WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Episode 138: The Turbulent Road Home (3)

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"Mwahahaha!"

It was an utterly ridiculous sound.

The Languid Flame Dragon laughed loudly as he repeatedly slapped the roof of the four-horse carriage.

He did not care that his seniors from the Demon Wings were inside.

Even the leg he had propped at an angle twisted this way and that. It was quite a sight.

He raged fiercely and rejoiced just as fiercely.

Unlike Jeong Yeon-shin, he was a short-lived genius finding his own way through life.

He was utterly honest with his emotions. He had blazed with fury while striking Yu Hyeon at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, and when he was amused, he laughed without regard for where he was.

Everyone present knew the lifespan of one born with the Sun God Meridian. No one stopped him.

Only Baek Mir-yeo's irritated voice drifted out from inside the carriage.

"You're too loud, you nameless fool."

"What's so funny?"

Hyeon Won-chang asked in confusion. The corners of Hyeon Won-chang's mouth dipped slightly, as though put out.

The boy's lips formed a faint curve.

"What he said is right. Regardless of my intentions, I spoke out of turn."

Jeong Yeon-shin was about to raise his clasped fists in apology even as he kept walking.

Ma Yeon-jeok's condition was not widely known.

If the Little Sword Empress had approached without knowing, then Yeon-shin had been rude.

More importantly, he had just been advised to beware force waves of qi. He did not want to provoke a fight for no reason.

Then Chwi So-ok's briefly stiff lips relaxed into a smile. The corners of her mouth softened slightly.

A frivolous laugh followed, creating a strange impression. Her face looked gentle, yet it was hard to read what lay in her heart.

"It seems the Tyrant Hero's condition is quite serious."

She spoke with a smile.

"Seom-ye... Young Hero Jeong, correct? I have been rude. Please forgive me."

"..."

"Ah, I wasn't trying to probe you underhandedly. I truly wished to pay my respects to the Tyrant Hero. Wouldn't it be the greatest honor for a martial artist to receive even a few kind words from the man who slew the peerless Blood Flame Sect Master?"

"You weren't probing?"

"If that is impossible, then there is nothing to be done. ...As a fellow of the martial world, I will be able to find my own role to play."

Her voice was soft. It drifted over like a summer breeze.

Little Sword Empress Chwi So-ok raised her clasped hands. Her long hair fell over both shoulders.

It was a salute directed at Jeong Yeon-shin. Instead, she was the first to offer an apology.

'The Little Sword Empress. She seems like an unusual person.'

Yeon-shin silently returned the salute. She was unlike anyone he had met before.

Her bearing held the freedom that Clear Qilin Namgung Se-jin had spoken of.

She behaved as she pleased without watching others' reactions, and if she felt she had crossed a line, she apologized politely.

He had heard that she was the Jeomchang Sect's next sect leader, but she differed from the Young Family Heads of martial families.

'Freedom always has a price.'

The Clear Qilin embodied that truth. He could not easily step down from his position as Young Family Head.

Thinking back, Yeon-shin believed it was because Namgung Se-jin feared his family might take the wrong path.

One could tell from how he had helped Namgung Hwa-shin leave home and treated his unruly sister with cold firmness.

Because he was a great hero, he could not abandon power.

The boy slowly opened his mouth.

"What role do you mean?"

"Ah."

Chwi So-ok's smile faded slightly.

"Do you know much about the current state of the martial world?"

"No."

Jeong Yeon-shin answered briefly. He had only traveled between Qizhou and the Tang Family Fort.

After several battles, his attention had been fixed on his maternal grandfather's internal injuries.

He wanted to hear everything she knew. He had not had time to keep abreast of news from the Central Plains.

"I see."

Chwi So-ok gave an untroubled smile.

She looked somewhat absent-minded, but her attention seemed focused not on Yeon-shin, but on the three carriages.

She appeared keen to meet the Tyrant Hero, Ma Yeon-jeok.

Very slowly, she spoke.

"Um... Still, I assume you have heard that the Martial Alliance is being formed."

"Yes, I have."

"Opinions had been gathered at the Zhuge Family in Hanzhong. Seven great families and dozens of factions claiming to be orthodox are forming an alliance. I understand that invitations have also been sent to the nine mountain sects, including my own."

"And?"

"The Demonic Sect, including the Thirteen Heavens, has reacted strongly. To them, it will look like the founding of a second Desolate Fortress. Yet, at just this time... rumors are spreading that the life-and-death duel between Desolate Fortress's Purple Uniform expert and the Blood Flame Sect Master ended in something close to mutual destruction."

"..."

"It is certainly a shocking incident, but would it not also be a chance to greatly weaken a hostile faction's forces? There are even rumors that another peerless Purple Uniform expert lies bedridden..."

Her hazy eyes swept across the three four-horse carriages in turn, as if she could see through them to the Elder Council Head's bed.

When her gaze met Jeong Yeon-shin's, she gave him a gentle smile.

The Little Sword Empress was truly a strange person. She was clearly steeped in the fair and upright spirit of the Nine Sects.

She seemed free and simple, almost scatterbrained, but her final words and glances always touched upon something lethal.

Swish.

Yeon-shin sensed Hyeon Won-chang alter the grip on the sword hilt.

Namgung Hwa-shin tried to appear composed, but could not hide the powerful aura flaring up.

Though familiar with them as fellow rising talents, White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin did not let down their guard.

"So there are certainly people targeting the main fortress's expedition."

The boy did not bother to hide his unease. Little Sword Empress Chwi So-ok gave a small nod.

At that moment, the person beside her, who regarded the Little Sword Empress as a senior, seemed displeased by Jeong Yeon-shin's attitude.

"I am Sa Do-ryeong of the Jeomchang Sect."

The man in blue martial robes, a sword at his waist, offered a brief salute.

Sa Do-ryeong, the Heavenly One Sword.

He was famous as a swordsman who guarded the Little Sword Empress like an escort warrior.

After leaving the mountain, he was said to carry out heroic deeds that relieved the people's suffering with his exceptional martial arts. His reputation had spread far and wide.

From Yunnan, where Mount Jeomchang stood, all the way to Sichuan, every step of his journey had been alongside the Little Sword Empress.

"Senior Sister, shall we return now? I believe we have given them sufficient advice."

Sa Do-ryeong did not bother to lower his voice.

He understood that they had unintentionally been rude. Yet Jeong Yeon-shin's conduct toward his senior sister was another matter.

'Seom-ye Jeong Yeon-shin?'

The boy looked utterly strange, even down to his attire. The black cuffs of his long robe were mismatched in length, and his words and conduct were careless.

The fame of Seom-ye of Desolate Fortress had spread throughout the martial world, but Sa Do-ryeong did not think Jeong Yeon-shin should be so rude to Chwi So-ok, his senior sister, who had cultivated her sword arts to a realm of mastery and performed heroic deeds for many years.

Yet he could not press the matter.

Even without a Purple Uniform expert, their forces were formidable.

More than ten Blue Uniform experts escorted the four-horse carriages. It was a lineup comparable to one of the Divine Sword Squad's Seventeen Squads.

Rumors also said that Desolate Fortress's young expert had defeated the supreme experts of the Ten Perfect Sect and the Pure Demon Alliance one after another.

It was difficult to dismiss it as mere rumor. Countless spectators had witnessed the battle on the Qizhou road.

They were clearly outmatched in martial strength.

Since they had been rude first, they had no justification either.

The only way Sa Do-ryeong could vent his frustration was to withdraw from this place.

"Um... Shall we?"

Little Sword Empress Chwi So-ok tilted her head slightly.

Her ebony hair fell to one side, as though it showed her free-spirited nature.

Jeong Yeon-shin watched the extraordinary Jeomchang swordsman closely.

"You're leaving?"

He repeated Sa Do-ryeong's words blankly.

Perhaps she took the boy's murmur as a question directed at her. Chwi So-ok's lips curved into a bright smile.

"It seems that would be the most comfortable course for both sides."

"You inspect our situation, then leave again...?"

There was a sharp edge to Jeong Yeon-shin's words. Merely avoiding making enemies was not everything.

They had already guessed a great deal about Ma Yeon-jeok's condition.

The matter was too serious to brush aside simply because they were disciples of the Nine Sects.

Suddenly.

"Take them."

Fwoooosh!

A mass of fire plunged down from the sky.

A figure wrapped in immense flames charged diagonally forward, reaching Sa Do-ryeong in an instant.

As the air warped colorlessly around him, the Languid Flame Dragon, covered head to toe in Scorching Yang qi from the Sun God Meridian, chewed roasted opium poppy and laughed.

"Don't kill him, right? A temporary Squad Leader's methods are usually..."

"I said take them."

Clang!

The Languid Flame Dragon's fist struck Sa Do-ryeong's narrow-bladed sword, which had only been drawn halfway.

A shockwave accompanied by searing heat burst forth, and the thin blade shattered into pieces.

At the same time, the Languid Flame Dragon seized Sa Do-ryeong by the back of the neck and whispered lazily.

"You probe into a major faction's vital affairs on your own and think you can leave? Reverse the situation. If the Jeomchang sect leader had been in there, would you have let us go peacefully?"

"Ghk...!"

"A weakling dares to give a battle cry?"

The Languid Flame Dragon smiled faintly and forced Scorching Yang qi into the paralysis acupoint at the back of the man's neck.

Sa Do-ryeong was instantly paralyzed. He stared at him with wide eyes.

The Languid Flame Dragon's smile deepened.

"Lower your eyes, you lowborn wretch."

That was how the Huangbo Young Family Head spoke and conducted himself.

On the other side stood Namgung Hwa-shin, holding the Desolate Sword beneath the chin of another woman from the Little Sword Empress's group.

She was the Jeomchang Dancing Sword, Chwi So-ok's junior sister.

White Qilin's Azure Firmament Boundless Sword Art was so profound that the Jeomchang Dancing Sword could not withstand even a single exchange.

Jeong Yeon-shin was not the only one advancing. The Languid Flame Dragon and Namgung Hwa-shin were also growing stronger without end.

It showed plainly in the force wave of the Languid Flame Dragon's fist strike and the profundity of Namgung Hwa-shin's sword path.

To subdue a disciple of the Nine Sects in a single move, they could be called exceptionally strong even among Blue Uniform experts.

"How fierce."

Hyeon Won-chang muttered, looking to the side.

The temporary Squad Leader, Jeong Yeon-shin, faced the Little Sword Empress. It was a strange relationship.

They could not truly be called enemies, yet they could not simply let her go either.

At that moment, the boy was rotating the Wheel of Light in his heart.

The auspicious aura of the Record of the Dharma Light Wheel flowed from his entire body. The auras that had risen earlier were completely cut off.

Shhhh.

The waves of qi spread out with extreme density. Directly ahead, they pressed down on the Little Sword Empress.

It prevented her from making a move against the Languid Flame Dragon or Namgung Hwa-shin.

"You are..."

Little Sword Empress Chwi So-ok's gentle eyes sharpened slightly as they tilted upward.

The attention she had given to the four-horse carriages carrying Purple Uniform experts shifted wholly to the boy.

"You can't leave."

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke evenly.

Flutter!

Following his aura, he flicked back the right sleeve of his black long robe as it billowed darkly.

He thought of his uncle, who had not sent a single sound transmission even as the standoff neared disaster.

This return journey was the boy's test.

It was a journey of real battle, meant to raise him to the rank of Squad Leader in one stroke.

The former Divine Sword Squad Leader, the Elder Council Head, and the Leader of Demon Wings would watch and judge this expedition.

How would he lead the group as a Squad Leader of a martial force under the Divine Sword Squad?

Could he fully display his own martial arts while bearing a mission of great importance?

Would he prove himself worthy of becoming a Black Uniform Squad Leader of Desolate Fortress by using his subordinates in the right places?

'There would be a Squad Leader Assembly when we returned to the main fortress, I was told.'

He had heard that promotion to Black Uniform was different.

The Black Uniform of Desolate Fortress even held the authority to strip corrupt officials of their posts through secret cooperation with the imperial court.

There was much he had to show. He had to prove that he possessed the capacity to command a group of elite experts.

The Little Sword Empress's lips curved softly upward. It was a smile unsuited to the situation.

"To think such a handsome young hero would court me so boldly. This sister's heart is aflutter."

She made the joke in a soft voice. Jeong Yeon-shin did not react.

"You know better than anyone that this isn't something we can settle with a few kind words. You brought this upon yourself."

"I admit my mistake. Um... But I would ask that you not misunderstand my goodwill..."

"I gratefully accept your advice."

Jeong Yeon-shin inclined his head once.

That was all. When the boy raised his head, white lightning flickered in his black eyes.

The Little Sword Empress's picture-perfect smile grew slightly awkward.

"I'll stake this sister's honor on keeping silent."

She said it while tapping the hilt of the sword at her waist.

"Your status does not guarantee your trustworthiness. Come with us to the main fortress in Xiangyang."

The boy gripped the pure-white hilt of Northern Light, the divine sword. It felt entirely new in his hand.

Warmth rapidly filled the hilt that had once been cold.

"Will you resist?"

Wearing a black long robe, one hand resting on the divine sword, Jeong Yeon-shin asked.

His voice rang quietly through the now-silent street.

Together with the aura of the Wheel of Light, which slowly spun the dust at his feet, he displayed the bearing of a Desolate Fortress Squad Leader.

Footnotes:

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