Chapter 361
Chapter 361
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 361
Chapter Title: Nine Dragons' Flash Thunder
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"Lord Cheon."
Bu Eun-seol respectfully clasped his hands and bowed.
Cheon Un-gwang offered a faint smile.
"Why would the proud successor to the Demonic Palace bow to the mere lord of a sword sect?"
Bu Eun-seol replied with reverence.
"Are you not the master who passed down to me the very foundation of advanced sword arts?"
"Master, you say."
Cheon Un-gwang gazed at the distant sky and let out a deep sigh.
"Hell Island was a place teeming with beasts who had forsaken all human decency. Do you truly seek the bond of master and disciple from such a place?"
"To me, it was a place that taught me martial arts and the ways of the martial world. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Huhu."
Cheon Un-gwang's soft laughter seemed somehow transcendent, like that of a man who had left the secular world behind.
"Since you think of it that way, it seems this lord must play the part of a master one more time."
It was strange.
Cheon Un-gwang had originally been a fearsome saber wielder who exuded a commanding presence.
But now, the murderous aura that once enveloped him was completely gone. His eyes even seemed to emanate a serene energy, like that of a Daoist sage.
"First, I have a question. Why did you seek me out?"
At Cheon Un-gwang's question, Bu Eun-seol once again clasped his hands respectfully.
"I came to return the Peerless Thunderclap Style."
He then slowly drew the Ink Sword.
*Shing.*
With a low hum, the ink-black blade was revealed.
*Flash!*
Simultaneously, a zigzagging streak of violet sword light shot toward Cheon Un-gwang's neck. It was the Peerless Thunderclap Style, executed with the speed of lightning.
"Excellent."
Cheon Un-gwang nodded, his eyes fixed on the Ink Sword that had stopped precisely before his throat.
Bu Eun-seol's Peerless Thunderclap Style had already reached its apex, rivaling even that of Cheon Un-gwang, who had honed his swordsmanship for decades.
"And this is the Peerless Thunderclap Style I am returning to you."
*Rumble.*
At that moment, the giant tree behind Cheon Un-gwang split into three pieces.
Bu Eun-seol had further evolved the Peerless Thunderclap Style, unleashing three overlapping strikes in different directions with a single motion.
*Ssk.*
At the same time, a series of intricate lines appeared on the ground where Cheon Un-gwang stood.
It was a diagram illustrating how to execute the perfect form of the Peerless Thunderclap Style, one that could be performed even by an ordinary person without a shred of killing intent.
*Click.*
Sheathing his sword, Bu Eun-seol bowed his head.
"Thanks to the sword style you taught me, I have been able to overcome many crises."
To repay Cheon Un-gwang, Bu Eun-seol was leaving the perfected Peerless Thunderclap Style to the Flower Rain Sword Sect.
"And now, I intend to return the Peerless Thunderclap Style, which I have completed in my own way, to the Flower Rain Sword Sect."
"So you intend to destroy my sect."
Realizing Bu Eun-seol's true intentions, Cheon Un-gwang let out a weary sigh.
"You have settled your debt with me so that you may destroy my sect without hesitation."
He had surmised that Bu Eun-seol sought him out to settle their accounts so that when the time came to shatter the Flower Rain Sword Sect, he would not falter for even a moment.
"If necessary... I will."
"Huhu."
Cheon Un-gwang chuckled softly, then...
*Swish!*
He suddenly extended his index and middle fingers, forming a finger sword and aiming for a major acupoint on Bu Eun-seol's chest.
*Zzt.*
Bu Eun-seol immediately used his Ultimate Speed Shadowless Steps to evade the sharp sword force emanating from the fingertips.
"Lord Cheon."
"There is no need for lengthy words."
Cheon Un-gwang kept his finger sword aimed at Bu Eun-seol and spoke calmly.
"How can I simply stand by and watch a man who has declared he will destroy my sect?"
*Swish!*
The sword ki pouring from his fingers expanded, splitting into multiple streams and sealing off all escape routes.
Bu Eun-seol pushed his Ultimate Speed Shadowless Steps to their limit, trying to escape the range of the sword ki.
But no matter which direction he moved, the finger sword constantly converged and diverged, relentlessly targeting the acupoint on his chest.
It was remarkably similar to the Sword Pavilion's swordsmanship that Ok Yu-ha had displayed in the past.
'Is he serious?'
A stream of internal energy, powerful enough to pierce through cast iron in an instant, flowed from Cheon Un-gwang's fingers.
If he were struck by it, the flesh wound would be the least of his worries; his meridians would be instantly shredded.
*T-t-t-t.*
*Whoosh!*
Unable to escape the finger sword's range immediately, a faint light began to glow from Bu Eun-seol's fist.
He unleashed the immense power of the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist, aiming to shatter Cheon Un-gwang's finger sword in one blow.
*Swish!*
But Cheon Un-gwang's finger sword was like a living creature, fluidly evading the force of the fist and splitting into dozens of strands once more.
*Whirl!*
Bu Eun-seol twisted his body diagonally to dodge the assault.
However, as if anticipating his evasion, Cheon Un-gwang's finger sword changed again, targeting the acupoint on Bu Eun-seol's chest the moment he landed.
It was as if he would not be satisfied until he struck that exact spot.
*T-t-t-t.*
Suddenly, Bu Eun-seol's body began to blur.
Ultimate Speed Shadowless Steps. In the time it took to draw a single breath, Bu Eun-seol had changed his position ninety times.
*Swish!*
Yet, Cheon Un-gwang's finger sword, though seemingly simple, concealed profound and subtle variations.
As Bu Eun-seol shifted his position dozens of times in a short span, the finger sword adjusted to each change, pursuing him relentlessly.
It felt as though a living entity had attached itself to his body and refused to let go.
'Nine times. So that's how it was.'
Bu Eun-seol could finally see it.
The single move Cheon Un-gwang had executed was a lightning-fast sword strike that had changed direction nine times in mid-air.
'This is impossible.'
A swift sword style was one that took the shortest path to strike an enemy's vital points.
By definition, it was a strike that could not be bent.
If it changed direction midway, it would no longer be a swift sword style that cut the shortest distance, but a chain sword style.
But even though Cheon Un-gwang had bent the trajectory of his attack nine times, did it not still travel the shortest path as if it were a swift sword strike?
'Can it still be called a swift sword style even after changing direction nine times?'
Astonishingly, it was possible.
Because the swift strike that shot out in a straight line and the one that bent nine times arrived at the exact same speed.
*Psh!*
In the end, the finger sword grazed the acupoint on Bu Eun-seol's chest, leaving a cut on his skin.
Even after changing his position ninety times in mid-air with all his might, he had failed to completely evade Cheon Un-gwang's finger sword.
'A living sword art.'
Looking down at Cheon Un-gwang's finger sword, Bu Eun-seol felt a subtle sense of awe.
It was the same kind of living sword art, like a living creature, that the Sword Sovereign had once shown him.
Cheon Un-gwang had also managed to execute a living sword art that adapted to the enemy's movements.
"Why did you not draw your sword and counterattack?"
To Cheon Un-gwang's question, Bu Eun-seol answered in a low voice.
"You showed the form of a killing technique, but you held no killing intent, did you not?"
If Cheon Un-gwang had truly intended to kill him, he would never have so single-mindedly targeted only the acupoint on his chest.
He had deliberately fixed the target to one spot so that Bu Eun-seol could easily discern the variations in the technique.
"Is this the sword intent of the Flower Rain Sword?"
"Not a chance."
Cheon Un-gwang said with a bitter smile.
"This lord has already mastered the killing sword to its pinnacle, and thus, I could never attain the ultimate subtlety of the Flower Rain Sword."
His eyes were filled with nothing but a serene emptiness.
"However, this technique could be called the final struggle of a disciple who could never fully master the Flower Rain Sword..."
Originally, Cheon Un-gwang was a peerless genius capable of mastering all the renowned sword arts of the Flower Rain Sword Sect.
But in the past, after his fiancée was killed by wicked hands, his sword became a killing sword wielded by a demon.
A killing sword could easily slay an enemy, but it could never become the Flower Rain Sword, which encompasses ten thousand swords.
Yet, he did not give up on the path of the sword. Instead, he created the Peerless Thunderclap Style, a technique that could reach the apex of the killing sword.
And now, after long years of meditation... he had cast aside the killing sword and mastered yet another new sword art.
Cheon Un-gwang offered a dry smile.
"If you can merge the principles of this Nine Dragons' Flash Thunder with the Peerless Thunderclap Style... you will create a truly inescapable, fatal sword art."
What if one could make the Peerless Thunderclap Style, which pierced the shortest distance like lightning, change direction nine times?
No matter how incredible one's movement technique or evasive maneuvers were, it would be absolutely impossible to dodge.
'So that's why you executed the Peerless Thunderclap Style as a swift sword style, not a killing sword style.'
If Cheon Un-gwang had unleashed this sword art with killing intent, Bu Eun-seol would not have been able to appreciate its variations, let alone evade it.
Nine Dragons' Flash Thunder. This technique was truly a form that stood at the very pinnacle of the killing sword.
Cheon Un-gwang spoke in a low voice.
"This is the last lesson I will impart to you."
Cheon Un-gwang.
He had once again passed on a sword technique containing the essence of all his swordsmanship to Bu Eun-seol.
"Why are you passing this sword art on to me?"
The sword technique Cheon Un-gwang had created was brilliant enough to be preserved within the Flower Rain Sword Sect for generations, to be taught to his successors.
So why would he teach it to an outsider, and one who had declared his intent to destroy the Flower Rain Sword Sect at that?
Could it be revenge against the sect that had ostracized him?
"Perhaps... it is because I cherish and love this sect too much."
Uttering a paradox, Cheon Un-gwang looked at Bu Eun-seol and smiled faintly.
"You will understand one day."
He then added in a low voice.
"And become stronger."
"..."
"The martial world is still filled with supreme masters you do not know of. There are also martial arts that transcend the stages one must typically pass through."
Cheon Un-gwang wore a gentle smile, like a master looking upon a beloved disciple.
"I hope that one day, this sword technique will become one of the stepping stones... that allows you to stand shoulder to shoulder with them."
"Lord."
"Take care."
Cheon Un-gwang turned back toward his thatched hut.
Despite being pardoned, he intended to remain there.
"Lord..."
Although they had not performed the formal ceremony of nine bows to establish a master-disciple relationship.
Cheon Un-gwang had unsparingly passed on all his essence to Bu Eun-seol, and Bu Eun-seol had faithfully inherited the core of his master's sword arts.
What stronger, more certain bond of master and disciple could there be?
"Please, take care of yourself."
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply. Then, very respectfully, he slowly turned away.
After leaving Cheon Un-gwang's hut, Bu Eun-seol headed back toward the hall where the banquet was being held.
As he entered the path leading to the hall, he saw a familiar face in the distance.
The face was like that of a pure-hearted boy, full of a somewhat mischievous smile.
His frame was even more slender than Bu Eun-seol's, making him look at first glance like a beautiful woman, a flower petal fluttering in the wind.
It was Uiji Hyesang.
"The attendant you brought with you seems to have had too much to drink."
When Uiji Hyesang looked back, a dozen or so martial artists stood there. Behind them, a man in a disheveled state was being supported.
It was Won Se-mun.
"He was so drunk and causing such a scene that I ordered him to be briefly locked in the dungeons. It seems my subordinates were a bit rough with him."
He then nodded his head.
His men dragged Won Se-mun over and dropped him in front of Bu Eun-seol.
With a thud, Won Se-mun collapsed to the ground.
"You should be more careful when choosing your attendants next time. A man like this will only tarnish your reputation, my lord."
*Woooong!*
An immense aura erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body.
"Ugh..."
The dozen martial artists standing around Uiji Hyesang clutched their necks, their faces contorted in pain.
Formless Ki.
Enraged, Bu Eun-seol had unleashed his Formless Ki, choking the breath out of the dozens of martial artists.
"Hoh."
A look of delight, rather than fear, flashed in Uiji Hyesang's eyes.
No matter if he was the successor of the Demonic Palace, if he killed someone within the Flower Rain Sword Sect...
Not even the Demonic Emperor himself could smooth things over.
"Are you serious?"
Instead of answering, the blood-red light in Bu Eun-seol's eyes intensified.
The faces of the martial artists turned even paler. He was truly intending to kill them.
*Grab.*
Just then, Won Se-mun stirred and grabbed Bu Eun-seol's ankle.
"It's alright, my lord."
Won Se-mun used all his strength to hold onto Bu Eun-seol's ankle and pull himself up.
"There is no need to fight them."
Bu Eun-seol stopped unleashing his Formless Ki and helped Won Se-mun to his feet.
Won Se-mun grinned, revealing blood-stained white teeth.
"Your prediction was correct, my lord."
Barely able to stand, Won Se-mun continued sending a mental message.
"It wasn't the Head Instructor, Wi Hyeok-gun. That pale-faced bastard is the one truly overseeing all of the Flower Rain Sword Sect's affairs."
A glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
From the beginning, Bu Eun-seol had found the actions of the Flower Rain Sword Sect strange.
He had heard long ago that Uiji Mua no longer involved himself in the sect's affairs.
—Then is it Wi Hyeok-gun?
After carefully investigating the Flower Rain Sword Sect, Bu Eun-seol had shaken his head.
The Wi Hyeok-gun he had seen on Hell Island might possess world-shaking martial prowess, but he was by no means a man capable of handling a sect's administration and affairs.
—If it's not Uiji Mua or Wi Hyeok-gun, then who is running the Flower Rain Sword Sect?
After deep contemplation, Bu Eun-seol had given Won Se-mun a secret order before coming to the sect.
While he was having a private audience with Uiji Mua, Won Se-mun was to deliberately get drunk, cause a scene, and get himself thrown into the sect's dungeons.
Won Se-mun was not only a member of the Demonic Palace but also a direct subordinate of the Martial Soul Lord, Bu Eun-seol.
This meant that to kill or punish him, it couldn't be a lord-level figure from the Flower Rain Sword Sect, but someone of higher rank than Bu Eun-seol.
In other words, the Sect Master would have to step in.
Once imprisoned, Won Se-mun began to curse both Uiji Hyesang and Wi Hyeok-gun alternately at the guards.
By doing so, he could subtly gauge the hierarchy between the two within the sect.
—Putting Wi Hyeok-gun and Uiji Hyesang on the same level?
Cursing them from his cell, Won Se-mun was greatly surprised by the reactions of the Flower Rain Sword Sect disciples.
The martial artists were implicitly equating the positions of Wi Hyeok-gun, the Head Instructor who handled the sect's affairs, and Uiji Hyesang, the next successor.
Some disciples even seemed to fear Uiji Hyesang more than Wi Hyeok-gun, reacting more sensitively to his name.
—No, this alone isn't enough to be certain.
But Won Se-mun was soon able to discern which of the two was truly leading the Flower Rain Sword Sect.
The person who released him from the dungeons was none other than Uiji Hyesang.
Furthermore, Uiji Hyesang repeatedly mentioned that the reason for Won Se-mun's release was his own friendship with Bu Eun-seol and his generous nature.
These were things he would never say if he were acting on Wi Hyeok-gun's orders.
This meant that the one with the most power in the Flower Rain Sword Sect, the one handling all its affairs... was not Wi Hyeok-gun, but that young successor, Uiji Hyesang.
"They really did a number on you."
After hearing Won Se-mun's entire message, Bu Eun-seol glared at Uiji Hyesang.
"In this state, you should be able to absorb every last drop of the medicine's efficacy."
He took a pill from his robes and placed it in Won Se-mun's mouth.
It was the Purple Cloud Pill he had obtained from the Mount Hua Sect.
*Gulp.*
The moment the pill touched his saliva, it dissolved like water and slid down Won Se-mun's throat.
Simultaneously, a warmth began to spread through his organs and bones.
This spiritual medicine from the Mount Hua Sect was highly effective for both internal and external injuries.
And the worse the patient's condition, the faster its effects manifested.
"Circulate your energy at once. So the medicine can be absorbed quickly."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Won Se-mun immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began to circulate his energy.
Soon, steam began to rise from his head.
'I thought he just drank all day, but he's been training his internal energy diligently.'
Won Se-mun, who he thought spent every night drinking, had secretly been training his martial arts with great effort.
'A little help should be enough.'
Bu Eun-seol immediately began to inject pure Polar Reversal Ki into his Dazhui acupoint.
*Woooong!*
As the Polar Reversal Ki passed through his meridians, a brilliant, five-colored golden flower formed above Won Se-mun's head... which soon took the shape of three flower buds.
Three Flowers Gather at the Pinnacle.
The efficacy of the Purple Cloud Pill, Won Se-mun's own diligently cultivated true energy, and Bu Eun-seol's Polar Reversal Ki had combined, allowing him to leap to a higher realm.
*Flash!*
When Won Se-mun finally finished his energy circulation, a sharp light shone from his eyes.
He sprang to his feet like a coiled spring and bowed his head.
"Thank you, my lord."
The martial artists of the Flower Rain Sword Sect were astonished to see Won Se-mun, who had been on the verge of death, not only recover his strength in an instant but also increase his power.
Bu Eun-seol looked at Uiji Hyesang and spoke coldly.
"I have received your lavish hospitality."
He then turned away with Won Se-mun.
"Leaving so soon?"
Uiji Hyesang quickly called out, as if unwilling to lose the upper hand.
"Since you've come all this way, let's at least share a drink."
"Had you treated him and shown him proper respect, that might have been possible."
Bu Eun-seol said flatly.
"Even when you beat a dog, you look at its master."
In truth, Bu Eun-seol had intended to speak at length with Uiji Hyesang as well.
But upon learning that he had been leading the Flower Rain Sword Sect all along and was responsible for Won Se-mun's condition, he knew one thing for certain.
Uiji Hyesang was an enemy.
No matter how polite his words and attitude, it was merely a facade to hide his true intentions.
In that case, there was no need to speak with him any further.
*Step, step.*
As Bu Eun-seol walked away without a backward glance, Uiji Hyesang's eyes curved into crescents.
"Having any luck finding the descendants of the Three Stars of the Eight Desolations?"
Bu Eun-seol's steps came to a halt.
The search for the descendants of the Three Stars of the Eight Desolations. That was something known only to Bu Eun-seol, his aides Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong, the other Grand Protectors, and the Ninth Killing Protector, So Ja-myeong.
How could Uiji Hyesang possibly know about this?
'Is there a spy?'
Bu Eun-seol's expression hardened slightly.
The six people, including Won Se-mun, were all individuals he trusted implicitly. But there was a spy among them?
'No, he could be trying to shatter our unity with information he stumbled upon by chance.'
Watching Uiji Hyesang's confident expression, Bu Eun-seol's mind raced at the speed of light.
The best way to break a solid organization is to infiltrate it from within.
Especially since suspicion, once planted, grows uncontrollably.
'You were too hasty, Uiji Hyesang.'
A cold smile formed on Bu Eun-seol's lips.
To deliberately throw out a piece of information that only he should know...
It was nothing more than a desperate attempt to create the illusion that he was in control of everything.
'An act like this only gives me a major clue.'
Bu Eun-seol was certain that the probability of a spy among the Grand Protectors was nil.
So for Uiji Hyesang to know this information meant that he was either one of the Three Stars of the Eight Desolations himself, or...
'Or the Flower Rain Sword Sect itself has been taken over by the descendants of the Three Stars.'
For seven hundred years since its founding by the First Ancestor, Jeok Hwa-un, the position of Sect Master had been passed down through the Jeok family.
But for the past three hundred years, members of the Uiji family had continuously held the position, and the sect's power had grown exponentially.
Given Uiji Hyesang's information network, he came to the conclusion that perhaps the descendants of the Sword Emperor, one of the Three Stars, had taken control of the Flower Rain Sword Sect.
"Uiji Hyesang."
Bu Eun-seol turned, a faint smile on his lips.
"Even someone like you can make a mistake."
Uiji Hyesang's information had always given him the upper hand over Bu Eun-seol.
He always spoke in riddles, sowing confusion in Bu Eun-seol's mind.
Most of it was information that Bu Eun-seol could not verify.
But this time, Bu Eun-seol had come prepared with several plans.
In the end, despite being on his home turf, Uiji Hyesang had not only failed to seize the initiative but had also let slip a careless remark out of impatience.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"If you don't, all the better."
Bu Eun-seol turned away, the corners of his mouth lifting.
He had visited the Flower Rain Sword Sect alone and gathered all the information he could, grasping the sect's internal situation.
Moreover, he had gained the intuition that Uiji Hyesang, or the Uiji family that controlled the sect, might be descendants of the Three Stars of the Eight Desolations.
But the Flower Rain Sword Sect had gained nothing from Bu Eun-seol.
"Well then."
With a look devoid of any lingering regret, Bu Eun-seol turned and left the Flower Rain Sword Sect.
"I admit I was outplayed this time."
Uiji Hyesang murmured with a crestfallen expression as he watched Bu Eun-seol's retreating back disappear into the distance.
"The card you played was something I could never have predicted."
Uiji Hyesang took a deep breath, and his eyes once again sparkled with a profound light.
"But this victory is a one-time thing... Soon enough, you will become my plaything."
A bright smile graced Uiji Hyesang's lips, and his eyes radiated a viscous energy that nothing could sever... and a bizarre heat.