Rebirth of the Heavenly Demon

Chapter 13 – Where My Sword Points (2)

Three days passed, and Gwang-du hadn’t returned.

By now, he might have been captured and tortured, or his corpse might already be buried in the ground.

But I wasn’t worried. I ate my meals, and in my spare time, I went to the forest behind the inn to practice the White Moon Sword Arts. I didn’t pay attention to any circulating rumors.

After three days of intense training, I now looked like someone who had been practicing the White Moon Sword Arts for quite some time.

As I practiced a martial art other than my own exclusive technique for the first time in a long while, I noticed some new things.

The biggest realization was my inertia towards martial arts. Surprisingly, I had become complacent. The shadow of this complacency was too deep to simply attribute it to my long-standing position as an absolute being.

Certainly, my skills were effective in my era.

At least, no one I faced could block my sword.

But as I practiced this time, a thought suddenly struck me.

Wasn’t that limited only to the era I lived in? There might be masters against whom my martial arts wouldn’t work, who hadn’t been born yet, or who were hidden in obscurity.

After reaching the position of the world’s greatest, I only thought about the opponents in front of me and believed that was everything.

I should have made efforts to transcend the era. I should have found meaning in the unseen beyond what was visible.

Perhaps this inertia had prevented me from reaching the Realm of the Mind Sword.

After all, the Realm of the Mind Sword was an absolute state that transcended eras.

Why couldn’t I think like this back then?

Gwang-du didn’t betray my trust.

On the morning of the fourth day, he appeared between the curtains at the inn’s entrance.

The moment I saw him, I couldn’t help but smile. He had appeared in an unexpected form.

He was wearing martial arts attire like those worn by martial artists, with a sword at his waist, and even had on a wide-brimmed hat and a windbreaker. From his appearance alone, he looked every bit a martial artist.

He sat down across from me as if we had arranged it.

“The world is one family, meeting like this must be fate. Let’s have a drink. Oh, but you said that ‘world is one family’ thing was nonsense, right?”

“Having fun?”

When I asked with a smile, Gwang-du sighed.

“Fun? I almost died of fear.”

“What happened?”

Gwang-du lowered his voice.

“Have you heard of the Blood Hound?”

“Blood Hound?”

I had never heard of such a person.

I shook my head and asked,

“What kind of person is it?”

“I don’t know either. I only found out the name. The Yang Minor Faction is secretly gathering vagabonds through someone called the Blood Hound.”

“Vagabonds?”

“Yes. It seems they’ve already gathered dozens. Their intention to attack us is certain.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“While secretly gathering vagabonds, they’re spreading a separate rumor. That you tried to rape a woman, and Yang Gi-gang was ambushed while trying to stop you.”

“Everyone will believe it. I’ve done so many trashy things in the past, after all.”

“Even so, that’s too much. What are they thinking? You may have beaten people up, but you weren’t the kind of trash who would rape women.”

“Rumors tend to get exaggerated.”

“Why are you so calm? Aren’t you angry?”

“I am angry. But will my anger solve the problem? And later, when it’s revealed to be a false rumor, those who believed it will feel sorry and give me a better evaluation.”

“That’s for later.”

“Time… passes quickly.”

“You sound like an old man when you talk like that.”

I smiled wryly.

“But how did you find out about this? Did you infiltrate disguised as a vagabond? That must have been quite dangerous.”

“…No.”

“No?”

“The gathering of vagabonds is being done in utmost secrecy. I found out about it later.”

“Then how did you find out?”

“I found out through a maid from the Yang Minor Faction. One of the maids from the Yang Minor Faction fell for me. You know how well I understand those girls, right?”

I, who had been staring blankly, burst into laughter.

“Hahaha.”

Gwang-du’s choice was excellent. He approached using the method he was best at.

“I was lucky. There’s been a strange rumor circulating among the maids lately. That Yang Gi-gang cruelly killed a woman who was serving him. So everyone’s feelings towards the Yang father and son weren’t good.”

He spoke as if it was easy to find out because of this, but luck is also a skill. If he hadn’t found the right method, such luck wouldn’t have followed.

“Through her, I heard the name Blood Hound and learned that they were gathering vagabonds. I bought all this to try to infiltrate among the vagabonds and find out more… but when I actually tried, I was too scared to do it.”

I looked at Gwang-du with fresh eyes.

It was a good choice. Gwang-du knows how to do things and also instinctively knows how to avoid danger.

He passes.

Gwang-du is too good to be just sweeping the yard.

“At first, I was so scared and nervous, but as I did it, I felt a sense of accomplishment for achieving something. It was the most thrilling feeling I’ve ever had in my life. But did I do well?”

“You did much better than I expected.”

Gwang-du wore a satisfied expression.

“And I confirmed a new fact this time.”

“What?”

“Unexpectedly, this face of mine works on women.”

The word ‘unexpectedly’ is actually a humble expression. Gwang-du had quite a decent appearance, was eloquent, and above all, had a kind nature.

“There are women with peculiar tastes, after all.”

“Hehe, you’re jealous.”

“If you think about who I’ve given up recently, you shouldn’t say that.”

“I’ll say it again, you shouldn’t give up on Miss Song! You’ll never meet such a beautiful woman again! Even if her temper is bad, just endure it!”

I’m sorry to say this, but I’m not interested in Song Hwa-rin right now. I didn’t have the luxury of spending time dating.

“By the way, shouldn’t we return immediately? We should go and inform the Master.”

“No. We’re not going back.”

“If we don’t go back?”

“We need to finish this matter.”

Gwang-du blinked at me. It’s the expression he usually makes when he’s baffled by my words or reactions.

I find this moment the most amusing.

“The ‘we’ you just mentioned doesn’t happen to refer to the good-for-nothing Young Master Byeok of the Byeok Clan Sword Manor and the crazy head who first wore a sword three days ago after just sweeping the yard, does it?”

“If by ‘we’ you mean the matured Young Master Byeok of the Byeok Clan Sword Manor and the brilliant head who successfully completed his mission and returned, then yes, that’s right.”

Finally, Gwang-du let out a long sigh and said,

“Since it might be the last, order me the most expensive wine.”

He knows well how dangerous this situation is. But he doesn’t try to persuade me to go back. While he might trust me, this part reveals Gwang-du’s temperament.

In the choice between advancing or retreating in a difficult and dangerous situation, he’s the type to choose to advance.

We can’t say definitively which is right. This temperament often dresses up recklessness as courage.

Anyway, I didn’t dislike this aspect of Gwang-du. Perhaps because I too have lived my entire life without retreating.

“So what do you plan to do?”

“If the reason for gathering vagabonds is to attack us… I’ll kill everyone involved.”

There’s only one reason a martial arts sect secretly gathers vagabonds. When they want to destroy another sect. And very cruelly at that. When vagabonds get involved in fights, things get very dirty. They’re the ones who rape wives in front of their husbands.

Gwang-du, who had been quietly staring at me, spoke with a trembling voice.

“You’re serious.”

I silently nodded.

“When I talk about life and death, I’m always serious.”

Gwang-du’s face flushed, stimulated.

“What should I do now?”

I smiled and stood up.

“Wait here. Just as I waited for you.”

“What are you planning to do alone?”

I can’t answer him.

Because from now on, it’s time for me to become who I was in my past life.