Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Third Gate
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“Hmm.”
Dan Cheon-yang's brow furrowed deeply.
He seemed to be either suppressing his anger or lost in deep thought.
Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon, a form capable of blocking a sudden and sharp attack, could be called the most solemn and intricate sword form in the demonic path.
But Bu Eun-seol's form was relentlessly wild, and every movement was imbued with a sharp killing intent.
“You may return to your seat.”
Dan Cheon-yang did not offer an assessment of Bu Eun-seol's swordsmanship.
Instead, he looked at one of the trainees and spoke.
“Seo Jin-ha.”
At his call, a figure with a sword on their back walked out from among the trainees to the center of the training ground.
Their hair was neatly parted in two, falling straight down instead of being tied up, revealing large, long eyes.
With a slender body, delicate facial features, and thin eyebrows, their appearance was androgynous, making it difficult to discern their gender.
“You called for me.”
Their voice was as clear and refreshing as a spring breeze, yet their eyes seemed to pour out hundreds of needles.
‘They've systematically trained in martial arts since they were young.’
Being an embalmer could be described as a profession of endlessly dressing and undressing bodies.
The boy appeared lean and slender, but Bu Eun-seol instantly perceived that he actually possessed resilient and well-balanced muscles.
“Demonstrate your sword.”
At Dan Cheon-yang's words, Seo Jin-ha brought his hands together and then drew his sword.
*Chiiing.*
From the rusted scabbard, the old iron sword rang out with a clear sound, like that of a treasured blade.
This was because Seo Jin-ha had drawn the sword while infusing it with his profound true energy.
*Swiik!*
As he began his form, an unpleasant sound, like a venomous snake hissing, echoed from the ground.
Simultaneously, a sharp sword form spread out in all directions, drawing concentric circles from around Seo Jin-ha's feet.
*Papat!*
With a sound like a flag flapping in a storm, the sword shadows created by the iron blade soared into the air.
*Cheok.*
Just as the sword shadows that had filled the air vanished as if washed away, Seo Jin-ha was already sheathing his iron sword.
“Hmm.”
Another low murmur escaped Dan Cheon-yang's lips.
The single sword strike Seo Jin-ha had just displayed was a form that countered the Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon Bu Eun-seol had performed.
‘Have they already smelled blood?’
Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha.
The two of them, as if by agreement, had concealed their true skills and improvised new sword forms.
It was as if they had predicted the storm of blood that would soon unfold.
‘Indeed, it's impossible that prodigies like them wouldn't foresee such a thing.’
With a bitter smile, Dan Cheon-yang looked into the eyes of the trainees, filled with discipline and intelligence.
And he had no choice but to admit it.
All the trainees in this advanced hall had already mastered the essence of Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon.
And that they possessed minds brilliant enough to predict the situation that would soon occur on Hell Island.
***
When training at the martial hall ended, most of the trainees would return to their quarters to rest or continue their practice.
But Bu Eun-seol, after his training, would wander around Hell Island like a traveler on a leisurely tour.
Past a deep forest, there was a pond from which a musty smell arose, and in front of it stood a large martial hall.
Recalling the map drawn on the parchment in front of his cave, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
‘So that's the martial hall of the Hell Blood Fortress.’
Though it was a remote island far from the mainland, Hell Island was by no means small.
Not only were the ten martial halls of the Ten Demonic Sects established across the island, but vast stone mountains, forests, and pavilions of unknown purpose were also built everywhere.
“You cannot enter this place.”
Sometimes, when he wandered through unremarkable forests or the island's outskirts, figures would suddenly appear like ghosts.
They were too skilled to be mere regional guards, and their attitude and gaze were too extraordinary to be instructors.
Each time, Bu Eun-seol would survey his surroundings and then turn away without any lingering attachment.
‘As I thought... there's something here.’
“Only now are you exploring the island?”
Just then, a low voice came from behind a large tree standing to his left.
When he turned his head, he saw the boy with long, flowing hair looking at him and smiling. It was Seo Jin-ha.
“Familiarizing yourself with the terrain is something you should have done from the first day you arrived on the island, isn't it?”
A divine light, like a flash of lightning, glinted in Seo Jin-ha's eyes.
“You can't possibly be unaware that wandering the island like this will only draw the attention of others.”
In Seo Jin-ha's voice, Bu Eun-seol could sense both sharp hostility and a powerful aura.
“Because there was something I had to do before exploring the island.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“Unlike some people, I haven't had the luxury of observing others since I arrived.”
“Oh? Are you saying you've sensed my presence all this time? That can't be.”
“Those who pride themselves on being clever are sometimes mistaken.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly, his gaze fixed on Seo Jin-ha's eyes.
“They think they're the only ones doing a certain thing.”
After mastering the Ya-su-do, Bu Eun-seol had sensed various gazes watching him.
Among those gazes were masters who had almost completely concealed their presence, as well as those he believed to be fellow trainees.
“I thought you were the quiet type. You're actually quite amusing with your words.”
Though he said it was amusing, Seo Jin-ha's eyes and mouth were not smiling at all.
In fact, the sharp aura he had felt earlier seemed to be growing stronger.
“I'll ask you directly. Bu Eun-seol, which side are you on?”
“Which side?”
“Don't play dumb.”
“For someone your age, you haven't learned how to hold a conversation.”
Bu Eun-seol turned away with a disinterested expression.
“If you want to talk to someone, you can't just say whatever you want like a newborn.”
Then, Seo Jin-ha spoke in a low voice.
“Do you truly not know?”
“What.”
“Hmph, do you really think everyone gathered here wants to become the Sip-ma-jeon-in?”
His words were full of meaning.
Only then did Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleam.
“So that's what it was.”
In fact, he too had found something strange ever since he'd decided to participate in the Sip-ma-jeon-in competition.
The Sip-ma-jeon-in competition.
It was a competition to select a successor who would unreservedly learn the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects—a competition upon which the fate of the demonic path might hinge.
Yet in a place like the Demonic Palace, where countless masters and prodigies had gathered, they were accepting applicants just by having them sign a guest book?
‘Even I passed without issue after giving the fake name Jan-yang-pa.’
Bu Eun-seol couldn't understand the Demonic Palace's attitude, which prioritized a terrifying waiver over meticulously investigating the applicants' identities.
“So there are spies.”
At Bu Eun-seol's sigh-filled murmur, a strange light flickered in Seo Jin-ha's eyes.
‘That expression and tone of voice aren't a lie.’
“So it's not you.”
Intuitively realizing that Bu Eun-seol was not a spy, Seo Jin-ha muttered as if disappointed.
“Tch, and here I was hoping for some fun.”
With an annoyed expression, the sharp edge in Seo Jin-ha's aura vanished.
“From now on, stop standing out at the martial hall and lay low. If you keep getting on my nerves, I'll cut you down too.”
And with that, as if his business was done, he spun around and left.
“...”
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he watched Seo Jin-ha's back.
‘There was a lot I didn't know.’
While he had been focusing all his energy on mastering the martial arts of the Nang-ya-gak and the Hwa-u Sword Sect, many things had been happening on this Hell Island.
From the way Seo Jin-ha spoke, it seemed that among the trainees were not only those aiming to become the Sip-ma-jeon-in, but also spies, and that something had occurred between them.
‘He doesn't seem to be the one who came to my dwelling.’
In fact, Bu Eun-seol had thought there was a high probability that Seo Jin-ha was the shadow who had visited his cave.
But now he saw that Seo Jin-ha was just a fighter hell-bent on finding spies.
“It doesn't matter what's going on.”
Gazing at the distant sky, Bu Eun-seol clenched his fists tightly.
“Because soon... it will begin.”
Bu Eun-seol, who had been meticulously exploring Hell Island all this time.
He could already feel it.
This island had already become a hell.
And that soon, countless more lives would be lost.
***
“As of today, all training is complete.”
Closing the book he was holding, Dan Cheon-yang slowly walked to the front of the platform.
“Because of your outstanding talents, this old man ended up focusing on interpreting the principles of advanced swordsmanship rather than sword techniques.”
He smiled faintly with a satisfied expression.
Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon, the first form of the Hwa-u Sword—a technique that someone with ordinary talent couldn't master even in three years.
The Hwa-u Sword Sect had predicted that even a sword prodigy would need a full two months.
However, contrary to his expectations, the trainees in the advanced hall mastered both the sword intent and the sword form within ten days.
And within about a month, they had reached a level where they could adapt the form to their own individual styles.
“I imagine many of you found the study of principles to be tedious.”
Dan Cheon-yang smiled silently, his gaze sweeping gently over the trainees.
“But even masters who have experienced countless battles set aside time to study the principles of advanced martial arts. This is because knowing martial arts doesn't mean you can perform them, and being able to perform them doesn't mean you know them.”
Then he looked at Bu Eun-seol, who was sitting in the back, and asked.
“Can you explain this principle?”
Bu Eun-seol thought for a moment before answering.
“Because even if you create an outstanding sword form in a moment of insight, if you don't study the logic and principles of martial arts, you may find yourself unable to ever perform it again.”
“Exactly.”
With a satisfied smile, Dan Cheon-yang nodded and spoke.
“I believe this old man's interpretations of the principles will be a tremendous advantage to you as you continue your journey in the martial world.”
Sweeping his gaze over the trainees seated at their tables, Dan Cheon-yang said powerfully.
“I wish you martial fortune.”
I wish you martial fortune.
A common farewell given to junior martial artists.
But for some reason, it felt ominous, as if they had reached the final station of their lives.
And just as they suspected.
*Jiiiing.*
Suddenly, the sound of a large gong reverberated.
“What's that sound?”
Some of the trainees looked greatly alarmed.
The sound of the gong wasn't just near the martial hall; it echoed throughout all of Hell Island.
‘So it begins.’
Bu Eun-seol and a few other trainees were not particularly surprised.
Having thoroughly explored Hell Island, they had seen the large gongs installed in various places.
‘They struck the gongs simultaneously on a signal.’
Bu Eun-seol instantly understood how the sound of the gong could resonate across the entire island.
Someone had given a signal, and numerous people had struck the gongs placed everywhere at the same time.
“It seems the time has come.”
Hearing the gong, Dan Cheon-yang looked at the trainees and said.
“From now on, you are all to go to the stone mountain in the center of the island.”
With heavy expressions, Bu Eun-seol and the other trainees slowly made their way to the stone mountain.
The Hwa-u Sword Sect's martial hall was located on the far eastern edge of the island, making their journey to the stone mountain the longest of all the halls.
“...!”
When they arrived near the stone mountain, trainees from the other martial halls had already gathered, standing in solemn formation.
And on a high platform erected before them stood an old man with a muscular body and a lion's mane of hair, alongside a refined-looking middle-aged man.
They were Head Instructor Hyeok-ryeon Eung and the Lord of Man-bak Hall, Baek Jeon-cheon.
“Everyone is here.”
At Baek Jeon-cheon's words, Hyeok-ryeon Eung nodded and then announced in a loud voice.
“We will now begin the third gate!”