WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Chapter 18: Hand Arts
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Thanks to Cheong Myeong and Baek Mir-yeo’s consideration, the two White Uniforms were able to head straight to their sleeping quarters in the pavilion.
It was the discretion granted to Blue Uniform martial artists, whose martial prowess was acknowledged by all and whom everyone in Desolate Fortress trusted.
At times like this, it was certainly different from the military.
“Now that I’m inside, I have no energy to go out again. We will have to visit Xiangyang’s finest tavern another time.”
Hyeon Won-chang joked.
“I should loosen up a little before going to bed as well.”
“You will train for about two hours, I imagine. Young hero Jeong, you truly are something.”
Hyeon Won-chang no longer even looked fed up. They simply wore the expression of someone who had accepted it.
As they traveled together, Hyeon Won-chang gradually came to treat Jeong Yeon-shin as though he were someone from another world.
Someone more wondrous than the elven race, a figure from an entirely different realm.
Hyeon Won-chang had their own chivalry and martial path. Since Yeon-shin was both a peer and a comrade, they thought it was only good for Yeon-shin to grow stronger.
Despite their frivolous words and actions, Yeon-shin found Hyeon Won-chang to possess a character worth learning from.
“Get some rest.”
Yeon-shin smiled faintly and left the pavilion.
On the way to the Small Training Hall, the seniors he encountered greeted him warmly.
A few flinched after receiving Yeon-shin’s fist salute.
They were mostly people who seemed to have keen senses. They appeared to have noticed the change in his bearing after the mission.
“Seom-ye has changed.”
“His bearing alone makes him almost unrecognizable. Boys at that age do grow well, but this is something else.”
“This is an entirely different matter. The phrase ‘renewed day after day’ could only be used for that fellow.”
“It will not be easy for us now, will it?”
No one could refute the last Blue Uniform’s words.
They all fell silent at once.
A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy who might have even the slightest chance against a Blue Uniform master of Desolate Fortress was a wonder in itself.
Yeon-shin only half listened to his seniors’ words.
His sense of time differed from theirs.
If he wanted to survive, then before turning twenty, he had to be capable of contending with the Divine Sword Squad Leader’s martial prowess.
From White Uniform to Blue Uniform, then through Black Uniform like Ma Jin, and even to Purple Uniform, which he had never seen.
That was the level of a Purple Uniform Divine Sword Squad Leader, who oversaw seventeen martial units such as Demon Wings.
There was no time to spare.
“Phew.”
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the Small Training Hall.
The place, which always looked like a maze within an imperial tomb, welcomed him.
He avoided rooms from which aura seemed to flow as though they were occupied and entered an empty training room.
The year had changed, Yeon-shin realized.
He was now sixteen. Among commoners, it was an age when one would gradually marry and begin a family.
Yeon-shin would likely have done the same.
Unlike typical martial clans, Jeong Family Manor did not take its children’s delayed betrothals lightly.
As a minor martial household and a family of great landowners, its customs were closer to those of common folk.
‘Who would I have married?’
It was a meaningless thought.
He activated the Jeong Family Youth Technique and cleared away the stray thoughts.
Then he began to move slowly.
The moment he released his qi, Demon's Light arose and traced various paths while envisioning all manner of situations.
They were the forms of Hand Arts and Leg Arts.
Swish! Whoosh!
Close-range strikes.
After delivering a powerful kick, he brought down that foot in a True Step before driving out a straight punch.
The air churned from the wave of force he deliberately unleashed.
In his fight against the Blood Master, Yeon-shin had truly felt Ma Jin’s teachings.
Having mastered the Jeong Family Youth Technique, Yeon-shin possessed an incomparably sturdy body.
Close combat differed from swordsmanship. It was a fighting style that carried his exceptional strengths directly into battle.
‘I want to properly develop Hand Arts.’
As time passed, it would become difficult to use his youthful appearance like a divine sword.
He could not rely on an enemy’s carelessness forever.
He had to draw out every weapon at his disposal and hone them to a sharp edge.
‘Is there anything that might give me inspiration?’
Yeon-shin remained with his fist extended as he sank into thought.
A sky-blue radiance flashed through his eyes.
* * *
At the very top of the Demon Wings pavilion was the residence of the Leader of Demon Wings.
Cheong Myeong and Baek Mir-yeo, having returned from their mission, were speaking with Ma Jin there.
“What was Seom-ye’s disposition like when he stood at the boundary of life and death? How did he treat his comrades?”
“At the boundary of life and death?”
Cheong Myeong asked with a blank expression, while Baek Mir-yeo remained silent.
Had there been such a moment?
Ma Jin looked puzzled.
“Did you not say there was a Blood Master? That means a branch-level force had been operating covertly. Do not tell me you two handled it yourselves to protect the White Uniforms. The records tied to a carrier pigeon are limited by the space on the paper. Tell me in detail.”
“Well...”
Come to think of it, the two Blue Uniform masters had received more than one assignment.
They had been told to observe Seom-ye’s character.
Now that Baek Mir-yeo thought about it, Ma Jin had seemed to consider that more important than the original Jinpyeong County mission.
Baek Mir-yeo knew why Ma Jin was questioning them so insistently.
It would be difficult to explain otherwise if Ma Jin were not considering Seom-ye as the next Leader of Demon Wings.
That made it even more regrettable.
There was nothing to say.
“...Before we had a chance to observe anything, Seom-ye wiped out the Blood Flame Sect branch alone. All I can say is that he did not forget his manners despite the arduous journey. His outstanding martial prowess did not seem to be of personal interest to him.”
“...”
Ma Jin fell silent with a contemplative expression.
The shock of defeating a branch alone, Blood Master included, was that great.
Even among the Nine Sects, Eight Families, Thirteen Heavens, and Desolate Fortress, it was a level at which one could be called a master.
It was difficult to describe it as merely outstanding.
“Cheong Myeong.”
Ma Jin’s gaze turned toward Demon Wings’ sole member of the elven race.
There was a famous tale about the eyes of the elven race, which could see one’s essence.
It was said that the Grand Empress Dowager of two reigns ago, who became the Founding Emperor’s consort after the nation was founded, had arrested several officials and revealed them to be traitors.
Like the current emperor, who had endured the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation alone to observe Shaolin martial arts, she was said to possess martial arts counted among the best in the world.
For more than a hundred years, she had cast an immense presence over the imperial family.
Even common folk knew the story.
The five senses of the elven race were innately different from those of the Han people.
There was a reason the final test of the Desolate Exam was a private audience with the Lord of Desolate Fortress.
What Ma Jin wished to confirm went beyond that.
He wanted to know whether Yeon-shin had the qualifications to lead a martial unit.
“Seom-ye? He is impressive beyond his age. His killing intent is quite intense, yet he knows how to handle it properly. There is something even more extraordinary about his disposition.”
Cheong Myeong spoke with a light smile.
“His killing intent is intense?”
“Is that not only natural? He did not say a single word about his family ties throughout the journey. Judging from his words and conduct, he was clearly well educated.”
“I think so as well. It seems the two new recruits have already severed their ties with their families one way or another.”
“I see. It is not something I had failed to consider, but...”
Ma Jin tapped the table with his fingers before slowly nodding.
“Successor or not, caring for those who have become family comes first. There is plenty of time. Just as with this matter, I wonder how much more unexpected merit he will achieve. It will be rewarding to raise him.”
“I think so too.”
“I am curious when he will become a Blue Uniform. It does not feel far off.”
The conversation was closer to casual talk than a report.
Night gradually settled over the Demon Wings pavilion.
* * *
The next morning.
“Seom-ye. The Leader of Demon Wings has summoned you.”
A White Uniform senior from Demon Wings called out to Yeon-shin.
Their tone differed from before.
It felt far more cautious. The results of the recent mission had spread, changing the way people looked at him.
He could no longer be treated only as the exceptionally talented youngest member.
Whenever he was in the Grand Training Hall, he would hear words such as, “The Blood Master...” several times.
Even now, three days after his return.
Of the thirty-six members of Demon Wings, ten were White Uniforms. At the White Uniform level, even speaking of taking on a Blood Flame Sect branch alone was almost unheard of.
There were even rumors that he might become the youngest Blue Uniform in the shortest time.
“Yes, I will go up.”
Yeon-shin respectfully clasped his hands.
Whenever he heard others speaking highly of him, he tried to hold himself with even greater propriety.
He did not think an absolute martial master without the support of others could become the Divine Sword Squad Leader.
Perhaps because of that, the way people viewed him improved day by day.
Even Yeon-shin himself could feel the growing warmth toward him.
‘A new mission?’
Desolate Fortress guaranteed a month of rest to martial artists who returned from a distant journey, but Yeon-shin did not take those words at face value.
Who could predict what might happen in a martial sect?
“Come in.”
The moment he reached the end of the pavilion, Ma Jin’s deep voice rang out.
Ma Jin seemed to have sensed his presence immediately, even though Yeon-shin trained until the Wind and Leaves movement art permeated his body.
As expected of the Leader of Demon Wings, Yeon-shin thought with admiration as he opened the door and entered the room.
Then he paused slightly.
Ma Jin’s face was more serious than ever.
The scar running across his face looked as though it had hardened in place.
“Did something happen? Is there an important mission?”
“You have shown unprecedented achievement, but you are not yet at a level where I can entrust you with an important mission in Demon Wings. Of course, expectations are high.”
Ma Jin’s scar twitched.
It seemed that, in Ma Jin’s own way, he was trying to smile in approval.
“It is not a mission. However, it is not something that can be compared to an ordinary mission. The Lord of Desolate Fortress has ordered me to bring you along.”
“The Lord of Desolate Fortress...?”
The image of an absolute martial master with green eyes arose in his mind.
The situation was incomprehensible to Yeon-shin.
“Has the Lord of Desolate Fortress ever summoned a White Uniform martial artist again after their audience?”
“It has never happened before. That is why I am uneasy. It is impossible to fathom what that person is thinking.”
Ma Jin gestured with a grave expression.
“Even so, we cannot delay. Let us go.”
Yeon-shin followed Ma Jin down and left the Demon Wings pavilion.
The main fortress where the Lord of Desolate Fortress resided was quite far away.
Even though Yeon-shin walked quickly to keep pace with Ma Jin, it took as long as it would take to drink a cup of tea.
All the attention they drew along the way fell upon Yeon-shin.
Perhaps it was because Hell Slayer Ma Jin’s scar and Desolate Fortress Black Uniform stood out.
Everyone recognized the Leader of Demon Wings, who turned every battlefield he passed through into a scene from hell.
At the same time, their gazes gathered on the boy walking half a step behind him.
“That is Demon Wings’ Seom-ye.”
“The one who killed the Blood Master...?”
“He looks even younger than I expected.”
To begin with, Yeon-shin was said to be the only boy in all of Desolate Fortress who wore a White Uniform.
It was still strange for strangers with no acquaintance with him to recognize him.
Yeon-shin maintained an indifferent expression and silently followed Ma Jin.
Before long, they arrived at the main fortress where he had undergone the final test of the Desolate Exam.
“Let us go.”
Ma Jin entered without hesitation, and the guards did not stop him.
Whether it was because of the prestige of a Black Uniform master of Desolate Fortress or because they trusted the martial prowess of the Lord of Desolate Fortress, Yeon-shin could not say.
The two climbed the long stairs and arrived before the Lord’s chamber.
At the same time, the doors opened wide on their own.
A cool breeze brushed Yeon-shin’s cheek.
The first person to enter his view was, as expected, her.
The Lord of Desolate Fortress sat at an angle upon the trunk of a tree that ran through the office like a giant serpent.
Her deep green eyes, as though they contained all the sea of trees in the world, passed over Ma Jin before settling on Yeon-shin.
She slightly raised one hand, so white and smooth that it was difficult to believe she possessed martial arts that reached the heavens.
“Come here.”
“I pay respects to the Lord.”
Only after Ma Jin offered his respects did Yeon-shin follow with a fist salute and notice the others.
There were two people.
The elderly man caught his eye first.
He had sharp eyes and a large, imposing frame.
A spotless white beard without a single stray hair reached down to his solar plexus.
The Purple Uniform robe over his sturdy-looking body was unusual, with a high collar standing straight.
It suited the old man’s firm and keen impression remarkably well.
‘A Purple Uniform master who surpasses even the Leader of Demon Wings.’
A powerful aura emanated from his body, so intense that he would have seemed unparalleled if the Lord of Desolate Fortress had not been present.
A boy stood beside him.
He had a somewhat arrogant appearance, but his features were handsome.
He stared steadily at Yeon-shin with eyes whose blacks and whites were sharply defined, and his gaze felt challenging.
“So you are Demon Wings’ Seom-ye. I am Ma Yeon-jeok, who once led the Divine Sword Squad.”
The elder in Purple Uniform spoke.
His voice brimmed with vigor.
Yeon-shin thought that, if the Lord of Desolate Fortress had not been seated in the center, the man might have called himself This Seat.
“My grandson wished to see a master of his own age, so I spoke to the Lord. It is good to meet you.”
Yeon-shin let Ma Yeon-jeok’s words pass through one ear as his gaze shifted elsewhere.
The Lord of Desolate Fortress said nothing, only lifting the corners of her lips slightly as though telling him to decide for himself.
- If you desire it, I will acknowledge it.
It was not sound transmission.
He felt no flow of energy whatsoever.
It was a voice that resonated in his mind on a more fundamental level.
Could it be the Wisdom Heart Sutra used by Shaolin’s most exalted martial monks?
‘Why is she treating me so well?’
Feeling puzzled, Yeon-shin looked toward his maternal grandfather.
Footnotes:
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