Chapter 27: The Zhongnan Sect (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 27: The Zhongnan Sect (2)
The shock of that incredibly fast sword lasted only a moment. Just as the Zhongnan disciples gritted their teeth and moved to draw their own blades—
"Stop!"
At the sound of her jade-like voice, the surrounding thicket trembled all at once. An immense surge of True Qi washed over the area.
Rustle.
Exuding a powerful presence, she descended like a celestial maiden from the heavens.
Here, too, was someone who had reached the realm of Grass-Gliding.
Jeong Yeon-shin stared at the woman who had placed herself in the middle to mediate.
She's strong.
Her exceptionally beautiful features didn't even register in his mind.
She was enveloped in an aura so solemn and imposing that her slender frame seemed entirely irrelevant. Just watching her stand there was enough to sense her extraordinary martial prowess.
"What a pathetic sight. Such words and actions are hardly fitting for disciples of Zhongnan. We shall speak of this when we return."
The guards bowed their heads at her quiet reprimand.
It was the effortless manner of a superior correcting her subordinates. Only then did they seem to realize their disgraceful conduct, their faces flushing red.
"We are deeply sorry, Eldest Senior Sister."
"We have no excuses."
Nodding at their apologies, the woman turned to Jeong Yeon-shin and Heonwon Chang.
"Indeed."
Her lips parted slightly.
The blades of grass brushed by the hem of her fluttering Taoist robe split cleanly in two.
It was a realm where the aura of one's entire body took on a razor-sharp edge—she did not seem to fall short even when compared to a Blue Rank warrior of the Desolate Fortress.
"I am deeply embarrassed to show such a sight to the esteemed guests of the Desolate Fortress."
"..."
Heonwon Chang looked utterly overwhelmed.
Since his companion was standing there dazed and couldn't be relied upon, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke up in his stead.
"I am Jeong Yeon-shin. I belong to the Demonlight Wing. The same goes for Young Hero Heonwon Chang here."
"I am Wiji Myo-hwa of the Zhongnan Sect."
There was an underlying pressure in her gentle words. Jeong Yeon-shin felt it clearly.
It wasn't that she was intentionally exerting her aura; it simply radiated as a natural, inherent dignity.
Only now did he truly feel the weight of the Nine Great Sects.
"Wiji Myo-hwa...? Ah, the Cloud Sword Dragon of the Zhongnan Sect!"
Heonwon Chang's exclamation revealed the woman's identity.
It was said she had slain the leader of an Unorthodox faction that had been running rampant in Guanzhong. She was a master whose name already echoed throughout the world.
The Cloud Sword Dragon, Wiji Myo-hwa.
Rumors abounded that she was a genius born of a heavenly mistake.
Taoist Yu-hyeon of the Mount Hua Sect was sixteen this year, the exact same age as Jeong Yeon-shin. He wondered if Yu-hyeon would look like her if he underwent five years of grueling closed-door cultivation.
She must have been born and raised in Zhongnan to become the Eldest Senior Sister at such a young age.
It wasn't a thought Jeong Yeon-shin, who was easily four years her junior, should be having. But due to his short-life syndrome, he had formed a habit of disregarding his own age.
"My, it is truly an honor to meet Miss Wiji, who has spread her glorious name as the Sword Dragon."
Heonwon Chang cupped his fists.
Wiji Myo-hwa had scolded her own junior brothers right in front of them to uphold justice. It was impossible not to feel favorable toward her. Jeong Yeon-shin felt the same.
Feeling as though he had finally met a true martial artist of the Nine Great Sects—the kind he had only ever heard stories about—he clasped his hands right after Heonwon Chang.
"I rudely drew my sword at the main mountain of Zhongnan. I am embarrassed before Great Hero Wiji."
He did not call her a heroine or a young lady, but addressed her as a Great Hero.
She was someone who had earned the title of "Dragon" despite not being a man. She was a senior who roamed the Jianghu as a righteous warrior with a single sword.
Because of her vast experience and lofty achievements, which were entirely incomparable to his own, the respectful words slipped out naturally.
Wiji Myo-hwa's eyes softened.
She was beautiful enough to make Heonwon Chang's foolish gasp of admiration somewhat understandable.
"Though it was Young Hero Jeong who gripped his sword hilt first, my junior brother was the one who made the first move. I saw it all. Rather, it is I who should apologize on behalf of Zhongnan."
There was warmth in her expression as she gazed at Jeong Yeon-shin, and her claim to represent the prestigious Zhongnan Sect felt astonishingly natural.
Among all the masters he had met since entering the Jianghu, she was the most striking—second only to the Perfected Heavenly Pillar of Mount Hua, who was said to be Ma Jin's rival.
In terms of sheer elegance alone, he thought she might be the finest.
"I have kept our precious guests standing for too long. I shall guide you into our sect. We can discuss your business once we ascend the mountain."
"Thank you."
As he bowed again and raised his head, a familiar face entered Jeong Yeon-shin's field of vision.
It was his second older brother, Jeong Jung-san, who was staring at him with an utterly dazed expression.
* * *
"Hye-ah is studying under the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan?"
"She hasn't officially become his disciple, but I understand she is receiving guidance that is nearly equivalent to it."
Jeong Yeon-shin couldn't help but be surprised by the words of Jeong Jung-san, who was now climbing the mountain alongside them.
The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan was said to be a swordsman who surpassed Yeo Il-shin, the First Elder and a member of the Brightfolk. Though he rarely descended into the secular world, his reputation was renowned throughout the land.
His niece, Jeong Hye, had her talent recognized by such a figure.
As a wave of relief washed over him, Jeong Jung-san cast a complicated glance at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"More importantly, you... you've become strong beyond belief. To think you're an official warrior of the Desolate Fortress."
"Strong? I still have a long way to go."
Jeong Yeon-shin spared his words, even to his own brother.
It was enough for the Lord of the Desolate Fortress to be the only one who knew about his remaining lifespan. He had no desire to increase the number of people who knew, for various reasons.
"Young Hero Jeong's desire for self-improvement is dazzling. That must be why you have already earned the white robes and blue overcoat of the Desolate Fortress."
Wiji Myo-hwa seemed to have taken quite a liking to Jeong Yeon-shin.
Every time she spoke to him, Jeong Jung-san's expression shifted rapidly. It seemed to be a side of her that even he, a fellow Zhongnan disciple, rarely saw.
It's not a desire for self-improvement, but sheer desperation.
Just as he was finding it difficult to show courtesy to praise that didn't resonate with him, the group arrived at the mountain gate of the Zhongnan Sect.
"Welcome to our sect."
Behind Wiji Myo-hwa, who had turned around with a gentle smile, lay a feast of elegant, ancient pavilions.
Though modest compared to the sheer scale of the Desolate Fortress, the main headquarters of an ancient sect—where the power of deep-rooted tradition was preserved intact—felt distinctly different.
The pavilions, harmonizing perfectly with the overwhelming mountain terrain, looked extraordinary even at a glance.
"The Sect Leader and the First Elder have gone to battle the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect. Since our guests have come from the Desolate Fortress, you should meet the highest elder currently remaining in our sect."
While her words made him recall the sword of the absolute master who had destroyed the Jeong Family Manor, Jeong Yeon-shin and Heonwon Chang soon arrived at a place called the Seeker's Pavilion.
This was only after they had scaled several rugged mountain peaks.
Just then, they encountered an old man and a young girl walking out of the adjacent training ground together, looking much like a grandfather and his granddaughter.
The girl's eyes went wide.
"Uncle!"
Perhaps because she had been separated from her parents overnight, she ran to him with a desperate intensity that tugged at his heartstrings. He scooped Hye-ah up in his arms.
"Hye-ah. Have you been well?"
"Uncle..."
As he reunited with the tearful Jeong Hye, Heonwon Chang, who was watching from the sidelines, sniffled emotionally.
Soon, Jeong Yeon-shin set down the child, who was reluctant to let go, and faced the old man staring at him with a peculiar look in his eyes.
"Elder Jong, they say they are guests from the Desolate Fortress," Wiji Myo-hwa said. Her tone was affectionate, like someone speaking to her own grandfather.
When Jeong Yeon-shin and Heonwon Chang cupped their fists and introduced themselves, the old man, who had his hands clasped behind his back, spoke slowly.
"I am Jong Yeo-il."
"The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan!"
Heonwon Chang, who had been wearing a look of sheer disbelief, cried out as if screaming.
He quickly clamped a hand over his mouth in an incredibly comical manner, but no one present blamed him for his outburst.
"Greetings, Sword Immortal."
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly cupped his fists once more.
He already had the experience of standing a single step away from the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. Though he felt awe at the old man's reputation, it did not strike him with the same paralyzing shock that Heonwon Chang felt.
They exchanged brief pleasantries.
Jeong Yeon-shin explained that publicly, he had climbed Mount Zhongnan to look after the livelihoods of the common people caught in the conflict between giant sects, and privately, to ensure the safety of his flesh and blood.
Jong Yeo-il, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan, who had been quietly observing Jeong Yeon-shin, suddenly asked,
"How old are you?"
"...I am sixteen this year."
"Hmm...! Would you like to take a look at that?"
Regardless of Jeong Yeon-shin's reluctant inner thoughts, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan raised his hand and pointed in a specific direction.
It was a place that had already caught the young man's attention.
All sorts of sword strokes were carved into the rough surface of a cliff shrouded in hazy mist.
"Elder Jong?"
Wiji Myo-hwa called out to him, her face filled with incomprehension.
"What are you saying to an outsider? Restoring the lost Nine Yang First Form is our sect's long-cherished wish."
"The Sword Sect was not a member of our sect. The previous patriarch befriended him and invited him to Zhongnan as an honored guest. He merely carved his martial arts onto Mount Zhongnan in his later years; it cannot be considered our sect's ultimate defending technique."
"Even so..."
She knit her fine brows, struggling to accept it. The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan laughed.
"I do not have much longer to live. What would I not do if I could see my benefactor's sword once more? Though you, Myo-hwa, are the only genius capable of reviving the Nine Yang First Form, I cannot leave my final regret solely in your hands."
His tone was incredibly firm. It was strong enough for anyone to feel the immense weight of the sole obsession he couldn't let go of in his twilight years.
"I don't understand. Even I can't grasp it, so what did you see in a young hero you've only just met..."
"Look."
Following the nod of the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan, who kept his hands clasped behind his back, Wiji Myo-hwa turned her gaze. Her eyes widened.
Jeong Yeon-shin had walked to the very edge of the peak. He was leaning forward, staring intently at the opposite cliff.
As if ready to yank him back immediately should he slip, Heonwon Chang stood behind him, fidgeting anxiously.
Jeong Yeon-shin was in a state of absolute selflessness. Anyone could see that.
They are sword marks, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
The multiple trajectories carved into the cliff held a sharp, piercing energy. They appeared to be the traces of a sword that had run rampant with overwhelming force, completely defying the weathering of time.
Was it a scar left by a true immortal?
The long sword marks slashing across the cliff face did not feel like human skill at all. Unless one could tread upon empty air, it simply made no sense.
"They were carved by the esteemed Sword Sect, who passed away fifty-nine years ago," said the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan, having approached his side before he even realized. Heonwon Chang gasped in surprise.
"The Sword Sect, Guyang Cheon!"
"Do you know him?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked, his eyes still fixed on the cliff.
"The Hegemon Sword Sect was actually founded by a disciple he expelled! In other words, the great senior Sword Sect is the very source of all the sword techniques of the Hegemon Sword Sect!"
"He was a man who, even after clashing with your Lord of the Desolate Fortress, took my hand during my childhood and climbed Mount Zhongnan. Unless it was the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, who is practically a Divine Demon, there were few in this world who could rival him."
It meant he was an overwhelmingly absolute master.
The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan spoke of his regret.
He was an old swordsman standing at the very end of his life, letting go of everything in his existence as mere vanity. He claimed that all that remained was his benefactor's sword. Jeong Yeon-shin did not feel offended that the old man referred to the Lord of the Desolate Fortress as a demon.
"Did the one called the Sword Sect initiate you into the Zhongnan Sect?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked.
The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan nodded readily.
"Yes. He climbed the main mountain carrying a starving, beggar orphan on his back. He thrust me before the previous patriarch and told him to raise me."
"You called him your benefactor, so why were you unable to learn his sword?"
"...Our affinity did not reach that far. That is simply how life is. My talent was also lacking."
Looking at Jeong Yeon-shin, who had asked so straightforwardly, with a peculiar expression, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan pointed toward the cliff.
"Countless swordsmen of our sect have clung to this. However, it is not a sword path that can be grasped merely through broad experience or high martial arts. The so-called masters of our sect, who claim to know a thing or two about the sword, came to a consensus: only a flash of brilliant inspiration can seize the sword path of the esteemed Sword Sect."
Following the tip of the finger, Jeong Yeon-shin frowned slightly, squinting to see more clearly.
Amidst the mist of the cliff, there was a phrase written in a single, sweeping stroke.
Who is worthy shall obtain it.
"It is entirely a realm of talent. Our sect's expectations are gathered on Myo-hwa. Though she does not show it, I know. It must be a heavy burden."
Only then did Jeong Yeon-shin take his eyes off the cliff and turn his head.
Wiji Myo-hwa wore a complex expression. As the peerless genius of the Zhongnan Sect, she did not deny it.
But that was all. Her eyes met Jeong Yeon-shin's for a brief moment, and she still seemed unable to accept the situation.
Setting aside her good character, she simply could not comprehend the circumstances.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought that perhaps the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan was a master even greater than his maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok.
After all, the only person who had seen through his true nature until now was the Lord of the Desolate Fortress.
Even with such a master, they cannot defeat the Hegemon Sword Sect in one fell swoop?
Either Ma Yeon-jeok's martial prowess had rusted compared to his prime, or the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan's martial arts were far beyond what the gossips evaluated.
For now, he was simply grateful to have obtained another opportunity to grow stronger.
It happened just as he was patting the head of Hye-ah, who had trotted over and was looking up at him.
"What did you see?" the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan asked.
Without a word, Jeong Yeon-shin drew his snow-white Desolate Fortress Sword.