Chapter 54: The Hwangbo Clan (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: The Hwangbo Clan (2)
Jeong Yeon-shin looked down at Hwangbo Myeong-rin's corpse, then raised his head.
"This guy isn't even resisting," Cheong-myeong said. Shrugging, he kicked the back of Lazy Flame Dragon's knees.
Forced to his knees, Lazy Flame Dragon grinned and looked up at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"The gig is up. If you came here knowing everything, it means the annihilation of our clan. A Blue-robed Warrior? I never could have guessed your true identity."
Stoned on poppies since their very first meeting, the man was truly out of his mind. Even though his half-sister's head had just been severed, he didn't seem to care in the slightest.
Whether it was because he had suffered endless contempt as a concubine's son elevated to young master, or simply because he was insane, it was impossible to tell.
The Solar Divine Pulse.
Was the pain of one's acupoints constantly searing truly beyond imagination? Though it had been apparent from their first meeting, Lazy Flame Dragon was a complete madman. Even as the young master of the Hwangbo Clan, he seemed to have been living purely out of inertia.
"What was that sword art? It was a strike I've never even heard of. What inner cultivation method did you learn? Tell me."
"Your sister was just sent to the afterlife by my sword," Jeong Yeon-shin replied.
"I don't care about those dull bastards. They lived in a different world. I doubt they ever even thought of me as a sibling, and the feeling was mutual. Now that the family is on the brink of ruin, there's no need to walk on eggshells around the elders. Gugwa—no, Flash Art! I want to know all of your martial arts!"
Lazy Flame Dragon forced a manic smile, his eyes shadowed. Now, it was certain. He had been completely driven mad by martial arts and chronic pain.
Jeong Yeon-shin ignored his rambling, lightly brushing the hilts of his Desolate Fortress Sword and Northern Light Sword in turn.
The Hwangbo Clan's escort guard was merely a prelude. This long journey had only just begun. It was a mission to strike down the Eight Great Families.
‘They said annihilation wouldn't be achieved through a single, short battle.’
The Hwangbo Clan was a massive local power. It was said their influence extended far beyond their main estate in Jinan, Shandong Province. With their numerous branch families and offices, they ruled over Jinan like royalty, secretly exploiting the common people.
Their true strength could not be judged by a single escort guard. They were a formidable faction equipped with an Elder's Council and elite experts.
He had heard that all of the Eight Great Families and the Nine Sects were like this. They were formidable enemies armed with a diverse array of martial arts—enough to fill Jeong Yeon-shin with a sense of burning anticipation.
‘A sword form to deflect Thunderbolt Bombs, an inner cultivation method with rapid Qi accumulation, a sword style that proves effective in one-versus-many combat...’
His sword style had already established its framework as a martial art. All that remained was adapting it for real combat.
Amidst the carnage, Jeong Yeon-shin gently closed his eyes. He hoped to perfect both his anti-Thunderbolt Bomb sword form and a new inner cultivation method over the course of this single mission.
* * *
"You've worked hard."
"Thanks to you, we can finally wrap up this long-standing mission."
The senior experts ruffled the hair of Jeong Yeon-shin, Heonwon Chang, and Shin So-bin.
While Shin So-bin grimaced in disgust, Jeong Yeon-shin asked Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo about what had happened while they were apart. He only managed to ask after Baek Mi-ryeo had already grabbed him by both shoulders, thoroughly checking his body for wounds.
"As for us, we were startled out of our wits when we heard about what happened at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Who would have thought they'd fling Thunderbolt Bombs around like that? We practically ran here with our feet on fire using our lightness skills," Cheong-myeong said.
"Once you reach the Blue Rank, you must be able to deal with fire bombs as well. I will teach you how to operate the forms of the Demonlight Formula," he added, with Baek Mi-ryeo nodding in agreement.
Even if there was no formal master-disciple relationship within the Desolate Fortress, human bonds were a different matter entirely. Jeong Yeon-shin felt that the Demonlight Wing was his true sect. Cheong-myeong's grinning face was proof enough of that.
The same went for Baek Mi-ryeo, who looked at him warmly after demonstrating a palm technique that drew gentle circles in the air.
"This is a technique of the Harmony Realm. Its nature is fundamentally different from Fa Jin, which forcefully projects True Qi. You've probably heard the phrase 'Softness Overcomes Hardness,' right? Overcoming strength with gentleness. If you coat your sword or fists with an internal energy barrier, you can even deflect fire bombs. I'll show you as many times as you need, so feel free to ask until you master it."
"I've already thought of that."
"Hmm?"
"I am curious about a few applied stances, but I think I have a grasp on the basics. I would like you to take a look."
"..."
Meanwhile, the surroundings were noisy. The dantians of the Hwangbo Clan's escort guards—those who had surrendered instead of fighting to the death—were being shattered.
The lower dantian was a vital center that influenced the acupoints and fine meridians of the entire body. Destroying it wouldn't just disperse their internal energy; it would cripple them entirely.
"K-Urgh!"
"Heu-up!"
Many rolled on the ground in agony, but no one paid them any mind. These were men who had raised the white flag instead of fighting to the death alongside their comrades. Naturally, no one in the Jianghu looked upon them with kindness.
Several people, including Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo, were excluded from this gruesome chore. Officially, it was because they had been tasked with scouting.
The same went for Jeong Yeon-shin, Heonwon Chang, and Shin So-bin. Their arduous journey through the Jianghu from the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering until now was officially recognized as a major contribution.
"Destroying a dantian isn't something just anyone can do. It has to be done by a Blue Rank with deep internal cultivation. It's a surprisingly tedious chore," Cheong-myeong explained. "Once we capture them, they're prisoners, so we can't just kill them. During battle, their lives are at our discretion, but once it's over, we hand them over to the local government. We let them face the judgment of the Ming Imperial Family."
Jeong Yeon-shin and Heonwon Chang nodded slowly.
The Desolate Fortress was an organization with a clear, strict hierarchy. The task of dealing with the surviving enemies was left to the White-Ranked Warriors who had arrived late. Gathering the corpses, searching for identification plaques to verify identities, and temporarily burying the dead—the aftermath of a battle was never an easy task.
Meanwhile, the rising stars of other clans gathered in silence. The eyes that glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin and the rest of the Demonlight Wing were devoid of light. They wore the same expressions as Hegemon Sword Hwangbo Jun just before he died at the hands of the Commander of the Demonlight Wing. Their complexions were deathly pale.
"I'm envious all over again. It feels like just yesterday we took the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam together, but now, Young Hero Jeong is my superior."
Heonwon Chang shook his head as he looked at the corpses. If he hadn't already completed a prior mission, he might have been the one tasked with cleaning up this mess.
Jeong Yeon-shin stared at him blankly before speaking. "May I say something as a Blue Rank?"
"Hmm?"
"You can stop picking at this. You don't have to do it for me, Young Hero Heonwon. I stayed quiet because I thought you might find it awkward, but it's actually a bit embarrassing. I'd rather do it myself."
Jeong Yeon-shin said, tapping just below his shoulder. It was the spot where the character 'Hwang' was embroidered.
Instantly, Heonwon Chang's face grew visibly dejected. "It is one of my few pleasures in life... Must you take even that away from me?"
"What in the..."
They were afforded the leisure to share some light banter. It was a rare, pleasant moment.
By the time the dry plains, transitioning into spring, were heated by the midday sun, the disposal of Lazy Flame Dragon and the second young master emerged as a pressing issue.
"I believe it is best to kill them," Cheong-myeong said with a smirk. Perhaps it was because he was of the Brightfolk, a people known to be aloof anywhere under heaven. Even in front of three unit commanders, he didn't hesitate in the slightest. Jeong Yeon-shin thought it was just like him.
"Aren't they a future threat? A Solar Divine Pulse has witnessed the martial arts of three of the Desolate Fortress's martial units. If we carelessly take him prisoner and he escapes, it will be a headache. He might even devise counter-techniques."
"There is some truth to that, but..."
A swordsman with a solemn impression nodded. It was the Commander of the Azure Sky Unit. Thanks to his tall stature and exceptionally long arms, he was a figure said to be born destined to become a master of the sword.
It was then.
"Demonlight Wing!"
Lazy Flame Dragon shouted, throwing his head back. His glistening, manic eyes locked solely onto Jeong Yeon-shin, who stood to one side.
"I want to join the Demonlight Wing! I will serve you like a dog or a horse! I'll roll in the dirt like a mutt, so just let me stay by Flash Art's side!"
"What kind of crazy nonsense is that?" Heonwon Chang muttered, completely dumbfounded.
There was no way such a request would be accepted. Whether he was a bastard or not, he carried the blood of a clan that was marked for annihilation. The Ming Imperial Family historically left no loose ends. The Desolate Fortress was no different. As a sect that transcended both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, they cared only for the livelihood of the common people.
"You are a prisoner."
At that moment, a powerful, invisible energy erupted from the index finger of the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
Lazy Flame Dragon's upper body jolted as if struck by a typhoon. It was finger wind—a technique that condensed and projected palm wind using True Qi.
"The Seven-Step Body-Losing Pressure Point Strike...! It is the sect-exclusive martial art of the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit," Heonwon Chang whispered from beside him.
Jeong Yeon-shin was always amazed by his vast knowledge of the Jianghu. He had no idea how Heonwon Chang knew of martial arts he had never even seen before.
The Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit spoke. "Solar Divine Pulse. I know your True Qi is akin to having mastered a fervent Yang divine art. My own True Qi possesses Wood Qi, much like the Brightfolk. You must have heard of the principle of Wood generating Fire. Your internal energy is not refined enough to handle the True Qi that has just entered your body."
"In other words, if I stir my energy, it will only feed your True Qi, so I shouldn't recklessly try to unseal my acupoints," Lazy Flame Dragon replied with a smirk. "I've heard plenty about the illustrious Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit's Seven-Step Body-Losing Pressure Point Strike. If I act rashly, the fine meridians throughout my body will twist and kill me before I can even take seven steps. In my case, I suppose I'll just burn to death."
Wood generating Fire was a core principle of the Five Elements, meaning the energy of wood fuels and intensifies fire. If he had been able to control the energy of his Solar Divine Pulse, that Wood Qi would have served as nourishment instead. But he could not. He possessed a constitution destined for an early death because he couldn't rein in the power of intense Yang. If Wood Qi further amplified that uncontrollable force, it would inevitably prove fatal.
"So you know. Now shut your mouth. Your opinion is useless."
"Haha, well now."
Lazy Flame Dragon bowed his head for a moment, but when he straightened his neck again, the bloodshot veins filling the whites of his eyes did not look human.
"You turtle-like bastard! Burn to death? I'll burn to death? I'm sick and tired of the heat! Of all things, now some damn bastard...! Solar Divine Pulse, my foot! It's a trash pulse, you skeleton!"
At that exact moment, Jeong Yeon-shin moved like a phantom and kicked the back of the madman's head. For a split second, the sensation of thick hair brushing against the top of his foot felt unpleasant. He drove his foot forward, channeling True Qi into the strike.
Thud!
He looked down at the unconscious man, whose forehead had slammed hard into the ground. He figured this was better than him being killed instantly by a single strike from the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
"Why aren't you destroying his dantian?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked, looking around at the three unit commanders. It wasn't that he wanted it done; he was simply curious.
Ma Jin, drenched in blood, placed a hand on Jeong Yeon-shin's shoulder.
"Actually, the fate of that fellow Lazy Flame Dragon has already been decided. The Lord of the Fortress commanded it. She said to bring him back alive if he survived. She mentioned it was important to keep his internal energy intact. It's a Solar Divine Pulse, one of the few in the world. Perhaps she has something to investigate regarding martial arts."
In that instant, Jeong Yeon-shin felt a strange premonition. Was it an intuition stemming from his upper dantian? A gut feeling told him that the command of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress was directly related to him.
‘Then it must be a good thing.’
He thought subconsciously. Though she had been strict when it came to the fruit of the World Tree, she was clearly shielding Jeong Yeon-shin with goodwill. There was no reason for a peerless expert—the one closest to being the absolute strongest under heaven—to treat Jeong Yeon-shin with hypocrisy.
Slash!
While he was lost in thought, the second young master's head fell. The Commander of the Azure Sky Unit had cleanly cut down the man who was kneeling in terror.
"We cannot leave more than one direct descendant alive," the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit said.
He was the same man who had first met Jeong Yeon-shin near Huizhou and picked a fight. It felt surreal to see the head of the noble young master, once so elegant and arrogant, rolling on the dirt with wide, staring eyes.
Was the life of most people in the Jianghu ultimately destined to fade away so vainly?
The Martial World was a realm where the strong preyed on the weak. If the person you encountered was stronger, you had no choice but to surrender your neck.
‘To correct the disorder of the common people's lives, they instead follow the bloody laws of the Jianghu...’
Jeong Yeon-shin once again realized the paradoxical role of the Desolate Fortress. While he understood it was unavoidable, he could only hope there would be no missions that conflicted with his own heart.
* * *
Time passed in that spot.
It was around the time the sunlit clouds drifted off into the distance. The moment the White-Ranked Warriors finished clearing the battlefield, the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit gathered the Demonlight Wing, the Azure Sky Unit, and the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
The atmosphere was relatively relaxed. Jeong Yeon-shin sat down with a thud alongside Heonwon Chang and looked at the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit.
"We will wipe out the branch families first," the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit said quietly. "The power of a martial clan does not lie solely in its martial might. Their connections in the Jianghu are equally powerful. We must preemptively annihilate their lines of communication to prevent them from drawing in other sects. The main force will strike the Hwangbo main estate after that."
"Blocking off Jinan should be enough, but how will you structure the personnel?" Ma Jin asked. He seemed to address the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit as a junior.
"There are nine Hwangbo branch families where the clan's martial arts have taken root. One in each county of Jinan. The martial strength of these branches has already been investigated. We will exclude the White Ranks and distribute the targets among the Blue Ranks."
"Understood."
During this exchange, Jeong Yeon-shin observed the faces of the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit and the other Desolate Fortress experts. What he was about to do would inevitably draw attention. There was a high probability it would be seen as an arrogant attempt to monopolize achievements.
‘Which is actually the case.’
The only ones who looked upon him with unconditional favor were those of the Demonlight Wing. Even so, he had to do it. The Central Plains were terribly vast. It was common to see dozens of sunsets over the course of a single mission. He had to accumulate as many achievements as possible while he still could.
He intended to immediately overturn any reputation he might lose in this moment by proving himself with his martial arts.
In the clearing, the heavy pressure of the unit commanders seemed to weigh down even the Blue Ranks.
"I would like to volunteer for a solo mission."
Jeong Yeon-shin finally raised his hand and spoke calmly.
The surroundings fell silent instantly. The experts of the Desolate Fortress were also human, after all. There were plenty among them who privately coveted achievements. However, Flash Art Jeong Yeon-shin was a young expert who had only just reached the Blue Rank. To the others, this was highly likely to be seen as mere bravado.
The Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit stared at him intently. "You want a solo mission?"
"It is to refine a wide-area martial art I recently acquired in real combat," Jeong Yeon-shin replied. "I will ensure the mission is a success. If I cannot gain the recognition of my seniors here, I promise to give up on the idea."
"You."
True Qi was heavily infused into the voice of the Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit. "This mission is of grave importance. It is a matter of facing the Eight Great Families. Do you know why I am even listening to your words right now? It is solely because you have ascended to the Blue Rank. That is all."
The pressure emanating from his voice felt almost visible. Even the pebbles rolling across the plains began to bounce slightly, vibrating in reaction to his internal energy. Yet, the hem of the Commander's black robe did not budge in the slightest. It was a display of internal power control that had reached the realm of the divine.
"Flash Art. I thought highly of you. In this world, martial artists who can infuse wit into their forms are rare. I saw in you the caliber of a unit commander, yet you disappoint me so."
At this moment, even Ma Jin did not dare to intervene. He merely wore an expression that silently asked why Jeong Yeon-shin hadn't given him a heads-up beforehand.
Jeong Yeon-shin, on the contrary, was perfectly fine. The Commander of the Thread-Annihilation Unit had specifically mentioned the Blue Rank. That was a sign of respect. It meant he had an opportunity to prove himself.
It was different from when he had contemplated facing the Hegemon Sword. He could immediately prove his ability to handle multiple enemies. It was the very martial art that had forged his ill fate with the Hwangbo siblings on the Huizhou official road.
"My apologies."
As he stood up and clasped his hands in a martial salute, the surrounding experts parted to form a circular space. Their expressions varied. Concern, curiosity, and displeasure entered his field of vision all at once.
‘It will be fine.’
He repeated the thought to himself to ease his mind. It was a known fact that among the experts of the Blue Rank and above, there wasn't a single person who wasn't absolutely crazy about martial arts.
He didn't expect them to be deeply moved. He had never even heard of a sound art generated through a sword before. Wouldn't a single demonstration be enough to convince them?
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly grasped his sword hilt. It was not the Desolate Fortress Sword, but the Northern Light Sword. Its superior material made it perfectly suited for sound arts.
Shring.
The midday sun beat down relentlessly upon the open plains, casting a harsh, unforgiving light across the vast expanse. As the blade was slowly drawn from its scabbard, a dry, cold luster gathered along the length of the flawless steel. The metal seemed to drink in the sunlight, shimmering with an almost ethereal, deadly anticipation that commanded the immediate attention of everyone present.
This was the pivotal moment. Here, standing alone in the center of the makeshift arena, surrounded by the scrutinizing gazes of the gathered experts from the Desolate Fortress's three esteemed martial units, Jeong Yeon-shin was about to unveil something entirely unprecedented. He was preparing to demonstrate his very own, newly created sect-exclusive martial art—a technique born of his own unparalleled genius and profound understanding of the blade, something none of these seasoned veterans had ever witnessed before.
"I humbly ask that you all protect your ears with your internal energy," he warned. His voice was steady, polite, and perfectly calm, carrying clearly across the silent, expectant crowd, ensuring that every expert present heard his sincere caution.
Having spoken with the utmost courtesy, Jeong Yeon-shin adjusted his stance and centered his absolute focus. He began to channel his internal energy, guiding the profound, dormant power within his body in strict, flawless accordance with the complex mnemonic of his unique sword style.
Deep within his intricate network of meridians, the rising True Qi surged upward like a waking dragon ascending toward the heavens. With deliberate, masterful control born of countless hours of relentless training, he forcefully divided this potent, surging energy into two distinct, converging paths. He directed the violent currents of qi straight toward the Shaofu Point and the Laogong Point—two of the three vital, highly sensitive acupoints intricately clustered right in the very center of his gripping palm.
Without a single moment of hesitation, he poured his highly refined internal power into both of these crucial acupoints simultaneously, balancing the dual streams of energy with absolute perfection. In direct, explosive response to this sudden influx of profound power, a chilling, almost blinding light flashed vividly across the polished surface of the Northern Light Sword. The blade hummed, radiating an aura of freezing intent that caused the surrounding temperature to seemingly drop.
Screeech!
In that exact fraction of a heartbeat, a terrifying, high-pitched wave of sound violently erupted into existence. It was a piercing, ear-splitting resonance that perfectly mimicked the agonizing, soul-tearing cry of a mythical bird. The sonic shockwave rippled outward from the very core of the violently vibrating long blade, tearing through the previously quiet afternoon air with the destructive force of a physical blow.
The sheer, concentrated force of the sonic attack was instantly devastating. Completely caught off guard by the overwhelming, mind-shattering intensity of the unprecedented sound art, about a dozen White-Ranked Warriors who had been standing too close to the epicenter were instantly overwhelmed. Their internal defenses shattered before they could even react; their eyes rolled back into their heads, and they collapsed like puppets with their strings abruptly cut, fainting and plummeting to the dusty ground in all directions.