Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

A moment later, I noticed a voice flowing from my mouth against my will.

"Today is the appointed day."

What? Why is it speaking on its own like this?

At that instant, I recalled Jeokgeol-ba's explanation that this was virtual reality. And then I realized that the body of 'Jin So-cheong' was starting to move slowly of its own accord. This must be Jin So-cheong's will.

'It's showing me the foreseeable future.'

In that case, I don't need to act or speak. I just have to observe as 'Jin So-cheong' moves and talks. It seems Baek U-seon judged that Jin So-cheong's appearance fifty years from now was the most suitable to show me the 'future' I desired.

My heart began to pound for some reason.

In the future of my first reincarnation, the one I originally knew, Jin So-cheong was one of the peerless masters reigning as one of the Ten Great Experts of the world. Of course, the talent of Jin So-cheong that I'd come to know directly so far far surpassed that, but in any event, I was about to indirectly experience the life of Jin So-cheong, who dominated the world.

"Senior Brother. I'm ready."

Geuk-ho's appearance was that of a complete old man. Fifty years later, he would have passed early old age into true seniority, so it was only natural. However, perhaps due to the profundity of his internal energy, he had few wrinkles, and though his hair was streaked with white, it was mostly black, giving him the look of a vigorous man in his fifties or sixties.

Geuk-ho spoke gruffly.

"So-cheong. Is that main priest or whatever from the Netherworld Cult really that strong? You're so tense."

Main priest?

It was a term I'd never heard before, but 'Jin So-cheong' replied in a calm tone.

"As Senior Brother knows, I've hidden more than eighty percent of my true power from the world. Until I gained the strength to defeat the White Lotus Leader, I intended to keep refining only the Absolute Realm. But even I had to steel myself for death when taking down two main priests."

"Hmm."

"It's regrettable to say this to the other Ten Great Experts besides myself, but aside from one or two, none of them could stand against a main priest."

It seemed the Jin So-cheong of fifty years in the future had already clashed with the Netherworld Cult's main priests in life-or-death battles.

"......"

"Their power doesn't seem like martial arts. We must defeat them before they grow stronger, or the powerless common folk will suffer."

"Sigh, I don't understand any of this."

At Geuk-ho's ensuing sigh, I couldn't help but be quite shocked.

"Is it true that the Netherworld Cult has secretly taken over both the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the unorthodox factions, and half-destroyed even the White Lotus Cult? I've never heard such talk in my time wandering the jianghu."

"It's true, Senior Brother. But the Netherworld Cult controls information and stages a peaceful jianghu, so only a tiny few know their true nature."

"Ugh, this is maddening."

"Then let's go."

I was even more shocked by what came next.

"To the place where we're meeting the White Lotus Leader."

White Lotus Leader?

What did this mean?

Thud thud thud

Soon, Jin So-cheong and Geuk-ho unleashed phenomenal lightness skills, crossing mountains and fields until they arrived in a remote rural wilderness. They entered a dim cave, where, astonishingly, the White Lotus Leader sat in the lotus position.

[You've come, Jin So-cheong.]

"It's been a while."

The White Lotus Leader smirked.

[Heh heh... It's been since you stormed into the White Lotus Cult alone ten years ago to avenge your master, beat down all the Dharma Protectors, and fought me to a draw...]

"That's in the past."

[You're truly a monstrous genius in martial arts.]

The White Lotus Leader's appearance was wretched. About thirty percent of his faceless mask was shattered, revealing a hideous two-legged demon's face, azure blood trickled from his entire body, and one of his arms was gone, evidence that he'd been brutally defeated by someone.

Jin So-cheong replied with a somber expression.

"It seems all the Dharma Protectors were slain by the main priests."

The White Lotus Leader laughed self-mockingly.

[Heh heh... How could a human stand against the apostles of the baleful gods? Escaping alive was sheer luck.]

"Can you still fight?"

[Of course I can. For the sake of slaying those main priest bastards, I'll do anything.]

At first, I couldn't grasp the situation.

'So... the Netherworld Cult's main priest corps killed all the Dharma Protectors and turned the cult leader into a cripple?'

I finally understood, but words failed me.

Did such an absurd future actually exist? Beings stronger than the cult leader's primal spirit or the Dharma Protectors' heavenly spirit pills existed in the world? But from the word "baleful gods," I could tell this future's Netherworld Cult was closely tied to the [ancient rulers]—the baleful gods—slumbering in the depths.

Geuk-ho looked at the White Lotus Leader with a disgusted expression.

"It's hard to believe. He's monstrously strong himself, so what the hell are these main priests..."

[There are ranks even among apostles. Let alone apostles who directly receive the authority of the baleful gods, supreme even among the [ancient rulers]... It's a hidden world you martial artists wouldn't know.]

The leader, silent for a moment, gazed at Jin So-cheong.

[The Netherworld Cult has probably already seized the imperial palace. The Demon Subduing Hall in the palace must be wiped out too. You still plan to strike the palace directly in this situation?]

"Yes. There's no other way now."

Jin So-cheong bit his lip hard.

"Reports say massive human sacrifices happened in the South Sea. At least a hundred thousand have already been offered..."

Geuk-ho jumped in shock.

"What? If something that insane happened, the whole world should be in uproar..."

Jin So-cheong glanced at him.

"Don't you get it, Senior Brother? The jianghu is nothing but a shell. Everyone on this land is deluded, sacrificed without knowing, and the tiny few who know the truth stay silent or go mad out of fear of the demons. Even you, one of the Ten Great Experts wandering the world, didn't know."

The silently seated leader muttered.

[It's all so hollow... Who would have thought the balance of the three powers, held for decades, would shatter like this... I never imagined the baleful gods would intervene...]

"We have no time for lamenting. We must slay the main priests to prevent humanity's extinction."

[......]

The leader sighed again.

[Jin So-cheong, if only you'd been granted a Seven Relic! With just one...]

Light flickered in Jin So-cheong's eyes.

"Seven Relic? What's that?"

[A secret treasure containing the power of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors from ancient times... I knew that with its power, humans could oppose the gods. I searched tirelessly while clashing with the palace but found not a single one...]

"Hmm..."

[I've heard that even gaining two of the Seven Relics lets an ordinary warrior rival a Dharma Protector.]

The leader, muttering thus, spoke.

[Jin So-cheong. The Twelve Laws have gone silent at some point too. Something must have happened in the Eastern martial world where the Twelve Law Lord resides.]

"What are you trying to say?"

[There are almost no Absolute Realm masters left in the current jianghu... Probably just me, you, Dugu Star, and the Sword Demon—four in total... And among us, you have the most potential for future growth, possibly reaching an unprecedented realm.]

"......"

[Jin So-cheong... Don't confront the palace. Find the Seven Relics first. If you gain their power, you can defeat the Grand Priest and the main priest corps.]

The leader's earnest plea was palpable. Jin So-cheong fell silent for a long while before speaking.

"Cult Leader. You don't have much time left. Did you take a fatal wound fighting the Grand Priest?"

[You've noticed.]

"You're asking to join hands with me in that state—what are you thinking? You should be looking out for your own survival."

Jin So-cheong seemed to rebuke the leader, but I sensed a heart that could embrace even his master's killer. The leader chuckled and said,

[I can't go to heaven or hell upon death... Only eternal torment awaits me... I'm just sorry I couldn't fulfill the dreams of the Dharma Protectors who followed me. But now, my last hope is you, Jin So-cheong.]

"Sigh!"

[Your thoughts aren't settled yet... Come back tomorrow.]

With that, the leader turned and sat facing the wall. Geuk-ho glared at his back with displeasure, but Jin So-cheong shook his head and said,

"Senior Brother. Let's go."

Jin So-cheong began descending the mountain with Geuk-ho. They stopped in a nearby village, ordered food, and found a place to stay the night. When the two ordered noodle soup and chicken at the inn, a simple but edible meal was served.

"Damn it. That cult leader bastard's been stripped bare and gelded, so what makes him act so high and mighty? Why not just ignore him?"

Geuk-ho grumbled. Even after so much time, he couldn't look kindly on the White Lotus Leader, the greatest enemy of the Thunder God Style. Given his youthful intense grudge, it wouldn't be odd if he attacked and killed him on sight, yet Geuk-ho only felt irritation without deep malice—there must be a reason.

"......"

"So-cheong?"

Jin So-cheong stared down at the meal with a rigid face. Then he said,

"Senior Brother, don't eat."

"Huh?"

"This is human flesh."

Flash!

"You vile bastards!"

Jin So-cheong charged at the elderly couple running the inn and thrust his spear through them.

Groooar!

A human body burst open, spilling out a mass of tentacles with a grotesque cry, emitting a bizarre wave as it attacked Jin So-cheong. It was a full three zhang in size.

Geuk-ho shouted in disgust.

"Goddamn it, messing with our meal?"

Flash!

From Geuk-ho's spear erupted the Thunder God Style ultimate technique, Thunder Bombardment Spear. The Geuk-ho of fifty years later seemed to have reached a realm equal to or above Yi Gwang. The Thunder Bombardment Spear swept over the demon monsters disguised as the elderly couple, shattering them into unrecognizable pulp.

"The old couple must have been murdered."

Jin So-cheong said bitterly.

"Senior Brother. This is happening everywhere. For some reason, these wicked demons are openly infiltrating, committing massacres and human sacrifices all over. And it started when the Netherworld Cult grew stronger."

Geuk-ho clutched his head.

"Seeing it myself, I believe it. I thought since you avenged the Thunder God Style's grudge, I could finally live out my days in peace, but what fresh hell is this?"

"Senior Brother. Let's go back to the cult leader. We need his help."

"Tch!"

Geuk-ho grumbled but accompanied Jin So-cheong back to the leader. Facing him again, Jin So-cheong said,

"You told me to find the Seven Relics, but there's no time. As you said, I tried learning more through the Network, but the land is in torment. The capital Luoyang is shrouded in demonic power, liable to turn into a living hell at any moment."

[......]

"We must strike the Grand Priest before it's too late. Help me."

The leader groaned.

[Hmm... Could you not bring in Dugu Star or the Sword Demon?]

"I don't even know where Dugu Star lives, and Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong has become a demonic fiend who rampages in fits of madness. No time to ally with them."

'Watching the situation, I suddenly felt a pang in my heart.

Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong... He went mad from grief over not finding his daughter'

From Jin So-cheong's perspective, unaware of the circumstances, the Sword Demon was just a supremely powerful unorthodox overlord, but I knew. He'd desperately searched for his daughter but failed, or found her corpse, and grief had driven him to madness.

The leader said resignedly.

[I understand... Then I'll accompany you on the way to strike the Grand Priest. If I muster my last strength, I can handle one or two main priests...]

"Thank you."

They descended the mountain and headed toward Luoyang. On the way, Jin So-cheong's group passed some ruins before Luoyang, and there, Jin So-cheong veered into a secluded mountain as if to meet someone.

"You've come... Jin So-cheong."

A man slowly emerged from the shadows of the trees. Unlike Geuk-ho or Jin So-cheong, he was a white-haired middle-aged elder who appeared to have aged fully, and didn't seem particularly strong in martial arts. Spotting him, Jin So-cheong greeted,

"Mang-ryang. I've brought the White Lotus Leader."

"So it seems... *cough*."

Mang-ryang?!

Seeing the coughing old man, I felt bewildered. Was this Mang-ryang's future self? I'd predicted he might still be alive at the time I lived, but seeing it hit me with an indescribable feeling.

The future Mang-ryang gazed at the ruins with a sunken expression.

"My master vanished somewhere to reinforce the Great Barrier... My junior went to the Heavenly Realm to devise countermeasures... So I have no choice but to do my best."

"You're the greatest strategist I know."

"Thanks."

Brushing off the praise, Mang-ryang said to Jin So-cheong,

"According to my information, they'll probably act in Luoyang on the full moon approaching. If we don't stop them, innocents will be sacrificed..."

"The full moon? Why then?"

"The full moon aligns ritual power and symbolism. It's when the moon's power peaks and oceanic forces strengthen. Most likely, on that day, a massive human sacrifice of millions will summon their master, the baleful god, to this land... and simultaneously revive the absolute demon sealed in Luoyang."

Mang-ryang said darkly.

"I've tried everything, but I can't devise any more strategies... All I could do was predict and tell you the White Lotus Leader's hideout. I'm sorry, Jin So-cheong."

"No. You've done enough."

"......"

Mang-ryang slowly walked back into the darkness.

"Jin So-cheong. I can feel the end of this world approaching..."

And Mang-ryang vanished somewhere. The White Lotus Leader, who had been watching from behind, spoke.

[What will you do now?]

"Assassinate the Grand Priest. No other choice."

[No helping it.]

The three gazes turned toward Luoyang almost simultaneously.

Rumble

In the thundercloud sky, the silhouette of a grotesque monster with enormous wings flashed briefly in the lightning and vanished. Jin So-cheong, silently glaring at the heavens, raised his spear.

"Let's go."

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