Chapter 811 – Side Story – Your Sensory Perception is Clear, Isn’t It?

The Unorthodox First Sword’s blade.

An artifact that had recently shaken the north.

Jeong Yeon-shin had no intention of possessing it. It had already been finished six years ago. Old grudges had decided the Winter Dream’s owner.

None other than the Wudang Sect. The disciples of Taoist High Sword, who had ascended to immortality, had made that old sword into Taoist High Sword’s memorial stone.

Dead Wan Hui’s opinion was useless.

He was someone who regarded people’s necks as mere whetstones for the Winter Dream.

Whoever possessed the Winter Dream, he would only grumble in the afterlife. Though he must have met his first wife, who had been his constant refrain in life.

But if the Winter Dream was released into the world, the story would be greatly different. A situation where Desolate Fortress’s intervention was unavoidable. Therefore, at this moment, Jeong Yeon-shin had no choice but to ask Wudang’s Sect Leader.

“How did you lose it?”

A cautious tone.

Wudang was one of the very few sects Jeong Yeon-shin greatly respected. Not only had he admired them along with Shaolin during his Jeong Family Manor days, but he had created the martial art Southern Splendor Vast Taiji through Taoist High Sword. Of course, he had received his life’s theme from him.

Therefore, if it was Wudang’s Sect Leader, he could only be an enlightened sage to Jeong Yeon-shin. Even the current generation’s Sect Leader looked like a Taoist among Taoists.

“…The sword disappeared on its own.”

A tall middle-aged Taoist concluded his words along with the chant Primordial Beginning, Peaceful Truth.

He was Taoist Jade Cliff Hyeon-muk.

A very stubborn impression. He was creating a breeze on his own, repeatedly causing subtle ripples in his wide Taoist robe.

It must have been a realm where he trained Nature Sword even unconsciously. It meant his mental and physical cultivation harmonized well with nature.

Even Martial Dragon Alliance Leader Helian Feng-yue had turned his back as if he could not dare climb Mount Wudang, with a rather pathetic mental transmission.

–Fortress lord, count me out.

–Why?

–They say Wudang’s young punks have been very irritable lately. I don’t know if it’s because of the Five Swords Under Heaven Grand Ancestor suffering from dementia, or because of the current Sect Leader who’s as stubbornly closed-minded as Heavenly Silk Armor. If by any chance I get trapped in Wudang’s Seven Star Sword Formation, it’d be terrible, so I’ll just prepare to retreat. Don’t orthodox Central Plains sects treat even righteous paths between orthodox and unorthodox as unorthodox? How nice it would be if it were a demonic realm like Desolate Fortress that accepts blood demons, Demonic Cult seeds, and Yao Tribe alike. I misspoke.

–You can enter the fortress too. You just need to receive my sword once.

–What? Are you serious? Then I could enter the Heavenly Gold Martial Arsenal too?

–It means you’d need to die and be reborn.

–Even though I received the strike of Zhang Sanfeng created by none other than World Tree and helped the world’s common people…? But if it’s Wudang who reveres Zhang Sanfeng as their founder, even this might offend them.

Jeong Yeon-shin did not listen further.

Who could treat Wudang’s Sect Leader comfortably in the first place?

If my uncle entered the Taoist path by heavenly fortune, and his cultivation followed even Taoist Jade Cliff’s heels after tremendous hardships, it would feel like this.

An impression that reminded fortress people of Desolate Ma Family Head Ma Jin. Moreover, Jeong Yeon-shin kept good principles with Wudang disciples. Naturally, Sect Leader Jade Cliff also felt difficult.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly.

“First, I hope there’s no misunderstanding with Sect Leader Taoist. The fortress isn’t trying to interfere in Wudang’s private affairs.”

“Please interfere privately.”

“Since the blade called Winter Dream is so vicious and unpredictable, I’m also worried that Mount Wudang’s bloodshed might spread below the mountain.”

“It’s the main sect disciples’ incompetence.”

“Pardon?”

“Of course, it’s due to my lack of virtue. Didn’t our sect’s greatest elder climb the mountain on his own? Before the main sect could even pay our respects.”

It had been quite a while since Wudang acknowledged Jeong Yeon-shin as Taoist Zhang Sanfeng’s successor.

Even his tone was extremely polite. Then Taoist Jade Cliff closed his eyes. His internal energy breathing simultaneously intensified, like a Taoist calming his mind through meditation before magnificent scenery.

[Successor of old Pine Pattern Ancient Sword, Three Purity Energy, Benefactor…]

Mental transmission flowing gently, all referring to Jeong Yeon-shin, descending onto desolate mountains like spring wind or a title.

[Even my master’s confusion, who only ascended spiritually, is but currents below clouds before Benefactor… Ah, the clear Three Purity Energy’s remnants…]

His internal energy inhalation even sucked in the swaying of the trees. Jeong Yeon-shin felt very uncomfortable. It felt like he had become a cliff used for Taoists’ cultivation rather than a person.

Wudang’s lineage may have been cut off after Taoist High Sword.

He was about to quickly resolve this Winter Dream Blood Incident matter. Taoist Jade Cliff casually made excuses without any embarrassed expression.

“Recently, Transcendent Martial Art is transforming.”

“You’ve had many troubles.”

“Yes, thanks to my master.”

“You mean Immortal Profound Void? I understand he’s fine now. Didn’t Emperor Black Return even invite him as the imperial family’s Grand Tutor?”

“He just gave trouble to the main sect. He forced us to send martial challenge letters long ago, saying he could beat Tyrant Hero and Pangu Scholar in arm wrestling. He turned Beijing nobles into eunuchs, calling it the principle of non-action, and carved his title on a cliff like Zhongnan Sect’s treasure vault before disappearing.”

“He sent martial challenge letters to the fortress?”

“It seems Desolate Fortress’s Grand Administrator dismissed them. Primordial Beginning, Peaceful Truth… At least that’s fortunate. But now Heaven-Following Brush Demon Lim Jin-ming will pull out those martial challenge letters whenever disputes occur with Wudang. This is also the main sect’s trouble.”

At those words, Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips turned down.

“I have a clever plan.”

“Even a clever plan? Benefactor, please speak comfortably.”

“Expulsion.”

“Pardon?”

“Many jianghu people think they’ll die just from mentioning it, but actually not. It’s manageable.”

Former expelled disciple Jeong Yeon-shin was serious, and Taoist Jade Cliff did not consider it. The conversation naturally moved to the Winter Dream.

“Originally it only responded when a high-level internal energy master gripped the hilt. It seems it gathered natural energy on its own like a dharma treasure.”

“You mean it disappeared like that and began passing through many people’s hands?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s question, Taoist Jade Cliff slowly nodded. He was the master of all formations spread throughout Mount Wudang. He seemed to grasp the situation just by closing his eyes briefly.

“…It seems Desolate Fortress’s Lazy Flame Dragon is still holding it. This sword master doesn’t let others snatch the vicious thing. However, he can’t flee far either.”

Jeong Yeon-shin stroked the head of Hwangbo Geon-ryun, whom he held in one arm.

“It’s about your father. Didn’t you say he was a fairly capable scoundrel?”

“Yes, Lord Jeong.”

“Aren’t you interested?”

Hwangbo Geon-ryun was focused on brushwork in his martial arts book. When Jeong Yeon-shin peeked down, a beautiful girl’s features were completed in ink lines. His niece, Jeong Hye.

He had drawn her very well.

Taoist High Sword’s last words came to mind.

–Don’t compromise.

When I use Brilliant River in the form of a flick to the head…

Around the time Jeong Yeon-shin would stop compromising with Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s age, Taoist Jade Cliff was sensing formations throughout Mount Wudang.

“As expected, the vicious thing doesn’t leave Mount Wudang. No matter how fast Lazy Flame Dragon dashes down the mountain, he eventually returns to the same place, using the holder’s true energy.”

He called the Winter Dream a vicious thing. Yet it definitely wasn’t an attitude of giving up.

If Lazy Flame Dragon insisted on possessing the Winter Dream, it would greatly affect relations between Desolate Fortress and Wudang.

“What will Benefactor do about this matter?”

Taoist Jade Cliff’s question.

It would be words that would become a major turning point in the Winter Dream Blood Incident. Even now, countless presences of jianghu people who had not achieved return to the source could be felt. Jeong Yeon-shin carefully chose his words and actions.

“The fortress already entrusted that thing’s disposal to Wudang. It wasn’t something we should have been involved with in the first place. It’s the same now. However, I’m hesitant about the possibility that the same thing could happen again anytime.”

Taoist Jade Cliff nodded slightly.

“Indeed so. The Winter Dream has been stuck on this mountain’s slope all along.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s Master High Sword’s memorial stone. Shouldn’t we follow tradition?”

They were talking on land where countless blades were stuck. A flat clearing on the mountain slope. It was precisely Sword Disarming Pool.

–Iron objects other than Pine Pattern Ancient Sword and farming tools cannot climb Mount Wudang.

A tradition said to be made in Taoist Zhang Sanfeng’s generation. According to what Jeong Yeon-shin directly heard from Taoist Zhang Sanfeng, he had made this sect rule because his sleeping place was rough from incurring countless swordsmen’s grudges.

How lacking in virtue was he?

On the other hand, Jeong Yeon-shin did not know the character grudge among jianghu’s gratitude and grudges. His sleeping place was also very comfortable. Enough to leisurely greet even Lazy Flame Dragon, who suddenly manifested before him at this moment.

Whoosh!

“As fortress lord’s duty, I question you. For what reason do you disregard the succession ceremony.”

“Oh my, a demonic sword is indeed a demonic sword.”

He was seeing illusions, and—

Whoosh!

Lazy Flame Dragon Hwangbo Je-yul, who had revealed himself even faintly, immediately disappeared. Just from twisting the Winter Dream’s hilt for a moment.

Then after quite a while, Hwangbo Je-yul’s voice echoed from a distant ridge.

–This is big trouble!

Jeong Yeon-shin caused faint Ten Li Gentle Light waves in his legs, along with the thought that he should cause big trouble for that bastard.

“Geon-ryun, don’t be hurt. Your father’s sensory perception is inadequate. That’s why he couldn’t sense you.”

“Yes, Lord Jeong.”

When Jeong Yeon-shin glanced, Jeong Hye’s full-body portrait was completed in the martial arts book. It was already something beyond portrait skills, close to a well-made martial arts manual.

“Hmm?”

Taoist Jade Cliff’s head tilted right before Jeong Yeon-shin struck.

“Red Robe Crazy Blood?”

Taoist Jade Cliff’s muttering.

Thanks to that, Hwangbo Geon-ryun was safe, because Jeong Yeon-shin’s head suddenly lifted.

By then, Lazy Flame Dragon had already crossed space several times. As expected, should he be called someone with energy accumulation comparable to Yong Hye-myeong? He likewise worsened matters that could have ended well, like Yong Hye-myeong.

Taoist Jade Cliff’s words continued.

“Red Robe Crazy Blood snatched the vicious thing. Though Lazy Flame Dragon’s movements weren’t inferior to hers, it was a surprise strike.”

“By any chance, did the surprise strike’s hand shape resemble a dragon’s front paw?”

“Yes, it seems Benefactor transmitted Heaven Breaking. I hope Red Robe Crazy Blood remains a reformed hero to the end.”

“I never taught it though?”

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin projected energy toward the direction where Jeok Yu-ha’s presence was faintly felt so she would immediately sense him.

She’ll come right away.

…….

No such thing happened.

Only Jeok Yu-ha’s presence flickered like fireflies. Random Form Shifting Void. Her presence flashed from all directions. Naturally, it must have been a trick originating from the Winter Dream.

Jeok Yu-ha holding the Winter Dream. Who could stop that?

“……”

Taoist Jade Cliff carefully asked,

“It seems neither has upper dantian peerless martial arts at great accomplishment realm. Both Lazy Flame Dragon and Red Robe Crazy Blood.”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded and said,

“They’re people who never needed defensive upper dantian study in their entire lives. Those whose only assets are innate talent have no substance in major incidents like this.”

“Doesn’t Desolate Fortress have upper dantian study equal to Jeong Family Dynamic Technique? If it’s Benefactor, you’d surely leave divine arts like Shaolin’s Marrow Cleansing Sutra.”

“Do I need to go that far?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s counter-question, just as Taoist Jade Cliff closed his mouth, Seventh Apostle’s presence that had been endlessly blinking suddenly stopped.

Someone must have snatched the Winter Dream from her grasp. It must have been truly perfect stealth techniques, surprise, and unorthodox skills.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought of one person.

It was Hyeon Won-chang.