Reincarnation Sword God

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Following Yong Bi-cheon, we arrived at the Binju region in Shandong. It was completely different from the Qingdao area I had visited before, and I felt a bit confused.

‘Huh?’

This was because Qingdao had the inner fortress of Shandong Province and was bustling with all sorts of guilds and ships, including the Great Dragon Escort Agency. Binju was further away from Qingdao and due to the inconvenient sea currents, it had a port but was relatively quieter.

So, when I asked Yong Bi-cheon why we were heading to Binju instead of Qingdao, he replied,

“You fool! Qingdao attracts too much attention with its many martial factions. Are we supposed to go there openly while conducting our secretive dealings? Openly, all sorts of meddling scum would collect our information. That’s why we’re taking a boat from Binju.”

“Ugh… but if that’s the case, we could just go by land.”

“Shut up and follow me. Once we get to Binju, you won’t be making those remarks anymore.”

I followed Yong Bi-cheon, grumbling inwardly. I was curious about what advantage we might find by heading to Binju. After using some secret techniques to keep up with him, I noticed Yong Bi-cheon’s eyes gleaming.

“Indeed, your inner power is impressive. You chased me down all day and night from Jangryeong Valley without rest?”

“Hmph! Were you hoping I’d fall behind? Too bad.”

“We’re almost there.”

Yong Bi-cheon landed in a quiet fishing village. Compared to Qingdao, it felt like a backwater. I looked around, but there were no large ships or merchant vessels in sight. Just a tiny boat or fishing vessel that could barely carry four people at most. I couldn’t help but exclaim,

“We can’t get to the capital with such a small boat.”

Ignoring my comments, Yong Bi-cheon suddenly let out a long whistle.

Wheeee—

The long, low whistle echoed for a while. Moments later, a large ship began to approach from a distant rocky island.

“Wow.”

The size of the ship was larger than the warship I had seen before under Vice Admiral Ahn Hyun. It had black sails and seemed incredibly fast, quickly closing the distance to us. Eventually, the ship stopped about fifty feet from the fishing village, and someone leapt over using extraordinary light-footedness.

Swish

This person’s agile movement was at an astonishing level. They traveled the fifty feet without making a sound and barely creating ripples in the water. Even using my special technique wouldn’t allow me to achieve such pristine light-footedness, so I couldn’t help but be surprised.

The person who stood before us, using that incredible skill, was someone I was familiar with.

“Father, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Upon seeing his son approach, Yong Bi-cheon smiled with satisfaction.

“Hmm. Let’s go.”

Standing before me was none other than the head of the Huashan Sect and Yong Bi-cheon’s son, Yong Junil! He had come to this fishing village commanding a massive ship. Upon seeing the size of the ship, I couldn’t help but say in astonishment,

“It’s bigger than a warship… Building such a ship must have cost a fortune.”

Yong Junil turned to me with a smirk.

“So, you’re the new Dharma Protector of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“I’m Baek Woong.”

“I am Yong Junil of the Wind Spirit Sect. To answer your question, that ship was built using the pure financial power of the Wind Spirit Sect. It’s called the Ink Wind Ship.”

“……”

I couldn’t help but make a low sound of disbelief.

‘They built that ship with the power of a single sect?’

Building a vessel required an enormous amount of financial resources. Just a slight increase in size would double the costs, and considering all the equipment on that ship, it could easily be worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins. That was a sum that would surpass what an ordinary person could spend their lifetime earning. It seemed the Wind Spirit Sect had amassed considerable wealth as well.

‘Well, they did manage to take control of the Madou Eight Gates and various underworlds. This isn’t surprising…’

As I thought this, Yong Junil chuckled.

“As expected, your martial prowess is refined. Let’s get along moving forward.”

I responded nonchalantly,

“Wind and Thunder cannot coexist. How can you speak so easily while holding resentment from when the Thunder God Lineage was expelled?”

“Hehe. You don’t seem very attached to the Thunder God Lineage at all.”

“I don’t understand what that means.”

“Don’t be so confrontational. We’ll be working together anyway, so it’s wise to set aside our emotions for now.”

Thud

Yong Junil said that and flew towards the Ink Wind Ship alongside Yong Bi-cheon using his incredible light-footedness. The likely reason the ship couldn’t dock nearby was that the waters were shallow and there was no proper port.

“……”

I had no choice but to board the Ink Wind Ship as well. Something about Yong Junil made me feel uneasy, as if he could read my mind.

‘His gaze? His tone? Information? What did he catch onto? Or was he just testing the waters?’

His manner of speaking moments ago felt as if he had pierced straight through to my thoughts. Yet, I couldn’t discern if it was mere guesswork or if he was certain. I instantly realized how clever Yong Junil was.

What was certain was that he was an incredibly talented genius, fully capable of inheriting the Wind Spirit Sect. The fact that he also held the title of the head of the Huashan Sect meant he had learned the Huashan Sect’s secret techniques as well. No matter how excellent the martial arts of the Wind Spirit Sect were, mastering two distinct sets of techniques simultaneously was no easy feat. The fact that he had succeeded in both indicated his extraordinary talent.

“Set sail!”

After a moment, the Ink Wind Ship began to swiftly cut through the water. I confirmed that the crew members were all masters of Wind Spirit Sect martial arts, and the ship’s speed was noticeably faster than the warship I had previously boarded. At this rate, no matter the distance, we would likely reach our destination as quickly as departing from Qingdao.

“Did you say your name was Baek Woong?”

As I stood on the deck, lost in thought, Yong Junil approached me. When I looked at him with a guarded expression, he smirked.

“You truly are an odd one. I think I understand why the Sect Leader is interested in you.”

“Do not speak so freely.”

“It’s nothing much, just wanted to share information about our mission. I asked my father, and it seems you weren’t informed of any details beforehand.”

As I stared silently at him, Yong Junil spoke again.

“The place where we’ll meet the Twelve Regulations isn’t their stronghold, the Shindan, but rather near there in Shenyang.”

“Shenyang?”

“Essentially, the heart of Liaoning Province.”

Yong Junil continued,

“It’s practically a neutral territory between the Central Plains and Goryeo. While the Twelve Regulations have a strong presence there, it’s at least better than meeting at Shindan. Escaping in case of emergency would be easier.”

“Is that a result of prior discussions with the Twelve Regulations?”

“Yes.”

Yong Junil gazed at the horizon.

“The Twelve Regulations are aware that we hold the upper hand in the Central Plains. This is because there’s a special position embedded in Luoyang that is constantly gathering information for the Twelve Regulations. Therefore, we anticipate that this alliance mission will proceed smoothly.”

The Twelve Regulations’ special positions!

I had heard of these entities even from the Sword Demon. Special positions were individuals equal in standing and abilities to the Three Masters in the Twelve Regulations, tasked with monitoring the Twelve Regulations’ leaders. Though I had never seen one, if they existed, they were likely formidable masters.

Curiosity piqued, I asked,

“Why haven’t you obtained the Heavenly Spirit Pillar?”

“Hmm…?”

“I see you’re quite a master. In terms of comprehension of the void, you might even surpass Yong Bi-cheon, yet why aren’t you the owner of the Heavenly Spirit Pillar?”

“……”

For a moment, Yong Junil appeared slightly taken aback. My question seemed to have pierced through his mask of natural smugness. After a brief silence, he replied with a peculiar smile,

“You’re quite the enigma. Just when I think I’ve grasped you, you show another side.”

“Answer my question.”

“As you’ve deduced, in some aspects, I’ve exceeded my father’s true skills. However, that doesn’t mean I can inherit or hold the Heavenly Spirit Pillar that my father possesses. The Sect Leader establishes ownership of the Heavenly Spirit Pillar to maintain the balance of each martial lineage.”

“Hmm. What does that imply…?”

Before I could further articulate, Yong Junil chuckled.

“Therefore, I’m a bit envious of you. It seems you’ll so easily gain divine power… hehe.”

Divine power?

‘This guy knows what the Heavenly Spirit Pillar is all about!’

In that moment, I became certain that Yong Junil possessed a relatively accurate understanding of the Heavenly Spirit Pillar’s true nature. Unlike ordinary martial artists who perceived it merely as an infinite domain of inner strength, he recognized it as the divine manifestation and essence of a deity. This bore significant implications.

However, I decided not to probe further into this topic.

‘If I hint at knowing this, Yong Junil would become highly suspicious of me.’

The fact that the Heavenly Spirit Pillar was a divine force was one of the White Lotus Sect’s greatest secrets. Whether Yong Junil had pieced it together himself or learned it from Yong Bi-cheon, he would likely use this secret to his advantage. Thus, it was better to remain an entity he could utilize than to risk exposing too much awareness. After processing this in my mind, I said to Yong Junil,

“What must I do once we arrive?”

“Nothing much. Just act as protection for my father, just in case.”

“Yong Bi-cheon is several times stronger than I am. Why would I be a guard?”

“The Three Masters of the Twelve Regulations are of comparable strength to my father. No amount of caution is excessive.”

“……”

“It should take us about three days to reach our destination, so rest well.”

With those parting words, Yong Junil retreated into the ship. I stared at his departing figure for a while as I stood on the deck, gazing at the horizon for an extensive period. My thoughts were unorganized, so I lingered about for what felt like another hour before heading inside to rest.

Finally, when we reached the port near Shenyang, the masters of the Wind Spirit Sect hurriedly prepared to disembark. After about an hour’s wait, everyone got off, and Yong Bi-cheon instructed,

“You all need to secure our escape route, so wait at this port.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Junil and you, follow me.”

Whoosh

With that curt remark, Yong Bi-cheon took flight, utilizing the Wind Spirit Sect’s Windbreaker Technique. I quickly ran alongside Yong Junil to follow him. Observing Yong Junil’s technique left me impressed.

‘Effortless.’

While it wasn’t as fast as my special technique, compared to regular martial arts, it was incredibly rapid. Moreover, Yong Junil’s footwork seemed to maximize efficiency with minimal force, indicating a remarkable mastery of his technique. Despite being an enemy as a member of the Wind Spirit Sect, he rightfully earned the title of a top master.

After running for a while, we entered the inner parts of Shenyang and headed towards a desolate estate. There were no gatekeepers, and it appeared rather dreary, but as we entered, dim lights began to flicker on one by one. Inside the quiet building, a bright room came into view, where the leader of the Twelve Regulations was waiting along with the Three Masters, adorned in the guise of a dog mask.

The Twelve Regulations leader waved his hand cheerfully.

“Thanks for coming such a long way, Yong Bi-cheon.”

Yong Bi-cheon performed a respectful bow.

“I greet the leader of the Twelve Regulations, the sovereign of the Eastern Martial World.”

“Indeed. Please sit over there.”

“I’ll not refuse.”

The three of us took our seats across the table.

‘Impressive, the leader of the Twelve Regulations, Ha Eun-cheon…’

Looking at the previous scene, I could understand the leader’s position. Yong Bi-cheon, who roamed undefeated across the world, was utterly deferential before the leader of the Twelve Regulations, acknowledging his lower status. This also indicated that within the White Lotus Sect, the leader of the Twelve Regulations was regarded almost at the same level as the head of the White Lotus Sect.

After a brief pause, the leader of the Twelve Regulations crossed his arms and said,

“Alright, the White Lotus Sect wishes to form an alliance with us?”

Yong Bi-cheon nodded and responded,

“More accurately, the Sect Leader wishes to establish a Non-aggression Pact. We hope the Twelve Regulations can turn a blind eye while we gather sufficient strength in the Central Plains.”

“A blind eye. So you think the Twelve Regulations might attack you, huh?”

“Not necessarily, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. To deepen mutual trust, we humbly request this meeting today. We’ve brought sufficient offerings for that.”

“Offerings? What kind of offerings?”

“Gold, Sacred Lotus, and excellent divine weapons collected by the White Lotus Sect. I believe their worth is comparable to that of a state tribute.”

Those numerous items guarded by my subordinates at the port were likely that “offering.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing Yong Bi-cheon’s words, the leader of the Twelve Regulations tilted his head. After some thought, he said,

“Hey, hey… trust. Aren’t you too quick to bring that up?”

“What are you implying?”

“To be honest, I’m aware that the reason you cured the Young Master of her ailments was to eliminate the constraints, leading you to seek dominance over the Central Plains.”

“……”

Both Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Junil fell silent, not uttering a word. The leader of the Twelve Regulations continued to tap his fingers on the table,

“If we stand by and let you be, the Central Plains Martial World would be consumed by the White Lotus Sect. Afterward, how can you guarantee that you won’t attack the Eastern Martial World?”

“That’s absurd. That’s why we’re trying to foster mutual trust.”

“Ha ha ha! Trust!”

The leader of the Twelve Regulations laughed coldly and added,

“Fine. Then place your son, Yong Junil, as a hostage at the Shindan. Then I will trust you.”

“……!!”

“If you invade, I will present your son’s head as a gift to the Sect Leader.”

I felt chills listening to the leader’s words. In the past, though cynical and insidious, he had never resorted to such brutal threats; now, he seemed like a different person. No, this was more like a base proposition. His attitude exhibited complete disregard for the pride of the White Lotus Sect.

Yong Bi-cheon clenched his fists in what seemed to be struggling to suppress his anger as he replied,

“How can the conversation take such a turn? To stake my son’s life for trust is preposterous!”

“That makes perfect sense. He’s your dearly beloved son and the future pillar of the Wind Spirit Sect. How can we not trust you if you hand him over? As you said, mutual trust will overflow from the heart.”

“Ugh!”

The leader of the Twelve Regulations appeared utterly wicked. It seemed he had thoroughly collected all information regarding the Wind Spirit Sect and was making a pressured proposal. Yong Bi-cheon was abruptly thrust into a corner and was struggling to find a way out.

No matter how important this meeting was, Yong Junil was his only son and the future of the Wind Spirit Sect. It was an impossible choice to put Yong Junil’s life at risk given they didn’t know how the White Lotus Sect would move in the future.

Yet, Yong Junil spoke up beside him.

“If the Leader dislikes mutual trust, how about a trade?”

The Twelve Regulations leader turned his gaze toward him.

“A trade?”

“What you desire is not a calamity between human martial forces but rather information regarding a divine entity called the ‘Old Sovereign.’”

“……”

“If you grant us this Non-aggression Pact, we will mobilize all Dharma Protectors to assist in the subjugation of the Sea God.”

I glanced at Yong Bi-cheon. The fact that he didn’t show any signs of change indicated he had likely prepared a backup plan should the initial proposal fail. Listening to Yong Junil’s proposal, the Twelve Regulations leader appeared intrigued.

“Having the owner of the Heavenly Spirit Pillar lend aid? That would be quite impressive.”

“Will you accept it?”

The leader of the Twelve Regulations laughed heartily.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I have no need for it.”

“……!!”

“From the start, you merely interpreted the scriptures of the Lifeless Mother to acquire ‘power.’ You don’t even know what that power truly is, except for the Sect Leader! And regarding the Old Sovereign, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Seven Luminaries, you really don’t know anything. If you did, you wouldn’t have spoken such nonsense about borrowing the power of a Dharma Protector.”

“Um…”

Yong Junil let out a low sound of frustration. It seemed the leader of the Twelve Regulations had not anticipated that this proposal would be dismissed as well. Yong Junil, though composed, continued with his remarks.

“I apologize, but then what conditions do you want? We are prepared to fulfill any reasonable request during our visit to Shenyang. Please don’t play with us; speak honestly, Leader.”

“Honestly… hmmm…”

After a moment, the leader of the Twelve Regulations smiled brightly and said,

“Bring me at least one of the Seven Luminaries, and we’ll agree to the Non-aggression Pact.”

“The Seven Luminaries…?”

Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Junil exchanged glances. Yong Junil seemed to know about the Seven Luminaries and tentatively asked the leader,

“Are you referring to the legendary Seven Luminaries of Taoism? They are merely legends…”

“Convey my message properly to your Sect Leader. Then the meeting will conclude here!”

“……”

Clang

When the leader of the Twelve Regulations stood up, Yong Junil and Yong Bi-cheon simultaneously rose as well. They began to radiate strong energy all over their bodies, and as the Three Masters countered their energy, a tense stalemate instantly developed.

An atmosphere teetering on the edge of a ‘power vortex’ hung in the air!

The leader of the Twelve Regulations stood quietly, watching the standoff with a smile.

“Are you trying to force this with strength now? You’re craving death, Yong Bi-cheon.”

Hearing that, Yong Bi-cheon flinched but gritted his teeth and replied,

“No matter how great the leader of the Eastern Martial World might be, this is too much! We came here with the utmost sincerity to negotiate, yet you disregard us while stirring up nonsense about the Seven Luminaries—how dare you!?”

Fire sparked in his eyes.

“Please, at the very least, provide a reason that could convince us! This is utterly rude.”

“Hmm.”

The leader of the Twelve Regulations considered Yong Bi-cheon’s protests for a moment before replying,

“You’re far too ignorant. The Martial World is not of great significance, but you fail to realize this. Your narrow perspective means you’re bound to hinder us in the future; why would we want to ally with you? Simply listening to your words is a blessing in itself.”

“Ugh…!!”

“Enough, leave. If you talk any more, I can’t guarantee your lives.”

Yong Bi-cheon’s face turned a deep shade of red from sheer humiliation. I found it absurd that he was holding himself back after being spoken to like that. I couldn’t believe there were entities capable of intimidating a Dharma Protector, other than the leader of the White Lotus Sect!

‘The Seven Luminaries. The Sect Leader probably doesn’t even know about the treasures she took from me.’

I had gotten my hands on an ancient treasure called the Seven Luminaries purely by chance, but I remained ignorant of its true essence. Thus, the Sect Leader likely was not even aware that I possessed the Seven Luminaries. If I mentioned it to her, things could potentially shake out differently. The dilemma weighed on my mind—should I help facilitate this meeting, or should I just leave it be?