Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 95 – Divine Sword Squad (1)

When Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin took Lightning Genius Jeong Yeon-shin’s palm technique strike.

At the moment the Namgung family side showed intense movement, Desolate Fortress’ Divine Sword Squad also stepped forward.

The Namgung family masters didn’t stop just at Azure Qilin’s shout. They faced opponents who were the Divine Sword Group Leader’s direct military force.

Divine Sword Squad.

They were first among seventeen military forces under the Divine Sword Group.

Both their founding time and martial might were such. They were called Desolate Fortress’ strongest in name and reality.

“He wins from that interval.”

“His distance measuring is very instinctive? He plays freely in sword and fist. That’s innate.”

“Does anyone know what that palm technique is? I heard that Lightning Genius friend only uses unique martial arts.”

“Unless one possesses considerable protective energy, it would be instant death when hit. Would it be like this if Shaolin’s Hundred Step Divine Fist was condensed into a hundred close-range strikes?”

“Feels like the preparation time is long though? Not even that precise. The recoil is very large. It’s martial arts relying entirely on the user’s sense.”

“Even if Sword Uncle belittles it… the power alone is worthy of divine techniques. Definitely not common.”

The twenty member composition was diverse. Men and women, old and young. Not just middle-aged and young adults, but even a boy and girl each. That’s how their outward appearances were.

A girl wearing black robes with a spear on her back spoke with a smirk.

“Look at those ones. Flinching and stepping back.”

“Grandmother Evil’s energy waves are strong indeed. But it’s probably not because of us? They’re the Namgung family after all.”

A handsome middle-aged man called the girl grandmother while using a youthful manner of speech.

No one found it strange. They were extraordinary and uncommon warriors.

There’s a saying that strange and extraordinary warriors are as numerous as grains of sand in the murim. The Divine Sword Squad masters were especially famous for this.

“Please restrain yourself. There are many watching eyes.”

“Leave it. Since when has our squad cared about formality?”

The atmosphere was very light. All sorts of weighted speech and behavior naturally blended together.

It was because they roamed the murim together almost year-round.

They constantly carried out Desolate Fortress missions. By nature they were close to wanderers.

But their martial might was different. Besides the black-rank supreme master squad leader, all members were blue-rank masters.

Moreover, since the Group Leader who held both Divine Sword Group Leader and Squad Leader positions was a purple-rank absolute being, united by camaraderie they paid no mind to the crowd’s eyes.

“However… the young master’s internal energy feels less than rumored. Was there some incident before the martial match?”

“What does it matter? In the end, he goes out like this.”

Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin slowly collapsed.

In that moment silence flowed even among the Divine Sword Squad masters.

The death of an outstanding talent always called for silence. Moreover, Azure Qilin remained dignified to the end.

A comet of the murim possessing martial arts, spirit, and chivalry was extinguishing. A new era of the murim faded before it could properly bud.

“…One worthy of mourning.”

“What a waste. Such a waste.”

“More than that, that Lightning Genius friend seems like he’ll continue?”

A youthful young man jerked his chin toward Jeong Yeon-shin.

The boy’s appearance was such. He hadn’t sheathed the Desolate Fortress sword he gripped.

He was blankly watching the scene of Namgung family masters collecting Namgung Se-jin’s corpse.

The black-robed girl clicked her tongue.

“He’s not showing fighting spirit but rather mindlessness. He can’t think. Seems he’s fallen into quite melancholy after defeating a worthy opponent. Common at that age.”

“Grandmother Evil should bring him. If it’s truly a thoughtless state*, even decent blue-ranks would have trouble carelessly handling him.”

[TL Note- Thoughtless state- A state free from any conscious thought or intentions. Something like emptying your mind completely.]

The young man looked at Lightning Genius with an uncomfortable face.

“Your words are right, Soha.”

The girl smiled broadly and put both hands to her lips. After brief exaggerated hand movements, tremendous energy waves burst forth.

[Child! Come here―!]

A sound exploded no less than Eternal Blossom Fist’s Brilliant River.

It was chaotic with crowds escaping in all directions.

The explosion once again strongly shook the valley, even making the air vibrate.

Jeong Yeon-shin jerked his head up. The black-robed girl wearing an irritating smile shouted in her normal voice.

“You must be aware of your position! Aren’t you now a rising talent who struck down the Namgung young master! Look at those Namgung ones over there! Their eyes are so black and wide it seems they’ll come slashing any moment!”

“Just bring him over, why deliberately draw attention and even provoke…”

The young man called Soha shook his head.

“Ah…”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips slightly parted from where he stood far away.

While the Divine Sword Squad masters showed amusing appearances like an opera, the boy finally came to his senses.

Moreover he was surprised. The Divine Sword Squad were ones in the clouds even within the Divine Sword Group. Their fame pierced the heavens.

‘That person is.’

He guessed the identity of the girl who called him.

Divine Spear of the Wld Yue Shou-lin.

She was an old master who was said to have reversed her body’s years when her special cultivation technique reached the realm of pure refinement.

Pure refinement meant reaching the extreme realm of skill. It meant standing out even among Desolate Fortress’ black ranks.

Even martial artists aren’t free from class.

They had their own world. They made martial arts, sects, nature, and honor into status.

Appearances were also such. It was evidenced by rising disciples’ titles like dragon and phoenix.

Returning old to young.

It was a realm that reversed the body’s time. Not something possible just with high martial arts. They say enlightenment, opportunities, and mastered divine techniques must all be special.

Yue Shou-lin was one who possessed everything. She made her name known no less than the Divine Sword Group Leader.

The Divine Sword Squad Vice Leader who became young through martial arts directly called Jeong Yeon-shin. It meant Lightning Genius had at least the minimum qualification.

However the boy wasn’t particularly moved.

‘Troublesome.’

He thought unconsciously. He wanted to savor the enlightenment Namgung Se-jin had bestowed.

How should one live as a martial artist? Even if prioritizing one’s lifespan, is it right to walk the martial path with just that?

Since he was Azure Qilin’s final opponent.

STEP.

Jeong Yeon-shin turned his back on the Divine Sword Squad masters.

“Next…”

He slowly parted his lips.

“Next. Come forth.”

He spoke while looking toward the Namgung family side. Whether veteran masters or rising disciples, it was a camp where killing intent seemed to whirl.

Though they looked at him as if to kill him immediately, their combined energy waves approached like a giant evil demon.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t mind. He had already guessed Namgung Mi’s petty tricks considering surrender.

Relying on rank differences to protect life and honor? He didn’t want to follow. It was the scheme of a dead person.

The boy stood straight in place.

It was resolution made by Namgung Se-jin’s death. The power dwelling in the corpse wouldn’t have flown away yet. He didn’t want to show a shameful appearance.

“Whether spirit or recklessness…”

It was when Yue Shou-lin muttered bewilderedly.

“Good! I gladly accept an outstanding junior’s challenge!”

Along with a great shout, a middle-aged man in blue martial robes leaped.

BANG!

He instantly reached right before Jeong Yeon-shin. The boy slightly furrowed his brows. The sand grains and energy waves violently bouncing and striking his face were truly fierce.

‘Namgung family Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group’s Leader.’

He was a man with blade-like rising eyes.

Meeting face to face, his energy waves were newly tremendous. The flow of true qi undulating from his whole body was enormous.

‘They said the Fortress Lord beheaded the Vice Leader.’

The Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group’s Vice Leader was also said to be a swordsman counted among South Zhili’s finest.

However he became a wandering ghost at Desolate Fortress Lord’s hands. He heard Xuan Yuan-chang personally saw it. It was one strike.

Perhaps because direct bloodline members’ deaths were added to that incident?

The energy waves extending from the Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group Leader’s body gradually gathered like sword blades. It was sharp momentum hard for Jeong Yeon-shin to handle.

He didn’t show it. He couldn’t disgrace Namgung Se-jin.

‘Just need to land in Brilliant River.’

He recalled the killing technique of Eternal Blossom Fist that he had named.

The power was proven. If he could just land it somehow, it could inflict fatal wounds even on black-rank supreme masters.

That’s when it happened.

“Stop there.”

A stream of clear voice rang out.

The Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group Leader’s reaction was faster than Jeong Yeon-shin’s. The middle-aged man’s eyes immediately widened.

“Divine Sword Group Leader…!”

It was a name that pierced the mind the moment it was heard.

Behind Jeong Yeon-shin. A presence clear enough to make energy sense shiver sprouted.

There was momentum rising overwhelmingly like a tidal wave. The boy turned his head despite facing an enemy.

He was a tall man.

His impression was like a scholar. His attire was also such. Only his scholar’s robe was purple.

His bearing was different.

It was completely different from when he fully contained his power.

The impression Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t engraved in his mind because he was dazed became terrifyingly distinct. It approached transcendentally.

The Divine Sword Group Leader slowly opened his mouth.

“Sword Heaven Group Leader. That’s enough.”

“What? How can you so shamelessly…”

“The one without shame is you. Trying to do something to one boy so far beneath you.”

He finished speaking with a slight smile. His speech and behavior were unconventional from the start.

STEP.

No one could stop him as he walked slowly.

The Namgung Family Head just silently glared from far away.

Though he stroked his sword hilt as if about to step forward any moment, for now he had only taken a few steps.

The Divine Sword Group Leader approached with light footsteps.

He appeared free from all people’s gazes under heaven. Coming to one step before Jeong Yeon-shin, he steadily gazed at the boy.

“They called you Lightning Genius?”

“I greet the Group Leader.”

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly raised his hands in greeting. The Divine Sword Group Leader’s lips rose.

“You, I thought you were blind. Until coming here you treated your Group Leader like a non-existent person. It was an unfamiliar experience. To think a boy’s thoughtlessness state could be so deep.”

“…I apologize.”

“It’s a pointless joke. Anyway I want you to withdraw now. You’ve fought two life-and-death matches and your rank is far below. The justification is sufficient. However…”

The Divine Sword Group Leader spoke while wearing a small smile.

“Your will seems firm. Words alone won’t do.”

“I…”

“I heard from the Grand Administrator. That I must pass down a strand of my martial arts to you. Let me add one thing. I’ll let you build murim friendship that can become your strength.”

Jeong Yeon-shin closed his mouth for a moment. Friendship directly mentioned by the Divine Sword Group Leader would be no ordinary connection.

However it was a hard decision to trade. How could he before Namgung Se-jin.

That’s when it happened. The Divine Sword Group Leader deliberately furrowed his brows. He made a crying face.

“You have already done more than enough face-saving. Now it seems time to consider your superior.”

Jeong Yeon-shin silently thought. That he didn’t know the Group Leader was such an eccentric.

Divine Sword Squad. They were a hard group to understand.

“I’ll take that as agreement. Very grateful.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader smiled broadly while gently pushing aside Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder and stepping forward.

Just like that the moment he took one step, the Azure Sky Sword Heaven Group Leader’s momentum disappeared as if swept away by water. It was completely washed away without a trace.

“From now on.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader parted his lips.

“I will step forward for all martial matches with Namgung.”

“Absurd words!”

An elder from the Namgung family side behind shouted. The Divine Sword Group Leader’s head tilted slightly.

“Wasn’t it youngest first? I believe that was your proposal. Our previous Group Leader and Elder Council Head are elderly old men.”

“White Qilin is…”

That’s when it happened. Divine Spear of the Wld Yue Shou-lin suddenly approached beside Namgung Hwa-shin. It was very swift movement technique.

It was before he could even fully make a puzzled expression.

Yue Shou-lin’s left hand blurred into a water blade. It was speed in a different realm.

THUD!

A dull sound rang out. Right after striking Namgung Hwa-shin’s nape with lightning-like attack, his balance crumbled.

His consciousness seemed to fly away immediately.

The Divine Sword Group Leader smiled as if well done.

“Let’s finish quickly and go. I have much to tell Lightning Genius.”

“……”

Though it was truly unconventional behavior, none of the Divine Sword Squad masters seemed surprised.

They all calmly watched Jeong Yeon-shin and the Divine Sword Group Leader.

“White Qilin Namgung Hwa-shin is in no state for martial matches. Let’s count this one as our loss.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader’s mouth corners rose smoothly.

“Next is me.”