WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Episode 130: Azure Flame (3)

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Poison Commander Dang Un-hwang’s Full Heaven Flower Rain tore Gal Sa-ryang’s entire body to shreds.

It did not end there. The iron rain of flowers ripped apart the remaining martial artists of the Thirteen Heavens as well.

That was when Full Heaven Flower Rain revealed its strength.

It manifested as a calamity to those whose martial arts had not reached a certain level. It swept them all away.

By then, So Jin-rang had lost the will to fight at Jeong Yeon-shin’s hands.

A feeling he had never experienced as the Ten Perfect Sect’s heir colored his heart.

Utter fear. He had to flee as soon as they let him go.

He suspected there was some scheme behind it, but a rising talent of the unorthodox sects had to put personal safety first.

And now, here he was.

A mountain hillside where an autumn wind brushed the fallen leaves.

The sound of leaves rolling across the ground was especially eerie.

Soft footsteps stopped before So Jin-rang.

A red long robe with a dark sheen fluttered before him. It was the Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle.

Her pale face carried a dangerous air, yet her expression had gone blank, as though she had never smiled at all.

She stared straight at So Jin-rang and spoke.

“I wonder whether your twenty years amount to even one year of that child’s time. You certainly moved your mouth freely without knowing anything, didn’t you? Be grateful. Your life has been extended by another half hour because our Grand Preceptor’s aura sense has expanded.”

The way she repeatedly clenched and opened her slender fingers was strangely bewitching.

Colorless waves of power spread irregularly from each of her knuckles.

She spoke and acted as if she could kill him at any moment, yet none of it felt unnatural.

So Jin-rang knew as well. The Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle was famous.

They said she had been noble from birth.

A supreme master born with innate Blood Arts qi, she had risen to the rank of Apostle while still among the younger generation.

Even among the Blood Flame Sect’s nobles, she was a martial prodigy chosen by heaven.

Rumors even claimed that the mother who bore her had smiled and died immediately after giving birth.

The Seventh Apostle tilted her head slightly.

“Well, we’ve come this far. What should I do with you to make him recognize my devotion? I mean our Grand Preceptor. Mm, no. The better I handle you, the more contemptuously he’ll probably look at me. With those eyes lit by such dazzling talent... Ah? That sounds thrilling too...?”

Her words grew more incoherent by the moment. At least, that was how So Jin-rang saw it.

Did she not even care that he was the Ten Perfect Sect’s Extreme Moon Sword? She was out of her mind.

“What are you even saying...!”

Fear seized him instinctively.

The Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle was not someone who would concern herself with the position of a Young Sect Master among the Thirteen Heavens.

From what he had heard, she seemed connected to Seom-ye Jeong Yeon-shin, but that boy was equally absurd.

The youngest Black Uniform master, said to be Desolate Fortress’s future, was acquainted with an Apostle of the Blood Flame Sect?

That was when it happened.

White hair suddenly drifted behind the Seventh Apostle, beside her shoulder.

A peerlessly handsome man with white hair slowly leaned forward without so much as a faint presence.

“Though this one’s mind is full of mara, impure afflictions and delusions, his qi storage is considerable. Seventh Apostle, this offering pleases me well enough. I arrived late because of the long journey, but the trip has proven worthwhile.”

The man’s voice rang out sweetly.

If he was with the Seventh Apostle, he had to be a master of a heretical sect. Yet despite using the Buddhist term mara, he did not seem out of place at all.

So Jin-rang’s knowledge of the martial world was too broad for him to find that strange.

He knew the origins of the Blood Flame Sect.

It was said that a Grandmaster of the Blood Arts had copied part of the Buddhism of Tianzhu, the most widespread Buddhism in the world.

To spread the Blood Flame Sect far and wide.

“Blood Flame Sect Master...?”

So Jin-rang’s voice trembled faintly. His lips twitched.

Anyone would react that way upon encountering the Seventh Apostle and the Blood Flame Sect Master on an unnamed mountain.

They were disasters that had emerged from the darkness.

“An offering? How degrading.”

The Seventh Apostle spoke in an indifferent tone. She did not even look at him. It was not the attitude one would take toward the sect master.

The Blood Flame Sect Master smiled faintly, as though indulging a whining child.

“That is something you can say because you have not experienced the Lord of Desolate Fortress’s sword. By nature, I should have held the advantage against the yin qi that being possesses. Where in the world are there people more yin than you and me?”

“Then why did you lose?”

“The Lord of Desolate Fortress’s martial attainment overcame the principles of energy compatibility. It was not even dharma power capable of stopping regeneration, yet I died time and again to the Lord’s pure sword strikes.”

In a calm, archaic manner, he spoke of a realm at the very peak of the martial world.

So Jin-rang’s body trembled.

Even in this situation, a shiver ran through him.

The sect master and the fortress lord.

The Blood Flame Sect, whose influence was said to stretch farther than any other among the Thirteen Heavens, and Desolate Fortress, standing as the great mountain of northern Huguang.

The battle between the Blood Flame Sect Master and the Lord of Desolate Fortress had shaken the entire martial world.

Their clash had drawn more than the attention of martial artists.

Even the flow of commercial goods from Huguang to Southern Zhili had been thrown into turmoil. They were absolute beings.

‘How... how could this be...?’

Even So Jin-rang, the son of the Ten Perfect Sect Master, found it difficult to remain composed here.

They said the Blood Flame Sect Master was a monstrous being in human form.

The mere fact that a measure of the man’s interest had turned toward him left his mind hazy.

“I must use the qi-absorption formula of the Mara Roaring Blood Art that I bestowed upon the Apostles. I cannot recover without essence absorption. As it happens, this mara has consumed considerable spiritual medicine, so I can finally act fully as the sect master again. This works out well. Ma Yeon-jeok’s energy had been rather troublesome.”

“Ma Yeon-jeok? That decrepit old man?”

“Yes. Ma Yeon-jeok’s skill had returned to a surprising degree. Yet that was not all. I sensed something somewhat troubling. Since my body was not whole, I avoided Ma Yeon-jeok for a time. From what I can tell, our Grand Preceptor seems to have done something. Once I take the Blood Arts formula altered by that precious boy, it will be right to discuss his treatment carefully.”

“...”

“If we bring the Grand Preceptor in carelessly, the main altar’s affair will simply repeat itself. The Lord of Desolate Fortress will come in person once more. The Lord seems to cherish the boy greatly. The fortress lord rarely draws the Nirvana Sword. The last time was when the Lord destroyed the Dali Kingdom’s royal family.”

“The Lord of Desolate Fortress cherishes him?”

The Seventh Apostle’s eyes narrowed.

The conversation of madmen was impossible to follow.

The Blood Flame Sect Master did not bother answering.

Brushing back his silken white hair, he smiled with a seductive air.

“Since we are speaking of the Grand Preceptor.”

“...?”

“Why did you omit that from your report?”

He asked languidly. A chilling silence passed through the air.

The night wind was cold. His words demanded the Seventh Apostle’s silence.

“I heard your subordinates encountered Seom-ye at the City of Master Craftsmen and were annihilated. I received a report that the boy’s martial prowess had reached Black Uniform. After hearing of the Qizhou Branch incident, I thought it might be true. But did my subordinates truly die there, at the hands of the Grand Preceptor?”

“...”

“Look at me.”

“Your eyes are ugly. They’re red for no reason.”

At the casually tossed remark, the Blood Flame Sect Master’s lips drew a faint arc.

“Do you desire the sect master’s seat? That would be an alluring sight in its own way. You were born of a noble True Bloodline. If you sat upon the throne, you would become the True Blood Sect Master. Has your attainment not been advancing by leaps and bounds through the formula you received from the Grand Preceptor? If you take the sect master’s sacred relic, you will advance once again.”

“I’m not particularly interested.”

“You should take an interest. Something unfortunate may happen to me. Strength is rising throughout the world. I heard the Tyrant Sword Sect Master killed the Qingcheng Sect leader.”

“The Qingcheng Sect leader? Wasn’t that the Crimson Haze Sword Venerable? The Tyrant Sword Sect Master killed the sect leader alone?”

“That one was already a peerless master and is still growing stronger. I heard the Zhongnan Sect leader is next. The Tyrant Sword Sect Master... a half-blood elf whose talent had been meager is using time as a touchstone. After losing to Zhongnan, that one entered closed cultivation and returned with a great awakening.”

With those words, the light of life vanished from So Jin-rang’s eyes.

He stood vacant, his life extinguished as though a passing breeze had killed him.

At some point, the Blood Flame Sect Master had gripped the crown of his head in his hand.

“First, we should go to the Tang Family. I will personally guard the Seom-ye Grand Method.”

The sect master spoke slowly.

The Seventh Apostle said nothing.

She only tucked her long black hair behind her ear and lowered her red eyes, as though lost in deep thought.

* * *

The incident on Qizhou’s main street spread in ever-widening waves.

It had been a clash between major factions, one rarely seen.

The alliances and rivalries among the Ten Perfect Sect, Pure Demon Alliance, Desolate Fortress, and Tang Sect immediately drew the attention of Sichuan’s vast martial world.

“Can such a young supreme master truly exist?”

“Hundreds witnessed it firsthand. Martial artists argue over whether it took two exchanges or three, but from our perspective, it was a single move. Seom-ye killed the Pure Demon Alliance’s Saber Fist Demon with one strike. I heard that Pure Demon Divine Hand and Sword Scorpion Demon were also killed by that young master.”

“I heard he displayed the divine wonder of Full Heaven Flower Rain.”

“They say the Sichuan Tang Clan plans to bring him in as a son-in-law and serve him as their master. He deserves it. Has there ever been a rising talent like him? Who would have thought such a promising young supreme master existed beyond the basin?”

“I still find it impossible to believe that Desolate Fortress’s Black Uniform is only a boy.”

Along with Poison Commander Dang Un-hwang’s return, Seom-ye Jeong Yeon-shin’s reputation grew as time passed.

The days went by, yet Qizhou’s uproar only grew more intense.

Formal calling cards sent by prestigious martial factions throughout Sichuan arrived at the gates of Desolate Fortress’s Qizhou Branch.

Rumors claimed that Jang Il-do, the Blue Uniform master who displayed such authority as the Qizhou Branch Head, had not even gone out for a walk because he was occupied reviewing documents.

By then, Jeong Yeon-shin was already headed for the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Having regained his composure with effort, he had sent So Jin-rang away and briefly parted from the Tang Family Head.

“We wish to host you with the greatest sincerity at our family estate.”

Before he turned away, Poison Commander Dang Un-hwang stressed it again and again.

He earnestly asked his master to visit soon, saying it would truly be only a short while until he reclaimed control of the family.

Yeon-shin had also heard that the Tang Family would prepare to transform the Desolate Sword into a divine weapon.

There were two reasons.

To stand against the leaders of the Thirteen Heavens, who had lost their core masters, and to repay the Tang Sect’s master.

The Tang Sect was a martial faction of medicine, poisons, and hidden weapons.

That also meant it was skilled at smithing.

They said its arsenal was filled with extraordinary weapons.

‘He told me to look forward to spiritual medicine as well.’

That was why they formed a party and set out for the Tang Sect.

The bright faces of the Demon Wings seniors, who had waved to him, remained vivid in his mind.

The touch of Baek Mir-yeo’s hand as it ruffled his hair had also been unusually warm.

Because Baek Mir-yeo was a senior who had mastered profound demonic arts, they agreed to discuss the Ming Cult Master’s treasure map later.

The Beggars’ Sect masters, including the Successor Beggar, left after promising to meet again.

It had not been a particularly clean farewell, but Yeon-shin did not take it to heart.

There were too many matters he needed to handle responsibly.

He left most of the Returning Wings Squad at Desolate Fortress’s Qizhou Branch.

After writing a letter to the main fortress about the mission’s progress as the temporary Squad Leader of the Returning Wings Squad, he finished seeing to his subordinates’ internal injuries.

Then, accompanied by Hyeon Won-chang, Languid Flame Dragon, and Namgung Hwa-shin, he rode alongside the Tang siblings.

“We’ll arrive shortly.”

Poison Dragon Tang Yeo-hwa, riding a fine horse beside Yeon-shin, spoke.

Despite his small stature, he was skilled at riding. Poison Phoenix Tang Ryeo-ryeo was as well.

Yeon-shin suddenly recalled the wrinkled face of the Supreme Family Head, who had stood silently beside the Tang Family Head.

It had been difficult to tell what the elder was thinking.

‘A peculiar elder.’

The sound of hooves thundered around them.

A dull vibration rising from the ground reverberated up to his waist, and the head of Tang Ryeo-ryeo’s horse drew closer.

“Benefactor.”

The girl spoke.

Her form of address for Yeon-shin had changed.

It had been that way ever since he gave Full Heaven Flower Rain to the Tang Family Head.

The boy only turned his gaze slightly.

Tang Ryeo-ryeo could not readily part her lips, her expression embarrassed.

The blush on her cheeks seemed to betray her shame.

Her small head bobbed lightly atop the fine horse.

Yeon-shin could guess why. It was likely because of what the Supreme Family Head had said earlier.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of marrying.”

He already stood at a crossroads in how he should conduct himself.

He needed the Tang Family if he was to deal with two of the Thirteen Heavens, but the Tang Family was a faction Demon Wings had visited to investigate on suspicion of manufacturing thunderclap bombs.

He could not enter a political marriage with Poison Phoenix simply to secure a major faction as an ally.

It would complicate matters.

He could only hope this was not a path into a quagmire.

They had already discussed the thunderclap bombs when they first met.

Yeon-shin calmly turned his head forward.

He looked straight ahead. At last, the Tang Sect had come into view.

In the distance, the tiled roofs of a vast complex of halls appeared in a row.

“...”

As Tang Ryeo-ryeo fell silent, Languid Flame Dragon cut in.

He chewed an opium poppy flower between his teeth, his eyes languidly half-lidded.

“Let the Tang Family handle the Thirteen Heavens first, then we can take only the valuable parts afterward, temporary Squad Leader. Giving them Full Heaven Flower Rain alone makes you their benefactor for a thousand years. If they have nothing to hide, they’ll open their forge. We can decide after seeing it, can’t we? If necessary, search every corner.”

“I believe that is right.”

It was Namgung Hwa-shin beside Yeon-shin.

The White Qilin nodded gravely, his face as picturesque as a painting.

Languid Flame Dragon’s lips lifted faintly.

His voice carried clearly through the wind as they galloped.

“You killed Pure Demon Divine Hand, Sword Scorpion Demon, and Saber Fist Demon in succession. You were also half the reason Fierce Sword Gal Sa-ryang could be sent off so easily, temporary Squad Leader. Well... You’ve done enough to be compared with the head of Shaolin’s Eighteen Arhats.”

“...”

“Divine weapon refinement, spiritual medicine, warm sleeping bags, the finest delicacies in the world... Let’s take what we can and leave. Whether the family falls or not is none of our concern.”

“Brother Huangbo’s opinion is not wrong. Squad Leader, you have fulfilled your duty.”

The White Qilin answered again, his tone indifferent.

The discussion took place before the Tang siblings.

Languid Flame Dragon’s conduct was no different from the rumors, but the words of White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin, standing at Yeon-shin’s side, were truly unexpected.

Hyeon Won-chang, following behind while reining in the horse, muttered.

“I’ll have to keep my head on straight.”

Half a quarter-hour later.

The party arrived at the Sichuan Tang Family’s main gate and dismounted.

Towering walls stretched endlessly to either side.

Summer sunlight brightly wrapped the walls, like a symbol of power and wealth.

The rumors had been true.

They said it was the grandest and most luxurious estate in all of Sichuan.

Hyeon Won-chang looked at the Tang siblings anew.

“You really were children from an extremely wealthy family.”

When they entered the Tang Sect’s inner courtyard, Yeon-shin received an unprecedented welcome.

The surprise in Poison Dragon Tang Yeo-hwa’s eyes alone was enough to tell him that.

“Greetings, Master.”

The smiling Tang Family Head was barely visible to Yeon-shin.

It was because of the people lined up on either side.

As though performing a rite, masters stood facing one another in two rows and clasped their fists.

A broad, long path lay open between them.

It led to seats of honor for the Tang Family Head and the Tang Sect’s senior members.

“...”

The welcome was excessive for Yeon-shin.

He passed through the path made by the masters, ate alongside the Tang Family Head in accordance with the Tang Sect’s hospitality, and appropriately dealt with the Tang Sect’s collateral blood relatives and rising talents who approached him cautiously.

A long time passed, though little of it stayed in his mind.

The boy suddenly raised his head. Dusk was seeping in.

The last light of the sun, which had raced swiftly through the summer day, was beautiful.

The sky was draped in a soft sunset glow like silk.

At this hour, he would normally have lain curled up in his bed at the main fortress.

“Now should be the time. I will give you one thing first.”

The Tang Family Head gestured with his small hand for them to rise.

Yeon-shin’s party rose together with Poison Commander Dang Un-hwang.

The Tang siblings joined them, their expressions much brighter, as though they had finally had a proper reunion with their father.

It seemed they were heading for the deepest part of the Tang Family Fort’s inner courtyard.

Namgung Hwa-shin, standing to Yeon-shin’s left, lightly gripped the hilt of the Desolate Sword.

They walked in silence for the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

The chirping of small birds gently broke the quiet.

Yeon-shin arrived with them at a small garden.

An artificial mountain of fine stones caught his eye.

It stood in the center of a very small lake.

A lovely stream circled the artificial mountain, and mysterious mist rose faintly above it.

A soft step.

“I promised you before that I would transform your sword into a divine weapon, Benefactor.”

Tang Ryeo-ryeo stepped forward and lightly extended an arm.

She gestured toward the water’s edge.

“Dip it in and take it back out. It will only work on one sword.”

“...?”

After a brief silence, Hyeon Won-chang spoke.

“Is the Sichuan Tang Clan a den of medicine peddlers? Are they trying to peddle snake oil now?”

Hyeon Won-chang appeared to have spoken those thoughts aloud by accident.

With a start, Hyeon Won-chang clapped a hand over their mouth.

Languid Flame Dragon leaned close to Yeon-shin’s ear.

“I don’t know what will become of the Returning Wings Squad, but let’s consider things without that one first.”

The boy did not answer and slowly stepped forward.

He slightly lifted the hem of his black robe at his waist, then ran his fingers over the cold hilts of the Desolate Sword and the Northern Light Sword in turn.

Footnotes:

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