Chapter 100: The Divine Sword Squad (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: The Divine Sword Squad (6)
The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps studied Jeong Yeon-shin, his gaze piercing.
His tone was casual, but the light in his eyes flashed like lightning. It was enough to send a faint shiver down the boy's spine.
Jeong Yeon-shin immediately sensed it. He knew the Commander's words weren't merely scratching the surface. The man had spoken in passing, yet he had seen right through the boy's constitution.
"..."
The Flash Art was short-lived. The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps had realized the truth.
It makes sense.
He didn't think the Commander's internal qi cultivation was any inferior to that of the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan. Just as that old immortal had recognized Jeong Yeon-shin's constitution at a single glance, it wouldn't be strange for the Commander to have noticed his short-lived fate as well. The man had even personally stroked his head, right over the Baihui point.
Jeong Yeon-shin instinctively glanced at his maternal grandfather.
He had heard the rumors before their encounter with the Martial Dragon Association. They said his grandfather's martial prowess had declined in his later years. The divine art of the Desolate Ma Clan, which he had cultivated as the former Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, had a distinct peak, and he had already passed it.
Due to his past karma, Ma Yeon-jeok hadn't even dared to lay a hand on his maternal grandson to check his pulse. And since the Lord of the Desolate Fortress had kept silent, there was absolutely no way for his grandfather to know about his short-lived constitution.
"That Yong family brat's words aren't entirely wrong. You must think of your body," his grandfather said as their eyes met.
So the Commander is from the Yong family.
Jeong Yeon-shin realized once again that despite the Commander's grand reputation, his actual name was barely known. It was a strange thing.
While the boy harbored his doubts, Ma Yeon-jeok wore a satisfied smile, seemingly in agreement with the Commander's words. His snow-white mustache curled upward on both sides.
"Yeon-shin, you are indeed the treasure of our fortress. Rising stars who have just made their debut and are spreading their glorious names are the very future of all sects."
"Former Commander, could it be that you are suffering from senility...?"
The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps furrowed his brow. They were talking about two completely different things.
Jeong Yeon-shin quietly watched the scene unfold like a theatrical play. The conversation between the Commander and his grandfather was entirely mismatched.
Ma Yeon-jeok, the old master clad in the purple robe of the Desolate Fortress, glared with wide eyes and continued.
"Even if a martial artist cannot avoid life-and-death duels, one must still prioritize their own life. I say this not simply because Yeon-shin is my grandson. What is the true value of the Demonlight Wing's Flash Art? No matter the mission, the fortress must actively support him so that he always stands on the winning side..."
"It is indeed senility, just of a different kind. How truly regrettable. To think that catching up to you, Former Commander, was once my goal."
"Nonsense, you reckless brat."
Hearing Ma Yeon-jeok's scolding, the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps turned his head. His eyes, flashing with a colorless, brilliant light, seemed to ask the boy: What on earth is going on here?
Meeting his gaze silently, the boy merely gave a slight, barely perceptible nod.
Did it look like a full nod of confirmation to him? The Commander clicked his tongue like an old man and shook his head.
"Just how much karma did that old man pile up for things to turn out like this..."
Ma Yeon-jeok, Head of the Desolate Ma Clan, truly did not know. Was it because of his declined prowess, just as the rumors said?
There was no telling how he would react if he found out about Jeong Yeon-shin's constitution. Would his doting attitude suddenly change? Or would he desperately try to save his maternal grandson?
I've already obtained a fragment of the World Tree's fruit from the Fortress Lord. There's no need to complicate things, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
There was no reason to get dragged into troublesome matters. He couldn't promote his rank using achievements built by others anyway. Furthermore, rising to a higher realm of cultivation was entirely up to him.
"Wait, you're Grandpa Ma's grandson? I never heard that the Desolate Ma Clan had a kid like you."
Ak Su-rim leaned in with a scowl.
Jeong Yeon-shin simply nodded without a word, prompting her to shake her head.
"I liked you quite a bit, but it turns out you have nasty blood running through your veins. What a shame. There are so many people in the Ma family you shouldn't associate with."
She didn't pay the slightest attention to Ma Yeon-jeok's terrifying expression. The way she cheerfully ignored the former Commander of the Divine Sword Corps was incredibly natural. It seemed her uninhibited personality perfectly matched her martial prowess, which was widely considered the strongest among the Black Ranks of the Desolate Fortress.
While Jeong Yeon-shin was reminded of Ju Yeon-jeong, the collateral imperial relative, Ak Su-rim continued.
"Well, what the Commander and Grandpa said is right. And it does seem true that our former Ma Clan Head has turned into a doting fool in his old age."
"..."
"A consecutive duel, of all things. Flash Art, you pushed yourself too hard. How many rising stars could defeat the Azure Qilin unscathed? Even if you have the martial strength, you need luck on your side. Martial artists always have days when a fight goes exceptionally well, and it's a relief today was that day for you, kid."
Like the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, she possessed many faces. The expression she wore now was incredibly innocent. She looked even younger than Yeon So-ha, who chimed in from the side.
"I wasn't too worried about the Commander either. I saw the Jegal Clan Leader once in the past, and he didn't seem as impressive in person as the rumors made him out to be. It was actually surprising that the Namgung Clan Head managed to put our Commander in that state. I thought the heads of the Eight Families were about half a step below the sect leaders of the Nine Sects, but I guess the Namgung Clan Head is an exception."
"It is the Namgung Clan, after all. They must be considered outstanding even among the Eight Families. The martial arts level of their top masters wouldn't fall far behind most of the Thirteen Heavens or the Nine Sects."
Yeon So-ha nodded at the words of another Divine Sword Squad expert.
"Unless it's a place like Shaolin or Wudang... Well, I was more worried when the Flash Art faced the Azure Qilin. But fights in the Jianghu are truly unpredictable until they actually happen. I doubt anyone could have foreseen this. There are simply too many variables."
"Your fame is going to spread like wildfire. Give it some time, and you might easily skip past two or three ranks," Ak Su-rim said with a grin, tapping Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder.
At this point, she looked like she was playing with a new favorite toy. She was a supreme Black Rank expert who had undergone rejuvenation. Should he consider this an honor? Jeong Yeon-shin simply stood still.
Yeon So-ha let out a chuckle and nodded.
"Fame, indeed. Well, it's not like only one or two people witnessed the duel."
"True."
The Divine Sword Squad experts surrounding Jeong Yeon-shin continued to chat casually.
"Flash Art, come here. Let us speak in private for a moment," the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps suddenly said, wiping blood from his lips with the back of his hand. He looked as though he had just vomited blood to his heart's content.
His complexion was pale as he gestured toward Jeong Yeon-shin. As the other Divine Sword Squad martial artists calmly stepped back, Ma Yeon-jeok stepped forward, looking highly displeased.
"You Yong family bastard. I hope you aren't planning to make some reckless proposal."
"Your senility is showing with all these needless worries." The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps let out a brief smile. "From the looks of it, this is the child Ma Jin dotes on. I have no desire to hastily take him away only to suffer that eunuch's curses..."
"What did you just say?"
"You seem to think I'm planning to draft him into the Divine Sword Squad, but we don't particularly need the Flash Art right now. Your worries are useless. Perhaps it is because the Divine Sword Squad was weak during your time, Former Commander. Wasn't that the case before I joined?"
"What did you say?!"
"Now you're furious. What are you doing, Flash Art? Come, let us hear your story."
The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps gestured with a playful expression.
"Just the two of us."
That short addition carried a heavy weight. Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded.
* * *
The pavilion's ceiling was embedded with stone fragments that emitted a soft glow. Precious night-shining pearls hung like lanterns, making the space as bright as if the moonlight itself had been pulled down from the sky.
There were two visitors. A man carrying a purple-robed figure over his shoulder led the way.
Step.
The moment he took a haughty step forward, the glow of a nearby night-shining pearl abruptly went out. He was someone who treated the natural laws of priceless treasures as if they were mere candle flames. In the fading beam of light, the man's hair was revealed to be snow-white.
The same thing happened with every step he took. A pitch-black darkness spread with each stride, like the breath of a great demon. Even the calligraphy hanging on one side of the hallway, which read 'The Shu Road of the Sword Gate, the Heavenly Way of the Tang Clan,' was silently swallowed by the dark.
"They hang something new every time I visit. I should tell them to tear it all down," the man said softly. "It is incredibly annoying. Those Tang Clan bastards are exceptionally fond of bright things. Quite unfitting behavior, isn't it? Perhaps it is because they themselves are so dark."
"..."
"Seventh Apostle, why are you so quiet? You have been like this the entire time. Even after being saved by this Cult Leader."
"I just have a lot on my mind."
At the woman's brief reply, the man burst into laughter.
"Was facing death that shocking to you?"
"..."
"Come to think of it, you have been noble since birth. You grew up exceptionally sheltered within our cult."
"Sheltered?"
"When else would you have encountered a peerless expert like a Purple Rank of the Desolate Fortress? The same goes for those in the realm of the Lords of the Thirteen Heavens and the sect leaders of the Nine Sects. They are among the few true masters in this world. Even this Cult Leader acknowledges them. Do not be disheartened."
The man's languid yet captivating voice continued. All the night-shining pearls they had passed were now extinguished. An abyss-like darkness swirled around the man like silken robes. It was a scene that transcended the mortal world.
"Had my venerable body been whole, I would have taken the head of the exhausted Commander of the Divine Sword Corps. We truly missed a precious opportunity. It is well and good that the master of the Hegemon Sword moves according to this Cult Leader's will, but the problem is that it always ends after a single attempt. How truly regrettable."
"..."
"I hope the Namgung Clan Head managed to take at least one of the Commander's arms. The battle should have been decided by now."
"Tell me the outcome as well. You must."
The Seventh Apostle finally spoke.
Was he pleased by this? A hint of laughter laced the Blood Flame Cult Leader's subsequent words.
"I know you care for the young Grand Preceptor. I shall do so. He is a boy we must bring over to our side eventually."
With those words, only the sound of their footsteps echoed. The strides of those who ruled over the world's terror—the Blood Ghosts—were distinct. The Blood Flame Cult Leader's footwork possessed a captivating and profound mystery, while the Seventh Apostle's steps were merely light and silent. Only their manner of navigating the darkness as if it were their own home was similar.
They soon reached the deepest darkness within the pavilion.
"I have told you so many times, yet you never listen. I asked you not to disturb this old man's cultivation."
An elderly voice rang out, carrying a hint of anger.
They stood before a large stone chamber. A room built entirely of stone had been constructed inside the pavilion.
An old man holding a small dagger glared at the Blood Flame Cult Leader and the Seventh Apostle. He had a scrawny physique, but he wore luxurious silk robes that looked as if they were dripping with gold. The light from the single remaining night-shining pearl gathered and flowed along his eyes and the edge of his short blade.
In the center of the room stood a high-legged bed. It, too, was made of stone.
The dark-red-haired Blood Master Sword was tied down to it, his eyes wide open. The tip of the blade held by the old man was resting just against his chest.
"Disturbing your cultivation? How could that be? I am the one who promised you full support."
At the same time, the Blood Flame Cult Leader dropped the person he was carrying on his shoulder with a heavy thud.
He said, "It is the Elder Council Head of the Desolate Fortress."
"What did you say? You crazy...!"
The emotion that spread across the old man's face was sheer madness. Astonishment and disbelief flashed first, but in less than two breaths, his expression morphed into pure ecstasy.
The Blood Flame Cult Leader smiled. "He is a Purple Rank peerless expert. Though he cannot compare to the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, isn't he the ultimate specimen for your cultivation? I almost died once again to get him. My body, damaged by the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, has not yet fully recovered. It would have ended badly if the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect had not arrived just in time. I heard he entered closed-door cultivation after his defeat by the Zhongnan Sect, but the sword art achievement he displayed upon his return was nothing short of astonishing."
"With this man, the great technique will be significantly accelerated."
The old man paid his story no mind. He hurriedly squatted by the head of the Elder Council Head and muttered, "I was just wishing to reference a body that has reached the peak through orthodox cultivation. I couldn't very well dissect your body, Cult Leader, so I was deeply worried. The bodies of you Blood Ghosts are truly magnificent. The progress that your regenerative abilities have brought to medicine cannot be fully described in words."
"I find your insolent words pleasing. At least you recognize my grace."
"My own grandchildren will be the first to undergo the great technique."
"How many can benefit from it?"
"As I mentioned before, five is the limit. Even after mobilizing all the medicinal herbs we can gather, that is the absolute maximum. Three for you, and two for us. Is that not what we agreed upon?" the old man asked.
"Yes, indeed."
Answering briefly, the Blood Flame Cult Leader's translucent gaze swept across the interior of the stone chamber before stopping at a large drawing hanging in the center of the wall.
It was a human body diagram.
It depicted everything from the texture of the body's muscles to the acupoints, the twelve meridians, and the eight extraordinary meridians. Among them, the Baihui point at the crown of the head was drawn exceptionally large.
Noticing his gaze, the corners of the old man's mouth twisted upward in a grotesque grin.
"The Desolate Fortress's Flash Art."
The old man spoke, his face stretched in madness.
"That... is not a body of our kind. It is truly marvelous. Even if we include your Blood Flame Cult or those Brightfolk weaklings, it remains unparalleled. I am driven nearly mad with anticipation for the great technique. The key to the procedure lies right there—in how closely we can replicate the body in that diagram."
"Not a body of our kind? What does it look like to you?"
A warm, beautiful voice flowed out. It was the first time the Seventh Apostle had spoken since entering the stone chamber.
As if he had been waiting for this question, the old man continued.
"With an acupoint configuration that is as mysterious as it is strange, violent, chaotic, and supernatural, and having even trained in a dynamic cultivation art that reaches the level of a divine art..."
The old man's breathing grew ragged. His voice was laced with supreme longing and excitement.
"He is closer to a spirit beast masquerading as a human."