Chapter 188: Ties of Fate (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188: Ties of Fate (3)
Jeong Yeon-shin was suffering from exhaustion after unleashing the Azure Flame First Form against the Sword Absolute.
A martial form was a technique that channeled one's body and internal energy in extraordinary ways. Such a destructive art naturally demanded a corresponding price; a decisive, single-strike form was bound to have a severe backlash.
After his duel with the Sword Absolute, his swordsmanship lacked its former dynamic power.
He had only overcome the opponents he faced after the Perfected Heavenly Pillar by relying on the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, forcibly constricting, stimulating, and expanding the acupoints and muscles throughout his body. As a result, many of his tendons had stiffened, unable to fully keep pace with the flow of his Law-Transcending Halo Qi.
Fortunately, no opponent on the level of a Black Rank expert had appeared since.
The Jianghu was a world woven from gratitude and grudges. A martial artist had to be prepared for a sudden ambush at any moment. As soon as he reached the bustling main road, crowded with people, he had no choice but to sharpen his senses.
This was the martial attainment the Jianghu called the Path of Senses. Ever since leaving the headquarters of the Martial World Alliance, Jeong Yeon-shin had been constantly circulating his Halo Qi through the acupoints in his head.
And so, he heard it.
The voice of a martial artist with a formidable aura, sizing up the Lazy Flame Dragon.
"Bristling like a cat, are we? What an interesting child. Would you care to indulge in some drunken revelry with me? I am Eon Hwa-ryeon."
Her voice was somewhat raspy, her pronunciation slurred.
Jeong Yeon-shin clearly heard the murmur of this supreme master. It was the voice of a woman who sounded thoroughly drunk. Though she spoke as if addressing a third party, her words were unmistakably directed at him.
The boy's lips parted slightly.
"Let's go up."
"Let's," the Lazy Flame Dragon replied with a peculiar expression. His intuition was uncanny.
The veins at his temples, near his solar acupoints, were already throbbing with a reddish hue as his true qi surged. The Fervent Yang Energy wielded by the Young Master of the Hwangbo Clan was conspicuous anywhere, and countless passersby on the road stole glances at him.
It had been this way ever since they left the Martial World Alliance headquarters. Yet, the Lazy Flame Dragon had marched forward proudly, completely unbothered.
He, too, had guessed the state of Jeong Yeon-shin's body.
He couldn't leave the task of guarding their surroundings solely to his young commander, even though the delicate manipulation of true qi was mentally draining. He had extended his own senses early on, silently urging Jeong Yeon-shin to ease his mind.
It was said that the internal energy of the Solar Divine Pulse could surge infinitely by burning one's lifespan. It was a talent that naturally cleared blockages in the body's pathways and filled them with Fervent Yang Energy. In terms of sheer qi reserves alone, he surpassed his commander.
'I'm just a tiny bit slower, that's all.'
The Lazy Flame Dragon chuckled inwardly as he guided the young commander.
You are a bit dull. Those were the words Jeong Yeon-shin had spoken to him during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Now, he didn't deny it.
Slide.
He opened the doors of the Blue Crane Pavilion.
It was said to be the finest tavern and inn in Hanzhong. The doors swung open without a sound, their hinges heavily greased. The scene inside unfolded before them.
Rows of orange lanterns hung overhead. Patrons boisterously clinked their cups and enjoyed their food. From the second floor upward, an open square atrium stretched toward the ceiling.
The glances that usually swept over new arrivals fell upon the two of them, then froze.
"……."
The establishment, filled with a mix of merchants and martial artists, fell dead silent.
The presence of the Lazy Flame Dragon, who had lived as a member of Shandong's most powerful local aristocracy, was immense. Even though he frequently chewed poppy, an air of elegance emanated from his shadowed eyes. The aura of his Solar Divine Pulse pressured his surroundings without any conscious intent.
As he stepped inside with leisurely strides, even the hem of his cotton robe brushing against the threshold seemed as refined as silk.
"This must be an atmosphere you've never experienced, Commander. This is how alcohol is meant to be enjoyed—not in some boring, stuffy family pavilion."
He smiled languidly, gesturing for Jeong Yeon-shin to enter. There was a playful touch to his manner, and strangely, it suited him. He looked like a nobleman of rare standing escorting a young boy.
The boy entered, clad in a rough-textured black robe. Having endured many battles, the black silk had lost its smooth sheen. Instead, it was Jeong Yeon-shin's hair that gleamed, possessing a brilliant, natural luster.
"Are those……"
"They look incredibly familiar. Could it really be?"
The patrons began to whisper among themselves, a common occurrence on the bustling streets of Hanzhong these days.
To anyone's eyes, he was a youthful swordsman with a striking appearance and peculiar attire. The left sleeve of his black robe had been roughly torn away, leaving only the right sleeve hanging long. On his shoulder, the character 'Hwang' was embroidered in white.
Jeong Yeon-shin was wearing a spare set of clothes belonging to Ma Jin. He had lost his own martial uniform to the sword strikes of the Perfected Heavenly Pillar. His uncle's robe was slightly wider in the chest and easier to move in. He didn't particularly regret the loss of his shredded uniform.
"This humble servant is the Chief Steward of the Blue Crane Pavilion. Today is truly the greatest honor of my three lifetimes. For the Commander of the Demonlight Wing to grace us with his presence……"
A man who appeared to be in charge stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting. He was not a mere waiter but a middle-aged man dressed in expensive silk. His response was incredibly swift, a testament to how far the boy's martial fame had spread throughout Hanzhong.
Perhaps it was because he had driven away the Yeongcheon Sword Ghost and the forces of the Deep Martial Alliance. Combined with the reputation he had gained at the Sect Founding Ceremony, he seemed to have already won the hearts of the people.
'This will be useful later.'
The boy thought to himself, recalling the documents he had taken from the Branch Head he had killed. There was evidence that the Jegal Clan Leader had deliberately turned a blind eye to the Deep Martial Alliance's plundering.
To safely overturn the Alliance—where many peerless masters on the level of Clan Heads sat—he would need several things on his side.
'Justification, public support, and a baseline of martial power must be established.'
Ousting the Jegal Clan Leader. This was the task he had to accomplish as the Commander of the Demonlight Wing immediately after obtaining the Great Restoration Pill. If successful, it would translate directly into a massive achievement.
An officer of the Unit Commander rank in the Desolate Fortress had the authority to execute missions at their own discretion. He needed to accumulate many merits to rise to the Purple Rank. He had heard plenty from Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo, who made up the Demonlight First Team with him. They had told him that ordinary achievements would not be enough to surpass Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress.
'Letting this slide would also be unfair to the Lazy Flame Dragon.'
The Hwangbo Clan had been destroyed for exploiting the common people for private gain. Now, the boy had the Young Master of the Hwangbo Clan as his subordinate. Just because the Alliance was vast didn't mean he could overlook the Jegal Clan's transgressions.
At the very least, the Clan Leader had to take responsibility. Such was the resolve of the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
"Since the Unit Commander of the Desolate Fortress has graced us with his presence, we must naturally prepare a seat worthy of your status……"
"The top floor would be best," Jeong Yeon-shin cut off the Chief Steward.
After a brief moment of wide-eyed surprise at being addressed so directly by the commander, the man's eyes drooped with embarrassment.
"There is already a guest there. Someone whose identity I cannot easily disclose, even to you, Commander……"
"I have a prior engagement with Ak Ye-rim."
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke, having already sensed the aura of the rising star of the Shandong Ak Clan. Instantly, the Chief Steward's face brightened.
"Ah! So it was a gathering of a fine gentleman and a beautiful lady!"
"A fine gentleman and a beautiful lady. In a way, you are quite right."
A voice laced with amusement drifted down from above. It was that same raspy voice from earlier.
The Lazy Flame Dragon also seemed to recognize the slurred speech. The Young Master of the Hwangbo Clan narrowed his dull eyes.
"It seems this is indeed your final hurdle, Commander. The Eon Family's Number One Fist. They say she wields her Body Protection Qi like a fortress wall, using only her physical body."
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded silently. This was why he had not turned away from the invitation to share a table with a supreme master he was meeting for the first time. Since his body was not in perfect condition, he needed to assess an opponent of such immense reputation beforehand.
Guided by the Chief Steward, who had been startled by the Lazy Flame Dragon's words, they ascended to the top floor.
"I hope you enjoy your time here."
The Chief Steward of the Blue Crane Pavilion went back down without even watching them meet. His behavior was quite different from before. He was a man well-versed in the ways of the Murim and knew how insignificant a tavern could be in the Jianghu. It was clear he had retreated to protect himself.
"They call this the finest in Hanzhong, and indeed……"
It was just as the Lazy Flame Dragon murmured.
A woman leaning limply against the wall greeted Jeong Yeon-shin. She was in a half-reclining posture, raising a wine cup. Opposite her, Ak Ye-rim sat with her head tilted slightly downward, looking embarrassed by her drinking companion.
"Ah."
It was a peculiar exclamation.
The Eon Family's Number One Fist, the Duke of Eminent Fists, Eon Hwa-ryeon, smiled with half-closed eyes.
"Your looks are even more outstanding than the rumors say. I can't even imagine what you'll look like in a few years. It would be a shame to crush you with the Eon Family Fist."
"You'll be kicking your blankets in embarrassment tomorrow," he retorted to her lighthearted banter with an indifferent remark.
Unlike his words, the boy's eyebrows didn't budge. He scrutinized Eon Hwa-ryeon with his pitch-black eyes.
She wore a sleeveless martial arts uniform, the contours of her biceps and triceps clearly visible. The faint blue veins beneath her skin throbbed with robust internal energy. Her physique, built entirely differently from that of the Yeongcheon Sword Ghost, Baek Seo-gun, was impressive. A fist fighter's body was distinct from that of a pure swordsman.
Eon Hwa-ryeon's lips curved into an arc. Had she mastered a youth-retaining art? Though she was known to be in her forties, there wasn't a single wrinkle around her smiling mouth. She could have easily passed for Ak Ye-rim's older sister.
"Child of the Desolate Fortress, what are you staring at so intently?"
"What of it?" the boy's reply was brief.
Short answers were more comfortable when dealing with adversaries. He had become more this way lately.
Eon Hwa-ryeon's smile deepened. She seemed rather pleased by the young commander's attitude. Her lowered eyelashes trembled with her aura—the internal power of a supreme master, stirred by a competitive spirit.
"I ask because your gaze is quite wicked. You'd best get rid of any improper ideas. That is, unless you possess the strength to look down on me as an inferior. I am no longer in a position to take just anyone as my husband. After all, I may soon become the Clan Head."
'The next Clan Head.'
A few months ago, the Leader of the Deep Martial Alliance had snapped the neck of the Eon Family Head. It had been a monumental incident, on par with the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect slaying the Qingcheng Sect Leader. It was on everyone's lips. The Chief Steward's Office of the Desolate Fortress had also classified it as an event of Purple Rank significance.
The Eon Family's Number One Fist.
The title of Duke of Eminent Fists was a desperate measure taken by the Jinju Eon Family. They had deliberately elevated Eon Hwa-ryeon's reputation to preserve the clan's vested interests.
The Eon Family was one of the Eight Great Families, a prestigious clan of fist techniques renowned across the world. A martial clan was a local aristocratic family that acted like royalty in its own lands. Each was said to be massive in scale, and maintaining their powerful influence required more than an ordinary reputation.
'The fame and power of a Jianghu sect stem from its symbolic master. Just like the Lord of our Fortress.'
The affairs of the Jinju Eon Family were already widely known. Eon Hwa-ryeon had come to replace the deceased Clan Head. This meant she was a supreme master possessing martial prowess at least on par with the Black Rank. That was why he hadn't avoided her and had walked right in.
If an opponent was on the same level, he had to know them. In the realm of high-level masters, even the flutter of a butterfly's wings could affect the precision of a sword form.
'I am one step away from the Great Restoration Pill. Eon Hwa-ryeon is the last hurdle.'
Meanwhile, Ak Ye-rim's eyes darted back and forth between Eon Hwa-ryeon and Jeong Yeon-shin, wide with shock. The way they immediately spoke to each other as equals was unfamiliar, a sight not easily accepted in the Orthodox Jianghu, especially given Jeong Yeon-shin's young age. Had it not been for the unique culture of the Desolate Fortress, where rank replaced generational seniority, he would have faced harsh rebukes from renowned seniors long ago.
'To think a boy like this acknowledged Brother Namgung……'
Regardless of her thoughts, the meeting of the two supreme masters had taken place. It was bound to influence the Sect Founding Ceremony, which was racing toward its conclusion. The Commander of the Demonlight Wing and the Eon Family's Number One Fist—this was arguably the most significant encounter currently unfolding in Hanzhong.
Eon Hwa-ryeon, who had been lounging, fumbled around the drinking table before grabbing a jade bottle. Her grinning face was that of a thorough drunkard. It seemed the saying that every supreme master was an eccentric was indeed true.
"I would love to be served by a handsome lad. Would you pour me a cup?"
She extended the wine bottle toward the boy. The corner of the Lazy Flame Dragon's mouth twitched upward.
"It seems Auntie Eon has suffered a Qi Deviation. Her words and actions are even more free-spirited than mine."
"She's just about on your level. It's fine," the young Commander of the Demonlight Wing replied.
The boy quietly stepped forward and took the jade bottle with one hand. Eon Hwa-ryeon, wearing a broad grin, proffered her cup. Her chin was tilted up, as if daring him to try anything.
Thud.
Jeong Yeon-shin silently began to pour the wine.
At the same time, internal energy flooded from the halo in his heart, surging directly into the palm holding the bottle.
Hummm.
A heavy aura infused the Dukang Wine inside the jade bottle. Through the simple act of sharing a drink, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing began to test his opponent.
A cool breeze drifted across the top floor of the Blue Crane Pavilion. In the dead silence, the world of supreme masters unfolded as a low vibration swept through the autumn wind.
In that instant, Eon Hwa-ryeon's arm trembled minutely. The veins on the back of the hand holding her cup twitched.
The boy slowly parted his lips.
"This is a serving from this Commander. Observe your drinking etiquette."