Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 15: The Food of God’s

“That’s more chaotic than I imagined.”

I thought being a Count meant a respectable status and considerable wealth, but that was just my misunderstanding.

“I don’t want to eat this!”

“Aida, there are many people outside starving with even less than this. Quit whining.”

Aida, my younger sister, threw the bread aside and burst into tears, while our father, Count Bradley Somerset, sternly chastised her.

I glanced at the food placed before me, thinking that dining in a noble household might actually resemble that of an ordinary family.

On the table lay a thin, unidentifiable soup and bread that resembled rocks in hardness.

Certainly, these weren’t appetizing dishes even for a child.

Determined to eat, I attempted to dip the bread into the soup, but just as I broke it apart—

Crack!

Did I just hear the sound of wood splintering?

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암천향(暗天鄕)

Watching the soldiers from the armored cavalry get cut down on a hopeless battlefield left me feeling heavy-hearted. Did these pawns even know what kind of cruel trials they were thrown into when they agreed to the contracts? But I soon realized that it didn’t matter whether they knew or not.

In this world, the king’s power is absolute.

Not just the king, even a mere high-ranking official or mid-level manager wields immense power. With just a gesture or a word, they can mobilize forces and wealth enough to change the terrain itself. Turning innocent people into traitors and traitors into loyal subjects is child’s play.

A commoner is just a bug, nothing more.

Let alone someone who could surpass the king’s will; who among the people could dare to defy the command of Qin Shi Huang, who was the first in history to unify the entire Middle Kingdom? If the owner of such power could squash even a king like a bug, then no one could refuse it.

Even if it meant suffering hundreds of tortures in the Afterlife, there was no way anyone in this life could dodge the choice of death.

‘Most humans are materialists… Not many seriously believe in the afterlife.’

It’s the very nature of the continental folk; they’re intensely obsessed with and focused on their present reality. Those who sincerely believe in an afterlife are usually treated like fools.

Taoists and monks may have a glimpse into the world’s depths and thus tread lightly regarding death, but ordinary citizens don’t take such things seriously. Of course, if they have religion, they might believe, but that would usually be seen as superstition.

That’s why they likely accepted Qin Shi Huang’s cunning trap contracts without even knowing what they entailed. Even if they knew, they wouldn’t have an inkling of the horrific meaning behind such a devil’s contract.

I looked around and spoke.

“…But even the cavalry is too numerous. The ones at Mount Ye weren’t this many.”

“I know what you mean. There were maybe around 8,000 there at best. But if you factor in the military forces already deployed, we’re looking at at least 200,000 to 300,000 troops. It just doesn’t add up!”

“Where did they gather more troops from?”

“That’s just the difference between the guard and the regular troops.”

“Huh?”

Zhuge Sa chuckled softly.

“The cavalry at Mount Ye was an elite force with a strong loyalty to Qin Shi Huang. They were the imperial guard. The common soldiers or citizens who hastily signed contracts in their lifetimes were probably never there.”

“You mean they were buried somewhere else?”

“Scattered throughout the Central Plains? They were likely buried alive in several dozens of places.”

“…….”

It’s exceedingly cruel. Seeing my aghast expression, Mangnyang spoke.

“Baek Woong, now is not the time to focus on the soldiers. Pay close attention to how Jin Yeo is attacking and the tactics he employs.”

“Umm….”

“It might sound heartless, but this is an opportunity. Everything you observe here will become a unique asset that is hard to regain.”

“I understand.”

The soldiers may be pitiful, but I didn’t have an obligation to rescue them from their countless deaths. Having come this far, I had to pass through the trials of the Six Paths, no matter what. Seeing Jin Yeo’s true capabilities was my main priority.

Especially since the fact that our three companions had completely vanished was making my heart anxious.

**Boom!**

I wondered how much massacre could happen up ahead? I had been observing the battlefield for about half an hour to gauge how Jin Yeo attacked and moved. As a skilled martial artist myself, I was adept at detecting the ‘center’ of the opponent’s movements and analyzing the variables in their actions.

As I scanned the battlefield attentively, I realized one thing.

“It’s lacking.”

“What do you mean it’s lacking?”

“Jin Yeo isn’t using all his strength. At the very least, he’s hiding four or five of his techniques.”

“Seems so. No matter how big the army, to Jin Yeo, they’re merely bugs.”

As I distributed the Seven Luminaries among our forces, I remarked.

“It’s not the time to wait for Qin Shi Huang any longer. Sticking around is just a waste; we need to eliminate Jin Yeo here, if possible.”

“Good call.”

**Vroom!**

As I summoned the Seven Luminaries, our allies’ power surged massively. The number of my comrades who could use the power of the Seven Luminaries had dropped sharply, so it seemed wisest to give pairs to Zhuge Sa, Jin Gong-pyo, and Cheon Woo-jin. Mangnyang, Zhuge Sa, and I would again observe from a distance, but there was no avoiding that.

**Boom!**

Zhuge Sa summoned hundreds of clones, charging toward Jin Yeo’s spirit, while Jin Gong-pyo also joined the attack by throwing his sabre sword. They were both second to none in combat, and I had no need to worry as they understood Jin Yeo as well as I did.

As I watched our three companions team up, I saw the soldiers panic and retreat.

[Temporary retreat. Observe the situation.]

Simultaneously, I could hear the commander giving a loud command to the soldiers, indicating they understood the inviolable truce between Qin Shi Huang and me. They were indeed cruel, and although I wanted to kill them, I was in no position to attack, so I had to let it be.

**Boom!**

The glorious battle began.

At that moment, Zhuge Sa spoke beside me.

“You’re not seriously thinking of giving up on Gonzho, are you?”

“……”

“You can promise to bring him back next life. Someone with his talent and capability is rare; it would be wise to make him your ally. He may not match Jin So-cheong, but he’s undoubtedly a genius. Finding someone of Gonzho’s level is extremely difficult.”

“A promise is a promise.”

“Why keep promises like that? It’s of no benefit to either of us.”

I didn’t respond to Zhuge Sa’s remarks.

Yeah, it’s true that there’s no benefit for either side. But even so, Gonzho had been sincere, and I could never dismiss his sincerity. While I remained silent, Mangnyang spoke.

“Baek Woong, choose according to your heart. But….”

“But what?”

“You know as well as I do that Gonzho has reached the Absolute Realm among the martial artists. And someone of his caliber doesn’t make hasty decisions without reason. You should understand that he had his reasons.”

“I think I have a clue.”

“I have a hunch, but it’s presumptuous to share it unless you’re the one making the claim. That’d be an arrogant act. Everything is your choice.”

“Hmm.”

“Once you’ve made your choice, I will share what I suspect.”

It seemed Mangnyang didn’t want to carelessly speak despite having some insight into Gonzho’s intentions. At that moment, Zhuge Sa snorted in disdain.

“Hmph, what a self-satisfied remark. Even if a royal daughter begged on her knees to be your slave, you’d be in no position to be picky! Whatever his circumstances, if we can use him, we should.”

“Zhuge Sa. That’s enough.”

When I intervened, Zhuge Sa shrugged. I noticed he too had comprehended Gonzho’s heart and its cause. Both strategists understood Gonzho yet had differing opinions on accepting that. I still had no idea how to resolve this issue, so I decided to put it aside for now.

At that instant.

**Vroom—**

The Eight Trigrams Formation shook. I suddenly felt time move slower and a gray glow swept through the area, as Zhuge Bu staggered. At the entrance of the Eight Trigrams Formation, someone could be seen standing.

As soon as I laid eyes on him, I shouted.

“Jin!!”

Qin Shi Huang, now known as the Divine Portrait Jin!

He was calmly standing at the entrance of the Eight Trigrams Formation, looking this way!

When Jin saw me, he stroked his chin and said.

“Quite impressive. The Eight Trigrams Formation…. This is undoubtedly the formation technique devised by the genius Zhuge Mu-hu, who surpassed the Great Immortal. I believe I’ve heard stories about it.”

“Are you planning to ambush us like a rat again?”

“You know that’s not the case. After all, since we made a pact, I cannot fight against you until you pass the trials of the Six Paths.”

Jin replied with light intentions.

“But just know that while the Eight Trigrams Formation can bind me, it cannot completely prevent my abilities from acting.”

“……!!”

I instinctively sensed that his words were true. He had likely used a time-stop ability to enter but got caught in the Eight Trigrams Formation, indicating that if he exerted his full power, he could force his abilities into play. Observing Zhuge Bu bleeding from his nose and looking pale confirmed that Jin’s claims were indeed valid.

‘While it’s impossible to fully obstruct him with the Eight Trigrams Formation, merely restraining him would create an opening…’

As I imagined what would happen if I fought him, Jin brought up a topic.

“It seems you’re all set to defeat Jin Yeo. Does that make us allies?”

I glanced at another direction. It seemed the lights of some other troops had also dimmed, suggesting they too had been suppressed by him.

“If you understand, hurry and go fight Jin Yeo. Don’t dally here and provoke me!”

“Hahaha! But first, I have something to discuss with you.”

“Spit it out quickly.”

I growled, and Jin spoke.

“…What is your relationship with Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen?”

“……?”

“I came to hear about that.”

What kind of nonsense was he spouting now?

I shot him a warily curious look, unsure of what his intentions were. It was vital not to jump to conclusions before grasping what that question meant. Sure enough, Mangnyang stepped up beside me and replied to Jin’s query.

“We need to know first. What grounds do you have for asking such a question?”

“Are you withholding your cards until we reveal ours?”

“No time to waste answering nonsense. This isn’t exactly a leisurely hour.”

“Fine. Then let me reveal what I have. Do you know why I’ve cast aside my dominance over Earth and focused everything on the trials of the Seven Luminaries?”

“…….”

“Hmm, you certainly aren’t inclined toward dialogue. Then I’ll take my leave.”

**Whoosh!**

Jin suddenly lost interest and teleported back to the battlefield fighting Jin Yeo. I stood there in shock at how absurd it was.

“What was that guy doing here out of nowhere?”

“Don’t you get it? He came to probe us.”

Zhuge Sa stated bluntly, then added.

“It’s about to reach a conclusion.”

He was right. As Zhuge Sa, Jin Gong-pyo, and Cheon Woo-jin amplified their powers with the pairing of Seven Luminaries and charged forth, Jin Yeo was being pushed back increasingly, and even Jin was summoning spheres of chaos to attack him, suggesting Jin Yeo’s spirit was beginning to falter.

Jin Yeo seemed far weaker than Mu Hyo, but that was because Mu Hyo had been just too powerful.

[Kraah… I recognize the strength of you challenger.]

**Kiiing—**

As Jin Yeo’s spirit was defeated, a rainbow light began to emanate from Jin Yeo himself. Once our allies regrouped, we prepared to challenge the Tydaht.

‘Once we deal with Tydaht, we’ll only be left with the final enemy.’

There seemed to be a lot of time left. Seeing that Tydaht hadn’t yet appeared, I realized we had swiftly solved the trials of the Seven Luminaries! I thought maybe the trials wouldn’t be that tough, but I soon realized how wrong I was.

Zhuge Sa and Jin Gong-pyo

It remained unclear whether I could count on their support for the next trials. Having borrowed the strength of those with the highest abilities among mortals, it might be challenging to gather this much power again next time. Let alone if I hadn’t been aware of the Primordial Void when handling Mu Hyo, we would’ve been annihilated.

“Ugh, huff….”

However, Cheon Woo-jin looked a bit off. He leaned against a nearby tree, his complexion pale and seemed to lose strength, finally coughing.

“Hey, let me check your pulse for a second.”

I inspected Cheon Woo-jin’s body, but found no physical problems.

Cheon Woo-jin coughed and said.

“…Just lost some lifespan. I’ll be fine after a little rest, so don’t worry.”

“What?”

“The forbidden technique I used to subdue Jin Yeo just now cost me about 70 years off my lifespan. The aftereffects hit quite fast….”

“…….”

Why was he making such nonchalant comments?!

I hastily pulled out a treasure from the wooden armor.

“Is there any way to recover lifespan with these?”

“Why, should we boil them and drink? Don’t just say things without knowing about mana.”

Cheon Woo-jin snapped irritably then touched his forehead.

“Hah, damn… why am I so concerned with someone else’s business… absurd… ha….”

And with that, Cheon Woo-jin collapsed, lifeless.

“Ahhh!”

I gasped in shock and quickly summoned him back.

**Vroom…**

But just like before, he could not be summoned back at all. Then I heard Mangnyang’s voice resonating in my head.

[Do not attempt to summon my disciple any further. He shall rest by my side now.]

[Mangnyang!]

[I do not wish to see him foolishly indulging in the emperor’s machinations.]

Was Mangnyang refusing to summon Cheon Woo-jin?

A chill ran down my spine. I felt Mangnyang’s cat-like eyes flicker dangerously towards me. It seemed Mangnyang didn’t want Cheon Woo-jin’s soul to suffer anymore through this trial. As I reported Cheon Woo-jin’s situation to everyone, Mangnyang remarked as if he had anticipated it.

“It can’t be helped… we can only resolve Tydaht with the powers of Zhuge Sa and Jin Gong-pyo.”

“…….”

Things were only getting worse. Our allies kept diminishing, and the king’s summoning rights were becoming virtually useless. Why were there so many cases of being unable to summon back?!

‘Oh? But why…’

I suddenly felt a minor discomfort. It was a trivial sense of unease. However, I had no clue what it meant, so I quickly brushed it off. Analyzing it wouldn’t have any meaning right now.

Finally, when we reached where Tydaht was located, we found that the trial had just opened.

**Whooooosh…**

Tydaht appeared as a translucent entity, floating in the air, manifesting the image of a tentacle monster with the Eight Trigrams swirling densely around its body. Zhuge Sa remarked upon seeing it.

“The Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram must have absorbed influences from the Otherworldly Race since it was possessed by the Demon Subduing Hall for so long. Simultaneously, it might be utilizing the diagram’s capabilities to nullify magical techniques.”

“…As for Jin Gong-pyo’s powers….”

“It’s not just Jin Gong-pyo. If his magical techniques are blocked, even Zhuge Sa’s power will be practically limited to simply preserving his Qi. This presents a whole new level of difficulty compared to Mu Hyo.”

“Hmmm.”

“It’s a shame the martial artists of the Absolute Realm are no longer around….”

Zhuge Sa mumbled that and turned to me.

“Baek Woong, whether you like it or not, you’ll have to take charge here. While the other comrades draw attention, you’ll need to deliver the finishing blow through your martial arts.”

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