Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 45 : Intuition

Intuition

"That, well, it's just that this looked like the final gate for some reason."

"You spoke with great certainty, though."

"Could such a thing be possible? It was merely a shallow intuition."

Jeong-un did not answer.

Did it look like the final gate to anyone? It wasn't wrong.

There had never been a door like this until now, and it so openly looked like it was guarding something.

'But was it something you could be certain about?'

He had come face to face with countless malice here, all the way to this point.

Just seeing how poison had been hidden in the cultivation pill showed this wasn't an honest place.

'It's only natural to keep the worst case in mind.'

Moreover, from the brief time he'd observed Seonwoo Hak by his side, he could sense the man was rather quick-witted.

Even if an enormous door suddenly appeared, he wasn't the kind of person who would blindly rejoice, thinking that this was the final one.

Rather, he should have been cautious about what kind of scheme might exist beyond this door.

'Of course, it's all just suspicion.'

Just as Seonwoo Hak spoke of his shallow intuition, Jeong-un also couldn't help but feel an odd intuition.

A strange discomfort tickling at the back of his mind.

Yet it was a vital instinct he could not overlook while traversing the martial world.

In the meantime, Seonwoo Hak asked first, wearing an expression of incomprehension.

"What are you suspicious of, young hero Yu?"

Jeong-un answered calmly.

"One line of rumor claiming the Divine Physician's tomb had been discovered brought all sorts of martial artists to Yangyang. Once enough people gathered, they were led again to Nokmun Mountain, and then guided in front of the burial mound."

"......?"

Seonwoo Hak's face showed he was at a complete loss.

Why was Jeong-un repeating what everyone knew?

Why bring this up? He glanced at his guard, shrugged, and spoke again.

"I truly don't understand what you're saying."

"Normally, wouldn't one try to keep it all to oneself, even if it took a very long time?"

"......"

"But even so, you spread rumors on purpose and gathered everyone."

Jeong-un was glancing over Seonwoo Hak and his guard's bodies.

There was still no sign of them trying to summon energy.

"I just thought you must be very confident in your martial skills. So I also believed that at some point, I would see your true face in here."

Jeong-un slyly turned his head, scanning behind him—the path he had come, and the other corridors.

But still, there was not the slightest sign that anyone was approaching.

They had walked at leisure at first, so they should certainly have been followers, not the vanguard.

If he judged further, it even meant no one else would come, and they were the only ones who had reached this place.

"...... So you're saying that person is me?"

Seonwoo Hak responded in a thoroughly dumbfounded tone.

"And I'm behaving like this for such a trivial reason? When we don't know what lies ahead."

"Exactly."

"......?"

"Then why did you speak as if this was the final gate, and even say you would yield the Immortal Spirit Pill to me?"

"That's quite an accusation."

His face hardened as he continued.

"It's true, I was rather excited just now. But to receive such an insult for that? Moreover, by your account, this may not even be the final gateway, and the Immortal Spirit Pill may not be here."

"That's correct."

At that, Jeong-un nodded calmly.

After all, there was nothing wrong with what was said.

He continued speaking.

"However, in the martial world, there's an adage reminding us always to prepare for the worst. Lives can be lost from a single mistake."

"......?"

He didn't actually know if such a saying existed.

"For me, the worst-case scenario is this: if there truly is such a person, and if that door is truly the final gate with the Immortal Spirit Pill inside..."

"......"

"In that situation, it's only possible that the person is Seonwoo Hak."

Seonwoo Hak closed his mouth, seemingly out of words.

Mook Cheol, the guard standing beside him, showed no change in expression.

Step.

Jeong-un gently rested his hand on the sword guard and stepped forward.

Seeing this, Seonwoo Hak spoke slowly.

"So what do you propose? All of this is just your own baseless suspicion."

"Please wait here."

"What?"

Jeong-un spoke to the bewildered Seonwoo Hak.

"I'll go in first. I'll check inside by myself."

"What is this..."

"Didn't you say you'd yield the Immortal Spirit Pill to me? I'll be sure to guide you to the exit."

"......"

Seonwoo Hak's shoulders slumped.

He muttered weakly.

"This is the best part, though..."

Tap!

Jeong-un stepped forward without hesitation. That single remark was enough to turn suspicion into conviction.

He dashed forward, yet the guard by Seonwoo Hak's side didn't budge in the slightest.

Despite all the tension.

He merely followed Jeong-un's movement with his eyes.

Wuuung!

Vital ki surged through the sword he swung. He poured in as much true ki as he could.

Once again, it was to cut it down in a single stroke.

His target didn't even see Jeong-un close the distance in an instant.

Just like that, he sliced the neck in one swift motion.

Whooosh!

"......?"

He didn't feel the familiar sensation of contact with flesh. That's what Jeong-un felt.

It was as if he had cut through empty air. He had clearly seen the target's neck enter the sword's path, but it was the same.

Even now, the person was right in front of him.

'What...'

As he felt a strange sense of futility, he saw the target standing a few steps further back.

Right in front of Jeong-un—and over there as well.

"......!"

It was a shifting body double technique unfolded using an ultimate lightness skill.

The moment he realized it, the "person" who'd had their neck cut vanished like a mirage.

Jeong-un immediately prepared for the next strike, but the one in the back leapt away with a single step, instantly widening the gap.

Incredible body-strengthening art. Jeong-un took that scene in with his eyes.

"No need to rush. Just as your keen intuition told you, you and I are the only ones here."

Somehow, the man had a different face now.

Even before, he'd had handsome features, but now he looked like a perfect, peerless young master.

Though his features hadn't changed much, that was how it felt.

With a smiling face, ever-curious eyes studied Jeong-un.

'...... A peak expert.'

He realized it immediately. Even without having witnessed the superb movement technique, he could tell.

He was now exuding an enormous aura outside his body, which could hardly be believed considering that, just moments before, there hadn't even been a hint of true ki.

'It's definitely Demonic Energy.'

Yet it didn't carry the unique discomfort that Demonic Energy usually gave off.

Carefully refined and controlled Demonic Energy—a feeling that could only be described with such a paradoxical phrase.

At the same time, Jeong-un grew inwardly angry with himself.

'I didn't notice anything.'

Since when had he trusted his own sensitivity so much?

He had not suspected anything from either the man or the guard, because he hadn't felt a single trace of energy.

The only thing that had struck him as strange was that the man's fingertips were quite callused, inconsistent with someone reputed for easily letting go of a sword.

Though his perception was somewhat acute, he had been too careless.

He simultaneously measured the distance between himself and the opponent.

Since the man used a superb movement technique, he'd have to estimate at least twice the visible distance.

Moreover, he had to consider the possibility that the guard, still just standing there, might intervene as soon as his master was in danger.

'Traceless Flash, can I do it once more?'

Up until now, he'd been ceaselessly circulating One Illumination Movement Technique to recover true ki.

However, the amount was insufficient, and he couldn't be sure he'd be able to fully execute the technique.

Would he be able to draw out his top speed?

"You're calculating the odds right in front of me? Crazy bastard."

Looking at Jeong-un, the opponent snorted in disbelief.

"Let's take it slow. There's plenty of time, so let's satisfy your curiosity."

"What's your aim?"

"My aim?"

The man opened his eyes wide and asked Jeong-un,

"You're not asking who I am first?"

"What's the point in asking the name of a man about to die?"

At that, he let out a tearing sound and burst into loud laughter.

Such arrogance. It was hard to believe he'd just been looking at Jeong-un a moment ago with a guileless, admiring expression.

No doubt he had been using techniques involving internal energy to manipulate his appearance all along.

Then, his guard spoke up next to him.

"Mind your language before the cult leader. That tongue might end up wrapped around your neck."

"Cult leader?"

"No, no. Go on. You're making things interesting; it's been a while since I've had this much fun."

With that, he lightly gestured, dismissing his servant.

He put his hands behind his back and slowly circled, scrutinizing Jeong-un as he walked.

"Still, it's a pity. I wanted to see your composed face fall into despair. Do you have a family? Who's most precious to you?"

With a grinning face, he nonchalantly uttered threats.

Stepping forward until he stood within striking range, as if he believed no harm could touch him.

"......"

Jeong-un did not attack recklessly.

He had already missed once with his sword.

Moreover, the opponent had seen his martial arts multiple times.

Thus, rather than attempting a clumsy kill and putting the opponent on guard, he needed to draw out a gap and wait for the perfect moment.

Jeong-un parted his lips as if nothing were amiss.

"Looks like you're just some backwater cult."

"Hmm."

The man's mouth curled into a pleasant arc.

"To me, you're like dust swept away by the wind. Such provocation means nothing."

"Provocation? What use would I have provoking some wretches imitating the long-fallen Demonic Cult?"

The corners of the man's mouth froze, the easy steps coming to a halt.

Then he cocked his head and looked at Jeong-un.

"...... Yes, that's what you all used to call my sect. You're no different."

"......?"

"The name of my sect isn't 'Demonic Cult', as your country's founder said."

"...... What?"

"My sect's name is Ming Sect."

This time even Jeong-un frowned.

A sect sharing its name with the Ming Dynasty? That alone was punishable by death for blasphemy.

"I never expected you to understand. Nor do I care what you call us."

Seeing Jeong-un's expression, the man's eyes softened again into a genial gaze.

Turning around, he started walking toward the door.

"What matters now is that my little amusement has been ruined. Is it fun to live life that tense all the time? Where's the joy in that?"

"You talk nonsense."

"Just think about it. If you'd pretended not to know for just a little longer, how much more fun would it have been? Didn't you have hope? Wondering whether there really is a Divine Physician's pill behind this door?"

Thunk, thunk.

He tapped the iron door with his fingers.

Jeong-un looked at him quietly and then asked,

"What are you people? Do you have any sort of connection to the Divine Physician?"

"What? Of course not."

He looked at Jeong-un with wide eyes, feigning innocence.

He had a face you could easily believe in at a glance.

"It's just that old man's desire and mine aligned. He wanted to trap and kill all the martial artists who entered here, and I just wanted to watch. A little amusement with you was just a bonus."

"......"

"Breaking through these outdated formations isn't even a challenge. In fact, I already entered and checked everything beforehand. So your suspicion wasn't wrong. I did know this was the final door."

Then he slowly pushed the door with his forefinger.

"Now, behold what lies beyond."

With that gentle gesture, the iron door swung open.