Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: The Martial Emperor's Legacy
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“The deeper the affection, the more powerful the martial art becomes...?”
To act on impulse.
The Heavenly Demon Emperor had developed the Sakjeong-bigyeol by researching techniques unfettered by worldly etiquette or formalities.
In contrast, the Martial Emperor's secret art was one of Hujeong-simjeong.
He had created a mind art that calmed the spirit through profound emotions and deep affection.
“Hmm.”
The characters written on both sides of the thin paper numbered around three thousand.
But every passage was imbued with profound principles, and some verses were impossible to comprehend at a glance.
“I can't make sense of this.”
The verses were difficult, but above all, he could not understand the Muhwang-jeonggak mind art itself.
“Does a warrior who lives on the edge of a blade truly need to cultivate deep affection?”
Bu Eun-seol's gaze, fixed on the secrets of the Muhwang-jeonggak, grew hazy as if entranced.
He was contemplating whether it was truly necessary to delve into a mind art that was the polar opposite of the Heavenly Demon Emperor's Sakjeong-bigyeol.
“If I can't understand it, I'll just memorize it.”
There was no reason to ignore the verses left behind by an unparalleled martial arts genius.
Bu Eun-seol began to force himself to memorize the mind art of the Muhwang-jeonggak.
Fortunately, there was groundwater flowing here, and stacks of well-sealed honey jars.
If he wished, he could stay for over two months without any trouble.
***
Bu Eun-seol lost all track of time, memorizing the verses in the Martial Emperor's secret archive.
‘Strange.’
His memory was exceptional; he never forgot something he had heard or seen once.
But memorizing these verses was not easy.
When he memorized the beginning, he couldn't recall the end. And when he thought he had finally memorized it all and recited it again, he would forget the middle part.
Not only that, but every time he tried to memorize the verses, memories from his childhood would slowly begin to surface.
‘Are these verses meant to stir up idle thoughts?’
Sensing something was wrong, Bu Eun-seol stopped trying to memorize the Muhwang-jeonggak.
‘A mind art like this can't be mastered by brute memorization.’
A mind art was a method of governing the heart. Success could elevate one's martial realm in an instant, but a misstep could lead one to fall prey to their inner demons.
In other words, it was the most perilous of all martial secrets.
‘The first step is to figure out what’s wrong.’
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and sank into meditation.
How much time had passed?
‘Is it necessary to be bound by the concept of affection?’
As he entered a state of deep meditation, a realization dawned in Bu Eun-seol's mind.
‘After all, isn't the heart simply a vessel that holds affection?’
When the heart moves, ki moves, and the body naturally follows that ki.
‘He must have sought to reach a new realm of martial arts through deep and vast affection.’
Bu Eun-seol could guess.
The Martial Emperor had lived his entire life with vast affection and rich emotions, and he had integrated that into his martial arts.
Once he properly understood the essence of the Muhwang-jeonggak, Bu Eun-seol naturally moved his heart according to the verses.
Faint, distant memories began to surface. Joyful, warm times. Those remote recollections.
His spirit grew increasingly serene, and his mind felt as though it stood alone in a beautiful garden of fluttering flower petals.
The whole world seemed beautiful, like a dream.
As Bu Eun-seol's spirit filled with warmth, his body also gradually regained its vitality.
His heart beat stronger, and his blood circulated faster. The life force within him became more vigorous, and it felt as if the impurities in his body were flowing out.
‘This is the Muhwang-jeonggak.’
As he grasped the principles of the Muhwang-jeonggak, a sudden, passionate, and overwhelming emotion welled up inside him.
It was like the vigorous struggle of a child in the womb, finally ready to enter the world.
*Flash.*
Opening his eyes, Bu Eun-seol channeled the uncontrollable emotion and lightly extended his fist.
He had unconsciously unleashed the Gwon-ma-chil-sik.
A breeze like a gentle wind blew toward the wall next to the bookshelf.
*Sssss.*
As the wind touched the solid wall, dust rose, and suddenly, a perfectly round hole appeared.
‘I barely infused it with any internal energy.’
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his surprise.
The Muhwang-jeonggak.
This secret art was a celestial technique that used the emotions composing the spirit to dramatically increase the power of one's martial arts.
“This is troublesome.”
Bu Eun-seol stood up and looked at the cleanly pierced wall, his brow furrowed.
“This can’t be called a demonic martial art.”
The Gwon-ma-chil-sik was meant to unleash a sharp, axe-like force.
But the force he had just unleashed was soft and resilient.
The Gwon-ma-chil-sik, a ruthless demonic fist art, had been deployed as if it were a Buddhist martial art—gentle and full of compassion.
“Affection, or detachment.”
The Heavenly Demon Emperor's Sakjeong-bigyeol, which eliminated all worldly thoughts and affections to freely command a tangible form of true ki.
The Martial Emperor's Muhwang-jeonggak, which dramatically increased the power of martial arts based on deep and infinite affection, allowing for a gentle and stable release.
He stood at a crossroads, unsure of which path to follow.
“I need to think this over carefully.”
Despite obtaining the supreme mind arts of both the righteous and unorthodox paths, Bu Eun-seol was not particularly pleased.
The Muhwang-jeonggak was, in fact, ill-suited for Bu Eun-seol, who had a naturally cold disposition.
That was why, unlike the Sakjeong-bigyeol which he could memorize and utilize instantly, he had to calm his mind through meditation just to be able to use this one.
“All of this is merely a stepping stone to the place I must reach.”
Bu Eun-seol was forging his own path.
Therefore, obtaining such a secret art changed nothing.
“Hmph.”
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol began to walk. He was finally about to leave the secret archive.
But something was strange.
Was it because he had learned the Muhwang-jeonggak? The secret manuals on the shelves suddenly caught his eye.
Without realizing it, Bu Eun-seol began to examine the martial arts manuals here once more.
*Fwip, fwip, fwip.*
The manuals here were not the exclusive martial arts of the mainstream orthodox sects, like the Nine Sects One Gang or the Eight Great Families.
Rather, most were the secret manuals of orthodox sects that had briefly flourished or whose lineages had been severed.
“But Seop Mu-heun, who mastered these completely, earned the title of Martial Emperor.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes grew dim.
To learn, or not to learn?
Considering that the Muhwang-jeonggak had been hidden so deeply, the orthodox martial arts contained here must also hold astonishing martial principles.
“There’s no time, so...”
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol began to rapidly scan the books on the shelves.
He was forcing the secret manuals of the orthodox martial arts on the shelves into his mind.
*Tap, tap, tap.*
How much time had passed?
Bu Eun-seol read and reread every single manual in the archive.
When he was hungry, he drank honey and water. When he was sleepy, he circulated his energy.
After consuming the jade bee honey for a long time, he eventually found he could maintain a clear and sharp mind without needing to sleep.
The moment he placed the last manual back on the final shelf,
*Rumble...*
With a low vibration, the bookshelf flipped over, revealing four characters written behind it in a sharp script.
Sipsam-yagi.
“Sipsam-yagi?”
It was a phrase he couldn't understand at all.
“What does it mean to evoke thirteen of something?”
But even after waiting for a while, there was no further reaction, and no mechanism activated.
He carefully examined his surroundings, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Why did the bookshelf flip over?”
All Bu Eun-seol had done was read every manual in the Martial Emperor's archive and commit them to memory.
*Krrrrr.*
Just then, the overturned bookshelves returned to their original positions.
But something was strange.
He had definitely placed them back in order, but the sequence of the manuals on the shelves had now completely changed.
“The positions of the Dang-jeong-bo and the Geum-ho-eung-ryeok-su were at opposite ends…”
Muttering to himself, Bu Eun-seol unconsciously stepped with his left foot into the Dang-jeong-bo stance and executed the Geum-ho-eung-ryeok-su with his right hand in the air.
*Whoosh!*
Then, something bizarre happened.
He had merely executed each martial art separately, yet they suddenly unfolded as if they were a single, unified technique.
*Papat!*
That wasn't the only strange thing.
As he executed the two techniques simultaneously, a sharp force erupted from his shoulder.
This happened despite him not using any internal energy at all.
*Slice.*
The unexpectedly unleashed force left a sharp mark on the rosewood bookshelf.
“...Sipsam-yagi.”
He finally understood.
The orthodox martial arts collected here were all very similar in their principles.
If one could execute them simultaneously, they would merge into a single entity, giving birth to a new martial art.
One that produced unexpected bursts of power.
“Hmph.”
For a moment, an image of a terrifying martial art flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind...
One that could unleash thirteen streams of power from different parts of the body at unpredictable angles.
“So that's why it was given such a name.”
Once mastered, this art would allow one to unleash or retract thirteen streams of power, which was why it was named Sipsam-yagi.
“Was this the Martial Emperor's true art?”
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
“It's such a unique martial art that it doesn't even have the characteristic feel of an orthodox technique.”
Bu Eun-seol was, after all, the heir to Nang-ya-gak and a candidate for the heir of the Demonic Cult. He was in a position where he could not carelessly use martial arts from the orthodox sects.
But Sipsam-yagi was so unique that it looked more like a heretical art of the demonic path.
If he were to master this completely...
A new Martial Emperor would be born in the martial world.
***
When Bu Eun-seol stepped outside, he was met with an unfamiliar landscape.
Looking around, he found he was dozens of li away from the mountain where the Martial Emperor's archive had been hidden.
*Krrrrr.*
As he came out, the iron door trembled and then burrowed into the ground.
It seemed a mechanism had been set up so that once someone who had learned the Muhwang-jeonggak and Sipsam-yagi left, the archive would be buried underground.
‘Only one person with a fateful connection...’
Recalling the legend of the Martial Emperor, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
‘Although I entered by chance, I have inherited his true teachings.’
The Martial Emperor, a grandmaster of a peerless martial art that protected the righteous spirit of the martial world, had met a lonely end after being framed by both the orthodox and unorthodox factions.
‘Though I come from the demonic path... I hope you will accept my respects.’
Watching the archive disappear, Bu Eun-seol bowed his head in a deep, respectful bow.
***
After leaving the Martial Emperor's archive, Bu Eun-seol soon arrived at a small village near Unhwa.
As soon as he reached the marketplace, he habitually entered a bustling tavern.
“Welcome.”
The waiter wiped down the table where Bu Eun-seol sat and struck up a conversation.
“Looks like you've come from a long way, sir.”
He had spent nearly a month in the Martial Emperor's archive mastering the verses of the Muhwang-jeonggak.
Having not seen a single ray of sunlight in the dark stone chamber, his complexion was extremely haggard, and his appearance was shabby.
If not for the sword on his back, the waiter would have mistaken him for a master from the Beggars' Sect.
“Not so much long as it was a rough place.”
The Martial Emperor's archive seemed to be equipped with every mechanism known to the martial world.
But Bu Eun-seol described it simply as ‘rough.’
“What can I get for you, sir?”
“Do you have any good liquor?”
After being in a dark, gloomy place for so long, he craved strong, fragrant liquor more than delicious food.
“We have Seol-hyang-ju from the Gye-yang-ju brewery. It's very strong, and the aroma is exquisite.”
“Five bottles of Seol-hyang-ju. And whatever food you recommend.”
“Right away, sir.”
The waiter glanced at Bu Eun-seol's chapped lips and quickly brought the liquor first.
As the bottle was placed on the table, he pressed it to his lips like a drunkard and drank deeply.
*Gulp, gulp.*
As the strong, fragrant liquor went down his throat, his mind cleared, and a warmth spread through his stomach.
‘Liquor is better than tea.’
The supreme masters of the martial world he had seen always enjoyed tea.
But Bu Eun-seol preferred strong liquor to fragrant tea.
“Did you hear? There's been an uproar in the Demonic Cult.”
Just then, amidst the noisy tavern, a peculiar conversation reached Bu Eun-seol's ears.
‘The Demonic Cult?’
He turned his head and saw two middle-aged men, who looked like martial artists, speaking in low voices by the window across from him.
“Ah. You mean the rumor that the rising star, the candidate for the Demonic Cult's heir, is dead?”
Hearing their conversation, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
The rising candidate for the Demonic Cult’s heir was dead?
Could it be that Do Cheon-rin or Wi Ji-hye-sang had suddenly died?
“That's the one. The successor of Nang-ya-gak.”
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened as he turned his head to stare at the two men.
How could he be dead when he was perfectly fine and alive right here? What kind of absurd nonsense was this?
“His tracks vanished after he came out of Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji, so the Demonic Cult finally sent an investigation team... They say they found traces of him in some remote mountain valley.”
“Then couldn't he still be alive?”
“Not a chance.”
One of the two men, who had a goatee, shook his head.
“They say traces of a fight with Tan-wang were left there.”
“Tan-wang?”
The man opposite him finally nodded in understanding.
“Well, if it was Tan-wang, there's no way he could have survived. The man despises demonic practitioners with a passion...”
The two middle-aged men continued their conversation.
Unfortunately, the heir of Nang-ya-gak had run into Tan-wang, who not only possessed powerful martial arts among the Seven Kings of Death but also loathed demonic practitioners.
Ultimately, there was no hope for a lucky escape, and he had met his end.
“But that Tan-wang fellow has some nerve, killing a candidate for the Demonic Cult's heir...”
The man opposite him clicked his tongue.
To have laid a hand on a candidate for the Demonic Cult's heir—even if he were one of the Three Revered Ones, let alone Tan-wang, the Demonic Cult would not let it slide.
“It's not quite like that.”
“How so?”
“The body wasn't found.”
The man with the goatee drained his cup and spoke again.
“Tan-wang probably disposed of it quietly, wanting to avoid a clash with the Demonic Cult. With no evidence, it'll be easier for him to deny it.”
“Come on, he’s Tan-wang. Would a master who has roamed the martial world alone for decades do something so petty?”
“Who knows? You only get one life.”
“Hmm.”
“What's certain is that the man encountered Tan-wang and they had a fierce battle.”
The man sitting opposite him hummed and shook his head.
“Then it's only a matter of time before a storm of blood is unleashed. If they can't find the body, the Demonic Cult will eventually go after Tan-wang.”
“Yes, that’s likely.”
Listening to their story, Bu Eun-seol finally realized the gravity of the situation.
Normally, he would have had a life-or-death battle with Tan-wang.
But after a chance encounter and a brief clash with Tan-wang, he had entered the Martial Emperor's archive, and the two never fought.
However, the Demonic Cult's pursuers, with no way of knowing this, were assuming he was dead.
‘The Demonic Cult is one thing...’
*Thud.*
Placing a money slip on the table, Bu Eun-seol leaped out the window.
‘But the members of my main unit might cause trouble!’
*Whoooosh!*
He then unleashed his movement technique at full speed, heading in the direction of the Demonic Cult.