Chapter 788: Side Story – It’s Quite Shabby, Isn’t It? |
“I won!”
The words Jeong Hye shouted as soon as she entered the mountain gate.
She’d been to a gathering where exceptional rising stars exchanged martial fellowship.
This time, most chose Jeong Hye as the supreme master. With no major objections, she dominated the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
The grounds of Zhongnan Sect were also bustling.
“Fortunately she only broke the eaves. If the roof ridge is safe, we’ll save a few seok of rice. Who wants to descend the mountain?”
“Someone with a face that’s never begged from lay disciples should go.”
“There’s no such person on the main mountain… wait, there is one.”
“Is it the Sect Leader’s turn?”
The affectionate reprimands of Zhongnan disciples and Jeong Hye’s complaints could be heard faintly. Jeong Jung-san was organizing Zhongnan Sect’s secret manuals in such a secluded library.
‘Good.’
He felt pleased amid the birds’ chirping. But he couldn’t show it much. Because mountain sects’ discipline was strict.
His seniority was much lower than his niece Jeong Hye.
Her master, Zhongnan Sword Immortal, had been the current Sect Leader’s grand-uncle master. Therefore, Jeong Hye was the Sect Leader’s grand-uncle.
The sect’s highest elder.
He naturally had to show respect, and behave properly even when no one else was watching. Otherwise he might habitually pat Jeong Hye’s head and have his arm dislocated by a Sense Path counter technique.
Jeong Jung-san rubbed his elbow.
“More importantly…”
He looked around the library’s shelves. Secret martial manuals placed very neatly, ink fragrance not yet fully dispersed.
Many were new.
Natural. Because a major sect’s martial texts continuously grew.
The sect’s geniuses created new formulas from originals and branched out. Often giving new variations to techniques. While studying and exploring the profound principles popular in that era.
The same was true for Zhongnan’s secret manuals, most of which had burned due to Tyrant Sword Sect.
Grand Elder Yeo Il-shin had restored them, and new disciples had begun studying each martial art.
As Sect Leader Wei Ji-myohwa taught them, the major sect’s lineage continued. Also, Wei Ji-myohwa’s genius created new secret manuals during the teaching process, forming a cycle.
Jeong Hye had played a part.
With such seniority in a rebuilding sect, and at that age, she’d tried to help somehow since around age ten.
Mostly she interfered.
“I modified Blue Cloud Celestial Gang Hand’s energy circulation path. This way we’ll defeat Tyrant Sword Sect’s remnants with greater power.”
“Grand-uncle, that’s Brilliant River.”
“Then if I use Heaven River Thirty-Six Swords’ latter twelve techniques this way…”
“That’s Brilliant River.”
Eventually, Sect Leader Wei Ji-myohwa entrusted a mission to Jeong Jung-san. He would inspect any secret manuals coming through Jeong Hye. If Jeong Family Dynamic Technique or Brilliant River principles were mixed in, the order was to burn them immediately.
Only Jeong Hye possessed different types of heterogeneous true energy in one body, with no utility for most Zhongnan disciples. Rather, study that would only cause problems in relations with Desolate Fortress.
A living thunderbolt.
‘…Still, there haven’t been any for five years. She must have understood when I said it was a great sin against Yeon-shin.’
Jeong Jung-san left the library. It was now an old custom. In the distant future, it would become a practice whose origin no one knew.
Because he would soon leave Zhongnan.
That was when a junior brother suddenly came looking.
“The Sect Leader urgently seeks you, senior brother.”
“Urgently?”
Unusual.
Jeong Jung-san was neither widely learned nor greatly talented in martial arts. Just a body strangely rock-like.
Wei Ji-myohwa respected Jeong Jung-san but had no frequent need to seek him. They just occasionally conversed with the affection of having rebuilt the sect together.
“A distinguished guest is coming from Desolate Fortress… I don’t know the details.”
“Again?”
Jeong Jung-san’s shoulders hunched.
Recently many inexplicable things had happened.
He headed to Zhongnan Sect’s inner hall while recalling the meeting seven days ago.
“We’ve met before?”
“Yes, Hero Hwangbo.”
Lazy Flame Dragon Hwangbo Je-yul had come looking for Jeong Jung-san. He said it was to confirm whether this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly was a wholesome gathering.
They’d had a strange conversation.
“Strangely irritating. Why do you grate on me? You’re not a fifteen or sixteen-year-old niece using Brilliant River.”
“I, I’m but a commoner like dust compared to Hero Hwangbo…”
“Is the Fortress Lord dust’s younger brother?”
Jeong Jung-san had to endure Lazy Flame Dragon’s inexplicable quarrel. Absurdly, that fellow didn’t even know why he was doing it. Until he stared at Jeong Jung-san for a long time before leaving.
Scoundrel.
‘They say talented ones with developed upper dantian spirits act strangely like spirit-possessed people… Yeon-shin must have been the exception. Looking back, how much he shrank down.’
Young Jeong Yeon-shin at Jeong Family Estate had been very lonely. If embraced, he would have remained a gentleman. The main family’s karmic burden was great.
“Haah…”
Regret that always tightened like a noose in his head, and guilt toward the jianghu. Before he knew it, Jeong Jung-san had arrived at the inner hall Sect Leader’s room.
“Mm?”
Several shadows were cast on the door.
There were prior guests. Simultaneously, Wei Ji-myohwa’s voice rang out.
“Brother Jeong, come in.”
Entering, he saw a handsome man he’d only encountered through reputation. Silkworm Demon Sword Gentleman Namgung Hwa-shin. Sitting with Wei Ji-myohwa across a tea table.
The face beside him was also surprising.
‘Desolate Fortress Divine Hero Hyeon Won-chang…!’
So there were two.
A peerless master repeatedly failing promotion and a Blood Guardian Squad Leader who didn’t drink blood.
Hyeon Won-chang smiled and tapped the floor.
“Come join us, elder brother! Since we came all the way to Zhongnan, shouldn’t we drink together?”
Great cheerfulness mixed with immovable mind. The man who’d supported Jeong Yeon-shin’s jianghu journey. Now he must be a vessel that faced even fairly major matters with laughter.
‘That fellow’s mood won’t be disturbed like the tea fragrance flowing in this room. But why did he come to our sect?’
Jeong Jung-san carefully raised Zhongnan’s protective strong energy Taiji Beautiful Cloud and asked.
“Do you have salt in your pocket…?”
“The Radiant Demon Wing people who threw that at elder brother aren’t here. Shall I go get some if you’re disappointed?”
“No, not at all.”
Jeong Jung-san who shook his head greeted Wei Ji-myohwa, then sat in a circle with them. Wei Ji-myohwa immediately got to the point.
“They say Nether Stream Squad Leader’s whereabouts are mysterious. We don’t know whether she came to Shaanxi or went to Henan… Brother Jeong, please tell our sect’s disciples. To be careful of a woman whose hair color constantly changes when they descend the mountain.”
“Mad Demon Baek Mi-ryeo?”
At that question, Hyeon Won-chang slightly cleared his throat, but Jeong Jung-san didn’t pay attention. Because of Wei Ji-myohwa’s following words.
“If our sect discovers her, it seems you’ll have to catch her, brother.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“You mean the supreme master who went mad after accepting the first Heavenly Demon’s spirituality and loses her mind constantly? Most jianghu people can’t approach even supreme masters…”
Then Hyeon Won-chang smoothly interjected.
“Sometimes peerless master.”
“Pardon?”
“And Senior Baek just has many regrets like us ordinary people. Her elder sister, Pure Demon Alliance Lord, died committing evil acts, and she wasn’t by the Fortress Lord’s side during his arduous jianghu journey. Such lingering attachments, to which demonic cultivation adds great fuel. Otherwise why would she be called Heavenly Demon?”
A moment of silence, with only the tea’s fragrance flowing gently.
Jeong Jung-san became grave.
He himself had only watched his younger brother’s jianghu journey. Jeong Yeon-shin’s age at that time was fifteen to eighteen.
“…How should I help?”
“We need combined attack. In truth, the Deputy Leader is acting in place of Nether Stream Squad Leader. Senior Baek just roams the Central Plains committing strange acts… For instance, when earth energy near a ‘sapling’ withers, she kisses the cheeks of the tree keeper Invincible to chase her away elsewhere…”
“……?”
“It’s fact confirmed by Beggar’s Sect and Remaining Thunder. Though the Ming Cult Leader contends for world’s best, strangely she doesn’t seem to sense Senior Baek. Seems to be due to Heavenly Demon True Energy’s influence, which has reached orthodoxy infinitely.”
“That’s not the problem.”
“Other sects wouldn’t cooperate. That Senior Baek is threatening and elusive is secondary. Most importantly, senior is like the Fortress Lord’s elder sister. Everyone’s very cautious.”
Soon Hyeon Won-chang patted Jeong Jung-san’s shoulder.
“But elder brother is different from them.”
“I have nothing.”
“Would sworn siblings matter to blood brothers? Strike without hesitation. Of course, when the combined attack reaches conclusion.”
“That person is probably more precious to Yeon-shin…”
Hyeon Won-chang pretended not to hear.
“Senior Baek is occasionally sane. That’s why she could greatly excel even at the Great Tree Severing Battle. Thanks to that merit, aren’t martial comrades also overlooking Senior Baek’s misdeeds?”
No conversation. Jeong Jung-san had a premonition. That someday in the distant future, Desolate Fortress Divine Hero would also wear purple long robes.
Desolate Fortress purple. A lawless color.
Jeong Jung-san unconsciously turned his head. He saw Namgung Hwa-shin who’d been sleeping throughout.
This handsome man had the peerless swordsman’s characteristic strange imposing presence, but hadn’t opened his mouth even once. How he got to Zhongnan Sect was unknown.
‘Is he really asleep?’
Then Wei Ji-myohwa spoke.
“But if Bewitching Sword’s appearance is that peculiar, why did Desolate Fortress and Remaining Thunder lose track of her?”
“Because of Earth Following Demonic Cultivation. Sorcery martial art that hides the body in shadows… Senior Baek has mastered the left path side door techniques of Heavenly Demon Martial Lineage. Perhaps right now she’s listening to all conversation from atop that roof ridge.”
As Hyeon Won-chang pointed at the ceiling, Jeong Jung-san unnecessarily scratched his forearm. But never looked up.
Ghost-like matters should be avoided. Because he had a great life event ahead.
Wei Ji-myo-hwa also brought up that topic.
“I can’t help for long. Brother Jeong must soon descend the mountain.”
“…Were you expelled from the sect?”
Hyeon Won-chang asked. With calmness that could think of nothing else. Jeong Jung-san shook his head and answered.
“I’m getting married. I intend to descend to Zhongnan lay disciples and establish a small Xi’an Jeong Family…”
“What!”
Hyeon Won-chang’s teacup shattered.
Was it an illusion? Silkworm Demon Sword Gentleman Namgung Hwa-shin also seemed to briefly open his eyes. Soon Hyeon Won-chang muttered.
“Jeong Family…?”
* * *
Jeong Family Jung-san’s wedding.
Now three days until the wedding day. His partner was a junior sister who’d entered as a Zhongnan lay disciple. They’d already finished not only betrothal but also setting the date.
It was absurdly short time to attempt capturing Baek Mi-ryeo. Even just Jeong Hye was running around as if performing Form Transformation Disguise. She carried a basket with flower petals, then occasionally when guests visited, she courteously received them in her own way while leading them to the hall.
“Who did you say?”
“Your uncle calls me elder sister.”
“Looking at your appearance, you seem distinguished… You’ll remove the mask during the wedding ceremony, right?”
“That wouldn’t be courteous to the bride.”
A house with a small yard.
Once the gate issue was resolved, Xi’an housing prices soared. A city where Mount Hua and Zhongnan’s immortals frequently dropped by. Even with Jeong Family Estate Administrator’s help, an outlying house at the outskirts was the limit.
“Watch your head. You’re incredibly tall.”
“Young Jeong clan child, you don’t mind that I’m Yao tribe.”
“There are three among my four great-grandchildren too. One is really smart, but two are just big-bodied and simple, so they’re cute.”
“That care is appreciated.”
“But you’re limping. Shall I make crutches to use while you’re here?”
“……?”
A fine day.
Anyone could enter.
Even without acquaintance. Though Jeong Jung-san was a jianghu person, small strength only attracted small enemies. It was also too great a celebration to be wary of anyone.
“The more wedding guests the better.”
It was when Jeong Hye, sitting on a crude wooden chair placed at the gate, was swinging her feet. Suddenly, sunset seemed to ripple in the distant alley. Someone’s shadow also stretched long.
Jeong Hye jumped up.
“Uncle!”
“You’ve grown.”
It was an instant. Before she knew it, Jeong Yeon-shin was stroking her head. Jeong Hye hugging his waist was simultaneous.
“Have you been well?”
“Uncle, your speech is strange.”
“It should differ from before. You’re the age to perform the coming-of-age ceremony.”
But contrary to his words, Jeong Yeon-shin caressed his niece’s crown for quite a while. It even looked like he was examining her Baihui acupoint. Free hand movements despite carrying some child.
Then his gaze turned toward Xi’an Jeong Family.
Jeong Hye smiled awkwardly.
“It’s quite shabby, isn’t it?”
Jeong Yeon-shin slowly nodded.
“I’ll have to sleep elsewhere.”