Chapter 427
Chapter 427
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 427
Chapter Title: The First Step
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Bu Eun-seol traversed the open air, his movement technique like that of a divine dragon.
Too much time had passed while he had lost his memories. There must have been no small number of changes during that period.
From now on, he had to set things right again, as quickly as possible.
*Swish! Thud!*
But suddenly, Bu Eun-seol halted his movement, coming to a stop atop a cliff in the mountains.
He felt an extreme sense of confusion due to a memory that had abruptly surfaced.
‘I had parents, too!’
A dream he had dreamt countless times while living as the beggar, Mumu, with his memories gone.
It was a memory that had been cleanly erased.
A memory of his childhood.
‘I was born into a wealthy family, with parents who loved me!’
To think he had considered himself an abandoned orphan.
In reality, he had been showered with love and had grown up in an exceptionally prosperous household.
But why?
Why did the manor suddenly go up in flames, and why was he evacuated?
Could it be that they had committed treason?
‘I’m so curious… what kind of people my parents were.’
Though they were from a dream, and he couldn't even see their faces.
He could feel that they were endlessly kind and of excellent character. Just like his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang.
But why? Why did they have to go through such a thing?
Why were his memories erased?
After falling into the Myriad Fathom Cliff while partially consumed by the Soul-Devouring Art of the Void Spirit, he had managed to regain some of his childhood memories.
But that was all.
He couldn't remember anything after that. On the contrary, the more he tried to think, the more the memories from the dream seemed to vanish like foam.
—If you learn martial arts, this great art will one day be broken.
‘Why won’t my memories return?’
Bu Eun-seol's current martial prowess was beyond question, and he had created an infinite spiritual barrier through the opening of his spiritual channels, but…
Even so, the great art was not broken, and he could not restore his memories.
Was it because he had not yet reached the Supreme Realm, which could cause ‘phenomena’?
‘The father I saw in my dream… was by no means a weak man.’
There was no such thing as a great art of memory erasure in the martial world.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, his father's martial might was unfathomable. That is, it was at a level he couldn't dare to measure with his imagination.
So why was his name not known?
Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
‘Even if my memories don’t return… I wish I could just see their faces.’
No matter how hard he tried to remember.
Even within that dream… he could not see his parents' faces clearly.
Bu Eun-seol found that incredibly agonizing.
‘Can I find them?’
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
His appearance in the dream.
He was a bright child of about five or six years old.
That meant the burning of the manor must have occurred sometime between twenty and thirty years ago.
Furthermore, his father, despite possessing immense martial prowess, seemed to live like a scholar, hiding his identity…
He had even said that he had failed to protect his family due to his lack of ability.
‘The Three Realms!’
Bu Eun-seol’s gaze turned leonine.
In the end, besides the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors… who else possessed such power but the Three Realms?
‘If the Three Realms deliberately eradicated the facts of this matter…’
The intelligence network of the Three Realms far surpassed that of the righteous and demonic factions. If they were determined to hide information?
Even if he mobilized every intelligence organization… could he find an incident that occurred twenty, no, thirty years ago?
Especially without any specific clues.
‘No matter how much time it takes, I will find them!’
Bu Eun-seol vowed as he looked at the distant sky.
He then took several deep breaths to sort out his chaotic mind.
‘For now, I’ll do what needs to be done.’
Unleashing his movement technique once more, Bu Eun-seol entered Chengdu in an instant.
He sent a letter to someone through a very secretive method.
It was the very first step in setting right the things that had happened in his absence.
* * *
*Clatter, clatter.*
A carriage that had departed from the Demonic Palace was running without rest.
After several days of travel, the carriage arrived at a safe house of the Demonic Palace, secretly established in the Xiangtan region.
*Clunk.*
As the carriage stopped, a figure hastily disembarked and scurried towards the safe house.
It was Yu Un-ryong.
‘Please, please…’
Entering the safe house, he panted as he looked at the firmly shut door.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the door to the safe house.
There, a man of handsome features, dressed in white, stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
It was his dear friend and superior, the one he had longed to see even in his dreams. Bu Eun-seol.
“Bu Eun-seol!”
Yu Un-ryong shouted unconsciously, pulling him into a fierce embrace.
‘Gods of heaven and earth, thank you!’
He cried out in his heart over and over again.
All this time, he had prayed to the gods every single day without fail.
Take my life if you must, but please protect his. Please, just ensure Bu Eun-seol’s safety…
And finally, the gods had answered his prayers.
Perhaps Bu Eun-seol felt Yu Un-ryong’s heart?
*Squeeze.*
Bu Eun-seol also hugged Yu Un-ryong back with all his might.
“What on earth happened? Why did you stage something like this?”
Yu Un-ryong said, swallowing the intense emotions that were bursting forth.
“There really were traces of you falling from the Myriad Fathom Cliff! The warriors from Prince Wei’s manor were even tracking the area. What happened?!”
“Un-ryong, calm down.”
Bu Eun-seol said with a smile, patting his shoulder.
‘Un-ryong?’
Yu Un-ryong blinked.
Although Bu Eun-seol was warm-hearted on the inside, his exterior was a block of ice.
But to smile so brightly and call him ‘Un-ryong’?
“Are you… are you okay?”
“Of course. Though for a while, I was living… as if I wasn't myself.”
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and smiled.
“Still, that too was a part of me.”
Yu Un-ryong blinked his eyes.
He didn't know what had happened during that time.
But Bu Eun-seol’s aura had become much gentler.
Moreover, dressed in white, unlike his usual attire, he could have been mistaken for a righteous warrior at first glance.
“So… you’re really okay?”
“I am.”
Fortunately, his voice wasn't warm or gentle.
If it had been, Yu Un-ryong would have definitely lifted Bu Eun-seol’s lips to check if he was wearing a disguise.
“What in the world happened? Hall Master Hyeokryeon. What did that son of a bitch do?”
Bu Eun-seol said bitterly.
“Hall Master Hyeokryeon was the Phantom King's master. Moreover, he even used the Aura of the Flame Emperor.”
“What?”
“In the end, I had no way to break his Ten Great Illusory Arts, so I had no choice but to throw myself off the Myriad Fathom Cliff.”
Bu Eun-seol let out a deep sigh as if remembering that moment.
“Judging by his martial prowess, Hall Master Hyeokryeon is probably not from the Azure River Realm. He must be the master of the Infinite Realm, or a key figure within it.”
He calmly explained the situation when he met Hyeokryeon Eung.
Yu Un-ryong’s mouth gradually fell open as he listened quietly.
Hyeokryeon Eung, who held the dual identity of the Grand Protector of the Demonic Palace and the Royal Tutor of Prince Wei’s manor.
To think he was actually a terrifying master against whom even Bu Eun-seol could not resist.
“Are you saying he’s also a master of the Supreme Realm, though it wasn’t known to the world?”
“I don’t know. Whether that was a phenomenon of the Supreme Realm, or a power that transcends the boundaries of martial arts.”
“This is insane.”
Yu Un-ryong’s mouth hung open.
“How can there be so many masters in the martial world? Honestly, isn’t this just ridiculous?”
The Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors, the Three Demons and Three Honored Ones.
It was known that there were no other masters of the Supreme Realm in the martial world besides them.
But due to the secret organization called the Three Realms and the mysterious figures belonging to its forces.
That common sense was being completely shattered.
“What’s certain is that Hall Master Hyeokryeon uses a unique mind-affecting art that no one can stand against. He might be a descendant of the Illusory Star among the descendants of the Eight Desolations, Three Stars.”
“The Illusory Star?”
“Yes. The martial arts of the Eight Desolations, Three Stars have so far displayed incredible power that transcends martial cultivation levels.”
The martial arts of the Eight Desolations, Three Stars were not constrained by cultivation levels.
In other words, it was possible to think that the phenomenon caused by Hyeokryeon Eung’s mind-affecting art was not because he had reached the Supreme Realm, but due to the inherent nature of such martial arts.
“Anyway… I’m glad.”
Yu Un-ryong let out a sigh of relief.
“If your return had been even a little later, an irreversible situation would have occurred.”
“Irreversible?”
“That old monster, Castle Lord Gongya, submitted a motion to the Demonic Council to have you removed from the position of successor.”
Yu Un-ryong said, gritting his teeth.
“And the Willow and Water Pavilion is on the brink of an irreversible situation due to internal division. Also, the Heaven-Severing Earth-Annihilating Sect has suffered many casualties from attacks by the Soulless Ones.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened.
He had only sent information to Yu Un-ryong as soon as he regained his senses.
He hadn’t looked into the situation during his absence. To think that so many incidents had occurred in that time.
“Tell me in detail.”
“So…”
Yu Un-ryong explained the entire situation to Bu Eun-seol in detail.
After explaining for a quarter of an hour, Yu Un-ryong spoke in a low voice.
“In conclusion, that’s what happened.”
After hearing the whole story, Bu Eun-seol’s gaze deepened.
In truth, he had learned martial arts and entered the martial world to avenge his grandfather.
And he had risen to a high position.
But because of that, many individuals and factions had come to trust and follow him.
And he had repeatedly clashed with the organization called the Three Realms, and in the end… they had extended their evil influence not only to him but also to the factions that followed him.
“First, I’ll announce your return through the various intelligence organizations. That should naturally resolve everything.”
After some thought, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“No, it would be better to remain missing for a while.”
“What?”
“If I announce that I’ve returned, they will quickly clean up what they’ve done and withdraw.”
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
“They need to believe I haven’t returned yet. That will make it easier to resolve what has happened.”
“Resolve things…”
“The Willow and Water Pavilion and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Annihilating Sect.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“First and foremost, those two places must be normalized. Only then will I be able to mount some defense regarding the Demonic Council.”
“Hmm.”
Yu Un-ryong, faintly grasping Bu Eun-seol’s plan, nodded.
“I see what you mean. Let’s do that.”
If they knew Bu Eun-seol was safe, they would change their plans again.
It would be far better to maintain his missing status and work secretly to resolve matters.
* * *
Female martial arts sects had, for generations, served as stepping stones for more powerful sects.
But the Willow and Water Pavilion, through immense wealth and exchanges with both righteous and demonic sects, had secured a position among the Ten Demonic Sects despite being a female sect, standing tall in the martial world.
Yu Su-ryeon.
She was the Head of the Flower Willow Courtyard of the Willow and Water Pavilion and a figure who had served the sect loyally for a long time.
But with Bu Eun-seol’s appearance, she had become dissatisfied with the Willow and Water Pavilion, or rather, with its leader, Geuk Hye-ryeong.
Because of his appearance.
The path of the Willow and Water Pavilion, which had always avoided men and solved everything on its own, had completely changed.
—Why did the Sect Leader fall for that young man and pour our blood-and-sweat money into the Wolf Fang Pavilion and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Annihilating Sect?
From her perspective, ever since they met the man named Bu Eun-seol.
The Willow and Water Pavilion had voluntarily become slaves to the Wolf Fang Pavilion and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Annihilating Sect.
They had generously poured vast sums of money into them and even shared their intelligence corps and network, which could be called their core strength.
Of course, it was true that through their exchange with the Wolf Fang Pavilion and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Annihilating Sect, they had obtained martial arts sufficient to protect the sect on their own.
But that alone was not reason enough to provide such immense financial power and intelligence.
—The Willow and Water Pavilion must change.
At that moment, an unexpected person appeared before Yu Su-ryeon.
He said he was the Third Emissary of the Infinite Realm.
A figure from the Three Realms, said to be a commander of the force that manipulated various factions and powers, had approached her.
—An emissary of the Infinite Realm?
The Willow and Water Pavilion had long served as Bu Eun-seol’s eyes and ears, so they were well aware of information regarding the Three Realms.
But for an emissary of the Infinite Realm, which was predicted to be involved in Bu Eun-seol’s disappearance, to appear before her?
—This Realm will be your backer so that you may become the leader of the Willow and Water Pavilion.
It was a surprising turn of events.
The Three Realms, the mysterious organization that had long stirred the martial world, was offering to make her the leader?
—What do you want from me?
—Nothing. If I had to say something, it would be for the Willow and Water Pavilion to return to its old ways.
Furthermore, the emissary of the Infinite Realm made a proposal that was to Yu Su-ryeon’s liking and came at no loss to her.
—Pouring financial power into the likes of the Wolf Fang Pavilion or the Heaven-Severing Earth-Annihilating Sect to expand their influence is by no means beneficial from this Realm’s perspective.
Yu Su-ryeon nodded as if in agreement.
The Three Realms and Bu Eun-seol were constantly clashing. Therefore, that statement was likely true.
—Are you sure there is nothing else you want?
—Does the Willow and Water Pavilion have anything superior to this Realm?
That was true.
The financial power and intelligence network of the Three Realms were beyond the level of a single sect.
They had the power to either wipe out a sect entirely or rebuild it in an instant.
—Very well.
In the end, Yu Su-ryeon joined hands with them.
Although she had joined hands with an external force, she felt righteous.
It was not for personal gain, but for the sake of the Willow and Water Pavilion’s future—a righteous cause.
That was why she had been able to easily win over the disciples who were dissatisfied with Geuk Hye-ryeong’s policies.
Jade Compassion Fragrance.
A brothel in Wuchang, it was the most magnificent in scale among all the brothels under the Willow and Water Pavilion.
Splendid buildings were erected within a wall that encircled it like a castle.
And inside, it was filled with courtesans who possessed both beauty and talent, and dignitaries from all walks of life enjoying fine wine and delicacies.
The Willow Flower Courtyard.
That was where Yu Su-ryeon, the head of the Jade Compassion Fragrance and an elder of the Willow and Water Pavilion, resided.
Sitting at the desk in her office, Yu Su-ryeon suddenly caught her reflection in the bronze mirror to her left.
An aquiline nose and eyes that were extremely down-turned, a look that anyone would see as stubborn.
‘Hmph.’
But Yu Su-ryeon was pleased with her appearance.
Because soon, this face would be that of the leader guiding the Willow and Water Pavilion.
“Courtyard Head.”
At that moment, the door to the inner chamber of the Willow Flower Courtyard opened, and a woman in a colorful dress entered and bowed her head.
It was Yu Su-ryeon’s trusted subordinate, Ok-cheong.
“This is the settlement amount for this month.”
“Mm.”
Yu Su-ryeon nodded as she took the ledger from Ok-cheong.
“Good.”
“And also.”
Ok-cheong hesitated for a moment before carefully opening her mouth.
“I believe the Sect Leader has noticed.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Sect Leader has summoned all the mistresses operating True-grade brothels in the Jiangnan area to the main pavilion in Gyerim.”
“I’ve heard.”
“In that case… shouldn’t we try to win them over quickly as well?”
Yu Su-ryeon, who was looking at the ledger, shook her head.
“The mistresses over there are the Sect Leader’s loyalists anyway. They won’t listen even if we try to persuade them, so don’t worry about it.”
“Will you be alright? It seems the Sect Leader is about to take direct action.”
When Ok-cheong made a worried expression, Yu Su-ryeon let out a low snort.
“It’s something we have to face once anyway. If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have started in the first place.”
Yu Su-ryeon said in a low voice.
“And completely close down the Jade Compassion Fragrance within five days.”
“Pardon?”
“The masters from the Wolf Fang Pavilion will swarm here by then.”
“The Wolf Fang Pavilion… you say?”
Ok-cheong wore a fearful expression.
There were no ordinary disciples in the Wolf Fang Pavilion.
Each of them was a master capable of taking on a hundred foes, and a group of just twenty or thirty could easily wipe out a small sect.
“There was no hint of such a thing in our pavilion’s intelligence network.”
“Huhu. How can you compare our pavilion’s intelligence network to the intelligence power of the Infinite Realm?”
Yu Su-ryeon closed the ledger and looked at Ok-cheong.
“She must have sent the forces of the Wolf Fang Pavilion with the intention of avoiding bloodshed among disciples. She probably thought we would naturally surrender if she did that.”
“…”
“But the Sect Leader has made the worst possible choice.”
The Black Book, which could be said to be the core of the Willow and Water Pavilion’s power, was already in her hands.
In the end, an action like this would only provide a justification for bringing in an external force.
While Yu Su-ryeon was smiling,
*Rustle, rustle.*
The sound of hurried footsteps was heard, along with a low voice.
“Courtyard Head, it’s Hwa-yeong.”
“Enter.”
The door opened, and a woman who appeared to be a young maid bowed her head.
“There’s big trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“The Wolf Fang Pavilion has dispatched masters. They will likely arrive here in five days at the earliest.”
At that, Ok-cheong looked at Yu Su-ryeon with a surprised expression.
“I understand. You may leave.”
After Hwa-yeong left, Ok-cheong asked.
“Summoning the masters of the Wolf Fang Pavilion, doesn’t that mean they will pursue us to the end, even if we close the brothel?”
The masters of the Wolf Fang Pavilion not only possessed excellent martial arts but also had keen senses, making them highly skilled in tracking.
To summon the forces of the Wolf Fang Pavilion of all places?
It could be a sign of Geuk Hye-ryeong’s will to pursue the traitors to the very end.
“That’s right. But the only one they will pursue to the end is me, this Courtyard Head.”
Yu Su-ryeon picked up the teacup on the table with a leisurely motion.
“What they want is not the slaughter of the disciples, but the Black Book that I possess.”
“I see.”
Ok-cheong nodded.
Thinking about it, given the Sect Leader’s personality, she wouldn’t have summoned the masters of the Wolf Fang Pavilion to slaughter the disciples of the Willow and Water Pavilion.
In other words, if Yu Su-ryeon slipped away, the Sect Leader would be left with no options.
“Prepare the carriage.”
At Yu Su-ryeon’s command, Ok-cheong bowed her head.
“Yes.”
*Clatter, clatter.*
A carriage parked at the Jade Compassion Fragrance was traveling down the moonlit official road.
Inside the carriage, Yu Su-ryeon gazed at the night sky with a relaxed expression.
Even if all the masters of the Wolf Fang Pavilion came out to pursue her, she was not afraid.
The Three Realms did not reveal themselves, but their power and influence were arguably the greatest in the martial world.
Having grasped the line they had extended, she had nothing to worry about.
“In any case, he who follows the tide is a hero.”
Yu Su-ryeon looked out the window and nodded.
No matter how she thought about it, it was the right choice.
No one could stop the power of the Three Realms. Wasn’t the successor of the Demonic Palace, who had constantly clashed with the Three Realms, now missing?
Moreover, since the Black Book was with her.
In the end, the Sect Leader would be forced to submit… and the Willow and Water Pavilion would fall into her grasp.
*Clatter, clatter.*
The carriage raced down the official road all night.
Just before dawn, the carriage stopped in front of a large manor on the outskirts of Fuzhong.
“We have arrived.”
As the coachman opened the door, Yu Su-ryeon alighted from the carriage with an arrogant motion.
There seemed to be a formation set up around the manor, as a thick fog was rising even as the sun was slowly beginning to rise.
She entered the manor without delay.
In the spacious front yard, a pond had been created, and a picturesque pavilion stood before it.
There, a figure wearing a mask engraved with a mysterious symbol stood tall. It was the emissary of the Infinite Realm.
‘He seems even more imposing today.’
A powerful surge of energy flowed from the bodies of all the emissaries of the Three Realms, including the Third Emissary, making it impossible to see their features properly.
And today, the surge of energy flowing from the Third Emissary’s body was even thicker.
“Thanks to the information you gave me in advance, I was able to escape without panicking.”
As Yu Su-ryeon gave a slight nod, the emissary opened his mouth.
[The disciples of the Wolf Fang Pavilion all have noses like hounds.]
The Third Emissary’s voice was extremely unpleasant and raspy, like a snake hissing.
[Do not step outside this manor until they have retreated.]
“Here? You mean I should stay here without leaving Fuzhong?”
[It is darkest under the lamp.]
The Third Emissary stared intently at Yu Su-ryeon.
[They will never be able to find this place.]
A cloud-like wave of true qi rose from his body.
Even in that brief moment, the aura and pressure pouring out of him seemed much stronger than before.
‘He could sway the martial world with his martial arts alone.’
“I, I understand.”
As Yu Su-ryeon replied, the emissary’s figure vanished as if melting into the fog.
Staring blankly at his disappearance, she opened her mouth with a dissatisfied expression.
“He won’t even say two words.”
Though she was the next leader of the Willow and Water Pavilion, he still treated her like a mere subordinate.
But she soon shook her head.
“It can’t be helped.”
The figures of the Three Realms were all extraordinary, and their martial arts were at a level that made the leaders of any other faction look ridiculous.
To them, she, who had not yet taken control of the Willow and Water Pavilion, would seem less than an insect.
“But things will change once I become the leader.”
Yu Su-ryeon smiled faintly.
“I know. What you all want is this Black Book.”
She knew.
What the Infinite Realm wanted was the Black Book that she had secretly smuggled out.
With the Black Book, anyone could control the Willow and Water Pavilion as they pleased.
Conversely, without the Black Book, no matter how one seized control of the Willow and Water Pavilion, they would not be able to properly use its power and authority.
“As long as I hold this, the Infinite Realm will never abandon me.”
The Black Book was written in a secret language that only the disciples of the Willow and Water Pavilion could decipher, and she never carried it on her person.
If she did, the Infinite Realm would immediately seize it by force.
Also, as long as the Black Book existed, the Infinite Realm would not be able to abandon her. This was something she absolutely had to protect.