Chapter 92: The Art of Instant Death (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 92: The Art of Instant Death (4)
A hearty laugh soon spread across the Young Master's face. His eyes curved into gentle crescents as he looked at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"You are truly bold. I've lost this round."
"You showed me the momentum of the Imperial Sword Form. I, too, felt something from it," Jeong Yeon-shin replied calmly. He meant that this wasn't a mere matter of keeping score in a battle of wills.
The Imperial Sword Form. It was a type of divine art he had never encountered before. Had he faced it directly in a duel, he would have been forced to yield a step.
"Felt something? I wonder how you will express it."
The Young Master's smile deepened.
Jeong Yeon-shin read the competitive spirit in his expression. It was the face of one who truly walked the path of martial arts.
He was just like the practitioners of the Nine Sects. A man of many faces, Yeon-shin thought.
"By the way, regarding the Deep Martial Alliance..."
Namgung Hwa-shin approached Jeong Yeon-shin's side and spoke.
"I heard that, contrary to its name, their organizational structure is no different from a military force. They say it has become closer to a private army under the protection of the Feudatory King of Henan Province. It is a sect with a massive membership."
"Close to a military..."
At Jeong Yeon-shin's murmur, Hwa-shin nodded.
"Just because someone is a Centurion doesn't mean their martial prowess is peerless. There will be far stronger martial artists within the Deep Martial Alliance. It is best to view those who fell here as mere scouts. It seems even greater experts will target you from now on, Young Hero Jeong..."
He trailed off, concern clouding his jade-like face.
His worry for Jeong Yeon-shin, rather than his own safety, was clearly evident.
"I know a bit about the Eldest Son of the Deep Martial Alliance," the Young Master said, approaching with his sword held low. Blood still dripped from the precious blade he had yet to sheath.
"Should I call him a general-type who excels at scheming? He is a tiresome figure to have as an enemy."
"It sounds like you are saying the level of his martial arts isn't what's important."
"You catch on quickly. He is a man who utilizes human wave tactics exceptionally well. He has clashed with our clan a few times, too. You should be on your guard. If a village you stop at to spend the night feels strange? It would be best to turn back immediately. That is, if you even can."
"...I will keep that in mind."
Jeong Yeon-shin replied briefly and fell silent. The Young Master's words and actions felt strange to him.
Despite being enemies who would eventually have to fight to the death, he was offering advice in a gentle tone, as if treating a younger brother.
It felt like a typical relationship between a senior and junior in the martial world. The casual nature of their conversation made it all the more bizarre.
Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin... what a strange man.
Even though his journey in the martial world had been short, he knew he had to be on guard. There was a chance that the camaraderie he shared with the White Qilin might also sprout with an opponent destined for a life-and-death duel. The boy forced himself to clear his mind.
He turned around, picking up the Desolate Fortress Sword that had rolled away.
Perhaps because the explosive sound of the palm technique had chased away the birds, the forest path was even quieter than before.
"Burying the corpses would be a chore. It is best to leave now."
At Jeong Yeon-shin's words, Namgung Hwa-shin approached. He had been quietly watching the conversation between his companion and his half-brother.
"Are you suffering from any internal injuries?"
It was a blunt question, perhaps because he had a lot on his mind. When the boy replied that he was fine, Hwa-shin nodded silently.
Behind them, Namgung Mi was staring at Jeong Yeon-shin with her lips pressed tightly together.
"Let's go," the boy said.
The group sheathed their swords and set off once more. The ambush by the Deep Martial Alliance was no small matter.
Yet, it was not something that should delay their steps. Such was the nature of those in the martial world. They were people who gained fame by stepping over corpses.
Ah.
Walking away, Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly realized he had grown completely numb to killing. He felt absolutely nothing.
He had cut down his enemies, and that was all. It hadn't been like this when he killed the martial artists of the Hegemon Sword Sect at the Jeong Family Manor. Back then, he had been forced to look away.
Was it because he was being chased by a predetermined end? Or was it his sheer desire to live, even if it meant stepping over the corpses of his enemies?
Drip, drip.
Raindrops announcing the arrival of summer began to fall, bit by bit.
They fell in dense, heavy sheets. It felt as though the heavens were shedding tears on behalf of the corpses of the Deep Martial Alliance.
Since the killer was indifferent, he thought it wasn't so bad for the heavens to mourn instead. After all, Jeong Yeon-shin himself did not know when he might end up just like them.
The sound of the rain hitting the leaves was crisp and clear. Only Namgung Mi's irritated groans broke the ambiance as noise.
Jeong Yeon-shin walked silently through the summer rain.
He realized anew that he had truly become a man of the martial world. The raindrops hitting his shoulders felt cold.
* * *
Ssssshhhhh—
"It's pouring relentlessly."
Weariness laced the voice of Changryeong Hwaju Namgung Mi. The torrential downpour quickly swallowed even her complaints.
It seemed as if the sky was emptying itself over the entire region. The glass-like summer rain thoroughly drenched the group.
They had just entered the southern entrance of Southern Zhili. It was Huizhou, where the main residence of the Namgung Clan was located.
"The streets are quite deserted. Even considering the rain, it feels exceptionally devoid of presence," Namgung Hwa-shin said, standing next to Jeong Yeon-shin.
Even though his kin were present, he insisted on staying by the boy's side. It was a posture that made his stance crystal clear, and Namgung Mi glared at him with disapproval.
The Young Master, walking ahead on the muddy ground with a bamboo hat on his head, replied, "That is because even if it pours, it doesn't help much with the farming."
"Is it because of a bad harvest?"
"You are right, Hwa-shin. It has been a major problem lately. Even if the commoners are lucky enough to grow food, it's still a problem. It just gets taken away by strong young men. It's not uncommon for martial artists to do the exact same thing. After all, making a living is the same whether you are a commoner or a martial artist of the martial world."
"A bad harvest even in Southern Zhili..."
"Rogue martial artists and unorthodox factions don't care about the lives of the commoners. Those who commit atrocities are common. Since public sentiment is harsh, if you travel the martial world in the future, you must make sure to pack plenty of dried rations."
Jeong Yeon-shin stared blankly at the Young Master, who was exchanging words with Namgung Hwa-shin.
He had been continuously sizing the man up. He had done so the entire time they walked together as a group.
The aura he occasionally revealed, his incredibly deep internal energy breathing, and even his gait, which made it seem as if he were practicing footwork in his daily life—he was already a completed martial artist.
Yeon-shin had absolutely no confidence in defeating him.
If there were a flawless Lazy Flame Dragon, he would be like that man, Jeong Yeon-shin thought. It was the appearance of a genius who had trained longer than he had, making diligent efforts without ever growing negligent. It was only natural that he was strong. Could he really take that man's head?
"Hmm? What is it?"
The Young Master turned around, as if sensing the gaze through his sense of Qi. The boy shook his head.
It was then that Namgung Mi, who had been watching Jeong Yeon-shin with cold eyes, approached lightly.
"We will arrive at the main residence soon. I wonder if you have enjoyed your final journey in the martial world."
"Is making trivial conversation your hobby? What a low amusement."
At the boy's calm retort, she snorted.
Namgung Mi was a direct descendant who had learned the clan's secret eye technique. She possessed eyes capable of seeing through the weaknesses of any martial art.
The palm technique unleashed by the Flash Art of the Desolate Fortress was no exception. There were issues with the telegraphing of its casting and the precision of the palm technique's direction. It was clumsy enough to be considered a major flaw in the world of experts.
It was incomplete. Only its raw power was astonishing.
He is a guy who will die soon, but this feeling is strange.
It had been like this since they first met. She felt a sense of incongruity in his tone.
It was highly unusual. It wasn't a feeling that should come from someone she had never seen before.
Among her peers in the martial world, the only one who had earned her recognition was her brother, Namgung Se-jin.
The Lazy Flame Dragon of the Hwangbo Clan was debauched, and Namgung Hwa-shin, who inherited the blood of an assassin, was lowly. Someone whose martial arts, personality, and lineage were all outstanding was incredibly hard to find in this world.
There were nine young female experts referred to as phoenixes in the martial world.
She took pride in being unrivaled among the Nine Phoenixes of the World.
There was no rising star who caught her eye. In other words, no one had left a deep impression on her mind.
There was no one she bothered to remember. Only the name of Wiji Myo-hwa of the Zhongnan Sect, who had earned the title of dragon, annoyed her, and that was simply because she had never seen her.
The direct line of the Namgung Clan was the greatest local aristocracy in Southern Zhili.
Namgung Mi had never experienced problems tied to survival.
Her world was defined by values that rogue martial artists or those of small and medium sects would call luxurious. She liked the phrase, "I alone am honored."
Jeong Yeon-shin, the Flash Art.
She had received the information gathered by her clan. She thought of him as a fairly outstanding rookie who was getting in the way.
He was the boy who became the pretext for the Desolate Fortress to strike the Namgung Clan. That was all. He had not reached the caliber to discuss the fate of the world. His young age was the reason.
Then what was the reason? Why did he feel so familiar?
Her senses, sharp as an expert of internal Qi Gong, would not let go of the question.
She had pondered this all the way to Huizhou. Then, a hypothesis suddenly occurred to her. It was so absurd that she hadn't thought of it right away.
There was only one time when Namgung Mi had been forced to look up at an enemy.
The memory was incredibly intense. He was someone who still dominated a corner of her mind even now.
The mask with its mouth open like an evil dragon, the calloused hand that had gripped her neck, the indifferent eyes, the blood-red robe that suited his eerie and destructive aura, and his chilling demeanor.
"You."
Namgung Mi parted her lips.
"Won't you show me your hand?"
* * *
The Gold-Piercing Martial Library of the Desolate Fortress.
It was a castle rising with pure white stone walls, a library as grand as the inner castle of the main fortress itself.
The marble walls were beautiful, said to have been brought from the royal palace of Dali, which had been destroyed by the Lord of the Desolate Fortress.
The attitude of the gatekeeper warriors standing guard was solemn, for the martial arts manuals of the Desolate Fortress were stored there.
The basic skills of the Desolate Fortress brought from the imperial palace.
The main fortress martial arts designed and compiled into manuals by the warriors of the main fortress.
It was a true compendium of martial arts. Everything was gathered there.
"Was it around here...?"
The vast interior unfolded, filled with the unique scent of old books.
A Demonlight Wing White-Ranked Warrior stood in front of the elegantly arranged bookshelves.
The girl in the white martial uniform was the youngest, following in the footsteps of Flash Art Jeong Yeon-shin.
It was Shin So-bin, who had recently begun to be called the White Cat of the Demonlight Wing.
Living up to a moniker that was somewhat too ambiguous to be called a formal title, she scanned the library with large eyes that perfectly resembled a white cat's.
"What are you looking for?"
"Ah."
At the heavy voice that suddenly came from her side, Shin So-bin turned her head.
She had been so focused that she hadn't noticed another martial artist approaching so closely.
"Senior Red-Day Sword."
He was a martial artist who looked as if he had survived a hundred battles in the military. His aura was rough and strong.
The middle-aged warrior, bearing scars all over his face and neck, nodded solemnly.
"That's right. We met during the Blue Rank promotion test. To think a precious daughter of a prestigious family like you remembers my title, even though I was helplessly defeated by your direct senior."
"Because it was an impressive duel. Senior Flash Art is, well... anyone would find it overwhelming to keep up with him."
"Should I call you the Demonlight Wing's White Cat?"
Shin So-bin's brows furrowed. She clearly did not like the nickname.
Red-Day Sword, laughing awkwardly as if he understood, changed the subject.
"There are many main fortress warriors lingering around here. Every time I saw them, I wondered if I should offer some advice, but since your face was familiar, I came over to you."
"Many?"
"Isn't it obvious? It is the martial arts of the youngest Blue-Ranked expert. Anyone would have no choice but to be interested. It must be filled with brilliant talent. Even now, isn't it nowhere to be found because everyone borrowed it? Since they can't take the manuals out of the Gold-Piercing Library, they must be practicing at the training ground behind the library."
"It must be difficult to learn with just the manuals."
"That just shows how hard they are trying. When Flash Art returns, the Demonlight Wing pavilion will be extremely crowded. Who would have known? To think he would pour out all his martial arts and leave them here just before departing for the Namgung Clan duel. By now, there must be countless people who earnestly wish for Flash Art's victory."
"Ah... anyway, I'm late again."
Shin So-bin let her twin-braided hair droop dejectedly.
"I even saw the Black Rank Unit Commanders," Red-Day Sword said, as if to comfort the discouraged girl.
"The Scripture of Initial Overcoming, Radiant Wing Step, Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand, Infinite Flower of Time Fist, Radiant Brilliance Sword Style... they are martial arts manuals worthy of being discussed as peerless in the martial world. He truly bestowed them all, as if aiming to sweep up every last merit point."
"There was a lot of talk about that in our Demonlight Wing, too. Everyone was saying it was such a waste."
"I had my doubts as well. A widely spread martial art will inevitably have a counter developed against it. Even if we exclude the Demon-Quelling Azure Steel Hand, which no one has been able to initiate, aren't all the martial arts donated to the Gold-Piercing Library Flash Art's main techniques? Even if he was in desperate need of merit points, it's hard to understand."
"That is also Senior Flash Art's wish."
Shin So-bin raised her head and smirked.
"He once said he wanted to counter the counters. He said it would help his achievements take a step forward. Even if I master the first three forms of the Infinite Flower of Time Fist and stand before him, he is the kind of person who would calmly bring out the fourth form... Well, in the first place, it would be hard to ever catch up with the mastery of the creator."
"Countering the counters..."
Red-Day Sword seemed lost for words for a moment.
"By the way," this time, Shin So-bin spoke first.
"I didn't know I would have so many competitors. With so many main fortress warriors initiating Senior Flash Art's martial arts? Even without the formal bond of master and disciple under the fortress laws, there will be many who revere him. I wonder if he's going to become a founding master or something."
"Though he hasn't opened a sect to be called a sect leader or founding master, a Flash Art lineage is already forming within the main fortress..."
Red-Day Sword of the Thread-Annihilation Unit said slowly.
"The term 'Grandmaster' would be more fitting."