Chapter 632 – Chaotic Times (2)

After Jeong Yeon-shin returned to the barracks.

The intervals between the sparsely falling sleet narrowed by themselves. Chilly cold fragments filled the sky and fell like feathers.

As if frost had formed on the dragon’s heart where even small whims could change the climate.

Whoosh!

An entirely pale white landscape.

Within the snowfall pouring down like white rain, Yong Hye-myeong cast a deliberately serious gaze at Jin Myeong-jo.

“Are you sane?”

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m afraid you might attack.”

It was a voice cold as if frozen.

“Afraid?”

Suddenly Yong Hye-myeong’s head tilted sideways grotesquely slowly. For a moment he seemed to have transformed not into a person but some still life. The temperament of rock, scales, or clouds.

“You don’t seem to have anything to fear right now.”

“……”

“I see the dead alien emperor overlapping with you. A monster forged by his own personal great cause.”

“There was nothing wrong with my words.”

“There was error. The Divine Sword Group picking World Tree fruit regardless of the imperial house’s will? That’s treason.”

“The Ming imperial house won’t collapse just because World Tree fruit goes to Lord Jeong. It’s something that might barely happen if some natural disaster struck the Forbidden City. On the other hand, if Lord Jeong passes away, this land loses its sword of national protection. And most importantly…”

Jin Myeong-jo asked quietly.

“Has Group Leader Yong ever been the imperial house’s sword?”

Yong Hye-myeong’s lips formed a hollow laugh.

“I’m the Ming Dynasty’s divine sword and a toy sword that even common children can wield, but it seems the imperial house’s higher-ups won’t permit it now. The Enter The Divine Sword being inherited by Lightning Genius.”

“That’s something that happens when the hearts of Desolate Fortress members unite, not the Ming Dynasty leadership. Isn’t it the only right given to those who throw away their lives on the front lines? Adding strength to the group leader’s authority.”

“Since when were you so eloquent?”

“Mixed blood is adept at survival.”

Divine Sword Group masters.

It was said they were only those who had mastered the art of survival.

It was skill that could be directed not at oneself but at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Please cooperate.”

Jin Myeong-jo said quietly. Suddenly Yong Hye-myeong’s hollow laugh also deepened.

“Quickly hand over the Enter The Divine Sword? Is that something to say to a superior?”

You’re driving yourself to a cliff’s edge. Yong Hye-myeong muttered.

* * *

Atop a distant cliff.

The location where the Divine Sword Group’s temporary base was established.

The hill was spacious. Naturally, it was also easy to guard against raids originating from swift lightness skill movements.

Meanwhile, it was a point where one could look down at the ruined Black Capital to the east and even observe the canyon leading west toward Russia.

Being a snow peak covered in snow, everything within sight was pure white. The same was true for the dozen or so barracks built here and there and the few wisps of smoke that rose intermittently.

The northern frontier was white.

Jeong Yeon-shin carved deep footprints in its center.

Thud.

A faint sea of clouds spread across the middle of the cliff. A scene where the light source of sunlight was hazily suspended beyond the sea of clouds.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at that scenery and suddenly felt as if he had climbed to the highest place under heaven.

‘That’s also correct.’

Now there was no martial force stronger than the Divine Sword Group throughout the north and south of the Great Wall boundary.

Excluding nation-level forces like large-scale martial army units, the chivalrous heroes of Desolate Fortress were precisely the pinnacle of jianghu under heaven.

It was an undeniable fact whether southern martial world knew it or not.

The Divine Sword Group Leader’s sense of responsibility should grow as much as that power. Feelings for main castle family should also take priority over any grudges.

This was why Jeong Yeon-shin first set foot in Obeying Heaven Wing’s barracks.

Just then, the eyes of a white warrior standing guard at the tent entrance had also widened. She had already reflexively raised both hands toward Jeong Yeon-shin. Her cat-like eyes that reminded one of a surprised cat stood out.

Only after paying respects did puzzled words flow out.

“Acting Divine Group Leader?”

Obeying Heaven Wing’s Lake-Protecting Swift Sword Shin Bin-bin.

A warrior who had once accompanied Jeong Yeon-shin in the Sichuan expedition’s Radiant Demon Wing, and also Shin So-bin’s older sister. A person who had previously had some friction with Jeong Yeon-shin due to her great admiration for White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin.

Her eyes resembled Shin So-bin’s, but her limb proportions were shorter than her younger sister who had learned Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

On the other hand, at this moment her breath flowed out thick like white flames then repeatedly scattered. As if indicating the intensity of the battle she had fought earlier.

‘Everyone would be like this.’

Regardless of the past, she was a complete Desolate Fortress warrior.

“……?”

Jeong Yeon-shin paused while passing Shin Bin-bin with a glance. Because in that brief moment her hand had almost grasped his purple robe hem then pulled back.

She seemed to have urgent words but couldn’t dare grasp a purple’s sleeve.

At the same time, Shin Bin-bin’s sound transmission continued anxiously like tangled thread.

—The Obeying Heaven Wing Leader is in critical condition. Perhaps because he directly received a Northern King-level peerless master’s sword energy, we tried to wake him with all sorts of great techniques from the main castle but he won’t regain consciousness… The Acting Divine Group Leader’s healing words are desperately needed. Please give many good words…

Jeong Yeon-shin slightly narrowed his brow. While suppressing the anxiety in his heart.

“Don’t damage your direct superior’s dignity.”

—That’s not it…!

While walking toward the entrance, Jeong Yeon-shin briefly glanced sideways at Shin Bin-bin’s profile. A hardened appearance like a blade worn down over several years. Jeong Yeon-shin touched her shoulder.

“Well done surviving. Black Capital must have been difficult.”

Rustle.

Grayish dharma power caressed Shin Bin-bin’s energy waves and disappeared. Her unstable internal energy breathing also stabilized somewhat simultaneously. Because Desolate Fortress Divine Technique’s Fate Defying Scripture was orthodox martial arts.

It wasn’t only Namgung Hwa-shin who deserved the Divine Sword Group Leader’s healing words. Everyone at the main castle was in the same situation.

“……!”

While Shin Bin-bin’s round eyes widened even more.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently opened the tent entrance and entered. Separate from the finely trembling presence behind him, thick medicinal fragrance brushed his nose. How much golden wound medicine had been applied?

What spread before his eyes was a sickbed.

Namgung Hwa-shin sleeping atop a pile of blankets covered in bloodstains. He was even wrapped entirely in bandages. Those surrounding him had already stood up and were paying respects to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Lord Jeong.”

“Acting Divine Group Leader.”

There were five familiar Obeying Heaven Wing masters, along with Hyeon Won-chang and Shin So-bin.

Suddenly Jeong Yeon-shin unconsciously avoided Shin So-bin’s eyes. His chief disciple who began staring intently as soon as he entered the barracks. She too was the same as the other black ranks.

Because of what Little Heavenly Demon Invincible had done at Reverse Current Castle.

‘Damn human.’

Her face flashing through his mind was brief.

The next moment Jeong Yeon-shin was naturally standing at Namgung Hwa-shin’s bedside. Immediately after, sonic booms spread like hooks sweeping the surroundings.

Recently, the boundary between ordinary walking and footwork had greatly crumbled. Enough for the Obeying Heaven Wing masters to step back half a pace with newly surprised faces.

At the same time, Namgung Hwa-shin’s eyelids rose like a dream. Truly ghostly movement. Like a sword draw that a swordsman who had honed some sense to the extreme would reflexively pull up.

“……!”

The expressions of the Obeying Heaven Wing masters who had shown surprise reached shock, and Namgung Hwa-shin turned his head diagonally and met gazes with Jeong Yeon-shin.

“…I knew you would be safe.”

“Squad Leader Namgung’s efforts were great.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly. While suddenly recalling Namgung Hwa-shin from the Desolate Fortress entrance exam. The great hero’s bearing of one who had acknowledged his own defeat despite beating Jeong Yeon-shin in martial arts.

A youth who had been making his name as a heavenly talent of the orthodox righteous path even before entering Desolate Fortress.

He had experienced many things like Jeong Yeon-shin.

His mother and lover had been killed, and he couldn’t tie up the grudge with his sister who had been a fierce beast herself. During such unconsciousness, there had been his brother Azure Qilin’s death, and suddenly former Obeying Heaven Wing Leader Ha Do-woon had also been killed.

Even in the situation where he couldn’t conclude all those grudges himself, despite learning Judgement Qilin, he couldn’t participate in the Mount Hua Agreement martial arts competition.

And when the outbreak of the Desolate Fortress Great War caused Dream Human Moon to attack the Obeying Heaven Wing hall, he had been hovering between life and death.

They said he had fallen into demonic possession.

To the extent that other squad leaders were avoiding him.

The circumstances were deep. Perhaps Namgung Hwa-shin was proof of chaotic times. The same was true for Jeong Yeon-shin who had similarly experienced obsessive martial disorder.

But there were no other words to give as Divine Sword Group Leader.

“I’m glad you survived. Thanks to that, we could quickly reach Black Capital Old Palace.”

This was the end. Originally, qilin were said to be legendary spirits that shone dazzlingly with five colors inside and out.

If it was Namgung Hwa-shin who had already been martial world’s qilin several years ago, he was no less than Jeong Yeon-shin as a person. He should be able to escape from demonic possession himself.

‘Yes, however long it takes…’

Jeong Yeon-shin hoped the contemporary Obeying Heaven Wing Leader would reclaim his own life. Before his own lifeline ended.

Suddenly Namgung Hwa-shin spoke seriously.

“Lord Jeong.”

“Speak.”

“I… cut Transcendent Martial Art.”

“What?”

“Truly.”

No more words followed. He had closed his eyes again before they knew it. The appearance of leaving behind a story that had to be conveyed. Jeong Yeon-shin decided to quickly reclaim Namgung Hwa-shin’s life.

‘Heavenly Demon Tomb.’

It was said all things of demons slept in the Heavenly Demon’s legacy.

Though there had once been talk of it being some nameless Heavenly Demon’s tomb, he had heard from Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s mouth that the first Heavenly Demon’s legacy was in Central Plains land.

Hyeon Won-chang, who had been nearby, smiled awkwardly.

“Well, however it happened… since he’s opened up speech, his internal energy breathing has definitely opened too. I was staying together in case individual combat power was needed, but it can truly be said to have turned out well.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s response was made through sound transmission.

—Seven Pillar Forbidden Acupoint Great Method.

It was Hyeon Won-chang’s turn for his eyes to bulge. Soon Jeong Yeon-shin spoke of what had happened at Ming Cult and the release of prohibitions. Calmly, yet in a story that continued as if reproaching himself.

Hyeon Won-chang stared at such a Jeong Yeon-shin, then soon smiled slightly and said.

—It’s still fine. This is Invincible’s demon-eating great technique. Even more so for someone who has learned assassin martial arts. If I’m to follow Lord Jeong’s battles, this prohibition is absolutely necessary. That monster who smiled as if he would play go properly while making the earth into a go board… I could deceive the energy perception of Six Star Lord whatever-his-name thanks to this Seven Pillar Forbidden Acupoint Great Method.

—Brother Hyeon Won.

—Of course, I can’t follow the battles Lord Jeong faces now. The situation where the black seniors, the poppy addict, and So-bin have learned the secret. Such matters can’t be handled by eloquence or hidden sleep techniques either.

That was all.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had left the barracks again, immediately headed toward the source of bewitching blood art energy waves.

Even though he had set out to organize matters before and after, his mind had become more complicated instead. Seeing a more complicated woman would conversely clear his thoughts.

‘Fighting poison with poison…’

Meanwhile, a jet-black bob-cut shadow was overlaid on his figure.

It was none other than Shin So-bin’s crown taking Jeong Yeon-shin as her shade. Because she had been following Jeong Yeon-shin from the moment he left the barracks until now.

“Don’t you have anything to say?”

“Come next time. I’ll send word.”

“In that canyon, Hidden Sword… I mean, Elder Ma is competing with Divine Beggar in lightness skill. I also have intentions to show Lord Jeong my achievement in Ten Li Gentle Light.”

“Next time is fine too. When shall we meet?”

“Anytime.”

It felt like there was no place to set foot.

Had the Divine Sword Vice-Leader who had been avoiding the Divine Sword Group Leader been like this? Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward footwork like retreat steps and reached the barracks of Seventh Apostle and Blood King Family.

It was a place where elegant fragrance flowed like a flower garden.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly intuited. This briefly encountered peace might be the last honey water before stepping into chaotic times.

Even so, he had to step in.

By the time of the Black Capital great battle, the Divine Sword Group’s hands had become even more insufficient. Because although they had proven to be the strongest under heaven, there had also been many casualties.

Now that they had made the north and south of the Great Wall the same heaven, the establishment of branches like ‘Desolate Red Family’ was urgent.

Nothing couldn’t be used for great cause.

It was what the Divine Sword Group Leader had learned from the Sword Star and Southern Emperor.

‘They’re nominally a Northern King family. They won’t really enter under the main castle’s jurisdiction just because words are thrown, but…’

Rustle.

The moment he opened the tent entrance, it was another chaos.