Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Heavenly Realm.

Right after, I went to find Dugoeseong and the Cheongwol group. They were staying at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall under Lee Gwang's guidance, seemingly hiding their identities from the public. Dugoeseong, whom I met at the Crouching Dragon Hall—Lee Gwang's residence—listened to my report on the current situation.

Dugoeseong spoke with a troubled expression.

"That strategist Mang Ryang was kidnapped to the imperial palace? Is he still alive?"

"There's no way to confirm at the moment."

As I answered gravely, Dugoeseong clicked his tongue.

"Hmm... If things have come to this, we'll have to adapt. I'll join forces with the Sword Demon and prepare to fight the Mount Tai Old Man."

"Thank you."

I glanced at Lee Gwang, who was seated beside the table. He stared at me with a cold face before speaking.

"I'd like you to use your financial resources to help with General Hwang Yeon's situation."

The presence of Dugoeseong made the setting formal, but thorns laced his tone.

"Hwang Yeon?"

"Don't play dumb. You brought General Hwang Yeon here yourself, didn't you? Until now, I've used the influence of Guanzhong's six great families to assist him, but I'm reaching my limit. I need your support, one way or another."

"Hmm."

It was a valid point. While I had rescued Hwang Yeon and the Great Thunder Prison inmates, I hadn't thought of a good way to utilize them in this life, so I'd left them at Lee Gwang's Azure Dragon Martial Hall. Even so, how was I supposed to make use of Hwang Yeon in the current situation?

"Providing gold bars would be easy, but..."

Somehow, it felt inadequate to just throw money at it as Lee Gwang suggested. Mang Ryang would have devised some other breakthrough in this scenario. As I sat pondering, I recalled what kind of figure Hwang Yeon was.

The pinnacle of the military, imprisoned in the Great Thunder Prison.

Lee Gwang's irreplaceable former mentor and comrade.

And...

A brilliant idea suddenly flashed through my mind.

"Lee Gwang, Can I speak with General Hwang Yeon?"

"What do you intend to discuss?"

"I think we can get his help in the current situation. Bring him quickly."

"Understood."

Lee Gwang fetched Hwang Yeon without objection. It seemed he himself hadn't considered Hwang Yeon's potential much. Soon, facing Hwang Yeon, I noticed he had regained much of his strength and looked every bit the valiant general.

This was a private meeting I'd insisted on, as the Thunder God Style experts would be a hindrance. Hwang Yeon chuckled upon seeing me.

"It's been a while. How have you been?"

"I've been well. I hope you've been in good health as well, General."

"I've been fine too, of course."

After the pleasantries, I broached the subject with Hwang Yeon.

"General Hwang. Are you aware of the major incident unfolding in the imperial palace?"

"Major incident? What do you mean?"

"What I'm about to say is all true, so please listen carefully without getting too shocked."

I explained how the Mount Tai Old Man's true identity was the Four Guardian Seats' Vermilion Bird, and detailed how the emperor, Vermilion Bird, and Zhuge Bu had conducted the Sealing Immortal Ritual. I also told him how Mang Ryang had his rights to the ritual stolen, and explained what the Sealing Immortal Ritual entailed.

"Good heavens... It can't be...!!"

Hwang Yeon blinked in disbelief several times during the tale, visibly flustered. It was too sorrowful and otherworldly for a pure warrior like him to accept easily. But after I emphasized it was the truth repeatedly, he seemed to accept it after a moment. Hwang Yeon pondered deeply before speaking.

"So, His Majesty has achieved immortality with the aid of a demon god from another realm?"

"That's right."

I nodded and continued.

"And we predict he'll use the All-Nations Imperial Seal beneath the palace to open a 'gate.' He'll dispatch the Great Ming Empire's armies across the world to start wars of expansion."

"Wars of expansion..."

"We plan to fight back to rescue our kidnapped comrade, but what about you, General? What do you consider loyalty now?"

Hwang Yeon looked troubled at my question.

"This is all too sudden. I need some time to sort my thoughts..."

"I hope you'll seize the opportunity to raise an army, General Hwang."

"..."

"As I mentioned, the current emperor can use Changhil's command words to forcibly subjugate anyone to his will. Politics or anything else becomes impossible in this state. He'll wield absolute power and destroy everything."

"Hmm!"

Realizing the gravity, Hwang Yeon let out a groan.

At a glance, the Great Ming emperor seemed to hold absolute power, but that wasn't the case. He had to control court ministers, powerful officials, generals, regional princes, city lords, and balance them appropriately. The emperor's power having defined limits allowed politics a minimal transparency and self-correction.

But if the emperor could turn anyone into a puppet with Changhil's command words, absolute power's corruption was inevitable. Righteous advisors and court talents would all be paralyzed. In other words, no one could restrain the emperor if he rampaged unchecked.

Hwang Yeon, arms crossed in thought, spoke.

"You mean checking His Majesty is true loyalty?"

"You know better than anyone that the current emperor is utterly unfit. If he's a tyrant unworthy of ruling the Great Ming as Son of Heaven, isn't fighting to protect the empire's peace the true duty of a soldier?"

"Hmm..."

I met his gaze squarely and said.

"Think of King Zhou, the tyrant of the ancient Yin-Shang dynasty. King Wen of Zhou saw Duke Wu's atrocities and King Zhou's debauchery as the end of Heaven's mandate and rose in war to save the suffering people. You're the only one who can do that now, General."

After much deliberation, Hwang Yeon spoke.

"Your words sound plausible, but how can we be sure?"

"Sure of what?"

"His Majesty might have undergone the Sealing Immortal Ritual simply to make the Great Ming stronger and stronger. He may have chosen minor sacrifices for the empire's prosperity. How can a subordinate arbitrarily decide His Majesty's choice is wrong?"

"Don't make me laugh!!"

I exploded in anger, clenching my fist.

"Even if the Great Ming grows greater and stronger, for whom? A tiny elite of the emperor and his cronies will enjoy absolute power, while those below are exploited to death. Innocent citizens were sacrificed in the Yi clan's offering ritual. They'll sacrifice humans to monsters without hesitation for absolute power."

"......"

"Mang Ryang isn't here, but he'd say the same as me. You're the only one who can fight for the greater good of the world, General."

Suddenly, Hwang Yeon burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

"Uh..."

I was taken aback by his sudden laughter. It wasn't a laughing matter, yet he laughed. After laughing heartily for a while, Hwang Yeon smirked and said.

"You're truly exceptional. Sorry for testing you earlier."

I grasped his true intent.

"So you've already resolved to oppose the palace, General Hwang?"

"Indeed. I've been thinking about it even before you came. And I fully agree with your view."

Gazing at the blue sky outside the window, he continued.

"Ever since General Jin Cheon-hwi was unjustly assassinated, I've doubted His Majesty. He was praised as brilliant and commanding, but lacking legitimacy, he'd do anything for his power. I thought that was acceptable for an emperor until my imprisonment in the Great Thunder Prison changed my mind entirely."

Hwang Yeon sighed deeply and said.

"The emperor isn't the Great Ming Empire. He can represent it but not become it. He must reign but not rule—that's the emperor's position, and only then can an era of great peace be achieved. That's an unerring principle from China's long history."

"Reign but not rule?"

"Exactly. China doesn't require absolute rulers, unified thinking, or blind loyalty. It's inevitable for governing a vast continent and people. But the more that autocrat's power solidifies, the more the world rots."

"......"

"Emperors who sought to rule without exception plunged the realm into misery."

Hwang Yeon gazed at me quietly for a moment.

"Even now, I don't think the legitimate General Jin Cheon-hwi had to become emperor. But I believe the emperor is merely heaven's agent to lead China, and the more he seeks to be absolute, the more everything twists."

"No doubt about it."

"Better no emperor who can feed the Great Ming's people to monsters without hesitation. Immortality? Worst of all! I'll raise an army against him."

Hearing his firm resolve, I nodded.

"Thank you for deciding, General Hwang."

I understood why Hwang Yeon had feigned lukewarmness earlier. Though wrapped in rhetoric, we were pursuing rebellion. Failure meant extermination for all involved, so gathering allies required utmost caution.

I told Hwang Yeon.

"Moving rashly risks the emperor's power rendering our forces meaningless. For now, I'll provide gold bars and forces to build your strength. Once we neutralize his command words, then act."

"I'll trust you. Things will get busy starting today."

This was Mang Ryang's role, but I'd persuaded Hwang Yeon in his stead. Even after toppling the emperor, if the Demon Subduing Hall seized the palace with dark forces, it'd be pointless. Hwang Yeon raising a new force to take power was essential. His role seemed small but was crucial.

Now we were in the same boat, I asked Hwang Yeon.

"General, One question about the Four Guardian Seats' Vermilion Bird."

"Hmm. I figured you'd ask."

Groaning, Hwang Yeon said.

"The Four Guardian Seats' Vermilion Bird was a highly enigmatic figure. He rarely appeared at court; we barely knew he existed. I first learned from you he's the Mount Tai Old Man, a peak realm expert, and sorcerer. But hearing it, something suspicious did come to mind."

"Suspicious how?"

Hwang Yeon nodded and explained.

"Decades ago, when the previous emperor passed, I and key court officials gathered at his side. There, we found the late emperor's cold body and Crown Prince—now the current emperor—who'd been by his side, relaxing his final words. The Vermilion Bird was with the crown prince then. He declared himself the prince's guardian."

What was this?

I furrowed my brows at the unexpected testimony.

"The Vermilion Bird was there at the previous emperor's deathbed?"

"That was the first and last time I laid eyes on the Four Guardian Seats' Vermilion Bird."

Suspicious indeed.

As I fell silent, Hwang Yeon continued.

"He looked like a pristine, scholarly white-faced gentleman, as if he'd spent his life buried in books. Later, I heard his public role was Grand Astronomer of the palace, head of the Inner Imperial Pavilion who never emerged. Even I saw his face for the first time then."

"Grand Astronomer... No way... The Vermilion Bird was the previous Lord of the Inner Imperial Pavilion?"

"Correct."

I was stunned.

"No... It can't be?"

Hwang Yeon's testimony carried immense implications.

The Vermilion Bird was the Mount Tai Old Man and not the same as Zhuge Bu. Zhuge Bu was the current Lord of the Inner Imperial Pavilion. That meant the previous lord was the Vermilion Bird. The position had transferred from Vermilion Bird to Zhuge Bu.

Mang Ryang had told me the Inner Imperial Pavilion role was that of Astronomer.

(I'm a former astronomer. Now I've left the imperial court to live as a wandering priest.)

I recalled Mang Ryang—Zhuge Hyun's self-introduction from our first meeting long ago.

Astronomers divined the year's fortunes, prayed for the imperial family's prosperity, and oversaw national Taoist rituals. They held special status among court positions, selected not by imperial exams but hereditary.

(Can a hereditary position be abandoned?)

(I lacked the talent. My brother excelled far more, so I was ousted from the capital to live as a ronin.)

Mang Ryang's brother was Zhuge Bu. Mang Ryang had been supplanted by the brilliant Central Plains genius for the Lordship. Hereditary meant passed to direct descendants.

If the previous—not current—Lord of the Inner Imperial Pavilion was the Vermilion Bird, then his identity was...

"No way..."

Impossible.

How could it be?

He was the Vermilion Bird?!

That explained Mang Ryang's sudden ambush and kidnapping to some extent. Even Mang Ryang couldn't have anticipated that identity.

"Hmm... Thank you for the story. It's been a great help."

"Glad to hear it."

Though flustered, I wrapped up with Hwang Yeon. I provided initial funds from my gold bars and planned ongoing support from Hwang Yeon's funds for his faction. With Han Jin-seong's estates and martial forces, Hwang Yeon could swiftly regain military prestige and raise an army.

I relayed our discussion to Lee Gwang and Dugoeseong. They were shocked at the rebellion talk but accepted after Hwang Yeon's advocacy. Lee Gwang was uneasy but yielded to his mentor's will.

Soon, I spoke one-on-one with Lee Gwang.

"Lee Gwang, Do you also suspect the Vermilion Bird's true identity?"

"......"

Arms crossed alone, Lee Gwang replied.

"So you've figured it out too."

"You probably knew the moment you first faced him on Mount Tai. Or even before."

"True. As a fellow Four Guardian Seat, I could guess that much."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Lee Gwang replied curtly.

"Saying it changes nothing? At that point, breaking Mount Tai's Eight Array Formation was impossible either way."

"That's your view. Your silence might be why Mang Ryang got caught off guard."

"How tragic. My condolences."

Crunch!

Flames sparked in my eyes.

This man refused to admit fault to the end? If he'd properly shared that info, Mang Ryang would have been more cautious. Our overall plan would have shifted. But Mang Ryang was blinded by the unthinkable, complicating everything.

Gritting my teeth, I drew my sword and snarled.

"I just can't get along with you. Never will."

"Amazing, I feel the same."

I debated settling it with Lee Gwang here and now. Killing him might not even satisfy me. But recalling Jin So-cheong's recent words, and his current value as key strength, I forcibly restrained myself.

Sheathing my sword, I said.

"I won't ask you to apologize. Instead, tell me the Vermilion Bird's techniques and weaknesses you know."

"The Vermilion Bird's weaknesses... Do any exist?"

"What?"

Lee Gwang answered quite seriously.

"He's the palace's hereditary guardian deity. I once clashed with him at my peak; it was evenly matched, though it felt like he held back considerably. He's unmistakably a guardian deity level, mastering martial arts and sorcery both at the absolute pinnacle."

"......"

"To face him now, we'd need at least three experts on my level."

I pondered. Seemingly remorseful, Lee Gwang gave an objective assessment. After a moment, I said.

"I've heard his arts are the Asura Heavenly Light Great Law and the Duke Gongsun Swordsmanship. Any counters?"

"I know them well. The Asura Heavenly Light Great Law is a supreme divine art, and Duke Gongsun Swordsmanship is peerless. I can share tips for the latter."

"Tips?"

Lee Gwang nodded.

"The Duke Gongsun Swordsmanship is based on the principles of the four images and five elements. From its origins, it embodies intent-severing traits. Fighting it, you're drawn into the opponent's flow and forced defensive. To counter, you must ignore it with equal martial principles."

Solid advice. With my long cultivation, I grasped it roughly.

"Talking to Jin So-cheong, who faced it, might yield a counter form."

But not enough for thanks. Lee Gwang hiding crucial info was a main cause of this mess. So I warned him.

"If this happens again, you'll pay dearly."

"How frightening."

Lee Gwang spat and left. Truly irredeemable to the end.

================================== Author's Afterword ==================================

The recent heatwave has disrupted my routine, making it quite tough... Still, I'll strive for one chapter a day.

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