Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 130 : Superior

Superior

'So he called me here to ask about this.'

That was what Jeong-un felt.

In fact, it was only natural for him to ask.

After all, the man had acted as if he knew Jeong-un well and then disappeared.

It would have been stranger not to ask anything after witnessing all that.

"......"

Still, Jeong-un remained silent. He knew it was an expected question, yet he withheld his answer. He had his own complicated reasons.

'Is it really okay for me to answer?'

Did he know the man? Of course he did.

He had even traveled with him in the cave, unaware the man was hiding his identity.

Besides, it would be quite easy to phrase an introduction for him.

He could simply say the man claimed to be the fallen head of the old Demonic Cult.

Jeong-un had never personally seen the remnants, but given today's brazen bell theft, it seemed he had at least some helpers.

'But still...'

Still, he couldn't open his mouth so easily. It was because of his own identity.

One way or another, he was currently a member of the Heavenly Martial Hall.

He received their generous support and acted on their orders. That was the reason he came here in the first place.

Others might have joined simply to exalt their own names or glorify their respective sects, but Jeong-un was different.

He had come to hone his insufficient martial skills and had learned much here.

Comparing the Jeong-un who first crossed the threshold to take the entrance examination with the man he was now, the difference was night and day.

It would have been odd not to have some affection for the group he belonged to.

'Never in my life have I been treated this well.'

He had every kind of support for his training.

Even the missions—though missions in name—gave him information on the whereabouts of unorthodox faction ruffians pretending to be superhuman with but a sliver of cultivated power.

If he slew the ones who need be cut down, he even received praise for his achievements.

He never felt the purpose and process were impure.

Even looking at Yeom Baek, who delivered the orders—despite his appearance, he was an extremely upright man.

Moreover, Jeong-un had even met Zhuge Cheon-woo, the grand strategist of the Heavenly Martial Hall, in person.

He had heard the background of the hall's founding from him.

At least in Jeong-un's eyes, the Heavenly Martial Hall was a group that benefitted this land.

'Maybe they're not filled with only the virtuous. Even so...'

Zhuge Cheon-woo was said to be the younger brother of the clan head of the Jegal Clan, one of the five great clans.

Even by the standards of the martial world, that was an extremely high status, with immeasurable experience to go along with it.

In contrast, Jeong-un's experience in the martial world at that time had been meager—he judged more by intuition than by knowledge or common sense.

Even then, he never thought Zhuge Cheon-woo had told him only the whole truth.

But he didn't think the man had lied, either.

Yet a story can change entirely if even a single important fact is left out.

So there could well be backstories to the Heavenly Martial Hall that Jeong-un didn't know.

'But what does it matter?'

That, however, was not Jeong-un's concern right now.

He was receiving fair treatment from the group he belonged to, and he was satisfied with his role.

For that reason, he was currently hesitating to answer.

Zhuge Cheon-woo had not yet made Jeong-un's report about that person public.

Even so, Jeong-un couldn't determine if it was right for him to be the one to speak of it to someone else.

"......"

As Jeong-un brooded silently, Mu Jung nodded his head and smiled.

"Since you remain silent, let me say what I've gathered first."

"...?"

He'd gathered something?

Had he figured anything out from those few brief exchanges?

As Jeong-un regarded him with a slightly surprised look, Mu Jung spoke in an even tone.

"That man, he had quite a peculiar technique woven around his body."

Jeong-un recalled the Shaolin abbot's strike—a formless force manifesting as a massive, distinct palm.

He had vaguely grasped the concept of manifesting true ki before, but seeing it with his own eyes had been beyond his imagination.

It was the most exquisite masterful realm Jeong-un had seen since wielding a sword. The problem was, that man had even managed to evade it.

Jeong-un asked, "By peculiar technique, do you mean the body-strengthening art that he uses?"

"I don't know if you could call something like that a body-strengthening art. Even with your keen senses, weren't you unable to follow his movements?"

"What?"

Jeong-un's eyes widened in response.

Not the body-strengthening art?

Then how on earth had the man kept evading attacks?

Mu Jung nodded and continued, "From old times, such people have occasionally appeared. They were said to go against the natural order of the world. To gain that kind of power, they committed all manner of impure acts."

"To go against the natural order...?"

"You're a martial artist yourself, so you must have experienced it. Things like formations or those that deceive the senses. They trick not only the five senses, but even the perception of ki of those trapped within. If you think about it, those are truly peculiar methods."

A memory naturally rose up—the final trial of the entrance examination.

The top floor of a pavilion in the heart of the capital had been transformed into a mountain ridge.

Even now, he thought it was a mysterious thing.

As Jeong-un nodded, Mu Jung continued.

"Those who cloak themselves with such methods and deceive even heaven itself, exceeding human perception, existed in the past. If such a one appeared, the whole martial world—the whole land—would be thrown into turmoil. For instance..."

"...?"

"The Demonic Cult leader who appeared some fifty years ago was like that."

"...!"

Jeong-un finally grasped what Mu Jung was getting at.

By facing that man, Mu Jung had already become certain of his identity—just as he had instantly known that Jeong-un was from the Heavenly Martial Hall the moment he saw him stealthily slip outside.

Such insight was not mere intuition.

It was a perception attained through tremendous asceticism and wall-facing meditation—the Six Divine Perceptions.

Looking at Jeong-un's face, Mu Jung smiled.

"It seems my words were not so different from your own thoughts."

"... He is someone I've met before. The one who claimed to be the leader of the Demonic Cult, said to have vanished."

Jeong-un nodded and replied honestly.

With Mu Jung speaking so plainly, it was impossible to feign ignorance.

Acting confused in front of someone who already knew would only make him look the fool.

Mu Jung showed no sign of surprise and asked, "And when did you meet him?"

"It hasn't even been a year. I encountered him at the tomb of the Divine Physician, once said to be the finest in the realm. He'd changed his appearance then as well. When I saw through his identity, he calmly admitted it. I merely listened without much concern."

"You merely listened?"

When Mu Jung pressed, Jeong-un replied calmly, "I've heard there are many who revere the old Demonic Cult. Even after I reported it to the Heavenly Martial Hall, I didn't hear anything more. I thought he was just one among those sorts of people."

It was not that he hadn't taken the man seriously.

Above all, he had been defeated by overwhelming force. There was no way he could take that lightly.

He had only doubted whether the man truly was the leader of the Demonic Cult.

Many had claimed to be remnants of the cult before—and most must have only borrowed the name, naturally.

Rustle.

Just then, Mu Jung rolled up the sleeve of his right arm.

From his wrist up to his elbow, a jagged scar wound around his arm like a thin snake.

Showing the arm, Mu Jung spoke, "I was wounded when the Demonic Cult first arose some fifty years ago."

"...!"

Jeong-un looked at him with a rather surprised face.

He'd never expected that.

So Mu Jung had fought in the war against the Demonic Cult.

Of course, given his age, it was possible—odd that he hadn't considered it before.

Mu Jung continued, "It was when that cult leader took my master's life."

"You faced him in battle?"

At Jeong-un's question, Mu Jung shook his head.

His expression was rather composed, yet tinged with regret.

"I merely stood at his side. That was all. Just being swept up in the aura left me like this."

"Even just being enveloped by his ki wave could wound a martial artist's arm..."

"At the time, I was not as strong as you are now. It was lucky I didn't cross the river of death."

Then, as if to add more, Mu Jung continued, "When I faced that person today, I felt a similar aura as back then."

"...!"

"I cannot say for sure if he truly is the successor to the old Demonic Cult leader. But one thing is certain—the ki from that technique was very much alike. At that level, even if he doesn't declare it, it is reasonable to consider him Demonic Cult."

His words seemed to bring the matter to a close. Jeong-un recalled the question Mu Jung had asked him.

He hadn't asked about the man's identity, but whether Jeong-un had met him before.

Had he already been convinced about the man's true identity?

"This was bound to happen eventually,"

Mu Jung said.

"When those rebels rose like wildfire but failed to seize the Bongcheon Pavilion of Beijing, they vanished in a flash. That was suspicious, but decades went by without a sign, so everyone relaxed."

"If you say that much, it really does seem we must consider the Demonic Cult to have reappeared,"

Jeong-un replied calmly.

Mu Jung said, sounding a bit surprised, "You don't seem at all shocked, even knowing the one you just faced is the leader of such a notorious group."

"To be honest, I don't think it's something to worry too much about."

"Not something to worry about?"

Jeong-un nodded and spoke plainly, "The only thing I was concerned about was whether I could mention facts that the Heavenly Martial Hall hasn't revealed yet. But since you, the abbot, spoke first, I felt obliged to be frank. I intend to report this whole conversation to the hall as well."

"You're not afraid? It seemed that man took quite an interest in you—said he'd track your movements. There will be much to be careful of."

Was he trying to frighten him? Mu Jung looked at Jeong-un with a probing gaze.

Jeong-un quietly returned his look.

'What he said is true, though.'

The man had spoken about Jeong-un's vessel and spirit, calling him a rare being.

There was a likely reason: the Immortal Spirit Pill left by the Divine Physician.

Jeong-un had absorbed all that immense internal energy into his own ki.

Perhaps the man was after him specifically for that. Maybe his threats to track him were because of that purpose.

'It's actually easier for me.'

He decided not to overthink it. Now he wouldn't have to seek the man out, would he?

After all, he was one whom Jeong-un would have to cut down sooner or later.

With that, Jeong-un said, "That's actually convenient."

"...?"

"You told me last night just to keep walking. That's what I'll do. If I keep tempering my meager martial skills as if sharpening a blade, one day it will reach his neck. And since he's coming after me, isn't that easier? He's the type that's hard to find if you seek him out."

Mu Jung laughed out loud. Rather than nervous, Jeong-un was eager.

Most people would tremble if such a foe targeted them, but even if Jeong-un's attitude contained some bravado, it was not disagreeable.

"Hearing you say that makes my own mind lighter. Yes, walk your path as you wish. We each have our own business to attend to."

"May I ask what that business is?"

Mu Jung nodded and explained, "That man has donned the mask of the Divine Thief and stolen various objects of the martial world. Skilled in all sorts of techniques and formation rituals, he must have a reason. There must be a reason he took the brazen bell over everything else. I intend to find out why."

"......"

He was right.

The man had said something similar in front of the Immortal Spirit Pill.

The cultivation pill could be used for more than just amplifying true ki.

The tone had suggested a definite purpose.

Mu Jung said, "You must be tired. Go rest. Things will get noisy here starting tomorrow. I will warn the monks on the grounds, but don't let it hurt when they look at you askance. Even monks are not all aspiring Buddhas."

"I'll conduct myself well."

Hearing that confident reply, Mu Jung smiled.

As Jeong-un stood and turned to leave, Mu Jung called to him from behind.

"Ah, I'll be sure to notify your superior separately. That will put my mind at ease."

"My superior?"

Jeong-un echoed, the image of a certain face naturally arising in his mind—Yeom Baek.

Wasn't he the only one worthy of being called a superior?

'Could he know the Blue Scale Corps leader as well?'

It was possible. Yeom Baek was a renowned expert among martial artists, counted among the one hundred greats of the realm.

Then Mu Jung continued, "Isn't the Sword Sovereign your superior?"

"... Pardon?"

"I mean the master of the Heavenly Martial Hall."