Chapter 343: Ranking Battle (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 343: Ranking Battle (4)
Before setting out, one had to prepare.
Jeong Yeon-shin ate heartily. Cheong-myeong, the Blue-Eyed Demon Sword, recognized him instantly—his eye technique rivaling that of the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit—and ordered the servants to bring more cooks.
Thus began the banquet of the Demonlight Wing, joined by Ak Su-rim, Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
The warriors of the Demonlight Wing, heirs to the Flash Art lineage, knew their commander's polite speech and Law-Transcending Halo Qi better than anyone. Though they found his matured appearance unfamiliar, they welcomed him with open arms.
This was home.
It had to be, for everyone in the Demonlight Wing.
As soon as he returned, Jeong Yeon-shin focused his attention on Baek Mi-ryeo. He had no choice. Her older sister, the deceased Leader of the Pure Demon Alliance, had been like a sister to him as well.
Baek Mi-ryeo had lost her only family to the Young Sect Leader of the Ming Cult—a man now regarded as the very epitome of the bizarre, violent, and chaotic.
Just as Baek Mi-ryeo and the Demonlight First Team had eased his loneliness, he now wanted to be a source of strength for her.
—Our paths were different. There is no room for sympathy.
Baek Mi-ryeo was as cold as ever.
As the Sun Lotus Sword Enchantress, an heir to the Heavenly Demon lineage who looked after the common people, her resolve was firm. Even if the temperaments of the Desolate Fortress warriors varied wildly, they all shared a common spirit.
—I only ask… if a mission to the west arises someday, please send me, even if I must go alone. I must visit her grave at least once.
At the time, Jeong Yeon-shin had only nodded silently.
He evaporated the overflowing alcohol Ak Su-rim had generously poured for him using his Samadhi True Fire. The night before, he had been considering who to take on the next mission.
'Brother and Hye-ah must be doing well. And the manager who went to Shaolin…'
The hem of his clothes felt rough as it brushed against the marble table.
He walked toward the door, sparing no glance for the Seventh Apostle.
His body, reborn after shedding its mortal coil, obeyed his every command in martial arts, but it also bombarded him with heightened senses and impulses, like hunger. It was a new aspect of adulthood he had to endure.
He opened the door and spoke.
"The Qi healing mnemonic should have helped."
Rustle.
The response came slowly, the sound of her turning languidly on the bed. Was she doing it on purpose? The Seventh Apostle's antics kept Jeong Yeon-shin in the doorway a moment longer.
"The Grand Preceptor taught me up to the second phrase, didn't he? I'm sure I memorized that much."
"There are fifteen phrases."
"I must have forgotten again. Those bastards from the Deep Martial Alliance are truly vicious, aren't they?"
"Attacking by the hundreds, like a swarm of ants."
Her voice was light and casual, but Jeong Yeon-shin was skilled at seeing through her lies. It didn't matter that she was a master of deceptive arts like stealth and disguise. He knew she was lying.
"You're not some restless monkey."
"Hmm?"
"Don't move around carelessly. Ju Yeon-jeong, the imperial you ripped an arm from, has an influence we can't predict. You shouldn't judge someone like her by her martial arts alone."
Indeed. Rumor had it she was roaming free, despite being imprisoned by her maternal grandfather. Since every imperial he'd met was politically shrewd, he knew Ju Yeon-jeong couldn't be dismissed as a mere puppet, even without her martial arts.
He was warning the Seventh Apostle not to draw Ju Yeon-jeong's attention.
"So I just need to stay hidden, right?" she asked playfully.
Jeong Yeon-shin left the room without answering.
She was paradoxically untrustworthy yet reliable. She was a supreme expert who had mastered the Blood Flame Cult's Graceful Body Technique to the Stage of Great Completion. Having mastered one of the four greatest movement techniques in the world, the only ones who could find her if she chose to hide would be the handful of Black Ranks with exceptional sensory abilities.
'Even if something happens…'
His current achievements, martial power, and standing would be enough to handle the fallout.
He hadn't forgotten how his maternal grandfather had spoken of his uniqueness before the imperial family. Even his grandfather’s claim of owing him a debt of gratitude was as bold as one would expect from the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon.
"Travel safely."
Jeong Yeon-shin left the pavilion with the Seventh Apostle's farewell ringing behind him, already sorting out how to handle her, setting aside the debt he owed.
* * *
The Grand Assembly Hall of the Chief Steward's Office.
"We've received information that Namgung's First Sword of the Martial Dragon Association is moving with the Yeoryeong Lord. There are also rumors that the Lord of the Dark Night Hall, having finished his recuperation, met with them in Southern Zhili. This timing overlaps with the Peng Clan's request for assistance from the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps."
The speaker was Grand Steward Im Jin-myeong, a well-built scholar standing before a cracked round table.
Jeong Yeon-shin listened in silence. His absence had been long, and the situation in the martial world was changing rapidly. He needed to catch up, if only for the safety of the Desolate Fortress, which was as much his home as any sect.
He slowly opened his mouth.
"...Weren't those two Lords of the Thirteen Heavens defeated by the Commander's Dragon Ring Sword? If the Lord of the Dark Night Hall has recovered, shouldn't we consider the possibility that the Lord of the Martial Dragon Association has as well?"
"Namgung's First Sword and the Lord of the Martial Dragon Association leading the charge together… It would be a terrifying thought. However, rumors are rife that the Lord of the Dark Night Hall, a member of the faded Brightfolk, possesses his own secret arts. The Lord of the Martial Dragon Association, on the other hand, is a madman with nothing but his martial arts. The Lord of the Dark Night Hall would have no reason to share his secret arts with a defiant madman like that."
Shaking his head, the Grand Steward added, "Since ancient times, the heterodox and demonic paths have never mixed well."
"And yet they are now, taking advantage of the famine."
"...There's nothing to be done. It's been a long time since not just minor sects but even great sects have begun staging uprisings. We are on the brink of a chaotic age. Since you were in Shanxi, close to Beijing, you might not have felt it, Commander, but the south is different. For now, we can only trust in Unit Commander Yong's judgment and martial power…"
"..."
"While commoners are starving or being plundered, we also have envoys from the Prince's Palace to deal with. We're at a loss."
The Grand Steward's words sounded almost like a lament. Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the man whose sword hilt he had stepped on: Duke of Sword Might Ju Cheol, the eldest son of the King of Fathomless Light and a distant relative of the current Emperor.
"What business does the Prince's Palace have with us?"
"They want us to handle the northern front. The lands ruled by the demonfolk and the Fighting God."
"Didn't the Three Great Masters of the Imperial Family receive martial arts from the Emperor and set out already?"
"They did. But it's not entirely baseless meddling. A rare, fertile stretch of land has recently fallen under their control… and the northern region is vast, after all."
They were short-handed, and the situation surrounding the main fortress was grim. Although the Desolate Fortress had a festive atmosphere upon his return, with warriors practicing the Radiant Wing Step as if holding a banquet, it was largely an effort by the experts to boost morale with displays of their divine arts.
Glancing at the sunlight breaking through the open ceiling, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.
"We have enough Black Ranks gathered now. The missions must be assigned quickly."
He had no intention of staying in the main fortress for long.
This was different. The commanders who had gone missing during the mission to assassinate the Young Sect Leader of the Ming Cult had all shared their martial arts with him. They were his fellow disciples. The very name Yelu Jin, the Heaven-Smiling Invincible, resonated within him, fueling his impatience.
"As you've heard, excluding the forces defending the main fortress, we must choose between two major missions: the northern region or the Ming Cult. None of the other Black Ranks want the northern mission. They are all like you, Commander Jeong. Naturally, they care more about their comrades than the treasury of the Prince's Palace."
"I heard that when commanders' desired missions overlap, there's a competition."
"Yes. A rough agreement has already been reached, though the Duke of Sword Might won't be satisfied."
"A duel is out of the question."
"Of course. Not everyone possesses martial arts designed for short, decisive battles like you, Commander Jeong. We can't assign missions based on a duel that could take an unknown number of exchanges to conclude. It will be over quickly. After you left with Deputy Unit Commander Ak, they were discussing the details among themselves..."
This meant that disputes among commanders over missions weren't resolved solely through combat. Recalling the sight of Hahu Wi-jin being beaten by his maternal grandfather, Jeong Yeon-shin grew curious. What method would they use?
Just then, the Grand Steward suddenly unrolled the scroll on the round table. "This must be your mission report, correct?"
Having only discussed business, he realized he hadn't properly praised the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. A warrior who achieved great deeds deserved to be treated accordingly.
"The reports from the Divine Spear and the Ultimate Demon were highly interesting, but I wonder what your perspective is, Commander Jeong. Let's see… Hmm?"
Scholars in martial sects shared a common habit: they scanned entire documents in an instant. The contents of a letter marked "Urgent" could decide the life or death of many.
The Grand Steward's eyes widened as they flew to the end of the text.
At the same time, someone knocked on the door. Judging by the presence, it was another scholar from his office. At Jeong Yeon-shin's inquiry, the man announced that someone from the drapery shop had arrived.
The drapery owner near the Desolate Fortress wasn't just a tailor; he was a martial artist who wove thread with refined hand techniques. Rumor had it he was a master of swift grappling arts.
"It seems my custom robes have arrived. I'll head down first," Jeong Yeon-shin said.
He left the stunned Grand Steward behind. The young man went straight to the first floor and received his new Black Robe. As soon as he put it on, he could tell it suited his heightened stature. The strokes of the golden character Hwang (荒) embroidered on the shoulder also felt elongated, much like his hair.
As he stroked the rough, golden character, the draper, who had the fierce face of a veteran warrior, watched his reaction.
"You wanted a large character when you were promoted… Doesn't it suit your reputation, Commander?"
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been about to say something, just nodded slightly. Though he now possessed movement techniques that could easily evade even Heonwon's spear, he couldn't ask for a remake with his departure so close.
He only hoped that this would be his last Black Robe.
* * *
The central training ground of the Desolate Fortress.
Green pine needles drifted down from the deep blue sky. A gentle breeze carried the scent of spring, brushing softly against his skin.
The process leading up to the commanders' competition proceeded smoothly and rapidly. One might expect delays, given that the rank of Black Rank outstripped most government offices, yet everything was arranged within a single day.
Despite the vastness of the main fortress, a bustling crowd had already gathered, drawn by the rumors. It was one of the few diversions in these tense times. The number of people murmuring around the massive sparring stage exceeded a hundred, and this was with no one below the rank of official warrior allowed inside.
"Is that person really the Commander of the Demonlight Wing?"
"I heard it's him."
"Does that even make sense?"
"He must have undergone a full marrow cleansing and bone rebirth."
All eyes converged on one spot.
A young man carrying a sword with a strangely crushed hilt. His body was built with elegant muscle, but his face remained lean. In that strange disharmony, it was hard to see the boy he once was, save for his eyes, which shone brilliantly in the sunlight.
"He's thinned out so much. I wonder what he'll look like when his original features return."
"How much stronger has he become?"
"He's actually quite handsome…"
"Keep your voice down, you idiot."
The reactions among the Desolate Fortress warriors were varied. Some showed disbelief, while others gasped in admiration. A marrow cleansing and bone rebirth achieved at his age was nothing short of miraculous.
Amidst the chatter, some made more knowledgeable speculations.
"The Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring, the Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit, the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit, the Commander of the Netherflow Unit, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing… What a lineup."
"There's also the deputy for the Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing."
"I heard they're competing using the Body Protection Scripture."
"The collapse of the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall turned out to be a stroke of luck for us. We should thank the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring."
"If it's the Body Protection Scripture, isn't that method advantageous to the Commander of the Netherflow Unit? How many of them are participating?"
"The Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit's Body Protection Scripture shouldn't be that far behind the Commander of the Netherflow Unit's."
"Their specialties are different. Few martial artists have survived a direct encounter with the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon's movement arts. This time, he even fought the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect. I heard he survived nineteen exchanges…"
"It was five hundred and nineteen exchanges."
It was a quiet, gentle voice. The White-Ranked warriors who had been talking glanced back and were startled out of their wits.
Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art, the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, who had been near the entrance, was already gliding past them.
He slowly climbed onto the sparring stage.
Two others were already waiting, the three of them forming a triangle. There was no other reason for high-ranking Black Ranks to stand on a stage like a troupe of marketplace acrobats. It was to boost the morale of the Desolate Fortress warriors, who were likely to become targets in the chaotic martial world, and to demonstrate the formidable strength of the commanders once again.
'I heard the Radiant Wing Step has become popular.'
Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the tall woman in a Black Robe who was lightly shaking out her feet. It was Bukgung-a, the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring. Knowing the nature of the competition, he found her posture somewhat threatening.
"Hmm?"
Their eyes met. A bluish light flashed in Bukgung-a's eyes.
"I nearly gouged my own eyes out earlier. To think I was talking about the Radiant Wing Step without even recognizing its creator."
"Your Radiant Wing Step is nothing to scoff at, Senior Bukgung," Jeong Yeon-shin replied calmly.
The corners of Bukgung-a's mouth curled upward. "A branch is still a branch. Since the original art is so strong, my Radiant Wing Fourth Step won't completely overshadow it. That said… I might be a few steps ahead of you right now."
Ngh—
She pulled both elbows back. A heavy wave of internal power rippled from her tightly-knit back muscles, creating a palpable shockwave.
"Did you say the Fourth Step?"
"There were many ways to expand it. Your Second Step was that profound."
"The Fourth Step," Jeong Yeon-shin murmured softly.
Glancing at him, Bukgung-a took a step forward. "It's like watching your own child grow up. Let's exchange a few moves. One of us has to set out before midnight."
"Very well."
A rare, clear curve formed on Jeong Yeon-shin's lips.
Step.
The competition was simple: alter the opponent's appearance using the Body Protection Scripture. Beneath the brilliant sunlight, he took a step forward, feeling Bukgung-a's gaze lock onto the Meteor Sword at his waist.