Chapter 641 – Big Dipper Hundred Stars (4)

Beijing’s night was bright.

Was it because it was ruins with nothing to be illuminated by any radiance? Under the sky where various constellations shone gently, distinct shadows were cast on the faces of several black rank squad leaders.

“……”

Each silently gazed at Jeong Yeon-shin.

Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so, Annihilation Squad Leader Shin Hwang, Forest Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin, even Dragon Treading Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji.

“Why are you seniors…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s question was calm, but his inner thoughts differed from his expressionless face.

He could control even his heartbeat with the ultimate principles of full-body explosive force and Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. But like most people, Jeong Yeon-shin’s heart also existed in his mind.

Sometimes shaken by Seventh Apostle or enemies, sometimes constricted by the deaths of precious people.

A night deep with stars.

This was after Radiant Sword Squad Leader Hak So-seon, Ultimate Martial Hall Leader Geum Cheong-won, and Wishful Spring Master Beigong Ya had already left Beijing with their respective military forces.

—What do you mean it’s fine…

—Group Leader, when the time comes that you need strength, you must call us. Take care of yourself in the meantime. We’ll try to procure effective elixirs or skilled physicians during our missions.

—We’ll be going.

The three had seemed to have more to say besides that.

But not all squad leaders could defy their group leader. If the owner of Enter The Divine Sword told them to handle their missions with lightning speed, leaving quickly was correct.

These were the circumstances of those who remained surrounding Jeong Yeon-shin afterward. Each as if they had business with their supreme commander just before deployment.

If Jin Myeong-jo had also been among them, he would have felt even greater pressure, but fortunately he had left for the former Blood Flame Cult’s main base with Desolate Jeok Family.

It was to quickly restore the arm lost to Literary Star.

“Please spare us some time.”

A middle-aged man with a gaunt frame and sunken eye sockets. Annihilation Squad Leader Shin Hwang slowly continued speaking. While carrying the unconscious Namgung Hwa-shin like baggage.

“How should we think about our Group Leader, and how should we move? What would put our minds at ease?”

It was very unexpected.

Annihilation Squad Leader was the person most indifferent to the common affairs of war. The deaths of Desolate Fortress warriors were very ordinary matters, and Shin Hwang was the one who often reminded people of this knowingly or unknowingly.

It had been the same for Jeong Yeon-shin.

At the same time, some sound transmission rang in Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears.

—You must comfort them well.

—Literary Star?

—The Divine Sword Group’s black ranks have been reborn as killing demons through the demon realm’s battlefields. Even Dragon Treading Squad Leader Wei who was already a killing demon has greatly advanced.

As if proving Literary Star’s sudden words, Wei Zhi-ji on one side was keeping Literary Star in his field of vision with clear eyes. He had immediately reacted to the sound transmission waves that reached Jeong Yeon-shin.

The other squad leaders were the same.

Though they had never expressed particular rejection toward traveling with Literary Star, they still never took their eyes off Literary Star.

Six Star Lord Literary Star hadn’t followed out of admiration for Jeong Yeon-shin or anything like that.

Just a giant moving by his own great cause. It would be right to be careful that he might roar at the Divine Sword Group again, however low the probability.

But Literary Star seemed to welcome such wariness.

—The black ranks’ combined attack was also a great variable for me. With strongmen of this caliber, the more sincere they are, the greater their true worth becomes. Generally, a sect leader’s excellence lies in making strongmen willingly lay down their lives…

—Enough. This isn’t a matter for using schemes.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly met gazes with his seniors. Seniors and juniors facing each other under starlight. Perhaps this scene might be the last today.

The tranquil silence continued briefly.

Cheon So-so suddenly asked.

“What do you like besides five-spice herb porridge?”

Such a personal question was a first throughout Jeong Family and Desolate Fortress. Jeong Yeon-shin pondered what kind of joke to make of his remaining life, then fell silent briefly. Like a broken mechanical formation.

“…I liked looking at hydrangeas. Because of their varied colors.”

“I’ve grown them before. The hydrangeas here just drink lots of water and can’t bear fruit.”

“Isn’t blooming and withering enough?”

“Strange. Haven’t you never looked at flowers in the main fortress?”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded.

Cheon So-so, who had been staring at him for a moment, moved her lips.

“Were there hydrangea flower fields in Xinye County too?”

“Yes, when I stayed there, there were. Though they must have withered by now…”

“I’ll revive them for you. Let’s hold the next Wish for Peace Sword Hall Tournament there. Whether in one year or two years.”

Immortal Tree Spirit Leader.

It was said to be a heavy responsibility given only to specially sacred bloodlines.

Naturally, Cheon So-so was also pure-blood nobility, born with secret techniques to nurture earth energy. Just as noble blood demons possessed regenerative abilities.

If it was Cheon So-so, she might be able to restore the devastated earth energy of Jeong Family Estate. Of course, that would also be temporary. Famine close to natural disaster would sweep Xinye County again.

“The next Wish for Peace Sword Hall Tournament…”

Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the Divine Sword Group Leader and squad leaders sitting surrounded by hydrangea flower fields. Was it upper energy center foresight? The person wearing Enter The Divine Sword in it wasn’t himself.

A dim arc formed on Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips.

“Good.”

It was then that Xiahou Wei-jin stamped the ground with one foot.

Thud!

“After properly governing Jiangxi’s security, I might personally head to World Tree. There’s nothing too precious for one who succeeded in northern expedition as a purple rank. Unless the main tree guys are unprecedented petty people…”

“Senior Xiahou, you just need to look after the common people. I’ll try my best with my own affairs.”

“Then who will look after our Group Leader? We’re also legitimate Ming Dynasty subjects, so I’ll handle this part myself!”

Literary Star standing beside Jeong Yeon-shin smiled slightly.

“A place like today’s Desolate Fortress doesn’t need to hang its neck on the Ming Dynasty. Any imperial dynasty would greatly care for it.”

Though it was a story with a dry feeling like north wind, someone opened their mouth as if accustomed to such atmosphere.

“Would you tell Myo-hwa? That as the dignified Zhongnan Sect Leader, jianghu grudges must be prioritized as much as sect affairs.”

It was Heaven Dragon Squad Leader Wei Zhi-ji. Unlike Namgung Hwa-shin who had lost consciousness after being ambushed by all squad leaders, Law Enforcement Squad Leader Woon So-yu was always being carried by him.

“After procuring divine physicians as ordered, I’ll come see Lord Jeong again. We won’t give up on anything.”

They scattered one by one like that.

Cheon So-so and Immortal Tree Spirit headed to Shandong where Yue Shou-lin’s main family was located. Wei Zhi-ji, Woon So-yu, and the Dragon Treading and Law Enforcement squads headed to Henan where traces of Eternal Candle Divine Doctor remained.

Xiahou Wei-jin took on the role of scout for Guangdong where the so-called Four Province Martial Alliance had risen. It was with grumbling about what the imperial forces were doing, but Jeong Yeon-shin had ordered him not to engage in combat.

Meanwhile, Shin Hwang was just staring intently at Jeong Yeon-shin. Until Jeong Yeon-shin finally opened his mouth again.

“Now I’d like you to defend the main castle with the Resonance Spirit Squad. According to intelligence, His Majesty King Qiong-ming’s whereabouts have been mysterious for long, so your mission and the Obeying Heaven Wing Leader’s mission are heavy.”

“…I receive the order.”

Jeong Yeon-shin heard that answer differently.

A feeling like he would create countless solo missions with black rank authority. Separate from main castle defense, he wanted to extend the current Divine Sword Group Leader’s term in office as much as his strength could reach.

It was an attitude anyone could sense.

‘His epithet is Silent Dawn Lord.’

It was said to be words given by Huguang Province’s common people. Lord of the quiet dawn.

“Take care of yourself.”

With those words, Shin Hwang disappeared with Namgung Hwa-shin. Naturally, Annihilation Squad, Obeying Heaven Wing, and Resonance Spirit Squad followed them.

Among them, Obeying Heaven Wing’s Shin Bin-bin gave Jeong Yeon-shin a very polite eye greeting, and what remained in the ruins were only those Jeong Yeon-shin had chosen as companions.

“……”

Including Divine Sword Squad, there were Hyeon Won-chang, Shin So-bin, Seventh Apostle, Literary Star, and Jeong Yeon-shin.

A lineup that any emptiness would find hard to approach.

Hyeon Won-chang kicked at the innocent ground as if his mouth was itchy, and Seventh Apostle just blinked her red eyes silently as if the Wish for Peace Sword Hall Tournament  conversation had been boring.

And Shin So-bin was still stepping on the edge of Jeong Yeon-shin’s shadow with a blank expression.

‘Will this be okay?’

When Jeong Yeon-shin harbored doubts about his and Literary Star’s decision.

“We should gradually depart too.”

Literary Star continued speaking politely like someone well-versed in Central Plains geography.

“Since it’s quite a long way from here to Shaanxi, during the continuing journey we’ll be able to deeply get to know each other at least among ourselves. It should have its own fun at least.”

* * *

They traveled the long road tediously.

Before they knew it, they were at Shaanxi’s Qinling Mountain Range.

Feather clouds creating gentle ripples in the blue spring sky, mountain range branches draping long skirts below them. And Zhongnan Mountain’s five peaks were before their eyes.

Zhongnan Southern Five Platforms.

A place where small temples and shrines were elegantly mixed, with the backs of hall complexes wearing pale white mist in its deepest part. A feeling of long years and traces of all sorts of sword strikes buried in nature.

It was Zhongnan Sect.

“Now even the Central Plains are like the demon realm.”

Hyeon Won-chang, who had suddenly smiled hollowly, pointed ahead.

“Though spring has come, the tree branches are all bare, and somehow sword-wielding guys are filling the mountain range like leaves.”

His words were correct.

They had come down in almost a straight line from Beijing to reach Qinling Mountain Range, but the mountain path leading up to Zhongnan Sect was blocked by some crowd.

People with considerable energy waves each were arguing.

“How can you not know you’re blocking Great Zhongnan’s path? It’s been several days already?”

“Sword Soldier Jeong Jung-san, is Zhongnan Sect the owner of Qinling Mountain Range? Then what becomes of Mount Hua Sect’s dignity? There are already recent rumors that Zhongnan Sect Leader frequently travels to Mount Hua, so if she has a lover there, it could be called great discourtesy.”

“These lawless people…?!”

“The Ming Cult Leader personally revealed it. That the entire Qinling Mountain Range was the first Heavenly Demon’s tomb…! Originally dead people’s treasures have no owner, but since we must prevent this great mountain from being filled with riffraff, we’re here. You shouldn’t treat us like ruffians when you can’t even be grateful.”

“Aren’t you just coveting the demon path grandmaster’s martial learning? Thinking the Heavenly Demon’s legacy is buried in our sect’s Southern Five Platforms!”

“What a tiresome situation.” Divine Sword Squad’s Yeon So-ha shook his head and muttered.

“Conflicts are abundant on every path we take, and we face difficulties from the start… Do we need to help the declining Zhongnan Sect this time? Why is everyone declining?”

It was then that some ground tremor erupted from the middle of the commotion.

Crash!

Yellow earth winds violently whirled and rose up, and large vibrations rolled to the party’s feet.

Winds spreading spirally while harboring opposing energies. The tyrannical waves characteristic of demonic energy and the clear feeling of orthodox true energy were carried together.

The small earthquake that occurred briefly covered all voices.

“Zhong Heaven Child again… it’s like this every time. The Zhongnan Grand Elder will come down soon.”

“Let’s go.”

“It seems we’ll have to call the old masters staying on Bright Peak. We can’t maintain such energy accumulation speed forever anyway. We just need to avoid Grand Elder Yeo Il-shin.”

The group blocking the mountain path began scattering to both sides. At the same time, some girl’s shout burst from beyond them.

“How can people who become bad from hunger be orthodox martial world people?”

“Hye-ah, don’t provoke more. Starving jianghu people are the most dangerous.”

“Everyone get lost! Only chivalrous heroes remain!”

The only group that could be proud of those words was the Divine Sword Group. Those who reflexively blocked Jeong Yeon-shin’s front before the girl’s palm technique was even completed.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt the presence of his niece Jeong Hye’s head tilting.

“……?”

The ground where the crowd had briefly disappeared. On the mountain path leading up to Zhongnan Mountain.

A blood demon, Yao tribe member, and assassin were leading the way.