Chapter 24: Middle Dantian (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24: Middle Dantian (4)
A heavy silence fell over the sect leader's corpse.
The reckless, all-or-nothing strike had worked perfectly.
The sickening smirks on the faces of the surrounding Mantis Sect bastards vanished instantly.
"..."
The body of the Mantis Sect Leader bore the unmistakable marks of an overwhelming sword strike. The thick, rising stench of blood made his surreal death feel terrifyingly real.
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze from the miserable corpse and spoke, the Desolate Fortress Sword held pointed downward, blood dripping from its tip.
"Today, I will shatter the Mantis Sect's plaque."
"W-what?"
"Y-you madman...!"
The Mantis Sect disciples finally found their voices, stumbling backward in sheer horror. Amidst their groans, some muttered about a sword force they had never seen or even heard of.
To those living in the narrow martial world of a single county, Yeon-shin's sword was exactly that—an incomprehensible power.
He seized the momentum, giving his enemies no time to think. Though his true qi was not fully restored after executing the Infinite Flower of Time Fist, the heightened senses he had gained were more than enough to handle opponents of this caliber.
Step.
As he took a single step forward, the cowards retreated in unison. The loyalty of unorthodox martial artists was a far cry from the faith of righteous heroes. They were men who bought and sold their skills, their lives hanging on the price of a single coin. Those who were different were a rare minority, a fact made painfully evident at this moment.
"Kill him! Let's kill him!"
"You crazy bastard. You go first."
"He's an unstoppable monster!"
"A d-divine sword...!"
First a monster, now a divine sword. At that moment, he realized just how varied the martial world truly was. These were words he would never have heard within the Desolate Fortress.
There's nothing more to gain here.
Yeon-shin began to unleash his sword once more. These were not the same opponents he had faced initially. He slipped through the gaps in their faltering, loose web of blades, delivering a flurry of rapid strikes.
It was a level of swordsmanship the Mantis Sect disciples could not hope to withstand. Finally, some began to flee.
"Aaargh!"
"We're finished! Our sect is being destroyed!"
"T-the Blood Master Sword! Call the Blood Master Sword!"
Amidst the chaos, the words shouted by one of them made everyone in the courtyard freeze. Yeon-shin was no exception.
If there was a "Master Sword" that unorthodox factions called upon with such faith, it could only be a Blood Master Sword of the Blood Flame Cult.
"Answer me," he demanded, seizing a man's arm with a grappling hold and snapping it. He simultaneously pressed the cold, blue steel of his blade against the man's throat. "Was the Blood Flame Cult behind this? Did you hand the kidnapped people over to them?"
Breaking into a cold sweat, the man shrieked.
"Y-yes! That's right! He should be sleeping in the detached villa right now! It—it has always been that way!"
"You clearly have no idea what a true expert is."
There was no way a master wouldn't have sensed a commotion of this scale.
"Spare me...!"
This was a life-and-death duel. He shoved aside any trace of pity.
He indifferently slit the man's throat with the Desolate Fortress Sword, then raised the blade again. His true qi, now flowing faster than before, channeled the principles of the Scripture of Initial Overcoming. The layered energy filled the acupoints of his right arm, waist, and lower body, creating a stance as firm as an ancient, rooted tree.
Clang!
A sudden, silent sword strike clashed against the Desolate Fortress Sword. There hadn't even been the sound of air being torn. At the same moment, strands of dark-red hair brushed past Yeon-shin's forehead.
The vibration that rippled up his arm was far more intense than anything the Mantis Sect members could deliver.
"A Blood Master Sword."
"You blocked that? Then this massacre must be your doing."
"Massacre? That's a word the Blood Flame Cult has no right to use."
Yeon-shin replied calmly, his eyes fixed forward.
The man looked just like the one he had seen in Zhenping County. He had hair of mixed black and red and was dressed in a crimson martial uniform. His mouth was smeared with fresh blood. Along with the iron sword in his hand, his entire body radiated a sinister, eerie energy.
Ma Jin's words came to mind—from when they were discussing Yeon-shin's achievements. He had joked that if Yeon-shin decapitated five or so Blood Master Swords, he would be recognized as a blue-robed warrior regardless of his age. But the Blood Flame Cult was not a group one could simply stumble upon.
"I'm in luck."
"What?"
"Three left."
"..."
In the past, an opponent like this would have lunged at him regardless of what he said. But now was different. Wary of Yeon-shin's formidable aura, the man began to circle him slowly.
It was true that the Blood Master Swords were rare experts. On an entirely different level from the Mantis Sect rabble, he could sense Yeon-shin's powerful presence.
Yeon-shin did not wait.
Thud!
Internal power surged into his legs as he kicked off the ground, his second step a heavy stomp. With a dull thud, he lunged forward relentlessly, unleashing the fast sword form of the Demonlight Formula.
A flash of light, a perfectly straight line, clashed with the man's sword.
Clang!
Having taken the initiative, he had put his full weight behind the strike. Though it was blocked, it clearly pushed his opponent back.
He decided to end it here. This was an expert who would not be easily defeated. They were in the middle of the Mantis Sect's headquarters; if the fight dragged on, his chances of winning would dwindle.
In a split second, a flash of sky-blue light in his eyes swept over the swordsman's body. His senses, sharply honed through group battles, pierced through the man's defenses like an invisible beam, seeing what lay beyond. He saw right through it—the sinister energy gathering in the man's left hand as he prepared an unorthodox palm technique.
Right here.
It was pure instinct. He chose to reach his target before their martial arts could even clash. A decision made in less than an instant transformed into a wave of energy, wrapping around the Desolate Fortress Sword in layers.
He had infused the spiral fa jin of the Infinite Flower of Time Fist into the fast sword form of the Demonlight Formula.
As if man and sword were one, he seemed to fold the very space before him.
Thrust!
With minimal effort, he pierced straight through.
This was the essence of the fast sword, the key to survival for a swordsman who lacked deep internal reserves.
A light breeze scattered tiny droplets of blood.
"H-hegh...!"
The sinister energy unique to the Blood Flame Cult dispersed. Gasping for air, the second Blood Master Sword's eyes widened until they threatened to tear. In a small county like this, he was a martial artist who was a veritable god of death. This end must have been utterly unbelievable to him.
Yeon-shin could clearly feel the man's emotions, transmitted through the tremors in his blade. With eyes full of deep resentment, the Blood Master Sword opened his mouth.
"Y-you..."
"I don't listen to last words."
In an instant, the muscles in his arm bulged. He didn't even need to channel his internal power. He ruthlessly swept the embedded sword to the side and turned around, paying no mind to the soft thud of the body collapsing behind him.
"Do not run," he spoke in a low voice.
The men who had been quietly slipping away, moving as if they had mastered some elusive Brightfolk movement technique, froze in their tracks.
A voice, carrying no true qi whatsoever, utterly dominated the Mantis Sect.
* * *
Before all the residents of Lotus Lake County, Jeong Yeon-shin shattered the Mantis Sect's plaque.
While some rejoiced, trampling on the broken halves, others burst into tears, cradling the emaciated corpses of their family members. Dozens of bodies had been discovered in the Mantis Sect's detached villa and backyard.
It was just like in Zhenping County. Even though he had gained an unexpected achievement, a bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
Jeong Yeon-shin, carrying a large sack on his back, glanced behind him. The few surviving Mantis Sect disciples had lost their right arms and had their dantians shattered. Now, they were being trampled by the villagers. They were completely crippled, barely able to support their own bodies.
"Xi'an is supposed to be Zhongnan's territory."
What on earth have they been doing? At Yeon-shin's muttered words, Jang Sam, who was wiping away tears beside him, responded. He had just wrapped his daughter's corpse in a cloth and slung it over his back.
"Isn't the Zhongnan Sect currently at war with the Hegemon Sword Sect?"
His eyes were bloodshot, and his speech was slurred. Yeon-shin's brow furrowed.
"Zhongnan... with the Hegemon Sword Sect?"
It was a rumor he had never heard.
His thoughts trailed off. Images of his only niece and the experts of the Zhongnan Sect flashed through his mind. And at the end of those thoughts was the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect—the man who had exuded the aura of an absolute master as he annihilated an entire family.
Even now, the reason remained a mystery.
"Since when?"
"I don't know for sure. I only heard that the nearby martial arts academies affiliated with Zhongnan packed up and headed for Mount Zhongnan..."
"..."
Yeon-shin fell silent.
If their opponent was the Hegemon Sword Sect, the Zhongnan Sect would have to stake their very survival on the war. A head-on clash wouldn't end with just one or two experts dying.
There were more than enough reasons to fight. The ear of First Elder Yeo Il-shin had been severed by the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect himself. They must have clashed more than once, both before and after that event. The same went for the annihilation of the Jeong Family Manor, the details of which Yeon-shin still did not know. The fact that Zhongnan Sect experts had been staying at the manor at that exact moment was highly unnatural, no matter how he looked at it.
Young Hye-ah was innocent. He could only hope his second brother, Jeong Jung-san, was protecting her well.
I must go to Zhongnan.
Ma Jin would surely allow it. The Thirteen Heavens of the Wicked Way was a power that reigned supreme in the unorthodox martial world. They were bound to be targets for the Desolate Fortress, and taking the heads of the Hegemon Sword Sect's experts would directly translate into achievements.
Yeon-shin now had the backing of the Desolate Fortress. He also possessed the martial prowess to easily handle most martial artists.
I can even gain achievements. It's time I found out.
Why the Jeong Family Manor fell.
What was the reason the Hegemon Sword Sect and the Blood Flame Cult joined forces? For what purpose did they destroy his home?
The Zhongnan Sect would know.
"You have avenged my daughter and allowed her soul to rest in peace..."
"Young Master, thank you so much! Truly..."
"This gentleman's esteemed name is Yeon-shin of the Jeong family! We must never forget it!"
"Great Hero Jeong! It is Great Hero Jeong!"
He turned away from the gratitude of Jang Sam and the other villagers. When they insisted on hosting a feast for him, he declined, telling them to use the food—so scarce in this time of poor harvest—for the funerals instead.
At that, some began to murmur the three characters of his name, Jeong Yeon-shin, as if branding them into their minds.
He lightly rested one hand on his sword hilt and gripped the end of the sack slung over his back with the other. He walked at a brisk pace, only stopping when he reached the hill overlooking Lotus Lake County.
"Did you find any traces of the Thieving Ghost?" Yeon-shin asked, having suddenly halted.
The nearby bushes rustled, and two figures emerged. A swordsman shrouded in a sharp aura and an extraordinary-looking young Taoist approached.
They were Heavenly Pillar, the Sword Excellence of Mount Hua, and Yu-hyeon, the disciple of the Mount Hua Sect Leader.
"It seems it wasn't the Mantis Sect."
Perhaps because he had just witnessed the destruction of an entire sect, Heavenly Pillar's demeanor was noticeably more respectful than before. He was treating Yeon-shin not as a promising young talent like Yu-hyeon, but as a true martial artist of the Desolate Fortress.
Yeon-shin nodded. "I see. That is a pity."
"I was deeply impressed by your martial prowess. It felt as though I were looking at the future Commander of the Demonlight Wing—no, the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps. I'm sure the future of our sect has broadened his horizons as well," Heavenly Pillar said, patting the back of Yu-hyeon's head.
As his Taoist cap wobbled, Yu-hyeon frowned slightly and stole a glance at Yeon-shin. His previously languid impression now seemed exceptionally sharp.
"It was my first defeat. Just thinking about calling you a 'five-strike opponent' makes my skin crawl with embarrassment."
"First defeat?" Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly.
Yu-hyeon waved his hand dismissively. "My senior brothers and sisters are all much older. The only others my age are my martial nephews, but their skills are still too shallow."
"Are there no disciples of your age in Mount Hua?"
"I'm the only one in the generation of the Sect Leader's disciples."
"I see."
At the indifferent reply, Yu-hyeon lowered his eyes slightly.
"...How about we become friends? You seem interested in Mount Hua's martial arts, too. Shaanxi isn't that far from Huguang."
"I have no reason to make a special trip to Mount Hua."
"Oh..."
"But if you come find me, I won't turn you away. In exchange, make sure to learn a new martial art every time you visit."
Yu-hyeon, clearly unaccustomed to rejection, looked visibly flustered. However, at Yeon-shin's final words, his face brightened.
On their way to the gathering point in Xi'an, Yeon-shin had to endure Yu-hyeon's non-stop chatter. He was talkative, but in a different way than Heonwon Chang. Their conversation was mostly about the principles of martial studies, and the orthodox martial philosophy of the Nine Sects proved helpful to Yeon-shin. The occasional remarks from Heavenly Pillar nearly sparked inspiration several times.
This is helpful. I'll look forward to Mount Hua's visit.
After walking for a day, they arrived at the inn they had first secured in Xi'an. But the pleasant interlude ended there.
He went up to Ma Jin's guest room.
"Your aura has changed slightly again."
"Looks like your back was slashed. Sit down, I'll apply some Golden Sore Medicine."
"Flash Art. The mission..."
Under the watchful eyes of Cheong-myeong, Baek Mi-ryeo, Ma Jin, and Heonwon Chang, Yeon-shin announced his intention to head to Zhongnan.
Just as Ma Jin, having heard the circumstances, opened his mouth with a troubled expression, Jeong Yeon-shin untied the sack he was holding and poured its contents onto the floor.
"Ah!"
"..."
It was the head of the Blood Master Sword and the shattered plaque of the Mantis Sect.