Chapter 795: Side Story – Why Am I Given Such Missions? |
Part of the outer fortress surrounding Desolate Fortress was devastated. Nevertheless, the air remained peaceful. Only the occasional curses of craftsmen and cloudy dust spread.
“We’re short on materials now. Especially bricks. We’ll have to make do with pretty ones and patch things up with mud walls instead of trimming them. Let’s ask Divine Sword Group if they have anyone skilled with Scorching Yang Technique.”
“How short are we?”
“As lacking as the purple ranks’ ability to distinguish between human decency and reason.”
“Completely absent? Take some from Ma Family’s wall.”
“Attack Ma Family…!”
Small figures with hammers merged into the sunset. Around that time, young Gong Ya-su was setting foot inside the fortress for the first time.
Step.
Eight years since receiving the compliment from Jeong Yeon-shin that he was solid as a rock. He’d applied himself to training with such unwavering will, and finally, now was the time.
If you wish to rebuke the world with a single blade, join Desolate Fortress. Even high officials and nobles will watch your expressions.
That maxim.
Even though the imperial dynasty had changed, it remained the same.
Desolate Fortress was still the cradle of martial arts that stirred the hearts of jianghu newcomers.
Especially since Lazy Flame Dragon Hwangbo Je-yul and Silkworm Demon Sword Gentleman Namgung Hwa-sin were causing all sorts of incidents as young dual purples.
‘Even if they didn’t get promoted, who would view them as black ranks?’
Whatever jianghu’s view of the young purple ranks, this was inside the world’s foremost martial faction. Even the disparity between magnificent halls and devastated walls felt charming. Naturally, the voices of those passing by trembled.
“I can’t believe I passed…”
“It’s too early to feel relieved. They say the final interview is the greatest hurdle.”
Three people including Gong Ya-su.
They’d just passed the second Desolate Fortress examination.
Like travelers who’d met along the road, each had different attire. None had received white martial robes yet. The most important and difficult test remained.
At the center of vast Desolate Fortress, the Fortress Lord’s inner fortress built of pure white marble. Facing it under an examiner’s guidance, everyone fell silent.
“You just need to go up safely and come back down.”
The examiner said. She was Deep Valley Fist Gong Ya-miryeong, a Radiant Demon Wing white warrior, and though privately Gong Ya-su’s sixth cousin, she pretended not to know him. With a face scarred from the Desolate Fortress Great Battle, she only gestured with her chin at Gong Ya-su.
“You go first.”
Gong Ya-su ascended the fortress.
The spiraling staircase seemed endless. After what felt like over a hundred high steps, he reached the top floor.
An antique, massive door.
Even approaching closely, it remained closed. Gong Ya-su imagined the door opening by itself through some transcendent aerial manipulation.
“……?”
There was no movement. Soon Gong Ya-su carefully knocked on the door, then after waiting quite a while, opened it and entered. With thoroughly deflated greetings.
“I’m jianghu newcomer Gong Ya-su.”
No answer came, only quiet wind blew.
A vast office. Desks, tables, and beds could be seen here and there. Frequently used, apparently, as there wasn’t a speck of dust. Only sunset light filtering through wide windows like curtains.
“Excuse me…”
Within that space was a being bathed in sunset light, gazing only out the window. Gong Ya-su could only see her back. After she’d remained that way for quite a while since his entrance, the figure turned around.
Green sleeves brushed against the windowsill.
Rustle.
Even that sound was perceived slowly. For Gong Ya-su, it was a momentous occasion. In the window’s sunlight, a demon god completely turning around with light green hair fluttering.
‘The former world’s foremost master!’
This moment alone was worth more than setting foot on these lands.
The face shadowed by sunset wasn’t clearly visible. But it was fine. Because even though her ears were round, they felt pointed.
This very optical illusion meant she’d unified with the World Tree yet hadn’t fallen. The only supernatural being in the world who hadn’t lost her elven abilities through her original divine technique alone.
Gong Ya-su’s internal energy breathing stopped.
“Dark Demon God… ah, Gong Ya pays respects to the Chaotic Heaven Emperor!”
Since there was no proper epithet, he clasped both hands and raised them while ruining everything.
At least Gong Ya-su himself thought so, which is why he couldn’t meet her eyes. The former Desolate Fortress Lord’s figure was moving her lips.
“…Wrong again.”
She said. Unlike common perception below jianghu’s upper echelons, it was a youthful voice. Gong Ya-su was startled by the feeling of someone around twenty, but only briefly.
“Go.”
That was the end.
Gong Ya-su came down from the office as if bewitched. He blankly watched two people go up. During this time, examiner Gong Ya-miryeong said nothing.
Eventually they came down in turn. One person stumbled down greatly as if his energy sense was broken, while another looked unfocused like Gong Ya-su.
‘That person was hit by the Mind Sword I’ve only heard in rumors…!’
The person in question said with a smile.
“Seeing her face was enough. I don’t know what incident befell the former Desolate Fortress Lord, but I didn’t expect such a youthful appearance…”
It would be very valuable information in many ways.
The former Desolate Fortress Lord’s grudges had accumulated over a long time, with generational enemies spread widely throughout the Central Plains.
Gong Ya-miryeong nodded.
“The main fortress shows courtesy even to the defeated. Before returning, there’s an opportunity to broaden your experience with senior Azure Sky Squad Leader’s sword dance.”
Even Gong Ya-su, who’d been overcome with joy at passing, hesitated at this moment. A sword dance by a blade-wielder stationed at Wish for Peace Sword Hall. Just then, a tall, gaunt swordsman in black robes was walking over with fluttering steps.
‘Azure Sky Squad Leader Han Cheol-mok!’
Gong Ya-su asked carefully.
“By any chance, could we also watch together…?”
It wasn’t permitted. The two who passed had to set out under Gong Ya-miryeong’s guidance. Only by turning back from a very distant point could they dimly see Azure Sky Squad Leader’s sword energy.
A scene of blue light flickering.
The failed man basked in Clear Smoke Sword Energy, said to be the essence of sorcery sword technique, right before his eyes. Then he suddenly looked around. With bewildered muttering.
“I should sleep early to do well on the Desolate Fortress exam… did I drink?”
As if he’d briefly lost his mind to such transcendent technique. Azure Sky Squad Leader’s swordsmanship seemed to have induced even memory loss.
That was why the Desolate Fortress exam remained intact. Gong Ya-su quickened his own steps while rubbing his goose-bumped arms.
* * *
The goosebumps didn’t fade.
Gong Ya-miryeong left Gong Ya-su with some middle-aged scholar and departed, leaving Gong Ya-su with a bewildered face.
“I’m a General Administration warrior…?”
He carefully looked around. Thick ink fragrance, scholars wielding brushes like divine writing implements. All sorts of reports and mutterings spread like faint echoes.
–Zhongnan Jeong Jung-san’s wedding has concluded. It ended without major battle. The imperial army is reducing Shaanxi’s defenses.
–Divine Sword Group reports they won’t accompany the Fortress Lord. I’ll inform you of the group’s members. Fortress Lord, Nether Stream Squad Leader Baek Mi-ryeo, Invincible Yelu Zhen, Martial Dragon Society Leader Helian Feng-yue…?
–What nonsense.
It was the General Administration hall. Effectively said to be Desolate Fortress’s greatest power center.
“It became so after Six Star Lord Pangu Giant began working as deputy administrator. You can take pride in it.”
Scholar Gi Dae-seung’s words continued. Thanks to being able to ‘discuss’ with most Desolate Fortress masters.
Fortunately, there was no occasion to meet Six Star Lord Literary Star. Thanks to some bizarre reason, which was useless to Gong Ya-su.
Because duties poured in the next day.
It was when he was inwardly disappointed at being assigned to the always-peaceful General Administration rather than Divine Sword Group racing through Sword Tree Hell’s jianghu.
“White warrior Gong Ya-su! Come here!”
As soon as he became a General Administration white rank, he had to familiarize himself with many things. There were strange contents too. He started duties immediately while learning the Eye Technique called Clear Vision from scholar Gi Dae-seung.
“It’s a far-seeing eye technique. For observation alone, it boasts the main fortress’s best.”
“Such divine secret learning… is it alright to teach this to me, who just became white rank…?”
“Blade-wielders who pass the final Desolate Fortress exam are rare. The main fortress’s manpower is always insufficient for that reason, so if warrior Gong, who finally entered, were to die in the main fortress’s remote alleys… we’d also be troubled.”
“Die where?”
Gong Ya-su soon learned the answer to his own question. While taking on missions that General Administration scholars routinely performed.
‘Dragon Vessel Hero… I can get this close to Supreme Heaven Sword Emperor Yong Hye-myeong…!’
The first mission site was Yong Hye-myeong’s bedroom.
A hall unnaturally humid like a cave where dragons or lesser dragons lived. It faced north where sunlight barely entered. Unbelievably, Gong Ya-su changed sleeping Yong Hye-myeong’s bedding. Occasionally flinching at dragon-like snoring.
Grumble grumble groan…
Natural earth energy shook. Gong Ya-su’s body did too. They said the house remained intact thanks to Desolate Fortress Shin Family’s formation technique, and Gong Ya-su was able to train his lacking footwork.
While reciting the second clause the General Administration had made him memorize.
Two. If you see something gem-like inside the blanket, do not bend down to check. That’s not a gem but a scale.
Returning as instructed, Gi Dae-seung asked.
“Any problems with your head? Did you perhaps become afraid of even earthworms walking by, or suddenly feel like a coward…?”
“I’m not sure.”
Gi Dae-seung was delighted.
“Your upper dantian is very solid. I was prepared to request support from Divine Sword Group if necessary… Excellent! Warrior Gong will handle this task exclusively from now on. The General Administration will count it as a great achievement.”
“Ah…”
Gong Ya-su couldn’t continue. Because it felt like being recognized as a genius of the world. Though he’d won the Desolate Fortress exam’s martial contest by heavenly fortune.
Now he could finally muster courage to ask.
“About that bedding. Why must it be changed every time? Surely he’s at the level of being unaffected by heat and cold…”
At those words, Gi Dae-seung’s voice lowered.
“Lord Yong is a very gentle person, but lately his sleeping habits are terrible. His temper has also become quite nasty, throwing tantrums if things aren’t shiny and new. Of course, while sleeping.”
“No matter how he served as Divine Sword Group Leader, must we be so wary of even sleeping habits?”
“What can we do when Desolate Fortress Jeok Family Head and Divine Sword Deputy Leader occasionally join forces to block him? Lord Yong moves with such world-opening martial prowess, like a mountain beast inhabiting a human body. Nothing escapes his notice.”
“Why am I given such missions?”
“Spend just one year on this mission and you can challenge for blue rank promotion. It would be promotion speed worthy of challenging the Fortress Lord.”
“No way.”
“Don’t worry. As long as you change the bedding to silk covers on time, there’s no trouble. Still, once every two days is sufficient.”
That wasn’t all; he had various missions.
The second mission site was a quiet courtyard in the Council of Elders. A mission to retrieve the basin where Elder Council Head Shin Byeok washes his hands.
“What are you?”
“General Administration white rank, Gong Ya-su! It’s truly an honor to meet Iron Demon Sword Divine Lord…!”
“I have connections with the Gong family. They were upright people. I received help in my youth too.”
“My grandfather also occasionally mentioned the Elder Council Head before passing. Burning chopsticks in the inn… no, he said you were a hero like the King of Hell to jianghu people…!”
“…I’m curious about the reason for taking the basin. As you can see, it’s something to be used for this unsightly old man’s retirement ablutions. I’ve washed much blood from my heart with this.”
Shin Byeok caressed the basin’s rim with wrinkled hands. The small scraping metal sound was eerie. Only then did Gong Ya-su realize, of course.
‘He meant steal it. I was foolish.’
He opened his mouth with great difficulty.
“I… heard it was General Administration property.”
Shin Byeok only laughed heartily.
Gong Ya-su, who’d been watching that sight silently, bowed politely then backed away to the central training ground. Because the third clause the General Administration had made him memorize came to mind.
Three. If you hear untimely laughter in the main fortress, don’t look back and leave the alley. Especially quickly if you’re not sure whether the sound came from ahead or behind.
It was the right thing to do. From a distance, it seemed like Shin Byeok was calling someone, asking if So-bin had come.
‘What great fortune.’
Burning Abyss Squad Leader Shin So-bin was someone lower warriors shouldn’t encounter. For some unknown reason, according to rumors, her competitive spirit didn’t distinguish between hierarchy and age. Her methods were the same. Recently she’d competed with Divine Sword Deputy Leader’s eldest daughter in ‘drinking lots of dead cow blood’ and lost.
“…They said it was a narrow difference.”
Gong Ya-su recalled his next missions.
Only the relatively easier-looking ones.
Becoming a conversation partner for an old man with dementia to avoid lightning that might strike once in a lifetime, secretly bringing books of the Four Books and Five Classics filled with notes from the school in front of Desolate Fortress Shin Family’s small garden…
They said these were missions that must be completed before Desolate Fortress Lord Jeong Yeon-shin’s arrival.
‘There must be reasons.’
On one hand, Gong Ya-su again felt disappointed in his assignment. Because he couldn’t gain practical experience as transcendent as Divine Sword Group.
“The remaining ones should be easy.”
……
Thus many things mixed and disappeared into several sunsets. Then reports came up that Jeong Yeon-shin had set foot in Xi’an.