Chapter 76: The Ma Clan (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: The Ma Clan (4)
I could simply refuse the Ma Clan’s demands, but…
Jeong Yeon-shin was concerned about the web of favors and feuds that would follow. A prestigious Jianghu clan was like a garment patched together from countless debts of gratitude and resentment.
Anyone who considered Ju Yeon-jeong their sworn enemy might turn their blade on him. Likewise, there would be those who demanded he repay the favors the Ma Clan had bestowed upon them. He would be forced to waste time on matters entirely separate from his missions. The bloodlines of prestigious Jianghu clans were, by nature, inextricably linked.
Did it work?
Today, Ma Yeon-jeok had gone to inspect the livelihoods of the people in Xiangyang. The departure of the former Commander of the Divine Sword Corps was always a grand affair, meaning everyone knew when he was away.
That was why Heonwon Chang had moved immediately.
The martial prowess of a Purple Rank expert was said to be transcendent. Heonwon Chang had acted quickly to prevent any unexpected variables from interfering.
The rumor that Flash Art’s maternal family was the Desolate Ma Clan was bound to spread from here. Therefore, they had to sever the connection at its source—right here in the main fortress. The plan was to create as much distance as possible between Jeong Yeon-shin and the Ma Clan by relying on the eyes and mouths of the Desolate Fortress warriors.
Heonwon Chang would cause a commotion, drawing the attention of everyone in the fortress and making himself the Ma Clan’s target. The moment one of their leaders stepped forward, Jeong Yeon-shin would take the blow in his stead. This would clearly expose his strained relationship with his maternal family. It was a minimal, but necessary, preemptive measure.
“...This display is pathetic. I will not lower myself to this level,” Ju Yeon-jeong said slowly.
“Flash Art. I see your resolve is firm. Let us wait and see. I will accommodate all your wishes—anything, as long as it does not concern severing ties or the succession. I hope you will think it over carefully.”
“...”
She turned, and the Ma Clan warriors followed behind her. The Ma Clan elders, who had been watching silently from the side, also turned away.
Such was the dignity of a prestigious clan. They did not entangle themselves in frivolous matters. Conveying their intent was more than enough.
Heonwon Chang bowed his head slightly. Pursuing them further would only look unsightly. It was a partial success.
He sent a telepathic message.
Young Hero Jeong, are you alright? She said she would accept your wishes, but…
It’s enough that I took her palm strike. Many experts witnessed it.
Jeong Yeon-shin gently pushed Heonwon Chang's hand away. As he slowly rose to his feet, unfamiliar warriors approached him.
They were a mix of Blue and White Ranks who had been observing the incident, likely experts from other martial units.
“Are you alright?”
“I can’t comment on family matters, but if you had truly trained under the Ma Clan, a scene like this would be impossible.”
“That was an impressive movement technique.”
Many of them glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin before moving on. It seemed they had accepted it as a family dispute. It was also likely because there was nothing to be gained from getting involved with powerful clans.
However, one middle-aged man approached him to speak.
“It’s my first time seeing the rumored rookie. The main fortress is indeed vast.”
“I am Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing.”
“I am Jin Ju-rim of the Heaven-Aligned Wing.”
He was referring to the Heaven-Aligned Wing of the Divine Sword Corps, a martial unit founded around the same time as the Demonlight Wing. The sleeves of his blue robe swayed as he clasped his hands in greeting.
He was a Blue-Ranked expert, a senior who could have easily spoken down to Jeong Yeon-shin, yet his demeanor was polite.
Jin Ju-rim smiled with his drooping eyes and spoke.
“Up close, your complexion doesn’t look too bad. Shall we talk for a moment?”
“May I ask what this is about?”
“Flash Art Jeong Yeon-shin. I’ve heard much about you from Hwa-shin. Even before you were promoted to the Blue Rank.”
“Hwa-shin…?”
“Perhaps his title is more familiar? The White Qilin. Namgung Hwa-shin.”
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slightly. He hadn't seen him in a long time and couldn't recall him immediately. He was the man who had conceded defeat after winning their match in the Desolate Fortress Entrance Exam.
He was a rising star who embodied the phrase "fair and square." Jeong Yeon-shin had heard he was active in the Heaven-Aligned Wing.
“I know him. Is Young Hero Namgung doing well?”
“He became a Blue-Ranked warrior a month ago. It might seem a bit late compared to you, but that’s only because he didn’t rush through his missions. Hwa-shin’s promotion speed is nothing to scoff at,” Jin Ju-rim said with a grin.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded. It hadn’t even been a year since he entered the Desolate Fortress. Compared to himself, who had completed years’ worth of missions without rest, Namgung Hwa-shin’s promotion was truly extraordinary.
“Do you know? There’s an interesting story circulating in the main fortress.”
Had Jin Ju-rim extended his qi sense? A strand of internal energy, faint as a whisper, swept over Jeong Yeon-shin’s body.
“The White Qilin and the Flash Art. Both have stood out among the many rising stars of the main fortress, but which one is sharper? I was curious myself. However…”
The middle-aged expert of the Heaven-Aligned Wing, a man who must have fought a hundred battles, spoke with an amused expression.
“Right now, I believe Hwa-shin would have the upper hand by two moves. It must be because you aren’t in perfect condition.”
It meant that, at the very least, the White Qilin was two steps ahead. He seemed to be speaking after sensing Jeong Yeon-shin's aura.
Jeong Yeon-shin fell into deep thought.
Before he knew it, the matter of the Desolate Ma Clan had completely left his mind, replaced by the upcoming mission.
A life-and-death duel with the leaders of the Namgung Clan. It was impossible to consider such a thing without also thinking of the White Qilin, Namgung Hwa-shin.
The Grand Steward said there will be fierce competition starting from the mission assignment.
Namgung Hwa-shin was a man who had left his family to throw himself into the Desolate Fortress. If he wanted to continue his meteoric rise, he couldn't afford to ignore this matter. In fact, he might even volunteer for the duel. The Jianghu was that kind of world.
If he were to compete with Jeong Yeon-shin, he would be a formidable opponent.
Senior Jin Ju-rim is a Blue Rank. The greater the expert, the less they judge an opponent solely by the size of their energy.
Jeong Yeon-shin mused.
The fluctuations of one’s true Qi revealed far more than just raw power. They indirectly exposed the density and nature of one's internal energy, as well as the sophistication of their martial intent. A true expert could read these fluctuations to predict an opponent’s movements. This was how the people of the Jianghu measured one another's strength.
Jin Ju-rim’s assessment was exactly that. It wasn't something to be ignored.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind. I suppose that’s only natural,” he said.
Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t reply, simply clasping his hands calmly. “Thank you for the advice.”
“It’s hardly advice. I merely stated the facts.” Jin Ju-rim stared at him for a moment before continuing. “Weren’t you the one involved in the Clear Night Valley Incident? You have a grudge against the Namgung Clan, so your justification is no less than that of Hwa-shin, who wishes to point his sword at his own family. Resolving what one has started is a virtue for any warrior. I wish you success.”
Having offered his well-wishes, he departed.
Jeong Yeon-shin bowed his head to his companions. Cheong-myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo, who had sheathed their swords, were waiting.
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. Pathetic maternal relatives are a dime a dozen. Just let me know whenever they bother you.” Cheong-myeong ruffled Jeong Yeon-shin's hair, a strangely mysterious grin on his face.
Was it the unique confidence of the Brightfolk? He showed no fear of the prestigious clans of the Jianghu.
Baek Mi-ryeo extended her long fingers and placed them on Jeong Yeon-shin's solar plexus. After closing her eyes for a moment as if observing his meridians, she spoke.
“Your true Qi manipulation is remarkable. It’s as you said. This won’t affect your recovery.”
“We can just deal with the Ma Clan like this from now on. However…” Cheong-myeong trailed off, his eyes quietly following Jin Ju-rim’s retreating figure. “It won’t be easy for Flash Art to get this mission either. The White Qilin, huh.”
“If the main fortress has decided to strike down the head of the Namgung Clan through a duel…” Baek Mi-ryeo began, gently brushing back her hair, “it means they want to save face. If that is the will of the Chief Steward's Office, they’ll send out warriors from the main fortress who match the opponent's age. The only leaders of the Namgung Clan around Flash Art’s age are the Young Master and his sister. There aren’t many spots. The White Qilin is indeed a competitor.”
“But didn’t Young Hero Jeong suppress the Lazy Flame Dragon at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering? It was said that even the White Qilin yields to the Hwangbo Young Master, who is a few years older. Has he already surpassed him? Does he possess a martial talent that transcends even his severed meridians…?” Heonwon Chang muttered to himself.
Lazy Flame Dragon.
Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the Young Master of the Hwangbo Clan. Heonwon Chang wasn’t wrong. He had broken his technique once, but only because he had watched his duel with Taoist Yu-hyeon of the Mount Hua Sect beforehand.
In their first encounter, Jeong Yeon-shin had been the one pushed back. The second was different; he had pierced his opponent’s opening using his innate senses. If the Lazy Flame Dragon had used a different martial art, it would have been a difficult fight. In terms of accumulated martial prowess alone, he was superior to Jeong Yeon-shin, a result of being born with the Solar Divine Pulse and training for far longer.
Saying the Lazy Flame Dragon of the past was stronger than the White Qilin today was meaningless. Jeong Yeon-shin had never even seen the Lazy Flame Dragon’s full power. To gauge Namgung Hwa-shin based on having broken a single fist and palm technique was preposterous.
Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand, Sword House.
A demon-subduing technique and a wide-area sound art. He had used them to achieve merits far beyond his actual martial prowess. He had accomplished great things thanks to creating a special martial art.
This time is different.
He had to win with his own martial arts alone. He had to return to his starting point.
As he walked back with his three companions, he pondered. The amount of internal energy and the years of training… how could he overcome a situation where he was at a disadvantage in such crucial areas?
Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly looked up at the sky.
The silver-gray crescent moon, seeming to have peeled back the darkness, shed a hazy light. The commotion Heonwon Chang and his companions had caused vanished into the pitch-black silence, leaving no trace. It was as if the night itself was telling him that the countless matters of the Jianghu could not be solved with petty tricks.
* * *
The very next day, an official document from the Chief Steward's Office was posted throughout the main fortress. The incident with the Desolate Ma Clan was immediately pushed to the background. The impact of the notice was just that great.
A large copy was also posted on the central wall of the Demonlight Wing's grand training ground. Experts read the document from wherever they were. Many stood on rooftops with their arms crossed, while others sat casually in the distance, their eyes the only thing moving. They had trained their eye techniques, allowing them to see as far as a hawk and scan even a fast-moving sword as if it were slow.
“This is a big deal.”
“This won’t be an ordinary event.”
From the very first sentence, it was about the Namgung Clan. Flash Art of the Demonlight Wing was also mentioned. It stated that the clan had repaid the favor of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress's direct disciple with enmity.
[...Since the behavior of the Namgung Clan has crossed the line, the Desolate Fortress intends to correct the conduct of the Namgung Clan, local aristocrats of Southern Zhili. Therefore, during the Great Heat of July, a life-and-death duel between the main fortress and the Namgung Clan will be held. Warriors of the 17th Unit under the Divine Sword Corps are asked to consider this carefully and volunteer.]
Heonwon Chang read the lines of the document aloud, looking like a scholar checking the results of the imperial examination.
“...If there are many applicants, a selection match will be held. They will compete one-on-one, divided by age. The purpose is to separate the wheat from the chaff to ensure a complete victory, so the warriors of the main fortress should prepare accordingly.”
“Just as expected,” Baek Mi-ryeo said. “Missions are usually allocated this way, unless the Lord of the Fortress commands otherwise. It’s unusual for a matter that would normally be settled by the Black Rank Unit Commanders to be handed down like this. A selection match will definitely take place. The name of the Namgung Clan is just that renowned.”
“Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art, Imperial Sword Form,” Cheong-myeong said with a grin. “If you crush a martial art famous throughout the world, honor will follow. No warrior would hesitate to make a name for themselves. The mission’s merit will also be great. Competition is inevitable.”
“Flash Art. We will not step forward.”
Baek Mi-ryeo stared at Jeong Yeon-shin. Cheong-myeong did too, the only difference being his smirk.
“Cheong-myeong and I aren’t in a hurry for merits. You win this and take the mission. Can you do it?”
He didn’t answer for a moment, caught off guard by their declaration that they wouldn’t apply. He knew their decision was rooted in consideration for him, likely because they had learned of his constitution.
Is this just gratitude…?
A feeling he couldn’t quite express arose within him. It was almost ticklish.
“...It’s hard to say for certain right now. I think I’ll only know after I go and return from a certain place.”
“Where?”
“I received word. The Lord of the Fortress is calling for me,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied as calmly as possible.
A letter from the Chief Steward's Office had arrived four hours ago. It said that the Lord of the Desolate Fortress would bestow a reward for his handling of the Blood Flame Cult's main headquarters.
Don’t get your hopes up, he repeated to himself, but a tempest was raging in his heart.
It had been like that since morning. He had tried his best not to show it, so his companions seemed unaware.
There had been two sheets of paper.
Another letter had been enclosed. He had pulled it out casually, only to be startled. The letter’s author was beyond his wildest expectations.
It was from the Lord of the Desolate Fortress herself.
He had burned the physical letter as instructed, but he couldn't erase it from his mind. Her elegant handwriting was seared into his memory as if branded by fire.
I bestow a small piece upon you. Come to me when the full moon rises.
It was just that one line.