WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Chapter 35: Desolate Ma family
──────
The Purple Cloud Pellet was a secret spiritual medicine of the Mount Hua Sect. It was said that sorcery arts Daoists spent decades refining a single pellet.
Now that Yeon-shin had experienced it, they understood. The power it contained was no less than its reputation.
Hummmmm-
Energy like a melted cluster of plum blossoms circulated through Yeon-shin’s body.
From the Crooked Bone acupoint below the navel to the Celestial Prominence acupoint between the collarbones.
Its path formed a great circle across the upper body, passing through the Jade Hall acupoint at the solar plexus.
It was the region where the middle dantian lay. Yeon-shin stimulated it without pause.
‘It works.’
They felt its function activating. The change was unmistakable.
The qi of the Jeong Family Youth Technique, circulating through the major circulation alongside the Purple Cloud Pellet’s energy, thickened as it passed through the middle dantian.
This was likely the endurance Baek Mir-yeo had mentioned.
‘It is not fully open.’
It felt only half open. Yeon-shin would likely need to break through it with the qi they had made their own.
Even this was more than they could have asked for.
It was said that an inner-energy master who had cultivated the middle dantian would never falter in handling inner energy, regardless of the situation.
Without further cultivating their own qi, Yeon-shin had stepped firmly into the realm of true masters. They had saved an immense amount of time.
Satisfied, Yeon-shin moved a hand.
They placed a palm on the center of Yu Hyeon’s back as Yu Hyeon lay facedown, then began pouring in the Purple Cloud Pellet’s energy that had been circulating within them.
“Already...!”
Cheon Ju’s voice rang out. Yeon-shin intensified the energy they were pouring out and spoke.
“Yu Hyeon. Get up.”
Even while speaking openly as they circulated qi, Yeon-shin’s energy did not waver.
It was both a trait of the Jeong Family Youth Technique, which cultivated inner energy while moving, and Yeon-shin’s innate command of inner energy.
No further sound could be heard.
“I said get up.”
As they spoke, Yeon-shin pressed hard against Yu Hyeon’s nape with their left hand, sealing the mute acupoint.
Once Yu Hyeon could no longer speak, the rest was easy.
Continuing to circulate energy without pause, Yeon-shin stimulated the young Daoist’s body from within. Yu Hyeon’s consciousness had no choice but to awaken.
“This is the Purple Cloud Pellet’s energy. I will give it all to you, so circulate the Violet Dawn Divine Art.”
Yeon-shin spoke after sensing Yu Hyeon’s greatly quickened pulse.
Through their fingertips, Yeon-shin could feel Yu Hyeon’s turbulent emotions. They transferred all the energy, then withdrew their hand.
It was called transmission of energy, the act of passing energy to another person.
Yeon-shin had heard that it naturally caused extreme depletion of stamina.
Yeon-shin was different. Perhaps because they had opened the middle dantian so widely, strength seemed to overflow through their entire body.
They straightened themselves and stepped back. Ma Jin’s hand, which had been about to support Yeon-shin, awkwardly pressed against empty air.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
The three waited in silence for Yu Hyeon to finish regulating qi.
When Yu Hyeon finally rose, Cheon Ju’s eyes widened as though they might split while Cheon Ju held Yu Hyeon’s wrist and checked the pulse.
Yeon-shin had completely dissolved the Purple Cloud Pellet’s energy and poured it into Yu Hyeon’s body without losing even a trace.
A supreme master like Cheon Ju, the Mount Hua Sword Absolute, could not have failed to notice.
“His inner energy...!”
Cheon Ju was unable to continue for a moment. Only after drawing several breaths did Cheon Ju let out a low groan.
“You transferred all of this released energy without loss? How can such a thing exist...?”
Shock and admiration filled Cheon Ju’s expression as Cheon Ju raised their head to stare at Yeon-shin.
“You are truly a great-hearted person!”
“I assumed you entrusted Yu Hyeon to me out of trust.”
“Even so...”
The emotion on Cheon Ju’s face did not fade easily. Yu Hyeon looked at Yeon-shin with similar eyes.
Yu Hyeon had always felt something like admiration for Yeon-shin, but now seemed to look up to Yeon-shin as though Yeon-shin were a revered fellow disciple.
“You have saved Mount Hua’s future. You treated the Mount Hua Sect with the bearing of a great hero, so naturally there will be a reward.”
Cheon Ju spoke without concealing their reverence. Even Cheon Ju’s tone had changed.
The Mount Hua Sword Absolute’s courteous informal address felt awkward to Yeon-shin.
Yeon-shin had merely passed on burdensome energy because they lacked the time needed to become the Divine Sword Squad Leader.
“Of course, I am not putting a price on your favor. It is merely a token of my heart, so please accept it. Hyeon said Yu Hyeon would visit Desolate Fortress. When Yu Hyeon does, I will have Yu Hyeon bring it to you.”
“Thank you.”
Yeon-shin returned the courtesy with a fist-and-palm salute, then glanced at Ma Jin.
“Is the mission over?”
“Yes. You did everything.”
“What do you mean?”
Cheong Myeong took the Fighting Ghost’s Left Hand and made them return on their own two feet.
The formidable forces of the Blood Flame Sect had been defeated by Demon Wings and the Mount Hua Sect.
Yeon-shin had merely placed a spoon at a table others had already set, yet had inadvertently brought every incident to a close.
The Purple Cloud Pellet, the source of the turmoil, returned to the disciple of the Mount Hua Sect’s sect leader. It could not have ended more cleanly.
The mission had concluded before reinforcements could even arrive from the main fortress.
They promised to meet again with the Mount Hua Sect masters, who had shown them immense goodwill.
Perhaps Cheong Myeong and Baek Mir-yeo had sensed the change in Yeon-shin’s aura after the middle dantian opened further.
Cheong Myeong smiled faintly, while Baek Mir-yeo shook their head. The two rode together.
As Hyeon Won-chang had hoped, the return journey felt like a tour of the martial world. The mission’s results had been that great.
With Ma Jin’s tacit approval, Demon Wings returned at a leisurely pace. It was a long journey.
When they entered Xiangyang, the sight of Desolate Fortress’s citadel felt both welcome and unfamiliar.
During that time, Yeon-shin trained their martial arts while suppressing impatience, so that they could achieve great merit on the next mission as well.
* * *
Originally, Yeon-shin had intended to request martial arts from the Lord of Desolate Fortress as soon as they returned. Now, things were different.
They had obtained the Radiant Sword Flow and Phantom Wing Step during the mission, martial arts they had never imagined they would gain.
There was still much room for improvement. Since Yeon-shin did not know what martial arts they might need in the future, they deliberately restrained themselves.
“Are you heading to the Training Hall again? The weariness of travel must have built up. Are you not tired?”
It was Hyeon Won-chang, whom Yeon-shin met in the great hall of the Demon Wings pavilion.
After all the eating and drinking at the tavern, dark circles hung beneath Hyeon Won-chang’s eyes as Hyeon Won-chang thrust their face close. Yeon-shin pushed away their chin.
“I am fine.”
Yeon-shin had not touched even a single drink for the sake of cultivating inner energy.
Now that they had opened the middle dantian considerably, their stamina seemed limitless as well.
Leaving Hyeon Won-chang shaking their head in admiration behind them, Yeon-shin set out.
As they headed toward the Small Training Hall, praise and whispers from numerous seniors reached their ears.
“Seom-ye! They say you achieved an unbelievable feat.”
“Is it true that you cut off the Eight-Fiend Rakshasa Sword’s head?”
“I heard you killed them with a rotating assault.”
“A rotating assault? A White Uniform of Desolate Fortress killed an elder of the Tyrant Sword Sect. Could anyone who demeans it with such words truly be a martial artist of Desolate Fortress?”
“The Blue Uniform long robe suits you very well. If you need one, I would even be willing to give you mine.”
It was beyond comparison to when Yeon-shin had killed the Blood Master.
The response was enormous. Some seniors had even knocked on Yeon-shin’s door.
Yeon-shin had heard that even a single elder of the Thirteen Heavens was a master difficult for a Blue Uniform of Desolate Fortress to handle.
No matter how the elder had been killed, it was bound to become a tremendous topic.
“They say he saved the life of the Mount Hua Sect leader’s disciple as well.”
“How many masters of the Nine Sects did he befriend in two missions?”
“Zhongnan and Mount Hua. When we have a mission in Shaanxi, we should ask for Seom-ye to be assigned.”
Responding to each of them was exhausting.
Yeon-shin had not expected the first fatigue they felt after greatly activating the middle dantian to come from the corners of their mouth.
Eventually, they forced a smile and passed through the Grand Training Hall.
Inside the Small Training Hall, which was made up of private rooms, Yeon-shin reviewed the martial arts they had gained from the mission.
Could they place even greater force into the flow of the Radiant Sword Flow? How could they take the second step of the Phantom Wing Step?
They also could not stop devising forms for the Sihwa Boundless Fist.
‘I cannot get a feel for it yet.’
Inspiration did not come immediately. It seemed Yeon-shin needed to broaden their experience.
‘Fortunately, I heard there is a good place for that.’
Yeon-shin immediately changed direction.
* * *
The land used by the Divine Sword Squad’s Seventeen Squads was immensely vast.
It had to accommodate not only the martial artists of each squad, but also servants and attendants.
Demon Wings’ Demon's Light differed from the Azure Sky Squad’s Azure Sky Sword Art.
The seventeen martial squads beneath the Divine Sword Squad were each compared to independent sects.
Their numbers might resemble those of small and medium-sized martial factions, but their martial strength differed vastly.
With such vast grounds and different martial arts, it would be difficult for them to interact if left alone.
‘They said we must meet and become an ocean, rather than remaining narrow wells.’
Ma Jin’s words came to mind.
Desolate Fortress was a collective of innovative martial arts. The imperial family had created it by breaking the unwritten rule of noninterference between the government and the martial world.
They had attempted everything to sharpen the Great Ming Empire’s imperial sword. Repeated radical measures were inevitable.
“Who are you?”
The place where the middle-aged scholar sat as they questioned Yeon-shin was another such innovation.
Beyond the scholar’s shoulder stretched a neatly arranged Training Hall that was impressive enough to take one’s breath away. Small steps for spectators lined it as well.
Unfamiliar martial artists sat scattered about, watching the center. Following their gazes, Yeon-shin saw all manner of martial arts they were witnessing for the first time.
Clang! Boom!
White Uniform and Blue Uniform warriors from different squads were exchanging techniques.
It was a Training Hall where all martial artists of the Divine Sword Squad could spar freely, a place where the martial arts of the Seventeen Squads intersected.
“Is this the Martial Arena?”
“Yes. A young swordsman in a Blue Uniform long robe... You must be Seom-ye. I am Do Yu-won of the Chief Steward's Office.”
“I am Jeong Yeon-shin of Demon Wings.”
The two exchanged fist-and-palm salutes.
Do Yu-won spoke. The goodwill in Do Yu-won’s expression was peculiar.
“I have heard much of Seom-ye of Demon Wings. All news from Desolate Fortress flows into the Chief Steward's Office. We are the ones who classify the merits you have achieved. They are truly remarkable.”
Do Yu-won’s sharp features appeared rather kind when Do Yu-won smiled.
“To build a name as a chivalrous hero at such a young age... Seeing you makes my heart glad. Let me tell you something in secret.”
“What is it...?”
“If you complete even a small mission, you will advance to Blue Uniform. Each of your merits is substantial, so you have earned many points. It is enough for you to undergo the Desolate Exam merely as a formality.”
“Ah.”
Yeon-shin’s brief exclamation came from the heart.
They were moving forward with certainty.
Yeon-shin knew the merit they had accumulated through three missions, including the matter of the Zhongnan Sect, was not insignificant.
But hearing it directly from a scholar of the Chief Steward's Office was different.
Do Yu-won managed personnel within Desolate Fortress. To Yeon-shin, Do Yu-won was an even more significant figure than Ma Jin.
“My congratulations in advance.”
Do Yu-won smiled slightly.
“In any case, you came to the right place. Managing the Martial Arena today has proven worthwhile. Is it not possible that we will get to watch young masters spar?”
“You said young masters?”
Yeon-shin’s tone became more respectful without their realizing it.
They themselves could feel how different this was from the way they addressed Ma Jin, their incompetent maternal uncle.
Leader of Demon Wings? Now that Yeon-shin faced Do Yu-won, they understood. Those who held authority over personnel were princes of commandery.
“You did not know? The successor of the Desolate Ma family is cultivating over there.”
A familiar figure stood where Do Yu-won pointed.
The figure had a handsome appearance that recalled Cheong Myeong in youth. The figure was the adopted grandson of Yeon-shin’s maternal grandfather, Ma Yeon-jeok.
The figure now wore a White Uniform bearing Desolate Fortress’s “Hwang” character.
Yeon-shin recalled creating the Sihwa Boundless Fist with the figure’s help.
The figure was putting the further-refined flow of force to good use. Gratitude welled up within Yeon-shin once more.
‘It was a powerful fist art.’
As they reminisced, Do Yu-won continued.
“As expected of the Desolate Ma family, its successor has received much praise. The successor has won battle after battle against other White Uniform martial artists here in the Martial Arena. Is it not even more remarkable that less than a month has passed since the successor passed the Desolate Exam? Thanks to that, the area around the main fortress is quite lively.”
“I see.”
As Yeon-shin nodded, their eyes met those of the distant figure.
Footnotes:
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
