Chapter 105: The Flash Art Lineage (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: The Flash Art Lineage (5)
The words had spilled from a sudden surge of emotion. The murmurs of the scholars pierced not his ears, but his heart.
'They couldn't find a single trace of them? All of them?'
For the first time, the boy let his youthful bravado slip.
To consider the Demonlight Wing out of the fight from this point forward? That was a statement one could hardly make without assuming their total annihilation.
Even if all circumstances pointed to that conclusion, Jeong Yeon-shin, of all people, could not accept it.
The Jeong Family Manor was nothing to him. The Demonlight Wing was his true home.
"Young Hero Flash Art."
"Oh dear..."
"You have come to a place you shouldn't have."
Several scholars rose from their seats in succession. These were the men who looked upon Jeong Yeon-shin favorably.
Each offered an arching hand salute or a silent bow. Yet, despite their upright postures, their expressions were uneasy.
The only available expert among the Blue Ranks of the Demonlight Wing had just overheard their grim assessment. Anyone would find the situation awkward.
"The main unit currently consists of twenty-five members, excluding myself, Shin So-bin, and the Lazy Flame Dragon," Jeong Yeon-shin said, forcing his tone to remain calm.
"Earlier, I heard the scholar of the Golden Crest Sect speaking. He mentioned that two White Ranks had fallen in battle. Was he, by any chance, referring to the Demonlight Wing?"
The words had clearly reached his ears. They had said they were recovering two bodies.
"..."
"Please, tell me."
Jeong Yeon-shin stared intently at a scholar standing in the distance.
When the Grand Steward, who wore a heavy expression beside him, gave a slight nod, the middle-aged scholar of the Geum Clan reluctantly answered.
"...They say they have found the bodies of Yu Eun-eun of the Pure Cloud Sword and Do Myeong of the Scattered Fist. We received word that the nameless disciples of the main fortress's Sichuan branch have recovered them."
The boy fell silent. He knew Yu Eun-eun of the Pure Cloud Sword and Do Myeong of the Scattered Fist very well.
There was no way he wouldn't. Along with Heonwon Chang, they were among the few White-Ranked warriors of the Demonlight Wing.
When Jeong Yeon-shin had first arrived wearing his white martial uniform, they had guided him all over the main fortress with exceptionally bright, excited faces.
After the boy was promoted to the Blue Rank, they had playfully addressed him with honorifics.
Whoosh!
His energy wave fluctuated slightly.
It wasn't that his Jeong Family Dynamic Art was slipping from his control; rather, the energy that had already risen was warping on its own, shaken by his turbulent emotions.
Jeong Yeon-shin repeated a line from the Vajra Verse to himself.
'Abide nowhere, yet let the mind arise.'
Let the mind flow as it will. It was a phrase he had first heard when creating the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand.
It was from the sermon of the young divine monk of Shaolin and Zen Master Won-jong. At the time, it had struck a deep chord within him.
Thus, he had made it one of the core principles of the heart cultivation method he was currently developing.
The boy quietly observed his pounding heart.
It was the first time since entering the Jianghu that he had felt such an inner tempest. Grief and rage surged like a violent torrent.
He couldn't let this happen. If he wanted revenge, he must not be swept away.
He took a mental step back and observed his own emotions. It was a familiar process.
For this was the exact method he used to turn his eyes away from the fear of his limited lifespan.
'I just need to retaliate. If they have already passed away and it's too late to save them, taking the enemy's head comes first.'
The boy thought as a man of the Jianghu. He thoroughly detached the human Jeong Yeon-shin from his mind.
At the same time, he felt his energy wave withdraw completely into his body. He spoke once more.
"The remaining twenty-three. When you say they are missing, does that mean there has been no messenger pigeon or courier from the main force, including the Commander of the Demonlight Wing? For over seven days and nights?"
"...That is correct," the Grand Steward replied, marveling inwardly.
In this world, heart cultivation methods and arts were regarded merely as techniques for accumulating Qi.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Nine Sects were the only ones who practiced Qi circulation and breathing as a literal cultivation of the mind.
After all, how many scoundrels in the Jianghu had mastered profound heart cultivation methods?
'He is excessively calm for his age,' the Grand Steward thought as he looked at the Flash Art. He couldn't tell how deep the boy's mind truly ran, but he could feel a temperament as cold and sharp as a honed blade.
What kind of power would that blade unleash when combined with the boy's martial arts talent?
Even amidst the deluge of ominous news, he felt a sense of satisfaction as the Grand Steward of the Desolate Fortress.
It was then.
"Grand Steward."
"Speak."
Grand Steward Im Jin-myeong replied to the Fortress Lord's young direct disciple.
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head. Their eyes met.
"Jeong Yeon-shin of the Demonlight Wing requests permission to depart for Sichuan."
"I figured you would say that."
The Grand Steward stroked his beard, his face showing reluctance.
Jeong Yeon-shin continued, unbothered.
"Assign me a scouting mission. It is a place where three of the Nine Sects, three of the Thirteen Heavens, and even the Tang Clan are vying for power. Aren't the Azure Sky Unit and the Heaven-Aligned Wing, who are stationed there, already struggling just to hold their ground?"
"We have no forces to spare."
The Grand Steward shook his head.
"There are only two martial units of the Divine Sword Corps currently in the main fortress. They cannot be spared."
"..."
"Aside from them, there are a few remaining members in each unit, but they are all taking their rightful rest. A martial artist's skill reaches its peak not just through tempering, but also through rest. Most of them returned from missions within the past month. Even the Chief Steward's Office does not have the authority to conscript them immediately. Such is the law."
His words were sharp and precise. Both his tone and meaning were crystal clear. Finally, the Grand Steward concluded with a sigh.
"As of right now, it is impossible to form a separate martial unit."
He was right. The time of martial artists who had entered their rest period was protected by fortress law.
This was a unique characteristic of the Desolate Fortress. Experts returning from missions did not solely focus on practicing their martial arts.
Since a Jianghu warrior's life could be extinguished at any moment, they often spent this precious time with their families in the main fortress.
"..."
Jeong Yeon-shin fell silent.
This was not a matter where he could rashly show bravado.
The entire force—not just the White Ranks, but also the Black and Blue Ranks, including the Commander of the Demonlight Wing—had vanished.
This was not a simple incident where one could talk about roaming the Jianghu alone.
He could not leave by himself, nor would the Chief Steward's Office permit it.
But was he supposed to just sit still? No.
"If an available force can be assembled, will you permit the mission?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked.
The Grand Steward raised his eyes and nodded readily.
"That is something we, too, must naturally seek to resolve."
"I know."
In truth, he desperately wanted to call upon the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. However, hers was a name he dared not utter lightly.
As the guardian of the World Tree, the sacred relic of the Brightfolk, she was the most noble existence in the main fortress. No one dared to dictate her movements.
The Lord of the Desolate Fortress never moved lightly.
This was especially true when there was no clear and massive target, such as the main headquarters of the Blood Flame Cult.
'Just because she treats me specially doesn't mean I can cross the line.'
The boy thought, suppressing his desire to rely on the absolute master.
"I will assemble the personnel."
As if he had fully expected Jeong Yeon-shin's words, the Grand Steward nodded once more.
Step.
That was all. Jeong Yeon-shin turned around immediately, the hem of his blue robe fluttering sharply.
The scholars of the Chief Steward's Office watched the scene in silence, seeing him off without a word.
* * *
He did not head toward the Demonlight Wing's pavilion. He turned his steps in the exact opposite direction. The Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been standing outside with a sullen expression, asked in confusion,
"Where are we going...?"
"The Desolate Ma Clan," he replied briefly.
When they had returned to the main fortress, Ma Yeon-jeok had given him a piece of advice.
He had told him to come to the Ma Clan and receive Ju Yeon-jeong's apology.
The boy walked on, desperate enough to grasp at any straw.
"It seems like a pretty big deal. Your expression is quite serious. Ah, just talking to myself," the Lazy Flame Dragon said with a smirk as he caught up to his side.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke indifferently.
"Your assignment has been confirmed. You may return to the pavilion."
"No, no. Let's go together. I absolutely hate being bored, and this seems like it'll be much more interesting," the Lazy Flame Dragon replied, amusement lacing his voice. He seemed brimming with curiosity about Jeong Yeon-shin.
The boy ignored him and walked on in silence. He had no energy to bicker with the Lazy Flame Dragon.
After walking straight ahead in silence for a long time, they arrived at the main gate of the Desolate Ma Clan.
Jeong Yeon-shin looked up at the antique plaque. It read: Ma Clan Annex.
'The last time I saw this place...'
It was when Heonwon Chang had devised a scheme to put Ju Yeon-jeong in a difficult spot. Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo had been with him then.
Every familiar spot was steeped in the scent of the Demonlight Wing. His mind had already traveled to Sichuan.
The boy resolved to use any means necessary.
"Young Master Jeong."
It was one of the gatekeepers, who had been whispering among themselves with bewildered expressions.
He approached Jeong Yeon-shin cautiously and gestured behind him. His demeanor was extremely polite.
"We received orders to guide you inside immediately whenever you arrived. Please, come in. But the person beside you is...?"
"My servant."
"Ah, I see. You may certainly bring him along," the gatekeeper said with a slightly tense smile.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded silently and took a step forward.
He paid no attention to the Lazy Flame Dragon, who was staring at him from the side with an incredulous look on his face.
The scenery of the Desolate Ma Clan was no different from usual.
The regularly manicured garden was lush and green, and the pavilions of the inner courtyard stood in neat rows.
Jeong Yeon-shin advanced without hesitation. He had already requested to see the elders of his maternal family.
"Yeon-shin!"
The news had traveled fast. A youth had already come out to meet him.
With sharp eyes and a handsome face, it was Ma Se-in, the successor of the Desolate Ma Clan.
The moment he saw Jeong Yeon-shin, the solemn air typical of a great noble family vanished from him. His bright smile was quite picturesque.
"I heard you returned! Since it's only been a few days since you got back, I was just waiting for the right moment. I bet everyone else was too!"
He welcomed him warmly. Perhaps it was because Jeong Yeon-shin had offered him words of blessing during his coming-of-age ceremony—words he could no longer clearly remember.
Regardless of the overbearing influence of Ju Yeon-jeong, a relative of the imperial family, Ma Se-in's affection for him seemed to grow day by day.
One could even catch a glimpse of admiration toward Jeong Yeon-shin.
"You have no idea how much interest there is in the Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing lately. You're the talk of the main fortress. In a few more days, some guys might even show up at the Demonlight Wing's pavilion just to get martial arts advice from you."
He spoke with a grin. Jeong Yeon-shin nodded silently.
Ma Se-in, who had been scanning him with smiling eyes, glanced at the Lazy Flame Dragon.
The latter had stopped following directly behind Jeong Yeon-shin and was busy looking over the Ma Clan's pavilions.
"Who is the person behind you? His presence is quite extraordinary."
"My servant."
"Hmm... right. Why don't we talk as we head inside first? As you know, the elders here don't take long to get dressed and ready."
"Sure."
Jeong Yeon-shin began to walk side by side with Ma Se-in.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a jade stone held in his collateral cousin's hand.
It was about the size of a child's fist—a blue jade that possessed a strange energy. Its ocean-like color was beautiful.
Noticing his gaze immediately, Ma Se-in chuckled.
"It's called Spirit Treasure Jade. It allows you to check how pure the internal power you've accumulated is. The martial artists of our family mainly use it when practicing heart cultivation arts to check the density of their internal energy."
"I've never heard of such an item."
"It was made by the Ironfolk, sir," the Lazy Flame Dragon chimed in abruptly.
With a sarcastic look directed at Jeong Yeon-shin, his act of speaking like a servant suited him surprisingly well.
"It's only natural that my master wouldn't know of it. You can't obtain it without a connection to the Ironfolk, and on top of that, it's a consumable."
"A consumable?"
"What excellent insight," Ma Se-in said with a slight smile. It seemed he hadn't believed that the Lazy Flame Dragon was a servant in the first place.
"Yeon-shin, this is how you use it."
It happened in an instant. The Spirit Treasure Jade held between Ma Se-in's fingers cracked.
The fine lines spreading across the entire jade stone looked like parched earth in a drought.
"You just have to channel a single strand of internal energy, keeping the amount precise so that no energy wave is generated. The purer your energy, the more cracks will form. That's why it's called a consumable."
"I see," Jeong Yeon-shin replied.
Under normal circumstances, it was an object that would have piqued his curiosity.
But not now.
His eyes were fixed solely on Ju Yeon-jeong, the various elders of the Desolate Ma Clan, and his maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok, who were walking toward them from a distance.
"Here, take one. It'll be quite interesting if you observe its interior."
Meanwhile, Ma Se-in pressed another Spirit Treasure Jade into Jeong Yeon-shin's hand.
Perhaps he felt a sense of debt toward Jeong Yeon-shin, who had given up his position as successor early on.
He seemed to want to offer him whatever he could.
In the meantime, Jeong Yeon-shin came face-to-face with the elders of the Desolate Ma Clan. Ma Yeon-jeok spoke, his face looking as if he wanted to embrace him right then and there.
"Yeon-shin. Thank you so much for coming. It seems Se-in has already gifted you a Spirit Treasure Jade. It is wonderful to see."
"Maternal Grandfather."
When Jeong Yeon-shin offered a formal arching hand salute, the wrinkles around Ma Yeon-jeok's mouth sagged. He seemed disappointed by the formality.
It was then.
"Flash Art."
The woman dressed in a pitch-black palace robe parted her lips. A supreme elegance flowed from her beautifully aged face.
She was Ju Yeon-jeong of the imperial family, Ma Se-in's mother.
She was a martial artist who had mastered the imperial family's martial art, the Golden Immortal Eight Methods, to its absolute peak.
Even her gaze was lofty. The temperaments of the Desolate Ma Clan elders lined up behind her were no less formidable.
Each of them stared intently at Jeong Yeon-shin.
The pressure was truly immense. Even without intent, the waves of energy rolling toward him felt like a tsunami.
"I greet the elders of my maternal family."
After greeting them as well, the boy suddenly looked down at his right hand. The moonlight reflecting off the loosely held Spirit Treasure Jade was brilliant.
"I have come to make a demand by my right as a neglected blood relative," Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly. At the same time, he channeled a strand of true Qi to withstand their overwhelming presence.
He thought showing them something might make things easier.
Without a single trace of an energy wave, the internal power of his Jeong Family Dynamic Art penetrated the Spirit Treasure Jade.
The bead reacted instantly. It did not crack like the one Ma Se-in had shown him.
Instead, it simply vanished.
Sssss—
It scattered and rose like dust.
The faint moonlight shimmered in the powder that drifted up from Jeong Yeon-shin's hand like steam.