Chapter 1102
Yu Un-ryong's eyes nearly bulged out of his head in shock.
"What did you say?"
"Chu-so needed astronomical sums of money to fund his massive experiments. Don't you think it's strange that someone as brilliant as him never dabbled in counterfeit money?"
Bu Eun-seol wore an utterly calm expression, as if making a dry joke.
"The Jungson Clan, acting under Chu-so's orders, had been producing counterfeit money for a long time. And they circulated it through traveling troupes."
"Only not in such large quantities as now."
"Correct."
A faint smile touched Bu Eun-seol's lips.
"Otherwise, how could I have dared to so boldly request an audience with the Grand Secretary?"
"What do you mean?"
"The investigation into the counterfeit money wasn't handled by the Death Soul Squad. The Grand Secretary and I conducted it separately."
Yu Un-ryong's teeth clenched on his lip.
He had believed that, as Bu Eun-seol's strategist, he shared everything and worked alongside him in all matters.
Yet out of nowhere, Bu Eun-seol had secretly conducted an investigation with Yu Jeong-pung—excluding him entirely?
"Un-ryong."
"Ah, it's fine. You did well."
Though he was so disheartened his mind grew hazy, Yu Un-ryong forced a laugh and waved his hand.
"To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive those around you. Isn't that right?"
Even as he said this, the focus in his eyes had vanished, and the shock on his face was unmistakable.
'Hmm.'
Bu Eun-seol let out a deep sigh.
Until now, Yu Un-ryong had been privy to—and involved in—every matter concerning Bu Eun-seol.
But if he were to learn that the truth had been kept from him?
His already shattered pride would never recover.
"The Grand Secretary personally requested it."
"Huh?"
"He insisted on it multiple times."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath before continuing.
"He made me swear that the full details of this counterfeit money case would remain with me alone—that I would never disclose them to anyone."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"After you left, I had a further discussion with His Excellency. That's when he made the request."
Bu Eun-seol inhaled deeply.
"I argued that I had to tell you, but His Excellency forbade it. Absolutely."
"Why? For what reason?"
"At the time, the evidence regarding the counterfeit money still wasn't fully gathered."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"So the Grand Secretary devised an ingenious plan. He instructed me to publicly announce at the World Conference that the counterfeit evidence had been fabricated by me."
"His Excellency did?"
"Yes. That way, we could easily identify which of the Eight Great Families or the Nine Great Sects and One Gang had collaborated with the Jungson Clan."
Bu Eun-seol went on.
"And if there were no spies, it would serve as an opportunity to strengthen unity."
Under Chu-so's command, the Jungson Clan had indeed circulated counterfeit money.
They had been confident that using traveling troupes would leave no trace leading back to them.
Bu Eun-seol had secretly cooperated with Yu Jeong-pung, working alongside government troops to secure several pieces of evidence related to the counterfeit money.
But even then, they couldn't definitively prove it was the Jungson Clan's doing.
That was when Yu Jeong-pung proposed his scheme.
―What if we secretly inform the leadership that the evidence was fabricated?
If there were spies within, this information would inevitably reach the Jungson Clan.
Then, to refute suspicions of fabrication, Bu Eun-seol would have to review and reinvestigate the entire case.
That would buy them time.
And if there were no spies?
Even then, they could test who would willingly stand with Bu Eun-seol upon hearing this news...
Thus, it would serve as a trial to gauge the unity of the World Alliance.
"In the end, twelve factions—including the Kunlun Sect, the Xining Sect, the Golden Dragon Fort, and the Huangshan Sword Gate—reported me to the government office or leaked this information externally. And among them, we identified seven with ties to the Jungson Clan."
A sharp glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Now, they will face punishment—either being Sealed or Annihilated—depending on the severity of their crimes."
Yu Un-ryong's mouth fell open.
They had thought they had the Martial Soul Lord's weakness in their grasp through the counterfeit money case.
But the traitors who couldn't hide their excitement—and the pawns of the Jungson Clan who had reported him—
Had all been exposed, and instead, they were the ones facing ruin.
"But why did he insist on keeping it from me? It's not like I have a loose tongue."
"Would you have stayed still?"
"What?"
"You would've refused to trust the government's investigation, racked your brains trying to achieve perfection, and mobilized the Death Soul Squad on your own."
"Well..."
As Yu Un-ryong grimaced, Bu Eun-seol spoke firmly.
"His Excellency knew that would be extremely dangerous."
"Dangerous how?"
"If the Jungson Clan's spies possessed Supernatural Power as formidable as that of the One Hundred and Eight Stars—"
"You think I'd lose?"
"Of course not. But His Excellency was worried."
Bu Eun-seol sighed deeply.
"I explained how thick the barriers of your Spirit and Mind were, but the Grand Secretary opposed it. He said you could still be endangered—and above all, that even the wisest can make a single oversight."
Only then did Yu Un-ryong fully grasp the situation and nod.
Even if Bu Eun-seol were to face the current world's strongest—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—head-on...
His physiological reactions and true intentions would remain undetectable.
But Yu Jeong-pung had judged that his son, Yu Un-ryong, did not possess flawless barriers of Spirit and Mind.
And above all—because he could still fall into danger—he had made that request.
The Scorching Paternal Love.
In the past, Yu Un-ryong had thought Yu Jeong-pung was a cold-blooded, heartless father—but in truth, he had cherished him deeply.
"Right. This was never a plan where I'd come out at a loss."
Feeling awkward, Yu Un-ryong scratched his nose.
"No, more like a plan that absolutely couldn't fail."
No wonder the Emperor trusted him so much—Yu Jeong-pung possessed wisdom so exceptional that even Bu Eun-seol was left in admiration.
"He even deceived his own son, who believed in him."
"Try to understand. I explained it thoroughly, but the Grand Secretary never trained in martial arts, so..."
"Enough."
Yu Un-ryong shrugged with a laugh.
Even if his father hadn't trusted him, it didn't matter.
What truly mattered was that Bu Eun-seol still believed in him.
That alone was enough.
Even if the world refused to acknowledge him—if there was even one person, one friend, who sincerely believed in him...
If that person was Bu Eun-seol...
Then that was enough to satisfy him.
"Right."
Yu Un-ryong took a deep breath.
"Then this is where it really begins."
For Bu Eun-seol, the extermination of the wandering troupe this time was merely a means to solve the imperial court's troubles while also receiving the Emperor's plaque, further solidifying the Martial Soul Society's standing.
"Exactly."
But the true target was—
The one behind the Jungson Clan: The Heavenly Mechanism Star.
He had to be dragged into the light and executed without fail.
"But will this incident be enough to lure him out?"
At Yu Un-ryong's question, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Of course, something like this won't be enough to fully expose the Heavenly Mechanism Star."
Gazing out the window, his expression hardened.
"He is someone who moves only under perfect calculations. The reason he hasn't struck at me from behind or ambushed me all this time is because those calculations kept falling short."
Bu Eun-seol continued firmly.
"But after this, he'll have realized it—that he can no longer afford to leave me be."
He inhaled deeply.
"Capturing the Heavenly Mechanism Star will be a battle requiring long patience and cunning strategy. This incident is merely the prologue."
Even Han Sang-ja, who had been opposing him—
Had never once thought he could be caught in a short time.
She had been devising meticulous schemes,
Adjusting and reinforcing them as the situation demanded, relentlessly tracking Chu-so's traces.
Bu Eun-seol, too, had experienced firsthand that the Heavenly Mechanism Star's intellect went beyond mere brilliance—
Possessing both the insight to dominate situations and the stratagems to pierce through them.
That was why this incident was—
Just one part of the Grand Design that had been unfolding all along. Only by committing to a prolonged struggle could he be captured.
"Right."
Yu Un-ryong nodded.
"That's why you called for Chief Strategist Gongson."
"Exactly."
Bu Eun-seol was certain.
"He won't retreat like this. He will definitely attempt a counterattack."
The Heavenly Mechanism Star was not one to simply take a loss.
Even while bracing for the Jungson Clan's collapse, he would be watching for an opportunity to strike back.
In all the world, the only one who could oppose him was Han Sang-ja, the greatest mind of the Sage Forest.
And the person who knew the Heavenly Mechanism Star best was—
Gongson Dan-gyeong, born with the innate ability to discern others' capabilities, who had once spent time alongside him.
If these two combined their wisdom?
They would undoubtedly thwart the Heavenly Mechanism Star's schemes.
Profound Radiance Realm
This mystical space, where the King of the Sages resided, was filled with a deep and profound light.
The garden, where the faint fragrance of orchids moistened by night dew drifted on the breeze,
And the pavilion, where wind chimes hanging from the eaves rang with clear, mournful notes—
All lay as still as a painting.
Within this tranquil silence,
A shadow stood tall, exuding a darkness so deep it seemed to seep into the air, cold and unyielding.
Jet-black hair shimmered under the moonlight filtering through the window, and the face cast in shadow carried an indescribable depth.
Eyes that seemed to pierce through all the world's knowledge—
Yet beyond that sharp insight stretched an endless, gloomy darkness.
This was Chu-so, the Heavenly Mechanism Star, the King of the Sages, possessor of the greatest wisdom in the world.
"Hmm."
He stood before a massive map.
One that marked the bases of the wandering troupes spread throughout the Central Plains.
Of course, that was merely a superficial disguise.
The red threads crisscrossing the map actually indicated the Jungson Clan's secret strongholds—
And the locations of counterfeit currency production facilities capable of shaking the nation's economy.
The densely connected bases ensnared the entire Central Plains like a colossal spider's web.
"To think they'd be annihilated this cleanly."
It was a crushing defeat—a humiliating situation with no room for resistance.
Yet, as Chu-so gazed at the map, a confident smile bloomed on his lips.
That smile belonged to one who held the power to orchestrate and dominate all things at will.
"But it's going as planned."
No matter how useful something was—
If it was dangerous, it should not be held onto for long. It had to be disposed of at the perfect opportunity.
The only reason Chu-so had infiltrated the Jungson Clan was for their research on the One Hundred and Eight Stars—
And their underground network capable of secretly circulating counterfeit currency.
But now, not only had their main base been exposed—
Their abduction of children and counterfeit operations had been uncovered...
At this point, the Jungson Clan was no longer a reliable subordinate organization—
But a ticking time bomb that needed to be discarded as quickly as possible.
"It all went wrong the moment we let that beggar brat slip away."
When news reached Chu-so that the White Snow Wandering Troupe's attempt to kidnap the beggar child had ultimately exposed them to the Death Shadow War Unit, he had already resolved to discard the Jungson Clan without hesitation.
"But there is an art to making an exit."
He had meticulously prepared everything while manipulating the Jungson Clan for so long.
Now that they had circulated counterfeit currency and amassed vast wealth, the Jungson Clan wouldn't last much longer.
It was an act tantamount to treason—sooner or later, they would be discovered.
That was why he had prepared one last scheme, something he could exploit until the very end.
"After all, I've spent years researching the Mind Imprint Art."
Chu-so had taken the risk of secretly abducting not just street urchins, but also the children of government officials, political figures, the merchant world, and even the scions of martial clans.
All to plant puppets obedient to his will across every stratum of society.
What if those whose minds had been reshaped by the Mind Imprint Art returned to their original positions?
Without lifting a finger, he could embed spies and manipulate those factions as he pleased.
"The effects should be manifesting any moment now."
Turning, Chu-so stepped out of the hall.
It had already been over a month since the Jungson Clan collapsed.
By now, the children he had infiltrated into various factions should have begun reporting back.
Swoosh.
Just then, a black shadow materialized before him.
It was his loyal subordinate, the Heaven-Slaying Star—Eung-bi.
Bowing deeply with perfect courtesy, Eung-bi lowered his head.
"Something has gone wrong."
His voice carried a note of disbelief.
"The brainwashed children have not returned to their original positions."
"What do you mean?"
"They remain detained by the World Alliance."
Chu-so doubted his own ears.
Parents who had lost their children for so long would surely cling to them the moment they were returned.
Yet despite being released, the children had not gone back?
"...Could it be?"
A realization struck him, and his fist clenched tight.
"Did he catch on?"
"That, I cannot confirm. However... the majority of the children have not returned to their parents or sects."
Crunch.
For the first time in his life, Chu-so gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
Suppressing the fury surging from the depths of his chest was nearly impossible.
Plop.
A thick bead of sweat finally rolled down his forehead.
The Mind Imprint Art was something he had researched for years.
Its secrets had allowed him to seize control of not just the Jungson Clan, but even half of the Yangseol Family.
Though Yang Seol-rin of the Yangseol Family had once shown signs of the Great Art being undone, in her case, it had been over twenty years since its application.
Even if the greatest prodigies in the world studied it, they couldn't break the Great Art in such a short time—nor could they possibly detect its traces.
So why had this happened?
"Are you alright?"
Seeing Eung-bi's alarmed expression, Chu-so didn't answer. Instead, he wiped his forehead.
Then, gazing at the distant sky, he shook his head.
"Hahaha. Truly."
His voice was chillingly calm.
"I have no choice but to acknowledge him as a formidable enemy."
"My lord."
"It's fine."
His expression smoothing back into serenity, Chu-so spoke evenly.
"If nothing else, I've long since acknowledged that Martial Soul Lord Bu Eun-seol's abilities are beyond reckoning."
Bu Eun-seol, the Martial Soul Lord.
A comet who had blazed into existence during the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament, held to select the inheritors of the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
Now, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the era's superlative martial experts.
And one by one, he was dismantling the grand design Chu-so had spent years meticulously weaving.
Considering Chu-so's own ability—having covertly subverted countless faction leaders and elites, manipulating the entire martial world from the shadows for so long—
The Martial Soul Lord was no different from the likes of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor or the Martial Venerable.
An uncontrollable, truly inscrutable existence.
"Shall I deal with him?"
"No, there's no need."
Chu-so shook his head.
"If we act now, we will surely fail."
A cruel smile curled his lips.
"And I have always accounted for every possibility."
His lips glistened with an eerie crimson sheen.
"If he does undo the Mind Imprint Art this time, then—"
His voice turned icy as he met Eung-bi's gaze.
"Even if it costs us the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl, we will have no choice but to summon Pa-myeong."
"Pa-myeong... you mean?"
Eung-bi's eyes, which had remained impassive until now, widened.
Pa-myeong.
The sole rebel among the Three Attendants, who had defied the True Demon.
Not only had he mastered ancient forbidden techniques, allowing him to wield any martial art in the world freely—
He had also stolen the True Demon's Secret Art of seizing others' bodies.
He could perfectly assimilate the lifetime of experience and senses accumulated by those he possessed, wielding the martial arts he had learned over generations through the bodies he controlled.
A living calamity, capable of dominating human beings.
No matter how inscrutable the Martial Soul Lord might be, he could never defeat one of the Three Attendants.
If Bu Eun-seol undid the Mind Imprint Art again and thwarted Chu-so's plans once more?
He would have no choice but to recognize him as an intolerable threat—one that could no longer be ignored.
Even if it meant sacrificing the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl, he would summon Pa-myeong to eliminate him.
"No—he will undo it."
Chu-so muttered lowly, then shook his head as if reaching a decision.
"There's no need to drag this out any longer."
Smiling, he looked at Eung-bi.
"Shall we go kill the Martial Soul Lord?"
Chu-so would pay the price of the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl—
To call upon Pa-myeong, that worst of calamities among the Servants of the True Demon...
And have him eliminate the Martial Soul Lord.