Chapter 17: Return
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17: Return
At the end of the torch-lit path stood the bastard.
He was different from the other Blood Flame Cultists. His hair was a deep red, shot through with strands of black. An ominous energy swirled around him, so thick that Jeong Yeon-shin could feel it prickling his skin.
The Blood Master Sword.
His appearance was exactly as the rumors described. The red hair of a Blood Flame Cult warrior was a manifestation of their sinister internal energy. If parts of it began to revert to its original color, it meant they had reached a realm where they could refine their true qi.
'This won't be easy.'
The Blood Master Sword strode forward, his sword already drawn and his face contorted with rage. The pressure rolling off him was incredibly savage, like a volley of a hundred flying needles.
"A mere insect has ruined the Cult's work. I shall replenish my blood with your agony!"
"So, you plan to drain my true qi with your blood art?"
He didn't ask out of curiosity. The words left his mouth casually, but he was already gauging the distance between them.
A boy of fifteen or sixteen taking down an entire Blood Flame Cult branch by himself? It was an unimaginable feat. The man approaching with his sword drawn surely believed the same, even though several of his cultists already lay dead.
For the Blood Master Sword, whose hair had begun to turn black, was in a completely different realm than the pure red-haired cultists.
'Here I go.'
True qi surged from his wide-open dantian, racing through his body. The true qi of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, infused with the principles of the Scripture of Initial Overcoming, began to circulate through the finest meridians in his body.
'I have to overwhelm him before he closes the distance.'
He had already learned the value of a preemptive strike from his victory over the blue-ranked expert of the Azure Sky Unit.
Thud!
He employed the nameless footwork of a falling leaf, spinning in a wide half-circle. True qi concentrated in his waist and thighs. The speed at which his internal energy manifested was on another level compared to his days at the Jeong Family Manor.
Channeling the instantly gathered power, he unleashed a whip-like kick using a technique from the Demonlight Formula. The air tore with a menacing sound.
Whoosh!
A flash of surprise crossed the face of the Blood Master Sword, but he leaned back, dodging Jeong Yeon-shin's spinning kick.
"Hup!"
With a look of fury, he swung his sword downward—and in that moment, he revealed the opening Jeong Yeon-shin had been waiting for.
Tap!
His right foot, having sliced through the air, planted firmly on the ground. He lunged forward with sharp precision. Lowering his body, he closed the distance in the fraction of a second it took for the sword to fall.
A howling wind rose as he closed in on his off-guard enemy in a single breath. Amidst the gale he had generated himself, his outstretched left hand shot toward his opponent's wrist.
It was the very first move he had executed at the Jeong Family Manor before its fall—a grappling technique guided by the instincts of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art.
The Blood Master Sword's eyes widened as if they would tear from their sockets. It wasn't surprise, but sheer outrage. How dare you? To an expert of his rank, such a direct approach was absurd.
But Jeong Yeon-shin was no longer the helpless boy who had been unable to prevent his clan's destruction.
His left hand shot out fluidly, the forms of the Demonlight Formula now integrated into his grappling.
"What—!"
The gasp of shock that escaped the man's lips was no different from those of the cultists sprawled at the cave entrance.
Jeong Yeon-shin knew how to use his appearance and his age like a wild beast's fangs. Once he bit down, it was over.
Clinging close, he gripped his opponent's pulse point, and the monstrous strength of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art surged through his hand.
"Aaaargh!"
The man seemed overwhelmed by the pain, yet he proved his status as an expert. A sinister wave of energy erupted from both above and below him. Jeong Yeon-shin didn't need to look to know what was happening. The bastard was trying to drive a knee upward while smashing down with a hand blade.
But the Desolate Fortress Sword, already flipped into a reverse grip, was faster.
—The Demonlight Formula does not care for formal rules.
It was Ma Jin's teaching. The voice of the man he had studied under more than a month ago seemed to hold a hint of laughter at this very moment.
Simultaneously, true qi, multiplied by the Scripture of Initial Overcoming, gathered in his right arm. Recalling the mythical Pangu Giant who was said to push away great mountains, he drove the sword in his fist inward.
At this range, it was raw, unrefined power that didn't even need a proper sword path.
"Argh!"
The blade bit deep. He could feel his opponent's energy scattering into nothingness.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke slowly. "It seems you've only ever inflicted pain. I can tell just by looking at you. You've never been on the receiving end."
"Hraaaagh!"
As he twisted the blade deeper, the man's screams choked and sputtered in his throat. They were practically in an embrace, allowing Jeong Yeon-shin to feel the fading life force with his entire body. The sensation couldn't put so much as a hairline crack in the resolve forged on the day his clan was destroyed.
"I heard there's a saying in the Jianghu," he whispered into the man's ear, though the bastard didn't seem to hear. "Beware of the elderly, women, and children."
Jeong Yeon-shin indifferently pushed the body away. The Blood Master Sword collapsed to the ground, already a corpse.
'I only needed to kill one Blood Flame Cultist in Zhenping County.'
Somehow, he had ended up wiping out an entire branch of the cult. In the end, it was a great accomplishment, so it didn't really matter.
Still, the bitter taste in his mouth likely came from the sight of the emaciated boys and girls collapsed here and there. It reminded him of the Jeong Family Manor.
"Go to the Peach Blossom Spring."
Jeong Yeon-shin knelt and closed their eyes, one by one.
* * *
"You crossed blades. What happened? Are you alright?"
Those were the first words out of Baek Mi-ryeo's mouth when she saw Jeong Yeon-shin coming down the mountain. Her worried gaze, which now felt somewhat sisterly, wasn't unpleasant. It was only natural, considering his white Desolate Fortress uniform was drenched in blood—none of it his—and he was carrying a lifeless child on his back.
"It's not my blood. I found what appears to be a Blood Flame Cult branch."
"A Blood Flame Cult branch! I knew it..." Nodding, Baek Mi-ryeo spoke again. "I'm glad you're unharmed. Tell me what you found. How many did you fight? Now that their hideout has been discovered, they'll make a move one way or another. We must prepare."
"There were eight red-haired Blood Flame Cultists. I also saw a strong one with a mix of black and red hair."
"The Blood Master Sword...!"
Her eyes widened slightly. Before Jeong Yeon-shin could say more, she cut him off, her words tumbling out in her usual fashion.
"Yes, if the Blood Master Sword was there, it was definitely a branch. So they were parasites here, too. No matter our mission, the Blood Flame Cult is a target for eradication by the Desolate Fortress. You've done a great deed, so rest now. Cheong-myeong and I will go."
"...I fought nine of them. You can just send the government soldiers."
"Didn't you say eight plus one? If it's nine... Wait, did you just say government soldiers would be enough? Hmm...?"
Only then did she seem to notice the strange incongruity in Jeong Yeon-shin's calm demeanor. Baek Mi-ryeo furrowed her brow. Then, astonishment slowly spread across her face.
"Flash Art... are you saying you defeated all the Blood Flame Cultists, including the Blood Master Sword, by yourself?"
"I killed them all."
"Ha...!"
It was a strange exclamation, one born of pure surprise and admiration rather than doubt.
At that moment, someone dropped down from above. With a light movement and the scent of grass, Cheong-myeong thrust his face forward, his expression shocked.
"You wiped out an entire Blood Flame Cult branch by yourself?"
"They had already turned it into a wasteland of blood," Jeong Yeon-shin replied, his own expression hard to read.
The gazes of the other two briefly lingered on the child on his back. "Damn cult bastards," Baek Mi-ryeo muttered.
"...Those on the level of the Blood Master Sword possess a bizarre regenerative ability. You didn't get stabbed in the back, did you?" Cheong-myeong asked, as if trying to change the subject, then continued, "I'm sorry. We overlooked telling you about this sooner. The Blood Master Swords are like grim reapers to commoners and lower-ranking members of the Jianghu. Throughout the Central Plains, experts with the martial prowess to kill them are rare. It's not the kind of information that spreads easily."
Nodding, Baek Mi-ryeo wore a rare expression of apology. "This is truly our oversight. I'm glad you're safe, but... at the level of the Desolate Fortress, we hear such rumors from time to time. A story from another sect. An expert managed to defeat a Blood Master Sword with great difficulty, only to be pierced through the back and killed because they didn't know about the regenerative power of their blood art."
"Unless you're an extraordinary expert, anyone would fall for it. It's a miracle you're safe," Cheong-myeong said with a pleased smile.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been listening quietly, nodded slowly. "Regenerative power. So they had something like that."
He brought his hand forward, revealing the head of the Blood Master Sword. Red and black hair tumbled from his grasp. Its face was pale, its eyes wide and unblinking, making it look all the more hideous.
"..."
Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo were silent for a moment.
"Right... regenerative power. They do have that," Cheong-myeong finally replied with a slightly awkward expression.
Baek Mi-ryeo, on the other hand, patted Jeong Yeon-shin on the shoulder, looking proud. "You must make sure to claim your merit for this. A good attitude."
"Yes, indeed... this is no ordinary achievement. Especially for a newcomer to the Jianghu who has just become a white-ranked member of the Desolate Fortress," Cheong-myeong continued, carefully examining the head. "The black hair only recently started growing. That branch must have been quite weak."
Baek Mi-ryeo shook her head. "Regardless, the merit of finding and destroying a Blood Flame Cult branch can never be downplayed. The 17th Unit, and even those bastards in the Azure Sky Unit, might covet Flash Art even more now, but they won't be able to diminish his achievement. This was done by a white-ranked member, not even a blue-ranked. This is far beyond merely surprising."
"That's for sure." Nodding, Cheong-myeong slapped the shoulder of Heonwon Chang, who was standing beside him. The Divine Hero of the Desolate Fortress had approached at some point and was now staring at the head with bated breath.
"He's dead. What are you scared of?"
"I-I'm not scared! Do you know how many bandits from the Green Forest and the Water Channel Fortress have lost their lives at my hands?!"
The group laughed, seeing him act just as he had when they first arrived in Zhenping County.
What followed was out of the Demonlight Wing's hands. The County Magistrate, utterly terrified upon seeing the head of the Blood Master Sword, dispatched soldiers. A rumor spread that several of them pissed themselves upon seeing the ruined branch of the Blood Flame Cult.
Upon learning that terrifying blood fiends had been operating in his vicinity, the County Magistrate forgot his previous reluctance and grasped Jeong Yeon-shin's hands with both of his, thanking him repeatedly. The notoriety of the Blood Master Sword was actually far greater among commoners than it was in the martial world.
It was later said that the bodies strewn about the branch did not belong to the children of Zhenping County. They were presumed to have been kidnapped by the cultists from nearby areas, but because it was unclear whether the disappearances were the work of martial artists, the reports had never reached the Desolate Fortress.
After four days of wrapping up the incident, the Demonlight Wing prepared to depart.
"If you happen to pass this way again, please visit us once more!" the now exceedingly polite County Magistrate called out, looking up at the mounted group.
It was a scene similar to their first meeting, yet completely different. In particular, the way he looked at Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing was burning with intensity. Jeong Yeon-shin hadn't experienced much of the outside world, but he could tell that what lay in the man's eyes was not pure respect.
—It seems he wants to establish a connection with a rumored Murim expert, and a highly promising rising star at that.
It was Cheong-myeong's telepathic transmission, laced with amusement.
'The County Magistrate of Zhenping County. I suppose this is how he lives.'
He thought this as he watched the magistrate beam brightly in response to his casual nod. Perhaps the man was of a larger caliber than he appeared. The fact that he could act like this after suffering such humiliation was somewhat admirable.
"I am Yu Geun of Zhenping County! Please remember my name!"
The group turned their horses, leaving Zhenping County behind. An incident that was both long and short, peaceful yet brutally concluded, had finally come to an end. The first venture into the Jianghu for the two white-ranked members of the Demonlight Wing concluded with Flash Art recording a solo achievement.
* * *
The journey back was more leisurely. They even took their time letting the horses feed. Thanks to that, they didn't have to see Heonwon Chang's face turn pale from riding, though he often wore a tearful expression along the way.
"Young Hero Jeong has achieved such a brilliant feat, while I have done absolutely nothing..."
"Actually, that's normal. Just keeping watch and stopping that cultist's atrocities in Zhenping County was more than enough."
At first, Baek Mi-ryeo comforted him in her own way, but after he repeated himself a few more times, she simply kept a blank face and said nothing.
Rather than sleeping outdoors, they stayed at inns, slowly making their way back to Xiangyang. The first thing that caught their eye was the fortress of the Desolate Fortress, which was even larger than Xiangyang's outer city.
Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly. It was strange how a sense of welcome welled up inside him, even though he hadn't stayed there for very long.
"The atmosphere seems a bit excited," Cheong-myeong said suddenly.
"It really has been a while! Since we've completed our first mission, I think I'll head to Xiangyang's Number One Tavern," Heonwon Chang declared, having been grinning for some time. The grand avenue leading to the Desolate Fortress had that effect on him. The vitality of the merchants, barkers, and people of all walks of life was immense, enough to blow away the dejection of even the Divine Hero of the Desolate Fortress.
"No, not you. I mean the people here. It's more crowded than usual. Hold on..."
As Cheong-myeong closed his eyes while still on his horse, the rest of the group fell silent, accustomed to the sensitive hearing of the Brightfolk. It was thanks to him that none of them had needed to stand watch during their relatively long journey.
"Ah. They say that person is coming. It must be a festive season for everyone here, considering how well our Desolate Fortress treats those who achieve great merits."
"I just heard it too. The Former Commander of the Divine Sword Corps is finally..."
At the words of Baek Mi-ryeo, who had also been listening closely, Jeong Yeon-shin's body stiffened momentarily.
Glancing at him as if finding his reaction strange, she spoke again. "If he is going to challenge for the position of Head of the Elder's Council, he wouldn't ignore the public sentiment of Xiangyang."
"After all, the head of the Desolate Fortress Elder's Council would be much closer to the imperial family than the Xiangyang Branch Head. I bet everyone on this street will get at least a sheng of rice. Even in a year of bad harvest, let alone a bountiful one, how could they not be excited?"
"It seems he has already entered the fortress."
"Yeah. They say he passed by with a boy riding in front of him on his horse. That kid must be the highly rumored adopted son of the Desolate Ma Clan. I heard his talent is extraordinary."
However, Cheong-myeong soon urged his horse forward, as if he had lost interest.
"Talent, is it?"
With a smirk, Baek Mi-ryeo's long, pitch-black hair swayed with her horse's stride. She turned her head and cast a brief glance at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"..."
He gave a calm nod.
After keeping pace with the group for a short while longer, the four members of the Demonlight Wing finally arrived at the main gate of the Desolate Fortress. It was the end of a long mission.