Chapter 151: Contact (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: Contact (2)
"This is no time for jokes," said Ha Do-un, Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing. His expression remained perfectly calm.
Perhaps because he was well-acquainted with Ak Su-rim's unpredictable nature, he didn't waste energy showing any irritation.
He merely glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin and continued. "I will not question the capabilities of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. The achievements Commander Jeong has earned thus far are too glaring to deny. While it is concerning that his first mission as a Commander is of such a large scale, I believe he has proven he meets the minimum qualifications, brief though his tenure may be. He is sufficiently strong and decisive."
Ha Do-un spoke with crisp enunciation, his rigid personality bleeding through his tone.
Jeong Yeon-shin raised an eyebrow. This was unexpected. Were all the Commanders of the main fortress—those who had passed the Lord's discerning eye—like this?
Just the other day, Ha Do-un had shown his clear disapproval of the boy. Yet, when discussing objective achievements, he harbored no personal bias.
Indeed, that was exactly why his words and actions carried such weight.
The Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, however, did not seem to agree.
"And?" Ak Su-rim asked petulantly. Her hand, gripping the shaft of the spear propped up beside her, moved in a peculiar rhythm.
She repeatedly tapped, released, and gripped the shaft, as if ready to strike at a moment's notice. It was an outrageous display of disrespect.
Only then did Ha Do-un's brow furrow. "Your attitude is highly inappropriate, Vice Commander. Are you showing favoritism toward the Flash Art?"
"Look at the way you talk. To me, you're just a junior who's practically a speck of dust." Ak Su-rim laughed.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a powerful wave of energy erupted from her body. It whipped up her pitch-black bobbed hair and swept fiercely past Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes.
Her presence, unleashed in a single instant, caused the stone seats of the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall to tremble. The atmosphere warped in a split second.
Her internal energy...!
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes widened. The fluctuations of her True Qi were monstrous. He could physically feel the oppressive air currents brushing against his skin.
Her internal energy was so profound that the initial surge of momentum felt weak in comparison to its true depth.
It's not just the sheer volume of accumulated Qi.
The boy was surprised anew. He could feel Ak Su-rim's martial intent embedded directly within her True Qi.
A wild yet cheerful mental image bloomed, approaching him in the realm of pure intuition. Had she achieved the complete Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit?
He couldn't even begin to fathom how incredibly fast her deployment of internal energy would be in a real fight.
The way she held her spear—looking for all the world like a playful young girl—exuded the sheer boredom of the truly strong. She seemed to be at a realm infinitely close to the Purple Rank.
Ak Su-rim, Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress.
Jeong Yeon-shin's expression darkened. She was a supreme expert whose standing was firmer than any promising Black Rank Commander. This was because she had undergone Rejuvenation.
She was hailed as a pillar of the main fortress alongside the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, destined to be the corps' next master. To the boy, she was his most formidable rival.
The moment he had taken his place in the Commanders' stone seats, his goal had become crystal clear. It was a thrilling sensation.
I must defeat Senior Ak, and ultimately triumph over the Commander as well...
He had thought he'd taken a giant stride forward.
He was wrong.
That was not a person. She had to be viewed as a natural disaster.
And what of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps? The sight of him drawing a brilliant internal energy sword to slay the Namgung Clan Head was still vivid in his mind.
That invisible sword, forged of seven-colored light, was a profound mystery second only to the Nature Sword wielded by the Lord of the Desolate Fortress.
Was it a realm he could possibly reach within three years? The higher he climbed, the more these peaks seemed to transcend the mortal world entirely.
The decades they had spent accumulating achievements in the Desolate Fortress could not be compared to Jeong Yeon-shin's brief tenure. The rewards they had claimed for those achievements must have been extraordinary. It was hard to even guess how many spirit elixirs they had consumed over the years.
Why is nothing easy? The world is too vast.
The boy sank into his thoughts for a moment. A gloomy mood washed over him, dragging him down like a swamp.
He couldn't afford to face that despair head-on. He forcefully turned his mind away from it.
Meanwhile, Ak Su-rim was still chattering at Ha Do-un.
"Are you absolutely sure you have no personal feelings in this?"
"...Of course," Ha Do-un replied, his face cold.
Ak Su-rim's smile widened.
"Isn't it because of White Qilin? You've already designated Namgung Hwa-shin as the next Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing. Everyone who needs to know, knows. And yet, such a promising prospect is trying to transfer his affiliation just to follow the Flash Art. With your temper, that must be incredibly infuriating. I'd feel the exact same way."
She shook her head gently. Her arrogant attitude suited her strangely well. It was to the point where Ha Do-un's mental discipline in maintaining his composure was genuinely commendable.
He spoke again. "This is a place to discuss the state of the Jianghu. When it comes to separating public and private matters, I am surely better at it than you, Senior Ak. Let me ask you: you are the one breaking the rules of the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall. Are you really not favoring the Flash Art? Your junior clearly raised his hand to object."
"I did it because we don't have time to bicker. The Commanders, who should be out roaming the Jianghu right now, are tied down here because of those worthless Martial World Alliance bastards, aren't they? If you don't like how I'm running things, challenge me."
"Do you think I won't?"
"Have you oiled your Heaven-Aligned Sword? Draw it. I'm not scared in the slightest. Do you think you can even last ten moves against me?"
Would the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady of legend look like this if she went to war? The sight of Ak Su-rim, casually sitting and holding her spear while picking a fight, was truly bizarre.
Even as she spoke carelessly and hurled verbal abuse, she somehow didn't lack an ounce of dignity.
Suddenly, she glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin, the corners of her mouth curling upward.
"Favoritism? Of course it's favoritism! Do you know how bored I've been among these dull, gloomy bastards? When such vibrant, fresh red blood enters and brightens up the One Sword Hall, how could I not lose my mind? I absolutely love it!"
She stamped her feet, acting exactly like the youthful girl she appeared to be. The tips of her black hair, which lightly brushed the nape of her neck, scattered with her movement.
They said the temperaments of masters who had reached lofty realms were unpredictable, and that common adage certainly rang true here.
At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin clearly heard Ma Jin, who was sitting next to him, mutter under his breath:
"She's gone senile."
"A eunuch sure has a lot to say. I'm telling you, he's absolutely adorable. Your nephew, that is," Ak Su-rim snapped, glaring fiercely at him. "I might just snatch the Flash Art away to the Divine Sword Corps. It wouldn't be a bad thing for your nephew either, you know? I've already discussed it seriously with the Commander. I'll even kneel before the Lord if I have to."
"Vice Commander, maintain your dignity," Un So-yu, Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit, advised in a calm tone. Ma Jin merely sat in silence like a bear.
Hmph!
With a sharp snort from Ak Su-rim, her overbearing momentum vanished in an instant. She stopped before things could escalate any further.
It was a lofty control of internal energy that brought the phrase 'Adaptability without Obstruction' to mind. The boy quietly watched her every move.
He sought to turn her supreme skills and momentum into nourishment for his own martial growth.
"There is no need to be flustered." Ma Jin lightly patted the boy's shoulder. "The Commanders' meetings are always like this. It's a gathering of renowned supreme experts. There's always a storm out of nowhere. Even this table..."
He gestured with his chin toward the massive round table. "It has been split and shattered dozens of times. You must get used to this too, Yeon-shin."
"..."
"The Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall is not a place for mere verbal discussions. Sometimes, you must display your martial arts to give weight to your opinions. There is no need to be intimidated just because they are your seniors. Just do as you did with the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit. You are now capable of pointing your sword at a Black Rank."
Those last words carried a heavy weight. This situation, too, was part of the world of the Black Rank.
Following the utmost devotion of Artisan Jang, who had woven his clothes with Heavenly Silkworm thread, this environment made him truly realize his new, lofty status.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slightly. It felt awkward to comment on the behavior of his great senior, Ak Su-rim.
As if sensing his nephew's thoughts, Ma Jin flicked his finger against his armrest.
Thump!
His internal energy was infused into the sound, creating a reverberation that commanded the room's attention.
Ma Jin spoke. "Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing, state your objection."
"The issue is the recovery of the Demonlight Wing. While the deaths of our comrades are deeply regrettable, we must look ahead. With so many injured, how do you plan to structure the unit? It would look bad for the Commander of the Demonlight Wing to go to the Martial World Alliance alone. It is also dangerous."
"A reasonable point." Ma Jin nodded.
He turned his gaze to Jeong Yeon-shin beside him, completely ignoring Ak Su-rim, who was pouting in the corner. "Yeon-shin, do you have something in mind?"
"Yes." The boy nodded slightly. "In any case, I cannot go with an entire martial unit. That would be like the Sword Excellence of the Mount Hua Sect bringing all the Plum Blossom Sword Soldiers with him. Such a thing rarely happens unless it is an all-out war between great sects. Since I am attending as an invited guest, I believe it is proper to bring only a small number of elite experts."
"But are there any uninjured experts in the current Demonlight Wing?" Ha Do-un asked, his brow furrowing. He seemed to sense something unpleasant coming.
"No. Since we are short-handed, I was about to make a request," Jeong Yeon-shin answered quietly. "I request the Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing to dispatch White Qilin."
"So it comes to this after all," Ha Do-un muttered. He looked as if he were about to sigh. "It is pathetic for Commanders to squabble over subordinates."
"..."
"However, I cannot allow a member to transfer units based on personal whims. That is a matter of discipline. Therefore, based on rational judgment, I will only permit his temporary dispatch for now. Future matters must be discussed later."
Jeong Yeon-shin clasped his hands in a silent, respectful salute. Ha Do-un watched the brief but neat gesture for a moment before shaking his head.
"The current Commander of the Demonlight Wing had better not misunderstand. This decision was made because you and White Qilin have worked together on a long mission and are in sync, and because the Demonlight Wing's current circumstances are unfavorable. The formation of the Martial World Alliance is no small matter, even for the main fortress. Since you will need peace of mind, it is only right to arrange the personnel in advance."
He displayed the haughty demeanor expected of a senior of the main fortress. He wore a solemn expression, as if intoxicated by his own words, but then suddenly frowned.
"It seems I am the one stuck going to Xinjiang. I must go and decapitate that brat, the Young Sect Leader of the Ming Cult, in a single stroke."
Ak Su-rim and the other Commanders, who had only nodded in agreement, began to adjust their attire. It seemed they were already preparing to leave.
Jeong Yeon-shin sat there in a daze. Did the Commanders' meetings always start so abruptly and end so randomly? Their shared reluctance to sit at the table for even a moment longer than necessary was strangely similar.
It was a display that made the Small Sword Empress Chwi So-ok of the Diancang Sect, who sat isolated in a corner, look entirely out of place. It would be more accurate to call this a gathering of eccentrics.
"Excuse me, didn't you have a lot of questions for me?" the Small Sword Empress asked blankly.
"Speak with the Commander of the Demonlight Wing," said the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit, who had remained silent the entire time, his eyes hollow. The Commander of the Azure Sky Unit standing beside him nodded casually.
"The significance of the meeting at the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall lies simply in attendance."
"Flash Art. You only need to remember one thing." Ak Su-rim, rising lightly from her seat, curled her lips upward. "There is a specific reason you were chosen. There is only one reason a Commander of the Desolate Fortress attends the Sect Founding Ceremony of the Martial World Alliance. The inherent purpose of the mission is not just reconnaissance."
"...What else is there?"
"The Hwangbo Clan and the Namgung Clan. We punished those bastards who cried out for righteousness while tormenting the common people, and yet the Martial World Alliance gathered like ants, claiming our actions were unjust, didn't they? The Eight Great Families and all the rest, flocking together. The dignity of our main fortress has fallen to the ground. They think that if they gather like that, they can actually do something to us."
"..."
"You are the main fortress's answer to their claims."
"Me?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly.
For a split second, a pitch-black flash of lightning flickered in Ak Su-rim's eyes.
"Yes... Is it easier to understand if I put it like this? 'Our Commander of the Demonlight Wing is this young, yet if you want to stop this boy expert, wouldn't the old fogeys of your Elder's Council have to step forward? Realize the difference in our levels and behave yourselves.' It's exactly that. It's a bluff we can pull off strictly because of you."
He found her—nodding to herself in satisfaction—to be quite bizarre. She seemed to live in a world of her own. It was a cheerfulness that Jeong Yeon-shin had never even imagined.
Jeong Yeon-shin stared blankly at the old expert who possessed the appearance of a young girl. What kind of family must one grow up in to develop such behavior?
Even if it were her natural disposition, it was strange. It was hard to explain the peculiar dignity embedded within Ak Su-rim's erratic conduct.
The boy thought: She certainly grew up beautifully.
"No sect has a decrepit elder step up for their founding ceremony. If it's you, you can completely dominate the Sect Founding Ceremony of the Martial World Alliance. Even if it's not some Dragon-Phoenix Gathering and is packed with mid-level experts of the Orthodox Factions."
She spoke like a chirping songbird. Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly.
"It is unclear what I must achieve for it to be considered an accomplishment."
"Don't overthink it. Just observe how the Alliance is doing and throw cold water on their parade. Do it as the youngest invited expert and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing of our main fortress."
She spoke with a deep smile. She then brushed the hair behind her ear and massaged her pale neck. Her bold yet beautiful appearance exuded a strange allure.
"With a body as well-built as yours, what is there that you couldn't do? Isn't that right?" she said, scanning the boy's entire physique with an evaluating gaze.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded as he looked at Ak Su-rim. Her forearms, revealed beneath her black sleeves, did not look like those of a master of spear techniques.
They looked incredibly delicate, as if the aftermath of Rejuvenation had stripped away even her muscle mass.
It was truly a terrifying thing. He would rather have the forearms of his maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok.
How weak must her physical force generation—her Fa Jin—be? Without internal energy, she wouldn't be able to do anything.
No matter how I look at it, Rejuvenation is not the way. If I can just grow old gracefully and die... that would be enough.
Just as the boy was shuddering in disbelief, Ak Su-rim slowly parted her red lips, her mouth curved in a graceful smile.
"Go to the Martial World Alliance, which arbitrarily distorts the banner of stabilizing the people's livelihood, and utterly humiliate those shameless idlers."
Her quiet whisper marked the end of the Commanders' meeting.