Chapter 7: Recognition (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 7: Recognition (3)
"Do you harbor any doubts about the Fortress's evaluation?"
"No, sir."
"You must be curious about the exam format. It is simple," the examiner said in an indifferent tone. "Unleash the fastest sword move you can. A single strike is enough. I will watch and judge."
Simple enough.
Jeong Yeon-shin felt a wave of relief. He had expected some convoluted process.
Heonwon Chang's anxious expression suggested he felt otherwise, but judging a martial artist's skill by a single strike was actually quite a generous method, even if it seemed narrow-minded at first glance. After all, in Jeong Yeon-shin's experience, real combat was chaotic, filled with endless variables. It seemed this first exam was merely meant to serve as a filter.
"Should I begin right away?" he asked, taking a few steps back.
The examiner nodded.
"I—I will go first!" It was Heonwon Chang. He shot Jeong Yeon-shin an apologetic look and mouthed, I'm just too nervous. My apologies.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who didn't mind in the slightest, gave a small nod.
Stepping into the space Jeong Yeon-shin had vacated, Heonwon Chang gripped his sword hilt. The examiner stood with his arms crossed, silently prompting him to draw whenever he was ready. Heonwon Chang hardened his expression and settled into his stance.
It wasn't an extraordinary starting stance, but Jeong Yeon-shin could sense the waves of true qi surging from the man's entire body.
He's strong.
It was a highly refined momentum—far stronger than any of the rogue martial artists he had encountered on the road to Xiangyang.
When one's energy is refined, there is no waste. It allows a martial artist to channel every ounce of their power entirely into the sword.
Just as that thought crossed Jeong Yeon-shin's mind, the air split with the sharp hiss of Heonwon Chang drawing his sword.
"Oh! That martial artist is a bit different."
"I don't think I even saw it."
"I only saw a faint blur."
The onlookers burst into murmurs of admiration. Gamblers in the crowd were already scrambling to place bets on whether he would pass.
"Not bad," the examiner nodded.
A bright smile spread across Heonwon Chang's face as the examiner collected his numbered token. Returning to Jeong Yeon-shin's side, he whispered, "For this first exam, if the examiner takes your token, you pass. If he tells you to return it to the reception desk, you fail."
"It seems you've passed this first exam a few times before?"
"Yes. The second exam, the martial duel, has always been my bottleneck."
"Is there a third phase as well?"
"An interview with the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. There are martial artists who travel to Xiangyang solely for that, hoping to gain some insight or enlightenment from his presence."
"I see."
Nodding, Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward.
The crowd, still buzzing over Heonwon Chang's performance and settling their bets, cast doubtful glances his way.
"Was that kid really an examinee?"
"He's just a spirited young swordsman."
"Indeed. If you're a provincial nobody, when else would you get to display your sword forms in front of a Desolate Fortress martial artist?"
"Even getting a single word of advice would be a precious experience for him."
Amidst the whispering, the gamblers didn't even bother to open bets on him. Some onlookers just smiled, watching him as if humoring a child about to perform a parlor trick.
Silently placing his hand on his sword hilt, Jeong Yeon-shin looked at the examiner.
The examiner nodded, his expression indifferent. "You may begin."
The next moment.
"..."
Nothing happened.
The only difference was that, at some imperceptible point, the sword was already fully drawn and resting in Jeong Yeon-shin's hand.
It was a surreal sight, as if the very motion of drawing the blade had been severed from reality in the blink of an eye. Only the examiner reacted. His face stiffened, and he gave a slow, solemn nod.
"The future of the Desolate Fortress is right here."
It was an immense compliment. The onlookers and Heonwon Chang reacted as if they had just heard the most unimaginable absurdity. Some gaped with their mouths wide open, while others turned to the person next to them as if checking if they had misheard. Heonwon Chang's dazed, slack-jawed expression was a sight to behold.
Jeong Yeon-shin, however, was surprised for a completely different reason.
Even I, the one who swung the sword, couldn't see it.
Yet it seemed the examiner had clearly perceived his Fast Sword technique, a strike that had become invisible even to its wielder's eyes. Was this the power of a true eye technique? It was often said that reading an opponent's attack was a profound martial art in itself.
"Give me your token."
"...Yes, sir."
"Hmm. Number thirteen."
The examiner took the token, tracing the carved characters with his thumb as if engraving them into his memory. As he stared intently at Jeong Yeon-shin, a complex swirl of emotions flickered in his eyes. Soon, as if resigning himself to a heavy truth, he closed his eyes for a brief moment and jerked his chin toward the exit. A silent dismissal.
"Then, excuse me."
Sheathing his sword and clasping his hands in a polite martial salute, Jeong Yeon-shin left the training ground.
Heonwon Chang, who had been standing frozen like a statue, hurriedly caught up to him. He walked close by, constantly stealing side-glances that quickly grew annoying.
"Why do you keep doing that?"
"Uh, well... by any chance, are you the secret descendant of some famous noble family?"
Jeong Yeon-shin smiled at the man's sudden shift to a cautious, overly polite tone. "Would that change anything? I was under the impression that once you enter the Desolate Fortress, martial arts, talent, and effort are all that matter."
"Ah... you truly intend to pass the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam."
"Isn't that why we came here? Not just me, but you as well, Brother Heonwon."
"...Indeed. You are right."
Heonwon Chang fell silent. Since they were staying at different inns, he remained quiet for a long time as they walked, eventually bidding a respectful farewell before departing. Watching him go, Jeong Yeon-shin sincerely hoped that he and this kind, talkative man would both pass the second exam.
* * *
The cycles for the first and second exams were one week and two months, respectively. Because of this schedule, from the moment Jeong Yeon-shin passed the first exam, he had about three weeks remaining until the second.
During that time, he dedicated himself to training the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, the Fast Sword technique, and the method of amplifying true qi circulation that he had personally named the Scripture of Initial Overcoming.
He practiced all three in the rugged mountains outside the county where his inn was located. Once he returned to his room for the night, he focused entirely on circulating the Scripture of Initial Overcoming. While creating new martial arts was a worthy endeavor, he believed it was much wiser to master his existing skills with a real battle looming ahead.
A martial duel. Pitting one's cultivated martial arts against another's.
He had heard that the final stage of the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam concluded by demonstrating one's martial prowess in direct combat with an opponent.
Jeong Yeon-shin dedicated his remaining time entirely to his martial arts. During this three-week period, Heonwon Chang did not visit him even once.
Murmur, murmur.
And now, the day had arrived.
"So this is..."
The interior courtyard of the Desolate Fortress was filled with dozens of grand, magnificent pavilions. Every martial artist passing by exuded a grim, formidable aura. The cluster of pavilions was situated adjacent to a vast, breathtaking expanse of nature, with a single, sharp line of the horizon visible in the far distance.
As he moved under the guidance of a fortress servant, he spotted other examinees in the same position as him.
"So this is the world's greatest academy of the martial way..."
"I heard those in white martial uniforms are only entry-level warriors, but how can their momentum be so terrifyingly powerful?"
"Isn't that obvious? Even wearing just the white uniform guarantees a highly promising future in the Jianghu."
"I wonder what kind of hidden dragon will emerge from this batch..."
"I, Cho Mu-ryang of Mount Heng, shall become the dragon waking from its slumber!"
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin was thinking about how easily these strangers conversed with one another, he spotted a familiar face. Coincidentally, the other man had also spotted him and was already approaching with a delighted expression.
"Young Master Jeong! It seems you've grown even taller!"
"Brother Heonwon, your complexion looks quite good as well."
"Well, I did experience a minor breakthrough." Heonwon Chang, still wearing that highly conspicuous yellow dragon hero's headband around his forehead, proudly rubbed the space under his nose. "But still, one can never be too sure. Winning isn't what's truly important in this exam. They say the outcome of the duel doesn't matter as much as catching the eye of a Desolate Fortress expert watching the match... but that's the hardest part."
"Which means one could win the duel and still fail."
"Exactly. And to make matters worse, the examiners' standards are bound to be even higher today."
"Why is that?"
"You must not have heard the rumors. Word has it that the White Qilin is taking the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam today."
"The White Qilin... from the Namgung Clan?"
"Indeed. I hear he's already famous throughout Southern Zhili. They say before he even turned fifteen, he wiped out an infamous bandit group and personally decapitated the Mist-Slaying Wanderer, a renowned sword master of the Black Way... There are also rumors that around the age of eighteen, he defeated every single rising star of his generation at the Eight Great Families' Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is an exclusive event where the elite youth of prestigious clans socialize and spar. Since no one has stepped forward to deny those rumors, they might very well be true."
For once, even Jeong Yeon-shin could not hide his surprise.
With achievements like those, he was certainly a powerhouse worthy of being named after the qilin, the mythical spirit beast. As the reality of this vast martial world—which he had only heard of in fragmented tales back in Xinye County—drew so close, it truly hit him that he had finally stepped out into the Jianghu.
"As a premier rising star of the Namgung Clan, he shouldn't lack for anything. If he possesses such overwhelming martial prowess, why come to the Desolate Fortress?"
"It's likely because he's the son of a concubine. He can never become the clan head." Leaning in close, Heonwon Chang covered his mouth and whispered conspiratorially.
Frowning at the warm breath tickling his ear, Jeong Yeon-shin quickly took a step back.
Giggling as if he hadn't just been using polite, distant language a moment ago, Heonwon Chang continued, "They say the Lord of the Desolate Fortress is of the Brightfolk, allowing him to retain his youthful appearance and hold his position for over two hundred years. But honestly, even if you only rise to the rank of Unit Commander within the Fortress, you wouldn't envy the head of any of the Eight Great Families. In fact, the prestige is arguably greater. It's a position that dictates the order of the Jianghu from the very heart of the Central Plains."
"Is it truly that grand of an organization?"
"Of course. The Desolate Fortress has had its hands in every major event in Jianghu history, so how could it not be? Did you crawl out of some remote mountain village instead of a noble family?"
Jeong Yeon-shin simply walked on in silence. Wearing an exasperated yet fond expression, like he was looking at a naive younger brother, Heonwon Chang followed him with a smirk.
"Please wait here. When your name is called, you may proceed to the training ground."
The guide departed, leaving behind the thirty or so applicants.
The waiting area was a small flower garden situated just behind the massive training ground. There was an identical garden on the opposite side where another group of examinees had gathered. Bright green sprouts rose alongside brilliantly blooming flowers, but none of the martial artists spared a single glance for the scenery. Some stood with their eyes closed, practicing mental image training, while others stared blankly into space, completely absorbed in their own thoughts and nerves.
Jeong Yeon-shin waited quietly, circulating the Jeong Family Dynamic Art with subtle, rhythmic breaths.
Before long, names began to be called one by one from both gardens.
The examinees conducted their duels in the center of the training ground, completely surrounded by a wide circle of seated Desolate Fortress martial artists acting as judges. Once the fights concluded, those directed to head north walked with their shoulders held high enough to pierce the heavens, while those returning south slouched despondently in defeat.
"How can it be this brutal..." Heonwon Chang muttered, once again failing to hide his anxiety. "Among the martial artists who passed the first exam to separate the wheat from the chaff, there isn't a single one who hasn't been called a prodigy at least once in their life. Even I was hailed as a martial arts genius back in my home county."
His attempt to joke around and ease his own tension was almost pitiful to watch.
"How cruel and difficult it is to be selected from among a pool of such prodigies. And to have to put your martial arts on display right in the dead center of the Desolate Fortress's greatest experts..."
"Isn't it thrilling?"
"Hmm?"
"Having one's talent truly recognized is exciting. At the very least, it's twice as good as being ignored and treated like some weirdo."
"Young Master, you..."
Just as Heonwon Chang was about to respond, a voice rang out.
"Jeong Yeon-shin of Xinye County, Nanyang, Henan Province! Please step forward!" the guide called out, having just rushed back into the garden.
"I hope to see you again. Here, inside the Desolate Fortress."
Resting his left hand on the sword sheathed at his hip, Jeong Yeon-shin walked out of the garden with a leisurely, confident stride. Behind him, Heonwon Chang's earnest shout echoed.
"We definitely will!"
* * *
The highly anticipated duel turned out to be entirely anticlimactic.
His opponent was a man who seemed to have trained in complete isolation in some remote, tiny village. Even his manner of speaking was bizarre.
Though the Four Books and Three Classics existed in the world, and various great sects passed down their respective orthodox teachings, unless a martial artist had properly learned Orthodox Martial Arts, most wanderers of the Jianghu lived in delusional worlds of their own making. Their only true guiding principle was the law of the jungle. Because the Central Plains was home to all manner of eccentric figures, it was utterly impossible to predict a stranger's values or behavior.
"So you are the moth struggling blindly, unaware that your final destination is despair!" the opposing swordsman declared, grinning broadly to reveal a row of glistening yellow teeth.
The very moment the duel began, Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward and smashed his scabbard directly into the man's mouth.