Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

Chapter 16 – Growth (2)

Several days passed as Yeon-shin dedicated himself to training.

Myeong occasionally gave him odd looks, but given his free-spirited and transcendent nature, it was understandable.

The elven movement techniques he was mastering day by day were too captivating to divert his focus elsewhere.

Movement skills involved learning how to run gracefully. It was impossible not to be influenced by the accomplishments of such nimble techniques.

It didn’t take long for the inspiration he drew from Myeong’s movements to crystallize into a coherent set of techniques.

Though it was still in the form of a basic framework for qi manipulation, there was ample room for improvement. As the founder of a martial technique, he naturally understood its core principles.

“There’s no comparison between a trainee who learns and masters something and a Grandmaster who creates something and perfects it, even if they’re just starting.” Mir-yeo remarked.

While tracking the traces of the Blood Flame Sect members and guarding against other possible attacks, the Demon Wings team noticed the daily transformation in Yeon-shin’s movements.

Though Yeon-shin trained openly, his companions didn’t spy on his practice out of respect. They could guess his achievements based on the improvement in his martial arts.

“A Grandmaster’s talent, indeed. It’s hard to believe, even while watching it. Our Captain chose to focus on his own self-defense techniques instead.”

Cheong Myeong, who had been sleeping under a net bed, moved indoors after seeing Yeon-shin’s progress.

A month had passed since their encounter with the Blood Flame Sect member.

It was frustrating. It wasn’t that they hadn’t seen the enemy again.

The village’s cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens continued to die off slowly.

It was clear that the Blood Flame Sect’s aim was not just to kill livestock, but to torment the villagers.

Despite this, they avoided the fields, likely due to Cheong Myeong’s vigilance.

Myeong seemed unbothered by the animal deaths and was content to play the role of a menacing scarecrow.

This led to some disputes.

While Mir-yeo planned patrol routes, Myeong would climb up to the net bed, claiming he needed to soak up some sunlight.

Frustrated, Mir-yeo alternated between taking Won-chang and Yeon-shin with her on patrol.

“That guy… he’s not alone. He knows our patrol routes. Another horse died this time.”

The magistrate, who disliked the smell, had placed the stable far from the government office, which was problematic.

A single horse was invaluable, especially in Jinpyeong County, where it was worth more than any other resource.

Won-chang approached the net bed, his expression dark.

Having received basic martial arts training, he had grown comfortable enough to express his displeasure openly.

“How can you be so nonchalant? Tell me, are you really an elf? A horse is dead.”

“Yesterday it was a pig,” Yeon-shin remarked as he passed by.

Myeong replied further,

“We elves are friends of the forest, not of horses and pigs. If you die, it might matter then.”

“Look at it this way, I’ll just wipe out his whole clan to make up for it.” Yeon-shin said with a grin as he walked to the washing area.

Elves from Desolate Fortress like Myeong were said to be carefree and unburdened by heavy responsibilities.

Yeon-shin, as a warrior of Desolate Fortress, was gradually coming to understand the world.

After washing, he found a feast laid out. The plump magistrate was rubbing his hands together, looking nervous.

Thinking that this man would become a sycophant if he ever advanced to the capital, Yeon-shin understood why he was acting this way. The magistrate had seen warriors fly over the fields for a month.

“P-Please, join us.”

The magistrate smiled awkwardly. After avoiding them for some time, it seemed he had made a decision.

Yeon-shin, not particularly interested, sat down with the Demon Wings team to discuss their plans.

They talked about how to change the surveillance net, the number of allies they had, and whether they should start searching and hunting in the surrounding mountains, despite their vastness.

During the past month, Yeon-shin had learned that there were various kinds of battles, and that the short, decisive fights most masters preferred were not easily achieved in reality.

After the meal, they had another training session before going to bed, now familiar with their sleeping arrangements.

The sound of a night bird’s call, like a short bamboo flute, filled the peaceful night of the two martial world initiates.

The next day, Yeon-shin went out alone. Getting permission from Mir-yeo and Myeong was easy.

They underestimated the abilities of the local allies who feared the high-ranking members of Desolate Fortress.

Both masters considered Yeon-shin highly likely to win in a direct confrontation with a Blood Flame Sect member.

A mere speedster couldn’t defeat him with his current level of Lightning Flash.

‘Strange.’

To Yeon-shin, the Desolate Fortress seemed like a separate realm.

Being fully recognized by the Blue Uniforms sometimes felt quite strange.

‘Not bad, though.’

Whether it was because of his rapidly improving movement techniques or just his mood, his steps felt lighter as he climbed the mountain.

Unlike Cheong Myeong, he couldn’t afford to be leisurely.

Until yesterday, he had focused on mastering his movement techniques, but he couldn’t continue that way indefinitely.

Feeling stifled, he decided to survey the entire district from the mountain top, considering it part of his movement technique training. He wandered through paths the team hadn’t searched yet.

As the sun was setting, he found a peculiar hut in front of a cave.

It appeared to be a door or passageway. The team’s month-long efforts had finally borne fruit.

‘The smoke must have been venting elsewhere. If they weren’t only eating survival pills, there’s no way they wouldn’t leave any trace. Now I understand why we couldn’t find them.’

He turned around without hesitation.

If it came to it, he wouldn’t hesitate to risk his life, but there was no reason to create variables intentionally when the situation allowed for caution.

He had joined Desolate Fortress to survive and seek the fruit of the Heavenly Tree. Dying pointlessly would make it all meaningless.

With a mix of tension and excitement, he stepped down the dirt path, but then he decided to change his mind.

“Who are you?”

He faced a red-haired man climbing up with his teeth sunk into the neck of a deceased young boy.

Despite the unfamiliar face and shabby clothes, his hair was unmistakably blood-red.

As he recalled the stories about Blood Flame Sect members stealing the vitality of children to enhance their strength, Yeon-shin assessed his opponent’s posture and energy.

‘An ally. This must be the Blood Flame Sect member backing them up.’

He subtly moved his hand towards his sword.

“A young kid with a sword, deadly intent, and a white uniform with the character ‘Desolate’ inscribed on it…”

The man, mumbling as he scanned Yeon-shin up and down, curled his lips into a grin.

“Just as I heard. Thanks to you Desolate Fortress brats, I can achieve great merit. I’m not like my brother who ran away from you. Curse your bad luck…”

Swoosh-!

In an instant, a flash of white light severed the man’s neck.

The child, who fell from his now limp hand, stood briefly before collapsing behind the boy’s body.

Yeon-shin, now standing beside the man, swung his sword to shake off the blood.

“Let’s end this now.”

He muttered.

To call this bad luck? No matter how many there were, it wouldn’t matter if they couldn’t react to him or his sword.

Even if this was the first mission involving the Blood Flame Sect among the Thirteen Heavens, it didn’t seem like it should have taken a whole month.

These guys couldn’t be left alive.

Using the Fatebreaker’s Codex, he dug a hole and buried the child after closing his eyes. He didn’t cover the body with much earth.

Although the victim didn’t seem to be from Jinpyeong County, he planned to ask the magistrate to find the parents once the job was done.

With his sword in hand, Yeon-shin turned towards the hut.

As he moved, the fresh wind began to swirl around his legs, lifting his steps.

The bushes underfoot seemed to rise as if they weren’t bearing his weight.

Like the elves, his movements grew stealthier as he approached the hut.

Boom!

When he stepped hard, the peacefully standing grass was trampled all at once.

With tremendous force, the Demon’s Light technique infused into his sword turned the hut and the Blood Flame Sect members within into shreds. The last thing they ever saw was a white lightning bolt.

Splat!

“Aaagh!”

“Wh-What?!”

Through the scattering dust and debris, he saw the figure of a man gasping as his body was split in half and another who was horrified behind him.

Each of them was holding a corpse. The issue wasn’t limited to Jinpyeong County.

‘The Fatebreaker’s Codex.’

He had no intention of talking.

Strengthened by spiritual medicine, his qi surged with power. It flowed through his veins and enhanced his sharp movements even further.

Smash!

Smash! Crack!

The force of his strikes with the Desolate Sword was enough to obliterate everything in his path. His swordsmanship, infused with Charged Strike, exhibited lethal precision.

The vibrations from the sword traveled up to his elbow, mirroring the rage in Yeon-shin’s heart. The scene of splattered blood and shattered bodies painted a gruesome picture.

“You believe the strong should devour the weak, right? That’s fine by me.”

The Blood Flame Sect members fell, their bodies resembling the corpses they had been playing with.

Beyond the torn hut, he saw the interior of a cave lit by scattered torches. It was clear this was a branch of the Blood Flame Sect. The Blood Flame Sect members in Jinpyeong County were insignificant compared to this.

‘Can I handle this alone?’

He calculated his chances before entering. The blood boiling within him and survival were two separate issues.

However, perhaps because of the commotion at the entrance, the energy deep within the cave had already detected him.

An oppressive wave of qi, filled with malevolence, emanated from the cave’s depths.

[KILL HIM!]

A deafening roar echoed like a heartbeat. Simultaneously, footsteps resounded from all directions.

‘Two, three… five.’

Five minions, plus one who seemed to be the branch leader.

He had heard that the branch leaders of the Blood Flame Sect were formidable warriors known as Blood Masters.

Known for their martial prowess, they were said to be instructors as well. However, he had no time to gauge his opponent as the Blood Flame Sect members charged at him.

“You dare come here!”

“Repay in blood!”

Among the five of them, the man Yeon-Shin was looking for could be found.

The red-haired man’s eyes widened momentarily in surprise, but then he grinned and charged with his sword, emboldened by the presence of his comrades.

Yeon-shin didn’t retreat. He took a step forward.

Boom!

The ground shook from the force of his step, pushing back the advancing enemies. Ignoring their hesitation, he infused Charged Strike into the Desolate Sword.

As he turned, he felt the elven wind wrap around him.

The first person Yeon-shin had ever killed was a member of the Blood Flame Sect. The strike he delivered now was on a completely different level.

Swoosh~

In the flickering torchlight, a silver arc traced through the air, cleaving three bodies in one stroke. The sensation traveled up his sword.

The Blood Flame Sect members collapsed with the same bewildered look in their eyes they had when they charged.

The surviving two were horrified.

The Jinpyeong County Blood Flame Sect member tried to retreat, but Yeon-shin, now like a leaf caught in a storm, brought down the Charged Strike.

With a crushing sound, his sword split the man’s body, ending his revenge.

“What the…!”

The last one standing was cut down by another swift strike before he even realized what was happening.

Yeon-shin, flicking the blood off his sword, stared into the darkness of the cave.

He wondered what kind of reaction it would cause if a White Uniform from Desolate Fortress exterminated a Blood Master.

That wasn’t his concern right now.

Thud.

His slow, deliberate steps echoed with a clear sound.

The Desolate Sword hummed, praying for the success of its sole companion.

The cave was damp and dark, lit sporadically by torches.

Yeon-shin’s senses were heightened, his perception of qi sharp. He moved stealthily, avoiding obvious pathways, his mind focused on the task at hand.

Ahead, a faint light flickered. He approached cautiously, blending into the shadows.

In the dim light, he saw a figure sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, surrounded by an ominous aura.

A Blood Master.

Yeon-shin readied himself, his grip tightening on the Desolate Sword. The final confrontation was imminent.

His footfalls were silent, his movements fluid. As he drew closer, the figure’s eyes snapped open.

“You dare to come here, Desolate Fortress scum!”

The Blood Master rose, drawing a wicked-looking sword.

The air around them crackled with hostile energy.

Yeon-shin didn’t respond. He let his sword do the talking.

With a swift motion, he launched himself at the Blood Master. Their swords clashed, sending sparks flying.

The cave echoed with the sound of metal against metal, the clash of two formidable warriors.

Yeon-shin’s movements were precise, his strikes fueled by the training he had undergone. The Blood Master countered with equal ferocity, their battle a deadly dance of blades.

It was a fight for survival, for honor, for the countless lives lost to the Blood Flame Sect.

Yeon-shin pushed himself to his limits, his mind clear, his focus unyielding. He couldn’t afford to lose.

The Blood Master was relentless, but Yeon-shin matched him blow for blow. He could feel the weight of the Desolate Sword in his hand, its power surging through him.

With a final, decisive strike, Yeon-shin found an opening. His blade cut through the Blood Master’s defenses, striking true.

The Blood Master staggered, a look of shock and disbelief on his face as he fell.

Yeon-shin stood over him, his breathing heavy, his sword stained with blood.

It was over.

He had succeeded.

The cave was silent once more, the echoes of their battle fading into nothingness.

Yeon-shin took a moment to catch his breath, then turned around and began his journey back. There was still much to do, but for now, he had won a significant victory.

As he emerged from the cave, the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, signaling a new day.

Yeon-shin, a White Uniform of Desolate Fortress, had proven his strength, his resolve to earn a spot in the world of martial arts.