Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Won Jong exclaimed in shock as he looked at Yeon-shin.

His wrinkled eyes trembled as if he were utterly surprised. In contrast, the Seventh Apostle seemed more relaxed.

“Easy to handle, you say? It seems like Shaolin-level martial arts, but it’s only somewhat strong against blood arts. It’s not enough to surpass my skills. You’re still far below me, quite adorable.”

The Seventh Apostle smirked, her figure seemingly disappearing as she split apart.

The fiery aura she unleashed was enormous. This time, even Yeon-shin couldn’t react.

Boom!

Ma Jin stepped in to block. The collision of the two top experts distorted the air.

A formidable force emanated from Ma Jin’s advancing body.

The massive sword of the Demon Wings seemed to have enough power to push away the Seventh Apostle’s hand.

She narrowed her eyes.

“Demon Wings Leader. So you had high hopes for the youngster named Lightning Flash?”

“Shut up.”

“Attack.”

At the Seventh Apostle’s brief utterance, the members of the Blood Flame Sect responded. It was an invitation to chaos.

They surrounded them with their banners, converging from all sides.

The sheer number of them created a feeling of being in the middle of a battlefield.

Blood-red heads were visible from all directions. The sharpness of various weapons echoed from all around.

Yeon-shin saw their eyes, wide with madness.

Every one of them had something beyond human in their crimson pupils.

Monsters similar to the ones he had seen at the Jeong family estate were everywhere. He tightened his grip on his sword.

Clang!

He swung upward, completely shattering one opponent’s sword. Stepping forward, he cut through to the neck.

The sensation of striking bone lasted only a moment; the smoothly shattered trajectory entered the realm of Ascending Sword Techniques.

The Desolate Sword in his hand began to trace its path, emitting a faint light.

‘Radiance.’

Beams of light flowed like waves, each one a sword strike.

The Radiance Sword Style he developed at Mount Zhongnan had an uninterrupted flow. It was different from when he only used the Swift Sword technique.

Without exerting much force, he leaped over three swords and severed five necks.

“Seal his hands!”

“Pierce his throat!”

The Blood Flame Sect members were out of their minds. They attacked with methods he couldn’t have imagined.

Throwing themselves was commonplace. They seemed intent on exploiting every weak point, even attempting to grab and cling onto him.

Some even tossed coins like hidden weapons. All of them were infused with qi, requiring deflection or evasion.

Yeon-shin stepped on the Splendid Wings Step, brushing past a crescent-shaped arc.

“Lightning Flash! This way!”

Baek Mir-yeo’s shout was drowned out by the force of the Blood Masters’ sword attacks. There were more than a few of them.

At their level, there were more than twenty who reigned as kings.

‘The leader is tied up with the Seventh Apostle, and there are more Blood Masters than Blue Uniforms.’

He grasped the situation through the lens of group combat. Cheong Myeong and Baek Mir-yeo were said to be among the best of the Blue Uniform.

The other Blues also faced the Blood Masters without retreating. What needed concern was Yeon-shin himself.

With his left hand, he operated the mnemonic of the Eternal Blossom Fist. He unleashed the energy with a fist.

Simultaneously, the atmosphere twisted. The second-phase Point-Blank Blast shattered both the arc and the enemy’s head.

Thud!

Perhaps it was just before he turned into a Blood Master. The force bouncing back from his fist was substantial.

Even so, it was a single blow. The nearby Demon Wings senior watched in astonishment.

‘It’s still not enough.’

Overcoming the situation was impossible. He lacked the power to lead in the realm of the top masters.

Such tasks were the responsibility of the Desolate Fortress’ Black Faction. Unless Ma Jin killed the Seventh Apostle, it wasn’t a situation that could be easily resolved.

Slash!

With a Swift Sword-style Radiance Sword, he severed another neck in an instant. The enemy fell without sensing the sword strike.

Simultaneously, Yeon-shin delved inward. The martial arts technique that had arisen when he grasped the Seventh Apostle’s dagger sank again.

He couldn’t summon it at will. It seemed to be because the mnemonic hadn’t fully materialized.

“Haap!”

An aged, hoarse voice cried out. It was close to Yeon-shin’s left.

When he turned his gaze, he saw Monk Won Jong unleashing a palm technique with a shout. He didn’t feel a particularly strong aura.

‘They called him a Mu Do monk.’

They were monks who studied the principles and mnemonics of martial arts. It was said that Shaolin’s strength came from them.

However, in the martial world, they didn’t achieve the fame of the martial monks, so they rarely made a name for themselves.

Then.

“Aren’t you dealing with even one?”

“Kill the old monk first.”

Two Blood Masters approached Monk Won Jong. Attacking a monk was taboo throughout the ages.

However, they showed no hesitation in their actions.

The doctrine of the Blood Flame Sect freed them from worldly conventions. That was why they were part of the demonic sects.

Yeon-shin swept his surroundings with all his senses. He had somehow drifted far from the Demon Wings.

Did he have omnidirectional perception? Manipulating the distance in the chaos of masters’ battles was a different matter.

At this moment, he was the only one who could help Won Jong.

He pushed off the ground. The wind he created brushed against his eyes.

The figures of the grinning enemies rapidly grew larger.

A dim light rose at the edge of his vision. It was the precursor of the Radiance Sword Style imbued in the Desolate Sword.

He cleaved through the strong wind that brushed over the back of his hand.

Slice!

The Radiance Sword struck the enemy’s forehead as they turned to look.

They fell instantly dead. The sword strike didn’t stop. He turned his body and clashed with the one who had already prepared.

Clang!

“What kind of swordsmanship…!”

A look of dismay appeared in the eyes of the Blood Master.

Yeon-shin wasn’t at ease. The fact that the enemy was speaking indicated they still had energy.

The Blood Flame Sect believed in their numbers. As a demonic sect, they spread even further. It was paradoxical.

“Monk! To the north!”

Yeon-shin finally made a decision. Ma Jin had mentioned the Desolate Ma family before the ambush.

If they anticipated such a dispersal, it was something to include as an option.

Following the Demon’s Light martial arts, he kicked the back of the Blood Master’s knee. It was a kick amplified by True Qi from the Fatebreaker’s Codex.

With a thud, the enemy collapsed. He beheaded them and passed through.

Slash!

Monk Won Jong, who had been hidden behind the enemy’s body, appeared. His eyes were wide open.

“I had a feeling you weren’t ordinary when you faced Gak Jeong…! How do you possess such martial arts at your age…?”

“It’s meaningless. Let’s move.”

The battlefield kept expanding. It was because the Demon Wings and Shaolin were strong.

The Xinye Baekmu Faction had long since left, and they had reached the point where they could touch the marketplace.

“Where are you going!”

“Ask them!”

The Blood Flame Sect seemed determined. A hundred wasn’t all of them.

Seeing the endless stream of Blood Flame Sect members, one wondered what the local soldiers were doing.

He hadn’t realized Xinye County had become so corrupt. At this point, it was a major battle in the martial world.

Fortunately, the breakthrough path was good. It was because they had passed the tavern where Demon Wings had set up.

They retrieved two fine horses and mounted them. He didn’t worry about his companions.

‘If I can escape, that means everyone can too.’

Among the Demon Wings masters who went on the mission, the only one weaker than Yeon-shin was Hyeon Won-chang. He wasn’t greatly concerned about him either.

Hyeon Won-chang was a master who layered the killing sword over the Demon’s Light. It meant he was skilled in killing.

In a melee, it was a sword technique more effective than any martial art.

“This way!”

Won Jong followed behind Yeon-shin as he spurred his horse. Only the sound of galloping filled the distance.

All the nearby residences had locked their doors and trembled in silence. Yeon-shin felt apologetic as he thought of his companions.

Returning would only be a burden. The Seventh Apostle was still a master he couldn’t handle.

Avoiding the battlefield where he couldn’t protect himself was the way to help.

The old monk who had become a temporary companion seemed to understand. Riding alongside him, Monk Won Jong spoke.

“They don’t seem to be following us.”

“Even for a Blood Master, it’s tough for their movement skill to outpace a horse. Besides, we killed two of them.”

With that, he fell silent, his mind seeming preoccupied.

Yeon-shin didn’t mind, and he recalled the geography of Hanam in his mind.

The map of the Central Plains was a treasure only accessible to those ranked as captains of the Desolate Fortress or higher, but Ma Jin had familiarized him with it for the mission.

‘We need to cross the river.’

The horses’ hooves soon reached the water’s edge. They had completely left Xinye County behind.

“Let’s take that.”

“Do you mean that sightseeing boat?”

He hesitated to abandon the valuable horses, but fortunately, a leisurely cruise ship was passing by.

It was a large flower boat with a canopy in the center.

It was the season when young people enjoyed the spring air. Perhaps this was a common boat ride at this time.

Because of the nearby incident, he couldn’t feel at ease.

“Come here.”

Monk Won Jong spoke, infusing his words with inner energy. Yeon-shin muttered, “What did you say?”

As a Mu Do monk, he seemed to have devoted his life to Buddhist practice and martial arts mnemonics, with little experience of the world.

For someone who had undergone years of wall-facing training, Monk Won Jong was quite eccentric.

He might have held a high status before becoming a monk.

The pleasure boat began to turn and approach. Yeon-shin’s brows furrowed slightly.

He saw ten warriors standing guard.

It was secondary to the young men and women who looked at them with strange smiles.

In a world where swords were expensive, it wasn’t easy to find warriors with the right disposition and martial skills to keep by one’s side.

‘Are they the offspring of a prestigious family? They seem to have properly learned martial arts.’

It reminded him of Jin Yul, who had tried to assassinate him by getting close. The boat now seemed even larger as it approached.

The wooden structure was luxurious and well-joined. No matter how you looked at it, it was extraordinary.

The first to speak was not the noble young men holding wine cups.

“It seems the venerable monk needs a traveling companion.”

A young lady, appearing to be the daughter of a powerful family, stood and approached the boat’s edge.

She seemed about eighteen years old. Her attire matched her striking beauty, and she appeared to be the center of the group.

Yeon-shin wasn’t concerned with her appearance. His gaze fell on the sword hanging at her waist.

He sensed auras. She was a martial artist. What sect could she belong to?

He spoke to the young lady.

“The monk was dedicated to his practice and neglected manners. Please forgive him.”

“What is he talking about?”

Monk Won Jong turned abruptly, but she laughed aloud.

“I was a bit bored, so this is amusing. Would you like to board the boat? As you can see, it can easily hold a couple of horses.”

There was no significant aura. Yeon-shin bowed slightly and stepped onto the boat.

He ignored Monk Won Jong, who glanced at him sidelong.

Inside, it was even more luxurious than outside, to the point where it was hard to distinguish between being on a boat or in a banquet hall.

Those seated exchanged glances.

They were mostly young men around the young lady’s age, not feeling the need to stand up and greet them.

The seated young lady nodded her head slightly.

“This is the meeting of the successors of the Profound Martial Alliance. My fellow martial artists call me the Blossom of Sword Skill.”

The nickname ‘Blossom of Sword Skill,’ meaning a flower with swordsmanship skills, was of no importance. At this moment, Yeon-shin’s martial world expanded.

Profound Martial Alliance. It was another of the Thirteen Heavens. It was said to be as powerful as the Tyrant Sword Sect and the Blood Flame Sect.

This was a gathering of successors from demonic sect factions.

‘It seems the Profound Martial Alliance doesn’t have a successor yet.’

None of them looked particularly strong. It could have been because Yeon-shin’s standards had risen.

These young men were also likely promising figures of the Profound Martial Alliance.

A noble young man sitting close to the Blossom of Sword Skill leisurely propped his chin up.

“You seem like a martial artist from Desolate Fortress. What urgent business drives you to cross the river so quickly?”

“There are Blood Flame Sect members rampaging nearby. We were listening to the monk’s teachings when we fled.”

Yeon-shin stated the facts and observed their reactions. He had said they were from the Profound Martial Alliance.

Although the Thirteen Heavens was not a single alliance, they often cooperated.

There was a high possibility they already knew about the situation in Xinye County.

As expected.

They chuckled with peculiar expressions. The noble young man smiled.

“Desolate Fortress is wagging its tail at the Thirteen Heavens. Something interesting is happening.”

Laughter erupted from all around. This was not just a pleasure boat ride for the children of wealthy families.

The elegant sneers filled the boat.

“Do you know? The blood-sucking ghosts worried about someone like you escaping. I didn’t expect a Shaolin Mu Do monk to be involved.”

“It’s the perfect place to silence someone.”

The Blossom of Sword Skill laughed slightly. It seemed to be a remark comparing them to the water. It was hard to find bodies thrown into the river.

The boat drifted farther from the shore. There was no turning back now.

“Amitabha.”

Monk Won Jong quietly chanted the Buddha’s name, and Yeon-shin silently grasped his sword hilt.

“Doesn’t seem like you’re afraid. Youngster.”

The Blossom of Sword Skill muttered. She was already holding her sword.

“Should I spill some blood first?”

With a light remark, a surge of aura rose from her slender body.

Her sword draw immediately followed, as if proving her nickname. The rising sword light aimed at an unexpected spot.

A woman bringing food widened her eyes in shock. She seemed unrelated to the Profound Martial Alliance.

Such was the demonic sect. They treated human lives lightly.

Seated opposite, Yeon-shin was already circulating Jeong Family Dynamic Training.

In one step, the wooden floor splintered.

With his left hand, he gently pulled the woman’s arm as he advanced.

With anger rising like the river mist, he unleashed the Desolate Sword.

The light of the Radiance Sword Style dyed the mist white. The sword surged forward like lightning.

Deflecting the Blossom of Sword Skill’s sword, it raced on, slashing her throat.

Slash!

‘Hmm?’

He was stronger than he had thought. As he straightened his posture and looked away from the rolling head,

“Don’t play tricks.”

Yeon-shin spoke quietly. The ones who had been reaching for their weapons flinched in shock.

The sneers that had filled the cabin turned to fear and panic. The highest martial artist among them had been the Blossom of Sword Skill.

“What kind of swordsmanship is this…?”

The noble young man stammered.

The others couldn’t even open their mouths, now resembling henchmen of the demonic sect rather than scions of a prestigious family.

Only their insight into recognizing the essence of swordsmanship differed.

Being on the water with an enemy superior in rank. There was no greater terror in the martial world.

“Sh-She is the treasured daughter of the Seong family manor of the Profound Martial Alliance! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”

“You should worry about the repercussions coming from the Desolate Fortress. You aimed for our necks. We’ll head north for now. The decision will come later. You row.”

Having lost interest, he even sheathed his sword. Yeon-shin’s face remained expressionless.

‘The elite of the Profound Martial Alliance must be elsewhere.’

Could they read his emotions on his face? The noble young man’s face turned bright red.

“They called her the Blossom of Sword Skill of the Seong family manor! Don’t you truly know her?”

“We haven’t exchanged names.”

He tapped his sword hilt.

“Demon Wings, Lightning Flash.”