Chapter 548: Demon Realm (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 548: Demon Realm (3)
Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head toward the laughter, a faint doubt lingering in his mind.
'The Lord of Heaven's Bane?'
Stalls lined both sides of the wide marketplace. Amidst them, a one-armed man wearing a bamboo hat quietly lowered his head.
He had an ordinary build. Naturally, he was not one of the Demonfolk.
At the same time, he didn't look like the Lord of Heaven's Bane. His shabby appearance was a far cry from the imposing physique of an overwhelming swordsman.
His bamboo hat was pulled down low as if mimicking the Demonfolk, and his attire was fitting for the northern front—a place where few possessed intact bodies to begin with. It was only natural for any martial artist to react to the title 'Heaven's Bane.'
He was merely a Central Plainsman who had turned his back on the south for one reason or another. He wasn't the First Sword of the Outer Paths, the man who commanded the world with a single blade.
"……"
Jeong Yeon-shin relaxed his gaze.
His reaction couldn't be called oversensitive. If a martial force as formidable as one of the Five Great Swords of the World had made its way to the north, even he would have to reconsider his mission here. Furthermore, since he was practically alone at the moment, it was only right to remain vigilant in all directions.
'Not to mention the Northern Kings, the Ming Cult and the Ice Palace have also been brought up. If the Five Great Swords are added to the mix, this truly becomes a demon realm. It would be a land where it's hard to stay sane.'
The deputy to the Divine Sword Corps Commander—who was himself one of the Five Great Swords of the World—glanced to his side.
"I got startled for nothing."
Shin So-bin placed a hand over her solar plexus, looking as if she had just shaved ten years off her life. The rustling touch of her hand brushing over her clothes carried the subtle mastery of Acupoint Sealing.
She suppressed the fluctuations of her blood flow and True Qi at will, proving that every moment of her existence was a testament to the Jeong Family Dynamic Art.
The man clad in tattered silk—the gatekeeper expert—chuckled.
"It seems you have a grudge against the First Sword of the Outer Paths."
"My sect holds a grudge against him. I'm not the only one."
Shin So-bin's voice was as bleak as frozen leaves. It felt as though her emotional highs and lows had grown more pronounced since she began learning the Jeong Family Dynamic Art.
'Is something wrong with my skeletal structure...?'
Jeong Yeon-shin questioned himself.
Mind and body—the physical form and the spirit—influenced each other. This was evident in the orthodox martial arts of Shaolin and Wudang, as well as in various demonic arts.
He suddenly thought of the Seventh Apostle. She was a woman whose skeletal structure had somehow changed to feel similar to his own, even without the mnemonics of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art. Naturally, she reigned supreme in terms of madness.
However, it was impossible to tell whether that was entirely due to her innate nature, or if her limbs and meridians—which had become similar to his own—had played even a small part.
If it were the latter, it was something he needed to consider when tactically deploying the martial artists of the Divine Sword Corps: Vast Art Formula. Even if they hadn't learned the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, their bodies would inevitably adapt to suit their martial arts.
'A path with no detours. We must overwhelm the enemy with a straight-line sprint of lightness skill to decide the battle in a single blow...'
While Jeong Yeon-shin was lost in thought, the gatekeeper expert instructed him and Shin So-bin on how to behave in Yeokru Fortress. He spoke while walking with a hasty stride, as if constantly utilizing a lightness skill.
"Everything is different here in the north. It's completely distinct from the Jianghu down below. In the south where you came from—the land stolen by those pointy-ears—everything from generational hierarchy to the earth's energy has gone awry, yet the imperial Ju family remains the most noble... But that is not the case here."
He showed a satisfied expression when the two kept pace with him without releasing any noticeable energy, remarking that their very stride proved their strength.
"The order of this land stems from strength. It means that the martial world and state affairs are not separate, and no one's nobility is determined by birth."
"You seem to have adapted well," Shin So-bin spoke calmly, though her words carried a sharp undertone.
The man shrugged.
"The Demonfolk respect the etiquette and traditions of all clans under heaven, and they do not hesitate to bestow divine art secret techniques like the Heavenly Silk Light Armor upon those they consider sworn brothers. Under such equal conditions, whoever is even slightly stronger becomes the superior. Just like me."
"…May I ask your identity?"
At Shin So-bin's question, the deep creases flanking the man's mouth deepened.
"A gatekeeper of the northern lands," he said. "I have conversed with the Fighting God, slept in the same military camp as him, and ultimately learned the Heavenly Silk Light Armor and the Ten Seals of the Towering Expanse from that dignified being. Like the countless Demonfolk of this land, I too can be considered his disciple."
Shin So-bin's already large eyes widened. Jeong Yeon-shin also fully took the man in for the first time.
Shin So-bin asked abruptly, "So you've actually met the Fighting God in person?"
"Of course. He was everywhere. Though his current whereabouts are unknown, leaving the entire world feeling empty..."
The man trailed off for a moment before continuing.
"In any case, as long as you are stronger than the opponents you face, there is no need to watch your manners. Unlike the land dried up by those Brightfolk scum, here, martial prowess is status and etiquette. Isn't that wonderfully simple?"
"It looks quite dry here as well," Shin So-bin said, tapping the ground with the toe of her shoe.
The man didn't deny it.
"Of course, this naturally barren land has become even more parched. But..." He locked eyes with Jeong Yeon-shin and then Shin So-bin with a dry gaze. It was a look that carried the weight of a lifetime as long as both of theirs combined. "That is because of the World Tree, that walking tree of the south."
"……"
"Ah, there it is."
By now, fortress walls built of brick rather than earth were faintly visible.
A massive, shimmering silhouette loomed amidst the dust. The exceptionally dense energies of the vicinity were all fluctuating like flames within it. The inner castle of Yeokru Fortress was drawing near.
Amidst this, the man continued speaking.
"Though everything is free here, there is one thing you must be careful of. Since the north is a place where the martial world and the military are unified, there are still boundaries, regardless of respect. If by any chance one of you is a powerhouse whom even I would struggle to handle..."
Suddenly, the man's words slowed.
"A Northern King will manifest. Whether it be one or two."
"Are they very strong?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked quietly.
The man curled his lips as if he had just heard something ridiculous.
"Of course they are! Even the Fighting God could not unify this land, and the reason lies with the few Northern Kings who ultimately refused to join his camp."
Meanwhile, Shin So-bin seemed eager to learn everything she could about the north while she had the chance.
"I heard they are all peerless masters who lead martial arts armies... Is that true?"
"Indeed. Peerless masters who band together to strike and retreat are as elusive as natural disasters. They were the biggest headache of all. Ah...!"
The man clapped his hands.
"I don't know if you're aware, but the one currently acting as the master of Yeokru Fortress is a monster known as the Flame Heat God King. And she isn't the only one. Two more Northern Kings have arrived at the nearby military camps."
Shin So-bin flinched slightly. "Three of them...?"
"That is why this vulgar Yeokru Fortress has been quiet lately. When three Northern Kings gather, that place becomes the hell of the north."
Step.
The man stopped walking, indicating this was as far as he would go.
"From here, you will be guided by Hocheon Fortress Lord Ma Ma-gwang-myeol. I hope you two do not wither away in the northern gale."
Ma Ma-gwang-myeol.
The man who had survived taking Jeong Yeon-shin's Sword Kinesis head-on. The one who had lost the very fortress he was guarding.
What would happen if he recognized Jeong Yeon-shin and summoned the Northern Kings?
Shin So-bin swallowed hard, her throat bobbing, while Jeong Yeon-shin recalled one of the legendary anecdotes surrounding Yong Hee-myung. The tale of how he had overwhelmingly pushed back the joint attack of the Lord of the Martial Dragon Association and the Lord of the Dark Night Hall.
Both were renowned peerless masters of the south.
Though Jeong Yeon-shin had clashed with the Lord of the Dark Night Hall himself, the Lord of the Dark Night Hall and Namgung's First Sword whom he had faced back then had already exhausted their energy fighting Yong Hee-myung for dozens of days and nights. They had formed the core of the Net of Heaven and Earth to slay the Commander of the Divine Sword Corps. Furthermore, Jeong Yeon-shin had only managed to decapitate the Lord of the Dark Night Hall at that time with the help of Jin Myeong-jo.
Of course, the current Yong Hee-myung was far stronger than he was back then, and Jeong Yeon-shin was also incomparably stronger than his past self.
But...
'If it comes to facing Namgung's Second Sword and the Lord of the Dark Night Hall at full strength, along with someone of their caliber all at once...'
How many could he handle, even if he unleashed the Southern Flower Radiant Taiji?
Gently, Jeong Yeon-shin massaged the nape of Shin So-bin's neck, which was stiff with tension, utilizing Acupoint Clearing as he organized his thoughts. He realized that behavior and adaptability suited for such a harsh land would be necessary.
He sent a low telepathic transmission.
— So-bin, no matter how the Demonfolk provoke you, you must endure it for now. Since your energy is mixed with the martial arts of the Desolate Shin Clan, there might be those who recognize it. Even if it's a bit difficult, let's keep a low profile and act with restraint.
Jeong Yeon-shin stepped into the demon realm alongside his chief disciple, feeling the cold, dry northern gale against his skin.
'I must lay low for the time being.'
The northern martial world lay right before him.
This was a mission to bring an end to a chaotic, turbulent age. He needed support.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin had once reached Yong Hee-myung amidst the Net of Heaven and Earth, there would surely be someone like that for him as well—someone who would allow him to unleash his martial arts with absolute stability.
* * *
[To the Second Palace Master, Confidential.
Report on the Great Palace Master's Hwangbo Clan concubine.
[To the Second Palace Master, Confidential.
Report on the Great Palace Master's First Consort.
* * *
[Urgent.
To the Second Palace Master of the Great North Sea Ice Palace.
Hocheon Fortress has collapsed. The Great Warriors currently staying in and around Yeokru Fortress are as follows:
Flame Heat God King.
King Chigeuk.
Dragon Sound Sasa King.
Ming Cult Leader, the Heaven-Smiling Invincible.]
* * *
[Urgent Attachment.
—Yeokru Fortress. A peerless swordsman has appeared.
—Confirmed to have been vouched for by the northern gatekeeper.
—Slayed the Flame Heat God King in close-quarters combat. Beware of the aftermath when entering the fortress.]