Chapter 822 – Side Story – I am Human

‘I want to meet Monk Beom-heo.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

The only person who could give him deep advice now was the old monk with the single eye of Heavenly Eye Vision.

Even now, when the long years spent in the Dan Family Time Transcendence Technique seemed like just yesterday. Matters between people were still difficult problems.

How should he resolve Yelu Zhen’s matter?

An issue where not only the Tower Master who somehow wasn’t quite human, but also many jianghu people from distant seas might come rushing in.

Step.

It was an official road leading out from Nanjing.

Jeong Yeon-shin was walking with Jeok Yu-ha. Tower Master followed from a distance. The old man kept his gaze fixed on the travel pack containing Yong Hye-myeong.

“…From what I see, he seems to be hibernating. A dragon’s hibernation could easily reach hundreds of years. They grow their bodies while eating natural earth energy like food. Could this old man take just one look?”

At Tower Master’s question, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly, while swallowing the shock delivered by the words ‘hundreds of years.’

“He knows I’m watching over him.”

“That travel pack was originally my purpose. It spreads such a tempting energy wave so widely… How Lord Jeong overcame his heavenly mandate is also a great study subject, but smelling dragon scent is enough to drive one mad. Right here before my eyes.”

“I heard he himself said he was human.”

Jeong Yeon-shin had also heard it through rumors. I am human, words that Yong Hye-myeong in his prime often said to curious people. Rather, to Desolate Fortress people like Grand Administrator Lim Jin-ming, he’d deflected all kinds of situations with his characteristic dignified smile.

Tower Master tilted his head.

“Not treating acting human as amusement…? What a peculiar dragon.”

“Did your land have them too?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s question, Tower Master laughed heartily.

“They were all demonic dragons of the Demonic Heretical Path. At one time, subjugating those creatures was far more prevalent than sect wars. So be careful. They’re natural disasters with natures that look down on people and are greedy.”

Then Tower Master added that there had been many sacrifices.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked back.

“Nature?”

“Something famous sages uniformly valued. For a person to reach perfection, their nature must be good. I’ve already felt that keenly myself.”

“…Nature.”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered quietly.

Tower Master just now seemed to have applied even Yelu Zhen to Yong Hye-myeong’s story. A tone whispering as if conveying obvious facts.

“Moreover, they were so arrogant that when dying, they burned their precious bodies with True Samadhi Fire called ‘Nether Flame.’ Even though the great legalists of each country, that is, the great sects, barely managed to join hands, nothing remained. Only ruins and death.”

It was ecology Jeong Yeon-shin was hearing for the first time. It seemed many flood dragons had actively descended into jianghu. But everything was ancient history.

He slowly shook his head.

“All of that’s exactly opposite.”

“What do you mean?”

“The person in my travel pack.”

Jeong Yeon-shin adjusted the person-sized bundle on one shoulder.

“He was the common people’s blade for a long time.”

Though it might be chipped and painful like the minds of various purple-robed people, what was cut were all jianghu people’s heads. His origin was martial.

“He’s saved more people than you, of course, and benefited far wider lands.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s defensive words, Tower Master smiled.

“That’s what makes it interesting. Enough for my sect or any great legalist to research.”

“The same goes for Yelu Zhen.”

“Mm?”

“She gathered all the gates in the world so I could cut them. She should be called the world’s benefactor. Your lands should at least acknowledge this.”

“Of course that’s an unprecedented feat in the world, but.”

Tower Master shrugged.

“Unlike truth, don’t people change from time to time?”

“That’s why it’s an accomplished feat.”

“…I know Ming Cult Leader well. Her heart is as fickle as our homeland’s weather. How could I entrust her with the World Tree’s sapling and rest easy? All jianghu people and great legalists of our land feel the same.”

It showed through energy sense.

Emotion was stained on Tower Master’s face as he discussed Yelu Zhen. The second time, following when he’d discerned Jeong Yeon-shin’s constitution.

A journey like sword discussion continued.

Jeong Yeon-shin wanted the threatening vigilance against Yelu Zhen lifted, and Tower Master’s interests remained on discussion and Yong Hye-myeong.

Black Return and Jeong Yeon-shin’s Bright Wind Cave was also active.

—Lightning Genius, there’s word that Yan Family’s great technique has stabilized. Martial Star moves as if alive, and his atrocities have become known. However, can Obeying Heaven Wing Leader cut him?

—What do you mean?

—It’s none other than Six Star Lord’s body.

—Trivial worries.

—In any case, meeting Tower Master is good. But don’t forget Sword Master.

—If you were a jianghu person rather than Emperor, you could have found him yourself. Your thunder technique is wasted. Emperor Qian-ling and Southern Emperor wouldn’t have been stuck to the throne with sealed acupoints.

—Even you…

After leaving Nanjing, they passed Kaifeng. They crossed nameless mountain ranges several times. In the process, he also learned that Tower Master’s Void Treading was comparable to Cloud Dragon Great Eight Styles.

Jeong Yeon-shin guessed that if Yelu Zhen didn’t avoid the combined attack of Tower Master and Sword Master, she would die. He sat before a campfire and muttered.

“This is getting annoying.”

Tower Master showed his cone hat with a deliberately urgent face.

“As your guide, I’m quite excellent…! You’ll be able to meet Ming Cult Leader soon! Perhaps we’ll see Sword Master first!”

The only leisurely person was Jeok Yu-ha. Jet-black hair danced with the night sky as it tickled Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder.

“Yeon-shin.”

“Yeah.”

“That side is a jianghu that couldn’t cut gates, right? Even if their martial strength comes, they’re blocked by me. You can cut that deceitful old man anytime.”

“You’re a bewitching hero.”

“Don’t like it?”

It was a night sparkling with stars. Jeong Yeon-shin annihilated Tower Master’s clone body with one sword, and when day broke, Tower Master returned to the spot where sand and spare clothes had been scattered.

Step.

“This old man was thoughtless. But for it to be just husband and wife, Divine Sword Dragon Person was… Oh, wrapped in energy barrier and thrown beyond the peak. If I’d known in advance, I would have quickly stolen him.”

“Another clone body.”

“Sincerely, I hope the day never comes when my true body and you collide. Someone might die.”

“That confidence in Transcendent Martial Art…”

“I might die.”

Tower Master finished his words. Soon he handed Jeong Yeon-shin a bowl containing thick porridge.

It didn’t taste good.

‘Revenge…?’

Jeong Yeon-shin decided to advance matters. Because great power was embedded in Tower Master’s playfulness.

Before setting off, Jeong Yeon-shin asked,

“Can you fix it?”

It was after taking out the crystal jade from his clothes. Tower Master, who glanced at it, smiled thinly and shook his head.

“Like a person’s nature. What’s already cracked can’t be helped. One must just live that way.”

“Your words and actions keep grating.”

“Want to make a bet? Whether Divine Sword Dragon Person’s life truly had no sinister depths. Through that, consider Ming Cult Leader’s life too.”

“What?”

“I have the talent to look into people’s memories. Though it’s a technique that only skims the surface.”

Simultaneously the old man gestured with his chin toward the opposite peak.

The travel pack thrown last night was placed on a sheer cliff. The bundle containing Yong Hye-myeong. Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.

“In that area, my technique is the world’s best.”

“Those whom God call early… No, for you ‘one who blocked God’s throats’ would be more accurate. Try anything.”

“It doesn’t work on Senior Yong. He deflects it with quick reactions.”

If he combined other techniques with the resolve to even inflict serious injury on Yong Hye-myeong, it would be different, but he had no intention of going that far. But Tower Master only smiled and urged again.

“Will you try again?”

He seemed to have a method.

Tower Master seemed intent on showing that Yong Hye-myeong had evil nature. The calculation that to kill Yelu Zhen, Jeong Yeon-shin’s abandonment must follow. It must be because his clone body had faced the starry night last night.

Though his intentions were clearly readable, it was a matter of indifference to Jeong Yeon-shin. If only he could awaken Yong Hye-myeong safely.

‘Senior Yong’s absence has been too long.’

Divine Technique Secret Arts

Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique 

A flood dragon visible only to Jeong Yeon-shin was created with upper dantian spiritual nature. A colorless form with a fan in its mouth. Swimming calmly through the air like Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian, yet Tower Master made a fuss as if hearing the transparent flood dragon’s roar.

“Among great legalists, all sects of the mental image lineage should flee!”

“If you’re going to do something, now is the time.”

It was the moment Jeong Yeon-shin’s fan dragon struck across the steep cliff. The dragon’s body that had already crossed the void like light explosively accelerated. It wasn’t Jeong Yeon-shin’s will. A realm where everything else became heavy and stopped like a swamp. It seemed to originate from Tower Master’s flicked finger.

Boom!

It embedded straight into the target.

Yong Hye-myeong didn’t even have time to talk in his sleep.

The energy wave spreading from his head scattered in all directions.

‘If he can accelerate internal energy techniques this much, what about a martial artist’s sword or body movements…?’

Along with Jeong Yeon-shin’s surprise, his vision flickered white. The sensation of Tower Master’s will clinging like a leech came together with it.

—Truly tremendous study, but with this you’ll see a tragic sight! The true consciousness of demonic heretical evil dragons… brace yourself firmly!

Whoosh!

It was an old Guan ayuTemple.

A boy with pupils torn like blades was looking up at some man. A man exuding domineering aura without any demonic ghostly nature, Ma Yeon-jeok asked bluntly.

“Are you the ghost who lives begging for food from Guan Yu?”

“Not a ghost, human.”

“If you get sacrificial food from the dead’s house, what is that if not a ghost?”

“……”

“I’ll give you human food.”

Whoosh!

The place changed immediately again.

This time it was Desolate Fortress’s Grand Administrator’s Office. Perhaps because Yong Hye-myeong’s upper dantian defenses were solid, the vision also wavered unstably.

A still-young Lim Jin-ming asked the boy Yong Hye-myeong.

“Your name…?”

“Don’t have one. Good food first.”

“Food. Then Mimi (Delicious) would be good.”

It was a bleak atmosphere like a military office. Someone had clearly died. The usual thing Desolate Fortress experienced, yet Ma Yeon-jeok broke Lim Jin-ming’s brush and said.

“Civilian homes exist in jianghu’s shadows. You’ll gladden them, so Hee-myeong (Dark Joy) would be good.”

“Joy in dark places…?”

The boy Yong Hye-myeong tilted his head.

Whoosh!

A familiar central training ground.

“……”

Desolate Fortress was stained with silence. Blood dripping in the training ground’s center. It seemed to be a Blue Rank sparring match.

It was after the boy Yong Hye-myeong had torn off about half his opponent’s arm. A White martial artist not in Jeong Yeon-shin’s memory. A recoverable wound, but separately, he seemed to die far from home later.

—Lord Jeong, why are you feeling this way? Right now your mood is felt directly, so it’s quite bewildering. And surprising.

—……

—In any case, look at that hand technique. As expected, there are no exceptions. Nature is nature.

—…Be quiet.

Whoosh!

Ma Yeon-jeok had made Yong Hye-myeong kneel and was lecturing him.

“Who told you to strike in that manner?”

“Is there also law when the strong face the weak?”

“Mm?”

“……?”

“Of course there’s no such law.”

“Right?”

Whoosh!

It seemed not much time had passed.

A tomb where starlight poured.

It was Desolate Shin Family Manor.

The burial ground itself held tremendous power. At least nearby, spiritual nature of the same density as Emperor Qian-ling could be felt.

Tower Master stopped searching for Yong Hye-myeong’s faults and admired.

—The tomb’s owner seems to be one of our kind… He must have had great affection for this place. Made only this fortress his home. Without dispersing power to other places.

Ma Yeon-jeok sat before the burial mound. One gourd with two wine cups. He drank slowly as if having a drinking bout with the large stele.

He seemed greatly drunk.

“Group Leader.”

He opened his mouth after drinking one cup. Toward the name Shin Cheon-hwa.

“Raising two children seems harder than cultivating divine technique. My actual daughter won’t do as I wish, and the son-like creature is simply a beast. Even if I die of a raging illness, Group Leader, maintain your nature.”

Step.

Then at the spot where Ma Yeon-jeok disappeared long after.

“……!”

The boy Yong Hye-myeong was startled midway through following Ma Yeon-jeok’s traces.

It seemed because a human figure with long hair was reflected in his torn pupils. A woman in purple robes stepping on her own stele, the form of Annihilating Seat Shin Cheon-hwa. Leisurely with hands behind her back, watching the direction Ma Yeon-jeok disappeared before scattering.

Bang!

Yong Hye-myeong threw the chamber pot he was holding at the stele and fled like a wild boar.

Whoosh!

Yong Hye-myeong was again kneeling under Ma Yeon-jeok’s eyes.

‘As expected, someone else’s diary…’

Jeong Yeon-shin was starting to find it entertaining. Separate from Tower Master’s speechless reaction.

Then.

……

Suddenly a huge shadow fell over Jeong Yeon-shin and Tower Master’s vision. Judging by energy sense, the well-known form of a dragon.

[Stop.]

It was Yong Hye-myeong’s will.