The Regressed Sword Demon Changes the Future

Silence fell upon the main hall.

Everyone was at a loss for words at Grandmaster Gwangha's absurd remark.

This was the same for the disciples that Grandmaster Gwangha had brought with him. Myeonggwang and Myeongryo, whose mouths were wide open as if their jaws had dropped, looked at their master as if they were looking at a madman.

As no one opened their mouths, the Sect Leader of Mysterious Profound Sect, Ju Yulgok, opened his mouth on behalf of everyone else.

"…Grandmaster Gwangha… as you know, our Mysterious Profound Sect is a sect that belongs to the Emei branch. Although we did belong to the Qingcheng branch in the past… there was a dispute due to an unfortunate incident, and we moved to the Emei branch…"

Ju Yulgok intentionally trailed off his words.

And the content of the words that trailed off was clear.

'Cut the crap that doesn't make any sense.'

But even at Ju Yulgok's words, Grandmaster Gwangha's expression did not change at all.

And he quietly rummaged through his bosom and…

Thud!

Grandmaster Gwangha took out a palm-sized token from his bosom and handed it to the Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader's eyes, who had received the token, widened like a lantern.

"Th-this!?"

"Seeing that reaction, I can assume that that token is still valid."

"…May I ask how you have this, Grandmaster?"

"There's no reason why not. But the only story I can tell you is that I received this from my master."

"If you say Grandmaster Gwangha's master…"

"That's right. He was the former Sect Leader of Qingcheng, the Red Wave Ancient Sword, Grandmaster Yangho."

"Ugh~!"

'Why is that coming out from there!?'

Neither the Sect Leader nor Grandmaster Gwangha had mentioned the identity of the palm-sized token.

But the palm-sized token, the Red Wave Ancient Sword, and the Sect Leader's attitude!

The result of combining those three was only one.

'To think that the Sage's Token would come out here…'

The Sage's Token. It was an item that had only been issued three times in the history of Mysterious Profound Sect. When Mysterious Profound Sect had received a grace that they could not repay with the power they had at the time, it was a kind of proof token issued in the sense that Mysterious Profound Sect would not forget that grace and would help the benefactor with all their capabilities if the benefactor needed help in the future.

And now, holding that out, Grandmaster Gwangha was demanding.

'To enter the Qingcheng branch.'

The faces of the people of Mysterious Profound Sect, including the Sect Leader, contorted at the petty act that was unbelievable for a great elder of the Orthodox Faction to do.

"If you say the Red Wave Ancient Sword… he was surely the one who saved Mysterious Profound Sect, which was about to be greatly damaged by the great demonic head, the Blood Tear Axe, when he was rampaging in Sichuan in the past… and at that time, Mysterious Profound Sect had surely issued the Sage's Token and promised never to forget that grace…"

The Sect Leader's expression as he spoke of the history of the token's issuance was contorted as if he had bitten into a bug.

Seeing the Sect Leader's expression, Grandmaster Gwangha continued.

"Of course, I don't mean for you to 'really' enter the Qingcheng branch."

"Then…?"

It had not been long since Mysterious Profound Sect had moved from the Qingcheng branch to the Emei branch. But if they moved their registration back to the Qingcheng branch, whatever the reason, Mysterious Profound Sect would have nothing to say even if they were labeled as a bat or a traitor.

That's why the Sect Leader had to get through this situation somehow, and in the midst of that, Grandmaster Gwangha's words that they didn't need to 'really' enter the Qingcheng branch sounded like a welcome rain in a drought.

"What I'm trying to say is that I want Mysterious Profound Sect to pretend to enter the Qingcheng branch."

"Pretend?"

"…In a word, you're saying you want to use our Mysterious Profound Sect as bait to lure out the third power that is secretly at work behind Qingcheng."

At Grandmaster Gwangha's absurd request, Jang Baekseo had spoken out without realizing it.

Then, Grandmaster Gwangha looked at Jang Baekseo with eyes that contained both interest and surprise, and…

"Ho ho? Why do you think that pretending to enter the Qingcheng branch would be a bait?"

Although he didn't like Grandmaster Gwangha, who was asking as if it were interesting, Jang Baekseo continued with a calm expression.

"It's a simple story. If the sects that Grandmaster Gwangha investigated did not enter the Qingcheng branch with the third power already having recruited them from the beginning, it means that the third power sent people to recruit those sects and people. There is no reason for them not to make a move if Mysterious Profound Sect, which has a considerable power in Gangjeong County, newly enters the Qingcheng branch. And the best place to make that move is…"

"Yes, it would probably be the Qingcheng branch."

Grandmaster Gwangha, who was listening to Jang Baekseo's words with satisfaction, nodded his head.

He had felt it before, but he liked Jang Baekseo's experience and wisdom.

Of course, just because Grandmaster Gwangha liked Jang Baekseo, there was no reason for Jang Baekseo to like Grandmaster Gwangha.

'That crazy old man…!'

Hadn't he said it with his own mouth? That they were people whose identities he had not been able to find even a clue of, even after the strongest master of Qingcheng had personally gone incognito to investigate.

But he was so brazenly saying that he would throw Mysterious Profound Sect as bait to catch such a secret power.

He didn't even know the scale of that secret power, what their goal was, or what their disposition was, yet he was going to throw Mysterious Profound Sect as bait!?

It was as if there was something in the mountains, but he didn't know if it was a dog, a cat, or a bear or a tiger, yet he brought a person who didn't even live near that mountain and didn't care what its identity was, and…

'There's something in this mountain, but I don't know what it is, so let's try to catch it with you as bait.'

If he said that, normally, instead of a gentle persuasion, he would have to have a conversation with a gentle fist or, if a little less gentle, a blade.

The Sect Leader, who had finished grasping the situation through the conversation between Jang Baekseo and Grandmaster Gwangha, also chimed in.

"…No matter how much you hold out the Sage's Token, you must know well that it is an unreasonable request."

To Ju Yulgok, who was giving a natural answer as a Sect Leader responsible for a sect, Grandmaster Gwangha was silent for a moment and then opened his mouth again.

"Well, would this condition make it not an unreasonable request?"

"?"

At Grandmaster Gwangha's quite groundbreaking proposal that followed the abstract words, not only the Sect Leader, but also everyone in the room's eyes widened like a lantern.

Grandmaster Gwangha had promised that if Mysterious Profound Sect accepted this proposal, he would transfer a considerable portion of the commercial rights that Qingcheng was involved in within Gangjeong County, and in addition, he would also give a considerable amount of silver.

In addition to that, he promised that Qingcheng would clear up any misunderstandings that might arise from the acting, on the name of Qingcheng, and in addition to that, he promised that Qingcheng would block any disadvantages or dangers that might arise from this matter.

And as proof of these words, Grandmaster Gwangha handed a token to the Sect Leader.

"The Qingcheng True Token!"

If the Sage's Token was given as a reward for a grace that could not be fully repaid, the meaning of the Qingcheng True Token was different.

A confirmation stamp on Qingcheng's promise!

That was the Qingcheng True Token.

By handing this over, he had proven that there was no possibility, even if by chance, that Grandmaster Gwangha's promise would be broken.

Having come this far, the Sect Leader had no choice but to contemplate.

But this was not enough.

'It's easy to say, but even if things go well, the trouble will be considerable!'

The most important thing in the affairs of the martial world was, after all, the justification.

These were very decisive factors in the physiology of the martial world, to the extent that the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions were divided according to how much they were bound by this justification and face.

And Grandmaster Gwangha's proposal was also an act that blatantly undermined this justification and face.

Of course, he had said that Qingcheng would do its best to prevent any damage from coming to Mysterious Profound Sect afterwards, and as a price for that, he had presented the Qingcheng True Token.

But how could the major and minor affairs of the martial world be so easy, simple, and clear?

Even if they put their efforts into guaranteeing and explaining, things could get more complicated than they had thought, and above all, the possibility that Qingcheng, which had revealed the identity of the third power later, would be lukewarm about this matter could not be completely ruled out.

'But it's hard to refuse Grandmaster Gwangha's request with such excuses, as the Sage's Token is holding me back.'

Then there was only one thing that Mysterious Profound Sect had to do in this situation!

To somehow coax Grandmaster Gwangha and get a guarantee of a larger amount of 'specific' compensation.

"Haa…"

As the Sect Leader was contemplating after Grandmaster Gwangha's proposal, Jang Baekseo let out a blatant sigh as if for everyone in the room to hear.

With an anxious and restless expression and a big sigh, people's attention gathered one by one on Jang Baekseo, who was fidgeting as if he had some urgent business.

And…

"Child, why are you so restless? Do you perhaps need to go to the latrine?"

At Jang Baekseo's appearance, Grandmaster Gwangha reacted.

'As planned!'

Jang Baekseo, who had thought that he would not miss such a blatant signal due to his personality, smiled inwardly and continued his 'acting' slyly.

"No, it's just that I have something to worry about, so I showed a foolish appearance without realizing it. I'm sorry, Grandmaster."

At Jang Baekseo's appearance, who did not say what that 'worrying' thing was, Grandmaster Gwangha felt a deeper curiosity and asked.

"What are you so worried about?"

At Grandmaster Gwangha's appearance, the people in the room, and even the Sect Leader, who was on the verge of a decision that would affect the future of the sect, waited for Jang Baekseo's answer.

With just a few simple actions, the atmosphere of this space itself had come into Jang Baekseo's grasp.

"…As you know, Grandmaster, my sect, Mysterious Profound Sect, is a sect with considerable power in Gangjeong County."

"That's right."

"But it is by no means the undisputed best."

"…That's right."

The Qingcheon Sect.

This sect, which was currently affiliated with the Qingcheng branch and had sent many blood relatives as inner disciples, was the most troublesome obstacle and competitor in the future of Mysterious Profound Sect.

"Grandmaster, you said that after this matter is over, you will explain the situation of Mysterious Profound Sect in detail and make sure that no damage is done, but despite that, I was so worried that the sect might be put in a disadvantageous position in the competition with the Qingcheon Sect due to the aftermath of this matter, so I sighed so heavily."

On the outside, it was just the appearance of a worried disciple who was worrying about the future of his sect in advance, but the meaning contained within was not so innocent.

'Don't you think the compensation you promised is too little compared to the damage we will suffer?'

Jang Baekseo's words were ultimately just a twisted way of saying the above.

Of course, the people gathered in the room could not know Jang Baekseo's sinister inner thoughts, but they could still understand the hidden meaning within.

"…"

And it seemed that Grandmaster Gwangha had also understood it, as he was silent for a while and then…

"Indeed… Baekseo, that child is right. No matter how much Qingcheng represents the situation of Mysterious Profound Sect after the matter is over, the damage to Mysterious Profound Sect will by no means be small. The commercial rights and silver alone will not be enough to make up for that damage…"

"You mean…"

At Grandmaster Gwangha's trailing words, the Sect Leader urged him on with a tense face, and…

"I will make Mysterious Profound Sect the best sect in Gangjeong County."

"Heop!?"

The best sect in Gangjeong County.

That one word was decisive.

"Grandmaster Gwangha's proposal… I will accept it!"

The Sect Leader, who had been contemplating for a long time, readily accepted Grandmaster Gwangha's proposal at that one word.

And no one in Mysterious Profound Sect who was gathered here opposed his choice.

…Except for Jang Baekseo!

'Ah, that light old man!! He should have just played hard to get one more time!'

Who knows? If he had played hard to get one more time here, would Grandmaster Gwangha have generously said, 'Then take that and add an elixir to it!'?

Elixirs were essential to save Sohyun in the future, and if it was Qingcheng, there was a high probability that there would be an elixir of the Great Rejuvenation Pill's level.

No matter what anyone said, weren't they both part of the Nine Great Sects?

'Of course, the level is a little~ different.'

Whether he knew Jang Baekseo's thoughts or not, the Sect Leader eventually accepted Grandmaster Gwangha's proposal without playing hard to get any further, and they then discussed their future plans.

But this was also a natural thing if it was natural.

The conditions that Grandmaster Gwangha had presented were so good that they couldn't even play hard to get, let alone refuse.

In particular, the words that he would make them the best sect in Gangjeong County, which he had obtained through Jang Baekseo's acting at the end, were decisive.

The best sect in Gangjeong County…

What were the conditions to become the best sect in Gangjeong County? Having many transcendent masters? Or having a strong sect power? There were various conditions, but no matter how good those various conditions were, if there was a sect that could compare to it in Gangjeong County, Mysterious Profound Sect could not become the best sect in Gangjeong County, no matter how outstanding its various conditions were.

And the sect that was on par with Mysterious Profound Sect in Gangjeong County was obvious.

'The Qingcheon Sect.'

In other words, Grandmaster Gwangha was saying this through that one word just now.

'If you accept this matter, I will no longer back the Qingcheon Sect.'

Grandmaster Gwangha was, in effect, saying this.

If all the compensation that Grandmaster Gwangha had promised came to Mysterious Profound Sect, the balance of power in Gangjeong County would instantly tilt towards Mysterious Profound Sect.

In other words, Grandmaster Gwangha was saying to accept his proposal in exchange for abandoning the Qingcheon Sect.

'…Unpleasant…'

Jang Baekseo did not like Grandmaster Gwangha. That was because the appearance that Grandmaster Gwangha was showing now was the very hypocritical Orthodox Faction martial artist that Jang Baekseo had loathed before his regression…

Of course, Jang Baekseo did not know what position the Qingcheon Sect had in Qingcheng.

Seeing that he was trying to cast them aside so easily, their position might not be good, or their reputation might not be good. But whatever the reason, what was unpleasant was unpleasant.

But whether Jang Baekseo had such thoughts or not, the deal between Qingcheng and Mysterious Profound Sect proceeded smoothly.

In the first place, from the moment Grandmaster Gwangha had taken out the Sage's Token, this deal was bound to be made.

And Jang Baekseo recalled a certain organization he had learned about before his regression from the words 'third power' that Grandmaster Gwangha had mentioned.

But thinking that it was not good to make a conclusion without any basis or conviction, he soon folded that thought and put it away in his heart.

***

That night.

Jang Baekseo was quietly sitting in a formal posture and circulating his internal energy in the old training ground where he always practiced martial arts.

Jang Baekseo, who had finished circulating his internal energy, stood up from his seat and slowly unfolded the twelve sword manuals of the Twelve Paths, Three Forms.

It took a long time to slowly unfold the twelve sword manuals with one hundred and eight forms.

Jang Baekseo's face clouded over as he could not unfold the sword manuals as well as he had thought.

He knew it too. That because his mind was disturbed, he could not unfold the sword techniques as satisfactorily as he had thought…

'The future has changed. And it has changed a lot!'

Jang Baekseo had already changed the future greatly by saving Geum Hyeonah at the Geumjo Merchant Guild before.

At that time, since the situation was urgent and he had no time, Jang Baekseo had saved Geum Hyeonah without much contemplation. But despite that, the reason he had not dwelled on it much was because he had thought that Geum Hyeonah's life or death would not have a great impact, either for the better or for the worse, on the future he wanted to change.

Not only saving Geum Hyeonah, but all the things he had changed since his regression were actions he had taken with the thought that they would not cause a great change in the 'planned' future.

But unlike Jang Baekseo's conjecture, those large and small variables had rolled and rolled and were now revealing themselves in front of Jang Baekseo as a huge snowball.

'It's an unexpected change, but this much is still within the range of variables I can control.'

The rolled and rolled snowflake had become a huge snowball and had appeared in front of Jang Baekseo, but this too depended on how it was used.

If you thought of it as an obstacle to overcome or avoid, this huge snowball would be a great difficulty, but if you thought of this snowball as an opportunity rather than a difficulty, there were many ways to use it.

Jang Baekseo had just received a promise from Qingcheng to become the best sect in Gangjeong County through a trivial act.

This snowball had already become a stepping stone to the future, not a difficulty.

However, the reason why there was still a jumble of thoughts in a corner of his mind was perhaps because of the anxiety about the 'unknown' future that had branched off from the confirmed future?

Jang Baekseo, who was trying to calm his confused mind in that way, was surprised by an unexpected visitor who had come to the training ground.

(End of Chapter)