Chapter 143
In an instant, the leader's face stiffened rigidly.
Because those were the exact words he had spoken moments ago after subduing Wiji-gun.
"Ugh..."
His body trembled violently as his senses returned.
A feeling he had never experienced before—humiliation—wrapped around his entire being like a suffocating shroud.
And then that humiliation transformed into a rage so intense it threatened to incinerate him from within.
"You're still far too green to act so insolent!"
Losing all reason, the leader swung his twin palms with full force once more.
But to Bu Eun-seol's eyes, it looked no different from a child flailing his hands wildly in a tantrum.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been watching the leader's palm technique with a bored expression, extended a single fist again.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind, smooth as a favorable breeze, swept forward—followed immediately by a surge of fist energy crashing toward the leader's face.
Bu Eun-seol's movement was utterly simple, and the extended punch seemed as light as a feather.
Yet in reality, it carried an internal power as heavy as hurling an iron block the size of a house.
Thud!
The leader blocked the incoming fist energy with his twin palms.
The moment he did, the overwhelming force pierced through his defense, violently shaking his meridians and Five Viscera and Six Bowels in a single blow.
"Guhk—!"
In the end, the leader dropped to one knee, vomiting blood.
Just blocking that seemingly effortless punch had inflicted severe internal injuries.
Tremble—
Rage, despair, even fear... all of it vanished. Now, only a single thought remained in his mind.
The divine authority of a superhuman—one he could never hope to defeat.
From Bu Eun-seol's presence, he sensed the overwhelming power of a Grandmaster, one who could tread the entire martial world beneath his feet.
"Ugh... ngh..."
The demonkin, who had so arrogantly ordered the severing of human tendons, now stifled his groans before Bu Eun-seol.
"Hmph."
Bu Eun-seol, as if having lost all interest, turned away.
The moment he did, the surrounding warriors of the Blood Sea Demon Well flinched and stumbled backward in panic.
Flick!
Bu Eun-seol sent a Finger Wind toward the fallen youths of the Seven Swords Gate.
Though the suppression of their acupoints was instantly lifted, not a single one of them rose to their feet. No—they couldn't move.
Shame.
The disgrace of failing to protect the woman they admired. As martial artists, this humiliation would torment them for the rest of their lives.
Awe toward overwhelming force.
The white-faced scholar, who had silently endured their insults, was in truth a master they could never dare to challenge.
Paralyzed by both shame and reverence toward Bu Eun-seol, the Seven Swords Gate youths couldn't so much as twitch a finger.
Swish—
Then, turning back once more, Bu Eun-seol swept his gaze over the warriors of the Blood Sea Demon Well—including their leader.
And he spoke again, his voice heavy.
"Scram."
This time, there was no mercy or pity in his words.
Just because one spots a fly doesn't mean they must go out of their way to crush it. Sometimes, even the act of lifting a hand feels tedious.
To Bu Eun-seol, they were nothing more—and nothing less—than insignificant flies.
Tremble—
After a brief shudder, the leader bit his lip and turned away silently.
True to Bu Eun-seol's command, he was preparing to quietly disappear.
"So this is how that guy is ruining our sect's prestige."
Tap.
At that moment, a low voice rang out as a black shadow descended from the sky.
Bathed in moonlight, the figure revealed itself—a gaunt, extremely short middle-aged man.
Though his body was pitifully frail, his eyes gleamed in the darkness like those of a savage beast.
"Elder... Hall Leader?"
Recognizing the withered middle-aged man, the leader clasped his hands in panic.
"What brings you h—..."
"You never fail to disappoint me, boy."
The middle-aged man referred to himself as this old man.
A clear indication that he was far older than he appeared—and that his internal power ran unfathomably deep.
"A mere command from some outsider, and you just scurry away like a beaten dog?"
"Elder Hall Leader, it's not that—!"
As the leader scrambled to explain under the elder's reprimand—
Squelch!
Blood abruptly sprayed into the air as a severed head went flying.
With speed like lightning, the middle-aged man had beheaded the leader in a single stroke.
"I promoted him to Commander of the Ten because his martial arts seemed somewhat useful... Turns out he was nothing but a spineless coward, utterly worthless."
The middle-aged man wore an expression as if he had just crushed a passing insect underfoot. Slowly, he turned his body and fixed his gaze on Bu Eun-seol.
"This old man is called Go Geuk-sin. Have you heard the name before?"
Poison Hand Night Soul—Go Geuk-sin.
He was the Third Hall Lord of the Blood Sea Demon Well, a demonic master who had plunged the murim into terror with nothing but his Night Soul White Bone Claw, a technique capable of crushing skulls in an instant.
—We're dead now!
Despair flickered in the eyes of the Seven Swords Gate youths upon hearing Go Geuk-sin's name.
He was a Transcendent Realm demon who had haunted the martial world with fear for twenty years. With someone like him appearing, no matter how strong Bu Eun-seol was, they judged survival to be nearly impossible.
"A fancy name, I suppose."
Yet Bu Eun-seol responded with the same indifferent expression one might wear upon spotting an old man out for a stroll in the neighborhood.
"You don't know this old man's name?"
Go Geuk-sin's eyebrows twitched, and Bu Eun-seol's face remained utterly unimpressed.
The sheer nonchalance in Bu Eun-seol's demeanor made the killing intent in Go Geuk-sin's eyes flicker like the edge of a blade.
"Judging by your fist technique, you seem to be a figure of the Demonic Path as well. Which sect do you belong to?"
"No need for you to know."
"What did you say?"
"Take this rabble and leave. I need to rest now."
For a moment, Go Geuk-sin's expression went blank at Bu Eun-seol's words.
"Heh. Keheheh—Kehahahaha!"
Throwing his head back in roaring laughter, Go Geuk-sin abruptly cut off his amusement and spoke.
"You've got guts, brat."
His voice was icy as he stared at Bu Eun-seol.
"In the past thirty years, you're the first to dare speak such words in this old man's presence."
Bu Eun-seol maintained his disinterested expression, and Go Geuk-sin's eyes dripped with a chilling, blue-tinged killing intent.
"I won't kill you right away."
The unexpected statement made Bu Eun-seol blink slightly, as if mildly surprised.
"Why not?"
"First, I'll annihilate whatever sect you belong to. Then, I'll wipe out those Seven Swords Gate rats behind you. After that, I'll kill you."
The Seven Swords Gate youths trembled.
Those marked by the Blood Sea Demon Well's Execution Order never escaped death.
The reason the Blood Sea Demon Well had risen as a terror in the murim was precisely because of their relentless, reckless brutality.
"And then, I'll see if you can still act so composed before me."
Go Geuk-sin's sharp gaze swept over him as he spoke.
"Starting today, I'm issuing an Execution Order on you. Hiding your identity won't help. No matter where you flee, the demonic warriors of this sect will hunt you down to the very end."
"Ugh..."
At those words, the Seven Swords Gate youths shuddered violently.
Once pursued by the Blood Sea Demon Well, not a single day of peaceful sleep would remain for them.
"Have you gone senile?"
Bu Eun-seol muttered toward Go Geuk-sin, and a sharp blood light flickered in his pupils.
"To think some unheard-of rabble would dare declare they'll wipe out my pavilion."
"Your pavilion?"
Go Geuk-sin's expression flickered with confusion for a moment before his eyes suddenly sharpened.
"Which sect do you belong to?"
"Langya Pavilion."
In that instant, Go Geuk-sin's breath hitched.
"Langya Pavilion?"
The Demonic Path Ten Gates—the ten pillars upholding the Demonic Path.
They stood at the highest, most untouchable position for any demonic practitioner, and their martial arts reached the farthest limits of the Demonic Path.
And among them, Langya Pavilion was the most unique—and the most terrifying.
Some whispered that it had fallen into decline, but that was only because disciples capable of inheriting its overwhelmingly powerful martial arts were exceedingly rare.
Yet this arrogant brat before him was a disciple of Langya Pavilion, where every individual wielded martial force equivalent to an entire sect?
"Y-You... Just who are you?"
"Bu Eun-seol."
"Bu Eun-seol?"
As the Third Hall Lord of the Blood Sea Demon Well, Go Geuk-sin was well-versed in the murim's intelligence.
After a moment of silent calculation, he spoke heavily.
"I'd heard rumors that Langya Pavilion's Ten Demonic Heir had emerged into the martial world... But to think he was holed up in a place like this?"
At Go Geuk-sin's words, Bu Eun-seol's lips curled into a faint smile.
Given Langya Pavilion's martial arts philosophy—where techniques evolved through combat—there were no distinct traces or scars left behind.
Moreover, Bu Eun-seol's Formless Heavenly Flow, unbound by any predetermined sword techniques, was all the more so.
Having consistently concealed his identity while handling various matters, those who had faced him inevitably met their deaths...
Because he wielded a sword art that claimed lives without leaving even a trace, Bu Eun-seol's exploits had not become widely known.
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, Go Geuk-sin bit his lip.
"Even if I can't touch you, I can still wipe out that Seven Swords Gate completely."
Seething with malice, he let out a venomous smile.
"No matter how powerful Langya Pavilion is, they wouldn't recklessly interfere in disputes within the Demonic Path, would they?"
Bu Eun-seol, who had been watching Go Geuk-sin with indifference, nodded slightly with an unconcerned expression.
"Stop your nonsense and keep your promise properly."
"What did you say?"
Bu Eun-seol smiled coldly.
"You said you'd annihilate my sect to the best of your ability before attacking the Seven Swords Gate, didn't you?"
In that instant, Go Geuk-sin's face stiffened.
He had publicly declared that he would first destroy the sect Bu Eun-seol belonged to before assaulting the Seven Swords Gate.
In other words, until Langya Pavilion was annihilated, he could not lay a finger on the Seven Swords Gate.
Crunch.
Go Geuk-sin gritted his teeth.
No matter how fearsome the Blood Sea Demon Well was as one of the most terrifying strongholds of the Demonic Path, he did not have the audacity to provoke Langya Pavilion.
Even disposing of Bu Eun-seol without a trace was no easy task.
What if Bu Eun-seol stubbornly survived this duel?
Even if he won, the Blood Sea Demon Well would be utterly annihilated by Langya Pavilion.
Grind.
Swallowing his humiliation once more, Go Geuk-sin turned away.
"We're leaving!"
At his command, the martial artists surrounding them retreated like the ebbing tide.
"..."
For a while, silence hung over the courtyard of the West River Courtyard.
The young disciples of the Seven Swords Gate couldn't even lift their heads.
The one who finally broke that long, oppressive silence was none other than Guyang Cheong.
"Was it because of us?"
She stared intently at Bu Eun-seol's retreating back as she spoke.
"Did you reveal your identity because of us?"
"What are you talking about?"
When Bu Eun-seol turned around, Guyang Cheong's large eyes gleamed.
"Young Master Bu, you were desperately hiding your identity, weren't you? But you boldly revealed yourself to that demon from the Blood Sea Demon Well."
Her expression was filled with conviction.
"You did it to protect us."
As if dreaming, she murmured in a low voice.
"Because the Blood Sea Demon Well was targeting our Seven Swords Gate... you deliberately revealed yourself to stop them."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"I was just annoyed."
But his words belied his true feelings.
Unlike usual, he had reluctantly indulged Guyang Cheong's persistence several times, despite barely knowing her.
Deep down, Bu Eun-seol had wanted to watch over these spirited youths a little longer.
Because from now on, he would have to walk a path drenched in blood—bearing the cruel fate of the Ten Demonic Heir...
'Was it just a momentary deviation?'
With a bitter smile, he turned away again.
The direction Bu Eun-seol walked was not toward the True Fragrance Courtyard, but toward the exit of the guest inn.
Now that his identity had been exposed, he could no longer remain in Jin-yang.
"Young Master Bu!"
At that moment, the six young disciples hurried forward and clasped their hands together in front of Bu Eun-seol.
"Please give us, the Seven Swords Gate, a chance to repay your kindness!"
They couldn't bring themselves to look directly at him, bowing their heads slightly, but their eyes burned with sincerity.
"Kindness."
Muttering softly to himself, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky with a bitter expression.
Kindness, grudges.
As long as he walked the murim, he could never be free from the cycle of favors and grudges.
"If you think there's such a thing, then forget it."
Feeling weary, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Pretend I never existed."
"Young Master."
"I was already planning to leave anyway."
It had been over two months since he arrived in Jin-yang.
Having fully digested all the insights gained from his battles, it was time to deal with the Great Righteous Experts once again.
Whoosh.
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol activated his Movement Technique and vanished into the night. The young disciples of the Seven Swords Gate bowed their heads once more, filled with regret.
Only Guyang Cheong kept her head raised, watching his disappearing figure with wistful eyes.
"Please..."
At that moment, she prayed fervently in her heart.
That next time, she would become someone strong enough to hold onto him.
And that they would surely meet again.