Reincarnation Sword God

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Heavenly Realm

Right after that, I went to find Dokgo Seong and Cheongwol. They were staying at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School under Lee Kwang’s lead, appearing to hide their identities from the outside. Once we reunited in Waryong Hall, Dokgo Seong relayed the current situation to me.

He seemed troubled as he spoke,

“That Mangnyang fellow was kidnapped by the Imperial Palace? Is he still alive?”

“I currently have no way to confirm.”

As I replied gloomily, Dokgo Seong clicked his tongue in discontent.

“Hmm… If that’s the case, we need to adapt accordingly. I will prepare to join forces with the Sword Demon and ready myself to fight the Old Sage of Mount Tai.”

“Thank you.”

“And Lee Kwang has something to tell you, so you should listen.”

I glanced over at Lee Kwang, who was sitting at the table with a frigid expression on his face. He stared at me intensely before saying,

“I’d like you to assist with the position of General Hwang Yeon using your financial resources.”

Though he appeared to speak courteously due to Dokgo Seong’s presence, his tone was definitely prickly.

“Hwang Yeon?”

“Cut the act. You brought General Hwang Yeon here, didn’t you? Until now, I’ve relied on the influence of the Seong family to assist him, but that’s reaching its limit. I need you to support him in one way or another.”

“Hmm.”

It was a reasonable request. I had rescued Hwang Yeon and the prisoners from the Great Criminals, but I had no idea how to utilize him this time around—so I had just left him in Lee Kwang’s Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. However, given the current situation, what was I supposed to do with Hwang Yeon?

‘Providing gold is an easy task, but…’

Somehow, it felt inappropriate to support him solely with funds, as Mangnyang probably would have devised some plan in this situation. While I sat there pondering, I reflected on what Hwang Yeon actually represented.

He was the peak of the Military, entangled with the Great Criminals.

A mentor and comrade that Lee Kwang couldn’t afford to discard.

And then…

Suddenly, a bright idea struck me.

“Lee Kwang, can I speak with General Hwang Yeon?”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“I believe we could use his assistance given the current situation. Please call him quickly.”

“Understood.”

Without hesitation, Lee Kwang brought Hwang Yeon over. It seemed he hadn’t given much thought to Hwang Yeon’s potential. When I finally faced Hwang Yeon, I noticed he had regained considerable strength and now looked like a gallant warrior.

This was a setup for a one-on-one discussion, as the high-level experts of the Thunder God Lineage could be disruptive. Having met with Hwang Yeon, he chuckled softly.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“I’ve been doing well. I hope the General has also been in good health.”

“Of course, I’ve been well.”

After the pleasantries, I took the opportunity to speak to Hwang Yeon.

“General Hwang, are you aware that a major situation is unfolding at the Imperial Palace?”

“A major situation, you say? What do you mean?”

“Please listen carefully. What I’m about to say is the truth, so don’t be shocked.”

I then proceeded to explain how the Old Sage of Mount Tai was actually the Vermilion Bird of the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace, alongside how the Emperor, the Vermilion Bird, and Zhuge Bu conducted the Offering Ceremony. I also told him about how Mangnyang lost the rights to the ceremony and explained what the Offering Ceremony entailed.

“Whoa… Is that really true?!”

Hwang Yeon blinked several times, appearing incredulous as he absorbed my words. It was simply too mystical and abstract for such a straightforward general to grasp. However, after I emphasized that it was indeed the truth a few times, he seemed to process the information. After some contemplation, Hwang Yeon asked,

“So, is the current Emperor gaining immortality with the help of an otherworldly demon?”

“Yes.”

I nodded and continued,

“And our prediction suggests that he’s likely trying to ‘open a door’ using the national seal located under the Imperial Palace. He aims to dispatch the Dae-myung Empire’s military across the entire world to initiate a campaign.”

“A campaign, you say…?!”

“We plan to fight back to rescue our kidnapped comrades, but what about you, General Hwang? What do you consider loyalty to be right now?”

At my question, Hwang Yeon displayed a pained expression.

“This is all very sudden, so I need to gather my thoughts…”

“I hope you’ll consider raising an army when the opportunity arises.”

“……”

“As I mentioned, the current Emperor can force anyone to obey his commands using his power of command. In this state, politics don’t even come into play. He will wield absolute power and bring about destruction.”

“Hmm!”

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Hwang Yeon let out a low hum.

Though the Emperor appeared to hold absolute power, that wasn’t quite the case. He would have to carefully balance the authority of central ministers, influential figures, generals, and princes across the empire. Due to the limitations of the Emperor’s power, politics could maintain at least a minimum transparency and self-correction.

However, if the Emperor could turn anyone into mere puppets with his power, absolute authority would only lead to corruption. Those who should have offered sound advice or had the insight to influence the court had all been rendered useless. In other words, nobody could rein in a runaway Emperor.

Crossing his arms, Hwang Yeon spoke,

“So you’re suggesting that keeping the Emperor in check is the true form of loyalty?”

“You well know how unreasonable the current Emperor is, General Hwang. If he’s a tyrant unworthy of ruling the Dae-myung Empire, wouldn’t it be the duty of a true soldier to fight for the peace of the empire?”

“Hmm…”

I looked him straight in the eye,

“Think of the tyrant Zhou from the ancient Yin dynasty. When the vassal Xi Chang realized that the nation’s fate had reached its end amidst the tyranny of Zhou and the atrocities of Daji, he raised an army for the sake of the suffering people. I believe you are the only one who could take such action now.”

After mulling over my words, Hwang Yeon finally spoke.

“While your words may sound reasonable, how can one be sure?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Emperor could just be trying to strengthen the Dae-myung Empire through the Offering Ceremony. He could simply be making a pragmatic choice for the prosperity of the empire.”

“You must be joking!!”

I exploded with anger, clenching my fists.

“Even if the Dae-myung Empire grows strong and large, whose empire will it be? Only the Emperor and a select few around him will enjoy absolute power, while everyone else will be ruthlessly exploited! Innocent commoners will be sacrificed for the ceremony of another race. They will even offer humans as sacrifices to monsters if they can wield absolute power.”

“……”

“If Mangnyang were here, he would say the same thing I did. Only you, General, can fight for the great righteousness of the world!”

Suddenly, Hwang Yeon burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!!”

“Um…”

I was caught off guard by Hwang Yeon’s unexpected laughter. It didn’t feel like something to laugh about! After a good chuckle, Hwang Yeon flashed a grin and said,

“You truly are an extraordinary person. Sorry for testing your resolve for a moment.”

I recognized Hwang Yeon’s intent.

“Does that mean you’re resolved to stand against the Imperial Palace?”

“Indeed. I had already been contemplating this before you arrived. And I fully agree with your reasoning.”

He gazed out at the blue sky beyond the window and continued,

“I began to have doubts about the Emperor from the moment General Jin Cheon-hwi was unjustly murdered. Although he was praised as a brilliant and charismatic ruler, he used his power for his own gain due to his lack of legitimacy. I could tolerate that far, thinking it was sufficient for a ruler. However, after being imprisoned in the Great Criminals, my perspective drastically changed.”

Hwang Yeon let out a deep sigh and continued,

“The Emperor is not the Dae-myung Empire. He may represent the Dae-myung Empire, but he cannot embody the nation itself. To rule is not to dominate; that is the Emperor’s position, and only in that way can peace be established. I believe this is a law that has never been wrong in the long history of China.”

“Ruling without dominating?”

“That’s right. China needs a strong ruler, one who enforces unified thought and loyalty. Such rules are necessary when governing a vast continent inhabited by diverse peoples. However, the more the power of the preeminent monarch is consolidated, the more the world will inevitably decay.”

“……”

“Every Emperor who sought to dominate has invariably plunged the world into disaster.”

With a pensive gaze, Hwang Yeon turned his attention back to me.

“I don’t think General Jin Cheon-hwi, with his rightful legitimacy, should necessarily have become the Emperor either. However, I believe the Emperor must realize he is merely destined to lead China, and the more he strives to become an absolute ruler, the more twisted everything will become.”

“That’s definitely true.”

“If the Emperor, capable of mercilessly offering the people to become fodder for monsters, is best left unreigned, then his immortality only worsens the situation! I will raise an army and stand against the Emperor.”

Hearing his affirmation, I nodded.

“Thank you for making this decision, General Hwang.”

I understood why Hwang Yeon had initially appeared hesitant and evasive. Though we had wrapped our discussion in various words, this meant we were ultimately pursuing rebellion. Since failure would lead to our extinction, gathering comrades for this endeavor required utmost caution.

I told Hwang Yeon,

“We mustn’t act immediately, as the Emperor’s power would render our military futile. For now, I’ll support you with gold and resources, so please gather your strength. Once we can nullify the Emperor’s command, then you can act.”

“I trust you. From today, I’ll be very busy.”

Originally, this was the role Mangnyang should have taken, but I had persuaded Hwang Yeon to act in his stead. After toppling the Emperor, it would be meaningless if the dark forces of the Demon Fox Alliance seized the Imperial Palace, so Hwang Yeon’s role in building a new force and establishing a regime was crucial. Though his role seemed minor, it was of immense importance.

This meant we were now in the same boat. I then asked Hwang Yeon,

“General, can I ask about the Vermilion Bird of the Four Great Experts?”

“Hmm. I expected you would ask that.”

As Hwang Yeon spilled a low hum, he continued,

“The Vermilion Bird of the Four Great Experts was a very mysterious figure. He rarely revealed himself in the court, and we only heard rumors of his existence. In fact, it’s the first time I’m hearing from you that he is the Old Sage of Mount Tai, a transcendent master and sorcerer at that. However, thinking back, there were hints of something amiss.”

“Hints of something amiss?”

After nodding, Hwang Yeon spoke,

“Several decades ago, when our previous Emperor passed away, important figures in the court, including myself, went to pay our respects. There, we found the cold, lifeless body of our late Emperor alongside the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, the current Emperor, was reportedly by the late Emperor’s side during his last moments.”

“……”

“And beside the Crown Prince stood the Vermilion Bird, who introduced himself as the Crown Prince’s guardian.”

What was going on here?

I raised my eyebrows in surprise at this unexpected testimony.

“You’re saying the Vermilion Bird was present at the Emperor’s death?”

“That was the first and last time I laid eyes on the Vermilion Bird of the Four Great Experts.”

Suspicious indeed.

As I fell silent, Hwang Yeon continued,

“He was an impeccably handsome young man. He looked like someone who had lived a life solely focused on scholarly pursuits. Later, I heard that his public position was the Grand Astronomer of the Imperial Palace. The head of an astronomer who seldom left the Inner Imperial Pavilion—so it was my first time seeing him in person during that time.”

“The Grand Astronomer… Are you saying the Vermilion Bird was the former head of the Inner Imperial Pavilion?”

“Exactly.”

I was momentarily stunned.

‘No way…’

Hwang Yeon’s testimony carried significant weight.

The Vermilion Bird was the Old Sage of Mount Tai, but he wasn’t Zhuge Bu. Moreover, Zhuge Bu was the current head of the Inner Imperial Pavilion. This also meant that the previous leader of the Inner Imperial Pavilion was indeed the Vermilion Bird. Consequently, this implied the position of the Inner Imperial Pavilion had shifted from the Vermilion Bird to Zhuge Bu.

Additionally, from what I heard from Mangnyang, the head of the Inner Imperial Pavilion was an astronomer.

[“I used to be the Grand Astronomer. Now, I live as a hermit.”]

I couldn’t help but recall the introduction I had heard the first time I met Mangnyang ages ago.

The astronomer was responsible for predicting the fortunes and misfortunes of the year, wishing for the prosperity of the Imperial house, and presiding over state Taoist rituals. They seemed to have a special status among the ranks of the Imperial court, and the position was inherited rather than elected.

[“But you can abandon an inherited position? “]

[“I lacked the competence. My brother was even more extraordinary, which is why I was chased out of the capital to live as a vagabond.”]

Mangnyang’s brother was Zhuge Bu. Mangnyang had been overshadowed by the exceptional talents of Zhuge Bu, resulting in the loss of the head of the Inner Imperial Pavilion position. A hereditary position meant it was passed down to direct descendants.

If the former head of the Inner Imperial Pavilion was the Vermilion Bird, his identity must be…

“It can’t be…”

That’s absurd.

How could this be?

Could he possibly be the Vermilion Bird?!

Then it made a bit of sense why Mangnyang was suddenly ambushed and kidnapped. No matter how astute Mangnyang was, predicting his identity would have likely been impossible.

“Hmm… Thank you for sharing this story. It’s been quite helpful.”

“Glad to be of assistance.”

I wrapped up my conversation with Hwang Yeon, simultaneously using the gold I had to provide him with foundational financial support and planning to secure further funding from the Fire Spirit Sect to assist Hwang Yeon’s cause. If he receives support from the forces within the martial world, Hwang Yeon could reclaim his prominence in the military and foster the potential to raise an army quickly.

I soon relayed the contents of our discussion to Lee Kwang and Dokgo Seong. They seemed deeply surprised by the mention of rebellion, but after Hwang Yeon spoke in favor of it, they appeared to come to terms with the plan. Lee Kwang seemed uncomfortable but maintained that he would accept Hwang Yeon’s wishes.

Shortly after, I had a one-on-one conversation with Lee Kwang.

“Lee Kwang, do you also suspect the true identity of the Vermilion Bird?”

“……”

Lee Kwang stood with his arms crossed in an empty area. After a moment of silence, he replied,

“I see you’ve made some connections.”

“You probably realized it from the first encounter at Mount Tai. Or perhaps even before that.”

“That’s right. I figured it out to some extent since we are both members of the Four Great Experts.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Lee Kwang spoke plainly,

“Even if I told you, what difference would it make? Regardless, at that point, there was no change in the fact that we couldn’t breach the Eight Trigrams at Mount Tai.”

“That’s just your perspective. That lack of knowledge may have caused Mangnyang’s predicament.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate. My sympathy goes out to you.”

Crack!

I could feel sparks fly from my eyes in an instant.

Is he refusing to acknowledge his own fault until the end? If Lee Kwang had properly considered that information and shared it, Mangnyang could’ve acted more carefully. Overall, the plan’s trajectory might also have changed dramatically. But instead, Mangnyang had been caught off guard by an unexpected threat, and the situation had become knotted as a result.

I clenched my teeth, preparing my sword, and said fiercely,

“I can’t seem to see eye to eye with you at all. I doubt I ever will.”

“Funny enough, I feel the same way.”

I found myself contemplating whether to confront Lee Kwang right then and there. Despite the urge to tear him apart, I also recalled what Jin So-cheong had said earlier, and it was undoubtedly true that he was an essential asset at this moment. I forced myself to maintain my composure.

I let my sword down and said,

“I won’t ask for an apology. Rather, tell me what you know about the Vermilion Bird’s abilities and weaknesses.”

“Weaknesses, huh? Does such a thing exist?”

“What did you say?”

Lee Kwang answered earnestly,

“He’s been the protector of the Imperial Palace for generations. Back in my prime, I once crossed swords with the Vermilion Bird, and it felt like we were perfectly matched, though he seemed to be holding back quite a bit. He’s certainly a being of equal status to the Guardian Beast, mastering both martial arts and sorcery at their peak.”

“……”

“To match him, we’d need at least three experts of my caliber.”

I pondered this seriously. It seemed that Lee Kwang genuinely felt a bit guilty, as he offered an objective evaluation of the Vermilion Bird. After a moment of thought, I replied,

“I’ve heard that his martial arts encompass the Suras’ Celestial Twin Techniques and the Gongson Sword Art. Surely, there must be a way to counter them?”

“I’m familiar with both martial arts. The Suras’ Celestial Twin Techniques are exceptional and highly advanced, and the Gongson Sword Art is unmatched. But I might be able to provide some tips on how to counter the Gongson Sword Art.”

“Tips, you say?”

Lee Kwang nodded and explained,

“The Gongson Sword Art is based on the principles of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang. It embodies the nature of the martial techniques along with the principles of thought and timing. For that reason, engaging with it often leads to getting swept into its flow and put on the defensive; to avoid this, you must confront it using equal martial principles to disregard its flow.”

That sounded like quite useful advice. After training my martial arts for so long, I could roughly grasp what he meant.

‘Talking to Jin So-cheong, who has faced him directly, might provide further insights on strategies.’

However, I didn’t feel thankful enough to express that. One of the main reasons for this mess was that Lee Kwang had withheld crucial information. Thus, I gave him a warning,

“If anything like this happens again, you will face consequences.”

“I’m absolutely terrified.”

Lee Kwang casually responded before walking away. What an insufferable individual!

These recent heat waves have messed up my daily rhythm, making things quite tough… Still, I’ll strive to maintain one chapter daily!