Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Mok Yo was in the underworld?

Jeon Si-an's words left me feeling utterly baffled. I shot back.

"What? What do you mean he's in the underworld?"

[He is in the underworld.]

"... Fine, assuming that's true, what's the exact location?"

Jeon Si-an fell silent for a moment, finishing his search before responding.

[He does not exist at any of the gates of the Ten Kings of Hell. Location unknown.]

"What kind of answer is that? Where the hell is it?"

......

The Ten Kings of Hell were the ten beings who governed the underworld. They were said to judge the souls of the dead and mete out punishments, but according to the knowledge from the Paper Effigy and Ghost Rank, they were somewhat different from the common tales. Since the gates of the Ten Kings encompassed nearly everything in the underworld, Jeon Si-an's response left me dumbfounded.

When I relayed my exchange with Jeon Si-an to Je Gal-sa, he said,

"It seems like the work of the Lord of the Twelve Laws."

"... No way! Even if he's a master of sorcery, you're saying he took one of the Seven Luminaries into the underworld?"

I shook my head in disbelief. With my own considerable knowledge of sorcery now, I knew just how absurd that was. Entering the underworld meant a soul flying to another world, and attaching a physical object to a soul with attractive force required sorcery beyond imagination. Even maintaining power in a soul to reach the underworld was a high-level spell, let alone dragging along one of the Seven Luminaries.

Je Gal-sa replied,

"We know nothing detailed about the Lord of the Twelve Laws. By that logic, how do you explain him achieving absolute mastery in both martial arts and sorcery by his mere thirties? It's impossible for human talent."

......

"He has secrets. I see him as closer to a divine being, so it's possible. That's why I've always thought we need to capture him and torture him."

Je Gal-sa continued calmly.

"Anyway, we'll have to give up on Mok Yo. What a shame."

"Damn it."

Frustration welled up in me. But as Je Gal-sa said, with every moment precious right now, venturing into the underworld was impossible. The sorcery to enter the underworld while alive was incredibly difficult, and there was no guarantee we'd find Mok Yo in time and return. I glanced around and said,

"Then where did the Dan Clan members who lived in Shin Village go?"

"Who knows? The village is intact, so they probably moved somewhere."

"Leaving behind the Sacred Spirit Tree..."

"They no longer needed to guard it. We don't have time to chase after people who vanished who-knows-when. Any more is just speculation. Let's head back."

"... Got it."

Je Gal-sa seemed to view digging deeper as a waste of time. Knowing he'd already calculated all the possibilities with his quick mind, I didn't argue further. As he said, lingering here was a loss.

Flash!

We returned to base first. Je Gal-sa said to me,

"Simply put, unleashing Su Yo to rampage is the easiest way to cause chaos."

"Right. Wasn't that the plan?"

"Heh heh. That would work against the White Lotus Cult or the Twelve Laws Lord, but our opponent this time is Queen Mother of the West. She's been the shadowy ruler of the Heavenly Realm for thousands of years and single-handedly annihilated the Three Pure Ones—a monster possibly stronger than the Sea God. Unleashing Su Yo won't cut it; you'd just lose your body."

......

"This might be the worst foe since Jeon Uk. Plus, you'll have to fight dozens of Great Heavenly Immortals and Earth Immortals first."

Hearing Je Gal-sa's words made me truly grasp how insurmountably powerful my enemies were. Even defeating the Sea God had been a massive gap bridged only by sheer luck, and Queen Mother of the West might be even stronger. As I fell silent, Je Gal-sa said,

"Listen well, Baek Woong. Summoning colossal beings to rampage works once or twice, but not repeatedly. Call it rampage if you like, but if the summoned power is weaker than the foe, it's just a mad dog barking. A mad dog without tactics or strategy always ends up beaten with a stick."

......

"Even the [Ancient Ruler] linked to Su Yo in the North Pole might not defeat Queen Mother of the West. If things go as I predict, she might overpower it instead. If she gets 'serious,' that is."

He was right.

But something about Je Gal-sa changing the subject felt stifling, so I pressed,

"Then what do we do?"

"I told you. There's a method if we don't worry about the aftermath. It's..."

And so Je Gal-sa's plan began unfolding from his lips. But as I listened, it sounded so reckless that all strength drained from my body. Stunned, I said,

"That... really gonna work? Even if it fails, what's in it for me? It'll just be a bloodbath."

Je Gal-sa grinned.

"You're dying anyway, right? Does it matter if it works or not? If all else fails, just slit your own throat, Baek Woong."

"... Cut the crap."

I grumbled, but deep down, I had to admit it was the only option. I'd only thought of the straightforward plan to rampage with Su Yo, but Je Gal-sa had devised something several steps more insane. He continued,

"Listen carefully. When you reincarnate, the karmic laws carry over, but the divinity linked to you doesn't know why that connection was set."

"Hmm..."

"Exactly, it doesn't know. Otherwise, the current situation where even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, or Jeon Uk, can't touch you makes no sense."

Pointing at me, Je Gal-sa's eyes flashed intensely.

"And rashly tampering with unforeseen karmic laws is the height of folly, so no one dares touch you. Even attempting to investigate would tamper with the karmic laws. The higher the realm, the more so! That's why Jeon Uk hasn't touched you despite his apostle's powers carrying over. Though that's assuming you haven't used those powers."

"Hmm..."

"The plan is based on what you've learned through reincarnations and adventures, so side effects should be minimal. We just can't predict the outcome."

After explaining, Je Gal-sa muttered,

"... Honestly, being able to do this now makes it the strongest demonic tome in history."

"......?"

"Anyway, all that's left is waiting for Gonggong."

I talked with Je Gal-sa. Mostly about future plans and what to do after death. But as we spoke, I realized conversing under the premise of dying was utterly exhausting.

"Am I going mad too..."

It was ridiculous how I was accepting death positively, thinking about what to do next life. Had there ever been another human this accustomed to dying since ancient times?

It was about two hours later.

Boom!

Suddenly, something massive plummeted from the sky amid blinding light. We hurried to the site, and sure enough, Gonggong stood there. Spotting us, he grinned and raised something in one hand.

[Keh heh heh. I have obtained the Gold Yao.]

Against all odds, he'd done it. I asked Gonggong,

"There must have been countless great warlocks and Peng Jiao there—did you defeat them all?"

Gonggong retorted as if I'd said something absurd.

[Those frauds all ended up as bloody pulp against me? Peng Jiao dared resist, so I tore off his limbs and killed him. It took time to get the Gold Yao because the Western Guardian's barrier was formidable.]

......

[Once I shattered the barrier, it was smooth sailing.]

Peng Jiao seemed dead. For the shadowy ruler of the West, it was an ignoble end.

Contrary to my expectations, the Western warlocks were no match for Gonggong at full power. Freed from the Guardian's shackles, Gonggong appeared to transcend even Great Heavenly Immortals. At a loss for words before his might, Gonggong opened his hand to show me the Gold Yao.

[Behold. This is the Gold Yao.]

My first time seeing the Gold Yao up close.

Flash!

"What immense light...!"

I'd seen plenty of divine glows before, but trying to gaze directly at the Gold Yao's sheer radiance made it impossible. Even sunlight at point-blank range wouldn't hurt this much, and protecting my eyes with internal energy still wasn't enough. An ordinary human would surely go blind on sight. Sure enough, Je Gal-sa beside me closed his eyes the moment he sensed it and chanted a spell to shield his vision.

As I struggled to open my eyes, Gonggong laughed heartily and withdrew the Gold Yao into his hand, dimming its light with his power.

[Keh ha ha ha... This is the divine artifact containing primordial light, also called the Morning Star. It's one of the Seven Luminaries, forged by Shao Hao Golden Heaven with the full power of Venus—the Morning Star itself.]

Gonggong seemed thrilled to boast about obtaining the Gold Yao. From his demeanor, I guessed it held some special power.

"Do the Seven Luminaries have advantages and disadvantages?"

I asked cautiously,

"Have you liberated the Gold Yao?"

[Heh heh. Liberating it now would draw the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' attention. I'll hold off until we gather more.]

......

Just as Je Gal-sa predicted, it wasn't that he couldn't; he simply chose not to. As a being on par with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Gonggong could liberate the Seven Luminaries through sheer force.

I said to Gonggong,

"Gonggong, you're about to go for the Earth Yao, but first, I have something to tell you."

[What is it?]

"Actually, we're planning to activate Pangu's spell in the Heavenly Realm."

[...]

I explained the full situation to Gonggong. He crossed his arms, listening, then replied,

[Sorry, but I can't help.]

"Why? If Pangu's spell activates, this world gets wiped clean..."

[A tragedy. But I have a duty to revive the Giant Race and witness the King's return.]

Gonggong continued,

[If a Giant God like me aids you against the Heavenly Realm, it would inevitably trigger the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' descent via karmic law. Fighting them head-on before reviving the King would derail my purpose forever. Our agreement was merely to cooperate in gathering the Seven Luminaries, wasn't it?]

"But..."

[Farewell, then. Out of loyalty, I'll recover the Fire Yao after your demise.]

His attitude was chillingly cold. But since Je Gal-sa had anticipated this, I stayed composed and said,

"What if there's a way that doesn't violate the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' karmic law?"

[What?]

Without hesitation, I seized the Fire Yao and offered it to Gonggong. Then I said,

"I'll consecrate this Fire Yao to you. In exchange, make me your apostle."

[...]

Gonggong looked at me in disbelief and said,

[I refuse. I can't make a weakling like you my apostle.]

"I know I'm weak. But will you stand by and watch the world perish?"

[Hah... I'm no fool. I know what you mean by asking to be my apostle.]

Gonggong gave a wry smile.

[But I don't see that level of trust between us. You know the risk of losing my power if you die as my apostle. I can't take that chance.]

Hearing Gonggong, I felt a twinge of exasperation—not because his logic was sound, but because Je Gal-sa's intellect had predicted even this reaction. Following Je Gal-sa's script, I continued,

"Then I'll share information worth that risk."

[Oh? What information?]

"It's..."

After I spoke a few words, Gonggong looked shocked and flustered.

[... Is that true?]

"Almost certain."

It wasn't truly certain—just Je Gal-sa's near-perfect deduction. Yet Gonggong reacted strongly.

[Very well! It's worth the risk. I, Gonggong, appoint you, Baek Woong, as my apostle.]

Flash!!

A massive light descended upon me shortly after. As proof of becoming Gonggong's apostle, three slashes appeared etched on my hand. The moment he made me his apostle, Gonggong's body began turning transparent and fading.

[I'll go retrieve the Earth Yao. See you later.]

Whoosh...

Once Gonggong vanished, Je Gal-sa beside me said,

"Basic preparations are complete."

"Will this really work?"

"If not, so what?"

Je Gal-sa grinned.

"I'd rather you die quick, honestly. Do you know how agonizing it's been clinging to this worn-out body? Life's been pure torment."

"Je Gal-sa."

"Kek kek! Bound by a contract with the Demon King, I could extend my lifespan semi-permanently with the Great Separation Technique, yet I had to choose death. I should have died fifty years ago, but I've been stalling that bastard Demon King, unable to even transfer to a puppet body."

Muttering complaints, Je Gal-sa turned and shuffled away.

"No point griping now. See you next time."

Je Gal-sa's figure gradually melted into the darkness.

......

I clenched my fists, reflecting on the meaning of "next."

In this life, I absolutely won't just die.

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