Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 399

◈ Carpet (8)

The mountain path was quiet.

Just dry fallen leaves crunched and rolled on the even drier dirt.

Suddenly, the gentle breeze that brushed Jeongyeonshin’s skin contained the hot and dry summer of a bad year. Only the bright sunlight was noisy.

“… … .”

Jeongyeon Shin looked over the shoulder of the young man who greeted her.

The more you look at one place, the more blurry your vision becomes. In the center of it all, an old tree with its branches swaying feebly, and the sun rising high in the sky without a single cloud, piercing your eyes.

Suddenly, all the tangled thoughts in my mind calmed down. Will Danju be okay? If the Volcanic Oath is carried out, who should Blue and White send out? … … .

There was an unnatural sense of silence.

The formation, spread out so wide that it was impossible to guess its size, hid the presence of those beyond.

It is not as elaborate as the study of the Dark Night or the Blood Flame Sect. It is just enough to fool the senses of ronin wandering around looking for lost travelers or Hasuo.

But it will not be enough to avoid the eyes of the world.

This is because this place is a remote area close to a deep mountain valley.

It was a place where people would hardly set foot on a magical field that was high in scope alone. It would be difficult to find even the secrets of any sect.

“… Taemosanseong Fortress.”

The young man immediately responded to Jeong Yeon-shin’s muttering.

“Was it you? You don’t look like an ordinary person… Ah, that’s a good thing. I’m eating Yeo-ryeong’s food. I’m not your former disciple, but… … .”

Unlike his words and actions that seem friendly at first glance, his expression looks daunting. This is why Taemosanseong is different from other 13th Heavenly Mountains.

It was a sect with sharply divided opinions even among Sima Wei-do.

The main branch of the Sulbeopmu sect that broke off from the Mosan sect always carries strange rumors.

For example, they make meat by offering the blood of common people to the government office, or they use magic to steal all the energy of famous mountains and use it for strange things.

Damn it.

The young man with the bushy hair took a half step back.

“Anyway, there was no need to come out. As you know, this is the 8th village. It’s quite far from the 17th village where the chaos is, but there’s a strange rumor going around that the old school Taoist priests have appeared in the nearby village… You should be careful, too, Hyeongjang. Whether it’s the Plum Blossom Sword or the Taegeuk Sword, there’s no case of discussing the Tao in front of us, right?”

The tongue is long. It is the unmanned version of the large wave.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently stared at the young man’s face. If he had really arrived properly, he was a vicious beast who deserved to die. It meant that he was helping to kill the new sword master.

He opened his mouth slowly.

“How spacious is it inside?”

“Hmm? It’s a true food made by the sorcerers from that side… …? From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like they have the status of a practicing sorcerer.”

The young man expressed his doubts.

There was a moment of silence. Dark, gleaming eyes glanced back and forth between Sojeonju and Jeongyeonshin.

He soon looked at the faded Sojeonju and made a knowing expression.

It seemed that he didn’t realize that the sword hilt on Jeongyeonshin’s waist was moving slightly on its own for a moment.

“Looking at your clothes, you must be a noble person. The skin on your bow, the calluses… You came from the dark battle. Is Taemosanseong your guide?”

“… It’s a pointless question. How long do you plan on letting it stand?”

The little girl urged him politely.

He was a man who greatly treasured the common people of his clan.

From the moment the remaining Mingryu Daeju in Guizhou secured new soldiers from the disciples of the Dark Field War, they began to cooperate with Jeong Yeon-sin.

“Oh, excuse me. This way.”

The young man with the shaggy hair who had been muttering turned around. To begin with, none of the faded masters of the famous clan were friendly to Iphwangseong.

As he symbolized the bloodline of traitors who had been sabotaging the foundation of the nation from the beginning, he deserved to be trusted more than the ronin within the Jinbeop.

“I’m sure you can follow along pretty well. Just look at the shape of your feet.”

Sabak.

The sound of the young man’s footsteps suddenly became smaller. He was using the Gyeongsin method toward the Life Gate of the Jinbeop.

He moved forward, emitting a faint aerodynamic wave through the Yongcheon point on the sole of his foot, but no footprints were left on the dirt floor.

It was an unfamiliar place. I would say that it is important to first understand the geography and the situation.

Jeongyeonshin followed him and opened her lips.

“I asked how spacious it was inside.”

“Why? If possible, I recommend that you stay here, in the Palchon area. If you go around stirring up other villages, you won’t get in a good mood.”

“… … .”

“All the ronin here came here at the invitation of the Yeo-ryeong. I hired them carefully and carefully, so they are all skilled in swordsmanship. And they are blinded by the lack of salt and meat. They won’t be afraid unless they are given a master’s share of the execution grounds… … .”

“I won’t say it three times.”

“… It’s incredibly wide. It’s a vast network created along the path of ‘that guy’ or in anticipation of that path, so it’s not an ordinary size. I think it will still be used as a residence after this is over. It’s more affluent than an average city.”

“Him?”

“I’m talking about the owner of the Ipsin Sword. A monster with the last name Yong.”

The young man who had given a vague answer added as if to make people listen. If you behave this rudely in the village, you will be punished.

“… … .”

Jeongyeonshin remained silent.

This was also a purple gangho. They had created a dozen or so forward bases in order to kill one of the new sword masters. It was like a giant wheel formation.

Meanwhile, So Jeon-ju, who was following Jeong Yeon-shin, glanced at him.

We arrived at our destination exactly. It proved that we had not been making a fuss about something so sinister.

―Will you convey this message to your great lord? I sold Jeonju to ensure the safety of the people. I deserve your kindness… … .

Jeongyeonshin didn’t answer. It was because of Aksurim’s voice that dug into her ears along with the sound of Sojeonju’s transmission.

―Have you heard the babbling about cousins? It seems like they’ve set traps in advance for Yongga wherever he goes. They’ve used every means at their disposal, including formations, numbers, poison, and unrivaled masters to corner Danju. It’d probably be easier if they dispersed.

-Are you saying we should form a group?

Jeong Yeon-shin responded with a voice.

―Yeah! Since there are twelve, how about four, four, three, one? Cheonryong, Soso, and I will take charge of the village on your left. I will tell them to figure out the rest.

-One person…?

-You’re talking about that. It was the same when Yongga led the Shingeomdae. He was the only one leading the Shingeomdae.

―… If you all scatter, how are you going to enter the formation? My help is… … .

-what?

Suddenly, the girl’s laughter tickled my ears. It was accompanied by a voice that seemed proud.

– Well, even if it’s not you, it would be unfamiliar to even the Dragon Lord. I’ve never seen more than ten black dragons accompany me.

-yes?

―That much can be pierced with just a foot. It’s a blow to Soso or Cheonryong. In addition, Soso has the sapling of Cheonhamok. It’s the best among the Dharma treasures used in formations. Whether it’s as a wall or a door.

Aksurim said. His voice was filled with laughter.

Jeongyeonshin didn’t listen to her words.

I thought back to the ancient and elegant method of the new blood demon Jinmyeongjo and agreed. Anything was possible.

-You’ve worked hard so far. Now, this is your last mission before going up to Beijing.

Whispers scattered in the refreshing early summer breeze. Finally, we enter the city of the heavenly net that Yeo Ryeong-ju had envisioned while deceiving the world.

Jeong Yeon-shin left behind the Shingeombu Daeju and left her footprints on the dirt floor. The sound of footsteps echoed as a deserted path dimly faded away.

* * *

The moment I stepped into the camp spread out in the remote mountainous area, a loud noise struck my ears.

The drunken shouts, the sound of knives being sharpened, the loud snoring, and the voices of hawkers trying to solicit customers.

What unfolded before my eyes was a splendid village.

A tavern roughly built of logs, a tavern that emits smoke without the smell of food, and unmanned people scattered all over the place, on the ground and on the roof.

Most of them were carrying weapons such as swords and sickles.

“… … .”

It must have been because something profitable was happening. It was right even if it meant food. It was the law of the jungle that a cart full of people moved with great force.

If someone offered a feast of delicacies, it was highly likely that a contract or master-servant relationship would be formed on the spot.

On one side, a group of ronin sat around a campfire, discussing the state of affairs in the martial arts world. Jeong Yeon-shin and his party seemed to have no interest at all.

“Are you sure there is no support from the Emperor?”

“They say there’s chaos in the Sacheon region. It’ll take a while to get here. You’ll have to change horses several times.”

“What do you know about the masters?”

“Aren’t they people too?”

That was when.

bang!

A man came down in front of me, showing off his rough nerves.

He was a man wearing dark blue silk clothes and carrying a sword decorated with ornate embroidery. Despite his attire, his temperament was so fierce that he looked like a ronin.

“Why did you come back now? I thought something had happened!”

“There’s a fuss over nothing. As you can see, there are some guests.”

A young man with a tousled look on his face showed off his Jeongyeonshin and Sojeonju.

The moment he caught sight of Jeongyeonshin, the startled Ronin looked at Sojeonju and nodded his head. It was accompanied by a small groan. It was a dark night battle.

“Thank goodness I didn’t ask you to do something stupid. There’s chaos in the 6th cousin’s area right now.”

“What? A cousin? It’s definitely him… …!”

“It’s not the human dragon of Ip Hwang Seong. It’s the old school side. A volcano and a shaman. In the end, they sniffed it out and crawled in.”

The ronin spoke as if he was chewing on something. The young man with the bushy hair put his hand through his hair and scratched the back of his head.

“Damn… … It’s just a matter of time before it becomes known throughout the martial arts world. Surely it’s not the Jangmun people who came?”

“There’s no way the Seonghwa Swordsman and the shaman’s long-sleeved representative would act as secret agents. The ones who caused trouble in Yukchon and came here were the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. As rumored, they were looking down on us like crazy.”

“It’s not good news… Did you bump into something?”

“It’s a standoff. I’m nervous.”

“How many people?”

“Five. One of them is very young.”

“The Lord will do something about it. Mayflies like us just have to do our jobs. Let’s buy some time.”

Jeongyeonshin’s eyebrows twitched at the young man’s words.

Damn it.

He walked slowly, silently passing between the ronin and the young man. The young man with the messy hair responded immediately.

“Huh? Don’t approach me so rashly. I have a plan. If I’m lucky, I can somehow get five plum blossom inspectors… … .”

“How many towns like this are there?”

“I don’t know. As you can see, it’s all hidden like this. All I know is up to my seventeenth cousin.”

That was when.

The ronin who had been looking at Jeongyeonshin with displeasure suddenly intervened.

“Someone higher up said it was a trap to catch ‘that guy’, but we’re fine with it. In this day and age, there’s more to eat in a remote valley like this than in a mediocre city.”

“trap?”

“Your lips are so dry that they won’t come off easily. Your embrace seems quite solid, but if you had some alcohol… … .”

The sound of mouth-watering slurping echoed through the air. A powerful momentum. The rough aerodynamic waves characteristic of predators caressed the hem of Jeongyeonshin’s clothes. Because of her disguise, she was wearing a black robe instead of a magic robe.

He speaks of the threat of the old school beforehand and then looks for alcohol. Most ronin are like this. They roam the land of famine, pillaging every day to buy a day of pleasure.

In Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes, he was incomparable to Ma Gwang-ik’s poppy. Unlike Tae-yeon-ryong, he was Sima Oedo, who had his own fate to protect.

“I wonder what the Lady of the Forest is thinking.”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered to herself. She probably wouldn’t be able to deal with the new sword master with a rabble. It seemed like their power was concentrated in other villages.

Regardless of his thoughts, the reaction of those around him was quick.

“what?”

The Ronin’s eyes grew wide. The gazes of the crowd, who had been paying no attention to the new faces, gathered like blades.

The silence was as if an invisible meteor had fallen. The only thing that could be heard was the eerie sound of sharpening stones everywhere.

“hey.”

The ronin took a step closer.

“Where is the Four Gates? It is not easy for someone who has decided to join this Heaven and Earth to mention the Thirteen Heavenly Lords… … .”

Dozens of people slowly rise from all over the place.

Some fairly thick air waves began to rise and mix with the wind.

Unlike the young man who served as a guide, from the first time they met, they were very perceptive, like ronin who survived in the martial world without the protection of a great sect.

Jeongyeonshin just stood there blankly.

His eyelids were slightly lowered. A faint smile was forming on his lips.

“Your identity is suspicious. Your demeanor is also unfamiliar. I don’t think you’re a peerless master…!”

The blue-robed ronin, who had been sizing up his opponent, suddenly drew his sword and struck.

The sword made a popping sound, like a burst of air.

The sword strike stretched out while repeatedly breaking through the air. It was a very realistic change. It was infinitely close to the realm of ascension.

at that time.

The trajectory that was aiming for Jeongyeonshin’s neck suddenly shook violently. It was the fault of a third party who suddenly intervened. A fist struck the ronin’s side.

Phew!

The purple light flashed like a flying snowflake. A fist strike that pushed the flesh of the side into the abdominal cavity. With a crunching sound, the side of the fist even crushed the ribs.

Next to the ronin who collapsed helplessly.

“Didn’t you know that the main faction is here? You can’t afford to lose your strength here.”

A young Taoist boy grumbled, shaking his hands once. His white robe with plum blossom embroidery fluttered.

He suddenly appeared and swung the book around. It seemed like he threw it away without much sincerity, but the beginning of the book itself was very fancy and beautiful.

“What the…!”

“Plum blossom ticket on the dark incense burner!”

“Volcano! Volcano waves!”

In an instant, the sound of guns being pulled out filled the surroundings.

While the young man who had been acting as Jeong Yeon-shin’s guide frowned and took a step back, Jeom So-i approached from a hastily built guest house on one side, pulling out two swords.

The boy Taoist opened his mouth wide.

An exhalation that was almost like a yawn escaped immediately. It was an internal breathing that suited his languid temperament. It was the leisure of a world-class talent.

“Volcanic Sleeping Dragon… the youngest plum blossom swordsman.”

“It looks like the front is completely destroyed. I told you not to take it easy…!”

“This is a place that ‘that guy’ has already passed by. All he did was keep an eye out for people passing by, and if a man of letters asked for water or something, he would poison it and give it to them. There’s no reason to risk your life for something to do.”

“I will warn my Yoohyeon Dojo! You have entered a huge secret battle! It is a plan conceived by the Dark Night War, Muryonghoe, and Yeo-ryeong, with the support of their subordinate sects and Taemosanseong! If you want to protect yourself, you had better listen to me!”

It was when the ronin were gossiping and the young man with the tousled hair was shouting.

Volcanic Dragon Yu-Hyeon leisurely looked around and then looked straight ahead. Jeong Yeon-Shin, who was standing still, met his eyes.

“Yes, I am the Volcano Sleeping Dragon. What are you guys doing here? No one is answering me at all… … .”

Yu-Hyeon’s words stopped.

A purple light shone from the eyes of the young Taoist. It was the eye technique of the Jahashin Gong. The Hwasan Martial Arts is the study of the immortals, who are on par with shamans.

He became accustomed to the facial features of his close friend, whom he had repeatedly considered his rival, and the calm temperament of the sharp-tongued Neungbeop Gwangryungi.

Yu-Hyeon had a blank expression.

“Who are you…?”