Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

The Sword Demon seemed to have trained without rest for nearly three months, just like me, forsaking food and sleep. His face was somewhat disheveled, with a long beard dangling from his chin. Yet, in stark contrast, his eyes brimmed with vitality, revealing his vigorous dedication to martial arts practice. As he emerged from the secluded training chamber, he addressed me.

"Baek Woong. What brings you here?"

"I've pieced together the identity of the one who defeated your daughter."

"Hmm."

"He was a master of the Wind Demon Swordsmanship, the secret sword art of the Wind God Style. The only one capable of that is..."

The Sword Demon replied first.

"It must be Yong Jung-il."

"Uh..."

"I've already heard the story from my daughter, and I've inherited your memories through the Black Yao Stone. So, I've suspected as much for a while now."

"I-is that so."

"The only ones who could master the Wind Demon Swordsmanship to that level are Protector Lion Yong Bi-cheon and his son, Yong Jung-il. But as the sect leader of Yellow Mountain Sect, Yong Jung-il would make swordsmanship his specialty over his father. That makes Yong Jung-il the fiend who defeated my daughter."

"You're right."

I felt embarrassed. I'd thought I'd uncovered something monumental, only for the other party to already know. The Sword Demon burst into laughter.

"Haha. It's not a bad thing. That fact became a major motivator for me to devote myself to training."

"You mean your target for revenge has become the Wind God Style?"

Exactly."

The Sword Demon's eyes sharpened.

"Even knowing that, I lack the power to take them down right now. That's why I must hone myself with the power of the Seven Great Ultimate Arts you passed on to me, building the strength to fight them. Thanks to that, I've been able to train relentlessly day and night for nearly these three months."

"Don't push yourself too hard."

"I know. Having learned the true power of the White Lotus Cult, I'm thinking in terms of a long game."

With those words, the Sword Demon continued.

"While you're here, let me check your progress before we get to the main point. I've got some information anyway and something to tell you."

"Yes, understood."

Soon, I faced the Sword Demon on the sparring ground, swords at the ready. He stared blankly at me holding the Fire Dragon Divine Sword and the Fiery Blade, then said.

"Come to think of it, you mentioned it would take three to seven days for Fire Dragon True Man to awaken. Have you met that timeframe?"

I replied with an awkward expression.

"I've been keeping it out and continuously supplying it with energy, but Fire Dragon True Man still hasn't awakened. In pure time, it's far exceeded three to seven days..."

"Hmm, that's strange."

"I'll keep it out for now."

"That sounds best. Here I come!"

Whoosh!

The Sword Demon unleashed his Peerless Sword and attacked. Thanks to having liberated the Fiery Calamity, my body surged with power, making his Peerless Sword seem sluggishly slow. I easily dodged it and counterattacked the Sword Demon.

At that moment, the Sword Demon employed an ultimate technique.

Ninety-Nine Harmonies Return to Reason!

Clang!

The instant our swords clashed, both of us were repelled backward simultaneously. As I steadied my stance, I felt slightly flustered.

"What..."

It looked like a draw at first glance, but I couldn't accept the result. With the true power of the Fiery Calamity liberated and my formidable inner energy combined, my strike should have held destructive force beyond what any human martial artist could withstand. Yet the Sword Demon had met me head-on equally using Ninety-Nine Harmonies Return to Reason, one of the Eight Great Possibilities of the Seven Great Ultimate Arts.

The Sword Demon grinned.

"Baek Woong. I'm more than twice as strong as before. You can't beat me with brute force alone!"

"How did you do it?"

"Ninety-Nine Harmonies Return to Reason is an ultimate art that Yi Cheong-un created by contemplating both the Soft Subduing the Hard and the Hard Severing the Soft from Wudang's techniques. It draws on the profound aspects of the Taiji Subtly Yielding Sword, Turtle Shell Sword, and True Martial Seven Cuts, allowing it to neutralize all forces. The drawback is its tricky operation, but it's undoubtedly the martial art with the highest adaptability."

"......!!"

"Come on, let's keep going!"

Clang!

After exchanging over a hundred clashes with the Sword Demon, we took a break. And as he said, I had to admit I couldn't overwhelm him with just the Seven Calamities and raw power—I was impressed. Despite training ceaselessly for three months, he had truly more than doubled his strength.

"Impressive. How in such a short time..."

The Sword Demon wiped his sweat and replied.

"It's thanks to the arts. You've essentially handed me the culmination of centuries of research by peerless geniuses into peerless martial arts."

"Haha..."

"Hmm, Yi Cheong-un is truly a genius. To think he could derive so many ultimate arts from the flexibility of the Seven Great Ultimate Arts... He truly lives up to the name of Grandmaster, the supreme martial artist."

After a moment of admiration, the Sword Demon looked up at the sky.

"But what's even more remarkable is Jang Sam-bong."

"Pardon?"

"Yi Cheong-un derived many ultimate arts, but they all stem from the inherent possibilities of the Seven Great Ultimate Arts, and even the derivatives don't deviate from the pinnacle of martial intent. All things in perfect unity—this is truly divine design... It makes me curious about the night of Wusangpae, the ultimate art Jang Sam-bong created."

"......"

The Sword Demon continued.

"Baek Woong. Over these nearly three months, I scoured the land for masters of dual swordsmanship and found five in total. I've summoned them to Shadowless Gate, and they'll arrive at the main hall within ten days. Would you like to learn the basics of dual swordsmanship from them?"

So that's what he had to say. I nodded immediately.

"Yes, I'll do that."

"And until then, I'll teach you the Seven Great Ultimate Arts in a way that's easier to grasp."

"Thank you."

Though we'd trained for the same period, the Sword Demon seemed to have achieved ten times my results. He'd already mastered several of the Eight Great Possibilities to practical combat levels, so he could provide significant guidance to me, who was still at the introductory essentials.

While training alongside the Sword Demon, I occasionally had chances to talk with Seo Moon-hye. More precisely, he seemed keen on it, so I made frequent conversations. I asked Seo Moon-hye.

"Miss Seo Moon-hye. Why has your hair turned white?"

Under the moonlight, standing beside me, she stroked her locks and said.

"I don't know either. It suddenly happened while cultivating Shadowless Gate's martial arts."

"... May I examine your body with my pulse diagnosis?"

"Of course."

I meticulously checked Seo Moon-hye's pulse. But even with my Hua Tuo lineage medical arts, I couldn't detect any special illness or affliction. As Seo Moon-hye adjusted her clothes and stood, she said.

"All the physicians said I don't have any unusual meridians or constitution."

"I think the same."

"It's not inconveniencing my daily life, so I've left it for now, but..."

She trailed off. Naturally, having white hair would weigh on her mind. Even as a woman of the jianghu, somewhat free from societal norms, being different stood out as a major hindrance. Feeling sorry for her, I took her hand and said.

"Don't worry. I'll definitely find the cause and tell you. If it can be cured, I'll cure it."

"Thank you, young hero..."

Seo Moon-hye seemed to wipe away a tear before cautiously asking.

"Young hero, do you have a woman you like?"

"Yes."

"What kind of person is she..."

What kind of person.

"...No, what kind of fox."

Thinking of Miho filled me with complex emotions, drawing a wry smile. Even now, I constantly thought of and missed Miho in my heart, but with so much to do and not wanting to lead her to a fate of death, I avoided contact. Before, I'd thought I could resolve everything in one lifetime and keep her as a companion, but now I couldn't.

When could I live happily with Miho?

Unknowingly, I murmured.

"... When everything ends, I want to grow old with her in joy."

Miho would accept my ugly appearance and dullness. No, even if she couldn't, I could no longer think of anyone but Miho. As I quietly replied, Seo Moon-hye flinched in surprise and said.

"You really like her..."

"......"

"It's late. Good night..."

Unsure of her intent in asking, I tilted my head, rested, then resumed training. Training whenever possible reduced the chances of dying.

A few days later, masters of dual swordsmanship, whom the Sword Demon had sought across the jianghu, gathered at Shadowless Gate. I stood beside him as a protector, observing them, as the Sword Demon addressed them.

"It's a pleasure to host esteemed elders of the jianghu. I am Seo Moon Daeryong, alliance leader of Shadowless Alliance and sect leader of Shadowless Gate, known as the Sword Demon."

The burly middle-aged man at the forefront stepped forward and cupped his fists.

"It's an honor to meet the renowned Shadowless Alliance Leader!"

Starting with him, the other four also cupped their fists. The Sword Demon humbly expressed satisfaction.

"No need for such words... I've heard that everyone gathered here is an outstanding master of dual swordsmanship, and this Seo Moon is deeply grateful."

"Has the Alliance Leader summoned us to join Shadowless Alliance?"

"Indeed. And at the same time, to teach the basics of dual swordsmanship to Protector Baek here."

Their gazes turned to me. Currently embodying the Reversal Ghost Formation, my outward presence wasn't overwhelming. I could suppress them with aura, but I feigned ordinariness to gauge their true nature.

Then, one slim dual sword master frowned.

"Hmm... You mean to impart your martial arts? How could we? Our arts are our greatest secrets, taught only to direct disciples."

"This Seo Moon fully understands the elders' concerns. Thus, not your secret techniques or personal arts, but the fundamental understanding of [dual swordsmanship] itself to Protector Baek. Even something at the level of the Eighteen Martial Arts treatises would suffice."

Murmurs arose.

The five exchanged glances, deliberating. One stepped forward cautiously.

"Well then... Does Shadowless Alliance offer high positions to those who impart such profound teachings?"

"I am fully willing."

"Heh heh. Then I'll teach to the best of my ability."

Their mood lightened, turning jovial. They probably saw me as Shadowless Gate's junior and thought they could gain honors easily. Watching the farce, I was disappointed, my expression stiffening.

'This is bad. To learn from these fools...'

I could instantly gauge their martial levels. At best first-class, with only one nearing peak. They were experts in dual swords, but I doubted if learning from such lowbies would suffice for wielding Heavenly Sword and Fire Dragon Divine Sword properly.

But at that moment.

Whoosh—

A profound aura brushed past. The Sword Demon reacted similarly, his expression sharpening instantly. He addressed the quietly observing conical-hat weirdo on the far left.

"Blood Wolf Captain. You seem displeased."

The conical-hat expert called Blood Wolf Captain replied indifferently.

"Not particularly, Shadowless Alliance Leader."

"Don't hide your identity. I suspect you're the one I've been waiting for."

"What..."

"A supreme expert like you can't stand being lumped with the riffraff, right?"

"......"

The Sword Demon firmly told the other four.

"I've changed my mind. All of you except Blood Wolf Captain, leave. You lack the qualifications to join Shadowless Alliance."

"W-what!"

"This..."

They panicked but were soon sent away powerless.

Now, only Shadowless Gate experts and Blood Wolf Captain remained. Despite the surprise, Blood Wolf Captain calmly regarded the Sword Demon. Leaning his chin on his chair, the Sword Demon slowly said.

"I was half in doubt. I invited you feigning coincidence, worrying you might suspect and refuse..."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I know why you answered my summons. Not to gain a seat in Shadowless Alliance, but to scout my forces—you were sent by Han Baek-ryeong, weren't you?"

"......!!"

The startled Blood Wolf Captain suddenly drew his dual swords from his back.

Boom!

"Ugh."

"Urk."

Nearby Shadowless Gate experts were blasted away. The crimson aura emanating from the dual swords was overwhelmingly strong. As Blood Wolf Captain unleashed fierce killing intent, his martial level surged, with intense fiery energy swirling around his blades.

That coiling around the dual swords was unmistakably sword-gang!

The Sword Demon chuckled.

"It's an honor to meet a super peak expert of the Fire God Style."

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