Chapter 545 – Jianghu Name Record (11)

The Grand Commander’s barracks.

A meeting between the Ming Dynasty’s Grand Commander and the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader was taking place. It was a sight that would astonish any authority figure.

Jeong Yeon-shin examined the northern map and recognized the master of the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility in the Forbidden City right there on the spot. Precisely, he had felt her spirituality permeating the wind currents.

Barely.

‘I almost failed to perceive it.’

Was it the price for spreading his wings with Qi-Controlled Sword Strike, that is, Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique?

No.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy sense remained sharply alert. The perception of an absolute realm that would not permit surprise attacks. Even though his entire body had grown heavy from destroying the northern Bright Sky Fortress, it remained as intact as ever.

It was simply that the Grand Empress Dowager’s gaze was absurdly natural. The wind that blew through the tent flaps of the barracks was precisely her gaze.

A technique of commanding spirituality dwelling in natural earth energy like one’s own hands and feet.

‘Senior Shin used earth energy.’

The sorcery martial arts of the former former Divine Sword Group Leader, Shin Cheon-hwa, overwhelmingly dominated the power of the Five Elements.

But among them, the skill of commanding earth and rocks was particularly exceptional, and in terms of swiftness and cleverness, it could even look down upon Jeong Yeon-shin’s sword strikes.

Similarly, Radiant Demon Wing Leader Cheong Myeong also possessed similar abilities.

—I’m good at feeling the wind.

The reason he had been counted as Radiant Demon Wing’s foremost swordsman even before Jeong Yeon-shin entered Desolate Fortress. It was said to be because strong winds supported all his sword strikes.

The Grand Empress Dowager’s power would be of the same kind. It was just different in the techniques and caliber of handling such abilities.

That’s why the previous exchange had been possible.

Jeong Yeon-shin had flowed mental transmission into the wind currents, and the Grand Empress Dowager had briefly sent praise that the Divine Sword Group’s Divine Sword Group Leader and Divine Sword Deputy Group Leader were the same.

Even though treason was a crime difficult for even the Desolate Fortress Lord to touch easily, at this moment Jeong Yeon-shin had let out a sigh of relief.

‘All affairs proceed smoothly.’

He did not find the Grand Empress Dowager’s gaze unpleasant.

Rather, he welcomed it gladly. Because the matter of the two black seniors might be resolved much faster than expected.

Meanwhile.

“Even so, nothing has been resolved yet. As with all military affairs, the problem lies with the Beijing parasites.”

Grand Commander Quan Yu-li said while nervously pressing his eye corners.

“I’m talking about those licking up the lull in the northern front like honey. Since it’s a time when imperial power has changed, each is wandering like stray dogs searching for a place to lie down, so if I command a major advance here…”

Both Beijing and the north would be in chaos. They might be caught between the beings going up and coming down.

Suddenly Shin So-bin interjected.

“Isn’t it too late to worry about that? Lord Jeong has already destroyed a fortress and a pass one by one.”

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at his chief disciple.

The moment their eyes met, Shin So-bin’s mouth corners rose slightly like a cat’s. She seemed to be teasing or not teasing.

Her lips moved.

“I also learned military strategy from my family. No matter how I look at it, isn’t this the time to press the attack? Bright Sky Fortress is empty now too, isn’t it?”

“Whether to occupy it or not is the key issue.”

Whether it was courtesy toward the orthodox successor of the Lightning Genius martial lineage, Quan Yu-li naturally took up Shin So-bin’s words. While tapping the table where the northern map was placed with his finger.

“If we leave it alone, only small regional wars will repeat. At least until the Fighting God appears again…”

Fighting God.

The Ming Dynasty military’s foremost leader had casually referred to the hostile tribe’s chief as a god.

Something that would have been difficult if Emperor Qian-ling hadn’t tacitly permitted it in normal times. Thus Quan Yu-li’s words continued naturally.

“But if I raise troops again, then not only the north but even the south will be swept by the battlefield’s harsh winds. Now those mighty imperial masters of the Forbidden City will want to conscript even jianghu people somehow. Of course, the northern jianghu, which is full of monsters, will also unite as one. Naturally… the latter would be the biggest problem.”

“So you’re saying that if the imperial army moves, the northern jianghu also moves like a nation?”

“That’s right, Miss Shin.”

“Then it’s time for jianghu people to step forward.”

“Mm?”

“A small number of masters enter the northern jianghu. Not only Bright Sky Fortress and Knee Sea Pass, but the land to be occupied will continue to increase.”

“That would be absurdly dangerous. Moreover, there are no jianghu people under heaven who are that close to the military. What martial artist would voluntarily enter the Ming government’s Hell of Equal Life?”

Hell’s fire pit.

Quan Yu-li’s expression for the north, and it didn’t sound like an exaggeration at all.

Jeong Yeon-shin himself had also heard very briefly about all sorts of unfamiliar customs and lives, as well as various forces and strong people of the northern jianghu while learning the map.

‘That place is indeed Hell of Equal Life. In many ways…’

Then Shin So-bin smiled brightly.

“Who would go? We’re here.”

“What?”

To Quan Yu-li’s counter-question, her words continued.

“Jianghu people see Desolate Fortress as a government office, but officials see the main fortress as jianghu people. The imperial family also thoroughly refuses to officially recognize the Divine Sword Group as imperial army or imperial faction externally. We’re outsiders. It would be the same in the north. Just look at how Lord Jeong’s name is listed in the northern ‘jianghu’ name record.”

“Ah, that name record…”

Quan Yu-li trailed off as if he knew about it. At the same time, despite the tent being closed, the rough snorting sound of some war horse could be heard from outside the barracks.

The presence of the Northern Blade. There was no need to lift the tent flap to look.

Regardless, Shin So-bin chattered on.

“What’s important is the small number of strong people to extract the northern common people and sweep through the northern jianghu, right? Lord Jeong also wishes Beijing would voluntarily liberate Wish Fulfilling Spring Leader and Dragon-Treading Squad Leader seniors as a side benefit. With these circumstances, wouldn’t the former emperor also permit the campaign?”

“The reason we came to the Great Wall is.”

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly took up her story.

He slowly continued his words.

“To make Beijing voluntarily provide me with Wish Fulfilling Spring and Dragon-Treading Squad as support. Looking at today, it seems if we wait just a little, an edict will come down from the Forbidden City…”

He slightly mumbled the latter words. If asked why an edict would likely come down, he would have had no answer.

He was now realizing that a gentleman’s affairs didn’t always appear entirely righteous. Even if it had been properly necessary, what should be hidden must be hidden.

‘…Senior Yong must have always been lonely.’

Great-grandfather Ma Yeon-jeok too.

Shin Cheon-hwa, who was no longer in this world, too.

Each had been tyrannical with different temperaments.

Naturally, all of them would have risked situations where the Divine Sword Group Leader position became precarious. Even Yong Hye-myeong’s past Group Leader assembly order was like that… How much contempt that command had received from Beijing. No authority figure wanted to associate with the Divine Sword Group Leader for long. There was no one who spoke well of the previous Group Leader Ma Yeon-jeok either.

Jeong Yeon-shin now had to walk such a path.

The north.

In the land of monsters and strange supernatural beings that used the corpses of countless common people as roof tiles.

That was the mission the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader had assigned to himself.

A method to extract Wish Fulfilling Spring Leader and Dragon-Treading Squad Leader quickly without any political burden and nip the northern threat in the bud.

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled how he had come to take chivalry as a natural value.

It had naturally become so during the long time since leaving the Jeong estate, but there had certainly been a trigger.

‘Xinye County.’

Rarely fertile land.

He became lost in the past while waiting for the edict.

“……”

Quan Yu-li and Shin So-bin did not disturb him as he fell into contemplation. The two also became lost in thought for their respective reasons.

The decision made at this place was literally an undertaking.

They were facing a great task.

* * *

One day since Jin Myeong-jo and Yeon So-ha were expelled from the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility.

But the quarters given to them were not a prison. Rather, it was the closest hall to the outskirts of the Forbidden City, a place where they could attend court or withdraw at any time.

That was the problem.

Swish, swoosh.

Jin Myeong-jo wrote down some memorial with an elegant posture. The sound of wielding the brush was tranquil, and its contents were overwhelming compared to the movement of brush and ink.

—The weight of the contemporary Divine Sword Deputy Group Leader alone is no less than that of Wish Fulfilling Spring Leader and Dragon-Treading Squad Leader combined. It would be said that he is more than enough to bear the crime in their stead.

The gist was this.

‘That memorial must be known to the whole world. Of course, Lord Jeong too.’

Yeon So-ha, who had been admiring thus, was suddenly called to the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility again. While carrying a sea-colored bead, the Treasure Spirit Jade, that Jin Myeong-jo had casually tossed him.

“It’s the signal flare of the new Divine Sword Squad. If something seems strange, don’t enter the palace interior and detonate it. I’ll come.”

“Yes!”

This time only Yeon So-ha was summoned. It would be because of the attitude Jin Myeong-jo had shown to the Grand Empress Dowager earlier.

But the Divine Sword Deputy Group Leader’s concern was unfounded.

Yeon So-ha, who entered the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility, felt no particular hostility even inside the palace. The Grand Empress Dowager’s human shadow hidden behind the curtains was also like a tranquil wooden sculpture.

Rather, she immediately showed interest in the ‘Divine Sword Squad Radiant Art Bond.’

“Looking again, it’s different. That thing clumsily inherent in your body… your true energy operation is absurdly free.”

“Pardon…?”

“If the Taoist Sanfeng had grown up on battlefields, he would have created such martial arts. Come here. I’m curious about the perspective of one who has learned such studies.”

“I don’t understand what you mean…”

“I heard you’re a Beijing Yan family native and a very clever child. The appearance records of jianghu figures provided to Desolate Fortress would also be in your head. You’ll recognize them immediately if you see them.”

Rustle.

A hand as dry as an old tree extended through the curtains and pressed Yeon So-ha’s forehead before he could resist.

“…!”

Simultaneously, Yeon So-ha’s vision turned whitish. The view that had been illuminating the palace interior whoosh! shot up endlessly, soon placing the entire Forbidden City below.

As if united with divine wind.

All sorts of voices could be heard. Not only the low conversations of imperial masters, but even the whispers of some merchants who had greatly lowered their voices.

“Huh, the lineup of imperial martial artists is truly splendid. It was worth the trouble of entering the Forbidden City. But this… the Great Wall must be greatly emptied.”

“The imperial family’s eye techniques are the world’s best, aren’t they? When those Yao tribe fellows who are desperate to find the Fighting God start gathering again, the masters here will go back up too. More importantly, isn’t the jianghu name record what matters… All under heaven must be in chaos.”

“That’s understandable. Isn’t it the jianghu of famine years where strength is everything? Originally, those called martial artists were very sensitive to superiority and inferiority among themselves. In such a situation, a plausible proclamation was posted in various places under heaven…”

“The scale also gives credibility. I heard Yu Ling released it.”

“What Yu Ling, they’re damned scoundrels.”

“Pardon?”

“This incident too, and look at what those scoundrels have been doing. Aren’t they cleverly dividing the jianghu under heaven? I can’t even imagine how much the amount of duel letters involving witnesses increased right after that proclamation was posted everywhere.”

“That could be one way to see it. Indeed, jianghu people’s pride sometimes makes light of even hunger.”

“It’s a chilling sight. Very sinister. As if the faction called Yu Ling itself was from the northern jianghu…”

“Stop, stop! This is the imperial palace…! Let’s quickly go to the Ministry of Revenue. Before His Excellency thunders.”

“Right. If we further displease high officials here, we don’t know how much the military provisions we originally agreed to provide will increase, this is also a damned affair. At least it’s fortunate that our rice goes to Desolate Fortress too…”

“Sir…!”

Yeon So-ha felt as if he had become a spirit.

But he wasn’t flustered. He too was a genius obsessed with martial arts like other Divine Sword Squad members.

‘Is the Grand Empress Dowager looking down at the world through my eyes? This is an opportunity! I should gain some insights.’

He flew around between the golden palaces regardless of his own will.

Not only the civil and military officials strolling the elegant paths throughout the Forbidden City, but even the imperial masters each wearing various weapons of the eighteen martial arts categories didn’t notice Yeon So-ha’s gaze.

“This name record doesn’t include the imperial army.”

“Are we the same as jianghu martial officers? Superiority was already determined from the military examinations, and there’s no reason for us to split like a motley crew. Ah… Desolate Fortress seems to be treated differently. I don’t know if they’ll like or dislike this proclamation.”

“Hey, refrain from vulgar words. Don’t think you’re superior to Desolate Fortress martial artists either.”

“Just between us, I’m feeling restless. The bed is really uncomfortable. The bare ground of the military camp was better.”

“The time to campaign again will come. Really, how could even absolute jianghu masters handle all those Yao tribe fellows? Since they’re accustomed to walking the jianghu alone, in the north they’d be fortunate not to be swept away by monster hordes. Even if we conscript them with difficulty, we can’t use them as main forces.”

“Anyway, this paper is also ridiculous. Since the Ten Great Masters aren’t visible, what meaning does this all have?”

“Mm? I don’t see ‘six.'”

“…It’s sorcery martial arts. Take your hands off. We must report to Grand Commander.”

Yeon So-ha wanted to go to the prison where Wish Fulfilling Spring Leader and Dragon-Treading Squad Leader would be confined. Given their personalities, there was no way they would get along amicably with the jailers guarding the prison.

‘Especially Wish Fulfilling Spring Leader Senior Beigong…’

Would the prison even be intact now?

He heard it had been quite a while since they were captured.

That’s when it happened.

—I can observe these people only briefly, but I must see how the martial arts dwelling in your gaze reacts to them. Hold your mind steady.

The Grand Empress Dowager’s voice.

Simultaneously, Yeon So-ha’s vision flickered.

Hwaaaaaaak!

All sorts of scenes flowed into his mind simultaneously.

The ability of Radiant Art Bond that he had unconsciously activated organized those dizzying sights one by one, and the first being he recognized was familiar.

A back view with green hair hanging long.

Whether what was hanging down through the gaps of the light green silk waist sash was a sword or a tree branch couldn’t be properly perceived.

Just as soon as he recognized that she was the Desolate Fortress Lord, Yeon So-ha’s vision was completely bounced away.

The second scene had his ears react before his eyes.

“The founding ancestor’s old tree, like a rat.”

Young Heavenly Demon Invincible, who had been playing go alone in pale fog, smiled whitly. As soon as she placed a black stone as black as her hair with a clack, the vision reversed and was pushed out.

Saaaa—

Even some unknown wilderness flowed into Yeon So-ha’s mind. There were no people there, only air that occasionally blazed in the form of a single sword could be seen. Along with rainbow-colored wind.

In the fourth place, blood splattered first.

Puhwahak!

The ribs of Tyrant Sword Sect Leader were smashed with a crack by some woman’s hand blade dyed purple. But his eyes were calm ink-colored.

He glanced at Yeon So-ha once, then slowly lowered his eyelids. Simultaneously, Yeon So-ha’s vision containing them also rolled up and down.

The fifth was a mountain made of dead Yao tribe bodies.

Was Yeon So-ha’s gaze embarrassing? A one-armed swordsman who pressed down his bamboo hat and smiled lightly. Soon after, he politely cupped his hands with one hand like the Shaolin Abbot, while chanting Taoist invocations with his mouth like a Wudang Taoist.

“Original Eye Formation.”

Golden sparks crackled and flew up from the sword hilt of this being who was all contradiction, then disappeared under his feet.

The next moment, Yeon So-ha’s vision was torn to shreds by sword strikes numbering one thousand and one more.

‘Heoeok!’

To Yeon So-ha, who inwardly let out a gasp, the last remaining vision.

The moment he saw purple-colored garment edges fluttering, his agitation subsided like a lie.

Black hair holding the night air gently fluttered from the back of a peerless beautiful youth.

A girl in blue long robes was with him, and in the distance, a pair of gigantic man and horse followed them.

Unbelievably.

They were walking with their backs to the Great Wall.

“Enough.”

Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin said.

As if making eye contact with the Grand Empress Dowager without bothering to look back.