WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Episode 285: Lotus (4)

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The commotion over the eldest daughter's writing tutor disappearing lasted only briefly. Before long, the Gongya Family returned to peace.

"Is he really that handsome?"

"I heard he has an exceptionally dignified bearing. They say he's no less impressive than the Second Young Master."

"It's more than that. He might have blade-like ears hidden in his hair!"

"What a shame about his status. A sole-successor lineage sounds grand, but isn't he just a wandering martial artist in this day and age?"

Sunlight shimmered along the edges of the blue-tiled roofs. It was the peace of one of the few powerful martial families in vast Shanxi Province.

Geom Un-bi, leader of the Huangcheon Sect.

The friend of Teacher Go, the eldest daughter's tutor, was nothing special. At most, he occasionally became a topic of interest among the servants.

Any family renowned enough to be called a martial family throughout Shanxi would naturally house noble and exceptional figures as guests.

They were honored guests, as well as part of the family's strength. With such an expansive manor, there was no shortage of strange and extraordinary people.

That was why Geom Un-bi's name did not come up where the family's senior figures gathered.

They had more important matters to discuss, and guests more distinguished than him. The Gongya Family was both a prestigious house and a martial family.

"The tea's fragrance is faint. Even the steam is weak."

"That's because your heart harbors an inner demon. How can you call the fragrance faint when it's Dragon Well tea?"

"You speak as though you aren't worried too, Family Head. The eldest daughter's safety is at stake, isn't it? Jeong-ah, our Family Head doubts your martial skill."

Four people sat together in a neat, spacious room. There were two men with deep wrinkles around their eyes, along with the beautiful Gongya siblings.

The aura radiating from the two middle-aged men filled the room.

Shanxi was the land closest to Beijing, where the imperial court stood. Since ancient times, it had seen much cultural exchange, while its local noble clans had lived alongside the government authorities and cultivated refined dignity.

Even when they practiced the same martial arts, their bearing differed. The air they carried had become an extraordinary presence of its own.

The middle-aged man in the reddest long robe spoke.

"Stop talking nonsense. What would I gain by planting an inner demon in this family's heir? She's already facing something difficult enough, even with her mind sharpened like a blade."

"I'm all right, Family Head."

The eldest daughter, Gongya Jeong, spoke calmly. Her expression was the same.

She looked every bit the noble daughter who would inherit a prestigious martial family.

Her black hair fell smoothly over shoulders honed by training, but the invisible waves of power gathered around her body carried a firm, unyielding quality.

There was dignity in her aura. Her inner energy cultivation was exceptional for her age.

"Two Blood Masters have recently died at the Slayer Hero's hands. How could we not worry? It must be difficult for you as well."

The Gongya Family Head's younger brother spoke with a sharp gaze.

He was the eldest daughter's uncle, and the aura around him was not greatly inferior to the Family Head's.

His refined, sharp eyes were almost a defining trait of the Gongya noble clan.

"Uncle, the Slayer Hero's achievements are not important. He isn't the only one who's strong. If I'm to uphold this family's prestige among the young martial artists who have risen in Shanxi amid the famine, I need only focus on displaying my martial arts."

"You speak just like your late mother."

The eldest daughter's uncle smiled.

"Your spirit has all the charm of a young martial artist, but the heir of a prestigious family must think differently. Unless you win every martial contest, it will be difficult to preserve this family's prestige. That's why we repeat the same thing day after day. Assassin sects cannot be allowed to run rampant any further. You must win. Without fail!"

"I understand."

Gongya Jeong answered in a low, smooth voice. Perhaps because he had raised the matter so directly, even the Family Head did not stop his younger brother this time.

Only the Second Young Master, Gongya Su, watched them with wide eyes.

"Is that all? Even those from families founded by Green Forest bandits have been mocking the Gongya name. We cannot simply strike them and accept the losses that would follow, so we must uphold our honor at the martial arts tournament. If we do not wish to lose our influence during this famine."

The Family Head's voice was calm and measured, with a deep dignity.

His daughter lowered her head.

"I understand that as well."

"Devote yourself to refining your sword qi. This father believes in you."

"...I will meet your expectations."

"Come to think of it, I heard Teacher Go brought a young swordsman here."

The Gongya Family Head continued.

"If Teacher Go introduced him, his character cannot be bad. You could teach him even one move or half a form and make him your right hand. Wanderers thirst for the teachings of prestigious families. Is he worth crossing swords with?"

"I was too distracted to examine him closely. His appearance seemed extraordinary, but..."

As Gongya Jeong gave a small shake of her head, the Family Head's lips curled upward.

"I heard he's handsome enough to be called Pan Yue. So long as you're not bewitched by his appearance, he should prove very useful. I am newly grateful for Teacher Go's thoughtfulness. I should visit him with some wine one day. Go now and devote yourself to training."

"Yes, Family Head."

* * *

The vivid crimson hem of Gongya Jeong's trousers brushed over the long threshold.

Her expression stiffened with each step. The imposing presence of the Family Head's hall receded behind her.

Step.

Gongya Su followed her with footsteps that seemed to keep a rhythm.

"Didn't you tell Father about Brother Geom, the Huangcheon Sect Leader? When I saw Teacher Go, he didn't look like he'd brought him here to receive instruction. He looked like he expected him to teach you instead, Sister."

"The Family Head would be shocked. He judges the world by status. Unless someone is a famous master, he looks down on anyone who wanders alone. If they're young, there's even less to say."

Gongya Jeong answered softly. Fatigue had settled in her beautifully raised eyes.

Even Gongya Su's red lips, made striking by his noble bearing, hesitated.

"...Get some rest, Sister."

"All right."

The eldest daughter answered briefly.

Gongya Su gave a small nod and trudged away. Gongya Jeong did not watch him leave.

Her younger brother was second in the line of succession. He was affectionate toward his elder sister, but he could not share the burden of being the heir.

His position did not allow it. As the eldest daughter, Gongya Jeong had to bear the weight on her shoulders alone.

'I may lose once if I fight an inferior ten times, but...'

That was not permitted for the heir of a prestigious family.

The breath that escaped her lips scattered in the sunset glow.

She had learned to sigh without sound. Lately, only the clear winter sunset had accepted the eldest daughter's worries.

The Shanxi Martial Arts Tournament.

The moment when she would have to face the swords of young, powerful martial artists from prestigious houses was rapidly approaching.

Then it happened.

"Ah."

Gongya Jeong let out a quiet exclamation.

Step.

Pale light spread through the gathering dusk. A swordsman was walking toward her with the sunset at his back.

Though soft shadows veiled his face, his high nose and elegant jawline stood out clearly.

He looked like one of the elven race descended from heaven. The sword sheath hanging and swaying at his waist carried a lonely air.

He did not have the bearing of someone her younger brother's age. It was as though he lived in another world.

Someone standing apart from the disorder of the age. There were few sights to behold in this world, yet he gave her the feeling that a divine art had opened her eyes.

'Now that I see him like this, he truly is no ordinary person. He is exceptional.'

They called him Geom Un-bi, leader of the Huangcheon Sect. He was an outsider to the family. Perhaps she could share her worries with the man Teacher Go had brought here.

The Gongya Family's heir parted her lips without thinking.

"May I invite you to share a drink?"

"...?"

* * *

Jeong Yeon-shin's residence.

It was a modest drinking party. The two sat side by side on the veranda, looking toward the darkening horizon.

Each held a jade bottle filled with Bamboo Leaf Green liquor. Yeon-shin, who held his bottle in one hand, occasionally flicked his fingers.

He gauged the mood so that he would appear versed in drinking etiquette. Since he measured the other's presence through aura sense, he did not look awkward.

Perhaps he was imitating Languid Flame Dragon's behavior. He felt closer to an adult who knew how to enjoy refinement.

'I think I could share a drink with the Fortress Lord now.'

Yeon-shin had just thought that when Gongya Jeong, who had been watching the distant mountains, suddenly spoke.

"Shanxi was once a wasteland for the martial world."

"We had to grow our power while remaining wary of the powerful government authorities. But much was ruined when the Heavenly Demon's Tomb Incident broke out over a decade ago. The legacy of an unknown Heavenly Demon, one already dead, harmed the living by using greedy major factions."

"The Heavenly Demon's Tomb Incident..."

Yeon-shin quietly repeated it. He remembered hearing of it from Hyeon Won-chang. Shanxi was said to be his homeland.

"At any rate, families that have made a name for themselves have established firm foundations, whether their histories are long or short."

"It sounds like those with short histories are the problem."

"That's right. Their sects have little history, yet their martial strength is formidable, and they constantly covet this family's reputation."

Rustle.

Gongya Jeong gulped down the Bamboo Leaf Green liquor, then wiped her lips with her red sleeve.

She was already quite drunk. The martial artist's boldness stood out more than the refinement of a prestigious family.

"We cannot show weakness at this martial arts tournament. The Gongya Family has protected the Shanxi martial world from all sorts of Demonic Sect rabble. If I lose to the eldest son of the Shanxi Noble Family, which the Green Forest bandits founded while concealing their origins, or to the Slayer Hero who makes a living by assassination... the Shanxi martial world, already disrupted by the famine, will inevitably fall into greater chaos. That is the burden I bear."

"It must be difficult."

"Before long, there will be an opening clash disguised as a banquet. It announces the start of the martial arts tournament, and sects and families that call themselves venerable will gather there. The contest of wills will be fierce. I cannot be pushed back."

"Can't people lose sometimes?"

Yeon-shin asked lightly. There was no sincerity in his words, because he had never lost.

He did not assume defeat even against the Zhuge Family Head, the strongest opponent he would face in the future. He truly intended to win.

Yet it seemed to strike Gongya Jeong differently. Her slender eyelashes trembled faintly.

"I cannot hand this burden to my younger brother. He is a free-spirited child. He's quite content with his position as this family's Second Young Master. As the Young Family Head, I must protect the Shanxi martial world on a larger scale, and that child on a smaller one."

"Young Family Head Gongya is a good person."

Yeon-shin saw Clear Qilin in her.

He also recalled the life of loving siblings he had once imagined. The Second Young Master, Gongya Su, seemed to be a fortunate person.

Gongya Jeong gave a small laugh.

"If you wish, why not attend the banquet with me? Most of the influential figures of the Shanxi martial world have ties to the government authorities as well. Simply making their acquaintance will be of great help to Sect Leader Geom. I have at least that much influence."

She offered tremendous benefits over a single shared drink.

Only a noble eldest daughter could make such an offer. Even an exceptionally distinguished wanderer would dearly desire it.

Swoosh.

Yeon-shin did not answer. Gongya Jeong had suddenly fallen asleep, lowering her head. Her black hair spilled downward.

'Even if I win the martial arts tournament, I won't be able to learn from the Zhuge Family Head.'

He slowly rose to his feet, gripping his sword hilt.

Step.

He took a few steps from the veranda and stood in the open space. He had already been considering several sword forms in preparation for his fight against the Zhuge Family Head.

The Zhuge Family Head had brought both orthodox martial arts and sorcery arts to their pinnacle. A short, decisive battle characteristic of the Seom-ye Martial Lineage might not be possible.

'Then I need to train.'

The Leader of Demon Wings, who had even come to enjoy closed-door training, drew his sword. The pure white blade of Northern Light, the divine sword, swept through the sunset glow.

The radiance curling around it was sacred. It now contained the qi of the Light Wheel.

- If he had had a harmonious family home at Jeong Family Manor.

The Gongya Family reminded him of that impossible assumption once more.

The long-silent detached residence became the Jeong Family Manor of the past, while Gongya Jeong, speaking of her younger brother, became an elder brother from another world. One who would practice the Jeong Family's True Divine Sword alongside Yeon-shin.

'Was it like this?'

The sword tip rose in a smooth curve. In one stroke, he refined the trajectory of a third-rate sword art that contained far too much waste.

It came down, rose again, then flowed into a diagonal line. A trajectory like the crescent moon, which had begun to shine upon his face, was carved into the air.

Swish.

'They said the spirit of prestigious families lies in restraint. That powerful strength comes from it.'

He was no longer the troublesome fifteen-year-old he had once been.

His swordsmanship now had depth, and his knowledge and experience had grown beyond comparison. He saw deeply into the world beyond the sword tip.

It felt as though his mind were sinking into a warm dream. Along with distant emotions, he entered a state of selflessness.

Within the realm of his innate consciousness, the image of his sword grew larger.

Much disappeared from his sight, and the radiance of his upper dantian filled his vision.

* * *

"The Young Family Head headed this way? At this hour of the night?"

"It was before sunset."

Gongya Jeong suddenly opened her unfocused eyes. Familiar voices lingered by her ears.

When she was young, her father's stern voice would wake her whenever she nodded off while practicing qi circulation and breath regulation. It was a voice that still made her tense, even now that she was grown.

The foremost martial noble clan of Ping'an Prefecture.

It was the Gongya Family Head's procession, accompanied by servants. Gongya Jeong lifted her head, trying to straighten her slumped body.

She could not greet her father, the most revered figure in the family, in such a state.

Then it happened.

The approaching presences stopped short.

Only then did Gongya Jeong feel faint ripples of power before her. A swaying hem entered her blurred vision.

Footsteps softly brushed across the silent floor, tickling her ears.

Hum.

Sword resonance rang out. The sound was incredibly clear.

A sword was moving beneath the gently pouring moonlight. Despite its grand, unrestrained trajectory, the sound of the air splitting spread only softly.

Gongya Jeong's eyebrows shot upward. Was she in a dazed state where dreams and reality were hard to distinguish?

She needed to see more clearly. Her eyes widened.

"...!"

It was beautiful.

And terrifying.

Footnotes:

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