Reincarnation Sword God

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Dark Heaven Village

“This life isn’t my first, is it?”

“Ah!”

I was momentarily stunned by his words, but memories began to flicker in my mind shortly after.

[This is the last. My blessing will adjust your fate so that you can walk the path of dominance more easily, and if you should die, it will grant you whatever you desired amongst your wishes.]

[I didn’t expect to fight against Dalgi, but it was quite entertaining. So I’ll teach you one more thing before I go.]

[You cannot see the mark of forgetfulness. Quite likely, the chances of your reincarnation are high.]

[All the enlightened ones are engraved with marks that cause them to forget when trapped in the cycle of rebirth. However, there are rare cases when that mark disappears or never existed in the first place. Such individuals are reborn with their memories intact.]

In my 14th life, at the very end, Xiang Yu descended upon me, defeating the Apostle Dalgi for me, granting my wishes, and then returned to the Celestial Realm. At that time, he answered many of my curiosities, including about the mark of forgetfulness.

Xiang Yu stated that humans without the mark of forgetfulness have a high chance of reincarnation. Typically, all enlightened ones are destined to forget within the cycle of rebirth, but the soul that has not forgotten is an anomaly indeed. Reflecting on this memory, I spoke to Yong Junil.

“… You’re telling me you’re a reincarnator?”

A reincarnator—one who is born again with memories of their past life.

Living another life!

Yong Junil slowly nodded his head.

“There’s much to discuss. Let’s go inside and talk.”

I entered the inner sanctum of the newly established White Lotus Sect with my companions. The place had a strong sense of grandeur, though it lacked the temple-like ambiance typical of the sect due to its new construction. Sitting across from Yong Junil, I asked, “Reincarnator? How could that be? Why should I believe you?”

“Believe it or don’t, it’s immaterial. Why do you think I just shared that fact now?”

“…”

Yong Junil took a sip of tea before continuing.

“I’ve been observing the world through my network all along. I have some awareness of the hidden changes occurring in the world, and that you, Baek Woong, are at the center of it…”

I caught on to something in his words and replied,

“You mean you want to work with me?”

“Indeed. It seems we’re in an age of turmoil, and considering your significant assets within the Seven Luminaries, the White Lotus Sect has no chance of survival without a partnership with you. And thus, I’m prepared to share my secrets.”

This meant he was revealing he was a reincarnator to strongly express his wish to be an ally. The conversation from moments ago could indeed be interpreted that way.

“Isn’t that rather presumptuous? I haven’t given any thought to taking you as an ally.”

Yong Junil replied, “I’ve completed all the tasks assigned by Zhuge Sa. And if Zhuge Sa is your strategist, every action I’ve taken would be for the benefit of my lord. It’s clear that I’ve been of great assistance to you.”

“Hmm.”

“If that’s the case, at the very least, assure me you won’t oppose the White Lotus Sect. If you do that, I will disclose everything I know.”

“… Fine. Just give me a moment.”

I glanced sideways at the Heavenly Mysterious Woman.

[Heavenly Mysterious Woman, does he lack the mark of forgetfulness? Is he truly a reincarnator?]

I wanted to verify it myself, but I couldn’t confirm the mark of forgetfulness with just the Fire Eye Golden Spirit. I had no choice but to rely on the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s techniques.

Responding to my inquiry, she used the Corpse Dissolution Technique for a moment to examine Yong Junil before saying.

[That’s correct. He lacks the mark of forgetfulness, and he is indeed a reincarnator who has accumulated years.]

[……!!]

[A very rare existence.]

As I confirmed that Yong Junil’s words were true, a shiver ran down my spine.

Reincarnation!

A concept from Buddhism and the culmination of the theory of rebirth that I’ve heard countless stories about. To be reborn into a new world while retaining memories from a past life! Those disillusioned with life found reincarnation immensely alluring. Of course, it was often accompanied by great suffering in Buddhist thought, but the temptation of reborn into a better existence was appealing to anyone.

And yet, here I was, face to face with someone who had achieved it for the very first time!

“I will promise not to oppose the White Lotus Sect. Now tell me what you know.”

“Very well.”

Yong Junil paused for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“My true age is four hundred and twenty-five years, and this is my sixth life. I suspect this life as Yong Junil will be my longest yet.”

A reincarnator who has lived for over four hundred years.

“… What’s your real name?”

At my question, he chuckled lightly.

“Yong Junil is Yong Junil. I know you’re curious about the names from my past lives, but you wouldn’t have heard of names like Lee Mak-Jong, Tak Bul-Ju, Yu Se-Yeon, or Seon Woo-Paja.”

“Umm…”

It was indeed true. The names Yong Junil listed were unfamiliar and left me baffled, as I had never heard of renowned martial artists by those names in the history of Jianghu. I expressed my confusion to Yong Junil.

“That’s odd. Here you are with a name as famous as Yong Junil in this world. Why was it that your previous lives didn’t make a name for themselves?”

“Hehe.”

Yong Junil chuckled bitterly.

“Firstly, when I lived as Lee Mak-Jong, I was just an ordinary farmer from the Southern Song. I plowed the fields my entire life, and the most extraordinary thing I encountered was witnessing General Ye’s triumphant return after defeating the Jin soldiers. I passed away at around sixty years old.”

“……”

They say the General of the Southern Song refers to General Yue Fei, who fought valiantly to protect the Southern Song Empire from the Jin. His legendary downfall came from the machinations of the treacherous Qin Hui. Of course, that was a tale from four hundred years ago—a long time indeed.

“However, things turned strange after my death. I opened my eyes in the body of an infant and soon learned that I had been named Tak Bul-Ju. I realized I had been reincarnated and endeavored to live my new life diligently. I even moved up the ranks after passing the state examination. But then…”

“What happened?”

“As I lived on, I discovered that the time of Lee Mak-Jong’s death and Tak Bul-Ju’s birth nearly coincided.”

“… You don’t mean!”

Yong Junil calmly lifted his teacup for a sip before continuing.

“There were no gaps in my reincarnation. I was reborn the moment I died. When I thought about it, I found myself growing anxious around thirty-five while living as Tak Bul-Ju.”

“Why the anxiety?”

“Having realized that upon dying as Tak Bul-Ju, I would likely be reborn again… I was already feeling quite weary of life by that point. The thought of continuously reincarnating was rather unappealing.”

“What…?”

I stared at Yong Junil in disbelief.

“You lived barely a century—Sixty years as Lee Mak-Jong and thirty-five as Tak Bul-Ju—and you found it dull?”

From my perspective, that time felt insufficient. After all, I have lived well over a hundred years and never once thought it boring.

Yong Junil smirked and replied.

“When I lived as Lee Mak-Jong, I got married, had children, and became the head of my family, even seeing grandchildren. A farmer’s life is denser than it appears; even if I passed at sixty, I had accumulated a lot of experiences. Upon being reborn and living as Tak Bul-Ju, I again got married and had kids. By then, I had already amassed a wealth of experience beyond that of an average person, and I found myself thoroughly fatigued.”

“……”

I was at a loss for words. His definition of “average person” was vastly different from mine. The experiences he spoke of were on a completely different level.

‘Could it be that I am the strange one?’

As I contemplated this, Yong Junil continued.

“I considered endless life to be akin to a curse. Coincidentally, it was around the time that the Mongols invaded the Central Plains and besieged the capital and Yangyang, plunging the world into chaos. I resigned my post and joined the Complete Reality Sect, becoming a disciple of the Northern Seven True Children. The Complete Reality Sect found favor with the Mongol Empire, making survival easier.”

“… You’re not lying, are you? You met Wang Zhongyang, the founding patriarch of the Complete Reality Sect?”

“Believe it or not, that was my reality. It was during this time that I first learned martial arts and alchemy, making plans to seek longevity. I thought that by accumulating life and gaining superhuman power, I could alleviate the tedium of existence and uncover the reasons behind my reincarnation through the mysterious powers of Taoism.”

Having said that, Yong Junil briefly glanced out the window.

“Tak Bul-Ju passed away at one hundred thirty-three years old. I died teaching trainees at a local Daoist temple to avoid the Mongol invasion.”

“And then you were reborn?”

“Yes. My next life was as Yu Se-Yeon of the Yi clan, and it was somewhat coincidental that I was born as a woman. It was then I learned for the first time that I could be born with a different gender.”

“……”

“With the martial knowledge I amassed from my previous life, I attained a considerable level of martial arts even in a woman’s body. At that time, I figured I might as well train in martial arts since I had already shed ordinary capabilities, so I sought out the best sects of the era, which led me to enter the White Lotus Sect for the first time.”

“Hmm!”

“I trained diligently in martial arts as a single individual and passed away at seventy-two—that was my third life.”

An ordinary person would likely find Yong Junil’s story tedious. Who would find amusement in a brief account of what someone did before they died at a certain age without further explanation?

However, as a reincarnator, I found a deep resonance in Yong Junil’s words, making it remarkably engaging to hear his tale.

“My fourth life, as Seon Woo-Paja, was spent as a nomad. I suffered from deep depression around that time since I could not comprehend why my life would repeat itself until the end of Yu Se-Yeon’s life. By then, I had already become quite fed up with life.”

“And so what did you do?”

“I decided to become an adventurer. Staying idle with martial arts wasn’t yielding results, so I actively sought the mysterious spirits and ruins of the world to uncover the reasons behind the strange events in my life. I already possessed enough martial skills, so by the time I turned twenty, I set off for adventuring. I didn’t stop moving until the day I died; I traveled across the Central Plains, the Western Front, and even to Heavenly Contractions.”

“……”

“At that time… I discovered for the first time the realm of the ‘Otherworld,’ the reality of nightmares, the existence of the Otherworldly Races, the Seven Luminaries, and ancient myths. I also came to understand that the reason I had been reincarnated was due to the absence of the mark of forgetfulness.”

From that point on, things got serious.

The Yong Junil before me had lived three previous lives and only started finding his path in the fourth.

“From then on, I didn’t specifically seek to restore the mark of forgetfulness. This was the recognition of a unique ability that belonged solely to me.”

“Do you know why the mark of forgetfulness disappeared?”

“I still don’t know that… Nevertheless, it was then I began to dream.”

Yong Junil crossed his arms and said.

“If this world is in peril, then only I, the reincarnator, can save it.”

“……!!”

I couldn’t help but stiffen. Yong Junil’s shifting perspective mirrored my own. Perhaps he was unaware of my thoughts, but he continued speaking.

“After the life of Seon Woo-Paja ended, my fifth life as Mong O-Shim focused on mastering the ancient martial arts of the Taoist tradition while exploring the secrets hidden within. I acquired ancient texts from the White Lotus Sect, and I studied quite a bit about their ancient rituals. I continuously delved into the secrets of the ancient Ethereal Spirits concealed within Buddhism and Taoism.”

“… I see.”

I didn’t need him to directly mention it, but it was clear he had undoubtedly deciphered aspects of the Su Shin Sect and the Demon Path during his fifth life as Mong O-Shim. His knowledge at that time likely surpassed many demon sorcerers. It was no doubt that his immediate understanding of the side effects of techniques such as the Primordial Spirit or Heavenly Spirit Pill stemmed from the knowledge he acquired in his previous life. He could likely even cast considerable techniques and magic now.

I spoke to Yong Junil.

“So you were able to restore the Huashan Sect’s ancient swordsmanship thanks to your reincarnation?”

“Restoration or whatnot, I learned directly from a survivor who continued the legacy of Huashan swordplay during my fourth life as Seon Woo-Paja. When I transitioned into my sixth life as Yong Junil, I merely put that knowledge into practice.”

“I see.”

It felt surreal.

I had assumed that the reason he had mastered both the Wind Spirit Sect swordsmanship and the Huashan swordplay to a master’s extent was because of his innate genius, but instead it turned out he was living martial arts history!

Yong Junil’s expression suddenly changed.

“It seems you entirely believe what I’m saying. As expected, you too…”

“……”

I sensed what Yong Junil was thinking.

‘He thinks I am also a reincarnator!’

It made sense. Yong Junil, who had accumulated martial arts, knowledge, and experience through several lives, achieved tremendous success as a reincarnator this life. From his perspective, I must have seemed like a reincarnator who had prepared even more thoroughly than he had.

However, I was similar yet different.

Reincarnator versus the Reborn.

He spanned the years while I repeatedly relived them.

That was a massive difference, without a doubt.

‘What to do?’

I quietly pondered whether I should elucidate the difference between reincarnation and rebirth to him and honestly reveal my secrets? It might be easier if Yong Junil participated in the final confrontation, and having him as a comrade from my past life wasn’t a terrible idea either.

With a brief sigh, I spoke.

“… Considering your life history… it’s the history of martial arts.”

“Hehe.”

Yong Junil chuckled coolly.

“I have learned all four great families’ martial techniques at least once. Of course, no one would have known this fact. With the martial arts of the Wind Spirit Sect I learned in this life, I decided to create a new martial technique that combines the essence of the four great families, and I named it the ‘Sword Form’.”

“……”

What sheer determination!

If he was telling the truth, Yong Junil was indeed the longest-lasting figure among the renowned masters of the White Lotus Sect, having diversified his martial training over the years. While a bit of natural talent has to support it, crafting the ‘Four Divine Sword Form’ wasn’t a feat achievable by just anyone.

‘It’s no wonder he appears to be the final antagonist…’

Normally, the greatest obstacle Jin So-cheong could have faced in history, which I never involved myself in, had to be Yong Junil. After centuries of reincarnation through the four great families’ martial techniques, he was an ambitious super-master. Perhaps he was a fitting archenemy for the naturally gifted genius Jin So-cheong!

But reality was different.

Even someone as extraordinary as Yong Junil became inconsequential in a scheme with divine status involved, and it appeared that even he was oblivious to the realities of the otherworldly depths. Compared to the efficiency of information gained per time spent, I was far ahead. This might be the advantage a reborn person has over a reincarnator.

“Yong Junil. Is it because you’ve lived so long that you can no longer recognize blood relations as blood relations?”

“Regrettably, yes. Yong Bi-cheon cherished me as his true son, yet I felt nothing for him. While I respected him on the surface, I genuinely had no thoughts on the matter…”

“Don’t you think that’s an inhuman change?”

“That may be. But forcing feelings for things I don’t feel means nothing.”

Yong Junil spoke without a hint of changing expression.

“I only engage in things I find interesting. Even lust has long since faded away.”

“……”

Non-human or beyond humanity.

That was exactly the feeling I had derived from his expression.

While Yong Junil hadn’t committed any evil deeds and remained committed to his goals, his pure purpose of aiming to save the world felt strangely impersonal. The more I thought about it, the more I felt a sense of suffocation within my heart.

‘This guy cannot yet be trusted.’

I want to, but I can’t.

Because this guy kept the most vital links hidden from me. Even if there was no proof, that alone was significantly insufficient to sow trust. If I were foolish, I might have fallen for it, but in my current state, I could not be so easily deceived.

‘Then I must use him and throw him away afterward.’

I shook my head vigorously and then spoke to Yong Junil.

“Yong Junil. I’m sorry, but I can’t spill all my secrets to you. However, I will provide you with current information regarding Luoyang and the situation involving Changhil and the Celestial Realm. In exchange, I need your help in the assault on Luoyang.”

“I would like to hear the information before making a decision.”

I succinctly provided Yong Junil with the current state of affairs. I had omitted certain mentions of the obsidian and blended in some truths amongst the lies. Yong Junil pondered over the information for a moment before replying.

“I see. So if you obtain the Earth Star from the Imperial Palace, you’ll be able to acquire the Six-Yao and, consequently, the final Yao as well.”

“Will you assist me?”

“……”

Yong Junil gazed at me with strange eyes before randomly commenting.

“Baek Woong, it seems you wish to be recognized by the emperor as the human king.”

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