전생검신 97권 10화

I gathered my crew for a bit and headed to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

Pa-at!

“Ha!”

“Yah!”

Under the glaring midday sun, I heard the sounds of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School’s practitioners busting their butts training. Looking down from a high hill, I noticed many familiar faces, and I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

‘I used to be like that, too.’

But at the same time, I remembered the lonely years I spent honing my martial arts in the empty Azure Dragon School.

When did I find more joy—while practicing with everyone or alone…?

“….”

Maybe I was too lost in memories or too used to solitude; I couldn’t sort it out.

Putting the past aside, I stepped into Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

Ta-dat!

It was about three miles away, but with a single leap, I landed soundlessly on the roof of the school. Due to my stealth, no one seemed to notice my presence atop the building.

This was the skill of someone who mastered the Soul Removal Technique. Moving faster than anyone while erasing my presence with intent allowed me to shift to a shadowy state without drawing attention.

‘Oh?’

In that moment, I sensed that someone did notice me.

It was the chief instructor with a buzz cut, coaching dozens of trainees in the sun! He faintly felt the flicker of my presence and was trying to turn his gaze in my direction, sensing a ‘flow’ toward me.

It was such a brief moment that even his human reaction couldn’t catch it—maybe he couldn’t even rationalize the discomfort he felt.

Shwoo!

But I was already at a level where I could feel that instant, so I hid my presence even more cleverly, becoming entirely invisible to everyone. Because I managed to notice his awareness, I could clearly see where his ‘flow’ was heading, and by dodging it, I’d become a ghost.

No wonder the chief instructor was tilting his head, wondering if he had misperceived something, then began yelling at the trainees again.

“Stand straight!”

Seeing that, he must have thought he was being too sensitive. If he had crossed over into doubt, he should have come to check where I was by now. Peak experts often pick up on peculiar natural phenomena or gusts because of their qi sensitivity, so that made sense.

Standing in the shade of Azure Dragon Martial Arts School with my arms crossed, I mumbled to myself.

“Indeed, it’s Jin So-cheong. Still unaware of the shell she’s trapped in, her talent alone allows her to sense the fragments of the Soul Removal Technique?”

That was horrifying. While it’s highly unlikely that any expert of the Absolute Realm could sense my technique, Jin So-cheong was suspicious of the Soul Removal’s shadow just with her raw talent.

This indicated that while she seemed stuck at peak level, her potential was so great that with just a trigger, she could break free.

Really, such terrifying ability.

Or is that even a sufficient term to describe it?

How is it possible that after 31 rebirths, I still can’t grasp the extent of her talent!?

I couldn’t help but feel a goosebump. Even I, who had mastered Divine Skill, couldn’t fully sense the limits of Jin So-cheong’s talent. I let a low growl slip from my mouth.

‘…Throughout 31 lifetimes, I’ve seen countless geniuses and masters across the ages… Those extraordinary martial talents that dominated eras, unlike anything human……Yet Jin So-cheong… can’t even compare to them.’

There was a time I thought Miyamoto Musashi was the greatest of all time, reaching the same level as Jin So-cheong. But if Jin So-cheong had been out of her shell, she would’ve stomped on Musashi ages ago.

That fact became objectively clear when I returned to the human realm in my 30th life, showing the gap between Jin So-cheong and Musashi. There was undeniably a stark contrast in their talents; Musashi could never overcome Jin So-cheong, even if he tried until the end of times. Jin So-cheong had regarded Musashi as just a fleeting shadow in the 30th life.

Even that talent of Miyamoto Musashi, compared to mine, is beyond heaven. Just how vast is the talent gap between me and Jin So-cheong!?

Am I lucky or unlucky?

Of all people in the martial world, the first one I meet after gaining the power of reincarnation has the strongest talent…

Lost in a tangle of thoughts, I spoke up.

“Shall I just visit Lee Kwang for now?”

I walked toward Lee Kwang’s room, which I knew was located in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School’s separate quarters. Having traversed this place hundreds of thousands of times, I could navigate it with my eyes closed. And, as expected, there was Lee Kwang sipping tea quietly, enjoying his relaxation.

Shall I tease him a little?

Shashat!

I stealthily approached Lee Kwang from behind, much like how Musashi did. With intent, I erased my presence for a split second to hide completely. Musashi had used this method to conceal himself from the White Lotus Leader until the grandmaster found him in the imperial palace. Of course, my skill level was but a fraction of Musashi’s, but for a brief moment, I could mimic it decently.

“…!”

Lee Kwang took some time before realizing the presence behind him—his eyes widened as he instinctively reached for a spear nearby. However, just as he reached, I activated my heart technique to immobilize him completely.

Duk… Duk…

Sweat beads rolled down Lee Kwang’s forehead, neck, and wrist. His brain had no time to react; his intent and flow were already suppressed by me, leaving his muscles completely unresponsive.

He must have realized by now that I was far beyond his abilities.

The moment he grasped the spear—or rather, the moment he displayed fighting intent, it dawned on him that his life was at stake.

I lightly jeered at Lee Kwang.

“Lee Kwang. Getting caught from behind so easily—doesn’t seem fitting for someone inheriting the Thunder God Lineage!”

“…Who are you? Did you come from the White Lotus Sect?”

“If I had, I would’ve sliced your neck by now.”

Ta-dat!

In the blink of an eye, I spun around and sat down across from Lee Kwang at the table. Once he realized I was just a teenager, he seemed even more on edge.

“A Half-Transition Master…!”

Although not technically a Half-Transition Master, it was hardly incorrect for him to think that way. Who would assume I was a reincarnated individual?

I didn’t refute his assumption and picked up a teapot, pouring a cup for myself.

“Do you know Lee Gang-ryong?”

“…I do.”

“Lee Gang-ryong… he’s Lee Cheong-un’s master and could be regarded as your grandmaster. He was a practitioner of the Thunder God Lineage, but suddenly vanished. I know what happened to him in the West.”

“…!”

Lee Kwang’s expression shifted, stunned. For someone as cunning as he was, this sudden information was too unexpected to hide. Seizing this moment, I gulped down a cup of tea and continued.

“I’ve mastered the Heavenly Flower Thunder Dragon Divine Arts, which is akin to Lee Gang-ryong’s techniques, reaching the essence of Heavenly Flower. Want to take a look?”

“…”

Lee Kwang seemed deep in thought for a moment before speaking.

“Show me.”

“Follow me to the training ground.”

Lee Kwang followed my lead to the training ground and, eventually, addressed chief instructor Jin So-cheong.

“Get the trainees out of here. And you, stay put.”

“Understood.”

Jin So-cheong promptly followed his orders, clearing all the trainees away. Once the instructors took the students to another area, she looked at me.

“Who is this suspicious kid?”

“Mind your tongue. He’s a Half-Transition Master.”

“…!”

“He’s going to demonstrate his martial arts, so watch closely.”

While Jin So-cheong was taken aback, I retrieved a training spear from the now-empty arena, feeling nostalgic.

‘It’s been a while.’

In my training world, whether it rained or snowed, I wielded that spear. I drilled basic techniques relentlessly and obsessively thought about martial arts, day and night.

Picking it up again in this 31st life flooded me with memories. I momentarily became lost in sentiment before unleashing my martial arts.

Fwarrrr!

In an instant, I leapt seven times into the air, swinging the spear down while unleashing an intent-filled strike toward the ground.

Heavenly Flower!

Azure Dragon One Slash!

Boom!

At that moment, the ground bore the mark of my spear, forming a deep crater the size of a single palm. It may seem a bit weak for a technique of profound significance, but I landed with the spear and asked.

“What do you think? Can you tell what principle is contained in this technique?”

This showcased the Heavenly Flower Thunder Dragon Divine Arts I had acquired in the training world.

“…”

Lee Kwang seemed to deliberate for a while, but I felt Jin So-cheong quickly grasping the concept. And then, Lee Kwang seemed to realize something.

“Perhaps it’s a fusion of two basic techniques… I can’t say I’ve learned them, but it carries the essence of the Thunder God Lineage, doesn’t it?”

“Exactly. It’s a combination of the Returning Dragon and Thunderstrike techniques contained in the Heavenly Flower Thunder Dragon Divine Arts. Recognizing it as the Thunder God Lineage is impressive.”

I replied while also acknowledging that Lee Kwang truly possessed extraordinary talent. It’s no small feat to discern that level of depth just from a basic technique. He’d reached the realm of a genius; it was just that Jin So-cheong standing beside him was even more impressive.

Then, I slammed the spear into the ground and announced.

“Pathetic! Relying on the skills of others to gain the essence of your grandmaster’s techniques—how little awareness do you possess, claiming to be a practitioner of the Thunder God Lineage?”

“…!”

“Your master’s defeat to the White Lotus Leader was excusable due to your childhood weakness, but you should have searched for the traces of your grandmaster yourself, no? How can you forget your roots after decades of servitude to the imperial palace!?”

As I scolded him, he turned crimson with shame. Then, with gritted teeth, he retorted.

“Thank you for helping me recover the Thunder God Lineage techniques. But who do you think you are to speak so boldly to me, a legitimate inheritor of that lineage? If you want to lecture me, state your name and title first!”

Just like I thought—Lee Kwang wasn’t to be underestimated. Despite sensing a huge difference in strength, he still dared to stand up to me. He was clearly a tough character.

“Heh. I expected that much.”

I smirked and revealed a master covered in a lavish cloak.

Pffft!

The thunder god suddenly appeared, shouting sharply.

“You brat, Lee Kwang! What are you doing right now?!”

Clang!

His sword unleashed a thunderous aura as Lee Kwang jumped with surprise while recognizing the figure.

“Could it be…?!”

“Do you think I’m a stranger? I’m Dokgo Seong!”

“…!”

Moments later, Lee Kwang dropped to his knees.

“I greet my master.”

At those words, Jin So-cheong beside him also seemed to instinctively kneel.

Dokgo Seong represented the highest level in the area of the Thunder God Lineage, making Lee Kwang’s reaction entirely understandable. Lee Kwang cautiously spoke again.

“Who is that Half-Transition Master standing beside you?”

Setting the stage for what we had planned, Dokgo Seong answered smoothly.

“Watch your words. This individual is Bai Woong, the great master of the Thunder God Lineage, who coexisted with the previous great masters like Lee Gang-ryong!”

“…?!”

“Even more so than your grandmaster, he’s distinctly older!”

Lee Kwang’s eyes went wide in disbelief, stuttering his response.

“Him, this person…?! How could he ever…!”

I interjected calmly, picking up on Dokgo Seong’s words.

“I haven’t counted my years since surpassing 250.”

“…”

Lee Kwang appeared utterly incredulous but dared not object. After all, Dokgo Seong was essentially a living legend, and if a figure of such ancient status showed up, it was like saying a fossil just walked in.

If that fact was confirmed by Dokgo Seong, Lee Kwang wouldn’t have the gall to question it. Plus, the extent of martial prowess would surely back it up.

This was all possible through my efforts resurrecting Lee Gang-ryong in the training world and directly learning his martial arts. This time, even the White Lotus Leader could hardly doubt my association with Lee Gang-ryong.

I folded my arms and said.

“It’s understandable that you don’t know me. I prefer to stay out of the limelight and yielded my status as a grandmaster to Lee Gang-ryong. However, after he went missing in the West, I spent considerable time searching for him, ultimately discovering that he had left his Heavenly Flower Thunder Dragon Divine Arts in a remote land before he passed.”

“…”

“Now I must return the Heavenly Flower Thunder Dragon Divine Arts to those who claim to carry on his lineage, but first, there’s one thing I need to confirm.”

“What is it?”

I glared at Lee Kwang intently.

“Lee Kwang! What on earth made you become the Azure Dragon of the Imperial Palace’s special team?”

“…!”

“Yes, I could understand your wanting to be the Azure Dragon. After all, living is essential to continue the Thunder God Lineage. But it seems like you’ve pledged your loyalty to the imperial palace, even into old age, without any serious efforts to revive the Thunder God Lineage. So what exactly do you want?!”

At my words, Lee Kwang faltered, clearly struck.

‘Finally.’

Almost there!

To pierce through Lee Kwang’s inner turmoil, I sharply continued.

“Speak here! You are no longer a servant of the imperial palace, nor will you uphold loyalty as the Azure Dragon of the Imperial Palace!”

“…!”

“If you do that, I’ll impart to you the Heavenly Flower Thunder Dragon Divine Arts and dedicate my full abilities to reviving the Thunder God Lineage. You’ll surge in martial prowess exponentially and gain the ability to take revenge on the White Lotus Sect! Lee Kwang, what will you do?”

“…”

Lee Kwang’s face was etched with determination, but he seemed paralyzed by the dichotomy. I had laid out a clear choice between two values he had grappled with his entire life.

A lengthy silence hung in the air.

Finally, Lee Kwang spoke.

“Why can’t I do both?”

“What?!”

“Is it not possible to reclaim the White Lotus Sect from the Thunder God Lineage and foster good ties with the imperial palace? Why would you suggest I abandon my power and loyalty?”

“…”

“Do you understand what the current state of the White Lotus Sect and the imperial palace really is? Without comprehending their schemes, how could you rashly assert the likelihood of harmony in the future? What if that situation is impossible?”

“…”

“And why should a practitioner of the Thunder God Lineage pledge loyalty to the imperial palace? The White Lotus Sect’s masters historically resisted the vile authority of the royal family. Wouldn’t that be the correct stance for the Thunder God Lineage’s practitioners to take?”

“Hmmm…”

Lee Kwang couldn’t offer a retort, swirling his thoughts in silence. To assist him, Dokgo Seong interjected bluntly.

“Lee Kwang! Historically, it would be a joke for anyone to claim the White Lotus Leader while having served the imperial palace. Yet, Bai Woong has intentionally come to bestow the Heavenly Flower Thunder Dragon Divine Arts upon you. Consider what that implies.”

“…Are you truly saying I should abandon the imperial palace?”

“I won’t force you if you dislike it after this offer. Show us what your true intentions are.”

“…”

Jin So-cheong beside them spoke up with a worried tone.

“Master…”

“Be quiet for a moment, So-cheong.”

“Yes.”

Lee Kwang seemed to confront an unprecedented depth of despair. His spirits reflected the weight on him, burdened by the contradiction in his life philosophies.

I secretly snickered.

‘Now, let’s see…’

The reason I’d orchestrated this farce was to witness Lee Kwang flounder in his inner conflicts.

Soon, I would see Lee Kwang’s distress unravel, and my own anger might settle.

Moments later, Lee Kwang finally replied.

“I can’t speak.”

“Wait, what?!”

I was taken aback by his answer; it was unexpected.

“Can’t speak? Are you suggesting that your loyalty to the imperial palace means more!? ”

“…I can’t say which one is more important.”

Lee Kwang continued slowly.

“The Thunder God Lineage gave me the life of a martial artist, while the imperial palace provided me a master to serve. Since I swore loyalty to the late Emperor, I have no reason to forsake that loyalty. I cannot throw away the imperial palace with my own hands.”

“…”

“Living as a soldier serving the Emperor is a far longer life than my existence as a practitioner of the Thunder God Lineage.”

A moment of silence passed before I snapped.

“Are you out of your mind?! How could you say such a thing before becoming a practitioner!?”

“I cannot. Thanks to both of you, I’ve come to understand that.”

Both I and Dokgo Seong could only gawk in disbelief at Lee Kwang’s next actions.

“Please, even if it’s my end, accept Jin So-cheong as your disciple.”

Thud!

“…!”

“Oh no!”

Lee Kwang unleashed his internal power, rupturing his blood vessels in a shocking act of self-destruction!

Blood burst from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.

Having experienced this form of suicide myself, I was already aware of its fatal implications. As I panicked, Jin So-cheong rushed forward, wailing as she embraced Lee Kwang.

“Master! Why would you do this?!”

Cough! Cough!

Amidst a coughing fit tainted with crimson, Lee Kwang, in a weak voice, uttered, “So-cheong… follow those two and… acquire their martial arts… with them, you could… defeat the current White Lotus Leader…”

So-cheong’s anguished voice boomed, “All you had to do was say you wouldn’t serve the imperial palace anymore! Why did you have to take such a drastic step?!”

“…What they say is true. I… am the foolish one.”

Lee Kwang spoke with a hint of regret in his voice.

“I entered the imperial palace to survive… thinking one day, I’d betray them and uplift the Thunder God Lineage… but the late Emperor… risking his life in battle, saved me…”

“…!”

“Since that day, I swore my loyalty to the imperial palace… I couldn’t discard the bond I had with the late Emperor… and after his passing, I thought it was unnecessary to uphold that bond…”

Lee Kwang turned his gaze skyward.

“I believed my heart could not have two homes—to realize that before dying makes me foolish… Am I the only fool like this?”

“Master!”

“I no longer… possess the qualifications to claim I’ll revive the Thunder God Lineage… That right belongs to you, So-cheong…”

Thud!

Lee Kwang’s hand fell limp. Life had completely vanished from him.

Jin So-cheong clutched the corpse of Lee Kwang, wailing in desperation.

“Master—!!!”

At that moment, Dokgo Seong seemed more rattled than ever, turning to me.

“…Bai Woong! What do we do now? Things have spiraled out of control…”

“…”

Indeed.

That wasn’t the original plan.

Simply going to find Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong would have been a difficult task getting Lee Kwang, already soaked in distrust, to accept my reincarnation. Thus, I devised a strategy to shatter Lee Kwang’s inner conflicts.

Once I forced him to choose between the imperial palace and the Thunder God Lineage, revealing my reincarnation would have surely helped in convincing them. Plus, I had hoped Lee Kwang’s ugly truth would provide some release for my long-held grudges.

I’d even disguised myself as a late grandmaster from Lee Gang-ryong’s era to approach the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School… but I could never have anticipated things would go this way.

…

Damn it.

“…Don’t you dare die.”

But rather than panicking over my failed plans, I was overwhelmed by an unidentifiable emotion flooding my senses, causing my eyes to redden as I stepped forward.

“Don’t come closer!”

“Move aside!”

Boom!

Used my hands to push past Jin So-cheong, who had tried to shield Lee Kwang’s body, sending her crashing against the wall.

“Cough!”

Ignoring her, I grasped Lee Kwang by the collar, pulling him up, my anger bubbling over.

“Lee Kwang, you idiot! Don’t make me laugh!”

He could no longer respond, yet I felt a surge of rage as my grip trembled.

“Was it because you couldn’t face your own contradictions that you chose to self-destruct? And to count on the remnants of your resolve to pass on to Jin So-cheong? Ridiculous! Is that truly who you are?!”

Grr!

I tightened my hold. I wanted to unleash all this pent-up fury instantly. I couldn’t seem to escape this unknowable mix of hatred and obsession.

“You ran away! You ran away!”

I screamed, letting it all out.

“The greater good! The greater good! Hiding behind noble causes, now that you’ve been forced to choose, you’re scared of facing the truth! That’s who you are, you piece of garbage!”

I raged against Lee Kwang’s choices.

I had no time to spare for the sanctity of his choices.

The individual who had burdened me with a lifetime of suffering was not the one to suddenly turn noble and flee reality.

How could someone, who acted selfishly and bullied the weak, choose to die like a saint in a moment of clarity?

“Ughhhhhh!”

At that moment, Jin So-cheong got up from the wall, letting out a primitive scream. Her eyes glowed with a crimson light, suddenly swelling with increased martial energy. I noticed she was channeling innate energy to elevate her level but met her icy glare with indifference.

“Try it, and you’ll regret it!”

I had no intention of going easy. At this rate, if I wasn’t careful, I might kill her.

Fwooosh!

But Jin So-cheong put all her effort into unleashing a spear technique towards me, the speed of which exceeded anything I had seen before. It rivaled an expert’s attack.

Zszszszsz!

I remained just where I stood, employing only my upper body to evade the incoming attack. Even as she discharged over a hundred spear strikes, none touched me; Jin So-cheong seemed shaken, sensing something was off, and I casually threw a punch.

Pow!

Though it was a light jab, like a boxing jab destined for the future, it was enough to exploit Jin So-cheong’s opening and dominate her. The impact struck her chest, jolting her entire being.

Crash!

“Guh…”

She flew into the air before crashing face-first onto the ground. I coldly looked down at her.

“Attacking logically followed the flow instead of gearing toward a counter. That’s more difficult to handle.”

From my vantage, Jin So-cheong had obviously left herself wide open.

So perhaps I didn’t kill her after all? Though she unleashed formidable energy fueled by fury, her martial mastery had not reached a height where I felt threatened. Having encountered attacks bursting with the speed of light and capable of obliterating planets, her assault simply didn’t faze me.

The composed Jin So-cheong would be far more dangerous. It was during these spontaneous bursts of energy that she heightened her level.

Seeing that she had fainted, I turned my attention back to Lee Kwang.

“Never will I let you die! This escape from reality is utterly unacceptable!”

Roar!

As my words fell, I channeled every ounce of qi into Lee Kwang to rejoin the severed blood vessels. It sounded downright absurd, yet I had enough qi to give it a shot.

Tsssss!

Though my endless circulatory energy was plenty, it felt like I was trying to reconstruct life from scratch; I could sense by now that nearly half of my qi had vanished.

Woooom!

Lee Kwang’s spirit hovered away, poised to escape to the underworld. I activated the Soul Exchange Technique to pull him back, determined to revive him.

Following through, I restored his spirit and life force.

Did my use of intent and qi to revive him work? Slowly, color began returning to Lee Kwang’s face.

“Good. He’s alive.”

Of course, he would need several days of recovery, but the key takeaway was that he was alive.

Dokgo Seong, witnessing all this, gasped in shock.

“Wait… You restored someone whose blood vessels were severed through pure qi?! It’s absurd!”

“If that damned Great Immortal is dead, I can certainly bring him back. That so-called Great Immortal ain’t as impressive as one may think.”

“…”

“Ha! You filthy brat!”

I spat as I tossed Lee Kwang back down.

Letting out a breath, I sighed.

“My plans have just spiraled into chaos.”

“The initial intention was to aid Lee Kwang to obtain the law of cause and effect, right?”

“Indeed. While smoothly proceeding to the White Lotus Sect afterward… but I’ve already granted one wish, so I suppose I have to comply.”

I then approached Jin So-cheong, who was lying down, to awaken her.

“Jin So-cheong. I’ve brought Lee Kwang back. He’ll need a few days to recuperate.”

“Cough… Who are you?”

“What you wished for, Lee Kwang, was for you to accept him as your disciple. Should you reject, then I’ll be on my way.”

“…”

Jin So-cheong locked eyes with me, regaining her composure and spoke firmly.

“Are you saying you want Lee Kwang to be a villain?”

“What are you getting at?”

“I’m confused why you were so angry about Lee Kwang’s choice to self-destruct.”

“…”

It was a difficult question to respond to. Finally, I let out a wry smile.

“I’m not really sure how to explain this. The truth is, it’s because of you.”

“What do you mean…?”

If it weren’t for So-cheong, I would’ve already trampled Lee Kwang, extracting all my vengeance at once. The reason I’ve mitigated my wrath through all these lifetimes, trying to preserve Lee Kwang, was entirely due to So-cheong’s intervention. Under that influence, it caught me off guard.

‘Hah. What was I even expecting…?’

By making Lee Kwang my disciple instead of fuming at him for the 30 lifetimes of torment he had inflicted, I’d established an extensive back-and-forth of resentment already exchanged between us.

Yet, even so, I found myself a bit selfishly wishing to behold Lee Kwang’s ignoble state, which led to this plan.

I might have also felt a sense of inevitability. After all, Lee Kwang had become nothing more than a stone on the road in my current perspective. What worth did that grudge hold against a person who could cross planes and face the gods?

But why had I reacted so vehemently to Lee Kwang’s choice to self-destruct?

Even I had no idea.

As silence took over, I continued.

“Everyone possesses both admirable and flawed characteristics that we know through intellect. Yet, that does not necessitate any transformation of the grudge harbored against them. I’m neither a sage nor a saint.”

“What do you wish to convey?”

“If you become my disciple, you’ll understand in time.”

“Well…”

After contemplating, Jin So-cheong finally declared.

“Please accept this insufficient Jin So-cheong as your disciple, senior!”

Seeing no formal bow, it was clear that Jin So-cheong was keeping her distance from me, despite being what she felt was a too humbled request. For someone to kneel so easily in response to a master who’d nudged Lee Kwang toward self-destruction would be a challenge to her self-respect.

But, conversely, it was easier without her bowing, so I chuckled.

“It’ll be an honor to teach the future supreme of all the world.”

Originally, I had planned to briefly jest before revealing my reincarnation to both Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong, but given how things turned out, I’d have to play along as master and disciple for the time being.

‘I can always explain later.’

After gathering Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong, I turned to Dokgo Seong.

“I’ll handle other business; please keep an eye on the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School for a moment.”

“Of course. While coordinating with the instructors, I’ll also teach Bai Li Jeong-woon.”

“Oh, and there’s a guy named Geuk-ho. He should be at Spring Scene Pavilion. He’s a master of the Thunder God Lineage, so explain the situation and facilitate his stay.”

“Understood.”

Having entrusted Dokgo Seong with managing the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School and acquiring Geuk-ho, I headed straight to find the Sword Demon. Upon arriving at Shadowless Gate, I requested.

“Lee Kwang spontaneously self-destructed, and I rushed to stabilize him. He’s still in critical condition and needs a physician’s aid.”

“Ha! You’re fully aware now.”

“I ask for your assistance.”

Afterward, one of the Five Great Physicians remaining at Shadowless Gate, Gang Jeon-gil from the First of Henan, examined Lee Kwang. As he did, his eyes widened in shock.

“What is this…? All blood vessels have been severed… and yet they’re miraculously being restored! This is my first time seeing…”

“Will he recover to normal?”

“…”

Gang Jeon-gil, stunned, finally mustered a response.

“With my maximum efforts, I’ll have at least a fair chance of restoring him. It’ll take about a month, but there’s a catch…”

“What’s that?”

“This overwhelming qi might end up overwhelming his body at the point of recovery… His physique is commendable as a martial artist, but it certainly can’t cope with such massive qi. Possibly it could only work if he becomes a legendary being…”

“…”

“It’ll require finding a method to absorb that qi… but what level of qi is this really… I can’t glean any idea—no mere mortal can absorb this.”

That’s understandable. Half of my true qi exceeded anyone not named the White Lotus Leader by dozens of times over. It would be impossible for anyone in the martial world, excluding the White Lotus Leader, to absorb this amount of qi with mere body strength.

I thought for a moment.

“The White Lotus Leader with infinite qi may be able to manage it.”

“Regardless, find a way to absorb that qi. Medical treatment is no longer an issue.”

At that moment, the Sword Demon spoke up unexpectedly.

“We don’t need the White Lotus Leader.”

“What do you mean, Sword Demon?”

“After all, what’s different about adding this qi to someone who already possesses infinite qi? Instead, it’d be better to use it to increase our allies’ strength.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

With the ensuing dialogue, I slapped my knee in realization.

“Let’s have all the martial masters you’ve recruited, including myself, plead to you. We’d ask that the qi within Lee Kwang allows us to absorb it.”

“…!”

“Since it’s your own qi, if you command it externally, everyone can absorb it without side effects. This is truly a win-win situation!”

Ah!

So our martial masters would rapidly gain immense qi, while I’d acquire the law of cause and effect!

The Sword Demon grinned.

“Have as many comrades join us as you can over this month. Together, if we set ours to absorb the qi, they can grow stronger with minimal elixirs used.”

“Right… and if I share all my own qi as well, that’d be extra beneficial!”

“No. That’s unnecessary; you still need that for yourself. Besides, at the highest peaks, excess qi could even be harmful, isn’t that so?”

“Hmm. That’d work, too… Then I’ll get moving!”

“Get back safely!”

Pa-at!

Having taken care of all that, I made my way to Mangnyang’s room. He already packed up his things, and the Sword Demon allowed him to move his base of operations to Shadowless Gate. For now, Shadowless Gate would act as our stronghold.

I filled Mangnyang in on everything that happened with Lee Kwang. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“It seems strange; you’ve lived 31 lives but still lose your temper when it comes to Lee Kwang. Must’ve been tough days being overshadowed by him…”

“Whooo… Let’s talk about that later. For now, I’ve brought Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong. What shall we do?”

“About that, I’ve been thinking for a bit.”

What followed from Mangnyang was unexpected.

“This lifetime, we should properly utilize the Thousand Deities Mirror technique!”