Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 83 – Battle for Possession (2)

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

The power’s radiance in Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes quickly faded. He slightly opened his mouth and exhaled a long breath.

Energy waves spread and disappeared once around him. It seemed heavier by the amount true qi had increased.

“Anyone can see he’s an elite warrior. If not for the young face.”

“With a different body it’s even more so. Such a well-trained physique would be rare even in the main fortress.”

Several seniors threw jokes. Now he had the bearing of a martial master regardless of age.

“Thank you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin raised his hands in greeting to those who stood guard. They were seniors who watched over his energy circulation in the great practice ground.

He receives attention from them that he never experienced at the Jeong family training hall. Their great care that approached unusually was very precious.

“Don’t know how much stronger you’ve become? That can happen.”

Ma Jin who had been carefully observing the boy said.

“Power increase is like that. The amount you can observe isn’t everything. You have to use your body to realize.”

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth with a very small smile.

“Are you going to spar with me?”

His manner of speaking had changed. There was a bit more comfort. That’s how Jeong Yeon-shin’s attitude toward his maternal uncle was.

Ma Jin too seemed pleased with his nephew’s appearance of gradually opening his heart along with time.

“That would be good but… first pay your respects and follow me.”

Ma Jin turned around. He immediately moved his steps, heading in the direction out of the great practice ground.

Jeong Yeon-shin who had been standing blankly turned toward his companions.

“Receiving the leader’s guidance right before a mission.”

“Can’t hear advice too many times, right?”

“The opponent is Namgung. Those who claim to be number one under heaven among secular families.”

“Lightning Genius, return safely.”

The Radiant Demon Wing masters behind spoke greetings with smiles.

It sounded like saying see you tomorrow, but Desolate Sect warriors’ farewells were originally like that.

Missions were heavy. Companions who didn’t return, weren’t few. That’s why they sent off lightly.

‘It’s the senders’ own prayer.’

It meant hoping for natural return like the next day’s noon. It was Desolate Sect’s custom. Jeong Yeon-shin calmly raised his hands in greeting and shouldered the travel pack placed beside him.

“Young Hero Jeong!”

“Yes, Young Hero Hyeon.”

Jeong Yeon-shin looked at one unfamiliar with the main family’s customs like himself.

Hyeon Won-chang was smiling broadly.

The blue hero band tied on his forehead fluttered slightly behind his head, making one think strangers would mistake him for the mission departure’s subject.

“This time just finish the martial match and return. If it drags on again, you yourself might be up to blue rank. But, shouldn’t a peer watch the promotion moment? Like mine.”

“Young Hero Hyeon to blue rank? Isn’t that a bit early?”

“I’ve been hiding seven-tenths of my true martial arts. Young Hero Jeong shouldn’t drag out the martial match and should return.”

After exchanging idle jokes, he turned around.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently began walking. The practice ground floor carved by masters’ footsteps felt especially rough.

It was his first mission without anyone from Radiant Demon Wing accompanying. They had to carry out their own respective missions.

‘They said the Hwangbo family time was excessive force mobilization.’

He learned after returning. They said the expedition to exterminate the Hwangbo family was a difficult decision.

He heard it was like bringing in lacking manpower while making an example.

The martial world was a world overlapping with all under heaven, and Desolate Fortress was a faction protecting administrative territories from numerous martial artists.

Though the Divine Sword Group’s seventeen squads were powerful, looking at the entire Central Plains they were very few. The numbers were so.

Sympathizing with the ideology of stabilizing civilian lives, and talent the main fortress could trust.

Masters with martial might capable of properly facing powerful martial artists.

Main fortress warriors had to be both. They were resources difficult to cultivate.

Most external personnel with martial power able to pass Desolate City were filtered by the Desolate Fortress Lord’s eyes. They said character was the issue.

‘Desolate Fortress suppresses martial artists’ freedom.’

They are potential enemies of all martial factions. Looking at the entire murim as one, Desolate Fortress was a minority.

It’s not that the main family is small. The world is vast. The Central Plains was a chaotic world where Thirteen Evil Sects, Nine Sects Eight Families, and numerous mid-level sects ran rampant.

“So, Namgung confidently accepted the martial challenge letter?”

Jeong Yeon-shin who arrived at a sealed stone chamber in the small practice ground faced Ma Jin.

“Yes. Very different from the Hwangbo family time. From the start it’s one-on-one matches, and they’re big enough to know our circumstances quite well. They mean who knows what will happen competing with elite few. Namgung is clearly stronger than Hwangbo. Enough to be called secular number one in the orthodox faction.”

“……”

“I too must soon visit Sichuan. It’s because of the thunderclap bombs you were badly hit by once. Information circulates that the Sichuan Tang Clan is secretly manufacturing fire bombs. They tell me to confirm and return. From the General Administration Office.”

“Tang Clan… I heard Sichuan’s murim is treacherous. Isn’t it a place where even Radiant Demon Wing masters can’t guarantee survival if caught in factional strife? They say three of the nine major sects and three Thirteen Evil Sects’ major factions gather with the Sichuan Tang Clan that contends for top among the Eight Families.”

Jeong Yeon-shin casually blurted out. It was speaking as a nephew.

During the Yuan-Ming transition, light movement technique supreme masters implicated in treason charges leisurely evaded pursuit by imperial warriors and went into hiding.

It was an incident that greatly scarred the Ming imperial court’s dignity.

That’s why. Desolate Fortress carrying out missions in the murim is not officially affiliated with the government externally.

Because the murim is where the burden of mission failure is greatest.

It means sharp martial artists don’t hesitate to kill Desolate Fortress warriors. “Kill without mercy” was the phrase used then.

“I know what you mean. Rather, I’m worried about you.”

Ma Jin said with a slight smile.

“I, Radiant Demon Wing’s leader, survived without issue until reaching black rank. It’s not for a blue rookie to worry about.”

“Without issue?”

That wasn’t true. They said he lost his testicles in the mission to rescue young Baek Mi-ryeo.

Jeong Yeon-shin who unconsciously looked toward Ma Jin’s groin quickly turned his gaze away.

Ma Jin frowning opens his mouth pretending not to notice.

“You showed a new palm technique. When having the martial match with White Qilin.”

“Yes. I’ve been refining it recently.”

Jeong Yeon-shin recalled the combination of Demon-Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm and Demon Roaring Blood Technique. It was a method using the repulsive force of extreme mutual generation through technique formations.

Despite its surprising power it lacked precision, but wouldn’t change easily.

“The black ranks who saw your martial match that day would have grasped the pros and cons with just one move. The technique isn’t precise. Is that right?”

“…That’s right.”

“Your ready admission is good to see. Let me give advice. What is the foundation of your martial arts now?”

“Jeong family Dynamic technique.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered without hesitation.

“Right. They said Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong was comparable to the Muscle Sutra. If Shaolin’s Eighteen Arhats acknowledged so, your Jeong family dynamic technique is truly a peerless dynamic technique. Haven’t you neglected that training recently? While filling inner power.”

“Ah.”

He nodded. It was training he never skipped at Jeong family hall.

Things like repeatedly sitting and standing while circulating true qi with a log placed on his back.

“Since it’s a completed martial art, deliberately…”

Jeong Yeon-shin replied briefly.

“Completed…?”

The conversation broke off briefly. While Ma Jin looked down at him steadily, Jeong Yeon-shin waited silently.

“…Your meridians’ endurance will be beyond what you imagine. Meaning you can be bold in experimenting with martial arts. Unlike ordinary internal masters. Since your whole body is firmly woven together, you needn’t greatly worry about qi deviation.”

Ma Jin slowly continued speaking.

“Shaolin’s seventy-two martial arts are each famous as divine techniques, but when hearing the training methods some come across as bizarre. Things like Hot Sand Palm or Iron Cloth Shirt. Pressing hands into sand heated by fire, dropping bodies from cliffs. They don’t worry about internal injuries while training indestructible bodies. It’s thanks to tempering the whole body with the Muscle Sutra.”

“The leader’s insight is no less than Young Hero Hyeon’s. To know Shaolin divine techniques in such detail…”

“You mean Hyeon Won-chang?”

Ma Jin who furrowed his brow once at Jeong Yeon-shin’s joke shook his head and said:

“The point is, don’t worry about energy circulation in your new palm technique. It should be enough to circulate true qi unhesitatingly to refine precision. I know you’re absorbed in creating cultivation techniques, but palm techniques will be more useful for now.”

“Indeed, your words make sense.”

Jeong Yeon-shin who nodded raised his hands respectfully in greeting.

“Thank you for the advice. It’s time I should go.”

“…Right, the Namgung direct bloodline’s swords are frightening. Come back after beheading them without carelessness.”

The long scar on Ma Jin’s face twitched. It seemed like a movement with worry embedded.

It was unlike a black-ranked master who had long experienced Desolate Fortress’s customs.

“I’ll be back, Leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin bowed once at the waist and turned around.

Simultaneously he raised energy sense once greatly to confirm what was prepared.

Desolate Sword, Northern Light sword, Thousand Silkworm Thread martial clothes, money pouch and travel pack… and martial arts. All were newly equipped on his body.

Preparations were complete. It was time for mission departure.

* * *

The path leaving the main family’s main gate.

Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin and White Qilin Namgung Hwa-sin walked the official road each leading a horse.

Though the young Desolate Fortress blue-ranked masters drew passersby’s gazes, Jeong Yeon-shin paid no mind. It was due to the strange situation.

“Where did the two go, they say?”

“Just that they received missions to pass through other regions first…”

Namgung Hwa-sin shook his head as if not knowing.

“What.”

The originally assigned mission wasn’t like this.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s maternal grandfather Ma Yeon-jeok and the Main Family Elder Council Lord were supposed to accompany as martial match delegates.

They said the Divine Sword Group Leader and Divine Sword Team would join midway under the pretext of participation and escort.

‘Until joining up, two rising talents travel alone?’

Jeong Yeon-shin was a bit dumbfounded. How long had it been since being chased as Blood Flame Sect’s target?

The main fortress abandoning him again was strange. Perhaps it was the Desolate Fortress Lord’s instruction?

‘Though they say murim journeys without hardship aren’t good for martial arts achievement…’

He asked:

“Are the Elder Council Lord and Desolate Ma Family Head also carrying out missions?”

“I don’t know.”

Looking at Namgung Hwa-sin smiling with a troubled face, he realized anew.

White Qilin too passed Desolate City with him.

As it was normally a time to still be at the bottom as a white-ranked warrior, it would be hard to know main fortress circumstances well.

Their situations were the same. Jeong Yeon-shin raised his energy sense a bit more and said:

“We should hurry on our way. Having built grudges with many Thirteen Evil Sects, we might find it hard to meet the deadline if we’re not careful.”

“That seems best.”

Namgung Hwa-shin readily nodded and they mounted their horses simultaneously.

NEIGH!

They immediately spurred their respective steeds. There was no need to discuss the route.

For Jeong Yeon-shin it was no longer unfamiliar territory, and for Namgung Hwa-shin the destination was his main family.

A wind of another beginning blew. The gale brushing their faces and vibrations shaking up and down were invigorating.

They galloped unhesitatingly on the road where the early summer sun beat down in heat haze.

Namgung Hwa-shin said with a smile:

“You’re skilled at horsemanship?”

“Young Hero Namgung seems more so.”

It remained refreshing even after half an hour. The geography wasn’t difficult.

It was so from Xiangyang where Desolate Fortress was located to Huizhou in South Zhili. There was only one road if taking the post station route.

Perhaps because of this?

Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin felt a certain inevitability.

A stream of wind carrying bright red color seemed to caress his cheek. As if it had been waiting just for this moment.

The energy waves spreading from far ahead were very familiar. A strangely refined feeling amid irregularity.

Had they waited long in that spot?

‘Weaker than usual. The energy waves are shallow.’

The boy opened his mouth atop his horse. Immediately a brief conversation between the two geniuses began.

“Young Hero Namgung.”

“You mean the chilling energy? I felt it.”

“Yes. It’s blood art true qi.”

“Doesn’t seem to be Blood Swordmaster level.”

“It’s an apostle.”

“Blood Flame Sect’s Apostle?”

“Yes. Should be the Seven Apostle.”

“I’ve heard well. That she lived with Young Hero.”

“You knew how to joke too?”

“I’m human too. More than that, the energy waves are strange, for an Apostle’s power…”

“If weakened it’s an opportunity, if it was her original might then it’s already too late. We’ll be caught by light movement technique.”

“Speaking of odds assuming joint attack, how would it be?”

“I don’t know. All we can do is hope the main fortress’ supreme masters notice while fighting noisily.”

He spoke honestly.

His power increased after consuming the spirit pill received as mission reward.

However, in the world of masters, an inch difference was a gap in martial might. Jeong Yeon-shin was cautious.

It was because he lived a life chased by time. Without using his body to its limits, it was hard to give a definite answer.

Would there be a chance of victory?

‘Still, if that markedly weakened energy wave is true…’

THUD!

Jeong Yeon-shin leaped from his horse while measuring the distance. His field of view suddenly widened.

Simultaneously, as Namgung Hwa-shin who sprang up his form entered one side, someone revealing themselves from the now quite close forest came into view.

She were wearing a flowing red martial robe.

Black-lacquer-like hair and a single red eye.

There was almost no change to her body. Perhaps just slightly longer hair.

Her appearance was different. It was due to blood flowing from the corners of her mouth. The dark red fresh blood felt unfamiliar.

Though blood arts had regenerative power, she seemed unable to recover from internal injuries.

BOOM!

It was unavoidably a situation to clash. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately raised a storm of light body technique together with Namgung Hwa-shin.

Along with scenery passing by like an arrow, the Seven Apostle’s face suddenly filled his vision.

THUD.

“The headquarters must have fallen.”

Feet scraping the ground raised dust.

While the moisture-laden light body technique aftermath blew back as reverse wind, Jeong Yeon-shin who stopped exactly ten steps away opened his mouth.

“What do you want? Coming all the way to Xiangyang.”

“…You weren’t home.”

Slowly, the Seven Apostle parted her blood-stained lips.

She had been wearing a hazy smile since facing Jeong Yeon-shin, even appearing pitiful at a glance.

Her pitch-black hair swayed in the dusty wind.

“Came to, find you.”

The Seven Apostle’s lips moved. Her red eye opposite the black eyepatch was glowing.

“What’s with that state?”

Jeong Yeon-shin, used to superficial madness, asked indifferently.

“Are you worried?”

Her smile brightened. In her deeply reddened smile, Namgung Hwa-shin seemed not even worth considering.

“The process was a bit, rough. Your black ranks.”

Her words broke off. It meant her internal energybreathing was unstable.

There were Desolate Masters who hadn’t seen her appearance during the Blood Flame Sect headquarters incident. Perhaps she was hurt by them.

That’s when it happened.

“Found you, so it’s fine. Come here.”

RUSTLE.

She approaches staggering with a smiling face. Her internal injuries were deep at a glance. She seemed abnormal overall.

Jeong Yeon-shin raised his hand to stop Namgung Hwa-shin’s intervention.

Fortunately he stopped. It was trust.

It must be thanks to his growth momentum and blue rank, completed missions and their friendship until now.

‘Strange.’n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Standing still, he only observed the Seven Apostle’s expression and energy waves. Until her thin breath reached his nape.

RUSTLE.

She embraces Jeong Yeon-shin along with shaking breath. The carefully brushing clothes could be fully felt.

“Go back and make divine techniques for me. My young Grand Teacher. My little Sect Leader.”

The Seven Death Lord whispered. His ear tickled.

‘If it works on this one, it should work the same on Namgung family’s direct line.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought while being embraced.

“Your young Grand Teacher.”

He calmly opened his mouth. He hadn’t known his new palm technique would face real combat so quickly.

Along with mantra operation, there was an ominous wave of true qi rising from his right hand.

It was an instant. The dust wind spreading from beneath his feet began shimmering golden under the sunlight.

“Is no more.”

With the boy’s words, an explosion roared.