Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 526: Male-Dominated (5)

The land was filled with nothing but twilight.

A huge ball of fire blazed brightly, burning with a deep blue light.

From time to time, it would let out a long, dragon-like roar. But that too was brief, as the blue flame suddenly swelled up explosively, only to disappear in an instant.

Soon after, a deep, monstrous scream seemed to fall upon the ground like a shadow, scattering without a trace.

Something had been consumed in the fire. At the same time, a massive arm dragged itself across the ground.

Thud!

The thick, greenish skin. The muscular lines of the upper arm and forearm were deeply etched like furrows in a field. Even at a glance, the form was proof of extraordinary strength.

Step.

A man in a pink robe landed on the large back of the hand. Below the thick knuckle, wider than his own feet.

The monstrous force just killed was no different from the giant Pangu of ancient legend in terms of size.

"Wasn’t that a bit too much? With that thick fist, you’re fortunate enough to have brushed past the elder’s chest."

Above the head of the man, Ma Yeon-jeok.

Another man, with a wry smile, looked down at him.

Seated on the floating stone like a throne, the corners of his purple robe, tinged with an air of a scholar, fluttered teasingly as he stared at his companion.

Ma Yeon-jeok responded bluntly.

"Isn’t it just my body in this embrace?"

"From the way you’re holding yourself, it’s practically a divine vessel. Even if it was the ghostly sovereign your grandson carried around."

"Didn’t you take a piece for yourself?"

"No one would refuse a talisman that guarantees good fortune. If your youthful vigor passes to me, wouldn't I be able to hold on to this place as the Sword Master?"

Yong Hui-myeong flicked his finger against the sword hanging at his waist.

But no sound came from the dark-hued sword hilt, as if it swallowed all the stray sounds.

"Such a cursed sword."

He muttered with a smirk.

Ma Yeon-jeok did not deny it. He simply threw a short retort.

"Be prepared. Another one will come."

"That’s true. The recent days have been filled with signs of the end times. Anyway... about that friend of yours."

Yong Hui-myeong continued slowly.

"Didn’t the elder sense it? From up close, the divine presence in the Upper Mountain was exuding immense pressure... I even wondered how the unification of vital energy was being maintained."

As usual, the two rarely discussed anything else. One topic that always surfaced was Seomye Jeong Yeon-shin.

Ma Yeon-jeok immediately sneered.

"I’ve already experienced that sensation. Unlike you, Yeon-shin doesn’t miss a single passing moment of enlightenment. Let alone lose the cultivated state of his."

His tone left no room for doubt. Yong Hui-myeong, upon hearing this, adjusted his position on the floating stone, twisting it as he spoke in a dry voice.

"Can someone really hold onto the state of perfect clarity solely with perception and talent? When did that become possible?"

Suddenly, Ma Yeon-jeok’s mouth shut tight.

Yong Hui-myeong did not stop.

"Is that talent? No, it must be some divine power, a skill beyond human reach."

"..."

"Consider Bodhidharma’s nine years of wall meditation."

Yong Hui-myeong turned his gaze towards the distant horizon, continuing his words.

From the dim wasteland, a sharp sound, like a flute, began to rise, rumbling like a beast. The energy of other monstrous beings was gathering.

"What if that famous wall meditation, known throughout history, was done for the sake of keeping one’s sanity? Against the power that filled the mind."

He finished his sentence.

Soon after, Ma Yeon-jeok slowly shook his head.

"That child is strong from the very core. He won’t be devoured by his own talents."

"I heard the minor celestial demon of the righteous sect has already lost his mind. He couldn’t have caused such chaos in Hangzhou unless he completely snapped. Perhaps Yeon-shin is the same..."

"Isn’t their seed different?"

Ma Yeon-jeok asked, his own bloodline now on his tongue.

For a moment, Yong Hui-myeong fell silent. Then, with a sudden motion, he extended his fingers.

"Let’s count them. The reckless junior. His family, which was nearly nonexistent, and the nonexistent maternal relatives."

The lines around Ma Yeon-jeok’s lips tightened. It was clearly far from a smile.

"Furthermore, the true family that Yeon-shin entered... half of them met their deaths in the Great Heaven’s halls."

"..."

"Whether it’s Hwanggang or the lineage of Seonryong, everyone familiar with the origins of their power knows."

"Yet they were just a bunch of rebels. Do you think their deaths would have affected Yeon-shin?"

"We’ll see. Back when he still felt a sense of belonging to the ‘One Sword,’ and after sending Hado-un from Suncheon to the list of hell, his mentor's body was torn apart by forces only he could understand."

"Enough."

Yong Hui-myeong didn't even listen to his superior’s words, merely letting out a bitter laugh.

"Climbing to a position where one is responsible for the countless deaths of warriors from his own clan, only to have a subordinate, once like a sister, torn away by a madman of the righteous sect. Even the elder who once shared wine with him met his demise. He even tasted defeat in the midst of a mission."

"..."

"Then when he returned, his comrades’ heads were hanging from the waist of some bandit, and those who followed him in his clan, including his juniors, were dying before his eyes..."

The head of the Sword Master was now held in his hands—Yong Hui-myeong's expression remained calm. Even when considering the identity of the replacement candidate as a Sword Master.

Naturally, there was no trace of personal feelings involved. Even until the end.

"In the midst of this, the power of the Upper Mountain filled his mind. An unbelievable, dense, and overwhelming divine force."

Yong Hui-myeong’s heel struck the stone floor. The leather surface, tinged with a reddish hue, was slightly worn down, but it was the same for Ma Yeon-jeok.

The shoes of Seonchunhwa and Jeong Yeon-shin, who were not present in the scene, were likewise in the same condition.

"The time was short, so I sent him off, but I should’ve kept him a bit longer. Somehow, I’m reminded of Bodhidharma’s wall meditation now."

Yong Hui-myeong muttered, his face unreadable. Only the sound of the stone floor being tapped echoed through the silence.

"..."

Ma Yeon-jeok, who had been silent, was glanced at again by Yong Hui-myeong, who then spoke once more.

"Didn’t you tell me to meet that old man? When your head is in chaos, there’s nothing better than Taoist energy cultivation. I would say the old man has already mastered the Three Clear Powers, but even the lower levels of Taoist Energy or the South Hua Heaven Power are quite impressive..."

"To speak with a madman properly, you must first become mad yourself. That old man is of no help..."

Ma Yeon-jeok began to shake his head mid-sentence, then added somberly.

"Do not judge him by his age. His will is stronger than any old man’s. Of course, his determination will be unyielding."

"Well, that’s just a worry. I saw him the other day, and his mental state was no different from before. Our junior is not like those rookies of the righteous sect..."

"That’s obvious."

"Let’s just focus on our task."

Suddenly—!

The surroundings were all bathed in white light.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

A roar echoed fiercely as a vague, sharp wind swept across the area like a typhoon, scattering everything in its path.

The manifestation of another monstrous being appeared just as abruptly. The dry dust rose, surrounding everything in a storm.

"Three of them are here. I’ll handle two..."

"One’s dead."

Thud!

Before long, both men’s figures vanished into the thick dust.

***

Shin Yahaeon lay in the southern part of Hanam Province.

The twisted land bordered the northern reaches of Hoguang Province. Naturally, there were countless rumors about the Immortals of Mount Wudang.

And at last—

I stepped onto the very grounds of Mount Wudang, a place I had longed for since childhood.

Even the stream was clear.

Was it infused with the internal energy of Master Sambong Zhenren? The scent of grass flowed down the mountainside and tickled my nose the entire way.

Fwoooosh—

Even in the dead of winter, Wudang’s vegetation showed no sign of withering. Though I was rapidly gliding past it using lightness techniques, the scenery carved streaks of green and brown into my vision like a painter’s brushstroke across a blank canvas.

The main sanctuary of the greatest Daoist sect under heaven.

If my life were long enough, I’d want to share a drink and poetic musings here with Hyeon Won-chang. That’s how breathtaking this place was.

Even without stopping, I could tell it was a masterpiece of nature. Moreover, my sensory technique allowed me to retain the entire view in my mind even while dashing through it with lightness skill. After all, the leader of the Divine Sword Sect must always be in motion.

[Jeong Yeon-shin.]

A voice called out to me.

It was the voice of the Grand Senior, echoing from the base of the mountain slope. I responded at once.

“Yes.”

[Don’t push yourself. The first priority is assessing the situation. Not all missions are the same.]

“Thank you for the advice.”

I answered without hesitation.

Bow before distribution, and the road to promotion will be smooth—that was always the proud saying of a certain close friend.

Yu Hyeon.

I should follow his advice.

Despite his unfortunate tendencies, he was chosen as the direct disciple of Lady Yulha Nangnang and eventually made a name for himself as the Plum Blossom Swordmaster. Fortunately, his limbs had grown considerably longer since then.

“He must be cultivating the Violet Spirit Technique now...”

Suddenly, I missed that dimwitted face.

Mount Hua, the Mount Hua Sect... Would Lady Yulha really soak medicinal herbs from the Purple Elixir Altar in her bathwater? What would it feel like to sit in that bath and look down at Mount Hua?

I missed her, too.

[Six steps ahead, to the left.]

It was the Grand Senior again. Unlike directional techniques that see only forward, his method oversaw the entire battlefield.

Thud!

Following his words, I instantly took six steps and turned left. With a rush of wind, a narrow path opened where there had been none.

I only realized once I was close—it must be a formation concealing the Daoist temples from the mortal world. They say the entire expanse of Mount Wudang was practically another celestial realm, and it seems the rumors weren’t far off.

But then—

Who gave the Grand Senior his courtesy name?

My own name is rather humble, but “Spreader of Calamity” is a bit much. Who names someone after spreading disaster? If only his surname weren’t Ma or Yong, the leader of the Divine Sword Sect could be considered a blessed being... I guess all we can count on are those with the surnames Shin or Jeong.

Strangely, I feel closer to him now. What a strange name, much like my own.

Anyway, there’s no need to worry about Grand Senior’s true form.

He said it’s fine as long as we don’t stray more than seventeen li apart. A far cry from So Cheonmujuk, who based her foundation on one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems of War.

Then—

—Do. Not. Seek. Me.

A voice. An old man’s voice, broken and fragmented.

“......!”

Whoooosh!

The stream beside me surged high, like a wave crashing upward. Dense mist rose from the white froth. And I had to endure the voice that pierced my mind in that instant.

It struck like thunder.

A fierce chill ran down my spine. I shuddered violently.

I’d experienced something like this before.

It was similar to Great Master Beomheo’s Voice of Enlightened Light.

But the Master’s voice never affected the surroundings like this one did. It had only resonated directly in my head, controlled and deliberate.

And warm.

This one, though, was the complete opposite in temperament.

"Where was it?"

I extended my sense in all directions.

But there were only one hundred eighty-seven presences in range—all Immortals of Wudang, including young Daoist children, their auras all profound and mystical.

Yet I could feel no trace of a Sword Immortal capable of cleaving an entire mountain peak in half.

That presence must have been nearing the level of Master Jin’s Retreat and Return to Truth. It was intimidating. I hoped never to cross swords with such a being.

‘Either way.’

Finding them now would be difficult. This mountain range was vast.

Then, the Grand Senior’s voice echoed again.

[They’ve escaped my perception, too. Let’s chat for a bit.]

I halted immediately.

Only then did the scenery of Mount Wudang truly come into view.

Serene Daoist temples were scattered between steep blue cliffs. Beneath them lay a sea of pure white clouds, like layers of cotton quilts.

Leaves rustled gently in the breeze. Perhaps that, too, was the air of Wudang. Even the chirping of little birds felt somehow endearing.

I admired the view for just half a breath.

Step.

The Grand Senior approached, hands folded behind his back, his long sleeves fluttering behind him.

The three who had accompanied me to Mount Wudang—Ju Se-hwa and the two immortals, Jade Eyes and Jade Leaf—also emerged onto the hidden path.

“How did you find this path? It’s concealed by our sect’s formation,” Jade Leaf asked with wide eyes.

She always carried a smile on her lips. Appearing to be in her middle years, with long legs like Senior Yu of the So-yeon Corps. I’d heard she was a master of Wudang’s Five Elements Piercing Steps, using her feet like swords.

‘Senior Yu...’

He died because the acting leader lacked skill. I once encountered the mounted bandit myself. Had I claimed his head in advance...

‘Or... have I only heard of that?’

Either way, it was my fault. He was one of mine.

“Master Jeong...?”

Jade Leaf called out. I didn’t bother to hide the truth.

“I simply walked where my feet led me.”

[Correct choice. No need to reveal the Grand Senior’s techniques just because it’s Wudang.]

Leaving behind his cryptic sound transmission, I conversed with the others.

It was a strange situation. Though we had reached the threshold of Wudang’s temples, no one had come to receive us. Ju Se-hwa summarized it in one sentence.

“...It seems the Head Immortal has entered deep seclusion.”

“Ah.”

No wonder the presences scattered across the mountain were moving so erratically.

Some of them were now descending toward us, weaving through the terrain like Immortals themselves.

Back in Hangzhou, Elder Shingae once told me—

If those from the Jade Cloud Sect mix in the Seven Star Evasion Pattern with their movements, even the lightness masters of the Beggars’ Sect can’t catch the hem of a Wudang disciple’s robe.

—Then what if the Head of Wudang were to duel Lord of the Spirits, the [N O V E L I G H T] master of Bo-shin Arts? I’ve heard the Drunken Beggar King's transitions are peerless.

—There wouldn’t even be a duel. The ten-step gust would sober him up on the spot.

—What about a match with me...?

—Even you, Hwangang, would fare no differently.

Two presences were descending along the path now. Their aura rivaled even Ju Se-hwa’s.

[Unhyeon! You were only to receive that guest, yet you brought outsiders to the sacred mountain!]

One voice thundered with resonance across the six directions.

Rumble—

The earth trembled for a moment. It must be Wudang’s Seven Grand Stars Formation. Perhaps they could even deploy the Jade Cloud Seven-Star Evasion simultaneously.

“Master Jeong.”

Ju Se-hwa suddenly spoke, her gaze shifting my way. A flicker of unease appeared in her eyes. Unhyeon was her Daoist name.

I glanced to the side.

[So the sect has yet to take a position. So-called greatest sword sect under heaven... and the sect leader is outright insane.]

Her long black hair barely swayed.

This purple-clad woman had tasked an insignificant junior with the use of force before our journey began. The slight curl of her lips betrayed amusement.

[Still, let’s see what happens. If anyone can communicate with a lunatic, it’s another lunatic...]

“...?”

Feeling the former Grand Elder’s gaze, I turned my eyes southward.

Toward the direction of the main temple. They say overcoming one’s inner demon leads to great accomplishment. It must be the same for Namgung Baek Girin.

If I attain the Three Pure Powers here, I may even be able to restore his sanity. That, too, is the duty of the leader of the Divine Sword Sect—to look after his companions.

Ssst.

I gripped the hilt of Yeorae.

It had served me well back in Hangzhou. If the outcome is favorable, it won’t be seen as disrespectful.

And in the heart of the greatest sword sect under heaven, perhaps someone would enjoy it. Maybe even recognize me.

Wooooong—

I summoned the melody of the sword clan.