Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 81 – Unification (2)

‘Growing out my hair would be good…?’

It was a jest from the absolute being who guards the World Tree alone.

She was a supreme being whose image making jokes could hardly be imagined.

No words should be taken lightly. Jeong Yeon-shin had to be so.

He recalled when he was searching for Hyeon Won-chang. He crossed swords with local martial artists to gather information.

He learned hospitality while deliberately losing verbal fights to gain goodwill.

Grow hair when becoming a master. He kept it in mind.

‘Still, if it’s the main fortress’ squad leaders, they would call that level a master, wouldn’t they?’

They said the black rank realm meant achieving Three Flowers Gathered at Crown and Five Qi Return to Source energy circulation.

He heard it was a realm where true qi immediately responds to intent. A world capable of facing renowned orthodox faction elders.

By then, there should be no risk of having long hair grabbed in close combat.

After stepping into the realm of ascension, he could grow his hair.

It was a very brief thought. When he met the green eyes again, the Desolate Fortress Lord opened her mouth.

“Your expression is determined. Though it was idle talk.”

A faint smile gathered at her lips.

“Though martial artists under heaven make death their companion, Lightning Genius’ intensity is not lacking. Not bad to see.”

“…I am honored.”

“Nothing to be grateful for, nor sorry about.”

Her tone was gentle like a breeze. She slowly continued speaking.

“The main fortress is not stingy with rewards. I called you to reward the merits achieved through your aspirations, so I shall bestow what you rightfully deserve.”

Finally.

At last the Fortress Lord’s words brought heart movement. He needed to calm his mind but couldn’t manage well.

Even taking a long exhale, his heart fluttered.

Though the Desolate Fortress Lord would perceive everything, she did not withdraw her small smile.

Everything in view slowed down. Her lips that finished saying she would bestow opened again.

“Your merits are very great. I shall speak of two things.”

Her beauty proving peerless martial might did not enter his eyes.

He only stared as if engraving in his mind her face that looked just three or four years older.

“The merit of finding the evil sect’s headquarters that harmed civilians, the merit of greatly contributing to destroying the rebel group without sacrifice.”

“……”

The former merit was just an incident that arose from the Seventh Apostle coveting Jeong Yeon-shin’s value.

That’s how the headquarters incident began. But he wasn’t embarrassed. Because the reward approaching this moment was more important than anything.

“It can be said you have accumulated sufficient merit. Worthy of testing your qualification.”

With the words, she extended her hand again.

Unlike a warrior, her snow-white palm slowly rose. A very strange thing happened.

The moonlight behind the Desolate Fortress Lord began being drawn to her hand and distorting.

She creates a truly transcendent sight. It is not a human act. That’s how Jeong Yeon-shin felt.

“This is.”

WHOOSH!.

The huge tree trunks surrounding the office released a gentle breeze. It seemed to tickle his body.

It was the moment the leaves turned green in the full moon’s dazzling breath brushed her entire body.

“The World Tree’s fruit. A small fragment.”

It was something like scooping up a handful of moon reflected in a lake. A piece of light sprouted above the Desolate Fortress Lord’s hand. It was hazy as if molded from moonlight.

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin was silent. A stream of wind blowing in from the wall-less outside teased his neck as it passed. It was the most wondrous miracle of all he had seen in his life.

WUUNG.

Even the vibration sound was mystical. He stared intently at the piece of light resting in the noble one’s palm.

Though it was his life’s goal, he felt nothing. It was different from commonly spoken of internal energy increasing spirit medicines.

There was no surging energy. It was just filled with a numinous feeling.

“I know what is known to the world.”

The Desolate Fortress Lord parted her lips.

When he raised his head, he met eyes like a bottomless abyss in the forest. She was gazing steadily at Jeong Yeon-shin.

“All wrong. This is not a spirit medicine that bestows powerful strength.”

“You spoke of qualification. Then what kind…”

“You must feel to know.”

Her hand came slightly forward. The fragment of light was placed closer.

The more he looked, the more mysterious it was. It seemed not of this world.

“Try eating it.”

It was the moment he reflexively raised his hand at the Desolate Fortress Lord’s words. She slowly shook her head.

“It loses its power if separated from my body. You must bring your mouth.”

There is a saying ‘extraordinary treasures.’

It meant rare and strange treasures. Dragon spirits, spiritual beings, monster beasts, even mountain ginseng taking human form.

That was the nature of famous spirit medicines in the Central Plains including various divine swords said to manifest miracles under heaven.

They said things difficult to accept by common sense were abundant in the martial world’s upper echelons.

‘Loses power if separated from the body?’

The Desolate Fortress Lord spoke as if she herself was the World Tree.

Countless questions bloomed in his mind. Was she connected by something spiritual?

Was that the meaning encompassed by the term World Tree’s guardian?

But he dared not speak it aloud. He was afraid to show presumptuous words or actions.

That was Jeong Yeon-shin’s position now. He couldn’t be called a master by the Fortress Lord. He was in a position to receive whatever was bestowed.

‘Senior Cheong Myeong said it. The information encountered changes as rank rises.’

For now he resolved to aim for black rank. That was enough for now.

‘Still.’

Even so, the World Tree fragment before his eyes was a fitting reward. He should rightfully take it.

Jeong Yeon-shin unhesitatingly lowered his head slightly toward her hand.

At the same time he slowly opened his mouth. The moment his lower lip first, then the tip of his nose bridge slightly touched her hand.

“Huh?”

Jeong Yeon-shin let out a questioning groan. It was because the Desolate Fortress Lord withdrew her hand.

“The appearance is not good.”

Her tone was calm. Simultaneously the fruit’s fragment descended and gathered at her fingertips.

SWISH.

She extends her hand just like that.

Hazy light slowly filled Jeong Yeon-shin’s vision. It wasn’t a movement toward his mouth.

It was straight to his head. The pathway directly connecting to the upper dantian seemed to react already.

Her long finger touched Jeong Yeon-shin’s brow.

That’s when it happened.

“Heok!”

His heart technique breathing immediately cut off. It couldn’t be helped. In an instant his consciousness flew away.

Along with a feeling like being buried in an abyss’s swamp, a sensation endlessly elevating wrapped around and soared through all his intent.

WHOOSH-!

It wasn’t a rise in power. It was some kind of experience.

It felt like entering the mind of an untouchable being. A tidal wave of sensation arose. It sprouted truly suddenly.

While feeling even the composition of air brushing his skin in detail, he brought in nature’s energy.

He became sensitive beyond imagination. It was perception that felt like going mad and dying immediately.

Suddenly he became aware of time flowing slowly. He could see flowing moonlight.

In this moment.

Jeong Yeon-shin had transformed into the Desolate Fortress Lord. He felt vision and atmosphere together.

He gazed at himself through her eyes. The Fortress Lord’s features reflected in the pitch-black body were mysterious.

Would there be another case like this among all miracles under heaven? It was utterly hard to believe.

……That instant felt like countless eons.

Her thin breath was clear, yet even one exhale hadn’t finished.

The wind brushing past his ears hadn’t even moved away yet. But it was hard to endure. Gradually his original upper dantian began to burn as if forcibly enduring.

“Enough.”

The moment the Desolate Fortress Lord spoke as if reciting, the breathlessly long stretched time instantly regained its flow.

WHOOSH!

Jeong Yeon-shin returned to himself. His body staggered. It seemed due to experiencing a sensation that seemed to transcend even the transcendent realm.

Just as he was about to lose balance, a gentle hand gripped his shoulder as if embracing it.

It was the Desolate Fortress Lord.

“Not possible now. Too early.”

She said. Jeong Yeon-shin only raised his head to meet her gaze.

“What do you mean by too early…?”

“Your realm is too shallow to accept the fruit. Devote yourself to training.”

“Just now, what exactly, was that effect?”

“I tested if you could receive the World Tree’s spirit nature. When your intent’s vessel becomes firm, as long as the clan’s tree doesn’t wither, there will be no ascending to immortality through the Hundred Meetings point. You would live eternally.”

She speaks of spirit nature. It seemed to mean securing the lifeline by sharing the World Tree’s divine qualities.

This too was beyond common principle.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked if his understanding was correct.

“Your interpretation is correct.”

The Desolate Fortress Lord slowly nodded. It meant the fruit was that medium.

‘What…’

He experienced with his whole body a mystery said to be among the finest in the martial world. Before entering, he had thought of the legendarily transmitted panacea.

He was half right. Jeong Yeon-shin felt deflated as he asked once more.

“Rise to Divine Sword Sauad Leader’s rank… receive a complete fruit through worthy merits. Then reach the realm of purple martial robes to handle the World Tree’s spirit nature, is that what you mean?”

“That too is correct.”

“…Then, the sensation this unworthy disciple just had…”

He asked about the world he seemed to see and feel through the Fortress Lord’s eyes. The corners of her mouth slightly rose.

“It was inevitable and.”

SWISH.

The soft touch on his shoulder gently pushed Jeong Yeon-shin back.

“A gift.”

“Ah.”

He stepped down from the tree trunk. All his senses had returned already.

However, the peerless world he experienced earlier remained vivid in his memory.

So it was a test, and therefore a gift.

He didn’t know what she meant by inevitable. But it was an experience that would greatly guide him someday.

Perhaps it might even help with the imminent mission. Inspiration for creating heart techniques was rising. Very intensely.

“Be victorious. Until you reach South Zhili.”

She said.

She seemed to know the fact that Jeong Yeon-shin had been selected for the martial match to punish the Namgung family.

Though they said the General Administration Office handled all major and minor affairs in the Fortress, it seemed there were matters she took interest in.

‘A dismissal.’

She spoke words of safe journey. It meant he could leave now.

“May the Fortress Lord also be at peace.”

Jeong Yeon-shin calmly paid his respects.

RUSTLE.

The sound of clothes softly brushing suddenly came clearly.

The Fortress Lord slightly leaned her body back. She gently reclined against the tree trunk.

Jeong Yeon-shin who saw her slowly closing her eyes turned around.

The moment he left the office, the stone doors that had opened by themselves earlier closed on their own.

It must be the mystery of controlling emptiness manifested by the Desolate Fortress Lord. He was used to it now.

Jeong Yeon-shin came down the stairs just like that. Unlike going up, it felt very short.

‘So that’s what the fruit was.’

His feelings were strange. Perhaps because he experienced something unimaginable.

He fully realized one of the martial world’s incomprehensibles. He thought anyone who experienced it would feel the same.

He even heard words of eternal life. It was talk far removed from his current self. It was on the complete opposite side.

‘Even if I receive the fruit.’

He knew his realm was lacking to contain that power.

Mission experience creates martial arts advancement and builds merit. It meant ultimately returning to basics.

STEP.

The boy who came out of the Desolate Fortress Lord’s inner Fortress silently moved his steps.

His shadow gradually lengthened in the brightly descending moonlight. Deep night was fading.

* * *

The next day, Radiant Demon Wing’s great practice ground.

An official notice came down through the General Administration Office. It was a letter recording the next mission.

Jeong Yeon-shin sitting in the middle of the practice ground opened the mission assignment dispatch.

Seniors surrounded him in a circle. Their gathered appearance looking down was somewhat amusing.

“Lightning Genius’ name is in the martial match delegation. It’s really written there.”

“Truly an honorable matter. If only I were ten years younger…”

Some seniors with more accomplished eye techniques than Jeong Yeon-shin seemed to have scanned it first.

The boy read down the letter marked ‘Expedition List’ at the beginning. He skipped the miscellaneous introduction. He checked the list right away.

[Execute the following five through life-and-death matches.]

Namgung family Flourishing Spirit Flower Master

Namgung family Young Master

Namgung family Azure Heaven Sword Group Leader

Namgung family Elder Council Lord

Namgung Family Head

[The following main family warriors shall properly prepare.]

Obeying Heaven Wing Wing White Qilin

Radiant Demon Wing Lightning Genius

Main Fortress Elder Council Lord

Desolate Ma Family Head

Divine Sword Squad Leader

‘Divine Sword Squad Leader?’

Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes widened.