Chapter 693: King of the Sinners (4)

Literary Star glanced around at his surroundings. The seats that should originally be filled with Four Treasures of the Study, ink fragrance, and Desolate Fortress scholars were emptily vacant. Though it was a pavilion famed for using the sky as its ceiling, only dimly floating dust particles drifted here and there through the brilliant rays of sunlight.

The scene he had longed to see was nowhere to be found.

Literary Star’s mouth opened.

“The empty seats just won’t be filled. Don’t tell me they died as strangers in foreign lands? I know the scholars here are also well-versed in martial arts.”

“I’m waiting. One by one.”

“There are at least seven giants who passed the provincial examinations but gave up on the metropolitan examinations. This is a major matter. More meaningful than any idle talk… Grand Administrator?”

Lim Jin-myeong, who had been burying his face in documents as if hiding, finally lifted his head. An appearance with dark shadows cast over his eyes like opium smokers. He looked exactly like a derelict who had stayed up all night.

Lim Jin-myeong preempted what Literary Star was about to ask.

“What’s the matter?”

“…If Brother Lim would share some work with me too, wouldn’t things become much more relaxed? Though it would be a matter of trust, of course.”

“What brother, stop that nonsense.”

Though Lim Jin-myeong made an expression saying it was preposterous, Literary Star’s face remained peaceful. He had merely dropped a person from his relaxed hands. A woman he had brought while leaving bloodstains like painting with a human brush.

“Who is it? At least turn her face over to see.”

“You would know Li Chuang-wang.”

“Wang…?”

“Yes.”

“That’s different from what I heard. They say when Wandering Star of the twin swords and spears wields the sword, he’s one of the World’s Five Swords, so as the pinnacle of military strongmen who even carry starving peasants on their backs, the character ‘Emperor’ suits him.”

“True imperial title is not permitted to just anyone. Unless it’s merely an alias commonly used in jianghu.”

Soon after, Literary Star pointed at the unconscious woman with his thick finger.

“The four wives called the Four Immortals are working hard to enthrone Wandering Star as emperor, right? According to Yu Ling, their backgrounds and studies seem different… Even just the Fourth Wife would be a person of concern in Great Righteous Alliance.”

“Such a person invaded the main fortress?”

“She was with former Yan Family Head. Perhaps they really could have disrupted Desolate Divine Spear’s secluded training.”

“Rebel Fist Emperor Yan Yuan-cheng…?”

Lim Jin-myeong’s expression changed. It was the jianghu alias Literary Star had mentioned earlier. It meant a rebel who uses fists like an emperor.

The story runs deep.

He had been pursued by the imperial court for a long time.

“He really measured the gaps skillfully. Perhaps it might be like that someday when Wish-fulfilling Spring Leader steps on peerless realms.”

“Mm.”

“If he had rushed at the fortress instead of me, it would have been quite troublesome. That’s how the lightness technique mobilization of fist technique masters works.”

“Instead, he would have definitely died. Anyway, understood. Looking at her condition, pulse diagnosis comes first.”

Clap.

Lim Jin-myeong clapped his hands.

The middle-aged scholar Gi Dae-seung, who had been sitting elsewhere, carefully lifted her and disappeared. It was toward the Medical Hall.

Literary Star finally showed interest in what was most ephemeral to him.

“Are there physicians remaining?”

“Four. And the Medical Hall Lord is well. The rest… I’m making inquiries.”

Lim Jin-myeong trailed off his words. A face showing bitterness without great expression. Literary Star clicked his tongue.

“For a force of this scale, only five physicians.”

“Of the four physicians I just mentioned, two are those who returned upon hearing rumors that the main fortress had been reclaimed, so it seems the problem is only time.”

The World’s Greatest Sect that had once collapsed.

Moreover, it happened while they had long been pressing down Central Plains with force. There was great damage to prestige.

Physicians, chefs, attendants, servants, families of main fortress warriors, and others who had scattered in various directions – many would never return in the end. There were always those who coveted Desolate Fortress people’s wealth and reputation even in peaceful times.

“Even insignificant fame becomes great power in this world.”

Literary Star’s emotionless words continued.

“There would also be those who would kill Medical Hall physicians then mislead others saying they defeated unnamed disciples of Desolate Fortress. Since ancient times, when ten swordsmen gather, they act like mountain gods even in villages of a thousand people and never go hungry. Among them would be many ignorant fools who simply look down on Desolate Fortress that was once destroyed.”

“……”

“If all under heaven quickly realizes the success of the northern campaign, the story would be different… But perhaps you mentioned Fighting God as a method for that? I’m curious about Brother Lim’s thoughts.”

Rustle.

Lim Jin-myeong silently handed over a sheet of paper. A letter with Chinese characters written in rows, crawling chaotically like an earth dragon breathing fire. It was Night Spirit’s report that had gone directly to Desolate Fortress General Administration.

“Yao tribe handwriting.”

Literary Star shook his head.

By the last line, the writing changed completely. Handwriting that had become familiar with Chinese characters much longer ago than the Yao tribe who had originally written the report.

Literary Star’s expression became strange.

“…He must be lonely. We used to drink together occasionally in the past.”

“Isn’t it that Hao Sect Leader alone isn’t enough? Since all sorts of riffraff are gathering endlessly to try wearing Heaven Light Steel Armor, he would miss the World’s Six Stellar Lords who could lead them. Not just me, but even Master Jeong would feel the same.”

The corner of Literary Star’s mouth rose slightly.

“Are you worried I might leave forever?”

“Handle that as you see fit.”

Lim Jin-myeong shook his head firmly.

“I must prepare to leave for the southern expedition. I plan to take all available forces.”

“The fortress will be empty again.”

“According to what Emperor Yongzheng told us, Three Great Imperial Masters and Three Direction Generals had entered Central Plains. While disguised as jianghu people. They will come here following imperial orders.”

Literary Star let out a low exclamation of “Ah.”

“Those I encountered were indeed jianghu people in reality. Anyway… having entrusted the north to Desolate Fortress, did the rebel party called Great Righteous Alliance become an eyesore?”

“Something like that.”

“Interesting. Among the emerging masters who suddenly appeared and made names for themselves, who exactly are they? And how well will they follow the Zhu family of World Tree?”

Then Literary Star added.

“The times are truly chaotic. In a world rampant with appeasement and betrayal, one can’t even distinguish who is enemy or ally straightforwardly.”

“…It’s time to cleanly arrange what’s behind us. If Immortal Tree Spirit is safe, I intend to propose an alliance to Fighting God. Because Great Righteous Alliance and World Tree’s signs are ominous. But… if it’s not that, and if Fighting God tried to do something to Immortal Tree Spirit privately because of World Tree’s young sapling.”

Lim Jin-myeong slowly rose from his seat.

“After joining Master Jeong at Mount Song, I’ll immediately request Fighting God’s subjugation. And clean up jianghu as well.”

“……”

Literary Star closed his mouth. It was a moment when he couldn’t help but think of the madmen of Desolate Fortress who had passed by while dragging Lady Gao.

Though Desolate Fortress was always a place that protected something, he had personally experienced northern jianghu. The Divine Sword Group that was entirely preemptive.

‘Central Plains jianghu hasn’t experienced it yet.’

The General Administration pavilion was still empty, but something had filled those vacant spaces. Dust and sunlight, or perhaps Lim Jin-myeong’s suppressed anger. Even though Literary Star’s shadow was cast in the hall, the sunlight was bright. It poured down brightly with somehow tyrannical feeling.

* * *

Mount Song.

Giant Literary Star’s foot crushed stone fragments and climbed the grayish-white hill. A Yao tribe was treading on the mountain located in the center of Central Plains’ Five Sacred Mountains in broad daylight. Moreover, he was with dozens of Desolate Fortress warriors bearing the character ‘Desolate’ on their shoulders.

“This place is exactly that…”

The mountain known for countless poets and scholars revering its atmosphere and reciting great meanings of learning. Lim Jin-myeong moved his mouth several times and almost drew Literary Star’s attention, but soon shook his head and stopped.

‘He wouldn’t be impressed enough to be speechless. No matter how unusual a Yao tribe he is.’

It was then.

“There was a great battle. That cliff collapsed greatly once.”

Literary Star, who had been looking around, pointed to one side.

“The rock face on the opposite side was pulled out entirely like a weapon but stopped… This is Martial Star’s ‘light power.’ Those hammer-shaped scorch marks are traces that appear only after Martial Star abandons short-term decisive battles. When the opponent’s defensive skills are so absurdly solid that power is more needed than speed.”

Whoosh!

A huge gale swept past Literary Star. At the same time, the ground shook with a rumble. Because of this, Literary Star couldn’t finish his words.

“Coming this far, I should feel a gate…?”

What Lim Jin-myeong, Shin So-bin, Hyeon Won-chang, and of course the four military units of Divine Sword Group encountered in one bound wasn’t a battlefield.

A barrier of people surrounding the great temple.

It was a tremendous crowd.

“……”

It was difficult to count the numbers.

Most of the crowd were those who had manifested power fluctuations. It seemed to easily exceed a thousand people, and there appeared to be few ignorant of martial learning. It would have been impossible unless all the jianghu clans, local warlords, and various influential families from Dengfeng County below Mount Song had climbed up.

The silence was enormous.

Though they had come to where they should rightfully enter, it felt as if blocked by something overwhelming. Moreover, judging by the appearance and condition of some faces’ skin, they looked haggard from staying up for several days and nights.

“What?”

Hyeon Won-chang muttered quietly.

It was an ambiguous soliloquy. Why had a group with no reason to dangerously covet Shaolin’s offerings gathered here, and by what circumstances could they not enter the temple?

“Just one, just need to confirm one thing…”

Some young master in silk clothes whispered very anxiously. Part of the type one could easily see while passing through jianghu, who usually couldn’t recognize masters due to shallow eye techniques and ended up ruining even their families.

This time seemed different.

Though he nervously fidgeted his knees, he didn’t take a single step. As if an extremely sensitive absolute being was practicing energy circulation and breath regulation within Shaolin grounds.

“I say, what exactly…”

Right after Hyeon Won-chang spoke in his usual tone, the unnamed young master urgently shook his head with eyes wide as saucers, and suddenly blue lightning crackled against the air from the void, connecting to Hyeon Won-chang’s crown.

Zzzzzing…

The sound of covering a loudly ringing bell with hands.

It rang from the demon sword Hyeon Won-chang had drawn before he knew it. Though unbearable lightning energy poured through the blade into his head, the prohibition of Seven Pillar Forbidden Acupoint Great Method scattered even that energy.

“Ha.”

A powerful exhale. For a moment, lightning’s brilliance mixed with the blue light characteristic of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique in his eyes.

“Ah, so it was you.”

A familiar woman’s voice.

Before he knew it, Hyeon Won-chang’s surroundings were empty like a clearing. Because those who had mastered lightness techniques had retreated far away like wind. As if plague had spread.

A wide-open view.

A pure white woman sat perched on the signboard carved with the characters “Shaolin Temple.” She extended one leg long over the “Lin” character of the signboard, with her opposite elbow resting on her knee. Sunlight rippled elegantly on the silver mask that half-covered her face.

It was Ming Cult Leader Little Heavenly Demon Invincible.

“I have no intention of interfering with living and dying according to one’s lifespan, but I saw something interesting from afar. So I’m standing guard.”

She slowly moved her lips.

“You stay there quietly too.”

“Mm?”

The moment some middle-aged man’s questioning exclamation interjected, Hyeon Won-chang’s sword, which had been flowing bluish light into the air, hummed.

Below the signboard violated by the cult leader.

“You there, that thing.”

A man in a bamboo hat approached slowly, using a sword instead of a crutch. A one-armed, one-legged swordsman, whose grip technique holding the handle was so strong it was remarkably stable.

‘Right now the heads of Unorthodox Sects are guarding Shaolin’s main gate…’

Hyeon Won-chang was puzzled. Had he come to the wrong place?

“Excuse me for a moment. Mm, excuse me. Since they’re all familiar faces.”

From behind, a very polite voice approached, asking dozens of people for understanding. Words and actions that had to be versed in etiquette and propriety. The more so, the more Hyeon Won-chang’s shadow was covered by a giant silhouette.

“This works out well.”

Finally, he was completely obscured.

Literary Star, who had somehow appeared before Little Heavenly Demon Invincible and Unorthodox Finest Sword, smiled broadly. And immediately launched into incomprehensible talk.

“Though Fighting God had six stars by his side, he ultimately neither unified the demon realm nor succeeded in southern conquest. Because he treated the six as comrades. To crush the rough and mighty anti-Fighting God faction, he should have known how to send his close associates to death.”

“……?”

“In contrast, look at yourselves. You have no comrades whether looking in all directions or even close by, and you’ve even exchanged grudges with Northern Emperor. In a situation desperate for pawns to use and discard.”

Then Literary Star spread both arms.

“You have become Northern Emperor’s Six Stellar Lords. Now four remain.”

Step.

Hyeon Won-chang stepped back with Radiant Wing Steps as a retreat technique, fearing madness might be contagious. At the same time, he whispered to his sword. The only ones to trust are Sword Master and Master Jeong.

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