Reincarnation of the Cloud Dragon - Chapter 48

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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Chapter 48.
“I’ve come to collect on a debt.”
I greeted Si Kong Zhen, the Vice Director of the Inspection Bureau, with composure.
The visit Gal Mu Heun had warned me about.
Since I had borrowed the Inspection Bureau’s blade when striking down the Poison Fang Hall, it was only natural that I would eventually have to repay that debt.
“I am Yun Cheon.”
“Well… there’s no need to feel burdened by the debt. We’ve also benefited greatly thanks to you. Yes, I’d say this qualifies as a fair trade, wouldn’t you?”
Si Kong Zhen said this while reaching into his robes.
“Have you ever heard of the ‘Wind Cloud Ranking’?”
“What is that?”
Si Kong Zhen withdrew a piece of paper folded multiple times from his robes and handed it to me.
Thud.
“A notice that began circulating half a year ago, primarily through the sect’s inns and taverns. It apparently ranks the standing of our sect’s promising disciples.”
When I unfolded the paper, it displayed rankings from first to one hundredth place.
The names of the Demonic Cult’s most renowned promising disciples were recorded, along with their approximate martial prowess levels and distinctive characteristics.
“When it first appeared, everyone dismissed it. They treated it as mere scribbling picked up from hearsay.”
“But then one day, someone dissatisfied with their low ranking challenged the warrior ranked directly above them. What do you think the outcome was?”
“I suppose… whether the challenger won or lost, it would have made for interesting spectacle.”
“Indeed. The challenger emerged victorious. People ridiculed the Wind Cloud Ranking as inaccurate and reduced it to mere tavern gossip. However….”
Si Kong Zhen’s eyes narrowed.
“…that wasn’t the end of it. The very next day, a new Wind Cloud Ranking appeared. The victorious challenger’s ranking had risen, while the defeated warrior had plummeted.”
“Then… does this mean the Wind Cloud Ranking is being continuously updated?”
“Precisely.”
A subtle smile played at the corners of Si Kong Zhen’s mouth.
“What began as a jest has, in merely half a year, become the most credible standard within our sect. Now, every hot-blooded youth checks the Wind Cloud Ranking the moment they open their eyes, desperately determined to see their name climb higher.”
“…Remarkable. To think that a mere scrap of paper could set promising disciples dancing in the palm of one’s hand.”
“Indeed. Now the Wind Cloud Ranking has become the very measure of a warrior’s worth and the prestige of their family.”
I silently turned through the pages.
Ingenious.
And fascinating.
It wasn’t merely a listing of information, but was written with subtle cunning to stimulate the reader’s imagination and competitive spirit.
“This is intriguing. But why are you telling me this?”
“Hehe… well, naturally, because I have a request for you related to this Wind Cloud Ranking. It’s an opportunity for you to repay the Inspection Bureau’s debt, and it will certainly be a transaction that benefits you as well.”
Si Kong Zhen held up two fingers.
“There are two requests. One easy, one difficult.”
Si Kong Zhen’s expression showed anticipation for which I would choose.
I met his gaze without flinching.
‘He tells me to repay a debt… but asks me to choose a request? And claims it won’t be a loss for me….’
In that moment, I understood.
This was no simple request.
This old schemer was testing me right now.
How useful I was as a blade of the Inspection Bureau.
‘The Inspection Bureau entrusts a commission to an outsider, a mere warrior of the Demonic Way Hall? They’re trying to gauge the measure of my capabilities.’
Having discerned his intentions, Yun Cheon answered without hesitation.
“I’ll hear the difficult task first.”
“Hoh?”
A satisfied gleam flickered across Si Kong Zhen’s eyes.
“A fine attitude. The difficult commission is… to uncover the ‘informant’ within this Feng Yun Gang.”
Yun Cheon’s eyebrows twitched.
Find the informant.
‘He’s not merely referring to a mere lackey. The crux lies in who, and for what purpose, leaked information about the Feng Yun Gang.’
It was certainly a task worthy of being called difficult.
To gather intelligence on countless late-stage cultivators in the heart of the Demonic Cult’s territory and update it in real time?
It was impossible with ordinary intelligence networks and execution capabilities.
The fact that even the Inspection Bureau hadn’t grasped the thread proved it.
“What benefit would I gain from finding this person?”
“Hehehehe… If you manage to uncover this individual…”
Si Kong Zhen withdrew a silver-hued tablet from his robes and placed it upon the table.
A weighty silver tablet engraved with the Inspection Bureau’s insignia.
“I shall grant you an ‘Immunity Privilege’ directly guaranteed by the Director of the Inspection Bureau. Save for treason, it is authority to absolve you of all investigations and suspicions by the Inspection Bureau—once.”
Immunity Privilege.
The weight of those words struck my mind.
It might hold little personal significance for me.
I was no criminal skulking in shadows.
But if I were to use that immunity regarding matters connected to the Ten Demon Sects or the Twelve Orthodox Families?
‘If the Inspection Bureau turns a blind eye to any matter… it becomes possible to revive a wavering clan or sect. I could manipulate the power structure within the Demonic Cult to my liking.’
For one bent on destroying the Demonic Cult from within, no sweeter weapon existed.
‘Indeed… a reward befitting such a difficult task.’
If finding the informant was the difficult task.
Deducing the easy task was simple.
“Then, the easy task must be to enter the ranks of this Feng Yun Gang, correct?”
Yun Cheon asked Si Kong Zhen as if he had already anticipated it.
“You’ve guessed correctly again! Hehehehe….”
A glimmer of intrigue danced in Si Kong Zhen’s eyes.
“Indeed… you are Gal Mu Heun’s blade and mind. To deduce this much in a single breath.”
Si Kong Zhen leaned forward, clearly pleased with Yun Cheon.
“The Inspection Bureau intends to exploit this Feng Yun Gang. Currently, those who have risen to the upper ranks are mostly from the Ten Demon Sects and the Twelve Orthodox Families.”
“So you’re telling me to overturn that board.”
“Precisely. You’re more than capable of it. We wish to indirectly check them.”
Si Kong Zhen pointed with his finger to the lowest rung of the Feng Yun Gang hierarchy.
“For now, rank one hundred. The Feng Yun Record only documents up to the hundredth rank. So, if your name appears in the Feng Yun Record and your ranking rises, the Inspection Bureau will sponsor you.”
The Inspection Bureau’s intention was crystal clear.
‘So they intend to cultivate rising masters—not the entrenched powers of the Twelve Orthodox Families and Ten Demon Sects.’
Indeed, Si Kong Zhen’s proposal was one that held no disadvantage for me.
“Very well. I shall do so.”
“Then, I wish you good fortune.”
“One thing. If I may ask a question.”
“Speak freely. What is it?”
“How many others have you made this same proposal to?”
“…How did you know?”
Si Kong Zhen’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
Young men around my age were typically brimming with youthful vigor, and with just a little encouragement, they became pawns of the Inspection Bureau with ease.
Merely having the central organization of the Inspection Bureau approach them was enough to make them rejoice as though they had become prodigies of the martial world.
But the boy before me was different.
Rather than excitement, he was instead deducing the Inspection Bureau’s intentions and movements.
“It’s simple, really. From the Inspection Bureau’s perspective, wouldn’t more rising masters to check the established powers be better?”
Even if the Inspection Bureau found the distributor of the Feng Yun Record, they likely had no intention of causing trouble.
Rather, it was obvious they would view the Feng Yun Record as a subtle method to check the existing powers.
‘From the beginning… you only asked me to find the distributor, not to capture them or kill them.’
Si Kong Zhen, having read between the lines of my question, burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha…! Now I understand why Gal Mu Heun treasures you so. Well then, is there anything else you’re curious about? Should I tell you about the ones we have our strings attached to?”
“That won’t be necessary. Simply send me one copy of every Feng Yun Record distributed so far. That will be sufficient.”
“…Very well. I’ll have Sa Do Myeong send them to you shortly. Somehow, I have a feeling that with you on the case, you’ll be able to find the distributor. There’s no need to rush.”
The deal was struck.
After Si Kong Zhen departed, I stood alone and examined the Feng Yun Record.
‘Using the Feng Yun Record to incite competition among the later generations… it reminds me of someone I know.’
The fox of Zamadong.
The smiling fox, Yu Ha.
Now that I thought about it, it had been over a year since I last saw him.
Then, as I examined the Feng Yun Record, a familiar handwriting caught my eye.
‘That distinctive, slightly slanted script… it was you after all. Yu Ha.’
Though we had only crossed paths briefly in Zamadong, it was a connection that lingered in my memory.
‘…I don’t know where you are, but somehow it always feels like you’re nearby.’
You had used the Black Iron Medallion against Gal Mu Heun before I did.
And you had sent the Gong Qing Stone Oil to arrange a meeting with Saengsa Jjon.
‘…Is even the Inspection Bureau’s movements just another piece on your game board?’
Yu Ha had said it clearly back then.
[Let’s play a bigger game from a higher place.]
“This should be interesting.”
* * *
After accepting Si Kong Zhen’s proposal.
I secluded myself in the Stone Chamber prepared for cultivation in one corner of the Inner Library.
Setting aside the Feng Yun Method for now, I took my position at the center of the chamber.
‘Let’s begin.’
My hands extended slowly toward the empty air.
In my left hand materialized a weighty saber, while my right hand grasped a keen blade.
Two weapons of differing lengths, weights, and natures.
Most martial artists would struggle to master even one, yet I wielded both simultaneously.
A soft whisper echoed through the chamber.
My eyes closed as my consciousness split in two.
Divided Soul Twin Technique.
The blade in my left hand traced gentle circles through the void.
Kunlun’s Orthodox Dual Yin Sword Method.
Like the endless undulating waves of the Yangtze River, the sword’s path flowed with grace and righteousness.
Meanwhile, the saber in my right hand cut through space like lightning.
Huashan’s Reverse Dual Yin Saber Method.
It carried relentless speed that allowed no breath, and an audacity that seemed to tear the very fabric of space.
Flowing water and descending lightning.
Opposite principles that should never mingle bloomed in miraculous coexistence within the vessel that was me.
Left Blade, Right Saber.
It was both sword dance and saber wind.
The blade and saber in my hands flowed sometimes gently, sometimes with ferocious speed.
Truly, infinite transformations.
A single blade could manifest a thousand variations.
The blade and saber in each hand could generate boundless permutations.
‘This is… the Orthodox Reverse Dual Yin…!’
A glimpse of the supreme martial art that could handle all directions emerged.
Entranced by the exhilaration, I wielded the blade and saber like a madman, lost in perfect absorption.
‘…Not yet. It’s insufficient.’
But as time passed, my limitations became apparent.
As someone who could only manipulate yin-cold energy, I could not manifest sufficient yang force.
Thick veins bulged across my forehead.
‘For now… this is my limit.’
I abandoned my attachment and withdrew both weapons.
Simultaneously, I gradually stilled the fierce vortex spinning in my dantian.
“Haah….”
Cold breath poured from my lips.
Though incomplete, I had confirmed the possibility.
Even as a half-realized Orthodox Reverse Dual Yin manifested through yin-cold energy alone, its power was sufficient to tear the air within the chamber.
‘When I finally master yang energy as well…’
Just as Yun Cheon emerged from his state of absolute focus, wiping sweat from his brow and steadying his breathing, she appeared.
“…Yun Cheon.”
When Yun Cheon turned around, Yalü Hee stood there with a deeply furrowed brow.
“…Did I keep you waiting?”
“The waiting doesn’t matter. But…,”
Yalü Hee protested in an irritated voice.
“What on earth is that technique! Left sword, right blade…! I thought I’d finally grasped the Wind God’s Dance and caught up a little!”
“Mm… you’re doing well enough. There’s no need to rush.”
“Tch… fine. But what is this thing?”
In her hand was the Wind Cloud Ledger that had been left in a corner of the Stone Chamber.
“The Demonic Cult’s late-stage ranking index…? My brother’s name is listed too…?”
“Hm….”
Now that I thought about it, I too had seen the surname Yalü in the Wind Cloud Ledger.
“…Thirty-seventh rank. Minor Patriarch of the Guang Feng Yalü Family. Yalü Cheok.”
Yalü Hee’s voice trembled faintly.
“My brother’s ranking is only this low…? And I’m not even on the list at all…?”
Yalü Hee seemed shocked.
“There’s nothing to be disappointed about. The Wind Cloud Ledger updates monthly. My name isn’t on it either.”
I replied.
Only then did Yalü Hee seem relieved.
“What? Your name isn’t on it either? Then… it’s completely unreliable!”
“It’s not necessarily something to view that way… The reason we’re not ranked is likely because we’ve never demonstrated our martial prowess outside the Demonic Sect. Without information, they cannot evaluate us.”
“Ah…? Is that how it works? Well… looking at the caliber of those whose names are listed….”
Yalü Hee’s expression softened somewhat, though a hint of indignation still lingered.
“Soon, I intend to get my name on the Wind Cloud Ledger.”
“How?”
“It’s simple, isn’t it? Defeat someone whose name is already on the ledger publicly.”
“…You’re not saying you’re going to leave the Demonic Sect, are you?”
“Yes. It’s been a while since I graduated from Zamadong, hasn’t it? Now I’m ready. I plan to embark on a martial pilgrimage.”
My gaze settled on the lower section of the Wind Cloud Ledger.
‘If it were Yu Ha, he would have climbed the rankings using the method that would yield the greatest effect through the Wind Cloud Ledger.’
That would be rising from the very bottom at a faster pace than anyone else.
“…My first target shall be this one. Rank 100. Black Dragon Gang’s Deputy Leader, So Ryong.”

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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