Chapter 145
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and shook his head.
'The natural order of the world is all the same. Everything.'
Tang Gon, who had raided Blood Poison Valley to solidify the Young Clan Head's authority.
The Ten Demonic Heirs, who could become candidates for the Heir of the Demon Hall by killing the Great Righteous Experts...
And Seong-ryun, who likewise sought to kill a Ten Demonic Heir to strengthen his standing within the Beggars' Sect and gain an advantage in their competition.
"This should be entertaining."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
Bu Eun-seol indifferently clasped his hands together.
"Thank you for the information."
The branch leader of Yangju Branch had refused to share information even after Bu Eun-seol revealed they were both members of the Kill-Seeking Unit.
But the branch leader of Yeonju Branch had kindly provided the information as soon as Bu Eun-seol proved his affiliation with the Kill-Seeking Unit. Though in the end, it was entirely at the caretaker's discretion.
"Don't mention it. After all, anyone would want to survive, wouldn't they?"
The branch leader offered a weary smile.
Given that Yeonju was also under the influence of the Righteous Faction, it seemed sacrifices among Kill-Seeking Unit operatives were frequent here as well.
"Then."
Bu Eun-seol slowly turned around.
Now, it was time to capture Seong-ryun, the Great Righteous Expert consumed by ambition.
Jeong-ju Village. It was a small village located at the entrance to Henan Province.
"Buy some dumplings!"
"Copper mirrors from the Western Regions, only five coins each!"
The marketplace stalls buzzed with the voices of merchants, the chatter of people, and the sounds of cooking.
Bu Eun-seol stood atop the second floor of the teahouse, looking down below.
His gaze settled on a certain street-side dining stall, where a man in tattered clothes was eating alone.
It was none other than Seong-ryun, the Great Righteous Expert of the Beggars' Sect.
"That man keeps to the duty of a beggar."
Bu Eun-seol muttered under his breath.
Though the Beggars' Sect was indeed a den of beggars, the sect rules stated that begging was their main occupation—maintaining the guise of beggars was merely a sect rule. They were by no means poor.
Countless sect members spread throughout the Murim served as the foundation for their vast network of information.
And since they wandered everywhere, from remote mountains to the deepest hinterlands, they knew the locations of many yet-undiscovered treasures and spirit beasts.
Some of these held incalculable value, allowing the Beggars' Sect to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.
Thus, those who held major positions within the sect often frequented high-end inns where a single dish could cost dozens of taels.
'He's alone.'
Looking around, Bu Eun-seol saw no sign of any allies who might assist Seong-ryun.
'For now, at least.'
The Beggars' Sect was, in itself, an exceptional intelligence organization.
If they wished, they could hide and conceal anyone completely.
'Yeongpung Gorge would be ideal.'
Though it wasn't even lunchtime yet, the way Seong-ryun was devouring his meal made it clear he intended to pass near Yeongpung Gorge on his way to Kaifeng today.
The area around Yeongpung Gorge was densely forested, making it the perfect place for their confrontation.
But then—
'Someone's there.'
Bu Eun-seol sensed someone hiding on the roof of a building across the way.
'A master from the Beggars' Sect?'
To take down Seong-ryun, he needed to know the extent of his allies and their martial prowess.
Whoosh.
As if realizing he had been spotted, the figure hiding on the rooftop swiftly activated his Lightness Art.
'I have to catch him.'
Bu Eun-seol immediately stepped out of the teahouse and began pursuing him.
Swish!
Chasing the fleeting shadow as it dashed out of the village, Bu Eun-seol's expression turned puzzled.
'He's not from the Beggars' Sect.'
The fleeing figure's Lightness Art was not only swift but also poised to counterattack at any moment.
Neither the Beggars' Sect nor any other faction of the Righteous Path employed such an aggressive Light Body Technique.
Tzztztztz!
As the shadow grew distant, Bu Eun-seol accelerated, unleashing the Swift Shadowless technique.
Swish! Tzztztztz!
Just as Bu Eun-seol, cutting through the air, was about to catch up to the fleeing figure—Sssk!
Something sharp suddenly shot toward the space between his brows.
This strike was not only blindingly fast but came from an unpredictable angle.
So much so that even Bu Eun-seol, trained in the Way of the Beast, failed to anticipate it and had to twist his body mid-air in a hurry.
"This is—"
The white streak that grazed past him was a whip, gleaming like pure light. Bu Eun-seol exclaimed,
"Yu Un-ryong?"
At that, the fleeing shadow halted his Lightness Art and landed on the ground.
His clothes were rags, and the sour stench of a vagrant clung to him.
Yet his physique was imposing, and his eyes flashed sharply, like the tip of a blade.
It was none other than Yu Un-ryong.
"Bu Eun-seol."
Yu Un-ryong's face was now cold and sharp, unlike before.
This time, even Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his surprise.
Yu Un-ryong—the one who had clearly failed first in assassinating a Great Righteous Expert.
The last rumor had been that he fled with severe injuries, his whereabouts unknown. Yet here he stood, dressed like a vagrant.
"What happened?" Bu Eun-seol asked in a low voice.
"I heard you were defeated by the Kongtong Sect's Great Righteous Expert and fled."
It had already been six months since they left the Demon Hall.
Apart from Bu Eun-seol and Seok U-haeng, none of the other Ten Demonic Heirs had yet eliminated their assigned targets—meaning the rest should have had their martial arts crippled by now.
Hadn't the rumor spread far and wide that Yu Un-ryong lost to the Kongtong Sect's Great Righteous Expert—the very one Seok U-haeng later killed—and fled?
Yet the Yu Un-ryong before him now had his Internal Power intact, and his Qi flow seemed even more refined than before.
"I was fleeing. I still am."
Yu Un-ryong spoke flatly.
"After four months, the Demon Hall really did send pursuers. To cripple the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Heirs who failed to eliminate their targets."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"But by the time they arrived, I was already on the brink of death—my Qi vessels severed, my Five Viscera and Six Bowels ruptured from Pyeong Seo-un's Seven Injuries Palm."
Yu Un-ryong bit his lip, as if recalling the moment.
"So they left without acting. Probably assumed I was already dead."
Then, clenching his fists, he spat out bitterly:
"Seok U-haeng must've been tailing me. Watched me fight Pyeong Seo-un, then made his move to kill him."
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.
He was calculating how Yu Un-ryong could have survived with most of his Qi vessels severed and his organs ruptured.
"Bu Eun-seol. Did you come to kill Seong-ryun too?"
When Bu Eun-seol nodded absently, Yu Un-ryong scoffed.
"Judging by your appearance, you haven't been pursued yet. So you did kill the Zhongnan Sect's Great Righteous Expert—Yeo Hwan-jin."
"I did."
"Then you still have about two months left."
Yu Un-ryong's expression turned grave.
"But I don't have time. So I will kill Seong-ryun."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm being hunted again. The pursuers have realized I'm still alive."
"Who's chasing you?"
For a moment, Yu Un-ryong's pupils seemed to flash like a storm of needles.
"The Soul Annihilation Corps."
"The Soul Annihilation Corps?"
Bu Eun-seol was stunned once more.
The ones sent to cripple the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Heirs—were they the Soul Annihilation Corps?
"Yes. The Demon Hall entrusted the handling of failed Ten Demonic Heirs to them."
'So that's why the Lord of the Soul Annihilation Corps personally gave the order to eliminate the Great Righteous Experts.'
As Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes, Yu Un-ryong trembled with betrayal and fury.
"In the end, unless we kill our targets, we Ten Demonic Heirs can never break free from these shackles."
Staring straight at Bu Eun-seol, Yu Un-ryong gritted his teeth.
"Yield Seong-ryun to me. I must kill him."
Bu Eun-seol didn't answer immediately.
It wasn't that he refused to concede. He simply knew—Yu Un-ryong wasn't strong enough to kill a Great Righteous Expert.
"You think I can't defeat him?"
As if reading Bu Eun-seol's gaze, Yu Un-ryong spoke.
"Fighting the Great Righteous Experts, evading the pursuers—I've crossed death's threshold countless times. And those battles have given me indescribable growth."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Life-and-death struggles against formidable foes would have granted him immeasurable experience.
"I've trained relentlessly. I'm not the same as before."
When Bu Eun-seol still didn't answer, Yu Un-ryong bit down hard.
"If you refuse, I'll kill you first."
"Kill me?"
"I know. I'm aware I can't defeat you."
Yu Un-ryong had indeed grown far stronger than before—enough to sense just how overwhelming Bu Eun-seol was.
"But if I'm going to die at the hands of the Soul Annihilation Corps anyway, I might as well fight you to the bitter end. And if I manage to wound you—?"
His voice was icy.
"Could you face a Great Righteous Expert while injured?"
'No choice, then.'
If he refused, Yu Un-ryong would truly fight with his life on the line.
Then it would be better to let him fight the Great Righteous Experts to his heart's content.
"Having come all this way, it would be a shame if you only got to watch."
At those words, Yu Un-ryong smirked.
"Don't worry. There's a role for you too."
"A role for me?"
"That shady bastard from the Beggars' Sect may seem alone, but in reality, he's being guarded by the masters of the Dog Slaying Squad."
The Dog Slaying Squad was an elite escort unit composed of top-tier masters selected from the Beggar Corps, the Beggars' Sect's most elite force.
They were typically mobilized temporarily to protect key figures of the Beggars' Sect during their travels, which was why they were given the special designation of "Squad" rather than "Corps" or "Faction".
"Though they've concealed themselves so thoroughly that you wouldn't notice."
"How do you know about them?"
"I've been watching for an opportunity to kill Seong-ryun for over ten days now."
"I see."
"If you handle the masters of the Dog Slaying Squad, I'll kill Seong-ryun. What do you say, Bu Eun-seol?"
There was no need for further discussion. The conclusion had already been reached.
Bu Eun-seol slowly nodded.
"Very well."
The sky was clear, without a single cloud.
Having finished his meal, Seong-ryun left the village and entered the path leading to Yeongpung Gorge. After walking for some time, he suddenly gazed at the distant sky and sighed.
"It's about to begin."
He could feel it.
At some point, he had become aware of blatant gazes and killing intent following him.
The masters of the Dog Slaying Squad, who were secretly guarding him, must have sensed it too, as their movements grew even more covert.
'If I eliminate a Ten Demonic Heir, my standing within the sect will change completely.'
Originally a Second-Knot Disciple from the Hyangju branch of the Beggars' Sect, Seong-ryun had competed against the so-called prodigies of the sect and was eventually chosen as one of the ten candidates to take the Martial Alliance's Great Righteous Expert examination. After passing five rounds of tests held by the Martial Alliance, he finally became a Great Righteous Expert.
Thereafter, though he was granted the position of Green Bamboo Beggar—a candidate for Young Leader of the Beggars' Sect—due to his outstanding martial prowess, his origins remained that of a Second-Knot Disciple from the Hyangju branch.
Within the sect, he had neither a support base nor elders backing him.
But now, as the current Beggars' Sect Leader, No Bong, grew frail with age, the sect had begun earnestly deliberating over which of the Green Bamboo Beggars would become the next Young Leader of the Beggars' Sect.
The relatively young Incense Masters and branch heads wanted Seong-ryun—who possessed exceptional martial arts and a generous temperament—to take the position.
However, the powerful elders and hall leaders opposed this, pushing instead for the Green Bamboo Beggars they had groomed.
Thus, the Incense Masters and branch heads who supported Seong-ryun devised a plan.
—What if we deal with the Ten Demonic Heirs who have been wreaking havoc in the martial world lately? If we eliminate even one of them, the elders won't be able to oppose us.
Accepting the proposal, Seong-ryun deliberately exposed his whereabouts and traveled to Kaifeng, where the Evil-Suppressing Gathering was being held.
However, given that Yeo Hwan-jin and Pyeong Seo-un had been killed by those suspected to be Ten Demonic Heirs, he had the Dog Slaying Squad deployed as a precaution.
Tap, tap, tap.
Before he knew it, dusk had fallen, and a chilly mountain breeze brushed past his head.
As darkness settled, Seong-ryun stopped walking and lit a fire in a suitable spot.
Originally, he had planned to use his Lightness Skill to cross the mountain pass to Henan before sunset.
But sensing the faint traces of killing intent following him, he changed his mind.
Before the day ended, his pursuer would reveal themselves. He would rest here and wait for his enemy.
'I wonder who will come.'
From the start, the Ten Demonic Heirs were no match for the Great Righteous Experts due to the vast gap in martial prowess.
As if to prove this, four Ten Demonic Heirs had reportedly challenged the Great Righteous Experts and lost.
The Ten Demonic Heir from White Horse Monastery fled after defeat, and only two had succeeded.
'I am different from Yeo Hwan-jin and Pyeong Seo-un.'
Those two had been first-generation disciples doted on by their respective sects, so even when they trained under the Martial Alliance, they lacked the same intensity.
But as a Second-Knot Disciple, he had devoted himself to martial arts more fiercely than anyone. Even if the one who had defeated Yeo Hwan-jin and Pyeong Seo-un came, he was confident of victory.
Whoosh.
The moment that thought ended, a man in gray robes descended from the sky and landed before him.
"..."
His hair was disheveled like a vagabond's, and his face was smeared with grime, but his eyes carried an indescribably sinister energy.
Yet what drew more attention than his eyes was the whip hanging at his waist.
The tip of the blindingly white whip, gleaming as if alive, stared fixedly at Seong-ryun like a white serpent poised to strike.
It was the White Horse Whip—a weapon only the highest masters of White Horse Monastery were permitted to wield.