Chapter 819 – Side Story – Of Course

—The Desolate Fortress Lord has entered Beijing! Whether it’s Pangu Scholar or Blue Flame Ominous Hero, don’t worry! Can we go play in the market?

—Butcher Baek said he saw the Demonic Hero Shin So-bin…

—Here. This is salt for Baek.

Where would Yelu Zhen be?

She was the current Heavenly Demon.

With an unpredictable temperament, free Form Shifting Void, and no friends at all, her appearing and disappearing without a trace was something even Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar found difficult to figure out.

“Do you really not know?”

“How would this poor fortune-teller know? Ming Cult Leader Peerless Invincible has shed her shell like you. She’s not a person who can be tracked by fortune-telling.”

In Beijing’s marketplace narrow alley, on a roughly woven straw mat, an old man with a long beard sat across from Jeong Yeon-shin.

A figure well-versed in fortune-telling, called Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar by the world. There were even rumors that once Yong Hye-myeong had his fortune read by him and stormed out angrily.

Jeong Yeon-shin had been introduced by Black Return.

—I had him divine a daughter for me. Plus he correctly predicted the rainy season six times. National affairs are greatly influenced by fortune… I tried to bring that old man into the Forbidden City, but he adamantly refused, saying spiritual veins flowed through Beijing’s marketplace.

It was as he said. Certainly Beijing’s earth energy had aspects that faintly stimulated upper dantian spiritual nature.

That would be why it was the capital.

Jeong Yeon-shin roughly spread the straw mat and sat while examining various things.

The fortune-telling stand caught his eye.

A copy of Book of Changes with obvious traces of frequent unfolding, an old mirror, a calendar for calculating fortunes, even a bundle of yellowish talismans.

The one who had drawn out Yong Hye-myeong’s anger, clearly a skilled fortune-teller. Yet Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar seemed reluctant to mention Yelu Zhen.

“When I read fortunes, I hope you or she aren’t nearby. Because you disrupt other people’s destinies so well.”

“Disrupt destinies…?”

“There was one about six years ago too. A fellow who should have originally died along with his mother at birth. The son of a fireball and ice lump… Now he’d be your disciple.”

“You mean Geon-ryun?”

“Right.”

Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar nodded. His speech was slow yet confident. But it would be difficult for someone who mentioned Hwangbo Geon-ryun while saying things like ‘should have died’ to remain unharmed before Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Old man.”

When pure white eye light flashed around Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes, Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar quickly changed the subject.

“When something surpasses destiny, many people’s fortunes change. Though life doesn’t always flow according to fortune… for fortune-telling merchants like us, it was cutting off our livelihood in many ways. More than six years ago, the fireball deciding to live, and you stubbornly surviving.”

“Accept it as a typhoon passing through. Common people always worry about crop failures and floods.”

“Worse than that, Yong fellow.”

Behind Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar, the inscription Iron Plate Divine Numbers on a bamboo screen fluttered emptily. Words fortune-tellers use to elevate themselves, meaning mastery of divination martial arts created by some renowned Confucian scholar from Northern Song before the Ming Dynasty.

But it didn’t seem helpful for finding Yelu Zhen. Jeong Yeon-shin folded his arms while tapping his forearm with his fingers.

‘Only Form Shifting Void.’

He had to find absolute masters roaming throughout the Central Plains in a short time. There was no other means besides Yelu Zhen’s cooperation.

Jeong Yeon-shin recalled matters he had to attend to soon: Lazy Flame Dragon’s purple promotion ceremony, Desolate Jeok Family Head’s emergence as Jeok Yu-ha’s father, confirming Yan Family’s jiangshi great technique, reuniting with Monk Beom-heo, Hwangbo Geon-ryun’s reading of Martial Arts Records, flower viewing…

That’s when Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar suddenly confessed.

“During the World Tree Great Battle, I foresaw the Central Plains collapsing. I was preparing to cross over to a distant island nation.”

“Would that place have had any different solution?”

“The World Tree’s true body had roots in the Central Plains, and the island nation’s jianghu had a figure like the current Heavenly Demon’s teacher. If we endured there just a bit, the World Tree would have moved through a gate to another place on its own… Yes, to a world with abundant earth energy.”

But only one word registered in Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears. He quietly repeated it.

“Teacher…?”

“Someone called Tower Master. He stepped on Central Plains soil.”

“Big Sister Yelu isn’t of a temperament to have a teacher.”

“Of course, it doesn’t read as an ordinary master-disciple relationship. Ming Cult Leader wasn’t lacking in secret manuals, and had the qualities to create extraordinary techniques herself.”

“Then what?”

“Wouldn’t it have been a game? Because the spirit of treating life as play is the essence of Heavenly Demons.”

“Playing at being disciples…?”

“Beyond that can’t be known through fortune-telling. One must converse and look into eyes.”

Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar’s words continued as he ran his fingers over the talisman bundle.

“That’s something anyone can do, not necessarily a fortune-teller.”

“……”

“As for people who could do that with Ming Cult Leader, there’d only be you or Tower Master….”

Jeong Yeon-shin closed his mouth. He’d never had personal conversations with Yelu Zhen. Three years until regaining memories after the World Tree, then another three years for Sword Star’s mourning period.

Yelu Zhen’s limited life would have been different from Jeong Yeon-shin’s. He was somewhat curious. The pressure constricting body and mind every moment must have continued past twenty years old.

‘I had many hands supporting my back.’

How had she endured? Ming Cult Leader with no companions on the path. Literally without any life companions.

Jeong Yeon-shin stood up and brushed himself off.

Though Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar had no proper information, he’d gained a perspective beyond that, observing people around oneself. The easiest thing, yet also postponed until life’s end…

He muttered unconsciously.

“Should I stop by Ming Cult first?”

For the friendless Ming Cult Leader, there were few places to go.

Then the journey ahead was quite far.

Should he really go all the way north where Ming Cult’s main branch was located? When Jeong Yeon-shin was pondering, Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar added abruptly.

“If you meet Tower Master, you’ll be able to find her.”

“…I was trying to find Big Sister Yelu in order to encounter Tower Master.”

“No need to do that. Finding Tower Master will be easy.”

He waved his wrinkled hands energetically. Was it to send Jeong Yeon-shin away quickly? Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar continued with some explanation.

…….

About one period while merchant hawking cries, creaking wagon wheels, and distant children’s laughter tickled his ears in the marketplace.

“Payment for service.”

Jeong Yeon-shin placed his hand on the talisman bundle at the fortune-telling stand then removed it. Instantly great satisfaction formed in Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar’s eyes.

“Three Pure Forces…? Now these talismans are priceless! I think I can swindle the Emperor one more time with this. Truly grateful.”

Even fortune-telling that mostly came true seemed like fraud to the fortune-teller himself. Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly.

“I’m the grateful one. Take care.”

When he turned his back, Jeok Yu-ha’s presence quietly rose then headed toward Nine Provinces Myriad Scholar.

“About my baby.”

“Heok…!”

“When should I give birth? I think I can decide the delivery month at will within a couple months. Oh, the name is….”

A blood demon asking about fortune.

Even this was merely a fragment of peaceful Beijing to Jeong Yeon-shin. He quietly readjusted the burden on one shoulder.

And glancing back, he said,

“You should use respectful speech to elders.”

“The name is Yeong-hwi. Jeong Yeong-hwi, an unquenchable fire.”

Their conversation was also part of the marketplace noise. Soon the two people’s footsteps mixed into the pouring sunlight.

**”

A field thick with sunlight.

Even the vegetation drinking light needed shade to rest.

A field worker with ashen hair like burnt remnants hanging down was crouching. She had now become unskilled at growing crops, yet still knew well what had to be done.

“Mm.”

The field worker, Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so, raised a semi-transparent energy barrier. Fragments of Cold Ice Energy stopped falling midway and melted while spreading a subtle rainbow.

Beneath it, wheat and turnips, beans and sorghum obtained moisture regardless of season.

In Cheon So-so’s mind remained experiences from when she was still Noble Clan, and her accumulated energy was abundant enough to unfold Samadhi Flame and ice technique combinations countless times. She alone cultivated enough for Desolate Fortress’s unnamed disciples to eat their fill.

Therefore, what the vast field contained was only two things: her and a small stone wall house. At least until half a day ago.

“Hello there! The food seems quite well done!”

An aged voice rang out before the humble house. An old man wearing a strange hat was waving his hand. In one hand he gripped something like a stone ladle dripping with broth like a staff.

An old man who introduced himself as ‘Tower Master.’

“……”

It reflected clearly in Cheon So-so’s eyes: the ridiculous hat like a cone placed on a round brim, and around it transparent natural energy fleeing as if the old man were a tyrant…

The scale was tremendous.

Like a sea splitting itself. The opposite feeling from Natural Sword. As if normally he’d threaded natural energy with a leash and wielded it entirely.

When Cheon So-so quietly sat, Tower Master ladled something thick into her bowl. It was porridge boiled with everything from the field.

“Food from our jianghu. Everyone who tasted it acknowledged it as a delicacy. It’s quite famous throughout the continent.”

Cheon So-so tasted a spoonful. There was no reaction at the Baihui point. A swallowed groan came before upper dantian insight.

‘Big lie.’

Tower Master laughed awkwardly.

“Rare taste doesn’t necessarily mean delicious. Anyway, being a traveler with nothing… staying briefly, I must repay somehow like this.”

“Sleep quietly and leave. Don’t think about stopping by Xiangyang.”

At those words, the old man’s lips rose.

Cheon So-so realized too late. Because her elderly guest was a chatterbox.

“The Xiangyang land where Desolate Fortress is? I already looked around there, and there was nothing unusual, so don’t worry.”

“…Truth.”

“My purpose from the start was investigation and reconnaissance. While we struggled with our jianghu affairs, what exactly happened to the World Tree, who could cut it down and how, how powerful is this land where the dynasty suddenly changed, what are the aspects and temperaments of the strong ones….”

“You’re like a rascal testing the waters. Worldly.”

“Difficult to gain trust. Hmm… Or how about this? Seems like it might be interesting.”

Snap!

The moment the old man snapped his fingers, nearby natural energy created a transparent gust, then suddenly manifested a large painting canvas.

A scene like an immortal wielding a brush.

It captured a single swallow flapping its wings across hundreds of li. Tower Master added words tinged with laughter.

“Its appearance right now.”

“……!”

It was Jeong Yeon-shin’s White Sparrow.

—Chirp!

White Sparrow  entered the estate called Xi’an Jeong Family then delivered a message to some man. A face Cheon So-so had once sprinkled salt on. Looking closely, it was Jeong Yeon-shin’s second brother Jeong Jung-san.

It was when Cheon So-so unconsciously spat slightly.

Jeong Jung-san brought the Four Treasures of the Study with a very delighted face. The face of placing a table in the front courtyard and picking up a brush like a family patriarch.

The characters of the letter he received also appeared. Jeong Yeon-shin’s regular script calligraphy. Of course Cheon So-so’s head tilted. Because the handwriting was unprecedentedly grave.

It was text asking if he truly intended to compete with the person who would become his sister-in-law.

—Of course.

Jeong Jung-san’s reply continued.

—Whether master or novice, when martial arts mix, each will gauge the other’s character. Sending betrothal gifts is a matter afterward. If this foolish older brother is given the opportunity to play the role of elder brother, what greater joy could there be? Seeing the inquiry, she seems to be a young lady from a martial world family, so I must tell you to give your utmost effort in body and mind. Your brother’s Jeong Family Dynamic Technique has reached seven-tenths…

That boldness was fitting for a man that Half-Complete Young Lord Hwangbo Geon-ryun had admired. But to Cheon So-so, only the fact that Jeong Yeon-shin was becoming an adult mattered.

‘Let’s make a swing as a gift.’

Tower Master was experienced. The feeling that he’d already seen through many things. Knowing that Jeong Yeon-shin’s intimate affairs were of great interest.

“Now tell me.”

He suddenly said in a very plain tone.

“Where is the World Tree’s sapling?”