WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time ◈

Chapter 7: Recognition (3)

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"Do you question the main fortress's assessment?"

"No."

"You seem curious about the test method. It is simple."

The examiner spoke in an indifferent tone.

"Demonstrate the fastest sword technique you can. One strike is enough. I will watch and judge."

'Simple enough.'

Yeon-shin felt relieved.

He had expected a more complicated method.

Won-chang appeared anxious and seemed to think otherwise, but judging one's skill with a single sword strike might appear narrow-minded at first glance. Even so, it was a generous measure.

From Yeon-shin's experience, actual combat involved all manner of variables.

The first test seemed to serve merely as a sieve.

"May I begin right away?"

Yeon-shin asked as he stepped back a few paces. The examiner nodded.

"I, I'll go first!"

It was Won-chang. He looked at Yeon-shin apologetically and mouthed the words.

'I'm too nervous. Sorry.'

Yeon-shin did not particularly mind and gave a slight nod.

Won-chang stood where Yeon-shin had stepped back from and gripped his sword hilt.

After glancing at the examiner, who stood with arms crossed as if inviting him to draw his sword at any moment, Won-chang's expression turned serious as he assumed his stance.

It was not an especially outstanding opening stance, but Yeon-shin sensed waves of qi rising from Won-chang's entire body.

'Strong.'

It was a well-honed aura, more so than that of any wanderer Yeon-shin had encountered on the road to Xiangyang.

'When energy is refined, there is no waste. You can pour all your strength into the sword.'

As Yeon-shin thought this, the air split apart with Won-chang's draw.

"Hoh! That martial artist is different."

"I do not think I even saw it."

"I only saw a faint blur."

The onlookers burst into exclamations of admiration. There were even gamblers quickly placing bets on whether Won-chang would pass.

"Not bad."

The examiner nodded.

A bright smile bloomed on Won-chang's face, and the examiner took Won-chang's number token.

Returning to Yeon-shin's side, Won-chang whispered.

"For this first test, if that martial artist takes your token, you have passed. If you are told to return your token to the reception desk, you have failed."

"It seems you have passed the first test several times?"

"Hmm. The second test, the sparring, has always been the problem."

"Is there a third test?"

"An audience with the Lord of Desolate Fortress. There are martial artists who come all the way to Xiangyang for that alone, hoping to gain martial insight or enlightenment."

"I see."

Yeon-shin nodded and stepped forward.

Those who had reacted differently to the bets placed on Won-chang, as well as those who wore doubtful expressions, all responded with curiosity.

"Was that child truly an applicant?"

"A young swordsman with spirit."

"Well, if they are from elsewhere, when else would they have a chance to demonstrate their sword technique before warriors of Desolate Fortress?"

"Even a single word of advice would be a valuable experience."

Among the murmuring crowd, even the gamblers did not place bets.

Some even smiled as if watching a child perform tricks.

Yeon-shin silently rested his hand on his sword hilt and looked at the examiner.

The examiner nodded indifferently.

"You may begin."

The next moment.

"......"

Nothing happened.

The only difference was that Yeon-shin's sword was already drawn.

It was as though the motion had been cut apart in the instant one blinked. Only the examiner nodded with a stiff expression.

"The future of Desolate Fortress is here."

It was an extraordinary compliment. The onlookers and Won-chang reacted as though they could not believe it.

Some gaped or looked at those beside them as if wondering whether they had misheard. Won-chang's particularly vacant expression was a sight to behold.

Yeon-shin was surprised for a different reason.

'Even I, who used the sword technique, could not see it.'

The examiner seemed to have seen the Quick Sword Formula, which had now become too fast even for Yeon-shin's own eyes to follow.

Could that be a true Eye Technique? They said that reading an opponent's attacks was also a martial art.

"Give me your token."

"...Yes."

"Hmm. Number thirteen."

The examiner received the token and ran a hand over the characters as if engraving them into memory.

Various emotions seemed to intertwine in the examiner's eyes as they studied Yeon-shin.

Soon, as though resigning themself to something, the examiner closed their eyes once and gestured with their head. It meant that Yeon-shin should leave.

"Then."

Yeon-shin sheathed his sword, cupped his hands in salute, and left the Training Hall.

Won-chang, who had stood frozen in place, hurried after him.

The sidelong glances from nearby were somewhat bothersome.

"What is it?"

"Well, um... Are you perhaps the child of a renowned family?"

Yeon-shin smiled at the cautious manner of address.

"Would that change anything? Once one enters Desolate Fortress, all that matters is martial skill, aptitude, and effort."

"Hoh... You truly intend to pass the Desolate Exam."

"Is that not why we came? Not only me, but Brother Hyeon as well."

"...That is true. You are right."

Won-chang fell silent.

Won-chang was staying at a different inn. After remaining silent for a while, he bade farewell and disappeared.

Yeon-shin hoped that he would pass the second test together with that kind and talkative man.

* * *

The first and second tests were held once a week and once every two months, respectively.

When Yeon-shin passed the first test, there were about three weeks remaining until the second.

During that time, he practiced the Jeong Family Youth Technique, the Quick Sword Formula, and the qi amplification technique he had named The Fatebreaker's Codex.

In the mountains outside the county where the inn stood, he practiced all three. Once he returned to his room, he circulated The Fatebreaker's Codex.

Creating new martial arts was good, but with actual combat ahead, Yeon-shin believed it was right to become proficient in the skills he already possessed.

Sparring. It was the comparison of martial arts one had learned.

They said the final Desolate Exam concluded by displaying one's martial prowess against an opponent.

Yeon-shin devoted all his remaining time solely to martial arts. During that time, Won-chang did not visit even once.

-Murmur, murmur.

And now.

"This is..."

Inside Desolate Fortress stood dozens of grand and splendid pavilions.

Every martial artist passing through exuded a formidable presence.

Countless pavilions stood beside a horizon that seemed to stretch to the end of the world, amid sweeping natural scenery.

As Yeon-shin followed the attendant's guidance, he saw others in the same situation as himself.

"This is truly the foremost place of learning for martial arts under heaven..."

"I heard those in White Uniform are novice warriors, so how can their presence be so formidable?"

"Is that not obvious? Even attaining White Uniform guarantees a bright future."

"I wonder what hidden dragons will emerge this time..."

"I, Cho Moo-ryang of Mount Heng, will become a dragon that awakens and stretches!"

They seemed to converse easily despite being strangers. Then Yeon-shin spotted a familiar face.

Won-chang appeared to notice Yeon-shin as well and approached with a delighted expression.

"Young Master Jeong! It seems you have grown taller!"

"Brother Hyeon, you look well too."

"I have made a small achievement, that is all."

Still wearing the eye-catching Yellow Dragon hero's headband around his forehead, Won-chang rubbed beneath his nose.

"Still, there is no way to know. Winning is not what matters in this test. They say it is enough to catch the eye of one of Desolate Fortress's experts watching the sparring, even if you only fight once out of the two bouts. But that is the most difficult part."

"Then one could win a sparring match and still fail."

"Exactly. And today, the examiners' standards are certain to be even higher."

"Why is that?"

"It seems you have not heard the rumor. They say the White Qilin will appear in today's Desolate Exam."

"The White Qilin, from the Namgung Family?"

"That is right. The White Qilin is already famous in Southern Zhili. They say the White Qilin destroyed a notorious mounted-bandit gang before turning fifteen and slew the Mist Slayer, a sword expert of the Black Path. They also say that around the age of eighteen, the White Qilin defeated every promising member of the younger generation at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering of the Eight Great Families. The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is where the promising younger members of prestigious families form connections. Yet no one has denied those rumors, so perhaps they are true."

This time, Yeon-shin could not hide his surprise.

If so, the White Qilin was indeed powerful enough to bear the epithet of a legendary spiritual beast.

The reality of the martial world, which he had only heard about in fragments in Xinye County, now felt much closer. He could truly feel that he had made his debut in the martial world.

"If the White Qilin is a promising member of the Namgung Family, wouldn't they already have everything they needed? If the White Qilin possesses such martial prowess, why come to Desolate Fortress?"

"Because the White Qilin is an illegitimate son. The White Qilin cannot become the Family Head."

Won-chang covered his mouth and whispered after moving closer.

Yeon-shin frowned at the breath against his ear and quickly stepped away.

Won-chang chuckled as though there had never been any distance between them.

"The Lord of Desolate Fortress belongs to the elven race and is said to have held that position while retaining a youthful appearance for over two hundred years. But even rising only as far as squad leader, one would have no reason to envy a Family Head of the Eight Great Families. The influence is even greater. It is a position that coordinates the order of the martial world from the center of the Central Plains."

"Is it truly that significant?"

"Desolate Fortress is involved in every major event of the martial world, so is that not natural? Are you from some village rather than a great family?"

Yeon-shin closed his mouth and continued walking.

Won-chang followed with a bright smile, wearing an expression as though looking at a cute younger sibling.

"Please wait here. When your name is called, proceed to the Training Hall."

The attendant left around thirty hopeful entrants behind and departed.

They had stopped at a small garden behind an enormous Training Hall.

There was another garden on the opposite side, and people had gathered there as well.

Fresh green shoots rose around them, with bright flowers blooming here and there. Yet no one looked at the scenery.

Some stood with their eyes closed, engaging in visualization training, while others stared blankly into empty space. Each had their own manner.

Yeon-shin waited while performing the Jeong Family Youth Technique through subtle movements.

Before long, one person at a time was called from each side.

They sparred in the center, surrounded by warriors of Desolate Fortress seated in a circle.

After the fights ended, those leaving to the north walked away with their shoulders held proudly high, while those returning southward had drooping shoulders.

"How can they be like that..."

Won-chang once again failed to hide the anxiety.

"Among the martial artists who passed the first test, there cannot be anyone who has never been called a martial genius. I, too, was called a martial genius in my county."

The attempt to ease the tension with a joke was almost pitiable.

"How cruel and difficult it is to be chosen among such geniuses. And to demonstrate one's martial arts amid the experts of Desolate Fortress..."

"Is it not thrilling?"

"Hmm?"

"Having one's talent recognized is exciting. At the very least, it is twice as good as being ignored for being strange."

"Young Master Jeong..."

Won-chang was about to say something.

"Henan, Nanyang! Jeong Yeon-shin of Xinye County, step forward!"

An attendant who had run to the garden called out.

"I hope we meet again. Here, in Desolate Fortress."

With his left hand resting on the sword hilt at his left waist, Yeon-shin walked out of the garden at an unhurried pace. Won-chang's shout rang out behind him.

"We certainly will!"

* * *

The first sparring match was trivial.

The opponent spoke strangely, as though they had trained alone in some small village.

Though the world had the Four Books and Five Classics, and various sects each passed down their own teachings, most martial artists who had not properly learned orthodox martial arts lived in worlds of their own.

Their sole spirit of the age was the law of the strong preying upon the weak.

There were all kinds of people in the Central Plains, making it impossible to predict another's values or conduct.

"You are a moth struggling without even knowing that despair is your destination!"

The swordsman grinned, showing yellow teeth.

As soon as the sparring began, Yeon-shin struck the opponent's mouth with his sword sheath.

Footnotes:

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