Reincarnation Sword God

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Dark Heaven Village

Yeodong-bin gradually regained consciousness, feeling as if he was waking from a faint. After two moments, he was just about able to exhibit the reflexes typical of an expert. Normally, even if he were sleeping, Yeodong-bin’s level of mastery allowed him to react to an attack instinctively; however, the fatigue he experienced this time was so intense that he had no choice but to sleep through it. As he shifted from deep sleep to a lighter slumber, he unconsciously practiced the Moving Meditation Technique, accelerating the recovery of his fatigue.

By the time three moments had passed, Yeodong-bin felt he had returned to peak condition. Of course, this was partly thanks to the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s restoration, but he also sensed an influence from the “something” he had obtained when encountering the Martial God. Sitting in the resting space of the White Lotus Sect, Yeodong-bin contemplated.

‘What on earth was that?’

The moment he touched the spiral, a torrent of information and experiences flooded his mind, yet he couldn’t quite articulate what it all meant. It would be more accurate to say he couldn’t define its essence. Even though he had gained understanding, it was absurd that he was unable to use it or even identify what it was.

Just then, outside, Master of the White Lotus Sect Lee Gun-ak and a woman known as the Priestess entered together.

“You seem to have recovered now.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“I have questions as well, so how about we have a meal while we talk?”

“Understood.”

Eventually, Yeodong-bin followed them to the prepared lunch table. The feast wasn’t extravagant, but he quickly realized all the dishes were made from rare and precious ingredients of the world. He picked up his chopsticks and quietly began eating, not wanting to show any sign of discrimination, but Lee Gun-ak was intrigued by this.

“You eat quite easily. Don’t you think there is poison or some sort of trick hidden in this food?”

Yeodong-bin responded coldly to that question.

“If you wanted to kill me, you would have done so by now. I don’t believe you are the type of person to resort to such measures.”

“Haha! How do you know what sort of person I am?”

As Lee Gun-ak laughed heartily, Yeodong-bin set his chopsticks down.

“You are someone who will help me. As long as the Master guarantees it, I won’t hastily suspect you.”

“……!!”

His words seemed to take Lee Gun-ak by surprise. It was as if he had sincerely set something down and sighed deeply.

“…What kind of audacity is this inside the White Lotus Sect’s main hall! I never thought that the boy from back then would grow into such a remarkable figure. Sword Master, you are truly a hero of the world.”

It wasn’t a sarcastic tone; Lee Gun-ak genuinely acknowledged Yeodong-bin’s capabilities. Recognizing, through just a few exchanges, that Yeodong-bin was someone on par with him, an absolute being in the martial world.

“You must have questions you wish to ask. Please go ahead.”

“I understand.”

After nodding, Lee Gun-ak posed his inquiry.

“What exactly is the End Times Dragon we are destined to fight? If it can summon us even beyond the strength of the Eight Immortals, its power must be unimaginable.”

“Honestly, I don’t know much about that being either. However… the Master has already conceded that it is something the Eight Immortals cannot handle. That’s why we can be so bold discussing this right now.”

“I gather that you’re referring to the being behind you.”

“Do you have any further questions?”

“Do you know why it is appearing?”

Yeodong-bin answered Lee Gun-ak’s question.

“There’s a group of Demon Sorcerers lurking behind Empress Wu Zetian. They serve an evil ‘Ruler’ and do not hesitate to commit human sacrifices and murders. I believe they are preparing to summon the End Times Dragon.”

“Hmm… So it’s those guys.”

“Are you familiar with them?”

Lee Gun-ak nodded gravely.

“Our sect has had contact with them several times. But each time, we realized they were beings no human could tolerate, and we severed ties. I also heard from my predecessor that they are a faction that must be eradicated.”

“Hm… Do you know about the Demon Sorcerers and the ‘Ruler’?”

“Of course. Our sect has deep-rooted connections with the origin of this.”

Lee Gun-ak turned to look at the Priestess next to him.

“I’m actually a Celestial Martial Artist, so I don’t know much about these matters. From now on, the Priestess of our sect will ask you questions.”

“Understood.”

The woman referred to as the Priestess took a step forward. When her gaze met Yeodong-bin’s, he noticed she possessed an elegant beauty that radiated even more vividly the second time. There was an air of unparalleled majesty around her, making it clear that she was the Priestess of the White Lotus Sect. Furthermore, Yeodong-bin realized that the mysterious power she held was comparable to that of the typical Eight Immortals.

She questioned him in a clear voice.

“Yeodong-bin, while you were resting, I used divination to ascertain the timing of that being’s descent.”

“……!! Really?!”

Yeodong-bin was astonished.

Because, as of now, no one had accurate information regarding the ‘End Times Dragon’. The most adept sorcerers among the Immortals and other divine beings actively sought to learn more but could not find anything. How could a priestess of a mere sect discern such a secret?

She smiled faintly and continued.

“It’s true. I discovered through divination that the being will descend on Mount Ye in three years.”

“Even though our Eight Immortals can use techniques and divination, we could never derive such information. Even the foremost diviner, Jang Gwa-ro, could not….”

“My divination is special. This is because I possess an innate premonition ability.”

“Premonition ability…?”

As Yeodong-bin furrowed his brows at this unfamiliar concept, Lee Gun-ak chimed in.

“Yeodong-bin, among the bloodlines of our sect’s priestesses, there are occasionally individuals born with unique latent abilities that defy explanation. She was born with the ability to foresee the future, and our sect has benefitted greatly from this ability throughout the years.”

“What?!”

“That encounter you had with her on Mount Ye was guided by her divination that the Overlord’s swordsmanship resides there. Her prognostication that it would be difficult to obtain also proved correct….”

Lee Gun-ak chuckled bitterly. Yeodong-bin pondered for a moment before asking a counter-question.

“Are you saying that this premonition ability surpasses sorcery?”

“At least, our sect perceives it that way. It is regarded as a third power distinct from martial arts or sorcery. Furthermore, she is a master who has meticulously refined her premonition ability, combining it with sorcery.”

“……”

Yeodong-bin found it hard to accept this easily. Sorcery was a divine gift bestowed from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the cornerstone of human civilization. Without human power, civilization could not rapidly develop or withstand natural disasters. Moreover, Yeodong-bin had performed the Moving Meditation Technique thousands of times without ever hearing or witnessing such a concept as the premonition ability.

But soon, Yeodong-bin changed his mindset.

‘Right. What I know about this world is indeed extremely partial and lacking.’

As he came into contact with the realm of the Martial God, Yeodong-bin’s mental world widened and became more flexible. He began to understand the reality that there exist things beyond his imagination in this world and resolved to develop further. Quickly regaining his composure, Yeodong-bin spoke.

“Alright. Then can you also predict the chances of fighting that being and succeeding?”

“I’ve already attempted to divine that.”

“What was the result?”

“…….”

The Priestess hesitated greatly. Noticing her silence, Lee Gun-ak spoke to Yeodong-bin.

“She has only seen a future where we perish.”

“Hmm.”

“She has discerned that the End Times Dragon is an existence beyond the absolute realm that humanity cannot possibly defeat.”

When they had entered to eat, the dark expressions on both of their faces made sense now.

Although Yeodong-bin grasped the situation, he remained calm. If they were scared and unable to assist, he couldn’t do much about it. Instead, he said.

“Priestess, you mentioned you wished to ask me something. Please go ahead and ask your question.”

“Understood.”

The Priestess took a deep breath and then spoke.

“Yeodong-bin, if there were a way to avoid fighting the End Times Dragon, would you be able to carry it out?”

“…Is that really true?”

“Yes.”

Yeodong-bin gazed into the Priestess’s eyes. His discernment, honed by intense training, allowed him to see that she spoke sincerely. Yeodong-bin completely wiped away any doubts about her and answered candidly.

“If it were possible, I would follow that method.”

“I’m relieved to hear that….”

She exhaled, calming her insides before continuing.

“The way to avoid fighting the End Times Dragon is simple. The summoning of that dragon aligns directly with Empress Wu Zetian, so right now, you must unite with our Dharma Guardian and the Master to head to the Imperial Palace. If you kill Empress Wu, you will definitely be able to prevent the dragon’s summoning.”

“…….”

What the Priestess was saying was crystal clear.

Assassination of Empress Wu Zetian!

Yet it also implied that Yeodong-bin would have to overcome challenges beyond his wildest imagination.

Who is Empress Wu Zetian?

She was the being holding all the immense power of the great Tang Empire and was a deity to all, revered as divine. To a human ruler, her title seemed utterly absurd, which was only natural. Ever since the previous Emperor, Gaozong, fell ill, she had seized control the powers, effortlessly moving a million troops at her whim and annihilating smaller states as if it were her intention. All humans spanning thousands of leagues across Tang land revered her. Particularly, as Empress Yizong ascended to the throne, the power she wielded today was self-evident.

Currently, all intellectuals and scholars of the Tang Empire cautiously mused that she might be the greatest ruler in Chinese history. Throughout history, there had been countless Emperors, yet there was no case of anyone wielding such unchecked power. Some scholars even praised her by comparing her to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

Moreover, one could hardly predict the probability of success for an assassination. Even if the Eight Immortals and the White Lotus Sect were to join forces, beheading the Emperor wouldn’t be a simple task. In the capital city of Luoyang, where the Tang Empire’s heart lay, the world’s martial experts congregated, and the leaders of noble families were seen accompanying Empress Wu as her personal guards. Those elite bodyguards were referred to as the Six Heroes, each one being among the top ten experts in the martial world.

Killing Empress Wu Zetian would mean destroying the brain of the Tang Empire.

Simultaneously, it meant that the Eight Immortals, who were hailed as heroes acting for the common people, would intervene in human affairs and distort history. Should they fail, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Given the multitude of outrageous challenges, Yeodong-bin couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t understand. Why must we kill Empress Wu to prevent the dragon?”

“That’s because….”

“Simply attributing it to divination results isn’t convincing enough. The Eight Immortals are beings destined to maintain order in the celestial realm, and if they involve themselves in the political affairs of the human realm, they would face severe punishment.”

At Yeodong-bin’s statement, the Priestess replied.

“…Then it’s not feasible.”

Yeodong-bin found himself aghast.

“Is there really no basis apart from your premonition ability?”

“That is correct….”

“……”

It was an absurdity to suggest that the Eight Immortals would collectively act upon a diviner’s command to assassinate the most powerful ruler of the human realm. A child’s naive laughter seemed more rational. While Yeodong-bin was bewildered, Lee Gun-ak interjected.

“That’s merely the Priestess’s opinion; it does not reflect the consensus of our sect, so don’t be overly disappointed.”

“Master Lee Gun-ak. What are you planning to do?”

“Before I encountered you, I also couldn’t readily accept what the Priestess said. Nevertheless, the fact that I must assist you hasn’t changed. Therefore, I’d rather make a request from our side.”

As Lee Gun-ak folded his arms, he continued.

“Please investigate Empress Wu Zetian. If you discover that she has connections with the dark forces, then you all would have justifiable grounds to take her down. At that time, we will mobilize our full strength to aid you.”

“Hmm!”

Yeodong-bin couldn’t help but mutter to himself. He felt as though the ball had been returned to him once more.

‘Isn’t investigating the most powerful authority in the human world, Empress Wu Zetian, against the celestial laws?’

He had no choice but to ponder this reality. If it were just him, it would be one thing, but in whatever action he took, the responsibility of the Fire Dragon Incarnate would always be entailed. If he recklessly violated the celestial laws, it would bring shame even upon his Master.

As if sensing Yeodong-bin’s troubles, the Fire Dragon Incarnate spoke to him telepathically.

[Dong-bin! Do not hesitate; just accept it.]

[Master!]

[I am essentially an outsider in the celestial realm. It would be unacceptable to hinder my disciple from doing righteous deeds due to my circumstances! Even if I am exiled from the heavens, I would merely return to the Divine Temple, so do not worry.]

Yeodong-bin understood that it wasn’t so simple. The Fire Dragon Incarnate returning to the Divine Temple meant that the avatar would vanish and be absorbed into the true being, Shenglong. At that point, whether or not Shenglong would retain the consciousness and memories of the Fire Dragon Incarnate was uncertain, and it could well signify a genuine death.

[…Understood.]

Nevertheless, Yeodong-bin accepted his Master’s wishes. For him, the semblance of righteousness his Master embodied was far more significant than parents whose names and faces he didn’t even know. Disappointing her was something he could never allow.

Before leaving, Yeodong-bin received a piece of information from Lee Gun-ak.

“Sword Master, I have one thing to inform you….”

“What is it?”

“You’ve heard that the illustrious Gongsun Family fell, right? Since then, a new top family has emerged.”

Having a good understanding of martial affairs, Yeodong-bin nodded.

“I have heard. The Han Clan, wasn’t it?”

Originally, the Gongsun Family had dominated as the supreme family with their renowned Gongsun Sword Technique, but their leader, Gongsun Byeok, died in a struggle for the Overlord’s swordsmanship. The problem was that Gongsun Byeok had died unexpectedly without passing on large parts of Gongsun Sword Technique’s essence, leading to the decline in the family’s martial prowess. The might of the Peak Master Gongsun Byeok had been the pillar supporting the family.

As a result, the Gongsun Family hastily reduced their faction to regroup. They still had many Peak Experts, but facing a future where opportunities dwindled, they chose to meditate and strategize. However, during the process of expanding their influence, they accumulated too many grievances, eventually resulting in a coalition of martial world forces obliterating them, causing the family to disappear from martial history within a decade.

Following them, the emerging new top family in the center of the martial world, Luoyang, was none other than the Han Clan. They were the direct descendants of Han Feizi from the Warring States period, originally a family focused on literature, but they had diligently developed their martial arts over generations, transforming into a formidable martial clan. The Han Clan was incredibly wealthy and had a high reputation within the martial realm, thus seamlessly replacing the Gongsun Family.

Bringing up the Han Clan, Lee Gun-ak continued.

“If you Eight Immortals intend to investigate Empress Wu, it would be wise to seek the aid of the Han Clan. Their leader was once a close aide to her but suddenly withdrew from that position, so there’s a high likelihood they know something.”

“Thank you.”

After hearing Lee Gun-ak’s advice, Yeodong-bin promptly returned to where his Eight Immortal comrades were, sharing the information he had gathered so far. He proposed that they investigate Empress Wu Zetian, prompting Zhongli Quan to reply with evident difficulty.

“Yeodong-bin! You cannot hastily investigate such an overwhelming figure in the human world based solely on a White Lotus Sect diviner’s conjecture.”

“I know that.”

“Do not make unreasonable demands and focus solely on the martial affairs of the human realm….”

Kugugugu

Just then, the avatar of the Fire Dragon Incarnate emerged and glared at Zhongli Quan, causing his voice to wilt.

“…Whether to do it or not is up to you, but regardless…”

[Inoma.]

“Why must I be the one to bear this… Ugh….”

With Zhongli Quan feeling defeated, the Eight Immortal Lee Cheol-gwa clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Haha. Regardless, some things simply cannot be done. The fact that we can freely use the ancient sorcery today is only possible because of the demons rampaging in the present. If we hastily provoke a ruler, causing events to twist history and entangle celestial secrets, who will bear the consequences of that cause and effect?”

Yeodong-bin replied resolutely.

“I will take responsibility. And since Master Mangnyang will look after this matter, there’s no need to worry.”

“Ugh! W-well….”

“If the End Times Dragon descends as it is, we would inevitably face defeat. And if Empress Wu is indeed behind the forces of darkness, it would spell unimaginable disaster, wouldn’t it? Even if we ward off the minor demons, if we fail to erase the root cause, such events will repeat infinitely.”

“Hmm….”

“Please trust me.”

Yeodong-bin put forth a bold and passionate stance, tirelessly persuading the remaining Eight Immortals.

“Agreed.”

“Let’s give it a try.”

Ultimately, the Eight Immortals decided to adhere to Yeodong-bin’s intent, and they all agreed to unite their strength to investigate Empress Wu Zetian.

About ten days had passed since the investigation of Empress Wu began.

Just as the dark forces in the human realm had significantly quieted down, Jang Gwa-ro, one of the Eight Immortals, called everyone over, greatly astonished.

“C-Could this be happening….”

“Jang Gwa-ro, what’s the matter?”

After a moment of silence, he spoke.

“I’ve been monitoring Empress Wu with my Heavenly Vision… This morning, my treasure was completely destroyed.”

Jang Gwa-ro brandished his treasure, the Tonghyun Stick. The end of the stick bore white ornaments that amplified his sorcery, now horrifically shattered. As they observed the dreadful sight, Han Sang-ja, another of the Eight Immortals, remarked.

“If someone could break a treasure at the source of sorcery, it must belong to the Great Immortal Level.”

“Ah… The one guarding Empress Wu is an extraordinary presence. How could someone with such sorcery wield such power?”

“Could they be from the Otherworldly Race?”

“Not likely. If an Otherworldly being of Great Immortal Level had descended, the cause and effect would have triggered a Heavenly Guardian presence. What’s happening here…!!”

The Eight Immortals were all perplexed. After all, they never anticipated that an existence wielding the power of a Great Immortal would even guard the emperor of the human realm. No matter how insignificant the human emperor seemed, it was impossible to comprehend.

Yeodong-bin reflected on the scene.

‘It seems indirect surveillance is no longer efficient.’

Having made his decision, Yeodong-bin addressed the remaining Immortals.

“I will go directly to Luoyang and meet with the leader of the Han Clan to investigate Empress Wu Zetian.”