Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: A Fiery Welcome
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Bu Eun-seol remained at Muhasuyujeong for some time.
He was waiting for information on Sahyang, and also took the opportunity to thoroughly examine all the books in the Yocheon-gak.
Yocheon-gak.
It was the place where Muhasuyujeong stored the records of all the information it had gathered.
From baseless rumors circulating the Murim to high-level intelligence that could profoundly impact sects and factions, everything was arranged chronologically.
Bu Eun-seol was poring over these texts, along with the Murim Biographical Registry, to find information on the Seven-fingered Demonic Saber, Bu Jan-yang.
*Shhhk.*
Bu Eun-seol swiftly scanned through records from thirty years ago, covering everything from circulating rumors and the state of the Murim to the present day.
He reasoned that he might find a clue by examining the records from the time the Seven-fingered Demonic Saber abruptly vanished up to the present.
'Strange.'
Bu Eun-seol shook his head as he quickly flipped through the pages.
The Seven-fingered Demonic Saber, Bu Jan-yang, was the greatest saber master of the Demonic Path; he had never used hidden weapons or poisons.
Naturally, there was no mention of him ever learning the Cheonchukyugagong.
'Did the Public Divine Thief spout nonsense before he died?'
Moreover, the skill and fame of the Seven-fingered Demonic Saber were truly unparalleled.
Especially during his time roaming the Murim, no one could stand against him. He would have had no need to resort to Sahyang's hidden weapons.
'There's also a time discrepancy...'
The time when the Seven-fingered Demonic Saber, Bu Jan-yang, abruptly disappeared. And the time when his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang, who had been an inspector for the constabulary, appeared. There was a gap of several years between them.
Of course, that gap could be explained as the preparation period needed to completely change his identity.
'Doesn't the Murim have the Pungma-use, organizations that specialize in fabricating new identities?'
Underworld criminals like the Haomun, Mangyeongbang, or the Sibiji, and sects with close ties to the dark factions.
There are also factions like the Sabimun or Hyeollyongbang that specialize solely in identity laundering.
In the Murim, such factions are collectively called Pungma-use (風磨雨洗), meaning 'a place to be ground by the wind and washed by the rain.'
*Thud.*
Lowering the book, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
In the end, he couldn't find any connection between the greatest saber master of the Demonic Path, the Seven-fingered Demonic Saber, Bu Jan-yang, and his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang.
'If I can't find it with my current status, I just have to climb higher.'
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fists.
This is only the beginning.
If I climb higher, if I attain a greater position... I will surely find more clues.
'Is there no information on the assailant either?'
Shaking his head, Bu Eun-seol finally left the Yocheon-gak.
In the past, he had already tried to find information on the man who killed his grandfather using the Gusaldae's intelligence network.
A man who favored the Buyukpaeyeol poison, used Sahyang's hidden weapons along with the Cheonchukyugagong, and possessed outstanding demonic sword arts.
Among the known masters of the current Murim, not a single one matched this description.
'The available information is too limited.'
The Seven-fingered Demonic Saber, Bu Jan-yang, the greatest saber master of his time.
Normally, it wouldn't be so difficult to track the hidden movements of such a famous figure.
But he had vanished too abruptly, and no trace of his subsequent activities had ever been found.
'But... I must find him.'
The only one whose trail he had any chance of finding was the Seven-fingered Demonic Saber, Bu Jan-yang.
Bu Eun-seol planned to start with him and methodically track down the killer.
"Young Master."
As Bu Eun-seol stepped out of the Yocheon-gak, a beautiful woman approached him. It was Mi-ryeong, the master of the Hyebong Pavilion.
"The Jeongju is looking for you, Young Master."
"I understand. Where should I go?"
"She asks that you come to the Jeonggeum-gak."
'Did she find it?'
Bu Eun-seol's heart pounded.
The fact that Geuk Hye-ryeong had specifically summoned him to the Jeonggeum-gak. It had to mean she had found information on Sahyang.
***
While the Beggars' Sect gathers information through merchants, inns, or waiters, Muhasuyujeong obtains its intelligence from the underworld, such as brothels and gambling dens.
In other words, though their targets differ, the largest intelligence networks of both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions are structured very similarly.
Of course, such a system is flooded with so much information that it requires a filter to refine it.
And if that filter functions properly...
Information and traces that might take a year to uncover can be found in a single day.
The Jeonggeum-gak, Geuk Hye-ryeong's office.
Sitting at her desk, her expression was extremely dark.
*Clink.*
Geuk Hye-ryeong took a sip of tea and spoke in a low voice.
"I mobilized the full intelligence network of our organization, but discovering Sahyang's headquarters was impossible."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
It was impossible from the start to uncover the base of a mysterious sect that had been rooted in the Murim for hundreds of years in one fell swoop.
"However, I was fortunate enough to find a place with close ties to Sahyang."
"And where is that?"
"The Seong Family Forge in Longquan, Zhejiang."
"The Seong Family Forge..."
Bu Eun-seol looked puzzled.
Longquan, famous for its high-quality iron, is home to many blacksmith forges.
But he had never heard of a place called the Seong Family Forge.
"It's a small forge established near Mount Okryu. For generations, they've made farming tools."
Geuk Hye-ryeong's voice was very low.
"They claim to be a forge that makes farming tools, but they've been acquiring large quantities of tin and bronze."
"If it's tin and brass..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
"They're making springs."
"Exactly."
The springs used in hidden weapon mechanisms are usually made from a mixture of tin and brass.
A forge that makes farming tools would have no reason to acquire such materials in large quantities.
"The agents sent to investigate the Seong Family Forge thoroughly have all disappeared. That alone suggests a connection to Sahyang."
She sighed and said.
"Go to the Seong Family Forge. You will surely be able to obtain information about Sahyang there."
"Thank you."
"Are you leaving right away?"
"Yes."
"Be careful."
Geuk Hye-ryeong said in a low voice.
"Sahyang is a sect of assassins that has hidden its presence from the Murim for generations. Its roots run unimaginably deep."
Her eyes were filled with concern.
Bu Eun-seol was a man of exceptional intelligence and martial skill, but he was sometimes reckless and fearless.
It was a trait common to exceptional individuals, but dealing with a mysterious sect like Sahyang required extreme caution.
"Please take care of yourself as well, Jeongju."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands.
And without delay, he left Muhasuyujeong.
'I have to hurry.'
If Muhasuyujeong's agents disappeared, Sahyang must have realized their activities were exposed.
I have to get there quickly, before they erase all traces and escape.
***
After leaving Muhasuyujeong, Bu Eun-seol immediately unleashed his full movement arts.
Having reached the perfected state of the fifth level of the Reverse Extremity Heart Art, Bu Eun-seol could use his movement arts for four days and nights without tiring.
Three days had already passed, yet he continued toward Longquan at full speed, without even a sip of water.
*Swish!*
Unrestrained, Bu Eun-seol's Extreme Speed Shadowless Step, which tore through the air, was like a meteor streaking across the land.
But the weather was strange.
As he neared Longquan, the clear sky darkened and began to fill with storm clouds.
As if foretelling something ominous.
Finally, just as Bu Eun-seol's figure was about to enter a small village nestled deep at the foot of Longquan's mountains,
"......!"
A sharp light flashed in his eyes.
In the distance, gray smoke was billowing into the air.
*Thud.*
Bu Eun-seol's brow furrowed as he landed on the ground.
'Damn.'
The small mountain village was already engulfed in flames.
And the forge located at its edge was also burning fiercely.
It seemed Sahyang, realizing their tail had been caught, had burned down the entire village and the forge.
*Crumble...*
The forge's warehouse, which had held its shape until the end, was finally collapsing.
Judging by the state of the fire, it was clear that less than half a day had passed since the village and forge were set ablaze.
'A mere assassin sect is operating an intelligence network on par with the Ten Demonic Sects?'
Bu Eun-seol had traveled at full speed as soon as he got the information, arriving here in three days.
And yet they were able to cut their ties this quickly?
Wasn't this proof that Sahyang's intelligence network rivaled that of Muhasuyujeong?
'I can still pursue them.'
To lay waste to a village and set it on fire in such a short time would have required a large number of masters.
If I act now, I can surely catch the trail of those fleeing the area.
"......"
Bu Eun-seol, who was about to use his movement art to give chase, suddenly froze.
He had spotted black shadows emerging like ghosts from between the flames devouring the village.
"Thorough, aren't they."
Bu Eun-seol let out a short, sharp breath.
The arsonists had left assassins in waiting to deal with him, knowing he would soon arrive.
"Perfect."
Bu Eun-seol actually broke into a welcoming smile.
It didn't matter if they weren't Sahyang's assassins. They must have been hired by someone.
If I capture and interrogate them, I'll surely be able to get on their trail.
*Shhh...*
The assassins who finally revealed themselves numbered a hundred strong.
The bulging around their shoulders and arms suggested they were wearing various hidden weapon contraptions under their assassin's garb.
'So they weren't hired. Sahyang sent their own assassins.'
*Swish!*
The hundred assassins attacked Bu Eun-seol without a word.
But their method was rather unique.
They maintained a great distance from Bu Eun-seol, unleashing a torrent of hidden weapons.
*Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!*
The sky was blotted out in black.
The hidden weapons they unleashed were of a unique type rarely seen in the Murim.
Not only their shapes, but the way they were launched was distinctly different from ordinary hidden weapon mechanisms.
'They are definitely Sahyang's assassins.'
Their mechanisms were operated not only by springs but also by gunpowder.
Some shot projectiles from small bows fixed to their forearms, while others fired in succession from large canisters mounted on their backs or shoulders.
*Clang-clang-clang!*
With no room to dodge, Bu Eun-seol used the Hwan-gwi-bon-ju to deflect the weapons back at them.
*Fwoosh!*
But among the volley of weapons were some that released qi-scattering powder upon impact, or others that burst into flames and exploded.
*BOOM!*
In that moment, a weapon grazed by the Muk-geom exploded near Bu Eun-seol's body, spraying shrapnel everywhere.
*Rumble...*
A large crater was left where Bu Eun-seol had been standing.
Had he not escaped the blast radius in time, the damage would have been significant.
'Are these Sahyang's weapons, too?'
There are martial families in the Murim that specialize in firearms and explosive projectiles.
But they are almost nonexistent, limited to the Byeokryeokdang, famous for its Thunderclap Bombs, or the Geukryeolmun, which uses Heaven-Collapsing Explosive Orbs.
And yet Sahyang can freely manufacture firearms and explosives?
*BOOM!*
Meanwhile, a torrent of weapons engulfed Bu Eun-seol's surroundings in flames.
Each time, a heavy tremor shook the ground, leaving a large crater where he had stood.
'A trap that even Transcendent Realm masters would struggle with.'
The assault unleashed by these assassins, armed to the teeth with hidden weapons, was enough to wipe out a small-scale sect in an instant.
If Bu Eun-seol hadn't possessed the Yasu-do, which allowed him to sense every incoming weapon...
If he hadn't mastered the Extreme Speed Shadowless Step, which let him change direction ninety-nine times in a single leap...
If he didn't have a protective barrier of true qi around his body, thanks to his internal energy level far exceeding four cycles?
Bu Eun-seol would never have survived this trap.
*CRASH! BOOM!*
Meanwhile, the number of incoming weapons began to dwindle noticeably.
No matter how many weapons they had brought, their supply was finite.
*Whoosh...*
A cold gust of wind passed, and from within the thick dust, a pair of sharp eyes glinted.
"Now, it's my turn."
Muttering lowly, Bu Eun-seol unleashed his movement art at full speed and plunged into the assassins' midst.
*Swish!*
As he used the Extreme Speed Shadowless Step, a shadow like a bolt of lightning seeped into their ranks,
*Flash!*
And at the same time, a brilliant sword light erupted.
It was as if a single, massive beam of light had spread out from the center of the assassins' formation.
He had unleashed the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form, imbued with immense internal energy.
*CLANG!*
But something surprising happened.
Ten nearby assassins simultaneously unleashed their own sword arts and blocked the Meteor Chasing the Moon Form.
*Tsk!*
But as if he had expected it all, Bu Eun-seol closed the distance with the assassins even further.
The weapon mechanisms they wore were all designed for unleashing a barrage from a distance.
At close range, not only was their power diminished, but they became useless, as they could harm their own allies.
*Slice!*
With a chilling sound of flesh being cut, a line of blood appeared on one assassin's neck.
Unleashing the Lightning Peerless Form, Bu Eun-seol had instantly decapitated an assassin.
*Step!*
But just then, the remaining nine assassins charged, surrounding Bu Eun-seol.
It was a charge that disregarded their own lives.
The moment Bu Eun-seol unhesitatingly used his sword art to cut them down,
*BOOM!*
A deafening roar accompanied a massive explosion.
As the wind blew and white smoke scattered in all directions, a figure could be seen standing tall.
*Crackle, crackle...*
Bu Eun-seol stood there, his entire body shrouded in a black true qi that seemed to spark with electricity.
The moment the explosion occurred, he had used the Yeoui-jin-gyeol to protect his entire body with materialized true qi.
'They even use their own bodies as weapons?'
Bu Eun-seol, who rarely even twitched an eyebrow, found his expression hardening.
He hadn't expected the assassins to disregard their lives to such an extent, charging at him with explosives strapped to their bodies.
'They're drugged.'
The eyes of the surrounding assassins were as lifeless as a dead fish's, the whites barely visible.
They had clearly been injected with a special drug to control their emotions and manipulate their minds.
"There's no need to capture them alive."
Bu Eun-seol finally realized.
He wouldn't be able to get a single word out of them.
There was only one way to get information from them: kill every last one and examine their corpses.