Chapter 162: Commander of the Demonlight Wing (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 162: Commander of the Demonlight Wing (5)
That is worth learning. He really is a monster, Lazy Flame Dragon thought.
The young commander had fought three duels over the past three days. Counting this one, it made four.
These uninvited guests all behaved in much the same way. They would knock on the door unannounced and spout the exact same lines—that they admired the reputation of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing and wished to cross swords with him.
Was it a genuine display of competitive spirit and hostility? Or had they been instigated by someone else?
It was hard to tell. A person's inner mind was far harder to predict than any martial variation.
It doesn't matter. I have the ultimate delicacy of the martial world right before my eyes.
He stared at the young commander, who was currently exchanging blows with six experts of the Verdant Overflow Sect.
A pure white sword path drifted through the air, like a flower blooming in radiant light. It blossomed profusely, entirely devouring the orthodox martial arts of the White Path.
That is quite profound in its own right, but...
The primary martial art Lazy Flame Dragon had seen Jeong Yeon-shin use was not swordplay. It was the Infinite Flower of Time Hand.
The fist and palm technique he unleashed with both hands after casually tossing his sword aside was his true strength. It served as his deciding blow in any situation.
The ultimate technique known as Brilliant River was the true highlight. The sheer ferocity he had displayed when slaying the Sword Scorpion Demon in the Sichuan City of Master Craftsmen was nothing short of astonishing.
It was an extremely powerful palm technique, the likes of which were rarely seen even within the Hwangbo Clan.
Yet now, he seeks to supplement his swordplay?
His young commander was clever.
There was no other reason for him to willingly accept the challenges of these orthodox martial artists. His compliance was born of necessity, not duty.
A sect with its name on the joint signature roster of the Martial World Alliance? That alone was proof enough that they possessed a reasonably profound and unique technique.
This held true for any martial lineage, and the young commander's sword path changed slightly every single time he witnessed a renowned technique.
It was a subtle difference Lazy Flame Dragon could only distinguish because he had been watching him so closely from the sidelines.
Absorbing, dismantling, and gradually incorporating their essence into his own sword.
It was a process that occurred in an instant. The sword path, altered for just a split second, immediately returned to its original form.
He was hiding the fact that he was honing a lethal weapon, ensuring no one would notice.
Namely, that the swordplay of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing has begun to advance even further.
The Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit back at the main fortress would likely be greatly flustered to see this. Lazy Flame Dragon rated the young commander's talent far above his own.
A genius of that caliber had begun modifying his sword forms in an unprecedented environment. It was impossible to predict what the outcome would be.
If he were to gain a grand realization that served as the finishing touch, wouldn't his swordplay transform into an entirely different art?
He hoped that would happen before the young commander began his duel with the Alliance Leader, the Sword Saint.
One could hardly boast of fist and palm techniques before a peerless master who had ascended to the very constellation of the sword.
The young Commander of the Demonlight Wing's body protection qi would not yet be able to withstand a single sword form from such an absolute master.
What use would it be to acquire an ultimate technique after suffering utter humiliation? To save face as the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, he had to be proficient in weapon arts.
"Looking at that, it seems like he might actually pull it off somehow..." Lazy Flame Dragon muttered to himself as he perched on a decorative rock in the garden.
Clang—!
The grass in the garden was violently upturned, as if struck by a massive cannon. The force of the sword's shockwave had crossed all reasonable bounds.
The sun itself seemed to distort within the faint light of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style that coiled up toward the sky.
The moment the five disciples of the Verdant Overflow Sect were left sprawling on the ground, Jeong Yeon-shin unleashed his final form against the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect, who had stumbled backward.
It was a method he had favored during his days as a White-Ranked Expert. Though it was a sword strike, it did not follow the principles of swordplay. Instead, he infused the blade with the explosive force of his fist and palm techniques.
Slightly pivoting on the ball of his foot, he generated a rotational internal power that surged through the muscles of his entire body.
For now, he set aside the principle of overlapping shockwaves that he had conceived after witnessing the Verdant Overflow Sect's Rampant Blossom Sword Art.
Infinite Flower of Time Hand: Spiral.
Whoosh!
Dust swirled around his right hand, which gripped the sword. It felt as though space itself was bending and twisting.
Even though the channeled internal power was not particularly strong, a terrifying Silk-Reeling Power erupted from the strike.
Jeong Yeon-shin slightly twisted the blade of Divine Sword: Northern Light. The back of his hand and the flat of the blade faced upward.
He struck directly upward, clashing against the defensive sword form of the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect.
Clang—!
He must have held his sword incredibly tight. The Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect was flung high into the air along with his weapon.
Simultaneously, Jeong Yeon-shin positioned himself even higher, leaping up using the Wind God Movement Technique.
For a brief moment, both figures were suspended in the air at a height of about three feet.
Jeong Yeon-shin's left hand moved. It was as if it were drifting along a completely different axis of time.
His calloused fist struck down hard on the back of the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect. To an onlooker, it looked as though he were slamming down like a cannonball.
Immediately after, a shockwave erupted like fire along the boy's shoulder, whipping his sleeves back.
Boom!
The body protection qi of the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect shattered, scattering into the air.
At the same time, his body slammed into the ground like an arrow with a heavy, dull thud. Sprawled face down, the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect coughed up fresh blood.
No matter how I look at it, a talent like that isn't something given without a price...
Lazy Flame Dragon had witnessed the subtle twist in Jeong Yeon-shin's sword path just before he unleashed the shockwave of Silk-Reeling Power.
He guessed that another small layer of martial principles had accumulated within the boy's hands.
A new swordplay was quietly sprouting, like the calm prelude to a tempest.
Is he going to die young like me?
The sudden thought made him chuckle to himself. Regardless of his fleeting reflections, the young commander was already approaching the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect.
He helped the man up, supported his weight, and tapped the acupoints on his back to help him spit out the congested blood. The words he spoke while doing so were quite something.
"I had no choice but to unleash my full martial arts. It was because your martial learning is so profound, Sect Leader."
Cough.
Spitting out another mouthful of blood, the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect smiled faintly.
"I am the one who is full of admiration for you, Commander. Your skill and magnanimity are truly astonishing. If I return to Fujian and train for a few years, I might gain some realization. It is all thanks to you."
"...You flatter me. Please take care of yourself."
Jeong Yeon-shin clasped his hands in salute, and the Sect Leader returned the gesture. The disciples, who had staggered to their feet, did the same.
There were no further exclamations or praises. However, the experts of the Verdant Overflow Sect all wore gentle, satisfied expressions.
This remained true even as they walked out, supporting one another.
"Commander, I have ground the ink well," Heonwon Chang said to Jeong Yeon-shin, who had just returned from seeing off their guests.
The boy sat in the main hall, where the Four Treasures of the Study were laid out.
Scratch.
He picked up the brush and began to write, noting down whatever came to mind.
The essence of the martial arts he had just experienced, viable counter-methods, precautions to take when circulating true qi...
He did not know what the experts of the Martial World Alliance who had challenged him to duels thus far were plotting.
What they wanted to take, what they wished to verify, or how the scheme he had glimpsed in the eyes of the Acting Chief Strategist was designed.
It was fine. They were not the only ones plotting.
Jeong Yeon-shin and Heonwon Chang had lured the White Path martial artists in this exact manner today. Their goal was to experience as many martial arts as possible.
He had no intention of leaving after merely performing his assigned duties. He wanted greater achievements. More merits.
This was the exact mindset that had contributed to his rise to the Black Rank in the shortest time possible. He intended to experience all the martial arts of his potential archenemies.
Killing two birds with one stone. It's also helping my swordplay.
Information accumulated day by day. Countless counter-methods were devised, far exceeding the raw number of martial arts he had experienced.
Experiencing their explosive force and energy waves right in front of him was a boon for Jeong Yeon-shin.
The counter-methods derived from these battles would eventually fill several thick volumes. Perhaps even dozens.
The Compendium of Crushing the Righteous.
He had already given it a name.
It was a compilation of methods designed to utterly crush the orthodox sects of the White Path.
He did not know how many more years he would act as the Black-Ranked Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
But if the Martial World Alliance were to turn completely hostile, this book would be what guided Jeong Yeon-shin to the Purple Rank.
The backbone of the Alliance was not the Nine Sects, but the noble families. With this, even if a great sect war broke out, he would have nothing to fear.
I wonder when the next guest will arrive.
The face of the boy quietly concentrating on his brushstrokes was peaceful. His expression was calm, as always.
Standing some distance away, Heonwon Chang and Lazy Flame Dragon exchanged glances and whispered.
"He's excited, isn't he?"
"It certainly seems so."
*
"They say the Verdant Overflow Sect retreated this time."
"I heard three of them couldn't even stand properly. They were in a terrible state."
"Yet they were smiling, they say. All of the disciples, and even the Lord of the Verdant Overflow Sect himself."
"Again?"
This conversation took place in a hermitage where the young martial artists of the Alliance had gathered.
The energy waves emanating from the second floor, which was open on all sides like a lakeside pavilion, were immense.
Inherently, orthodox martial arts possessed the quality of late blooming.
Even for sects living in the secular world, unlike the Nine Sects, their training was agonizingly slow compared to the heterodox sects.
However, the abundant supply of spirit medicine from prestigious families overcame these inherent limitations.
"How many times has it been?"
"It is the fourth time. His reputation is extremely good right now. They say he even bestowed teachings upon those who hostilely requested a duel, asking who could be called a great hero if he is not a gentleman first."
"Who said that?"
"Taoist Yu-hyeon of the Mount Hua Sect, the Hidden Dragon of Mount Hua."
"..."
"At this point, I'm getting curious. What exactly is his scheme?"
A man sitting cross-legged in the center of the main hall on the second floor of the hermitage; a woman leaning against the windowsill, flicking her fingers to control the flames of Samadhi True Fire; a boy and a girl lying lazily on the roof of the hermitage...
Nearly twenty martial geniuses were gathered here in a free-spirited manner.
The momentum flowing from the hermitage surged like the tide. The internal power waves overlapped again and again, spreading out like a tsunami.
It was entirely different from the heterodox sects. There was a strong sense of refinement in the air.
They had been gathered here even when Moyong Myeong-jun suggested going to see the Flash Art of the Desolate Fortress.
It was a place of exchange where prestigious martial artists discussed martial arts and chivalry—a gathering of those who cultivated the pure internal power of orthodox martial arts.
Even after the Seon-ryong, Jegal Hyeon, had suffered humiliation, the calm atmosphere in the hermitage remained unchanged.
That was, until a woman with long braided hair finally parted her lips.
"Whatever it is, it won't be with good intentions. He must have some insidious motive."
She spoke while caressing her white sleeves. She was Ak Ye-rim of the Shandong Ak Clan, the late-born niece of Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress.
She was the precious daughter put forward by the Ak Clan, who had sought to expand from Shandong into Southern Zhili, and she was the one whose marriage talks with the Azure Qilin, Namgung Se-jin, had been underway.
That was, of course, until Namgung Se-jin fought the Flash Art, Jeong Yeon-shin, and became a corpse.
"..."
A brief silence fell over the group.
The Azure Qilin was a man who had made a name for himself with his uniquely perfect appearance, character, and martial arts.
A chivalrous hero who freely wielded the Imperial Sword Form, completely erasing the shadow of the Namgung Clan.
Even those who had never met him admired him solely based on rumors. He possessed a level of popularity that was rare in the Jianghu.
"I heard it was a life-and-death duel between equals. It must have been difficult to show mercy."
"I wonder. I didn't see it myself, so I wouldn't know. But it's not as if the Desolate Fortress's exceptionally violent use of force is anything new."
"Miss Ak's suspicion makes sense. Young Hero Namgung received countless admiration and jealousy during his lifetime. In my view, the latter was greater. It is entirely possible that the Flash Art deliberately went too far. Or perhaps he simply needed a grand achievement."
"When I saw him coming in, he was incredibly handsome, you know? I thought I was looking at a Brightfolk."
A clear voice rang out from above the ceiling. It came from the roof. It was the boy who was lying up there with a girl.
He was the one who had previously seen off Jegal Hyeon when he went to greet the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
"In the first place, he is the disciple of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, and according to my father, he is the maternal grandson of the former Commander of the Divine Sword Corps. That means he comes from a prestigious background. Factor in that he's already wearing a black robe... Honestly, I don't think he's in a position to be jealous of anyone. He might not enjoy the power of a clan head like us right now, but that will change once he becomes the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps."
"Young Hero Gongson has a habit of only thinking positively. If you go and see the ruins of the Jinan Hwangbo Clan, you'll change your mind. The Desolate Fortress... they are beasts clad in the skin of public sentiment. A commander-level figure is nothing but a beast with a human face."
Another woman spoke up. The men beside her nodded silently in agreement.
This gathering represented the very top tier of the young orthodox Jianghu.
Many here were acquainted with the Azure Qilin.
From women who had secretly loved him, to male and female experts who had considered him a worthy rival, to those who had simply admired him as a fellow martial artist.
Even those who had never actually met him had spent time harboring feelings of either goodwill or jealousy toward him.
"If you're so bothered, why don't you go and ask him directly? Ask him what he thinks of the Azure Qilin."
The boy called Young Hero Gongson spoke in a petulant tone. People chuckled here and there.
However, their fundamental hostility toward the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing did not fade in the slightest.
The dissenting opinion was quickly dismissed, and they slowly inhaled their hostility as if breathing in true qi.
"If only Miss Ye were here at a time like this. She would have cleared our minds with a bold and clever plan."
A young man grumbled. Responses came immediately from various directions.
"Lately, she seems to be staying confined to her quarters. I worry if she is unwell. Come to think of it, Young Master Jegal hasn't been seen since then either..."
"Isn't that because of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing?"
"I miss her. Seeing her strike down that demon last time, she had clearly mastered a profoundly tyrannical martial art."
"She killed the Blood Master Sword who had sneaked in, all while smiling. It was truly, eerily beautiful. The shockwave of explosive force from the back of her hand was like a fairy's sleeve."
"How can she be so strong even with both eyes covered?"
As the conversation continued, Ak Ye-rim suddenly stood up, looking ready to roll up her sleeves.
"The Alliance's main goal right now is to humiliate the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, right? I should go and ask for her advice. Sister Ye might tell us a good way to do it."