WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Chapter 11: Public Sparring

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In the state where sword and self became one, Yeon-shin could sense even the wind blowing against the blade. That sensation remained vivid even now.

Though he had not seen Cheong Myeong's technique at all, he could read it through the sword.

Inner energy. Qi was a mysterious thing.

Without needing to see it with his eyes or feel it on his skin, it revealed a higher realm.

‘The essence of qi is nature itself. Wouldn't it be enough to simply follow where it leads?’

The cold feel of the Desolate Sword's hilt turned warm.

Following the mnemonic verses of Demon's Light, qi rose from Yeon-shin's entire body and began to flow out of him.

It felt like a faint breeze.

Along with that gentle wind, he observed another tower standing tall beside the collapsed bricks.

A mere glance at the joints of the brick tower formed a translucent mental image, as though he could see through it.

He knew how much force to use, where to strike, and at what angle.

Strength, surroundings, and target formed a threefold harmony that created a single trajectory. It was called a combat path.

Yeon-shin's breathing settled.

His right hand, holding the sheathed Desolate Sword, rose.

He did not draw out even a trace of inner energy to bolster his physical strength.

He simply swung leisurely, following the single form guided by qi.

In that instant, the world lost its color in Yeon-shin's awareness.

The twisting muscles that began at his pectoralis major passed through the deltoid and brachialis before reaching the common finger flexor, forging the path of force like a sword. It soon converged into a single sword path and shot toward the tower.

Just before impact, every joint in Yeon-shin's body locked in place. It was the optimal moment for the finest strike.

Thud! Rumble-

The collapsed bricks resembled those Ma Jin had broken beside them.

Yeon-shin had acquired Demon's Light. All that remained was to become proficient enough to use it in real combat.

He restrained the excitement rising from sheer enjoyment.

As he fastened the sword sheath at his waist, Yeon-shin glanced at Ma Jin. Ma Jin wore an expression even more intense than during Yeon-shin's spar with Cheong Myeong. It was no longer surprising.

“What is this...?”

“I think I need extensive real-combat experience. If I am to unleash Demon's Light when life and death are decided in an instant, ordinary training will not suffice.”

“......”

“I understand what it means to carve it into the body. I learned well.”

Ma Jin was reputed to be the strongest among the Seventeen Squads of the Divine Sword Squad.

Ma Jin said nothing for a while.

* * *

“That guy is strange.”

One of Demon Wings' experts muttered.

He wore a Blue Uniform with the character for “Desolate” embroidered across both shoulders and his back.

Everyone present wore the same martial uniform.

The roughly fifteen martial artists drinking in the lavish tavern seemed to understand at once.

There could be no one but the boy who had recently become the central topic within Demon Wings.

“I've heard that a lot too. At least before I came here.”

“You were called a peerless prodigy? Nothing new about that.”

“How many martial artists who entered through the Desolate Exam have never been called geniuses?”

“I wouldn’t know. I grew up in Desolate Fortress.”

A light scent of alcohol clung to every remark.

It was one of the foremost taverns on Xiangyang's streets, which bustled with customers thanks to Desolate Fortress.

No one enjoying their drinks bothered to circulate inner energy to dispel the intoxication.

Those who abstained and devoted themselves solely to training did not come out in the first place.

The Demon Wings expert who had spoken first said,

“Yes. It is what ordinary people who do not understand often say to geniuses and prodigies. ‘That guy is strange.’”

“Right. We became ordinary after coming here. Looking back, it doesn’t feel good.”

The person across from them, face flushed red, chuckled and drained a cup. Then they added,

“But that means the guy is strange to us, doesn’t it?”

The experts gave hollow laughs.

“Has anyone seen the Squad Leader make that expression before?”

“They say Seom-ye is already using Demon's Light with ease.”

“Haven’t you seen the way he swings a sword? Everything has changed, and he has gained a proper bearing. During that bout with Cheong Myeong, he looked like a young wild beast raised without parents.”

“I could hardly believe it even while watching.”

As they chatted about the absent boy, a young man with a relatively youthful face spoke.

“I like Seom-ye's temperament. Despite that aptitude, he is not arrogant.”

“Sometimes he is bold enough to leave one dumbfounded. Still, his true character will become clear after he goes on a major mission.”

“In any case, wouldn't the Lord of Desolate Fortress have taken notice of such aptitude?”

“He must have met the Lord during the final Desolate Exam. With the Lord's eye, he would have been seen through at once. There may even be some arrangement in store.”

“If nothing goes wrong, he will become one of the first experts people mention when speaking of Desolate Fortress. Won't he rise from White Uniform to Blue Uniform in no time?”

“That could happen, if he survives.”

Several experts nodded.

“But... what those lot are saying is amusing.”

While they spoke, one of the Demon Wings martial artists turned toward a wall.

The woman beside him raised her aura and smiled broadly.

“Aren’t they simply jealous? I heard they pressured their Squad Leader to recruit either Seom-ye or White Qilin, yet failed to get either one.”

Boisterous laughter erupted.

At the same time.

Bang!

The wall beside them shattered.

The Demon Wings experts deflected the fragments, which burst outward with qi, using chopsticks or wine cups.

The experts chuckled as they moved with ease, as though this was not the first time. Each gesture contained profound martial principles.

“My apologies for disturbing the enjoyment of the Demon Wings experts.”

The newcomers were also martial artists in Desolate Fortress Blue Uniforms.

One man stepped forward and spoke, but contrary to his words, the hems of his clothes fluttered wildly.

He had drawn out his qi to its fullest.

“If you know that, why not leave quietly? We were just beginning to enjoy ourselves. Our youngest has extraordinary aptitude.”

The woman, who had already been displaying her aura, spoke with a smile.

Her sharply defined features and cold eyes were curved in a smile.

It was an openly taunting expression, enough to make even someone with no intention of fighting draw a sword.

“Alluring Sun Sword, are you looking for a fight?”

“I thought your Azure Sky Squad was the one looking for a fight first. ‘A little talent does not change the fact that the boy's limits within Demon Wings are obvious.’ Wasn’t that a declaration of war? You lot were spouting offensive curses even knowing we could hear.”

As she spoke, her tone grew harsher, as though she were grinding her teeth.

Her aura also intensified with every phrase.

Unable to contain her anger, the woman sprang up and glared at the Azure Sky Squad martial artists.

“Draw your swords. Let us see all eighteen moves of that vaunted Azure Sword Art.”

“One Lotus Sword Plum Baek Mir-yeo! Watch your words!”

“Who are you to give me orders? I will crush you within ten moves, so come at me!”

Xiangyang's finest tavern descended into chaos.

* * *

“Have you heard that our seniors had a bout with Azure Sky Squad martial artists?!”

Hyeon Won-chang burst into the room early in the morning, making a great fuss.

Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly and spoke.

“Does Desolate Fortress not have its own laws? I thought martial artists of the main fortress fighting outside the Training Hall were subject to discipline.”

“When did you find time to read Desolate Fortress's legal code? Still, it seems that is correct. An order forbidding them from going out was issued, and everyone looked miserable.”

“Why did they fight?”

“Well, apparently an Azure Sky Squad martial artist picked a fight while they were drinking at a tavern. They said Young Master Jeong's talent could not bloom in Demon Wings.”

“They drew swords over something like that?”

“You truly do not understand the martial world yet. That is the essence of the martial world! A trivial remark returns as a gleaming sword, and one gains fame and roams the martial world by blocking and overcoming such things. Isn't that something to be happy about? The seniors of Desolate Fortress became angry for a newcomer and even fought! If it were me, I wouldn't know where to put myself!”

The Desolate Fortress Divine Hero looked at Yeon-shin with an expression of envy.

‘Didn't they simply become angry because Demon Wings was insulted?’

Unable to understand, Yeon-shin closed his mouth. Then his eyes widened slightly.

‘This is an opportunity.’

How much merit would be required to obtain the fruit of the World Tree, worshipped by the entire elven race?

There was no way he would not need the help of comrades along the way.

They said the best way to earn martial artists' trust was through debts of life exchanged between them, but there was no harm in building goodwill in advance wherever possible.

‘Calculated trust is embarrassing and ridiculous, though.’

Survival came first.

Though Yeon-shin had not made it obvious to the Lord of Desolate Fortress, he truly did not wish to die young.

Yeon-shin had to eat the World Tree fruit.

“Now that I hear it, Brother Hyeon Won is right. I am angry. It upsets me that the seniors had to exchange swords because of me alone.”

Yeon-shin rose abruptly.

“Exactly! That is it! Young Master Jeong truly is a chivalrous hero who understands propriety!”

‘Is chivalrous hero the right term to use here?’

Hyeon Won-chang even clapped. Yeon-shin nearly grew embarrassed, but put on an expression of restrained anger and left the room.

The anticipation directed at Yeon-shin in the footsteps following behind him was no illusion.

They went to the Demon Wings Training Hall.

Some seniors sprawled about there looked even more listless than usual.

The ban on going out seemed to be a greater punishment than expected.

Yeon-shin, who had not tasted a single drink for fear it would interfere with the circulation of the Jeong Family Youth Technique, could not easily understand how they felt.

“The youngest ones are here.”

“There is no instruction today. Did you come all this way to train anyway?”

“Those in White Uniform do not need to come.”

“No. Those in White Uniform should come even more. It is a commendable attitude.”

The seniors welcomed the two youngest members. Yeon-shin returned the greeting with a fist-and-palm salute, then walked directly to stand before Ma Jin, the Demon Wings Squad Leader.

“Are you stuck on any part of your training? Ask.”

Ma Jin, who had left after saying he needed to consider how to teach Yeon-shin, spoke with a tired expression.

An expert as formidable as Ma Jin would not easily feel physical fatigue. As Ma Jin had said then, he seemed to have spent considerable mental effort on Yeon-shin.

‘Seeing this, it seems Ma Jin truly intends to take it seriously.’

Yeon-shin thought, feeling more at ease before speaking.

“I wish to spar.”

“Fine. Pick anyone. Whoever it is will spar with you.”

Ma Jin answered while rubbing his forehead. Yeon-shin shook his head.

“Not someone from Demon Wings. I wish to compete with the Azure Sky Squad.”

The Training Hall fell silent. Everyone knew why Yeon-shin had mentioned the Azure Sky Squad.

“...It seems you heard about yesterday. There is no need to become enraged over such a thing. Calm yourself.”

‘I am not enraged.’

Confusion and appreciation were both visible on Ma Jin's face as he looked down at Yeon-shin.

“What do you mean? I simply wish to see the Azure Sword Art, which I have admired for a long time.”

“You are not calming down at all. Too much youthful impetuosity is also a problem.”

Yet the faces of the Demon Wings seniors behind Ma Jin did not look troubled at all.

Many looked so proud that they did not know what to do with themselves.

Veteran warriors who were said not to fall behind the experts of the Nine Sects already raised proud gazes like Force Projection.

The reaction was so far beyond Yeon-shin's intent that it gave him goosebumps.

He spoke first.

“I wish to face a renowned sword art with Demon's Light. Please permit it, Squad Leader.”

‘Gain real-combat experience with Demon's Light, observe a superior sword art, and earn the seniors' goodwill.’

It would be three birds with one stone. The last had seemingly already been achieved.

“Are you serious? We may stand within the same Divine Sword Squad of Desolate Fortress, but Demon Wings is different. You have not learned the same martial arts as the Azure Sky Squad, nor have you fought alongside them. They will not go easy on you.”

“That is what I want.”

Yeon-shin's brief answer drew whistles from all around.

“That is the spirit worthy of representing Desolate Fortress!”

“I want to see how he grows.”

“If he can merely hold out properly, Demon Wings could be entrusted to him in the next generation.”

Among them, Ma Jin also nodded slightly. Desolate Fortress was the center of the martial world, a place where one revealed oneself through martial arts and spirit. No expert would look unfavorably upon a fifteen-year-old swordsman raising his spirit for Demon Wings' honor.

“Good. I will inform the Azure Sky Squad Leader.”

A day later.

A spar between Demon Wings' Seom-ye and an Azure Sky Squad warrior was arranged. Officially, it was an exchange sparring match.

Footnotes:

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