Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 86 – Battle for Possession (5)

When Jeong Yeon-shin saw Flourishing Spirit Flower Master Namgung Mi from afar, he told Namgung Hwa-sin ten seconds.

Even though his opponent was the Namgung young master, he measured timing against Namgung Mi. They had already met.

He wondered if he could break her spirit first.

The situation had changed.

Just as he was about to carry out the martial matches according to the original mission, Namgung Mi gained fame by linking even Virtuous Teacher Sect’s servants with the evil sect.

It was a situation where she gained Wuchang’s public sentiment by taking advantage in reverse.

It became difficult to recklessly kill in Desolate Sect versus Namgung’s life-and-death matches.

Because Desolate Sect warriors must always hold the people’s support.

Therefore he took out the pure blood robe and spoke of a mask. Jeong Yeon-shin quietly stared at Namgung Hwa-sin.

“Mercy in methods…”

Namgung Hwa-sin trailed off. He seemed lost in thought for a moment.

“…However, the order has changed.”

He raised his head. Sunlight coming from far away swirled around his handsome features.

Opening his mouth with a face befitting the praise White Qilin, his eyes gazing at Jeong Yeon-shin were firm.

It was an expression of straightforwardly worrying for a companion.

“Namgung Mi is a direct line rising talent. Judging by her energy waves, she seems to have recently eaten a peerless spirit medicine. The saying she’s foremost among juniors might not be much exaggeration. Yin cold energy, freezing ice energy. There are various terms, but yin internal energy is very tricky.”

Namgung Hwa-sin said.

“They say the energy waves freeze meridians first. It rapidly reduces the fluidity of blood vessel energy circulation. Inner power release speed becomes notably slower, and explosive muscle power plummets. The longer one exchanges moves, the more extremely the body becomes dull. The power held by true qi specialized in yin-yang five elements nature is truly frightening.”

His tone was as serious as his expression. It was talk of compatibility before martial arts level.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded.

“Made such internal energy into spirit medicine… If the family’s capability is to that extent, I can understand the main family’s scheme. Using Namgung with only its leadership struck down to face evil sects.”

“The Flourishing Spirit Flower Master Namgung Mi must have received cultivation techniques suitable for dissolving the spirit medicine. Or perhaps they invited reliable internal masters. Since they’re a family with such power.”

Influence and wealth, or martial might. They must have used whatever means to raise their only two direct line members.

“Skipping the energy accumulation process with spirit medicine…”

Jeong Yeon-shin muttered.

Accumulation. Gathering energy. The martial world was full of those who accumulated true qi over long years through heart techniques like energy circulation and absorption methods.

It was common to speak to train one heavenly stem earthly branch, one needed sixty years of training.

When martial artists say they gained enlightenment in heart techniques, it means they found thought methods more suitable for energy absorption than before.

‘Always lacking in energy accumulation.’

It was like that even after eating the supply spirit pill said to be superior grade.

Even Namgung Hwa-sin right before his eyes had deeper internal energy than himself. It was a difference created due to innate limits.

That’s why he’s striving now to create cultivation techniques with faster energy accumulation speed.

“Not just skipping, but gaining even more powerful strength.”

Namgung Hwa-sin’s face looked bitter as he turned his head sideways.

He continued speaking.

“It’s the strength of a family that exists only for the direct line clan. Different from Desolate Sect. Since peerless spirit medicines passing through the main fortress must go to imperial family members. Though it happens in utmost secrecy.”

“…Even the spirit pill I received wasn’t small.”

“It would be beyond that. Naturally so.”

Perhaps because he had thoughts of facing his half-sister? Namgung Hwa-sin’s lips trembled again.

“The Flourishing Spirit Flower Master and Azure Qilin are no different from great trees nurtured by Mount Tai that is the Namgung family. I’m not dismissing Young Hero Jeong. I mean there are martial arts hard to counter even with equal martial arts ranking. Starting with me. Though I volunteered for the mission to overcome heart demons, I’m unsure if I can overcome them in time.”

He clasps his trembling hands himself. Namgung Hwa-sin smiled awkwardly.

‘This mission has several meanings.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

Desolate Sect main fortress issued the mission to govern the murim under heaven, Jeong Yeon-shin whose life thread was at stake volunteered to fill achievements, and Namgung Hwa-sin who was despised came to clear away past years and avenge his mother.

‘During the competition he tried to defeat me to fight the young master. Does he have a grudge against Azure Qilin too?’

The boy stared steadily at Namgung Hwa-sin.

After gazing at him like that for a moment, he slowly parted his lips.

“Though I can’t lift Young Hero Namgung’s heart up…”

“Haha, I don’t expect such things from Young Hero Jeong.”

After Namgung Hwa-sin’s small laugh, Jeong Yeon-shin’s words continued.

“It seems I can pull Namgung Mi down.”

* * *

The woman with snow-white skin slowly bit into a peach.

The chair she sat in was decorated with luxurious tiger skin, and her appearance with hands draped on the armrests like a monarch suited her very well.

Moving her small mouth unhurriedly, she said:

“Do it.”

Namgung Mi’s order fell. For some, it was words announcing their end.

The bodies of those remaining at Wuchang’s Virtuous Teacher Sect trembled with uncontrollable fear.

The servants were already disabled. Next were they who were attendants.

The Namgung family’s Flourishing Spirit Flower warriors approached. Energy waves spread from their bare hands.

Their eyes looking down at the attendants were completely indifferent. Not gazes treating equals.

“Save us, please save us!”

“I was dragged here!”

Ming dynasty law does not permit private torture.

In Great Ming, commoners were the emperor’s property. No one should defy this.

However, the Central Plains was vast. It was land difficult for the imperial court to scrutinize thoroughly.

At this moment, Namgung Mi’s orders were above Great Ming law. Even more so in the nearby Namgung family territory.

“I won’t kill you.”

She smiled thinly. It was a smile with even dignity embedded.

“I’ll just destroy your dantians. You, learned vicious evil sect techniques. Since you acted as dogs for this wicked Virtuous Teacher Sect, who knows what atrocities you might commit against commoners outside after your fallen sect?”

“Never learned martial arts… HEOK!”

The moment Flourishing Spirit Flower warriors’ hands moved, screams burst out everywhere.

The pain of dantian destruction is not light. It’s tearing apart the Ocean of Qi point located in the lower abdomen with internal energy palm technique.

How could one endure the feeling of blood vessels being completely severed? Never, could they return to a whole state.

Over a dozen attendants rolled on the ground. Blood came from both below and mouth simultaneously.

Bloodstains began appearing across the floor of Virtuous Teacher Sect’s central hall.

Some of the Virtuous Teacher Sect workers were fortunately selected as Namgung Mi’s servants.

They stood to one side, not daring to make a sound. Stiff faces. They could barely even breathe properly.

“Clean up and call people. I’ll hold a feast distributing this insignificant evil sect’s wealth.”

Namgung Mi said.

They said Namgung Mi’s orders were above Great Ming law in the Namgung family. What she spoke immediately came to be.

It was sunset. The early summer sun stretched long the twilight’s orange light and people’s shadows.

Under one Flourishing Spirit Flower warrior’s watch the attendants couldn’t act rashly, and Virtuous Teacher Sect’s practice ground soon transformed into a banquet hall for Wuchang’s people.

The Namgung family’s masters exterminated Virtuous Teacher Sect. It was no ordinary big news.

Local dignitaries gathered on their own without invitation.

“So satisfying!”

“Serves those Virtuous Teacher Sect b*st*rds right!”

“A Snow Mountain fairy descended in Namgung’s name. Just look at that jade-like skin. She’s not like us common people.”

“And possesses accomplished martial arts too. Truly a thankful thing.”

The table brought out from inside Virtuous Teacher Sect was very large. Dozens of people sat around eating and drinking.

They were mainly owners of merchant groups, escort agencies, and martial arts halls established in Wuchang.

Even the head of Wuchang’s government school teaching academics stroked his beard respectfully.

“So, you’re saying a Namgung family branch will be established here?”

A middle-aged bald man asked. Though said to be head of a mid-sized escort agency, his manner was like addressing a superior.

Namgung Mi slowly nodded.

“You saw Virtuous Teacher Sect’s tragic behavior. Though inadequate, I wish to manage the murim’s security in Wuchang…”

The corners of her mouth gently curled up.

“I wonder if I might be burdening you all.”

“Absolutely not!”

“Rather, it’s something to be thankful for!”

Many in attendance waved their hands. This was done by the Namgung family’s precious daughter.

Even if they truly didn’t like it, they had to say so.

“Mm, thank you.”

The smile on Namgung Mi’s lips deepened. A young martial artist who had been staring blankly at her raised his hand.

“Young Lady Namgung! I heard you’ll compete with Desolate Sect warriors!”

“Oh my, are you worried?”

When she smiled as if pleased, he blushed. It was a reaction that didn’t get old.

Such was the martial world Namgung Mi had experienced.

Though various imperial princes and princesses with elf blood were said to be precious, she who grew up as a clan member no less than royalty in the free martial world didn’t envy them.

She thought herself to have the cultivation to be content with what she had. She only wanted to protect what she possessed.

Namgung Mi tilted her head slightly to the side. Her glossy hair shifted sideways. It was an intentional movement.

“I wonder why Desolate Sect left Virtuous Teacher Sect alone? When so many commoners were suffering.”

Those present immediately showed signs of catching her meaning. It was because anyone would know what words she wanted.

“They’re just desperate to strangle the murim. How would we know their true intentions?”

“They must have left them be because it was good! Since Wuchang’s orthodox factions couldn’t raise their heads due to those evil sect b*st*rds! Isn’t Desolate Sect just martial artists oppressing the murim? Just look at the Hwangbo family incident…”

“They sent life-and-death martial challenge letters to Namgung who fought fierce battles with Blood Flame Sect. They’re ones who drop murim principles to the ground.”

Their denouncing appearances were intense. They seemed to truly think so.

Namgung Mi stared at them steadily. The various martial artists were no different from commoners.

They curry favor with the stronger one. Actually, there must be those with different views.

It didn’t matter. Her martial world was like this.

There are none who deny life. It’s a world spreading beautifully like a carpet.

That’s why she wanted to protect it.

That was why the family elders overlooked the Desolate Sect’ Lightning Veniuswho appeared with amazing yin techniques.

It would have been different if they were a rising disciple of the Orthodox Schools. Survival of the fittest.

To the eyes of a family expanding influence in martial world ways, Desolate Sect was an exasperating group.

They interfered in martial world matters at every turn, carrying only the justification of civilian welfare.

‘Must cut off the sprout. This time for sure.’

She easily won the battle for justification. Seized Wuchang’s public sentiment in an instant.

Desolate Sect who spoke of life-and-death matches were ones who had to mind the eyes of all people.

Though she wouldn’t lose even in simple martial matches, she as a person of a major murim faction did everything she could.

‘The careful planner is the strong one in this world.’

It was when she was reaching for a peach at one side of the table with a gentle smile.

“Who.”

Everyone’s actions stopped for a moment. It wasn’t a voice to let pass. The bearing in the voice was tremendous.

“Spoke of our sect.”

A voice rang out combining a boyish tone with rough rupturing sounds of true qi.

It seemed to mix inner power at the Heaven’s Edge point right above the vocal cords.

Along with the sound of fluttering clothes, a red figure crossed the wall. It was extremely accomplished body technique study.

STEP.

With small footsteps, they descend to the banquet hall. Not even a speck of dust was raised.

Namgung Mi quickly deployed eye techniques and raised her eyes.

Her eyes carrying the sky-colored radiance of the Namgung family’s secret technique Azure Sky Eye Technique swept from the person’s head down.

She was confident she could detect even the smallest tremor of their body.

The uninvited guest who mentioned “our sect.”

Wearing a demon mask smiling like a gaping dragon.

Even the energy waves swirling like wind wrapped around the bright red robe sleeves hanging down to the wrists. The appearance was overwhelming from the start.

“Blood… Flame Sect?”

Someone’s dazed muttering reached her ears.

Namgung Mi didn’t take her eyes off them.

The ominous waves were unusual. The flow brushing the skin like ripples spoke of extremely delicate true qi operation.

The power control was terrifying. It didn’t look at all like showing their full innate inner power.

“You.”

The red-robed demon mask said.

“Are you the Namgung b*st*rd?”

In that moment, no one opened their mouths. It was truly a shocking entrance.