Chapter 138
Through this phenomenon, Bu Eun-seol intuitively realized he had reached the threshold of the Fourth Layer of the Counter-Polar Internal Art.
—Upon reaching the Fourth Layer, one can generate Body Protection True Qi capable of shielding the entire body, akin to Mysterious Gate Strong Qi.
Recalling Blood Vajra's words, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
"Wrapping the body in armor forged from powerful true qi circulating within—yet it is no panacea."
The Body Protection True Qi could only block attacks imbued with internal energy, such as those from Fist Palm Finger Arts.
It could never stop sharp weapons like swords or blades.
"If one wishes to deflect weapon attacks, they must reach the Fifth Layer and materialize their internal energy to that extent..."
Since entering Murim, the only fist and palm masters he had fought were the disciple of the unidentified masked man he encountered at the Blade Tyrant Gate.
With no other enemies attacking him bare-handed, he hadn't yet felt the necessity for Body Protection True Qi.
"Then, shall I hone my sword now?"
Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes once more.
He no longer practiced Formless Heavenly Flow or sword techniques by wielding a blade.
He judged it more necessary to integrate the insights gained from real combat into his martial arts and further solidify his spirit and mind.
"Yeo Hwan-jin. His true mastery of Sword Studies surpassed mine."
The Flowing Cloud Sword Technique of Yeo Hwan-jin, which even Swift Shadowless couldn't evade completely—
it was the pinnacle of the Flowing Sword, capable of passing through anything, the very essence of Taoist Sword Arts specialized in defense and counterattack.
"But even a master of such high martial prowess ultimately failed to govern his spirit and mind."
What Bu Eun-seol had discerned through his sword were only fragments of the habits and tendencies Yeo Hwan-jin left behind when executing the Flowing Cloud Sword.
Thus, while he could block the technique, he hadn't reached a level where victory was assured.
Yet, flustered by having his habits exposed, Yeo Hwan-jin felt fear and crisis toward Bu Eun-seol.
And that led to impatience—blindly resorting to the Hundred-fold Linked Ring Technique without seizing the precise opportunity.
"If he hadn't succumbed to impatience... the likelihood of my victory would have been nonexistent from the start."
Bu Eun-seol revisited his fierce battle with Yeo Hwan-jin in his mind once more.
After a long period of deep contemplation, he nodded as if realizing something.
"In the end, what decided victory wasn't which sword technique was wielded—but whose spirit and mind were more unshakable."
Bu Eun-seol's mental sword training was a form of Sword Debate.
And Sword Debate required an exceptional master—one who could unravel imagined scenarios in accordance with the principles of martial arts.
Yet Bu Eun-seol could refine his sword techniques simply by organizing the insights gained from combat.
Contemplation and meditation—
these were the secret Sword Debate methods practiced only by grandmasters who had endured tens of thousands of real battles.
But Bu Eun-seol had merely grasped the secret of advancing his martial arts by deeply pondering the sword and discerning its principles.
"To think I've come this far."
When Bu Eun-seol regained his senses, another day had passed.
He had only intended to engage in brief Qi Circulation and meditation, yet two full days had slipped by in that very spot.
"Hmm."
His throat was slightly parched, and hunger crept in.
He considered calling the attendant stationed outside but ultimately shook his head.
"I've been cooped up for too long. I should step out for once."
The Jin-yang area boasted bustling taverns as lavish and large as those in Hwangju Prefecture's downtown.
Bu Eun-seol left the annex's rear garden and entered the Cloud Arrival Inn.
Perhaps because it was lunchtime, over a hundred tables spread across each floor were packed with guests.
"Young Master, welcome back!"
A servant spotted Bu Eun-seol and rushed over, bowing eagerly.
He had rented all five annexes—typically reserved for high-ranking officials—and always tipped generously.
Thus, every servant at the Cloud Arrival Inn treated him with reverence fit for nobility.
"Shall I escort you to your usual seat on the third floor?"
Bu Eun-seol, surveying the crowded inn, clicked his tongue.
The sight of every table packed made the place feel unbearably noisy.
"No, I'll dine in the annex."
As he spoke, he retrieved a silver tael from his pocket and handed it over as a tip.
"Oh my, but we haven't even served you yet... It's too much."
When the young servant waved both hands in refusal, Bu Eun-seol found himself smiling faintly without realizing it.
The image of Heuk-pyo, training alone in the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers, flashed through his mind.
"Take it. I'm giving it simply because I wish to."
When Bu Eun-seol extended the silver tael again, the servant bowed so deeply his head nearly touched the ground.
"Th-thank you, Young Master!"
Leaving the bowing servant behind, Bu Eun-seol turned onto the path leading back to the annex.
But as he approached the entrance, a sharp female voice rang out.
"What do you mean, it's not allowed?"
Bu Eun-seol, walking with his hands clasped behind his back, arrived at the annex entrance to find the Cloud Arrival Inn's chief steward and a young woman raising their voices.
"Look. I'm offering to pay extra, aren't I?"
She appeared to be just around twenty—
a beauty with flawless skin and refreshingly bright eyes.
Her posture and stern gaze suggested she was the cherished only daughter of a noble clan accustomed to commanding subordinates.
"Well... It's not a matter of money."
Chief Steward Jin avoided the woman's gaze, wearing an awkward expression as he spoke.
"The annexes are all fully booked, you see."
"Fully booked? Are you joking? They're completely empty right now!"
"It's not that they're empty—our guests have merely stepped out for a moment."
"Don't lie to me."
The woman frowned, pointing around with her finger.
"You're telling me all the guests staying in five separate annexes left their rooms at the same time? Does that make any sense?"
"Well, actually... the truth is, all the annexes of this inn have been rented out in full by a single guest for the past month."
"One person?"
Just as the woman furrowed her brows in disbelief—
"Young Master Bu."
The inn's chief steward, Jin, spotted Bu Eun-seol ambling toward them and bowed deeply at the waist.
"You've returned from your outing, I see."
"Just took a short walk. Carry on."
As Bu Eun-seol brushed past the steward indifferently and moved inside, the woman pointed at him.
"Wait, then is that man...?"
"That's correct."
At the steward's confirmation, the woman bolted toward Bu Eun-seol like a startled colt.
"Hold on a moment!"
"...?"
"Are you the one who rented out all these annexes?"
"I am."
Bu Eun-seol nodded slightly, then turned his head—
What in the... this face—
The woman's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly.
Sunlight filtered through his thin hair, illuminating half of his face—
Like an artisan's masterpiece, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Did you have something to say?"
Snapped back to reality by his question, the woman shook her head.
"I mean..."
After taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and hardened her gaze.
"So, you're saying you're using all five annexes by yourself?"
"That's right."
"Perfect. Since you're alone."
To his surprise, she nodded as if relieved.
"Then you won't mind letting me use the West River Courtyard."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying I'll be using the West River Courtyard for the next three days. Oh, don't worry—I'm not asking for free."
She rummaged through her pouch, then shook her head and pulled out a banknote from her sleeve instead.
'A martial artist, then.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed the sword hanging at her waist.
Most women carried slender, lightweight longswords for convenience. But hers was broad-bladed, engraved with strange emblems.
'And that's a demonic saber...'
Realizing the sword was designed for Demonic Sword Arts, Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened.
'Carrying bundles of banknotes and throwing money around without hesitation—definitely one of them.'
"This should be more than enough compensation, right?"
She thrust the banknote toward him.
"Here, take it."
Bu Eun-seol glanced at it and let out a dry chuckle.
"I don't need it."
"Is the amount too small? Then how about five thousand taels?"
When he remained silent and simply walked past her, she bit her lip.
"Fine! Ten thousand, then!"
Ten thousand taels was enough to buy a modest manor in the outskirts—a fortune by most standards.
Unfortunately for her, she had picked the wrong place to flaunt her wealth.
The money Bu Eun-seol had earned from his time in the Kill-Seeking Unit amounted to roughly eight hundred thousand taels.
Unless he was buying priceless treasures or rare artifacts, he could live in luxury for the rest of his life and still not spend it all.
"That much could rent out every annex in the neighboring inns."
The woman shook her head firmly.
"No. It has to be the West River Courtyard."
Her persistence forced him to ask.
"Why?"
"I've heard that Sam-muk, the legendary painter and Calligraphy Saint, always stayed in the West River Courtyard whenever he visited Jin-yang."
Her expression turned deadly serious.
"I traveled all this way just to stay where he once did. Do you understand?"
Sam-muk had left behind a handwritten plaque in the West River Courtyard, a gift to the innkeeper who had treated him with utmost respect.
It was even joked that the Cloud Arrival Inn became Jin-yang's most prestigious guesthouse solely because of that plaque.
"I plan to spend three days here admiring his calligraphy. So, I'd appreciate your cooperation."
Bu Eun-seol let out a chuckle.
So this spoiled young mistress from some martial clan was touring famous landmarks like a sightseer.
"I refuse."
He had rented all five annexes to train in peace, refining his martial arts and deepening his insights.
If she moved in, that tranquility would shatter instantly.
"Excuse me?"
"I said no."
"You're really—!"
"Come to think of it, something's odd."
A faint smirk played on his lips.
"Judging by how freely you throw money around, you must be from a renowned clan. Yet you're traveling alone, without a single attendant or guard."
"What business is that of yours?"
"If you had attendants, they would've warned you that I'm not someone you can negotiate with."
"Hey!"
"Find another inn's annex."
He turned to Chief Steward Jin, his voice icy.
"Steward Jin. I made it clear I dislike disturbances."
"My apologies."
Bowing to Bu Eun-seol, Jin then addressed the woman politely.
"Please, you must leave now."
She glared at Bu Eun-seol for a long moment before finally storming off.
But the look in her eyes as she left wasn't just resentment—it was stubborn, unyielding determination.
'Troublesome.'
Bu Eun-seol could already tell.
The peaceful routine he had maintained was about to be shattered—all because of her.