Chapter 84: The Struggle (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: The Struggle (3)
Boom!
The recoil from the palm strike was immense. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately channeled his remaining internal power into the meridians of his right arm.
The Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, a long channel stretching from deep within his shoulder to his index finger, hardened with the resilience of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art. It was a defensive measure to prevent his shoulder from dislocating from the powerful aftershock.
Screeech!
Even so, he was pushed back. His feet carved deep furrows into the earth as he skidded to a halt.
The shockwave scattered in all directions, kicking up a cloud of yellow dust that obscured his vision.
'As expected.'
The impact had felt shallow. A split second before his palm landed, a sudden surge of energy had propelled the Seventh Apostle away with a swift movement technique.
She had dodged a strike he had unleashed at point-blank range.
Her reaction suggested she had anticipated it. Just like the clever enchantress she was.
The Seventh Apostle was definitely weaker than when she was in perfect condition. Her evasion had been a hair's breadth too slow. Yet, she wasn't nearly as weak as she had appeared. Her supposedly debilitated state had been an exaggeration.
She was still powerful. Had she been trying to elicit sympathy?
“What are you plotting?” Jeong Yeon-shin asked, his gaze fixed on the silhouette standing five paces away in the dust.
With a single wave of her hand, a hot summer wind swept through, clearing his vision.
Her long, flowing black hair, crimson eyes, and lips curved into a sly smile were revealed.
“You created another martial art out of thin air, didn't you?”
The Seventh Apostle lightly caressed her abdomen. Her red Heavenly Silkworm martial uniform clung tightly to her skin as if it were soaked in water.
She had been unable to fully deflect his palm force.
This meant that the Seventh Apostle's profound body protection qi, which should have been active at all times, had been momentarily breached. The implications were immense. He now possessed a strike capable of threatening even those in the Black Rank realm.
It was a life-saving ultimate technique, one that could rescue him from the brink of death.
'Landing it is another story. The difficulty lies in the execution.'
It was difficult to imbue the technique with both speed and accuracy. The signs of its initiation were too conspicuous, and the flow of power was too massive.
Jeong Yeon-shin suppressed his sense of accomplishment and focused on the Seventh Apostle. The madwoman was speaking.
“Even without a direct hit, it did this much…” An innocent smile played on her lips. “If it had landed squarely, I wouldn't have escaped unscathed. Incredible!”
She stared at him, her expression intensely excited. Even the eye behind her black eyepatch seemed to gleam with a crimson light.
“I asked you. What are your intentions?”
“Isn't it obvious? I'm here to take my Grand Preceptor back with me…” She trailed off, slightly lowering her single visible eye.
Her attitude had changed. In that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin truly felt the law of the Jianghu. There was no other way to see it.
It was because he had grown stronger. And because Namgung Hwa-shin was by his side.
Acting on a whim was a privilege reserved for the strong. The stronger one was, the more dignity they commanded. The law of the Jianghu was simple and clear.
The Flash Art, whose martial arts had reached a higher level. The White Qilin, who exuded a formidable aura.
Even for the Seventh Apostle, who was suffering from internal injuries, this was a force she could not easily suppress without taking damage herself. She could no longer recklessly attempt to kidnap him as she had before.
Jeong Yeon-shin made up his mind.
'I will end this during this journey.'
It would be hard to find the Seventh Apostle in such a vulnerable state again. He had to eliminate her while she was weakened, even if only slightly. Excluding the Lord of the Hegemon Sword Sect, she was clearly his greatest threat.
“My Grand Preceptor. Come with me. Hmm?” the Seventh Apostle pleaded, her expression desperate.
It was absurd to see such an act from the very woman who drained people of their vital energy. Where had the supreme expert of the wicked cult gone—the one who had captured him in a single move without a word in Clear Night Valley of Southern Zhili?
Jeong Yeon-shin observed her carefully. The center of her bright red lips was curved slightly upward. She seemed to view the situation as a dilemma. She couldn't easily subdue him, yet she had no intention of leaving. Did she plan to cling to him just as she had at the cult's headquarters?
“Your blood art,” he said.
Instantly, a bright glow returned to the Seventh Apostle's face.
“Yes?”
“I have completed the mnemonic. It is contained within my body.”
Whoosh!
As he activated the mnemonic, a sinister aura began to emanate from him. He had unleashed the Mara Blood-Roaring Art. Invisible waves of true qi pulsed from his body. His naturally calm demeanor was replaced by an explosive, demonic energy that enveloped his entire being. A sound like a hissing snake intensified the eerie atmosphere.
Sssss—
Jeong Yeon-shin's face remained calm. There was not a single trace of the base madness characteristic of blood arts. The energy wave, known as the aura of pure blood at the Blood Flame Cult's headquarters, wrapped around his body. For a moment, his Desolate Fortress blue martial uniform almost looked like a Pure Blood Robe.
While researching the fourth stance, he had completely modified the mnemonic, extracting only the blood art's unique killing intent and explosive power. It was a change that any expert familiar with the Mara Blood-Roaring Art would immediately recognize.
“Ah…!” The Seventh Apostle's gasp was close to ecstasy. Her face flushed, and just as she opened her mouth to speak, Jeong Yeon-shin cut her off.
“It is a hundred-character mnemonic. Every time you block one of my sneak attacks, I will give you five characters,” he said quietly, proposing a wager with the martial art's mnemonic as the prize. He was openly declaring he would launch sneak attacks against an Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult.
“Young Hero Namgung and I will continue on our way. From now on, you must maintain a distance of at least three hundred zhang. Do not come any closer. I am the only one allowed to close the distance. If you violate this, I will take one of your arms. Even if I die, I will make sure to sever one of your limbs.”
The blood art distorted Jeong Yeon-shin’s voice, making it sound harsh and warped. Standing beside him, Namgung Hwa-shin thought it sounded like the voice of a demon risen from the Eight Hot and Eight Cold Hells of Buddhist lore.
'Young Hero Namgung's composure is profound. He isn't acting rashly at all.'
Jeong Yeon-shin admired the caliber of the White Qilin. Even in this situation, he was silently tolerating his absurd words. He did so even after witnessing a blood art, despite being an orthodox martial artist. He was deeply grateful.
“What did you say?” the Seventh Apostle laughed, looking amused.
He was declaring that he would launch one-sided attacks on her. It was a bizarre proposition. Five characters out of a hundred. That meant he would have twenty opportunities to unleash a lethal strike against an expert several levels above him.
Even if ambushed, she could not bring herself to kill Jeong Yeon-shin. Her mad obsession and past actions were proof enough of that. On the other hand, if she tried to capture him half-heartedly, she would have to face the combined assault of the Flash Art and the White Qilin, both fighting with no regard for their own lives.
At this point, even she found that prospect unappealing. Suffering from internal injuries, she might actually lose an arm. It was the predicament of a viper trying to approach a curled-up hedgehog. The upper hand had shifted.
“If you accept, back away now,” Jeong Yeon-shin said.
A faint smile played on the Seventh Apostle's lips. “What if you give me a fake mnemonic?”
“I have no intention of playing cheap tricks. Would a supreme expert of your caliber fail to notice a discrepancy?”
“And what if you don't attack me?”
“You are no different from those noble clans. There are always those who fail to recognize the grudges they've sown. This is a resentment of your own making. You will die by my hand,” he answered calmly.
In this Jianghu where one lives on the edge of a blade, his freedom had been stripped away. He had been forced into an unwanted position, living in constant tension for a month. He had no intention of forgiving her.
She did not answer immediately. She stared at Jeong Yeon-shin for a long moment before slowly parting her lips.
“Five characters is too few. Six characters.” She bargained out of nowhere, her tone light.
The atmosphere shifted. A faint look of bewilderment crossed Namgung Hwa-shin's face. Standing beside Jeong Yeon-shin, his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
“Just like a lunatic of the wicked cult,” he muttered, as Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.
“I am no merchant.”
“Six characters.”
“Five.”
“Fine. I suppose I'll get to taste my Grand Preceptor's blade to my heart's content, then?” the Seventh Apostle smiled broadly.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew between the three of them. The sun overhead seemed to have lost its warmth. The aftermath of the fully unleashed blood art was immense. The vegetation lining the road was losing its green luster, the leaves scattering helplessly in a single gust of dry, energy-laden wind.
“...”
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly withdrew the Mara Blood-Roaring Art. Trading a martial art's mnemonic for a threat to one's life—this, too, was the reality of the Murim.
“Go.”
“See you later.”
The Seventh Apostle's bizarrely casual farewell brought a delayed wave of tension. Three hundred zhang was a delicate distance. It was far enough to allow a response the moment a supreme expert began to approach, yet the Seventh Apostle would also be able to keep watch on them using her profound eye technique. Sending a messenger or even a single carrier pigeon would likely not be tolerated.
Rustle.
Her Pure Blood Robe fluttered red. With a soft footstep, she utilized her elusive Body Protection Scripture and vanished into the distance.
Namgung Hwa-shin, who had been quietly watching her retreating figure, spoke. “...A storm has blown in right from the start. If we try to head back, she will cross those three hundred zhang in an instant.”
“She will. She accepted because it was a reasonable distance.”
“Your courage is remarkable, Young Hero. I thought we would have to fight to the death right here.”
“Those of the unorthodox factions are selfish,” Jeong Yeon-shin said, having encountered many of the Thirteen Heavens in a short period. “They avoid fights unless they have a ninety percent chance of winning. She complied because she knew that even if we died, we could easily tear off one of her limbs.”
Namgung Hwa-shin nodded in agreement. “But do you really intend to launch twenty preemptive strikes?”
“We cannot let her recover. If we don't eliminate her now, she will become an insurmountable foe. We must strike and finish her while she is unable to utilize her regenerative abilities. Of course, when I make my move…”
“Naturally, I must accompany you. Do not worry. I suppose I will gain some valuable experience alongside an Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult,” Namgung Hwa-shin smiled reassuringly. His eyes were clear as they met Jeong Yeon-shin's—the eyes of a man with whom he had briefly shared his life as a comrade.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips. “We will return alive this time as well. And we will succeed in our mission.”
“...But of course.”
An unexpected variable had arisen on the very first day of their mission. Thus began their bizarre journey through the Jianghu.
* * *
It had been seven days and nights since Namgung Mi, the Changryeong Hwaju, had left her family estate. She had granted the warriors of the Changryeong Flower, a collateral branch of the clan, the honor of escorting her.
A small gesture and a single smile were all it took. Six of them had followed her. She had not brought any servants, anticipating a rough journey.
'They would only be a nuisance.'
It didn't matter anyway. She naturally treated the Changryeong Flower warriors as her servants. The smile of a beautiful and highly skilled lady from the main family was a powerful thing. The six elite warriors took it upon themselves to handle the chores of the journey. They were fully committed to this expedition, viewing it as a righteous quest to punish the lawless rabble of the Desolate Fortress.
“A duel is one thing, but a life-and-death duel? Truly insolent.”
“How could we send reinforcements when we didn't even know who that brat was? It was a battlefield. It is only natural to assess the situation first.”
“Ha! There is certainly no law in the Great Ming Code stating we must welcome the people of the Desolate Fortress!”
Traveling with the clan's fine steeds, they arrived in Wuchang of Huguang Province, a city with a post station. Passing through two more prefectures would bring them to Xiangyang, home of the Desolate Fortress. A great sect with one of the finest intelligence networks in the land would have at least a rough idea of the Desolate Fortress warriors' movements. They kept in mind that the fortress warriors frequently utilized the post station routes.
As soon as they entered the city, they moved according to plan.
Crash!
The wooden plaque reading 'Hyeonsa Gate' shattered. It was a sect name that meant 'Sect of the Wise Master.' The reality was different. It was an unorthodox sect that plundered the common people under a respectable name.
“Who dares!”
The head of the shouting sect leader was severed in a single strike. Namgung Mi's sword strike was so cold it seemed to freeze the very air. Under the sunlight that poured down like a curtain, the cold air rising from her body turned into white steam.
“What in the…”
The enemies hesitated. Enveloped in Cold Ice Energy, she looked like a celestial maiden who had transcended the mortal realm. No one could stand against her. The same went for the warriors of the Namgung Clan's Changryeong Flower. They were on a completely different level from the local unorthodox sect.
Amidst flashing sword light, the disciples of the Hyeonsa Gate collapsed helplessly. In less than an hour, the sect was annihilated.
They immediately headed back out into the marketplace of Wuchang.
“Look here!”
The warriors, clad in high-quality martial uniforms, emerged covered in blood. Clashes between martial artists were always loud, and news of them spread quickly. The eyes of the townspeople, who had been watching with fear and panic, widened in surprise.
A Changryeong Flower warrior raised the severed head of the Hyeonsa Gate Master.
“Behold! The Changryeong Hwaju of the Namgung Clan has severed the head of the unorthodox leader! A branch of the Namgung Clan will be established where Hyeonsa Gate once stood, so you may all rest easy and return to your livelihoods!”
“The Namgung Clan… the Namgung Clan?”
“If she is the Changryeong Hwaju… isn't she one of the renowned Nine Phoenixes?”
“With that beauty and aura, no wonder…!”
The Wuchang martial artists who had been monitoring their movements whispered among themselves. The commoners, who had been anxious about being caught in a turf war, also overheard. A crowd began to gather, but the unrest did not last long.
Gasps of wonder soon turned into cheers. The Namgung Clan, famous as the greatest family in the orthodox martial world, had personally declared they would protect them. Repeated bad harvests had made food scarce, and the tyranny of martial artists who possessed nothing but brute force was beginning to plague the lives of the common people. Immediate safety was what mattered most.
“What in the world is happening?”
“The Namgung Clan! Thank you, thank you so much!”
“The young lady is so beautiful. She is truly a celestial maiden…”
People of all ages praised the Namgung Clan. Bathed in the bright sunlight, Namgung Mi responded to the cheers with a beautiful smile, and the crowd grew even louder.
“My brother should have been here too,” she muttered with a smile. The Azure Qilin, Namgung Se-jin, had been unable to come. The position of young master was a heavy one. Unable to leave easily, he was said to be waiting for the official duel against the Desolate Fortress.
'This is easy.'
Namgung Mi smiled playfully to herself. While ostensibly coming out to greet the imperial authorities, she had easily won over the people of Wuchang. It was a trivial task that didn't even require her family's power. She simply disliked the Desolate Fortress, which roamed the Jianghu acting like righteous heroes while constantly shouting about the livelihoods of the common people.
Everyone would cheer for her. It was only natural.
It was then.
“You atrocious scoundrels! How could you kill an innocent servant!” someone shouted before vanishing into the distance. It was a young boy. He ran incredibly fast, yet there was a strange elegance in his movements.
They killed a servant?
The crowd began to murmur. Public sentiment was fickle, especially when a powerful clan with worldly authority was involved. Unless it was one of the Nine Sects practicing the Dao in the mountains, or the Desolate Fortress which championed the relief of the common people, eyes of suspicion would always follow.
'Insignificant fools.'
The corners of Namgung Mi's mouth curled up further into a pure white smile. She had cut down several third-rate martial artists, whose energy was barely detectable, as they tried to flee. Perhaps one of them had been a non-martial artist. Or maybe it wasn't her, but the Changryeong Flower warriors who had cut them down.
—Silence him.
She sent a brief voice transmission. Just as a Changryeong Flower warrior nodded slightly and stepped forward, two people were whispering in the corner of a distant inn, far out of earshot.
“Young Hero Namgung.”
“Well done. This is how you have to deal with my sister. I've suffered much at her hands since childhood. I figured she wouldn't just sit quietly at home, and it seems waiting at the post station for a day has paid off. I'm glad I bought extra clothes. It also helped that we were moving as if being chased by the Seventh Apostle.”
“I see no reason to delay the duel.”
“Her temperament seems to have grown tricky…”
“I felt an unrefined Yin Energy from her.”
“Indeed. Since one's qigong achievement doesn't change so drastically overnight, she must have consumed some powerful snow ginseng. If she unleashes her full power, it might be difficult to even get close… Why do you look like that?”
“Ten moves.”
“Hmm?”
“Perhaps ten moves will be enough,” the youth said.