Chapter 388: The Divine Sword Corps (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 388: The Divine Sword Corps (4)
At last.
The Commanders of the Divine Sword Corps met.
They stood on a hill devastated by countless corpses and discarded weapons, looking at one another. The air was heavy, and even the rustle of their fluttering sleeves seemed to weigh it down. Not a single enemy remained alive.
It was an overwhelming sight.
The crowds gathered along the mountain slopes surrounding Unhoe Peak held their breath. The spectacle before them demanded silence.
Those dressed in fine silks or carrying weapons—anyone with even a passing knowledge of the Jianghu—dared not move a finger.
Only those ignorant of the world's affairs whispered in astonishment, their faces pale.
"The Lord of the Golden Wing Sect… her head was cut off!"
"Is that true?"
"How could the phoenix who built her own nest fall to a mere human…?"
Three great sects had suffered losses equivalent to annihilation. The Tenth Sect and the Golden Wing Sect would never rise again, and the elite demons of the Pure Demon Alliance lay as cold corpses.
It was as if the unorthodox sects had been completely wiped from the vast province of Sichuan.
This would bring upheaval not only to the daily lives of the common folk but to the entire Jianghu. Countless people held their breath, unable to take a single step away.
Meanwhile, on the hill where no one else dared to trespass, a girl perched atop the shaft of a diagonally embedded spear spoke slowly.
The ends of her dark red, short-cropped hair brushed against her small shoulders, as if her tension was only now beginning to fade.
"See? I told you not to force your way in. Flash Art, these guys were trying to ruin things. They wanted to steal the achievement that would make you the next Commander."
Ak Su-rim, the Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, glanced around as she spoke to Jeong Yeon-shin.
She was the eldest among the Commanders gathered in this unprecedented assembly, and every one of the Black Rank experts of the Desolate Fortress present was a superhuman in their own right.
Perhaps she was trying to maintain her dignity.
Her expression was unusual, the corners of her small mouth set tightly. Her eyes, which flashed with black lightning, darted between Jeong Yeon-shin and the corpse of the Golden Wing Sect’s Lord like rolling marbles. She seemed to be trying her absolute best to suppress her excitement.
"Let's be honest. Every time you threw your spear from afar, you kept glancing over here, too."
Crunch—
The sound of tearing flesh and bone echoed.
From one side, a rope skewering the abdomens of ten corpses like a spit was pulled free. It was the Cotton Rope Snare, one of the eighteen classical weapons.
The man who retrieved the Divine Weapon—a rope woven from Heavenly Silkworm thread—smirked.
"I know that if another fifteen minutes had passed, your spear would have flown straight in."
The Blood-Snare Monstrous Dragon, Wiji Geuk. He was the Commander of the Dragon-Treading Unit, infamous as a killer in the northern Jianghu.
Thick blood clung to his sharply defined jawline. Earlier, Jeong Yeon-shin had witnessed his rope binding the Lord of the Tenth Sect.
"They said he left the Lord of the Tenth Sect half-dead and defeated the Pure Demon Alliance Leader in a single blow. We shouldn't have expected anything less," the long-armed Commander of the Azure Sky Unit spoke, sheathing his sword.
His gaze was complex as it swept over the head of the Golden Wing Sect's Lord, as if confirming the rumors that he himself had nearly died at her hands.
Ak Su-rim shook her head and leaped down from the spear shaft.
"There was confidence in Flash Art's eyes. You guys just don't know our junior."
"You're doting on him like a late-in-life grandchild," Wiji Geuk, the Commander of the Dragon-Treading Unit, said as he wound the rope around his arm.
Ak Su-rim, who was walking toward Jeong Yeon-shin, furrowed her brow.
"Husband! Not a grandchild, a husband!"
"Can I throw up? No one would even notice here."
Wiji Geuk’s eyes, however, told a different story from his playful demeanor. Shock flickered within his gaze, which constantly carried a faint blue killing intent.
The scene reflected in his eyes was of a young man, barely twenty, standing silently with the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect dead at his feet.
To defeat the strongest expert of Sichuan all by himself…
Jeong Yeon-shin, Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
His robe was torn, exposing his bare upper body. Sharp lacerations were visible everywhere. Though he was covered in blood, his sleek, well-defined muscles, reminiscent of a finely crafted Divine Weapon, could not be hidden.
None of the Commanders made a fuss over their junior's battered state. Returning from missions half-dead was a common occurrence for them. Every single one was a battle-hardened master.
Step.
Amidst the silence, only the quiet sound of Ak Su-rim's footsteps echoed.
The atmosphere was heavy. The Commanders either cracked jokes or stared silently at Jeong Yeon-shin.
The Desolate Fortress was a sect that stood on the boundary between the military and the Jianghu. Unusually for the Murim, they placed great importance on maintaining public dignity. This was to project an intimidating presence to the Jianghu while inspiring trust in the common people, a tendency even more pronounced among the high-ranking figures who held seats at the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall.
There were too many eyes watching.
They could not afford to behave in a disorderly manner. The Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Commander of the Dragon-Treading Unit were simply exceptions.
Even if their youngest Black Rank expert had achieved an unbelievable feat, the Commanders had to remain composed in front of the crowd.
I'm glad everyone is alright.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn't mind. Ever since confirming his seniors' safety, he had been examining the state of his own body.
His fine meridians and acupoints were in shambles from the aftermath of the battle. It felt as though waterlogged cotton blankets had been stuffed into his muscles. He felt incredibly heavy. He had just slain the strongest expert of Sichuan; these internal injuries were only natural.
It was then.
Cough—
A sharp sensation brushed the inside of his throat, and he involuntarily coughed up blood.
At the same time, the sound of tearing air erupted from all directions. With a sharp whoosh, his vision went dark as his view was instantly filled with black fabric.
"So-so, your internal energy is the purest. Press his Mingmen Point. I'll stand guard."
"Take out whatever spirit medicines you've been hoarding."
"Am I the only one here who's received Flash Art's help? When it comes to pure True Qi, this pure-blooded Thousand-Fist Dragon-Strength Retainer…!"
"Hey, big guy, don't disrupt his meditation. Just stand guard. Can't you see that stickler from Law Enforcement watching?"
The senior Commanders had instantly surrounded him, utilizing their swift movement techniques. The speaker, Bukgung-a, the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring, spoke casually as she dragged away Hahu Wi-jin, the Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin let out a small, silent laugh, a cool fingertip touched his lower back. He could tell by the transparent wave of energy spreading from her touch. It was Cheon So-so, the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit.
"You did well," she whispered.
It was a single phrase mixed with gratitude and astonishment. It carried the weight of the time they had shared, from the battle against the Flood Dragon's formation to this very moment. There was a warmth to it, akin to that of martial siblings from the same sect.
Jeong Yeon-shin closed his eyes.
Hum—
The True Qi of the Immortal Wood Spirit Cold Heaven Flowless Ice Art surged in through his Mingmen Point. Perhaps because Cheon So-so carried the Sapling of the World Tree in her bosom, her astonishingly pure power blended seamlessly with the energy of his Jeong Family Dynamic Art.
His acupoints, heated to a boil by the fierce battle, began to cool down in an instant.
Around them, heavy waves of energy formed a protective circular formation.
"That head deserves to be mounted and put on display."
"Of course. They say that birdbrain from Sichuan had a weakness for beauty. Look, she stripped our Flash Art bare."
"Senior Ak, if you're going to stand guard, shouldn't you be looking outward instead of… over there?"
As many of them—including the Commander of the Azure Sky Unit, Ak Su-rim, and the Commander of the Searing Abyss Unit—began searching their own pockets for spirit pills they had hidden in preparation for a fierce battle—
"A peerless expert of your caliber should be able to move even while circulating energy. Take this. It is Wudang's Seven Stars Pill."
Along with the clanking sound of a prosthetic leg, a spirit pill was slipped into his mouth. A rich medicinal fragrance wafted into his nose. The Master of the Martial Apex Hall, whom Jeong Yeon-shin was meeting for the first time, had gifted him a healing pill.
It was a Seven Stars Pill, a treasure of the Wudang Sect, which vied with Heaven's Bane for the position of the world's top sword sect.
Thank you.
As Jeong Yeon-shin parted his lips, a chuckle-filled reply came back.
"No, thank you."
"...?"
"Because of you, many things are about to unfold."
It was a cryptic remark. While filling his body's acupoints with True Qi, Jeong Yeon-shin engraved the Master of the Martial Apex Hall's words into his mind.
Time passed.
By the time the footsteps of the crowd carefully descending the mountain echoed across the dirt ground, Jeong Yeon-shin had regained his strength while standing. Although properly healing his injuries would require several more days and nights, it did not take long for him to reach a state where he could move, even if only as a temporary measure.
Flutter—
The moment he opened his eyes, a dark red robe flew through the air and draped over his shoulders. Looking up, he saw Senior Jin, the Divine Blood Ultimate Demon, standing in the distance with his hands behind his back.
He had thrown it by hand rather than using Void Grab, which would require True Qi, making the gesture of commendation feel even more meaningful.
It was a sublime display of leadership.
So this is another way to win the favor of a subordinate.
Admiring the gesture inwardly, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly looked around. The illustrious senior Commanders were watching him closely.
A strange emotion welled up in his chest.
He parted his lips with some effort.
"How did you all know to come?"
"We can talk about that later. Let's go. Your recovery is more urgent," Ak Su-rim said, leaning in with a beaming face.
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes filled with curiosity. "Go where?"
"We took over the Tenth Sect on our way here. The facilities there are quite nice."
* * *
Four days had passed since the Great Battle of Unhoe Peak.
The storytellers and gossips wandering the marketplaces and inns of Sichuan Province were raking in coin. They had more to talk about than ever before.
"So, as I was saying, the Hidden King Amidst Flowers took down three Lords of the Thirteen Heavens one after another…!"
"Hundreds of terrifying masters were gathered on that hill. The sheer pressure was unbelievable! I would have believed it if someone told me they were marching north right then and there. Of course, if they had actually marched all the way to Beijing, the Emperor would have finished them off in a single blow!"
"The divine might of the Divine Sword Corps Commanders gathered in one place was truly overwhelming. It wasn't a sect war; it was a one-sided slaughter."
"The long life of the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect—the Phoenix among Men who built her own wondrous nest—was cut short by the sword of the Demonlight Wing's Commander..."
As was typical of rumors, there were exaggerations, but this was an event witnessed by an immense number of people. Unlike ordinary rumors, accounts that were close to the truth spread rapidly.
Sichuan was in shock.
People from all walks of life had no choice but to make major moves.
At this moment, on an official road bathed in pale blue sunlight, the carriage carrying both the Provincial Military Commander and the Provincial Administration Commissioner came to a halt right before the gates of the Tenth Sect.
Inside the carriage.
"I should have seen it with my own eyes…" a middle-aged man dressed in a red official robe muttered.
He was the Provincial Administration Commissioner, who oversaw the livelihood and civil affairs of Sichuan. As a civil official, he was a master of interpersonal relations, but the wrinkles on his plump face had not smoothed out for even a moment.
"Do not worry too much. Were you not fully occupied with government affairs?" the middle-aged military officer sitting across from him, the Provincial Military Commander, spoke. He was the head of military affairs in Sichuan Province. "None of those gathered over there are of the Purple Rank. At least our necks are safe for now. We are of the Second Rank, after all."
"One can never be sure," the Commissioner replied, shaking his head. "I heard an eyewitness account from a Censor. You must not let your guard down either, Commander, considering the way the Commander of the Demonlight Wing behaved toward that monster of the Golden Wing Sect."
"What is so difficult about merely speaking of disbandment? What I fear most is the imperial court's reprimand. As the highest local officials, to stand by and watch such a massive force gather in one place? I guarantee you, we will be summoned by the Emperor and forced to stand in for Shaolin's 108 Arhat Formation."
"..."
"Let us ask them just one thing." The Provincial Military Commander stood up inside the large carriage, his scabbard clanking at his waist. "When will they return to their duty of looking after the world, which has fallen into misery in the absence of the Divine Sword Corps Commanders? No matter which Black Rank expert comes out, this will be our only question. Whether it is the Commander of the Demonlight Wing, the Vice Commander of the Divine Sword Corps, the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit, or the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring… whoever it may be."
"Isn't that lineup a bit too illustrious…?"
"Even so, the question remains the same. Please keep that in mind."
"...Understood."
The Commissioner slowly nodded.
A firm resolve was shared between the rulers of Sichuan. A look of satisfaction appeared on the Commander's face.
"Open it," he said.
A creaking sound echoed.
The large doors of the carriage swung open, revealing a gathering of soldiers exuding a grim aura, flanked by snorting steeds. It was a martial army he had personally trained.
Just as the Commander's mouth formed a straight line, a cascade of pitch-black hair suddenly tumbled down like a waterfall at the entrance of the carriage. It looked as though someone was hanging upside down. A remarkably beautiful face peeked down from above.
Striking features, snow-white skin, and long black sleeves that flowed down on either side.
There was only one Divine Sword Corps Commander of northern descent.
"L-Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring, Dragon Fist Bukgung-a…?" the Commissioner stammered.
The surrounding soldiers hurriedly drew their weapons, the clash of metal ringing out noisily.
Even then, the Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring did not say a word. She merely stared blankly at the two men with her blue eyes. One of the Three Black Strengths of the Desolate Fortress. Her inhuman aura sent a chill down the spines of the two officials.
"I am deeply honored that you have come out to greet us like this," the Commander said, clearing his throat. "Your demeanor suggests you are not one for long conversations. I will state our business first, so please listen."
He then gestured toward the Commissioner. The Commissioner, who had even experienced the Forbidden City, was different from him, a man from a military background. It was better to let the one with a talent for rhetoric do the talking. The divine might of a Desolate Fortress Black Rank was just as intimidating to the Commander.
A serious expression came over the Commissioner's face. He seemed to deliberate deeply for a brief moment.
A good sign, the Commander thought. Whenever the Commissioner wore such an expression, timely wisdom was sure to follow. He was a man who had once redirected imperial grain meant for Shaanxi to Sichuan with a single letter. He was someone who could avoid misfortune with just a few words.
The Commissioner opened his mouth.
"May I humbly ask what kind of delicacies the Commander of the Demonlight Wing prefers?"
"I'm... not really sure?" a look of bewilderment crossed Bukgung-a's face.