Chapter 162
Bu Eun-seol, who had been staring at Jin Ja-myeong, unleashed the Formless Heavenly Flow without hesitation.
Chaaang! Chiiing!
The sword aura of the Ink Sword expanded endlessly, cutting down the Blood-Net Ghosts one after another.
However, the Blood-Net Ghosts had bodies harder than iron, making them resistant even to the Ink Sword's slashes.
Kwawoooooo!
Amid the pouring Poison Arts, Bu Eun-seol activated Qi Gathering Poison while continuing to slash relentlessly.
Drenched in blood as he cut down the Blood-Net Ghosts, Bu Eun-seol looked as majestic as a Heavenly General vanquishing demons.
The brutal and ferocious battle left not only Jin Ja-myeong but even A-yeon, watching from above the Great Hero Hall, gaping in awe.
'That man...'
Bu Eun-seol's fierce and intense movements seared themselves into her mind like a Fire Brand.
'Did the martial world ever have such sword techniques?'
The Sword Pavilion sought to cultivate the spirit and mind through the sword, accumulating virtue and performing good deeds.
But witnessing Bu Eun-seol's swordsmanship made the Sword Intent she had followed until now feel like nothing more than a naive ambition, blind to the harsh realities of the world.
"So this is the Ten Demonic Heir from Langya Pavilion!"
At that moment, Jin Ja-myeong, who had been observing the chaos, unleashed a strike toward Bu Eun-seol.
Kwarung!
A black lightning-like ink-qi surged through the air, staining the space around Bu Eun-seol in darkness.
It was the Hell Blood Citadel's supreme Poison Art—the Black Heaven Blood River Art.
"There's no way you can block this!"
The Black Heaven Blood River Art instantly dominated the surrounding space, spreading poison that could not be avoided, whether by holding one's breath or burrowing underground.
Flash!
At that moment, a fierce crimson light erupted from Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
Simultaneously, sword qi, dense as fog, began pouring endlessly from the Ink Sword in his right hand.
But something was strange.
The sword qi, which should have filled the surroundings like mist, was not directed at Jin Ja-myeong—instead, it cascaded back toward Bu Eun-seol himself.
Sssssssss!
The sword qi gathered around Bu Eun-seol in layers before abruptly forming a massive, intangible barrier.
The sixth technique of the Formless Heavenly Flow—Unchanging Defense—had finally been unleashed.
"What is that?!"
Jin Ja-myeong's eyes widened.
The Black Heaven Blood River Art, which had dominated the space around Bu Eun-seol, was now being slowly eroded away by the immense barrier of sword qi.
"He's dissolving Poison Art with sword qi?!"
Poison Arts were formless like the wind—they did not dissipate until their energy was exhausted.
Yet, the Black Heaven Blood River Art was vanishing in white smoke the moment it touched the sword qi.
"Bastard! He infused his sword qi with Blazing Flame True Qi!"
Fire was the natural enemy of Poison Arts.
Having long been aware of the dangers of Poison Arts, Bu Eun-seol had devised a sword technique capable of defending against even the most vicious poisons when creating the Formless Heavenly Flow.
However, to unleash the Scorching Sun Force—an extreme yang power like the Blazing Flame True Qi—one needed either an Extreme Yang internal energy method or an internal energy level surpassing three sixty-year cycles.
And now, at last, he had the power to execute the long-dormant Unchanging Defense.
Hwaak!
With the Black Heaven Blood River Art rendered useless by the Blazing Flame True Qi, Jin Ja-myeong's opening was exposed at close range.
Flash!
In that instant, Meteor Chasing Moon was unleashed—
Sssssssk!
But the Blood-Net Ghosts near Jin Ja-myeong threw themselves in the way, blocking it with their bodies.
"You wretch!"
Enraged, Jin Ja-myeong drew upon his full internal power and unleashed the Black Heaven Blood River Art once more.
Chiiiik! Sssssk!
Yet Bu Eun-seol did not yield, countering again with Unchanging Defense.
In that state, he struck down Blood-Net Ghosts with fist techniques, hurled hidden blades, and when all else failed, took the attacks head-on while relentlessly aiming for Jin Ja-myeong's neck.
Thump-thump.
A-yeon's heart burned as she watched.
She had trained ceaselessly with the sword, reaching the Transcendence Realm, yet she had never witnessed such a desperate battle.
He staggered as if about to fall, only to rise again like an unyielding doll.
He swung his sword, then smashed a Blood-Net Ghost aside with his fist. Where poison struck, he tore open his own wounds, spraying blood to disperse the toxins.
This brutal struggle was nothing less than the incarnation of an Asura.
'This is swordsmanship. This is the martial world.'
Bu Eun-seol's battle, his unquenchable fighting spirit, his blazing gaze—it set even her martial soul aflame.
This was the martial world!
This was true combat!
It was as if Bu Eun-seol was proclaiming it with his entire being.
And it shook A-yeon, who had honed her sword in the quiet halls of the Sword Pavilion, to her core.
Srrring.
Suddenly, a white radiance streaked across the sky.
Stirred by Bu Eun-seol's martial soul, A-yeon descended from the Great Hero Hall and unleashed her sword techniques upon the Blood-Net Ghosts.
Sssk! Sssk! Whirrr!
Her swordsmanship was the opposite of Bu Eun-seol's—solemn, restrained, embodying the Mystic Path's sword studies.
With each swing, the surrounding Blood-Net Ghosts had their tendons severed, freezing them in place.
Their deaths were so clean they didn't even have time to scream.
Watching this, Bu Eun-seol gave a slow nod.
'Truly, the next Sword Empress.'
When she fought at full strength, her power seemed capable of splitting the earth and cleaving the heavens.
Chik-chik! Sssk!
"Guh—!"
"Ghk—!"
With A-yeon joining the battle, the Blood-Net Ghosts' formation collapsed in an instant.
As Bu Eun-seol slaughtered the remaining foes, Jin Ja-myeong had no choice but to retreat in bitter frustration.
"Fall back!"
The Blood-Net Ghosts withdrew with terrifying speed.
In the blink of an eye, the enemy retreated like a receding tide, leaving behind only blood-soaked corpses strewn across the forest.
Chirp-chirp. Crackle.
The tranquil sounds of insects and burning firewood pierced the silent forest.
Bu Eun-seol and A-yeon sat motionless across from each other, a single bonfire between them.
Exhausting one's full strength in martial arts brought not just fatigue, but a hollow emptiness.
Having cut down over fifty Black Net Ghosts—warriors harder than steel—the two sat in unspoken agreement, resting where they were.
"Haa."
A-yeon let out a deep sigh and touched the veil she had been wearing.
Drenched in blood from the battle, it wasn't just splattered—it dripped in thick rivulets.
Swish.
Eventually, she removed the blood-soaked veil.
For a moment, the area around the bonfire seemed to brighten.
Without the veil, A-yeon's beauty was undeniable—so striking that even if placed on a scale against the Young Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace, Yeon So-ha, not an ounce of difference could be measured.
Is this man pretending not to notice?
Though raised in the Sword Pavilion, she had never met anyone—child or adult—who remained indifferent to her looks.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had only glanced at her once, as if she were a passing dog.
As the silence stretched unbearably long, A-yeon finally spoke.
"Aren't you going to thank me?"
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow, and she continued boldly.
"If I hadn't stepped in this time, you would've been in quite the predicament."
First the Jade Prison Hall, then the Poison Furnace Hall... A hundred masters had attacked Bu Eun-seol in succession.
Had she not intervened, it would not have been a clean victory.
"I never asked for your help."
The cold reply nearly made her laugh.
This man truly would've fought to the end, whether I helped or not.
In the current martial world, the balance between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths was stable, and disciples of each sect could easily learn advanced martial arts.
Because of this, figures like Bu Eun-seol—who burned with warrior spirit, staking their lives in battle—were rare.
Hadn't he even studied the flaws in martial arts by examining corpses?
No matter how I look at him, he doesn't seem like a bad person.
Rumors painted him as the Great Demon Ancestor, the Ten Demonic Heir from Langya Pavilion, who had mercilessly slaughtered Great Righteous Experts.
But in reality, he seemed more like a fiercely passionate martial artist.
"Your swordplay was impressive," she said, steering the conversation elsewhere.
"I heard Langya Pavilion has no established martial arts beyond the Way of the Beast..."
"..."
"Then the sword techniques you displayed earlier—were they learned at Langya Pavilion? Or did you create them yourself?"
No matter how many questions she asked, no answer came.
"Fine. Then let me ask just one thing."
A-yeon met his gaze squarely.
"They say you killed the grandson of the White Horse Monastery's leader. So why are the masters of Hell Blood Citadel chasing you?"
She pressed on confidently.
"After crossing blades together, I think I've earned the right to at least this much of an answer."
Bu Eun-seol only stared emptily into the bonfire.
A-yeon's eyes gleamed, and she lowered her voice.
"Though, I did notice a critical flaw in your swordplay earlier."
"A flaw?"
At that, a glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol's previously dull eyes.
"What flaw does my swordplay have?"
"Finally, a response."
"You didn't answer my question either."
A faint smile touched A-yeon's lips as she narrowed her eyes.
"You didn't answer mine either."
Realizing she had tricked him, Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
But whether he had nothing to say or simply didn't want to engage further—this time, he closed his eyes entirely.
Seeing this, A-yeon became certain.
This man was no villain.
Though his expression and tone were as cold as ice...
She knew well that people of such temperament could never truly be evil.
"Why walk the path of Asura?"
A-yeon's face showed genuine confusion.
"Someone like you... could've easily chosen a different path."
"Strange words."
Finally, Bu Eun-seol opened his eyes, brows furrowed.
"Then why did you join the Sword Pavilion?"
"What choice did an orphan like me have? The Sword Pavilion was simply where my master led me."
Bu Eun-seol replied flatly.
"Such is the way of the world."
His gaze returned to the fire as he murmured,
"People think they have many choices... but in truth, everything is bound by fate and inevitability. Humans have almost no real agency."
"Even the battles between the Great Righteous Experts and the Ten Demonic Heir?"
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol looked directly at her.
"Yes."
Only then did A-yeon faintly grasp it.
That there was something she didn't understand between the Great Righteous Experts and the Ten Demonic Heir.
And that Bu Eun-seol had no choice in the matter.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol was neither a villain nor a Great Demon who delighted in slaughtering righteous masters.
In that case, there was no need to force an oath from him.
First, I should return to my sect.
Just as she rose to leave—
Crunch. Crunch.
Light footsteps echoed from afar.
After a moment, a Daoist carrying a large bundle appeared before the mountain gate.
His frame was sturdy, his eyes brimming with vitality. Though not strikingly handsome, his well-proportioned features gave him a likable face.
"Are you Bu Eun-seol, the Ten Demonic Heir who defeated three Great Righteous Experts in succession at Jeong-ju?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol's gaze fixed on the man's waist—where a Taiji Wisdom Sword, used by Wudang disciples, hung.
"Who are you?"
"I am Song-ak, a disciple of Wudang."
The Taoist flashed a grin at Bu Eun-seol, revealing a row of pearly white teeth.
"And I also happen to be one of the Great Righteous Experts you've been so desperately searching for."