Chapter 40: Natural Enemy Martial Art
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 40: Natural Enemy Martial Art
"Dharma Power martial arts! It truly is...!"
Zen Master Won-jong gasped, staring at Jeong Yeon-shin in shock. He was so astonished that his wrinkled eyes trembled. In contrast, the Seventh Apostle appeared quite relaxed.
"Easy to deal with? It seems to be a martial art on par with Shaolin's, but it's merely effective against Blood Arts. That's not enough to overcome the difference in our martial prowess. You are still a far cry from my level, child. Quite cute, though."
The Seventh Apostle smirked. In the same instant, her figure blurred and fragmented, as if vanishing. The wave of energy blazing from her was immense, a clear sign she was finally getting serious. This time, even Jeong Yeon-shin couldn't react.
Boom!
Ma Jin blocked her path. The very air warped from the clash of the two supreme masters. A terrifying aura surged from Ma Jin's body as he took a single step forward. The great saber of the Demonlight Wing's Commander seemed to possess enough power to force back the Seventh Apostle's hand.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Commander of the Demonlight Wing. I see you've staked a lot on that greenhorn, Flash Art."
"Shut your mouth."
"Strike."
At the Seventh Apostle's brief command, the Blood Flame Cultists reacted. It was the signal for a chaotic melee. They swarmed in from all directions, surrounding them like an army. Their overwhelming numbers made it feel as if they had been dropped into the middle of a war.
A sea of crimson robes was visible in every direction. The sharp energy of countless blades closed in, the air ringing with their deadly hum.
Jeong Yeon-shin saw eyes wide with madness.
Every one of them had red pupils, their eyes harboring something inhuman. The area flooded with monsters, just like the culprits he had faced at the Jeong Family Manor. He tightened his grip on his sword.
Clang!
He slashed upward. An enemy's saber shattered completely. Taking a step forward, Yeon-shin sliced through the man's neck. His blade met the resistance of bone for only an instant. Its smoothly curving trajectory had already entered the realm of a superior sword art.
The Desolate Fortress Sword in his hand began to trace a path of faint light.
'Radiant Brilliance.'
A stream of light flowed like a wave. Every subsequent movement was a sword strike. The Radiant Brilliance Sword Style he had forged on Mount Zhongnan flowed with uninterrupted grace, a world apart from when he had only used the Fast Sword formulas. Without much effort, he vaulted over the swords of three men and decapitated five more.
"We have to pin down his arms!"
"Sink your teeth into his neck!"
The Blood Flame Cultists were deranged. They attacked in ways he could never have conceived. Throwing their bodies forward was a given; they tried to grab and cling to his limbs, aiming for any blind spot. Some even threw copper coins like projectiles. Each one was infused with true qi, forcing him to deflect or dodge.
It was in that moment, as Jeong Yeon-shin executed the Radiant Wing First Step to evade a crescent-shaped wheel, that he heard a shout.
"Flash Art! Over here!"
Baek Mi-ryeo's cry was drowned out by the shockwaves from the strikes of the Blood Master Swords. And there wasn't just one or two of them. There were more than twenty men who could reign as kings on a county level.
'The Commander is tied up with the Seventh Apostle, and the Blood Master Swords outnumber the Blue Ranks.'
His instincts for group combat kicked in as he assessed the battlefield. Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo were said to be outstanding even among the Blue-Ranked experts. The other Blue Ranks were also holding their ground against multiple Blood Master Swords. The only one he needed to worry about was himself.
He channeled the mnemonic for the Infinite Flower of Time Fist into his left hand. With a clenched fist, he immediately unleashed a shockwave. The air warped and tilted. The strike of the Second Form: Advancing Thunder shattered both the wheel and its wielder's head.
Thud!
The rebounding force was considerable, perhaps because his target had been on the verge of becoming a Blood Master Sword.
Still, it was a single blow. A nearby senior from the Demonlight Wing glanced over in surprise.
'Still not enough.'
It was impossible to turn the tide. He didn't yet possess the power to dominate a battlefield filled with supreme masters. That was a role for the Desolate Fortress's Black Ranks. Unless Ma Jin killed the Seventh Apostle, this situation would not be easily resolved.
Slash!
Using a fast form of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style, he took off another head in an instant. The man died without even sensing the strike.
At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin sank deep into his inner self. The martial art that had awakened when he'd caught the Seventh Apostle's dagger had receded once more. He couldn't summon it at will. It seemed the mnemonic had not yet fully materialized within him.
"Haaap!"
An aged shout rang out to his left. Turning his head, he saw Zen Master Won-jong unleashing a palm strike. He couldn't feel any particularly strong energy from the blow.
'Didn't they say he was a scholar-monk?'
He was said to be a monk who studied the principles and mnemonics of martial arts, and there were even rumors that Shaolin's true depth originated from monks like him. However, their active exploits in the Jianghu were fewer than those of the martial monks, so they rarely made a name for themselves.
Just then.
"You can't even handle one of us."
"Kill the old monk first."
Two Blood Master Swords advanced on Zen Master Won-jong. Harming a monk was a taboo in any era, but there was no hesitation in their actions. This meant the Blood Flame Cult's doctrine was completely divorced from the world's conventional morals. That was precisely why they were of the Unorthodox Factions.
Jeong Yeon-shin scanned his surroundings, mobilizing all his senses. He had drifted far from the Demonlight Wing without realizing it. All-around perception was one thing, but controlling his position in a chaotic battle of experts was another matter entirely.
At this moment, he was the only one who could help Won-jong.
He kicked off the ground. The wind from his own speed whipped past his eyes. The chilling smiles of his enemies grew larger as they closed in. A faint haze of light arose at the edge of his vision—the precursor of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style forming on his Desolate Fortress Sword.
He sliced straight through the rushing wind.
Swish!
A single strike from his Radiant Brilliance Sword Style slashed upward through one of the men's brows just as he turned. He collapsed, dead instantly. The sword strike didn't stop, clashing with the other man, who had managed to turn and defend.
Clang!
"What kind of sword force is—!"
Bewilderment filled the eyes of the Blood Master Sword.
Jeong Yeon-shin was not at ease. The fact that the man could even speak proved he still had strength to spare. The Blood Flame Cult relied on sheer numbers. It was a paradox that being a heretical cult allowed them to spread even wider.
"Zen Master! To the north!"
Jeong Yeon-shin had made his decision. Before the ambush, Ma Jin had mentioned the Heavenly Sword Family. If Ma Jin had anticipated they might get scattered, then it was only right to follow his contingency plan.
Using a technique from the Demonlight Formula, he kicked the back of the Blood Master Sword's knee. It was a kick infused with the true qi amplification of the Scripture of Initial Overcoming. With a dull thud, the man collapsed to his knees. Yeon-shin sliced his neck as he passed.
Slash!
Zen Master Won-jong was revealed from behind the man's falling body, his eyes wide.
"I suspected you were extraordinary ever since you fought Gakjeong, but... how can someone your age possess such martial arts...?"
"It doesn't matter. Let's move."
The battlefield kept expanding, a testament to the strength of both the Demonlight Wing and Shaolin. They had long since left the territory of the Xinye White Martial Arts Sect and had now reached the marketplace.
"How far are we going?!"
"Ask them!"
The Blood Flame Cult seemed determined. A hundred or so was not the end of it. Seeing the endless tide of Blood Flame Cultists made him wonder what the local government soldiers were even doing. He hadn't expected Xinye County to be this corrupt. At this point, it was a major war in the Murim.
Fortunately, their path of retreat led them past the tavern where the Demonlight Wing had been staying. He immediately retrieved two fine horses and mounted one. He wasn't worried about the others.
'If I can escape, so can they.'
Heonwon Chang was the only member of the Demonlight Wing on this mission weaker than him, and even he wasn't a major concern. Heonwon Chang was an expert who had overlaid a killing sword onto the Demonlight Formula. He was a master of assassination—a sword technique that would prove deadlier than any other in a chaotic melee.
"This way!"
Won-jong followed behind Jeong Yeon-shin, who whipped the reins. The sound of galloping horses echoed through the streets. The doors of the surrounding houses were barred, their occupants trembling in silence. While Jeong Yeon-shin felt a pang of apology, he also thought of his companions. Going back would only make him a burden. The Seventh Apostle was an expert he still couldn't handle. Avoiding a battlefield where he couldn't protect himself was the best way to help.
The old monk, his temporary companion, seemed to understand this as well. Riding beside him, Zen Master Won-jong spoke up.
"It seems they are not pursuing us."
"Even most Blood Master Swords would struggle to outrun a horse with lightness skills, and we already killed two of them."
"You did."
Won-jong fell silent after those words, seemingly lost in complicated thoughts.
Jeong Yeon-shin paid him no mind and mapped out the geography of Henan Province in his head. A map of the Central Plains was a treasure only those of Unit Commander rank or higher in the Desolate Fortress could view, but Ma Jin had made him memorize it specifically for this mission.
'I need to cross the river.'
Before they knew it, the horses' hooves reached the water's edge. They had completely left Xinye County.
"Let's hitch a ride on that."
"That pleasure boat?"
He had been wondering if they'd have to abandon their precious steeds, but fortunately, a pleasure boat was cruising nearby. It was a large flower boat with a canopy in the center. It was the season for youth to enjoy the spring air. A common boating excursion for the season, perhaps? Still, after the incident that had just erupted, he couldn't let his guard down.
"Bring the boat over!"
Zen Master Won-jong shouted, infusing his voice with true qi.
Seriously? Jeong Yeon-shin thought. As a scholar-monk who had dedicated his life to Buddhist teachings and martial arts mnemonics, he seemed to have little experience with the world. For a Zen master who had spent over a decade in wall-facing meditation, he was surprisingly eccentric. Perhaps he had been a noble before becoming a monk.
The pleasure boat turned and began to approach. Jeong Yeon-shin's brow furrowed slightly. He saw ten warriors standing guard on the vessel. The young men and women in their midst, who were watching with strange smiles, were a secondary concern.
In this world, a good blade was expensive. Finding skilled and loyal warriors to serve as guards was no easy feat.
'Children of prestigious families? They seem to have been properly trained in martial arts.'
The memory of Jin Yul, who had feigned friendliness only to try and assassinate him, surfaced in his mind. As the boat drew closer, it seemed even larger than before. The wood of the hull was luxurious and neatly fitted. No matter how he looked at it, this was no ordinary vessel.
The first to speak was not one of the young nobles holding wine cups.
"It seems the old monk needs a companion for his journey."
A young lady, who appeared to be the daughter of an influential family, stood up and approached the gunwale. She looked to be about eighteen. Adorned in a manner that suited her striking beauty, she seemed to be the center of the group.
To Jeong Yeon-shin, her appearance was of no concern. His gaze drifted to the precious sword hanging at her waist. He felt a wave of energy from her. She was a martial artist. But from what sect?
He looked at the young lady and spoke.
"The Zen Master has been devoted to his ascetic practices, so he has neglected his manners. Please understand."
"What is this brat saying?"
Zen Master Won-jong whipped his head around, but the young lady just burst into laughter.
"I was getting a bit bored, but this is amusing. Would you like to board? As you can see, we can easily accommodate a couple of horses."
There was no particularly powerful aura coming from her. Jeong Yeon-shin bowed his head slightly and stepped onto the deck, ignoring Zen Master Won-jong, who was glaring at him from the side.
The interior was even more luxurious than the exterior. It was hard to tell whether they were on a boat or in a banquet hall. Those sitting around exchanged nods of greeting. They were mostly young people around the lady's age, and they didn't seem to feel the need to stand and show courtesy.
The young lady, now seated again, nodded her head.
"This is a gathering of the Deep Martial Alliance's rising stars. My fellow martial artists call me Geomyehwa."
The moniker, which meant 'Sword Flower,' was the least of his concerns. In that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin's understanding of the Jianghu expanded. The Deep Martial Alliance—another of the Thirteen Heavens. It was said to possess power rivaling that of the Hegemon Sword Sect and the Blood Flame Cult.
This was a gathering of rising stars from the Unorthodox Factions.
'It seems the successor to the Deep Martial Alliance Leader isn't here.'
No one looked particularly strong, though perhaps his own standards had just grown too high. Strictly speaking, they were likely just promising prospects, not the true elites of the Deep Martial Alliance.
A young noble sitting close to Geomyehwa leisurely rested his chin on his hand.
"You appear to be a warrior of the Desolate Fortress. For what reason do you wish to cross the river in such a hurry?"
"A horde from the Blood Flame Cult is running rampant nearby. We fled while listening to the monk's sermon."
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke the truth while observing their reactions. They were of the Deep Martial Alliance. Although the Thirteen Heavens was not a single, unified entity, its members often cooperated. It was highly likely they already knew about the events in Xinye County.
And indeed, they did.
They chuckled with peculiar expressions. The young noble smiled.
"The Desolate Fortress tucks its tail and runs from the Thirteen Heavens. What an amusing turn of events."
Laughter erupted from all sides. This was no simple boating excursion for wealthy children. Refined mockery filled the boat.
"Did you know? Those blood-sucking ghosts were worried about small fry like you escaping. I didn't expect a scholar-monk of Shaolin to get caught up in this, though."
"This happens to be the best place in the world to silence someone."
Geomyehwa smiled faintly. She was likely referring to the water. A corpse thrown in would be hard to find. The boat drifted further and further from the shore. There was no turning back now.
"Amitabha."
Zen Master Won-jong quietly chanted a Buddhist prayer, while Jeong Yeon-shin silently gripped his sword hilt.
"You don't seem very afraid, greenhorn," Geomyehwa muttered. She was already holding her sword. "Shall we spill some blood beforehand?"
Along with her casual words, a wave of energy surged from her slender body. She immediately drew her sword, as if to prove her moniker. The soaring sword light, however, flew toward an unexpected target.
A woman who had been bringing food widened her eyes in confusion. She seemed to have nothing to do with the Deep Martial Alliance. This was why they were of the Unorthodox Factions. They treated human life as a joke.
Jeong Yeon-shin, sitting opposite Geomyehwa, was already circulating the Jeong Family Dynamic Art.
With his first step as he stood, the wooden floorboards splintered with a loud crack. Gently pulling the woman's arm with his left hand, he stepped forward. With a rage that rose like the mist over the river, he swung his Desolate Fortress Sword.
The light of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style dyed the mist white. The sword, striking like lightning, dashed forward in a streak of pure white. Even after deflecting Geomyehwa's blade, it surged onward like a tremor and sliced clean through her neck.
Spurt!
'Hmm?'
He was stronger than he'd realized. He turned away from the rolling head and corrected his posture.
"Don't try anything," Jeong Yeon-shin said in a low voice.
The others, who had been grabbing their weapons in shock, flinched. The mockery that had filled the boat was instantly replaced by fear and panic. Geomyehwa had been the strongest among them.
"How could such a sword strike..." the young noble stammered.
The others couldn't even speak. They no longer looked like children of prestigious families, but common lackeys of the Unorthodox Factions. The only difference between them was their ability to recognize the true essence of that single sword strike.
Trapped on the water with a hostile superior. Could there be any greater terror in the Jianghu?
"She... she is the precious daughter of the Deep Martial Alliance's Seong Family Manor! Are you not afraid of the consequences?!"
"You're the ones who should worry about the consequences from the Desolate Fortress. You targeted us. For now, head north. I'll decide your fate later. Start rowing."
He sheathed his sword, having already lost interest. Jeong Yeon-shin's face was completely expressionless.
'The true elites of the Deep Martial Alliance must be elsewhere.'
His thoughts must have shown on his face, because the young noble's turned bright red.
"I said that was Geomyehwa of the Seong Family Manor! Do you really not know who she is?!"
"We haven't introduced ourselves."
He tapped his sword guard.
"Demonlight Wing, Flash Art."