Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 5 – Dark Heaven Village

After the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Miho, strengthened, Mangnyang spoke to me.

“Baek Woong, what do you want to do now?”

“What kind of sudden question is this?”

“Since your rebirth, we’ve been nothing but puppets dancing to the will of the gods. And I feel that moving forward, there won’t be an opportunity for us to take the lead…”

“……!!”

“It’s because we lack absolute power.”

Mangnyang’s gaze darkened slightly.

“So now, I think it’s time we need to make a choice rather than rush into things.”

“A choice…?”

“Yes. If we are unable to stop Changqie, the Demon King, the White Lotus Sect, or the Heavenly Sovereign, then… choosing to not stop them at all might just be an option.”

What does that even mean?

I was bewildered because this wasn’t the Mangnyang I knew. I had thought he would defend humanity to the end. However, before I could ponder further, the Sword Demon next to me crossed his arms and said,

“So you’re suggesting that we let Baek Woong witness what happens when the Heavenly Sovereign descends.”

Mangnyang turned to the Sword Demon.

“Indeed.”

“If we’re going to experience the Heavenly Sovereign’s might, we need to know just how much power the Celestial Realm has and how it intends to cleanse the earthly realm. That’s also very important information, making it a viable choice.”

“Yes. Furthermore, Baek Woong is an apostle of the Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors, so he should survive to the end. We believe he will live even after all events conclude, and until then, we gather as much information as possible for him.”

I could understand the points both of them were making.

‘Surely… that is a choice.’

But if that happens, I can’t even estimate the extent of the damage to the earthly realm. The Demon King, not to mention Changqie’s incarnation, or even the Old Ruler’s avatar, would wreak havoc—what kind of chaos would that stir? Surviving in the midst of that chaos seemed extremely risky.

And I had to clench my teeth because of another issue.

“If that comes to pass, everyone here besides me will die.”

“That seems likely.”

I balled my fists and protested.

“That’s an unacceptable choice. I will struggle to the very end.”

Mangnyang’s expression shifted slightly.

“Baek Woong, can you truly guarantee that sentiment is genuine?”

“……?”

“What if, as Zhuge Sa said, that sentiment is merely self-satisfaction? We might derive hope from your courage, but your journey will become increasingly arduous. It could end up being a meaningless loss.”

“I was prepared for this.”

“I care not for great ambitions; you simply do not want to witness us die, do you? Don’t you think that struggle is just self-satisfaction?”

Why was Mangnyang pressing me like this? It felt like Zhuge Sa’s attitude.

I pondered carefully about Mangnyang’s words and then replied.

“No! I believe that once you get used to giving up, you can only make choices anyone can make.”

“Oh? What do you mean by that?”

I spoke earnestly.

“I have witnessed for over a century how selfish, cruel, and harsh humanity can be. I understand just how cold they can be towards others.”

“And?”

“That’s why I believe that the choices people deem to be rational, efficient, and cold-hearted are merely the easy way out.”

In that moment, Mangnyang’s expression shifted to surprise.

“…….”

“Who can’t abandon something? In the end, humans only cherish themselves. But I firmly believe that the choice to not give up, to endure until the end, is the right answer.”

“What you hold dear is the people around you, right? In that case, you could simply choose to live in seclusion.”

I shook my head.

“No. My will is the most important.”

“Hmm.”

“That is why I am here now.”

At that moment, Cheon Woo-jin, who had been listening beside us, sighed.

“How arrogant!”

The gaze of everyone turned towards Cheon Woo-jin. He looked at me with a complex expression and said,

“This is the pinnacle of arrogance a reborn person can possess. You are not merely a fool; you are an arrogant fool. I can’t judge your capacity at all.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“You are essentially discussing how limited and foolish a mortal’s life is. You have stepped beyond human perspective.”

The Sword Demon shook his head, agreeing.

“Baek Woong, what you just said seems to resemble the mindset of a great hero, but it’s not. It’s no different from any righteous individual. You reject the essence of self and the self-ego that humans have. It feels as if you are observing humanity from a high perch.”

“……”

He chuckled softly.

“However, I don’t find it completely unpleasant…”

Mangnyang stepped forward and said,

“… I’ve listened well.”

“Why do you ask me such questions, Mangnyang?”

I was slightly annoyed as I continued.

“It’s as if you’re not sincere.”

“I’m sorry for testing you. It’s just that I’ve been perceiving you purely based on the memory of Obsidian, and I wanted to definitively know what kind of person you truly are. Only then would I ensure that my schemes wouldn’t fail again.”

“……?”

“And now I understand. Up until now, we have misjudged you, believing that you were being swayed by the gods.”

Mangnyang spoke calmly but with conviction.

“Baek Woong! Regardless of whether it’s success or failure, let’s first grab anyone we can and fight. That is the best strategy for you right now!”

“……?!”

I was caught off guard by his unexpected words. But the companions around me seemed to nod in understanding of Mangnyang’s intent—his shift in attitude had been so sudden that I felt like I was the only one left in the dark.

Mangnyang continued.

“We misunderstood your desire to minimize your rebirths. We thought it was merely a preference, an act of self-satisfaction. But if that effort itself is genuine, then the narrative changes. Instead of enduring, fighting to overcome this crisis may indeed be the right answer.”

“Wait, so what are you suggesting we do?”

“Our first target should be the easiest foe to defeat. Once the Fire Dragon Incarnate recovers, we’ll join forces to take down the Demon King.”

“Zhuge Sa warned not to approach the Demon King recklessly…”

Mangnyang chuckled.

“That was before the Nine-Tailed Fox regained her power. It was never impossible, and I believe we can win now. It’s just a matter of risk, and whether or not attacking the Demon King is worth it.”

“Hmm…”

“But if your perspective remains, merely enduring will bring no answers. The situation will worsen, and even if you survive alone, you won’t be able to achieve anything. Acting violently while you have the strength to do so is the better option.”

Mangnyang said determinedly.

“Even if we lose to the Demon King and our efforts fail, we won’t hold it against you. Because we believe that you will seek revenge in your next life!”

“……!!”

“With that mindset, I am now certain that you will never lose sight of your true intentions.”

It was then that I finally understood Mangnyang’s meaning.

His initial assessment of the situation was likely true. Defeating the Demon King might result in even stronger foes emerging, making it a futile endeavor. So keeping me alive to observe the unfolding events might indeed be the right approach. But after our conversation, Mangnyang concluded that the gains from defeating the Demon King were substantial enough to warrant the risk.

The Sword Demon, as if waiting for his cue, chimed in.

“I share the same thoughts. I’ve felt nothing but frustrated and toyed with until now, so it’s a relief.”

“As Mangnyang suggested, it could indeed lead to all our deaths.”

“So what? There’s no guarantee that merely holding out will prevent any deaths.”

“……”

“And once we defeat the Demon King, Changqie will surely reveal himself. He desires that; we only need to be ready to follow his trail.”

Jin So-cheong spoke up.

“You are the commander, Baek Woong. If the commander can behead the commander of the enemy forces, then the war will already be over.”

“… I understand.”

Miho chuckled and patted my head.

“Don’t worry! We’re definitely going to win.”

“I already said I understood.”

I felt a bit irritated. For some reason, the people gathered here gave me the impression of treating me like a pet. Yet, I didn’t completely dislike that feeling despite my annoyance. It felt like my relationships with my companions had subtly shifted.

‘Alright, shall we give it a go!’

With my resolve set, nothing could hold me back.

I asked Han Baek-ryeong, who was recuperating at the Han Clan’s estate, to invoke the Spirit of the Incarnation once again. Han Baek-ryeong accepted my request again, and I sensed that the powers of the Fire Dragon Incarnate had significantly recovered. The Fire Dragon Incarnate would be completely restored three days later.

Mangnyang said,

“Baek Woong, please wait just three more days. The priest needs time to learn the usage of this Half Yellow Pearl.”

“I understand.”

Since Mangnyang possessed the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line, it seemed he intended to give Cheon Woo-jin a treasure. After that, I sought help from the Master of the Twelve Joules and occupied my time training, and before long, three days had swiftly passed.

Once all preparations were complete, we immediately set off towards Blood Valley, where the Demon King resided.

Pa-at!

“… It’s ominous.”

Jin So-cheong whispered. As he pointed out, we had reached Zhang-rae, a mere fifty li away from Blood Valley, and the ground was stained blood-red, with ominous energy spreading all around. We searched for nearby farmers or hunters, but with no signs of life, it was clear that Blood Valley had taken control of the area.

Mangnyang said,

“Blood Valley has already demolished the True Heaven Alliance. Of the Nine Great Sects, three were annihilated, two were heavily attacked, and most suffered great damage. The only ones standing well are the Wudang Sect and the Shaolin Temple. I believe the Eight Demons of the Demon Path will soon fall to them as well.”

“Hmm.”

“However, it appears that, as rumors suggest, they are killing not only martial artists but also innocent civilians.”

Mangnyang’s gaze fell on a dry corpse hanging from a branch. There were more than just one or two such corpses scattered around, laying about like rags. Cheon Woo-jin frowned.

“They claimed to be masters of forbidden laws, and it seems they make corpses obey them by killing living beings.”

“Fighting each corpse one by one would be an endless task, Priest.”

“I’m aware.”

Sasa-sat

After a short while, Cheon Woo-jin unleashed his Illusion Fog. The fog spread with formidable energy, instantly enveloping the area. The remarkable thing was that even within this fog, we could move freely, our vision entirely unaffected.

Whoooo

We could see ragged, corpse-like figures stumbling around. I spotted several corpses donned in robes of the orthodox sect, raising my brow in curiosity when the Sword Demon remarked,

“It seems the True Heaven Alliance sent a subjugation squad. They are the militia of the True Heaven Alliance.”

“They seemed quite strong…”

I remembered them well, as there were many First-Class and Peak Experts encountered in the past.

“Meaningless. If I were them, I would have avoided conflict with Blood Valley and hidden instead… They must think they have some importance.”

The Sword Demon had a mocking tone. Indeed, he had already evacuated all his forces and subordinates to Jangryeong Valley in preparation, making the best choice to avoid this calamity.

Creeeak

Suddenly, one of the corpses twitched and executed the Wudang Sect’s Heavenly Cloud Sect Technique to launch an attack. A small rat was impaled on the tip of the corpse’s sword, suggesting it was set to attack anything that moved. I was astonished by the Wudang Sect’s corpse’s movements.

“They appear almost indistinguishable from the living.”

Thanks to Cheon Woo-jin’s Illusion Fog, they weren’t able to perceive us. The Sword Demon said with a wry smile.

“Indeed. The Wudang’s techniques can still be used effectively through corpses. It seems this forbidden law is quite troublesome…”

To be able to utilize those who sought to subdue them as loyal weapons was a deceptive technique. The fact that they could invoke this across several tens of li was quite remarkable. The area was scattered with dozens to hundreds of experts, and without Cheon Woo-jin’s protective fog, we would have certainly been embroiled in a fierce battle.

As we walked for a while, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.

“According to Zhuge Sa, it seems my Illusion Fog won’t work on something called Blood Spirits. We’ll have to deal with them directly.”

“They said self-destructing would be dangerous…”

Kugu-gung

Before long, we could see the valley that would be Blood Valley, with a massive structure at its center. Near the structure stood several dark figures, their skin blazing red and their eyes rolled back.

‘Those must be the Blood Spirits!’

There were about thirty of them present. The Blood Spirits didn’t seem to recognize us yet, standing idly, but it appeared they would attack if we got too close.

Then, Miho generated a luminous orb of demon energy around herself.

“Leave it to me!”

Wee-yeeeng

“Ha!”

Kwahwa-kwang!!

The silvery light that burst from the orb suddenly expanded to dozens of beams, sweeping away the Blood Spirits guarding the structure in an instant. Furthermore, even the structure was cleaved in half by Miho’s attack, crumbling spectacularly.

Kugugung

That wasn’t the end. Miho, as if treating it like a game, waved her hand two or three more times, sending an even larger beam of silver energy forward. Before we knew it, the area surrounding the structure vanished as if dozens of thousands of bombs had detonated, creating a massive storm that swirled around.

Kwahwa-kwang

Whoooo

‘Incredible power!’

While I could mimic such a strike if I gathered all my internal power, Miho executed that devastating attack without barely using any effort! I was astounded by the overwhelming energy she wielded.

“Miho…”

“It’s just a trivial thing.”

As Miho boasted, Miyamoto Musashi frowned.

“… The Blood Spirits are approaching.”

The moment Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon heard that, they rushed forward.

Clang!

In unison, their weapons clashed with the incoming Blood Spirits’ attacks. A fierce battlefield erupted as intense energy collided and distorted the air. Despite Miho’s attack, many Blood Spirits seemed to survive, and over a dozen of them surged toward us to launch their assault. Miyamoto Musashi swiftly dispatched two with razor precision.

Then, Jin So-cheong swung her spear, saying,

“Let’s finish them quickly.”

Kwahwa-kwang

Kwah-kwaang

Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon began fighting back to back. Without a doubt, they were utilizing either the Seven Great Techniques or the Eight Immortal Divine Art, making it impossible for the Blood Spirits to close the gap despite their evident prowess.

Swoosh!

As Jin So-cheong severed the heads of two spirits, they merely grabbed their necks, reattaching themselves with a hint of defiance. They were indeed immortal beings.

‘We need to observe their explosion moments closely.’

Peeew

True to Zhuge Sa’s warning, as three of the Blood Spirits unleashed their Peak Martial Arts amidst the scuffle, they suddenly exploded upon losing their heads. The speed at which their bloody fragments burst forth was astonishing; even the strongest of experts could surely get caught.

“I know that much!”

Nonetheless, Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon had honed their skills significantly through training and sparring with Jang Sam-bong. They had been forewarned by Zhuge Sa, allowing them to adeptly dodge the exploding corpses. With the remaining Blood Spirits, I, Miyamoto Musashi, and Miho swarmed in to defeat them in no time.

After dispatching the Blood Spirits, we advanced toward the structure.

Ta-dah!

And there, where the structure once stood, a woman appeared.

“Fengshen War!!”

I shouted her name loudly. She slowly turned to face us, and she indeed looked just as I had encountered her several times in my past life. There was not a trace of the power of the Great Immortal in her appearance.

The Demon King, Fengshen War, slowly spoke,

“I was wondering who would come, and it turns out to be the Apostle of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.”

Curiously enough, she spoke in a human voice.

‘She knows me.’

It seems my status as the Apostle of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was quite renowned among divine beings. Fengshen War stared at me intently and asked,

“Why don’t you attack me? The Three Sovereigns shouldn’t need to assault me right now.”