Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

When Namgoong Se-jin of the Azure Qilin was struck by the palm technique of Lightning Genius Jung Yeonshin—

At the moment when the Namgoong clan displayed intense agitation, the Divine Sword Squad of Desolate Fortress also stepped forward.

The masters of the Namgoong clan did not stop merely at the Azure Qilin's command. Their opponents were none other than the direct combat unit under the Divine Sword Squad's leader.

Divine Sword Squad.

The first of the seventeen combat units under the Desolate Fortress.

Both its founding period and its martial strength were exceptional. It was considered the strongest in Desolate Fortress without question.

"He's winning even at that range."

"His sense of distance is exceptional, isn't it? He moves freely in the realm of sword and fist. That's talent."

"Does anyone know what that palm technique is? I heard Lightning Genius only uses exclusive martial arts."

"Unless someone has considerable protective energy, a single hit would be fatal. Could it be similar to compressing Shaolin's Hundred-Step Divine Fist into close-range strikes?"

"It seems to take a long time to prepare, though. It's not very precise, and the recoil is severe. It completely relies on the user's instincts."

"Even if you criticize it, Uncle Sword, its power is worthy of being called a divine skill. It's definitely rare."

The composition of the twenty-member unit was diverse—men and women, old and young. There was even one boy and one girl. At least, that was how they appeared outwardly.

A girl in a black long robe, carrying a spear on her back, sneered.

"Look at them. Flinching and stepping back."

"Well, Grandmother Evil's energy wave is strong. It's probably not because of us. They're the Namgoong clan, after all."

A handsome middle-aged man referred to the girl as "Grandmother" and even spoke in a childish tone.

No one found it strange. Eccentrics and outstanding warriors.

There's a saying that the martial world is full of unusual and extraordinary fighters like grains of sand. The masters of the Divine Sword Squad were particularly famous for it.

"Compose yourselves. Many are watching."

"Let it be. Since when did we care about formalities?"

The atmosphere was extremely relaxed. Words and actions of all tones blended naturally.

They roamed the martial world together year-round.

They frequently carried out missions in Desolate Fortress, and their temperament was closer to that of wanderers.

But their martial prowess was different. Aside from the black-clad masters, all were blue-ranked masters.

Moreover, the Leader, who served as both the Divine Sword Squad Leader and leader of the corps, was a purple-ranked absolute master. Bound by camaraderie, they paid no attention to the crowd.

"But… the young master's strength seems less than rumored. Did something happen before the duel?"

"What does it matter? He's falling anyway."

Namgoong Se-jin, the Azure Qilin slowly collapsed.

In that moment, even among the Divine Sword Squad, silence fell.

The death of a remarkable talent always brought stillness. Moreover, the Azure Qilin had remained composed until the end.

A rising star of the martial world, possessing martial skill, spirit, and chivalry, had fallen. The new era of the martial world was extinguished before it could bloom.

"…He deserves mourning."

"What a waste. Such a waste."

"More importantly, that Lightning Genius kid seems ready to continue."

A youthful-looking man nodded toward Jung Yeonshin.

The boy stood as he was, holding the Desolate Sword without sheathing it.

He blankly watched as the masters of the Namgoong clan recovered Namgoong Se-jin's body.

The black-robed girl clicked her tongue.

"He's not showing fighting spirit, just emptiness. He's too lost in thought to process anything. It's common at that age."

"Grandmother Evil, why don't you bring him over? If he's really in a trance, even a blue-ranked master would hesitate to make a move."

The young man looked uneasily at Lightning Genius.

"You're right, Soha."

The girl smirked and cupped her hands to her lips. Her exaggerated gesture was brief, followed by an overwhelming burst of energy.

[Hey, kid! Come here—!]

A sound comparable to the reverberations of divine force shook the canyon.

The crowd scattered, adding to the commotion.

Another explosion resounded, shaking the air intensely.

Jung Yeonshin sharply raised his head. The black-robed girl, wearing an irritating smile, shouted aloud.

"You should know your place! You're the one who took down the young master of Namgoong! Look at those Namgoong folks over there! They're glaring like they'll draw their swords any moment!"

"Why not just bring him quietly? Why make such a scene and provoke them…"

Soha shook his head.

"Ah…"

From a distance, Jung Yeonshin's lips parted slightly.

While the Divine Sword Squad acted like jesters in an opera, the boy finally came to his senses.

And he was astonished. The Divine Sword Squad was known to exist among the clouds within the Divine Sword Squad Sect. Their reputation was unmatched.

'That person.'

He guessed the identity of the girl who called him.

Desolate Divine Spear, Ak Surim.

An elder martial artist said to have reached the pinnacle of inner refinement, turning back the clock on her body.

To achieve Pure Refinement —the ultimate stage of mastery—was to stand out even among the black ranks of Desolate Fortress.

Martial artists were not free from hierarchy.

They had their own world. Martial skills, sects, character, and honor served as their status.

Their appearance reflected it, too. The titles of prodigies, like dragon or phoenix, proved this reality.

Revitalization.

A level where one defies the passage of time. It required more than martial skill—enlightenment, fortune, and exceptional techniques were all necessary.

Ak Surim had it all. She was as famous as the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

A black-rank master, rejuvenated through martial power, personally called out to Jung Yeonshin. It meant Lightning Genius had earned at least basic recognition.

But the boy wasn't particularly moved.

'Annoying.'

The thought crossed his mind involuntarily. He wanted to savor the insight Namgoong Se-jin had given him.

How should he live as a martial artist? Even if he prioritized survival, could that alone justify walking the martial path?

After all, he was the last opponent of the Azure Qilin.

Step.

Jung Yeonshin turned his back to the Divine Sword Squad.

"Next…"

He slowly opened his lips.

"Next. Step forward."

He looked toward the Namgoong faction, where killing intent seemed to swirl from both mid-level and prodigious masters alike.

They glared at him as if ready to kill, their combined energy pressing like a massive demon.

Jung Yeonshin didn't flinch. He had already guessed Namgoong Mi's ploy to prioritize survival and honor by leveraging ranks.

He had no desire to follow that path. It was the scheme of the dead.

The boy stood firmly in place.

Namgoong Se-jin's death had solidified his resolve. The energy lingering in the corpse had likely not dissipated yet. He refused to show shame.

"Courage or recklessness…"

Ak Surim murmured in disbelief.

"Very well! I gladly accept the outstanding junior's challenge!"

With a loud shout, a middle-aged man in a blue martial robe leaped forward.

Boom!

In an instant, he reached Jung Yeonshin's face. The boy slightly furrowed his brow as grains of sand and bursts of energy violently struck his face.

'The leader of Namgoong Clan's Azure Sky Sword Heavenly Unit.'

A man with sharp, blade-like eyes.

Facing him directly, Jung Yeonshin could sense the overwhelming force of his aura. The waves of inner energy surging from his entire body were tremendous.

'The Lord reportedly slew the vice leader.'

The Azure Sky Sword Heavenly Unit's vice leader had been one of the top swordsmen in South Zhili.

Yet, he had become a ghost at the hands of the Desolate Fortress' Lord. Heon Wonchang had personally witnessed it. A single strike, they said.

Was it because that event had added the deaths of the clan's direct lineage?

The aura radiating from the Azure Sky Sword Heavenly Unit's leader began to concentrate like a blade. Its sharpness was almost unbearable for Jung Yeonshin.

He did not reveal it. He could not disgrace Namgoong Se-jin.

'I just have to pierce him with the Radiant River.'

He recalled the ultimate technique of the Infinite Blossom Fist Strike, the name Namgoong Se-jin had given it.

Its power had already been proven. If he could somehow land a hit, even a black-rank master would suffer a fatal wound.

It was then—

"Stop there."

A clear voice rang out.

The Azure Sky Sword Heavenly Unit's leader reacted faster than Jung Yeonshin. His eyes widened immediately.

"The Divine Sword Squad Leader…!"

It was a name that pierced through the mind the moment it was heard.

From behind Jung Yeonshin, an overwhelming presence emerged, sharp enough to chill his senses.

An aura surged like a tidal wave. Despite having an opponent before him, the boy turned his head.

It was a tall man.

He had the impression of a scholar. His attire reinforced that image, a robe of elegant design—only it was purple.

But his aura was different.

It was completely different from when his energy was concealed.

The impression Jung Yeonshin had failed to etch into his mind earlier now became terrifyingly vivid, almost transcendent.

The Divine Sword Squad Leader slowly opened his mouth.

"Leader of Azure Sky Sword Heavenly Squad. That's enough."

"What? How can you be so shameless…!"

"The one without shame is you. What do you hope to gain by targeting a mere boy?"

He ended with a sly smile. His words and demeanor were unconventional.

Step.

He walked forward slowly, and no one dared to stop him.

From afar, the Namgoong family head only glared silently.

He seemed ready to act, brushing his sword hilt, but for now, he had only taken a few steps.

The Divine Sword Squad Leader approached with light footsteps, seemingly indifferent to the gaze of the entire world. He stopped just one step before Jung Yeonshin and looked at him calmly.

"You're called Lightning Genius, correct?"

"I greet the Leader."

Jung Yeonshin raised his hands in a respectful salute. The Divine Sword Squad Leader's lips curved slightly.

"I thought you were blind. You treated your master as if he didn't exist on the way here. It was an unfamiliar experience, seeing such deep immersion from a boy."

"…I apologize."

"It was just a jest. In any case, I would prefer it if you stepped back now. You've already fought two life-or-death duels, and you're far below in rank. There's enough justification. However…"

The Divine Sword Squad Leader smiled faintly as he continued.

"You seem determined. It won't be easy to stop you with words."

"I…"

"The Chief Administrator told me. I'm to pass down a portion of my martial arts to you. And I'll add something else—connections in the martial world that will aid you."

Jung Yeonshin remained silent for a moment. Connections offered directly by the Divine Sword Squad Leader would not be ordinary ties.

Yet, it was a difficult decision to trade. How could he, in front of Namgoong Se-jin—

At that moment, the Divine Sword Squad Leader furrowed his brow as if troubled, even forming a slight frown.

"You've already upheld your honor more than enough. Now, it's time to consider your superior."

Jung Yeonshin thought silently. He hadn't expected the Leader to be such an eccentric.

Divine Sword Squad. They were a difficult group to understand.

"I'll take that as consent. I'm deeply grateful."

The Divine Sword Squad Leader smiled and gently pushed Jung Yeonshin's shoulder aside as he stepped forward.

With that single step, the overwhelming aura of the Azure Sky Sword Heavenly Unit's leader dissipated, as if swept away by a current—completely erased.

"From this moment on…"

The Divine Sword Squad Leader spoke.

"I will handle all duels against Namgoong."

"Absurd!"

A Namgoong elder shouted from behind. The Divine Sword Squad Leader tilted his head slightly.

"Wasn't it the younger generation who started this? As I recall, your proposal. Our previous leader and elder council head are well-aged men."

"White Qilin…"

It was then that Desolate Divine Spear Ak Surim swiftly approached Namgoong Hwashin. Her footwork was astonishingly fast.

Before he could even register his confusion—

Ak Surim's left hand blurred into a precise, blade-like strike. It was a speed that seemed to exist in another dimension.

Thud!

A dull sound rang out.

With a single lightning-fast strike to Namgoong Hwashin's neck, his balance crumbled instantly.

He seemed to lose consciousness on the spot.

The Divine Sword Squad Leader smiled approvingly.

"Let's finish quickly. I have much to teach Lightning Genius."

"…"

It was a truly shocking development, yet none of the Divine Sword Squad members appeared surprised.

They all looked calmly at Jung Yeonshin and the Divine Sword Squad Leader.

"Namgoong Hwashin, the White Qilin, is in no condition for a duel. Let's consider this our loss."

The Divine Sword Squad Leader's lips curled smoothly upward.

"I'm next."