Chapter 340: Ranking Battle (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 340: Ranking Battle (1)
The official road was teeming with crowds.
Yet, to him, it was completely silent.
The clatter of merchant caravans hauling half-empty carriages, vendors standing before stalls sparsely stocked with fruit and grain, and waiters soliciting customers while dodging the vagabonds loitering near the inn—all of it faded from Jeong Yeon-shin's mind.
The young man was mentally retracing the steps of the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring.
He recalled the air rising along the tips of her toes and the wave of energy fluctuating in tandem with her leg muscles.
As the creator of the Radiant Wing Step, he thoroughly analyzed her modified footwork. The mnemonics she had kindly appended to the technique naturally reverse-calculated themselves, flowing smoothly into his mind.
Though the structure of the footwork's propulsion shockwave seemed somewhat sluggish at first glance, that was precisely what made it so outstanding.
There was a distinct regularity to the energy intertwining above and below the kneecaps, operating like perfectly meshed gears.
Just how far did she lower her own level to teach them?
It lacked the absolute freedom of his own movements as the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. By stripping away everything that required intuition, it was as simple as teaching a beast how to drink water.
She fixed the center of gravity to six specific directions and simplified the energy wave of the Yongquan Point using the mysteries of the Three Talents. Instead of widening the range of movement, she made it incredibly easy to learn...
The original Radiant Wing Step created by Jeong Yeon-shin was structured so its mysteries could be applied in every conceivable direction. Countless variations were possible depending on the situation. Stepping backward to disperse an opponent's momentum was effortless because the application of internal power could be adjusted on the fly.
The steps of Bukgung-a, the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring, were different.
She had predetermined the directions. To make entry and mastery easier for others, she restricted the footwork to six directions. The propulsion shockwaves that generated momentum were consolidated into just three forms.
She had narrowed the scope of its application, focusing entirely on making the technique attainable. Only the simple echoes of advancing, retreating, and leaping remained.
They say Senior Bukgung is the greatest genius of the main fortress.
Jeong Yeon-shin could not help but be inwardly amazed. Was she a living Buddha?
He was reminded of the Duke Ling of Wei chapter of the Analects he had read back at the Jeong Family Manor. It perfectly embodied the attitude of sacrificing oneself for a greater virtue.
She had suppressed her own martial dignity to teach her subordinates. Her patient endurance of such simplicity, solid as a rock, felt like boundless consideration.
To compete with someone like this for the position of Commander...
Jeong Yeon-shin was momentarily dazed.
The realization of this unexpected gap in magnanimity struck him hard. He had never even considered creating such a mnemonic. The Vast Art Formula had been his limit.
It was said that whoever sat upon the seat of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps was highly respected even among the purple-ranked peerless experts.
The wall known as the Three Black Strengths, which he thought he might have at least equaled by now, suddenly felt dauntingly high once more.
Hmm?
Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head in thought. Then how did my maternal grandfather...?
"Hey, are you meditating? Do you need a moment?"
Bukgung-a, the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring, tilted her chin up slightly in a prompting gesture. White sunlight cast over the exceptionally sharp bridge of her nose.
The distinct combativeness of royalty from the Northern Region shone clearly through her features.
It was only natural that she could not sense Jeong Yeon-shin's energy wave.
Similarly, he had never been able to feel the internal power waves of Jin Myeong-jo, the Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit.
Having observed and roughly learned how the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon concealed his energy, Jeong Yeon-shin was confident he could completely hide his internal power waves even in front of the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
"Let us do this next time."
"What?"
Jeong Yeon-shin's refusal was abrupt.
It was hardly the attitude of a subordinate addressing a Black Rank Unit Commander, yet the gesture of raising both hands to clasp them in a polite martial salute was absolutely immaculate.
An admiration he didn't even bother to hide seeped through his posture.
"My thanks to you, Senior Bukgung. My eyes have been opened by your character."
He had witnessed the depth beneath the depths. He realized just how detailed the martial arts mnemonics he created could become, all by confirming the ocean-like capacity of this senior he had only ever heard of in rumors.
Having expanded the scope of his mental imagery, this realization would surely return to him as inspiration someday.
If she were not a fellow member of the Desolate Fortress, he would have called her a Great Hero. Just as he had with Wiji Myo-hwa, the Sword Dragon of the Zhongnan Sect.
At the same time, Bukgung-a's eyebrow arched slightly. She looked as if she had just heard something entirely unexpected.
The upper dantian sense of qi of an expert close to the highest tier of the Black Rank could perceive an opponent's heart exactly as it was. The inner thoughts reflected in his expression were plain to her.
What is this? He actually seems sincere.
The modified Radiant Wing Step must have pleased our Unit Commander. He has always wanted to spread his martial arts far and wide. But the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring is...
Heonwon Chang, who was staring blankly at them from the sidelines, accurately guessed the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring's confusion.
As far as the Great Tongue Sword of the Desolate Fortress knew—being a man well-versed in the gossip of the main fortress—the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring, Bukgung-a, was famous for having a personality akin to a complete disaster.
Because she threw fits as if she practiced demonic arts, the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall had been blown away several times. Yet, she was such an eccentric that she would still casually sleep in the ruined Black Rank meeting hall.
I hear she has very few close associates.
When the skills of the former Commander of the Demonlight Wing were at their peak, some had placed Ma Jin's name in the Three Black Strengths instead of Bukgung-a's.
It was mostly due to personal bias, much like how different regions named different people among the Ten Great Masters of the World.
The expressions of Heonwon Chang, Lazy Flame Dragon, and Shin So-bin were all uniquely strange. The young man's reverent attitude toward the infamous Unit Commander was reminiscent of a Buddhist disciple beholding Maitreya.
"You, what is your name? ...No."
Suddenly falling silent, a bluish light gathered in Bukgung-a's eyes. Her gaze swept over the young man's entire body, flashing with a brief, peculiar light.
"With a body like yours, you cannot be a nobody. I want to take a closer look."
"I understand you are currently inspecting Xiangyang. Since this junior's travel fatigue is quite deep, let us make a promise. I will send word to you in the near future."
Jeong Yeon-shin deflected the conversation with an apologetic tone. As he lowered his arms from the salute, he used his elbow to lightly press down on the sleeve of the Seventh Apostle, who was just about to raise her hand.
She had been on the verge of striking the moment she heard Bukgung-a say she wanted to examine his well-refined body.
The Seventh Apostle trembled slightly, as if a bolt of lightning had just brushed past her arm.
Jeong Yeon-shin paid it no mind.
I will probably see Senior Bukgung again at the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall anyway.
The fact that he had undergone Marrow Cleansing and Bone Rebirth could not be revealed right now. It was news that would inevitably cause at least a minor stir. It was only right to disclose it after they arrived at the Demonlight Wing pavilion.
Getting the Seventh Apostle into his Unit Commander's office came first. Once that was done, a minimum level of safety would be secured.
Ju Yeon-jeong...
He was reminded of his maternal grandfather, who had ruthlessly destroyed the dantians of the collateral imperial family members.
Could his current self act like his grandfather? Instead of being swayed by missions and circumstances, could he orchestrate them according to his own will...?
"It was an honor to meet such a renowned senior. Your mental and physical cultivation truly lives up to its reputation."
Bowing politely, Jeong Yeon-shin walked past the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring. In his clear, resonant voice, genuine admiration lingered like an echo.
Just what had moved him so much? Bukgung-a, usually known as a fiery wreck, looked back at his retreating figure with a doubtful expression. However, the innate, peerless senses she was born with in the Northern Region made her pause.
There was no pretense, none of the subtle tells felt in a feint. Only the free-spirited nature unique to the Radiant Wing Step trailed closely behind the young man's heels.
Swoooosh—
As the wind blew past, ruffling the feather decorations of the nearby stalls and brushing against her eyebrows, Jeong Yeon-shin and his party safely set foot inside the main gates of the Desolate Fortress. The marble fortress, draped in pure white sunlight, welcomed them. As always, it stood in serene silence.
* * *
Jeong Yeon-shin entered the main fortress without revealing his identity. This was possible because the identities of his companions were unquestionable.
Heonwon Chang and Lazy Flame Dragon were blue-ranked experts capable of undertaking solo missions; their very rank represented a major force within the Desolate Fortress.
The White Cat, Shin So-bin, was a direct descendant of the Desolate Shin Clan, and her face was more widely recognized than most official warriors. In the Desolate Fortress, where all sorts of people came and went, she was more than capable of vouching for the identities of a couple of strangers.
Unlike Lazy Flame Dragon, who was somewhat kept at a distance, Heonwon Chang and Shin So-bin had many acquaintances. Their connections were not limited to the Demonlight Wing, extending to other martial units and even the Grand Steward's office.
"The Great Tongue Sword has returned! Have you been well?"
"You have no idea how quiet the main fortress has been. I suppose the Commander of the Demonlight Wing is away tending to other matters?"
"The White Cat has grown even more in the meantime."
"Wait, that woman is..."
Warriors with the character 'Hwang' engraved on their forearms approached the group upon seeing them. Their faces were filled with delight.
Warriors usually remembered others by their skeletal structure and physical build. It was not easy for them to associate the boy they knew with someone who had rapidly grown through Marrow Cleansing and Bone Rebirth.
Believing the formidable youngest Black Rank expert to be absent, casual conversation flowed freely among them.
Heonwon Chang stepped forward slightly, blocking their view of Jeong Yeon-shin.
"Let us catch up later. This mission was extremely grueling."
"We heard. The rumors that started in Shanxi have reached all the way here. So, is it all true? You know, that..."
"I said let's talk over drinks. I will show you that my seventy percent restriction was no lie—with my improved alcohol tolerance, that is."
"Are you still going on about that?"
Lazy Flame Dragon chuckled from among the passing crowd, as if he had just heard something absurd. They really have no trust in him.
Glancing at them, Jeong Yeon-shin looked at the Seventh Apostle and spoke slowly. Even after entering the main fortress, she kept her entire body's sense of qi focused intently on him.
An internal power wave, fluttering like downy feathers, could be felt right beside him, along with the crimson hem of her dress—a replacement for her usual Pure Blood Robe.
"You."
"Speak."
"Wait quietly in my office."
"Your office? Your room?"
"My colleagues will guide you. Do not cause a scene. I will tell you the mnemonic when I return."
"The mnemonic? From the very first line?"
"Yes."
"What if I forget it again due to Qi Deviation? Will you tell me from the beginning all over again?"
Her lips parted slightly.
"You said it is a non-transmission to the unworthy. You must not leave behind anything like a secret manual."
Her repeated whispering was bewitching. Even though her eyes were covered with a soft cloth, a reddish glow seemed to shine right through it.
"...Just wait without causing trouble."
Shortly after, Jeong Yeon-shin entrusted her to Heonwon Chang and Shin So-bin and turned away.
The power of the Blood Flame Cult's dharma treasure was indeed magnificent. The other warriors in the main fortress saw Miss Ye, not the Seventh Apostle.
It would be difficult to see through her disguise unless one possessed the divine power of a peerless expert of the Brightfolk. Now, the only person he had to be wary of regarding the Seventh Apostle was Ju Yeon-jeong.
"I am going to the Grand Steward's office."
Leaving those words to his companions, he moved quickly.
He did not want to waste time being caught up in conversation by the warriors of the main fortress. Looking around the inner castle now, it seemed perfectly fine to mix the Radiant Wing Step with the lightness skill of the Ten-Mile Light Grace.
Whoosh!
A familiar wave of energy could be felt throughout the entire fortress. Many of the people passing through his field of vision were employing a familiar stride.
They were all using the Radiant Wing Step. This was despite the fact that his martial art was of little use to those who could not even properly control their own bodies.
Incredible.
Jeong Yeon-shin realized Senior Bukgung's influence anew. She was just as respectable as Senior Jin, the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon.
The Wish-Fulfilling Spring.
The name signified that there was nothing one's will could not achieve. It was known to be the most powerful unit within the Divine Sword Corps, second only to the Divine Sword Squad itself.
He had also heard that it was a martial unit whose superiority over the Thread-Annihilation Unit was difficult to determine.
Could the Demonlight Wing surpass those two martial units and the Divine Sword Squad? Even if he were to become the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps in the future, he fully intended to keep the Demonlight Wing under his direct command.
The Vast Art Formula... there is room for improvement.
The Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring had completely shattered the common sense of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
Having witnessed the perspective of the abyss, Jeong Yeon-shin shook off his heavy thoughts and stepped onto the very top of the roofs of the Grand Steward's office complex.
Even without fully unleashing his lightness skill, his movements were incredibly swift.
His completely reborn body occasionally granted him a dreamlike sensation.
A feeling as if his entire body was immersed in a dream where nothing was impossible. It only subsided on the very rare occasions when the perfect sense of unity throughout his body was disrupted.
They said the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall was destroyed again, so they must be gathered at the Grand Steward's office.
The energy wave rising through the rafters was incredibly heavy. He could feel it all the way through his toes.
Was something going on?
There was an unprecedented number of presences worthy of being called Black Rank.
The Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, the Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit, the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit, one unfamiliar yet familiar energy wave, and another completely unfamiliar energy wave. Counting the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring who was still outside the fortress gates, there were six in total.
It was a truly monstrous gathering.
Were they preparing for a Great Sect War? Including Jeong Yeon-shin, whose return was anticipated, there would be seven.
It was then.
A faint shout drifted into the ears of Jeong Yeon-shin, pulling him from his thoughts.
[So I am asking for an explanation! Do you know how many days I have been requesting this? Where is the majestic Lord of the Desolate Fortress that you treat a guest with such neglect? A reception should, by all means, be conducted with the dignity befitting one's status...!]
In an instant, the halo of his heart rotated. The state of Three Flowers Gathering at the Peak. True qi surged through the meridians of his entire body, following his will.
Ruuuuuumble—!
Starting from Jeong Yeon-shin's toes, the roof tiles rose like waves and spread out in all directions.
Following the shockwave, the shattered roof burst upward in a massive concentric circle, kicking up a cloud of pale dust.
Erasing the image of his maternal grandfather that flashed through his mind in that split second with a touch of embarrassment, he dropped down and landed right in the middle of the grand hall.