Reincarnation Sword God

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Heavenly Realm

After shattering the Namgung Clan into pieces with Jin So-cheong, I returned to Jinrang Valley with the women and the Namgung father-son duo stuffed in my pouch. Sitting on the porch of Jinrang Valley, I glanced at the pouch in my hand and thought,

‘There’s no need to start a massacre at the Namgung Clan right away.’

At the time, I was feeling like I could swing my weapon alongside Jin So-cheong, cutting down everything in sight. The urge to wipe out all living beings connected to the Namgung Clan was strong, but I decided it was best to hold off for now.

After all, the head of the clan, Namgung Myeong, and the young master, Namgung Hwan, were now just Extremely Weak entities trapped in my pouch, while Jin So-cheong had personally crippled the main forces of the Eight Swords of Namgung. Even if other individuals were capable, without the clan head and young master, as well as the elder-level experts completely missing, it was only a matter of time before the Namgung Clan collapsed. Killing off the remaining scraps would just be pointless slaughter.

The important thing was what happened after they survived. Those left in the Namgung Clan might be sharpening their blades for revenge, but from now on, they would taste true hell. Just as I was deep in thought,

“Baek Woong, well done.”

Mangnyang walked over with Cheon Woo-jin. Upon seeing Mangnyang, I stood up from my seat.

“Welcome back.”

Mangnyang sent Cheon Woo-jin back home and turned to me.

“I’ve dealt with this and that. I also just met with Jin So-cheong to hear about what transpired.”

“Hmm… I’ve almost destroyed the Namgung Clan. There’s only the aftermath left, but that shouldn’t significantly affect our plans, right?”

At my question, Mangnyang smiled brightly.

“I told you, you can go all out. An insignificant group like the Namgung Clan wouldn’t greatly impact the Greater Scheme by being eliminated.”

“……”

Though I felt reassured by Mangnyang‘s words, I secretly clicked my tongue.

The Namgung Clan was one of the top five clans competing for supremacy in martial might; to call them insignificant! Seemingly realizing the look in my eyes, Mangnyang burst into laughter.

“Haha… Think about our ultimate objective. The Namgung Clan is merely a lackey of the Wind Spirit Sect; why should we be afraid of them?”

“Well, that’s true but…”

I trailed off, musing.

“Isn’t the Wind Spirit Sect the real issue? I trusted you and pushed through with the Namgung Clan, but how do we negotiate with them now?”

“Don’t worry. It will unfold much easier than you think.”

“Easier, you say?”

“Normally, the Wind Spirit Sect wouldn’t let anyone who harmed the Namgung Clan go unpunished. But think about it. If that were the case, they’d be seeking ‘revenge’ on the force attacking the Namgung Clan, wouldn’t they?”

“Hmm.”

There was a sly glint in Mangnyang’s eyes. After pondering for a moment, I replied.

“It’s not revenge, though. The Namgung Clan is subordinate to the Wind Spirit Sect, but they’re just pawns that can be discarded if necessary.”

“Exactly.”

With a smirk, Mangnyang continued explaining.

“As you likely surmised, we just need to offer the Wind Spirit Sect a benefit equivalent to that of the Namgung Clan. Han Baek-ryeong brought the five top clans of the central plains under her thumb merely to facilitate an invasion into the central plains, nothing more. She’s quite shrewd and will understand if we engage in negotiations.”

“A benefit equivalent to that of the Namgung Clan!”

I sighed and shook my head.

“I was just thinking about that, but it seems pointless. Do we have anything like that?”

“Haha… Baek Woong, your ability to see the larger picture has vastly improved, but you’re still lacking in the details.”

“We have a tremendous treasure, don’t we?”

“……?”

Mangnyang chuckled.

“Black and White Lotus!”

“Ah!”

“If we present the Black and White Lotus, Han Baek-ryeong will forget about the Namgung Clan in an instant. Why? Because it would allow for immediate healing of the Young Master, and kickstart the conquest of the White Lotus Sect in the central plains.”

Why didn’t I think of that?

I felt a twinge of self-reproach. Staring blankly for a moment, I mumbled,

“Right, that’s true. But if we suddenly hand over the Black and White Lotus, won’t they get suspicious?”

Mangnyang shrugged.

“What will happen if they do? With our finesse, we can escape from the Wind Spirit Sect anytime. All Han Baek-ryeong could do is check whether the Black and White Lotus is poisoned or not. As long as we prove its efficacy by healing the Young Master, she’ll have to yield to us instead.”

“But if the Young Master is healed, won’t the White Lotus Sect get too strong?”

As I fired off questions, Mangnyang smiled wryly.

“True. The White Lotus Sect would dominate the world.”

“Hmm.”

“But what of it? Think about the outcome.”

He continued flatly,

“You will become a representative of the Thunder God Lineage for giving the Black and White Lotus, and even achieve the rank of the leader’s disciple. The White Lotus Sect will gain the world in the process, and you, afterward, will uncover the secrets of the Sky Team and grow stronger. Plus, since the White Lotus Sect’s influence will become immensely formidable, the imperial palace and Zhuge Clan will automatically be held in check. Where else can you find such a scheme?”

“……!!”

“So that’s why destroying the Namgung Clan is nothing to worry about. In the grand scheme, they’re truly like insects.”

“That’s quite the theory…!!”

As I expressed my admiration, Mangnyang intertwined his fingers and sat on the porch.

“The only concern would be the revival of the Thunder God Lineage, but that’s something we can easily bypass. With the mere act of passing the martial arts onto Jin So-cheong, you’ve already done everything for the Thunder God Lineage.”

“Hmm.”

“It may be challenging now, but as Jin So-cheong grows, should Lord of the White Lotus Sect go berserk, that will serve as a backup plan for containment. That’s why I supported you in passing the martial arts to Jin So-cheong.”

In essence, Mangnyang’s plan had been structured from the beginning without any flaws. Although there were slight changes due to striking the Namgung Clan, it still went smoothly overall. I felt a swell of admiration inside.

‘At this rate, things will genuinely go smoothly.’

The remaining tasks weren’t that difficult. The issue with negotiating with the Wind Spirit Sect still lingered, but if it were Mangnyang, it would surely be managed. After joining the White Lotus Sect, all I had to do was uncover the secrets of the Sky Team myself. Even if it took decades, once I found out, I could use the Sky Team freely afterward, making it a sweet deal for me.

Suddenly, a strange thought crossed my mind, and I spoke to Mangnyang.

“Oh, right!”

“If you foresee any problems, feel free to speak.”

“Just now, I received permission to enter Kunlun Mountain to train in magic arts, right? When will I utilize that?”

“Haha. I figured you’d ask that.”

Mangnyang grinned and replied,

“It won’t take long to enter Kunlun Mountain. You can proceed after joining the White Lotus Sect; it won’t be a problem.”

“Why is it hard to say?”

“The entry into the Heavenly Realm is a matter of heavenly secrets. If I leak it now, there will be direct repercussions, so I can only speak when it’s time.”

That made sense. I nodded and then asked,

“Then another thing. What do we do about Duk Go-seong?”

The Thunder God Lineage’s Duk Go-seong.

He was the supreme master and elder of the Thunder God Lineage. Currently, Duk Go-seong was tirelessly working in Dragon King Valley in Sichuan to promote the development of sword arts and would become a formidable swordsman in a decade. I had originally thought it natural to recruit such an exceptional master as an ally, but according to Mangnyang‘s plan, that wouldn’t be possible. After all, Duk Go-seong harbored feelings unfavorable to the White Lotus Sect since he was also part of the Thunder God Lineage.

Mangnyang stared at me intently before saying,

“It seems it isn’t meant to be in this life.”

“Gasp!”

Does that mean to abandon Duk Go-seong?

He paused for a moment before continuing,

“Baek Woong… ever since receiving memories from you, I’ve been thinking non-stop, almost driving myself insane. No matter how I try to sugarcoat it, the facts remain: I’ve failed more than ten times. With each failure, I’ve pondered the reasons why, realizing I had many errors and countless variables I couldn’t predict. Above all, I was powerless.”

“……”

“And there was another reason. I intended to conclude everything in a single lifetime, but that on its own was a flawed approach.”

I could sense where Mangnyang was going with his words. He slowly looked up at the sky and said,

“I thought that your humanity would diminish as you lived through these lives. So, trying to reach a conclusion while you still retained your humanity, I intended to cram everything into that life and end it. But now that the target we must defeat has become a God, that attitude is no longer arrogance; it’s folly. So, I have decided to adjust my strategy.”

I replied gravely,

“Are you planning your strategy based on the assumption that I will die and be reborn?”

“… Actually, I’ve always done that. But from now on, I will consider the possibility that we could fail and face annihilation at any time. The odds are against us, but even if you die, you will be reborn, so I aim to stack up as many advantages as possible during that lifetime.”

“Well thought out.”

Mangnyang lamented,

“Well thought out? This means I’ve acknowledged my limits. Besides, I’ve succumbed to the power of the Heavenly Secret. I’m similar to declaring that I will manipulate you regardless of whether your humanity fades! I’m foolishly deluding myself that you can retain your humanity throughout infinite reincarnations!”

“What can I do? It’s the truth.”

“It’s because it’s the truth that I’m more frustrated.”

As he grumbled, Mangnyang‘s expression brightened once again.

“Anyway, since we have to defeat the God, I won’t hold back anymore. So brace yourself for what’s to come.”

“Of course!”

The two of us then began discussing our detailed plans for the future. When we were done chatting, two hours had passed, and as the night deepened, Mangnyang said,

“It’s getting late; let’s get some sleep and move out tomorrow.”

Although I could function perfectly well for a week without sleep, I had no aversion to catching some z’s. Thus, heading to my lodging in Jinrang Valley, I lay down and stared at the ceiling, thoughts swirling around in my mind.

‘My humanity is fading?’

After experiencing a series of events, I was responding with a certain indifference, but all my emotions were still very much alive and active.

Of course, there had been times when I felt somewhat numb and confused while massacring the Golden Guards in the past. However, this time, when it came to the Namgung Clan incident, I could feel Jin So-cheong’s anger as though it were my own.

Even after my tenth life, my feelings remained the same.

Though I hadn’t conveyed this while speaking to Mangnyang, I pondered: – is this strange?

A cloud of ominous thoughts passed through my mind, but I shook my head.

‘Nah. What…’

More important was executing the plans flawlessly.

In this life, I needed to obtain as much as possible, and even if I died, I had to lay the groundwork for growth thereafter. There was no time for unnecessary thoughts with so much to do.

Eventually, I slowly drifted into sleep.

[Wake up.]

I was dreaming. I found myself wandering in a familiar landscape, glancing around. I recognized this moment as a dream, yet I could not ascertain how to wake up. It was indeed a dream, but it felt uncomfortably real.

Moments later, a black cat climbed onto the roof, looking down at me with indifferent eyes as it spoke.

[The Law of Causality is shaking violently, creating a singularity. I’ve come to warn you about it.]

The Law of Causality?

I pondered its meaning for a moment before responding.

“What do you mean? Why are you suddenly appearing in my dream, spouting nonsense…?”

[Do you know what the Law of Causality is?]

“The Law of Causality is the colossal principle that no being can escape. Even the great True Immortals of the Heavenly Realm, as well as the Heavenly Spirits or even the Old Rulers, cannot avoid its influence. The principle regulates the causing of results without a cause and prevents transcendent beings from wielding power at will. Right?”

I recited the explanation of the Law of Causality that I had heard from Mangnyang himself. The black cat looked down at me with its pitch-black eyes and said,

[Within that Law of Causality, there exists something called a singularity. And the causality binding you has been moving, creating that singularity.]

“What’s a singularity?”

[Easily put, it’s a moment that, when touched, causes an explosion. This is something that Old Rulers or anyone could never dodge. Even the creator of the universe would be no exception. To express a singularity in human terms, let’s call it ‘fate’.]

“……?”

Fate?

I tilted my head, perplexed, and asked Mangnyang.

“Hold on. So you’re saying a fate I can’t escape suddenly emerged around me?”

[That’s how it seems.]

“That’s absurd! The Law of Causality primarily acts most strongly on transcendent beings! Why am I getting dragged into this?”

As I strongly protested, Mangnyang twirled its black tail and retorted,

[I think it’s entirely possible. You might have an inkling…]

“……”

[A singularity occurred during the Aoki Seiun disaster. That singularity will, sooner or later, find you.]

“What?! Why there?!”

[I don’t know either.]

I felt dumbfounded.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a fate appears and is bound to track me down! And it all began during the Aoki Seiun disaster!

It was a lot to grasp. My bewilderment was evident when Mangnyang, with its usual emotionless gaze, looked down at me and said,

[Let me make one thing clear. All singularities are bound by the Law of Causality. They can be likened to points plotted on a circle.]

“……”

[Even after eons, a result exists because of a reason. You may think of that fate as sudden, but when faced with it, you will understand it more clearly and deeply than anyone else in the world.]

“Damn it… how do you know this?”

Mangnyang replied,

[That’s a law that no one can escape! Even the Old Rulers are bound by it.]

“Gasp…!!”

[Even the malign deities lurking beneath the sea are fabricating excuses to dodge their singularities. They’re using all sorts of sorcery to avoid their own progeny in far-off zodiac constellations. So, as a mere mortal, you have no hope of escape.]

I frowned.

I had gone to sleep hoping for some relief, but the mood just soured. Roughly scratching my head, I asked,

“Alright, say there’s a singularity. What happens if it finds me? Am I going to die?”

If dying, that was fine.

I could eliminate the cause in my next life, right?

[You would pay the cost for the cause.]

“Hmph, dying would solve the problem!”

What was the big deal about dying once?

[Well… it might not be that simple…]

While mumbling ominously, Mangnyang turned its head.

[Fortunately, the point at which it approaches is in the far future. Until then, do your best to live.]

“Get lost, you feline pest!”

Swish

And then I woke up.

“……”

I held my head in my hands. I felt utterly miserable.

This was the worst morning I’d experienced in nearly a decade.

I forgot to set up the reservation item settings… I apologize to those who have been waiting.

And while the conversion to premium is on 9/26, I will be halting the novel serialization on 9/20 for my long-term writing fatigue and to refine the work’s plot. The premium serialization is scheduled to begin on 10/1. 😭

I’m taking this time to reflect on what I’ve missed while running so far and to recharge. Thank you for your understanding…!!