Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Blood Sea Demon Well
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Wi Ji-un, the Young Lord of the Gwanghan Sword Sect, who had been casting heated glances at Bu Eun-seol, finally spoke up.
“Young Master Bu, you seem to be the scion of a rather wealthy family.”
Clearing his throat, he asked in a suggestive tone.
“Might I inquire as to which family you hail from?”
“There’s not much to say about my origins. I simply have a small fortune inherited from my parents.”
“I see.”
Wi Ji-un’s lips curled into a blatant sneer at the far more pathetic answer than he had expected.
He concluded that the man was nothing more than a pretty face.
“Then what is it you do now?”
“And what do you wish to do in the future?”
After that, Bu Eun-seol was relentlessly questioned not only by Wi Ji-un but by the other young men of the Seven Sword Sects as well.
Most of the questions, however, were just thinly veiled jabs at his pathetic future and lack of ambition.
‘It’s the same everywhere.’
It was true when he was a salt vendor, and it was true now that he was in the martial world. People were all the same.
They were all filled with the desire to make themselves look good.
‘But making oneself look good is no easy task.’
Bu Eun-seol inwardly shook his head.
So people choose the easy way. They criticize and belittle others to elevate themselves.
It was a method anyone could use without learning, and its effects were immediate.
“I see. I wasn’t aware.”
Whether they used insulting language or twisted his words to mock him, Bu Eun-seol paid them no mind.
He had already endured this countless times as a salt vendor.
In fact, compared to being cursed at or pointed at for no reason at all, this was nothing.
‘I should make a graceful exit.’
The night had deepened, and the drinking party had grown more lively.
He had played along well enough; Bu Eun-seol had done his part.
“Mmm.”
Bu Eun-seol let out a deliberately low yawn and rose from his seat.
“I’m tired, so I’ll be taking my leave. Enjoy yourselves.”
At his words, the young men of the Seven Sword Sects brightened and nodded in unison.
“Of course. You should go if you’re tired.”
“Go on, then.”
“We’ll see you off.”
Bu Eun-seol gave a bitter smile and turned to leave. But just then, Guyang Cheong-jeong followed him out.
“Young Master Bu.”
Her expression was full of apology.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“For what?”
“People who practice martial arts all have a strong competitive streak.”
Though she had pretended not to notice and chattered on, it seemed to have been weighing on her mind.
“I’ll apologize on behalf of my friends for their rudeness. I hope you weren’t too offended.”
It was a sincere apology.
Bu Eun-seol had rarely received apologies from others, especially from those who considered themselves of high status.
‘She’s a little different.’
Guyang Cheong-jeong, for all her boisterousness, had a certain grace about her and a righteous disposition.
“It’s alright. Enjoy yourselves.”
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol offered a genuine smile.
And his smile was so dazzling that Guyang Cheong-jeong could only stare at him, her mouth agape.
“Well then.”
Just as Bu Eun-seol turned to walk back to the Jinhyangwon where he was staying,
*Zing!*
A deeply ominous and unpleasant sensation swept through his entire body.
A large number of people radiating sharp killing intent were converging on their location.
‘Not assassins.’
If they were assassins, they would have concealed their killing intent and approached with extreme stealth.
But this approaching killing intent was thick and undisguised, brazenly pouring in their direction.
‘Are they targeting them?’
Strictly speaking, Jinyang was within the sphere of influence of the Orthodox Faction.
If the Demonic or Unorthodox Factions were to clash here, no one would intervene or help, making it a rather suitable place for an ambush.
‘This should be interesting.’
The martial arts of the Nang-ya-gak involved finding things to learn even from the real battles of others.
A fight was something worth paying to see, so he was in no position to turn down one that was about to unfold on its own.
‘This is a problem. I need to watch from up close.’
But there was no place in the annex to hide and secretly observe the fight.
After a moment of thought, he immediately turned and spoke to Guyang Cheong-jeong.
“Would it be alright if I stayed a little longer?”
“Pardon?”
“The fresh air sobered me up… and now that I think about it, I don’t have much to do back in my room.”
Guyang Cheong-jeong looked at him with a puzzled expression.
It was painfully obvious he would only be met with more ridicule if he returned, so why would he want to go back?
“Well…”
But refusing would only hurt Bu Eun-seol more. In the end, Guyang Cheong-jeong forced an awkward smile and nodded.
“Of course.”
When Bu Eun-seol re-entered the Seogangwon with Guyang Cheong-jeong, the young men of the Seven Sword Sects looked dumbfounded.
—Does that guy have no shame?
—I think Young Lady Guyang just politely asked him to stay, and he actually came back.
They showed him open contempt, but Bu Eun-seol simply averted his gaze, unconcerned, and sat down.
‘They’re here.’
There was no need to extend the senses of the Beast Dao.
The approaching group was passing through the main gate of the Seogangwon without any attempt to conceal their presence.
*Thud, thud.*
Before long, the heavy sound of many footsteps, as if a group was moving in unison, could be heard from outside the window.
“It sounds like someone is coming.”
As if only now sensing the encroaching killing intent, the eyes of the young men in the banquet hall glinted.
They exchanged sharp glances before walking outside.
*Clack.*
Finally, the door was thrown open, and martial artists dressed in red uniforms began to file in one by one.
Their complexions were ashen like corpses, and they carried no weapons. And they were overtly radiating a thick killing intent.
“Who are you?”
Ma Han asked, looking at the martial artists.
But they remained silent, their eyes gleaming.
As the suffocating silence continued, Wi Ji-un stepped forward.
“I believe you’ve come to the wrong place. Which sect are you from?”
When there was still no answer, Wi Ji-un raised his voice once more.
“Or do you mean to make a common enemy of the heirs of the Seven Sword Sects of Qinghai?”
Wi Ji-un’s intention was to subtly reveal their identities and make the men back down.
But upon hearing his words, the men in red simply sneered.
“The Seven Sword Sects of Qinghai?”
The man who appeared to be the leader of the thirty or so martial artists stepped forward and spoke.
“So a bunch of brats were gathered here, playing house.”
“What did you say?”
Wi Ji-un unleashed his killing intent at the insulting words.
“What did you just say!”
The leader in red silently bared his white teeth.
His smile was so chilling it was like looking at some horrific creature not of this world.
Then, Wi Ji-un suddenly noticed a well-shaped emblem embroidered on the backs of the men in red.
“The Blood Sea Demon Well…”
In that instant, the faces of the young men from the Seven Sword Sects turned deathly pale.
Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong. The Blood Sea Demon Well.
It was a place where the most vicious demons among the Demonic Faction gathered.
Its power had been growing rapidly over the past decade, and it had finally become known as one of the Four Great Vile Dens of the martial world.
But why were these bloodthirsty, heartless demons surrounding this place?
As Wi Ji-un stood frozen, unable to speak, Ma Han, who was standing next to him, stepped up.
“I am Ma Han, the Young Lord of the Haeru Sword Sect.”
His opponents were the demons of the Blood Sea Demon Well, reviled even within the Demonic Faction as fiends of slaughter.
But Ma Han’s demeanor was polite yet dignified, a bearing befitting the scion of a renowned Demonic sect.
“You seem to be a senior member of the Blood Sea Demon Well, so why…”
“That is none of your concern.”
Rage flared in Ma Han’s eyes at the leader’s response.
No matter how fearsome the masters of the Blood Sea Demon Well were, they were the Young Lords representing the Seven Sword Sects. They could not let such an insult slide.
“How dare you!”
Just as Ma Han was about to draw his sword, Guyang Cheong-jeong, who was standing behind him, stopped him.
“Young Master Ma, please calm down.”
She then stepped forward and addressed the leader.
“What is it that you want?”
The leader looked at Guyang Cheong-jeong, his eyes flashing.
“So you’re Guyang Cheong-jeong, the prodigy of the Pungsa Sword Sect.”
“I asked why you have come all this way.”
“Hehehe.”
The man let out a low laugh and nodded.
“All you have to do is come with us quietly.”
Though he said to “come with them,” his meaning was clear.
Kidnapping. They intended to abduct the heirs of the Seven Sword Sects.
“What nonsense is this!”
At his reply, the young men behind them drew their swords.
They were in the prime of their youth, brimming with vigor, and having learned the ultimate arts of the Seven Sword Sects, they were confident they had no equal.
Even if it was the Blood Sea Demon Well, they were not afraid in the slightest.
“A bunch of whelps.”
The leader smirked and, as if they weren't worth another word, spoke to his subordinates.
“Subdue them and drag them here like dogs.”
At his command, the masters of the Blood Sea Demon Well surrounding the young men of the Seven Sword Sects suddenly thrust out their palms.
*Swish!*
A sharp sound tore through the air as palm energy, as keen as an axe, rained down upon them.
The reason the martial artists of the Blood Sea Demon Well carried no weapons was that they were all masters of palm techniques.
*Shing!*
The young men of the Seven Sword Sects all drew their swords in response.
The Seven Sword Sects had been rooted in Qinghai for a long time. Their swordsmanship was a supreme art of the martial world, not to be taken lightly.
“Keuk.”
“Ugh!”
But as time passed, pained groans began to escape the young men’s lips.
The sword techniques they had learned were outstanding martial arts, but they had not mastered them deeply, and their internal energy was negligible.
They had spent more time roaming the martial world and building connections than they had on rigorous training.
“Ugh.”
In the end, Jeong Gwang, the heir of the Hyeoljeong Sword Sect, who had been wielding his sword in a chaotic flurry, was struck by a palm and collapsed on the spot.
“Young Master Jeong!”
Spotting him, Guyang Cheong-jeong rushed over and swung her sword with all her might, creating a wide curtain of sword energy.
She barely managed to force the members of the Blood Sea Demon Well back, but the ones who had been attacking Jeong Gwang all turned on her.
‘They’re too strong.’
The demons of the Blood Sea Demon Well were not only cruel but also completely fearless of injury.
The heirs of the Seven Sword Sects, who already lacked real-world experience and had only practiced swordsmanship under the protection of their families, were being helplessly overpowered.
‘But why? Why are the masters of the Blood Sea Demon Well here?’
Even as she fought, only questions swirled in Guyang Cheong-jeong’s mind.
‘No matter how cruel they are, they are still members of the Demonic Faction. So why are they targeting us, the Seven Sword Sects of Qinghai?’
The Seven Sword Sects operated only in Qinghai, so they had no grudges with the Blood Sea Demon Well, nor did their territories overlap.
‘Then this must be at someone’s behest.’
As Guyang Cheong-jeong’s thoughts grew more tangled,
“Let’s retreat, Cheong-mae!”
Ma Han, who was frantically swinging his sword beside her, shouted.
“I’ll open a path!”
As she was about to nod, she suddenly noticed Bu Eun-seol sitting blankly in the banquet hall.
He was sitting primly in his seat, looking their way, his appearance as tranquil as if he were watching a scene from an opera.
‘He’s frozen with fear!’
But Guyang Cheong-jeong was gravely mistaken.
She concluded that Bu Eun-seol was so terrified he couldn't move.
“No! We can’t leave Young Master Bu behind!”