Chapter 44: Promotion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: Promotion (2)
The hierarchy of the Jianghu was like the Yangtze River—the flow of seniority never changed.
No matter how formidable one's martial arts became, a disciple could never stand above their master, senior martial uncle, or junior martial uncle.
The Desolate Fortress was different. Known as the sword of the Great Ming Empire, it operated by its own rules.
The very concept of a "promotion" was foreign to the martial world, yet this word perfectly encapsulated the fortress's unique nature.
They valued a sharp blade above all else. For this reason, they forbade formal master-disciple relationships and instead implemented a system of rank promotions.
“It is the same as the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam. It will consist of two tests.”
The speaker was a scrawny middle-aged man with sunken eyes, draped in a wide, loose black robe.
Though the oversized garment only emphasized his gaunt frame, no one dared to laugh. He was the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
It was said his martial prowess was on par with the Commander of the Demonlight Wing.
Having declared the exam open, the Lord of the Desolate Fortress closed her eyes once more, leaving the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit to administer the proceedings.
“Insight and martial power. Other categories will be substituted by your records of merit. I shall now present the test.”
Perhaps due to the unique origins of the Desolate Fortress, the test resembled the imperial civil service examinations used to recruit government officials.
The examinees, seated in long rows, received sheets of blank paper. Jeong Yeon-shin, sitting near the middle, unfurled his sheet.
The brush and inkstone placed beside him felt unfamiliar. Was it because he hadn't held them since the ruin of the Jeong Family Manor?
Cheong-myeong's words suddenly came to mind.
'And he said it was nothing special.'
But it was far from simple. All sorts of stone tablets, boulders, and slabs of tree bark were brought forward.
The White-Ranked Warriors had to examine the scars left on these objects and identify exactly which sect and which ultimate technique had caused them.
Since renowned martial arts naturally left distinct traces, this test evaluated their mastery of eye techniques and the depth of their worldly experience.
With seniors possessing even greater ocular prowess watching over them like hawks, there was no room to let one's eyes wander to cheat.
Jeong Yeon-shin, whose knowledge of the Jianghu was still quite narrow, only got three questions right.
They were the Zhongnan Sect's Thirty-Six Swords of the World, the Great Unity Formless Sword, and the Mount Hua Sect's Plum Blossom Sword.
His stay at the Zhongnan Sect and his interactions with its experts had paid off handsomely.
'I've seen the Blood Flame Cult's techniques, too.'
There were a few cases where he recognized the sect but did not know the specific name of the technique.
After finishing the first test, he returned to the Demonlight Wing group for a moment.
Cheong-myeong threw a verbal barb with a smirk, teasing that getting only three out of twenty correct was practically a failing grade.
That is, unless he achieved a near-perfect score on the second test.
“It can't be helped.”
“After all, the Blue Rank is something you usually reach only after broadening your horizons for at least a decade.”
“And in the case of the Flash Art, there's simply no precedent.”
The seniors of the Demonlight Wing patted Yeon-shin's shoulders in consolation. However, the Demonlight First Team and Second Team were different.
There was not a shred of worry on their faces as they chatted casually. Even when others asked about his chances, they merely offered a knowing smile.
“Go on ahead. I will follow you soon,” Heonwon Chang said, his expression filled with determination.
His mind was often hard to read, so Jeong Yeon-shin usually just let it go.
Yeon-shin had seen him wield his killing sword multiple times, yet he was still unsure which side of Heonwon Chang was his true self.
Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly.
“I feel like we'll be on the very next mission together anyway.”
“Hm? How do you know that, Young Hero?”
“It's just a feeling.”
He glossed over it. As his upper dantian expanded, a certain premonition would occasionally spark in his mind.
Most of the time, it was correct—ranging from the most trivial matters to sudden inspirations regarding martial arts.
It wasn't a particularly pleasant feeling; it felt like heaven throwing him scraps of pity before his inevitable early death.
“Your opponent has been decided. It's a guy called the Red-Day Sword from the Thread-Annihilation Unit, and he's bad news.”
A junior came over to deliver the news. She was a girl with strikingly bright, intelligent eyes, said to be the exact same age as Jeong Yeon-shin.
Indeed, while he had been out completing missions, new juniors had joined beneath him.
Rumors were rife that she was a peerless genius second only to the Flash Art. She hadn't even relied on her family's influence.
She had entered the fortress by passing the most recent Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam on her own merit.
'Was her name Shin So-bin?'
She was said to be the younger sister of the heir to the Desolate Shin Clan. Yeon-shin had met the heir before.
During the previous coming-of-age ceremony, that young man had withstood the pressure of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress alongside Jeong Yeon-shin and Ma Se-in.
Yeon-shin thought her delicate facial features and sharp nose strongly resembled her brother's.
“The Red-Day Sword? I've never heard of him.”
“Of course you haven't, Senior. But he's quite famous among people like me who practically live in the main fortress,” Shin So-bin chattered boldly. She gave off the distinct impression of someone who had grown up showered with love in a prestigious family.
She was practically the living embodiment of a precious, sheltered daughter.
“He's been a White-Ranked Warrior for twenty years, so he's incredibly bitter. They say he's highly skilled in all kinds of dirty tricks, and he's even turned the Lazy Donkey Rolling into a deadly technique. You'd better be careful, Senior.”
“I see. Thank you,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied calmly.
Using the Lazy Donkey Rolling as a deadly technique? He could easily guess the nature of this expert called the Red-Day Sword.
It meant he was willing to swallow his pride and roll in the dirt to win. He didn't care about saving face.
Since it was merely a rumor, there might be some exaggeration.
But that was enough information.
'They did say the Desolate Fortress has all kinds of martial artists.'
He would encounter all sorts of bizarre tactics on future missions anyway.
Wouldn't this promotion test be good experience?
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slightly to Shin So-bin in gratitude.
Her expression turned peculiar.
“Senior, are you even on your guard? You'll probably have to deal with hidden weapons, too. He's the worst kind of opponent for someone with little experience in the Jianghu.”
“I am always on my guard.”
“Well, sure. You have a reputation to uphold, Senior. I'm sure you'll manage just fine.”
The older seniors watched the conversation between the two young juniors with a strange sense of warmth.
Jeong Yeon-shin paid them no mind and stepped forward. Before he knew it, the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit was calling for the Flash Art.
“Young Hero Jeong! I'll be looking forward to our celebratory drinks!”
Heonwon Chang's shout echoed from behind, immediately followed by Baek Mi-ryeo scolding him for putting unnecessary pressure on the boy.
* * *
“The Flash Art versus the Red-Day Sword. The intention behind this matchup is obvious.”
“A clash between a rising star's brilliant wit and a veteran's seasoned combat skills.”
“Who has the advantage?”
“Based on achievements, it's definitely the Flash Art. But the years the Red-Day Sword has accumulated are substantial. I suspect he might finally reach the Blue Rank this year.”
Between the murmuring crowd and the cold, stern eyes of the examiner, Jeong Yeon-shin felt a strong sense of déjà vu. It had been just like this during the entrance exam.
That hadn't been long ago.
Yet here he was, standing in a similar spot before even half a year had passed.
Back then, even the fame of his opponent, the White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin, hadn't truly registered with him.
'So many things were unfamiliar back then.'
It was a day when he had knocked on the fortress gates out of a desperate desire to survive. Today was no different.
The increased number of watching eyes and the heavy pressure in the air failed to penetrate his composure in the slightest.
Only his opponent, an unfamiliar middle-aged martial artist, remained in his field of vision.
The colors of the Desolate Fortress's martial uniforms represented clear standards, unlike the vague distinctions of cultivation realms in the wider martial world.
An unfamiliar White-Ranked Warrior. This was the perfect opportunity to gauge his current standing.
“Flash Art.”
The impression the Red-Day Sword gave off was different from what he had expected. Hearing Shin So-bin's description, Yeon-shin had pictured a vulgar rogue from the Black Way.
But he was not. He possessed the hardened aura of a decurion who had survived countless battles in the northern army.
He felt like a martial artist from the Black Way who had somehow gone on to master proper, orthodox martial arts.
The scarred warrior spoke with gravity.
“I have heard of your fame. Though the rumors circulating in the Jianghu do not do you justice, our Desolate Fortress is different. We maintain an accurate grasp of your skills and achievements. Everyone here does. I am truly glad to see the emergence of such an outstanding junior.”
“I have also heard much of your name, Senior Red-Day Sword.”
“Thank you.”
He gave a bitter smile, then his expression shifted to one of intense focus.
“Because of that, I will unleash the true essence of all my martial arts. There may be many things you have yet to experience. You might find yourself bewildered, or perhaps even enraged. Will you be able to handle it?”
“I believe it is time for us to converse with our swords,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied. He was not accustomed to such dramatic remarks.
His hand, which had already moved to his sword hilt, was calling for the duel to begin. At that moment, a wave of energy erupted from the Red-Day Sword's body.
“Very well!”
The moment the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit stepped back from between them, the Red-Day Sword took the initiative. Two daggers drawn from his breast flew like lightning.
Yeon-shin hadn't expected him to open with hidden weapons. He immediately took a step forward and drew his sword.
Clang—!
He deflected both daggers, but only a single metallic ring echoed. This was because he had perfectly traced the sword path of the Demonlight Formula the instant he drew his blade.
The realm of a master. The sensation rising through his grip was light. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately stamped his foot.
The sparring stage rumbled with a heavy thud. The dust kicked up from beneath his feet scattered at the tip of his upward-slashing blade.
It was as if sunlight was blooming directly from the earth.
As the power of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art and the Scripture of Initial Overcoming surged, the hazy shroud of light from the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style was unleashed in an instant.
Whoosh!
The single step Jeong Yeon-shin took alongside his sword strike transcended the conventional boundaries of martial arts. It was an overwhelming display of genius.
He instantly closed the distance, stepping so close that his opponent could not properly put weight behind his own draw.
Jeong Yeon-shin went all out from his very first move. He had no intention of letting this drag into a grinding contest of fundamental martial strength.
Having pushed the capabilities of his upper dantian—a vessel forged of both blessing and curse—to its absolute limit, he had already finished calculating his moves.
Observing the speed of the Red-Day Sword's technique and the positioning of his limbs when he threw the daggers was all the data he needed.
Clang—!
It was over in a single strike. A sword force that utterly transcended the White Rank sent the Red-Day Sword's blade flying from his grip.
“What in the...”
The weapon he had drawn in a hurry simply could not withstand the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style.
The Red-Day Sword's eyes widened as he stared at the blade now resting gently against his throat.
The Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit, watching closely from nearby, reacted with equal shock.
“...It is not merely martial arts. Is this innate martial talent?”
A colorless light flashed in the Commander's eyes. In that moment, he looked like a supreme expert completely obsessed with the martial path.
“A martial artist of the same rank could never hope to match the Flash Art. Is this the great fortune of the Desolate Fortress? This is the first time I have ever envied Ma Jin. Yes...”
His eyes met Jeong Yeon-shin's.
“You win, Flash Art.”
“Thank you.”
“There is no next duel for you. You have received a perfect score on this promotion exam. Red-Day Sword, prepare for your second match.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Nodding, the Red-Day Sword turned his gaze toward Jeong Yeon-shin.
He seemed embarrassed about his earlier boast regarding the true essence of his martial arts, but Jeong Yeon-shin paid it no mind and offered a polite bow.
Seeing this, the Red-Day Sword let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
“Please dedicate yourself to the people. Yours is a talent that can surely reach the apex of the world.”
Jeong Yeon-shin clasped his hands in a silent, respectful salute.
The path back to where the Demonlight Wing had gathered was remarkably quiet. Only a ripple of breathless whispers echoed through the crowd.
This was a place where few lacked martial insight. Seniors from other units whom he had never even met seemed utterly astounded.
The White-Ranked seniors who had previously directed their sharp, oppressive auras toward him had all fallen completely silent.
Jeong Yeon-shin simply recalled the moment his sword had shattered against Namgung Hwa-shin's strike during the entrance exam. He felt a profound sense of just how much things had changed since then.
“How did you do that? What kind of footwork was that?” Shin So-bin rushed over, looking as if she might grab him by the collar. She was practically stomping her feet in excitement.
“And what was that sword technique that scattered light? I've never seen any of those martial arts before. Which family did you say you were from, Senior? Oh, and congratulations on the win!”
“...”
Jeong Yeon-shin gently pushed away the shoulder of his frantic junior.
Her relentless approach, despite them barely knowing each other, felt somewhat overwhelming.
He averted his gaze. Cheong-myeong, Baek Mi-ryeo, and several other seniors were smiling at him. Heonwon Chang was doing the same.
“You made up for the written test,” Cheong-myeong said. Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slowly.
The promotion ceremony that followed was grand. Dancers, musicians, and other performers filled the training grounds with vibrant energy.
Such was the significance of the blue martial uniform. It was a token declaring that one was now part of the core strength of the Desolate Fortress.
Cheong-myeong had already hinted that this level of celebration was only natural.
“May the light upon your path never fade.”
The Lord of the Desolate Fortress recited a blessing unique to the Brightfolk. Then, she personally draped the robe over him.
Her movements were delicate. This was not Cheong-myeong's robe, which had always been slightly too large for Jeong Yeon-shin.
The blue martial uniform he now wore was tailored perfectly for his frame.
A Blue-Ranked Warrior of the Desolate Fortress.
It was a title that allowed one to carry oneself with absolute authority wherever they went in the world.
Reaching this stage meant being treated as an elite expert anywhere in the Jianghu.
It was said that even sensible commoners would treat them with deep reverence.
“Congratulations.”
“The youngest and the fastest to ever achieve it!”
The seniors of the Demonlight Wing welcomed him warmly.
They often complained that among the seventeen units of the Divine Sword Corps, the Demonlight Wing was always short-handed.
Each Blue-Ranked individual was an extremely powerful asset, said to rival the absolute elite of the Nine Sects.
'I've heard plenty about that.'
They were accustomed to scattering across the world for perilous missions.
Now, he too was a true part of that force. He had been fully recognized.
“This way.”
Do Yu-won, a scholar from the Chief Steward's Office, guided him. Yeon-shin's mind was still in a whirl.
He had suddenly been tested on all the formal etiquette he had learned since entering the Desolate Fortress.
As soon as he finished dressing in his new uniform, Jeong Yeon-shin was led to another location.
He was accompanied by those who had been promoted alongside him, but their destination was unfamiliar.
It was a deep, inner sanctuary of the Desolate Fortress that he hadn't even known existed—an incredibly magnificent pavilion.
The expressions of the newly promoted Blue-Ranked Warriors, who had been briefed on this final schedule, were grim.
Their faces were visibly stiff. Only Jeong Yeon-shin maintained a calm demeanor.
“He is a person of highly volatile temperament. Please ensure your behavior is absolutely flawless,” Do Yu-won warned.
They had come to meet the Imperial Grandson, who was currently staying at the Desolate Fortress to train in martial arts.
There was a rumor Yeon-shin had overheard. It was said that the Imperial Grandson was in a foul mood.
This was because the attention of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress—who was both a Grand Preceptor and a prince of the Great Ming Empire—had turned entirely toward the Flash Art.
'What does he expect me to do about that?'
Before he knew it, Jeong Yeon-shin was thinking exactly like a brazen man of the martial world. He was even inwardly surprised by his own casual, defiant thought.