Chapter 31: Genius (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31: Genius (3)
Soon after, cheers erupted in the distance.
It was an unusual sight; experts trained in the Nine Sects were typically solemn figures, deeply concerned with preserving their face. The roaring voices belonged mostly to the young martial artists who had befriended Jeong Yeon-shin. They appeared to be the same disciples he had met while protecting Jeong Hye.
"Did they say his title is Flash Art? It suits him perfectly."
"The Radiant Brilliance Sword Style... It's exactly as the rumors said."
"What a profound, dazzling sword style. And the power behind it!"
"Wi Mu-hyeok was a rising star! The Hegemon Sword Sect staked their very future on him, and yet...!"
A decisive battle loomed right before their eyes. Not only their masters but even the elders watched the unfolding scene in stunned silence.
Amidst the endlessly soaring morale of his allies, Jeong Yeon-shin focused his senses entirely on the enemy line.
The Hegemon Sword Sect.
The atmosphere on the opposing side was starkly different. A low murmur rippled through their ranks. Though the commotion was quiet, they couldn't hide their sheer bewilderment.
The sect leader's disciple had his head severed in a mere two exchanges. Worse yet, his executioner was of the exact same age.
"This is impossible."
"How could Mu-hyeok fail to put up even a shred of resistance...?"
"Kill them all."
The final command slipped from the lips of the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect. His resonant voice, refusing to allow any drop in his forces' morale, swept across the Guanzhong Plains under the immense weight of his True Qi.
"Yeon-shin! Fall back!" Heonwon Chang shouted his name as if they were old friends, his voice laced with desperate urgency.
Yeon-shin locked eyes with the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect. The Lord stood motionless, his sword driven into the earth, seemingly unmoved by his disciple's brutal death.
Slowly, Jeong Yeon-shin exaggerated the movement of his lips to mouth a silent promise.
I will take one of your arms. One way or another, I will.
It was absurd bravado. Yeon-shin knew it, too. To a martial giant like the Lord, it would register as nothing more than a fleeting amusement.
And indeed, for the first time, a faint smile touched the face of the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect. He even let out a soft chuckle.
At that moment, a tremor like the pounding of a military drum rippled through the Hegemon Sword Sect's ranks. Jeong Yeon-shin's Radiant Brilliance Sword Style had officially ignited the war between the two sects.
The Zhongnan Sect rose like a gathering storm, surging forward to protect their vanguard.
"Aaaaargh!"
Amidst the experts silently folding space with incredible Lightness Skills, others let out roaring battle cries. Voices infused with True Qi echoed in all directions, making the vast plains feel as narrow and suffocating as a canyon.
Amidst the chaotic, crashing waves of Qi, Jeong Yeon-shin fought to maintain his focus.
So this is a clash between armies of experts.
He retreated without taking his eyes off the Hegemon Sword Sect. The distance between the two forces threatened to vanish in an instant.
At the forefront of the enemy charge was an expert whose overwhelming momentum shook the very earth. His elegant beard fluttered in the wind; he possessed a massive build and a tyrannical aura.
He's dangerous.
One look was enough to tell he was an elder-level expert. A man of exceptional talent within the Hegemon Sword Sect who had spent decades mastering high-level martial arts. He was a monster whom Yeon-shin could not yet match.
"I will slaughter you!"
He seemed to be Wi Mu-hyeok's grandfather. A fierce, bloodthirsty light blazed in his wide-open eyes. As an expert of the Unorthodox Martial World, he had no intention of holding back just because his target was young.
"If you had taught him properly, it wouldn't have ended in two exchanges," Yeon-shin taunted.
"How dare you!"
Yeon-shin's words were a spark thrown into a powder keg. A terrifying wave of killing intent washed over him.
This was enough. He had provoked the man on purpose to sharpen his own focus.
This is a battlefield now. Any tactic is fair game.
He twisted his body to the side, clearing the path. From behind, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan soared past, his robes brushing against Yeon-shin's.
"Thanks to you, we've already secured twenty percent of this battle."
"Kugh!"
Along with the Sword Immortal's words, the Hegemon Sword Sect elder was blown backward. An immense shockwave erupted from the Sword Immortal's palm, sweeping across the battlefield.
This brutal clash signaled the true start of the war. At last, the Great Battle between the Hegemon Sword Sect and the Zhongnan Sect had begun.
Yeon-shin's eyes swept left and right. To rack up achievements from here on out, he needed to find opponents he could actually handle.
There are plenty.
Fortunately, there were many young experts rushing forward, unable to contain their hot-blooded fury. Yeon-shin immediately kicked off the ground, darting toward the flank.
"You bastard!"
Having already drawn massive attention, he was a prime target for the Hegemon Sword Sect. A swarm of enemies drew their swords and lunged at him.
I can handle this.
Every single one of them was young. It was only natural. The elder-level and mid-tier experts had already clashed with one another, drawn together by the sensing of each other's Qi. If they let even one slip past their lines, their disciples would be slaughtered.
Whoosh!
As he channeled the True Qi of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, a remarkably fierce wave of energy surged from him. Jeong Yeon-shin's robes fluttered wildly, a physical testament to his ceaseless growth.
To participate as a guest of the Zhongnan Sect, he had chosen not to wear his Desolate Fortress martial uniform today. If there was a second battle, he would wear it then.
The first to strike wielded a spear. The energy gathered at the tip of the blade was infused with a twisting, silk-reeling power. This opponent was on a completely different level from the martial artists of the Mantis Sect.
Clang!
The spinning shockwave concentrated on the spearhead was cleanly severed by the strike of the Desolate Fortress Sword. The moment panic flickered in the spearman's eyes, the hazy light of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style swept across his throat.
Two.
Once immersed in the battlefield, Jeong Yeon-shin ceased to view his enemies as human. Achievements were measured in numbers. If he let himself be shackled by ethics and pity, he would not survive here.
Clang! Spurt!
Amidst the swirling dust storms, white sword light flashed in all directions. His Upper Dantian, emitting an invisible light from the crown of his head, left him with zero blind spots. Even when a fast sword thrust at him from behind, he deflected it instantly and slashed the attacker's throat in a single, fluid motion.
It felt as though he were overlooking the entire battlefield from above. The sensory perception he had honed against the Mantis Sect was proving highly effective in this chaotic melee.
"Coordinate your attacks! Don't charge in blindly!"
"His footwork is uncanny! Watch his legs!"
The Hegemon Sword Sect disciples eventually resorted to coordinated formations to face him. The synergy between the Radiant Wing Step and the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style was extraordinary.
Bit by bit, by acquiring his own sect-exclusive martial arts, the Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing was nearing completion as a true martial artist.
With Heonwon Chang stepping in to cover his back, Jeong Yeon-shin's kill record among the young disciples of the Zhongnan Sect was overwhelmingly dominant. The Desolate Fortress Sword did not stop spilling blood until the Great Battle between the two sects reached a temporary lull.
*
The first battle ended in victory for the Zhongnan Sect. Seizing the initiative early on had made all the difference.
Jeong Yeon-shin had now become a celebrity on Mount Zhongnan. Every martial artist of the Zhongnan Sect treated him with warmth and utmost respect.
"I have some fine grain liquor hidden away from my master and martial uncles. Care for a drink?"
"Your schedule for martial duels is backed up that much? Ah, I guess I'm too late."
"The junior sisters of the Poetry-and-Prosody Pavilion seemed interested in you, Young Hero, but I firmly turned them away. Our sword discussion comes first, doesn't it? Hahaha!"
It was exhausting just responding to them all. Walking along a quiet mountain path, Jeong Yeon-shin recalled his conversation with Yeo Il-shin.
She had told him that if he wished, she could tell him the reason behind the annihilation of the Jeong Family Manor right then and there. She had also mentioned that his second brother already knew the truth.
She explained there was a reason why Jeong Jung-san hadn't told his younger brother, and why she herself hesitated to bring it up. She suggested it would be better to hear it after this major conflict was settled.
I doubt it would shock me much.
He felt her worries were entirely unnecessary. Though he was running desperately to escape his impending death, those who knew nothing of his plight still treated him like a child. His enemies did the same. At the very least, he was glad to have easily slain a troublesome foe like the Blood Master Sword and claimed the achievement for himself.
"Just in case," he voiced his thoughts aloud.
He decided not to invite any distractions that might disrupt his focus during the critical moments of battle. His focus weighed far more heavily on his future revenge than on the tragedy that had already occurred.
They said a Heart Demon could strike without warning. It would be enough to hear the truth when he finally left Mount Zhongnan.
"Young Hero Jeong!" Heonwon Chang waved from afar.
Jeong Yeon-shin approached with a faint smile. "Do you happen to be acquainted with the mid-tier experts of the Zhongnan Sect?"
"Is something the matter?"
"Two renowned experts from Xi'an have come looking for you. They asked if you'd like to train with them, mentioning they have an interesting cultivation method."
The martial artists who had accompanied Yeo Il-shin to the Jeong Family Manor came to mind. The ones who had nodded in agreement when she suggested Yeon-shin join the Zhongnan Sect. They were the same experts who had helped recover the bodies at the Jeong Family Manor. He had caught a fleeting glimpse of them during the first Great Battle.
"Are their titles the Cliff-Severing Sword and the Pacifying Fist?"
"Ha, your reputation is truly impressive, Young Hero. You certainly won't end up dying a dog's death in some desolate wilderness. The Sword Immortal treats you practically like his own grandson, and even the Hwasan Sword Excellence discussed making you a guest of the Mount Hua Sect..." Heonwon Chang spoke with a deeply envious expression.
Come to think of it, this journey into the martial world was vastly different from his first venture. He had forged numerous connections with experts of the Nine Sects—figures whom ordinary folk rarely even caught a glimpse of.
"It has been a while since I last saw them as well."
Jeong Yeon-shin took a leisurely step forward. Above them, the white clouds gleaming in the sunlight drifted peacefully.
At least, they did until the second Great Battle broke out.
*
It was three days later. When they met again on the Guanzhong Plains, the Hegemon Sword Sect had clearly sharpened their blades.
One could feel the killing intent just by looking at their formation. Unorthodox though they were, the expressions of the vast majority of their martial artists were completely unreadable.
"This won't be easy. The few old fogeys from their Elder's Council have all come out," the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan spoke grimly.
Guyang Shin nodded slowly. "If we win here, it will be over."
"Myo-hwa, look after the disciples well."
"Yes, Elder."
Wiji Myo-hwa's calm response belied a countenance that was vastly different from before. Her pale face was bright and radiant. As if she had cast off a heavy burden of anguish, a surging power could be felt emanating from her entire body. It was a straight, blazing wave of Qi.
Standing alongside them thanks to his great achievements in the prior battle, Jeong Yeon-shin locked eyes with her. A smile tugged at the corners of Wiji Myo-hwa's lips.
"I wish you martial fortune, Young Hero Jeong."
"I hope you remain safe as well, Sword Dragon."
Jeong Yeon-shin replied calmly and turned his head. This was no time to worry about an expert whose martial prowess far exceeded his own.
Just then, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan placed a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Watch out for the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword. He is the grandfather of Wi Mu-hyeok, the boy you killed."
"Do you mean that Hegemon Sword Sect elder from last time?"
"Yes. I couldn't finish him off before I had to face the Head of the Elder's Council. Though his stance broke quickly, he seemed to keep his eyes fixed on you even while parrying my sword."
"Though he is of a higher generation than the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect, he acts as his limbs on the battlefield. People often call him the Lord's right hand," Wiji Myo-hwa added with a worried look.
"Thank you for the warning."
As Jeong Yeon-shin nodded, the second Great Battle commenced.
This time, there was no vanguard duel. The Hegemon Sword Sect charged forward with their Lightness Skills, poised to sweep everything away without looking back.
A war where the very survival of a sect was at stake bore no resemblance to the romanticized tales of the martial world spun by idle gossips. A brutal battle involving interests, honor, and survival instantly compressed the martial artists' perception of time and space.
Clang! Boom!
"Poetry-and-Prosody Pavilion, assemble! Form a sword formation here!"
"Aaargh!"
Before he knew it, Jeong Yeon-shin found himself unleashing the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style in the thick of the bloody fray.
The metallic scent of blood had grown familiar. How many had he cut down amidst the waves of Qi swirling from experts in all directions?
"No words are needed!"
An old man, whose tattered clothes looked as though he had just clawed his way out of a death match, exuded an overwhelming aura. The Sword Immortal's advice had been spot on. The Hegemon Sword Sect elder, the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword, approached with glaring, bloodshot eyes.
"Are all Unorthodox martial artists like this? Utterly shameless," Yeon-shin scoffed.
"I will slice you to ribbons."
Jeong Yeon-shin knew instinctively: in a chaotic melee, nothing was more effective than a well-placed provocation.
Despite being an elder of the Thirteen Heavens with vast experience in the martial world, the old man strode forward like a lion eyeing its prey, drunk on his own martial prowess and rage. His vision had narrowed completely onto Yeon-shin.
Yeon-shin sensed the presence of Heonwon Chang and other Zhongnan Sect experts rushing to his aid from both sides. He pushed his internal energy to its absolute limit.
Clang—!
The sword force he barely managed to deflect was immense. With a heavy thud, the ground—which the blade hadn't even touched—was gouged open by the sheer pressure.
As if to prove that the techniques of a great sect's elder never faltered, the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword unleashed a barrage of palm strikes in rapid succession.
Jeong Yeon-shin executed the Radiant Wing Step, exposing his flank as if brushing past the old man.
"You rat!"
Thud!
The moment the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword's eyebrows twitched, Yeon-shin's body was sent flying backward from a direct palm strike. An immense shockwave exploded from the oblique muscles near his ribs. Even though it wasn't an internal heavy-hand technique, he couldn't instantly muster his internal power to counter it.
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes widened.
Jeong Family Dynamic Art!
His slightly activated Middle Dantian assisted his internal energy. The peerless True Qi of the Dynamic Art surged, breaking through the impact. It instantly neutralized the shockwave that threatened to rupture his internal organs, restoring his physical balance.
In the meantime, Wiji Myo-hwa, the Pacifying Fist, and the Cliff-Severing Sword arrived to block the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword.
The sight of the four top-tier experts clashing violently reflected in Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes. In that instant, his Upper Dantian flared to life, beginning to engrave every single one of the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword's techniques into his mind.
He is enraged. He's easy to read.
How he gripped his sword, how his muscles shifted when channeling sword force—it all burned into Yeon-shin's vision. He didn't stop there; he dissected every profound martial principle to the last detail, down to the direction of his footwork and the slightest habit in his movements when releasing force.
As they reached the fiftieth exchange, the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword, who seemed to be losing ground, resorted to a desperate mutual-destruction tactic. He intentionally surrendered his left arm to Wiji Myo-hwa's blade, using the opening to strike her squarely in the abdomen. The Pacifying Fist and the Cliff-Severing Sword were also struck down by his sweeping right-handed sword strike.
The old man was in tatters. He was now a one-armed swordsman, dark red blood pooling in his mouth. His internal injuries appeared severe.
Yet, the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword was still a renowned elder of the Hegemon Sword Sect.
"Haaah!" Heonwon Chang lunged forward, only to be thrown back miserably.
Had the young man's interference irritated the old monster? Stomping the ground, the elder lunged, his blade a split second away from severing Heonwon Chang's neck.
But before anyone realized it, Jeong Yeon-shin was already standing at the flank of the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword.
"I have been waiting for you!"
A murderous grin spread across the old man's bloody face. His sword momentum shifted abruptly. An incredibly fast sword strike sprouted from his wrinkled hand. It was just as the diagonal upward slash reached Jeong Yeon-shin's torso.
I can feel it.
This was not a sword strike that could be perceived through Yeon-shin's eye technique alone. This belonged to the realm of true precognition.
The crown of his head felt white-hot. A burning energy, as if a miniature sun had fallen into his mind, exploded within his Upper Dantian. He factored in every single technique of the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword he had witnessed so far. He staked everything on his own monstrous talent and luck.
He believed that this single form—the one strike the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword would unleash from this stance at this exact moment—would be no different from what he had anticipated. For he had already drawn the sword path in his mind to shatter that very technique.
The Desolate Fortress Sword in his hand surged forward like a winding river.
It was a single, flawless form that martial artists called a "counter."
The bright, cascading sunlight distorted along the blade, and the white trajectory flowed past the Rakshasa's sword like water, slicing cleanly through the neck of the astonished old man.
Spurt—!
"..."
In a battlefield whipped by roaring winds and chaotic energy, only the spot where Jeong Yeon-shin stood remained dead silent.
He turned his gaze toward the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect, who was locked in a fierce duel with the Western Heaven Sword Duke, Guyang Shin. He had heard that Guyang Shin was at a slight disadvantage, but things were different now. The Lord had definitely looked his way.
Staring directly at the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect, whose face showed genuine bewilderment for the very first time, Yeon-shin reached down and grabbed the severed head by its hair.
"Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect. I told you I would take it."
He lifted the head of the Eight-Fanged Rakshasa Sword high into the air, infusing his voice with True Qi. Following the echoing proclamation, the experts of both sects turned their heads. One by one, the chaotic movements of the battlefield began to grind to a halt.
Amidst the silence, Jeong Yeon-shin asked calmly,
"Does this count as your arm, too?"