Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Paat

I arrived at Jin Rang Valley where Geuk Ho was waiting. Right away, I sensed Geuk Ho diligently practicing martial arts in the forest behind him.

"Haah!!"

Shoooaa...

Along with Geuk Ho's shout, I felt a section of the bamboo grove being sliced away. As I drew near, Geuk Ho spotted me and halted his training.

"You're here."

Geuk Ho had accepted my black obsidian, so he cast aside the prior subtle senior-junior dynamic and spoke on equal terms. Though I had surpassed him through accumulating abilities across reincarnations, he had risen from the ranks of an ordinary Thunder God Style disciple. Rather than awkwardly using honorifics with Geuk Ho—who had always held the successor position in the Thunder God Style and had once been my senior brother—it was far more comfortable to speak casually. From the outset, I had no desire to erect barriers with Geuk Ho, who felt like a drinking companion.

I glanced around at the training setup and said.

"It's a fantastic feeling."

Geuk Ho wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and perched on a nearby rock.

"No liquor, however sweet, could surpass this."

"The Seven Great Absolute Arts and Eight Immortal Divine Arts must suit you perfectly."

"Of course."

It had only been a day or two since Geuk Ho began his training, but he was visibly exhilarated. Well, just the fact that he could learn the Guang Shi Absolute Arts would be enough to thrill anyone. I said to Geuk Ho.

"The black obsidian I gave you transmits only rough memories. You can train the foundations of the Seven Great Absolute Arts, but advancing to applications will require stronger memories, so I'll prepare them later."

"Hmm... Did things go well?"

"That's why I came."

I hesitated briefly before saying.

"I think we need to figure out what Jong Ri-gwon's blessing actually is."

I recounted to Geuk Ho everything that had happened during the hand-offering ritual. He scowled and said.

"What? That Great Ra Immortal didn't even explain what he gave you?"

"He said it enhances martial talent, so I figured we'd discover it through training."

"Does training happen overnight... Who told you that?"

"Mang Ryang."

"Mang Ryang..."

Geuk Ho muttered discontentedly, then spoke as if struck by a thought.

"Mang Ryang seems to want you holding back majorly in this life."

"Holding back?"

"You declared your goal is reaching the Absolute Realm on your own power, so perhaps he wants you to stick to steady training without meddling in divine schemes or mortal affairs?"

"..."

"There are plenty of experiments worth trying right now, yet he insists on training first. That's how it looks."

It could be. Geuk Ho, drawing from his own intuition, scraped the ground with his spear tip and continued.

"Hey. But that's not right."

"What's not?"

"You still have unfinished business. You need to smash the Nangong Clan. And there's a mountain of other tasks besides."

"...Right."

I had rescued the hostages from the Great Thunder Jade and Blood Path Group, but women were still suffering abuse in the Nangong Clan. Unlike those prior operations, this one carried far higher difficulty, demanding various clever approaches. As Geuk Ho mulled something over, he continued.

"Hey. Now that it's come to this, how about we test our skills while overwhelming them with numbers?"

"What're you talking about?"

"Instead of offering Yoo Dong-bin ten years of lifespan to forcibly take down the Shadowless Sword Emperor, let's throw every connection we've gathered so far at them. The Nangong Clan aren't all that impressive anyway."

"How?"

"Listen up..."

Geuk Ho then laid out an impromptu plan he'd conceived. As I listened, my expression shifted constantly—it was utterly reckless. Yet beneath that recklessness lay sufficient odds of success, leaving me torn.

"..."

"What do you say? Let's do it. Come on."

"No, but... Mang Ryang must've considered such a scheme too, but held back because of the risks. Charging ahead rashly is—"

Geuk Ho cut in curtly.

"What the hell are you so scared of?"

"Scared?"

"Frankly, the only things that can take you down are immortals or god-tier, right? We're nowhere near clashing with them yet, so why cower before the Nangong Clan, who are leagues below the White Lotus Church? If I were you, I'd bulldoze without second-guessing."

"...Hmm."

Geuk Ho seized my shoulders and shook them hard.

"Hey, just try it, yeah? If it flops, we bail next time."

"..."

Geuk Ho balled his fist tight.

"A man's one life! Wait, you've got multiples."

Geuk Ho's relentless push shook my resolve. Truth be told, there was no reason for me to fear the likes of the Nangong Clan. It felt just like a drinking buddy proposing we switch taverns for another round. After long deliberation, I nodded.

"Got it."

Paat!

I first headed to the Shadowless Gate, freeing Seo Mun-hye and the other female hostages. Then I met the Sword Demon and handed him the black obsidian. He accepted it, faltered in confusion for a moment, then sighed.

"Hmm. It's an endlessly grueling battle with no path to victory in sight. I see no way to overcome the Three Emperors, Five Kings, or the [Ancient Rulers]."

I replied bitterly to the Sword Demon.

"Reincarnations will eventually yield even a sliver of hope. I won't let that sliver slip away."

"Baek Woong. I salute your indomitable will."

The Sword Demon offered a clasped-hand salute, then addressed Geuk Ho at my side.

"Geuk Ho... You're one of us from here on."

Geuk Ho grinned.

"Pleased to join you, Sword Demon senior."

"I hold my liquor well too, so let's share a drink sometime."

"Uhaha. Don't underestimate my capacity."

Somehow, the Sword Demon and Geuk Ho seemed a natural fit. The easygoing Geuk Ho and the insightful Sword Demon would make fine interlocutors. After the greetings, the Sword Demon said.

"Geuk Ho's plan looks intriguing. Risky, though."

"Will you join us?"

"Naturally. You know how much I despise the Nangong Clan."

Paat

We headed straight to the Heavenly Palace in Dong Young where Miho resided. Miho summoned Jeon-gwi and Ho-gwi as if anticipating us, sending them lunging at the intruders—Geuk Ho and the Sword Demon swiftly maneuvered to repel the ambush. I bellowed to Miho.

"Miho!! I know how you can return to the heavenly realm."

"...?"

Miho emerged from the shadows. Her eyes measured me, her form uncannily resembling a white fox. I pressed on.

"I know you were framed for slaying Blue Sparrow after serving in Queen Mother of the West's palace, then cast out."

"...!"

Miho's shock was genuine. Hitherto, my words might have rung as mere honeyed bait, but knowing her deepest secret left her no choice but astonishment. She swiftly schooled her features and shot back.

"Hmph! Some gutter rat must've overheard heavenly tidings. What foul play do you intend by tempting me?"

"True. This alone is common knowledge for any heavenly immortal. But..."

Piping

I unleashed sword energy, etching a massive pattern into the wall. These were over a dozen designs from the underground ruins beneath Queen Mother's palace, relayed to me directly by Miho. As she watched them take form, Miho sagged, collapsing in place.

"Uh... How do you—"

"You ventured deepest out of curiosity during Queen Mother's absence and beheld these patterns? You mapped to awareness framed for Blue Sparrow's murder. Incidentally, they're absent from Jeon Gal Yu-yeong's Yu-yeong Collection."

"Just who... are you? How do you know what only I know?"

"I'm Baek Woong. I heard it straight from you."

"What?"

Arms folded, I declared.

"From you in a past life. I'm a reincarnator."

"...!"

I explained my circumstances to Miho. She reeled in confusion but soon betrayed fascination. I proffered the black obsidian.

"Accept this memory."

"As if I'd take dubious trinkets from a total stranger."

"Fine if I leave empty-handed? You'll burst from curiosity. I'm the sole mortal who can chart your return to heaven."

"..."

"Miho. Trust my words. I beg you."

"Hmm..."

Miho agonized at length before gingerly accepting the black obsidian, as if resigned.

Paat

The memories fully transferred, Miho's face lit with utter shock. She scanned her surroundings in disbelief, then fixed tear-streaked eyes on me.

"Why... why the tears?"

"If these memories... are true, you're a utter fool. Why court such suffering?"

"I must see it to the end. And I'll make you happy, without fail."

"You idiot..."

After dabbing her eyes, Miho clasped my hand.

"Understood. I'll aid you, Baek Woong."

"Thanks!"

This hand's warmth assured me: henceforth, I could summon Miho stably, sans pleas to Queen Mother. Geuk Ho, observing spear-over-shoulder from the side, grumbled.

"Ah~ So steamy. Us museless souls suffer indeed."

Miho whipped toward Geuk Ho, a sly glint in her eye.

"Uhu hu. Aren't you the fool who accosted me, mesmerized by my beauty while reading?"

"Ugh..."

Geuk Ho flinched guiltily.

"Geuk Ho-ya. Catch a chill standing there—tea nearby while we talk?"

"Damn it!"

"Ahahaha."

Miho cackled at Geuk Ho's discomfort. My past life recollections included Miho ensnaring him utterly with feminine wiles, reducing him to a fumbling fool. Geuk Ho was in for a rough ride under her thumb.

"Then onward."

With Miho recruited, we veered toward Azure Dragon Martial Hall. Geuk Ho told me.

"Wait here. I'll fetch Su-cheong."

Roughly half a shichen later, Geuk Ho returned with Jin Su-cheong mid-lesson, guiding hall disciples as chief instructor. Spotting the Sword Demon, Miho, and others waiting out of nowhere, Jin Su-cheong's face darkened.

"Senior brother. You lured me into a trap?"

"No-pe."

Geuk Ho smirked.

"Been ages—spar, senior-junior style? Strike first if you like."

"So that's your game... Rounding up the world's freaks to flaunt your martial prowess, dragging me here?"

"As if. I'll win, though."

"I'm Azure Dragon Martial Hall's chief instructor now—no mercy for you, senior brother. Regret ensnaring me."

Bwoong

Geuk Ho and Jin Su-cheong squared off tensely. Stifling tension hung, then their spear tips sparked wildly midair.

Kkgang!

Arms crossed, the Sword Demon observed their clash.

"Rare caliber experts in the jianghu."

"Hmph... Why gawk at this nonsense?"

I countered Miho's piping.

"Jin Su-cheong needs convincing grounds."

I could flatten him and shove the obsidian, but that bred no trust. Tedious or not, comrades demanded persuasion.

Mid-conversation, the Thunder God Style masters' bout surpassed thirty exchanges. Jin Su-cheong barely held with Lan Na Chal defense—Geuk Ho pressed the offense.

Kkang

"Urk."

Jin Su-cheong yielded three paces, daunted. Geuk Ho desisted, withdrawing as if satisfied.

"See? Slim margin, but my arts edge yours now. Care to guess why?"

It sounded boastful, but Jin Su-cheong pondered before replying.

"You've mastered outer gate techniques, senior brother."

"Not your average outer gate. What say you to this thrust?"

Pabat!

Geuk Ho loosed a spear flash, gliding airily. It arced in bizarre spirals; scrutinizing the helix, Jin Su-cheong's visage shifted.

"Lost Art...!!"

"Exactly. The variation of Gueil Gong Cham from Zhang Sanfeng's Seven Great Absolute Arts, Yu Jin-in. Freshly grasped the essence—enough to handle you."

"Zhang Sanfeng?!"

"That Baek Woong you met before passed it along."

Jin Su-cheong eyed warily.

"Fortuitous encounter, eh, senior brother? Then why summon me?"

He grasped it wasn't a trap. Geuk Ho flicked a glance at the obsidian in my grasp, then spoke evenly.

"Jin Su-cheong. Embrace that black obsidian—you'll gain the Seven Great Absolute Arts. And glimpse worlds unknown till now."

"Shady."

"I'll say this: I won't mind refusal. Nay, I'd prefer it. You'd eclipse me anon."

In earnest, he added.

"But I've forsaken such envy. Baek Woong's grand cause outweighs it. Your call?"

"..."

Thud

Jin Su-cheong proffered his hand. I transmitted the memories. Absorbing them, he blanked momentarily, then murmured.

"So that's how it was."

"So-cheong-ah. Mark this: if Baek Woong wills it, I'll sever Instructor Lee Gwang's head."

"...!!"

"I'm not like you. Baek Woong alone can fulfill my vengeance; Instructor Lee Gwang cannot. For my deepest wish, I'll stomach even that."

Jin Su-cheong's face clouded at Geuk Ho's sly declaration.

"You're kind-hearted, senior brother. Warning a junior who may face mortal combat."

"Judge as you will. Since we'll share endless reincarnations ahead, steel yourself. Even unto mutual slaying."

"Understood."

What lay in Jin Su-cheong's "understood"? None but he knew.

"All set now."

I nodded to the Sword Demon.

"Let's go."

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