Chapter 90: The Art of Instant Death (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90: The Art of Instant Death (2)
She had been lying on a high tree branch, staring intently at the window.
The Seventh Apostle saw and heard it all with crystal clarity. The flapping of that insignificant creature's mouth reached her ears as a distinct, grating voice.
It was all thanks to the sensory network of her Blood Art. She had activated it to catch even a single breath of the young Cult Leader's heart cultivation art.
Her hearing, heightened to such an extreme, picked up everything.
— “It might be better for you to surrender first and throw yourself at our main family's mercy. I'll even let you wash my feet. I'm being sincere.”
The voice of that lowly Namgung mongrel defiled her ears.
Step.
She took a single step, moving purely on instinct. She had to punish the wretch who didn't know her place.
As always, the Seventh Apostle's body moved the very instant she willed it.
Clad in the swirling winds of her Body Protection Scripture, she smashed through the inn's entrance in a single bound.
Before anyone could react, she was already gripping the Namgung wench by the cheek, slowly lifting her off the ground. The texture of the powder caked on the girl's face was utterly disgusting.
She couldn't frown, however. The boy who would one day create a divine art unique in all the world was watching her.
She flashed a smooth smile.
"You."
She felt the cold, stern gaze of the young Grand Preceptor—a look that always excited her. The Seventh Apostle thought to herself:
My young, precious Grand Preceptor, your dignity is my prestige.
"What did you say?" she asked the Namgung mongrel dangling from her grasp.
Namgung Mi couldn't answer. She could only gasp in pain, her eyes wide with sheer terror.
A heavy silence fell over the inn.
Only the shattered fragments of the door belatedly clattered to the floor. The Seventh Apostle's entrance had been just that sudden.
It was made all the more shocking by her overwhelming presence. The explosion of energy that had burst forth alongside her movement technique was immense.
"..."
Every eye in the inn turned toward Jeong Yeon-shin's group. This was a place where many patrons had just been discussing the Desolate Fortress and the Namgung Clan.
It seemed a good number of them recognized the Desolate Fortress martial uniform at once. A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.
"Are they really from the Desolate Fortress?"
"A Blue Rank at that age..."
"More importantly, look at her...!"
Martial world experts who had pushed their sense of Qi to the absolute limit were rare. There were certainly none in this inn.
Yet, the Seventh Apostle's power intimidated everyone regardless of their level of Qi sensitivity.
She naturally exuded a demonic energy that seemed to penetrate to the very marrow of their bones—a characteristic trait unique to powerful unorthodox experts.
Her clothes are bright red, Jeong Yeon-shin thought. The crimson garment draped over the Seventh Apostle's body was clearly a Pure Blood Robe.
It would be strange for a supreme expert of the Seventh Apostle's caliber from the Blood Flame Cult to disguise herself. It was far more fitting of her status to conceal her presence using her profound Body Protection Scripture.
I have no other choice.
He had to drive her away. Even if there was no Blood Flame Cult emblem on the Pure Blood Robe, he had to act. He and Namgung Hwa-shin were, nominally, companions of Namgung Mi.
If I want to keep the justification for the duel intact...
The boy locked eyes with Namgung Hwa-shin. An unspoken understanding passed between them in an instant.
Just then.
"Huuuugh...!"
A ragged groan escaped Namgung Mi's lips. The Seventh Apostle's fingers were pressing harder and harder into her cheek.
It looked like outright torture. It seemed an invisible finger art had already sealed Namgung Mi's acupoints.
"She isn't answering."
Matching her flat tone, there was no change in the Seventh Apostle's expression. Her face, wearing only a faint smile, was terrifying.
Even her beauty—her silk-like black hair and mystical red eyes—only served to make her look like a demonic temptress.
"..."
The inn sank into absolute silence.
With the grip strength of an internal expert of her caliber, infused with True Qi, crushing a face would take only an instant.
Jeong Yeon-shin changed his mind. If Namgung Mi died here, the blame might be shifted onto the Desolate Fortress.
He had to coax the unpredictable Seventh Apostle. He immediately sent a telepathic message.
— What do you think you're doing?
No answer came. She was no different from Namgung Mi in that regard.
Jeong Yeon-shin stared at the Seventh Apostle. She didn't turn her gaze toward him, offering only her profile.
However, she no longer seemed to be applying pressure to the hand gripping Namgung Mi's face. It meant she was listening.
Disgusting Blood Ghost. I can never tell what she's thinking.
The boy placed his hand on the hilt of his Desolate Fortress Sword and slightly lifted his right heel. It was a common starting stance for drawing a blade.
But his internal energy was entirely different. The moment he channeled the power of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art, a solemn aura enveloped the surroundings.
An energy wave also surged from Namgung Hwa-shin, who assumed a similar stance with a grim expression.
A breeze stirred inside the room, heavy and laced with killing intent.
— It was a promise made on our names.
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke again via telepathy.
— And you have blatantly broken it. Three hundred zhang has become a single step.
"..."
— I am deeply disappointed, Seventh Apostle.
In that instant, the Seventh Apostle's shoulders flinched. It was an unbelievable sight.
For a fleeting moment, her slender frame, previously shrouded by her powerful aura, came fully into view.
Her Pure Blood Robe did not look like a Heavenly Silkworm martial uniform.
Is it a feint?
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly searched for an opening. He barely suppressed the urge to unleash a sword strike right then and there.
If he rushed in recklessly, he would face a devastating counterattack. Was the lofty Apostle of the Blood Flame Cult trying to deceive him? For a moment, he hesitated to press her further.
— Are you saying you want to call off our agreement to trade martial arts?
"..."
— There are twelve moves left in our agreement regarding the Mara Blood-Roaring Art and the single-strike promise. I suppose you mean to sever everything with your own hands? That is exactly what your behavior suggests right now.
"No..." the Seventh Apostle muttered faintly. She even tilted her head slightly downward.
Jeong Yeon-shin's brow furrowed.
This reaction was incredibly unfamiliar. It was also just as detestable as Namgung Mi herself.
Considering the countless lives that had ended by her hands, this display felt like a mockery of the dead.
Just how much blood had been spilled to refine her powerful Blood Art?
He felt a surge of anger at this absurd display. The internal energy raised by the Jeong Family Dynamic Art flowed coldly past the Shenzhu point at the back of his neck.
This was likely what the Seventh Apostle intended. Even her method of provocation was worthy of an Apostle.
Her opening is blatant. Can I kill her here?
Jeong Yeon-shin was already channeling the Demonlight Formula. Translucent forms arose within his mind's eye.
Countless invisible threads transformed into the trajectories of sword paths in his mind.
But the moment those sharp lines manifested in his mental space and stretched outward, they crumbled helplessly before the Seventh Apostle's body.
It meant that no move from the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style could land a decisive blow in a single strike. He felt it in the realm of pure intuition.
I must join forces with Young Hero Namgung.
The White Qilin, Namgung Hwa-shin, was someone who understood Jeong Yeon-shin's senses. They didn't even need to discuss the order of their moves.
With their current skills, they could coordinate perfectly.
If every sword strike directed at the Seventh Apostle was bound to be blocked, they had to create a variable first through a single exchange of moves.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin was about to draw his sword and strike—
Swoosh!
"Because of this."
The smile vanished from the Seventh Apostle's lips as she muttered curtly.
With a single, fluid movement, she spun Namgung Mi's body around and grabbed the back of her neck. It happened in a split second.
She slammed Namgung Mi's head straight into the table. It was as natural as a flawlessly executed martial form.
Slam!
Her forehead collided heavily with the solid wood. The vibration was immense, but the Apostle didn't stop at just one strike, even without infusing much internal power.
Her movements—slamming the girl down as if venting her anger—were laced with pure malice. She seemed completely oblivious to the terrified gazes of the onlookers.
Slam! Slam!
A sound like air escaping a punctured lung repeatedly leaked from Namgung Mi's mouth. She, too, was an expert who had trained in martial arts; she didn't lose consciousness immediately. Every time her head was slammed down and yanked back up, her raw, gasping breaths echoed loudly through the inn.
She's telling me to bring it on.
To Jeong Yeon-shin, this was a blatant provocation from the Seventh Apostle. Without delaying any further, he operated the mnemonic of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style.
The True Qi of the Jeong Family Dynamic Art instantly took on the intent of radiant light.
Hummm!
In less than half a breath, the flow of True Qi surged through his entire body, and a white sword light flared from his right hand.
At the same time, the fast sword form of the Radiant Brilliance Sword Style erupted from his waist like a blinding beam of light.
Swish!
He knew it. There was no sensation of making contact. The Seventh Apostle had immediately executed a footwork technique to retreat.
Right before dodging, she had flung Namgung Mi onto the table. No one paid any attention to the sprawled-out girl.
For now, this is enough.
Keeping his eyes locked on the Seventh Apostle, Jeong Yeon-shin glanced briefly at the table. He saw Namgung Mi, her forehead bruised red and her eyes barely open.
"My word..."
"Was that a sword move just now? I heard there are many promising rising stars in the Desolate Fortress, but to see it in person..."
"Truly, a feast of profound martial arts!"
The onlookers burst into exclamations of admiration, treating the deadly confrontation like a fire burning safely across the river. The fact that he had only just made his move didn't even seem strange to them.
To their untrained eyes, it likely looked like a Blue-Ranked expert of the Desolate Fortress, hand on his sword hilt, engaging in a high-level battle of wills while exuding a grim aura. It was hard to guess otherwise.
At least that's a relief.
While relieved, Jeong Yeon-shin also found the situation strange.
None of the people in the inn had fled. Their breathing was irregular and heavy.
He could sense their tension mixed with palpable excitement. It felt like a collective determination to witness a clash of such high-level experts—a rare opportunity they might never get again.
The city of Huangzhou sat at the intersection of three major roads. They were official routes leading to Huguang Province, Jiangxi Province, and Southern Zhili, respectively.
Because the flow of merchant groups and goods was so massive, countless martial artists passed through the area. The old saying that only the bold ventured out into the world was indeed true.
These people wouldn't blindly run away just because a fight between experts had broken out.
Even the common folk possess such bold natures.
Despite the feeling that his horizons were broadening, he did not let his guard down for a second. It was hard to take his eyes off the Seventh Apostle, who stood perfectly still with her head bowed low.
He had no idea when she might unleash an ultimate technique. Even a barrage of dozens of fire bombs wouldn't be as terrifying as her next move.
"Young Hero Namgung."
"Do not worry about the half-move difference. I will back you up immediately."
A reliable voice came from diagonally behind him. Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slightly.
This was his first time using a cramped inn as a battlefield. However, he believed that with the Unimpeded Clear Stream Body mastered by Namgung Hwa-shin, they could respond fluidly to any attack.
Just then.
Step.
Suddenly, the Seventh Apostle turned around. Her posture remained strangely dejected.
The sight of her stepping lightly and simply walking out of the inn felt entirely surreal.
— You must come to me again. I will let you land one move.
It was her telepathic message. She was retreating, referring back to their sneak attack bet.
The moment she stepped out of the inn, she soared gracefully onto the roof, and her overwhelming presence gradually faded into the distance.
Jeong Yeon-shin stood completely still, holding his Desolate Fortress Sword low.
If those words are true, I should sever her right arm first. She won't just offer up her neck.
He paid no heed to the unpredictable inner workings of the Seventh Apostle's mind.
The achievement and merit of taking the head of a Blood Flame Cult Apostle were secondary matters. Just like Namgung Mi, she had to be killed.
"Oh... The young expert of the Desolate Fortress has driven away the unorthodox scum."
"What was her identity? She looked like she was from the Blood Flame Cult."
"She couldn't be a Blood Ghost. Her hair was black. Surely she wasn't an Apostle."
"Weren't her eyes red...? I don't know. She was one-eyed, and I only saw her profile."
The onlookers did not dare approach Jeong Yeon-shin's group. They merely conversed in hushed tones among themselves.
Even if they didn't seem to value their own lives, facing a martial expert directly was a different matter entirely.
The sudden commotion had ended anticlimactically. Though it might have looked like a victory on the surface, to Jeong Yeon-shin, the entire incident was absurd.
Had he ultimately controlled the Seventh Apostle? Jeong Yeon-shin could not bring himself to accept that conclusion.
I must stand solely on my own martial power. Relying on an enemy's favor has its limits. This is beyond common sense.
As he hardened his resolve, Namgung Hwa-shin, who had also kept his sword drawn, approached him.
The White Qilin's expression was complex as he looked down at Namgung Mi.
"We must find a physician. If we leave her like that, she won't be able to participate in the duel."
"...We should."
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slowly.
The once-peaceful day had flown by in a blur. The group could not leave Huangzhou immediately.
Their mission would only have meaning if Namgung Mi was actually able to move.
Four days passed.
During that time, they found a physician in the city to treat Namgung Mi and rented an annex of the inn for the three of them to stay in together.
Only Namgung Hwa-shin reacted to the pained groans Namgung Mi occasionally let out in her sleep.
Is even an enemy still family?
Jeong Yeon-shin merely immersed himself in silence, focusing entirely on creating a new palm technique and heart cultivation art. He lay down, lost in deep thought.
It was a deeper state of meditation than he had ever achieved before. It lasted until just before the first light of dawn gently swept into the guest room.
When the sun of the fifth day finally illuminated the world, Jeong Yeon-shin and Namgung Hwa-shin received a visit from a group of warriors. The newcomers brought a loud commotion with them before they even reached the inn.
It was as if a grand festival were taking place.
Their combined energy waves and sheer presence were so overwhelming that the uproar couldn't be helped. It was even enough to revitalize Namgung Mi's broken spirit.
A sneer played on her pale face as she lay on the bed in the guest room, glaring at Jeong Yeon-shin.
Amidst the clamor outside, her arrogant expression seemed to say: No matter who you really are, you must obey me now.
"The Azure Qilin! It's Young Master Namgung, the Azure Qilin!"
"Namgung Se-jin is here in Huangzhou...?"
"That inn! Didn't they say there are Desolate Fortress martial artists staying there?!"
The Azure Qilin, Namgung Se-jin.
The Young Master of the Namgung Clan had personally arrived after hearing the rumors about his younger sister.