Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

I spent seven days and nights straight honing the spells of the Heavenly Divine Scripture. Spells normally require years of practice at minimum, but I already possessed the foundational spell knowledge from the Earth Immortal Mangyang, plus a substantial base of spiritual power. Even in that short training period, I managed to wield the Heavenly Divine Scripture to a usable degree.

Mangyang said,

"Baek Woong, Word has come from the Sword Demon."

"What did he say?"

"After the Nangong Family's funding dried up, the Five Great Families' council formally voted to expel them. The Sword Demon is mobilizing the underworld forces in Anhui Province to whittle down the Nangong Family's experts."

"Hmm."

It was unfolding just as expected.

The Five Great Families, who dominated the Central Plains, weren't the type to lose even one member under normal circumstances. Each boasted prosperity beyond belief for a single family. But with their family head and young lord missing, the elders crippled in their martial arts, and even their ally faction abandoning them, it was only natural. The Nangong Family was already as good as half-ruined.

"Can't we just leave it all to the Sword Demon? Is there any need for Jin So-cheong or me to get our hands dirty...?"

"That's my thinking too. The current Nangong Family is well within the Sword Demon's capabilities to devour whole. But there's one reason we need to step in ourselves."

What reason?

As I stared at Mangyang wordlessly, he explained.

"The Imperial Palace is already watching these developments closely. They never loosen their surveillance on the martial world, especially not for a massive upheaval like the Nangong Family's fall. They'll intervene sooner or later."

"Hmm. Could it be related to the slave market?"

At my question, Mangyang said admiringly,

"You caught on quick. Excellent."

"We got info from Nangong Hwan that the Nangong Family had their hands in the slave market too."

"Exactly."

He sent off a Five Flames Seven Golds Arrow and continued.

"We already knew the Imperial Palace was tied to the slave market. With their major backer gone, they'll scramble for scraps from the fallout or dig for top-secret intel. And in that process, one group is bound to move."

"The Gold Garment Guard!"

"Even the Shadowless Gate's power can't pin down the Gold Garment Guard's movements. We have to crush them ourselves. The Sword Demon could capture them alive, but clashing directly with the Imperial Palace is a burden for him, so it falls to us wanderers."

"I see."

Agreeing with Mangyang's plan, I said,

"Have you passed this on to Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon?"

"Not yet. But they'll likely think the same."

With that, Mangyang continued slowly.

"Now, let's get going."

Flash!

I stopped by the Shadowless Gate with Jin So-cheong and Mangyang to brief the Sword Demon. He was greatly pleased and said,

"Good thinking. Leave the Gold Garment Guard to you all."

"But, Gate Lord. Was the slave market force you said was too much for you... the Gold Garment Guard?"

"Hmm... I couldn't learn the details. It happened during your past life, after all."

Stroking his goatee, the Sword Demon said,

"But the Gold Garment Guard doesn't seem quite strong enough for that."

"Too weak, you say?"

"No matter that their thousand-tiger commanders are Peak Experts, we have those in the Shadowless Gate too. I don't see the current Gold Garment Guard as a force that could overwhelm me. It has to be something far stronger, or a transcendent expert was involved."

"Hmm... What about the Gold Garment Guard's Chief Commander?"

"I've considered that, but he's barely stepped into the transcendent realm—not that strong. If I covered before a mere chief commander, I never would've reached this position."

"......"

"Anyway, I leave it to you. I'll keep pressuring the Nangong Family."

"Yes."

After the conversation, we moved near the Nangong Family's remnants. After the massive non-human scar was carved into their stronghold, the Nangong people abandoned the buildings and returned to their old base. They knew Jin So-cheong's warning wasn't mere bluffing. They were now quite a distance from Anhui Province.

From a distant mountain overlooking the Nangong Family's area, Jin So-cheong muttered coldly.

"Those fools ignored my warning."

"Who could easily abandon their home and family? They're prepared to die."

Mangyang replied and continued.

"Let's set up an ambush nearby. We need to watch their movements closely."

"Not wipe them out right away?"

"The Nangong Family is cornered now. To survive, they'll pull every trick, likely using their slave market connections. We catch that movement and reach the slave market's mastermind."

Jin So-cheong crossed his arms and said.

"Do we really need to uncover the slave market's black curtain? We already know the Imperial Palace is involved."

"There's a world of difference between knowing and confirming. And as the Sword Demon said, the Gold Garment Guard alone couldn't control such a massive slave market. There must be allies or experts backing them. Uncovering that will make future matters easier."

"Hmm..."

Future matters.

Hearing that word from Mangyang made my heart a bit heavy. Mangyang was still scheming under the premise of my death. In the past, I'd have let it be, but getting directly involved to gather intel was for exactly that reason. He wanted me to see and hear it myself, stockpile the information.

Jin So-cheong said.

"If we face the Gold Garment Guard Chief Commander later, how should we handle him?"

Mangyang replied firmly.

"Capturing him alive if possible. Otherwise, kill without hesitation."

"Even killing him is fine?"

"The Sword Demon overlooked something. The Chief Commander's martial arts are low among transcendent experts, but he's already been implanted with a demon in the Imperial Palace's Demon Subduing Hall. A massive demon seed that could threaten even the Heavenly Realm. Trying to capture him rashly could get us killed."

"Hmm."

I agreed with Mangyang. When the Gold Garment Guard Chief Commander fully awakened as a demon beast, Yeo Doughun had to summon the Fire Dragon and unleash extreme sword qi to slay him. It meant he could reawaken as that dangerous a monster. No matter Jin So-cheong's skills, touching the demon rashly wouldn't end well.

We set our plan and first camped nearby while surveilling the Nangong Family. Having all three watch wasn't efficient, so we took turns observing while the other two rested. We'd been watching from about five li away for four days when it happened.

Mangyang, on watch, flew back to camp using shrinking earth technique.

"They've moved!"

Jin So-cheong and I, resting lying down, jumped up at his words and headed to the mountain top. Sure enough, in the dead of night, a carriage was rattling out. Nangong Family experts with considerable martial prowess were escorting it. Watching from afar, Mangyang said gravely.

"Moving under cover of night means a secret rendezvous."

"Then we tail that carriage?"

"No. Wait a bit more."

"......?"

"The Nangong Family knows rival forces are watching. That carriage is likely bait. We can pursue late, so let's observe longer."

"You mean the real ones will come out?"

Mangyang glanced at the wild mountains nearby.

"Once enough riffraff attaches, something will move."

Sure enough, we weren't the only ones watching the Nangong Family. Faint presences of experts stirring stealthily came from all around. Likely grudge-holders from families or unorthodox experts eyeing their weakness. They began pursuing the night-departing carriage, scattering through the hills.

Jin So-cheong said.

"Quite a number. The Nangong Family must've piled up a lot of grudges."

"Accumulating wealth through such brutal means? It's only natural. Without lifting a finger, the Nangong Family will fall soon enough."

"How long do we wait?"

"Three double-hours!"

Jin So-cheong and I flinched. That meant until the next morning! Jin So-cheong said awkwardly.

"Pursuing that late, I'm not confident we'll catch the carriage."

"Don't worry. I already released tracking talismans."

"Ah."

"If the Nangong people aren't fools, they'll definitely send a second group."

Just as Mangyang said.

About one double-hour later.

A faint presence: four or five experts in night clothes slipped out of the Nangong base. They moved swiftly, putting distance. Seeing their lightness skills, I let out a low groan.

"Impressive skill."

Judging by footwork alone, they matched the Nangong Eight Swords. Renowned enough in the martial world, far above the carriage escorts. Realizing these were the 'real' ones, we tailed them stealthily, keeping a hundred-zhang gap.

How long had we traveled?

The morning sun rose, then climbed to midday. A massive river appeared before us. Jin So-cheong glanced at the river basin and said.

"The Yangtze River."

"I see..."

"What are they doing coming all the way to Dangtu? We've covered a hundred fifty li already."

As Jin So-cheong said, it was far off. Reaching the Yangtze basin was a long haul even on horseback. Our quarry, climbing mountains on foot, must be exhausted. The Nangong experts now seemed to rest nearby.

They appeared ready to depart after resting, but no. They crossed one more mountain to a deserted Yangtze basin area. Rocky with gravel and bizarre boulders.

As the Nangong people arrived, a few shadowy figures waiting ahead came out to meet them. They'd planned to rendezvous near the Yangtze from the start. Watching from a hundred zhang away, Jin So-cheong said.

"Shall we strike now?"

Mangyang shook his head.

"Watch first. Can you lip-read?"

"Yes."

"Read their talk, strike if anything suspicious."

"Got it."

Jin So-cheong focused his inner power on their meeting for a while.

"Hah!"

Then he shot out like lightning with phenomenal lightness skill, charging them. I'd been watching too, so his sudden move left me no choice but to leap in with him. A breath later, I felt Mangyang using shrinking earth.

The hundred-zhang distance compressed in an instant via annihilation step. Reaching the riverbank, I understood why Jin So-cheong moved abruptly.

They're dead!

They seemed fine at first, but three Nangong experts were already dead. Attacked mid-conversation, it seemed. Jin So-cheong had sensed the stealthy assault from a hundred zhang away, intuiting the fight and rushing in.

Clang!

Clang!

Gold-garbed experts scattered dazzling sword shadows, menacing the two remaining Nangong experts.

"Gold Garment Guard!"

Jin So-cheong burst in and unleashed a massive Thunder Spirit Strike.

Boom

"Argh!"

As several screamed and fell back, Jin So-cheong landed. Before he could take a step, he charged the enemy leader. I arrived a bit later and fought the Gold Garment Guard to save the surviving Nangong men.

Slash

In an instant, I slew three Gold Garment Guards with sword-gang. They had skill, but not enough against me. Thinking I'd doused the urgent fire, I turned to Jin So-cheong's fight—then my pupils shook.

"Huh?!"

Jin So-cheong drew his spear!

Was the opponent that skilled?

Jin So-cheong wielded his spear fluidly, assaulting the enemy leader, who naturally dodged and counterattacked with three strikes. Jin So-cheong parried with three steps but couldn't press further.

Simple in description, but not in reality. Dozens, hundreds of transcendent moves hid in that exchange, intertwining in their intent barriers.

Having briefly repelled Jin So-cheong's charge, the expert waved his hand, and the Gold Garment Guards swiftly gathered behind him. He eyed Jin So-cheong coolly and said.

"Jin So-cheong. Your reputation is well-earned. But why interfere here?"

Jin So-cheong looked heavily at the three instantly slain Nangong experts. All struck by terrifying hidden scriptures. Then he replied.

"I'm the one wondering. Why are you here?"

His next words left me stunned.

"You're the Yellow Mountain Sect's Sect Leader."

Leader of the Nine Great Righteous Sects' Yellow Mountain Sect, Dragon Slaughtering Divine Sword Yong Jung-il!

In truth, son of the Wind God Style's guardian deity Yong Bi-cheon and one of its representative experts stood right there.

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