Chapter 435
Chapter 435
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 435
Chapter Title: The Divine Flute's Secret
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—Know contentment, and you will not overfill… From within peril, the true Great Arts of the Scorching River shall bloom.
‘Why is the scripture of the divine art here?’
Bu Eun-seol couldn’t understand it as he read the text carved into the wall.
Seeing as the supreme secret art of the Scorching River Sacred Palace was engraved here, it was highly likely that the mummy was the remains of the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River.
The Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River, who was said to have passed away peacefully and been respectfully enshrined in the ancestral hall of the palace… why had he become a mummy while in a seated meditation posture?
And why did he leave the scripture of his divine art in this place?
—A sinner who has ruined the martial world… leaves behind his true secret art, the Great True Arts of the Scorching River, for a successor who will one day become the savior of the martial world.
At the end of the divine scripture was a message left by the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River.
—This venerable one, driven by the desire to reach the pinnacle of the ultimate Yang arts, has committed a great, unforgivable sin.
I joined hands with the Three Realms and eliminated those who opposed them.
…
In the end, this venerable one obtained the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River and the Ultimate Incinerating Wheel Energy, but I realized that because of this, the palace’s power would wane day by day.
Furthermore, we were fated to no longer produce outstanding disciples… This can only be called reaping what one has sown.
‘The Three Realms existed even in the era of the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River?’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened as he read the words carved into the stone wall.
He had thought the Three Realms began four hundred years ago with the appearance of the Three Stars of the Eight Desolations.
But they had existed even in the time of the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River, a figure from five hundred years ago?
“So the Three Stars of the Eight Desolations weren’t the original body.”
This meant that while the Three Stars of the Eight Desolations might be key figures in the Three Realms, they were not its origin.
—Fortunately, the Three Realms broke their promise to appear in sequence and were in constant conflict with one another. Had it not been so, not only this venerable one but the entire lineage of the Scorching River Sacred Palace would have been severed long ago…
According to the text on the stone wall, the Three Realms were factions that championed different causes, and they were supposed to reveal themselves to the world in a rotating sequence.
But it was impossible for such powerful factions to meekly abide by their turn.
Thus, conflict was inevitable, and the text stated that it was precisely this conflict that had kept the martial world from falling into ruin.
“Is that so.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded as he read the words.
He had always wondered why the Three Realms, despite having the power to rule the world, never stepped fully into the light.
Even if the king dies, the shadow that controls the king does not.
The Three Realms could rule the world precisely because they did not reveal themselves…
And because they had to rule the world for a long time, they remained hidden.
Looking back through the long course of history, the factions and figures who stood at the forefront were inevitably extinguished.
But the powers behind the curtain always survived.
“So they enjoyed the fight, using martial artists as their pawns without revealing themselves.”
In retrospect, the Three Realms had never once stepped into the forefront.
They only ever used others, pitting factions against each other.
And even a peerless grandmaster like the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River had made the wrong choice.
In the end, it seemed he had been fated to a humiliating and lonely end.
“Hmm.”
Having grasped the whole story, Bu Eun-seol’s gaze suddenly fell upon the crumbled Divine Flute of Incineration.
“Is there no way to make a long staff like that again?”
If he could take the Sacred Venerable’s sacred object, the Divine Flute of Incineration, he could oust Mistress Hwa-jeong without a major fight.
But now that it was broken… the only way left was to push her out with force.
“Hmm.”
Shaking his head, Bu Eun-seol’s eyes suddenly landed on the scripture carved into the stone wall.
His gaze stopped on the phrase: “Scorching River in the Palm, Divine Flute of Creation.”
“Could it be?”
Bu Eun-seol began to read through the scripture of the Great True Arts of the Scorching River at a rapid pace.
The Great True Arts of the Scorching River was the secret to freely wielding the ultimate Yang energy accumulated in the body, which was named the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River.
Its martial principles were in line with those of the Glacial Heavenly Flow Arts and the True Arts of Wishful Will.
Therefore, Bu Eun-seol was able to understand the scripture of the Great True Arts of the Scorching River immediately.
*Ziiiing.*
As he drew upon the Great True Arts of the Scorching River, a faint smoke began to rise from Bu Eun-seol’s hand.
*Shwoook!*
The shape of a red-hot, staff-like flute formed.
It was the Divine Flute of Incineration.
“So this is what the Divine Flute of Incineration was.”
The flute he had seen was merely made in a shape symbolizing the Divine Flute of Incineration.
The true Divine Flute of Incineration was the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River contained within.
“Indeed… with a sacred object like this, there can be no doubt.”
The Divine Flute of Incineration, created with the Great True Arts of the Scorching River that only the Mistress could learn.
It was, without a doubt, the ultimate sacred object of the Scorching River Sacred Palace.
“I cannot let Mistress Hwa-jeong have this scripture.”
Bu Eun-seol channeled his internal energy and rubbed the wall. The engraved letters were cleanly erased.
Then, Bu Eun-seol once again bowed respectfully to the remains of the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River.
“Rest easy.”
Bowing his head, he looked at the Sacred Venerable’s remains and spoke.
“I will return these Great True Arts of the Scorching River and the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River to a disciple who will protect the palace.”
*Psssssh.*
As if its mission was finally complete, the body of the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River scattered in all directions like sand.
*Rumble, rumble, rumble.*
At the same time, a low vibration began to echo through the stone chamber.
Stones and sand poured down from all sides into the chamber where the Sacred Venerable had been… until the place vanished without a trace.
It was as if he had only been able to pass on peacefully after seeing the appearance of a successor who would protect the Scorching River Sacred Palace.
“May you rest in eternal peace.”
Watching the scene, Bu Eun-seol once again clasped his hands together toward the vanished stone chamber.
***
As if nothing had happened, Bu Eun-seol returned to the main hall where Mistress Hwa-jeong was staying.
“You’ve returned safely.”
Forgetting her decorum, Hwa-jeong descended from her seat and took both of Bu Eun-seol’s hands.
“You have no idea how worried I was when you suddenly disappeared.”
Then, with an expression of boundless joy, she said.
“What on earth happened?”
“There was a trap.”
“A trap?”
“Yes. It seems there was a device installed to filter out intruders one last time, those who are not disciples of the Scorching River Sacred Palace.”
Bu Eun-seol said nonchalantly.
“It was a trap sealed on all sides, but by a stroke of luck, there was a mouse hole. I entered through it and escaped harm.”
“I see. That is a relief.”
An unprecedentedly bright smile graced Hwa-jeong’s lips.
It was likely born less from the fact that Bu Eun-seol had returned alive and more from the joy of being able to recover the Divine Flute of Incineration.
“Then did you find the Divine Flute of Incineration?”
“When I fell into the trap, the Divine Flute of Incineration also vanished somewhere. It is probably stored somewhere in the secret palace.”
“Somewhere in the secret palace… What a relief.”
Though she answered in a voice filled with emotion, Mistress Hwa-jeong’s eyes were full of disappointment.
She had already ordered her disciples to search the secret palace high and low, but they had not found the Divine Flute of Incineration anywhere.
“I thought something had happened to you, Vice-Lord, so I immediately reported it to the Martial Alliance.”
Fixing her gaze, Mistress Hwa-jeong forced a smile.
Seeing the scorch marks, she had immediately thought Bu Eun-seol’s body had been incinerated.
That was why she had promptly reported it to the Martial Alliance. Now that he had returned safely, she had to correct the report quickly.
“It’s alright. I will report back properly when I return.”
Bu Eun-seol said with an unconcerned expression.
“Now that the secret palace is open, I shall take my leave.”
As he turned to leave without hesitation, Mistress Hwa-jeong reached out her hand.
“How can I simply let you go after you risked your life to open the gates to the secret palace?”
She drew closer and said.
“In the future, this palace will form an alliance with the Martial Alliance. For that to happen, shouldn’t you, Vice-Lord, stay a little longer at our palace to discuss various matters?”
Hwa-jeong held Bu Eun-seol’s hands with a friendly expression.
“…!”
In that moment, Mistress Hwa-jeong’s eyes widened, and a strange light flickered within them.
She had discovered the flow of the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River naturally emanating from Bu Eun-seol’s right hand.
It was an extremely faint energy that only the masters of the Scorching River Sacred Palace could sense.
‘This bastard lied.’
Instantly, Mistress Hwa-jeong’s eyes curved into crescents.
‘This is for the better.’
The fact that the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River was inside Bu Eun-seol’s body was proof that he was storing the Divine Flute of Incineration somewhere, was it not?
Hwa-jeong beamed and said.
“If that happens, Vice-Lord Seon-u, you too will be able to rise to a key position in the Martial Alliance.”
‘She took the bait.’
From the start, Bu Eun-seol had no intention of leaving the Scorching River Sacred Palace.
That was why he had deliberately manifested a sliver of the Great True Arts of the Scorching River to leak the aura of the Sacred Energy.
So that she would see her scheme through to the end.
Only then would the people behind her reveal themselves.
“Very well. I shall stay a while longer.”
When he readily agreed, she spoke in a soft voice.
“Then let us discuss these matters again this evening, just the two of us.”
That evening.
After resting in his quarters, Bu Eun-seol entered Zhurong Palace, where Mistress Hwa-jeong resided.
However, the place he was led to by a servant girl was a tightly sealed secret room.
Inside, there was a table, furnishings, and a small couch.
It seemed to be a room that Mistress Hwa-jeong had created for taking a light cup of tea or a short rest when she stood up from her work.
A small table with drinks was prepared on the main table, but there were only two chairs.
‘She had no intention of forming an alliance from the start.’
The process of a single faction joining an alliance like the Martial Alliance requires much discussion, even among the leadership.
Many things need to be coordinated and negotiated, so first and foremost, opinions within the faction must be gathered and unified.
No matter how absolute the Mistress’s power was in the Scorching River Sacred Palace, the negotiations were still in their early stages.
Yet here she was, having set a table for drinks to talk with just the two of them.
There was no way she could have already unified the opinions of her leadership. From the beginning, she had invited Bu Eun-seol with other tricks up her sleeve.
“You’ve come.”
As Bu Eun-seol entered, Mistress Hwa-jeong offered a faint smile.
She gestured to the table and said.
“Shall we quench our thirst while we talk?”
Bu Eun-seol did not refuse and drank the offered alcohol.
A scorching heat rose from his stomach, and his mind grew hazy.
It was clear that it was heavily laced with an aphrodisiac and a mind-altering drug.
‘She plans to kill two birds with one stone.’
Bu Eun-seol was well aware that Hwa-jeong was a lackey of the Three Realms.
He was curious to see what method she would use to seize the Divine Flute of Incineration, so he deliberately did not resist the drugs.
*Ziiiing.*
But as the aphrodisiac and mind-altering drug entered his body, a stream of heat naturally began to rise from Bu Eun-seol’s dantian.
It was not Bu Eun-seol’s own internal energy, but the combined energy of the Sacred Venerable’s Sacred Energy of the Scorching River and the Ultimate Incinerating Wheel Energy contained within the Divine Flute of Incineration.
*Chiiii.*
The pure, sun-like heat instantly burned away the energy of the aphrodisiac and mind-altering drug that had been injected into his body.
‘I’ll have to properly master the Great True Arts of the Scorching River to control this phenomenon.’
Bu Eun-seol gave a bitter smile.
Because he hadn’t mastered the scripture of the Great True Arts of the Scorching River, the powerful ultimate Yang energy latent in his body had reacted on its own.
If he couldn’t control this phenomenon while in his identity as Seon-u Jin, his cover would be blown.
Just like right now.
“How curious. To think the Vice-Lord of the Martial Alliance is using our palace’s martial arts?”
Hwa-jeong watched the scene, her eyes curving into crescents.
“You’ve gained a fortuitous encounter, so should I congratulate you?”
When Bu Eun-seol said nothing, she smiled and whispered.
“Where is the Divine Flute of Incineration?”
Pulling her chair a little closer, she spoke in a whisper.
“Don’t worry. I will promise to form an alliance with the Martial Alliance.”
A strange, magical power was laced in her voice.
“Since you’ve obtained the martial arts of the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River, you may stay at this palace if you wish. I will guarantee you power and status incomparable to that of a Martial Alliance Vice-Lord.”
When Bu Eun-seol did not answer, Hwa-jeong whispered in his ear.
“Now, where did you hide the Divine Flute of Incineration?”
“I have never seen any Divine Flute of Incineration.”
“Is that so?”
Hwa-jeong sighed with an unconcerned expression and shook her head.
“What a shame.”
Seeing that Bu Eun-seol was not going to be persuaded, she resorted to her second method.
*Rrrrip!*
Suddenly, she tore one of her collars and shouted in a loud voice.
“How could the Vice-Lord of the Martial Alliance commit such a shameless act!”
*Pak! Pak! Pak!*
Before Bu Eun-seol could even respond, Hwa-jeong instantly sealed his mute and paralysis acupoints.
*Thud.*
As he fell to the floor like a log, she quickly searched his body.
But apart from a hidden dagger and a few antidotes, there was no sign of the Divine Flute of Incineration.
“Guards! Seize this man at once and lock him in the dungeon!”
*Thump, thump, thump.*
Simultaneously, the warriors who were always guarding the vicinity poured in.
*Pak!*
In that time, Hwa-jeong even struck Bu Eun-seol’s sea of qi acupoint to seal his internal energy, then shouted in a furious voice.
“A mere Third-Rank Vice-Lord of the Martial Alliance could not have plotted such a scheme against me. Find who is behind this!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
At the guards’ shout, Hwa-jeong smiled faintly.
Her plan was to frame Bu Eun-seol for a lecherous crime, legally imprison him in the dungeon, and then torture him to get the Divine Flute of Incineration.
***
The dungeon of the Scorching River Sacred Palace was located deep underground.
After descending a long stone staircase endlessly, a dark, underground cave came into view, along with the damp smell of mold.
On the left and right sides of the cave passage, prison cells were built, enclosed by stone walls.
The guard opened the door to the last cell and roughly threw Bu Eun-seol inside.
*Thud.*
As Bu Eun-seol, with his acupoints sealed, fell flat on his back, the guard coldly shut the iron door.
*Clang.*
As the iron door closed, Bu Eun-seol lay sprawled on the dark dungeon floor, his eyes calmly closed.
‘Is it starting now?’
Bu Eun-seol did not bother to release his sealed acupoints and lay comfortably in his restrained state.
Though the interior was pitch black, Bu Eun-seol could clearly see the walls enclosing him, their plaster peeling.
There was a hole in the opposite corner for air to pass through, but it was so narrow that only a single mouse could barely squeeze through.
‘So this was her method.’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes, as he lay there, were coldly still.
‘A messenger will come soon.’
He guessed that now that Hwa-jeong had framed him for a lewd act and thrown him in the dungeon, a person related to the Three Realms, or a messenger, would make a move.
In this damp underground dungeon, there would be no need to hide their identity, and they could immediately find out the whereabouts of the Divine Flute of Incineration through torture and retrieve it.
‘All while allowing Mistress Hwa-jeong to maintain her position.’
The position of Mistress of the Scorching River Sacred Palace came with immense authority and the ability to do many things.
The Three Realms would surely value a pawn like Hwa-jeong highly. They would do everything to ensure her true colors were not revealed.
‘In the end, is this a decision I have to make?’
Bu Eun-seol let out a sigh.
What if he waited until the messenger from the Three Realms arrived?
They would likely think that a Third-Rank Vice-Lord like Seon-u Jin could be easily subdued.
Bu Eun-seol could bide his time, subdue him, and find out which of the Three Realms was behind this affair and why they wanted the Divine Flute of Incineration.
But what if he failed to subdue the messenger of the Three Realms in one go?
His identity as Seon-u Jin would be exposed, and everything he had done so far would be for nothing.
‘I can’t take such a risk with Seon-u Jin’s identity.’
*Clank.*
Just then, the dungeon door opened, and a woman in vermilion light armor entered. It was the Young Mistress, Jeok Mu-mi.
In the end, she had arrived before the messenger of the Three Realms.
*Pak.*
She flicked her finger, releasing the seal on Bu Eun-seol’s mute acupoint.
“Do you believe me now?”
Before Bu Eun-seol could answer, she spoke again.
“Not only did she harm my father, but she is also colluding with outside forces and ruining this palace.”
“There is something I don’t understand.”
Bu Eun-seol opened his mouth.
“Why did Gwangyangja brutally kill the vagrants and create internal cores?”
“Gwangyangja was a loyal subordinate. But in order to raise an army to oppose her… he had no choice but to steal the Demonic Fetus and attempt to create artificial internal cores.”
Jeok Mu-mi calmly explained how Gwangyangja had been swayed by Mistress Hwa-jeong, and why he had stolen the Demonic Fetus and the Incinerating Wheel Crystal and fled.
“I see.”
After hearing the full explanation, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Gwangyangja had committed the atrocious act of killing vagrants to obtain internal cores. What if that had been Jeok Mu-mi’s order?
Bu Eun-seol would have thought Jeok Mu-mi was no different from Hwa-jeong.
If one casually takes the lives of others for one’s own goals, they are no different from the Three Realms.
But it had been Gwangyangja’s independent decision, and fortunately, Jeok Mu-mi seemed to possess a righteous character.
“Should I give you the Divine Flute of Incineration?”
In the end, he decided against uncovering the conspiracy of the Three Realms and chose instead to give the Divine Flute of Incineration to Jeok Mu-mi… to oust Mistress Hwa-jeong and normalize the Scorching River Sacred Palace.
That alone would be enough to achieve his goal of an alliance between the Martial Alliance and the Scorching River Sacred Palace.
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Jeok Mu-mi’s eyes widened.
“You found it?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“It is inside my body.”
“What do you mean?”
*Pak, pak.*
Bu Eun-seol released his own sealed acupoints and rose to his feet.
*Ziiiing.*
He opened his right palm, and a vermilion flute-like shape appeared along with a scorching heat.
The Divine Flute of Incineration. The crystallization of the ultimate Yang martial art, created from the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River, appeared before her eyes.
“How did you…”
“On the Mistress’s orders, I was searching for the Divine Flute of Incineration and unintentionally, this power was stored in my body.”
“In your body…”
“Yes.”
“You mean you stored the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River in your body? That’s impossible.”
She shook her head.
“The Sacred Energy of the Scorching River is an energy that can only be contained by those who have reached the pinnacle of the ultimate Yang arts, like our founder, the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River. How could you…”
“I don’t know the reason either.”
Bu Eun-seol, having retracted the Divine Flute of Incineration, said.
“However, according to the secrets of the Great True Arts of the Scorching River, there is a way to infuse this Sacred Energy into another person.”
“You learned the Great True Arts of the Scorching River?”
“It was in a hidden stone chamber within that secret grotto. The chamber collapsed, so I had no choice but to memorize the scripture to pass it on to you.”
Bu Eun-seol said with a confident expression.
“Even if Mistress Hwa-jeong is a person colluding with outside forces, her current identity is the Mistress. She will never be able to defy the sacred object of the Sacred Venerable of the Scorching River.”
Jeok Mu-mi took a deep breath.
The Divine Flute of Incineration was the greatest long-cherished wish and treasure of the Scorching River Sacred Palace.
No matter that she was the Mistress, she could never ignore the authority of this sacred object.
Now that she had finally found it, Jeok Mu-mi could oust Hwa-jeong and restore the former power and glory of the Scorching River Sacred Palace.
“Thank you.”
Jeok Mu-mi suddenly knelt before Bu Eun-seol.
“An ordinary martial artist would not have thought of returning the power of the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River.”
The Great True Arts of the Scorching River, unleashed with the Sacred Energy of the Scorching River, was the highest essence of the ultimate Yang arts. If one were to properly master it, they would become a master who could look down upon the world.
But the young man before her showed no greed for such a thing.
Instead, he was promising to infuse it back into her.
“I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life, and this palace will forever be Young Master Seon-u’s companion.”
“There is no need for you to be my companion.”
Bu Eun-seol rubbed his nose and said.
“However, once the Scorching River Sacred Palace is stabilized, I would like it to become a companion to my alliance.”
Understanding his meaning, Jeok Mu-mi smiled faintly.
“I understand. Since you have saved this palace, it is only natural that we propose an alliance to the Martial Alliance.”
“In that case, I will infuse this power into you quickly, before Hwa-jeong arrives.”
“There’s no need to rush.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Jeok Mu-mi smiled and said.
“After the meeting after sunrise, she will send a master to torture you. It’s her method of maximizing fear by keeping you locked up for a day.”
“Then tomorrow morning’s meeting will be the moment a new Mistress is born.”
“Do you think she will step down from her position meekly?”
Bu Eun-seol smiled and said.
“Of course. In front of the assembled dignitaries of the Scorching River Sacred Palace, she will not be able to deny the authority of the Divine Flute of Incineration.”
“Hmm.”
“Rather, she will pretend to meekly step down from the Mistress’s position. Because she must find the Divine Flute of Incineration.”
“You mean she will attempt to seize it?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It is possible.”
Bu Eun-seol wore an utterly serious expression.
“Because a power that can sway the martial world is behind her.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Realizing he was Seon-u Jin, Bu Eun-seol hesitated for a moment.
Normally, a Third-Rank Vice-Lord of the Martial Alliance would have no way of knowing information about the Three Realms.
‘In any case, she is not someone who will be loyal to the Martial Alliance.’
“Actually, this is top-secret information obtained through my personal information network, which even the figures of my alliance are not well aware of…”
Having subtly created an escape route for himself, Bu Eun-seol briefly explained about the Three Realms.
After hearing the full explanation, Jeok Mu-mi let out a small laugh.
“If such a power exists, even if this palace joins forces, we wouldn’t even be able to put up a fight, would we?”
“The fortunate thing is that the Three Realms never step into the forefront.”
Bu Eun-seol showed off his strategist-like side without reservation.
“Furthermore, they are unlikely to easily discard a powerful pawn like the Mistress of the Scorching River Sacred Palace. In the end, they will try to reclaim the Mistress’s position through a simple and easy method.”
He then began to explain the plans he had thought of, step by step.
As Jeok Mu-mi listened in silence, her eyes gradually began to widen.