Chapter 589 – The Fortress of the Northern Emperor (4)

The royal chambers of Yeoktru Castle.

Literally the inner quarters of a king. It was where the Northern King who had been first killed by Jeong Yeon-shin, Flame Heat Divine King, had resided.

The space was divided into three rooms. Flame Heat Divine King’s bedroom, the separate room where her attendants had stayed, and finally the office.

There were also three beds. One in each room, with one even placed in the office where guests or subordinates were received.

—The Northern Gatekeeper, was it? Why is there a bed in the office?

—Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader Beigong Ya, you should know. A Northern King is an existence who may receive people even while lying down.

—Damn it. Anyway, this works out well. Let’s lay him here.

—How about paying attention to your words and actions? Shouldn’t you at least respect the north? Of all people, someone born of a Northern King family connected to the Fighting God…

—If you want to die, keep babbling.

Those who had surrounded the unconscious Jeong Yeon-shin and stormed into Yeoktru Castle together with the Desolate Fortress martial forces.

The phrase “omnipotent” was fitting.

It was a force where it would be difficult to find beings under heaven who could not be killed.

A cluster of black swords who could accomplish anything through combined attacks, and even the poppy addict who was blue in name only.

They could do anything even in the great cities of the demon realm, and they naturally occupied Yeoktru Castle as if it were their own home. It was instantaneous until they laid three people in the king’s inner quarters.

Jeong Yeon-shin, the Sword Star, and even the Diancang Sect Leader.

Sword Empress Jin Xuan-chan had entered the day after the battle at Clear Light Plain ended.

A body that had been severely overexerted in pursuing the Divine Thief and had ultimately been defeated. She was now in a state requiring recuperation for several tens of days or more.

The status of a Nine Sects leader was one that even the Desolate Fortress had no choice but to respect.

This was even more so for someone like the Sword Empress who appeared to have had a good match with Jeong Yeon-shin and formed a decent relationship.

None other than because Jeong Yeon-shin would care about her.

The Sword Empress even had connections with his maternal grandfather, didn’t she? She was certainly worth protecting and looking after.

But that was none of Lazy Flame Dragon’s concern.

Swish.

The sound of clothing being pressed down.

It was in the middle of roof tiles that rose sharply to both sides, drawing curves as sharp as blades.

None other than a roof connected in northern style. It was a place where winter sunlight poured down so brightly it seemed it would expose even the rafters.

At the same time, it was also above the king’s office.

Lazy Flame Dragon was lying sprawled out with both arms pillowed behind his head. While chewing dried flower petals.

Next to him, a bottle stood precariously, giving off a fragrant wine scent.

Two days after entering Yeoktru Castle.

It was after everything had roughly settled into place.

There was no time for each to unburden their hearts.

Most of the black ranks had attached themselves to Jeong Yeon-shin, and Hyeon Won-Chang had begun caring for the Sword Star on his own.

Occasionally, Resonance Spirit Squad Leader Yun So-yu would call Immortal Tree Spirit Leader Cheon So-so to help with caring for the Sword Empress.

Meanwhile, Divine Sword Squad Leader Jin Myeong-jo was single-handedly suppressing the Northern Gatekeeper and Demon Contempt Blade.

While bringing them along and completely taking control of all administrative areas of Yeoktru Castle.

“What a ghostly fellow.”

The poppy addict leisurely muttered while thinking of the white-haired blood demon. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant tone.

Originally, he had been claiming to be Jeong Yeon-shin’s right hand, but he had lost face because of Jin Myeong-jo.

Lazy Flame Dragon thought with a mind made hazy by flower fragrance rising to his Baihui acupoint.

Would that fellow calculate the war merits of this northern expedition? There’s no General Administration either.

“…Hmm, unlucky.”

Languid soliloquy flowed from between his teeth. He was wary of attacks that might fall from the ceiling like a madman, just in case, but there was nothing else to do.

It was always like this in daily life.

What talent could exist for a scoundrel who only indulged in poppies and alcohol besides fighting? His usefulness lay in his constitution that burned away his lifespan. Both in the Hwangbo family and in the Desolate Fortress.

But even that usefulness seemed to be running out.

Looking at the Divine Sword Squad Leader and True Blood Cult Leader made such thoughts inevitable. Lazy Flame Dragon was no longer the right hand.

As Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hye-myeong had said, he would be about Jeong Yeon-shin’s left leg.

Of course, it was rather a good thing.

Because…

“Even if you’re someone who’s going to die soon, why are you being so pathetic alone? Making the path ahead desolate.”

A pleasantly hearty voice mixed with trudging footsteps. A black-robed youth with a black hero’s headband around his forehead was climbing up.

Temporary Blood Guardian Squad Leader Hyeon Won-Chang.

“What’s that sword?”

Lazy Flame Dragon asked while lying sprawled out on the wide roof looking up at the sky. He was still lying comfortably with both arms pillowed.

“You’re only asking now? You must have been out of your mind too.”

Swish.

Hyeon Won-Chang, who had sat down at a distance, tapped the sword hanging at his waist.

It was a sword wrapped in bandages like the attire of the main fortress Nether Stream Squad Leader, but since it was only about the length of a person’s arm, it was difficult to call it a long sword.

But somehow it suited Hyeon Won-Chang as if it were one body with him. It was temperamentally so.

Lazy Flame Dragon chuckled. At the same time, the insight of a genius under heaven flowed from his mouth.

“A sword that perfectly fits a lowly origin.”

“Well, that’s right. It’s suitable for killing.”

The assassin with the bearing of a great hero answered. And he added, ‘Your current appearance is also perfect as a corpse.’

Lazy Flame Dragon didn’t bother to retort.

It was different from when he had only acknowledged Jeong Yeon-shin as an equal. Hyeon Won-Chang and many others were racing through life.

Unlike burning mayflies, slowly but surely growing.

That dignity of life was something the poppy addict who would die next year found difficult to possess. Naturally, he couldn’t reach it either.

“You be the left leg.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? When there’s no one to even scold you.”

“I know the Acting Group Leader’s body well. He’ll surely wake up fine. He’s cultivated his twelve main meridians and three hundred sixty-five acupoints, and even more numerous minor meridians like a supernatural being. If the northern expedition ends safely, he’ll live a long and healthy life.”

It was what the genius of Fierce Yang Energy rare throughout history had seen through.

This too was a prophecy of the Scorching Divine Meridian, and also the insight of the spirit in the upper energy center that was hotter than anyone else under heaven.

But Hyeon Won-Chang’s reaction was lukewarm.

“Hmm.”

“Why?”

“No.”

Hyeon Won-Chang slightly changed the subject.

“Rather, I heard you got married and had a child, but aren’t you worried about your wife? They say contact has been cut off since she went to block a Northern King.”

“She’s the Ice Palace Master. She’s strong enough that my concern would be useless.”

But Lazy Flame Dragon picked up the bottle and stood up precariously. With movements that swayed like a drunkard, wine fragrance rippled from the bottle.

He spoke slowly.

“…Actually, I was just thinking about that. I should go look for my wife first. Our Acting Group Leader has many people surrounding him.”

Hyeon Won-Chang looked up at him blankly and asked.

“Didn’t you not want to make a child without a father? Like Master Jeong did.”

“My wife said it didn’t matter. She said the child’s father would be at least fourteen or more people.”

The scoundrel who had risen from the fifteenth concubine of the Ice Emperor to the first husband grinned. And he continued.

“Hearing that, it actually seemed good. I grew up in a household where my biological father was useless. What would you know about Young Master Hwangbo?”

“I’m an orphan too.”

“No wonder you know everything.”

Lazy Flame Dragon, who had naturally changed the subject, asked Hyeon Won-Chang. It was in a very light tone.

“How much longer do you think the old Sword Star will live?”

“…I don’t know. Such deep and vicious palm marks are the first I’ve seen in my lifetime. Not only did they tear apart his protective energy, but they cut his entire body’s meridians strand by strand… Honestly, it gave me chills. It’s very bad.”

“It’s amazing that he’s survived this long with such vitality. They say he’s of wanderer origin, tougher than weeds…”

That’s when some woman’s voice interrupted.

“Don’t speak carelessly.”

Tap.

The sound of small leather shoes stepping on roof tiles.

The woman’s footsteps as she climbed onto the roof had formality.

Literally graceful movements. Some tradition emanated from her gait, which was the Zhuge family’s Black Qilin Command.

Lazy Flame Dragon laughed.

“The Acting Family Head is interfering with my words and actions.”

“Isn’t he someone you can’t discuss lightly? Moreover, Alliance Leader saved Master Jeong and became that way.”

It was Zhuge Qing-ya.

Her cheeks, worn down by the flow of time like Jeong Yeon-shin’s, stood out. She was very gaunt.

Her hair tied in one strand flowed down like ebony, and her sky-blue clothing edges colored Yeoktru Castle with the feeling of the prosperous southern jianghu.

Lazy Flame Dragon shook his head.

“Don’t misunderstand based on my way of speaking. My child would also be grateful that the Acting Group Leader is alive and well.”

“What do you mean…?”

“The Acting Group Leader is the guardian. If I die, he’ll care for the child like a biological father. It’s quite grateful and interesting. If there are fifteen fathers besides me, isn’t that blessed?”

By then, Zhuge Qing-ya was looking not at Lazy Flame Dragon but at Hyeon Won-Chang. She had completely turned her head.

Their gazes met.

While Hyeon Won-Chang slightly shook his head, Lazy Flame Dragon flicked another flower petal from his bosom with his finger.

Soon he was sticking his tongue out with his head lowered toward below the roof.

The flower that entered his mouth was crunched.

“Uninvited guests are starting to gather. So what’s the Acting Family Head’s business?”

It was somewhat slurred pronunciation, but Zhuge Qing-ya stared at him with clear eyes for a while before slowly answering.

“The imperial family’s Heavenly Classic Martial Arts Examination held at Zhongnan Mountain was ruined, and we came north to retrieve the Zhongnan Sword Immortal’s secret manual that the Divine Thief took. I don’t know about others, but at least our main family and Mount Hua Hidden Dragon came for that reason.”

“And?”

“Master Jeong recovered half of the secret manual, and I heard the remaining half went to the Southern Emperor. Since disciples of other sects can’t say anything to Zhongnan Sect Jeong Hye’s uncle about ownership of the secret manual… the matter has been settled for now. The northern affairs are just beginning from now.”

Zhuge Qing-ya’s eyelids drooped slightly as she spoke up to there.

The direction of her eyelashes was clear. It was toward below the roof where Jeong Yeon-shin would be lying. She slowly moved her lips.

“Alliance Leader is someone who must do many things. It’s no exaggeration to say that another name for the Martial Alliance meeting is the Sword Star. It was the alliance’s worry that he stubbornly refused to take disciples for some reason, but things ended up this way…”

That’s when Lazy Flame Dragon interrupted Zhuge Qing-ya’s words.

“Your tone is strange. Aren’t you most certainly assuming the old man’s death?”

She nodded carefully but without hesitation.

“A strategist is someone who prepares for what’s next. That’s why the Desolate Fortress Grand Administrator is famous as the world’s greatest strategist. Isn’t there such a saying among the people? That even if the Great Wall is breached, the Desolate Fortress will not permit enemies.”

How rough a path had she walked in the Zhuge family without father and elder brother after leaving her position as a guest warrior in Radiant Demon Wing white rank?

She was already the Zhuge Family Head. Both the mindset that always sought perfection and the position of completely facing the Desolate Fortress from the alliance side.

Soon Hyeon Won-Chang suddenly interrupted.

“Did you come representing the southern jianghu people? What do you want?”

“For the next alliance leader to gain as much popular support as Elder Sword Star, achievements worthy of a righteous warrior under heaven are needed. For instance, finding and destroying the tomb of the unknown Heavenly Demon who brought bloodshed twenty years ago, and distributing the wealth obtained there to the common people.”

The main point had emerged.

Zhuge Qing-ya’s tone became clear.

“The alliance’s intelligence network is tremendous. Most of the Eight Families lent a hand, and recently even the Peng family was drawn in to obtain news that secretly swept Beijing. Young Master Hwangbo doesn’t know, does he? Why Ming Cult Leader Young Heavenly Demon Invincible came up to the north.”

“The story is flowing strangely.”

Lazy Flame Dragon, who had earlier been ready to jump down below the roof, muttered, but Zhuge Qing-ya was already pouring out stories like a strategist calculating the grand situation.

“Divine Sword Group Acting Leader, executives of Henan’s Profound Martial Alliance, Shame Extreme Son-in-law of Shame Extreme King’s territory, some Northern King who lost his Great Warrior, and the Fighting God.”

“…?”

“They are figures scattered throughout the world who possess fragments of the Heavenly Demon Tomb’s treasure map. Whether they obtained them deliberately or gained them through chance plunder. When all are combined, they become one complete map.”

For a moment, Lazy Flame Dragon and Hyeon Won-Chang made similar expressions for the first time. Slightly furrowing their brows. Because they immediately remembered.

Where Jeong Yeon-shin had obtained a fragment of the Heavenly Demon’s treasure map.

The son of the Ten Perfections Sect Leader who had been killed in Sichuan long ago had handed it to Jeong Yeon-shin. His name was So Jin-rang.

—It’s a treasure that the Pure Demon Alliance coveted. They said there was the tomb of an unknown Ming Cult Leader. A Heavenly Demon.

Lazy Flame Dragon burped up wine fumes. And he lazily grumbled.

“Didn’t he say he burned it right away?”

Hyeon Won-Chang shook his head.

“All under heaven has long known Master Jeong’s qualities. Whether it’s energy perception or natural insight, if he had even a moment to glance at it, anyone could guess he’d memorize a map and more.”

“You’re doing strategy like a wolf.”

At Lazy Flame Dragon’s words, Zhuge Qing-ya nodded.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“……”

“Our alliance wants Master Jeong’s memory. We’ll accept whatever price you name. If we return after coming all the way north and only losing Elder Sword Star, the orthodox martial world will collapse.”

“Other things aside, why do that Shame Extreme Son-in-law fellow and the Fighting God have such things?”

“Shame Extreme Son-in-law has a hobby of plundering belongings from heroes who came up to the northern front. He covets the refined culture of the south. The Fighting God… once defeated Murong Family Head’s challenge in one move, stripped him naked, and sent him back. One of the things in Murong Family Head’s robes at that time was some map fragment.”

“Stripped naked?”

“He was the Liaodong First Swordsman. He settled the warlord conflicts that arose throughout the vast Liaodong region with a single battle. The morale of the Liaodong clans who had been rising everywhere died.”

“Hmm.”

“If he had cut off Murong Family Head’s head there, the uprising would have become stronger… As a result, the Yao people stopped bleeding in Liaodong. The northern jianghu’s unity became stronger.”

“Then is the reason the mayfly Ming Cult Leader taught the Southern Emperor Form-Shifting Void also because of that map fragment?”

“That would be so. She’s the orthodox successor of the Heavenly Demon. If by any chance the owner of the ‘Heavenly Demon Tomb’ was the omnipotent First Heavenly Demon, there might be something Young Heavenly Demon Invincible wants in the tomb.”

Separation and reunion.

It was a chaotic age. Each had different purposes.

What the southern martial world wanted and what Young Heavenly Demon Invincible coveted were the same. Meanwhile, the Southern Emperor’s purpose was the Fighting God’s second coming.

An intersection existed.

All stories were converging into one stream.

On one side of that existed the Desolate Fortress Divine Sword Group. Possessing simultaneously the clues to make anything happen and the military force to destroy it.

“……”

After a brief silence, Hyeon Won-Chang asked.

“But why are you asking this of the main fortress’s poppy addict and temporary squad leader me? Instead of going to find the Divine Sword Squad Leader.”

“Because of them. Three Northern Kings came.”

Zhuge Qing-ya pointed to the other side below the roof. For a moment, Hyeon Won-Chang was startled.

He belatedly noticed that the northern supernatural beings had visited silently like half-ghosts. It was because he had desperately helped with the unconscious Sword Star’s energy circulation.

Toward the main gate of Yeoktru Castle’s inner castle.

“……”

A terrifying silence had descended.

A scene of a group of large and small human shadows standing with their backs to the castle gate. The fishy smell of northern winter grew thick.

Three Northern Kings, she had said.

Disaster was approaching.

In a situation where they had to hide the physical condition of Jeong Yeon-shin and the Sword Star, how could they stop them if they began roaming the inner castle?

It wasn’t just the Northern Kings.

Lazy Flame Dragon chewed poppy petals and spoke like a soliloquy.

“They brought subordinates. Dragon Sound Sasa King, Shame Extreme King, I don’t know one of them. Hmm? That’s Shame Extreme Son-in-law.”

“They requested an audience with the Acting Group Leader, but unable to wait…”

But Hyeon Won-Chang stopped muttering and closed his mouth. Because the scene reflected in his eyes had immediately changed.

Men and women who had somehow filled not only the front of the castle gate but various places in the inner castle like a dream.

From those who had placed their feet on the yellowish-brown walls to human shadows who were standing blankly right next to Lazy Flame Dragon like a lie.

There were also those who sat roughly at the edge of another roof, staring intently down below.

All wore faded black robes.

Rumble—

The atmosphere trembled. As if boiling with fighting spirit.

Even excluding Temporary Blood Guardian Squad Leader Hyeon Won-Chang and Divine Sword Squad Leader Jin Myeong-jo, there were twelve official black ranks.

Squad leaders, Nether Stream Squad Leader, Resonance Spirit Leader, all members of the Wish for Peace Sword Hall except for ‘Iron Demon Spring Leader.’

They had the momentum to suppress the Northern Kings.

“Go back.”

Divine Sword Obeying Heaven Namgung Hwa-shin spoke from directly in front of them. He had already planted a sword at his feet.