Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 15

growth

The wind swept roughly past my ears. The energy rushing through my entire body overlapped, embracing the principles of the poem.

Jeongyeon took her hand to the sword.

‘Beneath it all at once.’

There was a commotion in the vast village fields.

People yelling at me to stop, and a guy who bursts out laughing saying that you shouldn’t talk like that. I haven’t noticed yet. There’s quite a distance between us.

That was when.

Phew!

The hem of the hood brushed my cheek and moved away.

Cheongmyeong, who followed behind, overtook him with incredible lightness.

A state of flying high in the grass, skimming the edge of the bushes. This is truly a noble family.

Even though he was a master of footwork, he was not good enough to be effective in the realm of activity of the Ip Hwang Seong.

Recently, I have been trying to create essential remedies such as lightness and strength, but I have been lacking inspiration.

‘shit.’

In the end, Baek Mi-ryeo also pushed him away with light footwork, and even tapped him on the shoulder and passed by Heonwonchang, saying she would go first.

As for light-heartedness, Jeongyeonshin had not yet reached the level of Baekhwasung. He knew it himself.

“hmm.”

His eyes moved intelligently.

Beyond the farmland and livestock sheds that spread out below the government office hill, many houses were lined up.

Further out, the green hills continued and reached the mountain range outside the village, where the thick bushes were ominous.

At first glance, it seemed like a mountain that would be good for hiding.

‘He said he came to town periodically and caused trouble.’

The Central Plains is such a vast place. Even in a single county, people who are difficult to count by eye live there.

Still, its constant presence would mean that it resides not far away, and there wouldn’t be many places where it could hide its red hair.

It is well known that Blood Flame Cultists are prohibited by their doctrine from wearing a hat or hat on their heads.

Jeongyeonshin changed the direction she was running and glanced down.

The body of the Blood Flame Cultist who blocked Cheongmyeong’s cool sword bounced back.

It meant that it was not at the level to handle the blue of the Hwangseong. What would happen if Baek Mi-ryeo joined in?

“Just in case.”

I ran towards the hill.

By the time I reached the path leading up to the mountain, past the startled eyes of the terrified locals, I soon knew I had made the right choice.

“Get out of the way!”

A running figure with disheveled red hair fluttering in the wind. Traces of experience remain here and there on his bright red martial arts uniform.

I was amazed at how he shook off Cheongmyeong and Baekmirye.

Jeongyeon Shin placed her hand on the sword and spread all her fingers out, then wrapped her arms around the handle.

At the same time, he aimed his sword while causing a flash of light.

Swish-

Now, a formless energy that could be called a spirit was leaking out from his body. He stepped forward with his right foot and lowered his upper body.

Even the blue-haired magician masters had a hard time blocking the swift sword of Jeong Yeon-shin, who was fully in position.

“Aesongi? No. What is that······!”

A look of surprise crossed the face of the Blood Flame Cultist who was running towards him with a devil-like face. He soon gritted his teeth and turned around.

‘uh?’

Where is that going? Jeongyeonshin was dumbfounded.

It was a moment when all the experiences of rushing head-on or confronting something right in front of you became meaningless.

The sight of the guy running around as if he were a real gangster was shocking. The first appearance in the gangster world.

Aside from his talent for martial arts, he discovered within himself the naivety that all martial artists in the world suffer from.

There was still no method or lightness that could catch the Blood Flame Cultist. In the end, Jeongyeonshin could only helplessly watch the back of the retreating one.

“What a disaster.”

Cheongmyeong, who had come closer without me noticing, smiled bitterly.

“Don’t blame yourself, Yeonshin. It’s our fault.”

“He had a life-saving remedy. As expected from a member of the Blood Flame Cult, he had a protective gear that was perfect for running away.”

Baek Mi-ryeo, who followed behind, sighed.

The term “life-saving technique” literally means a desperate martial art that can save one’s life.

In his case, it seems like it was a trick. It could be said that he was the complete opposite of Jeongyeonshin.

“A faster mind than the famous people who use portraits? That guy from earlier. He said it hasn’t been long since he joined the Blood Flame Sect.”

Jeongyeonshin couldn’t help but ask. Cheongmyeong’s bitter smile deepened.

“That’s what those bloody bastards are like. They gain power through tricks where the line between sorcery and martial arts is unclear, and there are cases where they burn the blood of others and their own blood to combine their attributes and create martial arts. In exchange for their lifespan. That guy earlier seemed to have it especially well. It felt like his swordsmanship skills couldn’t keep up with his lightness.”

“It’s strange that they’ve been acting alone for so long. The Blood Flame Cult isn’t a free-spirited bunch. There’s more to it.”

Baek Mi-ryeo spoke with a thoughtful expression.

She glanced at Jeong Yeon-shin, who was slightly bowing her head, trying to control her anger, and continued speaking.

“As you all might have guessed, his base is nearby. Judging by his strange obsession, he won’t back down like this.”

“Should we wait leisurely while getting some fresh air for the first time in a while?”

“······Okay. You do that. You damned noble.”

Cheongmyeong, who is holding the back of his head with her arms crossed, and Baek Miryeo, who is squinting her eyes and glancing at him.

As we chatted for a bit, I saw Heonwonchang running towards me, panting.

“Hyeonwonchang. Your overall martial arts achievements are fine. They are worthy of the title of Baek. However, your stamina is lacking. I think your current level is sufficient, but it is unlikely that you will ever be able to compete in perfect condition with an opponent you meet in the martial arts world. You are lacking.”

Baek Mi-ryeo said in an indifferent tone. The stinging Heonwonchang felt sorry and gave a reprimand.

Jeongyeonshin’s eyes lit up. The reason why Margin sent four people.

It was said that it was a tradition of the Blue Knight to look after the experiences and achievements of the White Knight.

It is extremely rare in the world for a martial artist to directly accompany a martial artist to a martial arts school and provide guidance.

It was a benefit that was by no means common throughout the Central Plains.

“And Jeongyeonshin······”

He flinched inwardly as he caught Baek Mi-ryeo’s gaze. This was because her eyes were soft and relaxed.

“The foundation is surprisingly well-prepared. I wonder if there is a case like this even when combining the old and the eight. I completely knew it when I saw him run without any technique. If you look at his body alone, there is no one who can keep up with Ma Gwang-ik. It is even more so for a famous clan like Cheongmyeong.”

Baek Mi-ryeo smiled happily as she scanned Jeong Yeon-shin’s body with a gaze that showed no trace of selfishness.

“Since ancient times, a warrior must have a good body. No matter what martial arts he learns, he must have a body that is bound to be successful.”

“That’s right. You don’t need to be upset about the light air now.”

Cheongmyeong smiled brightly and patted Jeongyeonshin on the shoulder, not caring about the words, “It’s a mess.”

It was awkward to leave the expression on Ip Hwang Shin-hyeop’s face as he looked at me with envy.

Jeong Yeon-shin changed the subject. She felt a sense of accomplishment at the fact that she had devoted her childhood to Jeong Ga-dong.

“Can I stay at the government office? I was a bit harsh.”

“What if it doesn’t work? It’s Ip Hwang-seong. He should definitely cooperate with us.”

“That’s right. It’s not us who are inconvenienced, it’s Ji-hyeon. What can the law do about that? Thanks to you, that official must have realized his position.”

Cheongmyeong agreed with Baek Miryeo’s words. It seemed like it was nothing serious to them.

But what was the power of Jihyeon in his hometown, Sinya-hyeon?

I saw something that matched the Jeong family, which was a large landowner and a martial arts family.

I had no choice but to reconsider the location of Iphwangseong.

A wave of unprecedented origins that is hard to find a comparable one in both the martial arts world and government.

‘I’ve come to a really comfortable place. I just have to do well.’

You need to think deeply about the opponent’s power, but there is no need to worry about the group’s power.

How many places like this are there in the vast world?

“You, rather. Would you like to learn how to walk?”

“How to walk? Are you talking about walking?”

Cheongmyeong showed his discomfort at Jeongyeonshin’s question. He scratched his hood.

“I can’t teach you the martial arts of our clan······. I can teach you how the Ming clan moves. Usually, people don’t know how to do it, but I think you can.”

“The divine law of the famous clan!”

The one who started the fuss was Heonwonchang. He had an earnest expression on his face, as if he was asking her to please let him know, and this time, Jeongyeonshin completely understood his reaction.

Because I have met many of the famous people recently, I have become indifferent to their unique facial features and long ears, but there are still many places in the Central Plains where the famous people are treated like celestial immortals.

The area in which they existed was that deep and narrow.

The clan’s reputation for ageless beauty, graceful movements, and being friends of nature is often treated as a myth among the people.

Heonwonchang spat.

“It is a great coincidence to have seen the divine law of the world’s most famous clans! Please grant me a piece of that coincidence as well!”

“Yeah, yeah. How could I discriminate against someone like Magwangik? Even if I taught them, most of them wouldn’t be of much use, so that’s why······.”

The look of embarrassment on Cheongmyeong’s face grew even deeper. Baek Miryeo, who was next to him, shook her head.

“Just show me. Are you worried about disappointment already?”

“Well. Didn’t anyone doubt it for over a year, saying that he had clearly given it to me without giving me the gist? In the end, I couldn’t learn it.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about. Aren’t there many people like that? No one from Magwangik has been initiated.”

Baek Mi-ryeo turned around as if she was calm and walked away, saying she was going to explore the village.

As Cheongmyeong looked at his back, Heonwonchang muttered helplessly with a bewildered expression on his face.

“Even Ma Gwang-ik couldn’t learn it? Is it really a secret technique exclusive to the Ming Clan······.”

“It’s not systematically woven. It’s just a way of walking and running.”

In an instant, dust rose at Cheongmyeong’s feet. There was no movement of energy, but the ends of his trousers blew in a gust of wind.

“look.”

At the same time, he lightly kicked the ground and jumped up, without even making a sound.

Cheongmyeong stepped on the side of the tree a few times with a strange movement and then stood tall on the top branch. It was not the movement of a human being.

Iphwang Shinhyeop, who had approached me as if possessed, opened his mouth wide and tilted his neck upward.

‘It’s not a real energy, but something like a real energy is supporting my body.’

Jeongyeonshin looked up at Cheongmyeong blankly and thought back on her movements.

Cheongmyeong closed his eyes for a moment and breathed in the forest air before jumping down like a feather.

I landed with the feeling of a blade of grass falling, but again, there was no noise.

It was a surprising, if not terrifying, nerve-racking. Not having any movement at all was like having a fatal move.

Jeongyeonshin was lost in thought.

“Do you understand······?”

Cheongmyeong approached with a look of doubt and asked. Then he felt a pang in his chest.

“I didn’t interrupt your meditation, did I?”

“Yes. I was wondering how I could create a wind of true energy. I don’t have the same power as the Ming clan······.”

“What······!”

Cheongmyeong’s eyes widened at Jeongyeonshin’s innocent words.

“You say you saw the energy of Mother Nature once and gained insight? How could that be······!”

“Isn’t that what you showed me? A few ideas came to mind. If I cut off my movements like a herbivore and segment my true energy, I can raise it… Ah.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been gradually sinking into a state of no-mind, regained focus. He smiled brightly at Cheong-myeong.

“Thank you for the great inspiration. Sometimes I feel guilty because I only get it from the Emperor’s palace, but I think it will be of great help in this mission.”

“······.”

Cheongmyeong blankly looks at Jeongyeonshin, who is acting politely even while giving out lottery tickets.

Heonwonchang approached with a similar expression.

“Shall we unpack our bags at our lodging? For the sake of Jeong So-hyeop.”

“······Okay, let’s do that.”

Three people walking along Baek Mi-ryeo, who had already become quite far away.

Cheongmyeong and Heonwonchang kept glancing at Jeongyeonshin, who was walking slightly behind.

As if it had never been that long since the chaos caused by the Blood Flame Cult, the cool spring breeze of the evening, the first season of the year, was caressing their shoulders.

By the time I arrived at the Jinpyeong County Office after a leisurely walk, the sun had completely set and I was making myself a cozy bedding in the glow of the sunset.

The four men, Ma Gwang-ik, took up residence in the government office.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who released Ji-hyeon’s blood, was immersed in the beginning stages of the new method, so in many ways, she was not like a beginner in the martial arts world.

Even as I went to bed, my eyes filled with fear passed by indifferently, and I continued to ponder the teachings.

‘If you think about the route in advance and release your true energy in short bursts at each movement······.’

Jeongyeonshin slowly closed her eyes.

* * *

Cheongmyeong, who had been sleeping in a hammock made of hemp cloth stretched out between the trees, opened his eyes.

They are enjoying the sunlight that feeds and awakens the plants together. He smiled happily and suddenly looked down.

A boy standing still with his eyes closed in an empty lot.

He wore a sword on his waist and prayed silently all over his body.

Is this the arrogance of not caring who is watching your current training?

It was when Cheongmyeong smiled proudly.

In the middle of sunlight streaming down through the leaves.

Jeongyeonshin’s body shook briefly with the morning sunlight.

Within, a dust storm was created at the tip of the foot that lightly stepped forward, and the leaves were fluttering as the body spun around and kicked the ground.

Cheongmyeong’s eyes grew wide.

“crazy······!”