Chapter 370 – Peerless Master (5)

Pure Demon Alliance Leader and Ten Perfections Sect Leader.

Beings known as natural disasters were blocked by a single person.

A swordsman in a black robe with the rough “Desolate” character engraved on both shoulders. A young man who had barged in pulling some cart had uttered outrageous words before Sichuan’s absolute beings, yet the faces of the two who had heard this verbal abuse remained completely calm.

As if they were in a position where they needed to maintain a mind as clear as a mirror.

Unrefined attacks don’t work against any peerless master.

It means one’s inner state must not be disturbed. This is why the Pure Demon Alliance Leader and Ten Perfections Sect Leader were quietly staring at Jeong Yeon-shin. They were trying to measure his vulnerabilities.

“……”

In the hall where a chilling silence had descended.

Stone fragments rolled here and there following the wind that brushed the floor with a dry texture.

This was a gathering where all of Sichuan’s major factions were entangled.

Not only were enormous economic interests at stake, but also the massive influence that would affect the martial world and the livelihood of Sichuan’s people in the future.

The entire martial world and various sects couldn’t help but be on edge about today’s outcome.

It was difficult for either side to back down.

The hundred-plus people surrounding them no longer raised their energy waves.

They simply maintained appropriate distances from each other and watched the confrontation between the three beings. Only the Tang family people occasionally whispered while looking at Jeong Yeon-shin.

With their fingers slightly bent, ready to throw hidden weapons at any moment, wearing dark green gloves.

“Could it really be our benefactor from that time…? He’s grown too much…”

“They say he underwent bone transformation. The Ten Perfections Sect Leader said so himself.”

“Truly magnificent.”

The Tang family.

Sichuan’s foremost great clan could finally breathe.

They were extremely bold. So much so that some even joked about sending hawks to Desolate Fortress to ease the tension. Some women even casually suggested sending themselves instead of poison phoenix.

“May I?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, that’s impossible. Only the young lady would be suitable in terms of status. In terms of talent, one would need to be at least comparable to Sichuan’s finest…”

“But where are the other two, and only our benefactor is…”

“We can ask later. It’s not over yet.”

The Tang family masters remained vigilant, spreading their energy waves in all directions while never taking their eyes off Jeong Yeon-shin.

The sight of him blocking the cart with a single sword floating behind his back, and beyond that, even shielding the Tang family’s inner courtyard from the absolute beings.

It was the spirit of one against heaven.

His features, dreamlike in the sunlight, were more mystical than any renowned clan. His hair, flowing down to his lower back, rippled gently in the breeze.

His black robe, which looked as if he had walked through a fire pit with some parts particularly blackened, was no blemish at all.

Today, at this place.

The crowd was witnessing a peerless master newly emerged in the martial world. As martial artists, they couldn’t look away.

The same was true for the Ten Perfections Sect masters carrying all sorts of weapons and the Pure Demon Alliance demonic practitioners with their bizarre appearances.

Only after several breaths of time had passed did the Pure Demon Alliance Leader move his wrinkled lips.

“Zeng Jian-wu.”

“Speak.”

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader said.

Though he was answering the Pure Demon Alliance Leader, he didn’t take his eyes off Jeong Yeon-shin. The Pure Demon Alliance Leader didn’t seem to mind this either.

“I saw you making an empty gesture in the air before that child manifested the Mind-controlling sword.”

“……”

“What was the reason?”

“It was a feint.”

“A feint?”

“It was somewhat different from harming with intent and energy… but my energy sense clearly detected an attack pattern.”

“So you moved?”

“Yes. But I won’t be caught twice.”

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader said with a slight smile.

It was a smile tinged with tension. At the same time, it contained the depth characteristic of peerless masters.

‘It’s not a lie.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. His upper dantian, heated by the Fan Dragon Treading Lotus Technique, whispered this to him.

Ten Thousand Weapons Heavenly Lord. Another alias of the Ten Perfections Sect Leader.

In places far from government offices, he’s even called the Ten Thousand Weapons Emperor.

Befitting someone who has mastered all sorts of weapons to the realm of a master, he seemed to have devised countermeasures for the technique that had caught him off guard. The masters of the Thirteen Evil Sects were truly different.

Jeong Yeon-shin examined the interval between the Ten Perfections Sect Leader and Pure Demon Alliance Leader standing side by side before him.

‘This won’t be easy.’

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader was slightly in front.

They weren’t exactly side by side.

Earlier, the old man called the Pure Demon Alliance Leader had failed to properly receive the Mind-controlling sword imbued with Luminous Wheel Energy, so he seemed unlikely to face Jeong Yeon-shin head-on again.

The movements of peerless masters occur in the realm of extremely refined instinct.

Judging by the interval, if a fight broke out, the old man would likely look for an opening from behind the Ten Perfections Sect Leader. With the strange martial arts characteristic of Ming Cult.

There was pressure.

What would their joint martial arts be like? The ultimate moves created by those who rule over not just individual clans but massive factions…

Jeong Yeon-shin was conscious of the cart behind him. It couldn’t possibly withstand the aftermath of a battle. And they had just arrived home.

It was then.

The Pure Demon Alliance Leader, who had been staring at Jeong Yeon-shin with a furrowed brow, suddenly spat out a sigh.

“That fellow is forming a mind sword. I can’t think of anything else.”

“Did you say mind sword?”

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader, who had been adjusting one of his arm guards, paused.

“That’s not all. I also sensed spirituality in some of his martial arts…”

This is more ominous than auspicious— the Pure Demon Alliance Leader muttered. His low voice was eerie.

Suddenly, both corners of the Ten Perfections Sect Leader’s mouth rose.

“Then we should leave.”

“Are you serious?”

“Do you still see that friend’s robe as black? It looks different to me.”

“Hmm.”

“We’re not at full strength, are we? How many of the Tang family’s formations have we broken? I’ve been quite bothered by a needle stuck in my Hui-yin acupoint anyway.”

His thick voice carried a playful quality.

The humor of a peerless warrior who had seen all sorts of things on the battlefield. The Ten Perfections Sect Leader, after glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin, added as if driving in a wedge:

“I don’t particularly want to risk my life.”

“A sect leader being so frivolous.”

“It’s a decision I must make as a sect leader. What would happen to a sect that has lost all its pillars if it also loses its leader?”

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader replied with a frown. Simultaneously, he thought: Annoying old man, it’s not right to create excuses like this.

“There’s some truth in what you say.”

The old Pure Demon Alliance Leader roughly turned his body with an exaggerated gesture. The hem of his robe, intricately embroidered with golden patterns, fluttered with his movement.

“I’m returning to the alliance.”… Right after the Pure Demon Alliance Leader’s brief words fell, the forms of the demonic practitioners who had been in the hall, flashing ominous lights in their eyes, all soared up at once.

A terrifying spirit of absolute obedience. The rough sound of clothes rustling arose from all directions.

From the Pure Demon Alliance Leader, who had turned his back, came slow words:

“Your fortune is good. Had you faced those who value face as enemies, it wouldn’t have ended like this.”

Immediately after, the old man added:

“That cart would have had a hard time remaining intact too.”

“You’ve timed it extremely well.”

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader nodded slightly.

“You have martial arts, background, and luck. Truly worthy of being called the Three Perfections.”

He was speaking to the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly to the side. It was because he had never seen a Sima Evil Path practitioner who wasn’t stingy with praise.

“Your swordsmanship was also perfection.”

“……”

Thud.

The Ten Perfections Sect Leader seemed to be someone who knew modesty.

He immediately closed his mouth at Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, then silently turned his body and walked away, followed by Ten Perfections Sect disciples who made clanking sounds with their appearance closer to soldiers than martial artists.

Escaping the crisis of clan annihilation due to a single intruder.

Who would believe it?

“Ah…”

Someone let out a groan. Along with a breath tinged with anger, regret, and renewed shock. This gradually spread to each of the Tang family clan members.

Apart from their spirit of being willing to face death, as clan members who had to protect their families, they had to see their enemies off properly.

Even if they were to fight again, the battle should take place outside the clan.

“Benefactor!”

“Your kindness is truly immense!”

“Quickly, quickly, come this way…!”

Their eyes, painfully scanning their dead relatives sprawled around, immediately turned to Jeong Yeon-shin.

They didn’t even pay attention to the cart, considering it the benefactor’s possession.

Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t face them directly. He simply lowered his eyes diagonally.

Sreung—

The divine sword that had been floating in the void sheathed itself.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

The Tang family head’s chamber.

The faint fragrance was the smell flowing from medicinal herbs.

The interior, surrounded on all sides by dark iron as if enclosed by mechanism formations, was warmer than it appeared.

“They say that what a world-class genius controls at will is not the sword, but time.”

These were the first words of the Tang family head upon reuniting with Jeong Yeon-shin. A face smiling at the sight of the grown young man. The middle-aged clan head with bushy beard was still hearty.

Just as when he had shared the incantation of the Myriad Heavens Flower Rain with Jeong Yeon-shin, holding hands.

Jeong Yeon-shin sat down, pulling his chair close to the sickbed. And he looked down at the Tang family head lying there.

‘His internal injuries are deep.’

He had heard that the Tang family head had received a fatal wound from the Golden Wing Sect Leader, and true to the rumors, his complexion wasn’t good. It reminded him of the nobles of Blood Flame Cult.

“I was watching the battlefield through a hole in the paper window like a thief. With the intention of intervening if necessary.”

Tang Clan Leader Poison Monarch Tang Yun-huang continued in a thin voice.

“When it became almost unbearable, I saw you crossing the threshold, benefactor. At my age, I felt a thrill.”

Jeong Yeon-shin had heard from the Ten Perfections Sect Leader earlier about the role of a faction leader.

About the situation where a sect’s master loses their life. The Tang Clan Leader, who could barely control his body, must have found it difficult to step forward as well.

“Our family has once again incurred a great debt to you, benefactor.”

Tang Yun-huang tried to rise but was stopped by Jeong Yeon-shin and made a fist-palm salute.

The dignity characteristic of the Eight Great Clans was felt in his manner of paying respect. Despite his sickly appearance.

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly responded with a nod.

“……”

He didn’t speak for a while. The pungent smell of medicinal herbs from the table behind faded, and eventually, the Tang Clan Leader slowly opened his mouth.

“Thank you.”

Was it the consideration of a martial world senior? It was a voice without any particular emotion.

Different from when he spoke of debt as a clan head. It was after the appearance of the Tang siblings lying with closed eyes in the cart. It was gratitude for protecting their bodies.

Tang Yun-huang didn’t reveal his grief over losing his children before Jeong Yeon-shin.

“Thank you.”

He said again. Still in a plain voice.

***

Jeong Yeon-shin climbed Mount Mei with the weakened Tang Clan Leader.

It was quite far from the Tang family manor. He said it was a place where the Dragon Phoenix Twin Poisons siblings used to meet their father, avoiding the eyes of the former patriarch.

Jeong Yeon-shin stayed by the Tang Clan Leader’s side for three days as the siblings’ funeral was held on the mountain peak.

It was the proper thing to do. He too had received kindness from the siblings.

“Your protective energy was dazzling.”

Tang Yun-huang suddenly said as he descended the foggy mountain path with Jeong Yeon-shin.

This was while Tang family martial artists with still-grave expressions surrounded and followed them.

Tang Yun-huang was different from his family members.

He was the master of a great clan family. He couldn’t be like ordinary people if he was to lead the Tang family. He had to set aside his grief and deliberately change his temperament.

“I took inspiration from those two.”

Hearing Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, which showed he had noticed his demeanor, Tang Yun-huang let out a low laugh.

“They were children obsessed with martial arts. They would be pleased.”

“……”

“What is its name?”

“I was thinking of calling it Precious Radiant Star Heaven in the secret manual.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said reluctantly. It meant precious starry night, but because of that fellow Bright Star of Engraved Vermilion from the Ten Perfections Sect, the name felt tainted.

“Do you know what a craftsman does last after creating a work, benefactor?”

“…?”

“Naming it. So that spirituality fitting its use can be engraved a little more deeply.”

“I see.”

“That’s why I feel regretful. If it’s a divine skill that already possesses spirituality, naming becomes even more important. I can’t help but worry about it.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyebrow twitched. No one had ever criticized his naming before.

But he was someone who had lost his children. Jeong Yeon-shin, feeling the modesty ingrained in him, parted his lips.

“It might be lacking in some way.”

“You’ve compared my children to stars, and that inspiration has reached you and become a set of robes… how about Bright Dawn?”

“That doesn’t sound very good to me.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had answered briefly, inwardly pondered the name. Bright dawn. Not night, but dawn.

“Is that so? Well then…”

After that, he let the Tang Clan Leader’s idle talk flow past him.

Jeong Yeon-shin occasionally glanced at his own shadow that was stepped on as he walked.

The silhouette brushing darkly along the mountain path. Was it his imagination? Once in a while, it seemed like a growling sound was coming from the shadow.

He suddenly thought about what would happen if he placed well-dried jerky on top of the shadow.

Then suddenly… —I shamelessly request from the Radiant Demon Wing Leader!

A young man’s cry rang out from the foot of the mountain where the fog hung faintly. Jeong Yeon-shin sensed the energy waves of three people.

Crimson Cloud Dragon of Qingcheng Sect, Golden Staff Divine Woman of Emei Sect, and Little Sword Queen of Diancang Sect whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. They were martial artists from the Nine Great Sects known as geniuses in Sichuan Province. All were young.

At that moment, Crimson Cloud Dragon shouted again:

—This is a message from the long-suffering Emei Sect Leader! Please accept the secret letter!