Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Yeon Royal House?

I looked at Yeon Jong-hwi in surprise, and he began to tell his story.

"I, Yeon Jong-hwi, hail from Stone River County near Qin Huangdao. I lived oblivious to the world until I was five. But from then on, my parents shared the family's hidden history and passed down the secret martial arts handed down through generations. About twenty-three years later, I set out into the martial world."

"What do you mean by Yeon Royal House?"

"I am a descendant of the ancient Yeon Royal House."

His words left me dumbfounded.

"You mean the Yeon clan from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period?"

That would be no ordinary bloodline. If he were a direct descendant of the royal house of Yan, which existed long before Qin Shi Huang's Qin Dynasty, it carried immense history and tradition. At least a thousand years old. Yeon Jong-hwi spoke bitterly.

"And that black bow?"

"It's also a treasure passed down as a royal secret: the Ink Scale Longbow."

Yeon Jong-hwi raised the Ink Scale Longbow and aimed forward. But the bow had no string, not even arrows, making it seem impossible to shoot. As I looked on puzzled, he casually drew back his other hand in the air as if a string were there, then loosed something.

Pewng!

Moments later, a pitch-black hole pierced a rock ten zhang away. Lowering the bow, Yeon Jong-hwi said,

"This is the power of the Ink Scale Longbow. It can be fired without a string, always drawing in the user's qi to form an intangible arrow. As you saw, the arrow's power..."

"...!!"

"Its qi efficiency is excellent."

Amazed, I said,

"Mangryang and the Zhuge Scholar tested that bow, but it showed no reaction."

"Only the true blood of the Yeon Royal House can wield it."

Then the Ink Scale Longbow was an incredible treasure. Not on the level of a heavenly treasure, but a divine bow and peerless wonder nonetheless. Yeon Jong-hwi continued,

"Even with such arts and treasures, I couldn't be certain I was a royal descendant, or if I even should rebuild the house. So once I mastered the family arts, I left for the martial world to perform acts of justice while seeking a certain place."

"Where?"

"Zhongnan Mountain."

Zhongnan Mountain?

I tilted my head at the unexpected answer, and he explained.

"Before my parents passed, they said I'd learn the truth of my bloodline if I went to Zhongnan Mountain. That's what I was doing when I was captured."

"Hmm... What did you plan to do once there?"

"Search the mountain, I suppose. They probably meant some secret manual or divine relic."

Now his movements made sense. After debuting in the martial world, he'd wandered performing righteous deeds, happened to visit the Nangong Family and became a retainer. Then, as he quit his wandering to head for Zhongnan Mountain, he ran into us.

Looking at him, I said,

"As you saw in my memories, the enemies I face are immensely powerful. White Lotus Church, the Imperial Palace, Twelve Rites... Even their human forces are this strong, and soon I'll fight gods."

"......"

"If you want out now, say so. I'll erase your memories and send you to Zhongnan Mountain."

"No, I'll join you."

Yeon Jong-hwi declared firmly.

"My life was just aimless wandering anyway. If I can change the world through righteous deeds, how could I not? Let me come along."

"...Very well."

I fully accepted Yeon Jong-hwi as a comrade.

Had he been a scoundrel, I'd have used the Marriage Severance Technique to exploit and discard him.

But he wasn't that kind of man. In a way, he'd passed my test. I told the Zhuge Scholar and Mangryang that Yeon Jong-hwi had joined of his own will, and they reacted with surprise.

"You actually pulled off something with such high odds of failure, like persuasion."

"So what? It worked."

"Anyway, if Yeon Jong-hwi joined willingly, it's all good. His skills will smooth many things."

Mangryang, standing nearby, spoke up.

"Baek Woong. What about their phoenix fragment you mentioned before."

"Any progress?"

"None at all. Beyond it being from Bohai, nothing clicks... I sent informants and scholars to old Bohai territories, but it'll take time."

"I see..."

"So, could you call Yeon Jong-hwi? He might know something about it."

At Mangryang's request, I fetched Yeon Jong-hwi. He examined the silver phoenix fragment for a while, then said,

"There must be another phoenix fragment to make a pair, right?"

Mangryang's eyes lit up.

"Why do you think that?"

"Just... the way this fragment faces seems like it's looking at its mate. It feels like they were made as a set."

"Fascinating hypothesis. You've helped greatly."

As Mangryang jotted notes on the Five Transformations Divine Flame Scroll, he said to me,

"Baek Woong. Give Yeon Jong-hwi an elixir too. He could play a major role in this plan."

"Got it."

I gave Yeon Jong-hwi Black-White Lotus, just like the others. He headed to the training chamber to cultivate his internal energy, while I, pressed for time, went straight to Miho in Dongyeong.

Miho greeted me joyfully in her half-fox state, swishing her snow-white tail. She hugged me and rubbed her cheek against mine.

"Hnggg. Why'd you take so long?"

Because of her childlike body, I ended up fully embraced by the mature woman Miho had transformed into. Her chest made it meffy, so I shook my head slightly.

"Miho. What about the black obsidian?"

Miho pulled away from my cheek, beaming.

"I recruited the Koga on our side and negotiated with the shogunate, buying six black obsidian mines. We're expanding them now, hiring laborers to dig. The ore's shipped straight to Kyoto, so in three or four months, it'll pile up."

Smooth progress. After a moment's thought, I said to Miho,

"Miho. One more favor..."

"What is it?"

"Could you buy a lot of explosives? As much as possible."

I explained the plan to her. Miho readily agreed.

"The shogunate's in a peaceful era now, so their war supplies like gunpowder just rot in warehouses. With the remaining platinum bars, we can buy plenty from them."

"How long?"

"Hmm, let's see... Come back in about six weeks."

"Got it."

"You'll need my power for that operation anyway, so definitely come."

Stroking my face, Miho said,

"Aigoo, you ugly thing."

"......"

"Kyahaha. Just teasing because you're cute~"

Grumbling, I said,

"What's your standard for cute anyway?"

"Hmm? At your current age, you're not handsome but uniquely charming. Of course, your adult look is a bit unwelcome... but that's by human standards. You could pass as kinda cute."

Her finger lightly lifted my chin as she continued.

"To me, Baek Woong is Baek Woong. Right?"

Bitterly, I replied to Miho,

"To humans, ten years fly by. Soon I'll be so ugly that common girls will scream. You'll still accept me then?"

Miho stared blankly at me and said,

"Just get plastic surgery. Pretty boy would be ideal."

"......"

"No reason not to?"

No retort to that. As I faltered, Miho laughed uproariously.

"Ahaha. Were you hoping I'd say I love your body and soul as is?"

"...Denying it would be a lie."

"Ufufu. If you didn't know plastic surgery back then, I'd have accepted it and lived with you anyway. But now you have the means to become handsome, right? A handsome face changes how everyone sees you—don't you want to wield that power?"

"Uh, well..."

It never bothered me before, but facing it now felt awkward.

As I hesitated, not knowing what to say, Miho hugged me from behind.

"I know your ugliness might be heaven's punishment, and you have stubborn pride unique to the unattractive. But that's no reason to suffer for a thousand years."

"Hmm."

"Honestly, I prefer handsome. And that's why I want you free from appearance-based pain now. It's natural not to want your loved one hurting, isn't it?"

I felt Miho's sincerity.

She openly preferred handsome men, but she could love my outer or inner self. That's why she teasingly urged me to change my looks—not greed, but consideration. If Miho wanted it, matching her would be love.

Stroking Miho's cheek, I said,

"Once everything's settled, I'll get surgery to your taste."

"My tastes are picky, so practice surgery till then, ahaha."

"Got it."

Miho knew deep down.

This life wouldn't see an end.

Back home, I spent six days retraining the wondrous arts under Yi Cheong-un. No instant gains in six days, but the mindset alone felt improved. Sensing my changed heart, Yi Cheong-un taught with evident delight.

The day of the great undertaking arrived. I went to Miho, loaded the massive gunpowder she'd acquired into the wooden box, and brought it to Jangryeong Valley. Before I left, the Zhuge Scholar eyed the operation team and said,

"Got it? The top priority is capturing that guy alive."

"I know."

"We don't need to topple the Imperial Palace at once. Chip away gradually."

Paat!

I headed with my comrades to where Zhuge Yuryong's clone body was first. Unloading gunpowder from the box, I said,

"Set enough to blow this whole cave."

"Understood."

Kwagwagwang!

Kwagwang!!

We swiftly demolished all five hideouts with clone bodies. Still over half the explosives left, we next targeted East Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters in Luoyang.

The moment I appeared, I tossed lit gunpowder to the first floor of the main hall.

Kwagwagwang!!

Kwagwang!!

"Arrgh!!"

"Uagh!!"

Screams filled the pandemonium. Escaping via Flight Escape from the flames, I said to Yi Cheong-un beside me,

"This is a side building. Now for the main headquarters."

"I know."

Yi Cheong-un nodded.

"I'll breach first and subdue the leaders. Then your friend slaughters any escapees. Right?"

"Yes."

"Let's move."

Paat!

No sooner said than Yi Cheong-un flashed like lightning into the distant hall. He darted through one or two more halls, swiftly neutralizing enemy officers. After a brief wait, his voice came via sound transmission.

[Subdued East Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard officers, but no sign of the Four Symbols Guard's White Tiger or Black Tortoise you mentioned.]

[Bad situation.]

[Quite a few. Rushed in, so not fully subdued. Tell your friend to kill the escapees.]

I glanced at Yeon Jong-hwi—he'd already begun.

Pyupyupuk!

Pyupuk!

Yeon Jong-hwi loosed arrows madly. From the Ink Scale Longbow stretched intangible strings firing qi. Blue-green shadows fleeing the hall, visible even from afar. At least a hundred zhang away, yet he accurately transfixed them.

After slaying about a dozen, Yeon Jong-hwi said,

"No more in sight."

"Good."

Paat!

We moved to Yi Cheong-un. Climbing the hall, hundreds lay dead—enough that even Yi Cheong-un couldn't catch all escapees. On the top floor, pathetic East Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard officers sprawled. One bellowed,

"No matter how you torture us, we won't reveal any infor—"

Saasat

Miho stepped forward, locking eyes and unleashing her charm. He shuddered violently, fell to her enchantment, and spoke entranced.

"Our leaders... White Tiger and Black Tortoise... were summoned to the palace... and haven't returned..."

"Deputy leaders?"

"Same for both deputies..."

Miho questioned for about half an hour, extracting needed info. I could use Thunder God Flow torture, but Miho's charm was far more effective and swift—that's why we brought her. Tossing the dazed officer aside, Miho said,

"Looks like the real prizes are holed up in the palace. And the slaves are in the clutches of Asura Sect, under Wind God Flow's Eight Demonic Sects."

"Hmm."

Yi Cheong-un nearby said,

"Perfect. Now we know exactly what to do."

"Yes."

Nodding, I said,

"Blow it all up."

Kwagwagwang!!

After exploding the hall, I went straight to Great Dragon Hall in the palace. There, I detonated the remaining explosives underground and escaped via Flight Escape.

Kukwagwagwang

'Farewell, Emperor.'

Muttering inwardly, I joined the group at the Asura Sect's secret site guarding the slaves and freed them. Asura elites blocked us, but they were no match and were annihilated.

Confirming the slaves' numbers in this secluded Luoyang spot, crawling with huddled masses, I was stunned. Not yet face-to-face, but visible from afar.

"Supposed to be five thousand, but looks way more."

Indeed.

Said five thousand, but several times that. They'd crammed a mountain basin full of refugees, swarming like ants. Shabby straw mats and flimsy huts dotted everywhere. Yi Cheong-un said gravely,

"What now? Even with your Flight Escape shuttling them, this many will take forever."

"Hmm..."

Miho nearby said,

"We don't need to handle them one by one. Prioritize other tasks?"

"What if they starve?"

"We can air-drop rice sacks later. Jangryeong Valley can't house five thousand anyway—better keep the palace reeling first, no?"

"Fine."

Paat

I shifted to Inner Imperial Pavilion, arriving before the Unknown Sacrificial Scripture's spot. But I frowned instantly.

'Gone.'

The Unknown Sacrificial Scripture was missing from its original slot. Nearly all inner Imperial Pavilion books were gone too, relocated somewhere. Humans inside had vanished, leaving a desolate space. Yi Cheong-un beside me said,

"Not moved one or two days ago. Looks like quite some time since they cleared the materials. They must've sensed something and smuggled all internals away."

"No way? We gave the palace no hint till now..."

"......"

After a pause, Yi Cheong-un said,

"Seems some variable besides us beat us to it. Let's call it here for today, return to Jangryeong Valley, and discuss."

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