Chapter 312
Chapter 312
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 312
Chapter Title: An Unlikely Alliance
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*Thwump! Kwoong!*
The Projectile King's stones shot forth, moving so fast they were invisible to the naked eye.
But the masked men, using the Bu-yeong-su-hyeong formation, were naturally pushed left and right by the wind generated as the stones flew past.
No matter how incredible the internal energy projectile technique, it was useless if it didn't hit its mark.
The masked men were sealing the Projectile King's ultimate art with the unique method of Bu-yeong-su-hyeong.
“It seems you've done quite a bit of research to avoid this old man’s projectiles.”
Bukgung Ryeong, however, just chuckled heartily and closed the distance with lightning-fast movement.
“But it's nothing more than a shallow trick.”
As he closed the distance in an instant, the masked men's bodies were once again pushed aside by the Bu-yeong-su-hyeong.
But in that moment, Bukgung Ryeong curled his five fingers and unleashed a volley of stones into the air.
*Thwump! Thwump!*
The scattered stone fragments flew in a gentle arc, landing behind the masked men.
“…!”
The masked men's eyes widened.
The stones Bukgung Ryeong had shot behind them were now pushing them forward.
“Die.”
In that instant, a powerful force swirled around Bukgung Ryeong's five fingers.
If he unleashed his projectiles at such close range, the masked men would have no way to escape.
“Stop!”
Bu Eun-seol, who had been watching from a distance, shouted.
“They're trying to self-destruct at close range.”
“Self-destruct?”
Bukgung Ryeong was taken aback, but then, as if realizing something, he unleashed his projectiles.
*Thwump! Thwump!*
This time, the projectiles he fired weren't powerful enough to shatter their bodies, but rather to push the masked men dozens of feet away.
It was a gentle projectile technique with a considerably wide impact area.
*KABOOM!*
The moment they were pushed dozens of feet away, a massive explosion that shook the heavens and earth erupted, and the masked men's bodies were scattered in all directions.
*Fwoosh.*
The trees and rocks within the blast radius were melting like taffy.
“So it was true.”
Bukgung Ryeong couldn't hide his surprise.
To think they would feign dodging my projectiles with the Bu-yeong-su-hyeong, induce a close-quarters fight, and then try to self-destruct?
The tactic used by the masked men was so meticulous that even Bukgung Ryeong, a veteran of countless battles, could not have predicted it.
“Was killing this old man such a desperate task that you had to use your own bodies as bait?”
Before Bukgung Ryeong could finish muttering,
*Shhhlick!*
they reformed their ranks and surrounded Bukgung Ryeong once more.
Five of the masked men had died in the explosion.
The remaining fifteen showed no fear, eagerly watching for a chance to die with him in an explosion.
“Are you just going to watch?”
Bukgung Ryeong shouted in annoyance.
Dealing with them wasn't difficult.
But the sight of Bu Eun-seol perched on a tree, watching the fight with a bland expression, was incredibly irritating.
“You can handle it alone.”
“Hmph.”
At Bu Eun-seol's reply, Bukgung Ryeong snorted and lightly opened his right hand.
*Ruuuumble!*
A brilliant light suddenly bloomed from his hand, and it felt as if all the surrounding air was being sucked into his palm.
*Float.*
At the same time, the bodies of the five masked men standing in the front rank lifted into the air.
*Pang!*
Bukgung Ryeong flicked his finger, and with a sound like tearing air, the masked men's bodies were flung away at incredible speed.
*Splat!*
They crashed into the other masked men behind them, sending blood flying everywhere.
Bukgung Ryeong had picked up the masked men's bodies and launched them like stones.
*Pang! Splat!*
After throwing the masked men's bodies five or six times, the thirty or so charging assassins were cleanly dealt with.
“Hoo.”
Bukgung Ryeong wiped the sweat from his brow.
Even for him, the man called the Projectile King, throwing human bodies as hidden weapons was a considerably taxing tactic.
“Impressive.”
*Thud.*
As Bu Eun-seol descended from the giant tree, Bukgung Ryeong furrowed his brow.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just passing by.”
“Hmph, you expect this old man to believe that?”
Although Geol-wang Gu Hong-cheong was dead, Bukgung Ryeong was still on good terms with the Beggars' Sect and provided them with vast sums of money.
Moreover, he was a lone wolf of the martial world. Since he always traveled alone, he used the Beggars' Sect's information network to obscure his tracks and prevent anyone from following him.
The probability of running into Bu Eun-seol by chance deep in these mountains was nil.
“Don't tell me you've had a change of heart.”
Bukgung Ryeong showed a hint of pleasure.
He thought that Bu Eun-seol, like himself, was wandering the martial world, hunting the masked men's faction.
“That's not likely.”
“If not that, then how did you know their tactics beforehand?”
Bu Eun-seol said with a bitter expression.
“I was attacked by assassins from Sa-hyang in the past. They used a similar tactic back then.”
“Sa-hyang?”
“Yes, something like that.”
Bu Eun-seol, giving a vague answer, asked him.
“So now, instead of hunting them, you're the one being hunted?”
It was more of a friendly joke.
After all, even if he was alone, he was the Projectile King. A man no faction could trifle with easily.
But Bukgung Ryeong gazed at the distant sky with a lonely expression.
“Not now… but there's no guarantee it won't happen someday.”
He had always walked the martial world alone, hunting the factions lurking in the shadows.
But their roots ran far too deep. At this rate, a day might come when he would be the one being hunted.
Just as the Martial Emperor had been, four hundred years ago.
“How on earth did you find me?”
“Money can even make ghosts do your bidding.”
Instantly understanding Bu Eun-seol's meaning, Bukgung Ryeong shook his head.
“I see. It seems the time has come to cut ties with the Beggars' Sect.”
The current leader, No-bong, was known to be suffering from a strange illness.
But Bukgung Ryeong had known for a long time that this was a lie.
He just hadn't dug any deeper out of respect for his acquaintance with Gu Hong-cheong…
But seeing how easily Bu Eun-seol had found him, he judged that the Beggars' Sect's information network could no longer be trusted.
“You must have a favor to ask of this old man.”
Bukgung Ryeong saw right through Bu Eun-seol's intentions.
The heir to the Demonic Cult wouldn't have come to the martial world alone without a reason. He had surely sensed that Bu Eun-seol wanted something from him.
“Alright. I'll be frank.”
Stepping a bit closer to Bukgung Ryeong, he got straight to the point.
“Let's have a fight.”
“What did you say?”
“I'm saying let's have a duel to the death.”
Bukgung Ryeong, wondering what this was all about, stared at Bu Eun-seol with a deep frown.
He could tell from his eyes that it wasn't a joke. But why would he want such a duel?
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“Have you mastered a martial art capable of defeating this old man?”
“Quite the opposite. I came here prepared to die.”
It was a candid answer.
Staring intently into Bu Eun-seol's eyes, Bukgung Ryeong realized something and let out a small smirk.
“A subtle fracture has appeared in your spirit. You can no longer advance your martial prowess, or perhaps your skills have even regressed.”
“How did you know?”
“Didn't I spend days and nights with you in that damned secret storehouse?”
As Bu Eun-seol failed to hide his surprise, Bukgung Ryeong chuckled and said.
“Back then, your eyes were unwavering and firm. But now, they tremble constantly… which is as good as announcing that your spirit is in turmoil.”
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
Bukgung Ryeong had seen through to the state of Bu Eun-seol's spirit just by the subtle energy visible in his eyes.
“You saw correctly.”
Bu Eun-seol readily admitted.
“For some reason, my spirit has fractured, and hesitation arises whenever I use my martial arts.”
“So.”
“It seems the only way to get rid of it is a battle to the death.”
“Hmph, and why should this old man fight you?”
“Isn't it a good opportunity to eliminate a vicious seed of the demonic path who will bring harm to the orthodox martial world in the future?”
At the words, which could have been a joke or spoken in earnest, Bukgung Ryeong let out a smirk.
“It's a tempting offer, but I have more urgent matters to attend to right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Five of the Ten Weapons Under Heaven have appeared.”
The Ten Weapons Under Heaven.
They were ten extraordinary weapons passed down through the generations in the martial world.
Not only did they all possess incredible power, but the weapons themselves were known to have a spiritual nature.
Because of this, they were said to not only gauge the owner's spirit on their own but also unleash unique powers when wielded with internal energy.
“If all the Ten Weapons Under Heaven had appeared, how could I not know?”
As the heir of the Demonic Cult, Bu Eun-seol led the Mu-ha-su-yu-jeong, the Nang-ya-gak, and the Demonic Cult's secret organization, the Gu-sal-dae.
If five of the Ten Weapons Under Heaven had appeared in the martial world, there was no way he wouldn't have heard about it.
“Treasure maps showing where the Ten Weapons Under Heaven are hidden have been deliberately distributed to specific individuals. That's why you wouldn't know.”
Gazing at the distant sky for a moment, Bukgung Ryeong began to tell an astonishing story.
“And they, much like this old man, are renowned heroes of the orthodox faction who wander the martial world alone, protecting it.”
“Are you saying it's a trap designed to make people like you destroy each other?”
“That's right.”
He said, grinding his teeth.
“This old man must retrieve them all.”
Any martial artist would go mad for secret manuals and divine weapons.
What they desired, awake or asleep, was the overwhelming martial power to dominate all others.
But if it was one of the Ten Weapons Under Heaven, which could grant immense power just by holding it…
it was a temptation impossible to resist.
“The desire to obtain a divine weapon is natural for a martial artist. Is there really a need for you to stop them?”
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Bukgung Ryeong let out a bitter sigh.
“The end of a treasure hunt is always destruction, is it not?”
If rumors spread that treasure maps leading to five of the Ten Weapons Under Heaven had appeared, a storm of blood would surely sweep through the martial world.
Moreover, these treasure maps were a deliberate trap set by a mysterious faction.
In the end, Bukgung Ryeong intended to stop it, even if he had to do it alone.
“Why do you have to be the one to stop it?”
“If they fight over them and die all at once, that's how many renowned heroes who did good for the martial world will be gone.”
Bukgung Ryeong smiled bitterly.
“Shouldn't an old man like me, with a few more years under his belt, step up?”
Awake or asleep, he was always thinking of the martial world's well-being.
Bu Eun-seol couldn't care less about the state of the martial world.
But the sight of Bukgung Ryeong, willing to sacrifice himself to look after the affairs of the martial world, seemed a little respectable.
“I suppose it can't be helped.”
Since Bukgung Ryeong was dedicating himself to doing the right thing, he couldn't just throw a wrench in his plans.
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“Then, I'll see you next time.”
And without hesitation, he turned to leave.
*Fwip.*
But then another sound of tearing air was heard, and this time, assassins in black uniforms appeared around the clearing.
Their numbers looked to be well over three hundred.
Furthermore, their eyes were dead like rotten fish, as if they were steeped in drugs, and their bodies were fitted with metal contraptions that looked like hidden weapon devices.
“This is going to be a pain.”
Bu Eun-seol glanced at the assassins and calmly walked past them.
There was no need to fight assassins who were targeting Bukgung Ryeong.
“Kaaah!”
But then, something strange happened.
With a thunderous roar, the assassins charged not at Bukgung Ryeong, but at Bu Eun-seol.
*Boom! Boom!*
Bu Eun-seol instantly unleashed the Gwon-ma-chil-sik and sent the charging assassins flying.
“What is this.”
Rubbing his fist, Bu Eun-seol frowned at the assassins.
“Do you just attack anyone you see now?”
*Fsh-fsh-fsh-fsh!*
Instead of answering, the assassins activated their hidden weapon devices towards Bu Eun-seol.
Bu Eun-seol immediately used Hwan-gwi-bon-ju to try and return the projectiles.
*Psshht!*
But the incoming projectiles suddenly turned into a silver powder around Bu Eun-seol.
*Clank!*
At the same time, the assassins at the rear took out large hidden weapon devices and fired them at Bu Eun-seol.
*Pyu-pyu-pyu-pyu!*
The projectiles they unleashed were tiny ox-hair needles.
Just as Bu Eun-seol used his footwork to lightly evade them,
*Whoosh!*
the volley of ox-hair needles suddenly swerved sharply and rained down on Bu Eun-seol.
‘Magnets?’
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize that the silver powder covering his body was a powerful magnetic powder.
The assassins had used a unique tactic to deal with the fast-moving Bu Eun-seol.
But it was strange.
Even though Bu Eun-seol had returned to the clearing where Bukgung Ryeong was, weren't the assassins targeting only Bu Eun-seol with their projectiles?
“Huhuhu. So you've become their target now, too!”
Bukgung Ryeong, watching from afar, laughed heartily and said.
“You were on their kill list from the very beginning.”
“How can that be?”
Bu Eun-seol frowned.
“They've had plenty of chances to attack me. Why now of all times?”
“Aren't you the heir to the Demonic Cult? They couldn't attack you when you were in the Cult's territory, or when you were leading a large force.”
Bukgung Ryeong chuckled lowly and pointed at the assassins.
“But now you're out in the martial world alone, aren't you? There's no way they'd miss an opportunity like this.”
The reasoning made sense.
Bu Eun-seol had clashed relentlessly with the masked men's faction until now.
Moreover, he had crushed the Hyeol-sa-gok, O-dok-mun, and Sa-hyang that they had established…
it would be stranger if he *wasn't* on their kill list.
‘So they aimed for a moment when the Gu-sal-dae wasn't with me.’
Narrowing his eyes, Bu Eun-seol shouted towards Bukgung Ryeong.
“So. Are you just going to watch from over there?”
The number of masked men surrounding the forest clearing was gradually increasing, soon exceeding three hundred.
But Bukgung Ryeong just smiled and shook his head.
“Well, this is a good chance to observe the martial arts of a demonic seed who will bring harm to the orthodox martial world in the future.”
As if getting revenge for earlier, Bukgung Ryeong climbed onto a giant tree and made himself comfortable.
He intended to leisurely watch Bu Eun-seol fight from there.
“Fine.”
Bu Eun-seol drew upon his internal energy with all his might.
*Woooong!*
A formless, jet-black true qi shot up from behind him, reaching for the sky.
He had used the Yeo-ui-jin-gyeol to create a giant hand.
*Shing!*
At the same time, Bu Eun-seol unleashed a sword qi from his Muk-geom, instantly felling the giant tree Bukgung Ryeong was perched on.
And the hand created by the Yeo-ui-jin-gyeol threw the giant tree toward the assassins.
“What do you think you're doing!”
“Oh dear. It just happened to go that way.”
As Bu Eun-seol muttered nonchalantly, Bukgung Ryeong quickly moved to another giant tree.
But when Bu Eun-seol repeatedly threw giant trees in the same manner, he too had no choice but to come down next to Bu Eun-seol.
“You….”
*Piiing!*
But before he could get a word out, the ox-hair needles unleashed by the assassins rained down like a swarm of bees.
Bukgung Ryeong tried to move away and watch leisurely, but each time, Bu Eun-seol would cut down a giant tree.
“Hmph.”
With no way to watch at his leisure, Bukgung Ryeong had no choice but to use his movement technique to try and escape.
But the assassins had already surrounded the clearing tightly.
Moreover, Bu Eun-seol followed him wherever he went while evading, so he couldn't help but be dragged into the fight.
“You….”
Bukgung Ryeong was furious, but he had no way of shaking off Bu Eun-seol, whose movement technique was superb.
“You damn leech!”
In the end, he had no choice but to stand back-to-back with Bu Eun-seol and unleash his projectile technique.
“Hoo. Hoo.”
A gruesome scene unfolded in the forest clearing.
Over three hundred corpses were strewn about, and in the center, two men stood back-to-back, breathing heavily.
Bu Eun-seol and Bukgung Ryeong.
The two of them had cut down all three hundred-plus assassins who used bizarre hidden weapons.
Although they were two men who had both reached the Transcendent Realm,
dealing with over three hundred assassins, steeped in drugs and using bizarre hidden weapons, was no easy task.
“You shameless bastard!”
Bukgung Ryeong said in a low voice, wiping the blood spattered on his face.
“I got dragged into this mess because of you.”
“Look who's talking.”
Bu Eun-seol said, shaking his head.
“I came looking for you to have a duel and ended up with the worst luck.”
“What? Worst luck?”
“I said I already have it.”
“How dare you say such a thing to this old man's face!”
Bukgung Ryeong said, greatly angered.
“They call you the Mad Sword, and just as I heard, you're a madman!”
“And I've never seen someone your age, with a beard white as snow, be so abrasive and hot-tempered.”
Bickering and picking at each other's words was something for childish youths.
One was the solemn heir to the Demonic Cult, and the other was a renowned hero of the orthodox martial world, famous for his gravity.
Two men of completely different statuses and paths, squatting side-by-side and having a war of words?
If anyone had seen them, they would have been too dumbfounded to speak.
“…”
A moment of silence passed.
Drained of energy, the two men squatted down again, catching their breath.
“Hmph.”
Bukgung Ryeong snorted and turned his gaze to the distant sky.
“Anyway, seeing the way those bastards are acting, it seems they're starting to think about cleaning up anyone who gets in their way.”
Dusting off his collar, he turned and said.
“From now on, don't come out into the martial world alone.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“Well, if you want to end up like this old man, then go ahead.”
He said it playfully, but Bukgung Ryeong's voice was tinged with deep loneliness.
He had roamed the martial world alone his entire life, yet the true nature of his enemy remained unseen. As time passed, he only felt the growing disparity in their immense power.
Bukgung Ryeong. Perhaps he had a premonition that his end would be no different from that of the Martial Emperor.
“Where are the Ten Weapons Under Heaven hidden?”
Bu Eun-seol, who had been lost in thought, spoke in a low voice, as if he had made a decision.
“I'm asking for the locations on those treasure maps.”
“What do you want to know for?”
“To be honest, the reason I came out into the martial world this time was to have a life-or-death duel with you.”
Bu Eun-seol said, avoiding Bukgung Ryeong's knowing gaze.
“But if something were to happen to you, wouldn't that put me in a difficult position?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“It seems like you'll walk into a trap and die if you go there alone, so I'm saying let's handle it together.”
“A trap? What kind of trap?”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“First, you'll be framed for everything related to the treasure maps.”
—The Projectile King, Bukgung Ryeong, has used force to seize all of the Ten Weapons Under Heaven!
If such a rumor were to spread?
Not only would his reputation plummet, but he would also be endlessly pursued by those seeking the Ten Weapons Under Heaven.
“And the second?”
“You've traveled alone for decades, haven't you? They know that well, so they must have set the trap accordingly.”
“Hmm.”
“With an ally, such a trap would be easy to break. And third…”
Bu Eun-seol pointed to his own face with his thumb.
“What they want might not be your death, but your honor.”
“My honor?”
“That's right. If the worst-case scenario occurs, it would be good to have someone to take the blame, wouldn't it?”
In short, Bu Eun-seol was saying that if the worst should happen, he would shoulder all the blame.
‘This kid…’
A faint tremor ran through Bukgung Ryeong's long, phoenix-like eyes.
He had dedicated his entire life to protecting the peace of the martial world, yet no one had ever recognized his efforts.
Nor was there anyone who welcomed his hot-tempered and unyielding personality.
He had maintained a long friendship with Geol-wang Gu Hong-cheong, but that was less about a meeting of minds and more about needing each other's strength.
And now, the heir of the Demonic Cult, a man on a completely different path… was willingly extending a hand to him.