WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Episode 122: Samadhi True Fire (2)

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The air in the City of Master Craftsmen seemed to grow heavy. An especially chilly wind swept past, wrapping around the Tang Sect and Beggars’ Sect masters.

As it brushed the cave’s stone walls, the air gave off a rough, dull sound.

It echoed the Successor Beggar’s state of mind.

‘Seom-ye, Jeong Yeon-shin. Blue Uniform of Demon Wings, temporary martial force Squad Leader.’

Conflicting emotions rose at once. Awe and wariness. As a martial artist, the Successor Beggar could not help but admire him.

His progress had been far too swift. To gauge the depth of his martial arts, one would have to descend into an abyss.

From the Successor Beggar’s perspective, the boy’s martial strength had clearly surpassed the realm of the younger generation.

‘He’s at the level of a Desolate Fortress Black Uniform. Before long, a new Squad Leader may emerge from the Divine Sword Squad.’

There was more to it than that. Building one’s martial strength and slaying a supreme master of equal or greater standing in battle were entirely different matters.

He had been born with an innate sense for battle. It meant his technique surpassed the level of his martial arts.

To name martial artists who had reached that realm at Seom-ye’s age, one would have to search all of history.

Even then, there might not be many. Bodhidharma, Zhang Sanfeng, and the founding patriarch of the Ming Cult were the first names that came to mind.

That was why it was astonishing. Anyone who walked the martial path would find it difficult not to feel such rare amazement.

Yet those who sought to shape the martial world saw things differently. The Beggars’ Sect was the Gang within the Nine Sects and One Gang.

The Beggars’ Sect was a faction that protected chivalry and order within the martial world alone.

They could not help but be wary of the emergence of a boy who seemed beyond all reason.

‘The Martial Alliance’s inaugural ceremony will be held before long. At least in name, we cannot avoid inviting a Desolate Fortress master. If that boy comes, will there be any martial artist his age who can stand against him?’

No one came readily to mind.

Few factions in the martial world would welcome the rise of a Desolate Fortress master.

Unless they were one of the Nine Sects, cultivating themselves in pure sacred grounds, every faction would first hide a blade in its heart.

Even when martial factions had done nothing wrong, the same held true. Under the pretext of protecting the people’s livelihood, the Desolate Fortress sought to suppress the martial world.

The order it desired was, in truth, oppression of the martial world.

Aside from religious martial lineages such as the Nine Sects, this was how most orthodox sect martial artists truly felt, as far as the Successor Beggar knew.

I harmed common people? What, did those innkeepers submit a petition? Chivalrous warriors are heroes, and when heroes drink, they might draw a sword or two.

There are countless villains everywhere under heaven. The Desolate Fortress is sacrificing the greater good for trivial concerns...

The Successor Beggar agreed with that sentiment to some extent.

“Desolate Fortress. One of its particularly sharp blades has grown dull, yet another is honing itself to a terrifying edge. And he’s absurdly young. A precious sword that has just been born. It truly is unfair.”

The Successor Beggar muttered quietly, referring to the Leader of Demon Wings and Seom-ye.

A mere member of the younger generation had slain the core masters of major factions.

Not one, but two. Who would believe it? The Great Sword of the Ten Perfect Sect and the Divine Hand of the Pure Demon Alliance could each be compared to the head of an elite group from the Nine Sects.

Dokgo Gwang and Ha Yul-geuk. At the very least, each could contend with the leader of a martial force from one of the Eight Great Families.

‘The martial world’s landscape will change, if only a little. An unbelievable rising talent has appeared.’

The Successor Beggar scratched their back as they tried to keep Seom-ye in sight.

The boy was far away, hidden among Desolate Fortress martial artists, and the Successor Beggar could not see him clearly. Their guard was frighteningly tight.

“You seem to be entertaining some rather sinister thoughts.”

Soft footsteps sounded. The Successor Beggar turned their head.

Poison Phoenix Tang Ryeo-ryeo was gazing steadily at them.

“Sinister? What do you take the Beggars’ Sect for? Say that my thoughts run deep. While both sides fought, it was us beggars who protected the common people.”

The Successor Beggar replied smoothly. Tang Ryeo-ryeo’s brows drew together slightly.

It was a fact she could not deny. As Demon Wings lost strength, the Beggars’ Sect had stepped in to protect the residents of the City of Master Craftsmen.

Thanks to them, most of the dwarven race huddled together in the distance remained unharmed.

Only the devastated land of the City of Master Craftsmen lay empty.

The Successor Beggar grinned.

“Before you pick at faults you cannot even see in others, perhaps you should reflect on your own conduct. Were you not watching only Hero Seom-ye because you feared Full Heaven Flower Rain might be lost? Your subordinates helped us, yes, but I never imagined I would hear the word ‘sinister’ from a daughter of the Tang Sect.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Do you think I don’t know you’re constantly assessing people? Because you fear he’ll become an obstacle to the formation of the Martial Alliance.”

“Then does the Supreme Family Head know that you have been away on such a long journey, miss?”

“Is that a problem?”

Tang Ryeo-ryeo brushed her short hair behind her ear.

She bore the proud, haughty air of a cherished daughter from a prestigious family. The Successor Beggar’s smile deepened.

“If your reason for finding fault with this beggar lies in Full Heaven Flower Rain, I can understand that well enough. Nothing under heaven could be more important than a renowned family’s unparalleled secret art. How many masters with talents like Hero Seom-ye’s could there possibly be?”

“...”

“But mind your words. The Tang Sect also stamped its seal upon the invitation to the alliance assembly, did it not? After what happened to the Huangbo and Namgung Families, you said you would no longer stand by and watch such ruthless oppression. I fear your sharp words may damage the trust between allies. The Supreme Family Head will not welcome it.”

The Successor Beggar continued with a smile.

“Let us keep our distance from one another. The Tang Sect is rather unpleasant to deal with.”

There was a blade hidden in their relaxed tone. Tang Ryeo-ryeo did not answer again.

She did not think this was a conversation to continue in a place shared with Desolate Fortress masters.

Perhaps because the truth would come out anyway, the Successor Beggar’s nerve was absurdly great.

It was then.

“Our family was the one that was wiped out, so why are you two making such a fuss?”

A scorching presence swept over them with the playful words. A powerful arm landed heavily across the Successor Beggar’s shoulder.

The Languid Flame Dragon had appeared without warning. For an instant, the air itself seemed to leap.

Shockingly powerful Scorching Yang qi heated the air.

“Running around like reckless children.”

He spoke with an arm around the Successor Beggar’s shoulders.

His voice was terribly languid, yet those few words brought silence.

His presence was hot enough to melt flesh and so powerful that he seemed impossible to oppose. He was not someone the younger generation could challenge.

“...”

The Successor Beggar fell silent. Even the Beggars’ Sect subordinates could not step forward. The Languid Flame Dragon was already a widely renowned young nobleman.

The martial strength he had shown in the City of Master Craftsmen today had been equally shocking.

Everyone knew that aside from Seom-ye, the Leader of Demon Wings, and the Tang Family Head, no one could stand against him.

And so...

The Languid Flame Dragon remained silent for a long time, a faint smile on his lips. His mere presence weighed down on them with terrible pressure.

No one could help worrying that the opium addict might truly melt the Successor Beggar’s neck.

“Wow, he has gone from here all the way to there. It’s truly fascinating. You could call it the only joy left in my life.”

He muttered to himself like a madman. With his arm around the Successor Beggar’s neck, the Languid Flame Dragon watched only Jeong Yeon-shin’s progress.

Even then, gentle waves of light flowed from the boy’s body.

“This is fun. Thrilling.”

It was a sight that made one realize just how vast the world of martial arts was. The Languid Flame Dragon raised the corners of his mouth.

The Successor Beggar could not move. They had no choice but to stand there blankly until Seom-ye finished circulating his qi.

The Languid Flame Dragon did not move until then. Had the Beggars’ Sect held even slightly less influence, no one knew what might have happened.

Only when the Successor Beggar’s cold sweat began to evaporate in white wisps did Jeong Yeon-shin finish circulating his qi.

Hoo...

The boy slowly opened his eyes amid the Desolate Fortress masters. Hyeon Won-chang immediately hurried over.

Hyeon Won-chang held Jeong Yeon-shin’s Desolate Sword in both hands.

“Please wear it, young hero.”

Hyeon Won-chang spoke with a broad grin. A faint curve formed on Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips.

Hyeon Won-chang’s manner always had a pleasant quality to it.

“You have accomplished something truly astounding. The advancement of your martial arts is beyond remarkable. It is simply...”

Hyeon Won-chang’s praise was only the beginning, though their eyes had already widened when they began to smile.

“Truly incredible. The next Black Uniform will come from Demon Wings.”

“Was that final technique truly the second form of Sihwa Boundless Fist? I had no idea it could produce such dazzling changes. It was no less impressive than the Plum Blossom Sword of the Mount Hua Sword Absolute.”

“I can still clearly remember when you were a White Uniform.”

The seniors of Demon Wings gathered around him. No one ruffled his hair or touched his shoulder now.

They respected him as a martial artist of exceptional skill. They smiled, proud of him.

That remained true even though many of their comrades had died.

They suppressed it, turned away from it, and buried it deep within their hearts. They seemed accustomed to it. There were many ways to face grief.

Their depth of life experience surpassed Jeong Yeon-shin’s.

‘I need to learn that...’

The boy thought of his fallen seniors and Ma Jin’s arm.

He forced himself to settle. Until they returned, this was no time to let down his guard.

He reunited with Ma Jin, Baek Mir-yeo, and Cheong Myeong as well, but they could not spend long together.

There were too many wounded. They needed to leave the cave quickly and find physicians.

They had only briefly been unable to contain their joy at seeing one another again.

“Please wait a moment!”

The dwarves of the Winter District approached from one side of the City of Master Craftsmen. There were perhaps a hundred of them. Their heartfelt thanks came first.

They gathered together and offered deeply respectful bows. Their bearing showed the utmost respect.

The grace they had received was immeasurable.

Their boundless gratitude could be plainly felt. Their gazes shifted intensely between Jeong Yeon-shin and Ma Jin.

They were not looking at people.

Reverence and worship were more accurate. They had lived in a confined place all their lives.

They seemed to regard the realm of Black Uniform as something divine.

“Could that young martial expert be the reincarnation of Lu Dongbin...?”

Someone muttered. The name of one of the legendary Taoist Eight Immortals had even come up.

Cheong Myeong, standing nearby, said it was true and lightly nudged Jeong Yeon-shin. Baek Mir-yeo added a brief comment.

Their smiles held playful amusement. Many seniors seemed to have changed their attitude, but Ma Gwang-il’s Squad remained the same.

The boy struck Cheong Myeong’s sword-wounded abdomen with his elbow, then flicked a finger against Baek Mir-yeo’s back.

His seniors cried out.

Amid all this, the leader of the City of Master Craftsmen dwarves spoke.

“Please, tell us what you desire. We will repay you in any way we can.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered at once.

“A prosthetic arm.”

“Pardon...?”

“You said Bodhidharma’s qi was refined into a treasured artifact. Then can you not make a prosthetic arm operated with inner energy? I heard this place is filled with divine weapons and rare artifacts.”

“Ah.”

The thick-bearded village head stood at the front. The village head’s complexion brightened slightly.

It could be done. Yet they could not begin work immediately.

Many among them were injured as well. This had been a war between groups that ranked among the strongest in the Central Plains.

Quite a few residents had suffered stab wounds or lost arms and legs after being struck by fragments of martial force.

“No one is unhurt.”

The Tang Family Head clicked his tongue.

He had been looking at Jeong Yeon-shin with an unreadable gaze while sweeping pitying eyes over the City of Master Craftsmen, which he had hoped to join.

“We should find physicians outside. Come with me, all of you.”

Still, they needed time to prepare. They carried the bodies of their comrades and hastily applied Golden Wound Medicine to the wounded’s external injuries.

Jeong Yeon-shin lowered his head and observed a moment of silence before the bodies of his seniors.

“...”

Then, suddenly, the boy felt someone’s gaze.

The light wheel within his heart turned faintly. He sensed a familiar aura.

‘This is...’

He turned his head. He had to look all the way up to a distant stone wall.

The figure that entered his sight was immediately familiar. A slender body, eyes that seemed to hold clotted blood like jewels.

Amid the fierce gusts blowing through the cave, the gaze visible between the long black hair fluttering in the wind was bewitching.

It was the Seventh Apostle of the Blood Flame Sect. The hem of her Pure Blood Robe fluttered alongside her jet-black hair.

She winked one red eye.

“What do you want me to do about it?”

The boy muttered.

Footnotes:

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