Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 546

◈ Magic Mirror

* * *

Jeongyeon Shin lightly clenched her fist.

As he was about to start the Sihwamu-geuksu Kwonhwa ritual, which spread his true energy before striking, the wind gusts that had been tangled in the dry bushes suddenly burst out.

At the same time, the gaze of the Empress Dowager, which had been giving off a ticklish feeling, was also blurred. It was a presence that was clearly there even though it was not visible.

“huh?”

Shin So-bin, who was carefully moving one step at a time while standing shoulder to shoulder with Jeong Yeon-shin, opens her eyes wide.

“Jeong Gong, should I stop practicing lightness?”

“No. I just got sick of the wind.”

Jeong Yeon-shin mumbled something vague.

Shin So-bin, who had been watching him closely for a while, began to walk again with movements that contained the magic of the Ten-Li Guangyo.

“Our Shinga’s Jecheonmu Gyeong is effective in treating magic possession.”

Sabak.

From her heels to the hems of her pants, the gap between them was once again connected by a grayish, light-colored wave.

Those white smokes like threads were the secret technique of the thrust wave devised by Jeong Yeon-shin, Yong Hui-myeong, Ma Yeon-jeok, and Shin Cheon-hwa.

Shin So-bin smiled faintly, carrying her hands behind her back in a solemn manner.

“I haven’t studied it deeply, but if it’s Jeong Gong’s request, I’m sure our lord will gladly grant it.”

“It’s not a demon possession.”

“You’ve been through a lot on the front lines, Mr. Jeong. Besides, people who are really sick don’t know they’re sick.”

“I think we can stop talking about that.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly. It was because she remembered herself swearing at the shaman Jang Moon-jin.

In that sense, he made a mistake while drunk even with the first high-ranking official he met, so the shaman was the sect that contributed the most to his Chamyak method.

‘It might be possible to further increase the achievement level of each method… If you mix it with the Hwanikbo, you might be able to get some good moves.’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s thoughts ended there.

Under the sky where moonlight falls like light dust mixed with ebony.

Suddenly my vision opened up.

A long earthen wall began to overlap the distant horizon.

A truly bizarrely shaped wall. The dark yellow surface was engraved with curved, wavy patterns that resembled ancient letters.

There was a tremendous sense of excitement inside.

It is beyond the scale of a village. It is not an ordinary number.

It was a northern city that Jeongyeonshin had first set foot in, a point that had surpassed the northern Hocheon Fortress and the Seolhae Pass.

[Yeokru Castle. The ugliest things on our land are gathered here.]

A voice echoed behind him, like a scraping echo across the wilderness. It was Bukdo sitting on a war horse.

Underneath the extremely wide-brimmed hat, a calm voice flowed from a face that was distorting the atmosphere.

[Mostly, they are fugitives who came from your land. Han Chinese ronin who sell their sword skills in search of a place to stay, cowards of the famous clan who can no longer be called bright. The name Yeokru (役褸) attached to that surname means the nod of our clan who treats the people of your land like nothing.]

Jeongyeon Shin opened her mouth, slightly raising her head to the side.

“What was the reason you volunteered to be part of the group until now? Your real purpose. I think it’s time to tell you now.”

[I would say it was because of the fighting god. The rest is something you will have to figure out for yourself as you have just stepped onto this vast land…]

“If you don’t tell me more, I’ll cut you down.”

Jeongyeonsin knew. When the Empress Dowager’s gaze blew like the wind, Bukdo’s large hands moved like Jeongyeonsin’s.

The being that was the left arm of the suicide.

Even if you don’t immediately sense any falsehood or hostility, it is still very dangerous.

Of course, he can’t keep his back to me forever. The new sword master’s journey cannot be that sloppy.

Bukdo spoke slowly.

[… Even though you are in a high position, you still distinguish between arrogance and recklessness. This is a rare virtue in our land, and it will be the same in your martial arts world. This is also the reason why I have taken possession of you.]

He has a cool insight. Jeong Yeon-shin has not seen anyone like that since the time of the Grand Princess of Sim Mu-ryeon.

Even the North Island was equipped with extremely powerful military forces. If they did not tell us their purpose until the end, it would be right to shake them off. They were such a strong entity.

Shin So-bin, who was right next to him, pursed her lips as if she had something to say, but it was probably because it was something outside her knowledge.

Swish.

Jeongyeonshin placed her palm on the hilt of Yeorye’s sword. It was the same gesture that other warriors would make when sending a warning.

However, if the person who took the rite of passage is the new sword master, then the weight is bound to be different.

Even the North had to be thoroughly prepared. Even though he was famous for being one of the strongest men in the North.

Paaaaang!

A giant sword is pulled out and hurled down, creating a strong wind. The invisible sword energy naturally seeps into the wind and digs the dirt floor in a mess.

In the middle of the pattern carved like a mandala in the temple.

The northern sword, with the Unwoldo sword stretched diagonally, looked down at Jeongyeonshin from atop his warhorse.

The pair of humanoids were both of frighteningly large stature, giving them an inhuman presence.

“… … .”

Northern martial arts.

Jeongyeonshin’s eyes narrowed.

For some reason, there was no regularity in the traces of the pottery. It was impossible to guess what kind of water would come out, or at what speed and trajectory.

It seemed as if there was no set diet, just like the magic light knot of the magic light.

‘No invitation…?’

It’s hard to judge the odds of winning. It seems like you can win, but you also feel like you might lose if you’re unlucky. It was really new.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought. Are all northerners like this?

At that time, the North Korean leader briefly contemplated the matter.

[A useless standoff.]

“I told you to state your purpose clearly.”

[It is my job to lead the Six in preparation for the coming of the God of War. You have the qualities.]

“Leading? Where?”

[To a higher place.]

Jeong Yeon-shin knew what Buk-do meant by his reference to her.

Six.

Regardless of how accurate his vision was, going five steps further from here meant that he was the best in the martial arts world.

Jeongyeonshin smiled faintly.

“You are mistaken.”

[what?]

“The flag of the Imperial Family comes first. It’s important to prevent the lives of those who are living well from being ruined by thugs. That’s the way of Baek Cheong Heuk Ja by nature, and I’ve never aimed to be the best in the world in the first place.”

[Then you must have thought of the best of all time. You must have thought of your future accomplishments and qualities.]

“No, just….”

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly opened her lips. Strangely, her lips felt light. It was either because Shin So-bin was by her side or because she had overcome her lip-lock.

“If you walk, you will pass by any of the best.”

There are a lot of troublesome people. Jeong Yeon-shin concluded her speech with such a calm tone.

The North was silent for the first time.

Shin So-bin also took a small breath and didn’t let it out for a while.

It must have been because he knew which strong people were running the world. It was Jeong Yeon-shin who naturally continued the conversation.

“But, more than that… … .”

[…Tell me anything. You can talk to me freely.]

The attitude of the North has changed slightly.

The person who had been observing Jeongyeonshin from a step back felt like he was getting closer. It was a small but significant change.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked openly.

“what?”

[The attitude of using martial arts as a tool for the people’s livelihood is also similar to the fighting god’s childhood. I respect you and hope that you will coexist with him.]

The North Koreans went one step further. The winter wind was blowing around the face that was holding Donggwijin in its mouth without hesitation. It was as if it was smiling.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t bother to ask him what his story was or why he betrayed his master. There was something else he needed to know right away.

“Are there many people like you in the North?”

[Extremely few. However, when you add a strategy… The masters of the military domain who can plot against you or me are more than ten. The Ming Dynasty, which was established by crushing your entire martial arts world, and the power that competed with that Ming Dynasty in the Great Wall on equal footing are like that.]

It was natural that the northern lands were strong.

Why was the southern land in turmoil due to the martial arts schools? It was because the mighty Ming Dynasty’s national power was concentrated in the northern land.

It was a matter of national significance, beyond the martial arts world. So Jeong Yeon-shin’s doubts were on another level.

“The master of military service?”

[These are the ones who lead the lords of the tents. They are called kings, and they are a mixture of those who worship the god of war and those who are enemies.]

“Are you a tax expert?”

[Yes. Since many great warriors communicated with the wind, countless heads of the Ming great warriors were cut off through training and military operations where distance was meaningless. Of course, there were also some particularly strong ones on your side, so you suffered a lot of damage.]

The Northern Kings under Tusin.

The Ming Dynasty’s powerful men who stopped such peerless masters.

‘If they are particularly strong… .’

Jeong Yeon-sin immediately thought of two groups: the three great masters of the imperial court and the three great generals. The former was originally famous, and the latter had heard of the Qianling Emperor when he wore the purple robe.

If the Lord of the West had not stopped him, Jeong Yeon-sin would have been appointed as the first lieutenant of the Three Generals.

Those six.

They are the strong men who defended the long Great Wall until the end during the lifetime of Emperor Qianling. It is said that the Zhou masters who followed them also willingly died under the north wind.

―The three great generals are loyal. No matter what happens to the crown prince, they each block the gates of the castle. On the other hand, the three great masters of the imperial family, although they have obtained the title of Sungrye Samjunggung, are like martial artists, and are endlessly wandering the northern lands where the late emperor passed away. It is truly a pitiful thing.

It was the story of Grand Admiral Jeon Woo-rip. He also said that if he ever met him, he would like to be brought to him even if it meant going out of his way to do so.

His demands were uncompromising.

-Jeongga Seomye, do as you wish.

This was because the voice of the Empress Dowager had already been heard in the wind this morning. It was the royal edict from the highest elder in the imperial family, permitting Jeong Yeon-sin to go on a northern expedition.

Jeongyeonshin cleared her mind.

“You northern kings seem to communicate by controlling the wind like the Ming clan, but if I touch them recklessly, I might be surrounded by a number of peerless masters.”

[Of course. You should study the geography carefully. How many military camps are there around, and how many kings are wandering around nearby. Know that there are two lords and one northern king in that reverse castle right now. One of the lords is probably the Mama Gwangmyeoldo you pushed away.]

“I understand.”

Now, Jeongyeonshin was completely engaging in the conversation as the new sword master. Her words and actions were calmly asking when she had planned to issue an order to ban guests to Bukdo.

Just as Yong Huimyeong swept across the thirteen heavenly nets in the south, the time will come when he too will have to run across the northern lands.

Maybe in the near future.

‘No matter how harsh this land is.’

This may be the end of a long journey to the world of martial arts.

A point at which the Sima Wei faction lost much of its power.

If the threat from the North disappears, the burden of stabilizing the people’s livelihood that has been borne by the imperial family will be greatly reduced.

Because the Ming imperial family’s national power will spread throughout the world.

Of course, Jeong Yeon-shin could not conquer the North alone. No one else had been able to do it, and for now, he was in a position where he had to roam the land in a mysterious manner. So that the northern kings would not gather around him.

Now, we are right in front of Yeokru Castle, the first city heading north.

Jeongyeonshin suddenly felt tired.

If I had thought about it wrong, I felt like I would have suffocated. As someone who would one day control a huge empire in some way.

At the same time, Bukdo said.

[You will definitely need my help. Allow me to accompany you. I will not harm you or your companions until the Battle God arrives.]

“no.”

Jeongyeon Shin slowly shook her head.

He is not alone.

When coming down from Mt. Mudeungsan, I relayed the call to arms of the Shingumdan Shingumdae to Ma Gwang-ik.

It was a message calling out many of the newly organized Shingeomdae warriors directly under Jeong Yeon-shin.

The strongest force among the Seventeen.

They will come up the fastest.

There was no sect in the world that could stop the Shingeomdanju led Shingeomdan. At least not individually.

‘but….’

Would it be the same in a completely different world? A different stage.

Swish.

That’s why Jeong Yeon-shin lightly touched Shin So-bin’s shoulder at that moment.

Worry about the horse. Anxiety that my comrades might die in vain on a mission I created as a member of the Shingeomdan.

“My lord…?”

Shin So-bin looks up at him. The old title meant that she was a little embarrassed.

“Now that the imperial guards in Jangseong have gone down to Beijing, the common people will be safer.”

Sarak-

His hand moved, brushing the ends of Shin So-bin’s hair. It was straight to the bundle she was carrying on one shoulder.

“The royal family has failed in this land. It is time to change.”

He took out the four stationery items, including paper and ink. Then, he floated them all in the air and started to slowly paint.

The beginning was as follows:

[Daeju Personal Exhibition. To our distinguished seniors.]