Chapter 1186
Amidst the faint shimmer of the golden phoenix embroidery on her wedding robes, Gongson Dan-a slowly raised her head.
A delicate blush bloomed across her powdered white cheeks, and her tightly pursed red lips seemed to hold back emotions she couldn't bring herself to voice.
Shiver.
The moment her gaze met Bu Eun-seol's imposing figure—
Beneath the swaying obsidian coronet in the candlelight, her long lashes trembled faintly.
Had this been an ordinary wedding ceremony,
it would have been filled with nothing but tender affection and devotion to last a lifetime—
or perhaps the overwhelming joy of a long-awaited union finally realized.
But she was trembling.
Though she had put on a brave face to save her master, the suddenness of this marriage had left her afraid.
"Lady Gongson."
Bu Eun-seol whispered softly to her.
"We can still stop now."
It might have been easier if she had harbored deep affection for him like other women did.
But Gongson Dan-a, perhaps due to her childlike innocence, had never shown him any particular interest.
"Kneel before the heavens and earth and bow!"
At that moment, the voice of the chief disciple rang out once more.
Then, a resolute light flickered in Gongson Dan-a's eyes.
"No."
She shook her head and stared straight at him.
"If I truly had no feelings about this, I wouldn't have gone through with it."
Whether it was love or mere curiosity, she too had always been drawn to this dragon-like man.
It was just that, because of her elder sister Gongson Dan-gyeong, she had suppressed those feelings all this time.
"I like you too, Lord."
An abrupt confession, yet pure and fervent.
Seeing the firmness in her heart, Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod.
Then, together, they bowed once to the heavens and earth.
"Now, bow to each other as husband and wife!"
In a traditional wedding, the next step would have been to bow to their parents and master.
But since no such figures were present here, that part was omitted.
The two gazed deeply into each other's eyes.
Then, slowly and solemnly, they bent at the waist and bowed.
"From this moment, you are wed!"
The declaration of marriage resounded powerfully through the Fire Soul Land.
As the ceremony concluded, the two shared the Marriage Wine offered by the disciples.
They were now officially husband and wife.
Yet, as Bu Eun-seol drank the wine, a flash of light streaked through his pupils.
No one noticed.
"Go inside."
A bridal chamber had been prepared in the pavilion at the edge of the Fire Soul Land.
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden glared at Bu Eun-seol and Gongson Dan-a with a piercing gaze.
"Don't even think of deceiving my ears. If this is just a farce to you, I'll never hand over the Spirit Medicine."
"What do you mean, a farce?"
When Gongson Dan-a asked with innocent confusion,
"Well—!"
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden's face reddened briefly before she snapped irritably.
"Ask your husband that!"
"Let's go in."
Feeling awkward, Bu Eun-seol quickly took Gongson Dan-a's hand and led her into the bridal chamber.
Unlike the desolate Fire Soul Land outside, the interior was filled with a warm, gentle heat.
A wooden bed draped in red silk bore a neatly spread quilt embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks in golden thread.
On a small table, a pair of red candles—carved intricately with dragons and phoenixes—burned quietly.
Cut-out double happiness characters adorned the papered windows, blessing the new beginning.
Though the decorations were not overly lavish, the faint fragrance and the warmth of the candles suffused the room with a cozy glow.
The only oddity was—
while the furnishings and tools in the bridal chamber were impeccably clean, they looked decades old.
Rustle.
Then, Gongson Dan-a approached him from behind.
Dressed in her bridal finery, she looked like a fairy descended from the heavens.
In truth, purely in terms of appearance—
she, known as the Flower of Eloquence among the Three Beauties of the World, was the most beautiful.
And Bu Eun-seol was no block of wood.
No matter how indifferent he was to distinctions of beauty, no matter how steadfast he was against being swayed by women—
here he was, sharing a bridal chamber with a peerless beauty dressed like a celestial maiden after drinking the Marriage Wine.
It was only natural for his heart to stir.
"Lord."
Then, Gongson Dan-a looked at him with something like fear.
But she soon mustered her courage and spoke.
"It's alright."
She had only just come of age this year.
And as a disciple of the Divine Water Palace, she had never been close to a man in her life.
Yet it was she herself who was truly afraid—she had spoken those words solely for Bu Eun-seol's sake.
Hmm...
Drawing upon her Internal Power, she unfurled the Water Essence Divine Qi, erecting transparent walls around them.
"No matter how profound the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden's cultivation is, she won't be able to hear our breathing."
The moment she said "our breathing," Bu Eun-seol's face flushed crimson, as if about to burst.
"My lady."
"Once the Divine Beast Palace Lord recovers, I will leave the secular world behind."
Gongson Dan-a spoke with her eyes closed.
"I would never hinder your path, Lord."
After pausing to steady her breath, she continued.
"Even if we publicly announced this marriage, once I take refuge in the Buddhist Order, I can prevent any scandal concerning you from spreading through Murim."
"Such words are unnecessary."
Bu Eun-seol's heart ached.
Looking back, she had always prioritized others.
After their fateful encounter at Mosan, every time they met again, she had only ever acted for Gongson Dan-gyeong's sake.
Not once had she ever asked or desired anything for herself.
And wasn't she my benefactor, too?
Thanks to the Taoist Cultivation Secret she had taught him, not only had his martial prowess grown significantly, but it had also saved his life on multiple occasions.
And even now, in this forced wedding ceremony orchestrated by the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden—
She wasn't concerned for her own safety, only for Bu Eun-seol's.
"Do not worry."
Bu Eun-seol offered her a gentle smile.
"Everything will be fine."
"Please don't say that."
Gongson Dan-a flinched and waved her hands in protest.
"Didn't you already pledge a hundred-year vow with my sister? I could never—"
"That's not what I meant."
Bu Eun-seol chuckled faintly.
"None of what you fear will come to pass."
His laughter carried a warmth like sunlight, soothing the heart of whoever beheld it.
"...How strange."
Gongson Dan-a blinked her large eyes.
"Suddenly, I feel... odd."
"You must be exhausted."
She had been tirelessly seeking ways to cure the Divine Beast Palace Lord's illness, running all over the place.
Not to mention rushing from the Demon Hall to the Fire Soul Land in a single breath, then being forced into this abrupt wedding ceremony by the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden...
The weight she must have felt was beyond words.
Stagger.
Gongson Dan-a swayed unsteadily, barely able to stand.
Bu Eun-seol steadied her and gestured toward the bed.
"Rest for a while."
Gongson Dan-a stared at him intently.
"...Kiss me."
"That won't be necessary."
As Bu Eun-seol shook his head to explain, she pressed a delicate finger to his lips and whispered:
"Only then will I be able to sleep."
A crimson hue swirled in her pupils.
Instantly, Bu Eun-seol sensed something amiss.
How could Gongson Dan-a's gaze—once as innocent as a child's—become so provocatively alluring?
...No way.
Alarmed, Bu Eun-seol swiftly scanned their surroundings.
Then, in the corner, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets at the sight of dozens of burning incense sticks.
Wasn't this the Spring Fragrance of the Four Blossoms Gate—the Candlelit Passion Flower, infamous for rousing even corpses with a single whiff?
Slither.
Just then, something soft and supple coiled around Bu Eun-seol's body.
Before he knew it, Gongson Dan-a had wrapped around him like a crimson serpent, slithering into his embrace.
"My lady, regain your senses—Hng!"
Her gaze smoldering with temptation, Gongson Dan-a suddenly looped her arms around his neck and pressed her rosy lips against his.
In an instant, an indescribably intoxicating fragrance and sweet breath flooded his mouth—
And Bu Eun-seol's pupils turned white.
Had he not mastered the two supreme arts of Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang, reaching the pinnacle of both...
He would have succumbed to this dizzying temptation, acting on instinct alone.
Crack.
A glacial aura erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, instantly encasing him in a massive block of ice.
With his Spirit and Mind teetering on the edge of collapse, he had summoned the Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
Fwoosh—
Simultaneously, scarlet flames ignited from his right hand, and white steam billowed from Gongson Dan-a's entire body.
He had unleashed the Hot River Great Essence True Qi, instantly incinerating the aphrodisiac coursing through her veins.
Whoosh.
As the effects of the drug dissipated, Bu Eun-seol carefully pressed an acupoint on Gongson Dan-a's neck.
"Hah."
Bu Eun-seol wiped the sweat from his brow.
If I had discovered the aphrodisiac just a little later... I wouldn't have had enough reason left to unleash the Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
I would have caused a disaster.
Taking another deep breath, he carefully laid the deeply sleeping Gongson Dan-ah on the bed and draped a blanket over her.
"Rest well."
Having removed his wedding robes, Bu Eun-seol changed back into the plain martial attire he had originally been wearing and stepped outside.
There, in the distance, stood a figure clad in resplendent garments.
It was none other than the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden.
"You kept me waiting."
As Bu Eun-seol approached slowly and spoke, the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden's single eye flashed with anger as she shouted:
"Are you crippled?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why didn't you take her?"
As if she couldn't believe it, she stared down at her own hands and muttered:
"How could you leave such a beautiful girl alone and walk away?"
"Maiden."
"The Drunken Love Incense mixed with the aphrodisiac—even the most disciplined monk in the world would go mad with desire, unable to resist it—!"
"I neutralized it."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden roared:
"Why would you neutralize it?!"
"How could I indulge in such incense when she was by my side?"
"You're officially wedded now! What does it matter if you burn aphrodisiac incense or the Lustfire Heart-Burning Herb?!"
"Can a forced marriage truly be called a marriage?"
"Once the rice is cooked, no one can interfere between the two of you!"
"You are a woman yourself—how can you say such crude things?"
Bu Eun-seol shook his head and sighed.
"Moreover, how could I lay a single finger on a noble woman who was willing to sacrifice herself to save her master?"
"Then why did you go through with the wedding?"
"As I said—it was nothing more than a coerced ceremony."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden began to argue stubbornly.
"You went through the wedding rites just to abandon her afterward?"
"I'm not abandoning her—I'm respecting her feelings."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was solemn.
"Isn't marriage something that should be built upon mutual affection?"
"That damned affection! Affection!"
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden exploded with frustration.
"Is that why your grandfather wasted his life chasing after nothing but feelings?!"
"Maiden."
"When bodies grow close, feelings naturally follow! Just consummate the damn marriage!"
Her voice boomed across the Fire Soul Land, echoing loudly.
A brief silence fell.
"That's enough."
Suddenly, Bu Eun-seol dropped his stiff tone and bowed deeply, his voice now warm and respectful.
"Aunt."
"What?"
"Haven't you tormented your nephew enough? Won't you understand my heart now?"
Calling her "Aunt" was neither proper nor in accordance with etiquette.
But though her temperament was somewhat eccentric,
she was not truly a villain—and knowing she had deep ties with his grandfather,
Bu Eun-seol used the familial term to indirectly express the warmth and affection he felt toward her.
"I know you hold no ill will toward Grandfather, and that this marriage was arranged for my sake."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"If that weren't the case, who would mix the priceless Extreme Heaven Spirit Water into the Marriage Wine?"
Bu Eun-seol had discerned that the wine served at the wedding
was brewed with rare spirit medicines and infused with the Extreme Heaven Spirit Water.
From that moment, he had guessed that the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden had not orchestrated this with malicious intent—and so, he had relaxed.
"When the Extreme Heaven Spirit Water blends with other spirit medicines, the overpowering aroma of alcohol would have made it impossible to detect—"
"Fortunately, your nephew once tasted the Extreme Heaven Spirit Water before, so I recognized its unique stickiness."
"Hmph."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden's face reddened.
She had thought her deception flawless,
but the Marriage Wine—meant to invigorate yang energy and nourish the body—had ultimately given her away.
"But it's not just that."
Bu Eun-seol sighed as he gazed at the lavish decorations adorning the Fire Soul Land.
"Who would go to such lengths to prepare such an extravagant wedding for the grandson of their enemy?"
Though the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden had called it a simple ceremony,
the actual wedding had been a grand affair, incorporating every tradition the Fire Soul Land could muster.
Even the bridal chamber had been meticulously and elegantly arranged.
If she truly considered me an enemy...
She would have humiliated me with a shabby ceremony, trampling my pride into the dirt.
There was no need to go to such lengths to hold such a lavish ceremony for him.
"Just why did you go this far?"
Realizing that everything had been exposed, the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden opened her mouth with a resigned expression.
"Your grandfather lived his entire life burdened by guilt for the harm he caused others during his days as a martial artist. And he would habitually say that he had no right to build a family of his own."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden had shared an unbearably tender and affectionate relationship with the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
That was why, upon learning that Bu Eun-seol was truly Bu Jan-yang's grandson, she had stubbornly insisted on this—wanting to fulfill the love that had never come to fruition, no matter what it took.
"But it seems you, too, intend to walk the same path as him."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden had discerned that Bu Eun-seol lived solely for the sake of the Greater Righteousness, without the slightest regard for his own happiness.
Even with the woman said to be the most beautiful in the world by his side, far from harboring any impure thoughts—
He had come to the Fire Soul Land solely to aid her.
Just like Bu Jan-yang in the past.
"Did my grandfather truly harm your eye, Aunt?"
"So that's what weighed on your mind."
"Yes."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden smiled faintly.
"That's right. He was the one who plucked out my eye."
As Bu Eun-seol's expression stiffened, she gave him a gentle smile.
"But it was to save me. An incurable poison was spreading through my body, and in the end, your grandfather was the one who saved my life."
At the time, Bu Jan-yang had drawn out the poison coursing through the One-Eyed Immortal Maiden's body by absorbing it all into himself.
But he couldn't fully purge the residual toxins, and eventually, the poison surged upward through the Gallbladder Meridian of the Lesser Yang, reaching her head.
So Bu Jan-yang suppressed the poison near the Supreme Yang Acupoint and the Bright Eyes Acupoint—
Then concentrated the poison into her left eye before removing it, saving her life.
"Grandfather..."
Bu Eun-seol's face twisted in shock.
Not only had his grandfather reached the same level as a Saint Among Poisons, capable of absorbing and neutralizing another's poison—
But even then, he hadn't been able to fully cleanse it?
"Just whose poison was so terrifying?"
"The True Demon Palace."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden shook her head.
"There are masters there wielding power beyond imagination, and the methods they employ cannot be countered by the martial arts of the martial world."
"You were ambushed by them?"
"Yes."
Her expression twisted in pain, as if reliving the memory.
"They tried to devour the Fire Soul Land in one swift strike."
A thought like lightning flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"Then, when Grandfather eradicated the Spirit Beasts and Spirit Lands..."
"That, I cannot say for certain. Only that it was connected to the True Demon Palace."
The True Demon Palace?
It was an unexpected answer.
From his previous dealings with the Sage Forest, Bu Eun-seol had assumed that his grandfather had destroyed the Spirit Beasts and Spirit Lands to prevent the artificial birth of the Heavenly Mechanism Star.
But it was tied to the True Demon Palace?
"He always said that the fewer who knew a secret, the better."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden spoke then.
"And so, he never revealed everything he knew."
A fleeting expression of longing and sorrow crossed her face.
Bu Eun-seol gave a faint nod.
Those words aligned perfectly with his own beliefs.
"Revealing the truth isn't always the right thing to do."
A deep darkness flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he stared into the void.
Some truths, when hidden, protect far more people.
If the forces lurking in the Abyss and the dark origins buried beneath were all exposed—only chaos and ruin would remain.
Were the Spirit Beasts and Spirit Lands created in the Central Plains all the True Demon's doing?
Hadn't Pa Hon, fused with the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede through the True Demon's Secret Arts, continued to live as one?
Perhaps the creation of the Spirit Lands and Spirit Beasts was—
Another one of the True Demon's schemes to manipulate the world as he pleased.
"Yes, and that's why he was so reviled."
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden's voice was desolate.
"Because he concealed so many truths, his actions remained unclear, and few ever saw his true face."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol nearly choked on the surge of tears rising in his throat.
Those words struck him deep in his chest.
"Aunt, there's something I simply can't understand."
And for the first time, he confided in someone—
The gruesome details of his grandfather's death,
And the story he had witnessed within the Masked Man's memories.
"...That's what happened. So I investigated every place named Zuixianlou (Drunken Immortal Pavilion), and then—"
"Zuixianlou?"
The One-Eyed Immortal Maiden's face twisted as if burned, her voice sharp with shock.
"You can't possibly mean the Zuixianlou in Nanchang Prefecture?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened in astonishment.
How on earth did she know of that place?