Chapter 173
Only a desolate wind swept through the silent Reed Field.
Hyeok So-jin stood there blankly, his bewilderment giving way to sheer grotesqueness.
"I can't comprehend this. You're telling me to slit your throat?"
"Exactly as I said. I'll give you ten days—try to kill me."
Bu Eun-seol pointed at himself indifferently.
"Use any method you like. Poison, hidden weapons, ambushes—I don't care."
Then, staring straight into Hyeok So-jin's wide eyes, he continued calmly.
"Employ every possible means at your disposal. If you can so much as scratch me within those ten days..."
He paused briefly before speaking again in a firm voice.
"I'll permit you to accompany me."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
"If I'm truly allowed to use any means, I might actually end up killing you, you know?"
In the world of Murim, battles aren't always decided by martial prowess alone.
Hyeok So-jin was the legitimate successor of the Cradle of Ten Thousand Demons, the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary.
If he truly resolved to employ every trick in the book, no one could predict what might unfold.
"That's precisely why I said it. If you can kill me, then by all means, slit my throat."
For a moment, an intense light flickered in Hyeok So-jin's eyes.
"I don't mean to boast, but aside from the Divine-Rending Demonic Qi, I have three hundred and thirty-one demonic arts memorized in my head."
Hyeok So-jin was a genius who could master practical applications just by reading secret manuals.
Though he hadn't seriously trained in martial arts, his childhood spent poring over countless demonic texts in the Secret Vault had allowed him to acquire a diverse array of supreme demonic techniques.
"And you're telling me to attack you without holding back? That sounds utterly insane, don't you think?"
"How tedious. Are you going to do it or not?"
"Fine."
Crack.
Hyeok So-jin flexed his fist lightly and nodded with a composed expression.
"'Don't hold back,' you say... Then I'll take you at your word!"
Tap.
No sooner had his words ended than Hyeok So-jin lightly tapped the ground. In an instant, he closed the distance to Bu Eun-seol.
Simultaneously, forming a Tiger Claw, he unleashed twenty-four palm shadows in a single breath.
It was the ultimate technique of the Dark Heaven Demon Dragon Palm, one of the demonic arts preserved in the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary.
"An excellent palm technique."
Rather than confronting it head-on, Bu Eun-seol employed his footwork to evade each strike of the Dark Heaven Demon Dragon Palm one by one.
Swish—
But Hyeok So-jin, as if anticipating Bu Eun-seol's evasion, followed up with three razor-sharp strands of Finger Wind, accompanied by sharp thwips.
This was the hand technique of the Dark Whistle Demon Finger, known in the Demonic Path as the Finger Flick Divine Art.
Snap-snap-snap!
Yet when Bu Eun-seol executed the Ultimate Speed Shadowless, the three strands of Finger Wind harmlessly grazed past him.
Thud!
At the same time, Hyeok So-jin, who had been pressing forward to attack, was flung backward as if colliding with an invisible wall.
Bu Eun-seol had unleashed the Fist Demon Initial Manifestation—soundlessly and voicelessly.
"Damn it."
Though the fist energy had only lightly grazed him, his chest burned as if seared by fire.
As Hyeok So-jin staggered back, Bu Eun-seol muttered under his breath like a soliloquy.
"Martial arts are not a means to vent your emotions."
"What do you mean?"
"If you've resolved to attack, you must unleash the appropriate forms in response to your opponent's movements."
Bu Eun-seol gazed down at Hyeok So-jin with cold eyes.
"Don't just charge blindly like a wild boar fleeing a forest fire."
"Ah, I see."
Hyeok So-jin clasped his hands together and bowed his head.
"Thank you. For the lesson—"
His words never reached their conclusion. Pretending to bow, he instead unleashed a violet radiance from both hands.
It was the supreme ultimate technique of the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary—the Divine-Rending Demonic Qi.
CRACK!
With a thunderous roar, an invisible surge of energy cascaded toward Bu Eun-seol's face.
But as if he had anticipated everything, Bu Eun-seol darted to the left like lightning and unleashed another fist.
Startled, Hyeok So-jin attempted to deflect the attack with his raised Divine-Rending Demonic Qi.
Yet the five strands of fist energy, pouring forth with terrifying momentum, pierced through the sticky, glue-like Divine-Rending Demonic Qi and drove straight into his body.
The second form of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon—Extreme Thunder Blend—had been unleashed.
'This is different from before!'
Hyeok So-jin's pupils dilated as he watched the fist energy descend.
Though it was the exact same form he had witnessed at the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary, its precision and destructive power had grown even more formidable.
Bam-bam-bam!
Managing to deflect only two strands with his Divine-Rending Demonic Qi, Hyeok So-jin was left with no choice but to take the remaining three squarely on his shoulder.
"You're holding back. Both then... and now."
Hyeok So-jin gritted his teeth as he clutched his shoulder.
He had realized—if Bu Eun-seol had truly unleashed his full Fist Technique, this single strike would have shattered his shoulder entirely.
"Your movements are needlessly excessive."
Bu Eun-seol stared down at the staggering Hyeok So-jin with cold indifference.
"Study how to execute your techniques concisely."
Then, in a voice as frigid as winter wind:
"If you wish to live."
Hyeok So-jin glared back with burning eyes.
Under normal circumstances, he should have been drowning in fury, humiliation, disgrace, the sting of defeat—all those corrosive emotions.
But not now.
Because something far more intense, something he had never felt in his entire life, was searing through his veins—unyielding, relentless persistence.
"Let's do it. Gladly."
"..."
"Within ten days, I'll drench your neck in blood."
Even in the face of such a lethal warning, Bu Eun-seol only smiled—satisfied.
"I'll look forward to it."
Then he turned away without another word.
By the third watch of the night, when the world was steeped in silence—
Even the chirping of insects had faded, and the moonlight itself seemed to hold its breath, trembling faintly over the secluded detached residence of Silver Blossom Tavern.
Sssss—
Was it a whisper of wind?
The leaves along the narrow path leading to the tavern trembled ever so slightly.
Swish—
The breeze, soft as a sigh, halted at the rear of the garden.
Then, a single grain of sand on the garden floor shifted—just barely.
Beneath the earth of detached residence.
Hyeok So-jin, having arrived near Bu Eun-seol's quarters using the Earth Escape Art, narrowed his eyes in the darkness.
Lightning Rat Earth-Escape Art.
A supreme technique of the legendary thief and killer Black Net Ghost, who had terrorized the land two centuries ago. It allowed the user to traverse three jang underground in a single breath—more silent than even a mole's burrowing.
With this, Hyeok So-jin had slipped past Bu Eun-seol's senses and infiltrated the garden.
'You'd never imagine this, would you?'
At first, he had assumed the gap between them was merely a matter of combat experience—that their martial prowess wasn't so different.
But after crossing blades, he realized the truth.
Bu Eun-seol's skill far surpassed his expectations.
And the chasm between them was now too vast to bridge in mere days.
—"Use any method you wish. Poison, hidden weapons, ambushes—I don't care."
Those were the words Bu Eun-seol had thrown at him.
And so, Hyeok So-jin was doing exactly that—employing every dirty trick to bring him down.
Flick.
Carefully extending a single arm aboveground, he began placing shimmering objects around the garden with meticulous precision.
Then, he subtly adjusted the positions of every stone, every tree—every element within the garden's boundaries.
He was setting up the Four Calamities Ghost-Form Formation, a secret technique passed down from the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary's hidden vault.
'With this formation, I can block even the senses of the Way of the Beast.'
The Heaven-Transcending Art of Langya Pavilion—Way of the Beast—sharpened human senses to their absolute limit, granting reflexes as swift as lightning.
Hyeok So-jin had deduced that Bu Eun-seol had been using this very art to read his movements and evade his attacks effortlessly.
'Not only that, but the Four Calamity Demon Formation will completely conceal my presence and form.'
With only his head slightly above ground, Hyeok So-jin smirked as he surveyed the garden.
Ssshh—
Burying himself back into the earth, he continued setting up the formation in absolute silence.
But because he had to suppress every trace of his presence to avoid detection, the process took far longer than expected.
'Hah...'
By the time he finished, dawn was already breaking.
After one last scan of his surroundings, Hyeok So-jin fully submerged himself again, erasing all traces of his existence.
Creeak—
Not long after, the garden gate opened, and Bu Eun-seol stepped out leisurely.
Having completed his Inner Training, he was heading to the tavern's main hall for breakfast.
Though he could have had meals prepared in the garden by attendants, Bu Eun-seol always preferred the main hall—where rumors and information flowed freely.
'Here he comes.'
As Bu Eun-seol walked into the garden, Hyeok So-jin slowly emerged from the earth.
Thud. Thud.
Even as Hyeok So-jin stood directly in his path at the end of the walkway, Bu Eun-seol continued forward without pause.
'It's working!'
Hyeok So-jin nearly laughed in triumph.
The moment Bu Eun-seol had entered the garden, the Four Calamities Ghost-Form Formation had already activated.
Even though Hyeok So-jin stood directly in front of him, Bu Eun-seol showed no sign of recognition as he continued walking forward with utter indifference.
'I must proceed carefully.'
In the past, he would have unleashed a decisive strike without hesitation.
But remembering Bu Eun-seol's advice, he maintained caution and composure with every move.
'Huuup.'
Drawing upon his Internal Power, Hyeok So-jin launched a ferocious strike toward the approaching Bu Eun-seol.
Whoosh!
In that instant, violet flames surged straight for Bu Eun-seol's face. He had unleashed the supreme fist technique of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying—the Great Bright Jade Fist.
The jagged, needle-like fist energy, sharp as a hedgehog's spines, shot toward Bu Eun-seol's face—
Tsk.
Yet with a single light step to the left, Bu Eun-seol effortlessly evaded it.
'What—?'
Hyeok So-jin's heart nearly leapt out of his chest in shock.
Had he already deciphered the Battle Formation and seen through his attack in that brief moment?
Step. Step.
But something was strange.
Bu Eun-seol's gaze wasn't fixed on him—it remained locked on the gate leading out of the guest inn.
Despite being dulled by the Four Calamities Ghost-Form Formation, unable to even sense Hyeok So-jin's presence, he had dodged every attack flawlessly.
'Unbelievable!'
Clenching his fists, Hyeok So-jin unleashed the Demon Lord Blood Hand, sweeping toward Bu Eun-seol's upper body.
In reality, the technique was so fierce it should have produced sharp Sounds of Breaking Air, but the formation muffled all noise.
Swish.
Yet at that moment, Bu Eun-seol—hands clasped behind his back—began moving like a ghost once more.
Tsk tsk tsk tsk.
Despite being unable to see or hear, he effortlessly evaded every single strike of the Demon Lord Blood Hand.
'How can he dodge attacks within the Four Calamities Ghost-Form Formation?'
Bu Eun-seol's Beast Path had transcended the Void-Breaking Mind's Eye, reaching the realm of Empty Mind Spirit Communion.
Not only could he control Killing Intent, but he had also mastered the pinnacle of the Fluorescent Sword Control—the Wind and Cloud Creation Formula, enabling him to perceive it.
Even if the Illusion Demon Hyeok Gong-baek himself laid down a Bewildering Formation, it wouldn't be enough to fully deceive his senses.
'Is this man not human, but a ghost?'
Unaware of this truth, Hyeok So-jin felt not just shock—but outright grotesqueness.
"Disappointing."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol halted his steps, shaking his head as he muttered to himself.
"I told you not to hold back in means or method... and yet, you resort to a mere Battle Formation?"
Sighing, he tilted his head, gazing at the empty air.
"It's like preparing a lavish feast only for the guest to drink plain water."
'What kind of nonsense is that?'
Hyeok So-jin blinked, still hidden within the formation as he stared at Bu Eun-seol.
'What does he mean by a lavish feast—?'
Pondering deeply, Hyeok So-jin's pupils suddenly flashed with realization.
And in an instant, he raised his Internal Power to its peak.
Crunch.
As he unleashed his full century's worth of Internal Energy, the Silver Reflection Stones embedded beneath his feet shattered.
The peaceful scenery around them peeled away like paper, revealing Hyeok So-jin standing plainly before Bu Eun-seol.
"My apologies."
With a slightly embarrassed expression, Hyeok So-jin clasped his hands together, his eyes gleaming fiercely.
"Let me try again—properly this time."
He had finally understood.
Do not hold back in means or method—inflict harm.
Those words meant: I won't kill you, so come at me with everything you have.
"This time, I'm serious!"
Shing!
Drawing the Treasured Sword from his waist, Hyeok So-jin's eyes burned with intense Killing Intent.
'I will kill him!'
Never before had he resolved to kill someone. Never before had he even summoned Killing Intent.
But now, he was pouring every ounce of his strength into severing Bu Eun-seol's breath.
Because he knew—if he didn't give it his all, he wouldn't even graze a single hair on Bu Eun-seol's head.
Kwa-rur-rung!
Simultaneously, the demonic arts of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying surged endlessly from his hands.
From his sword, the lethal strikes of the Ten Thousand Thunder Blood Sword rained down like hail, while his left hand fired the Dark Blood Blazing Flame Palm like a vicious arrow.
As Bu Eun-seol evaded, the sword carved a crescent in the air—
And this time, the Dragon-Slaying Demon Sword Form, wreathed in Divine-Rending Demonic Qi, and the Soul-Severing Extinguishing Hand cascaded forth like a tidal wave.
A genius.
Those blessed with extraordinary talent reach astonishing heights in the briefest of moments.
From that perspective, Hyeok So-jin was undoubtedly a genius.
The moment he realized no martial art he knew could overcome Bu Eun-seol, he poured forth every demonic technique he had ever learned from Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying—fusing them into a single, overwhelming assault.