Chapter 548 – Demon Realm (3)

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head in the direction where the laughter came from. He held a small doubt in his heart.

‘Heaven Conquering Sect Leader?’

The stalls lined up left and right across the wide marketplace. The one-armed figure with a bamboo hat mixed among them quietly lowered his head.

He had an ordinary build.

Naturally, he wasn’t a Yao tribe member.

At the same time, he didn’t look like the Heaven Conquering Sect Leader either. His appearance was far from the overwhelming body form of a sword master.

The deeply worn bamboo hat as if imitating the Yao tribe, and attire befitting the northern front lines. This was originally a place where there weren’t many with intact bodies anyway.

If he were a jianghu person, it would be natural to react to the word ‘Heaven Conquering.’

He was just some Central Plains person who had turned his back on the south for whatever reason.

He wasn’t the Unorthodox Finest Sword who discussed all under heaven with a single blade.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin relaxed the strength in his gaze.

It couldn’t be called an overly sensitive reaction. If tremendous martial power like the Five Greatest Swords under Heaven had come up to the north, even Jeong Yeon-shin would have to reconsider his anti-northern mission.

Moreover, he was currently in a situation close to being alone, so it was right to be vigilant in all directions.

‘Not only the Northern Kings, but Ming Cult and the Ice Palace were also mentioned. If the Five Swords enter here on top of that, that would be a demon realm. It would become a land where it’s hard to live with sanity.’

The Acting Divine Sword Group Leader glanced to the side.

“I was startled for nothing.”

Shin So-bin placed her hand around her solar plexus as if she had aged ten years. The touch that covered her garment edges contained the mysteries of pressure point techniques.

She had freely suppressed the fluctuations of blood flow and true energy, proving that her every moment was Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

The man wearing patched silk clothes like rags, the gatekeeper supreme master, chuckled.

“It seems that side has a grudge with the Unorthodox Finest Sword.”

“My sect harbors resentment toward that fellow. It’s not just me who feels this way.”

Shin So-bin’s voice was bleak like frozen leaves. It felt like her emotional ups and downs had grown larger since learning Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.

‘Is my constitution the problem…?’

Jeong Yeon-shin questioned himself.

Body and mind influence each other. This was evident from Shaolin and Wudang’s orthodox martial arts as well as various demonic arts.

At the same time, he suddenly thought of Seventh Apostle.

The woman whose constitution had somehow changed to be similar to his own even without the formulas of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique. Naturally, she was supreme in madness.

But whether this was entirely due to her innate temperament, or whether the limb meridians that had become similar to Jeong Yeon-shin’s had influenced her even a little, was unknown.

If it was the latter, it would need to be considered when tactically operating the warriors of the Divine Sword Squad’s Radiant Art Bond.

Even those who hadn’t learned Jeong Family Dynamic Technique would inevitably change their bodies to match their martial arts.

‘Movement without detours. We should overwhelm enemies with straight-line lightness skill charges that decide victory in one go…’

While Jeong Yeon-shin was lost in thought, the gatekeeper supreme master taught him and Shin So-bin how to conduct themselves in Yeoktru Castle.

Along with hurried steps as if using lightness skill.

“Everything in this north is different. There’s a clear difference from the jianghu below. Where you came from, the south stolen by the ghosts, even though everything from distribution to earth energy is disrupted, the imperial Zhu clan is still most noble… but this place is not like that.”

He showed a satisfied expression when the two people followed him without any particular energy waves. He said that walking style also proved he was a strong person.

“The order of this land stems from strength. It means jianghu and national affairs are not separated, and no one’s nobility is determined by birth.”

“You seem to have adapted well.”

Shin So-bin spoke matter-of-factly. It was a barbed comment.

The man shrugged his shoulders.

“The Yao tribe respects the customs and traditions of all clans under heaven, and freely bestows divine ultimate techniques like Heaven Silk Steel Armor on those they consider sworn brothers. In this way, under equal conditions, whoever is even slightly stronger becomes the superior. Just like me.”

“…May I ask about your status?”

At Shin So-bin’s question, the wrinkles carved in figure-eights on both sides of the man’s mouth deepened.

“Gatekeeper of the northern lands.”

He said.

“I conversed with the Fighting God, slept in the same military camp as him, and ultimately learned Heaven Silk Steel Armor and Towering Yellow Ten Bindings from that dignified existence. Like countless Yao tribe members of this land, I too can be called his disciple.”

Shin So-bin’s already large eyes widened round. Jeong Yeon-shin also fully took him in with both eyes for the first time.

Shin So-bin suddenly asked.

“You’re saying you directly experienced the Fighting God?”

“Of course. He was everywhere. Though his whereabouts are mysterious now, giving the feeling that all under heaven has become empty…”

The man who briefly trailed off said.

“In any case, if you are stronger than the opponents you’ll face in the future, there’s no need to be careful about conduct separately. Unlike the land that the Ming clan brats dried out, here martial arts is status and etiquette itself. Isn’t it truly clear?”

“This place looks quite dry too.”

Shin So-bin said while tapping the ground with the tip of her foot.

The man didn’t deny it.

“Of course, this land that was originally barren has become even more parched. But…”

He met gazes with Jeong Yeon-shin and Shin So-bin in succession with dry eyes. A gaze that contained years as long as both of them combined.

“That’s because of the Walking Tree of the south, the World Tree.”

“……”

“Ah, of course.”

It was the point where castle walls built of brick rather than earth were faintly visible.

A massive outline undulating in the dust. The particularly dense energies nearby were all fluctuating like flames within it. They had approached Yeoktru Castle’s inner fortress.

In the midst of this, the man continued his words.

“While everything is free like this, there’s one thing to be careful about. Since the north is a place where jianghu and military are unified, apart from respect, there are still boundaries. If by any chance one of you is a strong person too difficult for even me to handle…”

Suddenly the man’s words became slow.

“A Northern King will manifest. One or two.”

“Are they very strong?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly. The man immediately raised his mouth corners as if he had heard something amusing.

“Of course! Even the Fighting God couldn’t unify this land, and the reason lies with several Northern Kings who never joined the ranks in the end.”

Meanwhile, Shin So-bin seemed to want to learn everything about the north when the opportunity was given.

“They’re all said to be peerless masters leading martial military forces… is that right?”

“That’s right. Peerless masters who charge and retreat together in groups are like natural disasters that can never be caught. They were troubles among troubles. Ah…!”

The man clapped his hands.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the figure currently acting as master of this Yeoktru Castle is a monster called Flame Heat Divine King. It’s not just her. Two more Northern Kings have arrived at nearby military camps.”

Shin So-bin flinched slightly.

“Three of them…?”

“That’s the reason this vulgar Yeoktru Castle has become quiet recently. When there are three Northern Kings, that place becomes the north’s hell.”

Thud.

The man stopped walking. As if this was as far as he went.

“The rest will be guided by Bright Sky Fortress Lord Demon Contempt Blade. I hope you won’t perish to the north wind.”

Demon Contempt Blade who had received Jeong Yeon-shin’s Qi-Controlled Sword Strike and survived.

The one who had lost the fortress he was guarding.

What would happen if by any chance he recognized Jeong Yeon-shin and called the Northern Kings?

For a moment, Shin So-bin’s throat moved slightly with dry saliva, and Jeong Yeon-shin recalled one of the legendary episodes created by Yong Hye-myeong.

How he had overwhelmingly pushed back the combined attack of the Namgung First Sword and Dark Night Palace Leader.

Both of them were renowned peerless masters from the south.

Though Jeong Yeon-shin had crossed hands with the Dark Night Palace Leader among them, the Dark Night Palace Leader  and Namgung First Sword he had faced at that time were in a state of having poured their strength into Yong Hye-myeong for dozens of days and nights.

This was because they had been taking the main roles in the dragnet to kill the Divine Sword Group Leader. Moreover, Jeong Yeon-shin had cut the Dark Night Palace Leader’s neck with Jin Myeong-jo’s help at that time.

Of course, the current Yong Hye-myeong was stronger than the Yong Hye-myeong of that time, and Jeong Yeon-shin was also incomparable to then.

But.

‘If it’s like simultaneously facing Namgung First Sword and Dark Night Palace Leader with full strength, plus someone of their equal…’

How many could he handle when deploying Southern Splendor Radiant Taiji?

Swish.

Jeong Yeon-shin kneaded Shin So-bin’s neck, which had stiffened with tension, with pressure point massage while thinking. That conduct and quick wit befitting such a land would be necessary.

He quietly sent a mental transmission.

—So-bin, no matter how the Yao tribe provoke us, we must endure for now. Since your energy waves contain the martial arts of Desolate Shin Family, there might be those who recognize it. Even if it’s a bit difficult, let’s act like gentlemen.

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped into the demon realm with his chief disciple. Still feeling the cold and dry north wind on his skin.

‘I should exercise restraint for the time being.’

The northern jianghu he had encountered immediately.

It was a mission to bring an end to the troublesome chaotic times.

Support was needed.

Just as Jeong Yeon-shin had once reached Yong Hye-myeong in the dragnet, there would be such a person for Jeong Yeon-shin too. Someone who would allow him to deploy all his martial arts stably.

* * *

[To Second Palace Lord.

Report on the concubine of the Hwangbo clan serving our palace’s Grand Palace Lord.

1. Though he displayed a wild temperament from when he was a guest, such character and appearance caught the Grand Palace Lord’s eye, leading to his entry into the palace as a concubine.

2. He has no close associates. He has no privately intimate figures, and only occasionally exchanges words with wine merchants who supply alcohol to the inner palace.

3. We attached palace maids with exceptional beauty among our palace’s servants, but incidents of them returning intoxicated with opium occurred repeatedly. As a result, the Grand Palace Lord’s favor grew thicker, so the matter was discontinued.

4. Anticipating possible cases, young men with similarly extraordinary beauty entered the palace.

5. On that day, we discovered all of them buried head-first upside down in the inner palace’s training ground. We arranged for those young men to say they were sent by Third Palace Lord, but that day a letter arrived at Second Palace Lord’s quarters under the name of Radiant Demon Wing Lazy Flame Dragon. Instead of writing, it was covered with vomit and was discarded.

6. Ambiguous martial achievement. It’s unclear whether Three Flowers have bloomed in his head. We recognize the need to investigate accurately.]

* * *

[To Second Palace Lord.

Report on our palace Grand Palace Lord’s First Husband.

1. A temperament very susceptible to provocation. The black wolves of Second Palace Lord’s quarters and Third Palace Lord’s quarters picked fights, and were consecutively defeated by the First Husband. Though it’s still not certain whether he has reached the realm of Three Flowers, we confirmed martial achievement of such level.

2. After the Grand Palace Lord’s pregnancy, Third Palace Lord’s side communicated with Second Palace Lord’s quarters. Same opinion. We recognize the necessity of strong restraint.

3. We discovered a flaw. Sensitive responses to stories about Desolate Fortress. We should confirm whether he would show the same reaction to the Grand Palace Lord’s young miss.

4. An envoy from Flame Heat Divine King under the Fighting God visited our palace. The First Husband sat together with the Grand Palace Lord at that meeting. We decided to go south on the condition of receiving Bright Sky Fortress facing the Ming Great Wall and massive amounts of rice.

5. All Ice Palace people are watching the First Husband from Desolate Fortress. It’s permissible to kill him immediately if signs of betrayal are seen.

6. Ming Cult’s communication that they would go down to Yeoktru Castle first. The eye technique masters of Second Palace Lord’s quarters confirmed the First Husband’s agitation. His pupils trembled minutely.

7. He moved his residence to Grand Palace Lord’s quarters. Though his martial achievement was originally ambiguous, it’s now certain that he has transcended some realm. The reason cannot be confirmed.

8. He set out south together with the Grand Palace Lord.]

* * *

[Urgent.

We report to Second Palace Lord of Great Northern Sea Ice Palace.

Bright Sky Fortress has collapsed, and the great warriors currently staying in Yeoktru Castle and its vicinity are as follows:

Flame Heat Divine King.

Shame Extreme King.

Dragon Sound Sasa King.

Ming Cult Leader Young Heavenly Demon Invincible.]

* * *

[Urgent attachment.

—Yeoktru Castle. Appearance of peerless sword master.

—Confirmed to have the northern gatekeeper’s guarantee.

—Killed Flame Heat Divine King with close combat techniques. Be wary of aftershocks when entering that fortress.]