Chapter 714 – Stone Sword Group (4)

Jeong Yeon-shin did not hold onto Wan Hui.

He had an intuition.

Now it had become difficult to make use of him as a force while talking about a Divine Sword convict. One sword, barren land, a failed revenge journey. It was the back figure of a common jianghu person, as the blind man himself had said.

‘He used Form Shifting Void so much. He might die before the year ends…’

Had he developed a fondness despite his dislike?

Jeong Yeon-shin hoped Winter Dream Sword would not break until winter, as its name suggested. That the man with no one to see him off on his journey would at least lie down on land wearing white mourning clothes.

“Will you see me off?”

A girl’s voice came with a sharp smell of blood. Glancing sideways, there was Shin So-bin with her empty shoulder bound in bandages. A drop of blood fell at the feet of the two master and disciple simultaneously.

Jeong Yeon-shin reflexively asked.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Stop it.”

He shut his mouth at the one-armed girl’s weary scolding and thought. She doesn’t even have a disciple.

Then he opened his mouth.

“Senior Woon and Senior Wei Ji will escort Divine Physician to the stronghold. Don’t rest the breathing technique I taught you. So the severed surface neither heals nor worsens.”

“You’re really bringing him, right?”

“Originally, without Jeong Family Dynamic Technique achievement at your level, it would be difficult to maintain a state where medical treatment properly takes effect. Among other Black ranks too, it would be difficult unless it’s Senior Wish-Fullfilling Spring Lord or the poppy addict, or Senior Cheong Myeong. It’s fortunate your studies are deep.”

Shin So-bin stared at him intently.

Then she created a faint furrow at the corner of her mouth, with dimples forming between a grimace and a smile. It was an ambiguous expression.

“…Doesn’t Dynamic Technique achievement not show on the outside very well? Everyone’s training periods are short too.”

“You look like your diary was stolen?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked with a faint smile. Because mastering Jeong Family Dynamic Technique meant one of three things: extraordinary talent, immersion worthy of being called unity with the oral instructions, or both.

Shin So-bin was the third. That’s why she was the chief disciple.

It was worth teasing her as if Jeong Yeon-shin had peeked at her diary. Because it meant she had delved so deeply into her peer master.

“……”

But Shin So-bin only stared blankly at the one who had personally transmitted Jeong Family Dynamic Technique to her. The grand master of the diary straightened his expression.

“Let’s go now.”

Swoosh.

As he took a step, they were before Shaolin’s mountain gate.

Wan Hui’s footprints were spread across the steep downhill path. Since the crowds who had descended first mostly left pairs of footprints, the traces of deep single-foot steps going down were clearly visible.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly thought. The common people’s footprints were wider and more level.

At the same time, the girl’s laughing voice descended riding the light.

“Are you embarrassed?”

Shin So-bin carved gentle light clusters in the void and followed to his side. Mature Ten Li Gentle Light. All these things of hers were evaluation factors for Jeong Yeon-shin.

‘What position would be good?’

The positions of Burning Abyss Leader and Neither Stream Leader were vacant.

There were many who should be formally raised to Black rank as soon as they arrived at the stronghold. Shin So-bin, Hyeon Won-chang, and even the absent Lazy Flame Dragon.

Their achievements were sufficient.

They had long been involved in the extremely dangerous Purple rank jianghu following their superior. Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t hunted Six Star Lord-level masters when he was Blue rank, and thoughts like Poppy Addict’s were impossible from the beginning, like a marriage alliance with Ice Palace Master.

“Shall we depart?”

Great Administrator Lim Jin-ming, who had been waiting, handed him Wol-yo’s head while asking. He also added that it had been used quite usefully.

“Hmm, hmm… the voice has become completely hoarse. Don’t wake me on the way.”

The unilateral notification of the divine soldier who had overwhelmingly killed many of Great Righteous Alliance’s military forces. Shin So-bin tilted her head.

“You don’t have a throat. How can your voice be hoarse?”

“Melody is not produced by the throat but resonates in the head. That head voice comes from upper energy center resonance…”

Meanwhile, Lim Jin-ming’s report continued to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“There are quite a few who escaped. It was originally a defensive battle to prevent them from interfering with Lord Jeong’s energy circulation.”

“You achieved victory against such a scale. It’s a great achievement, so speak comfortably.”

“Great Righteous Alliance Leader Emperor Li Chuang has four wives, collectively called the ‘Four Immortals.’ In terms of the stronghold, they would be Black rank. I understand each has unique roles like assassination, negotiation, commerce, and such. Two of them came to Mount Song.”

“I briefly saw them within Shaolin grounds.”

“They were very cautious. They returned mixed into the crowds of countless military forces. They could disrupt future jianghu activities of the seventeen Divine Sword Group’s squads… but now, such figures are no longer something for Lord Jeong to worry about.”

Meaning the Divine Sword Group would handle it themselves.

Though it was a meaningful story, Jeong Yeon-shin only asked calmly.

“Is there more?”

“Mad Lord Gongsun Wol. The former head of Gongsun family.”

“Ah.”

“Throughout the battle, he only quietly watched us from above before leaving. If he had intervened, I would have been killed first. It was strange from the start that such a famous old swordsman had no sword, but he could have stolen any sword to use…”

Lim Jin-ming’s words stopped.

Because Jeong Yeon-shin had taken out the Recollection Sea Sword from his travel bag and handed it over. Along with saying that Gongsun Wol had given it after seeing the true gate.

“That fellow is a swordsman.”

Lim Jin-ming briefly commented. While following to Jeong Yeon-shin’s right as he began walking slowly.

Naturally, a large shadow fell to the left. It was the Divine Sword Strategist who had moved stealthily.

“Finally, Thousand Immortal Martial Empress Zhuge Qing… The old woman who wielded the gate like a weapon has been imprisoned in Shaolin’s Demon Suppression Cave, so about a quarter of Great Righteous Alliance’s power has been lost.”

“Literary Star.”

“According to Yu Ling, Li Chuang’s former Eight Family Heads were originally four, but now they’ve been reduced to three or fewer. One of the four military armies has also been annihilated.”

Detailed reports continued. Because excluding World Tree forces, they were the one remaining great enemy.

Four wives.

Four former Eight Family Heads.

Also four armies.

Even Martial Dragon Alliance Leader and Profound Martial Alliance were said to be in alliance. If there were two more major factions there, it would indeed be the jianghu martial world. The martial rivers and lakes where storms never ceased even if knights blocked and tore through the sword winds.

Jeong Yeon-shin dismissed it in a low voice.

“How troublesome. Let’s return now.”

As if they had been waiting for those words, the high masters of the black, blue, and white Divine Sword Group began gathering like ghosts with semi-transparent movements.

Swoosh!

They suddenly formed ranks behind Jeong Yeon-shin’s back. Stronghold masters who had been standing guard not only at nearby walls but throughout Mount Song. Like waves of afterimages he had created with Form Shifting Void Transposition.

These were those who had no casualties in this battle, with wounded at most. A natural result since Silent Radiant Sword Constellation and Southern Splendor Vast Taiji were together.

Boom… boom…!

The noon bell sounds spread.

Jeong Yeon-shin perceived through his energy sense. Great Master Won-moo of the Four Great Vajra was vigorously striking the temple bell within the grounds.

It felt like Dharma Master’s farewell greeting. Because the strongest monk in history seemed to be pushing his back. Suddenly, the wisdom light that had pierced down to Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind in the Shaolin Abbot’s chamber was the same.

“When you come back up, please walk as a devotee carrying a child wrapped in swaddling clothes.”

Descending the mountain, Jeong Yeon-shin only smiled faintly.

Step.

Meanwhile, the long line of single-foot tracks was covered by countless footprints, soon becoming impossible to tell what had been there.

It was common jianghu.

* * *

The official road full of footprints.

Footprints of all kinds of people. Because many crowds were flocking through the half-destroyed castle gate. Xiangyang’s Desolate Fortress stronghold was busy like that.

Guarding the main gate broken by the old master, Spear King Yue Bei-jang, were the few remaining Blue rank warriors in the stronghold.

“Merchants this way! Don’t push there!”

“Sorry, but the granary is already empty. We can make Five Cloud Mountain Herb Dish with wild vegetables…”

Crowds stepping on the newly built moat.

White rank warriors who had scattered due to the Seven New Enemies of Defeat Desolation returned escorting various servants and attendants. Some iron-footed night generals from renowned sword schools also walked in hurriedly. Meanwhile, some common people faced the gatekeepers as if they had come to receive temple rice from a monastery.

It wasn’t a scene of great peace.

“……”

Administrative Department clerk Ki Dae-seung was leaning against the castle wall, silently looking down at them. Until some one-armed old man suddenly approached him.

“You’re the clerk who first met Lightning Genius of White rank, is that true?”

“That alias is forbidden.”

“I’ll change to Sword Heaven. What was your impression?”

The old man asked leisurely with a smile. From his attire made of precious ebony to even the glossy skin on his face showing wealth. He was the head of Kaifeng Qing family who had jointly attacked Jeong Yeon-shin with spear king Yue Bei-jang in the Qinling mountain range, ultimately becoming a retainer of Desolate Fortress.

‘Lord Jeong who just entered the stronghold.’

Ki Dae-seung thought. He also recalled the dignified voice despite the youthful face.

“When will affiliation be decided?”

He slowly opened his mouth. Because he wanted to relieve the desolate feeling of having far to go.

“He seemed to have much he didn’t know and much curiosity. He was also skilled at hiding his inner thoughts.”

“Somehow his foundation was vicious. He hid his strength well before bursting it out in an instant… You must have seen him briefly, yet you grasped him well?”

“Most who belong to the stronghold have such insight. Even then we were already seeing Lord Jeong as the stronghold’s future. Even the young ones who are now dead and will remain White rank forever.”

“Ah, so the name Lightning Genius was created quite early, that’s why. But I didn’t expect you to really speak so freely. What if this old man learns Sword Heaven’s weaknesses and leaves? Not just me, but there must be quite a few personnel brought in from outside?”

The head of Kaifeng Qing family asked with a face still bearing a smile. Merchant-like, while Ki Dae-seung was expressionless.

“What could happen? They’d die miserably soon enough.”

“Hmm?”

“All warriors of the Divine Sword Group who have learned Jeong Family Dynamic Technique and Radiant Art Formula would turn into assassins. They are death demons who even conquered the north. Could you handle them?”

“……”

When the smile faded from the head of Kaifeng Qing family’s wrinkled lips. Below the castle wall, some woman among the common people raised her head.

She wore a round glass ball in her right eye socket. The sight of sunlight bouncing off it, glinting sharply. It was a monocle that amplified the abilities of eye techniques.

“It’s the Go family.”

The head of Kaifeng Qing family made a strange expression.

“One of the Great Righteous Four Immortals… that is, one of Li Chuang’s four wives. From long ago she accumulated wealth while seeking to form relations with this old man, but I didn’t know it was for rebellion.”

He then added. Her business sense was quite good.

“Great Righteous Four Immortals.”

Ki Dae-seung muttered. At the same time, the head of Kaifeng Qing family also spoke to himself.

“It will repeat.”

“…What?”

“Desolate Fortress. Isn’t it an empty house again now? The Seven New Enemies of Defeated Desolation rebellion also occurred in such circumstances… Such great causes are truly difficult to maintain. It would be better to go around showing off strength to all directions. Like martial forest nobles.”

“An empty house.”

Ki Dae-seung shook his head.

“Not now.”

“Really? There shouldn’t be much available power within the castle…? Moreover, Law Enforcement Leader is receiving treatment for divine healing, and Dragon Treading Leader is serving that duty, isn’t it?”

“That’s not the end. The stronghold won’t be caught like that twice.”

It was instantaneous.

Swoosh!

All directions were dyed ash-gray.

The bright midday was nowhere to be found. The sun seemed to have suddenly been extinguished like a candle, and what replaced it was someone’s power waves.

“……!”

Ki Dae-seung intuited it. Some tremendous energy waves had covered even the sky. Like a canopy being draped over a monarch’s procession, deflecting sunlight.

Step.

Someone was walking through the marketplace.

With pure white hair close to disheveled hanging down to his back, particularly sharp ears somewhat matched his gaunt appearance. His entire body had a faded appearance.

Truly tremendous intimidating presence. Only the words “faded monarch” came to mind.

He spoke.

“Don’t be tense. I didn’t come to fight.”

Ki Dae-seung suddenly recalled the Great Ming Outline he had memorized by heart in childhood. The historical record of the jianghu during Ming Dynasty’s founding, that turbulent period.

‘Great Ming Outline main section, chapter one…’

– A great evil spirit chased fellow countrymen, but by closing the gate in time, it could be destroyed.

He immediately turned around. Shouting without the presence of mind to use sound transmission techniques.

“Blue rank warriors, evacuate all common people! From now on, only enemies can enter the stronghold! Bring the enemies into the stronghold!”

Desolate Fortress had countless formations of former masters including Annihilation Seat Shin Cheon-hwa installed. Absolute formations that displayed greater power the more stronghold masters positioned inside.

With such a massive uninvited guest, they had to bring him inside. To avoid harming civilian homes.

Then the head of Kaifeng Qing family gestured.

“There are more.”

Visible over the faded monarch’s shoulder.

The one-armed giant was certainly Profound Martial Alliance Leader. Far behind, his successor Phoenix Slaying Crimson Gun Yu-rin was also following.

Not only that.

‘Even Blade Venerable…?’

Profound Martial Alliance’s Light Blade Venerable Jin Min.

Her hair tied in a single line was elegant, and the great sword on her back was intimidating. Befitting someone who was both Henan’s greatest beauty and simultaneously Henan’s Greatest Sword.

There were more.

A swordsman with a lion-like impression. A woman with grayish-white short hair, whose unusually expressionless face matched the appearance-destroying of Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun.

“I’ll ask again.”

The head of Kaifeng Qing family’s complexion became serious.

“Is it truly not an empty house? Though that fellow calls himself a guest for now so he’s a guest, but in chaotic times like these, uninvited guests turning into bandits are countless.”

“…My answer doesn’t change.”

Ki Dae-seung said while descending the inner castle stairs with the head of Kaifeng Qing family. And when he looked toward the main gate again, he realized an old man of former Yan family head status was mixed in the crowd.

“I am certainly an uninvited guest, but I’ll behave as politely as possible. Where is the guest hall?”

An aged martial artist in sleeveless clothes revealing his gaunt arms.

It wasn’t the end. Some middle-aged man had nudged Ki Dae-seung’s ribs with his elbow. Though he wore similar sleeveless martial clothing, he was a man whose sculpture-like refined muscles stood out.

“I have no other business. Just tell me Tyrant Hero’s destination and I’ll return.”

Martial Dragon Alliance Leader, Revered Martial Rebel Leader Helian Feng-yue.

The air in Desolate Fortress seemed to have stopped. Even the continuously worsening situation had its limits.

“…First.”

Ki Dae-seung barely managed to open his mouth in the time that seemed completely frozen.

“I’ll guide you to the guest hall.”

* * *

The top of the Administrative Department’s annex.

The uninvited guests sat around a huge round table. The assembled faces were terrible. The air that had frozen once never thawed.

Within that, the only free beings were the uninvited guests.

Light Blade Venerable Jin Min spoke.

“…The faded monarch said he wanted to tour Desolate Fortress, so we walked here, but if one matter is resolved, we’re prepared to return as is.”

“Please speak.”

Ki Dae-seung answered dryly. It was after he had already sent word to activate all spell martial arts formations throughout Desolate Fortress.

Jin Min moved her lips.

“Divine Physician.”

“Absolutely impossible.”

“Is that really so? At least I don’t want to have needless conflict with Lightning Genius.”

Her voice continued quietly.

“Bring the person in charge. Someone who holds both actual power and force, a figure who can represent Desolate Fortress. You won’t do.”

“Isn’t he right before your eyes now?”

Ki Dae-seung countered.

Jin Min’s long eyelashes swept the dust in the room to the side. Her gaze was directed toward where a man in black robes sat. It was Obeying Heaven Wing Lord, sleeping as if dead with no breathing sounds.

“…This isn’t the time to accept jokes. Don’t make me deviate from exceptional protocols and enter the martial world of might makes right.”

Then Jin Min spoke to the assembly.

“Let’s rise. Since we’ve already rebelled, it’s right to prioritize securing Divine Physician.”

Everyone except the faded monarch and Baek Seo-gun stood up. That alone made the atmosphere outside the Administrative Department building surge like being hit by summer sun.

Profound Martial Alliance Leader’s successor, Phoenix Slaying Crimson Blade gun Yu-rin traced Jin Min’s waist with her fingertips while muttering.

“Master, I heard there’s an emperor here.”

“If that rumor is true, we should take him along with Divine Physician.”

Step.

They stepped forward just like that.

Using Desolate Fortress stronghold like their own home. Behavior that didn’t consider the sect’s prestige. Because rebellions were occurring throughout all under heaven. How desperate must the common people of Luoyang have been to be enthusiastic about cannibalism?

But those trying to leave the meeting hall soon hesitated. Not only Jin Min and Gun Yu-rin, but also the former Yan family head and Martial Dragon Alliance Leader.

“……”

In the direction they had turned to go outside, Namgung Hwa-shin was also sleeping. With breathing smooth as silk, face still closed in sleep, sword already drawn at some point.

Bewilderment appeared on some faces in the assembly.

However, in the guest hall, the faded monarch sat motionless like an ancient tree. Only watching the uninvited guests’ backs with profound, sunken eyes. Like confirming that his prediction was becoming reality.

Through the window of the guest hall, the ash-gray world was slowly brightening. As if the faded monarch’s power that had covered the sky was gradually being dispelled by some other tremendous force.

Ki Dae-seung looked outside through the gap in the paper door.

Far away, dust clouds were rising. Someone was approaching the stronghold.