Chapter 109: Divine Art (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: Divine Art (3)
"What about me?"
A girl poked her head in, her face illuminated by the faint light of dawn.
She had crept into his quarters as stealthily as a cat. Jeong Yeon-shin had almost struck her, mistaking her for Shin Bin-bin.
But her eyes were larger. It was his direct junior, Shin So-bin.
Shin Bin-bin and Shin So-bin—though they had recently been split between the Heaven-Aligned Wing and the Demonlight Wing respectively, they were sisters who had trained together since childhood in the Desolate Shin Clan.
Their presences were strikingly similar. If Jeong Yeon-shin had been more deeply immersed in his meditation, he really might have lashed out.
Having just finished his Qi meditation, he uncrossed his legs and stood up.
I can leave right away.
The time had come. Everyone would be gathered as promised.
"Senior Flash Art, what about me?"
Shin So-bin tagged along behind him all the way out of the Demonlight Wing's pavilion.
Even as the nameless disciples of the Demonlight Wing gathered to see him off, she kept her eyes fixed solely on his face.
"Brother, you have to beat them all to a pulp!"
"If those Sichuan hillbillies get in your way, cut them all down! Show them how profound the Demonlight Formula is!"
"And please make sure to bring the other brothers back too. I miss Brother Myeong-myeong and Brother Chang..."
The young girl's voice was laced with sorrow as she mentioned Cheong-myeong and Heonwon Chang. Cheong-myeong had been with the Demonlight Wing for a long time. As a member of the Brightfolk with exceptionally striking looks, the nameless disciples had given him affectionate nicknames. Heonwon Chang was also highly popular due to his characteristically affable nature.
Jeong Yeon-shin silently swept his gaze over the children before stepping out the gate.
At that moment, Shin So-bin lightly grabbed his sleeve, trailing after him.
"Take me with you too. I'll definitely be of help."
"You must stay and look after the children," he replied calmly.
As Shin So-bin's eyes drooped dejectedly, Lazy Flame Dragon, who was walking beside Jeong Yeon-shin, chimed in.
"Weren't you staying behind to play nanny? To oversee the kids' martial arts. Well, that's how the youngest always is. Ah... just talking to myself."
"A nameless disciple is now..."
"A girl as big as a fully grown Ironfolk."
"What did you just say?"
Even as the two bickered, Jeong Yeon-shin's steps did not falter.
Soon, they arrived at the main gate of the Desolate Fortress. Two figures from the Heaven-Aligned Wing approached them.
It was Namgung Hwa-shin and Shin Bin-bin.
"Bin-bin. How far do you intend to follow?" Namgung Hwa-shin asked, turning his head with an indifferent expression.
Shin Bin-bin's demeanor, however, remained nonchalant.
"All the way to Sichuan, Brother."
"The nameless children must have tried to hold you back."
"What can they do if I say I'm going? I brought in servants and warriors from our clan to attend to them, so I've certainly done my part. There's nothing to worry about."
Her face was exceedingly haughty, but her majestic attitude ended right there. The moment she saw Jeong Yeon-shin, who had drawn close before she even realized it, Shin Bin-bin's face turned deathly pale.
In an instant, a myriad of emotions flickered across her features. Along with fear and helplessness, a deep shame flushed her complexion.
She must have heard about what happened from Namgung Hwa-shin, the boy thought to himself.
There was no need to exchange further words. Jeong Yeon-shin gave a slight nod to Namgung Hwa-shin.
"Young Hero Namgung."
"Young Hero Jeong."
Returning the greeting, Namgung Hwa-shin spoke again.
"You are the leader of this martial unit. Discipline must be strictly maintained. If any of our Heaven-Aligned Wing warriors disobey orders during the mission, I will personally step forward and execute them."
Just because he possessed an upright character did not mean he was soft. He was as sharp as a forged blade.
Shin Bin-bin kept her head deeply bowed, showing no other reaction.
"...Understood," Jeong Yeon-shin replied briefly, brushing past them.
While Shin So-bin stared at her older sister's face with an unfamiliar look, Lazy Flame Dragon gazed at Namgung Hwa-shin with a strange expression.
"It's been a while."
"Indeed."
It was said that the Azure Qilin, Namgung Se-jin, had been Lazy Flame Dragon's close friend. It seemed Namgung Hwa-shin and Lazy Flame Dragon also knew each other.
Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly wondered what Lazy Flame Dragon thought about Namgung Se-jin's death, but for now, he pushed the thought to the back of his mind.
Ssshh—
The feast of energy waves filling his open field of vision was immense.
As soon as Jeong Yeon-shin appeared, they released their internal energy and spirit.
The warriors of the Flash Art lineage were all gathered. Even though he had arrived earlier than the promised time, every single one of them was already in place.
They were accompanied by fine steeds snorting and champing at their bits. All preparations were complete.
"Grandmaster."
"You have arrived."
Their clasped-hand salutes were precise, like clockwork mechanisms.
The gesture of raising their clasped hands while bowing their heads was performed in perfect unison, bringing to mind the Vajra Bronze Men said to guard the Eighteen Passes of the Shaolin Temple.
Though he had never seen them, he vaguely imagined they would look exactly like this. Their respectful conduct was remarkably solemn.
"My word. It is truly so."
Grand Steward Im Jin-myeong sighed in admiration.
It wasn't just the warriors who had gathered. The scholars of the Grand Steward's office had also come to see off the rescue party.
Having received the departure roster from Jeong Yeon-shin upon his return last night, the Grand Steward had given conditional approval while harboring doubts. He had promised that if the names on the roster were real, he would officially recognize them as a temporary martial unit.
"The Flash Art lineage..." the Grand Steward muttered, stroking his beard as he looked at the bowing warriors.
Something extraordinary was taking place.
Though there were many who had donated their martial arts to the Gold-Piercing Martial Library of the Desolate Fortress, there had never been a case where they revered a single person as their Grandmaster like this.
The Grand Steward turned his head toward Jeong Yeon-shin.
"Young Hero Jeong."
"Yes, Grand Steward."
"If you bring them back safely upon your return, and if your achievements and merits grow even greater..."
What kind of scene was he imagining in his mind? For a brief moment, a strange light seemed to flash in the Grand Steward's eyes. But in the end, his voice trailed off, and he shook his head.
"I cannot place such a burden on you. Therefore, I hereby formally authorize your departure for this mission."
"Thank you," Jeong Yeon-shin replied immediately.
The Grand Steward smiled warmly.
"Since this is a temporary martial unit, I shall name it the 'Radiant Wing Unit' in the hope of the Demonlight Wing's return. The best outcome is a safe return alongside the Demonlight Wing; the second best is... identifying the culprits. I will submit the official document with these two objectives."
"It would be proper to accomplish both," Jeong Yeon-shin replied.
Perhaps sensing the killing intent laced within his calm voice, several people with sensitive senses of Qi flinched momentarily.
In truth, the boy had a third objective in mind, one the Grand Steward had not mentioned.
Revenge.
The Grand Steward nodded without showing much outward reaction.
It is also important to announce that the main fortress remains strong. Whether this once-in-a-century genius can achieve even that, or if they will all fall together in the rugged lands of Sichuan, remains to be seen...
The boy was already a Blue-Ranked Expert. His rank was high enough that he could freely choose his own path. On top of that, he was creating a brand-new martial lineage.
While the Grand Steward's office could authorize the mission, they were in no position to dictate Jeong Yeon-shin's code of conduct. His standing had risen astronomically.
The Grand Steward gazed at the back of Flash Art, who had already turned and begun to walk away. Soon, the official warriors fell into step behind him, one by one.
Amidst the rustling of their martial robes, only the clattering of sword tassels at their waists echoed. The scene exuded a fierce and desolate atmosphere.
Grand Steward Im Jin-myeong's lips parted slightly.
"Young Hero Jeong."
"...?"
Jeong Yeon-shin glanced back. The Grand Steward continued.
"The Fortress Lord is currently up in Beijing, but she has sent a message to her disciple. It arrived early this morning."
"...Please tell me."
"It is right here."
A rolled-up piece of paper emerged from the Grand Steward's robe. He lightly tossed the letter toward Jeong Yeon-shin. It flew straight and true, infused with internal energy.
The warriors of the Flash Art lineage quickly stepped aside.
Catching the paper and unfurling it immediately, Jeong Yeon-shin scanned the contents. The words were written in regular script. They were neat yet elegant.
[Infuse your intent into the flow you have forged. If you breathe with the Divine Art, you shall ascend to the black rank.]
"……."
Her clear, exquisite voice seemed to echo in his ears. It was a strange feeling.
"What does it say?" Shin So-bin grabbed and yanked back the hair of Lazy Flame Dragon, who was trying to peek over his shoulder.
Despite her violent gesture, her eyes held a trace of melancholy as she spoke.
"Senior Flash Art, please return safely."
"I will."
Tucking the second teaching of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress into his robes, Jeong Yeon-shin turned around. At last, they were setting out.
* * *
Thud-thud-thud!
The sound of horse hooves rolled like thunder. It was a familiar noise, having listened to it atop a fine steed for over a fortnight.
Thank you.
Jeong Yeon-shin stroked the neck of the horse, whose eyes were rolling back in exhaustion. At the same time, he kicked off the steed's back and leaped into the air.
A change in transport was necessary. The roads of Sichuan were incredibly rugged. From here on out, lightness skills would be far more efficient.
Thud!
Deep footprints were carved into the ground beneath his feet. The warriors who leaped up and landed behind the boy immediately executed their own lightness skills.
We're almost there, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
They were traversing Giju Prefecture in Sichuan Province. This meant they had successfully crossed from Huguang Province in the east to the very entrance of Sichuan.
They had switched horses relentlessly along the way. The mounts that exhausted their strength before even reaching the final post station had simply been abandoned.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Their strides struck the earth without hesitation, propelling them forward as swiftly as arrows.
He integrated the subtle principles of movement taught by Cheong-myeong into his lightness skill. Powered by the Body Protection Scripture, he sprinted, tearing through the air like a gale.
The waves of energy from the experts following closely behind the boy were equally magnificent. This was the Radiant Wing Unit of the Desolate Fortress.
After they entered the Sichuan Shu Road, rumors had begun to spread by word of mouth—rumors that experts from the Desolate Fortress were traversing Sichuan Province with terrifying momentum.
"Hey there, temporary Unit Commander."
Lazy Flame Dragon suddenly poked his face in from the right.
Backed by the internal energy of the Solar Divine Pulse—which was said to expand infinitely—and his mastery of the Hwangbo Clan's ultimate techniques, he had been training far longer than Jeong Yeon-shin. He looked extremely relaxed even while executing his lightness skill at such high speeds.
"Speak."
"We'll arrive soon, and there's something you should know beforehand."
"Tell me."
At Jeong Yeon-shin's brief reply, Lazy Flame Dragon smiled faintly.
"I'll speak comfortably, as the temporary Unit Commander so considerately allows. Well, it's about my current situation."
"……."
"As you know, because my damn clan caused a massive incident, the Desolate Fortress punished the Hwangbo Clan for treason. Normally, a bastard who was the Young Master of the clan wouldn't be allowed to survive such a thing."
Jeong Yeon-shin was also slightly curious about that. No matter how promising a genius he was, Lazy Flame Dragon was destined for a short life. In fact, that truth was widely known due to the very nature of the Solar Divine Pulse.
"While I was captured and waiting for the day of my execution, I somehow managed to make it out alive. However, my position is still extremely ambiguous. Frankly speaking, how many people in the Desolate Fortress actually trust me? They merely trust the Fortress Lord's command. Living out the little time I have left in a state of distrust? That is truly unpleasant."
"...And?"
"So I have to prove my worth. In front of our Lord Flash Art."
Lazy Flame Dragon's smile deepened. Looking at Jeong Yeon-shin's profile, he said, "Don't be surprised, no matter what kind of scene I make."
"……."
They sprinted for another half-day like that. Only then did the meaning of Lazy Flame Dragon's words become clear.
The Radiant Wing Unit arrived atop a cliff where a biting wind raged. On the very cliff where the trail of the Demonlight Wing had gone cold, a group of beggars sat in a circle, waiting.
"Welcome. We have been waiting."
Among those who scrambled to their feet, a young beggar stepped forward to speak. His shabby face was slick with grease, and he even smelled faintly of meat.
However, none of the Radiant Wing Unit's warriors looked down on him. This was because there were six knots tied to the beggar's waist.
"Six knots. He is a minor master of the Beggar Sect. Grandmaster, that man is the Successor of the Beggar Sect." The Red-Day Sword, standing behind Jeong Yeon-shin as if to assist him, whispered in a low voice.
The Beggar Sect. It was the sole gang among the great factions commonly referred to as the Nine Sects and One Gang. It was an organization where martial-artist beggars from all over the world gathered to form a massive, net-like information network.
"Yesterday, the twin geniuses of the Tang Clan came and went, and today, the precious swords of the Imperial Family make their appearance." Spreading his hands in an exaggerated gesture, the young beggar—the Successor—spoke.
The modifier "precious swords of the Imperial Family" coming from a martial artist's mouth was not a compliment. Since the Great Ming Imperial Family and the Desolate Fortress denied any external connection, it was obvious his words carried a hidden barb.
This was of no interest to Jeong Yeon-shin. He had no leisure to bicker over words.
"The Tang Clan?"
The boy recalled the report from the Grand Steward's office. It had mentioned that traces suspected to be the Tang Clan's ultimate techniques were left at the very end of the Demonlight Wing's trail.
It was the Myriad Blossoms Rain, a divine ultimate technique known to all martial artists throughout the Central Plains.
"Oh, the White Qilin and even Lazy Flame Dragon. The rumors I heard were true. The White Qilin is even handsomer than his portrait, and Lazy Flame Dragon's poppy looks quite fresh as well."
The Successor grinned as he scanned the Radiant Wing Unit. His tone and behavior made it difficult to fathom his true intentions.
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes narrowed.
It was then.
Smack!
The back of the Successor's head was violently slammed down. Lazy Flame Dragon, who had appeared beside him before anyone even noticed, whispered into his ear.
"So, who are these geniuses of the Tang Clan? And what business did they have coming here?"
"What do you think you're—!"
The Successor's choked cry was cut short. Lazy Flame Dragon's palm immediately struck his head once more.
This time, a heat wave so intense it distorted the air surged forth.
Thud!
The Successor's body splatted onto the ground like a crushed frog. The intangible protective Qi he had instinctively raised was completely shattered. The resulting vibration that traveled through the ground was incredibly strong.
Lazy Flame Dragon squatted down by the Successor's head.
"Poppy-addicts tend to take wild swings like this. Is this your first time seeing it?" he asked with a sly grin.
This was only the beginning. The Radiant Wing Unit had officially arrived in the Sichuan martial world. And they were grinding their blades for vengeance.