Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Xinjiang

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍interior of the building was just as shabby as it appeared from the outside.

There wasn’t much you could call furniture—just a small table and a few chairs.

It was, quite literally, not a place meant for living.

It existed solely for clandestine meetings like this one that happened from time to time.

One person sat at that table, while the other three stood behind.

Each of them, with pale faces, stared at Cheol Mok and Jeong-un, who had just entered the entrance, their looks in their eyes rather sharp.

”......”

Cheol Mok, who entered first, sat opposite them with a stern face.

He had been told to feign composure, but utterly failed to hide his nervousness.

However, even after seeing Cheol Mok’s expression, the others didn’t show any particular reaction.

Perhaps, whenever they met him, he’d always worn a tense expression.

Thud.

Jeong-un stood next to the seated Cheol Mok—about two paces away. He figured that this was the sort of distance one would keep if acting as a guard.

”......”

Yet, for some reason, that sight drew even more attention.

The cultists from the Demonic Cult swept their eyes over Jeong-un, almost as if they were assessing him.

Eventually, the one seated at the table opened his mouth.

”You’re the new military hall member?”

”That’s right.”

When Cheol Mok nodded in reply, the one at the table lifted his chin slightly and then turned his head toward Cheol Mok.

He seemed to be the highest-ranking among them.

”And you’re trusted enough to be brought to such a meeting already? I wasn’t given any advance notice.”

”It was a sudden personnel change, so there was no choice.”

”What about the cultists assigned to guard you? Why did you come alone?”

”They’re guarding the warehouse where the supplies are kept. We’ve been so short-staffed over there...”

Cheol Mok stammered, cold sweat beading on his face. The man glanced briefly at Jeong-un but soon turned away, seemingly uninterested.

Well, there was nothing unusual to sense, so that was only natural.

Right now, Jeong-un’s energy concealment was at its peak. To this man, he would appear just as a regular warrior.

In fact, unless one was a peerless expert, it would be impossible to perceive Jeong-un’s hidden energy.

’So much for being partners.’

At that moment, Jeong-un looked at Cheol Mok and could only smirk bitterly to himself.

Anyone could see there was a clear hierarchy here—the man couldn’t even meet their eyes.

Jeong-un didn’t know Cheol Mok’s exact standing in Hami, but to be meeting the Demonic Cult on a regular basis meant he held a certain position of influence.

Only a while ago at the guesthouse, he’d seemed so full of confidence.

Yet, seeing him so obsequious now, it was clear theirs was not a relationship of equals, but one of dominance by the cult.

’The real problem is...’

Jeong-un glanced at the ones seated across from him.

According to the conversation, those who usually accompanied Cheol Mok were cultists assigned by the Demonic Cult.

The ”guard” was just a pretense—the main purpose was surveillance.

These cultists, however, were not particularly strong either.

They did possess a slightly greater density of true ki than the three who had been watching Cheol Mok, but even that was just an impure inner ki, and to Jeong-un, it wasn’t much of a difference at all.

Every group from the heretical cult he had seen so far adhered strictly to a law of the jungle.

The stronger among them held higher ranks, and they chose to master only the most masterful martial arts.

Which meant, ultimately, those here were not especially high-ranking either.

In the meantime, a conversation resumed.

”In particular, this tribute must be prepared more quickly and in greater quantity than last month. Tell your chief to be thoroughly prepared.”

”I... I understand.”

Cheol Mok nodded.

From the conversation, it seemed that Hami’s nobles routinely offered large amounts of supplies as tribute to the Demonic Cult.

In exchange, the cult defended them from invasions by neighboring countries and passed on their martial arts.

’Ridiculous.’

Originally, this land had been a region under the indirect rule of the Great Ming.

The tributes offered here were meant to go to the royal family of Ming.

But now, it was the heretical successors of the Demonic Cult who demanded it—utterly absurd.

”......”

Even in the midst of this, cheolmok kept glancing sideways at Jeong-un, warily watching him. He must have been racking his brains for a way out.

If he thought only simply, he could just reveal the truth to the cultists right now.

He might even believe that, since he had the numbers, it would be to his advantage.

’But there’s no way he’d do that.’

No matter how dull he might be, after witnessing what Jeong-un could do, he wouldn’t make such a rash move.

And although the two-step distance might seem suitable for a guard, for a martial artist it was also close enough for a deadly attack.

He knew that one wrong word could cost him his head first.

’So, what should I do?’

Meeting Cheol Mok had truly been a stroke of luck.

Even without him, Jeong-un might have found another cultist on the market streets, one with that uniquely foul Demonic Cult aura.

But the odds of someone else being in such a key position for clandestine contact were slim.

So he had to make the most of this lucky break.

He couldn’t keep tailing these cultists forever.

After this business, there was no guarantee they’d return straight to their stronghold.

And it wasn’t as if Jeong-un had days on end to follow them to Mount Tian either—he was short on time, with the orthodox alliance due to arrive soon.

’They’re a tricky group to interrogate.’

The cultists, sensing a threat, would commit suicide before letting anything slip.

So if he acted too soon and failed to get proper answers, that would be even worse.

He couldn’t count on being this lucky again. He had to seize this opportunity.

Finally, Jeong-un spoke.

”The amount of supplies we’ve delivered up to now has hardly been small, to begin with.”

”...?”

The cultists turned their heads, looking at Jeong-un. He had remained silent until now, so his sudden words drew attention.

Cheol Mok too looked startled, as if wondering why he was butting in when things had been going smoothly enough.

Jeong-un spoke calmly.

”You move up the deadline like this and increase the quantity as well? You don’t seem to care about our own situation at all. And surely you know it’s no simple thing to bring it all the way to Mount Tian.”

”......”

The cultist at the table stared at Jeong-un, then slowly turned his gaze to Cheol Mok.

”The new military hall member, you said?”

”He was originally a centurion, then earned merit and got promoted to the military hall. He’s still learning the ropes, so he’s curious about a lot; if it’s bothersome, I’ll warn him.”

Trying to hide his fluster, cheolmok forced himself to glare and barely managed a reply.

Considering how nervous he really was, it was quite a plausible excuse.

”......”

The cultist, hearing Cheol Mok’s words, clamped his mouth shut and glared steadily at Jeong-un.

Jeong-un met his gaze with a composed expression, thinking, ’What could a guy like you possibly suspect?’

He had reason to believe they had no way of knowing about every single small-time official in the Hami Guard, no matter how thoroughly the Demonic Cult controlled this place from the shadows.

It was far less likely that they’d suspect Jeong-un was a spy from the Heavenly Martial Hall, than that he was some brash young warrior.

At last, the man slowly spoke.

”For a rookie, you’ve got some nerve.”

”......”

So I get compliments from the Demonic Cult now, do I? With that thought, Jeong-un listened as the cultist continued.

”Looks like you’ve gotten proud, thinking you’ve climbed high. But since we’ll be seeing more of each other, I’ll let it pass this once. However, if you don’t learn to keep your mouth shut wherever you are, you’ll find your life cut short soon enough.”

The clear expression in the man’s eyes flashed sharply, intent on threatening him. Jeong-un calmly met his stare and replied.

”Did I say something I shouldn’t have? I don’t quite see how.”

”H-hey—”

Unable to stand it any longer, cheolmok looked at Jeong-un with desperate eyes and tried to speak, but Jeong-un ignored him and continued.

”Mount Tian is so rugged that even a prized horse can’t climb it easily. Yet, now you want even more delivered, and sooner than usual? There are things you can do with just words and things you can’t. Shouldn’t you at least tell us a little about the situation? That way, we can do our job better too, don’t you think?”

”......”

It was practically a gamble.

Judging from the conversation thus far, even the local nobles didn’t seem to know the location of the cult’s stronghold.

So up until now, they had probably just delivered goods according to a prearranged method.

’That’s not enough.’

And he couldn’t afford to stand by until some unknown date, hoping to join the next supply convoy.

Putting aside his identity, Jeong-un didn’t have time to be leisurely.

So he had to find out right now where they were moving the supplies.

He had to secure a genuine link that would lead him straight to their stronghold—at least enough of a clue to go on.

He had to get something concrete here and now.

At that moment, the cultist who had been glaring at Jeong-un as if to dissect him began to speak slowly.

”You sure are curious, boy.”

”I want to be thorough and finish the job cleanly, too. It’s in our interest as well as yours to avoid trouble, isn’t it? Isn’t that what you expect from us?”

”......”

Hearing that, the cultist quietly lowered his eyes, as if weighing his thoughts.

But Jeong-un, still calm-faced, simply waited for his answer.

After all, it was obvious why they had suddenly demanded more supplies.

Anyone could see it was to prepare for the imminent war between the orthodox faction and the Demonic Cult.

That’s why they were squeezing Hami for a massive tribute. This delivery was obviously a matter of some importance for them.

At last, the cultist finally spoke.

”The second highest peak in the northwest of Mount Tian.”

”...?”

Cheol Mok’s eyes flew open in complete surprise. He had been sitting there all tense the whole time.

The cultist continued.

”That’s where our base is. All you have to do is move the supplies there. Our cultists stationed there will take it to the main headquarters. Just prepare for the job, and make sure nothing goes wrong...”

”Is that so?”

Jeong-un cut off his words, spitting his reply. The abrupt, curt tone made the cultist frown for an instant.

But Jeong-un didn’t care about his expression.

He had gotten what he wanted.

Shaa―!

All at once, the small room was flooded with golden light.

The dusty air, thick with years of accumulated grime, split in two.

As if the space itself were sliced apart, a single slender gold line appeared vividly in midair.

BOOOM!

The next moment, a tremendous ki wave exploded, blasting a whole section of the wall to bits.

The cultists in its path fared no better.

They didn’t even realize what had happened—the look on their faces, still frowning at Jeong-un, was frozen as their necks were severed.

”W-what the...?”

Cheol Mok unconsciously muttered, and sunlight poured through the hole in the collapsed wall.

”W-what is this...?”

”I spared your life only to avoid getting tangled up in a needlessly complicated situation.”

Click.

At the sound of something sliding, he turned his dull gaze sideways.

It was the sound of a sword being sheathed in a jet-black scabbard.

”Go tell your superior this: Think carefully about how you’ll face the soon-to-arrive orthodox alliance.”

”Y-yes...?”

”You lot are already criminals just for learning such tainted martial arts. Figure out for yourself which path will let you atone for your crimes—if such a thing exists at all.”