Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I tried to move straight to Jeon Wook's domain with Geukho using his power.

"......"

"What're you doing?"

But it didn't work. To be precise, the method of using the ability and the sense for manipulating time remained within me, but the crucial [power] cart wouldn't budge. If I kept forcing it desperately, it felt like the cart might move, but something told me it was dangerous.

'The apostle's power doesn't carry over to the next life...'

It was a bit disappointing. That meant Jeon Wook wouldn't treat me as an apostle anymore. In this situation, heading to Bongrae-do or the Ogero Heavenly Gate would probably get me killed. So, while I was at it, I decided to check the connection to the Great Immortals linked to me.

Sssss...

"Hmm..."

The same went for Hwaryong Jin-in.

'Did Jeon Wook cut off my ties to them when he told me to return to the Heavenly Realm?'

To sever the connection to a Great Immortal with a single word of divine command—truly one of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors. Back then, Jeon Wook had planned to take me to the Myeonggyel Hall, so he must have removed the annoying connections. But amid all that, I noticed one connection remained.

Sword Immortal Yeo Dongbin.

Our bond was intact.

It seemed that even though Yeo Dongbin had sealed the Sea God and caused his own existence to vanish back then, that event only applied to that lifetime. Even the erasure of his being couldn't sever the ties that carried over to the next life.

I tested it by summoning Yeo Dongbin.

[Are you the one bound to me in this era?]

Flash.

Yeo Dongbin appeared before me like a phantom. Seeing him filled me with inexplicable tears.

"Ugh..."

That's right. In my previous life, I had accepted Yeo Dongbin's sacrifice to subjugate the Sea God, but I failed to seize the momentum and save the world. And I'd lost overwhelmingly due to a lack of power. I felt guilt over Yeo Dongbin's righteous spirit, who had volunteered to become the Sea God's seal at the cost of his own life.

'I'm sorry.'

I wiped my tears and said to Yeo Dongbin.

[Ah... no need. I'll call you next time.]

[Understood.]

Once Yeo Dongbin departed, I let out a sigh. Then I turned to Geukho, who stood beside me.

"I wanted to travel easily, but that won't work. Let's head to Shandong for now."

"Shandong? Why there..."

"Because there's an easy way to travel."

...

Tadadak.

Geukho and I raced toward Shandong. But as we ran, a problem arose.

"Huff! Huff! Hek! Hey... hold up!"

"Yeah?"

"Let's rest! What kind of internal energy..."

Geukho collapsed from exhaustion after running hundreds of li. I stared at him in disbelief, but he wiped the waterfall of sweat from his body and plunged into a nearby stream. Sticking his head out above the water, Geukho said.

"You're the abnormal one! How does a human run over seven hundred li without tiring? That's not normal human internal energy."

"Hmm."

"I've never run like this my whole life."

"I see. Let's rest a bit."

Tadak.

I lit a campfire and caught a few rabbits and wild boars nearby to roast. It felt like ages since I'd camped out and eaten like this. Geukho sat across from me, grilling meat, and said.

"You said to follow, so I did, but what's your goal?"

"My goal..."

Geukho looked at me with expectant eyes.

"You're a Thunder God Style expert too, right? Are you planning to subjugate the White Lotus Cult?"

I chuckled at that.

"We can't talk right now. Just know that's not my goal."

"What? Then what is?"

"......"

I had no idea how to explain. Even if I told Geukho about this world's underbelly, the White Lotus Cult's truth, the celestial divinities called the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, the [Ancient Overlords], and the secrets of the Seven Desires, would he understand? Telling him that dealing with the White Lotus Cult alone was meaningless in this situation—he wouldn't get it.

"I need to find Mangryang quickly."

Traveling on foot was too inefficient. I muttered inwardly and said.

"Circulate your energy for one shichen, then we keep going."

"Got it."

We crossed mountains and rivers with lightness skill and finally arrived in Shandong. I'd delayed us a few days by drinking, but the Great Dragon Merchant Association's ships hadn't departed yet. They sailed every twenty days, so we had plenty of time. Without waiting for nightfall, I slipped into the warehouse using the Vanishing Shadow Step.

Swish.

Merchants and escort warriors from the Great Dragon Merchant Association were everywhere, but none sensed my presence. I grabbed Bi-hyeong from the memorized spot and immediately headed to the Heavenly Dark Secret Book.

Ting.

I flicked away the trap guarding the Heavenly Dark Secret Book with a finger, picked it up, and held it. But I could no longer view the Heavenly Dark Secret Book with the lightheartedness of before.

'What the hell is this?'

The moment I offered everything to the Three Emperors and Five Emperors and the [Ancient Overlords], something inexplicable engulfed them. Even the most exalted divinities in the universe seemed clueless about what happened. It was obviously tied to this Heavenly Dark Secret Book in my possession, so what power had this suspicious demonic tome given me?

I set aside stray thoughts and returned to where Geukho waited. Then I said to him.

"I'm about to show you the world's underbelly. Steel your mind."

"Geer, you're scaring me. Let's go."

"I warned you."

Flash.

The place I'd teleported to with Bi-hyeong was the Great Thunder Prison. This prison near Luoyang was filled with secret prisoners captured by the Eastern Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, including General Hwang Yeon. Since I'd gone straight to the heart of the Great Thunder Prison, I said to Geukho.

"What now? Release the hostages first, or fight the monster waiting below?"

"Monster?"

"A monster beyond human common sense."

Geukho thought for a moment and said.

"... Pass. Thinking about it, it's too risky."

"Good call."

"Explain properly later."

I'd confirmed Geukho's rationality once more. In fact, during the past Great Thunder Prison subjugation, Yi Gwang and Jin So-cheong had suffered mental trauma from the giant toad's deadly poison attack. Warriors without countermeasures against demons could be easily killed, no matter their peak realm. That's why sorcerers and sorcery were essential.

Shuruk.

[Kieeeek.]

I went down and smashed the giant toad. I gathered the treasures and demon armor from the cave and headed out. The demon armor was a must-have after the Heavenly Dark Secret Book and Bi-hyeong, as it could store countless items easily. Geukho had already cut the bars and freed the hostages, making it simple to sweep them into the demon armor.

Next, I obtained the silver phoenix fragment from Taegyeong Village, then headed to Mount Huang with Geukho where there was demand. I secured the gold bars first, then dripped blood on the altar to open the door behind it. Instead of going straight to the demand spot, I said to Geukho.

"Geukho. Feel that demonic beast up there?"

"Hmm. Yeah."

"Can you take it down alone?"

"Probably...?"

I crossed my arms and said.

"What is this? Demons lurk everywhere in the world."

"Hmm... Amazing."

"It's just a small fry. Catch it quick and go."

Kwangwangwangwang.

Geukho and I joined forces to easily slay the giant spider guarding the demand. I stored the demand in the demon armor, dismantled the spider to get the Earth Lord's demon core, and continued. Watching me calmly handle the treasures, Geukho said in dismay.

"Where do you even learn about all this and move like this?"

"It's a routine I've repeated since ancient times."

"What?"

"Anyone could do it."

I replied casually, exited, picked the black lilies and millennium snow ginseng, stored them, and headed straight to Gongdong Mountain where Archmage Gwangseong's ruins were.

"Might as well grab it if I'm getting stuff anyway."

Flash.

I obtained the Three Emperors Inner Gate from inside Gongdong Mountain's ruins and stored it in the demon armor. This treasure was on par with treasures, so it'd be a huge help to Mangryang. Next, at Dongyeong's mine, I mined obsidian and put it in the demon armor. Geukho, mining alongside, was baffled.

"What... what? Treating heaven and earth like your home..."

"I told you. I'm showing you an unexpected world."

"Geer. Beyond expectations, way beyond."

After mining all the obsidian, I remembered something I'd forgotten.

"Oh right. Need to grab that first."

I went to the abode of the self-proclaimed Miyamoto Musashi—real name Sasaki Kojiro—and started beating him without preamble.

Pum pum pum.

"Arghhh... Who the hell..."

"Hand over the Five Rings Book."

"Ugh. Just kill me."

I placed my hand on the fallen Sasaki Kojiro's head and cast the Soul Separation Great Law. Since he hadn't reached great success, Kojiro struggled for a while, but after half a shichen of steady casting, his eyes glazed over. I said to him.

"Hand over the Five Rings Book."

"Under... stood..."

He'd hidden the Five Rings Book under the tatami in the back room. As he offered it with both hands, I said.

"Sorry about today. I'll get you a good job later."

"......"

Flash.

After snatching the Five Rings Book, I stopped at the inn before the Zhongnan Sect to rest. This was where I'd stayed with Jin Su-cheong when we came to smash the sect, and the food was decent, so I remembered it. As I ate, Geukho said.

"Stealing someone's manual..."

I slurped noodles and replied.

"It didn't suit his station anyway."

"You're definitely no great hero."

Geukho tensed, and I grinned back.

"Enemies are too strong for a hero's life."

Geukho asked cautiously.

"Gathering all these fortuitous encounters and treasures... You really plan to take down the White Lotus Lord?"

"Huh?"

What was this?

I tilted my head and scratched mine.

"Hmm... No idea why you're so fixated on the White Lotus Lord."

"That bastard drove out the Thunder God Style and caused all this misfortune."

"... Ever think even the White Lotus Lord is just a victim swept up in fate?"

Geukho blinked dumbly at my retort, then said incredulously.

"Are you insane? No worries in the world, so a Thunder God Style expert worries about the White Lotus Lord..."

"Ah... yeah, now that you mention it."

"You're a true eccentric of the world."

Eccentric.

I mulled it over. Yeah, that's how it'd look. Did I even feel any belonging to the Thunder God Style now?

Enjoying the tasty food, I said to Geukho.

"Geukho. Want to know the truth now, or kill bad guys with your own hands?"

"Don't get it, but I can handle the latter well."

"This isn't pure goodwill."

"Then?"

"I'm making you my accomplice so you can't escape this cycle. Once you know the truth, you might want to kill me. Letting someone who knows loose would be too big a variable—dangerous."

Geukho replied calmly after hearing me out.

"Chillingly cold voice. You're already thinking of killing me outright, huh?"

"I'd rather not. Didn't plan to drag you in."

This was sincere. But since I'd received favors from Geukho through alcohol bonds, I was putting up with the hassle this life to travel with him.

I eyed Geukho coldly and said.

"I want to see if you can be my comrade."

"A test, then."

I nodded. If Geukho accepted to the end, I'd make him a comrade sharing obsidian going forward. I'd take responsibility.

"What'll it be, Geukho?"

"......"

Geukho crossed his arms and pondered. Then he said.

"I'll do it. Might as well know it all now."

"Good."

I briefly explained the Blood Path Group to Geukho and what atrocities happened inside. Without peep, his rage might make him snap. Sure enough, just the explanation soured his face extremely.

"I can kill them guilt-free now."

"Then let's go."

Flash!

"Arghhh."

I went straight to the Blood Path Group's boss and began a massacre with Geukho. We killed everything in sight; Geukho wielded Thunder God Style spear arts like a fish in water, skewering pirates.

"Good thing I brought him."

Handling hundreds alone would've been a chore, but with Geukho, it was easy. While he massacred outside, I rescued Seomun Hye and the underground hostages, then with her help, wiped out the pirates.

Thud.

Geukho irritably slammed a pirate's head into the ground and said.

"Never knew such scum existed."

Then Seomun Hye approached, cupped her fists.

"Thank you, great heroes."

"Uhahaha. No big deal."

Geukho beamed at the beauty's thanks, grinning widely. Seeing it oddly reassured me.

'Geukho's still Geukho.'

I'd worried showing the world's dark side might twist him, but his free-spirited nature endured it. I rescued the hostages, handled aftermath in a day, grabbed the black plaque, and exited.

Now the time had come. I said to Geukho.

"Now you'll meet my comrade. And learn the truth."

"I'm ready."

"Alright."

Flash.

I headed to Jinrang Valley where Mangryang was. I met him drinking from the well, handed over the obsidian.

"Take this."

"Eek, who are you?"

Mangryang startled; Geukho eyed me suspiciously.

"... Doesn't seem like comrades at all..."

"......"

Mangryang said.

"You seem like murim experts. What's this ruckus?"

"This obsidian holds the power to transmit memories."

I held it forward.

"Once you receive them, you'll probably sigh first."

"......?"

"Here. Take it."

Mangryang looked puzzled but resignedly.

"Fine."

Woong.

Mangryang received the obsidian and absorbed the memories. He stared blankly, mulling them over. Heart pounding, I watched—sure enough, he sighed.

"Whew... You nailed it. How'd you know I'd sigh?"

"You've done it plenty before..."

"Haha. Hope a day comes I don't sigh."

Mangryang gave a wry smile and said.

"Come in. This time, let's win."

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