Chapter 448 – Den of Demons 

King Qiong-ming wiped his forehead with the blue sleeve of his robe. The faint sweat that had glistened on his skin was thoroughly cleaned off.

“With such murderous intent.”

Flutter.

He dramatically shook his sleeve once.

“I’d rather be looking down at the Yao tribe from the northern Great Wall. Though that too is quite dreadful…”

After using the vassal king’s Four-Clawed Dragon Garment to wipe his sweat, King Qiong-ming briefly muttered that his temperament rivals the Divine Sword Group Leader’s in its sharpness.

Main gate of Desolate Fortress’s inner castle.

The main fortress warriors who had seen off Jeong Yeon-shin were dispersing to their respective posts. Their footsteps overlapped powerfully in the shadow of the long extended wall.

Some of them were just staring blankly at the empty sky where Jeong Yeon-shin had flown away. They were members of Radiant Demon Wing.

King Qiong-ming glanced at the Grand Administrator and Elder Council Head of Desolate Fortress.

“Didn’t you say he received teachings from the Fortress Lord? It seems even the Nirvana Sword Master of the world couldn’t suppress the Ma bloodline.”

“You honor us greatly.”

Lim Jin-myeong slightly bowed his head.

In contrast, Elder Council Head Shin Byeok still stood motionless in his place, looking greatly shocked.

He had just realized that the main fortress had absolutely no reliable Purple Rank left.

“Elder Shin, why are you so dazed?”

When King Qiong-ming casually asked, Shin Byeok’s wrinkled mouth tightened.

“…It’s nothing.”

It was a teasing remark.

King Qiong-ming was a son whom the Ming Dynasty’s founding emperor had in his later years. Though born toward the end of his father’s reign, he was nowhere near old enough to call Shin Byeok “Old Master.”

But Shin Byeok couldn’t point this out.

The Zhu imperial clan.

While countless people were dying on the northern front, they had the thick blood of a long-lived clan mixed in them.

All possessed such powerful martial arts that large-scale fratricidal strife was difficult, and none hesitated to deploy to the northern frontlines to protect the country and the World Tree.

Naturally, emperors came from all generations. From the founding emperor’s great-grandson to his great-granddaughter, and then back up to some nth son.

All of them had succession rights and legitimacy.

And now, with the current Emperor Qian-ling personally trying to face the northern Fighting God, and ministers barely managing to stop him.

If something unfortunate were to happen to the crown prince and the emperor’s grandson someday, King Qiong-ming might claim the imperial throne.

Shin Byeok had no choice but to carefully navigate his position to prepare for the future of Desolate Fortress.

Swish.

He slightly turned the tip of his foot forward, indicating his wish to end the conversation.

King Qiong-ming, smiling as if amused.

“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Come to think of it, wasn’t it Elder Shin who strongly petitioned for the dismissal of Group Leader Yong, shocking the ministers in Beijing?”

“It was what had to be done.”

“Then someday I should ask the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader. Which matters more to him, the common people or Desolate Fortress? Today, both Jeong Yeon-shin’s words and mine were correct, but someday there will come a time when he must choose one or the other.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Given the ominous gathering of the Wish for Peace Sword Hall’s leaders recently, the imperial family needs reassurance about them… If, by any chance, a satisfactory answer doesn’t come…”

“……”

“I might suggest a matter of great human relations. Marriage, I mean.”

The wrinkles around Shin Byeok’s eyes deepened. This was a separate issue from having a different perspective on Jeong Yeon-shin.

The absolute Purple Rank who will now lead Desolate Fortress should not be dragged into imperial court intrigue.

That realm is extremely dirty. It wounds not the body, but honor.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

The old man’s voice became resolute for the first time.

King Qiong-ming, like someone who had never grown old, merely shrugged his shoulders. As is common with the Zhu imperial clan, even his conduct remained youthful.

“As it happens, among those making a name for themselves in the north is my cousin’s great-great-granddaughter. The Emperor favors her so much that she might someday be adopted and enfeoffed as a princess, and Elder Shin might have met her too. Her epithet is…”

King Qiong-ming stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.

He slightly turned his body toward the inner castle’s main gate.

“…A very powerful corpse’s presence is approaching. One whose mental image has been engraved in the world in the shape of a sword. To have such a presence even while unconscious… Can the Grand Administrator sense it too?”

Lim Jin-myeong, who had been stroking his beard between the two old men, paused for a moment before nodding.

“Yes, it seems to be the Martial Alliance party that Master Jeong mentioned.”

“Could it truly be Sword Star Hyeon So-baek…? I should examine the Taimo Mountain Castle Lord’s method and then give this detailed information to the new Purple Rank. Grand Administrator, are there any suitable master warriors available as messengers now?”

King Qiong-ming asked with a grave expression.

“With the Purple Rank gone, we can’t send out Black Ranks as well… But in Radiant Demon Wing of the Divine Sword Group, there are about four who could rise to Black Rank at any time.”

“I’m roughly familiar with their backgrounds. Among them, Bewitching Sword Demon Baek Mi-ryeo would have to be excluded. Then Blue-Eyed Demon Sword, Lazy Flame Dragon… Who’s the fourth?”

“A hero who will someday represent the main fortress. His epithet is even Desolate Divine Hero. Loyalty is ingrained in his very being, and his martial arts are quite unique…”

“You mean Great Tongue Sword?”

“……”

“I pay more attention to Desolate Fortress than you think. In any case, the new Purple Rank is blessed with good people. Those warriors should be able to safely deliver a letter.”

King Qiong-ming nodded once, and then disappeared very much as if being sucked into the fortress walls, just as the last remnants of the sunset glow overlapped with the pale yellow castle.

This was due to his extremely fast movement technique.

The Martial Alliance party, including Zhuge Qing-ya and Gong Min, had to receive the vassal king’s visit even before they could recover from their travel fatigue.

* * *

The wide-open main road was crowded with people.

A road stretching so long that someone unfamiliar with the area would find it difficult to guess where it led.

At its far end was a metropolis ranked among the foremost in pleasure throughout the Ming Empire.

Hangzhou.

It was famous for the saying: “Above there is Heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.”

Literally a land comparable to Heaven. A peach blossom paradise for many wealthy merchants, poets and scholars, famous noble clans and beautiful men and women, and reclusive talents.

The more severe the famine became, the more people tended to move toward prosperous lands, and this was especially true for Hangzhou.

Not only was food plentiful, but it was still famous for its rare delicacies of mountains and seas.

Regardless of what actually happened to those who reached Hangzhou, at least at this moment, the faces of those about to enter this paradise were bright.

Among them, a young storyteller was shouting loudly, holding up a book.

“This isn’t an opportunity that comes every day! The ‘Register of Martial Heroes South of the Great Wall’! It even includes the rankings of martial artists in this country! There won’t be more interesting discussions anywhere in the world! It’s perfect for killing time while waiting to pass through the checkpoint, so just pay a small fee!”

Fortunately, there was an immediate response.

A man crouching in the shade of a tree raised his hand.

“Before I pay, I’d like to know how plausible your story is. Who’s on the first line?”

The storyteller flinched as soon as he turned his gaze toward the man. It was because of the appearance of the man crouching while holding a sword to his chest.

‘Just my luck…’

The sight of someone roughly draped in a dark blue ragged cloth.

But such attire was nothing.

His slightly downcast eyes were covered with a whitish film, and their unfocused appearance clearly marked him as blind.

The conical hat placed beside him was presumably worn to hide this appearance.

In a world where superstitions flourished.

The storyteller thought to himself that if the man weren’t holding a sword, he would have turned away, spitting in disgust.

But even a blind swordsman had to be treated with caution in these chaotic times.

The storyteller reluctantly opened his mouth.

“On the first line, of course, is His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Do people traversing difficult paths know so little about the world? No matter how interest-oriented, no one would pay to hear such politically correct statements. What about the second line?”

“…Naturally, it would be the World’s Finest, the Desolate Fortress Lord, wouldn’t it?”

“Just a moment ago, you said the Emperor was the finest?”

“……”

“Speaking cautiously with my limited knowledge, the aforementioned individuals have never crossed swords with the Fighting God of the north, as far as I know. Self-preservation comes first, after all.”

The blind man spoke irreverently without any hesitation. The storyteller needlessly looked around and took a step back.

“I said it’s the Register of Martial Heroes South of the Great Wall. The Fighting God is a northerner.”

“Then who’s third?”

“The Shaolin Abbot of the North and the Wudang sect leader of the South side by side…”

“Complete nonsense! It should obviously be Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hye-myeong! If not him, then the Martial Dragon Alliance Leader who recently completed the world’s finest martial arts, or perhaps the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader who’s been rapidly rising in power. I hear no one can withstand the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader’s single strike these days?”

“You sound like a storyteller yourself, so is it ethical for you to give such unsolicited advice?”

“A storyteller? I’m just a peddler hoping to make a good profit in Hangzhou.”

“Don’t pretend. How would a mere peddler know about the recent activities of figures like the Martial Dragon Alliance Leader and Tyrant Sword Sect Leader? From what I can see, your only luggage is a sword and a conical hat… Aren’t you just trying to make a living in Hangzhou with your appearance and knowledge that suggests you’ve rolled around in sword fields? Anyone would believably accept tales of the execution grounds. Though it might not be as good as this Register of Martial Heroes written by famous enthusiasts and eye technique masters wracking their brains…”

At those words, the blind man smiled slightly.

“Selling such a thing would likely get you killed while traveling.”

“What?”

“That Register of Martial Heroes. You’d better burn it quickly. Martial artists all have sky-high pride, and they wouldn’t kindly watch their names being listed below someone else’s. That’s why such ranking books are taboo.”

Which master is stronger.

A debate that frequently occurs among enthusiasts.

But at this moment, only the two of them were conversing. The rest of the passersby were already looking toward the back of the road.

The heat haze rising under the late summer sunlight was gradually subsiding.

“You’re having an interesting conversation. So, where is my sect’s leader listed?”

A clear air gently spread in all directions. It was due to several Taoists walking over with fluttering blue robes.

Each was surrounded by an energy that one would normally feel on a blue mountainside, and the originally boisterous main road was filled with a serene atmosphere like a Taoist temple.

“Jinmu, what an impolite question.”

“Aren’t you curious, Fourth Uncle? About how these enthusiasts heading to Hangzhou view the martial world?”

“Your words and conduct are still unbecoming of a Taoist. Your long period of secluded training seems wasted.”

“Well said. Thanks to you, Fourth Uncle, I’ve been confined to the mountains and haven’t even seen the face of that martial prodigy Jeong Yeon-shin, but I’m so curious about whether my peer, who finally defeated the Diancang Sect Leader, could hold an advantage over our sect’s leader that I can’t sleep…”

“Alas! Despite mastering both Azure Cloud and Red Sunset, you can’t tell right from wrong…! Boy, isn’t the sect leader right in front of us?!”

Three people were walking forward.

A young man with knife-like sharp ears in a white Taoist robe led the way.

A skinny boy Taoist of about eighteen and a middle-aged Taoist in blue robes followed behind.

They all wore old swords at their waists, and the sight of these sect uncle and nephew casually bickering somehow appeared elegant.

At least to the passersby watching them, it did.

“An elf clan Taoist… Two Walls Sword Lord?”

The storyteller who had been soliciting customers earlier stammered.

This was because the three people’s Taoist robes were unique.

At the end of their sleeves was a small embroidered Taiji symbol where blue and red intertwined.

A pattern symbolizing blue clouds and red sunset. In a metropolis like Hangzhou, only one sect in the world could openly enter wearing such robes.

“Qingcheng… it’s the Qingcheng Sect!”

“If it’s Two Walls Sword Lord, then it’s the Qingcheng Sect leader…?!”

The people stirred.

Some of them immediately stood up. It was to seek blessings from these living immortals.

At that moment.

“As I heard from afar.”

The Qingcheng Sect leader, Taoist Two Walls Sword Lord, suddenly opened his mouth.

“That man’s words were full of lies. Only one thing was sincere.”

He was a figure who had risen to the position of one of the Nine Great Sects’ leaders from a noble clan. His eyes, which penetrated truth, glowed with a bluish light.

Soon after, a look of dismay settled in Taoist Two Walls’ eyes.

-Qing’en, take Jinmu and go ahead. Don’t look back. Continue to Hangzhou like this and start breaking down the Taimo Mountain Castle Lord’s Dragon Summoning Ritual Formation from the outskirts. Jinmu’s sword technique, which has mastered both Azure Cloud and Red Sunset in one hand, should be able to cut through sorcery.

-Sect Leader…?

-I should have met Lady Lu Xian first, but things have gone awry. I don’t know where she might be, but you must definitely join forces with Mount Hua Sect. No, Shaolin and Wudang would be good too. Take care of yourselves.

Words that sounded like a last will.

Just as the middle-aged Taoist, Qing’en, widened his eyes.

The blind man who had been crouching at the base of the tree slowly stood up. He grasped his sword in one hand and picked up his conical hat with the other, placing it on his head.

Swish.

The wide brim covered his eyes with their white film.

“I spoke sincerely? With all due respect, I’ve been lately immersed in Transformation Sword and Illusion Sword, so that’s unlikely…”

“Didn’t you say that those who possess the Register of Martial Heroes would die while traveling?”

“Ah.”

The blind swordsman exclaimed.

“My training was insufficient. Thank you for enlightening me.”

“Transformation Sword and Illusion Sword. When you practice techniques that speak falsehoods with the sword, does your speech also follow suit?”

“When I was cultivating Sword techniques I sometimes behaved like Tyrant Hero Ma Yeon-jeok. Because of that, I lost all the few friends I had, and my sect was listed among the Thirteen Evil Sects, but I also gained achievements commensurate with that.”

“Heaven Conquering…”

Just as Taoist Two Walls was about to utter this in a heavy voice.

“Hey! Where are Desolate Day Extinction and that mister ranked?!”

The extremely skinny boy Taoist, Jinmu, being dragged away by the scruff of his neck by his fourth uncle, asked. It was an attitude of needing to satisfy his curiosity even if he had to leave.

This was also a precursor to delirium from excessive training.

“……”

For a moment, the surroundings fell silent.

“Desolate” refers to a vastness that’s difficult to measure the end of.

“Day Extinction” means that propriety and principles like sunlight are useless.

[TL Note- Day Extinction is synonymous to Sunset because that’s when the day ends.]

If you combine the temperament and personality of the person who held the Mount Hua Agreement sparring competition, it becomes “Desolate Day Extinction.” It was an epithet that no one would dare mention to his face.

[TL Note- Seems Desolate Day Extinction is referring to JYS.]

“That boy is truly a madman.”

Even as the blind man displayed a blurry smile, Jinmu waited for the storyteller’s answer.

Where would the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader, presumed to be the Unorthodox Path’s Finest Sword, and Jeong Yeon-shin of Desolate Fortress be ranked? Some quick-witted passersby, though backing away with shocked faces, still suppressed their presence.