Chapter 207: Turbulence
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 207: Turbulence
Jeong Yeon-shin issued instructions regarding the duel invitations while simultaneously sending a message to the Desolate Ma Clan. He requested that they coordinate their schedules to arrange a quiet, private meeting.
Ju Yeon-jeong, Ma Se-in's mother, was on his mind. As a member of the imperial family, she was an influential figure whose true intentions were difficult to read.
The fact that Ma Yeon-jeok had consumed the Great Restoration Pill had to be kept strictly confidential. Ma Jin would surely read between the lines and understand his intent.
'As soon as I get a reply, I need to be by Grandfather's side,' Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
Meanwhile.
"Excluding those sent on the City of Master Craftsmen mission, we have four White Ranks, plus Heonwon Chang, for a total of five. Similarly, two Blue Ranks were not drafted for the mission, bringing our current total to seventeen," Cheong-myeong reported in a clear, precise tone.
Their positions had changed.
Jeong Yeon-shin now sat in the commander's office chair. Across a finely polished marble desk, Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo sat opposite him, as if they were guests. Their chairs were noticeably smaller than the Grandmaster's Chair of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
A quiet, serene atmosphere flowed between them, even without a cup of tea to share. Had the matter not been so serious, they would have brewed some Tieguanyin.
"Seventeen Blue Ranks and five White Ranks… It's awkward to call this the elite force of a great sect. It is, and yet it isn't. Originally, we had twenty-six and ten, respectively. The unranked members don't count as combat power."
Cheong-myeong's expression was calm. He showed no particular emotion regarding their depleted strength. The losses were comrades who had been like brothers to him, but lamenting their diminished numbers felt inappropriate. They had already spent enough time grieving to feel fresh sorrow now.
Beside him, Baek Mi-ryeo tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"You've seen the ledgers, so you know our budget decreases as our numbers dwindle. But the real issue is the restriction on the missions we can accept. As we are now, the Demonlight Wing can't handle a force like the twenty-four Plum Blossom Swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect. A small gap like that will eventually widen into a massive chasm. A unit of the Divine Sword Corps that can't fully contend with the elites of a great sect is bound to fall behind in accumulating achievements."
She spoke softly but clearly. Every word was correct. She had assessed their current situation with cold rationality. Their strength was too ambiguous to be deployed for major incidents, which would inevitably lead to fewer achievements.
While this directly affected the prestige of the Demonlight Wing, it also meant a major obstacle had appeared on Jeong Yeon-shin's path to the Purple Rank. That was why she spoke with such gravity.
Cheong-myeong's aura was chillingly transparent, and Baek Mi-ryeo's face remained expressionless. They acted this way because they understood Jeong Yeon-shin's disposition.
The new Commander of the Demonlight Wing spoke.
"It is correct to count eighteen Blue Ranks and seven White Ranks. Let us start from there."
"Why is that?" Baek Mi-ryeo's brow furrowed. Beside her, Cheong-myeong tilted his head slightly.
Never mind the Blue Ranks—even the White Ranks possessed enough skill to be considered rare masters in the Jianghu. They were by no means common martial artists; they were only considered low-ranking because they belonged to the Desolate Fortress, a great sect at the peak of the martial world. Recruiting them was never an easy task.
Blue-ranked experts were even rarer. When Jeong Yeon-shin had borrowed Cheong-myeong's blue robe, he had wiped out the Mantis Sect of Shaanxi Province all by himself. They were valuable assets, each capable of taking down an entire mid-to-small-sized sect on their own. The Blue Ranks were the main combat force of the Desolate Fortress, and no unit commander would willingly part with them.
The intense reaction of Ha Do-un, Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing, when Jeong Yeon-shin had mentioned drafting White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin had been entirely natural. Looking back, he felt a bit apologetic.
Jeong Yeon-shin continued calmly.
"I have received a promise of transfer from Senior Hahu, the Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit. We struck a deal. Dawn Tree Sword Kang Chang-mu, Steel-Cutting Saber Guest Ho Un-cheol, and Deep Heroic Fist Gongya Mi-ryeong will be joining our unit. Please prepare to welcome them. I will be busy with other matters, so I must leave this to you two."
"It's only been a few hours since you returned…!" Baek Mi-ryeo let out a sigh that was half a laugh. "So you were serious about sending duel invitations to the other commanders. Honestly, I wanted to stop you, thinking how humiliating it would be if you lost, but I wouldn't dare try now."
Cheong-myeong smirked. It was the first smile he had shown since entering the commander's office. Both of them had watched Jeong Yeon-shin repeatedly shatter his limits. Neither was surprised anymore.
They were simply proud of him. As Baek Mi-ryeo's eyes curved into crescents, the heavy atmosphere instantly lightened.
"Earlier, some fellow dared to lecture you on how a unit commander should act. He'll probably show up tomorrow to apologize."
"Such a reckless fool was sent to greet you?" Even the gentle breeze swirling around Cheong-myeong seemed to soften. Had Jeong Yeon-shin not been wearing the formal black robe, Cheong-myeong might have reached out to pat his head.
The renowned Brightfolk swordsman smiled. "If we can just bring our numbers up to twenty-four, that will be enough. With that, we can easily accept missions to face the elites of great sects. I know of the Dawn Tree Sword from the Forest-Treading Unit. He wields his sword quite well. You've secured an excellent asset."
"What is the progress on the prosthetic arms for the Ironfolk we brought from the City of Master Craftsmen?"
Jeong Yeon-shin thought of Ma Jin and Oh Wol-hyang. While his uncle had become the head of the Desolate Ma Clan, the Blue-ranked expert Oh Wol-hyang was still a member of the Demonlight Wing. She was a woman who had treated him like a son since he first entered the fortress. Before losing her left arm in the City of Master Craftsmen, she had been a saber master known as the Benevolent Broad Blade.
Baek Mi-ryeo smiled faintly. "They said the qi-powered prosthetic arm will be completed within a month. Don't worry about it."
"That is a relief."
A wave of relief washed over him. Nodding, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly continued, "Let's focus on securing six more Blue-ranked experts. I should calculate how many of the Black-ranked seniors I will have to face."
"It would be best if they were of the Flash Art Lineage, right? It would make training them much easier. After all, the stronger our unit is, the better." Cheong-myeong grinned, then began to count on his long fingers. "If we count the martial units whose commanders are currently resting… the Bloodkeeper Unit and the Immortal Wood Spirit each have three Blue Ranks who have learned your martial arts. It was absolute chaos. Those with decent martial arts of their own focused on the Scripture of Initial Overcoming, while the others learned the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style, the Infinite Flower of Time Fist, or the Radiant Wing Step. They would occasionally wander over to our side to ask for advice. Shin So-bin became quite popular because of it."
"Shin So-bin…?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked.
The face of his cat-like junior came to mind. She possessed a bubbly, energetic personality, bold enough to talk back even to the Lazy Flame Dragon. A girl of his own age, she was the precious daughter of the Shin Clan, a vassal of the Desolate Fortress. With her outstanding talent, she had donned the white robe and drawn attention as a potential successor to the Flash Art. He had heard she was currently staying at her clan's estate.
"I know she has begun practicing my fist technique," Jeong Yeon-shin said.
Cheong-myeong nodded. "Regardless of her robe's color, she could be considered the pioneer of your martial lineage. She uses the Infinite Flower of Time Fist and the Radiant Wing Step exceptionally well. She practically worships you. I heard she recently beat her older sister to a pulp—the one in the Heaven-Aligned Wing, Shin Bin-bin. Apparently, her sister had complained about you ordering the White Qilin around like your personal subordinate."
"She challenged her to a duel for that?"
"Shin So-bin didn't hold back, and in the end, she was dragged back to her clan. I saw her face when she was packing her things… she looked incredibly refreshed. At any rate, a lot happened while you were away."
"The Shin Clan has overstepped. I will have to bring her back soon."
"Your calm tone is actually quite terrifying," Cheong-myeong's smile widened. "Then let's start with the unit commanders. The Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit and the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit… if you face them as enemies, they are supreme masters who are incredibly difficult to defeat. Their martial prowess is one thing, but the arts they have mastered are incredibly tricky. The Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit is a mysterious figure, surrounded by rumors. Some say he practiced the Evil Arts of the Heterodox Sects, while others claim he is the illegitimate child of the Blood Flame Cult Leader."
"I know the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit well," Baek Mi-ryeo chimed in. "She has mastered the ultimate arts of the North Sea. As a supreme master of Ice Arts, you must be wary of her Internal Heavy Hand Technique. She is an expert at freezing an opponent's body from the inside. Her methods are as ruthless as those of the Heterodox Sects, and she does not associate privately with the Han people. You must challenge her with the mindset of entering a Life-and-Death Duel. Honestly, I am deeply worried."
Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo continued to speak.
This is good.
Jeong Yeon-shin enjoyed this time. It felt as though he had finally returned home to chat with his siblings. Even though he had never experienced such a thing before, that was how it felt. Discussing these tense matters somehow eased his mind, filling him with a soft warmth. Perhaps it was because he had just returned from facing the hostility of so many at the Alliance.
He slowly opened his mouth to speak.
"If it is Evil Arts and Ice Arts, I have a good chance of winning."
* * *
One day later, three events erupted simultaneously.
News of the triumphant return of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, who had dominated the Sect Founding Ceremony, had already spread throughout the fortress before his arrival. The entire main fortress was already buzzing with excitement, so there was no need for a new announcement.
The events that followed, however, were just as monumental.
First, the transfer of the Forest-Treading Unit's experts was announced. From the Forest-Treading Unit to the Demonlight Wing.
When the young, newly appointed commander took charge, many had predicted that the Demonlight Wing's weakness would persist. After all, the other units of the Divine Sword Corps were led by a stellar array of supreme masters who were fiercely protective of their own.
The transfer of numerous experts, including the Dawn Tree Sword, shattered that prediction and became a massive sensation.
"How could the Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit…?"
"He is not the type to let go of what is his. He has a terrifying amount of pride. I once shared a drink with him, and the sheer pressure was suffocating."
"Did he secretly duel the Commander of the Demonlight Wing?"
"The Thousand-Fist Dragon-Strength Retainer was defeated? No way…"
"Whether it was a duel or something else, there must have been some kind of wager. He is not a man to bestow such a massive favor upon a Han person without receiving anything in return."
"Doesn't that mean the Commander of the Demonlight Wing won? He is truly a mysterious figure. Every single one of his achievements is extraordinary for his age."
Whispers echoed throughout the vast Desolate Fortress. Elite experts, rare in the world, discussed the matter, while high-ranking officials and merchants with access to the main fortress picked up the rumors. A profile of the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing began to be compiled even among the civilians.
The second event was the disclosure of the Compendium of Crushing the Righteous. It was not done publicly; the Lord of the Desolate Fortress was no fool. Over a hundred sects had formed an alliance to keep the Desolate Fortress in check, and there was no need to needlessly draw the attention of the entire martial world.
Letters were delivered to the unit commanders, ordering them to gather at the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall the next day. The Black-ranked experts simultaneously received documents stamped with the Fortress Lord's seal, and word quickly spread through their tight-knit circle. Countless speculations arose regarding this unprecedented summons. The Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit seemed to have a vague idea of what was happening, but neither spoke a word.
They simply turned their attention to the third event.
`[...Therefore, casting aside all shame, this Commander challenges the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit, Cheon So-so, to a duel, and proposes that we abide by the victor's terms in accordance with the aforementioned conditions.]`
Public notices written by Jeong Yeon-shin, Commander of the Demonlight Wing, were posted throughout the Desolate Fortress.
This was no private matter. He was acting as the representative of the Demonlight Wing, which meant he was in no position to lower his stance by playing the junior. Thus, his words were incredibly bold and equally provocative. In stark contrast to the explosive content, the handwriting was exceptionally neat, written in a regular script close to the standard calligraphy of the Ming Dynasty.
The transfer of experts within the Divine Sword Corps was a highly sensitive matter, as they were the pillars of the Desolate Fortress. As a unit commander, one had to be conscious of the eyes watching from all over the main fortress. It was necessary to convince even those who were not directly involved. The position of a Desolate Fortress unit commander was one that represented the fortress itself—a rank that was highly independent, yet bound by many obligations.
He had already used up one opportunity with the quiet decision of the Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit. From now on, he needed the public witness of the Desolate Fortress's residents.
Jeong Yeon-shin's notice had the impact of a cannonball.
People began to gather.
The central training ground of the Desolate Fortress was packed with crowds. From the fortress's own martial artists to visiting guests, they numbered in the hundreds. Artisans, merchants, officials, and servants mingled together, and the tremendous pressure of their anticipation pulled the air of the training ground taut.
"I came from near Shaanxi. I heard the new Commander of the Demonlight Wing's swordplay is truly peerless. They say that once you see his age, you stop seeing him as a human and start seeing him as a spirit beast."
"We shall broaden our horizons with the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit's Cold Sky Flowless Ice Art. It is said to be a martial art that conquered the Outer Realms. If only I had trained harder in my Eye Techniques… I fear my eyes won't be able to keep up."
Curiosity and excitement boiled over. A clash between supreme masters of the unit commander level was a magnificent spectacle, even to those who knew nothing of martial arts. It was a rare sight in one's lifetime. Even for the experts of the Desolate Fortress, it was a scene seldom witnessed outside of a Black Rank promotion ceremony.
The two unit commanders were already facing each other on the sparring stage.
The Commander of the Demonlight Wing stood with the veins on his left arm bulging, while the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit watched him from under a curtain of ebony bangs.
Both wore the same black robes and were of similar height. The aura radiating from each of them was extraordinary, and their temperaments were remarkably alike. Waves of energy flowing from their bodies distorted the air with transparent ripples. The only difference was the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit's ears, which were pointed, rising slightly like the tips of leaves.
Amidst the mutual silence, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.
"Let us begin."
He did not expect her to be grateful. The unit commanders of the Divine Sword Corps always had to face challenges; they could not refuse a duel brought to them. The personnel affairs of the Desolate Fortress were akin to battle. Jeong Yeon-shin, too, would one day receive a duel challenge from a junior Black Rank.
He did not yet know what kind of person the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit, Cheon So-so, was. After today's duel, he would get to know her properly tomorrow at the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall.
For now, he knew only one thing: it was said that she looked down on the Han people no less than Hahu Wi-jin did. Rumors claimed she was an eccentric who rarely spoke, even at the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall, and never conversed with anyone other than Ma Yeon-jeok, the Grand Steward, the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, and Ak Su-rim.
"..."
As expected, she did not answer. She merely channeled her internal energy in silence.
Rustle.
The hem of her pitch-black robe fluttered from the force of her qi technique. A divine, white current of energy enveloped her entire body. She was shrouded in a cold wind, like an immortal of the northern snowstorms. This was the realm of the physical manifestation of true qi. Her internal energy exuded an immense sense of mystery.
Gasps erupted from all around. Some even exclaimed that she was the reincarnation of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady.
Jeong Yeon-shin instinctively knew. That was a divine art.
'Halo.'
He commanded the wheel of light within his core.
Kiiing!
The sound echoed from within him as the core of his Law-Transcending Halo Qi spun like a whirlwind. The Silk-Reeling Power of the internal energy rising from his Middle Dantian reached down to his Lower Dantian below his navel. The accumulated qi in his lower abdomen reacted like a flash of lightning.
A brilliant wave of energy surged from his body like a wildfire.
In the next instant.
Whoosh.
Cheon So-so's face filled his vision.
Her movement technique was incredibly swift, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. She seemed to favor a swift, decisive battle.
His eyes met her calm, deep blue ones. A gaze that seemed to harbor the frost of a winter sky flashed brilliantly.
In his thought process, which had accelerated to the speed of light, he felt her hair, fluttering from the recoil of her true qi, brush against the side of his head.
An intensely cold air swept over his face.
She did not yield the first strike.
Whether it was her natural disposition or because she sensed some unease from him, he could not tell.
Fwoosh—!
The strike came from his blind spot.
A pure white wind swept in from all directions, carrying an unnatural chill that made it seem as though a sudden blizzard was fluttering through the air. Jeong Yeon-shin had experienced Ice Arts once before, but the pale hand now approaching from just outside his field of vision existed on an entirely different level.
A strange, tingling sensation brushed against the Upper Dantian inside his head. This attack contained a profound spirituality, an ethereal quality that elevated the power of her martial art into a realm of its own. It was, without a doubt, a divine art. He knew instantly that he could not possibly counter it without drawing upon his Law-Transcending Halo Qi.
Ch-ch-ch.
Even before her strike made physical contact, a creeping lethargy invaded his entire body. It was a terrifying realm of mastery where she could project the effects of the Internal Heavy Hand Technique without even touching her opponent. This was fundamentally different from ordinary Cold Ice Energy.
The biting cold seeping into his skin immediately began to freeze his acupoints, aggressively traveling up the pathways of his Twelve Meridians. His black robe crackled sharply as a layer of frost rapidly encased the fabric. It was as if Cheon So-so had forcefully drawn in every single drop of moisture from the surrounding air to fuel her technique. It was an incredibly surreal, breathtaking sight to behold.
In that split second, time seemed to slow.
Jeong Yeon-shin exhaled. It was an extremely short, sharp breath.
Suddenly, a brilliant light flared deep within his body.
His Law-Transcending Halo Qi surged forth with overwhelming intensity, rushing outward as if to set the fine meridians of his entire body ablaze. The vast reserves of internal energy he had prepared beforehand instantly flooded the intricate network of meridians and acupoints inside his body.
The movement of his true qi was incredibly violent, tearing through his pathways with raw power. The rotation speed of his internal halo was, quite literally, as fast as a blinding flash of light. Even without actively conjuring the legendary Samadhi True Fire, a terrifying, explosive dynamism sprouted within him, radiating an intense heat that fought back the encroaching chill.
Then, the exact moment Jeong Yeon-shin's hand shot out and grabbed Cheon So-so's right wrist.
Crack!
The thick layer of frost that had been rapidly enveloping both of their bodies shattered into a thousand pieces. Amidst the bright, piercing sunlight beaming down upon the arena, the jagged ice fragments scattered violently into the air, catching the light and casting a dazzling, seven-colored spectrum across the battlefield.
"...?"
For the very first time since the bout began, a genuine expression appeared on Cheon So-so's previously impassive face. Her deep blue eyes widened slightly, and she looked somewhat dazed by the sudden turn of events.
"Now," Jeong Yeon-shin parted his lips, his left hand still locked in an iron grip around her slender wrist. "Your junior will make his move."
Saaaa—
The swirling fragments of cold energy that had been spreading out in vicious coils suddenly froze dead in place. The dark hem of the Demonlight Wing Commander's robe fluttered incessantly, whipped by the turbulent currents of qi now dominating the space.
It was the flawless execution of the absorption and release formulas derived from his full-body Fa Jin. Combined seamlessly with the Wind God Movement Technique, an ultimate technique—attempted in a completely different and revolutionary manner—began to manifest into reality.
The shattered ice fragments spread out, floating in suspended animation around his billowing black robe like a halo of crystalline stars.
Rumble, rumble—!
With his free right hand, he formed the profound principles of a complex sorcery formation. At the Laogong and Shaofu points of his palm, two opposing streams of internal energy clashed together like violent lightning, tearing the very air apart.
The Blood Art True Qi and the Dharma Power, both forcibly separated from his Law-Transcending Halo Qi, erupted outward with a deafening, thunderous roar.
Myriad Blossoms Rain, Brilliant River.
"...!"
All across the arena, several knowledgeable onlookers in the crowd gasped, leaping to their feet in sheer disbelief at the legendary technique unfolding before their eyes.