Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 104 – Lightning Genius’ Legacy (4)

“What did you say?”

Lazy Flame Dragon asked. His thick eyebrows rose slightly.

Jeong Yeon-shin could guess his meaning just by looking at his face.

He hadn’t asked because he couldn’t hear. His expression seemed to be giving a chance to change the words.

“I was locked in the underground prison for a long time. My hearing seems to have dimmed, say it one more time.”

He slightly raised the corners of his mouth. It was a show of reverse intimidation.

He had been the young master of a great prestigious family.

As a local powerful clan of Jinan in Shandong, they would have enjoyed status no less than most royal families, so he was certainly capable of that.

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly opened his mouth.

“If you’re assigned to Radiant Demon Wing, you’re indeed my subordinate.”

“Are you provoking me now?”

Lazy Flame Dragon’s eyes, which had been drawing hazy eye-smiles, narrowed further.

He already had deep shadows under his eyes, but now he looked like he could lie in a coffin at any moment.

Apart from his intense momentum, he looked like sluggish.

Whoosh!

He twisted his lips amid blazing energy. A languid smile. He was still a strange one.

“What’s this, what’s this?”

“It’s someone I haven’t seen before. Is he fighting with Brother Lightning Genius?”

“Let’s tell the adults.”

“Stupid, they’re all gone on missions. Brother Jeong is the highest here right now.”

Lazy Flame Dragon had shouted loudly at first. By now Radiant Demon Wing’s unnamed disciples had come out to watch.

Among them, a boy a couple years older than Jeong Yeon-shin stepped forward to move the children back.

“Let’s go behind the hall. He’s clearly a master. Don’t want to be a burden to Brother Jeong.”

“But that mister doesn’t even have a color?”

“Just go for now.”

It was helpful. That boy took over the role of Shin So-bin, who remained alone in the Radiant Demon Wing hall as a formal warrior.

Jeong Yeon-shin raised the Radiant Demon Technique energy to count movements.

It was to block in advance any trajectories where ripples might affect the children. Fortunately it was easy.

Because the direction behind Lazy Flame Dragon was wide open.

He opened his mouth as is.

“I’m a superior-subordinate. All Divine Sword Squad fighting forces are like that.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s words, Lazy Flame Dragon smiled mockingly.

“The kids are cute. Anyway, I’m about to turn thirty. Must I particularly call you leader?”

“Senior is enough.”

“I studied under the Hwangbo Family Head. Though he was an eccentric old man I didn’t even want to call father, he was counted among the most senile of the Eight Family Heads. Looking at the murim hierarchy too, your words are strange…”

That’s when Shin So-bin, who had been stealthily approaching from far away, shouted.

“Senior Lightning Genius learned from the Desolate Fortress Lord!”

“…”

Lazy Flame Dragon’s mouth closed. The Murim hierarchy naturally became meaningless before the elf clan.

All his words were refuted. Lazy Flame Dragon opened his lips awkwardly.

“Still, my age…”

“An unnamed clothes disciple to a blue warrior?”

Shin So-bin questioned with cat-like eyes. It was a strange composition.

With Jeong Yeon-shin and Lazy Flame Dragon facing each other, she stood to one side with hands on her hips, taking in both with black eyes.

She was ready to refute everything Lazy Flame Dragon said.

Shin So-bin raised energy to hold her ground in the space where two masters were present.

Her white robe fluttered gently like a heavenly fairy maiden’s clothes.

Was it innate courage? She seemed to show not even a trace of tension.

“My family was still one wing of the Eight Great Families.”

Lazy Flame Dragon said while keeping his gaze on Jeong Yeon-shin. The reply came from Shin So-bin.

“They were exterminated, weren’t they?”

The words were short. But Lazy Flame Dragon couldn’t turn his head.

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had already raised the Jeong family circulation, was displaying deeply sunken energy paths.

He had now reached a realm to be called a rising master.

Having killed even Azure Qilin who was said to be Lazy Flame Dragon’s friend, he could be called a major faction’s elite master.

“Really.”

As if thoroughly tired, Lazy Flame Dragon furrowed his brow.

“…Originally I built fame in the murim. You must have heard rumors of dominating the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.”

“White Qilin who dominated equally lost to Senior Lightning Genius?”

“Think of position. I was a family’s young master.”

“What’s the big deal about an extinct family? And you know what. Senior Lightning Genius is the Desolate Fortress Lord’s direct disciple, I’m the Desolate Shin family’s direct daughter. Senior Lightning Genius is a blue warrior, I’m a white warrior. And you are…”

Shin So-bin slightly raised her lips. It was a bold face.

“You said it yourself earlier. A tiny unnamed disciple.”

“…”

“Are you in your right mind? If you’ve entered the main fortress you should follow the main fortress’ laws, where are you not knowing your place and confronting a far superior blue master? Want to be stuck in the prison corner again? My grandfather was the former Elder Council Head. If I just say the word, you’ll just…”

Her shooting words gradually grew stronger. It was like a cat’s sharp cry. It felt fitting for the title White Cat.

“…”

While Lazy Flame Dragon completely lost words and gradually gathered his momentum, Jeong Yeon-shin guarded against him but was inwardly disappointed.

Since the opponent wasn’t a junior unnamed disciple, he had just asserted principles as a Radiant Demon Wing senior.

Yet Lazy Flame Dragon’s attitude that seemed about to charge in had been quite welcome.

‘I wondered if we could share moves at full power. Without even needing provocation.’

The boy thought.

And slowly opened his mouth.

“By the way.”

“What now.”

“I too only know your title. What’s your name?”

When a mighty master strides the murim, they naturally make a name.

But usually only their title spreads. Because of the enormously vast land.

Jeong Yeon-shin’s hometown of Xinye County in Henan was especially so. Unless it was quite big news, it didn’t reach there.

But it’s not normal for an Desolate Fortress warrior to not know Lazy Flame Dragon’s name.

Because the position of Eight Families’ young master was clearly only eight in the murim.

‘Even during the mission I only received appearance and title.’

There was a reason. Even Baek Mi-ryeo, Jeong Yeon-shin’s blue senior, knew well of Lazy Flame Dragon’s short lifespan.

The reason the Hwangbo Family made the illegitimate Lazy Flame Dragon heir became known with their extermination.

Brilliant talent with a life destined to die young. They viewed him as disposable material to raise the main family’s fame then replace.

So they didn’t reveal the young master’s name. They wanted an existence that could be easily erased while seeking fame. It was paradoxical.

Jeong Yeon-shin saw himself in Lazy Flame Dragon’s circumstances. It was one reason he kept distance from his maternal family, the Desolate Ma family.

Rustle.

A nice fragrance wafted. Somehow Shin So-bin had approached the boy’s side.

When their eyes met once she smiled brightly, for a moment seeming like a puppy rather than White Cat.

Jeong Yeon-shin swallowed his puzzlement. It would be troublesome to question her change in attitude.

Meanwhile she urged Lazy Flame Dragon.

“Senior is asking. Answer.”

“I don’t want to tell you?”

Lazy Flame Dragon replied. His expression thick with ennui suited him despite his age.

It seemed because his appearance was so outstanding.

Like Azure Qilin and White Qilin, the looks of prestigious families’ direct lines were all exceptional.

Come to think of it, Shin So-bin and Ma Se-in were also like that.

‘Appearance is also status, they said.’ These were words from Desolate Divine Spear Yue Shou-lin who accompanied this mission.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Jeong Yeon-shin unconsciously recalled the Desolate Fortress Lord. She lacked nothing.

Noble status, world-changing martial arts, and endless lifespan too. Could she be someone who knew deficiency?

At the same time, Shin So-bin’s eyes sharpened again.

“What did you just say? Don’t want to? This mister isn’t coming to his senses?”

“It’s because it’s a discarded name. Don’t want to be tainted by the Hwangbo surname.”

Lazy Flame Dragon said with a faint smile. He seemed to have regained composure again.

Even changing speech style freely didn’t seem awkward. His mind is deep.

He seemed capable of enduring as young master of a great noble family.

“There was no prior message. Let’s go to the Administration together first. I need to confirm. Whether you really were released from the thunder prison and assigned to Radiant Demon Wing.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said. Lazy Flame Dragon came alone without any Administration escort.

It was hardly possible. If his words were true, he must have shaken off his guide.

That’s when Shin So-bin’s breath slightly touched near his shoulder.

She was about half a head shorter than Jeong Yeon-shin, but her staring up was somewhat burdensome.

“Senior, can I come too?”

“No. The children will be anxious. Calm them down.”

He meant the Radiant Demon Wing unnamed disciples. They were ones who shared warmth he hadn’t received at the Jeong family manor.

All of Radiant Demon Wing was like that. He couldn’t help but care.

“They’re not even really civilian children.”

Shin So-bin pouted her small lips and stepped back reluctantly.

Jeong Yeon-shin met eyes with Lazy Flame Dragon who was grinning at her.

“We go now.”

Confirmation came first. Jeong Yeon-shin led Lazy Flame Dragon toward the Administration.

He snickered but followed along loosely while swaggering.

They walked for a while meeting twilight. It was when they passed several hall compounds.

“Young Hero Jeong.”

They encountered the Grand Administrator. He seemed to be just entering the Administration hall.

He still carried robust energy in his large build.

He looked quite detached from the hazy writhing of the setting sun.

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly raised clasped hands.

“Grand Administrator. I was just going to see you.”

“Ah, I can guess why.”

The Grand Administrator smiled broadly. His face was like looking at a son.

He glanced behind Jeong Yeon-shin. Lazy Flame Dragon stood with one leg slightly raised.

“Because of that friend, right?”

“Yes.”

“The formal assignment is correct. Lazy Flame Dragon will be a powerful blade for Radiant Demon Wing. Though control is the superior’s duty, I think Young Hero and Radiant Demon Wing can handle it well.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

“Indeed, it’s not something easily accepted. But the Lord personally examined him. You can set your mind at ease. The Lord’s command is enough justification.”

“Ah.”

Jeong Yeon-shin let out a small exclamation.

He recalled the image of the Desolate Fortress Lord observing Lazy Flame Dragon.

Leaning diagonally against the tree trunk filling the office, watching blankly without releasing a point of energy.

It was a clearly drawn imagination. …Lazy Flame Dragon reflected in those deep green eyes containing abysses looked shabby.

The eyes of the supreme transcendent among noble families. They were said to penetrate essence.

Questions faded.

“Thank you for your words.”

Jeong Yeon-shin made clasped hands again and was about to turn. The Grand Administrator’s voice held him.

“If you don’t have urgent business, how about coming to the Administration for a moment? I believe urgent news just arrived regarding Radiant Demon Wing dispatched to Sichuan. My subordinates should be examining it.”

“Would that be alright?”

Jeong Yeon-shin immediately asked back. A kind smile spread on the Grand Administrator’s face.

“Of course. As one the Lord personally took as direct disciple, there’s no room to doubt your character. Follow me. By now they should have decoded the letter’s cipher.”

“Wait.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said briefly. It wasn’t to the Grand Administrator.

Lazy Flame Dragon, suddenly treated like a dog, raised his eyebrows but the boy didn’t look back.

Step.

Jeong Yeon-shin followed the Grand Administrator into the Administration.

The moment he stepped over the huge threshold, sounds struck his ears as if they had been waiting.

Muttering voices were both calm and noisy. They also approached urgently.

‘Formation methods.’

Even developed senses couldn’t hear from outside. It was when Jeong Yeon-shin newly realized Desolate Fortress’ vastness.

“…Two Radiant Demon Wing whites dead. Retrieving bodies. Twenty-three others including Radiant Demon Wing leaders all missing after engaging unknown group.”

“Wide-area martial art activation estimated. Hidden weapon traces in eight zhang radius (about 24 meters). All marks dense. Assessed as Sichuan Tang Family’s secret technique Full Sky Flower Rain. Support or hostility unclear.”

“Tyrant Sword Sect Leader appeared. Longan Prefecture, Sichuan. Tyrant Sword Sect elder accompanied.”

“Rising talents gathering of Thirteen Evil Sects at Sichuan Shunqing Prefecture. Many unorthodox martial artists including Ten Perfections Secr, Pure Demon Alliance attended. Some notable masters observed among guard warriors. Assessed minimum blue rank.”

“Little Sword Queen of Wudang Sect, Golden Staff Goddess of Emei Sect, Red Cloud Dragon of Qincheng Sect appeared. Three of Nine Orthodox Sects. Also at Shunqing Prefecture.”

This was Desolate Fortress’ Administration. Where all kinds of news from under heaven gathered.

Scholars trained in martial arts discussed everywhere with eyes containing true light.

“Shouldn’t we send support?”

“Impossible. Main fortress defense personnel insufficient. Fifteen of seventeen squads already dispatched.”

“Divine Sword Squads stationed in Sichuan… Radiant Demon Wing, Azure Sky Sword, Obeying Heaven Wing. From this moment on, Radiant Demon Wing is excluded from the discussion of power.”

[TL Note- Exclusion from discussion of power here means, Radiant Demon Wing in Sichuan is incapable to contribute to the mission, they aren’t able to provide any fighting force.]

Amid the urgency.

There was a place where dead silence spread.

Near the entrance. Blue clothes fluttered.

Though standing still, energy budding like raging waves began soaring toward the ceiling.

It was momentum released by one person.

“The judgment of excluding us from power.”

Now in puberty. The voice of a boy whose voice was starting to thicken rang out.

“It would be better to reconsider.”