Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: A Grand Offer
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Bu Eun-seol nodded, his expression serene.
“Do not worry. You will certainly find my proposal to your liking.”
“Are you mad?”
Flames erupted in Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes as Bu Eun-seol responded in his stiff tone.
“Or have you suddenly gone blind, forgetting before whom you wag your tongue?”
“I am proposing a negotiation with you, Matriarch.”
Bu Eun-seol replied with composure.
“As I understand it, negotiations are only possible between equals.”
“Absurd. Are you saying you are on equal footing with me, the Matriarch?”
“Of course.”
Bu Eun-seol said confidently.
“If you wish for an agreement that forces unfavorable terms upon me, then say so. I will switch to the highest honorifics immediately.”
“Huhu…”
A strange light glinted in Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes.
She realized that Bu Eun-seol not only had a peculiar personality but was also completely devoid of fear.
“Quite the clever one, aren't you? Did you intend to make a strong impression and provoke me into negotiating at the same time?”
Having negotiated with countless powerful figures, Geuk Hye-ryeong instantly saw through Bu Eun-seol's intentions.
“Very well. I will acknowledge it for now—that you have the right to negotiate with me as an equal.”
As Geuk Hye-ryeong chuckled softly, a chilling glint blossomed in her eyes.
“But if your proposal does not please me… you had best worry about how you will escape my grasp.”
“Do not worry.”
“Then speak. Give me your best offer.”
Bu Eun-seol stared directly into Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes and said calmly.
“I will give you the power for Muhasuyu-jeong to stand on its own.”
Listening intently, Geuk Hye-ryeong snorted in disbelief.
“So you were just a youth not even worth negotiating with.”
“Then why is this place, from the entrance to these very halls, covered in traps and mechanisms?”
“What?”
“Just a moment ago, Matriarch, you yourself emphasized your relations with other powerful figures.”
“Nonsense.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong said coldly.
“Our sect has constantly faced invasions from outsiders. That is why we have such security measures in place.”
“Not at all.”
Bu Eun-seol met Geuk Hye-ryeong's wide, glaring eyes head-on.
“Is it not true that Muhasuyu-jeong is in a position where it cannot fend off predators without maintaining friendships with the powerful?”
*Rumble!*
In that instant, a massive storm of true qi erupted from behind Geuk Hye-ryeong, piercing the hall's roof and soaring into the sky.
“Say that again.”
With even her hair standing on end, Geuk Hye-ryeong looked like a witch who ruled the darkness.
“What did you just say?”
Despite her terrifying appearance, Bu Eun-seol stood with his arms crossed and repeated himself.
“I said that you are in a position where you cannot fend off predators without borrowing the strength of the powerful.”
*Kwaaaaah!*
In that moment, a storm of pure white true qi surged forth.
*Fzzt!*
It stopped with a sharp glint, just an inch from Bu Eun-seol's forehead.
But Bu Eun-seol stood ramrod straight, his gaze fixed only on Geuk Hye-ryeong.
“…”
Staring into Bu Eun-seol's cold, unwavering eyes, Geuk Hye-ryeong suddenly waved her sleeve.
“I'll give you credit for your nerve.”
*Swish.*
Instantly withdrawing the storm of qi, she spoke in a grim voice.
“Then how do you propose to give my sect strength?”
“Muhasuyu-jeong may be the grandmaster of feminine secret arts, but as I understand it, you possess no unique martial arts of your own.”
“And?”
“I will give them to you. The power for Muhasuyu-jeong to repel external forces on its own, without having to build friendships with the powerful.”
For a moment, a leaden silence filled the hall.
Geuk Hye-ryeong, who had been mulling over Bu Eun-seol’s words with a profound gaze, sighed and shook her head.
“No matter how I think about it, you speak of fantasies.”
Then, she moved her dry lips, her voice ancient.
“Give us the power to repel external forces on our own? Are you saying the masters of Nang-ya-gak will teach my disciples?”
“That is impossible.”
“Then by what means will you give my sect strength?”
At that, Bu Eun-seol pointed to himself.
“Support me as the successor of the Demonic Cult.”
“What?”
“When I become the successor, I will open the Manmayujingak for you.”
“Hahahaha!”
A crazed light flashed in Geuk Hye-ryeong’s eyes.
“I see now you’re just a madman. You expect me to believe such a promise?”
“First, I will provide you with the demonic arts of Jeolcheonmyeolji right now.”
“Jeolcheonmyeolji?”
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“As you are well aware, Matriarch, the majority of the secret demonic manuals scattered throughout the Manmayujingak originate from Jeolcheonmyeolji.”
He then pointed to Hyeok So-jin, who was standing blankly to the side.
“Jeolcheonmyeolji holds an uncountable variety of demonic arts. If you teach them to your disciples according to their individual traits, Muhasuyu-jeong’s martial power will rise in a short time.”
“You speak of fantasies. There is no way the Phantom Demon would permit such a thing.”
“He will.”
Bu Eun-seol pointed at Hyeok So-jin and said.
“Because he, the next Lord, will be the one to request it.”
Hyeok So-jin looked at Bu Eun-seol with a slightly surprised expression.
As he met Bu Eun-seol’s unwavering gaze, a thought flashed through his mind.
‘If I refuse, that old hag might have another fit.’
By accompanying Bu Eun-seol, Hyeok So-jin had been dragged into the succession battle.
In that fight, his status as the successor of Jeolcheonmyeolji was no shield at all.
‘Didn’t I already decide to become a faction supporting Brother Bu? I might as well see this through to the end.’
“That’s right. I will guarantee it.”
“Well, it’s not a bad offer, but it’s a shame.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong’s eyes glinted with killing intent as she spoke.
“Even if I covet the secret demonic manuals of Manmayujingak, there is no need to support a successor from Nang-ya-gak and take on such a risk.”
She shook her head.
“I refuse your offer.”
“I said ‘first.’”
“What do you mean?”
“I have one more thing to offer.”
“Speak.”
Bu Eun-seol continued at a leisurely pace.
“Did you not say that summoning me here was an investment in the future, Matriarch?”
“And?”
“I, too, will invest in the future of Muhasuyu-jeong.”
Bu Eun-seol spoke without hesitation, his voice solemn.
“When I become the successor of the Demonic Cult, I will lift the prohibition so that the successor of Muhasuyu-jeong may also become a successor of the Demonic Cult.”
*Thump.*
It was a shocking proposal, one she had never even imagined. Geuk Hye-ryeong blinked as if she had been struck on the back of the head.
As a sect of women, Muhasuyu-jeong had never been qualified to produce a successor for the Demonic Cult.
But what if they acquired powerful secret demonic manuals? And what if they could challenge for the position of the Demonic Cult’s successor?
Muhasuyu-jeong could truly stand alone and dominate the martial world, no longer needing to worry about outside invasions.
Bu Eun-seol’s proposal was one that would resolve the long-held grievance of Muhasuyu-jeong, which had always felt regret over the operational methods of the Demonic Cult.
“Hahahaha!”
Geuk Hye-ryeong’s bizarre laughter echoed through the Blood Moon Grotto.
Her ancient laugh, a mixture of a man’s and a woman’s voice, grew more hair-raising the longer one heard it.
“Hye-seon!”
At Geuk Hye-ryeong’s call, a middle-aged woman approached from the side and bowed her head.
“You called, Matriarch.”
Staring intently at Bu Eun-seol, she spoke in an unprecedentedly gentle voice.
“Escort these two to the Cheonwol Pavilion.”
***
A bright moon hung in the sky, dyeing the darkness-shrouded land in pure white.
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin sat facing each other in a high pavilion with a clear view of the moonlight.
The surroundings were open, offering a beautiful landscape. In the center of the pavilion, a simple table was set with fruit, rice cakes, and wine.
Bu Eun-seol drank his wine quietly, while Hyeok So-jin smacked his lips as if something was lacking.
“This is rather unexpected.”
He said in a low voice as he surveyed the scenery around the pavilion.
“When they said Cheonwol Pavilion, I thought they’d be throwing a grand banquet with rare delicacies, beautiful women dancing, and songs filling the air.”
The wine served at the pavilion wasn’t bad, but the snacks were just enough to suit the small appetites of women.
“We weren’t brought here just to drink wine.”
“Then why have us sit in a place like this?”
“The Matriarch has not yet fully accepted my proposal.”
Bu Eun-seol said in a low voice.
“She is likely investigating my past deeds and tendencies with a fine-toothed comb. Then she will weigh the feasibility of my proposal and how valid it truly is.”
“They’re quite meticulous, Muhasuyu-jeong.”
“They are no different from Jeolcheonmyeolji.”
“Pardon?”
Bu Eun-seol tossed back his wine and said.
“Did the Lord not also give me two conditions?”
“But my grandfather didn’t scrutinize every little thing, did he?”
“He scrutinized plenty.”
*Tak.*
Putting down his cup, Bu Eun-seol spoke with a solemn expression.
“I stayed in Jeolcheonmyeolji for a full two months to receive the Lord’s support. Even if I had completed all his proposals, if he had judged me to be someone unworthy of his support…”
Bu Eun-seol said with a resolute expression.
“The Lord would never have kept his promise.”
Hyeok So-jin protested.
“My grandfather isn't the type to be so calculating or break his word.”
“Trust is a word that applies only to relationships between individuals. The head of a sect must calculate profit and loss more coldly than anyone else.”
Hyeok So-jin could no longer argue.
Hyeok Gong-baek was a kind grandfather, but to others, he was a terrifying and ruthless Demonic Master.
The head of a sect. That position required one to maintain a chillingly cold composure.
“By that logic, Brother Bu, you’re a natural-born leader.”
Hyeok So-jin, having downed another cup of wine, grinned and said.
“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter what decision the Matriarch makes. We have a last resort, after all.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Matriarch is over a hundred years old, so that's that, but the successor of Muhasuyu-jeong must be young, right?”
Hyeok So-jin said with utmost seriousness.
“If you were to make a request with that profound look on your face, what woman could possibly refuse…?”
Just then, with a rustling sound, two shadows approached the pavilion.
The first to appear was the Matriarch, Geuk Hye-ryeong.
“Matriarch.”
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin rose and clasped their hands.
Following behind her, a much smaller shadow appeared by Geuk Hye-ryeong’s side.
Was she about ten years old?
She was a cute girl with chubby cheeks, her baby fat not yet gone, and large, dark eyes that left a strong impression.
“This is my granddaughter, Geuk Hye-bin. She is also the successor who will lead this sect after me.”
‘The next successor of Muhasuyu-jeong is such a young girl!’
Hyeok So-jin’s face soured as if he had bitten into a rotten persimmon.
Did this mean his last resort, the handsome man gambit, was now off the table?
While Hyeok So-jin was lost in his absurd thoughts, Bu Eun-seol frowned, deep in thought.
‘The next successor of Muhasuyu-jeong is such a young granddaughter… Why has no such rumor spread in the martial world?’
Just then, Geuk Hye-bin bowed her head toward Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin.
But no voice came out.
“…”
Bu Eun-seol, who was watching Geuk Hye-bin, stared intently at her throat, and his eyes lit up.
“Her larynx has been severely injured.”
“How did you know?”
Geuk Hye-ryeong’s eyes flashed in disbelief.
Geuk Hye-bin’s neck was covered by her clothes, so it was impossible to see. How could he have discerned the injury to her throat in an instant?
“Where did you hear that Bin was injured? This fact has never been known in the martial world.”
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
“Producing a voice is akin to moving the muscles of the vocal organs.”
“And?”
“When those muscles move with the right pressure and strength, air from the lungs is sent to vibrate the vocal cords. That vibration resonates through the oral cavity and esophagus, creating a sound that comes out of the mouth as a voice.”
Bu Eun-seol pointed to Geuk Hye-bin’s neck and said.
“However, this child moved those muscles diligently, yet no sound emerged. That is simply how I surmised that her larynx was injured.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong’s mouth fell open.
It was unbelievable enough that he could see the movements of muscles hidden by her neck, but for him to be so knowledgeable about human anatomy?
“I heard you were a mortician by trade.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong’s eyes showed a hint of curiosity, as if she had already investigated Bu Eun-seol thoroughly.
“Were you actually from the medical field?”
“I was a mortician.”
“I can’t believe it. To think that morticians who merely clean corpses are as knowledgeable about human anatomy as physicians.”
Bu Eun-seol replied with a bitter expression.
“That is likely because I specialized in preparing the bodies of those who died away from home or had no family.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Those who died away from home or had no family were mostly martial artists. Moreover, their bodies were rarely intact; it was common for them to have been torn apart by wild animals.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes deepened as if he were recalling that time.
“If one was not well-versed in human anatomy, it was impossible to restore them to their living appearance. That is how I came to know it so well.”
“Is that so.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong hummed and nodded lightly.
It was surprising enough that a man who had worked as a mortician for so long had become one of the Sip-ma-jeon-in, but he had also cultivated such terrifying internal energy.
‘A mysterious man.’
Shaking her head, Geuk Hye-ryeong changed the subject.
“Do you know why I summoned you here?”
“I have an inkling.”
“And what is that?”
Uncharacteristically, Bu Eun-seol gave a faint smile and pointed to Hyeok So-jin.
“Because I visited Jeolcheonmyeolji first.”
“Huhu, so your companionship with him is the result of solving the challenge Jeolcheonmyeolji gave you.”
“That is correct.”
As the conversation continued, the frown on Geuk Hye-ryeong’s brow began to smooth out.
Bu Eun-seol’s informal way of speaking was not as unpleasant as she had expected.
Moreover, his low, calm voice had a strange, captivating quality.
“I’ll be direct.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong looked at Bu Eun-seol and said.
“I hold your skills in high regard. And I believe you are a man who will surely keep his promises.”
“Thank you.”
“However, things in this world do not always go as planned. That is why I would like to make a proposal to you.”
“Please, say whatever is on your mind.”
“Hye-bin has deeply learned our sect’s secret arts until now, but she has not learned a single killing art.”
Geuk Hye-ryeong looked at Geuk Hye-bin’s innocent face and spoke gravely.
“Teach this child a single, cruel, and venomous demonic killing art. One that is enough for her to be called a witch.”