Chapter 184: Swordsman (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 184: Swordsman (7)
Though Jegal Cheong-a's expression remained unchanged at the boy's words, the eyes of the Small Sword Empress and Gongson Min widened slightly.
The new Commander of the Demonlight Wing had seen right through the Jegal Clan's secret eye technique.
He hadn't just noticed it was active; he had even recited the specific acupoints involved.
"Ha."
A faint flush rose to the Small Sword Empress's cheeks. She toyed with the hilt of her sword where it rested on the table.
It was the thrill of a swordsman who had immersed herself in the blade for over a decade. Her hands, forged by long years of training in the Diancang Shooting Sun Sword Technique, trembled with a mix of competitiveness and admiration.
'A sword path drawn with such sensitivity... just how delicate must it be?'
It was impossible to gauge just how acute the sense of Qi was for the boy sitting in the seat of honor.
The sensory perception of the upper Dantian—something her master, the Diancang Sect Leader, had only awakened through rigorous, agonizing training—seemed to be an innate gift for the Flash Art.
It was a talent that leaped past the decades of effort accumulated by established mid-tier experts in just a few strides.
He had effectively pulled time forward.
It made no sense unless his martial talent had crossed into the realm of the supernatural.
Even if he were to lose to the Hwasan Sword Excellence in the upcoming match, few would look down on him. His future was simply too bright.
'Even though it was practically a chariot wheel battle, he defeated twenty-three martial artists of the Alliance in succession. His forms must remain incredibly precise, no matter how fierce the fight gets.'
A coordinated group formation might be different, but he was not an opponent who could be worn down by a one-on-one chariot wheel battle.
It was about time the leadership of the Martial World Alliance realized this. By now, they were likely pinning all their hopes on the Hwasan Sword Excellence and the Eon Family's Number One Fist.
Neither of those two martial artists could be called the absolute strongest within the Nine Sects or the Great Families. However, they were the most powerful cards available to play in the Sect Founding Ceremony.
The world was vast. The territories of the various great sects were scattered far and wide, and their generational hierarchies were intricately tangled.
How would this young commander fight them?
This was the very question stirring up the heroes gathered in Hanzhong. The Twenty-Four Move Plum Blossom Sword, the Eon Family Fist, and the Infinite Flower of Time Hand.
These were the ultimate techniques slated to be showcased on the duel stage of the Sect Founding Ceremony. The Small Sword Empress subtly steadied her breathing.
Meanwhile, Jegal Cheong-a, who had been staring at the boy in silence for a while, slowly parted her lips.
A faint, glowing light lingered in her eyes.
"...I have committed a discourtesy. I did not intend to probe you privately, Commander."
The light in the girl's eyes faded. The internal energy that had been faintly flickering vanished completely.
It was a level of mastery where the technique only ceased when she consciously willed it. She possessed the talent to become a peerless expert in the future.
Jeong Yeon-shin looked at the girl, who was about his age, with interest.
"Constant cultivation?"
"Yes."
"Your energy wave was stable. It seems you have reached the stage of great completion."
"...It is the result of making the internal energy of my entire body react to the mnemonic. Depending on my accumulated Qi and as my body grows, there is room to progress further. However, compared to the Commander, who practices multiple types of martial arts..."
"Tell me your real business. My martial arts are not yet so profound that they can serve as a plausible excuse. A martial artist of the Jegal Clan discussing swords with this commander? Perhaps if it were your brother, it would be different."
He spoke while thinking of Seon-ryong Jegal Hyeon.
He was someone Yeon-shin had to repay someday. He had incurred a debt to him upon their very first meeting.
On West Peak Road, Jegal Hyeon had opened the first form of a nameless sword art for him. He was the finest person among those Yeon-shin had befriended at the Alliance.
As the young Commander of the Demonlight Wing renewed his vow to repay the favor, Jegal Cheong-a gently shook her head.
"That is a misleading statement. The Black Ranks of the Desolate Fortress are divine swords watched by the entire world. The moment you donned the black robe, Commander, the reputation of your personal martial arts changed entirely. Even Brother Azure Qilin, who named your ultimate palm technique, would not agree with your words."
"Are you also using the Azure Qilin as a tool, like Ak Ye-rim? Just to see what you want to see in me."
The boy asked calmly.
He did not rouse his aura. He thought of the Go board left behind by the Yeongcheon Sword Ghost, and the teachings of the Ten Commandments of Go gifted by Jegal Hyeon.
His mental and physical cultivation had deepened. He would not rashly draw the sword of Sacrificing a Stone for Initiative. As long as the opponent did not cross the line, it would be fine.
Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been staring at the young commander, marveled inwardly.
'He has become even more terrifying.'
He had become a sword that hid its sharp energy within its scabbard. This was the realm of a peerless expert. Internal energy was driven by intent.
The settling of a major mental burden meant that his true Qi had grown slightly stronger.
Mental and physical cultivation. It was as if he had realized the training methods of prestigious clans entirely on his own.
Even after donning the black robe, he continued to grow stronger.
What would happen if he acquired a sword art that could fully contain his refined mind?
For the widely traveled Young Master of the Hwangbo Clan, it was easy to guess. An extraordinary sword path would surely emerge.
However, in Lazy Flame Dragon's eyes, none of this seemed to be Jegal Cheong-a's concern.
"I am curious about you."
Her expression was calm, and her tone flat. Perhaps it was simply her nature, but her face showed no emotion whatsoever.
She was indeed a martial artist who primarily trained in eye techniques. She had been conditioned to prevent others from noticing her probing gaze.
"About what?" the boy asked.
Jegal Cheong-a spoke calmly, seemingly unbothered by the Commander of the Demonlight Wing's indifferent tone.
"My clan is frantic to dissect you. Our sorcery martial artists have been busy trying to capture your forms, calculate your trajectories, and measure the shape of your internal power waves. We have learned a lot. Crucially, your forms, Commander..."
She slowly parted her lips.
"...are rushed."
"..."
"You never exchange more than a hundred clashes, Commander. Every battle in which you have revealed your martial prowess has been like that. Because your martial skills are specialized for short-term, decisive battles, those betting on the outcome of the Sect Founding Ceremony are flocking to the Hwasan Sword Excellence. Even if it is a match of just ten clashes, your opponent is the Sword Excellence. The Mount Hua Sect's sword mastery is renowned for being near-flawless."
"Did you come here to pick a fight?" Heonwon Chang asked abruptly. He was fidgeting with his fingers, looking as if he were planning something.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been listening quietly, shook his head slightly.
"What is it you want to say?"
"If you ask for my help, I will teach you the subtle principles of a special sorcery martial art. It will allow you to weave your martial arts together organically. It will be of great help when facing the Sword Excellence of the Nine Sects, an already perfected expert. However, I want something in return."
"..."
"Please follow me after the Sect Founding Ceremony ends the day after tomorrow. I have something to show you."
"You seem to have a lot of grievances against your clan."
A sky-blue light flashed in the boy's eyes.
His upper Dantian's sense of Qi flared. He caught a faint trace of Jegal Cheong-a's emotions—anxiety and restlessness.
Speaking so abruptly about her clan's internal affairs was highly unusual.
This girl was trying to turn the Jegal Clan upside down, in one way or another. And she was trying to do so by borrowing the sword of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, who was free to move independently of the Alliance.
He didn't know what the precious daughter of the Jegal Clan had seen. And how had she managed to analyze the forms unleashed by an expert far superior to her?
By nature, internal energy techniques reflected the practitioner's temperament. The deeper one mastered them, the truer this became.
"You seem to think that once I accept your trivial proposal, this commander will move according to your will."
"I have observed your character, Commander. What I intend to do is honorable. Though it is difficult for me to speak of it right now..."
She was bold.
Jegal Cheong-a's pitch-black eyes shone brilliantly. It was as if a radiant light had bloomed within them, even though she had deactivated her eye technique.
The boy recalled the Azure Qilin. He remembered how he had roared at the martial artists of his clan.
He also thought of Jegal Hyeon, who had been reluctant to mention his own father. The orthodox martial artists living under the shadow of the Great Families.
This girl seemed to be planning what those two young men could not do.
"I must rephrase that."
"What...?"
"Are you not the one asking for help from this commander? Do not approach this as a negotiation. Your status is far below that of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing of the Desolate Fortress."
"..."
"You may not realize it, but your proposal is already useless. You haven't even fully grasped my martial arts. Once the Sect Founding Ceremony is over, come find me with a humble attitude. Do not beat around the bush then. And do not speak of vague dreams either."
Sliiiide.
The boy stood up and dismissed them.
"Leave. I must meditate."
For a long while, Jegal Cheong-a sat still, brushing back the black hair tied to the side of her collar.
Touching her hair seemed to be a habit. All the while, she stared intently at Jeong Yeon-shin, as if trying to discern whether the boy's words were mere bluff or genuine truth.
"What?"
"...I have committed a discourtesy. I deeply apologize for presumptuously judging your character, Commander."
When she stood up a moment later, the Small Sword Empress and Gongson Min were ushered out with her.
"This is too much! I didn't even get to have a single drink!"
"I wish you martial fortune! I'll keep everything that happened today a secret!"
A brief, noisy wind blew through. The food set on the table was left almost untouched.
Lazy Flame Dragon, who was the only one to have nibbled on a few bites, leaned forward slightly. He didn't even spare a glance at those leaving through the gate.
"What a demure yet audacious young lady. The sun is already setting after just a few words. Anyway, are you really going to be alright? The Sword Excellence is a bit... Wasn't your original mission to humiliate the mid-tier experts? Honestly, you've already achieved that. Though the Great Restoration Pill is still an issue."
"..."
"The Hwasan Sword Excellence, Perfected Heavenly Pillar... even I have heard of him until my ears bled since childhood. They say he can draw twenty-four plum blossoms with a single sword. If that's true, it means he possesses a peerless sword technique that occupies all eight directions in three layers. No wonder those gambler scumbags are running their mouths. Many of them have uncanny eye techniques, even if they're all out of their minds."
"That's rich coming from a drunkard and a poppy addict."
The boy shook his head. Lazy Flame Dragon grinned.
"Even if you give it your all, you'll still need luck on your side, so hold your sword hilt lightly. Mount Hua's sword techniques are famous for their flashy variations. If you tense up and your body stiffens, you'll be swept away helplessly. Against the shockwave of the Hwasan Sword Excellence, even heavenly silk won't remain intact. It's a relief you brought spare martial uniforms."
"Thanks for the advice. Now stop bothering me. I'm going to meditate deeply."
"Let the nameless shut their mouths," Heonwon Chang chimed in, lifting his chin.
Lazy Flame Dragon's eyes narrowed. He scanned the Divine Hero of the Desolate Fortress with a peculiar gaze.
His gaze lingering on the white martial uniform was unusual. The elderly nameless disciple muttered, "I should definitely avoid that one."
*
"Mount Hua has been the world's greatest sword sect since ancient times. Along with Wudang and Zhongnan, it has produced peerless swordsmen who left their names in the history of the Jianghu. That Perfected Heavenly Pillar over there will surely become one as well."
"Aren't you only saying that because you're from Shaanxi? In our town, we call Perfected Mystic Concord of the Wudang Sect the greatest swordsman under heaven. Well, in reality, it might be the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps of the Desolate Fortress..."
"In any case, the day has finally come. I've been dying to see when the proud banner of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing will finally be broken."
"Who did you bet on?"
"They say Perfected Heavenly Pillar's Plum Blossom Sword is absolutely perfect. How many swordsmen in the world could be better than the Sword Excellence? At least here in Hanzhong, there are very few."
"It's people like you who drove down the odds."
"Isn't the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing famous for his fist and palm techniques? I know that his palm technique, the Brilliant River, is unmatched under heaven. But it will be difficult for him to breach the distance maintained by a swordsman of equal or higher caliber."
"But the reputation of the experts slain by that Infinite Flower of Time Hand is no joke..."
"If you put it that way, the Sword Excellence is clearly superior! He is a mid-tier peerless expert. The number of unorthodox martial artists whose heads have fallen to the scent of his plum blossoms... must easily number in the hundreds. Mount Hua's sword force is upright and solemn."
This conversation was mixed into a thunderous clamor.
An immense crowd had gathered. It was incomparable to before.
This was because the duel between the Hwasan Sword Excellence and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing was scheduled as the first match. It was the most highly anticipated showdown of the entire Sect Founding Ceremony of the Martial World Alliance.
Atop the duel stage.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought of the Great Restoration Pill, recalling his grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok.
"I heard the rumors. Is Ma Jin alright?" the middle-aged swordsman before him asked.
He had a sharp impression and a terrifying aura. The plum blossom embroidery on the hem of his white martial uniform caught the eye.
It was a neat Taoist robe of the Mount Hua Sect. Yet, he did not seem like a Taoist priest. His entire body felt like a single, massive sword.
It was to the point where the space between Yeon-shin's brows throbbed with pain, as if pierced by the tip of a blade.
He was the peerless expert who had been present as a guardian when Yeon-shin first met Yu-hyeon. Now, they faced each other as opponents.
"He will be fine," the boy replied, thinking of the internal power prosthetic planned for his uncle. Perfected Heavenly Pillar, the Hwasan Sword Excellence, nodded silently.
"...I purposely did not seek you out until now. It feels like only yesterday that you melted the Purple Grace Pill into Yu-hyeon's body... but I believe it is only proper to catch up after our duel."
"You are right."
"Draw your sword."
Jeong Yeon-shin did not reply.
Screeech.
He calmly drew the Divine Sword: Northern Light. The touch of the hilt instantly warmed.
He closely observed Perfected Heavenly Pillar standing opposite him. The Sword Excellence of the Mount Hua Sect was drawing his sword with a lofty posture.
For a moment, even the wind seemed to hold its breath. The pressure he exuded was immense.
Seeing the Sword Excellence now that he had reached the Black Rank was a different experience altogether. He could understand why Lazy Flame Dragon had called the gamblers' talk mere gossip.
He had heard that the flow of the Nine Sects' sword arts was deep and continuous. The young Commander of the Demonlight Wing did not care.
He only needed to sever that lofty structure from the start. He just had to make the tip of his sword touch his opponent even once.
'Ten clashes? Nonsense.'
He had no intention of mimicking the endless continuity of orthodox sword arts.
The boy thought: Let's end this in two clashes.
"...I can see your thoughts. You are incredibly audacious."
Perfected Heavenly Pillar spoke. Contrary to his words, he smiled with satisfaction.
He seemed pleased by the competitive spirit of his junior swordsman. There was a reason Ma Jin had regarded him as a worthy rival and treated him with familiarity.
The noble swordsman who had descended from Mount Hua aimed his sword at the boy's solar plexus.
The clouds were bright.
Before he knew it, it was White Dew. It was the period among the twenty-four solar terms when the air was at its clearest.
The autumn wind blew regardless of human life, flowing transparently. Throughout it all, Jeong Yeon-shin had also taken his steps like the flow of the four seasons.
He had once been the burden of the Jeong Family Manor.
But not here. He raised his sword as the Commander of the Demonlight Wing of the Desolate Fortress.
Much had changed. Until now, the boy had run forward simply to cling to his life. But now, things were slightly different.
He was rousing his internal power to protect his maternal grandfather's body. Within his heart, the wheel of light spun. It was incredibly fierce.
'First Form.'
He etched the sword path, now clearer than ever before, into his mind.
The pure white tip of Northern Light pointed toward the sky. He raised it above his head.
A sword conjured in his mind overlapped with the Northern Light in his grip.
At the same time, a sword art capable of fully containing the auspicious energy of the Law-Transcending Halo Qi began to sprout.
It was as if sunlight were riding down the streams of wind. Jeong Yeon-shin's presence became vivid.
Whoosh!
The shockwave of the Wind God Movement Technique enveloped all directions. The strong wind swept away the dust.
The hem of the robe wrapping the boy's body fluttered pitch-black. His figure seemed exceptionally distinct.
It was the exact moment the Hwasan Sword Excellence's sword drew a flower with a colorless shockwave.
The young Commander of the Demonlight Wing's figure blurred and distorted. A flash of sword light erupted from his grip.
"What is that?!"
"What on earth...!"
In an instant, startled reactions erupted from one side. The experts who claimed to discuss the world reacted.
The canopy over the Alliance leadership was flipped and blown away. The moment the mid-tier experts, who had unconsciously unleashed their auras, stared at the duel stage—
Light raced forward.