Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

It was a statement blurted out in a surge of emotion. The murmurs of the scholars pierced not the ears, but the heart.

'Couldn't find their whereabouts? All of them?'

For the first time, the boy acted out of defiance.

To exclude the Radiant Demon Squad from consideration starting now? It was something that couldn't be said without presupposing annihilation.

Even if all circumstances pointed that way, it was something Jung Yeonshin should not have concluded.

The Jung manor was nothing. Radiant Demon Squad was his home.

"Lightning Genius Young Hero."

"This is…"

"You've come to a place you shouldn't have."

Some of the scholars stood up from their seats one after another. They were those who viewed Jung Yeonshin favorably.

Each of them offered either a fist salute or a silent bow, but their expressions were uncomfortable despite their upright posture.

Among the Radiant Demon Squad's blue ranks, the only available expert had heard the staff's judgment. Anyone would find it troubling.

"As of now, the main force numbers twenty-five, excluding me, Shin So-bin, and Lazy Flame Dragon." 

Jung Yeonshin said, forcing his tone to remain calm.

"I heard the words of Scholar Kim Jo-mun earlier. That two of white rank were killed. Were you referring to the Radiant Demon Squad?"

There had been a distinct voice that reached his ears. It was said that they were in the process of recovering two bodies.

"…"

"Please, tell me."

Jung Yeonshin gazed steadily at one of the distant scholars.

At a slight nod from the Chief Administrator, who had displayed a somber demeanor, a middle-aged scholar in gold reluctantly responded.

"…They say the bodies of Pure Cloud Sword, Yoo Lin-yin, and Scatter Fist, Do Myeong, were found. It was reported that anonymous disciples from the Sichuan branch gathered them."

The boy remained silent. Pure Cloud Sword and Scatter Fist of Radiant Demon Squad were men he knew well.

It was impossible not to know. They were among the few white-ranked warriors in the Radiant Demon Squad along with Heon Wonchang.

When Jung Yeonshin first entered wearing white martial robes, they had shown him around the headquarters with unusually bright faces.

After he was promoted to blue rank, they had jokingly started addressing him with formal respect.

Whoosh!

His energy stirred faintly.

It wasn't that his energy deviated from his control, but once stirred, it distorted of its own accord, reflecting his shaken heart.

Jung Yeonshin recited the verse from the Diamond Sutra.

"Let your mind dwell nowhere, and let it arise freely."

It was something he had first heard when creating the Demon-Slaying Azure Steel Palm.

A sermon by the young monk of Shaolin and Monk Won Jong. At the time, it had resonated deeply with him.

Thus, he had made it one of the key principles in the mental techniques he had recently devised.

The boy observed his trembling heart.

It was the first time since stepping into the martial world that he had felt such internal turbulence. Grief and rage surged like rapids.

No. If he was to seek vengeance, he couldn't allow himself to be swept away.

He stepped back mentally, looking at his emotions from a distance. It was something he had practiced many times.

It was also the way he avoided fear in the face of a finite life.

'Just take revenge. If it's too late to save them, sever the enemy's heads first.'

The boy thought as a martial artist, thoroughly pushing aside the person Jung Yeonshin from his mind.

At the same time, he felt the energy condensing throughout his body. He opened his mouth once more.

"Twenty-three remaining. When you say missing, does it mean there has been no word from the Radiant Demon Squad's leader or the main force? For over seven days?"

"…That's right."

The Chief Administrator responded, inwardly impressed.

In a world where mental and internal cultivation was often reduced to breathing techniques, it was no exaggeration to say that only the Nine Great Sects practiced meditation as a means of refining the mind.

How many reckless men with high martial talent had roamed the martial world?

'Too composed for his age.'

The Chief Administrator thought as he looked at the Lightning Genius boy. Whether the depth of his spirit was clear, his temperament, honed like a sword, was palpable.

What kind of power would that blade unleash when combined with his martial talent?

Even amidst a barrage of troubling news, the Chief Administrator of Desolate Fortress felt reassured.

It was then.

"Chief Administrator."

"Go ahead."

Chief Administrator Lin Jinming responded to the young direct disciple of the Fortress' Lord.

Jung Yeonshin immediately turned his head. Their eyes met.

"I, Jung Yeonshin of the Radiant Demon Squad, request a journey to Sichuan."

"I expected as much."

The Chief Administrator stroked his beard, his expression reluctant.

Jung Yeonshin paid no mind and continued.

"Assign me a reconnaissance mission. With three from the Nine Great Sects, three from the Thirteen Heavens, and including the Tang Clan, it's a fiercely contested area. Aren't Heavenly Squad and Obeying Heaven Squad struggling just to maintain their positions?"

"There is no available force."

The Chief Administrator shook his head.

"Currently, there are only two active combat units within the Divine Sword Squad. They cannot be spared."

"…"

"The rest are scattered across different groups, but they are all under mandated rest. Martial artists reach their peak not only through tempering but also by resting. Most of them returned from missions only a month ago. Even this office has no authority to deploy them immediately. The law is clear."

It was a firm statement, sharp in both tone and meaning. Ending with a sigh, the Chief Administrator added,

"It is impossible to form a separate combat unit at present."

He was right. Martial artists in their rest periods were protected by law.

This was a distinctive feature of Desolate Fortress.

It was said that martial artists who had completed missions often spent time with their families, knowing their lives could be cut short at any moment.

"…"

Jung Yeonshin closed his mouth.

This wasn't a matter where he could recklessly display bravado.

Not only the whites but also the blacks and blues of Radiant Demon Squad, including their leader, had disappeared entirely.

It was far from an ordinary incident, one that could be dismissed lightly.

He couldn't leave alone, and the office would not grant permission for it either.

But could he simply stay put? No.

"If a deployable force can be assembled, will you approve the mission?"

Jung Yeonshin asked. The Chief Administrator raised his eyes and nodded readily.

"We must, of course, take action."

"I understand."

Truthfully, he longed to summon the Fortress' Lord.

But he dared not mention her name.

As the protector of the World Tree, the most revered figure in the fortress, her movements were never taken lightly.

Especially without a clear and massive threat like the Blood Flame Cult.

'I can't cross the line just because she treats me favorably.'

The boy thought, suppressing his desire to rely on the absolute figure.

"I'll gather the personnel."

The Chief Administrator, perhaps having anticipated Jung Yeonshin's words, nodded once again.

Step.

That was the end of it. Jung Yeonshin turned around immediately. The hem of his blue long robe flared sharply.

The scholars of the General Affairs Bureau, who had silently taken in the scene, sent him off without a word.

He did not head toward the Radiant Demon Squad's pavilion. Instead, he turned in the opposite direction. Lazy Flame Dragon, who had been standing outside with a sullen look, asked curiously.

"Where are you going… sir?"

"The Desolate Ma family."

He gave a short answer.

When he returned to the headquarters, Ma Yeonjeok had given him instructions.

He was told to visit the Ma family and hear Zhu Yeon-jeong's apology.

The boy moved, grasping at straws.

"Seems like something serious happened. Your expression doesn't look normal. Ah, I'm just talking to myself."

Lazy Flame Dragon, who had walked up beside him, spoke with a smirk. Jung Yeonshin responded indifferently.

"Your allegiance has been verified. You can return to the pavilion if you want."

"No, no. Let's go together. I hate being bored, and this seems more interesting."

Lazy Flame Dragon replied with a voice tinged with laughter. He seemed full of curiosity about Jung Yeonshin.

The boy didn't pay attention and kept walking silently. He had no time to spare for an exchange with Lazy Flame Dragon.

Without speaking, they walked for a long time until they arrived at the front gate of the Desolate Ma family.

Jung Yeonshin looked up at the grand plaque. It was inscribed with "Ma Clan Outer Pavilion."

'The last time I saw this.'

It was when Heon Wonchang had devised a plan to put Zhu Yeon-jeong in a difficult position. Chung Myung and Baek Miryeo had been there too.

Every familiar place carried traces of Radiant Demon Squad. His heart was already in Sichuan.

The boy resolved to use any means necessary.

"Master Jung."

One of the gatekeepers, who had been whispering nervously among themselves, cautiously approached him, gesturing to the others behind him. He behaved with great politeness.

"We were ordered to escort you inside at any time. Please, this way. But the person beside you…?"

"A servant."

"Ah, I see. Of course, it's fine to bring him along."

The gatekeeper spoke with a faint smile that held a trace of tension. Jung Yeonshin gave a silent nod and stepped forward.

He paid no attention to Lazy Flame Dragon, who looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

The scenery inside the Desolate Ma family estate was the same as always.

The garden, regularly tended, was lush and green, and the inner pavilions were lined up neatly.

Jung Yeonshin strode forward without hesitation. He had already sent word to summon the elders of the family.

"Yeonshin!"

The message had been fast. A boy had already come out.

Sharp eyes and a handsome face. It was Ma Se-in, heir of the Desolate Ma Clan.

As soon as he saw Jung Yeonshin, the stern demeanor characteristic of a great noble family vanished. His bright smile was almost picturesque.

"I heard you were back! I've been waiting, but since you've only just returned, I didn't want to bother you. I'm sure others felt the same."

He gave a warm welcome. Was it because Jung Yeonshin had offered kind words at his coming-of-age ceremony, which he barely remembered now?

Despite the influence of Zhu Yeon-jeong, Ma Se-in's fondness for him seemed to grow day by day.

There was even a hint of admiration in his gaze toward Jung Yeonshin.

"Do you know how much interest there is in Radiant Demon Squad's Lightning Genius lately? It's the talk of the headquarters. In a few more days, people might even come directly to the pavilion to ask for martial arts advice from you."

He said this with a grin. Jung Yeonshin nodded silently.

Ma Se-in, smiling as he looked at him, briefly glanced at Lazy Flame Dragon.

Following behind Jung Yeonshin, Lazy Flame Dragon was scanning the pavilions of the Ma Clan.

"Who's the person behind you? His aura doesn't seem ordinary."

"A servant."

"Hmm… I see. Why don't we talk inside first? As you know, the elders here tend to take a long time preparing their formal attire."

"Sure."

Jung Yeonshin began walking alongside Ma Se-in.

His eyes briefly landed on a jade stone in Ma Se-in's hand.

It was about the size of a child's fist, a piece of blue jade with an unusual aura. Its ocean-like color was beautiful.

Noticing his gaze immediately, Ma Se-in grinned.

"It's called a Treasure Spirit Jade. It shows how refined your internal energy is. It's mainly used by the family's martial artists during mental cultivation to check the density of their energy."

"I've never heard of such an item."

"It's made by the Iron Tribe."

Lazy Flame Dragon suddenly interrupted, mimicking a servant's tone in a way that clearly mocked Jung Yeonshin.

"Our master wouldn't know, of course. It's impossible to obtain without connections to the Iron Tribe, and it's consumable too."

"A consumable?"

"Impressive knowledge."

Ma Se-in chuckled slightly. He didn't seem to believe Lazy Flame Dragon was a servant in the first place.

"Yeonshin. You use it like this."

It happened in an instant. The Treasure Spirit Jade in Ma Se-in's fingers cracked.

The fine lines spreading through the stone resembled cracks in parched earth.

"If you push a single stream of internal energy into it while keeping it pure, cracks appear. The purer the energy, the more cracks it gets. That's why it's a consumable."

"I see."

Jung Yeonshin replied. Normally, it would have piqued his curiosity.

But not now.

His eyes focused solely on Zhu Yeon-jeong, the elders of the Desolate Ma Clan, and his grandfather Ma Yeonjeok, who were walking toward him.

"I'll give you one. Observing the inside can be quite fascinating."

Despite the situation, Ma Se-in placed another Treasure Spirit Jade in Jung Yeonshin's hand.

Perhaps he felt indebted to Jung Yeonshin, who had once given up his position as heir.

He seemed eager to offer something in return.

Meanwhile, Jung Yeonshin faced the elders of the Desolate Ma Clan. Ma Yeonjeok spoke, his face as if ready to embrace him.

"Yeonshin, thank you so much for coming. I see Se-in already gifted you a Treasure Spirit Jade. That's wonderful."

"Grandfather."

Jung Yeonshin bowed formally, causing Ma Yeonjeok's lips to droop in disappointment.

Then it happened.

"Lightning Genius."

A woman in a jet-black robe opened her lips. Her elegant face, aged gracefully, radiated noble dignity.

Zhu Yeon-jeong, a royal descendant and Ma Se-in's mother.

She was a martial artist who had mastered the Imperial Eight Golden Techniques to perfection.

Her gaze was lofty, and the elders behind her exuded a similar presence.

Each one looked at Jung Yeonshin silently.

The pressure was overwhelming. The waves of energy surrounding them felt like a tidal surge.

"I greet the elders of my maternal family."

Jung Yeonshin bowed again. Then he looked at the Treasure Spirit Jade in his hand.

Moonlight shimmered softly on the stone.

"I've come to make a request, invoking the rights of a neglected bloodline."

He spoke calmly, raising a single strand of energy to overcome their presence.

Perhaps showing something would make things easier.

Without any disturbance of energy, Jung Yeonshin directed his internal energy into the jade.

The jade did not crack as before.

Instead, it vanished.

Shhh—

It dissolved like dust.

A fine mist rose above his hand, shimmering faintly with moonlight.