Chapter 104: The Flash Art Lineage (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104: The Flash Art Lineage (4)
“What did you say?” Lazy Flame Dragon asked, his thick eyebrows twitching upward.
Jeong Yeon-shin could read the meaning in his expression alone. He hadn't asked because he couldn't hear; he was offering a chance to take the words back.
“I’ve been locked up in the underground Thunder Prison for a long time. My hearing must have gone bad, so say that again.”
A slow, deliberate smile curled his lips—a clear attempt to assert dominance. He was once the young master of a great and prestigious family. As a local aristocrat of Jinan, Shandong, he would have enjoyed a status rivaling that of most royal families, so it was only natural for him to behave this way.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly.
“If you are on the Demonlight Wing’s roster, then you are my subordinate.”
“Are you provoking me right now?”
Lazy Flame Dragon’s eyes, already curved in a faint smile, narrowed. Deep shadows pooled beneath them, making him look as if he were one step from the grave. Aside from his intense aura, he was the picture of a physical wreck.
Fwoosh!
He twisted his lips into a languid smile as a wave of energy blazed from him. He was as bizarre as ever.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve never seen that person before. Is he fighting Brother Flash Art?”
“Should we tell an adult?”
“Idiot. Everyone’s out on missions. Brother Jeong is the highest-ranking person here right now.”
Lazy Flame Dragon had shouted loudly, and before long, the nameless disciples of the Demonlight Wing had emerged to watch.
Among them, a boy a few years older than Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward, ushering the younger children back.
“Let’s go behind the pavilion. Anyone can see he’s an expert. We’ll only be a burden to Brother Jeong.”
“But that mister doesn’t even have a rank color.”
“Just go.”
It was a relief. The boy was taking charge of the younger disciples.
Jeong Yeon-shin activated the Demonlight Formula, calculating its forms to block any path where the aftershocks of a clash might reach the children. Fortunately, the area behind Lazy Flame Dragon was completely open, making it an easy task.
He spoke.
“Obedience to superiors is absolute. That goes for all martial units in the Divine Sword Corps.”
Lazy Flame Dragon smirked at his words.
“The kids are cute. Anyway, I’m almost thirty. Do I really have to call you captain?”
“Senior is enough.”
“I studied under the Hwangbo Clan Head. He was a cranky old man I hated to even call father, but he was one of the oldest ghosts among the leaders of the Eight Families. Considering our seniority in the Jianghu, your words are bizarre, to say the least…”
Just then, Shin So-bin, who had been creeping closer from a distance, shouted.
“But Senior Flash Art learned from the Lord of the Desolate Fortress!”
“…”
Lazy Flame Dragon’s mouth snapped shut. Seniority in the Jianghu meant nothing before the Brightfolk. His argument was instantly refuted. Looking cornered, he parted his lips.
“Still, my age…”
“A disciple in nameless clothes talking back to a Blue-ranked warrior?” Shin So-bin retorted, her eyes narrowing like a cat’s.
It was a strange dynamic. As Jeong Yeon-shin and Lazy Flame Dragon faced off, she stood to the side with her hands on her hips, her pitch-black eyes watching them intently, ready to refute anything Lazy Flame Dragon said. She released her own energy to withstand the pressure radiating from the two experts, her white robe fluttering softly like the hem of a celestial fairy’s gown. Was it innate courage? She didn’t seem the least bit tense.
“My family was a pillar of the Eight Great Families,” Lazy Flame Dragon said, keeping his gaze fixed on Jeong Yeon-shin.
The retort came from Shin So-bin.
“But your family was wiped out, wasn’t it?”
Her words were blunt. Yet, Lazy Flame Dragon couldn’t turn his head. Jeong Yeon-shin, having already activated the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, was exuding a profound and heavy aura. He had finally reached the realm of a high-level expert. Having even slain the Azure Qilin, who was said to be Lazy Flame Dragon’s close friend, he was more than worthy of being called one of the elites of the great sects.
“Give me a break.”
Lazy Flame Dragon furrowed his brow as if things had become incredibly tiresome.
“…I also have the reputation I built in the Jianghu. You must have heard the rumors of me dominating the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
“But the White Qilin, who also won that gathering, lost to Senior Flash Art, didn’t he?”
“Think of my status. I was the young master of a great family.”
“What does a ruined family matter? Besides, Senior Flash Art is a direct disciple of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, and I am a legitimate daughter of the Desolate Shin Clan. Senior Flash Art is a Blue-ranked warrior, I am a White-ranked warrior, and you…” Shin So-bin’s lips curled slightly into an audacious smirk. “You said it yourself earlier. A petty, nameless disciple.”
“…”
“Are you out of your mind? Since you’ve entered the main fortress, you must follow its laws. How dare you forget your place and talk back to a vastly superior Blue-ranked expert? Do you want to be thrown back into a corner of the Thunder Prison? My grandfather is the former Elder Council Head. If I say the word, you’ll just…”
Her sharp tongue grew increasingly fierce, like the cry of an angry cat. Her moniker, the White Cat, seemed more fitting than ever.
“…”
As Lazy Flame Dragon gradually withdrew his aura, looking completely speechless, Jeong Yeon-shin kept his guard up, hiding a secret pang of disappointment. Since his opponent was no mere nameless disciple, he had simply asserted the principles expected of a senior in the Demonlight Wing. Even so, he had actually been looking forward to Lazy Flame Dragon’s aggression.
I thought we might be able to exchange a few blows with all our might, the boy thought. Without even needing a provocation.
Then, he slowly spoke.
“By the way.”
“What is it now?”
“I only know your moniker. What is your name?”
When a powerful expert roamed the Jianghu, their name would naturally spread. Usually, however, only their moniker became widely known, a consequence of the sheer, immense size of the land. This was especially true for Jeong Yeon-shin’s birthplace, Xinye County in Henan. Unless a rumor was exceptionally massive, it wouldn’t reach such a place.
Still, it was unusual for a warrior of the Desolate Fortress not to know Lazy Flame Dragon’s real name. After all, there were only eight young masters of the Eight Families in the entire Jianghu.
Even for the mission, I was only given his portrait and moniker.
There was a reason for this. Even Baek Mi-ryeo, Jeong Yeon-shin’s senior Blue Rank, was well aware of Lazy Flame Dragon’s short lifespan. The reason the Hwangbo Clan had established a concubine’s son as their successor had been revealed along with the clan’s destruction.
A brilliant talent destined for an early grave. They had viewed him as a consumable tool, a means to elevate the family’s reputation before being discarded. That was why they had never publicized the young master’s name. They desired fame, yet wanted an existence that could be easily erased. It was a paradox.
Jeong Yeon-shin saw a reflection of himself in Lazy Flame Dragon’s plight. This was one of the reasons he kept his distance from his maternal family, the Desolate Ma Clan.
Rustle.
A pleasant scent wafted over. Before he knew it, Shin So-bin had stepped up beside him. When their eyes met, she beamed, for a brief moment looking more like a puppy than the White Cat. Jeong Yeon-shin swallowed his bewilderment. It would be tedious to ask about her sudden change in attitude now.
Meanwhile, she pressed Lazy Flame Dragon.
“Senior is asking you. Answer him.”
“What if I don’t want to?” Lazy Flame Dragon retorted. The expression of pure lethargy on his face suited him in a way that defied his age, likely because his features were so exceptionally handsome.
Like the Azure Qilin and the White Qilin, the direct descendants of prestigious families all possessed outstanding looks. Come to think of it, the same was true for Shin So-bin and Ma Se-in.
They say appearance is also a form of status.
Those were the words of Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, who had accompanied him on his recent mission.
Jeong Yeon-shin unconsciously thought of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. That person lacked nothing. A noble status, world-shaking martial arts, and even an infinite lifespan. Did such a person even know what it meant to be wanting?
At the same time, Shin So-bin’s eyes sharpened once more.
“What did you just say? ‘What if I don’t want to?’ Has this mister lost his mind?”
“It’s a discarded name. I’d rather not bring bad luck to the Hwangbo name,” Lazy Flame Dragon said with a faint smile, seeming to have regained his composure.
Even as he shifted his tone at will, it never felt awkward. He possessed a deep, calculating mind. It made sense that he had managed to hold his ground as the young master of a massive, prestigious family.
“I haven’t received any prior notice,” Jeong Yeon-shin said. “Let’s go to the Grand Steward’s office. I need to verify that you were truly released from the Thunder Prison and assigned to the Demonlight Wing.”
Lazy Flame Dragon had come alone, without a single escort from the Grand Steward’s office. This was highly unusual. If his story was true, he must have given his guide the slip.
Just then, Shin So-bin’s breath brushed close to his shoulder. She was about half a head shorter than him, and the way she stared up at him was slightly overwhelming.
“Senior, should I come with you?”
“No. The children will be anxious. Go calm them down.”
He was referring to the nameless disciples of the Demonlight Wing. They were the ones who shared the warmth he had never received back at the Jeong Family Manor. Everyone in the Demonlight Wing was like that. He couldn’t help but care for them.
“They aren’t even normal civilian kids…” Pouting her small lips, Shin So-bin retreated with reluctant steps.
Jeong Yeon-shin locked eyes with Lazy Flame Dragon, who was watching her with a smirk.
“Let’s go.”
Verifying the facts came first. Jeong Yeon-shin led Lazy Flame Dragon toward the Grand Steward’s office. Smirking, the man followed with a swagger, taking his sweet time.
They walked for a while as twilight fell, passing several complexes of pavilions.
“Young Hero Jeong.”
They ran into the Grand Steward, who seemed to be just on his way into his office. He still possessed a massive build, enveloped in a robust, powerful aura that seemed utterly detached from the faint, struggling embers of the setting sun.
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly clasped his hands in greeting.
“Grand Steward. I was just on my way to see you.”
“Ah, I think I know why.” The Grand Steward smiled warmly, his expression like that of a father looking at his own son. He glanced behind Jeong Yeon-shin to where Lazy Flame Dragon stood, leaning slightly on one leg. “It’s because of that fellow, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“His assignment is official. Lazy Flame Dragon will become a powerful blade for the Demonlight Wing. While controlling him is the responsibility of his superiors, I have faith that you and the Demonlight Wing will manage him well.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
“I know it’s not easy to accept. However, the Fortress Lord personally looked into the matter. You may put your mind at ease. The Fortress Lord’s command is justification enough.”
“Ah.”
Jeong Yeon-shin let out a soft exclamation. He pictured the Lord of the Desolate Fortress gazing down at Lazy Flame Dragon—reclining against the massive tree trunks that filled his office, staring silently without releasing a single speck of energy. It was a vivid image. In it, Lazy Flame Dragon looked pitifully small, reflected in those deep, dark-green eyes that held the abyss.
Those were the eyes of a supreme transcendent among the Brightfolk, said to be able to pierce through to the very essence of things.
His doubts vanished.
“Thank you for the explanation.”
Jeong Yeon-shin clasped his hands once more and was about to turn around when the Grand Steward’s voice stopped him.
“If you have no urgent business, why not step into my office for a moment? I believe the report from the Demonlight Wing dispatched to Sichuan has just arrived. My subordinates should be reviewing it.”
“May I?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked immediately.
A benevolent smile graced the Grand Steward’s face. “Of course. Since the Fortress Lord personally took you in as a direct disciple, there is no doubt about your character. Follow me. By now, they should have decoded the cipher.”
“Wait here,” Jeong Yeon-shin said curtly. The command was not for the Grand Steward.
Lazy Flame Dragon, suddenly treated like a dog, raised his eyebrows, but the boy didn’t look back.
Step.
Jeong Yeon-shin followed the Grand Steward into his office. The moment he stepped over the massive threshold, a cacophony of voices struck his ears, as if they had been waiting for him. The murmuring was calm yet chaotic, thick with a sense of urgency.
A formation.
Even with his heightened senses, he hadn’t heard a thing from outside. It was another reminder of the sheer scale of the Desolate Fortress.
“…Two Demonlight Wing White Ranks dead. Bodies are being recovered. The rest, including the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, twenty-three in total, are all missing after engaging with an unknown group.”
“Estimated use of a wide-area martial art. Traces of hidden weapons found within an eight-jang (approx. 24 meters) radius. All marks are dense. Believed to be the Sichuan Tang Clan’s secret ultimate technique, Myriad Blossoms Rain. Unclear if they were friend or foe.”
“The Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect has appeared in Yongan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, accompanied by a Hegemon Sword Sect elder.”
“The Thirteen Heavens’ rising stars are gathering in Shunjing Prefecture, Sichuan. Numerous unorthodox and demonic martial artists are present, including those from the Tenth Sect and the Pure Demon Alliance. Some notable experts observed among their bodyguards, estimated to be at least Blue Rank level.”
“The Diancang Sect’s Small Sword Empress, the Emei Sect’s Golden Staff Divine Maiden, and the Qingcheng Sect’s Red Cloud Dragon have appeared. Three from the Nine Sects. Also in Shunjing Prefecture, Sichuan.”
This was the Grand Steward’s office of the Desolate Fortress, the place where all the news under heaven gathered. All around, scholars trained in martial arts discussed the reports with sharp, focused eyes.
“Should we not send reinforcements?”
“Impossible. The main fortress’s defenses are thin. Fifteen of our seventeen units are currently deployed.”
“The Divine Sword Corps stationed in Sichuan Province… Demonlight Wing, Azure Sky Unit, Heaven-Aligned Wing. As of this moment, the Demonlight Wing is deemed out of commission.”
Amidst the urgency, a deathly silence began to spread from one spot.
It was near the entrance. The hem of a blue robe fluttered.
Though he stood perfectly still, an energy surged from him like a raging wave, skyrocketing toward the ceiling.
It was the aura of a single person.
“This judgment that we are out of commission…”
It was the voice of a boy, just beginning to crack and deepen.
“I suggest you put it on hold.”