Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 84 – Battle for Possession (3)

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Translated by Nine Heavens!

BOOM!

The palm technique wave’s rebound force was tremendous. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately loaded follow-up power into his right arm meridians.

The long twelve meridian pathway of the Large Intestine from inside his shoulder to index finger took on the firmness of Jeong family dynamic technique.

It was a move to prevent dislocation from the powerful aftermath.

BOOM!

Still he was pushed back. The feeling under his feet making furrows in the dirt ground was rough.

The palm force storm scattering in all directions raised yellow earth dust. Even vision became blurred.

‘As expected.’

The strike’s sensation was shallow. It was because the Seventh Apostle whose energy waves suddenly increased an instant before moved away with swift movement technique.

She avoided Jeong Yeon-shin’s strike from point-blank range.

It was a reaction as if expected. Befitting an agile demon woman.

The Seventh Apostle was clearly in a weakened state compared to when whole. Her evasion was about an inch slower.

But not as much as appeared. The severely weakened appearance was an exaggerated pretense.

She was still powerful. Perhaps she wanted to evoke sympathy.

“What’s your scheme?”

Jeong Yeon-shin said while staring beyond the dust. The Seventh Apostle’s figure had retreated five steps away.

At her single hand gesture, a hot summer wind swept in and cleared the view.

Along with long flowing black hair, her red eye and lips curved in an arc were revealed.

“You, created another martial art that didn’t exist?”

The Seventh Apostle lightly touched her abdomen. Her red silk thread martial robe was clinging wetly as if soaked.

She hadn’t fully deflected Jeong Yeon-shin’s palm force.

It meant her accomplished protective energy that should always be active was pierced for an instant.

The implications were huge. He had acquired a strike that could work even in the black rank realm.

It would become a life-saving ultimate move that could save Jeong Yeon-shin’s life someday.

‘Landing it is another matter. Accuracy is the problem.’

It’s hard to load with speed and precision. Because the technique’s development signs were noisy and the flow of power was large.

Jeong Yeon-shin deliberately suppressed his sense of achievement while taking in the Seventh Apostle. The madwoman was opening her mouth.

“Not even a direct hit yet this much…”

An innocent smile gathered on her lips.

“If I took it properly, it would’ve been hard to survive. Amazing!”

She looks with quite an excited face. Even her eye opposite the black eyepatch seemed to sparkle red.

“I asked. What are your intentions?”

“You ask the obvious. To take the Grand Teacher…”

She trails off while slightly lowering her single eye.

Her attitude had changed. In this moment Jeong Yeon-shin realized the murim’s principles. There was no reason to think otherwise.

It was because he had grown. Because Namgung Hwa-sin was with him.

Free-spiritedness was just the exclusive property of masters. The more powerful, the more dignified one becomes. The murim’s principles were clear.

Lightning Genius with increased martial arts ranking. White Qilin emanating powerful bearing.

They were a force difficult for an internally injured Seventh Apostle to subdue without getting hurt.

She could no longer attempt kidnapping recklessly like before.

Jeong Yeon-shin decided.

‘End it with this murim journey.’

It would be hard to see the Seventh Apostle in such a state again. He must eliminate her while she’s even slightly weakened.

Besides the Tyrant Sword Sect Leader, she was clearly the biggest future trouble.

“My Grand Teacher. Let’s go together. Hmm?”

The Seventh Apostle spoke with a desperate expression. It was outright pleading.

It was amusing seeing such behavior from a mouth that absorbed people’s vital energy.

Where had the evil sect’s supreme master gone who captured him in one move without right or wrong at Clear Night Valley Valley in South Zhili?

Jeong Yeon-shin observed her energy. The center of her bright red lips was slightly raised.

She seemed to consider it a situation like a chicken that’s too tough to eat but too precious to throw away.

Hard to subdue Jeong Yeon-shin but no thought of leaving. Perhaps planning to cling like when staying at the main hall?

“Your blood technique.”

He opened his mouth. Immediately color filled the Seventh Apostle’s face.

“Yes?”

“I completed the verses. It’s contained in my body.”

Whoosh!

Along with verse operation, chilling energy sprouted.

It was the moment he raised Demon Roaring Blood Art.

Formless true qi waves began explosively bursting sporadically throughout his body.

The originally calm atmosphere transformed into explosive demonic energy surrounding Jeong Yeon-shin’s entire body.

A noise like a snake’s tongue added to the ominousness.

SWISH-

Jeong Yeon-shin’s face was calm. Not even a trace of blood art’s characteristic base madness.

Energy waves called pure blood energy at the Blood Flame Sect main hall surrounded his body.

For a moment his Desolate Fortress blue martial robe looked like a pure blood robe.

He completely finished changing the verse while researching the fourth move. He only took blood art’s characteristic killing intent and explosiveness.

It was a change any master who knew Demon Roaring Blood Art would feel.

“Ah…!”

The Seventh Apostle’s exclamation was close to joy. It was the moment she opened her mouth with a face carrying even heat.

“It’s a hundred-character verse. I’ll give you four characters each time you block my sneak attack.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly. He proposes trading martial art verses for life threats.

He spoke of sneak attacks toward the Blood Flame Sect’s Apostle.

“Young Hero Namgung and I will continue moving. You maintain at least three hundred zhang distance. Don’t come closer than that. Only I can approach. If you violate this, I’ll take one of your arms. Even if I die, I can take one of your limbs.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s voice using blood art became roughly distorted. Namgung Hwa-sin beside him thought.

Like a demon’s voice rising from Buddhism’s Eight Hot Eight Cold Hells.

‘Young Hero Namgung’s mind is deep. He doesn’t act rashly at all.’

Jeong Yeon-shin admired White Qilin’s capacity.

Even though there was no other way, he silently endured his unreasonable words.

He was like that even seeing blood art as an orthodox warrior. It was very appreciated.

“What did you say?”

The Seventh Apostle laughed with an amused face.

It was saying he would attack unilaterally. It was a strange proposal to accept.

Four characters out of a hundred. It meant taking twenty-five chances at a killing strike against a master several levels above.

Even if ambushed, she couldn’t kill Jeong Yeon-shin. Her mad obsession and past actions proved this.

However if she tried to capture him clumsily, she would have to handle the joint attack of Lightning Genius and White Qilin disregarding their lives.

Now even she was reluctant. While internally injured she might lose an arm.

It was the position of a viper trying to approach a curled up hedgehog. The initiative had changed.

“If you accept, move away now.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said. A hazy smile gathered on the Seventh Apostle’s lips.

“You might give fake verses?”

“I have no intention of using clumsy tricks. Would a supreme master like you not feel something off?”

“What if you couldn’t ambush me?”

“You’re no different from the various families. There are those who don’t know others’ grudges. You created this enmity. You’ll die by my hand.”

He answered calmly.

In the murim where one lives treading on blade edges, his personal freedom was suppressed.

He had to live always tense taking on unwanted positions. He spent over a month like that. He had no thought of forgiveness.

She didn’t answer right away. After staring at Jeong Yeon-shin steadily, she very slowly parted her lips.

“Four characters is too few. Six characters.”

She suddenly proposes negotiation. It was a light tone.

The atmosphere changed. Faint bewilderment appeared on Namgung Hwa-sin’s face.

Standing alongside Jeong Yeon-shin, strength entered his hand resting on his sword.

“Befitting an evil sect madwoman.”

While he muttered, Jeong Yeon-shin said:

“I’m not a merchant.”

“Six characters.”

“Five.”

“Good. I’ll get to fully taste my Grand Teacher’s blade?”

The Seventh Apostle smiled brightly. Suddenly wind blew between the three people.

The sun above seemed to lose its original heat. The aftermath of fully unleashed blood art was great.

The trees lined near the official road were losing their greenness.

Tree leaves scattered futilely in a dry wind stream carrying energy waves.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly withdrew Demon Roaring Blood Art.

Trading martial art mantras and life threats. This too was the murim’s way.

“Go.”

“See you later.”

The Seventh Apostle’s greeting, eerily composed, evoked belated tension.

Three hundred zhang (about 909 meters) was a subtle distance.

It allowed response from the moment a supreme master began approaching.

But the Seventh Apostle too would watch the group with accomplished eye techniques.

Even sending an urgent message or flying a messenger bird wouldn’t be permitted.

RUSTLE.

Her pure blood robe swayed red. Along with small footsteps, she instantly moved away with casual body technique.

Namgung Hwa-sin who had been quietly taking in the Seventh Apostle’s retreating figure opened his mouth.

“…A storm blew from the start. When she tries to return, she’ll immediately sprint three hundred zhang.”

“She will. She accepted because it’s a reasonable distance.”

“Young Hero’s guts are remarkable. I thought we’d have to fight to the death right here.”

“Evil faction groups are selfish. They’re reluctant unless it’s a fight they can win more than ninety percent. She probably complied since we could take one of her limbs even if we died.”

Jeong Yeon-shin who had experienced many Thirteen Heavens in a short time said. Namgung Hwa-sin also nodded.

“But, do you really plan to make twenty preemptive strikes?”

“We can’t let her recover. She’ll become a powerful enemy if we don’t catch her at this time. We must strike while she can’t manifest regenerative powers. Of course, when I make my move…”

“Naturally I must accompany you. Don’t worry. I’ll gain experience along with the Blood Flame Sect’s Apostle.”

Namgung Hwa-sin smiled as if it was fine. His eyes were clear as he faced Jeong Yeon-shin who had momentarily shared life and death as a companion.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.

“We should be able to return alive this time too. The mission should succeed as well.”

“…Of course.”

Variables arose from the first day of the mission journey. Thus began the strange murim journey.

* * *

It had been seven days and nights since Flourishing Spirit Flower Master Namgung Mi left her main family.

She gave the warriors of Flourishing Spirit Flower, a branch martial force, the chance to escort her.

It was enough with one small gesture and smile. Six came along.

She didn’t bring servants. It was because she expected a rough murim journey.

‘They’re cumbersome.’

It didn’t matter much. She naturally made the Flourishing Spirit Flower warriors into servants.

The magic bestowed by the smile of a powerful and beautiful direct line young lady was great.

The six elite warriors naturally divided up the journey’s menial tasks.

They put conviction into this journey. They accepted it as a murim journey to punish the unrighteous Desolate Sect group.

“A martial match is fine but life-and-death matches? Truly a rude and tragic matter.”

“How could that youngster know who he was dealing with to immediately go out in support? It was a battlefield. Naturally one should observe the war situation first.”

“Ha! There’s no law in the Great Ming code saying we must welcome Desolate Sect warriors!”

Moving together with the family’s fine horses, they arrived at Wuchang in Huguang Province. It was a city with post stations.

After passing through two more prefectures would be Xiangyang where Desolate Sect was located.

Major factions with intelligence networks counted among the finest under heaven roughly know Desolate Sect warriors’ behavior patterns.

They maintain the fact that they frequently use post station roads.

They moved according to plan as soon as entering the city.

BANG!

The wooden signboard marked “Virtuous Teacher Sect” shattered to pieces. It was a sect name containing the meaning of virtuous teacher.

The reality was different. It was an evil sect plundering commoners under a fine-sounding name.

“What b*st*rds dare be so brazen!”

The sect leader’s head flew off with one sword strike while shouting. It was Namgung Mi’s sword strike that even froze the roof ridge.

Under the sunlight falling like curtains, the cold energy rising from her body turned into white steam.

“What…”

The enemies hesitated.

Her appearance as an immortal maiden wrapped in freezing ice energy seemed beyond the human world. There was no one who could face her.

The Namgung family’s Flourishing Spirit Flower warriors were the same. They were different class from local evil sects.

Along with flashing sword light, the Virtuous Teacher Gate’s disciples fell helplessly. They achieved extermination in less than half an hour.

They immediately headed back to Wuchang’s marketplace.

“Look here!”

People in visibly high-quality martial robes emerged covered in blood.

Martial artists’ fights spread quickly due to being typically noisy.

The eyes of people who had been uncertain with faces mixed with fear and panic grew wide.

It was because a Flourishing Spirit Flower warrior raised the Virtuous Teacher Sect leader’s head.

“Here, Namgung family’s Flourishing Spirit Flower Master has taken the evil sect leader’s head! A Namgung family branch will be established where Virtuous Teacher Sect was, so you all should rightfully feel at ease and attend to your livelihoods!”

“Namgung… the Namgung family?”

“If it’s the Flourishing Spirit Flower Master… isn’t that one wing of the famous Nine Phoenixes?”

“That beauty and energy wave. No wonder…!”

Wuchang warriors watching their movements whispered. Even commoners worried about being caught up in martial faction battles heard.

People gathered. The commotion didn’t last long.

Exclamations mixed with puzzlement soon changed to cheers.

They said the Namgung, famous as the orthodox murim’s number one family under heaven, would personally protect them.

With repeated poor harvests, meals had become scarce.

Now when some martial artists with only martial force were beginning to affect civilian lives with outrageous acts, immediate safety before their eyes was what mattered most.

“What’s happening?”

“The Namgung family! Truly, truly thank you!”

“The young lady is so beautiful. Just like an immortal maiden…”

People of all ages and genders praised the Namgung family.

Namgung Mi responded to the cheers mixed with white sunlight with an enchanting smile. The cheering grew louder.

“Brother should have been here too.”

She muttered with a smiling face. Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin couldn’t come.

The young master’s position was heavy. He said he would wait for the official schedule of the anti-Desolate Sect martial matches, unable to leave freely.

‘Easy.’

Namgung Mi laughed playfully inside.

While going out to meet the imperial watchdogs, she easily gained Wuchang’s public sentiment.

It was a trivial matter not even needing to use much of the family’s power.

She just didn’t like Desolate Sect traversing the murim pretending to be lone heroes while crying out about civilian lives.

Everyone would support her. They rightfully should.

That’s when it happened.

“These vicious b*st*rds! How could you kill even innocent servants!”

Someone shouted while disappearing into the distance. It was some young man. His running was very fast, and a strange dignity was felt in his bearing.

Killed servants?

The crowd murmured. Public sentiment in the mundane world changes this quickly. It was even more so because it was the actions of a powerful family wielding authority in the secular world.

Suspicious eyes followed unless it was the Orthodox Schools practicing dao in the mountains or Desolate Sect raising the banner of civilian relief ideology.

‘Worthless things.’

The corners of Namgung Mi’s mouth rose further. It was a snow-white smile.

When third-rate warriors hard to sense energy from fled, she killed several.

Perhaps some among them hadn’t learned martial arts. Maybe it was the Flourishing Spirit Flower warriors who cut them down, not her.

─Have it silenced.

She sent a brief sound transmission. Just as a Flourishing Spirit Flower warrior who nodded slightly was about to move.

There were already two people whispering in a corner of some inn, at a distance they couldn’t hear.

“Young Hero Namgung.”

“You did well. This is how one must deal with my sister. I suffered much since childhood. I thought she wouldn’t stay quietly at the main family, and waiting a day at the post station was worth it. Good thing we bought spare clothes. Being chased by the Seventh Apostle helped too.”

“I wonder if there’s a reason to delay the martial matches.”

“Her temperament seems to have changed troublesomely…”

“I felt uncontrolled yin energy.”

“Indeed. Since energy achievement wouldn’t change suddenly, she must have eaten something powerful like ginseng. When deliberately raising power it seems even approaching would be difficult… Why do you say that?”

“Ten seconds.”

“Hmm?”

“Perhaps ten seconds would be enough.”

The boy said.