Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 443: The Sun-Setting Banner (5)

In an instant, the surroundings became chaotic. Three figures had swiftly drawn close to Jeong Yeon-shin, displaying the pinnacle of their defensive martial techniques.

Two black long robes and a scholar’s attire stirred up gusts of wind, creating a sharp, slicing sound that seemed to tear through the air itself.

Not only Ak Su-rim but also Hahoe Wi-jin and the Grand Commander had taken it upon themselves to act as his protectors.

Standing a distance away, Yun So-yu, the Yullyeong Unit’s leader, merely grasped the hilt of her sword, her long hair billowing as she silently observed the scene.

"Do not act rashly."

Shin Byeok spoke in an aged voice, issuing what seemed like an order to the three of them. His expression remained astonishingly calm.

The Elder Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

Even if his martial prowess had long diminished, he had worn the violet robe for decades. His knowledge and insight were such that they could be said to touch the heavens themselves.

No one in the hall understood Jeong Yeon-shin’s talents and perceptiveness better than he did.

"The newly appointed Violet has received the Moonlight Harmonization Formula from the Lord of the Fortress. Naturally, no matter what happens, it is not unexpected. A few of you should go down and calm the warriors of the main fortress."

Even as he spoke, the surroundings shook violently.

The mismatched chairs and tables in the office trembled ceaselessly, while the vibrations that continued to rise devoured the still night air with a low, grating hum.

"......."

Ak Su-rim had long discarded the playful manner in which she had earlier teased with exaggerated respect.

Her jet-black eyes, belonging to Ipwang’s Divine Spear, now carried a grave intensity as she gazed at Jeong Yeon-shin’s profile.

A young man standing beside the Lord’s wooden bed, his violet robe fluttering along with his long hair. His eyes shone with an incandescent light.

It was as if a flower made of pure radiance had bloomed within his gaze.

Ak Su-rim slowly parted her lips.

“...Old man Shin.”

"What you are thinking is correct. It seems we will finally hear news from the Lord. The newly appointed Violet will one day bear a tremendous burden."

"Is that not expected? Among the current Violets, he is the only one who can be considered the fortress’s active force."

"Keep your mouth shut, brute. The elders are talking. It would be disgraceful if a direct descendant had a narrower perspective than me...."

"The one who should be dismissed is not me, but the deputy leader of the Divine Sword Squad, whose martial techniques are shallow."

While those who had spent long years in Ipwang Fortress engaged in lighthearted exchanges to suppress their astonishment—

‘What is this?’

Jeong Yeon-shin felt as if his consciousness was being drawn into the Fortress Lord’s bed.

It was similar to the sensation he had when he once ate a fragment of the Celestial Tree’s fruit, personally handed to him by the Lord.

His mind stretched and narrowed like a thread, tunneling toward an unknown place.

It was unlike what he had anticipated.

He had expected to gain the Fortress Lord’s perspective, which once overlooked the entirety of the realm from his resting place. Yet, instead of spreading outward like water seeping into roots, his awareness surged forward into an unfathomable distance.

It was a phenomenon so mysterious that it could be considered one of the Great Mysteries of the Martial World.

And then, suddenly—

Thud—

He collided with something before he could even comprehend where he was going. It was soft, yet firm.

A space like a dream—within that vast realm of thought, Jeong Yeon-shin abruptly sensed someone’s presence.

—You...

A voice immediately recognizable.

The deep, luminous resonance did not reach his ears but reverberated through his very being, as if stroking his soul.

—You have arrived at last.

He understood in an instant.

It was the Fortress Lord.

The Celestial Tree’s supreme mystery.

How could such a thing be possible? The world held more strange occurrences than he could ever account for.

Among his peers, he was a leading figure in many fields. Yet, even now, as a Violet, his knowledge was still too narrow.

As if executing a technique he had never used before, he willed himself to speak in thought.

With a slight tremor in his heart—

—My Lord...?

—Well done.

A sensation akin to being bathed in gentle moonlight.

Such a dreamlike presence could not be imitated by anyone.

It was certain.

Jeong Yeon-shin felt a rare exhilaration.

How many words had he longed to say to his savior, his master?

This moment felt like a reward far greater than any formal ascension ceremony.

—Have you been well? I have dearly wished to see you.

His words came with the same sincerity as when he had once thought of the Fortress Lord in place of his deceased grandfather.

A quiet laughter brushed his mind.

It filled his heart with warmth.

And then, he suddenly realized—it had been a long time since he had last seen his master smile.

—I am now wearing the Violet Robe. The Emperor himself bestowed it upon me.

—That aligns with my will as well.

Her voice softly massaged his thoughts, its texture as light and warm as a cotton cloud.

—I fully acknowledge your ascension.

Those words.

Ah.

The weariness he had unknowingly carried melted away completely.

At this moment, not even the severe injuries he had suffered from the Heavenly Sword Master seemed to matter.

What more could he possibly lack?

He had earned the recognition of the Emperor, the common people, and now, the Fortress Lord.

Jeong Yeon-shin instinctively responded.

—Is this not a matter of great importance? You have not even seen me, yet you have already decided...

—Your hair must be quite long now.

The Fortress Lord whispered in a soft voice.

Jeong Yeon-shin had initially intended to ask when she would return. But instead, he boldly confirmed that yes, his hair had grown quite long.

He believed he had now reached a level where he could stand before his master as a proper martial artist.

Just as she had once said to him long ago.

‘By now... I must have become a proper master in my own right. I am still far from my master’s level, but...’

Though he had narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s techniques, he had still reached a point where he could sit alongside the leaders of the great martial sects.

He wanted to show the Fortress Lord how his long hair cascaded down the back of his Violet Robe.

—In truth, I wished to borrow the power of the Celestial Tree’s trunk to survey the city. There are enemies lurking beyond the walls, seeking to strike the fortress...

—Your intentions are admirable.

—But it does not work as I had hoped. Perhaps it is because I am not of the noble bloodline, but I feel as if something is blocking me.

—In all things, one’s lineage matters little.

Her voice was slow and deliberate.

—If you strive harder, you will succeed.

—Do you truly believe so?

—Are we not already conversing like this?

She had encouraged him.

For once, Jeong Yeon-shin felt elated.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Though he did not outwardly show it, he began to speak freely about all manner of things—martial arts, trivial matters, even stories of the past.

Unlike their last meeting, his martial arts had improved. Or perhaps, it was simply easier to talk now that they were not face to face.

The Fortress Lord listened patiently, even discussing something as simple as the preparation of mountain herbs.

At one point, Jeong Yeon-shin even asked if she had ever swung on a festival swing during the Dragon Boat Festival.

—I recall hanging onto one as a child. The other children tried to stop me.

—May I ask where you are now? Some say you are in the Celestial Tree, others that you are eradicating demons in their lairs... I may be able to help.

—You will know soon enough.

She whispered.

But it was not over yet.

Jeong Yeon-shin had more to say.

Yet—

—Sleep now. You look weary.

His consciousness was suddenly pulled back.

As his vision blurred, he realized he was lying on the wooden bed of the Fortress Lord.

The leaders of the fortress, including the Grand Commander and Ak Su-rim, stood around him with concerned faces.

"You met her, did you not?"

From afar, Elder Shin Byeok’s voice called out.

Lying down, Jeong Yeon-shin nodded.

"...She has granted my ascension as a Violet."

"That is not what is truly astonishing. The remarkable thing is that you connected with the Fortress Lord herself. Do you understand what today’s events signify? No, rest first. What you have done is a miracle, and the toll on your body will not be light."

The old man was right.

The injuries from the Heavenly Sword Master and his sheer exhaustion weighed down on him.

His vision darkened. The wooden ceiling, the sharp senses he had deliberately honed, the voices of his comrades—

"Little Lord of the Fortress...?"

With that puzzling thought, he sank into the depths of sleep.

***

When Jeong Yeon-shin woke up, seven nights had already passed. What he had thought was only a fleeting moment had been far longer.

This was the price of facing the Heavenly Sword Master of the Mount Hua Sect head-on. His body had suffered extreme internal injuries, including severe damage to the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and multiple penetrating wounds—far beyond what any ordinary person could endure.

The residual force of a thousand-year martial lineage weighed heavily on him, causing his body’s natural healing, derived from Jeongga Internal Energy, to take an uncharacteristically long time to restore itself.

'But it's fine now.'

He could feel it. His body had become lighter. Unlike his comrades, his physique was still fundamentally human. He had an exceptional ability to recall its original state and return to it.

"Sir Jeong...? How are you already awake?"

The Grand Commander had just entered, his arms full of scrolls, when he saw Jeong Yeon-shin stirring.

"Grand Commander, is there anything I need to be aware of?"

"There are a few matters we were organizing, but..."

The Grand Commander trailed off. He had just returned from consulting various physicians, but all they had told him was to wait and observe.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slightly, acknowledging his concern, before motioning for the report to begin.

Seven nights.

An extraordinary span of time.

It was an age of chaos. Since the battle at Mount Hua, the power structure of the martial world had shifted drastically.

Countless branches of the Bloodflame Cult had risen across the land, launching uprisings in a desperate bid to seize food supplies.

Meanwhile, remnants of the once-great Ming Cult had resurfaced in Sichuan, declaring the rise of the Demonic World Order.

The leader of the Unrivaled Dragon Society had proclaimed that he had mastered all martial arts of the world and had begun shattering the plaques of every sect—righteous and unorthodox alike.

Further north, there were even rumors that the borders had been breached, allowing a small but powerful force of northern beastfolk to descend into the martial world.

At the same time, Heaven’s Extreme Sect and Great Mother Mountain Fortress had taken up arms, each vying for the title of the world's strongest.

"This is the revised structure for the Divine Sword Corps, drafted after much deliberation by the General Command Office. It can be adjusted according to your discretion, Sir Jeong."

The Grand Commander handed over a document, bound in iron rods at its sides. Even at a glance, it was an exceptionally elaborate report.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently received it and unfolded the scroll.

He and the Grand Commander exchanged thoughts in hushed tones for a long while.

"So the newly appointed Deputy Commander who will serve under the Acting Lord of the Divine Sword Corps is... Hmm. Very well, I will comply for now."

"I would never presume to judge my senior warriors, but above all, character and temperament should be the top priorities."

"Naturally."

The Grand Commander nodded. Jeong Yeon-shin found it unusual for the man, who was known for his blunt manner, to agree so easily. But then his eyes flicked to the violet sleeve of his own robe, and he understood.

"The world is in turmoil, but from now on, Sir Jeong, you are free to choose where to march next. However..."

"Speak freely."

"There is a visitor from the Palace of the Bright King."

"Who...?"

"The Bright King himself has come personally. He insists that either Lord Yong or Sir Jeong must meet with him."

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly.

"Is this a matter of importance to the fortress?"

"That depends entirely on your decision."

"In that case, I will send word later. There are matters left unsaid with the Fortress Lord."

"The Bright King's request can wait. We will see you at the banquet, then."

Once the Grand Commander left, Jeong Yeon-shin reached out and placed his hand upon the wooden bed of the Fortress Lord.

Once again, deep tremors surged up through the bark.

It was an unbelievable phenomenon.

The ability to speak with his revered master whenever he wished—this was a privilege that no one else in the world possessed.

—"My Lord."

—"You have regained your strength. That is good to hear."

A hint of warmth appeared on Jeong Yeon-shin’s face.

As he was about to speak again, he sensed something subtle. As if perceiving his intent, the Fortress Lord’s breath carried a faint trace of laughter.

Then, suddenly, the mental connection shattered.

It felt like a gentle dismissal.

Jeong Yeon-shin had no choice but to withdraw his consciousness.

'She is telling me to focus on my duties.'

He swallowed the words he had been about to say and sighed.

Placing his hand once more on the trunk of the Celestial Tree, he steadied himself.

Woong—

Even if he was to march into battle, he had to stabilize the city first in place of the absent Lord of Ipwang Fortress.

If he wanted to track down the martial artists who had infiltrated the capital, he needed to master the use of the Celestial Tree’s abilities. That was the Fortress Lord’s domain.

'It shouldn’t take long.'

Half-closing his eyes, Jeong Yeon-shin focused.

A strange sensation rose within him. His perception stretched outward, extending along the tree’s trunk as if his senses were flowing into the roots.

And then—

The image of the fortress, bathed in sunlight, unfolded in his mind.

And within it, he felt it.

An intruder who did not belong.

A presence, faint but unmistakably powerful, hidden beneath the surface.

'When did they get in...?'

While he had been asleep, it seemed that the martial world had come to him.

'Madness...!'

A sudden urgency overtook him.

From Ma Gwang-ik’s pavilion, an unknown figure flinched.

As if they had somehow sensed Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze reaching them through the Celestial Tree.

Boom!

In an instant, Jeong Yeon-shin shattered the ceiling of the Fortress Lord’s office and shot into the sky.

The shimmering light of Ten-League Radiance, his supreme movement technique, left a lingering glow in the air.

***

BOOM!

The ground exploded. Shattered stone fragments rained down as Jeong Yeon-shin crashed through the roof.

His eyes gleamed with an intense blue radiance.

And then, he saw it.

A swordswoman with jet-black hair lay helplessly restrained.

Her pale skin was stark against the blue martial robes she wore.

Someone was holding her down.

Swish.

The masked figure gripping Baek Mi-ryeo by the throat turned their head toward him.

A silver mask covered their face, and they were clad in an extravagant robe embroidered with delicate patterns—yet it was soaked with traces of blood.

Even now, Baek /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Mi-ryeo’s eyes were wide open, as if paralyzed by a pressure point strike.

This was happening inside Ipwang Fortress’s inner court.

Right in Ma Gwang-ik’s own office.

The figure’s hand was slender and unnaturally pale, as white as untouched snow—almost identical to Baek Mi-ryeo’s own complexion.

It was a sign.

Both of them had mastered the same martial arts—Bare-Handed Demon Techniques.

"Well now."

A crimson smile curled across the lips of the masked figure.

A chillingly seductive grin, laced with unmistakable demonic intent.

"This is quite troublesome."

Jeong Yeon-shin said nothing.

Shhhk—

His sword, Yeorei, leapt into the air of its own accord, revealing its ripple-patterned blade.

This was an extraordinary sword technique, one that bordered on the realm of the divine.

At the same time, the newly appointed Violet Lord clasped his hands behind his back and activated Hwan-gang’s Supreme Flow.

The earth trembled beneath his feet.