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“I had another sparring session with the Sword Demon the next day.”

Even though I had no idea when I’d face Jin So-cheong, skipping the daily routine was not an option.

After finishing up the spar, the Sword Demon said, “Your daughter wants to speak with you.”

“……”

“Don’t be awkward. It’s not about the engagement, I think.”

“I’m sorry.”

I realized my feelings were showing. I tried to play it cool, but I wasn’t quite used to hiding my emotions yet.

Finishing my training a bit early, I headed to Seo Mun-hye’s room. Unlike before, she wasn’t dressed in palace attire but wore a form-fitting martial outfit. She had tied her hair back, looking every bit the warrior ready for battle. Upon seeing me, she greeted, “You’ve arrived, Protector.”

I noticed that despite the six years that had passed, she hadn’t changed a bit. With her striking silver hair, she still radiated the beauty of a peerless woman in her twenties. Being a peak expert, her looks would likely remain intact until she hit her forties.

“Of course, I must come when Jin So-cheong calls.”

As I replied, she smiled gently and said, “Father seems to have given up.”

“Gave up on what?”

She gazed at me with deep eyes, and I could guess what was given up without her saying a word.

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

Originally, I would have been a favored choice for the Sword Demon concerning his daughter. He must have tried hard to foster their budding romance. However, after seeing my memories, he probably realized that it was all for nothing.

“Hmm.”

I cleared my throat and said, “It’s quite chaotic within and outside the sect. I’ll need time to prepare.”

“Is it about Jin So-cheong?”

“Yes.”

She sighed. “His skills are beyond anything considered normal for a late-stage expert. Before Father returned, I gathered what intel I could, but honestly, I found no way to confront him. Now that you two are back, I’m genuinely relieved.”

“Jin So-cheong is strong.”

That much I already knew. When I emphasized this, Seo Mun-hye said, “Of course! None of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path could even last fifty seconds against him.”

“… Excuse me?”

“He’s shaking the martial world.”

Her words left me quite stunned.

‘Is he that powerful?’

Roughly seven years had passed since the start of my rebirth. During that time, my body had clearly grown into that of a young man in his twenties, and Jin So-cheong would now be in his early to mid-thirties. If he hadn’t been sitting idle all this time, his skills must have grown tremendously.

However, even so, the Eight Demons of the Demon Path are some of the best in the heretical martial world. That all of them fell within fifty seconds meant his skills had reached a level that was simply insane even among peak experts.

As I crossed my arms and pondered, Seo Mun-hye continued, “Father said he can handle Jin So-cheong just fine.”

“Of course.”

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

She held my hand and said, “Baek Protector, please protect Father.”

“……”

“I’m begging you.”

Looking into her sincere eyes, I lost my words. Who would have thought both father and daughter would ask me to safeguard each other?

Unlike the other power-hungry relationships in the martial world, they genuinely cared for their family. I even wondered if it was absurd for a man of the Shadowless Sect to be involved with the Eight Demons of Martial Daos.

I clasped her hand and replied, “I will surely keep my promise. With my life.”

I was determined. In this life, even if I had to die a meaningless death, I would protect these two.

Once I confirmed this, a tear brushed her cheek as she said, “Hehe… you inspire confidence.”

I spent some time with Seo Mun-hye over a cup of tea before returning to the Sword Demon. That night, I finished my training and went to sleep.

Something unexpected happened two days later.

“Baek Protector! The Sect Leader has called for an urgent meeting!”

When the Shadowless Sect’s Sword Wolf woke me up at dawn, I jumped up and raced to the meeting room. More than half of the martial artists were already gathered there, and the Sword Demon wore a serious expression. Once he confirmed my arrival, he spoke.

“The Wind Spirit Sect is set to battle Jin So-cheong today.”

Gossip spread…

Everyone in the Shadowless Sect seemed taken aback. In truth, none of them had heard of the Wind Spirit Sect’s movements except for me. The Sword Demon calmly waited for the murmur to settle before continuing.

“And the Wind Spirit Sect has ordered us to attack the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, Jin So-cheong’s base.”

“……!!”

I realized that the Wind Spirit Sect was plotting a trap.

Jin So-cheong would be dealt with by the Wind Spirit Sect while the Shadowless Sect would use that opportunity to attack the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

Hearing this, the peak swordsman, White Blood Swordsman, stood up and shouted, “Sect Leader! We are not the Wind Spirit Sect’s underlings!”

“That’s right!!”

“Why do those guys get to give us orders?!”

Even though there were only a handful of peak experts, their outrage was palpable. Each of them was a skilled swordsman and remarkably proud of their martial arts and sect.

Then the Sword Demon spoke calmly, “To go against the Wind Spirit Sect means we’ll be fighting against the Huashan Sect behind them too. We can’t disobey.”

“Grrr…!!”

“But just because we can’t disobey doesn’t mean we have to follow them blindly.”

With a sly smile, the Sword Demon continued, “So, I’ll wait until I’m sure the Wind Spirit Sect takes care of Jin So-cheong before making my move. I intend to choose the most pragmatic route.”

The martial artists in the room picked up on his intent and unanimously exclaimed, “The Sect Leader is right!”

“However, the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School is no pushover. Even if the Wind Spirit Sect wins the fight against Jin So-cheong, don’t let your guard down.”

“Certainly!!”

As the meeting wrapped up, everyone returned to their respective places.

Then, I found myself alone facing the Sword Demon, where I could finally hear his true intentions.

“Baek Woong, hurry and meet with the Lord of Black Night Gate.”

“What?”

“We mustn’t delay. We have much to accomplish today.”

I was bewildered, but I went along with his request using the Golden Eagle technique to head to the quiet mansion in Henan Province. The Sword Demon was set to meet with the Black Demon, the leader of the Black Night Gate and the first among the Eight Demons.

And coincidentally, today was the day.

PA-AT!

We soon arrived at the tranquil mansion in Henan Province. Following the Sword Demon, we strode into the main building.

SWISH…

Before long, ten or so silent assassins appeared before us. Dressed entirely in black, they emanated strong energy. In the center stood an older man, slightly plump and full of presence.

The old man asked, “What is it that you seek?”

Gazing intently at the old man, the Sword Demon replied, “Black Demon. Honestly, you’ve received an assassination request for Jin So-cheong, haven’t you?”

“……”

Indeed, the well-rounded, hefty old man before me was none other than the Lord of Black Night Gate, turning the legendary assassin of the Eight Demons of Martial Daos, and an elite shot in the martial realm.

After a moment of silence, the Black Demon responded, “I have.”

“Who is the requester?”

“I cannot disclose that.”

“You know that’s the rule of the assassin organization, to never reveal the requester.”

The Sword Demon cleared his throat and glared at him with fierce eyes, “But this time, you must bend your principles!”

“Why should I?”

“If we continue like this, both of us will end up as collateral damage in this fight! Whether it’s you or me, they see the Eight Demons of Martial Daos as mere pawns. If we stand by, we’ll both meet a tragic end.”

“……!!”

“Before that happens, we need to find a way to survive. I judged you, Black Demon, to be a suitable ally.”

What was the Sword Demon saying?

I was confused, but it seemed the Black Demon sensed what was unsaid and appeared hugely conflicted. Sweat dripped down his plump face, clearly struggling with the weight of his thoughts.

About a half-breath later, the Black Demon clasped his arms and exhaled, “The Imperial Palace.”

“I see.”

“As you said, Sword Demon, I’ve been suspicious since receiving the request and have been delaying the whole thing. It looks like both the White Lotus Sect and the Imperial Palace plan to exhaust the Eight Demons.”

The Sword Demon responded naturally, “A hundred snakes are hiding in that raccoon’s den. Surely, they wouldn’t be satisfied with just eliminating Jin So-cheong. They’ll suck us dry to the marrow before preparing to roast us.”

With a desperate tone, the Black Demon asked, “What do you plan to do? You know I’m aware of your connection to the White Lotus Sect.”

“We must seal the gate and ally with the Twelve Joules.”

“With the Twelve Joules…?”

“Though they seem to oppose each other, I’ve managed to gather intel that suggests they’re in a close relationship. It’s the only immense power we can rely on besides the Twelve Joules.”

The Black Demon pondered for a moment, then smacked his hand together. “That makes sense. That sounds good.”

“Let’s discuss the detailed plans later.”

The Sword Demon finished talking with the Black Demon and exited the mansion.

I used the Golden Lamp technique to head to a quiet teahouse in Henan Province. I decided to rest by the window while having tea with the Sword Demon.

Perplexed by the recent conversation, I asked the Sword Demon, “Why did you speak with the Black Demon like that?”

“What do you mean, Baek Woong?”

“I understand that the Sect Leader wants to shake off the pressure from the White Lotus Sect and ally with the Twelve Joules. But why involve the assassin organization and the Black Demon?”

I was forcing myself to suppress my anger.

Honestly, it didn’t sit well with me.

Though I was trying to exhibit superhuman patience, the Black Night Gate had tried to kill me twice already. Both times resulted in me losing my head at the hands of the head of the assassin squad. Just learning that Black Demon was involved left me on edge, but with the Sword Demon next to me, I bit back my urge to lash out.

And now, to think that we were going to collaborate on future plans with the assassin organization, who had been nothing but a pain in my back!

Seeing my expression, the Sword Demon said, “I know you hold a grudge against the Black Night Gate for what happened. I know about how they killed you, after all.”

“……”

“Yes. That’s precisely why I spoke to the Black Demon.”

“What?”

The Sword Demon suddenly chuckled coldly. “As I said, I’m going to rely on your strength to relocate to Liaodong. I want to negotiate with the Twelve Joules to rebuild the Shadowless Sect. But if I do that, it will complicate your desire for revenge against the Black Night Gate, won’t it?”

“That might be the case.”

“If you wish to take them out quietly, I think it’s wise to involve them. After all, you have plenty of ways to handle this.”

Upon hearing his words, I realized his plan.

“… I see!”

“Exactly.”

The Sword Demon grinned from ear to ear and added, “But even if we were to eliminate the Black Demon, I think we should still listen to the assassin squad leader. He might have valuable information.”

I protested, “What do you mean? He’s the one who’s tried to kill me twice!”

“That’s not it. You might not understand, but the leader of the assassin squad is one of the late-stage experts of the heretical sect. He’s likely the strongest among the 30-something martial artists and could possibly rise as a peak expert later.”

“Oh wow…”

So the assassin squad leader was that formidable?

When I let my surprise show, the Sword Demon said, “The Black Demon may be an evil guy through and through, but whether the assassin squad leader is one remains uncertain. As you know, assassin organizations often raise orphans from a young age, molding them into killing machines against their will. To hold all the anger against someone who follows the organization’s orders is unfair.”

In that moment, I couldn’t help but grit my teeth in anger. “So what?! Just because he’s a machine doesn’t mean my grievances disappear! I will tear him to pieces!!”

Whoooosh!

Immense energy surged from within me. Before I realized it, my internal power and intent powered up, shaking the entire teahouse as creaking sounds echoed around us. The Sword Demon used his intent to quell my energy, saying, “What if killing me is the only way to avenge yourself on the Imperial Palace? If destiny flows that way?”

I froze.

Surprised by the unexpected question, I stopped and quickly replied, “That— that would never happen. Even if it came to that, I wouldn’t kill you!”

The Sword Demon stared at me with wide eyes. “Why? Isn’t your goal to take down the Imperial Palace?”

“But I won’t achieve that through forced compromises.”

“That’s a bit too soft for a thought process.”

The Sword Demon sighed briefly. “If you had been a little harsher, by this 16th reincarnation you might have obliterated the Imperial Palace. If you didn’t mind the means to that end, I’m sure you have thought about it at least once.”

“…Yes.”

“Not wanting to kill me while wanting to repay your past grievances basically means the same thing.”

The Sword Demon crossed his arms and continued, “You’re a Reborn Person. While a normal human wouldn’t get it, you, who can travel through time to the past, need to think differently about grudges and benefits. You must perceive them objectively and from a broader perspective.”

“I don’t understand…”

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

“……”

“With your current skills? You could easily kill him a hundred times over.”

As the Sword Demon said this, he flashed a smirk. “But what difference does it make how many times you kill him?”

I found myself at a loss.

“…None.”

“Exactly. And what if the assassin squad leader held valuable information or potential paths you need to take to achieve your objectives? You might have to confront the contradictions of your reincarnation.”

“Hmm…”

I’d never considered that. No, I hadn’t even had the time to think it through. My grievances and grudges had always been so clear-cut that I’d been living in simple-minded anger. As I rested my chin in thoughtful contemplation, the Sword Demon said, “Killing is not a fix for relationships.”

“But… I absolutely want revenge.”

“If so, don’t play dirty.”

The Sword Demon spoke firmly, “If you wish to repay the grudge, then use that Obsidian to clarify your intentions. Let him decide how to rectify the grudge. If he truly is as unyielding as you believe, then you can kill him a hundred or a thousand times without a problem.”

I mulled over his words for quite a while.

Eventually, I understood. “You’re right, Sect Leader.”

“Haha! Although separate from that, I still want to smash that Black Demon into pieces!”

“That’s a solid point too.”

After taking a sip of the cooled tea, the Sword Demon stood up and said, “Now, let’s head to Shandong’s Daeju-pyeong. By now, Jin So-cheong and the Wind Spirit Sect should have clashed.”

“Where’s that?”

“About fifty li away in Shandong Province.”

With that, we arrived in front of Shandong Province using the Golden Eagle technique. Following the Sword Demon’s lead, we hurried to a place called Daeju-pyeong. It was named for all the bamboo groves located around the area.

When we arrived at Daeju-pyeong, a tremendous energy echoed around with continuous explosive sounds.

BOOM!

BOOM!!

A massive force exploded into the sky, shimmering in multiple colors. It seemed Jin So-cheong had cast the Thunder Cloud Palm technique.

“It’s begun!”

The Sword Demon murmured briefly before accelerating further into Daeju-pyeong using the light body technique. His speed rivaled that of the Soul Removal technique while having the essence of Seven Stars Shadow. I followed closely behind, thinking, ‘Finally, I’ll get to witness Jin So-cheong’s martial arts firsthand.’

It felt complicated.

I secretly hoped he was weak while excitedly anticipating just how strong he’d be six years from now.

 

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