CHAPTER 197

"Our dear Lightning Genius, it's been a while. I've been watching all along… You were quite amazing during the Opening Tournament. I might have fallen for you a little."

A light, small hand patted his shoulder.

A girl in a black long robe, with her short hair growing down to her nape—it was Ak Surim.

Jung Yeonshin's eyes met hers. The pupils of the great senior, who had reversed aging, shone black.

"I nearly went blind watching over you. Especially when you were with the Sword Demon. Stealth techniques aren't even my specialty. Anyway, I just couldn't overlook it. It was too dangerous."

At the end of her sentence, she turned to look at the Zhuge Clan leader.

Their clear gazes met.

Ak Surim was ranked as the strongest in Desolate Fortress under the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

The Zhuge Clan leader had planned the Murim Alliance and placed his clan on an unshakable foundation. Which of the two was superior? It was a confrontation the martial world had its eyes on.

Boom!

In that moment, a giant arrived, having demolished seven pavilions along the way, and stood to the left of Jung Yeonshin. His presence was overwhelming.

No matter how one looked at him, he didn't seem like a pureblood noble, yet his ears were as pointed as those of any noble lineage.

His hair was swept completely back, revealing a broad forehead, and his face was strikingly handsome.

His eyes, which glanced down at the boy, gleamed with intense curiosity.

"So you are the Lightning Genius. This one is Wei-Jin of the Xiahou Clan of Desolate Fortress."

His voice was as thick as his massive frame. It resonated from deep within, carrying an immense power within its tone.

Each word sent reverberations through Jung Yeonshin's mind. Was it the result of a noble who had lived for countless years never neglecting his internal energy refinement?

Thousand Fist Dragon Force Minister, Xiahou Wei-Jin.

The leader of the Forest Striding Squad, a renowned confidant of the Desolate Fortress' Lord. Like a grandmaster, he too wore a black long robe.

Due to his towering height—easily three heads taller than Jung Yeonshin—the robe draped over him resembled a cape.

Jung Yeonshin raised a brief cupped fist salute.

"I greet Senior Xiahou. I am Jung Yeonshin of Xinye County."

For now, the exchange ended with a simple greeting. The person before him was an absolute master.

Ak Surim parted her lips, casting a sidelong glance at the Zhuge Clan leader.

"The Tang Clan Leader, who considers Lightning Genius his master, will be coming too. As long as we take down Murong and Zhuge, the rest will follow. It shouldn't be too difficult. This ragtag alliance is still incomplete."

She spoke with a bright, playful smile.

It was as if a skylark were chirping cheerfully, making the atmosphere instantly lighter.

Ak Surim began folding her slender fingers one by one.

"Let's see… Me, Tang Clan Leader, the big guy, and Lightning Genius—shouldn't that be enough to take down that pale-faced guy and that fool from the Murong Clan? Our swordplay and footwork are leagues ahead of your poor subordinates. Look, even the Murong guy is holed up, aware of everything. See how still his energy is? He's not even budging."

Her lips curled up.

"There must be something inside that shouldn't be seen. Seems like Murong has given up on you after sensing us."

She was making audacious remarks about the Zhuge Clan leader and Murong Clan leader. Yet, it wasn't an exaggeration.

Jung Yeonshin could sense two approaching energy flows at a frightening speed. The presence of profound internal energy was familiar.

The Tang Clan Leader and Sage Cheon Joo. Causing this much chaos, of course, they would have noticed. It was obvious whose side they would take.

The Alliance Leader remained neutral. The fact that he had yet to show himself was proof enough.

Sword Saint Hyun So-baek was known among the people as a transcendent being. Though originally a wandering warrior, he had repeatedly demonstrated otherworldly prowess.

One could only guess how vast his energy perception was. The moment the Radiant Demon Squad leader caused an uproar, he likely noticed Azure Qilin's incident as well.

Since he had expressed concern over the normalization of the orthodox factions when facing Jung Yeonshin, the strongest master in the Central Plains at this moment would not appear here.

As the leader of the Murim Alliance, he could not side with Desolate Fortress, nor would he support the Zhuge Clan leader.

Given these circumstances—

The roles of Ak Surim and Xiahou Wei-Jin were clear. Protecting Lightning Genius' procession. They had charged into enemy territory, prepared for war, but unnecessary battles should be avoided.

This was the heart of the greatest enemy camp in the world. Unless the Zhuge Clan leader tried to break through them, they had no reason to harm him.

Observing the downfall was enough.

"The Desolate Fortress hasn't had surplus forces as of late…"

The Zhuge Clan leader spoke quietly, betraying no emotion.

Though his posture, covering his lips with a fan, still appeared relaxed, everyone present knew—it was a facade.

Ak Surim casually swept back her jet-black sideburns.

She then carelessly rubbed the back of her white neck, exuding an air of both boldness and beauty.

"Lightning Genius is clearly the future of Desolate Fortress. You thought the Fortress' Lord would just sit back and watch after sending such a treasure to your side? Did you think we were idiots?"

Even though her words were sharp and mocking, the Zhuge Clan leader did not respond.

The strongest warrior in Desolate Fortress could rival even the leader of a great clan.

The rumor that Desolate Divine Spear had elevated Ak Clan Spear Art to another realm was no exaggeration.

Meanwhile, Thousand Fist Dragon Force Minister's fist technique was said to be capable of splitting mountains. The Tang Clan Leader and the Sword Sage were well-known supreme masters.

Moreover—

The uproar caused by Jung Yeonshin was enormous.

He had shattered the walls of the Zhuge Clan's territory. He had detonated the Radiant River.

The Murim Alliance was filled with elite martial artists with keen senses. People were swarming toward the scene.

Everything was turning against the Zhuge Clan leader.

Even if he was concerned about the hall where Azure Qilin's corpse might be, he couldn't afford to be distracted in front of Desolate Divine Spear and Thousand Fist Dragon Force Minister.

The Zhuge Clan leader stood atop the roof in a poised stance, doing nothing.

Slowly—

Jung Yeonshin straightened his posture, adjusting the single sleeve on his right side and brushing off the dust on his body.

He felt, once again, how vast the fence of Desolate Fortress was.

Now, it was time to meet the deceased.

Zhuge Qing-ya, trembling in confusion, followed closely behind him.

Her expression was filled with determination. In the end, she intended to crush the Zhuge Clan leader's influence within the righteous factions.

"Radiant Demon Squad Leader."

The Zhuge Clan leader called out in a composed voice.

Jung Yeonshin did not turn back. He did not stop walking.

With a voice as clear as the legendary Zhuge Wuhou, he continued.

"Such reckless behavior, blind to heaven and earth, is unwise. You will meet an early demise. Even the most extraordinary flowers of the ages are meaningless if they never bloom. No matter how boundless your potential, the great warriors of the world will not view you kindly."

"You people never consider the opposite perspective."

Jung Yeonshin spoke while stepping forward.

"The Alliance has wronged me. Remember this day and bring it up again in two years."

It was a statement that silenced the crowd. It was a terrifying warning.

A prodigy, galloping through the world at an unprecedented speed, had declared his intent for the future.

At that moment—

"Ha ha ha ha! Well said!"

Xiahou Wei-Jin's laughter stirred the wind. It was more than hearty—it was a roaring tempest.

It was an unusual atmosphere. Eventually, the sound of blades being unsheathed and imbued with internal energy rang out.

Srrng! Cha-cha-chang!

Even in the presence of Ak Surim and Xiahou Wei-Jin, many were preparing for battle.

Ak Yerim, who arrived late, was no exception.

Her long, braided black hair swayed, the energy rising from her body fluttering her crane-feather-like robes.

She gripped a spear in both hands.

Even upon seeing her aunt, Ak Surim, who looked younger than herself, she only flinched for a moment.

She had come upon hearing that the Radiant Demon Squad Leader was rampaging, yet the utterly devastated pavilion grounds chilled her heart.

"I thought I had misunderstood, that my prejudice had been excessive, that I had been ashamed…"

The one tasked with hunting down the Profound Martial Alliance in the Central Plains where the Murim Alliance stood, was the Radiant Demon Squad Leader of Desolate Fortress. Despite facing another enemy deep in enemy territory, he had not refused.

Before confronting the martial forces of the Profound Martial Alliance at Western Peak Road, she had heard his true thoughts. Lightning Genius had slain his adversaries and suppressed himself.

When that restraint unraveled under the guidance of Fan Dragon Zhuge Hyeon, the swift swordplay reminiscent of the King-Style Sword Arts emerged.

After that, she had seen her own reflection in the Murim Alliance, which had hastily moved up the schedule of the Opening Tournament.

Narrow-minded, stubbornly self-righteous, allowing oneself anything under the belief of being correct—such conduct.

She had even stopped Eun Hwaryun from reading the counter-techniques for Lightning Genius' martial arts, gifted by the Zhuge Clan leader.

It had been revolting.

But the sight before her eyes now—

'I don't know anything anymore.'

Frowning in distress, Ak Yerim closed her eyes tightly.

What was right and what was wrong? Who was Lightning Genius truly? Among the groaning martial artists of Wise Heaven Squad, some were friends she had bonded with.

Yet, the Radiant Demon Squad Leader had entered a small pavilion and did not emerge.

"Explain why you have committed such atrocities!"

"Is Desolate Fortress plotting against the Main Alliance?"

The air grew hot. An area packed with high-ranking martial artists was bound to be filled with Yang energy. It happened naturally.

The moment internal energy was stirred, energy fields clashed. In mass combat, the stronger one's internal power, the greater the necessity for mastery of protective energy techniques.

"Shouldn't you begin by dealing with the Thirteen Celestial Demons for your cause to be justified?"

"Lightning Genius! Come out and speak for yourself! Why are you hiding in the Zhuge Clan's dwelling?"

Rage fed into the heat, and the Yang energy fueled further aggression. The vortex of energy, seemingly ready to explode at any moment, expanded.

This was the Murim Alliance. Anyone who carried a weapon here was already a master.

Yet, Desolate Divine Spear Ak Surim looked utterly unbothered.

"So noisy. Even the Zhuge Clan leader is too wary to strike first, yet you martial artists do nothing but yap."

"How can you be so lawless within the righteous Murim Alliance?"

Some martial artists shouted, but their voices died the moment she spoke.

"Three in black-robe have gathered."

Ak Surim crossed one leg over the other and loosely clasped her hands behind her back.

With a smirk, she responded, and from the casually gripped spear behind her, a flicker of energy radiated. The attitude of a back-alley thug suited her oddly well.

"Don't you get what that means? Right now, this place is also the Desolate Fortress."

Mocking the assembled heroes with the face of a girl barely past her teens, she did not make the first move, but she was practically pouring oil onto the fire.

This was simply Ak Surim's nature. Even if driven to the edge of a cliff, she would sneer defiantly.

Her fearless martial prowess and her bold temperament had earned her the title of Desolate Divine Spear.

The resentment escalated. Boos and jeers, ill-fitting for the gathering, rang out. Some martial artists of the alliance had completely honed their sword energy.

A battle of unprecedented scale was on the verge of erupting.

"A worthless clan dares to yap endlessly! Truly repulsive! I want to crush you all beneath my feet!"

Bang! Bang!

Xiahou Wei-Jin slammed his fists together. Shards of colorless energy scattered. His mere step had materialized a force, an embodiment of his overwhelming strength.

The spectacle of the Thousand Fist Dragon Force Minister's might made some among the gathered warriors flinch.

Step.

Through the scattering energy, as if parting flower petals, a figure moved. Completely clad in black. Moving silently with the wind.

The young Radiant Demon Squad Leader had appeared.

"...!"

Eyes widened all around.

The boy was carrying a strikingly handsome young man in both arms.

Namgoong Se-jin, his eyes peacefully closed, his complexion oddly vibrant for a corpse, something unnatural must have been at work.

"Ah…."

Ak Yerim covered her lips with her hand, stifling a whimper, her eyes reddened.

Some, sharp-witted, quickly grasped the situation. Murmurs of disbelief spread.

Azure Qilin was a renowned figure in the righteous Murim world.

Many knew his face. Especially the young prodigies.

Murong Mingjun quietly slipped away. Gongsun Min gaped. Even the Little Sword Queen and Yoo Hyun were in shock.

Lazy Flame Dragon, crouched on a wall watching the scene, sighed upon seeing his old friend's state.

Fan Dragon Zhuge Hyeon, who arrived late, looked utterly bewildered.

Shock and doubt swelled. The commotion in the crowd grew louder.

"Why is Azure Qilin emerging from the Zhuge Clan's pavilion?"

"A body meant for the dust, yet it remains intact…!"

The Zhuge Clan leader took no action. He had to endure the watchful eyes of the supreme masters of Desolate Fortress.

Neither the absent support of the Alliance Leader nor the fleeing Murong Clan leader could help him now.

'I'm cornered. Must I now live as a wanderer?'

He thought calmly.

The appearance of Namgoong Se-jin's corpse alone was irrefutable evidence. The Zhuge Clan's defenses were supposed to be impenetrable.

The chaos Lightning Genius had caused spoke volumes. The traces of Mosan Sect's techniques left on Azure Qilin's body were also unmistakable.

Any martial artist with even a shred of knowledge in sorcery-infused martial arts would discern the source. From there, it wouldn't take long to connect the Mosan Sect, Namgoong Clan, and Zhuge Clan.

Thus, he had tried to erase the evidence beforehand. Failing to account for Desolate Fortress' countermeasure had been his mistake.

And then, Zhuge Cheon's testimony sealed it. The climax of the final act.

The girl, swallowing slightly, stepped forward and made her declaration.

"As you all know, I am called the Still Deep Eyes, the eyes of the Zhuge Clan."

Her resplendent voice carried the entire situation within it. She spoke without hesitation.

The only one surviving of the Namgoong Clan's direct line, White Qilin, who had been sent as an envoy to the Alliance from Desolate Fortress, the decision of a father unwilling to lose face to a young Radiant Demon Squad Leader, the actions of the one who had stepped forward without hesitation upon hearing Zhuge Qing-ya's words.

The more they heard, the greater their shock. It was an unfathomable tale.

"What is this…?"

"The whole world will mock the Alliance…"

As they could not bring themselves to glare at the absolute being wielding the White Crane Fan, their gazes slowly rose from Namgoong Se-jin's corpse.

Countless eyes fell upon the Radiant Demon Squad Leader.

He had broken through the Zhuge Clan's formation alone. He had charged in to retrieve the corpse of his eternal rival.

He had not feared a clash with the great clans at the heart of the Murim Alliance.

The anger and determination that had filled the gathered warriors began to wane. Shame crept into their expressions.

This was the righteous Murim. The words of the clan leaders were correct, not all of the martial world was rotten.

Then, suddenly, from one side—

The voice of Heon Wonchang, the one who had watched over Lightning Genius the longest in Desolate Fortress, spoke.

As if composing a verse on the spot, a funeral hymn flowed like a song. A voice, clear and resonant.

"A youth's fleeting moment is worth a thousand gold,

Yet his adversary remains forever bound within his blade."

"...."

Everyone knew of the affairs between Desolate Fortress and the Namgoong Clan.

Silence spread like a tidal wave. Hundreds fell mute. A sight like a grand painting.

Who knew what thoughts filled their minds?

Amidst the swirling energy of a battlefield filled only with masters, Heon Wonchang carefully spoke again.

"Now, get lost."

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