Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Jung Yeonshin wasn't particularly upset.

It wasn't because the Divine Sword Squad Leader promised compensation that they backed down. It just happened in the heat of the moment.

Rather, the greater sense of dissonance came from the multifaceted nature of the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

The absolute powerhouse who had displayed divine might now spoke like a frivolous person. It was truly awkward.

"The Leader pulled a con. That was a complete deception."

Yeon Soha furrowed his brows and continued.

"I knew it. It's always like this. It's either that old hag or the Leader who disgrace our main division. Dropping authority to the bottom in front of a junior they just met."

"No, it wasn't a lie."

The Divine Sword Squad Leader shook his head.

"Lightning Genius, don't misunderstand. I was talking about the relationship we share with the Divine Sword Squad. It's something to be proud of, in its own way…"

"You're shameless. Seems you're taking it easy treating your internal injuries after the battle."

Ak Surim smirked as she spoke, standing with one leg slightly bent. Her demeanor resembled that of a village thug.

With a face that looked about Jung Yeonshin's age, the girl openly mocked the Divine Sword Squad Leader. The boy thought she was strange, too.

"This Leader keeps their promises. What do you think? How about traveling with us until we pass through Yangyang?"

"We can't go all the way to the main stronghold. We have another mission to attend to. It's always like this… no time to rest."

Yeon Soha quickly interjected.

"..."

Jung Yeonshin didn't respond. He simply gazed at the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

As their eyes met, the Leader adjusted the folds of his purple robe and turned his head slightly, looking vastly different from when he had stepped into battle.

Then it happened.

It began subtly.

Jung Yeonshin suddenly felt vibrations underfoot. It wasn't the aftermath of a direct strike.

It was a strange tremor rising slowly and faintly from a great distance, gradually layering and seeping into the soles of his feet.

"Ah…?"

Ak Surim's face turned aghast.

The sound coming from above was unusual. It was growing louder.

In less than a breath, everyone present seemed to sense it simultaneously.

At the same time, the crowd spread out along the ridgeline began shouting and scattering.

"The Mountain God…! The Mountain God is enraged!"

"Is this divine punishment for the tyranny of Desolate Fortress?"

"A landslide! It's a landslide!"

Voices mixed with cries from those living off the scraps of the Namgoong Clan in Huizhou, but no one paid attention.

"We need to get out of here."

Ak Surim's dazed murmur was the cue. Energy waves erupted from Yeon Soha, the Divine Sword Squad Leader, and the other elite warriors of the Divine Sword Squad.

"This is all because the Master fought so loudly with Namgoong's head…"

"Fall back! Get White Qilin first!"

A landslide, indeed. Dust was rising from several massive peaks flanking Clear Night Valley.

Thick, immense, yellowish-brown dust clouds swirled as soil and rocks began cascading down.

Rumble!

Jung Yeonshin also glanced sideways at Namgoong Hwashin. The towering figure was already slung over a senior warrior's shoulder like baggage.

Nature had brought an end to the duel. It was a disaster caused by the fierce battle between the Divine Sword Squad Leader and Namgoong Clan's leader.

"They caused a calamity with their human strength."

Snap!

Jung Yeonshin fell into stride with the senior carrying Namgoong Hwashin. The man was a handsome middle-aged warrior.

He flashed a quick grin at Jung Yeonshin but then flinched upon noticing Ma Yeonjeok matching pace beside the boy.

"What are you doing? Did you trade your energy for that of a slug?"

Ak Surim, who was running ahead, sharply shouted back.

She sprinted with a spear strapped to her small back, showing the most composure among the Divine Sword Squad.

Even while running, she kept turning her body this way and that, scanning the high-level warriors like a mother watching over her children.

The real problem, however, was the faintly smiling Divine Sword Squad Leader.

His movements were sluggish. Given his martial prowess, it was hard to believe, but he genuinely seemed to struggle to keep up.

The once flawlessly controlled energy was now unraveling like tangled threads.

Jung Yeonshin's eyes widened slightly.

'The Leader's internal injuries are severe. The loss of energy… I can't even estimate it.'

He recalled the moment right after Namgoong Clan's leader died. Ak Surim had casually told the Divine Sword Squad Leader to regulate his breathing technique.

It was broad daylight, with countless martial artists from the world of Kangho watching. The weight carried by the top expert of Desolate Fortress must have been immense.

Jung Yeonshin was struck by the realization of Desolate Fortress' position.

No one could afford to reveal a flaw.

Showing weakness before the sects of Kangho? From that moment, Desolate Fortress would face…

'I can't even imagine.'

The boy thought.

And he became utterly certain—the Divine Sword Squad Leader was now enduring his injuries with superhuman resilience as much as with martial skill.

He speculated about the battle's end, which had seemed overwhelmingly one-sided. Surely, the Divine Sword Squad Leader must have fought desperately.

It was said that each of the Eight Clan Leaders could act as absolute rulers in Kangho.

Was there any martial artist who could face Namgoong Clan's leader and remain intact? Aside from the transcendent Lord of Desolate Fortress, none came to mind.

Even with his limited knowledge, Jung Yeonshin felt that was true across all of Central Plains. It seemed unreal that the Divine Sword Squad Leader had come away with only grave internal injuries.

"Leader, should I carry you?"

Yeon Soha spoke lightly.

Jung Yeonshin wasn't the only one who noticed. The Divine Sword Squad, the greatest martial force in Desolate Fortress, was filled with people as discerning as the boy.

Even if their leader didn't show it, there was no way these experts failed to notice the unnatural state of the purple-clad master.

Several were already quietly closing ranks around the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

"Hmm. That would be too conspicuous."

The Master didn't bother denying it.

"I'm tired, so don't talk to me. All of you."

They pushed forward with humor, their thickly muscled thighs moving as though their body relied solely on raw physical strength.

Despite his scholarly appearance, the Divine Sword Squad Leader's body had clearly been honed to an extraordinary degree. Yet, his core energy seemed unable to support him.

Snap!

Jung Yeonshin moved slightly closer.

Seeing it up close confirmed it. Every step was extremely heavy. At this point, it was a matter of stamina.

Rumble!

"We need to hide out of sight quickly."

Yeon Soha muttered as thunder-like sounds echoed behind them.

Although he seemed like one of the youngest in the Divine Sword Squad, his usual light and carefree demeanor was gone.

Even Ak Surim was affected. She flicked her falling hair away irritably and kept glancing at the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

"Faster! We don't know how far this will spread!"

"They… aren't they from Desolate Fortress? How did they end up here…?"

Meanwhile, many martial artists were fleeing along the ridgeline and through the narrow paths of Clear Night Valley.

They had all learned lightness skills. Their glances toward the Divine Sword Squad Leader and the elite warriors of Desolate Fortress were unsettling.

Huizhou, part of Namgoong's domain, had suffered today. Countless people had connections to the fallen direct line, whether through grudges, favors, or interests.

"If only someone could use energy transference once, it might help a little…"

Ak Surim bit her lip lightly. The Divine Sword Squad' pace was far too slow for its reputation. They were matching speed with their injured master.

"It's just the Leader. No one else could do that while running with lightness skills."

Yeon Soha spoke in a whisper as he scanned his surroundings.

Among the martial artists fleeing from nature's wrath, there were also experts.

This meant some of the crowd had the leisure to observe their surroundings, and that made it dangerous.

Anyone keeping the Divine Sword Squad in sight would inevitably find their pace suspicious.

'At least they're far away. Ordinary voices won't carry to the experts.'

It would be better if they were in front of commoners. However, the leader of Desolate Fortress' Divine Sword Squad could not appear weak to martial artists.

Rumble! Crash!

Now, the inner walls of the gorge were collapsing. The fury of nature, stirred by martial arts, approached as an unstoppable calamity.

Jung Yeonshin examined the expressions of the Divine Sword Squad experts. Their usual composure, as if they could exchange jokes even under a falling sky, had begun to fade.

This was a crisis. Given the attention this event drew from the entire martial world, there were surely those openly hostile toward Desolate Fortress among the crowd.

'Assumptions and certainties are worlds apart.'

Could two or three of the Eight Clan Leaders kill the Divine Sword Squad Leader? Anyone could say that.

Few would disagree. The history of martial arts spoke for itself.

No matter how unmatched one's martial prowess was, adversaries always appeared.

But actually showing vulnerability was another matter. The timing and place made it even worse.

"Master, breathe properly! We're doomed if you don't! After all the trouble you've stirred up!"

"There are a ton of people here. Looks like three or four of the Thirteen Heavens showed up to watch. If things go south, they'll gang up and bury us. Without the Leader, it's immediate bloodshed."

"White Qilin is as good as dead."

Yeon Soha and the other Divine Sword Squad experts shouted through their strained breaths.

It was almost comical. Jung Yeonshin thought calmly—why not just use sound transmissions?

The Divine Sword Squad Leader let out a small laugh and gathered strength. A long exhale seeped out from his tightly pressed lips.

It was the look of a wounded tiger pretending not to be injured.

It was because packs of wildcats were running alongside them in all directions. At its core, Desolate Fortress was the enemy of the entire martial world.

The Nine Great Sects, including Zhongnan and Shaolin, had treated Jung Yeonshin well, but that was exceptionally virtuous of them.

"Grandfather."

"Speak, Yeonshin."

Ma Yeonjeok answered calmly. His running form resembled a dominant immortal.

"Can't you control your internal energy while focusing on lightness skills? Grandfather, you're a purple-ranked master."

Jung Yeonshin asked directly. At the purple rank, one should have trained all three energy centers to the highest level.

Dividing internal energy required absolute precision—an almost otherworldly skill. It heavily relied on the upper energy center.

"…It's difficult right now."

After a brief silence, Ma Yeonjeok continued.

"The Ma Clan's martial arts are extremely fierce and fast. They build up energy quickly, but it scatters just as easily. Unlike orthodox sect techniques, maintaining energy balance is hard. It's only useful for reaching peak strength in youth."

"That's why you became the Leader when you were still a greenhorn."

Ak Surim, who had drawn closer, scoffed. Ma Yeonjeok's eyes flared.

"A greenhorn? You were just a snot-nosed brat from the Ak family."

"Good for you, getting old. What's with calling someone a brat? Let's maintain some dignity, our former Master."

Ak Surim retorted and turned her gaze.

Her flowing black hair brushed aside, and her eyes met Jung Yeonshin's.

She flicked her pitch-black hair, darker than her black long robe.

"Hey. There's a way, isn't there? You've been rolling those sharp eyes nonstop."

"…There is."

"Now that I think about it, you seem pretty good at using your upper energy center. I saw your precision earlier. Your sense of time felt odd, even though you're not in the ascension realm. Come on! Hurry up and do it!"

The vision of the rejuvenated, black-haired master was indeed sharp.

Jung Yeonshin remained silent for a moment. Meanwhile, Ak Surim chattered impatiently.

"What? What's the problem?"

"It's just… the Leader allowing an unfamiliar martial artist to touch his Life Gate acupoint…"

"What are you talking about?"

The one who interrupted was the Divine Sword Squad Leader. His now noticeably rough breathing was obvious.

At the same time, voices echoed in warning from both flanks of the Divine Sword Squad formation.

"Those are the Martial Dragon Association thugs. They're coming down the gorge directly. Looks like they're determined to check things out. If the Leader releases even one surge of energy, they'll back off immediately."

"On the upper left, it's the Profound Martial Alliance. I see Blood Flame Cult, too. Blood fiends never get wiped out."

That made four of the Thirteen Heavens. Ak Surim closed in on Jung Yeonshin as they ran.

Her energy, carried through the wind, even spread her scent.

"Lightning Genius, that fancy blue robe and golden embroidery—are those just decorations? If you can't trust that, what can you trust? Leader, say something. This kid's energy sense seems incredibly sharp."

"Lightning Genius. I permit you to lay hands on my noble body."

Even amid the crisis, the Divine Sword Squad Leader remained playful.

Ak Surim grabbed Jung Yeonshin's hand with her small palm.

She then led it to the Divine Sword Squad Leader's back without a shred of hesitation.

Her hand, now returned to a girl's form, felt surprisingly soft.

'The calluses are shallow. Revitalization isn't all good, after all.'

Jung Yeonshin thought as he channeled his internal energy through the Meridians Regulation Technique.

The idea of revitalization and rebuilding the body—if it meant throwing away a lifetime of training, it seemed like something to consider only at the very end of one's life.

Perhaps it was because he had already crossed great mountains. Even as he placed his hand on the Divine Sword Squad Leader's back, his thoughts wandered.

'Old age…? Right. First, I want to live long enough to grow old.'

The boy wished for it. After all, the question left behind by Azure Qilin was something to ponder only while alive.