Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 313: Hyeon-won (8)

One of the Four Great Vajras chuckled.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been planning his movements in his head, quietly observed him.

‘He's kind to his juniors.’

Gun Yu-rin and Yu Hyeon had already noticed his internal injuries. If that was the case, Wonjeok, the Grand Master, must have grasped his condition with just a glance.

Even though he had sternly requested a match, the intensity of his qi was set to match Jeong Yeon-shin’s. A deliberate act of adjusting to his level—this was a monk who had cultivated profound discipline.

Even that smile... he had seen it many times before.

The way the facial muscles moved, forming that oddly ticklish expression—he had often seen the same look on his grandfather’s face.

It was a smile Ma Yeon-jeok would occasionally give him.

At times, it made him feel strangely embarrassed. But now, seeing the exact same expression on one of the Four Great Vajras of Shaolin, he realized that he had been too narrow-minded.

‘He must have relaxed after seeing my stance, even though I held hands with the daughter of Simmu-ryeon’s Lord...?’

A true master.

Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes shone with admiration.

Jeong Manor, like Shaolin, was located in Henan Province.

Every child in Shin Ya-hyun grew up hearing tales of Shaolin’s greatness.

For a Grand Master of the thousand-year-old temple settled on Songshan, they were nothing short of Buddhas who wielded martial arts. Calling them idols wouldn’t even suffice.

Suddenly, Wonjeok let out a low cough.

"Watching you, Patron, makes my arms feel weak. It seems more appropriate to heal both internal and external injuries before exchanging hands. I was too hasty."

As expected.

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Jeong Yeon-shin internally muttered a short response.

‘He has a vast heart.’

A faint warmth surfaced on the Martial Lord’s face. The venerable monk of Shaolin was exactly as he had imagined in childhood.

Those revered monks, spoken of as living Buddhas.

It reminded him of watching the village children play their “Hundred-Step Divine Fist” game with admiration from afar.

He felt slightly triumphant. Because he had met one in person.

"The night wind is cold. Let’s move to the fire."

Jeong Yeon-shin extended his hand, offering guidance.

The duel between the Martial Lord and the Grand Master of the Four Vajras had been called off.

...Thus.

Back at the campfire, the expressions of the five gathered individuals were all different.

Yu Hyeon let out a sigh—a mix of relief and disappointment.

Zheon Baek lowered his head, cautiously watching the others.

Gun Yu-rin, scratching the back of her head, seemed deep in thought, her lips slightly curled inward.

Meanwhile, Wonjeok slowly regained his composure, the crackling of the firewood breaking the silence.

‘That is a talent that defies the heavens.’

The Martial Lord truly had cultivated divine power.

No matter how unbelievable it seemed, it had to be accepted.

Even among the Eighteen Arhats, he had trained in Buddhist teachings alongside the monk Gakjeong.

Yet, as a member of the distinguished lineage, this boy had achieved the power to eradicate demons in mere moments.

That meant the opposite should also be possible.

His talent was simply on a different level.

A grandmaster who created endlessly. One capable of unraveling even the most righteous techniques.

Could martial arts of the righteous sects be without weaknesses?

The boy sitting across the fire, tapping one foot rhythmically with casual ease, was destined to become the bane of countless sects.

Before long, beneath that small tapping foot, countless warriors would kneel.

‘Indeed, the Martial Lord's victories are nearly undefeated.’

It was said that he had never lost a second battle against any opponent.

That was the rumor Wonjeok had heard in passing after leaving Songshan.

One day, this would become a grave issue.

Even now, he could feel it in his bones.

A man with divine talent and a heart that cherished the people was simultaneously a high-ranking figure in Ipwang Fortress—a place that held the martial world in utter contempt.

Wonjeok had long considered himself a stray monk.

Before being a monk, he was a wanderer lost in delusions, a warrior honing his fists and staff in preparation for the return of the Celestial Demon.

And now, he stood before an immense threat to the martial world.

How should he respond?

"Amitabha."

Beneath the seal marks engraved on his forehead, a smooth brow furrowed deeply.

At that moment.

"Monk, have some of this."

The Martial Lord offered him something from the fire.

"Winter oyster mushrooms. They have an excellent flavor."

Perfectly golden from the fire’s heat.

Wonjeok, taken aback, instinctively accepted it and glanced at the Martial Lord.

His eyes sparkled with a youthful brightness.

Just like when he had been speaking with the dormant dragon of Mount Hua, Yu Hyeon.

To the old, gruff monk, it wasn’t particularly impressive.

Yet, the savory aroma mingling with the Martial Lord’s serene demeanor...

The lingering traces of his divine energy drifted through the air like a transparent breeze.

Wonjeok, one of the Four Great Vajras, felt an overwhelming sense of contentment.

What did it matter what happened?

"Your kindness is most welcome, Patron."

"You were in silent meditation the whole time you were with me...."

Yu Hyeon let out a helpless laugh.

"So."

Breaking the momentary silence, Gun Yu-rin finally spoke.

With her arms resting on her knees, her posture was poised to draw her blade at any moment.

No matter the situation, she never let her guard down.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen with this group, but this guy agreed to join me in taking down Salmun."

"Can I come along too?"

"No."

"I wasn’t asking the Simmu-ryeon Lord’s child."

Yu Hyeon looked at his friend from Ipwang Fortress.

Gun Yu-rin, glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin, muttered, "I’m the one who hired him."

"Do you still want to bring me along? Even though I have ties to the righteous sects?"

Jeong Yeon-shin asked.

For a brief moment, Gun Yu-rin’s eyes gleamed.

"What does it matter whether you butcher an ox with a knife or a crescent blade? I just want Salmun’s corpse. Having a martial artist of your caliber on my side means I don’t have to worry about unexpected variables."

"What if I betray you?"

"Then I’ll just chalk it up to my fate."

Her lips curled into a smirk.

"But honestly, I’d say the odds of me dying from a stray assassin’s poisoned dart are far higher. I have a good eye for people. I trust my judgment more than backgrounds or titles. And you—"

Her gaze sharpened.

"—You don’t turn your blade in reverse.

You’re humble, fair, and honest."

There was even a hint of madness in her eyes.

How did she grow up like this?

Her ambitions were laid bare—the desire to behead her own brother and take Simmu-ryeon’s throne.

Her spirit was overwhelming.

Jeong Yeon-shin fell silent.

He had just encountered a profoundly unshakable conviction.

Faced with a truth spoken without hesitation, he had no response.

"As if you could do anything anyway."

Yu Hyeon scoffed and pulled out a wooden box from his robes.

"Master told me to ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) give you this. But judging by your breathing, you can’t take it yet."

He flicked open the lid.

"It’s an elixir that affects the lower dantian’s energy circulation. You need your meridians to be in perfect condition before you take it... Otherwise, it’s just poison."

With a soft flick—

As he extended the box toward Jeong Yeon-shin, a subtle yet fragrant aroma seeped through the small gap in the lid, accompanied by an almost mystical aura.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly received it.

The wood felt warm against his palms, much like the kindness of Yu Hyeon and Yulha Nangnang.

“Give my thanks. I seem to do nothing but receive the Sect Leader’s grace.”

“He actually said it was you who saved him.”

Yu Hyeon offered a sly smile.

“An elixir? That reminds me, you mentioned something about a strange medicine as part of our deal.”

Gun Yu-rin idly stirred the campfire with a roughly carved stick.

“For someone like you to not have a single pill on hand... isn’t that a bit strange? Just look at you—you’ve got the air of an aristocrat, carry a treasured sword, and have reached a level of swordsmanship refined enough to practice aerial sword techniques.”

She spoke casually, her tone composed.

From her perspective, they were on the verge of something monumental.

Even after claiming to have a keen eye for people, she seemed tense, as if she were testing the waters before crossing a stream.

A brief silence followed as their gazes met.

Then, Gun Yu-rin suddenly smirked.

“Even if a dragon is ferocious, as long as you don’t touch its inverse scale, it will bring rain to parched lands. They say dragons naturally summon storm clouds. Calamities... depend on how people choose to face them.”

Jeong Yeon-shin realized—they had both already deduced each other’s identities.

‘An elixir, huh.’

The stock he had in his travel pouch was nearly depleted.

The aftereffects of the martial arts left behind by the House Leader of the Zhuge Clan far exceeded the efficacy of ordinary medicine. By the time he was down to only two remaining pills, he still hadn’t noticed any significant improvement.

He needed more. That’s why he had brought up the elixir.

“I have my reasons.”

“Fair enough. My apologies.”

Tak.

Gun Yu-rin tapped the stick against the firewood a few times, then curled her lips into a faint smile.

Jeong Yeon-shin gave a slight nod, his gaze lowering momentarily.

There was an undeniable sense of emptiness.

He had once carried a pouch of medicinal pills in his inner robes, but they had all been crushed in the midst of battle.

The strikes of an absolute grandmaster had all but ignored the internal energy barrier he had erected.

Each allowed strike had resulted in a penetrating wound. It was only natural. The House Leader of the Zhuge Clan’s techniques were nothing short of hell itself manifested in the mortal realm.

An absolute realm.

The realization settled heavily in Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind—he truly needed a proper defensive technique.

‘When will I discover a reliable energy structure? I need to craft it carefully...’

Without a properly refined technique, it would be nothing more than a monkey’s string game.

It was like trying to weave fabric but being stuck at the material’s invention stage.

Armor that wouldn’t hinder the body’s movement or qi circulation, but rather enhance them while providing unparalleled defense—

His innate internal energy barrier, tailored to his body and senses, would be the ultimate defensive technique.

Silk and hemp were no longer enough.

He was already enveloped in high-tier defensive gear obtained from the upper echelons of Cheongeum Wugo, making ordinary armor feel meaningless.

With swordsmanship, he had a clear goal.

Now, in Salmun and from Grandmaster Wonjeok—what insights could he possibly gain?

“Let’s depart before sunrise tomorrow.”

“This humble monk shall accompany the young patron for the time being.”

A most peculiar group had formed.

Amid the twilight casting its long shadows over the snow-covered forest, their fates entangled ever deeper.

***

"This should be enough. Stop."

The voice was deep, echoing like it had been spoken within a cave.

Three figures descended onto the snowy plains. The entire landscape was pure white, yet not a single footprint remained.

Chil Sado lightly stepped onto the snow using Stepping Without Traces, a profound footwork technique. The hem of her crimson bloodcloak swayed in an unusually rich shade of scarlet, as if reflecting her inner turmoil.

‘Did it work?’

She cast a sidelong glance at the man clad in fur robes that reached down to his feet.

A colossal figure. His towering height, easily over seven feet, was overwhelming.

The Lord of the Heartless Pavilion, Gun Yu-rin.

As he slowly released his aura, he no longer seemed human.

His presence alone felt like a towering fortress, lined with hundreds of cannons.

Not only was he untouchable, but approaching him felt as though it would require staking one’s life. Even for someone like Chil Sado.

She wondered—should she have run away?

‘No, I had to make sure the Grand Preceptor wasn’t being manipulated. This was the best course of action.’

Back in Taiyuan, when she had been savoring the sight of the Grand Preceptor, whose very steps were graceful—

The Lord of the Heartless Pavilion had suddenly materialized behind her. There had been no sound, no presence—he had split through the air with Mastery of the Empty Void.

It was enough to make her blood run cold.

Even more so for Chil Sado. Though she hadn’t let it show.

There was no way she could allow the Grand Preceptor, already battered and barely standing, to meet the Lord of the Heartless Pavilion.

The heads of grand factions were despicable creatures. If they encountered talent they couldn’t claim as their own, they preferred to destroy it outright.

Just as the Bloodflame Cult Master, whom she had crushed underfoot, had once attempted to kill the young Grand Preceptor.

It was a stroke of luck that the Grand Preceptor’s inner energy had weakened. His Dharma Force had dissipated so much that he appeared, at a glance, to be nothing more than a talented young martial artist.

To the Lord of the Heartless Pavilion, he was as insignificant as a fly.

That thought alone made her cheeks flush with relief—an unfamiliar sensation for her.

The Lord of the Heartless Pavilion seemed puzzled by Baek Seogun’s silence.

He did not act particularly favorably toward Chil Sado, nor did he speak to her directly.

He merely forced them forward using his oppressive presence alone, as if holding the Bloodflame Cult’s prodigy hostage.

The true masters of the martial world were incomprehensible beings. Their thought processes were impossible to predict.

But Chil Sado didn’t care.

Her mind was consumed with concern for the Grand Preceptor. As long as the Lord of the Heartless Pavilion hadn't discovered him, it was enough.

That was all that mattered.

She told herself that, her fingers absentmindedly brushing through the dark ends of her flowing black hair beneath her scarlet mantle.

Rustle.

‘Now, how do I escape from this mess...?’

Just as she feigned nonchalance—

Everything before her turned white. It wasn’t the color of the snow.

A sudden, overwhelming force struck her before she could even process it.

BOOOOM—!

Only after she had been hit did the explosion reach her ears. Chil Sado struggled to hold onto her consciousness as a fierce wind howled around her.

A metallic taste filled her mouth. Blood.

The Lord of the Heartless Pavilion had shoulder-checked her.

A devastating Kao Fa technique.

Thud!

Even as she braced against the impact, her feet sank into the snow and skidded back. Two deep furrows carved through the white landscape, stretching for tens of feet—until the Lord of the Heartless Pavilion was nothing more than a distant dot.

And yet, his voice reached her as if he were standing right beside her.

“The footwork of the bat clan is unmatched in the martial world.”

Whoosh—!

In an instant, he was behind her again.

His speed was unfathomable, not so much an artful footwork technique but an overwhelming raw acceleration—fast beyond reason.

“But even you won’t be able to flee now. No matter what happens.”

The world around them was blindingly bright.

“Your Mara Roaring Blood Art is an outdated trick. The essence of its techniques is widely known. Give up on escaping.”

Only someone like the Lord of the Heartless Pavilion could say such words.

They had traveled for two days. Even with his overwhelming martial prowess, he was incredibly meticulous.

He left no room for uncertainty. His Martial Brilliance Unveiled Art was said to be the pinnacle of Blunt Force Techniques, designed to leave opponents no room to evade.

In the distance, Baek Seogun looked uneasy.

But the Lord of the Heartless Pavilion wasted no time interrogating her.

“Speak. Why were you watching my daughter?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Your heartbeat is unnaturally calm. You speak the truth.”

Chil Sado immediately realized—this monster was beyond human understanding.

“Let’s move on, then.”

His chilling voice continued.

“There was also Seomye, from Imperial City, wasn’t there? The one with my daughter.”

For the first time, her body stiffened.

She felt as if her heart had dropped into her stomach. Chil Sado deliberately curved her lips into a smooth arc.

‘What a thrill.’

“Did your Heartless Pavilion form an alliance with Hao Clan or something?”

“You recognized my Sword Sovereign the moment you saw him. I assume it is because you hail from Jeong Manor of Shin Ya County.”

The Lord of the Heartless Pavilion continued.

“I also heard that you entered Imperial City and addressed the Patriarch of the Fractured Saber as your grandfather. Hard to believe, but you boasted about it before you slaughtered the Blood Ghosts of Shanxi.”

“Well, quite a few of them survived. Annoying little insects.”

“I know you care for Seomye. I, too, am keeping an eye on him.”

“Are you worried I might mentor your pathetic son? If you haven’t checked whether his head is still attached, you’d better do it now. My Grand Preceptor...”

She suddenly stopped speaking.

Something was off.

The Lord of the Heartless Pavilion, the ruler of these countless warriors, was hiding something.

A scheme that directly threatened the Grand Preceptor.

“Continue. Tell me everything you know about Yeonhwa Nata.”

“...I don’t know much.”

Crunch.

The sound of footsteps in the snow echoed behind her.

The weight of his presence bore down on her, distorting the very air.

“Blood ghosts are obsessed with life. Do you wish to die a miserable death?”

To the highest-ranked Apostle of the Bloodflame Cult, such words were no empty threat.

The man before her was one of the Thirteen Lords of the Heavens. Anything was possible.

His voice came from behind her.

“Do you truly have nothing to say?”

“...Yeah.”

Her bloodied smile deepened.

“I don’t know anything.”

And then.

Chil Sado’s gaze suddenly shifted toward the distant ridge.

“...Huh?”

Her eyes widened, her shoulders instinctively drawing inward.

“Grandfather!”

Whoooosh—!

The snowy ground caved in, forming a massive crater in a perfect circular shape.

A power unlike anything before surged through the air.

An aura devoid of color swept across them, sending shivers down their spines as it brushed past their robes.