Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 498

◈ Murim

* * *

Photophobic Yangyang.

In the pitch-black night sky, a crescent moon like someone’s fingernail print shed a faint light.

The main hall of the Ip Hwang Seong Fortress, made of pure white marble, was absorbing even the faint moonlight like a parched land. That is why it was pale even on deep winter nights.

The same was true for the Magwangik Pavilion.

Sabak.

A swordsman wearing a dark hood and blindfold entered the office of the Grand Master. The hem of his black robe, which reached down to his feet, swept through the crack of the door and flapped loosely.

“… No need.”

Cheongmyeong, who became the Magwangikju at midnight yesterday, muttered briefly.

But that was it.

―You will be taking the position of Magwangikju while I am away, so please leave the things written here with the Grand General. Congratulations in advance.

A story told by Jeong Yeon-shin before they parted ways in Hangzhou.

The youngest of Magwangiljo, like his older brother, even used the phrase “Jeguposin” (除舊布新), which meant throwing away the old and putting in the new.

It is said that the office of Ma Kwang-ik will be completely emptied to make way for the next president.

At this moment, the reason why Cheongmyeong was taking care of Jeon Dae Ma Gwang-ik Ju’s personal belongings separately.

Although it was a difficult task to delegate to servants, it was not difficult.

That’s why Jeongyeonshin’s luggage was light.

Swish.

The first thing that came out of the desk drawer was a circular metal piece with a cloud engraved on it.

Jongnampa’s Reward Badge. The deceased Jongnam Sword Master and Jongnampa’s eldest son gave it to a young collaborator.

The following was a cup given when ascending to the rank of blue. A jade cup that was carried separately by the warriors of the Ip Hwang Seong clan, who were close friends with ambush, poison, and death. It was said that it was used when the Namgung Se family first shared a drink with the Blue Kirin.

That’s not all. There were a few more.

The Baekhakseon of Seonryong, who was briefly a guest warrior of Ma Gwang-ik, was given to him by Jegal Cheong-a, who said he would become the head of the household.

A black robe with one sleeve missing and an overall tattered appearance.

The secret weapon of the deceased Kwon Mu-gong, Eon Hwa-ryeon.

And a chest containing the head of a non-partisan high-ranking official.

In particular, the last item was taken care of by Cheongmyeong and placed on the desk in the office, and it did not rot as rumored by the public about the old faction.

The remains of the immortal who had attained enlightenment remained in that place without any scent. One day, he waited for the young man in the last story he left behind to climb Mt. Wudang with him.

-I have something to do. I’ll be back early.

These were the words left by Jeong Yeon-shin.

Cheongmyeong also stopped packing a few items into his bundle. The luggage was quite heavy, and it would be the same for Jeongyeonshin who was returning to her hometown.

Hwaruk.

In that moment, flames rose from Cheongmyeong’s palm. It was Samadhi Jinhwa. However, he soon shook his head and put out the flames.

Even if you burn the bundle, the burden that has already entered a person’s heart will not be burned.

I left the office that way.

After passing a dozen or so steles erected at the Magwangik training ground, Cheongmyeong in black robe headed straight to the general headquarters.

When he was blue, the three comrades who had gone first from Sacheon Myeonggongdo and returned as corpses after going on a solo mission whistled. The night wind of the main city was cold and transparent.

On the other hand, the government office was a sleepless city.

Cheongmyeong nodded vaguely to the guards who were greeting him by raising both hands, then opened the gate himself and went in.

Ssak, whiieik―

The sound of footsteps and the crackling of wings of non-humans. Spirits riding on the hands of the celestials, each with a chimney hanging from their feet or in their mouths, leap over the rooftops.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the Grand Master and the various writers spread out like the lonely light of lanterns filling the windows.

“Je Kang-Cheon (製姜祆), the Taebaekbu King of Gunma Green Forest, destroyed the Gongsun family and absorbed the nearby martial arts chieftains… He is in fact a new warlord. It is believed that this is an issue that requires the imperial army’s response.”

“That is indeed true. You must have read the text quite well in the corner of the room. Now, think of a proper plan. Or, will you come up north with me and see how evilly distorted the faces of the Yo-jok masters are?”

“The ninth link heading to the Jang River Naval Forces… Ten days have passed. Twenty-three members of the Gwanggeomdae have been confirmed to be alive in the upper reaches of the Han River, and the life or death of the Gwanggeomdae leader is unknown. Given the circumstances, we must consider the possibility that he has fallen in love with the Goegeomwang (怪劍王) of the Yongryu Ssangwang (龍流雙王) under the command of Mansangsurochaeju.”

“I’m telling you now, are you sure that that damned light sword guy went to the Yangtze River? Why did the man who was supposed to help the dark sword and the short sword go there and fight? Why are the black seeds of the Wonpyeongil Sword Master all unanimously disobeying the words of the scholars?”

“In recent years, Sima Wei-do has been more active in expanding his territory by using the common people as bait… … .”

“I made a slip of the tongue because the all-nighter was long. The times don’t listen to what I say.”

Visit the General Office.

Only after concluding his speech like that did the Grand General look at Cheongmyeong.

The scene was set against the backdrop of dozens of rows of long tables filled with scribes and scholars, with the bushy beard of the head of the general office moving up and down in a short manner.

“What about that bundle?”

“It’s the burden of the public. I told you before.”

Cheongmyeong spoke as if he was carrying a melody on his lips. It was the speech of the Ming people, who were famous for their words and actions being like the lyrics of a song.

Grand Master Im Jin-myeong nodded his head vaguely.

“Leave it. I’ll move it to Bonseong Bigo. It’s about time you shared the luggage compartment of Yong Danju.”

The smooth and flowing strokes of the brushes of some writers have stopped.

But even at that moment, the voices that were like piercing into the ears of the Grand General, who was a master of the upper-level martial arts, continued to ring out.

“The legendary warrior of the Muryonghoeju, Hyukryeonpungwol, has arrived again! This is the seventh time… This is another life-or-death request from the Dragon Lord! If you refuse this time, I will alone violate my true nature…!”

“How can you call someone who isn’t there? Don’t reply. Danju and Amgeom are in a situation where they can’t get out.”

“This is new intelligence from Ma Gwang-ik, Tae-yeon-ryong! The Bukhae Ice Palace has made contact with the masters of the Demon Tribe… The leader of the Demon Tribe who fought the Emperor has yet to be identified. In addition, there is a mention of a wedding. Tae-yeon-ryong himself has entered the Ice Palace Lord’s fifteenth concubine… … .”

“What the hell is that dog eating grass? Is he chewing poppies there too? First… Keep all of that information as top secret.”

Im Jin-myeong then turned to another writer and asked.

“What are the nine tops that are categorized separately?”

“No reply yet.”

“I guess the supply has been cut off. Beijing is in that situation too.”

Im Jin-myeong’s tone was consistently calm. It wasn’t that he was relaxed, but rather that he simply tolerated all situations without blaming anything.

Cheongmyeong opened his mouth.

“Is the current Ice Palace Princess a woman?”

“That’s right. But no human being has ever had a wedding while on a solo mission. It’s questionable whether the intelligence report is credible.”

“I’m sure Your Majesty will be interested.”

Cheongmyeong stroked the Ip-Hwang-Geom sword on his waist and asked briefly.

“What is my mission?”

Im Jin-myeong’s answer to his question came immediately.

“Rescue the Gwanggeomdae quickly. They must return safely.”

“What about the defense of nature?”

“… Don’t worry. I can still hold out.”

The light and dark contrasted sharply over the window frame. The voices from the main office faded away on the boundary between the light-filled interior and the night air.

* * *

It was a land that had suffered severe drought.

The wide ground was split open in all directions, and long plumes of white smoke rose from the deeply sunken ground here and there.

The bloody Taesa’s chair was placed there, adding to the eerieness. It was a very old-fashioned chair, and a woman in red robes with jet-black hair was sitting there, closing her one eye.

A mad ceremony. At this moment, her pale face was devoid of blood, more so than the smoke that brushed her skin.

She had a beautiful appearance.

“Chilsado.”

Likewise, a creepily beautiful white-haired man looked down at her, wearing a red robe brighter than the Seven Sado’s long robe and carrying a bundle on his back.

“I didn’t know I would be caught this easily. I went around beating up branches of our school so many times, but in the end, the only thing I trusted was my own martial arts.”

He spoke in a smooth voice. Soon, Chil-sado’s red eyes narrowed.

“You’re really good at imitating the previous generation. Are you not a Ilsa-do anymore, but the Blood Flame Cult Leader?”

She asked in a whisper.

A dizzying smile appeared on the red lips of the contemporary Blood Flame Cult leader.

“The progress of the previous generation that you rejected was passed on to me. That is the bloodline of the Blood Flame Cult nobles. Just as you can never control your own madness, the boundless spirituality of the previous cult leader did not completely disappear from the world, but wandered in search of a master and was passed on to me. No matter what worldly events it goes through, the Shaolin Green Jade Buddha Jang eventually returns to Songshan, just like the legend goes… Yes, I heard that your great master’s divine sword did something similar in Hangzhou recently. It returned to its master on its own, right?”

He continued the story in an easygoing manner.

“He is a villain who destroyed our group, so he should be beheaded… If I go to Yangyang and tell him about you, how will he react? If he has been close to you for a while, his expression will harden, but if not, he will be happy that the strong leech has been eliminated. Which side do you think you will be on?”

The Seven Apostles who purse their lips.

She couldn’t move even though she wasn’t restrained. It was because she had been stabbed by a demon.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader, who had been staring down at her for a while, raised his lips into a grin.

“But it’s strange. You were caught so weakly. I haven’t fully recovered my previous spirituality yet.”

“… … .”

“How did your physical condition get to that point? Who did you deal with before meeting me?”

Chilsado did not answer this time either.

The energy resembling the moon was contained in the Gihae point below her navel.

Originally, he was born with a body that possessed cold energy, but the energy that had penetrated him along with the emergence of the best in the world, Iphwangseong, was literally the pinnacle of yin energy.

Of course, it was melting into the blood circulation energy like an elixir that was difficult to handle, causing strange changes.

I spent my time in a semi-conscious state.

It took time and luck wasn’t on our side.

Sarak.

The Blood Flame Cult leader appears in front of you.

The hem of his clothes subtly revealed the outline of his transcendentally polished upper body muscles. His smile had a bewitching charm.

“What should we do with this rebel? You know this too. I cannot kill him rashly because I feel sorry for his bloodline.”

“Yeah, don’t kill him. The Grand Master would want that too. You could use him, right?”

The Seven Sages stared at him intently and pursed their lips. However, her tone lacked confidence, and the Blood Flame Cult Leader’s bloodshot eyes captured that mood like a ghost.

He straightened his back and laughed loudly.

“How pitiful! You, who has lived as a nobleman, have never experienced anything in your entire life. So, who would have become attached to you?”

Kookookookookung!

The ground shakes in response.

In many places, the ground rose up, spewing out dust.

The reason was that the spirituality that amplified the power of the True Energy was overflowing from the head of the Blood Flame Cult Leader, and along with the upper-level function, the irregular energy waves unique to the Blood Gong True Energy were roughly splitting the ground apart.

“I will take you with me on my way to Yangyang! I am more curious about your reaction than Yeonhwanata! Are you a burden to him, or a trivial object like the offering of the main temple? I will personally check it out. It will be a truly enjoyable game.”

“There is no such thing as a freeloader. I might as well plow the field at that time.”

Chilsado slightly twisted his lips. While looking closely at the true energy structure of the Blood Flame Cult Leader who was filling up the blood, it wouldn’t take long for him to release the blood hole on his own.

“Ilsadoya, how are your men?”

“Don’t be foolish. Those children cannot overcome their bloodline instincts. The moment they see you, they will be confused. Should they continue to serve this body or follow you?”

“So you left it behind? Were you confident?”

“How could I call myself a cult leader if I can’t handle you? This fight was originally meant to be a test for me, but it ended so vainly.”

Suddenly, the Blood Flame Cult leader’s madness stopped as if it were a lie.

“The imperial family will be destroyed.”

He said.

“This is a grand plan that has been prepared for a very long time. Of course, it will be accomplished even if I am not present, but if we want to expand the religious influence again, we must lend a hand in such a historic place…”

Damn it.

For a moment, the ground beneath his feet froze transparently.

“hmm?”

The Blood Flame Cult Leader turns his head.

Sabak.

Those walking from the edge of the desolate plain. Just three figures, swaying with the smoke rising from the ground.

The hems of her clothes, each with a slightly different shape, were fluttering blackly.

“Is it the Emperor’s…?”

The blood flame cult leader’s red lips leaked out doubtful words, and at that moment, he easily twisted his foot and broke the ice.

In that brief moment, a large man leaped forward and landed with a loud noise, striking the Blood Flame Cult Leader with his large fist.

Kwaaaaaaaah!

It hit the stomach hard. It was a powerful blow accompanied by a storm.

A faint, sharp wind poured out from the ripples that burst out in all directions. It was clearly a unique martial art of the Ming tribe, but the weight and elasticity flowing through the series of martial arts were extraordinary.

At the same time, the ice that had bound the Blood Flame Cult Leader’s feet burst into a solidifying sound. It was preventing him from being completely thrown away. It was a super-high-level freezing martial art.

‘Hancheonmuryubinggong (寒天無流氷功)… !’

The new secret of the new sword sect’s leader, Seonmokryeongju.

Three people appear in the sight of the Blood Flame Cult leader who is leaning back. Before he knew it, they had come close, like a picture divided into several sections.

While the Lord of the Sunmok Sect, Cheon So-so, looked at him calmly through the calm wall, the Lord of the Heavenly Forest, Ha Hou Wei-jin, once again loaded his power like a cannon at his waist in front of the Blood Flame Sect Leader.

When the expression of the Blood Flame Cult Leader becomes distorted.

Swish!

It was a side.

The sword strike that rose straight up split his shoulder. Blood and translucent sword air came out mixed together.

At that moment, it was the sword of Yullyeongdaeju Unsoyu, whose long black hair was fluttering like the hem of a fairy’s dress.

within.

The blood-red lips of the Blood Flame Cult Leader formed a curved line.

“Laughable.”

Kuung!!

The air is distorted as it follows the hand stretched out sideways toward Yunsoyu.

A first strike filled with the will to kill. A faint blood color flickered in the tension that completely erased the space between the two in an instant.

In an instant, the Blood Flame Cult Leader’s new form was thrown backwards. Xiahou Weijin, who had directly hit the regime, and Cheon Soso, who had extinguished Balchi’s freezing power, followed him like the wind.

The great lords of the Shingeomdan, who freely use their swords. The hems of their black clothes fluttered violently, while Yunsoyu’s left arm, which naturally held the sword in the opposite hand, became blurred.

Whaaaaaaaah! Boom!

The sword flew out with a shockwave and slammed the Blood Flame Cult Leader’s body diagonally into the ground, and the yellow dust that exploded in the recoil obscured the bodies of the four people.

In the midst of all this, Cheon So So’s ice attack, which was activated while making a noise, slowed down the regenerative abilities unique to the blood demons.

“What, how… … ?”

The Seven Sado’s rarely make round eyes.

The smoke rising from the ground became thicker as time passed.

Bam! Bam!!

Blood spurted out continuously and pieces of translucent light scattered in all directions.

As the Blood Flame Cult Leader’s laughter spread smoothly, the sound of flesh and bone being torn apart rang out.

The trajectory of the sword strike and the recommended method entangled in hundreds of lines would rub against the air and heat up the surroundings, but at other times, a cold chill would ripple across the ground along with the sound of something freezing and breaking. Thousands of haps were mixed together like that.

“The little things are making an effort!”

“I know, but don’t breathe. You’ll get goosebumps.”

In the midst of the urgency, the only beings who could change the exhalation of internal energy into speech were the Blood Flame Cult Leader and Cheon So-so.

The leader of the religious order is a peerless warrior, and the leader of the Sunmok Order is a sapling of the world’s best tree in his arms.

The sun was slowly setting, and before I knew it, the sunlight was flickering like firewood on the horizon covered in sunset. The firewood was time.

Saaaaa―

The dust that had been rising continuously due to the collision of powerful waves slowly subsides.

The four men were badly wounded.

The red and black hems were torn to pieces along with some flesh.

The ground had long since turned dark red from soaking up blood, and the great lords, suffering from all sorts of cuts and piercing wounds, were quietly observing the Blood Flame Cult Leader.

A state where the sense of touch is dulled. This is a time when we must rely more on our eyes.

Pass.

Ice chips fell at the feet of the Blood Flame Cult Leader.

It wasn’t his usual dignified, straight-backed demeanor. Instead of the demeanor of a Beijing aristocrat, his whole body was filled with the temperament of a bat baring its teeth.

“okay…….”

He slumped his shoulders and raised the corners of his mouth.

“The tone of the Ip Hwang Seong has changed. Starting with Yong Hee-myeong, no… that guy Yong-ga’s absence is already famous. So then… … .”

Kwak.

Suddenly, a long, slender hand grabbed the top of his head from behind. His skin was pale. It felt like it was emerging from the evening twilight.

“… … !”

Before the Blood Flame Cult Leader could even turn his head.

Choaaaahh …

A blade of crimson light slices through the neck, separating the head from the torso.

The sword of internal energy, created with gloomy energy, did not lose its shine even after completely cutting through the skin that had once allowed the sword to strike.

Even at that moment, red blood dripped down the body of the Blood Flame Cult Leader without losing his balance.

There was silence for a moment.

Xiahou Weijin frowned, and Yun Soyou silently swung his sword once.

Damn it.

The owner of the formless sword soon appeared. He had pale skin and a thin face. Black robes clung to his entire body like bat wings.

“The Lord of the New Sword Unit.”

Cheon So-so, who had lowered both arms, suddenly spoke.

The Blood Flame Lord Jin Myeong-jo only raised his head as if he did not hear her voice.

The bloodshot eyes did not lose their shine.

He was still alive. His face was expressionless as if he had never been angry. He was a peerless master of the Blood Flame Sect who had mastered blood and life and death.

“… Yes, this is the kind of place Gangho is.”

slowly.

The Blood Flame Cult Leader opened his mouth.

“You have accomplished quite a great feat. However, what happened today was nothing more than a stroke of luck. The world of martial arts, martial arts, and the world of Sado will soon all come together to attack you… … .”

Phew!

His head snapped shut before he could finish his words. The Blood Lord’s hand grabbed the tangled bones and flesh.

“When wasn’t it?”

Jin Myeong-jo muttered softly.