Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 276
Chapter Title: Return to the Red Sky Market
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Rumors that Bu Eun-seol had led an inspection team to audit the Hell-Blood Fortress spread quickly throughout the Demonic Cult.
—He only just became the successor…
The reaction from most of the high command was far from favorable.
While Bu Eun-seol had gained the support of the entire demonic martial world, he had yet to secure the firm backing of the Ten Demonic Sects.
Yet, as soon as he ascended to the position of Spirit Lord, he audited the Hell-Blood Fortress, one of the Ten Demonic Sects?
—Even for the successor, isn't this going a bit too far?
For those unaware of the inner workings, the prevailing view was that Bu Eun-seol was wielding the scepter of power a little too aggressively.
Jam-ma-gak, the grand conference hall.
A staff meeting of the Sa-yeong-jeon was being held there.
Bu Eun-seol had not yet arrived.
His adjutants, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong, were seated with grave expressions, along with Won Se-mun, Wi Cheon-gyeong, and Jo Nam-cheon.
“It seems we need a breakthrough.”
Yu Un-ryong, dressed in the robes of a civil official, spoke with a serious look.
“The successor is meant to willingly gather all factions under his wing, but the current situation is heading in the opposite direction.”
At this, Myo Cheon-u crossed his arms and nodded.
“Indeed, from what I’ve heard from the unit leaders and sect masters, they all say they’re afraid of the Spirit Lord.”
“What a ridiculous bunch. What exactly are they afraid of?”
When Won Se-mun asked, Myo Cheon-u replied with a bitter smile.
“They say they’d be severely punished if they fell out of the Spirit Lord’s favor. That he wouldn’t show an ounce of leniency for even the slightest mistake.”
“This isn’t a matter we can simply laugh off. If his first official act is like this, they won’t look favorably on anything he does in the future.”
Wi Cheon-gyeong said with a grave expression.
“It seems we need to take steps to further solidify his position as the successor once more.”
“How?”
Wi Cheon-gyeong answered Won Se-mun’s question calmly.
“The best way would be to accomplish something so great it would make the four seas tremble again. To make them realize once more what an extraordinary person the Lord is.”
“Is that even possible? There’s no more fame left for him to gain.”
Wi Cheon-gyeong fell silent at Won Se-mun’s retort.
It was true.
At his young age, Bu Eun-seol already held a seat among the Four Gods and Seven Kings, and his status was that of the official successor, the next master of the Demonic Cult.
For his name to echo through the martial world once more, he would have to achieve something as monumental as taking Geol-wang’s head.
*Click.*
Just then, the conference room door opened, and Bu Eun-seol, dressed in casual clothes, stepped inside.
“You’ve arrived.”
As the unit leaders all rose and clasped their hands, Myo Cheon-u spoke.
“Where have you been all morning?”
“I had a confidential matter to discuss with the leader of the Gu-sal Unit.”
“The Gu-sal Unit Leader? Again?”
Tilting his head, Myo Cheon-u spoke with a hint of disappointment.
“How is it that you’re spending more time with the Gu-sal Unit Leader than with us, your own adjutants, these days?”
“It was a necessary meeting.”
Bu Eun-seol was not only profound in his schemes but also never revealed everything on his mind.
This was an excellent method for maintaining secrecy, but from the perspective of his loyal subordinates, it could be disappointing or frustrating.
“We’ve just about finished our discussion…”
As Myo Cheon-u was about to speak again, Bu Eun-seol waved his hand.
“I heard everything on my way here. And I agree with what was said.”
“Hm?”
“About making a new name for myself.”
He continued in a low voice.
“That’s why I plan to leave the Demonic Cult for a while.”
“Why?”
“There is something I must do.”
Everyone in the room fell silent.
They knew Bu Eun-seol’s disposition all too well.
Seeing his resolute expression, they realized he had already planned something and was putting it into motion.
“Myo Cheon-u, Yu Un-ryong. The two of you will continue to handle all duties in my stead, just as you have been.”
The successor of the Demonic Cult had a mountain of tasks to handle, commensurate with his immense power.
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong.
When these two worked together, the Jam-ma-gak ran as smoothly as if Bu Eun-seol himself were leading it.
Thanks to the outstanding abilities of these two, Bu Eun-seol could leave the Demonic Cult at any time without worry.
“And you all will continue with your duties, but also take charge of training the troops under Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong.”
Bu Eun-seol said, looking at Won Se-mun and the others.
“Those two will be too busy with administrative tasks to conduct training anymore.”
“Training, you say?”
As Won Se-mun’s mouth fell open, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“That’s right. To the point where they can be deployed to the battlefield immediately.”
The people in the room looked at each other and blinked.
Didn’t that mean they would be heading to the battlefield again soon?
“Bu Eun-seol. We are your subordinates, after all. Don’t you think you should give us at least a small explanation?”
Bu Eun-seol snorted at Myo Cheon-u’s words. Then, as if he had no other choice, he spoke.
“I will immediately go out into the Jianghu and handle a few matters. And if all goes according to plan…”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed.
“There will be no one left to oppose my actions.”
***
Jeok-cheon-mak-ji.
The largest mercenary market in the Central Plains, a place where outstanding wanderers from all regions gathered to earn money.
The Su-gyeong-jeon.
It was where mercenaries obtained jobs that came into Jeok-cheon-mak-ji or received their payment.
Beyond a large wooden plaque inscribed with ‘Open Missions,’ a flight of stairs led up to a long corridor.
At the end of this second-floor corridor, a door opened into the office where Dam Yu-yeon, the master of the Su-gyeong-jeon, resided.
“Hall Master Dam.”
The office door opened, and a man with a heavily bandaged sword on his back entered.
His long hair was tied in a topknot, and his eyes were long and narrow.
His face was unremarkable in every way, yet Dam Yu-yeon, who had been sitting at her desk, shot up from her seat in surprise.
“You are…!”
“Do you remember me?”
“Of course!”
She said with a bright smile.
“How could I forget our special-grade mercenary, Young Master Seol?”
In the past, to gain martial experience, Bu Eun-seol had registered as a mercenary at Jeok-cheon-mak-ji with Heuk-pyo under the alias ‘Seol So’.
There, he took on various jobs and accumulated experience.
He dealt with Wang Jeong of Bul-jeong Mountain, obtained the Bo-won-sin-ju from the Shin-nyeo-gung, and even sparred with Jeong Cheon, the master of Hweng-gong-bu.
He also participated in the battle between the Jin-cheon-mun and the Pae-do-mun, where he fought a bloody duel with a masked man.
The mercenary market, Jeok-cheon-mak-ji, had given Bu Eun-seol an immeasurable amount of insight and experience.
Having left the Demonic Cult, he had immediately disguised himself as Seol So and returned to this place.
“What on earth have you been doing all this time?”
After handling several jobs, Bu Eun-seol had abruptly left Jeok-cheon-mak-ji a few years ago.
Curious about his whereabouts, Dam Yu-yeon had mobilized her information network to find him, but the mercenary named Seol So was nowhere to be found.
“I had my reasons.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s simple reply, Dam Yu-yeon asked no further.
While everyone has a story, the lives of mercenaries are particularly fraught with hardship.
That was why, in the mercenary market, one never asked for a mercenary’s real name or their past.
Only the here and now mattered.
“How is the master of Hweng-gong-bu?”
“After his duel with you, Young Master Seol, he left for the northern deserts to train a long time ago.”
Jeong Cheon’s master, Cho Geom-rang, was from the northern deserts, so there was likely a place there that held his legacy or a training ground.
“I see.”
As Bu Eun-seol nodded, Dam Yu-yeon wore a bittersweet expression.
“My older brother never truly had any ambition in the martial path. But after sparring with you, Young Master Seol, he had a change of heart.”
After his duel with Bu Eun-seol, it seemed Jeong Cheon had been inspired by his fiery martial spirit.
“I see.”
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
With Jeong Cheon’s skill, he would surely return having achieved heaven-shaking martial prowess.
And that would mean the birth of another worthy rival with whom he could cross blades.
“Did you come looking for a job?”
“If there are any designated missions, I’d like to take one.”
Special-grade mercenaries could not only choose freely from the open missions but also accept designated missions posted by the Su-gyeong-jeon for a large sum.
“A designated mission?”
“The open missions are all just trivial tasks.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“I’d prefer a job I can handle alone.”
“I’m sorry. There aren’t any designated missions available right now.”
“I see.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“I’ll be staying at the Un-rae Inn just ahead, so please let me know if a suitable job comes up.”
“I will.”
With a nod, Bu Eun-seol calmly walked out the door.
Not long after, a woman in white robes opened the door to Dam Yu-yeon’s office and entered.
“Sister.”
“Yak-mae?”
Dam Yu-yeon was startled to see her.
“What is a Law Enforcement Major of the Murim Alliance doing here?”
The Law Enforcement Hall, which protected and enforced the laws of the Murim Alliance, had a mountain of work befitting its size.
Therefore, the Murim Alliance selected those with a strong sense of justice from among its outstanding younger generation and gave them the authority of an inspector.
This was the Law Enforcement Major, in simple terms, a kind of magistrate who could freely investigate and enforce the law both inside and outside the Murim Alliance.
And the woman in white was none other than Jong Jeong-yak, the only daughter of the Jong-jeong Clan and a close friend of Dam Yu-yeon’s for a long time.
“I need your help, sister.”
“Help?”
Jong Jeong-yak spoke with an exceptionally serious expression.
“I need a mercenary who is strong in martial arts and well-versed in the underworld.”
Dam Yu-yeon looked puzzled.
She was a dignified Law Enforcement Major of the Murim Alliance; if she wished, she could request escort warriors from the Alliance at any time.
But to come to the mercenary market looking for a mercenary?
“Did you come out to the Jianghu alone? Didn’t you bring any warriors with you?”
“Of course I did.”
“Then why insist on a mercenary for an escort?”
“It’s not an escort I need.”
“Hm?”
“There are circumstances that call for it.”
Looking at Dam Yu-yeon’s worried face, Jong Jeong-yak said with a bitter expression.
“They’d never give a proper retinue to a Law Enforcement Major like me. Even now, aside from my adjutant, all the warriors assigned to me are rookies.”
In truth, the position of Law Enforcement Major was a divisive one within the Murim Alliance.
To deliberately grant immense power to young warriors to investigate matters both inside and outside the Alliance.
From the perspective of the existing high command, it was an incredibly awkward arrangement.
Furthermore, because this powerful position was held by those of the relatively low rank of Gyo-wi, some Alliance members were even sneering that they had become no different from government officials.
‘So there’s a problem with her superior, or someone even higher up.’
Instantly grasping the situation, Dam Yu-yeon spoke in a low voice.
“Then you could just ask for help, couldn’t you? You’re on special terms with the Master of the Hwa-mil-won.”
The Hwa-mil-won was the department in the Murim Alliance that managed hired labor.
It also possessed the diplomatic authority to invite outsiders into the Alliance.
And the Master of the Hwa-mil-won was someone who greatly cherished the competent Jong Jeong-yak and had helped her become a Law Enforcement Major.
“I don’t have any concrete evidence yet. If I consult with her rashly… the Master herself could be harmed.”
Dam Yu-yeon’s expression darkened.
She realized her friend was handling an extremely dangerous and important mission.
“Alright. Then I’ll call the best mercenary unit in our Jeok-cheon-mak-ji for you.”
“No. I don’t need an entire unit.”
“Hm?”
“Leading a large group like a mercenary unit would only make me easier to track. I just need one high-grade mercenary with plenty of experience in the Jianghu and decent martial skills to help me with a few things.”
“One high-grade mercenary?”
As Dam Yu-yeon blinked, she gave a sheepish smile.
“I don’t have the money to hire a special-grade one.”
“Hmm.”
Dam Yu-yeon was lost in thought for a moment before her eyes lit up.
“Alright. I’ll send you our best high-grade mercenary.”
***
Un-rae Inn, third floor. Special suite.
Bu Eun-seol was sitting on the bed, circulating his energy. Just then, a faint telepathic message came from outside the window.
「Lord. It is U-gyeong of the Gu-sal Unit.」
After a brief pause, another message followed.
「Jong Jeong-yak is meeting with the master of the Su-gyeong-jeon.」
Bu Eun-seol slowly opened his eyes.
He sent a telepathic message back to U-gyeong, who was on the roof.
「The Su-gyeong-jeon will be sending someone soon. From now until this is all over, completely erase all traces of my movements.」
「Understood.」
With that reply, U-gyeong’s presence vanished completely.
Rising from his seat, Bu Eun-seol gazed out the window.
As he looked at the clear sky, he recalled the conversation he had recently with So Ja-myeong, the leader of the Gu-sal Unit.
***
“Absolutely not.”
After the audit of the Hell-Blood Fortress, Bu Eun-seol had been discussing a plan with So Ja-myeong to infiltrate the Murim Alliance and catch the tails of Sa-hyang and the Dong-chang-wi.
At first, So Ja-myeong had been vehemently opposed.
The Murim Alliance surpassed the Demonic Cult in scale; it was a dragon’s pond and a tiger’s den, teeming with formidable masters.
Though it appeared lax on the surface, its security was ironclad, and any reckless infiltration from the outside would be discovered in an instant.
Moreover, what if Bu Eun-seol, the successor of the Demonic Cult, were to investigate the Murim Alliance? And what if he were discovered?
The honor of the Demonic Cult would be tarnished, and Bu Eun-seol’s very life could be in danger.
“No matter how outstanding your martial arts are, Lord, it is impossible to thoroughly investigate the inner workings of the Murim Alliance.”
“Do not worry.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“This mission will be limited to merely observing the inner workings of the Murim Alliance.”
In the current situation, all Bu Eun-seol could do was search for the connection between the Murim Alliance and Sa-hyang.
If Sa-hyang was indeed connected to the Murim Alliance, there was bound to be a secret armory or a hidden weapons cache.
“Just observing the inside?”
“One can’t expect to be full from the first bite.”
Bu Eun-seol’s voice echoed softly in the secret chamber.
“In a situation where we know nothing of the Alliance’s internal affairs, sending even the most elite agents would carry a high risk of discovery.”
He stared into the air for a moment before speaking again.
“In that case, it would be better for me to go myself.”
So Ja-myeong gave a slight nod.
Bu Eun-seol was the Eighteenth Tiger of Ak-yang, a legend of the Gu-sal Unit. He could complete a reconnaissance mission far more brilliantly than any other skilled agent.
“So, this infiltration is simply a light reconnaissance. For the future.”
“Correct.”
“If that’s the extent of it, then it should be possible. However, you will need a solid identity to enter the Murim Alliance.”
Unlike the Demonic Cult, the Murim Alliance maintained a very strict guard and kept a precise count of everyone who entered and exited.
Seeing Bu Eun-seol’s firm resolve, So Ja-myeong began to search for a method.
Then, upon hearing that he had an identity as a mercenary, he devised a plan.
“As it happens, a Law Enforcement Major from the Jong-jeong Clan is heading to Jeok-cheon-mak-ji.”
Jong Jeong-yak.
She was the daughter of the Jong-jeong Clan, located in the Guangxi region.
But though it was called a clan, its power and scale were so insignificant that it wasn’t even recognized as a proper martial clan.
However, she had used the ridicule of disciples from prestigious clans and great sects as her driving force, tenaciously carrying out her missions.
With her outstanding talent, she had risked her life to achieve numerous merits… and finally became a Law Enforcement Major.
In the end, she had achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a Law Enforcement Major.
“She has a very strong desire for success. That’s why she took on a dangerous case like the theft of the Ja-so-dan pills, a job disciples from prominent families wouldn’t touch.”
Recently, there was an incident where over fifty Ja-so-dan pills destined for the Murim Alliance were stolen.
Jong Jeong-yak sensed something was amiss and began to investigate, but the case was swept under the rug due to pressure from her superiors.
However, she continued her investigation in secret and eventually found evidence that elixirs coming into the Murim Alliance had been embezzled for a long time.
And to achieve another great merit, she has come out into the Jianghu to track down the whereabouts of the Ja-so-dan pills.
“A Law Enforcement Major is quite a high position. I don’t understand why she’s so eager to climb the ladder.”
So Ja-myeong shook his head at Bu Eun-seol’s words.
“Law Enforcement Major sounds impressive, like a magistrate, but they’re essentially wanderers who don’t belong to any hall in the Murim Alliance. They’re often looked down upon by the warriors of the Law Enforcement Hall who do the same work.”
To maintain a massive orthodox alliance like the Murim Alliance, strict rules and systems are necessary.
That’s why they created a special position like the Law Enforcement Major, but it came with significant side effects.
“But why is she going to Jeok-cheon-mak-ji?”
“While investigating the Ja-so-dan case, she was attacked several times. Even with Murim Alliance warriors escorting her.”
So Ja-myeong said in a low voice.
“It’s likely that someone in the Murim Alliance’s high command who doesn’t want the case uncovered has pulled some strings.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Jong Jeong-yak, the Law Enforcement Major who harbored a strong desire for success and refused to yield to pressure from above.
If So Ja-myeong was right, she would undoubtedly serve as an excellent lead for investigating the Murim Alliance.
***
Just as Bu Eun-seol finished his recollection and turned around,
*Knock, knock.*
The sound of knocking on the door was followed by a soft voice.
“Young Master Seol. It’s Dam Yu-yeon, the master of the Su-gyeong-jeon.”
Hearing her voice, Bu Eun-seol smiled.
Dam Yu-yeon, the master of the Su-gyeong-jeon. The fact that she had come in person meant she was here to connect him with Jong Jeong-yak.