Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 15: The True Martial Home

“Wow, things just got chilly in here.”

When Zhuge Mu-hu spoke, the atmosphere around us turned cold for a moment.

‘Hmm…’

I exchanged glances with Jin So-cheong and Seo Mun-hye. I particularly felt thankful towards Jin So-cheong. Although I had used the techniques of the Heavenly Secret Technique fluidly, somehow, I had managed to expose Zhuge Mu-hu’s true intentions.

And then, I turned to Zhuge Mu-hu, who had his eyes closed.

“I’m aware of that.”

[…You know?]

“I might know more than you think.”

As I spoke firmly, he slowly opened his eyes. His wise gaze scrutinized me before he spoke.

[So, the one who wielded the techniques of the Heavenly Secret Technique is not just an ordinary human after all.]

“Zhuge Mu-hu. If the despair you speak of refers to the world’s destruction five hundred years from now, then I will continue to strive to prevent it. I won’t give up, even if I fail dozens or hundreds of times.”

[……]

“My companions and I have already taken on the Trial of the Seven Luminaries. We even broke through the Trial of the Sun.”

[What…?]

In that moment, Zhuge Mu-hu looked startled. His eyes twitched slightly, and after a moment of suppressing his curiosity, he finally spoke.

[That’s impossible. If the Trial of the Seven Luminaries had commenced, this world would surely have become uninhabitable for humans. Why are you boasting to me?]

At that moment, I could sense it clearly.

‘Zhuge Mu-hu knows what kind of disaster occurs when the Trial of the Seven Luminaries is unlocked!’

I couldn’t tell if he knew fully or just conceptually. However, based on my personal experience in the Trial of the Sun, the six Seven Luminaries that formed the body of Shenglong were the planets themselves, and I had reached the point of needing to destroy a planet. The likelihood that it would manifest as destruction in reality if I failed was high, so Zhuge Mu-hu’s words were surprisingly accurate.

Had I not experienced the Trial of the Sun, I would have interpreted his words as mere riddles, but that was not the case now. I instinctively felt that if I had ever met Zhuge Mu-hu in the past through the means of the Heavenly Secret Technique, it would have led to no gain at all.

I spoke up to Zhuge Mu-hu.

“This is neither boasting nor lying. However, there is one unfair point.”

[What is it?]

“If I ask you a trivial question, you might cut me off from the Heavenly Secret Technique, making it difficult to have a proper conversation. If you want to hear the truth from me, please engage seriously in this conversation.”

[……]

“At least during our discussion, refrain from nitpicking and undermining my techniques.”

Zhuge Mu-hu seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment, he responded.

[Very well. You are indeed an intriguing person, a true genius, and I will treat you accordingly.]

“Thank you.”

It seemed we finally reached a point where we could have a proper dialogue. I let out a sigh of relief inwardly before speaking.

“Before I begin, may I ask you something? Are you affiliated with the Celestial Realm, or will what we’ve discussed here be reported to the great beings of the Celestial Realm?”

[Are you hostile towards the Celestial Realm?]

“Not at the moment. However, if the content of our discussion reaches the Celestial Realm, it could cause us trouble.”

After hearing that, Zhuge Mu-hu waved his fan dismissively.

[I am not part of the Celestial Realm. I could never be from the start. I once ascended to become a Great Immortal through the Gate of Entrance, but I abandoned that position and returned to the mortal realm.]

“…Hmm.”

[There’s no obligation to report to the Celestial Realm, and this place isn’t being watched, so you can relax. I also promise not to disclose what we discuss here.]

That was reassuring.

I nodded and slowly opened my mouth.

“To be honest, I am a Reborn Person, and this life is my 26th….”

I began recounting my past lives over about a meal’s worth of time. Once I reached the Trial of the Seven Luminaries and acquiring the Trial of the Sun, I could see Zhuge Mu-hu’s expression becoming complicated. As I spoke, I realized I was skipping over a lot of details.

‘Darn it. I’ve gone through so much that I can’t explain it all!’

If I were to recount everything, it would probably amount to the length of a lengthy novel. This isn’t boasting, but going through 26 lives meant I had experienced a great deal. I would have preferred to give him an obsidian piece as a more concise way to explain, but I wasn’t fully trusting of Zhuge Mu-hu.

As my story began to wrap up, Zhuge Mu-hu wore a serious expression and spoke.

[You said your name is Baek Woong….]

“Yes.”

[You, with no talent and holding no merit, making use of the bright future of my descendants.]

“……”

I had nothing to retort to that since it was true. As I fell silent, he continued.

[However, if your words are true… as the rightful inheritor of the Yin Fu Classic, I have an obligation to share with you my experiences and information about Guang Chengzi.]

“The Yin Fu Classic…?”

[You must be familiar with the technique.]

“I have heard of the legendary reputation of the Yin Fu Classic. However, those who taught me techniques said it was a mythical text. Did you practice the Yin Fu Classic, Zhuge Mu-hu?”

[Indeed.]

Yin Fu Classic.

A military book supposedly authored by the Emperor, it was considered legendary within Daoism. It was comprised of 447 verses, structured into three sections: “The Immortal’s Embrace” (Shenxian Bao Yi Yan Dao), “Wealth and Peace” (Fu Guo An Min Yan Fa), and “Strong Armies, Victorious Cultivation” (Qiang Bing Zhan Sheng Yan Shu).

While 447 verses might not seem like much for a lengthy training text, the Yin Fu Classic was said to deepen in meaning the more one read it, and the Qi would grow stronger, leading even great scholars to derive countless interpretations and fall into the heart demon.

Yet, those who could overcome that heart demon would gain profound insights and the powerful techniques in hand. Thus, the true original copy of the Yin Fu Classic was always a subject of great interest among Taoists and sorcerers.

However, I couldn’t fully accept Zhuge Mu-hu’s claim, so I pressed further.

“I have spent a long time alongside the descendants of the Zhuge family, but none of them mentioned ever practicing or being imparted the Yin Fu Classic. Surely it’s a powerful text, so is there a reason why you didn’t pass it down to your descendants?”

[There is. I did not impart it on purpose.]

“Why not?”

[…The Yin Fu Classic is bifurcated into two categories: the Zhu Shu Yin Fu, belonging to the military texts, and Huang Di Yin Fu, associated with Daoism. I practiced both since I was young, but in the world, I only utilized the capabilities of the military Zhu Shu Yin Fu. That was due to the constraints inherent within the Yin Fu Classic.]

Constraints?

I stared at Zhuge Mu-hu in disbelief as he spoke.

[I recognized the side effects of the Yin Fu Classic when I had mastered more than 80% of it. At a young age, on the verge of achieving a great breakthrough, anxiety seized me when dragon scales began to appear on my body all of a sudden. I felt I could no longer practice the techniques and followed my lord into the secular world. When immersed in the secular world, it becomes impossible to use techniques recklessly.]

“Oh, I see.”

[If I had employed the forbidden techniques of the Yin Fu Classic in my lifetime, unifying the world would not have been so daunting. Even while surrounded by armies in a siege against Xiangzhou, I could have rushed in and stopped the catastrophic destruction, but the more I used the Huang Di Yin Fu techniques…, the more constraints would close in on me.]

Zhuge Mu-hu then revealed the bare skin of his arm. I noted that even in spirit form, dragon scales were vividly curling over his arm. Although his long sleeves had concealed them, a significant portion of his arm was already engulfed by those scales.

[In the end, I will be consumed after giving my soul to Fuxi.]

“…!!”

[Even with this vessel obtained now, I am still being consumed.]

Fuxi of the Three Sovereigns!

I had definitely encountered him before. He was the master of the Primordial Celestial and the Heavenly Ruler, but he was forced to reveal his mask by a mysterious Demon God and had returned as the Chaos Dragon. I had once nearly been killed by being summoned before him, yet I managed to barely survive by turning a small wheel. I wondered and cautiously asked.

“Are you saying that even after Fuxi’s mask was removed and he turned back into the Chaos Dragon, he can still consume souls?”

[What do you mean by that…?]

It seemed like Zhuge Mu-hu didn’t know the full details either. He thought of Fuxi merely as a member of the Three Sovereigns and was entirely unaware of the incident from ancient times where Fuxi revealed his true self. Perhaps that was the limit of a mortal. No matter how clever one was, one could never learn the secrets of ancient mythology without digging deeper.

So I recounted what I knew about Fuxi, and Zhuge Mu-hu pondered over it before replying.

[You seem to know the secrets of all worlds well… If what you say is true, the very purpose of the Yin Fu Classic might shift.]

“What purpose are you talking about?”

[I thought the Yin Fu Classic was a deceptive creation by Fuxi while posing as the Emperor and converted into a trap for capturing souls. But if your words are accurate, then surely the true author of the Yin Fu Classic is the Emperor, and it must have some hidden agenda.]

“……?”

[To put it simply, the Emperor seems to intend to maintain Fuxi. To protect him, who transformed into the Chaos Dragon, he is attempting to provide nourishment by spreading the Yin Fu Classic throughout the world.]

Things kept getting more complicated. I realized the information I was receiving was precious, so I was diligently keeping memories of every word flowing through my mind. At that moment, one fact suddenly struck me with shock.

“Wait a second. Then, if I were to gain your blessing through the Ghost Cry Mountain, would I also inherently learn the knowledge of the Yin Fu Classic, and thus, would the bearer of the blessing also…?”

[Ah, you’ll slowly be consumed by Fuxi as well… But the one-time techniques are something I learned from my master, so you needn’t worry about that.]

“……”

What in the world was this guy doing to me?

‘What if I had asked for the blessing the moment I summoned you? That would have been a disaster!!’

The Yin Fu Classic was known for instilling fear in its bearers, as souls were consumed by divine beings in the afterlife. Gaining that knowledge while learning might turn out disastrous.

As I realized that Zhuge Mu-hu had been toying with me casually, instead of being angry, I found it ridiculous. What reason would there be to treat me with such hostility, a complete stranger and the owner of the Heavenly Secret Technique?

If I hadn’t traveled with Jin So-cheong, I would have been in deep trouble! While I was lost in thought, Jin So-cheong spoke up.

“Let’s get to the point. While I understand the Yin Fu Classic, you haven’t explained your connection with the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate and Guang Chengzi yet.”

[The connection is a very simple one.]

Zhuge Mu-hu closed his eyes and continued.

[The Yin Fu Classic and the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate are like brothers. While the Emperor is said to have created the Yin Fu Classic and Zifu Shenxian created the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, both texts are attributed to the same original author.]

“Could it possibly be…?”

[Yes. The Yin Fu Classic and the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate were both created by Guang Chengzi. Though it is said that the Emperor authored the Yin Fu Classic, in truth, it was created by Guang Chengzi, and the supposed author of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, Zifu Shenxian, is merely another name for Guang Chengzi.]

I had already suspected that Zifu Shenxian was either an incarnation or a pseudonym of Guang Chengzi. After all, the person who first acquired the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, Mangnyang, had unconsciously theorized that. However, the fact that both legendary texts of Daoism were authored by the same person was astonishing.

A sudden sense of crisis surged through me, and I shouted.

“W-wait, are you implying that anyone who practices the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate to its fullest will also be consumed by Fuxi?”

[No. It seems a different constraint is in play there. Likely a different constraint from the Yin Fu Classic.]

Seo Mun-hye, who had quietly listened, interjected.

“So, you’ve come upon the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate in search of a means to lift the constraints of the Yin Fu Classic.”

[That’s right. However, realizing both of them were traps in the end, I only recognized that late in life…. So, I sealed away the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate after I managed to find it and came to accept my fate.]

For a moment, Zhuge Mu-hu sighed heavily.

[Although I became the supreme sorcerer of my time by mastering the Yin Fu Classic, and due to Guang Chengzi’s knowledge, I understood the grim future concerning the Seven Luminaries and the world, what significance did it have? Whether alive or dead, all I felt was despair for a world of nothingness, but I did my best. At the very least, I intended to protect the country of Ba Shu where I remained, and sacrificed much to create Baek Woong for the benefit of my descendants. But…, indeed, it was all in vain.]

“……”

[All I could do was delay the time I’d be consumed by Fuxi with the elixirs of longevity… no more than that.]

It was an incredibly grim story.

A historical hero like Zhuge Mu-hu had such a tragic narrative?

[I’ve finished my story. Now, let me tell you about Guang Chengzi and the Heavenly Secret Technique. The draft of the Yin Fu Classic includes the truths of the world, along with the realities of the Heavenly Secret Technique.]

“Please tell me.”

Zhuge Mu-hu opened his mouth slowly.

[As I am being consumed by Fuxi, so too is the Heavenly Secret Technique a trap. Those who contract with the Heavenly Secret Technique, believing they have gained ‘salvation,’ are summoned into the Divine Temple when the techniques unravel. They’ll meet a fate far more miserable than mine.]

“What? Mummified?”

The subsequent statement was shocking.

[Those who respond to the Heavenly Secret Technique will spend eternity entombed within the golden coffins of the Divine Temple. This truth was inscribed directly by Guang Chengzi in the footnotes of the Yin Fu Classic, so it cannot be false.]

“……”

[I’ve lingered in this world to prevent as many victims of the deceptive contract of the Heavenly Secret Technique as possible in my lifetime.]

Those who received “salvation” through the Heavenly Secret Technique would be sealed in a coffin?

I could hardly believe Zhuge Mu-hu’s words, but given the current circumstances where he was revealing all secrets because he believed I was a Reborn Person, he had no reason to lie.

‘Mummified…’

Could it truly be called salvation to be trapped in that golden coffin until the end of the world?

No, I didn’t understand the intent behind it.

Why would Guang Chengzi create such techniques? If he wanted to kill them, why not just end them instead of deceiving them into sealing their souls in coffins?

Just then, Jin So-cheong spoke.

“Guang Chengzi does have quite a flair for the dramatic. So, does that mean that practitioners of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate also…?”

Zhuge Mu-hu nodded.

[Just as the footnotes of the Yin Fu Classic describe the drawbacks of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, those who practice the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate to its peak will also learn of the Yin Fu Classic’s pitfalls.]

“Hmm.”

That really was shocking.

It was as if the two transmitters were reveling in the suffering of others.

[As for Guang Chengzi’s identity, even I do not know. But one thing is certain: he has taken the role of a disciple who acts on behalf of the Emperor’s every wish in the Divine Temple. If you are a Reborn Person, I recommend you find a way to probe Guang Chengzi’s identity by any means possible.]

“……”

[If you have no more questions, I shall bestow you my blessing and take my leave. I find myself longing for the silence before destruction.]

I was startled and tried to refuse.

“N-no, I don’t need your blessing….”

After hearing about the drawbacks of the Yin Fu Classic, requesting the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain would seem nuts. Why would I seek a blessing that would lead me to be consumed by Fuxi? Moreover, I had already made up my mind to solely focus on martial arts training in this life, so the blessing from Ghost Cry Mountain wasn’t something I particularly needed.

Just then, Seo Mun-hye suddenly raised her hand.

“Please grant me the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain!”

[Understood.]

Swoosh!

Light burst forth, and Zhuge Mu-hu’s figure vanished.

“……?!”

Seo Mun-hye?!

“What are you doing?!”

I turned in surprise to her, and she calmly replied.

“If you personally gain the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain, it’ll later become a burden on you. But according to Zhuge Mu-hu, the blessing of Ghost Cry Mountain contains the knowledge of the Yin Fu Classic, so it would become invaluable information in the future. Hence, I thought it better to learn the Yin Fu Classic myself.”

“What…? Didn’t you just hear what he said? If you learn it, you’ll be consumed by Fuxi!”

“But you’ll help me forget about it, right?”

“……”

She smiled.

“I don’t wish to be a burden to you any longer either. I actually want to help you, Baek Woong.”

“You’re not a burden.”

I said this with a trembling voice, but there was nothing I could do about what had already happened. Once Seo Mun-hye learned the knowledge of the Yin Fu Classic, there was no turning back. Then, Jin So-cheong, who had been watching from the side, spoke.

“Baek Woong. What’s done is done, and we should hurry to Mangnyang. We need to warn him about the dangers of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate.”

“I’m on it.”

With a whoosh!

We boarded the Golden Lamp headed for Luoyang. We then searched around the house of Sima Yang-jeo, where Mangnyang likely went, and since I already knew Sima Yang-jeo’s pseudonym, it wasn’t difficult to locate it.

Finally, upon entering Sima Yang-jeo’s house, Mangnyang was, indeed, present. He was playing Go with Sima Yang-jeo, with black and white stones neatly laid out. Mangnyang stood up from his seat and addressed me.

“Baek Woong. What’s going on?”

“It’s a serious matter.”

I quickly relayed to Mangnyang what I had just learned in the spirit form of Zhuge Mu-hu through the dark jade technique. After receiving the information, Mangnyang looked shocked for a moment, but soon turned calm as if he pieced it all together.

“The side effects of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate… It’s neither a blessing nor a curse to know.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Thanks to the truths you’ve uncovered, nothing will change significantly. So don’t dwell on trivial matters and focus on your martial arts training from now on.”

“The truth, you say?”

A little later, Mangnyang quietly used a suspicious fishhook to speak to Sima Yang-jeo without being heard.

[Regardless, all humans will end up in the belly of the master after they die. There’s no difference from being devoured by Fuxi, is there?]

“……”

[My ancestor, Zhuge Mu-hu, merely thought it was improper to pass down a curse. Now that you’ve discovered the truth of this world, the drawbacks of the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate or Yin Fu Classic have become meaningless. It’s just the function of despair… lightening up the truth.]

If I thought about it this way, it did make sense…

Struck dumb, Mangnyang continued to speak.

“That said, leave Seo Mun-hye here. If she chooses to train in sorcery, it would be faster for her to cultivate with me.”

“Understood.”

There was no time to waste.

This time, I would completely immerse myself in martial arts training!

Whoosh!

I returned to Sichuan, purchased a manor with gold bars, and established a peaceful training ground. After buying every necessity for closed room training, I felt ready and called for Grand Master Jang.

“Grand Master Jang, please come here!”

As soon as Grand Master Jang appeared, I earnestly said to him.

“Please help us!”

[What do you need?]

I gleamed with excitement and shouted.

“Lead us to the Absolute Realm!”

And thus, the training began.

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