Chapter 231: Chapter 231

Heavenly Realm

The next day, I had a sparring session with the Sword Demon again. Although I didn’t know when I would have to fight Jin So-cheong, I couldn’t just skip my daily training routine. Once the sparring was over and I had caught my breath, the Sword Demon said,

“Your daughter wants to talk to you.”

“……”

“Don’t get all rattled. I don’t think it’s about a betrothal or anything.”

“My apologies.”

I realized my emotions had gotten the better of me. I tried to act nonchalant, but clearly, I wasn’t very good at hiding my feelings yet.

After finishing my training a little earlier, I headed to Seo Mun-hye’s room. Unlike before, she wasn’t dressed in court attire but was wearing a snug martial outfit, complete with a gyeon tied around her head. It was a warrior’s outfit, signaling that she was prepared for battle. The moment she saw me, she greeted me.

“You’re here, Protector.”

Even after six years, I found it surprising that she hadn’t changed at all. With her distinctive white hair, she still showcased the beauty of a stunning woman in her twenties. Being a peak expert with high internal energy, she was likely to maintain her current appearance at least until her forties.

“Since the sect leader called for me, I naturally had to come.”

Upon my response, she smiled faintly and said,

“It seems Father has given up.”

“What on…?”

She looked at me intently without speaking. From her gaze, I could infer what she meant without any words.

‘The Sword Demon has given up on connecting me and Seo Mun-hye.’

To him, I was presumably a benefactor and a potential in-law. He must have worked diligently to foster the affection between his daughter and me. However, after reading my memories, he likely realized it was futile and abandoned his plans.

“Hmm.”

Clearing my throat, I spoke.

“The sect is in a state of disarray. I also need time to prepare swiftly.”

“Are you talking about Jin So-cheong?”

“Yes.”

She sighed.

“His martial arts are at a level that cannot be considered merely a late-stage expert. I tried to gather as much information as possible before your return, but honestly, I have no means to combat him. I feel so relieved that both of you have returned.”

“Jin So-cheong is strong.”

I knew that fact. As I stressed that point, Seo Mun-hye continued,

“Of course. None of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos could last even 50 seconds against him.”

“…What?”

“He’s shaking the Jianghu.”

Her words took me aback.

‘Is he that strong?’

It had been just over seven years since the starting point of my reincarnation. In that time, my body had clearly grown into a twenty-something young man, and Jin So-cheong would now be in his early to mid-thirties. If he hadn’t been idle during that time, his skills would’ve definitely improved.

However, even so, the Eight Demons of Martial Daos were the best of the unorthodox martial artists. If he dispatched all of them within 50 seconds, it meant he had reached a level far beyond peak experts.

As I crossed my arms and pondered, Seo Mun-hye said,

“Father mentioned that you can handle Jin So-cheong.”

“Of course.”

“But I’m worried and anxious. Jin So-cheong is just too strong…”

She took my hand, saying,

“Baek Ho-bok. Please protect Father.”

“……”

“I’m begging you.”

Looking into her earnest eyes, I momentarily lost my words.

Who would have thought both father and daughter would ask me to protect each other?

Unlike the political maneuverings of Jianghu, they genuinely cared for their family. It made me wonder whether it was truly out of the ordinary to find myself in this Shadowless Gate with the Eight Demons of Martial Daos.

I clasped her hand and responded,

“I will definitely protect you. With my life.”

I had made up my mind.

This lifetime, even if it meant falling into despair, I would ensure the safety of the two of them.

Upon my affirmation, Seo Mun-hye wiped her tears away and said,

“Hehe… I feel reassured.”

After sharing tea and casual conversation with Seo Mun-hye, I returned to the Sword Demon. The day ended with me finishing my training and going to sleep.

A twist in fate occurred two days later.

“Baek Ho-bok! The sect leader has urgently summoned a meeting!”

As the Sword Wolf of the Shadowless Gate called me early in the morning, I quickly sprang up and rushed to the meeting hall. By the time I arrived, more than half of the members were already present, and the Sword Demon looked serious. Upon noticing my arrival, he began,

“The Wind God Lineage is scheduled to fight Jin So-cheong today.”

Murmurs…

The Shadowless Gate members appeared taken aback by this news. After all, aside from me, no one had heard of the Wind God Lineage‘s movements. The Sword Demon patiently waited for the commotion to settle before continuing,

“Moreover, the Wind God Lineage has commanded us to attack the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, which is Jin So-cheong’s stronghold.”

“……!!”

I immediately realized that the Wind God Lineage was plotting something.

Jin So-cheong would be taken down by the Wind God Lineage

, and meanwhile, the Shadowless Gate would act as the representatives of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos to strike at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

At that announcement, the White Blood Swordsman, a peak master of the Shadowless Gate, stood up and shouted,

“Leader! We aren’t subordinates of the Wind God Lineage! Why are they giving us orders?!” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“That’s right!!”

“Why are those imbeciles commanding us?!”

Though they were just a dozen or so, the peak masters of the Shadowless Gate were furious. Each of them was a top-notch swordsman on par with anyone in the world, and they held immense pride in their martial skills and their sect.

The Sword Demon calmly replied,

“To go against the Wind God Lineage would mean fighting not only the Huangshan Sect backing them but also the White Lotus Sect. So, we cannot defy them.”

“Ugh…!!”

“But that doesn’t mean we have to comply with them blindly.”

The Sword Demon smiled slightly and continued,

“That’s why I plan to act only after confirming that the Wind God Lineage has dealt with Jin So-cheong. I’m looking for the most realistic approach.”

The members of the Shadowless Gate exchanged glances before unanimously exclaiming,

“The leader’s insight is wise!”

“Despite that, the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School is no pushover. Even if the Wind God Lineage manages to defeat Jin So-cheong, we shouldn’t let our guards down.”

“Yes!!”

After the meeting concluded, the members of the Shadowless Gate returned to their original positions.

It was then that I faced the Sword Demon one-on-one, where I could hear his true intentions.

“Baek Woong, let’s go meet the Black Horse of the Black Night Gate.”

“Pardon?”

“We must hurry. There’s much to do today.”

I was bewildered, but I complied with his request and used my Golden Float technique to head to the Quiet Mansion in Henan Province. The Sword Demon had set an appointment with the leader of the Black Night Gate, who was also one of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos. Coincidentally, today was the day for that meeting.

Fwoosh!

We soon arrived at the Quiet Mansion in Henan Province, located about seven li away. Upon entering the mansion, the Sword Demon walked briskly through the inner hall.

Swoosh…

Suddenly, around ten masters using stealth techniques appeared before us. All donned black clothing and radiated strong energy. Standing among them was an elder with a somewhat plump figure and a robust presence.

The elder spoke,

“What do you wish for?”

As the elder stared intently, the Sword Demon replied,

“Black Horse. Let’s be honest. You received the assassination request for Jin So-cheong, didn’t you?”

“……”

Indeed, the plump elder standing before us was Black Horse, the leader of the Black Night Gate and one of the top assassins in the Eight Demons of Martial Daos. The elite members of the Black Night Gate stood by his side, confirming their dangerous status.

Black Horse remained silent for a moment before answering.

“Yes.”

“Who is the client?”

“I cannot say.”

“I understand that’s the rule of the assassin’s organization. You cannot divulge the client’s identity.”

Fixing his gaze sharply on Black Horse, the Sword Demon continued,

“But this time, bend your principles!”

“Why should I do that?”

“If we don’t, the whale fight will leave us as mere shrimp on the sidelines! Those fools see neither of us as more than pawns of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos. If we carry on like this, we’ll both be used and end up dead!”

“……!!”

“Before that happens, we must find our way to survive. I’ve come to see you, Black Horse, as a suitable partner.”

What was the Sword Demon saying?

I couldn’t comprehend, but Black Horse seemed to be deep in thought, weighing his options. Sweat was rolling down his plump face, indicating he was under considerable stress.

About half a breath later, Black Horse sighed and uncrossed his arms.

“… The Imperial Palace.”

“I see.”

“Just as you said. I found it suspicious from the start after receiving the order, so I kept delaying it. It seems the White Lotus Sect and the Imperial Palace both want to use the Eight Demons of Martial Daos to their advantage.”

The Sword Demon replied in a matter-of-fact tone,

“It’s no surprise that a hundred snakes are lurking inside a single raccoon. They won’t be satisfied with merely eliminating Jin So-cheong. They’re sure to drain us to the marrow and then toss us out.”

Black Horse said urgently,

“What’s your plan? You already know the White Lotus Sect is behind you.”

“We must seal the gates and ally with the Twelve Laws.”

“The Twelve Laws…?”

“The White Lotus Sect and the Imperial Palace may appear to be at odds, but I’ve received intel that indicates they have a clandestine relationship. Whether one chooses to side with the Imperial Palace or the White Lotus Sect, it’s the same—our only massive backing is the Twelve Laws.”

Listening to the Sword Demon, Black Horse contemplated before clapping his hands.

“I see. That sounds good.”

“Let’s discuss the detailed plans later.”

Once their conversation ended, the Sword Demon stepped out of the mansion. I used my Float Technique to head to a quiet teahouse in Henan Province. There, I decided to relax by the window while drinking tea with the Sword Demon.

Not quite having grasped the discussion we had just had, I turned to the Sword Demon and asked,

“Why did you have such a conversation with Black Horse?”

“What do you mean, Baek Woong?”

“I understand that you want to shake off the pressure imposed by the White Lotus Sect and align with the Twelve Laws. But why would you discuss that with Black Horse, an assassin organization leader?”

I struggled to suppress my anger.

Honestly, it felt awful.

I was forcing myself to suppress my feelings of disgust, as the Black Night Gate had already tried to kill me twice. That too at the hands of the Black Night Gate’s assassin squad leader. The moment I recognized Black Horse, I was tempted to kill him on the spot, but I held back since the Sword Demon was beside me.

Yet, here he was, preparing for future cooperation with a disgraceful assassin organization known for its ruthless killings!

Upon noticing my expression, the Sword Demon said,

“I’ve seen your memories, so I know the grudge you hold against the Black Night Gate.”

“……”

“Precisely because of that, I brought it up with Black Horse.”

“Pardon?”

A cold smile formed on the Sword Demon’s face.

“As I mentioned earlier, I intend to relocate to Liaodong and rebuild the Shadowless Gate with the support of the Twelve Laws. But if I do that, it might complicate your personal vendetta against the Black Night Gate.”

“Is that so?”

“If possible, I wish to deal with them quietly without you taking revenge. Because you have sufficient means to do so.”

Upon hearing his words, I caught onto the plan.

“… I see!”

“That’s correct.”

The Sword Demon smiled broadly.

“However, even if you eliminate Black Horse, I feel you should still consider the words of the assassin squad leader. He may have something worth gaining.”

I countered,

“What do you mean? He’s the guy who’s tried to kill me twice.”

“No, it’s not that. You may not know, but the Black Night Gate’s assassin squad leader is one of the strongest among the late-stage experts of the unorthodox sect. He’s likely the most powerful among the martial artists in their thirties and stands the highest chance of rising to become a peak expert. He’s much stronger than my daughter, Hyea.”

“Gasp…”

So the assassin squad leader was that formidable?

As I let out a suppressed breath, the Sword Demon

spoke,

“While Black Horse is an utterly despicable villain, I can’t guarantee the same for the assassin squad leader. As you know, assassin organizations typically recruit orphans from a young age and raise them as killing machines, often against their will. It’s not right to place all your anger on a pawn simply following orders.”

I momentarily lost control of my temper and clenched my teeth,

“So what? Just because he’s a machine doesn’t change the fact that I was killed by him! I’ll tear him apart!”

Whoosh!

An immense aura surged forth from me. My internal energy and will burst forth uncontrollably. Along with it, the entire teahouse trembled, creaking from all corners. The Sword Demon swiftly used his internal energy to suppress mine and said,

“What if, hypothetically, killing me would be the only way to exact vengeance against the Imperial Palace? What if fate leads you down that path?”

Momentarily stunned

I was caught off guard by his unexpected words, halting my energy. I quickly replied,

“T-That wouldn’t happen! Even if it did, I wouldn’t kill you!”

The Sword Demon looked at me blankly,

“Why not? Isn’t your objective to defeat the Imperial Palace?”

“Throughout the process, I refuse to compromise to the point of committing such a heinous act!”

“That’s an overly soft view.”

The Sword Demon sighed shortly.

“If you had been a bit harsher, then by this, your sixteenth reincarnation might have seen you obliterating the Imperial Palace. If you wanted, that would surely have been the case.”

“I-I do understand that.”

“Your refusal to kill me while still possessing vendettas from your past… that’s the same as saying you want to revenge while demanding forgiveness.”

The Sword Demon crossed his arms and continued,

“You are a Reborn Person. For an ordinary man, it may not apply, but for you, who can traverse time and return to the past, you need to separate grudges and gratitude in a more nuanced manner. You need to accept it objectively and broadly.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“The assassin squad leader has killed you twice. So, how many times do you intend to kill him? Twice? Thrice? Four times? Or maybe one hundred times?”

“……”

“You, with your current skills, could easily kill him a hundred times.”

Saying so, the Sword Demon smirked and added,

“But if you do that, what difference does it make?”

I found myself speechless.

“… None.”

“Exactly. And if the assassin squad leader holds valuable information or crucial developments that you need? You may find yourself caught in contradictions during your reincarnation process.”

“Hmm…”

I had never considered that idea before. No, I hadn’t even had the chance to think about it. Until now, my sense of loyalty and resentment had been too black-and-white, leaving little room for nuance. As I rested my chin on my hand and contemplated, the Sword Demon said,

“Killing him will only end there. Human relationships aren’t resolved solely through killings.”

“But… I truly want to take revenge on him.”

“In that case, don’t act rashly.”

The Sword Demon said firmly.

“If you wish to repay that anger, use the Obsidian to clearly show the assassin squad leader your grievances. Let him hear how you intend to deal with that enmity. If he truly proves to be irreconcilable, then you’re free to kill him a hundred or a thousand times.”

I contemplated for quite a while.

Eventually, I began to grasp the wisdom in the Sword Demon’s words.

“Your words make sense.”

“Haha! Of course, I still think Black Horse is a piece of scum I want to kill.”

“That part is also true.”

With a faint smile, the Sword Demon finished his tea and then stood.

“Now, let’s head toward Daejuk-pyeong in Shandong. By now, Jin So-cheong should have clashed with the Wind God Lineage.”

“Where’s that?”

“It’s roughly fifty li away in Shandong Province.”

Fwoosh!

As soon as he finished, we arrived at the edge of Shandong Province. Following the Sword Demon, we continued to race toward the area named Daejuk-pyeong, known for its dense bamboo groves.

When we arrived at Daejuk-pyeong, a massive aura resonated, reverberating with explosive sounds.

Boom! Boom!

The enormous surge of energy burst into a spectacle of colors lighting up the sky, likely a result of Jin So-cheong activating his Thunderwork Island technique.

“It’s begun!”

The Sword Demon murmured briefly before accelerating further as he entered Daejuk-pyeong. His movement incorporated the harmony of Seven Star Clouds, boasting a speed comparable to my Melting Soul Technique. I followed closely behind, pondering,

‘At long last, I’ll get to see Jin So-cheong’s martial arts in action.’

It was a complex feeling.

Now, part of me hoped he was weak, while another part was excited to see just how strong he became after six years.

I’ve corrected the setting errors related to the Melting Soul Technique. Thank you!

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