Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 118 – Divine Technique (6)

While the massive stone door opened, Poison Lord Tang Yun-hwang who had suddenly approached spoke.

“You, your surname is Jeong and title is Lightning Genius?”

“Yes, Elder Clan Leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin answered while staring straight ahead. His tone was calm.

He couldn’t spare a glance at the Tang Clan Leader beside him. Because now, he was fully focused on the task ahead, determined enough to risk his life for it.

He hoped for Radiant Demon Wing’s safety.

Tang Yun-hwang seemed unconcerned. After staring up at Jeong Yeon-shin for a while, he continued speaking.

“Your speech and conduct are refined, you don’t seem like just any wandering warrior. Do you know someone called the Return to Origin Daoist?”

“He’s the one who wrote the Vegetable Root Discourse.”

The boy answered quietly.

[TL Note- Vegetable Roots Discourse is a classic Chinese philosophical text written by Hong Zicheng (Return to Origin Daoist) during the late Ming Dynasty. In the context of Taoism, Vegetable Root Discourse aligns with Daoist principles such as simplicity, non-attachment, and balance. It encourages individuals to find wisdom and virtue in everyday life, even in humble or challenging circumstances, much like tending to the roots of vegetables.]

[E/N – Istg that’s just how they get their children to eat veggies]

The Jeong family mansion in Henan was first in Xinye County. They were wary of appearing like rich upstarts flaunting their wealth.

Thus, family members had to be cultured. Even disowned children couldn’t put down their studies.

He had skimmed through the Ming Dynasty Chronicles, the Four Books and Three Classics, as well as Vegetable Root Discourse.

Tang Yun-hwang’s bushy beard lifted at the corners of his mouth.

“You’re knowledgeable. He wove together the three teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism well. There are many words worth savoring about how to conduct oneself in life.”

“…”

“Though day and night change tumultuously, that light remains unchanged in all things under heaven, like the immutable myriad phenomena. It speaks of the virtues of the noble man.”

It was a passage the boy knew. He had memorized it all.

Yet it resonated differently now. Perhaps due to the difference in years lived.

Rumble—!

The stone door to the City of Renowned Craftsmen’s Winter Area was different from the previous areas. It was exceptionally large.

As the door slowly opened with the turning of the mechanism formation, Tang Yun-hwang continued speaking.

“Martial arts performed hastily have no follow-through. In times of peace and leisure, always be cautious and ready to fight, and in times of turmoil, always be calm and composed. Both sword and hidden weapons art are like this.”

It was advice from a supreme master. Profundity could be felt in his voice. Jeong Yeon-shin instinctively sensed this was also a destined encounter.

Lazy Flame Dragon suddenly cut in.

“You seem to have a knack for speaking in riddles. Isn’t it just saying you’ll die if you’re hasty? That’s the most basic of basics.”

“I heard rumors that the Hwangbo young master’s conduct was unconventional. Seems it was true. But you’re right. Lightning Genius, you need to maintain a relaxed mind.”

“Though young, our temporary commander is very experienced. He’ll know what to do.”

Even now, he behaved in a way to gain merit.

But the obvious flattery took on a subtle feeling when passing through Lazy Flame Dragon’s mouth. Tang Yun-hwang gave a hearty laugh.

“I’m also reminding myself. I have repeated this to myself countless times. To fully avenge my wife, I must first survive. To take revenge while preserving one’s life…”

It was like wind brushing dried leaves. That’s how his voice sounded.

One who was once a peerless master roams the martial world alone with internal injuries.

It was because he lost his lifelong companion. How heart-wrenchingly painful must that be?

Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t imagine.

‘Vegetable Root Discourse. Though day and night change, the light remains unchanged.’

He took the Tang Clan Leader’s words to heart. He pondered them once.

‘Use internal energy calmly. Draw the sword to a relaxed and indifferent path.’

Meanwhile,

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped toward the light of the City of Renowned Craftsmen’s Winter Area. His steps gradually quickened.

As he passed through the open door without hesitation, his running was already transforming into his lightness technique.

The noble wind streams wrapped around his legs. It was the secret lightness technique Cheong Myeong had taught him.

Step!

The vast cave floor firmly pushed against his feet. Jeong Yeon-shin sprinted straight ahead.

The dim lighting of the City of Renowned Craftsmen had grown brighter.

The Winter Area was indeed different. From the entrance it was vast like the lair of a dragon waiting to ascend to heaven.

The ceiling couldn’t even be seen. How far underground had they come?

Behind his back he could feel the presence of the Return Wing Corps running silently together.

It was his only comfort.

‘There…!’

The sight that greeted him stole his breath away.

A devastated village.

It came into view after taking a few more steps. It could be called a vast empty space. There wasn’t a single intact civilian house, as if an underground typhoon had swept through.

Within it,

There were masters exchanging sword strikes. There seemed to be easily fifty of them. They were all masters.

Their swift lightness technique movements created whirlwinds all around the place.

Every space within view seemed to have become a battlefield. They clashed fiercely from all directions.

Bang! Boom!

The air trembled. It was the collision of expert level energy waves.

Though tales of martial masters fighting for over seven days and nights weren’t rare, it was already like this just upon entering.

How long had they been fighting? Now it seemed they had even stopped pursuing and entered an all-out battle.

‘Radiant Demon Wing. Where is the Radiant Demon Wing.’

He scanned the battlefield while running.

There were many corpses.

They say heaven is indifferent and shows no mercy. There was no way Jeong Yeon-shin’s seniors wouldn’t be among those lying there. The boy’s martial world experience was no longer shallow. He didn’t expect everyone to survive.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

He had already received reports at Desolate Fortress that two white-ranks had died. He only hoped there wouldn’t be additional casualties.

‘Senior Liu Yin-yin, Senior Du Ming.’

It was a futile hope. In his rapidly expanding view, the corpses of white-rank seniors were mixed in.

Among those still moving, there were no white robes of Desolate Fortress. Presumably all the white-ranks had been annihilated.

About a dozen of the Radiant Demon Wing’s group seemed to remain. Blood stains covered the blue robes of Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo who were struggling desperately.

Swoosh!

He recalled Crimson Day Sword’s words before forming the Return Wing Corps. He had asked to draw the Desolate sword at the front.

There was no leisure for commanding. The boy unconsciously finished drawing his sword.

“Hmm? Who is it?!”

“The Imperial…! It’s Desolate Fortress!”

The enemies’ voices were heard bleakly as they drew closer. That’s when Jeong Yeon-shin gripped his sword guard while charging into the battlefield.

At the center of the fierce battle.

Slash—!

The left sleeve of a black robe was flying off. A strong arm rose alone.

As the Radiant Demon Wing Leader’s left arm covered in scars was severed and flew away, it created a storm of energy waves that hadn’t been fully released.

He had been handling two enemy supreme masters alone.

“Radiant Demon Wing Leader! They say you could contend for strongest among the blacks, indeed your fame was well-deserved!”

The blue-eyed westerner with golden hair who had cut off Ma Jin’s left arm with his hand blade shouted.

Tremendous force waves were imbued in the foreign middle-aged man’s voice. His intention was clear… He spoke to raise his side’s morale.

Pure Demon Divine Hand Ha Yul-geok.

He was an infamous supreme master. Even his huge build was extraordinary.

Standing six chi tall. His blue eyes were full of majesty.

[TL Note- six chi equals to about 6ft 5inch (around 2 meters).]

Behind his back hung a pitch-black coat missing its sleeves, the characteristic attire of the Pure Demon Alliance.

Sichuan’s Pure Demon Alliance.

They were a major sect of the Thirteen Evil Sects, a demonic cult lineage that had risen again after being exterminated with the Ming dynasty’s founding.

Among them, Pure Demon Divine Hand could be called the leader of the Thirteen Evil Sects’ elites gathered here.

He managed to cut off Ma Jin’s arm, though only through a joint attack. Terrifying energy waves cut into the skin. It meant he was in the realm of the Desolate Fortress’s black-ranks.

That didn’t matter though. Those thoughts immediately disappeared from Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind.

Boom!

Internal energy exploded from the bubbling spring point in his sole. The stone floor burst beneath the dazed boy’s feet.

Whoosh!

He rapidly accelerated, and broke away from the Return Wing Corps group. Jeong Yeon-shin instantly charged toward the center of the fierce battle.

But the enemies’ reactions were fast. They were the ones pressuring the Radiant Demon Wing. The six men and women turned toward the boy.

They were the Ten Perfections Sect and Pure Demon Alliance. The major sects’ secret techniques filled the front.

They extended fist strikes, spears, and sword strikes that could all be considered extraordinary.

Dim streams of light from the Radiant Sword Style flickered at Jeong Yeon-shin’s fingertips. The Desolate sword was swung like a club.

Crack! Boom!

He broke through everything. Groans burst from the enemies’ mouths.

Fragments of blades, severed flying arms, everything fell behind Jeong Yeon-shin.

He couldn’t slow his sprint for even a moment.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Fortunately they were small fry. The enemy blue-rank masters seemed focused on annihilating the Radiant Demon Wing.

Thud!

He instantly reached the center. It was because he properly utilized the subtleties of the sneak attack.

“Yeon-shin!”

The one-armed Ma Jin cried out in surprise. He had been helplessly pushed back by Pure Demon Divine Hand and the Ten Perfections Sect supreme master.

“Reinforcements.”

An elderly man muttered. He was the one standing shoulder to shoulder with the Pure Demon Divine Hand.

Then he lightly stepped forward to block Jeong Yeon-shin’s path. He alone showed a relaxed bearing in the chaotic battlefield.

He was a warrior of the Ten Perfections Sect, wielding a greatsword, and his appearance was unique with a dark blue battle robe worn like a general.

With his unique attire and supreme martial arts, it would be difficult not to become famous in the murim

Sword Scorpion Demon Du Gu-gwang.

He was a swordmaster of his sect said to have mastered eighteen types of weapon techniques.

They said he led the sect’s strongest strike force. He was particularly powerful even within the Ten Perfections Sect.

“The young one’s spirit is surprising. Your refined internal energy is truly amazing. What is your name?”

Sword Scorpion Demon asked. He seemed sincere. Admiration seeped from his gaze scanning Jeong Yeon-shin’s whole body, bringing him close to shock.

“Your body is well cultivated too. No, this is a vessel I’ve never seen before. Why have you come here now? If you had lived longer you could have become a peerless master worthy of discussing the world.”

“…”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer.

Though he wanted to examine his uncle’s condition across from him, the supreme master’s presence before him was tremendous.

Leisure is not for the less skilled. At this moment the strong ones were Sword Scorpion Demon and Pure Demon Divine Hand.

There was no one who could say anything even as they evaluated Jeong Yeon-shin and revealed regret.

Ma Jin had lost an arm and faced the Pure Demon Divine Hand.

The Radiant Demon Wing seniors seemed overwhelmed just blocking the masters from the two major sects. It was due to numerical inferiority.

Behind him he could feel the Return Wing Corps joining one after another.

Yet the feeling of being outmatched immediately approached as well.

They had merely changed from defense to a potential weak offense with their inferior numbers.

There weren’t enough masters to change the flow of battle.

Though the Tang Clan Leader was killing the Thirteen Evil Sects warriors who had instantly gathered together, even if he came here he would be limited to facing either the Sword Scorpion Demon or Pure Demon Divine Hand.

It was because he was internally injured from the Tang Clan Supreme Elder’s scheme.

‘I have to do it.’

The boy thought.

This was where the main forces of Desolate Fortress, Pure Demon Alliance, and Ten Perfections Sect were battling.

Three supreme masters whose fame spread across the world have gathered. Unintentionally he stood on a testing ground. He had to win here.

“Come.”

Sword Scorpion Demon spoke with a smile.

Jeong Yeon-shin raised the Jeong Family Dynamic Technique to its peak. Then he began adjusting his whole body’s muscles.