Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Musashi slowly walked out from behind me and stood in front of the three of us. His movements appeared slow and unguarded, but even though I prided myself on having reached a considerable level among peak experts, I couldn't find the slightest opening in him.

Musashi glanced at me and said,

"I am the messenger of the Eastern Twelve Laws, Miyamoto Musashi. I have come to courteously invite you to the Twelve Laws on their behalf."

"Courteously?"

Zhuge Sa, who was sitting beside me, sneered.

"These days, they call spewing killing intent first 'courteous'? Heh."

I knew why Zhuge Sa was provoking Musashi. If we clashed head-on like this, we were bound to suffer heavy losses, so he was trying to unsettle him and create an opening in his mind. But Musashi replied as if it were nothing.

"If I had intended to kill or fight, you wouldn't be sitting here unscathed."

It was such an obvious truth that we couldn't refute or retort.

It was only because Musashi had deliberately revealed his presence that we were safe. If he had concealed it and suddenly unleashed absolute sword energy that even the White Lotus Cult Leader couldn't dodge, we would have been annihilated.

Rumble...

Even now, Musashi had moved from behind my back to the front, yet I still couldn't muster the will to draw my sword. I could clearly feel that his swordsmanship transcended human limits. It was questionable whether we even had a chance to force a contest of raw power.

As I gritted my teeth, Mang-ryang spoke calmly.

"What is the reason the Twelve Laws have summoned us?"

"That is..."

Musashi hesitated, starting and stopping. He wore a deeply troubled expression, putting us all on edge as we watched him. After an awkward silence, Musashi said,

"...Is there anyone here who speaks Dongyeongse?"

"......"

I nearly toppled over in disbelief.

'Did the Central Plains tongue get tangled in his head?'

It seemed Musashi couldn't speak the Central Plains language that fluently. Though baffled, I started to raise my hand, but Mang-ryang quickly raised his instead. He said in Dongyeongse,

"I speak Dongyeongse well. Please repeat it in Dongyeongse."

"Very well."

Musashi cleared his throat and spoke in Dongyeongse.

"I personally witnessed the little one in the middle among you wielding the dragon's power to slay the wicked sorcerer in Luoyang. I tracked you and reported to the Twelve Laws Leader, who said he absolutely wants to meet you and asked me to bring you without fail."

Mang-ryang eyed him suspiciously and said,

"We shouldn't have been that easy to track. How did you even find out about this Zhangling Valley?"

Mang-ryang was right. We had used Bi Deung to teleport around Luoyang, a method no worldly tracking technique could follow. Even geniuses of pursuit could only piece together movement traces through advanced deduction—teleportation was utterly untraceable.

Musashi replied indifferently.

"I first identified the names and faces of Baek Woong, Mang-ryang, and Zhuge Hyun among you. Then I investigated those who received Zhuge Hyun's aid, their connections, and the martial factions involved. That revealed two forces run by the Zhuge Clan. Once I confirmed Jinrang Valley was empty, I came straight to Zhangling Valley."

Mang-ryang let out a sigh of admiration upon hearing this.

"Ah! So that's how..."

It didn't seem Musashi had found us through some special authority or absolute realm power. He'd simply deduced and investigated suspicions until it clicked.

Moreover, Musashi's words implied one thing.

There was an intelligence network supporting him from the shadows!

No lone person could reach Zhangling Valley this quickly. Even knowing Mang-ryang was of the Zhuge Clan, suspecting Jinrang or Zhangling Valley required vast information resources. And that network was likely an organization secretly operated by the Twelve Laws.

Mang-ryang said calmly,

"So, what is the reason the Twelve Laws Leader has invited us?"

"Simple. The Twelve Laws Leader wants to confirm your power."

"What do you mean?"

"He wants to know if the dragon's power that toppled the imperial palace's darkness is real."

I understood without further explanation. I calculated inwardly.

'This means they're seriously reaching out to us now.'

For Musashi—the Twelve Laws Leader's cherished special agent, whom he kept hidden even from the palace—to personally reveal himself and deliver the invitation carried great weight. Musashi's power was a trump card to unveil only at the final moment.

If it were just an invitation to the Twelve Laws, sending a subordinate would suffice. The fact that he sent Musashi meant one thing.

A show of force!

It flaunted that an absolute realm supreme expert, Miyamoto Musashi, served under him—while silently threatening that disobedience would mean annihilation. It showed the Twelve Laws Leader viewed us not as mere curiosities but seriously intended to pressure and exploit us.

A headache.

Just as I was seizing a training period to build strength, the Twelve Laws' pressure arrives!

And with someone like Musashi boldly appearing, it was suffocating.

Zhuge Sa, having listened, spoke in Dongyeongse.

"Another presence just appeared. Is that one your ally too?"

Musashi's eyes gleamed as he replied,

"Yes."

"Tell that one to show himself."

Musashi gestured silently, and a human shadow subtly emerged from about three zhang away from him. As it approached, it regarded us with cold eyes and introduced itself.

"I am Feng Bo, Third Master of the Ten Thousand Thunder Spirit Gate."

Third Master Feng Bo!

One of the Twelve Laws' strongest sorcerers!

I had definitely seen this Feng Bo in my past life. He had revealed himself when the Twelve Laws Leader met with the White Lotus Cult Leader. And whenever the Three Masters appeared, Feng Bo was often among them.

Feng Bo was a gaunt man with a neat appearance and pristine ritual robes. He didn't look particularly strong outwardly, but he was a sorcerer rivaling the likes of Huan Xin Tian Wu Jin. The moment I saw him, I instinctively knew.

'Even the White Lotus Cult Leader couldn't guarantee victory against those two!'

To win a direct confrontation here, Fire Dragon True Person's aid was essential!

But Fire Dragon True Person was currently in hibernation, recovering his strength, and wouldn't respond to my call. Calling Yeo Dongbin was pointless too—the opponents weren't demons, so he wouldn't help. Using the National Seal's Great Fire Array against them might allow mutual destruction, but what meaning was there in perishing together?

Feng Bo glanced at Musashi, clicking his tongue, and said,

"Repeat the purpose once more. As the special agent said, we hope you'll follow us to the Twelve Laws."

"And if we refuse?"

"What can we do? We can withdraw from this encounter."

An unexpected response.

Feng Bo shrugged.

"As I said, our Great Dangun wishes to build good relations with you. He doesn't want hasty conflict."

Zhuge Sa mocked,

"Then we're good not going? How kind. Scram already!"

"Hahaha..."

Feng Bo burst into clear laughter, narrowing his eyes.

"Next time, he'll come personally with all Three Masters and the Twelve Laws Gate Lords. I can't guarantee it'll be as amicable then."

"......"

That was blatant blackmail!

Zhuge Sa sent me a subtle transmission.

[Baek Woong. I leave the judgment of this situation to you.]

Zhuge Sa and Mang-ryang also seemed unsure of the right move. Normally, we'd just chase them off, but if the Twelve Laws turned fully hostile, the losses would outweigh gains. With Musashi and the Three Masters as enemies, they'd pursue us anywhere.

After agonizing, I stood and said,

"I want to meet the Twelve Laws Leader alone."

Feng Bo's eyes gleamed.

"Are you the dragon's incarnation we've only heard of?"

"Yes."

"Good. If only you come, the rest can stay here."

I glanced at Mang-ryang. He nodded, understanding.

'Sun-eo-gu!'

Sun-eo-gu was a jade token enabling two-way communication no matter the distance. Mang-ryang and I each carried one normally, so even in the Twelve Laws, I could relay my situation from afar.

For maximum safety, Mang-ryang or Zhuge Sa going instead might be better, but their target was undoubtedly me nine times out of ten. They'd come here to speak with the dragon's incarnation who upended Luoyang. No point circling around—I should go.

'But how do you plan to travel? It's thousands of li from here to the Eastern Twelve Laws.'

"That's why I brought Musashi."

Feng Bo waved his hand.

Whoosh—

In the next instant, a massive orange-glowing wind tunnel appeared in empty space. Standing before it, Feng Bo said,

"Ride this tunnel, and you'll cover a thousand li in one go. Two or three uses, and you'll reach Xinshi."

"Understood."

I strode forward. I felt Mang-ryang and Zhuge Sa's worried gazes from behind, but I straightened my resolve.

'Right. I had to settle things with the Twelve Laws eventually.'

It had just come sooner than expected. I might even die at the Twelve Laws Leader's hands, but somehow, going to him now didn't feel like a death path. An inexplicable intuition told me this choice wasn't a dead end.

Flash.

Soon after, I passed through the wind path following Miyamoto Musashi and Feng Bo. Feng Bo created another tunnel, and as he said, after two or three, the familiar Xinshi scenery came into view.

Entering Xinshi, a colossal tree piercing the heavens loomed beyond the city. As I stared at it, Feng Bo explained,

"That's called the Sacred Altar Tree."

I knew. The Twelve Laws Leader had told me before.

But seeing the Sacred Altar Tree sparked another suspicion.

'Could it be...?'

Was the Sacred Altar Tree itself one of the Seven Yao—the Wood Yao?

Had the Wood Yao's power grown such a massive tree? If true, it was likely the source of the Twelve Laws Leader's power. Leaving the Sacred Altar Tree behind, I headed to the Twelve Laws Leader first.

The Twelve Laws Leader awaited me in his chambers from my previous visit—a space larger inside than out. He sat with the remaining Three Masters, Cloud Master and Rain Master.

And as before, the Twelve Laws Leader wore his full-body dog mask, waving at me.

"Hey, nice to see you! Dragon Incarnation Baek Woong."

I stared at him steadily, then clasped my hands in greeting.

"Nice to meet you, Twelve Laws Leader."

"Hahaha. Just as rumored, a youthful body. Fascinating."

"......"

"Baek Woong. You must be hungry after the long trip. Let's eat."

The Twelve Laws Leader snapped his fingers, and a lavish banquet table appeared in the distance. He naturally took the head seat, with the Three Masters standing behind him. I sat opposite at the guest position and began eating.

Glancing at Miyamoto Musashi, who had vanished outside, I said,

"Why is Musashi out there?"

"That guy's itching to kill me."

What?!

Surprised, I looked at the Twelve Laws Leader. He picked up a perfectly grilled chunk of meat with chopsticks and continued,

"He came to the peninsula long ago, challenged me—the supreme lord of the Eastern Twelve Laws—and lost. As the victor's right, I hired him as a special agent, on the condition he can challenge me anytime, anywhere."

The Twelve Laws Leader shoved the meat into his mask.

"So Musashi hates being around when the Three Masters are guarding me—he can't find an opening."

"Huh..."

Baffled, I said,

"Leader. Aren't you afraid of Musashi? He's an absolute realm expert."

"Heh heh! Same to me."

The Twelve Laws Leader chuckled.

"You Central Plains folk should be grateful to me. Musashi originally planned to pass through the peninsula, enter the Central Plains, and hunt the strongest experts. If I hadn't recruited him midway, a reign of bloodshed would have swept your martial world."

"......"

Now it made sense. Musashi had forcibly reshaped Kojiro, passed on his ultimate techniques, left a fake Musashi in Dongyeong, and headed to the Central Plains. I'd wondered about his sudden disappearance, but it turned out the Twelve Laws Leader had defeated and recruited him.

Clink.

The meal continued for a while. The banquet was delicious—every dish masterfully prepared. Watching me eat heartily, the Twelve Laws Leader remarked curiously,

"You eat well."

"It's delicious."

"Not suspicious of poison?"

"A supreme figure like the Twelve Laws Leader wouldn't resort to such pettiness."

I replied calmly. In truth, I had already achieved a body impervious to all poisons, so I wasn't worried—but the Twelve Laws Leader seemed pleased, laughing heartily.

"Hahaha! What a fun guy."

"How about getting to the point? Why did you summon me?"

"Ah, right."

The Twelve Laws Leader seemed to grin. Then he said,

"Let's be blunt. I know you're the master of Fire Yao. Help me subjugate the Sea God together."

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