Chapter 681 – Three Emperors of Martial World (4)

Faint sunlight flowed down into the fortress walls. Dawn at Desolate Fortress. Two people’s shadows were cast on the stone walls that had been broken and carved here and there.

Their sizes were different. Due to their respective builds.

“Just now, what did you say…?”

“Divine Sword Strategist. That’s what Sword Heaven called me.”

“Wartime conscription? Even of enemy forces.”

Soon Lim Jin-ming raised his head with his hands clasped behind his back. Only after raising it quite high could he meet the opponent’s eyes.

He said to Literary Star.

“What are your true intentions? Your real purpose that you wish to achieve through Lord Jeong.”

A low-pitched question.

But Literary Star’s shadow was cast even darker than that. The giant’s face with his back to the sunlight was covered in twilight like wearing chaos as a mask, making it unidentifiable. Only strangely clear Chinese words flowed out.

“First, to clarify one thing, it’s not conscription but appointment. It was achieved through mutual agreement of our great causes.”

Lim Jin-ming shook his head.

“I, in the position of acting Fortress Lord, find it difficult to casually overlook someone like you. Though you would be tremendously helpful immediately… I cannot place someone who could turn into an enemy at any time beside Lord Jeong. The main fortress is not in a situation to attempt such gambles.”

“Hmm, those who manage an organization’s livelihood should maintain balance in all matters.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

Lim Jin-ming unclasp his hands from behind his back. Before he knew it, a large brush was held in his hand, dripping transparent energy waves instead of ink.

A precursor to formation activation.

Rather than unconditional hostility, it was preparation before uttering words too difficult to handle.

“I heard that Northern Six Star Lords Literary Star is Fighting God’s most reliable ally, and his divine power threatens all creation. Being the north’s greatest external cultivation master, he would possess the world’s strongest single strike.”

“It’s barely enough strength to grip a brush.”

“It’s like bringing a thunderbolt into a house that once collapsed miserably and is now being rebuilt. If we experience another great upheaval here, Desolate Fortress cannot rise again. The prestige of the main fortress that long symbolized jianghu oppression… was shattered by the Seven New Enemies of Defeated Desolation.”

Lim Jin-ming, who muttered bitterly, turned his gaze beyond the castle walls.

“So I request this. If you voluntarily enter the main fortress’s underground prison formation, I will seek your martial arts and wisdom when needed. If you refuse, please leave the fortress.”

Words that gained strength with each breath.

Very resolute. Literary Star, who had been leisurely throughout, tilted his head slightly to the side.

He said.

“Someone like you, a master of upper energy center studies, should have felt there was no falsehood in my words… Please comfortably become Bao Shuya.”

He spoke of an ancient tale.

The story of an influential figure from old Qi Dynasty who made Guan Zhong, someone who had once shot an arrow at him, into prime minister and became a ruler. Bao Shuya was the retainer who recommended Guan Zhong to the ruler.

“Duke Huan of Qi, who appointed his enemy, became one of the Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons. One of the masters of that chaotic world at the time.”

“……”

“Sword Heaven, left alone in today’s troubled times, is the same. Now he’s no different from Duke Huan before employing Guan Zhong.”

The successor of a nation without a ruler.

The Divine Sword Group Leader of Desolate Fortress without a Fortress Lord.

And Bao Shuya was the person who yielded the prime minister position, knowing Guan Zhong was superior to himself. At this moment, Lim Jin-ming could only let out a hollow laugh.

“How arrogant.”

“It may appear so to you.”

At that moment, the pressure that blocked Lim Jin-ming’s breathing wouldn’t have been Literary Star’s intention. His internal energy exhalation stopped briefly.

“……”

This is what beings of World’s Five Swords level are like. Just standing there blankly, they often cause those facing them to self-destruct. Because the completion level of essence, energy, and spirit unification presents vastness to the opponent.

Literary Star smiled broadly.

“Since this must be clearly addressed, please speak comfortably. Of course, I too am a northern feudal king, so I sometimes become unfamiliar with common people’s etiquette and propriety…”

Instantly, Lim Jin-ming’s vision also darkened.

A voice that rumbled as if making his mind into a deep cave. Naturally, Jeong Yeon-shin and the Divine Sword Group came to mind. What kind of battles had they fought in the north?

‘Damn it.’

Lim Jin-ming spoke with difficulty.

“Your modesty is excessive. I heard you’re a scholar deep enough in learning to pass even Ming Dynasty’s imperial examinations.”

Instantly, the atmosphere dispersed like clouds. Because Literary Star’s absurdly massive essence, energy, and spirit humbly shrank. As if struck by Emperor Li Chuang Nang Seong’s Heaven Net Energy Absorption Technique.

“Of course, though I seem unfamiliar with etiquette and propriety, I brighten like dawn. Knowing I was the top graduate among provincial examination passers shows your extensive knowledge.”

“Not to that extent…”

“How about dividing into internal and external administrators? Actually, I planned to take charge of overall internal and external affairs, but seeing the Grand Administrator’s insight and resolve, that would be cleaner.”

Just as Lim Jin-ming tested Literary Star’s intentions, Literary Star was also examining Lim Jin-ming. While conversing throughout the entire dawn.

“……”

Around when goosebumps quietly rose from Lim Jin-ming’s spine, the current Divine Sword Group Leader returned to the main fortress with his companions.

Then he immediately went up to the Fortress Lord’s inner castle where Ming Emperor was waiting. It was while reconstruction was taking place everywhere even without the Group Leader.

* * *

“The Divine Sword Group Leader has indeed returned alive. Didn’t Abbot senior brother say that Fighting God fellow would be close to being the world’s greatest?”

“Amitabha.”

“If there are deficiencies in cultivation, even Mount Hua Sect Leader’s Living Sword is useless. As Abbot senior brother said, we should invite him to our main mountain. Before he transforms into a monster.”

“Beom-ryeol, there are few in the world as busy with public and private affairs as that young man now. Fortune must permit it.”

“Fortune is what people create. If necessary, shouldn’t we even open Master Bodhidharma’s Wall-Facing Cave? It’s not even a secret manual – just looking at those walls won’t wear them down. Don’t even think of dismissing this as nonsense and hitting the back of my head again. The main mountain is on the verge of complete collapse, so I’m afraid we’ll gradually become penniless…”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Hmm?”

“Send word.”

* * *

A message from Nether Stream Squad reached Forest Treading Squad Leader Xiahou Wei-jin. It was bustling Luoyang’s marketplace in all directions, when suddenly the ground beneath his feet trembled faintly.

—Be careful. Luoyang has now fallen to Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance’s martial uprising. It’s no longer Ming Dynasty.

Vibration striking the Yongquan acupoint on his sole with sound transmission. Nether Stream Squad’s secret Kun King Word Crossing Method, with energy waves at Nether Stream Squad white rank level.

“They believed we would come back down and held their positions. Of course, Luoyang is worthy enough land for that…”

“……?”

At Xiahou Wei-jin’s muttering, there was a flinching presence beside him. A young man hiding his body in gray rain cloak like Xiahou Wei-jin. He was Profound Martial Alliance’s ‘Single Sword Tiger’ who had once been captured while spying on the Divine Sword Squad at northern Yeoktru Fortress.

Now he was in a state where his pressure points were suppressed and he couldn’t utter a word.

Though he was disciple of Swimming Heaven Sword Ghost Baek Seo-gun and said to be the next Sword Master, it didn’t matter to Xiahou Wei-jin at all. Because the Luoyang land he had stepped on while chasing Four Provinces Martial Alliance was close to a demon battlefield.

‘What kind of monsters are there so many of…’

Easily several hundred.

Common people and martial artists were mixed together. The rumors that Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance advocated popular uprising didn’t seem to be exaggeration.

Familiar clothing and energy waves wandered here and there through the huge marketplace. The sight of various colorful silk martial robes glittering in this troubled time. Various regional dialects were mixed, resembling a market scene.

“When does it start?”

“Soon.”

“Many bugs are attached…”

“That will also be handled soon. The former family heads have come.”

Most were either prestigious martial clan nobles or those who begged for rice with sword skills, but it felt like Central Plains jianghu had gathered. The depth of internal energy was different from before going up north. As if earth energy that hadn’t yet seeped into the ground was caught in energy circulation and breathing.

—Listen here.

Profound Martial Alliance Single Sword Tiger’s sound transmission. It was a voice squeezed out with all his might from suppressed internal energy.

—I don’t believe you think your Return to Origin is perfect. You’re not a Divine Sword Squad Leader. This is the headquarters of Central Plains martial world.

—Your eyes are quite sharp. How do you also know that various squad leaders are imitating Jin Myeong-jo?

He had come to look around the situation of jianghu miscreants. A kind of inspection. Though Nether Stream Squad white ranks were spread across major cities, black ranks were bound to stay in truly important places.

While looking around here and there like that, some escort wagon caught Xiahou Wei-jin’s eye. A group entering deep into Luoyang with many unusually short people locked up. The skilled craftsmen who had worked as weapon smiths at Desolate Fortress main fortress were also Iron Clan members.

It seemed they were handling plundered spoils of war.

‘These damnable bastards…?’

It was then.

“It’s started! The king’s remains have entered the jar!”

“Really…!”

“Die even in death! Great Obedience ten thousand years!”

It was the square entrance.

On a high stone wall that seemed touched by Iron Foot tribe hands, some furnace was prepared, with a large jar placed on it like a cauldron. Thick smoke also boiled up vigorously.

Like an execution platform.

Killing the already dead once more.

—Imperial King’s corpse is contained inside.

Nether Stream Squad white rank’s report continued.

—Originally he was someone who cooperated with Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance, but because the wealth and food accumulated in the royal palace’s storehouse exceeded proper limits, they dragged him from Jiangxi… They plan to cook and eat him by Nang Seong’s order.

Imperial King Zhu Dai-yi.

He had promised great support to Jeong Yeon-shin several times, then turned his back on Desolate Fortress like a lie when the Divine Sword Squad advanced north. Now he was finally being used to dramatically elevate Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance’s great cause.

When some gaunt swordsman struck the jar with his sword hilt, a clear sound spread. Quite thick energy waves naturally rose like ripples on a lake.

Ding—

Seven Treasures Divine Lord Gao Jie.

A face in Desolate Fortress’s jianghu wanted registry. Someone who had been Emperor Li Chuang Nang Seong’s sword servant, a wanderer known to be unmatched in the Jiangbei region having mastered seven techniques.

“Emperor Li Chuang! Where is Emperor Li Chuang…!”

“You are the emperor! The living emperor!”

Countless people not only cheering but even raising their fists. They were truly enthusiastic regardless of whether they were common people or martial artists, and most had faces where skin clung to bones. The group that had originally been only a few hundred had swelled beyond thousands to ten thousand units.

All nearby alleys were filled with people.

The heat was tremendous.

A place where rulers were boiled and eaten as venting for long-standing famine. Though this wasn’t a demon realm, unbelievable events were happening matter-of-factly.

Even though Mount Song was less than half a day’s distance by lightness skill. Though orthodox path’s number one sect Shaolin was right nearby, Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance had long colored Luoyang as their own world as if establishing a nation.

‘They rob all feudal kings and nobles to scatter wealth in occupied territories.’

Meanwhile, Xiahou Wei-jin’s vicinity was quiet.

“……”

Different from the scene unfolding before his eyes. Only around his immediate area was sparsely populated.

[The one currently boiling in the jar is the remnant of rotten Ming Dynasty. His luxury was severe, unsatisfied with his fief’s tribute, and he squeezed common people to fill his storehouse. Even when unprecedented famine struck, he filled his own and the imperial family’s bellies, ultimately flattering Nang Seong before being beheaded in one stroke.]

While Seven Treasures Divine Lord’s low Six Harmonies Complete Voice rumbled, around Xiahou Wei-jin, strange silence gradually increased in density.

He was discovered.

Cold sweat formed on Single Sword Tiger’s neck. He looked like he wanted to bolt from his seat immediately if not for his internal energy restraint, and Xiahou Wei-jin was the same.

If not for the shock that suddenly struck his head, he would have fled immediately. It was none other than World Tree’s spirituality.

—Son, you are weary. Connect to me and find peace.

‘Son my ass, I don’t even have parents.’

It was then.

Suddenly a huge shadow fell over the furnace cooking Imperial King. A build that would be hard to call Han Chinese by anyone’s standards.

“Just one bite.”

A black figure looked down at Seven Treasures Divine Lord Gao Jie and babbled. Powerful energy waves also landed around Gao Jie simultaneously.

Four elderly men elegantly fluttering colorful long robes. Judging by their absurdly light and swift movements, they could only be the former Eight Family Heads.

“Northern Six Star Lords Martial Star.”

“Indeed an absurd body.”

For a third party like Xiahou Wei-jin, it was a situation that suddenly gained rapid momentum. Moreover, Seven Treasures Divine Lord Gao Jie’s reaction was even more extreme.

“Shall I serve you a large portion?”

“Oh…”

Luoyang was already a city of madmen.

Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance’s decisiveness far surpassed Desolate Fortress, and in the heated air, the crowd’s breathing swayed here and there. Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance masters began emerging from inns, alleys, and all sorts of places to surround Xiahou Wei-jin.

“That scarred giant is Desolate Fortress Forest Treading Squad Leader, the most servile of the imperial lackeys.”

“Arrest him! The portions are insufficient!”

Such was the madness of the starving.

The assembled crowd holding bowls containing feudal kings and watching Xiahou Wei-jin’s capture were suddenly massacred by a single sword from a suddenly manifested one-armed figure in a bamboo hat.