Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 136 : Resolution

Resolution

Jo Gwang wore a flustered expression.

Yet, Jeong-un found it even more absurd that he was being looked at in such a way.

It was clear that Jo Gwang's nickname played a huge part in Jeong-un gaining a reputation as someone so sharp and cold.

Weren't these all people who enjoyed provocative rumors anyway?

They must have even come up with tales about things like "he annihilated it all in a single slash".

Jo Gwang spoke up.

"Wait, you disliked it that much?"

"Yes."

"......."

Jo Gwang looked quite sullen, his face a bit downcast.

Jeong-un let out a dry chuckle at the sight, about to say something before stopping himself.

'If I comfort him now, then again...'

As it was, because of what happened at Mount Song, there would be yet another storm of rumors following him for some time.

And who knows what ridiculous rumors might spread if someone like Jo Gwang, who didn't seem awkward tagging along with him, added fuel to the fire.

Jeong-un knew that his intentions weren't malicious.

Jo Gwang might not be a chivalrous hero, but he was never a villain.

He was fairly good at discerning right from wrong and knew how to feel sympathy for those in trouble.

He just happened to boast about his own tales of valor, just like most martial artists.

Jeong-un had simply entered that realm.

There was no reason to point it out or try to correct him. He didn't have the right anyway.

When he thought about it, they'd only known each other a little over a year, hadn't they?

Jo Gwang clicked his tongue and muttered,

"... I was actually proud to have come up with the nickname for the greatest young rising expert of our generation."

At that, Jeong-un gave a dry chuckle and walked through the doors of Blue Scale Hall.

Regardless of Jo Gwang's comical expression, his words themselves were just nonsense.

"Greatest, huh."

The nature of martial artists' martial skills had fairly distinct boundaries.

Those called peerless experts were said to bring miracles into daily life.

Like how the Sword Sovereign of Heavenly Martial Hall had examined Jeong-un's cultivated power.

But that didn't mean all of them were invincible.

Everyone desperately sought out rare elixirs, but accumulating deep internal energy didn't make anyone immortal.

Tales of experts struck down and killed by stray blades in the martial world circulated for a reason.

'Just because you've accumulated a few stripes of gold thread doesn't make you an expert either.'

He'd heard that he'd become a two-stripe fighter faster than anyone else since the establishment of Heavenly Martial Hall.

But that didn't give him any reason to be arrogant.

He especially thought that when he remembered the Wudang Prodigious Sword, who had become a two-stripe fighter hot on his heels.

Wasn't it just a few months' difference? He didn't consider himself ahead because of that little gap.

'Luck played a part too.'

That was what Jeong-un had felt most strongly lately.

Because he'd started late, his reserve of ki was considerably less than others his age.

Yet, through a few missions that could barely be called lucky encounters, he'd ended up accumulating far deeper cultivated power than others.

Regardless of the reason or the process, what martial artist could ask for greater fortune?

"Regretfully, I'll yield to you."

Jo Gwang, still trailing behind, continued to chatter on about Jeong-un's nickname.

"Well, Annihilating One-Slash was lacking as a name to contain the potential of the Young Hero Yu. Truly, in martial artists' nicknames, there are certain characters one must include, like heaven or earth. Truthfully, if it were up to me, rather than Heaven-defying Lone Sword, I would've called you Flying Heavenly Divine Dragon. What do you think? If Young Hero Yu doesn't mind, I'll actively float that opinion around..."

"Please, just be quiet."

"All right."

* * *

"I'm glad to see you're safe."

Tang Yerin spoke in a clear voice. The three of them were gathered in Jeong-un's room.

She had returned from her mission a few days after Jeong-un came back.

She looked just the same as before.

Her sleek hair was neatly tied up, and beneath it, her fair skin and large eyes were visible.

Now that a year had passed, she was just entering adulthood.

As soon as she heard Jeong-un had returned, she had rushed over.

She said that, after all, submitting the mission report was the squad leader's duty as a two-stripe fighter.

Jeong-un was grateful, but a bit awkward with the way she had come so close, smiling openly.

Tang Yerin, however, didn't seem to sense that at all and kept talking.

"Actually, I already knew there were no issues with Young Hero's well-being. All sorts of rumors were circulating."

"Aren't you only just back yourself?"

Tang Yerin nodded at Jeong-un's question.

"It was such a hot topic that the rumors spread unusually fast. On my way here, I stopped at a small guesthouse in Jangsu-hyeon, and everyone was talking about Shaolin. I couldn't believe the contents, so I checked in several other places, and they all said the same thing. You were amazing this time, too."

Tang Yerin said she was sure he would be safe, but her relieved face showed she'd worried inside about Jeong-un heading out alone.

"'Amazing' might be an overstatement..."

Jeong-un trailed off.

There was something strange and unfamiliar with how differently people reacted compared to how he thought.

'It was a failed mission, after all.'

Yet everyone was only talking about how Jeong-un had charged at the man.

The fact that the thief, once thought to be Divine Thief, was actually an incredible peerless expert, or that Shaolin had failed to protect their own item, was just glossed over.

Of course, there were reasons for that.

The fact that a mere thief was a peerless expert was attributed to the eccentric lives of reclusive masters, and the item Shaolin couldn't protect was just a less important brazen bell.

Above all, Heavenly Martial Hall was still keeping quiet about the man's true identity.

Even though Shaolin's abbot had convinced them about the man's identity.

For Jeong-un, it was difficult to guess the intentions of either the Sword Sovereign or Zhuge Cheon-woo.

"In my opinion, young hero should learn to value his own body a bit more. They say everyone froze up because the opponent was such a frightening expert, and yet you drew your sword alone..."

"It was my duty to go after him. With my target right in front of me, wouldn't it have been stranger to just stand there?"

"Well, that's true, but..."

Tang Yerin let her words trail off in response. She seemed to want Jeong-un to take better care of himself.

'That kind of mindset won't do.'

There can be no hesitation when crossing the boundary of life and death.

Even if luck isn't with you, it's the same.

A martial artist grows by overcoming death multiple times.

To Jeong-un, that was how martial world experts were forged.

Of course, there are countless stories of martial artists rushing in only to fall to someone stronger because they failed to judge their opponent, but Jeong-un was a little different case.

He would charge in even when he knew for certain that the opponent was above him.

To him, that was just the proper course of things.

He thought a swordsman could never hone his senses to a razor's edge if all he did was pick fights he thought he could win.

'It has to stay that way for me, too.'

And if he died, so be it. That was all he amounted to.

He genuinely thought so, without any false bravado.

Jeong-un's aim from the start was never longevity.

He began his martial world journey purely to see the end of martial arts.

If he cared about his life, he would've stayed at the Yu household, gotten married, and lived safely as a son-in-law.

"Oh, lady Tang, you really have no reason to worry. Young Hero Yu isn't your average exceptional figure, is he? Look at the path he's walked—his mindset clearly isn't ordinary. That must be why he's already at two stripes. Well, judging by things, I'll be adding another stripe of my own soon, too..."

Jo Gwang was rambling away cheerfully at that moment.

Thud!

The door was abruptly flung open, drawing everyone's attention. Someone strode in through the door.

"So, all of you were here."

It was Baek Il-gang.

He wore his usual indifferent face.

As he walked over boldly, Jo Gwang grumbled in dissatisfaction.

"No matter how close we are, isn't it disrespectful to barge in like that to a two-stripe fighter's quarters? How many times do I have to remind you to mind your manners..."

"......"

But something seemed off today.

Normally, Baek Il-gang would've snapped back right away when Jo Gwang said something like that.

"......?"

Everyone, noticing the slight strangeness, looked at him with puzzled expressions as Baek Il-gang sat at the table and addressed Jeong-un, keeping his gaze fixed on him.

"Why didn't you say anything? When you get promoted, Heavenly Martial Hall gives you a fine sword."

"I just had my usual sword repaired since I'm used to it."

"No wonder."

"...?"

Even Jeong-un tilted his head slightly at Baek Il-gang's abrupt words.

Suddenly, Jo Gwang shot to his feet, shouting almost as though he'd seen a ghost.

"... You, you!?"

He pointed his forefinger at Baek Il-gang, more precisely, at his left arm.

Two stripes of gold thread were embroidered clearly on his black martial garb.

"H-how did you already...!"

Jo Gwang stammered in disbelief. Baek Il-gang tilted his head and looked back at Jo Gwang.

And then, he spoke slowly.

"You, watch your manners."

"...?"

"One-stripe speaking disrespectfully to a two-stripe. How very cheeky."

"...!"

Jo Gwang's jaw dropped.

* * *

"Heaven-defying, huh. They really are ridiculous people."

They were on their way to a private practice room, just Baek Il-gang and Jeong-un.

Heavenly Martial Hall didn't assign new missions to warriors who had just completed one.

Thanks to that, the warriors could fully ponder and hone what they had realized on their martial world journey.

Honestly, that's exactly what that time was meant for.

Baek Il-gang asked Jeong-un with a scoffing tone,

"There were plenty of distinguished martial artists present, right?"

"That's right."

Jeong-un answered calmly.

They were talking about the bell ceremony, where Jeong-un had charged at the man.

Baek Il-gang didn't seem too fond of Jeong-un's newly acquired nickname.

"Their true colors are so transparent it's almost laughable."

"What intentions do you think they have?"

"... Sometimes, young hero Yu, I wonder if I'm just being too negative."

"......"

Jeong-un quietly held his tongue. Honestly, he'd thought the same thing sometimes.

Baek Il-gang continued explaining,

"Imagine, if the main character had been one of them, not Young Hero Yu. Do you think a name like 'Heaven-defying Lone Sword' would have stuck? They'd have used every grand character possible—flying dragons up to heaven, and so on."

"Well..."

Jeong-un agreed that the vibe didn't quite fit orthodox martial artists, but he'd just let it pass.

Whether it's Annihilating One-Slash or Heaven-defying Lone Sword, to Jeong-un it was all the same.

Truthfully, he wondered what difference the name made anyway.

"They're truly insidious. They couldn't hide their resentment seeing Young Hero Yu, suddenly emerging and making waves, so they slapped on a name like 'Heaven-defying' to a perfectly upstanding martial artist, who even saved someone's life. And when someone calls them out, you can bet they'll just say they were expressing awe at someone defying heaven. Vile, sneaky people."

"......"

Jeong-un kept quiet.

He'd met a considerable number of orthodox faction martial artists by now, including disciples of prestigious clans and renowned sects.

But to call them all by one word didn't fit—there were too many types.

Just as Baek Il-gang said, there were some with that sort of insidiousness, but there were also those to whom the word "righteous" fit perfectly.

Even on his return, he'd met Gu Hyul at the market streets and Shin Soryeong, heir to the Shin Clan Manor of Shaolin—both bundled as orthodox martial artists.

'Well...'

But Jeong-un didn't argue with Baek Il-gang.

He didn't want to bicker about something so pointless, and for this incident—at least—Baek Il-gang wasn't entirely wrong.

Just then, Jo Gwang came rushing up from the opposite direction, shouting as usual—

"Young Hero Yu!"

But this time, he was so frantic he used his lightness skill to reach them, kicking up a bit of dust. Beside him, Baek Il-gang narrowed his eyes.

Jeong-un asked,

"What is it?"

Jo Gwang, his face deathly pale, stammered out,

"B-big trouble. The, the guy Young Hero Yu faced, he...!"

"...?"

Jo Gwang was so out of breath that he couldn't string his words together.

Baek Il-gang chided him in a stern voice,

"In the future, when reporting to a two-stripe fighter, organize your message first. And if you come running like that again, I won't let it slide."

"N-now's not the time for jokes!"

Before Baek Il-gang could scold him further, Jo Gwang hurriedly continued.

"The guy Young Hero Yu fought turned out to be a Demonic Cult remnant! Heavenly Martial Hall just made the announcement!"

"Demonic Cult?"

Baek Il-gang frowned, repeating the words, while Jeong-un couldn't help but look toward Zhuge Cheon-woo's office.

'So, they've finally decided.'