Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I retreated from the White Lotus Cult Alliance alongside Musashi and returned to Jangyeong Valley. Then I recounted everything that had happened to the others.

"Uhmm... I never imagined it had come to that."

Mang-ryang let out a groan before speaking.

"If that's the case, then the White Lotus Cult might as well be destroyed. Even if the incarnation is mimicking a human personality and moving about, it's ultimately the [Old Ruler]. With the cult leader dead, we can no longer expect anything from that side."

"Damn... Could that thing come charging straight at us?"

"There's every chance. It probably extracted all the information it needed from the White Lotus Cult Leader and has made full preparations to intervene in the human world. We might well clash with that existence again before long."

"......"

"Mountains upon mountains of troubles."

"Baek Woong. That apostle's power to rewind time—is it something you can wield freely now?"

I nodded.

"Of course."

"Until now, it was such an overwhelmingly powerful ability that casualty had sealed it away, so it will undoubtedly prove useful moving forward. Thinking of it as time manipulation ability explains a great many things."

Cheon Woo-jin, who had been listening from the side, spoke up.

"So all those fatal wounds you've taken battling martial masters up until now—you healed them by rewinding time. And the reason you survived right after subjugating the Sea God was that you rewound to your body from before the Great Raksha Annihilation Array. Unrestricted teleportation must mean jumping to places in the 'past you've visited,' right?"

"Exactly."

"Fitting for an apostle's power. No mortal should be permitted such an ability."

Cheon Woo-jin showed frank admiration.

Until now, I had unconsciously limited myself to minimally unleashing Jeon Wook's power only in dire crises, without even realizing it. The god's power was simply too immense, bound by casualty as a result. But through the battle with the Sea God, Jeon Wook had sensed the need to bolster my strength—and after five years of training via the Flame in the Nine Heavens Gate, I could finally wield it properly.

I turned to Mang-ryang.

"But the ability to rewind time to a past moment can only be used twice more from here on."

"Why is that?"

"Three times per year. That's the restriction."

"Is that another shackle imposed by casualty?"

"The Flame told me as much."

Everyone who heard me sank into deep thought. After a long silence hung in the air, Mi-ho spoke.

"Baek Woong. Why not go to Jeon Wook and ask him to lift the restriction?"

"Would that even work?"

"Right now, this world has Changhi's incarnations blatantly on the move, the Demon King running rampant, the Heavenly Emperor poised to descend, and the White Lotus Cult harboring the revived [Old Ruler] incarnation. The world could end the day after tomorrow, and no one would bat an eye. Isn't this exactly the moment when casualty's restraints could be broken?"

Mang-ryang, who had been listening nearby, then interjected.

"No, Mi-ho. That won't do."

"Why not?"

"Rewinding time won't let you overcome divine beings if you couldn't before. You could dodge death like now, but it'd just postpone the checkmate. What matters now is building our own strength."

"What stratagem do you propose?"

In response to Mi-ho's question, Mang-ryang replied with calm composure.

"First, we aim to 'use the barbarians to check the barbarians.' Second, we liberate one of the Seven Luminaries."

Mi-ho, sharp as ever, caught on immediately.

"You're saying we liberate the Water Luminary?"

"Precisely. Baek Woong's current strength is far diminished compared to before his fight with the Sea God, so he must free one more Luminary and claim it as his own power."

Mang-ryang clenched his fist tightly.

"Under normal circumstances, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors would never permit four or more Luminaries to be freed. But in a crisis like this, it becomes an opportunity instead."

The Sword Demon voiced his approval.

"You're spot on! Liberating a Luminary is our only path."

"We must prepare the offering for the Liberation Ritual and move swiftly. We have no idea when the [Old Ruler] revived in the White Lotus Cult might come for us."

It was then that Jin So-cheong, who had been listening quietly, spoke up abruptly.

"......"

"Something's nagging at me."

"What is it?"

"That Mang-ryang Seonsu fellow."

Jin So-cheong continued in even tones.

"Even in a mess like this, he shows no sign of taking direct action. The Demon King Byok Ji-sang poses a massive threat to Luoyang's Great Barrier Formation, yet he sits idle. Doesn't that mean this situation isn't a true crisis in his eyes?"

"......"

Mang-ryang pondered deeply before replying.

"My master simply lacks the capacity to act."

"Is that so? From where I'm standing, it looks more like he's just watching."

"Even if you're right, what of it? We can't very well force my master to move."

I found Jin So-cheong's suspicion toward Mang-ryang Seonsu oddly off-putting. I'd assumed he'd naturally inquire about the Martial Treatise or the Fighting Immortal's ultimate techniques, yet here he was zeroing in on something unrelated. Still, I couldn't dismiss it out of hand—Jin So-cheong's instincts were razor-sharp—so I resolved to keep his words in mind.

'Come to think of it, what exactly is that cat bastard scheming?'

He toyed with people by offering zero aid, yet occasionally dropped crucial hints or pointed the way forward. Every thought and deed of his seemed to transcend human comprehension. More and more, I felt utterly unable to pin down the nature of gods.

Mang-ryang spoke.

"To enact the 'use the barbarians to check the barbarians' strategy, we first need the Twelve Laws Lord's aid. Ask Baek Woong, you and Musashi seek him out and deliver this message."

Mang-ryang's plan was true. It would certainly resolve our immediate woes. But worry gnawed at me, and I voiced it.

"What if that guy overpowers me by force and tries to seize the Luminaries...?"

"Musashi."

Mang-ryang turned to Musashi. Their eyes met, and he pressed.

"You pledged obedience to Baek Woong for ten years. If the Twelve Laws Lord orders you to subdue him, what then?"

Musashi answered bluntly.

"I refuse."

"So if it comes to blows between the Twelve Laws Lord and Baek Woong, you'll take Baek Woong's side?"

"Correct. He was my target from the start. The fight's simply come sooner."

"There you have it, Baek Woong. With Musashi at your side, you needn't worry."

Musashi's response eased my mind considerably. The Musashi I knew was a born warrior through and through, incapable of deceit. Moreover, to him, the Twelve Laws Lord was less a master and more a peak to conquer—no cause to side with him.

"I knew dragging Musashi over was the right call."

He was, without question, our most trustworthy asset in this state. Mang-ryang blinked, as if recalling something.

"Ah, right—we'll need to refine that dual swordsmanship too."

"I'll take care of it."

I brought Musashi to the training ground where the Sword Demon and Jin So-cheong practiced. Once I explained my business, the Sword Demon glanced at Musashi and said:

"You want me to gauge the hallmarks of that one's reverse sword style as well."

"Yes."

"Hmm... Very well, I'll spar with Musashi once. Only then can I discern his swordsmanship's traits."

"Swish*"

Miyamoto Musashi and the Sword Demon faced off. Fully aware of Musashi's prowess, I'd stressed from the outset that this was a non-lethal bout. True to that, they took up wooden swords scavenged nearby instead of live steel.

"Those two could slay with mere staves, but please hold back..."

One curiosity: the Sword Demon, a lifelong single-sword practitioner, wielded dual blades for this match. Likely a test of his dual sword progress.

Miyamoto Musashi regarded the Sword Demon with serene eyes and remarked:

"You employ an unusual style."

"You discerned that in one glance?"

"Let's test its mettle."

"Clang!*"

In a flash, the two masters clashed midair. Astonishingly, it ended in a perfect deadlock. Musashi's radiant thrust had been parried by the Sword Demon's twin blades by a hair's breadth. A gap in fundamentals remained, though—his body teetered backward.

"......!!"

I jolted in shock while watching.

Musashi was an Absolute Realm master—yet he'd blocked a frontal assault?!

Musashi's eyes gleamed as he parried with a barrage. No longer the blinding flash, but deliberate, weighty thrusts brimming with variations. The Sword Demon countered and deflected repeatedly with his twin blades.

"Kakang*"

"Slow."

Oddly, unlike that explosive opener, the ensuing exchanges unfolded at a pace even I could track with ease. The two grandmasters had merely sized each other up and dialed back their might for a controlled demonstration, sparing lethal intent.

Some twenty passes later, Miyamoto Musashi withdrew his blade. He offered the distinctive bow of the Eastern warrior and declared:

"Sword Demon. Superb martial arts. In time, you may prove my equal."

Not yet, in other words. He'd obliquely asserted superiority, yet none present could challenge his hubris. Only an Absolute Realm master merited such words. Instead, the Sword Demon replied with a wry smile.

"I've grasped the reverse sword's terror. My thanks."

With the match concluded, I asked the Sword Demon.

"What just happened there?"

"I repelled Musashi's Two Heavens Style by adapting the Ninety-Nine Rational Returns and Ruyi Zhaoling."

"What?! That's part of the Eight Immortal Divine Arts..."

As I gasped, the Sword Demon chuckled.

"Incarnation Flow basics or not, no one masters dual swords so swiftly. What enabled it was training their Eight Possibilities—or, the Eight Immortal Divine Arts—alongside their dual sword transmission. Those arts are pure insight, not rote technique, so meditation alone sufficed for cultivation."

"I... see."

"You heard my lament last time, but I've advanced considerably since. Even with Musashi holding back today, I could stand against him."

The Sword Demon then began his explanation.

"As you know, the Ninety-Nine Rational Returns demands mastery of 'strength breaks weakness' and 'weakness subdues strength' for its entry. It further requires profound contemplation of martial technique paths to spawn myriad variations—a consummate ultimate art. It can elevate commonplace swordplay to first-rate in an instant."

"Yes."

"Its hallmark, though, is this: even unleashing countless maneuvers, one core principle stays vacant. Pondering this while absorbing Incarnation Flow dual swords, I stumbled on the solution. It was Ruyi Zhaoling, another of the Eight Immortal Divine Arts."

"......"

"Ruyi Zhaoling is a profound mind art, letting your intent mirror the foe's heart like a dark lens. I deployed the Ninety-Nine Rational Returns while circulating Ruyi Zhaoling—and suddenly, I could draw their martial mind into mine."

"Martial mind...?"

I cocked my head, uncomprehending; the Sword Demon bellowed a laugh.

"A hundred hearings pale before one sight. Spar with me now."

"Very well."

I commenced the bout with the Sword Demon. Without pause, I unleashed Great Vault Heaven Axis Sword upon his dual blades.

"Swish*"

"Ah?!"

The instant our moves collided, my energy felt yanked into him. Scarce moments later, his own qi shifted like flowing river, shrugging off the spatial warp laced into my Great Vault Slash—then countering with my exact technique.

"Thud!*"

I barely parried with my wooden sword, but the blow hurled me back. Its pent-up force was monstrous; even Thousand Jun Chase couldn't anchor me. Regaining poise, I struck again—yet each assault met fluid deflection or reprisal from his elegant twin blades.

The Sword Demon lowered his swords and asked.

"Take anything from my counter?"

"Intensely so."

"Not my power. Yours, reflected back."

"......!!"

"Circulating Ruyi Zhaoling, I mirrored your mind as my own. Thus I read your assault's rhythm utterly and hurled it back intact. Dual swords' defensive prowess amplified your duress all the more."

"To think that's possible..."

Unthinkable. I'd pegged Ninety-Nine Rational Returns as mere auxiliary booster for deceptive footwork and strike-shifting; yet with Ruyi Zhaoling, it birthed the pinnacle counter-sword! Stunned, I summoned Jang Sam-bong.

[Jang Zhenren. Did you foresee this facet of the Eight Immortal Divine Arts?]

[I suspected it possible. Left the research to later generations, though.]

Jang Sam-bong peered, stroking his beard.

[The Sword Demon is a peerless warrior. Had he been Wudang's disciple...]

[Care to test him yourself?]

[Ha ha! Indeed.]

In that instant, Jang Zhenren seized my body with gusto.

[Ugh...]

What the—? Too eager! The ego's swift retreat ousted Yeo Dong-bin's takeover, leaving me rattled. Jang Zhenren gripped his wooden sword with gusto.

[Spar with me.]

The Sword Demon's face lit with uncontained delight.

"To trade blows with the legendary grandmaster Jang Zhenren... I am honored."

"Boom*"

Jang Sam-bong traded several clashes with the Sword Demon, thunder resounding, then appeared to grasp something.

[Fine work. What of this?]

"Ugh."

"Kakang*"

He unleashed some fusion ultimate unheard-of in legend, chaining strikes; the Sword Demon faltered yet met them. Sword auras bloomed by the hundreds amid swirling clouds—utterly breath-taking.

[Ha ha! Marvelous, marvelous!]

As Jang Zhenren reveled in the exchange, Jin So-cheong, spectating, slyly hefted his spear.

"Jang Zhenren! Grant me a bout as well."

[Come at me!]

"Rumble*"

Jin So-cheong assailed with thunderclap. Jang Zhenren clasped hands, easing into Taiji Quan's opening form.

Two Intents Divine Art

Sword Demon struck from the left, Jin So-cheong from right, each with peerless ultimates—yet Jang Sam-bong's form split asunder, each hand wielding distinct techniques. He spat two or three intent strikes per breath; despite their pincer, they yielded ground. Enthralled, Jang Sam-bong crowed:

[Unlike your Eight Immortal innovations, I conceived combinations for my Seven Great Ultimates. Receive these!]

His words ended as his body fractured into three.

Each a corporal clone of full potency—an apex intent art.

Seven Great Ultimates

Fusion Technique

Three Ultimates Infinite Palm

Seven Great Ultimates

Fusion Technique

Mystic Heaven Nine Dragon Wave

Seven Great Ultimates

Fusion Insight

Nine Palaces Heaven Net Ten Stage Brocade

"Boom boom boom*"

"Kuaaak!"

"Heok."

Jin So-cheong evaded the triple-layered Three Ultimates Infinite Palm via thunderclap—yet Reverse Heaven Wheel-guided pursuit palm struck, wrenching a scream. The Sword Demon parried Mystic Heaven Nine Dragon Wave to utmost with Ninety-Nine Rational Returns, visibly drained; then Wudang's braided supreme palm art transmitted in Jang Sam-bong's grasp to Nine Palaces Heaven Net Ten Stage Brocade and hurtled forth. Dazed, both fell backward.

"Boom*"

Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon sprawled, twitching. The Sword Demon rose, stifling agony, and murmured:

"So this... is the martial grandmaster, the realm beyond the heavens. An invaluable lesson."

"......"

Dumbfounded, I watched Jang Sam-bong wreak merry havoc from my mind's edge. Fighting Immortal or not, these two ranked among murim's top alive—yet he toyed with them like playthings.

Miyamoto Musashi, long observant, stirred with battle-lust and advanced, blade in hand.

"Superb. Instruct me as well."

[Ha ha! With pleasure.]

Nooo, stop!

I'm doomed!

"Boom boom boom*"

"Rumble*"

That day, I endured Jang Sam-bong's nonstop clashes with the trio. Profound insights abounded, true—but once possession lifted, muscle agony rent my frame asunder. Released, a porcine screech escaped me.

"Squeeeeal."

Having drained every shred of latent power, I felt like dying. As I crawled the arena in torment, Jang Sam-bong spoke apologetically.

[Er... my apologies, young friend. Got carried away...]

[...Never knew you relished combat, Jang Zhenren... No legends say as much.]

Jang Sam-bong rejoined, as if to ask what nonsense.

[I favored spars and duels aplenty in my day. Felled hordes of Yuan scum and fiends.]

[What?! I thought you shunned strife, cherished peace...]

[Merely no worthy foes post-Absolute Realm... tedious...]

[......]

The last sort of martial history I'd craved...

No choice—I spent the next day abed, departing for the Twelve Laws Lord the day after.

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