Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

The White Lotus Leader seemed to have already figured out what martial arts we possessed.

Of course, it would be the Seven Great Ultimate Arts and Eight Immortal Divine Skills I had acquired through past life experiences, along with the full repertoire of Thunder God Style absolute techniques.

He might not know the specific names, but after exchanging those full-force initial moves, he would have a rough idea of their nature.

But submitting to the White Lotus Leader was absolutely not an option. Naturally, he would suppress us all and investigate, and in the process, there was a high chance I'd lose the keepsake plaque and demonic treasures just like before.

Moreover, if I really handed over all the martial arts I possessed to the Leader, it would just lead to the same catastrophe as in the past. I had confirmed that fact with my question just moments ago.

'I have to brainwash the White Lotus Leader myself, or nothing will change.'

That was why I always hesitated to use the black obsidian or memory transfer on him, only to end up not doing it. The White Lotus Leader was obsessed with the belief that only he could save the world, and he was willing to make any sacrifice for it. Until his mindset changed, he could never be accepted as a comrade. Even if I gave him my memories, it was obvious he'd do whatever he wanted with them!

I was about to flatly reject the White Lotus Leader's proposal, but that's when the Sword Demon spoke up.

[Time to think...? That would be difficult. If experts of your caliber escape this place, it will be hard for me to suppress you afterward with my own power.]

It sounded like he was whining, but he was clearly stating he couldn't let us go. The Sword Demon replied calmly.

"I'm not asking for much time. Just give us half a shichen to deliberate."

[Impossible.]

"Are you really set on seeing this through to the end? If we go all out, even you won't escape unscathed."

[You seem to know all about me and came prepared, but I know nothing in return. You're asking me to generously give you time to discuss in this situation? How shameless.]

Swooosh.

The Leader slowly raised his hand. Realizing this was the signal to bring in the Dharma Protectors, the Sword Demon hurriedly shouted.

"Wait..."

Wrong move.

I bit my lip hard.

'No choice now... I have to abandon this life!'

If the Leader and the Dharma Protectors attacked together, there was no way we could survive. I hadn't expected things to spiral this far, but there was still a way out even now. By sacrificing my life and unleashing the Great La Annihilation Formation to land a fatal blow on the Leader, I would definitely die, but the Leader would probably perish too.

That's when it happened.

Whoooosh!

A gale seemed to sweep through the hall. Within that gale, hundreds of rays of light poured down following the turbulence, the attack clearly targeting the Leader. The Leader activated Heart Heaven Infinite Void to deflect the surprise assault, but the flow of attacks didn't stop. Instead, the wind's range expanded even further, eventually engulfing the area where the Dharma Protectors stood.

[This is...]

The Leader gathered his power immensely and unleashed a shockwave, but the gale paused only briefly before surging again.

Rumble rumble...

As the gale's force intensified, the outside view became nearly invisible from within. At that moment, a mysterious white energy enveloped me and transported me somewhere.

Swoosh swoosh!

When I came to, a familiar sight unfolded before me.

"Zhang Ling Valley?"

"So it seems."

Beside me stood Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon. They had been transported along with me, and around us were other experts like Lee Gwang, Divine Victory, and Bright Dragon Master. The later-generation prodigies who had been spectating the duel weren't there; no one else was visible in the hall.

Then Zhuge Sa's voice rang out.

"Well, good thing I decided to watch after all."

"Zhuge Sa!"

Zhuge Sa, descending slowly from the layered platform, wore an irritated expression. He glanced down below and said.

"Is this what they mean when they say man proposes but heaven disposes?"

"What happened?"

"What happened? We rescued you exactly as planned. Using Zhuge Bu over there."

Sure enough, an expressionless Zhuge Bu stood in the hall. He looked utterly emotionless, like a doll. Jin So-cheong, grasping the situation, said.

"You manipulated Zhuge Bu to cast the spell, didn't you, Zhuge Sa?"

"It was on autopilot, anyway!"

Zhuge Sa glanced at Zhuge Bu and lightly retorted, then said.

"Subdue Lee Gwang, Divine Victory, and Bright Dragon Master."

What?

Before I could even react, curse seals appeared over the three named individuals. Divine Victory quickly gathered his dharma power to break the seal, Bright Dragon Master deployed his Cloud Transport Bell to escape the spell's range, and Lee Gwang countered by unleashing thunderclap to attack Zhuge Bu.

Clang!

But when Zhuge Bu swung his sword, Lee Gwang was repelled instead. In the next instant, talismans floated in the air, assaulting all three simultaneously. They dodged with swift footwork and tried to counterattack Zhuge Bu, but the spells layered over the space like overlapping webs, eventually rendering them unable to move.

Thud.

"Ugh..."

"What the hell did you do?"

Divine Victory and Bright Dragon Master succumbed to Zhuge Bu's curse, trembling and immobilized, and Lee Gwang fared no better. I was stunned by the sight.

'He's capturing them too easily...'

Even depleted from fighting the White Lotus Leader, these were top-tier experts in the current martial world. Even I had no guarantee I could subdue all three so effortlessly. Yet Zhuge Bu had brought them to their knees as if herding wild beasts.

Zhuge Sa smirked and said.

"I've been feeding him spirit elixirs nonstop, implanting martial knowledge and experience, and reorganizing his spell tactics for maximum efficiency. While at it, I tinkered with his brain's potential too. Now he can utilize 100% of his abilities, making the current Zhuge Bu the pinnacle combat puppet in both martial arts and sorcery. If we amplify his powers without regard for means, we could even assassinate the White Lotus Leader."

"Why capture them?"

"You expect me to just let them go in this situation and handle it themselves? Divine Victory aside, the thought of Bright Dragon Master or Lee Gwang spreading rumors in the martial world is terrifying."

"......"

"Especially that one—better to just kill him."

Zhuge Sa's gaze, laced with feral killing intent, fixed on Lee Gwang. The failure this time was entirely due to Lee Gwang's unexpected interference. Humiliated, Jin So-cheong had chosen confrontation, dragging me and the other experts into a battle with the White Lotus Leader.

Then Jin So-cheong stepped in front of Lee Gwang and sighed.

"Please stop."

Zhuge Sa replied coldly.

"Jin So-cheong. You have nothing to say to me, do you? In a way, you've betrayed us all. What were you planning if Baek Woong got caught and tortured there because of your worthless master's life? If he went berserk with Great La Annihilation Formation and just died?"

"......"

"Jin So-cheong... Aren't you in a position to meekly offer your neck even if I kill you alongside your master right now?"

I held back Zhuge Sa.

"Calm down. What's done is done—how can we undo it? Let's calm down and discuss what to do next."

"Heh... Calm down? It was a perfect setup to send you straight to Dark Heaven Village for efficient past-life grinding, but Jin So-cheong's suggestion dragged it out. And in the end, those Thunder God Style bastards wasted our time anyway, drawing the White Lotus Leader's attention to us!"

Zhuge Sa, uncharacteristically furious, shouted.

"Get out of the way! I'll end the Thunder God Style lineage with that brain-dead fool today."

"......"

In the end, the Sword Demon blocked Zhuge Sa's path and said.

"Calm yourself. This isn't like you."

"What isn't like me? What do you even know about me?"

"At the very least, I know you're not the type to lose your cool over something like this."

The Sword Demon's clear eyes stared straight at Zhuge Sa.

"Isn't this moment just part of the scheme? Pretending to be swept up in passion to pressure Jin So-cheong and Lee Gwang, setting the stage for them to take on risky roles ahead... Or perhaps volunteering as the villain yourself to spare Baek Woong needless guilt or comrade trust issues."

Silence fell for a moment.

Zhuge Sa smirked after a long pause.

"Ha, as expected of the man I once considered my lord. Alright, enough joking around."

His demeanor shifted so abruptly it left me deflated.

'As expected...'

Zhuge Sa hadn't truly been angry; he had simply proceeded exactly as planned from the start. Even so, only the Sword Demon, perceptive to human psychology, had read his intent—testament to his formidable acting skills.

Zhuge Sa said.

"Jin So-cheong. Personally lock those three in the Underground Thunder Prison and seal their acupoints with your inner energy. From now on, you're to watch them around the clock."

"Understood."

"Even oversee their torture yourself. Including interrogating your master."

"...

Understood."

Jin So-cheong obeyed without protest. He had no choice, bearing responsibility for his failure. As Jin So-cheong led the three away to the Underground Thunder Prison, Zhuge Sa said.

"Baek Woong. We can't rely on Jin So-cheong's plan anymore. Your only path is to Dark Heaven Village."

"Hmm... But if things stay like this, the White Lotus Leader will raze the martial world. Especially Elder Sword Demon's Shadowless Sect..."

The White Lotus Cult hadn't unified the martial world until now—not because they couldn't, but because they hadn't bothered. But now that the Leader had confirmed Jin So-cheong's Thunder God Style heritage and the potential of the Seven Great Ultimate Arts, he might move to dominate the realm immediately. And the Sword Demon, having exposed himself directly, would be the first target of their assault.

Zhuge Sa replied nonchalantly.

"Fool. Why so serious? One bad move in the grand game doesn't mean instant loss. It was a ridiculous failure, but we're not at that stage yet."

"Then?"

"There are best, middle, and worst plans. Which first?"

"The worst one."

Zhuge Sa sat at a nearby table and said.

"The worst is handing the White Lotus Leader the black obsidian or silver phoenix feather to share memories and take a gamble on recruiting him as a comrade. If it works, it's better than the best plan. Once successful, you could keep him as a comrade thereafter."

"Th-that's..."

He teased openly.

"You think it's reckless too, right? Too high a chance the White Lotus Leader overpowers and brainwashes you? Maybe you'll get lucky like last time? If I were him, I'd stop at nothing to steal your past-life abilities."

"......"

"If you want to try it alone later, I won't stop you. Just don't drag us down with you. I don't want to end like this."

"And the middle plan?"

"Pack all of Sword Demon's Shadowless Sect forces into your neck protector and relocate both Zhang Ling Valley and Jin Rang Valley bases to the Southern Continent or Southern Barbarians. Then wash our hands of the martial world entirely—let the White Lotus Leader conquer it or not—and challenge Dark Heaven Village. Sticking true to this life's core objective."

"......"

Huh?

What Zhuge Sa called the middle plan sounded like the best to me.

I gave him a puzzled look and asked.

"There's something better than that?"

"Just one best plan."

"What is it?"

My face hardened at Zhuge Sa's following words.

"Within three days, you and Zhuge Bu infiltrate the White Lotus Cult as a two-man team and assassinate the Leader. In my estimation, success rate over eighty percent, so give it a shot. Kill the Leader, and most earthly nuisances resolve themselves."

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