Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Pop!

It didn't take long to return to the earthly world after drinking the honey wine and receiving aid from that bizarre demon beast. Though we passed through the Phantasmal Realm, Hungry Ghost Realm, and Asura Realm in turn, we never lingered anywhere for more than a quarter hour. Less than an hour later, I realized I was standing in ordinary mountain wilderness.

“Where are we?”

“Back mountain of Jangyeong Valley. My place is just a short way ahead.”

“Is that right? Then I'll be going...”

Master Zhuge smirked.

“Want me to guess you and Mangyang's goal?”

“...”

“You paid tribute with the Water Moon Dark Night manual and got yourself a spirit beast... But that Hyun follow utterly despised the Heavenly Realm and the Imperial Palace. For a guy like him to negotiate openly with the Heavenly Realm just to avert the manual's disaster means your aims line up with his.”

“No idea what you're talking about.”

“Whether it's the Heavenly Realm or the Imperial Palace, you're out to topple one of them. Am I wrong?”

I let out a groan in reply to his words.

“I appreciate the help, but you're awfully nosy. If you want details, your only option is coming along to Jinrang Valley.”

“Heh heh. Now that you're in the mortal realm, you figure you can summon and ride the Four Divine Beasts at will? Don't want me tagging along?”

“Never said that.”

Master Zhuge wore a peculiar expression.

“Do whatever. I'm fine either way.”

I mulled over his words before responding.

“To Jinrang Valley it is.”

I could ditch him right here. But somehow, it felt like the wrong move. The offer was uncharacteristically generous for him, and I suspected some scheme on his part. Better to bring him along and hash it out with Mangyang first.

Pop!

Moments later, we arrived at Jinrang Valley via the flying pot. Master Zhuge scowled.

“That's Alhazzred's Lamp? How are you wielding a magic tool?”

“Picked up this golden flying pot with teleportation powers by chance in Shandong. No clue about any Western name for it.”

“Hmm. Golden Turtle Island's barriers must've blocked the pot...”

Seeming to satisfy himself, Master Zhuge pressed on.

“Hey. How long you been using it?”

“Just a few days.”

“Don't overdo it.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

He strode into Jinrang Valley as he spoke.

“Magic tools get crafted with magic, so they perform well. But magic's otherworldly sorcery—not made for humans. Which means traps can lurk inside sometimes.”

What's he getting at?

I sharpened my focus on his words. As I followed him up the mountain, I asked.

“Traps? Explain yourself.”

“Who knows~ Didn't you know when you started using it? Beats me~”

Master Zhuge feigned ignorance. I caught on: he wanted a [price] for the intel. True to form, he never shared freely. After weighing options, I said.

“I owe you my life, so take this.”

I drew a wooden box of gold ingots from the pouch at my neck and handed over five ingots. Master Zhuge accepted them, muttering.

“Ancient artifacts laced with magic. Old gold ingots, these.”

“What...”

He jabbed a finger at the reverse side of one ingot.

“Take a look. Magic rune controlling time's flow. Five claws of the [Ancient Ruler] etched in—so pristine despite the ages. Gold wears down eventually, right?”

“...”

“Some guy you are. Hoarding magic items left and right, yet clueless about magic? Heh heh heh.”

He tucked the ingots away and said.

“Anyway, thanks for the info fee.”

“Spit it out already.”

He spoke only after ascending seven flights of stairs.

“Magic tool traps crop up in rechargeables.”

“Rechargeables?”

“Heard tell of infinite power artifacts, sure. But most have usage limits. Flaw from sorcerers crafting them, not gods.”

“Usage limits... You mean finite activations?”

“Naturally! Exhaust the count, and it turns into junk.”

“But I've used this pot hundreds of times over a decade or so since getting it. Never glitched once.”

True enough.

Master Zhuge grinned oddly at my protest.

“That lamp? Product of the Great Food Kingdom's mad sorcerer in his dotage. Know his end? Devoured by transparent demons, broad daylight.”

“...”

“Overreaching sorcerers get what's coming. Or rather, he bartered with vile, mighty entities for power—might explain the potent artifact. My take differs, though.”

“Quit stalling.”

He cackled.

“Might be tuned for one specific goal. Optimal only till that goal's met.”

“Goal?”

“Conditions baked in—and boom, devours the owner once fulfilled. Not my problem, so whatever.”

“...”

A chill ran through me.

A goal...?

I had suspicions.

That freakish demon realm from the first use! The [Ancient Ruler] sea god lurking beneath Goryeo lands, the evil god's lair, Dark Heaven Fragrance—I'd glimpsed them all. Likely, this golden flying pot prods the user toward those places time and again.

Could the pot be a lure straight to those two-legged horrors?

‘But why haven't I felt it?’

Any such trap would pack mental coercion or illusions to drive the user mad. Yet aside from that initial terror when I first got it, nothing. By Master Zhuge's account, the thing was downright contradictory.

Lost in thought, I realized we'd entered the cabin in Jinrang Valley. He asked after Mangyang, so I replied.

“Mangyang's tied up elsewhere on urgent business. Give it a few days; he'll show.”

“You tricked me?”

“Absolutely not. His priestess came down with divine fever—he's nursing her. Hate to burden him.”

Sensing the truth in my words, Master Zhuge chuckled.

“So you want me bunking here a few days.”

“Leave anytime if you hate it.”

“Nah. I can tough it out to see my cute nephew. Heh heh.”

He plopped by the nearby well, laughing oddly. I eyed him steadily before saying.

“That woman traveling with you... She's no companion? No need to check on her?”

I itched to pry info on Byok Jisang. Across reincarnations, her true nature had eluded me.

“What's with you? So damn persistent.”

“Just worried. Golden Turtle Island's one hell of a demonic landscape—a lone woman...”

Master Zhuge burst out laughing, as if it were absurd.

“Ha ha ha ha!! Worried about *her*? Not the Ten Heavenly Armies?”

“...?”

“Stow it. She's beyond worrying over. If anyone merits concern, it's you or me.”

“No, I'm asking what she *is*.”

He scowled.

“You're relentless. No luck with ladies, huh?”

“No clue why popularity's coming up.”

“Answer already. Got game or not?”

“...”

I pondered.

Was I popular with women?

First life? Zilch. Reincarnating via Heavenly Dark Secret Book kept me ugly—no romantic ties bar Miho.

Turned down Hwaryeon once, Seomunhye too—but set those aside. Post-plastic surgery, women swarmed, but that was looks alone—aside again.

“...”

Harsh, isn't it?

Was I actually popular? Plenty of chances if I'd wanted...

Shaking off the confusion, I answered.

“About average, I suppose.”

He ignored me, somehow procuring and slicing a watermelon. Sub-space of his, no doubt. Munching away, he said.

“Huh? What'd you say?”

Flabbergasted, I snapped.

“Whence the random watermelon binge?”

“Exactly. Why the sudden personal grilling?”

He mocked me. Clearly, no appetite for Byok Jisang talk. Spitting a seed, he added.

“We trade benefits as needs align. Advice: wanna live long? Stay shallow with her. Dig deeper, and ruin awaits.”

I scoffed.

“Terrifying stuff. Emperors don't faze me. Even if she's Murim Alliance Lord, no sweat.”

“Emperor? Murim Lord? Pfft, small potatoes. Heh heh.”

“What?”

“Fine, her name's Byok Jisang.”

“...”

Already knew that!

Mid-bite, he chucked the rind.

“Skip the green. Tastes like crap.”

Irritated, I griped.

“What a waste. Devour it rind to core.”

“Core's bitter as hell. Sweet's all you need.”

“That bitterness *is* the charm... Wait, why am I even debating this with you?”

“Whatever. Napping now. Don't wake me.”

Swish!

No sooner said, he vanished into some bizarre scroll. Pocket dimension inside, probably. Tempted to poke it, but no way a sly sorcerer like Master Zhuge left himself wide open. Risked traps or fallout, so I left it and sighed.

“Total loose cannon.”

He proved useful across my past lives, sure—but the outbursts and whims soured any fondness.

A few days later, I fetched Mangyang. Cheon Ujin's nursing done, he lounged idly in the village. I recounted summoning the Four Divine Beasts, the abrupt Golden Turtle Island jaunt, encountering Master Zhuge and Byok Jisang.

Once finished, Mangyang said.

“To rein in Master Zhuge, we need Ujin along. But he's just stabilized post-fever—can't push him.”

“Wait till he recovers, then...”

“Deity fever from several Great Luo Immortals? No telling when it settles. Could be a full year bedridden...”

“What now?”

Mangyang sighed.

“No helping it. Guess we talk to Master Zhuge.”

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