Reincarnation Sword God

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We quickly arrived at the Five Harmonies in Gansu Province, a place I had never been before since I had no reason to pass through it when I crossed Gansu earlier. As we followed Lee Kwang’s guidance through the basin terrain and along a major river, a steep valley filled with turbulent rapids came into view. Proceeding further into the valley, we found an open area where we began to climb a mountain again.

As we climbed the mountain path, Lee Kwang spoke.

“It was when I was fleeing from the White Lotus Sect, protecting my master, Lee Cheong-un.”

It felt like a story from the past. As the three of us followed behind him, we listened closely as Lee Kwang reminisced in a calm tone.

“I sustained significant injuries due to pursuers, but my master was incredible at that time. He passed away near the currents of this canyon, and I couldn’t place his remains by the water, so I made a grave in the mountain.”

“So this is the place.”

“I’ve been troubled for a long time. I’ve worried that the White Lotus Sect might exhume the remains of my master to mock the Thunder God Lineage, which is why I haven’t visited the grave.”

Suddenly, Lee Kwang turned around and looked at Jin So-cheong.

“But since you’re taking on a dangerous path, I wish for the protection of my master. The Thunder God Lineage is likely watching.”

Jin So-cheong nodded.

“Yes.”

Eventually, we found a small mound of earth that had been set up as a makeshift grave. It was just a large mound, with dirt piled haphazardly, surrounded by wild grass and trees. Lee Kwang glanced at the mound and then swung his spear to clear away the obstacles.

Swoosh!

We helped Lee Kwang clean up the grave, and it began to look more presentable. Lee Kwang gazed at the mound and said,

“This is it for sure.”

“Is it?”

“Then…”

Lee Kwang pulled out a bottle of liquor from his robe and knelt before the grave. We followed suit and bowed. After two bows, Lee Kwang poured the liquor onto the grave and, looking solemnly at the mound, quietly said,

“Master, my successor, Jin So-cheong, is here.”

With those words, I was taken aback.

“Master must think that I betrayed you, but that’s not the case. It’s just heartbreaking to think you would realize that before dying.”

Jin So-cheong seemed surprised by Lee Kwang’s words and looked at him. What kind of past story was this? After a brief silence, Lee Kwang continued,

“I ask you to lend your blessings to So-cheong, that he may be safe from the Sect Leader…”

His expression was heavy and dark. Although Lee Kwang secretly hoped that Jin So-cheong would not go to the White Lotus Sect, he had no choice but to wish for his safety as he could no longer stop him. After a moment of silence, we finished the rites and sat around to share the meager food we had brought.

Lee Kwang looked seriously at Jin So-cheong and said,

“You must have been surprised by what I just said.”

“Yes.”

“The two people beside you are those you trust your life with, so I want to share this secret with you. This is my way of showing that I trust you.”

“……”

With a sigh, Lee Kwang began to recount a past event.

“My master was suddenly called to speak with the sect leader. This happened more than fifty years ago.”

“I know that.”

“I can’t say what exactly they discussed. But one thing is certain… that it wasn’t a private meeting.”

Jin So-cheong’s expression stiffened.

Of course, he already knew this. Han Baek-ryeong had mentioned it before. But hearing it directly from Lee Kwang made him even more curious about what happened that day. Lee Kwang continued.

“When my master went to meet the sect leader and Dugong Jun, he spoke about something, but in the middle of it, things went wrong, and they ended up fighting, returning in a chaotic state to the Thunder God Lineage. I had no time to hear the details from my master as I was busy fleeing with the other disciples.”

Lee Kwang bit his lip.

“While protecting my master during our escape, I was struck by Yongbi Cheon at a cliff and fell. When I regained consciousness nearby, my master was in even worse shape. His injuries were beyond recovery even with the Heavenly Spirit Pillar, and I realized that even the Great Immortal couldn’t save him.”

“……”

“However, my master, who regained his senses through Hui Guang Ban Zhao, thought I had betrayed him. For some unknown reason, he believed I sold the secrets of the Thunder God Lineage. I denied it, but it seems my master lost his duel against the sect leader because of the existence of that secret.”

“What secret is that?”

“The final technique of the Thunder God Lineage! Final Secret Technique!”

“……!!”

In that moment, the atmosphere became completely tense.

The Final Secret Technique of the Thunder God Lineage!

Wasn’t that what the sect leader had been obsessively searching for in my previous life? I didn’t know whether it existed, but Lee Kwang had adamantly denied its existence before. Yet now, it was mentioned again right here.

Jin So-cheong swallowed hard and said,

“Does the Final Secret Technique really exist?”

Lee Kwang nodded vigorously.

“It exists!”

And at that moment, everything changed. The Final Secret Technique, which Lee Kwang had previously denied, was now confirmed to exist! Though I had suspected it might be real, hearing it from the legitimate successor of the Thunder God Lineage gave it immense weight.

“I was able to clear up the misunderstanding with my master before he passed by confirming my innocence. But according to my master, the key techniques he was researching about the Final Secret Technique were leaked, and the sect leader obtained them beforehand to study for weaknesses. That’s why my master couldn’t win.”

“What do you mean?”

Jin So-cheong asked, perplexed.

“Are you saying that Master Lee Cheong-un could have defeated the Leader of the White Lotus Sect…”

“Exactly.”

Lee Kwang’s eyes blazed with intensity.

“That day, the sect leader combined forces with Dugong Jun to confront my master. In that situation, my master managed to gain a slight upper hand with the Final Secret Technique. If that timing had worked perfectly, he could have even won!”

“……!!”

Everyone was utterly astonished.

To think there was a chance against that Leader of the White Lotus Sect!

An extraordinary superhuman who dared to fight unyieldingly even against the Godly Apostle, capable of manipulating time and space with the powers of the Five Elements and Tai Chi—wasn’t that the very definition of unfathomable? Yet, Master Lee Cheong-un, the previous protector of the Thunder God Lineage, nearly won against the combined forces of such a sect leader and Dugong Jun?!

Lee Kwang said,

“Since that day, I have been pondering. Could it be that someone stole the key principles of the Final Secret Technique and handed them to the sect leader? And that person must have been a disciple of the Thunder God Lineage—a betrayer!”

“Hmm…”

“Jin So-cheong, you must understand why I’m sharing this story.”

Jin So-cheong’s eyes gleamed with realization.

“We must uncover the identity of that betrayer.”

“Exactly. Initially, I planned to gather the successors of the Thunder God Lineage over many years and observe them to identify the culprit. That’s why I had accepted you as a successor.”

Lee Kwang explained further,

“The betrayer would not want the sect leader to regain the Thunder God Lineage and succeed. If we gather the successors and confront them, we will certainly catch the betrayer. That’s why if you enter the White Lotus Sect as a disciple, he will surely make a move against you.”

“Why would the betrayer betray in the first place?”

“I’ve thought about it, but I can’t figure it out.”

With a sigh, Lee Kwang then told Jin So-cheong,

“So, if you don’t mind, I want to share what I know about the Final Secret Technique with you.”

“Really!”

“Yes.”

Lee Kwang smirked.

“But this information is just that—information. It won’t help you enhance your martial arts, which is why I’ve kept it hidden from you until now.”

“Please tell me.”

Lee Kwang nodded and said,

“First, unlike the techniques of the other three great sects, the Final Secret Technique of the Thunder God Lineage is incomplete, a legendary technique that no one throughout history has ever learned. Also, the basic condition to receive it is to master the ultimate techniques of the fist, sword, and spear, then obtain the Heavenly Spirit Pillar. After that, with the help of the three supreme masters of the Thunder God Lineage, it can be completed. However, even after completion, everything must be forgotten and wiped away before one can obtain the Final Secret Technique.”

I was already aware of this information. But suddenly, new details I had never known flowed from Lee Kwang’s lips.

“However, the followers of the Thunder God Lineage pretended publicly that the Final Secret Technique was incomplete while secretly researching it for generations. By my time, substantial key points were already established, and my master was secretly cultivating it.”

“How much was it completed?”

“Rather than completed, it was standardized. Because the Martial Spirit is an incomprehensible entity beyond human limits, the foundational techniques were made accessible for humans to practice. My master referred to this as the Thunder Spirit Soul.”

Thunder Spirit Soul!

It seemed to mean the spirit possessed by the God of Thunder. After pondering for a moment, Jin So-cheong said,

“By cultivating the Thunder Spirit Soul, one can approach the Martial Spirit quickly.”

“Exactly. Since the Martial Spirit is infinite, in practical terms, the Thunder Spirit Soul can be considered the Final Secret Technique.”

“Then why didn’t you practice it?”

“The Thunder Spirit Soul is different from conventional martial arts; only a true master in peak condition can begin to cultivate it. That’s why my master only informed me of its existence and key principles, but no methods of cultivation.”

Lee Kwang smirked.

“Even the principles I know are bizarre and unintelligible. They are closer to incantations. At this point, the Thunder Spirit Soul is completely out of touch with reality.”

“Please share those principles with me.”

“Alright.”

Without hesitation, Lee Kwang recited the principles. Seeing me and Mangnyang beside him, it seemed he was unaware that this knowledge wouldn’t help in martial arts training. After reciting the principles two or three times, Lee Kwang said,

“My master stated that he passed these principles onto me and to other disciples, pretending they were nothing, in case of his death. That makes it even harder to pinpoint the betrayer. The only clue is that the betrayer knew the meaning of these incomprehensible principles and had motive enough to sell them to the Leader of the White Lotus Sect…”

“That’s tricky.”

“Which is why your journey to the White Lotus Sect is so worrisome.”

Jin So-cheong spoke with confidence,

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely catch and kill the betrayer.”

“Right, I’ll trust you.”

Afterward, Lee Kwang learned the secret techniques and training methods of Jang Sam-bong‘s Seven Great Techniques from Jin So-cheong before leaving. No matter how much he cherished his disciple, there was no way he could allow Jin So-cheong to enter the White Lotus Sect; it wasn’t a path that suited him. Once Lee Kwang completely left, Jin So-cheong said to us,

“It’s best to change our plan.”

At this, Mangnyang’s face stiffened.

“That won’t do.”

“What do you think I’ll say that you think it’s not okay?”

“I’m talking about the Black Pack of Seven Kills Village!”

Mangnyang spread out the Five Harmonies Seven Gold.

“Our plan was to enter as a disciple of the Leader of the White Lotus Sect and then assassinate the Great Immortal with the Black Pack! Reviving Lee Cheong-un cannot happen with that!”

I looked at Jin So-cheong in surprise.

‘Reviving Lee Cheong-un?’

Of course, sensing Jin So-cheong’s intention, he followed suit and gazed at Mangnyang without saying a word. After an intense stare-off, Jin So-cheong finally spoke.

“If we don’t exhaust ourselves during the Offering Ceremony, we’ll be able to handle the Imperial Palace Forces with the strength of the White Lotus Sect.”

“The Vermilion Bird is someone who only engages in fights that can be won. Even the leader of the White Lotus Sect may struggle to handle him. If so, we must rely on divine power to take down the Vermilion Bird.”

“I believe reviving Master Lee Cheong-un could bring great benefits.”

“Because of the Thunder Spirit Soul?”

Jin So-cheong nodded in response,

“In his prime, Master Lee Cheong-un possessed martial skills comparable to the sect leader. If we can receive the Thunder Spirit Soul from him and also gain him as an ally, it will become much easier to confront the leader of the White Lotus Sect. More importantly, while killing someone can be done through a person’s power, reviving someone can only be achieved through divine means.”

At that, Mangnyang shook his head.

“We must take out the Vermilion Bird first. Once the Vermilion Bird falls, the remaining Imperial Palace Forces can be easily toppled. This I cannot concede.”

“……”

Seeing the opposing views of Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong made me realize the difficulty of the situation. Both of their arguments were reasonable. After a moment of deliberation, I said,

“After all, we’re not killing the Vermilion Bird right away, right? Let’s observe the situation a bit longer before deciding.”

“That sounds good.”

“Alright.”

As I mediated, both Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong appeared to begrudgingly accept this compromise. Regardless of their disagreements, it would ultimately be me who could go to Seven Kills Village for our counter-request.

Casting a glance at the grave, Mangnyang said,

“Let’s first try out the techniques of the Heavenly Spirit.”

“Are you saying whether Master Lee Cheong-un’s spirit is present?”

“Precisely.”

Hummm—

I then concentrated my energy from the Ten Places to sense the strength of the spirit. However, after searching within a twenty-li radius, I found no significant energy that could forge a connection. In panic, I turned to Mangnyang and said,

“Master Lee Cheong-un’s spirit is absent…”

Mangnyang replied, as if he expected this,

“Just because someone has a powerful spirit doesn’t mean they remain bound to this world. It seems Master Lee Cheong-un has already ascended to another realm.”

“……”

Initially, there was a plan to summon Lee Cheong-un’s spirit using the Heavenly Spirit, but now it seemed utterly futile. I voiced my frustration to Mangnyang,

“Can’t we call upon a spirit that has ascended?”

“Of course not. This technique only works on spirits still present in this realm.”

“Hmm…”

Mangnyang sighed heavily.

“It seems we’ll have no choice but to rely on the divine power to revive Lee Cheong-un.”

I scratched my head.

“Then, let’s go.”

“Understood.”

Boom!

I immediately activated my Boiling Technique to head toward Luoyang. Upon entering the Han Family Clan, we were promptly guided to the head’s audience room, where Han Baek-ryeong was leaning against a wall with a staff in hand. He glanced at us and said,

“We’re moving to the Flame Spirit.”

The Flame Spirit, the fire oven of the Fire God Lineage! We followed Han Baek-ryeong to the Flame Spirit and teleported directly to the main base of the White Lotus Sect.

Boom!

When we arrived at the White Lotus Sect, we advanced without any hindrance thanks to Han Baek-ryeong leading the way. Even the senior forces barely averted their gazes from us.

“I present myself before the Sect Leader!”

The sect leader was, as before, shrouded in shadows behind himself.

The moment he saw us, he spoke.

[First, I must thank you. Thanks to the Black and White Lotus, Soeong has fully recovered.]

“Yes.”

Indeed, the effectiveness of the Black and White Lotus seemed to have freed Soeong from the curse. The leader continued,

[Now, our sect shall begin the process of taking control over the central plains. As you have requested, I will appoint a protector of the Thunder God Lineage and accept him as my direct disciple.]

At long last, that moment had arrived.

If Jin So-cheong was chosen now, he would be able to contact Lee Cheong-un and unravel the secrets and techniques of the White Lotus Sect!

As my heart raced with excitement upon feeling that our plan had surpassed halfway, I suddenly felt something was off.

“……?”

Something strange seemed to be happening. The gazes of Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong were fixated on me.

Lost in my thoughts, I discovered that the shadow of the leader’s finger was pointed straight at me. As I dumbly acknowledged that I was the target, the leader’s voice thundered down like a nail,

[So it was Baek Woong. From today, you are the protector of the Thunder God Lineage, and my direct disciple.]