Chapter 29: Genius
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 29: Genius
“By the way… have you decided on a name for your sword art?”
“I’ve decided to call it the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style.”
I replied to Heonwon Chang, who had asked hesitantly as the subtle aroma of tea drifted between us.
The Radiant Brilliance Sword Style.
Just as the light from the sun, moon, and stars filled every corner of the world without ever fading, he hoped his own life would be the same. The name also fit the nature of the sword art, which scattered brilliant light along its trajectory.
“Ah… It has a much nicer ring to it than what I had in mind. What a shame.”
“What name were you thinking of?”
“I was going to call it the Calamity of Heaven and Earth: Light Straight Cut. That was the impression I got. If you achieve great completion, a single strike spanning heaven and earth will surely be enough to face the entire world!”
“…”
Jeong Yeon-shin sipped his tea in silence. The exquisite flavor of the Jingwei Fu Tea washed over his tongue, its shimmering golden liquid a testament to the treatment they were currently receiving from the Zhongnan Sect.
It was bewildering.
The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan’s reaction to seeing the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style had been beyond anything he could have imagined. His previously blunt attitude had instantly turned warm and affectionate, and he had even hugged Jeong Yeon-shin with tears in his eyes. It was such a drastic change from how he treated Yeon-shin’s second brother, Jeong Jung-san, that it was hard to believe he was the same person.
He had saved his nephew and created his own sword art.
Despite having done nothing for the Zhongnan Sect, he was being treated as an honored guest, which left him feeling dazed and slightly uncomfortable.
But Heonwon Chang seemed different.
“I’d love to get some of this golden tea to take with us when we go back.”
He looked completely at ease, as if he had never unleashed a murderous intent powerful enough to cut down his enemies.
They spent some time chatting, deciding on their mission as Ma Jin had given them the discretion to do. Their goal was either to prevent harm to the common people or to deal a significant blow to the Hegemon Sword Sect. Now that they had won Zhongnan’s goodwill, they would be able to receive news of battles immediately.
“Young Hero Jeong?”
A pleasant voice echoed from outside the door. It was the Sword Dragon, Wiji Myo-hwa.
Leaving Heonwon Chang to his envious stare, Yeon-shin stepped out of the room.
She looked just as she had when they first met, with a unique feather ornament in her ebony hair that fell loosely over her shoulders. Dressed in a sky-blue martial uniform with one hand resting on the hilt of her sword, she exuded a complex aura.
From the little he had seen and heard, Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect and admiration for her as a fellow martial artist. She possessed the resolve to point out her juniors’ mistakes without hesitation, the chivalrous spirit to aid the common people, and the dignified presence of a swordsman pursuing a higher path. These traits, combined with her powerful martial arts, were undoubtedly what had earned her the title of “Dragon.”
“I came to hear the rest of our discussion from the other day.”
“Do you mean the sword marks left by the senior of the Sword Sect?”
She nodded. “Though it is shameful for my sect, I want to step out of the shadow of that Sword Sect senior. In both chivalry and the way of the sword, I must walk my own path. I will become a Grandmaster.”
Declaring such a bold ambition to someone younger than herself, she radiated nothing but confidence. Her attitude had subtly shifted after witnessing Jeong Yeon-shin’s Radiant Brilliance Sword Style. Wiji Myo-hwa’s character was truly worthy of her reputation as the strongest rising star of the Zhongnan Sect.
“I will be rooting for you.”
His calm response seemed to deflate her slightly, but she quickly composed herself.
“If you would help me restore the Nine Yang First Form…” Wiji Myo-hwa began, her red lips parting. “I promise to treat you as my benefactor for the rest of my life. You would be saving me a vast amount of time—time I might otherwise spend unsatisfied, never knowing how long my life will last.”
Peaceful sunlight bathed the ground. Amidst the harmony of the gentle midday sun and the quiet mountain landscape, only her voice resonated with perfect clarity.
In the martial world, sharing one’s martial arts was an act of supreme dignity.
“Would that be impossible?” Wiji Myo-hwa’s lips curved into a slight smile.
Her request was not servile. An unquenchable flame of confidence shone in her eyes. Was this the spirit of a rising star who stood at the pinnacle of an orthodox sect? She likely didn’t mean she would literally stay by his side forever. It was a martial artist’s pledge: she would aid him whenever and however she could, as one who owed a great debt.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded readily. “It won’t take long.”
“That is both surprising and delightful,” Wiji Myo-hwa said with a soft smile.
Step, step.
The two walked side by side. It felt strange. The Cloud Sword Dragon, Wiji Myo-hwa, would undoubtedly be a Blue Rank if she were in the Desolate Fortress. To offer one-sided assistance to a martial artist of her caliber was not a common occurrence.
With this strange sensation filling his mind, they reached the edge of the cliff.
In the distance, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan stood watching them, his hands clasped behind his back. His face, now wearing a faint smile, had softened to an astonishing degree. He had been like this ever since seeing the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style. Heonwon Chang had even whispered that at this rate, the old man might just achieve feathered ascension.
“First, I will tell you the mnemonic.”
“What did you just say…? Did you say the mnemonic?” Wiji Myo-hwa whipped her head around to face him.
Her swaying hair brushed his cheek, and Jeong Yeon-shin lightly patted the spot. Glancing at her embarrassed expression, he slowly began to speak.
“It won’t be exactly the same. That part, Sword Dragon, seems to be up to you.”
He mentally retraced the profound principles he had grasped from the sword marks, through which he had completely reconstructed the method of circulating true qi. He didn’t mention this part out loud. After receiving his robe from Cheong-myeong, he was now a core martial artist of the Desolate Fortress. He knew how to distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be said.
The Sword Dragon seems trustworthy, but…
Possessing the talent to steal another’s martial arts? No good would come from rumors like that spreading.
Even now, Wiji Myo-hwa’s voice had risen a full pitch. “You said it was a matter of inspiration, but just what kind of talent do you possess…!”
How on earth can such a thing exist in this world? her expression seemed to scream.
“Then, what you mean by ‘my part’ is…”
“I will give you the incomplete mnemonic. Your task will be to refine it to near completion, correct?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked, unable to hide his puzzlement. Was that so difficult to understand? It was an incredibly easy task, on a completely different level from tracing the marks and reconstructing the mnemonic from scratch.
As she fell silent, the sun began to set.
*
After receiving the mnemonic, Wiji Myo-hwa was not seen for some time.
The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan explained that she had fallen into a heart demon. He said that no matter how upright one’s character, no one could be entirely free from the shackles of their own mind.
“She was never a child to boast of her martial arts. However, it seems she was deeply shocked by your talent,” the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan said, looking at Jeong Yeon-shin with a strange gaze. “Among the martial artists of her generation in Shaanxi, she was a genius without rival. That held true even when including the Mount Hua Sect. In the Central Plains, Shaanxi is grander than most small nations, so she must have considered herself the greatest martial talent under heaven.”
“The greatest under heaven,” Jeong Yeon-shin murmured, chewing over the words. They felt unfamiliar.
The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan nodded slowly. “Indeed. For the first time, she felt her own talent was meager. She had witnessed the real thing.”
“That’s meaningless. The Sword Dragon is a master several levels above me.”
For Jeong Yeon-shin, who was constantly pressed for time, this was difficult to comprehend. One’s current standing couldn’t be measured by invisible talent or age.
Seeing him shake his head, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan let out a dry chuckle. “What a fatal mistake the heavens have made. As if giving you such talent weren’t enough, they even bestowed upon you a humble heart, always aware of its own flaws. The world is truly unfair.”
“You’re embarrassing me.”
They had grown quite close by now. Someone in the Zhongnan Sect had even remarked that they looked like a grandfather and grandson. To Jeong Yeon-shin, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan felt like a much more comfortable presence than his maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok.
It was then.
“Elder Jong, Young Hero Jeong.”
The moment her voice rang out, she was already standing before them. As she came to a halt, her mysterious movement technique leaving her perfectly still, her pitch-black hair fluttered over her sky-blue martial uniform.
“Sword Dragon.”
“You have returned. I knew you would overcome it quickly.”
It was Wiji Myo-hwa, the very person they had been discussing. Her fair face was so haggard it looked pale. After bowing to the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan, she clasped her hands in greeting toward Jeong Yeon-shin. Her expression was incredibly resolute.
“Young Hero Jeong. Since you obtained the mnemonic first, you must be able to demonstrate the sword art, correct?”
“…Yes. That is correct.”
“Could you practice the Nine Yang First Form with me? We will progress faster than if we were to train alone.”
“I am sorry.” Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head. “I do not have enough time even to practice my own sword art.”
“Ah…” She let out a regretful groan, unable to force him.
He slowly added, “Since they share the same root, it should be enough to observe each other’s swords. You may come stand beside me when I practice the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style. You can practice the Nine Yang First Form then, Sword Dragon.”
He had learned the movement technique inspired by Cheong-myeong in the same manner. Jeong Yeon-shin possessed the insight to comprehend an opponent’s martial arts upon seeing them in real combat. Thus, the custom of forbidding others from watching one’s training held little meaning for him.
But the reaction of the other two was completely different. For the first time, Wiji Myo-hwa’s eyes filled with awe.
“…The true great hero of our generation is you, Young Hero Jeong.”
“Generosity should have its limits. A vessel capable of holding the world has already been completed,” the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan sighed. His expression mirrored hers, his goodwill toward Yeon-shin clearly deepening.
It seemed to be an admiration for his magnanimity, entirely separate from his talent. A deep sense of intimacy settled on both of their faces. Demonstrating a newly realized insight was one thing, but showing the training of an established martial art was a completely different matter.
Misunderstandings are piling up.
Jeong Yeon-shin brushed the thoughts aside and headed to the training ground behind the Seeker’s Pavilion. He could hear Wiji Myo-hwa’s elegant footsteps softly following him. When he stood to one side and looked over, she gave him a bright smile and stopped in her tracks.
Almost simultaneously, the two drew their swords.
Shring.
As the sun caught its blade, the Desolate Fortress Sword looked strangely more beautiful than before. It was said that swords forged by the Ironfolk grew alongside their masters. Even a standard-issue sword was no different. Having shared in Jeong Yeon-shin’s battles and achievements, it had come to embody the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style. There could be no sword in the world that suited him better.
Radiant Brilliance.
He murmured the name inwardly and activated the mnemonic. The circulation of true qi for the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style was vastly different from that of the Infinite Flower of Time Fist. Unlike the Infinite Flower of Time Fist, where every strike was a single, disconnected blow, the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style possessed a continuous, unbroken flow.
Hum.
With the mental image of sunlight pooling and flowing like waves, he began to move the Desolate Fortress Sword. The tip of his blade, bathed in light from the sun overhead, swept down toward the earth, drawing a circle.
There was no hesitation in his swordplay. It felt as if the brilliance and wind gathering on his blade were transferring to his own body—an astonishingly familiar sensation.
The Radiant Brilliance Sword Style. It felt this way because he had created it himself.
I am its master.
At that moment, he fully realized it. He was the father of this martial art.
“Ah.”
A soft sigh, unheard by Jeong Yeon-shin, escaped her lips. On the other side of the training ground, Wiji Myo-hwa’s sword came to a halt. Standing blankly, her eyes were locked onto Jeong Yeon-shin.
She had been standing beside him, circulating her true qi to perform the Nine Yang First Form. With her overwhelming experience and knowledge, she had clearly taken the lead at first. She had even reproached herself as petty for feeling a small sense of relief at Jeong Yeon-shin’s seemingly unrefined movements.
Yet, in the realm of mastery, she was overtaken in an instant.
Jeong Yeon-shin was performing a sword dance of the sun.
Though they had begun learning a new sword art at the same time, their respective achievements were on completely different levels. It was obvious at a single glance. Both the Nine Yang First Form and the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style were superior sword arts that no one could look down upon.
As she swallowed a groan, the speed of the Desolate Fortress Sword shifted. Before she knew it, the principles of the Fast Sword were melting into Jeong Yeon-shin’s swordplay.
Whoosh! Whoooosh!
Amidst the waving streams of light from the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style, the sword of the Sword Dragon, Wiji Myo-hwa, slowly lowered.
The imugi holding the wish-fulfilling jewel was someone else entirely. A strange sense of defeat washed over her in the face of his overwhelming martial talent.
Masters with deep internal energy cultivation possess a distinct gleam in their eyes—a brilliant light, fueled by true qi, that flashes like the eyes of a predator.
“Just what am I…?”
Wiji Myo-hwa’s eyes, which had always been clear and bright, grew hazy. Her focus slowly faded away.