Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

The Deep Martial Alliance rising talents’ boat continued forward without stopping. Only the owner had changed.

Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon-shin heard Master Won Jong’s story.

It was a tale like wind streams meandering with the waves.

“I was about your age. I was immature. With a body like a piglet. Unlike you who already stands tall as a martial artist.”

Early spring wind blew. The old monk’s voice seemed to seep into the trees lining the riverbank.

“My family’s prestige was high. My father was in the Forbidden City*. Until he was framed and exiled, that is. Thanks to the emperor’s mercy toward loyal subjects, we barely kept our lives. Even that was a miracle.”

T/Note- Forbidden City refers to Imperial Palace in Beijing, China.

“Then, at the place of exile?”

“The family became a martial family with broken ties. Yes, we were suitable targets for the Blood Flame Sect coveting true energy. When I returned from playing general with peers, no one was alive. Rumors said the Blood Flame Sect leader came personally. I… wailed before my father’s withered corpse.”

His voice was passionate. Hatred unfaded by long years could be felt.

“Fortunately caught my master’s eye while begging for alms and climbed Mount Song, but even after becoming a monk my afflictions didn’t settle. I knew my own lack of talent. That’s why I thought differently.”

“Creating counter martial arts…”

Master Won Jong nodded at Jeong Yeon-shin’s murmur.

“Let’s restore martial arts with Buddha’s dharma power imbued, martial arts solely for destroying the Blood Flame Sect. And have fellow disciples learn it. The talented Shaolin warrior monks would truly welcome it. But there was affliction here too. Even if created, it was problematic. Wouldn’t it be pushing fellow disciples to their deaths? Against the Blood Flame Sect leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin agreed.

He had heard the Blood Flame Sect leader had supernatural powers.

Though they said the Thirteen Heavens’ leaders were comparable to Nine Sects’ leaders, in the vast world there were particularly powerful absolute beings.

They said the Blood Flame Sect leader, Shaolin Temple abbot, and Desolate Sect Divine Sword Squad Leader were such people.

The Demon Blade Sect leader too was counted among the world’s top in martial power.

‘Even making such martial arts would be problematic.’

The Shaolin abbot couldn’t learn it personally and seek out the Blood Flame Sect leader.

Such was the weight of one leading an orthodox sect at the martial world’s peak.

If defeated, irreversible ripples would spread.

“That’s how life is. No matter how hard you run, the end is rarely within grasp. You can only climb step by step.”

Sixteen-year-old Jeong Yeon-shin spoke seriously. Master Won Jong, who had been staring at him blankly, turned his head again.

“Your enlightenment having lived not even half of half my years surpasses mine.”

“My family too fell to the Blood Flame Sect. The Tyrant Sowrd Sect and its leader came together.”

“…You showed it. The martial arts I was only grasping the beginnings of. I won’t ask how. They say a martial artist’s secrets aren’t to be pried into. Now I’m curious about only one thing.”

This time Jeong Yeon-shin turned his head to look at Master Won Jong’s profile.

The nameless river flowing into the Yellow River had no visible end.

The old monk’s figure gazing at the distant horizon seemed to speak of the life he had walked so far.

He was a monk and martial artist who had held onto just one affliction in his life and couldn’t let go.

Master Won Jong spoke.

“Will you tell me how I can help? Just having martial arts that destroy evil and reveal righteousness emerge in the world would be enough. That achievement at that age. With your talent, you will surely reach the realm of supreme masters someday.”

“Thank you for your words.”

Jeong Yeon-shin brightened.

He had just been feeling lacking. With only Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong’s briefly learned Buddhism, it was hard to refine the chants.

Originally martial arts chants also organize the nature of intent to be contained in true energy.

Even marketplace’s Three Disasters Sword Technique Secret Manual has phrases like ‘when cutting horizontally, think of cutting heaven and earth’.

That’s generally what martial artists called enlightenment in internal force work.

It meant finding more appropriate intent than before in operating accumulated power.

Though Jeong Yeon-shin could derive true energy operation methods from seeing most principles once, the power would inevitably be different when deeply delving into intent.

He actively sat close to Master Won Jong.

“I believe you said it was the tenth chapter of the Diamond Sutra. Isn’t there a passage in the Chapter on the Adornment of Pure Lands?”

“…?”

“There’s a saying ‘One should develop a mind that dwells nowhere, yet brings forth that mind’.”

“What?”

“I’m requesting a dharma talk.”

The splendid pleasure boat flowed along the river, along time.

The Deep Martial Alliance rising talents didn’t actually row.

Jeong Yeon-shin gathered them to one side. This time he didn’t close off their dantian.

It was because civilians were involved. Killing Sword Art Flower was enough.

There was already a high possibility that harm would come to the boatmen and women.

‘Cleanse the Six Senses purely, making the mind dwell nowhere.’

Jeong Yeon-shin stood quietly. Except when listening to Master Won Jong’s dharma talk, he closed his eyes and sank into meditation.

Just his silence instilled fear. Jeong Yeon-shin had taken the head of the locally famous Sword Art Flower in one strike.

To the Deep Martial Alliance’s young people, it seemed like the arrogance and confidence of one who would lead the next Desolate Sect.

He heard whispers about talent mistakenly bestowed by heaven. Jeong Yeon-shin inwardly gave a bitter smile. It didn’t come across as wrong words.

“We’ll get off here.”

He told the boatmen. Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at Master Won Jong who had disembarked first and looked back.

Perhaps they wanted to see them off. The lined-up Deep Martial Alliance rising talents hesitated. It was behavior Jeong Yeon-shin had never seen.

Because the famous family teachings he knew didn’t produce such crude ones.

‘Not rising talents. It means best among juniors, but it’s not a term that should be attached to just anyone.’

The Deep Martial Alliance was also a part of the Thirteen Heavens. He thought there must be separate rising talents.

Someone like the Deep Martial Alliance leader’s heir would be on a different level from these guys.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“Hm?”

“Trash wanting to stay with civilian people? Ridiculous thought. Get off.”

“……”

“We’re going to the Righteous Heaven Sword Family together. I’ll leave your punishment to Desolate Sect. You’re lucky. You won’t die right away.”

Jeong Yeon-shin decided to make their arrest into merit. He wondered why he hadn’t thought of it earlier.

They had tried to kill a Desolate Sect martial artist, Shaolin monk, and innocent civilians.

Along with their position as Thirteen Heavens members, it was enough to be recorded as merit.

Jeong Yeon-shin tied their arms behind them with arrest ropes. What he had wasn’t enough.

He braided thick straw ropes on the spot. They were called gosak. It was a technique learned as a Desolate Sect warrior.

When carrying out missions, there were also guys who needed to be brought back alive.

While Master Won Jong watched with great satisfaction, Jeong Yeon-shin led the guys ahead and set out.

As the official road gradually appeared, passersby tilted their heads as they passed.

There were guys who hesitated as if it was an unbearable humiliation.

“Don’t stop.”

He sharply revealed momentum suggesting he would cut down escape attempts instantly. That was enough.

The guys again moved following Jeong Yeon-shin’s casually thrown words.

That’s when it happened.

“Aren’t you the young masters of the Deep Martial Alliance!”

It was an escort bureau procession. They said these were people who safely transported goods and people through the harsh Central Plains.

The middle-aged man leading the front approached with a slight smile before stopping abruptly. He seemed to be the one responsible for the escort.

‘The escort leader?’

He seemed familiar with the Deep Martial Alliance youngsters.

These guys Jeong Yeon-shin had caught were enjoying boat rides nearby, supposedly in ambush.

It wasn’t strange that they were on familiar terms with people from nearby escort bureaus.

“What, what is this……”

“They committed crimes and were caught by Desolate Sect. These people are not free now. Help is not needed, so please pass by.”

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward and said. The middle-aged man’s face made a strange expression.

It was understandable since some young guy was creating a strange sight.

“Are you saying you’re with Desolate Sect, young master?”

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer and took out his identity tablet from his bosom. It was called a Desolate tablet.

The tree engraved in golden plating caught the bright sunlight.

The middle-aged man’s expression became strange upon seeing the tablet. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately noticed.

To this guy, freeing the Deep Martial Alliance young masters was important. Was he trying to pick up crumbs?

He seemed to lean more toward the nearby Deep Martial Alliance than distant Desolate Sect in Hubei.

‘Not everyone who associates with evil sects must be like this guy.’

They said there were cases where maintaining connections was unavoidable.

Few people could maintain their principles before a sharply drawn blade.

Drawing a sword immediately like that middle-aged man? Such a guy was another evil sect. He opened his mouth.

“I can’t possibly believe this. Some quite powerful adults seem to have started something with petty collaborative hearts and left it to you. Like ignorant fellows. If they properly knew the Deep Martial Alliance, they could never do this.”

Had a country bumpkin seriously misunderstood? It was like this with the Xinye White Martial Faction too.

Between places like the Nine Sects and small-medium sects, the difference in discernment seemed greater than the difference in martial power.

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin moved his hand to his sword wave.

“Escort Kim! What’s happening?”

A young man opened the carriage door and came out from the middle of the stopped procession.

“Ah, young master. You came as a guest but aren’t staying seated.”

The middle-aged man turned his head despite Jeong Yeon-shin being in front and smiled slightly.

A slightly troubled look crossed his face. Jeong Yeon-shin could guess the reason.

The energy waves emanating from the large-eyed young man’s body were clear and righteous.

At that age with such temperament, at this position, he must be the young master of the Righteous Heaven Sword Family.

They were almost there. The Righteous Heaven Sword Family was said to also serve as Desolate Sect’s branch.

Having heard about the Xinye County incident, it was natural to patrol the surroundings with time to spare.

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward.

“I am from Desolate Sect…”

“Heavens! I get to be the first in our family to meet Sir Lightning Flash!”

He seemed to have immediately taken in Jeong Yeon-shin’s attire and the tablet in his hand.

The Righteous Heaven young master approached with an excited face, even using lightness technique.

Greetings were exchanged along with words about having heard of his achievements through Desolate Sect’s information network. He seemed to have forgotten even to clasp his fists.

While the middle-aged man’s face distorted, the Righteous Heaven young master made a fuss.

“When I saw the writing about taking the Eight Fierce Rakshasa Sword’s head, I guessed! That a person destined to become a dragon had appeared! Indeed, looking now, your eye light is extraordinary!”

“Are you the Righteous Heaven Sword Family’s young master? Are there more people from the main fortress at your house now?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked without being swept up in his energetic momentum. It was a time when hierarchy needed to be clear.

Immediately, different colors swirled in the Righteous Heaven young master’s eyes.

His temperament instantly became calm. It seemed this might be his true nature.

“Yes. I am Hyeon Yu-ryang of the Righteous Heaven Sword Family.”

Only then did he smile lightly and clasp his fists.

“Many are already waiting. They said with Sir’s arrival, all of Radiant Demon Wing who went out on missions would be gathered. There was also a Shaolin monk. Radiant Demon Wing with a Little Divine Monk, and now Lightning Flash. Today must be an eye-opening day.”

“Thank you for letting me know. Then if you’ll excuse me.”

Jeong Yeon-shin took out a flask from his bosom. He held it in his left hand and tilted it with his right to pour out water.

While people watched curiously, at the end of his immediate steps was the escort bureau’s middle-aged man.

The guy pretending to be an escort said.

“I still don’t believe it. Proving your identity with just one identity tablet? Dwarf clan craftsmanship isn’t exclusive to Desolate Sect!”

“The moment Young Master Hyeon stepped forward, energy waves were felt from your body. Very familiar. You lot just can’t hide it.”

Jeong Yeon-shin operated Fate Defying Scripture true energy layering at full power.

The end of his words rang out behind the middle-aged man as his form whirled around after stomping the ground.

His fingertips wrapped in wind felt cold.

When he reached out with his water-wet hand to brush the guy’s hair, black water stained his hand and a bright red strand of hair was revealed.

“This means a lot.”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered calmly. Chaos broke out among the escort bureau people watching with anxious eyes.

The Blood Flame Sect’s doctrine that they cannot hide their hair was widely known.

It seemed unrelated to dyeing with pigments. Such perfect dye had never been heard of.

Jin Yul who had acted as a young master was the same. He had been acting as a Blood Flame Sect assassin.

However they made it, it would prove as fatal as bald Blood Flame Sect members.

They said blood techniques were especially quick to achieve upon initiation.

‘If hiding hair is possible…’

It would inevitably be easy to send many in as spies in various sects and escort bureaus.

Unlike the frozen Blood Flame Sect member, Hyeon Yu-ryang was different. His intuition seemed very quick as his face immediately hardened.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at Master Won Jong and opened his mouth.

“You said you thought about restoring Shaolin’s Guanyin Blue Steel Hand. I want to include ‘Blue Steel Hand’ in the martial art’s name, would you permit it?”

“Amitabha. Rather, it would be a great honor.”

He seemed to have noticed what he meant. Master Won Jong raised one palm.

Banjang. It was Shaolin’s etiquette. His attitude toward Jeong Yeon-shin had become this devoted at some point.

His speech and behavior had completely changed too. He said it was proper courtesy to a young great master.

“You worthless trash! How dare you before…”

The enraged Blood Flame Sect member whirled around. As his eyes met Jeong Yeon-shin’s, an ominous energy wave sprang forth.

Jeong Yeon-shin rather welcomed it. Because considerably refined power could be felt.

Perhaps a Blood Swordmaster. There might be black strands in the hair stained with dye.

‘Now it’s meaningless no matter how many.’

Among Mount Pingding’s escort bureau and the Righteous Heaven Sword Family’s young master, Shaolin’s martial way monk, Deep Martial Alliance rising talents.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s energy as he slowly raised his hand was different from before.

His full-body energy waves had an aspect like a Buddhist dharma king.

It was enough to calmly flow past the Blood Flame Sect member’s sinister momentum as it exploded.

“The trash is you.”

He said. Simultaneously he moved his hand.