Chapter 821 – Side Story – Knowing There’s One More

A night where even the windows were covered with starlight.

From the inn’s kitchen came sounds.

“You’re frying herring this thick?”

“Trust this chef. I paid generously, didn’t I? Mix rice flour and bean flour batter with alcohol like this and it’ll be decent.”

“What a waste of Shaoxing wine…”

“Let’s fry sweet potatoes together too. As a side dish, of course. Sesame oil and pork fat seem quite well mixed… Good! This sound!”

It was some old man’s exclamation of joy.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who’d come out from his bedroom, paused midway down the stairs.

The first floor’s kitchen.

Something really was being fried.

Busy movements continued in the savory smell. The old man gave all kinds of instructions, and the chef moved exactly as told.

The chef was also the inn’s owner, and had even closed the inn’s entrance by now.

Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the world-weary middle-aged chef’s face. It seemed he’d received quite a large payment. Naturally, a jianghu person representing a nation would have deep pockets.

“Why are you pouring sauce into the frying? Sour flavors should naturally be dipped.”

“Ignorant chef. Any good restaurant does it this way. Even the Central Plains did so.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who’d sat at the dining table, was already guessing the old man’s identity. He was certain the moment he heard the peculiar sophistry of those who pour sauce over food. That his upper dantian had reached spiritual transcendence.

‘Definitely an absolute master.’

Eventually the food came out.

The chef emerged from the kitchen with a face that didn’t want to deal with this, bowed once to Jeong Yeon-shin, then disappeared.

Soon after, only some old man took a seat across from Jeong Yeon-shin. Of course, after placing fish and sweet potato fritters on the table.

“A modest reception.”

“Mm.”

“As you probably know, this old man is someone called ‘Tower Master.’ Also a representative of my land.”

A hat held to his chest as if observing courtesy. It wasn’t a typical cone hat but had a round brim wrapping around the cone.

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly.

“It seems like there might be weapons inside the hat.”

The old man smiled broadly.

“A fresh reaction. Tower… that is, our sect’s practitioners at most enjoy startling people with carrier pigeons.”

“I was talking about inside the hat.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, holding chopsticks, continued slowly.

“Your inner thoughts.”

Meaning whether they didn’t have knives in their hearts.

But the old man only smiled. A face with interest pulled elsewhere. His eyes gleamed as he watched Jeong Yeon-shin eat the fried fish.

“World Tree Slaughterer, how is the food? That is my heart.”

“I understand your inner thoughts well.”

A brief disturbance followed.

Jeong Yeon-shin flicking his finger, the old man creating nine layers of internal energy barriers with a wave, all of it shattering from Jeong Yeon-shin’s finger wind, then the inn becoming peaceful as if nothing had happened… Belated flashes flickered like starlight.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin picked up his chopsticks again. With flowing comprehension.

‘Thunder power interfered with the finger wind’s energy projection. A technique that exquisitely dissipates fist energy projection along with internal energy barriers…’

Not just veteran. A combat master even the North would admire. On the other hand, the old man himself wore a disappointed expression.

“That was it?”

Jeong Yeon-shin split the batter with his chopsticks before speaking.

“…You rotate middle dantian internal energy to draw in natural earth energy outside the body, and use that to enhance your strikes. In your case, even clouds would be drawn in.”

“Our land’s basic energy technique.”

“Even if it doesn’t gather as solidly as Natural Sword, it’s sufficient technique to complete spell martial arts. Entry wouldn’t be difficult either. Low grade but practical.”

“That is precisely high grade.”

The old man grinned. Jeong Yeon-shin became serious.

“I know you’re a clone body. Better not to be at ease.”

“I expected to be found out.”

The old man nonchalantly picking at batter crumbs. More precisely, it was the old man’s primordial spirit body. The original body would be far away.

The old man’s wrinkled lips moved.

“But would I give the World Tree Slaughterer distance without a countermeasure? At least in our Tower, we don’t teach it that way.”

The old man didn’t discuss destruction. Meaning he had no intention of resolving this by force, only valuing analysis.

To Jeong Yeon-shin, it was irrelevant talk.

“There’s something to discuss first. The story about Sword Master’s tyranny.”

“Tyranny? We came from a land of courtesy.”

“In that land, is it acceptable for envoys to cut off a king’s arm?”

“Very regrettable.”

The old man, Tower Master, lowered his hat to chest level once more.

“But their duel was a private matter. When discussions grow heated, before you know it, book pages are torn. In our academy, we call such things accidents.”

At those words, Jeong Yeon-shin asked back.

“Is it also an accident when envoys with your level of power wander around freely without the Emperor’s permission?”

“It’s jianghu.”

The old man’s answer was calm. A land where jianghu was part of daily life. Jeong Yeon-shin guessed the old man’s country would also cause much chaos.

Even just watching him ramble alone showed that.

“But why not stay at the palace? This Nanjing’s palace is magnificent befitting the old capital, and the Desolate Fortress Lord is always like an imperial grand preceptor, I heard. Surely masters’ ears would always be open to provide all kinds of service… Ah.”

Tower Master laughed again as if everything was delightful. While glancing upstairs.

“Newlyweds.”

“You analyze everything point by point.”

“I seek understanding. Our Tower has already designated you as a natural disaster like a ‘gate’ and decided to find out everything in detail.”

“It’s not the first time.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke leisurely while recalling Yu Ling and Hao Sect.

“Jianghu person or envoy.”

“Mm?”

“I’ll treat you as one or the other, not both. Which is preferable?”

Heaven Breaking. Sword Song.

Rummmble!

Thunder spread from the chopsticks he was holding.

Instantly Tower Master’s transparent energy barrier surrounded his entire body, but the area around his body blurred as if summer heat had been compressed. It was power constricting Tower Master’s whole body.

“What is this…?!”

The wrinkles around his eyes unfolded. Eyes opened very wide.

Space had already been distorted. Because Sword Song chopsticks carried Heaven Breaking energy projection. Defense was useless.

Cough!

He coughed lightly.

It was Tower Master’s sneeze mixed with blood. Power that had briefly cut through his body and disappeared. The same damage would have been transmitted to the original body.

It wouldn’t be heavy. To inflict meaningful internal injury on an absolute master, he’d need to hit directly rather than use Sword Song.

That could be done anytime. What mattered was only the fact that Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy projection struck the clone body and reached the original.

“A technique I created when catching Big Sister Yelu.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, Tower Master raised his head. A face bearing wonder rather than disbelief. Tower Master opened his mouth with incredulous eyes.

“…The one whom the Gods call early.”

Mystical insight.

Tower Master had seen through Jeong Yeon-shin’s constitution from just two exchanges. It was the first time since Jeong Yeon-shin achieved Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. Indeed, an old man who shouldn’t be sent to Yelu Zhen.

Then he spoke.

“I call it short life syndrome.”

“How…?”

“It seems there were some on your side too. Well, would we two have been the only ones in this era? When the world is this vast.”

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled bitterly. He’d walked a difficult path until making natural talent his heavenly fortune. Those without luck would have died young.

Tower Master’s voice began to grow louder.

“How, how did you survive? Surely it wasn’t the World Tree. You have no wood energy…!”

His courtesy and composure only lasted until just now. A face showing emotion for the first time. Jeong Yeon-shin changed the subject.

“If I treat you as envoys, I intend to hold Sword Master accountable for his actions. Of course, the same applies if I see him as a jianghu person. Because a grudge has formed.”

Then Jeong Yeon-shin asked calmly.

“Your country can handle this much, right?”

“…He’s not from our country.”

Seven-colored bright light flashed tumultuously in Tower Master’s eyes. The feeling that the true energy attributes he could create were infinite.

It was a face holding tremendous questions about Jeong Yeon-shin’s survival. Soon words followed as if paying in advance.

“Know this before hearing. Though it’s the most deeply hidden secret of our land, I tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Sword Master was a grandmaster from a hostile nation. A deceased person who died in our occupied territory.”

“Deceased…?”

“We revived him with the Sacred Sword Dharma Treasure’s power, usable once per three hundred years of energy accumulation. The permitted heavenly mandate is ten years. His spirit doesn’t properly settle in the Baihui point, so his memory is unclear. He has noble character, but cutting that land’s king’s arm was probably because of that.”

He said it was top secret.

Yet there were no secrets.

Jeong Yeon-shin had met many absolute masters, but this was the first madness he’d seen among them. A temperament crazed by knowledge. It seemed he’d shaped his upper dantian spiritual nature with curiosity until reaching absolute realm.

‘I guessed when he poured the sauce.’

He had no choice but to achieve greatness as an absolute master.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who’d mainly eaten cold food in childhood, grew vigilant.

Tower Master’s analytical temperament and insight were dangerous, and Tower Master’s martial arts were clearly techniques based on insight. If fortune aligned properly, he might even be able to kill Yelu Zhen.

Even amidst that, Tower Master’s words continued.

“Perhaps not in prosperous times, but if someone is revived by the Sacred Sword Dharma Treasure, that person becomes Sword Master. I, the Tower Master, am someone who observes… no, controls Sword Master. With various tricks as you’ve already seen.”

“What orders have you given him now?”

“Simple. Observe and remember this land’s strong people thoroughly.”

“Seems like there’s more.”

“…If he sees the World Tree Slaughterer or Fighting God, run away. If he meets Pangu Scholar or Blue Flame Great Ominous One, exchange swords. If he encounters Divine Sword Dragon Person, definitely report it. It would be good to try embedding the Sacred Sword Dharma Treasure into the Scorching Scoundrel’s middle dantian without killing him. Don’t show his back to Divine Spear.”

Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly.

“I know there’s one more. What did you intend to do about Ming Cult Leader?”

“Mm, that is.”

Instantly Jeong Yeon-shin felt it. Cold reason returned to the old man’s eyes that had been stained even to the soul with curiosity.

Jeong Yeon-shin unconsciously recalled Southern Emperor.

Seeing the greater good.

It was an absolute master’s eye light.

“Since the Sacred Sword Dharma Treasure has the power to Destroy Evil and Reveal Truth, Ming Cult Leader’s techniques won’t reach me.”

“……”

“Behead her with one strike.”

***

〈Report on an unknown swordsman, hereafter referred to as Light Sword User. Multiple sources: Northern Kings’ Bright Wind Cave, Yu Ling, Hao Sect, Beggars Sect.

1. The figure who stepped on Nanjing lands appeared in Sichuan. The speed of lightness technique sprint cannot be measured. Presumed to be Sacred Sword Dharma Treasure’s power.

2. Common people of the civilian homes where she stayed say her conduct spares no expense.

3. Mount Qingcheng Sect Leader Taoist Qingshu defeated, Mount Qingcheng Acting Leader Taoist Jin Mu lightly wounded. Annihilation of Pure Demon Alliance remnants. Drinking competition with Tang Family Head Poison King.

4. Beggars Sect Leader Divine Beggar Zhou is pursuing.

5. Report from Resonant Spirit Leader. Someone matching Light Sword User’s appearance discovered in Shaanxi.

6. Hua Shan Sect Leader descended the mountain.

7. Ming Cult Leader’s whereabouts unknown. 〉

Fwoosh.. 

White spikelets of foxtail grass fell through the gaps in Lazy Flame Dragon’s teeth. After pulling the grass blade through his finger gaps, he muttered.

“A sword wielder who’s become famous recently…? It seems they can’t track his movements north of the Yangtze River. Should this young master go?”

“Go where?”

Instantly there was a hand that grabbed Lazy Flame Dragon’s ear. Radiant Demon Wing Leader Cheong Myeong. An appearance with faded hair hidden under a headscarf, with a smiling face.

Lazy Flame Dragon grumbled with an expressionless face.

“This is insubordination.”

“It’s only insubordination after the promotion ceremony.”

“Well, that.”

“Move the shade awning first. You know it’s the central training ground, right? Stop reading that… because the Fortress Lord will resolve it without delay.”

“I miss my wife.”