Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 306: Hyeon-won (1)

—The true divine sword of the nation is here!

The symbolism of the term "divine sword" carried immense weight in both the martial world and the imperial court. It was an especially significant phrase when used by the Grand Marshal of the Five Armies to commend the Lord of Yuhuang City, Ma Gwang-ik.

The crowd surrounding them was vast.

Among the Shanxi aristocratic clans, many faces twisted in strange expressions.

The estate of the Gongya family was filled with an eerie silence, so much so that even the sound of loose stones rolling across the ruins could be heard clearly.

Slowly.

Dozens of local martial experts straightened from their prostrate positions. The vibrant silk of their garments brushed against the remaining pillars, tiled roofs, and walls, creating a soft rustling sound.

As each of them rose to their feet, an air of solemn dignity, almost regal in nature, emanated from them.

These were the martial aristocrats.

They had built their power through inner strength and martial arts, carefully maneuvering to evade the scrutiny of the government while acting as absolute rulers over the common people.

Shanxi’s martial world lacked a dominant faction like the Great Wave Sect. As a result, these aristocratic clans had long controlled the military's blades through cunning politics, becoming the true powerholders of the land. They had no rivals.

Vwoom.

A faint resonance of energy hummed between them.

Their inner force intertwined like threads, forming a layered transmission of sound. From this point onward, no words would escape to outside ears.

"What... is going on here?"

"Did he say divine sword?"

"I wasn't mistaken, then."

"I don't understand. Why are they so cordial? He defied the authority of the Grand Marshal of the Five Armies..."

"This is the political maneuvering of a monster from the Northern Capital. He must have his own calculations. He sees it as beneficial to avoid making an enemy of Ma Gwang-ik here."

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"This isn’t just avoiding hostility—this is outright forming an alliance!"

Zhuge Family’s patriarch and Ma Gwang-ik.

They were both outsiders to this land. Xianye would soon leave, and Zhuge Chenshang had already crossed the River of Three Paths.

But the Shanxi martial artists here would have to continue living in this land.

"I was hoping to challenge the Blood Demon of the Divine Arts to a duel... but would that offend the Grand Marshal?"

"I don't know. Judging by his reaction, his goodwill seems directed solely at Xianye..."

"Forget it. Ma Gwang-ik appears to hold his seniors in great esteem. Who knows what he might do with the Grand Marshal’s backing?"

"You're right. After all, he's of the Yuhuang Ma family’s bloodline."

The conversation flowed among the martial aristocrats—men who prided themselves on their reputation above all.

In a martial world plagued by famine, survival was the highest virtue. Rather than following the righteous path, it was more important to establish their power through strength. Honor was secondary.

Challenging the Yuhuang City warriors to a duel and proving their superiority.

That had been the plan from the moment Xianye beheaded Zhuge Chenshang. They could not allow these foreign martial artists to disrupt the existing order.

This would solidify their control over land, businesses, and livestock.

"What a shame, a real shame."

Looking at the three warriors from Yuhuang City who had fought, they couldn't say the plan was completely impossible.

Jin Myeong-jo, the Blood Demon of the Divine Arts, had suffered severe injuries even before the final battle. When he defended Ma Gwang-ik’s prison, blood had poured from his abdomen, enough to fill multiple gourds.

Now, he stood at a distance, arms crossed, his Twin Gods Manual wounds healing at a sluggish pace.

The same went for Yuhuang Divine Spear, whose narrowed gaze remained fixed on the Grand Marshal. The overwhelming energy that had once stormed through the battlefield had visibly weakened.

Having endured Zhuge Family’s relentless attacks, he had clearly sustained grave internal injuries. He likely struggled to even circulate his inner energy.

"We should abandon the idea."

"Let’s just appease the Gongya family."

"I was planning to buy farmland in Pyongyang Prefecture for a bargain, but that’s out of the question now. The Gongya family has ties with Ma Gwang-ik..."

"Did we treat the Gongya family too harshly? Our disciples have been raiding their granaries like they were their own."

"If we apologize first, what can they do? One Gongya clan member can't stand against all of Shanxi’s martial families."

Their conversation remained nonchalant. Yet their eyes kept returning to the three black-clad warriors.

When else would they ever see the Blood Demon of the Divine Arts and the Yuhuang Divine Spear in such a battered state?

And then there was Xianye, his shoulder pierced through.

The moment he had beheaded the Zhuge Family’s patriarch, everyone had felt the extreme loss of inner power radiating from him.

His drooping shoulders seemed unbearably heavy, his entire body soaked in the blood that still hadn’t stopped flowing.

Had it not been for his presence and the black robes that made him stand out, he could have passed for a boy of his age.

He was prey among wolves.

There was no need for outright hostility.

In an age where etiquette and laws ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) were losing their meaning, a formal duel would suffice. If he showed even the slightest sign of struggling, the aristocrats here would sing each other's praises.

"A man who could withstand the techniques of the Yuhuang City warriors!"

This was their land. If the Yuhuang City warriors refused the challenge, even better. It would give them the perfect opportunity to restore their prestige, tarnished by Zhuge Family’s downfall.

"The warriors of Yuhuang City hesitate to cross blades with the martial families of Shanxi."

Spreading such a rumor would be effortless.

"Let’s wait for our chance. They’ll need a long time to recover anyway."

A middle-aged swordsman, draped in a fur coat over his embroidered robe, murmured. Like the others, his entire being exuded wealth.

But some of the more composed aristocrats refrained from engaging in this dangerous game. They exchanged only a few brief words.

"The martial prowess Xianye displayed... what he did... was akin to cutting down the Zhuge family itself. This is an astonishing event. I believe we should be feeling fear before anything else."

"That’s right. Do you think Zhuge Family’s patriarch was in ordinary condition?"

"Besides, aren’t the Blood Demon of the Divine Arts and the Yuhuang Divine Spear monsters capable of defying all odds with even a sliver of their power? Imagine facing Yuhuang Divine Spear without knowing a countermeasure like Zhuge Family’s patriarch did... ugh, just thinking about it chills my spine."

From then on, they kept their thoughts to themselves.

How would the consequences of these events unfold? Would a duel truly end as simply as they imagined? Had they truly considered the aftermath?

And they realized.

This was an era where hunger and greed had devoured reason. An age where honor was being stripped away by the dominance of martial strength.

"I once met the Wandering Hero before becoming Grand Marshal... Xianye, your face does not resemble his at all. But your spirit... no, your aura seems somewhat similar."

"What did you just say?"

"Oh dear, did I misspeak? No need to look so serious."

"You called it a slip of the tongue...?"

"......."

The martial aristocrats watched in silence.

Standing on land cracked like Shanxi’s farmland, they faintly heard the distant laughter of the Yuhuang Divine Spear.

***

A grand banquet was held.

It was just like the prelude to the martial tournament. The prestigious Gongya family of Pyongyang Prefecture was hosting the feast.

The scent of fine delicacies and aged wine mingled over the vast, U-shaped banquet table.

“I never expected the Grand Marshal to step forward so publicly. With the troubles caused by the military movements of the Martial Alliance, I thought he’d be preoccupied. Do you think this means an alliance between Yuhuang City and the military?”

“The balance of power in Shanxi is uncertain. Several sects have already pledged allegiance to Moonlight Gate...”

“Sister, try this. They’ve sliced the jiang niurou incredibly thin. A swordsman must have done it.”

“My senior has managed to pinpoint the location of the Killing Sect’s stronghold. Soon, we’ll have a chance to wipe them out completely...”

Conversations wove together like tangled threads.

The main topic was the death of Zhuge Chenshang and speculation about the consequences that would follow.

The atmosphere was different from the night before the martial tournament.

The aristocrats spoke in hushed tones over the silk-covered banquet table, while the three black-clad warriors of Yuhuang City conversed among themselves inside a translucent energy barrier.

Despite their serious injuries, they had made an appearance.

They had to show the world that the leaders of Yuhuang City still stood strong, and they needed to compensate for the damage inflicted on the Gongya family. They couldn’t simply disappear after the mission, leaving their allies burdened with trouble.

Rumors piling up would only constrict their subordinates’ movements in the future.

All the while, many eyes flickered toward Ma Gwang-ik.

But he paid them no mind.

Jeong Yeon-shin held his wine cup with the casual ease of someone well-versed in drinking etiquette, occasionally rolling it between his fingers.

He was refining his martial arts through discussion with his seniors.

Jin Myeong-jo glanced at him with thinly veiled discomfort, one foot idly tapping the edge of the energy barrier.

“You could extend your period of refinement further. There’s no need to indulge in wine just yet.”

The Blood Demon of the Divine Arts spoke in a cold tone.

Jeong Yeon-shin silently compared his height to his senior’s.

“......”

Jin Myeong-jo was still a head taller than him.

Without another word, Jeong Yeon-shin set his cup down on the corner of the table.

His fingers lingered over it, reluctant. A short life meant fewer chances to enjoy such pleasures.

“...Regardless, Senior Jin, your control techniques have an endless variety of applications. I thought a brief burst of energy could form a makeshift formation. It reminded me of the Heavenly Golden Unshakable Art.”

“Hmm.”

“I believe using the Eight Trigrams rather than the Six Harmonies as a foundation would be more beneficial. If it were you, Senior...”

“The side that allows for greater adaptability is better. My energy sense can control it with ease.”

Jin Myeong-jo replied, a cold sweat forming on his back. Attack was his specialty, whether in combat or conversation.

By cutting off a discussion preemptively, he ensured that no unnecessary tangents could sprout, making it easier to maintain his dignity.

A seasoned warrior of Yuhuang City was always prepared for any situation.

‘As expected of Senior Jin.’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s lips curled slightly. This was the first time in a while that he felt like he was having a real conversation.

“You are right, Senior.”

Even this short reprieve after a grueling battle felt pleasant. He had a strong feeling he would remember this night.

“Tonight, just drink! Drink as much as you want! Hah?! Who did our Xianye kill? None other than Zhuge Jian—a crime so heinous even the Jade Emperor himself would be shocked! He cut down Zhuge Jian!”

A wave of thick alcohol-laced breath hit his chin, slurred speech following soon after.

This was the very culprit who had forced Jeong Yeon-shin to raise the energy barrier earlier, despite his pain.

Ak Su-rim reached out with her small hand as if to pat his hip. Jeong Yeon-shin dodged with practiced ease.

“The way he swung his sword was absolutely masterful! Sliced right through the protective energy and the dantian, all at once! Haha...!”

“Grandmother.”

“She’s using drunkenness to forget the pain in her energy channels.”

Jin Myeong-jo commented.

“Zhuge Chenshang’s Evil Song Technique was extremely insidious. It lived up to the Zhuge Family’s reputation for internal energy manipulation. He must have studied the Shandong School’s techniques extensively.”

“Then, is that why Senior Ak’s energy fluctuations have been unstable...?”

“He focused more on severing energy flow rather than executing techniques. Since the Twin Gods Manual is a secret martial art that directly interferes with a person’s inner energy foundation, the backlash must have been severe. Think of it as akin to suffering from Bone-Separating and Tendon-Extracting Torture while protecting you.”

“What do you mean torture! It was nothing!”

Ak Su-rim grinned and reached out again.

She was shorter than Jeong Yeon-shin. The way she raised her hand suggested she intended to pat his head.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t dodge this time.

Amused, she chuckled and instead patted his back twice.

“Well done, our youngest! You’re my strongest rival now. Myeolseom and Yeouido better watch out.”

The three Lords of Yuhuang City.

There was no space to squeeze between them.

At least, that’s how it appeared from the outside.

The Shanxi aristocrats, as well as Gongya Family’s eldest daughter and second son, could only watch from a distance.

‘That was a difficult mission.’

Jeong Yeon-shin thought of the comrades who had shielded the Lords in their moment of weakness.

The very reason their sect existed.

At that moment, two messages surfaced in his mind—one from an anonymous sender, the other from Tae-yeom Dragon.

[The wastrel of the Hwangbo family, the bastard of the Five Moon Great Killing Sect, and the treasured jewel of the Yuhuang Divine Clan are in my hands. Ma Gwang-ik, as soon as you read this letter, come to Taiyuan Prefecture and drive your Northern Darkness Sword into the largest tombstone on the Grave Mountain.]

[...You’ll be receiving some nonsense soon, so just wait a little. If the Lords act like they did back in Shaanxi, the old men of Yuhuang City will try to bury me alive.

Anyway, I found a lead on undoing the internal energy seal on the Great Snow Sword. Honestly, I didn’t think it actually existed.]

And then—

Step.

The Grand Marshal approached, the hem of his gray fur robe fluttering beneath his black official’s cap.

His sharp gaze swept over the gathered aristocrats.

“Ma Gwang-ik, I have something important to discuss with you.”