Chapter 425 – Martial Lineage (6)

Two tall figures gazed into the distance.

With bold features and high-bridged noses, they bore strikingly similar facial traits. However, standing side by side, the posture of the youth in the blue uniform of Desolate Fortress was noticeably slouched, as if he had taken a diagonal step back to avoid entanglement.

The slightly older man spoke first.

“Is it acceptable for you to defy your squad leader’s orders like this? It’s been a while since I conveyed the directive to return to the main fortress, yet here you are again.”

“You wouldn’t understand, with your deep learning akin to a stagnant well. From the blue rank onward in Desolate Fortress, solo missions are permitted. We assess the situation, act at our discretion, and report afterward. Whether it’s punishment or reward, the higher-ups decide.”

“I was once the king of Shandong’s martial world. I have little concern for the behavioral patterns of Desolate Fortress underlings. Regardless, unlike noble families, you seem to have considerable freedom. Back when I led the Hwangbo Clan, Desolate Fortress was akin to a military sect…”

“Once you step into the martial world, daily life turns into a battlefield. Unlike the pampered pigs of noble families, we have many enemies. Naturally, our discretion has to be greater.”

The youth’s words, seemingly listless at first glance, oscillated freely between respect and sarcasm.

With dark shadows under his eyes and a bright red opium poppy flower clenched between his teeth, his demeanor made such speech feel natural.

The older man snorted like an elder.

“Mind your manners.”

“And why are you here, Grandfather? Now that you’ve miraculously regained your youth, if I were you, I’d be enjoying a life of luxury in Hangzhou rather than trailing after a disowned grandson.”

“Luxury? I’d rather hang you from a tree branch than indulge in meat and wine.”

The grandfather and grandson, with Dengfeng County behind them, stared out across the distant plains.

Radiant Demon Wing, the Lazy Flame Dragon of Desolate Fortress.

Hwangbo Gon, the former patriarch of the Hwangbo Clan, known as the Divine Hand Hegemon King.

Their gazes stretched toward Jinan in Shandong—the place where the Hwangbo Clan once thrived with unparalleled authority. Yet, at this moment, the wind blowing toward them carried only hollow dampness before dissipating.

“So… disowned, huh. Is that why you abandoned your four-character name? The kids at Desolate Fortress seemed unaware.”

“Well, something like that.”

“Why?”

“My so-called family enslaved the common folk for personal gain, and as the eldest son, I couldn’t utter a word against it. My own life, with its predetermined end, felt more precious than playing the hero.”

“…”

“The Hwangbo surname carries a deep history, doesn’t it? But neither the dead kin nor I are worthy of inheriting the name our ancestors built. We’re too petty and lowly.”

“You seem to be doing well playing the warrior of Desolate Fortress.”

The Divine Hand Hegemon King remarked brusquely. However, Lazy Flame Dragon didn’t respond, merely lifting the corner of his mouth while chewing on a leaf.

“Even so, isn’t it excessive to live without a name? You, the eldest son of Shandong’s foremost noble clan?”

“How can a fallen clan be called Shandong’s foremost? Anyway, until I understand my destiny, I’ll remain the Lazy Flame Dragon.”

“If you’re so set on dying, at least leave behind a descendant. I have no intention of remarrying, so I’d like to name at least your child.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Seeing how our squad leader’s kicking techniques improve day by day, no one would dare leave a child to grow up fatherless.”

[TL Note- This refers to JYS’s thoughts on getting married. He knows that he will die soon so he doesn’t want to leave a child behind who will grow up without a father. He wants to be good father unlike his own father.]

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ll be taking my leave now. Farewell.”

With a half-hearted bow toward the Divine Hand Hegemon King, Lazy Flame Dragon turned around.

A youth with a heroic headband and a girl in a white uniform awaited him, accompanied by three spirited horses of Desolate Fortress.

The Divine Hand Hegemon King called out to his grandson’s back.

“If you can’t even achieve the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, what could be more valuable than leaving behind legacy? You must know your own energy is excessively inflated.”

“Our squad leader crushed supreme masters even before achieving the unity of spirit and energy. What’s so great about the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown anyway…?”

Muttering a casual reply, Lazy Flame Dragon mounted his horse and grumbled.

“It’s so inconvenient to travel with those lacking in internal energy. What’s so hard about running all day with lightness techniques that they insist on using relay stations?”

“Shut your mouth for a bit. The smell of poppy is overpowering.”

White Cat Shin So-bin, her long hair swaying side to side, shook her head and urged her horse forward.

Soon, the three riders began crossing the wilderness, and the hearty laughter of Hyeon Won-chang trailed behind, mingling with the dust kicked up by the horses’ hooves.

***

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Jeong Yeon-shin sat quietly in front of the circular wooden table when a sudden doubt crossed his mind. He had heard that Shaolin monks often came from prestigious clans.

He assumed Shaolin, like Desolate Fortress, would avoid using wood, yet from the temple halls to the table, wood was hardly scarce. It felt like an ordinary monastery.

“The Buddha is one who has broken the cycle of reincarnation. If one has taken refuge in Buddhism to follow him, it is only right to abandon the customs of any clan.”

The one-eyed monk with no arms spoke.

Divine Monk Beom Heo. The Abbot of Shaolin.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s reflection shimmered transparently in the monk’s single eye.

Had he awakened the Buddhist ability of mind-reading? It was a statement one couldn’t make without piercing through another’s thoughts.

‘Indeed…’

It was just as the rumors he heard as a child described. A high monk of Shaolin who, through deep cultivation, had attained the Six Supernatural Powers. Respect gleamed in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.

The Abbot’s single eye curved into a gentle arc.

“Don’t be surprised. Everyone asks the same question.”

His deep voice made it hard to discern whether he was joking or serious. As Jeong Yeon-shin’s head tilted slightly, Beom Heo suddenly inquired.

“How was it coming up here? It seems this is your first time at Shaolin.”

“From the outside, it looked serene, but once inside, I found the mountain terrain quite rugged. If I had come here as a child, my father might have abandoned me.”

He thought he had made a decent jest.

Having learned a sense of humor from Yong Hye-myeong, the Divine Sword Group Leader, he believed it was fitting. Yet, none of the venerable figures of the Nine Great Sects laughed.

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly realized they were absolute beings who had no choice but to be well-versed in the affairs of all martial artists.

“A few words encompass the martial world.”

High Sword muttered.

Soon after, Beom Heo’s gaze slowly swept across the room. The supreme masters of Wudang, Mount Hua, Qingcheng, and Emei calmly met his eyes.

“The Purple Rank of Desolate Fortress has joined us. It seems the time has come to discuss the proceedings.”

“We must recall the original purpose of today’s Mount Hua Agreement. It is to prevent bloodshed in the martial world, like the extermination of the Hwangbo Clan. Thus, the rules of this sparring conference must not turn into life-and-death duels, nor should we stand by as numerous martial artists perish.”

Venerable Cypress Flame continued Beom Heo’s words.

The Thunderous Avalokiteshvara of Emei seemed wary of further blood being spilled due to the enmity between Desolate Fortress and the Peng Family.

A fitting stance for a great elder of Sichuan’s martial world. The gentleman of the Jeong Family was deeply moved inwardly.

“The Venerable’s words are wise. Even if they wield blades for personal grudges, they still carry lives akin to beasts. As this is a matter I’ve caused, I will naturally show them mercy.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke, recalling the wild boars behind the Jeong Family’s back mountain.

Naturally, the compassionate gaze of Emei’s Sect Leader turned toward him. It felt as if he were receiving praise from a grandmother he had never met.

“That’s sincere. He’s transcended his lineage.”

Taoist Two Walls of Qingcheng, whose face had remained stern, rarely parted his lips in a faint smile. His unguarded expression of admiration was befitting of a prestigious clan member.

Thus proceeded the gathering of the martial world’s absolute powers.

“We’ll need a mediator, won’t we? I’ll have our sect’s Sword Warden oversee it.”

“The Six Kings Martial Lineage has come to Green Jade Sword Manor. One of us must observe their sparring. Their swift blades are incredibly fast…”

“Let High Sword take on that role. Compared to our sect’s Azure Cloud Crimson Glow Sword, Taiji Fist can deflect more smoothly.”

Soft voices exchanged ideas.

As the leaders of the great sects, they established the rules for the Mount Hua Agreement sparring conference and determined the matchups.

Before Beom Heo, a letter floated in midair, suspended by an unseen force, listing the countless martial factions staying at Green Jade Sword Manor below Mount Song.

“The matchups should be arranged like this.”

“It feels a bit awkward, doesn’t it? The Nine Great Sects and Desolate Fortress are all scattered.”

“The sooner blood is staunched, the better.”

Lu Xian, the Brilliant Jade, pointed out High Sword’s brushstrokes, but the face of the Wudang immortal, who bore the guise of a young Taoist, only exuded steadfastness.

At this moment, their foremost priority was to ensure no unnecessary casualties arose from the sparring between the great sects.

Strictly speaking, they were a tangential part of the sparring conference, convened to punish the Peng Family’s leadership without excessive bloodshed. That was the reality.

As rumors spread, many flocked here to broaden their horizons, gain fame, or seize various benefits. Yet, they were beneath the notice of the Nine Great Sects and Desolate Fortress.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt an odd sensation.

From his seat, he looked down upon the martial world, swaying like waves under the decisions of the Nine Great Sects’ supreme masters, who harbored no particular malice. This, too, was the martial world of the Purple Rank.

‘Too high. And…’

Dangerous.

Both the position he had ascended to and the power of the martial world’s uppermost echelon, capable of naturally orchestrating such a grand stage, were perilous.

The Thirteen Evil Sects, including Taimo Fortress and Dark Night Palace, would be no different. He was now a Purple Rank warrior of Desolate Fortress. He must remain vigilant across the entire martial world.

‘Ah.’

Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly realized. Not as an absolute power influencing the martial world, but as the Purple Rank of Desolate Fortress, he must approach this gathering with a distinct attitude.

As the inheritor of the Mount Hua Agreement, he needed to carry a unique stance.

“Benefactor Jeong.”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“I have a request to make.”

Beom Heo spoke. Even with his empty sleeves draped lifelessly over the chair’s armrests, he exuded a serene gravitas.

Jeong Yeon-shin had to muster considerable energy to meet the monk’s single eye.

“Unless there is significant disturbance, we must all exercise restraint.”

With a single line, it seemed as if the dust faintly coloring the room parted.

A voice imbued not with force but with profound presence. Jeong Yeon-shin instantly grasped the Shaolin Abbot’s intent.

They were, in the truest sense, absolute powers of the martial world.

Even their smallest actions spurred countless speculations.

Who they conversed with, what relationships they forged, who they stood beside—such details influenced the movements of various sects and merchant guilds.

For everything decided in this meeting to serve its purpose, preventing variables in advance was paramount.

A blue light flickered in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes, signaling his understanding.

“I’ve practiced restraint for fifteen years. Abbot, you may set aside your concerns.”

He affirmed calmly.

***

Green Jade Sword Manor.

The estate where the Mount Hua Agreement would soon unfold. It boasted eight sparring arenas in all directions.

Even so, the clamor showed no signs of abating. This was due to the martial artists flooding in from across the vast martial world. The boisterous noise seemed poised to reach even the clouded full moon.

“Another drink!”

“Hold on a moment. That fellow seems to be cycling his Lesser Heavenly Circuit…”

“No way he’d dare do that here.”

People with vastly different martial arts and even tones of speech gathered.

Sword discussions, sparring matches, and drinking sessions unfolded daily. Among them were figures shrouded in mystery, known only through rumors, like dragons hidden in the clouds.

“That woman is the Palm Pheonix…?”

“Quiet down. She’s of the Zhu Imperial Clan. It’s said the Emperor himself requested her admission to Wudang…”

Atop a high tiled roof.

A woman sat at the edge, one leg bent, glancing downward while holding a gourd of liquor.

The white sleeves of Wudang, embroidered with pine trees, flowed smoothly like palace curtains.

Even with a translucent veil covering her face, her eyes were discernible. They were unusually dark and intense.

The murmuring martial artists hurriedly averted their gazes from hers.

The Wudang Palm Pheonix.

Along with High Sword, she was slated to participate in the Mount Hua Agreement.

She wasn’t alone. Below the eaves, at the banquet hall, voices praised Mount Hua’s Sword Saint, the Three Treasured Sword Dragons, and the Orchid Sword.

Surrounded by martial artists from Shaanxi, the three men stood with backs as straight as plum branches. Far from arrogance, their demeanor was noble, and it felt entirely natural.

“Desolate…? It’s Desolate Fortress!”

“Lazy Flame Dragon!”

The same reaction greeted the arrival of the Desolate Fortress entourage at Green Jade Sword Manor. The experts of the great factions regarded each other with caution. With a major event ahead, they were wary of sparking rumors.

Without looking at each other’s faces, they dominated the nearby space with their senses alone, scanning those they might soon face.

Lazy Flame Dragon, glancing around, curled his lips into a smirk.

“The immortals of the Nine Great Sects have descended from the clouds.”

“Where’s the Peng Family? And our squad leader? Can you sense their energy? I heard something from my grandfather…”

Shin So-bin looked around curiously before suddenly falling silent.

A chilling air brushed against her back. It felt as if an invisible wall encircled them. The humid summer breeze ceased to blow.

She found herself overshadowed by a man’s silhouette.

“The granddaughter of Desolate Fortress’s Elder Council Head? You’ve inherited a fine sense. Blood doesn’t lie, after all.”

A thick voice sliced through the air.

In that moment, Shin So-bin heard a faint, anguished cry from afar, as if squeezed out in agony.

Great Severing Blade Lord. Once a rival to the Namgung Family Head, it was the title of the Peng Family Head. A name that, to any martial artist, loomed like the Yama King of the underworld.

Soon after, a massive hand reached for the nape of her neck.

Though the strike was undoubtedly swift as lightning, it felt incredibly slow. The time of an absolute master distorted the perception of a lesser warrior.

“What did your grandfather tell you?”

Shin So-bin couldn’t respond. Rather, she had no chance to.

Suddenly, a shadow that seemed to originate from behind the Peng Family Head engulfed his form. In an instant, the moonlight pouring over the surroundings took on a faint purple hue.

“…Who are you?”

The Peng Family Head questioned.

“…”

The situation was unmistakable. Someone had taken position behind the Peng Family Head, who had targeted Shin So-bin’s rear. A suffocating silence froze the area.

“Right here.”

A familiar voice struck Shin So-bin’s ears. It was different from usual.

An overwhelming ferocity surged forth. The night air, laden with faint moonlight, rippled like waves.

“I declare the opening of the Mount Hua Agreement.”

“What…?”

“Peng Family Head, draw your blade. Desolate Fortress accepts your challenge.”