Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time - Chapter 92
Chapter 92 – Instant Kill Martial Arts (4)
Soon a hearty laugh spread across the young master’s face. His eyes looking at Jeong Yeon-shin drew gentle arcs.
“Truly magnificent. I’ve lost once.”
“You showed the momentum of Emperor Sword Form. I too gained something from it.”
Jeong Yeon-shin answered calmly. It meant there was no need to judge victory in the battle of energy.
Emperor Sword Form. It was a type of divine technique he had never experienced before. If he had faced it directly in the martial matches, he would have had to concede a move.
“You gained something? I’m curious how you’ll unravel it.”
The young master’s smile deepened.
Jeong Yeon-shin read competitive spirit in his expression. It was the appearance of one walking the martial path.
Like the Orthodox Sects’ practitioners. He seemed like a person with many faces.
“By the way, Deep Martial Alliance…”
Namgung Hwa-shin approached beside Jeong Yeon-shin and opened his mouth.
“Unlike their name, I heard their sect system is no different from military. They say they became close to a private army under protection of Henan’s feudal king. They’re a sect with many members.”
“Close to military…”
As Jeong Yeon-shin muttered, he nodded.
“Just because they’re called Hundred Man Commander doesn’t mean their martial might stands alone in their ranks. There must be many more powerful warriors in Deep Martial Alliance. Those fallen here should be seen as scouts. From now on, even greater masters will likely target Young Hero Jeong…”
His voice trailed off. Worry lay on his jade-like face.
His heart caring not for his own safety but worrying for Jeong Yeon-shin showed through clearly.
“I know a bit about Deep Martial Alliance’s young master.”
The young master said as he approached while gripping his lowered sword. Blood was still dripping from the precious sword he hadn’t yet sheathed.
“You could say he’s a general type good at scheming. He’d be a tiresome opponent if made into an enemy.”
“That sounds like you mean his martial arts level isn’t important.”
“You understand quickly. He’s a man who makes good use of human wave tactics. He’s clashed with the main family several times too. You should be wary too. If a village you stop at for a night feels strange? It would be best to turn back immediately. If you can, that is.”
“…I’ll keep it in mind.”
Jeong Yeon-shin gave a short reply and closed his mouth. It was because the young master’s speech and behavior came across as strange.
Though they should fight to the death, he advised with a gentle tone as if addressing a younger brother.
It was like ordinary martial world senior-junior relationships. His casual conversation with Jeong Yeon-shin made it even stranger.
‘Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin… what a peculiar person.’
Though a short murim journey, he should be wary. There was room for the companionship shared with White Qilin to sprout even with his life-and-death match opponent. The boy deliberately emptied his mind.
He turned while picking up the fallen Desolate sword.
Perhaps because the palm technique’s explosion had driven away the birds? The forest path was quieter than before.
“Burying the corpses would be work too. We should go now.”
At Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, Namgung Hwa-shin approached. He had been steadily watching the conversation between his companion and half-brother.
“No internal injuries?”
It was a blunt question, perhaps due to many thoughts. When the boy answered yes, he silently nodded.
Behind them, Namgung Mi watched Jeong Yeon-shin with closed lips.
“Let’s go.”
The boy said.
The group who had each sheathed their swords moved their steps again. Deep Martial Alliance’s ambush was no small matter.
However, it wasn’t an issue worth delaying their steps for either. All martial artists were such beings. They were ones who gained fame by stepping over corpses.
‘Ah.’
As he walked turned around, Jeong Yeon-shin suddenly discovered he had become numb to killing. He felt completely nothing.
He just cut down enemies, that was all. It wasn’t like this when he killed the Tyrant Sword Sect warrior at Jeong family estate. He had to deliberately look away then.
Was it because he was chased by time with a set end? Or was it due to his heart wanting to live even if it meant stepping on enemy corpses?
THUD THUD.
Summer rain began falling little by little.
It came down in small intervals. It was like flowing tears in place of the Deep Martial Alliance corpses.
Since the killer was indifferent, it didn’t seem bad for even heaven to grieve. Since Jeong Yeon-shin himself didn’t know when he would become like that too.
The sound of rain meeting leaves was clear. Only Namgung Mi’s irritated groans came as noise.
Jeong Yeon-shin walked silently in the summer rain.
He newly realized himself becoming a martial artist. The raindrops hitting his shoulders were cold.
* * *
Read it only at nineheavens.org
Translated by Nine Heavens
SWOOSH–
“It’s pouring tediously.”
Boredom mixed in Flourishing Spirit Flower Master Namgung Mi’s voice. The pouring rain streams immediately swallowed even that voice.
Rain seemed to pour across the entire vicinity. The glass-like summer rain thoroughly soaked the group’s bodies.
They had just entered the southern entrance of South Zhili. It was Huizhou where the Namgung family main house was located.
“The streets are empty. Even accounting for rain, it feels uniquely lacking presence.”
Namgung Hwa-shin standing beside Jeong Yeon-shin said. Though his blood kin was present, he deliberately stayed by the boy’s side.
It was bearing that seemed to clearly establish his position, while Namgung Mi glared as if finding it distasteful.
The young master walking ahead on the muddy ground wearing a bamboo hat answered.
“It’s because even if rain pours, it’s not much help for farming.”
“Due to poor harvests?”
“Your words are right, Brother Hwa-shin. It’s becoming a big problem lately. Even if commoners luckily grow food, it’s problematic. Strong young men take it away. It’s not rare for martial artists to do the same things. Whether common people or martial warriors, the need to eat and live is the same.”
“Poor harvests even in South Zhili…”
“Wanderers and evil sects don’t care about commoners’ lives. Those who commit evil acts are common. Since public sentiment is unstable, you’ll need to pack plenty of dried food when traveling the murim from now on.”
Jeong Yeon-shin steadily watched the young master exchanging words with Namgung Hwa-shin.
He had been constantly measuring him. He did so the whole time walking as companions.
From the bearing occasionally revealed and extremely deep inner power breathing, to even his gait that seemed to train movement techniques in daily life.
He was already a complete warrior. He simply couldn’t feel confident in victory.
‘If there was a flawless Lazy Flame Dragon, he would be like this person.’
Jeong Yeon-shin thought. This was the appearance of a genius who had trained longer than himself working diligently without laxity. He should be strong. Could he take this person’s neck?
“Hmm? Why are you like that?”
He turns back as if sensing the gaze through energy sense. The boy shook his head.
That’s when it happened. Namgung Mi who had been watching Jeong Yeon-shin with cold eyes approached lightly.
“The main house is soon. I wonder if you enjoyed this murim tour that will become your last.”
“Is it your hobby to make worthless conversation? What baseless entertainment.”
At the boy’s indifferent retort, she snorted.
Namgung Mi was direct line who had learned the family’s secret eye techniques. She had eyes that could insight martial arts’ weaknesses.
The same went for the palm technique displayed by Desolate Fortress’s Lightning Genius. There were problems with the precision of activation signs and palm technique direction. It was clumsy enough to be a major flaw in the world of masters.
It was incomplete. Only the power was amazing.
‘Though he’ll die soon, the feeling is strange.’
It was like that from first sight. She felt dissonance in his manner of speech.
It was hard to exist. It wasn’t a feeling that should come from someone she had never seen.
Among peers under heaven, only her brother Namgung Se-jin had received her acknowledgment.
The Hwangbo family’s Lazy Flame Dragon was dissolute, and Namgung Hwa-shin with assassin’s blood was useless. Those excellent in martial arts, nature, and bloodline were hard to find even searching all under heaven.
Nine young female masters called phoenixes in the martial world.
Among the Nine Phoenixes under heaven, she prided herself as standing alone.
There were no rising talents who caught her eye. It meant no one had left a deep impression in her mind.
There existed no one worth deliberately remembering. Only the name of Zhongnan Sect’s Wei Ji Myo-hwa who gained the title of dragon was irritating. It was because she hadn’t seen her.
The Namgung bloodline was the greatest noble family in South Zhili.
Namgung Mi had never experienced problems linked to survival.
Values that wanderers or small-medium sect warriors would call luxurious were her world. She liked the saying “I alone am the honored one.”
‘Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin.’
She had received information gathered by the family. She thought a fairly outstanding new talent was being bothersome.
A boy who became pretext for Desolate Fortress to strike Namgung. That was all. He hadn’t reached the capacity to discuss all under heaven. His age was such.
Then what was it? Why wasn’t he unfamiliar?
Her senses standing on end as an internal energy technique master wouldn’t let go of the question.
She pondered the whole way to Huizhou. Then suddenly an assumption occurred. She couldn’t think of it right away because it was so absurd.
Namgung Mi had only once looked down on an enemy by force.
It was very intense. He was one still dominating a corner of her mind even now.
The mask grinning like an evil dragon, the calloused hand that gripped her neck, indifferent eyes, the blood-colored robe that matched ominous and destructive energy waves and stern bearing.
“You.”
Namgung Mi moved her lips.
“Won’t you show me your hand once?”
* * *
Desolate Fortress’s Heavenly Gold Martial Arsenal.
It was a castle rising with pure white stone walls. It was a magnificent library no less than the main fortress’ inner castle.
The marble walls were beautiful, said to have been brought from the royal family of the Dali Kingdom destroyed by the Desolate Fortress Lord’s hand.
The gate warriors standing guard had solemn attitudes. It was because Desolate Fortress’s secret martial art manuals were stored there.
Desolate Fortress’s basic techniques brought from the imperial family.
The main castle martial arts compiled into secret manuals devised by castle warriors.
It was a complete collection of martial arts. All gathered here.
“Was it around here…?”
Along with the unique smell of books, the vast interior spread out.
One Radiant Demon Wing white warrior stood before classically arranged bookshelves.
The girl in white martial robes was the youngest following Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin.
Shin So-bin who had begun to be called Radiant Demon Wing’s White Cat.
Like words ambiguous to even call a title, she examined the library with large eyes resembling a white cat.
“What are you looking for?”
“Ah.”
At the heavy voice suddenly coming from beside, Shin So-bin turned her head.
She had been very focused. She hadn’t noticed another warrior approaching close enough.
“Senior Red Day Sword.”
He was a warrior with the impression of having gone through hundreds of battles in the military division. His bearing was rough and strong.
The middle-aged warrior with scars across his face and neck nodded solemnly.
“Right. We met during the blue rank promotion test. A precious daughter of a renowned family like you remembers even my title. Though I was helplessly defeated by your direct senior.”
“It was an impressive match. Senior Lightning Genius is, um… beyond anyone’s reach.”
“Shall I call you Radiant Demon Wing’s White Cat?”
Shin So-bin’s brows furrowed. It was because she didn’t like the nickname.
Red Day Sword smiled awkwardly as if understanding and changed the topic.
“Many fortress warriors linger around here. I wondered about giving advice whenever I saw them, but came over since your face was familiar.”
“Many?”
“Isn’t it natural? It’s the youngest blue-rank master’s martial arts. Anyone would be interested. They must be filled with flashing wisdom. Even now they’re all gone because everyone borrowed them? Since they can’t take them outside the Heavenly Gold Library, they must be training in the practice ground behind.”
“It would be hard with just secret manuals.”
“That’s how much they’re trying. When Lightning Genius returns, Radiant Demon Wing Hall will be very crowded. Who would have known? That he would pour out all martial arts before leaving for the Namgung family martial matches. There must be countless people earnestly hoping for Lightning Genius’ victory now.”
“Ah… I was late again.”
Shin So-bin drooped her hair braided on both sides.
“I saw black-ranked sect leaders too.”
Red Day Sword spoke as if consoling the discouraged girl.
“Fate Defying Scripture, Radiant Wing Step, Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm, Eternal Blossom Fist, Radiant Sword Style… they’re secret martial art manuals worthy of discussing all martial arts under heaven. He truly bestowed everything as if sweeping away achievements.”
“There was much talk about that in our Radiant Demon Wing too. Saying isn’t it too wasteful after all.”
“I was curious too. Martial arts that spread widely inevitably have breaking methods developed. Even excluding Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm which no one could enter. The martial arts donated to the Heavenly Gold Arsenal were all Lightning Genius’ main techniques? Even if achievements were very urgent, it’s hard to understand.”
“That’s also Senior Lightning Genius’ wish.”
Shin So-bin raised her head and smirked.
“He said he wants to try breaking the Breaking methods again. Saying achievements would advance greatly. Even when I mastered the first three moves of Eternal Blossom Fist and stood before that senior, he’s someone who would calmly bring out the fourth move… well, it would be hard to even follow the mastery achievements of the original creator.”
[TL Note- Breaking methods are counter martial arts.]
“Breaking the Breaking methods…”
Red Day Sword seemed at a loss for words for a moment.
“By the way.”
This time Shin So-bin spoke first.
“I didn’t know I had so many competitors. Fortress warriors numerously entering Senior Lightning Genius’ martial arts? Even without master-disciple bonds in fortress law, there will be many who revere him. I wonder if he’s becoming a sect founder.”
“Though he can’t be called sect leader or founder since he hasn’t opened a sect, but in the fortress a legacy of Lightning Genius is already forming…”
Annihilation Team’s Red Day Sword spoke slowly.
“The title Great Master would be fitting.”