Chapter 15
"Hmm."
Dan Cheon-yang's brow furrowed deeply.
It looked as though he was holding back anger, or perhaps deep in thought about something.
Mystery Upon Mystery, capable of blocking sudden and sharp enemy attacks, could be called the most solemn and delicate sword stroke in the Demonic Path.
But Bu Eun-seol's forms were so unrestrained as to be unpredictable, and every movement carried a sharp killing intent.
"You may return to your place."
Dan Cheon-yang did not evaluate how Bu Eun-seol's sword techniques had been.
Instead, he looked at one of the trainees and spoke.
"Seo Jin-ha."
At that, a figure with a sword strapped to his back walked out from among the trainees to the center of the training ground.
His hair was not tied up but neatly parted into two strands, and between them, long, large eyes were visible.
With a slender body and facial lines, and even thin eyebrows, he had an androgynous appearance that made it difficult to tell whether he was male or female.
"You called for me."
His voice was clear and refreshing like a spring breeze blowing in, but his eyes seemed to pour out hundreds of needles.
'He has systematically trained in martial arts since childhood.'
Being an undertaker could also be described as a profession of endlessly undressing and dressing bodies.
Bu Eun-seol saw through at a glance that although the boy's physique appeared lean and fine-lined, he actually possessed elastic and well-balanced muscles.
"Show me your sword."
At Dan Cheon-yang's words, Seo Jin-ha brought both hands together, then drew his sword.
Ching.
From the old iron sword drawn from its rusted scabbard, a clear sound rang out as if it were a treasured sword.
This was because Seo Jin-ha had drawn the sword while infusing it with vigorous true qi.
Shhk!
As the sword stroke unfolded, an unpleasant sound, like a viper hissing, reverberated from the ground.
At the same time, sharp sword strokes spread out in concentric circles from around Seo Jin-ha's feet in all directions.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
With a sound like a flag fluttering in a storm, the sword shadows created by the iron sword soared into the empty air.
Clack.
The sword shadows that had poured into the air seemed to vanish as if washed away, and before one knew it, Seo Jin-ha was already sheathing his sword back into the iron scabbard.
"Hmm."
Another low hum escaped Dan Cheon-yang's lips.
The single sword stroke Seo Jin-ha had just displayed was a form that countered the Mystery Upon Mystery that Bu Eun-seol had unleashed.
'So he has already caught the scent of blood.'
Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha.
As if by agreement, the two had concealed their true skill and improvised new sword strokes on the spot.
As though they had predicted the bloody wind and rain that would soon unfold.
'Well, there is no way such prodigies would fail to foresee such things.'
With a bitter smile, Dan Cheon-yang looked into the eyes of the trainees, full of discipline and spirit.
And he had no choice but to acknowledge it.
That all the trainees in this Upper-Level Hall had already mastered the essence of Mystery Upon Mystery.
And that they possessed outstanding intellects capable of predicting the situation that would soon unfold on Hell Island.
When training at the martial hall ended, most of the trainees returned to their own quarters to rest or practice.
But when training ended, Bu Eun-seol wandered here and there across Hell Island like a traveler on a sightseeing tour.
Passing through a deep forest, there was a pond from which a musty smell rose, and before it stood a large martial hall.
Bu Eun-seol, recalling the map drawn on the parchment in front of the cave, nodded.
'So that is the martial hall of the Hell Blood Citadel.'
Though it was a remote island far from the mainland, Hell Island was by no means small.
Not only were the ten martial halls of the Demonic Path Ten Gates installed throughout, but vast stone mountains, forests, and pavilions of unknown purpose had been built all over the island.
"You cannot enter this place."
At times, when wandering through seemingly ordinary forests or the outskirts of the island, there were figures who appeared suddenly like ghosts.
Their martial arts were too high to call them guards protecting the area, and their demeanor and gaze were too unusual to consider them instructors.
Each time, Bu Eun-seol surveyed his surroundings and then turned away without lingering attachment.
'As expected... there is something here.'
"Only now are you surveying the island?"
At that moment, a low voice came from behind a large tree standing to the left.
When he turned his head, there was a boy with long flowing hair, looking at him and smiling. It was Seo Jin-ha.
"Familiarizing yourself with the terrain is something you should have done from your first day on the island."
A brilliant light like a lightning flash flickered in Seo Jin-ha's eyes.
"You couldn't possibly not know that wandering around the island like this now would actually draw the attention of others."
Bu Eun-seol could smell both sharp hostility and the scent of momentum in Seo Jin-ha's voice.
"Because there was something I needed to do before surveying the island."
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
"From the moment I entered the island, I didn't have the leisure to observe others, unlike some people."
"Oh? You're saying you sensed my presence all along? That shouldn't be possible."
"Those who pride themselves on being clever sometimes make a mistake."
Bu Eun-seol said calmly, his gaze fixed on Seo Jin-ha's eyes.
"They think that they alone are the only ones performing a certain action."
After mastering the Way of the Beast, Bu Eun-seol had sensed that multiple gazes were watching him.
Among those gazes were masters who hid their presence almost completely, and there were also those who seemed to be trainees.
"I thought you were the taciturn type. You're actually quite amusing with your words."
Though he said it was amusing, Seo Jin-ha's eyes and mouth were not smiling at all.
Rather, the sharp momentum that had been felt since earlier seemed to be gradually rising.
"I'll ask you directly. Bu Eun-seol, which side are you on?"
"Which side?"
"Don't pretend you don't know."
"You didn't learn how to hold a conversation very well at that age."
Bu Eun-seol turned his body with an expression of utter disinterest.
"If you want to converse with others, you can't just say whatever you want like a newborn infant."
At that, Seo Jin-ha spoke in a low voice.
"You really don't know?"
"Know what."
"Hmph. Do you think everyone gathered here wants to become a Ten Demonic Heir?"
It was a profoundly meaningful statement.
Only then did Bu Eun-seol's eyes glint.
"So that's how it was."
In truth, he too had felt something odd ever since attending the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament.
The Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament.
A tournament to select heirs who would learn the martial arts of the Demonic Path Ten Gates without reservation—a tournament upon which the fate of the Demonic Path perhaps rested.
And yet, in a place like the Demon Hall, where brilliant masters and gifted strategists gathered, they accepted applicants with nothing more than a single signature in a guestbook?
'Even I passed without incident using a fake name like Jan Yang-pa.'
Bu Eun-seol could not understand the Demon Hall's attitude of placing more weight on a terrifying memorandum than on thoroughly investigating the identities of its applicants.
"So there are spies."
At Bu Eun-seol's sigh-laced mutter, a gleam of interest rose in Seo Jin-ha's eyes.
'That expression and tone are not a lie.'
"You're not one."
Having realized by instinct that Bu Eun-seol was not a spy, Seo Jin-ha muttered as if the wind had gone out of him.
"Tch. I was hoping to have a little fun for once."
The sharp killing intent vanished from Seo Jin-ha's body as he made an irritated expression.
"From now on, don't strut around the martial arts hall and keep your head down. If you keep catching my eye, I'll cut you down too."
And then, as if he had finished his business, he whirled around and left.
"..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he watched Seo Jin-ha's retreating back.
'There were many things I didn't know.'
While he had been devoting his full strength to mastering the martial arts of Langya Pavilion and Fire Rain Sword Sect, many things had been happening on this Hell Island.
Judging by Seo Jin-ha's manner of speaking, among the trainees there were not only those who wanted to become Ten Demonic Heirs but also spies, and something seemed to have occurred among them.
'He doesn't seem to be the one who came to my dwelling.'
In fact, Bu Eun-seol had thought there was a high probability that Seo Jin-ha was the shadow who had visited his cave.
But seeing him now, he was simply a fighter obsessed with rooting out spies.
"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been gazing at the distant sky, clenched both fists.
"It will begin soon... after all."
Bu Eun-seol had been meticulously surveying Hell Island the entire time.
He already felt it.
That this island had already become hell.
And that soon, numerous people would lose their lives yet again.
"As of today, all training courses are complete."
Dan Cheon-yang, who had been holding a book, closed it and slowly walked out before the platform.
"Because your talents were so exceptional, this old man ended up focusing mainly on interpreting the martial formulas of Advanced Sword Studies rather than sword techniques."
He smiled contentedly.
Mystery Upon Mystery, a single stroke of the Fire Rain Sword that a person of ordinary talent could not master even in three years.
Fire Rain Sword Sect had expected that even a prodigy of the sword would need a full two months.
But contrary to his expectations, the trainees of the Upper-Level Hall had mastered both the Way of the Sword and the Sword Strokes within ten days.
And by around a month, they had reached the level of modifying the Sword Strokes to suit their own individual styles.
"I imagine many of you found the study of martial formulas tedious."
Dan Cheon-yang, who had been laughing silently, swept his gaze gently over the trainees.
"But even masters who have experienced countless real battles set aside separate time to study the martial formulas of Superior Martial Arts. This is because martial arts cannot be performed merely by knowing, nor can knowing be achieved merely by performing."
Then, looking at Bu Eun-seol, who was seated in the back, he asked.
"Can you explain this principle?"
Bu Eun-seol thought for a moment, then answered.
"Because even if one creates an outstanding Sword Stroke through a moment of Heart Attainment, if one does not study the principles and martial formulas of martial arts, a situation may arise where it can never be performed again."
"Exactly right."
Dan Cheon-yang, wearing a satisfied smile, nodded and said.
"I believe that this old man's interpretation of the martial formulas will prove to be an immense advantage to you as you continue your journey through the martial world."
Dan Cheon-yang, who had been sweeping his gaze over the trainees seated at their desks, spoke with force.
"I wish you fortune in battle."
I wish you fortune in battle.
A common farewell given to junior students.
But for some reason, it carried an ominous feeling, as if they had reached the final station of life.
As if to confirm that feeling.
Zing.
Suddenly, a great gong sounded out.
"What is that sound?"
Several trainees wore expressions of great alarm.
The gong sound had echoed not just near the martial hall, but across all of Hell Island.
'So it begins now.'
Bu Eun-seol and a few other trainees were not particularly surprised.
Those who had scoured Hell Island had seen the large gongs installed throughout the island.
'They struck the gongs simultaneously according to a set signal.'
Bu Eun-seol immediately grasped the reason the gong sound could resonate across the entire island.
Namely, that at someone's signal, numerous people had simultaneously struck the gongs installed in various places.
"It seems the time has now come."
Having heard the gong, Dan Cheon-yang looked at the trainees and said.
"From now on, go to the Stone Mountain at the center of the island."
Bu Eun-seol and the other trainees moved slowly toward the location of Stone Mountain with heavy expressions.
Because the Fire Rain Sword Sect's martial hall was located at the far eastern edge of the island, the road back to Stone Mountain was the longest of any martial hall.
"...!"
When they arrived near Stone Mountain, trainees who had already gathered from other martial halls were lined up with solemn expressions.
And on the high platform erected before them stood an old man with a muscular body and lion-mane-like hair, side by side with a refined middle-aged man.
They were Chief Instructor Hyeokryeon Eung and leader of Myriad Talents Hall Baek Jeon-cheon.
"Everyone has gathered."
At Baek Jeon-cheon's words, Hyeokryeon Eung nodded, then spoke in a booming voice.
"Now, the Third Trial shall begin!"