Chapter 437: Conclusion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 437: Conclusion (2)
Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin forced his eyes open.
His vision blurred. The Sword Empress was barely visible, her figure washed out as if the summer sun had descended right before his eyes.
This was hardly a good sign. The Diancang Sect Leader was a figure he had admired since childhood. He had heard tales of her countless great deeds of chivalry from long before she became a supreme master of the Nine Sects. She was fundamentally different from the deceased Peng Family Head.
Jeong Yeon-shin was content as long as the traces he left behind in this life were widely recognized by the world—that, and ensuring the Desolate Fortress wouldn't bear too heavy a burden for the Mount Hua Agreement he had unilaterally initiated.
She mustn't die...
His senses were severely dulled.
He could no longer feel the pulse of the Sword Empress collapsed in the distance, nor the stinging summer sunlight on his own skin.
He couldn't even make out the telepathic waves whispering into his ears. It certainly wasn't the Diancang Sect Leader's voice. It sounded faintly like someone repeating his name—"Yeon-shin"—over and over. In his hazy state, a surge of irritation washed over him.
"It's not even... that great of a name."
—...!
"Someone... needs to help the Sect Leader... with Qi Healing..."
His voice trailed off.
He, too, had lost a massive amount of blood.
He had suffered over a dozen stab and slash wounds, but the shockwaves from the Sword Empress's strikes, layered deep within his acupoints, posed a far greater threat. Holding onto his consciousness was becoming increasingly difficult.
If the Sword Empress had been a mortal enemy, he would have thrown his sword to finish her off. Right now, however, he didn't need to throw a sword; he needed to circulate his energy to treat his internal and external injuries. Yet all Jeong Yeon-shin could manage was a weak twitch of his fingers around Lingering Thunder. His legs refused to move.
Just then.
[You have worked hard. It was a highly impressive duel. Since all the guarantors of the Mount Hua Agreement have witnessed this contest, you may rest now.]
The voice of Perfected Ancient Sword flowed into his mind. Brimming with the immortal qi unique to Taoist internal energy, it was a telepathic transmission aimed directly at his mind rather than his ears, much like the Buddhist Wisdom Light Mind Speak.
Why is his voice trembling...?
Was there a demon nearby?
Along with that silly thought, Jeong Yeon-shin finally let go of his consciousness. A wave of relief washed over him. As his mind rapidly sank, sucked into the abyss, he faintly felt a strong, sturdy arm supporting his back.
* * *
Green Jade Sword Manor.
A momentous piece of news had begun to spread.
The Lotus Nezha, Flash Art, had pushed back the Diancang Sect Leader by hundreds of feet with a single, peerless sword strike never before seen in the martial world. Ultimately, he had been the only one left standing in a pool of his own blood.
Peerless masters had clashed. Only a select few could comprehend how many exchanges they had made or the true nature of their fight. Only one fact was absolute: the defeat of Yunnan's supreme master.
Pursuing Shot, the beloved sword of the Sword Empress Geum San-san, was found with only its hilt remaining. For the Diancang disciples, this divine sword was practically a symbol of the Sect Leader's authority. This was no ordinary matter.
It was said that even the brilliant orange Heavenly Silkworm Martial Uniform, the Diancang Sect Leader's signature armor, had been shredded. This was definitive proof that the Diancang Sect's Body Protection Qi, famous as a divine art, had been completely shattered.
Although the Diancang disciples had carried her away on a stretcher in absolute secrecy, far too many people had witnessed it.
The crowning touch was the declaration of the Divine Monk, Abbot Beomheo.
[Jeong Yeon-shin has achieved one victory over Geum San-san. I hereby declare the Desolate Fortress, having secured two draws and one victory, as the winner of this duel.]
The massive manor erupted in turmoil. And it wouldn't just be the Green Jade Sword Manor. A Sect Leader of the Nine Sects had been defeated. This was an event more than capable of shaking the entire world.
The walls shattered by the new Purple Rank's thrusting sword strike were surrounded by crowds of swordsmen. Beyond those collapsed walls, couriers, dozens of messenger pigeons, and countless rumors spread like wildfire. The martial world was on the verge of an unprecedented uproar.
Naturally, it was hard to find a single quiet spot inside the manor.
The only exception was the quarters of the Six Kings Martial Lineage, who had participated in the Mount Hua Agreement duel. Their pavilion was enveloped in an exceptionally deep silence. An energy barrier had been erected around the room, enclosing the six people seated around a large tea table.
Within the sturdy, translucent barrier of internal energy, quiet words were exchanged.
"The new Purple Rank has finally done it."
"It was within our expectations. I figured at least one of those lofty Sect Leaders of the Nine Sects would fall, even if it wasn't the Shaolin Abbot or Perfected Ancient Sword."
"Given his track record... if anyone still considers Jeong Yeon-shin a mere mortal, they must be a fool who knows nothing of the world's affairs."
"His rank is Purple. He should no longer be treated as a mere variable, but as a major current in the order of the martial world."
"That is also true. A pillar of the order that must be broken."
This was a conversation among five middle-aged men, each carrying a sword, saber, spear, staff, or whip.
The gathering consisted solely of renowned figures in the Orthodox martial world.
Though each maintained a calm demeanor to save face, everyone knew that profound shock lay beneath those expertly crafted expressions. They simply chose not to ruin the atmosphere by pointing it out.
A man in yellow robes, who had been listening silently to their words, spoke slowly. "The Castle Lord has sent a message."
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
"Finally...?"
"It must be good news, right? I've been so anxious..."
This time, none of those seated could hide their mixture of excitement and anxiety. As their demanding gazes pressed the man in yellow robes for an answer, the corners of his mouth curled upward.
"The opening was impressive. 'The domain has been completed'... which means he has achieved great success and reached the Stage of Great Completion. I have already sent a reply to Taemo Mountain Fortress offering my congratulations."
A woman wearing leather hand-guards on both hands groaned, murmuring that the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress had finally attained the absolute pinnacle of sorcery martial arts.
But the man in yellow robes was not finished.
"It is said that the Castle Lord is currently recuperating after slaying the Sword Saint, Hyeon So-baek. Having lost their Alliance Leader, the Hanzhong Martial World Alliance will desperately try to hide this fact, but they will naturally disintegrate before long. Weren't they a sinking ship anyway?"
"The Sword Saint...?!"
The room fell into a clamor. Now, no one could maintain a calm expression. Any martial artist would have reacted the exact same way.
From the spectacular performance of the new Purple Rank to the death of the Alliance Leader of the Martial World Alliance—each was an event more than capable of shaking the martial world to its core. They could only be grateful to have received the news early.
"One strange thing is that the Yeongcheon Sword Ghost, Baek Seo-gun, was present at the scene. No matter how great the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress's achievement, it would normally be difficult to predict a victory against the Sword Saint. It is a mystery how he overcame their combined strength when the Yeongcheon Sword Ghost was added to the equation."
A middle-aged man with a sword resting on his lap flinched and spoke up. "Why was the Sword Venerable of the Deep Martial Alliance there?"
"Didn't the Deep Martial Alliance Leader's wild daughter seize power with the backing of the Sword Venerable and the Blade Sovereign? The Deep Martial Alliance's behavior was bound to change. I suspect Baek Seo-gun went to convey friendly intentions to the Sword Saint... but her current whereabouts are unknown. I also heard that the Young Master of the Jegal Clan disappeared from the Alliance at some point. This was confirmed by our spies."
"Sword Venerable Baek Seo-gun and Serene Deep Eye Jegal Cheong-a...? Aren't both of them figures with connections to the Lotus Nezha?"
The man in yellow robes, the First Sect Leader of the Six Kings Sect, shook his head.
"That is not for our sect to worry about right now. We only need to complete the task we were originally assigned. If we want to be bestowed with the Immortal Jade by the Castle Lord and restore youth to our six masters, we must keep our eyes sharp. How did you all view the previous duel?"
The fight between the Sword Empress and the Lotus Nezha.
The chaotic atmosphere settled instantly. A few people cleared their throats softly—a rather heavy, somber sound.
"Because it ended so quickly, there wasn't a moment to analyze the exchanges. All of the Lotus Nezha's duels have been like that. Even if the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress uses his ancient sorcery martial arts to block his Baihui Point for a brief moment, I cannot fathom how the fight would unfold."
"The Castle Lord killed the Sword Saint, so what is the problem? He must have met his end with the unity of his essence, qi, and spirit broken."
"We cannot simply rely on what the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress already knows. Besides, the outcome of a battle between peerless masters is never set in stone, is it? Just look at what the Castle Lord requested. Variables like potential sword moves, life-saving herbs, posture, habits, the nature of their internal power, and the structure of their true qi... He entrusted this task to us because he highly values our sect's eye technique. Though, in truth, we were barely able to observe any of it."
"The Lotus Nezha's physical form could indeed be called the greatest in the martial world. However, there was no trace of the Sword Empress performing the Unified Martial Transcendence..."
At the middle-aged swordsman's words, the First Sect Leader snorted. "She simply had no time to unleash her final ultimate technique. The Diancang Sect Leader is a born fighter. There is no way she would have held back. Especially not when her opponent is the direct maternal grandson of the Ma family, who takes after the Hegemon Hero's temperament."
"Since we gained nothing in the end, we must move on to the next step. The Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress clearly stated that disrupting the Mount Hua Agreement midway would also be considered a great contribution."
The middle-aged swordsman gripped his sword hilt with sweaty hands. He knew exactly how many peerless masters were currently staying at the Green Jade Sword Manor. The First Sect Leader nodded slowly. "If things proceed any further, one of the great sects will acquire world-shaking power. I will contact you as soon as preparations are complete."
* * *
A simple inner room.
There was not even a bed. A small tea table placed in the center was all there was.
On the wall hung a scroll depicting a lotus flower, the brushstrokes of the petals so bold and vigorous they seemed to banish all worldly vexations. Because of this, a subtle Buddhist mystique lingered in the air.
But that was only on the wall. The atmosphere inside the room was entirely different.
"……."
The silence was not empty. It was heavy, filled with an unspoken tension. The presence of those gathered around the tea table created a bizarre, oppressive atmosphere.
The Shaolin Abbot, Perfected Ancient Sword, Lady Yul-ha, Abbess Baekyak, Perfected Clear Water... the auras of the supreme masters of the Nine Sects were incredibly distinct.
"I do not understand how this happened," Perfected Ancient Sword muttered from a corner.
It was literally a corner seat. Because he sat with his back slouched in a half-lotus position, his already small frame looked even more diminutive. He slowly shook his youthful face. "I cannot make sense of it. How could such a disastrous thing..."
At that, the man sitting opposite the Shaolin Abbot turned his gaze. As if reflecting his temperament beneath his thick, sharp jawline, his light pink robe rustled softly. Its original color had faded due to the sheer internal power dwelling within him—a power that even divine weapons would struggle to bear.
"Seeing how much your comprehension has deteriorated, it seems Wudang's rejuvenation is highly imperfect."
"……."
"Indeed, half-witted fools like you sometimes rejuvenate to the point of acting completely beneath their age. There is one such insolent brat in my fortress as well."
Perfected Ancient Sword ignored him and sighed. "Even if it is a heaven-defying art, this shouldn't be possible. How could he achieve rejuvenation after learning the Ma family's Harmonious Bloom Divine Art...?"
"Keep this in mind. It is the Jeong Family Dynamic Art."
"My mind is already blank with shock, so please do not say any more, Yeon-jeok. I do not wish to estrange myself from your grandson... my junior."
Ma Yeon-jeok's eyes widened like brass bells. "You've got some nerve. Whose name are you uttering?"
He stood up, muttering that a man who wished to die of old age would say just about anything.
Had the Divine Monk, Abbot Beomheo, who was staring quietly at the Hegemon Hero, not spoken up, the inner room might have been blown to pieces.
"How is Benefactor Jeong's condition?"
The new Purple Rank of the Desolate Fortress was mentioned. Ma Yeon-jeok, who had been raising his hand, paused and curled his lips.
"There is no need to worry about his condition. Think about it, bald monk. Do you really think someone who has achieved the Stage of Great Completion in both the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic and the Marrow Washing Classic would be bedridden by a few sword wounds? He will regain consciousness after circulating his energy a few times."
"Amitabha, Amitabha," Abbot Beomheo murmured in a clear, pure voice.
Amitabha, Amitabha. A benevolent relief was embedded in those words. However, Ma Yeon-jeok did not sit back down. He looked ready to block Perfected Ancient Sword's Baihui Point with his fist. Abbot Beomheo softly parted his lips.
Alas, what a tragedy.
"I would like to confirm Benefactor Ma's intentions once more. Do you truly wish to conclude the Mount Hua Agreement?" Abbess Baekyak, who had been lost in meditation in a corner, asked in a calm tone. She sat perfectly upright, her eyes still closed.
Ma Yeon-jeok burst into laughter. "Since I have graciously suggested it first out of my deep virtue, you should naturally consider it a favor."
Sitting quietly beside him, Lady Yul-ha's brow furrowed slightly. "What...?"
"If you had any shame, you would have stepped back first. Didn't you old fogeys step forward yourselves in a place where the younger generation should be competing? Mount Hua and Qingcheng are exceptions, but considering my grandson's age, this is truly absurd."
The Hegemon Hero suddenly fell silent, as if realizing he was wagging his tongue unnecessarily.
"……."
It was the moment he moved his hand toward his beloved sword, Moon Preservation, at his waist. Perfected Clear Water, who had been staring intently at the Hegemon Hero, spoke up just in time.
"I understand your point, Elder. But what about the backlash from the martial artists who have gathered from all over the world? The Mount Hua Agreement is no longer just a duel between the Nine Sects and the Desolate Fortress. We need some plausible justification or method..."
The explanation was long-winded. As if suddenly remembering another errand, Ma Yeon-jeok—who had grabbed the doorknob at some point—turned his gaze. It was directed at Perfected Clear Water, who had been speaking calmly. His face looked as if he were observing a bizarre specimen.
"Why are you asking me about something that is your responsibility?"
The door swung open and slammed shut. Immediately after, Ma Yeon-jeok's monologue drifted through the gap in the door.
Time to go help him with his Qi Healing.