Chapter 303
Chapter 303
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 303
Chapter Title: Meeting the Needle King
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Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened as he asked.
“The esteemed Needle King… fought a fierce battle with the Seven-Fingered Demonic Blade?”
“Huh? Yes. That’s right.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head in disbelief.
After a moment of thought, he spoke again.
“The Seven-Fingered Demonic Blade is a legendary swordsman of the demonic path. Why hasn’t such a fact become known in the Murim?”
“Well, that’s obviously because…”
As she was about to answer with a puzzled expression, she finally noticed Bu Eun-seol standing there with wide eyes.
“But why are you standing like that?”
“…”
“Is something wrong?”
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize he had made a grave mistake and slowly sat down.
“Ah, no. My internal energy became unstable for a moment.”
It was a rather absurd excuse.
But Bu Eun-seol was so shocked that he failed to realize it.
“I see. I’ve heard that masters with profound internal energy sometimes suffer discomfort due to their immense true energy.”
As if recalling something, Jong-ri Sa-yu spoke in a suggestive tone.
“Ah! As you know, my grandfather’s acupuncture skills have reached a divine level. Also, with the Primordial Golden Needle, he can disperse the powerful true energy gathered in the dantian throughout the Ren Meridian.”
The unstable energy was just a random excuse Bu Eun-seol had come up with.
But she spoke with an utterly serious expression.
“If you wish, Young Master, I can introduce you to my grandfather.”
After she finished speaking, Jong-ri Sa-yu’s cheeks flushed slightly.
To think of introducing a man she’d only met twice to her grandfather…
Even for someone as honest with her emotions as she was, this time she felt a pang of shyness.
“But about the esteemed Needle King fighting the Seven-Fingered Demonic Blade…”
“Oh, that? Grandfather said it wasn’t known in the Murim because their duel was held in secret.”
Jong-ri Sa-yu had an innocent look in her eyes.
She was a talented woman with outstanding medical skills, but it seemed she had a tendency to reveal a certain naivety in front of those she favored.
*‘How frustrating.’*
Her appearance was beautiful enough to bewitch any man…
But from the perspective of Bu Eun-seol, who needed to extract proper information, it came across as rather dim-witted.
*‘At this rate, it would be more accurate to hear it directly from the Needle King than from her.’*
Having made his decision, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
“Can you truly introduce me to the esteemed Needle King?”
“Huh? Well, I…”
“Then let’s go.”
“Right now?”
Jong-ri Sa-yu’s face turned red.
She never imagined that Bu Eun-seol, who had maintained such a nonchalant attitude, would be so bold.
“Don’t misunderstand.”
Noticing her blushing cheeks, Bu Eun-seol spun an obvious lie.
“The truth is, I have long admired the esteemed Needle King. Now that I have a chance to meet him in person, how could I possibly let it pass?”
In fact, his words were contradictory.
When they first met, Bu Eun-seol had maintained an indifferent attitude despite discerning that she was the Needle King’s granddaughter.
To suddenly claim he admired the Needle King was utterly absurd.
But Jong-ri Sa-yu, under Bu Eun-seol’s intense gaze, was too flustered to notice the inconsistency and smiled shyly.
“R-Really?”
*‘She likes me.’*
Bu Eun-seol stared intently at Jong-ri Sa-yu, who shyly turned her head away.
Exploiting a woman’s affection was something Bu Eun-seol’s character would never allow him to do.
But now was not the time to be picky about methods.
Those who had stolen even the eternal rest of his grandfather, who had met such a gruesome end.
He had to make them pay the price.
“But I don’t know anything about you, Young Master, other than that you’re a disciple of the Cheon-geom-hoe.”
In that instant, various thoughts flashed through Bu Eun-seol’s mind.
The Needle King’s family had rarely shown themselves in the Murim until now, but they had secretly dispatched disciples to investigate many matters.
If he continued to maintain a flimsy identity as a member of the Cheon-geom-hoe, the chances of being exposed were high.
*‘The Needle King, the Needle King…’*
From the moment he decided to strike at the Geol-wang, Bu Eun-seol had thoroughly investigated the Four Divinities and Seven Kings.
And the Needle King, contrary to what was known in the Murim, was a rather complex and unique individual.
He was a man who vehemently avoided meeting young people, especially because the rising generation of martial artists constantly came to beg him to perform the Primordial Golden Needle technique.
Even if Jong-ri Sa-yu were to take him to the Needle King, it was uncertain whether he would get the answers he sought.
*‘It was said that the only thing the Needle King reveres is Shaolin.’*
The Needle King’s disposition was so aloof that he would shun anyone he did not acknowledge, regardless of their affiliation with the righteous or demonic factions.
However, because he had once been saved by a high-ranking Shaolin monk in his youth, he deeply revered Shaolin.
*‘I have no choice.’*
Bu Eun-seol gave a faint nod.
Ultimately, to approach the Needle King, he had no choice but to disguise himself as someone from Shaolin.
And as a figure like a divine dragon, one who had not shown himself in the Murim and thus could never be exposed.
“I am not a member of the Cheon-geom-hoe.”
Having finished his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol slowly replied.
“You must have been mistaken because I was traveling with the Cheon-geom-hoe disciple, Yu Hyeong.”
“I knew it.”
Jong-ri Sa-yu nodded.
Bu Eun-seol’s martial prowess was far too exceptional for him to be a mere disciple of the Cheon-geom-hoe.
In truth, at the time, only Yu Hwa-ryeong had revealed her identity; Bu Eun-seol had said nothing at all.
She had only investigated the Cheon-geom-hoe because it was her only clue to finding him.
“Then which clan’s disciple are you?”
“I cannot reveal my sect due to my master’s orders. However…”
Having formulated a meticulous plan in his mind, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
“My name is Baek Mu-seong. And I will never bring harm to you or the esteemed Needle King.”
“Baek Mu-seong… I see.”
Muttering the name softly, she blinked.
No matter how she thought about it, she had never heard of a young master in the Murim with such a name.
“I trust you, Young Master Baek. But if you don’t honestly reveal your background, my grandfather might not perform the Primordial Golden Needle technique for you.”
“I have no need for the Primordial Golden Needle technique. I simply wish to meet the esteemed Needle King in person and have a conversation.”
Bu Eun-seol gazed into Jong-ri Sa-yu’s eyes and offered a faint smile.
“Did we not overcome a crisis together in the underground city? Considering that, I trust the esteemed Needle King will not turn me away so coldly.”
As Bu Eun-seol intentionally sent her a profound gaze, Jong-ri Sa-yu felt as if her breath had stopped.
“O-Okay.”
Taking a deep breath, she briefly leaned her head out the window.
Then, in a very low, small voice, she whispered some strange words.
Bu Eun-seol discerned that it was a secret code she was relaying to her subordinates lingering nearby.
*‘She’s sending a message.’*
It seemed she was ordering her subordinates to return while also informing them that she was bringing Bu Eun-seol with her.
“Then I will formally invite you to my family’s home.”
At Jong-ri Sa-yu’s words, Bu Eun-seol respectfully clasped his hands.
“Thank you.”
He clenched his fists tightly.
Soon, he would meet someone who knew the whereabouts of the Seven-Fingered Demonic Blade from forty years ago.
***
The estate where the Needle King’s family resided was on Geum-wang Mountain in Chim-ju, not far from Hwang-ju Prefecture.
The Jong-ri family was originally located near Chao Lake in Anhui, but they moved to Chim-ju during the Needle King’s generation.
To move the ancestral seat of a family was to give up countless advantages.
But for some reason, the Needle King had unhesitatingly moved their home to Geum-wang Mountain.
At the foot of Geum-wang Mountain, the Needle King’s estate.
The estate where the Needle King resided was built with the densely forested Geum-wang Mountain at its back.
The estate, situated by a crystal-clear lake, was surrounded entirely by plum blossom trees.
Whenever the spring breeze blew, the petals scattered like white snowflakes, spreading a deep plum fragrance in all directions.
Bu Eun-seol and Jong-ri Sa-yu, having alighted from the carriage, walked side-by-side up the steps and arrived in front of the estate.
Creeak.
The gate opened, and a middle-aged man in servant’s attire walked out.
“Welcome.”
Bu Eun-seol showed a slightly surprised expression.
Not only was the middle-aged man’s gait steady, but a blade-like energy poured from his eyes.
And that subtle aura.
It was clearly something that could only be exuded by a demonic path master with considerable internal energy.
Why was a demonic path master residing in the Needle King’s household, playing the part of a servant?
“Uncle Do.”
As Jong-ri Sa-yu smiled brightly, the middle-aged man spoke with a serious face.
“The master is greatly angered. You should go see him quickly.”
In truth, Jong-ri Sa-yu had ignored Jong-ri Sa-hyeon’s order to return and had continued her journey through the martial world.
Her excuse was to offer more of her medical skills, but she had actually been searching for Bu Eun-seol.
“I understand. I’ll go now.”
“However, this gentleman is…”
When the middle-aged man pointed to Bu Eun-seol, she cleared her throat.
“Ah, this is Young Master Baek, who saved me in the underground city in Sichuan.”
“I see. Then I will attend to Young Master Baek for a moment.”
After a moment of thought, Jong-ri Sa-yu shook her head.
“No. We’ll go together.”
“You cannot, Young Lady. You know the master’s strict rule.”
Due to his exceptional medical skills, the Needle King, Jong-ri Sa-hyeon, had been greatly pestered by many martial artists in the past.
Therefore, he would not meet anyone less than a clan leader, even from a respectable sect.
And he had a pathological dislike for the rising generation of martial artists, who were desperate for his Primordial Golden Needle technique.
“I’m taking him with me precisely because I know.”
Jong-ri Sa-yu’s expression was firm.
Knowing all too well his rule about not meeting young martial artists, she intended to bring Bu Eun-seol with her from the start.
“You have to help me with this, Uncle.”
“What do you mean…”
「My life depends on it.」
When she sent him a telepathic message with a reddened face, the middle-aged man finally understood the situation.
He nodded with a look of resignation.
Even if a storm of scolding was to fall, he had no choice but to let them in for now.
“Understood.”
Bu Eun-seol followed Jong-ri Sa-yu toward the center of the estate.
In the estate, physicians who appeared to be disciples of the Needle King were bustling about, brewing medicinal soups with various ingredients.
The pleasant aroma suggested they were preparing a large quantity of spiritual medicine.
*‘So that’s it.’*
Bu Eun-seol suddenly recalled the faces of those poisoned by the Human Incineration.
It seemed the Needle King was creating an antidote to nullify the drug’s effects.
*‘In that case, is he the same as the Tan-wang?’*
The Needle King was known not to be active in the Murim, yet he had sent his granddaughter out into the martial world to observe the situation.
That meant there was a high probability that he, like the Tan-wang, was also pursuing certain individuals.
“Don’t be too nervous.”
She mistook Bu Eun-seol, lost in thought, for being extremely nervous and smiled.
“My grandfather is only strict on the outside. In reality, he’s a kind person.”
The word “grandfather” was like home to Bu Eun-seol. A word always longed for, warm even in thought.
He looked at Jong-ri Sa-yu and offered a faint smile.
“I imagine he is. Seeing you.”
It was both an expression of his longing for his own grandfather and an agreement that she was a bit of a troublemaker.
But Jong-ri Sa-yu misunderstood his words, and her cheeks turned bright red.
“You’re quite mischievous, unlike how you appear.”
Seeing her flushed face, Bu Eun-seol quickly changed the subject.
“The servant I saw earlier, he seemed to be a master of the demonic path. How did he come to be here?”
“You have a keen eye. No one has ever guessed that Uncle Do was from the demonic path at a single glance.”
Unable to hide her surprise, she answered softly.
“Grandfather saved him when he was dying near West Lake in Zhejiang. To repay that kindness, Uncle Do voluntarily became a servant of our family.”
“I see.”
In truth, it wasn’t so surprising for a master of the demonic path to pledge allegiance to the righteous faction.
In the demonic path, one received no respect if their power and influence waned.
Furthermore, upon reaching the pinnacle of the demonic arts, not only did their tyrannical nature fade, but their very disposition could change.
Thus, it was not unheard of for them to join the righteous faction in their later years.
*‘He seems to have no prejudice against the righteous or demonic factions.’*
Bu Eun-seol nodded, finding it unexpected.
Most martial artists of the righteous faction loathed anyone from the demonic path.
But for the Needle King, who could be considered a pillar of the righteous faction, to take in a demonic path member? He was showing an unexpectedly generous stance toward them.
*‘He might even be from the Hyeol-yeom-do-ga.’*
The middle-aged man called ‘Uncle Do’ was not only skilled with the saber, but he also carried a uniquely shaped blade.
Bu Eun-seol immediately wondered if he might be from the Hyeol-yeom-do-ga.
However, there was no history of a master from the Ten Demonic Sects ever defecting to the righteous faction.
Therefore, Bu Eun-seol’s deduction was merely a possibility.
“This is where my grandfather is.”
Passing through a moon gate in a large wall, a small path lined with splendidly blooming flowers appeared.
And on both sides of that path, plum blossom trees were planted.
Beyond the narrow path, a house of ancient elegance came into view.
The scenery of the house, with plum blossoms fluttering in the wind, looked like a place where an immortal might dwell.
And in front of the flower garden stood an old man with the air of an immortal, his hands clasped behind his back.
His body was thin, but he stood over six feet tall, and his eyes were long like a phoenix’s, full of dignity.
He was none other than Jong-ri Sa-hyeon, known as the Needle King of the Four Divinities and Seven Kings.
“Grandfather.”
Seeing Jong-ri Sa-hyeon standing tall like a noble crane, Jong-ri Sa-yu spoke with a nervous expression.
“Grandfather.”
“You rascal.”
As their eyes met, Jong-ri Sa-hyeon’s eyes widened with a stern expression.
“How long ago did I order you to return? Where have you been wandering off to, only to show up now?”
His voice boomed like a temple bell, and an autumn-like dignity emanated from his entire body.
Jong-ri Sa-yu, usually so full of confidence, dared not even lift her head and spoke in a low voice.
“Well… as I was traveling here and there, I saw many sick people.”
“Nonsense.”
Jong-ri Sa-hyeon looked down at her with a solemn gaze.
“According to the Chak-chun-dae, you’ve been stirring up every intelligence organization trying to find some disciple of the Cheon-geom-hoe. What on earth were you thinking?”
“G-Grandfather!”
Her face turning beet red, Jong-ri Sa-yu waved her hands.
“That’s not it. There really were a lot of sick people.”
“Hmph.”
Jong-ri Sa-hyeon snorted, and his gaze finally fell on Bu Eun-seol, who stood behind her.
“Who is that man?”
“The one who saved me in Sichuan before…”
“Sichuan?”
As Jong-ri Sa-hyeon blinked, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward and clasped his hands.
“This disciple, Baek Mu-seong, greets the esteemed Needle King.”
Tilting his head, he looked at his granddaughter and furrowed his brow.
“Don’t tell me this is the Cheon-geom-hoe disciple you praised so endlessly?”
“Well… it turns out I was mistaken about him being a Cheon-geom-hoe disciple.”
“Hmph.”
Looking disapprovingly at his granddaughter, who bowed her head in shame, Jong-ri Sa-hyeon finally turned his gaze to Bu Eun-seol’s face.
*‘Heh. He looks like he could charm the soul out of anyone.’*
His features were as if sculpted by a god with all his might, and his skin seemed to be veiled in a faint layer of radiance.
Even Jong-ri Sa-hyeon, who had always considered appearance to be mere skin, couldn’t help but let out a gasp of admiration.
However, compared to his appearance, his aura was ordinary, and he couldn’t sense any ripples of internal energy.
According to his granddaughter, his martial prowess was so outstanding that one would think him a master who had achieved a return to youth.
But seeing him in person, wasn’t he just too ordinary?
*‘Sa-yu wouldn’t have misjudged.’*
His granddaughter, who had inherited his medical knowledge, would not misjudge someone’s level of martial skill.
*‘Does that mean he has reached the state of returning to simplicity…?’*
He shook his head.
To reach the state of returning to simplicity, not only one’s martial arts but also one’s internal energy must reach its peak.
No matter how talented a prodigy, there was a limit to the internal energy one could cultivate at a young age.
“So you saved our Sa-yu in Sichuan.”
Swallowing his rising questions, Jong-ri Sa-hyeon spoke.
“It is of no consequence. I was simply doing what I had to do and offered a little help.”
Bu Eun-seol replied in a clear voice, his hands clasped.
Like a proud disciple of a righteous sect.
“Hmm.”
Jong-ri Sa-hyeon hummed and nodded his head.
“In any case, since you’ve come all this way… we shouldn’t stand here. Come in for a cup of tea.”
And he naturally reached out a hand to Bu Eun-seol’s shoulder.
*‘He’s trying to test my martial arts.’*
Bu Eun-seol instantly saw through Jong-ri Sa-hyeon’s intention but did not avoid his touch.
*‘This is what I wanted.’*
His state of returning to simplicity had already reached the level of perfect creation.
Even if it were a grandmaster of martial arts who had reached the state of Wuji.
Unless Bu Eun-seol used his martial arts, there was nothing he could find out.
Tap.
Finally, the wrinkled hand lightly tapped Bu Eun-seol’s shoulder.
At that moment, the smile on Jong-ri Sa-hyeon’s lips slowly vanished.
Simultaneously, a blade-like glint flickered in his eyes.
“You.”
Jong-ri Sa-hyeon stopped walking and stared at Bu Eun-seol for a long moment before speaking.
“Which clan’s disciple are you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
As Bu Eun-seol calmly asked, Jong-ri Sa-hyeon’s lips curled up, and he held out his own palm.
Between his middle and index fingers was a golden needle as thin as a strand of hair.
It was the sacred object that symbolized the Needle King, the Primordial Golden Needle.