Reincarnation Sword God

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00480 Dark Heaven Village ————————————————————————

Assassination of the Master of the White Lotus Sect!

I felt a sense of bewilderment at Han Baek-ryeong’s words. I had already known that she harbored some resentment towards the current Master of the White Lotus Sect, but I never expected her to say it so directly. I paused to think cautiously before responding.

“Why?”

“Because you possess that much power, I am making this request.”

“That is not a valid reason.”

I looked her straight in the eye and said, “Just because I have power doesn’t mean I have a reason to strike the Master of the White Lotus Sect. I have neither an acquaintance nor a grudge against him.”

“That may be true.”

“But why do you suddenly demand something so unreasonable?”

In response to my question, Han Baek-ryeong said, “Though the Incarnate of the Dragon may not have met the Master of the White Lotus Sect, he is a very dangerous individual. He may appear calm at first glance, but he is a being wrapped up in madness and obsession. If what you desire is peace in the world, you will eventually have to confront him.”

Han Baek-ryeong’s words struck a chord within me.

‘You know very well, don’t you?’

Although she seemed to be speaking abstractly, I could not help but empathize, having directly experienced the Master of the White Lotus Sect and witnessed the end of his plot. Han Baek-ryeong had a considerable understanding and analysis of the Master’s personality and thoughts. However, I chose to continue feigning ignorance and spoke coldly.

“That is something to be seen in due time. I cannot strike someone simply because of an event that has yet to occur. If there’s nothing more to say, I will take my leave.”

When I spoke firmly, Han Baek-ryeong appeared to be somewhat troubled. She then said, “Are you saying that the Master of the White Lotus Sect could become a more formidable evil than the malevolent sorcerer he just defeated at the Imperial Palace?”

“……”

I know. If the Master of the White Lotus Sect is unleashed and overcomes the Imperial Palace, he will occupy Luoyang and seek out the teachings of the Non-Birth Mother, even serving the [Ancient Ruler] as Han Baek-ryeong mentioned, eventually becoming the Apostle of the Evil Deity. I was painfully aware of the Master’s inclinations and plans, and I could not bring myself to deny Han Baek-ryeong’s words.

“I want to hear more details.”

“What kind of story do you wish to hear?”

“How you came to know this and specifically why the Master of the White Lotus Sect is dangerous.”

“It may take a little while, but is that alright? It is an internal secret of our White Lotus Sect.”

“This is a crucial matter; I am prepared to listen carefully.”

Han Baek-ryeong nodded and began her tale.

“The current sect leader, Dokgo Uncheon, was originally an unknown ruler. The current Dharma Guardians, myself, Dokgo Jun, Yongbi-cheon, and the late Lee Cheong-un were, during the height of our martial fame, barely aware of his existence in the White Lotus Sect. His only activities were researching books and engaging in obscure sorcery from ruins; he was merely a scholar. But when it came time for the Dharma Guardians to contest for the sect leader’s position, he unexpectedly appeared and demonstrated his infinite internal power, even defeating the formidable Lee Cheong-un, securing the position of sect leader.”

“……”

“It was a strength that could not be obtained through normal means. There could be no genius in martial arts that surpasses Lee Cheong-un, and infinite internal power is fundamentally impossible.”

“So…”

“Yes. His power lies not in martial arts but in the realms of sorcery or magic. It is almost certain that he has conspired with beings known as ‘evil spirits.’ Thus, having a non-martial artist lead the White Lotus Sect certainly indicates his objectives lie beyond the realm of martial artists, right? Furthermore, he does not regard humans as anything more than tools to achieve his ends, and this will undoubtedly summon a massive tragedy.”

She spoke calmly, but I knew her words were all too true.

‘Everything… is correct…’

In fact, I felt a chill. How could she possibly have deduced all of this? Even after enduring numerous lifetimes and working tirelessly within the inner circles of the Master of the White Lotus Sect, I had only just scratched the surface of his true nature, yet she seemed to have it all figured out.

Feigning ignorance, I prodded, “If that’s the case, are you saying that the Heavenly Spirit Pill and infinite internal power possessed by your Dharma Guardians were obtained through the powers of evil?”

“That is correct.”

“Do you have evidence?”

“All Dharma Guardians, myself included, did not attain the power of this Heavenly Spirit Pill through normal cultivation but rather obtained it by passing through dubious sorcery rituals. It cannot be called martial arts. It is shameful for us as martial artists.”

“Um…”

“But without the Heavenly Spirit Pill, we cannot protect our sect, so we had no choice.”

Her words were imbued with deep self-loathing. I found her reaction perplexing and asked, “But… didn’t you acquire the absolute power to dominate all factions and recluse martial artists with your infinite internal power?”

“Ultimately, in the face of someone who has reached the absolute sphere, this power lacks significance. At the level of adjusting the laws of the world, the quality of power is more important than its quantity. In contrast, we remain in ignorance of what the cost of this power truly is.”

Han Baek-ryeong continued, “Power always comes with a price. If things proceed this way, we Dharma Guardians will face destruction, and the martial artists who follow us will suffer the same fate. That is why I am seeking to strike the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

“I see…”

It seemed Han Baek-ryeong was unaware of the exact nature of the contract involving the Heavenly Spirit Pill and the consequences it would incur. However, through logical analysis and intuition, she recognized that she had walked into a precarious trap. It was only natural that since Lee Cheong-un’s death, she had been striving to find a way to break free from the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s grasp.

After considering thoughtfully, I responded, “I understand your reasons for wanting to strike the sect leader. However, no matter how I think about it, I cannot strike the Master of the White Lotus Sect based solely on your word. It is true that he is enormously powerful, and I have pressing matters to attend to; I cannot afford to invite unnecessary enemies.”

“Would you offer everything of our Fire Spirit Sect?”

“I think that wouldn’t hold enough value to provoke enmity with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. He is the closest to the strongest in history and should never be underestimated.”

Han Baek-ryeong fell silent for a moment when I tactfully declined. Then she said, “I know two of his weaknesses. If you strike those weaknesses, you can significantly weaken the Master of the White Lotus Sect and achieve an easy victory.”

Startled!

I was shocked by Han Baek-ryeong’s words. It wasn’t the unexpected information that surprised me, but rather the fact that I couldn’t fathom the extent to which she was aware.

‘… Surely, she means the Reverse Scale and the Young Master!’

Indeed, if I could exploit those two weaknesses, targeting the sect leader would be a piece of cake. Unlike the Reverse Scale, I still couldn’t ascertain why the Young Master was a weakness for the Master, but having that information would provide me ample room for maneuver. I found myself at a loss for words when Han Baek-ryeong continued.

“Incarnate of the Dragon, if you can take care of the sect leader, our Fire Spirit Sect, as well as the martial arts community in Luoyang and beyond, will belong to you. I am not making an empty proposal.”

“……”

“If you agree, I will disclose those weaknesses and specific plans.”

I hesitated and then replied to Han Baek-ryeong. “Please give me time to think.”

“When is your deadline?”

“I will give you my answer in ten days.”

“I will be waiting.”

I saw Han Baek-ryeong pick up her tobacco pipe again. I stared at her momentarily before speaking. “How is the Shadowless Alliance doing?”

“Since that fellow is a close relative of the Incarnate of the Dragon, we treat him with utmost respect. He is currently diligently learning the martial arts of our Fire Spirit Sect.”

“I would like to speak with him for a moment.”

“I will guide you.”

I watched as Han Baek-ryeong suddenly used her martial arts to fly away. In a swift motion, she called back to me from far ahead. [Follow me.]

I felt somewhat discomforted since I couldn’t use martial arts, but I focused on reading her qi and followed her trail. A short while later, I discovered a small martial arts hall situated a considerable distance from the Han Clan. Inside the hall, someone was diligently wielding a sword—it was the Sword Demon.

Upon seeing me, the Sword Demon exclaimed with delight, “It’s been a while!”

“Um… have you been well?”

“I have been well.”

I recounted the story I had just heard from Han Baek-ryeong to the Sword Demon. Even though she was listening in, it was pointless to hide anything. After hearing the background details, the Sword Demon paused in thought before saying, “I have nothing to offer you in terms of advice.”

However, that was merely a surface-level remark. In reality, the Sword Demon sent me a quick secret transmission. [Discuss with Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang.]

That would be necessary. After confirming the Sword Demon’s safety, I exited the Han Clan and returned to Jangryeong Valley, my base of operations. Upon my return, I explained what I had just experienced to Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang.

Zhuge Sa frowned, expressing irritation. “Hmph. It seems you are proceeding without consulting your strategist?”

“Ugh… I apologize…”

I had no words to defend myself, so I could only apologize, but Mangnyang chimed in from the side, “Baek Woong, you’ve always kept in mind that Han Baek-ryeong can also be regarded as a companion. Once you earn her trust later, your current actions will be seen in a positive light. Therefore, you need not be too hard on yourself.”

Zhuge Sa retorted sharply. “If that’s the case, then just give that woman some obsidian and ask if she wants to join us or not! What’s the point of squabbling over such trivial matters? Are you afraid of making enemies with Han Baek-ryeong and missing out on future opportunities?”

“……”

“Ignore the nonsense, we have no leisure to engage in battles with the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

Zhuge Sa outright rejected Han Baek-ryeong’s assassination proposal. In truth, Zhuge Sa’s words held the most realism. With my quest to find Changqie still incomplete, engaging in a battle against the Master of the White Lotus Sect was far too great a burden.

As I sat beside Mangnyang, who was deep in thought, he said, “However, uncle. Now that the Imperial Palace is a desolate land, it is entirely possible for the Master of the White Lotus Sect to make Luoyang his base. Just as Han Baek-ryeong said, even if we do not kill the sect leader, we must at least prepare some means of containment.”

“Hmph! Even so, he is bound by a curse because the Black and White Lotus remains undisturbed. He can only stall with the Young Master by his side and cannot act freely in the Heavenly Stronghold. What that means is, if we can eliminate or control his subordinates, we can sufficiently contain the White Lotus Sect.”

Zhuge Sa scoffed. “Baek Woong, go and tell that woman in ten days’ time to persuade the Wind Spirit Sect to join the attack on the sect leader. While you’re at it, involve the scholars as well.”

“Eh?!”

Zhuge Sa laughed mockingly. “Han Baek-ryeong will absolutely refuse! If that were possible, she would have drawn in the Twelve Joules or anyone else to settle the matter with the sect leader long ago. With so much suspicion and strategy, and the fact that she only cares about her own sect, just throwing out this one line will likely waste at least 1-2 years! Just throw out a line and forget about it!”

“……!!”

“If Han Baek-ryeong is too busy quarreling with Yongbi-cheon, both the Fire Spirit Sect and Wind Spirit Sect will be bound in their efforts. The remaining options will be either the Su Shin Sect or the Elder Council, but it will be rather difficult for them to come to Luoyang due to the strict territorial disputes. Moreover, with the sect leader unable to come to Luoyang himself, what use would that have?”

“Uh… I see…”

“That will resolve the containment of the White Lotus Sect all at once!”

Zhuge Sa launched into his strategy like a whirlwind, and it didn’t seem like a bad idea. Clearly, if I tossed out such a challenging problem for the factions to resolve, Han Baek-ryeong would undoubtedly find it distressing. Therefore, I had neither accepted nor declined her proposal. Zhuge Sa’s plan was to push back the burden caused by Han Baek-ryeong.

Zhuge Sa cast a critical glance at Mangnyang. “And Hyun, you are letting your desire to train in sorcery overshadow your rationality. You must reflect as a strategist.”

Mangnyang nodded, looking somewhat embarrassed. “I see.”

“To clear your head, how about departing for the Great Sacred Mountain to train alone for a while? Until you’ve established a family and fully attained a realm of your own, you will be of no use.”

I thought Zhuge Sa’s remark was quite severe. How could he say Mangnyang was of no use? But Mangnyang accepted the statement calmly and nodded.

“I shall do that.”

“Understood? Clear your head. If left unchecked, you might make a grave mistake.”

“I know.”

Zhuge Sa gave a curt dismissal and resumed his work.

‘It should be fine.’

However, since there was a strong air of concern, I decided to set it aside for the moment.

At that moment, I heard a voice.

“Finally, everyone has gathered.”

A halting voice in the Central Plains language reached my ears.

“……?!”

Realizing that I had unwittingly been subdued from behind, my body stiffened, and I felt a rush of blood drain from my face. At this very moment, I sensed that I was within the attack range of my opponent, leaving me with no feeling of being alive.

Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang felt the same. They were looking at my back with eyes that reflected ghostly unease. They had been maintaining barriers through sorcery or magic, yet they hadn’t noticed how the entity had appeared behind me.

I must attack.

But I can’t attack.

The moment I set my mind to launch an attack, I would die.

Sweating, I gently placed my fingers on the handle of my sword. However, I couldn’t bring myself to draw it at all.

‘No… They’re simply faster!’

No matter how much I amplified my physical abilities using lightning speed and internal power, invoking the power of the Fire Element and the National Seal, I would undoubtedly lose my head or sustain a fatal injury in that instant. Unlike any wounds I had endured thus far, there was a chance that my entire body could be torn into hundreds of pieces. No matter how near near-immortality the abilities that Jeon Wook bestowed upon me felt, I could not gamble on such odds!

It was a matter beyond mere power output. The figure standing behind me wielded the Absolute Sword, allowing him to strike with lethal precision that no one could evade, even the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Moreover, that sword could easily rend through any protective energy technique or barrier.

What kind of master could this be?

In a moment of clarity, only one name came to mind. I murmured it in a hushed voice.

“Miyamoto… Musashi…”

The man behind me, seeming intrigued, remarked, “Oh, you seem to know me.”

Indeed.

Standing behind me, effortlessly exerting pressure on all three of us, was the ultra-strong master of the Absolute Sphere and a special envoy of the Twelve Joules, Miyamoto Musashi! The strongest swordsman in Dongyoung mythology, the master of the Book of Five Relationships, and the founder of the Two Heavens One Style had silently positioned himself behind me.

The reason for his arrival was easy to infer.

‘… That’s right… Musashi is…’

A hand of the Twelve Joules!

Miyamoto Musashi had been covertly observing Luoyang as a special envoy of the Twelve Joules without anyone knowing. His ability to hide was a martial arts skill of the Absolute Sphere, so only the enlightened Master of the White Lotus Sect could hope to notice him. And now, with the Imperial Palace demolished by the attack from the Fire Dragon Incarnate, he seemed to have pursued me all the way to Jangryeong Valley!