Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Many looked on with expressions of bewilderment. Even the Zhongnan Sect masters were perplexed.

In the hands of the young swordsman was the head of the Elder of the Tyrant Sword Sect. No one could have imagined such a sight.

“Fierce Asura Sword… Is it really that old master?”

“H-How could this happen? By the hands of such a child?”

“The Fierce Asura Sword has passed away? It’s unbelievable…”

The scene, beyond common sense, drained the warriors of their fighting spirit.

Even the Tyrant Sword Sect was not an exception.

The situation Yeon-shin created was beyond human comprehension.

At that moment, Won-chang suddenly stood up. As if he had never been knocked out, he brushed off the dust from his robe.

With a hero’s headband fluttering and his tall, handsome appearance on full display, he shouted loudly.

“Guest of the Zhongnan Sect! Jeong Yeon-shin of the Desolate Fortress!”

His voice even carried qi.

It was stronger than Yeon-shin had expected. The powerful voice of Won-chang echoed in all directions with remarkable achievement.

“He has beheaded the Elder of the Tyrant Sword Sect—!”

An overwhelming roar erupted. It was astonishing where he had hidden such inner energy.

Having accomplished a tremendous feat,

Won-chang accurately revealed his identity and solidified his achievements.

It was a timely response befitting a martial artist of the Desolate Fortress.

“Master Jeong is truly…!”

“The Fierce Asura Sword is dead!”

“Wow!”

The young masters of the Zhongnan Sect were stirred. Many faces were filled with awe and joy.

Some even cheered like never before.

“That boy!”

“He did it!”

Ye Yil-sin and the Zhongnan Sword Immortal’s swordsmanship began to display unparalleled effectiveness.

They pushed back the confused enemies, unleashing their momentum.

The turnaround brought by the young master from the Desolate Fortress was as fierce as a waterfall.

The Tyrant Sword Sect was relentlessly pushed back. The damage inflicted from all sides made recovery difficult.

In the midst of this, Yeon-shin focused on the Master of the Tyrant Sword Sect. Their eyes met.

Receiving the sword of the Zhongnan Sect’s head disciple, he glanced at the boy as if to engrave him in his memory.

‘Wait.’

A formidable opponent, hard to look up to. Now, even just meeting his gaze seemed to shake his very soul.

Clearly, time was Yeon-shin’s enemy. However, it was also a friend that bestowed boundless strength.

‘Four years should suffice for you as well.’

The Master of the Tyrant Sword Sect would not die here. Yeon-shin turned away.

The Tyrant Sword Sect was ultimately defeated. It was a grand victory for the Zhongnan Sect.

A fight between the Thirteen Heavens and the Nine Great Sects is rare.

The fact that they clashed and reached a visible conclusion was itself an enormous event. It was said that the Central Plains were reacting.

Rumors spread from Xi’an.

At the forefront of these rumors was the Zhongnan Sword Immortal, who displayed awe-inspiring prowess.

He killed five elders of the Tyrant Sword Sect and severed the arm of a sixth.

The fame of Weiji Myo-hwa, who led the disciples and faced the senior masters, rose once again.

And the story of the young master from the Desolate Fortress began to spread.

A swordsman of sixteen beheading an Elder of the Tyrant Sword Sect. It was a story hard for anyone to believe.

Those who knew a bit about the martial realm scoffed at the idea, causing the rumor to spread slowly.

However, the nickname “Lightning Flash” undeniably spread across the world.

“The masters of the Nine Great Sects know, and that’s enough. Let the foolish chatter away!”

Bang!

Won-chang struck the table with his fist.

He had been drinking in an inn at the foot of the mountain and was venting his frustration.

He had heard disparaging remarks about the young master from the Desolate Fortress in the market.

He said he almost broke the noses of those ignorant fools.

Yeon-shin didn’t care much. He had little interest in impractical matters.

His only focus was on the Heavenly Tree’s fruit at the end of his journey.

“Does fame help with missions?”

“Of course, it does! It helps a lot! You can even get a free drink at the inn!”

Won-chang managed to bring a smile to Yeon-shin’s lips.

They enjoyed their time after the victory. The familiar paths they walked felt fresh with the new scent of earth.

The war of the great sects had ended, and they had even slain the masters of the Tyrant Sword Sect.

As a martial artist of the Desolate Fortress, their mission had been more than fulfilled.

The masters of the Zhongnan Sect treated Yeon-shin and Won-chang with favor.

It would be hard to find more pleasant days than these.

“More than that, you should think about groups like the Beggars’ Sect or the Hao Clan. When traveling through the martial world, their information is indispensable. Whether or not Master Jeong has received help from the Beggars’ Sect, their treatment of you will be different now.”

Myo-hwa, who was sharing tea with them, spoke.

Her small smile was more beautiful than the spring flowers blooming around them.

“It might be presumptuous of me to say, but the Nine Great Sects are said to be in a realm above the world. Naturally, it is very difficult for common people to hear news about the Nine Great Sects. Unless it’s a major event like this.”

“I see.”

Yeon-shin replied, sipping his golden tea.

Seeing him, Myo-hwa’s face lit up with a smile.

“So, many tend to believe strange rumors instead of the exact story. But the Beggars’ Sect is different. There’s a reason they are sometimes mentioned alongside the Nine Great Sects. They know exactly what’s happening. I saw some of their scouts practicing lightness skills outside the battlefield.”

Beggar practitioners? If he didn’t know of the Beggars’ Sect, he would not have believed such a thing.

Won-chang nodded satisfactorily.

“As there will be more journeys in the martial world, that’s enough.”

“For Master Jeong’s business, Master Hyeon is pleased. The camaraderie of the Desolate Fortress is different from what I’ve heard. By the way, who is the senior among you two?”

“Senior?”

Won-chang widened his eyes as if hearing the term for the first time.

Yeon-shin also showed interest.

“I learned Demon’s Light first.”

“Hey! Didn’t we both receive instruction from the Master at the same time? Is seniority based on accomplishments? The Desolate Fortress is not some sect without roots!”

“It’s a sect without hierarchy, but that much…”

“Really?”

They shared a leisurely conversation.

Since it was a complete victory with few casualties for the Zhongnan Sect, the atmosphere was warm.

With Myo-hwa’s gentle gaze akin to a sibling’s, the sun set.

The next day,

Yeon-shin received the Flowing Cloud Plaque from the head disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.

Showing it to any affiliated sect under the Zhongnan Sect would earn him the highest courtesy.

As the Jeong family was also a branch of the Zhongnan Sect, he could be treated as a benefactor in such places without any pretense.

“In addition, if you ever need the sword of the main sect, do not hesitate to send word. Even if it is for the politics of the Desolate Fortress, we will aid you once.”

Said Gu Yang-cheon, the Sword Master of the Western Heavens. There was a faint warmth in his usually stoic face.

They said they had taken a considerable amount of the Tyrant Sword Sect’s territory. It was Weiji Myo-hwa who conveyed this information.

With the demonic sects retreating and the righteous sects protecting the common people, donations naturally flowed in. As the head of the sect, he acknowledged Yeon-shin’s significant contributions.

“I will gratefully accept.”

He did not decline. There might be a need for it when fulfilling missions or challenging the position of the Divine Sword Squad leader.

Yeon-shin, holding the wooden plaque with a cloud engraved on it, spoke.

“Now, it seems it’s time to hear the story.”

“Indeed, you are entitled to it.”

Ye Yil-sin, sitting beside Gu Yang-cheon, nodded.

Finally, the secret of the Jeong family’s annihilation was revealed.

“Everything began with the Heavenly Tree.”

“The Heavenly Tree, you say?”

“Yes, the divine tree that supports the world. All principles of the universe are firmly rooted through the mystical Heavenly Tree. It consumes a lot of the earth’s energy, and the land of the Jeong family was extremely fertile because of it. They were called the great landowners of Xinye. The roots of the divine tree extended to their land.”

“……”

“All universally acknowledged elixirs are like that. They are created in a mysterious way following the principles of the world. It’s different from martial arts or sorcery.”

“So, the reason for the Jeong family’s annihilation is…?”

“It is said that the formidable martial arts of the Desolate Fortress’ lord are maintained by consuming the fruits of the Heavenly Tree. The Tyrant Sword Sect and the Blood Flame Sect, both hostile to the Desolate Fortress, found more than enough reason to annihilate a small martial family. Now, Xinye is a wasteland under their control.”

Yeon-shin was momentarily speechless. Ye Yil-sin, with a face wanting to console, sighed and spoke again.

“At that time, we received a letter from the Lord of the Desolate Fortress. It was a request to protect the Jeong family. Ultimately, we failed…”

“……”

“I am deeply sorry to you, Joong-san, and Hye-ah.”

Survivors must live on.

First, he decided to eat the fruit of the Heavenly Tree. He set aside the complex circumstances and paradoxes.

They were of no help to survival.

It would not be too late to ask the Lord of the Desolate Fortress after becoming the Divine Sword Squad leader. They said she lived eternally.

The sky was clear. The blue expanse covered the world without a single cloud.

Yeon-shin and Won-chang packed their bags and stood at the foot of Mount Zhongnan.

Many had gathered to see them off. They had built considerable goodwill within the Zhongnan Sect.

“Grow up and come to visit. When you become a master, you can visit the Desolate Fortress.”

He comforted his niece, who clung to him crying.

Seeing his second brother, Jeong Joong-san, he noticed the indescribable expression with which he looked at his younger brother.

A face filled with both regret and pride. Yeon-shin gave a slight nod.

They had not yet grown close enough to interact without barriers.

Standing in front, Myo-hwa slightly parted her red lips.

“Next time, may I go as well?”

“If there are no missions, I should ask for lessons in the martial arts of the Cloud Sword Dragon.”

Her lips curved into a smooth arc. The Sword Immortal laughed heartily.

“The younger generation has formed ties. It’s a pleasing sight. For an old man considering retirement, it’s truly delightful.”

The settling of grudges and retirement of a martial artist is referred to as “golden wash.” Yeon-shin shook his head.

“You seem like you could live another hundred years.”

Laughter erupted from various places. They had become like family.

The Sword Immortal smiled kindly.

“Yeon-shin, I hope you achieve your goal.”

It was a statement filled with various meanings. Yeon-shin calmly bowed and mounted the horse he received from the Zhongnan Sect.

As always, Won-chang was beside him.

He did not look back as they departed. After half a day of riding, they arrived at a village.

The sunset painted the sky as if longing for the sun.

The sight of crimson silk filled Yeon-shin’s view.

They handed over their horses and entered the inn. It was bustling.

“There seem to be quite a few wanderers.”

Muttered Won-chang, who sat near the entrance with him.

It was so crowded that they had to sit with some middle-aged men. They exchanged respectful greetings.

The waiter who took their order looked displeased.

It seemed to be because of the men carrying swords and making noise all around.

Among them were men and women dressed in silk martial attire, seemingly from martial families.

It was uncommon for so many martial artists to gather in such a small village.

It seemed something was happening, but the wandering martial artists, who loved to boast about their skills and discuss rumors, were already talking.

“…They say the Mount Hua Sect secretly received help from the Desolate Fortress. Are the Nine Great Sects and the Desolate Fortress now setting suns? Only the Zhongnan Sect, which defeated the Tyrant Sword Sect, still stands strong in Shaanxi!”

“You must be new to the martial world. Let me tell you, it’s important to keep your mouth shut if you want to live long.”

The noble-looking young master, who seemed to be from a martial family, was quite courteous despite his appearance.

Two women who seemed to be his companions also nodded with faint smiles.

The wandering martial artist who had been loudly boasting across the table frowned.

“I told you, I’m not new! How can I be wrong? Otherwise, how could they fail to capture even one Stealthy Demon? They say the Blue-Eyed Demon Sword of the Desolate Fortress lost an eye! The so-called Supreme Masters of the Desolate Fortress? It was all a sham!”

Just as he was seeking agreement from those around him,

Thunk!

It happened in an instant. Without a sound, a chopstick pierced the table.

The force was so strong that the tip vibrated, and the table cracked around the point of impact.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the entrance. A boy in a long blue robe was calmly looking at the wandering martial artist.

“That story.”

Yeon-shin’s eyes flashed with a sky-blue light.

“Tell me the details.”

Although his words were low, they carried the qi of the Jeong Family Dynamic Training. No one there failed to hear him.

The bustling inn fell silent in an instant.

Won-chang lightly tugged Yeon-shin’s shoulder forward, revealing the white-threaded character ‘荒’ (Desolate) embroidered on his blue robe.