Chapter 112
As Heuk-pyo's large eyes rolled wildly, the attendant bowed her head fearfully.
"I—I must return quickly."
"No, wait! Excuse me! Attendant!"
Despite Heuk-pyo's attempts to stop her, the attendant hastily turned and fled the Purple Mist Secret Cave.
"Young Master."
Beads of sweat dotted Heuk-pyo's forehead as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"According to that attendant, it seems you've become engaged to the Young Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace."
"I heard."
Bu Eun-seol remained composed despite the unexpected situation.
"First, we must verify the exact circumstances."
Exiting the cave, Bu Eun-seol stopped another passing attendant of the Divine Maiden Palace to inquire in detail about the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl.
—The Palace Lord declared that the man who becomes the Young Palace Lord's husband must possess extraordinary wisdom and martial prowess. That's why the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation was created.
—After presenting the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl to the Young Palace Lord, she was instructed to choose a suitable hero from those who clear the formation.
—Until two years ago, not only the young lords of the Seven Great Female Palaces but also successors of renowned sects flocked to the Main Palace. Yet none succeeded in passing through.
Bu Eun-seol finally grasped the full picture.
In short, the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation served as a trial gate created to find a worthy match for the Young Palace Lord.
The Life-Preserving Divine Pearl was a betrothal gift to be given to whichever candidate she chose after they cleared the trial.
"It seems I've fallen into the Water Mirror Hall Master's scheme."
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol recognized his grave mistake.
During his time in the Kill-Seeking Unit, even for minor missions, he would always gather extensive intelligence before acting.
But now, preoccupied with his eagerness to fight Jeong Cheon, he had rushed into this without proper investigation.
This was a painfully careless misstep on his part.
"What shall we do now?"
At Heuk-pyo's question, Bu Eun-seol glanced toward the exit path leading out of the Divine Maiden Palace.
Then he narrowed his eyes.
The Thirty-Six Stratagems. For the first time since entering the martial world, he resolved to flee.
Yet even that desperate resolve was doomed to remain unfulfilled.
Before Bu Eun-seol could move, Namgung Se-a approached with quick steps from the opposite direction, dressed in resplendent blue robes.
"So here you are."
Rustle, rustle.
Behind her, a woman in white garments approached with maids in tow.
"Is this the man?"
Before he knew it, a beautiful middle-aged woman with cloud-like coiled hair stood beside Namgung Se-a.
Clad in snow-white ceremonial robes, her entire being exuded an aura as noble and solemn as white plum blossoms.
Facing her, Bu Eun-seol instantly recognized her identity.
'The Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace?'
Not only did her overwhelming qi radiate magnificently, but her eyes bore the exact same imprint as the Young Palace Lord's gaze he'd seen earlier.
"Young Hero Seol."
Namgung Se-a approached Bu Eun-seol and gestured to the middle-aged woman.
"This is the Palace Lord of our Main Palace. You must bow properly."
Yeon Ja-mi, Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace.
The supreme ruler of the palace had finally appeared—a peerless martial artist who had also achieved unparalleled mastery in Formation Study.
"Wandering martial artist Seol-so pays respects to the Palace Lord."
Yet Bu Eun-seol merely offered a deep bow without prostrating himself.
Namgung Se-a looked flustered at this, but Yeon Ja-mi coldly waved her hand.
"Enough."
Then she frowned at Bu Eun-seol.
"You claim to have cleared the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation?"
"I have."
Yeon Ja-mi eyed Bu Eun-seol's stiff reply with displeasure. With slightly angered eyes, she turned to Namgung Se-a.
"Where is So-ha?"
"Resting in her quarters."
"Hmm."
After a thoughtful hum, she addressed Bu Eun-seol coldly.
"Let us continue this discussion elsewhere."
Following Namgung Se-a's guidance, they relocated to a pavilion in the Separate Garden at the palace's outskirts.
Warm sunlight bathed the beautiful garden blooming with rare flowers, before which a small pond had been constructed.
"..."
Inside the pavilion, Bu Eun-seol and Yeon Ja-mi sat facing each other.
Though fragrant tea had been placed on the table, Bu Eun-seol kept his gaze fixed ahead without so much as glancing at it.
"Where is your sect located?"
After a long silence, these were Yeon Ja-mi's first words.
"Due to circumstances, I cannot disclose that."
It was commonplace in the martial world for people to conceal their origins.
Yet her dissatisfied gaze suggested she found even this answer displeasing as she spoke again.
"They say fist techniques are your specialty?"
"That is correct."
Judging by her sharp, tightly controlled voice, she seemed displeased even by the mere fact that Bu Eun-seol specialized in fist techniques.
"You live as a wandering martial artist?"
"That is correct."
Yeon Ja-mi took a sip of tea and muttered under her breath.
"A sect that would let its disciple live as a wanderer must be utterly insignificant."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flickered slightly at those words.
Not out of anger—but because an idea had just struck him.
A way to escape what had seemed an inescapable trap.
'The Palace Lord already dislikes me from the start. Then this will be easy.'
With that realization, his mind settled, and a faint sense of composure returned.
"Where did you hear about the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl?"
At Yeon Ja-mi's question, Bu Eun-seol's thoughts raced.
'If I say it was a job from the Red Sky Curtain Branch, I'll only provoke her wrath.'
Though the Divine Maiden Palace was renowned for its battle formations, it was still just one of the Seven Great Secret Palaces.
As its palace lord, Yeon Ja-mi stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the murim's supreme masters—a peerless female expert. If she were to strike in anger, Bu Eun-seol wouldn't stand a chance.
"I learned of it by chance."
"By chance? Explain precisely."
"The Wanderers' Market is full of high-grade information. I happened to hear about the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl from an old man who sold intelligence."
"Hmm."
An unsatisfactory explanation. Yeon Ja-mi's brow furrowed slightly before she spoke again.
"So-ha was frail as a child and spent all her time within the palace. In many ways, she's still as naive as an innocent girl who knows little of the world."
"I see."
"That's why I set up the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation. At the very least, I wanted to find her a worthy match."
After taking another sip of tea, she continued coldly.
"And I said that if anyone who passed the formation caught my eye, I would grant them the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl."
Yeon Ja-mi stared intently at Bu Eun-seol's face, which had blurred slightly from his altered state, before frowning once more.
"But that was solely my own thinking. Not So-ha's."
Pausing briefly, she parted her lips again.
"I heard you manipulated the Heavenly Generals using your internal energy to break through the formation. Is that correct?"
"That is correct."
"I see. But such a method hardly proves your martial prowess."
Bu Eun-seol could guess where this was going even without hearing the rest.
Yeon Ja-mi was being unreasonable.
'Good. This is very good.'
The more hostile her gaze grew, the more pleased he became.
After all, without the Palace Lord's permission, any marriage to the Young Palace Lord would be impossible.
"It seems the Palace Lord finds me unsatisfactory."
Having regained all his composure, Bu Eun-seol took a sip of the now-cooled tea.
Yeon Ja-mi laughed coldly and shook her head.
"Don't worry. I'm not one to go back on my word. Only... I wished to say your martial skill remains unproven."
A glint of understanding flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
'Ah. So she wants something else from me.'
"What would you have me do?"
At his question, Yeon Ja-mi answered swiftly.
"Are you willing to face our Mother-Son Spear Technique?"
"The Mother-Son Spear Technique?"
"One of our sect's guardian martial arts. Practiced by the three hall leaders of Water Purity, Shamanic Spirit, and Purple Mansion."
"You mean the three hall leaders each mastered a portion of the technique?"
"No. The Mother-Son Spear Technique is originally performed by three people simultaneously."
Bu Eun-seol had never before experienced the Divine Maiden Palace's martial arts.
And upon hearing it was a spear art executed by three fighters together, his mouth watered as if presented with a feast.
"You want me to face them in combat."
"Indeed. Of course, this isn't about victory or defeat—merely a demonstration of your martial skill—"
"I accept."
When Bu Eun-seol answered without hesitation, a sweet smile curled upon Yeon Ja-mi's lips.
"Are you truly certain?"
A bright smile had also unknowingly formed on Bu Eun-seol's lips as he gazed at her.
"With pleasure."
Inside the Medicine God Hall of the Divine Maiden Palace.
At its very center stood a transparent bed, upon which Namgung Un sat cross-legged, his entire body densely studded with needles.
"Wait, since when does such a rule exist? A duel, you say?"
Upon hearing the story from Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo standing opposite him, he suddenly sprang up and shouted.
"First, we had to pass through a battle formation, and now they demand a duel... Isn't this just sheer coercion?"
As he jumped in agitation, the needles embedded in his body flicked outward.
At that, an elderly woman who had been organizing medical supplies in the distance huffed and approached.
"You wretched brat! How many times must I reinsert these needles into you?!"
"Ah, my apologies."
"If you move again, I swear I won't apply the Primordial Chaos Golden Needles ever again!"
Grumbling, the old woman reinserted the golden needles into Namgung Un, who had settled back into place.
Now motionless, he cautiously moved only his lips.
"Brother Seol. Let's just drop this. Once I've had these needles put in, I'll go straight to my aunt and demand an explanation."
Watching him bristle with agitation, needles still trembling, Heuk-pyo shook his head.
"My lord, you needn't trouble yourself."
"What, you're not even worried?"
"Well, you see... our Young Master has always... enjoyed fighting."
"Eh? Enjoyed fighting?"
Namgung Un rolled his eyes wide as he looked up at Bu Eun-seol.
The faint smile on his face suggested that this wasn't just idle talk.
"Hmm?"
But then, Namgung Un's gaze caught on the circular discs wrapped around Heuk-pyo's wrist, and his eyes widened further.
"Wait—aren't those the Tang Clan's hidden weapons, the Blood Linked Rings?"
At his question, Heuk-pyo hastily hid his sleeves and replied awkwardly.
"You recognize them, my lord?"
"Those are concealed weapons primarily used by the Tang Clan's members. Are you from the Tang Clan as well?"
"Not exactly. The Third Young Master taught me how to wield these Blood Linked Rings and their techniques."
"The Third Young Master... You mean Tang Gon?"
"You know the Third Young Master as well, my lord?"
At Heuk-pyo's words, Namgung Un gave a slight nod.
"I've seen him a few times during clan gatherings in my youth. But given how reserved he is, we never grew close."
Blinking, he studied Heuk-pyo.
"I'd heard he recently became the Young Clan Head... Surely you're not that 'Black Whirlwind' who stormed Blood Poison Valley with Tang Gon?"
"Black Whirlwind?"
"Rumors say a young man led the Tang Clan's masters alongside Tang Gon in raiding Blood Poison Valley."
'So that's the story that spread?'
For a moment, Heuk-pyo was stunned, but he quickly waved his hands in denial.
"How could that be? I don't have the skill for such a feat."
"Come to think of it, they said that boy's movement technique was frighteningly fast..."
"That couldn't possibly be me, my lord. My movement technique is embarrassingly poor."
Heuk-pyo broke out in a cold sweat.
Rumors always reached the person involved last—just as those losing their fame never noticed it slipping away.
"By the way, why do you keep calling me 'my lord'? Just call me 'Brother.' Hahaha."
"W-what? How could I possibly—"
"Titles don't matter. We'll be traveling together for a while anyway. Hahaha!"
Unlike what one would expect from a scion of a noble clan, Namgung Un paid little heed to martial world hierarchy or formalities.
Such a temperament suited a free-spirited rogue, but it was entirely at odds with the solemnity of a great clan.
Perhaps it was precisely this unpretentious nature that earned him the nickname Reckless Ruffian of the Namgung Clan.
"Then I shall call you 'Young Master.'"
"If you insist, fine. Suit yourself."
Namgung Un clicked his tongue in disappointment before turning to Bu Eun-seol.
"Since we're at it, let's drop formalities between us too."
As Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened, Namgung Un grinned.
"I'm twenty-one this year, so I'll call you 'Brother Seol.' How's that?"
"No."
Namgung Un's expression stiffened slightly.
To think someone would refuse to exchange brotherly terms with a blood descendant of the illustrious Namgung Clan.