Chapter 809 – Side Story – The World’s Fastest

Jeong Yeon-shin exited the metropolitan examination hall with Literary Star.

Step.

Two shadows with a clear height difference moved through an alley lined with antique walls. The lantern lights were gradually dimming. Dawn was already breaking.

Jeong Yeon-shin carefully opened his mouth.

“By the way.”

“Please speak freely. Even if this one wears the robes of high office, Lord Jeong will still be my dear friend.”

“It’s just that.”

“What is there to hesitate about? It’s not like you, Lord Jeong. How strange.”

“After going this far, if you fail again.”

“……?”

“The fortress’s moat bridge is always lowered.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly. He’d phrased it indirectly because saying “the Desolate Fortress’s gates are always open” seemed too clichéd.

Then he endured Literary Star’s silence. It was something he had to say regardless. Because it would be terrible if Literary Star developed inner demons after failing the examination.

Jeong Yeon-shin congratulated himself.

‘There must be a place to return to.’

Only those who know how to embrace even those who’ve left their bosom can be called gentlemen. Even if Literary Star challenged him to a life-or-death arm wrestling match.

It was then.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly stopped walking.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“This wasn’t the time to worry about after failing… Too late.”

Another shadow had tilted toward them. Was it because of the faint sunlight behind it? The color of the clothes the figure wore was brilliant.

Like the color of sunset.

Literary Star opened his mouth with wide eyes.

“Azure Flame Duke, your return to origin is astounding. How did you achieve such accomplishment…?”

“What would you know?”

Ma Yeon-jeok’s curt reply.

His two feet pointed toward Literary Star.

Jeong Yeon-shin kept the truth to himself. The fact that his maternal grandfather had been mixed among the later examinees was better kept hidden.

“Yi Chun-gap.”

Ma Yeon-jeok’s voice blew in gently. To Jeong Yeon-shin, it was somehow a voice that evoked moonlight and swings.

His grandfather’s power, which had been like fierce flames, had changed in temperament. Now it was distant and unwavering like clouds on a moonlit night.

“You’ve made the fortress lord step foot in such a humble place.”

Though clearly words uttered in Beijing’s capital, they sounded plausible.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s intuition immediately followed. It was a realm after perfecting the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. Having mastered the mental imagery most suited to his grandfather…

‘Then it’s like a grandmaster using martial arts he created himself.’

Instead of the techniques of Harmonized Fire Body Refinement Method with anger as the key, the serene Ma Yeon-jeok had achieved ascension.

He was no longer a practitioner clinging to Jeong Yeon-shin within the martial art. Now he was just Ma Yeon-jeok, who had a grandson named Jeong Yeon-shin.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. You’ve freed yourself from me.

The internal energy control of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique with Ma Yeon-jeok himself as the key might be fast enough that even Fighting God imitating Martial Star could barely keep up.

He had to say it.

“You’ve achieved great accomplishment.”

Then Jeong Yeon-shin faintly raised the corners of his mouth.

Great joy followed. The supreme pleasure permitted to one who’d created a lineage. None other than a practitioner’s branching.

“Still.”

Ma Yeon-jeok moved his stubborn lips.

“I could not come to favor Jeong Pan-yue. This old one is merely an old man satisfied if you’re happy. So I discarded my hatred.”

“That’s why you are now. Well done.”

“Well done…?”

Ma Yeon-jeok’s mouth drew an indescribable expression. An ambiguous movement, neither joyful nor angry.

Not swayed by mantras, he’d simply become the incarnation of Dynamic Technique. He would be most capable at everything possible with Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. First after Jeong Yeon-shin.

Had Literary Star gradually sensed it too? He called to Ma Yeon-jeok with a strange expression.

“Azure Flame Duke.”

“Speak.”

“Will you treat this one as an expelled disciple?”

“Didn’t you receive the world’s finest sword from the fortress lord? The Jeong Family Dynamic Technique tailored to you, yours alone….”

“I acknowledge that.”

“You know what that martial art has come to mean over the past six years. With one strand of the mantra, even jianghu’s blood calamities are laughable. And what does a lineage mean to jianghu people? You must fulfill your responsibility as a collateral successor.”

Step.

When Ma Yeon-jeok took a step, clear air surged forward. Pure yet hot dawn wind. Jeong Yeon-shin silently felt his grandfather trap Literary Star in an interval with just one step.

“……!”

Now Literary Star.

At least within the Forbidden City, it had become difficult to avoid exchanging blows. A feeling that no matter how he built defensive techniques, most would be pierced.

But Literary Star only grew serious.

“Collateral…?”

It would be insulting talk to both warriors and scholars. How can scholarly branches be divided, how much can one assert oneself regarding one’s learning….

Excluding Jeong Yeon-shin, who’d even served as an examination official, Literary Star would be discussed as jianghu’s finest in the combination of literary and martial aspects.

‘Grandfather’s provocation is thorough.’

Teacher of the Desolate Fortress Jeong Yeon-shin began planning to leave the Forbidden City. Ma Yeon-jeok was nodding to Literary Star.

“You are collateral.”

“This is the Forbidden City. Since even rumors become truth here, I hope you won’t cross the line. Those who’ve learned Heavenly Ear Technique are everywhere….”

If one listened to Literary Star’s words, it wouldn’t be tyrannical.

“You’re neither blood kin, nor have you built blood-like bonds, nor did you meet the fortress lord in his childhood which is the key to Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, and in the end aren’t you trying to thrust the power you received from the fortress lord into the political mire? How can that be called the legitimate successor of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique?”

Ma Yeon-jeok concluded indifferently.

……

Before he knew it, he was in front of Literary Star, whose lantern light shadow had fallen on him.

Whoooosh!

Ma Yeon-jeok’s face seemed to treat even the backwind of Nine Marsh Demon Power Steps as trivial. He didn’t even bother looking up at Literary Star.

“In this old one’s observation.”

Ma Yeon-jeok spoke while looking only ahead with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Scholars have always had this problem. Learning, honor, and integrity’s three-way harmony is never achieved. Just smooth-talking like the tongue of that Yong Family bastard.”

“The fortress lord has permitted it. This one will remain the Desolate Fortress’s greatest ally.”

“Then leave your martial arts behind. You are now like an expelled disciple.”

“Even so, what can be done…? Since this one’s body is already Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, what can the Azure Flame Duke do about it?”

“Your soul departing would suffice.”

“What?”

Literary Star’s question, the atmosphere suddenly turning blue, Literary Star’s palm and Heavenly Steel Light Armor Bewitching Emotion’s flames simultaneously reacting, a fist piercing Literary Star’s abdomen while pushing them aside, crumbling walls with a rumble, shockwaves rising from the strike point to the sky then parting clouds….

Cough.

Literary Star’s dry cough accompanied it.

Though it was a surprise attack, the astonishment in his eyes was great. A realm that freely bent even the direction of rebound force.

He’d mastered using the body.

“What, is this…?”

Meanwhile, Ma Yeon-jeok looked as if he hadn’t struck, hands clasped behind his back again. Only his pink robes fluttered in the sunlight.

His mental transmission flowed to Jeong Yeon-shin.

—This old servant will say a word. The Desolate Fortress’s laws are the fortress lord, and the fortress lord’s dignity is also the Desolate Fortress’s dignity.

Respectful formal address. The aged purple offering advice to the Desolate Fortress Lord, yet more difficult to handle than when showing contempt.

Jeong Yeon-shin answered briefly.

—This grandson knows too.

—A sect where leaving is as free as tides ebbing and flowing? Such things only exist in the rootless Sects. At least as long as the fortress lord remains fortress lord, this old one cannot stand by and watch the fortress become a sandcastle on the beach. Because one great exception always blurs the rules….

—I understand that too. What will you do?

To those words, Ma Yeon-jeok answered aloud.

“I must inform the world that leaving is never free. So the fortress remains firm for all eternity.”

“With what?”

“Yi Chun-gap’s corpse, or rather a body with severed limbs and meridians, will suffice.”

“Did you just say corpse…?”

“He’s a wretch who received a supernatural body from the fortress lord anyway. He’ll recover at his discretion.”

Severing Literary Star’s limbs and meridians.

Even if it would only last briefly, who in the world? Ma Yeon-jeok’s determination seemed willing to perish together.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced up at Literary Star.

The giant scholar’s face had become peaceful, meeting Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes. When Jeong Yeon-shin stared intently, Literary Star smiled faintly.

“This is the Desolate Fortress.”

“Is that a curse…?”

“This one will accept it. The forming and severing of relationships should be like jianghu grudges too. Finally, I’ll exchange blows with the Azure Flame Duke and leave the Desolate Fortress with a smile.”

Literary Star’s white breath settled in the dawn alley. He’d already entered internal energy breathing. Now gentle southern wind-like inhalation followed, no longer northern gale wind.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked to confirm.

“What about Martial Star’s matter?”

“I’ll handle it. It seems I can pressure the Yan Family with the current emperor and the Azure Flame Duke.”

“Good.”

Jeong Yeon-shin turned around.

Who would win?

He decided to leave just that one question.

Because Literary Star’s face he glimpsed last looked joyful. It was Literary Star the jianghu person just before returning to being a scholar.

‘My legacies.’

Regardless of the outcome, his grandfather’s goal would be achieved. One way or another, neither would end unscathed.

“The location is the problem.”

There would be no damage to Beijing’s common people. Because they were Literary Star and Tyrant Hero. He just worried about damage to imperial artifacts.

Step.

Jeong Yeon-shin left behind Beijing’s Zhengyang Gate’s brilliant green roofs. A time when lantern lights had already vanished. Another day’s beginning.

He stepped on new sunlight.

—

Returning to the Forbidden City’s North Palace, the surroundings were already noisy. Imperial masters’ presences scattered in all directions, and even drum sounds boomed with internal energy from afar.

—What is this commotion?!

—I don’t know if it’s people colliding! It’s toward Zhengyang Gate!

—Zhengyang Gate? That’s right by the Embassy Guesthouse with one hour’s lightness skill…?

—Aren’t foreign jianghu people staying there over the World Tree and Holy Sword Treasure matters? There were rumors the Ming Cult Leader entered Beijing… Could they have caused a disturbance thinking the imperial family is hiding her….

—Bright Wind Cave report! Complete destruction from Zhengyang Gate to the Embassy Guesthouse! It’s the examinee Literary Star…!

Jeong Yeon-shin thought quietly.

‘Jianghu people.’

He might need to worry about imprisonment rather than passing. Passing the metropolitan examination isn’t an ordinary matter either. He’d have to keep the Deputy Administrator position vacant.

Swish.

Jeong Yeon-shin lifted up the soundly sleeping Hwangbo Geon-ryun. Had he grown slightly as he was a bit heavier now. A child like his own son, so quite satisfying.

Conversely, when shouldering the pack with the hibernating Yong Hye-myeong, it only felt gradually bothersome.

“If I throw it at Zhengyang Gate there, won’t he wake up on his own?”

It was when he was briefly considering.

Suddenly the candle flame flickered mischievously, then Yelu Zhen rose up wrapping white smoke like clothes.

“Little brother.”

A bare face with the silver mask removed. She seemed to know Jeong Yeon-shin had been in the distant past. In her jet-black pupils, ink-colored radiance rippled.

“Sister Yelu.”

“Where are you leaving for?”

Cutting to the chase. It would be because she’d clearly observed the entire situation. Jeong Yeon-shin answered curtly.

“Mount Wudang.”

“Already bothersome. What’s next?”

“The fortress.”

“Hmm?”

Yelu Zhen put the silver mask back on. Only her slightly twisted lips showed as she asked Jeong Yeon-shin again.

“Mount Wudang is the end?”

“The travels have been long. It’s time to return.”

“This bastard…?”

“What?”

The next moment Yelu Zhen was nowhere to be seen. The dusk where she’d hidden her body filled with dim smoke. The burning candlestick toppled toward Jeong Yeon-shin as if spewing curses.

Thud.

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered quietly.

“For a flower viewing of such caliber, I need to go to the fortress to prepare or not….”

In the distance, Martial Dragon Alliance Leader Helian Feng-yue was walking leisurely. From the direction where Literary Star and Tyrant Hero had begun competing.

He seemed to have scouted like a sentinel.

“I say, fortress lord.”

“Speak.”

“My seasoned perception says we must leave Beijing now to finally preserve ourselves….”

—

Rummmble!

Leaving behind Beijing’s ruined walls… The Jeong Yeon-shin group briefly parting from Yelu Zhen. Suddenly some Bright Wind Cave’s sound tunnel wrapped around Jeong Yeon-shin and spewed out Emperor Black Return’s voice, but it couldn’t keep up with Ten Li Gentle Light. Because it was faster than mental transmission, he was the world’s fastest.

He repeated touring and lightness skill. To show Hwangbo Geon-ryun much scenery. Traveling leisurely for three days, it was Mount Wudang.

Jeong Yeon-shin read the Administrator Office’s letter Baek Yeon had delivered.

‘Winter Dream Blood Incident.’

Literally reporting on the scramble over the Winter Dream Sword. Various names had raced through the letter.

[Former Leader Profound Void.

Wudang Sect.

Brilliant Flame Hwangbo Je-yul.

The Desolate Jeok Family’s second daughter.

Dantian-less Overflowing Sea Fist Heaven.

Sword King Buddha….]