WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈
Episode 428: Grandmaster (2)
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* * *
The orthodox martial world had many renowned figures.
It could not be otherwise. Those who pursued chivalry and the martial principles of late bloomers were collectively called members of the orthodox path.
Green Jade Sword Manor.
Even among the orthodox martial world, it accepted as guests only those whose reputations had resounded far and wide.
Yet before the Peng Family Head's death, even that arena where illustrious figures competed was no different from an ordinary market street. It was filled with shock and disbelief.
"Even the Nine Sects must have been unusually flustered, despite having minds clear as a bright mirror and still water. I can picture wrinkles forming on those immortal elders' foreheads."
Peng Ga-inhu spoke.
She looked much as she had when she declared certain victory before Jeong Yeon-shin.
The leg resting atop the office desk was remarkably long, while the hand gripping dozens of letters was large and covered in calluses.
Five martial artists were prostrated before her.
They were Peng Family sabermen.
"Who do you expect?"
"We expected Shin So-bin of the Desolate Shin Family to appear as the White Uniform representative, but intelligence says she has entered secluded cultivation and refuses all visitors. We should consider someone else."
"...They'd want to spare her. She's the chief disciple, after all."
Peng Ga-inhu lightly flexed one foot.
"They'll only send out White Cat against second-generation disciples of the Nine Sects. How regrettable would it be if she were injured beforehand?"
"That is correct."
"You said there were many martial artists in the Seom-ye Martial Lineage, so stop investigating the White Uniforms here. Predictions are useless at that point. What about Blue Uniform?"
"Blue-Eyed Demon Sword Cheong Myeong, Languid Flame Dragon of the Huangbo Family, and One Lotus Sword Plum Baek Mir-yeo are likely candidates. They are masters who will eventually contend for Black Uniform. One Lotus Sword Plum is even considered likely to fully claim the legacy of the Heavenly Demon's Tomb, which has recently become the subject of rumors."
"They have plenty of cards to play. Skip this as well. Unless we bring out someone like Palm Phoenix Zhu Se-hwa, it will be difficult to deal with them all. Though that Wudang monster will likely appear when facing the Black Uniforms..."
Fwoosh.
Every document in Peng Ga-inhu's grasp burst into flame. The speed at which the heat of Samadhi True Fire reached its peak was astonishing.
Ash scattered through the room, and admiration filled the eyes of the kneeling subordinates.
"And as for the Black Uniforms..."
The lead saberman began again. Peng Ga-inhu cut the report short.
"White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin?"
"The Seom-ye Martial Lineage has no other choice. But..."
"But?"
"The new Purple Uniform's prize, the Namgung Family's Heaven-Reliant Sword, is not in White Qilin's possession. From what we heard of the events at the Jeong Family Manor graveyard, Namgung Hwa-shin had not yet entered the martial arts of Lotus Nezha at that time. If Namgung Hwa-shin did not receive the Heaven-Reliant Sword, there is a strong chance Judging the Qilin was not passed down either."
"Or perhaps only the martial art was taught. It would already be a burden to inherit a sword form honoring Clear Qilin before a crowd from the orthodox martial world. Receiving the family heirloom on top of that? Would that suit the temperament of a White Qilin who left home?"
"Hm..."
"More importantly, you think the Seom-ye Martial Lineage has Black Uniform martial artists besides Namgung Hwa-shin whom it can deploy at will? Nonsense. It could only happen if many Divine Sword Corps Squad Leaders were qualified for the Pact of Mount Hua. If there were only one or two, it would be difficult to summon them here at this hour."
"That is true."
Sending a Black Uniform other than Namgung Hwa-shin into the martial duel meant that the Seom-ye Martial Lineage possessed strength greater than the Eight Great Families.
It was not a reasonable assumption. The martial lineage was barely three years old. After all, supreme masters were decisive weapons in sect wars, proof of a faction's history.
"Focus your preparations on Namgung Hwa-shin."
A crackling sound rang from Peng Ga-inhu's body, followed by her next words.
"Even if we defeat Desolate Fortress here, claiming overall victory in the contests under the Pact of Mount Hua will be impossible. We must at least uphold our family's honor."
Peng Ga-inhu muttered quietly. The pair of sabers in the corner of the office began to hum.
For an instant, dense aura filled the room and made the sabermen's bodies shudder before vanishing, along with the intelligence reports whose remnants had turned from ash to dust.
* * *
Desolate Fortress martial artists walked the boundary between officialdom and the martial world, between lofty official rank and the deep valleys of the jianghu.
Their weapons often dulled in blood before breaking in half, but the long robes of White, Blue, and Black Uniform martial artists each represented an elevated rank.
A warlike yet elegant faction, the foremost in the martial world. No one beneath the heavens could deny its character or standing.
Naturally, it carried great dignity.
Shaa.
A translucent breeze rippled among the fifty martial artists gathered in the Training Hall.
The air scraped slowly over the dirt floor. The summer atmosphere met both blazing sunlight and ripples of inner power.
"......"
The Desolate Fortress martial artists dispatched to Green Jade Sword Manor stood in formation alongside Demon Wings experts.
Ten across and five deep. Every martial artist standing at attention was as straight as bamboo.
The person they were about to meet stood at the apex of Desolate Fortress's White, Blue, Black, and Purple Uniforms.
Creak.
The doors of the hall they had been watching suddenly opened.
Step.
Jeong Yeon-shin came down the entrance steps. Namgung Hwa-shin followed one step behind as an escort.
They had once taken the Desolate Exam together in hopes of becoming White Uniforms. Now, the hems swaying at their feet were sunset-purple and pitch-black.
The breaths of the martial artists in formation grew softer. Without realizing it, they lengthened their inner-energy breathing. Some even showed faint emotion.
It was not easy for masters of a major faction who had crossed the line between life and death for years to suddenly acknowledge someone as their highest superior.
Jeong Yeon-shin, Seom-ye, was different.
Even setting aside his great achievements and the martial arts that had drawn crowds to the Gold-Piercing Martial Treasury, he had long become someone broadly respected within the main fortress due to his unusual youth, appearance, and accomplishments.
They cared for and revered him as they would a grown younger brother. In a different sense from Divine Sword Squad Leader Yong Hui-myeong, he could be said to represent Desolate Fortress.
"Have you... learned Phantom Wing Step?"
Jeong Yeon-shin asked as he came to face the front of the formation.
His tone was so flat that it was difficult to read his intent. Only a few whose instincts were particularly sharp sensed uncertainty in his words.
"I am So Ryu-hyang of the Azure Sky Squad, White Uniform. Yes, I have mastered Phantom Wing Step."
The woman answered with a white hero's headband binding both her forehead and the back of her head.
Falling Ridge Sword So Ryu-hyang. At twenty, she had been recognized as the foremost talent in a city in Fujian Province before traveling to Huguang. Afterward, she built a reputation as a member of the Azure Sky Squad.
'They said he had talent and looks for the ages...'
So Ryu-hyang's lips twitched after taking in Jeong Yeon-shin's face at a glance.
The Body Movement Scripture was a martial art whose practice produced readily visible signs. Its footwork, Phantom Wing Step, and movement art, Wind Body, were both like that.
Once mastered properly, they changed the body's balance itself, a tremendous change in the eyes of masters.
Someone at the level of a newly appointed Purple Uniform would naturally recognize So Ryu-hyang's Phantom Wing Step at a glance.
Still, Jeong Yeon-shin was the founder of the Seom-ye Martial Lineage. It was like Bodhidharma himself appearing before Shaolin monks learning the Muscle-Tendon Change Scripture. How could anyone not feel deeply moved?
'Perhaps my attainment is quite good. Good enough for the new Purple Uniform to notice.'
So Ryu-hyang had that thought when Jeong Yeon-shin said, "Perhaps..."
His gaze briefly settled on So Ryu-hyang's feet with faint discomfort, and his words trailed off.
So Ryu-hyang and the other Desolate Fortress masters knew that this was an exceptionally rare sight. They were already well acquainted with the accomplishments of Seom-ye of Demon Wings.
Privately, So Ryu-hyang imagined patting the head of the person who had once been Desolate Fortress's youngest member.
No master in the main fortress was unaware of the story of the boy who had grown up neglected at the Jeong Family Manor in Xinye County, Henan.
"Please speak freely."
So Ryu-hyang spoke while clearly raising aura from the Yongquan acupoint in her sole to the Liangqiu acupoint at her knee.
It was meant to draw out praise from the new Purple Uniform, who could not help being awkward around others.
"Is your body... somewhat uncomfortable? I have a few spiritual medicines that may be of use."
Jeong Yeon-shin asked carefully. Inwardly impressed by his benevolent character, So Ryu-hyang shook her head.
"I am in perfect condition. Purple Uniform, you may appoint me to the Pact of Mount Hua's martial duels whenever you wish."
"...I see."
Jeong Yeon-shin nodded. At that moment, So Ryu-hyang sensed in his gesture the distinctive bearing of eminent monks who tempered both body and mind upon Mount Song.
The state of a mind clear as a bright mirror and still water, and the realm of detachment. The tale of Bodhidharma sitting before a wall for years came to mind.
'At that age, how could he...?'
What a difficult life he must have lived. In So Ryu-hyang's eyes, where colorless light rippled, the face of a young Grandmaster was reflected as Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his mouth.
"If you learn martial arts only through written lines, your head is liable to fly off in real combat. As your superior, may I give you a lesson?"
"I respectfully receive Purple Uniform's instruction...!"
So Ryu-hyang dropped to one knee and raised her voice. It was the moment everyone present had long awaited.
A martial manual was originally like an annotation to the teaching passed down directly by a master.
The fact that Desolate Fortress's prodigies had studied the Seom-ye Martial Lineage among themselves, sharing and improving their attainments, was the unusual part.
"Start with the Yongquan acupoint."
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke. So Ryu-hyang listened silently.
Not just So Ryu-hyang. Footwork was the foundation of all martial arts. Every martial artist in the hall needed to listen closely.
His soft explanation flowed on.
"Before reciting the mnemonic formula, imprint a footprint made of mental intent in one corner of your mind. In the direction you will advance toward your opponent. At that time, think not of any other principle, but of the One Origin. As though the calf muscles folded into a single line, condense the propulsive force wave originating from the Yongquan acupoint into a long needle, preparing it to erupt from the ankle. This sense of balance should feel like fixing your body at the center of all things..."
"...?"
"Long needle, release, balance... I explained it simply. You all surely understand."
They said Seom-ye Jeong Yeon-shin became especially gentle when dealing with common folk. So Ryu-hyang suddenly understood.
To the new Purple Uniform, concepts like the One Origin and the balance of all things were no different from ordinary words like long needle and release.
'I would need to be Black Uniform to understand this...'
That realization was not the important part.
The new Purple Uniform wore a faintly pleased expression. Now that So Ryu-hyang saw it up close, it was clear enough to recognize.
How could anyone throw cold water on that face? Yet if they wasted time like this, they might manage against the Peng Family, but it would be difficult to improve their odds in the duels against the Nine Sects, led by Northern Shaolin and Southern Wudang.
Then it happened.
Wheee!
A thin whistle pierced So Ryu-hyang's ear. The one-eyed elven swordsman standing behind Jeong Yeon-shin was Blue-Eyed Demon Sword Cheong Myeong, hands clasped behind the head as Cheong Myeong whistled.
The elven race's secret art, which freely controlled the wind, formed a whisper in So Ryu-hyang's ear.
"I'll interpret the Squad Leader's words. Sharpen the propulsive force wave until it is hard as a needle, then plant it in your ankle so it bursts in a straight line from the Yongquan acupoint. As for the balance of footwork, do not lift your sole clumsily from the ground. Plant your feet firmly."
Sound transmission of a different order.
It was exceedingly faint, and not even a ripple of inner power had spread. It was a secret technique worthy of a noble race.
For a Han Chinese to imitate it, they would likely need to reach the realm of the Wisdom Heart Sutra.
"When lifting your foot, let the force waves of the Xuehai and Liangqiu acupoints cross with Unhindered Adaptability. When setting it down, feel as though you are releasing every remaining force wave through the Weizhong acupoint behind the knee... While exchanging offense and defense, what matters is deciding when to take that one step forward. Its timing can be roughly judged through a fleeting sensation. By roughly, I mean... I am underestimating all of you too much."
Wheee!
"The Squad Leader says to roughly draw a triangle around your knee and blast backward when it feels right."
Cheong Myeong's whistle came at precisely the right moment. It did not interrupt the new Purple Uniform and sounded almost like admiration for his instruction.
It worked.
A faint mixture of satisfaction and embarrassment appeared on Jeong Yeon-shin's face. As the rumors said, he was particularly gentle with those who had been Jeong Yeon-shin's seniors in Ma Gwang-il's Squad.
"It is nothing special..."
Jeong Yeon-shin murmured softly.
The corners of So Ryu-hyang's mouth, along with those of several main-fortress masters, twitched now and then.
Sunlight billowed translucent as a curtain across the center of the Training Hall, as though tickling their lips.
* * *
The following day.
The day of the life-and-death duels under the Pact of Mount Hua dawned.
Farmers and beggars leaned against Green Jade Sword Manor's walls, listening closely, while servers and merchants stopped calling for customers.
Great merchants and the owners of escort agencies whose names were known across the land sat with dignified composure nearby. Each had brought masters who had learned the Thousand-Li Earth-Listening Art.
Their conversations were much the same. There was only one subject.
In the present martial world,
which martial lineage was the most sublime?
The invisible aura filling Green Jade Sword Manor at that moment was incredibly dense. It was enough to call to mind the creation of heaven and earth.
Martial artists without the standing to enter Green Jade Sword Manor lowered their gazes as they settled throughout Dengfeng County.
The orthodox martial world had gathered at Green Jade Sword Manor.
Footnotes:
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