Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

The moment Lee Gwang barged into the duel, both the Sword Demon's and my faces twisted almost simultaneously. We'd thought the plan was on the verge of success, but an unexpected figure had intervened! Still, there was nothing we could do right now, so all we could do was watch.

The Leader stared at Lee Gwang, who had blocked his attack, and spoke as if seeing him anew.

[Ho... You're Lee Gwang, aren't you...?]

“......”

[I learned of you while investigating Jin So-cheong's movements... I never imagined the disciple of Lee Cheon-un would live such a life...]

Lee Gwang didn't respond, only biting his lip hard. Then he glanced back at Jin So-cheong behind him and did something no one in the hall could have anticipated.

Thud!

“...Master!!”

Lee Gwang had dropped to his knees and was kowtowing to the White Lotus Leader so forcefully that the impacts echoed loudly! It was a groveling posture begging only for the opponent's absolute mercy, and no one had expected the great Lee Gwang to debase himself like this.

As the White Lotus Leader silently looked down at him, Lee Gwang cried out in a shrill yet earnest voice.

“I, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang, dare to implore the supreme sovereign of the White Lotus Cult, the White Lotus Leader! My foolish and arrogant disciple Jin So-cheong dared to challenge the supreme ruler of the martial world, but I beg for your mercy!”

[......]

“White Lotus Leader, please cancel this duel and let it be as if it never happened!! I, Lee Gwang, kneel and implore you!!”

“M-Master...”

Jin So-cheong, standing behind him, wore a look of utter devastation, as if the world had collapsed.

“......”

Truth be told, I felt the same.

The moment Lee Gwang knelt and slammed his forehead against the ground repeatedly, an indescribable emotion boiled up inside me.

What was this?

What the hell was this feeling?

Seeing such a pathetic display from Lee Gwang should have felt refreshing, but instead, my hands and feet were trembling. I felt restless, seized by an impulse to smash something right then and there. It was clearly far from the thrill of schadenfreude at his humiliation.

As I watched, biting my lip until it bled, the White Lotus Leader spoke calmly.

[So the master seeks forgiveness in place of his disciple's sins?]

“That is so!!”

[Hmm... Interesting.]

He suddenly glanced toward the Dharma Protectors watching from afar and said,

[Han Baek-ryeong. What should we do?]

“Leader.”

Han Baek-ryeong, wearing a silver fox mask, flinched at the Leader's call, visibly flustered. She seemed shocked by Lee Gwang's intrusion and kowtowing as well. But she quickly regained her composure and replied,

“He is the disciple of Lee Cheon-un. Considering the position Lee Cheon-un once held in the White Lotus Cult, I believe it's worth hearing him out.”

[True enough...]

Then Yong Bi-cheon, beside her, barked curtly.

“That's not true, Leader!!”

[Yong Bi-cheon.]

“One who dares challenge the White Lotus Leader must pay for their arrogance. It is only right to punish them so they never commit such insolence again, as per your will.”

[That holds true as well...]

Yong Bi-cheon harbored a grudge from once being counterattacked and wounded by Lee Gwang in the past—like a cat resenting a mouse for scratching it while caught, though that pathetic bastard wouldn't think that way. After a moment of silence at Yong Bi-cheon's words, the White Lotus Leader finally turned to Duggo Jun.

[Jusang. What do you think?]

[Leader. First, wouldn't it be best to dismiss the spectators?]

Duggo Jun glanced at Jin So-cheong's followers clustered in the back and continued.

[Rumors spreading unnecessarily in the martial world would not be good.]

The young experts shuddered at his words, which hinted at malice to silence them. They weren't fools; they realized the White Lotus experts could kill them all if things went south.

Then the Divine Monk spoke in an angry voice.

“Wasn't this a friendly duel? I cannot tolerate such brutality!”

In response to the Divine Monk's outburst, Duggo Jun retorted with evident displeasure, channeling his Six Harmonies Sword Aura.

[Divine Monk. Jin So-cheong's provocation just now was a direct challenge to the dignity of our cult's sovereign. As Dharma Protectors, we are prepared to do anything to uphold the Leader's dignity.]

“That's merely your subjective judgment. He won't fall easily, but don't twist your Leader's intent.”

[Hmph...]

A tense air flowed between the Divine Monk and Duggo Jun. Setting aside Infinite Inner Energy, their martial arts were nearly equal. Even if Duggo Jun unleashed his Infinite Inner Energy, the Divine Monk's own profound energy made a quick resolution unlikely. In a prolonged battle, Duggo Jun would win, but even for him, the Divine Monk was no easy opponent.

The Leader remained silent, as if undecided. After much deliberation, he spoke to Lee Gwang.

[Lee Gwang. I had no intention of killing or harming Jin So-cheong. I don't think you needed to cast aside your pride like this...]

“How could such arrogance not offend you!!”

Thud!!

Lee Gwang slammed his forehead into the ground again and shouted.

“Please forgive him. He shall never challenge the White Lotus Cult's dignity again!!”

[......]

“Declare today's duel void and let him go!”

The White Lotus Leader watched Lee Gwang repeat himself and then said,

[I see... You want to keep your disciple from any further ties to the White Lotus Cult...? For the future of the Thunder God Style?]

“White Lotus Leader, I harbor no such ulterior motives!!”

[Hahaha...]

The White Lotus Leader chuckled and said,

[Fitting for a disciple of Lee Cheon-un... As expected, your Thunder God Style hides secrets... something about the ultimate techniques, perhaps.]

“Nothing of the sort!! We are mere pathetic losers!!”

Ignoring Lee Gwang's rebuttal, the White Lotus Leader continued.

[Commendable. To cast aside all pride for your school's future and disciple... Lee Cheon-un's disciple has the qualities of a hero.]

“......!!”

The White Lotus Leader's impassive gaze turned to Lee Gwang.

[Withdrew, Lee Gwang. You have neither the right nor justification to intervene and kowtow to me. You were once the successor to the Thunder God Style's master and a White Lotus junior expert, but not anymore. I have no reason to kill or harm you, and to this cult, you are now a complete outsider.]

Flash

As the White Lotus Leader's finger pointed upward from below, Lee Gwang's body, which had been pressed forehead to the ground, shot upright. He'd struck his head so hard that his forehead was split open, blood streaming down, but his eyes blazed like a tiger's. Grinding his teeth, he shouted,

“Leader! I beg for mercy!!”

[You cannot kneel. I won't accept it.]

“Urgh.”

[Stay right there.]

Crack

It was as the White Lotus Leader said. Lee Gwang's body seemed bound by intangible intent, unable to move an inch. Passing by the flailing Lee Gwang in midair, the White Lotus Leader slowly said,

[Then... shall I receive the nine bows from my new disciple Jin So-cheong as his master?]

I was overwhelmed by utterly tangled emotions at the scene before me.

‘Everything's going perfectly...’

This was fine as is.

The White Lotus Leader wasn't falling for Lee Gwang's ploy and planned to simply accept Jin So-cheong as a disciple. Jin So-cheong would enter as the Leader's disciple, uncover the fusion of Chaos and Void, and even reveal the secrets hidden in the Leader's Heart Heaven Boundless. That intelligence would be transmitted secretly via the Oracle Pearl Jin So-cheong possessed. The entire plan was flawless.

But my chest felt tight.

I clenched my fists. I wanted to do something, but I didn't know what.

At that moment, Jin So-cheong spoke to me through the Oracle Pearl.

[I'm sorry, Baek Woong.]

I had a feeling what he would say. I felt the same.

[I know your reincarnation is far more important, but I can't bear to watch my master from this life suffer such humiliation.]

[......]

[Like it or not, he's my master. What about you, Baek Woong?]

[I understand.]

We couldn't endure unlimited humiliation from the White Lotus Leader.

It wasn't sentiment for Lee Gwang.

It was the pride and dignity screaming as disciples of the Thunder God Style.

‘No choice!’

I sighed inwardly and replied to Jin So-cheong.

[...Do as you wish. I've washed my hands of it.]

[Thank you.]

With things as they were, the plan to make Jin So-cheong the Leader's disciple in this life was abandoned.

From now on... both he and I would act freely.

As members of the Thunder God Style.

Flash!

“Haap!”

Jin So-cheong shot forward like lightning, thrusting a spear strike at the White Lotus Leader. The strike looked no different from before, but as the Leader casually deployed his white energy barrier to block it, he seemed to flinch in surprise.

[Reckless... Urgh.]

Spurt

In that instant, the White Lotus Leader reacted too slowly, suffering a wound about an inch deep in his shoulder. Jin So-cheong's spear strike had deviated far from any speed or trajectory the Leader could counter. Or rather, it was an attack unreadable without full focus from the start.

Jin So-cheong's eyes hardened coldly. It was no longer the excited gaze of a young prodigy dreaming of becoming the world's best, but the demeanor of a true warrior facing a mortal enemy.

Yes—

Only now was Jin So-cheong challenging the White Lotus Leader in 'earnest.'

Crouching Empty Slash

Combined Form

Residual Empty Cloud Radiance

Screech

Jin So-cheong's spear tip twisted. It signified that the essence of the peerless divine arts I'd gained through my reincarnations was now truly fusing with the honest Thunder God Style spear forms he'd wielded until now.

A terrifying thunderbolt seemed to explode from Jin So-cheong's eyes.

Three Steps Absolute Skill

Wonderful Hand

Ninety-Nine Harmonies Return to Reason

Silent Thunder Yin God Kill

The first step was like a white shadow. As the faint annihilating shadow pierced space, the Leader's inner energy detected it and unleashed hundreds of palm shadows in an instant. As that overwhelming destructive force swept toward Jin So-cheong, he lightly executed Thunder Chant to explosively boost his speed, reaching the Leader's nose for a brief moment.

The air burst with a sound like fog scattering.

The second step advanced almost provocatively. As this variation of the Three Steps Absolute Skill unfolded, the Leader's superhuman senses bodily nullified, and simultaneously, Jin So-cheong's spearhead unleashed the killing blow of Ninety-Nine Harmonies Return to Reason, slashing across the Leader's upper body. The Leader dodged with an evasion technique without panic, but in that moment, the final step of the Three Steps Absolute Skill landed.

Flash

[......!!]

Shock was evident behind the White Lotus Leader's mask.

In a mere instant, Jin So-cheong had truly pierced the Leader's back! Up until now, it had felt like the Leader was toying with a mouse, but this was a perfect strike exploiting his opening. At the same time, a single lightning-like annihilating thrust pierced from the heavens toward the Leader's back.

Kaboom!!

[Grk.]

The White Lotus Leader instantly deployed protective aura of terrifying density with his Origin Spirit Power to block Jin So-cheong's lethal strike, but even he couldn't fully avoid the impact of the surprise blow. A trickle of blood flowed from beneath his mask.

“L-Leader!!”

The Dharma Protectors and White Lotus members watching from behind gasped at the Leader's injury. How could the White Lotus Leader be wounded by a weakling like Jin So-cheong?!

In particular, Lee Gwang, freed from the intangible pressure and still kneeling, wore a dazed expression, clueless about what had happened.

But it was only natural.

Even without ascending to the Absolute Realm—no matter how you sliced it, the current Jin So-cheong had inherited all the martial experiences I'd accumulated. Not only the Seven Great Absolute Arts and Eight Immortal Divine Skills, but also the applied techniques of the Thunder God Style's wondrous moves that I'd learned through blood and sweat from its master, Lee Cheon-un. Jin So-cheong was now the most orthodox successor to the Thunder God Style, qualified to claim the title of its master!

If Jin So-cheong unleashed his full power, his current ability was several times stronger than when he'd been concealing it moments ago!

“......”

Yet the atmosphere in the hall was grim. I watched the battle with heavy eyes, and then the Sword Demon's transmission reached me.

[Baek Woong. We need to save Jin So-cheong. At this rate, the White Lotus Leader will kill him.]

[He should have inflicted a major wound... regrettable...]

[Let's combine our strength. We must act before the Dharma Protectors intervene.]

[Understood.]

Crack

A fracture appeared in the White Lotus Leader's faceless mask. He rose, staring at Jin So-cheong.

[Impressive... I thought you were a cat, but you were a tiger hiding your claws? If not for that stroke of luck, I might have died just now.]

His tone had completely changed.

As a peerless master, he'd instantly recognized the profound martial enlightenment embedded in Jin So-cheong's attack.

“......”

[No more underestimating you. From now on, I'll face you as the true master of the Thunder God Style and a worthy adversary, Jin So-cheong.]

Whooooch

A tremendous energy began flowing around the White Lotus Leader like a river, accompanied by a mandala.

That was Heart Heaven Boundless!

The absolute realm insight reached only by the White Lotus Leader.

No matter how talented Jin So-cheong was, he couldn't possibly overcome Heart Heaven Boundless with his current power.

Flash

In that instant, the Sword Demon, Divine Monk, and Bright Dragon Elder simultaneously blocked Jin So-cheong's front. Sweat beaded heavily on all their foreheads. Even the Divine Monk seemed greatly tense, stammering to the White Lotus Leader.

“L-Leader. As the sovereign of the White Lotus Cult, please show mercy...”

[Hahaha, mercy? That would insult Jin So-cheong. He's far stronger than you all, standing at the threshold of the Absolute Realm—how dare I claim to bestow mercy with my power? I'm not that great.]

“But...”

[Silence.]

Rumble

It was just one word.

“Kh!”

“Urgh...”

But that alone made the Divine Monk and Bright Dragon Elder stagger and nearly collapse, while the overwhelming pressure left everyone in the hall breathless. Only the Sword Demon defended the Leader's aura with somber eyes, and the White Lotus Leader's gaze sharpened at the sight.

[Ho... Sword Demon Seomoon Daeryong. When did you grow so strong? To think a demonic faction could produce a master like you...]

The Sword Demon sighed.

“Leader. This is meaningless. What disciple could endure watching their master humiliated?”

[This is a grudge between our cult's Four Great Martial Styles. An outsider like you has no say.]

“I'll protect Jin So-cheong.”

Step.

As the White Lotus Leader took one step, the Sword Demon, Jin So-cheong, and I surrounded him in a Three Talents Formation. The Divine Monk and Bright Dragon Elder belatedly shook off the Leader's pressure and stood. Lee Gwang hesitated and retreated.

Six against one!

[Interesting... Dharma Protectors, stay out of this.]

The White Lotus Leader spoke, radiating intense fury and boiling emotion.

[This will no longer be a mere play.]

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