Chapter 824 – Side Story – Good Custom

Sword and swordsman.

Both don’t sleep, which makes it a demonic sword.

Winter Dream had been that way for a long time. Swordsmen who stained their beloved swords with the Demonic Heretical Path’s provocative intent commonly suffered from insomnia. That made them even more eccentric and dangerous.

Wudang Sect Leader Taoist Jade Cliff lamented.

“Winter’s dream has ended, and the common people’s sword has awakened.”

“…Are you even reciting poetry?”

Yan Family Martial King Yan Wen-hak sarcastically replied with an expressionless face.

Of course, it was a big mistake.

But for a murim clan, it was also unavoidable. Because Desolate Fortress’s Obeying Heaven Wing Leader’s eye light had regained the same clarity as his older brother Blue Qilin.

Martial Star’s head rolled on the ground and knocked against Winter Dream stuck in the dirt. Soon Martial Star’s body collapsed limply.

A natural result despite originally being a corpse.

Cut by instant-strike Transcendent Martial Art.

Everything of the Yan Family’s great technique had been swept away. The dharma treasure’s energy planted in Martial Star’s acupoints, Yan Wen-hak’s upper dantian spiritual nature, the power of countless elixirs… It had all disappeared as if dried up by lightning.

Restoration would cost a tremendous amount.

Yan Wen-hak muttered.

“If only it had been Transcendent Martial Art that caused special resonance, it would have been different.”

Nevertheless, Yan Wen-hak intended to secretly recover Martial Star. Of course, he couldn’t reveal it openly. It was meant solely as a lifeline for the family.

Because of the foreign jianghu people from distant seas.

Because demonic forces like Sword Master Sacred Light Dark Obsidian wouldn’t be just her alone.

For whatever reason, the day would come when he’d have to secure life for his descendants. Whether it was ancient grudges about the World Tree, or using poppies instead of silver ingots for trade in some heretical land.

Yan Wen-hak smiled coldly.

Though unlikely, he had to make special arrangements for the family. Just as Desolate Fortress had Annihilation Seat Shin Cheon-hwa’s direct disciples.

Martial Star would save the Yan Family from the crisis of clan extinction even hundreds of years from now.

‘In any case, the current generation’s jianghu people will all run aground on the wall called Desolate Fortress.’

The Yan Family wouldn’t even be visible behind that wall. Just like how Yu Ling, Hao Sect, and Beggars Sect masters had suddenly disappeared the moment they saw Namgung Hwa-shin’s resurgence.

It must have been to urgently report the manifestation of complete purple rank. Naturally, the Yan Family wouldn’t even be in their thoughts.

When Yan Wen-hak felt great emptiness, Taoist Jade Cliff spoke to Namgung Hwa-shin.

“That single sword strike just now.”

Namgung Hwa-shin’s head slowly lifted as his eyelids had been half-lowered.

He spoke slowly.

“Please ask.”

“It seems the sword assisted you.”

“…Yes, the sword path seemed to open on its own.”

“It must have been swordsmanship dwelling in the blade. As long as you can forge Transcendent Martial Art just now with your upper dantian, you’ll stay awake even without the demonic sword. Because it’s as if you’ve stored Winter Dream in your Baihui point.”

Then Taoist Jade Cliff added.

“If you don’t think about that single strike, you’ll fall asleep anytime…”

The Wudang Sect Leader had bestowed insight. Namgung Hwa-shin’s respectful cupped-fist salute followed, and Yan Wen-hak smiled, hating to see it.

Then he said.

“A fate of equally talented rivals. Azure Qilin also received much favoritism from many famous sages.”

“……?”

“Fan Dragon always received respect for his learning and character, and Lazy Flame Dragon, though despised, had his supreme qualities universally acknowledged just yesterday. On the contrary, this Yan, who received nothing… I suppose I must create something myself.”

Taoist Jade Cliff shook his head.

“Primordial Beginning Pacifying and Suppressing, the Yan Family Head already possesses much.”

“I must have more. Because I was born with a sinister nature and cannot lure people with transparent temperament like they do.”

Yan Wen-hak cupped his fists and turned around. There were no words to stop him. The conversation between Taoist Jade Cliff and Namgung Hwa-shin just continued without surprise.

“Now you won’t easily break your beloved sword. When you return to Desolate Fortress, prepare one sword to use for a long time.”

“Yes…?”

“If an absolute swordsman’s hands use anything for a long time, it will become a divine weapon.”

“A Desolate Fortress sword is also good.”

“Use an even more exceptional sword for a very long time. You don’t treat your blade like a learning companion like Heaven Soaring Guest, do you? So you won’t create a sword like Winter Dream, but… your legacy will remain.”

“Taoist, then what kind of sword will Lord Jeong’s Remaining Thunder become?”

“Well, it would give Transcendent Martial Art inspiration to an insignificant Taoist like this old horse-nose, and give hope to countless common people… Yes, someday it will transform into a divine sword with the exact same character as Lord Jeong.”

“The same as Lord Jeong…?”

Namgung Hwa-shin’s question. Yan Wen-hak turned sharply to look at them as he descended Sword Disarming Pool. Only Taoist Jade Cliff’s dreaming-like words continued.

“Because swords come to resemble their masters.”

“Yes?”

Faint bewilderment filled Namgung Hwa-shin’s calm voice. The feeling of a young high official receiving tribute he couldn’t handle.

“…Doesn’t the spiritual nature dwelling in divine weapons scatter as time passes? My sword will of course be that way, and so will Winter Dream, and Remaining Thunder as well?”

“Oh, I didn’t know a purple-rank in his prime could discuss the Dao. Though you haven’t ascended yet.”

“Sect Leader Taoist…?”

“The end of all things isn’t fleeting. For example, the Great Wall in the north… The Central Plains’ Transcendent Martial Art will be solid even after a thousand years. The greater the spiritual nature, the less easily nature can swallow it.”

Yan Wen-hak thought. What damned talk I’ve heard…

“……?”

Suddenly Taoist Jade Cliff and Namgung Hwa-shin’s words stopped. Had they sensed something? The moment Yan Wen-hak, who belatedly felt an unfamiliar presence, turned his head, the two had descended to either side of him.

The slope leading up to Sword Disarming Pool.

Step.

Some swordsman was climbing the mountain.

The sight of dragging a long sword’s hilt along the ground as they climbed. Dazzling sword light pushed away even sunlight. Because of that, the swordsman’s appearance could only be seen as a dark silhouette.

Because the sword tip was far behind their footsteps.

‘A woman…?’

The moment Yan Wen-hak raised his vision technique, he was suddenly surrounded by illusions.

Whoosh!

Yan Wen-hak stood in an unfamiliar place. A vast field, a hall with a cross symbol mounted like a plaque on the rooftop, a cemetery that seemed to be overseen by that hall, a rock standing tall beside it…

A handsome boy with short ears like the Noble Clan pulled out a sword stuck in the rock.

The blade slid out smoothly. Mist lifted and dazzling sunlight poured down. Swordsmen who used pure white armor instead of protective energy barrier knelt before the boy.

The same as what the swordsman who’d just climbed to Sword Disarming Pool had been dragging.

Yan Wen-hak intuited. That silver sword was a nation’s Transcendent Martial Art, and it had been fully placed in the boy’s hands. Just like Desolate Divine Hero Hyeon Won-chang who was first chosen by Winter Dream at Mount Wudang.

That was only for a moment.

Everything except the sword blurred like waves, and the sword swam through long years. Scenes composed of countless spears, swords and shields, blood and warhorses flowed ceaselessly. As if drifting down time’s river.

Yan Wen-hak’s upper dantian intuition followed.

‘Easily a thousand years… Would it be like this if you defended the Great Wall with a single sword?’

Truly tremendous spiritual nature.

Enough to endlessly pound translucent landscapes into his head.

The sword crossed many masters through the long years.

Then it was finally placed on a young woman’s corpse. A martial artist’s body well-maintained as if she’d cultivated world-shattering external energy, but marked with terrible burn scars.

Woom.

The scars were suddenly washed away as the sword resonance rang from the sheath.

A body that wouldn’t rot, like the very few Shaolin monks or Yao Tribe Six Star Lords. To those with narrow experience, it might be considered demonic.

High rulers’ characteristic emotionless intents each rumbled.

—A great hero the Gods called too early.

—If discovered by those who eat frogs, it will be war again, but no one will tolerate this.

—To end the dragging fight and cut the World Tree, this is the only way.

They were discussing the World Tree now. It would be the past from at most six years ago.

Soon the illusion scattered on its own.

Whoosh!

All around were green mountain ranges again. The evergreen scenery around Mount Wudang’s Sword Disarming Pool. And the swordsman slowly climbing the slope.

‘Sword Master…!’

Yan Wen-hak analyzed quickly.

The sheath was a dharma treasure with regeneration function like Blood Flame Sect nobility, the sword was a divine weapon whose function was hard to guess, the swordsman was a woman with a rare tall stature who seemed capable of close combat as well.

Even the hand not holding the sword had calluses. Trained in all kinds of weapons, she looked as fearsome as a ghost’s form.

“Who are you?”

Taoist Jade Cliff asked.

His face, solid like Mount Wudang’s cliffs, was hardened. He’d either seen the same illusion as Yan Wen-hak or felt the sword’s spiritual nature.

But the swordsman didn’t answer.

Step.

The distance just narrowed.

Suddenly Namgung Hwa-shin stepped forward, but Taoist Jade Cliff stopped him. Simultaneously, a faint wind drew a circle from beneath his robe.

[Before this place, swords must be disarmed. It’s for the common people focused on pilgrimage, and we make no exceptions for jianghu people.]

As Taoist Jade Cliff’s intent echoed, only then did the silhouette look up at them. Through the brilliant light’s gaps, long black hair showed.

[…Good custom.]

The woman’s intent.

It was a resonant ring. Though it sounded somewhat divine, Yan Wen-hak felt something of a revered being.

Taoist Jade Cliff asked again.

[What brings you here?]

The swordsman answered as if talking to herself.

[The traces are thick.]

[Whose traces do you speak of?]

[One the Gods call too early. Like me…]

Then Yan Wen-hak saw through the swordsman’s state. Like a jiangshi whose consciousness hadn’t fully awakened. Her memories from life must be sparse.

Nevertheless, he felt combat senses far surpassing Martial Star.

‘If I could use that woman…?’

Instantly the swordsman’s sword scattered sharp rays of light.

Cough!

The moment that sword energy touched him, Yan Wen-hak’s Greater Circulation flow shattered into pieces. Even as he vomited blood, he was greatly alarmed.

“She reads… thoughts…?”

[Guest?]

The swordsman asked Taoist Jade Cliff, and Taoist Jade Cliff shook his head. Conversely, the swordsman nodded and said.

[The qualities the spirits call too early, evil nature, the tree’s sapling… Things that must not unite. If you give them to me, I will pay handsomely.]

[Primordial Beginning Pacifying and Suppressing.]

[Is bread good? I will give much.]

***

I should eat a lot for breakfast.

Yong Hye-myeong’s thought. He felt cold air.

His mind was clear as a mirror-like pond. Natural. Because it had been a while since he’d issued expulsion orders to the annoying junior and smelly old man.

‘How dare they spy on someone…?’

After causing a commotion, he’d circulated Greater Circulation for a long time. Because originally he shouldn’t have awakened. He wasn’t worried about the guardian.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Junior Jeong Yeon-shin was looking down at him. His usual bold face. For a moment Yong Hye-myeong thought it was Ma Yeon-jeok. Because of his own fearsome pupils reflected in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.

—Eyes with swords set up. He seems born to become Divine Sword Group Leader. Impudent bastard.

Ma Yeon-jeok’s babbling that had sounded like praise at the time. Words that decided Yong Hye-myeong’s life, which he shouldn’t have heard.

Fighting with jianghu was trivial, but he also had to fight with his inhuman inner self. He would have to do so for life.

Yong Hye-myeong habitually concealed his pupils with energy membrane before slowly opening his mouth.

“Lightning Genius.”

“Senior Yong.”

“I didn’t expect meeting after a long time would be inside my skull. Did you leave courtesy in the North?”

“Because you wouldn’t wake up.”

“Did you try striking me?”

“I didn’t hit you with a chamber pot.”

“……”