Reincarnated Sword Ghost

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Although ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍it was just one, the fact that Zhao clan of Changshan had captured a Demonic Cultist was a significant event.

Naturally, they immediately notified the Murim Alliance, and it was said that they spread rumors widely so that all the nearby sects would hear of it.

They even submitted a direct memorial to the royal family in Beijing.

It was only a few decades ago, but since these people claimed to be descendants of the traitors who once caused a rebellion, such measures were considered reasonable.

However, surprisingly, the royal family did not dispatch any imperial troops or officials.

It was not due to some absurd pretext like the so-called 'imperial nonintervention.'

The Zhao Clan had been a prestigious noble house loyal to the royal family for generations, with many of their bloodline holding key positions in the imperial court—there was deep trust underpinning this.

Zhao Gang spoke.

"These were the ones hiding in the nearby mountains. Peasants would occasionally disappear while traveling the mountain paths, but as it turned out, all of it was their doing. We mobilized the clan's warriors, swept their stronghold at once—though they resisted a bit, they scattered and tried to escape in all directions. After the pursuit, only that one guy was captured alive."

"I see."

"We tried to interrogate him about the Main Headquarters, but he wouldn't open his mouth. Even when we questioned him using the 'Dislocate Muscle and Twist Bone' technique, it was the same. For someone with such meager internal energy, he was shockingly tough."

'Dislocate Muscle and Twist Bone' was a martial technique using ki power to inflict pain on muscles and bones.

Ordinarily, orthodox sects were reluctant to study methods of torturing opponents.

Not just the Old Sects who pursued the Way, but even the renowned orthodox clans considered such acts a source of shame.

That said, it was not as if they could simply keep the unorthodox villains they'd captured so hard sitting around doing nothing.

This technique, which could inflict sufficient pain without direct touch, must have been the most effective method they could employ.

Indeed, it was said that some even died, unable to endure the agony.

'Given who the target was...'

And yet, he never opened his mouth to the end.

After meeting Jeong-un, however, the man babbled incomprehensible words with a vacant look on his face and then simply died—so, understandably, the members of Zhao clan of Changshan were left dumbfounded.

Zhao Pyeong, whom he'd just met, had been similarly astonished.

He was greatly shocked upon hearing that the captive was dead. He even started as if about to rise from his seat.

Well, after all that trouble to take a hostage, it was perhaps natural.

Especially since this happened after the warriors from the Heavenly Martial Hall, whom he himself had called for help, had met with the prisoner.

He must have suspected whether those warriors from the Heavenly Martial Hall had played some sort of trick.

However, since his own son, Zhao Gang, had taken the initiative to report, and claimed to have personally witnessed it, there was nothing left to doubt.

After all, there was no real reason for the Heavenly Martial Hall's warriors to go out of their way to ruin things.

Presently, having finished reporting to Zhao Pyeong, they had come into Zhao Gang's personal office.

True to the reputation of a young lord from a great noble clan, he used an entire large pavilion as his office.

It was so spacious that the entire Yu household, where Jeong-un used to stay, could have easily fit inside.

"Perhaps the man truly didn't know anything."

Zhao Gang regarded him with a perplexed look at Jeong-un's words.

He didn't know anything?

Could there really be cultists acting without any knowledge of their Main Headquarters?

Then Jeong-un continued.

"You also must have checked the man's body yourself, young hero Zhao. Though a Demonic Cultist, he possessed only a trace amount of internal energy. Since you subjected him to 'Dislocate Muscle and Twist Bone,' you must have taken care not to kill him. As insignificant as he was, it isn't strange that he didn't know much about their Main Headquarters."

"Then, how did he manage to learn demonic arts at all?"

"Just as orthodox sects establish branches throughout the martial world, those people must have hidden branches all over the place as well. They appointed branch managers in those locations and passed on demonic arts, even if just barely."

Jeong-un spoke as he recalled the now-vanished Blood Cult.

The two cults seemed different but also shared clear similarities—especially in the way they operated secret branches throughout the martial world.

'Ridiculous as it sounds, they were religious in nature.'

Unlike the Blood Cult, however, the Demonic Cult was far more cunning, having kept its true identity hidden for such an extended period.

After the Blood Cult's secret branch was uncovered by Jeong-un, they were continually pursued by the Heavenly Martial Hall, until finally, even the location of their Main Headquarters was discovered.

But the Demonic Cult—what they called the Ming Cult—was different.

The location of their Main Headquarters, and even their total numbers, remained completely unknown.

In fact, if the Demonic Cult's leader had not acted personally, their very existence might never have been noticed.

That was why this newly captured man was so suspicious.

It wasn't that he looked down on Zhao clan of Changshan.

It's just that for a group so skilled at hiding their presence to be wiped out after preying on civilians in the mountains seemed oddly incompetent.

That was why Jeong-un had been sure that the captive's true intention was to lure him here.

'And that was exactly the case.'

It was said the captive kept his mouth tightly shut throughout the interrogation.

From Jeong-un's perspective, it wasn't merely because he was a fanatical cultist.

He seemed to have been caught under a strange spell's restriction and had anxiously awaited Jeong-un's arrival.

Baek Il-gang spoke.

"As soon as he saw Young Hero Yu, his look in his eyes turned strange. Then, he blurted out a few words like a puppet and promptly died. It was definitely odd."

"But all the words he left behind were...."

Zhao Gang trailed off, his expression troubled.

It was understandable.

All the man said amounted to nothing but jeers directed at Jeong-un.

From Zhao clan of Changshan's point of view, they'd gained absolutely nothing from their prized prisoner.

Then Jeong-un spoke up.

"It wasn't a total loss."

"...?"

He met the perplexed gazes fixed on him and continued.

"While the man was babbling nonsense, I was examining the inside of his body. Near the heart, in the danzhong area, he was drawing off all of his innate true ki."

"Innate true ki...?"

Innate true ki was not ordinary internal energy.

It is the fundamental energy of life possessed from birth, even by those who have never learned martial arts.

Jeong-un nodded and continued.

"It was a bizarre technique that forced his body to move as if being controlled by someone else, so a few strands of his weak true ki wouldn't have been enough."

"You mean, not only did he remember those words and recite them, but someone else completely controlled him?"

"Rather than control, I suspect it was a setup where contact with my internal energy would trigger the effect. He wielded such refined spell arts—of course he could use such sorcery."

"Such..."

'And I've memorized the nature of that energy.'

Martial arts based on spellwork were, after all, arts that utilized a person's energy.

Although their application differed from traditional martial arts, their origins were similar—so, Jeong-un thought, if he remembered that energy's flow, it would surely be useful in the future.

"...."

Meanwhile, Zhao Gang looked devastated.

Even though Jeong-un hadn't said it outright, he was not so dull as to miss the implication in his tone.

'We were used.'

The enemy had simply used them as tools to lure Yu Jeong-un here.

And all the while, oblivious, they'd made a big fuss about catching a Demonic Cultist, spreading rumors to the royal family and everywhere else.

Baek Il-gang glanced at Zhao Gang and spoke.

"No need to look so troubled. Their boss shows an uncanny obsession with Young Hero Yu anyway."

At that, Zhao Gang replied with a rather surprised expression.

"So, you finally speak to me."

"... I'd rather keep business and private matters separate."

Baek Il-gang replied gruffly.

At that moment—

Creak.

The door opened softly, and a young woman entered.

Her snow-white skin and sharply defined nose blended in startling beauty.

At a glance, she was stunning, enough to draw every gaze in the room.

Strangely, her features had a familiar quality. Unconsciously, Jeong-un's eyes turned to Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang, momentarily flustered, hurried to introduce her.

"This is my younger sister. Her name is Zhao Yeong-ryeong."

Then he scolded his sister,

"How could you enter without a word? Especially when you know we have guests."

"We're clan, what's with the formality? And I heard elder brother Il-gang had arrived, so how could I just stay away?"

Zhao Yeong-ryeong lightly brushed off Zhao Gang's reprimand and strode over to fill an empty seat.

"...?"

Jeong-un quietly observed the scene, finding it a little unusual.

'The energy I sense...'

In noble martial families like Zhao clan of Changshan, regardless of gender, it was only natural for blood members to learn the clan's martial arts.

Prestigious martial arts were a status symbol, and they granted great efficacy to the body.

Yet, unlike Zhao Gang, Zhao Yeong-ryeong did not radiate the strong, robust energy he'd sensed from her brother.

She had certainly trained in internal cultivation, but the aura she gave off seemed ordinary.

Of course, that did not mean she was on the level of the third-rate martial artists roaming the marketplace.

She simply didn't seem especially outstanding compared to her brother or other noble children.

Yet, curiously, her energy was exceptionally clear—purer even than that of typical orthodox martial artists.

As she took her seat, Zhao Yeong-ryeong spoke.

"Elder brother Il-gang, have you been well?"

"... It has been a long time."

Baek Il-gang answered somewhat stiffly, as if surprised by her friendly manner.

Zhao Yeong-ryeong blinked several times and said,

"Didn't we play together quite a bit as kids?"

"That was when we were young. My memory of it is pretty vague."

He swiftly dismissed it. Though surprised by her sudden entrance, that was all.

With a composed face, Zhao Yeong-ryeong then turned to Jeong-un.

"You are the Heaven-defying Lone Sword, are you not? The one said to possess a talent that goes against the heavens. I am Zhao Yeong-ryeong."

"Heavenly Martial Hall's Yu Jeong-un."

Jeong-un also bowed briefly in greeting.

To a stranger—especially one unwelcome by his companion—there was no need to be overly friendly.

But Zhao Yeong-ryeong didn't appear bothered in the least by the somewhat cool reception from the two men.

Instead she straightened her back and spoke.

"Please don't look at me that way. I have just as much reason to be here."

"Yeong-ryeong."

"I'm the one who led the warriors and captured the man that day. So whatever is discussed, you ought to seek my opinion too."

"...."

Zhao Gang fell silent; she wasn't wrong.

"These people are different from the unorthodox villains you know. The man you caught died in a truly bizarre manner."

"That's why I need to know more. This concerns our clan. Not to mention it will surely be a valuable experience."

As the siblings' argument dragged on, Baek Il-gang lost interest and turned his head away.

Then, with an indifferent expression, he asked Jeong-un,

"What do you plan to do next?"

* * *

Thus, Jeong-un ended up staying at the Zhao clan of Changshan pavilion.

With their help, he familiarized himself with the geography of Jin Prefecture's city center and its surroundings.

He intended to be ready to move quickly at any time.

His guide was Zhao Yeong-ryeong.

"This is where I first found those guys."

They returned to the mountainside where she had ambushed the cultists, checking in case anything had been overlooked.

But as expected, the place was spotless. Naturally, not a single trace remained to offer any lead for pursuit.

After that, he spent time in a small training hall Zhao Gang had set aside.

Occasionally, Baek Il-gang would ask if he should investigate around the area, but Jeong-un would just shake his head.

"They'll come for me first."

Even the words the captive left behind, delivered through his subordinate, were just meaningless provocations meant to unsettle him.

It was as if the man believed Jeong-un was already in the palm of his hand.

A few more days went by.

"Young Hero Yu!"

Zhao Gang came running, going so far as to use his lightness skill, urgently seeking Jeong-un.