Chapter 1274
―She would never give up.
In the past, Bu Eun-seol had barely escaped the Empress Dowager's trap and, by sheer luck, even earned himself the epithet of the "Righteous Great Demon."
Yet even after that, he could instinctively sense that the Empress Dowager had no intention of leaving him alone.
Just as she had tested him,
Bu Eun-seol had also tested her—peeling back every layer of her temperament and peculiar traits.
"Since I've uncovered her weakness—her emotions... she'll undoubtedly craft a fatal move without fail."
Through her relentless assaults, Bu Eun-seol had read her next move.
He had completed a grand design to collapse her and showed the recorded strategies to Yu Un-ryong in the form of a book.
"If she's this persistent... there must be an absolute reason she needs to bring you down."
Yu Un-ryong, carefully flipping through the pages, shook his head.
"I can't fathom the reason at all."
"We'll find out after we topple her."
"That may be, but..."
Yu Un-ryong stroked his chin.
"Without a doubt, the Empress Dowager will account for me as a variable in every move she makes."
Then, decisively, he added:
"She'll keep sending spies to infiltrate the Hidden Demon Pavilion, even if it costs them their lives."
Yu Un-ryong, the strategist of the Death Shadow War Unit.
It was already well-known that his wisdom rivaled Bu Eun-seol's.
Though it was impossible to surveil Bu Eun-seol—whose martial prowess was peerless and who roamed the Martial World freely—
keeping eyes and ears on Yu Un-ryong, who remained in the Hidden Demon Pavilion and managed the affairs of the Death Shadow War Unit, was far from difficult.
"Moreover, the Empress Dowager is a master from the True Demon Palace. Predicting her methods is nearly impossible... and even if we guess correctly, countering them won't be easy."
"Then..."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Yu Un-ryong nodded firmly.
"This plan must exclude me—no, the entire Death Shadow War Unit."
All the strategies Bu Eun-seol had written down relied on turning the Empress Dowager's schemes against her.
Perfect secrecy was the foremost requirement for their success.
"It seems this plan must be discussed and executed alongside Lord Han and Chief Strategist Gongson."
Yu Un-ryong took a deep breath and spoke.
"If you combine your wisdom with theirs, you will undoubtedly bring down the Empress Dowager."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
If he excelled at crafting strategies,
Yu Un-ryong excelled at scrutinizing their hidden flaws and variables.
Every plan they had devised so far had succeeded flawlessly precisely because such an outstanding strategist stood by his side.
Afterward, Bu Eun-seol accepted Yu Un-ryong's counsel and, within the impenetrable domain of the Shadowless Assembly—where no spy could infiltrate—
he studied the Empress Dowager's temperament and methods with Han Sang-ja and Gongson Dan-gyeong, discerning exactly how she intended to bring him down.
"Ultimately, the last method the Empress Dowager can employ... is to either co-opt or seduce someone the Lord holds dear, turning them into his betrayer."
Han Sang-ja spoke decisively.
"Only this method can shatter the Lord's spirit and mind—fortified like an Impenetrable Golden Wall, with no flaws to exploit nor martial arts to disrupt."
Gongson Dan-gyeong nodded in agreement.
"However, since the Lord has repeatedly broken the Mind Seizing Secret Art used against women... future schemes will no longer include them as targets."
She looked at Bu Eun-seol and continued.
"Without a doubt, she will select a 'man' whom the Lord trusts absolutely and attempt to sway him."
The Empress Dowager was like a hunting dog—once she sank her teeth in, she never let go.
Not only would she never give up, but she would also seek to exploit or co-opt those Bu Eun-seol cherished.
However, since her attempts to control women had ended in utter failure, her future targets would inevitably be men.
"Then..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
"She'll approach him in the end."
"Correct."
Han Sang-ja affirmed.
"The one most likely to be targeted by the Empress Dowager is none other than Heuk-pyo."
Bu Eun-seol, Han Sang-ja, and Gongson Dan-gyeong—
all three were in agreement.
Heuk-pyo had been Bu Eun-seol's attendant and friend since his earliest days in the Martial World.
Even after earning the title of "Wandering King," he remained fiercely loyal and steadfast.
Moreover, since he resided Beyond the Frontier—
even the Death Soul Squad would struggle to track his movements in detail.
He was the only one who could easily operate beneath Bu Eun-seol's notice.
"But I have a question."
Midway through the discussion, Gongson Dan-gyeong spoke up.
"Even if it's the Empress Dowager, would she really go to such lengths to pressure the Lord, co-opting those around him just to bring him down?"
She furrowed her brow, glancing between Bu Eun-seol and Han Sang-ja.
"From her perspective, the Lord isn't necessarily an enemy she must defeat at all costs."
Gongson Dan-gyeong echoed Yu Un-ryong's earlier words.
After all, the Empress Dowager had no prior connection or grudge against Bu Eun-seol.
Thinking coldly—
merely siding with the Emperor wasn't reason enough
for her to design such meticulous and cruel traps to topple him.
"That's true."
Han Sang-ja also agreed.
"The Empress Dowager must know that bringing down the Lord would require staking her very life."
For her to scheme this relentlessly just to eliminate Bu Eun-seol alone—
the risks she would have to shoulder were far too great.
Especially when considering how long she has been locked in this power struggle with the Emperor.
There was no need for the Empress Dowager to stake her very survival just to eliminate Bu Eun-seol, who couldn't possibly influence the imperial court to begin with.
"But she will do so without fail."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with unwavering certainty.
"Though the exact reason remains unclear, she regards me as a greater enemy than even the Emperor."
"So there must be some underlying motive."
"Indeed. I believe it is the Dragon-Phoenix Ring."
The Empress Dowager had not taken notice of Bu Eun-seol when he secretly allied with the Emperor to annihilate the Jungson Clan.
Nor when he rescued the princess.
It was only when the princess bestowed upon him the Dragon-Phoenix Ring that her attention turned to him.
"Though it is said to be a symbolic treasure of a prince consort, I suspect it is more than that."
Not only did the Dragon-Phoenix Ring possess the power to oppose the True Demon's Corpse,
but it had also transformed into a vessel capable of securely containing the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud.
There was no way the Empress Dowager could be ignorant of this treasure's value.
Perhaps she wasn't targeting him at all—but rather, the divine power held within the Dragon-Phoenix Ring.
"The Dragon-Phoenix Ring may serve another purpose."
At that moment, Han Sang-ja interjected.
"Imperial heirlooms passed down through generations often come with certain privileges."
Gongson Dan-gyeong picked up the thread.
"If it were merely a betrothal gift for the princess's future consort, why would it have been worn by Princess Hui-jeong since childhood?"
Now that they considered it, it was strange.
Most treasures from the imperial family carried special authority.
If it were simply a ceremonial gift for the princess's husband,
it would have been bestowed at the time of marriage—not kept under guard for so many years beforehand.
"Though now is not the time to debate that point."
What mattered now was uncovering the Empress Dowager's scheme and bringing her down.
The three of them resumed their strategizing.
"First, we must establish a decoy in the Hidden Demon Pavilion to take the Lord's place."
Han Sang-ja proposed.
"When the time comes, it must appear as though the Lord has been caught utterly helpless."
Following Han Sang-ja's suggestion,
Bu Eun-seol summoned Seo Jin-ha—who had been with the Azure Heaven Alliance—to the Hidden Demon Pavilion.
Officially, it was a Demon Leave,
but Seo Jin-ha, having nowhere else to go, remained sequestered in his quarters, alternating between martial training and recovery.
In truth, however, he was tirelessly handling Bu Eun-seol's duties in his stead.
While Bu Eun-seol moved to and from the Shadow Spirit Hall, plotting the Empress Dowager's downfall—
even when he met with Heuk-pyo and returned—
Seo Jin-ha maintained a grave and somber expression, pretending to manage affairs on Bu Eun-seol's behalf.
—As expected, she has extended her claws toward Heuk-pyo.
Not long after,
just as anticipated, the Empress Dowager sent a woman named So-so to Heuk-pyo.
—Heuk-pyo was completely sincere.
Bu Eun-seol sighed deeply after meeting with Heuk-pyo in person.
"Despite all the warnings I gave him... Heuk-pyo truly believes she loves him."
Though Heuk-pyo knew So-so had been sent under the Empress Dowager's orders,
he was convinced that, in the process, they had genuinely formed a bond.
—He even spoke of disbanding the Wanderer Unit and leaving the Martial World altogether.
In truth, Heuk-pyo's initial anger toward Bu Eun-seol had been genuine.
He loved So-so without pretense, hoping she would repent and become his lifelong companion.
His intention to disband the Wanderer Unit had also been sincere.
Had she maintained her deception without harming Bu Eun-seol—
Heuk-pyo might have continued letting her deceive him, eventually retiring to Beyond the Frontier.
But So-so ultimately betrayed his sincerity.
To sever his ties with Bu Eun-seol completely, she resorted to the True Demon Palace's forbidden arts.
—Seizing control of the Spirit and Mind is difficult, but lulling someone who trusts you to sleep is hardly a challenge.
At the time, So-so had put Heuk-pyo to sleep before provoking Bu Eun-seol.
But that was her fatal mistake.
She failed to realize that even the slightest word or action
could serve as a clue for Bu Eun-seol.
Even while acknowledging that captivating the heart of a master like Heuk-pyo—who possessed unwavering devotion—was impossible,
she had still said: "If you're averse to physical intimacy, just hold me for a moment."
When she first met Bu Eun-seol,
she had tried every means to establish physical contact.
Meaning, her forbidden art required touch to take full effect—
not to seize control of another's Spirit and Mind, but to make them prioritize absolute trust in her words.
—She exploits the emotion of trust.
To drag Heuk-pyo into an inescapable abyss.
Just as Bu Eun-seol predicted, Heuk-pyo became the Shadowless Assassin.
Believing So-so's claim that they had humiliated him in the past, he began assassinating key figures of the Heavenly Might Secret Army.
But Bu Eun-seol, having foreseen So-so's scheme, had already scrutinized Heuk-pyo's movements.
He had Seo Jin-ha manage affairs at the Demon Hall while tracking Heuk-pyo to prevent the assassinations.
However, since they couldn't deceive So-so—trained in the Empress Dowager's Soul-Controlling Secret Art—
each time Heuk-pyo set out on a mission, they deployed the Mind's Eye Mirror, modified so Han Sang-ja could activate it alone.
Thus, Heuk-pyo was made to believe he had truly killed his targets.
Later, Bu Eun-seol confirmed that those nameless martial artists were members of the imperial Heavenly Might Secret Army—
He had saved them, ordering them to erase all traces of their existence by feigning death until the decisive moment arrived.
"So touching me recklessly from the start was your mistake."
Bu Eun-seol had already endured relentless assaults from the Empress Dowager and her subordinates using the Mind Seizing Secret Art.
Thanks to that, he had gained an even deeper mastery of Phantom Restoration, the pinnacle of Central Plains' Mind Spirit Secret Arts.
And having ascended to the new realm of Void Transcendence,
he had flawlessly deceived not only Heuk-pyo but also the surveillance network surrounding him with his enhanced Mind's Eye Mirror.
But then, the incident erupted.
The Death Shadow War Unit's leaders, completely unaware of these facts, began fighting explosively,
and ultimately, Won Se-mun sought out Heuk-pyo before his Soul-Controlling Secret Art had been broken.
The real problem came afterward.
Fortunately, the Heavenly Might Secret Army's assassinations were nearly complete,
but whether it was because Heuk-pyo had severed Won Se-mun's arm or due to repeated exposure to the Soul-Controlling Secret Art,
Heuk-pyo had genuinely lost control over his murderous intent.
"At this rate, regardless of success or failure, Heuk-pyo's spirit and mind will be shattered."
Then, Tak Il-hon appeared.
When he risked his life to prove that everything Heuk-pyo had achieved was due to Bu Eun-seol's aid and consideration,
Heuk-pyo regained his senses.
The reason his pupils had turned transparent at Tak Il-hon's desperate cry was precisely because of that moment.
Afterward, So-so repeatedly unleashed the sinister techniques of Maheegisin, but a broken Mind Seizing Secret Art does not work twice.
Bu Eun-seol pretended to fight Heuk-pyo with all his might,
right before So-so and the Wanderer Unit.
Once more, within the Domain of World and Realm Annihilation, he unfolded the Mind's Eye Mirror, showing everyone present the illusion of Heuk-pyo's death.
Then, Bu Eun-seol feigned becoming a Crippled Person.
None in the Death Shadow War Unit knew of this scheme—not even Yu Un-ryong, who managed intelligence, or No Trace himself had the slightest inkling.
Thus, the Empress Dowager's intelligence network had no choice but to be utterly deceived.
Having finished his recollection,
Bu Eun-seol, his face still smeared with blood, spoke to the Empress Dowager without wiping it away.
"It seems Your Majesty's surroundings have finally been cleansed."
Then, sheathing his sword, he declared brightly:
"Since the traitorous faction has been entirely eradicated, you may rest at ease."
The Empress Dowager's gaze grew even more venomous, but Bu Eun-seol merely smirked in response.
"If you resent this, then make your move. I'll sever your neck in a single stroke."
Crack.
A bone-chilling sound rang from the Empress Dowager's fingers.
Her divine martial arts were unrivaled in the world—even Bu Eun-seol was no exception.
If she truly unleashed her power?
She could strike him down here and now, or seize the Emperor by the throat and force the troops into submission.
'Does he not know of the Heavenly Emperor Command?'
She had assumed Bu Eun-seol would activate the Heavenly Emperor Command, mobilizing the four elite forces of the Heavenly Emperor Secret Guard—
Hidden Heaven Shadow, Heavenly Secret Guard, Heavenly Protector Forbidden Guard Division, and Grand Guardian Shadow Division.
Yet, for some inexplicable confidence, Bu Eun-seol had brought only the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Dragon Scale Guard.
'This is beyond comprehension.'
Tap.
In the end, she released the tension in her fingers.
She had resolved not to act.
'What makes that bastard fearsome isn't his martial arts—it's his schemes.'
Moreover, she still hadn't uncovered the true nature of the secret art that could dissipate Soul-Demon Magic Energy.
To reveal her true colors now would be far too great a risk.
Thud.
As the Empress Dowager let her hand drop, Bu Eun-seol feigned a concerned expression and spoke.
"His Majesty has decreed that, having endured such a harrowing ordeal, Your Majesty's mind and body must be weakened. Thus, for the sake of stability, all external contact shall be prohibited, and you must devote yourself solely to recuperation."
His voice was low.
"From this moment, the gates of Cining Palace shall be sealed shut. Not a drop of water nor a grain of rice shall pass through without inspection by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. No outsider, no news, shall disturb Your Majesty's peace."
Having delivered those words,
Bu Eun-seol turned without a backward glance and sternly commanded the Dragon Scale Guard officers:
"Lock down Cining Palace. Not even a single ant shall pass through."
Then, the Empress Dowager spoke.
"So."
She lifted her head and stared directly at Bu Eun-seol.
"This is how it ends."
Heuk-pyo, who had been assassinating the Heavenly Might Secret Army, had ultimately died by Bu Eun-seol's hand—and Bu Eun-seol himself had become a Crippled Person.
Yet the Heavenly Might Secret Army and Heuk-pyo were alive and well, and Bu Eun-seol remained unchanged.
"You were testing this palace as well."
Once before, she had summoned Bu Eun-seol to the Imperial Palace, discerning that his weakness lay in sentiment.
She had attacked him repeatedly since, weaving intricate traps.
But only now did she realize—
that while she had been measuring Bu Eun-seol, he had also been testing her.
"The moment you expose another's darkness, that darkness seeps into you as well."
Beneath the throne, the corpses of her subordinates lay piled high, forming mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Spilled blood pooled like a crimson lake.
Amid the thick stench of gore, the Empress Dowager sat motionless upon the throne.
Bu Eun-seol turned his head and smiled.
["Thanks to you, I've been able to advance the Grand Design I've prepared—just a little faster."]
Leaving behind that single Voice Transmission, Bu Eun-seol turned and strode out of Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager was the Emperor's mother, the highest elder of the imperial household—the Nation's Matriarch. No matter her crimes, public execution was nearly impossible.
In such cases, an indirect method, cloaked in justification and ceremony, was employed.
The time would soon come when those in the Imperial Palace who spoke her name would vanish, erased from memory.
Her titles had been stripped, her seals reclaimed, and all contact with the outside world forbidden... Before long, under the pretext of illness, the gates of the Cold Palace would close.