Chapter 390: The Divine Sword Corps (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 390: The Divine Sword Corps (6)
Several of the figures surrounding Jeong Yeon-shin's bed let their shoulders drop slightly.
They had consciously suppressed a crude flinch—a testament to their profound state in the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
Every single one of them was of the Black Rank. A constellation of living legends.
That person is...
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyebrows twitched upward. Even through the thick dust, one figure stood out with striking clarity.
A tall, gaunt, middle-aged man. In the Jianghu, he was known as the Silent Dawn Lord. His profound internal energy radiated a distinct, suffocating weight.
Shin Hwang, Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
His emaciated face made his features look as sharp as blades. Was he trying to keep his fellow unit commanders in line? A dark, piercing light gleamed deep within his sunken eyes.
"Thread-Annihilation speaks the truth. Why did you all have to go and break the wall?"
Ak Su-rim chimed in, arms crossed in feigned agreement. Even as the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit stared her down, she stubbornly avoided his gaze.
She paused halfway through rising to check on Jeong Yeon-shin, instead leaning firmly back into her chair.
"Why did you erect an energy barrier?"
A blunt voice accompanied a sudden gust of wind, instantly sweeping the dust from the room.
A figure with ropes dangling from his waist had conjured a palm wind with a casual wave of his hand.
Swoosh—
The dust cleared to reveal Wiji Geuk, Commander of the Dragon-Treading Unit. Lowering his sharp chin, he glared fiercely at Ak Su-rim.
"I did it because I knew you would all act exactly like this. Look at how you barged in the moment Flash Art said he was fine. Is recovering from internal injuries all that matters?"
"That is our line," the Commander of the Azure Sky Unit calmly interrogated. "We sensed greed in Senior Ak's internal power waves. You asked about the battle of Unhoe Peak with the intention of keeping his answers to yourself. Is that not so?"
"..."
No answer came.
Ak Su-rim merely slid her legs off the bed. Hahu Wi-jin, Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit, who cast the largest shadow in the room, burst into a hearty laugh.
"No need to ask. Is she not the foremost among the Black Ranks when it comes to acting like a child? Since we are all gathered here anyway, let us begin the meeting."
Instantly, the suction force of Void Grab arose from all directions. Red sandalwood chairs slid across the floor on their own.
Jeong Yeon-shin lay in the bedchamber of the Lord of the Tenth Sect. Beyond the wall shattered by the unit commanders' intrusion lay the meeting hall where the sect's affairs were managed.
From the office on the opposite side, a massive grandmaster's chair flew toward Hahu Wi-jin.
Thud— Rumble!
It did not take long for the nine Black Rank experts to seat themselves around the bed.
From the ceiling, which had been punctured in several places, the Commander of the Netherflow Unit and the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit sat casually, looking down.
Scanning his left and right, the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit spoke.
"We shall make this place the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall. Any objections?"
"I will stand guard."
A cold yet smooth voice echoed from outside the bedchamber.
Shin Hwang, Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit, shifted his gaze.
"Commander of the Bloodkeeper Unit, are you raising an objection?"
"Even with so many seniors hovering close to Junior Jeong, I cannot bring myself to trust you all. Seeing you today, you seem like nothing but a bunch of frivolous troublemakers..."
"I respect your decision."
The Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit nodded slowly. Unlike the other Black Ranks, he did not bicker over trivial matters.
Jeong Yeon-shin was deeply impressed by both Jin Myeong-jo, who stood guard outside, and Shin Hwang, who sat right here. They were truly worthy of being called the pillars supporting the Divine Sword Corps.
"Flash Art."
"Yes, Senior."
Jeong Yeon-shin, leaning back against the headboard, turned his gaze toward the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
With his expressionless face, it was impossible to fathom what this man—who held one of the seats of the Three Black Strengths—was thinking. The surrounding air felt suffocatingly heavy.
Scanning the scars etched across Jeong Yeon-shin's body, the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit spoke slowly.
"You must rest more. The situation has become unpredictable; there is no telling what might happen or when. Solidify your state of the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. We will handle the legwork."
The Black Rank experts of the Desolate Fortress each possessed highly distinct traits.
Among them, the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit possessed a temperament so dense it could be felt physically on the skin.
Even his advice felt like a command. An intangible pressure radiated from his entire body, seemingly without him even trying.
Jeong Yeon-shin clasped his hands in a polite salute from his seated position.
"Thank you for your wise counsel, but I cannot allow myself to be a burden."
"Do as you wish."
Just as the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit heavily conceded, Bukgung-a, who sat with her legs crossed to one side, gestured with her chin toward the outside.
"The bastards who rule this land are here."
"Their identities?"
"The Provincial Military Commander and the Provincial Governor. They claim they have something urgent to babble about."
"We will let them in after the meeting. Let us begin now," the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit said. None of the Black Ranks objected.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly surveyed his surroundings. Even looking at them now, the lineup was unbelievably astonishing. The gathering of these seniors in one room was an event that shattered the common sense of both the Jianghu and the secular world.
"I have a few questions."
"Speak first."
The low voice belonged to Cheon So-so, Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit.
She was examining Jeong Yeon-shin's body more intently than any other unit commander present. Her eyes glowed with a clear silver-blue light, indicating the activation of an eye technique.
Does she consider what happened in the Flood Dragon's formation to be a debt?
Jeong Yeon-shin gave her a silent nod of respect and slowly opened his mouth.
"I am curious about the whereabouts of the warriors from the Immortal Wood Spirit, the Forest-Treading Unit, and the Heaven-Aligned Wing. Are they all safe?"
"Of course they are. In fact, they are doing the very job those hairless Taoists and bald monks of the Nine Sects could never stomach," Hahu Wi-jin barked in his gruff voice. When his eyes met Jeong Yeon-shin's, he flashed a fierce grin.
"The Net of Heaven and Earth at Unhoe Peak was a dragnet composed of what they considered their elites. The leftovers they left behind are scattered all over Sichuan."
"Do you mean the remnants of the Heterodox Sects?"
"Indeed. It is always those low-life scum who torment the commoners the most. The so-called experts are usually too busy enjoying tributes from their underlings and focusing on their training."
It meant they were thoroughly crushing the remaining heterodox factions in Sichuan. Exterminating the roots and annihilating their sects—it was indeed a task the Nine Sects could never bring themselves to do.
"I have instructed them to return to the main fortress once they are finished," Cheon So-so added. Jeong Yeon-shin silently agreed.
The standing force of the Desolate Fortress in Xiangyang was, at a minimum, two of the seventeen units.
Naturally, this included Black Rank powerhouses, but right now, the main fortress was practically empty.
"Do not worry too much," said the Master of the Martial Apex Hall, seated near the foot of Jeong Yeon-shin's bed.
Clack—
He seemed to have read his junior's mind. He looked perfectly at ease, unconsciously tapping his prosthetic leg.
"The Martial Apex Hall, which ranks first in sheer numbers, is currently stationed at the main fortress along with the Thread-Annihilation Unit. The Wish-Fulfilling Spring is also patrolling the vicinity of Xiangyang, ignoring various other missions. So..."
Pausing mid-sentence, the Master of the Martial Apex Hall stopped tapping his prosthetic leg.
"We unit commanders have more than enough time to focus on you for a while."
His eyes were clear. The gaze he directed at Jeong Yeon-shin was filled with deep emotion.
The other Black Ranks were no different. They all had their sense of Qi keenly focused on Jeong Yeon-shin's every movement. It felt as though they were even monitoring his internal energy breathing.
Then, the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit spoke again.
"The Wish-Fulfilling Spring. The character for 'Spring' signifies the independence to seek out one's own missions. It is a name Bukgung-a practically threw a tantrum to get from the Fortress Lord. Conversely, the 'Spirit' in the Immortal Wood Spirit signifies a sacred duty. It involves executing those who ruin the land and using the secret arts of the Brightfolk to nurture the earth's energy. Both are of immense importance."
His tone was peculiar. Jeong Yeon-shin blinked.
It reminded him of when he first learned about the duties of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. It felt as though he were being briefed on responsibilities he was now expected to know.
"The Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring was highly irreverent at the time. Had it not been for her talent, martial arts, and lineage, she would never have ascended to the position of unit commander," a man sitting directly opposite Bukgung-a calmly sneered.
It was Yu Jeong-myeong, Commander of the Searing Abyss Unit. He was a member of the Brightfolk, with ears as sharp as blade tips.
He was famous for having the highest achievement in the Body Protection Scripture within the Desolate Fortress, and he was the very person who had planted his flag on Unhoe Peak first.
Bukgung-a snorted.
"That is rich coming from a monkey who does not possess even one of those three. Is having all three not more than enough?"
"Can the Wish-Fulfilling Spring truly ignore even the assignments of the Corps Commander?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly.
The smile on the face of Bukgung-a, Lord of the Wish-Fulfilling Spring, deepened. It was a combative smile, almost as if she were provoking him.
"If a command is issued pointing directly at me, I suppose I would reluctantly obey. Though whether the mission goes well is another story entirely."
"Since Senior Bukgung is close to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, I am sure you will succeed in whatever you do," Jeong Yeon-shin said with absolute conviction.
The moment he spoke, the curve of Bukgung-a's lips faltered. It was due to the sharp intent that had pierced straight into her upper Dantian. It was entirely different from dealing with the empty flattery of a Provincial Governor.
"Uh..."
"Disobedience is punished by death."
A woman's flat, emotionless voice chimed in from the ceiling.
Jeong Yeon-shin raised his head slightly. His gaze locked instantly with the swordswoman sitting cross-legged on the roof.
Un So-yu, Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit.
With her pitch-black hair cascading down like silk, she offered him a silent greeting with her eyes. Returning the nod, Jeong Yeon-shin truly felt the gravity of this gathering.
Not a single person was missing.
It was, quite literally, the world in miniature.
He gently stroked the front of his martial uniform. A small, raised shape brushed against his fingertips. It was the Black Rank's messenger, the White Swallow, which had returned to him upon reaching the Tenth Sect.
"If we cannot disobey the Corps Commander's orders... then is it not also difficult for us to disband here?"
"Why talk of disbanding already? It was so satisfying to deliver a blow to those Jianghu parasites. Let us stay together a bit longer," Ak Su-rim, who had been keeping a polite silence, chimed in. Immediately after, she added in a whisper, "Besides, you almost died."
Yu Jeong-myeong, Commander of the Searing Abyss Unit, and Wiji Geuk, Commander of the Dragon-Treading Unit, did not agree.
"It is obvious how the world will react. Those who love to gossip will start whispering of treason."
"Indeed. Simply staying still here will not solve anything."
The discussion continued.
The core of the matter was their next move. Now that the Commander of the Demonlight Wing had finished recuperating, they had to decide how to proceed.
As the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit had said, disobedience did not exist within the Desolate Fortress. No matter how the world looked at them, their first priority was to follow the authority of the Sword of Divine Attainment, held by the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
"The Commander would not have gathered us for no reason. There must be an impending crisis."
"Speaking of the Net of Heaven and Earth we saw here, its scale was highly unusual. The bastards of the Thirteen Heavens have never banded together like that... unless there was some incredibly subtle manipulation behind it..."
"The same goes for the Martial World Alliance that the orthodox factions established in Hanzhong. The atmosphere of the Jianghu has shifted. We cannot help but worry about being picked off one by one. If we disband without a proper plan, some of us will surely meet with disaster."
"In any case, worrying about the Commander is pointless. He is someone who can survive anywhere."
"They say the lifespans of peerless masters are forged from innate luck and Innate Qi. Unit Commander Yong has an exceptionally resilient life force, even among them."
The frustrating discussion dragged on.
The power of the Black Ranks gathered in one place was simply too immense. No matter where they went or where they stayed, all eyes would inevitably follow them.
Because they were the strongest in this land, they had to be all the more cautious.
The gaze of the common people, who felt temporarily betrayed by the unit commanders; the eyes of the Imperial Family, who were witnessing the sword in their hands move of its own accord; the attention of the entire martial world, including the Thirteen Heavens and the Eight Families, who watched the Desolate Fortress like hawks... It was a situation where making any hasty decision was difficult.
Jeong Yeon-shin's Jianghu had finally expanded to encompass the entire world. Even his smallest movement would put the realm on edge.
Even so, we cannot remain stationary. We must create a variable for the Commander, who has gone silent.
Suddenly rising from the bed, he stepped over the threshold to the outside.
Step.
A faint trail of light lingered along his path. The puzzled gazes of the other unit commanders followed him.
Before long, Jeong Yeon-shin was looking down at two middle-aged men. One wore a red official robe, and the other wore armor. They were the Provincial Governor and the Provincial Military Commander.
They had been eavesdropping on the unit commanders' meeting from a distance and flinched backward in surprise.
"We are leaving soon."
"If you are leaving, where to...?" the Provincial Military Commander asked, consciously keeping his hand far from his sword hilt. His eyes continuously scanned the rumored Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
A young man around the age of twenty, who could only be described as peerlessly handsome. Contrary to the rumors of his wild arrogance, his refined demeanor left a deep impression on the high-ranking official.
We will be summoned to Beijing with the Provincial Governor soon... This certainly adds to the tale.
Just then, Jeong Yeon-shin continued.
"As the Provincial Military Commander, are you not the one in charge of all military affairs in Sichuan?"
"...That is correct."
"Then you must possess a map of the world. We of the Black Rank have the authority to view such maps, but as fighting is our trade, we do not carry them on our persons."
"Why do you need a map...?"
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze back toward the shattered bedchamber. His seniors were all watching him.
"If we head straight up from here," Jeong Yeon-shin continued, "we will inevitably pass through one of the Thirteen Heavens, will we not? The Dark Night Hall and the Taemo Mountain Fortress should lie in a straight line."
For a fleeting moment, a faint smile flickered on the lips of Shin Hwang, Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
"...It depends on which official road we take."
"On our way to disbanding, surely hitting just one would be fine, would it not?" the youthful young man asked once more.
None of the seniors shook their heads. Only Ak Su-rim peeked her face out.
"Are you going to handle it on the way? The matter of the Lord of the Golden Wing Sect..."
* * *
Rumors of the Great Battle of Unhoe Peak spread like wildfire. It was the grandest event to occur in the Jianghu in recent times.
Not only the neighboring sects, but all martial organizations that heard the news immediately ceased their plundering and territorial expansion.
Only the Thirteen Heavens of the Wicked Way and some of the Eight Great Families moved actively, following a certain scheme. They each possessed their own territories, firmly established over many years.
"The Desolate Fortress has finally gone mad."
"It is highly astonishing... but it will not last long."
"Just because the Imperial Family has turned its eyes to the North does not mean they would abandon the common people..."
"How much information have we secured on how to counter the Flash Art lineage? Move this to our sect's highest priority."
"Scour the entire path leading to Beijing. If we can nip them in the bud..."
Then, one day.
The thirteen black swords of the nation marched north.
Their speed outpaced all rumors.
Although martial artists from all walks of life in Sichuan belatedly tried to pursue them, only a select few—including Taoists and Buddhist nuns—succeeded in catching their trail.