inevitably become hazy.

This was even more so for those with particularly sensitive energy sense.

At this moment, Jeong Yeon-shin felt his head floating emptily, just like when he had once thrown a drunken tantrum before High Sword True Man.

‘The human jianghu… that I must take charge of……’

Various scenes filled his vision, blurred as if covered in fog.

“If you’ve lived that long, it’s time to rest in eternal sleep.”

[That’s not something to say with such a young face. Ma family brat, show some restraint and just guard the gates well.]

The sight of Ma Yeon-jeok and Shin Cheon-hwa glancing at each other with brief eye contact.

Soon Ma Yeon-jeok’s face taking in his grandson once more, and even the advice delivered in a young yet domineering voice with old-fashioned manner.

“If you’ve fought such a great battle, there will be a brief respite. At least for those with power, those vermin who boast their paltry positions as authority, the period of calm you’ve gained will be like sweet rain. Warriors, merchants, politicians. Be wary of the schemes of such group leaders. There have always been those who try to profit by using the purple status of the main fortress.”

[There was even one who sent me quite polite matchmakers. This youngster, meaning your grandfather, smashed that b*st*rd’s head in.]

Grandfather Ma Yeon-jeok was not a competitor who would compete for the Enter the Divine Sword. Naturally, all his words were stories Jeong Yeon-shin should listen to carefully.

Meanwhile, there was also advice from the current Enter the Divine Sword master.

Jeong Yeon-shin was wary of the schemes of the Divine Sword Group leader with ears ringing from the tinnitus he had caused by vibrating his own energy.

“I don’t quite understand, but you seem to have a talent for enticing those hermits who hole up in mountains playing immortal games. Well… it would be thanks to that dharma power made so divinely regardless of your nature.”

A tone that cheekily got on his nerves.

Yong Hye-myeong’s voice continued without allowing questions, truly like giving a farewell greeting.

Even without particularly listening carefully, it stuck in his mind – the feeling of provocative eloquence combined with tremendously deep internal cultivation.

“Then it would be best to first make the lost Wudang Sect Leader descend the mountain. He’ll be quite a great help. No need to worry about gaps. Mount Wudang is full of monsters who equate martial arts with the Way. It’s not a sect that depends on one sect leader.”

“Lost…?”

“Keep this in mind.”

Suddenly Yong Hye-myeong’s pupils stretched vertically once more. It looked like a sword was erected in his pale yellow-tinted eyes.

“The sword of a Divine Sword Group Leader can cut through anything. The enemies’ mysterious schemes, allies’ deep despair… everything is useless. It even cuts through innate limitations and the fate heaven had predetermined. That’s why it’s called Enter the Divine.”

Soon after, he concluded his words with a slight smile.

“Would you be any different?”

That was not a question. It felt closer to stating something obvious as if it were news.

Naturally, no rebuttal was allowed either, and Jeong Yeon-shin was barely able to convey his earnest request with his upper dantian in a hazy state.

“…The same must be true for the Group Leader and Grandfather. Even if heaven sends misfortune befitting your natures, you must not die in such a place.”

“Of course.”

Yong Hye-myeong replied with a snicker.

“Even if we die, we should leave corpses behind.”

“Not corpses, but the Enter the Divine Sword.”

“Hmm?”

“The Enter the Divine Sword… you must bring it back intact.”

Immediately after, Jeong Yeon-shin heard the laughter of three distant seniors.

Rather than mockery saying it was absurd, it seemed like breathing truly bursting from great joy. He muttered in the confusion.

“I’m serious.”

Soon after, Shin Cheon-hwa’s true words mixed with laughter smoothly shook the atmosphere.

[Form Shifting Void.]

Even in his hazy state, Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t miss those words and drew Remaining Thunder while following Shin Cheon-hwa’s Form Shifting Void.

As that distant pressure pressed down on his skin and squeezed his entire body, his blurred vision was briefly filled clearly with the faces of his grandfather and the Group Leader.

Those who were still stronger than Jeong Yeon-shin and bore the name of divine sword.

‘…Even if this place is like an abyss.’

They would not die.

At least not outside Jeong Yeon-shin’s sight.

Wuuung—

He felt the vibration of his Baihui acupoint for an instant and fell back into dreamlike haziness.

* * *

Hubei Province, Xiangyang.

There were three fine horses that seemed to be breathing heavily as if they had run vigorously for a long time before slowing down.

Huff, huff—

White breath rising through rough leather bridles, the luxurious carriage of red sandalwood that those fine horses pulled, and four wheels that gently friction against the ground, occasionally bouncing white frost fragments in all directions.

It was the official road leading to the world’s greatest fortress.

Long and vast.

Otherwise, the path dotted with respectful greetings from common people when Desolate Fortress warriors received purple robes.

But now there were few people, and what few common people were walking the road stopped at a distance to observe the carriage before scattering here and there.

As if going to inform someone of the carriage’s appearance.

A natural question flowed from the carriage that had no coachman. It was a young woman’s voice.

“…What could be happening?”

Immediately a voice close to that of a youth answered.

“Even if the chaotic times have cost the government office considerable intelligence capability, Desolate Fortress is still Desolate Fortress. They would have evacuated the common people as soon as they felt the precursor to the fortress great war. Probably the areas near Immortal Tree River and Heaven-Following Road are full of Xiangyang people.”

“And who guards them? In times like these.”

“They would have deployed many white ranks.”

“Before such an unprecedented scale fortress great war?”

“That’s also Desolate Fortress.”

“Ah.”

Clatter.

A wheel rolls over some weapon fragment.

At a glance, it was a carriage carrying someone of high status. The three fine horses moved along the road by themselves, leading them to Desolate Fortress’s main gate.

“……”

The conversation of those inside the carriage gradually subsided… from when the completely dried moat and somewhat chipped castle walls with corpses scattered everywhere, and bloodstains widely pressed in various places began to catch in the carriage’s window frames.

Someone’s breath scattered when passing the corpses of men and horses piled like hills as if struck down in a single move.

And only after a young man among the white warriors guarding the gate approached the carriage did voices flow out.

“…You’ve come well. You’ve truly arrived at the right time. It has to be now if not now.”

“Are they showing off?”

“How could that be? It’s right after fighting a great war. Each would be busy getting themselves together.”

Step.

A pair of man and woman get out of the carriage.

They were all there were. Compared to their appearance, there were no attendants at all, which was striking.

The man had sharp ears like sword blades and wore brilliant dark blue robes, with dragon patterns carved on his shoulders proving his noble status.

The most precious emperor under heaven has sun and moon on his shoulders, and those of the next highest status bear dragons. In other words, it was royal attire.

He took out an ivory piece carved in the shape of a tree from his bosom.

An ivory plaque signifying royal status, a dharma treasure known to be possessed only by the Desolate Fortress Lord besides the imperial family.

“I am Prince Qing.”

Wuuung!

Along with a low resonant sound, white steam rose in streams from the ivory plaque.

The cold midwinter air that had been surrounding the vicinity was also simultaneously pushed away by warm energy.

A dharma treasure that manifested immunity to heat and cold.

An extremely precious treasure.

Normally, upon encountering a prince’s plaque, one would be greatly surprised and become very respectful.

But the light in the white warrior’s eyes facing Prince Qing’s party remained unchanged and dry, even flickering with somewhat combative temperament, however faintly.

Only the etiquette he formally observed was flawless.

“I greet Your Highness. Please enter.”

A natural insight flashed through Prince Qing Ju Tae-il’s mind.

‘One who has learned of war.’

At the same time, the woman beside Prince Qing let flow a voice cold and clear as frost.

“His temperament is insolent. It would be good to mind your conduct.”

She wore a bamboo hat draped with pure white silk, and just the slight movement of her shadowed jawline made the ends of the semi-transparent silk flutter.

It was naturally occurring pressure from energy waves originating from deep internal cultivation.

Sword Princess.

Prince Qing’s legitimate daughter. The divine dragon of Jiangxi famous for combining civil and military arts. She was of the status to inherit the mighty Prince Qing’s manor alone.

“I’ll be careful.”

The nameless white warrior answers briefly.

But he would show completely different attitude to Desolate Fortress’s purple.

Though this would be difficult to happen at other times, the Sword Princess didn’t interrogate him further. There was an atmosphere flowing like invisible flames along the vast castle walls that shouldn’t be disturbed.

She followed the white warrior’s respectful guidance inside while speaking to Prince Qing.

“It seems we’ve come at a bad time?”

“You’re wrong.”

Prince Qing answered immediately along with mental transmission.

—Practically the only purple under heaven, and even a fortress great war like a war has occurred. Now is the only time to discuss Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin’s whereabouts. If not today, there will be no one left in this land to tie reins around his waist. Isn’t the situation very different from when we met in Hangzhou last time?

His archaic words leave the unique vibrations of mental transmission.

Hwaaak!

Instantly, all sorts of Desolate Fortress warriors’ momentum arose from all directions.

A temperament that allowed no schemes or backstory. It was truly terrifying vigilance with only the absence of killing intent.

Still, Prince Qing’s mental transmission stubbornly continued.

—This father does not want the return of Tyrant Hero’s ways. Ma Yeon-jeok of peaceful times was one who prevented government offices from becoming corrupt. But in chaotic times, the story is different. If he who has not even one proper friend had lived through turbulent times, he surely would have harmed this land’s unity. How much more so would Jeong family’s Lightning Genius, who was worse than that Tyrant Hero.

A pale image formed on the silk covering the Sword Princess’s face. It seemed like she was slightly pursing her lips. We’ve definitely come to the wrong place.

After that.

Even after the two people entered the inner castle, visitors continued. It didn’t end with Prince Qing’s manor.

Other royal manors.

Martial world noble families led by the Prince Qin’s household.

And even large merchant groups that had stockpiled goods during the famine and become notably precious in their respective lands.

Dozens of carriages or processions crossed the marketplace and repeatedly stopped at the same position.

This happened before even half of the common people who had briefly left Xiangyang land returned.

* * *

Desolate Fortress had fought a great war.

Moreover, it was such a big fight that its aftermath would affect the entire world. The words about unprecedented scale were correct.

It would have tremendous impact not only on jianghu affairs but also on commercial circles and the world’s political circles.

Everything was inevitable.

It was also inevitable that countless attention would be focused.

Which lands and roads were safe, the positions of major sects that would fall due to the ‘Desolate Great War’ and what movements their subordinate sects would show in the future.

Even ominous rumors were circulating that the boundary with the northern jianghu had collapsed. They said unheard-of forces and martial lineages were moving south.

‘The imperial family is on the verge of losing control over the world. Regardless of status and authority, anyone would need something to depend on……’

Lim Jin-myeong thought.

The masters who were active in the Desolate Great War and their martial arts, even the detailed processes of the great war would be widely known by interested parties.

But the point of argument that occurred in Desolate Fortress’s inner castle right now existed in a completely different area.

“I already know what His Majesty has commanded. Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin must strictly follow that will.”

“I don’t understand the meaning of your words.”

The roadside stained with the blood of enemy invaders from earlier.

Lim Jin-myeong confronted Prince Qing while moving from the fortress lord’s inner castle to the Administrative Office.

Originally he had been postponing the audience, but Prince Qing had blocked Lim Jin-myeong with mysterious movement techniques.

It was when transparent sunlight tilted and met the snow-white castle walls. Under shadows falling obliquely like the dignity of those of high status.

“Don’t deceive me. Wasn’t it already proclaimed to all directions in Hangzhou? The Grand Administrator of Desolate Fortress couldn’t not know that content. Lightning Genius must not leave this land, and therefore his detailed whereabouts should rightfully be placed under imperial jurisdiction. Since His Majesty personally discussed this matter, it should be handled thus.”

“…I don’t agree with that interpretation. It’s also difficult to follow those words.”

“I know it may sound like sophistry. I blame my own lack of virtue.”

“……”

“I also know you must work hard on post-war cleanup, but all of that is because you have full authority. Aren’t all the major and minor affairs of today’s Desolate Fortress under Grand Administrator Lim Jin-myeong’s jurisdiction?”

Lim Jin-myeong briefly closed his mouth and surveyed the surroundings.

‘I can’t understand the intention. I heard he withdrew immediately in Hangzhou, so what did he feel there……’

Prince Qing is a powerful warrior.

Yet at this moment he didn’t deploy energy barriers.

Because of that, the distinguished guests who had simultaneously visited Desolate Fortress today were landing one by one in the vicinity, and somehow half of them were women close in age to the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader.

“……”

There were no particular footsteps.

All of them had certainly stepped into the realm of Grass Flying Steps.

‘…Yet those who didn’t help the main fortress.’

They had even all been watching the fight from close range.

It would be because it was difficult to rashly predict victory or defeat at the time. But regardless of chances of victory, it wasn’t something for Desolate Fortress, which had always been the shield for common people, to consider.

Anger gathered in Lim Jin-myeong’s eyes.

Soon after.

The advice that had risen to his throat was swallowed again.

Before two sets of purple long robes could flutter after tearing through space, the words telling them to leave never came out into the world.

Wuuung—

Soon the light that had been pouring from the sunset divided into several streams like fan ribs and began to ripple silently.