Sword God Reborn

Chapter 228 : That would be easier, wouldn't it?

Cheon Mubaeck's voice rang in his eardrums as if he were speaking right next to his ear.

"Don't do anything sad. The moment you draw that, I will draw my sword too."

"......!"

The corner of Jang No's eye trembled. As if waking from a dream, a cold sensation was transmitted from his head to his toes. The hair on his whole body stood on end as if electricity were flowing, and he woke up.

'Heok!'

He let out the breath he had been holding roughly. His trembling pupils fell on his own hand.

'What is this...'

Only then did he realize what he had been about to do.

Blue veins bulged on his right hand, which had gone to his waist.

His hand, which was gripping the hilt of his sword as if to draw it immediately, trembled.

He didn't know.

It was just instinct.

It was not a conscious action.

The moment Cheon Mubaeck's gaze pierced him, his body reacted on its own.

'Th-this...'

A whirlwind of emotions raged.

The fact that his years of experience had been made a fool of by a mere gaze and a single word, and that he had tried to draw his sword.

And the fact that the opponent was none other than Cheon Mubaeck.

It was self-loathing.

He had watched him toddle on two feet, and had held him in his arms when he was very weak and young.

Although they were not related by blood, he had thought of him as his grandson.

He had tried to draw his sword and aim it at such a Cheon Mubaeck. Without even being conscious of it himself.

But what was more surprising was.

'It won't be drawn.'

The moment he gripped the hilt, the sword should have been drawn.

Jang No also possessed such a swift sword draw.

It was a mechanical process that was so natural. If you grab the hilt, you draw, and you swing.

A precise path created by honing the sword for decades.

But he could not do so.

He could not draw it, as if it were firmly fixed in the scabbard with glue.

It was because of Cheon Mubaeck's warning.

The moment the warning rang in his ears, the choice of drawing the sword disappeared from his mind.

A single bead of cold sweat flowed down Jang No's face.

He felt as if the rough light scattered from Cheon Mubaeck's gaze was dissecting his entire body like a blade.

Transparent.

A transparent gaze that seemed to see right through him.

Cheon Mubaeck's mouth opened slowly.

"Looking at your walking steps, it's the Flowing Ring Steps of the Sword Demon of Defeating Heaven. Looking at the way you hold your sword, you follow the form of the No-Flow among the Sword Demon's swords."

"......!"

Jang No was literally at a loss for words.

He had never revealed his martial arts, but the truth flowed from Cheon Mubaeck's mouth without a single lie.

'How? How on earth?'

The martial arts of the Sword Sect were diverse. The sword techniques alone were of various types, and the same was true for the footwork and movement techniques.

Even if one assumed that Jang No was a demon of the Sword Sect, one could not say it with certainty.

If so, the only answer was that he had really seen Jang No's martial arts.

Jang No's brain spun rapidly.

No. No matter how he thought about it, he had never once revealed his demonic arts in front of Cheon Mubaeck.

'If so, by looking at my minute habits...'

If it was a martial art that had been learned for a long time, habits were bound to remain.

Even so, Jang No could not easily believe it.

Could one deduce the footwork just by looking at how one walks? Could one find out just by looking at the way one holds a sword?

Goosebumps rose on his neck and arms.

Alright, let's say he could find out. It was possible if one had a sharp eye and had mastered martial arts. In fact, it didn't seem possible, but he could force himself to accept it.

But a prerequisite was needed.

'He must already know. The martial arts I have learned.'

The Flowing Ring Steps, the footwork of the Sword Demon of Defeating Heaven.

The No-Flow Sword, which expressed the sword of the Sword Demon of Defeating Heaven.

One had to already know all of that to be able to find the traces.

'He knew everything all along. He knew everything. But he didn't publicly dig up my identity, and just treated me the same as always. Even though he knew I was a demon.'

Jang No gasped as if in pain. He raised his head and looked at Cheon Mubaeck.

A transparent gaze.

Jang No finally surrendered.

"Let's not talk for long, Jang No. I know everything. The Sword Sect, abandoned by the Seven Demonic Sects. What is your position in the Sword Sect?"

"......"

Jang No took a deep breath and took a fist and palm salute.

"The Incense Master of the Sword Sect greets the Young Master."

"Incense Master..."

The expression Incense Master was used to refer to the leader of a relatively small cell organization.

'A cell organization. Well, that would be the case. Considering the history of the Sword Sect.'

As Cheon Mubaeck did not show any surprise and maintained a calm expression, Jang No's voice trembled.

"Did you know everything?"

"I knew vaguely."

"But why did you pretend not to know?"

"Because I only swing my sword at those who aim their swords at me first."

"That means..."

"Speak, Jang No. Will the Sword Sect join hands with the Blood Demon Valley?"

Although the tone was calm, his gaze scattered a rough light.

Jang No bit his lip tightly.

The Blood Demon Valley was Cheon Mubaeck's public enemy.

Surprisingly, Cheon Mubaeck already knew the meaning of the words Yu Seoryeong had delivered to him.

The Demonic Path's proposal to join the war.

It was a proposal to treat the Sword Sect as one of the Seven Demonic Sects again and to make it one of the pillars of the Demonic Path's world that would soon open.

But there was no time to hesitate.

Because he had met Cheon Mubaeck like this before he could even hesitate.

"Young Master, you really know everything. ...Do you know the past of the Sword Sect?"

"I do. After the Sword Demon of Defeating Heaven killed the Heavenly Demon, they were branded as traitors in the Demonic Path and were thoroughly destroyed."

"...That's right. Our sect does not dream of a Demonic Path's world. We only walk the path towards the pinnacle of the sword by honing our swords. The Demonic Path is just a means for that."

"......"

"The Sword Demon of Defeating Heaven did not become the Heavenly Demon himself. The Demonic Path, the Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Path's world, he was just a cultivator of the Demonic Path who only polished his sword. Therefore, we are not afraid of being chased out of the Demonic Path and being persecuted."

"So?"

"But the Sword Sect has not been able to step out into the martial world for a long time. If we revealed our original power, we would just be terrifying demons to the Orthodox Path, and to the same demons, we were branded as traitors, so we were just chased and abandoned."

"So you're saying there are demons who are tired of such a life?"

"Isn't that a natural thing?"

"Then will the Sword Sect take the hand extended by the Blood Demon Valley? To become complete demons?"

Complete demons.

Jang No swallowed a groan at the word that seemed to strike his heart directly.

That was right.

Perhaps Jang No had also wished for that.

He had learned demonic arts anyway. He could never stand on the side of the Orthodox Path. He could not become a member of the Orthodox Path. He could not live as a member of the martial world.

So there were those who wished to become complete demons instead.

Even if their goals were different, the Sword Sect was also a pillar of the Demonic Path.

They used demonic arts.

If they could not freely roam the martial world on the side of the Orthodox Path, there were definitely those who wished to become complete demons and be subordinate to the Demonic Path.

'No. Almost the majority would be like that.'

To be honest, it was what they had wished for.

Rather, it was the Sword Sect that had wished to be incorporated into the Demonic Path.

But to the Sword Sect, which had been saddled with the stigma of a traitor, the Demonic Path did not open its doors.

But now, the Blood Demon Valley had extended its hand first.

The opinion delivered through Yu Seoryeong was clear.

'The Demonic Path's world...'

The sweet fruit of breaking the past's bad karma on that path and treating the Sword Sect as one of the Seven Demonic Sects.

Perhaps this news had been delivered not only to Jang No, but also to the various Incense Masters scattered here and there.

If it were before Cheon Mubaeck had grown up.

He might have hesitated, but he would have followed willingly.

But unfortunately, Jang No could not make a decision now.

He raised his head and met Cheon Mubaeck's eyes.

At the calm gaze, Jang No sighed.

"I see. Your attitude will also change depending on my choice."

"Isn't that a natural thing, Jang No? The Blood Demon Valley is an enemy. We have already crossed a river of no return. I have killed them, and they will also swing their swords to kill me. I will tell you, Jang No. I do not wish for you to take the hand of the Blood Demon Valley."

Cheon Mubaeck, unlike his usual self, revealed his true feelings honestly.

Not a single lie was mixed in.

The reason he wished for it so much was sufficient.

'I don't know how large the forces of the Sword Sect are, but if they join forces with the Blood Demon Valley, it will be like three of the Seven Demonic Sects joining forces, so their shrunken forces will recover.'

One must prevent the enemy's forces from growing. It was a natural thing in battle, in war.

It was also a clear reason strategically.

But that was not all.

'I don't want to cut down Jang No with my own hands.'

It was his honest inner thought.

Although it was a memory before Cheon Mubaeck had recalled his past life, the image of Jang No cherishing him was clear.

Was it because Cheon Mubaeck's feelings were transmitted?

A faint smile appeared on Jang No's lips.

"I will be honest with you. This old man has carried a single sword and has devoted decades to the Azure Star Escort Agency out of gratitude. To me, the Demonic Path's world is a useless name and goal. However, I cannot stop the entire Sword Sect from joining hands with the Blood Demon Valley with just my opinion."

"You mean you need the opinions of others?"

"As you said, Young Master, there are not a few who wish to become complete demons."

At those words, Cheon Mubaeck smiled lightly.

"Complete demons..."

It was not a wish that could not be understood.

It was not just a day or two, but a persecution that had lasted for hundreds of years.

Beings who were demons but were persecuted in the Demonic Path and were branded as traitors.

Beings on the border who could not stand on the side of the Orthodox Path.

They would rather become complete demons based on the power they had and wield power in the Demonic Path.

Cheon Mubaeck understood.

Paradoxically, a trust in Jang No was formed.

'He's thinking of not joining hands with the Blood Demon Valley, at least for my sake.'

Perhaps Jang No also had similar thoughts. But if he did so, it would be a decision to turn Cheon Mubaeck into an enemy. Jang No, who disliked that, had revealed his honest inner thoughts.

Cheon Mubaeck grinned.

"Gather all the demons of the Sword Sect."

"What?"

"It's not a matter that can be decided alone, is it?"

"......"

"And at the place where everyone is gathered, I should at least say, 'Please spare me just this once,' shouldn't I? Only then might they abandon their decision to join hands with the Blood Demon Valley to strike me."

For a moment, Jang No's body flinched.

The gist was that he would persuade them directly at the place where the demons of the Sword Sect were gathered.

But a strong warning rang in Jang No's mind. Jang No's trembling gaze fell on Cheon Mubaeck. A faint smile appeared under his still calm face, and it was a very nice smile that he had liked so much.

But Jang No found it difficult to smile back as he had in the old days. No, it was hard.

An ominous assumption that came to mind kept poking at his mind.

"Everyone... you say?

"That would be easier, wouldn't it?"

Jang No's upper body became stiff and upright.

It might just mean that it would be easier to persuade them if they were all gathered in one place.

But as words always are, the same words and sentences can have different meanings.

He could feel it clearly. That there was another hidden meaning. That there were thorns in the words.

Why was that?

Why did it feel ambiguous?

That was simple. Jang No already knew. The ominous assumption that came to mind.

'What if, just what if, the persuasion fails?'

Then what would be the result?

The failure of persuasion meant that the public opinion of the Sword Sect would be set on joining hands with the Blood Demon Valley.

Then the Sword Sect would become Cheon Mubaeck's enemy. They would become the adversary of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

The one who would chase a demon to the end and kill them was Cheon Mubaeck.

Jang No's palms became damp with sweat.

Wouldn't it be easier?

Somehow, those words sounded like this to Jang No's ears.

'To kill them all at once, wouldn't it be easier if they were all gathered...'

For the first time, fear appeared in Jang No's gaze as he looked at Cheon Mubaeck.

(End of Chapter)