Chapter 104
After leaving the Sichuan Tang Clan, Bu Eun-seol wandered aimlessly southward.
During the carriage ride, Bu Eun-seol diligently studied the Dagger Mastery Manual given to him by Tang Pae.
The concealed weapon techniques recorded in this secret manual weren't particularly extraordinary. However, it contained exceptionally detailed explanations about the Flying Dagger Art, which could be considered the foundation of all hidden weapon techniques.
'Now I understand why the Flying Dagger Art is considered the root of all concealed weapons in the world.'
According to the Dagger Mastery Manual, the Flying Dagger Art did not rely solely on speed and technique. Instead, it emphasized the practitioner's unshakable mental fortitude when releasing the dagger.
This principle was strikingly similar to the martial philosophy of Sword Will Unity, where master swordsmen sought to harmonize their blade with their spirit.
'Truly, the Sichuan Tang Clan.'
The sects and renowned clans that had endured through generations in the Martial World all had their reasons for standing the test of time.
Even Tang Pae, who had seemed nothing more than fierce and cold, was a Grandmaster of concealed weapons—fully qualified to lead the Sichuan Tang Clan without the slightest deficiency.
Moreover, the techniques of the Flying Dagger Art and Fist Techniques shared a fundamental similarity.
That was the stable distribution of power.
To deliver a powerful punch, one needed a solid lower body and a seamless transfer of force from the waist to the fist. The same conditions were necessary to swiftly launch a dagger.
All Streams Return to the Source.
Though martial arts seemed to branch out in countless directions, in the end, their essence and core principles all converged into one.
'However... they conveniently left out the true essence of the Flying Dagger Art.'
To reach the pinnacle of the Flying Dagger Art, one needed the secret formula of Finger Seeing and Hearing—a method to maximize the sensitivity of the fingers.
Masters of concealed weapons were said to see, hear, and feel everything through their fingertips.
But this secret was passed down only through secret transmissions, and even the Tang Clan was no exception.
'A shame, but there's nothing to be done about it.'
By then, the carriage had already arrived in Nanjing.
Upon entering Chengdu, Bu Eun-seol stopped the carriage and stayed in a special suite at a nearby guest inn with Heuk-pyo.
Heuk-pyo, who had been silently following Bu Eun-seol all this time, could no longer suppress his curiosity and finally spoke.
"Young Master. Are you searching for something in particular?"
He observed Bu Eun-seol, who sat neatly by the window gazing outside, and asked again.
"It seems like you have a specific reason for coming here."
After a brief silence, Bu Eun-seol slowly opened his mouth.
"The reason I ventured into the Martial World this time was to further develop Main Pavilion's Practical Combat Martial Arts."
"Even more than now?"
"Correct. But if I continue wandering aimlessly, I'll only waste time."
After his experience with the Sichuan Tang Clan, Bu Eun-seol had realized two things.
First, if he continued traveling the Martial World in this state, his identity and true nature might eventually be exposed.
Second, no matter how much he wandered the Martial World, opportunities to fight true masters were far fewer than he had expected.
"I'm afraid I don't quite follow."
"One can't simply pick fights with masters out of nowhere, can they?"
"Ah."
Heuk-pyo let out a sigh of realization.
He was well aware that Bu Eun-seol thirsted for battles against formidable opponents.
But there was a problem.
Bu Eun-seol's skills were among the very best even among the younger generation. As a result, finding a Master who could truly cross blades with him was no easy task.
"But as far as I know, there are no masters in Nanjing right now who could match you in skill."
At that, Bu Eun-seol smirked uncharacteristically.
"Isn't Silent Sky Lonely Earth located here?"
Silent Sky Lonely Earth.
The largest Wanderers' Market in Shaanxi, its scale three to four times that of the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers in Guizhou.
Unlike the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers, which primarily handled commissions from Outer Powers and the Upper Realm, Silent Sky Lonely Earth attracted jobs from all corners of the Central Plains Martial World.
"Young Master, are you planning to become a wanderer?"
"Not to become one, but to make it easier to find strong opponents."
"But to become a wanderer, you'd have to completely change your identity."
After winning the Eastern Leopard Western Wolf Flying Sword Tournament, Bu Eun-seol had steadily built his reputation in the Martial World.
To suddenly abandon all the fame he had accumulated and live as a wanderer made no sense at all.
"I'm aware. I'll have to alter my appearance entirely."
"So you've also mastered transformation techniques, Young Master."
Ignoring Heuk-pyo's admiration, Bu Eun-seol activated the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art.
His face twisted slightly, and his once-sharp jawline became blunt.
Crunch.
Thanks to the significant increase in his Internal Energy, he could now alter his facial structure with remarkable ease.
As his bone structure broadened, his large eyes narrowed slightly, and the bridge of his nose lowered.
Finally, he roughly tied up his long hair, transforming into the appearance of an ordinary wandering warrior—someone utterly unremarkable.
"You can... change your face at will?"
As Heuk-pyo gaped, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"I merely shifted my facial muscles and bones slightly."
"Ah, I see."
Heuk-pyo was primarily an intelligence gatherer, taking on missions to uncover sensitive information.
As such, he was already familiar with techniques similar to Bu Eun-seol's Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art.
"Then I'll try altering my appearance as well."
Tap. Tap.
However, since Heuk-pyo's Internal Energy wasn't particularly high, he couldn't drastically change his bone structure.
Still, with his eyes reshaped and his cheeks fuller, he now looked like a different person.
"How is it, Young Master?"
"You've managed to change your appearance somewhat, but an awkwardness remains. The sharpness in your demeanor is still present."
"Huh?"
"Transformation isn't just about altering your face. You must become an entirely different person."
"A different person..."
"Exactly. To achieve that, you must change even the belongings and clothes you carry. Most importantly, your voice, the look in your eyes—and even your way of thinking."
Heuk-pyo couldn't hide his astonished expression as he spoke.
"I understand what you mean...but I'm not sure how to change those things."
'The Art of Rooster Calls and Dog Thieves can't be exclusive to the Main Pavilion.'
After brief contemplation, Bu Eun-seol transmitted the secret principles of the Art to him.
Upon hearing the full explanation of the esoteric method, Heuk-pyo's eyes widened in admiration.
"So that's how it is. No wonder even when I changed appearances well, something always felt lacking and awkward."
Heuk-pyo was remarkably quick-witted—teaching him one principle made him grasp ten.
The moment he comprehended the ultimate secret of the Art and began altering his facial features and gaze anew, Bu Eun-seol felt an inexplicable warmth in his chest.
'So this was what that feeling was like.'
Suddenly, he recalled Sa-u's approving gaze back on Hell Island when the man had watched him with similar satisfaction.
Passing down an extraordinary secret technique to an extraordinary individual—it created a strange and marvelous sensation, as though he were crafting a clone of himself.
"But what do you plan to do about the Ink Sword?"
The Ink Sword was extremely conspicuous, with not only its blade but even its scabbard emitting that mysterious dark glow.
"I prepared for that in advance."
This time, Bu Eun-seol mixed various medicinal compounds from a box and began applying them to the sword's surface.
Gradually, the gleaming black luster of the Ink Sword transformed into the dull, rusted appearance of an ordinary longsword.
"Young Master, won't that make the sword unusable?"
No matter how meticulously applied, no coating could be absorbed by a divine weapon. If it clashed with another weapon while infused with True Qi, the coating would undoubtedly flake off easily.
"I don't intend to use it for now."
Bu Eun-seol looked down at his own two hands.
During his time as a wanderer, he planned to use not the Formless Heavenly Flow, but the Fist Demon's Fist Art.
"You mean you'll use fist techniques?"
"Correct."
Heuk-pyo made a puzzled expression.
While Langya Pavilion had produced numerous outstanding masters through the generations, all of them had used swords. Not a single one had ever made a name for themselves with fist techniques.
'Did Langya Pavilion even have fist techniques?'
Swallowing hard, Heuk-pyo cautiously ventured, "Still, shouldn't you have some weapon as backup?"
"I do plan to use daggers to some extent."
When Bu Eun-seol lifted his sleeve, sharp daggers had already appeared between his fingers.
During their journey to Nanjing, Bu Eun-seol had completely memorized the Dagger Mastery Manual given by Tang Pae. Today he had visited not only shops but also a forge to purchase several daggers.
"But sealing away even your True Body Supreme Technique to conceal your identity...isn't that too dangerous?"
"Of course, if a situation arises where I must draw my sword, I will draw it."
Bu Eun-seol rubbed his hands together with a faint smile.
"That's precisely why we're going to the Wanderers' Market."
"...I see."
Heuk-pyo swallowed again.
Had anyone else made such a claim, Heuk-pyo would have privately scoffed.
In battles between masters, a single moment's carelessness could cost one's life. Fighting in real combat while hiding one's True Body Supreme Technique was tantamount to gambling with one's life.
Yet when Bu Eun-seol said these words, they didn't sound the least bit ridiculous or arrogant.
'Just how many ultimate arts has the Young Master mastered?'
Rather, the thought that Bu Eun-seol might have trained not only in sword arts but numerous terrifying ultimate techniques made his spine tingle.
"Why are you staring?"
"Huh? Ah, no reason."
Snapping back to attention, Heuk-pyo changed his gaze, speech patterns, and even his clothing.
The sharp, gleaming aura disappeared, replaced by a somewhat duller atmosphere.
"How is this, Young Master?"
"Passable."
"Oh! There's one more thing that worries me."
"What is it?"
"While Silent Sky Lonely Earth has ordinary wanderers, it's also full of criminals hiding their identities and reckless brats."
Unlike the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers which maintained strict order under the Wolf Lord's command, Silent Sky Lonely Earth would handle anything—as long as you paid.
Consequently, it attracted many criminals concealing their identities, and bloody fights between wanderers frequently broke out there.
"I'm concerned you might encounter unpleasant situations if we go there unnecessarily."
"All the better."
Bu Eun-seol smiled, revealing white teeth.
"I hope there are plenty of strong scoundrels there."
The next day.
Traveling by carriage, Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo passed through the main road and stopped before a massive building on Nanjing's outskirts.
The enormous gate resembling a fortress was painted red, with a gleaming signboard above it:
Silent Sky Lonely Earth.
The Wanderers' Market where not only Shaanxi but also Hunan and Hubei wanderers came for work. Its exterior was constructed like a wealthy manor.
"Young Master, this way."
Though numerous wanderers came and went, there were no guards—the great gates of Silent Sky Lonely Earth stood wide open.
Inside stood a hall labeled "Scripture Instruction Hall," with countless martial artists milling about.
Upon entering, the first thing visible was a large wooden board marked "Free Assignment Board," covered densely with paper notices as wanderers clustered around in small groups.
This was likely where wanderers picked up job notices.
"Impressive."
Bu Eun-seol marveled.
He'd heard it was larger than the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers in Guizhou, but hadn't expected such refined construction resembling a proper great sect's gates.
One side of the elegantly decorated Scripture Instruction Hall contained dozens of partitioned booths with counters, where wanderers conversed with the hall's personnel, exchanging items.
This was probably where assignments were received discreetly or completed jobs' payments collected.
"I hope there are many assignments that'll let me fight strong opponents."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Heuk-pyo replied in a low voice:
"Young Master, to receive assignments, we must first register as wanderers."