Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time - Chapter 65

Chapter 65 – The Blood Flame Sect (4)

WHOOSH!

The next moment Jeong Yeon-shin stood before the Sect Leader. It was swift body technique.

The Blood Flame Sect Leader’s white hair flowed long, disheveled by the belated wind.

Was it faith in the Sect Leader as an absolute being? No one acted rashly.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly stretched out his hand and gripped the pill.

The Blood Flame Sect Leader didn’t stop him. He just looked at Jeong Yeon-shin with interest, palm spread open.

“Narrows the meridians?”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered quietly.

The pill gripped in his hand appeared large to his eyes. It was crimson-black like congealed murky blood.

He said:

“How can one live with blocked qi and blood? The word poison is right. It kills people.”

“It would be useful when rising to the apostle realm. Cultivate your entire body’s meridians through true qi. You should be able to endure it.”

“You must know the upper dantian plays a big role in creating martial arts. Won’t my effectiveness disappear?”

“Even with your extraordinary talent, it will take quite some time. By then, couldn’t you have overcome one of our sect’s weaknesses?”

The Blood Flame Sect Leader said while raising the corners of his mouth. It was a puzzling smile.

‘Trust this person? Nonsense.’

Jeong Yeon-shin gauged reality.

The moment he changed the battle’s flow, he was cut by the Namgung family’s non-intervention.

It was unworthy of the main family of White Qilin Namgung Hwa-sin who had shown a surprisingly upright character.

It approached similar to the Hwangbo family.

Now that distrust of orthodox martial arts had become clear, even the evil sect leader’s words didn’t approach with sincerity.

Everything was hard to believe. The murim was a place that couldn’t be trusted.

Moreover, he said it was poison that couldn’t be taken immediately. Its effectiveness was unknown.

‘Saying it’s only suitable to take at spostle level? Blood Flame Sect Apostles aren’t much different from Desolate Sect black ranks. He’s telling me to live as a slave to martial arts for a long time.’

However, he had to comply in this situation.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded and put the pill in his breast.

The Blood Flame Sect Leader, wearing a satisfied expression, clapped once more.

“Having regular members’ Blood Summoning Technique is natural. But it’s a vessel far too small to contain thousand-year talent.”

Following his gesture, another servant approached.

Jeong Yeon-shin looked at two books presented in the servant’s hands.

“Demon Roaring Blood Technique. I bestow the Apostle’s secret arts to the Grand Teacher.”

The Blood Flame Sect Leader concluded with a voice tinged with laughter.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently collected the Demon Roaring Blood Technique manual.

It seemed not long since it was transcribed. The paper’s texture felt new.

‘Blood Flame Sect Apostle’s internal energy cultivation technique…’

Now an evil sect’s peerless secret manual had entered his possession.

Jeong Yeon-shin instantly sensed what kind of events this would cause.

He recalled streams of blood flowing down the thirty-six steps below the Sect Leader’s hall.

Was it upper dantian precognition? Or perhaps just imagination.

However, no concern showed from the gathered supreme masters here.

It seemed confidence born from evil sect members’ unique boldness from deep cultivation, long murim experience, and accomplished martial arts and insight.

Indeed, this place was their sanctuary.

‘For now.’

Escape by his own power was impossible.

But it seemed he could inflict damage. In Desolate Sect’s Lighting Flash’s own way.

How much merit would he gain when harming the Blood Flame Sect main hall?

‘She might give me a piece of the fruit.’

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t worry about his survival.

‘Blood Flame Sect. By capturing me, the location of major forces has been specified.’

Desolate Sect’s lord came to mind. The absolute being standing at the peak of elves said to wield all abilities.

Though he harbored distrust of the murim, her image was clear.

With clues given, nothing that happened would be strange.

‘They said I was first to set foot in the main hall. It’s unprecedented. Maximum fortnight’s distance from Clear Night Valley. If it can be swept in a circle…’

While lost in thought, the Blood Flame Sect Leader parted his lips again.

“There are parts the Grand Teacher must not touch.”

“Speak.”

“The matter of containing and purifying impure outsiders’ true qi in our bodies… It is our sect’s fundamental doctrine. As it is sacred verses that draw out mission as instinct.”

“……”

“Do not touch it.”

It meant don’t modify the verses that cause qi absorption and madness.

They were the Blood Flame Sect of the Thirteen Evil Sects. It would be easy enough to examine victims to learn the improved martial arts first.

Jeong Yeon-shin turned around silently. Quietly complying would rather raise greater suspicion.

“Show some respect!”

Explosive momentum surged then subsided from the Third Apostle behind.

The Blood Flame Sect Leader seemed to have stopped him.

The Seventh Apostle approached with quick steps and linked arms.

Glancing sideways, her face showed an enraptured expression.

Her bright red lips created the image of a madwoman.

“I’m so excited about the reborn blood techniques. How long will it take? Hm?”

“……”

From waking in the Seventh Apostle’s house until reaching the Sect Leader’s hall.

Jeong Yeon-shin began honing the blade in his heart while experiencing something unprecedented in the world.

* * *

“You can change the Blood Summoning Technique as you wish. But…”

The Seventh Apostle said while reclining on the bed. She was looking at Jeong Yeon-shin sitting formally on the floor.

“The Demon Roaring Blood Technique is different. You’ll have to make it fit me.”

Rising smoothly from her seat, she moved her lips. Her white face was full of possessiveness.

Soon approaching, her touch was gentle as she stroked Jeong Yeon-shin’s hair.

It was hair that even Ma Yeon-jeok and Ma Jin hadn’t had the chance to observe.

If they too had been able to directly touch and examine his crown, they would have immediately noticed his constitution.

Many Radiant Demon Wing’s seniors had stroked Jeong Yeon-shin’s head.

Rather, his maternal family members dared not do so. It was thought to be due to feeling guilty.

The Seventh Apostle’s lips approached his ear.

“I’ll show you everything. True qi operation, footwork, even the movement of every muscle fiber in creating body technique.”

She whispered bewitchingly.

Perhaps at the core was the feeling that it didn’t matter since he would die anyway. Jeong Yeon-shin spoke with eyes closed.

“So this is the Blood Flame Sect’s hierarchy. Can you scheme things without the Sect Leader knowing?”

“The Sect Leader only cares about the Blood Summoning Technique. He’s satisfied if sect members can live without being hunted. Since slight changes to the Demon Roaring Blood Technique verses won’t dramatically improve Apostles’ martial might. But you…”

Suddenly the Seventh Apostle’s hand roughly grabbed his head. Her red jade-like outer eye filled Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision.

“You won’t make martial arts just for me? Really? You dare?”

“Let go. I was unraveling your base blood technique verses.”

“Ah.”

The strength in her grip instantly vanished. The Seventh Apostle pulled back her face and made a crying expression.

She began stroking both sides of Jeong Yeon-shin’s head with both hands.

“Sorry. Sorry. I interrupted sacred work. Sorry. I was awful. Sorry.”

“……”

He was already used to the Seventh Apostle’s behavior with constantly fluctuating emotions.

It was so even though not a day had passed since regaining consciousness.

But this wasn’t what was important.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly rose from his seat.

The Seventh Apostle looked up with her single red eye wide. Her face wasn’t threatening to kill anymore.

After looking down at her briefly, he opened his mouth.

“I need to take a walk. Let me see your movement technique.”

“Great!”

The Seventh Apostle brightened instantly and got up to lightly grab his sleeve.

How should he operate the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm to shatter this hand? Jeong Yeon-shin pondered.

Creeak.

As soon as they left the room, he sent true qi to the Bubbling Well point under his feet.

Though blood technique true qi filled and lurked in his meridians, there was no issue with lightness technique operation.

It was because he was born with true qi control. The Seventh Apostle smiled with her eyes.

WHOOSH!!

The two masters began roaming the evil sect’s village.

The main hall was clearly visible to Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes but no one stopped them.

It made him wonder if there was another source to their absolute confidence.

“Did you hide this place with formation techniques?”

His words pierced the air striking their ears. A strange smile formed on the Seventh Apostle’s lips.

“Yes. The Two Flame Blood Spirit Formation. You wouldn’t have heard of it? It’s our sect’s most accomplished esoteric learning. It’s been continuously strengthening while accumulating hundreds of years of history.”

“Indeed.”

They said imperial blood flowed thick with elf blood.

Hiding a city from their eyes? There was no way except through sorcery or formations said to handle the principles of all creation.

It was the Blood Flame Sect, long famous for blood techniques in the realm of sorcery.

It wasn’t strange that they protected the city with mysterious dark arts.

“I’d like to look around the outskirts.”

“Want to find clues to break it?”

The Seventh Apostle smiled brightly.

Sorcery wasn’t an unknown realm to Jeong Yeon-shin. He had already created dharma martial arts that broke blood techniques.

It meant sorcery’s qualities had entered his energy sense.

Yet the Seventh Apostle happily led Jeong Yeon-shin along.

As if it was pleasure to engrave her body technique in the Lightning Flash’s eyes.

‘She’s looking down on me.’

She spoke of hundreds of years.

Having lived safely in the main hall as long as time accumulated, it was natural to have confidence close to complacency.

They didn’t care what talent a single Desolate Sect blue-ranked master who entered had.

The gazes of the Blood Flame Sect masters seen in the Sect Leader’s hall.

There was another foundation to their expressions like looking at a spirit beast held in their hands. The Two Flame Blood Spirit Formation.

It was a natural sorcery formation that even the Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm couldn’t break.

WUUNG.

Jeong Yeon-shin confirmed the strangely rippling space at the village outskirts. It was amazing mysticism.

It was cut off from the outside. Only the wind passing in and out moved strangely free through the bizarrely twisted space.

He raised his entire body’s innate energy sense. He completely felt the formation’s energy waves by dismantling them piece by piece.

‘Plant energy?’

Suddenly Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes widened.

Rocks, grass, trees.

They were filled with true qi and bound together through some technique. The strange arrangement created concealment close to severance.

The entire village was hidden while wrapped in a formation of internal energy. It was called sorcery’s harmony.

He found a starting point to supplement insufficient power. Thanks to the arrogance and complacency of the likes of the Seventh Apostle.

BANG!

Blue lightning struck. Blue inspiration flickered in Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind.

Lightning intertwined strand by strand to form a skeleton of light. They were verses of true qi operation.

They were directly connected to three techniques. Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm, sword song, formation. They repeatedly expanded and rotated without rest.

“Isn’t it wonderful? A thousand-year barrier. Can you feel it’s not the time to distinguish whether you’re poison or medicine?”

He had to avoid showing the Seventh Apostle his insight.

Jeong Yeon-shin carefully contained the blue light trying to leak from his spirit eyes while slightly closing them. To appear momentarily despairing.

* * *

“This is why major sects can’t be trusted…!”

The gaunt-looking Hyeon Won-chang ranted. He seemed unaware that Wei Ji Myo-hwa of the Zhongnan Sect was standing before him.

Her expression was also grave.

“The Namgung family… they did save face. They acknowledged Young Hero Lightning Flash’s merit and gave Young Hero Hyson a spirit pill.”

“If you weren’t here, Miss, we wouldn’t have received it! Isn’t it clear? Petty b*st*rds!”

“……”

The two people wanted two things. Punishment of the Namgung family, and tracking Radiant Demon Wing’s whereabouts.

Wei Ji Myo-hwa had to stay away due to the range of Jeong Yeon-shin’s unique sword song. She had clearly seen it.

When Jeong Yeon-shin who cut straight across the battlefield reached the Namgung family leadership’s presence, no one supported him.

They ignored the Desolate Sect’s rising talent who had shown marvelous martial arts.

Until the young swordsman collapsed and was carried away in an apostle’s embrace.

Were they trying to cut off a sprout that would become the imperial court’s divine sword?

‘They clearly tried to kill a righteous hero walking the proper path.’

Wei Ji Myo-hwa thought. Moreover, they attempted it trusting in an enemy’s blade. It was truly despicable behavior.

However, rescuing Jeong Yeon-shin was more urgent.

“I sent spirit beasts to my sect. Support should be coming. The Zhongnan Sect doesn’t forget favors. Since we have deep ties with Shaolin and Mount Hua, I sent urgent messages, so there should be some kind of response.”

“…I’m very grateful.”

Hyeon Won-chang answered with reddened eyes. He had been frequently bursting with resentment.

Even now, twenty days after the Clear Night Valley battle.

The two had just returned to Huizhou after practically tearing through Chizhou and Ninguo near Clear Night Valley.

Hyeon Won-chang stayed at the government office as a Desolate Sect warrior. It was because he received news from senior warriors.

“So here you were.”

Cheong Myeong found them first. His expression had become very cold. Frost seemed to linger on his face.

“I heard the situation. Wait. The murim will gather.”

His tone was also very rigid.

Wei Ji Myo-hwa, who exchanged cupped fist salutes, asked back:

“What do you mean the murim will gather…?”

“I gathered Shaolin warrior monks including Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong, Mount Hua Sect leader’s disciple and Plum Blossom Sword Masters, martial officials who beg with government permission in South Zhili. Many martial noble families from South Zhili, Huguang, Jiangxi, and Henan were also drafted. Evil sect rampaging is also a state matter. They have no grounds to refuse.”

Cheong Myeong’s blue eyes stared blankly at Wei Ji Myo-hwa.

“You. Said you’re the Zhongnan Sect’s successor. If you want to build reputation, there won’t be a better opportunity. Make sure to perform well.”

“…Even so, isn’t this hastily gathered forces?”

Hyeon Won-chang said. His expression was grave.

“Even if heaven’s fortune helps us find them, there’s a problem. It doesn’t seem like enough power to strike the Blood Flame Sect with their enormous sect power.”

He analyzed coldly because he wanted to rescue Jeong Yeon-shin more than anyone.

Even with three of the Nine Sects joining, it would only be part of their main sect forces. The same was true for martial families and officials.

No matter how many in number, Apostle level forces were a different matter.

Cheong Myeong slowly shook his head.

“That level of difference doesn’t matter.”

“Why…?”

Hyeon Won-chang asked with a puzzled expression.

Cheong Myeong was silent for a moment. His beautiful face was unlike usual. It was hardened. Completely rigid.

He slowly parted his lips.

“The Sect Lord is coming.”