Chapter 521: Sunset (12)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 521: Sunset (12)
Dealing with the aftermath of a war always took far longer than the war itself, a truth especially pronounced in times of chaos.
Lost military strength, shattered fortresses and weapons, supply lines that had been all but severed during the fighting—these immense losses had to be replenished somehow.
Moreover, the Desolate Fortress was the largest sect in the world, and that was precisely its weakness. Just as failing to properly distribute supplies during a famine could cripple a nation, mismanaging their recovery from the Great Sect War could prove disastrous. They simply had too much to lose.
At that moment, while everyone was distracted by the cleanup, no one paid any mind to the sunlight that rippled like water for a brief second.
Countless masters had unleashed their dense True Qi during the Great War of the Desolate Fortress, so it was only natural for the light and the surrounding terrain to remain distorted even after the battle had ended.
However, a faint resonance echoed in the ears of Grand Steward Im Jin-myeong.
—This is the commander from two generations past. I must urgently pass a secret technique to the Acting Commander, so just know that a Purple Rank has manifested in the main fortress once more. I realized I forgot something incredibly important, and it cannot be fully conveyed in just an hour or two.
The voice was a woman's, confident to the point of arrogance, and it was transmitted with an exquisitely delicate control of internal energy.
The streets of the Inner Castle of the Desolate Fortress were packed with powerful masters. Their eyes were bloodshot, each of them hungry to extract some benefit from the Fortress.
They cloaked themselves in a veneer of dignity befitting their respective statuses, but an oppressive tension had quietly begun to fill the area.
"Is that man in charge of all the affairs here?"
"It is highly likely. The position of Grand Steward of the Desolate Fortress has historically been the one to wield the Fortress's power over the Jianghu... Not only that, but the whereabouts and future movements of the Purple Ranks must all be known to him."
"In that case, does that include the marriage of Lord Jeong, the Flash Art, who has no prominent family to speak of...?"
They whispered as if they wanted to be overheard.
No one else reacted to the woman's telepathic transmission; eavesdropping had been fundamentally blocked. Im Jin-myeong, however, lacked the skill to reply in kind and so kept his mouth shut.
He thought, Where on earth did she go? And what is this urgent thing she must pass down to Lord Jeong...?
Not even half a day had passed since the Great War of the Desolate Fortress had ended. Im Jin-myeong's Upper Dantian was still overheated, making it extremely difficult for him to formulate a proper response in time.
Shin Cheon-hwa, the former-former Commander of the Divine Sword Corps. The time allotted for her manifestation had long since passed. She had even temporarily left the range of the wide-area formation that maintained the Nascent Soul of a former Commander before returning. Indeed, many things were shrouded in mystery.
However, some of those present seemed to misunderstand his silence. Prince Jeong appeared to be among them.
"You must think I have come to make an unreasonable demand. Or perhaps you are thinking of my lack of shame."
Prince Jeong spoke as he stroked his smooth, indigo sleeve. His voice was calm and gentle. Im Jin-myeong did not bother to deny his words, because they were the truth.
Prince Jeong slowly tilted his head from side to side, then offered a faint smile.
"The position of Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Corps is highly ambiguous, especially when considering the power and authority granted to Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art. Shouldn't we naturally lend strength to his legitimacy?"
His low baritone was accompanied by gestures that subtly invited the crowd's agreement. It was the bearing of one born to nobility.
At this moment, none of the guests filling the vicinity openly agreed with his words, but conversely, no one sought to oppose Prince Jeong either.
Only then did Im Jin-myeong see right through them. He understood what they had all been thinking while watching the Great War of the Desolate Fortress.
This was a world where one had to protect oneself—a state of affairs where the law of the jungle ruled, just as the ancient Tang Dynasty scholar Han Yu had written. The powerful tyrants of the Jianghu no longer cared for the authority of the state.
And then there was the Desolate Fortress. Having won a massive victory, it now possessed the raw influence to sway the entire world. Yet there were also rulers who found it difficult to blindly trust such a martial force.
The Great Sect War of the Desolate Fortress was just one facet of the chaotic times that had now fully arrived. It was the final proof that the state of the world had fundamentally changed.
These people...?
Im Jin-myeong's brow furrowed.
They were like crows flocking to ruins in search of prey. They sought to obtain what they wanted through subtle yet intense pressure, and they did so precisely when Jeong Yeon-shin had vanished to parts unknown.
"Therefore," Prince Jeong Ju Tae-il, the man who least trusted the Divine Sword Corps that Jeong Yeon-shin would lead, continued, "I propose a marriage alliance."
"...!"
"You should be able to push this forward."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If the successor of the Prince Jeong Manor, the Ocean-Sword County Princess, is wed to Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art, I am willing to relocate my manor to the Desolate Fortress at any time. Yes, the Desolate Jeong Clan, which will revere the Flash Art as its ancestor, will be established. Along with the Ju bloodline. Naturally, it will not just be the first clan of the Desolate Fortress, but will aim to become the greatest family under heaven."
It was a truly unprecedented proposal. It meant incorporating a future prince's manor into the Desolate Fortress. In other words, he was offering to lower his own head. Sharp intakes of breath could be heard from all around.
Even the eyebrows of Im Jin-myeong, whose expression had been as rigid as an unpainted iron pagoda, twitched. Yet Prince Jeong continued, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art, led today's battle to victory. No powerful figure or imperial relative would dare object to him commanding the mighty force that is the Divine Sword Corps right now. However, if he remains in the position of Acting Commander for too long, dissent is bound to arise from all sides. Those who love to find fault might try to drag a young Purple Rank down from that seat."
Perhaps intending to seal the deal, Prince Jeong's speech began to cross the line.
Im Jin-myeong immediately interjected. "You seem to be interfering too deeply in the affairs of our fortress."
But Prince Jeong brushed off his words with a strange smile. "I spoke of legitimacy earlier. Yes... he lacks legitimacy. It has been far too long since Ma Yeon-jeok and Yong Hee-myung showed their faces. No one is in a position to officially certify his status as Acting Commander, especially when a battle of such magnitude has just taken place."
—And I am aware that the Castle Lord also has personal issues.
The last sentence was a telepathic transmission.
"..."
Im Jin-myeong suddenly became acutely aware of the presences around him. Had they really all come to push for a marriage alliance with Jeong Yeon-shin? The noble onlookers were showing signs of either agreeing with or being wary of Prince Jeong's words.
As if things weren't complicated enough, a request had already arrived from the King of Fathomless Light, who had traveled to Beijing, stating, "Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art, must not leave Xiangyang."
Repeated famines within the borders. An imperial court that had failed to completely suppress the Northern Jianghu. And even the Fighting God, whose whereabouts were unknown.
Just as chaotic times were about to truly arrive, they all sought to grasp the sword known as Jeong Yeon-shin.
The Divine Sword Corps of the Desolate Fortress possessed enough military might to overturn the entire empire—a power more than capable of surviving on its own in an era of chaos.
Prince Jeong's final words proved exactly that.
"It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of this nation rests upon the one who moves the Divine Sword Corps. Since His Imperial Majesty has also discussed his whereabouts, I, as a long-standing member of the Ju imperial family, have the right to discuss the whereabouts of Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art. I can also lend weight to his status and authority, so that he may freely roam the entire world even while holding the immense power of the Divine Sword Corps in one hand... Ah!"
Suddenly stopping mid-sentence, he looked around and smiled broadly. "I have kept our precious host to myself for too long. If any of you have something to say, speak up. Right here, in this place."
A slight emphasis was placed on his final words. Everyone understood. He was implying that it would be best for them not to step forward if possible.
However, just as Prince Jeong had come to exploit Jeong Yeon-shin's influence, which now cast a shadow over all of Xiangyang, the other guests cared little for the prince's mood. They were powerful figures of the world who had every reason to act that way.
"We have urgent matters to discuss, yet this has suddenly turned into a competition," a woman with a relaxed, smiling gaze said as she stepped forward. "As you know, I am Geum Yak-ran, the leader of the Huizhou Merchants' Daecheon Gang, which recently formed an alliance."
The subtle, glossy sheen of her green silk robes suited her exceptionally well, and she had layered an intangible energy over her entire body. This was likely because there was no one she could trust. In this world, if a merchant learned martial arts half-heartedly, they would be plundered not only by the escorts they trusted but even by their own porters. Her presence was a testament to the kind of business the guests had come for.
"I shall speak without reservation," she declared. "I wish to personally enter into a lifelong marriage covenant with Lord Jeong. As the Grand Steward well knows, a ten-year age gap is nothing when considering a lifetime."
"..."
"If you accept, I will build a fortress of the exact same size and utility as this Desolate Fortress in Southern Zhili, and fill it entirely with rogue swordsmen of the highest caliber. It will become a force that answers solely to Lord Jeong's command. I will put my full strength into it."
Proposals that defied imagination continued to pour in. This was not an act of malice; they were simply individuals who saw exactly what the Desolate Fortress needed.
Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art, may have symbolized the chaos with his overwhelming presence, but he wasn't the only new powerhouse to emerge. Geum Yak-ran was just one of many.
An excommunicant from the lineage of the God Thief spoke up. "I have discovered the hiding place of the Brightfolk hermits. There were countless spirit beasts there. Lord Jeong... no, I do not even dare hope for Lord Jeong. I merely wish to share a cup of tea with the Grand Steward."
Next was King Yunmyeong, who ruled the northern part of the wealthy Fujian province. "Prince Jeong put forward his daughter, but I am willing to stand by the Flash Art's side myself. I will specially bestow the surname Ju upon his child. Staking my royal title, I can even write a poem declaring that the Divine Sword: Lingering Thunder is on par with the Sword of Divine Attainment, and post it throughout the land."
The offers poured in relentlessly. Even members of the royal manors, like King Yunmyeong Ju So-ryeong, were particularly talkative.
"If there is an age gap of about a hundred years, there will be no discord within the family. There is not even a need to divine good or bad fortune through four pillars and eight characters. I intend to cast out the concubines of my manor and recognize him alone as my primary husband."
Im Jin-myeong's head began to throb.
These people desired Jeong Yeon-shin's shadow, and each of their proposals struck like a powerful shockwave of Fa Jin. They proposed deals in all sorts of ways, cleverly avoiding the declaration Jeong Yeon-shin had made in Hangzhou—that if they acted rashly, they would be treated no differently from the Jianghu sects. They did not take commoners hostage. They thoroughly targeted only what the Desolate Fortress and Jeong Yeon-shin needed.
"I am different," a giant of a man boomed. "I have come to retrieve my family's fist manual. I speak of the secret manual left behind by the Eon Family's Number One Fist, the Duke of Eminent Fists Eon Hwa-ryeon."
Im Jin-myeong recognized his face. It was Eon Gi-bo, known as Seven Fists Without Peril, the man who had lost the succession battle to his nephew, the Eon Family Fist Dragon. True to his moniker, he was a martial artist said to be incapable of finding himself in danger before throwing seven punches.
"I did not come empty-handed," Eon Gi-bo continued. "Once, my sister... the Duke of Eminent Fists, attempted to weave the Unified Martial Transcendence based on her experience of facing Lord Jeong's 'Brilliant River'. I intend to give Lord Jeong the letter I received from my sister at that time. Of course, it might not be a grand gift to one of the Five Great Swords of the World, but my sister's insight regarding fists and palms once even astonished the Sword Saint, Hyeon So-baek. It will surely be of help."
To all of this, Im Jin-myeong stood blankly in silence. The martial artists of the Desolate Fortress, who had rushed over due to the commotion, did not dare to approach. Every single one of these guests was an illustrious figure who could not be treated lightly.
Beijing was currently in an extremely sensitive state, with Emperor Geonreung, the Northern Jianghu, the gathering of the Thirteen Heavens of the Wicked Way, and uprisings of local aristocrats breaking out across the land. No matter how powerful Jeong Yeon-shin was, if he suppressed them by force here, his position as Acting Commander would likely be jeopardized. How many kings and county princesses of the Ju family were present?
This was why Im Jin-myeong could not act rashly. Even the Hegemon Hero, Ma Yeon-jeok, had never lived through a time when imperial power fluctuated so wildly. Even if Yong Hee-myung returned, he would have to shoulder an immense political burden and might even be dismissed immediately. This was the limitation of the Desolate Fortress, which was rooted in the empire's imperial family and the livelihoods of the common people.
A few guests who hadn't yet spoken glanced at Im Jin-myeong and whispered.
"It's a checkmate."
"The burden must be substantial. It would actually be better if Lord Jeong did not show up. Rather than losing face by being unable to do anything..."
Im Jin-myeong silently agreed. For a rare, young Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Corps—a powerful figure with such a long future ahead of him—there were responsibilities and a certain dignity to maintain. He had to preserve his position. Only someone on the verge of an early death would be free from such heavy burdens.
Hmm...?
In that instant, Im Jin-myeong's head tilted slightly to the side.
A booming voice poured down along with the sunlight.
[This is quite the feast. You have indeed brought so much.]
"...!"
The crowd's heads snapped upward. No one had sensed that presence.
High in the sky, toward the long mountain ridges dyed a reddish hue by the setting sun, stood the silhouette of a woman, her hair fluttering in the wind.
[By rule, supplies taste best when taken from enemy territory, but this is quite fresh as well. To think they would roll in on their own. Hmm? You over there, is the crown of your head doing all right?]
Faint concentric circles erupted from the bodies of Prince Jeong, the Ocean-Sword County Princess, Geum Yak-ran, King Yunmyeong, Eon Gi-bo, and the other guests who had stood by as bystanders to preserve their strength during the Great War. It was the swift activation of the Body Protection Scripture.
[Chug-yeok. Mi-ok.]
Rumble!
Instantly, rocks shot up from the ground like icicles, binding them. A deafening crash like shattering glass rang out as their respective Body Protection Qi was completely shattered.
Fragments of True Qi silently seeped into the twilight. A few among them coughed up mouthfuls of blood, struck by a blow that penetrated to the very bone.
"How...?!"
Even before the shock could fully register on their faces, Im Jin-myeong turned his gaze to one side.
Before he knew it, Cheon So-so was standing blankly on a nearby roof, holding onto the hem of Jeong Yeon-shin's sleeve. The Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit had stopped the Acting Commander from stepping forward, and Jeong Yeon-shin had been unable to shake off her hand—likely due to the internal injuries his senior had suffered during the Great Sect War.
"I'm not doing anything. Seriously, let go."
[Hand it all over.]
The voices of the two Purple Ranks overlapped.
Screeech!
At the same time, the cry of a bird echoed from afar.