Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I Immediately moved to the Nangong Family's secret chamber and obtained the Pure Fish Sphere. After securing it, I teleported to where my concubines were and headed to the hidden room where the women were being abused. Since I'd already seen the horrific scene before, my reaction time was just a slight frown rather than extreme rage.

Thud!

"You bastard... how dare you..."

But Geuk-ho was different. He applied the spear techniques of "Ixa" and "xa" with his spear, skewering the guards like kebabs and tearing them into pieces of flesh. As Geuk-ho prepared to use lethal strikes on the survivors, Jin So-cheong stepped in to stop him.

Clang!

"Senior Brother, calm down."

"Damn it!!"

Geuk-ho let out a deafening roar like a lion's, then lowered his head as if lost in thought. After regaining his composure, he looked at me with cold eyes and spoke.

"No need. We don't really need their testimony anyway..."

I looked at Geuk-ho and said.

"You already saw it through the black obsidian, right? Aren't you getting too excited?"

It wasn't an idle comment. If Jin So-cheong hadn't intervened, Geuk-ho would have literally shredded the rest into hundreds of pieces. Such intense fury was rare for him.

"...I thought it would be the same."

Geuk-ho shook his head.

"But it's not. Facing it directly brings completely different emotions. Watching through the black obsidian felt like someone else's story, but now... I can't help but be furious."

I fell silent at his words. I could guess the reason.

'The black obsidian transmits memories and emotions from my perspective as the main viewpoint.'

But if that were all the black obsidian's spell could do, it wouldn't be a secret art. The spell had the ability to synchronize the recipient's emotions and foster understanding to some degree. That's why everyone who'd received the memories so far had accepted them without much resistance. It was a safeguard to protect the recipient's mind.

However, in cases like Geuk-ho's—directly confronting an experience that so violently clashed with one's common sense and taboos—the mental barrier created by the black obsidian's spell could weaken slightly. I said to Geuk-ho,

"Don't waste your emotions on trash like this."

Thud!

I lightly unleashed a Snake Fist strike, and the heads of two trembling guards nearly exploded. I stared at my spotless hand, then continued,

"That's all of them dead now. No need to go to the martial world proclaiming the Nangong Family's evils."

Miho, who was using spells to conjure light garments for the women, glanced at me and said,

"You've hardened your heart."

"Just tying up loose ends cleanly."

"As a noble lady myself, I prefer it that way."

The Sword Demon, arms crossed, said,

"Baek Woong. As planned, we'll tour through from here. You handle your part."

"Understood."

Whoosh!

I immediately took Geuk-ho and Jin So-cheong via teleportation to the conference hall where the Nangong Family's leadership was gathered. Confirming they were all there, my face lit up.

"You're all here! Good timing."

Murmurs rose.

The room held Sword King Nangong Myeong, the family head; the Nangong Eight Swords elders; and dozens of skilled warriors. Excluding the Sword King and Eight Swords, there were at least fifty capable fighters, confirming the Sword Demon's intel about their daily meetings. All eyes instantly locked onto us three.

One of the Nangong Eight Swords shot to his feet and shouted,

"Who are you? How dare you invade the Nangong Family!"

Human scum sure acts bold.

Sshing.

I wanted to draw my sword and charge in for a massacre. The mere fact they were alive disgusted me. But as I reached for my sword, Geuk-ho gestured to stop me and shouted back.

"Renowned Sword King Nangong Myeong, it's been a while. You look as radiant as ever."

"Who are you?"

"Just a passerby named Geuk-ho."

From the grand central seat, Nangong Myeong replied gravely.

"You're Jin So-cheong. What's the meaning of this?"

...

Nangong Myeong demanded an explanation from Jin So-cheong, but he turned away with a bitter expression. Before the black obsidian, he'd respected Nangong Myeong as an exemplary warrior, but now, knowing the ugly truth, he couldn't even meet his eye. Instead, Geuk-ho said cheerfully,

"Sword King! You've committed quite the atrocities. Curious—aren't you afraid of the Death God, No-Kill for that?"

"Death God? I don't know what nonsense you're spouting. If you keep—"

"No-Kill."

Sshing.

In that instant, Sword King Nangong Myeong's face paled dramatically—a change only he showed in the room. His hand even trembled slightly. The Nangong Eight Swords looked at him in confusion, puzzled by his reaction.

"Family Head! What—"

"Quiet."

Sword King Nangong Myeong eyed us cautiously and said,

"You... you're No-Kill? Or connected to him?"

"Heh heh heh."

Geuk-ho grinned mephitically and sent me a transmission.

[See? It works. The Sword King knows something about No-Kill. Worth coming here for that alone.]

[The Eight Swords seem clueless.]

[Why tell underlings about invincible assassins who can kill anything?]

[Fair point.]

No-Kill?

It was the legendary existence the Sword Demon had mentioned to me once before. Appearing generations before the Sword Demon's great-grandmother, it was the Central Plains' greatest assassin, moving solely for its own justice. Said to have reached the Death God's realm, capable of slaying all living things, it earned the secretive title "No-Kill."

The title was so clandestine that only figures like Sword King Nangong Myeong knew of it; his subordinates didn't. Geuk-ho cleared his throat and answered,

"What do you think?"

"You... daring to mock me."

"Mock? I just want to hear the Sword King's insightful judgment."

As Geuk-ho taunted, Nangong Myeong bit his lip and said,

"Whether you're connected to No-Kill or not doesn't matter. It's just a legend. First, I'll punish you invaders!"

Tadadak!

As Nangong Myeong raised his hand, the Nangong warriors charged like lightning. Geuk-ho and Jin So-cheong counterattacked as if waiting, while I advanced forward with Annihilation Step as planned. The sequence unfolded like a rehearsed play.

Boom!!

Two Nangong Eight Swords elders lunge, unleashing sword qi. I withstood it purely with internal energy. Blocking their sword qi with sheer force, without techniques, they gasped in shock.

"What..."

"What internal energy..."

Thud!!

'Slow...'

I closed in, driving a fist into one elder's throat. As the fist flash flowed like starlight, I smashed a tiger fist into the other's temple. In a fluid motion, I circled behind them both and brushed off my hands.

Plop...

One collapsed with a crushed windpipe, the other with brains pulped, both slowly crumpling. Having subdued two Peak Experts instantly with Annihilation Step and advanced technique applications—without even drawing my sword—the remaining Eight Swords were horrified.

"What??"

"A Fist Saint..."

Their stunned mutterings stemmed from martial world's common sense: one-strike subduals of Peak Experts weren't feasible. Even early Transcendent masters wouldn't dispatch them easily. Those who'd forged their own styles were never pushovers.

Nangong Myeong's remaining six elders hesitated, intimidated, but Sword King Nangong Myeong barked irritably,

"Get a grip!"

"Fa... Family Head..."

"Fist Saint my ass. He's just relying on extreme speed to hit vital points precisely. Fists aren't his specialty. They were slow to switch to defense!"

"No way..."

The Eight Swords were dumbfounded, but I noted the Sword King's spot-on analysis with gleaming eyes.

'Sharp eye. Truly the Five Families' strongest.'

The others, lower skilled, couldn't grasp how I'd infiltrated and killed; but Nangong Myeong tracked Annihilation Step's speed with dynamic vision and instinct, discerning my martial standard instantly at a glance. Indeed, the Sword King was a Transcendent master leagues above the Eight Swords.

I grinned and drew my sword.

"I wanted to try like Jin So-cheong, but I'm not quite there yet, so sword it is."

"What?"

"Don't run."

Flash!

I used Annihilation Step to slyly charge sideways. One elder was in my trajectory; focused, he raised his sword path to block. But I ignored his defense, pouring massive internal energy into my blade.

Puk!

"...!!"

I cleaved through his sword aflame with sword flame, bisecting his body vertically.

'Without enlightenment, maybe not—but now I can fully utilize internal energy's subtleties.'

Considering my mastered supreme arts, nothing short of Intent Severing could block my ultimate strikes. I could even twist trajectories with Void Severing beforehand. Demonstrating defense futility, I swung horizontally at the two beside him.

"Ugh."

"Dodge."

This time, the Eight Swords adopted ugly stances, sacrificing an arm to evade—preferring limb loss to death.

Whiiing!

Thunder God Sword Dance

My sword tip hummed like swarming bees, then crackled with lightning. The technique whipped out like a lash; an elder's head flew off at its end. I spun once, striking again—another head detached.

Blood fountained.

Having cut down over half the Eight Swords in an instant, leaving three, terror etched their eyes. Already broken, they staggered back. As I moved to finish them—

Boom!

"Watch out!!"

Sword King Nangong Myeong roared, clashing swords with me. Meeting his blade head-on, I thought,

'Powerful rigid sword.'

I'd seen Nangong Myeong fight before, knowing his swordsmanship freely wielded both rigid supremacy and soft severance. Human scum or not, in this exchange, he proved a world-class Transcendent sword master.

But that was it.

Sword-locked with him, I said,

"Nangong Myeong. Know why I came specifically at Geuk-ho's suggestion?"

"You vile scum... why?!"

"To regain confidence."

"...What?"

Chang!

I broke the clash, retreating, and said to the baffled Nangong Myeong,

"There's a supreme expert who could shred your kind into hundreds in one exchange. And soon I'll fight a monster who could kill him with a finger. For that, I need assurance my built power isn't wasted."

"Nonsense... where's such a monster?"

Nangong Myeong bellowed.

"The Nangong Family's swordsmanship is the world's best!! I'll kill a braggart like you."

Kagang!

Kagagang!

I fiercely clashed head-on for fifteen exchanges. During this, the three remaining elders attacked from the side, but I toyed with them, appearing behind via Annihilation Step to smash their skulls.

Thud! thud!

"Argh!"

Numbers meant nothing.

Next time, I could come alone.

But unlike the fodder, Sword King Nangong Myeong was trouble. No one-change kill. His sword strikes relentlessly probed my barrier's gaps—mindless resistance would be perilous. Unshielded sword force formed a dragon shape. Intent Severing.

Spurt!

I narrowly dodged his Imperial Swordsmanship ultimate, but a small cheek cut was unavoidable. Couldn't underestimate his power.

'Underestimated him?'

I was certain my skill surpassed his—Jin So-cheong himself acknowledged my Absolute Realm foundation. No reason to struggle now. Yet despite absolute superiority, relative factors played here.

Nangong Myeong was fueled by peak fury, maximizing output; his home turf boosted confidence. Had I crushed him from the start with supreme arts, it'd be easy—but testing his skill, I'd paced it. Thus, he'd tapped max potential, creating parity illusion.

No more yielding. Calmly trading blows till the sixtieth, I controlled Three Preserves' Heaven-Earth-Man, observing his barrier.

Weakness spotted.

As Jin So-cheong said, Three Preserves let me precisely sense spaces—mine and foe's—and instinctively how to breach high experts' barriers. Unhurried, I stepped, forcing his attack.

In heart-eye clarity, Nangong Myeong's transmission rang,

[Fool! You slipped.]

Imperial Swordsmanship

Perfection

Imperial Heaven-Shattering Dance!

His seen-before finisher erupted with five-colored force. Devastating enough to shatter Diamond Invulnerability if direct, but I'd waited for his big move.

Thunder Roar!

Crackle crackle!

My body's potentials surged; dozens of blazing lightning bolts erupted around me. In that instant, I poured vast internal energy into Thunder Roar, amplifying power, stimulating leg muscles, bones, and flesh throughout.

Swoosh!

Thunder Roar-accelerated, I Annihilation Stepped behind him; Nangong Myeong recoiled in horror.

[Im... impossible. A feint...]

Obviously baited gap. Failing to discern real from feint, his big move was read, I countered with Thunder Roar and Annihilation Step.

Puk!

I thrust his into back without detonating force; thus, he froze, bleeding profusely. Through gritted teeth, he said,

"...Not finishing me?"

"Think you deserve a clean death?"

I retorted, shoving deeper.

"Arrrgh..."

Blood dripped steadily. Nangong Myeong stifled a scream.

"Caught your son too."

From afar, Geuk-ho approached, spear bloodied over shoulder, holding something in hand.

"Baek Woong, Heavenly Vault Vault annihilated."

"Good work."

"Time for trash disposal."

In his grip: Nangong Hwan's head. Tortured via Thunder Dragon Flow, eyes rolled back. Geuk-ho tossed it before Nangong Myeong.

Thud.

"Next year today marks your father-son death anniversary. If anyone's left to mourn you."

"Grghhh..."

Nangong Myeong trembled in rage but, at my mercy for instant death, could do nothing. He bellowed,

"Kill me!!"

"Why?"

"I'll curse you from beyond."

Staring, I said,

"The innocent you killed and abused said the same."

"......"

"Don't worry. Won't waste much time on small fry like you."

Puk!

I severed his head. Geuk-ho taunted,

"Tired of interrogations?"

"Yeah... Heavenly Scripture can handle it."

I replied indifferently, seeking Jin So-cheong. He'd just finished battling Heavenly Vault Squad, looking fatigued atop corpse piles. Minor scratches aside, he'd wiped them unscathed. Spotting me, he waved.

"Baek Woong, This side's done."

From afar, Miho messaged via spell.

[I've spread Life-Death Gate barrier over the entire family grounds. Fodder mentally subdued by me. No leaks from today.]

Miho's thorough cleanup made it feel resolved in a flash. I soon met her to regroup, sensing something off.

"Where's the Sword Demon?"

"Fighting someone."

"What?"

"Seemed a top expert."

Shocked, we rushed to the Sword Demon—and true to Miho, he was mid-battle, facing off.

He held the advantage, relaxed and unscathed, his foe had stabbed his bow into the ground, panting. The Sword Demon had likely spared several lethal chances.

Young-looking, about Jin So-cheong's age. Clad in pitch-black garb, oddly, his bow lacked a string.

"Huff... huff..."

The Sword Demon's eyes gleamed.

"Impressive skill for your age, young man. Your name?"

The archer replied,

"Yeon Jeong-hwi..."

"Rare surname... never heard it. Title?"

"None."

"Why fight me? No grudge."

Yeon Jeong-hwi retorted,

"Planned to serve Nangong Family today... but as guest till now, had to repay their hospitality."

The Sword Demon turned to me, chuckling.

"That's it, Baek Woong. Shall we spare him?"

"......"

"Could be a future powerhouse."

Hearing the Sword Demon's assessment, I agreed. In a shaky voice,

"...Of course. But can't release immediately."

"I see. Yeon Jeong-hwi, surrender here. Nangong Family's wiped out."

His finger pointed to Nangong Myeong and Hwan's heads; Yeon Jeong-hwi sighed.

"...No choice. Kill or spare at will."

Jin So-cheong stepped forward with ropes.

"Hands out."

"Fine."

Watching Jin So-cheong bind Yeon Jeong-hwi, I felt surreal. Miho noted my expression mischievously.

"Something up? Who's this Yeon Jeong-hwi?"

"...A Ten Great Expert binding another Ten Great Expert."

"Huh?"

I stared blankly.

'Never thought I'd see him here.'

Indeed.

Fifty years from now—the Ten Great Experts, pinnacle of the martial world.

Among them, the world's top bow master, legendarily achieving One Arrow Hundred Kills: Bow King Yeon Jeong-hwi—now bound by Divine Spear Jin So-cheong before my eyes.

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