Chapter 51: The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 51: The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (3)
Beside him, Heonwon Chang lightly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
In that split second, Jeong Yeon-shin found the gesture perfectly understandable. He had just witnessed twenty Blood Master Swords pull identical Thunderbolt Bombs from their satchels.
The sight was utterly surreal. This was the Blood Flame Cult’s answer to an enemy who possessed a martial art that perfectly countered theirs.
They were determined to kill him at any cost. As if applying palm techniques to their throws, their hands blurred, leaving afterimages as they hurled the bombs.
BOOM!
There was no time to shout a warning. Jeong Yeon-shin channeled the Scripture of Initial Overcoming through the fine meridians of his lower body and the acupoints of his spine, kicking off the ground with all his might.
Though he avoided a direct hit, his body was sent flying against his will. His ears rang as if he’d been struck by a blast of fa jin, and it felt as though his very bone marrow was being rattled.
Thud!
His entire body ached. For a brief, terrifying moment, he couldn’t even move.
“Cough, cough!”
As he collapsed and spat out a mouthful of blood, the truth hit him: he had suffered internal injuries. A sharp, stinging pain welled up from deep within his gut.
Boom! Crash! Thud!
The earth rose and fell like waves. The pristine elegance of the Lotus Pavilion was instantly swallowed by a storm of dirt and dust, the groans echoing from all directions adding to the sheer horror of the scene.
Crazy bastards.
The Blood Flame Cult's method for countering the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand wasn't a martial art—it was a meticulously calculated tactic. They had come knowing they stood no chance in a direct clash.
Thunderbolt Bombs. Now that they’ve been declared a wicked cult, they don’t care about the Imperial Court's reaction.
It was just like last time. He recalled the explosion that had crushed the mechanism formations of the Heavenly Sword House. Despite their massive influence, they moved like ghosts, their main headquarters remaining a complete mystery.
These bastards had tracked his movements and followed him here immediately. It was said the Blood Flame Cult's tracking techniques bordered on sorcery. Since they knew the ninth-grade warrior was actually Flash Art, they wouldn't have been careless.
Senior Cheong-myeong mentioned it multiple times.
He remembered Cheong-myeong speaking of the Sichuan Tang Clan, calling them the prestigious family of poisons and hidden weapons. There were no other fire bombs in the world that could explode fast enough to catch a martial artist off guard. These had to be top-grade Thunderbolt Bombs, the kind triggered by internal energy. Were they keeping the Ironfolk imprisoned somewhere, forcing them to manufacture these weapons?
It’s too early to say for sure if they received help from the Tang Clan.
But regardless of who was behind it, these were not common items. Sometimes, a single martial art or weapon was prioritized over the collective power of an entire faction, especially a technique designed to be a fatal counter. Those bastards must have pushed themselves to the limit to acquire these.
Should he be relieved that an Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult hadn't come personally?
Where are Young Hero Heonwon and Shin So-bin?
Jeong Yeon-shin staggered to his feet, his eyes scanning the area. He could feel a familiar energy signature nearby. Through the thick dust, he spotted a figure warily guarding their surroundings. It was Heonwon Chang, who seemed to be benefiting from an extraordinary eye technique.
“What about Shin So-bin?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked via sound transmission.
“She said she was going to spy on Hwangbo Myeong-rin before those bastards arrived,” Heonwon Chang replied instantly, his tone clipped and serious. “She must have headed toward the pavilion.”
The brevity of his words, conveying only the essentials, revealed the gravity of the situation. The Blood Master Swords were closing in, using both swords and Thunderbolt Bombs. Their objective was clear: the annihilation of Flash Art of the Desolate Fortress and the rising stars of the Orthodox sects.
They were rebels using fire bombs for their own private ends. The Imperial Court could very well mobilize a massive army in response, yet those fanatics always embraced such risks. They truly deserved the name of a cult.
Approaching him, Heonwon Chang flinched upon seeing Jeong Yeon-shin's battered state.
“Can you move?”
“To the pavilion,” Jeong Yeon-shin said, his voice short. He immediately began to run alongside Heonwon Chang, concealing their presence as much as possible.
It felt as if his entire body was tearing apart. Though the distance wasn't great, the journey felt agonizingly long.
As they drew closer, avoiding direct clashes, the dust began to thin higher up, granting them a clearer view. They saw Hwangbo Myeong-rin, who had been fleeing the pavilion with the other noble heirs, quietly slip to the very rear of the group.
Shin So-bin was right in front of her.
The moment Shin So-bin, wary of the Blood Flame Cult, exposed her back, Hwangbo Myeong-rin struck. They were at point-blank range. It seemed Hwangbo Myeong-rin had already circulated an immense amount of true qi before the attack; the youngest White-Ranked warrior of the Desolate Fortress failed to react in time and took the full force of the blow.
It was a sneak attack delivered from right behind her. Under the reckless palm strike, Shin So-bin's body bent like a bow and was launched into the air. Since they were at the back of the line, no one else seemed to have witnessed it.
“That—that…!” Heonwon Chang sputtered in fury, but beside him, Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes grew cold.
She’ll hit the lake before I can count to five. The distance is seven zhang. If she falls like that, she'll draw everyone's attention.
In an instant, he analyzed the situation and calculated the distance for his lightness skill. The true qi already circulating throughout his body surged. First came the Chengfu Point—Support and Hold—beneath his buttocks, then the Yinmen Point—Gate of Abundance—on the back of his thigh, and finally the Yongquan Point—Gushing Spring—on the sole of his foot.
He ignored the agonizing pain in his acupoints as they began to rupture.
Crack!
He kicked off the ground using the Desolate Fortress's lightness skill. It was pure, blinding speed. He ran low to the ground like a sweeping gale. In three steps, he reached the edge of the clearing. On his fourth, he tapped the surface of the lake and leaped into the air.
Swoosh!
Shin So-bin of the Shin Clan. Her youthful face, eyes squeezed shut, rapidly grew larger in his vision. Even if she always acted like she knew everything, she was still the precious daughter of a prestigious family. She had likely never experienced a sudden, treacherous sneak attack like this.
She was still conscious. He could feel her breath, and her internal injuries didn't seem too severe.
That's enough.
The true qi of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art surged painfully. It traveled up his back, crossed his shoulders, and flowed down to his forearms, where his internal energy took on the gentle softness of the Moon Spirit Harmony Art.
Reaching out with his left hand, he wrapped his arm around Shin So-bin's waist. With his right, he grabbed the outer railing of the pavilion, spinning them like a falling leaf to redirect and disperse the impact.
Tap.
Even that light landing sent a jolt of pain through him. This was the first time he had been so severely injured since entering the Jianghu.
“Shin So-bin. Kicking technique,” he muttered softly the moment they landed inside the pavilion.
It was said that regardless of her attitude, she followed orders instantly. Shin So-bin, her round eyes wide with surprise, immediately unleashed a wave of energy from her legs. Her waist was slender, making her easy to maneuver. Tucking his junior under his arm, Jeong Yeon-shin swung her like a weapon.
Thud!
A Blood Flame Cultist approaching from the side was struck by her foot and sent rolling. As expected, the Blood Master Swords hadn't come alone. This was a pursuing dragnet. It seemed the legendary Net of Heaven and Earth was being woven right here, starting from the Namgung Clan's territory. Given that they didn't even care about the Imperial Court, was this only natural?
“Thank you… Senior! Are you alright?” Her slender, long eyebrows arched high as she examined him with a look of immense shock.
Jeong Yeon-shin silently shook his head. “Let's go.”
He brushed off her attempt to support him. They had to leave the Lotus Pavilion immediately.
The two of them leaped down together, landing right in the middle of the chaotic battlefield. Heonwon Chang quickly caught up and whispered, “They're coming up from the south.”
“To the northwest. We'll head up along the water.”
“Could it be a trap?” Shin So-bin chimed in. Even in this dire situation, she was rubbing her waist where his arm had been. Was she trying to lighten the mood? She stared straight into his eyes, making no effort to look away, though she didn't approach with her usual boldness. Despite the pain that felt like it was splitting his body apart, he almost laughed.
“We have no choice,” Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly. “Because of the lake, we have to choose one or the other.” It was a decision that would dictate their next move. “Let's move.”
At the command of Flash Art, the Blue-robed Warrior, the three of them immediately began running along the lakeshore. They weren't fleeing blindly; they were heading in the direction where Hwangbo Myeong-rin had gathered her brothers and the other noble family heirs.
The Blood Flame Cult is just a common obstacle.
He forced his body to move, his mind focused. The mission was his top priority. His current physical condition didn't matter. He could not afford to lose track of the Hwangbo Clan.
The distant explosions gradually subsided. No more Thunderbolt Bombs went off. Whether they were conserving them or had simply run out, he couldn't let his guard down.
“It seems they're too busy trying to kill the other rising stars. I feel a bit guilty,” Heonwon Chang remarked.
“The ones piling up sins are the Blood Flame Cult, so why should we feel guilty?” Shin So-bin countered.
After running for a long while, they seemed to have regained some composure. Both of them made valid points. This was the price the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand had to pay. From now on, Flash Art of the Desolate Fortress would have to live with the Blood Flame Cult constantly on his tail. A mixture of anger and guilt swirled within him.
The Blood Flame Cult. Every time I see them, I'll split their skulls open, Jeong Yeon-shin thought calmly.
“There they are!” Heonwon Chang pointed ahead.
Jeong Yeon-shin had already noticed them. It was the rising stars of the Hwangbo Clan and various other local martial aristocrats. None of them seemed injured. Using their swift lightness skills, they were already ascending the path leading into the mountain range. Fleeing was the only logical choice.
It was said that the martial prowess of the best Blood Master Swords reached the Blue Rank of the Desolate Fortress. This made sense, considering the Seventh Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult had matched Ma Jin. Since they were such meticulous and powerful foes, there was no way they lacked mid-level experts.
“Huh? Over there!” A young man, who had been glancing back repeatedly as they climbed, pointed at them. He was pointing at Jeong Yeon-shin's group, disguised as members of the Pursuing Truth Sect.
The rising stars of the noble families turned and halted, waiting until the three members of the Demonlight Wing caught up. For a split second, a frosty gleam seemed to pass through the eyes of Hwangbo Myeong-rin, who stood in their midst.
“What's with that look? Your injuries seem quite severe! Well, as long as your limbs are intact, that's all that matters.” Lazy Flame Dragon spread his arms wide, looking genuinely delighted to see Jeong Yeon-shin. However, the way he was chewing on poppies—as if he carried armfuls of them in his robes—was a bit off-putting. “With this much chaos, our main family from above and the Namgung Clan from below must be on their way. It won't take long. You're someone I want to discuss martial arts with. I'll pull some strings to get you some healing medicine. I have that much authority, even if there are plenty of bastards whispering about my birth.”
“Brother!” Hwangbo Myeong-rin shoved Lazy Flame Dragon aside. Perhaps they were half-siblings; there was no trace of respect in her attitude. She marched straight toward Jeong Yeon-shin.
What should I do? he thought, looking at her. If this were a mission where he didn't have to hide his affiliation with the Desolate Fortress, his current internal injuries wouldn't even be an issue. He could have simply swallowed the Bright-Righteous Pill he received from the Young Divine Monk Gakjeong.
But he hadn't brought it. He had left it with Cheong-myeong, along with his Desolate Fortress Sword. The Shaolin internal healing medicine, which incorporated Brightfolk secret arts, possessed an incredibly strong, pure fragrance. It was potent enough that any expert with reasonably refined senses would recognize it instantly. He had heard through the Desolate Fortress's intelligence network that the Young Divine Monk enjoyed praising others. It was said that Gakjeong traveled across the Jianghu, singing the praises of Flash Art of the Desolate Fortress. Naturally, the existence of the rare Bright-Righteous Pill would also become common knowledge.
“You lowborn wretch.” Hwangbo Myeong-rin glared at him. Her face was smudged with soot from the explosions, yet her innate air of nobility hadn't vanished. Her features were delicate and well-proportioned, making her quite attractive. It would have been even more so if not for her arrogant expression. “You. Who are you really? Those cult swordsmen were clearly targeting you. You said you were from the Pursuing Truth Sect, right? What kind of grudge did you drag here?”
“…”
“Answer me. Do you take me for a fool?”
Jeong Yeon-shin briefly scanned the others around them before slowly opening his mouth. “So you are all heirs of the noble families. I suppose the rising stars of the smaller sects have either died or scattered.”
“Don't change the subject. And don't bluff,” Hwangbo Myeong-rin sneered, her lusterless hair swaying. “I can tell just by looking at your pathetic state. Your internal injuries are plain as day. Do you honestly think you can still show off your meager martial prowess?”
An angered Heonwon Chang and Shin So-bin stepped forward, but Jeong Yeon-shin held out an arm, stopping them. Taking a step forward on his aching feet, he stood face-to-face with Hwangbo Myeong-rin. Their eyes met at point-blank range. Her venomous beauty looked exceptionally ugly to him.
“You tried to use my junior sister as a decoy,” he said. “Back at the Lotus Pavilion.”
The quiet mountain path began to fill with a suffocating tension.