Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Confrontation

Jeong-un spoke in a calm, detached tone, as if he was telling someone else’s story.

Inwardly, he was reviewing the information he had gathered thus far.

’There aren’t that many underlings who belong directly to the Musan Group. If there was something to assign, they’d have just moved the three subordinate sects below it.’

The three who had died were the sort who wouldn’t even dare to think of standing against the Musan Group.

They would have been satisfied merely with inheriting the position.

The Lord of the Musan Group probably hadn’t sincerely considered passing on his spot when he discussed an heir, either.

He had only given them an excuse to compete, so that the mere hands and feet could not unite their strength.

In fact, the disciples of the three sects felt stronger ties in belonging to the Musan Group itself, so it was obvious how things had gone so far.

Soo Il-san, watching closely, quietly opened his mouth.

”Then, should I notify the disciples? Tell them to prepare for a showdown with the Musan Group...?”

”That’s not necessary.”

Even if none openly rebelled against the new Sect Leader, the majority would probably side immediately with the Musan Group if he called for resistance.

It was far more likely to cause unnecessary chaos.

”I’ll go to that meeting alone tomorrow.”

”What? But from what you’ve said, that place is surely...”

Soo Il-san trailed off.

But Jeong-un could easily guess what he was about to say.

’They’ll have a death trap laid out and be waiting.’

It was as plain as day.

In fact, it would be stranger if they simply accepted him as the heir.

Still, he didn’t care about what kind of trap it might be.

He was satisfied simply with having an excuse to meet the man face-to-face.

’Looks like I’ll be able to wrap this up faster than I’d planned.’

* * *

Jeong-un strapped a norigae over his martial garb.

After finishing all the preparations for departure, he habitually brushed his hand over the sword guard at his waist.

Feeling its familiar touch with his palm always calmed his nerves for some reason.

Then he took out a black long robe and wrapped it around his body—it was the Iron-Blood Gate’s long robe.

He had already received the time and place in a letter.

Though Jeon Seok-gyeon was said to frequent various pleasure houses, contrary to expectations, he was currently staying in a large estate.

Perhaps that too was a ruse.

To hide from everyone’s eyes like that in such a big city also took some skill.

By now, he must have gathered considerable power in Kaifeng.

The letter instructed him to come to the estate, offer greetings to the group leader, and be officially recognized as the successor.

Afterwards, they would make his succession public outside the Musan Group as well.

Though taken for granted, he didn’t believe it.

No matter how foolish he might be, there’s no way he’d accept as successor the man who had suddenly appeared and killed his three chief subordinates at once.

Besides, he was rumored to be rather cunning.

Surely the man had shored up his defenses to thoroughly eliminate Jeong-un.

If anything, this made things easier.

It saved him the trouble of tracking down a man said to move his base of operations every day.

Now that the location and time were set, he just had to go and take the man’s head.

– The Musan Group’s leader isn’t that formidable in martial arts either. He’s just as sly as a fox. You should be careful.

Yang Se-ok had warned him.

He’d said the man was a master of all kinds of cowardly tricks and deceptions, and would even use money and power to bring outsiders into his schemes if needed.

Jeong-un wasn’t surprised by this.

In fact, if the man had called for him without even such defenses, it would have been more suspicious.

Regardless of his martial prowess, he was the leader of a faction commanding hundreds.

When it came to experience, he was naturally far deeper and broader than Jeong-un.

’He’ll be on high alert.’

The letter had talked about welcoming him with open doors.

Yet in reality, the only thing to greet him would be weapons like swords and sabers.

Just like those bandits had done before.

If anything, this would be worse. At least then, he’d had companions with him; now, he was alone.

’It doesn’t matter.’

He had grown much stronger since then.

By now, he had gained considerable mastery in handling cultivated power.

He had converted much of that unfamiliar internal power into his own true ki, and even his signature technique, Jeok Cheong Subdues the Dragon, woven with this power, was far less of a burden than before.

Still, there was no need to act according to the man’s plan.

That’s what Jeong-un murmured to himself.

At the same time, he kicked off from the ground.

Instantly, his form shot forward smoothly.

A gentle breeze sprang up in the wake of his trailing afterimage.

* * *

An unnamed estate in Kaifeng.

There were rumors that the eldest son of an old scholar clan had failed the civil service exam and now lived reclusively in silence.

Apart from a few servants, so few came and went that people paid little attention.

Despite its considerable size, this estate strangely drew no interest.

But today, many people filled the estate from the morning.

They stood in free and easy postures, each with a different look, yet a strange silence hung, as all kept their mouths firmly shut.

At the center was Jeon Seok-gyeon.

This was one of his secret hideouts.

He sat at the seat of honor at a long table and around him were gathered several men.

Food and drink sat atop the table, so at a glance, one might think this was a feast or party—if not for the armed men standing menacingly nearby, anyone would have.

”So, what do you plan to do after luring him here, sir?”

The man sitting next to Jeon Seok-gyeon asked.

He effectively served as vice lord within the Musan Group, leading its elites and normally managing Iron-Blood Gate, Ghost Face Gate, and Black Hand Gate.

Jeon Seok-gyeon replied brusquely.

”The wine is poisoned. Once he drinks and loses consciousness, kill him right then. Even if he’s sharp and refuses to drink, it’s the same—don’t wait for a signal, just cut him down the moment you have a chance.”

”He’s coming alone, isn’t he?”

”Yes.”

”Then why so many men here, and even outside fighters brought in...?”

Not all the fighters present belonged to the Musan Group.

Infamous martial artists of Kaifeng lured with heavy pay were mixed in.

These were vagabonds who would draw their swords against anyone the moment your silver coin was heavy enough—the kind Jeon Seok-gyeon frequently employed, as their skills were excellent, their sword hands unhesitating.

Jeon Seok-gyeon frowned and answered.

”Didn’t you hear the rumor that he swept away three sects by himself?”

”That was only because they let down their guard...”

”And that’s precisely why we can’t let our guard down!”

Jeon Seok-gyeon roared.

The man shrank and quickly lowered his head, and the air instantly grew cold.

Everyone realized how severely upset the group leader truly was.

Another man, sensing the mood, quietly spoke up.

”As expected of you, Lord. Your insight is always impressive.”

He gave a signal glance to the others at the table, who hastily nodded in agreement.

”I too have heard of his considerable skills in martial arts. It’s right to make strong preparations.”

”Each time, I feel I learn anew from your wisdom, Lord.”

Jeon Seok-gyeon watched them wordlessly.

These men spoke with barely a thought; to survive as martial artists of the dark path in these lands, they had to mind his mood.

Whatever they thought inwardly, no one would dare reveal it in front of him.

Even huge factions like the Beggar’s Union or the Yang Clan didn’t dare touch him.

No one disturbed his mood.

That’s why he was absolutely livid about what had been done.

Out of nowhere, someone had appeared and killed the leaders of Iron-Blood Gate, Black Hand Gate, and Ghost Face Gate, then sent a letter unilaterally declaring himself the Musan Group’s heir.

Even in these lands of law of the jungle, there were still processes and justifications.

To simply swing your sword and claim the succession?

Unbelievable.

’No need for torture. Just behead him at once.’

He was impatient.

At this moment, Jeon Seok-gyeon was on the eve of a major scheme of his own.

It seemed as if every strange mishap was happening now.

He was even worried the inauspiciousness might taint the whole affair, even if he got rid of the man successfully.

All his nerves were focused on the Human-shaped Ginseng he’d hidden in the room.

He swept his eyes across those around him.

In Jeon Seok-gyeon’s gaze, they all had killer intent as sharp as blades.

It was only natural.

From the subordinate three gates he’d selected their best men and brought them into the Musan Group.

And that wasn’t all.

He’d summoned every so-called skilled swordsman among the dark path martial world.

Their number was well over a hundred.

Against that, no matter how skilled the man was, there was nothing he could do.

”Tell the guard at the door: when he arrives, report to me immediately without opening the door first. Under no circumstances.”

”Yes, I understand.”

It was at this moment, as instructions were being relayed to the doorman—

Saaaaak!

Suddenly, everyone in the room froze.

A great rushing wind howled through the air.

”What was that...?”

As someone uttered a confused voice—

KWA-AAANG—!

Something crashed down from above as if the sky itself had struck, smashing the center table to pieces.

Amidst the confusion, everyone saw a long-robed figure land atop the table.

The shockwave from that fall shattered and hurled away all the furniture nearby.

That wasn’t all.

The eyes of those sitting closest lost their focus in an instant—they died just from being near.

With their guard completely down, the powerful blast of vital ki struck them bare.

Frail bodies could not withstand it.

”Wh-what is that?”

”Did a man fall from the sky...?”

While all stared blankly at the spectacle, some involuntarily murmured.

Even Jeon Seok-gyeon, who now lay flipped over in shock, was the same.

Then, as if realizing something, he spoke with a stunned look.

”Y-you, you’re...?”

”You must be the Lord of the Musan Group.”

As those black eyes fixed calmly on him, Jeon Seok-gyeon suddenly froze, unable to look away.

The very image before him was the martial hero he had long dreamed of.

Not the brutish men of the dark path, but a true, noble martial artist.

”No answer?”

Jeong-un, who had landed in the center of the estate with flowing lightness skill, stepped toward Jeon Seok-gyeon.

The sheer impact of his entrance froze everyone in place; none dared to approach him.

Sensing each of their energies, Jeong-un thought—

’There are a lot of them. Some know decent martial arts too.’

He’d deliberately made a loud entrance.

He’d poured his true ki throughout his body, filled his Yongcheon point with internal power, and released it all in a blast upon landing.

With his improved control, such feats were now possible, even if it consumed a fair amount of internal power.

But establishing dominance at the start of a fight was always essential—the lesson from his experiences thus far.

Step, step.

Walking without even drawing his sword, he approached the still-unrisen Jeon Seok-gyeon.

”That, that’s the new Iron-Blood Gate leader...?”

”They say he’s an expert from outside the region...”

The hired swords, stiff with fear, could only mutter.

None dared try to block Jeong-un’s advance.

Jeong-un opened his mouth as he reached Jeon Seok-gyeon’s very nose.

”Greet me.”

”W-what?”

”I’m your successor.”