Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Shwoong

A dull gleam shot toward me.

The moment I sensed it, a chill ran down my neck. Thanks to the razor-sharp instincts of the Absolute Realm, I barely slipped out of danger's grasp, avoiding instant decapitation. But the instant I drew a breath, blood sprayed from my throat.

Spurt!

"......!!"

I hurriedly channeled my inner energy to stanch the bleeding while scanning my opponent's sword path. At the same time, I objectively assessed my own condition.

It was a fatal wound, yet I hadn't died. Given the depth of the cut, instant death wouldn't have been surprising, but my diamond-indestructible body had held firm. My opponent noticed this too, his eyes flashing with surprise before he unleashed a series of serpentine sword paths.

Clang clang clang!

As I sprang back up with my recoil-free lightness skill, I saw a power-driven rigid sword strike barreling toward me. I inwardly cheered.

'If it's a contest of raw power, I'm at an advantage!'

With my overwhelming inner energy, no one short of Shin Seung or Deng Guo could overpower me! I confidently moved to counter Yong Jung-il's sword path, but then something bizarre happened.

Thud!

"Guh."

I staggered backward. Mang-ryang cried out in alarm from the side.

"Baek Woong!"

My side had been gouged. Blood surged belatedly, but even that felt like a blessing.

"Hah... hah..."

He had caught me completely off guard.

Normally, it wouldn't have ended with a mere sword gash—my entire side could have been torn away, costing me a tenth of my upper body without surprise. That's because, unexpectedly, a formless sword had struck my body. And it had slipped past my senses entirely, making Yong Jung-il's mastery of the Formless Sword utterly terrifying.

At this rate, I'm dead!

I unleashed my Fire Demon energy, amplifying the power of the Seven Desires. At the same time, I drew on the National Seal's strength to boost my regeneration. As this ominous power radiated from me, Yong Jung-il gripped his sword overhead and unleashed a single, concise downward slash.

Boom!!

An explosion erupted, but I couldn't see Yong Jung-il being pushed back. Unlike the peak experts who'd previously neutralized my heavy strikes with their Transformation Realm, he had clashed head-on. He seemed strained, though—his body wobbled slightly.

"What was that just now..."

I felt a twinge of doubt.

For a split second, a glow had flowed over Yong Jung-il's blade, vanishing completely from my sight! Then, that intangible edge reappeared, holding firm against my power without yielding. I caught him murmuring in his meditative trance.

'[My sword form is imperfect.]'

Before I could ponder his words, I entered a trance state and unleashed the Seven Great Absolute Arts and Thunder God Sword Dance, raining down a frenzy of attacks on Yong Jung-il. Each strike, empowered by the National Seal's potential and the Seven Desires Sword Gasp, was impossible to counter head-on even for a guardian deity. Yong Jung-il couldn't meet them directly like before and could only dodge.

The momentum stayed with me. No matter how profound Yong Jung-il's swordmanship, the Seven Great Absolute Arts' Coiling Heaven Axis Sword matched it, and my power surged endlessly like an active volcano. It was inevitable.

'I'll win!'

But as I spotted an opening in Yong Jung-il's guard and moved to cleave him down, I halted mid-strike, freezing in place. One blow would have ended him, yet I stopped—because [he hadn't dodged].

I locked eyes with Yong Jung-il. Unexpectedly, his gaze was clear, devoid of any killing intent as he looked at me. Then he spoke.

"You won't strike me down?"

I withdrew my Fire Demon energy and replied.

"The Ten Super Experts."

Indeed.

Yong Jung-il had stopped because the ten exchanges were up, deeming the bout concluded! As an Absolute Realm sword master myself, I recognized his intent and halted my blade. In this situation, pressing the attack to behead him felt wrong.

Yong Jung-il said,

"The tales of the Dragon Incarnate are true. The wound on your neck has already healed... As a mere human, I sincerely apologize for daring to doubt and attack a divine being."

With that, Yong Jung-il suddenly raised his sword to slash off his own right arm. Startled, I lunged forward to stop his self-harm.

Clang!

"What are you doing?"

"You refuse my atonement?"

"That's..."

I wanted to respond, but words failed me momentarily. Yong Jung-il's sudden appearance, our duel of ten exchanges, and now this attempt at self-mutilation as apology—it was all too unexpected for my thoughts to keep up. Mang-ryang, who had been watching from the side, spoke up.

"The Dragon Incarnate found no reason to consider you an enemy. He merely stopped your needless self-consolation. Do you understand now?"

"Hahaha! I see..."

Yong Jung-il let out a hearty laugh. At that moment, Deng Guo came rushing out from deep within the grand estate, shouting.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

Glancing at Deng Guo, Yong Jung-il said,

"It's been a while, Elder Deng."

"Hmm! Yong Jung-il..."

They seemed acquainted. Deng Guo looked flustered as he glanced at us, then said,

"Cease the conflict for now and come inside. We'll talk within."

We followed Deng Guo into his estate. True to his status as a high-ranking official, he possessed a vast private estate rivaling even Inspector O's. This scale marked him as one of Luoyang's wealthiest without doubt. Moreover, the interior was adorned with priceless white jade, silver, and gold ornaments scattered about.

As Mang-ryang surveyed Deng Guo's reception hall, he remarked sarcastically.

"I hear you, Elder Deng Guo, strive for the weak, the common folk, and upright scholars, yet you hardly live modestly yourself."

Deng Guo replied nonchalantly,

"Does claiming to belong to a wild faction serving the weak mean one must have little wealth? I swear on my ancestors: this fortune has been passed down legitimately since Deng Ai of the Three Kingdoms era. Not a single ill-gotten gain among it."

"I see."

"Spoken like a scion of the famed Zhuge family—adept at probing others. Zhuge Hyun... or should I say Mang-ryang the Immortal?"

As Deng Guo slyly broached the topic, Mang-ryang responded,

"It's surprising that you know of me, a mere scholar."

"Is it so surprising? The rumors of Immortal Mang-ryang, the enigmatic figure of True Wave Valley, with his exceptional divination and foresight aiding countless officials—I've heard them too."

Deng Guo grinned.

"In my view, it's all just the fruit of wisdom."

"Haha. Call me Mang-ryang from now on."

"Very well."

Mang-ryang simply smiled and let it pass, but I was inwardly astonished. Until now, Mang-ryang had never been outmatched in conversation, always piercing sensitive spots to expose weaknesses. Yet Deng Guo had deftly turned Mang-ryang's words back on him.

'A crafty politician, indeed.'

Deng Guo smoothly shifted his gaze to Yong Jung-il.

"Yong Jung-il. You, ever-present on Mount Huang, coming all the way here is surprising. Surely not for the White Lotus Cult matter?"

I was inwardly startled by Deng Guo's words. They implied he knew Yong Jung-il was the Yellow Mountain Sect leader and successor to the Wind God Style. He hadn't named it directly, but that level of reference meant they knew each other well. To this, Yong Jung-il crossed his arms and retorted.

"Rumors of the Dragon Incarnate taming Luoyang upside down reached even Mount Huang. And tales of my father suffering defeat at his hands—I had to test his power for myself."

It seemed tied to Immortal Blaze Dragon blowing away Yong Bi-cheon with a whistle. Hearing this, Deng Guo narrowed his eyes and said,

"I suspect that's not the only reason...?"

"......"

"Here for revenge?"

"No."

Yong Jung-il replied firmly, then gazed out the window, pretending otherwise. He clearly didn't wish to discuss it.

"Anyway, good. Looks like you warriors nearly caused an incident clashing your martial arts."

Deng Guo bowed his head slightly to me.

"My apologies to the Dragon Incarnate. Our Yong heros have a deep thirst for exploring martial arts and acted rudely toward you, a noble guest."

Deng Guo's deferential tone felt awkward, but Mang-ryang signaled with his eyes to accept it naturally, so I nodded and replied.

"No harm done."

"So, what brings you all to my humble home?"

Now came the crucial part. Mang-ryang leaned forward in my stead and spoke.

"Elder Deng. If I may be so bold, who held deep interest in how the Confucian scholars and the Incarnate Style will shape the imperial palace and the Great Ming Empire's order henceforth. We've come to hear the principal figure's views and predictions firsthand."

"As expected..."

Deng Guo let out a low hum, then answered casually.

"I spoke with Han Baek-ryeong until yesterday. Tomorrow's the emperor's enthronement, coinciding with the start of the grand project to rebuild the palace. We've sent edicts everywhere summoning master carpenters to the capital. The palace foundations should be complete in two years, restoring its former glory."

"That's not the surface-level talk we seek."

"Then what?"

"With the Confucian scholars—and you, their leader—poised to become the new regime's true power, we ask how you intend to lead this nation."

At Mang-ryang's question, Deng Guo fell silent. Stroking his chin, he said,

"The Dragon Incarnate and his subordinate seem quite invested in mortal affairs."

Though he sneered, Mang-ryang pressed on unfazed.

"You must answer sincerely. The flow of power surrounding the Great Ming Empire now hinges entirely on us."

"Spoken like a Zhuge—devilishly clever. Very well."

Deng Guo sighed deeply, interlocking his fingers as he continued.

"Our Confucian scholars... are an organization fighting gods with the aid of a god. And so it shall remain. At the very least, we'll strive to prevent evil forces from infiltrating the palace as before."

Fighting gods with a god's help?

This unexpected revelation stunned not just me but Mang-ryang as well. Mang-ryang said,

"What do you mean? Aren't the Confucian scholars a gathering of those studying Confucianism, striving for worldly righteousness? Why speak of gods from the mouth of their leader?"

"Hah. To those who know only the surface world, I'd say as much. But before me stands the Dragon Incarnate. We've clashed with superhuman forces until recently and battled otherworldly monsters. Denying this reality while prattling of Confucius and Mencius would be the true deception, ignoring the world as it is. You're denizens of the hidden world yourselves, aren't you?"

"Hmm."

"Many scholars overlook it, but Confucianism's root is seeking truth from facts. Metaphysics divorced from reality is our taboo."

With a wry smile, Deng Guo continued.

"As I just said. Our Confucian scholars are a secret society battling otherworldly beings opposed to humanity since the Yin-Zhou era. From Elder Confucius's time, we expanded greatly, guiding this Zhonghua continent's ideology along the righteous path—a collective of scholars and warriors. That is we, the Ru Lin."

"......!!"

Mang-ryang pondered deeply before saying,

"Please elaborate further."

"Gladly. Our most famous progenitor is Confucius. He wandered the Warring States preaching doctrine and gathering disciples to establish proper systems and spirit—but in truth, it was part of our activities. Even before him, we opposed human sacrifice and evil sorcery. Thereafter, we debated and compromised with Legalists, Mohists, and Other Hundred Schools to forge a secular world free of religion. For millennia, no less."

Curious, I interjected.

"Why have Zhonghua's intellectuals shunned religion for thousands of years?"

"Because of the malevolent divine entity called the [Ancient Ruler]."

Deng Guo met my eyes calmly.

"This world tempts toward evil and corruption too easily, and human nature leans wicked, making it simple to seek power from evil gods. Thus, for humanity's sake, we crafted the 'shell' called [reality] and persistently branded religion as foolish superstition."

"A shell?"

"Once humans lean on divine beings, their selfhood turns endlessly passive. Let them indulge in faith freely, and evil empires drunk on human sacrifice arise in an instant. We Confucian scholars worked to prevent that."

It rang true.

"Indeed, considering rituals like the Fengshan Sacrifices."

Despite scholars' fierce resistance to rulers' atrocities, Qin Shi Huang had ultimately invoked the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors via Fengshan. Rulers seeking divine power was practically inevitable.

Mang-ryang, thinking, said,

"One thing remains unexplained."

"What is it?"

"What power allowed you to oppose the winged ones and the [Ancient Ruler]?"

"......"

"Those beings wield might too vast for mere human strength. Merely building a secular system on Confucian principles can't oppose them. You've operated for millennia—what force enabled it?"

Mang-ryang was right. A single high-rank winged one's power appeared godly to a human. No matter how philosophically sound, scholars would be crushed by raw power. Even peak experts who'd honed martial arts for decades in the mortal realm fell to the winged ones.

"As I said earlier: a god's power."

Deng Guo continued gravely.

"Or rather... our founding itself was that god's will. A paradox. We Ru Lin reject religion, gods, even Daoist or Buddhist divinities—yet our root is a god's will..."

"Which god?"

"Not a god, per se... We call it the [Great Will]."

Deng Guo explained.

"From high antiquity, a divine being instilled the mandate 'serve humanity broadly' into human subconsciousness, bestowing its blessings widely upon those strong in that will and talent. The concept of rectifying names we uphold was hinted by it to Confucius."

"What do you mean...?"

"Mang-ryang. Do you know the passage: 'Governing with virtue is like the Pole Star in its place, with all stars revolving around it'?"

Mang-ryang nodded.

"A famous saying of Confucius. The ruler exercises wise judgment in his position, aided by vassals."

"Not just that."

"Pardon?"

"That passage inherently holds spiritual power."

Deng Guo dropped a bombshell.

"The Confucian theories and sayings in circulation aren't mere secular frameworks. They contain a 'force' infused by the divine being I mentioned—a power that acts on words and thoughts, elevating innate human qualities, granting demon-subduing might against evil, becoming righteous names defying wicked summons!"

"......!!"

"Thus, even a profound scholar ignorant of martial arts or spells can repel evil spirits or yokai through will alone. Power rivaling Daoist cultivators or monks."

"Is that so..."

"With this benevolent divinity's aid, we've guarded humanity for millennia."

Hearing this, Mang-ryang's face grew leaden.

He sent me a transmission.

[Baek Woong. Have you guessed?]

[A bit...]

I knew what Mang-ryang suspected.

Because Deng Guo's words evoked a strikingly similar power.

'The Patronage of Heaven-Breaker!'

The force Mang-ryang the Immortal had bestowed on humanity!

A colossal power defying fate and winged ones—the great existence was surely Mang-ryang the Immortal himself.

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