Chapter 233: Precious Sword (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 233: Precious Sword (6)
From an uninvited guest cloaked in a cape to the sudden appearance of a young master wreathed in a storm of shockwaves—things unimaginable in the martial world of Xi'an were unfolding.
Were they daring to challenge a martial world currently dominated by the order of the Unorthodox Factions?
Inside the dead-silent inn, only the winter wind rattled violently against the window frames, beating against the panes in a frantic dance.
The patrons, clad in fine silk that caught the lantern light, remained perfectly still. These were people wealthy enough to afford a high-end inn even during a year of famine. From all sides, they watched the two men with cold, lifeless gazes.
Lazy Flame Dragon didn't seem to care.
"Is there a funeral?" he asked casually, cracking his neck from side to side.
"Leader, I went and checked."
He used a crude title, sounding just like a member of the Unorthodox Factions. He stood in the middle of the inn, which had been wrecked by the sudden release of his full-body shockwaves.
Spoons and chopsticks lay scattered across the floor, and the row of lanterns hanging overhead had tangled together, casting a faint orange glow. It was a hue strikingly similar to Lazy Flame Dragon's martial uniform.
"Turns out there's nowhere to stay. Every place is fully booked," he said with a sly, casual shrug.
He had temporarily stopped taking poppy to maintain his disguise. The scoundrel of the Hwangbo Clan was infamous for his addiction to the red petals, and his temper had soured the moment he entered Xi'an with nothing to chew on. Honestly, it was a miracle he could even recognize his own unit commander.
Jeong Yeon-shin knit his brows slightly. Glancing at the shattered wall, he knew they would have to pay for the damages. But handing silver to the owner while pretending to be from the Unorthodox Factions would break character, and slipping it to them secretly was out of the question. The martial world of Xi'an was said to be a pandemonium where no one's word could be trusted.
Spoken like a true noble clan member...
Lazy Flame Dragon, standing there blankly, had lived like royalty in Jinan since birth. Such was the norm for the local aristocrats of the martial world who formed the great clans.
It would be hard for him to change his ways now. Yeon-shin could only look at him with a hint of pity.
Lazy Flame Dragon smirked.
"I can read your thoughts, Leader. Even though you hide them so well whenever you hold a sword."
The Commander of the Demonlight Wing was not particularly good at examining his own character. Those around him knew this well. Lazy Flame Dragon thought, He'll be quite a sight to behold when he reaches my age.
Though this body of mine won't live to see it.
Laughing self-deprecatingly, he spoke up.
"Let's just stay here. We had to wreck a place anyway, so this worked out quite well. As expected of a rising star who enjoys the absolute favor of the sect leader."
"Stop throwing tantrums for no reason."
"Why don't you try quitting cold turkey, Leader? I never imagined I'd face this level of torture after joining the fortress."
"..."
Jeong Yeon-shin relaxed his brow, his gaze drifting to the side.
Even after achieving the Black Rank, this subordinate's inner thoughts remained hard to read, but Yeon-shin couldn't bring himself to scold a suffering man.
He himself did not know the pain inflicted by the Solar Divine Pulse, nor did he know the sensation of consuming poppy. And he never would.
As long as he disperses the smell of alcohol in time.
Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head inwardly and tightened his right hand. The thick hair of the unorthodox bastard bunched in his grip.
The prodigy of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect, who had spoken so lightly of slaughtering commoners, squirmed. The disguised leader of the Unorthodox Factions did not care.
"...!"
Shoving away So Yu-rang's head, Yeon-shin lightly kicked the leg of a backless stool.
It scraped against the floor with a brief screech. Unlike the ones in the Desolate Fortress, this one was made of wood.
A sudden question crossed his mind. How many Brightfolk were there in the martial world of Xi'an? Were there members of the noble clans who had joined the Unorthodox Factions?
I did see a corrupt county magistrate from the Hwangbo branch family once...
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.
"Where is Mokmi?"
It was Jegal Cheong-a's alias for this mission. The name had been given to her because her attainment in eye techniques was the highest among the experts of the Demonlight Wing.
Lazy Flame Dragon was called Great Idler, and Heonwon Chang was called True Brother.
Meaning exactly what they sounded like, they were crude monikers the illiterate ruffians of the Black Way might casually throw around. Jeong Yeon-shin had coined them all.
"She should be on her way back with True Brother. Though I expect they'll return empty-handed as well. It seems these bastards are short on manors, so they're using inns as their bases," Lazy Flame Dragon concluded.
Slide.
He pressed his foot against the Adam's apple of So Yu-rang, who was coughing dryly.
The very throat that had casually decreed the deaths of commoners like a magistrate and boasted of teaching the Desolate Fortress unit commander a lesson now trembled.
A sleek, polished black leather boot pressed carelessly right beneath his chin.
"It's quite common for rising stars to die in foreign lands. Do you happen to know why?"
"Keu-heok—!"
"Because they don't know their place. Start by telling me how you obtained that Nine Yang First Form. Tell me before I gouge out those useless, disrespectful eyes of yours."
Lazy Flame Dragon smiled brightly as he spoke, but his smile carried a chilling quality. It was laced with pure madness.
Just then, the wooden floor of the inn shook with the sound of hurried footsteps.
The hesitant patrons finally abandoned their food and stood up. The people of Xi'an were accustomed to the clashes of martial artists. They were quick to realize that this situation was only going to get worse.
Realizing it would be impossible to leave if they didn't do so now, they began to flee down the stairs and out the side doors. The exits became crowded in an instant.
Dust rose from the relatively clean floor of the inn. A few people, trying to hide their anxiety, offered apologetic remarks as they scrambled away.
"We fear we might disrupt the esteemed masters' business. We shall take our leave..."
"We will return home and bolt our doors! We swear on our lives to keep silent about today's events...!"
They dreaded getting involved with outsiders, terrified of future retaliation. Their behavior clearly reflected the current, oppressive state of the martial world in Xi'an.
Even after witnessing the experts of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect crawling miserably on the floor, they still acted in accordance with the vast order established by the Unorthodox Factions under Lingering Spirit and the Hegemon Sword Sect.
They hurried past without sparing a single glance at the two uninvited guests. Jeong Yeon-shin did not stop them.
Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been taking turns kicking So Yu-rang and Gal Do-jin, also stepped aside to let them pass.
When martial artists who appeared to be lackeys of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect glared at him as they fled, he responded by mimicking his unit commander.
He wore a sly smirk. The amusement of teasing Jeong Yeon-shin helped him endure his withdrawal pain.
"What are you looking at?" Lazy Flame Dragon muttered curtly.
Creak.
A quick-witted man in silk robes flung open the inn doors.
Suddenly, a gust of unfamiliar air rushed in. Standing perfectly still, Jeong Yeon-shin's black collar fluttered in the breeze.
The polished red sandalwood inner doors brushed against the hands of the fleeing patrons. Along with the cold wind, a clamorous noise drifted inside.
It was the raucous commotion of the unorthodox mobs roaming Lantian County in Xi'an.
From afar, laughter and shouting leaked through the cracks of various inns and taverns. The wind smelled as raw and bloody as fresh meat.
This was a martial world he had never experienced before.
The sunset light, filtering through the doorway, shimmered on Jeong Yeon-shin's eyelashes.
There were so many people connected to Jeong Hye's disappearance. He didn't even know where his hateful older brother was. The whereabouts of the Sword Dragon, who had helped him time and again, was also a pressing issue.
Is there no way to resolve everything at once?
The eyes of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing sank into a pitch-black depth.
* * *
A waiter's livelihood was incredibly exhausting.
It was even more so in Xi'an. With the destruction of the Great Zhongnan Sect and the rise of the Thirteen Heavens, the city had become a realm ruled entirely by the Unorthodox Factions.
The martial artists filling the vast city were split into two main powers: the Hegemon Sword Sect and those under Lingering Spirit. Several subordinate sects had established themselves within a single county.
In Lantian County, the Hegemon Sword faction was represented by the Burnt-White Sect, while the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect served Lingering Spirit.
This was their world.
They clashed with each other in a suffocating rivalry. Even the county magistrate and the branch head had turned their backs on the livelihoods of the common people.
Taking the lives of commoners had become as easy as flipping one's hand. Even the lowly waiter of the Northern Light Inn knew this.
The shaggy-haired boy, keeping his head bowed low, carried a banquet tray up to the top floor.
Creak.
Since the stairs were made of wood, they were bound to creak with every step, but he pressed down with the balls of his feet to muffle the sound as much as possible.
The living rulers of the Xi'an Unorthodox Factions must not be made aware of a mere waiter's presence.
There was absolutely nothing good about catching the attention of unorthodox experts. Fortunately, the boy was experienced in this regard.
"I am bringing in the side dishes," he announced, keeping his voice low and polite.
He entered a room where orchids lined the windows, bathed in brilliant sunlight.
As he approached the table where the two sat drinking, he lowered his gaze all the way to his feet. This was a meeting between the Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect and the Lord of the Burnt-White Sect. He had to behave as if serving royalty.
He could not look at either of their faces. He dared not even try.
Even after conquering Xi'an, the unorthodox sect leaders maintained an air of mystery, ensuring the commoners would naturally harbor fear toward them.
Slide.
He carefully placed the dishes on the table. The spicy aroma of Kung Pao Chicken wafted from his fingertips.
He stood between the two sect leaders, who exuded an overwhelming presence.
As he served the dishes one by one, the clever waiter felt a renewed sense of gratitude for the tall chairs and table, as the dining style spared him from having to look up at the faces of his rulers.
"So, I heard you took charge of the surviving Zhongnan disciples. How are you treating them now?" a heavy voice rumbled. It was Jang Gi-il, Lord of the Burnt-White Sect.
"Treating them?"
The woman sitting opposite him snorted. It was an attitude only an equal sect leader would dare display. She was Wi Il-hwa, Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect.
A devil of the Unorthodox Factions who prioritized her sect's survival above all else, she was rumored to have been Jang Gi-il's childhood friend.
"The lay sect leader who was the very first to betray the Zhongnan Sect is now babbling as if he's some noble saint. How disgusting and ridiculous. You won't mind if I throw up a little here, right? It's not like we haven't seen each other at our worst," she said. Her voice was dripping with mockery.
Jang Gi-il's response was calm.
"Xi'an has been Zhongnan's city for generations. If we are to win the hearts of the people, we cannot simply oppress them."
"The hearts of the people?"
"How long do you think we can keep travel in and out of the city locked down? To secure supplies during a famine, it is only right to keep the city gates open. This means news of the people's plight will eventually leak to the Desolate Fortress."
"Are you afraid of the Imperial Family's hunting dogs? What is there to fear from those bastards who always have to disperse their forces? That's not how someone backed by two of the Thirteen Heavens should think. Is your vision that narrow because you come from a mountain sect? Or perhaps you're just testing me because you want to smuggle the Zhongnan disciples out."
"...Aren't you the one testing me?"
The sound of a wine bottle tilting echoed softly. It was a highly perilous drinking session.
The conversation between the rulers of the Xi'an martial world choked the waiter, sending a suffocating wave of terror straight to his heart.
To the common folk, these people were akin to mountain gods. The boy's hands trembled slightly, even as he sliced the large mooncakes with a knife and portioned the Kung Pao Chicken into small bowls.
"I heard an investigation team has been dispatched from the Hanzhong Martial World Alliance. Under the pretext of looking into the matter," Jang Gi-il, Lord of the Burnt-White Sect, said, changing the subject.
Perhaps because it was an intriguing topic, a hint of laughter entered Wi Il-hwa's voice. However, it was closer to a sneer.
"They've got some nerve. They still think Shaanxi is their playground. I heard they've been suffering massive defections ever since the Jegal Clan Leader pulled out, yet they still can't read the room."
"You must have reported this to Shaanxi's Number One Demon. You are keeping your guard up, right? The three great masters of Lingering Spirit are not human. They must be viewed as inhuman monsters."
"And hasn't our dear Gi-il worn his hands and feet raw trying to please the Ghost Soul Divine Sword? There's a rumor that the most outstanding woman of the Hegemon Sword Sect looks upon you favorably. How wonderful for you."
Names akin to heavenly gods spilled from the mouths of the two rulers. The waiter's hands froze for a split second.
But it was only for an instant. After finishing his arrangement of the banquet table, he scurried out of the room.
The boy could not leave the Northern Light Inn. He was completely confined to the premises. Yet, it wasn't entirely a bad thing.
He had not been killed despite overhearing the conversation of the unorthodox masters. He could even hear their parting words through the door.
"Once I'm done eating, I plan to go see the rats."
"I heard the Chivalrous Blade, Gal Do-jin, was defeated. According to the reports, he couldn't even put up a proper fight against some brat."
"Just some well-taught kid playing hero. It's not like we haven't dealt with subversives before. Pests always keep crawling out of the woodwork. Since his martial prowess seems decent, I might just take him in as a subordinate."
Powerful energy seethed in the voice of the Lord of the Exalted Remaining Lands Sect.
A wave of energy leaked through the gap in the door, sweeping diagonally across the waiter's collar. She truly carried herself like a high-ranking lackey under the Thirteen Heavens.
A strange rumor had been spreading through the streets of Lantian County in Xi'an. It was a story about a new leader of the Unorthodox Factions who was not even twenty years old, and his violent subordinate.
Martial artists were highly sensitive about territory. The Unorthodox Factions were even more so.
The local martial world, which had been gloomily rigid, froze over. The conversation leaking from the top floor of the Northern Light Inn painted a grim picture of the outsiders' fate.
A chilling aura sliced at the waiter's legs as he descended the stairs.
This time, too, the steps made no sound.
* * *
The shadow of the inn's wall stretched slightly to the side. The wall, rising higher than a man's height, blocked the cool sunlight. It was the dead of winter.
A quiet conversation drifted from inside.
"An eye technique is certainly a fine martial art. I can see why you're so confident, Mokmi. You haven't cut your hair. It's incredibly long."
"Pardon...?"
"Thank you. I've heard everything I need. Put the paper, brush, and ink in the travel bag. The Exalted Remaining Lands Sect will be coming."
"Shouldn't we prepare a bit more? Perhaps a few more swords..."
"A single Northern Light sword is enough. My own eye technique is still incomplete. It will be perfected within a month, but until then, I must not hold back. Rather than watching the enemy's moves, I must focus on mastering the principles of the eye technique. Just bind the cover for now. We can fill in the contents later."
"The Compendium of Demon Extermination... Is it a martial art you intend to donate?"
"Yes."
"I see. I've heard there is a place like the Shaolin Temple's Library of Scriptures. It must be different from the Vast Art Formula, right? If you donate it, Leader, it will surely go to that martial library..."
"Not there."
"Then...?"
"To the world."