Chapter 630 – Red Sky (11)

Imperial Extreme Hall.

The largest and most symbolic palace in the Ming Dynasty.

At this moment it was filled with the thick smell of brush ink, the ink fragrance of reports that had all come up as extremely urgent.

Civil and military officials in colorful robes were standing upright like Hanlin Academy scholars, passing around bundles of papers.

—Northern Region’s Greatest, commonly called Southern Emperor, deceased. There appears to have been last words equivalent to war’s end.

—Prior to that, confirming circumstances of deep conversation. For example, secret communication or peace negotiations beyond authority. Lightning Genius Jeong’s suspicion of exceeding authority, first matter.

—Divine Sword Vice-Leader Jin Myeong-jo and below, Divine Sword Group black swords escorted Lightning Genius Jeong, withdrawing from Black Capital Old Palace. Divine Sword Group Leader Yong accompanied.

—Six Star Lord Literary Star prevented pursuit by the so-called Dharma King and Black Capital army. It’s presumed the Southern Emperor’s last words greatly influenced this. Lightning Genius Jeong’s suspicion of exceeding authority, second matter.

—Desolate Fortress Hidden Sword’s condition unclear.

—Six Star Lord Finance Star’s southward movement. Presumed to have been pushed back by joint attack of Beggar Sect Leader Zhu Guang and Heaven Conquering Sect Leader Man Hwi. This news must be conveyed to the Great Wall’s Juyong Pass. Finance Star is a peerless master of short decisive battles who practices cannibalism, a northern peerless monster capable of violating the Ming Dynasty’s vast lands.

—True Blood Cult Leader Lady Jeok on the verge of death, Black Capital’s thirty thousand army halted their advance. True Blood Cult Leader Lady Jeok was raised by former Blood Flame Cult Leader ‘Baek Rak’ who had clashed with Desolate Fortress Lord Wei, and corresponds to treasonous status. A woman who had maintained close relationships with Lightning Genius Jeong multiple times.

—Black Capital’s thirty thousand forces, silent.

—Confirmed situation where Ming Cult Leader Yelu Zhen was present at Black Capital Old Palace. Special note: No separate conflicts with Divine Sword Group whatsoever.

—Southern Emperor and Northern Blade killed. Six Star Lord Upright Star’s life and death unknown. Survival of three former and current Divine Sword Group Leaders. With Divine Sword Group’s retreat having achieved their objective, remaining circumstances unconfirmable.

—Virtually successful northern expedition.

—Urgent reconsideration of Lightning Genius Jeong’s influence and danger level needed. Informing that concerns about which to use among the titles Lord and Master arose in the Eastern Bureau, Western Bureau, and Internal Administrative Bureau.

—The above has been verified by Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager’s ‘Wind King.’

It was a report concluded with words that everything was fact. Deep exhales characteristic of internal energy breathing or faint murmurs flowed from various parts of Huangji Hall.

“Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager…?”

“She departed toward the World Tree’s trunk accompanied by the Wudang Sect Leader. The Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance’s momentum is at an exceptional level.”

“But if she encounters the soulless world’s greatest sword… what will she do? I mean the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader. How many natural disasters are there in jianghu now?”

“Lightning Genius Jeong is the same. Focus on the agenda.”

Meanwhile, at the palace’s innermost part.

There was a man with his back against six golden pillars.

A face with light shadows under his eyes. Features so handsome they were beautiful were proof of noble bloodline. He had a very irritable impression.

Emperor Long-zhen Zhu Youji.

“……”

He sat in a golden chair twisted into a small dragon’s body. As emperor who succeeded his father Emperor Qian-ling, he had lost people’s hearts and loyalty during the very long time he spent as crown prince.

Because he had spent long years in debauchery while thinking his father Emperor Qian-ling would sit on the throne forever.

His appearance wearing dragon robes with sun and moon carved on both shoulders was also quite different from Emperor Qian-ling. His posture leaning against the splendid backrest seemed somehow floating.

His eyelashes, dense as prison bars, slanted down toward the civil and military officials who had begun debating.

“In any case, national sword is proper.”

“Isn’t that exile?”

“If you speak so, how will those guarding the Great Wall hear it? It’s the most honorable position under heaven from the start. Isn’t the Great Wall the place defended under the command of masters who received the golden battle-axe from the former emperor?”

“If we show such intentions to a Desolate Fortress purple who has accomplished great deeds, the Tyrant Hero’s Rebellion might be recreated.”

“The Tyrant Hero’s Rebellion? Must we really discuss that story?”

“The Desolate Day is now immeasurably strong, and Extinction means sunlight-like etiquette and principles are useless, so what would be inferior to the former Tyrant Hero if such martial prowess and character are connected?”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s epithet extended to Desolate Day Extinction.

There was no one in Beijing’s Forbidden City who would dare speak the name Northern Emperor. Even a first-rank minister would have to stake his life for that.

At the same time, they never degraded Jeong Yeon-shin.

On one hand, pro-Desolate Fortress personnel might be secretly listening, and on the other hand, there was no hindrance to achieving their great objective without particularly belittling Jeong Yeon-shin.

They only discussed grand strategy. Therefore they were lofty.

Then a man in red robes that hung to his feet interjected with a slow manner of speech.

“The word exile is incorrect. If we give duties equivalent to Great Wall Grand Governor to Lord Jeong, that would rather show trust befitting those absurdly tremendous achievements.”

Unusually sharp ears and steel-blue eyes like Arctic ice revealed his bloodline. His standing position was also closest to the throne.

Barrier Sword Qian Yu-ling.

Because he had been active in northern jianghu, he had the epithet ‘swordsman like a door bolt.’ That is, Barrier Sword.

The person who newly rose to the position above ten thousand people, succeeding Eunuch Sa Ye who had been killed by Divine Thief. That is, the current Chief Eunuch, and also the sixth cousin great-uncle of Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so.

Meanwhile, the robes of a middle-aged woman who had nodded at his words were also red.

She even had an appearance where not a single strand of hair stuck out from her cap, and despite being ten steps before the emperor, she held an ashen iron fan behind her back.

“That’s fine.”

Iron Blood Fan Zhuge Mu-dan.

The person who became Cabinet Grand Scholar after Emperor Longzhen’s ascension. The younger sister of the dead Zhuge Family Head, she had previously been highly renowned as a Hanlin Academy Grand Scholar.

But she had been demoted due to incidents caused by the Zhuge Family Head and was managing Ming Dynasty history books at Wenzhao Pavilion, when she recently caught the Grand Empress Dowager’s eye and was promoted.

It was thanks to evaluations that her literary talent was skillful and her martial prowess was high.

“Lightning Genius Jeong…”

When she opened her lips, the surroundings quieted. It was because she had vented her demotion’s grievances with insulting eloquence and intimidating power like energy waves upon reaching a position of real power.

“…It was said he greatly won northern people’s hearts. Then rather than keeping him in the north, it would be right to summon him to the Forbidden City. If Lord Jeong served as Grand Preceptor at Your Majesty’s side, no unrest would arise in state affairs.”

At Zhuge Mu-dan’s words, Qian Yu-ling replied with an indifferent face.

“Reasonable.”

“This is the level of a nation’s trust in a Desolate Fortress purple. Though there are many stories about Lord Jeong’s character to share outside the palace, no one doubts the eyes of Grand Preceptor Wei of the Desolate Fortress Lord. Orders to remain in the north can exist because we trust Lord Jeong.”

“It seems fine to write it that way.”

Qian Yu-ling said.

Even until then, Emperor Longzhen sat on the throne with a seemingly floating temperament. No minister gave him a glance.

“What cordial discussion.”

He muttered quietly.

It was then that Qian Yu-ling looked up at Emperor Longzhen.

“Your Majesty, Yao tribe jianghu people are fighters who are hard to trust in treaties like peace agreements. The Great Wall must properly remain blocked, and according to the actions Lightning Genius Jeong has shown, I believe it’s right for him to serve as national sword in the demon realm’s jianghu.”

Barrier Sword Qian Yu-ling was rare pure blood even among the clans. His noble clan blood was thicker than even Emperor Longzhen, who had Han blood mixed in.

At the same time, he was also the Grand Empress Dowager’s confidant, so Qian Yu-ling’s shadow attending court meetings was equivalent to the Grand Empress Dowager’s figure.

Naturally, he was undergoing regency without opportunity to display his abilities as emperor.

Subsequently, Zhuge Mu-dan discussed the disposition of Jeong Yeon-shin, who had killed her elder brother.

“Let’s send a message tube containing imperial orders attached to an imperial swallow. Since all imperial spirits remember Lord Jeong’s scent, we can consider the order delivered the moment the imperial swallow flaps its wings.”

The Ming imperial house’s sword was forged with tongue and words like this. If one served the nation, it was an unavoidable political sword technique.

Imperial ministers who agreed with the two people’s words.

They possessed power stronger than original martial arts. Because they absolutely would not die.

Jeong Yeon-shin was in the distant demon realm, and even if he was a purple, he would have to consider aftermath first to move against the Grand Empress Dowager’s close associates.

Moreover, carefully examining the reports that had come up, the Ming imperial house could know that the contemporary Divine Sword Group Leader proxy was sensitive to reputation and achievements.

It was work to plan the Ming Dynasty’s safety in the big picture.

There would be no justification to refuse.

“Your Majesty.”

Barrier Sword Qian Yu-ling’s call.

Only after all discussion had ended did the civil and military officials’ attention focus on Emperor Longzhen. It would be over once words of approval came out.

“…In my opinion.”

Emperor Chongzhen slowly parted his lips.

“We should also ask the opinions of the elders who went toward the World Tree’s trunk. Though state affairs great and small are the ministers’ share, there has been no such great matter since I ascended. Now Lightning Genius of Desolate Fortress is such a person.”

The person who answered with flowing eloquence was Zhuge Mu-dan.

“It’s hard to know where they might be by now. The World Tree’s trunk is connected to ‘Gates’ in various places around the world, and didn’t the trunk rooted in Beijing get placed right behind the Forbidden City by Emperor Chengzu’s dignified will?”

“So?”

“They would have already entered inside the Gates. And they would have emerged through other World Tree trunks with Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager’s divine art secret techniques, so finding the state’s elders would take much time. Wudang Mountain, Song Mountain, middle Yangtze River, Desolate Fortress main castle… there are many candidates. They would have gone where needed.”

“I want it. However much time it takes, decide carefully. Rather, it would be fine to make Lightning Genius the imperial house’s Grand Preceptor. He has the qualifications.”

Barrier Sword Qian Yu-ling slowly shook his head. His face remained expressionless.

“Your Majesty, many noble clans under heaven are watching the Forbidden City from outside Beijing. Please consider wisely.”

—Please consider wisely!

The civil and military officials’ voices burst rumbling vibrations like a massive echo, and suddenly some swallow descended on Qian Yu-ling’s shoulder.

A small message tube was already attached to the spirit swallow’s foot. Sending it up as is would be equivalent to conveying the imperial house’s command to the Divine Sword Group Leader proxy.

Peep—

The swallow’s head looked up at Emperor Longzhen and tilted sideways. The small spirit’s eyes reflected the emperor’s face suppressing great anger with an expression disguised as boredom.

Then.

Thud.

Suddenly one part of the extremely high ceiling dented semi-transparently. Like a transparent giant lightly pressing thin paper with a fist.

“……?”

The high officials who had each been shouting to consider closed their mouths. It was a place only with those whose energy perception was sensitive. Silence came instantly.

Thud.

A feeling like lightly knocking on a door continued.

It seemed to ask if anyone was there.

But no one opened their mouth. Most were those who had bloomed upper energy center spirits. The intuition that they shouldn’t speak was sucking their unconsciousness like a swamp.

Thud.

It was while a yellow dragon sculpture stuck to the ceiling looked down at the great hall.

It coiled with countless circles in its golden body, and hazy ripples spread continuously from one part of those circles. Along with deepening silence.

Suddenly, the eyes of a scholar in blue robes at the end of the formation widened. He had gained a small realization.

“World Tree trunk inside the Gates…?”

As soon as the small muttering flowed out, the heavy resonance quietly stopped.

“……”

Quiet that slowly deepened with a dry feeling.

Soon, as if understanding something, another thud sound spread, and in an instant, the heads of high officials in red robes like Qian Yu-ling and Zhuge Mu-dan who had been glaring at the blue-robed scholar with reproachful eyes, and the spirit swallow’s body, burst out like dreams.

Thud!

“Southern Emperor, precious friend.”

It was a voice that completely destroyed space and descended. Before they knew it, some giant cripple was standing upside down on the ceiling marked with spider web-like cracks.

His single eye resting on a letter rolling around on the floor.

Beijing’s Forbidden City.

“Have you gone?”

The Fighting God had arrived in the Central Plains.

* * *

Two people emerged from among the clusters of golden roofs. One moved his feet with a limp, and the other person was dragged like baggage.

“My heart is that of an ordinary man, so I’m not free from grudges. The only way I know to forget hatred is through fighting.”

The Fighting God who had suddenly appeared and destroyed the Forbidden City, and Emperor Longzhen who had been a puppet from the beginning. At this moment, the Fighting God seemed to be speaking to Emperor Longzhen, or seemed to be muttering alone with no way to vent some feelings.

“Yes, I’ll honor you in the eternal prison of years.”

The one-eyed cripple said.

With his back to the ruins that had originally been the Forbidden City.

Whoosh— Rumble!

Bronze braziers erected between thick pillars heated red-hot, and countless blood swirled up.

It was a scene where Six Star Lord Literary Star’s explosive force and Northern Blade’s blade wind seemed mixed.

Clouds that had somehow split left and right.

Their surfaces were dyed with massive amounts of blood like wounds carved on a giant’s skin.

Misty blood that soared endlessly as divine explosive force was carved into space. At this moment, it filled the Forbidden City’s sky and spread rippling beyond to Beijing.

Crimson sky. It was Red Sky.

The large cripple went south like that, south. While letting his somewhat cracked voice flow as soliloquy like drunken rambling.

“I should pick the World Tree’s fruit first.”

In one hand he held a gourd bottle giving off thick wine fragrance. His pale white breath was already lightly emitting intoxication.

Step.

Emperor Longzhen was dragged at his constantly limping feet. He was unconscious with his nape gripped. Two furrows were thus carved futilely like the Ming Dynasty’s imperial lineage in the middle of the official road.

“That! What on earth is that!”

“Dragon robes? Your Majesty…?!”

It didn’t take long for news of the Forbidden City’s collapse to spread far and wide.

The Ming Dynasty before the Divine Sword Group’s southward movement.

South of the Yangtze River, the ‘Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance’ that had absorbed some of the great sects and massive clans of Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths flourished under the sword of a person who had been seventh on Northern Blade’s jianghu personnel records, and the World Tree moved its massive roots like feet, accompanying all sorts of major incidents.

At the same time, land where the ruined nation’s prince who had lost his soul and gained the Three World-Shattering Forms wandered without destination.

The Fighting God moved his steps to the vast earth.

“Hmm… the direction is different, so it would be hard to stop by Desolate Fortress.”

He smiled slightly at the unconscious Emperor Chongzhen and spoke.

“Let’s go slowly. This is my final journey.”

It was the era of martial jianghu.

* * *

The emperor of the era.

In distant demon realm mountain ranges, there were Yao tribe shouts calling Jeong Yeon-shin’s name. Words like Northern Emperor, young Fighting God, and Sword Heaven dug into the ears of him lying unconscious.

Great work remained.

He had to face Desolate Fortress seniors who had learned much. There had already been upper energy center insight.

‘Damn it.’

He muttered in deep dreams.