Chapter 823 – Side Story – The Ridgeline Brightens Again

A ferocious intent.

Pine needle clusters rolled across the ground beneath the giant’s feet as he climbed Mount Wudang. The undergrowth constantly pushed against each other.

Rustle.

It wasn’t just the sound of grass rubbing together. People’s murmuring mixed in as well. The path leading to Wudang’s Sword Disarming Pool. It was packed with people.

“Are the rumors true? Is that the one, Martial Star?”

“…The Yan Family Martial King commands Six Star Lord.”

A sizable clearing.

There were no other objects. Only the blades of those assembled were stuck in the dirt. Dozens of jianghu people well-informed of rumors.

There were members of Beggars Sect and Hao Sect, as well as young Yao Tribe members from Yu Ling wearing leather masks. There were also masters from Profound Martial Alliance on rock stumps, but they rarely drew attention.

This was because a giant with pale skin had come up as if escorting some man.

Yan Family Head Yan Wen-hak, called Yan Family Fist Dragon until a few years ago. He wore quality silk and his clothes were embroidered with bloodstains here and there like decorations.

“Traces of performing great technique.”

It was the new Profound Martial Alliance Leader Gun Yu-rin’s mutter.

She was squatting on a rock at the clearing’s edge. An unrefined impression. She leaned a large saber against her thigh and murmured.

“He was once counted among Five Brilliant Respledents , so I guess genius is genius. To think he could raise Six Star Lord Martial Star’s body in such a short time…”

The gray-haired woman at her feet, Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun, opened her mouth.

“I overheard Bright Wind Cave’s mental transmission. They said there was Pangu Scholar’s recommendation. The Emperor added his words too.”

Pangu Scholar Literary Star and Emperor Black Return had strongly urged Martial Star’s grave exhumation. Naturally, the Yan Family Head had widely announced his realm.

The culmination of jiangshi studies that originally began with corpse transport.

Rumors said many powerful families and wealthy merchants had sent communications to the Yan Family, hoping to see the end of family members and lovers who’d died in turbulent times one more time.

Gun Yu-rin thought.

‘If they weren’t external energy absolute masters, they’d already have returned to dust.’

Of course, she had no desire to see her father Gun Wei-hu, who’d died to Divine Spear Yue Shou-lin, again.

If Gun Wei-hu gained consciousness, he would attempt revenge against Divine Spear and get killed once more.

Gun Yu-rin blankly shook her head and asked back.

“If Pangu Scholar and the Emperor moved, it would be one person’s will, right?”

“…Yes, it must be Lightning Genius.”

“What’s his intention? To raise Obeying Heaven Wing Leader’s reputation even higher?”

“How could that be it?”

“What?”

At Gun Yu-rin’s question, Baek Seo-gun gestured with her chin toward the giant that Yan Wen-hak commanded.

“Though clouded, consciousness exists. It seems he can move on his own.”

“Was Yan Family Head’s cultivation at that level…?”

“He is Six Star Lord. His upper dantian spiritual nature couldn’t have disappeared in just six years. The consciousness must originate from that too.”

Baek Seo-gun’s words cut off. Because suddenly a large shadow manifested and bent at the waist. Tremendous full-body protection instinct.

Crash!

The giant Martial Star snapped his teeth at where Baek Seo-gun’s nape had been.

Bang! Kwakwakwakwakwa!

Energy projection spreading between his teeth explosively tore up the ground’s surface.

Baek Seo-gun had already dodged to the side and kicked Gun Yu-rin far away. She’d struck with Sword Control, of course. A blade that automatically shot up from its sheath grazed Martial Star’s neck.

Zzzzzzzzzing!

It flew up with long sparks.

It had only been friction. Though it might not match Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique, said to be the world’s best sword control technique, it was sword energy capable of cleaving mountain peaks.

In that instant, Yan Family Head Yan Wen-hak, who’d been at the clearing’s entrance, snapped his fingers.

Snap!

Martial Star stopped still.

Yan Wen-hak’s courteous words followed.

“It seems he targeted the most appetizing strong person. It must be because Sword Venerable Senior’s energy accumulation is… In any case, I apologize.”

Though Yan Wen-hak’s words and actions were refined, anyone perceptive would have felt satisfaction. The look of a craftsman confirming his tool was very well made.

“……”

Now there was only quiet mountain wind.

Gun Yu-rin, who’d landed on a distant tree trunk, glared at Yan Wen-hak, but that was all. Because Baek Seo-gun had risen to her side.

Gun Yu-rin immediately asked.

“Yan Family Head, aren’t you cutting him down? There’s no need to even deal with Martial Star. If we just kill the technique practitioner… Would Martial Star then rampage tremendously? Still, our alliance’s dignity…”

“Lightning Genius has intervened.”

Baek Seo-gun had extinguished the eye light that had filled her eyes. The look of suppressing great anger herself.

“Jeong Pan-yue’s son has something he wishes to accomplish with this. How could I interfere?”

“More important than Profound Martial Alliance’s dignity?”

“Hasn’t that already been buried underground by Divine Spear’s flagpole?”

“That’s true, but…”

Meanwhile, Yan Wen-hak was cupping his fists toward the jianghu people sitting around the clearing’s edge.

“I greet my fellow practitioners. Though there was disturbance, it wasn’t this Yan’s intention. Controlling a transcendent like Six Star Lord is no easy task.”

Because his features were as neat as a scholar’s, sincerity came through.

Meanwhile, a grayish light flickered at his earlobe. Upper dantian energy. So thick it could almost look like an earring.

But it soon dimmed as if crushed by something. Because a Taoist with bold features had descended before him.

“Begin the Primordial Calm Formation.”

“…I greet the new Sect Leader Taoist for the first time. Where is the previous Sect Leader, Senior Immortal Profound Void?”

“None of your concern.”

Taoist Jade Cliff left only those words and headed toward Sword Disarming Pool’s entrance. It was ambiguous words that could mean both ‘there’s no way to know’ and ‘you’re not someone who should be asking after him.’

Yan Wen-hak raised his lips.

“Ten thousand swords look back at Southern Wudang…”

He looked around Sword Disarming Pool.

Many sword hilts passed through his eyes.

From midway up Mount Wudang, one couldn’t carry swords. These were weapons that people had voluntarily stuck in the dirt.

To the clans seeking honor equal to the Nine Sects, it was a kind of fence. A barrier making them keenly feel the difference in status.

Yan Wen-hak muttered like talking to himself.

“…Indeed, all swords look back at Mount Wudang.”

Only one was the exception. At the clearing’s center, a man in black robes sat in meditation. With calm eyes and handsome features that everyone would call beautiful. Unlike the dazzling beautiful young master, he’d placed a rusty iron sword on both knees.

White Qilin, Silkworm Demon Sword Gentleman.

Rustle.

He stood up gripping Winter Dream.

Not only was his unwavering grip proper, but grace permeated even how he balanced with both feet. These were none other than traces of a renowned clan.

The sword tip pointed toward the ground.

It didn’t stick into the dirt. Even Taoist Jade Cliff could only remain silent.

Another trace.

The influence of Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius.

The Martial God Jeong Yeon-shin had long since surpassed the fence called Wudang.

***

After a moment of silence, Yan Wen-hak spoke to Namgung Hwa-shin.

“…You look exactly like your brother. Come to think of it, Azure Qilin also passed away around that age. Though maybe he was a bit younger.”

Namgung Hwa-shin’s reaction was indifferent.

“I heard you followed my brother well. Enough to frequently send communications to the main family.”

“Mm, at one time.”

Thud.

Yan Wen-hak slowly spoke as he sent Martial Star to the clearing’s center.

“If the Namgung Family hadn’t constrained Azure Qilin’s mind and body, his upper dantian spirit would have ascended long ago to achieve Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown. Then Azure Qilin wouldn’t have been defeated and killed by Desolate Day Extinction either.”

“My brother was strong.”

“He’ll always be that way to you. But only the main family and old Mount Mao Sect can change the evaluation of the dead…”

“The same goes for the Fortress Lord.”

“……”

Yan Wen-hak’s flowing words stopped.

A deceased reincarnated as a jiangshi. A deceased person recognized by the Desolate Fortress Lord. Which would curious people rate higher?

There was nothing to ponder. It was just when another transparent fence blocked Yan Wen-hak’s vision.

Namgung Hwa-shin said.

“Send him. I will cut him down.”

The Desolate Fortress Sword, famously broken many times, was in its sheath. A man who’d lost his beloved sword like many Desolate Fortress martial artists.

Perhaps because of this.

The sight of him holding Winter Dream also looked natural. A very businesslike unity of body and sword. The feeling that he was doing what must be done.

And Winter Dream, quietly gripped there, was also different from rumors. It was as if the spirit dwelling in the legendary evil sword had gone on an outing.

Yan Wen-hak muttered.

“…I thought he’d sleep by now, but it seems he gained insomnia from the evil sword’s function. At best it’ll only be temporary efficacy.”

Everything is easy for the Desolate Fortress Lord. Isn’t that truly unreasonable?

Yan Wen-hak retreated with footwork toward Taoist Jade Cliff’s side while suddenly thinking.

‘Then I too deserve to have at least one thing go my way…’

The thought didn’t continue.

Because Martial Star had broken free of control. Six Star Lord’s throne suddenly bent at the waist, down to below Namgung Hwa-shin’s eyes.

“……!”

It was different from when he’d deliberately targeted Baek Seo-gun. Martial Star had really moved on his own. The sight of him examining Namgung Hwa-shin’s grip. More precisely, looking down at Winter Dream Sword.

And he laughed.

Heh, heh…

The instant the chill ran down spines wasn’t just for Yan Wen-hak. He thought.

‘I too fear my own talent.’

That was when it happened.

Martial Star, who’d been laughing like an eternal victor, raised his head. The scene of matching eye level with Namgung Hwa-shin, his face tilting to the side.

Yan Wen-hak sensed with his upper dantian that Martial Star was questioning.

—You? This sword?

Simultaneously, Taoist Jade Cliff opened his mouth in a grave tone.

“Yan Family Head, don’t act rashly. Your task was only transport. You must not let Martial Star strike.”

Yan Wen-hak answered while exerting himself to control Martial Star.

“…I understand Sect Leader Taoist’s concern. Because among Six Star Lords, he was the only monster whose strength was short decisive battles. If by chance he were to instantly kill Obeying Heaven Wing Leader here, Wudang’s position would become difficult.”

“Yan Family Head.”

“This Yan is no fool. Would I carelessly kill someone who might soon be promoted to purple rank?”

Yan Wen-hak smiled with cold sweat.

It was true that Namgung Hwa-shin’s lifeline was in his hands. But secretly recovering Martial Star afterward and Obeying Heaven Wing Leader’s death carried vastly different weight.

Everything would fall on the main family. Star-filled night sky, blue flames, a giant’s single strike, a spear reversing time, dark red blood sword, pale sun, seventeen flags…

‘First, Martial Star absolutely mustn’t move…’

Martial Star struck.

Kurung!

In an instant, white energy surrounded his massive hand. Light power said to have raced with sunlight.

Namgung Hwa-shin’s arm holding Winter Dream also blurred simultaneously.

Yan Wen-hak couldn’t properly witness their movements. Because it was a speed his vision technique couldn’t follow. He only heard Namgung Hwa-shin’s intent that spread belatedly like an echo and saw only Martial Star’s arm that bounced up.

[Judgement.]

The quiet ground explosively collapsed, and a tremendous roar followed. A fierce wind relentlessly striking eardrums.

Obeying Heaven Wing Leader had cut off Martial Star’s arm.

It wasn’t surprising.

They said in the absolute realm, superiority commonly reversed. Because of just one natural disaster technique. Sword Ring, Transcendent Martial Art… If struck, any being would inevitably suffer fatal wounds.

The only being this principle missed throughout martial forest history was Grand Master Bodhidharma.

The problem was after Transcendent Martial Art.

Martial Star grabbed his severed arm and was pounding it down on Namgung Hwa-shin like a hammer. The meaning of Sword Disarming Pool was also useless. Because there was no weapon as large as Martial Star’s body.

Yan Wen-hak urgently clashed martial power up to his upper dantian.

‘Namgung Hwa-shin…! Is that fellow a one-move invincible person? To waste Transcendent Martial Art meaninglessly…!’

Though it was shockingly fast striking for Transcendent Martial Art, what use was it if the enemy lived? Just as Taoist Jade Cliff beside him also rushed out leaving cloud-like wind.

Namgung Hwa-shin’s echo continued.

[Even when sunset fades, the ridgeline brightens again.]

Though it transcended time because it was intent, it felt slow like a poem. Words permeated with much enlightenment. Desolate Fortress purple, jianghu’s gratitude and resentment, life’s failures and footholds…

In that instant, Yan Wen-hak sensed an illusion with his upper dantian. It seemed some conical hat’s brim shadow fell on Namgung Hwa-shin’s hand.

A faint line swept around Martial Star’s neck and passed.

Yan Wen-hak heard with his upper dantian.

—Consecutive strike…?

Martial Star’s smile stiffened. Deep emptiness seemed to pass. A transparent furrow raced along that trajectory extending into the mountain, and soon dropped Martial Star’s head.

Then space split.

Winter Dream’s function. A phenomenon exactly as rumored.

Kururrung!

An endlessly long trajectory rippled annoyingly like a mirror. Several scenes reflected. Like when Seated Sword Hero, Winter Dream’s former owner, watched the most interesting stories.

Yan Wen-hak’s eyes widened.

“……!”

Desolate Fortress Lord Lightning Genius who awakened Fallen Sword Yong Hye-myeong appeared, some black-haired woman dragged a divine treasured sword like trash, a strange cone-hatted old man scrawled all sorts of patterns in the air, and to one side Ming Cult Leader Yelu Zhen twisted her lips languidly.

The scene shown by one sword’s traces went that far.

Namgung Hwa-shin thrust his sword into Sword Disarming Pool.

Kwaaaak!

And still didn’t sleep. As if one sword had cut even dreams.