Chapter 125
After Namgung Un returned to his family, Heuk-pyo seemed somewhat sullen.
The absence of someone who had filled each day with boisterous noise made the emptiness all the more palpable.
"Young Master. Where shall we go now?"
Heuk-pyo asked Bu Eun-seol, who was seated at a table, writing something with brush and ink.
"Where to..."
At the murmured question, Bu Eun-seol set down his brush and gazed out the open window.
Before he knew it, nearly a year had passed since he began his journey through the martial world.
He had fought countless battles against formidable opponents, yet he couldn't measure how much stronger he had become. He had simply done his utmost with what he could.
As Bu Eun-seol stood there blankly, Heuk-pyo cautiously asked,
"Shall we start by hiring a carriage?"
"Let's do that."
Leaving the guest inn, Bu Eun-seol headed toward the post station to arrange for a carriage.
Haggling over the price had always been Heuk-pyo's role, so he confidently took the lead.
But as they neared the post station, a man approached Bu Eun-seol and respectfully gestured toward a carriage waiting ahead.
"Please ride in this carriage, Young Master."
The man's features were ordinary, but his bone and muscle structure was robust, and his gaze was sharp.
He stepped close to Bu Eun-seol and whispered in a voice so quiet it was almost inaudible.
"The Chief has commanded you to return to the Main Pavilion at once."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
Now he recognized this man—he was a member of Langya Pavilion's Information Warfare Unit, the Wind and Cloud Corps.
'The Chief has been tracking my every move.'
For an instant, the cold, stern face of Baek Yeon, the leader of the Wind and Cloud Corps—who, despite his icy demeanor, always worried for Bu Eun-seol—flashed through his mind.
"Must I go immediately?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, the man murmured softly,
"Yes. We've already arranged for a coachman."
Hearing this, Bu Eun-seol fell into deep thought.
"Heuk-pyo."
"Yes."
"I'll be handling affairs at the Main Pavilion for some time."
Bu Eun-seol pulled a small book from his sleeve and handed it to Heuk-pyo.
"In the meantime, return to the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers and master this."
As Heuk-pyo accepted the secret manual, he saw the words Essentials of Short Blades written on the cover.
"This is..."
"Aside from hidden weapons, you mainly use daggers."
Knowing that Heuk-pyo favored daggers, Bu Eun-seol had compiled the principles of dagger techniques based on the martial arts he had learned thus far.
"You... wrote another manual for me?"
"It was for myself."
That was half true.
Studying and refining what he had learned deepened his own martial understanding.
"Understood. I'll train diligently."
Heuk-pyo carefully tucked the manual into his robes.
He didn't bother with words of gratitude or pledges of loyalty. After all, every skill gained from this manual would ultimately be used to aid Bu Eun-seol.
"Take care of yourself until we meet again, Young Master."
Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod and boarded the carriage. The man skillfully took the reins, and with a clatter of hooves, the carriage departed.
Heuk-pyo watched it go, his gaze deepening.
He had a premonition that it would be a long time before he saw Bu Eun-seol again.
"I must grow stronger."
Heuk-pyo clenched the manual in his robes.
For now, all he could do was train relentlessly in martial arts—so that when they reunited, he would be strong enough to stand by Bu Eun-seol's side.
Clatter, clatter.
The carriage, which had been moving swiftly, gradually slowed.
The journey from Anho to Sword Brow Mountain would take fourteen long days. Throughout the trip, Bu Eun-seol had been ceaselessly practicing inner energy circulation inside the carriage.
Huuuum.
As his training neared completion, faint crimson light points shimmered around his body.
Having reached the final stages of the third layer of the Reverse Extreme Inner Method, the Counter-Extreme Fire Light—which had previously only manifested in his pupils—now lingered across his entire physical form.
'My internal energy has deepened.'
Not only had the internal injuries sustained in his battle with the masked man fully healed, but his inner power had grown even more profound.
'This is strange.'
For martial arts principles, it was nearly impossible for one's internal energy to deepen each time they recovered from internal injuries.
Bones and muscles grow tougher with repeated treatment and recovery, but the organs inside the body lose elasticity with each injury and easily shift out of place.
This was precisely why some martial artists, after suffering severe internal injuries, never fully recovered.
'Could I have already broken through to the Fourth Layer?'
Reaching the Fourth Layer of the Reverse Extreme Inner Method meant an endless surge of true energy.
Because of this, one could refine Body Protection True Qi and recover from internal injuries in an instant.
But Bu Eun-seol's current level was still the Third Layer. So why was this happening?
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
Meanwhile, the sound of birdsong drifted in through the window. Before he knew it, they had arrived near Sword Brow Mountain.
"We've arrived."
At the coachman's voice, Bu Eun-seol slowly stepped out of the carriage.
Despite driving nonstop for fourteen days—save for letting the horses rest—the coachman's gaze remained clear and sharp.
He was no ordinary coachman. Most likely, he was a martial artist with deep internal energy.
"Thanks to you, the journey was comfortable."
When Bu Eun-seol took out a banknote from his sleeve and offered it, the coachman shook his head.
"I've already been paid in full."
"Consider this my personal thanks."
Bu Eun-seol extended the note again, and the coachman bowed his head.
"My gratitude."
Clack. Clack.
As the carriage departed, Bu Eun-seol gazed up at Sword Brow Mountain with fresh eyes.
'It's been a year.'
Lost briefly in nostalgia, he soon activated his Lightness Skill and began ascending the mountain.
Whoosh—
His figure blurred into a faint shadow, swiftly reaching the mountainside where Langya Pavilion stood.
Passing through the wide-open gate, he saw a scene resembling a small city. Crossing the marketplace and entering an alley, he spotted the small house he had repaired himself.
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
'I'm back.'
It felt like returning to a cozy home left empty for far too long.
In truth, Langya Pavilion was his home.
Here, he had a place to rest in peace. No one here regarded him as an enemy, and there were elders who would shelter him in times of hardship.
"You're here."
A low voice came from behind him as he stood before the house.
Inside the forge, which had been empty moments ago, stood a stern-faced elderly man.
Master Cheol. Wang Geol.
"Have you been well in my absence, Master Cheol?"
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands respectfully, and Master Cheol studied him before nodding.
"Seems you've had a proper journey through the martial world."
Though his tone was brusque, his eyes were full of interest.
Just then, a clamor rose from the opposite alley as a dozen or so figures came pouring out.
"Master Cheol! You still haven't finished sharpening the weapons?"
At the head of the group stood a towering man and a gaunt one side by side—So-jeon, leader of the Innovation Unit, and his deputy, Je Un.
"Huh?"
Je Un spotted Bu Eun-seol and greeted him warmly, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Bu Eun-seol, you're back."
"Deputy Leader."
Bu Eun-seol bowed, and Je Un nodded in acknowledgment.
"Finished your travels?"
"Yes."
At that, the members of the Innovation Unit surrounded Bu Eun-seol, each offering a word.
"Wow, your energy's changed so much I barely recognize you!"
"At this rate, you'll be a full-fledged member of the Innovation Unit in no time."
Having once risked their lives together on a mission in Wind Thunder Valley, they treated Bu Eun-seol with great familiarity.
"Thank you."
Bu Eun-seol bowed to them as well before turning to So-jeon.
"Bu Eun-seol greets the Squad Leader."
In the past, facing So-jeon's overwhelming presence head-on would have been difficult.
But now, Bu Eun-seol met his cold, razor-sharp energy with calm composure.
"Hmm."
So-jeon let out an impressed hum, scanning Bu Eun-seol up and down before clicking his tongue.
The look on his face was like a drinker savoring the sight of a fine liquor.
"A few trips through the martial world, and you've really changed."
The man who had sighed in admiration tapped the great blade slung over his shoulder and spoke.
"So, how about it? Shall we finally have a proper spar with this Squad Leader? For real, this time."
Before Bu Eun-seol could respond, Je Un interjected with a scolding tone.
"Squad Leader, is that really what you say to someone who's just returned after a year?"
"What's wrong with a spar?"
"At least offer him a warm meal first before saying such things. And thanks to you challenging the unit members to spar at every opportunity—while casually using his actual martial power—there's hardly a single uninjured disciple left!"
"Hmph. The martial arts of the Main Pavilion have always been learned through pain."
"That's not pain—that's outright beating them senseless!"
"Ah, seems I got the order wrong. I should start by beating the one whose mouth is still intact."
As So-jeon and Je Un bickered pointlessly, Wang Geol spoke up.
"Ignore those two and head to Clear Breeze Studio. The Deputy Pavilion Lord is looking for you."
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol bowed his head, then turned to So-jeon and Je Un to bid them farewell.
"Then I'll take my leave first."
"Bu Eun-seol! Don't forget—next time, you're sparring with this Brigade Chief!"
"Honestly, must you insist on sparring?"
Watching the two continue their endless squabble, Bu Eun-seol allowed a faint smile to grace his lips before slowly making his way toward Clear Breeze Studio.
Even as he walked, he crossed paths with numerous people within Langya Pavilion.
Some looked at him with surprise, others with undisguised curiosity.
'Something's off.'
When he had first arrived at Langya Pavilion, whether their gazes met or not, they had always maintained an indifferent demeanor.
But now, their eyes seemed to say, 'Oh? So a new disciple has come to Langya Pavilion?'
In truth, it was because Bu Eun-seol's qi and martial prowess had grown strong enough not just to be recognized as a disciple of Langya Pavilion—but to an astonishing degree.
Yet, unaware of this, Bu Eun-seol could only wear a puzzled expression.
"How may I assist you?"
Finally arriving before Clear Breeze Studio, an attendant passing by addressed him.
"Disciple Bu Eun-seol. I've come to see the Deputy Pavilion Lord."
"Please follow me."
Guided by the attendant, he stepped inside the pavilion, where a garden of blooming flowers and an elegant traditional pavilion stood.
After passing through the garden and being led to Dan Cheong's office, the attendant spoke in a hushed voice.
"Deputy Pavilion Lord. Young Hero Bu has arrived."
"Let him in."
As the door opened, the sight of Dan Cheong, surrounded by stacks of books and continuously wielding his brush, came into view.
Being the leader of a sect meant an endless stream of duties to attend to.
Though modest in scale, Langya Pavilion was still one of the Demonic Path Ten Gates. The sheer volume of daily affairs was beyond imagination.
"Deputy Pavilion Lord."
"You've returned."
As Bu Eun-seol bowed respectfully, Dan Cheong smiled brightly and nodded.
"You've truly grown into a fine young man now. I've heard all about your exploits through the Wind and Cloud Corps."
Hearing this, Bu Eun-seol wasn't particularly surprised.
Had his movements not been meticulously reported, the Wind and Cloud Corps wouldn't have been stationed at the relay post precisely when he needed a carriage.
"Sit for a moment."
Dan Cheong gestured to the seat across from him with a smile.
"Just a few more letters to finish. Bring another cup of tea here."
"Understood."
The attendant placed a steaming cup of tea on the table where Bu Eun-seol sat.
After taking a few sips, he found himself with little to do. Glancing around, his gaze eventually settled on Dan Cheong, who was still immersed in his work.
Rustle. Swish.
Dan Cheong flipped through documents with his left hand while writing with his right.
Not just in martial arts, but even in daily life, he naturally employed the principles of the Divided Mind Technique.
In fact, the speed at which he flipped pages and wrote was three or four times faster than an ordinary person's.
Yet his handwriting remained neat, and his page-turning was methodical.
'It's only possible because the Deputy Pavilion Lord's martial arts are so advanced.'
Dan Cheong's reflexes and senses far surpassed those of ordinary martial artists. Thus, he could divide even the same span of time multiple times over.
"I've kept you waiting."
Having seemingly finished his work, Dan Cheong rose from his seat.
Wearing a faint smile, he suddenly scrutinized Bu Eun-seol from head to toe—then opened his mouth.
"Just what in the world happened to you?"