Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

I couldn't help but tense up when I saw the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer of the Eight Legions Celestials for the second time. Even setting aside everything else, it was obvious he wasn't here with good intentions, and with Manggyang frozen by the time-stop spell, we were at a severe disadvantage. As one of the top figures among the Eight Legions Celestials, the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer possessed unimaginable power capable of suppressing even an awakened Yaksha of the Eight Legions, based on Yeo Dongbin's memories. Fighting him head-on like this meant a high chance of defeat, so anxiety quickly set in.

"No, defeat isn't the issue. If it comes to it, I can just kill myself quickly and reset. The real problem is why he's singling me out..."

It had to be because of the novel "Journey to the West". I glared at him and said,

"You're always tailing us. Is it because you want me to write that autobiography for you?"

The Tipiṭaka Sorcerer shrugged at my question and replied,

"That would be nice, but after our meeting, we concluded it was best to keep an eye on you."

"Our meeting?"

"I have reliable comrades I discuss important matters with from time to time."

'Damn it. Have I been too flashy in this life?'

But there was no helping it. Making the novel trend was worth a shot to gain the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's blessing and favor, and handling the Luoyang seal aftermath was the right thing to do. My inexperience was the only sin here. Regaining my composure, I said calmly,

"What do you want?"

"As I said, you're in a bind right now, so I'll use my spells to drive off those underworld pests. That's why I'm here."

"You showed up at North Mang Mountain at exactly the right moment, as if you knew what we were going to do. You've been watching me the whole time."

I spat the words out bitterly, and the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer smiled slyly.

"If you don't need my help, I'll leave. But you'll need it someday."

That was when it happened.

Cheon Woojin glared at him and said,

"We don't need it. Tipiṭaka Sorcerer."

His voice was calm but laced with pure hostility, without a shred of respect. It was rare for Cheon Woojin to show such open killing intent, so I flinched and looked at him. The Tipiṭaka Sorcerer's eyes gleamed as he stared at Cheon Woojin, who continued,

"We don't have time to waste here. And we can't keep getting tripped up by a shady bastard like you. Stay right there."

"What if I do?"

"I'll kick your ass."

"Hahaha, that's a funny joke I've heard—"

He started to let out his usual boisterous laugh, but his expression twisted in the next instant.

"No, that's..."

Had Cheon Woojin's hand seal disrupted his composure? The peerless beauty's face grew increasingly menacing, but Cheon Woojin didn't even twitch an eyebrow as he chanted the incantation.

"Urgent Crimson Karmic Command."

Flash!

In that moment, the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer tried to counter with some spell, but the crimson light from Cheon Woojin's magic struck him head-on. The Tipiṭaka Sorcerer trembled violently as if skewered on a spit, staring at the crimson spear embedded in his chest. He reached out to pull the translucent spear free.

Squelch.

"Graaahh..."

He let out a guttural roar as he tried to yank it out, but it wouldn't budge. Cheon Woojin, still maintaining the hand seal, said,

"Urgent Crimson Karmic Command."

Crackle.

The spear blazed brighter, scorching his body with smoke. Strangely, despite the grievous wound, the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer showed no signs of real injury, moving like a puppet. His face had already twisted into something demonic, losing all human form and resembling an Asura. He lifted his bloodshot eyes to glare at Cheon Woojin.

[To tamper with my aura... You must truly believe you're untouchable as a god's disciple.]

"Go ahead and babble. You're the one who first cast surveillance spells on us without permission."

Cheon Woojin replied nonchalantly and continued,

"Release the spells on us right now and get lost. And don't show your face again."

Rumble...

An ominous, ferocious energy surged from the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer's body. It felt like the transcendent power I'd sensed before from the Possessed One in front of the White Lotus Leader—something beyond human, on the verge of reclaiming its true form. Clearly, as an Eight Legions Celestial, he was debating whether to reveal his essence.

I swallowed hard.

'What the hell, Cheon Woojin... Why's he going this far?'

I'd been thinking of just rejecting the offer or stringing him along, but Cheon Woojin's reaction was explosive. I worried we might plunge back toward death because of him. We could die before even reaching Dark Heaven Village. Fighting the Eight Legions Celestials hadn't even crossed my mind as an option.

Should I stop Cheon Woojin now and apologize to the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer?

Had we gone too far?

But I quickly changed my mind.

'No. He's a comrade who shares memories, after all. Trust him and see it through.'

The regressor's privilege is that 'failure' is allowed. Better to lose an ally's trust by obsessing over perfect success than suffer a crushing defeat. I could always fix it on the next try. I decided to trust the spellcaster Cheon Woojin's abilities and choices and watch until the end.

If worst came to worst, I could pull out the Ruyi Jingu Bang, summon the spirit Heoya, and call the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. In a way, that might be the best option, but incurring a debt to him rashly wasn't ideal. It would lower the chances of his help in Dark Heaven Village, and Cheon Woojin stepping up now probably meant he knew that too.

Chaos swirled in the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer's eyes. He still maintained a human form, but the sheer size of the aura radiating around him would make any ordinary person soil themselves just looking at his face. Sensing intense killing intent, the corners of his mouth tore upward in a grin as he clutched his pale face and said,

[Kuhuhu, hehebeh. Relying on a mere Yeo Dongbin to me? To dare me...]

Cheon Woojin continued indifferently.

"The Great Free Heaven Seal works, huh. Will you lose all your karma and get banished from this world, or quietly remove the tracking spell and back off?"

[You bastard...]

"You're the one who started the provocation. Quit screwing around and get lost!"

[Get lost...? Shall I kill you right now?]

"Think you can? If you're serious, we can summon the Great Sage Equal to Heaven too. We're the ones holding back."

Cheon Woojin bellowed, and the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer muttered in response.

[...If you weren't Elder Manggyang's disciple, I never would have... let you live...]

"So? What now? If it pisses you off, become Elder Manggyang's disciple yourself."

[Hoo... Don't provoke me too much...]

His eyes flashed murderously for a moment, then he said,

[Fine, I won't appear before you again. Don't summon the Great Sage Equal to Heaven either.]

"Got it."

[But remember... my comrades will be watching you...]

Flash!

Moments later, the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer's body vanished cleanly.

At the same time, the time-stop space lifted.

Manggyang noticed the sudden shift in our auras and, grasping the situation, said,

"One of the Eight Legions Celestials came and went, I see."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, Baek Woong. I can't resist spells that manipulate time."

Manggyang said embarrassedly, and Cheon Woojin replied,

"Not at all, hyungnim. Even top-tier sorcerers struggle against the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer's magic."

"Did you drive him off, little brother?"

"Yes."

I looked at Cheon Woojin with concern and said,

"You okay? We might've just poked the bear unnecessarily. We could've played it smoother..."

Cheon Woojin snapped at my words.

"Hmph. Don't talk nonsense! Were you planning to hand over karma to the Eight Legions Celestials without a plan?"

"Karma?"

At my question, Cheon Woojin sighed and said,

"Sigh. Why do you think he bothered showing up and asking your permission? An Eight Legions Celestial has overwhelming power—he could've just swept the underworld minions without a word and saddled us with a debt."

"Is that so weird? Maybe it's just his style..."

I tilted my head, not quite following, and Manggyang, who had been listening, chimed in.

"Baek Woong, what my junior means is that the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer asking your permission was in itself acquiring karma."

"You get karma like that?"

"Naturally. 'Cause and effect—a simple principle, but that's karma, the fabric of the universe. By seeking and receiving your approval, the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer establishes karma. The Eight Legions Celestials can then intervene in mortal affairs using that karma as pretext."

"Ah..."

"They're demon-god level in power, but without such karma, they can't act in the mortal world."

As understanding dawned on me, Cheon Woojin said angrily,

"And if you'd accepted, he would've used the 'client-contractor' karma from clearing the underworld minions as an excuse to interfere and monitor us more easily and thoroughly. A guy already shadowing us across a thousand miles without karma—what do you think he'd do then?"

"Ugh."

"You'd be played to the bone before even challenging Dark Heaven Village. The Eight Legions Celestials and Changhyeol could toy with us all like puppets."

"But if that was the risk, just refusing would've sufficed. Why provoke him?"

I protested, and Cheon Woojin said,

"He had tracking spells on us, but they were so subtle and advanced even I struggled to dispel them. Better to threaten him into removing them voluntarily."

"The threat—you mean that Great Free Heaven Seal just now?"

"Yeah. Among impossible spells, it's the most powerful and destructive. The Great Free Heaven itself wields the most destructive force among the Three Thousand."

Cheon Woojin muttered,

"Thanks to the info you got from Naoeum Temple during your regressions. Their records on celestials said he hates the Great Free Heaven—it's his weakness."

"Oh, right."

"The Great Free Heaven symbolizes cosmic destruction, embodying a destruction god's power. It also has the authority to decompose higher beings' karma."

Come to think of it, among the info Naoeum Temple's abbot Yohan showed me, there was that detail. Cheon Woojin had devised a counter based on those memories. I quickly shouted to him,

"Teach me that seal too! Next time, I'll use it to drive him off."

"Even if I did, you couldn't use it."

"Why not..."

"You're not skilled enough. You could mimic the seal, but without the enlightenment, it won't work. You need to be a top-tier sorcerer, versed in Daoist, Buddhist, and even Esoteric spells."

"..."

To think I couldn't dispel Eight Legions Celestials due to my sorcery level!

As I lamented, Cheon Woojin said,

"It was almost a gamble. Luckily it worked, and his tracking spells are fully gone."

"A gamble? You mean... he could've gone full form and attacked?"

"Obviously."

"Hey, damn it... That's..."

I was stunned by Cheon Woojin's response and yelled,

"If the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer got moody, we'd all die here!"

"Obviously."

"But why take that gamble?!"

Cheon Woojin looked at me like I asked the obvious.

"We're not all dying."

"What?"

"Me and hyungnim are Elder Manggyang's disciples, so he can't kill us without reservations. An Eight Legions peon wouldn't risk 'revenge' karma and piss off Elder Manggyang. In the end, only you'd die."

"..."

This bastard gambled because he and Manggyang were safe?!

"You die, your new regression starts anyway. Keeping his tracking on us would've just led to more dead ends like last time... I figured it was worth the shot. Plus, we'd have summoned the Great Sage with the Ruyi Jingu Bang, so it wasn't that risky."

"Fair enough, but... You did it to avoid owing the Great Sage, right?"

"Part of it."

Cheon Woojin was clever. In that brief moment of the Tipiṭaka Sorcerer's ambush, he'd assessed everything and played the optimal move. In the end, I'd saved the karma needed to summon the Great Sage.

"Still, warn me next time."

"No time to talk in that situation."

"Damn you..."

Why does this guy always have to be so snarky?

Irritated by Cheon Woojin's attitude, I grumbled, and Manggyang smiled wryly.

"Baek Woong, my junior's brusque, but the outcome's good, so let it slide."

"Ugh... Fine."

"Still, we've shaken off the Eight Legions' interference for now, but the real issue starts here. No solution yet for the underworld minions..."

"Hmm."

I crossed my arms and pondered. Then I said,

"I'll abandon finding Wohee's soul."

"You're serious?"

"Yes. Too troublesome and dangerous."

I nodded and continued,

"I tried to gain Hwanwoong's aid, but if it's this convoluted and deadly, no point pushing it. I'll handle Hwanwoong's request leisurely, even decades from now, and focus on conquering Dark Heaven Village."

If possible, sure, but it didn't look feasible this way. Things would tangle up and lead to a dead end!

I'd often fallen by overreaching, so I instinctively knew it was time to bail. Venturing to the underworld was a massive adventure in itself—can't combine it with Dark Heaven Village.

"Ho, that's a solid judgment."

Manggyang tapped his fan against his palm.

"There are ways to deal with them, but abandoning it is wiser. I was about to advise you, but you figured it out yourself."

"Thanks for the recognition."

"But there's one snag..."

"What's that?"

Manggyang hesitated, then said,

"...The underworld, especially those North and South Dipper Star Lords, likely have some contract or deal with Zhuge Yuryong. Uncovering their secrets could greatly help reveal the Vermilion Bird's immortality secret."

"The immortality secret? That's already out."

I asked puzzled,

"The Vermilion Bird used alchemy and spells to make hundreds of backup bodies, hid them in a secret base, and revives infinitely. What's left to uncover?"

"Baek Woong, you're overlooking something."

"What?"

"The Qinna incident..."

Manggyang's eyes grew serious.

"Think back. We believed we'd cornered the Vermilion Bird perfectly then. All his clones and secret bases destroyed, main body annihilated. Yet he possessed the Qinna of the Eight Legions Celestials, took Mount Tai, and used it as a base to put us in peril."

"True."

"He was utterly beyond recovery. Yet he summoned a demon-lord level Eight Legions Celestial and revived. That means the Vermilion Bird has another immortality secret beyond clone resurrection."

Indeed.

Manggyang's point made sense. As I pondered seriously, Cheon Woojin, listening, glanced up at North Mang Mountain and said,

"Even assuming a contract with the Eight Legions Celestials, his soul didn't go to the underworld. His body didn't weaken either—he lost all his wisdom and skills to Qinna intact. That suggests a subtle pact with those North and South Dipper Star Lords as a postmortem safeguard, right, hyungnim?"

"Yes, junior brother."

Manggyang said firmly,

"We must uncover every last bit of the Vermilion Bird's secrets. Only then can we eliminate aftereffects and open a path to fully annihilate the Imperial faction. We've been getting backstabbed because we thought we'd secured that path already."

"But we have no way now, hyungnim. That brute-force encirclement can't be broken without more dead ends like last time... I figured Equal to Heaven... or another Eight Legions Celestial. Capturing the North and South Dipper Star Lords is even harder."

"There are ways besides frontal assault."

After a moment's thought, Manggyang said to me,

"Baek Woong, prepare to head to Dongyoung."

"Why Dongyoung?"

He gazed far east and said,

"To unravel the underworld's secrets, we need to meet the sorcerer who first successfully performed the Mount Tai Earth Lord Ritual since ancient times."

"Uh-huh!"

I realized who Manggyang meant and cautiously said,

"Can we even meet him? From what we know, he's guarding the deepest seal—probably won't even show his face..."

"Naturally, we can't just wait in demanding to see the grand sorcerer overseeing the mortal world's heaviest barrier. His clan will block us."

Manggyang smiled slyly.

"The key is negotiation. Give him what he wants, and he'll have no choice but to meet us."

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