Chapter 698 – Whistle (5)

“Hm?”

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible suddenly lifted her head.

While her silver mask scattered the transparent sunlight in all directions, inside the mask, pitch-black pupils had faintly spread even to the whites of her eyes. Like ink applied a bit too thickly.

Below the Shaolin temple signboard where Little Heavenly Demon Invincible sat irreverently perched with one knee raised like the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong.

Literary Star, who had been looking up at her, furrowed his brow.

“Upper energy center insight? Since we intend to discuss with Northern Emperor and somehow recruit you, please spare your upper energy center.”

He spoke meaningful words in the middle of Shaolin’s mountain gate where all kinds of crowds had gathered. However, the party who should have been amazed only tilted her head mysteriously.

“Didn’t you see it?”

“See what…?”

“The sky was spinning.”

Words of unknown meaning.

“The sky…?”

Literary Star didn’t dismiss it as nonsense.

The Ming Cult Leader’s words were always like this, taking incomprehensible things and explaining them in her own absurdly simple way.

Commoners or jianghu people who were lucky enough to become Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s conversation partners by bare survival arbitrarily attributed great meaning to it, calling it great fortune and deep realization.

Even at Shaolin’s mountain gate where all kinds of crowds had gathered.

For some reason, not a single Shaolin monk came out to punish her. Because of this, as if the moment when Little Heavenly Demon Invincible opened her mouth was an opportunity, several martial forest nobles cautiously spoke.

“The rumor that Divine Sword Group Leader cut Mount Song’s gate is widespread – is it really true? Did heaven become angry because of that…?”

“Heaven angry? Crazy talk!”

“The Ming Cult Leader just said that.”

“If the rumor is truly fact, we should revere Divine Sword Group Leader. I’ve already come carrying my family’s treasures to escort Lotus Nezha to distant Jiangxi’s homeland. If you plan to sprinkle salt when we should be begging to cut another gate, you should handle our main house’s sword techniques first.”

Swish.

There was even a middle-aged man who actually drew his sword while confronting each other. Even though martial forest nobles had always been those who most feared and looked down on Desolate Fortress.

There were also scholars who seemed quite distant from martial arts at first glance. Beings who spread all kinds of stories like established truths through high reputation and deep insight, yet rarely showed their faces in jianghu. Precisely, curious intellectuals.

“Could it be that the rumor is true, and some providence was disturbed by that incident? It’s already been hundreds of years since gates came to all under heaven.”

“We’ve stayed up all night. Now we must know the reason why the Cult Leader blocks our path. Why on earth would the Ming Cult Leader, of all people…”

“That Yao tribe over there and the limbless blind man too. What is happening in all under heaven right now…!”

Among these people who had all lost their fear, Lim Jin-ming suddenly lowered his gaze. Because the ground beneath his feet had vibrated faintly.

Rumble…

Foot pressure technique that penetrated through the Yongquan acupoint on his sole formed tiny characters, immediately bouncing that content up to his head.

– Reporting to Grand Administrator about Great Righteous Alliance’s return march.

Nether Stream Squad’s Earth King Message Transmission Technique.

It had come from far below Mount Song.

– Even setting aside Martial Forces Army’s lightness technique mobility, Luoyang and Mount Song are close, but it’s confirmed they stopped retreating midway. The leadership personnel suddenly increased. It appears to be the joining of the self-proclaimed World’s Greatest Sword, Tyrant Sword Sect Master.

‘Tyrant Sword Sect Master Dan Seong-eum…?’

Lim Jin-ming hesitated only briefly.

The Nether Stream Squad member’s ultra-long-distance mental transmission struck consecutively with minute time differences.

– Internal strife. As soon as Six Star Lord Martial Star rushed at Tyrant Sword Sect Master saying let’s have a match, he was sent flying through a peak in one exchange. It’s believed the first form of the Three Desolate-Breaking Forms was executed. Though I couldn’t confirm the technique with my eye method, the plains that withstood the sword wind changed into a canyon.

– Martial Star’s laughter echoes, but his internal energy breathing is rough. Tyrant Sword Sect Leader appears to have no damage. However, his appearance of sheathing his sword with unfocused eyes is exactly as rumored. Identifying with eye techniques, he definitely has no reason.

– Martial Star rejoined the army. The army is returning the way it came. Heading straight for Mount Song.

All of this would have happened in the blink of an eye. Elite Martial Duke Army was like an incredibly elusive disaster. Normally one would have been helplessly ambushed.

Not now.

Even if Desolate Fortress’s information network could no longer encompass the Central Plains, the nearby several hundred li were in Lim Jin-ming’s hands. This was because Nether Stream Squad existed.

Whoosh…

Instantly a transparent energy barrier rose from the Desolate Fortress Grand Administrator’s feet, enveloping only the main fortress people. Though nearby martial artists widened their eyes at this extraordinary internal energy operation, Lim Jin-ming only spoke calmly.

“Those who have cultivated upper energy center studies often eavesdrop on even mental transmissions, but this way there’s no worry. More than that… Won-chang.”

“Yes, Grand Administrator Lim.”

“Stand guard near Master Jeong. Maintain seventy percent restraint.”

“I receive the order.”

Simultaneously, a dark shadow rippled like waves and passed over Shaolin’s mountain gate. For a moment Little Heavenly Demon Invincible on the signboard glanced at it, but soon she turned her gaze back to the distant sky.

Only the head of the bamboo hat-wearing blind man holding a bluish sword like a staff turned that way.

“Mm…”

While carefully observing Unorthodox Finest Sword’s head tilting sideways, Lim Jin-ming received Earth King Message Transmission from various places.

– Intelligence that Qingcheng Sect Leader appeared at Bulgrim Inn in Dengfeng County. The city atmosphere is very ominous. Stories that the arms of orthodox jianghu people who recognized and approached him flew off with one sword strike…

Dengfeng County was a village under Shaolin’s protection.

Mount Song was close by.

Meanwhile, the handwriting of the characters penetrating through Yongquan acupoint was varied. Some rarely contained indescribable emotions.

– Urgent report. The Fortress Lord has manifested at that inn. The reason is impossible to guess.

“……!”

– Accompanying Praising Earth Sword Duke, known as the head seat of the World’s Five Swords among the Four Great Dharma Protectors. We lost sight of them. Praising Earth Sword Duke is now before my eyes, and the form of his worn weapon is identical to the Enter The Divine Sword. Due to the Fortress Lord, the legitimacy of Divine Sword Group Leader’s position might be harmed…

Suddenly the report was cut off, and Lim Jin-ming took several breaths. Immediately after, another Nether Stream Squad member’s Earth King Message Transmission shook the ground.

– Fighting God moving from Nanzhi Province’s western end to Henan. Since it’s a Divine Technique that pierces mountains, it’s possible to track his movements. Calculating in a straight shortest distance, Mount Song lies on that path.

“What?”

– Hao Sect’s information transmission speed exceeds imagination. It’s believed the rumor that Master Jeong severed a gate has reached Fighting God.

The next moment, Literary Star timely looked back at Lim Jin-ming’s stiffened face. Their eyes met simultaneously.

– Brother Lim, do you have something to say to me…?

Lim Jin-ming remained silent.

And he shifted his gaze beyond Shaolin’s broken and damaged walls. Toward Divine Sword Group Leader who was never late for great matters.

* * *

Jeong Yeon-shin closed his eyes once and opened them.

Lush thickets filled his vision completely.

“……”

There was neither Taoist Sanfeng’s face nor the overwhelmingly distorted sky. Only the clear crying of a few mountain birds and leisurely flowing clouds.

He cast his gaze forward.

Due to the considerable distance, Taoist Sanfeng, who appeared small as a dot, was unfailingly facing young Grand Empress Dowager Wei Yan. As if he were some axis of this distant time period.

The forest was still peaceful. It seemed nothing had happened.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. It’s not an illusion.

‘I mustn’t dismiss it as such.’

Those who have reached the pinnacle of essence, energy, and spirit have absolute confidence in their own senses. Naturally, Jeong Yeon-shin was no exception. He trusted his five senses and energy sense as much as he trusted Divine Sword Group.

He had clearly seen and heard.

The sky that had been rotating completely as if caught in a gap of time. The old Taoist’s voice that filled his ears chillingly like a warning.

There was nothing to doubt.

While World Tree was merely looking back on past events, Taoist Sanfeng had been transcending the flow of time. As if he would never fulfill what World Tree desired.

Suddenly Heavenly Demon’s words came to mind.

– When I am engraved in all creation, what meaning exists besides me?

It was like a story character living and moving on its own within a book. To prevent the one who opened the pages from following the original content.

Even though Jeong Yeon-shin had guessed with near certainty, he could hardly believe it. Was that really a person? To subdue his unified master, did he have to surpass even such a being?

Moreover, there was not only the need to break through World Tree’s martial army, but also Fighting God who had declared to kill Desolate Fortress Lord, and the gathering and scattering of Great Righteous Alliance that could be called the sum total of chaotic times.

Jeong Yeon-shin stood dazed for a while.

‘If I regress one more time.’

What would happen?

The question didn’t provide an answer.

He simply took one step forward.

Step.

The surroundings distorted faintly, and he stepped on grass blades beside his young master. As he had done many times.

[Are you Yuan Dynasty jianghu people!]

Feng Yue’s shout.

In the end, it repeated again.

He shook off Yue Feng with Ten Li Gentle Light’s lightness skills, treacherous mountain terrain, and Return to Origin’s energy barrier studies. Naturally together with his young master. Then exchanging techniques with young Desolate Fortress Lord whose martial arts were less developed in a remote forest, being pursued by World Tree’s branches, then consecutively encountering noble clan martial armies and Dark Heaven Emperor in a series of flows.

It was a temporal shackle Jeong Yeon-shin had created himself. Just as World Tree endlessly repeated the past centered on Taoist Sanfeng.

‘However…’

It was different from before. The air had changed.

The wind that had blown clearly like a mountain spirit’s breath had somehow become cool, and some gaze seemed to follow cleanly behind him. From his upper energy center came even someone’s disappointment and regret.

It wasn’t burdensome at all.

Divine Sword Group Leader was a being who shouldered great burdens himself.

“I intend to fulfill my duties as a disciple.”

Stepping on and climbing over the fifteen-year-old girl’s sword down to the ground, he bent his waist until his mouth reached her ear. Simultaneously he whispered. As if making excuses to his young master and Taoist Sanfeng.

“You took in me who had nowhere to go, and opened Desolate Fortress’s gates for me. You saved even my life many times.”

“……?”

“Now I am Divine Sword Group Leader. How could I let go of your hand so meaninglessly?”

He coveted everything.

His young master’s internal energy breathing, bones and muscles, physique, the temperament of this period, when facing incomprehensible words or emptiness, which moved first between her pupils and fingertips, and even which direction she slightly preferred in changes of sword beginning.

Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t arrogant. While constantly doubting his upper energy center insight, he asked Master Won-jeok for forgiveness every time.

– Monk, I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.

– Yes, now I understand. I should have seen through the benefactor’s troubles… I’ve already transcended in this area anyway. However, something seems unusual, so be careful.

There were over a hundred regressions. Until everything about young Desolate Fortress Lord was completed like a book in Divine Sword Group Leader’s head.

“…This is the last time.”

The dark green-haired girl showed puzzlement on her expressionless face. Now Jeong Yeon-shin read even her subtle emotional changes like dim spring wind. Like the Seventh Apostle who had once drawn his body diagram.

‘Take care.’

Thud.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who suddenly sat down in place, drew over a nearby large rock with Void Grasping Technique. Doubting his own efforts like youths of his age, wondering if all this time might be meaningless.

[Please have a drink.]

When he flicked his finger, the rock was cut flat.

It was a table.

Soon some wine cups flew over and were placed before the two people. Stone cups likewise created by Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword wind. On the other side, the bark of an old tree opened by itself and drew up transparent water like constellations.

Tree sap that rippled in midair under brilliant sunlight then trickled into the wine cups.

Young Desolate Fortress Lord’s eyes rarely widened.

“…To reach that level of internal energy manipulation, how should one train properly?”

She sought teachings even from the enemy who had captured her. One could understand what kind of era this was and how she had lived.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“I wanted to have such a drinking session at least once.”

“What?”

“If you drink, I’ll tell you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin took in the girl’s face with his eyes. It was gradually time to wake up.

* * *

“It’s time to go now.”

“Praising Earth Sword Duke.”

“That wine bottle…?”

“It was in my bosom, but I didn’t think to take it out.”

“Thunder Spirit Precious Wine. It’s irreverent alcohol. How do you carry something brewed from tree sap?”

“Enough. Let’s go.”