Chapter 413: Beijing (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 413: Beijing (5)
The rumor that the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps and the Commander of the Demonlight Wing had entered Beijing was the talk of the town.
From powerful nobles to commoners and martial artists, the news was on everyone's lips, regardless of clan or social status.
The Desolate Fortress.
An imperial sect dedicated to preserving the peace of the common people within the martial world.
Setting aside the recent behavior of the seventeen unit commanders under the Divine Sword Corps, the fortress had always been a source of endless gossip, both good and bad. Unlike ordinary government offices, they brought with them a storm of blood and heroic exhilaration.
Earlier that day, Jeong Yeon-shin had even overheard people outside whispering and gossiping about his appearance.
Such was the intense level of interest in the Divine Sword Corps.
Among them, the master of the Sword of Divine Attainment held a status so lofty that even first-rank officials of the highest order found it difficult to request a private audience with him. Permission to enter the palace should have been granted the very moment he set foot in Beijing. This held true even if the Forbidden City was the most difficult palace in the world to enter.
However, this time was different.
Yong Hee-myung, Jeong Yeon-shin, and Yeon So-ha had been forced to remain in the Desolate Fortress's Beijing manor for over three days.
It wasn't that the manor lacked class.
A dozen or so servants swept, polished, and maintained the inner quarters and courtyard, and a Blue-Ranked Expert from the main fortress resided there permanently to receive guests.
But it was certainly not a place where the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps of the Desolate Fortress should be killing time, denied entry to the palace.
This was the politics of Beijing. It was a deliberate delay in granting an audience, designed to make one realize the weight of their transgressions.
Yet, there was no telling whether this was on the Emperor's direct orders or the work of whoever was handling domestic affairs in his absence.
Either way, it won't be easy.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly regulated his breathing. A long exhale escaped his lips, dispersing into the wind along with the thick cloud of dust that had risen moments before.
Since entering Beijing, he had suffered defeat after defeat.
Yong Hee-myung, who had suggested they refine their martial arts to pass the time, had been heavily trading blows with him. They sparred with a limit placed on their internal energy, mixing swordplay, fist and foot techniques, and seamless combinations of both.
In the process, Jeong Yeon-shin lost to Yong Hee-myung time and time again.
It was only natural, of course. But because he gained so much from every bout, he found it thoroughly enjoyable. At times, a faint, fleeting comprehension of the Unified Martial Transcendence would brush past him, which made the arrival of uninvited guests at this particular moment rather unwelcome.
"For someone who has mastered the Dynamic Cultivation Art to take such a deep breath..." Yong Hee-myung laughed, his back turned to the main gate. "Isn't that terrifying?" he added playfully.
Swoosh—
The purple silk robe wrapping the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps fluttered in the wind. He paid absolutely no mind to the official exuding a massive, oppressive pressure behind his back. To Jeong Yeon-shin, it was a demeanor that suited the man perfectly.
"Can we start again here?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly.
The attire of the person currently stepping over the threshold was far from ordinary. They wore a splendid red official robe and an ink-black official hat that solemnly covered her head. She even wore a sash embroidered with golden patterns around her waist, its surface gleaming like a blade—most likely a soft sword. Unwrapped and extended, it would transform into a whip-like, flexible blade.
To enter and exit the imperial palace wearing a weapon like an accessory was impossible without the Emperor's explicit permission. She had to be someone who directly served the imperial decree.
"That person—the Head Eunuch, that is—seems to have caught your attention? And here you were, acting like a stone Buddha toward the gazes of the young ladies of Beijing's prestigious clans, despite their formidable martial arts." Yong Hee-myung nodded playfully.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn't bother to reply that those young ladies were no different from mere pebbles to him. When he had gone on the mission to slay the Jegal Clan Leader, he had witnessed the qualities of a rock enduring a thousand years of hardships in the Gongya siblings; through that experience, he had truly matured.
"Well then, what brings the Head Eunuch here, after remaining utterly silent despite all our messages?" Yong Hee-myung asked, turning around.
"..."
A brief silence fell. The area around the manor's main gate, which had been left open on purpose under Yong Hee-myung's orders, had been bustling with crowds until now. But currently, only the Head Eunuch and a single eunuch stood there. Both were Brightfolk.
Hm?
Suddenly, a spark of recognition lit up Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes. He had made eye contact with the Brightfolk eunuch escorting the Head Eunuch.
It was the very person who had gifted him the spirit beast swallow when Jeong Yeon-shin had answered the Imperial Grandson's summons during his Black Rank promotion.
"Eunuch Myeong, have you been well? I have been putting White Swallow to good use. We've become quite close, too."
"...I have been well."
The hardships of life seemed to melt into those few words. Just as a faint trace of doubt flickered across Jeong Yeon-shin's face—
"Upon arriving in Beijing," the Head Eunuch spoke, "I wondered how you could sit so leisurely."
When her bluish eyes briefly locked onto Jeong Yeon-shin, he felt a sudden chill. Perhaps it was the aura ingrained in high-ranking officials. She truly carried herself like someone who governed human lives and state affairs with mere words and ink.
"I did not expect you to be enjoying yourself raising a junior. Especially not the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps," the Head Eunuch concluded, adjusting her sleeves.
"What nonsense." Laughter drifted from Yong Hee-myung as he faced her. "Raising a junior, when referring to a martial artist who is already near completion? That insults the fortress's Commander of the Demonlight Wing. You should set a date to apologize to him sometime."
"How shameless. Surely you cannot be ignorant of the reason your entry into the palace has been delayed."
"It must be because His Majesty is occupied with countless state affairs. Or perhaps, it is due to some high-ranking official wielding absolute power on behalf of the Crown Prince, who is disheartened after his long tenure as heir." Yong Hee-myung mocked the Head Eunuch, his voice laced with amusement.
If anyone else in Beijing had uttered such words, their head would have rolled without anyone being the wiser, but the same rules did not apply to the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
Yet, the Head Eunuch's expression remained indifferent.
"Even if only for a moment, the power you gathered was enough to threaten Beijing. The strength of the Desolate Fortress's Divine Sword Corps only holds value when it is dispersed. You should know that it would not be enough even if you prostrated yourself on a straw mat beneath the palace gates to beg for forgiveness."
"That is merely your personal opinion, Eunuch. I assure you, His Majesty will think differently."
"How regrettable. Since your letter showed not a single shred of remorse, I could not bring myself to pass word to His Majesty."
With a smirk, Yong Hee-myung rested a hand on his waist. "It seems you want to take this opportunity to suppress the Divine Sword Corps. But His Majesty is currently absent, isn't he? What do you take my sense of Qi for?"
"..."
"There is no need for further words. The world is currently on the brink of ruin due to famine, and the loss of the Desolate Fortress's military strength is at a level that those who merely wield brushes in Beijing can hardly fathom. To refresh this vast, bleak atmosphere and gallop across the world... we need a new Purple Rank for our fortress. I would appreciate your cooperation."
Yong Hee-myung's informal speech was incredibly natural. The overwhelming aura ingrained in his very being made it so. At the same time, the spirit of the Head Eunuch, who faced him without any visible agitation, was equally remarkable.
"Why not speak of your own affairs first?"
"This matter takes precedence. Do not worry, I will bear the consequences of my own transgressions."
"The appointment of a Purple Rank is not something done so lightly. His Majesty is a wise ruler, rare throughout history, who lends his ear to the words of all his officials. You have undergone a Purple Rank promotion yourself, so you must know. Gathering and unifying so many opinions on suitability takes a great deal of time..."
"Just watch our duel before you go. The more worldly and clever people are, the more they only value the gems they have witnessed with their own eyes. This is perfect timing." Yong Hee-myung lightly spread his arms.
At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin sensed presences rushing toward them from the direction of the distant Forbidden City.
Every single one of them carried a heavy wave of internal power. It bore the distinct traces of imperial martial arts, similar to what he had once felt from Ju Yeon-jeong of the Desolate Ma Clan.
"When the Head Eunuch, who stands below only one but above ten thousand, leaves the palace exuding such a terrifying aura, would the officials—who must keep their senses sharp to even the squeak of a mouse in the Forbidden City—possibly sit still?" Yong Hee-myung laughed.
* * *
Men clad in silk official robes gathered in the open courtyard of the Desolate Fortress's manor. From what Jeong Yeon-shin could hear, every single one of them possessed a dazzling pedigree.
There were officials from the Censorate, the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, as well as the Five Military Commissions and even Provincial Governors from various regions.
In front of this audience, Yong Hee-myung proposed that they trade blows. Jeong Yeon-shin did not refuse.
"Shall we do this as we usually do?" Yong Hee-myung laughed as he stood facing him.
"Of course. If we don't limit our usable True Qi, Beijing might get blown away. If that happens, we'll undoubtedly be branded as rebels."
"Understood." Jeong Yeon-shin nodded. He had no interest in the expressions of the surrounding officials.
His mind was entirely consumed by the thought of testing his combat senses—which had recently been honed to the sharpness of a precious sword—against the current Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
"What outstanding spirit." Yong Hee-myung curled his lips upward. "I can tell just by looking at your face. Flash Art, you are currently planning to..."
Yong Hee-myung, who had looked slightly taken aback, suddenly let out a deep laugh. Though he had not even drawn his sword, the aura radiating from him was reminiscent of sword Qi.
As he took a step forward from a distance of thirty feet, a thick cloud of dust billowed up.
"Do you intend to win?"
At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin felt Yong Hee-myung's Sword Sphere unfold. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
The surrounding scenery faded into a blur in his mind. The duel had already begun. If he got swept up in his opponent's pace, he would be defeated without even being able to lift a hand.
The Law-Transcending Halo Qi, boiling like fire in his heart, spread throughout his entire body, aligning his muscles and veins. At the same time, he released True Qi outward, claiming the entire training ground as his domain. A hazy, whitish mist began to creep up from beneath his feet.
In that instant, a flash of sword light gleamed from Yong Hee-myung's waist, tearing through the white mist in a straight line.
He's even faster than before...!
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had barely dodged by using the Radiant Wing Step as a retreating footwork, narrowed his eyes. The slash was ten percent faster than when he had lost after trading thirty exchanges the previous day.
This was a stark reminder that Yong Hee-myung was still a master in his prime. Even within the Desolate Fortress, which loathed stagnation, his rate of growth was exceptionally prominent.
I must at least hold my own.
Regulating his energy, he lunged forward using the Wind God Movement Technique. Just then, a terrifying flash of sword light pierced through the thickening mist, grazing his sleeve.
At the same time, gathering the force of the Infinite Flower of Time Hand and twisting his upper body sideways, Jeong Yeon-shin's hands pushed against the blade of the Sword of Divine Attainment as if to strike it away. It was a heavy defensive move.
Clang!
The Sword of Divine Attainment let out a fierce, resonant ring. A heavy vibration traveled through Jeong Yeon-shin's hands as well.
When facing a peerless master who unleashed a dazzling barrage like Yong Hee-myung, relying on nimbleness after losing the initiative was actually poison. It was obvious he would lose if he didn't reclaim the momentum.
Jeong Yeon-shin split the pathways of the internal power flowing through his hands.
Thud!
Blocking Yong Hee-myung's continuous, successive sword strikes once more with the Infinite Flower of Time Hand, he instantly shifted his right hand into a fist stance and thrust it forward.
His clenched fist, carrying the fierce force of the Second Form: Advancing Thunder, bypassed the process of gathering energy and shot toward Yong Hee-myung's solar plexus like a cannonball.
However, Yong Hee-myung's sword technique was beyond imagination.
Clash!
Spinning his body like a gale, he delivered an elbow strike that collided with Jeong Yeon-shin's fist, completely dampening the momentum of Advancing Thunder.
At the same time, with a sound like shattering iron, the Sword of Divine Attainment swept back in a spiral, colliding with Jeong Yeon-shin's hands in rapid succession and brilliantly suppressing his fist forms.
I have to turn the tide...!
Just as Yong Hee-myung focused on trading blows, the mist of the Halo Qi, moving in accordance with the profound principles of Sword Control, surged violently.
This was Jeong Yeon-shin's domain. The Halo Qi dispersed in the air seeped into the opponent's body, slowing his speed and weakening his physical strength and reflexes.
The moment Yong Hee-myung's expression faltered, Jeong Yeon-shin's forms shifted into a spiral, chaining Advancing Thunder and Fist Flower to unleash counterattacks, defenses, and feints in rapid succession.
At the same time, a fierce, close-quarters brawl unfolded.
Jeong Yeon-shin, demonstrating fist and palm techniques that deflected every single blow like an illusion or a sinking swamp, was already close to becoming a martial artist of Absolute Perfection. Meanwhile, Yong Hee-myung's swordplay, which tore through those forms by wielding his sword like an extension of his own limbs at point-blank range, belonged to the realm of wonders.
The Commander of the Demonlight Wing and the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
Fragments of colorless True Qi, scattering and ascending in all directions, constantly disrupted Yong Hee-myung's vision. The blows they exchanged showed no progress, as if they were striking at dark clouds.
In this manner, Yong Hee-myung gradually slowed down, albeit minutely, under the influence of the slowly but relentlessly encroaching waves of the Halo Qi.
Swish!
Yet, he was not entirely pushed back. The Sword of Divine Attainment repeatedly dispersed the surrounding mist of the Halo Qi, aiming for a single, decisive point.
A pure white trajectory tangled with Jeong Yeon-shin's bluish-tinted hands, letting out violent sounds of collision. The variations of each movement created countless trajectories, and the clashes between sword and hands triggered chilling explosions accompanied by thunderous roars.
Clang, clang, clang!
Jeong Yeon-shin's sleeves, shredded by the wind of the sword, fluttered and scattered.
At some point during their seventy-exchange duel, Jeong Yeon-shin realized that Yong Hee-myung's sword force and speed were not decreasing at all. It seemed he was blocking the penetration of the Halo Qi with his uniquely robust internal energy.
While the Dharma power of the divine art emitted by the Law-Transcending Halo Qi could not be blocked by internal power alone, it was a different story for a master capable of generating delicate heat with True Qi.
At this rate, there would be no end.
One might easily think that Yong Hee-myung, who was pouring out sword moves, would tire quickly. But his stamina—having become a peerless master without even undergoing Marrow Cleansing and Bone Rebirth—was truly boundless.
On the contrary, Jeong Yeon-shin, who had focused heavily on internal Qi Gong training until recently, might be the one to collapse first.
I'll make my move here.
Pushing the blade that grazed past his right temple diagonally upward, he concentrated his intent into the palm of his right hand.
He intended to employ the internal energy manipulation method he had recently mastered. Jeong Yeon-shin's hands began to move independently, as if he had mastered the Dual-Principle Mind Art of the Wudang Sect.
His right hand gathered waves of Qi, while his left hand blocked the onslaught.
The moment Jeong Yeon-shin's aura settled into an even deeper stillness, Yong Hee-myung's thick eyebrows twitched. Soon after, Yong Hee-myung's splendid purple sleeves swelled as if about to burst.
Though he could have dodged, he seemed to choose a head-on collision.
Boom—!
The whitish trajectories of the Infinite Flower of Time Hand were suddenly shattered by a powerful sweep of Yong Hee-myung's sword.
As Jeong Yeon-shin reached out again, acting as if immune to pain, Yong Hee-myung also extended his arm. They ended up grabbing and locking each other's hands. Since both had long limbs, their combat interval remained wide.
At that moment, Yong Hee-myung's starting stance shifted to a high guard. The invisible sword Qi emitted by the Sword of Divine Attainment, now raised toward the sky, blocked out the sun and revealed a terrifying power.
As he brought the Sword of Divine Attainment down with a force that seemed ready to cleave heaven and earth—
Brilliant River.
Jeong Yeon-shin also unleashed the Law-Transcending Halo Qi, which he had rotated seven times within his body, firing it through his palm in accordance with the Brilliant River formula.