Chapter 155
Cheong Cho-hyeon bit her lip, unable to speak.
In truth, she had seen it clearly as well—the moment Gwan Seok-cheon's sword twisted unnaturally and drove straight into Bu Eun-seol's dantian.
There was no sword stroke in the Diancang Sect that targeted the dantian. Gwan Seok-cheon had deliberately used a vicious, improvised technique to slaughter Bu Eun-seol in the most brutal way possible.
"I will never forgive you!"
Enraged, Cheong Cho-hyeon immediately drew her treasured sword and lunged at Bu Eun-seol.
Hwiik!
The mist-like sword that had been pouring down before her eyes vanished—only to abruptly reappear, plunging into Bu Eun-seol's flank.
It was the Emei Sect's peerless World-Surpassing Cloud Sword, the Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword Form.
Chang! Tiiing!
The razor-sharp strikes of the Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword coiled endlessly around Bu Eun-seol's entire body.
A sword art so divine it vanished like mist only to burst forth again without warning. Yet, Cheong Cho-hyeon's blade was repeatedly intercepted by Bu Eun-seol's Ink Sword.
The pinnacle of cloud swordsmanship, the First Sword Formula of the Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword, required Quiet Cultivation Humble Nurture and Emptying Qi and Calming Heart—only by tempering oneself in stillness and wielding the sword with a mind emptied of all distraction could its true depth be revealed.
But now, she was swinging her sword in a fit of rage, preventing its profound mysteries from fully unfolding.
Flash!
After deflecting a rapid succession of sword strokes, Bu Eun-seol finally unleashed Shooting Star Chasing the Moon.
"Ghk—!"
The sword stroke came like a streak of light—so fast she couldn't even discern the direction of the thrust.
She barely managed to twist her body and retreat, but in that single instant, locks of her hair were severed in a cascade.
"Don't you dare harm Cheong-mae!"
A furious roar erupted as Han Seong drew his sword and attacked Bu Eun-seol from behind.
Swish!
With the Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword pouring down from both sides, Bu Eun-seol shifted his footwork and switched his sword strokes to a purely defensive stance.
"Die!"
Seizing the momentum, Han Seong pressed the assault alongside Cheong Cho-hyeon, driving Bu Eun-seol back.
For a righteous master, his actions were utterly cowardly.
But because he had instinctively leapt into the fray when Cheong Cho-hyeon was pushed into danger, he managed to avoid public condemnation.
Chang! Chang!
The combined might of two Great Righteous Experts unleashed sword techniques so overwhelming they could shake the heavens and split the earth.
Moreover, since both had trained in the same Emei Sect's cloud sword arts, their movements synchronized perfectly, as if executing a Combined Attack Art.
"Two against one—how shameless!"
Unable to stand by any longer, Myo Cheon-u tried to strike with a palm—but Seok U-haeng swiftly blocked him.
"Stay out of it."
"What nonsense is this? You expect me to just watch this?"
Gritting his teeth, Myo Cheon-u glared at Seok U-haeng, whose expression remained cold.
"That kid challenged them openly in front of everyone to save us. Do you understand?"
Myo Cheon-u clenched his jaw.
"He knew we couldn't break through this encirclement in our wounded state—that's why he stepped forward like this!"
"I know."
Seok U-haeng replied indifferently.
"But if you interfere, you'll fall right into Han Seong's scheme."
"What?"
"Look. See what happens if you intervene."
Only then did Myo Cheon-u suppress his fury and survey his surroundings.
By now, the guests had all neutralized the poison and were watching the battle unfold in perfect condition.
Not only that—the Taoists of Zhongnan and Kongtong, as well as the warriors of Longsword Mountain Manor, were all poised to strike at any moment.
"They're just waiting for you to lose your temper and jump in. That way, they can all attack at once without facing criticism."
In an instant, it was as if cold water had been dumped over Myo Cheon-u's head—his mind snapped back to clarity.
Only now did he realize Han Seong's sinister ploy.
Having sensed Bu Eun-seol's extraordinary martial prowess, Han Seong had deliberately feigned rage to join the fight and initiate a combined assault.
And if Seok U-haeng and Myo Cheon-u were provoked into intervening, they would all rush in at once to eliminate them.
"Then what do we do? Just stand here and watch?"
Seok U-haeng shook his head calmly.
"Gather your internal power. Be ready for anything."
Though Myo Cheon-u and Seok U-haeng were injured, their legs were unharmed.
If they wanted, they could escape at any moment.
But if the two of them fled, Bu Eun-seol would immediately be surrounded—so they were holding their ground.
"Hah. So you do have some loyalty, Seok U-haeng."
Recalling something, Myo Cheon-u smirked at him.
"If you really wanted to run, you could've slipped away unnoticed by now."
At present, all the guests' attention was fixed on the battle between Bu Eun-seol and the Great Righteous Experts.
With Seok U-haeng's mastery of the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion'sAssassin Secret Arts, he could easily exploit this moment to vanish without a trace.
"Loyalty?"
Seok U-haeng chuckled coldly.
"Isn't it more important to see how this fight plays out first?"
"What?"
Even as he spoke, Seok U-haeng's gaze remained locked on Bu Eun-seol.
"Just watching this battle will give us invaluable information and insight. It's a spectacle we absolutely can't miss."
"Seok U-haeng, you bastard—"
"If that kid loses, I'm running immediately. Whatever happens after that doesn't matter."
Myo Cheon-u's mouth fell open.
Seok U-haeng had not a drop of blood, tears—or even a mustard seed's worth of loyalty.
"That kid revealed himself in an unfavorable situation to save us. All because we're fellow Ten Demonic Heirs."
Myo Cheon-u spoke in a low voice.
"And you're just going to betray him?"
"Don't misunderstand, Myo Cheon-u."
Seok U-haeng's eyes were icy.
"Since when were the Ten Demonic Heirs ever comrades on the same side?"
"Seok U-haeng."
"Have you forgotten the lessons of Hell Island? The Rivers and Lakes are no different."
There was no hesitation in Seok U-haeng's gaze.
"We're still living in Hell Island. Even at this very moment."
—We're still living in Hell Island.
Myo Cheon-u remained silent.
Seok U-haeng wasn't wrong.
Originally, all trainees had killed each other to become Ten Demonic Heirs. From the very beginning, things like camaraderie or loyalty had never existed.
"No. This place is not Hell Island."
Myo Cheon-u shook his head.
"And there's no way he doesn't know that."
This place is not Hell Island.
And precisely because it wasn't, Bu Eun-seol had extended such kindness.
"Of course, Seok U-haeng, your perspective isn't wrong either. The murim is a desolate place, no different from a barren desert."
When faced with death, Myo Cheon-u valued Bu Eun-seol's perspective even more.
"Think what you will. It's your life, after all."
CRACK!
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol's battle was reaching its climax.
After narrowly escaping the Beggar King's assault, Bu Eun-seol's swordsmanship and internal power had surged dramatically.
Had it not, he would have already lost his life to Han Seong and Cheong Cho-hyeon's blades.
But even so, he wasn't at a level where he could face two Great Righteous Experts simultaneously.
As the two's Cloud Swords flickered in and out of the air, Bu Eun-seol was gradually forced into a defensive stance.
"Even you won't be able to withstand our combined attack!"
Han Seong sneered with confidence as Bu Eun-seol's defeat seemed imminent.
CRACK!
Before anyone realized, Bu Eun-seol's body was covered in wounds, large and small.
But they were merely superficial. His pupils burned like wildfire, and his legs stood firm, unshaken as Mount Tai.
"His internal energy is extraordinary."
Cheong Cho-hyeon whispered to Han Seong as she observed Bu Eun-seol.
"He's completely unharmed by the internal power infused in our swords."
Having entered the Transcendence Realm, the two were pouring immense internal energy into their blades, just like Bu Eun-seol.
The moment their swords grazed flesh, that overwhelming power would flood the opponent's meridians.
Yet despite multiple strikes, Bu Eun-seol remained completely unaffected, fighting as if untouched.
"No matter how formidable his internal energy is, he won't withstand our combined strike."
Han Seong murmured, swinging his gleaming sword left and right.
"Cheong-mae. Linked Volley Unity Form."
Linked Volley Unity Form.
A two-person combined sword technique used by masters who had mastered the Whistling Cloud-Severing Sword beyond the Ten Stars level.
One would execute Thawing Ice Cracking Tiles, while the other unleashed Flowing Wind Scattering Clouds—an attack so seamless it was impossible to evade.
"Understood."
Cheong Cho-hyeon nodded solemnly, initiating the first stance of Thawing Ice Cracking Tiles.
Whoooosh—
A mist-like sword energy enveloped Bu Eun-seol's body. Simultaneously, a sharp wind burst from Han Seong's blade.
Swish.
Bu Eun-seol raised his Ink Sword upright.
Could he shatter the sword strokes of two Great Righteous Experts joining forces?
Such doubts didn't exist in his mind.
There was only one thought:
'I will retreat no further.'
Once was enough for retreating in weakness. He would never suffer such humiliation again.
Huuuum—
A strange tremor coursed through him as a faint glow emanated from his body.
The light gradually gathered in his Ink Sword—then shifted to his left hand.
All this time, he had strived to compensate for his shortcomings.
And that meant mastering the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon to perfection.
"Linked Volley Unity Form!"
At that moment, Han Seong and Cheong Cho-hyeon roared in unison.
A blinding white sword energy cascaded down upon Bu Eun-seol's head, resembling a magnificent, billowing cloud.
But in truth, that "cloud" was a devastating sword energy capable of piercing through all matter in this world.
WHIIIRL—!
At the same instant, a soft glow flickered around Bu Eun-seol's left fist.
He wasn't using the Formless Heavenly Flow—but the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon.
'Seven Forms of the Fist Demon...'
A fierce light erupted in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Simultaneously, the light coiled around his fist began spinning violently, like a whirlwind.
As he thrust his fist forward, a dragon-twisting tempest surged forth, as if to sweep away everything in existence.
This was the third form of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon—Forgetting Self and Shattering Together—a technique he had never used until now.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The raging fist energy spiraled upward, repelling the descending sword energy.
BOOOOM—!
The blinding sword energy that had whitened the world dissipated completely, revealing the stunned faces of Han Seong and Cheong Cho-hyeon.
FLASH! FLASH!
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol's Ink Sword unleashed two streaks of radiant light.
He had executed Formless Heavenly Flow and Meteor Chasing Moon in succession.
Deploying two different martial arts in succession while compensating for their weaknesses—this was the application of Use Long to Supplement Short, a principle he had grasped in his battle against Seong-ryun, the Great Righteous Expert of the Beggars' Sect.
SWOOOOOSH—
The brilliant light passed through Han Seong and Cheong Cho-hyeon's bodies before vanishing into the sky.
Suddenly, the world fell silent, as if time itself had frozen.
CLICK.
The only sound that broke the heavy silence was Bu Eun-seol sheathing his Ink Sword.
At the same time, the light in Han Seong and Cheong Cho-hyeon's widened eyes dimmed.
SPURT!
Crimson blossoms of blood bloomed from their necks.
THUD.
Without even a final scream, the two collapsed like felled logs.
"Two Great Righteous Experts... at once...?"
Everyone doubted their own eyes.
An Ten Demonic Heir had single-handedly repelled the combined assault of two Great Righteous Experts!
"SEONG-A!!"
At that moment, Han Yeong-baek's agonized wail echoed through Longsword Mountain Villa.
"You—how could you—!"
Han Seong had been his only son, raised as precious as gold and jade—the pride of Longsword Mountain Manor and one of the Great Righteous Experts.
Clutching his son's lifeless body, Han Yeong-baek broke into anguished sobs before suddenly pointing at Bu Eun-seol and shouting to the assembled guests:
"That bastard! Seize that bastard and destroy him!"