Chapter 167: Manifestation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 167: Manifestation (3)
His face was a mask of utter bewilderment. Jeong Yeon-shin calmly stared back at the Sword Saint.
In the silence that had returned to the garden of the Alliance Leader's Hall, he suddenly became aware of the grass beneath his feet. The elder’s words were sincere.
He had no desire to burden a junior who was still learning. It was as if he were saying, Since you grasped it yourself, it is yours.
It wasn’t pettiness. It was the mark of a truly pure, great man.
The boy shook his head.
"I gained a profound realization just from observing you, senior. I cannot pretend I achieved this entirely on my own."
"……"
"It is true that by your very existence, the Sword Saint has granted me a Fated Encounter. Thank you once again."
The young Commander of the Demonlight Wing clasped his hands in respect once more.
Only then did the corners of the Sword Saint's mouth relax. He shook his head as if he’d been robbed.
His expression was that of a man swindled in broad daylight. A hollow chuckle escaped his lips, his dumbfounded face betraying his sheer disbelief.
"You calling it a favor only makes me feel stranger."
It's not like he's teasing me, either, the Sword Saint muttered to himself.
"This isn't a profitable trade at all. I was merely proud of you, but now I'm starting to feel needlessly cranky. You're poking at an old man's petty nature. Why not just deny it? You could have claimed you saw nothing special in the stance of a fellow swordsman."
It was an incredibly unconventional way to speak to someone at a first meeting, especially for the leader of the Orthodox Martial World Alliance.
Yet, Jeong Yeon-shin's expression remained calm. He had already received a partial reward for his mission with the Alliance.
He had laid the cornerstone for a new sword art. It was a monumental achievement.
For my second Divine Art, I can't expect another flash of insight like the one from Zen Master Bodhidharma.
He would have to forge it with his own skill alone. He had to channel this overflowing inspiration into his Northern Light sword.
He had already decided that his second Divine Art would be a sword technique. His meeting with the Sword Saint had been more beneficial than any spirit medicine.
"You have a look I know all too well. The face of a man itching to draw his sword."
The Sword Saint laughed playfully.
"I can certainly relate. There's no pleasure quite like refining one's own swordsmanship. It makes a mere mortal feel omnipotent. Since you've already flustered this old man with your martial prowess without even drawing your blade, I am intensely curious about the sword art you will create."
"You are too generous with your praise."
The boy quickly schooled his expression. The Sword Saint's smile deepened.
"I'm not just saying that."
"……?"
"There is a place where you can unleash your sword art to your heart's content. No, perhaps I should say… there are targets. A blade is perfected on the flesh and bone of one's enemies, and as it happens, some demonic soldiers masquerading as an army are loitering near the Alliance."
"Do you mean the Deep Martial Alliance?"
"You know of them. Ah, now that I think about it, you were the one who rescued Mount Hua's Hidden Dragon, weren't you? I must say, you did an exceptional job. That boy, Yu-hyeon, has remarkable talent. His character is upright, too. I don't know what will become of this Alliance in the future, but that boy certainly has the makings of a great hero. I am deeply grateful."
"I have already received my thanks from the elders of the Mount Hua Sect. Saving a friend doesn't warrant such commendation."
Jeong Yeon-shin replied casually and lowered his clasped hands. He was growing tired of the praise.
Averting his gaze slightly, he spoke again.
"So, what is it you wanted to discuss?"
"The current Commander of the Demonlight Wing is clearly of dragon and tiger stock, yet…"
The corners of the Sword Saint's mouth curled up playfully.
"…you have a cat-like side to you. When you eventually settle down, I hope you find a companion who appreciates that temperament. What do you say? Countless daughters of prestigious families are gathered here at the Alliance. I am quite willing to play matchmaker. If you were to wed a precious daughter of a martial sect under our Alliance, the relationship between the Alliance and the Desolate Fortress would…"
"Thank you for the well-wishes."
Jeong Yeon-shin cut off the meddling elder with a sharp nod, signaling him to get to the point.
He had only just begun to consider such matters and had no desire to complicate his mind further.
I won't die young and leave a child behind. I refuse to…
The boy thought to himself, needlessly brushing off the sleeves of his black robe.
The Sword Saint, who had been staring intently at Jeong Yeon-shin, spoke.
"You said you owed this old man a favor. If you deal with the Deep Martial Alliance's forces, we shall call it even. I cannot allow the rabble of the Thirteen Heavens to throw cold water on the festive atmosphere of the Foundation Ceremony. Annihilate those prowling around the lands of Hanzhong."
"Are there no experts to spare in the Alliance?"
"It seems the elders of the great sects won't show their faces until the Foundation Ceremony begins. The clan heads are too busy shoving responsibility onto one another. The current Alliance is nothing more than a paper tiger—a hollow, flashy shell. Hm? Perhaps that’s not something I should be saying to an expert from the Desolate Fortress."
"And what about you, Alliance Leader?"
"If I were to leave? The whole thing would turn into a circus, even if I don't do much just by sitting here. I've become a petty man who can no longer speak so freely of righteousness. I can't abandon this Alliance—it was created to root out the hypocrisy of the Orthodox factions. So I have to keep the bigger picture in mind, even with the Deep Martial Alliance causing trouble just outside our gates."
The Sword Saint leisurely scanned the garden and clasped his hands behind his back.
"In any case, there is no benefit to you staying here. It will only give the clan heads an excuse to pick a fight. An envoy from the Desolate Fortress is a natural lightning rod for conflict. Go and sever the necks of those Thirteen Heavens bastards until the Foundation Ceremony begins."
"Why should I do that?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked, tilting his head slightly.
"The tournament victory will inevitably be yours anyway. Regardless, I need you to perform a feat that will save this old man some face. You can refine your sword art through real combat against decent opponents, and I can ease my political burden. It's difficult to advocate for harmony after handing over a Great Restoration Pill to an expert of the Desolate Fortress."
The Sword Saint said with a hearty laugh.
He had spoken of harmony. It seemed Sword Saint Hyeon So-baek had no desire to point his blade at the Desolate Fortress.
He had also mentioned eradicating the hypocrisy of the Orthodox factions. It appeared he was locked in a political power struggle with the clan heads.
At the same time, a demon whispered within Jeong Yeon-shin. The phantom of the Seventh Apostle parted her lips.
To make good use of the Compendium of Crushing the Righteous, shouldn't you turn the Martial World Alliance into your enemy?
"……"
The boy fell silent for a moment.
Sensing something unusual, the Sword Saint spoke once more.
"Refine your sword art along the way and wait for your grand stage. The protagonist of this founding ceremony can only be the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, who has reached the realm of a supreme expert at such a young age."
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
"You mentioned elder-level opponents. This isn't a matter to be taken lightly. If you want to commission this task, provide me with the intelligence the Alliance has gathered. How can I accept a job without knowing if the Alliance Leader is plotting to kill with a borrowed knife?"
"Killing with a borrowed knife?" the Sword Saint asked back.
The boy's words were incredibly audacious. He was asking if the leader was trying to use the Deep Martial Alliance's blade to assassinate a martial artist from the Desolate Fortress.
And he said this right in front of the peerless expert standing at the pinnacle of the Orthodox Martial World, freely speaking words that most would keep buried deep in their hearts.
Jegal Hyeon, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up cautiously.
"Commander, please watch your words…"
At that, the Sword Saint grinned.
"Very well. Form your team from the young talents of the Alliance. I shall handle the clan heads. If you are to die, you'll die alongside the direct heirs of the great clans. As the Alliance Leader, I shall entrust this to you, believing you will bring them all back alive."
Jegal Hyeon could not hide his astonishment. Only the boy nodded.
The Sword Saint was an eccentric. This was not the time to question how he could trust Jeong Yeon-shin in return.
What mattered now was the sword art waiting to be born. He also recalled the tragedy he had witnessed in the village where he had severed the Branch Head's neck.
In any case, taking the heads of the Thirteen Heavens' experts would count as achievements for the Desolate Fortress.
The more achievements, the better. He decided to push aside his concerns regarding the Compendium of Crushing the Righteous for now.
"Examine it carefully. This old man did not mention the elders of the great sects for no reason."
The Sword Saint handed over a rolled-up letter. It seemed to contain intelligence on the Deep Martial Alliance experts nearby.
He had invited Jeong Yeon-shin in the first place to ask for this favor.
The boy organized the details to report to the Chief Steward's Office upon his return to the fortress.
The Martial World Alliance has plenty of available supreme experts, but due to political games, they're forced to plead for help from a martial artist of the Desolate Fortress.
"I shall take my leave."
Jeong Yeon-shin tucked the document into his robes and turned around. He walked away without a hint of hesitation.
He would repay the favor he owed the Sword Saint by fulfilling this request. There was no reason to linger.
"I will take Ak Ye-rim, Moyong Myeong-jun, Gongson Min, and Small Sword Empress Chwi So-ok."
The boy spoke with his back turned. It was simply because those were the only names he remembered. He excluded Yu-hyeon of the Mount Hua Sect.
Given the caliber of these rising stars, this mission could easily become a death trap. He had no desire to drag his friend into danger.
The same went for Fan Dragon Jegal Hyeon. He was someone who had politely requested a duel and whose fan he had burned.
Standing beside him, Jegal Hyeon flinched and stared at Jeong Yeon-shin.
The boy ignored him. So what?
Amusement laced the Sword Saint's voice.
"You are taking only the cream of the crop. Direct heirs of the Eight Families and a first disciple of the Diancang Sect. The Deep Martial Alliance forces are as numerous as the Blood Flame Cult and as powerful as the Martial Dragon Association or the Hegemon Sword Sect. I do not expect you to wipe them out completely. Do not overexert yourself."
"Your tone has changed now that I'm taking the rising stars with me."
"That's because they're all burdens. Such is the sorrow of a powerless Alliance Leader. Changing a rotten Orthodox Jianghu cannot be done with a single blade. Even a sword art capable of contesting for supremacy under heaven is not enough."
Jeong Yeon-shin looked back at the Sword Saint. The elder, who had the handsome features of a man in his prime, smiled warmly at him.
Though the founding ceremony was just around the corner, he looked ten years older.
The clan heads had established the Martial World Alliance solely to protect their own interests.
The Sword Saint was merely a figurehead placed at the top.
A man trying to change things was struggling alone among those trying to preserve them. It felt as though he were standing on a different battlefield.
It was a battleground entirely separate from Jeong Yeon-shin's world.
"What is that?"
The boy suddenly gestured with his chin. A Go board was placed on a flat stone beside the Alliance Leader.
The Sword Saint smiled faintly and spoke.
"It seems they didn't want an Alliance Leader who was a complete puppet. The Jegal Clan Leader taught me Go, saying it contains the art of navigating the world. You should find some time to learn it as well. There are many wonderful things in life. Once you've had a taste, I hope you experience them all—whether it be Go, friendship, or love."
The peerless expert spoke with clear, honest eyes.
It was a profound statement. The boy nodded calmly.
It was said that the movements of the Desolate Fortress's Unit Commanders were watched closely by all the great sects.
The same would apply to Jeong Yeon-shin's background and his path to the Desolate Fortress.
Since he saw through my constitution, he must have guessed my purpose as well.
The boy parted his lips one last time.
"Could I ask you to keep this between us?"
"Just refine your sword art well and show it to me. You do know that the winner of the tournament must receive a strike from this old man, right? Your momentum is almost divine, but it still has some rough edges. I'm curious to see what kind of sword you'll perfect with that body of yours."
The Sword Saint answered indirectly.
There were fifteen days left until the Foundation Ceremony.
An hour later, Jeong Yeon-shin returned to the Rhyme-Fragrance Court and sat down with his subordinates.
Inside the spacious room, Namgung Hwa-shin sat perfectly upright, while Heonwon Chang cracked his neck from side to side.
The Lazy Flame Dragon was sprawled on the floor. No one could really scold him.
He was the kind of man who chewed on poppies because he couldn't bear the heat of his Solar Divine Pulse.
"So, let me get this straight… the Martial World Alliance is in high spirits, throwing a festival, and we came here to cause a little trouble. But now, those insidious and brutal bastards from the Deep Martial Alliance are lurking around?"
"Correct."
"I did hear about the Deep Martial Alliance from that dead Branch Head. Is this a three-way battle?"
"Use your honorifics."
"I told you, I'm talking to myself."
"……"
"Actually, don't you have a grudge against the Deep Martial Alliance, Commander?" Heonwon Chang chimed in.
At a gathering of the Deep Martial Alliance's rising stars, Jeong Yeon-shin had sent the head of a woman named Geomyehwa flying. It was because she had tried to harm commoners during a boating excursion.
When he was traveling with the Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin, the bastard who was Geomyehwa's fiancé had even sent his subordinates after them.
That bastard was the Eldest Son of the Deep Martial Alliance.
"Since we're already irreconcilable enemies, and they frequently plunder villages, we can swing our swords without hesitation. I shall achieve a feat worthy of being called a Divine Hero, not just a Great Hero."
Heonwon Chang said, tightly tying the blue Hero's Headband around his forehead. Jeong Yeon-shin nodded casually and stood up.
"I received two copies of the Alliance Leader's order stamped with his official seal. I sent one copy to the fortress via messenger pigeon as proof. We depart now. We must round up the rising stars before the clan heads catch wind of this. Those clan bastards might even collude with the Deep Martial Alliance."
He had witnessed the collusion between the Sichuan Tang Clan's Supreme Elder and the Blood Flame Cult. He had also been stabbed in the back by the Namgung Clan.
Jeong Yeon-shin was now a young yet seasoned martial artist. To safely draw his sword with the Martial World Alliance at his back, he needed hostages.
"I'll handle that. That scatterbrained Small Sword Empress will follow on her own anyway. She seems completely smitten with our young Commander. As for the others, their skills wouldn't even make for a good drinking snack."
The Lazy Flame Dragon sprang to his feet.
"Once we're out, let's stop by the market first. I need supplies."
"We have enough beef jerky. Golden Sore Medicine and internal injury medicine, too."
"Not those."
*
An hour later, Ak Ye-rim and two other young martial artists were dragged out in a daze.
The long-haired Small Sword Empress smiled as she looked at the boy in the black robe. Jegal Hyeon, who had volunteered to leave the Alliance's main headquarters with them, was also present.
None of this was of interest to Jeong Yeon-shin. He did not consider them actual combat assets.
He also didn't care that, for some reason, there had been no resistance from the clans.
"Supplies, my foot," the boy muttered.
They were in an alleyway behind the bustling market. The Lazy Flame Dragon was haggling with a merchant.
Behind them, a massive pile of red poppy blossoms danced in the autumn wind.
Staring blankly at the sight, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing slowly turned away.
"Let's go."