Chapter 166: Manifestation (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 166: Manifestation (2)
"What are you doing?"
Those were the first words Jeong Yeon-shin, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, uttered to the Leader of the Martial World Alliance.
Judging by the man’s expression, he had recognized Yeon-shin’s Short-life Syndrome. But regardless of the shock, Yeon-shin had never once imagined being hugged in his entire life.
It was because of his mother, who had passed away during his difficult birth. Perhaps it would have been different if his master, the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, had embraced him. No, even that would have been incredibly embarrassing.
Is the Lord of the Desolate Fortress the only peerless expert whose personality isn't bizarre?
The Sword Saint’s high status and seniority were no reason for Yeon-shin to hide his displeasure. His brow furrowed slightly.
"Oh, dear."
The corners of Sword Saint Hyeon So-baek's mouth drooped. His thoughts were written plainly on his face—a look of genuine embarrassment, completely devoid of the authority one would expect from his station.
"My apologies. It was rude of me to embrace a Commander of the Desolate Fortress so suddenly. Please, be understanding. Though my face may look like this, I am just a decrepit old man. I was quite sharp in my youth, but I’m not what I used to be. I felt a sudden pang of affection, as if I were looking at a grandson I never had. It was all the more so because the martial prowess you’ve accumulated is so astonishing."
His slight, humorous smile revealed the eccentric side of a true master.
Supremely self-reliant.
That was the temperament Jeong Yeon-shin sensed from the Sword Saint. He was a man who lived in his own world, a peerless expert who had defined an entire generation. He possessed a deep insight into Yeon-shin’s realm and constitution, yet he didn’t hesitate to show compassion.
He was utterly free. The title of "Sword Saint" suited him far better than "Leader of the Martial World Alliance."
Hyeon So-baek stroked his chin.
"Let's see... once the year turns, it will be my Seventieth Birthday. This old man’s years have truly piled up."
"Seventieth Birthday...?"
Jeong Yeon-shin muttered the term to himself. It came from the 'Qujiang' poem by Du Fu, signifying the rarity of living to the age of seventy. It was a word not commonly used since the Brightfolk had descended upon the world.
But something else was far more important. The Sword Saint's age was not publicly known. Even as the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, Yeon-shin had never acquired that information. This was the first he was hearing of it.
The boy didn't hide his suspicion.
"Are you of mixed Brightfolk blood?"
"I only managed a halfway Rejuvenation," the noble old man laughed, his face that of a handsome middle-aged man. "I figured that if I let my internal energy guide my body completely, I would lose the physical strength I’d trained for decades. When you live as long as I have as a wanderer, you make enemies everywhere. It was a matter of survival. To maintain my peak performance, I had to become moderately younger. The Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, on the other hand, never seemed to need this, likely thanks to the robust internal energy unique to her prestigious clan. It is quite enviable."
He spoke of otherworldly matters in an old-fashioned tone, a transcendent level of Internal Energy Mastery palpable in his every word and action. Behind his eccentric facade lay the true form of a swordsman pursuing the absolute peak.
He was a master completely obsessed with martial arts.
"There is likely no talent like yours under the heavens. Yet, how much effort and bloodshed must it have taken to reach such a realm? Seeing a junior silently forging ahead despite his Heavenly Punishment filled me with joy and affection. That is why I acted so foolishly. Even if we gathered a hundred hot-blooded swordsmen from the Alliance, they could not match you alone. Is the martial prowess you have built, leaving all fear behind, not simply magnificent?"
The supreme leader of the Martial World Alliance spoke, his expression suggesting that Yeon-shin’s mere presence was as endearing as a grandchild showing off.
It was bizarre, almost goosebump-inducing. This master, who sought to surpass the heavens with his sword, had no interest in the power dynamics between their factions.
Only martial arts.
He looked only at Jeong Yeon-shin's constitution and martial arts. The relationship between the Desolate Fortress and the Martial World Alliance didn't seem to cross his mind at all. It was a goodwill that only the Sword Saint could show—a great hero who had protected the common people by decapitating the Lord of the Thirteen Heavens in the midst of his core experts.
In other words, he was a transcendent being. A brilliant light flashed continuously in his eyes, which fully reflected Jeong Yeon-shin.
"The balance of your stride is highly unusual. Even the most profound footwork tends to place the center of gravity forward, yet yours is dispersed in all directions. It must be thanks to a natural sense of balance."
"..."
"The movement technique you displayed just now was also extraordinary. I have only ever conceptualized a full-body Fa Jin but never dared to attempt it. To generate a shockwave using micro-muscles... is that even possible? From what this old man can see, it seems to be thanks to your physical body. It goes beyond being well-built; your body itself is a divine art. I am highly curious about your training methods."
He smacked his lips as if he couldn't bring himself to ask. Jeong Yeon-shin simply listened in silence.
"Though this old man's knowledge is vast, these are martial arts I have never heard of. Naturally, you must have created them yourself, yes? If you had been taken in as a novice monk at Shaolin, their 72 Supreme Arts would have doubled or tripled. The Abbot would beat his chest in regret if he saw you."
The words poured out of him without pause, carrying both keen interest and a terrifyingly sharp edge. He perceived Jeong Yeon-shin with an insight sharper than that of the Desolate Fortress's Law Enforcement Unit. It was the keen eye of a master, of which there were few in the world.
So there was another peerless expert who isn't taciturn, besides the Blood Flame Cult Leader.
While the boy was silently thinking, Seon-ryong Jegal Hyeon was seeing this side of the Alliance Leader for the first time. This was not the good-natured man who merely nodded with a genial face during leadership meetings. Jegal Hyeon had never known the leader possessed such a brilliant, piercing gaze.
He always seemed so indifferent to his duties...
Any young martial artist from the Alliance would have felt a deep sense of deprivation if they saw this. Even Jegal Hyeon's own heart felt strangely empty. To think that the person the leader finally opened his mouth to discuss martial arts with was an expert from the Desolate Fortress.
Having heard about the events in the banquet hall, Jegal Hyeon decided he must keep the meeting between the Alliance Leader and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing a secret.
Ak Mae’s disposition has worsened. Can he resolve his conflict with the Commander of the Demonlight Wing?
If the Alliance did not wage a Great Sect War against the Desolate Fortress, then this boy would likely become the bridge between the two great powers. At the very least, there was no other candidate from the Desolate Fortress.
Jeong Yeon-shin, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
The reputation he had built while teaching the Alliance's martial artists, his outstanding martial prowess, and his experience as an envoy were all significant factors. Besides, one could tell just by looking at the Alliance Leader's eyes. He was treating the boy like his own grandson.
If we are to foster friendly relations with the Desolate Fortress, then neither I nor Ak Mae have anything to gain by getting on the bad side of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. I must advise Ak Mae well.
Just then.
"Ah."
The Sword Saint let out a soft sigh. An embarrassed smile played on his lips.
"I got too excited. The people of the Desolate Fortress prioritize the lives of the common people over the Jianghu, do they not? Since a chivalrous hero like yourself possesses all the qualities that catch this old man's eye, I have unintentionally shown an undignified side of myself. It must have been tedious, listening to an old man ramble. Now, returning to official matters..."
"It is fine," Jeong Yeon-shin replied. The displeasure he had shown at their first meeting had long since vanished.
A brilliant light gathered in the boy's eyes, even though he had not activated his Halo.
While the Sword Saint had been evaluating the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, the Commander had also been quietly observing the Sword Saint.
Like a shadow cast in reverse in the eyes of one peering into a lake.
"Hmm?" the Sword Saint murmured, his question brief.
"Simply watching you stand still is a lesson in itself," Jeong Yeon-shin spoke again. "Due to my narrow experience, this is the first time I have encountered such balance. You mentioned that my center of gravity is dispersed in all directions, but I can see that you, Sword Saint, constantly keep your feet connected to the earth. The wave of energy extending from your Yongquan Point feels incredibly solid..."
A sky-blue lightning flashed from the boy's eyes. The Sword Saint had been the first to commit the rudeness of analyzing another's martial arts. He could hardly complain now that Yeon-shin was pouring out his own realizations to check his reaction. Even as a peerless expert, the Sword Saint was well aware that the Commander before him was an envoy of the Desolate Fortress.
"For the stability of sword techniques, there is no better starting stance for internal energy. I also envy your inexhaustible True Qi. You mentioned Senior Ak, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, and I wonder if you have not accumulated an internal energy just as profound as hers. Regardless of your mastery, it is highly worth referencing."
The Sword Saint let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha...? You can feel all this? Is the utility of that constitution of yours truly so great? I knew your senses would be extraordinary, but..."
"I understand what the Natural State you have assumed signifies. The pathways of your entire body allow your energy to flow through the atmosphere without obstruction. They say that even when you are empty-handed, one can see the rugged Mount Song in you. By strengthening the internal energy in the Yongquan Point beneath your feet and distributing True Qi equally to the Tongziliao Point near your eyes, it is not difficult for you to perceive your opponent and move accordingly, even without a sword."
Jeong Yeon-shin continued slowly.
"The gently relaxed muscles of your entire body also seem to play a part in an instantaneous strike. You make me realize the utility of an Eye Technique that has reached the level of a Divine Ultimate Technique, as well as how to truly use one's body."
"..."
The Sword Saint's smile faded.
The boy thought to himself, As it turns out, this journey to the Martial World Alliance was a fated encounter.
He had reached a crucial moment. The Sword Saint was an inexhaustible waterfall of inspiration. This was foreseen the moment Ak Su-rim designated him as the right person for the mission. The unity of essence, qi, and spirit was still far off. He had to fill the void of the Black Rank realm through martial arts techniques and the creation of new ones.
The new Commander of the Demonlight Wing did not stop.
"Seeing you empty-handed, Sword Saint, I can begin to imagine what you must look like holding a sword. You said you were a wanderer. I now understand why the sacred mountains of the Nine Sects are mentioned when referring to you. Are you not also using a sword technique inspired by the experts of the Nine Sects, built upon your peerless Eye Technique and the very stance you take now?"
He didn't care that Sword Saint Hyeon So-baek's mouth was now slightly agape.
If what the Sword Saint possessed was a passion for pursuing the Limitless, then Jeong Yeon-shin was born to be captivated by martial arts he could never have imagined. Was it the clear, upright pride unique to the Orthodox Factions? Hyeon So-baek hid nothing.
The boy's eyes were filled with fascinating things, like an inn soliciting customers by boasting it could cook the finest delicacies under heaven. Just like the Daeha Restaurant in Hangzhou, famous for its outstandingly delicious food.
"Your hands look light. There are parts where the waves of internal power are exceptionally weak. The Jugu Point below your shoulder, the Quchi Point at your elbow joint... yet the Tiger's Mouth Point between your thumb and index finger seems strong. That arrangement would not be suited for a Fast Sword. However, for a thrust, there could be no more ideal application of internal energy."
The function of his Upper Dantian, which grew stronger as death drew nearer, manifested itself.
Inspiration surged in his mind like a raging tide, amplified by the stories he had heard about the Sword Saint from his subordinates. Conjecture and knowledge clashed with his senses, exploding like fire bombs. Everything was inspiration.
He could not help but let it out. Once refined through speech, it returned to him as polished realization.
"Direct the shockwave of the Wind God movement technique beneath the feet. When extending a Fast Sword, keep the grip light while keeping the Yongquan Point heavy. I cannot copy the Natural State exactly, because I don't have a usable Eye Technique. That's fine for now... I can substitute it with my body. Direct the Jeong Family Dynamic Art toward refining the micro-acupoints... A sword technique that can handle all directions must have the mnemonic of the wind..."
He muttered, completely absorbed, no longer addressing anyone.
It was the birth of a new sword technique. In that moment, the framework for the modification of his sword art was being forged. With nothing but rumors about the Sword Saint and the sight of the man standing before him, he was grasping the profound truths of swordsmanship.
The boy continuously pondered, observing the peerless expert who had ascended to the constellation of the sword, leaving only the task of putting flesh on the bones and refining it in actual combat.
Standing in place, he perceived an expert several levels above him, intersecting that perception with his own self-reflection.
He was in a complete state of selflessness, a state where he hardly seemed human. With his Halo deactivated, he continued to think solely with his mind, a faint blue flame flashing repeatedly in his eyes.
"Because he is that kind of person, Namgung Se-jin..." Jegal Hyeon parted his lips, stunned.
The Sword Saint Hyeon So-baek also wore a look of utter astonishment.
As martial artists of the Orthodox Factions, neither of them disturbed the boy as he found his enlightenment in the way of the sword. They merely watched with dazed, dumbfounded expressions.
This remained true until the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing finally came to his senses and performed a Poquan salute.
"My thanks to the Sword Saint. I have received a great favor."
Jeong Yeon-shin bowed slightly at the waist as he clasped his hands. Though a Poquan salute was originally a greeting where one did not bend the body, it suited him strangely well. It was a neat, refined etiquette, a sense of elegance exuding from his gathered pitch-black sleeves.
He truly considered it a favor. What he had gained was just that immense.
The Sword Saint slowly opened his mouth, his voice tinged with bewilderment.
"But... this old man didn't do anything...?"