Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: The Martial Emperor's Enlightenment
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―It is unknown when it was formed or who its true leader is. But for generations, the martial world has…….
This was no martial arts manual, but a detailed account of the clandestine powers that operated within the martial world four hundred years ago.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed as he read on.
Was it a coincidence?
Four hundred years ago, too, mysterious figures of unknown origin and affiliation had apparently stirred up the martial world.
‘Not even the Martial Emperor could defeat them?’
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
The Martial Emperor, Seop Mu-heun, was one of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars who had dominated the martial world at the time. Supreme masters capable of facing him would have been rare even in that era.
But according to the book, there were numerous mysterious individuals who possessed martial arts equal to the Martial Emperor’s.
―I, the Emperor, attempted to inform the Murim Alliance and the various orthodox factions of this truth, intending to uproot this power.
But their strength transcended both the orthodox and unorthodox, to the point where they controlled the martial world itself. In the end, it was I who was cornered.
‘So that’s why he vanished without a trace.’
The Martial Emperor, despite his immense power, had made no friends or allies, rebuking the martial world alone like a divine dragon.
Ultimately, he was framed by a massive force he could not face by himself.
He disappeared, never able to clear his name.
‘To be able to contend with Seop Mu-heun, who could instantly transcribe any martial art he saw into a manual…’
Having finished the Martial Emperor’s Record, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
Who were these people who had seized control of the martial world four hundred years ago without ever revealing themselves?
“What, is some incredible martial art written in there?”
His curiosity piqued, Bukgung Ryeong picked up the Martial Emperor’s Record that Bu Eun-seol had been reading.
“Hah… This is just like the current state of the martial world.”
After reading the entire text, Bukgung Ryeong let out a long sigh and muttered.
“It sounds like the story of those strange, masked figures.”
“Masked figures…”
Hearing this, Bu Eun-seol recalled the mysterious masked individuals he had encountered so far.
They all possessed exceptional martial arts and had an intelligence network skilled enough to evade pursuit from both the House of the Assembled Demons and the Wind and Cloud Brigade.
And when they killed the Soul-Devouring Mad Progenitor, hadn't they unleashed a tremendous amount of energy that surpassed even his own?
“You’ve seen them, I take it.”
Seeing Bu Eun-seol’s expression, Bukgung Ryeong’s eyes flashed.
“Haven’t you?”
“I have.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, he took a deep breath and spoke.
“Do you know why I cooperated so closely with Gu Hong-cheong, that ambitious old man?”
“…”
“It was because we discovered a force scheming in the shadows and were trying to track them down.”
Bu Eun-seol found this odd.
It was true that a peerless master like Bukgung Ryeong would need connections with major intelligence organizations.
But the Geol-wang wasn't the leader of the Beggars' Sect; he was merely a grand elder who offered advice, wasn't he?
“They have planted their spies in every orthodox and unorthodox faction. Just like the situation described here from four hundred years ago.”
“Are you saying the leader of the Beggars' Sect is one of their spies?”
“We can’t be certain. But the story about him being bedridden with a strange illness… was a lie.”
No Bong, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, was said to have been confined to his sickbed for a long time due to a peculiar disease.
But that was a lie?
“In that case, the Geol-wang could have been a spy as well.”
“Impossible. He was the one who discovered the existence of those who manipulate the martial world from the shadows, even before I did.”
As the grand elder of the Beggars' Sect, Gu Hong-cheong was essentially the head of the orthodox factions’ intelligence network, capable of obtaining and handling high-level information.
Bukgung Ryeong had chosen the reliable grand elder as his partner over the unnerving sect leader.
“That’s why he always wanted a strong Beggars' Sect.”
Bukgung Ryeong’s expression turned somber.
“Of course, I can’t say he didn’t have personal ambitions.”
To clear the dark clouds looming over the martial world, one needed overwhelming power above all else.
Gu Hong-cheong had hoped to make the Beggars' Sect the paramount power of the orthodox factions and drive out the forces that manipulated the martial world.
“If you knew about a clandestine force trying to control the martial world, why didn’t you inform the various factions?”
“Do you think we didn’t try?”
Heaving a deep sigh, he pointed at the Martial Emperor’s Record.
Even a supreme master like the Martial Emperor, who had extensive connections with the leaders of various factions and the strong warriors of the martial world, had met such a tragic end.
In other words, the combined strength of Bukgung Ryeong and Gu Hong-cheong was not even enough to catch a glimpse of their tail.
“Provoking them carelessly would only invite a counterattack. We had to be patient until we found conclusive evidence and identified their forces.”
“I see.”
“But how did you come to know of these mysterious masked figures? Their movements are always so secretive that almost no one is aware of their existence.”
“I just happened to run into them.”
“Happened to?”
Bu Eun-seol stated calmly.
“Whenever something happened, people in masks would appear. I tried to have a proper fight with them, but they fled every time.”
“You tried to fight them, and the masked figures ran away?”
“Yes.”
“Ho ho.”
Bukgung Ryeong looked at Bu Eun-seol with a newfound sense of wonder.
‘This one doesn’t know the meaning of fear. Then again, he didn’t even blink an eye at me.’
An unwitting smile graced his lips.
Come to think of it, Bu Eun-seol was the spitting image of his younger self.
Handsome features and outstanding martial arts. The audacity to fear neither heaven nor earth.
And the willingness to charge into a fight, no matter the opponent.
‘Youngsters with such spirit are rare in today’s martial world.’
An indescribable emotion welled up in Bukgung Ryeong’s chest.
All the young rising stars he had met until now were either sycophants or opportunists seeking to gain something by associating with him.
But Bu Eun-seol was different.
He paid no mind to any of it, walking a path all his own.
‘To think such a remarkable individual would emerge from the demonic path, of all places.’
Bukgung Ryeong felt a pang of regret.
To think he would feel such a sense of kinship with a rising star from the demonic path.
“I have walked the Gangho alone all this time, trying to protect the spirit of the martial world.”
Without realizing it, Bukgung Ryeong found himself confessing the words that had been weighing on his heart to Bu Eun-seol.
“But all I have left is a distrust of humanity.”
Though it appeared peaceful on the surface, the current state of the martial world was indescribably perilous.
Spies lurked everywhere in both the orthodox and unorthodox factions, and figures of unknown identity were stirring up trouble.
In such a situation, it was a remarkable feat just to traverse the martial world alone while hunting them.
“If I were to take a single misstep, I would likely have to end my days quietly, just like the Martial Emperor.”
Bu Eun-seol found himself nodding involuntarily.
If the words in the Martial Emperor’s Record were true… the faction of masked figures had been rooted in the martial world for a very long time.
And there was no telling how far their branches had spread.
One wrong move would not only risk tipping off their enemy, but could also provoke a counterattack, leading to an irreversible situation.
“I’ve said too much.”
Shaking his head, Bukgung Ryeong looked around the chamber and shook his head again.
“Well, then, let’s part ways here.”
“You’re just going to leave?”
Bu Eun-seol looked surprised.
Hadn’t he been seething with killing intent, furious that he had killed Gu Hong-cheong? How could he simply leave with the killer of his friend standing right before him?
“Heh heh heh.”
Bukgung Ryeong offered a lonely, weary smile.
“You haven’t left the vault yet, have you?”
Though it was an unspoken agreement conveyed through their eyes, Bukgung Ryeong had promised not to attack until all the traps were overcome.
And now, all the traps had been dealt with. If he were determined, he could kill Bu Eun-seol in an instant.
Yet, he was choosing to leave Bu Eun-seol be and depart quietly.
“If fate allows, we shall meet again.”
Turning away with a deep sigh, Bukgung Ryeong paused for a moment.
“There is one thing I’m curious about.”
“Speak.”
“Did he… have any regrets?”
Bukgung Ryeong knew well that Gu Hong-cheong was a man full of ambition.
And it was his inability to abandon that dreadful ambition that created an opening in his spirit, leading to his defeat at Bu Eun-seol’s hands.
He wondered if, in his final moments, Gu Hong-cheong had regretted clinging to his obsessive desire for power.
“He had no regrets.”
Bu Eun-seol let out a short sigh and said in a low voice.
“On the contrary, he departed satisfied that his death would prevent Vice-Chief Hae Pung from becoming the next chief, and that countless powerful warriors would come to kill me.”
“Heh heh heh. He left behind a bitter curse, just like the King of Beggars he was.”
Bukgung Ryeong, contrary to expectations, wore a relaxed smile.
Geol-wang Gu Hong-cheong. Befitting the King of Beggars, he met his end with dignity and without regret.
“Will you not regret this?”
Bu Eun-seol then spoke, his words clear and precise.
“An opportune moment like today will not come again.”
Understanding his meaning, Bukgung Ryeong remained silent for a long moment before slowly opening his mouth.
“Gu Hong-cheong, that old man, fought to his heart’s content against a peerless talent with a fiery martial spirit, and he was defeated without regret.”
A dry smile played on Bukgung Ryeong’s lips.
“What lingering feelings could there be?”
Those were his honest sentiments.
Bu Eun-seol, too, remained silent for a moment before speaking in a calm tone.
“Most figures in the orthodox factions don’t act their age… but it seems there are exceptions.”
“Hahaha.”
Bukgung Ryeong burst into laughter.
He realized this was the wooden young man’s own way of offering an apology.
“The martial world may seem peaceful, but it is in fact a perilous situation. I’m sure it’s the same on the demonic path.”
A flicker of emotion passed through Bukgung Ryeong’s usually impassive eyes.
If only their paths had not been so different, if only the age gap between them had not been so vast…
Bukgung Ryeong felt an inexplicable sense of regret.
“You, too, will clash with them someday.”
“That is unlikely.”
Bu Eun-seol calmly shook his head.
“I have no interest in the state of the martial world.”
“Heh heh heh. You still don’t understand the way of the Gangho.”
Bukgung Ryeong chuckled.
“The moment you killed Gu Hong-cheong, you became a figure who could sway the tides of the martial world.”
Bu Eun-seol had already ascended to the rank of one of the Seven Kings of the God of Death, becoming a figure whose name alone held immense influence in the martial world.
And the powers that manipulated the martial world… would never leave Bu Eun-seol alone.
“Too much time has passed.”
Gazing up at the empty space, Bukgung Ryeong muttered in a low voice.
“It seems I was never fated to go to the Cheon-geom-hoe.”
The Cheon-geom-hoe.
The place that had taught Bu Eun-seol the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom and asked him to kill the demon who had slaughtered all ten of its high-ranking members, including its leader.
A strange thought flashed through Bu Eun-seol’s mind.
Could the demon they spoke of be connected to the masked figures he had encountered so far?
*Kwoong.*
With a smile, Bukgung Ryeong opened the door opposite the library and vanished.
Watching his departing back, Bu Eun-seol had a premonition.
His connection with the man named Bukgung Ryeong was not over.
“It can’t be helped.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
Once you set foot in the martial world, no one can be free from enmity.
As long as one draws breath, one must endlessly clash with others to move forward.
“A great deal of time really has passed.”
Bu Eun-seol turned around, his expression relieved.
The Martial Emperor’s Vault had turned a formidable enemy named Tan-wang into a not-so-bad acquaintance.
It was a stroke of good fortune for him.
“A good read.”
Bu Eun-seol was about to place the Martial Emperor’s Record back on the shelf.
*Jiiing.*
He felt a strange sensation.
He had merely closed the book and tilted it slightly, but the center of gravity he felt through his fingertips had shifted.
The change in weight was lighter than a small ant, but with his superhuman sense of balance, Bu Eun-seol immediately sensed something was wrong.
“The center of gravity changes when the book is tilted… huh.”
Examining the Martial Emperor’s Record closely, Bu Eun-seol ran his fingers over each and every page.
Then, by chance, he detected that the last page was infinitesimally thicker than the others.
*Woong!*
Drawing on the True Art of Wishful Thinking, Bu Eun-seol formed a microscopic blade at his fingertip, thinner than a strand of hair.
*Shhhk!*
And that blade sliced the thin sheet of paper vertically into two pieces.
*Tuk.*
Inside the bisected paper was a single sheet so thin it appeared transparent.
“This is…”
On the transparent paper, written in characters so small one had to strain their eyes to the absolute limit to see them, was a dense block of text.
―The process of reaching the pinnacle of divine arts is like rowing a boat into a raging sea where one cannot see an inch ahead.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at the first line.
―In the end, one has no choice but to use the tangled skein of ten thousand emotions as a compass to navigate through.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed as he read the characters written on the paper.
The Martial Emperor’s Quiet Enlightenment.
On the final page of the Martial Emperor’s Record, the Martial Emperor had written down the secret insights he had attained in his later years.