Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

The Fighting Demon's sudden proposal. The Sword Demon responded without flinching.

"Very well. Will you follow my lead on everything else?"

"Of course."

After waking the unconscious Black Demon and securing the consent of the remaining Seven Demonic Lords, the Sword Demon followed the Fighting Demon somewhere. Leading him to a deserted spot, the Fighting Demon said,

"Sword Demon. The master I serve is the head of the White Lotus Cult's Wind God Style, Protector Lion Dragon Flying Heaven."

The Sword Demon replied indifferently. He already knew this, having shared the information I'd obtained through the Black Onyx.

"I see."

"My master, Dragon Flying Heaven, is currently in dire straits. If the Shadowless Alliance Leader would meet and aid him, I offer my entire Asura Gate in return, and a vast force will stand with the Shadowless Alliance."

"No thanks."

"......"

"I'm not in a position to scheme for expansion through the likes of Dragon Flying Heaven. Didn't you hear earlier? What I want is to blockade the upstream route to the Divine River."

"Why block it?"

"No reason I should tell you."

The Sword Demon glared at him and continued.

"I'm not in a generous enough state to entertain half-baked schemes. You must have a couple of lives to spare, huh?"

"Th-that."

"The Fighting Demon of the Eight Demonic Lords will slumber here."

Shing.

As the Sword Demon drew his sword, the Fighting Demon's eyes trembled. He hadn't expected the Sword Demon to strike so directly. Instinct for survival kicking in, the Fighting Demon suddenly dropped to his knees before him and shouted.

"F-forgive me! I dared to test you—it's a crime worthy of death! Please, spare my life!"

"Hmph..."

"I'll tell you everything in detail, so please let me go."

The Sword Demon seemed to reluctantly sheath his intent.

"Speak."

"My master, Dragon Flying Heaven, recently learned that the White Lotus Cult's main headquarters collapsed and the previous cult leader perished. He tried to rally the remnants of the Wind God Style in the Central Plains and go into hiding, but lacking strength, he felt deep unease. Then, when the Shadowless Alliance Leader summoned the Eight Demonic Lords, he secretly ordered me to join forces with the Shadowless Alliance, so I came here."

"Join forces... Nice words."

The Sword Demon muttered with a sneer and said,

"Fine. Take me to Dragon Flying Heaven right now."

"Wh-why?"

"I want to see the face of someone who wishes to ally with me."

"Understood."

Whoosh.

Soon, the Sword Demon began moving with Jin So-cheong following the Fighting Demon, and Cheon Woo-jin's Thousand Li Eye view cut off there. Then, through the Pure Language Pearl, the Sword Demon's words reached me.

[Baek Woong, Jin So-cheong and I will meet Dragon Flying Heaven.]

[Will you be all right?]

[We will. You know why Zhuge tested us, don't you?]

[Call if it's dangerous.]

[Got it.]

Flash.

The Pure Language Pearl communication ended. Worried, I said to Zhuge,

"Shouldn't we go help?"

"No need."

"......"

Wasn't that too firm?

"But the Sword Demon really gets things done. Truly the supreme figure of the unorthodox martial world? Sharp mind, judgment, flexibility, and martial prowess all top-notch... No wonder I once wanted him as my liege."

Zhuge marveled, then said to Mang Ryang,

"Hyun-ah. Why didn't you throw yourself into the martial world?"

Mang Ryang replied,

"I wasn't particularly interested."

"You've got solid martial talent, knowledge of esoteric arts surpassing mine across history, and genius in formations and illusions! You could've toyed with those sword-obsessed idiots in the martial world. As a strategist for the Righteous Heaven Alliance, you'd have risen high. You could've maneuvered their experts to wipe out the Eight Demonic Sects."

"Stop teasing, Uncle."

Mang Ryang sighed.

"Once you glimpse this world's wicked, dark underbelly, how could you turn to the martial world?"

"But before Baek Woong found you, all you did was play the hidden benefactor. At best, you toyed with officials with your three-inch tongue and amassed wealth through astronomy and wisdom... Can you say that was better than being a Righteous Heaven Alliance strategist?"

"......"

"I'm the same. This world was already doomed, so I expected nothing. An old mindset."

Zhuge stated flatly, then suddenly locked eyes with mine and continued.

"I'll say it upfront. Until now, you lot wasted your innate genius and time meandering, despite overwhelming others. So when this thick-headed fool asks for help, put aside selfish desires and help first, got it?"

Stunned by Zhuge's sudden words, I said,

"Zhuge. What's this crazy talk all of a sudden? What good does saying that to me do?"

"Not to you."

"Huh?"

Mang Ryang beside me gave a wry smile.

"Uncle just advised our future selves—the posterity we'll meet in the next reincarnation if you die."

"...Ah!"

"It's hard to accept the Black Onyx on first encounter. This lowers resistance."

"I see..."

Zhuge smirked.

"In this life, Hyun, you lagged behind me in strategy, right? Admit it?"

"I admit it."

"But not because your abilities or wisdom fell short. You were forcing Baek Woong's reincarnation into the ideals and dreams the original 'Mang Ryang' held, so you couldn't adapt properly."

"I know. Meanwhile, Uncle had no attachment to himself from the start, so you easily shifted to 'sacrifice everything for the victory of reincarnation.' I was filled with thoughts of my future from the moment I left the imperial palace, so I couldn't."

"Kekeke. The current Baek Woong isn't a weak fish for early Mang Ryang to control."

As Zhuge cackled, Mang Ryang said in a voice like he'd steeled himself,

"...Even if we don't see it through this life, next time we'll achieve even greater results."

"I hope so."

Miho, watching from the side, spoke in a slightly pained tone.

"What weirdos. Nothing's resolved yet, and you're already chatting like you've lived full lives?"

Zhuge grinned.

"Fox, why not express your affection to Baek Woong in advance?"

"What?"

"From now on, we can't predict a single step ahead, so let's leave our last words early."

Grasping his meaning, Miho snapped irritably.

"You bad bastard! That Mad Scholar moniker fits perfectly."

"Thanks~"

Miho whipped her head to me and said,

"Baek Woong. Ignore it. Better not associate with crazy guys leaving last words early. Bad luck."

"Kekeke."

"......"

But I couldn't laugh at their joking words.

Last words.

Yeah. Mang Ryang and Zhuge just left their last words for me.

Neither was joking; it was serious. They didn't know if tomorrow I'd die and a new reincarnation would begin, so they said what needed saying now. Those last words were to keep me calm and suppress emotions if death came suddenly. The less I lost, the faster we'd approach the goal.

Was this path right?

Chasing humanity's salvation knowing comrades would die?

Even on a path I chose, fear suddenly gripped me.

This emotion differed from the terror facing the [Ancient Ruler] or mighty beings. It was dread that my heart might plunge into despair the next instant.

"......"

No. Such weak thoughts achieve nothing.

Having started, I must see it through. Accumulating reincarnations will reveal new truths, letting me find better ways. If I stop, the deaths of comrades who died for me become meaningless.

'I won't give up.'

I reaffirmed my resolve.

I would keep the vow to witness the Reapers' downfall and stop it.

Communication from the Sword Demon came after about two hours.

[Baek Woong. Can you hear me?]

[What happened?]

[Hmm... Unexpected results, I suppose. We'll head there.]

The Sword Demon sounded awrkward. I worried if he'd fallen for Dragon Flying Heaven's trap.

'Is he okay?'

As I grew anxious, Zhuge chuckled.

"Heh heh heh. Has it concluded?"

"He's on his way now."

"This'll be quite the spectacle."

Quite the spectacle?

I understood Zhuge's words shortly after.

Boom.

"Urk... What do you intend to do with me!"

"......"

I couldn't speak upon confirming the face of the man bound and kneeling before me. Ignoring his question, I stared at the Sword Demon and Jin So-cheong in disbelief.

"...R-real? You beat this guy?"

Jin So-cheong swung his spear over his shoulder and said,

"Baek Woong. Not one-on-one—we ganged up and caught him in just five hundred exchanges. A bit dishonorable."

"But... that's not the point..."

The Sword Demon burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Sorry for freeloading in the Dragon Tomb Valley all this time—this pays for my meals, eh?"

"More than enough. Way more."

Muttering while eyeing the captive's face, I said,

"To think you'd capture Dragon Flying Heaven."

Kneeling before me was none other than the Wind God Style's Protector Lion, Dragon Flying Heaven. Not just him—three or four elders of the Wind God Style stood captured nearby. Confirming their faces, I asked the Sword Demon,

"No Yong-jung-il?"

"No. He seems to move separately."

Hearing our talk, Dragon Flying Heaven bellowed,

"You bastard! Don't touch that child!"

"Hmm."

I regarded the furious Dragon Flying Heaven with fresh eyes.

Who could've foreseen this day?

In my tenth reincarnation, the terrifying, overwhelming Dragon Flying Heaven—on his knees!

"Live long and see strange things."

I suddenly wondered if the ropes binding him were special. I asked the Sword Demon,

"This wouldn't be the legendary Dragon-Capturing Rope I've only heard of?"

"The rope said to bind even dragons once thrown? Haha... This is no such mythical treasure. Just sturdy rope."

"But this guy..."

"Heh heh."

The Sword Demon gave a wry smile.

"To be honest, we didn't defeat the Protector Lion at his peak. He showed immense inner power and spirit arts, but that was it... He couldn't use infinite inner power. Same for the spirit arts."

"What?!"

"Our guess was right. A bit risky, but we decided to capture him. Right now, I've sealed his blood flow with my poison blood technique."

If as expected, he meant that possibility?

Unbelieving, I blinked and cautiously asked Dragon Flying Heaven,

"Dragon Flying Heaven. Did you... lose the Heavenly Spirit Pill?"

"......"

Dragon Flying Heaven seemed to squeeze his eyes shut, then bowed his head.

"Kill me."

"Urgh..."

I groaned.

"I suspected from Han Baek-ryeong, but..."

Yes.

Our prediction—the confidence to send just two against a Protector Lion, and Dragon Flying Heaven captured before us. It meant one thing: the current Nine Demon Cult's—former White Lotus Cult's—Protectors had all lost the infinite inner power from the Heavenly Spirit Pill.

Han Baek-ryeong confessed after slaying the Sea God that her power had waned. Thus, with the god's death, the contract broke, and the infinite inner power linked to the divine throne gradually faded. Without infinite supply from the Heavenly Spirit Pill, Dragon Flying Heaven was merely a supreme expert of the Wind God Style, easily captured by Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon's joint assault.

My ongoing worry was whether only Han Baek-ryeong suffered this or all Protectors. If Dokgo Jun or Dragon Flying Heaven's pill remained intact, it could doom our allies, so I'd kept confirming. Even with Jin So-cheong and Sword Demon stronger, beating a Protector head-on wasn't certain.

Zhuge beamed.

"Sword Demon, excellent work! With him captured, we can test one more thing."

"Test?"

"Heh heh. Let's interrogate first."

Zhuge applied the Soul Separation Technique to Dragon Flying Heaven and the Wind God Style elders and began questioning. He extracted details of what Dragon Flying Heaven endured after the White Lotus Cult headquarters' fall.

Zhuge asked,

"Has the Heavenly Spirit Pill completely vanished?"

"No... not quite..."

Dragon Flying Heaven answered dazedly.

"About twenty percent of the original Heavenly Spirit Pill power remains... But no longer infinite inner power... Can't unleash original strength..."

"Did you know why?"

"No idea... But I guessed the other Protectors too... No confidence to protect Wind God Style anymore... Tried hiding in the martial world's shadows..."

"Hmm. So that's it. The Heavenly Spirit Pill fades over time..."

Shing.

Zhuge extracted more info, then drew his longsword.

"Good. Thanks for cooperating."

Schwick!

"Zh-Zhuge!"

I cried out in shock.

Zhuge had unhesitatingly beheaded him! But I alone was surprised; the others watched knowingly, unsurprised. It seemed they'd discussed and trusted Zhuge had reason, so no one did.

Thud.

Dragon Flying Heaven's head rolled, blood spraying like a fountain. Zhuge, unmoved by the gruesome sight, said coolly,

"The soul isn't moving. It's mine."

Float.

A pure white soul orb hovered above Zhuge's hand.

Mang Ryang nodded.

"Big success."

"Yes."

Wiping blood from his face with his sleeve, Zhuge said,

"Baek Woong. With this, we can save the White Lotus Cult."

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