Heavenly Realm
Returning to the Shadowless Gate, I recounted the events to the Sword Demon. Upon hearing my story, he replied,
“Well, there’s nothing that can be done now… So let’s prepare to meet the Twelve Regulations Master.”
“Understood.”
It seemed that the Sword Demon had disposed of all the land and buildings owned by the Shadowless Gate during that time. Although the Shadowless Gate was a select organization, its influence was formidable, and even the wealth it had in Henan Province exceeded that of ten wealthy families combined. When transformed into gold bars, it amounted to a staggering five chests.
“Let the disciples stay in this building for a few days.”
He gestured toward a small temple he had purchased with the remaining funds. This temple was abandoned and merely on the market, so it was acquired without much hassle.
“Of course.”
The next day, I traveled with the Sword Demon to Bidong, where Jeong Cheol-wook, the head of the house, resided. Upon seeing us, Jeong Cheol-wook displayed an enthusiastic demeanor.
“Oh, so you are the Sword Demon, the greatest master of the Central Plains!”
I translated Jeong Cheol-wook’s words to the Sword Demon. With grace, the Sword Demon bowed respectfully.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Let’s not stand around. Let’s sit and talk.”
Soon after, we settled down at a banquet table for a casual conversation. During this meeting, my role was minimal; I was primarily there to translate for the Sword Demon. After a brief discussion about what the Shadowless Gate was and tales of the Sword Demon’s feats, Jeong Cheol-wook got to the point.
“The Twelve Regulations Master will be arriving in ten days.”
Here it comes.
For a moment, the Sword Demon and I exchanged tense glances. The Sword Demon then spoke,
“That’s very good news.”
“And all the masters of the Twelve Regulations will be present that day.”
“……”
“Let’s ensure no accidents happen.”
Jeong Cheol-wook casually poured himself some sake from a bottle.
“So, as the host of this gathering, I’d like to know a bit about the Shadowless Gate’s plans. I need to understand how to approach the Twelve Regulations Master.”
After I translated Jeong Cheol-wook’s words, the Sword Demon pondered for a while before responding.
“It’s highly confidential information and must not leak out. If you can promise to remain silent until the day of the meeting, I will share it.”
“I promise.”
The Sword Demon shot me a glance before conveying something via Secret Transmission. I translated his words as I processed them, then relayed a Secret Transmission to Jeong Cheol-wook.
[We intend to trade top-secret information related to the White Lotus Sect.]
“……!!”
Jeong Cheol-wook looked quite surprised. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he replied,
“That’s rather astounding.”
“Can you believe it now?”
“Of course, I should believe it. Even if I were the Twelve Regulations Master, I would likely accept such an offer.”
The drinking session of the day concluded after a suitable amount of time passed. The Sword Demon and I left the Jeong residence and returned to our base in Henan using the Shadowless Gate. The Sword Demon sat on a rock near the valley while he spoke to me.
“As expected, it seems all the masters of the Twelve Regulations will be present.”
“Do you think they plan to display their might?”
“Not exactly, but it seems they aim to pressure me.”
The Sword Demon smiled bitterly.
“Meetings like that are always a headache.”
I could understand what he was contemplating. Based on my encounters with the masters of the Twelve Regulations, it was evident they were neither purely righteous nor villainous; they simply adhered to the logic of power as leaders of massive sects. Naturally, during their meeting with the Sword Demon, they would showcase their strength and influence to gain the upper hand. Such a power struggle could easily cultivate a tense atmosphere.
I assured the Sword Demon,
“Even if they are the masters of the Twelve Regulations, not many of them are particularly powerful. It shouldn’t be difficult for you.”
“Ha ha, to say that about the Twelve Regulations Master means you’ve truly grown.”
“Ah, well—”
“Just kidding. Actually, it’s not a matter of pressure but of worries about potential violent conflict.”
“That’s something we must avoid.”
“I hope the Twelve Regulations Master can be a person of reason.”
Muttering to himself, the Sword Demon said,
“Baek Woong, once this matter concludes, there will be many tasks ahead. I sincerely wish for your success.”
“Of course.”
Negotiations with the Twelve Regulations Master must succeed. Unable to align with either the imperial family or the White Lotus Sect, the Shadowless Gate needed the protection of the Twelve Regulations to survive. If negotiations with the Twelve Regulations failed, there would only be one other option left, which was a direction I was certainly not keen on.
For ten days, I continued to train with the Sword Demon and went about my usual routine.
Then, the day of reckoning dawned.
Paaat!
Traveling to the Central Capital’s Jeong Clan in Bidong, my initial wait was disrupted by the bustling movements of servants from early morning. The Sword Demon and I sat down to wait, and in due course, the masters of the Twelve Regulations began to arrive one by one.
Each of them was someone I had encountered before. Of course, this was all from my previous life, so only I recognized them while they had no idea who I was.
‘Hmm, what a bitter feeling.’
As I pondered distractedly, the masters of the Twelve Regulations started to gather around a large round table. They occasionally glanced at the Sword Demon, clearly regarding him with concern.
Three individuals stood out as exceptions.
Master of the Fighting Father, Master of the Zhu Yi Sect, and Master of Haedong Milcheon.
These three seemed to have no care for the Sword Demon and appeared to be savoring their delicious appetizers leisurely. I pondered their commonality before arriving at a conclusion.
‘They are elites even among the top-tier masters!’
And I began to understand the reason behind their indifference.
In reality, these three were not indifferent to the Sword Demon. Rather, they harbored greater interest than the other eight masters of the Twelve Regulations. However, they were merely attempting to keep their bodies low to avoid exposing their immense prowess as they stole glances at him. This indicated that the stronger one was, the more accurate their assessment of their opponent’s level would be.
In fact, the boundaries of perception writhed around them. Even the Sword Demon, sitting still, seemed to have sensed that these three were the strongest among them.
For comparison, the other eight masters appeared to have no clear grasp of just how powerful the Sword Demon was. The leader of the National Defense Alliance looked down on him with a slightly contemptuous gaze, and the heads of Goryun Sect and Haedong Milcheon mirrored this sentiment.
After about half a shichen of awkward silence passed, a servant’s loud voice resonated through the hall.
“The Twelve Regulations Master have arrived!”
Everyone’s attention zeroed in on the entrance. Walking into the meeting room was none other than the Lord of the Twelve Regulations, the supreme ruler of the martial world in the east, the Twelve Regulations Master! Upon hearing that voice, I quickly turned to see the entrance with a bang.
‘Finally!’
In the past, for some odd reason, the Twelve Regulations Master had worn a costume that concealed their identity, making it impossible for me to recognize their appearance at all. But in such a grand meeting, they couldn’t hide their visage. Just as I was brimming with excitement at finally seeing the Twelve Regulations Master’s true form…
“……”
“……”
“……”
My expectations were completely dashed.
The faces of the masters of the Twelve Regulations contorted in horror. Surely, they thought, what a shameful display before the people of the Central Plains.
With an incredulous expression, the Fighting Father spoke,
“Oh Twelve Regulations Master, what in the world is that outfit?”
And then—wearing a plush puppy costume—the Twelve Regulations Master burst into laughter.
“It’s the latest trend…!!”
“……”
I put my head in my hands out of sheer disbelief.
‘This is insane…’
To think that the Twelve Regulations Master would wear a mascot costume even in the midst of such an important gathering! Truly, they were consistent in their absurdity. It seemed my chance to see the true appearance of the Twelve Regulations Master had been dashed once again. As I gulped down some water in my disappointment, the Twelve Regulations Master finally took a seat.
“Greetings, Sword Demon. I am Ha Eun-cheon, the Twelve Regulations Master.”
After the Twelve Regulations Master introduced himself, the Sword Demon reciprocated the greeting.
“Nice to meet you. I am Seomun Daeryong, the head of the Shadowless Gate.”
“I am Kim Jin-soo of the Heavenly Mountain School!”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“I am the head of the National Defense Alliance…”
This marked the beginning, with each master of the Twelve Regulations rising to greet the Sword Demon. Each master had brought an interpreter, and I also translated for the Sword Demon, ensuring that communication was seamless.
As the introductory formalities concluded, the Twelve Regulations Master, Ha Eun-cheon, remarked,
“The head of the Shadowless Gate expressed a desire to join our Twelve Regulations, correct? I assume everyone here is aware of the purpose of today’s gathering.”
A brief silence ensued. Then, one of the Twelve Regulations masters, that of Haedong Milcheon, raised his hand. Haedong Milcheon was a sect specializing in sorcery and renowned for its remarkable sorcerers.
“I oppose this!”
Upon hearing this, the Twelve Regulations Master waved his hand.
“Let’s skip the lengthy discussions. Let’s just do a show of hands. Those in favor, raise your hand; those against, lower your hand.”
Swish…
A short while later, the voting took place.
The result was five in favor and six against. The supporting factions were the Fighting Father, Zhu Yi Sect, North Sea Ice Palace, Buddhist Sect, and Bi-ryu Sect, while the opposers were the remaining masters. According to the principle of majority rule, this outcome clearly indicated the rejection of the Shadowless Gate.
However, the Sword Demon remained unfazed. He was calm, seemingly anticipating a different development. Ha Eun-cheon pondered for a moment, then said,
“Let’s hear from those who are against.”
As if waiting for this moment, the head of the National Defense Alliance, Yeong-myeong, raised his hand.
“Ha Eun-cheon! The Shadowless Gate is among the most prominent martial sects in the Central Plains. We cannot allow such individuals to join the Twelve Regulations.”
“A rather orthodox opinion. Anyone else?”
The heads of Haedong Milcheon and Pung Won Ryu chimed in one after another.
“It’s unclear why you suddenly extend a hand to the Twelve Regulations. Please clarify the reason.”
“I share the same opinion. Your motivations seem suspicious.”
“……”
Ha Eun-cheon glanced at the Fighting Father and said,
“Then let’s hear the opinions from those in favor.”
The Fighting Father was clearly dissatisfied as he was pointed out with a look, stating,
“The Sword Demon is a remarkable master. I want to test my skills against him.”
“Is that all?”
“Then what should I say?”
“Let’s just leave it at that.”
The Fighting Father’s attitude, appearing disrespectful towards the Twelve Regulations Master, went unchecked, as no one dared to argue against it. This was largely due to the fact that the Fighting Father possessed incredible martial prowess, and it was said that the Twelve Regulations Master had found it challenging to defeat him when he ascended to his position. Following this, the head of Zhu Yi Sect spoke,
“The momentum of the martial forces in the Central Plains is quite formidable. At such a time, having more strength would be beneficial.”
In response, the North Sea Ice Palace head chimed in,
“I agree. Once the turmoil in the Arasa Empire settles, strong forces will emerge from the north as well. It’s better to bolster the strength of the Shadowless Gate rather than weaken it.”
Following this, both the supporting and opposing masters took turns voicing their opinions.
“I support this, because…”
“No, I oppose! This matter is…”
Although they all had different thoughts, they shared several common points. After listening calmly to everyone, Ha Eun-cheon suddenly looked at the Sword Demon and remarked,
“Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong, as you can see, the opinion of the Twelve Regulations is as such. There’s something lacking for us to accept you. Do you have anything to say?”
This was a crucial moment.
The Sword Demon, who had been listening silently with his arms crossed until now, finally stood up.
“I possess the three greatest secrets concerning the imperial palace and the White Lotus Sect.”
“……!!”
In that instant, the aura of the Twelve Regulations Master, Ha Eun-cheon, shifted. While the other masters broadcast surprise, it was Ha Eun-cheon, who understood Mandarin best, who immediately reacted. Before the other masters could say anything, the Twelve Regulations Master opened his mouth.
“What are those secrets?”
Remaining silent for a moment, the Sword Demon spoke,
“I wish to offer two things in exchange for having the Shadowless Gate accepted as a part of the Twelve Regulations.”
“One thing?”
“That will be up to the discretion of the Twelve Regulations Master.”
He was signaling that he was leaving room for negotiations. Just as he seemed to be waiting for this moment, the opposing Haedong Milcheon master sprang up and shouted,
“How arrogant! What gives you the right to impose conditions as a mere outsider?”
The Sword Demon seemed to have roughly understood the insult. He chuckled and replied,
“Please be quiet. I’m currently speaking with the Twelve Regulations Master.”
Hearing the Sword Demon’s words through translation, Haedong Milcheon’s complexion flushed white.
“You brat!”
In that moment, a Shikigami materialized from his fingertips, transforming into a gigantic crane to attack the Sword Demon. This crane was capable of regenerating instantly, even after being shredded by sword energy or flames, and was imbued with terrifying speed and attack power. In my tenth reincarnation, it had severely defeated me.
Swish!
However, the Sword Demon’s sword danced playfully, tearing the crane Shikigami to pieces.
“Ugh.”
The Haedong Milcheon master collapsed on the spot, spewing blood, and in response, the Twelve Regulations Masters sprang to their feet. Tension filled the air as if a large-scale bloodbath was about to ensue between the Sword Demon and the Twelve Regulations.
Just then, a voice resonated.
“Sit down.”
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, it was over. With nothing more than a few words from the Twelve Regulations Master, everyone froze and instinctively sank back into their seats. Even the Sword Demon seemed to have unconsciously followed his command.
“……?!”
“Gasp!!”
Every soul in the room was stunned. The atmosphere of conflict dissipated as if it had never existed.
However, those with formidable martial prowess, including the Sword Demon, wore expressions of intrigue.
“Hmm…”
“Just as I thought…”
They seemed to have a vague idea of what the Twelve Regulations Master had done.
In an instant, the Twelve Regulations Master had tamed the atmosphere and glared at the Sword Demon, asking,
“Sword Demon Seomun Daeryong, what is your relation to that youth beside you?”
“He is my chief disciple and the guardian of the sect.”
“I see.”
Ha Eun-cheon murmured something while seemingly sending a Secret Transmission. The Sword Demon flinched, and then Ha Eun-cheon addressed the assembly,
“As of today, the Shadowless Gate becomes a member of the Twelve Regulations. From now on, it shall be known as the Thirteen Regulations. I hope you all will get along well.”
With those concluding words, the meeting ended as if it were a lie. The gathered individuals began to exit with somewhat awkward expressions. Not even the opposing masters dared utter a word against the Twelve Regulations Master’s authority.
And thus, only the Sword Demon and I remained in the conference room. I sent a Secret Transmission to the Sword Demon.
[Master, what did the Twelve Regulations Master say?]
From the subsequent words of the Sword Demon, I realized that trials still lay ahead.
[He asked you to come to the Divine Altar with the Seven Talents.]
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