WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Episode 393: Carpet (2)
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An elven woman with black hair falling to her shoulders lifted Clear Judge Sword's sleeve. Her blue eyes gleamed.
Rustle.
A long needle was stuck to the palm of the dead man's stiff hand. It had been held in the very hand pointing at Jeong Yeon-shin.
Anyone could see it was a concealed weapon.
A master of inner energy could kill with a reed leaf. This man had not been an innocent victim.
As Lord of the Immortal Wood Spirit and a squad leader of the Divine Sword Corps who had to safeguard public trust, Cheon So-so intended to say as much.
“...?”
It was a meaningless action. The spectators who had gathered around them had already turned their attention elsewhere.
A grayish-white forest had suddenly spread across the wasteland beyond the city.
It was dense and vast. Even the lofty pavilions scattered throughout it radiated an ancient, oppressive air.
The formation had been completely dismantled.
It was no different from when the Two-Flame Blood Spirit Formation, which had once concealed the Blood Flame Sect's main headquarters, shattered beneath the Lord of Desolate Fortress's feet.
It was a mysterious sight not only to commoners, but even to most martial artists. The true form of a major faction of the Thirteen Heavens had been exposed to the whole world.
Dark Night Hall.
A major faction of bow-wielding killing fiends, more notorious than any assassin sect under heaven.
Their conduct was no different from that of the other Thirteen Heavens. They frequently plundered grain-producing regions under the banner that lowly Han Chinese did not deserve the blessings of the land.
No one spared a glance for whether Clear Judge Sword lived or died.
At least, the commoners did not. They had witnessed something too terrifying to process.
“Th-that...?!”
“What kind of sorcery is that?”
“A spirit has descended... A young immortal has come down! I knew there was something extraordinary about his looks!”
A very small number reacted differently.
Those with healthy complexions or expensive clothing grew grave.
Some did not linger to think. They hurried away with quick, furtive steps.
“Hah... I did wonder why the volume of goods had not fallen much, even during a famine...”
“If that really is Dark Night Hall, aren't we in grave danger? There'll be bloodshed!”
“Let's go home. We need to bolt our gates tight.”
They were people well versed in the ways of the world.
Masters with keen aura senses began backing away, as did the hangers-on who had picked up martial arts by watching fights in marketplaces or third-rate martial halls.
The dark forest filled the wasteland, while aura radiated from the outsiders. Majestic, unimpeded waves of inner power stirred up powerful winds.
Except for a few, the group had already been made up of striking young men and women. To the people of Guizhou, they seemed like divine generals from the Immortal Realm appearing before them.
Rough clouds of dust swept far into the distance.
Jeong Yeon-shin glanced down at the sword in his hand. Cracks covered the pure white blade.
It was the backlash from Sword Song.
‘Swords are consumables.’
Even if every weapon belonging to the Ten Perfect Sect Master was a divine weapon or rare artifact, the same held true. Using a single weapon to destroy Dark Night Hall's formation was a cheap price to pay.
Jeong Yeon-shin lightly stroked the sword hilt at his waist.
Lingering Thunder was not a weapon but a soul.
Swish.
After thanking Cheon So-so with a silent bow, he approached Xiahou Wi-jin.
The bundle on the Heaven-Treading Forest Squad Leader's back held the Ten Perfect Sect Master's Eighteen Weapons, along with valuable supplies such as dried meat, water skins, and salt.
As a fellow squad leader, Jeong Yeon-shin had taken a sword out with Remote Object Manipulation without a word. He could not simply put it back the same way.
Jeong Yeon-shin considered himself a junior well versed in propriety and decorum.
“How did you do it? The principle behind that sword strike was extraordinary.”
Xiahou Wi-jin asked, bending slightly at the waist.
Jeong Yeon-shin wrapped the Ten Perfect Sect Master's sword back into the bundle. He might need it again in the near future.
“Wasn't it plainly Sword Song? The sort Beijing's imperial clan supposedly enjoys.”
Wi Ji-geuk, the Heaven-Treading Dragon Squad Leader, trudged over. His sidelong gaze at Jeong Yeon-shin held undisguised surprise.
“Yes. The Imperial Grandson inspired me.”
Jeong Yeon-shin answered.
Interest appeared on Wi Ji-geuk's face.
“The Imperial Grandson? Are you acquainted with His Highness?”
“Come to think of it, I heard the ‘Desolate’ character on your shoulder was originally gold. The Lord must have personally taught you, so you two are fellow disciples.”
It was the Martial Extreme Hall Master. The prosthetic leg clicked as the hall master approached at an unhurried pace, seemingly more interested in Jeong Yeon-shin's sword form than in the forest spread out to one side.
“Thank you for broadening my knowledge. It was different in character from the Sword Song of the Forbidden City. Rather than enjoying refined pursuits like the imperial clan, it held a profound principle for killing. I found that very interesting.”
“Are you familiar with Beijing's martial lineages?”
Jeong Yeon-shin asked.
The Martial Extreme Hall Master smiled amiably.
“I have seen them often enough. I once secretly served as a martial arts instructor for the Imperial Guard. In any case, that move just now was a form designed for a single strike, and you controlled its direction as well. Is it a unique art?”
The senior squad leaders all looked at Jeong Yeon-shin.
He felt awkward for no reason.
He briefly answered yes and stepped forward. Ak Su-rim, who had come to his side, followed with a faint smile.
The ash-gray forest lay before them.
Jeong Yeon-shin glanced down at the top of Ak Su-rim's head and spoke.
“Do you believe the Dark Night Hall Master is inside?”
“No. If something happened to Squad Leader Yong, then no matter how vast the martial world is, there are two people we'd think of first.”
“I understand the Lord of Yeoryeong. Is the other one the Dark Night Hall Master?”
“Yeah. That bastard can fire Ten Miles One Kill alone from twenty li away. He only got that strong after Squad Leader Yong beat him senseless in the past. Their grudge runs deep.”
“Twenty li away...?”
That was not human. The Dark Night Hall Master was truly an unmatched transcendent.
Jeong Yeon-shin had heard that the Dark Night Hall Master had single-handedly subdued a nation's army equipped with large quantities of thunderclap bombs. The level of that archery art was enough to reach the heavens.
“Someone with eyes that can see that far wouldn't stay cooped up in the sect's main headquarters. The Young Hall Master is probably guarding it.”
Ak Su-rim said, pulling the spear on her back upward.
She did not seem particularly tense, but neither did she carry herself as though they were going for a stroll.
Jeong Yeon-shin murmured quietly.
“Dark Night Hall's Young Hall Master...”
“The Young Hall Master carries a little more weight than the countless descendants of the Thirteen Heavens. A fairly valuable catch. There should be a reward if we capture him.”
Step.
The senior squad leaders took their eyes off Jeong Yeon-shin and began walking forward together. They had just realized that their humble junior was somewhat shy around strangers.
With a single gesture, Wi Ji-geuk undid the rope around his waist and snickered.
“Valuable, my ass. Is he one of the Nine Sects' sect leaders or something?”
Ak Su-rim immediately tapped his head several times with the shaft of her spear.
“Northern bumpkin. It's because he's tied to Beijing's imperial house. The faded clans consider him a royal descendant. He's practically the leader of the traitors.”
Faded clans.
Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly recalled the Compendium of the Great Ming, which he had read until the pages wore out as a child.
It told of both the long-eared people and the small-statured people returning to their homeland, destroying the wicked Yuan dynasty, and founding a nation together with the Founding Emperor.
Dark Night Hall had been a major sect that sided with the Yuan dynasty at the time. Even after being branded traitors following the founding of Ming, they had not been driven beyond its borders.
Their headquarters had remained hidden with utmost secrecy.
Masters who became so elusive with a bow in hand that they could contend for first place in the martial world.
“You broke it, so lead the way. This will be the crowning touch.”
Ak Su-rim chattered on.
Jeong Yeon-shin could guess what she had left unsaid.
Merits enough to reach Purple Uniform.
Humid air from the forest brushed his skin, but he silently pushed off the dirt beneath his feet, leaving shallow footprints behind.
His seniors followed him.
* * *
“Suspicious people have entered?”
“They are martial artists, with many members of the elven race among them. Their physiques and bearing are said to be exceptional.”
Flat voices passed back and forth. They were utterly indifferent.
A handsome young man reclined halfway in a grand preceptor's chair woven from tree vines as he received the report.
His skin was a pale gray, while his ears rose sharply like sword tips.
His complexion marked him as a barbarian.
Yet his ears bore witness to his noble bloodline.
A people treated far worse than the Han Chinese, yet as proud as the elven race. A blue silk robe embroidered with dragon patterns in silver thread suited him remarkably well.
On one of the young man's shoulders, a bird with extremely sharp trailing feathers tilted its head.
The man prostrated before the grand preceptor's chair looked up at the young man with habitual reverence.
“The martial world is in turmoil. We must not lower our guard.”
“Yes. They may be the rumored Black Uniform masters. I shall inform the scouts outside.”
The kneeling man lowered his head.
His old-fashioned manner of speech and bearing were those used not for a superior, but for a prince of a nation.
His appearance also shared traits with the young man's. He had gray skin and long ears like Liu Bei of Shu-Han.
Dark Night Hall's Young Hall Master silently nodded, picking up a reddish grape from the silver tray on the armrest of the grand preceptor's chair and placing it in his mouth.
Then the Young Hall Master's brow twitched.
“...The Tablet Radiance Formation has been broken.”
“I shall investigate.”
The subordinate did not question the order. Rising at once, he looked toward the Young Hall Master.
A calm command came from the mouth chewing the grape.
“Open all ten firing positions for Ten Miles One Kill.”
“Your command is received.”
The subordinate immediately began moving his lips.
It was Ten-Mile Voice Transmission, a divine art said to be difficult to master even among Dark Night Hall's countless arts.
In an instant, the command reached the watchtowers in every direction surrounding the Young Hall Master's pavilion.
“...The orders have been conveyed. Now, you must leave...”
“Evacuate the children of those who went out to harvest first. Ten Miles One Kill alone won't be enough. Activate the Night Soul Flame King Formation, the Nine Calamities Heavenly Bow Corps, and the Palace-Shattering Delirium. You may also mobilize the hundred bow wraiths of my personal Thunder Arrow Wall.”
This was the sum of Dark Night Hall's several-hundred-year history.
It meant everyone except those the Hall Master had led away to kill the Divine Sword Squad Leader. Nearly every force the sect possessed.
The Young Hall Master stroked the dread raptor's head.
“Ten Miles One Kill will buy us time at the entrance.”
At the same time, thunderous booms began to ring out.
The interior decorated with black marble shook with heavy impacts.
Stone dust fell from the ceiling, and vibrations spreading from outside reached the grand hall.
Ten Miles One Kill, no different from artillery fire, had begun to fire.
They had been struck by a bolt from the blue. Dark Night Hall had never faced anything like this.
The subordinate bowed deeply.
“You must leave now. I do not know what has happened, but they have found our sect and even torn through the formation... I believe their force contains no fewer than three Black Uniform masters.”
The voice was earnest. His words and conduct carried loyalty no different from that of a faithful retainer.
The young man shook his head as he rose from the grand preceptor's chair.
“Do you know what dignity means?”
“Young Hall Master...!”
“It is bearing worthy of one's status.”
The next moment, an enormous bow appeared in the Young Hall Master's hand as though by magic.
Its nocking point was reinforced with red leather, while its two ends were carved into the heads of dragons with open jaws.
“How can I leave when I do not know how many warriors of this hall will die, turning my back even on the clan's common people?”
“...”
“I am of a status that should die rather than flee. My karmic burden runs deep.”
Then it happened.
Bang, crash!
Arrows and weapons collided, while pavilions shattered in explosions. Faint battle cries echoed alongside them.
One corner of the Young Hall Master's mouth rose slightly.
“The Night Soul Flame King Formation has been swept away by some girl's spear strikes. It must be the Desolate Divine Spear. To the southwest, the Nine Calamities Heavenly Bow Corps has failed to strike the famous Blood Guard Squad Leader even once. The Hall Master went to bring back the Divine Sword Squad Leader's head... What kind of disaster is this?”
“The Palace-Shattering Delirium has been breached by five people. One, three, six... Their inner-power attainment is beyond imagining...! Even the formation of Ten Miles One Kill is collapsing! They appear to be the Divine Sword Corps' Black Uniform masters! Please, cast dignity aside and leave at once...!”
The subordinate's trembling voice finally rose into a shout.
The clan's usual composure scattered in an instant.
He had faced something unprecedented.
A natural disaster had struck without warning. The threat he thought would leave them a little time had reached their doorstep without even allowing the time to drink a cup of tea.
No martial faction in the world could have driven them into such a state.
The dread raptor standing on the Young Hall Master's shoulder flapped its wings.
“I cannot show my back to lowborns. What can I do? It is my nature.”
The Young Hall Master slowly continued, setting a long arrow against the bowstring.
His voice remained calm.
“We are already at a dead end. I wonder what the first lowborn to arrive here will look like...”
Boooom!
Before the Young Hall Master could finish speaking, the ceiling shattered into pieces.
The arrow fired from his great bow blackened in an instant, drawing a trajectory like the night sky. A leather shoe descended through the thin dust from the ceiling and stamped precisely upon the shaft of the space-cleaving arrow.
It was an extraordinarily refined step.
Dust burst apart, revealing a long leg.
Footnotes:
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