Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Subduing Demon Hall
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I entered the annex, recalling Han Baekryeong's swordsmanship. There had been eyes watching me, but they vanished after a short while. I meditated on that swordsmanship for about half a shichen, but no answers came, so I let out a deep sigh.
"Huuu..."
I had no idea what was what.
"Incarnation Style?"
Just like the Wind God Style, it was one of the martial arts schools that had supported the White Lotus Church. I hadn't pressed her on it right there, letting it slide, but if what she said was true, then Han Baekryeong's martial arts were also tied to the White Lotus Church.
I had rarely heard anything about the Incarnation Style from Lee Gwang. Unlike the Wind God Style, which was like a hated rival, the Incarnation Style was just dismissed as "that thing that exists." He'd even shown clear annoyance whenever I tried to ask about it.
Looking back now, it seemed less like "I don't know" and more like "I don't even want to mention it." That alone was proof that Lee Gwang actually knew quite a bit about the Incarnation Style. That was when my thoughts were interrupted.
"Young Hero Baek Woong, you truly are a mysterious person."
The door to the annex opened, and Han Jinseong, the young house lord of the Han family, entered. He still possessed that dazzlingly handsome appearance. I sat up slightly, puzzled by his sudden visit, when Han Jinseong spoke.
"In the past ten years, the family head has never shown such interest in anyone else. To even demonstrate a secret technique—it's truly remarkable."
"What are you talking about? Just seeing that one sword form isn't going to advance my martial arts. I'm not some genius like that."
I snapped at him irritably. His words felt like mockery.
There were only two days left until the Hidden Classic Martial Combat Assembly. Gaining enlightenment from a single sword form and growing stronger by then was the stuff of novels. I even started thinking Han Baekryeong and Han Jinseong were just toying with me.
But Han Jinseong smiled oddly and clapped his fingers together.
Two beautiful maids appeared from beyond the door, carrying a large wooden board that they placed on the floor. Looking closely, it had nineteen lines crisscrossing it. Recognizing it, I muttered.
"Go?"
It was a game where black and white stones were placed alternately to invade each other's territories, with victory determined by territorial advantage. Though simple in concept, it required sharp mental rotation and judgment, making it popular among scholars. While studying under Mangnyang for three years, I'd occasionally played it with him to clear my head.
Han Jinseong said.
"Do you know how to play?"
"I know the basics. But why bring it here?"
"If it's not too rude, how about a light game?"
I glanced down at the board and grumbled curtly.
"I'm busy. My head's killing me—why play this now?"
"Haha. Haven't you taken risks countless times before? Spare a little time for this adventure with me, and you might gain something."
"......"
I could tell Han Jinseong had some intent behind suggesting Go. With no choice, I sat across from him. My mind was already a mess anyway, so I wanted to cool off lightly.
"Fine."
"You take black. White is enough for me."
"Black has the advantage—are you sure?"
"Didn't you say you only know the basics?"
"It's not that easy to look down on me."
Mangnyang's skill was superior, so I always lost, but he'd praised my talent. Whether out of consideration or not, I was confident in my eye for endgames and overall matches. Han Jinseong said.
"To make it fun, let's add a wager."
"What kind?"
"The loser grants the winner one wish."
"... Fine."
Han Jinseong was the young house lord of the Han family. If he wished it, taking my life would be as easy as lifting a hand, so I accepted without worry. With my life feeling half-forsaken anyway, like I was about to die soon, it didn't matter.
The match began soon after. I placed stones calmly according to standard opening theory. After about fifty moves, Han Jinseong said, sounding surprised.
"You're quite good. Even among Luoyang's scholars, I'm considered top-tier..."
"Focus."
"Haha..."
Han Jinseong smiled and placed a stone.
Tak.
"The big battle has begun."
As he said, the board erupted into a fierce clash between my black stones and his white. It was because Han Jinseong rejected a tame exchange and went for an all-or-nothing gamble. It was impossible to predict who would win. Glancing at him, I saw him say.
"All life or total annihilation."
"I'll live."
"Then play."
Tak.
Tak.
Over a dozen moves flew by in an instant. I was playing at my usual level when suddenly ko fights emerged, complicating the board. Ko was a fierce standoff where each side checked the other to save major groups, and now two had formed, making it grueling.
"......"
As I pondered deeply, Han Jinseong said.
"Can you read it?"
"Honestly, no clue."
"Most players couldn't read this position. I made it deliberately complex."
I twitched my eyebrow.
"Sounds like you intended this."
"That's right. I led it here."
"Cut the bluffing. Think I wouldn't notice if you did?"
Han Jinseong smiled faintly.
"If you don't believe me, I'll end this in a draw."
"Nonsense!"
Impossible. No sense of it at all—how could that be? Determined to save my group and crush his arrogance, I racked my brain and played hard. Half a shichen passed like that.
Tak.
"......!!"
His move left me hollow.
'No way... it's a draw.'
No need to count the endgame. My big group teetered on death but survived; his territory stabilized. Both found paths to live, forming exactly equal ground. Not even half a point difference—a perfect draw.
At a loss for words, I heard Han Jinseong say.
"Well? See?"
"... So what? Come here in the dead of night just to show off your Go skills?"
"Huu... You still don't get it."
He sighed softly and continued.
"Secure your life first, then seek to kill the opponent. I didn't manipulate the board—I simply blocked your reckless aggression appropriately. That let me cover my weakness and even find a way to save your big group."
"......!!"
My face burned. His words hit home. I'd thought my moves were brilliant, but they'd all been read by his plays. It wasn't just skill difference—it was our approach to Go.
As I fell silent, Han Jinseong said.
"Go is like life. Winning is key, but you must also find ways not to lose. Losing is death, so without securing your own path first, you can never defeat the foe."
"Trying to lecture me?"
"If this were a deathmatch with martial arts instead of Go, what then? Could you accept death with 'I gave it my all, burning with fighting spirit'? Is that what your life amounts to?"
"......"
I flinched, knowing deep down that was my mindset. I'd charged like a wild boar without looking back so many times, dying repeatedly. I had no retort. I'd tried to hold back, but my temper always won.
Han Jinseong said.
"I don't know your enemy. But they must wield immense power, keen wisdom, and vast influence. Otherwise, with your current martial arts, you'd feel no urgency.
Facing such a foe, you must above all secure your own survival. Every powerhouse has weaknesses—to strike them requires ice-cold judgment and superior patience. You know they can't be toppled by luck alone."
Every word rang true. It differed slightly from Mangnyang's advice, which focused on righteous heroism. Han Jinseong viewed it from a higher, colder vantage. Unknowingly drawn in, I listened intently as he said.
"Remember: surviving can be winning."
"Surviving is winning...?"
An idea I'd never considered—I echoed it blankly. He nodded.
"What's hard about charging in for a life-or-death clash? Even a child with a sword can rush an adult. What matters is deciding when and how to wield it. Fail that, and you're trampled, mocked, and broken. That's life."
"......"
"The Han family will veto your entry into the Hidden Classic Martial Combat Assembly. The Eight Demonic Sects' Fighting Demon may force it, but that scum can't touch us. Stay in the annex from now on and refine yourself."
The Eight Demonic Sects were the mightiest in the unorthodox world, with the Asura Sect backed by the underworld. Yet dismissing their Fighting Demon as "scum" showed the Han family's terrifying depth. Speechless, I heard him casually add as he cleared the board.
"You're incredibly lucky. Stumbling into things led you to guest status here by chance, caught the family head's eye by chance, learned a secret technique by chance, and now get our aid against the Eight Demonic Lords... It's my first time seeing such fortune, so I wanted to advise you."
"......"
"Rest well."
With that, Han Jinseong left the annex.
I pondered his words deeply.
Luck?
'...Huh. Now that I think about it, my luck has been insane this time.'
A cold splash in my mind—I realized my actions since arriving in Luoyang had been a chain of fortune. Without that official mentioning the Han family, without thinking to become their guest, what then? Dozens or hundreds of Luoyang experts would be slaughtering each other over me and the gold ingot by now. If Asura Sect elites joined, I'd have died pointlessly in the chaos again.
Avoiding that doom, gaining a safe haven, Hidden Classic info, and even glimpsing Incarnation Style essence—it was pure luck. Any other path, and I'd be dead.
Hundreds of millions to one odds poured on me. In all my reincarnations, I'd rarely felt such fortune—I blankly reviewed my past.
"...No way?"
I recalled my conversation with Cheon Woojin.
[Indeed. We offered the Dark Night Manual to the Void Heaven Lord to dispel the calamity. Thus, you, its future master, will receive a great gift from him.]
[A gift? What is it?]
[I don't know. But since the Void Heaven Lord interferes with fate, it may relate to that.]
"......!!"
My eyes widened.
Only one explanation for this luck.
The Void Heaven Lord had intervened in my fate, granting me fortune! I'd wandered carelessly, ready to die anytime, yet survived with fortuitous encounters—all thanks to the Dark Night Manual boosting my luck.
'No, surely not... can't assume that.'
But soon, I confirmed it.
Paaaat!!
"......!!"
About eight weeks had passed since I'd holed up meditating, sometimes training, pondering Han Baekryeong's sword form. Asura Sect experts had come to invite me to the assembly, but the Han family's might sent them packing. Amid my endless training routine, it happened.
A sudden epiphany startled me. My mind whirred unnaturally sharp, revealing where I'd floundered in the Thunder Shadow Step's Heaven Piercer.
Yes.
If my talent fell short, just apply the Mysterious Heaven Divine Art!
Unlike the Thunder Spirit Qi, Wudang's Mysterious Heaven Divine Art supported another flow through my eight extraordinary meridians. I'd used it merely as an extra channel for my abundant qi, but it aided brain function to grasp dual intent flows easily—a hallmark of Wudang arts.
It worked!
Testing Thunder Shadow Step's Heaven Piercer with the Mysterious Heaven formula, my brain adapted to multiple calculations effortlessly. It smoothed the form's tricky turns and power adjustments! In one go, I reached proficiency, as if years of practice.
Moreover, insights from Han Baekryeong's form patched flaws in my Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship, intensifying its illusions and transformations. My sloppy prior level vanished—my martial arts surged in an instant.
Not from my genius. A once-in-millions-days inspiration clicked perfectly—supreme luck! Nothing but artificial.
"Damn... crap...!!"
Tears streaming, I cursed in joy.
Out of nowhere, I sensed the Dark Night Manual's luck would ease my future reincarnations.