Chapter 117
At that moment, Jeong Cheon's eyes—engulfed in madness—flickered with hesitation.
Because the sword strokes Bu Eun-seol unleashed were gradually transforming to resemble his own Chaotic Sword.
Once trapped within Jeong Cheon's Chaotic Sword, the thought of escape had to be abandoned.
But since he couldn't properly evade or block it, the only method left was to mimic and counter the Chaotic Sword itself.
'He's copying my sword strokes?'
So astonished that Jeong Cheon momentarily shed his madness, his gaze returning to its original clarity.
'Unbelievable!'
How could anyone possibly observe and replicate a Chaotic Sword that not only extended with lightning speed but also contained twenty-four variations within a single martial form?
'This can't be happening!'
Gritting his teeth, Jeong Cheon intensified the killing intent inherent within his body, altering his sword strokes.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Yet the result remained unchanged.
No matter how he modified his strokes, Bu Eun-seol instantly mirrored them, blocking each one.
It felt like fighting against his own reflection.
'He was hiding his true skill!'
Only a master several times more skilled than himself could replicate an opponent's sword techniques on the spot.
In truth, this was merely Bu Eun-seol barely enduring the onslaught using the Fluorescent Sword Control, creating openings within the Chaotic Sword fueled by explosive killing intent.
And by employing the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin technique, he had merely imitated Jeong Cheon's strokes—it was by no means a superiority in swordsmanship.
'Had he unleashed his full strength from the beginning, he would've severed my arm within three forms.'
Yet Jeong Cheon mistakenly believed Bu Eun-seol was holding back out of consideration for him.
But Bu Eun-seol, too, was equally astonished.
'I can't... hold on much longer.'
Jeong Cheon's Chaotic Sword was truly a peerless sword art.
Defending with the Fluorescent Sword Control and countering with the Formless Heavenly Flow, he was barely managing, but this method was rapidly draining his internal energy and stamina.
'At this rate...'
As his limit approached, the Ink Sword unconsciously dipped toward the ground.
Simultaneously, the force behind Jeong Cheon's Chaotic Sword also waned.
With his killing intent fading and reason returning, the might of his swordplay diminished greatly.
Clank.
As both Bu Eun-seol's and Jeong Cheon's swords pointed downward, silence briefly settled over the Reed Field.
The two stared at each other with expressions of incomprehension.
In the end, it was Jeong Cheon who spoke first.
"You've been concealing your true skill all along. How embarrassing."
'He's misunderstood.'
To be honest, Bu Eun-seol had been exerting every ounce of his strength just to withstand the Chaotic Sword.
Jeong Cheon, inheriting the essence of the Grass Sword Wave—one of the Ten Demonic Paragons—was undeniably a master standing on a higher path than Bu Eun-seol.
"I merely imitated your Chaotic Sword. With my current swordsmanship, I couldn't have blocked it otherwise."
"The ability to replicate an opponent's sword techniques on the spot means you are the superior swordsman."
"That's... only because my sect's martial arts inherently pursue such esoteric methods."
Clank.
Sheathing the Ink Sword, Bu Eun-seol replied impassively.
"This match is a draw."
"A draw..."
Jeong Cheon inhaled deeply, gazing at the distant sky.
"Though I've never been active in the martial world, I prided myself on being the strongest among my peers in martial prowess."
Jeong Cheon's voice was low as he sheathed his sword.
"There must be at least a ten-year age gap between you and me. Yet you matched me evenly... Your future attainments will be boundless."
With a bitter smile, he added quietly,
"This match was my defeat."
Then, without hesitation, he turned away.
Several days later.
After his duel with Jeong Cheon, Bu Eun-seol temporarily left the Silent Sky Lonely Earth and retreated into the Deep Mountain Secluded Valley.
Jeong Cheon's Chaotic Sword had been the pinnacle of sword studies—one whose strokes Bu Eun-seol couldn't decipher for the first time.
He needed time to assimilate the insights gained from that fierce battle.
Meanwhile, Namgung Un—now fully recovered—waited at the Great and Small Inn with Heuk-pyo for Bu Eun-seol's return.
"I suppose it's about time we pick up another job."
Having returned, Bu Eun-seol took Heuk-pyo and Namgung Un back to the Scripture Instruction Hall of the Red Sky Curtain Branch.
The place was buzzing with noise.
But the atmosphere inside the hall was unusual.
Unlike usual, a considerable number of wandering martial artists had gathered, and on one side, warriors clad in plain black martial uniforms stood in solemn formation.
Moreover, Dam Yu-yeon, the Hall Master of Water Mirror Hall who should have been in her office, was engaged in a grave conversation with a middle-aged man.
"Why are so many wanderers gathered like this?"
At Namgung Un's question, Heuk-pyo immediately answered.
"It seems some sect is hiring wanderers in bulk."
"In bulk, you say..."
Bu Eun-seol stroked his chin with an intrigued expression, prompting Heuk-pyo to lower his voice and speak.
"I'll find out the exact details."
After conversing for a while with the wanderers nearby and the figures at the hall's counter, Heuk-pyo returned and reported.
"They say the Heaven-Shaking Gate is recruiting a large number of High-level Wanderers for a contract."
Namgung Un tilted his head in confusion.
"The Heaven-Shaking Gate? The same one that's been fighting tooth and nail against the Blade Tyrant Gate?"
"That's the one."
"Huh. So after all that fighting, they're resorting to hiring mercenaries for a proxy war now?"
Heuk-pyo shook his head at Namgung Un's words.
"Not quite. It seems the Blade Tyrant Gate spent an enormous sum to hire assassins from the Valley of Dark Death."
The Heaven-Shaking Gate and the Blade Tyrant Gate.
Both sects operated Between the Orthodox and Unorthodox, and for over a decade, they had been locked in a fierce struggle for dominance over the Sangyang Region.
Then, the Blade Tyrant Gate's leader suddenly spent a fortune to hire a large number of assassins from the Valley of Dark Death.
Using these assassins, they repeatedly launched surprise attacks on the Heaven-Shaking Gate's rear—crossing Mount Hamchwi, which served as the sect's backdoor.
—Fight mercenaries with mercenaries!
With the tide of battle turning against them, the Heaven-Shaking Gate had no choice but to hire a large number of wanderers from the Red Sky Curtain Branch to counter them.
"Perfect."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been silently listening to Heuk-pyo's explanation, nodded.
"Let's take the Heaven-Shaking Gate's job."
"About that... It seems the matter is already settled."
Heuk-pyo scratched his head with an awkward expression.
"The Heaven-Shaking Gate has already paid in full and recruited eighty High-level Wanderers."
"If skilled wanderers are willing to take the job, they wouldn't refuse, would they?"
"That won't be possible."
Heuk-pyo spoke in a low voice.
"But they wouldn't have the funds to pay for a Special-Grade wanderer like you, Young Master."
Among wanderers, those with first-class martial prowess—Special-Grade wanderers—numbered barely twenty even in a large market like the Red Sky Curtain Branch.
Moreover, their fees were ten times that of High-level Wanderers, far beyond what the Heaven-Shaking Gate could afford.
"No matter."
Bu Eun-seol removed the red tassel signifying his status as a Special-Grade wanderer and replaced it with the purple tassel of a High-level wanderer.
Then, just as Dam Yu-yeon finished speaking with the master dispatched by the Heaven-Shaking Gate and turned to leave, he strode toward her.
"Hall Master Dam."
"Young Hero Seol."
As Bu Eun-seol approached, Dam Yu-yeon's face flushed red.
She had repeatedly schemed to dissuade him from fighting Jeong Cheon, and in the end, even her secret affections had been exposed.
But when Bu Eun-seol treated her no differently than before, she relaxed slightly and spoke.
"Did you have something to say to me?"
"I have a request."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze remained fixed on the Heaven-Shaking Gate's master clad in black martial robes.
Mount Hamchwi.
This place, which could be called the back alley leading to the Heaven-Shaking Gate, was rugged terrain filled with strange peaks and jagged cliffs.
After climbing the treacherous mountain path endlessly, a vast clearing came into view, where the dense forest had been stripped away.
There, temporary barracks erected by the Heaven-Shaking Gate sprawled out, and before them stood eighty wanderers and black-robed warriors in solemn formation.
And atop a boulder in the clearing, a man with twin swords strapped to his back stood tall.
It was Mun Gwang, commander of the Human Sword Unit—one of the Heaven-Shaking Gate's Three Great Legions: Heaven, Earth, and Human.
"From this moment onward," he declared, "we will strike the Bear Family Mountain Villa—the stronghold of the Valley of Dark Death's assassins."
A tense atmosphere swirled in the eyes of the assembled wanderers at Mun Gwang's words.
The Heaven-Shaking Gate had not gathered these wanderers merely to defend Mount Hamchwi.
Their true purpose was to launch a surprise attack and completely eradicate the remnants of the Valley of Dark Death who had made the mountain villa their stronghold.
Mun Gwang continued issuing solemn instructions to the ranked high-level wanderers standing in formation.
The listening mercenaries began murmuring among themselves in low voices.
"Been a while since we'll see blood."
"A surprise attack suits me fine. Means less casualties on our side."
"With the hefty payment we got, I might drown myself in the Blue Pavilion once this is over."
"Any questions?"
At Mun Gwang's prompt, Heuk-pyo raised his hand from the very back of the wanderer unit.
"Then what exactly are we supposed to do?"
Mun Gwang's brow instantly furrowed deeply.
'Who is that boy?'
Behind the youth dressed in plain black martial attire stood a young man who looked like some idle neighborhood layabout and an utterly ordinary man, both staring blankly.
They had clearly provided uniforms for all eighty personnel matching the Heaven-Shaking Gate's colors—so why were these outsiders wearing different attire standing here?
"Who are they?"
"My apologies. I meant to report this earlier—"
Mun Gwang's subordinate Mak Goeng swiftly interjected at his commander's question.
"These are additional high-level wanderers provided by the Hall Master of Scripture Instruction Hall from Red Sky Curtain Branch."
"Additional high-level wanderers?"
"That is correct."
Mun Gwang's forehead creased further.
"What nonsense is this?"
"Well... Hall Master Dam said she didn't need payment and insisted we take them along as extras..."
"Extras? High-level wanderers?"
"Yes, sir. It would've been awkward to refuse when she insisted..."
Mun Gwang studied them with skeptical eyes.
Seasoned high-level wanderers with extensive experience in the martial world were typically in their thirties.
But these were—at most—a sixteen-year-old boy and two youths who had barely passed their coming-of-age ceremonies.
Even if they were high-level wanderers, their actual combat experience would be minimal. Such youngsters would only sow chaos in large-scale battles.
"You lot..."
With their small numbers making them unsuitable for combat deployment, Mun Gwang clicked his tongue in distaste at the awkwardness of assigning them any meaningful role.
"Stand by here."
"Pardon?"
"The remnants who raided our main sect may still be lurking nearby. These barracks serve as our base—you will remain on guard here until we return."
Heuk-pyo's face twisted in disbelief.
They'd come all this way to fight, only to be ordered to guard the barracks like dogs?
But Bu Eun-seol stepped forward and gave a slight nod.
"Understood."
The immediate response made Mun Gwang turn away as if losing interest.
Late night.
Chirp... chirp...
Only the faint cries of crickets filled the mountain's silent void.
Bu Eun-seol's party had been left alone in the barracks halfway up Mount Hamchwi.
Heuk-pyo nervously scanned their surroundings while Bu Eun-seol stood statue-still, gazing at the night sky.
Namgung Un lay sprawled on his back without a care, pillowing his head on his arms as he admired the moonlight.
"Eun-seol Elder Brother."
Namgung Un suddenly spoke.
"Even if we're not getting paid, was it necessary to get involved in another sect's conflict?"
Despite hiding his name and status, Namgung Un was still the scion of an orthodox noble family. He had no desire to meddle in the debt-grudge relationships between factions straddling the orthodox and unorthodox divide.
"You're free to leave now if you dislike it."
At Bu Eun-seol's icy words, Namgung Un shook his head.
"I was just saying."
As he grumbled, Heuk-pyo cautiously spoke up.
"Young Master."
He glanced furtively at Bu Eun-seol before continuing carefully.
"But... are you truly alright with this?"
"What do you mean?"
"You came here to fight without pay, yet here we are guarding barracks."
"The battle will come to us."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head impassively.
"The Blade Tyrant Gate will have learned the Heaven-Shaking Gate hired wanderers. They'll send scouts at minimum to confirm the base location and barracks size."
Then, looking at Namgung Un, he allowed a threadlike smile to surface.
"And at your current skill levels, joining a full-scale war would mean instant death."