Chapter 1128
Bu Eun-seol wasn't particularly surprised.
He simply raised his internal energy, brushing against the stones and trees around the inn as he calmly prepared something.
Thud, thud.
Then, from the distant darkness, someone approached the inn on foot.
At that moment, the wind ceased, the birdsong vanished, and even the chirping of insects seemed to disappear.
It was as though all the sounds of the world had been swallowed by something enormous—leaving behind a space of complete silence.
Before long, a dark shadow drew close to Bu Eun-seol's side.
The man wore a black martial uniform, as if carved straight from the abyss itself.
His robes bore no patterns or adornments, yet his mere presence exuded an authority that seemed capable of annihilating everything in existence.
"I've kept you waiting."
A flawless white jade mask covered his face, devoid of any trace of emotion.
Beyond the eyeholes of the mask, a pair of pupils darker than the abyss gazed out.
Just meeting his eyes was enough to create the illusion that one's very soul might be sucked away.
"I am Oh Deung, Commander of the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry."
If the Thousand-Captain Gwak Woon and Vice-Commander Jong Dae-myeong were blazing calamity flames—
Then Commander Oh Deung was a frozen tundra that could extinguish all light and heat.
With each step he took, the distance between them narrowed as though sliding effortlessly closer.
Sssshhh—
At the same time, soldiers clad in red began encircling the inn.
The rest of the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry had arrived.
"Even though you could have used the Land-Flying Technique to escape."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Why did you deliberately stay here and act as bait?"
Oh Deung had sensed Bu Eun-seol deploying the Land-Flying Technique high in the sky earlier.
And Bu Eun-seol, in turn, had realized that someone had detected his presence.
Yet despite knowing full well he would be attacked—
He had accepted the princess's suggestion and deliberately stayed to eat at the inn.
"Because you have nowhere left to return to."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze was endlessly desolate.
The Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry had been the Empress Dowager's confident trump card.
Though they had revealed themselves to the world through this incident, they had failed to capture the princess—meaning their usefulness had run its course.
In the end, Oh Deung no longer had anywhere to go back to.
"How sentimental."
Oh Deung's eyes were endlessly sunken.
"Was it pity, then?"
"Not at all."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"After repeatedly clashing with the martial arts employed by the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry, I realized something."
"Oh?"
"The Imperial Court Martial Arts contain a certain profound principle—one that could compensate for my own shortcomings."
In short, he intended to fight Oh Deung, the commander, and use that vague insight to refine his understanding.
Thud.
As Bu Eun-seol stomped his foot, the inn was enveloped in a transparent current of energy.
Touching the stones and trees earlier had been to create a battle formation to protect the princess inside the inn.
"I see."
Oh Deung nodded, then raised his left hand.
Sssshhh—
The Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry, who had been lying in ambush, swarmed out and surrounded the inn.
"Don't resent us for ganging up on you."
Oh Deung spoke shamelessly and without hesitation.
"This is our last chance."
He was not a prideful martial artist but a soldier of the imperial court. Even the slimmest chance was one he would seize to ensure his return to the palace.
'We're both lying to each other.'
A lonely feeling settled over Bu Eun-seol.
Truthfully, he didn't even need to fight them.
With just a little more meditation, he could have refined the insight he had previously grasped into a complete technique.
Conversely, Oh Deung—
Even though he clearly knew Bu Eun-seol was a master beyond his ability to defeat—had still brought every last remaining soldier of the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry.
'He was just looking for a place to die.'
Oh Deung had already sealed off the area while Bu Eun-seol and the princess were dining.
If he had truly intended to succeed in an ambush... he wouldn't have given Bu Eun-seol time to deploy a battle formation.
"You're not much like a martial artist."
Oh Deung spoke flatly as he observed Bu Eun-seol's endlessly sunken gaze.
"Then again, people are the same no matter where they live."
—A spy whose identity is exposed has nowhere to return to.
Oh Deung's murmur overlapped with someone from the past.
Rather than fading away meaninglessly, they had sought a place to die with dignity—
Just like the Gong Twin Demons.
"Let's begin."
Clank.
As Oh Deung assembled his spear, a black mist rose.
At the same time, sharp spear shadows coiled around Bu Eun-seol's body.
Under the pretense of combining his spear shaft, he had actually launched an unavoidable ambush.
Snap!
But Bu Eun-seol dodged the attack with absurd ease.
Because the martial arts and tactics of the imperial court were all rigidly standardized.
"You'll need to improvise to the fullest."
Bu Eun-seol spoke impassively.
"Otherwise, this will be far too easy a fight."
The soldiers moved according to predetermined martial forms, battle formations, and tactics, prioritizing discipline and coordination over individual creativity.
Especially since the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry had mastered the very essence of Imperial Court Martial Arts.
Their movements were as predictable as an exam with the answers already revealed.
Moreover, Bu Eun-seol had already defeated the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry countless times before.
He could read their formations and martial forms as clearly as the lines on his palm—
And their weaknesses were laid bare before him.
"Then again, the martial arts of the murim and the military are somewhat different."
Oh Deung wore a bitter expression.
The murim was a place where countless sects and martial arts existed, divided among the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions—
Unlike the rigid Imperial Court Martial Arts, it was a realm teeming with unpredictable secret arts and techniques of endless variety.
The Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry had been formed from the start to defeat the Imperial Palace's masters.
But against Bu Eun-seol, one of the murim's strongest, they stood no chance.
Hwoong! Hwoong! Hwoong!
The hundred soldiers of the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry moved as one, the sound of their swinging spears merging into a single roar.
They unleashed the Thousand Shift Heaven Defense Formation—a killing formation and defensive formation only they could execute.
Hwoong! Hwoong!
The killing intent radiating from a hundred spear tips intertwined and condensed, forming spherical surges of energy.
They had created spear orbs, a technique achievable only after honing spearplay to its absolute limit.
Kwa-woooooo!
Sealing off every possible retreat or counterattack, they unleashed the spear orbs from different stances and angles—
Weaving a vast net of certain death.
"......"
Bu Eun-seol still did not move.
The moment countless spear orbs reflected in his pupils—
Shing.
He drew Ink Soul Sword and lightly traced a circle in the air.
Paaaa—
As a gentle energy unfurled from his blade, forming a circular current in the void—
Crrraaack!
The hundred spear orbs, surging forward with overwhelming force, were swept up as if caught in a whirlpool and vanished into the distant sky.
Even their spear shafts began to twist.
Puh-ut!
Simultaneously, the soldiers who had attacked Bu Eun-seol staggered, coughing up blood.
Their Combined Attack Art had been flawless—an overwhelming assault no murim master could evade, unleashed in a single strike.
Yet how had Bu Eun-seol shattered their attack with nothing more than a circle drawn in the air?
'Connection.'
It was a clue that had flickered through his mind while facing warriors who wielded the Imperial Palace Secret Arts.
The Dark Death Annihilators could neutralize an enemy's strength despite lacking the Death Qi Technique.
The Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry suppressed individuality, intertwining all energy into one—like streams merging into a great river—
Crushing the Principles of Martial Arts with a single movement.
The reason such feats were possible—
Was because they had unraveled the principle of connection as a martial truth.
'Not erasing power—but severing its connection.'
Most Advanced Martial Arts involved intricate and complex True Qi Circulation.
The Dark Death Annihilators were no exception.
Rather than erasing manifested power, they interfered—
At the very moment power was about to be born, severing its connection.
Like snatching away kindling the instant before it could ignite.
Pah-sseuk.
Finally, the soldiers' spear shafts crumbled into dust.
At the same time, the light faded from their eyes.
Bu Eun-seol's strike, infused with the power of ten sixty-year measure, had not only shattered their spears—
But also pulverized the very insides of their bodies.
Drip. Drip.
Even in death, they did not collapse—standing rigidly upright.
Maintaining their formation, they stretched their hands toward Oh Deung.
"Impressive."
Ghk.
Oh Deung gripped his spear shaft.
"But you won't have foreseen this!"
Kwaaang!
Suddenly, his body transformed into a black meteor, piercing straight toward Bu Eun-seol.
His strike contained not only the purest essence of Imperial Court Martial Arts condensed into a single point—
But also the combined strength of every soldier in the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry.
Paaaa—
Space twisted. The atmosphere tore apart.
In an instant, a pitch-black spear tip drove straight for Bu Eun-seol's heart.
An absolute strike—one that eliminated all variables, all changes—existing solely for destruction.
This was the very pinnacle of Imperial Court Martial Arts—unavoidable, unblockable.
At that moment, the Ink Soul Sword, still tracing its circle, extended toward the spear tip with perfect, effortless grace.
Swish.
All sound vanished from the world.
At the point where the spear tip of Oh Deung met the Master's palm, a radiance brighter than light erupted.
For a brief moment, the night sky turned as bright as midday, and then—
BOOM!
A massive shockwave rippled outward, splitting the solid earth like the cracked shell of a tortoise.
As the dust settled and silence returned, the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry lay dead, their organs ruptured from the aftermath of the clash. Only Oh Deung, the commander, remained standing, his spear planted firmly in the ground.
"Truly... worthy of escorting the Princess alone."
"Speak your last words, if you have any."
Though they had met as enemies, Oh Deung had conducted himself with the dignity befitting a martial commander of the Imperial secret forces—without deceit or underhanded tactics. Even as an adversary, he was a man deserving of respect in his final moments.
"Regret..."
Oh Deung's dimming gaze settled on Bu Eun-seol.
"...I have none."
Thud.
And then, he collapsed as if his body had been unstrung.
Bu Eun-seol bowed solemnly to the remains of Oh Deung and the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry.
There had been no personal enmity between them.
They had merely been caught in the violent currents of this turbulent world, where life and death were decided in an instant.
Turning away, Bu Eun-seol lifted his eyes to the distant sky.
"It seems I'll have to enter the Imperial Palace Martial Repository someday."
Thanks to the enemies who wielded the Imperial Palace Secret Arts, he had grasped a single thread of insight into shattering force.
But what if he never obtained the Four Divine Weapons?
Then only one path remained.
Somehow, he would have to infiltrate the Imperial Palace Martial Repository and study its Secret Arts.
Creak.
As he withdrew his battle formation, the inn's door groaned open.
Princess Hui-jeong, freed from the pressure-point restraint, immediately stepped outside.
"...This."
Her lips parted slightly as she took in the sight.
A mountain of corpses, a sea of blood.
The area around the inn was littered with the bodies of the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry, their spilled blood forming crimson streams.
Unless she stepped over the corpses and blood, she couldn't even approach Bu Eun-seol.
Squelch.
Without hesitation, the Princess calmly tread over the blood and corpses, slowly making her way toward him.
A path of blood.
It was as if this moment foreshadowed her fate—that until the day she toppled the Empress Dowager, she would have to carve her way through endless rivers of blood.
"I had so desperately wished to annihilate the Empress Dowager's secret forces..."
When she finally reached Bu Eun-seol, her expression was bitter.
"...Yet now that it's done, I find no joy in it."
In the end, she had achieved her goal.
She had eliminated the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry—the Empress Dowager's covert operatives—along with their commander, Oh Deung.
But for some reason, she felt no satisfaction.
"Because they were warriors of pride, even if they stood on the opposite side."
Bu Eun-seol met her gaze and spoke calmly.
"Give their remains a proper burial. Even those who serve the Empress Dowager will take notice."
"...Yes. You're right."
The Princess nodded with a dry smile.
"I'll see to it."
"Then I'll take my leave."
"Wait."
She hurried after him.
"This Princess dislikes being indebted."
She had already guessed that Bu Eun-seol had delayed his journey to the Imperial Palace solely to uproot the Thousand Kill Forbidden Cavalry—for her sake.
As long as they existed, the Emperor would live in fear.
That was why she had deliberately lured them here, far from the capital, under the pretense of dining.
"Take this."
She removed a delicate bracelet from her wrist and held it out to him.
"Not that this could ever fully repay the debt..."
A serene smile touched her lips.
"...But I'll keep in mind that I owe you one more."
The way she stood tall exuded the dignity of a royal princess.
Through this journey with Bu Eun-seol,
she had grown.
"I'll accept it with gratitude."
Switching to a formal tone, Bu Eun-seol knelt on one knee and bowed to her—for the first time.
When they had first met,
Princess Hui-jeong had been a ruthless ruler—one who dismissed others' words, enforced her will, and even treated her loyal subordinates as mere pawns.
But now, she had become someone who understood the value of life.
And so, Bu Eun-seol paid her the respect she had earned.
"That is called the Dragon-Phoenix Ring."
The Princess looked pleased.
"Try it on."
The bracelet didn't seem to fit around Bu Eun-seol's wrist.
But when he slipped it on and applied force—
Click.
Miraculously, it adjusted itself to the exact thickness of his forearm.
"I have a command for you."
"Speak, Your Highness."
"Show me your true face."
Her voice was calm.
"I've seen the portrait scroll depicting your likeness, but I still wish to see the real you."
Bu Eun-seol's face was already widely known throughout the Central Plains.
There was no particular need to hide it.
Shhhhk.
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol restored his original appearance using the Darkness Secret Arts.
The princess stared intently at his face before nodding slowly.
"Indeed, you truly possess the bearing of a dragon."
"You flatter me."
"But."
The princess tilted her head slightly before posing an unexpected question.
"If martial artists can change their appearances so freely, why do so many of them maintain such rugged, unrefined faces?"
It was such an innocent question that it nearly made him laugh.
"Maintaining a disguise continuously consumes one-tenth of one's internal energy. In the martial world, where internal energy is cherished like life itself and battles are often decided by the narrowest of margins, there's little reason to sustain such a transformation unless absolutely necessary."
"Hmm."
"Moreover, disguises are not omnipotent. They can only adjust one's existing features to a certain degree—they cannot defy the natural limits of one's bone structure and musculature."
"So, in the end, it damages the body."
"Correct. Prolonged use of disguise techniques will eventually warp muscles and bones. That's why only spies and thieves bother with them."
"I see. That makes sense."
Shhhh—
At that moment, a strange sound of breaking air echoed from the distant sky as dark shadows filled the horizon.
Whoosh.
Clad in azure uniforms, they descended around the princess and immediately knelt in deep prostration.
They were the Purple Cloud Guard—the princess's personal elite guard unit.
"This lowly servant, Byeok Ho-gun, has received His Majesty's command to escort Her Highness."
The captain of the Purple Cloud Guard, Byeok Ho-gun, bowed respectfully.
"From this moment forth, this unworthy servant shall personally guard and guide Your Highness's procession."
The princess nodded and stepped into her palanquin.
Fwoosh.
In the blink of an eye, the Purple Cloud Guard vanished into the distant sky as if they had taken flight.
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and shook his head.
He had faced far more dangerous and arduous journeys in the martial world before.
But none had ever left him so mentally exhausted.
"I never want to be involved with the imperial palace again."
If the martial world was tangled in grudges and debts of gratitude,
then the affairs of the imperial palace came with an additional layer of filthy power struggles.
Shhhh—
But then, the sound of breaking air echoed once more from the distant sky, and suddenly, martial artists clad in golden robes began encircling Bu Eun-seol.
Another group of Embroidered Uniform Guards had arrived.
"Different ones."
The previous group—led by Captain Mo Il-chung, whom he had encountered while burning the opium fields—had been somewhat competent, but only just.
They were no match for true martial world elites.
But these Embroidered Uniform Guards before him now were trained to a level where they could overpower even the strongest martial artists.
As if to prove it, each of them radiated internal energy surpassing three sixty-year cycles of cultivation.
'Were they uneasy?'
Historically, it wasn't uncommon for emperors to recruit outstanding martial artists as commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Perhaps, after this incident, the emperor might even consider enlisting Bu Eun-seol as a general.
It was entirely possible that the current commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had sent assassins, seeing him as a potential threat.
Shhhk.
The guards, standing in formation like drawn blades, parted seamlessly to either side, and from between them emerged a man who seemed to tear through the darkness itself.
Thud. Thud.
A middle-aged man, likely just past the age of forty,
wore an official robe adorned with an exquisitely embroidered qilin in golden thread, its majestic form roaring amidst clouds from shoulder to hem.
'A captain?'
His attire alone was imposing, but even a single glance at his piercing gaze revealed an extraordinary presence.
Just as Bu Eun-seol began gathering his internal energy—
Shhhk.
An unexpected turn of events unfolded.
"Thousand-household Commander Na Baek-hu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
The middle-aged man—presumably a captain—
Na Baek-hu, instead of attacking, knelt and bowed deeply.
The rest of the Embroidered Uniform Guards followed suit, saluting respectfully.
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes.
Since when did the Embroidered Uniform Guard bow to a mere martial artist?
Did they mistake him for someone of imperial standing?
But then, the words that followed nearly made his eyes bulge out of his skull.
"Greetings to the Imperial Son-in-Law."
From Thousand-household Commander Na Baek-hu's mouth came the most shocking words imaginable.
"From this moment forth, we shall ensure your safety with the utmost diligence."
"Imperial Son-in-Law?"
As Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened, Na Baek-hu continued with utmost deference.
"Has Your Excellency not now become a revered member of the imperial family?"
His eyes gleamed with loyalty as he bowed once more.
"We, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, shall guard Your Excellency's noble person without the slightest negligence for all twelve double-hours of the day!"
"A member of the imperial family? There must be some misunderstanding."
Bu Eun-seol waved his hand dismissively.
"I am but a mere martial artist of the martial world—"
"The Dragon-Phoenix Ring is a sacred imperial artifact that Her Highness the Princess can bestow upon only one person in her lifetime."
Na Baek-hu grinned cheerfully as he glanced at the bracelet on Bu Eun-seol's wrist before bowing again with utmost reverence.
"Imperial Son-in-Law!"
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol's vision blurred.
That seemingly insignificant bracelet he had casually accepted—
Was it truly an imperial relic meant for the future royal son-in-law?