Chapter 792: Side Story – A Face That’s Crazy for Empty Compliments |
Why this place?
Jeong Yeon-shin arrived at an answer.
‘Because Senior Baek’s Heavenly Demon Divine Formula is the martial art of the First Heavenly Demon.’
The One Principle.
The core principle of the First Heavenly Demon.
The power that history’s greatest transcendent being cast over the world. That spiritual essence existed everywhere. Even in Star Radiance Great Sword Lord Murong Jung-rak’s Heavenly Demon Divine Armor.
The Heavenly Demon Martial Lineage, capable of anything, where all practices connected as one. Former Pure Demon Alliance Lord White Pure Demon Baek Seo, who was Baek Mi-ryeo’s older sister and likewise practiced Heavenly Demon Divine Formula.
Because he’d sought to see Baek Mi-ryeo, he came to Baek Seo’s past. Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the First Heavenly Demon. He was history’s greatest demon because every move missed him.
‘Even within Dan Family’s Time Transcendence Technique.’
The same principle would apply now.
Splash.
Yong Hye-myeong walked leisurely until reaching the pavilion of those who would become the Eight Family Heads. After tidying his wind-swept clothing, he suddenly asked them, which also felt natural.
“Are you well and healthy?”
Then he muttered without waiting for an answer.
“This is awkward to ask strangers… I should prepare another greeting.”
Unlike the beast-like past Jeong Yeon-shin had seen, his conduct here suggested a leisurely scholar. He was truly following former Burning Abyss Squad Leader Yu Jeong-myeong and Nether Stream Squad Leader Hyeong Wol’s advice, to act like a refined student.
“Radiant Sword Squad Leader Yong Hye-myeong.”
A woman’s clear voice. Baek Seo, who’d been in Helian Feng-yue’s arms, smiled.
“You’re quite handsome? From rumors alone, I thought you were a fierce tiger…”
At her words, Yong Hye-myeong tilted his head and asked.
“Does your mother know you use men as outer garments?”
Baek Seo answered with a smiling face.
“She wouldn’t know. She died giving birth to my younger sister…”
“Ah, lamentably weak then.”
He wasn’t human.
Baek Seo’s words and conduct that would have troubled many orthodox martial artists were useless. Zhuge Tian-xiang and Murong Jung-rak lost their composure, and even Namgung Mu-jin, who’d only been tending his blade, finally raised his head.
The Yong Hye-myeong of this time still bore traces of growing up alone at Guan Yu Temple.
His contented face, like a well-fed beast, showed it too.
“Mixing fact and emotion appropriately and blending them into semi-formal speech… It’s like mixing Hardness and Change well in sword techniques. Though it’s easy for me, Old Man Ma could never do it in his lifetime.”
His soliloquy seemed practiced. Was this transitional behavior? He didn’t look like a proper scholar.
But Helian Feng-yue only laughed heartily.
“Of course a genius of the world must have some eccentricity!”
“You look perfectly normal.”
Yong Hye-myeong said. Meaning Helian Feng-yue didn’t seem like a genius.
But Helian Feng-yue only smiled. Deep self-respect showed in his expression.
Those originally present also smiled as if amused.
They were already martial arts masters who’d unified essence, energy, and spirit. They were also supreme noble clan members who would lead their families in the future. Their every move was within Desolate Fortress’s field of view.
Helian Feng-yue looked around and said leisurely.
“Everyone who was supposed to come has gathered.”
Yong Hye-myeong nodded after him and smiled languidly. Simultaneously, he muttered.
“Namgung, Helian, Hwangbo, Murong, Zhuge… Quite a gathering. At this point, is this a meeting of traitors?”
“……”
Silence followed. Cool water mist flowed around their pavilion.
Yong Hye-myeong seemed beyond bold, he seemed out of his mind. Jeong Yeon-shin formulated a plan to implement if the new imperial dynasty became corrupt.
‘If I pass the civil examination with those from Radiant Demon Wing and Radiant Sword Squad, it will crumble like a sandcastle.’
Then Baek Seo raised her hand.
“Count me out. I’m just a wanderer with nothing.”
A deliberately innocent smile.
Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t known that features resembling Baek Mi-ryeo could make such an expression. His senior was someone whose demonic energy and sword energy suited her.
‘Did Senior Baek smile like that too?’
He’d never seen it.
Nevertheless, as Jeong Yeon-shin struggled to recall, Helian Feng-yue held up a jade flask inside the pavilion.
“Is there any jianghu martial artist who doesn’t offend you fellows? Desolate Fortress is a fighting force that even clashes with the Nine Sects’ lay disciples.”
He snapped his fingers and a wine cup flew to Yong Hye-myeong, who caught it. Helian Feng-yue laughed heartily and said.
“Since you’re here, accept a drink from a traitor.”
“Worthy of the Radiant Sword Squad Leader!”
An extremely joyful face.
If he had to find a reason, it could only be Baek Seo. Because he’d mentioned marriage.
Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
‘It’s obvious at a glance.’
The current Helian Feng-yue wasn’t very interested in Yong Hye-myeong. He just called him to gather noble clans without imperial restraint.
Deliberately bringing in a surveillance tower.
This gathering seemed purely a gift for Baek Seo. Because she wanted peers of the same generation to meet.
“Everything is ready.”
“Is this really necessary…?”
“Let’s cross swords later.”
Then they began drinking among themselves. In the large room at the pavilion’s center. In a place they’d clearly rented entirely.
Instead of noisy reunion, subtle wine fragrance flowed. The only interruption was the sound of various attendants bringing food and wine.
Low voices mingled.
“I heard Hwangbo’s Young Family Head broadened his horizons in the north and has become very reticent. The Shaolin Divine Monk was severely defeated by someone called Southern Emperor, were you nearby?”
“…Young Family Head Murong.”
“You finally open your mouth?”
“We must build thick walls. Even if the Family Head opposes it because the family’s granary is empty, someday when we become Family Heads ourselves. And even by suppressing the Council of Elders later…”
“Instead of being so afraid, you should break their momentum and get something from Emperor Qian-ling. Our main family plans to mock the north’s poverty to the world. Aren’t they people from whom not even a grain of salt would fall even if stripped naked?”
A voice full of contempt. Murong Jung-rak seemed to openly utter the same words everywhere.
Regardless, Hwangbo Song-il, Lazy Flame Dragon’s father, was stacking countless wine cups like a tower. Childlike eccentricity. The focus of his two eyes also blurred.
This was the aftermath of having already seen the Southern Emperor, Northern Blade, and young Fighting God at that time. They said he’d also witnessed from afar the moment Great Monk Beom-heo lost both arms and eyes.
Would Lazy Flame Dragon look like this if spirit and cheekiness were removed from his face? Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the Hwangbo Family Head’s secret technique Ma Jin had told him about.
‘A Sword Screen where internal energy fragments automatically heal no matter how broken… Had he already grasped the beginnings of Shared Transcendence Martial Arts at this time?’
He might be the only person here capable of matching Yong Hye-myeong. His temperament suggested so, regardless of martial arts level.
But no one spoke to Hwangbo Song-il anymore. The atmosphere gradually ostracized him, just as they were doing to Yong Hye-myeong.
Perhaps that’s why.
Yong Hye-myeong’s intuitive instincts seemed unrestrained. He began moving from seat to seat.
First to Helian Feng-yue and Baek Seo, who were filling each other’s cups. Yong Hye-myeong offered sincere blessings.
“If you have a child, it should be a daughter.”
“……?”
“You’re a couple who must seek the Martial Ultimate through flexibility. A son’s physique… would be good for studying the Four Books and Five Classics.”
Scholar-like demeanor.
Yong Hye-myeong moved on without waiting for an answer. Immediately toward the table where Zhuge Tian-xiang and Namgung Mu-jin were talking.
“I’ll return before evening. My wife’s waiting ends there.”
“I envy your affection. Is your son well?”
“He seems intelligent, like my wife. He often plays with a fan, like our ancestor Marquis Wu, and looks very cute.”
“…I’ll probably get married soon too. Though my partner is a girl from a commoner family, so I can’t expect the family’s blessing.”
“What does it matter if she’s noble or common? Make family your divine secret technique. Even the world’s Desolate Fortress Lord is but dust compared to family.”
Yong Hye-myeong, who’d been listening silently near them, sighed. In a fleeting instant, Jeong Yeon-shin saw Yong Hye-myeong’s pupils split like a bright yellow sword and return to normal.
“To use our Fortress Lord as comparison…? Isn’t that constant treason?”
Yong Hye-myeong hid killing intent in polite words.
He would have attacked immediately if not for Yu Jeong-myeong and Hyeong Wol’s advice. Divine Sword Squad Leader Yong Hye-myeong, who rarely wasted power even if he occasionally lost face, seemed to have been completed through this process.
But the Eight Family Heads of this era had superior mental states. Zhuge Tian-xiang replied, slightly curling his lips.
“Calling us traitors out of nowhere. Are you admitting that Desolate Fortress is an imperial sect yourself?”
It wasn’t particularly provocative. Merely expressing wanting to end this meaningless gathering and leave. Namgung Mu-jin’s following mutter was the same.
“Brat.”
“……”
Their minds were elsewhere.
That is, Yong Hye-myeong had no rival. Jeong Yeon-shin desperately etched the image of young Yong Hye-myeong, who’d become speechless, into his mind. So he could defeat him in debate someday.
‘I saw everything.’
Jeong Yeon-shin looked pitifully at Yong Hye-myeong, who only tilted his head without a chance to draw his sword. He’d cultivated overwhelming sword skill, yet had become like a caged beast.
No one discussed swordplay.
Those facing major turning points in their lives had interests outside martial arts. Yong Hye-myeong muttered blankly.
“Wasn’t this a conspiracy of traitors?”
“How pathetic. The marriage songs of the Book of Poetry are as important as divine technique formulas.”
Zhuge Tian-xiang clicked his tongue and turned his head.
The Eight Family Heads possessed divine weapons that could claim invincibility even before the world’s foremost master. They would only fall later because they failed to protect them.
He understood now.
One becomes complete only by walking together.
It was the moment Jeong Yeon-shin set his Eleventh Step. The task of establishing Desolate Fortress Jeong Family, independent from Xi’an Jeong Family.
‘Before that, it’s because I want it.’
Perhaps because his thoughts had become clear.
Jeong Yeon-shin watched subsequent events as if flipping through a book. Many scenes were reflected and passed by on Dongting Lake’s magnificent river water.
—Even so, since we’ve gathered like this, we should compare skills…
Murong Jung-rak requested a match from Helian Feng-yue to boost the mood and was defeated.
—The Eight Families’ martial arts are truly profound.
Baek Seo smiled happily, seemingly having successfully hidden her identity from all nobles.
—Our Radiant Sword Squad Leader really can’t blend in. Well, jianghu martial artists usually become close after tasting blades.
Helian Feng-yue joyfully suggested a martial challenge to Yong Hye-myeong and got caught in mocking sword moves that lasted nine thousand one hundred eighty-six exchanges.
—The Yong fellow must be the greatest rising star now. That tempestuous Change and Illusion cannot be confined even by Emperor Sword Form. It’s fortunate he seems to have a nature that will find it hard to have children.
—We should formulate countermeasures someday. Ah… the day is already setting. I should have returned earlier…
Until Namgung Mu-jin and Zhuge Tian-xiang quietly left and headed for their respective homes.
The river flowed like a mirror, and Jeong Yeon-shin only moved after the martial challenge ended.
One step was enough.
* * *
Thud.
The backyard connecting the lakeshore and pavilion.
Jeong Yeon-shin arrived, enveloped in dawn mist blooming on the river water with a single step.
It was a flower garden originally full of colorful magical flowers and herbs. Now covered with sword marks. Who would pay for damages later, Desolate Fortress or the Eight Families, who knew?
They all just depleted granaries.
‘Even if they can’t establish families, they should at least contribute to the nation.’
Jianghu people, indeed.
“……?”
Jeong Yeon-shin, who was internally shaking his head, paused. Even the Eight Family Heads had children.
Meanwhile, his footprint was etched into the flower garden. Baek Seo reacted first.
“Who…?”
Whoosh!
The scattered petals soared up.
In that gap.
Helian Feng-yue was already standing with his back to Baek Seo. He seemed to be protecting her from Jeong Yeon-shin.
Helian Feng-yue asked cautiously.
“Are you deceased…?”
He was a wreck.
The young man who held a sword to Jeong Yeon-shin’s neck at that moment was the culprit. When he turned his head, he saw Yong Hye-myeong. A seemingly relaxed smile, and pupils set like blades.
“What kind of monster and spirit are you?”
Yong Hye-myeong’s question was fresh. Because it was the word he himself heard most.
Jeong Yeon-shin replied.
“If a little more time passes, I’ll see the Divine Sword Squad Leader I greatly admire.”
“You don’t seem like someone who’d admire anyone.”
“Hmm?”
“I think you prefer being the one admired. Especially with a face that’s crazy for empty compliments… I apologize.”
Yong Hye-myeong gently sheathed his sword as Jeong Yeon-shin was left speechless. He seemed confident that his opponent, who was beyond contention, held no animosity. The Sense Path of the Half-Dragon Body possessed mysterious quality that surpassed even Lazy Flame Dragon and Jeok Yu-ha’s upper dantian.
Yong Hye-myeong asked without hesitation.
“The character ‘Desolate’ is faded as if it was only half-buried in a tomb. Are you the First Divine Sword Squad Leader Yue Feng? Should I guide you to the Fortress Lord?”
It was an interesting story.
What would happen if he truly met his master Wei Gun-hye?
The upper dantian spirit, which had even experienced Dan Family’s Time Transcendence Technique, would perfectly embody everything.
If he spoke with her, whose memory was intact, wouldn’t they share regrets they couldn’t resolve? He felt he would also receive valuable advice from the former Fortress Lord.
‘But did she ever work?’
He wanted to meet her soon.
Only after that could he smile and embrace his young master.
“Hup…?!”
Jeong Yeon-shin pushed Helian Feng-yue aside like a gate and grabbed Baek Seo’s head. This was to first obtain useful information for Baek Mi-ryeo.
Divine Secret Technique
Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique
Woom!
Activating Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique again within the world created by Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique.
‘Bouncing once was enough.’
It was meaningless for the First Heavenly Demon’s spiritual essence to interfere with the core principle of The One. Jeong Yeon-shin’s Transcending Law Technique was a will that tore apart all interference by living like a person, not a transcendent being.
Whoosh!