Chapter 159
The martial artists from Hell Blood Citadel who arrived at the abandoned manor not only had fingernails blackened as if charred, but their bodies also reeked of a fishy, metallic stench.
They were Poison People who had mastered the Peak Realm of Poison Arts—individuals whose bodies naturally expelled toxins.
"Those bastards—!"
Yeong-seon, the youngest of the Seven Disciples of Wudang, who had been observing the Poison People of Hell Blood Citadel now positioned behind Bu Eun-seol, spoke in a low voice.
"That's Ok Gi-ryung, Hall Leader of the Blood Hand Hall from Hell Blood Citadel."
Ok Gi-ryung. He was the Hall Leader of the Blood Hand Hall, infamous even within Hell Blood Citadel for mastering the most bizarre and sinister Poison Arts.
Yeong-heo suppressed his shock with a derisive snort and said,
"So that's why you were so confident. As expected, it was a trap after all."
The Seven Disciples of Wudang assumed Bu Eun-seol had been pretending to wander alone while secretly deploying Hell Blood Citadel's elite fighters.
'What the hell is this now?'
Ok Gi-ryung was equally bewildered.
He had come to eliminate Bu Eun-seol after tracking his location, only to find a group of Taoist priests huddled together in their Daoist robes.
"The Seven Disciples of Wudang?"
Only then did Ok Gi-ryung notice the seven priests standing in the formation of the Big Dipper. His eyebrows twitched.
"Why the hell are a bunch of stinking, long-bearded Taoists gathered here?"
Originally, Ok Gi-ryung's objective had been to eliminate Bu Eun-seol before he reached the Demon Hall.
From their perspective, Bu Eun-seol was a sworn enemy—the one who had killed Yangmyeong, the Blood Ghost Society's Hall Leader, and stolen the Spirit Divine Sword.
The fact that such a man was now a candidate to succeed the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was utterly unacceptable.
"Stinking, long-bearded Taoists?"
Yeong-heo scowled and shouted,
"These humble priests have come to purge the spawn of the Demonic Path who plague the martial world!"
In an instant, Ok Gi-ryung's expression hardened.
If they were referring to the "spawn of the Demonic Path," that included not just Bu Eun-seol but Ok Gi-ryung and the elite fighters of the Blood Hand Hall as well.
At Yeong-heo's words, Ok Gi-ryung swept a cold gaze over the Seven Disciples and Bu Eun-seol before barking out an order:
"Wipe them all out at once!"
The Blood Hand Hall was one of the Three Great Poison Halls that Hell Blood Citadel took pride in. Its members had trained the Blood Shadow Poison Hand—one of Hell Blood Citadel's Three Great Poison Arts—to at least the Third Achievement Level.
Moreover, the Blood Shadow Poison Hand Formation they employed was as tightly woven as a net. Once the formation was deployed, retreating became nearly impossible.
"Seven Disciples of Wudang—eliminate all these Demonic Path members!"
At that moment, Ok Gi-ryung unleashed a torrent of Blood Shadow Poison Hand energy behind Bu Eun-seol.
KWA-AH!
Just as the overwhelming poison energy—capable of melting even metal—was about to engulf Bu Eun-seol's body—
KWA-OOOH!
The toxic energy rebounded as if striking an invisible wall, unable to advance any further.
Bu Eun-seol had used the First Appearance of the Fist Demon, the initial form of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon, to repel the Blood Shadow Poison Hand in a single motion.
"You bastard!"
Furious, Ok Gi-ryung doubled the intensity of his attack and unleashed another wave of poison energy.
But Bu Eun-seol had already evaded, leaving Yeong-hyeon, one of the charging Seven Disciples, to be swallowed by the poison instead.
"You vile wretches!"
Enraged beyond reason, the remaining Seven Disciples began deploying the Lesser Clear Sword against the Blood Hand Hall's elite fighters.
"You think mere poison will make these humble priests falter?!"
The Seven Disciples were Taoists whose pride was as unshakable as a boulder.
As the Poison People spewed their toxins, the disciples defiantly countered with the Twin Principle Sword and Lesser Clear Sword, pushing back the poison energy.
Oooong...
Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu...
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol activated Swift Shadowless and quietly slipped away from the battlefield.
'Not bad.'
Standing behind the bushes, Bu Eun-seol leisurely observed the fierce battle between the Seven Disciples and the Blood Hand Hall.
'As expected of the Seven Disciples of Wudang... They wield their swords without the slightest concern for the Blood Hand Hall's poison.'
He continued watching the bloody clash with detached amusement.
'This won't end easily.'
The battle was evenly matched.
Though the Blood Hand Hall had superior numbers, the Seven Disciples had committed entirely to defensive swordplay.
Their flawless Sword Curtain defense kept their poisoning symptoms to a minimal level.
'Their defense is impressive, but they lack sharpness. That must be a characteristic of Wudang Sect's sword arts.'
Most of Wudang's Sword Studies emphasized defense, leaving their techniques somewhat lacking in precision.
'The Taiji Wisdom Sword might be different, but the Lesser Clear Sword is just dull.'
Bored, Bu Eun-seol yawned while blankly watching the fight.
"You idiot Taoists! That bastard's already slipped away!"
Ok Gi-ryung, now drenched in blood as he directed his subordinates, finally noticed Bu Eun-seol standing absentmindedly at the edge of the battlefield.
"What does that matter now?!"
The Seven Disciples paid no heed, gritting their teeth as they continued their swordplay.
Most of them were mildly poisoned. Of course, they could expel the toxins with their formidable internal energy—
But they were too incensed by the Blood Hand Hall's relentless poison attacks to care.
"You scum of the Demonic Path! You've long plagued the martial world, poisoning the innocent and spreading ruin!"
Yeong-heo roared like thunder.
"This sect shall deliver your punishment—accept it with gratitude!"
After watching the Seven Disciples and the Blood Hand Hall fight explosively, Bu Eun-seol turned away without another glance.
Bu Eun-seol slipped out of the forest and entered a nearby village.
He had been wandering the marketplace to get something to eat, but the midday inn was crowded with people.
'Should I alter my appearance?'
Everywhere he passed, people stared at him as if stamping his image into their minds.
Even among ordinary men, he stood a full head taller, and the striking beauty glimpsed through his long hair drew not just the gazes of women but men as well.
'No, this is a pointless concern.'
The Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art allowed him to easily alter his facial structure, but it continuously consumed one-tenth of his internal energy.
The problem was that even though Bu Eun-seol's internal energy had grown significantly, the consumption remained fixed at one-tenth.
'Unavoidable. The Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art alters the pathways and positions of internal true qi.'
Simply changing the facial musculature and bone structure altered the flow and location of his meridians.
This disrupted the smooth circulation of Bu Eun-seol's true qi, forcing him to expend a constant tenth of his reserves.
'That place looks suitable.'
A small inn stood tucked away in an alley slightly removed from the bustling marketplace.
It was so old that even the signboard identifying it as an inn had rotted away. It seemed more like a place frequented by locals seeking cheap fare than outsiders.
Creak.
When he opened the door, the sight of the aged inn greeted him.
Despite it being midday, the interior was deserted. Not a single customer was in sight.
"Welcome."
An old man, busy clearing dishes, greeted Bu Eun-seol.
With only about seven tables, the inn likely couldn't afford hired help—the owner himself carried the dishes.
"What'll you have?"
Despite his words, the old man scratched his head awkwardly.
"We've only got plain noodles and dumplings for food, and just baijiu for drink."
"Then three bottles of baijiu."
After his internal energy had surged dramatically, his appetite had diminished significantly.
He could now go three days without eating and barely feel hunger. This was because he had reached the Fifth Layer of the Reverse Extreme Inner Method, where his true qi circulated endlessly.
Glug, glug.
One cup, two cups—before he knew it, he had emptied all three bottles.
Just as he was about to rise from his seat, a clear voice called from behind him.
"Bu Eun-seol."
Turning his head, he saw a woman in white robes and a veil approaching from the entrance.
Her refreshingly bright eyes, like polished obsidian, were captivatingly beautiful.
Yet an unapproachable majesty radiated from her entire being, and the sword at her waist seemed to exude a bone-chilling cold energy.
'A master from the Sword Pavilion.'
The treasured sword hanging at the veiled woman's waist, scabbard and all, was entirely white.
In the martial world, only one sect wielded such a blade—the Sword Pavilion.
"Langya Pavilion's Ten Demonic Heir, Bu Eun-seol. Correct?"
When their gazes met, Bu Eun-seol felt as though he were standing alone on a frozen lake.
"That's right."
At his straightforward answer, a silver gleam flashed in the veiled woman's eyes.
It was as if she were shooting sword qi with her gaze alone.
"I am A-yeon, a disciple of the Sword Pavilion."
She raised two fingers and pressed her palms together.
This was the Lotus-Palm Salutation, symbolizing a mind unstained by worldly troubles, like a lotus flower.
'The Sword Pavilion is also a branch of the Mystic Path.'
Though all Sword Pavilion disciples kept their hair long, it was merely a Hair-Kept Religious Practice.
Rooted in the Mystic Path, they maintained an austere demeanor.
"Do you have business with me?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, she replied in a cold yet low voice.
"Since your emergence in the martial world, you have consistently slain the Great Righteous Experts. Do you admit this?"
An abrupt question.
Bu Eun-seol found it somewhat absurd but met A-yeon's gaze squarely and nodded.
"I do."
"Then will you continue harming the Righteous Faction's Great Righteous Experts?"
Slaying the Great Righteous Experts had not been Bu Eun-seol's will but the solemn decree of the Demon Hall.
Of course, the order had since been rescinded by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's command... but ultimately, the Ten Demonic Heir and the Great Righteous Experts were fated to clash.
"Did you come here to act against me over this?"
At his blunt question, A-yeon fixed her icy eyes on Bu Eun-seol's face.
"If you continue harming innocent members of the Righteous Faction..."
Her voice was frigid as she continued.
"The Main Pavilion will have no choice but to lift the Killing Prohibition."
The Sword Pavilion was a mysterious sect of female martial artists who rarely involved themselves in the martial world.
Despite producing Great Righteous Experts, they had remained entirely inactive in the martial world.
Even Bu Eun-seol, who had memorized the traits of countless martial sects, had considered the Sword Pavilion an exception.
Yet now, they had sent a disciple to restrain him.
"Are you also a Great Righteous Expert?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked bitterly, A-yeon shook her head.
"No. I did not apply to become one."
"Then you must be the Sword Pavilion's orthodox successor."
At that question, her eyebrows lifted slightly, but she remained silent.
That alone was answer enough.
'Not a Great Righteous Expert, but a successor...'
The Sword Pavilion had long guarded the Orthodox Murim, eliminating evil figures.
Especially when a Great Demon beyond ordinary disciples' ability to handle appeared, they would dispatch not a regular disciple but a successor into the martial world.
"Amusing. To think I've become a villain so fearsome that the Sword Pavilion would take action."
As he drew upon his internal energy, the Extreme Counter-Blood Radiance—like burning embers—began to gather in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Then let's begin."