Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

“Greetings, Grandfather. I am Jeong Yeon-shin of the Demon Wings,” Yeon-shin said calmly, bowing slightly with his hands clasped in a fist salute.

“…?”

There was no sound until he raised his head. The air was filled with a palpable sense of doubt, confusion, and curiosity. Ma Yeon-jeok’s beard, which covered the front of his purple robe, trembled slightly.

“You are…?”

Ma Yeon-jeok, the former leader of the Divine Sword Squad, was a warrior of the highest rank within the Desolate Fortress, at the pinnacle of the white-blue-black-purple hierarchy. Those who had reached the realm of Ascension and opened their upper dantian had formidable intuition. He looked at Yeon-shin and the faintly smiling Lord of the Desolate Fortress, finding it impossible not to recognize something.

“Jeong, from the Jeong Family.”

“It’s our first meeting.”

While Ma Yeon-jeok’s face showed increasing astonishment, Jeong Yeon-shin remained calm. His maternal relatives had never visited Xinye County, not even when his parents married, nor after his mother passed away giving birth to him. It was a story typical of countryside gossip, where a daughter’s marriage to a low-status family effectively severed ties.

Naturally, he was only known as the in-law of the Desolate Ma Family.

“You are my sister’s son?”

Next to him, Ma Jin had his eyes wide open as if they might tear. It seemed their surnames were the same. It explained why Ma Yeon-jeok and Ma Jin had not exchanged greetings—they were father and son.

‘In martial families, the head’s word is law. The family rules must have forbidden meetings,’ Yeon-shin thought, finding the family’s attitude high-handed and unprincipled. He smiled faintly.

“You mentioned a mentor; to think Master Ma Jin would be an uncle of mine. Or perhaps you are my eldest uncle? I am unfamiliar with the lineage of my maternal family. I was an outcast even in my own family, which was annihilated.”

“……”

“I understand. As a warrior of the Desolate Fortress, I respect the merits established by my maternal grandfather, but I find further personal conversation and connection burdensome.”

“……”

A married daughter who had no further ties with her natal family. Since that was how they treated him, there was nothing more to say.

‘It’s a family so desperate for successors that they would even adopt a child.’

Focusing on his martial arts, Yeon-shin did not want to be entangled in messy family affairs. His experiences with the Jeong family were more than enough.

The Lord of the Desolate Fortress, who had been watching with interest, slowly spoke.

“Jeong Yeon-shin of the Demon Wings. Your spirit is impressive.”

Her slightly curved eyes looked stunning.

Yeon-shin slightly bowed his head. He felt somewhat puzzled but reassured by the Lord’s support.

At that moment, the boy standing uncomfortably beside them spoke out.

“I cannot accept this! How can someone like him claim to be a direct descendant of my grandfather? How can he be so rude to the former leader of the Divine Sword Squad?”

The anger in his eyes was intense, as if he was unaware that he stood in front of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress.

“I don’t need your acceptance. I’m not a member of the Desolate Ma Family. I’m Jeong Yeon-shin of the Demon Wings,” Jeong Yeon-shin replied calmly.

He remembered Won-chang’s words: the martial world is a place where people introduce themselves by their nicknames shamelessly.

“How dare you!”

The boy’s fury seemed to escalate as he turned to his step-grandfather.

“Please permit me to duel him. I will prove that he is unworthy of being a blood relative.”

“There’s no reason for it.”

Yeon-shin responded immediately.

“If you seek my guidance, I’ll accept. But I have no obligation to prove my worth to you or your family. Not even the Captain can issue such a personal command.”

He spoke as if looking down from a higher place.

Yeon-shin’s white robe fluttered slightly as he stared directly at the boy. The aura flowing from him unintentionally conveyed his strength as a true warrior.

While Ma Jin remained silent, the boy scoffed incredulously, raising his hand as if to strike.

‘He must be practicing the Hand Arts.’

Yeon-shin noticed the pair of hand guards hanging from the boy’s waist and simultaneously withdrew his qi. The instant disappearance of his aura evidenced his mastery of inner energy control.

“Forgive my rudeness. I showed an undisciplined attitude.”

Apologizing for revealing his qi recklessly, he bowed to the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. Ma Jin looked both proud and troubled, while Ma Yeon-jeok’s expression darkened further.

“Stop the bickering.”

She quietly moved her lips.

“Yeon-jeok is like a close friend who has been with me for many years, and Jeong Yeon-shin is a promising talent. It would be better to resolve this conflict as warriors. Each of you, stake what you wish. Do you agree with my suggestion?”

Yeon-shin gazed at the Lord of the Desolate Fortress, unable to fathom her intentions. She smiled.

“Yeon-shin, I know this is not beneficial to you. As a friend of the former leader of the Divine Sword Squad, I will grant one request regardless of the outcome.”

“If that’s the case, then would that be possible?”

Jeong Yeon-shin boldly asked. He referred to the fruit of the Heavenly Tree.

The Lord’s smile deepened.

“That’s still difficult. Even if the retired Yeon-jeok asks, it remains the same. His contributions as the leader of the Divine Sword Squad have already been rewarded in other ways. However, I can teach you one of my special techniques.”

“Teach martial arts…!”

The idea of being taught by someone close to being the best in the world was a rare fortune.

The boy next to the shocked Yeon-jeok seemed greedy, as if he would demand martial arts training if he won rather than follow his step-grandfather’s wishes.

‘His intentions are clear. The maternal family is interesting. They want to make someone like him their successor.’

Yeon-shin found it hard to believe his abilities were so exceptional. But given the improved terms, he nodded readily.

“I will do it.”

They headed to the training ground behind the main fortress.

The sight of the Lord of the Desolate Fortress stepping outside attracted attention, but no one dared to follow. Yeon-jeok tried to subtly approach, but Yeon-shin boldly stuck close to the Lord, causing her to chuckle.

“Be at ease. This place is for my use alone.”

The training ground was opulent, with even the floor being unusual. All kinds of invaluable weapons were lined up on stone stands, and the vast floor was entirely marble. It seemed almost too precious to step on.

‘These must be trophies taken from the destruction of the Kingdom of Dali in Yunnan.’

The Lord of the Desolate Fortress was known as the Emperor’s Divine Sword.

She had erased several rebellious small kingdoms and large factions.

Her name was never omitted when discussing the greatest in the world.

It was unknown how such a petite body contained such immense divine power.

“This should be a good spot to watch.”

The Lord stood still in one corner of the training ground.

Her long eyelashes looked like a painting, and her long green robe fluttered softly in the spring breeze.

‘Huh?’

Yeon-shin paused momentarily. It was only then that he noticed the precious sword hanging at her waist. He realized he had perceived it as part of nature until now, indicating it was beyond the level of unity with the sword he had learned.

‘This is chilling. What kind of level is this?’

At that moment, the Lord of the Desolate Fortress turned her head and met his gaze. Her red lips curved smoothly.

“You have sharp eyes.”

“Forgive me.”

The boy who had stood in the center of the training ground with Yeon-shin sneered.

He now wore a pair of luxurious black hand guards, fitting for an heir of the Desolate Ma Family, known for their martial arts.

“Were you ogling the Lord’s elegance? You lowly man.”

“Aren’t you an illegitimate child?”

“How dare you…!”

Jeong Yeon-shin did not reply further and closed his eyes slightly.

‘I learned from this mission.’

The certainty gained from killing the Blood Master.

He could seize the fruit of the Heavenly Tree himself.

Martial arts training was like climbing a thousand-foot cliff with bare hands, according to orthodox martial artists. Techniques that harmed others and themselves, such as sorcery, blood arts, and demonic arts, were not considered true martial arts.

It was believed that only by building pure martial arts could one achieve the ultimate goal, similar to spiritual arts.

Yeon-shin felt differently. To him, it was not a steep cliff but a well-paved staircase. In the realm of martial arts, he was like a fish swimming in the deep sea.

‘The Demon Wings are sufficient.’

The vastness of martial arts he was exploring within the Desolate Fortress was so fertile it was hard to imagine lacking anything.

He could plant any seed here and the environment would aid its growth.

Thus, he did not need the Desolate Ma Family.

“Come.”

Yeon-shin opened his eyes and gestured slowly.

“Hmph!”

The boy, greatly angered, did not hesitate. He charged with a never-before-seen technique, his qi emanating from all his limbs.

Thwack!

Yeon-shin deflected the rushing fist with the back of his hand. The power of the strike was astonishing, requiring him to exert considerable force in his elbow.

Whoosh!

The impact from the strike tore at his clothes. The boy’s inner energy greatly surpassed Yeon-shin’s, perhaps due to rare elixirs he had consumed.

Yeon-shin immediately infused his energy with the principles of the Fatebreaker’s Codex.

The energy circulating through his body multiplied at the necessary moment to bolster his strength.

From then on, it was all about feeling. Following the techniques of the Demon’s Light, his hands began to disrupt the boy’s martial arts rhythm.

Bam! Bam! Thud!

The Desolate Ma Family’s Hand Arts were straightforward. Each strike was heavy, and the chain of moves was unbroken.

It seemed like he was putting all his strength into it, but suddenly energy would erupt from the opposite fist.

All kinds of principles harmonized, making the techniques feel overwhelmingly powerful.

‘So this is what real strong fists are like.’

Despite the boy’s reckless demeanor, he had mastered his family’s martial arts properly.

His exceptional movements were impressive enough to inspire new ideas in Yeon-shin’s mind.

“Why don’t you draw your sword?”

“Your martial arts are outstanding.”

Yeon-shin responded nonchalantly, cutting off the boy’s elbow with a spinning leaf-like motion.

He was reversing the situation.

After witnessing the opponent’s energy techniques, he understood what was possible and was discovering the methods of energy manipulation.

It was all upside down.

“You bastard!”

Boom!

The marble floor was dented.

The wind from the boy’s punch, combined with the step he took, blew fiercely, but Yeon-shin deflected the fist lightly, like a leaf in the wind, and landed gracefully.

“I was thinking about fist techniques… Ten more moves should suffice.”

A faint green lightning sparkled in his eyes.

From a distance, the three masters were watching the duel.

Observing Yeon-shin’s movements, reminiscent of the elven race’s defensive techniques, each had different expressions. Ma Yeon-jeok frowned deeply.

“He talks about ending it in ten moves? No matter how extraordinary his talents are…”

“No, it’s not that. What he means is…”

Ma Jin, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke with difficulty.

“He means he will create a new technique in ten moves.”