Chapter 160
A-yeon gazed at Bu Eun-seol with icy eyes.
"I didn't come to draw my sword—I came to deliver a warning."
"A warning?"
"Swear that you will not harm the Great Righteous Experts. If you do, I will not raise my hand against you."
"Hahaha."
An incredulous laugh escaped Bu Eun-seol's lips.
"A warning. Now I see—the disciples of Sword Pavilion are exceedingly merciful."
Though it was a mocking laugh directed at the arrogant Sword Pavilion, she instead pressed her palms together in prayer.
"Even a butcher can become a Buddha if he lays down his blade."
The Veiled Woman seemed to genuinely believe she could reform Bu Eun-seol's heart.
'But something feels off.'
The gaze of A-yeon, the successor sent down from Sword Pavilion, was as cold as ice—yet no hostility could be seen in it.
Looking into those eyes, he felt an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
"So if I refrain from killing the Great Righteous Experts, even someone like me can become a Buddha?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, A-yeon replied coldly.
"Do I seem like the type to play word games?"
Her voice and eyes, which had remained emotionless until now, turned sharp.
Yet Bu Eun-seol continued indifferently.
"I only said it because Sword Pavilion's stance is laughable."
"You find our sect's stance laughable?"
"It wasn't some petty ambush—it was a fair duel. By all accounts, I've only won three times. And yet Sword Pavilion intervenes over such a trifle..."
Bu Eun-seol curled his lip.
"How could I not find it ridiculous?"
The frost in A-yeon's pupils grew even colder.
"You may call it 'just three times,' but from our sect's perspective, we have lost three future pillars who would have upheld the Righteous Path."
"You believe the Great Righteous Experts are talents who would uphold the Righteous Path?"
"Then are they talents who would uphold the Demonic Path?"
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol realized one crucial fact.
'She knows nothing of the true situation between the Ten Demonic Heirs and the Great Righteous Experts.'
The Ten Demonic Heirs and the Great Righteous Experts were nothing more than pawns in a game—tools for the Demonic Path and the Righteous Path to measure and counterbalance each other's strength.
Yet it was clear that Sword Pavilion believed the Ten Demonic Heirs were indiscriminately assassinating the Great Righteous Experts without reason.
'It must be one of three possibilities.'
Though aligned with the Righteous Faction, Sword Pavilion interacted with no one—no individual, no sect—except the Martial Alliance Leader.
Thus, they might simply be ignorant of the affairs of other sects...
'Or the Martial Alliance Leader deliberately concealed this truth.'
The Martial Alliance, which had birthed the Joint Heirs program to solidify the foundation of the Righteous Path.
That ambitious plan, once unveiled, had instead become a spark igniting discord among the sects.
The Martial Alliance Leader might have intentionally withheld these circumstances from Sword Pavilion, which maintained only a tenuous existence on a remote, isolated island in the South Sea.
'But the highest probability is that she alone remains unaware.'
Sword Pavilion was a sect with roots deeply entrenched in Murim for generations.
No matter how isolated the island might be, their intelligence network couldn't possibly be so lacking.
If so, the most likely scenario was that this information had been deliberately withheld from the successor standing before him—A-yeon.
'But even so, it's still strange.'
She was Sword Pavilion's orthodox successor, not a Great Righteous Expert.
Was there truly a need to hide these facts and entrust her with dealing with Bu Eun-seol?
'One thing is certain—she knows nothing.'
Exhaling a sigh to dispel the doubts weighing on his chest, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"Take this path to the Martial Alliance Leader and ask him. Ask why the Ten Demonic Heirs have no choice but to fight the Great Righteous Experts."
"What are you talking about?"
"Or go ask the Pavilion Lord again. I have nothing more to say beyond this."
"The Pavilion Lord is in closed-door training. There's no way to ask him."
"That's not my concern."
As Bu Eun-seol spoke decisively, a glacial chill seeped into A-yeon's eyes.
"So you intend to continue the slaughter?"
"It's not slaughter—it's fate. Though you wouldn't understand."
For a moment, she blinked.
This situation was utterly incomprehensible to her.
"Then there's no other way."
As she drew a deep breath, an icy frost poured from her eyes like shards of frozen glass.
"Disciple A-yeon of Sword Pavilion challenges you."
"I refuse."
"What did you say?"
At the unexpected response, A-yeon's eyes flashed wide.
"What did you just say?"
"I said I refuse."
And without another word, Bu Eun-seol immediately stepped out of the guest inn.
A-yeon stood frozen like a stone statue, utterly dumbfounded.
Whoosh.
Snapping back to her senses, she burst out of the inn and blocked Bu Eun-seol's path as he was leaving the village.
Shing!
Drawing the white treasured sword from her waist, she spoke coldly.
"Draw your blade."
"No."
Bu Eun-seol brushed past her as if swatting away an annoying fly.
"How dare you!"
Enraged, she immediately swung her sword, aiming to slash through his shoulder.
But Bu Eun-seol didn't even flinch—he kept walking as if he hadn't seen it at all.
Swish.
The blade meant to cleave his shoulder stopped just a hair's breadth from his sleeve.
"Are you giving up on life just like that?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol stared straight into A-yeon's eyes, now fully visible beneath her veil.
"Does the Sword Pavilion not protect the Righteous Path, but instead recklessly stir up the martial world?"
Turning away again, he spoke coldly.
"If you want to cut me down, then do it. The successor of the Sword Pavilion will earn a glorious reputation for slaughtering the Ten Demonic Heir—who didn't even resist."
Behind the veil, a frigid white energy seethed in A-yeon's eyes.
Since birth, she had immersed herself solely in the Sword Dao.
Her life had been as solemn as a monk's, devoted to discipline—so she struggled to react to Bu Eun-seol's sudden defiance.
Haa.
But she was the future Sword Empress, the one who would bear the Sword Pavilion's legacy.
Feeling her spirit waver, she took a deep breath and immediately invoked the Mystic Art to steady her mind.
In an instant, her scattered thoughts regained tranquility, and her mind sharpened.
"Did you think our sect knows nothing?"
A-yeon met Bu Eun-seol's gaze squarely, her voice icy.
"Then watch. See what it is you're trying to say."
Bu Eun-seol no longer saw any point in continuing the conversation.
Tap.
Stepping out of the inn, he unleashed his movement technique and swiftly left the village.
Kwa-oooh!
With a sound like splitting air, A-yeon was suddenly right behind him, closing the distance in an instant.
"Impressive movement technique. But you won't shake me off."
Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu.
Doubling his internal power, Bu Eun-seol dashed through a valley and into the forest in the blink of an eye.
Yet A-yeon matched his speed, relentlessly pursuing him with her own lightness skill.
'Not bad.'
Bu Eun-seol's movement technique was already at its peak—even injured, he had once outpaced the Beggar King.
Of course, the Wind and Cloud Corps had sacrificed themselves to make that possible... but it was only because of the Ultimate Speed Shadowless, the supreme body-movement martial art no one else could replicate.
Kwa-oooh.
Yet A-yeon clung to his trail without faltering.
Though he wasn't going all out, this level of skill meant her lightness art was also among the finest in the martial world.
Whoosh. Tap.
Deep in the forest, Bu Eun-seol finally halted.
A-yeon stopped right beside him.
"Giving up on running?"
"Running?"
Bu Eun-seol's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Blindly charging forward in a place like this is just asking for an ambush."
Then he closed his eyes, gazing at the distant sky.
Swoooosh.
Dark clouds gathered, and heavy raindrops began to fall.
Shiiing!
At that moment, something sharp—hundreds of them—rained down between the droplets.
Pah-pah-pah-pah-pak!
Wherever the glinting points struck the ground, tiny, razor-edged holes appeared.
Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu.
Bu Eun-seol reactivated the Ultimate Speed Shadowless, weaving between the deadly downpour as he took cover behind tree trunks.
Squish!
Hundreds of elongated forms pierced through the trees, seeking his flesh.
"The White Horse Whip?"
Bu Eun-seol's pupils dilated.
What had pierced through the trees and spread across the forest like a spider's web was none other than a whip—glistening with a white radiance.
The very White Horse Whip Art of the White Horse Temple.
Pak! Pak! Pak!
The whip tore through solid wood as if it were tofu, slithering like a living serpent, relentlessly pursuing Bu Eun-seol's body.
Whirrrrr!
Bu Eun-seol twisted midair like a coiling dragon, narrowly evading the assault—and in the next instant, the whip's shadow vanished as if washed away.
Thud.
In that brief moment, A-yeon landed beside him and asked,
"Why is the White Horse Temple attacking you?"
"Leave."
A crimson energy had already begun to rise in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"The path ahead will be drenched in blood."
With those curt words, he unleashed his Movement Technique once more, dashing straight toward the heart of the storm where the White Horse Whip rained down.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.
Moving like a shadow, Bu Eun-seol finally reached the edge of the forest where the whip-wielders had concealed themselves—and in that instant—
Swish. Swish.
Dark figures emerged one after another from the dense thicket, encircling him.
They were clad in plain gray martial uniforms, each with a gleaming whip coiled at their waist.
"So, the White Horse Temple has come."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, a middle-aged man with a mustache stepped forward.
"Eum Wi, Hall Master of the Dark Prison Hall."
One of Bu Eun-seol's eyebrows arched slightly.
The Dark Prison Hall.
One of the Six Halls and Eight Houses that formed the White Horse Temple's Armed Brigade—a faction composed of ruthless assassins.
For an assassination squad tasked with eliminating the temple's greatest enemies to block his path...
"This is the road to the Demon Hall, isn't it?"
"It is."
"A shame, but you won't be going to the Demon Hall."
Eum Wi's expression was that of a fisherman hauling in a caught fish.
"Because you'll die here."
"So, since you can't pursue Kang Mu-ryun's death any further... you've decided to dispose of me now."
Eum Wi didn't answer. Instead, he said something else.
"Even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor won't protest if we kill you on the way to the Demon Hall."
The road to the Demon Hall.
For a fleeting moment, Bu Eun-seol wondered—Wasn't this journey itself a trial set by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor?
After all, the moment he stepped onto this path, enemies had swarmed him as if lying in wait.
"Quite the crowd you've gathered."
Bu Eun-seol frowned as he scanned the forest.
Though only dozens were visible, the entire woods were saturated with razor-sharp killing intent.
"Did you bring the entire Dark Prison Hall?"
"Hehehe. Sharp eyes, I see."
Eum Wi bared his teeth in a grin.
"You're the first brat we've mobilized this many forces for."
"You don't seem much different from the rabble I saw in Guizhou."
"Hohoho. The Hellish Blood Saint's Blood Ghost Hall, was it? Don't compare those poison-soaked wretches to the masters of our temple."
Eum Wi, who had been smiling coldly, tightened his grip on the White Horse Whip.
"We know you possess considerable skill. But you were simply born at the wrong time."
Tak. Tak. Tak.
The Dark Prison Hall disciples behind Eum Wi fanned out, encircling Bu Eun-seol.
In an instant, the rain-soaked forest was engulfed in a suffocating aura of violence.
Just as the decisive battle between Bu Eun-seol and the White Horse Temple's masters was about to begin—
"What the hell is this woman?!"
A sudden shout erupted from the rear.
Piiing! Shing!
The sounds of whips and clashing blades followed.
It seemed A-yeon, who had been at the back, had engaged the Dark Prison Hall disciples in combat.
'So it's come to this.'
Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue as he recalled A-yeon's figure.
She had followed him all this way—only to be caught in the White Horse Temple's ambush.
"You had a companion?"
Eum Wi furrowed his brow.
They had tracked Bu Eun-seol's movements meticulously, yet no allies had been detected.
"It doesn't matter."
Eum Wi narrowed his eyes.
"We only need to deal with you."
Flash!
At that moment, two brilliant streaks of light erupted from Bu Eun-seol's sleeves.
He had launched his daggers—using techniques mastered from the Precious Dagger Compendium.