Chapter 315: Heonwon (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 315: Heonwon (10)
The boys of Yu Manor, who had just been scolded by Shin So-bin, scowled.
"The Demonlight Wing? Liar!"
"Why would anyone from the Desolate Fortress come all the way here?"
Shin So-bin narrowed her round eyes.
"Are you boys really from the Killing Gate? You'd think survival in the harsh Jianghu would require more than just martial skill. This isn't some playground."
"Enough."
The Master of Yu Manor silenced the children and took a step back, his expression turning grave.
"The Demonlight Wing, you say?"
His light-green silk robe brushed against the dust. A wave of incredibly hot energy gathered around the hem of his robe where it touched his feet.
It was Fervent Yang Energy, a force that even most experts struggled to unleash. Considering how difficult it was for a human body to refine internal energy with such distinct elemental properties, guessing the opponent's identity became easy.
"They said the noble scoundrel of the Hwangbo Clan was serving as a cleaner for the current Commander of the Demonlight Wing… So it wasn't just a rumor…"
"That middle-aged geezer is crossing the line."
Lazy Flame Dragon chuckled, lowering his head slightly.
His gaze quietly swept over the back of the sprawled-out Killing Gate Elder. The blow he had just delivered wasn't a formal stance or technique; he had simply struck as hard as he could out of sheer irritation.
Yet, his True Qi had responded. The Fervent Yang Energy that was slowly leading him to his death had reacted instantly to his anger, as if teaching him that this was exactly how the internal energy of the Solar Divine Pulse should be used.
Qi follows Essence, Lazy Flame Dragon muttered to himself.
Come to think of it, he hadn't caused any real havoc since joining the Demonlight Wing. Even when he was beating up that greenhorn, the Hidden Dragon of Mount Hua, at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, he had merely channeled his energy as his heart pleased.
'They said the Seventh Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult is younger than me.'
And yet, that person had already reached the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak.
There were few subordinates who could engage in a truly serious discussion of martial arts with Jeong Yeon-shin. At most, it was Lazy Flame Dragon himself, and perhaps—if he had to name a few more—the somewhat eerie Cheong-myeong and the brazenly chilling Baek Mi-ryeo.
He had heard the Commander prattle on about a "Dull Flowers Gathering at the Peak" once or twice. At the time, he had struggled to hold back his laughter, but before he knew it, the concept had become a topic of his own contemplation.
It wasn't a bad thing. Since he was on his way out anyway, there weren't many ways left to tease the younger brother he had grown somewhat fond of—especially since that young Commander's standards were so impossibly high.
'Now that all those obnoxious Hwangbo relatives of mine are dead and gone, I suppose the Demonlight Wing is my final stop before the Sanzu River.'
The strike he had unleashed without thinking made him realize this truth once more. The moment the Killing Gate Elder had prattled on about the Demonlight Wing's lack of pedigree, a surge of anger had flared within him—just like when the Hidden Dragon of Mount Hua had presumptuously lectured him about his Solar Divine Pulse and his behavior.
At this point, the Demonlight Wing was practically his home sect. Lazy Flame Dragon readily admitted this to himself.
'Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak. Perfect.'
According to rumors surrounding the Jegal Clan Leader and the Lotus Nezha, the Commander also seemed to have created an extraordinary technique. It was terribly unfair that a genius born with once-in-a-millennium talent would find it so difficult to achieve the Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak. But if Lazy Flame Dragon were to actually unify his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, he would surely get an amusing reaction out of Jeong Yeon-shin.
Being challenged by the young Commander had deepened his cultivation. Since he had lived his life so carelessly, the scope of his transformation was even greater.
What if he refined his body a bit more here and focused his mind with the poppy…?
Would it work?
Just as the corners of his mouth curled upward, the Master of Yu Manor stepped forward with a displeased look.
"Mind your manners. As you have discovered, this manor is indeed a branch of the Killing Gate. Elder Geum Hyeong-won has protected our sect for well over seventy years. Attacking without warning is no way to get what you want from us. I shall issue a test to the direct descendant of the Geum Family, as you desire."
Standing to the side, Shin So-bin tilted her head.
"I thought you didn't want anything to do with the Killing Gate? Yet you're still trying to save face in a situation like this."
Just then, a raspy, elderly roar erupted.
"Absurdity… These people speak nothing but absurdity!"
A cloud of gray dust billowed up from beneath Lazy Flame Dragon's feet. As expected of someone who had trained for so long in the Killing Gate guarding the Tomb of the Heavenly Demon, he had not lost consciousness from that casual blow.
"How dare you! How dare you!"
The Killing Gate Elder sprang to his feet like a jiangshi. The way he rose vertically, as if his soles were glued to the ground, was unsettling—a clear sign of his deep mastery of assassination arts.
Just as the old man, now on his feet, was about to draw his sword in a frenzy, the Slaying Hero slung an arm around his shoulder with the soft rustle of fabric.
"Elder So-geom, I fully understand your concern for my legitimacy, but…"
The playful voice carried a chilling undertone.
"Isn't completely ignoring my opinion—Geum Jon-hwi's opinion—also a slap in the face to the Young Sect Leader of our sect? Especially when the Sect Leader's seat has been vacant for over a decade."
"Young Sect Leader…!"
The old man dared not act rashly. He shut his mouth, his wrinkled face freezing in place.
The Slaying Hero smiled.
"Master Yu, go ahead and issue the test. Our Seon-hwi will pass whatever it is. No matter what kind of bullshit anyone tries to pull, he is the only remaining direct descendant of our sect. The very pillar of the Killing Gate."
The Master of Yu Manor could not find an answer. He had witnessed the martial prowess of Lazy Flame Dragon of the Hwangbo Clan, who was acting entirely as a member of the Demonlight Wing. The Slaying Hero, Geum Jon-hwi, was another major problem. There was nothing else he could do but lead them to the manor's training ground.
He requested a duel as the test. After enduring fifty moves against Heonwon Chang, he admitted defeat and declared that they possessed the right to the gatekeeper's secret transmission.
"If you give us the wrong mnemonic, and the Great Tongue Sword's tongue is crippled by Qi Deviation because of it…" Lazy Flame Dragon threatened with a smile, "the Lotus Nezha will pay this place a visit."
"…We have not fallen so low. Please leave now."
The journey of the Demonlight Wing, the Slaying Hero, and the Killing Gate Elder—who had joined them under duress—continued.
Yu Manor.
The Mist-Choosing Gate.
Gubo Villa.
Heonwon Chang and his companions broke through them one by one, their route drawing a large circle around Taiyuan. In the end, they had to return to Taiyuan to gain the recognition of the elders and obtain the final mnemonic kept by the main sect located there.
As soon as they completed their circuit and entered Taiyuan, Lazy Flame Dragon's usual playful tone was replaced by a rare gravity.
"Hmm? This isn't the street I'm used to seeing."
Every man and woman lining the streets was an extremely powerful swordsman. There were easily over a hundred and fifty of them. As they all turned in unison to look at the newcomers, their gazes were so sharp that fragments of Sword Qi seemed to flicker within them.
The Net of Heaven and Earth of the Moyong Clan.
The group found themselves facing a forest of swords.
* * *
Three martial artists, a young Taoist, and a Brightfolk monk.
The party of five drew attention wherever they went. Not only did they all possess outstanding appearances, but the aura surrounding them was also extraordinary. Some martial artists even startled and avoided them upon seeing the plum blossom embroidery on Taoist Yu-hyeon's robe. Whenever that happened, Yu-hyeon would click his tongue, muttering that those fellows were undoubtedly from the Heterodox Sects.
Swoooosh—
It was no different even during a rainy season like this, where the rain fell like strings of glass beads. In the lawless Jianghu, arts of observation had developed for this very reason—to size up an opponent at a glance.
"It's pouring relentlessly."
Frustration and irritation laced Gun Yurin's voice. Aside from her delight in having the Lotus Nezha join their party, she seemed mentally exhausted from remaining constantly on guard against Shaolin's Four Great Vajras throughout the journey. She had openly shown her distrust of her subordinate, Jeon Baek, staying awake for days on end.
It was no wonder Jeon Baek, dressed as a one-armed scholar, was fidgeting anxiously. Holding a bamboo umbrella covered in oiled paper over his master's head while getting soaked in the rain himself made for a rather pitiful sight.
"My lady, please… If the Alliance Leader finds out about this, my head will roll. This Jeon Baek will procure some high-quality meat for you, so please, ease your mind…"
"Shut up. Why would I accept food from a beef thief who brings shame upon his master? I'd rather fill my stomach with wine from my lovely guest. His face is such a delicacy that even poison from his cup would taste exquisite."
"Men are out of the question! It will interfere with our great cause…!"
"Then go find me a beautiful young lady!"
The rain fell in dense, fine sheets across the entire region surrounding Taiyuan. The white hues of the snow-covered plains gradually blurred. It was neither winter rain nor spring rain, but something in between.
The winter that had begun last year was drawing to a close amidst the lonely patter of rain. Meanwhile, a fairly large village came into view.
"Why are the streets so deserted? It feels like we've walked into a village in need of an exorcism," Yu-hyeon muttered, walking alongside Jeong Yeon-shin.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been walking blankly with his eyes half-closed while meditating on Sword Control and Body Protection Qi, slightly raised his head.
"Does the Mount Hua Sect also have sorcery martial arts?"
"Of course we do, we're a Taoist sect. Just think of how many Taoist temples are on Mount Hua. It's just that sorcery isn't mainstream like the sword lineages, so it's less known to the public."
"And your level of achievement?"
"Scribbling a few characters on Sophora Paper is enough to earn my keep. I happen to write the phrase 'Swiftly, as commanded!' exceptionally well. Just writing that makes it look like a proper talisman."
"What?"
"My calligraphy is amazing. Have you ever heard the phrase 'dragons and snakes soaring'?"
"Stop conning people."
"It really works, I'm telling you. When you're the Hidden Dragon of the great Mount Hua Sect, nobody looks at you like some fake ox-nose Taoist."
It was then.
"Amitabha."
Step.
The Shaolin monk's footsteps were heavy. The long-eared monk slipped between the two of them. Perhaps because he was a high monk of Shaolin Temple, often called the incarnation of martial arts, with the Vajra Immovable Body Art thoroughly ingrained in him, the way he nudged Yu-hyeon aside with his back was incredibly natural.
"The Mount Hua Sect's Immortal Qi martial arts are indeed exceptionally outstanding. However, if the young master were to personally imbue the paper with the Dharma Power you possess… we would behold a talisman capable of crushing evil. Its efficacy would also be far superior for the time invested."
"I appreciate your guidance, Great Monk. Are you saying I can create a Dharma Treasure?"
While a startled Yu-hyeon leaned back, Jeong Yeon-shin politely raised a single hand in greeting as he asked. It was the Shaolin etiquette he knew well, having been born in Henan.
Heheh.
Seeing the half-palm salute of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, the lips of the Four Great Vajras curled up so wide they seemed ready to tear.
"Indeed. The lingering spirits that swarmed during the founding of the nation and those who practice wicked demonic arts would surely dread it. The wisdom of the common folk spans the vast lands, and their claim that Prince Nezha has manifested in Shanxi was indeed correct."
Wonjeok's attitude toward the master of Dharma Power was exceptionally deferential, to the point where Yu-hyeon grumbled as he kept his distance. Did he practice the Bone-Shrinking Art or something?
Even though the generational hierarchy of the Nine Sects was strict, the first disciple of Mount Hua and the Four Great Vajras of Shaolin didn't stand on ceremony in private. They simply acted as their hearts pleased. That was why Great Monk Wonjeok, despite his vast age and senior generation, treated Jeong Yeon-shin with such respect.
"The spirituality dwelling within the young master's divine art," Great Monk Wonjeok slowly continued as the group entered the quiet village, "is highly exceptional, even among the world's Divine Ultimate Techniques. Most merely serve to elevate the grade of one's internal energy, but with Dharma Power, one can achieve much more. While the young master, who has earned the moniker of Nezha, has benefited greatly from it in terms of martial prowess… this humble monk dares to surmise that other things are also possible. Creating a rare Dharma Treasure would be one of them."
"How?"
"Obtain a sheet of Sophora Paper and keep it close to your chest day and night. If you touch it from time to time, spirituality will seep into it. There will come a time to use it. It may even develop a rare capability."
"Is it really that simple?"
"It is hard to call anything regarding Dharma Power simple. Even now, this humble monk cannot fathom it at all—specifically, what kind of insight led to its creation."
The passage of time was etched in the wrinkles around Wonjeok's mouth as he smiled. Though he looked like a young monk who had merely shaved his head, a sense of weariness and profound age emanated from him.
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head.
And then, he stopped walking, following the lead of Gun Yurin, who had halted. A massive boulder sat on one side of the road. It looked like a rock that shared a quiet, humble history with this now-silent village.
A man was sitting casually on top of it, one knee pulled up to his chest. He wore a white cloak stained with dirt, and rainwater dripped from his long, disheveled hair. Beside the hand supporting his body, a sword hilt lay on the stone.
"This village is dead," the man said.