Chapter 306: Heonwon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 306: Heonwon
—Here stands the true Divine Sword of the nation!
The title "Divine Sword" carried immense weight, resonating through both the imperial court and the martial world. For the Assistant Military Commander, an official of the senior first rank, to bestow such praise upon the Commander of the Demonlight Wing was an event of staggering significance.
A vast crowd surrounded them.
The expressions on the faces of the Shanxi aristocrats twisted.
A bleak silence descended upon the Gongya Clan's manor, so profound that the soft crunch of pebbles rolling through the ruins was clearly audible.
Dozens of local powerhouses slowly rose from their prostrated positions. The rustle of colorful silk sleeves brushing against broken walls, shattered roof tiles, and bare pillars filled the air. As they stood and dusted off their knees, a dignified aura, not unlike that of royalty, began to emanate from each of them.
These were the local aristocrats of the martial world.
They had built their power on a foundation of internal energy and martial forms, reigning as absolute rulers over the common folk while deftly evading the government's watchful eye. Since the Shanxi martial world lacked any great sects, they had easily established themselves as powerful clans. Once they neutralized the military’s threat through various political maneuvers, there was nothing left to stand in their way.
Hum.
A faint resonance of energy rippled between them. Their internal energies wove together like threads, forming a telepathic network that allowed them to converse without a single word leaking to the outside.
"What in the world is happening...?"
"He called him the Divine Sword!"
"So I didn't mishear."
"I don't understand. Why is he being so amicable? They damaged the dignity of the Five Military Commissions..."
"This is the political maneuvering of a monster from Beijing. He must have made his own calculations and deemed it more profitable not to antagonize the Commander of the Demonlight Wing here."
"This goes beyond that. He’s practically trying to forge a friendship!"
The Jegal Clan Leader was dead, and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing was an outsider. Flash Art would leave soon enough, and Jegal Cheon-sang had already crossed the Sanzu River. They, the martial artists of Shanxi, were the ones who had to continue living on this land.
"I was thinking of asking the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon for a sparring lesson... but would that displease the Assistant Military Commander?"
"I don't know. Judging by his demeanor, his favor seems limited to Flash Art alone."
"Don't even think about it. The Commander of the Demonlight Wing seems to cherish his seniors immensely. With the Assistant Military Commander backing him, there's no telling what he might do."
"Indeed. I heard he is of the Desolate Ma Clan's bloodline."
It was a conversation typical of the local aristocrats, who pursued reputation above all else. In a lean year for the martial world, survival was paramount, and demonstrating martial prowess was more important than following some righteous path. Saving face was secondary.
Requesting a duel with a Black Rank of the Desolate Fortress was a natural plan, conceived the moment Flash Art took Jegal Cheon-sang's head. It was a way to display their own outstanding skills and prevent the names of outsiders from disrupting the established order. By doing so, they intended to further solidify their interests in land, shops, and livestock.
"What a waste. Such a waste."
Looking at the three Black Ranks, who had just fought a fierce battle, it was hard to say there wasn't a chance.
The Divine Blood Ultimate Demon, Jin Myeong-jo, had clearly been heavily wounded even before the final battle. When he was protecting the sphere trapping the Commander, the blood flowing from his abdomen could have filled several gourds. Now, he stood tall in the distance with his arms crossed, but the thread-like wounds carved by the Male-Female Divine Whip were healing with excruciating slowness.
The same was true for the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, who was narrowing her eyes at the Assistant Military Commander. Her once world-shaking aura had noticeably weakened. As the target of the Jegal Clan Leader's concentrated assault, she showed clear signs of severe internal injuries. It was doubtful she could even circulate true qi through her fine meridians.
"We must give up on the idea."
"Let's just handle the Gongya Clan appropriately."
"I was planning to buy the cultivation rights for Pingyang Prefecture for a song, but that's gone up in smoke. Not now that the Gongya Clan has ties with the Commander of the Demonlight Wing..."
"Didn't we treat the Gongya Clan too harshly? Our disciples used to frequent their storehouses as if they were their own bedrooms."
"If we apologize first, what can they do? It's not as if a single clan can oppose the entire Shanxi martial world."
Their casual chatter continued, but their eyes kept flicking back to the three Black Ranks. When else would they ever see the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon and the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress in such a battered state? Not to mention Flash Art, who had a puncture wound in his shoulder.
Everyone had seen his internal energy wave weaken drastically the moment he took the Jegal Clan Leader's head. He must have expended a tremendous amount of energy to slay a peerless master. His slumped shoulders looked incredibly heavy, and his entire body was soaked in blood that still hadn't stopped flowing. If not for his striking features and the overwhelming presence of his black robe, he would have looked like any other boy his age.
They were prey for jackals.
There was no need for hostility. In an era where etiquette and law were losing their meaning, a polite request for a duel was all it would take. If they put up even a slightly competitive performance, the local aristocrats would praise each other to the heavens.
He is someone who easily withstood the techniques of a Black Rank.
Shanxi was their land. If the Desolate Fortress refused the duel, even better. It was an opportunity to restore the pride of the local aristocrats, which had been trampled by the Jegal Clan Leader's arrival. Spreading rumors like, The Black Ranks were reluctant to clash with the martial artists of Shanxi, would be child's play.
"Let's bide our time. They will need a long time to recuperate anyway," muttered a middle-aged swordsman wearing a fur coat loosely over his silk martial robes. Like the others, he exuded wealth from head to toe.
However, some of the calmer aristocrats did not join this risky gamble. They only exchanged brief opinions.
"The martial prowess Flash Art displayed... what he did was equivalent to cutting down the Jegal Clan itself. It's a truly shocking event. I believe our first reaction should be fear."
"Indeed. And was the Jegal Clan Leader even in an ordinary state?"
"Besides, aren't the Divine Spear and the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon monsters who can display matchless power with just a handful of internal energy? To face the Divine Spear Ak Su-rim without a countermeasure like the Jegal Clan Leader's... Ugh, the thought alone sends shivers down my spine."
After that, they kept their thoughts to themselves. What would the aftermath of these events be? Could a duel truly end peacefully? Had the others truly not considered the consequences?
Then they realized. This was an era where hunger and possessiveness had stripped away reason, a time when chivalry had been pushed aside by brute force, left to wither.
"I met the Hegemon Hero before I became the Assistant Military Commander," the official said. "Flash Art, your face doesn't resemble his much. Your temperament, though... no, your spirit seems somewhat similar."
"What did you say?"
"My, it seems I made a slip of the tongue. Don't look so serious."
"A slip of the tongue...?"
"..."
The local aristocrats quietly watched the Assistant Military Commander and Flash Art. Standing on ground cracked like the dry fields of Shanxi, they could faintly hear the cackling laughter of the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress.
* * *
A massive feast was held.
Just like the prelude to the martial arts tournament, the Gongya Clan, the most historic clan in Pingyang Prefecture, hosted the banquet. The air above the massive U-shaped dining table was thick with the mingled aromas of delicacies and fine wines.
"I never expected the Assistant Military Commander to step forward so publicly. I heard he's been having headaches over the Deep Martial Alliance's movements. I wonder if a collaboration between the Desolate Fortress and the military will actually happen."
"I don't know what will become of Shanxi. How many sects have already decided to join the Wolseong Gate...?"
"Sister, try some of this. The sliced beef in soy sauce is incredibly thin. It must be the work of a swordsman."
"I heard my junior disciple found a clue to the location of the Killing Gate. The chance to wipe them out is near..."
The conversations of dozens of people tangled together like a ball of yarn. The main topics were descriptions of the day the Jegal Clan Leader was slain and speculation on the incident's aftermath.
The atmosphere was different from the eve of the tournament.
While the local aristocrats conversed in hushed tones across the silk tablecloths, the three Black Ranks of the Desolate Fortress spoke only among themselves, enclosed within a translucent energy barrier. They had made an appearance despite their severe injuries to show that the Unit Commanders were still standing strong and to help the Gongya Clan recover from the damage they had suffered. They couldn't end their mission by leaving only trouble for the clan that had aided them. They had to prevent bad rumors from spreading, which would drastically hinder their subordinates' movements.
Meanwhile, countless glances flickered toward the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
He paid them no mind.
Jeong Yeon-shin held his cup with a practiced ease, occasionally rolling it gently in his hand as he refined his martial arts through a sword discussion with his seniors.
From time to time, Jin Myeong-jo shot him an uncomfortable glance. He was standing with one foot on the edge of the energy barrier.
"Your combat interval can be longer still. You can enjoy your wine after that," the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon said coldly.
Jeong Yeon-shin fell silent for a moment and compared his height to his senior's.
"..."
The man was a full head taller than him.
Without a word, he set his wine cup down on the edge of the table. A trace of regret lingered at his fingertips as they brushed past the cup. If I'm going to live a short life, I won't get to enjoy this for long.
"...In any case, Senior Jin, the directions in which your claw technique unleashes force are infinite. I thought that with instantaneous force release, you could even form a brief formation. There were many such techniques in the main fortress's Gold-Piercing Martial Library."
"Hmm."
"It seems more beneficial to use the Eight Trigrams as an axis rather than the Six Harmonies. For you, Senior..."
"You mean it's better to choose the side that can generate more variations, since my sense of qi can easily control it."
Jin Myeong-jo spoke, cold sweat trickling down his back. Striking first was his specialty, and that applied to conversations as well. If he cut off the topic before it could branch out and expand, it was easier to save face. An experienced Black Rank was always prepared for any situation.
'As expected of Senior Jin.'
The corners of Jeong Yeon-shin's mouth curled up slightly. It felt like he was having a proper conversation with someone for the first time in a while.
"You are correct, Senior."
He enjoyed the extremely brief rest granted after the fierce battle, feeling a strong premonition that he would cherish the memory of this day forever.
"Today, just pour! You can drink as much as you want! Huh?! Who did our Flash Art kill? None other than Jegal Gyeon! Jegal Gyeon, who committed an act of filial impiety that would shock even the Jade Emperor! He killed Jegal Gyeon, I tell you!"
The thick smell of alcohol wafted up from right under his chin, accompanied by slurred words. She was the reason he'd had to endure the pain and erect the energy barrier in the first place.
Ak Su-rim reached out with her small hand as if to pat his buttocks. Jeong Yeon-shin dodged with practiced ease.
"His swordplay was an absolute work of art—slicing through the body protection qi and the dantian all at once, eh? Kyah...!"
"Grandma."
"She is using the alcohol to forget the pain in her fine meridians," Jin Myeong-jo said. "The Jegal Clan Leader's countermeasure against the Ak Family Spear was extremely vicious. A method worthy of the Jegal Clan, renowned for their eye techniques. It seems they've studied the Shandong Ak Clan for a long time."
"Then, is the reason Senior Ak's aura is unstable...?"
"He focused on severing her true qi rather than her forms. Since the Male-Female Divine Whip is a sorcerous technique that can interfere with the very foundation of one's internal energy, the backlash must have been immense. Consider that she endured torture equivalent to having her muscles split and bones dislocated while protecting you."
"What do you mean, muscle-splitting and bone-dislocating! It was nothing!" Ak Su-rim reached out with a grin.
She was shorter than Jeong Yeon-shin. Raising her palm high, she seemed to want to pat her junior's head.
This time, Jeong Yeon-shin didn't dodge.
Chuckling, she simply tapped his back.
"Well done, our youngest! You've become my strongest rival. Even Thread Annihilation and Yeoui will have to stay on their toes now."
The three Unit Commanders of the Desolate Fortress.
From the outside, it looked as though there was no gap between them to wedge into. Not only the Shanxi aristocrats, but even the Grand Lady and the Second Young Master of the Gongya Clan could only watch from a distance.
'It was a difficult mission.'
Jeong Yeon-shin thought of the comrades who would serve as shields when the Unit Commanders were exhausted. He recalled the reason for a sect's existence. At that moment, he remembered both the letter sent by an unidentified person and the one from the Lazy Flame Dragon.
I have Hwangbo the Scoundrel, the bastard child of the Midday Moon Great Slaughter Gate, and the precious jewel of the Desolate Shin Clan in my hands. Upon reading this letter, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing must immediately come to Taiyuan Prefecture and drive his Northern Light Sword into the largest tombstone on Mount Myo.
...You will probably receive a letter babbling about this and that, but please wait just a bit. If the Unit Commander steps forward again like you did in Shaanxi, those old fogeys of the Demonlight Wing will come to bury me. Anyway, I have found a clue to release the internal energy restriction on the Great Tongue Sword. Honestly, I didn't expect this to actually exist.
It was then.
Step.
The Assistant Military Commander approached, his grey fur coat fluttering beneath the brim of his pitch-black official hat. He swept a cold gaze over the surrounding aristocrats.
"Commander of the Demonlight Wing, I have something urgent to discuss with you in private."