Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: The Undying Man's Lament
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BOOM! BOOM!
This time, he unleashed the first form of the Gwon-ma-chil-sik, striking Gu Ju-hon’s Danjung point.
“Khehehehe.”
An ordinary martial artist would have coughed up blood and died on the spot. But Gu Ju-hon merely let out a sinister laugh and charged at Bu Eun-seol.
“A Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in?”
Jong-ri Sa-yu, who had been watching Gu Ju-hon, cried out in shock.
“To think they were capable of creating a Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in.”
“Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in? What is that?”
Yu Hwa-ryeong, who was beside her, asked urgently. Jong-ri Sa-yu explained.
“In the schools of medicine and poison, they’ve long researched ways to delay death. That is the Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in…”
She spoke with a face full of fear.
“It was only ever established in theory. No one had ever actually succeeded in creating one.”
“Then you’re saying that man is a jiangshi?”
“It’s different from a jiangshi. To put it simply, it’s a method of forcefully sustaining life force so that the body’s functions don’t cease even after suffering a fatal wound.”
Though she claimed to be simplifying it, Yu Hwa-ryeong couldn’t comprehend it at all.
“A living mind in a dead body… Does that mean there’s no way to kill him?”
“You can cut off his head.”
“His head…”
Yu Hwa-ryeong’s mouth fell open.
Despite his fatal injuries, Gu Ju-hon was moving like lightning, swinging his Blood Chain Sword.
To behead a man displaying a level of martial prowess that seemed to have reached the pinnacle—it looked impossible, even for Bu Eun-seol.
“Is there no other way?”
Yu Hwa-ryeong asked desperately, but Jong-ri Sa-yu shook her head.
“The other way is to extract the drug being injected into his body. His ability to move despite his wounds must be due to the power of that drug.”
“A drug being injected? But he’s bleeding clotted blood, isn’t he? There’s no liquid coming out.”
“The Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in is something of a legend, passed down for ages. I don’t know how they succeeded, but…”
Her voice trailed off as she shook her head again.
“They must have connected a device that can inject the drug somewhere on his body.”
“I see.”
Having heard the whole story, Yu Hwa-ryeong drew his sword with a grim expression.
The only thing he could do now was to risk death and join the fray.
He had to create even the slightest opening, a chance for Bu Eun-seol to strike Gu Ju-hon’s neck.
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol’s body was becoming a canvas of blood.
In terms of pure skill, Gu Ju-hon was no match for Bu Eun-seol, who had stepped into the highest realm of martial arts.
But reborn as a Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in, he possessed abnormal strength and internal energy. And a tenacious life force that wouldn’t let him die even with a pierced heart.
From Bu Eun-seol’s perspective, it was like an unkillable monster was relentlessly attacking him.
‘A Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in.’
Just then, Bu Eun-seol heard the conversation between Yu Hwa-ryeong and Jong-ri Sa-yu.
A Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in, able to move as usual despite suffering wounds that should have brought instant death.
To stop this monster-like being, he had to either cut off its head or eliminate the drug being injected into its body.
‘It must be hidden somewhere inside his body.’
*Hwaak!*
As Bu Eun-seol pushed his Ya-su-do to its absolute limit, a white light flowed from his eyes.
Heart-Piercing Insight.
He intended to use the ki radiating from Gu Ju-hon with every clash of their weapons to glimpse a part of his emotions and soul.
*Jiiing. Jiiing.*
With each strike of their weapons, subtle emotions were transmitted into Bu Eun-seol’s mind.
‘So that was it.’
From the storm of attacks from the Blood Chain Sword, he felt a sliver of tragic sorrow.
Gu Ju-hon had been a martial arts prodigy in his own right, but he had never received proper instruction.
Then, he chanced upon a weapon called the chain sickle and transformed it with his own unique method to create the Blood Chain Sword.
But because he used a modified weapon that was considered bizarre even in Dong-yeong, he was looked down upon by other martial artists.
Not only that, but because he hadn't been taught an internal energy cultivation method in time, his internal energy was shallow compared to his martial skill.
‘So that’s what led him here. To resolve his resentment.’
He had only traced a single thread of emotion contained within the ki.
Yet, Gu Ju-hon’s entire life was vividly flashing through Bu Eun-seol’s mind.
—*Krrruuuu!*
Gu Ju-hon, swinging his Blood Chain Sword, let out a ferocious roar.
It was like the cry of a martial artist who couldn’t become strong because he never had the chance to learn properly.
*Paat!*
Bu Eun-seol instantly retreated and spoke in a low voice.
“Even so, choosing a shortcut like this cannot be justified.”
*Chak.*
Sheathing his Ink Sword, he spoke coldly.
“You should have ignored the opinions of others and walked your own path.”
—*Kraaaaaa!*
With a guttural growl, Gu Ju-hon gripped his Blood Chain Sword and unleashed a pure white killing intent.
It was as if he were screaming, ‘What the hell do you know!’
Bu Eun-seol looked down at him impassively and said coldly.
“Now, I will prove that you were wrong.”
—*Uooh!*
Enraged, Gu Ju-hon roared again and swung his Blood Chain Sword.
Perhaps because he was using all his strength, his forms were invisible.
It was impossible to even sense where the Blood Chain Sword was aimed.
*Cheok!*
Then, something strange happened.
From Bu Eun-seol’s left hand, a golden wave of light erupted, forming a net.
*Teok.*
The vanished Blood Chain Sword was suddenly stopped, held fast in Bu Eun-seol’s palm.
The True Art of As-You-Will.
A peerless secret art that allowed one to materialize ki into any desired form.
He had used it to catch the invisible Blood Chain Sword with his bare hands.
*Sreung!*
At that moment, with a low hum, Bu Eun-seol’s Ink Sword was drawn.
Simultaneously, he struck down hard on the body of the Blood Chain Sword he held in his hand.
*Jjeok!*
Though the sword split, it wasn’t the sound of metal but a bizarre severing sound that echoed.
At the same time, from the two halves of the blade, a thick, dark, light-green liquid began to gush out like a fountain.
—*Euaaaargh!*
As the liquid spewed out, Gu Ju-hon writhed, screaming in agony.
The Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in.
The mystical liquid that sustained the life force of his dead body had been hidden within his Blood Chain Sword.
“You couldn’t abandon your obsession with your weapon even after becoming a Gyeol-ma-yeon-ok-in. How could you ever expect to improve?”
Through his Heart-Piercing Insight, Bu Eun-seol had discerned that the essence was hidden within the body of the Blood Chain Sword.
And using the True Art of As-You-Will, he had caught the sword with his bare hands and shattered it in an instant.
*Kuuung.*
Once all the essence had drained out, Gu Ju-hon seemed to lose all his strength and collapsed to his knees.
“Are you all right?”
Yu Hwa-ryeong, who had been preparing to help Bu Eun-seol with grim resolve, approached with a look of joy and astonishment as he saw Bu Eun-seol instantly break the Blood Chain Sword and subdue Gu Ju-hon.
“You… you are truly incredible. How did you know that drug was inside his weapon?”
“I found a clue after hearing your story.”
“You mean you heard us talking even in the midst of such a fierce battle?”
Just as Yu Hwa-ryeong’s mouth fell open in amazement,
“Ah.”
A human groan escaped the lips of the kneeling Gu Ju-hon.
His body was dying now that the essence had drained away, but it seemed his mind had, in turn, become clear.
“You were right.”
Leaning against the wall to prop himself up, Gu Ju-hon looked directly at Bu Eun-seol.
“I gained my name through my weapon, so I couldn’t help but be obsessed with it.”
A tragic smile formed on Gu Ju-hon’s blood-stained lips.
“I just… didn’t have the courage to cast it aside and start anew.”
Amazingly, it seemed Gu Ju-hon had heard everything Bu Eun-seol had said until now.
“Whether one’s fame is great or small, a martial artist’s final resting place is in the cold earth…”
As he smiled, blood began to flow from his eyes and mouth as well.
“If only I had striven every day without regret, death would not have felt so empty…”
And then, Gu Ju-hon closed his eyes.
As if all the regrets of his past had melted away, a single clear tear traced a path down his cheek.
Gu Ju-hon, who had wielded the Blood Chain Sword with his exceptional talent to shake the martial world, had suffered because he could not gain the fame he desired.
Instead of starting over, he chose a shortcut to rise quickly.
And in the end, he met a resentful demise.
*Geudeudeuk.*
Staring into the darkness-swallowed passage, Bu Eun-seol clenched his fist.
Most likely, up there, they were still conducting experiments, using people like Gu Ju-hon who harbored resentment or ambition.
If this place wasn’t completely destroyed, a second and third Gu Ju-hon would be born.
*Step, step.*
Without a backward glance, Bu Eun-seol walked past Gu Ju-hon and into the darkness.
*Chiiik.*
As he walked, a shimmering, haze-like energy began to rise from his body.
He was recovering his ki as he moved.
“Let’s go together.”
Regaining his senses, Yu Hwa-ryeong hastily followed Bu Eun-seol, and Jong-ri Sa-yu, who had been standing there dazed, also hurried after them.
When they got outside, they found that, astonishingly, all the underground facilities were collapsing.
The moment they realized their location had been discovered by Bu Eun-seol’s group, they had unhesitatingly destroyed their own base and fled.
As they emerged through the exit, a rumbling sound shook the very earth.
“If we had been just a little later…”
At Yu Hwa-ryeong’s murmur, Jong-ri Sa-yu nodded.
“We would have been buried alive in here.”
*Fwoosh.*
Just then, Bu Eun-seol, who had been carefully examining the ground, suddenly shot forward with incredible speed.
*Taak! Fwoosh!*
Unleashing the Extreme Speed Shadowless Step, Bu Eun-seol burst out of the forest and crossed several mountains in an instant.
After running like that for about fifteen minutes, he spotted a group of martial artists in a distant reed field, running with dozens of boxes on their backs.
They were all dressed in the official robes of the Eastern Depot.
*Shwaek!*
The moment Bu Eun-seol saw them, he unleashed a sword strike without hesitation.
“Kuaargh!”
With screams, the heads of two officials instantly fell to the ground.
At the same time, several boxes caught in the range of the sword attack were shattered, and the books inside them scattered.
Judging by their pristine condition, they seemed to be books recording the research conducted in the underground facility.
“It’s an ambush!”
As they scattered in all directions to avoid the rain of sword qi, a masked, middle-aged man stepped forward to face Bu Eun-seol.
“You all go on ahead.”
He slowly drew the sword at his waist and said.
“I will take care of this one.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened.
Amazingly, this middle-aged man also had traces of the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom-sik on his scabbard.
‘How can this be?’
While Bu Eun-seol hesitated, the middle-aged man struck first.
*Shwaek! Saak!*
As he deployed his sword, his left hand simultaneously unleashed a sharp claw technique, aiming for Bu Eun-seol’s vital points.
*Sreung!*
Bu Eun-seol immediately countered by unleashing the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu.
*Chaeng!*
The two weapons clashed in mid-air and paused for a moment, as a sharp claw shadow grazed chillingly across Bu Eun-seol’s chest.
*Chiiing! Papapak!*
In a brief moment, the two exchanged over a dozen blows.
The middle-aged man’s martial prowess was formidable, but there was a significant gap between him and Bu Eun-seol.
The only reason he could last for several exchanges was one thing.
His swordsmanship had taken Bu Eun-seol by surprise.
‘A righteous sect?’
Incredibly, the sword art the middle-aged man was using was also from a righteous sect, a modified version of the Huashan sword arts.
‘So it was a righteous sect after all.’
The assassins from the musk-scented room had also used sword arts that were modified versions of righteous sect techniques. And now these men as well…
*Pat!*
While he was lost in deep thought, the middle-aged man threw a hidden dagger.
Bu Eun-seol quickly tilted his head back, but the distance was too close, and it grazed his mask.
“Impressive martial arts.”
The middle-aged man muttered under his breath.
“I won’t be able to survive this.”
From his voice and eyes alone, it was clear he was a battle-hardened veteran who had weathered all sorts of storms.
Even if he were captured and subjected to all manner of torture, he would never give a single answer.
*Chik chik chik!*
Having finally made his decision, Bu Eun-seol unleashed a continuous barrage of sharp, arrow-like sword forms.
The middle-aged man dodged them nonchalantly and attempted a counterattack, but it was the last move he would ever make in this world.
*Shwashwashwashwak!*
With sharp sounds of cutting air, the sword qi that had grazed past the middle-aged man’s body returned and poured into him.
The fourth form of Mu-sang-cheon-ryu. The mystery of Playing with Mist and Clouds was unleashed.
*Papakakak!*
As dozens of strands of sword qi embedded themselves in his vital points, the middle-aged man collapsed to his knees.
But that was not the end.
*Shwaek!*
With a slight delay, a single sharp strand of sword qi, like a hawk flying low, swiftly grazed across the middle-aged man’s neck.
*Tuk.*
A red line appeared on his neck, and the middle-aged man’s head fell to the ground in vain.
*Shwook!*
Bu Eun-seol lightly flicked his finger.
The mask on the man’s face flew off, slowly revealing the face hidden beneath.
It was the face of a typical military official, with very narrow eyes and an aquiline nose.
*Shiik!*
Curving his palm again, he used a grappling technique, and the iron scabbard at the man’s waist flew into Bu Eun-seol’s hand.
‘So it was an imitation of the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom-sik.’
The marks carved on the scabbard were a meticulous imitation of the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom-sik that Seok Song had used.
“He didn’t know it was a defensive sword style, which is why he left such marks.”
The culprit had no idea that the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom-sik marks left on the scabbard were part of a defensive style that reacted to killing intent.
He had perfectly mimicked the marks left by Seok Song, but he had failed to capture the sword intent contained within.
Instead, he had left traces that were closer to an offensive technique.
‘He knew I would find the marks deliberately left on the scabbard and used it against me.’
The culprit was not only a master of martial arts but also an incredibly confident individual.
He had intentionally left marks on the scabbards of several Eastern Depot officials.
This meant that the culprit was either the Admiral who ruled the Eastern Depot, or someone of an even higher status.
‘No, this could be a trap.’
They had not only built a facility deep underground but had also used martial artists like Gu Ju-hon as test subjects.
This meant they were surely connected to the very top figures of the martial world.
‘He could be using the Eastern Depot to hide his own identity.’
Exceptional spies often used the identities of their own support networks to conceal themselves.
In the end, the only certainty was that the culprit who massacred the Ten Seats of the Cheon-geom-hoe was someone in league with the government.
*Fwoosh!*
Just then, Yu Hwa-ryeong and Jong-ri Sa-yu arrived, having caught up.
Seeing the fallen official and the scabbard in Bu Eun-seol’s hand, Yu Hwa-ryeong ran over with a cry of joy.
“You succeeded!”
“This was not him.”
“What did you say?”
“Look closely. The marks are different.”
Bu Eun-seol handed the scabbard he was holding to Yu Hwa-ryeong.
After carefully examining the scabbard, he shook his head.
“Honestly, I can’t really tell. It looks identical to the marks my master left.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong lacked killing intent, so he had been unable to learn the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom or the Pung-un-jo-hwa-gyeol.
Therefore, he couldn’t understand the sword intent behind the most important principles of the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom-sik: the weak controlling the strong, sensing killing intent, easily defending against it, and moving without flowing.
“It’s not identical. It seems he carved these minute traces on the swords of all the Eastern Depot guards, or those related to them.”
“How is that even possible?”
“He is likely the Eastern Depot Admiral, or someone of an even higher rank… or perhaps a top-tier martial artist with close ties to them.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong’s vision went dark.
To think that the man who had annihilated the Cheon-geom-hoe held such a high position.
“Do not worry. I will find him.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly, looking at Yu Hwa-ryeong.
“Our paths will cross eventually, even if not now. I will find him.”
For a moment, Yu Hwa-ryeong’s hands trembled with emotion.
Bu Eun-seol could have easily said this man was the culprit. Yu Hwa-ryeong had no way of verifying the truth.
But even knowing the culprit was a high-ranking government official or someone connected to them, Bu Eun-seol was willing to fulfill his promise.
“But you are about to become the successor of the Demonic Cult.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Yu Hwa-ryeong and spoke with conviction.
“I will find him and keep my promise. You may return with peace of mind.”
Bu Eun-seol had a gut feeling.
The mysterious factions he had encountered so far were all connected to the culprits who had massacred the Ten Seats of the Cheon-geom-hoe.
Even without his promise to Yu Hwa-ryeong, he had to find that person.
“Thank you.”
Yu Hwa-ryeong bowed his head low. Then he spoke with a resolute expression.
“But this is enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“You… have risked your life to keep the promise our society made. How could I possibly ask for more?”
Yu Hwa-ryeong was a man of honor with a chivalrous spirit.
Bu Eun-seol had risked his life to chase down an Eastern Depot official and had dealt with him. He had done more than anyone could have asked for.
He didn’t want to see him endangered any further under the pretext of a promise.
‘He’s a good man.’
Most people prioritized their own interests and didn’t think twice about accepting help from others.
This would be especially true when it came to avenging one’s master.
But Yu Hwa-ryeong was prioritizing the safety of Bu Eun-seol, who had kept his promise.
‘The martial world has not yet completely rotted away as long as there are people like him.’
Demonic practitioners moved according to the logic of power and self-interest, and the righteous sects were mostly filled with selfish people.
There were few truly good people in the martial world, but there were some, like Yu Hwa-ryeong, who understood righteousness and chivalry.
Perhaps that was why Bu Eun-seol, who did not view the martial world favorably, was still able to maintain his human emotions as he journeyed through it.
*Fwoosh.*
Just then, Jong-ri Sa-yu, who had arrived late, saw the face of the fallen middle-aged man and let out a small gasp.
“Bang Dae-un?”
“You know him?”
At Yu Hwa-ryeong’s question, she nodded.
“He’s the Dang-du of the Eastern Depot, the one who leads the intelligence organization in this area.”
The Eastern Depot oversaw everything and investigated anything.
They even monitored the price of vegetables in the market and kept an eye on their colleagues in the Embroidered Guard. For this reason, they had intelligence organizations in every region, managed by a Dang-du.
Bang Dae-un, the man killed by Bu Eun-seol, was the Dang-du in charge of this vicinity.
“I see.”
Just as Yu Hwa-ryeong nodded with a grave expression,
*Tuk.*
The cloth covering Bu Eun-seol’s face suddenly fell to the ground. The string had come loose when it was grazed by the dagger Bang Dae-un had thrown.
In that moment, under the moonlight, Bu Eun-seol’s peerless features were brilliantly revealed.
“Huh?”
Jong-ri Sa-yu’s eyes widened, and she froze like a statue.
Bu Eun-seol’s appearance was as shocking as his martial skill.
‘How can a person… look like that?’
Seeing Bu Eun-seol’s face reflected in the moonlight, her heart swelled as if she had heard a poignant melody.
“Brother Yu. Let us meet again next time.”
Jwa Dae-baek, the leader of the Blood Mist Brigade, would soon be returning to the Demonic Cult.
Bu Eun-seol also had to return to the Demonic Cult for the final succession test given by the Demonic Emperor: to lead the Four Shadow Division and annihilate the Black Lotus alongside the Blood Mist Brigade.
*Nod.*
As Yu Hwa-ryeong nodded firmly, Bu Eun-seol’s figure vanished into the night sky in an instant.
Jong-ri Sa-yu, who had been standing there blankly, finally came to her senses a long while later.
“Who in the world was that person…”
She turned her head, and her mouth fell open.
In that short time, Yu Hwa-ryeong had also departed quietly.
“The Cheon-geom-hoe…”
Jong-ri Sa-yu murmured as if she had just woken from a dream.
She had much to do. She had to catch the tail of the faction that the King of Needles’ family had been pursuing for so long, and she had to master the *Secret Transmission of the King of Needles* as quickly as possible.
And in her heart, she added one more task.
“I will definitely…”
She would definitely find that handsome young man from the Cheon-geom-hoe.