Chapter 783 – Side Story – Elder, I Must Go Now

It was after smelling the harvest scent four times. The transparent fragrance of winter was everywhere.

A young man wearing a faded purple long robe sat beside a grave.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin silently gazed at the burial mound.

With an old sword resting on his knee, he slowly stroked another old blade. The hilt bore the inscription “Silent Art.”

Behind Jeong Yeon-shin, a large bonfire occasionally shot sparks. A twilight-like warmth wrapped around his lower back. Like Sword Star Hyeon So-baek’s hands that he once clasped.

It was the last day of the three-year mourning period.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke to the grave.

“…Elder, I must go now.”

The north wind was fierce.

It constantly clawed at Jeong Yeon-shin’s face without rest, yet his cheeks remained warm. Because someone had warmed them frequently.

Rustle.

A slender chin settled on his shoulder.

It was Jeok Yu-ha as always. She tickled Jeong Yeon-shin’s cheek with her sideburns and asked.

“You’re really leaving…?”

“Yes.”

When he nodded, Jeok Yu-ha’s soft cheek pressed against him slightly with a faint laugh. The fine hairs on the back of Jeong Yeon-shin’s neck stood up.

“You and me.”

Jeong Yeon-shin continued quietly.

“You said the two of us were enough.”

In that instant, Seventh Apostle lifted her chin and withdrew. Her laughter followed with words.

“But it wasn’t just the two of us.”

“……”

She was right.

The Sword Star had said Jeong Yeon-shin was the last sword he would ever hold. He’d had no choice but to purify his mind and body for three years.

Thud.

He planted Silent Art Sword before the burial mound.

Late winter sunlight fell upon it. As faint light shone on the hilt, Jeok Yu-ha’s whisper followed.

“It looks like a flower.”

That was all.

She went into the roughly built hut opposite the grave. Probably to pack their belongings.

Jeong Yeon-shin remained still for a while. Staring blankly at the light that shimmered on the hilt like spring flowers.

Wanderers wouldn’t secretly pull it out. Because the Ming Cult would guard it.

Jeong Yeon-shin rose slowly. Then he glanced back.

An old man with a stubborn expression waited for him.

“Desolate Fortress Lord.”

The old man’s mouth opened.

“You ultimately kept your place. Even as great storms arise outside.”

The Ming Cult’s Old Grand Preceptor. The person Jeong Yeon-shin had called Old Grand Preceptor all this time.

He wore white robes like ceremonial dress.

He had looked the same the entire time he’d been bringing Jeong Yeon-shin food. Even down to the kindly wrinkles at the corners of his mouth.

Jeong Yeon-shin saw Sword Star Hyeon So-baek overlapping in that smile. That’s why he couldn’t tell. The intention behind the Old Grand Preceptor’s smile.

‘What is it…?’

Why did he look so pleased?

While struggling to fathom his heart, the Old Grand Preceptor asked quietly.

“Are you leaving?”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded.

Nine days ago, he’d received communication from Grand Administrator Lim Jin-ming. Through a white crane that arrived matching the mourning period’s anniversary. Various matters were listed in a calm hand.

—White Qilin Namgung Hwa-sin’s purple promotion was ruined. Every time he enters the palace, he falls asleep before the emperor, making it impossible to proceed with civil and military officials’ questions…

—Lazy Flame Dragon Hwangbo Je-yul didn’t attend his own promotion ceremony. For the third time already, unprecedented in the main fortress. Recent reports say he’s going around dissolving newly formed martial alliance meetings. He won’t return to the main fortress.

—Divine Sword Group Leader Yue promised to catch Huangbo Je-yul in great anger, but capture remains distant. Because he’s recently been called the World’s Fastest…

—Nether Stream Squad Leader Baek Mi-ryeo is going around acting as Heavenly Demon. I couldn’t contain her activities on one page, so please refer to attached documents for details.

It wasn’t the end.

Many things had happened. He’d even doubted his eyes at some reports.

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered like an old man.

“…The world, really.”

The Old Grand Preceptor chuckled heartily.

Soon the old man’s wrinkled mouth moved.

“Won’t you grant me one request? Considering my sincerity all this time.”

“Please speak.”

“When you return to the Central Plains, please meet our Cult Leader.”

“If it’s Invincible Yelu Zhen, I saw her once before coming to mourn.”

“Was it only a brief connection?”

“Well, not exactly…”

Siblings who only needed to meet once every ten years or so. Jeong Yeon-shin swallowed his words. In that instant, earnestness filled the Old Grand Preceptor’s wrinkled face.

“I heard you promised to enjoy flower viewing with our Cult Leader. That you made the promise before the Fortress Lord experienced severe reverse aging.”

“Please refrain from speaking of that. My master’s matter is confidential. If this leaks out, I’ll regard the Ming Cult as the rumor’s source and order the main fortress’ Grand Administrator to respond severely.”

“Not the previous Fortress Lord, but what you said to her…”

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his back on the Old Grand Preceptor.

Was it because the north wind was strong? His faded long robe fluttered fiercely. The perceptive Old Grand Preceptor’s words caught Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Right, before your master became like that, you and the Cult Leader made a promise? The hydrangea flower viewing…”

“Does elder sister wait for that?”

“It’s certain you’re the only person she gave affection to. The rest all died when the Cult Leader was young. So please at least convey one message.”

“What message?”

“Please stop by the cult once…”

The Old Grand Preceptor’s face resembled Sword Star Hyeon So-baek again. Jeong Yeon-shin fell silent. And muttered inwardly.

I probably won’t meet her.

He remembered himself when he’d returned to childhood. When he returned wrapped in Lazy Flame Dragon’s long robe with a body around three years old, then grew rapidly regardless of time.

Days of humiliation. He’d also met Invincible Yelu Zhen. When he had the appearance and memories of a five or six-year-old.

—Ahahaha, crazy. So cute…?

—Elder sister, why do you eat pancakes in a secluded place? Everyone else eats together.

—I can guess what happened. So… I can say it now and be done with it?

—My nose tickles. Straighten your waist.

—Thank you.

She’d pulled his young self into her arms. A body that gave off a strange fragrance mixing fruit scents with demonic energy. She’d taken a bite of pancake, then left only cool words before disappearing.

—Forget it.

Jeong Yeon-shin decided to remember it until death.

‘Drinking story for life.’

But he couldn’t simply ignore the Old Grand Preceptor’s request. Especially since it was time to venture into the Central Plains.

Thus a day later, Jeong Yeon-shin stepped on frost-covered ground with Jeok Yu-ha.

* * *

Northern Sea Ice Palace.

Two people came to meet them.

‘The Hwangbo family.’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes descended for quite a while. Because his gaze was stolen by one of the two people.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.

“…You resemble your father greatly.”

“You saw me when I was three, correct? I respectfully greet Lord Jeong. My name is Hwangbo Geon-ryun.”

A boy bowed to Jeong Yeon-shin, slowly raising a cupped fist salute. He must have been around six years old.

“You’re terribly unlike him.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said while watching the boy’s sleeves fall elegantly.

Furrows formed in Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s round cheeks. It seemed he didn’t particularly like his father. Lazy Flame Dragon was incompetent even after becoming purple rank.

Then the woman beside Hwangbo Geon-ryun spoke.

“Northern Emperor.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered calmly.

“Sister-in-law.”

The woman facing him, Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord Ice Empress, raised the corners of her mouth. It was a similar reaction every time Jeong Yeon-shin called her sister-in-law.

Ice Empress said in awkward Chinese.

“It’s an honor that you walk here.”

Jeong Yeon-shin wanted to find Lazy Flame Dragon’s grandfather, Divine Palm Wise King Hwangbo Gon. But when he ultimately couldn’t sense him, he asked.

“Senior Hwangbo is…?”

“Great grandfather went to catch my husband. Because my husband is now like a living sun, as his martial arts approaches the realm of completion… his visits to Ice Palace have decreased.”

Jeong Yeon-shin held back harsh words. Desolate Fortress’ purple rank. A rank that neglected family.

‘…When I return, I’ll have to correct the rules.’

He’d come after receiving Ice Empress’s communication.

It was a request to have his son, the Young Palace Lord Hwangbo Geon-ryun, attend Lazy Flame Dragon’s purple grade promotion ceremony. He had no choice but to confirm the true intention again here.

“Isn’t Geon-ryun your only child? Are you really alright with taking him to the Central Plains…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s question.

Northern Sea Ice Palace was close to a small nation. Not only was there Grand Palace Lord Ice Empress, but Second Palace Lord and Third Palace Lord who engaged in political strife.

Meanwhile, Hwangbo Geon-ryun was the fruit of Ice Empress and Lazy Flame Dragon. The legitimate heir to Ice Soul Dance and Flame River Mountain Shaking Art. When he grew a little more, he’d always have to prove himself.

Then a small face popped up below Jeong Yeon-shin’s field of vision. Young Hwangbo Geon-ryun had stood on tiptoe between Jeong Yeon-shin and Ice Palace Lord.

“Actually, I shamefully wish to attach myself to Lord Jeong.”

“Attach yourself?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s question, Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s plump cheeks moved.

“If I travel the jianghu with the World’s Northern Emperor, I’ll become popular within the palace. And popularity means standing. Especially for someone like me with quite decent bloodline.”

Jeong Yeon-shin hesitated.

‘This child.’

His words and conduct struck him as extraordinary. It couldn’t be just because of the environment the child had lived in. Was it because he’d planted Jeong Family Dynamic Technique in Ice Empress’s belly when the child was still a fetus?

It was a divine art because the founder’s mental image was imbued in it.

A child whose Jeong Family Dynamic Technique had been operating constantly even before birth. A destiny to not die young even while holding both fire and ice.

Jeong Yeon-shin became curious. What did Ice Empress and Lazy Flame Dragon think about their child’s nature?

He was afraid to ask. Perhaps it could take after Lazy Flame Dragon’s disposition.

‘I hope it’s not my fault.’

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke with difficulty.

“…Not just bloodline. I don’t know if you heard from your parents, but your energy circulates with Jeong Family Dynamic Technique’s principles. It means you can act as my successor anywhere.”

Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s face brightened. As if he no longer needed to follow to the Central Plains, the child grasped Ice Empress’s sleeves simultaneously.

“You acknowledge me as a successor?”

“Yes, you’re one of nine hundred seventy-three successors. According to the main fortress Administration’s report, that should be so.”

“What?”

……

Silence skipped across the frozen ground.

Ice Empress saw them off. Hwangbo Geon-ryun departed on the road with Jeong Yeon-shin. It was a party of three including Jeok Yu-ha.

“Kid, you spread the bedding. We’re guarding you.”

“Yes, just a moment.”

“What are you writing now? In that tiny booklet.”

“Martial World Compendium.”

“Hmm?”

“Seventh Apostle is… pretty and powerful… to the six-year-old Ice Palace Young Lord… the vessel that gives chores…”

Meanwhile, a long letter hung from Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand, dragging all the way to the ground.

It was an additional report that had arrived.

—Literary Star Yi Chun-gap is staying indoors on grounds of preparing for the newly implemented civil examination. Tyrant Hero tried to retrieve Chun-gap but only destroyed half the outer walls before leaving. He said he’d create Giant Killing Art…

—Former Divine Sword Group Leader Lord Yong came to tease Tyrant Hero and is staying at the main fortress. Oddly, Lord Yong who suddenly fell asleep is sleeping like a winter bear for ten days now. Even movements of sporadically absorbing massive natural earth energy are observed, so Administration clerks’ investigation…

—Bloodshed occurred over the late Unorthodox Path Finest Sword Wan Hui’s Winter Dream Sword. No civilian casualties, but the situation is chaotic as Wudang suddenly claimed ownership of the sword…

—An envoy came from ‘Imperial Palace.’ Because mysterious cheating methods, mainly eye techniques and sensory guidance and striking through air, are rampant in the civil examination where martial heroes from north and south have largely registered their names, they requested the Fortress Lord participate as supervisor to establish the examination’s prestige…

—Our Administration is ignoring all communications from the Nine Sects and prestigious families regarding the Fortress Lord. I don’t know how long such response will be possible.

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered plainly.

“The world, really.”

Words that seemed to become a habit.

And so the Northern Emperor traveled south.