WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Episode 355: Breakneck Rush (4)
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The Heaven-Treading Forest Squad Leader was worried about the former Divine Sword Squad Leader's old ailments.
It was a surprising sight.
There was no particular sincerity behind it. Xiahou Wi-jin had simply asked after the former leader as though it were only natural. That was what Jeong Yeon-shin's upper dantian sensed.
He remembered Xiahou Wi-jin being knocked unconscious by Ma Yeon-jeok's sudden strike.
It had happened while they argued over mission assignments at Wonpyeong One Sword Hall. It had been deeply embarrassing.
‘What a great man. Even after going through that.’
The young man admired him. If he wished to wear a Purple Uniform long robe someday, he would have to model himself on that breadth of character in advance.
The senior seated in the place of honor had shown the bearing of a gentleman.
It was only right to return the courtesy.
“My maternal grandfather only recently underwent Rejuvenation. He could hardly be anything but hale. Not long ago, he even defeated the Heart Martial Union Leader.”
“What?”
“If my appearance led you to believe a great deal of time had passed, you may set your worries aside. It is the effect of Marrow Cleansing and Bone Reforging.”
“Ah...”
“Isn't that fortunate? I only recently learned that such a mysterious place existed in the world, so I had my own concerns. I worried that time might flow differently beyond the formation.”
“...”
Jeong Yeon-shin rarely spoke at such length.
He was in slightly high spirits. Once again, he had found something to learn from a Black Uniform senior.
Unlike the monkeys crowding the martial world, the seniors of Desolate Fortress often enlightened him in matters beyond martial arts.
Such insights frequently became inspiration for new methods. It was thanks to the Divine Blood Extreme Demon that he had succeeded in concealing his aura and deceiving the Golden-Wing Sect Master this time.
That hollow yet weighty, deeply contradictory aura continued to greatly influence the Protective Qi Technique Jeong Yeon-shin was devising.
“By the way, I heard you left with the Heaven-Treading Forest Squad under your command, yet I cannot sense the auras of any Desolate Fortress martial artists. I am also concerned for the safety of the other two seniors.”
“Mm.”
Xiahou Wi-jin seemed relieved to hear that the former Divine Sword Squad Leader was well. After a long silence, he answered in his deep voice.
“My subordinates went out scouting long ago. I ordered it. The Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit has been roaming outside, trying to find a way home. She hasn't returned to the village in the past month. I don't know about the Swift Heaven Wing Squad Leader. I couldn't find him.”
“When you say scouting, does that mean there are enemies here?”
“Of course.”
The corners of Xiahou Wi-jin's thick mouth dipped slightly. His eyes turned cold.
“The Three Lords and the Two Kings. Those who arrived before us.”
His brief murmur carried a deep weight. So did the explanation that followed. His vigilance was plain to hear.
The Three Lords, who claimed every place they set foot upon as their land.
The Two Kings, former heads of the Eight Families, who controlled the largest territories within the formation.
There were also former masters who had rampaged across the martial world decades ago with nothing but a weapon in hand.
“Every one of them is supremely strong. I thought they had all retired from the martial world, but they were here. I heard they made a deal with Taemo Mountain Fortress. I don't know the details, but those damned sorcerers have been unleashing living ghosts upon this land for a long time.”
Jeong Yeon-shin's brow twitched.
Taemo Mountain Fortress of the Thirteen Heavens.
The sect that had looted the Heavenly Demon's Tomb guarded by Hyeon Won-chang's family alongside the Moyong Family.
It had split from the Mount Mao Sect, once part of the Nine Sects in the distant past, and now boasted greater prosperity than its original branch. Every disciple was said to be an exceptional master of sorcery-based martial arts.
Why had they gathered powerful people coveting a dragon's inner core in one place?
There had to be some scheme behind it. Yet it was not the time for Jeong Yeon-shin to concern himself with that. He had to gather the Desolate Fortress martial artists, including his seniors, and leave first.
“This place is a martial world as well.”
“Yes. A formation dying at the end of its lifespan. They say lands far away are being swallowed by strange fog and vanishing. None of those caught in it have returned. No one knows whether they are alive or dead. We don't know if they have left the formation or returned to nothingness.”
“Some of the former masters trapped here must be desperate to find a way out. It truly is a strange place.”
“That is true. When those fellows called the Golden-Wing Sect Master and the Ten Perfect Sect Master went on about the ‘mysterious realm of the flood dragon’ from both sides, it was absurd, but...”
Xiahou Wi-jin trailed off as he gazed at his suddenly grown junior.
He had abruptly recalled the encirclement and sorcery formation from that bleak day.
The land where he had set foot, surrounded by two great forces of the Thirteen Heavens, was not the depths of an untouchable spiritual beast's sanctuary.
It was the graveyard of former great figures who had never been forgotten.
Neither he nor Cheon So-so was qualified to belong in such a mysterious martial world of Purple Uniforms.
They could not lead the times. Their limit was protecting a handful of ordinary people within the order established by those who had arrived before them.
‘Even now, we're being pushed back badly.’
Would Seom-ye be different?
Black Uniform martial artists across the world could turn the tide of a sect war by serving as artillery, but only when the leaders of major factions did not take the field.
Three of the Two Kings and Three Lords had led enormous sects. One had come infinitely close to that position, while the remaining one had long become the hands and feet of the former Peng Family Head out of deep love for her.
And what of the former giants who belonged to none of them? It was a situation difficult to handle without Purple Uniforms arriving.
‘And that boy symbolizes the hope of the fading main fortress.’
Seom-ye, Jeong Yeon-shin.
An arrangement Heaven had sent down by mistake. An absolute master, the strongest among his peers. The one certain to become the Divine Sword Squad Leader two generations from now.
He could not be lost, Xiahou Wi-jin thought.
He had no intention of sending Jeong Yeon-shin to the front lines. Even if every Black Uniform was equal, he intended to advise him as a senior.
He would tell him not to throw himself into the harsh currents of the world, but to wait until Squad Leader Yong or the former Squad Leader arrived, even if that took decades.
A Purple Uniform would come someday.
That much was certain.
They were the sort who always did.
“If you did not come through Taemo Mountain Fortress, then you must have come through the Golden-Wing Sect. No matter how you arrived, you have worked hard. You must be exhausted from the journey, so rest while you wait for the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit.”
Xiahou Wi-jin spoke, but Jeong Yeon-shin showed no sign of leaving.
“Senior Ha is safe, correct? If Senior Cheon has been unheard from for a month, shouldn't we consider other possibilities?”
“The Swift Heaven Wing Squad Leader's White-Wall Radiant Sword Force is unmatched in the martial world. What was that promising young rising talent called... Right, White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin did not become his subordinate for nothing. He'll be fine. Set aside your concerns for the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit as well. Haven't you experienced her Kui Star Hand Art yourself?”
Xiahou Wi-jin spoke softly, unlike himself, as though persuading his junior.
The Body Movement Scripture that Seom-ye had improved had served as a life-saving ultimate move several times already. He also knew that his junior's epithet was growing heavier by the day.
Xiahou Wi-jin regarded Seom-ye's protection as a matter of great importance to Desolate Fortress.
“No matter how many years may have passed, I can see that you have grown quite formidable. It would be worth searching for Ha Do-un together with me. Wait just a little longer.”
“There is no journey fatigue for me to recover from. Since you are guarding this village, I can go alone...”
That was when it happened.
“Village Chief! Village Chief!”
The side door suddenly flew open.
Jeong Yeon-shin lowered his gaze and saw a short elder.
The elder had a heavily muscled upper body and a thick white beard. Clearly a pure-blooded member of the dwarven race, they clutched a letter in one hand.
“Ah, so you are Seom-ye. Before that bear-like Xiahou became village chief, I was the one sitting in that seat.”
The dwarven elder pointed at Xiahou Wi-jin's golden grand preceptor's chair. They meant that they were the former village chief.
They then strode between the two Squad Leaders and spread the letter wide.
“Look at this, all of you.”
Jeong Yeon-shin did not even have time to introduce himself. The dwarf acted as though they had received urgent news.
Jeong Yeon-shin's gaze naturally fell upon its contents.
[Peng Yeo-ran shall take Ice Soul Cheon So-so as her companion on this year's Awakening of Insects. You villagers shall send envoys to bless this joyous occasion and present a phoenix coronet.
Ghost-Cry Tyrant King]
“She doesn't even have anything hanging between her legs. What kind of bullshit is this?!”
Xiahou Wi-jin's enormous fist shattered the table. The burst of inner power that boomed through the room carried the instant explosiveness unique to Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
Jeong Yeon-shin understood at once.
Ghost-Cry Tyrant King Peng Yeo-ran had captured Cheon So-so, the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit. The former Hebei Peng Family Head was holding her captive.
“It seems they are after a sapling of the World Tree. There is no other full-blooded elf in this land with martial prowess comparable to the Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit. She is also the only one who can wield the sapling's power most effectively.”
The former village chief spoke in a grave tone.
“Why provoke us deliberately? This could have been done without anyone knowing.”
“...They said there were no ordinary people among the Divine Sword Corps' masters.”
The elder turned to him in surprise. The peerlessly handsome young man who had been seated while reading the letter was already standing.
His movements were extraordinarily natural. The elder, who had trained deeply in forging martial arts yet failed to detect any trace of him, continued cautiously.
“In any case, the Ghost-Cry Tyrant King is an exceedingly worldly person among the Two Kings. Even before becoming Peng Family Head, she indulged in every pleasure, yet she won the succession struggle and purged every direct-line rival. Her refinement, scheming, and martial arts were all exceptional, so she was also called the Three Divine Excellences.”
“And?”
“It means she may have intentions beyond anything we can guess, or it may truly be nothing more than a display. The Ghost-Cry Tyrant King is famous for enjoying banquets in a manner unbefitting a peerless master, with her subordinates deployed everywhere.”
“Does that person have many subordinates in this land as well?”
“She subdued the former masters who arrived with her and built up a force.”
“A force?”
“She calls it the Hidden-Realm Peng Family. It may be stronger than the real Peng Family outside. It is crawling with old monsters who should have retired from the martial world long ago.”
The elder finished speaking.
By then, Xiahou Wi-jin was silently clenching his fist.
He seemed to be considering whether he should protect the ordinary people here first, as a Desolate Fortress martial artist always had, or answer the Ghost-Cry Tyrant King's invitation.
Jeong Yeon-shin did not care.
At last, he had reached his mission.
“Senior Xiahou.”
“Mm?”
“A Squad Leader's black robe. Do you have a spare?”
What did he sense in his junior's brief words? A gleam passed through Xiahou Wi-jin's eyes.
The enormous elven martial artist asked with his gaze.
Could it be that the Purple Uniform I have waited for...?
“Here.”
Boom.
Upon the remains of the shattered table, bundles of clothing more than a palm thick were stacked in layers. There seemed to be more than ten sets.
All were Desolate Fortress Black Uniform long robes, with a large character for Desolation embroidered in white upon the shoulder.
“They tear often.”
Xiahou Wi-jin said it as though making an excuse.
Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly and lifted one set.
Snap.
He broke off the end of an armrest from the chair Xiahou Wi-jin sat in, set it upon his index finger, and summoned Samadhi True Fire.
It was a soft golden shell. The gold melted beneath the searing heat.
The young man touched the shoulder of the long robe and traced the character for Desolation.
Sizzle.
The gold color signified the status of a direct disciple of the Lord of Desolate Fortress. The character was overlaid in gold, following the neat strokes flowing from his fingertip.
“Even former masters will recognize this, won't they?”
“They will recognize it better than anyone. They enjoyed their prime when the Lord of Desolate Fortress still wielded a sword.”
The former village chief answered for him, watching Jeong Yeon-shin don the oversized long robe with an odd look in their eyes.
The dwarven elder's gaze also swept over the Meteor Sword worn at the Leader of Demon Wings' waist.
“Just as I thought, its condition is unstable. Those Tang Clan children are quite exceptional smiths. They each said they would forge a sword for their benefactor, yet...”
“I will go. Please guard this place, Senior.”
Step.
Jeong Yeon-shin gave both men a fist-and-palm salute, then turned away.
Xiahou Wi-jin could not stop him.
He could only remain where he was and watch his junior's departing back, still bound by the duty to prioritize the safety of ordinary people over gathering the Divine Sword Corps of Desolate Fortress.
‘The Two Kings and Three Lords. A martial world of Purple Uniforms...’
Once outside the hall, Jeong Yeon-shin crossed endlessly between rooftops with the elusive Body Movement Scripture.
As he alternated Phantom Wing Step, Wind Body, and Ten Miles of Deep Light, all steeped in the martial principles of the elven race, no one could properly perceive him.
That included the Tang Clan twins, who were happily darting about here and there with innocent expressions.
Earlier, Jeong Yeon-shin had measured the lifespans of the brother and sister with the Heaven-Displaying Eye Technique.
They were terribly short.
Their meridians and acupoints were exceptionally weak. Bodies unable to bear the spirituality of the upper dantian were collapsing from within.
It was the complete opposite of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
The collapse of essence, qi, and spirit.
How could he ask them to make him a sword when countless others here had already offered to hammer iron for him?
‘Stealing is not something worth doing either.’
Jeong Yeon-shin passed the weapons lying carelessly upon nearby racks.
Swords and sabers could no longer trouble him.
He had reached that realm.
Only the fate of the Tang Clan twins, the Two Kings and Three Lords, Ha Do-un and Cheon So-so, and martial arts of the next realm continued to circle through his mind as he walked beneath the bright sunlight and left the village of forges.
Footnotes:
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