Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 2

The destruction of a clan

The boy sat down and stood up repeatedly while carrying a huge log on his back.

His back had distinct muscles. He would sometimes sit upright in a horse-drawn pose.

It was Jeong Yeon-shin, the third son of Hanam Jeong Ga-jang, who turned fifteen this year.

“Your Majesty, it is dinner time!”

A servant shouted from a distance near the entrance to the training ground. The boy with dark eyebrows did not answer.

‘I have to finish it.’

After doing this ten more times, he finally lowered the wooden pole and roughly picked up the coat he had left behind.

The build is not large.

The muscles that covered his entire body were reminiscent of a diamond even without exerting any force.

An unusual body. Not only did the body itself not look like someone of the same age, but it was so strange that it seemed different from the common people. Even to his own mind.

‘Jeong Ga-dong-gong (鄭家動功)······. It’s completely settled in.’

His martial arts were different from the Yun-gi-jo-sik, which usually involves sitting cross-legged and inhaling the energy of nature.

I abandoned the family’s deep-rooted belief that I should just sit and breathe without meaning.

The knot was broken down. The heart was recreated as a moving skill that accumulates energy.

This is because he was able to easily control energy from a young age, and the endurance and elasticity of the acupoints throughout his body through which his internal energy flows were on a different level from that of ordinary humans.

I once believed that there was camaraderie even between half-brothers. I went around urging them to try it out.

What he said in return was perfectly sensible.

-You created a martial arts skill?

-What if I get sick and die while I’m cooking? Will you take responsibility for me?

-Do you think you have the qualities of a great master?

He gave up after seeing the mockery that came back with sincere sarcasm. The boy did not make any more martial arts knots.

It was a day when I was hurt by my brothers, following my indifferent husband. It was even more so because their words were true.

‘The Great Monk.’

The term Daejongsa in the martial arts world had a different meaning than the general one. It meant a founder of a martial arts school who could become the founder of a new school.

Excluding those who were great masters in both religion and martial arts, such as Jang Sam-bong of the Mudangpa and Balta, Dharma, and Hyega of Shaolin, there was no martial artist who said that the founders of the other old school martial arts schools were not great masters.

It’s a grand story.

Jeongyeonshin had never even thought about becoming a great master, and did not place much importance on creating martial arts.

I just wanted us to be healthy together.

I steadily studied only one Jeonggadonggong alone. I think I also had the intention of showing it off.

The function was clear. The parts that were stimulated when practicing swordsmanship or training the body became stronger.

Aerodynamics is what strengthens and compresses the muscles. The result is your current body.

‘It’s a success. Now.’

I am sure.

The utility of the martial arts skill, roughly named Jeongshi’s pupil, has reached its limit.

As he practiced, he realized that his body could not become any stronger.

It seemed like a rare sight even in Hanam Province, except for the heavenly Shaolin monks.

Unless you are a frog looking at the sky from a well.

“You are a do-ryunni!”

“Go.”

Jeong Yeon-shin gave a vague answer to the servant’s urgent expression. I know why he is doing that.

The head of the Jeong family was a strict and patriarchal figure, and his mother was the third wife and died in a difficult birth.

It was a time when superstitions were rampant, especially in rural areas like this one.

He was born after a difficult childbirth and his mother killed him. No one in the family looked upon him favorably. Not even the head of the household.

‘As long as the food is good, that’s fine.’

Jeongyeonshin walked along, thinking it was nothing special.

Since he had no blood relatives living here, he naturally became obsessed with martial arts.

He had no grand ambitions, such as becoming famous or traveling the world. He simply enjoyed studying martial arts.

As I was passing by the residence of the guests, I heard the children of the guests reciting a poem.

“Recite Chapter 1, Section 4 of the Great Ming Gangmok.”

“From the gates of heaven, our long-eared and short compatriots returned, destroyed the wicked Yuan Dynasty, and established the Great Ming together with Taizu.”

“Jesus Chapter 1, Verse 8.”

“A giant evil spirit came chasing our compatriots, but we were able to close the door in time and destroy it.”

These were phrases that were familiar to Jeong Yeon-shin as well. She passed them by with a smirk.

“You’re late. You fool.”

When we arrived at the banquet hall, my eldest half-brother greeted me politely.

Jeongyeonshin’s chest muscles throbbed at the sight of her squinting eyes.

“It’s been a while, brother.”

“If you’re late, take a seat quickly.”

The eldest son of the Jeong family, Jeong Nam-san, laughed and said.

Jeongyeon Shin nodded and looked around the table as she sat at the end of the long table.

To the left and right of the head of the household sitting at the head of the table were the first lady and second wife, and below them sat Jeong Nam-san and his wife, their daughter, and Jeong Yeon-shin’s fifth sister.

It was against his will to sit at the bottom when there were younger siblings, but due to the head of the household’s indifference and the ire of the first lady and second wife, he had long been a direct descendant whose name alone was on the list.

‘Thanks to you, it was comfortable.’

Since I was not in charge of the important duties of the family, I had no duties or responsibilities. However, the meals were good, so I was able to focus on my training.

‘I guess you’ll go back because you like it.’

The smiling gaze of the head of the household was turned towards the second oldest brother with a square jaw.

This is because it is an event to see off the second son who will soon be going to learn the martial arts of Jongnampa.

The most powerful sect in Shaanxi Province, which is comparable in size to a small country.

Now, it was a prestigious school that, along with the Hwasan School, held the reputation of being the best school in Shaanxi.

It was a great honor to be initiated as a disciple of the nine great sects of the world, the nine sects.

Even as the continent rots away from famine, this banquet is so extravagant.

As the head of the household raised his glass, the family members also followed suit and raised their glasses.

“Since my father, who was a disciple of the Jongnam Sect, founded the family, I have devoted my whole life to reviving our family. If I had wanted to be famous in the world, I would have inherited the Jongnam tradition! However, how could I have abandoned my family business? I am very happy that my son has followed in my father’s footsteps and climbed Jongnam Mountain.”

“It’s a good day.”

“Congratulations, Brother.”

The head of the household says that if he had wanted to, he could have become a disciple of the Jongnam faction.

The family members who flatter the second eldest son and the third eldest son.

In the world of martial arts, a snake’s head is better than a dragon’s tail when it comes to enjoying life’s satisfaction.

Jeong Ga-jang was the county’s de facto security officer and a major landowner.

A martial artist with power comparable to Jihyeon in Shinya-hyeon.

In the neighborhood, there is no need to envy the old ones.

‘I have to go to the bottom of the Jongnam faction to clean the ancestral tablets first.’

Jeongyeonshin ate without any food or drink.

“If it’s Jongnam these days, wouldn’t it be okay to place him half a level above Hwasanpa?”

“Some outstanding new masters have come down the mountain.”

“Looking at the Battle of Shaanxi, it certainly seems that way. The leader of the Sapa horde that was rampant in the audience was cut down by the Cloud Sword Dragon. Even though the Plum Blossom Sword Masters are strong, they are no match for the Sword Dragon Grand Master.”

Second, he called the later leader of the Jongnam faction, who had already become a disciple of Jongnam, as the great master.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who let out a small laugh, stopped as she reached out to Jeon Byeong.

It was because the head of the household was looking at him with disapproving eyes.

‘I guess I should have just joined the ranks of the flatterers.’

Gaju opened his mouth slowly.

“Third, I heard you spend all day in the training ground. How is your Jeongjongsingeom (Divine Sword)?”

“The principles of the Gajeonmu Gong are too difficult for me to understand and I find it difficult to achieve perfection. I am ashamed.”

Jeong Yeon-shin straightened her posture politely and answered.

Jeongjongshin Sword is a unique martial art of the Jeong family.

As is the case everywhere, the name is grandiose, but in reality, it was a sword technique that was woven together by weaving together the first half of the basic style of the Jongnampa Cheonha 36 Swords with a shallow understanding.

This was usually the way that lay disciples of Taoist schools such as Jongnampa and Hwasanpa formed a family.

If we deal with it as it is written, it will be a grave sin of destroying the article.

But the reality was different, and as long as a moderate amount of donations were made to the headquarters on a regular basis, they tended to turn a blind eye.

The main temple receives donations of wealth and food, and the secular sects receive protection under the name of the main temple.

It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

‘I deliberately focused more on the pupils because of the Jeongjongshin sword.’

It seemed like there was too much to fix.

Even at a glance, my eyes are filled with strange swords with strange contexts. What can I do?

If you were to formally enter the profession, it would be difficult to endure without modifying your swordsmanship.

Sometimes, childhood trauma determines behavior patterns in childhood.

Jeongyeon Shin said so.

The laughter of his brothers only drove the boy into an irrational state of ignorance.

The head of the household clicked his tongue.

“The first and second are already looking at the Great Star. I will not ask any more questions since your efforts are admirable, but I will have to look back and see if you are truly making efforts in the training ground.”

“I will take your advice.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had clasped both hands together and even grabbed the lottery ticket, waited until the gaze of the head of the household disappeared. She didn’t care what the surrounding siblings thought.

‘Even if I show interest, I’ll only get hurt.’

Jeongyeonshin turned her head back to the dinner.

I put some fried chicken in my mouth and listened to the conversation going on around me.

“The situation with the Guanzhong Sapa is also not good. General.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Are you getting the information well? I don’t even expect to open up or open up to Haomun. Shouldn’t you be able to at least keep up with the secrets of the Daemun faction?”

“It seems like things will work out somehow here in Shinya.”

“Good, good.”

That was when.

“The masters of Jongnampa have arrived!”

It was the voice of Mr. Jang, who worked as a gatekeeper at the main gate. In an instant, the banquet hall became a scene of chaos.

I had received word that the second son of Jeongga would be brought back, but I had not expected the date.

“Hurry up, hurry up and bring him in! No! I’ll go!”

Where did the dignified appearance go? Gaju stood up in a hurry and prepared to welcome the distinguished guest.

It was the same for everyone present.

‘I’m curious.’

Jeong Yeon-shin hates busy work. If it were normal, she would quietly disappear into the training ground.

But it was the old school, the old school. If it was the Jongnam school masters, it was a different story.

When will we ever again see the famous martial artists of the great sect whose fame reaches the world?

“What kind of deceased person came?”

“It’s not the Cloud Sword Dragon, is it? Or the Elder’s Distribution?”

The expectant siblings looked like children again for once.

Jung Yeon-shin seemed to be there but not there, and she headed to the main gate with them, lost in the crowd.

The head of the household who ran out first was bowing down to the three people with a prize.

“I don’t know what to do with myself since you have personally visited such a humble family. My name is Jeong Dae-myeong, the head of the household.”

The three people facing each other responded with a lottery ticket, but the woman in the lead had an unusual appearance.

She had golden hair that looked like melted gold and long ears like leaves.

The second one had beautiful yet unique facial features, as if a fairy had descended.

“The noble family······!”

First, Jeong Nam-san muttered as if he was groaning. When he glanced back, he was staring blankly without any thought. Jeong Yeon-shin clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘So the famous people came to be just as they were taught in writing. How amazing.’

Xinya County was famous as a hub for trade and transportation, but after the terrain changed due to a fight between strange beings in the late Yuan Dynasty, it remained a small village.

It is not easy for villagers to meet a famous person.

It was said that the ‘compatriots of the Central Plains’ who came down from heaven and founded the Ming Dynasty together with Taizu could only be found in Beijing, the military, old factions, or famous families.

‘They say that when I was born, a famous doctor stopped by our house.’

I don’t know the details.

He couldn’t ask Jang Ju, and all the servants who should know the situation were reluctant to talk to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“I am so touched by your hospitality. My name is Elder Jongnam Yeo Il-shin.”

The Jongnampa clan elder smiled. It was a beautiful smile that made one feel refreshed, but no one with much insight in the room smiled.

‘Are you an elder of the old clan?’

If so, he is a founding contributor to the Ming Empire. It is said that the Ming clan does not age.

He would have greatly contributed to driving out the Yuan Dynasty together with Taesajo of the Jongnam faction.

“Poem······I have never seen a god before!”

It wasn’t just Gaju.

The family members behind them, as well as the guests who had come out to watch from here and there, put their hands together and bowed. Some even bowed.

‘Isn’t that excessive?’

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin, who was slightly bending down while playing lottery, raised her head slightly.

His eyes met with Yeo Il-shin’s, who was looking at him strangely.