Chapter 540: Chapter 540

The honored guest from Mount Wudang who had come to deliver the imperial decree, Supreme General Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong, had anticipated that the acting leader of the Divine Sword Sect would be present at Wudang.

At present, Seomye of the Jeong Family was the most critical figure in the martial world. Every agency under the imperial court's intelligence network had their eyes on him.

Not just the Dongchang and the Golden Imperial Guards—rumor had it that even the retired Grand Empress had built a small tower of documents regarding Seomye of the Jeong Family.

A person who had become a symbol of chaos.

Someone riding the raging torrent of time, altering the essence of martial cultivation itself.

A man whose unique martial arts techniques, like the seventy-two supreme techniques of Shaolin, continued to multiply endlessly.

Not only his enmities and personal relationships, but even things as minute as his washing habits or trivial gestures—nothing was dismissed as unimportant.

Even with the collapse of various government offices, the observation never ceased. The imperial court’s eyes continued to scrutinize those who moved the world. That is what made the Ming an empire.

‘I was aware of his movements, of course...!’

But before facing Jeong Yeon-shin, she simply needed a moment to steel her mind and body.

Even if the storm diviners of the Howling Wind School had foreseen the coming tempest, having the full brunt of it suddenly swallow one whole was a different matter entirely.

Anyone’s mind would go blank.

“They conscripted a child that young? Has the military lost its mind?”

A calm voice. A young man of peerless beauty, dressed in purple, uttered a nonsensical remark. His divine features, enough to make one dizzy, only added to the surrealism.

His speech and demeanor sent a chill down her spine. The martial tournament meant for the entire martial realm had been reduced to a mere conscription event, and such a statement had come so naturally.

He spoke of the military.

Which meant he was targeting the imperial court with his words.

The way he sidestepped a potentially dangerous subject so naturally—it evoked memories of past Divine Sword leaders. As if he had been forced to study the art of court politics under Yong Hui-myeong just beyond that very door.

‘He supposedly behaves as if the world revolves around him, and his character is mature beyond his age...’

And yet, Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong couldn’t bring herself to criticize him.

It was because of the overwhelming pressure—like sunlight pouring in from all directions, without a single trace of presence. She felt as though her skin’s every sensory nerve had been sealed shut.

It was as if her senses had vanished. Her eyes were open, yet it felt as though they weren't. Even her physical vision struggled to focus.

A faint golden light flickered past Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong’s eyes. In that brief instant, she dissected every strand of power hidden in the pressure.

The imperial court in Beijing believed they knew everything about Jeong Yeon-shin.

‘Radiant Wheel Technique... the Mind Sword of the Bright Wing Lord... the Extreme Qilin...’

And yet, there was something else.

Something beyond all recorded knowledge. A technique that seamlessly unified all those abilities. It had to have been created on Mount Wudang. That’s the kind of man Seomye of the Jeong Family was.

‘But... to this degree...?’

Even though it had only lasted a moment, the pressure had grown exponentially. Regardless of her chances, she might have drawn her sword. If, at that moment, the Wudang Sect Leader hadn’t quietly stepped forward and placed a hand on Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder.

“Mind your breath. From the looks of it, you’ve taken on my madness for yourself, but aren’t you a bit young to be suffering from senile delirium?”

The Daoist master’s wrinkled hand gently smoothed the young man’s purple sleeve. That simple gesture was so unexpectedly familiar. And with it, all the overwhelming energy vanished without a trace.

A terrifying sight. The energy wave of a supreme master could be likened to blazing drought-sun.

Regardless of the acting Divine Sword leader’s expression, the truth remained.

Oddly enough, there was a flicker of shame on Jeong Yeon-shin’s face upon hearing the word “senile,” and that was something Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong couldn’t quite grasp.

She quietly took a deep breath.

‘To think that even beneath the Great Wall, there are people ...’

Those said to be among the greatest swordsmen in all the vast lands. The rumors about the Five Swords were no exaggeration.

It would likely take someone like the triple-layered body of Propriety, known as one of the Three Supreme Masters of the imperial court, just to properly gauge him.

“I am Supreme General Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong. Though I am a general, I am not a military commander, but directly under imperial authority. I believe... there may have been a misunderstanding, Master Jeong.”

She spoke cautiously. Jeong Yeon-shin immediately responded.

His voice was low and even. Yet it still held that distant, unfathomable resonance.

‘Just how deep a spiritual presence has he cultivated...?’

He was someone that no one in the imperial court should associate with for long. Only someone like Lord Yangcheon, the immediate disciple of Emperor Gunreung, could possibly be a match.

Eager to leave this place, Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong began speaking swiftly.

“If you’re angry over the conscription of the Zhongnan disciple Jeong Hye, you must understand—no one intended for her to participate in the martial tournament. In fact, everyone was extremely reluctant. That’s true of any power or faction.”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression showed slight puzzlement.

But there was no sense of accusation in his face. He instantly realized she wasn’t lying. As if he were of noble lineage himself. Just like the reports described—his upper dantian had been cultivated to its absolute limit.

“In that case, let’s leave that matter aside.”

The acting Divine Sword leader’s eyes shifted to the Bright Wing Lord. In that moment, it was clear he had received a sound transmission. His following words confirmed it.

“The Mistress of Yeouicheon and the Heavenly Dragon Lord have been taken to Beijing? What is the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ meaning of this?”

Jeong Yeon-shin’s voice grew even calmer. Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong glanced sharply at Cheongmyeong, but the Bright Wing Lord only smiled with a cryptic expression.

The situation had grown complicated.

She had come to force the Sect Leader of Wudang to head to Shaanxi, but now found herself facing the acting Divine Sword leader, who happened to be here with “Bukdo.”

Since she had received the imperial mandate, she needed to fulfill her original task first.

After that, she planned to explain everything in order and enlist Wudang and the Divine Sword’s support in apprehending Bukdo.

Cheongmyeong, the Bright Wing Lord who now sat quietly on a branch without even breaking a pine needle, had tangled everything up.

As expected, every one of the high-ranking lords under the Divine Sword Sect was a headache. Just like Yeouicheon Lord Bukgung Ah and Heavenly Dragon Lord Wei Ji-geuk.

“Did Bukdo ask you to go behead Tu-shin? That person below the ridge is being monitored with full force by the Dongchang. Considering the severity of the situation, we need to address matters of national significance before any concerns about the martial world—”

“The whole world’s gone to hell.”

Cheongmyeong’s clear voice cut her off.

“Beijing and Shaanxi, huh. Unfortunately, our Master Jeong has no ties to Wonjeok. Not like those northern masters, anyway.”

At that, Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong’s brow furrowed.

“Bright Wing Lord, be silent. Master Jeong, you can’t go to Beijing anyway. Not even the leader of the Divine Sword Sect can interfere with an imperial event that involves charges of treason.”

She cut Cheongmyeong off and spoke quickly.

“If you wish to avoid unnecessary burdens, it would be best not to set foot in Shaanxi, Henan, or Shandong either. Rest assured. In this current climate, even the forces of Ipwang Fortress wouldn’t risk weakening themselves. This is just a temporary incident during the transition to a new imperial power. Of course, the real issue was that those two lords prioritized the lives of commoners over the imperial decree while in northern Jianghu. Things are... complicated.”

“That conscription tournament. Why are they holding it in Shaanxi instead of Beijing?”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been listening silently, suddenly asked. It was Cheongmyeong who answered.

“There are several guesses. No matter how imperial the order, Beijing is too close to the Yao tribes. ‘The noble martial clans, already struggling to survive, probably wouldn’t go all the way to Beijing—so they held it in Shaanxi instead.’ That’s the first one.”

“There’s a second reason as well. Holding such an event in the land where the Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Sect has family? Of course Jeong Gong would attend because of Hye, and countless swordsmen of the martial world would also make their way there—to catch a glimpse of the most famous among the Five Heavenly Swords.”

Thus, the Imperial Court gains twofold benefits.

They would bring the master of the strongest martial force in all Jianghu fully into their line of sight—and at the same time, maximize the effectiveness of the conscription tournament.

Naturally, any threats toward Jeong Hye would be preemptively blocked.

A brief silence followed.

Within the pale, tranquil wind unique to the slopes of Wudang Mountain, several figures remained quiet.

Now everything had completely reversed—while the Acting Sect Leader of Wudang stayed silent, the Master Jade Veil continued to stare at Jeong Yeon-shin with an unreadable expression, and down the hill, the straw-hatted giant leisurely stroked the mane of his warhorse.

‘That Bukdo will surely follow Jeong Gong. A northern rebel. That’s the kind of man he is.’

Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong fell completely silent now. Then her gaze settled on Cheongmyeong.

The one who carried the teachings of Seomye Mu-maek.

And at the same time, along with the Grand Commander of Ipwang Fortress, one of the people who served closest to Jeong Yeon-shin.

‘If one were to make an enemy of the Divine Sword Sect...’

He’d be the first to kill. If Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong were from the northern Jianghu, that’s exactly what she would have done.

Their eyes met for a moment.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Cheongmyeong gave her a chilling half-smile. Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong immediately turned her head. Now, the sword hilt was firmly in Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand.

If he were willing to bear the stigma of treason, then naturally, to Beijing. But he would lose many things.

Shaanxi was safe. He could secure his niece’s safety and ensure his continued rise. He might even meet with the new emperor and various influential figures from across the realm.

If he chose that path, the word "Acting" might soon be removed from her title.

The difference was vast.

“Lord Commander! No, Jeong Gong! Jeong Gong!”

The silent mist of Wudang Mountain was split by a young girl’s shout. She was a skilled fighter, clad in a robe dyed deep blue with the rough ‘Huang’ character boldly emblazoned on it, and she already existed in Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong’s memory.

‘The rightful heir of Seomye Mu-maek...!’

Behind the blue-clad girl, over a dozen figures in vivid blue sleeves spread out like wings. It was the moment the Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Sect replenished his limbs.

It had been six days since Supreme General Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong arrived at Wudang Mountain.

In a dark room, only one person was bathed in light. Sunlight pouring in through the window frame illuminated him alone.

The man sat in an opulent chair—a golden throne formed from the coiled bodies of tiny dragons. A seat permitted to only one person in all the land.

The man wore a dragon robe, its shoulders embroidered with the sun and moon, as if it had always belonged to him. He reclined diagonally against the back of the throne.

Emperor Yungjeong, Zhu Youge.

Beneath thick brows like carved stone, a look of languid boredom rested. And then, he slowly spoke.

The response rang instantly from the shadows. The voice, thin and characteristic of a eunuch, nonetheless carried the resilience of one who had survived many rises and falls.

“Have the lodgings for the martial artists all been completed?”

“Yes, as commanded, the craftsmen of the Iron Clan met the deadline.”

“You have done well.”

“Unworthy of such words. All is by Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Under Heaven, second only to none.”

The son of Emperor Gunreung, Emperor Yungjeong’s voice continued softly.

“Excluding the Grand Preceptor, Lord of Ipwang Fortress, the one who holds the next highest power after me would be Seomye of the Jeong Family. Such is the strength of the Divine Sword Sect.”

“The ministers currently gathered in Shaanxi must be in disarray—seeking favor with me while awaiting the next Commander of the Divine Sword Sect.”

“If I may speak, that is not entirely the case.”

“Not only the ministers but also the so-called sages of the martial world—the free-roaming warriors—have all drastically narrowed their movements. Most remain locked within their lodgings. Especially the pavilion assigned to the Jongnam Sect remains completely untouched.”

“Is Seomye’s shadow truly so great?”

“He is infamous for appearing suddenly and devastating nearby areas like a natural disaster. No matter how quickly rumors spread, they cannot fill all under heaven, yet now even the upper echelons of the martial world are constantly aware of the Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Sect.”

At those words, Emperor Yungjeong let out a low chuckle.

“If his temperament is truly that fiery, he may well rage against the one who imprisoned his people. Or even disregard imperial authority altogether.”

The latter referred to the so-called Three Great Experts of the Imperial Palace—those who defied the emperor’s summons under the pretense of noble excuses, yet continued to roam the north. Naturally, Myeongyeo’s voice turned urgent at that.

“Such words are unbecoming, Your Majesty. Seomye of the Jeong Family may be volatile, but he knows proper manners and law. He would never travel to Beijing during such a time. All officials and martial wanderers alike believe as much. Soon, his jade-like face will arrive in Shaanxi for Your Majesty to see.”

It was a curious response.

Though he did not smile, there was mockery in his tone. Perhaps even regret lingered beneath it.

To the point that Myeongyeo’s figure in the darkness wavered uneasily, unable to grasp the emperor’s true thoughts.

“I’ve rested enough. Continue.”

Emperor Yungjeong commanded.

A directive not only to Myeongyeo, but also to the other ministers concealed in the shadows. The emperor of this generation wished to know everything occurring under Heaven—obsessively so.

Extremely respectful voices followed.

“The Acting Commander of the Divine Sword Sect assigned himself an independent mission and advanced northward.”

“Seomye of the Jeong Family has arrived at the Great Wall.”

“Report from Supreme General Hyeok Ryeon-mu Jeong: states insufficient personnel...”