Chapter 487: Wilderness Sunfall (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 487: Wilderness Sunfall (6)
Wilderness Sunfall, Flash Art.
He stood with his foot planted squarely on the chest of a feudatory king recognized by the Late Emperor.
Vrrr!
Beneath his foot, several layers of clay-colored ripples spread outward from Prince Honghwang's back.
It was dust kicked up by an incredibly powerful wave of energy—the propulsion shockwave of Prince Honghwang struggling with all his might to stand up.
It was a force that, if unleashed properly, could have propelled him entirely out of Hangzhou. Yet, he could not lift his upper body even a single inch.
It wasn't even a specific counter-technique.
Jeong Yeon-shin's long leg simply remained as immovable as a giant boulder, frozen in the exact position it had struck during their initial clash.
Whoosh!
His reddish-purple robes fluttered in the howling gale. Caught in the sunlight, the long garment gleamed with a brilliant crimson hue.
"..."
It was a brilliantly bright day. The midday sun poured down its relentless heat.
"Ha!"
A dumbfounded gasp escaped from one side. It was Jin-mu, the prodigy of the Qingcheng Sect, who had been incessantly pestering the experts of the Desolate Fortress. With a dazed expression, he stared at Jeong Yeon-shin, his hand loosely clutching the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Meanwhile, a heavy silence descended upon the eight groups that had previously been lined up in a leisurely manner.
Flags bearing their respective names fluttered in the quiet. Ak Su-rim, who had been facing the forces of the two royal palaces, slammed her spear down with a sharp thud! and used it as a vaulting pole to flip backward through the air.
Tap.
Breaking the silence, she landed gracefully in front of Jeong Yeon-shin.
Her movement positioned her perfectly to block the martial arts army of Prince Honghwang's palace, who had raised their spears in unison. Glancing back at her young superior, Ak Su-rim's lips pressed into a tight, sour line.
"This goes beyond just looking alike..."
It was a mutter that would never reach Jeong Yeon-shin's ears. At that moment, he was instead glancing back at Cheong-myeong.
"Why did you hold back?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly.
"He was quite strong, as expected of a Ju."
Cheong-myeong laughed, brushing the dust off his trouser cuffs. The Blue-Eyed Demon Sword of the Demonlight Wing. True to his moniker, the one-eyed Brightfolk swordsman wearing a blue bandana sheathed his sword with a soft shring.
This was not the demeanor of a mere Blue Rank.
It was a presence reassuring enough to put Jeong Yeon-shin—the future Commander of the Demonlight Wing—at ease. Cheong-myeong had achieved the stage of Great Completion in the Vast Art Formula, a technique mastered by only a select few in the Desolate Fortress.
Having previously had his inner spirit fiercely triggered by the rumors of Jeong Yeon-shin's death, Cheong-myeong now possessed more than enough capability to lead the Demonlight Wing on his own.
It was then.
"Lord Jeong, there seems to be some misunderstanding...!"
A middle-aged man clad in blue official robes stepped forward from the ranks of Prince Honghwang's palace.
"Our palace has no intention of opposing the Desolate Fortress! We only heard that a Purple Rank saved Hangzhou, and as a king, His Highness merely wished to commend your hard work and inquire after your well-being...!"
From a distance, Heonwon Chang grumbled.
"The Blue-Eyed Demon Sword is the next Commander of the Demonlight Wing, and Lord Jeong once even took him as a sword mentor. If the royal palace inquires after our well-being twice, an entire martial unit of the Divine Sword Corps will end up pulverized. This is too terrifying to bear..."
Because his voice was fully infused with deep internal energy, it carried clearly across the distance, securing a favorable pretext without even needing to engage in direct dialogue. The middle-aged man from Prince Honghwang's palace fell silent.
"Honghwang went too far."
A languid voice rang out.
It came from the direction of the two royal palaces that Ak Su-rim had been blocking.
Rustle.
Prince Jeong, dressed in a dark blue disguise similar to Prince Honghwang's, stepped down from his palanquin. He clicked his tongue with an easygoing air.
"I knew that competitive streak of his would cause a major disaster one day. He should have chosen his battleground more wisely before making a move."
He, too, possessed long, pointed ears and spoke in an archaic manner. His face was undeniably handsome, but the gaze sweeping over Jeong Yeon-shin at this moment was deeply sunken and devoid of color.
Prince Jeong.
He was a man highly skilled in military strategy.
Particularly famous was the incident from a decade ago, where he cut off the lifelines of the notorious pirate masters on the vast Poyang Lake, surrounded them with his martial arts army, and utterly annihilated them.
It was said that the entire operation had been carried out as smoothly as flowing water, yet with absolute thoroughness.
"I am Ju Tae-il."
He spoke in a heavy voice that matched his imposing presence. A king who ruled over a major region of Jiangxi. Jeong Yeon-shin stared at him quietly before slowly bringing his hands together in greeting.
"I am the Flash Art of the Jeong Clan."
Despite the shocking intrusion, he showed a decent level of courtesy. This was evident from how he introduced himself using the courtesy title given to him by the Lord of the Desolate Fortress instead of his actual name.
It would have been a picture-perfect scene, had he not still been pinning Prince Honghwang beneath his foot.
Prince Jeong pursed his lips briefly before speaking.
"I always thought you were a man I must meet at least once, but I never expected us to meet in this manner. It is also surprising to hear that the Eternal Candle Divine Physician treated you."
"May I ask what your business is?" the Wilderness Sunfall cut straight to the point.
This was an insolence that would never be tolerated from any ordinary martial artist, especially since he was speaking to none other than a feudatory king.
Yet, Prince Jeong merely glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin's long robe, which shimmered with gold and purple light, and let out a deliberately hearty laugh.
"There are those who mislead the public by claiming that the sword of this nation has been broken, so I came to see for myself. Now that I behold it with my own eyes, far from being broken, its edge is razor-sharp. As expected, rumors are not to be trusted."
"Is that all?"
"What else could there be? This land has long been a hollow shell due to those northern demonfolk. Nothing is more important than the well-being of the one who guards the harsh wilderness."
Prince Jeong smoothly evaded the Wilderness Sunfall's question.
To begin with, there had only ever been one king of Prince Jeong's palace throughout history. Thanks to his strong inheritance of the noble clan's bloodline, he had never tasted death since the founding of the palace.
Naturally, his worldly wisdom was as flexible as his archaic speech and behavior.
He is even worse than Ma Yeon-jeok. How can he stand there in broad daylight, pinning down a feudatory king—not some eunuch—for all to see...
Was he relying on the chaotic times and his rare status in the world?
Seeing the Wilderness Sunfall staring back with clear, unblinking eyes, Prince Jeong inwardly shook his head. He could detect no hidden motives.
There was no sign of him trying to plot anything political using his status as a Purple Rank. It was simply his nature that was the problem.
"My body is perfectly fine."
At Jeong Yeon-shin's flat remark, Prince Jeong smiled and nodded. Yet, a chill seemed to creep up the back of his neck, as if summoned by that indifferent voice. It was incredibly eerie.
"Indeed. Your body belongs not just to you, but to this entire nation. Please cherish it."
"...Thank you for your kind words."
Once again, the Wilderness Sunfall brought his hands together.
It was an incredibly polite arching hand salute. As a gesture of respect toward an elder or a king, it was flawless. However, Prince Jeong's ancient instincts told him that this was a polite dismissal.
It was a feeling he had never received from anyone other than the Emperor.
"I, too, have had my eyes opened by seeing your famous face. You are surprising in many ways. Truly surprising."
Clasping his hands behind his back with elegant poise, Prince Jeong stepped back onto his palanquin in the exact manner he had descended. He walked backward without turning around even slightly—the exact opposite of a forward footwork technique.
Watching him quietly, the Wilderness Sunfall spoke.
"We shall let martial artists settle the matters of martial artists. Your Highness may put your worries to rest."
"Worries? Hardly. Ever since I heard the rumors about you, I have rarely worried about the nation's security. I have never doubted the grand flight of the Desolate Fortress."
Soon after, Prince Jeong added in a deliberately relaxed tone.
"Take care of yourself. I wish you long-lasting health and victory."
"...If ruling the land bestowed upon you by the Late Emperor ever becomes too overwhelming, you may contact the main fortress at any time."
"I appreciate the sentiment. It makes me want to send a matchmaker to the Desolate Fortress at any moment."
"I have no intention of starting a family yet..."
"That is understandable. Even in my case, my father passed away early when I was young, and in my immaturity, I resented him to no end. You are a hero who possesses not only righteousness and martial prowess but also a deep sense of responsibility."
Prince Jeong was about to naturally withdraw when he paused. For some reason, the Wilderness Sunfall's jade-carved face had darkened with a gloomy expression.
He felt it instinctively. The slight goodwill they had built up through their brief, casual exchange had somehow crumbled like a sandcastle.
"Let us depart quickly. We have left the palace empty for too long."
Prince Jeong did not bother to guess the reason. It was the same logic as trying to deeply analyze natural disasters like droughts, floods, earthquakes, the Hegemon Hero, or landslides—no solution would come of it anyway.
With an elegant gesture, he signaled the flag bearer of his martial arts army to retreat.
"Unless there is a particularly auspicious occasion, there will be no need for you to step foot in Jiangxi. I shall govern it so that it remains that way."
Clip-clop.
Countless hooves blended into the low-hanging dust. Having left a quiet promise with the Wilderness Sunfall of the Desolate Fortress, Prince Jeong turned his palanquin and departed, accompanied by his escorting martial arts army.
Thus, one corner of the eight groups departed.
A dusty wind silently filled the empty space.
"..."
The royal palaces, ruling over the land with supreme status.
The Desolate Fortress, maintaining public order across the nation against those with transcendent martial prowess.
Their relationship was bound to clash. At times, this even led to clashes of martial arts.
Because their dealings usually required strict secrecy, only rumors circulated. However, the presence of the three royal palaces alone had previously kept Ak Su-rim and the rest of the Desolate Fortress group from making any significant moves.
For they knew that the feudatory kings had arrived in person.
Moreover, it was a chaotic era of great upheaval.
At this juncture, a visit from the royal palaces to the Desolate Fortress was almost inevitable. Yet, Prince Jeong's palace, famous for its military strategy, had vanished after barely observing the Wilderness Sunfall.
This carried immense significance.
The Gwanheo Merchant Guild and the Four Provinces Martial Arts Alliance grew restless. Unlike Prince Jeong, they had no plausible pretext to put forward.
They had come driven by self-interest and competitiveness in the first place. Furthermore, contrary to the rumors, the Wilderness Sunfall's body was perfectly intact.
"My uncle from Jiangxi said everything I wanted to say."
A woman's voice. It was the third and final royal palace.
King Yunmyeong, who ruled the northern part of Fujian Province, did not even dismount from her fine steed as she nodded toward Jeong Yeon-shin. Blade-like ears protruded from both sides of her head, where her hair was tied up beneath a broad crown.
"I am Ju So-ryeong of Yunmyeong."
Immediately after, she turned her horse around simply by stroking its neck.
It was the mystical horsemanship unique to the Brightfolk. A tiny gesture had perfectly conveyed her intent. The Wilderness Sunfall, who had been scanning the area with dry eyes, showed a slight glint in his gaze for the first time.
"Are you leaving already?"
"I have confirmed your well-being, so that is enough. Judging by your temperament, it seems we only need to fulfill our designated duties."
"That horsemanship."
"Hmm?"
"I have heard that the demonfolk's mounted martial arts are the greatest in the world. How does it compare to Your Highness's horsemanship?"
"How unusual. To receive a question about martial arts from a Purple Rank."
King Yunmyeong's lips curved into a faint smile.
"The mounted martial arts of the demonfolk, you say."
Stroking her chin, she spoke slowly.
"That is not martial arts. It is a method by which monsters in human skin turn horses into cannons."
"Not martial arts...?"
The Wilderness Sunfall asked blankly. King Yunmyeong, who had now turned her horse almost completely around, nodded over her shoulder.
"Yes, it is a tactic. It shares the same roots as martial arts in that it utilizes internal energy, but what it pursues is clearly different. Perhaps it is different for someone of your caliber, like the Five Great Swords of the World, but I hear other martial artists accustomed to fighting on their own two feet are easily swept away by a tidal wave of warhorses. The experts of the Desolate Fortress would be no exception. At any rate, as one who guards the border, this is all I know."
"...Thank you for broadening my horizons. But are you truly not going to enter the manor...?"
The moment the Wilderness Sunfall reached a hand out behind him, King Yunmyeong stroked her horse's neck once more.
Snorting instantly, the steed began to gallop with a fierce clatter of hooves. Following her, the martial arts army of King Yunmyeong's palace sheathed their spears and swords, retreating like an ebbing tide.
"If you ever damage your dantian one day, come marry me."
The feudatory king's parting words, delivered in a formal tone, lingered before the now-empty gates of the Mok Manor. From the side, Heonwon Chang snorted.
"No matter how terrifying his martial prowess and personality are, his face is still highly coveted, it seems. Powerful people are always..."
"...?"
Glancing at Heonwon Chang with a puzzled look, the Wilderness Sunfall suddenly applied force to his leg. Instantly, the ground beneath him exploded with a deafening roar.
Boom!
Amidst the thick dust, Prince Honghwang's eyes rolled back.
The propulsion shockwave he had conjured in a final attempt to escape his pinned position had been instantly crushed. Looking down, the Wilderness Sunfall slowly parted his lips.
"When the will of the Late Emperor is forged into a sword, it becomes purple. As a feudatory king, you dared to speak of deciding the life and death of a Desolate Fortress martial artist for your own private ends. Therefore, the punishment for your treason falls to me. Have you put your affairs in order?"
"..."
"And what is your business?" he suddenly asked, raising his head.
The martial arts army of the Assistant Military Commander, the Gwanheo Merchant Guild, the Grand Coordinator's entourage from Zhejiang Province, the Four Provinces Martial Arts Alliance, and the imperial envoy holding high a golden flag embroidered with the character 'Ming' (明).
There are needlessly many of them.
Jeong Yeon-shin, the Wilderness Sunfall, felt the chaotic challenge of the world. His first journey into the Jianghu as a Purple Rank—specifically, his life-and-death duel with the Lord of Heaven's Bane—had been the starting point.
The government, the merchant world, the Murim, and foreign invasions.
Most of them were masters of martial arts. As one of the highest leaders of the Desolate Fortress, Jeong Yeon-shin was in a position where he had to encompass them all. It was an overwhelming burden for a youth of barely eighteen.
Prince Jeong and King Yunmyeong were different from my first impressions. They were good people.
He was inwardly tense. Could he govern the world with just a few words? Even Jegal Muhu of Shu Han had found that difficult.
"I must pay my respects to the envoy first."
Jeong Yeon-shin brought his hands together while pinning Prince Honghwang's abdomen with one leg. True to a master of the Ju family, the man beneath his foot clung tenaciously to consciousness.
At the same time, more than half of the remaining groups cast their eyes downward. It was as if their business had been folded away before they could even speak of it.
Quite literally, they looked ready to turn back the moment they found a plausible excuse.