Chapter 103: The Flash Art Lineage (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103: The Flash Art Lineage (3)
Hand over Brilliant River? The very thought made him recoil, a rejection from both his reason and his heart.
It wasn’t simply because it was a martial art named by Namgung Se-jin.
‘This is a technique where even a one-in-a-million risk of exposure is unacceptable.’
This was a world where martial arts were, on rare occasions, leaked. It was said to be a common occurrence in the lower echelons of the Jianghu, where small and medium-sized sects fought over territory.
It wasn't just a matter of betrayal. Enduring torture was a different matter entirely, even for a master of martial arts.
The techniques he had contributed so far had immense room for development. They could evolve endlessly in Jeong Yeon-shin's hands, and he would even welcome any counter-techniques devised against them.
But Brilliant River was different. By its very nature, it was bound to a specific form and a precise formula for manipulating true qi.
“You’re not going to contribute it…?” Shin So-bin asked weakly.
“No, I’m not.”
“Ah, so you’re not…”
He was inwardly amused by her crestfallen expression. With a calm face, Jeong Yeon-shin thought, ‘No matter how desperately I need contribution points.’
He had to protect the mnemonics of a core art that was nearly perfected. The same went for the Sword House techniques and the Jeong Family Dynamic Art.
Furthermore, Brilliant River was a single-strike, sure-kill art. Its weaknesses—casting time and precision—were already significant, so he could not afford to expose its mnemonics on top of that. Anyone who understood its secrets would know this was a matter of survival.
‘Besides…’
To even attempt it, one first had to master the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand. The prerequisite itself was an art no one had ever managed to learn, even setting aside the Blood Flame Cult's Mara Blood-Roaring Art.
There was simply no reason to contribute it.
“Y-you would receive a massive amount of contribution points for it. Extremely massive. You’ve only just returned, Senior, so you don’t know. You have no idea what a huge stir it caused.”
Shin So-bin pleaded, gauging Jeong Yeon-shin’s reaction.
“I wonder.”
The contribution points he’d received for the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand had been mediocre. For a technique that Shaolin monks had hailed as a divine art, the reward was meager. While it was high considering no one had mastered it, it wasn't as much as he had hoped. They claimed it was only that high due to the rarity of dharma-powered arts.
That was all.
‘Brilliant River won’t bring in many contribution points either.’
That was just how the Desolate Fortress operated. Even for profound martial arts, they considered versatility. To train in Brilliant River, one had to first learn the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand, which had zero practitioners.
No one would be able to learn it. There was absolutely no reason to suffer the loss of exposing its mnemonics.
“I’ve only just returned. I need to circulate my qi first,” the boy said.
He gently pried the children’s hands from his sleeves. Jeong Yeon-shin met the Nameless Disciples’ eyes and gave them a small smile.
‘They’re cute kids.’
Even though he was a Blue-Rank expert, they approached him without hesitation. While the older members showed him formal respect, he didn't expect such behavior from young children.
“Circulating qi first. Ah, right, of course you should,” Shin So-bin replied, looking slightly self-conscious for some reason.
As she shrank back, the hem of her white Desolate Fortress robe creased slightly. The pristine white robe, which usually lent her an imposing air, now looked a little rumpled.
Her family was the Shin Clan of the Desolate Fortress. It was said their prestige rivaled that of the Desolate Ma Clan, but Shin So-bin's current behavior was a far cry from that of a noble lady from a renowned house.
“Shin So-bin, where are the Unit Commander and the other seniors?”
“They went on a mission right after you departed, Senior Flash Art. None of them have returned yet.”
“Sichuan?”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the conversation he’d had with Ma Jin before confronting the Namgung Clan.
—I must head to Sichuan soon myself. It’s about the Thunderbolt Bomb that caught you off guard. Information is circulating that the Sichuan Tang Clan is secretly manufacturing them. The Chief Steward's Office ordered me to investigate.
—The Tang Clan… I heard the Sichuan martial world is treacherous. Isn't it a place where even experts of the Demonlight Wing can't guarantee their survival if they get swept up in its currents? The Sichuan Tang Clan, which vies for the top spot among the Eight Families, is there, along with three of the Nine Great Sects and three of the Thirteen Heavens’ great sects.
He also remembered Ma Jin laughing in reply, saying he was more worried about Yeon-shin.
‘They haven’t returned yet.’
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded once and spoke.
“Let’s catch up properly later. Though I don’t have much to say about the Infinite Flower of Time Hand… no, the Infinite Flower of Time Fist.”
He’d taken to calling it the Infinite Flower of Time Hand now. After creating the three fist techniques, he had followed them with the palm technique, Brilliant River.
“Yes, let’s do that!”
Her reply was slightly high-pitched. Nodding her small head, Shin So-bin blushed.
Jeong Yeon-shin found it a bit puzzling. This was a side of her he could hardly imagine under normal circumstances.
The White Cat of the Demonlight Wing, Shin So-bin.
He recalled their encounter with the Lazy Flame Dragon during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering mission. He had been with Shin So-bin then, and she had spoken without hesitation, telling him—while he was practicing his Sword House techniques—that he was drawing too much attention.
In other words, she had no qualms about criticizing a Blue-Ranked expert. She had even openly discussed his skills.
She was originally incredibly bold. She had always been that way.
‘Why is she acting like this?’
Inwardly tilting his head, he took a step forward. The rustle of robes filled the air as the young Nameless Disciples of the Demonlight Wing reluctantly stepped aside.
These boys and girls had entered the sect through a more direct path than the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam. They had grown up within the fortress, just like disciples of any other sect. This meant that, despite their innocent appearance, they had been trained in the ways of the Demonlight Wing since birth.
Missions, rest, training—they were thoroughly accustomed to the systems of the Desolate Fortress.
“Right. You have to rest first before telling us your heroic tales.”
“I’m just calling dibs. I’m first to learn the Infinite Flower of Time Fist. I can’t seem to put power into the Advancing Thunder technique properly!”
“What is an amateur like you even talking about? Let’s settle this with a duel. Follow me to the training ground.”
“Fine! You think I’m scared?”
Amidst the clamor of youthful voices, Shin So-bin stared at Jeong Yeon-shin’s retreating back with a slightly dazed expression.
The boy walking silently away showed no trace of fatigue. Only the quietly condensed aura around him bore witness to his growth. The presence of his energy was immense.
‘His martial arts have reached another level.’
Shin So-bin thought. The achievements of the Blue-Rank expert, Flash Art, were plain to see.
An expert who had reached distant heights.
Now, she couldn't even fathom how many exchanges she could last against him. She could only see his back, constantly moving forward.
Yet, something was more important than mere achievement: the talent to create martial arts.
Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing achieved growth and creation simultaneously. He progressed even while devising new techniques. He no longer seemed like a boy her age at all.
“Senior Shin, what’s wrong?”
“You’re acting all hesitant and strange.”
“That’s not like the White Cat of the Demonlight Wing!”
The children chattered teasingly. They were right. This was a highly unusual state for her. Had she developed romantic feelings for Senior Flash Art?
‘No way.’
No. It wasn’t something so shallow. The issue was a feeling tied directly to her identity as a martial artist.
Shin So-bin unconsciously recalled the words of the Red-Day Sword of the Thread-Annihilation Unit, whom she had met in the Gold-Piercing Martial Library.
‘He called him a Grandmaster.’
A pioneer of a new school. The first to realize its principles. A founder revered by all.
The values of those in the Jianghu were usually rooted in martial arts. One who founded a profound lineage was treated with the respect due to a Grandmaster. People of the martial world revered Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng more than Gautama Buddha. They were the founders of the Shaolin Temple's supreme arts and the Wudang Sect's Taiji martial arts—both were referred to as Great Grandmasters.
Flash Art Jeong Yeon-shin was also forging his own lineage. Now, no one could treat him lightly.
‘Even if it’s still incomplete.’
If one walked the path of martial arts, it was only right to show him respect.
‘Every martial artist with a sound mind would agree.’
Shin So-bin had eagerly studied the martial arts Jeong Yeon-shin had contributed. Thus, she had felt it all—the overwhelming talent and flashing inspiration flowing through the mnemonics. It was different from simply looking at the martial artist named Flash Art. She had been deeply moved.
The upper echelons of the Jianghu who possessed peerless martial arts were a tiny minority. This meant that the vast majority of martial artists would have to bow their heads in respect after reading the martial mnemonics Jeong Yeon-shin had created.
It wasn't just the Infinite Flower of Time Fist. The Radiant Wing Step, the Scripture of Initial Overcoming, and the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style were all the same.
‘It is the Flash Art Lineage.’
Only then did she realize what she was feeling. Her entire demeanor had changed. She was unconsciously adopting the attitude of a student before a Grandmaster.
But there was a problem.
Shin So-bin wasn't the only martial artist in the Desolate Fortress who felt this way. Yet, the Desolate Fortress was a sect where master-disciple relationships were strictly forbidden. There were no masters, senior disciples, or junior disciples—only superiors and subordinates, seniors and juniors.
‘What if some malicious bastards try to find fault with this…?’
As the legitimate daughter of the Shin Clan, Shin So-bin had grown up roaming the Desolate Fortress. As she frowned, certain faces immediately came to mind.
* * *
Three days passed.
Since Ma Jin, who normally assigned missions, was away, Jeong Yeon-shin had no choice but to wait for direct orders from the Chief Steward's Office. He spent those days refining his martial arts.
He wanted to spend as little time as possible in the main fortress. Contribution points were important, but he also needed to accumulate experience and broaden his horizons in the Jianghu.
Although he had won the recent duel, he found it hard to be satisfied.
‘I was lucky.’
He recalled his fight with the Azure Qilin, Namgung Se-jin. The momentum that day had been on his side. It was as simple as that. Both of them possessed techniques capable of inflicting fatal wounds on the other. The Imperial Sword Form was an art so novel and overwhelming that it seemed like a supernatural power. It wouldn't have been strange no matter who won.
‘I must go further.’
Martial arts were a discipline born from fighting others. They could not be mastered alone. True martial prowess was honed through interaction with an opponent.
A certain person immediately came to mind.
The White Qilin, Namgung Hwa-shin.
He was the only one among his peers who could keep up with his senses.
However, the boy inwardly shook his head. He was likely mired in despair right now. He couldn't use him as a mere sparring partner.
‘Even if I can’t comfort him, I shouldn’t do that.’
Sparring with the martial artists of the Demonlight Wing no longer provided any stimulation. They had become like family, and his practical combat training had stalled. He felt no sense of danger from them.
Besides, all the seniors had gone to Sichuan with Ma Jin anyway. So, Jeong Yeon-shin simply continued his mental image training.
Perhaps it was because he had witnessed peerless, top-tier experts like the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps during the Namgung Clan mission, but his thoughts spiraled deeper and deeper. He almost wished someone would pick a fight with him so he could unleash his sect's martial arts to his heart's content.
‘What a thuggish thought.’
Inwardly shaking his head, he immersed himself in meditation. About four hours passed.
Suddenly, sunlight, distorted by the window grates, brushed against his cheek. It was the breath of twilight hanging at the end of the day.
Just then.
“Is anyone there!”
A voice suddenly rang out, vibrating the air. The latent true qi within it was immense. It was the internal power of a Blue-Rank expert, at least.
Jeong Yeon-shin reacted instantly. There were no Black Ranks present, and he was currently the only Blue Rank in the Demonlight Wing.
Hummm!
He immediately activated his Body Protection Scripture. Swiftly opening the door, he dashed outside.
Tap! Whoosh!
A violent gust of wind swept through his hair as he closed the distance in an instant.
A single person stood before the pavilion.
“I joined the Desolate Fortress today. Been assigned to the Demonlight Wing.”
The young man, dark circles hanging exhaustedly under his eyes, smiled. It was a gentle smile. He strode forward holding a gourd, the smell of alcohol growing thicker the closer he got.
He continued speaking.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we? Your face left quite an impression on me. The bastard who called me slow.”
“……”
“I don’t know your name. But I know your title. Flash Art… wasn’t it?”
He looked to be at least ten years older than Jeong Yeon-shin. His sharp, handsome features exuded a profound languor. He was a familiar face.
“The Hwangbo Clan’s Lazy Flame Dragon,” Jeong Yeon-shin said.
First, he relaxed his body using the Jeong Family Dynamic Art. In an instant, the muscles of his entire body loosened like a beast preparing for a fight. As he did, the boy took in the sight of the man.
“So you remember me too.”
The Lazy Flame Dragon smiled, looking satisfied. He wore shabby martial robes, yet he carried a strange air of nobility. The leaf he was chewing did indeed seem to be a poppy. How had he obtained it? It was a strange sight within the Desolate Fortress.
His eyes, shadowed with faint dark circles, curved into crescents, but Jeong Yeon-shin merely stared back at him.
“It’s only natural. Aren’t our talents of the same kind? I have the Solar Divine Pulse, and you…”
Trailing off, the Lazy Flame Dragon tilted his head slightly.
“What was it? Well, whatever.”
A terrifying energy smoldered within him. Even though he didn't seem to be actively raising his true qi, he was hot. It was the power of fervent Yang. It felt as though he had grown even stronger, as if he were evolving on his own.
“I’m no longer some worthless Hwangbo Young Master, but a mere Nameless Disciple. I look forward to working with you.”
His words and actions seemed completely detached from the world. He didn't seem like the young master of a great family at all.
But that didn't matter. A question arose in the boy’s mind.
Why would they allow the successor of a destroyed clan into the Desolate Fortress? Was this a decision the Chief Steward's Office could even make?
While organizing his thoughts, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.
“Use honorifics.”
“Hmm?”
“Use honorifics, Lazy Flame Dragon.”