WeTried Translations

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Chapter 29: Genius

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"Have you perhaps decided on a name for your sword technique?"

"I have decided to call it the Radiance Sword Style."

In the room, where the aroma of tea rose faintly, Hyeon Won-chang hesitantly asked, and Yeon-shin answered.

Radiant Sword Flow.

He had named it in the hope that his own life would be as inextinguishable as the light that filled all under heaven from the sun, moon, and stars.

The sword style's characteristic of scattering radiant light along its path had also played a part.

"Ah... It has a finer resonance than I expected. What a pity."

"What name did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking of calling it 'Calamity of All Under Heaven, Radiant Direct Severance Formula.' That was the impression it gave me. If it reaches great completion, it will have the strength to contend with all under heaven with a single sword that encompasses heaven and earth!"

"......"

Yeon-shin silently sipped his tea. The flavor coating his tongue was exquisite.

It was called Jingwei Fucha, and the shimmering golden tea represented the treatment they were receiving from the Zhongnan Sect.

'It was perplexing.'

The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan's reaction to the Radiant Sword Flow had been beyond expectation.

Their gruff attitude had immediately turned warm.

With reddened eyes, they had even embraced Yeon-shin.

Compared with how they treated his second brother, Jeong Joong-san, it was enough to make him wonder whether they were a different person.

He had saved their nephew and created his own sword technique.

Though he had done nothing for the Zhongnan Sect, they treated him as an honored guest, leaving him bewildered and uneasy.

Hyeon Won-chang seemed different, however.

"I would like to take some of this golden tea with me when we return."

Hyeon Won-chang looked at ease, as though they had never slaughtered enemies with killing intent.

They spent some time chatting leisurely.

The mission was decided among themselves, as Ma Jin had authorized.

Their goal was to prevent harm to civilians or deal a meaningful blow to the Tyrant Sword Sect.

They had earned Zhongnan's favor. They would be able to hear news of battles immediately.

"Young Hero Jeong?"

A pleasant voice sounded from outside the door. It was the voice of Weiji Myo-hwa, the Sword Dragon.

Leaving Hyeon Won-chang's envious expression behind, Yeon-shin exited the room.

She was as she had been at their first meeting.

She stood with her ebony-like hair hanging loose, a distinctive feather ornament set in it.

Dressed in a sky-blue martial outfit, one hand resting on her sword hilt, she displayed many different qualities.

From what Yeon-shin had briefly seen and heard, he could not help but favor her as a martial artist.

She had the firmness to point out her junior disciples' faults without hesitation, the chivalrous spirit to aid the people, and the bearing of a swordswoman pursuing higher martial attainment.

Those qualities, together with her powerful martial arts, had likely helped make her a dragon.

"I came to hear what we could not discuss last time."

"Do you mean the Sword Progenitor's sword marks?"

She nodded.

"Though it shames my sect, I wish to cast off the Sword Progenitor's shadow. In both chivalry and swordsmanship, I must walk my own path. I will become a Grandmaster."

She spoke boldly of her aspirations before a boy younger than herself.

After seeing Yeon-shin's Radiant Sword Flow, her attitude had changed subtly.

Weiji Myo-hwa's capacity seemed worthy of her reputation as the strongest rising talent of the Zhongnan Sect.

"I will support you."

At his calm response, she seemed slightly deflated, but she quickly composed herself.

"If you would help restore the Nine Yang Single Form..."

Weiji Myo-hwa's red lips moved.

"I promise to regard you as my benefactor for the rest of my life. However long I live, you would greatly ease the time I would otherwise spend dissatisfied."

Peaceful sunlight shone brightly upon the ground.

Amid the harmony of the soft midday sunlight and tranquil mountain scenery, only her voice rang clear.

There was no honor greater in the martial world. Sharing martial arts carried such meaning.

"Would that be possible?"

Weiji Myo-hwa's lips drew a smooth red curve.

Her request was not servile.

Confidence overflowed from her eyes, approaching him like an inextinguishable flame.

Was this the spirit of a rising talent standing at the pinnacle of a renowned orthodox sect?

Her words did not mean she would remain at his side for life.

They meant that, as a martial artist indebted to him, she would help whenever her strength allowed.

Yeon-shin readily nodded.

"It will not take long."

"That is both astonishing and delightful."

Weiji Myo-hwa smiled faintly.

Tap.

The two walked side by side. It felt strange.

The Cloud Sword Dragon, Weiji Myo-hwa, would clearly be a Blue Uniform by the standards of Desolate Fortress.

To offer one-sided aid to a martial artist with that level of skill and experience was no common experience.

With that strange feeling, they reached the edge of a cliff.

From afar, the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan watched them with hands clasped behind their back.

Their expression had relaxed astonishingly compared with their first meeting. It had remained that way ever since they saw the Radiant Sword Flow.

Hyeon Won-chang had even secretly whispered that they might ascend as an immortal if they kept smiling like that.

"First, I will tell you the mnemonic formula."

"What did you just say...? The mnemonic formula?"

Weiji Myo-hwa sharply turned her head.

Her swaying hair struck Yeon-shin's face, and he patted his face twice.

Glancing at her embarrassment, he slowly opened his mouth.

"It will not be exactly the same. That part seems to be the responsibility of Great Hero Sword Dragon."

He traced back the manifestation of the principles he had discerned from the sword marks.

That was how he had completely reverse-calculated the method of circulating qi. He said nothing about that.

He was now a core warrior of Desolate Fortress who had received a long robe from Cheong Myeong.

He knew which things could be said and which could not.

'Great Hero Sword Dragon seems trustworthy.'

Possessing the aptitude to steal others' martial arts? It would not be good if word spread.

Even now, Weiji Myo-hwa's speech had become markedly more respectful.

"It was called the realm of inspiration, but just how far does your talent...!"

Her expression seemed to say that nothing like this could exist under heaven.

"Then my part would be..."

"I will tell you the incomplete mnemonic formula. Your task will be to refine it until it is close to completion."

Was that conclusion truly difficult to reach? Yeon-shin spoke without hiding his puzzlement.

It was a very simple matter. It would be on an entirely different level from tracing the marks and retracing the individual parts of a mnemonic formula one by one.

As she fell silent, the sun began to set.

* * *

Weiji Myo-hwa was not seen for some time after receiving the mnemonic formula.

According to the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan, she had fallen prey to an inner demon.

No matter how upright one's character, one could not be free from one's own heart.

"She was not a child who boasted of her martial arts. But it seems your talent shocked her."

The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan looked at Yeon-shin with an odd gaze.

"Among martial artists of her age in Shaanxi, there was no one who could rival her talent. That remained true even if the Mount Hua Sect was included. When Shaanxi is mentioned in the Central Plains, most small nations cannot compare to it. She must have thought herself the greatest martial talent under heaven."

"The greatest under heaven."

Yeon-shin murmured it as though savoring the unfamiliar sound.

The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan slowly nodded.

"Yes. For the first time, she felt that her own talent was insignificant. After seeing the real thing."

"It is meaningless. Great Hero Sword Dragon is several levels above me as a master."

Pressed for time, Yeon-shin found it difficult to understand.

One could not judge one's present standing by unseen talent or age.

The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan gave a hollow laugh as Yeon-shin shook his head.

"What a fatal mistake Heaven made. Talent alone was enough, yet it also bestowed upon you the heart to seek what you lack. It is unfair to all under heaven."

"Your words embarrass me."

They had grown rather close by then. Someone from the Zhongnan Sect had even remarked that they looked like a grandparent and grandchild.

Yeon-shin, too, found the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan far more comfortable than his maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok.

It was then.

"Elder Jong, Young Hero Jeong."

The moment the voice rang out, she was already before them.

Her wondrous Body Movement Scripture brought her to a stop as her jet-black hair swayed over her sky-blue martial outfit.

"Great Hero Sword Dragon."

"You have come. I knew you would overcome it quickly."

It was Weiji Myo-hwa, whom they had been discussing. Her white face was so gaunt that it looked pale.

After greeting the Sword Immortal of Zhongnan, she faced Yeon-shin and cupped her fist in salute. Her expression was utterly resolute.

"Young Hero Jeong. Since you obtained the mnemonic formula first, you can demonstrate the sword technique, can you not?"

"...Yes. That is right."

"Could you practice the Nine Yang Single Form with me? Our progress will be faster than if we train alone."

"I am sorry."

Yeon-shin shook his head.

"I do not even have enough time to refine my own sword technique."

"Ah..."

She let out a regretful groan, seeming unable to bring herself to press the matter. He slowly added,

"Since our roots are the same, it will be enough to observe each other's swords. You may stand beside me when I train in the Radiant Sword Flow. Great Hero Sword Dragon can refine the Nine Yang Single Form."

He had learned the Body Movement Scripture inspired by Cheong Myeong in the same way.

Yeon-shin could gain insight into the martial arts of opponents he had encountered for the first time in actual combat.

The taboo against watching others practice martial arts held little meaning for him.

Their reactions, however, were different. For the first time, admiration appeared in Weiji Myo-hwa's eyes.

"...You are truly a great hero of this generation, Young Hero Jeong."

"Generosity must have its limits. Your capacity to attain greatness under heaven is already fully formed."

The Sword Immortal of Zhongnan sighed. They and Myo-hwa wore identical expressions of growing favor.

Setting aside his talent, they were immediately struck by the magnanimity of his spirit.

Deep affection showed on both their faces.

Displaying one's insights and showing the practice of an already established martial art were entirely different matters.

'Misunderstandings are piling up.'

Yeon-shin set aside his thoughts and headed for the Training Hall behind Sunsim Pavilion.

He sensed Weiji Myo-hwa's elegant presence following behind him, soft step after soft step.

When he stood to one side and looked over, she gave him a faint smile before stopping in place.

They drew their swords almost simultaneously.

Shing.

The Desolate Sword, revealed beneath the sun, was strangely more beautiful than before.

It was said that swords forged by the dwarven race grew alongside their owners. It seemed true even for a sword made for mass issue.

Having accompanied Yeon-shin through real combat and achievement, then come to contain the Radiant Sword Flow, there could be no sword in the world better suited to him.

'Radiance.'

He recited it inwardly and activated the mnemonic formula. The qi circulation of the Radiant Sword Flow was wholly different from that of the Sihwa Boundless Fist.

Where every strike of the Sihwa Boundless Fist ended as a separate, single blow, the Radiant Sword Flow possessed an unbroken flow.

Wuuung.

With the image of sunlight pooling and flowing in waves, he began to move the Desolate Sword.

The sword tip, carrying light from the sun above, descended toward the earth as it drew a circle.

There was no obstruction in wielding the sword.

The light and wind clinging to the blade seemed to carry over onto his body. It felt astonishingly familiar.

Radiant Sword Flow. That was because he had created it himself.

'I am its master.'

At that moment, he fully realized it. He was the father of this martial art.

"Ah."

A sigh that did not reach Yeon-shin's ears scattered away. Weiji Myo-hwa's sword stopped on the other side.

Standing blankly in place, she held Yeon-shin in her gaze.

Weiji Myo-hwa had been circulating qi alongside him as she performed the Nine Yang Single Form.

Through her overwhelming experience and knowledge, she had clearly advanced first.

When Yeon-shin's swordplay had seemed crude at a glance, she had condemned herself for the base relief she had felt.

Yet he caught up to her in the realm of proficiency in an instant.

Yeon-shin danced the sword dance of the sun.

They had learned new sword arts at the same time, yet their martial attainments were entirely different.

It was obvious after only a brief look.

Both the Nine Yang Single Form and the Radiant Sword Flow were high-level sword arts that no one could disparage.

As she swallowed a low groan, the speed of the Desolate Sword changed.

Before long, even the Quick Sword Formula was blending into Yeon-shin's swordplay.

Whoosh! Whoooosh!

Amid the rippling rays of the Radiant Sword Flow, Weiji Myo-hwa's sword slowly lowered.

The lesser dragon holding the wish-granting pearl was someone else. It was an unfamiliar sense of defeat before overwhelming martial talent.

Masters who had deeply cultivated inner energy possessed something called eye radiance.

It was a gleam that flashed like the eyes of a beast because of qi.

"What am I..."

Weiji Myo-hwa's eyes, always clear and bright, grew dim. Their focus gradually faded.

Footnotes:

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