Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

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Dark Heaven Village

My 24th life had begun.

"...Should I sleep?"

I muttered blankly while staring up at the stable ceiling. In truth, my internal energy had reached its peak, so I didn't even need to sleep deliberately, but the thought crossed my mind anyway. In my previous life—which felt like it had ended just moments ago—I had endured the asura field of the divine beings, leaving me with an immense mental fatigue.

After all, lounging here for a bit wouldn't cause the world to shatter immediately, right? I felt wrapped in the desire to just lie down, ignore everything, and sleep soundly.

But I soon shook my head and rose from my spot.

"I'll handle what needs doing first, then rest."

After securing the Heavenly Dark Secret Book, I was about to rush straight to Shandong for the Gourd but hesitated.

Wouldn't it be better to conserve some stamina?

"For times like this..."

I recalled the advanced spell that Mang-ryang from fifty years in the future had passed on to me: the Earth Shrinking Technique. Originally an advanced sorcery beyond my level, I could use it imperfectly thanks to Mang-ryang imprinting it fully in my mind. Of course, I couldn't wield it as naturally as Cheon Woo-jin or higher sorcerers, and it came with significant limitations.

I formed hand seals and chanted the incantation, entering a state of deep focus. After concentrating for about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, I slowly took a step forward.

Rustle.

With each step, the surrounding scenery shifted. It was a terrifying speed, as if folding the earth to travel, yet my body wasn't physically running. I maintained the Earth Shrinking Technique for a long while, releasing it only when my sorcery power was depleted.

"Huu."

This must have covered about 150 li, right? Yet my physical stamina and energy were barely consumed. Even with my vast internal energy granting near-infinite stamina, sprinting all the way to Shandong wasn't easy, so I wanted to save strength with sorcery.

"And incidentally raise my sorcery proficiency..."

Since I was using it through a bit of a cheat method now, the casting time was much longer than the original, with more restrictions and shorter distances. I needed to reach mid-tier or advanced sorcery levels quickly to use the Earth Shrinking Technique naturally.

I pressed toward Shandong using the Earth Shrinking Technique repeatedly for a long stretch. It was far slower than simply dashing with movement arts, but I treated it as sorcery training, casting, resting, and repeating dozens of times. After a full day of relentless travel, Shandong City finally came into view.

I entered Shandong City, obtained the Gourd, then immediately headed to Dongyeong to mine a handful of obsidian before returning to the Central Plains. From there, I descended into the Great Thunder Jade's underground chamber and battled the Beast of the Moon, felling it.

Boom.

"Am I definitely stronger?"

The time to defeat the Beast of the Moon had shortened dramatically, and I noticed minor flaws and wastes in my movements had largely vanished. As expected, the mad training in Thunder God Style martial arts from Yi Cheong-un in the previous life was showing results. I sheathed my sword roughly, gathered the Dragon Armor, Nine Yin Origin Text, and twin swords, then exited.

I stuffed the prisoners, including General Hwang Yeon, into the Gourd and carefully examined those who had transformed into two-legged beasts. Those who had received the [Blessing of the Fierce God], their bodies now completely blackened, were mid-transformation. I knew exactly what to do with them.

"...They're suitable for human sacrifice."

I let out a silent groan inwardly.

Jeonggal-sa had advised me that those blessed by the [Blessing of the Fierce God] before fully transforming into two-legged beasts were extremely valuable resources and offerings. Offering them in a human sacrifice ritual would fetch a high price. If I wasn't going to take them as subordinates, he suggested simply sacrificing them to the [Ancient Ruler] or the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

"......"

But even seeing them before me, it didn't sit right. After all, they were still alive in a sense. Was it right to kill them for sacrifice? Committing evil just because I didn't know how to reverse it didn't feel good, so I shook my head and stuffed them into the Gourd as well.

Unless something extremely urgent came up, I wouldn't use them as offerings.

Next, I headed to the Blood Path Group's lair and began massacring them. I had no idea how many times I'd done this slaughter, but the pleasure of punishing villains still came fully. Though it felt a bit numb now.

Slash!

Splat!

Five necks flew at once under my sword aura, but my expression didn't twitch.

"Ugh..."

As expected. Even villains—no matter how vile—get tiresome after beheading so many. It was a gruesome thought, but reality for me, leaving a complicated feeling. I scratched my head and looked at the terrified pirates.

"Hmm... Don't you want to commit suicide?"

"W-What?!"

"No need for seppuku; how about slitting your wrists for blood loss? That way, it won't hurt much..."

The pirates bellowed in rage.

"Shut your crap! Kill us!!"

As expected of pirates, obvious to the skill gap, they were quickly provoked and attacked me. I felt relieved at their brutish fearlessness as I raised my sword again and began cutting them down. If they had decent skill, they'd realize the gap and seriously consider suicide, which would feel quite unsettling.

Thud thud thud.

I killed them off roughly, freed Seo Mun-hye and her group, and left the remaining stragglers to her. Unlike before, I'd entrusted her with quite a bit, so after the massacre, Seo Mun-hye looked thoroughly exhausted. I used my internal energy to circulate and restore her.

Hummm.

"Th-Thank you, young hero."

Seo Mun-hye cupped her fists toward me, but I gazed at her with complicated eyes.

"......"

Until now, Seo Mun-hye hadn't been a significant part of our forces, so I'd approached the Blood Path Group subjugation just to rescue the Sword Demon's daughter. But I'd confirmed with my own eyes that she could become the vessel for the Nine Yin Cult Leader's possession in the future, and that she harbored some tremendous mythical secret. I could no longer treat her as an outsider.

Thus, I naturally had to give her the obsidian, but...

"Is that the right thing to do? Forcing her into this harsh journey—even I'd retch at it—would the current her accept it?

Seo Mun-hye from the 23rd life, having experienced the Nine Yin Cult Leader's possession, knew her sins and what atonement required, so she accepted the path of asura. But the current Seo Mun-hye was merely the forbidden flower of the Shadowless Sect and its young leader—a female martial artist of the world. Regardless of martial prowess, it was uncertain if she could properly accept the truths revealed by the obsidian.

I couldn't make up my mind. Not out of disregard for her, but because I'd confirmed her capacity multiple times, I feared shattering her heart. In the end, I couldn't hand over the obsidian right away and clenched my fist tightly.

"...No."

I needed to talk to the Sword Demon first.

After finishing the Blood Path Group subjugation and gathering all the spoils, I headed to the Su-yo Ruins. I took everything worth obtaining from the Su-yo Ruins, then picked a few Sacred Lotuses from the White Lotus Cult's cultivation grounds and stored them in the Dragon Armor. Next, I obtained the Three Sovereigns' Inner Gate at Gongdong Mountain, and finally, the Silver Phoenix Fragment from Taekyung Village.

"The Book of Five Rings can wait."

I could beat Sasaki Kojiro anytime. Since I didn't need the Book of Five Rings immediately, I set it aside for now.

I hesitated between visiting Mang-ryang or Jeonggal-sa, then changed my mind and went to the Sword Demon.

No matter how good the book warriors' opinions were, this matter required speaking to the person involved first out of propriety.

After meeting the Sword Demon and explaining the circumstances, I transmitted memories via obsidian, and his expression shook violently.

"......!!"

The Sword Demon wore a look of sheer shock. Unable to believe the memories, he sat there with wide eyes for a long while. Seo Mun-hye, anxious, spoke to him.

"...Father?"

"......"

The Sword Demon's face shifted to deep anguish. He opened his heavy mouth.

"Hye-ah. Wait outside."

"Understood."

Once Seo Mun-hye closed the door and her presence fully vanished outside, the Sword Demon addressed me.

"Baek Woong... You've endured much. And thank you for looking after my daughter until the end in that life."

"......"

I couldn't even offer modest words or pleasantries. The 23rd life had been a relentless chain of perilous adventures right up to the finale. It wasn't something a few words could lightly summarize, so I stayed silent. The Sword Demon nodded in understanding and continued.

"Thank you for coming to me first, bypassing Mang-ryang and Jeonggal-sa. You understood my position as a father."

"If you don't wish to speak... I won't press."

"No. You must know, of course. You are the reincarnator who will uncover all truths and destroy the gods!"

The Sword Demon sighed and gulped down his tea. It was quite hot, but his inner turmoil made it inevitable. After calming his emotions somewhat, he slowly spoke.

"Hye-ah's mother... my wife Seo Mi-yeong, was a remarkably beautiful and virtuous woman. Not a martial artist, but she'd been with me since childhood. In my youth, we realized our mutual affection and married after confirming our hearts."

"I see."

"However, she was congenitally frail. Despite frequent illnesses treated with decoctions and spirit medicines to bolster her vitality, her condition never improved... and she eventually left this world."

"......"

"Even imparting the Shadowless Sect's secret internal arts changed nothing..."

Those congenitally weak in qi cannot improve no matter what spirit medicines or internal arts they take. To heal such a person, they'd need something like the Millennium Snow Ginseng I'd consumed to gain a normal body, but transcendent elixirs like that are never easily found. Even as the sovereign of the orthodox paths with the Shadowless Sect risen high, it hadn't reached that far.

The Sword Demon continued.

"Because of that, I resolved to raise Hye-ah strong. Normally, for a martial family's daughter, one doesn't pass true martial arts and instead marries a talented son-in-law to continue the line. But I didn't. I rigorously trained her in martial arts to make her the full heir of the Shadowless Sect, showing little indulgence and ignoring her marriageable age as a woman."

I nodded.

"That's why she reached Peak Expert realm at such a young age."

I'd encountered so many overwhelming figures in my adventures that I hadn't fully appreciated it, but a Peak Expert at Seo Mun-hye's age was rare in the Central Plains martial world. Among countless young prodigies, she stood at the forefront.

"It fell short of what I'd hoped, but it sufficed to inherit the Shadowless Sect alone. However, right then... Hye-ah vanished without a trace. Until you found her, my heart burned like fire."

I could sense the Sword Demon's love and obsession for Seo Mun-hye. How deep must a father's wish be for his only daughter to stand tall and strong in the martial world? As I listened with mixed feelings, he said,

"But learning your memories raises a question..."

"A question?"

"As I just said, my wife Seo Mi-yeong wasn't from a martial family. She was the precious daughter of a high Henan official, with no unusual bloodline. So how is my daughter connected to that immense being Chiyou speaks of? I can't fathom it."

"Hmm."

Stuck here after all.

I pondered deeply, then said to the Sword Demon,

"Could the Shadowless Sect's martial arts or founder be linked to Chiyou?"

"I don't think so... If you wish, I'll show you all our historical records and manuals immediately. But I believe the Shadowless Sect's founder was merely a righteous hermit concerned for the world's peace, unrelated to mythical beings."

"I see."

If the Sword Demon, who inherited everything of the Shadowless Sect, said so, no need to check further. The founder was highly likely unconnected to Chiyou.

"But then why?"

Why did white hair appear on Seo Mun-hye of all people, granting her terrifying physical prowess that could overwhelm even upper heavenly soldiers linked to Chiyou?

I agonized but found no answer, letting out a groan.

"Hmm... But without this answer, she'll remain in danger going forward."

"I know."

The Sword Demon looked at me with heavy eyes and said,

"Baek Woong. Give me time. I'll investigate the Seo family's lineage using the full forces of the Shadowless Sect. I'll uncover everything from their ancestral generation."

"Understood."

I parted from the Sword Demon and headed straight to Mang-ryang. Transmitting memories to him, he marveled,

"24th life already... When did you live so many?"

"More importantly, Mang-ryang. I'm going to persuade Jeonggal-sa; come with me."

"Got it."

Flash.

I took Mang-ryang to Jeonggal-sa's Zhangling Valley. Seeing me with Mang-ryang, Jeonggal-sa emerged suspiciously but came forward. I persuaded him and obtained the obsidian.

Upon inheriting memories via obsidian, Jeonggal-sa looked at me.

"So, what now?"

"...For now, wait until the Sword Demon finishes investigating the Seo family. I need to learn something about Seo Mun-hye's true nature."

"And then?"

I replied as if it were obvious.

"I'll challenge Dark Heaven Village."

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