WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Episode 269: Master of the Martial Book (6)
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“Desolate Fortress...! It’s a Desolate Fortress martial unit! Hero Geum! This won’t do!”
“What kind of martial art is that? I’ve never even heard of it. It’s the Blue-Eyed Demon Sword!”
“Young Master! You need to get out of the way... Urgh...!”
Waves of radiance rippled across the area, spraying blood in every direction. Twenty Radiant Art Formation martial artists surrounded the Heavenly Net, their force waves battering everything nearby.
Arms and legs flew skyward, and heads were severed. The white snow deepened in color, then turned red again and again.
Clang! Thud!
Every gaze that had watched Jeong Yeon-shin like a pack of hyenas waiting for a chance to strike was shattered. Only panicked, pain-filled screams now filled the mountain air.
The expressions of the Demon Wings experts sharpened. There was more force behind them than ever before.
Baek Mir-yeo was no different. She approached after cutting down ten wandering martial artists all at once.
She stared at Jeong Yeon-shin with a furious expression. Her eyes, already sharp by nature, seemed to bear down on him like treasured swords.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought, It’s because I left without saying anything.
“I have something to say, but first... may I pass myself off as the Squad Leader’s sister?”
“You are my sister. You always were.”
“Ah.”
Baek Mir-yeo’s eyelashes trembled. The tension at the corners of her mouth seemed to ease slightly. Was she briefly at a loss for words? He did not know why.
She won’t scold me. That’s a relief.
A quiet laugh drifted from behind Jeong Yeon-shin.
“The youngest Squad Leader ever... it’s a heartwarming sight.”
“Sect Leader.”
Jeong Yeon-shin glanced behind him. Yulha Nangnang’s long hair brushed against his ear.
“Your breathing has deepened.”
“I have passed the critical point. Thanks to you stopping the bleeding. It is also thanks to my breathing through the Purple Haze Divine Technique.”
“That is fortunate.”
“I can feel the aura of the disciples I shook off in my haste. Unlike you, I am not such a beloved leader, so I must return at once to be scolded. If you have anything left to say, let us speak now.”
Jeong Yeon-shin did not decline.
“May I ask why you appeared to be losing so badly?”
“You have some nerve. Is that how it looked to you?”
Yulha Nangnang laughed.
“If this poor Daoist had truly been defeated so helplessly, would that man have returned so quietly?”
Her voice was light, but the question carried weight. Jeong Yeon-shin silently agreed.
What kind of thoughts did the Tyrant Sword Sect Master live with?
“You should think carefully about his true intentions. Before that... when your martial arts deepen further and you face him as a true rival, remember this. You cannot defeat him by trying to overpower him with a stronger sword. He will turn it against you. You need an original method.”
“...I understand.”
“By now, he should be limping home on his right leg. The right side of his body is paralyzed. He was thoroughly struck by Hidden Fragrance, Drifting Flower. It was the first time in my life that I accumulated so many force waves in a rival’s body. If I had built up just one more breath’s worth... I would have blown off that bastard’s head while he could not move a muscle.”
“Your manner of speaking has grown rougher, Sect Leader.”
“Have we not become quite close? We shared our lives. What bond could be deeper than that? Come to Mount Hua whenever you wish. I will dissolve a Purple Cloud Pellet in a cup of tea and serve it to you.”
As they spoke, the sounds around them faded.
Silence descended over the plateau on a faint current of wind. The Radiant Art Formation’s effectiveness in group combat had shone through.
Only cold snow and corpses remained where the whirlpool of radiance had swept through. Demon Wings did not spare even those who fled. It was the temperament of a military faction.
“Squad Leader! What happened to your body this time?”
“I’m sorry. If that talk about opium poppies had been my last words, I would have regretted it deeply. You have a much longer life ahead of you than this young master.”
“Were you taking revenge on us? We knelt and apologized for what happened with the First Demon of Shaanxi...”
They approached Jeong Yeon-shin one by one.
“The aura from Hidden Fragrance Drift is rising from below. Before that...”
Yulha Nangnang raised both hands and clasped Jeong Yeon-shin’s right hand in hers. Her warm touch enveloped the back of his hand and his palm. He flinched slightly.
“Thank you, Seom-ye Jeong Yeon-shin.”
* * *
The great upheaval on Mount Taebaek became widely discussed.
For four days, it remained the talk of the Shaanxi martial world.
The Leader of Demon Wings’ martial prowess became a subject of controversy in parts of Shaanxi. Although many had seen Seom-ye in person, arguments still broke out over whether the accounts were true.
It began after the identities of the supreme experts killed simultaneously on Mount Taebaek became known.
Anyone who heard their ages could not help but doubt it. The outcome of the life-and-death duel was close to a miracle.
As a result, the overwhelming divine might of Desolate Fortress’s youngest Squad Leader drew as much attention as the battle between the Tyrant Sword Sect Master and the Mount Hua Sect Leader.
There was little disagreement that the current Leader of Demon Wings was exceptionally powerful.
Such talk flowed from atop quiet rafters.
It was a manor rarely visited by people.
“He is worth taking a fruit from the Lord of Desolate Fortress for. The current Leader of Demon Wings is a once-in-an-age thunderclap bomb that will shatter the order.”
It was a gentle voice. A man wrapped entirely in black robes continued slowly.
He stood straight atop the edge of an old roof. Wearing a bamboo hat, only his lower face, covered in a thick black beard, was visible.
“Yes... the master of Yeoryeong misjudged Seom-ye, and you were right. I acknowledge my error. But the Mount Hua Sect Leader is different. Why did you not kill her? Just as you punished those Zhongnan and Qingcheng bastards who added their swords to Dali Kingdom’s destruction.”
Below him, the Tyrant Sword Sect Master leaned his massive body against a pillar in the main hall and spoke.
“She is the only divine sword left in Shaanxi. Without Starflower, I would have to wander in search of an expert of equal standing. It would be inefficient.”
“Did you not gravely wound her and leave her behind?”
“Starflower is one who breathes through the Purple Haze Divine Technique.”
“I would like to mention your relationship with her. It was quite deep, was it not? Even if it was in childhood.”
“Blame my talent.”
“What a ridiculous thing to say, you man who has become impossible to grasp. They say you meditated through a hundred years with the Duan Family Time-Transcending Method right after losing to Zhongnan. You have gone thoroughly mad. You must have lost much of your human heart. Even you will find it difficult to examine your own feelings. Now, your epithet truly suits you more than your name. Tyrant Sword Mad Path. It is only surprising that you still have reason and a desire for revenge.”
“...”
“Starflower Sword God... it was not an opportunity that comes often. Mount Hua has sealed its gates, and Wudang Sect’s High Sword has gone to guard them.”
“High Sword?”
“You are too late, so do not entertain foolish thoughts. Since ancient times, the gate-sealing of the Nine Sects has accompanied a tremendous accumulation of power. Practitioners who once devoted themselves to relief work begin honing only their martial arts. When their mountain gate opens again, plum blossoms will bloom in full. Will you be able to withstand the Starflower Sword God of that day? In terms of sword talent alone, she ranks among the foremost even among the sect leaders of the Nine Sects.”
“I would welcome it.”
“If you need a whetstone to embody your enlightenment, this seat could take the place of the Mount Hua Sect Leader. I was also curious about the Duan Family Time-Transcending Method, which even the imperial family failed to obtain. A grand method of Static Training that casts consciousness from an instant into eternity... they say it was originally a torture method of Dali Kingdom?”
“You cannot be my opponent. Unless you are one who has deeply trained in orthodox sword arts...”
The Tyrant Sword Sect Master suddenly vomited black blood. In the middle of the vast earthen courtyard, only that one spot was paved with marble.
Dead blood dripped onto the square limestone slab. It was a rather bleak sight.
Above him, the Lord of Yeoryeong raised their head.
“Look. No one under heaven has ever used Hidden Fragrance, Drifting Flower through an internal heavy-hand technique. Any absolute master would find it difficult to defeat the current Mount Hua Sect Leader without injury. Your arrogance went too far.”
“That is why I spared her. The Lord of Desolate Fortress understands every martial principle of the orthodox sects under heaven.”
“In any case, as Seom-ye’s capacity grows, those martial principles will only be polished further, will they not? The current Leader of Demon Wings is shining to that degree, so the Lord of Desolate Fortress, who has a noble nature in her own way, will inevitably decline. This seat has even prepared to cut down the Seventeen Squads of the Divine Sword Corps one by one. The moment your conduct, which pursues perfection in your own way, begins to look foolish, this seat will withdraw from the Tyrant Sword Sect and no longer stand by and watch your arrogance.”
“You should reconsider the World Tree’s supernatural phenomena.”
The Tyrant Sword Sect Master answered calmly, then vomited another mouthful of black blood.
Saaaaa...
White steam soon rose from his lips. It was Samadhi True Fire, burning away the stench of blood.
“Jeong Family Manor, Seom-ye...”
He suddenly muttered under his breath. The Lord of Yeoryeong snorted.
“The current Leader of Demon Wings, that is. It seems he passed through a difficult crisis on his descent from the mountain. He might have died if things had gone wrong. Why not become Seom-ye’s hidden guard instead? You could accompany that boy, who possesses a world-shaking talent you lack.”
“If he grows that way, he cannot contain the World Tree’s spirituality. I said he was a vessel that would be nothing if he died. I simply have no need to destroy his potential with my own hands.”
“It was a joke, you stubborn madman. I will no longer take any special measures against Seom-ye. If he is swept away and dies in the storms of the vast martial world, let him die. Focus on recuperating. We have reached the point where it will be difficult to scatter any more of the earth’s power under heaven. We have done enough, but... several places remain that boast defenses impossible to breach. Hebei Peng Family is next.”
“Go.”
The dismissive voice was quiet but deep. The Lord of Yeoryeong answered with something entirely unrelated. A new Young Lord of Yeoryeong had to be chosen.
Rustle.
The Tyrant Sword Sect Master slowly crossed his legs and sat down, closing his eyes.
A soft breath emerged from his sharp nose, carried by the winter wind sweeping through the silent manor, and scattered into nothing.
* * *
“Now that I hear the details, those Yeoryeong and Blood Flame Sect bastards must be furious. They thought they had finally caught the Squad Leader with a combined attack, only for the Tyrant Sword Sect Master to slip away.”
“The Squad Leader’s family... is this not the same as what happened then? I cannot guess the reason.”
“That is why peerless masters are called eccentrics. Even the Purple Uniforms at the main fortress...”
Demon Wings of the Divine Sword Corps returned to Zhongnan’s secular branch sect in Xi’an.
They entered Sobaek Sect, led by Jang Gi-il, one of Xi’an’s Seven Great Sect Masters. Its plaque hung over a cluster of halls unusually large even for a major city in Shaanxi.
Deep within the manor stood a small pavilion beside a clear, rippling lake.
“It looks good.”
“Hmm, don’t I look about your age?”
“Is it because the Squad Leader has grown quite a bit taller? It is strange. Looking only at your arms and legs, you almost look like father and daughter.”
The Demon Wings experts sat all around, on the roof, in the main hall, and on the ground without distinction.
Sunlight reflected off the lakeshore in white waves. The mood was light.
Jeong Hye regained consciousness after drinking a decoction of thousand-year-old he shou wu. The long journey through Shaanxi had finally come to an end.
While Demon Wings and Jeong Yeon-shin caused great turmoil in Shaanxi, Seven-Finger Ghost Sword of Yeoryeong, who had posed as the false sect leader of Baiyang Sect, had been killed by Blood Guard Squad Leader Jin Myeong-jo.
Jin Myeong-jo did not appear in person. He only sent a letter apologizing for failing to properly stop the Tyrant Sword Sect Master.
He added that he was too ashamed to face his junior, but would find some spiritual medicine and send it over.
[I held out for five hundred and seventy-nine exchanges before falling from the cliff at Gwi-mi Peak. I lost consciousness soon afterward. It was certainly not just nineteen moves, yet it is truly embarrassing. I am relieved that you are safe.]
[I am learning much from Senior Jin, the Divine Blood Extreme Demon. As a newcomer, I was awed by your martial prowess. Alongside your noble character, I will take it as a model for my training. Thank you for your protection, guidance, and instruction.]
After sending his reply, Jeong Yeon-shin looked after his niece. His companions watched him from a distance.
“No. A little gentler.”
“Like this?”
Jeong Hye answered in a young voice, her round cheeks moving as she spoke.
Jeong Yeon-shin knelt on one knee and lowered himself to her eye level. His faintly smiling face was reflected in her bright, clear eyes.
Holding the shoulders of the Black Uniform martial robe fitted to his niece’s small body, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly sent a little of the Light Wheel Technique into her.
“From the dantian to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, you need to make a circle that turns without stopping. Then your body will feel a little warmer. Qi becomes like a mother.”
“Mom...?”
“...No, like Hero Sword Dragon.”
“Weiji junior! Yes! I like Junior best!”
Jeong Hye answered bravely, her eyes reddening. Jeong Yeon-shin gently stroked her head.
“If you softly touch the Qihai acupoint in the lower dantian with the feeling of Weiji junior, the qi that flowed down Hye-ah’s body will return through the Mingmen acupoint behind your back. During that time, your bones and muscles will grow strong, and your acupoints will become tougher. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
“Good. Because it keeps moving without rest, it is called Dynamic Training. You need to guide your qi while thinking of Weiji junior for it to work.”
“I know the Microcosmic Orbit! But the Mingmen acupoint is hard... Sword Immortal Grandpa helped me do it.”
Jeong Hye’s little head drooped.
Her tiny feet rubbed against the ground in their little shoes. The clumsy uncle felt anew the loss his niece had suffered. She had lost too much at such a young age.
Jeong Yeon-shin gently tightened his hand on Jeong Hye’s shoulder.
“Even a baby monkey can do this. Some dull people in the martial world may not be able to, but you will be fine, Hye-ah. Let us take it slowly. It will be fun.”
Jeong Hye did not answer for a while.
The child’s large eyes briefly rolled downward.
“Uncle.”
“Yes?”
“It is strange.”
“The mnemonic formula? Did you think of a different interpretation? Tell me anything.”
“Your words have gotten mean. They’re strange... I won’t play with you.”
“What?”
Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes widened.
Tweet!
A swallow suddenly flew across the sky and dropped a message tube on its own. It was a familiar spiritual beast from the Chief Steward’s Office.
Perhaps the same elf had raised it. Its disposition resembled White Swallow, whom Jeong Yeon-shin had sent to Jin Myeong-jo.
He snatched the letter and immediately broke the seal.
Rip.
Neat words in a cursive hand unfolded before him. It was hard to tell whether it was an official dispatch or a letter.
[The Divine Sword Squad Leader at the main fortress single-handedly raided the meeting place of the Martial Dragon Society Leader and the Dark Night Hall Leader. This occurred after Divine Sword Squad members were struck by Dark Night Hall’s archery martial arts. The Divine Sword Squad Leader inflicted fatal wounds on both Lords of the Thirteen Heavens, then returned to the main fortress. Laid up. Needs escort to a place of recuperation.
Come and rest. You are the only one who is still sane. I miss you, our Seom-ye.
- Acting Divine Sword Squad Leader, Divine Sword Squad Deputy Leader Ak Su-rim.]
Footnotes:
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