Chapter 816 – Side Story – Foolish People Exist in Every Land

A well-paved road.

And restless air.

Beijing’s nobles traveled the official roads defensively. Some even emitted faint energy waves as if they’d activated protective energy barriers. Even that was only a tiny minority compared to merchants or servants.

There were no children on the streets.

They weren’t being allowed outside the walls.

Gray smoke rose in the distance. The feeling that it hadn’t gone out for a long time. Its hazy traces only scattered after reaching the sky.

Deepening Beijing’s silence.

‘Though it’s not even wartime.’

When anger formed in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes, several merchants whispered in the distance.

“Zhengyang Gate still can’t be passed…? Though they say there’s no one there anymore?”

“Thousands of strong men fell from inexplicable strong winds trying to boldly pass through that gate. The fight ended long ago, but… the effects remain. Literally a calamity.”

“Huh, really.”

“Is that all? Pangu Scholar and Great Ominous Divine Hero’s limbs clashed.”

There were people whose identities could be figured out even when their titles were always new. The anger gathered between Jeong Yeon-shin’s brows relaxed into embarrassment. Meanwhile, Beijing’s passersby were starting to recognize him around that time too.

“Could it really be him? His long robe is as red as if it’s been dipped in flower dye…”

“Look at his features. And that yellow character there.”

Jeong Yeon-shin flew up as if disappearing from where he stood. Soon after, the first place he headed was North Offering Palace within the Forbidden City.

“Lord Jeong.”

Literary Star was there.

He reported immediately.

“Yan Family has agreed to receive Martial Star’s body.”

“Mm.”

“There will be no damage. In the first place, Yan Family’s jiangshi techniques were created to transport corpses intact during wartime. Just like the old Mount Mo Sect.”

Literary Star Yi Chun-gap.

His massive body was in tatters. Palm techniques, fist techniques, even sword marks were visible. All bluish-black marks. Clear traces of Ma Yeon-jeok’s Blue Flames exploding.

Thud.

Jeong Yeon-shin roughly set down the bundle containing Yong Hye-myeong and asked a question he couldn’t hold back.

“Which side won?”

Anyone would be curious.

But Literary Star only raised his lips faintly like thread. Then he quietly asked Jeong Yeon-shin back.

“Has Wudang returned to being Wudang?”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke while thinking of Taoist High Sword.

“It wasn’t that big of a matter. Wudang always looks down at the people’s livelihood from peaks high as swords.”

“The Emperor will worry less.”

Literary Star continued with a smile.

“When a dynasty is newly established, Shaolin and Wudang become very important. Because they can control chaotic public sentiment. And now Desolate Fortress has been added to that.”

“Wudang seemed to have become wealthy.”

“Soon Black Return’s son… that is, the Crown Prince, will enter Wudang as a lay disciple. Of course, he’ll only study for about a year before descending. Next he’ll head to Shaolin.”

“Afterward, the fortress?”

Literary Star shook his head at Jeong Yeon-shin’s question. Then he lightly touched his waist, along with quiet words.

“Due to Tyrant Hero’s recent incident, it seems the imperial family changed their plans.”

Flutter.

There was an empty space at his side. It seemed to have been shaved by Ma Yeon-jeok’s strike. Though recovery would take considerable time, Literary Star smiled contentedly.

“The Emperor’s youngest daughter is preparing for the Desolate Fortress Examination. Since she’s the same age as Hwangbo Geon-ryun, her succession rank is quite far down. She intends to bury her bones in the White-Blue-Black-Purple hierarchy.”

“Not entering as an unnamed disciple…?”

“She’s pure-blooded royalty. The picture of taking the examination is better.”

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head.

“If it were Geon-ryun maybe, but six years old is a bit…”

“I heard the Fighting God once stopped by Beijing and bestowed teachings. They say he even personally made Heavenly Silk Armor.”

“Still, it’ll be difficult. The fortress’s Whites are masters.”

“Most importantly, the fact is she’ll challenge the Desolate Fortress Examination until she becomes an adult. Just that alone lets the imperial family ride Desolate Fortress’s public support, and Desolate Fortress can check the imperial family without any cost.”

“Like you continuing to take the civil examination…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked carefully, but Literary Star only laughed heartily.

“My challenges have ended.”

“No, really that much…?”

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin was flustered. Literary Star’s words continued.

“It will surely be different. This time, I have a good feeling.”

“……?”

“You should gradually go to the Emperor. It would be proper for him to speak about the foreign jianghu people. Ah, it seems Tyrant Hero has returned to Desolate Fortress.”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t open his mouth.

He just silently headed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He descended through the hole in the splendid roof that for some reason still hadn’t been patched up.

Straight to the Central Plains’s pinnacle.

The massive Emperor Black Return was looking up from his throne. He quietly asked.

“Wudang?”

“Was it a task you entrusted?”

“Mount Wudang is also Central Plains territory. If it’s been resolved, gratitude should naturally be expressed. Especially since I intend to use Wudang heavily.”

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded then descended to the imperial audience hall.

Step.

Simultaneously, civil and military officials began leaving the imperial audience hall. An immediate response. Most of them used swift lightness techniques, meaning the Emperor had many matters to discuss with the Desolate Fortress Lord.

Boom!

The massive door closed.

Jeong Yeon-shin first felt like some rat was watching him from above, but he had something to say first.

“I’m sorry about Grandfather.”

Black Return smiled.

“Would I expect an apology for a natural disaster? We don’t do that in our homeland.”

“Truly a land of heroes.”

“I’ll substitute it with the Wudang matter.”

Meaning to offset the resolved matter with what happened. Words that he wouldn’t bother calculating responsibility and duty. It was appreciated.

When Jeong Yeon-shin replied with an eye greeting, Black Return scanned his surroundings. Peering with the Emperor’s eyes that could see through many things.

“…Your party has thinned.”

“They went to Desolate Fortress first. Because Lazy Flame Dragon decided to hold his succession ceremony.”

Having said that, Jeong Yeon-shin still didn’t know why Lazy Flame Dragon’s mind had changed. He was just satisfied with how he’d descended the mountain leisurely with Hwangbo Geon-ryun on his shoulders.

Black Return also nodded with a similar face then suddenly asked.

“Heaven-Following Brush Demon Namgung Hwa-shin…?”

“I prescribed the Winter Dream. The demonic sword that doesn’t let its owner sleep… He just needs to master the upper dantian mysteries that blade causes.”

It was possible because the Winter Dream had become docile.

‘Though he remained at Sword Disarming Pool, it won’t take long.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought of Namgung Hwa-shin. Six years had passed, and he now had a face that resembled his dead elder brother closely. He would surely return to the fortress wearing in his eyes the same clear energy as Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin.

It was an earnest matter for Jeong Yeon-shin too.

Because the only Purple with a sound mind and body was Yue Shou-lin.

‘…She is sound, right?’

There was intelligence from the Zhejiang sea area that Divine Sword Leader’s spear was making craters.

He was said to be stopping eastern pirates’ plundering. Peculiarly, while operating Greater Circulation stage by stage, there was a mystical martial meridian that could use Water Arts even after landing without water.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s thoughts bounced around like this constantly. It would be a flaw if it was a flaw of being a completer. Because he commanded too many and too varied swords.

“You handle…work well.”

Black Return tapped the armrest of his throne.

Though there was no particular expression, a face with words circling that he didn’t want to say aloud.

“…work well.”

He finally spoke. It was natural praise for the Grand Secretary of Desolate Fortress, but Black Return passed on his words simultaneously with Jeong Yeon-shin’s chin rising.

“There’s a rumor circulating recently. That Ice Palace’s Young Palace Lord might be Jeong Family Dynamic Technique’s legitimate successor, is it true?”

“I already called his father my second older brother. It seems I should even post an announcement.”

Black Return shook his head.

“It would be better to leave it as a question.”

“Anything else to say? I saw the letter sent by Palace Eunuch Ming.”

“Right now it’s fine. But one thing… is that Ming Cult Leader there?”

Black Return pointed below Jeong Yeon-shin’s feet.

Rustle.

Instantly a human figure subtly split off like a shadow from Jeong Yeon-shin’s feet. Red light formed semi-transparently as if by Form Shifting Void, completing Jeok Yu-ha’s form.

Her lips moved slowly.

“You’re saying strange things.”

Black Return impassively dismissed Jeok Yu-ha’s sharp gaze. It was the Emperor’s bearing.

“Unfortunate.”

“Yu-ha was my only shadow.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, Black Return’s eyes took on interest.

“Her true name, then. Blood demons rarely share that with others… Is it fine for me to hear?”

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled.

“Yu-ha is mine, and also a hero who will lead a family. Her name should naturally remain. Both merits and faults.”

“An equal relationship?”

“Yes, like Azure Qilin Great Hero.”

Instantly, Black Return laughed loudly for the first time.

Rummmble!

The Hall of Mental Cultivation’s imperial audience hall shook with the resounding sound, then bounced Black Return’s voice.

“Xi’an Jeong Family will have hardships.”

“What?”

“I mean North Jianghu’s First Person. Your second brother Jeong Jung-san. From now on, he’ll suffer from the gazes of Huguang Province’s blood demons.”

“……?”

“Isn’t it the end if he doesn’t send betrothal gifts to Desolate Fortress Jeok Family? After you went this far.”

The topic turned to extremely private matters. Jeong Yeon-shin saw Black Return’s eyes so vivid for the first time. Whether it was because he pondered political marriages like martial arts, or because he was Yao Tribe who often had many descendants, who knew.

“That is the beginning of the Six Rites. Without betrothal gifts there’s no marriage, so North Jianghu’s First Person holds weighty authority. It’s just a question of whether he can handle it.”

“Wait.”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked back about the words that had grated on his ears twice.

“Why is elder brother North Jianghu’s First Person?”

“It’s the same as why Xi’an Jeong Family will have hardships. The unified elder of the North Offering. It’s a mix of connoisseurs’ jokes and serious talk.”

The Emperor had already spoken. Then it would be a firmly established title. Did the recent wedding ceremony have a big influence?

Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.

***

A peerless handsome youth with long hair was shaking his head. Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius. It was an image reflected small in a round crystal jade, but even that was a dazzling appearance.

The boy wearing a hooded cloak exclaimed quite admiringly.

“He’s as beautiful as our Sword Master…? Is he really a man? The sculptors from home would go crazy.”

“Lower your voice.”

The man beside him put his index finger to his mouth.

A face with extreme caution. Not only his deeply sunken eye sockets, but also tension formed in his golden eyebrows like an ancient noble clan.

“That is the Heaven’s Gate Slaughterer.”

He spoke in a hushed voice even while surrounding the large room with a barrier.

“A person who even cut down World Tree, so there’d be no one who could match him in one-on-one combat.”

“Wouldn’t it be different on horseback?”

The man shook his head at the boy’s question.

“Meaningless. Long ago, the Heaven’s Gate Slaughterer’s companion cut and killed Void Treading Horse. They’d be well-versed in mounted combat techniques.”

“Void Treading Horse? That’s the one the plains monster rode around on, right? Who scattered parchment throughout fifty districts analyzing which Legalism was superior before disappearing…”

“He was a very shrewd monster. His discernment was deep, so the Great Legalists fought among themselves, and it even took us quite a while to cross over to this land.”

“It was thirty years.”

“The gate, and war… remember. Even if we were forged in iron and fire, here we could have difficulty returning home.”

Meanwhile, in the boy’s crystal jade, the Desolate Fortress Lord and Emperor’s dialogue was in full swing.

—Why did Literary Star fail?

—I saw the answer. As one sitting on the throne, the content was difficult to tolerate. To Literary Star, the Emperor’s neck is like bamboo shoots that can be plucked anytime.

—So he has to take the civil examination a seventh time after all.

—I stopped counting that number long ago, and Literary Star is holding onto meaningless pride. The Tree Felling Great Battle was also a founding war… with Literary Star’s merits, he could be appointed as a military official anytime. Of course, he knows this too.

—I didn’t know he’d failed.

—The list of successful candidates is announced after the full moon rises twice. Your knowing in advance is merely an insider’s privilege. Yes… Palace Eunuch Ming Yu liked you quite a bit. Where in the Central Plains would someone not be like that? Except for nobles and prestigious families, unorthodox factions, underworld, officials, heretics, and heaven, earth, and deities.

—…I didn’t want to know.

The boy with the crystal jade clicked his tongue.

“Literary Star…? I don’t know who he is, but his literary talent is pitiful. I just drew one technique and royalty sponsored me.”

“Foolish people exist in every land.”