Rebirth (3)
The young man I’ve been reborn as is named Byeok Lidan.
This place is called Qufu in Shandong Province, a remote area on the outskirts of the Central Plains.
Our family, the Byeok Clan Sword School, is said to be a traditional and prestigious family in Shandong.
My father is Byeok Dojun, and my mother is Im Yehwa.
Unlike my lively mother, my father is a calm and quiet man.
I’m their only child. I suspect that the reason Byeok Lidan turned out to be such a mess is because he was spoiled rotten as the only son.
I’ve decided to accept my current situation.
For the first few days, I hoped that everything would return to normal when I woke up. But that never happened.
In truth, being reborn as this young man isn’t all bad.
I gave up the position of the martial arts alliance leader, but what I gained was youth—something precious that can’t be bought with money or power. Besides, I was seventy when I died, having lived a full life.
Of course, it would have been better if this newfound youth came with some competence.
This Byeok Lidan was terrible at relationships and even worse at martial arts. At twenty, he had only five years’ worth of internal energy, and even that was impure and weak. His untrained body seemed like it would break at the slightest touch.
The only useful thing around here is this yellow-mouthed servant, Gwangdu. He’s been serving me since he was a child.
“Have you heard any rumors?”
“What kind of rumors?”
“Like the appearance of a legendary sword, a two-headed mystical creature… or the death of the alliance leader.”
It’s been days since my rebirth, so news of my death should have reached here by now, but it’s eerily quiet.
Of course, Shandong is far from the main base of the martial arts alliance, so it might take time for news to travel. Or perhaps they’re still keeping my death a secret. The death of the alliance leader would cause a huge stir in the martial world.
But they can’t hide it forever, can they? Well, Galsaryang will handle it somehow.
“There are rumors about you, young master.”
“What kind?”
“That you got beaten up by Miss Song and lost your mind.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. It had been a while since I last laughed.
In my past life, I was a man who rarely laughed. Then again, it wasn’t a position where one could laugh easily. I lived in a world where kindness was seen as a weakness.
“Is Miss Song really that beautiful?”
“Yes, she was beautiful even as a child. But when I saw her the other day, she was breathtakingly gorgeous. Didn’t you see the line of local ruffians trying to catch a glimpse of her? That’s partly why you got so worked up and tried to see her. Anyway, since your return, rumors have spread that she’s the most beautiful woman in Shandong.”
A woman, and a beautiful one at that.
In my past life, I met many women. During my prime, women flocked to me.
Among them were some of the four great beauties of the Central Plains, and even the most beautiful woman in the world at the time.
But I never shared true love with any of them.
I became a great master at too young an age. They saw me not as a man, but as the greatest martial artist. They smiled on the outside but feared me inside.
The women who didn’t fear me tried to use me to gain power. If not them, then their parents did. I cut them all off and crushed them.
By the time I gained the discernment to choose a proper woman, I was too busy fighting the demonic sects to have time for relationships. I spent every moment, except for eating and sleeping, fighting.
“Even if you got beaten up, you still want to see Miss Song, don’t you? I understand, young master.”
“Enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, enough about women.”
“Oh my! Did you just refer to Miss Song as just a woman? She’s not just any woman; she’s Song Hwarin, the most beautiful woman in Shandong. The very Miss Song you almost died trying to see!”
“Yes, enough about the most beautiful woman in Shandong. Go fetch me a sword.”
“Why a sword all of a sudden?”
Because a sword is the only true companion I’ve ever had.
“Why? Does a martial artist need a reason to seek a sword?”
“Martial artist, sword. Those words don’t suit you at all, young master.”
“Disobedience, punishment, accidental killing of a subordinate. How about those? Do they suit me?”
“Yes! I’ll get it right away.”
Gwangdu clutched his head and dashed off.
It took him quite a while to return with the sword.
“I had to search for it. It was buried in the storage.”
Holding the sword in my hand, I felt a sense of calm.
In my past life, I was known as the God of Martial Arts. I mastered nearly every martial art, but if I had to choose one, it would be swordsmanship.
In my later years, I reached the level of controlling the sword with my will. With just a flick of my finger, my sword would fly like lightning and pierce my opponent’s heart.
But the level I sought was beyond that.
The realm of the mind sword.
A state where a physical sword is unnecessary.
Those who reach the mind sword realm can freely wield an invisible sword created by their mind.
It’s said that the mind sword can cut through anything in the world. The stronger the mind, the more powerful the mind sword becomes.
I wanted to see what my mind’s sword was like.
But I never reached the mind sword realm.
And now, I’ve been reborn. I have a burning desire to walk the path I couldn’t in my past life.
But if even the perfect body of Cheon Hwa-jin, optimized for martial arts, couldn’t achieve it, can I do it as Byeok Lidan?
Srrrng.
I slowly drew the sword.
“It was a good sword once.”
Neglect and lack of care had left it in poor condition.
“Of course, it was the sword the head of the family personally gave you on your fifteenth birthday.”
“To let such a fine sword go to waste. What a fool.”
“At least you realize it now.”
I pointed the sword at him, and he recoiled in fear.
“Just stick to calling me a fool! No need to add ‘crazy’!”
“Haha.”
Don’t worry, kid. Since my rebirth, this is the clearest my mind has been.
Holding the sword made my heart race with excitement.
‘When was the last time I drew a sword?’
After defeating the demonic sects and rooting out the traitors within the martial arts alliance, I only drew my sword during training. In my later years, when I realized I couldn’t reach the mind sword realm, I stopped using a sword altogether.
Gazing at the gleaming blade, I steeled my resolve once more.
‘In this life, I will!’
I will reach the mind sword realm.
Achieving a certain level requires various elements.
Innate talent, relentless effort, unexpected enlightenment, and even miraculous opportunities.
In my past life, I experienced all of these.
I had talent, I worked hard, and I gained enlightenment and opportunities.
As a result, I became the greatest in the world.
But to reach the mind sword realm, one more thing was needed.
Heaven’s favor.
The luck that combines all those elements at the right time to produce results—the permission of the heavens.
In this life, I will try again.
Whether that luck is absent in this life as well, only time will tell.
“Go fetch a whetstone.”
“A whetstone? You’re not planning to crack my skull with it, are you?”
“I’m going to sharpen the sword.”
“Who are you planning to kill?”
I glanced at Gwangdu, and he flinched and stepped back.
“Don’t joke around.”
“Why do you think it’s a joke? Crazy people usually start by killing those closest to them.”
“How do you know that?”
How do I know? I’ve seen countless people like that in my life. Those driven by madness to slaughter their own families.
“But did you just say I’m the closest person to you?”
“Did I say that?”
Gwangdu looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“In this case, let’s say it’s the person physically closest to me.”
Gwangdu scratched his head and said, “That’s even stranger.”
A moment later, Gwangdu returned with the whetstone, and I began sharpening the sword.
Swish, swish, swish.
Watching my skilled hands, Gwangdu tilted his head.
“You’re good at this. When did you learn to sharpen a sword?”
Having lived my whole life with a sword, my skill in maintaining it was better than that of most blacksmiths.
“You’re so good at it, why didn’t you do it before?”
“Everything has its time.”
Gwangdu watched me quietly before asking again, “Are you really okay? When people change suddenly…”
My hands paused for a moment. I looked up at him. His eyes were filled with genuine concern. I hadn’t seen such a look in a long time.
The day I died, Baekpyo had looked at me like that. A look filled with true concern for the other person.
“I’m fine.”
Swish, swish, swish.
I resumed sharpening the sword.
In my past life, it didn’t matter what sword I wielded. Whether it was a stick from the ground or a treasured sword, the result would be the same.
In fact, I didn’t even need a sword. I could kill with my bare hands, and if I needed a sword, I’d just take my opponent’s.
But now, I need a good sword. My current body is in a state where it’s easy to die a dog’s death.
Gwangdu cautiously spoke, watching my expression.
“You’re not planning to use this sword to get revenge on Miss Song, are you? You mustn’t do that.”
At that moment, someone behind us picked up where Gwangdu left off.
“Is that really your reason?”
When I turned around, my mother, Im Yehwa, was standing there.
Gwangdu sprang to his feet and bowed deeply in greeting.
“Welcome, Madam.”
He stepped aside, allowing my mother to approach.
“Aren’t you going to ask? Are you really planning to harm Hwarin?”
“That’s not my intention.”
“Then why are you sharpening your sword?”
It was probably the first time my mother had seen me tending to a sword. It was only natural for her to be concerned, just like Gwangdu.
“I’m planning to start serious martial arts training.”
“You? Martial arts training?”
My mother was taken aback, and Gwangdu’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
“Gwangdu, did he just say what I think he said?”
“He said he’s going to train in martial arts.”
“Has he lost his mind?”
“Yes! We might need to call a doctor or an exorcist or something.”
Given my history of avoiding martial arts, their reactions were understandable.
My mother let out a deep sigh.
“So, you are planning to take revenge on Hwarin after all.”
Her eyes held a steely resolve befitting a strong woman, but beneath it lay an undeniable maternal love.
In my past life, I had no children. I never met someone I loved enough, and I didn’t want to see my bloodline caught in power struggles.
Without children, how could I fully understand her heart? But surely, she had gained more than just inner strength and wrinkles over seventy years.
I could feel her genuine care for her son. This woman would willingly lay down her life for her child.
“Would you take a look at this sword?”
I handed her the sword I had just finished sharpening. She examined it, surprised by the quality of the work.
“I don’t know what I’ll do with this sword in the future.”
Her gaze shifted from the sword to me.
“But I promise it won’t be used to harm a woman engaged to me, nor to oppress someone weaker. I give you my word as your son.”
Her eyes sparkled with a mix of emotions. It was probably the first time she’d heard such words from her son.
To be honest, I felt guilty towards her.
I wasn’t really her son.
But I couldn’t reveal the truth out of guilt for deceiving her.
The truth doesn’t always lead to good outcomes.
If she knew the truth, she would be devastated to learn that her son had vanished, leaving only a shell behind.
I had no intention of telling her that harsh truth. No matter how this story, which began with me becoming her son, ends.
Until then, I would live as her son.
I took back the sword I had given her.
“Don’t worry… Mother.”
I bowed respectfully and turned to leave. I could feel her troubled gaze following me, unsure how to process her son’s transformation.
Two more days passed.
There was still no news of my death, and I was gradually adjusting to life in Byeokridan.
Through Gwangdu, I learned about the people in the family, who they were, and what their personalities were like.
My memory had improved remarkably, allowing me to remember everything after hearing it just once.
The real challenge was adjusting to myself—or more precisely, my body.
Living as the greatest martial artist and then as a member of Byeokridan was incredibly difficult. It felt like going from a general riding a swift horse across the plains to a sloth on a turtle’s back.
Determined to start with what I could do, I headed to a nearby mountain.
I trudged up the snow-covered, deserted mountain path. Despite wearing fur-lined clothes, I shivered from the cold and nearly slipped several times. It was something my past self would never have imagined. I dreaded how often I’d have to say that in the future.
Near the summit, I found a small cave that could fit two or three adults.
I sat cross-legged inside.
The internal energy in my dantian was five years’ worth, and it was a mess, to say the least.
Fortunately, the martial arts technique I had mastered, the Cheonmuho Simjeol, was the most advanced technique of its time. While I couldn’t say the same for someone else’s body, I could purify the chaotic energy in my dantian.
Following the principles of the Cheonmuho Simjeol, I began to circulate my energy.
To my surprise, the meridians of Byeokridan were sturdier than expected. It was a small relief.
The vast ocean of Cheonmuho Simjeol began to cleanse the murky, stagnant energy of Byeokridan.
As I completed the first, second, and third cycles, and eventually the seventh, the five years’ worth of energy transformed into pure energy.
Though it was achieved in a short time, it was by no means an easy task. It was the result of combining the supreme technique of Cheonmuho Simjeol with the insights of the world’s greatest martial artist.
Now, I possessed five years’ worth of pure energy.
In my past life, my energy was equivalent to 240 years. Going from that to just five years made me sigh, but at least I could now circulate energy, albeit weakly.
The task ahead was to increase my energy.
The silver lining was that I had mastered the Cheonmuho Simjeol in my past life.
As a result, I could circulate energy as long as I was conscious. I could do it while walking, even while eating.
Moreover, the amount of energy generated with the same amount of time was incomparable to ordinary techniques. I could achieve at least three times the effect. If I could open the Ren and Du meridians, it would be five times, and if I could undergo a complete transformation, it would be ten times.
From now on, my task was to continuously increase my energy. I planned to circulate the Cheonmuho Simjeol whenever I wasn’t sleeping.
The next step was to build my basic physical strength.
While internal energy is the foundation of martial arts, basic physical strength is crucial. A strong body enhances the power of both internal and external martial arts.
When I returned home from the mountain, Gwangdu came running in a panic.
“Something’s happened.”
I thought the moment had finally come. News of my death, perhaps.
But it was unexpected news.
“Song Munju has arrived.”
“Who?”
“Master Song Wugyeong, the father of Miss Song.”
“If he’s here, he’s here. Why the fuss?”
“Because Miss Song is with him!”
Song Hwarin, my betrothed, the most beautiful woman in Shandong, the one who beat me up.
She was someone worth making a fuss over, but I felt calm.
“They’ve been waiting for you. Where have you been?”
“Why are they looking for me?”
“Why? To apologize to Miss Song, of course.”
“She’s the one who beat me up. Shouldn’t she apologize?”
“We started the trouble in the first place. There’s no time for this, let’s go.”
Practically pushed by Gwangdu, I headed to the guest hall.