Chapter 114
Speed and change cannot coexist.
As the three Hall Leaders forcibly extended their spear shadows to block Bu Eun-seol's retreat, the flaws in the Mother-Son Spear Technique gradually revealed themselves.
'That... that bastard.'
Yak-ran, sensing the opening, spoke in a low voice.
"Watch your heads. A counterattack is coming."
Hearing this, the other two Hall Leaders startled and tightened their spear shadows to protect themselves.
But Bu Eun-seol paid no heed and raised his internal energy.
'I can't use the Fist Demon Initial Manifestation.'
The first stance of the Fist Demon Initial Manifestation might look like a simple, light punch, but in truth, it was a devastating opening move.
Because of that, it couldn't slip through the densely woven net of pike shadows.
'The strength of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon isn't in its opening moves—it's in freely controlling the fist energy already unleashed.'
The secret of adjusting sword qi through weapons wasn't particularly rare in the martial world.
Even the Fourth Form of the Formless Heavenly Flow, Caged Bird Longing for Clouds, which Bu Eun-seol had created, worked on the same principle.
But a fist technique capable of adjusting the fist energy already unleashed from one's body? In the history of the martial world, only the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon could do that.
'Let's try it.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed as his fist slowly extended forward.
Most fist techniques were executed the moment the fist made contact.
But the punch Bu Eun-seol threw soared into the sky before descending like a colossal mountain crashing down—fist energy plummeting from above.
'We can't dodge.'
Yak-ran and the other two had no choice but to thrust their pikes forward with all their strength to resist the force.
And that was their mistake.
"What?"
The fist energy, pouring down like a mountain, didn't press against the pikes—instead, it pulled them forward.
It was no different from an enraged wild boar charging ahead only to trip over a root and crash face-first.
Crash!
With a deafening boom, the three bodies tumbled forward in an undignified heap.
'That fist technique...?'
Yeon Ja-mi's eyes widened as she watched.
To her knowledge, there was only one fist technique in the martial world that was both overwhelmingly domineering and cunningly precise.
'Was he a disciple of the Beggars' Sect?'
The fist technique Bu Eun-seol had used bore a striking resemblance to the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, renowned as the pinnacle of external martial arts.
'No, it's not the Subduing Dragon Palm.'
Every stance of the Subduing Dragon Palm unleashed a ferocious might, as if pouring out one's life force.
But the fist technique Bu Eun-seol had displayed was a form where seven parts pushed forward and three parts pulled back.
This wasn't external martial arts—it was clearly the subtle application of internal energy, the essence of internal fist techniques.
'Just whose disciple is he?'
Yeon Ja-mi had been confident that this duel would expose every detail of Bu Eun-seol's origins.
But she never expected the Mother-Son Spear Technique to be shattered in an instant by an unidentified fist technique.
In the end, this duel only made Bu Eun-seol's identity even more ambiguous.
"You've trained well."
As Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together, the three Hall Leaders also adjusted their stances and bowed in return.
But with their pikes dropped and their bodies covered in dust, the sight was rather pitiful.
"He won."
At Yeon So-ha's words, Namgung Se-a nodded with a smile.
"Indeed. Young Hero Seol has emerged victorious."
"Hmph."
In that instant, Yeon Ja-mi let out a cold snort and abruptly stood up. She then turned sharply and strode away in the opposite direction.
detached residence's banquet hall.
Namgung Un, still wrapped head to toe in bandages, burst into mad laughter.
"Bwahahaha!"
After laughing so hard he clutched his stomach for a long while, he turned to Bu Eun-seol and shouted.
"You should've seen Palace Lord Yeon's face, Brother Seol! Ehehehe!"
Cackling like a madman, he downed an entire bottle of snow-ginseng wine in one go before wiping his tears.
"When you won, Palace Lord Yeon shot up like she'd been stabbed in the rear! Her cheeks turned red like she'd been slapped, too."
Namgung Un took another swig of liquor and bellowed.
"I had Auntie next to me, so I couldn't even laugh—just had to cover my mouth! Ended up farting like crazy."
At his joke, Heuk-pyo, who had been chewing on shrimp beside him, choked with a "Keugh!"
Namgung Un's speech was not only playful but also rough and unrefined like that of a street ruffian.
It was hard to believe that such a person had been born into the Namgung Clan, which valued solemnity and propriety above all else.
"By the way, Brother Seol, congratulations."
Suddenly, Namgung Un clasped his hands together and grinned widely.
"Now that you've become the Divine Maiden Palace's son-in-law, all that's left is to retire from your wandering life and settle down in a garden of flowers. Wahahaha!"
Bu Eun-seol frowned at Namgung Un's nonsensical chatter.
"I'll be leaving for the Red Sky Curtain Branch soon."
"Huh? What do you mean, leaving?"
Bu Eun-seol drained his cup and replied impassively.
"I obtained the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl. There's no reason to stay any longer."
"How does that make sense? If you do that, the Divine Maiden Palace Lord will hunt you down to the ends of hell and split your skull in two!"
"I've already settled things with the Palace Lord."
"Settled things?"
Namgung Un's eyes bulged as if he had seen a ghost, and Bu Eun-seol allowed a faint smile to touch his lips.
"That's right."
And then, he recalled the conversation he had had with Yeon Ja-mi in her office just a few hours earlier.
"You... So, do you truly intend to marry So-ha?"
Yeon Ja-mi had unconsciously clenched her sleeves.
If Bu Eun-seol had said, "Of course!" she feared she might have struck him on the head without realizing it.
But the answer that came was completely unexpected.
"How could I possibly become the Young Palace Lord's spouse?"
"What? What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said."
Bu Eun-seol smoothly recited the words he had prepared in advance.
"This one merely admired the Divine Maiden Palace and the Young Palace Lord's fame, which stirs the martial world, and thus took on the challenge. I desire nothing beyond that."
"Is... is that truly the case?"
The Divine Maiden Palace had possessed vast treasures for generations, and the Young Palace Lord, Yeon So-ha, was counted among the Three Beauties of the World.
Yet here was a madman refusing to become her spouse? Yeon Ja-mi couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Truly? I didn't mishear, did I?"
"That is correct."
The Yeon So-ha's eyes widened, and the corners of her mouth nearly reached her ears.
If Bu Eun-seol had stubbornly clung to her, how would she have resolved this? She had agonized over it all night, racking her brains—
And now this brat was willingly stepping aside on his own?
"If that is truly how you feel... I can only be grateful. Ah, but..."
As if something had occurred to her, Yeon Ja-mi shook her head.
"Even if that is your intention, the arrow has already left the bowstring."
"What do you mean?"
Yeon Ja-mi spoke with a troubled expression.
"This Palace Lord publicly declared that she would choose the Young Palace Lord's spouse from among those who broke through the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation. There isn't a soul in the martial world who hasn't heard of it."
She rubbed her forehead with a pained look.
"If I go back on my word and break my promise, it would damage the dignity and prestige of the Palace Lord."
The words of the Divine Maiden Palace Lord, one of the Seven Great Secret Palaces of the Martial World, were worth a thousand gold.
But if she were to twist her words now, she would become the laughingstock of the martial world.
"Don't worry."
Yet Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly and said,
"The Palace Lord need only keep her promise."
"Hm? What do you mean by that?"
"The promise the Palace Lord made was to choose a spouse from among those who passed the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation, correct? But in the future, won't others pass it as well?"
"But..."
"That was the only promise you made. The Young Palace Lord merely gave me the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl, nothing more."
Yeon Ja-mi looked partly convinced, yet her expression darkened.
"But the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl is the betrothal gift for the future spouse, is it not?"
"That is correct. The Palace Lord need only change that."
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't a betrothal gift something that can always be altered?"
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"I've heard the Divine Maiden Palace possesses many other treasures. Merely changing the gift would not damage the Palace Lord's dignity, I think."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Yeon Ja-mi slapped her knee.
"So that was the solution!"
She had instructed the Young Palace Lord to choose someone who passed the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation—someone she fancied. And as the betrothal gift, she had selected the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl.
But if the gift were changed to something other than the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl that Bu Eun-seol received?
That way, she wouldn't break her own word, and the Young Palace Lord wouldn't have to marry Bu Eun-seol just because she had given him the pearl.
Yeon Ja-mi was so overjoyed that she beamed and clasped Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
"It was nothing."
"But you risked your life to pass the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation, and now you'll receive no reward. I feel terrible about that."
Yeon Ja-mi spoke with a smile.
"Is there anything you need? I'll give you whatever you ask for."
It was an extraordinary offer.
The Divine Maiden Palace held countless treasures and divine artifacts. Even obtaining just one of them could make a man immensely wealthy or grant him a rare divine weapon.
Yet Bu Eun-seol merely shook his head, indifferent.
"I've already received the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl. That is enough."
She couldn't believe how gracefully he phrased it.
Had he been merely a man of outstanding character and lineage, Yeon Ja-mi might have even tried to keep him.
'He is indeed an exceptional talent, but not enough to become So-ha's husband.'
She smiled faintly and nodded.
"Thank you."
Having recounted everything, Bu Eun-seol spoke plainly.
"That's how it turned out."
"I see. In that case, the Palace Lord wouldn't be breaking her promise. But—"
Namgung Un shook his head regretfully.
"To settle for the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl instead of becoming the Divine Maiden Palace's son-in-law... Doesn't that seem like a terrible loss?"
Bu Eun-seol said nothing, merely tilting his wine cup.
"Young Master Seol."
Just then, an attendant's voice came from outside.
"A guest has arrived."
"A guest? Could it be my aunt?"
Namgung Un scrambled to flee the table.
If Namgung Se-a found out he was drinking while still recovering, she would absolutely not let it slide.
But then—creak—the door slid open.
A dazzling beauty, her face veiled, stepped inside.
It was Yeon So-ha.
"Young Hero Seol."
"Young Palace Lord?"
Bu Eun-seol seemed slightly startled, and she spoke with an awkward expression.
"I was hoping... we could talk for a moment."
Her eyes flickered over the drinking party before she added carefully,
"Could you step outside with me?"
"Understood."
Side by side, Bu Eun-seol and Yeon So-ha walked through the Divine Maiden Palace.
By the time they reached a moonlit pond, she stopped.
Silence lingered in the pavilion for a long while.
Only when a cool breeze brushed past their ears did Yeon So-ha finally speak in a hushed voice.
"I heard... you refused me."
Bu Eun-seol said nothing.
It was a silent affirmation.
"So it's true."
Nodding, Yeon So-ha suddenly untied the veil covering her face.
Shhh—
As the white silk slipped from her cheeks, the pavilion seemed to brighten in an instant.
"...!"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
He had never held much interest in women before, nor did he particularly care about beauty or ugliness.
Years of working as an undertaker had taught him that appearances were nothing more than useless shells.
But her breathtaking beauty shattered that belief entirely.
'Now I understand the Palace Lord's reasoning.'
Why had the Divine Maiden Palace Master set up that brutally vicious Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation?
Why had she wanted such an outstanding young hero as the Young Palace Lord's husband?
Yeon So-ha's beauty transcended personal taste—it was flawless perfection, the kind that would make anyone fall for her.
"Do I... not appeal to you?"
Bu Eun-seol stared straight at her face.
He could say with certainty that no man alive could look at her and claim she didn't.
"That's not it."
"Then will you take me back?"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm unworthy."
"Don't lie."
Yeon So-ha's voice turned icy.
"Fine. Then I'll change the question."
After breathing heavily for a moment, she spoke again, her voice cold.
"Why did you challenge the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation?"
"..."
"Was it for the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl from the start?"