Dark Sky Village
The Sword Demon had an expression of surprise upon hearing my words. Seomun Hye seemed utterly bewildered, her eyes wide open in shock. After a moment of contemplation, the Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong spoke.
“I didn’t expect such a blunt rejection.”
“I apologize.”
“Is there something wrong with my daughter?”
I had anticipated that question would come up. After all, it’s a typical remark from any parent. Not wanting to create more misunderstanding, I continued.
“It’s not that. I just have my circumstances.”
“What circumstances? Do you have a fiancée?”
“Not exactly, but…”
“Speak plainly.”
I hesitated about how to respond. Should I tell him that I have abilities from my past life that prevent me from getting close to anyone? However, I didn’t think I could deceive the Sword Demon with a made-up story, so I decided to press on.
“I’m sorry. I hope you can understand.”
“……”
The Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong’s expression didn’t change much. In fact, there seemed to be almost no emotional fluctuation at all. After a long moment of thinking, he spoke.
“Very well. However, since you are my daughter’s benefactor, you must repay that kindness. Do you have something to ask of me?”
What could I gain from the Sword Demon?
In my previous life, I had received a month’s worth of sword training from him, which was a significant turning point that allowed me to reach an extraordinary level. While getting training again would be enormously helpful, I sensed that this wasn’t the right time for that.
Originally, to save time, I had been using external skills and techniques to flit around with Heavenly Creation. Right now, building a force that could achieve my goals in the shortest amount of time was more critical than my personal training. After a brief moment of deliberation, I said,
“Please form an alliance with the Bancheon Alliance.”
The Sword Demon’s eyebrows twitched.
“Bancheon Alliance?”
“You probably haven’t heard of it.”
“Indeed, I haven’t. Is it the name of the organization you belong to?”
“That’s correct.”
He interlocked his fingers and spoke.
“That’s quite sudden. But since someone like you is associated with it, it must be extraordinary. What exactly does this organization do?”
“It’s not orthodox or unorthodox. It simply has a goal.”
“That’s vague. I’ve never seen anyone who had a proper purpose amongst those kinds of people.”
He pointedly criticized. My throat felt dry as I contemplated how to explain what the Bancheon Alliance was. If I claimed we fought against the Demon King Temple and evil spirits, would he believe me? How could I even prove the existence of the Demon King Temple or those evil beings? Even if I managed to prove it, how could I ensure that he would join hands with the Bancheon Alliance?
So, I chose to respond calmly. Remembering how Mangyang persuaded General Hwang, I looked him straight in the eyes and carefully selected my words.
“The Bancheon Alliance has not revealed itself to the world yet. However, when the time comes, it will emerge. At that point, we will badly need allies.”
“Are you asking me to consider an alliance later?”
“Yes. I would appreciate it if you could consider it positively.”
“……”
The Sword Demon crossed his arms and fell into contemplation. After a long while, he shifted his posture, resting one fist on his chin and closing his eyes as if dozing off. An awkward silence lingered for nearly a minute, and during that time, he finally spoke up again.
“I’d like to ask one thing.”
“Yes?”
“Are you the strongest expert in the Bancheon Alliance?”
I answered without hesitation.
“Currently, yes, but soon, many much stronger experts will join.”
“Oh really…?”
The Sword Demon laughed as if he found it amusing.
“If you’re boasting about such experts, there’s no way I wouldn’t have heard of them. Are you truly able to recruit those at the pinnacle of the martial world?”
“Yes. They will definitely join.”
“Interesting.”
The Sword Demon continued,
“Very well. Then come back to me when your organization is on the right track. At that time, I will consider the alliance positively.”
“Thank you.”
“And as for the women, do not worry. I will make sure they are taken care of because it’s my daughter’s wish.”
“Thank you once again.”
I let out a sigh inwardly. I hadn’t secured the alliance, but merely receiving this kind of response from the Sword Demon felt fortunate. It would be greedy to expect more from the Bancheon Alliance, which had yet to establish tangible power. The unorthodox sects wouldn’t lend a hand so easily.
Just as I was about to leave, the Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong said,
“Don’t rush off so quickly.”
“Excuse me?”
“Why not have a duel first?”
His suggestion was a gentle nudge but felt more like mild coercion. It was a situation where I found it hard to refuse. Besides, sparring with the Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong would surely be beneficial for me, so I thought it was a great opportunity and replied,
“Might I request that?”
Soon, the two of us stepped onto the Sparring Arena. Since it was late at night, the Shadowless Gate experts who followed lit torches around the arena. The Sword Demon glanced at the Muramasa hanging at my waist and asked,
“What is that sword?”
“This is the Famous Blade Muramasa.”
“Muramasa!! May I see it for a moment?”
“Please, as you wish.”
As I handed him the Muramasa, he examined its blade closely, almost mesmerized. He then exclaimed in admiration,
“Indeed, it’s a Demon Blade. It feels as if it drinks human life.”
After thoroughly inspecting the Muramasa, the Sword Demon returned it to me. I sheathed the sword and drew my own. Although the samurai sword and the sword looked similar, their techniques were entirely different, so I couldn’t casually wield the blade.
Observing my stance, the Sword Demon inquired,
“Who is your master?”
“It’s a bit complicated to explain…”
“I’ve never heard of anyone capable of raising someone like you, not even the renowned figures from the major orthodox sects like Taesannoong or Ming-ho of Shaolin. It seems impossible for anyone but a heaven-defying genius to train someone of your caliber.”
I felt a bit flustered. I hadn’t expected the Sword Demon to overestimate me so much. But it seemed to be a genuine assessment, and he continued,
“That’s why you have such ambitions, right?”
“……?”
“Why not try a bet?”
“A bet?”
“If you can last 200 seconds against me in this match, I will form an alliance with the Bancheon Alliance without hesitation. I’ll promise you full support. However, if you don’t last, you must become my son-in-law and disciple.”
It was a sudden proposal.
If I win, I secure the alliance with the Bancheon Alliance!
If I lose, I become a son-in-law and disciple…?
I gasped in surprise.
“Excuse me? You mean…”
“Marry my daughter.”
“Gah!!”
“The secrets of the Shadowless Gate can only be passed on to blood relatives. There’s no other way, hahah!”
Seeing the Sword Demon laugh heartily, I was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. Depending on the outcome, I might pull the best card possible, but the thought of marrying Seomun Hye wasn’t appealing at all. Besides, becoming the son-in-law and disciple of the Sword Demon could lead to a lot of entanglements with the Shadowless Gate.
“What if I refuse that bet?”
“Then there will be no alliance.”
“……”
I thought it had been a mistake to bring it up. I had inadvertently exposed a weakness and found myself in a bind. In truth, given that the Bancheon Alliance hadn’t yet made its move, it wasn’t an obvious weakness. Thus, Mangyang hadn’t forced me into a marriage alliance with the Shadowless Gate either.
However, the power I had felt during the last assault on the Imperial Palace was far beyond my imagination. Especially now that I was aware of the existence of those known as super experts, I felt strongly about gathering as much power as possible.
After some deliberation, I eventually nodded.
“Understood.”
For now, I had to give it a try. Plus, this would help me gauge the gap between the Sword Demon and myself, and fighting against someone of his extraordinary caliber would surely benefit me moving forward. As my determination flared, the Sword Demon commented with satisfaction.
“Good. Then let’s start without weapons.”
As the duel began, the Sword Demon still hadn’t drawn a sword. He remained standing, unarmed, just as before. He had reached such a level where he could utilize his sword intent freely without the need for a sword. Nonetheless, even in that state, I knew he was incredibly powerful, so I focused and prepared myself.
“Just like Lu Dongbin’s insights into Zhang Sanfeng… I need to embody that…”
Since it was a recent memory, the feelings from that body were still vivid. I drew on Baek Woong’s power to enhance my capabilities and simultaneously pulled out the insights from Zhang Sanfeng from my unconscious. As numerous revelations flashed through my mind chaotically, I discovered a particular sword technique.
“Let’s try this.”
Insight
Empty Arc Slash
I moved naturally from my sword stance and executed a horizontal slash.
Whoosh!
The speed didn’t seem too fast, but before the Empty Arc Slash could fully unfold, the Sword Demon seemed to grasp something. He dodged the trajectory of the slash and swung his left palm.
Boom!!
With a light explosion, a vacuum wave burst forth. I realized that the Sword Demon had thwarted my Empty Arc Slash before it could even gain momentum. He didn’t attack me right away, instead, he remarked in astonishment.
“Impressive. What technique is that?”
I replied with a weary voice.
“I can’t say much when you’ve blocked it so easily.”
“Sorry about that. It’s a basic principle to eliminate anything dangerous entirely.”
“Then…”
Whoosh!
I activated the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique’s illusion, gradually expanding my zone. When top-tier experts collide, it’s not just about direct strikes but a battle of domains— the realms of influence they create. The basic strategy involves attacking the opponent from a safe space and luring them into an unstable area. Consequently, high-level techniques often resemble a game of Go, focused on territory.
The Sword Demon responded to my transformation. He still hadn’t drawn his sword, but he spread his arms wide and began to stir his energy as he slowly approached me. Having activated Baek Woong’s technique, I was confident in matching his speed.
Whoosh!
As our domains made contact for the first time, there wasn’t any thunderous noise, but the sword shadows danced as they invaded each other’s space. I spun three times, fending off the Sword Demon’s attacks with the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, and he countered my sword shadows, closing in again.
Before I could blink, the Sword Demon’s right palm glowed with a brilliant light. It felt as if a cylindrical force was erupting. I recognized that his attack was coming at such a speed that it was nearly impossible to dodge. So, I hurriedly gathered my strength to repel it.
Crash!
With a heavy sound, my right foot slammed into the ground of the sparring arena. I managed to block it, but the force was so immense that I was pushed off-balance. Regardless of the level of my attack, the magnitude of his power was a testament to the Sword Demon’s mastery over intent.
‘A super expert equivalent to Lee Kwang…!!’
Clenching my teeth, I decided to try another of Zhang Sanfeng’s insights this time.
Insight
Heavenly Snare Sword
As I swung my sword, I felt the space around me draw in dramatically, starting to absorb everything nearby. When Lu Dongbin had unleashed it, it had been powerful enough to force forty-foot giant frogs into the water, but perhaps due to my lack of skill, it only had a strong pull this time. Yet unlike before, the Sword Demon struggled to dismiss the Heavenly Snare Sword and was being pulled in.
As the space swirled violently, a dust cloud erupted.
“Hmm!”
He furrowed his brows and waved his hand, throwing out invisible sword intent. The strands of intent spread out like embroidery and started to strike the center of my Heavenly Snare Sword, causing the collected pressure to explode outward.
Kaboom!
At the same time, the Sword Demon used his incredible divine arts to dive in, targeting my solar plexus, just like before. Last time, I hadn’t known what was coming, but now, with my improved Baek Woong’s abilities, I sensed his attack from five flutes away. I stepped back and batted away his strike.
Shwing!
The Sword Demon didn’t relent after that one defense. He extended his finger, generating an invisible blade of sword intent and launching a counterattack. The spectral technique he conjured in midair was nothing less than a spectacle. I hadn’t anticipated this progression, but I stubbornly defended against it.
Bang!!
With a thunderous clash, both of us staggered one step back. My sword emitted a sizzling sound as smoke wafted from the blade, while the Sword Demon’s fingers turned slightly red. We must have collided with immense force in that moment. The Sword Demon brushed off his hand and muttered.
“You blocked Single Finger Sword and Spiral Classics… Remarkable.”
“……”
“Now that’s been about 70 seconds. I’ve seen enough of your skill, and now I’ll acknowledge you and draw my sword.”
Then, a wooden saber that had been placed in the arena flew into the Sword Demon’s hand. I looked at him and inquired,
“If you can create sword intent without a sword, then why draw one?”
The Sword Demon smirked.
“Foolish question. I’ve achieved the level of No Sword, but naturally, drawing a sword is stronger. It merely means that my average power has increased.”
“I understand.”
“Your sword technique is truly unique and exceptional. I can feel the weight of its lineage. Give me your best so that I may be entertained.”
Whoosh!
“Eh…”
At that moment, the overwhelming martial pressure emitted by the Sword Demon almost made me step back. It felt as if I had walked into a deeply unpleasant atmosphere. The sensation felt only comparable to Lee Kwang or Saoabi from the 12 Families. Suddenly, all too vividly, I recalled my previous extremely unfortunate experiences with them and how they’d beaten me senseless.
The Sword Demon’s eyes turned red in an instant. He was gathering his energy and releasing an intense killing intent.
“It feels like you’re hiding some power, so show me properly. If not, I might end up killing you without meaning to.”
He seemed to have sensed that I was holding back my full abilities. The true nature of my ultimate skill was unknown to him, but he had recognized that I had some hidden ace up my sleeve. However, I was rather troubled within.
‘Should I use the Thunder Drums?’
Lee Kwang once told me that the Thunder Drums were a secret technique that could raise my power to monstrous levels, but they were also a hidden weapon I couldn’t reveal lightly. Its foundation was rooted in breathing techniques and the flow of energy; hence it carried risks of exposing its secrets to rival sects if mishandled.
Thus, using the Thunder Drums was strictly reserved for situations where I was absolutely certain of killing my opponent or when no witnesses were present.
‘Hmm… Let’s observe the situation for now.’
In front of me stood the Sword Demon, a super expert and one of the top three masters of sword in the Central Plains. He was certainly a martial genius. If he deciphered the Thunder Drums, or if I accidentally exposed its secrets, I would not only face consequences but also likely be killed by Lee Kwang, who would teach me a real lesson.
Before I could react further, Lu Dongbin‘s voice echoed in my mind.
[ Lu Dongbin! Help me out!]
At that, I heard a response from the heavenly realm.
[ Why are you summoning me to deal with a human?]
[ Um… so…]
[ If it’s not against the demon king, don’t call me.]
Then the connection cut off.
It seemed Lu Dongbin wouldn’t come to help unless it was against demons. With no other options, I bit my lip and steeled my resolve. At that moment, the Sword Demon, holding back his anger, spoke with an edge in his voice.
“Are you brazenly withholding your full effort in front of me? Do you have a death wish?”
“I apologize. This technique cannot be divulged.”
The Sword Demon exuded chilling fury.
“Fine. Do as you desire!”
And that’s when it happened.
Whoooosh!
“……!!”
It was sudden. The Sword Demon’s energy expanded enormously, and his sword lifted into the air, concentrating immense power. I could sense unfathomable force nestled within that blade. Recognizing what was happening, I exclaimed in shock.
“The Qi Sword Technique!”
A school of thought in the martial world that was rumored to exist only in legends!
Wham!
In an instant, my arm was severed. I couldn’t even react, overwhelmed and stunned, standing there utterly dumbfounded. The speed was so unreal—no, it was at a pace where it was nearly impossible for a living being to respond. I could only rely on the Thunder Drums to minimize the injury and preserve my limbs.
‘He meant it… I truly needed to use the Thunder Drums to survive…’
I suddenly began to comprehend the feelings of those monsters I had fended against while wielding this technique. It was no wonder they hadn’t evaded or defended against the lethal blows that came from such unimaginable speed and might.
The true power of the Qi Sword Technique lay not in swinging the sword itself but in the overwhelming speed and sheer destructive capability that came with it.
The Sword Demon shouted fiercely.
“With only a touch of your skills in the semi-ultimate realm, you dared to hold back?! Ha! Very well—let’s see how you handle this situation!”
The Sword Demon was now not only furious but was boiling over compared to his previous calm and collected demeanor. It felt like my earlier choice had pushed him over the edge.
At that moment, Seomun Hye screamed.
“Ahhh! Father, stop!!”
In that instant, just as the Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong was about to unleash the Qi Sword, he paused. Overcome with rage, he had suddenly regained his composure. After noticing my severed arm, he wore a panicked expression.
“… Oh no.”
As I focused on stopping the bleeding, he said,
“I feel ashamed.”
He picked up my severed limb and placed it against the stump. Then, he poured his energy into it, inducing intense pain that felt like my head was going to split open.
“Ugh…”
After a moment, my arm was somewhat reattached— it hung a bit loosely, but it was still there. He had used his profound inner energy to perform a form of healing.
‘Thank goodness it was a clean cut.’
At least based on this, if I treated it properly, I wouldn’t face any permanent damage. However, the shock of having my arm severed had left me speechless for a moment. Seomun Hye rushed over to me, tears streaming down her face.
“Are you okay?!”
“……”
“Father!! How could this happen…”
Staring at her father with reproachful eyes, Seomun Hye saw that he had no retort. After a moment, the Sword Demon spoke.
“I’m truly sorry. When I get heated, nothing seems to matter anymore.”
I forcibly pulled myself together and replied,
“No, it’s my fault for being rude in a duel against such a master.”
“Haha… That’s an unexpected blunder for me after all this time.”
With a heavy sigh, the Sword Demon added,
“Please, at least stay a while longer. I admit my defeat.”
I’ve made some adjustments to the content. I think I was too hasty. My apologies! ㅠㅠ
