Chapter 277: Martial Prowess (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 277: Martial Prowess (5)
Crunch.
Stepping forward, Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
She had spoken of meeting him at eye level. She certainly hadn't meant the slouching, downward gaze of a monkey.
The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps of the Desolate Fortress. Jeong Yeon-shin respected his sole direct superior to the utmost.
Even now, he struggled to comprehend how she had drawn that Invisible Sword of light when she slew the Namgung Clan Head.
"You don't have to go easy on me."
"An unnecessary worry, you cheeky brat. You can look forward to it."
The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps grinned.
It was then.
"We are here."
A clear voice echoed from above. It was the Brightfolk expert acting as their guide, though Jeong Yeon-shin would have known even without the announcement.
A haze of light filled his vision as the thicket gave way to a wide, open expanse.
A lake.
It was fully bathed in moonlight, its surface perfectly still without a single ripple.
Before he knew it, the biting winter air had dissipated. A fresh scent of spring wafted over. The massive moon seemed to have painted the water's surface a deep, luminous blue.
It was a windless zone. The faint breeze that had been following Jeong Yeon-shin unraveled behind his back, as if paying its respects.
"Go on in first. I'll be lying down to sleep. The water energy here is incredibly divine; I should refine my own True Qi first. Besides, I have no interest in ogling a naked man."
The Commander of the Divine Sword Corps promptly lay down right where she stood. Disregarding whether their guide had left or not, she closed her eyes.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded silently, stripping off his uncle's robe and the upper half of his martial uniform.
Rustle.
His torso, heavily wrapped in bandages, was revealed. Fresh bloodstains seeped through in various places.
The sword marks left by peak experts did not heal easily—a testament to the terrifying potency of their True Qi.
Just as he was about to unwrap the bandages, his hands suddenly paused.
Gazes. And not just one or two.
He felt eyes piercing into him from all directions, accompanied by extremely dense waves of energy.
He wondered if it was the Dark Night Hall.
It wasn't. The aura was far closer to the orthodox path than the heterodox sects. It was the internal energy of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar. The signature of their internal power was familiar.
Perhaps because they were a secluded sect, they made no effort to hide the nature of their True Qi. The Upper Dantian in his mind perceived their blatant curiosity in its entirety.
It seemed they wanted to see how his body was structured. Did the noble Brightfolk lack the common sense of the outside world?
How scandalous.
Furrowing his brows, Jeong Yeon-shin walked straight into the lake. Only then did the presences of the Brightfolk experts vanish one by one.
The sound of splashing rose from his feet to his thighs. Just as the gentle current embraced his waist...
Suddenly.
Thump—
The halo around his heart throbbed.
The Lord's...?
Just as his lips parted slightly, a faint wave of light spread across the moonlit lake.
* * *
Inside a hall where massive tree trunks stretched out in wild freedom.
"The children seem to be immensely interested."
"It is only natural. How long has it been since we last welcomed outsiders?"
The surrounding walls were a deep, rich brown.
Amidst vines and leaves that cast a beautiful, ethereal glow, five people sat in a circle on a massive, rounded tree trunk.
They included two elderly figures with deeply wrinkled eyes, Sect Leader Cheong Bo-hwa, and a younger-looking man and woman.
As the elders conversed, the younger man and woman of the junior generation occasionally chimed in.
"The fist technique of that child, Shin So-bin, was superb. To wield such a powerful fist with a frame like hers... I was tempted to ask what the mnemonic for her Fa Jin was, undignified as it might be. Her movements were extremely refined."
"She must be of the Desolate Shin Clan's bloodline. Did Nan-song's fighting spirit not break with a single stomp? They say the warriors of the Desolate Fortress who endure real combat are like sharpened blades, but I never expected him to be defeated by such a young child. The shockwaves that wriggled in an instant within a straight form... She was controlling the wind with her Fa Jin."
Whispered voices flowed like a gentle breeze.
"I suspect it is a method of erupting shockwaves in a straight line from the shoulder blade, likely the Tianzong Point. Though only the Demonlight Wing and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing would know the mnemonic embedded within those fine meridians, it was clearly a powerful strike that one could hardly dare attempt without training the body far beyond ordinary limits."
"Anyone could come up with the concept... but it is precisely because she fully manifested her intent into her martial arts that it can be called an ultimate technique."
"Even so, being defeated in a single exchange is a shameful matter. Nan-song will refine his Linked Path Heavenly Image Sword, so before they leave, he must redeem himself..."
"Our Elder Kwon speaks just like a Han person. I thought you had forgotten those with whom you formed bonds during the Great Battle of the Ming Cult, but it seems these visitors from the secular world have awakened your hot blood."
"My lady..."
This was a forum for Sword Discussion.
They did not bicker pointlessly over mere stances. Instead, they debated the core principles of the martial arts they had witnessed that morning.
Casting aside their usual indifferent demeanors, each of them displayed a rare, intense interest.
"They called it the Vast Art Formula. That was even more astonishing. Originally, is not 'Formula' a name given to martial studies possessing a grand flow? It was well-deserving of that title. A mnemonic that multiplies power through the collision of shockwaves... It is something one could hardly dream of, even with exceptionally precise manipulation of True Qi. In terms of the intricacy of its qi circulation pathways alone, it is second to none among the orthodox martial arts of the Nine Sects. I am incredibly curious about its profound principles."
"You speak truly. It possessed a level of completion that could hardly be achieved through ordinary inspiration. The flow of shockwaves that repeatedly accumulated upon themselves was marvelous. And all kinds of martial arts were seamlessly blended within it."
"My lady, at this rate, we should consider discussing something else. I saw that the movements of our clan are imbued within the martial conduct of the current Commander of the Demonlight Wing. He could not have been a Black Rank from birth, so Cheong-myeong must have taught him. If so, we cannot regard him as a mere outsider. I believe we might ask him to fulfill our sect's long-cherished wish..."
"Elder Kwon, that cannot be. Though the features of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing are uncommonly sharp for someone of the secular world, his ears clearly trace a curved shape. He lacks the qualifications. In the first place, it is not something to be handed over to an outsider. Furthermore, Cheong-myeong is an expelled disciple."
"...I understand for now. In any case, I wonder where Cheong-myeong is. I cannot feel his energy waves from his quarters."
"He has gone to Cheongsu's grave. He must have missed his brother."
It was the younger, black-haired man who offered the reply.
Sect Leader Cheong Bo-hwa spoke up.
"Do not speak the name of an expelled disciple so lightly. That is enough regarding the Desolate Fortress. Discuss martial arts freely, but I expect no one to converse with one who has abandoned the principles of our sect. We are currently in a situation where we cannot afford to lower our vigilance against the Dark Night Hall. Their recent movements are highly unusual."
"The flow of the natural qi outside is strange. It is unprecedentedly massive; we must keep the Ten-Mile One Kill in mind..."
"...It means a certain death has come upon us once more. They have realized we welcomed distinguished guests. We must not count the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing as available forces."
"Understood, Sect Leader."
The man bowed his head.
"How many days do you intend to keep the lake open?" the woman of the junior generation asked. It was Gi Geom-hyang, who also had black hair.
She had attended the meeting despite her defeat by the Lazy Flame Dragon, pressing a hand against her solar plexus where she had suffered internal injuries.
"Until the two of them can move naturally."
Gi Geom-hyang's eyes widened.
"Do you mean a complete recovery? I thought that was unprecedented."
"I was moved by the humble character of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. Such a character combined with such talent is extremely rare. I have never seen the like, even in the secular world."
"Ah."
"Every word of his was sincere. His praise for Nan-song and you, Geom-hyang, was no exception. I did not sense a single word of sweet talk meant to curry favor."
Cheong Bo-hwa's wrinkled lips curved into a small smile as she scanned the experts in the meeting hall.
"You all must have felt the same."
The experts in the hall nodded. Murmurs of agreement arose. Even the old woman who had spoken of qualifications nodded along.
"Indeed, the current Commander of the Demonlight Wing deserves to be treated with as much respect as he has shown us."
Just as she finished speaking, the bushes outside the hall shook violently. An urgent cry erupted.
"The birds of Ha-hyeon and Mae-hyang are dead! Arrows! Arrows imbued with shockwaves! You must come out and see!"
* * *
The noble clan raised spirit beasts.
They were incomparably smarter than mere messenger pigeons. The comprehension of these beasts, nurtured through divine secret arts, was comparable to that of humans.
They were spiritually linked to the Brightfolk experts who raised them. If the master who had raised them from birth lost their life, the beast would perish along with them.
Contact with one person was cut off. The next day, another warrior failed to return.
The pattern continued. All of them were experts tasked with patrolling the mountainside. Their linked beasts were either found pierced by arrows or simply passed away in the village, signaling their masters' demise.
Since the arrival of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, the number of those who did not return had increased rapidly.
There was no room for other speculation. The Gate of the Heavenly Pillar had an arch-nemesis.
A faction that could hardly be associated with the character for 'Bright' (明)—the great sect of the dark clans, the Dark Night Hall.
The elegant Brightfolk entered a state of high combat readiness.
"It was common for a few of them to luckily slip in occasionally... but it feels exceptionally frequent now."
"Dusk is falling. Be careful."
"An hour from now, their sense of qi will be several levels above ours."
Each of them drew their swords and bows, constantly enveloping themselves in waves of internal power. No one paid any mind to the party from the Desolate Fortress anymore.
The gently blowing wind grew as cold as a winter gale. It was cold enough to reach the stone house where the Demonlight Wing was staying, wrapping around it in frosty layers.
The dwelling, built like a fortress wall carved from solid rock by peak swordsmen, stood bleakly against the chill.
"Things are getting restless," Heonwon Chang muttered, tapping his heels against the wall as he sat perched on the stone fence.
The ends of the Hero's Headband fluttering at the back of his head lacked their usual cheerfulness. It had been this way ever since his defeat by Gi Geom-hyang of the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar.
Crunch.
Jet-black hair fluttered beside him as Shin So-bin stepped up onto the wall. She spoke immediately.
"They're arch-nemeses, so is this just a day or two's affair? In the first place, we're not in a position to worry about the Gate of the Heavenly Pillar. The real problem is Senior Won-chang's expression. The Poppy-Chewing Blue Rank says you look so gloomy it's unsightly."
"It's Heonwon."
"Cheer up. Don't be so miserable just because you lost once."
"Lost once? Our Unit Commander has never lost. And yet I went and lost even while using the Vast Art Formula. I've brought shame upon the name of the Demonlight Wing."
"All we expect from the Great Tongue Sword is his mouth, though?"
"Look at this novice giving me cheek."
A faint smile finally played on Heonwon Chang's lips.
Sects and schools.
Tight bonds and secret martial arts tied people together. The Demonlight Wing was growing closer to a true sect, integrated under the Flash Art Lineage.
With Unit Commander Jeong Yeon-shin at their head, they were bound like martial siblings—a bond that could become stronger than blood in the harsh martial world.
"Has the Unit Commander told you anything, Senior Won-chang? He practically lives by the lakeside; it feels like I haven't seen him in ages. I wish he'd at least show his face."
"So that was your angle."
"It's not like I can go see him myself. What if I run into the Unit Commander while he's naked?"
"Stop pretending to be embarrassed. You look like you're dying to go see him."
Shin So-bin didn't reply, only offering a sweet smile. Shaking his head, Heonwon Chang spoke again.
"Don't let your guard down too much. This place is different from a monstrously large sect like the Blood Flame Cult. Their Formation Arts aren't built to be completely airtight. It's better to view it not as a solid fortress wall, but as a camouflage screen that distorts perception."
"No wonder it felt strange. I was wondering why they were so on guard despite being inside a formation."
"Apparently, a few enemies actually manage to infiltrate periodically. They say the grudges of these ancestral clans run deep, and the battles here are laced with sheer madness. I can feel it. The killing intent is immense."
"And Senior Cheong-myeong's brother was swept up in all that. Come to think of it, Senior Demon Sword hasn't returned at all either... Anyway, what is the Unit Commander doing?"
"The Commander and the Unit Commander have been talking without rest while recovering. It didn't seem like they were exchanging ordinary words."
"Oh...? Is the Unit Commander receiving special instruction from the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps? Has that ever happened before?"
"Indeed. Never."
Heonwon Chang nodded readily.
* * *
The vision of Son Sang-myeong of the Dark Night Hall's Infinite Group was incredibly wide.
He had been born into a noble clan. His field of vision was fundamentally different from that of Han experts of equal standing.
Even if there was no difference in their internal energy mastery or hand techniques, he could handle two or three opponents at once. If given distance, he could even face ten.
Whoosh!
Son Sang-myeong, the Dark Heaven Bow Ghost, ran. Even as he unleashed his Lightness Skill at full speed, only the faint rustle of grass beneath his feet could be heard.
His vast field of vision constantly narrowed in on his targets. It was a world of speed permitted only to their clan. The very foundation of his Body Protection Scripture was different.
He smiled as he ran.
Finally, he had been chosen.
He had entered the village established by the traitors of his clan. It was time to chastise those low-class bastards.
I was told to check the lake first.
He had to identify the target of their absolute secret technique, the Ten-Mile One Kill, and mark him with the Tracking Incense. He did not think of what would happen afterward.
He had been warned that the target's martial prowess would be untouchable. He might die the very moment he scattered the Tracking Incense.
That was fine. This was a mission to bring death to such a monster. Once marked with the divine scent, the target would become the prey of the Bow Formation that spanned vast distances.
The Ten-Mile One Kill shot by Bong-gong would never miss.
It was the secret technique that had elevated the Dark Night Hall to the Thirteen Heavens.
Over the generations, it had even slain several Black Ranks of the Desolate Fortress. Their reputation as a peerless assassin sect had been maintained in this exact manner.
A grand end awaits.
Crunch.
In the next moment, his vision opened up wide.
The scent of water mingled with the moonlight flowing through the silence. It was a vast lakeside. The back of a woman with ears like sword tips came into view.
Her golden hair hung down to her waist. She seemed to be peeking ahead.
There was no reason to avoid her. He didn't want to. There was no efficiency in doing so, either.
Swoosh—
Lowly clan.
Son Sang-myeong rushed forward to kill her. The True Qi from the Gushing Spring points on the soles of his feet secretly enveloped the earth, and the wind brushing past his eyes grew faint.
The dagger drawn from his breast was held in a reverse grip. It was a silent, superb display of lethal dexterity.
In an instant, he was right upon her. The woman's back loomed large in his vision.
Whoosh.
Just before striking, his body flinched and ground to a halt.
Suddenly, the moonlight seemed to grow denser. Something had caught his eye.
A presence suddenly sprouted with vivid clarity. A quiet sign of life emanated from not far ahead. He slowly raised his head.
In the middle of the lake, bathed in soft moonlight...
Splash, splash.
With every step, transparent ripples spread in concentric circles. He was walking forward, treading upon the bluish moonlight cast across the lake's surface.
His jet-black hair, long enough to reach his shoulder blades, swayed, accompanied by a chillingly domineering resonance.
He was a youth with a young face and a strange, profound aura. His internal power was incredibly dense. It was as if his very existence declared that he alone stood supreme beneath the heavens.
Son Sang-myeong's field of vision expanded vertically. He had widened his eyes without realizing it.
The Water-Walking Technique...!
The boy was walking upon the full moon.