Chapter 189: Ties of Fate (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 189: Ties of Fate (4)
The sound of flowing water was clear.
“……”
Jeong Yeon-shin, Commander of the Demonlight Wing, gently tilted the bottle. The Dukang Wine poured out at an incredibly slow pace.
A minute tremor shook the cup held by Eon Hwa-ryeon, the Duke of Eminent Fists. The wine, infused with True Qi, flowed toward her like a powerful wave.
Eon Hwa-ryeon’s fingers, wrapped around the cup, suppressed any disruption. It was a clash of True Qi manipulation.
A battle of wits between peak experts.
He had deliberately struck first to hide his disadvantage.
The speed at which experts who had achieved the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit could channel their internal power surpassed his own. The realm where inhaled True Qi, a well-refined body, and the spirituality of the upper Dantian harmonized as one was called the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak.
It was a state where three flowers became one. Through this, martial monsters who could circulate their internal energy at the speed of thought walked the path of the Black Rank.
They are people who have trained for decades, at least.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had attained his current level of martial arts thanks to the immense capacity of his upper Dantian, faced Black Rank adversaries with senses bordering on precognition. He had to execute his techniques faster than his opponents just to stand on equal footing.
Every battle, from Sichuan Province to this very place, had been exactly like that.
Even when it seemed they exchanged moves on equal terms or were even dominating, a fierce intensity always breathed beneath the surface. Now, temporarily exhausted after using the Azure Flame First Form, he could not afford to trade blows.
A peak expert of the caliber of the Eon Family's Number One Fist could demand an exchange of blows at any moment. She was a powerhouse who moved freely through a harsh world. Even in times of famine, she ate her fill and trained. She would never restrain herself with an opponent right before her eyes.
Thus, using the pretext of serving wine, he had induced a clash of internal power. It was to prevent his opponent from noticing the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing's weakness. The density of his Law-Transcending Halo Qi surpassed that of most experts at his rank. She wouldn't dare try to gauge his other capabilities.
A soft chuckle escaped Eon Hwa-ryeon's lips. It was a breath laced with amusement.
A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth.
As she sat languidly, looking up at Jeong Yeon-shin, a wave of energy spreading in transparent ripples swept past her eyelashes. It was the internal power wave of the Eon Family's Number One Fist. Her robustly rising True Qi constricted the cup to keep it from shattering.
The blue veins bulging on the back of her hand bore testament to the profound intensity of this silent battle.
Crack.
In an instant, a crack spiderwebbed across the cup. A transparent stream of liquid seeped down, following the line spreading from the bottom.
The dripping sound of the wine filled the silence of the room.
The young Commander of the Demonlight Wing silently set the bottle upright.
Ak Ye-rim's eyes widened slightly. The Eon Family's Number One Fist had failed to receive the cup of wine. Would the same scene unfold if their positions were reversed? It was hard to tell.
“While discussing age with you…” Eon Hwa-ryeon spoke. “...there must have been plenty of bastards who were utterly dumbfounded. I can easily picture it without even looking.”
“……”
“I’m surprised in a different way. To think a mere child would lecture me on the etiquette of drinking. I suppose if one lives long enough, one sees everything. It’s clearly a petty provocation, but hearing it from your mouth stirs a strange feeling in me. You have a temperament well-suited for our family.”
“A provocation?”
“It means you’re a born fighter. Since ancient times, an effective provocation has been a profound ultimate technique. If you can induce an attack and seize the initiative as the defender, you can control the flow of combat. You can anticipate the direction of your opponent’s strike and pre-select your counter. With your level of internal power, the response would be truly terrifying. I must be careful,” she concluded in a leisurely tone.
A sharp insight flashed through her languid voice. It was incredibly chilling.
The power of the Eight Great Families radiated from her flushed, slightly drunken face. Unlike the Nine Sects, she possessed no lofty, detached air. It was closer to an absolute confidence that she could crush anything standing in her way.
The eyes of an expert from a prestigious family, one that had amassed wealth, power, and martial prowess in the secular world, were chillingly accurate. She was specialized for conflict.
“You deduce the pattern of a fight just by observing my words and actions,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied with amusement. The person before him felt remarkably fresh. He realized anew that other peak experts gauged their opponents in this manner as well.
He was slightly different. Just processing the information flooding his senses was overwhelming enough. Eon Hwa-ryeon, the Eon Family's Number One Fist.
The subtle rhythm of her internal power waves, the shape of her bare arms revealed by her sleeveless top, and the flow of True Qi she utilized when receiving the cup—all of these were clues to dissecting the woman known as the Duke of Eminent Fists.
She has mastered a linear martial art. Her fist strikes must be incredibly fast. Since she made a name for herself across the land as a fist master, she must have also forged an exceptionally sturdy Body Protection Qi.
A rapid martial art and a solidly structured Body Protection Qi were the first things that came to mind. As a peak expert hailed as the Number One Fist of the Jinju Eon Family, she would surely have mastered secret techniques that contrasted with her primary martial arts. He also had to keep in mind the subtle principles of the Harmony Realm from the Wudang Sect's Tai Chi Chuan, or methods of projecting shockwaves like Shaolin's Hundred-Step Divine Fist.
Jeong Yeon-shin tried to estimate which muscles she would primarily use. Nothing came to mind immediately. Eon Hwa-ryeon's physique was remarkably balanced. She exuded the perfected aura of a fist martial artist. There was no obvious opening to exploit.
In fact, he welcomed it.
It was foolish to repeatedly display the same sword moves in enemy territory. Even if he enjoyed watching others try to dismantle his martial arts, he could not afford to do so in a place where the heads of the Eight Great Families—whom he could not yet handle—were present.
“I have heard stories of your fist strikes,” Eon Hwa-ryeon said with a smile.
“I wish to see the technique that severed the lineage of the Namgung Clan. I intend to stick close so you can’t use that metal skewer of yours. Unless you’ve mastered something like the Cloud Dragon Eight Forms, you’ll have to respond with your fists and palms.”
Her meaning was clear. She was talking about Brilliant River.
She was unhesitating, even in front of Ak Ye-rim, who had been Namgung Se-jin's fiancée. She was a law unto herself.
She continued, “You may consider it an honor. I have no qualms about clashing bodies with you in close-quarters combat. It would be different if you were some mediocre-looking fellow. But someone of your caliber is worth going all out for.”
Her double-edged words carried a hint of teasing.
The distinction between sexes held no weight in the martial world. Ever since the Brightfolk helped found the nation and establish the Ming Dynasty, the status of those in the Jianghu transcended gender. If one mastered martial arts properly, they became strong regardless of age or gender. It was a world where the weak had to endure any provocation.
Just as he had lectured her on drinking etiquette, her words were a provocation.
“Now, receive my wine.”
Eon Hwa-ryeon executed a grappling technique. Extending her fingers, she disrupted Jeong Yeon-shin's wrist and snatched the wine bottle away. The sequence of movements was incredibly smooth.
A subtle principle was at play, one that would have been difficult to counter in a single move even if he had resisted properly, but he didn't bother to fight back. He merely stroked his sword hilt with his left hand to prevent her from seizing his pulse point. It was a posture from which an upward slash with a reverse grip would have severed Eon Hwa-ryeon's wrist.
She laughed as she pressed the cup into his hand.
“How can we share a drink when you’re so frightened? The Commander of the Demonlight Wing is gripping his sword as if he wants to kill me.”
“It would be foolish to completely surrender one's arm to a master of fist techniques,” he replied calmly.
The corners of Eon Hwa-ryeon's mouth curled up even further as she tilted the jade bottle toward Jeong Yeon-shin's cup. The transparent Dukang Wine poured from the spout, which clinked lightly against the ceramic.
This time, there was no sign of anything unusual. Unlike him, she didn't seem to have infused it with internal power.
“Child, I have no desire to bicker with you. Life is too short to do anything but enjoy it. Righteousness, etiquette—all of it is futile. There are far too many cumbersome things in this Jianghu. You’ll realize this in ten years. You don’t seem like a foolish child, so by then, you’ll probably recall my words at least once.”
“Thank you,” he replied. Any mention of a future beyond three years was, to him, a well-wish.
He had just finished assessing his final worthy opponent for the Sect Founding Ceremony and was about to turn away when she offered these unexpectedly pleasant words.
Eon Hwa-ryeon's long eyebrows dipped and rose.
“If you appreciate my advice, take a drink. It feels a bit unfair that I’m the only one getting tipsy.”
It was then. Suddenly, the Lazy Flame Dragon reached out and grabbed Jeong Yeon-shin's cup.
“Commander, let’s drink elsewhere. I shall teach you the proper etiquette of drinking.”
A white light flickered in the eyes of the Hwangbo Clan's poppy addict. It was the secret eye technique of the Hwangbo Clan. Though not on par with those of the Jegal or Moyong clans, it was still an ultimate art of the Eight Great Families.
Through his years of experience in the pleasure quarters, the Lazy Flame Dragon was well-acquainted with the tricks of underhanded martial artists. The moment Eon Hwa-ryeon tilted the bottle, a white vapor characteristic of soul-confusing drugs had spread. She had applied internal power while holding a different part of the bottle than where Jeong Yeon-shin had held it. It was an act of dissolving medicinal ingredients she had previously affixed using her internal energy. To the untrained eye, it would easily be mistaken for mere steam.
It was not a lethal poison. It merely induced sleep, fainting, or anesthesia. A deadly poison capable of instantly killing a peak expert could not be administered so easily. However, the moment one channeled internal power to resist it, their original True Qi would be exposed defenselessly.
This was different from when Jeong Yeon-shin had localized his Halo Qi to test her. He had come to probe her, only to almost have his own cards forced open.
“When we should be drinking things beneficial to the body, to serve such trash…”
Fervent Yang True Qi flared from the Lazy Flame Dragon's hand. The wine inside the cup bubbled furiously before rising as a plume of smoke. The white vapor, which had stretched to the ceiling, dispersed on the wind. Standing to one side, Ak Ye-rim covered her lips with her hand.
The Lazy Flame Dragon sneered, completely unbothered. “Playing such cheap tricks. Have you no shame?”
“The world is truly not an easy place. It’s hard to live in peace.” Eon Hwa-ryeon chuckled awkwardly. Her shameless, languid smile, as if she had merely made a drunken mistake, suited her quite well.
“Let’s go.”
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly turned around. There was nothing to be gained from bickering here. Hanzhong was the territory of the Jegal Clan and the Martial World Alliance. A minor trick by Eon Hwa-ryeon would easily be swept under the rug. It would also be a hassle to make a public issue of it through Heonwon Chang.
Crushing her with martial arts at the Sect Founding Ceremony and taking the Great Restoration Pill would be the most powerful retaliation.
It was then.
“Child. When you rescued the Mount Hua Sect Leader's disciple…” Eon Hwa-ryeon said abruptly. “...back then, there was quite an uproar because the Branch Head died. He was an official who maintained good relations with our Alliance.”
“……”
“They say his head was severed in a single stroke... Do you happen to know anything about it? That Mount Hua disciple reportedly said he never saw the Branch Head. Even though all clues from the branch office pointed to that isolated island. It was highly suspicious. Just like your silence now.”
Her voice sounded like a whispering serpent. Above her flushed cheeks, Eon Hwa-ryeon's half-closed eyes locked onto the black-robed boy. The way she waited for an answer was peculiar, bringing to mind a fist master right before unleashing a condensed straight punch. Her clear gaze swept down the back of his neck. Though she seemed entirely jovial and relaxed, Eon Hwa-ryeon was unmistakably a member of the Eight Great Families.
The letter sent by the Jegal Clan Leader to the Branch Head. Its contents requested that he turn a blind eye to the plundering of the commoners and instead focus on facilitating the exchange of goods between Hanzhong and Yunyang. It was proof of collusion between the local government office and a martial sect during a famine. It seemed the Alliance had been desperately searching for it ever since Yu-hyeon's return. There was no reason for someone of the Branch Head's standing to destroy a document that could choke the life out of the Alliance.
Consequently, they had eventually come to suspect the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, who had rescued Yu-hyeon.
“You mean the island where the people were penned up like livestock.” The boy, turning his head only slightly, parted his lips. “The words of the Eon Family's Number One Fist are laughable. If the Branch Head was there, it means he lent a hand in plundering the commoners. To seek him out even under that assumption implies some sort of corrupt association. With what face do you dare interrogate this Commander?”
“Your words have grown unusually long. Is it because the commoners are involved? Quite the silver tongue, befitting a warrior of the Desolate Fortress.” She chuckled and waved her hand. “Be off now. Let us meet on the martial duel stage tomorrow.”
“I wonder what it feels like to be struck by words and fists simultaneously. This young master has never experienced it... well, in any case, I pray the Eon Family's Number One Fist survives to tell the tale.”
With the Lazy Flame Dragon's parting words, the two of them headed down the stairs.
Ak Ye-rim remained silent, her expression complicated.
Leaning her waist diagonally against the wall, Eon Hwa-ryeon spun the cracked cup with her fingers.
“My fists will have some extra spring in them. Those two certainly know how to get under one’s skin.”
“……”
“It’s been a while since I beat someone to a pulp. I might as well take the Great Restoration Pill while I’m at it... Though I hope the Alliance Leader goes easy on me.”
In the realm of peak experts of equal standing, self-conviction was practically essential. It was an incredibly delicate world. A technique unleashed without a firm, unyielding intent could never carry its full power.
The corners of Eon Hwa-ryeon's mouth curved upward. It was a smile filled with anticipation.
* * *
Pure white sunlight settled upon the roofs of the pavilions.
Jegal Cheong-a bathed and purified herself.
It was an important day. Today, the means to sever the tyranny of her father, the Jegal Clan Leader, would be decided. If Flash Art, Commander of the Demonlight Wing, could not handle Eon Hwa-ryeon, the Duke of Eminent Fists, she would have to devise a new plan.
The girl prayed that it would not come to that.
She swept her black hair, tied with sky-blue silk, behind her neck and neatly adjusted her attire. The light blue sleeves of her outfit, which resembled ceremonial robes more than martial attire, gently brushed the air. The fabric was the color of indigo.
Her older brother, the Fan Dragon, Jegal Hyeon, knew nothing. Completely captivated by the Commander of the Demonlight Wing's martial duels, he had set out early in the morning just to secure a spot with a good view near the Alliance leadership's tent.
In the meantime, Jegal Cheong-a had gone to confirm that the corpse of the Azure Qilin was still safely in its place. The affairs of the Alliance were highly complex, involving over a hundred sects. There was no telling when the Namgung Clan might whimsically decide to reclaim the corpse.
I am sorry. You will be able to rest soon.
Mourning once more, she headed toward the martial duel stage of the Sect Founding Ceremony.
The streets inside the Alliance were desolate. The girl walked alone through the dusty wind. It seemed everyone had gone to broaden their horizons by watching the duel between peak experts. The absence of anyone around lent a deeply solitary feeling, much like the eyes of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing she had encountered before.
He must win, Jegal Cheong-a thought as she walked.
He had to conquer the Sect Founding Ceremony. Her plan relied on a powerhouse, recognized by all the heroes of the land, erupting in a great fury. He had to possess a righteous cause and establish his conviction through martial might.
Yet, the reputation of Eon Hwa-ryeon, the Duke of Eminent Fists, was far too grand. Her title as the Eon Family's Number One Fist was by no means an exaggeration. It was a name widely renowned among the Eight Great Families. Even after having an affair with the Jegal Clan Leader, who had lost his wife, she had not been embroiled in any major scandal. That was how strong she was.
Every figure within the Alliance was under her father's influence.
Please.
As Jegal Cheong-a clasped her pale hands together, cheers reached her ears. She could see the crowd of people surrounding the martial duel stage, completely obscuring it from view.
True Qi infused the girl's steps. Utilizing a lightness skill, she reached the stage in an instant.
Tap.
With agile movements, she ascended one of the watchtowers, a seating area reserved for distinguished guests.
Jegal Cheong-a hurriedly turned her gaze.
How many exchanges had already passed? The two figures in the center of the stage came into view.
Eon Hwa-ryeon was retreating with defensive footwork, while Jeong Yeon-shin pursued her with earth-shaking stomps. A spiral gale was erupting from the young Commander of the Demonlight Wing's hands. Colorless shockwaves swirled in a tempest.
He advanced explosively, shattering the stage floor with every step. Even the pitch-black hem of his robe fluttering behind him felt terrifying. Everything in sight seemed to speak of the dignity of a Desolate Fortress Unit Commander.
Crash!
She had arrived at this exact, stupendous moment.
Brilliant River—a technique most had only heard of in rumors—was unfolding right before her eyes.