Chapter 168
Hyeok Gong-baek's eyebrows shot up toward the sky at the unexpectedly shocking reply.
"Total shambles?"
"That's correct."
Oooooong—
In that instant, the faint killing intent that had been emanating from Hyeok Gong-baek's body surged uncontrollably into something far more intense.
"Your reason?"
"Because the treatment they receive is pitiful for something called the Demonic Path Ten Gates."
Despite the terrifying energy radiating from Hyeok Gong-baek, Bu Eun-seol maintained an oddly relaxed expression.
"At best, it's called a sanctuary for demonic practitioners. In reality, it's barely any different from being abandoned here."
Hyeok Gong-baek wore a dazed expression for a long moment before suddenly narrowing his eyes into crescent moons.
"Heh heh heh. Hahahaha."
Chuckling low, Hyeok Gong-baek nodded approvingly.
"Good nerve. Just what I'd expect from a disciple of Langya Pavilion."
His killing intent had melted away like snow in sunlight—clearly pleased by Bu Eun-seol's answer.
"If you'd only fed me pleasant lies, this Sanctuary Master would have expressed his displeasure."
Spoken like a true Great Demon—referring to nearly killing someone as merely "expressing displeasure."
A faint smile played on Hyeok Gong-baek's lips as he continued.
"But you spoke honestly, just as you saw it. I judged you correctly."
Then he released a deep sigh.
"Everyone here was once a Great Demon who looked down on the martial world. Even if they've reached the Extreme Demon Realm... they're still like bombs that could detonate at any moment."
Hyeok Gong-baek spoke as they walked past the village onto a leaf-strewn forest path.
"That's why the Demon Hall established this sanctuary to manage the Great Demons... but in truth, it's no different from exile. After extracting their secret manuals, they were practically discarded here."
"Have you formally protested this?"
"Protest? We should be grateful they even created this place. This isn't one of those orthodox sects that meticulously serves their elders and maintains strict master-disciple hierarchies."
Inhaling the crisp forest air, he continued.
"But whenever the Demon Hall selects successor candidates, suddenly the heirs of the Demonic Path Ten Gates come visiting."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand why the young man at the entrance and the old man playing go had reacted so indifferently.
They normally wouldn't spare this place a second glance, yet when the succession battle begins, they suddenly show interest as if they'd always cared.
Moreover, since this sanctuary was created specifically to manage Great Demons, the successor of Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary was inherently excluded from the Demon Hall's succession framework...
Naturally, they wouldn't be pleased to see the Demon Hall's successor candidates visiting.
"Did you come here seeking this sanctuary's support too?"
"That's correct."
"Then I'll be blunt. To gain this sanctuary's support, you must first win over the old folks residing in Peach Garden Village."
Before they knew it, Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok Gong-baek had climbed a hill overlooking Peach Garden Village.
"About eighty elders live here. They may appear gentle, but every single one was a demon who once turned the world upside down."
After gazing at the village for a long moment, Hyeok Gong-baek added:
"For your information, the Hell Blood Citadel's successor visited before you."
"I see."
"He summoned laborers to rebuild the sanctuary's dilapidated halls, and for some time... even assigned young attendants to serve the elders residing in Peach Blossom Paradise."
Finally, Bu Eun-seol understood why the interior halls were so immaculate compared to the worn-out palace exterior.
"So that's why the interior halls were newly constructed."
At Bu Eun-seol's remark, Hyeok Gong-baek wore a peculiar smile.
"He promised that if he became the Demon Hall's successor, he'd renovate the exterior too and permanently station many young servants and attendants here."
Hyeok Gong-baek's voice lowered.
"Thanks to that, over half the elders decided to support Hell Blood Citadel's successor."
"..."
"Frankly speaking, you're facing an uphill battle."
Hyeok Gong-baek gave a bitter smile, well aware of Langya Pavilion's circumstances.
"Even if Langya Pavilion squeezed out every last coin, you couldn't match what he's offering. Isn't that right?"
Bu Eun-seol could only nod in agreement.
Despite its formidable power, Langya Pavilion maintained no external influence and remained entirely self-sufficient.
Meaning—no matter how much they scraped together Langya Pavilion's resources, they couldn't possibly satisfy these Great Demons.
Moreover, Hell Blood Citadel had already briefly provided young attendants to serve them...
Even if Bu Eun-seol personally cooked meals and served them, these demonic elders wouldn't bat an eye.
"Let me ask one more thing."
After deep contemplation, Bu Eun-seol slowly spoke again.
"Even if I gain the support of the elders in Peach Blossom Paradise, that alone won't secure the endorsement of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying, it seems."
"Of course, there is a second condition as well..."
Hyeok Gong-baek's pupils grew hazy as he continued speaking.
"But I'll only tell you that after you've fulfilled the first condition—gaining the unanimous support of every old-timer here."
Shaking his head, Hyeok Gong-baek looked at Bu Eun-seol with pitying eyes.
"Frankly, even the first condition may be impossible for someone like you."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol grasp the situation.
"So, the successor from Hell Blood Citadel returned because they failed to meet the second condition."
"Sharp. You're absolutely right."
Bu Eun-seol fell into deep thought once more before slowly opening his mouth.
"Then, may I stay in Peach Blossom Paradise for a while?"
"Of course. The old folks would be delighted to have a young one like you around. We rarely get visitors your age here."
Hyeok Gong-baek chuckled bitterly, as if recalling something, then shook his head again.
"Before you entered these woods, do you remember the small thatched cottage at the foot of the mountain?"
"I do."
"It's been sitting empty, unused by anyone. If it suits you, you may stay there."
"Thank you."
Nodding, Hyeok Gong-baek turned away with a faint smile.
"Well then, do your best."
From that day onward, Bu Eun-seol lived in the old thatched cottage at the foot of the mountain, a short distance from Peach Blossom Paradise.
And every single movement of his quickly became the hottest topic among the demonic elders residing in the village.
—Just what does that Langya Pavilion brat think he'll use to win us over?
Any disciple of the Demonic Path knew full well how meager Langya Pavilion's resources were.
—He plans to stay in Peach Blossom Paradise? Hah! Exactly the kind of move you'd expect from a penniless disciple.
—Right. He'll probably linger around, trying to butter us up with favors and servitude!
But most of the demonic elders remained skeptical of Bu Eun-seol's intentions.
The Demonic Path Ten Gates had never spared this place a glance before—yet whenever the Successor War began, they always came crawling, desperate to secure supporters.
And the elders of Peach Blossom Paradise despised that.
—At least that Hell Blood Citadel threw money around generously. But this one? He'll probably try to win us over with manual labor... Let's not even acknowledge him!
—Agreed. No matter what flattery he attempts, we won't budge an inch.
The thoughts of the eighty-odd elders were unanimous.
How dare a penniless upstart waltz into the retreat of those who once shook the martial world, expecting to earn their support?
They resolved not to spare Bu Eun-seol a single glance, no matter what he did.
But their expectations were completely shattered.
One day passed, then two... yet Bu Eun-seol remained secluded in his cottage, never once venturing near Peach Blossom Paradise.
—What in the world is that kid doing?
By the third day, with no sign of flattery—or even his shadow—the elders grew curious.
Unable to suppress their curiosity, one of them—the Blood Hand Ghost Demon, Bang Gak—finally visited Bu Eun-seol's cottage.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat loudly, pacing around the cottage, but there was no response.
Skritch. Skritch.
From inside came the incessant sound of wood being scraped.
'What the hell is he doing in there?'
Unable to contain himself, the Blood Hand Ghost Demon stealthily slipped inside.
"Huh?"
His eyes widened as he stepped in.
The front yard was piled high with lumber, and before it, Bu Eun-seol—saw in hand—was meticulously shaping planks.
Borrowed from the warriors of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying, perhaps, an assortment of tools—hammers, axes, and more—lay scattered around the cottage.
"What are you doing here?"
Even at the Blood Hand Ghost Demon's question, Bu Eun-seol didn't so much as glance up, silently continuing to saw.
"Are you deaf, boy?"
Clack.
Only then did Bu Eun-seol set down his hammer and turn his gaze toward him.
'What kind of eyes are those...?'
Just a single look—no more than the lowering of a hammer—sent a chill crawling down the Blood Hand Ghost Demon's spine.
'Does this whelp's internal energy surpass mine?'
He shook his head.
No matter how talented a successor of the Ten Gates was, there were limits to how much internal energy one could cultivate at age twenty.
Dismissing it as a trick of the mind, he coughed and repeated himself.
"I asked what you're doing."
"Building."
"Building what?"
Bu Eun-seol gestured toward the stacked planks in the corner.
Frowning, the Blood Hand Ghost Demon scrutinized the lumber carefully.
"Th-that is...?"
The Blood Hand Ghost Demon's eyes widened to the point of nearly tearing as he stared fixedly at the wooden plank for a long moment.
It was a board roughly a foot and a half in width and about six feet in length.
And on one side, holes were carved in the shape of the Big Dipper.
A flat board with seven holes drilled into it...
There was only one kind of object like this in the world, wasn't there?
"Don't tell me... you bastard. Are you making a Seven Star Board?"
A Seven Star Board.
A thin plank placed at the bottom of a coffin to secure the corpse.
It was the very same Seven Star Board people referred to when they said, "Lay the body upon the Seven Star Board," at the time of death.
"That's right."
When this unbelievable answer came back, the Blood Hand Ghost Demon's eyes bulged.
"Why the hell are you making a Seven Star Board here?"
But this time, there was no answer.
"Answer me this instant!"
"You're being noisy."
"What?"
"I’m working. Leave."
"What did you say?"
The Blood Hand Ghost Demon was about to shout in disbelief, but he soon clamped his mouth shut.
Because Bu Eun-seol's cold, motionless pupils—focused intently on carving the wood—were solemn and serious enough to instill reverence.
"Y-you're out of your damn mind."
Feeling that further words would be useless, the Blood Hand Ghost Demon clicked his tongue and turned away.
―That bastard is making a Seven Star Board?
The rumor that Bu Eun-seol was crafting Seven Star Boards—the very planks meant for coffins—spread through Peach Blossom Paradise in an instant.
―How could that be? That senile old fool Bang Gak must be spouting nonsense again.
But then, something even more absurd happened.
Because Bu Eun-seol had been spotted cutting down all the paulownia trees from the back mountain to make rectangular, box-like objects.
―That lunatic!
Long, rectangular chests made of paulownia wood.
Even without seeing the finished product, wasn't it obvious what they were?
―He's making coffins, isn't he?
When this realization dawned, the eyes of the demonic elders in Peach Blossom Paradise nearly rolled back in their heads.
Now it was clear—that madman from Langya Pavilion was crafting coffins out of paulownia wood.
―Is he telling us that since our time is near, we should just climb into the coffins ourselves?
The rumor of Bu Eun-seol making coffins spread like wildfire through Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying.
Some of the demonic elders were so enraged that, despite having reached the Extreme Demon Realm, they couldn't stop their killing intent from seething out.
―Even if he is a successor of the Demonic Path Ten Gates, isn't this going too far?
Eventually, a few of the demonic elders grabbed their weapons and went to confront Bu Eun-seol.
―Let's kill that bastard before we die ourselves!
Just as the demonic elders' fury was about to erupt—
―We'll go see him first.
The Sanctuary Master, Hyeok Gong-baek, and his close friend, the Mad Master Pung Yeo-ryang, made their way to Bu Eun-seol's thatched cottage.
"I truly don't understand what's going on here."
Hyeok Gong-baek shook his head as he walked toward the cottage at the foot of the mountain with Pung Yeo-ryang.
"Staying in our sanctuary and making coffins? Surely it can't be true."
"What do you mean, can't be?"
Pung Yeo-ryang gnashed his teeth.
"If we hadn't stopped Yin Monster Demon Scythe—that old lunatic—from charging out with his sickle... things would've gotten very ugly."
"Hmm."
Hyeok Gong-baek swallowed a sigh.
The Bu Eun-seol he had seen was a clear-minded, resolute young man.
He was not the kind of madman who would casually craft coffins in a sanctuary full of elderly demons.
Creeeak.
As the cottage door opened, curses exploded from Pung Yeo-ryang's mouth.
"That fucking lunatic...!"
It was true.
Just as the rumors said, the front yard of the cottage was piled high with coffins made of paulownia wood.
"We can't let this bastard live! Where the hell is he?!"
Pung Yeo-ryang rolled up his sleeves and scanned the area, but Hyeok Gong-baek shook his head.
"Wait, calm down. This isn't something to resolve with violence."
"Not something to resolve with violence?!"
"He is the rightful successor of Langya Pavilion. Not only that, but he came here to have his succession-candidate status officially approved by the Demon Hall Lord."
"Tch."
"Let's at least hear what he has to say before deciding how to handle this."
Though his words were measured, a violet mist of killing intent had already begun seeping from Hyeok Gong-baek's eyes.
If Bu Eun-seol dared spout nonsense, he was fully prepared to personally behead him.
Hyeok Gong-baek, the Phantom Demon.
He was not a benevolent old man. No matter what anyone said, he was the Greatest Demon Under Heaven, the ruler of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying—one of the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
Creeeak.
Just then, the cottage door opened, and Bu Eun-seol—carrying a bundle of paulownia wood like a lumberjack—stepped inside through the wicker gate.
"What brings you here?"
At Bu Eun-seol's indifferent question, flames practically erupted from Pung Yeo-ryang's eyes.
"What brings us here?!"
Roaring, Pung Yeo-ryang stormed toward Bu Eun-seol as he set the wood down.
"You bastard! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
His voice dripped with killing intent as he snarled:
"Why the fuck are you making coffins in this place?!"