Chapter 1265
After regaining her composure at the Martial Soul Society for a brief period, A-wan returned to India under Do Cheon-rin's escort.
Originally, she had vowed never to part from Bu Eun-seol again.
But after witnessing countless deaths due to her own misjudgment,
A-wan believed she no longer had the right to remain by Bu Eun-seol's side. Instead, she resolved to immerse herself in the affairs of the Upper Realm as the chief overseer of the Four Stars Trading Company.
"What's keeping you at the main hall for so long, Bu Eun-seol?"
Do Cheon-rin, who had escorted A-wan all the way to India and back,
"Lady A-wan has returned safely."
reported to Bu Eun-seol in his office that she had made it back unharmed.
"By the way, about Seok U-haeng. I can't fathom why that bloodthirsty bastard suddenly became so attentive."
Having heard of Seok U-haeng's efforts throughout the journey, Do Cheon-rin wore an expression of utter bewilderment.
"That's completely unlike him."
Ever since their time on Hell Island, Seok U-haeng had never shown the slightest interest in others' affairs.
A born assassin, he concealed his abilities and temperament, moving through the shadows without drawing attention.
Moreover, after suffering defeat at Bu Eun-seol's hands, his disposition had grown even more indifferent and ruthless.
"Did nearly dying and coming back to life change him? From what I heard, he's practically a different person now."
"Perhaps..."
Bu Eun-seol set down his brush for a moment, gazing out the window with an enigmatic smile.
"It's thanks to meeting good people at the main hall."
Gyo Jung-hak, who had imparted the Vajra Body Refinement Art to him,
had effectively become Seok U-haeng's master, thawing his frozen heart.
Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, Seo Jin-ha, and others
treated him like an old friend, showing him that he could always be a comrade of the Death Shadow War Unit.
And Wi Cheon-gyeong, warm-hearted yet deeply considerate,
had pried open the heart of the socially inept Seok U-haeng, who had never known how to interact with others.
"Well, putting that aside..."
Do Cheon-rin let out a sigh.
"Are you really just going to leave A-wan in India like that? She said she wouldn't return to the Central Plains again, blaming herself for the deaths of her tribesmen."
Unable to express her heartfelt feelings for Bu Eun-seol amid the deaths of the thirty tribal warriors who had died because of her,
she had returned to India under Do Cheon-rin's escort.
"Haven't you heard the stories? How hard she worked to obtain the gemstone that could reclaim the Sacred Artifact in India?"
He spoke fervently in her defense.
"She did everything to build connections with India's nobility... even risked her life entering Amara Fortress to secure that gem."
During their journey, Do Cheon-rin had spoken at length with A-wan,
learning just how deeply devoted she was to Bu Eun-seol.
"For now, India is safer."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled a heavy breath before speaking decisively.
"The Iron Elephant King, who protects the Four Stars Trading Company, will soon rise to the foremost position among the Eight Overlords of India. He has both the strength and ambition for it."
"The Iron Elephant King?"
"Yes. Rather than staying in the chaotic Central Plains, it's better for her to remain in Nashik City under his protection and focus on the company's affairs."
"For now..."
Hearing Bu Eun-seol say "for now," Do Cheon-rin nodded in understanding.
"I suppose that makes sense. Ah, right."
He smacked his lips before retrieving a small wooden box from his robes.
"On the way back, I received word from the Wind Cloud Brigade of Langya Pavilion. They asked me to deliver this to you."
Click.
Bu Eun-seol opened the box.
Inside lay the gemstone A-wan had brought—its previously cracked surface now restored to pristine condition.
"What? Did you repair the damaged gem?"
"No, only the exterior."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"I asked Master Cheol and the Demon Swordsmith to restore only the outer appearance."
"Why?"
"Because that's how we'll uncover who's behind Nan Seong-wang."
No matter how much Nan Seong-wang coveted A-wan,
a man who lived so recklessly couldn't possibly maintain an intelligence network capable of tracking her secret movements into the Central Plains.
There had to be someone behind him.
Bu Eun-seol intended to use the "damaged" gemstone to expose their identities.
"Ah, I didn't think of that."
Do Cheon-rin clutched his forehead.
"They'll assume you've obtained the intact gemstone and will surely make their move."
"Exactly."
"I can't keep up with you."
Rubbing his forehead, Do Cheon-rin shook his head.
"There was a time when I was second to none in strategy... Have I gotten rusty from brawling with those rogue brigade bastards for so long?"
Whenever something happened,
Bu Eun-seol never let it pass without thorough analysis from every angle.
And he always maneuvered the situation to his advantage.
"But using the gemstone as bait has its risks."
Do Cheon-rin's eyes suddenly gleamed as if struck by a realization.
"A-wan came to the Central Plains determined to deliver the gemstone to the Martial Soul Society Leader and stayed at the Society. That means you'll have to act as the Society Leader this time... Won't that make it difficult to face powerful enemies?"
Against unknown adversaries,
operating as the Martial Soul Society Leader—who could only wield the Heavenly Light Seven Forms as his signature technique—posed a serious risk of being overwhelmed by sudden crises.
Worse, it might even expose his true identity as the Martial Soul Lord.
"I've already taken precautions."
Bu Eun-seol met Do Cheon-rin's gaze.
"The Martial Soul Society has learned that the gemstone was damaged during transport... and that the only artisan capable of restoring it is the Demon Swordsmith of Langya Pavilion."
Then, in a low voice, he continued:
"In the process, information about the jewel was detected by the Death Soul Squad's intelligence network, and ultimately, the Martial Soul Lord—who recognized its true value—took possession of it after paying an enormous price."
The fact that Bu Eun-seol could wield Thunder Essence Divine Qi was already widely known among the Abyssal Forces.
Moreover, this sacred artifact was a treasure of the Four Sacred Tribes, connected to the Heaven and Earth Divine Artifact.
Given this, the narrative that Bu Eun-seol desperately desired it and would pay any price to obtain it was entirely plausible.
"If you were to move covertly or establish a base somewhere with the intact jewel in hand..."
Do Cheon-rin nodded as if everything now made sense.
"Those who covet it would inevitably show themselves."
"Exactly."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed.
"The Heaven and Earth Divine Artifact vanished from the Central Plains over five hundred years ago. If this truly is a sacred artifact capable of locating it... no one would simply stand by and watch."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Moreover, they must have heard rumors that the jewel was damaged. They'll be burning with curiosity—whether such a treasure can truly be restored."
"So they'll have no choice but to take the bait."
Do Cheon-rin mirrored the faint smile.
They had laid a perfect trap using the very jewel A-wan had broken.
This was their chance to decisively eliminate all those who dared interfere—including forces from India.
At the edge of a small village in Sichuan stood a shabby inn.
Once, this area had been renowned for its scenic beauty, with remnants of fierce battles between the martial world's greatest masters scattered throughout.
Many travelers had once flocked here.
Thanks to that, numerous inns and stalls had sprung up.
But as time passed, the surrounding landscape lost its luster, and those seeking traces of past martial masters disappeared.
With travelers no longer visiting, the inns and stalls vanished one by one...
Now, only a single small inn remained, run by an old man too aged to relocate elsewhere.
Fortunately, the handful of guests who still came, drawn by old rumors, allowed him to scrape by—
But lately, even those visitors had stopped coming, leaving him in dire straits.
Then, one day, a guest arrived.
Tall but with an utterly ordinary face, he was an unremarkable man in gray robes.
"I plan to stay here for about half a month."
The old man nearly cheered.
He would have been grateful just to sell some liquor—but a guest staying for half a month?
Moreover, since he couldn't be bothered to maintain all the rooms, he had converted the remaining ones into a single "special chamber."
Which meant he could charge a premium.
"Payment in advance."
The gray-robed man placed a hefty silver ingot worth about forty taels on the table.
"This is too much..."
Even as he said this, the old man quickly pocketed the silver, afraid the man might change his mind.
"It won't be excessive. I drink heavily."
The old man grinned at the gray-robed man's words.
What kind of liquor could this unimpressive fellow possibly drink? he thought.
But before even a day had passed—
He realized with painful clarity just how wrong he had been.
The gray-robed man slept in his room until dusk, then staggered out at night to drink—
The problem was, he drank ceaselessly, without pause, until dawn.
By the third day,
The inn's liquor stock had been completely drained, leaving nothing left to sell.
In the end, the old man had no choice but to—
Reluctantly purchase a fresh supply from a nearby brewer. But at this rate, the man would easily polish off three or four jugs a day.
Even excluding the room fee, the liquor alone for half a month would cost at least thirty taels.
Just as the man had said, the forty taels he'd paid upfront wasn't excessive at all.
"Just what kind of person is he?"
The old man was curious.
At a glance, the man did nothing but emerge at sunset, glance at the sky, and then drink himself into a stupor—
But the way he meticulously observed the night sky and the moon each evening made it clear he wasn't some idle layabout.
No, he looked more like someone waiting for something.
"Strange fellow."
After four days, the old man gave up trying to understand the gray-robed man.
No matter how he looked at it, there were no answers to be found.
"As long as I sell him forty taels's worth of liquor, that's all that matters."
The old man shook his head.
Thankfully, he'd already been paid.
Whether the man stared at the sky or the ground made no difference to him.
Glug, glug.
As the moon rose once more,
The gray-robed man sat alone in the empty inn, drinking.
His only accompaniment was a single shriveled peanut, yet he chewed it as if it were the finest delicacy in the world.
'He'll drain the liquor again.'
The old man sighed as he watched the man drink, then stood from his seat.
After observing him for days, he knew not only the man's capacity but also his drinking habits.
Only two bottles remained now—
Just like when he'd first arrived, he would surely order six more.
"Take your time. Slowly."
The old man set down six fresh bottles while muttering under his breath.
Seeing someone so young drowning himself in liquor day and night—
It suggested some hidden sorrow, but he didn't dare ask.
The most tedious thing in the world was listening to the lamentations of those burdened with regrets.
"Let me know if you need more."
Though the old man spoke kindly,
The man gave no indication of hearing, merely emptying his cup.
Outside, the bitter winter wind howled, but inside the inn, the warmth of the hearth fire kept the chill at bay.
Before long, the night deepened, and the innkeeper began nodding off drowsily.
The man in gray didn't seem to be as heartless as he appeared.
When the old man started dozing, he chose not to wake him. Instead, he quietly picked up a liquor bottle and headed toward his room without a word.
The chamber he occupied was nearly the size of the entire first floor of the inn—far larger than even the finest rooms of ordinary establishments.
In such a desolate place where guests were scarce, the innkeeper likely charged a premium when he did have a visitor, ensuring the business stayed afloat.
Once inside, the man in gray sat at the table and drank alone.
By the time he emptied his fifth bottle—
Whoosh.
Suddenly, every candle in the room flickered out at once.
"Hmm."
The man in gray let out a brief sigh as he surveyed the pitch-black interior. Then, as if nothing had happened, he raised his cup again with the same motion.
"Since I enjoy drinking alone, I’ll decline a drinking companion., then I suppose you won't mind keeping it that way."
Swish.
A presence stirred in the darkness, and before him, a pale silhouette gradually took shape.
A woman clad in robes as white as snowflakes.
Her face was veiled—
A special fabric that no amount of enhanced vision could pierce.
Yet from the glossy cascade of her hair, the elegant curves of her figure, and the faint, intoxicating fragrance that lingered around her—
It was clear she was a beauty capable of ensnaring any man with her bewitching aura.
"There's only one inn in this area," the veiled woman said in a mesmerizing voice as she glanced around the room.
With light, graceful steps, she approached and continued, "Surely you wouldn't be so cruel as to turn away someone with nowhere else to go on a night this cold?"
She moved to the opposite side of the table where Bu Eun-seol sat and spoke in a voice as sweet as honey.
"You seem to have plenty of liquor. Won't you pour me a drink?"
A dreamlike beauty appearing in the dead of night, in an empty room, whispering temptations in a velvety voice—
What man could refuse?
But the man in gray was different.
He gathered the liquor bottles one by one—only to stand and head for the door instead of pouring her a drink.
"Where are you going?"
"You stay here. I'll drink downstairs."
"Haa."
The veiled woman exhaled as if resigned and cut straight to the point.
"Why would a man who possesses a treasure capable of shaking the martial world waste his time drinking alone in such a shabby inn?"
"Who are you?"
"Does it matter who I am?"
Her crescent-moon eyes curved behind the veil.
"What matters is that you have the treasure, and I can offer you a price worthy of it."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You check the moonlight every night—isn't it to locate the treasure hidden in these lands?"
When the man didn't answer,
she leaned closer, her voice soft and intimate, like a lover's whisper.
"Show it to me."
"Why should I?"
"Because in exchange for merely letting me see it, you'll receive a reward beyond imagination."
"I dislike roundabout talk."
"Very well."
With a rustle, she shed her outer robe.
"They say men seek to conquer the world for the sake of possessing a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms."
Though she had only removed a single layer, the curves now revealed were indescribably alluring.
"I'll grant you the right to rule that world—for just one night."
Had any other woman made such a claim, he might have laughed.
But this woman—with only her veiled face, her silhouette, and the faint scent of her skin—
was undeniably a peerless beauty, one who could make a man believe she was worth the world itself.
"I refuse."
"Is showing the treasure really so difficult?"
She tilted her head in puzzlement.
"I swear I won't take it from you. Just let me see it where it lies, and our transaction ends there."
Staring intently at the man in gray, she suddenly let out a small sigh of realization.
"You're suspicious. But there's no need to worry."
Her eyes, glinting in the dark, narrowed once more.
"Because the payment will be upfront."
A night with a woman of unparalleled beauty—just for showing her a treasure already in his possession?
Only a fool would refuse such an offer.
"I refuse."
Unfortunately, the man in gray was precisely that kind of fool.
"Why not?"
"I just don't want to."
"I'd like a proper reason."
"Rather, I have a question for you."
His brow furrowed.
"How did you know I have this treasure? And why do you want to see it?"
"I see. Of course you'd find this situation suspicious."
The veiled woman exhaled as if relieved he had asked.
"I've been searching for a certain treasure for a very long time. I've spent vast sums gathering information about it."
"......"
"Then, by chance, I learned that the treasure you possess bears an uncanny resemblance to the one I seek."
She continued,
"It's more precious to me than my own life. But I couldn't force you to submit, nor could I buy you off with money... So I had no choice but to resort to seduction from the start."
The man listened quietly before asking,
"Just who are you?"
"I am the Tower Lord of Black Silk Tower."
Black Silk Tower.
A legendary intelligence network of the Black Path, passed down through generations in the martial world. It was said its members were all women who harbored deep-seated resentment.
Though its structure and scale were said to rival even the Beggars' Sect, the identities and appearances of its leaders—including the Tower Lord—were shrouded in absolute secrecy.
And yet, the woman before him was claiming to be none other than the Tower Lord herself?
"That treasure... it might be the relic of my parents, murdered by the former leader of the Blood God Heaven."
The veiled woman—the Tower Lord of Black Silk Tower—spoke in a low voice.
"So I only wish to confirm it. Is that so impossible?"
She had revealed her identity without reservation and laid bare her desperate reason for needing to see the treasure.
And her story was one that left no room for doubt.
"I refuse."
Yet the man shook his head with an expression as harsh as could be.
"I decline."