Chapter 131
An astonishing word escaped Bu Eun-seol's lips.
Dark King.
One of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, known as the King Who Rules the Darkness.
An Absolute Master said to be capable of completely concealing his presence in even the faintest sliver of darkness, with no equal when shrouded in shadow.
"The Dark King."
The old man's expression remained impassive as he asked:
"Why do you believe this old man to be the Dark King?"
In response, Bu Eun-seol respectfully clasped his hands together.
"The Main Pavilion possesses techniques to expand one's senses through sound and vibration. Yet, to move without detection—emitting only the faintest noise—is an ability I believed only one master in all the world could achieve: the Dark King himself."
Bu Eun-seol's answer was masterful, simultaneously affirming the pride of Langya Pavilion's martial arts while praising the Dark King's unparalleled skill.
"Hahaha. Your silver tongue has made this old man laugh twice now."
The old man nodded slightly before flicking his sleeve with effortless grace.
"Indeed. This old man is Yeop Hyo-cheon, the Supreme Cult Commander of the Main Hall."
The Dark King, Yeop Hyo-cheon.
Originally, he had been the Night-Dancing Heavenly Lord, shadowing the Demonic Heavenly Emperor like a specter.
But five years prior, to fill the vacant position of Deputy Hall Lord—left empty for twenty years—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had granted him the position of Supreme Cult Commander.
Whenever the Demonic Heavenly Emperor entered seclusion, Yeop Hyo-cheon maintained the balance between the Elders' Hall and the Demonic Path Ten Gates... making him, without exaggeration, the second most powerful figure in the Demon Hall.
Bu Eun-seol immediately bowed deeply.
"Bu Eun-seol, disciple of Langya Pavilion, pays his respects to the Supreme Cult Commander."
Yeop Hyo-cheon sighed as he studied Bu Eun-seol.
"To be frank, this old man opposed the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan."
After a brief pause, he shook his head and spoke in a low voice.
"But having seen one such as you emerge... I suppose it can be considered half a success."
His muttering carried the weight of unspoken history.
As Bu Eun-seol maintained his deferential posture, Yeop Hyo-cheon's stern expression melted into a faint smile.
"Well then. As you surmised, I summoned the Ten Demonic Heirs here personally to assess you all."
"I see."
Yeop Hyo-cheon's gaze lifted toward the ceiling of the Grand Hall, his eyes deep and contemplative.
"To be precise, the Demonic Path Ten Gates made a request. They wished for me to evaluate the temperaments and martial arts of the successors... so they could designate Great Righteous Experts whose techniques would counter them."
This time, even Bu Eun-seol couldn't conceal his surprise.
He had assumed the purpose was to assign opponents they could defeat—considering their martial arts and personalities to maximize their chances of victory. But instead... it was to ensure their defeat?
"However, this old man refused. Your talents are far too valuable to waste... and, truthfully, the odds of you losing in a fair fight are already high enough."
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
If both the Lord of the Soul Annihilation Corps and Yeop Hyo-cheon—the Demon Hall’s second-in-command—had judged it this way, the conclusion was beyond doubt.
"Regardless, since you recognized me, you deserve a fitting reward."
Yeop Hyo-cheon narrowed his eyes slightly.
"To hunt the Great Righteous Experts, you must first know where they are and how they operate. I will arrange for the Secret Shadow Pavilion to provide you with intelligence."
Langya Pavilion itself had an exceptional intelligence network—the Wind Cloud Brigade.
But uncovering details about the Righteous Faction's Great Righteous Experts would take considerable time. In contrast, the Demon Hall, with its constant vigilance over the orthodox martial world, could procure the information swiftly.
'There's no reason to refuse such a reward.'
Having made up his mind, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands once more.
"My gratitude."
"Then, you may go."
At Yeop Hyo-cheon's dismissal, Bu Eun-seol bowed respectfully before turning away.
Watching him depart, Yeop Hyo-cheon's expression grew solemn as he shook his head.
"Remarkable. The world is vast, and eccentric masters are as numerous as grains of sand."
His voice was low as he observed Bu Eun-seol's retreating figure.
"To think there would be another whose talent and temperament so closely resemble his..."
Bu Eun-seol left the Demon Hall, boarding a carriage back to Langya Pavilion.
Clack, clack.
As the carriage entered the mountain path, it swayed violently, like a ship battered by stormy waves.
Seated perfectly still inside, Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes, carefully reviewing the intelligence he had obtained from the Secret Shadow Pavilion.
'The Great Righteous Expert of Zhongnan...'
The pavilion had provided him with detailed information on Yeo Hwan-jin, the Great Righteous Expert of the Zhongnan Sect.
Since becoming one of the chosen, Yeo Hwan-jin had remained elusive—like a dragon hidden among clouds.
Yet the Demon Hall had already traced his movements thoroughly.
He was currently residing in Majestic Mountain Gorge, within Tangshan, occasionally visiting the Tangshan Martial Academy to instruct disciples.
'Troublesome. Tangshan is...'
The Tangshan region was effectively the Zhongnan Sect's domain.
Having operated the martial academy there for so long, the sect had filled every position—from local martial arts schools and money houses to escort bureaus and even regional administrators—with its own disciples.
'This complicates matters.'
If he were to fight Yeo Hwan-jin in such a place? Even if he won the battle, escaping unscathed would be impossible.
'Then...'
Bu Eun-seol pondered deeply.
This was not a task that could be resolved quickly.
Moreover, since Yeo Hwan-jin was evaluated as a master of considerable skill, thorough preparation would be necessary before facing him.
'Zhongnan Sect...'
Though Bu Eun-seol had mastered formidable demonic path martial arts, his knowledge of orthodox martial arts was limited.
But thanks to the Secret Shadow Pavilion's assistance, he now had a general understanding of the Zhongnan Sect's history—and, crucially, their martial techniques.
'The Three Great Sword Techniques of Zhongnan: Gale Wind, Emerald Rain, and Flowing Cloud.'
Unlike typical Taoist martial arts, the Zhongnan Sect's techniques were ferocious and heavy-handed. It was said their swords frequently shattered or bent during training due to the sheer force of their methods.
'Like my Formless Heavenly Flow, do they blend multiple techniques to amplify their power?'
Trained in Langya Pavilion's practical combat martial arts, Bu Eun-seol could analyze an opponent's techniques even mid-battle.
But attempting such a thing against a superior opponent would only result in having his head lopped off before he could even demonstrate his skills.
'In that case, there's only that one method left.'
During the four-day carriage ride, Bu Eun-seol had continuously pondered the matter and devised a rough plan of his own.
"We've arrived."
Before he knew it, the carriage dispatched from the Demon Hall had reached the vicinity of Sword Brow Mountain.
"Thank you."
Stepping out of the carriage, Bu Eun-seol immediately began ascending Sword Brow Mountain.
Swiftly entering Langya Pavilion's premises, he headed straight for the forge where Master Cheol, Wang Geol, stood.
"You're back already?"
Wang Geol, who had been inside the forge's workshop, looked up at Bu Eun-seol while holding a dagger in his hand. He seemed to be examining a recently completed blade.
"I heard you'll be facing one of the Great Righteous Experts next..."
"That's correct."
"Troublesome, isn't it?"
Bu Eun-seol stared intently at Wang Geol, who was absentmindedly turning the dagger over in his hands, before speaking.
"Teach me."
"What?"
Wang Geol turned his gaze toward Bu Eun-seol, his forehead deeply furrowed.
"This pavilion has many who excel in martial arts. Go learn from someone else."
"That's not it. Teach me metallurgy."
Metallurgy—the collective term for all techniques a blacksmith uses to handle metal.
"Metallurgy?"
"Yes. To be precise, I want to learn how to repair swords."
"How to repair swords?"
"That's right. I wish to focus on learning sword repair techniques."
Wang Geol narrowed his eyes and studied Bu Eun-seol closely.
"What exactly are you scheming?"
"I've heard that the Zhongnan Sect's sword techniques are so ferocious that their blades frequently break during training."
"And?"
"Coincidentally, the Great Righteous Expert from Zhongnan is staying near the Tangshan Iron Family."
"Hmm."
Wang Geol nodded as if he had grasped Bu Eun-seol's plan.
"That's not a bad idea... but mastering sword repair will take considerable time. You might just be wasting what little time you have left."
"You're aware the Demon Hall has set a time limit?"
Wang Geol replied with an indifferent expression.
"With the Demonic Path Ten Gates eager to pit you against the Great Righteous Experts, of course they'd impose a deadline."
"I see."
"Just find another method."
Wang Geol shook his head.
"You'd be better off refining your martial arts with the remaining time."
"No. Teach me metallurgy."
Bu Eun-seol met Wang Geol's gaze with unwavering conviction.
"I believe this is the best approach."
"And if you end up squandering your time?"
"I'll simply do my best."
Wang Geol stared at him for a long moment.
After a prolonged silence, he pointed toward the forge.
"Then let's begin immediately."
Henan, Tangshan Iron Family.
The largest forge in Tangshan, employing over thirty blacksmiths.
Skilled artisans dominated the region's trade, and young apprentices often came here to learn the craft.
Clang, clang, clang.
The forge's day began with lighting the furnace.
Next, the bellows regulated the temperature to heat the metal.
Then came the repetitive process of shaping the metal through hammering and cooling it through quenching.
Hammering—whether flattening, elongating, or sharpening the metal—might seem simple, but it was grueling work.
Working the bellows meant constantly risking burns from flying sparks.
Whoosh.
A young man steadily fed charcoal into the roaring furnace.
Though tall, his face was unremarkable—the kind you'd see anywhere.
Yet his expression was eerily blank, as if masked, and his movements were so precise that from a distance, he resembled a mechanical automaton.
"He's skilled."
The elderly Yuk Man-ho, the Chief Blacksmith overseeing all artisans at the Tangshan Iron Family, nodded approvingly as he watched the young man diligently working the bellows.
"His name was Bu Eun-seol, wasn't it?"
At Yuk Man-ho's murmur, the steward I Bok, standing behind him, nodded.
"That's correct. He was introduced by the Third Master of the Hwang Family Ironworks."
"I heard he had some prior experience with metalwork."
"Yes. He said he'd been doing odd jobs in a forge since childhood."
"Hmm."
The scorching heat radiating from the bellows threatened to consume the entire forge.
Even in the mild spring weather, seasoned blacksmiths often collapsed from exhaustion while working the bellows.
Moreover, sparks flying from the furnace left their arms covered in burn scars.
Yet the young man, Bu Eun-seol, silently endured every hardship.
His unwavering diligence had finally caught Yuk Man-ho's attention.
"Let's test him with real work."
"So soon? He's only been here a month."
Becoming a full-fledged blacksmith required years of menial labor.
Those lacking skill or dexterity often spent an entire year just feeding the furnace or doing odd jobs without ever touching a hammer.
"But he said he's worked in a forge before. One test won't hurt."
I Bok scratched his head at Yuk Man-ho's words.
"Truthfully, the other blacksmiths have complaints about him."
"Complaints?"
"Yes. He's neither sociable nor talkative... and though the Third Master introduced him, he's still a wandering blacksmith with no established background."
"Tch."
Yuk Man-ho clicked his tongue.
"Since when does a blacksmith need a background? What use is sociability here?"
"But a forge is still a workplace for people. Besides, our Tangshan Iron Family—"
"Listen here, Steward."
Yuk Man-ho scowled and reprimanded him in a low voice.
"If the blacksmiths keep rotting their minds with such nonsense... no wonder the quality of recent work has been slipping."
Then, in a stern voice once more, he said:
"Starting tomorrow, send that child to the Beautiful Farming Institute."