Chapter 408
Chapter 408
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 408
Chapter Title: A Dying Wish
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After leaving the Martial Alliance, Bu Eun-seol immediately visited the Seoha Branch, which had reported the theft of Fire Crystals.
“The Apex Brigade? What’s that?”
However, the guards at the branch had no knowledge of the newly established Apex Brigade.
Not only had the news of the Apex Brigade’s creation not properly reached the branch, but Bu Eun-seol’s appearance and aura were also far too ordinary.
Even when he showed them the token symbolizing his rank as a Third-Grade Lieutenant, the guards’ faces were filled with suspicion.
Creak.
Just then, a door opened from within, and a middle-aged man in indigo clothes walked out, cupping his hands in respect toward Bu Eun-seol.
“Are you Lieutenant Seon-u, here from the Alliance to investigate the theft?”
The middle-aged man was Choi Seung, the Deputy Chief of the Seoha Branch.
“Yes, I am Seon-u Jin, in charge of the Apex Brigade.”
As Bu Eun-seol politely clasped his hands, Choi Seung returned the gesture.
“I am Deputy Chief Choi Seung. I have been ordered by the Branch Chief to assist with the investigation.”
He then extended a hand, guiding Bu Eun-seol.
“Please, come in. I will show you the way.”
“Thank you.”
Bu Eun-seol entered with a smile.
Before leaving for the martial world, he had issued a single order to his subordinates.
He had them send official dispatches through the Communications Hall to each branch, announcing his visit and requesting their cooperation.
‘If I hadn't sent a message ahead, I would’ve wasted a good while just arguing to get inside.’
If he were like Cheon Hwa-in, famous in the martial world and backed by the Martial Alliance… even as a Third-Grade Lieutenant, he would always receive a grand welcome.
But Bu Eun-seol had no backing and no reputation.
Furthermore, the Apex Brigade was a newly formed, Third-Grade unit of the Martial Alliance. If he hadn't sent the dispatch in advance, it might have been impossible to even conduct the investigation.
“How may I help you?”
At Choi Seung’s question, Bu Eun-seol replied.
“You just need to show me the warehouse where the Fire Crystals were stolen from.”
“Let’s go, then.”
Choi Seung led him to the Seoha Branch’s armory without hesitation.
Inside, he saw a spacious warehouse, about a third of which was empty.
Because the Seoha Branch was located deep within the Orthodox Faction’s territory, it had very few hidden weapons or firearms.
What little they had was so small in number that it seemed to be there just for show.
“It’s quite empty.”
“There’s no particular need to fill it.”
Choi Seung’s expression was filled with pride as he answered.
The Martial Alliance was an organization where the power of the Orthodox martial world was concentrated. He believed that no matter how audacious an individual or faction might be, they would never dare to attack a branch office.
‘What a mess.’
If this had been a branch of the Demonic Cult, not only Choi Seung but the Branch Chief himself would have been beheaded on the spot.
But the affairs of a Martial Alliance branch were none of his concern. Bu Eun-seol nodded with a faint smile.
“I see.”
“This is the storeroom where the Fire Crystals were kept.”
When Choi Seung unlocked a rusty iron door with a key, a stone chamber was revealed, with various metal boxes displayed inside.
There was one empty spot, which seemed to be where the Fire Crystals had been stored.
Bu Eun-seol stepped into the stone chamber and carefully examined the place where the Fire Crystals had been.
‘They’re worse than the constables at the local yamen.’
The interior was littered not only with traces left by the thief but also with what appeared to be marks left by the branch’s own investigators.
‘They even contaminated the footprints, which would have been the biggest clue.’
Bu Eun-seol gave a bitter smile.
It was because they had conducted their investigation in such a haphazard manner that they had been unable to find any solid traces of the thief until now.
‘Then again, they wouldn’t assign a competent investigator to a case like a simple Fire Crystal theft.’
Zzzing.
Bu Eun-seol immediately activated his Heart-Piercing Vision.
A white light emanated from his eyes, and various traces that were indistinguishable to the naked eye became clearly visible.
‘This is not the work of a professional thief.’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the traces left inside.
A thief audacious enough to break into a Martial Alliance warehouse was rare in the martial world. The most likely culprits would be professional thieves known as Divine Thieves.
But thieves called Divine Thieves each had their own special methods.
That was why, after a theft, Divine Thieves would meticulously erase all traces left at the scene.
But this place was teeming with countless tracks left by the culprit.
In other words, the one who stole the Fire Crystals was a novice with almost no experience in thievery.
‘A lone novice. This just got easier.’
Using his Heart-Piercing Vision, Bu Eun-seol stored the thief’s physical characteristics and habits, which he had gleaned from the warehouse, in his mind.
“I’ve seen enough. Thank you.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Choi Seung blinked, a look of bewilderment on his face.
“If you wish, I can show you the initial investigation reports from our branch.”
“No, that’s quite all right.”
Bu Eun-seol politely clasped his hands and said.
“I will be on my way now.”
Leaving the Seoha Branch, Bu Eun-seol immediately used his lightness technique and headed for the Hoehyeon Branch.
Judging by the traces left in the Seoha Branch warehouse, the one who stole the Fire Crystals was a martial artist with exceptional lightness techniques.
Despite being a novice with no experience in thievery, they had boldly infiltrated the Martial Alliance and stolen the Fire Crystals without hesitation.
And not long after that crime, they had hit the Hoehyeon Branch’s warehouse in quick succession.
After that, the thefts of Fire Crystals stopped. This meant that by investigating the Hoehyeon Branch, he could find out why the thefts had ceased.
“Excuse me.”
When he arrived at the Hoehyeon Branch, the General Manager, Master Bukdae, was there to greet him.
“Are you the young warrior Seon-u, Lieutenant of the Apex Brigade, dispatched from the Alliance?”
“I am.”
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands with a respectful demeanor and said.
“For the investigation, may I see the warehouse that was robbed?”
“I will guide you.”
Master Bukdae immediately led Bu Eun-seol to the warehouse.
‘This is different.’
Unlike the Seoha Branch, the Hoehyeon Branch was adjacent to the territory of the Demonic Cult.
Therefore, the armory stored a considerable amount of hidden weapons and armaments.
Moreover, the quantity of Fire Crystals stored here was dozens of times greater than at the Seoha Branch.
‘At least thirty geun.’
Gazing at the empty metal box, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
The amount of Fire Crystals stored at the Hoehyeon Branch was ten times more than at the Seoha Branch.
‘That’s why they stopped robbing Martial Alliance warehouses.’
Thirty geun of Fire Crystals was enough to cremate a thousand bodies at once.
The thief had stopped stealing because they had pilfered more than their target amount from the Hoehyeon Branch.
A glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes as he thoroughly scanned the inside of the warehouse with his Heart-Piercing Vision.
‘It’s the same method.’
The person who had broken into the Hoehyeon Branch armory was the same person who had robbed the Seoha Branch armory.
Approximately five feet eight inches tall. Not only were they skilled in lightness techniques, but they were also a master who had trained in a formidable hand or palm art.
After all, there were traces of the sturdy iron lock and the metal box being shattered by finger strength.
‘It seems they conducted a proper investigation here.’
Unlike the Seoha Branch, the thief’s traces inside the Hoehyeon Branch warehouse were well-preserved and untampered with.
Thanks to this, Bu Eun-seol discovered not only the culprit’s physical characteristics but also a very important clue.
‘On the run…’
A smile formed on Bu Eun-seol’s lips as he bent down to meticulously inspect the floor.
There, he found not only dirt but also minute traces of gravel and tree roots.
This meant the culprit was not staying in the city but was hiding deep in the mountains.
‘To be hiding in the mountains… that implies a large number of pursuers. In other words, they’re being chased by a martial sect or organization.’
But this raised another question.
Someone being pursued so relentlessly that they have to hide in the mountains decides, in the middle of all that, to rob a Martial Alliance armory?
Unless they had a death wish, it was something that simply shouldn't happen.
‘Then there’s only one reason.’
The culprit, even while being pursued, had a desperate reason to obtain the Fire Crystals—a reason they were willing to risk their life for.
‘Could the thief who stole the Fire Crystals and the murderer who burned the vagrants be different people?’
Bu Eun-seol had always thought there was a high probability that the culprit who stole the Fire Crystals and the murderer who burned the vagrants were one and the same.
But the thief was in a situation where they had to hide in the mountains to evade relentless pursuers.
And such a person took the Fire Crystals and used them to burn vagrants to death?
This was by no means the action of a fugitive being chased by a large number of pursuers.
‘No, I must keep all possibilities open.’
In the first place, robbing a Martial Alliance branch while on the run was not a normal act.
When investigating anything, one must always keep all possibilities open.
What if one arbitrarily closes off a certain possibility?
The conclusion of the deduction could be skewed in a completely wrong direction.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Having finally finished his investigation of the Hoehyeon Branch, Bu Eun-seol immediately sent letters to the Soul Devouring Brigade and the Apex Brigade.
—Investigate if any martial sects have dispatched large forces or pursuers.
Then, he rented a room at the busiest inn in the vicinity to rest.
A few days later, replies finally came from both sides.
“……”
Bu Eun-seol’s brow furrowed as he read the letters in his room.
Neither the Orthodox nor the Unorthodox Factions, nor any other sect, showed any signs of pursuing someone or mobilizing forces.
‘Does this mean they’re not from a Central Plains sect?’
Bu Eun-seol concluded that it was more likely the culprit was being chased by a sect from beyond the borders than that a sect had been overlooked.
‘I just don’t understand.’
According to the Martial Alliance’s investigation, the murderer who had been serially burning vagrants to death had used Fire Crystals.
But after investigating the two Martial Alliance branches, Bu Eun-seol judged the probability that the thief and the murderer were the same person to be slim.
This was because the thief was someone who was repeatedly hiding in the mountains to evade a large number of pursuers.
But what if the culprit was from a sect beyond the borders? What if there was a compelling reason they had to steal Fire Crystals and burn vagrants?
Perhaps they committed such acts despite the risk? That thought crossed his mind.
‘If they needed a large amount of Fire Crystals, they would have had no choice but to target the Martial Alliance branches.’
Fire Crystals, capable of generating intense heat in an instant, were extremely expensive items.
Due to their danger, they were not something one could purchase in large quantities on the open market, no matter how much money one had.
This meant the thief needed a large quantity of Fire Crystals, and targeting the Martial Alliance branches was an unavoidable choice.
‘There is a clear purpose. A reason why it must be done.’
Bu Eun-seol’s mind began to spin at the speed of light.
He realized that the culprit’s acts of stealing Fire Crystals and burning vagrants were not simple theft or thrill-killing.
They were actions carried out with a clear goal and purpose in mind.
‘In that case.’
Bu Eun-seol took out a map and spread it on the table.
‘If the one who stole the Fire Crystals also burned the vagrants to death… they would naturally have stolen the crystals first, then set the vagrants on fire.’
A glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes as he stared at the map for a long while.
“They’re moving south.”
Assuming the culprit was the same person, they had obtained Fire Crystals from the Seoha Branch and then went to a nearby vagrant village to commit the crime.
Next, they moved to the Hoehyeon Branch, and then again found a nearby vagrant village and committed a massacre.
Following that path, it was clear they were moving south, stealing Fire Crystals and burning vagrants.
“They won’t need any more Fire Crystals.”
Unlike the Seoha Branch, the amount of Fire Crystals stored at the Hoehyeon Branch was over thirty geun.
Now, the culprit would be looking for a place to safely burn vagrants while avoiding pursuers and other martial artists.
Lost in thought while looking at the map, Bu Eun-seol pointed to one spot.
Withered Village. It was a village similar to Myogaso, where sick and aging vagrants gathered.
It was a place rarely visited by people, making it perfectly suited for avoiding prying eyes.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed.
If his prediction was correct, the culprit would appear here.
***
Bu Eun-seol unleashed a gale-like lightness technique and immediately headed for Withered Village.
As he moved to the outskirts, far from the city, he saw small shacks and crumbling thatched houses.
It had the semblance of a village, but filth and trash were scattered everywhere.
Most of the vagrants were sitting listlessly, leaning against walls.
“May I ask you something?”
Bu Eun-seol approached an old man who looked relatively well-kept among the numerous vagrants.
“……”
But the old man’s eyes were unfocused as if he couldn’t see anything.
However, his body trembled constantly, suggesting he was afraid of Bu Eun-seol.
‘Strange.’
Vagrants of this age were usually not very afraid of martial artists.
Yet, the old man was trembling as if he had come face to face with a fearsome demon.
“Have you perhaps seen anyone suspicious around here?”
As Bu Eun-seol moved closer,
Drip.
The old man wet himself while still sitting. Not only that, but his body was shaking uncontrollably like a leaf in a storm.
It was an extremely abnormal reaction.
‘Could it be.’
Bu Eun-seol brought his face close to the old man’s and shouted.
“Where is he?”
“Ugh, ugh.”
“More people will die if you don’t answer.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s shout, the old man pointed a trembling hand towards a distant mountain.
Fwoosh!
Bu Eun-seol immediately launched his movement technique and headed towards the mountain the old man had indicated.
Even though he was using a technique from the manual given to him by the Divine Hermit, his body shot forward by dozens of feet with each step.
Vrooom! Krrrooom!
As he finally neared the forest, a low, ominous vibration echoed through the air.
Bu Eun-seol recognized it as the sound of powerful palm strikes imbued with immense internal energy.
Rustle.
Dashing deep into the forest in an instant, Bu Eun-seol arrived at a clearing where the vibrations originated.
There, a mountain of charred corpses was piled high.
And in front of it, a man in black with disheveled hair and a middle-aged man in beggar’s clothes were exchanging palm strikes at close range, locked in a fierce battle.
‘That man is?’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened as he recognized the face of the middle-aged man in beggar’s clothes.
It was none other than In-guk, the man who had taught him and Namgung Un martial arts when they had infiltrated the Beggars' Union.
Swoosh!
Just then, with a strange sound, white smoke began to rise from the hands of the man in black.
As the acrid smoke spread, In-guk panicked, and the rhythm of his palm strikes faltered.
The man in black seized the opening and unleashed a series of palm strikes.
Thud! Thud!
Struck twice in the chest, In-guk was sent flying, crashing into a large tree ten feet away.
“Stop!”
Bu Eun-seol shouted and instantly threw a dagger.
Flash!
The dagger was astonishingly fast and precise, embedding itself right in the center of the man’s chest.
Fwoosh!
But as if completely unharmed, the man launched himself into the air with his lightness technique and fled.
“You won’t get away.”
Just as Bu Eun-seol was about to give chase,
“Gack.”
A torrent of black blood began to pour from the mouth of In-guk, who was sitting slumped against the tree trunk.
“……”
Seeing this, Bu Eun-seol abandoned the pursuit.
In-guk was the most honest and sincere person Bu Eun-seol had known during his time in the Beggars' Union.
He couldn't just let such a man die.
“Are you alright?”
He immediately rushed to In-guk and injected his internal energy into his Yeongdae acupoint.
Vrooom!
As the pure energy of the Reversal Art flowed into him, the fallen In-guk’s eyes fluttered open.
“……!”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened as he assessed In-guk’s condition while infusing his energy.
In-guk’s meridians, struck by the man’s palm, had melted like taffy.
‘Ultimate Yang Power?’
The man in black had astonishingly used a palm strike containing Ultimate Yang Power, a force capable of melting even steel, which almost no one in the martial world had mastered.
Struck by the Ultimate Yang Palm, In-guk’s meridians had all been destroyed, and he was in a state where even the gods couldn't save him.
“Ugh…”
Was it a final rally before death?
As Bu Eun-seol continued to inject his Reversal Art energy, In-guk groaned and faintly opened his eyes.
“I’m already done for. Don’t waste your precious energy. Just go.”
Even while dying, In-guk was worried about Bu Eun-seol wasting his energy in vain.
“Who was that man?”
“I don’t know. He suddenly started capturing the vagrants of Withered Village one by one and burning them to death here.”
In-guk looked at Bu Eun-seol with faint eyes and said.
“Innocent, pitiful vagrants.”
He lowered his head, his eyes listless.
“I tried to stop him, but in the end, I wasn’t strong enough.”
“You seem to have learned martial arts. Why were you here?”
Bu Eun-seol was curious why In-guk, who had mastered the exceptional martial arts of the Beggars' Union, was staying in Withered Village and living with vagrants.
At that, a faint smile touched In-guk’s lips.
“I may have learned some martial arts in the past… but a beggar is still a beggar, isn’t he?”
When the Beggars' Union was sealed, In-guk eventually left.
He was a man who stayed true to the ways of a beggar.
He didn't sell his martial arts for money; instead, he picked up his begging bowl and went back to begging.
Wandering aimlessly, he eventually drifted to the vagrant village of Withered Village.
Although he could no longer find the comfortable sleep and warm food he had in the Beggars' Union… just being free from the bloody martial world brought him peace and happiness.
But when the strange man suddenly appeared and attacked the vagrants, In-guk had risked his life to save them.
“You have good eyes.”
“……”
“Not long ago, I taught a beggar who had clear eyes just like you.”
In-guk spoke with a pained expression.
“But, because he had stepped into this sinful martial world… I had to kill him with my own hands.”
Tears streamed from his eyes.
Even at the moment of his death.
The simple-hearted In-guk was still unable to escape the guilt and agony of having killed two innocent young beggars with his own hands.
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol said in a low voice.
“They didn’t die.”
“What do you mean…”
Crack.
He immediately used the Illusory Face Bone-Changing Art, transforming into the beggar he had been while infiltrating the Beggars' Union.
“Do you remember? I am that No Sam.”
In-guk rubbed his eyes.
“How… am I dreaming?”
“The truth is, I infiltrated the Beggars' Union under the identity of a Martial Alliance Lieutenant.”
Watching In-guk’s shocked expression, Bu Eun-seol couldn’t help but tell a white lie.
“I heard that the Beggars' Union was involved in unjust affairs, so I posed as a beggar for a while to investigate.”
“Investigate…”
“That’s right. My colleague who was with me is also safe.”
Tears of joy streamed from In-guk’s eyes.
He had been tormented by the guilt of killing two innocent beggars.
But to find out that both were alive and well, and that they were Lieutenants of the Martial Alliance?
As Bu Eun-seol showed him the same innocent eyes from his beggar days…
“I see. So that’s how it was.”
In-guk finally let go of all his pain, shedding tears of relief.
“What a relief…”
They were tears of joy and relief.
“Truly, what a relief…”
As In-guk continued to speak, the light in his eyes slowly faded.
He had been clinging to life only thanks to the Reversal Art energy.
His meridians were all severed by the Ultimate Yang Palm, and even his organs were cooked.
“Since you are a Lieutenant of the Martial Alliance…”
In-guk spoke in a low voice with a peaceful smile.
“Please, catch that murderer, so that no more innocent vagrants are sacrificed…”
Even as he was dying, he was worried about the innocent vagrants.
“…I leave the rest to you.”
With those last words, In-guk breathed his last.
A bright smile, like that of a Buddha, graced his lips.
In-guk, who had been a Hall Master of the Beggars' Union but had wished to live the simple and peaceful life of a beggar.
He had finally left the desolate martial world and found his peaceful rest.