Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 103 – Lightning Genius’ Legacy (3)

***

Give out Brilliant River? Both reason and heart expressed rejection.

It wasn’t just because it was a martial art named by Namgung Se-jin.

‘It’s a move that must worry about even the slightest chance.’

In this world, martial art leaks happened, though rarely.

They said it was rather common in the lower murim where small and medium sects fought over territory.

It wasn’t just betrayal turning away from orthodox ways. Even if one was a superhuman who had cultivated martial arts, enduring torture was another matter.

The martial arts he had released so far had great room for development.

They could progress endlessly in Jeong Yeon-shin’s hands. He was even willing to have countering methods created.

Brilliant River was different. It was inherently bound to the forms and methods of qi manipulation.

“You won’t donate it…?”

Shin So-bin asked weakly.

“Right. I won’t.”

“Ah, you won’t…”

Her greatly dejected face was inwardly amusing. Jeong Yeon-shin thought with a calm face.

‘No matter how urgent the merit is.’

The formulas of a fairly complete core martial art must be protected. The Sword Technique and Jeong Family Dynamic Technique were the same.

Furthermore, Brilliant River was a one-hit kill striking martial art.

Its weaknesses in activation time and precision were clear, and he couldn’t open the formulas on top of that.

Anyone who knew the inside would say it was a matter of survival.

‘Anyway.’

Entry to Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm had to come first. From the premise, it was a martial art no one could practice.

That was true even setting aside the Blood Flame Sect’s Demon Roar Blood Technique.

There was no reason to donate it.

“But, you’d receive recognition of great merit. Really, really great. Senior, you don’t know because you just returned. How much commotion there was.”

Shin So-bin said while watching Jeong Yeon-shin’s reaction.

“Well.”

The merit calculated when he donated Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm had been moderate.

It was a small amount for a martial art that Shaolin monks had called divine.

It was high merit for something with no practitioners, but not enough to meet expectations.

They said it was thanks to the rarity of Dharma martial arts.

That was all.

‘Brilliant River won’t return as high merit either.’

That was Desolate Fortress’ standard. They considered universality even for profound martial arts.

To cultivate Brilliant River, one had to first learn Demon Destroying Azure Unyielding Palm which had no practitioners.

There would be no one who could learn it. There was absolutely no reason to accept the loss of making the verses public.

“I just returned. I should do energy circulation first.”

The boy said. He also gently removed the children’s hands clutching his clothes.

Jeong Yeon-shin met the unnamed disciples’ eyes and gave a small smile.

‘Cute children.’

They approach without hesitation even though he became blue rank.

Though those slightly older showed formality to Jeong Yeon-shin, he didn’t expect that from young children.

“Energy circulation first. Ah, right, I suppose so?”

Shin So-bin responded with a needlessly flinching face.

Perhaps because she slightly shrank her body, the hem of her Desolate Fortress white robe wrinkled slightly.

Originally it had been spotless enough to look dignified.

The Desolate Fortress’ Shin family was her clan.

They were said to wield influence no less than the Desolate Ma family, but Shin So-bin’s current bearing wasn’t fitting for a precious daughter of a famous prestigious family.

“Shin So-bin, where are the Leader and other seniors?”

“They went on mission right after Senior Lightning Genius departed. No one has returned.”

“Sichuan?”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yeon-shin recalled his conversation with Ma Jin before facing the Namgung Family.

―I have to go to Sichuan soon too. It’s because of that thunderclap bomb you were badly hit by once. Information is circulating that the Sichuan’s Tang Family is secretly manufacturing explosive shells. They told me to go confirm. From the Administration.

―Tang Family… I heard Sichuan’s murim is treacherous. Isn’t it a place where even Radiant Demon Wing masters can’t guarantee survival if caught in worldly affairs? They say three of the Nine Great Sects and three major factions of the Thirteen Evil Sect are gathered at the Sichuan Tang Family that contends for supremacy among the Eight Families.

Ma Jin’s laughing response also came to mind. He said he was more worried about Jeong Yeon-shin.

‘They haven’t returned yet.’

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded once then opened his mouth.

“Let’s catch up later. About the Eternal Blossom Palm… no, Eternal Blossom Fist, I have nothing particular to say.”

Now he had attached the word “palm” to the end of Eternal Blossom Fist. It was because he had created Brilliant River as a palm technique following three fist technique moves.

“Yes, let’s do that!”

A shrill voice mixed in her answer. Shin So-bin who had been nodding her small head turned red.

It was somewhat strange to Jeong Yeon-shin. Because of behavior hard to recall from usual.

Radiant Demon Wing’ White Cat, Shin So-bin.

He recalled around when they met Lazy Flame Dragon during the Dragon Phoenix Gathering mission.

He was with Shin So-bin then, and she had unhesitatingly told Jeong Yeon-shin who was training sword techniques that he caught attention.

It means she had no hesitation in pointing out a blue master. She even openly discussed skill.

Originally she was very bold. Always was.

‘Why is she like that?’

He stepped away while inwardly tilting his head. Various clothes brushed together.

The Radiant Demon Wing unnamed disciple children stepped back regretfully.

They were boys and girls who had entered more orthodoxly than through the Desolate examination.

They grew up in Desolate Fortress, an unorthodox sect. They were like disciples of other sects.

Apart from their innocent appearance, it means they learned at Radiant Demon Wing from birth.

Missions, rest, training. It meant they were familiar with Desolate Fortress’ system.

“Right. Have to tell the heroic tale after resting too.”

“I called dibs first anyway. Anyway the Eternal Blossom Fist starts with me. I don’t know how to put power in the Advancing Thunder move. Properly!”

“What are you saying with your low skill? Let’s decide with a duel. Follow me to the training ground.”

“Good! Think I’m scared?”

Amid the clamor of young voices, Shin So-bin watched Jeong Yeon-shin’s back with a slightly dazed face.

No fatigue could be felt from the boy’s back as he walked silently.

Only the quietly condensed atmosphere evidenced his growth. His energy presence was large.

‘His martial arts level has risen again.’

Shin So-bin thought. Blue-rank master Lightning Genius’ achievement came clearly.

A master of distant ascension.

Now it was hard to even gauge how many moves she could last.

Only his back endlessly advancing showed.

But there was something more important than achievement. The quality of creating martial arts.

Radiant Demon Wing’s Lightning Genius achieves growth and creation simultaneously.

He advances while creating martial arts. Now he didn’t look like a boy of the same age at all.

“Senior Shin, what’s wrong?”

“You’re being weirdly hesitant.”

“Not like Radiant Demon Wing’s White Cat!”

The children chattered teasingly. It was true.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

It was behavior hard to have at all. Could she have developed romantic feelings for Senior Lightning Genius?

‘No way.’

Not that. Not so shallow. The heart connected to a warrior’s identity was the issue.

Shin So-bin unconsciously recalled.

‘They called him Grandmaster.’

It was the words of Crimson Day Sword of the Annihilation Team met at the Heavenly Gold Martial Arsenal.

Pioneer of a sect. One who realized first. A forerunner all revere.

Martial artists’ values are usually based in martial arts.

One who creates a martial arts legacy, a profound sect, is respected as a grandmaster.

Martial artists looked up to Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng more than Shakyamuni Buddha.

[TL Note- Shakyamuni Buddha was the founder of Buddhism, a historical figure who lived in ancient India during the 6th or 5th century BCE. Born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama to the Shakya clan in what is now Nepal.]

They were the founders of Shaolin Temple’s supreme arts and Wudang Sect’s Taiji martial arts. Both were called great grandmasters.

Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin was also creating a legacy. Now no one could treat him carelessly.

‘Even if still incomplete.’

If walking the martial way, one should properly show respect. ‘All warriors with properly planted spirits.’

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Shin So-bin had thoroughly studied the martial arts Jeong Yeon-shin had donated.

Thus she felt it all. She directly faced the overwhelming martial talent and flashing inspiration flowing through the formulas.

It was different from just looking at one warrior called Lightning Genius. She even felt moved.

The upper martial world with peerless martial arts is very few.

It meant most warriors should lower themselves before the words of the martial art formulas Jeong Yeon-shin created.

Not just Shihwa Infinite Fist. Phantom Wing Step, Time Extreme Scripture, Mad Flower Sword Flow were all the same.

‘It’s Lightning Genius’ legacy.’

Only then did she realize her heart. Her bearing had changed from the foundation.

She had unconsciously taken the attitude a learner should have toward a grandmaster.

Here was the problem.

The fact that Desolate Fortress warriors like Shin So-bin weren’t just one or two.

But Desolate Fortress was a faction where master-disciple bonds were forbidden by law.

There are no words of master and martial siblings. Only superiors and subordinates, seniors and juniors.

‘If those with bad minds find a weakness…?’

Shin So-bin had grown up traversing Desolate Fortress as the direct daughter of the Shin family.

Faces came to mind as she furrowed her brow.

* * *

Three days passed.

Without Ma Jin away who would give missions, they could only wait for direct orders from the Administration.

Jeong Yeon-shin spent those days organizing his martial arts.

He tried to spend minimum time at Desolate Fortress’ main fortress.

Besides merit, he needed to build murim experience and knowledge.

Though he won this duel, it was hard to be satisfied.

‘I was lucky.’

He recalled the fight with Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin.

The flow that day was with Jeong Yeon-shin. Just that.

Both possessed martial arts that could inflict fatal wounds on each other.

The Emperor Sword Form was new and overwhelming martial arts that could seem supernatural. It wouldn’t have been strange for either to win.

‘I must advance further.’

Martial arts are the academic compilation of fighting others. Cannot be learned alone.

Living martial might comes from interaction with opponents.

Someone immediately came to mind.

White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin.

Among those he could develop with, he was the only one who could follow Jeong Yeon-shin’s sense.

But the boy inwardly shook his head. He would be in despair.

Cannot use him as a means of martial arts training.

‘Even if I can’t comfort him.’

Now sparring with Radiant Demon Wing warriors brought no stimulation.

It was because they had become like family. Practical martial arts cultivation stagnated.

Because there was no feeling of danger at all.

Also, anyway all the seniors had gone to Sichuan following Ma Jin. Jeong Yeon-shin just continued mental training.

Perhaps because he had seen supreme masters like the Divine Sword Group Leader during the Namgung Family mission.

His thoughts ran to extremes. He rather wished someone would pick a fight.

So he could display his unique martial arts to his heart’s content.

‘What ruffian-like thoughts.’

Inwardly shaking his head, he sank into meditation. About two hours passed like that.

Suddenly, sunlight distorted by window bars brushed the boy’s cheek.

It was the breath of twilight hanging at day’s end. That’s when it happened.

[Is anyone here!]

Suddenly a voice rang out vibrating the air.

The inherent qi was truly tremendous. It was at least the power wave of blue rank.

Jeong Yeon-shin reacted immediately. There were no blacks, and currently he was the only Radiant Demon Wing blue-rank.

Woong!

He immediately displayed protective energy. He rushed out while quickly opening the door.

Step! Whoosh!

Rough strong wind swept his hair. He closed the distance in an instant.

The one he faced in front of the hall like that was just one person.

“I entered Desolate Fortress as of today. Assigned to Radiant Demon Wing.”

A youth with exhausted shadows under his eyes smiled.

It was a gentle smile. As he approached holding a gourd bottle, the smell of alcohol spread stronger the closer he came.

He continued speaking.

“We’ve met before? Your face remains quite impressively in my mind. The one who called me dull.”

“…”

“I don’t know your name. I know your title. Lightning Genius… wasn’t it?”

He seemed easily ten years older than Jeong Yeon-shin. His appearance showed it.

A strong sense of ennui emanated from his distinct handsome features. He was familiar.

“Hwangbo Family, Lazy Flame Dragon.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said.

Relaxing his body with Jeong Family Dynamic technique came first.

His whole body’s muscles instantly loosened like a beast before battle.

While doing so, the boy took in his appearance.

“You remember me too.”

Lazy Flame Dragon smiled with a satisfied face.

He wore shabby martial clothes but carried a strange dignity.

The leaf in his mouth seemed to be opium poppy again.

How did he get it? It was an appearance hard to imagine in Desolate Fortress.

Drawing an arc with his lips under eyes hazily shadowed, he just stared back at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“It can’t be helped. Our qualities are of the same type? I have the Scorching Divine Meridian, you…”

Trailing off, Lazy Flame Dragon slightly tilted his head.

“What is it? Anyway.”

Terrifying energy blazed from his whole body.

Though he didn’t seem to be greatly raising qi, it was hot. Yang energy power.

As if growing by itself, it felt even stronger than before.

“Now I’m not the Hwangbo family’s young master nonsense, but a tiny unnamed disciple. Please take care of me.”

His words and behavior seemed free of attachment to worldly things. He didn’t seem like a family’s young master.

But that’s not important. The boy had questions.

How did they let the heir of a family they exterminated into Desolate Fortress?

Was this something that could be decided at the Administration level?

While organizing his thoughts, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened his lips.

“Show respect.”

“Hm?”

“Show respect, Lazy Flame Dragon.”