Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 177: The Sword of Autumn (5)

Among the martial artists of Ipwangseong, there was one left in the main headquarters of the Martial World Alliance.

Baek Girin, Namgung Hwa-shin.

He was the center of attention. The Blue and White Twin Kirins had once been the strongest brothers in the martial world, both in character and martial arts.

Namgung Hwa-shin was widely recognized as a capable martial artist, known as the next potential leader of the Soongcheong family.

While some harbored jealousy, the majority extended goodwill toward him.

Once Jeong Yeon-shin left the scene, the number of people seeking out Namgung Hwa-shin increased dramatically.

It was mostly due to the infamous reputation of Ma Gwang-Ikju, which kept many away initially.

Namgung Hwa-shin had to endure many different situations.

When he received a letter asking for a martial arts duel and arrived at the agreed-upon spot, a blade forged with words met him.

“I’ve had feelings for you, Namgung Gongja. Since the time of the Yongbong Gathering.”

“....”

“Once the sect war ends, it will be hard to meet you, so I’m gathering the courage to say this now. Please don’t answer immediately.”

It was under the moonlight, amidst the mist.

Some women secretly sent letters of love, while others directly expressed their feelings. Such romantic gestures were common in the martial world.

It was nothing new for him. Even before entering Ipwangseong, he had received countless confessions.

It started when he joined the Yongbong Gathering, holding hands with Namgung Mi, Namgung Hwa-shin’s sister.

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He hadn’t expected such things to happen even within the Martial World Alliance. He had constantly rejected them.

“I appreciate your feelings, but I cannot become your son-in-law.”

“......!”

Not all who approached him did so with pure intentions. Some sought to steal away a martial artist whose future seemed destined for greatness.

The Martial World Alliance boasted over a hundred sects signing their alliance pact.

It was not uncommon for men and women of exceptional ability to be approached for romantic purposes.

Namgung Hwa-shin bitterly turned away.

He had once known a true love.

She was the daughter of a minor merchant, trading tea leaves in the Namjikrye region. Under the orders of Namgung Mi, she was poisoned and killed.

At that time, Namgung Hwa-shin had been raised as his family’s hidden blade. The elite martial artists of his family were forbidden from associating with outsiders.

He had buried his feelings for her in his heart. Since then, no woman had caught his eye.

“I know you couldn’t inherit the King’s Blade. But in the beginning, I wanted to witness the Swordless Immortal’s mysterious techniques,” he confessed.

“I once received guidance from the Blue Kirin during my lifetime...”

There had been rivalry and challenge. But this was still a minor issue.

The true problems arose from those who used marriage as a tool and those who pried into the temporary leadership of the sect.

The former was bearable. The latter was troublesome.

“When asking about the structure of Ipwangseong, it’s not to pry into personal matters, but simply out of curiosity...”

“Speak.”

“It’s about Ma Gwang-Ikju. How much standing does the young Black Sect Leader have in Ipwangseong? It’s strange that someone so young, less than a full decade old, would be the head of such a powerful force. Can the White Kirin, a renowned martial artist, follow him sincerely...?”

“......”

“Though it was a fair duel, isn’t he the one who pierced through the Blue Kirin’s body? He killed your brother, and I’m deeply curious about the degree of his skill. Many rumors say he’s rather arrogant.”

“...He’s a transparent person. He does what he must, worries when necessary, and shows anger when needed. His manner may seem indifferent, but his actions are sincere. If you want to know more, you should come to the Yunhyangwon. This Namgung family will tell you through the sword.”

“Through the sword? I thought he was a simple man...”

In fact, no one had come to Yunhyangwon to inquire.

Those with shallow minds rarely master martial arts deeply. With anything less than full determination, they could never match swords with the White Kirin.

“Namgung So-hyeop, there’s a letter for you from the opening,” a servant handed him a document from Yunhyangwon.

It was an invitation.

The letter was an invitation to the Martial World Alliance’s leadership meeting. It was an official invitation, representing Ipwangseong.

With Ma Gwang-Ikju absent, he was asked to stand in for him, as a member of the Blue Guild.

He immediately made his way there.

He arrived at a meeting place crowded with martial masters, with only two of the same age as him present.

One was a beggar with an impressive appearance, and the other, a woman with her eyes covered by a white cloth. The woman drew more attention than the man.

She had smooth, sharp features, a nose that could rival the beauty of the most famous courtesans, and an aura that made her stand out in any crowd.

She was introduced as the representative of the Ye family, a family that had invested heavily in the founding of the Martial World Alliance.

‘A key figure.’

Namgung Hwa-shin observed her and the guests from the opening.

“The matter regarding the sect war,” the middle-aged man in a green robe said.

It was Zhegal Cheon, the representative of the total army of the Alliance, who had the dark sword aura.

Namgung Hwa-shin’s eyes narrowed.

He had previously tried to manipulate the tactics with Ma Gwang-Ikju, and this situation seemed ominous.

“Many propose we move the sect war forward. In the midst of the recent chaos, it might be wise to announce the Alliance’s formation early to gain the support of the martial world’s populace. It seems like a reasonable request...”

Namgung Hwa-shin’s eyes widened.

It was a blatant attempt to exclude Ma Gwang-Ikju from the sect war.

They had been fearful of Ma Gwang-Ikju’s abilities and were attempting to prevent him from embarrassing the older martial leaders.

‘How did the martial world sink so low?’

There were few who looked displeased. Only the Taoists of the Huasan Sect and the warriors of the Tang Clan were visibly frustrated.

The other sects were not represented here, and the noble families had long abandoned hope.

The leader, the Sword Saint, was nowhere to be seen. The talk of him being a puppet seemed to be true.

Zhegal Cheon, the deputy general of the total army, had introduced a matter that had already been decided.

Namgung Hwa-shin thought to himself.

‘This must be stopped.’

Without a moment’s hesitation, the strong and fierce martial artist raised his hand. Everyone in the meeting hall, familiar with the situation, had anticipated this action.

The noblemen from the clans exchanged faint smirks. The deputy general also smiled politely.

“There’s no voting right for an envoy... but we will listen to Namgung So-hyeop’s opinion. Please gather your breath and speak.”

At that moment, Zhegal Cheon’s smile faded. Another arm rose in the meeting hall.

It was a delicate, white hand.

The woman from the Ye family twisted her fingers playfully.

***

Chiljunghyeop.

An intangible wave of internal power filled the hill. It emanated from the newly appointed Ma Gwang-Ikju, who had raised his sword high.

The air cut through like a blade, approaching like a chilling wind. It felt as if the strong winds of the gorge shimmered in the air, translucent.

Even just the prelude made it obvious that it was the rising posture.

Baek Seo-goon had already seen this sword form once. It was the same posture Ma Gwang-Ikju had taken when he questioned whether he was worthy to treat the Youngcheon Sword Demon with such disdain.

As she felt the hair on her neck tickle, she opened her mouth.

"Back then, you were in a rush. I was curious what would happen if you properly unfolded it."

She spoke while facing the swordwind head-on.

Baek Seo-goon’s arm brushed through the air. Her gray bob swayed boldly. With the mysterious rhythm of the Seowogeom, her sword swam through the air.

The powerful wave of energy embedded in the sword’s blade surged forward. The inner energy of her entire body, the vital force stemming from her blood channels and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, spread freely like wild flames.

The internal energy circulating within the air and wrapped around her sword as she struck with the Palhwan Shin Gong was far beyond the ordinary.

It was a technique embodying the might of the noble clans.

Stopping the practitioner's age, she delivered the solemn Igeo Geom.

With the inherent power of Palhwan Shin Gong, she reached the level of a swordsman of the Eokgeom and broke free from the Ten Deadly Techniques.

The strategic lessons shared by Jeong Ban-ak, taught during the game of Go, no longer aided Baek Seo-goon in this matter.

Isn't the advice of the Gija Jaeng Seon and Budeuk Tam Seung at odds? Discard a few stones and take the initiative, yet also don’t hastily be greedy?

How foolish. Why would they be contradictory? It says to take the initiative with relaxed shoulders, not to rush even if you discard a few stones.

Her companion, the Eokeo Geom, had been wrong. To a grandmaster who had already stepped into the Igeoggeom realm, both Gija Jaeng Seon and Budeuk Tam Seung were no longer of use.

Baek Seo-goon lived arrogantly. She stood with strength in her shoulders and chest puffed out. She could endure any loss.

It was her rightful way.

She continued like that until everything became futile.

Jeong Gajang’s dispute reached the borders of Hanam-seong, as she reached out with her blade, which shot forward like a swift arrow.

The scarlet sunlight glimmered off the sword’s blade. It was a fierce onslaught.

The wind of Ma Gwang-Ikju’s sword blade wrapped around and pierced through the gusts of wind emanating from his own sword.

The boy stood silently, holding his sword vertically.

As Baek Seo-goon followed the sword’s path with her eyes, at the three-step distance, she drove her sword downward.

The sound of impact rang out. The massive shockwave rattled the earth. It was an incredibly rare and powerful strike.

But Ma Gwang-Ikju did not halt. As the strike of the divine sword was deflected backward, he took another step forward.

It was unbelievably fast. His sword technique merged with the divine laws. The fierce winds whipped around.

The boy had planted his foot on the stage, with lightning speed.

Thud!

The earth cracked underfoot. A terrifying shockwave followed.

Crack!

Jeong Yeon-shin took another step forward. He used the dispersing wave of energy from the shock to fuel his next movement. His body seemed to transform into an unstoppable force.

Without concern for the divine sword speeding up behind him, he moved forward with reckless abandon. He didn’t even glance back as he pushed forward.

The posture of Gija Jaeng Seon.

He threw himself into creating a gap in the offensive. Without looking, he extended his sword backward.

Swish!

The divine sword swerved off course. A powerful shockwave traveled down his thigh. The pressure on his lower body was immense.

The Igeo Geom couldn’t be completely shaken off. Baek Seo-goon’s sword hummed loudly and spun, cutting across his side, racing ahead of him.

A sharp pain shot through his side, like a long, fiery burn.

But it didn’t matter. He was barely ten steps away now. His eyes widened as he grasped the divine sword in his hand.

In that instant, he had stepped into the domain of a supreme master. It was the obvious reaction.

She moved with unparalleled speed, her Igeo Geom propelling her forward. A posture aimed directly at his heart.

The sword moved by itself, reacting to the posture she desired.

“Done.”

Jeong Yeon-shin thought, as he sprinted using his Gyeonggong.

The energy from his crown chakra surged. The area of his sword—Youngcheon Geom, was flooding his mind.

Her left foot landed, and he measured the angle of the strike, assessing her aura.

A finely tuned and incredibly rapid strike was about to emerge.

The boy chanted the core of the Jeong Ga-donggong.

“Mother.”

His muscles tensed. His right arm contracted ever so slightly. The contraction spread from his shoulder to his upper arm.

Externally, it was barely noticeable.

The vital energy flowing through the Su Yangming Large Intestine Meridian coursed upward, gathering strength.

Boom!

The ground beneath their feet cracked.

It was the second stroke of an unnamed sword technique.

The earth beneath them cracked open with a violent tremor. The accumulated shockwaves flowed through.

It was the fifth form of the Yeonhwa Seong. The force built up through his thighs, running along his Eunmun Hyeol and converging into his sword.

In an instant, a gust of wind blew across the battlefield. Dust exploded in all directions.

The sword cut through the air in a perfect arc.

Baek Seo-goon approached, ignoring the sword she was extending.

The black-robed boy passed her and swung the sword horizontally, sending out a flash of silver.

Swish!

It was a perfect strike. The weight of the sensation in his grip was undeniable. Baek Seo-goon’s sword was sent flying.

The sunlight reflecting off the blade danced wildly in the air. Silence followed.

"..."

The faintest gaze traced the boy’s back as Ma Gwang-Ikju slowly turned her feet.

The sound of her footsteps reverberated ominously through the air.

The energy emanating from the surrounding martial forces of the Sim Mu-ryeon halted abruptly.

Their breath seemed to stop at once. This was the response of the lower-ranked fighters to a supreme master’s energy.

"All of your power... contained in that single sword. An overwhelming force."

Baek Seo-goon murmured in awe, extending her hand to the air.

A sword descended gracefully into her grasp.

It was the legendary Eokeo Geom technique. Yet, she felt no particular thrill from her own form. It wasn’t because she was accustomed to it.

What remained in her mind was the precise, deadly trajectory of the boy’s sword.

This was a sword technique unlike any she had seen before.

“I will confirm my agreement with Youngcheon Sword Demon... Return to the Sim Mu-ryeon headquarters.”

The boy asked her.

Baek Seo-goon’s smile deepened.

“Yes, I will. I’ve lived leisurely for far too long. Having received from Jeong Gajang, I will repay the debt over the years. It’s thanks to you for awakening me.”

"Over the years..." Jeong Yeon-shin repeated briefly.

Baek Seo-goon stared silently at the boy in front of her. What was going through her mind?

Her lips closed after she mentioned time, and she did not speak further. Something was subtly off.

At that moment.

The martial force surrounding them parted as Tae Yeom-ryong stepped forward, muttering.

"Need any help?"

"No need."

"Let’s go."

"Okay."

On the high hill of the gorge, the setting sun wrapped the peaks in a transparent veil.

The light of the sunset flowed with the wind, carried down the valley. The two figures descended the gorge.

Baek Seo-goon watched the back of the youthful Jeong Ban-ak as he descended.

A sense of nostalgia and the passage of time stirred in her heart simultaneously.

"Your sword... it reaps fate."

She muttered quietly.

No matter how she looked at it, he had grown well. She thought she would have to thoroughly investigate the devastation of Jeong Gajang’s family.

It seemed that Jeong Dae-myeong had raised him well, but something the hero had said was still lingering in her mind.

The sword lord of Hanam-seong and the connection between Seomseo and Hanam were close.

She recalled Hao Mun-ju, known for her extensive knowledge of the martial world and a counterpart to Ga Bang-ju.

With Ma Gwang-Ikju now in command of Ipwang Fortress, she was already on the list of key individuals to watch. Somehow, she would learn how Jeong Yeon-shin had grown.

Swoosh.

Baek Seo-goon turned her body. The embroidered patterns on her scarlet robe shimmered in the light.

The sun had finally set.

The boy descended from the high gorge, while the woman, standing on the hill, watched his path.

The shadows stretched long across both sides, casting the shadows of the young noble and the bitter rivalry.

Even now, Jeong Yeon-shin did not consider his sword technique to be perfected.

It originated from the mind of a sword master. It had to be completed through the union of the sword master.

‘Only two strokes so far.’

As he walked silently with Tae Yeom-ryong, he recalled his swordsmanship.

They encountered Heon Won-chang, whose eyes were wide open from atop a peak. He hadn’t descended yet.

He had been planning to intervene at any moment. The boy smiled faintly, shaking his head.

One by one, So Geomhwi and Gongsun Min joined him. Mo Yong-myeongjun had truly disappeared.

They had not met him until they arrived at the main gates of the Murim Alliance.

"Hm? Something’s strange."

Tae Yeom-ryong, leading the way, remarked. Jeong Yeon-shin could sense it too.

From deep within the vast headquarters, an enormous roar echoed. There were likely hundreds of people. Something unusual was happening.

"Excuse me, what's going on inside?"

Heon Won-chang grabbed the arm of a passerby and asked. The man, wearing a clean green robe, furrowed his brows.

As he glanced at Heon Won-chang, his gaze landed on his shoulder insignia, and he jumped in shock, stammering.

"There's a... Gepa Daetjeon going on!"

"A pre-festival of sorts?"

"No, it’s not a pre-festival. The Gepa Daetjeon took place three days ago! It’s already the third day..."

The pleased expression on Heon Won-chang’s face froze immediately.