Chapter 1114
Darkness as black as ink had settled over the office within the Death Shadow War Unit.
It was as if all the silence in the world had prostrated itself beneath his feet.
Inside the chamber, only the sound of letters being shuffled and the brush scratching against paper pierced the stillness.
For the past few days, Bu Eun-seol had practically abandoned food and sleep, steadily working through the pile of letters on his desk.
The state of the martial world, the movements of the imperial court—
While surveying the chessboard of the realm, his grand designs, unfolding in secrecy, proceeded without the slightest error.
Yet something was strange.
Though he possessed a concentration that remained unshaken even after days without rest, idle thoughts occasionally surfaced, and his gaze would grow distant.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol swallowed a sigh.
The emotions blooming in his heart—
He had always considered them nothing more than cumbersome distractions that hindered cold, rational judgment.
But now, from some corner of his ironclad spirit and mind, strange and unwelcome emotions were abruptly surging forth.
'Who is she, really?'
As he recalled his memories with her, the words on the documents blurred before his eyes.
At the same time, the image of the woman gazing up at the gray sky flickered like mist in his mind.
Her jade-like face glimpsed through damp strands of hair, those large, long eyes staring vacantly into the void—
'Useless thoughts.'
But the harder he tried to focus,
the more the afterimage of the woman scattered like smoke before coalescing even more vividly.
Hmm.
In the end, he even attempted the secret technique for calming his mind, but instead, his thoughts only grew more turbulent and complicated.
Rather than fading, the image of the woman he had tried to forget became even clearer.
The straight collarbones faintly visible beneath her damp clothes.
The slender fingers that had reached out to touch the raindrops with eyes so serene they seemed to have forgotten all the world's sorrows—
Snap.
The brush in his hand finally broke.
At such a critical time—
Why was he wasting his thoughts on something so meaningless?
What was this emotion, and where had this confusion come from?
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
'I don't have the luxury to spare time for these feelings.'
His next moves were tied not only to himself and the Death Shadow War Unit but to the very stability of the realm.
In such a busy, chaotic time—
How could he fail to suppress the strange ripples in his chest while recalling the face of some nameless woman?
Swish.
To escape his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat and opened the box where he had stored the burned protective clothing.
Though it had been severely damaged by the flames of the supernatural power,
he couldn't bring himself to discard it—his subordinates had gone to great lengths to retrieve it, so he had kept it carefully preserved.
"......!"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened as he looked into the box.
To his astonishment, all traces of melting had vanished, and it had been restored to perfect condition.
'What an incredible treasure.'
To think it could regenerate damaged areas like a living organism?
He had never even heard rumors of such a rare artifact existing in the martial world.
Patter, patter.
Just then, the sound of rain suddenly came from outside the window.
Looking out, he saw a downpour drenching the world beneath the bright moonlight.
For a moment, a peculiar sentiment arose in his heart.
'If I go back there... will I see her again?'
A ridiculous thought.
To travel from the Demon Hall to Mount Wolrim, even at full speed using lightness art, would take at least two hours.
At a time when every second was precious—
To waste such time meaninglessly was utter nonsense.
"Foolish thoughts."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
He had never wasted time or acted without purpose before.
"But..."
Looking back,
hadn't he always done things that defied reason?
The unexpected—
Bu Eun-seol had always been one to act that way.
Swish.
In the end, he took out the protective clothing from the box and draped it over himself once more.
Whoosh!
A black meteor streaked across the night sky.
He had unleashed the Swift Shadowless at full power, heading straight for Mount Wolrim.
'Which faction's disciple is she?'
Just from that composed, motionless gaze alone, it was clear she was a master who had reached considerable heights.
But even a seasoned martial artist could not tell what arts she cultivated, or whether she belonged to the orthodox or unorthodox factions.
'Strange.'
Suddenly, he realized something new.
'Even while lost in these distracting thoughts, I can still perform lightness art.'
Lightness art required perfect harmony between contact with the ground, rebound, midair suspension, landing, re-leaping, shifting balance, the flow of internal energy, breathing—even one's gaze...
Every sense, every bodily function, and even one's will had to be in perfect sync to execute it.
That was why it was also called body-locomotion martial art.
Especially performing lightness art at full power—it was akin to qi circulation, requiring a continuous state of selflessness.
So why were these unfamiliar emotions and distracting thoughts rising incessantly?
Yet how could he maintain this boundless tranquility, as if immersed in deep meditation?
Whoooosh.
Before he knew it, Bu Eun-seol had arrived deep in the secluded valley of Unrim Mountain.
Sssshhhh.
As if waiting for this very moment, the same torrential rain from before began pouring down.
Bu Eun-seol walked to the lakeside and stood before the massive tree from that day.
Then, just as before, he reached out his hand to caress the raindrops.
It was an unconscious act—born from longing for her—yet he remained unaware of it.
Plip. Plop.
Each time a raindrop touched his fingertips, strange emotions spread through him.
Melancholy. Tenderness. Sorrow.
The cold rain fell upon the empty lakeside at dawn, filling the space with longing for one person.
Sssshhhh.
Leaves rustled in the wind, and the sound of falling rain melted softly into his ears.
Without realizing it, Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes.
'Was it merely a dream from a single night?'
The mysterious woman he had met by the lake.
Had she been nothing more than a sweet midday dream?
Just as he took a deep breath of the rain- and wind-mingled air and prepared to unleash his Movement Technique again—
Suddenly, an indescribable fragrance—sweet yet refreshing—drifted into his nose.
Swish.
Bu Eun-seol slowly turned his head.
At that moment, a slender silhouette came into view across from him.
Long hair cascaded down like a crescent moon's gentle curve, reaching her waist, while her translucent skin seemed to hold light itself.
She was a beauty with an ineffable, unique aura.
The very same woman he had encountered before.
Thud.
She strode toward him without hesitation and tossed something his way.
It was the gourd flask she had carried at her waist the last time.
"A brew of your own making?"
In his delight, he blurted out an absurd greeting.
"Even the finest vintner in Shanxi, famed as the 'Greatest Under Heaven,' couldn't produce a liquor like this."
"......"
"No matter how much I rack my brain, I can't even begin to guess where a brewer capable of such miraculous craftsmanship might be found."
When she still didn't speak, Bu Eun-seol took a sip.
A rich, intoxicating aroma swirled in his mouth—one that could make all worldly worries vanish.
She silently extended her hand.
As if asking for the flask back.
Thud.
When Bu Eun-seol tossed it to her, she caught it and drank without a word.
Gulp. Gulp.
Unlike Bu Eun-seol, who savored the liquor slowly, letting its fragrance and flavor linger in his mouth as long as possible—
She downed it without restraint, like a reckless nouveau riche splurging without fear.
Priceless, peerless liquor poured straight down her throat.
Bu Eun-seol watched, dumbfounded.
He had never paid such close attention to someone eating or drinking before.
Yet now, he couldn't help but stare shamelessly as she drank.
Thump. Tap.
Leaning against the massive tree,
they passed the flask back and forth in silence as the rain gradually subsided.
Thud.
The flask was finally empty.
Not a single word had been exchanged between them the entire time.
As if merely sharing the same space was satisfaction enough.
Thump.
Once the rain had completely stopped, the woman slowly rose to her feet.
Sensing she was about to leave, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"I know this is improper, but meeting like this must be fate's doing. Wouldn't it be proper to at least exchange names?"
"......"
"The world has countless paths, and we are but countless dots passing through them. That my path has crossed yours, even for fleeting moments... is too profound to dismiss as mere happenstance."
Still no response.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Bu Eun-seol murmured softly.
"Even nameless things do not cease to exist. The wildflowers yonder, nameless as they are, still bloom. The drifting clouds above still hold their form."
He was naturally eloquent—
a man who always spoke with precision, cutting straight to the point.
Yet now,
he rambled like a novice scholar entering a lecture hall for the first time.
Shuffle. Shuffle.
Without so much as a backward glance, she turned away.
Like a debtor walking off after settling all accounts, light and unburdened.
'So she was only repaying a kindness.'
It seemed she had returned with liquor to repay the favor of Bu Eun-seol saving her from danger.
Not knowing when he would come, she must have waited at this hour every day.
'Nothing to be done.'
Bu Eun-seol swallowed a lonely smile.
Fate could not be forced.
If she did not wish for it, then this was where their connection ended.
But then, he discovered that the branches where she had stood were neatly arranged.
Dal-ri.
She had left her name in response to Bu Eun-seol's unspoken question.
'If not a nun of the Mystic Path... then she must be a wanderer from Beyond the Frontier.'
It sounded like a dharma name,
yet also resembled the name of an Indian woman.
The only certainty was that Dal-ri was her name.
"Dal-ri, Dal-ri..."
By leaving her name, she had ensured their connection remained unbroken.
No—it was a promise to meet again.
Before he realized it, Bu Eun-seol found himself murmuring her name endlessly.
Everything was beautiful, and the world was at peace.
At some point, Bu Eun-seol had begun counting the days until the next rain.
When the rain came, she would be there.
Standing quietly by the moonlit lakeshore, her glimmering eyes turned away.
Unconsciously, a smile escaped him.
"My Lord."
Wi Cheon-gyeong, seated across from him, spoke cautiously.
"Are you... unwell?"
Only then did Bu Eun-seol snap back to his senses and glance around.
The moonlit lakeside scenery had vanished, replaced by
the sight of the Death Shadow War Unit's senior officers watching him with concern from behind a large table.
"Ah."
He couldn't bring himself to admit he had been daydreaming in the middle of a meeting.
"No, it's nothing."
Shaking his head, he rose from his seat.
There was no way he could focus on the meeting in this state anyway.
"We'll continue later."
"Pardon?"
"A few days' rest would do us good."
The eyes of the officers, including Wi Cheon-gyeong, widened. The man who guarded every second like a treasure was suddenly calling for a recess?
"A wise decision."
Yu Un-ryong spoke up then.
"It's about time we took a break."
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had not rested a single day, squeezing out wisdom,
handling complex matters, and personally venturing into the martial world to resolve dangers alone.
Since he had shouldered every burden without pause, it was only right he took time to rest.
"As our Lord suggests, let us all take a short reprieve."
Yu Un-ryong addressed the officers.
"Why not rotate the unit members for breaks as well? We could even accept leave requests."
"A fine idea."
Bu Eun-seol nodded as he stood.
"Proceed as you see fit."
And with that, he strode out without another word.
The officers exchanged stunned glances.
They had never seen him like this before.
"Our Lord seems... changed in some way."
At Wi Cheon-gyeong's remark, Yu Un-ryong shook his head.
"Let's adjourn for today."
After all, only Bu Eun-seol himself could steady his own heart.
For now... all they could do was trust and wait.
A bone-chilling cold seeped upward as eerie blue flames flickered in the pitch-black chamber.
Beneath uncanny beams of light that seemed to ensnare souls, rows of dark figures stood in heavy silence.
A massive curtain draped over the high altar where the prostrated figures gazed up.
Behind it loomed a towering silhouette.
"Now is the time to execute the Grand Design we've prepared—to uproot the Baekri Side Family from its very foundation."
"Clues to the Honored Lord's whereabouts continue emerging from India."
Honored Lord.
That was how the Servants of the True Demon addressed their master.
The inner circle analyzed the state of the world, discussing the Grand Design they had long pursued.
But the reason for this gathering was a shocking revelation.
"Martial Soul Lord Bu Eun-seol. He must be eliminated."
Among the unanimous opinions was the removal of the one who obstructed their plans at every turn—
the Heir of the Demon Hall, the Martial Soul Lord.
Click.
The motionless silhouette tilted its head slightly.
Not only had this man defeated the True Demon's Servants, he had ruined countless schemes.
Yet that was no bad thing.
The True Demon had always desired its Servants to fight and devour one another, for it heralded the end of their long wait.
So why were his underlings suddenly pleading for the Martial Soul Lord's death?
"The Martial Soul Lord is the Return-to-One Realm Lord's pawn."
The subordinates revealed something startling.
"He erases the Martial Soul Lord's tracks and shields him. There must be some connection between them."
"......"
But the figure behind the curtain gave no response.
As the prostrated figures prepared to plead again—
Whoosh.
The ghostly phosphorescent flames surrounding them went out at once.
Then the shadow cast upon the curtain rose from its seat.
A shockwave of killing intent and True Qi surged like a tidal wave, sweeping through the chamber.
The bowing shadows lowered their heads further.
This was no different from declaring an intent to strike the Martial Soul Lord directly...
This was the Underworld, the realm that governed Death. None could defy the will of its ruler.
No rain fell today.
Yet Bu Eun-seol still made his way to the Secluded Valley in Unrim Mountain.
He could no longer deny it.
That he was powerfully drawn to Dal-ri.
The unfamiliar yet scorching emotion he should have first felt in his boyhood—
Only now had he discovered it.
Whoosh.
A chilly wind swept through the forest.
For a fleeting moment, he hallucinated a breathtaking beauty—as if someone had illuminated the dark lakeshore—slowly walking toward him.
But she did not come.
Disheartened, Bu Eun-seol let out a deep sigh and headed toward the ancient tree where he always took shelter from the rain.
"......!"
He halted mid-step.
Because carved into the tree's bark in an exquisitely slender and graceful script was a short verse:
―The mortal world is full of vexations,
The secluded place knows no right or wrong.
Worldly affairs rise in chaos, disturbing my heart,
Better to return and lie upon an empty mountain where none dwell.
As his fingers traced the engraved words, Bu Eun-seol's expression grew vacant.
"Worldly affairs rise in chaos, disturbing my heart..."
Drawing a deep breath, he murmured softly,
"...to an empty mountain where none dwell."
His heart lurched violently.
This verse had undoubtedly been left by Dal-ri—and within it lay two meanings.
Even if the end of the world were to come... would it not be better to turn away from this turbulent world?
To embrace a humble happiness in silence and meet one's final moments there?
"In the end..."
Bu Eun-seol whispered with a pained expression.
"...you're saying we cannot coexist."
And the second meaning was this:
Leave the Martial World.
Or else be buried in a barren mountain devoid of all things.
Then Dal-ri must be...
Aligned with forces hostile to him.
Bu Eun-seol fell into a long, contemplative silence. After what felt like an eternity lost in thought—
"Lady Dal-ri..."
He softly uttered her name.
And allowed himself to be honest with his own heart.
Shring.
Drawing his sword, he carved words into the opposite side of the ancient tree.
Scritch-scratch.
Once finished, he stared blankly at the inscription for a long while before finally departing.
How much time had passed?
Swish.
Under the radiant moonlight, a slender figure materialized in the Secluded Valley.
A woman with an infinitely distant gaze—as if fixed upon some faraway horizon—and an aura both serene and mystical.
It was Dal-ri.
Step. Step.
Without hesitation, she approached the tree and read the words Bu Eun-seol had left.
"......."
She stood motionless before the ancient tree like a stone statue.
―The rise and fall of the mortal world is not my concern,
Even if heaven and earth were overturned in ruin, how could it be my fault?
If I may but take your fair hand and leave this world to hide away...
A single day of joy would surpass a thousand years of life.
"Take your hand and leave this world... A single day surpassing a thousand years..."
It was an unbearably sincere and fervent confession of love.
Dal-ri had known.
That Bu Eun-seol held affection for her. No—that he had felt a love like destiny at first sight.
And so, in response to her verse urging him to leave, he had instead left behind this burning declaration.
"How absurd."
With a deep sigh, she lifted her eyes to the distant sky.
"Why has my heart become entangled?"
Then, as if hoping even she wouldn't hear it, she whispered:
"To have my heart stolen by an immature, green boy..."
A mysterious light had been gathering at her fingertips all along.
If it became clear that Bu Eun-seol had no intention of leaving the Martial World, she intended to kill him without hesitation.
But the moment she read those words brimming with pure devotion, her hardened resolve wavered.
"With his strength, he won't survive what's to come in the Martial World..."
From Dal-ri's perspective, Bu Eun-seol's current power made it impossible for him to face the formidable enemies that would soon emerge.
She had hoped he would quietly leave the Martial World, but that had now become nothing more than a fantasy.
"Haah..."
As she murmured, Dal-ri gazed at the distant sky.
Suddenly, Bu Eun-seol's face flashed in her mind—the way he had embraced her and charged through walls of searing flame.
To her eyes, he had been nothing but a reckless boy throwing himself forward to save her before the world's greatest swordsman.
Yet those pure, blazing eyes... had made her feel something like fate.
Slowly, Dal-ri extended her hand.
And as she released the mysterious light—
Shwish-shwish-shwish!
Shimmering shadows materialized around her.
Women clad in silver robes, their faces hidden behind mysterious masks.
"This is not an order given in my capacity as ruler of the Underworld."
She spoke to them in a low voice.
"You are my incarnations..."
Dal-ri.
She was the master of the Underworld—and the attendant of the True Demon, who wielded the power to destroy all natural order.
Pa Sun.