Chapter 631 – Chaotic Times

He dreams.

He knows it’s a dream.

The distant depths of years he had opened himself.

The ‘sword’ who had once been Tyrant Sword Sect Leader Dan Seong-eum was clearly aware. At the same time, he questioned himself. Did I have a name? Was it a sword’s name, or a person’s name?

“You’re going to use torture methods on your head?”

A familiar yet strange, still childish girl’s voice.

Her eyes were sparkling as they always had. The training robes embroidered with three plum blossom petals suited her very well.

“Are you sane? Don’t do that, you have talent. Otherwise you wouldn’t even be able to feel essence, energy, and spirit separated.”

It was after the sun had lost its original heat. The bamboo leaves that had maintained fresh green in midsummer were losing their blue-green color. As a dry wind blew through the dream, the leaves scattered with rustling sounds.

“Besides, the royal family… this is a secret, right? Anyway, you received all sorts of precious medicines and elixirs from a decent family, didn’t you? I only just became a candidate for taking Purple Essence Pills.”

The girl’s chattering continued.

“Anyway, there must be a reason your country used that as torture rather than cultivation. From the start, no one can endure such years sitting in one place. Could a human who experienced eons remain human? Death at the right time makes it ‘life.'”

It was strange.

All the scenery rippled hazily, but the girl alone was clear. As if she was the only reality in a world stained with dreams.

“Master says time is the most expensive thing. To buy it you have to lose much, and selling it is like handing over your soul. If I get expelled like this and work at an escort agency, I’ll be able to understand it. Isn’t it a bit harsh for just dozing off for about two hours during energy circulation?”

The girl around that time was friendly and rarely talkative. Though the ‘sword’ couldn’t even recall her name, he knew at least that much.

“What on earth did that Murong family bastard babble to you? Just a frog in a well. Anyway, the Dragon Phoenix Gathering here is full of unpleasant guys who can’t even use swords properly.”

Additionally, she said Taoists should originally be able to convincingly sell medicine with no efficacy, and she would someday become the Mount Hua Sect Leader, the peak of medicine peddling.

An immortal who could open the large storehouses of high officials or great merchants to common people with just a few nonsense words.

“Listen. If you only think about swordwork alone for thousands and tens of thousands of years, won’t you forget everything else? Is that human? The world’s most terrible torture is when you don’t remain yourself… You won’t do it? Yes, that’s right.”

The girl smiled.

“You promised? Where would there be a person who could spend ten thousand years alone like eternal snow? That’s not human. Let’s be chivalrous heroes who beat up bad guys together. This is also a promise…?”

The appearance of the girl boldly extending her white hand suddenly flickered into the form of a pure white sword.

A scene where she became a girl then returned to a pure white sword repeatedly, creating hazy afterimages like a moth’s wingbeats.

The sword who had been facing the girl approached her then hesitated. And tilted his sword tip slightly sideways like a head.

‘You were…’

What sword was it?

* * *

‘I am Divine Sword Group Leader, Jeong Family’s Lightning Genius.’

Jeong Yeon-shin was clearly aware of his body’s condition and surrounding situation. Experience and emotions were precisely the martial constellation that composed the small universe called the contemporary Divine Sword Group Leader.

Since every moment was important, he didn’t let anything flow through his mind.

Thanks to this, he was unconsciously aware that he was lying within the safest escort formation under heaven.

It was even quite a peaceful sanctuary.

This was very rare.

At some point, cases of continuing missions in the worst physical condition had increased, but before that could happen, everything had ended. There were also allies capable of handling any matter.

Therefore, the highest priority should be recovery. A Divine Sword Group Leader in perfect condition was a kind of shortcut to quickly finish many things.

He repeatedly fell into shallow sleep and woke several times.

When he began to wonder how much time had passed, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly began to regain consciousness.

Saaaa…

He was lying on a rough bed.

A strand of wind had just lightly scraped his face then risen. His fingertips lingered in the air that teased his skin along with gradually sharpening senses.

A fragrant flesh scent mixed into his deep inhale, the familiar fragrance of a senior.

Meanwhile, small voices from a distance by his bedside were tickling his ears with whispers.

‘Recovery will take a while…’

He was reluctant to create unnecessary time.

He considered opening his eyes but decided to keep them closed for a moment. The gazes of seniors examining him at close range felt burdensome.

It was a strange feeling.

‘As expected.’

They all seemed to have learned things they shouldn’t have noticed. He could be more certain based on their sound transmissions.

—Did pulse reading go well? If we touch his crown, will Yeon-shin get angry?

—I’m getting tired of this. Wait patiently.

—Big guy went out because his wounds opened again, tell Jin Myeong-jo to come in. Why does that bastard only wander outside? He has nothing to do anyway.

—Isn’t there anyone who will cooperate if I bind Ming Cult Leader with binding techniques and bring her now? It would be very difficult since we shouldn’t kill her, but if we place a comparison subject beside Lord Jeong somehow…

—Don’t these fools know that Lord Jeong’s senses might catch sound transmissions?

Radiant Sword Squad Leader Hak So-seon’s final words didn’t distinguish between senior-junior relationships or age. It naturally created momentary silence.

Wait.

Jeong Yeon-shin seemed to have returned to Xiangyang territory of Huguang Province. Perhaps because of his mood, he seemed to even smell the grass fragrance of Wuyun Mountain Grass Lodge, so he had no choice but to slowly open his eyes.

It was a place with only strong people.

Desolate Fortress black ranks turned their heads immediately as soon as Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyelid muscles tensed. As if they had been feeling his body with energy perception all along.

Jeong Yeon-shin met gazes with blue eyes instead of a ceiling.

“……”

It was Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so who had been looking down at him from his bedside. Even after their gazes met, she just stared at him blankly.

Woong.

A faint vibration arose from her bosom.

It was a World Tree sapling she had once taken from Golden Wing Sect Leader’s formation. At this moment, it continuously emitted gentle breezes as if keeping pace with Jeong Yeon-shin’s heartbeat, and each time that breeze touched his skin, his internal and external injuries subsided however slightly. 

Like when he had once recuperated with Yong Hye-myeong at the World Tree spring water of Heaven Heavenly Pillar Sect.

‘One week and I’ll be fully recovered.’

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin was thinking. Suddenly Cheon So-so spoke in a whisper-like quiet voice.

“Yeon-shin.”

“Yes, senior.”

Jeong Yeon-shin reflexively answered while worrying his throat might be hoarse, but fortunately an intact voice flowed out. At the same time, Cheon So-so moved her lips again.

“Yeon-shin.”

That was all.

Had she not wanted an answer? Or perhaps it was due to her nature of not being talkative.

After calling Jeong Yeon-shin like that, Cheon So-so gently turned her head to the opposite side. She was still sitting at Jeong Yeon-shin’s bedside.

She seemed unable to get up from her seat because the World Tree sapling was in her bosom. Or perhaps she was deliberately sitting regardless of Jeong Yeon-shin’s recovery.

Because among the various seniors, she was someone who thought of him a bit more specially.

That’s when it happened.

“Acting Group Leader, is there any discomfort in movement?”

It was Annihilation Team Leader Shin Hwang.

He was leaning against an extremely wide and round wall like traditional Yuan Dynasty houses, and the fierce wind hitting the outer wall then flowing out strongly was like Shin Hwang’s atmosphere.

Meanwhile, his appearance with bandages wrapped around both arms also reminded one of Nether Stream Squad Leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin hesitated briefly at that sight, and Shin Hwang clasped his hands behind his back as when he had once verified Jeong Yeon-shin’s blue rank advancement martial arts. Naturally his hands were also hidden.

It wasn’t just Shin Hwang.

Except for Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so and Ultimate Martial Hall Leader Geum Cheong-won, who were skilled in defensive techniques, each hid major injuries with similar appearances. It was hard to guess where they had supplied so many bandages.

Even Dragon Treading Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji and Law Enforcement Leader Woon So-yu were roughly lying on blankets somewhat apart from Jeong Yeon-shin’s bed, and what Jeong Yeon-shin had thought was grass fragrance from Wuyun Mountain Grass Lodge was the herbal medicine smell emanating from their bodies.

The two were half-dead.

“…I can move now.”

There was no response to Jeong Yeon-shin’s words.

From Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya, Ultimate Transformation Hall Leader Geum Cheong-won, Forest-Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin, to Radiant Sword Squad Leader Hak So-seon.

While clenching and opening their own grips, meaninglessly moving their already half-ruined prosthetic legs, rubbing their large foreheads, or tapping their shoulders with swords that had lost all teeth, their behavior was as varied as always.

“……”

Then the black ranks stood blankly as if surrounding the bed, silently looking at Jeong Yeon-shin. Even though they had seemed ready to pour out all sorts of stories the moment Jeong Yeon-shin opened his eyes.

They knew but remained silent.

Because Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t spoken yet.

But what he should say as Divine Sword Group Leader at this moment was decided.

“Please report on recent events.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly.

First were the Desolate Fortress comrades lost in this Black Capital great battle. He needed to know the Divine Sword Group’s current situation.

“Damn it…”

Curses flowed from Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya’s lips, but Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t blink once. Strong thick skin was a Divine Sword Group Leader’s essential quality.

* * *

Time passed while no one could mention Jeong Yeon-shin’s body. Before they knew it, bright sunlight was swallowing the snow-covered horizon.

It was dazzling noon.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened the barracks door and came out.

A cliff immediately spread out below, and in front of it two men were showing their backs while facing the sunlight.

They appeared hazily in shadowy outlines.

One was Yong Hye-myeong elegantly fluttering his faded purple robe hem, and the other was Jin Myeong-jo with snow-white hair hanging down to his back like eternal snow.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze had no choice but to shift from the ruined sword to the Divine Sword Vice-Leader. The left sleeve of his new black robe was empty and being teased by the north wind.

The atmosphere was desolate. Dry air could also be felt.

“Lightning Genius, you’ve smoothly overcome a difficult situation.”

Yong Hye-myeong turned toward Jeong Yeon-shin with a slight smile.

“Your subordinates have shouldered mental burdens, but that much is nothing to main castle black ranks. They’re guys who bear a nation’s people’s livelihood in name. The problem is they’re all eccentric fellows so you can’t know what trouble they’ll cause.”

“Lord Jeong.”

The Divine Sword Vice-Leader’s characteristically cold and smooth voice. Jin Myeong-jo still hadn’t turned toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

He was just quietly looking down at the cliff below, and somehow Jeong Yeon-shin felt from Jin Myeong-jo the temperament he had experienced from great enemies. It was precisely the inscrutability and coldness of the Southern Emperor under heaven who had always looked down at battlefields.

“After His Former Majesty passed away, what remained in the Ming Dynasty imperial house is obstinacy. I know because I’ve been in Beijing’s prisons. They calculate gains and losses thoroughly.”

Jin Myeong-jo’s words continued slowly.

“More than half of the Thirteen Evil Sects and local powerful clans are destroyed. Through this incident the demon realm has greatly tilted, and while the Ming Dynasty has become greatly safe, two things remain. Now there’s only the Divine Sword Group that has become strong enough to succeed in northern conquest and… the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader in the distant south whose martial prowess is currently hard to fathom. Even excluding aged former group leaders, it’s power and symbolism enough to change the imperial lineage.”

“Hmm?”

Yong Hye-myeong’s head tilted slightly sideways, but Jin Myeong-jo’s story remained chilly.

“Even if the Fortress Lord permits it, the Ming Dynasty’s rulers won’t entrust everything of their clan to a mere individual who is only Han Chinese. You’ll face strong opposition. Moreover, we’ve paradoxically positioned ourselves as the Ming imperial house’s greatest threat at the point of succeeding in northern expedition.”

“Senior Jin.”

“There’s a high possibility discussions have already taken place. About Lord Jeong’s exile… The Grand Empress Dowager I experienced was surprisingly flexible, and from a big picture perspective, all decisions flowed in directions beneficial to the Ming imperial house. The ‘Northern Emperor’ threatening the Zhu imperial lineage naturally crumbling? That would be exactly what they desire. Conversely, giving eternal life to the northern jianghu’s emperor carries enormous risk.”

It was a talk about World Tree fruit.

Suddenly a topic corresponding to the world’s pinnacle had flowed out. In a place with only owners of formless swords.

“Hmm? No…”

Around then Yong Hye-myeong seemed to sense something strange. Many things were finally flowing into nerves dull as dragon scales. The meaning a sect’s grand master had in martial jianghu, secrets revealed in hell where all emotional stimuli were maximized, Desolate Fortress’s culture that prioritized the Divine Sword Group Leader over the emperor, the fact that if one delved to extremes in Jeong Family Dynamic Technique and Radiant Art formulas, one would already be like another Jeong Yeon-shin…

“Myeong-jo. No wait, are all these black bastards thinking the same thing…?”

“If you command it.”

Whoosh!

Suddenly the empty sleeve completely mixed with grayish snow and north wind then fluttered like a flag.

“I’ll have a drinking match with fruit wine.”

He would brew alcohol with World Tree fruit. Was it an extension of postponing drinking sessions until now? Chilling coldness could be felt.

Step.

Jeong Yeon-shin returned to the tent with retreat footwork as if rewinding time. At the same time, he pondered which direction to walk.

White Qilin with shallow breathing and some Obeying Heaven Wing masters examining him, Hyeon Won-chang, and Shin So-bin.

Similarly, the barracks of Seventh Apostle and Blood King Family who were breathing out internal energy exhalations.

The canyon where Ma Yeon-jeok and Divine Beggar Zhu Guang’s encounter had taken place.

These were places he needed to visit.