Chapter 724 – Great and Small Affairs (4)

‘He’s qualified.’

The Divine Sword overlapping Jin Myeong-jo’s eyes at this moment was an illusion born of Jeong Yeon-shin’s regret. Spirit befitting a nation’s blade without a doubt. A man capable of bearing many things.

They said many already knew. About Jeong Yeon-shin’s admiration for Divine Blood Extreme Demon. Conversely, they too would be acknowledging Jin Myeong-jo.

But personal fondness must not interfere with important personnel matters.

‘He wouldn’t accept anyway.’

He knew because he had learned. Divine Sword Vice-Leader’s refusals and returns originate from humility.

The position of Divine Sword Group Leader should go to the most suitable person. Just as Jeong Yeon-shin had made Yong Hye-myeong the shortest-term Enter The Divine Sword Master.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“Senior Yue.”

The woman with long hair met eyes with Jeong Yeon-shin.

An appearance detached from the surroundings that had become somewhat unsettled by Jeong Yeon-shin’s calling. Her pupils were absorbing nearby light like obsidian.

The aftermath of constant eye techniques.

Even Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t know beyond that. Now that the name Dream Flight suited her, what abilities each part of her body might possess.

It was certainly Jeong Yeon-shin who created her unique Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. He had fitted it meticulously to Yue Shou-lin’s body that he had observed and experienced. So even short passages became oral instructions suited to her acupoints and muscles.

That’s why it was rather difficult to see through her now. The same context as what Great Master Beom-heo had spoken of before.

A body created by a master who could only cultivate basic skills for a long time, piling decades of life like a tower on the framework called Jeong Family Dynamic Technique Dream Flight Chapter.

‘Her body itself is Transcendent Martial Art.’

It couldn’t help but be unreadable.

That was when it happened.

Yue Shou-lin’s lips, which had been blankly meeting eyes with Jeong Yeon-shin for a moment, moved slowly.

“Lord, please speak.”

“…I wish to put it to a vote.”

“What…?”

“Suitability.”

Whether suitable as Divine Sword Group Leader or not.

A low inhalation arose from one side. It was Desolate Shin Family Head Shin Seol-ha’s breathing, as she had been looking disapprovingly at Shin So-bin’s crumpled grip on her black robe and was startled.

The reactions of various core members were similar. Soon after, his only uncle, Desolate Ma Family Head Ma Jin’s mutter gravely settled in the hall.

“You’re exercising proper judgment?”

“What did you just say…?”

“Great Administrator, please proceed.”

Jeong Yeon-shin was momentarily uncertain whether he had been ignored or recognized as lord, but Lim Jin-ming’s mouth opened quickly first.

“Desolate Fortress Divine Spear Dream Flight. Everyone here would be well acquainted with Senior Yue’s career.”

Personnel matters immediately.

Ink fragrance suddenly spread thick. Because dozens of sheets of paper flew from Lim Jin-ming’s hands to the round table. They were reports with Dream Flight Yue Shou-lin’s long past already recorded with Jeong Yeon-shin’s approval.

– Entered as White rank under Radiant Sword Leader Tyrant Hero. Promoted to Blue rank that same year. Fifteen mission successes, zero failures.

– Personnel transfer to direct command of Divine Sword Group Leader Annihilation Seat due to discord with leader in second year after entry.

– Applied to wash hands in golden basin on the day Enter The Divine Sword was passed to Tyrant Hero. Denied by superiors. Confirmed to have achieved Three Flower Gathering at Crown with upper energy center spirit ascending that same day…

This alone was already the distant past. Even this was merely the beginning of the report.

The person who knew the seventeen generations best.

From Radiant Demon Wing to Iron Demon Squad, throughout distant past to present it was so. Already evaluated as material for Divine Sword Group Leader in Annihilation Seat’s later years.

“Let’s begin. Paper and writing instruments are here, and the scholar’s four treasures here will notarize today’s events.”

There was a vote under Lim Jin-ming’s chairmanship.

Lim Jin-ming, Shin Byeok, Shin Seol-ha, and Ma Jin substituted for absent leaders according to the stronghold’s laws. In their respective capacities as Great Administrator, Elder Council Lord, and heads of subordinate families. A strict procedure unlike when Jeong Yeon-shin inherited Enter The Divine Sword in the north.

They said maternal grandfather Ma Yeon-jeok’s Divine Sword Group Leader appointment dragged on for over three months of meetings, but now it proceeded with remarkable speed.

There were no opposing votes.

Only two invalid votes.

While Lim Jin-ming looked like stone at Namgung Hwa-shin and Baek Mi-ryeo sleeping in seated positions, Jeong Yeon-shin nodded to Dan Jeong-jeong.

Creeeak.

An iron case like one that might hold a flag was moved before Yue Shou-lin. A steel case literally long and slender like a blade.

Even until then.

Her back was leaning straight against the stone seat like a flagpole. Her face was also indifferent beyond cold like battlefield metal.

Of course, satisfaction appeared on Elder Council Lord Shin Byeok’s wrinkled face.

“The bearing of a Divine Sword Group Leader. The lord’s teachings are remarkable.”

Jeong Yeon-shin knew Shin Byeok’s eye for people was tremendous. If such a stronghold Elder Council Lord was satisfied, questions about her qualifications wouldn’t be raised.

‘I just wish she were friendly like before.’

Though regrettable as a junior, it was a feeling to let flow now. Because it was time to speak as Desolate Fortress Lord.

“Yue family Dream Flight.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“From today, I bestow the rank of Purple and the position of Divine Sword Group Leader. Open the iron case.”

Only then.

Rustle.

Yue Shou-lin’s sleeve flowed down, and the tips of her long fingers touched the steel case. There was no particular hand trembling or hesitation. That solemnity was enough to impress even Jeong Yeon-shin, who had already experienced the exact same thing.

She would raise the flag herself even as Divine Sword Group Leader.

– Wow, is this real? It’s suddenly decided like this?

“……?”

– Really truly? Well, there’s no one else besides me who could do it.

Yue Shou-lin’s voice overflowing in his mind.

Even though her lips weren’t moving. Because the movements of the Renying acupoints on both sides of her Adam’s apple and the Lianquan acupoint right above her vocal cords were transcendently precise.

Tremendous basic skills. That even the energy waves of sound transmission couldn’t be felt, it was literally Wisdom Light Mind Speech.

– I thought I might be able to do it briefly around when you died of old age or not. So honestly, like the son of former Emperor Qian-ling… I mean the current emperor. Or maybe I’d end as Elder Council Lord. Since there’s a good chance you’ll live longer than me.

Then she added. A fellow who was already healthy became even stronger from the northern journey.

“Ah.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s mouth opened slightly inadvertently.

Come to think of it, Yue Shou-lin didn’t know. Those who knew about Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin’s fate of early death were limited. Among Black rank personnel, only the leaders who had been together at Yeoktru Fortress City in the north.

‘For now, isn’t it better she doesn’t know? So she won’t waver at all.’

That’s what the position of Divine Sword Group Leader was.

– Anyway Lightning Genius, are we really opening this? I’m not declining. I’m just going to open it…?

Her outward appearance and atmosphere were correct for Divine Spear Dream Flight. While Jeong Yeon-shin examined that mature exterior like a defrauded jianghu novice, she opened the iron case.

But there was nothing.

It was merely empty like a lunch box without food. Naturally Yue Shou-lin’s focus blurred.

“What does this mean…?”

“Look closely.”

Jeong Yeon-shin quickly gestured with his chin. Because what was contained in the iron case was silvery-gray powder.

The remnants of Enter The Divine Sword.

Looking again, his palm tingled. The pressure from when he had interfered in the single exchange between his master, Fighting God, and Unorthodox Finest Sword had been tremendous.

Lim Jin-ming gently opened his mouth.

“If you place your spear in that case, the stronghold’s blacksmiths will melt Enter The Divine Sword’s powder and newly forge it. Would it be alright if the weight and length change slightly?”

Yue Shou-lin’s lips rippled faintly.

“…Of course.”

“Also, when stepping down from the position of Divine Sword Group Leader, it must naturally be returned. Will you agree to this as well?”

She only nodded silently without words.

As if the last question had been quite a big hurdle, Lim Jin-ming’s face, which had been careful throughout the meeting, opened wide. Jeong Yeon-shin pondered whether there was a way to publicly share the sound transmissions of the flashy Senior Yue. For some reason, Jin Myeong-jo also flinched simultaneously.

Around that time, the round table meeting was entering closing procedures.

“New Desolate Fortress Lord, new Divine Sword Group Leader, the seventeen leaders reorganized once again… the General Administration will announce all at once. I have matters to discuss separately with the lord, so other people please leave first…”

Suddenly Lim Jin-ming’s words stopped.

Because Jin Myeong-jo had raised his hand. Bright red sleeves flowed down smoothly like blood flow and hung on his elbow.

“You alone.”

His mouth, similarly holding scarlet coloring, moved leisurely.

“Withdraw.”

“Y-yes!”

Even though he didn’t give her a glance, serving woman Dan Jeong-jeong reacted. Because delicate formless energy had pushed her shoulder.

After glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression, when he nodded, Dan Jeong-jeong disappeared while taking retreat steps in quick succession.

It wasn’t planned.

Jeong Yeon-shin and Lim Jin-ming exchanged glances.

“Hmm?”

Yue Shou-lin’s eyes, already standing from her seat, flashed colorlessly. Soon after, opening the closed iron case with her index fingertip, she seemed to be preparing even for a belated martial challenge from the dissenting Jin Myeong-jo.

But Jin Myeong-jo didn’t seem to care at all. Only his crimson red eyes dimly captured the round table.

“…The main agenda is separate. One year one hundred fifty days. The period the stronghold must devote full effort.”

“Is that my term?”

Yue Shou-lin asked back with a faint smile. Jin Myeong-jo shook his head.

“It’s the time remaining to the lord.”

* * *

It was a time with not much left until sunset.

The magnificently spread tent ceiling was colored with dusk. It was the center of a military camp filled with blade-like stern energy waves, yet the youth wearing robes with plum blossom patterns was leisurely in the tent.

Plum Dragon Yu Hyeon.

Even his impression was relaxed.

‘Damn.’

That was only in appearance.

His temperament had loosened after confirming the survival of close friend Jeong Yeon-shin and master Jade Flame Sword God. But that was only briefly.

Because he had been conscripted by Great Commander Quan Yu-li and was rolling around harshly.

It wasn’t just Yu Hyeon. Most jianghu people who had gone up north and came down were caught by the Great Wall’s military forces. Along with the justification of the nation’s crisis.

Many incidents occurred.

Preventing Yao tribe jianghu people who wanted to cross the Great Wall due to the ‘Northern Emperor’s’ infamy, some crazy people from Great Righteous Alliance or whatever shooting down messenger pigeons that flew to the tents with arrows, the identities of masked people who had infiltrated to open the Great Wall’s gate wide being revealed as Hao Sect members…

“Please speak honestly.”

Yu Hyeon opened his mouth leisurely.

“By now the imperial command would have more than arrived, but aren’t you deliberately allowing those Great Righteous Alliance bastards to run rampant?”

“It’s Great Righteous Alliance. What imperial command do you speak of?”

A middle-aged man with eyes full of poison asked back. His sturdy physique and appearance wearing rusty silver armor stood out. At his waist hung the most dignified axe under heaven, Imperial Battle Axe.

The pinnacle of Ming Dynasty’s military.

Yu Hyeon sneered without caring.

“Aren’t the people here at the Great Wall the ones who know best about the incident Divine Sword Group caused at Black Capital? That they obtained peace close to effective surrender.”

“So?”

“I heard rumors that His Majesty the Emperor is staying with Yeon-shin. You would naturally share his will. Then wouldn’t an imperial command be conveyed now to organize internal troubles first rather than antagonizing the Yao tribe? For example, Great Righteous Alliance… or the immortals of World Tree.”

“If an imperial command comes, it must be obeyed.”

“You’re letting it be prevented from arriving. Even this morning, a messenger pigeon was shot and killed by an arrow from afar. Naturally it would be a veteran who joined Great Righteous. Not just one or two jianghu people confirmed that scene with eye techniques.”

Yu Hyeon knew.

That someday Hwangbo family’s Poppy Addict might come south together with Yao tribe jianghu people. That blocking that path would be neither here nor there.

“Perhaps Great Commander too is merely a petty person like Three Directions Grand General?”

“It seems opening the national border is truly easy for you. It’s difficult for military people. Even more so if the targets are barbaric northern jianghu people.”

Yu Hyeon felt as stifled as when Jeong Yeon-shin discussed virtue of benevolence.

“…My master will arrive soon. She won’t fall to any master’s arrows. She’ll be carrying Yeon-shin’s message.”

“Ah, you mean that grateful Jade Flame Sword God , who’s busy protecting common people because sects are overflowing?”

“……”

Yu Hyeon didn’t answer, and Quan Yu-li showed him a head shake.

“If I collude with Lord Jeong here and open the Great Wall, Lord Jeong will inevitably only be branded with the infamy of selling out Ming Dynasty. No matter how powerful World Tree is, can it be more important than records written in history books?”

An absurdly new perspective. It would be because the Great Commander was an official.

“Yeon-shin would prioritize immediate righteousness over such things.”

“I think so too.”

A blurred afterimage arose in Quan Yu-li’s pitch-black pupils. Yu Hyeon somehow felt like Jeong Yeon-shin from the northern expedition had passed through those black eyes.

Swoosh.

Quan Yu-li’s fingers swept the desk.

“When it will be like this anyway, why burden him with infamy?”

Before he knew it, a report was caught between his index and middle fingers. Tremendous grappling hand movements. The hastily scrawled writing on the paper was the same.

– Great Wall’s Shanhai Pass collapsed. At least ten thousand or more Yao tribe masters heading south. At the forefront, a human-shaped fireball wielding Divine Sword Remaining Thunder.