Chapter 558: Five Swords, Six Stars (5)

While the masked middle-aged blade master Demon Contempt Blade, who had returned to Jeong Yeon-shin’s camp at some point, was wiping Sword Star Hyeon So-baek’s leather shoes with a cloth.

Sword Silk, whose already disheveled hair had become completely unkempt, was still sitting in a daze.

[Why did I fall…?]

The youth’s accumulated energy still rumbled powerfully despite having been through fierce battle, but the fighting spirit had long since disappeared from his voice.

Meanwhile, Shame Extreme Son-in-law wiped the bloodstains from his lips with his smooth hand and bowed silently to the Sword Star.

The snow-white skin of the Dream Demon Body supreme master was dyed even paler than before, yet he still maintained the beautiful appearance that seemed to come from dreams. He had shown restraint even though he could still fight.

“Why don’t you ascend to the Northern King position…?”

But he didn’t receive an answer.

For the time being, no boasting about achievements or mockery would come from Shame Extreme Son-in-law’s mouth. At least not for a while.

“…I have much more time left anyway.”

A grumbling that flowed from his red lips.

In the end, the great warrior of Dream Demon Body didn’t babble about slaughtering five Divine Sword Squad Dragon-Treading Squad members in front of Northern King Yelu. He remained dignified as a monarch under a Northern King.

“Husband, are you hurt internally?”

“I’m fine. Not enough for my wife to worry about… Just don’t come too close right now. I’m a bit confused.”

“You hurt your head? Let me hold you.”

“No…”

It was a conversation between the Ice Palace Lord couple.

The battle of the great warriors had come to an end.

But the other Northern Kings showed no signs of tending to their subordinate monarchs.

The warhorse that had been lying with its head on Dragon Sound Sasa King’s thigh had its jet-black mane, silky as silk, grasped in its master’s hand and neighed loudly, while Shame Extreme King’s silk veil fluttered in and out with eerie speed.

The energy waves of these beings who had never revealed their true ultimate techniques were about to burst forth into the earthen ground.

Soon Dragon Sound Sasa King’s muttering and Shame Extreme King’s confirmation followed.

“Bright Wind Spirit, so he really entered the ‘Sound Cave’…? Is it truly King Yelu’s mental transmission?”

“Correct.”

“Damn crazy…!”

The shock surrounding the venue showed no signs of subsiding anytime soon.

But at this moment, Jeong Yeon-shin’s attention was completely focused elsewhere.

‘Sect Leader elder…’

Though it wasn’t a gathering place with any particular form, he could feel the domain where the Northern Kings of the demon realm communicated through wind. In Desolate Fortress terms, it would be like the Wish for Peace Sword Hall.

The northern Sound Cave.

Or Bright Wind Spirit.

It was a divine ultimate technique created by the Fighting God and the essence of northern military strategy, a mental transmission space entered by peerless masters chosen by the God of War.

It was also the reason Jeong Yeon-shin hadn’t been able to act recklessly until now.

The Northern Kings presumed to be positioned in the Noble Wind Spirit had made all kinds of threats after Jeong Yeon-shin’s occupation of Yeoktru Castle.

In the midst of enemies possessing Transcendent Martial Art.

King Yelu’s jianghu journey had been temporarily stalled because of this, and the existence that could be called the pinnacle of the Noble Wind Spirit gathering was now speaking to him. In his capacity as the greatest of the north.

The Southern Emperor’s voice was like calm ice.

—Northern King Yelu… welcome to entering the Noble Wind Spirit.

He showed no sign of being flustered at all by Jeong Yeon-shin’s entry into the mental transmission space. It was befitting one who had once crippled Shaolin Abbot Divine Monk Beomheo.

Soon after, he sought to draw out Jeong Yeon-shin’s fundamental background. Using only the single clue that King Yelu had entered the Noble Wind Spirit’s Sound Cave.

—You might be Yao tribe, or one who have connections with the Fighting God, or perhaps you’re a genius rare to find throughout ancient and modern times, or the owner of a precious dharma treasure.

A voice that felt like it was made of northern wind. The tone was so low that it naturally drew the opponent’s attention. To focus only on oneself.

—I ask, which is it?

His voice penetrated the ears with resonance that couldn’t help but be pleasant to hear.

So much so that common people ignorant of jianghu affairs might lose all strength in their bodies without even realizing it. It also felt like gently kneading the opponent’s mind with one’s voice.

It was a point where anyone would fall into contemplation.

Those who had deeply cultivated their upper dantian were skilled at distinguishing truth and falsehood like nobles. Of course, this was only when the opponent was close by.

Then what about in the Noble Wind Spirit, the mental transmission space of northern peerless masters? The ‘Sound Cave’ where they communicated through wind from immeasurably distant places.

For now, Jeong Yeon-shin found it impossible to make any truth judgments about the Southern Emperor, though those who had been there originally under the Fighting God’s permission might be somewhat different.

That’s when some old woman spoke.

—Your mind becomes alert? How long has it been since we heard a new voice? The drowsiness has fled! Child, tell us anything at all.

A solid yet rough voice. With an extremely scratchy feeling, it scraped down Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears.

Next was the voice of some middle-aged man.

—Upright Star. The story might become confusing. Gloomy Star Southern Emperor speaks well, so let’s leave it to him.

His speech was smooth. Though he was surely a northern jianghu person, the temperament of a scholar was deeply imbued. But he would certainly be a peerless master.

Meanwhile, the old woman called Upright Star seemed displeased with his words.

—Fighting God’s strategist, after speaking up for the first time in a long while, you’ve been tainted by the Northern Path. Don’t attach the fifth star among the heavenly Northern Dipper to me. Even excluding the dignified Fighting God, fourth among six? I’m certain the ranking record written by the Northern Dipper would suffice as a killing list for the southern jianghu.

—I understand Upright Star’s meaning. Please stop talking now.

—Damn b*st*rd…

Thus.

Three people including the Southern Emperor spoke through the Noble Wind Spirit. The other Northern Kings seemed to be silent for their respective reasons.

Southern Emperor, Upright Star, the Fighting God’s strategist.

After silently organizing his thoughts, Jeong Yeon-shin soon spoke slowly.

—Are you the Six Star Lords?

The stars most skilled in battle in the northern jianghu.

Excluding the star at the very top among the seven star lords of the Big Dipper, six remained, hence the Six Star Lords under the Fighting God.

—Correct.

The Southern Emperor answered readily.

Following that, the middle-aged man called the Fighting God’s strategist added in a courteous tone.

—It’s a name that became clear thanks to the turbulent currents of chaotic times flowing through the heavens. It’s also fame coveted by all Northern Kings of this land.

A feeling of establishing symbols of the northern jianghu under the leadership of the world’s Northern Dipper, as the complexity of the times increased and five swords emerged. In some ways, it was close to the movement of a nation that cared about public sentiment… But Jeong Yeon-shin was no longer the youth who felt overwhelmed by the vastness of the world. He was simply the one and only Divine Sword Group Leader under heaven.

—Are your mouths a transcendent martial art, you insignificant beings? I asked the Southern Emperor.

He spoke like King Yelu.

Whoosh!

Instantly, many exhales struck Jeong Yeon-shin’s ears like spears.

They were Northern Kings of the Noble Wind Spirit who hadn’t yet spoken, and surprise as well as admiration could be felt from each of their internal energy breathing. Despite their massive presence, none seemed to be in their right mind.

Dragon Sound Sasa King right before his eyes was even clapping her hands.

“How refreshing!”

At the same time, the Southern Emperor’s voice rang out.

—The Beggar Sect Leader’s right foot is three inches below the knee. The left foot is below the thigh including the knee. I severed all of this with these hands, and now no one knows who the fastest under heaven is anymore. And now, I ask you.

“……”

—Why are you all interested in this matter? New Northern King.

His question penetrated deep into his mind.

The Northern Kings didn’t know, but the two people currently conversing were respectively the greatest of the north and the Acting Divine Sword Group Leader. Jeong Yeon-shin had to put his heart and soul into every word and action.

King Yelu spoke.

—Here… just as that fellow called the Fighting God’s strategist has the speech patterns of Beijing nobility, I too have connections with the south. Divine Beggar is one of them.

A story containing only truth. That’s why it was peaceful.

Just as everyone knew the name Yelu was an alias, he had never told personal lies.

It had been so since he wrote down the formulas of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique with small hands. Because he thought mother Ma Yeon-sang would see and hear everything.

The reason he naturally considered Desolate Fortress’s chivalry from the beginning, and naturally helped powerless common people, was the same context.

The Four Books and Three Classics that father Jeong Pan Yue had thrown at him to maintain the prestige of a great landlord family were another aspect of his mother. Similarly, the writing teacher of the Jeong estate had recited all the lines of every book in exactly the same way.

Jeong Yeon-shin was forged that way.

—So if you truly hung Divine Beggar’s legs on a plaque like taking an enemy general’s head as war trophy.

He continued speaking calmly.

—You will die with all your limbs severed.

Instantly, the Noble Wind Spirit’s mental transmission space filled with dead silence instead of wind. It was because all the Northern Kings had fallen silent.

The clearing of Mineral Soul Mountain was the same.

“……”

Dragon Sound Sasa King and Shame Extreme King stared at Jeong Yeon-shin intently. With the appearances of peerless masters who each had distinct characteristics – one looking like human and horse unified, the other with an extremely transparent body.

Dragon Sound Sasa King slowly parted her lips.

“…They said he was a fugitive who came up from the south, but he speaks and acts like Yao tribe. I’m curious about his bare face.”

Shame Extreme King remained silent at her words. There was no particular denial.

—Come to think of it.

The blank space in the wind created by Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t last long. The Southern Emperor’s voice, somehow tinged with cold laughter, continued.

—You said Dragon Sound and Shame Extreme would vouch that you’re king of the southern demon realm. This would mean your great warrior overwhelmed the other great warriors of that land.

Soon after, his voice struck across the wilderness and pressed down on Jeong Yeon-shin. Without being swept away by any anger himself.

—Suddenly two Northern King-level existences have come up from the south. This is clearly a natural disaster… Hmm, there are many clues about your identity. Given a little time, I could be certain.

The low muttering was a threat in itself.

How often would a peerless master completely lower their lofty pride and immediately, calmly dig into an opponent like this? Most were madmen so obsessed with martial arts that they would pierce through life with a single technique.

‘Southern Emperor, the greatest of the north.’

Soon after, Jeong Yeon-shin sensed signs that the old woman called Upright Star and the one called the Fighting God’s strategist were about to speak. He didn’t know if the strategist was also among the Six Star Lords, but they were each beings with great influence.

He didn’t allow it.

—Are you trying to cover something that should be resolved through a life-and-death duel with speculation arising from sitting around? You show no respect for the Northern King who won in the battle of great warriors. Then I too have no mind to follow the Fighting God’s laws.

The Divine Sword Group Leader’s words should be like a sword. It was advice Yong Hye-myeong had once given.

At the same time, with Yu Ling Leader, who had always driven Desolate Fortress warriors into desperate situations, coming to mind now.

Jeong Yeon-shin was already a battle-tested Divine Sword Group Leader who had grown sick of dealing with the tribe called jianghu people. Naturally, he was intuitively skilled at stimulating the competitive spirit of the strong.

—Now the king of the southern demon realm will go up to plant flags in your territory. I heard Northern Kings are the highest and freest existences, but you should just keep sinking endlessly like your name Southern Emperor. Because this land’s jianghu that has lost its spirit should be trampled not by horse hooves but by the propulsive energy waves of my lightness skill.

The silence of the Noble Wind Spirit deepened. The aftermath of truly speaking to the greatest of the north like a king. He had unleashed a considerable heart demon.

In the gathering place of northern peerless masters, to beings who revered strength and freedom more than any jianghu people of any land.

At the same time, they were also strong people who had long been suppressed by the Fighting God’s dignity.

Suddenly, several layers of laughter flowed out.

They were the voices of Northern Kings who hadn’t uttered a single word until now.

—’Nadam (НААДАМ: festival)’, it’s Nadam.

—The Fighting God’s spirit…! Now it’s done! Whatever your true tribe, you are Yao tribe!

While there was a Northern King who spoke in the old Yuan Dynasty language, there was also a Yao tribe Northern King who exhaled thick breath like cannons.

Even words from Jurchen tribe saying they wanted to wash their bodies with King Yelu’s blood. It would be right to say all the peerless masters under heaven had gathered.

Absolute beings accustomed to the royal positions they had claimed.

It was the moment when the Noble Wind Spirit’s mental transmission space split into two factions.

—Interesting.

While the Southern Emperor’s voice settled down at his ears thick like dawn mist.

Jeong Yeon-shin quietly surveyed the venue like Yu Ling Leader once had.

Demon Contempt Blade who appeared to be a loyal subject at a glance, Dragon Sound Sasa King with a somewhat excited complexion and Shame Extreme King whose mood was hard to read, the Ice Palace Lord and Lazy Flame Dragon with whom he absolutely had to have words here… Then he met eyes with the Sword Star who was staring at him intently.

“Will you be alright?”

The old swordsman asked.

He had overheard all the nearby Bright Wind Spirit voices. With the Sword Star’s sensory path that could be compared to the deep night sky, it was certainly possible.

Jeong Yeon-shin only silently nodded his head.

Meanwhile.

“Sword Silk, King Yelu has declared war on the Southern Emperor. I don’t know how the jianghu political situation will turn out in the future. I also can’t tell how the various Northern King comrades will move.”

“Shame Extreme King, if it’s really like that, shouldn’t this side flee?”

The others seemed to guess the situation from Dragon Sound Sasa King and Shame Extreme Son-in-law’s conversation.

Lazy Flame Dragon mouthed ‘Are you crazy?’ At some point, Demon Contempt Blade was glancing down below the mountain ridge, and Shin So-bin stuck close to Jeong Yeon-shin’s side and whispered mental transmission.

—The Divine Sword Squad is still far from coming. The Southern Emperor is the greatest of the north…!

“Still.”

Jeong Yeon-shin lightly clenched his right hand as he spoke. Instantly, the tendons of his forearm split long, creating shadows like divine swords.

The northern jianghu where cruel plunder was taken for granted. From the beginning, Divine Beggar wouldn’t be the only chivalrous hero moving in this land of the survival of the fittest.

Divine Monk Beomheo had been like that in the past, and there were countless Wudang disciples that Immortal Profound Void had lost. The same thing could happen anytime.

“Still, we go up.”

The Divine Sword Group Leader concluded his words.

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