Chapter 74: The Ma Clan (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: The Ma Clan (2)
She had been ignored by a boy far younger than herself. And this from a woman who’d called him ‘brat’ the moment they met.
Jeong Yeon-shin had assumed a high-ranking noblewoman from a prestigious clan would never tolerate such disrespect.
“I am indeed that child’s mother. I am Ju Yeon-jeong.”
She smiled gently. The sudden change in her demeanor was jarring.
The Ju clan?
Her elegant grace sparked a strange thought in his mind. Jeong Yeon-shin asked at once, “Are you of the imperial family?”
“Indeed.”
Even after hearing her confirm it, the fact was difficult to comprehend. Ma Se-in’s father was from a collateral branch of the Ma Clan. If he were a man so outstanding that he could marry a relative of the emperor, he would have already been famous.
Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t imagine the circumstances that had led to such a marriage.
“You seem confused. Few in the main fortress know of my origins. It is understandable.”
Her hair was pinned up with jade ornaments. Her rounded ears, characteristic of the Han people, were clearly visible. It meant she was from a distant, collateral branch of the imperial bloodline.
Taizu was the last emperor to take concubines, and it was said he had more than forty consorts. The direct imperial descendants, however, were different. They did not take second wives or concubines, only a single Brightfolk woman as their companion.
In contrast, the numerous descendants with no connection to the imperial throne were free to take as many wives and concubines as they pleased. Ju Yeon-jeong seemed to be the daughter of such a descendant.
“Greetings, Madam Ju.”
He offered a polite greeting but didn’t prostrate himself. She was a married-out daughter. Even if she carried a fraction of Taizu’s blood, that fact remained. She was no longer a figure of the Ming imperial family’s Forbidden City. Having left Beijing and married, she was now a member of the Desolate Ma Clan.
Which meant she was a person of the martial world.
“What an audacious brat.”
The corners of Ju Yeon-jeong’s mouth curled into a smile.
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly raised his head. Her reaction was not what he’d expected. Since she had thrown around words like ‘brat,’ he had assumed she was desperately trying to protect her son’s succession rights. Was she different from what he had imagined?
The surrounding retainers didn’t move rashly, either. They merely watched Jeong Yeon-shin in silence.
“Sit. This banquet was prepared for you.”
“...Then I gratefully accept.”
With a brief nod, he sat at the banquet table. Ma Se-in quietly followed and took a seat beside his mother.
Musicians entered. Perhaps because the pavilion was so spacious, they began to play from a distance. An elegant, classical melody drifted softly through the air, lending an air of dignity to the gathering.
“I wanted to test your caliber,” Ju Yeon-jeong spoke. “It has been twenty years since I left Beijing, yet my old habits remain. The authority ingrained in my behavior can offend people at times, so I hope you will be generous enough to overlook it.”
“...”
Her words were surprisingly humble. Jeong Yeon-shin remained silent for a moment.
What is this?
This was vastly different from the meeting he had envisioned. What was her real intention?
As the plucking of zither strings and the resonance of a bamboo flute wove a gentle melody, those seated at the banquet fell into a brief silence.
But that was only on the surface. The world of masters was different.
Jeong Yeon-shin felt threads of internal energy constantly scanning him. The probing was so stealthy that he could only barely detect it because his sense of Qi surpassed his actual martial arts level. He gave no sign that he noticed.
“I am curious about your business with me,” Jeong Yeon-shin asked bluntly.
Both sides were hiding their intentions. However, the host was the one who wanted something from this meeting. There was no reason for him to be the one to bow his head.
A smile played on Ju Yeon-jeong’s lips.
“By birth, I’m accustomed to speaking in circles. The directness of martial artists always feels so foreign. Many have praised you, calling you a future pillar of the Desolate Fortress… You are exactly as I’ve heard. They said the Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing is exceedingly brave.”
“...”
“I heard your martial arts are exceptionally profound, that there may be none among your peers who can compare. I found myself curious about many things. The martial arts of the Jeong Family Manor are mediocre at best, so how did you come to possess such prowess? And…”
Reaching for a white jade bottle, she smiled.
“When you had your coming-of-age ceremony… what was your true motive for refusing the position of successor to the main family?”
Jeong Yeon-shin gathered a wealth of information from Ju Yeon-jeong’s few words. He had confirmed two things.
The first, as expected, was his martial arts. She said many were curious about the origin of the Flash Art’s techniques. He knew this well. It was likely because he had reached the Blue Rank in the shortest time and at the youngest age. It was also because he had already displayed his own martial arts several times in front of others, none of which belonged to the Desolate Ma Clan. This had been true even before he received instruction from the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. The rumors from his recent mission, especially given how the Lord had acted upon their return, would only deepen their doubts.
Why did he have to carry me all the way back to the main fortress…
But his gratitude far outweighed his embarrassment, so he couldn’t bring himself to complain, even in his thoughts.
And the second thing. This was likely the core of the matter.
“You asked about my motive,” Jeong Yeon-shin said calmly. “I believe I made myself clear that day. My ambitions lie within the Jianghu and the Desolate Fortress, so I have no desire to be bound to my maternal family. Ma Se-in will make an excellent clan head.”
“You have a very bold personality.”
Ju Yeon-jeong covered her mouth and laughed, her posture elegant.
Jeong Yeon-shin stared at her. She referred to the Desolate Ma Clan as the “main family.” A distant, collateral imperial relative had fully integrated into the Ma Clan and was now acting as its matriarch.
Actually, this was better. There was no reason to make an enemy of her. Drawing a clear line would be enough.
As if he wasn’t finished, Jeong Yeon-shin parted his lips again. “Therefore, I hope I will not be entangled with your family in the future. What I desire is a complete severance of ties. That would be best for avoiding useless conflict.”
“...”
A brief silence fell. The smile vanished from Ju Yeon-jeong’s face, and Ma Se-in’s expression stiffened. In the silent banquet hall, only the soft melodies of the instruments drifted through the air. Their reaction was strange.
Shouldn’t they be the ones demanding this? Jeong Yeon-shin thought. Unbothered by the atmosphere, he continued.
“Is this not the clan that already severed ties with my mother? Give me your answer before I go public and tear the Ma Clan’s reputation to shreds.”
He spoke harshly on purpose. Yet, only confusion flickered across Ju Yeon-jeong’s face.
“...How can you say that? Do you believe the Lord’s martial arts, which you have inherited, will guarantee your power? You are mistaken. The Desolate Fortress is not that kind of place.”
“I will live solely as a warrior of the Demonlight Wing. I simply don’t want the name of the Desolate Ma Clan attached to my title of Flash Art. Wouldn’t that be pleasing to you as well, Madam Ju?”
“...You speak of difficult things so casually,” Ju Yeon-jeong said slowly.
“Why is that?”
“You have already stepped into the political strife of the main family. It was bound to happen the moment you showed such brilliance while carrying the Ma Clan’s blood. There are those who say you must be made the successor, those who argue you should be used as a sword to elevate the clan’s glory, and us, who do not want you…” She gave a faint smile. “Whichever side it is, the outcome is the same. The moment you sever ties with the main family, a great storm will erupt over who is to blame. To avoid the backlash, they will do whatever it takes.”
“How ridiculous.”
“Are you not the direct disciple of the Lord? Child, your existence is already that significant. Even if you try to sever ties on your own, the main family will cling to your coattails.”
“I find it difficult to remain here.”
Jeong Yeon-shin stood up. He turned his back rudely, but no one scolded him. If one were to discuss martial prowess in the realm of politics, they were clearly masters.
The unchanging performance of the musicians saw him off.
* * *
Seven days and nights passed.
He focused on recuperating in the Demonlight Wing’s pavilion. During that time, the faces of Ju Yeon-jeong and the elders of the Ma Clan filled his mind.
Their schemes were not shallow. They had started a fight of a kind he had never experienced before. Powerful people were doing everything they could to entangle him. It was a major problem.
What should I do…
Lying on his bed, he fell deep into thought. Originally, he had intended to pick a fight and become an irreconcilable enemy so they would never associate with him again. He thought it would be enough if he could experience the martial arts of a prestigious clan in the process.
Not anymore.
Their cunning far surpassed his own. They were prepared to endure whatever it took. This was a completely different kind of conflict.
These powerful figures were getting in his way. At this rate, what Jeong Yeon-shin feared was correct: the time he would waste being dragged into their affairs would be far greater than any support he would gain by accepting the Desolate Ma Clan.
He briefly considered revealing his constitution and remaining lifespan to his maternal grandfather.
I can never trust him.
He immediately dismissed the thought. He had grown up as an invisible child at the Jeong Family Manor. His mother’s family had never once reached out. Those were his formative years. After stepping into the Jianghu, he had witnessed the behavior of the Hwangbo Clan, who claimed to be pillars of the Orthodox martial world while wielding their power for personal gain. What about the Namgung Clan, hailed as the greatest family of the Orthodox faction? They had plotted to have another’s blade kill Jeong Yeon-shin, the very person who had helped them.
And there was more. In the Blood Flame Cult, he had seen the absolute bottom of humanity. It was nothing but an abyss.
…Distrust. Only distrust remained.
He aims for the position of Elder Council Head of the Desolate Fortress?
His maternal grandfather was a man who lusted for power. Even after severing ties with his own daughter, he was now trying to treat her son as his grandson, but only because he saw his utility. There was no telling how he would manipulate Jeong Yeon-shin if he got hold of such a weakness.
Should I see the Lord? Is it alright to incur another debt? I need to accumulate achievements.
The sixteen-year-old expert agonized.
Rustle.
He burrowed into his bedding. Right now, even the dimming sunset felt too bright.
The room in the Demonlight Wing was his true sanctuary. Here, he could let down his warrior’s guard without worrying about watchful eyes. He didn’t have to force himself to ignore his time-limited life.
Slowly, he curled his body up, just as he always did.
He blankly watched the orange edges of the sunlight. How much time passed like that?
“Young Hero Jeong! Young Hero Jeong!”
A familiar voice pierced his consciousness. It was Heonwon Chang.
A tumultuous wave of energy surged toward the Demonlight Wing’s pavilion. He could also sense the presence of his seniors. The ones who had first seen off the Lord and Jeong Yeon-shin had returned.
Slide.
Three people entered at once: Heonwon Chang, Cheong-myeong, and Baek Mi-ryeo. Jeong Yeon-shin, who had already sat up, gave a faint smile. These were the comrades who had come all the way to the headquarters of the Blood Flame Cult to rescue him. He welcomed them gratefully.
“Is something wrong?” Heonwon Chang asked suddenly, staring at him.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
What whim possessed him? He felt that if his life was one where he couldn’t even trust these people, there was no point in clinging to its fruits.
Wine cups weren’t necessary. The quiet evening air took the place of wine and side dishes.
The moment Jeong Yeon-shin began to speak, Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo raised a massive Internal Energy Barrier around them. No sound could leak out.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.
He told them of his family history, confessed his constitution, and mentioned his remaining time and the Desolate Ma Clan.
“...”
A silence as heavy as the setting sun followed. Before they knew it, all expression had vanished from the faces of Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo.
Heonwon Chang shed silent tears.
The Hero of the Desolate Fortress sniffed and said, “...Well, let’s pay a visit to the Ma Clan first. A decent plan just occurred to me.”
“Pardon?”
“Listen to this.”
Having said that, he whispered for quite a long time. He did this despite the rock-solid energy barrier the two Blue-Rank experts had raised. He looked as if he were plotting some wicked scheme.
And upon hearing it, it was indeed a wicked scheme.
“Let’s go!”
Wiping his eyes with his white sleeve, Heonwon Chang stood up. The other three rose as well.
At the same time, Cheong-myeong patted Jeong Yeon-shin on the shoulder, and Baek Mi-ryeo gave him a brief hug from behind.
He understood without them saying a word. It was the concern of comrades who had shared life-and-death situations, and the understanding of masters who befriended the blade.
Shaking his head awkwardly, Jeong Yeon-shin followed Heonwon Chang. For a brief moment, he felt like he had truly become their youngest sibling.
The four of them soon arrived at the residence of the Desolate Ma Clan. Two gatekeepers stepped forward.
“Please state your identity and business.”
“No, wait. The young hero Flash Art is here. You may open the gate.”
Ignoring the gatekeepers, Heonwon Chang shouted at the top of his lungs, “Yeon-jeong—!”
His voice was infused with internal energy. Its tremendous power shook the twilight air. It was said that few outside the clan knew of Ju Yeon-jeong’s origins, and there must have been private circumstances behind that. However, that was not something for the masters of the Demonlight Wing to consider.
“She’s under the Lord anyway. Even the Crown Prince is at a loss before him, so what’s a married-out collateral imperial relative…” Cheong-myeong smirked and lightly kicked the ground. The fact that the Blue-Eyed Demon Sword was a pure-blooded Brightfolk was already famous.
“What on earth are you doing?!”
“Do you have any idea who you are calling out to?!”
The gatekeepers rushed forward, their faces panicked. Heonwon Chang executed a stealthy movement technique. Shaking off their hands, he repeatedly bellowed the name “Yeon-jeong.” An untimely commotion broke out in the dead of night.
Shifting his body slightly, Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head away as if he weren’t part of the group.