Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time-Chapter 390: Society of Sacred Swords (6)

Among the figures surrounding Jeong Yeon-shin’s bedside, a few shoulders subtly lowered.

It seemed they had consciously suppressed the instinct to flinch, maintaining the rigid discipline of those who had mastered the unity of essence, energy, and spirit.

Everyone here wore black. Each one was a luminary in their own right.

‘That man...’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyebrows slightly lifted. Even through the thick dust in the air, he could see one person clearly.

A tall, gaunt middle-aged man. In the martial world, he was known as the Silent God General. The sheer presence of his accumulated martial power was undeniable.

Lord of Annihilation, Shin Hwang.

Perhaps due to his incredibly lean face, his sharp features stood out like a blade.

Was it to maintain discipline among the other division leaders? His deeply sunken eyes gleamed with an eerie darkness.

“Lord of Annihilation spoke well. Why are you lot breaking walls and causing havoc?”

Ak Su-rim, standing with her arms crossed, chimed in with feigned agreement. Though the Lord of Annihilation was staring down at her, she firmly avoided meeting his gaze.

She had been about to rise toward Jeong Yeon-shin but instead leaned her back solidly against the chair.

“Why did you seal the room?”

With that curt voice, a gust of wind swept through the room, instantly dispersing the lingering dust.

A figure, ropes hanging from his waist, had raised a hand, unleashing a controlled force that cleared the air.

Saaa—

Azure Dragon Lord, Wi Ji-geuk, emerged from the haze. His sharp chin was tilted downward as he fixed a piercing gaze on Ak Su-rim.

“I did it because I knew this would happen. The moment Seomye said he was fine, you all barged in. Do you think just recovering from internal injuries is the end of it?”

“That’s exactly what we want to ask. Senior Ak, we sensed greed in your energy waves. You must have been trying to monopolize the questioning about the battle at Unhoe Peak. Is that not true?”

Skyforest Lord interrogated her calmly.

“......”

There was no response.

Ak Su-rim merely let the leg she had propped on the bedside slip down.

Lord of the Heavenly Ridge, Hahoe Wi-jin, the one casting the largest shadow, let out a boisterous laugh.

“There’s no need to ask. If anyone lacks self-restraint the most among the black ranks, it’s her. Since we’re all here, let’s start the meeting.”

At the same time, a suction force spread from all directions.

Zitanwood chairs slid toward the gathering on their own.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s room was within Sipjeonmun’s quarters. The wall had been shattered by the intrusion of the division leaders, revealing a chamber beyond it—a hall where the sect’s major decisions were made.

From the opposite office chamber, a grand marshal’s chair flew toward Hahoe Wi-jin.

Boom—! Kugugung—!

It didn’t take long before all nine figures clad in black had seated themselves around the bed.

Above them, through the holes in the ceiling, Bright Flow Lord and Lawbearer Lord casually perched, looking down.

After scanning the room, Lord of Annihilation spoke.

“This place shall serve as the Wonyoung Unified Arena. Any objections?”

“I will stand as guardian.”

A cold yet smooth voice rang out from outside the chamber.

Lord of Annihilation, Shin Hwang, turned his gaze.

“Blood Manifest Lord, are you objecting?”

“Even with all these esteemed seniors surrounding Junior Jeong, I can’t say I feel reassured. Seeing the lot of you today... you all seem rather unruly.”

“I respect your opinion.”

Lord of Annihilation nodded slowly. Unlike the others in black, he did not engage in petty arguments.

Jeong Yeon-shin found himself impressed by both Jin Myeong-jo, standing afar, and Shin Hwang, present in this gathering.

They were truly the pillars upholding the Divine Sword Corps.

“Seomye.”

“Yes, Senior.”

Lying in a slightly reclined position, Jeong Yeon-shin turned his gaze toward the Lord of Annihilation.

Perhaps it was his expressionless face. Among the Black Triumvirate, the Lord of Annihilation was a man whose thoughts were difficult to gauge. The air around him was heavy.

After silently observing the scars etched across Jeong Yeon-shin’s body, the Lord of Annihilation finally spoke in a measured tone.

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“You need more time to recover. We don’t know what may happen or when. Strengthen your unity of essence, energy, and spirit. We will handle the work.”

The black ranks of Ipwang Fortress each had their own distinct traits.

Among them, the Lord of Annihilation’s presence was physically oppressive—his very aura pressed down on others.

Even words that were meant as advice felt like commands. It didn’t seem intentional, yet the formless pressure emanating from him was undeniable.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly sat up and brought his hands together in a martial salute.

“I appreciate your wisdom, but I cannot impose on you.”

“Do as you wish.”

Lord of Annihilation shifted his heavy words. Just then, Bukgung Ah, sitting with her legs crossed, jerked her chin toward the entrance.

“The ones ruling this land have arrived.”

“Their rank?”

“Provincial Command Officer and Chief Magistrate. They say they have urgent matters to discuss.”

“We’ll see them after the meeting. Let’s begin.”

The Lord of Annihilation’s declaration received no objections.

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly scanned the room. Even now, it was hard to believe such a lineup had gathered.

This assembly of senior figures shattered both the expectations of the martial world and common sense itself.

“There are a few things I’d like to ask.”

“Speak first.”

A low voice responded—it was Seonmok Lord, Cheon So-so.

More than anyone else present, she was scrutinizing Jeong Yeon-shin’s body with a relentless gaze. Her eyes shimmered with pale azure light, suggesting she had activated a vision-enhancing technique.

‘Is she considering what happened in the Serpent Dragon’s Tactical Formation a debt to be repaid?’

After offering her a respectful bow, Jeong Yeon-shin slowly parted his lips.

“I’d like to know the status of Seonmok Lord, the Heavenly Ridge, and the warriors of Suncheon Ik. Are they all safe?”

“Of course. If anything, they’re doing what those so-called righteous sects and monks never could.”

Hahoe Wi-jin laughed roughly, meeting Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze with a wild grin.

“The Unhoe Peak’s Sky-Trapping Formation was meant to be an elite encirclement. We took care of those bastards, but the leftovers have scattered across all of Sichuan.”

“The remnants of the Martial Outlaws?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“Yes. The ones who torment ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the common folk the most are those vermin. The so-called ‘great masters’ spend their time hoarding offerings from their subordinates while they train.”

It was clear that the Black Ranks were ruthlessly purging the remaining heretical forces in Sichuan.

Eradicating the roots and wiping out entire sects.

It was something the righteous factions were incapable of doing.

“I instructed them to return to the fortress once the job was done.”

Seonmok Lord added. Jeong Yeon-shin silently acknowledged her reasoning.

At minimum, two of the seventeen major divisions of Ipwang Fortress were currently stationed in Yangyang.

That naturally included members of the Black Ranks, meaning the main stronghold was essentially empty.

“Don’t trouble yourself too much.”

The Lord of Infinite Extremes, seated at Jeong Yeon-shin’s feet, spoke.

Clank—

It was as if he had read the younger warrior’s thoughts. Absentmindedly, he kept tapping his prosthetic leg, a motion that exuded an air of nonchalance.

“The Infinite Extremes Division, one of the most formidable forces, remains stationed in the stronghold alongside the Lord of Annihilation. Yeouicheon’s forces have also disregarded their usual assignments and are patrolling the Yangyang region. So...”

The Lord of Infinite Extremes, who had been speaking, suddenly halted the movement of his prosthetic leg.

“For the time being, we have the luxury of focusing entirely on you.”

His gaze was crystal clear. The way he looked at Jeong Yeon-shin carried a deep sense of sentimentality.

The others in black ranks were no different. It was as if they were attuning themselves to his every movement, reading his breathing patterns and inner energy flow.

Then, the Lord of Annihilation spoke again.

“Yeouicheon—the 'Spring' in its name signifies independence, the ability to seek out its own missions. Bukgung Ah practically begged the Fortress Lord to allow it.

"Conversely, the 'Spirit' in Seonmok’s name represents divine assignments—eliminating threats that disrupt the land and using the Myung Clan’s secret arts to revitalize the earth’s energy. Both are of immense importance.”

His tone was peculiar.

Jeong Yeon-shin blinked once.

It reminded him of the time when he first learned about Ma Gwang-ik’s duties—as if he was being introduced to responsibilities he ought to know.

“The previous Yeouicheon Lord was highly irreverent. If not for their talent, martial skill, and lineage, they never would have ascended to the position.”

A man seated directly opposite Bukgung Ah spoke with dry sarcasm.

It was Soyeon Lord, Yu Jeong-myeong.

A descendant of the Myung Clan, whose keen ears were as sharp as a blade. He was renowned for possessing the greatest protective sensory technique in Ipwang Fortress.

It was he who had planted the first banner at Unhoe Peak before any other warrior.

Bukgung Ah snorted.

“And yet, here we have a monkey who lacks even one of those qualifications. Aren’t three out of three enough?”

“Can Yeouicheon truly ignore the assignments given by the Lord of the Division?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked calmly.

Bukgung Ah’s grin widened—a predatory smile.

It felt like a provocation.

“If an order is given directly, I’ll follow it—reluctantly. But whether the mission succeeds... that’s another matter entirely.”

“Senior Bukgung, given your nature, you should handle anything with ease—you’re practically the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven.”

Jeong Yeon-shin stated this with complete certainty.

For a brief moment, the smirk on Bukgung Ah’s lips faltered.

The conviction in Jeong Yeon-shin’s voice had pierced straight into her core, like a martial intent burrowing into her Upper Dantian.

This was unlike the empty flattery she had received from the Chief Magistrate before.

“Ah...”

“Defying an order is punishable by death.”

A woman’s even-toned voice interrupted from above.

Jeong Yeon-shin lifted his gaze slightly.

A swordswoman sat cross-legged on the roof, her jet-black hair cascading like silk.

It was Lawbearer Lord, Yun So-yu.

She nodded in greeting, her expression unreadable.

Returning the gesture, Jeong Yeon-shin realized something.

No one was absent.

This gathering had shrunk the entire martial world into a single room.

He gently brushed the front of his robe.

His fingertips grazed the faint bulge beneath it—the Swallow’s White Letter, the secret correspondence of the Black Ranks, which had returned to him in Sipjeonmun.

“If disobeying the Lord’s command isn’t an option... then dispersing should be easy, shouldn’t it?”

“What’s this about dispersing so soon?”

Ak Su-rim, who had remained silent for formality’s sake, suddenly cut in.

Her voice was light, but there was an underlying sharpness.

“You nearly died, you know.”

But Soyeon Lord Yu Jeong-myeong and Azure Dragon Lord Wi Ji-geuk disagreed.

“The reaction of the martial world will be predictable. Those who love to chatter will start whispering about treason.”

“They will. Sitting still won’t change that.”

The discussion continued.

At its core, the issue was what to do next.

With Ma Gwang-ik’s recovery nearing completion, they had to decide how to act.

As Lawbearer Lord had stated, defiance did not exist in Ipwang Fortress.

No matter how the world watched, their first priority was upholding the authority of the Lord of the Divine Sword Corps—the one who held the Transcendent Sword.

“The Lord wouldn’t have gathered us without reason. Something must be happening.”

“The Sky-Trapping Formation at Unhoe Peak... its scale was unusual. The Thirteen Heavens have never gathered like that before. It must have been orchestrated at a very high level...”

“The so-called Righteous Factions have also built a new Martial Alliance in Hanzhong. The atmosphere of the martial world is changing. We can’t ignore the risk of divide-and-conquer tactics.

“If we disband without a plan, some of us will definitely be targeted.”

“Regardless, worrying about the Lord is pointless. He’d survive anywhere.”

“They say supreme martial masters are born with heaven’s fortune and an innate harmony with nature. Among them, Dragon Lord has an especially resilient fate.”

The conversation grew frustrating.

Their presence alone was too powerful.

Wherever they went, however they moved, eyes would follow.

They were the strongest martial force in the world—yet they had to be cautious.

Even now, the world was watching them:

The common folk, betrayed by the martial sects, now witnessing the power of the Black Ranks firsthand.The imperial court, warily observing how their 'sword' wielded itself.The Thirteen Heavens, the Eight Great Houses, and every faction of the martial world, all waiting for a misstep.It was a tense, delicate balance.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s martial journey had finally reached the heights of the world.

Every small movement would now send ripples through history.

But standing still isn’t an option.

We need to create a variable for the Lord who has gone silent.

Suddenly, he rose from the bed and stepped across the threshold.

Step.

A faint ripple of light followed his movement.

The gazes of the Black Ranks locked onto him.

Before he knew it, he was staring down at two middle-aged men.

One wore red ceremonial robes, the other a commanding officer’s armor—the Chief Magistrate and the Provincial Command Officer.

They had been eavesdropping from a distance.

Upon meeting Jeong Yeon-shin’s gaze, they flinched and stepped back.

“We will be leaving soon.”

“If you’re leaving... where to?”

The Provincial Command Officer cautiously moved his hand away from his sword hilt as he spoke.

His eyes, however, remained fixed on Jeong Yeon-shin.

The fabled Ma Gwang-ik Lord, rumored to be mad with unstoppable arrogance, turned out to be a well-mannered, sharp-eyed youth.

He’ll be summoned to the Capital’s Bureau soon... this will make for an interesting report.

Then, Jeong Yeon-shin spoke.

“You, as Provincial Command Officer, oversee all military affairs in Sichuan, correct?”

“...That’s correct.”

“Then you must have a map of the world.

"Our Black Ranks have the right to view it, but since our work is battle, we do not carry them personally.”

“...Why do you need the map?”

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at the shattered walls of his chamber.

The senior warriors were watching him closely.

“If we head north from here...”

He continued.

“We’ll run into one of the Thirteen Heavens along the way. The Amya Battlefront and Taemo Mountain Fortress should be in a direct line.”

In that moment, a rare smirk flickered across the Lord of Annihilation’s lips.

"...That depends on which route we take."

"Since we’re already splitting up, taking care of one along the way shouldn’t be an issue, should it?"

The young man pressed the point.

None of the senior warriors shook their heads in disagreement.

Only Ak Su-rim peeked out slightly, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"We’re handling it along the way? Are you talking about the Lord of the Golden Dawn Sect...?"

***

The rumors of the Unhoe Peak Grand Battle spread at an astonishing speed. It was the most significant event to shake the martial world in recent times.

Not only did the nearby sects and factions fall into silence, but even the larger martial clans that caught wind of it halted their plundering and territorial expansion.

Only the Thirteen Heavens of the Unorthodox Sects and select members of the Eight Great Houses continued to move, following a scheme that had been carefully laid over years. Each of them had long-standing domains they had painstakingly fortified.

“Ipwang Fortress has finally gone mad.”

“It’s astonishing, but... it won’t last.”

“The Imperial Court may be preoccupied with the northern front, but they won’t ignore the common folk forever...”

“How far have we come in securing the method to break Seomye’s Inner Veins? Move it to the top priority of the sect’s agenda.”

“Scour every route to Beijing. If the chance arises... cut them off at the root.”

And then, one day—

Thirteen Black Blades began their march north.

They moved faster than any rumor could spread.

Many forces in Sichuan scrambled to follow them, but only a handful—Taoist masters, Buddhist monks, and a select few—were able to catch even a glimpse of their tracks.