WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Episode 151: Contact (2)
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“This isn't the time to brush it off as a joke.”
Ha Do-un, the Swift Heaven Wing Squad Leader, spoke with a calm expression.
Perhaps because he knew Ak Su-rim’s unpredictable temperament well, he showed none of the irritation such an exchange might have caused.
He merely glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin before continuing.
“I won't ask separately about the Leader of Demon Wings’ capabilities. Squad Leader Jeong’s achievements thus far are too clear to deny. It is concerning that his first assignment as a Squad Leader is such a major one, but I believe he has proven his basic qualifications, even in such a short time. His martial prowess is more than sufficient, and he is decisive.”
Ha Do-un spoke with crisp diction. His temperament showed through in his manner of speech.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s brows lifted slightly. It was unexpected. Were all main fortress Squad Leaders, having passed under the Lord of Desolate Fortress’s discerning eye, like this?
Only days ago, he had openly shown his displeasure toward the boy based on his own views. Yet when discussing achievements, he allowed no personal feelings to enter.
That made his words and actions feel all the weightier.
The Divine Sword Squad Deputy Leader did not seem to share that restraint.
“Then?”
Ak Su-rim asked bluntly. Her hand, gripping the upright shaft of her spear, moved strangely.
She repeatedly pressed her fingers together, pulled them apart, and curled them into a fist, as though she would strike at the slightest provocation. Her conduct was outrageous.
Only then did Ha Do-un’s brow narrow slightly.
“The Deputy Leader’s attitude is quite poor. Are you favoring Seom-ye?”
“Listen to the way you talk, you brat who hasn't even been around that long.”
Ak Su-rim smiled.
Whoosh!
A powerful aura suddenly rose from her body. It lifted her short black hair and even swept up the corners of Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.
The presence she revealed in that instant made the stone seats of Wonpyeong One Sword Hall tremble faintly.
The air warped for a moment.
‘Her martial power...!’
Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes widened. The waves of qi were monstrous. He could distinctly feel the current brushing against his skin.
Her inner energy was so profound that even the force of it surging up seemed weak by comparison.
‘It isn't just that she has an enormous amount of qi storage.’
The boy was startled anew. He could feel Ak Su-rim’s will contained within her qi.
A wild yet cheerful image formed in his mind. It came to him through instinct.
Had she achieved a complete union of essence, qi, and spirit?
He could not begin to guess how swiftly she could wield her inner energy.
The way she gripped her spear in the form of a playful young girl felt like the boredom of a true powerhouse. She seemed to be on the verge of Purple Uniform.
Ak Su-rim, the Desolate Divine Spear.
Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression darkened. Her position was more secure than that of any promising Black Uniform Squad Leader. She had undergone Rejuvenation.
She was said to be one of the pillars of the main fortress alongside the Divine Sword Squad Leader. The next master of the Divine Sword Squad. To the boy, she was his strongest competitor.
The moment he sat among the Squad Leaders, his goal came into sharp focus. The sensation was thrilling.
‘First, I have to defeat Senior Ak. Then, in the end, I have to defeat the Divine Sword Squad Leader as well...’
He had thought he had taken a great stride forward.
He had been wrong.
That was not a person. It had to be considered a disaster.
And what about the Divine Sword Squad Leader? Jeong Yeon-shin still vividly remembered the sight of the Divine Sword Squad Leader drawing that resplendent inner-energy sword and killing the Namgung Family Head.
The intangible blade made of seven-colored radiance was a mystery second only to the Lord of Desolate Fortress’s Natural Sword.
Could he reach that level within three years? The higher one climbed, the further martial arts seemed to leave the human world behind.
The years they had spent earning merit in Desolate Fortress far exceeded Jeong Yeon-shin’s.
The rewards they had received for those achievements must have been extraordinary as well. It was hard to imagine how many elixir pills they might have consumed.
‘Why is this so difficult? The world is too vast.’
The boy sank into his thoughts for a moment. A gloomy feeling crept over him like a swamp.
He must not face them head-on. He pushed the thought away.
Even then, Ak Su-rim was chattering at Ha Do-un.
“Are you sure you don't have any personal feelings involved?”
“...Of course.”
Ha Do-un answered coldly. Ak Su-rim’s smile deepened.
“Isn't it because of the White Qilin? You've already chosen Namgung Hwa-shin as the next Swift Heaven Wing Squad Leader. Everyone who needs to know already knows. They also know that such a promising talent is trying to transfer squads to follow Seom-ye. With your temperament, that can't be something you'd take lightly. I would be angry too.”
She slowly shook her head. Her arrogant manner suited her strangely well.
It made Ha Do-un’s ability to maintain his composure all the more impressive.
He spoke again.
“This is a place to discuss the state of the martial world. When it comes to distinguishing public from private matters, I am better than you, Senior Ak. Let me ask you instead. You are the one undermining the rules of Wonpyeong One Sword Hall. Are you not truly favoring Seom-ye? This junior clearly raised a hand to object.”
“I only did it because we don't have time to argue. Squad Leaders who should be out in the martial world right now are stuck here because of that pathetic Martial Alliance. Isn't that why? If you don't like the way I run things, come at me.”
“Do you think I can't?”
“Did you oil up the Shuncheon Sword? Draw it. I'm not afraid of you at all. Do you think you could even last ten exchanges against me?”
If the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden of legend had gone to war, would she have looked like that? Ak Su-rim sat there with her spear in hand, challenging him. It was a truly strange sight.
She constantly spoke crudely and even hurled abuse, yet she did not seem lacking in dignity.
Then, suddenly.
Her lips curled as she glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin.
“Favoring him? Of course I am. Do you know how bored I've been among all these dull, black-clad men? Fresh red blood like this has come in and brightened One Sword Hall. Do you think I would lose my mind, or not? I love it!”
She stomped her foot, exactly as her appearance suggested. The ends of her black hair, which lightly covered the nape of her neck, scattered.
They said the temperaments of masters who had reached lofty realms were impossible to predict. That common saying now felt true.
At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin clearly heard Ma Jin mutter from beside him.
“She has gone senile.”
“Look at the things a eunuch says. Didn't I tell you? I adore him to death. Your nephew, that is.”
Ak Su-rim shot him a glare.
“I might just take Seom-ye into the Divine Sword Squad. It wouldn't be bad for your nephew either, would it? I've already discussed it seriously with the Divine Sword Squad Leader. I'll just kneel before the Lord of Desolate Fortress once.”
“Deputy Leader, please preserve your dignity.”
Un So-yu, the Law Enforcement Squad Leader, offered her advice in an even tone. Ma Jin simply sat there silently, like a bear.
Hmph!
Ak Su-rim snorted, and her aura abruptly subsided. She stopped before matters became even more absurd.
Her control over her power was so consummate that perfect ease came to mind. The boy quietly took in her every movement.
He intended to use her lofty skill and presence as nourishment for his own growth.
“You don't need to be flustered.”
Ma Jin lightly patted the boy’s shoulder.
“Squad Leader Assemblies are always like this. Great masters gather in one place. Trouble always breaks out. Even this table...”
He gestured with his chin toward the enormous round table.
“It has split and shattered dozens of times. You need to get used to it too, Yeon-shin.”
“...”
“Wonpyeong One Sword Hall is not a place where meetings are held with words alone. Depending on the situation, you need to display martial arts to lend weight to your opinion. You don't need to hesitate just because they are seniors. Do as you did with the Law Enforcement Squad Leader. You can now draw your sword against Black Uniforms.”
His final words carried weight. This sort of situation was also part of the world of Black Uniforms.
It reinforced the lofty status he had sensed when the artisan, Mr. Jang, had shown such utmost care while weaving garments from heavenly silkworm silk.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded faintly. It felt strange to judge the conduct of a great senior like Ak Su-rim.
As if sensing his nephew’s thoughts, Ma Jin flicked a finger against his armrest.
Booong!
Power rode the sound. Its resonance drew everyone’s attention.
Ma Jin spoke.
“Swift Heaven Wing Squad Leader, state your objection.”
“The issue is restoring the Demon Wings. The deaths of our comrades are deeply regrettable, but we cannot afford not to look ahead. With so many injured, how will you organize the personnel? It would also look unseemly for the Leader of Demon Wings to attend the Martial Alliance Assembly alone. It is dangerous as well.”
“A reasonable point.”
Ma Jin nodded.
He turned his gaze toward Jeong Yeon-shin beside him, ignoring Ak Su-rim, who sat off to one side with her lips pursed.
“Yeon-shin, have you given it thought?”
“Yes.”
The boy nodded slightly and spoke.
“In any case, we cannot go with a force the size of an armed unit. It would be like the Sword Absolute of the Mount Hua Sect bringing every Plum Blossom Swordsman. Such a thing would be difficult to see unless there were an all-out war between great sects. Since we are responding to an invitation as guests, I believe we should bring only a small number of elite masters.”
“There are no uninjured masters left in the Demon Wings, are there?”
Ha Do-un asked, his brow slightly furrowed. He seemed to have sensed an unpleasant development.
“Yes. There are so few that I was about to make a request.”
Jeong Yeon-shin answered quietly before continuing.
“I ask the Swift Heaven Wing Squad Leader to assign the White Qilin.”
“So it comes to this after all.”
Ha Do-un muttered. He looked as though he might sigh.
He spoke.
“It is pathetic for Squad Leaders to quarrel over subordinates.”
“...”
“Still, I cannot allow an armed unit’s personnel to transfer according to individual wishes. That is a matter of discipline. Therefore, based on reasonable judgment, I will permit only a temporary assignment for now. What follows must be discussed later.”
Jeong Yeon-shin silently offered a cupped-fist salute. Ha Do-un watched the brief but proper gesture before shaking his head.
“The current Leader of Demon Wings would do well not to misunderstand. The Leader of Demon Wings and the White Qilin served together on a long mission, so they should work well together. I made this decision because the Demon Wings’ situation is poor. The Martial Alliance Assembly is no small matter to the main fortress either. You will need ample peace of mind, so it is best to arrange your personnel in advance.”
He displayed the proud bearing of a senior from the main fortress. His face had been solemn, almost as if he were intoxicated by his own words, but he suddenly frowned.
“So I am the one who has no choice but to go to Xinjiang. I should return after beheading that so-called future Young Sect Master of the Ming Cult in a single stroke.”
Ak Su-rim and the other Squad Leaders each nodded once before beginning to straighten their robes.
They appeared to be preparing to leave.
Jeong Yeon-shin remained seated in a daze. Did Squad Leader Assemblies begin without context and end just as abruptly?
They all looked strangely alike in how little they wanted to remain seated.
Their conduct made the Little Sword Empress of the Jeomchang Sect, who had been left out at one side, seem ridiculous. It truly seemed to be a gathering of eccentrics.
“Um, weren't you going to ask me a lot of questions?”
The Little Sword Empress asked blankly.
“Speak with the Leader of Demon Wings.”
The Annihilation Squad Leader, who had remained silent the entire time, spoke with deep-set eyes. The Azure Sky Squad Leader standing beside them gave a vague nod.
“Attending the meetings of Wonpyeong One Sword Hall is meaningful in itself.”
“Seom-ye. There is only one thing you need to remember.”
Ak Su-rim rose lightly and twisted her lips into a smile.
“There is another reason you were chosen. There is only one reason a Desolate Fortress Squad Leader attends the Martial Alliance Assembly’s grand founding ceremony. The true purpose of the mission is not just reconnaissance.”
“...What else is there?”
“The Huangbo Family and the Namgung Family. We punished those who oppressed common people while preaching chivalry, yet the Martial Alliance gathered together like ants, claiming that was unjust. The Eight Great Families and everyone else came swarming in. The main fortress’s dignity has fallen to the ground. What do they think they can do to us by gathering like that?”
“...”
“You are the main fortress’s answer to their claims.”
“Me?”
Jeong Yeon-shin quietly asked. At that moment, black lightning flickered in Ak Su-rim’s eyes.
“Yes... Would this make it simple? ‘Our Leader of Demon Wings is this young. Wouldn't you need the old men from your Council of Elders just to stop this young master? Recognize the difference in our standing and restrain yourselves.’ That's all it is. It is posturing we can do because we have you.”
She nodded to herself, humming softly. Jeong Yeon-shin found her strange.
It was as if she lived alone in another world. It was a kind of cheerfulness Jeong Yeon-shin had never imagined.
The boy stared at the old master wearing the appearance of a young girl. What sort of family would one have to grow up in to develop such conduct?
It was strange even to consider it innate. He could not explain the peculiar dignity in Ak Su-rim’s behavior.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought, She grew up beautifully.
“At the grand founding ceremonies of various sects, they won't send out decrepit elders. You should be able to dominate the Martial Alliance’s grand founding ceremony. This is no Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, but there are still plenty of mid-level masters from orthodox sects.”
She spoke like a lark. Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly.
“It is unclear what I need to accomplish for it to count as merit.”
“Don't make it difficult. Look into what the Alliance Assembly is like, and dampen their spirits. As the youngest invited master and the main fortress’s Leader of Demon Wings.”
She spoke with a deep smile.
Then she tucked back the hair beside her ear and kneaded her white neck. The bold yet beautiful sight created an unusual atmosphere.
“With a body as well-built as yours, what couldn't you do? Isn't that right?”
She looked over the boy’s entire body with an appraising gaze.
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded as he looked at Ak Su-rim. Her forearm, exposed beneath the sleeve of her Black Uniform, did not look like that of a spear master.
It seemed exceedingly delicate, as though the effects of Rejuvenation had taken even her forearm muscles.
It was truly frightening. Even his maternal grandfather Ma Yeon-jeok’s arms looked better.
How weak must her physical Force Projection be? Without inner energy, she would be able to do nothing.
‘Rejuvenation is still not for me. As long as I can grow old healthily and die... that will be enough.’
As the boy recoiled at the thought for a brief moment, Ak Su-rim slowly moved her red lips, her smile elegant.
“Go to that Martial Alliance Assembly, which twists the banner of public welfare as it pleases, and thoroughly humiliate those shameless idlers.”
Her quiet whisper marked the end of the Squad Leader Assembly.
Footnotes:
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