Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

If this woman had skillfully brought justification, he and Namgung Hwa-sin could also use schemes.

If subduing had been difficult, he would have cut her neck in one stroke. But since he captured her like this, he could paint the best picture.

He leaves the final part to Namgung Hwa-sin.

While hoping he would overcome his heart’s scars, Jeong Yeon-shin also thought to establish merit.

He wanted to create a situation where Desolate Fortress could rightfully behead Namgung family’s bloodline members.

He completely subdued Namgung Mi. Among the flows envisioned with Namgung Hwa-sin, it was conditions worthy of being chosen as best.

“What should I do with you.”

He spoke as the blood-robed demon mask. Perhaps due to Demon Roaring Blood Technique’s destructive and irregular energy waves.

The veins rising on the back of his hand holding Namgung Mi’s neck looked ominous.

“Lowly Namgung surname of the orthodox path. However, being a long and widely spread name, through you the vitality of our sect could be announced.”

These were words revealing the purpose of the Blood Flame Sect noble who burst in here.

“Huh!”

“That situation has…”

The Wuchang martial artists who were observing the fight between Namgung family and evil sect masters sighed.

Though lacking the bearing and power to take Namgung Mi’s side in this moment of complete defeat, they had the insight to understand the situation.

Most who attacked Blood Flame Sect’s main hall were local martial artists from around South Zhili.

Counting numbers, they were more than Desolate Fortress warriors at the time. It meant news of the main hall’s extermination was far from secret.

Martial artists were those who acted through martial arts and honor. Blood Flame Sect was the same.

The headquarters’ noble bloodline personally came out to announce the remaining power of a sect whose name had plummeted? Anyone could understand.

“I could slice your neck right now. But it seems wasteful. When there are ways to use you repeatedly.”

It was a voice tinged with low laughter. They said masters who reached realms don’t appear human. In third-rate murim, the Orthodox Eight Families and Thirteen Evil Sects were like that. The true qi rupturing sounds encompassing the boy’s young voice added to such atmosphere.

“How about making you a servant? To wash my feet.”

“……”

The demon face embedded in the mask seemed to stare steadily at Namgung Mi’s face.

It was a mask with mouth torn like a gaping dragon. The scene appeared like contemplating what to do with prey.

Namgung Mi opened her mouth with a strained expression. She seemed to barely part her lips.

“You, just now said stubborn…”

“I did say that.”

“You who dares wear just a mask… such a daring person.”

The demon mask laughed.

“Unpleasant being evaluated by me? You fallen Namgung seed wearing the mask of orthodoxy. The word daring suits you. You even framed innocent ones as evil sect warriors to fertilize your fame. Even our sect wouldn’t do such things.”

“Nonsense, heok!”

The curse transformed into a painful gasp. It was because the demon mask’s left hand blurred the moment Namgung Mi opened her mouth again.

The explosion sounds of energy waves hitting her body rang dully several times.

It was like drums bursting continuously. Anyone could tell it wasn’t ordinary point sealing.

While Namgung Mi’s body went limp with her neck grabbed, the Blood Flame Sect’s strange young noble said:

“Did talk of being a servant sound like a joke?”

“Wh-what…!”

“You’ll need my permission to operate true qi. It’s the divine power of blood technique.”

It meant he applied inner power sealing techniques. Desolate Fortress’s Lightning Genius had suffered this from Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle.

It wasn’t difficult to inflict another the effectiveness of internal energy sealing technique he directly experienced.

It was enough to apply the same true qi operation of Demon Roaring Blood Technique.

“How dare you! How dare you!”

Her voice suddenly rose. Namgung Mi’s fine brow twisted viciously.

It wasn’t despair but fierce indignation. Something impossible in her life had occurred.

‘I’ll kill you! Make you kneel and kill you!’

He was one who subdued her and even took away her freedom to circulate energy. She glared as if engraving it in her mind.

Her eyes swept over the demon mask’s whole body. She focused intensely on around the sleeves where skin showed through.

A master’s eye techniques transcend any imagination.

Near energy points, there was room to deduce identity from movements of pulse where internal energy flows.

“It’s good to see spirit.”

“Kuhek…!”

It was when the demon mask applied force to the hand gripping her neck.

In that moment, amid dead silence, Virtuous Teacher Sect’s main gate opened wide.

A cool wind swept in. It was a very straightforward flow of energy waves.

“A blood demon has nested at the site of an evil sect’s extermination.”

He was a young man whose blue martial robe suited perfectly. His facial expression sank heavily toward the demon mask and Namgung Mi.

“I came to offer congratulatory drinks to my sister.”

He emanated an unhesitating bearing while wearing a notable ‘Desolate’ character embroidered beside his shoulder.

His straight nose bridge and small closed lips resembled Namgung Mi. The crowd couldn’t help but recall their blood relation.

“Desolate…! Desolate Fortress!”

“He said sister. Perhaps…”

“White Qilin! It’s Namgung’s White Qilin!”

Color bloomed on people’s faces. Namgung Mi was subdued. The situation was uncertain for themselves who remained.

White Qilin Namgung Hwa-sin.

He was a warrior renowned even before entering Desolate Fortress.

If he was a young man widely recognized by the Orthodox Eight Families, in Wuchang’s murim he must be seen as having surpassed rising talent level.

He was a master hard to imagine lacking as an opponent for the Blood Flame Sect noble who fought fiercely.

‘Those who denounced the main fortress.’

Namgung Hwa-sin thought. He had arrived with Jeong Yeon-shin the moment the banquet began.

He heard all the talk praising the Namgung family while insulting Desolate Fortress.

The exposed true faces of local martial artists who changed their attitude felt uncomfortable.

He tried to ignore it and stepped forward.

He had been regretting not checking Virtuous Teacher Sect earlier. It was due to Namgung Mi’s behavior.

He thought the servants whose dantians she destroyed after framing them as evil sect warriors were enough. He was wrong. He didn’t know she would implicate even the attendants.

‘Yes. You were that vicious.’

He saw Namgung Mi being choked by Lightning Genius. She couldn’t even turn her gaze, seemingly due to sealed blood points.

‘Did he properly seal her movements.’

Suddenly Namgung Hwa-sin was surprised at himself. He too seemed merely a small soldier walking the sword path.

He checked the wellbeing of a companion who became closer than his half-sister first.

Radiant Demon Wing’s Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin. As usual, no particular change in his calm breathing.

‘Truly amazing.’

It was a scene hard for the current Namgung Hwa-sin to create. Because he had no means to handle the cold energy.

Even if he had them, it wouldn’t be easy to do that. It meant Lightning Genius’s displayed martial might was very stable.

It was impossible without mastering one’s current realm.

Born with sense. His martial talent was clearly above his own.

‘He created an opportunity. It’s a favor. Must succeed no matter what.’

Namgung Hwa-sin opened his mouth with firm resolve.

“Blood demon. Step away.”

“Another Namgung mongrel? Step away? Your words are laughable.”

The masked Lightning Genius spoke in an eerie voice. Namgung Hwa-sin thought for a moment.

If one didn’t know the circumstances, it was speech and tone that could hurt feelings. There was something provocative in the calm manner of speaking.

Namgung Hwa-sin deliberately put spirit into his words.

“Flourishing Spirit Flower Master Namgung Mi is the target of martial matches designated by the main fortress. The Divine Sword Group Leader is coming as mission supervisor.”

“Divine Sword Group Leader…?”

Silence fell over Virtuous Teacher Gate’s practice ground.

It was a name that should have that effect.

The reputation of a peerless master said to look down on all under heaven alongside Shaolin Temple’s abbot, foremost in Central Plains, transcends distance limits.

Unlike the Desolate Fortress Lord said to walk above clouds, he was a very real and hard to resist danger.

“Release my sister. If you don’t wish to be pursued by the main fortress’ purple-rank absolute master until your dying day.”

“Is the Namgung clan threatening me now?”

The demon mask’s response was immediate.

He threw Namgung Mi, whose blood points and inner power he had subdued, to the ground like trash.

Ignoring her sprawled in a state no one could have imagined during the banquet, he stepped toward Namgung Hwa-sin standing at the main gate.

SWOOSH.

He drew his sword again from the red pure blood robe’s waist. The bearing released with the sword draw was desolate sword.

Simultaneously, Namgung Hwa-sin also raised his Desolate sword.

Sweat gathered on the hands of those watching.

STEP. STEP.

The air between their timing seemed to stop moving. Not even a point of wind blew.

In the dryly rigid atmosphere, only the figures of two masters walking stride by stride toward each other remained.

Their appearances walking as if taking a stroll while gripping long swords were strangely similar.

It was a scene like the air gradually compressing. Eternal-like tension heightened along with shortening distance. Ten steps, eight steps, five steps… and then.

BOOM!

They rang out simultaneously. From strongly planted feet and hands gripping swords, they blurred.

Following short supreme footwork sounds, two swords embraced sunlight.

The moment white sword light distorted into two streams, their red and blue robe hems also brushed past each other.

CLANG–!

Namgung Hwa-sin stopped. The sword cry ringing as if about to break made him do so. He had originally intended to do this.

However, the trajectory and sword force different from when sparring in the Desolate Fortress competition were separate matters. He felt an amazing level of progress.

‘He completely incorporated raised true qi into the sword path. The concentrated power was different.’

Sword path is the path the sword advances on. It was the flow determining sword strike’s power and effectiveness.

He had heard Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin ate spirit pills.

He also saw him compete with Seventh Apostle several times. But experiencing the sword strikes directly was different again.

Namgung Hwa-sin recalled his half-brother.

‘Perhaps we really could discuss chances of victory.’

That’s when it happened. His casual thoughts scattered at the sword sheathing sound from behind. It was Jeong Yeon-shin wearing the demon mask.

He who sheathed his sword with upright bearing like the nature he showed here said:

“Worthy of mentioning the Divine Sword Group Leader.”

“……”

“Desolate Fortress. Wait and see. There are many branches to replace the headquarters. The blood lineage nobles will return.”

He stepped arrogantly without even turning his back. It was straight toward the main gate direction Namgung Hwa-sin had entered through.

The Wuchang martial artists who saw the overwhelming exchange of first sword strikes never opened their mouths.

“Bugs.”

The Blood Flame Sect noble left with a low laugh.

“……”

After long-lasting silence, the situation’s cleanup became Namgung Hwa-sin’s role.

Only then did he turn his gaze. To his enemy, his half-sister who always looked at him with contempt and hatred.

However, the reunion with blood kin seemed not in Namgung Mi’s concerns.

She stood proudly as if she had never rolled on the ground. Her raised eyes were directed toward the main gate.

It was the direction the demon mask had left. Grudge seemed to burn in her gaze. It was obsession even Namgung Hwa-sin had never seen.

Namgung Hwa-sin who had been staring at her steadily opened his mouth.

“Our side will take charge of your safety. We guarantee protection until the martial matches.”

“What…?”

“Radiant Demon Wing’s Lightning Genius is with me. With Young Hero Jeong and I, you can safely reach South Zhili.”

Behind Namgung Mi who finally turned her head, the faces of Wuchang martial artists showed.

Their expressions revealing complicated feelings were varied.

“This is serious. That person just now, wasn’t he truly a powerful master? To think such a blood demon roams Wuchang.”

“Rather, we should worry about future trouble with Namgung…”

It was behavior of spitting out the bitter and swallowing the sweet. Namgung Hwa-sin inwardly frowned and ignored them.

The fruits of the battle for justification were bearing.

“Protecting an opponent promised to life-and-death matches?”

“Truly… isn’t it righteous and fair.”

“Desolate Fortress. They spoke of civilian welfare…”

It was what Jeong Yeon-shin and Namgung Hwa-sin intended. Most gathered here were high status figures.

Escort agency heads, martial hall masters, various sect leaders, and even Wuchang Prefecture’s government school chancellor were present. Their mouths were the local public opinion.

Now it was done. They could behead the Namgung family’s leadership without minding the people’s eyes.

* * *

The tall tree rising at one corner of Wuchang’s marketplace was the highest in the vicinity.

There was a woman sitting diagonally on a thick branch.

Her black silk-like flowing hair fluttered in the gentle wind.

Red pupils like red jade cherished by demons remained fixed below.

She saw the boy leaving his position with movements like drifting leaves.

It was a movement resembling elf clan movement techniques. Though there should be almost no presence, his footsteps clearly reached her ears.

The Seventh Apostle moved her lips.

“My little Grand Teacher.”

Her soliloquy grew longer. Perhaps because her time standing alone in the murim lengthened?

No. She must have been like this originally. Because she was born inherently noble and alone.

Heung, she laughed. Though unintended, a nasal sound mixed in.

“You are sweet.”

Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin.

She clearly engraved in her ears his voice carrying Demon Roaring Blood Technique’s true qi.

His appearance taking out and wearing the pure blood robe again was enchanting. Due to his shining qualities and resolute nature, it suited him better than anyone.

Almost approaching with clarity no less than evil sect slaves’ branding.

That voice and appearance, self-centered bearing.

Her whole body felt like melting while watching and listening. Even her mental image became soft like night sky clouds.

The Seventh Apostle’s right eye swept over all Jeong Yeon-shin’s appearances with gleaming red light.

Blood Flame Sect’s young Grand Teacher, noble and small sect leader. Now removing his mask and pure blood robe in an empty space without people.

Suddenly her heart felt like it would tear in pain. Those things are completely yours, my little Grand Teacher.

Even that position seemed to anticipate the Seventh Apostle. Not far from Namgung Hwa-sin.

“Haah……”

She let out a sweet sigh. She muttered as if whispering.

“What should I do to make you accept me?”

If only that boy would look at her alone. Wouldn’t it be fine to cut off all limbs and take him?

[TL Note- Someone on Discord said that they could fix her, i think she is way past the fixable stage.]

The Seventh Apostle immediately shook her head. She had to create divine techniques that would illuminate the world like a comet.

He was an existence that must not be ruined by wicked desires.

“Show me an opening……”

She lightly licked her own lips.