Chapter 441: The Sunset Flag (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 441: The Sunset Flag (3)
The procession escorting Jeong Yeon-shin ground to a halt.
They were about thirty jang away from the towering main gates of the Desolate Fortress's central castle.
In silence, they stared at the woman in Wudang Taoist robes blocking their path. The dust kicked up by her supreme Wudang Sect Body Protection Scripture wavered thinly in the air like smoke.
It resembled cirrus clouds, emitting a soft rustle like sliding paper—a trace of profound Taoist internal energy, also known as Immortal Qi.
“The Wudang Cloud-Ladder Step,” Cheong-myeong, riding his horse beside the carriage, muttered.
Wudang's Long Staff had seemingly dropped out of thin air, as if she had been waiting for Jeong Yeon-shin's party for quite some time.
“...”
Through her translucent veil, she stared quietly at the carriage, as if searching for something within the newly appointed Purple Rank.
Soon, her eyes met Jeong Yeon-shin's as he looked down at her. It was only for an instant, but the moment their gazes locked, Ju Se-hwa—the Long Staff—flinched.
“She tried to gauge his depths, only to stare into the abyss,” Lazy Flame Dragon muttered, reclining lazily with his back against his steed's neck.
His posture was incredibly lax, looking as though he had mastered the mounted martial arts of the old Yuan Dynasty.
Throughout the entire journey from the Jeong Family Manor to Xiangyang, he had kept watch over the rear in a state of perfect unity between man and horse, chewing on poppy all the while.
Even now, he didn't bother to look back.
Namgung Hwa-shin, holding the highest rank among the escorts, stepped forward.
“I greet one of noble blood. May I ask what business brings you here?”
“Since when have we been close enough for such formalities?”
“...?”
“I am a person of the Jianghu. Do not address me as a member of the Ju clan.”
Ju Se-hwa spoke in a quiet, measured tone. Though she had mastered Wudang's divine arts, her speech and demeanor carried a deep, aristocratic dignity rather than Taoist mystique.
Nodding immediately, the temporary Commander of the Heaven-Aligned Wing dropped the formalities on the spot.
“A Purple Rank of our fortress is passing through. Unless you have urgent business, I believe it is the basic courtesy of a martial artist not to block their path.”
“...I have nothing to discuss with you. I came to see Lord Jeong.”
“He is not someone you can meet without prior notice. A Purple Rank's time is not equal to your own.”
“Then I shall give notice here. Turn around and convey my words. I have the right to stand before your superior.”
“It would be wise not to jest so lightly here. We aren't asking for your reverence. Simply send word later.”
“I do not understand. Is empty formality so deeply ingrained in the Namgung clan?”
“I merely hold the dignity of our fortress in high regard.”
Having dedicated himself to mastering the Qilin's Judgment even while on the road, Namgung Hwa-shin was currently emitting a subtle, heavy pressure from his right hand.
Yet Ju Se-hwa let that formidable flow of power pass over her as effortlessly as a gentle breeze.
It was a clash of wills between two stubborn, top-tier experts. Neither side yielded an inch.
Unless someone made a move, or Jeong Yeon-shin—currently suffering from severe internal injuries—intervened directly, this standoff would have continued indefinitely. That was, until three figures suddenly appeared behind Ju Se-hwa.
Thud—
A silver spear shaft dropped onto her shoulder, accompanied by a clear metallic ring.
“Our fortress respects the rules of the Sword-Releasing Pond, yet a young Wudang ox-nose is acting up in someone else's front yard? Does that make any sense?”
A girl dragging the hem of her black robe along the ground approached with a smirk.
Ak Su-rim, the Divine Spear of the Desolate Fortress, had rested her weapon on the shoulder of Wudang's Long Staff. It was a strike executed without even a whisper of parted air.
Ju Se-hwa did not let herself be suppressed so easily. She wrapped both hands—which she had already been raising before the spear even arrived—around the shaft.
She unleashed the force wave of the Wudang Tai Chi Chuan, the most famous martial art under heaven. A translucent current spiraled out from her palms with a soft hiss.
Even though she was executing a grappling technique, the force wave of Tai Chi Chuan's fist technique manifested. Her transition between palm and fist arts was completely seamless.
“Even for a Purple Rank, this is practically imperial treatment. To think delivering a single message would be this difficult...”
Muttering to herself, she prepared to throw Ak Su-rim over her shoulder along with the spear, but hesitated.
Regardless of whether her counter-technique would succeed or fail, she had no choice but to stop.
Figures flanked Ju Se-hwa on both sides.
To her left, a Brightfolk woman with an indifferent expression rested a hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
To her right, a giant of a man with ears as sharp as precious swords glared down at her.
It felt as though deep shadows had fallen over the area, despite the cloudless night. They were the Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit and the Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit.
And that wasn't all.
Beyond the shoulders of Jeong Yeon-shin, who was currently dozing in his seat, a larger scene unfolded.
The citizens who had followed the carriage, holding their purple lanterns aloft, were staring blankly at Ju Se-hwa.
None of them dared to hurl insults at the Wudang immortal. They simply watched.
That collective gaze pressed heavily upon Ju Se-hwa's shoulders. At least here in Xiangyang, there was no place for an immortal of the Nine Sects, nor any prestige for the imperial Ju family.
This was not a stage where she could freely display the divine ultimate techniques of Wudang's Zhang Sanfeng, arts she had spent her entire life cultivating.
In a chaotic world where face and reputation were more important than ever,
Wudang had suffered a defeat.
“...I suppose I must speak here.”
Ju Se-hwa slowly parted her lips. She expanded a massive energy barrier, enveloping herself and the Desolate Fortress martial artists. No one stopped her, and soon, all surrounding noise faded away.
“Lord Jeong.”
Aboard the carriage drawn by the fine steeds,
Jeong Yeon-shin opened his eyes with unbelievable naturalness. It was as if he hadn't been dozing from exhaustion, but had merely been immersed in sacred meditation.
His unwavering, gentlemanly composure was a virtue befitting a Purple Rank.
“I am Ju Se-hwa of Wudang. First, allow me to congratulate you on your promotion.”
“...”
“You need only listen. On behalf of the Nine Sects, who maintain the balance of the world between the Strange, Violent, Chaotic, and Supernatural and the mortal realm, I wish to offer you some advice. It is for the sake of the people of the world.”
Ju Se-hwa continued slowly.
“Lord Jeong, you have now attained a status that allows you to go anywhere. However, precisely because of that, you must not carelessly set foot just anywhere. Your safety now exerts a profound influence on the entire world.”
“Did you cause all this trouble just to spout things everyone already knows?”
Ak Su-rim tapped Ju Se-hwa's shoulder with her spear.
Ju Se-hwa did not react. The scoundrel hero of the Shandong Ak Clan had been famous since before Ju Se-hwa had even climbed Mount Wudang.
Instead, she focused on Jeong Yeon-shin's whisper, which brushed past her ears so faintly it was almost imperceptible.
It sounded like, 'Still, I'm better than a meditating monkey,' but she must have misheard.
“If you would repeat that, I shall listen closely.”
“...”
“I see I must definitely send word beforehand next time. Assuming you are listening, I will say it again: do not set foot in Zhejiang for the time being.”
“Is a Wudang Taoist attempting to restrict the movements of our fortress's Purple Rank?”
The internal power infused into the voice of Hahu Wi-jin, Commander of the Forest-Treading Unit, shook the air. His tone alone revealed an immense accumulation of Qi.
However, Ju Se-hwa extinguished the wave of internal power with a simple shrug of her rounded shoulders.
“We received intelligence that the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress visited Heaven's Bane. Since the message came from Elder Ju Gwang-singae, it is highly likely to be true.”
The Beggar Sect Leader and the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress.
And Heaven's Bane.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy. Ak Su-rim removed her spear from Ju Se-hwa's shoulder.
“Go on.”
“The Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress, having achieved a great breakthrough, is moving across the land like a ghost. It is as if he has mastered the legendary Earth-Shrinking Art. While rumors say that old monster appeared in Hanzhong, where the Sword Saint's Martial World Alliance is based, we also have intelligence that he is currently constructing a massive sorcery formation in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, to summon something. According to Elder Ju Gwang-singae, it does not seem to be a defensive spell like a barrier.”
“We must verify the facts.”
Un So-yu, Commander of the Law Enforcement Unit, addressed Jeong Yeon-shin. It was the first time he had heard her use honorifics toward him, her senior from the Wish-for-Peace One Sword Hall.
Bathed in the soft moonlight, Un So-yu's face was exceptionally serene. She carried the demeanor of one who upheld the laws of the Desolate Fortress, ensuring that the words of a single Wudang expert would not dictate the fortress's movements.
Jeong Yeon-shin acknowledged her with a nod.
“You may take all the time you need to verify it. The Divine Beggar also mentioned that whatever is being built won't be completed in just a day or two. However, our sect, Shaolin, and several other mountain sects have reached a consensus: no matter what rumors emerge, Lord Jeong must not set foot there.”
“Listen to this... aren't you crossing the line?”
Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been lying on his horse's back, started to sit up, only to be stopped by Heonwon Chang.
The Hero of the Desolate Fortress pressed down on the poppy addict's sternum, forcing him back down. He muttered that a mere Blue Rank had no business interfering.
Ju Se-hwa didn't even spare them a glance.
“The Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress is like a natural enemy to those who have deeply cultivated their Upper Dantian. In some cases, he can exploit their spirituality, almost as if using the Essence Absorption Great Law through sorcery. He turns the power of the Upper Dantian cultivated by others into the fuel for his own ultimate techniques. In his presence... a top expert who has deeply trained in external martial arts might actually fare better than a peerless master with miraculous techniques. Above all, if things go wrong, it could accelerate the completion of that mysterious sorcery...”
“He is likely not invincible.”
Jeong Yeon-shin, finally speaking, cut her off.
“Among the peerless masters who are discussed when debating the strongest under heaven, I have never heard the name of the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress mentioned.”
“That is likely due to the weakness inherent in those who specialize in sorcery martial arts. They are different from peerless masters who can freely roam the wilderness with their bare bodies. Sorcerers can rarely act unless the timing and environment align perfectly.”
“And the timing aligns now?”
“It may seem so at a glance, but since the Divine Beggar has caught wind of his movements, that will soon change.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the leaders of the Nine Sects will be heading to Hangzhou.”
The revelation that the immortals of the world would take action in unison silenced even the unit commanders of the Desolate Fortress for a brief moment. Ju Se-hwa continued.
“There is no need for the newly appointed Purple Rank to step forward. Dealing with the Strange, Violent, Chaotic, and Supernatural has always been the primary duty of our Nine Sects. You should focus on looking after the people of the world. No matter what rumors reach you from Hangzhou, Lord Jeong, you must not confront the Master of Taemo Mountain Fortress. Even if he summons a flood dragon, the Nine Sects will face him with all our might.”
The Mount Hua Agreement martial tournament.
At the very least, the leaders of the Nine Sects had perceived that the Spirit (神) residing in Jeong Yeon-shin's Upper Dantian was exceptionally massive compared to his overall Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Otherwise, Ju Se-hwa's visit could not be explained.
She and the rest of the Nine Sects truly recognized the new Purple Rank and were genuinely concerned for his safety.
“Furthermore, speaking of sorcery martial arts...”
“...?”
“Be careful of the Heaven-Smiling Invincible. This person, whose gender is unknown and whose exact level of martial arts remains a mystery, has already slaughtered two leaders of the Pure Demon Alliance. A righteous person has no reason to hide their true face, so that individual is clearly a demonic practitioner who worships the Heavenly Demon. One day, they will inevitably clash with the Desolate Fortress in some way.”
The world was drawing closer to Jeong Yeon-shin.
The Nine Sects' warning to look after himself meant nothing. To the newly appointed Purple Rank, it sounded more like an invitation to head to Hangzhou, paying no heed to the risk of getting involved with the Heaven-Smiling Invincible.
He slowly spoke.
“Convey my gratitude to the Perfected Ancient Sword for the advice.”
Rattle.
With a gesture of Jeong Yeon-shin's hand, the carriage moved forward.
“...!”
It was a truly casual gesture. Yet Ju Se-hwa could not take her eyes off Jeong Yeon-shin's right hand.
As if showing her a token of appreciation for her good advice, the hand of the newly appointed Purple Rank was completely bathed in a pure white radiance.
It left a faint, white afterimage in the air as it receded along with the carriage.
Whoosh—
A wind blew.
An extremely auspicious wave of internal power spread in all directions. The white breeze split into several streams, sweeping over the commoners who had followed the carriage.
At the same time, gasps of awe erupted from all around. Wudang's Long Staff felt her legs nearly give way.
It was due to the supreme sensation of pleasure that washed through her, as if her internal acupoints were being washed utterly clean and transparent. It was a sensation she had only felt once before: when she first initiated her training in the Immortal Qi.
The Demon-Slaying Light Trace.
Jeong Yeon-shin had already faced the Heaven-Smiling Invincible. There was no way he hadn't deeply contemplated a technique that could serve as the natural enemy to someone who might become his foe in the future.
And the thoughts of a Grandmaster were bound to manifest as an ultimate technique.
“Th-this is...!”
Just as Ju Se-hwa whipped her head around,
Creak—
It was the sound of hinges.
Having uncharacteristically lost her composure, she was too late. The carriage, flanked by two Black Ranks on each side—four in total—was already disappearing through the gap in the massive castle gates, accompanied by the escorting martial artists.
Thud.
The gates shut firmly.
“...”
The greatest sect under heaven had embraced Jeong Yeon-shin of the Purple Rank.