Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 348: Late but Arriving First (4)

Behind Jeong Yeon-shin, the young sect leader let out a long sigh and followed with large steps. At the same time, the thick hem of his robe fluttered once, settling the dust Jeong Yeon-shin had disturbed with a smooth motion.

The young sect leader of the Demonic Sect, the most esteemed of them all, wielded his internal energy with an effortless grace that came with practice.

“You’re quite something.”

The young sect leader placed his hand on Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder.

“Doesn’t this seem a little off? These fools who think they’re the greatest in the world, acting so high and mighty—I'd love to overturn their lavish banquet too.”

His unnervingly soft, pale fingers grasped the cloth covering the character ‘荒’ (Huang) as if it were nothing.

The mark of someone who had perfected the art of the Unarmed Demon Technique to its extreme. To an unknowing observer, it might look like a delicate hand, but to Jeong Yeon-shin, who knew better, it was anything but.

“Let go.”

“Let go.”

A smooth voice from beside him echoed, the Seventh Apostle coldly speaking.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze ran over the young sect leader, whose glance felt like a sharp blade.

The young sect leader, his shoulder hidden by his cloak, casually raised it in a dismissive gesture, then dropped his hand.

“Please, show some tolerance. Words like ‘husband and wife’ have become meaningless with the passage of time, especially in noble circles. But now, there are matters I need to discuss with your husband...”

With the sound of his clothes brushing against the air, the Seventh Apostle took a step back. She subtly turned her body, lowering her delicate eyelashes as if cutting off further interest.

In that moment, her breathing deepened, and her footwork seemed to lose its trace, as if absorbed into the art of footwork.

She remained as unpredictable as ever. One moment, she'd display an obsession and devotion tinged with madness, and the next, reveal the dignified pride and arrogance typical of the aristocrats of the Bloodflame Cult.

Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t fully comprehend her thoughts. It was harder to fathom than any martial art he had ever encountered.

‘It’s like a performance, not martial arts.’

His frustration faded. Feeling a tinge of hollow disappointment, Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the Seventh Apostle’s profile before turning his eyes back to the young sect leader.

The expression beneath the silver mask was visible now. He was smirking in the same way he had the first time they met, though Jeong Yeon-shin, with his sharp insight, couldn’t quite understand the meaning behind that expression.

“Before we get to the main topic, let me offer some advice as a senior in the martial world.”

“...?”

“The greatest gift the heavens have given to lowly humans is time. Especially for people like us. As for how much time you have left... I can’t tell, but...”

The young sect leader’s smile deepened as he continued, clearly admiring Jeong Yeon-shin’s accomplishment in the Three-Phase Purification.

“Live your life well. Don’t leave any regrets.”

His tone was odd, and there seemed to be a mixture of complex emotions behind those words.

Despite his seemingly dismissive attitude, the young sect leader never hid his feelings, making his intentions clear through his expressions.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t let himself be swayed by emotions. After all, his world had grown rich in meaningful relationships, making any sympathy for the young sect leader’s situation seem out of place.

Instead, he focused on the words the young sect leader had spoken.

The supreme master who had defeated the Master of the Thirteen Heavens couldn’t even read his lifespan.

‘He mentioned the Three-Phase Purification.’

The state of unity with his internal energy had provided him with a transcendental perspective that masked the true state of his body.

Even though the eyes of the powerful opponents he would soon face had become burdensome, it seemed that those worries were starting to fade.

“The Demonic Sect speaks of the heavens granting them permission?” Jeong Yeon-shin commented.

The young sect leader merely lifted the corner of his mouth, as if to say, "What’s it to you?"

With a distracted gesture, he pointed to a nearby butcher’s shop.

“Look at that young man coming out of the butcher’s. He’s trying to sneak his way toward us. If I don’t kill him, we might have to communicate telepathically.”

The streets were teeming with eyes and ears. The martial world in Sichuan was in complete disarray.

The Ten-Direction Temple, the Pure Demonic Sect, and the Golden Scripture Sect.

The Tang Clan, the Amipa Sect, and the Qingcheng Sect.

The major factions controlled the largest territories in the world.

Even though the Master of the Ten-Direction Temple had died in the hands of the Bloodflame Cult leader, the damage to the Thirteen Heavens was far less than expected.

The Ten-Direction Temple, once siphoned by the Bloodflame Cult leader, still held the position of an absolute force.

On the other side, the righteous factions were struggling.

A year ago, the leader of the Qingcheng Sect was defeated by the head of the Flawed Sword Sect.

The Tang Clan, who had suffered extreme internal damage years ago, was now all but defeated by the Golden Scripture Sect.

The Amipa Sect was the only one left intact.

The situation in Sichuan was heavily skewed toward the Thirteen Heavens, and as the young sect leader said, it was time to be on alert.

“Telepathy?” The Seventh Apostle tilted her head slightly, her eyes closed.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-shin sensed the presence of an unseen barrier surrounding him in a semi-circular manner. The chaotic flow of energy felt distinctly irregular, and the external noise abruptly ceased.

The young sect leader’s eyes narrowed into crescent shapes.

"Well... anyway, Ma Gwang-ik, you will have to become a sacrificial offering, just as I said. It's not a situation you can handle just by heading to the meeting hall immediately."

"With the three of us here, the balance of power is even. No matter how many experts from the Golden Scripture Sect or the Ten-Direction Temple are present."

"Do you really think that mad Golden Scripture Sect leader will willingly hand over a sacrifice or let the Dragon King join us?"

"We can stand on equal footing."

"Hmm... I don’t think so. The Golden Scripture Sect leader will likely have a massive restriction placed on his body. Limiting his movement while enhancing his own martial arts power..."

The Golden Scripture Sect’s formation.

It was famous even though its name wasn’t widely known. It allowed the user to move the formation freely and bolster the energy of martial artists who had mastered certain techniques.

Originally designed for a large number of martial artists hunting enormous beasts, it was said to wield terrifying power even in faction wars.

“Can’t you dismantle the formation or claim it as your own right then and there? I’ve done it before.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke with a slightly disappointed tone. He had once taken several days to destroy the formation of the Bloodflame Cult’s main body in the past.

If you’ve learned magic martial arts, you should be able to destroy it in a split second, not days.

"Mm."

The young sect leader tilted his head slightly. Was this how my opponents felt when they faced me?

“The problem is the owner of the formation on the spot. The Golden Scripture Sect leader is proficient in both magical arts and martial techniques. He’s even received the Great Sword’s ten-layered strike from the Wudang Sect. With one hand, he weaves a magic formation, and with the other, he releases a devastating martial strike. It’s said that even the leader of the Demonic Sect couldn’t touch the Wudang Sect's vision."

I could do that too, but the Golden Scripture Sect leader is no slouch, either. The young sect leader’s lips curled slightly.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s response /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ was dismissive.

"Excuses."

"You’d be better off not facing the Golden Scripture Sect leader head-on. Our martial arts are incompatible."

"Explain more."

"The Golden Scripture Sect’s martial arts are designed to defeat the most auspicious of spiritual creatures in the world. It’s called ‘Heavenly Dragon Slayer.’ It taps into all the martial arts of the world, and for your incredible power, it will be especially lethal."

"Heavenly Dragon Slayer..." Jeong Yeon-shin muttered softly. The resonance in his mouth was deep.

This was something he hadn’t yet encountered. Though he had many times gained an upper hand over opponents, he had never faced energy that was directly incompatible with his own.

With cold blue eyes, the young sect leader gently finished his sentence.

"You’d be better off using sword winds from behind me. Well, you could change the structure of your energy as well, but the response of someone who hasn’t mastered incompatible martial arts would naturally be faster, don’t you think? This side of things is my specialty. I hope you’ll follow my reasoning."

He spoke the raw truth, slowly and methodically.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt like he was looking into a cracked mirror. It wasn’t pleasant.

***

Sichuan City.

A large manor surrounded by high walls like a fortress.

The inscription on the front gate read "Golden Scripture" in angular characters, a work by the Golden Scripture Sect leader who did not favor the phrase "The Dragon and Snake Soar."

However, the manor had become a place of admiration for those who looked up at the strange inscription.

Hundreds of people lined the streets, causing a commotion with loud voices, dust, and the sound of sharpening swords.

"Those here for the test, step over here! Over this way!"

"I'm the first today!"

"Take this stone and crush it with your grip. That’s all. There’s no next."

"Is this... the test?"

"Yes."

"No stances or anything. Am I supposed to measure a martial artist’s level with nothing but internal energy?"

"You saw for yourself."

"I’ve never heard of receiving guests like this. Why not test stances too before gauging a martial artist’s power with their internal energy?"

"If you’re not confident, leave. Or you can discuss the rules with the elders of the sect."

"..."

Many walked out empty-handed after entering with confidence, unable even to draw their swords.

The martial artists on guard or taking the test acted arrogantly. No one regarded the Golden Scripture Sect as a righteous faction.

This was the scene the day after Jeong Yeon-shin entered the manor as a guest.

The Golden Scripture Sect.

It had been receiving visitors regularly for some time, apparently for the purpose of human sacrifice.

“They really know how to make an impression.”

A voice of awe.

It was near a quiet creek in an isolated building. Jeong Yeon-shin gazed at a martial artist in orange robes. A member of the Golden Scripture Sect, appearing to be in his early thirties.

Jeong Yeon-shin had been called out after spending one night in the unfamiliar guest room of the manor. He had been summoned for a task.

"If you passed the test, you’ll have internal energy worth noting... A good talent has arrived just in time."

"What's the purpose?"

Jeong Yeon-shin asked abruptly.

At this moment, he felt very uncomfortable.

Since he had separated from the Seventh Apostle, whom he had to pretend to be blind around, and had entered the Golden Scripture Sect, this discomfort had only grown. He thought to himself, It can’t be because of her.

With a quiet exhale, the warrior’s mouth curled into a slight grin. It was a laugh that carried the carefree temperament typical of those in the Demonic Sect or the Dead Souls.

“There’s no decorum in your words... but given the task you’re about to undertake, I suppose it fits. Follow me. We’re going to the leader.”

The attitude was entirely that of someone dealing with a vagrant. Even though a guest was supposed to be a respected individual, in this context, it didn’t seem to matter.

But right now, there was something else that demanded attention.

“The Golden Scripture Sect leader?”

“You’ve been assigned as his attendant.”

Jeong Yeon-shin blinked without replying. The warrior, understanding, added with a knowing look.

“The leader never stops cultivating his energy through his gaze and inner practice. Without sufficient internal power, it’s nearly impossible to even approach him. It’s said that the formidable Imperial Sword technique from the Namgung Clan is always in use around him.”

“But if I’m his attendant, shouldn’t it be someone from within the sect?”

“Martial artists who have mastered internal energy, no matter their rank, must always focus on their training. That’s a rule of the sect. Bringing in someone from outside is precisely why.”

The warrior answered calmly. She spoke with enough structure to imply she had studied a little. With a gesture, she signaled Jeong Yeon-shin to follow.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult. Just follow the orders given.”

“I still don’t understand why I was chosen.”

“Your appearance.”

She glanced back at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“The leader prefers those who are pleasing to the eye, both in appearance and in their martial practices.”

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Jeong Yeon-shin pushed his thoughts aside.

He thought back to his conversation with the young sect leader.

―Let's say, for argument’s sake, that it’s one of those days when we can make a clean escape. With my body, so close to the Heavenly Demon, and you, much stronger than I was back then, we could push through the Ten-Direction Temple and the Golden Scripture Sect together. But what if they run? The Golden Scripture Sect leader, who can climb the scales of the serpent-like beast as easily as a mountain, can surely break free if he decides to abandon us. If we want to ensure the safety of your companions, we’ll have to enter the formation they open for us first.

―So, you suggest infiltrating the Golden Scripture Sect and hiding our identities?

―With your abilities, you can deceive even the greatest martial artists. I’ve seen you master the art of concealing energy. You could even convince them you are a master of inner arts.

―Hmm.

―I’ve never seen you smile so pleasantly. Anyway, I’ll use my Earth Demon Technique to connect you and your wife, through the shadow arts. When the time comes, I’ll send my energy to your feet.

Crunch.

At that moment, Jeong Yeon-shin, following the warrior’s guidance, arrived at a building with dark, metallic tiles. The surroundings were eerily silent, like a frozen landscape.

“The Tang Clan’s twin siblings will be seeing the leader soon. You can afford to treat them somewhat rudely. Don’t think of them as heirs of a prestigious family. If you spill tea in front of them, the leader will allow it,” the warrior said.

And then, the voice of the leader echoed, breaking the silence.

[Enter.]

It was a voice that seemed to crush the stillness around them, carrying the tone of an absolute ruler.

The Golden Scripture Sect leader.

The voice, one that supposedly controlled the life and death of the world’s most monstrous beings, was incredibly dry.

‘An attendant,’ Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

He slowly took a step forward, heading toward the strongest person in the martial world of Sichuan.