WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Episode 59: Imperial Hero (2)

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“It’s Dan Jeong-jeong!”

Yeon-shin learned the girl’s name while leaving Pingyin County.

Dan Jeong-jeong had been struck in the acupoints by a martial artist and seized by the nape. She was a commoner. Anyone would have worried about lingering aftereffects.

Yeon-shin had been concerned, but there was no need. She remained composed after being freed.

Even after witnessing the devastation caused by Demon Wings, she revealed a resolute spirit.

“Isn’t dried bean curd skin dried in spring delicious?”

She warmly offered the dried bean curd skin to Yeon-shin, who was her age. Yeon-shin took only one bite before leaving Pingyin County.

They would likely never meet again. With that aptitude and strength of heart, Yeon-shin thought she would live well.

“Our Seom-ye would make an excellent husband.”

Perhaps Cheong Myeong intended to repeat the teasing from the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Cheong Myeong smiled as he spoke, but this time, no one answered.

Back then, Hyeon Won-chang had traded banter with Cheong Myeong. Not now.

Whoosh!

The moment they left Pingyin County, they began to race forward. The lightness arts of the three Blue Uniform experts from Demon Wings scattered streams of wind.

Their destination had been decided the instant they received the message. Yeon-shin was unlike the Blue Uniform seniors, whose inner energy ran deep.

To cover such a great distance, Yeon-shin needed to obtain a fine horse at a relay station.

Cheong Myeong and Baek Mir-yeo had also said they preferred using relay routes to conserve inner energy.

An untimely sandstorm swept across the official road. The earth-colored dust trailing behind them spoke of their urgency.

Running alongside the other two, Yeon-shin asked, “Are the martial families truly strong enough to defeat five White Uniforms? An ordinary sect should not have posed a problem unless the opponent was one of the Nine Sects or the Eight Great Families. The previous clash with the Blood Flame Sect must have played a part too...”

The faster their lightness arts, the fiercer the wind battering them. Yeon-shin had to infuse the voice with qi.

Cheong Myeong’s reply came with the same low hum unique to inner energy.

“They could not fight at full strength. Some of them had been taken alive. It’s obvious why.”

Yeon-shin let out a short sigh.

Cheong Myeong’s words immediately brought something to mind. It was when Sword Song had been drawn while they discussed a solo mission.

Yeon-shin understood what effect shaking the brain could have on an expert’s fighting ability.

“Because of the aftereffects of my Sound Arts...”

“It’s because the White Uniforms’ martial arts were shallow. Since they were not stronger than the enemy, they had no choice but to entrust their safety to others. That’s the martial world.”

Cheong Myeong’s words were cold. Baek Mir-yeo, running beside them with her usual indifferent expression, spoke.

“Either way, it is something the Blue Uniforms must handle. We need to split up at the relay station. The main force has no room to spare. Destroying one of the Eight Great Families is no small matter. We have to do this.”

“They went down to Southern Zhili, right? The blood demons.”

“There are many possible routes. About four.”

Cheong Myeong spoke.

As a member of Desolate Fortress’s elven race, Cheong Myeong carried a treasure in the mind. Cheong Myeong had said there was a map of the Central Plains more valuable than most martial arts manuals.

It was a privilege equal to that of the Black Uniform Squad Leaders. Yeon-shin, who received instruction only in the local terrain for each mission, was different.

“The Blood Flame Sect and the martial families.”

Repeating their enemies, Yeon-shin fell silent for a moment.

Yeon-shin recalled the time after passing the Desolate Exam and first entering Desolate Fortress. A clerk from the Chief Steward’s Office had told Yeon-shin something.

Though Desolate Fortress was called the imperial court’s sword, it was not considered treason when martial artists of the martial world harmed its warriors.

That was because they were not warriors directly under the imperial court. It was said to be due to the lightness arts and movement techniques of the martial artists who opposed them.

It had begun in the early days of the dynasty. Even after declaring that traitors and their nine clans would be exterminated, there had been cases where they could not be captured.

If state affairs and the suppression of martial artists were treated as one and the same, the imperial court’s dignity could be diminished.

Yeon-shin suddenly asked, “Even so, isn’t Desolate Fortress the foremost martial family in the martial world? What gave those families the confidence to launch an ambush?”

“One of two reasons. Our methods are pretty ruthless, aren’t they? They thought their children would not be safe. Once parents lose their minds, there’s nothing they won’t do. Though there must have been Family Heads who gave up on their children too.”

“And the other?”

“They know Desolate Fortress has no spare strength.”

“Mm.”

“That insight is why martial artists from the main fortress die in foreign lands. There are two kinds of sects that can oppose Desolate Fortress: small and mid-sized sects that think their own world is everything, and great factions that understand how the world works.”

“Only the middling fools cannot touch the main fortress,” Cheong Myeong muttered.

Yeon-shin studied Cheong Myeong’s face as Cheong Myeong spoke of dying in foreign lands. The handsome features held no expression.

Cheong Myeong was a senior known for a promising future. Even someone who went around saying that people died because they deserved to would not be rebuked.

It felt unfamiliar to see Cheong Myeong quietly angry beneath such a calm exterior.

Cheong Myeong spoke again.

“There are seventeen martial force squads under the Divine Sword Squad, right? Demon Wings is among the strongest forces even within the Divine Sword Squad. We’re often compared to the elite of the Nine Sects, like the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. The problem is that there are only seventeen squads. It’s an awkward number.”

At that moment, Baek Mir-yeo approached silently from the side and stroked Yeon-shin’s head.

She seemed to have developed a liking for it. It had started after Yeon-shin called her elder sister during the Purple Cloud Pellet mission.

Her touch was cold and soft.

Even as they raced forward, her hand did not waver.

Rubbing her fingers through Yeon-shin’s hair, she spoke.

“The problem is that we have to watch over the whole Central Plains. Governing a martial world as large as fifteen or sixteen small states? It’s an absurd duty. We are always short-handed.”

“Any sect that gathers information quickly and has some insight already knows that. They rarely feel afraid.”

Cheong Myeong added this as the speed of the lightness arts increased.

The roar of the wind striking their ears grew louder.

Yeon-shin sent more qi into the Yongquan acupoint beneath each foot and spoke.

“This mission will cause quite a stir. We diverted forces we could not afford to spare and destroyed one of the Eight Great Families.”

“That’s right. It will be difficult for something like this to happen again.”

They already regarded the destruction of the Huangbo Family as a certainty.

It was not only because they had seen the strength of three martial force squads up close.

They had done their part in the mission. Their minds were elsewhere.

Yeon-shin spoke carefully.

“...I don’t understand why they took them alive instead of killing them. Is Young Hero Hyeon Won-chang still alive?”

“Normally, it would have ended with their deaths. If you defeat Desolate Fortress warriors, you should kill them to erase all witnesses. That’s why taking them alive is a different matter. There must be a purpose.”

Cheong Myeong answered.

Three White Uniform warriors, including Hyeon Won-chang, had been captured. It had not been the work of orthodox martial families.

Once they had rescued their children, there was no reason to invite further trouble. The White Uniforms had fallen victim to the Blood Flame Sect.

“A purpose?”

At Yeon-shin’s question, Baek Mir-yeo’s black eyes glanced at Yeon-shin. Cheong Myeong’s blue eyes did the same.

“I think they may be the ones who have been pursuing us since the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Their routes connect.”

“The captured White Uniforms may only be a means to an end. Could Demon-Slaying Azure River Hand be the real issue? It looks like they intend to kill you somehow.”

It made sense.

They were the ones who had even used thunderclap bombs. The implications of the seniors’ speculation struck Yeon-shin sharply.

‘If I create another martial art to counter the likes of the Thirteen Heavens...’

The words kill them all to erase the witnesses came to Yeon-shin’s mind.

Still, it was difficult to be certain they had done all this while targeting Seom-ye of Desolate Fortress alone.

That was why they had to split up and sweep through northern Southern Zhili.

Discussing their routes, they arrived at a relay station, a place where officials could also rest during their journeys.

They lightly leaped over its large roof and landed below.

As the youngest, Yeon-shin stepped forward. Yeon-shin showed the Desolate Fortress token to the keeper, who had been dozing until jolting awake.

“It’s genuine! Take it!”

Yeon-shin immediately rented a horse and mounted it.

They used the empire’s relay stations with such ease, yet they were not under the imperial court.

The same went for Cheong Myeong’s privileges and those of the Black Uniform Squad Leaders, who could kill officials.

‘The Great Ming Code is meaningless. There are so many people above the law.’

The world was complicated, but this was not the time to dwell on it. They had to split up at once.

“Finding the White Uniforms comes first, but do not get dragged into a conflict between factions. The Namgung Family is at war with the Blood Flame Sect. Those unorthodox sects have cast a Heavenly Net in Huizhou, the Namgung Family’s own backyard. The Namgung Family has no choice but to be enraged.”

The tone was light. Cheong Myeong, lounging on horseback with one leg casually stretched out, winked.

Yeon-shin was accustomed to taking the seniors’ words to heart.

Even when something did not sound important at first, Yeon-shin did so. Every word was taken as something directly tied to life and merit.

“Since they were captured by the blood demons, they should survive for at least ten days. They use Blood Arts to drain qi. Warriors from the main fortress are rare prey.”

Baek Mir-yeo said this as she gracefully mounted her fine horse.

She brushed back the hair flowing beside her ears like ebony and looked at Yeon-shin. Her black jade-like eyes held concern.

“What are you worried about? The destruction of the Huangbo branch family will be recorded among Seom-ye’s merits. You have more than earned a solo mission.”

Cheong Myeong smiled and gestured with the chin.

It was time to split up.

Yeon-shin gave a brief fist-and-palm salute from horseback, then cracked the whip without looking back. The mission continued without pause.

They said rescuing a comrade would also be recorded as merit. It did not feel important to Yeon-shin.

At that moment, Yeon-shin’s heart spoke of no merit.

Yeon-shin only hoped Hyeon Won-chang would remain unharmed until Hyeon Won-chang came to be called the Desolate Fortress Divine Hero.

* * *

Yeon-shin traveled south from Pingyin County. Southern Zhili began immediately beyond it.

Cheong Myeong’s spiritual beast served well as a messenger pigeon. The Blue Uniform experts who had completed their mission decided to spread across the vast regions of Southern Zhili.

They had fundamental confidence in their martial strength. Their rank permitted them to undertake solo missions.

Reinforcements were bound to be late. Huguang, where Desolate Fortress’s main fortress stood, was too far away. The Huangbo Family expedition had to resolve this.

‘The city is splendid.’

Yeon-shin had taken charge of Xuzhou in Southern Zhili.

Five days had passed since separating from the Blue Uniform seniors of Ma Gwang-il’s Squad.

Yeon-shin had gone from county magistrate to county magistrate, presenting the Desolate Fortress token. Yeon-shin was asking about suspicious-looking people.

They said Blood Flame Sect followers roamed the city, claiming they feared nothing under heaven. That was the power of the Thirteen Heavens among the unorthodox sects.

Even when soldiers came out to beat down the cultists, they would flee with nimble movement techniques.

At times, they would release their aura and threaten the soldiers instead.

As the sect’s influence gradually grew, the blood demons had become increasingly arrogant.

Their actions in Huizhou, where they disregarded the Namgung Family, were proof enough.

They said the discipline of obeying the sect’s unique rules had turned into licentiousness.

The number of days Baek Mir-yeo had estimated continued to dwindle. Time was pressing.

Yeon-shin stood before the largest pleasure house in the city. The multicolored lanterns hanging above and below its gate shone brilliantly.

‘If they are not the ones said to be here...’

Yeon-shin cleared the thought from the mind.

Xuzhou was a large city. The martial artists guarding its doors seemed to possess decent knowledge of the martial world.

They recognized the character meaning “Desolate.”

“Desolate? That ‘Desolate’?”

“So young?”

The five people wavered in confusion. Yeon-shin ignored them and shoved the doors wide open.

Clunk!

The old wooden doors swung open to either side, revealing an interior lit in orange.

The first floor of such a large pleasure house was said to be where guests gathered and socialized.

Many gazes swept over Yeon-shin at once. Energy could be felt in their looks. Every one of them was a martial artist.

“Who is that child?”

“Is that person pretending to be from Desolate Fortress?”

“Boy! There are better places to show off your bravado!”

“He’s even a Blue Uniform!”

Boisterous laughter erupted.

Beyond the windows, lantern light drove off the dusk, illuminating all sorts of people.

Xuzhou of Southern Zhili was a city known for its particularly large number of small and mid-sized martial families.

The Namgung Family, which influenced all of Southern Zhili, was located further south. This was territory of the orthodox sects.

The complexions of at least fifty people all differed. Some were flushed red with drink, while others were bright with healthy color.

“I’ve never seen someone like him.”

“Tell us your sect!”

Women with weapons at their waists laughed at Yeon-shin. Their relaxed postures showed how at ease they were.

Looking closer, there were few courtesans. It seemed the women of martial families had joined the gathering as well.

The place was being used as a banquet hall.

The finest pleasure house in Xuzhou, lavishly decorated, was as elegant and luxurious as expected.

It was fitting for men and women of the martial world to gather and socialize here regardless of age.

It was the first time Yeon-shin had seen so many martial artists in one place since the battle between the Tyrant Sword Sect and Zhongnan Sect.

Tap.

Yeon-shin took one step. The small sound should have meant nothing, yet it contained a strange force.

Something that reached beyond hearing and into their aura sense drew every gaze toward Yeon-shin. Yeon-shin was releasing presence.

A Blue Uniform expert of Desolate Fortress.

It was an aura that compelled silence even without hostile intent.

Those who had been tossing out remarks fell quiet. Great doubt and silent shock spread through the room.

Yeon-shin walked straight ahead. In the field of view, people were rising one after another from a corner.

All had black hair, yet Yeon-shin recognized them at once. The mastery of Demon-Slaying Azure River Hand had grown day by day.

Yeon-shin had become extremely sensitive to wicked qi.

“There is one branch here.”

Yeon-shin spoke.

Yeon-shin knew from the size of their auras. There was one Blood Master and five Blood Flame Sect followers.

“You are like fire ants, so there must be branches everywhere. It cannot be only you.”

Yeon-shin continued speaking without slowing down.

The Blood Master was a young master who smiled as though confident in martial strength. There was not a single scar on that noble-looking face.

Smiling, the Blood Master said, “So you are the one? I have not neglected my offerings, so blessings have come to me! I shall take a step into the realm of an Apostle!”

Ignoring the Blood Master, Yeon-shin spoke.

“You want to kill the master of Demon-Slaying Azure River Hand.”

The moment Yeon-shin circulated the mnemonic formula imbued with Buddhist principles, a refreshing energy swept away the smell of liquor in the pleasure house.

A pure, upright aura began to spread from the right hand, lowered diagonally at Yeon-shin’s side.

A faint blue radiance surrounded the straightened hand blade.

It did not mingle with the sunset-colored lantern light around it. It was wholly blue.

“Bastard!”

A sinister presence exploded from the Blood Master’s body. The fingertips clutching the sword at the waist blurred.

With a draw like a burst of blood, the Blood Master slashed upward. A violent sword force wave surged forth like a storm.

It was attainment sufficient to aspire to the realm of an Apostle of the Blood Flame Sect.

Yeon-shin struck down with Demon-Slaying Azure River Hand as well. The trajectory was clear. A smooth smile formed on the Blood Master’s lips.

The Blood Master seemed to intend to cut the hand aimed at the head.

Boom!

It was not the sound of a clash, but of destruction. The gale of force released from the Blood Master’s sword was crushed apart.

In half a move, Yeon-shin shattered the aura entirely and smashed the sword into fragments.

Yeon-shin followed the straight trajectory all the way down. That instantaneous move ended at the Blood Master’s head.

Crack!

Yeon-shin felt it through the edge of the hand. It had sunk very deep. Along with fragments of blue force, the Blood Master’s crown caved in.

“...”

The Blood Master collapsed, brushing past Yeon-shin’s shoulder. The smile remained on the face.

Four more Blood Flame Sect followers stood behind the Blood Master. Had they been about to rush in together?

Their expressions were beyond description. They stood stiffly, unable to attack.

Their branch leader had died in a single move.

The martial artists who had risen at the feel of the Blood Flame Sect’s distinctive aura also said nothing for a moment.

“Deliver a message.”

Yeon-shin spoke.

“Seom-ye of Demon Wings is here.”

Yeon-shin spoke bluntly and shook a hand once. The blue sleeve fluttered.

Footnotes:

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