WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Episode 335: Grandfather and Grandson (8)
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* * *
Jeong Yeon-shin opened his eyes as he lay on the ground.
Light seeped through the narrow gap between his slowly lifting eyelids. It was an exceedingly small movement, yet the difference was unmistakable.
The muscles around his eyes felt lighter and more elastic than ever.
The scent of grass brushing against his face faded into the distance. That was how Jeong Yeon-shin sensed the aura that had spread through his body.
Even as Marrow Cleansing and Bone Reforging sent searing pain through his entire body, his mind remained as calm as a clear, still mirror.
Someone had been a great support while he struggled to make out the presences around him. Someone whose very existence came close to the aspirations of Jeong Yeon-shin, the martial artist.
‘Lord of Desolate Fortress.’
Even if the discussion they had shared had been a dream, it had been pleasant.
He liked speaking with her. She was his benefactor, the savior who protected the World Tree fruit and stood at the end of the martial path.
Perhaps because he knew his body had changed, he looked forward to the day he could face her properly. He wanted to show off his attainment in the heart sword as well.
“Yeon-shin.”
A familiar voice pushed away the bedding of his dream. It was warm, too.
“...”
A large figure stood with the sunlight at his back.
The image on Jeong Yeon-shin’s retinas swiftly came into focus.
The qi settled in his eyes reacted, though he had not activated the Heaven-Displaying Eye Technique. It left him feeling somewhat sheepish.
Only one person could bolster his circulation with the ultimate stage of the Jeong Family Youth Technique.
It had to be his maternal grandfather, not the Lord of Desolate Fortress. His grandfather must have realized that his grandson had regained consciousness the moment Jeong Yeon-shin’s breathing changed.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.
“...Grandfather.”
His voice had become lower than before.
He had certainly changed. To achieve the goal he needed to reach by the time he came of age, he had pulled his body forward to that age.
A body built to manifest his unique martial arts with even greater power.
Ma Yeon-jeok's shoulders twitched briefly as he looked down at his grandson.
“This old man must have heard wrong. Who did you just call?”
“I must still be drowsy. I caused Grandfather concern.”
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly took back his words as he braced himself against the ground.
The dirt beneath his palm was damp. A great deal of blood had flowed from both him and Moyong Jung-rak.
‘The exhilaration is too much. It still feels like I’m dreaming.’
A strange vortex churned in the upper dantian inside his head. It seemed ready to spread through his entire body at any moment.
If he had to judge its nature, it resembled the spirituality dwelling within the Light Wheel.
It repeatedly merged with and separated from the elements within his body, his flesh and martial power, the things called essence and qi.
It was spirit.
Whenever that union and separation repeated, it felt as though opium poppy seeped into his mind. He thought it might feel something like a pleasant alcoholic buzz.
That was when it happened.
Rustle.
The torn edge of a sleeve was gently pulled from his forearm.
It was a careful touch, carrying both bewilderment and relief.
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had raised only his upper body, turned his head. The aura touching his skin was familiar.
“Squad Leader.”
A girl stood there, smiling with a face that looked ready to cry. She wore the same expression she had when he had brought her away from the Desolate Shin Family Head long ago.
Her shoulders, tempered by the Sihwa Boundless Fist and shaped into firm curves, pleased him whenever he saw them. It was like watching a well-raised monkey gradually take human form.
All because of the martial arts he had created himself.
White Cat made him understand how ancient masters must have felt when leaving their teachings to later generations.
Even if Jeong Yeon-shin died, she would carry on the martial lineage. The greater Shin So-bin’s renown became, the deeper the mark he had left upon the world would be.
“You’ll become the Great Sage Equaling Heaven someday. You’re very lovely.”
Tender feelings rose within him for the descendants of the Seom-ye Martial Lineage. It was likely because he had just experienced death firsthand.
“Lo... what did you say?”
A small, hollow laugh came in reply.
Shin So-bin’s widened eyes returned to normal. The corners of her lips tilted crookedly upward.
The Great Sage Equaling Heaven from Journey to the West could also be seen as an incarnation of martial might. It was high praise, rare from her Squad Leader.
Jeong Yeon-shin headed off her worried questions. He had simply said whatever came to mind.
“I don’t know where to begin. The Star Radiance Great Sword Lord, yes, you truly defeated the Star Radiance Great Sword Lord... No, but first, that appearance of yours... I saw it all myself, and I still can’t believe it!”
“...”
Beyond his chief disciple’s shoulder, his companions stood side by side, looking down at him with varying expressions.
Hyeon Won-chang had raised his brows high, openly showing his relief and emotion, while Languid Flame Dragon merely chewed opium poppy leaves, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
“Yeon-shin.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Ma Yeon-jeok, seated casually on the ground, met Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze. He wore a strange expression.
“Your transformation was peculiar. This old man intended to lead your circulation through the Jeong Family Youth Technique, but your body took control of the circulation on its own. Though the process was unnatural, I thought it best to watch.”
“So it was you, Grandfather.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s nothing.”
“In any case... I understand what happened. Your body now is truly...”
Ma Yeon-jeok trailed off. It was unlike him. Only the lightning-like gleam in his large eyes remained unchanged.
The power dwelling within the Tyrant Hero of Desolate Fortress rippled in response to his emotions.
Only his grandfather had realized what form his grandson’s Marrow Cleansing and Bone Reforging had taken.
‘Could he have seen what I thought in that dream as well...?’
Jeong Yeon-shin discreetly examined his grandfather. Beneath his thick brows, the space between them was smooth. There was no particular sign on Ma Yeon-jeok’s face.
“All that remains is to build merit.”
His grandfather spoke. Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been unconsciously tensing his legs, quickly answered.
“Yes. I can only thank you, Grandfather.”
“Rest comes first. Transformation inevitably consumes a great deal of martial power and energy. Look here. Look how thin you’ve become. Even bowl after bowl of food won’t be enough. This old man will catch three or four wild boars at once...”
Boom!
The ground shook.
When Jeong Yeon-shin lifted his head, he saw a pink long robe tearing through the distant sky.
Ma Yeon-jeok had leapt. One moment he had seemed ready to offer his grandson advice, then he suddenly sprang into the air.
He had immediately seen through Jeong Yeon-shin’s hunger.
‘I am very hungry, but...’
Leaving his grandfather’s fussing behind, he rose to his feet.
His perspective felt unfamiliar. Shin So-bin’s black crown lay below his gaze, and when he shifted his eyes slightly, Hyeon Won-chang’s hero’s headband appeared below eye level. His height was now about the same as Languid Flame Dragon’s.
Bone reconstruction, changing one’s skeletal frame.
Bodily transformation, changing one’s body.
Of everything he had experienced after entering the martial world, this was the most wondrous.
The first sign was the muscle fibers writhing along his forearm like a divine sword when he lightly clenched his hand. The sensation was different. His acupoints and muscles felt as though they had been forged from black iron.
Rustle.
Shin So-bin, his age-mate, straightened her back so rigidly that her robes rustled, but even then, she barely reached Jeong Yeon-shin’s chest.
At one side, Languid Flame Dragon swallowed an opium poppy leaf and twisted his lips upward.
“It’s strange... Strange, yet familiar...”
Hyeon Won-chang was awkwardly rubbing his forehead when someone spoke.
“Leader of Demon Wings.”
Slayer Hero Geum Jon-hwi, wearing a black bamboo hat, approached without a sound.
After playfully tapping his younger brother Hyeon Won-chang on the shoulder, he raised a clasped-fist salute toward Jeong Yeon-shin.
“One great long-held wish of our sect has been fulfilled. The grudge will not end until the Moyong Family and Taemo Mountain Fortress are exterminated, but seeing the Star Radiance Great Sword Lord lying there like that alone... Our sect will be able to move far more freely.”
He spoke of exterminating a major faction. Even with its leader dead, such words were not easily spoken. They demonstrated the strength of the Assassins’ Sect, which counted renowned figures concealing their identities among its disciples.
“You said you were Brother Hyeon’s elder brother.”
Geum Jon-hwi waved a hand at Jeong Yeon-shin’s returning salute.
“I would feel burdened receiving your respect. You accomplished a miracle. From now on, the more you humble yourself, the more difficult it will be for others. If one has slain a peerless master, no one will find fault even if that person behaves somewhat arrogantly.”
“It would be difficult. It is too ingrained in me.”
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly. Even to himself, his manner felt more settled than usual.
“Hah.”
The Slayer Hero slightly lifted the brim of his black hat, revealing an astonished face.
“Your conduct is truly noble. A martial artist who may someday become the Divine Sword Squad Leader understands propriety.”
“You flatter me.”
“My conduct may have offended you somewhat. My excitement at seeing my younger brother got the better of me. I hope you will understand.”
He had tried to bring Hyeon Won-chang into the Assassins’ Sect. It was an apology offered to the Leader of Demon Wings.
Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.
“It will be enough if the Assassins’ Sect keeps today’s events confidential.”
“Confidential? Which matter do you mean...? Surely, with the Heart Martial Union’s Alliance Leader having come here, you do not mean to hide the death of a peerless master? Even our sect would find that difficult...”
“Not the outcome of the battle. What happened to me.”
“Ah, Marrow Cleansing and Bone Reforging...!”
Geum Jon-hwi nodded broadly.
“A Desolate Fortress master’s identity and facial-feature portrait are worth a thousand gold. They are lifelines for people who make light of common lives... I understand. Even if the name Lotus Nezha spreads throughout the land, no one will recognize you on sight.”
Jeong Yeon-shin gave a silent bow and turned away.
He needed to put some distance between himself and his grandfather. He could not risk his grandfather kicking him over the conversation he had exchanged with the Lord of Desolate Fortress in his dream.
Then Geum Jon-hwi’s voice continued behind him.
“I heard a battle broke out in Gojin Village below. The Heart Martial Union’s eldest young master was leading a martial army north when he clashed with a supreme master with one red eye and long black hair. They say the Blade Venerable, one of the Three Martial Venerables, is with them. I thought you should know if you wished to avoid trouble...”
Jeong Yeon-shin paused.
Then he stretched out his right hand to the side.
Hummm.
Something stirred near the Moyong Family Head’s corpse. It was the resonance of a blade.
A sword flew straight toward Jeong Yeon-shin and settled in his grip, brilliant white light streaming along it. It was Moyong Jung-rak’s Meteor Sword.
“Right, we can’t forget that! I’ll wear in the scabbard for you!”
Hyeon Won-chang’s excited cry rang out. He had taken the scabbard from the Moyong Family Head’s belt.
“Squad Leader, where are you going?”
The voice was casually tossed out. It was Languid Flame Dragon.
Jeong Yeon-shin calmly parted his lips.
“Gojin Village.”
“...Go ahead first. I’ll retrieve the Great Tongue Sword.”
Languid Flame Dragon spoke. Jeong Yeon-shin nodded once and started walking. Behind him, the conversation between the Assassins’ Sect brothers drifted over, as tranquil as the sunset.
“So this is where we part. Why Desolate Fortress?”
“It is a drifting life. There is no grand cause behind it. I simply could not stand people who made others suffer.”
“Even your manner of speaking has grown distant. You follow the Leader of Demon Wings closely.”
“He is a comrade with whom I have shared life, death, hardship, and joy. They all are. Put differently, he is practically our liege lord, teaching us a divine art more precious than life...”
“Does your destiny truly not lie in our sect?”
“I have a goal.”
“...?”
“To share drinks with an old man decades from now.”
“You mean the Leader of Demon Wings.”
“That old man was a country boy who entered Desolate Fortress with me in our youth. A boy who knew nothing...”
Hyeon Won-chang continued slowly.
“I think we will talk about how we roamed the martial world as comrades in the Hwangrip Faction, created martial arts that had never existed, upset wicked men with our three-inch tongues, and sometimes took heads... We will praise one another, each raise a family and boast about our children, and perhaps reminisce. Passing Bamboo Leaf Green liquor back and forth.”
“...You will never use the Geum surname.”
“I am a Hyeon.”
“I understand clearly. What more is there to say? ...I wish you martial fortune, Hero Hyeon.”
An exaggerated voice offering a salute settled beneath his feet.
Step.
The sound came from beside Jeong Yeon-shin as he silently descended the slope. A small, light presence had followed him.
It was White Cat Shin So-bin, holding the scabbard and broken half of the Northern Light Sword against her chest.
Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly felt that his martial trousers, which covered only part of his calves, were too small.
He glanced down.
The hem of his now-too-short long robe was wrapped in the sunset’s light.
When he raised his head again, the ends of his sleeves, which barely fell to his wrists, shimmered purple for an instant.
Footnotes:
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