Chapter 310
Chapter 310
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: The Madman's Arrival
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The Nine Kills Brigade, Henan Branch.
Upon his return, Bu Eun-seol personally performed the last rites for the deceased Yeong Mun-ho.
It was partly out of respect for him as one of the Sip-ma-jeon-in, but also to study the scars left on his body, hoping to find a clue to defeating Cheon-geom.
Though Yeong Mun-ho had lost most of his power, he was still one of the Sip-ma-jeon-in and had managed to exchange dozens of blows with Cheon-geom, bare-handed.
Moreover, he had stubbornly endured, knowing he could not win against Cheon-geom.
“Yeong Mun-ho…”
The corner of Bu Eun-seol’s eye twitched.
Yeong Mun-ho had fought Cheon-geom so tenaciously. It had all been to leave scars on his own body.
—*This is his swordsmanship.*
Yeong Mun-ho had known full well that Bu Eun-seol would examine his body.
So he had fiercely held on, engraving Cheon-geom’s techniques onto his own flesh.
As a result, Yeong Mun-ho’s corpse was in a gruesome state, but it offered a detailed look into Cheon-geom’s swordsmanship.
*Shudder.*
Bu Eun-seol lowered his head.
No matter how cold his disposition, he too was a man of warm blood.
‘I must remain calm.’
Bu Eun-seol steeled his heart.
He couldn’t let his emotions cause him to waste even a fraction of the opportunity Yeong Mun-ho had given his life to create.
“Spirit and internal energy. Body and swordsmanship… there are no hindrances whatsoever.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed as he continued to gently clean Yeong Mun-ho’s body.
The sword marks left by Cheon-geom showed no trace of hesitation, containing only a single, pure sword intent.
Humans contemplate a thousand things while eating and unravel ten thousand worries while sleeping.
But Cheon-geom had fused his internal energy, mental strength, and body into one.
That was how he could execute a sword style as swift as lightning and as precise as to not have a hair’s breadth of error.
“I have not been able to do that.”
Bu Eun-seol, however, was in the complete opposite situation.
His spirit was caught in the middle, while the two great martial arts, the Ruyi Jin-gyeol and the Muhwang Jeong-gak, clashed within him.
Furthermore, his innate harsh and cold nature was in conflict with the gentle and warm disposition he had acquired later in life.
Cheon-geom focused his entire being into a single sword to face his enemy.
But Bu Eun-seol’s spirit, body, and even his inner emotions were all in conflict.
“In my current state, I cannot stand against the Man-sang-il-sik.”
If the Ruyi Jin-gyeol and the Muhwang Jeong-gak could not display their true power, he would have to use the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu to defeat him.
But Cheon-geom was a man who had honed nothing but the sword his entire life, and the Sword Sovereign’s Man-sang-il-sik was a sword art already nearing perfection.
A practical sword art that developed through fighting enemies could not defeat Cheon-geom, who had mastered the true essence of the Sword Sovereign’s swordsmanship.
‘I don’t necessarily have to beat him with swordsmanship.’
Bu Eun-seol was not trying to compare their martial arts.
He was prepared to use hidden weapons or poison without hesitation if it meant he could kill him.
*Sssk.*
Just then, Yeong Mun-ho’s slightly curled fingers began to move.
An ordinary person would have jumped in shock.
But Bu Eun-seol, having been performing the last rites, recognized it as the phenomenon of rigor mortis ending.
“…I see.”
As he watched Yeong Mun-ho’s fingers slowly straighten, a great realization flashed through Bu Eun-seol’s mind.
“The fundamental problem was learning the spiritual arts of both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions at the same time.”
Bu Eun-seol’s personality had always been somewhere in the middle.
He possessed an innate coldness, but also a warmth instilled in him by his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang.
But his martial arts were different.
Mastering the ultimate spiritual arts of both the Demonic Path and the Orthodox Faction was akin to splitting his mind in two.
In the end, the incompatible spiritual arts were clashing, creating a division in Bu Eun-seol’s spirit.
“Were you that frustrated? Enough to grant me this realization even in death.”
Yeong Mun-ho’s once slightly curled fingers were now perfectly straight.
As if signifying the concept of emptiness.
—*At your current level, it is impossible to unify the martial arts of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions. In that case, how about creating something entirely new?*
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had been studying the texts of the Sak-jeong-bi-gyeol and the Muhwang Jeong-gak, trying to merge the two arts.
But was it necessary to merge them?
What if he simply emptied his spirit into a state of void? Wouldn’t that give birth to an entirely new spiritual art?
This was the advice Yeong Mun-ho was giving him.
“It’s impossible for now, but…”
Looking at Yeong Mun-ho, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a firm voice, as if making a promise.
“I will do my best to find a new martial art that can fill the void left by the Ruyi Jin-gyeol and the Thirteen Nights Arts as soon as possible.”
On the seventh peak of Nangrim Mountain’s Seven Sword Ridge, there once stood a small thatched hut.
But now, it was an empty clearing, with a large stone coffin and a wooden casket placed side by side.
Inside the wooden casket lay Yeong Mun-ho, for whom Bu Eun-seol had personally and meticulously performed the last rites.
His face looked as vibrant as it had in life, and he appeared happy.
Bu Eun-seol slowly dug into the earth.
After carefully burying the stone coffin, he placed the wooden casket inside. This would protect the body from wild animals and other external factors.
Before long, a small grave mound stood where the hut had once been.
The Bu Eun-seol of the past would have stood before this grave and sworn revenge on Cheon-geom.
But that was not what Yeong Mun-ho would have wanted.
Instead, Bu Eun-seol offered a prayer solely for his happiness.
“In the next life, I hope…”
Gazing at the burial mound, Bu Eun-seol turned his head and murmured softly.
“You are born in a place free of grudges, and live a happy life…”
***
Bu Eun-seol immediately returned to the Demonic Sanctum.
His original destinations had been the White Horse Temple and the Four Spirits Gate. He had intended to go there to investigate the undocumented activities of the Seven Branches of the Demonic Path.
But now, his objective had changed.
‘How can I seek revenge when I can’t even handle the matter right in front of me?’
A blood-red glint radiated from Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
Cheon-geom.
Bu Eun-seol intended to start by striking down that madman of the Orthodox Faction.
The Demon Subduing Pavilion’s conference room.
Bu Eun-seol sat at the center of a large table, flanked by Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong.
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong.
They were fellow Sip-ma-jeon-in who had escaped Hell Island with him and could be considered Bu Eun-seol’s closest aides.
A heavy silence filled the conference room.
Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u studied Bu Eun-seol’s expression with grave faces.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes were frozen like a glacier, devoid of any emotion.
The two men exchanged tense glances.
They knew well that Bu Eun-seol was at his most fearsome, planning his most difficult endeavors, when he wore that emotionless expression.
“What in the world is going on?”
Finally, unable to bear the silence, Myo Cheon-u spoke cautiously.
“Did something bad happen during your trip to the Jianghu?”
Bu Eun-seol looked at them and said in a low voice.
“From now on, mobilize all our forces to investigate one man: Cheon-geom.”
“Cheon-geom?”
Myo Cheon-u blinked.
“You mean Golden Divine Eyes, the one known as the disciple of the Sword Sovereign, one of the Three Sovereigns?”
“That’s him.”
The two men looked at each other again, tilting their heads in confusion.
Golden Divine Eyes, Cheon-geom.
A few years ago, he had made a name for himself in the Jianghu by eliminating a group from an Unorthodox Faction that had been tormenting commoners.
But since then, he had barely shown himself in the martial world. So why investigate him all of a sudden?
“He killed Yeong Mun-ho.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, the faces of Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong turned ashen.
“Yeong Mun-ho? You mean the Yeong Mun-ho who went to the Four Spirits Gate?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean? How could he kill Yeong Mun-ho, who was already dead?”
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol calmly recounted the events that had transpired.
How he had been using the Nine Kills Brigade to search for surviving Sip-ma-jeon-in.
How he had finally found Yeong Mun-ho living as an herb gatherer and had a reunion…
Only for him to be brutally murdered on their way back by a man named Cheon-geom, who was in the process of annihilating the Black Wind Fortress.
And that Cheon-geom was one of the Dae-ui-go-su whose identity had long remained a mystery.
“…”
When Bu Eun-seol finished his story, a deathly silence descended upon the room.
It was completely unexpected.
That one of the Dae-ui-go-su, whose identity was unknown until now, was Cheon-geom, the disciple of the Sword Sovereign.
And that he possessed skills on par with Bu Eun-seol, considered the greatest of the Demonic Path’s younger generation?
“So that’s what happened.”
Yu Un-ryong, who had been silent, nodded.
He knew well that Bu Eun-seol had always seen the Sip-ma-jeon-in as his own kind.
To finally find Yeong Mun-ho after spending a fortune, only to have him mercilessly killed by the Sword Sovereign’s disciple after he had already left the martial world…
Though he sat there calmly, Bu Eun-seol’s rage must be piercing the heavens.
“From the beginning, the Sanctum pitted the Sip-ma-jeon-in against the Dae-ui-go-su.”
Yu Un-ryong, deep in thought, spoke in a low voice.
“Although it was part of the process to select a successor candidate, that order has not yet been rescinded.”
Myo Cheon-u, who was crossing his arms, nodded in agreement.
“So, the Sip-ma-jeon-in and the Dae-ui-go-su were never meant to coexist.”
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening silently, had his gaze fixed on the window.
“He has never revealed his movements before, so investigating him will be difficult. Mobilize all available personnel and find his whereabouts.”
Turning his head, Bu Eun-seol’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke.
“I will take care of the rest.”
“Understood.”
Yu Un-ryong, who had been lost in thought for a moment, replied immediately.
“I will mobilize every available intelligence organization to locate him.”
Then he continued cautiously.
“If what you’ve told us is true, it seems you’ll also need time to refine your martial arts.”
Bu Eun-seol readily nodded.
“I know.”
In his current state, he could not achieve a complete victory over Cheon-geom.
From now on, Bu Eun-seol had to stop obsessing over his two spiritual arts and instead enter a state of emptiness to reach a new realm.
A few days later, Yu Un-ryong came to Bu Eun-seol’s office, his face pale and rigid.
“We’ve found Cheon-geom.”
“Where is he?”
“He is on his way to the Sanctum.”
As Bu Eun-seol arched an eyebrow in confusion, Yu Un-ryong elaborated.
“He is coming to the Sanctum, openly, as an envoy of the Murim Alliance.”
“An envoy of the Murim Alliance?”
Bu Eun-seol’s expression turned peculiar.
Cheon-geom, who had never even shown himself in the martial world, had suddenly become an envoy of the Murim Alliance.
“That madman seems to have made a move.”
Frowning, Yu Un-ryong let out a sigh and explained.
“He went to the Murim Alliance and reported all his achievements, including the elimination of the Black Wind Fortress, that he had secretly carried out until now. And…”
To summarize the rest of the explanation:
Cheon-geom had suddenly appeared at the Murim Alliance, revealed all his past accomplishments, and requested a suitable position.
After deep deliberation, the Murim Alliance had granted Cheon-geom the position of Daeju of a first-class sword unit under the Shin-wi-dan-ju, one of the seven great divisions.
This was in recognition of his service in dealing with troublesome factions like the Black Wind Fortress and the Five Dragons Guild, which had harmed innocent commoners and had been impossible to defeat in their strongholds.
As this news spread, interest in Cheon-geom and his fame began to grow, not only within the Orthodox Faction but also among the common people.
“He’s played this cleverly.”
Bu Eun-seol frowned.
He was now an enemy of Bu Eun-seol, the successor of the Demonic Sanctum. If he continued to wander the Jianghu alone as he had been, he would be vulnerable to attack at any moment.
But by revealing his achievements and obtaining the position of Daeju in the Murim Alliance…
He had become someone that even Bu Eun-seol could not touch carelessly.
“For what reason is he coming to the Demonic Sanctum?”
To Bu Eun-seol’s question, Yu Un-ryong replied in a somber voice.
“The Sip-ma-jeon-in.”
Pausing for a moment, Yu Un-ryong spoke with a look of utter disbelief.
“He claims he’s coming to end the fighting between the Sip-ma-jeon-in and the Dae-ui-go-su.”
As the gates of the Demonic Sanctum swung wide open, an eight-horse carriage bearing the flag of the Murim Alliance entered.
*Click.*
The carriage came to a halt in the center of the Sanctum, and its door slowly opened.
A large man with a greatsword strapped to his back slowly alighted from the carriage.
He had a gentle face with eyes that sparkled like jewels in the sunlight.
A constant smile played on his lips, making him appear slightly dull-witted at first glance.
But in reality, he was a peerless martial prodigy, excelling in both physical prowess and intellect.
Though he held the title Golden Divine Eyes, he was more often called the second Sword Sovereign. This was Cheon-geom, the disciple of the Sword Sovereign.
“So many of you have come out to greet me.”
Cheon-geom waved at the personnel of the Demonic Sanctum waiting in front of the carriage.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. A real pleasure.”
As he waved enthusiastically, the assembled members of the Demonic Sanctum frowned.
Cheon-geom’s actions and expression felt somewhat flippant and playful.
At that moment, a middle-aged man in the elegant robes of a scholar approached from among the warriors and offered a light bow.
“Welcome to the Sanctum, Young Master Cheon.”
As Cheon-geom looked at Baek Cheon-cheon, his eyes changed.
Though the man had the air of a noble scholar, an undeniably powerful energy emanated from behind him.
“And you are…”
“I am Baek Cheon-cheon, and I lead the Man-bak-dang.”
“Aha, so you are the one who is said to understand the words of heaven and comprehend the hearts of men below…”
Cheon-geom waved both hands in greeting with an exaggerated expression.
“I have heard much of Master Baek’s reputation.”
“You are too kind.”
Baek Cheon-cheon smiled warmly and extended a hand.
“Please, follow me.”
Guided by Baek Cheon-cheon, Cheon-geom arrived at the Dok-myeong-gak.
After looking up at the pavilion for a long moment, Cheon-geom tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
“Is the Demonic Heavenly Emperor not present?”
Despite it being his first time at the Demonic Sanctum, Cheon-geom knew the exact locations of the inner buildings.
But Baek Cheon-cheon was not surprised and replied calmly.
“The Demonic Heavenly Emperor has recently entered seclusion. Currently, all affairs of the Sanctum are being managed by the Chong-gyo-ryeong.”
“I see. Ah, but.”
Cheon-geom grinned playfully and opened his mouth.
“I hear the former Jeon-ju has been missing for a long time? Why has the Demonic Heavenly Emperor not chosen a new one?”
Even as the disciple of the Sword Sovereign, he had no right to meddle in the affairs of the Demonic Sanctum.
If it had been any other high-ranking member besides Baek Cheon-cheon, they would have immediately given him a cold look or berated him for interfering.
But Baek Cheon-cheon simply replied with a faint, mysterious smile.
“Who can say? I am sure the Jeon-ju has his own profound plans.”
‘Just as the rumors said, he’s not to be underestimated.’
Baek Cheon-cheon appeared to be an ignorant scholar, but his presence was extremely powerful.
Moreover, he had referred to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor as ‘Jeon-ju’ right in front of him.
Cheon-geom instantly surmised that, contrary to his appearance, Baek Cheon-cheon wielded immense power and possessed astonishing martial skill.
“The envoy sent by the Murim Alliance has arrived.”
As Baek Cheon-cheon spoke softly, a low voice came from within the Dok-myeong-gak office.
“Let him enter.”
Baek Cheon-cheon then clasped his hands towards Cheon-geom.
“Please, proceed with your conversation.”
Cheon-geom also bowed to Baek Cheon-cheon before entering the office.
Even as he entered the office of the Demonic Sanctum’s second-in-command, his expression and gait were relaxed.
But when he saw the old man, Yeop Hyo-cheon, sitting in the office, his smile vanished.
‘…!’
Cheon-geom realized that the ordinary-looking Yeop Hyo-cheon was, in fact, a warrior of incredible power, capable of overturning heaven and earth.
‘So this is the head of the Seven Kings of the God of Death…’
Hiding his astonishment deep within, Cheon-geom smiled brightly and clasped his hands.
“Cheon-geom, Daeju of the Murim Alliance’s Yojin Sword Unit, greets the Chong-gyo-ryeong.”
Yeop Hyo-cheon looked at Cheon-geom’s face and let out a sound of admiration.
“Hah. I thought there was no talent in the entire martial world that could compare to our Sanctum’s Martial Soul Lord, but…”
Then he exclaimed in wonder.
“So, old Heon-won has been holed up all this time, raising a talent like this.”
Yeop Hyo-cheon smiled and extended a hand.
“Have a seat.”
After offering Cheon-geom a seat, Yeop Hyo-cheon called for a servant to bring tea.
“Is old Heon-won doing well?”
Yeop Hyo-cheon smiled as he inquired after him.
“The last time I saw him was twenty years ago at Mount Chungyak.”
Yeop Hyo-cheon, known as the Am-wang, had once clashed with the Sword Sovereign, hailed as the greatest sword of the Orthodox Faction, at Mount Chungyak twenty years ago.
The result of the fight was, surprisingly, a mutual defeat.
Yeop Hyo-cheon’s meridians were severely damaged by the Sword Sovereign’s strike, forcing him into seclusion for three long years.
But the Sword Sovereign did not escape unscathed either.
His right leg was struck by Yeop Hyo-cheon’s One Hand Darkens the Heavens Style, leaving him with a slight limp in his right foot.
“My master also sends his regards to the Chong-gyo-ryeong. He said that once he has settled his complicated affairs, he would like to request another taste of the One Hand Darkens the Heavens Style.”
‘He’s lying.’
Yeop Hyo-cheon narrowed his eyes.
The Sword Sovereign was already over a hundred years old and had long since withdrawn from the affairs of the martial world.
It was impossible that he, still burning with a warrior’s spirit, would say such a thing.
But Yeop Hyo-cheon simply nodded with a placid smile.
“Tell him that this old leader would welcome him anytime.”
He then continued.
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the Murim Alliance’s renowned Daeju to this humble Sanctum?”
‘This old fox. He knows full well why I’m here.’
Shouting inwardly, he clasped his hands and said.
“The Shin-wi-dan-ju proposed to me. He suggested that it would be best for both sides to stop this needless war of attrition.”
Cheon-geom swallowed a smile and said.
“I agreed with his sentiment, and so I have come to formally visit the Demonic Sanctum to convey that intention.”
“A war of attrition, you say?”
“I am referring to the Sip-ma-jeon-in.”
Cheon-geom spoke with an expression that suggested the answer was obvious.
“I understand that the successor of the Demonic Sanctum is also from the Sip-ma-jeon-in. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if the talents of both sides continue to clash over such matters?”
Though his words were polite, Cheon-geom’s eyes glinted with killing intent and madness.
Yeop Hyo-cheon narrowed his eyes and studied Cheon-geom carefully.
Just from the look of his bulging blood vessels and supple muscles, his physical aptitude seemed far superior to even Bu Eun-seol’s.
Moreover, his eyes were so abnormally clear that they were unsettling.
‘Heon-won Dam-cheong. That old man has taken a madman as his disciple.’
Instantly recognizing the madness teeming within Cheon-geom, Yeop Hyo-cheon gave a faint smile.
‘This should be interesting.’
When it came to madness, Bu Eun-seol, once called the Mad Sword, was no different.
Furthermore, he had absolutely no intention of making peace with the Murim Alliance.
Yeop Hyo-cheon was intensely curious to see how Bu Eun-seol would handle this madman.
“However, with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor absent, I suppose a decision cannot be made on this matter.”
“Hahaha. When the Demonic Heavenly Emperor enters seclusion, he entrusts all authority to this old leader.”
“I see.”
Tapping the greatsword on his back, Cheon-geom revealed his white teeth in a refreshing smile.
“Then, will you accept?”
Cheon-geom was truly a madman.
Knowing full well he was no match for Yeop Hyo-cheon, he was deliberately tapping his greatsword, provoking even him.