Chapter 807 – Side Story – You’ve Grown Well

Jeong Yeon-shin placed the rapidly flowing northern time beneath his feet.

While listening to many stories, the nation began to turn. Everything was accomplished as if riding the currents: numerous Northern Kings joining, the Black Capital’s martial military forces increasing, and receiving Central Plains provisions in utmost secrecy through Yu Ling.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the Black Capital’s outskirts.

A shadow repeatedly loitered near the walls before disappearing. It was the figure of the Six Star Lord, Martial Star.

‘Not a warrior, but waste.’

Even bluffing was ridiculous. He was a bastard who didn’t touch Wan Hui for years once the latter became strong. He enjoyed empty leisure during that period as if he’d become Wan Hui’s nightmare, only to aim for the perfect opening…

Whoosh.

The clouds embracing Jeong Yeon-shin rippled like feathers.

Formless energy.

Now, Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind sword was treading the realm of Mind Becomes Death. If he so decided, he could easily twist warriors’ energy waves terribly and drive them to qi deviation. He just didn’t know how well it would work on peerless masters.

Meanwhile, Literary Star was one of those claiming to be the legitimate successor of the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. That was a separate matter from wanting to pass the examination. Even if he occasionally sighed to Jeong Yeon-shin, he sincerely treated him with a grandmaster’s courtesy, enough to answer with polite mental transmission when Jeong Yeon-shin revealed killing intent.

—Martial Star was a thorn in everyone’s side. Fighting God agonized to the end. To Fighting God, Martial Star was like a comrade, similar to what Desolate Divine Hero was to Lord Jeong. Until he was banished…

Jeong Yeon-shin asked back in an even tone.

“Compared to whom?”

—…This one misspoke.

“I seem to have seen all the answers. Can’t I do as I please now?”

Had Literary Star sensed that examiner Jeong Yeon-shin’s composure had greatly collapsed during the two’s metropolitan examination? His mental transmission answered very quickly.

—I received detailed reports on the cause of death. He died horribly. As you know, those who killed Martial Star numbered four in total… Great Master Beom-heo’s disciple, Hell Deviation Beom-ryeol; Blood Guardian Leader Hyeon Won-chang; Lightning Genius lineage’s direct disciple, Shin So-bin.

“Direct line.”

—Direct disciple Shin So-bin, and finally, Annihilation Team Meader Shin-hwang. And the traces found on Martial Star’s corpse are as follows.

Did he still have things he wanted to show? Literary Star calmly listed them.

—One massive fist mark of the Hundred Step Divine Fist that crushed his entire body; thirteen palm marks of Shaolin’s Hot Sand Palm that stripped bone and muscle; traces of Marrow Cleansing Sutra that shattered his left knee’s cartilage and the three dantians’ fine meridians, bones and all; the Divine Flame Double Hands of Annihilation Team Leader that pulverized his brain beyond the skull; Blood Guardian Squad Leader’s demonic sword cuts that sliced his entire body like sashimi forty-seven times; and on Burning Abyss Shin So-bin’s once-severed arm, countless pieces of Martial Star’s flesh were attached, as if torn from his body, including protective energy in the Ultimate Thunder state…

“I saw his corpse too. I know he died very painfully. But that’s all. Nothing is enough for jianghu grudges.”

No matter how much you repay gratitude, you’re grateful, and no matter how you return enmity, it’s insufficient. This was true for what happened to Wan Hui and for the common people massacred by Wan Hui.

—His sword power was better than the High Sword’s.

Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t forgotten the sight of Wan Hui throwing the High Sword’s head. He still naturally thought so, that a failed act of revenge was the most fitting end for Wan Hui.

‘But….’

Desolate Fortress Lord Jeong Yeon-shin told Literary Star.

“You have work to do as Deputy Administrator. If you truly pass the metropolitan examination, this will be your last mission.”

Though he spoke the words “pass the metropolitan examination” skeptically, just this once, Literary Star’s mental transmission didn’t catch the word’s tail.

—…Command me.

“After retrieving Martial Star’s body from Mount Song, sew his head back on and send him to the Yan Family. He’s a Demon Clan at the Five Swords Under Heaven level, so his corpse should be less decayed.”

—By Yan Family, you mean making him a jiangshi…

“I know that family head Yan something has such skills. Make Martial Star climb Mount Wudang himself and have him behead himself.”

—Mount Wudang? Isn’t there already a scramble over the Heavenly Soaring Guest’s Winter Dream Sword…? It will draw much attention. Connoisseurs will want to know the reason too.

“They should know. If Black Return is sane, he won’t try to hide it.”

—…Of course, if he’s like his father, the Southern Emperor, he’ll make Martial Star’s honor extremely filthy and treat him coldly as a stepping stone for world unity. But the Yan Family is also a problem. The Great Jiangshi Art isn’t something accomplished in one or two attempts, and it consumes tremendous dharma treasures. Will they really do it?

“I recently returned the Yan Family martial manual. I heard their deep thanks too… After all, kindness is always appreciated no matter how much it’s repaid.”

—……?

Literary Star’s mental transmission stopped. Jeong Yeon-shin understood it as empathetic silence. Any seasoned jianghu person would.

Soon, the mental transmission continued.

—…If the Yan Family possesses Martial Star, problems might arise after they follow the Fortress Lord’s instructions. Giving up such massive combat power after creating it themselves is difficult. The Yan Family might secretly retrieve him and use him as a strategic weapon in sect wars…

“If the Yan Family is sane, they won’t.”

Jeong Yeon-shin stroked Yeo-roe’s sword hilt.

He had said “sane” twice now, once for Black Return and once for the Yan Family. Both stories premised on Jeong Yeon-shin’s military might, matters on which their survival depended.

Literary Star must have guessed. Just seeing him change the subject with a calm mental transmission showed it.

—Only one answer remains now, so I’ll advance time a bit more.

His vision blurred again, and years rewound. Within it, reports of Great Master Beom-heo’s transformation even entered the Black Capital. Literary Star directly addressed Fighting God.

“…They say he’s called a Divine Monk now. According to one account, he’s the Orthodox’s Finest.”

“Chun-gap, you look pleased.”

“Is Fighting God different? Didn’t you always regret not being in that place?”

“No connection. I don’t feel it.”

“Is it because Fighting God will meet a miserable death after challenging Emperor Qian-ling again?”

“Your dissuasion is useless. If I win in the end, I haven’t lost. Yu Ling will record it so.”

“Damn….”

“Only when we gain abundance will clans not lose brothers.”

“You think you lost him. After you stopped the Southern Emperor, who tried to call and tear him apart in that public illusion before everyone’s eyes.”

“That’s why I’m a mortal.”

Fighting God’s words continued blandly.

“If only I survive in the end, I’ll remain a useless god. It’s enough if the Southern Emperor remains… We need the Southern Emperor’s protective energy. Of course, after extracting the World Tree, by replacing the Desolate Fortress Lord beyond the Great Gate.”

His voice faded distantly, and the next moment, what looked like barracks appeared below.

***

Strict military energy.

Flags in all directions. The barracks also lined up like grave mounds in a cemetery. They must be facing a fight of unimaginable scale.

“Where will we use the shells? Great Lord Yo will intercept them all. Emperor Qian-ling might even reverse the bullets.”

An older Literary Star than before was commanding the military. Anger faintly stained his face. The atmosphere still hated the barren land.

“Great General, there are appropriate places….”

“Whether exploding any land or throwing them at the anti-Fighting God faction, do something. Haven’t you heard the rumors of Desolate Day Extinction? If ill fortune follows, you might be exploited by Myriad Heavens Flower Rain. Since it’s the last battle, who knows what means Emperor Qian-ling will employ?”

As Literary Star rebuked his subordinate, Jeong Yeon-shin above sighed.

“If I’d used Thunderclap Bombs and Myriad Heavens Flower Rain freely, would my Northern Expedition have been different?”

—Pardon?

“Of course, the Grand Dowager wouldn’t have permitted it… But if perhaps the Divine Sword Group could have received large quantities of shells instead of just blades. Enough Thunderclap Shells for me to use abundantly.”

—……

“I feel your mental transmission’s movement. What are you doing?”

—I offered respects to the generous past Northern Emperor.

Meanwhile, the ground was a sea of people.

Northern jianghu people looked up at the Ming Dynasty forces on the Great Wall.

Human walls densely packed at different heights. Camps divided in two. Truly endless, more like forests than crowds.

“……”

Two presences undulated.

Jeong Yeon-shin intuited. This was finally the end of the memories. Two people were emerging from the northern camp and the Great Wall’s gate, respectively.

Thud.

Fighting God limped on his large foot.

Emperor Qian-ling sat slanted on the imperial palanquin.

Rustle.

Emperor Qian-ling’s appearance stepping onto the ground didn’t seem suited for a battlefield at all. He wore a dragon robe fitting for a Beijing outing rather than an emperor on a personal expedition.

This was already after he’d dressed Jeong Yeon-shin in purple robes.

Emperor Qian-ling’s face was peaceful.

‘Right before unification.’

Only now could Jeong Yeon-shin see through. Emperor Qian-ling, who’d made the Forbidden City his home since childhood in Grand Dowager Wei Yeon’s palm, would have inevitably contacted the World Tree’s branches for a long time.

He looked ready to become the World Tree’s limbs at any time, very similar to Wei Gun-hye, who’d been designated as its fruit.

Step.

Though he himself would know this best, finally facing Fighting God, he showed no flaws. Only moonlight slid over the dragon patterns on his robe.

“Cripple.”

Emperor Qian-ling’s mouth moved.

“You’ve grown quite well.”

At those words, Fighting God laughed aloud.

“Qian-ling…!”

That large call seemed sufficient. There were no other words. Jeong Yeon-shin muttered from above, I should follow in person now.

Simultaneously.

[Mencius’s Firm Resolve.]

[Upright Pillar Great Cataclysm.]

The instant Literary Star roared and semi-transparent energy waves swelled in size from Integrity Star’s crescent blade, before their force release domain even reached, Emperor Qian-ling turned his sleeve.

“It’s the last. It should be serene.”

With his words, space warped into grayish curves.

Craaaaaack!

Fighting God punched it but was instantly swallowed. The atmosphere bent like a bowstring, then explosively straightened. Both were flung simultaneously.

Boom!

They flew distantly in the blink of an eye. Emperor Qian-ling, following with his hands behind his back, shot toward Fighting God in the air like a shell.

While both figures clawed at even the low clouds, the corners of Fighting God’s mouth rose.

No particular starting stance.

Fighting God’s right arm bent like a whip and cut through a different time axis. The instant he casually smashed Emperor Qian-ling’s abdomen, the shockwave from the strike point exploded the sea of clouds, the cloud ocean where Jeong Yeon-shin had been.

Booooom!

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped on the shattered cloud fragments. He spread extreme Ten Li Gentle Light with each step and disappeared far away, focusing his senses on both people.

‘That was the fastest in my life just now.’

Except when deploying Transcendent Martial Art I Tread.

Very high in the sky.

Fighting God doubted in an instant.

“Just now….”

“Are you relaxed? Don’t mind it.”

Emperor Qian-ling said.

Glass-like fragments scattered down.

From Emperor Qian-ling’s abdomen. The space he’d bent in layers like protective energy, Fighting God had completely shattered it.

Emperor Qian-ling smiled.

“You’ve become good at striking providence.”

Just before Fighting God moved again, the parabola both bodies drew also reached its end. Their figures immediately slammed into the ground.

Whoosh!

Dust whirled in all directions. The ground’s momentary groan reached Jeong Yeon-shin’s senses because the rock swords and stone spears erected by Earth King’s creation at the landing point were all erased by Emperor Qian-ling’s stepping foot.

It was, of course, Fighting God’s Earth King.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t know nature’s energy spirits like Wind King or Earth King could groan. Was it because of the spatial cutting energy? Truly a divine skill.

Even now, he didn’t dare to obtain it.

‘If I stab my mind sword into Master’s Wind King, could I pose as a musician? Playing the flute without a flute….’

Since he’d soon oversee jianghu’s foremost flower viewing, he worried about the guests’ spirits, but Emperor Qian-ling’s face was only bored.

“Even if you imitate Sword Tree Hell with martial arts, to me it’s inferior to reality’s famine.”

A complete master revealing true martial arts.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly realized. The manifested world had expanded.

‘From here on….’

It wasn’t Literary Star’s memories.

Emperor Qian-ling’s presence was adding density to the world. So, Jeong Yeon-shin could sense this time period’s entire world intact.

One of the rolling stone spear fragments bumped against Fighting God’s feet.

Even that texture was vivid now.

Jeong Yeon-shin wondered. How did Fighting God win?