Chapter 608 – Three Swords

Since entering the jianghu.

Jeong Yeon-shin had lived an intensely profound life.

He had never spent a single moment carelessly. Every experience held meaning, and the martial arts born from them were seamlessly connected with Jeong Yeon-shin’s life. Like the luminous wheels surrounding his heart.

Given time, there was no opponent he couldn’t defeat. The same applied to cornering enemies.

“You’ve locked the door. I’ve lost.”

The Heaven Conquering Sect Leader ultimately raised both arms in surrender. At some point, he had placed the Winter Dream Sword back in its sheath as if by magic.

It was natural.

He was someone who claimed safe neutrality as his creed.

With Form-Shifting Void completely sealed.

There was no way he would abandon even his beloved sword imbued with his spirit to fight a life-and-death battle with Jeong Yeon-shin. This was what being caught between a rock and a hard place meant. For the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader, it seemed an unprecedented and disheartening situation.

“Well now, living this long…”

But somehow cheerfulness seeped from the voice that emerged from his grizzled beard.

“All sorts of things happen. Really, all sorts of things.”

“Follow me.”

The Heaven Conquering Sect Leader had to follow Jeong Yeon-shin as instructed. Falling too far behind was not permitted.

In the half-destroyed Grudge Blood Valley, Jeong Yeon-shin had some conversation with the Blood King father and daughter, and nearly annihilated the mounted masters of Vast Wind Curtain with the sound technique Sword Song.

Before deploying Sword Song, Jeong Yeon-shin had asked the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader to lend him Winter Dream, but sensing something strange, the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader refused, so he had to settle for the Vast Wind Vice Curtain Lord’s narrow blade.

The Vast Wind Curtain Lord and Vast Wind Vice Curtain Lord were alive. Because he had penetrated between their organs with the formless sword blade. It was possible because he had even suppressed the shock waves bursting from ‘Starry Night.’

They were simply covered in blood all over and had difficulty moving. Their internal power wouldn’t be as mighty as before either.

The Vast Wind Curtain Lord, struck by demon blood and dragged around like luggage by Jeong Yeon-shin. Even the bandit’s characteristic gruff voice was dragged out as if scraped from his throat.

“Why did you spare me? You claim to be the Divine Sword Group Leader.”

“Aren’t you anti-Fighting God faction? If I drop you in front of pro-Fighting God faction Northern Kings, you’ll do something. Even struggling to survive helps me.”

“……”

“This is chivalry.”

By then, Yu Xiong-gong and Divine Beggar Zhu Guang, who had belatedly descended from the peak, were also at a loss for words. Even more so after seeing the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader.

The Divine Sword Group Leader was fast.

Half of half a day since arriving at Grudge Blood Valley.

Like the difference between a sword sleeping in its sheath and one drawn out, everything proceeded swiftly before Jeong Yeon-shin who had revealed his martial prowess.

“So what’s your purpose? You could have made a big commotion.”

“Use your Form-Shifting Void.”

“What?”

“You need to take me to the Southern Emperor’s territory. Black Capital, the demon realm’s capital.”

Originally, they would have had to travel over a thousand li southeast, and that was only when cutting straight through the demon realm. The terrain wasn’t even flat.

The end of Yuan and beginning of Ming when monsters ran rampant.

Cases where terrain had changed like Jeong family’s Xinye County were countless. The demon realm was worse. Because it wasn’t originally seen as a target requiring ‘Gates’ to be closed.

The current era when all maps carved down from the Yuan Dynasty period had been discarded.

Even if Jeong Yeon-shin used Sword Flight alone, the time spent on energy accumulation along the way would be considerable.

Having met one of only three masters of Form-Shifting Void under heaven, he should naturally utilize them.

But the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader’s reaction was reasonable.

“Are you joking?”

“Cut space as you always do. Spread the sword path wide enough for all of us to enter.”

Behind Jeong Yeon-shin who spoke calmly.

About two hundred members of the Crimson Blood King Family. Roughly one hundred twenty cavalry of Vast Wind Curtain.

Both sides were positioned somewhat apart on low hills, with the Crimson Blood King Family members occasionally baring their fangs at the Vast Wind Curtain masters who couldn’t control their bodies.

He had gathered them by force. His experience pretending to be bandits with Radiant Demon Wing in Xi’an was significant.

It was jianghu people’s harmony.

“Hmm.”

The Heaven Conquering Sect Leader’s lips twitched.

“Do you know that cutting sheaths into providence like Form-Shifting Void… comes with quite a heavy price? People entering and exiting through the door I open might be comfortable, but.”

“Of course. I thought you wouldn’t care about such things, fitting for dark path.”

“How eloquent.”

The Heaven Conquering Sect Leader pulled the wide brim of his bamboo hat down to his lips. It meant he wouldn’t bother with more words.

Only the Blood King remained.

—Do you know? How red eyes of blood demons are treated in the Ming Dynasty! Why our family, originally with the Blood Flame Cult, was pushed all the way up to this demon realm to live among Yao tribes!

The story was still vivid in his ears.

As he had violently spat out in sound transmission then, at this moment the Blood King was narrowing his blood-red eyes at the head of his family members. Not a trace of goodwill existed in his gaze toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

Only Red Dawn stood beside him as if ready to tear at her father’s arm at any moment.

“They are stronger. Father King, you mustn’t act rashly.”

“How can you…?”

“I want to see Ha Rin. We can go, can’t we?”

“How can you trust that fellow?”

“He definitely only spoke the truth. You felt it with your upper energy center, didn’t you?”

“That’s the problem!”

A seemingly ridiculous yet violent momentum.

It was actually threatening too. Though Jeong Yeon-shin had gained much from the Ming Cult, the Natural Form that the Blood King pursued was a different realm altogether.

“Such attitude is natural. If you hadn’t spoken like that…”

It was Divine Beggar Zhu Guang.

Yu Xiong-gong’s back now seemed very comfortable to him, while conversely Yu Xiong-gong seemed to want to pass Divine Beggar Zhu Guang off to Jeong Yeon-shin. His childish cheeks had twitched several times.

Jeong Yeon-shin pretended not to notice and approached Red Dawn.

She was the most awkward yet most comfortable person among the Crimson Blood King Family royalty, all because she resembled Seventh Apostle.

The family members were horrified.

“Stop!”

Ignoring them, he placed his hand on her crown. It was a gentle yet dreamlike swift strike.

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin noticed that Red Dawn had been firmly grasping her father’s arm for some time.

The man who seemed ready to drink beast blood like wine was being cautious around his successor. Before the Blood King could say anything, Jeong Yeon-shin posed a question.

“Is the name Red Dawn also a childhood name?”

It was to ease Red Dawn’s tension. She obediently nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Usually one would use a courtesy name externally, but I’m curious why it’s reversed.”

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin awakened the blood Technique true energy sleeping in his first luminous wheel.

Divine art power created through his deal with Seventh Apostle solely for her. It was also the internal energy that had made the true energy friction of Brilliant River possible from the creation of the Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law Technique.

Demonic True Blood Technique.

Semi-transparent energy waves spread irregularly, then penetrated to Red Dawn’s eyes. By then, the Blood King, who would become Jeong Yeon-shin’s major fighting force, was on the verge of convulsing.

But he ultimately couldn’t strike. Because Red Dawn’s ensuing answer was calm.

“…Our clan doesn’t use public courtesy names. Instead, we receive a name called ‘True Name’ during the coming-of-age ceremony and entrust our fortune to it. And we only tell those who will share our lives. Like a secret name, it’s a tradition hoping not to be caught by those who hunt blood demons.”

Woooong—

By then, Jeong Yeon-shin’s blood art energy waves were reaching their peak. Stone fragments shooting out from underfoot in all directions. The Blood King, unable to bear it any longer, was about to tear away Red Dawn’s arm.

“You b*st*rd, just because you learned blood arts, do you think you have some connection with our family? What are you doing now…”

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly opened his mouth.

“I am the teacher of the True Blood Body.”

He had said he never lived carelessly.

He had long probed the true energy structure of blood arts to the very bottom, even manipulating that madness and appearance through sensation.

This was precisely the talent heaven had taken his lifespan and thrown down like charity. The will of the Blood Flame Cult Leader who had once called Jeong Yeon-shin Grand Teacher was in his grasp at this moment.

It was also the aspiration of all blood demons.

Swish—

Suddenly Red Dawn’s pupils began changing to black. A dreamlike, fantastical scene.

The true energy that had been burning ruby-like eye-light rapidly lost color like Jeong Yeon-shin’s lifespan, and soon the red pupils remained black like scorched firewood.

“……”

While the Blood King was at a loss for words.

Whoosh—

Just then, the northern wind descended on the clearing where voices had disappeared, bouncing up countless pine cones and soaring endlessly.

Crossing the riverbeds that were cracked even in late winter several times, ceaselessly sweeping over vast mountain ranges and plains.

Until it finally brushed past the garrison of the Desolate Fortress Divine Sword Group.

* * *

The garrison’s barracks.

An encampment built in the middle of a sloped plain, where the sky repeatedly distorted like whirlpools from tremendous heat.

A place before Northern King Molten Rock Castle Lord’s Molten Rock Castle. It was also land where Black Capital, the demon realm’s capital, would appear if one went further up.

In one of the hastily constructed tents, three people sat around.

A beautiful young man in black robes with his forehead bound by a hero’s headband, a pretty girl in blue robes with black hair cut below her nape, and a young man also in blue robes with nobility flowing in his face.

Hyeon Won-hang, Shin So-bin, and Yeon So-ha.

“Shame Extreme King has turned around.”

Shin So-bin said. Soon after, she moved to twist her empty sideburns with her fingers, then stopped. An old habit had almost emerged.

“Getting worse and worse.”

Yeon So-ha replied leisurely.

But the situation suffocatingly surrounding the Divine Sword Group was separate from his attitude.

If they retreated south, they would be caught from behind by forces possessing Bright Wind Spirit, and if they had stayed at Yeoktru Castle from the beginning, they would have been surrounded by the demon realm’s great forces.

“We really need to strike the head… if only Great Hero Yong were here…”

Yeon So-ha gently nodded his head here and there.

Though they had advanced north swiftly to avoid being caught by any force, they couldn’t do anything about the Northern King forces descending from above from the beginning.

Thunder and lightning had long been frequent in the northwestern sky where Great King Vajra was heading south.

Northern King Gao Yao Holy Sword Lord had lost contact after the initial intelligence.

Meanwhile, the Southern Emperor’s successor, Aisin-Gioro Black Return, was said to be descending as another Northern King while killing Nether Stream Squad members throughout the demon realm. He focused on eliminating scouts.

And the master of Molten Rock Castle that the Divine Sword Group faced.

Molten Rock Castle Lord had never shown himself. He seemed ready to defend from within a fortress long enough to completely block the wilderness. Despite being a Northern King famous for being warlike.

“That fellow Shame Extreme Son-in-law came as an envoy again. To recommend surrender.”

Shin So-bin said while fidgeting with her small hands.

Two types of power were friction-generating like lightning in her palms – the true energy of Emperor Ascension Martial Scripture famous as orthodox martial arts, and the blood demon martial study Demonic True Blood Technique.

Crack—

Occasionally the friction force that sparked made the tent ceiling flutter. Hyeon Won-chang stared at it intently before hearing Shin So-bin’s question.

“Senior Hyeon is also black rank, right? As temporary Blood Guardian Squad Leader, you could have met the envoy, so why didn’t you go?”

“Afraid I’d kill him.”

Hyeon Won-chang answered calmly. Like Lazy Flame Dragon who had long deserted from the camp, his lips had also lost their arc long ago.

Woong—

Only the single blade wrapped in bandages at his waist was clamorous.

That’s when it happened.

Someone boldly pushed aside the barracks entrance and entered, and the party calmly welcomed the black-robed man.

Dragon Treading Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji.

A very indifferent face. Colorless enough to make his robust impression fade.

As soon as he entered the barracks, he glanced at Shin So-bin, then handed her a thin book.

“Great accomplishment or higher, achievement of extreme completion. You don’t need to look at it anymore. I’m giving it to you since the Acting Group Leader isn’t here.”

Shin So-bin didn’t hide her admiration.

“Squad Leader is also a genius. They say you’re the next black rank three pillars.”

“I guess there are other extreme completions besides me? What number am I?”

“Fourth.”

“The rest?”

“In order, Senior Yang Gui-bi, Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader, and Radiant Demon Wing Leader.”

“…I’ve already reviewed it again, but still check if there are any missing parts. Burn it with Three Samadhi Fire as soon as you confirm.”

“Yes.”

Shin So-bin, who nodded slightly, opened the book. On the night before the decisive battle, the sound of turning pages settled softly.

[Those who sleep are peaceful. Because they forget weariness.

But the lanterns hanging on the walls of the main fortress’s central training ground never extinguish their light. They do not slumber deeply. Like the chivalrous spirit of the fortress warriors.

An indestructible vajra mind.

It already possesses important will. From the energy center to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, it’s perfect for forming an infinitely circulating circle.

Then the energy center becomes an existence like the main fortress. No matter where true energy wanders, no matter where enemy explosive force strikes, it can receive and return it.

From the moment you enter the main fortress, an unbreakable faith is born, and that mind is the key to the energy circulation techniques described below.

Circulate internal energy freely. From the moment you read these words, meridians will never break. It’s a formula that will reach invincibility in group battles when the collective achieves great accomplishment.

Even if you are greatly injured, even if you fall into mortal danger, it will embrace your entire body.

It will nurture internal energy that moves alone like solo missions wherever you are. So you won’t need to seek warmth from outside.

When you completely make the lower energy center’s Sea of Energy acupoint your home, the true energy that swept through your entire body returns to the Life Gate acupoint behind your back.

Once it goes out and returns, it becomes stronger. Bones, muscles, blood vessels, entire body meridians, thick meridians will all be so.

The will that leads true energy is like the feeling when returning to the main fortress. Because we move ceaselessly like us, it’s moving cultivation. You must have this mindset for it to be effective.

Desolate Fortress Divine Sword Group. We embrace each other with human duty. We will not be forgotten even in death.

Now, family bound by the character ‘Desolate.’

Let’s go break rivers with gestures and trample lakes with footwork.

Sometimes it’s okay to be swept by the jianghu’s current. When tired from that, you can return.

Because I am your home.

I make this the Divine Sword Group’s Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.]

“……”

By the time she turned past the preface, Dragon-Treading Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji was leaving the barracks. Hyeon Won-chang’s question immediately followed him.

“That’s not the direction of lodging, is the Wish for Peace Sword Hall open?”

“No.”

Perhaps because he had submitted the book that any Desolate Fortress warrior would find difficult to take from their bosom? By now, some emptiness seeped from Wei Zhi-ji’s voice.

“It’s an advance. I’ll kill that Dream Demon Body envoy and follow, so go ahead.”

It was so natural a story that it lacked even killing intent.