Chapter 202: Demonlight Wing (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202: Demonlight Wing (3)
Choking to death on a poppy... There couldn't be a more pathetic way to go, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
Lazy Flame Dragon had always wandered around half out of his mind. He treated poppies like air and reveled in his liquor.
Though the shadows beneath his eyes had grown darker than before, even Jeong Yeon-shin didn't dismiss his words in front of Hanzhong's Number One Tavern as mere exaggeration. The man was a Flower Playboy who had dabbled in every kind of worldly pleasure. There was no way he was in his right mind.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn't bother dwelling on his strange reaction. Instead, he locked eyes with his reliable senior, Ak Su-rim.
But the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress didn't meet his gaze. Her eyes drifted upward like rolling jade beads, as if she couldn't think of what to say on the spot. She seemed lost in deep thought.
Jeong Yeon-shin wondered if he had pointed out an unexpected blind spot. He didn't even dream that she was merely trying to hide her embarrassment.
Did I just give her some insight?
Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
What happened to the spirit of a master whose true qi had reached the state of Pure Blue Fire and achieved Rejuvenation?
It was a question few would ever think to ask. The realm of the unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit—otherwise known as the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak—was said to be profoundly mysterious.
He had heard from Ma Jin that one had to cultivate the body and mind as one with true qi, aligning and penetrating the upper, middle, and lower dantians.
It's a realm I must reach as well.
It was a solemn thought.
The new Commander of the Demonlight Wing was currently acting as a unit commander despite his internal energy falling short of the Black Rank. He managed this only because of his Law-Transcending Halo Qi, his instinctive senses, and martial arts perfectly tailored to his body.
Both his enemies and his seniors were frequently astonished by him. The Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak was a supreme state, exceedingly rare under the heavens. Naturally, it was not a topic commonly pondered.
Why had the words and actions of Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, become so lighthearted? Did the spirit follow the body? If one achieved Rejuvenation while in the state of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak, what became of their Essence, Qi, and Spirit? The philosophical questions swirling in Jeong Yeon-shin's mind grew increasingly complex.
"...No one knows the answer to that," Ak Su-rim finally said, having kept her lips sealed for a long while. Her eyes were noticeably lowered, her expression unusually subdued.
A junior far younger than her had just pointed out that her behavior didn't match her age. Her forced composure made her look even less like her actual years. She clenched her small fists tightly, the veins on the back of her hands bulging.
She must have grasped the thread of some new realization, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
As he listened in silence, the booming laughter of Hahu Wi-jin, Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit, echoed around them.
"This is rich!" Hahu Wi-jin roared. "To think he doesn't even realize he's provoking her!"
"Pure Blue Fire and Rejuvenation don't just happen because you're strong," Ak Su-rim said slowly, her voice slightly strained.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded, looking a bit more encouraged. "I am aware of that."
"You have to view it as a fated encounter. A stroke of heavenly luck, really. It's not something achieved through high martial prowess alone."
"Then...?"
"There is a sensation where your Essence, Qi, and Spirit align in perfect harmony. Practitioners who deeply refine that state each acquire a unique trait. The ability I obtained just happened to be Rejuvenation. The Commander, on the other hand, became exceptionally skilled at wielding the Invisible Sword."
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes widened slightly. This was entirely new to him.
So those senses still apply even after reaching the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak.
The internal energy sword of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps came to mind.
That had been a display of divine majesty. The sight of him drawing a brilliantly radiant sword to slay the Namgung Clan Head... The Invisible Sword, woven from seven-colored light, had looked like the authority of some transcendent being. The martial prowess of a peerless master who had refined their true qi to the absolute limit was truly that mystical.
Ak Su-rim quietly studied Jeong Yeon-shin's contemplative face.
"To get back to your question, you asked if Rejuvenation affects the mind, right?"
"Yes, Senior."
"Isn't that obvious? If you've turned back time through heavenly luck, wouldn't it be even more ridiculous to act like a grumpy old codger when you look like a child? No one complained about me enjoying myself. Well, those who did... disappeared."
Ak Su-rim giggled, her youthful face beaming as she tucked a strand of short black hair behind her ear. She had completely regained her composure. Behind her back, the spearhead caught the sunlight, gleaming with a sharp, cold light.
The Divine Spear. It was a blade of pure white, lethal sharpness.
So she was just acting childish, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
They said the Jianghu was full of eccentric masters, and Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, certainly fit the bill. She was different from his maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok. It seemed he could lay his worries to rest. If anything, he should hope his grandfather would eventually obtain the ability of Rejuvenation himself.
"Thank you for your guidance. It was of great help."
He offered a brief arching hand salute toward Ak Su-rim as they walked. The Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak and Rejuvenation were topics rarely discussed even in the wider Jianghu. It was a conversation they could only share because they were senior and junior within the Desolate Fortress. Even if it wasn't of immediate practical use, it was a teaching that belonged to the realm of secret arts.
"Don't mention it. It's no big deal."
She shook her head dismissively, the glossy sheen of her black hair rippling with the movement.
"It's just... I find myself wishing once again that the Flash Art Lineage was under my command."
I wanted to exchange a few blows with our little Flash Art, Ak Su-rim swallowed the thought.
* * *
They secured horses at a courier station in Hanzhong. The station in Hanzhong, Shaanxi, was massive, owing to its location at the strategic junction of Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Huguang. By presenting his Desolate Fortress Token to the dozing stationmaster, they easily acquired over thirty fine steeds.
The entire group mounted up—Jeong Yeon-shin's party, Ak Su-rim, Hahu Wi-jin, and the masters of the Forest-Treading Unit. They had all successfully completed their respective missions as envoys to the Alliance and escorts for the Flash Art.
And so, their journey continued.
Thud-thud-thud-thud—!
The thunder of hooves trampling fallen leaves echoed through the air.
The party rode relentlessly. Even on swift steeds, the world was vast.
Even though the distance from Hanzhong to Xiangyang, where the main fortress of the Desolate Fortress stood, was relatively short, it still took time. They had to ride under the moonlight for several nights.
Along the way, Jeong Yeon-shin forged bonds with the masters of the Forest-Treading Unit. True to their commander, Hahu Wi-jin, they were a fierce and valiant lot.
They lived up to their name, Forest-Treading—which literally meant to trample the Murim. They possessed a temperament that suggested the core duty of the Desolate Fortress was engraved into their very bones.
It was easy to break the ice thanks to Heonwon Chang, who had admired them since before joining the fortress. The Hero of the Desolate Fortress acted as a perfect bridge between the two groups.
"At that time, this Heonwon shouted at the top of his lungs: 'Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art of the Desolate Fortress, has decapitated an elder of the Hegemon Sword Sect!'"
"So the rumors were true. It was hard to believe someone of White Rank status could achieve such a feat."
"With that kind of talent, it's no wonder he has already risen to the position of Commander of the Demonlight Wing."
They halted their horses in a clearing, and a bonfire soon blazed in their midst. Since the party consisted entirely of martial masters, the firewood was piled exceptionally high, reaching the height of a grown man.
Crackle. Snap.
Sparks occasionally burst and danced under the moonlight. On this evening, with the darkness faintly illuminated by the moon, they finally drew near Xiangyang.
They had been riding for over eight days. Having traveled diligently for eight days and nights, they would arrive at the Desolate Fortress tomorrow.
"You're going to have your hands full, Flash Art," Ak Su-rim remarked, sitting cross-legged with her spear resting across her thighs.
The reflection of the roaring flames danced along the polished metal of her weapon.
She continued, "Reorganizing your personnel alone will be a monumental task. The martial units under the Divine Sword Corps are essentially the equivalent of an elite force from any major sect. Changing their commander is no different from a sect appointing a new leader. You'll have to establish new rules to your liking, refine the unit's martial arts, and train your subordinates to elevate their cultivation."
"Yes, I am aware," Jeong Yeon-shin replied, sitting with his back perfectly straight. Lazy Flame Dragon and Namgung Hwa-shin sat on either side of him, while Miss Ye and Jegal Cheong-a sat behind.
Every now and then, he felt a gaze burning into the back of his head. It was a presence he could sense through his energy. It was Miss Ye's gaze, not Jegal Cheong-a's. Unlike when they were alone, she had become noticeably quiet, but her increasingly dense internal power waves seemed to ripple toward him alone. Was she feeling shy around others?
Jeong Yeon-shin chose not to show any sign of noticing and spoke up. "The reorganization of personnel is indeed the issue. To maintain the unit's strength, we need more Blue-Ranked Experts..."
His voice trailed off.
The Radiant Wing Unit that had accompanied him to Sichuan had long since disbanded. Its members had returned to their respective martial units to carry out their duties. Even if they had volunteered for the journey to Sichuan out of respect for the founder of their martial lineage, permanently transferring their affiliation was a different matter entirely. It required both their personal consent and negotiations with the commanders of their original units.
Ak Su-rim smiled playfully. "You just have to challenge the other unit commanders to martial duels. Think of it like a martial arts tournament for marriage. You show off your skills and claim whoever you want. In fact, the main fortress has probably already prepared a tournament for you."
"I've heard of such a practice, but do I really have to defeat my seniors to win subordinates?"
Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the meeting hall of the Black Rank Experts.
The Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall. Among the masters who occupied the stone seats around that circular table, not a single one was weak. It was a place that truly made him realize the weight of the Desolate Fortress's reputation as the strongest sect under heaven.
To trade blows with the seventeen unit commanders of the Divine Sword Corps.
It was an opportunity any martial artist in the world would dream of. But what if those duels carried high stakes? Especially when every single one of them was a supreme master who had achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak.
Now that I've created a sword technique worthy of my divine art, I shouldn't be at the very bottom anymore. Even if I only defeat two or three of them, it will be a massive help. I'll be able to recruit four or five Blue Ranks that way, Jeong Yeon-shin calculated.
Until recently, the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing had been a Blue-Ranked Expert of the Desolate Fortress himself. He knew exactly what kind of martial prowess those clad in blue uniforms possessed. They were a force comparable to the elite masters of any major sect.
In the future, I will have to face entire great sects on my own.
Whether it was the Thirteen Heavens or the Eight Great Families. Even if he didn't march directly into their headquarters, he would have to contend with their elite forces roaming the Jianghu.
But that was fine. If he achieved his goals, he would naturally gain the power befitting his position. Once that happened, it wouldn't matter what faction he faced. If Jeong Yeon-shin could assemble a proper Demonlight Wing at his back, their combined breakthrough power would defy imagination.
Only then would he truly become a guardian capable of shielding the common folk from the ravages of the martial world.
"What an audacious junior. Your thoughts are written all over your face," Hahu Wi-jin remarked, sprawled out on the opposite side of the fire. He grinned, baring his teeth in a manner as fierce as a wild beast. Looking at Jeong Yeon-shin, who offered a silent nod of respect, he continued:
"Some of my boys belong to your martial lineage. If you want to take them, you'd better be prepared. If you can't even last three exchanges against me, I'm going to start by completely restructuring their martial arts."
Among the thirty or so masters of the Forest-Treading Unit, three smiled sheepishly—one Blue Rank and two White Ranks. Their energy signatures were remarkably sharp. One of the White-Ranked warriors was a man who had followed him all the way to the City of Master Craftsmen as part of the Radiant Wing Unit.
"Keep dreaming. Do you really think I'll let them go without a fight?" Hahu Wi-jin snorted.
He muttered that if they weren't on their way back, he would have traded blows with him right then and there.
The Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit, the Thousand-Fist Dragon-Strength Retainer, was a man of immense pride in his clan. He was notorious for treating anyone who wasn't of the Brightfolk with utter disdain. His attitude toward Jeong Yeon-shin was, in fact, exceptionally generous.
This was because he had witnessed firsthand everything the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing had accomplished at the Alliance.
Thanks to that, the journey remained peaceful. It stayed that way even as the sun rose, as they passed through the gates of Xiangyang, and as they finally arrived at the main fortress of the Desolate Fortress.
Jeong Yeon-shin gripped his reins and spurred his steed forward.
A few stray maple leaves brushed past his face. A familiar scent drifted on the crisp autumn breeze.
It was the scent of his quiet quarters. This place felt more like home to him now than Xinye County ever had. The towering white walls of the fortress loomed before him.
The Desolate Fortress.
He had finally returned.
* * *
Ak Su-rim and Hahu Wi-jin paid little attention to the envoys from the Alliance. Throughout the entire journey back, the two commanders had spoken almost exclusively to Jeong Yeon-shin.
Even after passing through the main gates and leaving their subordinates behind, they continued to walk alongside him.
"Unit commanders must report their return. Every time we complete a mission, we pay our respects to the Lord of the Fortress."
Jeong Yeon-shin walked side by side with Ak Su-rim toward the inner castle of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress.
He didn't even have time to savor the familiar air of his sect. Behind them, Hahu Wi-jin's footsteps, which had previously echoed with heavy thuds, grew noticeably quiet and cautious.
Jegal Cheong-a was similarly tense. Only the light, soft footsteps of Miss Ye, who had remained silent the entire time, rustled gently against the floor.
There were three renowned Black Rank experts in their group.
Even though they were entering with outsiders, the guards at the entrance of the inner castle did not move to stop them.
Jeong Yeon-shin was the only one who drew unfamiliar stares. Most of the looks directed at him were filled with curiosity and admiration—something he had been told every new unit commander had to get used to.
"You'll be shocked when you find out how much further your martial lineage has spread," Ak Su-rim said with a smirk.
Step.
The five of them began to climb the stairs. By the time they set foot on the ascending steps, a heavy silence fell over them.
Only after climbing well over a hundred steps did they finally reach the summit.
A massive stone door stood before them, parting on its own as they drew near. It was a sight that had become quite familiar to Jeong Yeon-shin by now.
Rumble—
A breathtaking sight unfolded before them.
Massive, ancient tree trunks twisted and rose naturally to form desks, tea tables, and a daybed. The sunlight streaming through the wide-open wall was crystal clear. Bathed in that light, a woman reclining on her side came into view.
She possessed a beauty that stood as the very symbol of immortality, and her eyes seemed to hold the profound truths of all creation.
Swoosh—
A breeze drifted in from the open window, gently brushing against Jeong Yeon-shin's skin.
Yet, the pale green hair cascading over the wooden daybed opposite him remained perfectly still.
The hair of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, as always, maintained a state of majestic silence.
Her long eyelashes fluttered upward. The shadow they cast, resembling blades of grass scattered in brilliant light, receded.
"..."
Those deep green eyes, possessing a weight that could crush one's very soul, slowly turned.
They locked onto Miss Ye.