Chapter 201
Chapter 201
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: The Twelve Yeom-gaek
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When Bu Eun-seol opened the door, he saw a young maidservant with her head bowed low.
Though her features were exquisite, her face was bare of makeup, and her body trembled slightly.
Despite her gentle voice, it was clear this was her first time attending to someone’s bath.
Instantly grasping the situation, Bu Eun-seol sighed and said.
“It’s alright.”
“Young Master.”
“Don’t worry. You may go.”
Bu Eun-seol could see right through the maidservant’s thoughts.
“I will speak to the manor lord myself. You will not be punished in any way.”
“Th-thank you, my lord.”
Only then did the maidservant seem to breathe a sigh of relief, bowing her head deeply before she left.
Hearing the lightness in her footsteps, Bu Eun-seol sighed again.
Jin Yu-hwa must have forcefully sent a beautiful maid to get on his good side.
‘I suppose it can’t be helped. He is a member of the Gu-sal-dae, after all.’
The members of the Gu-sal-dae, who could die at any moment, were much like assassins in that they never hesitated to embrace women.
With a bitter smile, Bu Eun-seol dried himself and stepped out of the pavilion.
The world was silent, and the solitary moon in the sky cast a lonely light upon the earth.
Gazing at the moonlight with deep eyes, Bu Eun-seol looked toward the roof of the pavilion on the opposite side.
“Hmm.”
Then, he spoke in a low voice.
“Can’t sleep?”
*Thud.*
At that moment, a tall shadow landed on the ground from the pavilion roof. It was Hyeok So-jin.
“Brother Bu.”
In his hand was a large gourd bottle.
While the other squad members were drinking and resting, he had been drinking alone on the roof.
“I’m just feeling troubled, is all.”
Hyeok So-jin glanced down at the empty gourd bottle and smiled bitterly.
“We’ll be entering the Demonic Palace soon. I’m just worried the same thing will happen again.”
Hyeok So-jin had been unable to withstand the Demonic Heavenly Emperor’s aura and had been forced to turn back before the Sacred Demonic Pavilion.
As the successor to Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji, it was a humiliating event he would never forget for the rest of his life.
“Don’t worry. When you see the Demonic Heavenly Emperor this time, you will be able to handle it.”
“How can you know that?”
“Because you have grown once more through this experience.”
“Have I? But why can’t I feel it myself?”
Hyeok So-jin looked deeply disappointed.
“It seems I still have a long way to go.”
Watching him, Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile.
He too had once returned to Nang-ya-gak after handling matters in the martial world and found that his martial arts had progressed significantly, though he hadn't been aware of it at the time.
—…Once you master such principles, you can perceive and unravel even the phenomena and changes occurring within your own body. We call one who has reached such a level a great master of martial arts.
Recalling the words Dan Cheong had once told him, Bu Eun-seol said quietly.
“I, too, only came to understand that principle after seeking guidance from the Vice Pavilion Master and the Wind and Cloud Brigade Leader.”
“What do you mean?”
“That only a great master of peerless martial arts can perceive the phenomena and changes occurring within their own body.”
Bu Eun-seol explained in detail the enlightenment he had gained from Vice Pavilion Master Dan Cheong and Baek Yeon to Hyeok So-jin.
“I see.”
After listening for a long while, Hyeok So-jin finally nodded, his expression bright.
“I truly had no idea.”
Clapping his hands in delight, Hyeok So-jin’s expression suddenly darkened.
“But there’s one more thing troubling me.”
“What is it?”
“Brother Bu, you’ve always ventured into the martial world alone, haven’t you?”
“And?”
“But after leading the Mu-bon Squad this time… I’ve realized that numbers are not something to be ignored.”
Hyeok So-jin continued with a grave expression.
“I’m worried that the others from the Ten Demonic Sects will come after you with a great army. After all, there are no restrictions in the fight between successor candidates.”
The Ten Demonic Sects were no small dojos.
What if they brought their full forces? Even if his martial skill became several times stronger than it was now, it would be impossible to stop them.
“That is a possibility, of course.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“But they will not bring a great army. If they were to try something, they would bring a single squad or battalion.”
“That can’t be right. Haven’t you destroyed several squads from the Ten Demonic Sects already? They wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.”
“The successors of the Ten Demonic Sects are all immensely proud.”
Bu Eun-seol stated firmly.
“Even if Baek-ma-sa, Ji-ok-hyeol-seong, and Sa-ryeong-mun failed, they will believe that they themselves will not.”
“You think so?”
“Probably.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
Despite the reassurance, Hyeok So-jin’s expression was not entirely bright.
A warrior’s intuition.
It was a sixth sense that could only be felt by those who had experienced a series of life-and-death battles.
“The squad members have recovered to some extent, so we should be able to return quickly.”
Turning away, Bu Eun-seol said in a low voice.
“Rest. As soon as the sun rises, we will use our movement techniques to return to the Demonic Palace in one go.”
“Understood.”
Slinging the gourd bottle over his shoulder, Hyeok So-jin grinned and left the pavilion.
But that plan was ultimately thwarted.
As dawn broke, warriors clad in black martial uniforms began to gather one by one in front of the Silver Star Manor.
Hyeok So-jin’s intuition. It had been eerily accurate.
*Creeak.*
As the main gate opened, warriors wearing black masks with a strange luster stood in a solemn formation.
They all emanated a sharp aura, and at their waists, they wore sheathless blades.
As Bu Eun-seol stared impassively at the masked warriors, a glint appeared in his eyes.
The blades hanging from their waists were extremely narrow.
The Hyeol-yeom Blade.
The Hyeol-yeom Blade Arts, the pinnacle of the Way of the Hegemon's Blade and the strongest blade art of the Ten Demonic Sects.
The Hyeol-yeom Blade House had perfected its training system to such a degree that even an ordinary person with average bone structure could become a first-rate swordsman.
As a result, a talented individual could progress at a speed that defied imagination.
The Hyeol-yeom Blade House, the greatest blade sect of the Demonic Path, rivaling the Hwa-u-geom-mun. Its masters were now surrounding the entrance of the Silver Star Manor.
“Hmm.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes deepened.
The Hyeol-yeom Blade House was incomparable to the likes of Baek-ma-sa or Ji-ok-hyeol-seong; it was a grandmaster sect of the blade, on par with the Demonic Path's number one sword sect, the Hwa-u-geom-mun.
For them to have shown themselves, they must have prepared an unavoidable strike.
*Tap, tap.*
Just then, the formation parted to the left and right, and a muscular man walked forward.
His complexion was extremely pale, and he had sharply slanted eyes.
He looked as if a blade had transformed into a man.
“It’s Tak Il-hwang.”
The Blood Sea Demonic Blade, Tak Il-hwang.
A member of the Hyeol-yeom Blade House, he was a fearsome swordsman who, despite rarely being active in the martial world, was counted among the Ten Great Blade Fiends, just like Jeon Il-hon.
As Bu Eun-seol’s gaze remained fixed on the masked swordsmen, Tak Il-hwang smirked.
“You must have heard of my house’s Twelve Yeom-gaek.”
The Twelve Yeom-gaek.
Fearsome swordsmen who relentlessly pursued and killed any enemies who opposed the Hyeol-yeom Blade House.
Tak Il-hwang, one of the Ten Great Blade Fiends, and the undefeated swordsmen, the Twelve Yeom-gaek, who had never known a single failure.
This was the winning hand the Hyeol-yeom Blade House had laid on the table.
‘The Blood Sea Demonic Blade and the Twelve Yeom-gaek…’
Something was strange.
As Bu Eun-seol, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease, was lost in thought,
“Bu Eun-seol.”
The middle-aged man standing before him stared intently at his face and spoke coldly.
“I’ll give you a choice.”
“…”
“Return to Nang-ya-gak as you are, or meet your death.”
Tak Il-hwang wore the expression of a death god delivering a final verdict.
Each of the Twelve Yeom-gaek was a master in their own right, fearsome swordsmen who had comprehended more than five stages of the Hyeol-yeom Blade Arts.
In other words, it was impossible for Bu Eun-seol to face the Twelve Yeom-gaek, even if he were to die and be reborn.
“You speak nonsense.”
Bu Eun-seol extended his hand with a placid expression.
“Enough talk. Make your move.”
“Huhu, are you trusting in that rabble behind you?”
“Perhaps.”
At that, Tak Il-hwang snickered.
“I know. I know they are members of the Mu-bon Squad, dispatched on a mission for the Ma-ban-mun under the Demonic Heavenly Emperor’s orders.”
Tak Il-hwang had thoroughly investigated Bu Eun-seol’s movements and background.
He already knew that the men standing behind Bu Eun-seol were from the Mu-bon Squad, known as a gathering of good-for-nothings.
“Those misfits were sent to eliminate the Ma-ban-mun, weren't they?”
“And?”
“Which means their mission is over. They won’t risk their lives to fight for you.”
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol drew his Muk-geom.
*Shing.*
As the low hum of the sword echoed, Tak Il-hwang scoffed.
*Shriiiing.*
But as if on cue, the moment Bu Eun-seol drew his weapon, the thirty members of the Mu-bon Squad drew their own weapons in unison.
“Hoh, you’re interfering?”
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Tak Il-hwang tilted his head with a relaxed expression.
“You have nothing to gain by getting involved in the successor’s battle, you know?”
At that, Wi Cheon-gyeong, his bangs covering his eyes, stepped forward and said.
“We don’t care about any successor’s battle. We just need to protect our Brigade Leader.”
“How surprising.”
Tak Il-hwang cocked his head.
The Mu-bon Squad was a collection of extremely selfish individuals who had no sense of belonging whatsoever.
And yet they were willing to risk their lives for Bu Eun-seol, a mere temporary leader?
“So you’re really… going to do this.”
Killing intent radiated from the bodies of the Mu-bon Squad members.
“I don’t know what kind of sorcery you used.”
His surprise was fleeting; Tak Il-hwang soon wore a mocking smile.
“Not that it changes anything.”
*Nod.*
At his nod, the Twelve Yeom-gaek who had been standing behind him slowly stepped forward.
Even on the verge of battle, their eyes were calm, and they showed no signs of tension.
They had fought countless bloody battles and had never once been defeated. Their long string of victories had numbed their emotions.
“Brother Bu.”
Just then, Hyeok So-jin stepped forward with a serious expression.
“We’ll take care of these guys. You handle the one with the big face.”
Without hesitation, he rushed toward the Twelve Yeom-gaek and spread his arms wide.
*Fwaaah!*
A violet radiance spread out in all directions, followed by thin, sharp silver threads that shot out everywhere.
It was the Gang-sak-hyeol-sa, unleashed with his Sin-yeol-ma-gi.
*Chwarararak!*
The Gang-sak-hyeol-sa, moving like a living creature, dug into the empty spaces, instantly disrupting the formation of the Twelve Yeom-gaek standing behind Tak Il-hwang.
“We’ll take the flanks!”
With Wi Cheon-gyeong’s shout, the members of the second team split to the left and right, unleashing their movement techniques and throwing daggers.
“We’ll strike the front!”
This time, Won Se-mun and his squad members drew their swords and charged straight ahead.
“We’ll take the rear!”
Then, the third team, led by Jo Nam-cheon, naturally surrounded the rear of the Twelve Yeom-gaek.
*Chaeng! Chang!*
The clash of weapons rang out as the battle between the Twelve Yeom-gaek and the Mu-bon Squad began.
The eyes of the Twelve Yeom-gaek, who had initially been scoffing as they swung their blades, gradually turned strange.
The Mu-bon Squad was supposed to be a bunch of good-for-nothings whose skills became a chaotic mess the more they gathered.
But now, not only were they perfectly coordinated, but their attacks and defenses were methodical.
Moreover, they were fighting without fear, like battle-hardened veterans who had transcended life and death.
“Don’t try to win! Just hold out until Brother Bu deals with that guy!”
As Hyeok So-jin shouted loudly, the squad members let out a unified cry and swung their weapons with even greater precision.
Seeing the Mu-bon Squad move in perfect unison, not only the Twelve Yeom-gaek but even Tak Il-hwang was so stunned his mouth fell open.
“What is going on?”
The Mu-bon Squad members, who should have been cut down like straw by the Twelve Yeom-gaek, were holding their own against the swordsmen with ease.
“Are those really the Mu-bon Squad?”
The Mu-bon Squad of today was not the rabble of the past.
Not only had their skills improved by leaps and bounds, but they had also gained the experience of winning a great victory against over a hundred elites of the Ma-ban-mun. That was why they were able to tenaciously hold their ground even against the fearsome Twelve Yeom-gaek.
Tak Il-hwang was so dumbfounded that a hollow laugh escaped him.
“Incredible. In such a short time, to transform the good-for-nothings that even the Demonic Palace couldn’t handle into an elite unit.”
“Where are you looking?”
At that moment, a low voice was heard, and a black sword light shot toward his neck.
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol had drawn his Muk-geom like lightning and was slashing at his throat.
*Chang!*
A clear metallic sound rang out as sword and blade clashed. In that moment, Tak Il-hwang grimaced as if he had drunk a strong liquor.
The force contained in the Muk-geom was so powerful that his fingertips went numb.
‘This bastard?’
Tak Il-hwang’s eyebrow twitched.
‘His martial arts have improved even more in that time?’
He had thoroughly investigated the man named Bu Eun-seol. Naturally, that included not only his temperament and disposition but also his level of martial skill.
But Bu Eun-seol’s martial skill seemed to have advanced even further from when he had left the Demonic Palace.
‘Did he advance his martial arts yet again in such a short time?’
“Good!”
Instantly pushing the question from his mind, Tak Il-hwang drew upon his internal energy.
*Zzzzzing!*
In an instant, a brilliant blue blade aura erupted and enveloped Bu Eun-seol’s entire body.
“Let’s have some real fun!”
As Bu Eun-seol watched the torrent of blade aura with a serious expression, his eyes glinted sharply.
‘I have to break through his techniques as quickly as possible.’
In the past, on Hell Island, the most difficult opponents to face had been the trainees who had learned the Hyeol-yeom Blade Arts.
The more one clashed with the Hyeol-yeom Blade, the more profound its techniques became, and the more powerful its might grew.
A moment’s carelessness would allow the blade light to swell in an instant, so it had to be suppressed at the outset.
*Flash!*
As four streams of blade light poured down, the Muk-geom cut through the air, picking apart the blade techniques.
*Vrrr.*
But in that instant, the tip of the blade trembled once, and the four streams of blade light instantly multiplied to eight.
*Chararang!*
It was a variation that poured down from an utterly unpredictable angle, but Bu Eun-seol’s Muk-geom precisely struck down all eight streams of blade light.
“Not bad!”
When Bu Eun-seol shattered his technique in a single move, Tak Il-hwang, on the contrary, laughed heartily and unleashed his blade arts once more.
“Then try blocking this!”
*Chang!*
The Muk-geom and the blade clashed in mid-air, sending sparks flying.
A dance of blade light and sword shadows.
The high-speed exchange of blade and sword techniques filled the area with a chilling energy.
It felt as if all the air had vanished from where Bu Eun-seol and Tak Il-hwang stood.
*Chiririring!*
As if by agreement, the two closed the distance in an instant, and their weapons clashed once more.
‘I’ll settle this here.’
The Hyeol-yeom Blade Arts were more than what met the eye. Moreover, the more techniques it unleashed, the more its power increased exponentially.
*Paang!*
A vortex of true qi erupted from Bu Eun-seol’s body as he unleashed his full internal energy.
A swift and decisive battle.
He had to cut down Tak Il-hwang as quickly as possible, using all his strength.