Chapter 287: Lotus (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 287: Lotus (6)
The grand avenue stretching outside the manor hummed with excitement.
It was an era where the strong preyed on the weak. In times of famine, the lives of the common people depended entirely on which powerhouse rose to prominence.
The reach of martial arts masters was immense, and the scale of their exploitation was on another level entirely.
Among the martial artists of the Jianghu, whose prowess was monstrously vast, who would emerge as the premier figure?
The martial arts tournament, spanning the entirety of the vast Shanxi Province, carried immense significance. This was even more true inside the manor.
Countless people drifted in and out.
The banquet hall was bathed in sunlight, where a massive dining table had been arranged in a hollow square.
"They say the Gwi Clan's Iron Soul Divine Blade is peerless."
"The true martial lineage in Pingyang Prefecture belongs to the Gongya Clan. Have you seen the siblings, the Grand Lady and the Second Young Master? Their beauty is something you'd never find on the common streets. Surely, their martial arts must be just as exceptional."
"Discussing Shanxi's young martial artists without mentioning the Slaying Hero? Don't make me laugh. Do you have any idea how many villains have died by his Midday Moon Sword Art? He even recites poetry to their corpses. He's practically Yama himself, with a taste for the arts."
"The young lords and ladies of the Goga Sword Sect, the Water-Moon Sect, and the Azure Sky Gang are no pushovers either. There are more than a few in Shanxi who have honed their practical martial arts to the absolute limit."
Prestigious sects of all kinds, orthodox and unorthodox, had gathered.
The colors of their martial robes were diverse.
Each of them chatted while carrying immaculately maintained weapons, exuding the distinct leisure of those who reigned as powerhouses in a time of famine and chaos.
"What does it matter how the tournament goes? This might not be the time to leisurely speculate on its outcome. I heard the nearby Blood Ghosts have started showing themselves like wild boars flushed out by a forest fire."
"They aren't even Blood Master Swords; those small fry are no threat. I cut one of their heads off on my way here. The fellow didn't even seem to have the wits to focus on absorbing essence or plundering. He was just paralyzed with fear."
"Was your sword qi really that outstanding?"
"Well..."
The atmosphere was close to that of a grand noble family's feast. Since a clan known as a prestigious family was hosting the banquet, it practically was one.
The vast grounds of the manor were packed with crowds, and this was despite the fact that only renowned sects and martial artists had been admitted. The world was vast indeed.
"Gongya Jeong."
"...Gwi Il-tae."
They were in an open area where colorful awnings had been spread out to block the sun.
Gongya Jeong caressed the red sash tied around her waist. More precisely, her fingertips brushed against the scabbard wrapped within the sash.
Someone who unconsciously compelled her to draw her sword had entered her immediate vicinity: Gwi Il-tae of the Shanxi Gwi Clan.
"Your aura is as fierce as ever. One would think you've mastered the Invisible Sword Qi."
He spoke, the scar on the bridge of his nose twitching. His manner of speech was crude.
His physique, however, was anything but.
He wore a loose, yellow fur coat. His height allowed him to look down on Gongya Jeong, who was already on the taller side. He possessed the large yet agile body of a saber master, and his flushed face was highly expressive. His demeanor suggested he had nothing to fear in the world.
And with good reason. He was the one said to have inherited the entirety of the Green Forest's martial lineage.
The Shanxi Gwi Clan was a family founded by martial-arts-practicing bandits who wished to operate in the open.
Few in Shanxi did not know the "Heaven-Roaring Mad Blade," Gwi Il-tae—whether for his arrogant nature or his ruthless methods.
Gwi Il-tae smirked as he looked down at Gongya Jeong.
"I heard you kicked out the matchmaker. Isn't that rather rude for a prestigious family? Especially for a household that has invited scholars for generations to recite texts."
"Your family was the rude one, proposing marriage to a clan's successor."
Grand Lady Gongya Jeong did not even meet his gaze.
She spoke as coldly as the winter air, her attention focused on scanning her surroundings as the host of the banquet.
Gwi Il-tae caressed the saber sheath at his waist.
"How is a suggestion to simply consider it a mockery? Go to a monk of high dharma. He'll tell you your mind is infested with a horde of demons. You put on noble airs, but you're just protecting your own interests. How can you ever expect to grow with such a narrow mind?"
Gongya Jeong did not reply. She merely recalled the advice of Sect Leader Geom.
— If you are in a position where you must not lose, you must not engage in a duel until you have aligned your breathing and grip before facing your opponent. Combat is a collection of variables. Before I refined my internal energy breathing, I couldn't guarantee victory even against a single opium addict. This is even more true for novices.
Gwi Il-tae had approached and spoken to her without warning.
She was not in peak condition. She must not give him an excuse to fight.
'Sect Leader Geom.'
She glanced toward a corner table set under an awning. There sat a young man with a youthful face, drawing the attention of everyone around him.
His appearance was so striking it made reality itself feel distant. He cast fleeting glances at the young martial artists around him, displaying an innocent curiosity.
He looked as if he found the heroes participating in the tournament fascinating.
To Gongya Jeong, it was Geom Un-bi who was the true mystery.
'It's as if he belongs to another world.'
As a martial artist, she admired the Sect Leader of the Hanging Jade Sect. It would be difficult to forget the strange regret, tenderness, and solitude exuded by his sword dance under the moonlight. The same went for his magnanimity in sharing a secret technique that would take ten years to master without any hesitation. Perhaps it was his appearance, but he felt like a noble, spiritual beast.
Despite the gap in status between a clan successor and a mere wanderer, he was difficult to approach.
"What are you looking at? Hmm?"
A thick voice broke through her thoughts.
Heaven-Roaring Mad Blade Gwi Il-tae. Another rival of her generation, distinct from the Slaying Hero.
Shanxi's deprivation grew because of people like him.
In public settings like this, they acted as members of prestigious families, but outside, they used their Body Protection Scripture to steal precious food from the common people. Due to their elusive lightness skills, identifying them was not easy. With no hard evidence, those in the know could only whisper among themselves.
The Jianghu was gradually turning savage.
For the eldest son of the Shanxi Gwi Clan, who inherited the secret arts of the Green Forest, the world must have felt like his oyster. He possessed a status that allowed him to be arrogant anywhere, a volatile temperament, and powerful martial arts. He was someone who believed himself to be the center of the world.
Catching sight of the newcomer in the distance, a man with a dreamlike appearance and black hair falling to his shoulders, Gwi Il-tae curled his thick lips slightly.
"What a bizarre fellow. No wonder he caught the eye of the Gongya Grand Lady. Is he your toy?"
Step.
The bulky fur coat blocked Gongya Jeong's right field of vision as he walked past.
She did not stop him.
She hoped Geom Un-bi would make acquaintances with the various notables of Shanxi. He was too precious a person to die as a nameless wanderer.
He was more of a benefactor. If the Green Forest's Gwi Clan tried to suppress Sect Leader Geom with their power, she intended to act as his backer.
"Send the Shaoxing wine over there."
Gongya Jeong ordered the servant standing behind her, pointing toward the area around Geom Un-bi, the Sect Leader of the Hanging Jade Sect.
* * *
Rustle.
A dark sleeve brushed against the table. The sound of the fabric drew the attention of those nearby.
This was a gathering of people with sensitive hearing. It was difficult to go unnoticed among martial artists trained in the Path of Senses.
'What is there to look at?'
Jeong Yeon-shin silently held his cup.
Many approached him with interest. Most of them simply stared at his face—something he had never experienced when wearing the robe embroidered with the character 'Hwang'.
Having lowered his status and martial prowess, the world felt harsher than he had expected. What would he be doing now if he hadn't entered the Desolate Fortress?
Suddenly, the Pure Blood Robe inside the bundle he had buried underground came to mind, along with the smoothly smiling face of the Seventh Apostle.
He shook his head inwardly. It was far from his temperament. Completely detached.
'Perhaps I would have become the junior brother of Great Hero Sword Dragon. In the Zhongnan Sect.'
Jeong Yeon-shin focused on sensing his surroundings while caressing his wine cup.
'The man on the right incessantly stuffing his face with meat is the first sword of the Goga Sword Sect. The woman tilting her cup on the front left is the young sect leader of the Water-Moon Sect. The one named Geum, highly reputed as a rising star in the Azure Sky Gang... is caressing a sword hilt near the back side door. The brute approaching from afar is someone named Gwi from the Shanxi Gwi Clan. And then...'
He identified his targets one by one. He felt like an assassin.
He had gathered information beforehand through Gongya Jeong. They were said to be people who plundered from private homes in all sorts of ways. Stealing harvested grain was a common occurrence, and they would stealthily intercept the food prepared by commoners as tribute, forcing them to pay taxes twice.
However, it was merely circumstantial evidence. A martial artist of the Jianghu who had trained in the Body Protection Scripture never left a trace.
Even the Gongya Clan could only guess at the culprits based on the testimonies of the powerless commoners.
This was the reality of the Jianghu during a famine: power was the only truth.
"They say the 108 Arhat Formation was deployed once again on Mount Song. It was a cloudy day, but there's a rumor that a massive hole was pierced through the clouds. It must be true, since the pilgrims of Dengfeng County all bowed down in unison right then and there. They said they saw the palm of Buddha."
"Did the Emperor descend once again?"
"Who knows? The world is in chaos. Perhaps some strange, violent entity was repelled by the Shaolin monks."
"Have you heard the rumor that the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps wiped out ten of the Dark Night Hall's archery platforms?"
"That's a story from another world. Just the other day, I acquired a painting of immortals by an artist named Tang Yin. Hanging it on the wall, the air feels so fresh... it's definitely the work of a master. In terms of martial arts, it's a painting left behind by an absolute master of the Heart Sword."
"You certainly have plenty of leisure. I'll go take a look sometime soon. The smell of cow dung has gotten terrible at our manor."
"I heard you acquired a hundred cows during this famine? Do you even have fodder to feed them?"
"Plenty."
These were men and women who had lost interest after hearing the identity of Geom Un-bi, the Sect Leader of the Hanging Jade Sect.
The attention of those present was not focused solely on Jeong Yeon-shin. This was a banquet of prestigious families. Many groups sat in exclusive circles, refusing to allow others to approach. In a gathering of the haves, there was no place for a mere guest.
It was a lavish drinking party indeed.
Food and famous wines from all regions were served. There was the famous Beggar's Chicken from Hangzhou, Mapo Tofu from Sichuan, and Shanxi's unique vinegar-fried mushrooms.
The mouth-watering aroma of food wrapped around the area like a mist. These were delicacies that could overpower even the sword scent of the Mount Hua Sect's immortals. Dozens of people laughed and chatted.
Contrary to Gongya Jeong's wishes, Jeong Yeon-shin had no desire to mingle with them. It was enough to verify their faces, physiques, auras, and names.
"You're quite shy. It's unsightly."
A gruff voice boomed from above. The voice itself was incredibly loud.
Jeong Yeon-shin raised his head without any change in expression. It was the man he had sensed earlier.
The one named Gwi from the Shanxi Gwi Clan. A man of massive build was looking down at him, a sinister expression on his face.
"Did you say your surname is Geom? It's a surname I've never heard of, likely because your family tree is lowly. Lacking any roots, you must have come to rely on the Gongya family. In that case, shouldn't you at least keep that pretty tongue of yours busy? After all, what the Grand Lady expects of you is to entertain the distinguished guests."
A few people whistled.
The children of high-class families merely watched with deep, calculating eyes. It was the kind of dispute that commonly occurred whenever martial artists gathered.
"Roots..."
Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly to the side.
"I heard you come from a line of bandits."
"..."
This time, an immense number of gazes converged on them.
The Heaven-Roaring Mad Blade, Gwi Il-tae, was said to be one of the favorites to win the tournament, along with the Young Master of the Gongya Clan and the Slaying Hero. He was a figure who had mastered the Iron Soul Divine Blade, which synthesized the essence of the Green Forest's saber techniques, to its absolute peak. He was famous for an anecdote where he cut down over a dozen charging mounted bandits with a single strike.
Even his downward gaze was overbearing. It was the look of someone who had rarely, if ever, looked up at another person.
His intention to humiliate the Gongya Clan through Jeong Yeon-shin was clear.
Just then.
Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly raised his hand.
He struck out.
He didn't draw a sword. He didn't even strike Gwi Il-tae. His palm shot out to the side, the air blurring and warping with the force.
Blood erupted like vomit from the back of a Blood Ghost, who had been materializing as if from mist.
Pshhhk!
"Aaargh!"
The dark red hair characteristic of the Blood Flame Cult's Blood Master Swords was violently thrown back.
His target, a servant who had been carefully walking with a dish of food, collapsed to the ground in sheer terror.
"Is it stealth? Sharpen your senses!"
"The Blood Flame Cult! It's an attack by the Blood Flame Cult!"
Pandemonium broke out in an instant. The sounds of weapons being drawn and shockwaves of internal energy exploded everywhere.
Having been exposed, martial artists of the Blood Flame Cult poured in from all directions.
Clang! Swish!
The earth shook. The once-peaceful air grew heavy and stifling. The first to fall were those who practiced fast sword styles, spewing blood as they lost their balance and collapsed.
In a split second, the situation became dire.
The Gongya Clan was already famous for its wealth, and they had wafted the aroma of food so heavily during a famine. On top of that, rumors of a banquet being held for the tournament had spread far and wide.
It was only natural that the Blood Ghosts, who had fled starving from the Shanxi branch, would target this place.
"The right! Block the right!"
"It's a whip! He's mastered whip techniques! Is there no master of Body Protection Qi here?!"
"There are five Blood Master Swords...!"
While the experts responded immediately, the servants and maids shrieked in terror. Although the Blood Ghosts had many rabble among their numbers, to the common people, they were akin to invincible monsters.
Casualties were inevitable.
At least, they were until Jeong Yeon-shin moved.
He did not hesitate.
Step.
His gaze swept across the battlefield, and in the next instant, he moved.
The moment a faint haze of light rose like smoke from beneath his feet, a massive constellation was faintly drawn across the banquet hall.
His figure warped the air, tracing a line that bent five times.
Crrraaaack!
A Blood Master Sword, who had somehow managed to block the first strike with his blade, was sent flying. A monstrous roar swept through the banquet hall. Turned into a bloody pulp as if struck by a massive cannon, the cultist was pinned to the wall.
Within the constellation that had bloomed faintly in the broad daylight.
Crunch! Splat!
Bodies shattered and blood exploded. Five shockwaves followed in such rapid succession they sounded like one.