Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

I spent a full day distributing slaves and treasures according to merit. I also watched as the Wind God Sect members trapped in the storage gourd were dragged out and forced to kneel in the square with dazed expressions. Water God Sect experts stood guard, having sealed their acupoints.

While this process unfolded, I returned the storage gourd to Dokgo Jun and asked,

“What does it mean to demote them to the lowest rank? Explain in detail.”

Dokgo Jun took the gourd from me and glanced at the Wind God Sect disciples before replying,

[It’s simple. Their internal energy will be sealed, forcing them to step down from all key positions in the White Lotus Church. They’ll be reduced to menial labor and farm work among the lowest church members.]

“……”

[We’ll implement it now, so wait.]

I watched the scene before me with complicated eyes.

But this wasn’t the time for pity. The Wind God Sect, from their leader down to the executives, had collaborated with the imperial palace in treasonous acts and even considered betrayal. Normally, executing them all would be amiss. Ending it with sealed energy might even be merciful.

[Merciful, my ass… Do you have any idea the despair of plummeting to the bottom overnight?]

[Zhuge Sa, quit nitpicking. Just know it’s not my place to intervene.]

Soon after, the mass sealing of internal energy began on a large scale. Rather than crudely shattering their dantians, the Water God Sect used their unique energy like wedges driven into the dantians, making internal energy operation impossible. This refined technique minimized bodily harm while nullifying their power.

Thud.

“Kuhk!”

“Urk.”

One by one, the Wind God Sect experts collapsed forward. Even so, the restraint was absolute, inflicting pain severe enough to cause fainting. Chills ran through me as I watched.

The number and prowess of these kneeling Wind God Sect experts could easily wipe out two or three of the Nine Great Sects. Yet even they surrendered to the Heavenly Spirit Pill’s might, accepting the sealing without resistance. It was a vivid demonstration of the absurd power of the infinite internal energy from the Heavenly Spirit Pill.

Once the process ended, Dokgo Jun said to me,

[The Church Lord has high expectations of you. Do with them as you please.]

I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“…You’ve stripped them of all their martial arts, turning them into ordinary people. What am I supposed to do with them?”

[That’s for a Thunder God Sect Protector to figure out.]

“What…”

[I’ll take my leave.]

Dokgo Jun spun on his heel and departed with the Water God Sect warriors.

‘That guy’s really infuriating.’

I surveyed the hall. Before me lay Wind God Sect disciples who had just lost their martial arts sealed—some unconscious, others grinding their teeth and glaring at me. Without martial arts, controlling them single-handedly would be a breeze.

I cleared my throat and said,

“We have much to discuss. I won’t press you today—rest at the quarters and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

No reply came for a while. As I turned to leave, assuming that was that, an elder from the front row of Wind God Sect members spoke up.

“Thunder God Sect Protector!”

“Speak.”

“We’ll do anything you ask, so please spare the women and children. They’re innocent!”

“……”

Women and children.

Hearing that, I understood his fear. If I wished, I could slaughter, violate, or dispose of the Wind God Sect’s women and children as I pleased. It was a horrific act, unthinkable for any human, but the difference between choosing not to and being unable to was vast.

Zhuge Sa sneered.

[Perfect. Why not pick some pretty Wind God Sect girls and indulge in debauchery? Go for the beautiful married ones—make them crawl on all fours in front of their husbands…]

I scowled.

[Shut your filthy mouth, damn it.]

[What? You could do it if you wanted. Go wild. Kill the men, rape the women. The Church Lord won’t care what you do with the Wind God Sect remnants.]

Is this guy insane?!

I flatly refused.

[No! There’s no reason to.]

[…You’re annoying.]

Zhuge Sa grumbled.

[Don’t you think you’ve been too influenced by that fool Mang Ryang? The early-reincarnation Baek Woong would have jumped at my suggestion. Your refusal now is just habit.]

“What…”

[Forget it. Do whatever. You and your fake scholar act.]

Ignoring Zhuge Sa’s complaints, I replied to the Wind God Sect elder.

“Very well.”

The elder knelt and bowed his head again, pleading,

“Please… protect us from the Wind God Sect or Water God Sect’s abuses. We beg you…”

Starting with him, the Wind God Sect disciples began kowtowing one by one. Soon, all were prostrating deeply before me, stirring a strange feeling. I could sense their genuine desperation, casting aside all pride for survival.

[Obviously. They’re not dead, but in the White Lotus Church, no martial arts means hell itself. Even passing church members could kill them with a flick, so they have no choice but to cling to you, Baek Woong.]

“Hmm.”

I let out a low hum. Even so, this sight was rare. After a moment’s thought, I addressed the kneeling Wind God Sect elder at the front.

“What is your name and title?”

“Blood Wind Fist Demon Yong Mun-su.”

“Yong Mun-su Elder. Bring the key figures who originally managed the Wind God Sect forward—excluding yourself.”

“……”

Yong Mun-su hesitated, then scanned the hall. Several elderly men stepped forward, their vitality drained by the dantian seals, faces gaunt in an instant. I looked them over and said,

“Move now. Bring the Wind God Sect families to this compound.”

“Y-You’re protecting us?”

“Yes.”

Yong Mun-su bowed his head.

“Thank you!”

At that moment, I felt murderous glares from some of the prostrated Wind God Sect disciples. As expected, they submitted only due to the power gap and harbored no goodwill toward this situation—especially since I had a hand in their downfall. Who could view me fondly?

I felt a pang of guilt. Zhuge Sa remarked,

[Guilt over what? You go soft in the weirdest places.]

[Well… pity for their overnight fall isn’t unreasonable.]

[Hmph. Think what you want, but don’t say it aloud. Especially not in front of Thunder God Sect members.]

The mention of Thunder God Sect made me flinch. Zhuge Sa continued mockingly,

[When the Wind God Sect led the Thunder God Sect purge, do you think they’d have stopped at sealing martial arts? They’d have brutally slaughtered Thunder God Sect warriors, raped their women, and enslaved them.]

[……]

[They’re jackals at heart, groveling only because they’re powerless. Don’t show any weakness.]

[Got it.]

I frowned. Zhuge Sa’s words always hit uncomfortable truths, making him tough to deal with.

Once managing the Wind God Sect was sorted, I turned to inspect the slaves from the slave market.

There were about sixty in total. They varied in age and gender, hailing from everywhere—including Westerners and Kunlun slaves. I wondered why the slaves, originally over a thousand, had dwindled so much, but soon realized.

‘Most went to the Water God Sect.’

The “thirty percent” share for me was likely lip service. It might not even reach ten percent. The Church Lord was pettier than expected for such trivial lies.

That meant the Water God Sect took at least six or seven hundred. That matched the count when loading them into the storage gourd.

Why did they need so many slaves?

As I pondered, Zhuge Sa said,

[That’s important, but handle it later. Sort the slaves first.]

[What for?]

[Idiot. Treat slaves like slaves.]

He continued,

[Don’t even think of teaching them Thunder God Sect martial arts. Right now, they’re just for menial work. Blindly following the Church Lord’s order to build a force would be utterly foolish.]

[Why foolish? A Thunder God Sect expert would…]

[Be useless. Didn’t you see the Wind God Sect crumble fearing just three Heavenly Spirit Pill owners?]

[Ugh…]

True enough.

[Don’t fuss over slaves. You’re busy cultivating. They’re tools—leave them be.]

“Hah.”

The slaves watched me mutter and scowl repeatedly, growing visibly fearful. With a sigh, I told them,

“Don’t worry. From now on, you’ll handle cleaning, maintenance, and meals for the Thunder God Sect compound…”

“Understood…”

They bowed repeatedly. I called the original Thunder God Sect maids and stewards to divvy up tasks. With too many for just building maintenance, some would repair and clean the old structures, while the rest handled odd jobs and farming.

Once slave assignments were done, I addressed Zhuge Sa again.

[Hey.]

[What?]

[What’s next? Give me a plan.]

Zhuge Sa tsked.

[Fine. Here’s the strategy.]

[Hm?]

[Cultivate.]

[……]

[Contacting Wind God Sect’s Yong Jung-il now is too risky. Lie low, train in the One Soul Great Law and Three Treasures Ultimate Arts until a variable arises. The Church Lord is watching you covertly—any more moves might prompt direct intervention.]

[Fair point.]

I agreed with Zhuge Sa. Forcing Yong Jung-il to create a variable was a last resort. Better to build my strength quietly. He continued,

[Baek Woong, question: what are you doing with the Heavenly Spirit Pill?]

I startled.

He had hit the nail on the head.

‘Hmm…’

Events had unfolded too rapidly for thought until now, but it was crucial. I’d pursued the Heavenly Spirit Pill for its infinite internal energy, worth dying five times over for the immense power.

Yet info from the Twelve Laws and Thunder God Sect Protector Lee Cheong-un revealed it as a poisoned apple. Fine for human squabbles, but with potential battles against the Heavenly Realm or [Ancient Overlords], the no-combat clause was fatal. Worst case, I’d be a puppet. For a regressor like me, it was nearly the worst choice.

As I mulled, Zhuge Sa said,

[Tough call. If limited to this life, no issue—but if it carries to the next reincarnation? It blocks any shot at fighting gods.]

[Yeah. Still deciding.]

[Then revisit why you want it.]

[The root reason…]

Fundamentally, to grow stronger. The pill would skyrocket my martial destructive power. Though my internal energy topped all but Protectors, it paled against true infinity. As I thought, Zhuge Sa continued,

[I’d first clarify the Heavenly Spirit Pill’s contract. The Water God’s grimoire is undoubtedly a Chaaist on sea and plague gods, rivaling the Nameless Sacrifice Tome. Steal the Church Lord’s copy and have Astana’s Oracle interpret it.]

[……!!]

[Then probe ways to break the contract or substitute the price.]

His words rang true.

‘I see.’

The Oracle could best decode the grimoire. I needed to consult her on the Water God’s grimoire first, deciding on the pill later, I asked,

[So stealing the Church Lord’s grimoire is priority?]

[How? You just lost the Bi-dung gourd and treasures. You don’t even know where it is or how it’s stored.]

[……]

[I can’t advise clearly. Better visit Astana’s Oracle, inform her of the grimoire, and get her take on the pill. Beats flailing blindly.]

[Hm… When to go?]

[Not now with slaves to manage. A month from now.]

He chuckled amusedly.

[Maybe your worthless talent is dodging traps.]

[What?]

[The pill, and your life so far—smooth sailing would’ve tangled worse. This is ill fortune among ill fortunes.]

[……]

Ill fortune among ill fortunes.

If such a thing existed, wasn’t obtaining the Heavenly Dark Secret Book itself just that?

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