Volume 5
Chapter 4 Part
1
The Moon's
Halo, Reaching Its Sixth Step 1
Translator : PolterGlast
"You can speak
the language of Tsonma?"
"Shinkentenkyo,
huh? To come at our doorstep in a group like this, it seems the pride of the
Heavenly Sect has truly fallen."
The man's eyes narrowed,
his gaze fixed on Akira without a hint of carelessness. The tip of the blade he
held glinted dully.
—Damn it.
Although he had no
choice, he made the mistake of playing a trump card of the Tsonma language on
the first day he crossed into the continent. Akira gritted his teeth as he
faced Fengjun's question.
In negotiations
throughout history and across cultures, knowledge was the greatest weapon, but
ignorance could also be a powerful tool. Especially when your opponent assumed
you didn't know their language, it could tilt the scales of many situations in
your favor.
There was no longer
any trace of contempt in the voice of the boy standing behind him.
With this revelation,
it was certain that his actions in Tsonma would be restricted.
Has Jakuen Gayou been
discovered? ...If so, even stricter restrictions would be imposed.
A divine artifact,
which was a separate entity from the divine pillar, was essentially synonymous
with being a substitute for the divine pillar.
The great divine
pillar that ruled the land would not tolerate other divine pillars within its
territory.
Carefully refining his
spirit power, Akira accelerated it within his dantian.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden, ―Aragamioroshi.
As he exhaled, a black
glow appeared in his hand, and he formed a fist.
"You claim to be
a martial artist, but you're just a brat. If you had sent an envoy and followed
the proper etiquette, I might have spared your life."
"......"
The hostile intent was
obvious. Even so, Haoran, who had seen through Akira's actions, snorted
arrogantly and pointed his blade at him.
"Are you not
going to answer?
—Very well, let's see what an inexperienced brat like
you can do!!"
Haoran's hair danced
in the freezing breeze. ―In an instant, the tiles beneath his feet shattered,
and the young man disappeared into the night.
"He
disappeared!?" "Beside you!"
Akira's initial
reaction was delayed by the sudden disappearance of his opponent, but Fengjun
shouted a sharp warning.
Steadying his feet
firmly, Akira jumped.
The young man's kick
landed on the roof where Akira had been standing.
With a thunderous
sound, the roof was torn apart, leaving a large hole beneath it. Akira was
stunned by the power that Haoran had unleashed.
"No way!"
"—Don't let your
guard down."
As far as Akira knew,
the power of a spirit technique was directly proportional to the amount of
spirit power used.
But there was an
inexplicable difference between the power that the man named Haoran had
demonstrated and the amount of spirit power Akira could see.
Akira spotted the
energy blade aimed at him through the darkness and clicked his tongue. With his
back to the cold night sky, Fengjun's hand flipped.
A tile that he had
thrown in a circular motion blocked the incoming blade and shattered.
The fragile sound of
the broken pottery was torn apart by the talisman fired from Akira's hand.
Akira's flashing sword
fingers cut through the spiritual threads, and a crimson flame scorched the
air.
"That guy's power
is not something without spirit power."
"He's using it!
Their sect's martial arts are simply better at concealing their spirit
power."
With only a moment of
vermillion on their backs, the two sprinted across the roof like hares. They
spit out their anger at each other.
With no sign of a
follow-up, Akira and Fengjun regained their breath with their backs to the wall
of the building.
"So? Why are you
here?"
"Taking a
walk."
Fengjun evaded Akira's
question. They both peered in the direction from which they had come.
The fire had died
down, and except for the bustling street below, the night sky was the same as
before.
"—Earlier, that
guy mentioned Shijie (senior sister). Does he know about Miss Dai Tian?"
"Haoran never
mentioned Shijie.
Since he's so
arrogant, if he knew that Shijie was here, he would mobilize all his men to
capture her. ...So what about it?"
Fengjun glared at the
boy, who was lost in thought.
Shijie, Shijie. The
boy from Takamagahara muttered the word several times and then suddenly raised
his head.
"Shǐzhě (envoy),
huh? 'If you had sent an envoy and followed the proper etiquette, I might have
spared your life'. ...What an arrogant guy."
"...The Li family
is one of the most prominent families in the Yuzenma Sect. Especially the
direct descendants, who have a lot of status."
Without a doubt.
Understanding the true
meaning of the words Akira blurted out, a shiver ran down Fengjun 's spine.
Akira was learning.
Even now, while fighting, he was beginning to understand Tsonma.
In addition, his
fighting skills must not be inferior.
—In other words, Akira was...
"It's not that
strange, is it? The grammar and structure of the language are similar, and the
pronunciation is close to that of Takamagahara.
The rest is just a matter
of applying the words."
Perhaps noticing the
questioning look in Fengjun's eyes, Akira shrugged.
Although his answer
seemed casual, the issue was more serious than that.
—Was her senior sister, Dai Tian Lingying, aware of
this fact?
"Hey, Fengjun."
"—What?"
Fengjun was lost in
thought and responded a little slowly.
He replied in a sharp
tone, unsure if he had managed to hide his emotions.
"About Haoran.
Just how strong is he?"
"...How should I
know?"
"You know him.
You look alike."
Ignoring the boy who
was shrugging his shoulders, Akira continued to be on guard.
Since Haoran had the
advantage of knowing the area, hiding was just a way to buy time.
If they couldn't find
a way to break through, they would have no choice but to use their spirit techniques,
as Lingying had warned them about.
If that were to
happen, they would have to force their way through Qingdao, or worse, they
would be doomed.
"He's just my
older brother. —When I was banished from the Li family, he was already rising
in the ranks of the Yuzenma Sect, but I don't know what he's become now."
"...I see."
Akira's reply came a
beat late as Fengjun spat out his true feelings.
Before he could ask
any further questions, Haoran's voice echoed through the night.
"—You've always
liked to hide, Fengjun.
You've gotten better
at hiding your spirit power. ...I wish I could tell you that, but it seems your
lack of precision has not changed."
"Run!"
Sensing something
falling from above, Akira and Fengjun instinctively dodged. In that instant, with
a thunderous roar, the plastered wall behind them crumbled.
A metallic clanging
pierced through the rising dust cloud. Turning around, Akira's eyes met with a
dark, writhing shadow.
With a metallic
clatter, the shadow revealed itself to be a series of short swords connected
together, coiling like a snake.
—Jingle, jingle, jingle.
A metal object, shaped
like a snake, raised its head like a sickle.
"A chain!?"
"Chains are his
speciality. Don't even think about defending yourself, just run!"
At the same time as
Fengjun's warning, the chain flew through the darkness towards Akira.
—Run?
"Of course it's
impossible!"
Even if he turned his
back and ran, he would definitely be pierced.
Giving up on the idea
of evasion, Akira reached out his right hand into the void.
Be glorious―!
Without so much as a
cry, a transparent blade appeared in the darkness, deflecting the chain and
disappearing into the depths of his heart.
One blow, two blows.
Sparks flew as they exchanged blows.
The chain, which coiled
around Akira, aimed its ferocious tip at the boy.
Akira knew that he
couldn't block the attack just by using his divine artifact. With a determined
look, he grabbed the hilt of his spirit weapon, which was attached to his
waist.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Variant, ―Kagetsu Koukou.
The spirit power,
instantly accelerated, transformed into a solid band of water.
Without hesitation, he
released the band, which coiled around the chain like a serpent.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden―
"―Tsukitadori"
Tsukitadori was a
spirit technique that was mainly used as a foothold.
Normally, it did not
have enough strength for offense or defense, but when Akira used it with all
his might, it was a different story.
The band, which had a
power comparable to that of the Hariin-school's Gokōnanakamado, cut through the
incoming chain in one breath.
As pieces of metal
scattered, Akira glared at the hole in the building.
People are busy with
their activities under the street lights. With the lights of the city in the
background, he saw Haoran throwing away the chain.
There was a moment of
silence.
After a while, the
man, who was now holding a blade, spoke up.
"You. Where did
you learn that?"
"I thought I
already told you."
Akira did not answer
directly. Understanding his intention, Haoran sighed.
—Without hesitation, he threw his blade. It was thrown
with such speed that it was impossible to even see its movements.
But Akira had seen
this technique before. Without hesitation, he struck the sharp blade with his
sword, causing it to spark.
"...I see."
—As expected. He had learned.
Fengjun breathed out
softly, acknowledging the fact that Akira's sword strikes were no longer
hesitant.
Akira was able to
learn the language of Tsonma while fighting.
In other words, he
could act at the same speed as his thoughts.
Being able to match
the speed of thought and action was beyond talent; it was almost supernatural.
Akira's talent is particularly
effective when it comes to martial arts.
That's because martial
arts are essentially the art of manipulating spirit power.
That is, once Akira
understands a martial art technique, he can immediately imitate it and use it
as his own.
—Just like how he is refining his spirit power right
now.
"Instead of
kneading the spirit power, you are simply sharpening it. I've developed a
similar technique, but Tsonma is more refined."
"It's called
Five-Energy Refining. I didn't plan on teaching you, but it would be
troublesome if you went wild and became a demon."
Fengjun reluctantly
responded to Akira's monologue.
Spirit power
inherently contains the life force of the user. For those who wield martial
arts, the skill of Five-Energy Refining involves discarding these impurities
and harnessing pure spirit power.
Although the amount of
spirit power without a life force might seem small at first glance, its quality
is no different from that of the original. With enough practice, the same
spirit power can be as powerful as divine power.
It's the first step
for a martial artist to ascend to the realm of a martial god.
Haoran, watching the
conversation between Akira and Fengjun, let out a sharp breath. Tiles on the
roof beneath his feet rattled as he channeled his spirit power.
"Phew. To think
that someone who neglects the harmony of the Five-Energy dares to touch
Five-Energy Refining.
―To befriend someone who is so arrogant just because of
their talent, it seems the Heavenly Sect has truly fallen."
"It's also one of
the philosophies of the Six Sects to guide those who are on the wrong path.
If you've forgotten
that, then Yuzenma Sect has surely gone astray."
"How dare you!
What do you know about the plight of the Yuzenma Sect?
I was in the mood to
pat you on the head, but now I'll just cripple you."
Haoran declared
arrogantly, and then stepped forward on the roof.
Tiles flew off the
shaking roof as the young man's toes kicked them away.
The force was enough
to shatter the tiles, but they flew towards Akira without shattering.
With each flash of his
sword, the Tsukitadori band danced, and the shattered tiles fell to the ground
below.
The Gioin-school was
known for its strong defense. The spirit techniques of this style were
generally designed for close-range combat and focused more on defense than
speed or long-range attacks.
With such mediocre
power, it would be impossible to penetrate the defenses of the Gioin-school.
—Yet, each time the tiles shattered against the
Tsukitadori band, Akira felt a pressure that was almost as heavy as water.
Akira's defenses were
being overwhelmed by the spirit power that was almost equivalent to divine
power.
He could counterattack
now. Without hesitation, Akira made up his mind.
"Fengjun , I'm
going to attack."
"No, you can't.
We can't become enemies of the Yuzenma Sect."
"If things
continue like this, we'll end up losing and won't be able to negotiate!"
Ignoring Fengjun 's
protest, Akira concentrated his spirit power.
Eventually, the dark
glow in his palm took on the light of the moon, and painted the twinkling of
the stars.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden―
"―Getsumeiboshi-Mare!"
"Chenshiūai"
With a force that
seemed to blot out the clear winter night sky, Akira's sword released a strike
that bundled the moonlight.
Haoran released blades
and talismans from his palm, and they crossed paths.
The refined spirit
power transformed into a barrier, clashing with Getsumeiboshi-Mare and crushing
each other.
Eventually, Akira's
Getsumeiboshi-Mare began to weaken, and at the same time, the blades that were
maintaining the talismans shattered.
At the moment when the
end was in sight, Akira readjusted his sword to a side stance.
—Not only Haoran, but even Fengjun were unaware.
Akira's ultimate trump
card, the Kanna-no-Mikura, was a being who was deeply loved by the divine
pillar.
One of the
implications of this fact was that the spirits would unconditionally help
Akira.
—Come to think of it, the spirits had always
prioritized Akira's wishes over the will of the divine pillar.
Although it was not as
powerful as divine energy, it exerted its greatest effect at this moment.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden, ―Engetsu.
Akira swung his sword
horizontally, creating a flying slash.
The attack carved a
large arc through the night sky.
The target was the
motionless figure of Haoran.
"—That's
enough."
A voice as clear as
crystal froze everything in sight.
Tap. A girl's foot
landed on the roof.
Akira's spirit
technique shattered with a sound like thin ice as she walked quietly.
With the white halo of
the moon behind her, Dai Tian Lingying smiled.
"...I see. So
that's why my foolish brother wags his tail and becomes a lapdog.
To lose faith and rely
on people from the martial world is truly laughable."
"I haven't lost
my faith. Those people are under the protection of the Dai Tian family, the
head of the Six Steps.
I would also like to
ask Master Li Haoran, the assistant head of the Yuzenma Sect, to step
aside."
"I refuse. It was
the Shinkentenkyo who disturbed our land without permission."
"I understand. —I
would like to ask you to please convey this apology as well to the Lord of the
Yuzenma Sect."
"...Very
well."
Perhaps realizing that
he was at a disadvantage in this stalemate, in the face of the girl from the
Dai Tian family and the boy who used to be his younger brother, Haoran turned
on his heel without showing any signs of hesitation.
The fact that he
turned his back without any sign of defense seemed to be a last vestige of his
pride.
"However,"
As he blended into the
darkness, he stopped for a moment.
"—Remember this,
this is the outcome of your cowardice. Never forget that the wrath of the
Yuzenma Sect will never be extinguished."
With a seeping anger, Haoran's figure disappeared into the darkness without a trace.
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