Chapter 428: Grandmaster (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 428: Grandmaster (2)
Renowned figures were plentiful in the Orthodox Martial World.
It was a given. After all, those who pursued chivalry and the slow-maturing principles of martial arts were collectively known as the people of the Orthodox Factions.
The Green Jade Sword Manor.
It was a place that only admitted those who had achieved exceptionally great fame within the Orthodox Martial World as guests.
Yet, in the wake of the Peng Family Head's death, even this gathering of illustrious figures was no different from a common marketplace. It was flooded with shock and horror.
"For all their talk of an immovable mind like a clear mirror and still water, even the Nine Sects must be uncharacteristically flustered. I can practically see the wrinkles forming on those old immortals' foreheads," said the Blade Marquis of the Peng Family.
Her physique remained just as imposing as when she had previously declared her certain victory to Jeong Yeon-shin.
Her exceptionally long legs were propped up on her office desk, and her large hands, clutching dozens of letters, were covered in thick calluses.
Prostrate before her were five martial artists.
They were the saber-wielders of the Peng Clan.
"What is their expected lineup?"
"For the White Rank, we predicted that Shin So-bin of the Desolate Shin Clan would appear, but intelligence suggests she has entered closed-door cultivation and is not showing herself. We should consider other candidates."
"...She's worth treasuring. They say she's his top disciple."
The Blade Marquis of the Peng Family tapped one of her feet.
"They'll probably only send out the White Cat when dealing with the second-generation disciples of the Nine Sects. How wasteful would it be if she got hurt before then?"
"You are entirely correct."
"Since they say there are so many martial artists belonging to the Flash Art Lineage, let's drop the investigation into the White Rank here. Trying to predict them is a waste of time. What about the Blue Rank?"
"The Blue-Eyed Demon Sword Cheong-myeong, the Lazy Flame Dragon of the Hwangbo Clan, and the Sun Lotus Sword Enchantress Baek Mi-ryeo are the most likely candidates. They are experts who will soon eye the Black Rank. In fact, the Sun Lotus Sword Enchantress is considered one of the few capable of fully recovering the legacy of the Tomb of the Heavenly Demon, which has been the subject of recent rumors."
"They have a lot of cards. Put this aside too. Unless we have someone of the caliber of Long Staff Ju Se-hwa, it will be difficult to counter them all. Though that monster of Wudang will probably only show up to face the Black Rank anyway..."
Whoosh—
All the documents caught fire within the grasp of the Blade Marquis of the Peng Family. The speed at which the scorching energy of the Samadhi True Fire reached its peak was astonishing.
As ashes scattered in the air, admiration welled up in the eyes of her prostrate subordinates.
"And for the Black Rank..."
The leading saber-wielder began to speak again, but the Blade Marquis of the Peng Family cut him off.
"White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin?"
"For the Flash Art Lineage, that is their only option. However..."
"However?"
"The new Purple Rank's trophy... the Heavenly Sword of the Namgung Clan, is not in the White Qilin's possession. Based on what happened at the gravesite of the Jeong Family Manor, Namgung Hwa-shin had not yet been initiated into the martial arts of the Lotus Nezha at that point. If he didn't receive the Heavenly Sword, it's highly likely he didn't inherit Qilin's Judgment either."
"Or perhaps he was only taught the martial arts. Even just inheriting the sword move honoring the Azure Qilin in front of the assembled Orthodox Factions would be a massive burden. To accept the family heirloom on top of that? Given the personality of the White Qilin who abandoned his home, would that even be possible?"
"Mmh..."
"Besides, is it even possible that the Flash Art Lineage has another Black Rank they can mobilize privately other than Namgung Hwa-shin? That makes no sense. It would only be possible if there were multiple suitable candidates for the Mount Hua Agreement among the Unit Commanders of the Divine Sword Corps. If there were only one or two, summoning them here on such short notice would be incredibly difficult."
"That is true."
Fielding a Black Rank other than Namgung Hwa-shin in the duel would mean that the strength of the Flash Art Lineage exceeded that of the Eight Great Families.
It was not a reasonable assumption. After all, they were a newly emerged lineage that had existed for less than three years. In the first place, peak experts were the ultimate weapons of a Great Sect War, serving as living proof of a sect's history.
"We will tailor our preparations to Namgung Hwa-shin."
A sharp cracking sound echoed from the Blade Marquis of the Peng Family as she stretched her neck, accompanying her next words.
"Even if we defeat the Desolate Fortress here, winning the Mount Hua Agreement is out of the question. Therefore, we must at least bring great honor to our clan."
The Blade Marquis of the Peng Family muttered softly. A pair of sabers placed in the corner of the office hummed.
For a split second, a dense wave of energy filled the room, making the saber-wielders shudder. Then it vanished, taking with it the last traces of the intelligence reports that had turned from ash to dust.
* * *
The martial artists of the Desolate Fortress were those who walked the boundary between the government and the martial world—straddling the gap between high officialdom and the deep valleys of the Jianghu.
Though their weapons often wore down in harsh bloodbaths and ultimately snapped in half, the white, blue, and black robes they wore each symbolized a noble rank.
A bellicose yet elegant sect, the greatest in the Jianghu. No one in the world could deny their temperament and position.
Naturally, they possessed immense dignity.
Swoosh—
A translucent wind rippled through the fifty martial artists gathered in the training ground.
The air rustled as it scraped across the dirt ground. The stifling summer atmosphere was caught between the scorching sun above and the dense waves of internal power below.
"..."
The Desolate Fortress martial artists dispatched to the Green Jade Sword Manor formed ranks alongside the experts of the Demonlight Wing.
Ten abreast, five deep. Standing in their designated spots, every single one of them was as straight as bamboo.
This was because the person they were about to welcome stood at the very pinnacle of the Desolate Fortress's White, Blue, Black, and Purple ranks.
Suddenly, the door of the pavilion they were watching creaked open.
Step.
Jeong Yeon-shin stepped down the stairs of the entrance. A step behind him, Namgung Hwa-shin escorted him.
These were men who had once taken the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam together, both aspiring to become White Ranks. Yet now, the hems of the robes fluttering at their feet were sunset-purple and pitch-black, respectively.
The breathing of the martial artists in formation grew faint. Unconsciously, they circulated their internal energy to steady themselves. A few even showed faint traces of deep emotion.
It was no easy feat for the experts of a great sect, who had crossed the line between life and death for so long, to suddenly acknowledge someone as their supreme superior.
But it was different for Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art. This was true even putting aside his monumental achievements and the martial arts that had crowded the Gold-Piercing Martial Library.
Due to his unusual age, appearance, and past deeds, he had long been widely respected throughout the main fortress.
It was akin to treasuring, yet holding in awe, a prodigious younger brother. He represented the Desolate Fortress in a completely different way than Yong Hee-myung, Commander of the Divine Sword Corps.
"Have you... mastered the Radiant Wing Step?" asked Jeong Yeon-shin, who had reached the front of the formation before anyone realized.
His voice, lacking much intonation, made his intentions hard to fathom. Only a few exceptionally quick-witted individuals sensed a hint of uncertainty in his words.
"I am So Ryu-hyang, a White Rank of the Azure Sky Unit. Yes, I have cultivated the Radiant Wing Step," answered the woman, who wore a white hero's headband tied around her forehead and hair.
So Ryu-hyang, the Cloud Ridge Sword. At the young age of twenty, she had been recognized as the greatest genius of her city in a village in Fujian Province and had traveled up to Huguang. Since then, she had made a name for herself as a member of the Azure Sky Unit.
They said he possessed unparalleled talent and features, and indeed...
Taking in Jeong Yeon-shin's face all at once, the corners of So Ryu-hyang's mouth twitched.
The Body Protection Scripture was a martial art that left clear traces of its mastery. This was true for both the footwork of the Radiant Wing Step and the Wind God Movement Technique.
Mastering them properly altered one's bodily balance itself, which could only appear as a profound change in the eyes of experts.
Someone of the new Purple Rank's caliber would naturally be more than capable of recognizing her Radiant Wing Step at a single glance.
However, Jeong Yeon-shin was the founder of the Flash Art Lineage. It was as if a living Bodhidharma had manifested before a Shaolin monk practicing the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic. How could anyone not feel deeply moved?
Perhaps my achievement is quite decent as well, enough to be visible to the new Purple Rank.
Just as So Ryu-hyang was thinking this...
"By any chance..." Jeong Yeon-shin trailed off, glancing at her feet with a somewhat uncomfortable look.
So Ryu-hyang and the other Desolate Fortress experts knew that this was an extremely rare sight for him. They were well aware of the deeds of the Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing.
In her mind, she imagined patting the head of the one who had once been the youngest member of the Desolate Fortress.
There was no expert in the main fortress who did not know the story of the boy who had grown up neglected at the Jeong Family of Henan in Xinye County.
"Please speak without reservation," So Ryu-hyang said, clearly raising her energy wave from the Yongquan Point on the sole of her foot to the Liangqiu Point on her knee.
It was to draw out praise from the new Purple Rank, who was bound to be awkward in dealing with people.
"Is your body... slightly uncomfortable? I have a few useful spirit medicines with me," Jeong Yeon-shin asked cautiously.
So Ryu-hyang shook her head, inwardly admiring his benevolent nature.
"I am in perfect condition. You may deploy me as part of the dueling lineup for the Mount Hua Agreement at any time, Purple Rank."
"...I see."
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded. In that moment, So Ryu-hyang felt from his gestures the unique temperament of high monks who cultivated their minds and bodies on Mount Song.
The state of a clear mirror, still water, and philosophical detachment. It even brought to mind the legend of Bodhidharma, who sat facing a wall for nine years.
How can someone of his age...
How exhausting his life must have been. The face of the young Grandmaster was reflected in So Ryu-hyang's eyes, which rippled with colorless light. Jeong Yeon-shin spoke slowly.
"If you only learn martial arts from lines of text, you are highly likely to lose your head in real combat. May I, in my capacity as your superior, offer you a lesson?"
"I humbly receive your guidance, Purple Rank...!"
She knelt on one knee on the spot and raised her voice. This was the moment everyone present had been hoping for.
Originally, secret manuals were merely annotations to the teachings directly passed down by a master.
The process by which the geniuses of the Desolate Fortress had shared and improved their achievements among themselves under the name of the Flash Art Lineage was rather unusual.
"Starting from the Yongquan Point."
Jeong Yeon-shin's voice fell. So Ryu-hyang listened in silence.
It was not just her. Footwork was the foundation of all martial arts. Every martial artist in the courtyard had to listen closely.
A quiet, gentle explanation flowed out.
"Before reciting the mnemonic, imprint a footprint made of intent within your mind. Aim it in the direction you wish to advance toward your opponent. At this moment, do not concern yourself with other subtleties; focus solely on the One Origin. Just as the calf muscle folds in a single line, condense the propulsion shockwave originating from the Yongquan Point into a single, long needle, preparing to release it from the ankle. Your sense of balance at this time should feel as though you are anchoring your body in the very center of all creation..."
"...?"
"A long needle, release, balance... I explained it simply. You must surely understand."
It was said that Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art, became gentle like this when dealing with commoners. So Ryu-hyang suddenly realized.
To the new Purple Rank, concepts like the One Origin and the sense of balance of all creation were no different from ordinary words like "long needle" or "release."
One would probably need to be at least a Black Rank to understand this...
But such realization was secondary.
The new Purple Rank wore a faintly satisfied expression. Seeing him face-to-face, it was discernible.
How could she throw cold water on that face? Yet, if they wasted time like this, it would be difficult to increase their chances of victory in the duels against the Nine Sects, including Northern Shaolin and Southern Wudang, let alone the Peng Clan.
It was then.
Fwoosh—!
A slender sound of wind pierced her ears. Before anyone knew it, the one-eyed Brightfolk swordsman had taken his place behind him. It was the Blue-Eyed Demon Sword Cheong-myeong, who could be considered the Deputy Unit Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
With his hands clasped behind his headscarf, he whistled, and the secret art of the Brightfolk that freely manipulated the wind created a whisper in So Ryu-hyang's ear.
— I'll translate the Commander's words for you. He means to hone the propulsion shockwave as sharp as a needle and lock it in your ankle. So it bursts in a straight line from the Yongquan Point. And as for the balance of the footwork... it means don't clumsily lift your soles off the ground, but plant your feet firmly.
It was a voice transmission of a completely different caliber.
It was extremely faint and did not even disperse any internal power waves. It was truly worthy of being called the secret technique of a noble clan.
It felt as though a Han person would have to reach the realm of Wisdom Light Mind Speak to even mimic it.
"When lifting your feet, ensure the energy waves of the Xuehai Point and Liangqiu Point cross without obstruction. When taking a step, feel as though you are releasing all remaining shockwaves through the Weizhong Point behind your knee... During combat, timing the moment to take a step forward is crucial, but you can roughly estimate that timing with a split-second sensation. By 'roughly,' I mean... Ah, I am looking down on you too much."
Fwoosh—!
— He's telling you to draw a rough triangle around your knee and burst it backward when you feel the time is right.
Cheong-myeong's whistling flowed out at the perfect moments. It was done in a way that did not interrupt the new Purple Rank while appearing to express admiration for his teachings.
It was effective.
As proof, a mixture of slight satisfaction and embarrassment coexisted on Jeong Yeon-shin's face. Just as the rumors said, he treated those who had been his seniors in the Demonlight First Team with particular gentleness.
"It's nothing special..." Jeong Yeon-shin muttered softly.
The lips of So Ryu-hyang and several other main fortress experts twitched intermittently.
The sunlight shimmered translucently like a veil in the middle of the training ground, as if tickling the corners of their mouths.
* * *
The next day.
The day of the life-and-death duel under the Mount Hua Agreement dawned.
Numerous farmers and beggars leaned against the walls of the Green Jade Sword Manor, straining to hear, while waiters and merchants stopped calling out to customers.
Great merchants and escort agency owners famous throughout the land sat politely nearby on mats they had laid out. Each was accompanied by experts who had mastered the Thousand-Mile Earth-Listening Art.
The conversations they shared were largely the same. There was only one topic.
In the world today, which martial lineage was the most sublime?
At this moment, the intangible wave of energy filling the Green Jade Sword Manor was incredibly dense. It was at a level that practically evoked the creation of heaven and earth.
Martial artists who lacked the qualifications to enter the Green Jade Sword Manor sat with downcast eyes in various places throughout Dengfeng County.
The Orthodox Martial World had gathered at the Green Jade Sword Manor.