Chapter 637 – Chaotic Times (7)

Ground cracked here and there like barren rice fields.

Various parts of the vast earth were deeply shadowed like caves.

One of them extended blackly downward and further downward, reminiscent of a dragon’s throat.

All the stone walls were covered with dark frost, and the cold wind caught in those irregular textures made rumbling sounds before disappearing.

It was the old site of Black Capital Old Palace.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the cave so deep its bottom couldn’t be seen. It seemed good for bouncing enemies away.

‘Senior Yong’s Transcendent Martial Art…’

The traces of the former Divine Sword Group Leader’s strike hadn’t been restored at all. They might remain forever.

Yong Hye-myeong’s Transcendent Martial Art had a particularly shocking feel even among other peerless masters’ life-saving ultimate techniques.

Meanwhile, the stone seat placed on those ruins was also impressive. A position that would have been the head seat if the palace had been intact. On that roughly carved stone chair like the Grand Preceptor’s chair that Yong Hye-myeong had once thrust down, some man was sitting.

As tall as the Southern Emperor, with features that drew thick and sharp lines like the Southern Emperor. But his age was hard to guess.

Because of his roughly flowing beard like a dragon’s white eyebrows.

“Have you come?”

Words spoken while looking down at Jeong Yeon-shin diagonally.

It was a strange case.

Not only had he never heard such polite speech from a Northern King, but Jeong Yeon-shin felt that the other peerless masters’ presence was flowing in a strange direction.

It wasn’t pressuring Jeong Yeon-shin.

Rather, most of the energy waves were focused on the man sitting in the head seat. As if pressing down on his shoulders and trying to evaluate him.

“……?”

Yet the man’s appearance with his hand resting on the armrest was surprisingly natural.

Was it because of his noble birth? The stone chair he sat on felt like an emperor’s jade throne.

Jeong Yeon-shin stood calmly in the circle created by the Northern Kings and called the man.

“Aisin-Gioro Black Return.”

A person known to have become the Southern Emperor’s successor by suppressing all powerful blood relatives of the same generation. He had been pierced by Jeong Yeon-shin’s Remaining Thunder in the Black Capital great battle and ultimately lost his father, the Southern Emperor.

“Thank you. Since the world’s political situation is chaotic, you could have returned without bothering to stop by.”

His eye-light was impressive. Jet-black eyes like lightning in the night sky. Different from the Southern Emperor who had evoked quiet depths.

Because he seemed to possess something extraordinary beyond his own martial arts.

“Did you ascend to the throne in the meantime?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked calmly.

At the same time, he felt as if he was standing in the middle of some history. Naturally, it was the insight of his upper energy center spirit.

Black Return’s answer was indifferent.

“Half of it. Since there’s a separate Northern Emperor.”

“To avenge yourself?”

“Wash away shame? How could that be. Since the former emperor’s will has passed to the Northern Emperor, us attempting you again would be gaining shame ourselves.”

Suddenly, curse-like muttering rang from one side. Since it was Dharma King’s Sanskrit, it couldn’t be properly understood.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t bother to look back at the one-armed Western Region monk. Because Hyeon Won-chang standing nearby was already staring intently at Dharma King.

“He’s like me. That thing like eye discharge where the killing intent in his pupils has half-melted… Hmm, that monk must surely be a corrupt monk.”

“I ask Black Return and Literary Star. Only the Northern Emperor has nothing to do with the funeral.”

A question asking if it was okay to kill at least Jeong Yeon-shin’s party.

Such a place that would inevitably be a death ground for anyone.

But Hyeon Won-chang wasn’t the only person Jeong Yeon-shin had brought. At this moment, even Yong Hye-myeong and Jin Myeong-jo were standing behind him.

Since he had originally brought the entire Divine Sword Group, Jeong Yeon-shin’s presence now matched the epithet Northern Emperor more than ever.

If fighting began at the old site of Black Capital Old Palace right now, the Divine Sword Group’s resonance command outside would cast true energy supply of Entering Dao Vast Arts to Jeong Yeon-shin.

Starting from that moment, when Southern Radiant Vast Taiji unfolded, the Divine Sword Group would be invincible.

More than enough to inflict great damage on Black Capital’s thirty thousand martial army forces that could be called the nation’s foundation.

Moreover, the demon realm knew best about the Northern Emperor’s ‘Sword Song’ and ‘Starry Sky.’

This was why Black Return had no choice but to ignore Dharma King. Because any psychological warfare would inevitably become troublesome.

“…Setting aside trivial grudges, I want to ask the Northern Emperor. Do you know about the events currently occurring in the Ming Dynasty? I swear you have many urgent matters.”

“Is an emperor requesting a deal from a warrior?”

“You are not just a warrior. The epithet Northern Emperor is also a big problem, and you’re the one who received the final messages from the late Southern Emperor and Emperor Qian-ling. The new era can only flow following the tip of your sword. You’ll realize this even more when you travel to the Ming Dynasty in the future.”

“State what you want.”

“Please lend me this sword temporarily.”

In Black Return’s grip as he spoke was already a pure white divine sword. None other than Remaining Thunder.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t bother asking if he was crazy. Because he had never seen a peerless master with intact sanity from the beginning.

Just as Jeong Yeon-shin stared at Remaining Thunder intently, Black Return continued speaking.

“Your sword that pierced me is the divine object that will most greatly support the legitimacy of the next generation’s demon realm emperor. It’s also a precious sword absolutely necessary in these chaotic times. I want to conclude all grudges between you and the demon realm with this.”

“It’s the sword of the person who killed your father. What about your personal grudge?”

At the low question, Black Return’s lips rose faintly. A smile that conveyed gratitude for asking.

“An emperor is not an individual.”

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin decided not to interrogate Black Return further. Because humanity seeped from his inhuman answer. If it had been before coming to the demon realm, he might not know, but now he didn’t feel like humiliating his opponent.

At his silence, Black Return’s smile deepened.

“Indeed…”

Literary Star standing on one side was the same, as were Lu Ban Heavenly Emperor, Vajra, and Gao Yao Holy Sword Master.

Those who had been like evil spirits during fierce battles were dignified as if they were military lords.

A scene Jeong Yeon-shin could see because he was the Northern Emperor recognized by the Southern Emperor. Whether due to their respective ages or wisdom, the Northern Kings in this place seemed to prioritize the will the Southern Emperor had harbored over the beast who had killed the Southern Emperor.

‘Have I become a madman too?’

Such was Jeong Yeon-shin’s thought as he unconsciously understood them.

It was very unfamiliar. That a mission didn’t end with one side’s complete death.

While newly realizing that jianghu affairs could be concluded like this, Jeong Yeon-shin heard about the Central Plains’ political situation from Black Return.

He said all were information gathered through Bright Wind Cave. Because despite Yu Ling Leader’s death, the major sect called Yu Ling itself remained.

“I’ll start first with Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guangdong, the farthest from this land. The so-called Four Province Martial Alliance is suspected to be part of the rebel force called Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance. These people strangely possess techniques to lead the soulless Tyrant Sword Sect Leader along desired routes, and through this they clashed with Mount Heng Sect at northern Guangdong…”

North wind rumbled coldly within the numerous pits of the palace’s old site.

After such a long story continued.

“…Quite a spectacle. If time permitted, I was thinking of stepping on Yu Ling’s remnants one by one.”

It was Yong Hye-myeong’s soliloquy, who had similarly heard about the Central Plains situation with Jeong Yeon-shin.

Beside him, Jin Myeong-jo was silently tightening shoulder bandages with one hand, and Jeong Yeon-shin could no longer notice Remaining Thunder rumbling across from him each time he caressed Enter The Divine Sword’s hilt.

‘This is serious.’

The Ming Dynasty’s situation that flowed from Black Return’s mouth was reminiscent of the ancient Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms era.

Strongmen who naturally rose in various parts of the vast land as famine intensified.

Not only did Desolate Fortress main castle and Desolate Fortress Lord seem to have problems, but distance and time were the biggest issues.

Because tremendous time would inevitably be required just to run from Black Capital to the Great Wall.

Suddenly Yong Hye-myeong said.

—What a maddening situation. Given how long we’ve been absent, now even if I or the great-great predecessor recuperate, we’d have to sit cross-legged inside the Gates.

Jeong Yeon-shin answered quietly with his eyelids slightly lowered.

—Whether it was before coming to the demon realm or now, insufficient hands were the same.

—I should visit that woman called Dragon Sound Sasa King. Coming here, I saw she has quite an interesting fellow as a subordinate, so I’ll be having a brief conversation. Call me if something happens.

—It’s hard to privately summon someone who has washed their hands of jianghu. Please be comfortable.

—Now I understand the other’s position. Was this how the great predecessor felt?

With those words, Yong Hye-myeong hazily disappeared from his spot.

Meanwhile, there was an existence that had been intently observing Jeong Yeon-shin’s minute expression changes throughout. Jeong Yeon-shin felt her presence without even turning his gaze.

It was the Northern King who had desperately searched for the missing Great Warrior through Whirlwind Command, none other than Pure Affection.

For some reason, the characteristic fierceness of the Yao tribe couldn’t be felt. A presence like tree branches swaying in wind. She seemed to resemble the Eternal Candle Divine Doctor he had once seen.

Northern King Pure Affection spoke with a mysterious tone.

“We will meet again. Since I learned my beloved Great Warrior has gone south.”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer. He was just thinking about why he couldn’t identify her appearance through energy perception.

‘What kind of martial art is this…?’

At the same time, Black Return called him.

“Northern Emperor, don’t you intend to station the Divine Sword Group in the demon realm? I would likely monitor how you govern this land’s common people.”

“Necessarily?”

Though he questioned Black Return, Jeong Yeon-shin’s question was directed toward the Southern Emperor who had met death here.

These were people who respected the late Southern Emperor this much. Even Jeong Yeon-shin’s upper energy center didn’t sense any deception or falsehood in Black Return’s words. Naturally, there was no capacity to waste on them. Now the main castle’s squad leaders and Divine Sword Group blues had to return to their duties in their homeland.

“We just need to do well what we each promised with the Southern Emperor. You govern. I cut.”

“Cut? What…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer.

Suddenly.

“……”

Strange silence flowed over the palace’s old site, covering even the north wind.

Silence that surrounded not only Black Return, Literary Star, Lu Ban Heavenly Emperor, Vajra, and Dharma King, but even Hyeon Won-chang and Jin Myeong-jo. Particularly Hyeon Won-chang had an expression of having much to say to Jeong Yeon-shin, and Jin Myeong-jo just silently gazed at Jeong Yeon-shin’s back with blood-red eyes.

The white breath of Divine Sword Group and Black Capital masters who had been observing the inner situation from afar had also faded by now. It continued even until Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth again.

“The Ming Dynasty is far. I intend to examine your nation during the return journey. Kill those who should be killed, help those who should be helped.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Don’t die needlessly away from home. The Southern Emperor would be precious.”

Toward Jeong Yeon-shin who had turned around like that, Dharma King opened his mouth.

“Ming Cult Leader!”

“……?”

“Don’t you also hate that corrupt seed? If we meet in the south, will you kill her? Can you kill her while presenting great despair? It might be possible for you!”

Madness could be felt. Though his words and actions were strangely orderly compared to before, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly shook his head.

“Don’t be mistaken.”

“What mistake?”

“No one kills their past just because they dislike it. Handle your own grudge yourself.”

Jeong Yeon-shin completely left behind Dharma King who had lost his words. It was then that Black Return’s words, who had been silently listening to all of Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, rang again.

“One of the reasons the vast southern lands reached such a state of ruin… is precisely the void of you and the Divine Sword Group. Those jianghu people are ignorant of demon realm jianghu’s circumstances, but they know well how far the demon realm is. Whether you succeeded in northern expedition or not was also a problem, but the fact that it would take ages for you to come back down was originally a great reason. Nothing is as meaningless as a distant, invisible sword.”

“I know.”

“That was also a great topic for His Former Majesty the Southern Emperor. He always looked down only at the south while preparing various great techniques. The formation spread in this Black Capital was also one of them.”

“Wasn’t I cut by it? I said the road is long.”

“This Black Capital was established assuming Desolate Fortress Lord’s invasion. Would all formations have been placed only within sword reach? The formation constructed last with Ming Cult Leader Western Heaven Dark King’s cooperation, its axis was laid under this city’s waterways.”

“Another formation…?”

“It’s a Form-shifting Void spell formation. Even I don’t know which point in the Ming Dynasty this leads to, and the treasures capable of activating the formation’s function have all been exhausted… but try activating it yourself. If you want it, I’ll give it to you.”

Soon Black Return, who had paused his words briefly, spoke.

“As respect for the Northern Emperor who will have one bout and return.”

“Didn’t you say an emperor is not an individual?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s question, Black Return smiled faintly.

“To be honest, your return doesn’t seem like it will be good for the Central Plains. It’s an emperor’s judgment.”

“No treasures?”

“We used them all up dealing with you people. Obtain them yourself.”

That was all.

Jeong Yeon-shin gave Black Return a few more hints and came outside. It was a request regarding the poppy addict and Radiant Demon Wing Leader Cheong Myeong whom he still hadn’t reunited with, and even during that short conversation, Remaining Thunder’s vibration was noisy.

‘I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you.’

Step.

As soon as he came out of the ruins, a much gentler breeze struck his cheek. Yet the wind was still cold like winter.

A small sun was mixing orange sunset like paint into the bitter cold wind. It seemed to vomit out the feelings of things seen in the north.

The sunset light also reached the stairs leading up to Black Capital Old Palace. On them, Desolate Jeok Family Head Blood King was roughly sitting with Ma Yeon-jeok.

“My daughter is such a person that though there’s no wound under heaven that cannot regenerate, she deliberately lives as one-eyed. Though I repeatedly told her it was leaving flaws in completeness, she wouldn’t listen. She said it was the trace where Jeong Family’s Lightning Genius’s hand had entered deepest.”

“Isn’t that a madwoman?”

“It’s the purity of noble clans. A heart you people would find hard to possess.”

“Babble as you please. I decided long ago not to expend mental energy no matter what kind of person my blood relative befriends.”

“Unexpected. You don’t look like you would, but how long has it been since you made up your mind like that?”

“Nineteen years.”

“…Hearing the story Jeong Family’s Lightning Genius shared over there, we’ll have to walk helplessly south on foot… For reference, our main family’s treasures were all burned by your grandson in one sword strike. Anyway, the journey won’t be boring. The cast of characters here is so diverse.”

“Who knows.”

He was walking to find Yong Hye-myeong who had gone outside.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt the sunset that had coolly permeated the young old men’s conversation.

It was still winter.

* * *

Early evening with hazy orange sunset.

Step.

As soon as Jeong Yeon-shin took one step, he felt spring wind. Around him were Desolate Fortress Divine Sword Group numbering around five hundred, along with each squad leader.

On one side, Yong Hye-myeong was irritably applying acupoint pressure to his blood-covered arm. A complexion that had turned pale like Jin Myeong-jo’s face. A color not seen even during the Black Capital great battle.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke as if comforting Yong Hye-myeong.

“It seems quite effective.”

“Didn’t I say it’s precious blood? Lightning Genius you bastard, when you were talking about washing hands in golden basin…”

The surroundings were ruins.

Spring wind was blazing through fragments of stone that had burned long ago. It was the aftermath of some overwhelming power.

Right after dark mist had spewed out the Divine Sword Group and Desolate Jeok Family.

Rumble—

While tremendous vibrations disappeared into the atmosphere’s gaps, Hyeon Won-chang, who had quickly surveyed far into the distance, let out a dumbfounded sound.

“Beijing…?”

Less than half an hour after Jeong Yeon-shin had heard about the Southern Emperor’s Form-shifting Void formation.

They were standing on the debris of golden roofs. The middle of the Forbidden City that had somehow become ruins. Suddenly the Desolate Jeok Family Head’s muttering flowed out.

“Southern Emperor, this madman.”

It was the Central Plains.