WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Episode 330: Grandfather and Grandson (3)
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A master’s technique revealed many things, even if it consisted of only a single move.
The direction of its path, the shape of the limbs’ muscles, the depth of one’s inner-energy breathing, and the nature of one’s qi were all clues.
Anyone with a reasonable breadth of jianghu knowledge could immediately tell whether an opponent was a swift-sword fighter or a swordsman trained in powerful sword techniques. It was even easier to see through them if one had cultivated an eye technique.
Peerless masters were different.
They could produce changes on par with an illusion sword through swift swordsmanship. A peerless fist master whose powerful fist could destroy a hill in one strike had no choice but to be adept at gentle Harmonizing Force as well.
They had to disperse the recoil inflicted on their own bodies.
They said the Radiant Light Divine Beggar, the Beggars’ Sect Leader whose lightness skill was the fastest under heaven, could produce heaven-shaking force with just a few moves of Leg Arts.
It meant that unless one exchanged many moves, it was difficult to grasp a person’s signature techniques.
The martial art displayed earlier by the interloper the Heart Martial Union Leader had faced was close to a signature technique honed over a lifetime.
His first move had layered Force Projection upon Force Projection. It resembled Wudang Sect’s Ten Brocades Palm.
It was a martial art in which the attack on the second breath was several times stronger than the technique used on the first. He had believed the man to be skilled in techniques like stacking force waves.
No martial artist could display such power with a discipline that was not their specialty.
Unless one was an aged master, it was difficult to attain deep mastery in every profound principle.
If he required a chained sequence of moves before he could fully unleash his strength, the Heart Martial Union Leader had thought it possible to endure only the first strike with the instincts of a peerless martial artist.
Against techniques directed at himself, that assessment had been reasonable enough.
His peerless Protective Qi Technique, the Radiant Divine Armor, had ten layers.
It wrapped him in storm-like force waves from the body-barging art of the Mujang Radiance Art.
The Heart Martial Union Leader’s body itself was a natural disaster. It was the nemesis of layered martial arts like the Ten Brocades Palm. He could shatter every layer the moment Force Projection accumulated.
That was why, while charging toward the Leader of Demon Wings, he had allowed the interloper who immediately followed from the side to strike his flesh.
He had intended to break the kneecaps of Desolate Fortress’s Lotus Nezha.
Perhaps it was because he had focused every shred of attention on the youth who had briefly displayed an incomprehensible presence.
He had failed to account for Rejuvenation. It was extraordinarily rare.
The interloper’s martial art was not something that could be measured by the Ten Brocades Palm.
‘The pinnacle of tyrannical martial arts...!’
He could load a monstrous amount of qi into a single strike. It was a martial art that disregarded the user’s own body.
In an instant, the bluish hand crushed through both the Protective Qi Technique and the force waves of the body-barging art. There had not even been time to deflect it.
Had he turned his own technique to meet it head-on, he would not have suffered such a futile defeat.
Rumble!
The overwhelming aura pouring from the Heart Martial Union Leader’s shoulder grew faint. His arm had been completely torn out along with the shoulder joint.
His Protective Qi Technique shattered, and his qi and blood were destroyed. An enormous quantity of bright red blood poured down.
Time seemed to slow.
Jeong Yeon-shin and the Moyong Family Head, who had been crossing swords at the peak, each stepped back for a moment.
“That Gwi bastard...?”
Moyong Jung-rak’s eyebrows rose. His expression was that of someone who had witnessed something terribly strange and astonishing.
A faint confusion showed in his eyes as they took in Ma Yeon-jeok and the Heart Martial Union Leader at once. Yet the silver light in them also held excitement and competitive spirit, making him look bizarre.
Jeong Yeon-shin briefly bowed toward the space beyond the Heart Martial Union Leader’s shoulder, then calmly adjusted his grip on his sword.
He was deeply grateful, but keeping the Star Radiance Great Sword Lord in check came first.
At that moment.
The corners of Gwi Wi-hu’s mouth trembled slightly.
Even his taciturn face could not remain untouched by the recoil of having an arm torn away at the acupoints. One manifestation of supernatural phenomena had shattered the expressionless face of another manifestation of supernatural phenomena.
He considered it briefly. Why had this man layered Force Projection at the beginning? It had been a move like forcibly pressing down the blood of Gwi’s troops, who had become corpses the instant they received a single strike.
“How filthy.”
Ma Yeon-jeok stood beside the Heart Martial Union Leader.
The hem of his splendid long robe fluttered behind him. Its color was not particularly refined. It was a pink long robe, rare beneath heaven.
“You lowborn swordsmen of the jianghu.”
Step.
Ma Yeon-jeok moved to the side. He had just casually thrown the arm in his hand onto the ground. The muscular arm, torn free with the bone, rolled away with a dull thud.
Blood spurted fiercely at intervals, but it could not reach the Tyrant Hero’s heavy evasive footwork.
Even after releasing such a savage strike, his long robe remained immaculate.
“You should not be so laughably arrogant.”
His tone carried the contempt of an old master. His bearing showed that he had no intention of associating with jianghu people. He carried himself with greater arrogance than any martial nobility under heaven.
“A major faction’s leader? There is no greater rabble. You shake the foundations of the country while enjoying the civilization of its cities and villages. You threaten the people, yet refuse to provide tribute. Worthless scum.”
“You are...”
A colorless Radiant Net gathered in the Heart Martial Union Leader Gwi Wi-hu’s eyes. It resembled wavering flames.
The unstable flow of inner energy showed through his eyes. Maintaining Three Flowers Gather at the Crown must have been consuming considerable mental strength.
Ma Yeon-jeok spoke with an indifferent expression.
“At least you contribute much to the northern front. Live on in that wretched state.”
The one hearing those words was a peerless master.
In other words, a madman of martial arts.
He was the sort of person who would rather have the other party state their sect and name before cutting off his head in a single stroke.
Gwi Wi-hu’s gaze naturally deepened, along with his angry aura.
“A hidden sword of Desolate Fortress... Was there ever another martial artist like the Tyrant Hero of bygone years?”
Though the pain must have been excruciating, his voice did not shake. It was nearly a mutter to himself, but it also seemed as though he were probing for something.
“You fool.”
The corner of Ma Yeon-jeok’s mouth rose.
“No such person exists in the jianghu.”
“...”
The Heart Martial Union Leader closed his mouth.
The white fur cloak behind him, which had been surging wildly, abruptly fell still. The turbulent light in his eyes faded, and his black pupils returned to normal.
The blood overflowing from his shoulder gradually stopped, as though he had staunched it himself with inner energy.
“I...”
The Heart Martial Union Leader raised his left arm.
Like Shaolin monks pressing their palms together with one hand, Gwi Wi-hu formed a one-handed martial salute with only his left hand. His bearing was disciplined.
“I have committed a discourtesy.”
“...!”
The martial troops below the slope, who had been about to launch into a lightness-skill charge, faltered. For a brief instant, they stirred in agitation.
Lords of the Thirteen Heavens, Martial Emperor of the Prince of Commandery, Heart Martial Union Leader.
The many titles that described Gwi Wi-hu’s greatness lost their luster here.
Not only had he accepted defeat, he had lowered his head.
It was an event close to heaven and earth changing places.
The man who had ripped off the Alliance Leader’s arm continued to speak in a shocking manner.
“Quietly raise your troops.”
“...So it shall be.”
The Heart Martial Union Leader answered shortly, then slowly turned around.
It sounded as if he had accepted without reservation.
The acupoints of martial artists who cultivated inner energy formed a microcosm governed by fixed laws, like all creation itself.
Peerless masters had generally surpassed major circulation through the upper body and reached the realm of circulation through the entire body.
In such a system of inner cultivation, losing one limb inevitably led to a severe decline in martial strength.
From now on, even if a powerful individual charged into the Heart Martial Union alone and rushed at the Alliance Leader, there would be few ways to stop them. He had been placed in a position where he could not help but act cautiously.
It meant that if he became a burden upon the country once again, a newly promoted Purple Uniform martial artist might cut off his head.
Step.
The Heart Martial Union Leader descended the mountainside, his unstable aura leaking out around him. The sound of his footsteps cutting through the silence echoed bleakly.
The peerless master who had contended for the lead of the world sank lower and lower like a setting sun after meeting an unforeseen natural disaster, like an ordinary martial artist who dies alone in a deserted forest with their back against a tree.
It was a scene from the martial world.
“...”
The mounted martial artists waiting below surrounded the Heart Martial Union Leader. Not one of them could look up at Ma Yeon-jeok.
They merely concealed their lord amid the hoofbeats of the horses they led away. The Thirteen Heavens masters, who had always carried themselves as the strong, lowered their eyes with lofty bearing.
Clop, clop.
They gradually moved farther away, unable to withstand the unseen character meaning Desolation.
One-armed Jeon Baek, wearing a peculiar expression, and Gwi Yun-rin, who glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin, both walked somewhat slowly.
“Today and henceforth, I have suffered utter defeat.”
The Heart Martial Union Leader’s deep voice faded at once after he murmured those words.
Under the lukewarm, bright sunlight, his voice seemed to hide itself between the ending winter and approaching spring.
A hearty voice, like the lyrics of a song, broke through the silence.
“Today must refer to that esteemed Tyr... Great Hero, and as for the future, he can only mean our Squad Leader! How could the Heart Martial Union’s unruly eldest young master and their princess whose very existence is uncertain compare to Lotus Nezha? He must regret it bitterly. A martial artist’s hands ought to be heavy.”
It came from beyond the slope, somewhat below the mountain peak. Someone was clinging to the sheer cliff with the Wall Gecko Skill.
After an incident that would be discussed throughout the jianghu had passed like a storm, Hyeon Won-chang offered his thoughts, then climbed up the wall with an abruptly startled air.
It was from the cliff side, closer to Jeong Yeon-shin and the Moyong Family Head.
The instant the ends of the knot on the hero’s headband around Hyeon Won-chang’s forehead peeked into view, Moyong Jung-rak’s sword suddenly moved.
Its chillingly sharp path was clearly aimed at Hyeon Won-chang.
Clang!
The flashes from two swords swept brightly in every direction. The ground shook from the invisible shockwave that spread a moment later.
The Moyong Family Head’s treasured sword and the Northern Light Sword of the Leader of Demon Wings crossed below. They had exchanged one move.
The two tails of Hyeon Won-chang’s hero’s headband whipped harshly in the wind as he poked his head up from below.
At a glance, his face looked terrified, but his eyes were remarkably calm. Moyong Jung-rak glanced down and smiled faintly.
“That is the face one sees only in a well-ordered sect. The disciples trust their sect master.”
“...”
“Leader of Demon Wings. You’re keeping up quite well. It seems you can extinguish and relight that lotus like a lantern?”
He asked as though he were genuinely curious. While Ma Yeon-jeok faced the Heart Martial Union Leader, Jeong Yeon-shin had briefly allowed Ultimate Thunder to fade because there was a limit to how long it could be maintained. Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.
“Aim your sword properly.”
His tone was nearly an order. It was not something a Desolate Fortress Squad Leader should say to one of the Eight Family Heads.
It was close to challenging the unspoken hierarchy of the jianghu. It even implied that, disregarding seniority, he intended to measure their strength against each other.
The Moyong Family Head’s smile deepened.
“How absurd. Is this not a forced checkmate?”
As he spoke, he looked toward Ma Yeon-jeok, who stood proudly with his arms folded.
Anyone would have been forced to do so. The Heart Martial Union Leader had been reduced to that state. It was an unpleasant situation even for an absolute power among martial nobility, such as one of the Eight Family Heads.
“Moyong child, this old man will not interfere. Devote your mental strength to showing off your paltry sword talent.”
Ma Yeon-jeok spoke evenly. Moyong Jung-rak appeared not to hear him.
“Surely not... No, how could the Harmonizing Splendor Divine Art...? No Divine Technique could withstand the aftermath of that tyrannical art...”
As he muttered to himself, Hyeon Won-chang climbed over the cliff from the other side with two others.
“I want to witness this moment clearly and compose a verse to spread everywhere. It is time for Demon Wings to set its sights on the Divine Sword Squad. Do you know how much time our Squad Leader has invested...?”
“A man who nearly died talks well enough. If it looks like you’ll become a burden, know that you’ll meet your end at this young master’s hands. Stand aside quietly.”
“No, was that because of Senior Great Tongue Sword? There are limits to trusting the Squad Leader!”
The dark Blue Uniform sleeves and clean white hem swept across the ground.
Languid Flame Dragon and Shin So-bin. The Huangbo Family’s eldest young master looked at Hyeon Won-chang as if he were utterly insignificant, while the successor of the Desolate Shin Family looked as though she were scolding a senior.
They moved outward so they would not interfere with Squad Leader Jeong Yeon-shin.
“These people know nothing. Do they think putting on a Purple Uniform robe immediately makes someone the Divine Sword Squad Leader? First, one needs a reputation that can strike fear across the jianghu, that is what I’m saying. Nothing spreads rumors better than a tune. Written lines containing credible descriptions are what draw people’s attention.”
Hyeon Won-chang said this while silently circling behind Jeong Yeon-shin with the other two.
Whoosh!
Every kind of shadow leaped up from below. The ringing of their auras was extremely sharp.
There were dozens of figures who had kicked off the cliff and soared upward while keeping their presence tightly concealed.
Their appearances were all different.
There was an old scholar renowned in the surrounding region, a great merchant who managed the logistics of the large city of Taiyuan, a swordsman in shabby clothes who appeared to belong to a third-rate martial family, and even an inn server carrying the smell of food.
The Owol Grand Slaughter Sect.
Those who had scattered throughout various places while concealing their identities had returned. They clung to the edges of cliffs in every direction and focused their attention on one place.
All their icy killing intent was directed toward the Moyong Family Head. They must have seen the enemy of their sect.
“Yes, I forgot for a moment.”
Shing.
Moyong Jung-rak’s sword slid back along the blade of the Northern Light Sword held downward by Jeong Yeon-shin. The embodiment of supernatural phenomena wielding the Meteor Sword Art drew his sword back toward himself and opened his mouth.
“The final mnemonic formula for the Heavenly Demon Divine Armor must be in your hands.”
Cries close to shrieks erupted from every part of the cliff faces spread out to either side.
“You greedy bastard!”
“How dare you! How dare you utter such nonsense in front of us...!”
“Was what happened that day not enough? Even if I must die with you, I will slit your throat!”
“Elders, restrain yourselves! He is alone! Let us ready our sword qi!”
“You people could not even endure a single Force Projection strike from the Leader of Demon Wings.”
Moyong Jung-rak glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin and spoke again. Did he believe that if he properly used his lightness skill, he could escape even Ma Yeon-jeok? Perhaps one of the secret manuals obtained from the Heavenly Demon’s Tomb contained the Body Movement Scripture.
That much confidence showed in his elegant white robes as the Leader of Demon Wings’s body began to be fully enveloped by a transparent lotus with a low hum.
“Now that I think of it, I remember. You. Yes, you, child of the Geum Family.”
The peerless swordsman’s eyes shifted beyond Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder. They were clearly fixed on Hyeon Won-chang.
The shoulder of Hyeon Won-chang’s robe twitched when he met the Moyong Family Head’s eyes. It was an undeniably unintended reaction.
“My family’s scholars proved inadequate. I told them to tear out all your Eight Extraordinary Meridians if necessary and find traces of the Heavenly Demon martial lineage, but they focused their attention on the energy within a mere pinch of spiritual medicine and lost you. I considered punishing them, but decided against it.”
Saaah.
Haze rose from the entire body of the Star Radiance Great Sword Lord, Moyong Jung-rak.
Currents of qi, faintly tinged dark blue in places, gradually wrapped around his body. At a glance, it resembled the robes of an immortal made from strange mist.
“In any case, this body’s Protective Qi Technique is nearly complete.”
The instant he finished speaking.
Wooooong!
The air in every direction rippled colorlessly.
It was a shockwave of mysterious spirituality, continuously emanating from the Moyong Family Head’s body.
In an instant, five or six members of the Assassins' Sect clinging to the cliffs fell straight down. They had fainted with their eyes open.
As the Assassins' Sect fell into extreme disorder, the waves of power that continued to crash in like tides split into two currents only before Jeong Yeon-shin’s body.
Like demon armies unable to move before the Tathagata.
Ma Yeon-jeok, standing on the slope below, was even more extraordinary.
The moment the surging aura reached him, it shattered like foam. Only the pink sleeves billowing from beneath his folded arms remained vivid.
“...”
Moyong Jung-rak suddenly closed his mouth.
Footnotes:
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