Chapter 423
Chapter 423
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 423
Chapter Title: Absence and Opportunity
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“Ugh, this bastard! So damn loud!”
*Thud, thud, thud!*
A raspy curse, followed by a flurry of kicks, assaulted Mumu's ears as he slept soundly, lost in a dream.
When he opened his eyes, five or six beggars were stomping on him.
They were the gang of beggars who were supposed to be sleeping in Byeokgye Village.
“You son of a bitch! How are we supposed to sleep with you screaming like that?!”
Mumu had cried out loudly in the hovel, waking the gang of beggars.
Mumu curled into a ball and endured the kicks.
He didn't know why, but he was used to being beaten.
“Why the hell do you have these fits every night?”
After venting their anger with kicks for a while, the beggars, their fury seemingly subsided, stomped back to their spots.
“Mumu. You okay?”
Fatty came over to Mumu, who was covered in footprints, and let out a sigh.
“This is why I told you to try eating dog droppings.”
As Mumu screamed from his nightmares every night, Fatty had recommended dog droppings.
Beggars, unable to afford proper medicine, used dog droppings as a remedy.
White dog droppings were said to cure boils, while black dog droppings could relieve muscle knots and act as a detoxifier.
Fatty probably thought Mumu was talking in his sleep because he got beaten so often.
But Mumu, having no intention of eating dog droppings, always endured the beatings in silence.
“Anyway, I'm going back to sleep.”
As Fatty waved and left, Mumu squatted in front of the hovel and gazed at the distant sky.
Awakened from his sleep, his eyes reflected a deep pain.
He had the same dream every single night, without fail.
And he could never remember the end of the dream. Only a tormenting, endlessly lonely feeling would clutch at his heart.
*'Could this dream be my past?'*
If that really was me as a child... was I originally the scion of a noble family?
If so, that meant I once had parents who held me warmly and looked at me with loving eyes.
And that thought, paradoxically, made his heart ache even more.
Why did I lose my memories and end up living like this?
Who am I?
In the end, Mumu stayed awake all night, his face etched with anguish.
Whenever he woke from the dream, a terrible anguish and loneliness would wash over him.
And the pain would last until sunrise.
***
The atmosphere in the Hall of Shadows was unsettled.
Bu Eun-seol had not returned to the Demonic Cult for a long time.
The Hall of Shadows was, in a way, one and the same as Bu Eun-seol. With his prolonged absence, a sense of emptiness and anxiety was gradually amplifying.
“When in the world is the Lord coming back?”
Won Se-mun pouted as another Council of Grand Lords meeting proceeded without Bu Eun-seol.
“I don't think he's been away this long since he met that old man who throws rocks.”
The old man who throws rocks referred to King Tan.
At that, Jo Nam-cheon spoke up.
“You don't think something happened, do you? Shouldn't we call for the Grand Lord of the Four Souls?”
The other Grand Lords all nodded at his words.
Their expressions were uniformly weary and filled with worry.
Bu Eun-seol's long absence had caused morale to plummet.
“The Lord is on a secret mission.”
Yu Un-ryong said, as if he had no other choice.
“It's just a matter that must be handled with extreme secrecy, so he didn't inform you all.”
“A secret mission?”
Won Se-mun tilted his head.
“What kind of mission? And why did he only tell you, Grand Lord Yu?”
Everyone present looked puzzled.
Ever since the Hall of Shadows had stabilized, Bu Eun-seol had always discussed all missions with the Grand Lords.
Hiding a mission now? The Grand Lords couldn't help but find it strange.
“It's... a woman problem.”
Yu Un-ryong said with a dry cough.
“Whenever the Lord goes out into the world, he often ends up involved with various women, like with Young Lady Yeon. And this time... a rather troublesome situation has arisen, so he went to resolve it.”
“Ah.”
Only then did the Grand Lords of the Hall of Shadows all look as if they understood.
*—Of course. This is our Lord we're talking about.*
There are many famously handsome men in the martial world.
But it was rare to find a face like Bu Eun-seol's, where beauty and a deep masculinity coexisted.
Moreover, his aura was even more peerless.
There was no other handsome man who could capture one's very soul with just a glance.
“Must be tough. For our Lord, I mean.”
The Grand Lords all nodded at Won Se-mun's mumble.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, woman problems were like a well that never ran dry.
Just when he thought he'd solved one, another would arise.
“Wouldn't it be better to be average-looking like me? No troublesome business.”
At Won Se-mun's subsequent remark, the Grand Lords simultaneously shook their heads.
No matter how they thought about it, that just wasn't right.
“Well, if that's the case, it will probably take quite some time.”
Wi Cheon-gyeong shrugged and opened his mouth.
“Our Lord is skilled in everything else, but he's not very good at understanding the hearts of women.”
“True, that is the one thing he's worst at.”
The Grand Lords each chuckled and nodded.
As the conversation blossomed around the topic of Bu Eun-seol, the atmosphere in the meeting room became much lighter and more lively.
A smile on his lips, Yu Un-ryong organized the books he was holding and spoke.
“Well, then, that's all for today's meeting. Dismissed.”
The Grand Lords then left the meeting room, chattering boisterously once more.
Once the room was empty, Yu Un-ryong's hands, which had been organizing the books with a smile, came to a halt.
And his gaze turned infinitely dark.
*'I should have stopped him.'*
Yu Un-ryong, who had calmed the Grand Lords with a lie, was filled with bitter regret.
Hyeok-ryeon Eung was not only the Protector Hall Lord of the Demonic Cult, a position of supreme status,
he had also confidently used his identity as the Royal Teacher of the Wi Palace to lure Bu Eun-seol.
That meant he possessed enough power to discard both identities without hesitation.
Not only that, it also meant he possessed martial arts formidable enough to think nothing of summoning Bu Eun-seol alone.
*'Just because he's brilliant doesn't mean he always makes the right choice.'*
Yu Un-ryong bit his lip.
He shouldn't have let him go alone. No, he shouldn't have let him go at all.
He should have thoroughly investigated Hyeok-ryeon Eung first, then proceeded with caution.
Only after Bu Eun-seol's disappearance... did Yu Un-ryong fully realize his mistake.
*'How long can I keep this up?'*
He had managed to cover for now with a lie, but if this dragged on, his disappearance would eventually be exposed.
*'If something happens to you... what am I supposed to do?'*
*Creeak.*
Just then, the meeting room door opened, and a head with short, tousled hair poked in. It was Myo Cheon-u.
In an instant, Yu Un-ryong quickly composed his expression.
“What is it?”
“Hey, by the way.”
“Yes?”
Myo Cheon-u said with a disappointed look.
“When it comes to woman problems, aren't I the expert among the Grand Lords?”
“...”
“Next time something like that comes up, tell him to be sure to consult with me.”
“Stop talking nonsense and go. I'm busy.”
As Yu Un-ryong averted his gaze, Myo Cheon-u pouted and went back outside.
*'This is agonizing. I wonder if he felt the same.'*
It was almost certain that there was a spy among the Grand Lords of the Hall of Shadows.
And the most likely suspect was Myo Cheon-u.
Despite that, Bu Eun-seol had always acted calmly, without a single hint of suspicion.
*'No, this isn't the time for such thoughts.'*
Shaking his head, Yu Un-ryong steeled himself.
The priority right now wasn't to worry about Bu Eun-seol.
Managing the Hall of Shadows so that his absence wouldn't be felt was the first order of business.
*'At least it's a relief that Seo Jin-ha's training is complete.'*
Seo Jin-ha had finished his training much faster than expected.
And during Bu Eun-seol's absence, he was actively working as Seon U-jin, the Supreme Grand Lord of the Martial Alliance, steadily leaving a trail of deeds.
If Bu Eun-seol returned safely and resumed his activities as a Grand Lord of the Martial Alliance,
Seon U-jin would once again become Bu Eun-seol, leaving a trail as the heir to the Demonic Cult.
*'I can only hope Vice Grand Lord So finishes her training quickly.'*
According to Mu-heun, the Grand Lord of the Four Souls, So-yo not only possessed exceptional insight but also outstanding tracking skills.
However, for her, a former assassin, to become the Vice Grand Lord of the Soul-Searchers, a unit that managed field intelligence,
she not only had to be well-versed in the affairs of the Central Plains and information on key figures, but also had to acquire various skills and knowledge as an intelligence manager.
That was why it was taking much longer than expected.
If she could complete all her training and enter the martial world... she would somehow be able to find Bu Eun-seol's whereabouts.
*'Please, just come back safely. Bu Eun-seol.'*
In the past, Yu Un-ryong's most fervent wish was to become the greatest in the demonic path.
But since coming to the Demonic Cult, he had only one wish.
For Bu Eun-seol's safety and well-being.
***
Hellblood Fortress, Blood Phoenix Pavilion.
A long beaded curtain veiled the inside of the bedchamber, and leaning within was a massive shadow.
His skin glistened with a strange sheen, and his eyes sparkled like crystals.
An old demon, over ninety yet still vigorously active, single-handedly controlling Hellblood Fortress.
This was none other than the Lord of Hellblood Fortress, Gongya Geuk.
“Well, well, it's been a long time.”
Gongya Geuk, lounging languidly while smoking a long pipe, looked down and spoke.
Below the beaded curtain stood a masked figure, their mask shimmering with an eerie luster.
Clad in robes that were neither black nor gray, covering them from fingertips to toes, they looked from a distance like a lone shadow standing tall.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the busy Emissary of the Infinite Realm?”
Gongya Geuk, reminiscent of a great mountain, lay reclined, puffing out smoke intermittently.
The sight of him was like that of a colossal monster steeped in lethargy.
An ordinary person would not have been able to even meet his gaze, but the masked figure's eyes were, on the contrary, filled with stillness.
“It seems an opportunity has come to remove the Lord of the Martial Soul from his position as the Demonic Cult's heir.”
At those words, Gongya Geuk grinned.
“That doesn't seem like a matter for me to handle.”
“Wouldn't it be possible if the Lord of the Martial Soul were to disappear?”
“Hahaha. He's gone? Are you saying he's missing or something?”
As Gongya Geuk let out a low chuckle, the masked figure nodded.
“Precisely.”
“Hoh.”
Gongya Geuk let out a sigh.
“A dull joke.”
“He took matters into his own hands.”
Instantly, Gongya Geuk thought of someone.
A man who seemed fierce as a tiger at first glance, but whose eyes were full of the light of wisdom.
The Protector Hall Lord of the Demonic Cult, the Royal Teacher of the Wi Palace. And the one who held sway over the Infinite Realm.
“Him, you say?”
“Indeed. Because of him, the Lord of the Martial Soul suffered a fatal injury and fell from a ten-thousand-zhang cliff.”
“Hmm, a fatal injury... and missing?”
A sharp glint flashed through Gongya Geuk's eyes, which were curved like half-moons.
“Well, if he acted personally, not even the Lord of the Martial Soul's grandfather could have done anything about it.”
Then, as if a thought occurred to him, he grinned.
“But this 'missing' part bothers me. In the end, it means we don't know if the Lord of the Martial Soul is dead or not, right?”
The masked figure answered with an unconcerned expression.
“While the Lord of the Martial Soul is absent, you simply need to convene the Demonic Council and quickly obtain a majority vote. Wouldn't that settle it?”
“Hmm. How can I believe that he's missing?”
In truth, Gongya Geuk already knew Bu Eun-seol was missing.
He had many eyes and ears planted in the Demonic Cult.
Besides, just by looking at the recent atmosphere in the Hall of Shadows, it was easy to tell that something was wrong with Bu Eun-seol.
*Click.*
Instead of answering, the masked figure opened a box sitting on the table.
Inside was a sword, black from its blade to its hilt. It was Bu Eun-seol's beloved sword, the Ink Sword.
“You must know what a beloved sword means to a man like him.”
Gongya Geuk nodded.
The Lord of the Martial Soul might be a brilliant strategist, but he wasn't the type to use his own beloved sword as bait in some scheme.
The fact that the Emissary of the Infinite Realm had possessed his sword for so long, and he still hadn't retrieved it,
meant that he was truly missing or in a state from which he could not recover.
“Well, he did last a long time. Longer than expected.”
Gongya Geuk smiled, baring his teeth.
“Will you proceed?”
“Considering our long-standing friendship, I naturally should, but... there are some tricky parts.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn't the Lord of the Martial Soul a man who has the absolute support of three of the Ten Demonic Sects?”
He continued with a sly smile.
“We can set aside Nangya Pavilion, but the Garden of Boundless Idleness and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Extinguishing Sect support him with their lives.”
“...”
“With those two sects backing him up, the other sect leaders won't agree so easily.”
“You need not worry about that.”
A low, strange voice flowed continuously from behind the lustrous mask.
“The Garden of Boundless Idleness and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Extinguishing Sect will soon fall into ruin. As a result, even Nangya Pavilion's prestige will decline.”
“Hoh.”
Gongya Geuk's eyes sparkled.
“You mean you've already made your move against the Garden of Boundless Idleness and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Extinguishing Sect?”
The masked figure didn't answer the question and changed the subject.
“If you have doubts, watch how things unfold. You can proceed after you've judged the time is right. It matters not.”
Gongya Geuk's eyes curved into half-moons.
From his perspective, the masked figure's words were an excellent offer, one he couldn't find a single fault with.
“Very well.”
Upon hearing the reply, the masked figure nodded and slowly turned around.
Then, as if turning to mist, his entire form dissolved into particles and vanished like a ghost.
“Huhuhu.”
Gongya Geuk, who had been watching the masked figure disappear, nodded.
“They seem to be serious.”
And he opened his mouth, his voice low.
“The Lord of the Martial Soul. So there's still no sign of his return?”
In response to the quiet question, a respectful voice came from near the incense burner set up on the other side of the beaded curtain.
“It is certain. Such information has come out of the Hall of Shadows several times.”
“This will be interesting.”
Gongya Geuk took a deep drag from his pipe and said.
“First, let's enjoy the show as the Garden of Boundless Idleness and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Extinguishing Sect are ruined. After that, we shall pay a visit to the Demonic Cult.”
*Fwoosh.*
He exhaled enough white smoke to fill the room and continued speaking.
“It's high time we replaced the heir.”
The Infinite Realm has guaranteed it, so the Garden of Boundless Idleness and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Extinguishing Sect will fall to ruin.
All Gongya Geuk had to do was watch it happen, then quietly propose the motion for a council meeting.
While maintaining his neutrality, as always.
For the sake of Hyeok-ryeon Eung, the man of the Three Realms with whom he had always maintained a good friendship.