Chapter 30

Genius (2)

The mountain was in an uproar.

They were in the midst of repelling the attack and tidying up.

The main experts of the Zhongnan Sect had returned after striking a branch of the Broken Sword Sect.

Jeong Yeonshin and Heon Wonchang, after hearing the news, spent a day and were able to meet the ruler of Zhongnan Mountain.

They were accompanied by Elder Yeo Ilshin, who had shown kindness to Jeong Yeonshin during the destruction of the Jeong Family Manor.

"You have done us a great favor."

The leader of the Zhongnan Sect was a man of striking appearance.

With ears sharp like blades and draped in a yellow robe, he exuded the air of a hero of his time.

Xitian Jian Gong (西天劍公) Ou Yang Chen (歐陽晨).

He was said to be the son of the Jian Sect and Yeo Ilshin.

Despite being in his sixties or seventies, he did not look over thirty.

He was of mixed Han and Ming descent, evident from his ears.

"Jeong Hui is a child favored by the Sword Immortal. It is only right to show gratitude for saving a disciple of our sect."

Like most of the Ming people, he was handsome enough to recall Qingming, but his demeanor was different.

He was solemn, befitting the head of a sect.

Ou Yang Chen looked steadily at Ma Guangyi and Heon Wonchang and spoke.

"State what you desire from our sect."

Jeong Yeonshin sensed Heon Wonchang's body tremble beside him.

It seemed he had not anticipated such a reward.

It felt as if the sound of the upper chamber was rolling.

He hoped they would not make excessive demands.

It would be unwise to request elixirs and lower their status as honored guests.

He decided to speak first.

"Please allow us to assist in the battle against the Broken Sword Sect."

"Hmm."

The one who responded was Yeo Ilshin. He looked at Jeong Yeonshin with a complicated expression and then closed his eyes slightly.

Jeong Yeonshin wanted to ask about the reason for the destruction of the Jeong Family Manor, but he did not want to use this opportunity for such a purpose.

"Ma Guangyi, the disciple. I heard he has gathered the remains of my late father."

Ou Yang Chen said, a hint of emotion showing on his face.

"He did not pass on the secret techniques to his son, even though he was from another sect. An ironic matter. I did not expect the Ruyi Sword to end up with him."

"I only took it as inspiration for my sword technique. I will not learn or spread Ou Yang Yishi."

"Arrogant. Yet, interesting."

Perhaps he sensed the conviction in Jeong Yeonshin's calmness. Perhaps he had seen through his unique temperament.

In his opinion, Ma Yeojik's martial prowess seemed to have declined from his prime.

Otherwise, the eyes of Xitian Jian Gong and Zhongnan Sword Immortal would not have been so intimidating.

"I heard you revealed the secret techniques through the Miao Hua. That is a great favor. Even if you ask to be the vanguard, I cannot refuse."

In the battles of martial arts factions, being the vanguard was a matter of the sect's face.

The leader of the Zhongnan Sect greatly acknowledged him.

Ou Yang Chen's deep eyes did not leave Jeong Yeonshin.

Even those who were praised for their sword skills in the west of the world could not escape the shadow of their father.

There seemed to be a faint trace of love and hate in his gaze.

Yeo Ilshin felt the same. The child he had seen during the Jeong Family Manor massacre had restored the sword technique of his father.

"The ways of heaven are mysterious. How could the connections be so intertwined..."

"I have something to ask the Elder. I did not have the chance to hear it then."

At Jeong Yeonshin's words, her face stiffened.

* * *

Wei Jimiao's sword rose straight up, blocking the sunlight.

A graceful upper stance. The sunlight gently falling from the midday sun and the clear air of Zhongnan Mountain blended beautifully.

In the midst of this, only her sword was not at peace.

The sword technique of Ou Yang Yishi was a single, powerful strike, as its name suggested.

What was strange was that Jeong Yeonshin had created a flow in his sword technique through repeated strikes.

Whoosh!

The sword path that should have cut through nine suns at once was distorted.

The Zhongnan Sword Immortal, watching from the side, clicked his tongue.

"You cannot seem to concentrate."

"I am sorry. I am just causing a disturbance."

"Is there a problem with Yeonshin?"

Wei Jimiao shook her head.

"No, the problem is with me."

She had already fully acknowledged Jeong Yeonshin's sword technique. Her heart's demon did not stem from envy.

She was not that petty.

It was more a sense of futility, as if all her efforts and refinement over the years were meaningless.

"That sword technique, Guanghua Jianliu, is not inferior to Ou Yang Yishi. Is that what you saw?"

"That is correct."

The Zhongnan Sword Immortal answered briefly, as there was no need to say more about Jeong Yeonshin's martial arts.

"It was not at the level of one achievement. In our joint practice, he surpassed one achievement and reached two and three achievements... I cannot even believe he created such a powerful technique, and his achievement in a martial art he learned for the first time surpassed my Ou Yang Yishi."

"That child has already achieved your goal."

Wei Jimiao lowered her sword and looked at the Zhongnan Sword Immortal, who slowly continued.

"He is a grandmaster beyond his years. It is natural for his mastery of a self-created martial art to be swift. All things and learning are the same. The creator's body is the best fit. There is no martial art in the world that is an exception."

"He seems to have unparalleled talent. Even I cannot keep up..."

"The Shaolin Dharma Master and the Wudang Sect's founder, Sanfeng Zhenren, were the same. Living in the same era as such a grandmaster can be a blessing, depending on one's mindset. You, for instance, have inherited Ou Yang Yishi."

"······Yes. It is an unparalleled favor."

Wei Jimiao smiled faintly, a smile of resignation.

The烦恼 that had plagued her was forcibly suppressed by the cultivation she had accumulated as a disciple of Zhongnan.

As a sword dragon, her pride and youthful vigor screamed not to be overtaken, but she lacked the confidence to face Jeong Yeonshin.

In the near future, Wei Jimiao would be the one watching Jeong Yeonshin's back. She decided to accept it.

A gentle breeze brushed past her silk-like hair.

But the grip on her sword did not immediately tighten.

She had been preparing to step down from her peak for a long time. Her energy was far from full.

"······I didn't want to say this."

The Zhongnan Sword Immortal sighed. Although Jeong Yeonshin was like a grandson, he could not compare to Wei Jimiao, whom he had raised like a granddaughter.

"You must hear and keep silent."

"Me?"

"About Yeonshin. The child's Baihui point communicates with nature."

To the puzzled Wei Jimiao, he continued.

"It was a subtle change. But it has grown day by day. He is absorbing the power of heaven and earth excessively. It is not good. Even a great martial artist would find it hard to bear."

"What do you mean..."

"His days are numbered. Yet, he struggles so fiercely. As if trying to leave his mark on the world."

Wei Jimiao's eyes widened in shock.

The Zhongnan Sword Immortal, with his hands behind his back, gazed distantly at a mountain peak shrouded in clouds.

"I felt a sense of respect, regardless of his martial arts level or age. I am talking about Yeonshin."

* * *

After the conversation with Ou Yang Chen and Yeo Ilshin.

He heard that a challenge letter had come from the Broken Sword Sect. It was said to be short but intense.

- Four days after Yushui (雨水), let us meet for a decisive battle.

It was the end of the second month.

In the martial world, a decisive battle (会战) meant a major confrontation where the fate of the sects was at stake.

It was completely different from the sporadic battles that had occurred so far.

A direct confrontation between the Thirteen Thousand Demons and one wing of the Nine Sects. It was an event that would shake the martial world.

The response time for sects across the Central Plains was too short. The day of the decisive battle was approaching quickly.

Whoosh-

The wind sweeping across the vast Guanzhong Plain felt rough.

It was said that this was where Wei Jimiao had beheaded a leader of a villainous sect and earned her title as a sword dragon.

Jeong Yeonshin looked ahead from among the Zhongnan Sect disciples.

A fierce aura was burning from a crowd of about two hundred.

The Broken Sword Sect of the Thirteen Thousand Demons, a faction known for its ruthless pursuit of power.

At the forefront stood the absolute ruler in his memory.

The leader of the Broken Sword Sect. His expressionless face was familiar.

Still, he stood with a large sword planted in the ground, his aura unhidden.

Even from a distance of a thousand steps, the overwhelming aura reached him.

Now that he had properly learned martial arts, he could understand how absurdly powerful this man was.

"That is the enemy of Jeong Xiaohao."

Heon Wonchang glared ahead, aware of his comrade's story.

There was no sign of him backing down, as if he had grown close to Jeong Yeonshin.

Jeong Yeonshin saw a demeanor worthy of being called a divine hero in Heon Wonchang.

With gratitude, he stepped forward.

The leader of the Zhongnan Sect, Xitian Jian Gong Ou Yang Chen, was looking ahead.

Just then, a voice rang out from the Broken Sword Sect side.

"The third disciple of the Broken Sword Sect! I, Wei Wuhe, challenge any promising disciple to a duel!"

It was a proposal for a vanguard battle.

A common occurrence in the martial world, where the future of the sects was measured and morale was broken.

He had experienced this once through Yu Xian of the Huashan Sect.

"I will convey your request to the leader."

"Xiaohao."

Ou Yang Chen turned his head. Their eyes met.

"Given your qualification of gathering the remains of the Jian Sect's senior, I request to act as a guest of the Zhongnan Sect."

"Jeong Xiaohao."

Wei Jimiao, who had been looking at him with a peculiar expression for some time, gazed at him.

Her face was a mix of emotions. Jeong Yeonshin nodded slightly and looked at Ou Yang Chen.

'I can step forward.'

A position unsuitable for her to take.

He was slightly senior in age and had a different level of reputation compared to Wei Wuhe.

Ou Yang Chen slowly nodded.

If they were to win decisively, there was no one better than Jeong Yeonshin among his peers.

"Go ahead."

"Thank you."

He bowed and took a step forward.

Wei Jimiao, standing among the elders of the Zhongnan Sect, watched Jeong Yeonshin's back.

Her gaze did not leave his advancing figure.

There, a grandmaster who was burning himself to leave a mark on life.

"Already a great youth."

The Zhongnan Sword Immortal's sigh scattered.

* * *

"The fate of the Zhongnan Sect is sealed."

When he faced Jeong Yeonshin, Wei Wuhe's first words were these.

He was about seventeen or eighteen, transitioning from a boy to a young man.

His magnificent sword and crimson martial attire were splendid, and he remembered seeing him briefly at the Jeong Family Manor. He was one of the enemies.

Wei Wuhe scanned Jeong Yeonshin from head to toe and sneered.

"I see. You're from the Jeong Family Manor, right? You were full of ridiculous arrogance. I should have killed you then, but it's fortunate you've come before me now."

"You couldn't even touch me back then, could you?"

"You will die in a martial duel. What right does a former leader of the Divine Sword Squad have to interfere? It would only damage his dignity. If you believe the same as last time, it will be a truly regrettable matter."

Perhaps because he was a direct disciple of the Broken Sword Sect leader, he exuded an arrogant air. He was a perfect nobleman.

'The disciple of the Broken Sword Sect leader. He will avenge his enemy and earn merit.'

Jeong Yeonshin silently drew his sword.

His gaze landed on the Broken Sword Sect leader standing far behind Wei Wuhe.

His sharply angular face was as indifferent as before.

"Die now."

Wei Wuhe, as he spoke, unleashed a sword strike. His disregard for where his opponent was looking was typical of a villainous martial artist.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The explosive sword waves created a strong wind. The swords crossed and did not move.

Wei Wuhe, surprised by the equal sword power, showed an unexpected expression.

"Not bad."

Jeong Yeonshin did not respond. After learning a proper sword technique, he could see the flow the sword created.

The same applied to his opponent's sword.

Suddenly, the incident where Qingming tested him when he first entered Maguangyi came to mind.

He slowly spoke.

"A Ming person I knew said that one could guess a person's talent from the sword wind."

"Hmm?"

"Is this what he meant?"

As Jeong Yeonshin smiled, goosebumps ran up Wei Wuhe's arm.

Guanghua Jianliu.

The Ruyi Sword in his hand captured the sunlight.

At the same time, a faint beam of light burst forth, pushing back the sword he was facing.

"What...!"

Jeong Yeonshin's hand did not stop. Wrapping himself in wind, he passed through the opponent with a true angle.

The sword strike, shining white in a diagonal line from the neck, ended with Wei Wuhe's head falling.

A thud sounded. His body collapsed.

Without even glancing at the corpse, he sheathed his sword.

"..."

Silence fell over the plain for a moment.