Chapter 165: Manifestation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: Manifestation
Heonwon Chang's words were a blatant provocation. Both the situation and his expression made that clear.
It was behavior rarely seen among the lofty martial artists of the Orthodox Factions. The hostility from the surrounding experts rose like gathering storm clouds. Their eyes sharpened, and the auras enveloping their bodies grew razor-sharp.
Lazy Flame Dragon let out an open smirk.
"Why get so worked up over well-wishes? Especially after getting thrashed so thoroughly."
The mocking lilt in his voice was every bit as sharp as his commander's. It was a display worthy of the Hwangbo Clan's Young Master—utterly insolent to anyone watching.
The corner of Jeong Yeon-shin's mouth twitched. He had just declared that even speaking to them would lower his dignity as the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. Compared to that, Heonwon Chang’s taunt was hardly reckless.
It's always like this, the boy thought.
He gave his shoulders a light shrug, brushing away Heonwon Chang's hand, which had been resting on the character for 'Hwang' embroidered on his back. The Hero of the Desolate Fortress cleared his throat and withdrew his arm without a trace of regret, which was strangely annoying. It felt as though the very reason Heonwon Chang had gone out of his way to so prominently display the 'Hwang' character was losing its meaning. It was embarrassing.
Yeon-shin shook his head inwardly.
The feints are gradually becoming second nature. This is actually quite good.
He had employed the technique learned from the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, and it had worked better than expected. He took in the faces of Moyong Myeong-jun, Ak Ye-rim, and the others, who were still struggling to process their shock.
They were mediocre experts. Despite possessing fairly sharp senses, they hadn't been able to properly distinguish the wave of sword Qi Yeon-shin had unleashed. Though they seemed clumsy, they were still martial artists of prestigious clans, meaning the synchronization between their Qi sense and their five physical senses was at a considerable level.
Which actually makes them easier to deceive.
They possessed decent senses, but their martial arts attainment was not high enough to see through his feints. Only their Qi sense—which perceived the wave of energy as a physical sword strike—was sharp, while their martial prowess remained middling. If he used a feint against them, there was a seventy percent chance it would succeed.
They made for good training partners. This alone made his visit to the banquet hall worthwhile.
Though it seems useful enough in a one-against-many battle… Myriad Blossoms Rain is already more than enough for lesser foes. I need to elevate this to a level where it can confuse peerless masters.
The young Commander of the Demonlight Wing's gaze was fixed on a goal far beyond these rising stars. He resolved to refine his feints alongside the modification of his sword art. He wanted to ensure that the fact it had worked, even once, against the Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing was not mere luck.
"Let's go back," the boy said.
He had already thoroughly humiliated the Martial World Alliance. There was no reason to linger. Heonwon Chang was right; it was enough to leave them to their own amusement. Since he had demonstrated that the dignity of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing stood far above theirs, he had achieved his goal for this mission.
Lazy Flame Dragon’s lips curled upward.
"You said everything you wanted to say, so why act so shy now?" he spoke slyly, quietly slipping into position on Yeon-shin's left.
Catching a glimpse of the mischievous smirk, the boy didn't bother looking up at his unpredictable subordinate. He merely nodded to Namgung Hwa-shin, who had brought the message from the Sword Saint. Meanwhile, Lazy Flame Dragon's amused voice drifted over.
"Technically, I'm a rising star too, so I'm terribly afraid my rambling might lower your dignity, Commander. 'Do not speak to me, rising stars. It lowers my dignity'... Truly impressive. That's a line only a peerless master of your age could pull off."
"..."
"Let me offer some advice in advance. Since you're likely the only anomaly of your kind in the world, I hope you won't be kicking your blankets in embarrassment three years from now. You'd do well to keep that in mind. I think I was the same about nine years ago. Cursing the heavens for giving me this damned Solar Divine Pulse… vowing to burn the world to make them regret it. It's a deeply mortifying memory."
He babbled on under the guise of advice, chuckling all the while. He was a difficult subordinate to handle.
"Let's go," Yeon-shin said, turning completely around. He could feel the irritation bleeding into his own voice, but he thought it was only natural. These people weren't worth a fraction of the Azure Qilin.
Originally, he had intended to mingle and experience the martial arts of the prestigious clans one by one. Not anymore. His interest had cooled.
Step.
He began to walk away, and no one tried to stop him—perhaps due to the sublime feint that had appeared to them as a Heart Sword. The young martial artists of the Orthodox Factions did not move. They merely stared blankly at the departing Commander of the Demonlight Wing, who had just spat such harsh words at them.
"Even if we become Purple Ranks, we're only equals?"
Only one boy, dressed in sky-blue silk robes, muttered to himself with a strange expression. He looked about two years younger than Yeon-shin.
Heonwon Chang, standing beside Yeon-shin, informed him that the boy was the Young Master of the Gongson Clan.
"He actually has a decent reputation, according to the annotations under his portrait back at the fortress. Though that might just be because he's still young."
"Yes. The Gongson Clan has never had any particularly foul rumors surrounding them," Lazy Flame Dragon added casually.
"I'm not interested. The children's play is over."
Glancing briefly at the Young Master of the Gongson Clan, Yeon-shin took a slow step forward. He resolved to only deal with established, mid-tier experts from now on.
Lazy Flame Dragon and Heonwon Chang immediately flanked him, while Namgung Hwa-shin guarded his rear.
"The children's play is over, he says," Lazy Flame Dragon muttered with a chuckle. Our Commander is already devising his future blanket-kicking technique.
"Truly a Grandmaster," Heonwon Chang added dryly.
"I order you to take a vow of silence. Until tomorrow morning."
The four of them left the banquet hall without hesitation.
Even as they departed, Ak Ye-rim remained seated in a daze, staring blankly at the black hem of the young Commander's robe. Standing to one side, Moyong Myeong-jun quietly bit his lip. The hall was left filled with nothing but confusion, anguish, and resentment.
The lanterns flared wildly.
Through the gap in the door as the Demonlight Wing’s group departed, the night air rushed in, dark and clear.
* * *
"The Sword Saint was originally a rogue martial artist," Heonwon Chang said. They had just returned to the Rhyme-Fragrance Court from the banquet hall.
Their meeting with the Alliance Leader was scheduled for noon tomorrow. Namgung Hwa-shin had delivered the message earlier, stating that the Sword Saint had invited them to lunch. Among the group, Namgung Hwa-shin was the only one who possessed a good reputation. While gathering information throughout the headquarters of the Martial World Alliance, he had stopped by the Rhyme-Fragrance Court first to deliver the message.
"There are many anecdotes about him, though it's hard to tell how much is true. There are rumors that he learned a sword art deemed forbidden even among Shaolin lay disciples, and the rumor that he was the sole survivor of a ruined prestigious clan is also quite credible. The story goes that he traveled the world, honing his sword based on the basic skills of that clan. Hyeon So-baek, the Sword Saint, is renowned as a man capable of anything."
Heonwon Chang's tone was unusual. Perhaps it was because the Sword Saint's origins were so unclear, but the Hero of the Desolate Fortress, who rarely acknowledged the great sects, spoke without reservation.
Lying in a corner with an arm propped under his head, Lazy Flame Dragon nodded.
"There was once a saying: 'When Hyeon So-baek draws his sword, one can feel the tranquil mountain ranges of Mount Wudang; when he performs a sword dance on Mount Hua, the plum blossom petals respond of their own accord; and if one wishes to feel the rugged steepness of Mount Song, one need only face the bare-handed Sword Saint.'"
"..."
A brief silence fell. Yeon-shin observed the expressions of Namgung Hwa-shin and Heonwon Chang. There was no change in their complexions. It was clearly a well-known tale. It meant that when discussing the swordsman Hyeon So-baek, it was perfectly natural to speak of the sacred mountains of the Nine Sects.
"We must regard him as a Purple Rank," the boy murmured slowly.
Lazy Flame Dragon nodded.
"Indeed. The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Sword Saint are often compared. It's mostly the gossips of the Jianghu who babble about it, arguing over whose sword art is more sublime and beautiful."
"Comparable to the Commander's Invisible Sword?" Yeon-shin asked reflexively, recalling the sword of pure energy the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps had shown when slaying the Namgung Clan Head. Could there be anything more brilliant than the radiant blade he had witnessed that day? He had yet to see it.
Lazy Flame Dragon nodded leisurely.
"It was the Sword Saint's White Silent Sword that took the head of the former Leader of the Deep Martial Alliance… Honestly, he is a man who deserves respect. Many revere him. I once did too."
"The story of him stopping a hundred soldiers of the Deep Martial Alliance is famous. He took the head of their former Leader from amidst experts equipped with armor and arrows. That was fifteen years ago," Namgung Hwa-shin said, sitting upright. He spoke to Yeon-shin with complete respect—the only one of the three subordinates who did so.
The boy nodded slightly.
"What is his character like?"
"The incident with the Leader of the Deep Martial Alliance I mentioned occurred in front of common people. The Deep Martial Alliance sustains itself by plundering supplies. It is said that when they attempted to turn a village into their garrison, the Sword Saint appeared. Alone, he blocked the hundred experts and their leader. After taking the Leader's head, he suffered significant internal injuries. I believe he took refuge in the Shaolin Temple for a time, since the incident occurred in Henan."
Namgung Hwa-shin's words were steeped in reverence for Hyeon So-baek.
Judging by the rumors, he is a true chivalrous hero, the boy thought. Was the Alliance Leader different? He had rarely sensed the scent of righteousness from the Orthodox Factions. The only exceptions were Yu-hyeon, who had gone to save commoners without a second thought; Wiji Myo-hwa, renowned for her righteousness; the Shaolin monks who had willingly lent their hands to strike down the Blood Flame Cult; and the Azure Qilin.
Yeon-shin spoke again, hoping he wouldn't get entangled in unnecessary mind games with the Sword Saint.
"So that was when he obtained the Great Restoration Pill?"
"That is what is known. He must have formed a bond with the Shaolin Abbot during that period."
"He is certainly no ordinary old man, offering the reward of the Sect Founding Ceremony as a personal prize. And a Great Restoration Pill, at that," Lazy Flame Dragon chimed in.
It was a valid point. Yeon-shin listened carefully to his older subordinates. His mission required him to contend with masters as an underdog. Although Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, had said that winning the Sect Founding Ceremony would be enough, the boy always aimed for greater achievements.
It was said that a master's swordsmanship inevitably reflected their character. There was no way someone with a harsh temperament could fully master the Taiji Sword of the Wudang Sect. If the Sword Saint was a gentle soul, he would likely allow Yeon-shin to take the initiative. If so, it was only right to prepare a single, decisive strike that could accumulate a significant amount of shockwave. Only by anticipating every possible scenario could he stand even a slight chance.
They also discussed how he should conduct himself as an envoy. The conversation lasted until dawn.
"First, let's do something about your speech, Commander. In my opinion, we might need to be more wary of the Jegal Clan Leader than the Alliance Leader. We mustn't let them find even the slightest fault with us. There's no telling what tricks they might pull regarding our participation in the Sect Founding Ceremony."
"My speech?"
"To be frank, the way our young Commander speaks can hardly be called polite, can it? Rather, you have a knack for making your opponent's blood rush straight to their Baihui Point. You weren't like this when I first met you, but lately, it's like..."
"Me?"
Yeon-shin met the day of the audience without much progress on that front.
* * *
The Alliance Leader's Hall, where the Sword Saint resided, was located deep within the main headquarters, in what appeared to be the most secluded area of the inner courtyard.
Even the man assigned to guide Yeon-shin was no ordinary figure.
Seon-ryong Jegal Hyeon. The green silk robe he wore made him resemble a noble scholar. He was said to hold the second-most prestigious status within the Jegal Clan.
This seems like a task for a servant, Yeon-shin thought. The Jegal Young Master had left a fairly good impression on him, both for politely requesting a duel upon their first meeting and for burning his fan.
It was then that Jegal Hyeon, who was walking beside him, spoke.
"I was in a state of confusion during our last meeting."
"...?"
"You readily accepted my request for a duel. As you said, it was indeed a lesson. I wanted to express my gratitude, albeit late. Thanks to you, my eyes have been opened."
"Opened in what way?"
"You mentioned that while the techniques of a weapon are important, the mastery of body movements must come first. It was a great lesson. It has even progressed my mastery of the Body Protection Scripture."
His tone was calm, different from Moyong Myeong-jun's artificial voice. Sincerity radiated from his neat demeanor. Perhaps the burning of the fan had been an order from someone like the Jegal Clan Leader, and not his own intention.
The boy gave a slight nod.
"I'm glad to hear that."
Few people in the Jianghu, other than his companions, had ever directly expressed gratitude to him. This was even truer for members of prestigious clans. Perhaps his slight awkwardness showed, because a faint smile played on Jegal Hyeon's lips.
The boy suddenly remembered. They said Seon-ryong, Lazy Flame Dragon, and the Azure Qilin are of the same age.
Is he closer in character to the Azure Qilin?
He was casually thinking of Namgung Se-jin when Jegal Hyeon spoke.
"We are here."
Step.
The two stepped onto a path of autumn leaves more colorful than flowers. A vast garden stretched out before them. Surrounded on all sides by trees, a man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, waiting to receive them. An aura as vivid as the scent of autumn flowers washed over Yeon-shin.
Having reached the Black Rank, he knew what this meant. This presence was proof of an immensely dense Sword Sphere. He was a peerless master who could likely raise a sword barrier as strong as a fortress wall with a single blade. Now he understood why this man was spoken of in the same breath as the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
Hyeon So-baek, the Sword Saint.
He clearly possessed Brightfolk blood. His nose, prominent under the sunlight, was as sharp as the blade of a divine sword. He was a middle-aged man of exceptionally handsome features. Even the ink-colored hilt he wore alongside his white robes looked noble.
"Greetings, Alliance Leader."
Jegal Hyeon knelt on one knee and clasped his hands in salute. The Sword Saint smiled faintly and waved his hand.
"No need for such formality. I called you here because I have business with you as well, so please remain. And..."
His pitch-black eyes took in the boy's entire form. Yeon-shin stood still without offering a salute, merely staring back. The inspiration flooding his senses compelled him to do so. A tidal wave of mnemonics surged through his mind as his Upper Dantian began to glow white-hot.
"So, you are the Commander of the Demonlight Wing," the Sword Saint said with a gentle smile. "I heard about you from the greedy clan heads. They said you are a sprout whose neck must be severed first if a great sect war breaks out. But..."
Whoosh.
Suddenly, his sense of perspective warped. The boy blinked. The Sword Saint, who had been at least thirty paces away, was now standing right before his eyes. The white robe he wore, too simple for an Alliance Leader, cast a faint shadow as a powerful gust of wind followed in his wake, bending the surrounding shrubbery backward all at once.
Whoosh!
It was a truly terrifying movement technique, a speed that completely transcended the human realm.
I'm too slow. I'll have to use the second technique…!
Yeon-shin reached for the hilt of Northern Light, only to freeze. The rims of the Sword Saint's eyes had turned red.
"How can the heavens be so cruel? To one so young."
A colorless flame flickered within his tear-filled black eyes, as if a divine spirit resided in his eye technique. It was identical to how Yeon-shin infused spirituality into his inner cultivation method—the trace of a divine ultimate technique that had reached the supreme realm.
"How hard it must have been for you all this time. Come here. Let me hold you."
The Commander of the Demonlight Wing's body reacted before his startled mind could catch up. The shockwave of the Wind God Movement Technique erupted from him as a small vortex spiraled up his pitch-black robe. It was a force that propelled his body faster than the eye could see, perfectly augmenting his movements.
Swish!
Yeon-shin twisted his upper body in sheer aversion. With his next step, the soft soil beneath him caved in. The move allowed him to slip past the Sword Saint's embrace. The black and white sleeves brushed against each other with a long, drawn-out sound.
The difference was a hair's breadth.
The eyes of both the Sword Saint and Jegal Hyeon widened.