Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Why is the Twelve Laws Lord here?

And with the Little Cult Leader's head, no less.

A profound doubt swelled in my mind in an instant, but soon I instinctively grasped the causal connection. It was a link I wouldn't normally associate, but facing the Cult Leader and being the one most deeply involved in this incident made it clear.

I swallowed hard and glared at the Twelve Laws Lord.

"The Little Cult Leader... was the Cult Leader's weakness?"

"Hoh. Quick on the uptake."

"Then Musashi..."

As I glanced at Miyamoto Musashi, the Twelve Laws Lord shrugged.

"......?!"

I vaguely understood what had happened.

Just as the White Lotus Cult Leader harbored murderous intent toward the Twelve Laws, the Twelve Laws Lord had been waiting for a chance to eradicate the White Lotus Cult? But there was something unsettling in the Twelve Laws Lord's words, so I spoke up.

"The Cult Leader is full of suspicions. He must have doubted Musashi..."

"Heh heh... But we wouldn't have expected his weakness to be targeted all at once. And you lot helped by clashing with the Cult Leader, eliminating his leeway and drawing his attention."

[......]

"Truly grateful, Baek Woong. You're a hero through and through. Even I couldn't find an opening against the vigilant White Lotus Cult Leader."

The Twelve Laws Lord, replying leisurely, lifted the Little Cult Leader's head to chest level. He peered into the face and said,

"Well, truth be told, I didn't want things to go this far. But it spiraled into too big a mess, and someone had to clean it up. You agree, don't you?"

"That's not the issue right now, Twelve Laws Lord."

Yi Cheong-un stepped forward. He said in a stern voice,

"The White Lotus Cult has collapsed. But soon, a fierce battle between the [Ancient Ruler] and the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns will erupt in Luoyang. You know that, so what do you plan to do next?"

"Hmm... Right. You're the master of the Thunder God Style, Yi Cheong-un."

The Twelve Laws Lord tilted his head obliquely.

"Why worry about that?"

"......?!"

"Seems you don't grasp what it means for us of the Twelve Laws to have taken the Little Cult Leader's head. No point talking further, then."

I sensed something going away.

'If Cheon Woo Jin were alive...'

If Cheon Woo Jin or Mang-ryang, any sorcerer, were here, they could decipher the Twelve Laws Lord's words with their knowledge of sorcery. But with only Yi Cheong-un and me, we were clueless in that regard.

As I gritted my teeth, the inner Zhuge sage spoke.

[Baek Woong. Wait a moment.]

The Zhuge sage's voice lacked its usual madness, utterly calm and cold. I'd rarely heard him speak like this, so I flinched. Listening closely, he continued.

[This is a truly critical turning point. Hear me carefully.]

[Zhuge sage. Have you figured out the situation?]

[Yes. But it's also true that survival will be difficult for you. Just like when I was exposed before the White Lotus Cult Leader because of you.]

[......]

Hearing his analogy, I instantly understood.

Killing intent!

Though not directly sensed, the Zhuge sage had inferred from causality and motives that the Twelve Laws Lord intended to kill me. And if he truly harbored that intent now, survival was indeed improbable.

The Zhuge sage said,

[Baek Woong. You have two choices. One: somehow survive here, but you might end up a slave to the Twelve Laws Lord before you. He's a freak beyond righteous or demonic, so you'll be toyed with until death, but amid that, you could cling to a sliver of hope for reversal.]

[......]

[The Twelve Laws Lord differs from the Cult Leader. He shares no common ground with you. Right now, he's the most dangerous fiend in the world to you.]

[The other?]

[Abandon this body and move to the next. You can land a solid blow on the Twelve Laws Lord before you. But your death is inevitable.]

He continued gloomily.

[Personally, what's the difference between the two? In any case, choose quickly.]

While I pondered his words, Yi Cheong-un advanced another step, checking the Twelve Laws Lord. Exhausted from the fierce battle with the Cult Leader, he hid it well and said,

"Twelve Laws Lord. I don't understand what you're saying. But we've achieved our goal of toppling the Cult Leader, so we intend to withdraw. Don't interfere."

The Twelve Laws Lord replied with a snickering tone.

"...Who said you could leave?"

A heavy silence fell. All the experts present sensed the impending clash. His words were simple, but heavy as war. Yi Cheong-un glared fiercely and said,

"So it's a case of killing the donkey after it pulls the cart."

"Heh heh. Not quite... More like cutting the grass at the root, pulling out the source. Why? Because ultimately, Baek Woong there is the one who stirred this mess."

"Don't be ridiculous. The Cult Leader started it all."

"Really?"

The Twelve Laws Lord raised his dog-mask arm, pointing at me.

"Baek Woong. You received Lady Wa's command to check the Cult Leader. But what did you do? You became his lackey, flitting about and performing the Sealing Ritual. If you truly meant to stop him, shouldn't you have consulted us—the Twelve Laws, a force rivaling his—and planned his assassination from there?"

"How do you know that...?"

I felt bewildered. Only heavenly immortals, the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, or perhaps Cheon Woo-jin knew I'd received orders from Lady Wa. No human could know what happened at Mount Tai's Sealing Ritual. Yet the Twelve Laws Lord spoke of it so obviously, leaving me stunned.

"I see through your schemes. While riding the Cult Leader's coattails, you waited for the world's chaos to reveal ancient mysteries and secrets. You're the root of all evil, far more insidious than the Cult Leader."

"......"

"The chaos in Luoyang has already reached its finale."

Whistling.

Ha Eun-cheon, the Twelve Laws Lord, drew the divine Galaxy Severing Blade from his waist, accompanied by a sacred blue glow. Reflectively, I raised the Fire Dragon Divine Sword, but its halved power couldn't match the blade's divinity. As I hesitated, he seemed to cackle.

"Heh heh... Normally, the Fire Dragon Divine Sword rivals the Galaxy Severing Blade as a supreme weapon, but I saw it earlier. That treasure was already worn out, on the verge of breaking. For Sword Immortal Yi Cheong-bin to fight a monster like the Cult Leader with it... remarkable."

"What did you say?"

In that instant, Yeo Dong-bin's battle flashed through my mind.

She could have fought much stronger by boosting the Fire Dragon Divine Sword's output. Yet she deliberately used first on unfamiliar tools like the National Jade Seal or Moon Yo's power. And when it broke, her lamenting expression suggested she knew it would happen.

'Could the Fire Dragon Divine Sword... have exhausted all its spiritual power sealing the Amcheondang passage for centuries, right on the brink of destruction?'

Even so, Yeo Dong-bin had no choice but to use it for maximum power. Then Yi Cheong-un took over total dynamic via Six Harmonies Swordsmanship.

[Baek Woong. I'll hold them off somehow and buy time. Use the Four Divine Statues or Bi Deung to escape when you see an opening.]

[Can you manage?]

[...No idea. But we try.]

It was the first time I'd heard Yi Cheong-un sound so uncertain.

But it made sense. Two absolute realm experts stood before us, one possessing two Seven Luminaries—the pinnacle of the mortal world. Each was the strongest in Goryeo and Jiangnan. Even Yi Cheong-un with Thunder God Soul Fusion might not endure.

I steeled my resolve and clenched my fist. To the Zhuge sage, I said,

[I'll take the latter, Zhuge sage!]

[Serious?]

[I can't lick that bastard's boots to survive. Even if I die, I'll make him pay!]

After a pause, the Zhuge sage replied.

[Then let's do it. Follow my lead.]

His subsequent scheme startled me. But with no alternatives, I agreed, gambling everything.

[Got it.]

Resolved, I shouted to the Twelve Laws Lord.

"Twelve Laws Lord! Stop this. Let us go now, and there'll be no bloodshed."

He replied indifferently.

"Bloodshed alone won't suffice. I need your corpse to end it."

[......]

"Oh? Don't worry about the aftermath. You'll be a hero, remembered forever."

Thung.

The moment his words ended, battle erupted. The Twelve Laws Lord struck first!

A streak of light flashed, and I caught the afterimage of Yi Cheong-un blocking the joint assault of Miyamoto Musashi and the Twelve Laws Lord in midair.

Kwang-kwang!

[Cuh... Hurry...!]

Merely one exchange, yet Yi Cheong-un spat blood. Even with Thunder God Soul Fusion, blocking two absolute experts was immensely difficult. Alone, he'd have avoided such injury, but protecting me caused it.

'Kuk.'

I tried activating Bi Deung immediately, but it failed. Likely the Twelve Laws Lord's doing. But all the Zhuge sage anticipated, I summoned the Four Divine Statues at once. As they appeared, I moved without delay.

Kukwang!

Then a massive Galaxy Severing Blade flew in, slamming my waist. Its speed was immense; I knew but couldn't dodge.

"......?!"

Having recovered internal energy with spiritual power from Moon Yo, I focused all protective aura in an instant, avoiding instant death.

Yet, withstanding an attack, I felt like taking the Cult Leader's Heart Heaven Infinite strike—unbearable agony. Several bones seemed broken, organs ruptured. A normal human would be combat-ineffective, sprawled on the ground.

This blow made me feel visually that Ha Eun-cheon was an absolute being on par with or surpassing the Cult Leader. Back when we fought in Shinshi, he'd merely toyed with me.

'Ugh...!'

In that split second, I anxiously awaited 'something.' Whether choice one or two, attempting Bi Deung or Four Divine Statues for escape was unadvisable. But the aftermath would determine my choice's validity.

Then it happened.

[Baek Woong!!]

A sharp cry echoed from above, followed by massive silver flames blasting toward us. The Twelve Laws Lord, aiming to end me in consecutive strikes, flinched and dodged the silver flames. Their vast range forced even him to evade.

The one unleashing flames laden with immense spiritual power descended in brilliant silver light, landing beside me. I forced my blurring eyes open to see her.

"Mi... Miho..."

[Raaw! Baek Woong!]

Roarrr!

Miho had changed. Unlike her ordinary nine-tailed fox form, she now had three tails, each pulsing with living power. Her hair had shifted from black to full silver waves, instinctively signaling a league beyond her previous strength.

Is this great fortune?

After awakening power in the Heavenly Realm, her perfectly timed arrival to buy me time—this was great fortune indeed! I waited to see what happened, but no time.

In this moment, Miyamoto Musashi's absolute sword aura hurtled toward Miho's body. She summoned a shield with all her tail's spiritual power but soon screamed and retreated.

[Auk...]

Musashi's Full Moon Thousand Kills was overwhelmingly potent; Miho couldn't last long.

I had to act now.

Choice diverged again. The Zhuge sage shouted rapidly.

[Now! Go!]

No choice!

"Break through dimensions!"

[Got it.]

Paat!

I first used the Four Divine Statues to escape the vicinity. As expected, Bi Deung failed because the Twelve Laws Lord had preemptively set a dimensional barrier blocking escape. He'd laid a thorough trap to capture me.

But the Four Divine Statues' once-a-day dimension piercing ability allowed escape. Dismounting, I immediately dismissed them without pause and drew Bi Deung.

Paat!

I arrived in Amcheon-dang's otherworld. I instantly faced the [Ancient Ruler] in the jungle. He stood silently, as I urgently spoke.

"Ancient Ruler! I have a request!!"

[What is it...?]

Feeling the gamble's gravity swell up my spine, I shouted.

"Kill the Twelve Laws Lord and Miyamoto Musashi!!"

This was my only play now.

I hadn't asked the Jungle's [Ancient Ruler] more than once. The Black Tile from the Seven Death Village allowed only one use. Though Bi Deung could reach the jungle, I hadn't due to the Black Tile. Without entry rights or favor, intruding risked his wrath.

But I was betting my reincarnation. If he granted it, I could repeatedly reverse fates, slaying enemies long after. If not, my Heavenly Dark Secret Book reincarnations would end, and I'd become his eternal slave in torment.

The Jungle's [Ancient Ruler] was silent for a while, then spoke.

[You've made the mortal world endlessly entertaining...]

Even from distant Amcheondang, he seemed aware of earthly affairs, his tone implying he knew my central role. The dominator continued with intrigued amusement.

[Normally... appearing here without a Black Tile is grave sin... You'd be torn apart by the spider god guarding Amcheondang... or cast into time's abyss by my power...]

Hearing this chilled me.

'As expected, no second chances.'

My reincarnation path was sealed. Steeling myself, I met his gaze as he continued.

[But... so what... You're the most pleasing human in history... Presiding over chaos... Leading a comic theater... Heh... heh heh...]

Chuckling briefly, he said,

[I grant your request... but there must be payment...]

Even now, Yi Cheong-un and Miho edged toward death. Anxiously, I cried,

"What payment?"

[Soul...]

"......!"

[With a Black Tile, it'd be free... but equivalent exchange for you...]

In short, to kill the Twelve Laws Lord and Musashi, offer my life.

I knew such leniency was absurd, but that was the bargain called [Ancient Rulers]. Yet this was the Zhuge sage's scheme, so I nodded without hesitation.

Then.

His hundreds of eyes gleamed as he said,

[Hoh... Interesting... Betraying him is fine...?]

What remark?

I tilted my head, but burst into mad laughter.

[Hahaha... Good... I accept the deal...]

Sudden turn.

Zzing

Space warped, a portal opening to reveal Byeok Ji-sang, bewildered. The Six Cult's founding leader, turned Demon King via godly pact, looked utterly confused.

Byeok Ji-sang morphed into vast mist, spewing enraged two-legged speech.

[Knaaa!! Zhuge sage! How dare you betray me...]

The Jungle dominator seemed to laugh.

[You trusted the goat too much and got cocky... Opportunity came swiftly...]

[Impossible...]

[Ren appetite...]

Whirlic

Byeok Ji-sang unleashed dark power at the dominator, but a sudden spacetime hole sucked him in like a stream. He vanished instantly, but I understood.

[Delicious...]

The Jungle's [Ancient Ruler] devoured Demon King Byeok Ji-sang!

"What... what happened...?"

Stunned and dazed, I stood as he summoned two souls from the air and devoured them as before.

[Baek Woong... Your wish is granted.]

......!

Likely the Twelve Laws Lord and Musashi's souls.

[Time for final farewells...]

Woosh

A pure white soul detached from my body. In white ethereal form, the Zhuge sage slowly floated before me. Standing there, he said gruffly,

[This ends it.]

"Zhuge sage! What happened?"

[It's simple. I told the god your body's hidden Byeok Ji-sang's location, and he summoned and disposed of him here.]

"......?!"

I recalled the past. Byeok Ji-sang had once flaunted power by casting an outer god's spell over the Border Wastelands. The [Ancient Rulers] viewed it as territorial invasion, greatly displeased, but spared him as an outer god priest. Now, the Zhuge sage revealed his hiding spot, dooming him.

The Zhuge sage said,

[Feels so-so. Soon in a god's belly, but not that bad.]

"What...?"

[Your soul-offering—I substituted with the info on Byeok Ji-sang. Payment short, so I added mine. Henceforth, my soul belongs to the Jungle dominator. 'Belongs' meaning food.]

......!

I was aghast. The Zhuge sage chose this?!

"Why, why do that? Why...?"

It made no sense.

Why would this reincarnator sacrifice so for me? Betraying Byeok Ji-sang aside, he knew the agony of [Ancient Ruler] absorption—yet chose it?

He laughed coldly.

[I have no attachment to the underworld or salvation. Fear of death stems from the unknown or leaving allies. If not, my Heavenly Dark Secret Book reincarnations would end. It's mere self-satisfaction.]

"What are you saying..."

[Me, my brother, sister-in-law... the entire Zhuge family... how we were toyed by Heaven's hypocrisy.]

Spitting the words, he grinned.

[So I'll end up demonic, losing humanity in infinite despair. Suits me.]

"...You're insane. But..."

[Get it now?]

I vaguely grasped his feelings.

The Zhuge sage wasn't truly mad.

Acting mad was simply the most rational in this world. In a realm gripped by evil gods, all karma tipping to malevolence, the most logical act was madness.

Going mad with a mad world was wisest.

Sharing souls long-term and training Soul Separation made me sense it.

[Why act for you this time... I deemed you promising.]

"What?"

[Even geniuses like me crave foolish acts sometimes.]

"What..."

Sudden self-praise? Bewildered, as I gaped, he turned to me.

[I know a dullard like you crawls and struggles, yet even a millennium's effort yields trash. I still think your efforts futile. Gather Seven Luminaries—isn't that it? You'll still fail anyway. But...]

For the first time, he smiled wistfully.

[Choosing a wretch like you as lord... that's my first rebellion against fate.]

Paat!

His words ended, he vanished.

Absorbed by the jungle dominator.

......!

Henceforth, eternal agony in torment—a hellish world. Yet he rejected false salvation, choosing hell willingly.

I gripped my trembling hand.

This isn't right.

No!

Even if a bastard, I didn't want this end for the Zhuge sage!

Roaring,

"God!! Return his soul!!"

The Jungle dominator replied coldly.

[A fair trade done—why complain...?]

"Damn it! Fair trade?!"

I couldn't hold back.

Gaaah!

Surviving hero, marching toward the future is right. With Twelve Laws Lord, White Lotus Cult Leader, Zhuge gone, ideal for gathering Seven Luminaries and growing strong. The Zhuge sage knew, taking that burden himself.

But what meaning?

Compromising with despair, averting eyes to build power—is that right? Merely relying on someone's sacrifice to move forward—wasn't that what got us here? Isn't that it? And endure the Zhuge sage's eternal hellish torment with what shame?

How am I different from absolute beings who bowed to gods!

Endless toying!

Forehead veined, I bellowed.

"God!! Are humans such perfect playthings?!"

Amid my screams, the Jungle dominator replied amusedly, smoothly.

[Not just humans. Before gods, all mortals are equal.]

"Heh... heh... heh..."

[Mortal Baek Woong. We [Ancient Rulers], called gods, are the world itself. No matter your struggles or wills, you can't touch our toe. You exist to provide us amusement.]

"The world itself..."

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