Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 232
Chapter Title: The Cold-Blooded Demons
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Gu Dong-ak, blocking Bu Eun-seol’s path, shouted in a voice like thunder.
“Bu Eun-seol! Do you truly think you can just walk away after brutally slaughtering a master of this Alliance?”
“Slaughter?”
Bu Eun-seol wore a puzzled expression.
“How can you call it slaughter when all I did was defend myself against someone trying to kill me for no reason?”
“What nonsense is that?”
“I avoided a conflict with that man. But he ambushed me from behind.”
“…”
“Is that a crime as well?”
Bu Eun-seol gestured to the onlookers and spoke calmly.
“If you think it is, then act now. It will be a fine opportunity to broadcast the arrogance of the Murim Alliance far and wide.”
Gu Dong-ak’s expression froze as he noticed the stares pouring in from all directions.
‘He deliberately engineered this situation!’
In truth, the storm of sword wind Jo Bi-un had unleashed was a feint, intended only to stop the fleeing Bu Eun-seol.
But the common folk watching from the sidelines had no way of distinguishing that.
‘This devious bastard!’
Gu Dong-ak bit his lip.
Only then did he realize that Bu Eun-seol's every action had been a ploy to kill Jo Bi-un.
“Can you handle the consequences?”
No matter what anyone said, Jo Bi-un was the only son of the Mucheon Division Lord, Jo Cheon-wang.
In other words, Bu Eun-seol had just created an irreconcilable grudge with one of the Seven Division Lords, a pillar of the Murim Alliance.
“I’m asking if you can handle the consequences of murdering the Division Lord’s son!”
“That is for the Murim Alliance to handle.”
“What did you say?”
“Unless, of course, the Murim Alliance is a place that professionally teaches how to strike from behind.”
Gu Dong-ak’s face stiffened again at the sight of Bu Eun-seol’s smile.
‘Dammit…’
There was no room for rebuttal.
Jo Bi-un had executed a rear ambush, an act considered taboo even within the Orthodox Faction.
Even if he passionately argued that it was actually a feint, there was no way to prove it.
On the contrary, the eyewitness accounts of the commoners claiming Bu Eun-seol was ambushed from behind would undoubtedly spread like wildfire.
“If we are to assign blame for how this started, you would not be free from responsibility either.”
Gu Dong-ak could say nothing to Bu Eun-seol’s follow-up remark.
In fact, he had a duty to restrain Jo Bi-un’s arrogant and reckless behavior.
But he too had trusted in the might of the Murim Alliance and had merely watched Jo Bi-un’s foolish actions unfold.
He had thought, surely, no one would dare kill the only son of the Mucheon Division Lord.
“Ugh.”
Gu Dong-ak bit his lip.
Even if the Alliance Lord himself were present, he would have no grounds to challenge Bu Eun-seol.
Worse, if responsibility for this incident were to be assigned, he himself would be the first in line.
“Let’s go!”
Trembling, he had his subordinates collect Jo Bi-un’s body and left without another word.
***
Bu Eun-seol’s actions once again became a major topic of discussion in the Murim.
To kill the only son of the Murim Alliance’s Mucheon Division Lord with a single strike?
Yet, even in this situation, the Murim Alliance could take no action.
It was because the arrogant and reckless Jo Bi-un had committed an act that a martial artist should never commit.
If anything, it was the guard captain, Gu Dong-ak, who deserved to be punished for the transgression.
—He’s truly a madman.
Bu Eun-seol, a disciple of Nang-ya-gak and a candidate to succeed the Ma-jeon.
While the Orthodox Faction called him Un-wang, some in the streets had begun to call him the Mad Sword.
Mad Sword.
Not only was his skill outstanding among the younger generation…
A rumor was spreading that he was a madman who knew no fear.
“It seems there’s no one left who wants to take a bite out of you.”
Hyeok So-jin, drinking at a tavern near Yeonan after passing through Hwanggye, looked disappointed.
After the death of Jo Bi-un, no one dared to pick a fight with Bu Eun-seol.
A rumor had spread far and wide that to challenge him was to put one’s life on the line.
“And on top of that, you keep getting these strange nicknames stuck to you.”
“…”
“Un-wang was bad enough, coming from those beggars from the Beggars' Sect. But Mad Sword? What kind of name is Mad Sword?”
*Thud.*
Hyeok So-jin slammed his wine bottle down, an aggrieved look on his face.
“A title like Sword King or something… that’s what suits you, Brother Bu.”
Despite Hyeok So-jin’s passionate speech, Bu Eun-seol simply stared out the window with a blank expression.
“Don’t you feel wronged, Brother Bu?”
*Clink.*
Bu Eun-seol set down his cup and shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter.”
He was completely unconcerned.
He had no attachment or regret, even if he were never to receive a title or ascend to the seat of the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
His goal was not honor or power.
“I know you don’t care about things like honor or fame, but still, you’re only human, Brother Bu…”
As Hyeok So-jin’s grumbling continued, Bu Eun-seol slowly opened his mouth.
“Fame and honor are nothing more than labels others attach to you.”
“Well… I suppose that’s true.”
He was right.
Even the name Four Gods and Seven Kings was not something they had created, but a title given to them by others.
Fame was something that came with experience as one honed their skills.
Obsessing over it could, in fact, cause one to fall to a lesser state.
“Besides, for a martial artist, fame is not always an advantage.”
Bu Eun-seol took another sip of wine and spoke in a low voice.
“The more one is talked about, the more one’s special techniques, methods, and even physical appearance become widely known. Sometimes, that name alone can put an adversary on high alert.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Mulling over Bu Eun-seol’s words, Hyeok So-jin suddenly laughed in vain.
“You are truly incredible, Brother Bu. There’s not much of an age difference between us, yet your experience and knowledge seem decades apart.”
He then looked to the distant sky and sighed.
“When will I ever become like that?”
His voice was filled more with fear than envy.
Hyeok So-jin would soon have to become the leader of all the members of Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji.
And to become the leader of a clan, one needed not only martial skill but also wise and cool-headed judgment.
One needed the leadership to guide countless people and the quality to earn their loyalty.
Hyeok So-jin was tormented by the fact that he possessed neither the ability nor the right.
“Perhaps Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji needs another, more outstanding individual instead of me.”
“That is the wrong way to think.”
As Hyeok So-jin’s shoulders slumped, Bu Eun-seol spoke with a firm expression.
“A leader does not necessarily have to be wiser or more outstanding than others. If that were the case, all the heads of the Murim clans would be geniuses.”
“Is… is that so?”
“The defining characteristic of clan leaders is not that they themselves are exceptional, but that they are good at placing people where they are needed most. That is why they can lead a clan even if they are not wise themselves.”
He took another sip of wine and said in a low voice.
“The division of the Sa-yeong-dae is an example of this. They each have different talents and specialties, and strong personalities. But they became an excellent force simply because the squad leaders led their members well.”
Bu Eun-seol stared intently at Hyeok So-jin.
“And all of this is what you have been doing until now.”
Only then did Hyeok So-jin realize.
He had consistently faced powerful enemies alongside Bu Eun-seol, led and commanded numerous allies, and deployed tactics.
Though he hadn't been aware of it, all the journeys and experiences until now… were etched into his very being.
“Thank you. For enlightening me once again.”
Hyeok So-jin rose from his seat and cupped his hands.
“And I will be sure to guide Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji down the right path.”
***
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin hurried on their way again.
The carriage traveled without rest, and soon they reached the vicinity of Lanzhou. In another day and a half, they would arrive at Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji.
“S-Sir.”
The panicked voice of the coachman came from outside.
“I think you need to step out for a moment.”
When Bu Eun-seol alighted from the carriage, he saw a hundred martial artists lined up solemnly on the plain opposite them.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes sharpened, and a faint smile touched his lips.
“Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong.”
The attire of the martial artists was identical in every way to that of the masters from Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong, the perilous land of the Murim that had once persecuted Gu Yang-cheong-jeong.
“Bu Eun-seol.”
Just then, a hideously-faced middle-aged man walked forward from the front of the martial artists.
It was none other than the Third Hall Master of Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong, Dok-su-ya-hon Go Geuk-shin.
“You remember this Hall Master, don’t you?”
He was not only violent in nature, but also a cruel demon who, even after killing an enemy, would use the Ya-hon-baek-gol-jo to crush their skull like a reed.
But Bu Eun-seol smiled warmly at Go Geuk-shin, as if meeting an old friend.
“It has been a while. So, have you visited our Pavilion?”
Go Geuk-shin ground his teeth.
In the past, when he had tried to abduct Gu Yang-cheong-jeong, he had publicly declared that he would first annihilate the clan of the suddenly intervening Bu Eun-seol.
Of course, he had said it without knowing it was Nang-ya-gak, but it had become a humiliating memory he would never forget for the rest of his life.
“Your mouth is as glib as ever.”
He spoke in a voice dripping with killing intent.
“Every single word still grates on this Hall Master’s nerves.”
“You didn’t come all this way just to see if my mouth was still in good working order, I presume.”
Bu Eun-seol, uncharacteristically, continued to jest and speak at length.
“Or are you now on your way to annihilate the Ma-jeon to which this Grand Commander belongs?”
Bu Eun-seol was now a Grand Commander of the Ma-jeon.
To provoke him without reason was the same as provoking the Ma-jeon.
“Hmph, invoking the name of the Ma-jeon will do you no good.”
Go Geuk-shin smiled triumphantly.
“This will, after all, fall within the scope of the succession battle.”
“A succession battle, you say.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded, his eyes showing genuine interest.
“Strange. Since when did Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong become one of the Ten Sects of the Demonic Path?”
Stroking his chin, Bu Eun-seol’s eyes flashed.
“Or is there another succession candidate that I am not aware of?”
Go Geuk-shin flinched for a moment but then put on a sinister smile.
“Think what you will. You are going to die anyway.”
Seeing him boldly leading a division of Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong, it seemed certain that they had colluded with one of the candidates for the Ma-jeon succession.
What if they were to arbitrarily slaughter a candidate for the Ma-jeon succession? The clan known as Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong would be instantly erased from the Murim.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve.”
Hyeok So-jin spoke in a voice as cold as ice.
“How dare the demons of Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong so brazenly enter our territory and pull such a stunt?”
At that, Go Geuk-shin’s lips curled upwards.
“I told you. This is a fight between candidates for the succession.”
He then said in an eerie voice.
“Even if the masters of Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji were to attack in droves, they would not be able to interfere in this fight.”
“Enough with the explanations. Just come at me. I’m in a hurry.”
“Heheheh. I am well aware that you possess considerable skill. And that you were lucky enough to kill Geol-wang.”
Go Geuk-shin bared his fangs and laughed.
“But this time will be different.”
Bu Eun-seol yawned.
It was not deliberate; he was simply growing tired of Go Geuk-shin’s chatter.
“What will be different?”
As Bu Eun-seol asked through his yawn, sparks flew in Go Geuk-shin’s eyes.
“You must have heard of our sect’s Cold-Blooded Demons!”
“Cold-Blooded Demons?”
Hearing those words, Hyeok So-jin’s eyes changed.
Only then did he notice that all the martial artists standing behind Go Geuk-shin had the murky eyes of the dead.
“Brother Bu. It seems he really has brought the Cold-Blooded Demons.”
Demonic sects, which found it difficult to produce a large number of skilled martial artists, sometimes created combat troops through special secret methods and training.
Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong also employed such a method to cultivate a large force, and they were called the Cold-Blooded Demons.
They were forced to consume a special drug to eliminate fear.
Furthermore, the martial arts they learned were such that they would willingly throw away their own lives if it meant they could take the enemy’s.
It was even said that the reason Hyeol-hae-ma-jeong was called a perilous land of the Murim and became a byword for terror was precisely because of these Cold-Blooded Demons.
“This is going to be a tough fight.”
*Zzzzing.*
Hyeok So-jin drew the Gang-sak-hyeol-sa from his left wrist.
He then stepped in front of Bu Eun-seol and said.
“I will take the lead.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“There’s no need for you to step forward.”
“What?”
“I suppose I should show you at least once.”
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol’s pupils glowed red like burning coals.
“Watch closely. And see just how high the steps you must climb are.”
He then walked past Hyeok So-jin, striding toward Go Geuk-shin.
Hyeok So-jin’s eyes widened.
He knew that Bu Eun-seol’s martial arts had improved greatly, but… there were a hundred of them. Moreover, they were Cold-Blooded Demons who felt no fear or pain and would charge in prepared for mutual destruction.
This was a level that not even Bu Eun-seol could face alone.
‘Could it be that Brother Bu has reached the Cho-geuk-do-won?’
No matter how many hundreds of flies joined forces, they could not bring down a single lion.
Similarly, the level at which a large number of people combining their strength could not defeat a single superior master was referred to as Cho-geuk-do-won.
*Step, step.*
Bu Eun-seol walked slowly toward the hundred Cold-Blooded Demons as if on a leisurely stroll.
With each bold and solemn step, his body seemed to grow larger, until it looked as if it reached the heavens.
“Attack!”
At Go Geuk-shin’s shout, the hundred Cold-Blooded Demons charged toward Bu Eun-seol.