Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter 273

Heavenly Realm

Yong Bi-cheon?!

‘Why is he suddenly here?’

I nearly reacted upon hearing that the Dharma Protector of the Wind Spirit Sect was coming. However, if I showed any sign of recognition, it would undoubtedly arouse suspicion. So, I resolved to hide my feelings like Han Jin-seong, forcing myself to remain calm.

Han Baek-ryeong, looking flabbergasted, addressed the middle-aged warrior.

“What’s that guy doing here?”

“He just sent word that he’s entered Luoyang Castle. He should be arriving shortly.”

Han Baek-ryeong seemed ready to retort but coldly replied,

“I see.”

Before long, a figure stood at the entrance of the spacious hall. The middle-aged warrior flinched in surprise and stepped back, seemingly unaware of how the man had gotten so close. This was to be expected, given the incredibly precise Splitting Shadow technique employed by the Wind Spirit Sect.

He’s huge!

The man dressed in black with a large straw hat gave off an aura that felt as immense as Mount Tai, imposing pressure upon everyone present. He wasn’t particularly large in stature, but the energy he radiated was extraordinary. His face remained obscured beneath the hat, but there was no one in attendance who didn’t know who he was.

The middle-aged warrior drew his sword and shouted,

“Yong Bi-cheon! How dare you intrude upon our lord’s residence?!”

Yong Bi-cheon, arms crossed, didn’t even glance at him but spoke directly to Han Baek-ryeong.

“I urgently need to find someone and would like your assistance.”

“Very beneficial.”

Whoosh!

Ignoring the slighted middle-aged warrior, Yong Bi-cheon quickly evaded his attack. I was taken aback by how fast the warrior’s sword technique was and how well-structured his stance was.

‘A serious Peak Expert.’

He was on a much higher level than those who boasted of being top in the martial arts world. In this context, finding someone able to defend against his attack would be no easy feat. Considering this was the Han Clan and the middle-aged warrior was a guard so close to Han Baek-ryeong, it made sense.

Yong Bi-cheon’s form shimmered transparently as he dodged the middle-aged warrior’s sword strike. In an instant, it seemed like the flames of a sword had swept through the air five times, and the positions of Yong Bi-cheon and the middle-aged warrior had swapped. As the warrior hastily turned, he blurted out,

“Stop!”

“But…”

Han Baek-ryeong sighed.

“I’ll handle it, so step aside.”

In that brief moment, I understood what had transpired. Yong Bi-cheon had adeptly evaded the sword while leaving a clone behind to confuse the middle-aged warrior. The warrior had unleashed a fiery attack upon the clone, but by then, Yong Bi-cheon had already perfectly gotten behind him. I felt a chill run down my spine, recalling I had faced that very technique before.

‘Even looking again, it’s indistinguishable.’

That was a realization I had when I battled Yong Bi-cheon’s clone in my tenth reincarnation. The precision and completion of Yong Bi-cheon’s clones were such that even a Peak Expert’s perception couldn’t discern them. Just moments ago, I had barely detected an incongruity through sheer concentration; this technique was truly terrifying.

“Just give up.”

As the middle-aged warrior withdrew, Yong Bi-cheon smirked.

“That friend will prepare the Fire God Squad.”

Han Baek-ryeong’s expression remained unchanged. Rather, she rested her chin on her hand with a bored expression, her pipe dangling.

“Here you come out of nowhere causing a fuss? Did you not realize that this meeting interferes with our great plan?”

Although Han Baek-ryeong mocked Yong Bi-cheon, he answered stoically.

“I know it’s a nuisance, but it’s a matter of great importance.”

“Then just send someone else.”

“Others would attract too much attention.”

“Hmph, that Wind Spirit technique of yours.”

Han Baek-ryeong turned her head as if annoyed. Yong Bi-cheon had likely used his extraordinary Wind Spirit stride to meet her discreetly. This method allowed him to avoid notice while quickly addressing urgent matters.

After a moment of contemplation, Han Baek-ryeong said,

“Go on, tell me. How important could it be for you to come here in person?”

Yong Bi-cheon’s expression turned serious.

“Before that, who’s that kid? I’ve seen the young master before, but I don’t recognize him.”

All eyes in the room turned toward me. Han Baek-ryeong, with a troublesome look, let her pipe hang loosely and replied,

“Don’t worry. He doesn’t know anything.”

“I asked who he was.”

“No reason to tell you.”

Yong Bi-cheon chuckled softly.

“Hehe, you were really hiding seeds, weren’t you?”

Han Baek-ryeong’s expression turned slightly grim.

“You’re not going to gain anything by provoking her now, are you?”

Boom!

“……!!”

I gulped nervously as I witnessed a tremendous energy clash in the air. While I knew the Celestial Realm had boundless internal energy, witnessing it firsthand was overwhelmingly impressive. I also possessed unparalleled internal energy outside of the Dharma Protectors, but they were elevating their presence as if to dominate the surrounding space.

After a brief standoff, Yong Bi-cheon spoke.

“… Fine. I understand you’re busy, so I’ll move on for now.”

“Shut it and get lost. I’m not free enough to entertain your requests.”

“What…?”

Yong Bi-cheon was taken aback, but upon reading Han Baek-ryeong’s expression, he realized her sincerity. Since Han Baek-ryeong was also a headstrong individual, she had no reason to indulge in Yong Bi-cheon’s banter. Sensing things were going awry, Yong Bi-cheon hastily added,

“Think again. This is closely related to the school’s grand scheme.”

“Then speak up right now.”

Under Han Baek-ryeong’s pressure, Yong Bi-cheon opened his mouth.

“Recently, the Great Prison managed by the royal palace was breached, and all the prisoners escaped. We need to locate those prisoners.”

Han Baek-ryeong looked confused by his words.

“What do you mean? I understand what the Great Prison is, but why does it matter to us?”

“One of the prisoners is General Hwang Yeon.”

“……!!”

“His influence poses a serious threat. We need to quickly find him, so I hope to enlist the strength of the Han Clan and the Fire Spirit Sect.”

I clenched my fist at that unexpected statement.

General Hwang Yeon!

I thought they would search tirelessly for him at the royal palace, but I never anticipated that the Dharma Protector Yong Bi-cheon would seek assistance from the Fire Spirit Sect because of this! It seemed like he intended to utilize the incredible finances of Han Baek-ryeong to track down Hwang Yeon.

After pondering for quite a while, Han Baek-ryeong quietly said,

“I can’t help with that request.”

“Why? Do I need to explain further for you to understand? Hwang Yeon is—”

As Yong Bi-cheon tried to clarify, Han Baek-ryeong abruptly hurled her pipe at him.

The pipe, thrown at incredible speed, seemed to penetrate time and space, heading straight for Yong Bi-cheon’s forehead. Yet, Yong Bi-cheon seemingly wasn’t going down without a fight; in an instant, he left a clone behind and used an illusory technique to dodge it. However, Han Baek-ryeong’s pipe quickly adjusted course and flew directly toward Yong Bi-cheon’s real body.

Yong Bi-cheon, having no other choice, summoned his protective energy to block the pipe. When his hand met the pipe, his expression contorted in pain, and he staggered back.

Boom!

“Ugh.”

With a light explosion, Yong Bi-cheon wavered; the force from the pipe had shattered his protective energy.

Swish!

As Han Baek-ryeong smoothly reclaimed her pipe, she sat up and spoke.

“I want to ask you something. That’s a matter for the royal palace. Why, as the Dharma Protector of our sect, are you cleaning up behind the royal palace?”

“Ugh…”

“Such a ridiculous man.”

Upon hearing Han Baek-ryeong’s remark, Yong Bi-cheon clenched his bleeding hand.

“I have much to say, but let’s leave it at that for now. You can leave.”

“The sect master does not directly oppose the royal palace, nor does he object to my actions. And I am convinced my actions will benefit our sect in the long run. What’s the problem?”

“That’s none of my business.”

Han Baek-ryeong smiled coldly.

“Find them or don’t; it’s up to you.”

“……”

Yong Bi-cheon ground his teeth but turned sharply away. Normally, one would threaten or intimidate in such a situation, but Han Baek-ryeong was not someone you could approach lightly. Not being able to dig into my identity was due to such a backdrop as well.

But I didn’t want to let Yong Bi-cheon go this way.

‘I want to kill him.’

I was forcing myself to endure the killing intent, but my patience was at its limit. The memory of Mi-ho dying at his hands was fresh in my mind, as if it had happened just yesterday. I had managed to enact some revenge back then by ripping him to shreds, but that did little to ease my hatred. I sensed that everyone in the hall must be aware of my surging killing intent, yet they seemed to brush it off as unimportant.

At that moment, Han Jin-seong’s face caught my eye, and memories from the past resurfaced.

[Once I live, I can kill others. After securing my own life, I can plot to kill others.]

[Life’s a tricky path. Winning is a prerequisite, yet at the same time, one must learn not to lose. Losing means death, so one must first carve a way for themselves to be able to defeat their opponents.]

[No matter how strong one is, everyone has a weakness, and to strike at that, one needs a cold judgment and great patience. Such individuals cannot be defeated by mere luck.]

[Remember, surviving can be equivalent to winning.]

“……”

That was right. Han Jin-seong was the one who awakened me during my reckless entry into the deadly martial arts tournament when I was nearly killed by a ploy. Back then, I merely survived, but Han Jin-seong’s words had a lasting impact on my past life, guiding me like a golden rule. Now, with my experiences accumulating, it seemed Han Jin-seong had realized a lot at such a young age.

I thought inwardly,

‘That’s right. What’s the point in charging at Yong Bi-cheon head-on right now?’

After having battled Han Baek-ryeong and feeling the vast gulf in our powers, it dawned on me that it wouldn’t be worth risking it against Yong Bi-cheon just to reaffirm that fact. Even if I were to win, I would still need to contend with the entire Wind Spirit Sect soon. I had to avoid that confrontation with them until my plan was prepared.

Whoosh…

Finally, Yong Bi-cheon seemed to dissolve into the air like a ghost. Whether he had disappeared completely or not, Han Baek-ryeong lifted her pipe and said,

“Jin-seong. Find that General Hwang Yeon.”

“Yes.”

“If he’s such an important figure, we should secure him first and find ways to utilize him.”

“He is the strongest in the military, so he should definitely hold that worth.”

“Also, look into the individuals suspected to be imprisoned in the Great Prison.”

“Understood.”

The conversation between Han Baek-ryeong and Han Jin-seong flowed smoothly, indicating they had received good information from Yong Bi-cheon. Although they superficially rejected Yong Bi-cheon’s proposal, they were cleverly beginning to maneuver to use that information to their advantage.

‘Could it be… that in the past, Mang-ryang received help while operating the Half-Heaven Association?’

Han Baek-ryeong might have been helping the Half-Heaven Association while pretending not to know anything. In the time frame when rescuing Hwang Yeon was impossible, it could have simply been an investment in the future, to secretly support the Half-Heaven Association once she recognized the value of Hwang Yeon. I realized that the Fire Spirit Sect was far more formidable than I had anticipated, and I sighed inwardly.

Han Baek-ryeong gazed at me intently.

“You’re brimming with killing intent. Being a disciple of the Thunder God Sect, it makes sense you’d react that way when facing Yong Bi-cheon.”

“I couldn’t hold it in. I’m sorry.”

“But for now, you’re still immature. To defeat Yong Bi-cheon, you need to be much stronger than your master. Be careful not to make a reckless mistake.”

Suddenly, Han Jin-seong’s words came to mind. So, I asked Han Baek-ryeong,

“Excuse me, but do you know what Yong Bi-cheon’s weakness is?”

“Hmm?”

Han Baek-ryeong looked at me with intrigue.

“Are you asking about the weakness of the Wind Spirit Sect itself or Yong Bi-cheon personally?”

“I’d like to know both.”

When I urged strongly, Han Baek-ryeong chuckled ambiguously.

“Your master likely doesn’t dislike the Wind Spirit Sect, yet you, his disciple, seem rather peculiar.”

“……”

“Well then. It would be wise to keep a close eye on him.”

Han Baek-ryeong mumbled before continuing.

“First, the weakness of the Wind Spirit Sect is their low offensive power and their vulnerability once the illusionary clones are figured out. They try to hide that using all sorts of tricks and techniques, but fundamentally, since it’s an illusory martial art, they can’t help it. In particular, they’re weak against specific sight techniques or spells that can dispel all clones at once. Alternatively, overwhelming power that can sweep them away in one blow would work too. Your Thunder God Sect’s martial arts are particularly effective against the Wind Spirit Sect.”

I had an inkling of these weaknesses, but hearing it from Han Baek-ryeong’s lips gave it a fresh perspective. This was likely valuable information I could leverage in the future. As I nodded along, attempting to memorize it, Han Baek-ryeong continued speaking.

“Now, as for Yong Bi-cheon’s weakness, it’s definitely his son.”

“His son?”

“He dotes on his son, Yong Joong-il, like no other. Rumor has it he’s doted on him to no end since he had him late in life. In contrast, he treats everyone else like trash.”

“……”

Is this piece of information significant?

I already knew about the close relationship between Yong Bi-cheon and the head of the Hwang Mountain Sect, Yong Joong-il. I had assumed it was his son. But how useful would it be to know that Yong Bi-cheon doted on Yong Joong-il? After all, Yong Joong-il was a peerless expert capable of being recognized by Jin So-cheong in the future, so he might not be useful right now.

‘It seems the Dharma Protector lacks some physical strengths.’

As I mentioned before, although the Wind Spirit Sect has many martial arts flaws, their numbers and the ability to compete equally with the Fire Spirit Sect was attributed to their representative Dharma Protector maintaining a balance at the top. I could now recognize that obtaining Yong Bi-cheon’s martial arts weaknesses would be difficult without risking my life in a duel against him.

Just then, Han Jin-seong spoke to me,

“If you wish to leave the main house, please endure for a few more days. My cousin sister is eager to see you.”

His tone seemed to mix with a bit of playfulness. Perhaps that was why Han Baek-ryeong could only chuckle softly. I responded incredulously,

“Is your cousin sister not one of the key figures in the Luoyang Incident, Ji-hwa So-jeo?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“What could she want with a young and ugly man like me?”

I answered irritably and said,

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Han Baek-ryeong looked at me thoughtfully before saying,

“Baek Woong. Let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes?”

“Do you harbor some ill feelings towards the White Lotus Sect?”

I was puzzled by her sudden question. So, while pondering, I replied,

“If I had no ill feelings, I wouldn’t have come this far.”

“I see. Then do you plan to gain fame and fortune in the future?”

“Not that I wouldn’t want to.”

Thinking I had answered without flaws, Han Baek-ryeong unexpectedly made a proposal.

“Then join the White Lotus Sect.”

“Excuse me?”

Her following words struck me like a thunderbolt.

“As far as I know, the sect master always emphasized that the Thunder God Sect’s purges weren’t motivated by personal grudges. There are times when he appears remorseful for those deeds. If a rising expert like you joined, I’m sure you’d be placed in a high position. I can guarantee that with my own name.”

“……”

“And the leader would surely guide you on the path you need to take.”

The teachings of the White Lotus Sect’s leader!

That temptation felt irresistible to me at this moment. Seeing my stunned expression, Han Baek-ryeong smiled slightly and concluded,

“Think it over calmly and decide wisely.”