Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 132 : Return

Return

As soon as he entered Hyeonseong, he headed straight for the Murim Alliance branch.

He showed his identity token, received a fine horse, and mounted up.

Without stopping anywhere else, he tightened the reins and rode out through the city gates.

He drove the horse at a brisk pace down the main road.

Ddak, ddak!

Looking back, he realized he had never before gone on a mission alone for such a long time.

Having now experienced it himself, he could clearly see both the strengths and weaknesses.

Above all, there was no need to spend time making decisions.

Once he finished deliberating in his mind, he simply acted.

There was no need to coordinate with companions or consider their movements.

The range of movement was exceptionally free, needless to say.

On the other hand, moving on his own, the scope of his thoughts had certainly narrowed.

he preliminary information given at the time of receiving his orders was often insufficient for closely grasping a situation.

He also acutely felt that his own martial world experience was still lacking.

There was a wealth of information he would have missed if not for Shin Soryeong this time as well.

'Each one is precious to me.'

Especially with this mission, he learned about the mannerisms and ways of thinking unique to the children of martial clans.

Indeed, as refined as their noble demeanor were, they were equally peculiar people.

It was something that, once remembered, would surely help in his future conduct.

Moreover, he had the chance to meet a precious prodigy like Sorrowful Edge Divine Spear—not an insignificant gain.

'I need to get used to this.'

They said that once you reached three-stripes or above, most missions were carried out solo.

Receiving a solo mission as a two-stripes was nearly unheard of, except in special cases like this one.

However, Jeong-un was quietly confident.

He was certain he would soon have another stripe added to the gold thread on his left arm.

The increase in his cultivated power from this mission went far beyond merely being considered "profound."

His ki sense, always sensitive, also became far sharper, almost naturally.

On top of that, he had finally grasped the key to the third move.

He had not named it yet, but for now, that alone was enough.

It was a unique sword technique born out of the Three Talents Sword Technique.

He had even considered naming the technique once he completed the third move.

By then, perhaps, he would be able to call himself an expert.

By that time, he would also have accumulated a fair amount of years.

'It's not as if life ends at Heavenly Martial Hall.'

Everyone he met promised to meet again after graduation/leaving the hall.

At first, he didn't think much of it, but after hearing it several times, he began to feel differently.

Even though he had some affection for the group he belonged to, he was reminded that everything had an end.

So, he spurred his horse on and sped along the main road.

A fierce wind beat against his face.

Instinctively, he wrapped a barrier of true ki around his body to ward off discomfort.

He now found such techniques easy to perform.

If he could make the barrier stronger and thicker, it might serve as a decent body-protecting ki—just like Sorrowful Edge Divine Spear, who had tried to block his palm techniques with his body.

Ddak, ddak!

Jeong-un firmly carved into his memory all that he had gained from this mission.

* * *

He continued riding, changing horses at relay stations for several days.

Eventually, the citadel of Hanyang Prefecture came into view in the distance.

The once-empty main road began to show people here and there.

It was said that the Heavenly Martial Hall essentially supported Hanyang Prefecture's economy.

Judging by the growing crowds, that was easy to believe.

'A new year has begun.'

He felt the passage of time in the way the scenery had changed to a cold winter landscape.

He remembered entering the hall in the spring; now, three seasons had already passed.

That meant he was now in his second year as a warrior. He was no longer in a position to be called a rookie.

Moreover, his mindset was different from when he first set foot in the Heavenly Martial Hall.

At that time, he'd come only knowing it was a cradle of martial studies.

Now, his mind was much more complicated, with many martial arts to refine and countless relationships with people he'd met.

He was even being targeted by peerless experts now. Already, he had accumulated several instances of karma in less than a year.

'So this is the martial world.'

Was it not said that you accumulate karma with every step you take? It was no lie.

Lost in these thoughts, he passed through the city gates.

The gate soldiers, seeing Jeong-un's demeanor and well-kept horse, let him through without question.

The hand prepared to present his identity token had been unnecessary.

From here, he had to slow down.

Though the road was fairly wide, the market streets were packed with people.

He could not simply gallop through.

He rode slowly, and as he gazed at the distant rooftops of the Heavenly Martial Hall's pavilions—

"Excuse me—are you a martial artist from the Heavenly Martial Hall?"

Two men stepped forward to block his path.

They seemed ready to let him pass naturally, but then subtly interposed themselves.

Jeong-un, still seated atop his horse, stared calmly at them.

'They grew up privileged.'

Perhaps it was because he'd seen all sorts of martial artists at Shaolin; just from their appearance, he could now guess people's backgrounds.

These were martial artists who had clearly grown up without want.

It was obvious from their fine garments, smooth skin, and the swords hanging at their waists.

Jeong-un asked, "What is it?"

As he asked in return, a man in a yellow martial garb took a step forward.

"So it's true! To think I would meet you here! I must be very lucky today."

With that, he gave a rather good-natured laugh and continued with a martial salute.

"I am Gu Hyul of the Seven Star Gate. We are a small sect in Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi."

"......"

Jeong-un looked down at him silently.

The man greeted him with perfect form.

His bearing was immaculate, the martial salute so precise that the ends of his sleeves fluttered.

Yet, his face and the look in his eyes were odd.

Though he seemed to lower his head slightly, his eyes swept up and down Jeong-un's body, assessing him.

Once he raised his head, he continued to meet Jeong-un's eyes—deliberately, even.

The gaze was so blatant that it became uncomfortable just to meet it.

'What's this about?'

Jeong-un stared at them in silence.

This was the center of the market streets, with the Heavenly Martial Hall located in Hanyang Prefecture.

Already, passersby were slowing down, sensing an unusual atmosphere and glancing toward Jeong-un.

'They can't possibly be looking for trouble.'

Any martial group tended to throw its weight around in its own territory.

Needless to say for the famous Heavenly Martial Hall.

The commoners in the prefecture revered the martial artists of the Hall almost as immortals, and the martial artists took pride in that reputation.

Picking a quarrel with one here could implicate their entire school.

'And yet, they act like this...'

They must have something to rely on. Both were not young—the same age as Jeong-un, it seemed.

Having grown up privileged, and learned all they could, there was no way they did not know how things worked in the martial world.

Jeong-un met the gaze of the man staring at him.

He recognized that look well—either awe, or competitive spirit. In this case, it was the latter.

This young man, staring at him, was brimming with a peculiar competitive spirit.

When he finished his reflections, Jeong-un spoke slowly.

"... Guilin Prefecture is very far. Especially in this season."

Gu Hyul smiled and replied, "Ha ha, we are new students entering the Heavenly Martial Hall this year. As you said, the distance is far, so we came early to stay here and await enrollment. We're enjoying our martial world journey while we wait—it's the perfect season for a trip, isn't it?"

"I see."

Jeong-un replied with a blank expression.

Even now, the commoners passing by clutched their collars tight.

"The perfect season for a trip," indeed.

He could guess what kind of martial world the young man before him saw.

Jeong-un replied perfunctorily, "So what's your business?"

"......"

Did he mean, "Get to the point"?

Gu Hyul's expression stiffened slightly.

Perhaps it was a tone he wasn't used to in territory dominated by his own group.

'Well, that's true.'

Jeong-un had no intention of listening to idle chatter from these two.

His only curiosity was why they'd stopped him at all.

If any nonsense came out of their mouths, he'd be on his way without hesitation.

Gu Hyul laughed again and said, "I dared to trouble you simply to ask a single question of a senior from the Heavenly Martial Hall! Truly, that's all."

"A question?"

Jeong-un echoed him, sounding slightly surprised.

To stop a martial artist riding through the market street just to ask a question?

Though their ki wave harbored no malice, their intent didn't seem entirely innocent.

Yet, he was still curious—what kind of question would make someone hide such competitive spirit in their eyes and act with such feigned composure?

Jeong-un asked, "What is it?"

Gu Hyul glanced around, then took another step closer.

At that, the other man—who had been standing as if just watching—finally spoke, wearing a look of mixed interest and worry.

"Are you really...? Even though you're a two-stripes."

"Which is why this is perfect."

Gu Hyul replied to his companion, who seemed half-heartedly to dissuade him, and stepped even closer—almost to where Jeong-un's horse's head was directly in front of him.

"......"

Any closer, and he'd be within arm's reach—a distance any wary martial artist might prepare to strike from.

Then he leaned his head forward slightly and looked up at Jeong-un, lowering his voice.

"I hear there are two leading warriors among last year's incoming students."

"...?"

"Between the Wudang Prodigious Sword and the Annihilating One-Slash, who is stronger?"

"......"

Jeong-un frowned.

'What's this now?'

He'd only just been thinking about the variety of martial artists he'd met in Henan.

Yet here was another, entirely unexpected type.

To stop a passing martial artist and ask who was stronger?

Was the guy out of his mind?

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well, we need to know who's stronger to decide the order."

"Order?"

"Who to target first after entry. I've heard that only students of the same rank can challenge each other in a duel, but that's not always..."

Just as Jeong-un was about to say something, he heard the sound of horse hooves approaching from behind.

It wasn't just someone passing by—their faint ki wave was clearly directed this way.

He turned around and saw a familiar face.

Baek Il-gang smiled and spoke.

"Well, so our schedules for returning from our missions just happened to match."

With that, he brought his horse up to Jeong-un's side, paying no attention to Gu Hyul, who stood right in front of him. In a leisurely voice, he spoke again.

"Anyone can see you're in good shape. Then again, how many people would dare to act arrogantly in front of a young hero...?"

He let his voice trail off, only then glancing down at Gu Hyul.

"...or so I thought, but it seems we have a brave one here."

"......!"

Hwaak!

Suddenly, Baek Il-gang's aura surged forward very clearly.

The commoners, who were only watching from the corners of their eyes while walking by, were unaffected.

However, Gu Hyul—standing right in front—opened his eyes wide and stared at Baek Il-gang.

Jeong-un glanced at Baek Il-gang. His sense of manipulating energy had greatly improved.

Jobeok.

In the end, Gu Hyul instinctively stepped back.

Baek Il-gang looked down at him and said:

"Were you the one asking who's stronger? You have quite a loud voice."

"When did I ever raise my voice..."

Baek Il-gang suddenly gave his horse's reins a sharp tug.

Jeong-un sensed a curious ripple of internal energy.

The energy extended naturally from Baek Il-gang's hand to the horse.

Purreureung!

Baek Il-gang's brown horse struck out its forelegs.

It was already a particularly large horse, and as its forelegs rose with the unleashed energy, it looked especially imposing.

Gu Hyul, already inside the range of Baek Il-gang's intimidating aura, jumped back in fright and fell onto his backside.

Thud.

Baek Il-gang spoke with a relaxed expression.

"Ah, sorry. I'm still not very good at handling horses."

"Y-you..."

Gu Hyul, having landed on the ground, now looked up at Baek Il-gang with a face flushed with humiliation and anger.

Baek Il-gang calmed his horse and walked a few steps ahead.

Looking down at Gu Hyul, he spoke again.

"Still, do you even have the skill to pass the entrance test?"

"......!"