Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Township

I had obtained the All Nations Jade Seal and was discussing a strategy to simultaneously acquire Huayo, Huaya, and Dragon Flower Water with Zhuge Sa.

Zhuge Sa raised two fingers and said to me,

"There are two methods available at present. The first is to move to the Peach Garden near Huayo, swiftly absorb Huayo's fire essence with the Fire Dragon Divine Sword, locate Dragon Flower Water using Foresight Vision, harvest it, and return to base..."

Zhuge Sa slowly folded his middle finger and clicked his tongue.

"This method has a slight issue. If a guardian spirit is summoned immediately within the Peach Garden, would you have the leisure to infuse fire essence into the Fire Dragon Divine Sword? To execute this, you'd need a protector to guard you and hold off the guardian spirit. And no matter how vast the Central Plains martial world, such experts are limited."

"Hmm..."

"The other method is this..."

I heard the second method from Zhuge Sa. After pondering it deeply, I said,

"Exactly. So, in either case, the prerequisite is having an ally with the power to withstand the guardian spirit of Huayo. That way, we can minimize the risk of death."

The moment I heard Zhuge Sa's words, something sprang to mind.

"The White Lotus Cult's Dharma Guardian Lion!"

With its infinite inner power, the Dharma Guardian Lion could easily hold off a guardian spirit. Depending on the fight, it might even win.

"That would be ideal. We've seen it in action against Wolayo's guardian."

"But getting involved with the Dharma Guardian Lion means..."

"It's no different from involving the Cult Leader. The Lion wouldn't hide such a major undertaking from the Leader."

I frowned, reluctant. With a treasure like Huayo and Dragon Flower Water, the Cult Leader wouldn't quietly relinquish ownership. I might persuade and borrow the Lion, but it would try to seize the Seven Treasures. Plus, it'd create enmity with the White Lotus Cult—obvious as day.

"Or, if neither works, you could just overpower and kill the guardian spirit. Using the All Nations Jade Seal to unleash heavenly thunder in the Great Thunder Destruction Formation should make it feasible, right?"

"Damn it. I'm not doing it because I know I'll die after deploying the Great Thunder Destruction Formation."

What's the point of winning if I die?

I couldn't help but snap. Zhuge Sa was prodding me on purpose, knowing that.

"Kekekek. When will my dim-witted lord grow strong?"

Zhuge Sa chuckled mockingly and said,

"Let's objectively assess our current forces. If you reached the Absolute Realm, you could just slice the guardian spirit without all this complication, but with your talent, it'd take at least centuries. As for sorcery, you're barely mid-tier sorcerer—not even touching Tianwu Zhen level. I'm not much of a fighter either, am I?"

"...True enough."

"Then just give up on Dragon Flower Water this lifetime."

"...What?"

I thought I'd misheard and asked again. Zhuge Sa shrugged and said,

"When will you assemble allies to face a mythic being? No need to waste time and effort. You're overreaching for Dragon Flower Water—it's a bonus at best. Use the All Nations Jade Seal for one shot; if it's too much, grab Huayo and bail."

"Urgh... But with the black obsidian..."

"That's not something to use now. You're not ready to choose yet."

Zhuge Sa's tone grew chillier.

"Securing Huayo ASAP is key. We've propped as much as possible for Dragon Flower Water—leave the rest to luck."

"Right."

It made sense. Even with black obsidian, it'd take at least a year to three. Better to grab Huayo first and handle the rest. I realized I'd been obsessed with absolutely getting Dragon Flower Water.

I asked Zhuge Sa further,

"Zhuge Sa. What about using this method on the guardian spirit?"

When I explained my strategy against the guardian, Zhuge Sa replied as if he'd expected it.

"It'd work, but no!"

"Why not?"

"It's one-use and wasteful on a mere guardian. Huayo's success rate is high anyway—why squander it?"

"Tch."

Zhuge Sa gave me an exasperated look.

"Your thinking's improved from before, but it's still clumsy and haphazard. You need more study."

"Argh... I pride myself on knowing as much as a decent Confucian scholar—how much more?"

My complaint was valid. Early on, I'd spent three years with Mangyang's reading Daoist texts and basic classics, and in later lives, studied sporadically while training martial arts. Compared to the Central Plains, I was at a solid ink-drinker's level.

"Hmm. At least match Mangyang's current reading to be useful."

Realizing Zhuge Sa took me seriously, my face lit up a bit.

"That shouldn't be too har—"

Cutting me off, Zhuge Sa mockingly recited,

"Read at least twenty thousand books fluently, fully comprehending and annotating them. Grasp schools of thought to unfold history's flow. Erudite in royal annals and ancient texts. Well-versed in imperial etiquette, Confucianism, poetry, emotions, military strategy, arithmetic, medicine, divination, escapology. Skilled in poetry, books, and painting. Oh, and good at seducing women."

"..."

"That's Mangyang right now."

I'd suspected, but hearing it from Zhuge Sa confirmed Mangyang's brilliance as a strategist. Achieving even one of those as a scholar is rare, yet at that young age, he'd amassed all that knowledge and wisdom! Minus sorcery talent, he was unquestionably a top Central Plains genius.

"Hyun is a genius. As Zhuge Wu Hou's descendant, he's flawless."

Zhuge Sa advised me,

"Of course, your improvisational wit and instincts surpass Mangyang's in spots. But that doesn't scale to grand strategy vision. To see the big picture, shed narrow sight—which requires vast knowledge. That's why sages study to accumulate wisdom."

"Uh..."

It was an oddly profound statement, uncharacteristic of Zhuge Sa. Surprised, I stared; he giggled.

"Why? I studied as much as Hyun, so I can judge."

"Ah, I see..."

"You're reincarnating and cramming your head already—no way I'm saying match me or Hyun. But without your own effort to grow knowledge and wisdom, even a strategist won't be used efficiently."

Wise words to heed. I nodded.

"Got it."

"Shall we go?"

Zhuge Sa entered the vessel shortly after, but surprisingly, a Portrait Automaton emerged—not Zhuge Sa. It was an early model, black-haired girl form, yet he controlled it nonchalantly.

"Depart."

Even the voice was a girl's jade-like trill infused with Zhuge Sa's madness. Stunned, I protested.

"Hey, wait... what's that?"

"What? Controlling it with the Soul Separation Great Method. This model's the most refined."

"Not that—it's a girl's body..."

Zhuge Sa blinked girlishly, then burst into mad laughter.

"Kahahahaha!! A Portrait Automaton's just a humanoid doll. Controlling a doll—what's gender matter?"

He poked my head with the girl's finger.

"For Soul Separation casters like me, these are treasures. Unlike human vessels, they're sturdy, powerful, hard to destroy, and I can enhance them with martial arts and sorcery via soul separation."

"You're seriously coming in that body?"

"Idiot. This body's perfect for scouting danger without risking life. Why send my real body into peril?"

"......"

Zhuge Sa flicked my forehead with her index finger.

"Master Soul Separation Great Method soon. It'll cut your sudden-death odds."

Sound advice from a cute girl's body—hard to take seriously. Suddenly recalling something, I asked,

"Zhuge Sa. Among the Portrait Automaton sub-bodies I brought, no white-haired boy, right?"

"Right."

"Seems late-model... In the future where I saw Baek Unseon, why'd that one awaken as the Evil God's Archbishop? With so many made later, no reason for it specifically."

"Heh. I don't know exactly, but I can hypothesize."

Zhuge Sa spun, pressing her index finger to the girl's temple. She infused qi, sharpening it; blood trickled. A bit deeper, it'd pierce skin, bone, brain.

In that state, Zhuge Sa continued in a mad voice.

"See? Even under Soul Separation, no survival instinct or reason. Unlike humans, who resist subtly due to instincts despite obedience. This one's got po (魄) but no hun (魂). Born a doll."

"I know that."

"But in your memory, that white-haired boy had his own will despite being one. Meaning he uniquely possessed a hun."

"What's that imply?"

"Enormous implications."

Zhuge Sa withdrew her finger, eyes gleaming.

"A Portrait Automaton with a hun isn't a doll anymore. A superhuman transcending humanity—or evolved new human."

"......!!"

"It's every puppeteer and sorcerer's ultimate goal."

Muttering, Zhuge Sa continued slowly.

"From studying Soul Separation, you know po regenerates easily from damage. But hun is delicate, fragile, uniquely non-duplicable. As far as I know, no human sorcerer or demon mage since antiquity created a human hun."

"Creating a hun is impossible?"

"Yes. Bodies via Eight Trigrams arts and alchemy are feasible. Artificial po too. But hun? Absolutely impossible. Beyond human capability."

I nodded, grasping it.

"Then... that white-haired boy is Zhuge Zhuge Yuryong's masterpiece."

"......"

"Zhuge Sa?"

"Unbelievable."

Zhuge Sa bit her finger jealously.

"Can't confirm. Zhuge Yuryong's top-tier, but creating a hun—no one's done it since antiquity? If so, why? Too suspicious."

Muttering, he said to me,

"Huge secret. Next time we meet Zhuge Yuryong, capture and torture him instead of killing."

"...Got it."

Blood brother or not? Casually suggesting torturing kin—Zhuge Sa's nerves were certifiably mad. I wanted to retort, but rationally, his points held, so I let it go.

"Let's go!"

Flash!

Finally, I arrived at Huayo's Peach Garden. Immediately activating Foresight Vision via All Nations Jade Seal, I sought Dragon Flower Water's seed inside.

There?

As expected, beyond earth divination's reach! Shockingly, embedded in a peach tree trunk amid blooming ones. I swiftly cut the graft, storing the seed in my neck pouch.

No time!

Drawing Fire Dragon Divine Sword from the pouch, I summoned Yeo Dongbin at once.

The moment Yeo Dongbin entered my body, he said,

[Hmm... I've heard you became Oye's apostle.]

[Ignore that—absorb Huayo's fire essence with this Fire Dragon Divine Sword! Then Fire Dragon True Man can...]

Just holding it burned my hand! Veins felt aflame, but All Nations Jade Seal's spirit power barely kept it to burn. Yeo Dongbin nodded.

[Understood.]

Hummm.

As Yeo Dongbin fully took over, the sword's rejection faded. Glancing pityingly, he unleashed One Slash, striking Huayo's sword body!

Clang!

[Argh! What are you—]

I panicked. Was Yeo Dongbin smashing the Seven Treasure with itself? But he silently struck again.

Claaang!

Suddenly, orange qi visibly streamed from the core into Fire Dragon Divine Sword. Blazing crimson flames enveloped me. Yet amid the blaze, my body didn't burn—instead, it felt soothed.

As the energy settled, Yeo Dongbin said,

[Fire Dragon True Man's energy revived—Master will soon regain power.]

Yeo Dongbin's sudden deference embarrassed me.

[Yeo Dongbin. Because I'm an Apostle?]

[Yes.]

[Don't. Feels awkward.]

[......]

Yeo Dongbin left without reply. Felt distant from my old pal; I scratched my head.

"Anyway, got Huayo."

Holding Huayo's core, I muttered. The ordeals to claim this Seven Treasure nearly brought grateful tears. Then Zhuge Sa, who'd watched, arms crossed, said,

"Something's off."

"What? I'm its master now."

"No guardian appearing at all. Given the treasure's importance, it should."

"True."

"Baek Woong. Let's exit the Peach Garden."

Following Zhuge Sa, we left. Far off at the altar, a hazy specter appeared, manifesting as the guardian spirit. Tensing, I sought a Bi Deung opening.

"I can escape!"

But odd. Unlike before, no greatsword drawn—just blankly staring. Noting the guardian's anomaly, I declared,

"Huayo's guardian spirit! I, Baek Woong, claim Huayo's core!"

[...Do as you wish.]

"Eh??"

What answer was that?

Bewildered, the guardian sprawled its massive form on the altar.

[Baek Woong. As Sanhuang Wudi True Virtue's Apostle with all permissions, why ask a mere gatekeeper like me?]

"Well..."

The guardian raised its arms in defeat.

[Fine. Take Huayo. I've been waiting for you to leave.]

"......"

[Quickly. Haven't rested in ages...]

Dumbfounded, I looked at Zhuge Sa. He sobered instantly.

"I'm going first. Bring the Portrait Automaton."

Soul Separation released; the girl doll slumped limply. Dazed, I barely managed to store it in my pouch, standing blankly awhile.

Indeed.

No need for all this ordeal.

By becoming True Virtue's Apostle at the Fengxian Rite, Huayo was already mine.

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