Chapter 524 – Honoured One of the South (3)

A gentle fragrance of ink spreads, carried by the wind born from energy wave fluctuations. That scent mixed with the faintly white flowing clusters of dust, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

At least, that’s how Jeong Yeon-shin felt.

“……”

The Acting Group Leader’s proposal placed on the Wish for Peace Sword Hall table.

At this moment, not only the gazes of the Squad Leaders who were silent, but also the eyes of the world would inevitably focus on the results of that proposal. Because it contained the new appearance of the world’s greatest faction.

All sorts of forces and people from all walks of life would sharpen their attention.

Whether the specific military units—those who had made their lands their primary mission areas—had changed even a little. What the origins, character, and martial arts characteristics of some replaced members were like.

Also, Lim Jin-myeong had said:

—You will also clash with other doubts.

How much stronger had the Divine Sword Group’s Divine Sword Squad become, with its infinitely broad mission area? Or had it actually become worse than before?

‘Nonsense.’

Jeong Yeon-shin had exercised the authority of Desolate Fortress’s highest position with the intention of completely bringing back the most famous treasured sword under heaven—the Enter the Divine Sword.

It was effectively a decision that would affect the personal circumstances of all the main castle’s masters.

The scroll placed on the gray marble round table was still slowly but endlessly unfolding. As if it would reach all the way to the table’s edge.

That many names were filled in black with elegant regular script.

Those whose faces he had become familiar with through various events and missions, and those who had been recorded in the personnel registry conveyed by the Administrative Office. They were all Jeong Yeon-shin’s family.

Swish.

He first checked the right side. Divine Sword Deputy Squad Leader Divine Blood Brilliant Star. Perhaps he didn’t like the epithet that had been created after considerable pondering. His face, paler than usual, stood out.

Jeong Yeon-shin carefully called to him.

“Senior Jin, there doesn’t seem to be any problem with the epithet I created for you.”

“……”

The man who lightly pushed away the heavy marble grand master’s chair and stood up.

Jin Myeong-jo’s gaze was fixed only on the scroll personnel registry. That gaze was so heavy that Jeong Yeon-shin almost swallowed his saliva. The evaluation of a senior he always looked up to was heavier than anything else.

Soon Jin Myeong-jo opened his mouth.

“Perhaps…”

“Please speak freely.”

“The letter I sent you—did you receive it?”

It was a smooth and polite question. The inner thoughts were completely unreadable, as if he were dealing with Beijing nobility.

But Jeong Yeon-shin’s complexion rather brightened.

“I received and read it while waiting after conveying the assembly order. That was the first time I encountered such elegant incantations. This junior was enlightened.”

“Hmm.”

“I was going to express my gratitude after finishing the meeting, but then borrowing this occasion…”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s words stopped. Jin Myeong-jo had shaken his head minutely.

“That letter is my last usefulness. This is quite presumptuous to say, but there has never been a case of someone from Blood Guardian Squad entering the Divine Sword Squad.”

“But why…?”

It wasn’t Jin Myeong-jo who clarified Jeong Yeon-shin’s question. Forest Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin spat out in a gruff voice from one side. While having an iron rod attached to his thick arm like a splint.

“Because it doesn’t suit joint attacks. It’s always been an unnecessary personnel selection.”

Law Enforcement Squad Leader Yun Xiao-yu, sitting beside him, also quietly added a word.

“The Divine Sword Squad must be as close to completely perfect as possible throughout the main castle. Even if the Blood Guardian Squad takes innate energy from animal blood instead of human blood, it’s right to exclude them from personnel selection if their martial arts and behavioral patterns don’t match with other warriors even a little.”

In her eyes, jet-black eye light was flickering like sword energy.

The Wish for Peace Sword Hall, discussing the greatest matters in the world’s jianghu.

Not one person’s voice was low.

This was truly natural.

Today, clearly Jeong Yeon-shin was obviously Desolate Fortress’s greatest fighting power, but he couldn’t match the total of the Squad Leaders gathered here right now.

Unlike Jeong Yeon-shin, who had only one body, the point that they could spread throughout the world was the same.

This was the same for Cheon So-so, who had immediately changed her speech toward Jeong Yeon-shin to honorifics upon taking her seat in the Wish for Peace Sword Hall.

“When missions are prolonged in remote lands, we need to trade with civilian homes and supplies.”

She moved her lips while capturing Jeong Yeon-shin in her jade-like blue pupils.

“The Blood Guardian Squad kids have to stay separately even if they cover their faces. Otherwise, the common people shrink back and can’t move at all.”

“That often becomes a delicious gap. There’s no better opportunity for enemies aiming for surprise attacks.”

It was Xiahou Wei-jin’s story. The voice laid low had the weathering of a warrior, with a somewhat weary feeling.

It wasn’t words born from personal feelings.

Jeong Yeon-shin clearly felt that. But he absolutely had to place Jin Myeong-jo in the Deputy Squad Leader position.

“That part won’t be a problem. The Formless Return True Progress that Senior Jin has achieved is a realm that even I find difficult to follow. There’s no way he would cause fear among common people.”

It wasn’t because of personal respect.

It was because he was the only senior who could follow the speed of lightness skill Ten-Li Gentle Light, which had grasped the clue to the next realm beyond the gates.

At most, Namgung Hwa-shin, who was dissolving most of the elixirs he had consumed in his family, and one Divine Sword Squad member could follow after that.

‘…Since Squad Leader So-yeon has passed away.’

Above all.

The master of the Dark Night Brilliant Blood Demon Sword was free from dharma power energy waves.

It had been so from their first meeting. His facial expressions and divine technique breathing were the unmovable clear mirror-like water.

Unlike Seventh Apostle, who seemed to enjoy pain herself, Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t need to suppress energy wave fluctuations either.

‘I can’t decide unilaterally. But it must be accomplished.’

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced across.

A dignified middle-aged man in long black robes was having a light conversation with a handsome young man also dressed entirely in black robes.

They were none other than Ultimate Martial Hall Leader and the temporary Obeying Heaven Wing Leader, and both looked uncomfortable in their movements.

They needed medical treatment. It was the aftermath of the fortress great war.

“Wudang’s Sword Carrying Bell broke through all the inner castle’s perimeter networks. Truly genius intuition… Hwa-shin is no less than you.”

“He was blocked by Azure Sky Squad Leader.”

“That standoff won’t last long. That Azure Sky fellow couldn’t completely manage the medicinal energy of Thunder Immortal Treasure Wine he received from the Acting Group Leader. He needs to spend more time on energy circulation and treatment.”

“I will bring the intruder’s head.”

“Hmm? It’s a Wudang disciple who lost the world’s ancient sword master. There’s no need to take his head.”

“Whatever circumstances exist, the main castle is currently in wartime. Massive damage has already occurred. If he ransacked the main castle’s interior without proper notice and procedures, even if that person were Zhang Sanfeng, it would be right for him to offer his head. There should be no exceptions to discipline.”

“Look here, where are you going?” 

“The intrusion is discourtesy. Since the opponent’s conduct has strayed far from propriety, isn’t it right for my sword to also deviate from the enemy’s limbs to the neck? Divine Sword Squad member Namgung so-and-so will return before the Acting Group Leader persuades the various seniors.”

White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin, who politely bowed to Jeong Yeon-shin. But his name definitely did not exist on the Divine Sword Squad roster.

“White Qilin, my friend, I was looking at you as the only light of the Wish for Peace Sword Hall… Look here!”

Soon after, he brushed off Ultimate Martial Hall Leader’s restraint and turned around, piercing through the wall and walking out. Of course, the hall shook minutely along with a cracking sound.

The pressure of Judgement Qilin that arose powerfully even without drawing his sword. Ultimate Martial Hall Leader, whose body was still not well, couldn’t catch him.

“The Wish for Peace Sword Hall remains the same no matter how much time passes. Indeed, the feng shui isn’t good.”

Xiahou Wei-jin’s muttering had the transcendent temperament characteristic of the elf clan.

“In any case…”

But his appearance of bringing up the disqualification reasons for a Divine Sword Deputy Squad Leader from Blood Guardian Squad origin one by one again was not like that.

He was very active. While maintaining razor-sharp courtesy toward the Acting Group Leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled a conversation he had with Yong Hye-myeong. It was after receiving the Great Rainbow Palm.

—If I were to compare the main castle’s Squad Leaders to sword types, there would be nothing but heavy swords.

—Heavy swords?

—They’re good for drawing once and striking down powerfully. But it’s hard to mix variations. If you try to add detailed changes or bend directions, your whole body might really become sluggish. Your head would get dizzy too.

—Ah.

—But they say ‘organize the household first, then handle the world’s jianghu.’ Since you can only control the world’s jianghu after organizing your household, you should suffer a bit too.

Those he would have to lead forward.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced to the right.

The Divine Sword Deputy Squad Leader on the verge of dismissal looked peaceful beyond compare in the world. He already had the appearance of having put down many things.

He had no mind to argue. He was the most aloof.

‘This won’t do.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Would he have to fight another arduous battle? And with the seniors of the Wish for Peace Sword Hall at that.

Even if it were a verbal dispute, the mental exhaustion would inevitably be great. Moreover, what would be waiting after overcoming this adversity?

His mind became somewhat distant. But Jeong Yeon-shin deliberately didn’t show that feeling and opened his mouth.

That’s when it happened.

“But, even so…”

Xiahou Wei-jin continued speaking slowly.

“Jin Myeong-jo is a bit different in caliber—that is our conclusion. The things pointed out earlier were noise that should be covered over and passed in advance. There are many powerful people who will find fault with the main castle’s every move.”

“Pardon?”

For a moment, two rebuttals overlapped, but there was no room in Jeong Yeon-shin’s consideration. Xiahou Wei-jin’s lips were drawing a hearty curve.

“I saw the scene of precious Formless Sword incantations being passed down right before my eyes. The former Blood Guardian Squad Leader is worthy of assisting the Acting Group Leader. Since he has thrown everything to the main castle.”

Thus three people expressed agreement. Xiahou Wei-jin, Yun Xiao-yu, and Cheon So-so were they. Ultimate Martial Hall Leader also smiled slightly and nodded.

“Actually, I have different opinions about the Divine Sword Squad member composition… but the Acting Group Leader must have had deep thoughts. Just newly constructing such personnel selection in this short time is no ordinary matter. It’s not just one or two people either.”

Ultimate Martial Hall Leader spoke as if to himself. Jeong Yeon-shin returned his praise with a silent bow.

‘There’s more… besides the Divine Sword Squad.’

The Administrative Office’s eyes were vast.

Even that capability was the exact opposite of Lazy Flame Dragon.

First was immediately assessing the damage from the Desolate Great War. And he was capable enough to immediately reflect this into existing reorganization plans.

The original roster had already been assembled before Jeong Yeon-shin set foot in Hangzhou. The result of him and Lim Jin-myeong putting their heads together.

Thus Jeong Yeon-shin had been pondering the new organization of the entire Divine Sword Group for quite a long time.

Since he had devoted his heart and soul to it, he naturally expected there would be no objections.

It seemed to be a miscalculation.

Starting with some girl’s voice ringing out with dignity from the side.

“I object.”

But no one listened to Seventh Apostle’s words. Jeong Yeon-shin pointed out the phrases ‘Blood Guardian Squad Leader’ and ‘Elder Council Chief Guardian’ once each in the scroll for her sake, then raised his head forward.

Toward the wall that Namgung Hwa-shin had just pierced through with his whole body.

Some person’s shadow was faintly filling that space. The appearance of fluttering robes was like an immortal wrapped in clouds.

[Lord Jeong.]

A woman’s voice rang out loudly. It was a voice familiar to Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears.

Phoenix Palm Zhu Se-hwa. Unlike when they first met, she was holding her sword pointing downward, and spiral winds were extending strand by strand from that human shadow.

[You must come to our sect’s Sword Release Ground.]

Simultaneously, another wind whooshed and spread from the seat next to Jeong Yeon-shin. The jet-black shadow instantly cut through space and grasped the intruder’s throat in a flash.

“A mere jianghu person.”

The current Divine Sword Deputy Squad Leader’s voice descended bleakly.

Truly overwhelming spirit. The killing intent was thick enough to make even Jeong Yeon-shin flinch momentarily. It was clearly martial prowess that had begun to exceed the black level.

“Dares to discuss the movements of purple rank?”

Jin Myeong-jo asked.

Phoenix Palm couldn’t answer.

It was natural. Strictly speaking, she wasn’t a core member of Wudang but closer to a rising talent. She was greatly inferior compared to Divine Blood Brilliant Star.

‘Indeed.’

Seventh Apostle and Namgung Hwa-shin were forgotten from Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind.