Chapter 540 – Jianghu Name Record (6)

It was a warm room.

Though fierce wind struck the walls, the midwinter night air could not continue entering the room. It merely hummed meaninglessly, creating a comfortable sense of separation.

The large window thus blocked the north wind like a fortress wall. And entrusted itself to the light of lanterns lit by human hands.

While capturing like a painting the shadows of both arms raised up and occasionally trembling.

Suddenly a young woman’s voice rang out with a firm feeling.

“Fourth martial aunt, your arms are dropping. Someday you might have to deploy sword techniques for even longer than this.”

The small hands rose gently once more. The woman’s voice became gentle.

“Good. Well done. Fourth martial aunt will do even better.”

“Senior martial sister, I’m tired.”

An innocent child around eight years old grumbled. In an extremely proper kneeling posture, with short arms raised high.

But the expression of the woman sitting across from the child did not change.

“In the jianghu, carrying out one’s will is that difficult. Fourth martial aunt committed discourtesies to several renowned masters without strength and didn’t pay the price, so I at least must teach you the principles of the martial jianghu. If we don’t do this, our sect doesn’t know when we might lose fourth martial aunt. It’s different from when you destroyed that school before. You understand, don’t you?”

“Yes…”

The particularly distinct features of the child, Jeong Hye, had her words trailing long. It seemed more dejected than convinced.

The feather ornament stuck in Wei Zhi Myo-hwa’s jet-black hair swayed slightly.

But soon strength entered her beautiful and distinct eyes.

“Without strong power, you mustn’t rashly reveal your inner thoughts. That is the jianghu. Fourth martial aunt’s uncle… Young Hero Jeong’s shadow cannot protect fourth martial aunt forever. The nameless fields and mountain paths of the jianghu are quiet even when bright, and when dark they’re bound to become an abyss.”

There was a reason for pouring out such nagging.

Jeong Hye had competed with the current Peng Family Head.

More precisely, it should be said she suddenly charged while passing by.

In Xi’an’s marketplace. To the Peng Family’s Latter, who had criticized the character of the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader at the head of the well-built Peng family members.

—This child, is she that child? How absurd. I only said to be careful of Desolate Day Extinction…!

—Desolate Day Extinction is bad words!

—Whoever created it, it’s certainly an amazing epithet.

Peng Family Latter laughed heartily like a middle-aged man and delivered Jeong Hye, who had been forcibly embraced in her arms, to Wei Zhi Myo-hwa.

Without caring whether the child was biting her arm or not.

—Are you Cloud Sword Dragon? You’d be at least my equal. Looking at the sword energy wrapped around your body, you’re certainly living up to your reputation, and as fellow young leaders we’d have things in common. Let’s have a great duel sometime.

—…I’m grateful for your generosity.

—It was chilling though. To think what calamity I might have faced by touching the Five Greatest Swords under Heaven’s niece. The main family has even already changed family heads.

Of course, that was quite a grateful thing for me.

With her playful whisper as the end, the Peng family members moved away.

The process until the large and small incident concluded was that brief. For Wei Zhi Myo-hwa, it had to be a spine-chilling incident.

‘It was only because they were a prestigious family wise in fame and calculating gains and losses, but if it had been wanderers who only look ahead or high masters with strong pride…’

The guest room prepared by the imperial court.

Wei Zhi Myo-hwa turned away from the sight of her young martial aunt’s arms trembling and shaking. Jeong Hye needed to be scolded. Even if it meant greatly wielding the authority of the Zhongnan Sect Leader like this.

“When the hour of the pig arrives, lower your arms. I’ll go visit the Peng family’s quarters.”

“Peng family…?”

Jeong Hye slightly lifted her head, which was about the size of a famous boxer’s fist. Wei Zhi Myo-hwa rose from her seat.

“The Peng family must also pay a price like fourth martial aunt. Since they insulted our sect’s hidden merit on the main street in broad daylight, I intend to receive an apology. Unlike fourth martial aunt, I have power.”

When she concluded her words gently, the child’s expression brightened. With a face scrunched up from the pain in both arms, she smiled with a “heh-” sound.

Wei Zhi Myo-hwa deliberately suppressed the corners of her mouth that wanted to rise like Jeong Hye’s. Then she quietly left the room.

* * *

The Heavenly Classic Martial Arts Examination.

It was a martial arts competition targeting all under heaven and an extremely special conscription event. This was because all sorts of benefits were promised.

The proclamation posted by the imperial court was filled with writing about rewards.

Food to endure the famine and rarely fertile land were written first. The detailed contents were enough to make even merchant groups with martial arts masters as honored guests covet them.

There was even a guarantee to completely protect the disciples and blood relatives of those who passed the Heavenly Classic Martial Arts Examination.

This was not an event at the level of an individual regional jianghu.

The scale was different.

In recent times, it had become a world where blade fights broke out over a single grain of rice. Naturally, the jianghu of all under heaven had no choice but to gather.

To Mount Zhongnan where the Heavenly Classic Martial Arts Examination was unfolding.

“You’re saying you cannot assign quarters to our sect? They said ability comes first, but how is this not just judging by empty reputation?”

“This official learned the Eight Methods of Golden Threads and is a court warrior. There’s also a method of proving qualifications by competing hands with me. If you lack confidence, come up at the appointed time.”

Trivial disputes were commonplace.

Meanwhile, the originally collapsed Taoist temples and halls became magnificent once again in the hands of Beijing’s iron craftsmen.

The village below the mountain was filled with unprecedented crowds. Countless inns and wine houses were built in a short time, of course.

Some even said the new imperial court regarded the Zhongnan Sect as the next generation’s Shaolin and Wudang.

“Mount Zhongnan of all places. What’s the reason? Is it really because of Desolate Day Extinction’s niece? I know the new emperor and crown prince formed close ties with that person.”

“No matter what, surely not! Rather, it’s better to see it as desperately searching for traces of the Zhongnan Sword Immortal and drawing in even all sorts of martial artists with strange eye techniques…”

“Really? Even if some fellow obtained the Sword Immortal’s opportunity, if they swallowed it they swallowed it, they wouldn’t offer it to the imperial court, right?”

“They’re the Zhu imperial clan. Even if they can’t find the dead Zhongnan Sword Immortal, all the martial artists on this mountain should be seen as being within those pupils. Hasn’t the imperial court always possessed the world’s greatest eye techniques? Unless it’s Divine Theft or Master Divine Eye, it would be difficult to deceive those eyes.”

“Indeed, since the crown prince legitimately inherited the imperial throne… there would be no lost martial learning. Except for the exclusive martial arts of Reverent Triple Bow.”

Those whispering throughout the vast mountain slopes and villages.

Now Mount Zhongnan’s nights are not quiet.

They were extremely noisy.

Whether some hall’s side door opened or not on the mountainside.

Creak—

It was quarters assigned to the current Zhongnan Sect’s highest-ranked person. It was also the dwelling of a child who had been deeply studying the influence of intent on martial arts recently.

“Be careful, be careful.”

Jeong Hye was deploying Life-saving Martial Art stealthily when she flinched at her own voice.

Soon the appearance of covering her mouth with maple leaf-like hands and taking quick steps. It wasn’t yet the realm where intent naturally rang out.

It was a chaotic time.

Jeong Jung-san and the few Zhongnan disciples were rushing about day and night without even sleeping. There was that much to handle.

Children that all sorts of powerful people pushed forward to be taken as disciples, merchant group leaders who came secretly at night seeking connections, and guests with all sorts of extraordinary business besides.

Moreover, even Wei Zhi Myo-hwa had gone to the Peng family to settle a small grudge.

For Jeong Hye, an opportunity like these days would not come again. The child was intuitively feeling this.

So she climbed the mountain.

Rustle.

The innocent girl moved with quick steps while watching the surroundings.

Fortunately, Mount Zhongnan these days was full of children around Jeong Hye’s age. They were mostly talents brought from Beijing noble families.

Naturally, no one found the small presence particularly new. Everyone was busy with their own affairs like martial arts preparation and secret meetings.

‘I have to go today too.’

Since some time, there had been whispers that reached Jeong Hye every night. It was something flowing in through the Baihui acupoint that had originally been slightly opened to psychic communication.

The child naturally told Wei Zhi Myo-hwa about it, and Wei Zhi Myo-hwa also didn’t ignore her young martial aunt’s words.

But there was nothing at the place they arrived following that strange voice. The middle slopes of Mount Zhongnan where a rock called Whistling Zero Rock existed. It was just a place facing a precipitous valley.

[Come here.]

Nevertheless, the dreamlike pull did not disappear. Jeong Hye continued climbing the mountain, and now all the Zhongnan disciples just let the child’s mountain climbing pass.

Even leaving handprints on Whistling Zero Rock only appeared to be part of palm technique training. As long as she didn’t climb alone, everything was fine.

The path that had become familiar to the child like that.

Today was different.

Hiss—

Darkness wavered like smoke from both sides of the mountain path. That flow was secretive and long-lasting.

Until the child finally exhaled internal energy breath with a “hoo” sound in front of a large rock.

Suddenly rough voices flowed out from everywhere.

“There’s nothing. Was it a wasted trip?”

“That can’t be. We’ve been able to resolve the commission in the best position.”

“Don’t privately covet Brilliant River. It’s better for us to just receive the set payment and scatter rather than kill each other.”

Jeong Hye flinched.

This was because there was a familiar voice among the three.

—I am Pan Fu-ri of the Zhongnan affiliated sect. I shared deep friendship with Pan Yue… Dae-myeong who went before in Kaifeng. Fate is mysteriously harmonious like this. Anyway, since our sect’s current highest elder is so versed in martial arts, my heart is at ease too…

The sect leader of an affiliated sect who had once inquired about the child’s well-being. He had even firmly grasped her hand saying he was a close friend of grandfather Jeong Pan Yue.

Though it was a voice distorted by internal power, Jeong Hye’s senses penetrated even such distortion.

The girl’s shoulders trembled slightly. The reaction of a child encountering the raw martial jianghu was extremely pure.

Jeong Hye called his name.

“Uncle Fu-ri…?”

A distorted voice immediately returned.

“…This child, we should send her to the Master Sword Immortal’s side. The SanzuRiver, that is.”

“Is this crazy b*st*rd insane? Is handling possible? Divine Sword Group Desolate Day Extinction will overturn the entire jianghu, I oppose.”

“I also.”

Step.

The owners of the voices revealed themselves from the dark grass. They were three middle-aged men, each emitting invisible momentum.

The sight of grasses at their feet lying down by themselves. Naturally it was the aura that could be called masters.

One among them spoke calmly.

“Don’t be frightened by things that won’t even happen. With simple internal energy damaging methods, she’ll forget today’s events. A small shock will suffice.”

“Anyway, if it’s Heaven Silk Steel Armor, it won’t be inferior to Brilliant River, and above all, that martial art called Brilliant River was only verified in Desolate Day Extinction’s hands. I haven’t heard rumors of others learning it and showing peerless power. On the other hand, the martial arts of northern monsters… what use is there in speaking?”

The finger of the figure who mentioned Heaven Silk Steel Armor moved with a “snap.” He had emitted finger wind.

Crack!

The innocent dirt ground burst. This was because Jeong Hye had first taken a step back with a hop.

Sharp intuition evident in the retreat footwork. Surprise appeared in the three people’s eyes.

“Upper dantian qualities…?”

“This is serious. She can’t not be an idiot.”

Wuung—

The forms of two among the three stretched like ghosts and formed a circle. A scene with Jeong Hye at the center of the encirclement. Only then did the child’s face show faint fear.

“Uncle, why…?”

The middle-aged man with a scholarly and elegant impression, Pan Fu-ri, answered slowly.

“There’s an existence that wants the opportunity the Zhongnan Sword Immortal might have left. I wondered what they saw from you to have us follow a mere child, but looking now I understand a little. With innate upper dantian abilities and Zhongnan martial arts… a child who would have already discovered whatever was here.”

A tone as if being chased by something.

The one who commissioned the work was approaching from afar like the north wind.

Pan Fu-ri spoke quickly with an unwilling expression.

“That’s enough now. We’ll look for ourselves. I’m sorry… granddaughter of Pan Yue. Fortunately, your achievement in protective energy couldn’t surpass the northern jianghu’s methods, so the path won’t be painful.”

The momentum that had been building exploded widely with a “whoosh.”

Killing intent rising like wildfire because it was forcibly kindled. The nearby grasses lay down in the form of a huge concentric circle, and soon all those leaves rose and flipped in the reverse direction again.

As if encountering incomparably much stronger wind.

“…!”

Shock appeared on the three middle-aged men’s faces.

The vicinity had become bright before they knew it, because the number of those who had suddenly appeared and surrounded them was close to a hundred.

Moreover, they were all wearing brilliant golden martial robes. Attire signifying masters directly under the Beijing imperial court.

Pan Fu-ri’s pupils moved urgently. Even within the huge encirclement, there were those who particularly stood out.

‘Zhongnan Sect Leader, Peng Family Head, Zhuge Family Head, Gongsun Family Acting Head, Shaolin monk, Embroidered Uniform Guard Vice Commander, and that person… this nation’s Grand Eunuch…!’

It was Jeong Hye’s protective energy.

Whoosh!

Suddenly a tall boy descended between Jeong Hye and Pan Fu-ri. An impressive appearance with Taoist robes embroidered with plum blossoms and an expressionless face.

Meanwhile, semi-transparent colorless flower petals were already sharply fluttering as if teasing their pupils. Many among them continuously covered Jeong Hye’s eyes.

The boy Taoist said.

“One can be eliminated, right?”

A red line was carved on Pan Fu-ri’s neck. Soon his head fell with a “thunk” and rolled ominously on the ground.