Chapter 289: Lotus (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 289: Lotus (8)
The Eon Family's Number One Fist, the Duke of Eminent Fists, Eon Hwa-ryeon.
During the Sect Founding Ceremony, she had been his strongest opponent after the Perfected Heavenly Pillar of Mount Hua.
It was known that the Jegal Clan had stolen the corpse of the Azure Qilin to dissect the traces of the Flash Art's martial arts. The resulting counter-techniques had then been passed on to the Duke of Eminent Fists, the lover of the Jegal Clan Leader.
Indeed, the current Commander of the Demonlight Wing had struggled significantly during that duel. Even his Brilliant River had been easily countered.
Yet now, Jeong Yeon-shin could face this once-troublesome opponent with perfect composure.
Though only a few months had passed in reality, to him, it felt like decades. Both his perception of time and his martial achievements reflected years of profound advancement.
“…….”
Eon Hwa-ryeon did not answer. Having just knocked out the eldest son of the Shanxi Gwi Clan, she now appeared perfectly calm, as if her previous fury had never existed.
Clear Mirror, Still Water. It was the absolute composure of a supreme master.
Her gaze was profound.
Her pupils seemed to swallow the sunlight, appearing pitch-black. She had activated the Jinju Eon Family's eye technique, fueling it with an immense amount of True Qi.
In terms of internal energy mastery alone, she seemed to surpass Jeong Yeon-shin. Her finely honed qi was concentrated throughout her body, primed to unleash a devastating technique at a moment's notice.
Yet, a trace of wariness lingered in her eyes as she observed him.
As an extremely powerful pugilist who had opened her upper dantian, had she sensed the presence of an unprecedented ultimate technique?
“Your martial arts have improved...?” she murmured, repeating the words of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
The way she arched her long eyebrows didn't convey displeasure. Instead, it was as if she had suddenly realized something of grave importance. Rather than exuding hostility, she seemed to be sifting through an old memory.
Sssss—
It was a silent clash between supreme masters. The sunlight seemed to grow even sharper amidst the biting wind sweeping across the clear winter lake.
The internal energy radiating from the two was incomparably denser than the ambient energy of the world.
Watching from afar, the young aristocrats gathered in the pavilion whispered among themselves.
“The Gwi Clan's Heaven-Roaring Mad Blade, defeated in a single move... Was she holding a wine bottle just now? They say a supreme master can decapitate a hundred men with a single reed.”
“She truly lives up to her reputation. But who is that man...?”
“I believe he is a guest of the Gongya Clan. I heard he made a great contribution in slaying Blood Ghosts recently.”
“Of course I know that. What I mean is, why would a master of the Eon Family be... Hm.”
The behavior of the Duke of Eminent Fists, Eon Hwa-ryeon, was certainly strange.
She seemed acquainted with Geom Un-bi, the Hanging Jade Sect Master, but it was highly unusual for a dignified aristocrat of the Eight Great Families to be on familiar terms with a rogue.
They lived in entirely different worlds.
Then, Eon Hwa-ryeon spoke again.
“Your way of speaking is peculiar. Do you believe you will win a hundred battles out of a hundred just because you once managed to damage my arm? You speak like a child who has known nothing but victory. You have the right to be arrogant at your age, but know that before supreme masters who can exploit your blind spots, it is nothing but bravado.”
“You don't take words at face value. And here I was, praising an inferior.”
Jeong Yeon-shin feigned composure, lightly stroking the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Even as Grand Lady Gongya Jeong gasped softly behind him and Second Young Master Gongya Su let out a fearless exclamation of awe, he expanded his Sense of Qi to scan their surroundings.
The Eon Family's Number One Fist knows my martial prowess.
Rumor had it she was founding a new sect alongside the Jegal Clan Leader. She likely perceived his sudden appearance—at a place where she intended to scout and recruit talents—as a major variable.
However, he could not afford to rashly unleash the Ultimate Lightning. He only had a few breaths of time to maintain a state capable of clashing with Ak Su-rim.
He had to gauge the perfect moment to activate it when facing the Jegal Clan Leader.
I cannot waste it on the Eon Family's Number One Fist.
This was a serious predicament.
The Desolate Fortress being shorthanded was nothing new, but recently, manpower had become so tight that even Ak Su-rim, who usually guarded the Main Fortress, had been dispatched on a mission.
The cause was reportedly the highly unusual movements of the Thirteen Heavens and the Eight Great Families.
The Purple Ranks had all departed on their respective missions.
Traces of his maternal grandfather had vanished completely, and the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, having recovered from his internal injuries, could only be tracked through constantly shifting rumors.
There would be no reinforcements. The success of this mission was directly tied to his own survival.
“Come,” Jeong Yeon-shin said. They were already in a standoff. For now, he had no choice but to project absolute strength.
If the Eon Family's Number One Fist had the backing of the Jegal Clan Leader, he had to make her consider the possibility that reinforcements from the Desolate Fortress's Divine Sword Corps might have arrived to back him.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Eon Hwa-ryeon's figure blurred, reappearing right in front of him. A powerful vibration erupted from the ground she stepped on, traveling all the way to Jeong Yeon-shin's feet.
She was incredibly fast. It was the unique Body Protection Scripture of a pugilist who staked everything on closing the distance.
Simultaneously, Jeong Yeon-shin's hand cut through the air.
With a low, resonant hum, the power of his ultimate technique—now in a state of constant activation—distorted the very atmosphere.
He was now capable of achieving a state identical to the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak when unleashing a single-strike technique. Eon Hwa-ryeon's eyes widened in shock as she pressed her hand against the underside of Jeong Yeon-shin's forearm.
Brilliant River.
Boom!
It exploded right above her shoulder. A terrifying palm force shook her robust body, sending her disheveled hair whipping violently in the opposite direction.
She is the same as ever. Her forms are short, and her arm strength is immense.
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly contemplated his next move as a hard sensation wrapped around his upper elbow.
Eon Hwa-ryeon's heavily calloused grip had slid up his forearm, neutralizing the Brilliant River.
The seasoned skill with which she penetrated his breathing and energy wave in a single exchange was truly worthy of the Jinju Eon Family's Number One Fist.
Her intangible Protective Astral Qi, wrapping around her calloused skin like armor, had also grown even sturdier.
It didn't matter. A few more strikes would shatter it to pieces. The Brilliant River loaded in his other hand was still boiling within the Laogong Point of his palm.
Slide.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin casually reached out with his left hand to grab Eon Hwa-ryeon's wrist—
“...How chilling. However, if you are not fully prepared, we must not exchange any more blows. It will draw his attention.”
The woman who had once been the next head of the Jinju Eon Family spoke in an archaic tone, locking eyes with him at point-blank range.
What is this?
He suddenly felt a shift in Eon Hwa-ryeon's disposition. For some reason, she seemed utterly detached. She was no longer truly looking at him.
She merely clenched and unclenched her free hand, yet her powerful bearing exuded the true spirit of a pugilist walking the martial path.
Was this her original self, before she had colluded with the Jegal Clan Leader?
Come to think of it, she must have realized that Jeong Yeon-shin was hiding his identity. Yet, she had not made a point of mentioning it.
She had merely accepted the drinks from the Shanxi aristocrats with a displeased expression, only turning serious upon realizing that his martial arts had improved.
There was no telling what had transpired between her and the Jegal Clan Leader in the meantime.
She spoke again.
“I do not wish to fight you. It is still too early. Yes, this seat has yet to leave anything behind...”
“Save your nonsense for when you cross the Sanzu River.”
Jeong Yeon-shin tightened his grip on her wrist.
Thud—
A second Brilliant River immediately followed, emitting a heavy, dull vibration. It was on the verge of tearing right through the Jinju Eon Family's Protective Astral Qi. A succession of heavy strikes.
A divine skill that would shock anyone. The inexplicable detachment in Eon Hwa-ryeon's eyes was instantly replaced by sheer admiration.
Just then, Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly let go.
Whoosh—
Colorless fragments of the shockwave brushed past the back of his hand and dispersed.
The mere prelude to his technique had completely shattered the Protective Astral Qi wrapping Eon Hwa-ryeon's wrist. The Shanxi aristocrats, who had been staring intently at them, gasped in sheer terror.
It was of no concern to the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
He was sensing a massive gaze. The fine hairs all over his body stood on end.
The Reincarnated Crouching Dragon, the Jegal Clan Leader.
The gaze of an absolute being holding a fan.
The man was still outside his field of vision—it was merely a fraction of a glance. Yet, the sheer presence felt as though a massive fortress wall was collapsing upon him.
It was a truly transcendent pressure. The claim that he was comparable to a Purple Rank felt entirely plausible.
“Let it go for now. We will settle this later. Soon,” Eon Hwa-ryeon said.
Crunch.
Amidst the astonished stares, he slowly turned around.
The Gongya siblings, who had been standing frozen, stole a glance at the Eon Family's Number One Fist before hurriedly following Jeong Yeon-shin.
* * *
Some of the Shanxi aristocrats held periodic gatherings.
This particular gathering was centered around the Heaven-Roaring Mad Blade, Gwi Il-tae.
As a master highly favored to win the upcoming martial arts tournament and the acting head of the Shanxi Gwi Clan, he naturally became the center of the group.
He hadn't lost any face over what had happened with the Eon Family's Number One Fist.
After waking up, he had even been praised by her for his resilience and was allowed to offer her a drink. Being knocked unconscious by a supreme master of the Eight Great Families was hardly a disgrace.
I just need to focus on my original task. Behind the Duke of Eminent Fists is the Jegal Clan Leader. I only need to win the tournament.
The heads of the Eight Great Families were no longer human. They had to be viewed as demigods who had shed their mortal shells.
Once he secured the Clan Leader's protection, consolidating the Gwi Clan's interests in Shanxi would be as easy as flipping his palm.
He only needed to be recognized as a talent with outstanding combat instincts and learn the Jegal Clan Leader's sorcerous martial arts.
If our clan comes under his banner, if only we can join the newly established Wolseong Sect...
Gwi Il-tae was the son of a disgraced, retired general, but he had set his sights on a much wider world.
To achieve that, reducing the influence of the Gongya Clan was the first step.
Ever since the rogue Geom Un-bi, who had recently become a guest of the Gongya Clan, began to distinguish himself, the necessity to collude against them had grown even stronger.
Many were busily running around trying to uncover the martial lineage of the Hanging Jade Sect, a legacy passed down to only a single successor per generation.
It was an extremely important matter.
Since this rogue possessed such a high level of martial arts at an age younger than the Gongya Young Master, they had to prepare for the possibility that Grand Lady Gongya Jeong might learn some brilliant techniques from him and display them in the tournament.
It was a bolt from the blue, especially since they had already thoroughly analyzed all of the Gongya Clan's existing martial arts.
“Even our clan hasn't been able to trace his origins. Judging by his accent, he seems to be from Henan, but it's difficult to deploy secret intelligence lines there out of fear of the Shaolin Temple...”
“Deploying people all the way to Henan Province is simply inefficient in the first place. How many miles is that? We aren't the Beggar Sect, Lingering Spirit, or the Hao Sect.”
“Besides, we are running out of time. My apologies, Heaven-Roaring Mad Blade.”
“How could that be your fault? Do not worry about it. It is much the same for me.”
Gwi Il-tae and four other men and women walked through the outer gardens of the Gongya Clan.
Beneath their glossy silk robes, their well-crafted leather shoes made crunching sounds, leaving a trail of faint footprints in the snow.
Crunch.
Their footsteps exuded an innate confidence.
It was an aristocratic temperament that seeped into their behavior without any need for affectation. The Body Protection Scriptures they had practiced since childhood made their steps light yet spirited.
Even in the dead of winter, the garden, still lush with green pine needles, felt like a world of their own.
“Gongya Jeong's demeanor has changed slightly. It seems she has indeed been taught some decent techniques. Something that allows her to circulate her internal energy in an unprecedented manner...”
“Even so, I believe this tournament will be a feast for the Gwi Clan's eldest son. After all, don't rogues build their strength through experience and instinct rather than relying on profound martial arts? Compared to the deep martial studies of the Gongya Clan, it would be like wearing clothes that don't fit.”
“There is a reason why the martial lineages of prestigious families endure without fading over time. Techniques born from rolling around in the mud and wilderness cannot withstand martial arts perfected over generations. If it comes down to a battle of attrition, victory is guaranteed.”
“But is it certain that their guest is a rogue? How could someone acquainted with Great Hero Eon be...”
“He must be a rogue who established his own style. One can tell by his insolent way of speaking, and Great Hero Eon didn't particularly deny it when I asked.”
Their subsequent words were cautious.
As much as they were confident in their comprehension and insight, they knew how to exercise caution in their speech.
This was true even though they had already confirmed no one else was around.
“If necessary, I shall test him myself. He seemed obsessed only with alcohol the other day, so we can invite him to a banquet and observe his dining etiquette. I doubt a mere rogue has learned noble manners. He will likely eat like a beast,” Gwi Il-tae said calmly.
It was then.
“Uh, wait! Senior Poppy, what are you doing! We have to go around! They're nothing! The mission! Think of the mission! We can't get involved here!”
A girl's voice rang out, sounding as if she were desperately trying to whisper under her breath.
“Who goes there...?”
The group of aristocrats sharpened their gazes like sword blades. Powerful waves of internal energy surged from their hands as they gripped their respective weapons.
The moment Gwi Il-tae made his move—
“Say that again. I didn't hear you clearly.”
A languid voice echoed from thin air. However, they were given no time to respond.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A succession of translucent shockwaves overlapped.
Fragments of Fa Jin exploded at the back of the heads of all five aristocrats, Gwi Il-tae included. The moment they were struck, they collapsed flat on the ground like frogs.
The sudden commotion was incredibly loud.
Step.
A man who had suddenly descended into their midst stood with his weight casually shifted to one leg.
“Lowborn trash.”
The snow began to melt outward from his feet. A faint mist, like tobacco smoke, drifted from his muttering lips.