Chapter 384
Chapter 384
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 384
Chapter Title: The Devil's True Face
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At Jin-seol's completely unexpected appearance, even Shim Wol couldn't hide his surprise.
"You."
As Shim Wol's eyes widened, Jin-seol spoke in a calm voice.
"Don't sin any further."
"How..."
Shim Wol's eyes bulged as if in shock.
"How did you find out?"
"That's not important."
"I see."
Shim Wol spoke as if spitting the words out.
"The Lord of the Martial Soul Order, he must have told you, right? Did you investigate me with him?"
"Does it seem that way?"
"Are you saying no?"
"Yes."
"Then how did you track me?"
Jin-seol let out a sigh.
"I went to the Shadowless Pavilion."
After meeting with Bu Eun-seol, the place she had visited was none other than the Demonic Sanctum's top intelligence organization: the Shadowless Pavilion.
She had personally requested that the Lord of the Shadowless Pavilion look into Shim Wol's activities.
This was because she hadn't fully believed Bu Eun-seol's words. She had to see the truth about the man she had promised her future to with her own eyes.
"I know you took a drug that enhances your internal energy and killing intent."
Unlike her usual cold self, Jin-seol's eyes were filled with pity and sorrow.
"And that's why you're doing this."
Jin-seol did her best to persuade him.
"This fact alone is enough for your circumstances to be considered. I'll help you."
"Don't make me laugh."
Shim Wol let out a cold sneer instead.
"Even if my circumstances are considered, this is not a matter that can be overlooked. Not just you, but even if my master were to intervene... I'd still have to be locked away in the Bottomless Prison for at least ten years."
"I'll wait."
Jin-seol said calmly.
"I'll wait for you until then. So, let's go back together."
Shim Wol's gaze wavered.
Jin-seol was not a woman who expressed her emotions easily, nor did she ever speak empty words.
If she said she would wait, she would truly wait for him, whether it was ten years or twenty.
"Do you mean it?"
"Of course."
Jin-seol extended her hand with a pleading expression.
"Let's go back. It's not too late if we go now."
"Who says he gets to go back?"
At that moment, Baek Su-su shouted with a furious expression.
"Without my permission as the Sect Leader, you will never let that demon leave!"
"Sect Leader Baek."
Jin-seol spoke in a calm voice.
"I will resolve this entire matter. And I will compensate you for the deaths of your disciples. So..."
"With what can you possibly compensate for the lives of the dead!"
As Baek Su-su's voice grew louder, Jin-seol spoke firmly.
"Sect Leader Baek. If you provoke him, not a single disciple of the Clear Fragrance Sect will survive."
"If this sect were to tuck its tail and run at such a threat, we would have ceased to exist in the martial world long ago..."
Baek Su-su's words were cut short.
Float.
Because suddenly, her body and those of a dozen of her disciples lifted into the air.
"You really talk too much."
"Shim Wol!"
Jin-seol, flustered, reached her hand out to Shim Wol.
"Let's go back. I swear on my life that I will keep that promise."
For a moment, Shim Wol looked at her hand.
If he took that soft, warm hand, he could truly win her heart.
Although he wouldn't obtain the Heavenly Grandmaster's martial arts... he could have this beautiful woman's heart all to himself.
Shim Wol smiled.
And gave a completely unexpected answer.
"I refuse."
Crack.
Then, the body of one of the ten disciples floating in the air shattered like a reed,
Splat!
And the blood that gushed from her body instantly fell to the ground.
Thud.
Shim Wol clicked his tongue as he looked down at the disciple's corpse, which had become a round lump of flesh.
"Jin-seol. You're under a great delusion."
He scoffed, looking down at her.
"Just because people worship you, calling you the Flower of the Demonic Sanctum, do you think every man is in love with you?"
"..."
"Do you really think I pursued you because I genuinely liked you? What a joke!"
Shim Wol sneered as he spoke.
"It's just that the conditions you offered were favorable."
"Shim Wol."
"I practiced to death all this time just to win your heart."
Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the distant sky with an aggrieved expression.
"Your nanny who raised you, the maids who serve you. I won over all of them to understand your tastes and personality, and I made plans accordingly..."
Crack.
Shim Wol shattered the stone tile beneath his feet and spoke with eyes full of resentment.
"Just like a common gigolo!"
In that instant, a single tear fell from Jin-seol's eye.
Shim Wol might not have been the man of her dreams.
But he was kinder than anyone, with a gentle and warm personality. That was why she had intended to make him the greatest figure in the Demonic Path and live her life relying on him.
But all of that was just an act to obtain the Heavenly Grandmaster's martial arts?
"I see."
Jin-seol lowered her head.
Everything Bu Eun-seol had said was right.
Until now, she had been living in a dream, completely oblivious to the true nature of the wicked man named Shim Wol.
"Go ahead and call your helpers. I'll kill them all at once, too."
Shim Wol assumed that since Jin-seol had tracked him, she must have brought at least an elite unit from the Demonic Sanctum.
But an unexpected answer returned.
"There's no one."
Jin-seol lowered her head.
"If there were, I wouldn't have even thought of trying to persuade you like this."
She had genuinely believed she could persuade Shim Wol and had come alone.
From Shim Wol's perspective, it was a rather touching gesture, but he instead wore a sinister smile.
"Hahaha. Thanks to the naive little princess, this has become much easier."
Swoosh!
As he unleashed his power, another disciple floating in the air turned into a splash of blood and fell to the ground.
Shudder.
In that moment, despair filled Jin-seol's eyes.
She had risen to the rank of Sang-hwa, receiving the care and affection of the Demonic Sanctum's leaders.
But she was severely lacking in worldly experience and failed to properly judge people.
In the end, like a naive child, she had come to persuade him impulsively, without any proper plan.
'I should have listened to him from the start.'
Only then did Jin-seol realize why Bu Eun-seol had said what he did.
It wasn't because he was arrogant or certain of Shim Wol's character.
It was because there was no way for her to handle this alone... He had said those words out of concern for that very fact.
"Let me show you for real."
Shim Wol smiled and spread his arms wide.
"Just how great my power is!"
And without hesitation, he unleashed the killing intent and anger he had suppressed until now.
Boom!
A red light erupted, and an formless shockwave spiraled out around him.
He intended to fully unleash his ultimate arts to cruelly slaughter the Clear Fragrance Sect and Jin-seol.
***
Swish, swish.
Sitting in his office, Bu Eun-seol was continuously flipping through a booklet.
While he was away on his journey, Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong had managed the Four Shadows Hall perfectly.
And now that he was back in the Demonic Sanctum, he was taking over the duties they had handled.
'I think I can start stepping away soon.'
Bu Eun-seol nodded as he looked at the booklet.
When Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong worked together, the result was no different from when he managed it himself. That was how well the two were managing the Four Shadows Hall.
'Enough to even keep the Martial Soul Order running smoothly.'
Bu Eun-seol wore a satisfied smile.
The time was gradually approaching when he could completely step away from the Demonic Sanctum's affairs, moving only the intelligence organizations or journeying through the world as he pleased.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock on the door was followed by Yu Un-ryong's voice.
"It's Yu Un-ryong."
"Come in."
The door opened, and Yu Un-ryong entered, hesitating as he saw Bu Eun-seol.
"What is it?"
"Well... even as your aide, this feels like I'm overstepping my bounds. I tried not to worry about it, but."
"What are you talking about?"
"You went to the Sang-hwa Jin-seol and told her everything, didn't you?"
Yu Un-ryong hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I thought that suddenly casting Shim Wol into the abyss would put her in a difficult position."
"I did."
"I knew it. I thought so."
Yu Un-ryong said with a serious expression.
"I've felt this for a while, but... you're good at figuring everything out, but you seem particularly bad at understanding a woman's heart."
"What do you mean?"
"You thought you were being considerate to the Sang-hwa Jin-seol. But for women, it's different. She probably felt even more insulted."
"..."
"Moreover, women value their reputation and face. Sometimes more than their own lives."
In that instant, an ominous thought flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"Don't tell me."
"Yes."
Yu Un-ryong said with an incredibly dark expression.
"The Sang-hwa Jin-seol has left the Demonic Sanctum, tracking Shim Wol's movements."
Thud.
Bu Eun-seol immediately shot up from his seat.
Jin-seol was not only brilliant strategically, but she also maintained close relationships with the leaders of the Demonic Sanctum.
Therefore, he had trusted that she wouldn't act rashly or do something foolish.
But there was something Bu Eun-seol had overlooked.
Before she was the Sang-hwa of the Demonic Sanctum, she was an ordinary woman who cared about the opinions and reputation of others.
"Where did she go?"
"I don't know. But."
Yu Un-ryong took a deep breath and said.
"Just in case, I asked the Four Souls Brigade to track her whereabouts. This is also overstepping, but..."
"You did well."
Bu Eun-seol gripped Yu Un-ryong's shoulder.
Swoosh!
In the next moment, he unleashed his movement technique and burst out the door.
'You've made the worst possible choice, Sang-hwa Jin-seol.'
Leaping into the air and instantly leaving the Demonic Sanctum behind, Bu Eun-seol shouted in his mind.
'I hope I'm not too late!'
***
"I'll kill you in an instant!"
Wrapped in a bloody glow, baring his fangs with a grin, Shim Wol looked like a demon ready to swallow a person whole.
Swish!
Just then, with a sound of slicing air, two brilliant streaks of light shot from Baek Su-su's hand as she floated in the air.
While Shim Wol was distracted, she had quickly thrown the daggers hidden in her robes.
Ping.
However, one of the daggers was deflected harmlessly by the shockwave emanating from Shim Wol's body.
Thwack.
But the other dagger lodged itself in Jin-seol's shoulder.
Baek Su-su had aimed one dagger at Shim Wol and the other at Jin-seol.
Drip, drip.
Blood flowed out, but Jin-seol couldn't feel the pain.
He was once the man she had loved.
But in reality, it had all been an act, and he was a demon who slaughtered innocent people.
"Yes. That expression..."
Seeing Jin-seol's heartbroken face, sparks flew in Shim Wol's eyes.
"You always made that face when you looked at *him*!"
As his anger and killing intent amplified, a red haze began to rise from his body.
There were three hundred disciples in the Clear Fragrance Sect, but not a single one dared to attack him.
Even their Sect Leader, Baek Su-su, was still floating helplessly in the air, wasn't she?
"Kill me first."
Jin-seol walked in front of Shim Wol and said defiantly.
"I came here with that intention anyway."
Shim Wol's gaze wavered slightly.
Her noble eyes, unwavering even in the face of death. Her pure, elegant, and radiant appearance and demeanor.
It was a beauty so profound it could shatter even his heart, which was stained with cruelty.
'I was half-sincere, too.'
His claim that he had approached her only for the Heavenly Grandmaster's martial arts was a lie.
If that were the case, he would never have accepted Jeok-bung's plan.
Jin-seol, whom he had met coming and going in the Demonic Sanctum.
She was so beautiful that Shim Wol, too, had harbored feelings for her all along.
If he hadn't taken the artificial internal elixir, if he had been able to control his killing intent... he would have chosen Jin-seol without hesitation.
'What if I just left the martial world with her?'
For a moment, a clear thought returned to Shim Wol, and he felt conflicted.
He had massacred countless commoners and martial artists; the situation was irreversible.
But what if he gave up everything and left the martial world with Jin-seol? If he gave it all up, wouldn't she truly follow him?
'Perhaps.'
Shim Wol took a deep breath and approached Jin-seol.
What if she accepted his proposal? If they could leave everything behind and go away together...
He, too, was willing to abandon all his ambitions.
But then, something completely unexpected happened.
Stab!
As Shim Wol drew near, Jin-seol, who had seemed to have given up on everything, drew her sword like lightning and stabbed him in the neck.
It was so fast that even though Shim Wol's eyes were open, he couldn't avoid it.
This single strike was from the Fleeting Note's Zenith Strike, a one-hit-kill swift sword technique that the Heavenly Grandmaster had taught her for her own protection.
"So, it ends like this."
Shim Wol looked down at the sword embedded in his neck.
"Nothing ever goes my way."
A red mist rose not only from his body but also from his eyes.
Crack.
With the sound of bones snapping, his body grew slightly larger, and a red mist spread from his entire being.
As the last thread of reason that had been swayed by Jin-seol's heart snapped, he had become a true Great Demon.
Clatter.
Simultaneously, the blade of the sword embedded in his neck shattered like a cracker.
"When you master the Heaven-Shattering Extreme Wheel, you become cloaked in a protective energy that no external force or attack can penetrate."
Jin-seol's sword had failed to pierce the power of the Heaven-Shattering Extreme Wheel surrounding his body and had simply shattered.
With the entire blade shattered, it only looked as if the sword had been plunged into his neck up to the hilt.
"I'll kill you last."
Flick.
Shim Wol flicked a blast of wind, striking the pressure points below Jin-seol's neck.
Her head could still move, but the rest of her body below the neck was completely paralyzed, rendering her immobile.
Float.
At the same time, one of the disciples floating in the air moved to a position above Jin-seol's head.
And Shim Wol used his power again.
Crunch. Splat!
The disciple's body crumpled like paper, and a waterfall of blood poured out.
Right onto the head of the paralyzed Jin-seol.
"I'll pour the blood of all three hundred disciples of the Clear Fragrance Sect here. All of it, onto your body."
Despite the horrific words, the disciples of the Clear Fragrance Sect couldn't move a single finger.
This place was already hell, and Shim Wol was the demon king who ruled it.
Splat!
He waved his hand again, and another Clear Fragrance disciple's body contorted, spewing blood.
But the look in the paralyzed Jin-seol's eyes did not change.
"Is it still not enough to kill that arrogant look in your eyes?"
Splat! Clatter!
Shim Wol cruelly murdered another disciple above her head.
Jin-seol's hair was soaked in thick blood, and her entire body was covered in bodily fluids and pieces of internal organs.
Yet, she showed no sign of being broken or terrified, staring straight at Shim Wol.
"Impressive. Yes, I suppose that's why you're a Sang-hwa."
Any ordinary woman would have lost her mind in this situation, but Jin-seol stood tall without even closing her eyes.
"Alright, I've had a more interesting idea."
Shim Wol gave a cruel smile to Jin-seol, who was glaring at him with cold eyes.
"If I use the power of the Heaven-Shattering Extreme Wheel to disrupt your brain meridians, you'll become an idiot."
Thump, thump.
"Even the Heavenly Grandmaster won't be able to figure out why your brain meridians were damaged."
Rip.
He approached Jin-seol, tore the clothes on her shoulder, and smiled cruelly.
"You were violated here by the Shadowless Killer Demon, and the shock turned you into an idiot. And I will proceed with our marriage as planned."
Shudder.
Jin-seol trembled with rage at Shim Wol's vile plan.
He intended to rape her, turn her into an idiot... and then proceed with the marriage as planned.
He would pretend to be a devoted man who loved his partner to the end, even after she had suffered such a terrible ordeal.
If he did that, the Heavenly Grandmaster would have no choice but to give him the martial arts manual.
"I suppose we'll have to have our wedding night here first."
Shim Wol smiled as he looked around at the frozen, trembling Baek Su-su and her disciples.
"But first, I'll take care of all of them."
Clear tears flowed from Jin-seol's eyes as she looked at him.
It was a mixture of fear for what was to come and regret for her foolish past.
And the face of a certain man appeared in her mind.
'Was it a mistake to hide my heart?'
Jin-seol was fiercely proud.
Especially since the spouse she would spend her life with was worthy of receiving the Heavenly Grandmaster's martial arts.
Therefore, she had believed that Bu Eun-seol would surely propose to her.
But as time passed, she realized it was a foolish delusion.
Bu Eun-seol.
That steadfast man wouldn't give her a second glance, not for the Heavenly Grandmaster's arts, not even for the greatest martial arts in history...
He would never enter a marriage just to get what he wanted.
Like a true seeker of the path.
He would walk his own road, striving and striving again.
'So I made a different choice.'
Unlike Yeon So-ha of the Divine Maiden Palace, Jin-seol had no intention of clinging to Bu Eun-seol.
She didn't want to express her inner feelings and beg for love like they did.
'Because I didn't want to hold onto someone who didn't love me.'
Instead, she tried her best to forget Bu Eun-seol.
And in the end, she promised her future to Shim Wol, who treated her so well. That's how she tried to forget him.
But only now did she realize.
She had just been afraid of rejection and had not been honest with her feelings.
She, too, had wanted to express her heart and wait for him, just like Yeon So-ha, just like Dan So-ok.
'But now, it's all over.'
Giving up on everything, Jin-seol closed her eyes.
CRACK!
But just then, the sound of a thunderbolt came from the distant sky.
It was the sound of an explosion, of compressed air bursting, from something moving at an incredible speed.
BOOM!
With the sound of another thunderclap, a gray bolt of lightning that had been tearing through the sky instantly landed opposite Shim Wol.
Crackle.
The shadow that fell from the sky had moved with such incredible speed that its clothes were tattered, and its entire body sparked with the shockwaves of internal energy.
But its eyes were full of spiritual energy, and an unapproachable dignity flowed from its entire being.
It was Bu Eun-seol.