Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 66 – Fame

“Now, now you say the Sect Lord is coming…?”

Hyeon Won-chang stammered.

Agitation spread across Wei Ji Myo-hwa’s face beside him.

Shock leaked through even her cultivation built at Mount Zhongnan, the sacred ground of the Dao Gate.

“Desolate Sect’s lord personally…”

“It’s been a very long time since the Sect Lord ventured into the martial world. About fifteen years since destroying the Dali Kingdom.”

Cheong Myeong said slowly.

In the murim, fifteen years was time for a generation of young masters to change. It meant she hadn’t shown her divine might for a long time.

Like some young people, they said some rising talents who built deep inner power through spirit medicine looked down on older generations.

Martial arts was a skill that developed with the flow of time.

No disciple of renowned orthodox martial lineages feared peerless martial arts from hundreds of years ago.

But Desolate Sect’s lord was a different existence.

“The divine technique that destroyed the Dali royal family in Yunnan, with my own eyes…”

Wei Ji Myo-hwa muttered while stroking her sword hilt. The shock was intense. Even her worry for Jeong Yeon-shin was briefly scattered.

Cheong Myeong glanced at her and gestured to Hyeon Won-chang.

“I can’t imagine how fast her lightness technique might be. It wouldn’t be strange if she’s already entered South Zhili. Tell the magistrate to prepare hospitality. You’ll need to call the prefecture governor too. She must be welcomed with the courtesy due a monarch.”

“Even the prefecture governor!”

Hyeon Won-chang exclaimed as he left the room.

A human deity whose arrival even the expression “thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of horses*” was insufficient to describe was descending.

TL Note- *it basically means strong military might.

The prefecture governor who oversaw all of Huizhou was three ranks higher than the magistrate.

He held status no less than the Namgung family head. Even so, he would have to respectfully pay courtesy before Desolate Sect’s lord.

For she was a queen recognized by the emperor.

“The Sect Lord will be arriving. Prepare.”

“…What did you say?”

Hyeon Won-chang relayed Cheong Myeong’s words to the magistrate, and immediately watched with satisfaction as the fellow’s face paled in panic.

This magistrate was closely connected to the Namgung family, local nobles of South Zhili.

His previously lukewarm attitude toward requests to dispatch government troops vanished without a trace.

When he came out of the government office’s work room, it was then.

A middle-aged swordsman in blue martial robes stood in the main hall. His gaze glaring at Hyeon Won-chang was unusual.

Though he didn’t seem to have consciously raised his energy, the energy waves permeating the air in layers were very heavy.

‘Azure Sky Boundless Sword!’

Hyeon Won-chang immediately recalled the Namgung family’s signature technique. Even the clothing matched those damned people’s.

“You Desolate Sect lot.”

The swordsman with neatly flowing jet-black beard said.

“Are plotting something outrageous. You dare gather warriors in Soth Zhili while ignoring our main family? With such lack of courtesy to local noble families, you’re no different from lawless evil sect rabble.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Namgung Wi. Desolate Sect ruffian.”

Hyeon Won-chang was briefly silent.

He knew well. This was the vice leader of the renowned Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group.

He was said to be one of the top swordsmen in South Zhili. A master that even most blue-ranked experts would find hard to guarantee victory against.

‘My neck could fly off if I’m not careful.’

The Namgung family was known to be ranked above even the Hwangbo family.

Judging by the magistrate’s attitude, their collusion with local government must be tremendous.

They had the power to bury an incident even if they committed murder in the middle of a government office.

Hyeon Won-chang carefully opened his mouth.

“You filthy hypocrite. Do you have the heart to speak of courtesy while knowing your family’s baseless behavior? How did you memorize Confucius, Mencius and the Four Books and Three Classics to utter such disgraceful words with a human face but beast’s heart? Do you feel no shame before your likely deceased parents?”

The anger accumulated over time flowed out in a calm tone.

There was a gentle aura spreading from his body.

Namgung Wi’s reaction was delayed by a breath.

“What did you say?”

“You are the true evil sect warrior. Did you not ignore the death of a rising talent who tried to behead evil cultists to stabilize people’s lives? Now the main sect gathers martial artists to strike that evil sect, yet you lot speak of family face while turning a blind eye to your own actions…”

As Hyeon Won-chang’s words continued, the internal energy waves rising from Namgung Wi’s body grew stronger.

Hyeon Won-chang paid no heed.

“Your appearance is truly a sight to behold.”

He concluded with a refreshed expression. Namgung Wi shook his head.

“…Did you think I wouldn’t draw my sword because this is a government office?”

WOONG.

His sword began to emit a majestic cry.

Indeed, even the sword sound was extraordinary for a renowned swordsman.

It was when Hyeon Won-chang was about to fill his throat with true qi to call Cheong Myeong and Wei Ji Myo-hwa.

Thud.

There wasn’t even a cutting sound.

Suddenly with a gentle breeze, Namgung Wi’s head separated. His head fell futilely.

It was as natural as a fallen leaf suddenly descending.

Opposite the rolling head, the body of the renowned swordsman collapsed.

It was such a futile end that it didn’t feel real for an instant.

Since when?

A ceaseless gentle breeze like a heat haze circled around. It was a very strange moment.

Though they were colorless streams of wind, it felt like faint green rippled in all directions.

Time in the government office seemed frozen. A gentle transcendence was sprouting in the hall dyed with silence.

“The Namgung family’s crimes.”

A melodious voice rang out from the rooftop.

“Will be buried with the Lightning Flash.”

TL Note- they are talking about burying Lightning Flash solely based on their assumptions that he was captured and killed.

Long robes the color of tender grass fluttered.

Hyeon Won-chang had already tilted his head up. His eyes widened as if about to tear.

Soon he knelt with proper bearing, but there was a trembling spreading through his entire body with excitement.

* * *

“Awake?”

A playful whisper tickled his ear. It was a thick inner power breath. He was used to it now. The Seventh Apostle’s exhale.

Jeong Yeon-shin opened his eyes immediately. His senses didn’t rise right away.

Though he could sharply raise his entire body’s energy sense just by willing it, true qi activation was briefly sluggish.

He knew immediately. He had been subdued.

‘My paralysis points were sealed again.’

The Seventh Apostle’s face blocked half his vision. Her expression was filled with deep affection. Desire could also be felt.

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly stared at her red outer eye before opening his mouth.

“What did you do?”

“I want to preciously preserve your dazzling body. I drew a picture. So the child that I see will remain in our sect forever.”

TL Note- The child she is referring to is Young Jeong Yeon-shin, nothing else. People might make needless assumptions.

She smiled brightly and straightened her waist.

Only then did Jeong Yeon-shin recognize the stimulating smell of ink and paint.

Was she skilled in painting and calligraphy? His entire body was drawn on the large paper in the Seventh Apostle’s hand.

It wasn’t just a portrait. It reproduced his internal body.

The entire body’s meridians including the eight extraordinary vessels and blood paths, and even the three dantians. One part was particularly eye-catching.

It was the upper dantian of his head connected to the blood paths widely opened from his crown. It was drawn with amazing detail.

An anatomical diagram.

She had observed his body by putting true qi into it.

The Seventh Apostle was a master of internal energy techniques. Scanning his body must have been an easy task.

She raised the corners of her mouth.

“Who knows? Maybe our sect can create a child who can follow even a little of your talent.”

“…I’ve heard. Strange divine arts often come from the Blood Flame Sect. Do you use regenerative abilities for sinister medical arts? No wonder righteous doctors fall behind.”

“This will be a treasure.”

“You use sect members as sacrifices. Fitting for evil sect mongrels.”

The conversation didn’t mesh. It was a relationship formed by the murim’s law of survival of the fittest.

The smiling Seventh Apostle and calm Jeong Yeon-shin were misaligned from the start.

He closed his eyes again. He focused his internal energy on the lower dantian.

The Moon Spirit Harmony Technique transmitted by Desolate Sect’s lord was said to be a peerless martial art rare in the world.

He had spent quite some time training to create a new internal energy cultivation technique with extremely fast energy accumulation.

His insight had grown just from carefully examining and studying the verses.

Indeed. Jeong Yeon-shin was already familiar with supreme breathing methods.

‘So this is how speaking to the Sect Lord about internal energy cultivation techniques comes back.’

The verses of the Demon Roaring Blood Technique that he had examined immediately after receiving the secret manual from the Blood Flame Sect Leader unfolded in his mind.

He had somewhat classified the effects of Internal energy energy accumulation technique.

He could distinguish verses affecting the brain first. He immediately removed them.

“What are you doing…?”

The Seventh Apostle carefully asked. She seemed to have taken to heart her anger and repeated apologies from yesterday.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid no heed and familiarized himself with the Demon Roaring Blood Technique’s energy circulation.

He did as the Seventh Apostle wished. He kept the nature of her blood technique true qi contained in his body.

‘It’s done.’

After dismantling the verses, the rest was instantaneous. A new true qi operation path was engraved in his mind.

He could now remove the Seventh Apostle’s true qi that held his lifeline sealed in his meridians.

Additionally, he learned one thing.

‘The blood techniques’ regenerative ability originates from true qi absorption.’

The Sect Leader’s words came to mind. He said not to touch the fundamentals. The Blood Flame Sect’s martial arts were two in one branch.

Even knowing the technique, it couldn’t be openly used outside.

Jeong Yeon-shin was already considering escape.

He slowly parted his lips.

“Your martial arts.”

“Hm? Hm?”

“I’m working on the Demon Roaring Blood Technique first. Is it really okay to tailor it just for you? When it’s martial arts for all Apostles.”

“Ah!”

The Seventh Apostle’s face was dyed with pure white joy. She nodded repeatedly.

“The other b*st*rds have petty pride as so-called supreme masters! They won’t even learn it? You just need to look at me! The Sect Leader will focus on the Blood Summoning Technique!”

As she spoke, she brought over and handed him a neatly folded package. It was red.

Judging by the thickness and shape, it was a red robe. It was like the clothes she often wore.

“It’s a Pure Blood Robe. Made by weaving our sect’s sorcery and heavenly silkworm silk. Even ordinary swords can’t scratch it.”

“…A precious item.”

“Yes. Our sect only has a few. Only Apostles can be granted them.”

His Desolate Sect martial clothes had already been confiscated. Jeong Yeon-shin looked down at the package before opening his mouth.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

“You still have lingering attachment to Desolate Sect?”

The Seventh Apostle asked while slightly tilting her head, but Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t answer.

He had made some kind of plan after seeing the formation yesterday.

He needed to go around plant energy in various still objects.

How did she interpret his silence? The Seventh Apostle made all sorts of expressions by herself.

Perhaps because of his words about working on the Demon Roaring Blood Technique, anger and possessiveness that she couldn’t rashly express were felt.

There seemed to be a trace of regret as well.

‘It’s not for my sake. It’s because of her own desires.’

It was an emotion Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t need to agonize over. It must be pity felt as a Blood Flame Sect member.

Inwardly shaking his head, he opened the door wide.

The voice that had been grating on his ears since midday suddenly grew louder.

“…And so a new Grand Teacher has manifested in our sect! Your head will become equal to all Apostles! Therefore, you shall rightfully swing the sword of punishment against those vicious Beijing crowds and hypocritical ruffians!”

“It’s the Third Apostle’s son. A fellow called Gao Zong-xue.”

The Seventh Apostle spoke in a strange tone.

Red hair filled all directions. There seemed to be easily hundreds of Blood Flame Sect members.

The man spouting passionate words while standing on a platform in the village center suddenly turned his head. His gaze met Jeong Yeon-shin’s.

In that moment, the corners of his mouth curled up.

“There! He’s there! He has shown his noble face to us!”

Tremendous gazes gathered following Gao Zong-xue’s gesture. Even the Seventh Apostle turned her eyes and smiled softly.

True qi was contained in Gao Zong-xue’s continuing shout.

“He is the one who will lead our sect to Beijing! Ah! Behold him! Our sect shall be transformed by the miracles the Grand Teacher will raise! I humbly request the Grand Teacher, please show a miracle to these pitiful lowborns trapped in Flame Blood!”

The miracle he spoke of seemed to mean modifying the Blood Summoning Technique verses, but it was an unreasonable demand.

It had only been one day since regaining consciousness and spending a night in the main hall.

‘Even the Blood Flame Sect Leader didn’t speak of immediate results.’

He said this was the Third Apostle’s son. It was a moment of realizing there was political strife even in evil sects.

He intended to use the already existing reputation to greatly embarrass him. Was even a group of madmen a place where people lived?

From what the Seventh Apostle said in the Sect Leader’s hall, he knew the Third Apostle and his son were aiming for the small sect leader position.

The lust for power that broke through the blood techniques’ madness approached anew.

Jeong Yeon-shin shook out the package he was holding. The bright red, wide cloth unfolded and fluttered like a flag.

He silently began putting on the robe in layers.

With a few small movements, the Pure Blood Robe covering his body fluttered blood-red.

“……”

The crowd fell silent. Gao Zong-xue was the same.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s appearance was that strange.

WOONG.

Was it because he began circulating the Demon Roaring Blood Technique with the madness cut out?

It was an aura that had never before come from the Blood Flame Sect.

Though clearly the energy waves of blood techniques, transparent energy began to create an eerie atmosphere unique to the Blood Flame Sect.

Some sect members whispered. All sorts of words came from here and there. Sect Leader, Grand Teacher, Apostle, Pure Blood…

The energy waves from his entire body raised wind. Black hair swayed at the shoulders of the red robe.

At this moment, his appearance was no different from the Blood Flame Sect’s martial lineage orthodox transmission.

“You want to see the Grand Teacher’s miracle?”

He asked.