Chapter 787: Side Story – Please Step Over Them |
He lost a technique.
For Ma Yeon-jeok, this was the right expression.
The harmony of mind and body brought about elevation, and for Ma Yeon-jeok, martial arts that weren’t elevation techniques couldn’t be called martial arts at all.
If anger didn’t fill a technique that required recalling special fury, it was only half-formed. Because his upper dantian spirit couldn’t amplify his explosive release power.
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly shook his head.
“You will become even stronger.”
But to a martial artist who lost an ultimate technique, it would sound like hollow consolation. Ma Yeon-jeok’s doubtful intent was conveyed.
“It’s done. Sword Yang was a technique that needed to be lost. Even more so considering you.”
Jeong Yeon-shin smiled faintly before the now time-stopped Desolate Ma Family gate.
Ma Yeon-jeok didn’t decline.
“Jeong Pan-yue is a hypocrite mad for concubines, a rare scoundrel under heaven. I saw your smile, not that bastard’s face which only disgusts me. Even the madmen of the Thirteen Evil Sects were good men to their children and wives.”
“That’s right.”
“Also, though your father looked after the common people, it was because of superstition about the family’s safety, just as that bastard himself blathered. If not for Sang-ah, I would have crippled his limbs’ meridians and dantian. Though he’s your father, how can I help what my heart feels? What suits a dog scoundrel is a shovel, dry earth, a gravestone with no words written…”
Jeong Yeon-shin cut him off because the technique seemed about to revive.
“I’ve decided to smile now. And because I want grandfather to do the same, I intend to remove grandfather’s attack techniques one by one like this.”
“I’ll crush that pretty face like Senior Yue’s cooking… What?”
“Even when the world is turbulent, shouldn’t one’s heart be calm? Hatred is borrowing one’s life from the one you despise. Pain toward someone is the same.”
Whoosh!
All directions became blurred.
Jeong Yeon-shin took a large step forward.
As he pushed through the hazy mist, the scenery changed.
Suddenly they were in some mountains. The scent of tree leaves rushed in thick. A faint smell of blood also rose, and into it mixed resounding shouts.
From far below.
“Fellow martial artists, keep running! The opponents aren’t foot soldiers like the Pure Demon Alliance but remnants of the orthodox Demon Cult!”
“The great battle at the summit is ending! Not only the renowned great sects but even Desolate Fortress participated, so however strong the Ming Cult, victory is certain!”
“Great joyful news! The current generation’s Namgung First Sword mutually perished with Affectionate Dark Venerable among the Ming Cult’s Three Venerables! The Divine Sword Group’s Radiant Sword Squad Leader caused a crack in Pavilion Moon Venerable’s protective energy and died!”
“How is that merely joyful news…? Ah, he was from Profound Martial Alliance!”
It was a wide mountain slope.
Countless presences surged. The types of energy waves were also tremendously varied.
A feeling that more than half of famous divine techniques had gathered. Jeong Yeon-shin guessed the location from the situation.
‘Mount Tian.’
He’d traced back through the past again.
Much further back. The day Ma Yeon-jeok annihilated the Ming Cult’s remnants and planted his flag there.
Jeong Yeon-shin looked down at some man’s corpse. The residual energy wave was familiar. Nether Stream Squad’s characteristic quiet pulsation. The character “Desolate” carved on his shoulder.
“……”
He closed the eyes and climbed the hill.
A spacious clearing appeared. The ruined palace complex burned fiercely. Heating the silent air unlike below.
It seemed the great matter was already concluded.
‘Maternal grandfather.’
Middle-aged Ma Yeon-jeok gripped a darkened Enter The Divine Sword downward. A crimson face. How violently had he circulated his energy?
Around him.
Though over a hundred people fought creating afterimages, it felt quiet. Among them, some swordsman’s groan carried the reason.
“The Heavenly Demon in one exchange…”
Ma Yeon-jeok had killed the current Heavenly Demon with one technique.
That must be why Enter The Divine Sword was scorched. The Heavenly Demon Bloodline’s Black Flame technique.
‘Is that Sister Yelu’s grandfather?’
At Ma Yeon-jeok’s feet lay a corpse containing massive demonic energy. With upper and lower body completely split and burst open.
Therefore, the aspect of battle was simple.
“Recover the remains!”
“We can’t let the Cult Leader’s divine energy scatter! Young Cult Leader must inherit it…!”
“The One Move Invincible’s stamina is exhausted! Kill him and retreat!”
Kurururung!
Ming Cult masters trying to approach and jianghu alliance members blocking them.
Sword energy and fist strikes, countless explosive release powers carved furrows and whipped the atmosphere fiercely. Movements creating dense afterimages. Therefore, Ma Yeon-jeok’s surroundings were only clouds formed by crowds.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought while staring at his maternal grandfather. Hye-ah’s one punch would kill him.
He must have deployed Transcendent Martial Art the moment he faced the Heavenly Demon. If he’d produced such results, he couldn’t help being exhausted. Was that why? A familiar woman was approaching Ma Yeon-jeok with swaying steps.
“Squad Leader, are you dying now?”
She wore blood-stained black robes. Her spear hung askew. It was young Yue Shou-lin.
Ma Yeon-jeok’s expression twisted as if he’d kill her with one hand.
“Shut up and protect the main fortress martial artists.”
It was a temperament Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t know. No room for even a hint of jokes to penetrate. Enough that Yue Shou-lin shrugging her shoulders before him looked fresh.
She said.
“Everyone who was going to die died. It’s ending now. Only here is the problem.”
There was emptiness in her dry tone.
Ma Yeon-jeok seemed about to say something immediately, but he closed his mouth again. Soon he stood facing Major Heavenly Circulation.
Yue Shou-lin stood as his guardian. While kicking and striking fragments of light waves that occasionally flew. Sometimes she speared through three or four at once with thrown spears, then retrieved them with void grasping.
“Jianghu doesn’t know Squad Leader. What World’s Invincible, One Move Feeble Man fits better.”
Ma Yeon-jeok didn’t answer. Only Yue Shou-lin was talkative.
“When I get old, I’ll rejuvenate. Then I’ll protect juniors instead of Squad Leader.”
“…You with rejuvenation? That’s impossible even for me.”
“You deliberately speak during energy circulation? Also, what’s impossible? Just recently in Beijing, some young Yao child was caught taking the palace examination and fled.”
Jeong Yeon-shin realized. Trivial chatter was their true energy circulation.
Even during that, demon leaders rushed in like evil spirits. But no one could approach Ma Yeon-jeok. There were multiple reasons, one being Buddhist Master Beom-heo with intact arms using Hundred Step Divine Fist. The spectacle of young and old demon leaders’ heads bursting like watermelons, creating a blood spray.
“Nirvana… achieve nirvana…”
“Yuan Shi Peaceful Formation, after making village children sacrifices for Absorption Star Method, you still struggle. At that level of senility, you should die!”
Beside him, Taoist Hyeon-gong severed dozens of necks just by flashing clear sword light. A realm using natural earth energy like a blade.
Wooong…
That influence disrupted Jeong Yeon-shin’s full-body Natural Sword. Because it was a technique contrary to his nature.
Therefore his body was revealed.
“……!”
This was the Ming Cult’s main mountain covered with all manner of sorcery techniques. A moment when he could only appear as sorcery.
Whoosh!
Jeong Yeon-shin faced a much younger Buddhist Master Beom-heo. The Vajra Immovable Divine Method derived from perfect balance was transcendently fast.
Right before his head shattered against the palm ringed with golden light, Jeong Yeon-shin released dharma power. Immediately Buddhist Master Beom-heo’s movement stopped, and that impassive monk’s face melted like midsummer candy.
“Who might the benefactor be?”
Then Yue Shou-lin’s thrown spear flew but bounced off Buddhist Master Beom-heo’s gesture. Jeong Yeon-shin received an unfamiliar gaze from Yue Shou-lin. A piercing look, transparent killing intent.
Buddhist Master Beom-heo blocked her.
“A good person.”
“Has that monk gone mad?”
Their argument ended there. Suddenly the chaotic battle intensified, and Jeong Yeon-shin slipped into it. He simultaneously deployed full-body Natural Sword again.
The battle was quickly settled.
The Ming Cult people abandoned the Cult Leader’s corpse and Ma Yeon-jeok’s life. Only a few surviving masters escaped Tian Shan. Among them, a young man and woman appeared to be Invincible’s parents.
A one-eyed woman giving off Radiant Demon Wing energy waves was speaking to Yue Shou-lin.
“I checked. Deputy Squad Leader’s spear burst the Ming Cult Young Leader’s leg. She’ll be crippled for life.”
“She was hit by my spear but you couldn’t catch her?”
Yue Shou-lin’s retort. The woman who seemed to be the Radiant Demon Wing Leader of that generation grumbled back.
“Mad demon leaders kept rushing. Had to crack the heads of blade-wielders first. Protect our kids too…”
Demon-Subduing Strange Hero Xiahou You.
Uncle Ma Jin’s predecessor.
She died after much time passed. At that time, while opposing the great evil sect of blade demons called Sword Alliance among the Thirteen Evil Sects.
Because Sword Alliance, absorbed in the ultimate of blade strikes cutting human bodies, practiced on South Zhili’s common people. When Sword Alliance tried to conceal Xiahou Yu’s death, they were annihilated by Lim Jin-ming’s scheme.
The reason the young, almost juvenile Lim Jin-ming rapidly advanced to Grand Administrator.
‘Annihilation Team disguised Blood Flame Cult nobles as common people and threw them to Sword Alliance, and Nether Stream Squad spread rumors that Sword Alliance began using Strong Sword as their signature skill…’
Blood Flame Cult Leader Baek-rak and Sitting Sword Demon Wan Hui’s visit.
That was all. Desolate Fortress had already struck the Ming Cult. Also, moving on a large scale again could make other enemies form an alliance.
Thirteen Evil Sects’ Sword Alliance was later replaced by Martial Dragon Society.
Ma Yeon-jeok had many revenge campaigns that ended before they even started. It was also why he frequently destroyed Wish for Peace Sword Hall under Lim Jin-ming’s management.
Kwang!
Ma Yeon-jeok who planted a flagpole in the dead Heavenly Demon’s head.
It differed from widely known rumors. Not the fierce character “Desolate,” but some woman’s face was drawn. Features sharp enough to replace the original inscription.
‘Maternal grandmother.’
One of the orphans adopted into Desolate Fortress Yun Family.
They said she was from nameless disciples. Rose to Radiant Sword Squad blue rank with exceptional talent.
She didn’t act as Ma Family’s mistress by her own will. She remained just as a Radiant Sword Squad member. Even when killed while destroying Ming Cult’s Absorption Star Formations throughout Ming lands.
“Please step over them.”
Ma Yeon-jeok said.
Step.
He turned his back on the Heavenly Demon who became the flag’s base.
The Ming Cult subjugation wasn’t Ma Yeon-jeok’s private revenge. Demon Path’s wickedness merely accumulated to call the jianghu alliance.
What was truly private was one flag stuck in a skull.
Jeong Yeon-shin gazed at his maternal grandmother’s face for a while before following. Soon the place where Ma Yeon-jeok’s steps stopped was a quiet mid-slope.
“You came?”
Similarly middle-aged Council Elder Shin Byeok sat on a pile of giant demons’ corpses. His cross-legged posture was neat.
The land where Yue Shou-lin and Xiahou Yu had gathered countless jianghu people and main fortress martial artists’ corpses.
The Desolate Fortress flag was planted there.
Kwang!
It was like a gravestone.
When Ma Yeon-jeok removed his hand from the flagpole, Jeong Yeon-shin engraved the dead’s faces one by one. He gazed long like when viewing his maternal grandmother’s flag.
Suddenly the space began melting hazily. Together with Ma Yeon-jeok’s intent.
“How amusing. The knot I didn’t even know existed is loosening. It’s because you, Yeon-shin, are both Fortress Lord and the incarnation of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique.”
“Outings are good.”
“Yes, good. Very good…”
There was more.
Various memories continued. Disjointed recollections. A feeling of turning pages of a diary written in one day.
In them, Jeong Yeon-shin protected Ma Jin’s manhood, conversed with Shin Cheon-hwa right before his eyes closed, and witnessed the moments when Ma Yeon-jeok’s subordinate squad leaders died and were buried.
Ma Yeon-jeok’s words decreased.
Had he felt it?
Jeong Family Dynamic Technique was a martial art with determined ultimate principles.
It only grew stronger through great peace. A formula created that way from birth. For Ma Yeon-jeok, who’d transformed through Jeong Family Dynamic Technique, to reach martial extremes, he couldn’t wield hatred like a blade.
Jeong Yeon-shin asked.
“Despite all these memories, if you find peace, wouldn’t that be what it means to be invincible?”
Whoosh!
The next moment, Jeong Yeon-shin returned to Xi’an’s low hill. Still the bright blue sky, land sprouting shoots everywhere, Hwangbo Geon-ryun on his back…
And Ma Yeon-jeok was smiling.
He’d lost many techniques, but his body had crossed a wall. The grandson and grandfather’s walk was like that. It was an outing to find a mental image fitting for a body that was originally a divine sword.
Hwangbo Geon-ryun asked.
“That person isn’t a legitimate successor either?”
“I’ve said repeatedly…” That was when Ma Yeon-jeok’s mouth suddenly opened.
“Yeon-shin.”
“Yes.”
“Mourn me for six years.”
“That’s a bit much.”
“While you were gone, the main fortress faced many crises. First, law and order greatly collapsed. Of course I intend to correct it, so hear the report from that Lim fellow later.”
“Yes.”
Ma Yeon-jeok discussed later reports with the Fortress Lord and departed. Jeong Yeon-shin nodded at that lawless back.
When he’d had a terminal illness, he’d vowed. If he overcame his lifespan, the world would see the spectacle of three generations of Ma Family competing in knowledge and propriety with the Four Books and Five Classics.
Jeong Yeon-shin muttered.
“I just need to beat my uncle.”