Chapter 432
Chapter 432
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 432
Chapter Title: A Dangerous Invitation
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The dense jungles of the Southern Wilds resembled a dark blue sea.
The forests of the Southern Wilds are fraught with dangers like snakes, poisonous insects, and scorching heat.
Even many of the plants and fruits are poisonous, requiring extreme caution.
If someone untrained in martial arts were to traverse the jungle, they would need provisions, insect repellent, a map of the jungle, and more.
They would have to prepare a vast array of supplies.
But for a martial artist skilled in superior techniques, it is a different story.
With a mere handful of true energy, they can leap dozens of feet in a single bound, using blades of grass and branches as footholds to launch themselves lightly through the air.
*Rustle!*
With the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, a shadow cut straight through the jungle.
It was Bu Eun-seol, disguised as Seonwu Jin.
In the deep jungle he had reached, there were no visible paths for people to follow.
Under the scorching sun were broad-leafed plants and vines unseen in the Central Plains, along with the occasional poisonous insect.
He swiftly passed through a path that ordinary people would have long since abandoned.
The terrain he ran on was so rugged that even nimble beasts would find it impassable.
But a martial artist with exceptional movement techniques cannot be compared to a four-legged beast.
Martial artists are more agile and have greater stamina.
In just half a day, Bu Eun-seol cleared the dense jungle in one go.
Finally, a small village appeared before him.
There was a well-trodden path, an inn where travelers could rest, and a marketplace selling various goods.
“Hoo.”
Surveying the village, Bu Eun-seol forced himself to sweat.
He had already reached a state of immunity to heat and cold, but he deliberately feigned exhaustion.
Now that he was within the sphere of influence of the Reha Sacred Palace, he couldn't know who might be watching him, or from where.
While disguised as Seonwu Jin, he had to act in accordance with the persona of Seonwu Jin.
“I should rest here for the day.”
On his way to the Reha Sacred Palace, Bu Eun-seol had traversed countless jungles and encountered various tribes.
Each time, he deliberately stayed in the villages to gather information about the Reha Sacred Palace.
Of course, he had already obtained most of the information through the Soul Obliteration Unit.
But some information can only be obtained locally.
Just like now.
He entered an inn where dried fruits were laid out, and an old man was running the place by himself.
The interior was very cramped, with the kitchen and tables practically squeezed together.
But Bu Eun-seol paid it no mind and took a seat.
“What can I get for you?”
The dark-skinned old man spoke fluent Central Plains language.
He seemed to have recognized at a glance that Bu Eun-seol, who wore an iron sword, was a martial artist from the Central Plains.
“I'd like some water and a simple meal.”
The old man then brought a pitcher of clear water and something like a fried rice-flour pancake.
“May I ask you something?”
Bu Eun-seol said in a subtle tone.
“I'd like to hear any news about the Reha Sacred Palace.”
“You've come to the right place. We're close to Zhurong Island, so the warriors from there often come by for a drink.”
In other words, he was well-informed about the happenings there.
But after saying only that, the old man blinked.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
An old man running an inn alone in such a harsh place would know this better than anyone.
Bu Eun-seol smiled and handed a small piece of silver to the old man.
Only after accepting the silver did the old man speak in a low voice.
“Things have been tense since the former Palace Lord, Jeoksa, passed away.”
Bu Eun-seol sipped his water and listened intently to the old man's story.
“The new Palace Lord, Hwajeong, is the stepmother, so she doesn't get along with the Young Palace Lord, Jeok Mumi. A year ago, a huge fight almost broke out among the warriors of the Reha Sacred Palace.”
A faint glint appeared in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
After his wife died, the former Palace Lord Jeoksa took Hwajeong, the leader of the Chunghwa Hall, as his second wife.
But he too died suddenly three years ago, and according to Jeoksa's will, instead of the Young Palace Lord Jeok Mumi.
Hwajeong became the Palace Lord.
Of course, Bu Eun-seol already knew these things through his intelligence network.
But on the surface, Palace Lord Hwajeong and Young Palace Lord Jeok Mumi were known to have no particular problems.
To think their relationship was actually this strained.
“On top of that, the former Palace Lord's loyal subordinate, Gwangyangja, went to the Central Plains and died...”
*'Gwangyangja, the one who massacred the vagrants, was a loyal subordinate of Palace Lord Jeoksa?'*
As Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow at this unexpected fact,
*Murmur, murmur.*
a group of people entered the inn.
The old man glanced over, and Bu Eun-seol nodded and smiled.
“I see. Thank you for the story.”
Taking a sip of water, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
*'To invite a Third-Rank Elder of the Martial Alliance despite such a volatile situation...'*
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes.
Inviting an Elder of the Martial Alliance despite the poor internal situation, with the factions of the current Palace Lord Hwajeong and Young Palace Lord Jeok Mumi clashing?
This was certainly not a normal situation. They must have some ulterior motive.
Leaving the inn, Bu Eun-seol quickened his pace.
He finally reached the coast adjacent to Zhurong Island, where the Reha Sacred Palace was located.
“Are you Young Master Seonwu from the Martial Alliance?”
As he arrived at the dock, a dark-skinned girl approached Bu Eun-seol and cupped her hands in greeting.
She had striking features, a firm physique, and exuded a sharp aura.
Even at a glance, she seemed to have cultivated considerable martial skill.
“I am.”
“I am Jo Ha, a disciple of the Namhyeon Hall.”
The woman, Jo Ha, politely gestured toward a boat.
“Please board the ship.”
Despite its name containing 'Palace,' the Reha Sacred Palace was actually located on a remote island called Zhurong Island.
Furthermore, one had to board a ship bearing the mark of the Reha Sacred Palace to enter.
Therefore, no matter how skilled a master was, they could not get there unless the Reha Sacred Palace sent a ship.
*Swoosh.*
As the sixteen sails caught the wind, the massive vessel cut through the waves and sped forward.
Bu Eun-seol stood at the bow, watching the scenery.
*'A massive faction like the Reha Sacred Palace has no need for a Third-Rank Elder of the Martial Alliance.'*
With the Reha Sacred Palace just ahead, Bu Eun-seol was once again lost in deep thought.
*'One thing is certain: if I can bring the Reha Sacred Palace into the Martial Alliance... I could immediately rise to the rank of a Second-Rank Elder.'*
A dry laugh escaped him at the thought.
If he planned to become the foremost figure of the demonic path and rule the Demonic Sanctum in the future, he must never allow the Reha Sacred Palace to join the Martial Alliance.
The stronger the Martial Alliance became, the more the power of the demonic path and the Demonic Sanctum would wane.
But Bu Eun-seol cared nothing for distinctions between the righteous and the demonic.
He even thought of his own status and honor as clothes that could be shed at any time.
All he wanted was the culprit who had harmed his grandfather and parents.
And to achieve that revenge, he needed to get close to the core of the Martial Alliance's power. Only then could he reach the core of the Three Realms.
Perhaps the Three Realms might even recruit him directly.
It was impossible as the heir to the Demonic Sanctum... but as a member of the Martial Alliance, he could easily throw in his lot with the Three Realms.
Before long, a fortress shaped like a red-hot ember came into view on the opposite shore.
It was the Reha Sacred Palace.
“Young Master Seonwu.”
Just then, Jo Ha approached and spoke in a low voice.
“When you arrive at the palace, the Palace Lord will make a rather strange proposal.”
Wondering what she meant, he turned his head to see Jo Ha wearing an extremely serious expression.
“Refuse it.”
“...”
“If you do not refuse the proposal, you will die, Elder.”
“What do you mean?”
Jo Ha shook her head and said in a low voice,
“That is the Young Palace Lord's request.”
Bu Eun-seol wanted to ask more.
The ship gradually slowed and reached a shore where a stockade had been built.
As he disembarked, warriors with sharp gazes stood solemnly in formation. At the very front, a man who looked to be their leader stood tall before a carriage.
“You must be weary from your long journey. I am O Gae, leader of the Namhwa Hall.”
O Gae cupped his hands, and Bu Eun-seol politely did the same.
“I am Seonwu Jin.”
“Please get in. I will escort you to the palace.”
Bu Eun-seol boarded the carriage led by O Gae.
After traveling for some time,
the carriage, which had been winding its way up a road carved into the mountain, entered a grand palace reminiscent of a flame.
“We have arrived.”
An astonishing sight unfolded before Bu Eun-seol as he stepped out of the carriage.
The interior of the Reha Sacred Palace was majestic and vast, as if the giant god Pangu had carved it from the mountain with an axe.
The buildings were all made of stone with a soft vermilion hue, giving the impression of a palace inhabited by fire spirits.
“This way.”
O Gae led Bu Eun-seol to the main palace at the center of the Reha Sacred Palace.
The interior was incredibly ornate, with patterns of blazing flames carved into the walls everywhere.
It was a style that offered a glimpse into the atmosphere of the Reha Sacred Palace, which specialized in extreme yang martial arts and revered the energy of fire.
Finally reaching the center of the palace, he saw a spacious grand hall, and upon a high dais sat a beautiful middle-aged woman in ornate clothing.
It was the new Palace Lord of the Reha Sacred Palace, Hwajeong.
“Welcome to our palace, Elder Seonwu.”
Hwajeong's features were as beautiful as a red rose, but she had a slender frame, and her eyes sparkled constantly.
As a result, rather than projecting the dignity of a Palace Lord, her beautiful appearance evoked a desire to protect her.
If her subordinates were not standing solemnly in formation below, she would have possessed no regal dignity at all.
“Supreme Elder Seonwu Jin pays his respects to the Palace Lord.”
As Bu Eun-seol politely cupped his hands, Hwajeong smiled and nodded.
“I thank you for accepting my invitation and coming all this way.”
Bu Eun-seol once again cupped his hands and spoke politely.
“It is a great honor to be invited by the Palace Lord to the Reha Sacred Palace, a place known as the Absolute Forbidden Zone.”
“The Hwaryun Crystal is an irreplaceable treasure of our palace. Since you found it for us, it is only natural that I thank you in person.”
Hwajeong said with a smile.
“You must be tired from your long journey. I've prepared a place for you to rest comfortably, so please relieve your travel fatigue for a while. I have arranged a banquet for this evening.”
“Thank you.”
Bu Eun-seol rested well in the quarters prepared for him at the Reha Sacred Palace.
When evening came, he followed a maid to the location of a grand banquet.
Fine wine and delicacies were laid out, and the key figures of the Reha Sacred Palace were in attendance.
They approached Bu Eun-seol warmly, striking up conversations and unanimously praising him for recovering the Hwaryun Crystal.
If Bu Eun-seol had been an ordinary, mere Third-Rank Elder of the Martial Alliance?
He would have been swept away by such a warm reception.
*'They want something.'*
But Bu Eun-seol held the high position of Lord of the Martial Soul Order and was well-versed in the myriad faces of humanity.
He could clearly sense a different intention behind their artificial attitudes.
*'I'm looking forward to this. I wonder what they want.'*
If they had some ulterior motive, all the better.
Bu Eun-seol could simply play along and use them in return.
*'And I need to get on good terms with them for the sake of a friendly relationship with the Martial Alliance anyway.'*
Forging an alliance required persuading not just the head of a sect, but all its leaders.
Therefore, Bu Eun-seol made sure to greet each of the leaders individually and leave a good impression.
*'It seems the rumors of their bad relationship... are true.'*
After greeting the leaders, Bu Eun-seol returned to a corner seat and carefully observed the banquet hall.
He had met all the key figures so far, but the Young Palace Lord, Jeok Mumi, had not appeared.
*'Even if she dislikes associating with the Palace Lord, to not even show her face at an event like this...'*
No matter if she's a stepmother, the Palace Lord is the Palace Lord, and she is the Young Palace Lord.
To not appear at a banquet where all the leaders of the Reha Sacred Palace are gathered?
That meant the emotional rift between them was deeper than Bu Eun-seol imagined, or there was a serious reason she could not attend.
The grand banquet continued until dawn.
Bu Eun-seol returned to his quarters thoroughly drunk.
In order to build rapport with the Palace Lord and the leaders, he had not refused any drinks and had mingled with them.
“Ugh.”
As the alcohol took effect, fatigue seemed to wash over him. He let out a groan and flopped onto the bed.
Although it was covered with a soft quilt, the bed itself was made of very hard stone.
*'How strange.'*
Moreover, as soon as he lay down, a strange heat rose from the bed and seeped into his back.
The heat carried an extreme yang energy, and it seemed to be heating not just Bu Eun-seol's skin, but his very bones.
*Swish.*
Sensing something was wrong, Bu Eun-seol removed all the bedding from the bed.
Underneath was a solid block of stone emitting a faint red aura.
“A bed made of Yang Essence True Jade.”
A peculiar light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The bed in his quarters was carved from a single piece of Yang Essence True Jade, which radiated a heat like that of extreme yang energy.
*'They're testing me.'*
They wouldn't have deliberately given such a bed to a guest who had come all the way from the Martial Alliance.
It seemed they had intentionally laid out the Yang Essence True Jade to test Bu Eun-seol.
*'I suppose I should play along.'*
Bu Eun-seol activated the Glacial Heavenly Flow Art, instantly freezing the Yang Essence True Jade.
The hot energy that had been radiating from it vanished, allowing him to sleep comfortably.
“*Snore.*”
Bu Eun-seol deliberately snored, pretending to be fast asleep.
*Swoosh.*
Suddenly, a black shadow approached the bed where Bu Eun-seol lay, moving like a ghost.
It was a masked figure in a tight-fitting assassin's uniform. They stared down at the sleeping Bu Eun-seol.
Then, they extended a hand and suddenly shot a finger wind at Bu Eun-seol.
*Thwack!*
As the sharp finger wind struck the major acupoints on his chest,
“Urk!”
Bu Eun-seol let out a short groan and shot up from the bed like a spring.
*Clang.*
As Bu Eun-seol sat up, the masked figure, as if they had been waiting, pointed a sharp sword at his neck and said coldly,
“Supreme Elder Seonwu Jin.”
“Who are you?”
“You don't need to know.”
The masked figure had altered their voice to be lower, but its clear tone couldn't hide the fact that they were a young woman.
“Tomorrow, the Palace Lord will ask a favor of you.”
“...”
“You must refuse that favor.”
Bu Eun-seol wore an expression of incomprehension.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Whatever favor the Palace Lord asks, refuse it and return to the Martial Alliance immediately.”
The masked figure scanned Bu Eun-seol with sharp eyes.
“I have just inflicted the Flame Toxin Torture on you. If you break your promise, you will suffer the agony of your true energy reversing its flow every night.”
“...”
“The moment you leave the palace, I will release you from the Flame Toxin Torture.”
“I don't understand at all.”
Bu Eun-seol said leisurely, crossing his arms.
“You also seem to be a member of the Reha Sacred Palace. Are you planning to rebel against the Palace Lord?”
“Just give me your decision, yes or no.”
As the masked figure commanded solemnly, Bu Eun-seol broke into a smile.
“I refuse.”
*Pop!*
At the same time, a strange rebounding sound came from Bu Eun-seol's body, and he stood up with ease.
“How...”
“It seems you haven't heard that I have mastered the Art of Flower Transference.”
“The Art of Flower Transference?”
The assassin's mouth fell open.
Normally, the Art of Flower Transference is limited to deflecting external forces.
But the masked figure's Flame Toxin Torture is a Meridian-Restricting Punishment Art that pours true energy into the body to subdue it.
So how could such a technique be deflected?
“It's because the title of Martial Alliance Elder wasn't won by throwing dice.”
Bu Eun-seol said with a calm smile.
“Young Palace Lord Mumi.”
Bu Eun-seol's gaze and tone were calm, with no hint of hostility.
The assassin stared into his eyes for a long moment, then sighed and removed her mask.
The face of a beautiful woman with dark skin and thick eyebrows was revealed.
It was the Young Palace Lord of the Reha Sacred Palace, Jeok Mumi.
“That is not the skill of a Third-Rank Elder of the Martial Alliance.”
She stared at Bu Eun-seol with her mysteriously sparkling eyes.
The peerless beauties of the Central Plains all have fair, translucent skin and eyes with a clear contrast between black and white.
From that perspective, Jeok Mumi, with her dark skin and eyes that sparkled with a blue light, could not be considered a beauty.
Nevertheless, she possessed a fresh and healthy beauty that Bu Eun-seol had never seen before.
Furthermore, she was known as a martial prodigy who had perfectly mastered the essence of the Reha Sacred Palace's arts. Perhaps because of this, her dark skin seemed to radiate a faint heat.
“Not just your martial skill, but your intellect as well.”
Not only did he deflect the Flame Toxin Torture, the greatest torture art of the Reha Sacred Palace, with the Art of Flower Transference, but he also guessed her identity in an instant.
Jeok Mumi now realized that Bu Eun-seol was no ordinary master.
“In the martial world of the Central Plains, there is a saying: 'Fame and skill are not always proportional.'”
Bu Eun-seol smiled calmly.
“Just like you, Young Palace Lord.”
This was a compliment, implying that Jeok Mumi's martial skill, contrary to what was known,
was at an incredible level.
Because the Reha Sacred Palace was not active in the Central Plains, the extent of their members' martial prowess was not well known.
Jeok Mumi, in particular, had not shown any remarkable achievements as the Young Palace Lord, but in reality, she possessed outstanding martial arts.
“How did you know I was the Young Palace Lord?”
“Didn't you have your subordinate deliver the same message?”
“Just from that?”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Jeok Mumi's arrogant gaze and shrugged.
“I am an Elder of the Martial Alliance and came here as an honored guest of the Reha Sacred Palace. How many people would be bold enough to sneak into my quarters and threaten me?”
She took a deep breath and looked at Bu Eun-seol with a sharp gaze.
“So you'll accept my proposal, then?”
As the only daughter of the former Palace Lord Jeoksa, Jeok Mumi's power was comparable to Hwajeong's.
If he refused, it would surely lead to more trouble.
Any sane person would not be able to refuse such a demand.
But Bu Eun-seol answered decisively.
“I refuse.”