Chapter 1147
Crunch.
As Bu Eun-seol tightened his fist, Pa Hon let out a derisive snort.
"Do you perhaps intend to force me into submission through strength? It's useless."
Pa Hon spoke again, his voice firm.
"Had your power been whole, it might have been a different story—but as you are now, you cannot oppose me."
He spoke playfully, as if amused by some entertaining game.
"Even if you were to defeat and threaten me, it would change nothing. There are only two choices before you."
In truth, countless schemes to break Pa Hon's proposal were already swirling in Bu Eun-seol's mind.
But he soon shook his head.
What if Pa Hon was truly so wicked—a man who toyed with the lives of others?
Even if he claimed he could restore Bu Eun-seol's body, how could he be trusted?
More likely, he would weave some hidden treachery, deliberately ruining his body further—or perhaps he never intended to keep his promise in the first place.
"I see."
Swish.
Bu Eun-seol relaxed his grip and shook his head.
Without hesitation, he turned and strode out of the underground cavern.
"Leaving already?"
Pa Hon called after Bu Eun-seol's retreating figure.
"Are you unable to make a choice? Or do you simply not wish to become a wicked man?"
Halt.
Bu Eun-seol paused briefly before replying in a low, weary voice.
"Creating the Forest of Spirit Beasts, watching over human life and death like some god—was that not enough for you...?"
He exhaled sharply, his tone laced with disgust.
"And now you expect me to trust the proposal of a man who gambles with lives and treats them as playthings?"
As he turned his head, a cold, contemptuous light flickered in his eyes.
"You haven't laid a hand on me yet, nor harmed the other wanderers—so I won't kill you."
Then, in a voice like tempered steel, he issued a warning.
"But if you ever bring harm in the future, I will not let it stand."
"Will you really abandon your chance at healing just to preserve your pride?"
Pa Hon wore an unhurried expression.
"No matter how many geniuses and masters exist in this world, your body can only be healed by me alone."
That was no idle boast.
Had there been any exceptional physician or Master capable of treating Bu Eun-seol's condition—
Dal-ri would have resolved it at her level.
She would never have advised him to seek out Pa Hon in this distant, foreign land.
"Do you think I'm lying?"
"No, I believe you."
Bu Eun-seol turned away again.
"I simply refuse to bargain with the kind of man who makes such filthy offers."
With those final words, Bu Eun-seol left the cavern without so much as a backward glance.
Had he allowed himself to be led around by someone who treated human lives as toys?
He would have long since become a cold corpse buried in the ground.
Exiting the great cavern, Bu Eun-seol soon arrived at the territory once teeming with Spirit Beasts.
But now, every last one of them had vanished.
And then—
Rumble—
Suddenly, the underground cavern trembled, and from its depths emerged the king of the Spirit Beasts—
The Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede, which had remained hidden until now, revealed its colossal form, blocking Bu Eun-seol's path.
"Move. I have no desire to kill you."
The Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede was the dream and hope of Jiaozhi's wanderers.
If he were to cut it down—
Countless wanderers would lose their aspirations.
Skitter—
But something was strange.
The massive centipede, spanning dozens of jang in length, stood motionless—as if rooted in place, blocking the path without any further movement.
[Your body can only be healed by me.]
Then, astonishingly, the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede spoke—
In Pa Hon's voice.
"Surprised?"
Pa Hon's voice came from behind as he approached soundlessly.
When he tilted his head slightly, the Black Centipede mirrored the motion.
"You can't mean—"
"That's right."
Pa Hon's voice was quiet as he watched Bu Eun-seol's widened eyes.
"The Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede is connected to me."
The king of the Spirit Beasts, the creature that had brought prosperity to this barren land of Jiaozhi—
It was none other than an extension of Pa Hon himself.
"The True Demon's Secret Arts?"
"You could say that."
Pa Hon seemed unwilling to delve deeper into the subject and swiftly changed course.
"And your body—it can only be healed using the Internal Core of this Black Centipede."
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
Did that mean Pa Hon had to die for his body to be restored?
"You described me as a god who toys with the lives of wanderers, watching from the sidelines..."
Pa Hon's face grew somber.
"But the truth is the opposite. Under the grand pretense of being the king of Spirit Beasts, I've spent my entire existence being hunted—relentlessly pursued by humans."
He continued, his voice calm but heavy with resignation.
"A forest of spirit beasts isn't created—it becomes sacred ground where spirit beasts can live precisely because the Black Centipede exists."
Wherever the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede appears, spirit beasts gather around it.
And then all the people flock to that sacred ground to hunt the spirit beasts, until eventually, they crave the very blood and flesh of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede itself.
In the end, Pa Hon wasn't toying with people.
Rather, he was in a position where he had to evade their attacks just to survive.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because in all my years, I've never met anyone like you."
He had forced Bu Eun-seol to choose—whether to recover martial arts as precious as life itself, or to save the lives of those wandering warriors.
But Bu Eun-seol had chosen neither.
Because that proposal was fundamentally unjust.
"Humans always weigh profit and loss. They never stop to consider whether something is right or wrong."
Pa Hon spoke quietly.
"And those with keen wisdom devise new schemes to overturn unfavorable propositions."
"......"
"In the end, humans refuse to suffer losses. Always."
Refusing another's offer is not difficult.
But what if your very life depended on it? What if the stakes were grave?
No one would reject an offer simply because it was unreasonable or unjust.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had refused without hesitation, even at the cost of his own life, because he deemed the offer wrong.
"You truly are worthy of possessing the Internal Core."
Pa Hon plunged his hand into his own chest.
Drip, drip.
From the pierced wound, bright crimson blood gushed forth in torrents.
Squelch.
At the same time, the center of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede's body split open, and blood began to flow.
Thud, thud.
There, pulsing like a living heart, was a fist-sized orb shimmering with an orange glow.
The Internal Core of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede.
"This Internal Core, formed over ten thousand years, carries the power of Primordial Chaos. Not only can it extinguish the conflicting forces within you... but in the distant future, it will become the foundation for wielding the two great powers now warring in your body."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze wavered.
Not because he had sensed the Manifestation Art Energy and Soul-Demon Magic Energy latent in his own body merely by grasping the Pulse Gate.
But because he had realized that to heal himself, he would have to take Pa Hon's life.
"I don't need it."
Having grasped the full situation, Bu Eun-seol—
—abandoned his cold tone and expression, raising a hand in a respectful yet firm gesture to stop Pa Hon.
"Don't do this."
Even if it meant his own death here and now,
he had no intention of prolonging his life at the cost of another's.
"There's no need to refuse."
Pa Hon's voice remained tranquil.
"My life was already nearing its end. This is simply repaying the debt I owe to Dal-ri."
"'Nearing its end'?"
"Normally, the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede never reveals itself before humans."
Pa Hon smiled faintly.
"It only appears when its time of death approaches. To choose the one who will deliver that death."
Dal-ri had known Pa Hon's life was nearly spent... and so she had sent Bu Eun-seol.
Because she had recognized him as the one worthy of presiding over Pa Hon's final moments.
"Give my blood and flesh to the Thunder Strike Squad first."
Pa Hon's smile deepened.
"They're good people—unlike the usual scoundrels of Jiaozhi."
The reason he had joined the Thunder Strike Squad was precisely because, unlike the vicious wanderers of Jiaozhi, they were kind-hearted souls.
"I see."
At last, Bu Eun-seol understood why Pa Hon had refused to ascend among the Three Attendants.
Though he had witnessed humanity's ugliness more than anyone,
he had also come to understand, just as deeply, the goodness within them.
'Rather than living a life of dominion over humans, presiding over all as the True Demon's attendant... he chose his own path.'
Bu Eun-seol's expression grew solemn.
Only now did he realize just how noble Pa Hon's character truly was.
"You may think all the Servants of the True Demon are wicked beings."
Pa Hon's smile turned self-deprecating.
"But among us are also pitiful souls who couldn't defy the torrents of fate."
Bu Eun-seol nodded slowly.
Hadn't Dal-ri herself refrained from coldly killing him? Hadn't she rejected the fate of becoming Pa Sun?
In the end, the belief that all the True Demon's servants were evil was nothing more than prejudice, born from the experiences of the martial world.
"Where is Dal-ri now?"
Bu Eun-seol asked with a pained expression.
"She exerted herself to heal me, then vanished without a word."
"Dal-ri is the ruler of the Underworld. But once she leaves it, she becomes a fugitive, hunted by its denizens."
Pa Hon's gaze grew dim.
"Find the Underworld's pursuers. Then, someday, you will see her again."
"The Underworld's pursuers..."
This was the first time Bu Eun-seol had ever heard of the Underworld itself.
Yet he committed the name to memory. And he resolved, without a doubt, to find it.
Drip.
Then, blood trickled from the corner of Pa Hon's lips.
"Take it quickly."
Having extracted his Internal Core, his life force was slowly fading away.
"Otherwise, my death will be in vain."
"Thank you."
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply, offering a sincere apology.
"I spoke harshly to you without knowing the circumstances. For that, I sincerely apologize."
Even so, he couldn't bring himself to hastily snatch away the Internal Core—Pa Hon's very life.
"It's alright."
Pa Hon smiled.
"Following your command, breaking through the encirclement of Spirit Beasts together—it was truly enjoyable."
His smile widened.
"I, too, was once a powerless wanderer. And in those days, we survived by joining forces and helping one another."
A joyful grin lingered on his lips.
"And I'd always wanted to see, just once, the sight of Jiaozhi's wanderers uniting their strength like that."
Pa Hon had observed Bu Eun-seol—how he didn't recklessly rely on brute force, but instead commanded and encouraged them like an ordinary wanderer, uniting them to overcome the crisis together—
And in that moment, he understood.
What path Bu Eun-seol pursued.
What kind of temperament he possessed.
That was why he had willingly revealed himself.
"Thanks to you, I'll leave with one last good memory."
Pa Hon's eyes now shimmered like shattered gemstones.
"In return, let me help you recover what you've lost."
"What I've lost...?"
"Your vanished persona."
Pa Hon was one who could peer into—and shatter—souls.
With a single glance, he had discerned it.
Deep within Bu Eun-seol's Abyss, the persona of Baekri Geom-ha had disappeared without a trace.
'So when he said I could recover what was lost... he meant Baekri Geom-ha's persona.'
As Bu Eun-seol sank into deep thought,
"That persona hasn't vanished. It's merely trapped within a labyrinth of its own making."
Pa Hon spoke in a calm voice.
"A persona is like an artisan, ceaselessly crafting something. And sometimes, without realizing it, it builds walls to imprison itself."
He revealed the solution to reclaiming Baekri Geom-ha.
"Return to the place that lost persona cherished most. And if you recreate the emotions and experiences of that time... you can break down the walls it has built."
'Saha Manor.'
Hearing those words, Bu Eun-seol immediately grasped how to restore Baekri Geom-ha's persona.
'The memories of practicing the Imperial Step were shared with Baekri Geom-ha.'
Bu Eun-seol had once recovered a memory—of Baekri Geom-ha training martial arts with his father.
If he returned to Saha Manor and recreated those emotions and experiences...
He could summon Baekri Geom-ha, imprisoned behind walls of his own making.
"Time is running short."
By now, Pa Hon's complexion had turned deathly pale, blood seeping from his lips.
"Take it now."
He extended the Internal Core in his hand, cracking a joke.
"My arm's about to fall off."
No words of gratitude could ever be enough.
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply once more, then carefully accepted it.
Ssshh—
The Internal Core was gradually absorbed through his palm.
Rumble—
At the same time, the underground cavern began to shake violently.
With Pa Hon's life force exhausted, the cavern itself—formed by his power—was on the verge of collapse.
"You mustn't feel guilty."
As if sensing Bu Eun-seol's anguish, Pa Hon shook his head.
"At most, I had ten years left. At the earliest, within three years."
Pa Hon had long transcended life and death, merely seeking a place to die.
To perish while saving someone like Bu Eun-seol—that, too, was fortune for him.
Bow.
Bu Eun-seol bent at the waist once more, offering the deepest of bows.
An ordinary person would cling to life even if they had three days left, let alone three years.
Yet Pa Hon had given his remaining life force—his very flesh and blood—without hesitation.
Not even an enlightened monk could do such a thing lightly.
"May you achieve all you desire."
Without hesitation, Pa Hon turned away.
His retreating figure resembled Dal-ri's back—how she had once saved him, then vanished without a trace.
Crrrrk—
The underground cavern wasn't collapsing.
Instead, it was ascending—back to the surface.
This was Pa Hon's final act of consideration.
One last gift of his flesh and blood to the wanderers.
"Did you owe Dal-ri some kind of debt?"
Bu Eun-seol asked the question he hadn't been able to voice earlier.
"That is..."
And so, before ascending to the surface, Pa Hon and Bu Eun-seol conversed for a while.
Zzziiiiing—
Then, a powerful tremor surged through Bu Eun-seol's body.
'Metamorphosis and Bone Renewal.'
Due to the absorbed spiritual energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede, another round of Metamorphosis and Bone Renewal was about to begin.
'No, I can't.'
Bu Eun-seol had already undergone this transformation twice.
And if he were to experience it a third time?
His body would be completely purified—
Becoming akin to that of an ascetic who had fasted for years and cultivated the secrets of immortality.
Though he would amass tremendous martial prowess, even his thirst for vengeance would fade, leaving him adrift without purpose.
Zzzing— Zzzing—
In the end, Bu Eun-seol refused to absorb the Black Centipede's power and instead began storing it.
Using the method he had learned from Gongson Dan-a, he condensed the spiritual energy into Yu Hyeong's Internal Core.
Rumble-rumble—
The moment Pa Hon's retreating figure vanished completely into the darkness, Bu Eun-seol staggered from the heavy vibrations rising beneath his feet.
This wasn't just a tremor—
It was as if a colossal creature had awakened beneath the earth, the entire underground cavern shifting like a single massive slab pushing upward.
Kururururu—!
Dust and loose stones rained down from the ceiling.
Amid the damp, metallic stench of the cave, the grating sound of rock grinding against rock echoed unnervingly in all directions.
The walls of the cavern, once shrouded in darkness, were slowly being forced upward.
Crunch— Crunch—!
Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the stone surfaces unable to withstand the pressure of the ascent.
Then, with a sharp Crack—, the weakest part of the ceiling split open, and a single thin beam of light pierced the darkness.
Before long, the dust cleared, and that single ray illuminated the corpse of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede.
The red fluids staining its black, hardened carapace glistened under the light.
Soon, that single beam multiplied into dozens, then hundreds.
The sound of the ceiling breaking apart swelled into a deafening roar.
And finally—
KWA-GWAGWAGWANG—!
The last layer of earth above them shattered apart like a massive lid being torn open.
Blinding white light cascaded down like a waterfall.
Instinctively, Bu Eun-seol raised his arm to shield his eyes.
His vision, long accustomed to darkness, burned as if being torn apart.
Instead of the musty scent of earth and blood, the crisp fragrance of grass and clean wind stabbed into his lungs.
The chill of the underground vanished in an instant, replaced by the warmth of sunlight against his skin.
When the tremors ceased and all fell silent, Bu Eun-seol slowly lowered his arm.
They had returned to the Forest of Spirit Beasts, where the rogue warriors waited.
Shhh—
Unfolding the Darkness Secret Arts, Bu Eun-seol resumed his disguise as an ordinary rogue.
—What was that noise?
Rumble—
The rogues from the center of the forest, hearing the commotion, began rushing toward them.
—Gah!
Their shocked cries erupted as they beheld the full, terrifying majesty of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede under the sunlight.
Now fully exposed, the creature was far more massive and overwhelming than when they had last seen it.
Pa Hon's final gift.
He had ensured the rogues of Jiaozhi could claim the blood and flesh they so desperately sought.
"This is Wol-young's gift."
With a pained expression, Bu Eun-seol handed over three bundles.
Inside were the spirit medicines—flesh and blood willingly shed by Pa Hon for their sake.
"Wol-young?"
"He fought the Black Centipede alongside me until the very end. Because of him, all the spirit beasts here have vanished."
Jeong Jin-bang, Beon Rang, and Geumhwa all wore dazed expressions.
"You mean... Wol-young is dead?"
Bu Eun-seol nodded grimly.
Though before them lay bundles containing the priceless blood and flesh of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede—
Not a single face showed joy. No one even thought of taking them.
—Did you owe Dal-ri some kind of debt?
Bu Eun-seol recalled the conversation he had shared with Pa Hon through Voice Transmission as the cavern collapsed.
—In truth, Pa-myeong intended to kill me first, not the Demon Lord.
Pa Hon had laughed.
—But she risked her life to stop him. And she freed me from the shackles of the Three Attendants.
—What exactly are the Three Attendants?
Pa Hon had answered in a low voice.
—Originally, they were people who reincarnated alongside the Demon Lord.
Though we have no memory of it.
And then, his final words:
—But even that deep bond will end in this lifetime.
A strange thought crossed Bu Eun-seol's mind.
Pa Hon had seemed utterly at peace with everything.
Had he glimpsed another world in his eyes? Or had the True Demon whispered something to him?
Only one thing was certain—
The end was not far off.