Chapter 177
Bu Eun-seol nodded his head with a serene expression.
"Don't worry. My proposal will certainly be to your liking."
"Are you insane?"
When Bu Eun-seol responded in a stiff tone, flames seemed to erupt from Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes.
"Or have you suddenly gone blind, forgetting before whom you wag your tongue?"
"I am proposing negotiations with the Pavilion Master."
Bu Eun-seol answered composedly.
"Though I understand negotiations are only possible between equals."
"How absurd. Are you claiming to stand on equal footing with this Pavilion Master?"
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol spoke confidently.
"If you wish for an agreement enforced under unfavorable terms, just say the word. I'll immediately address you with the highest honorifics."
"Hohoho."
A peculiar light flashed in Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes.
She had discerned that Bu Eun-seol not only possessed a unique personality but was utterly fearless.
"You've put considerable thought into this. Seeking to make a deep impression while simultaneously provoking this Pavilion Master into negotiations, were you?"
Having negotiated with countless powerful figures, Geuk Hye-ryeong instantly grasped Bu Eun-seol's underlying intent.
"Very well. I shall temporarily acknowledge it. That you possess the qualifications to negotiate with this Pavilion Master as an equal."
As Geuk Hye-ryeong chuckled lowly, a chilling radiance bloomed vigorously in her eyes.
"But should that proposal fail to please me... you'll need to worry about how to escape from this Pavilion Master's grasp."
"No need for concern."
"Then speak. Present the best offer you can make."
Bu Eun-seol stared directly into Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes and spoke impassively.
"I shall grant the Fleeting Moment Boat the power to stand alone."
Geuk Hye-ryeong, who had been listening quietly, snorted as if this was beyond ridiculous.
"So you're just a youth not worth negotiating with after all."
"Otherwise, why would you have filled everything from the entrance to these interiors with mechanical traps?"
"What did you say?"
"Just moments ago, the Pavilion Master herself emphasized the importance of maintaining connections with powerful figures."
"Nonsensical talk."
Geuk Hye-ryeong spoke coldly.
"This pavilion has constantly faced invasions from external forces, hence those necessary safety measures."
"Far from it."
Bu Eun-seol met Geuk Hye-ryeong's widened eyes head-on.
"Isn't the Fleeting Moment Boat in a situation where without maintaining friendships with powerful figures, you cannot repel the bandits who come attacking?"
KWA-RU-RRUNG!
In that instant, a massive storm of True Qi erupted through the pavilion roof behind Geuk Hye-ryeong, shooting into the sky.
"Say that again."
With even her hair rising skyward, Geuk Hye-ryeong's appearance had transformed into something resembling a witch dominating the darkness.
"What was it you just said?"
Despite her terrifying visage, Bu Eun-seol folded his arms and repeated his words.
"I said you're in a situation where without borrowing power from strong allies, you cannot repel bandits."
KWA-A-AH!
In that moment, a blinding white storm of True Qi poured forth—
FWASH!
—only to stop abruptly a mere inch from Bu Eun-seol's forehead, flashing with a sharp light.
Yet Bu Eun-seol remained perfectly upright, his gaze fixed solely on Geuk Hye-ryeong.
"..."
After staring into Bu Eun-seol's cold, unflinching eyes, Geuk Hye-ryeong suddenly flicked her sleeve.
"I'll credit you for that audacity."
SWOOSH.
Instantly withdrawing the storm of True Qi, she spoke in a gloomy voice:
"Then how exactly do you propose to grant this pavilion such power?"
"The Fleeting Moment Boat may be considered the great sect of Feminine Secret Arts, yet I understand it lacks any truly exclusive martial techniques."
"So?"
"I shall provide them. The power for the Fleeting Moment Boat to repel external forces on its own, without needing to curry favor with powerful figures."
For a moment, a leaden silence filled the pavilion.
After deeply contemplating Bu Eun-seol's words, Geuk Hye-ryeong sighed and shook her head.
"No matter how I consider it, you're speaking utter fantasy."
Then, moving her parched lips, she produced a voice dripping with scorn:
"Grant us power to repel external forces with our own strength? Are masters from Langya Pavilion coming to instruct this pavilion's disciples?"
"Such a thing would be impossible."
"Then by what means do you propose to grant this pavilion power?"
At this, Bu Eun-seol pointed to himself.
"Support me as the Heir of the Demon Hall."
"What?"
"If I become the Heir, I will open the Ten Thousand Demonic Secret Archive for you."
"Hahaha!"
Madness flashed in Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes.
"Now I see—you're truly a lunatic. You expect this Pavilion Master to believe such promises?"
"First, I shall immediately provide the demonic arts of Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying."
"Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying?"
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"The Pavilion Master surely knows most secret demonic manuals scattered through the Ten Thousand Demonic Secret Archive originate from Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying."
Then he pointed to Hyeok So-jin standing dumbfounded beside him.
"Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying possesses countless diverse demonic arts. If those are taught to disciples according to their individual affinities, the Fleeting Moment Boat's martial power will rise dramatically in short order."
"What preposterous nonsense. The Phantom Demon would never permit such a thing."
"He will."
Bu Eun-seol pointed at Hyeok So-jin.
"Because the future Sanctuary Master is the one making the request."
Hyeok So-jin looked at Bu Eun-seol with slight surprise.
As he stared into Bu Eun-seol's unwavering gaze, a thought flashed through his mind.
'If I refuse, that demonic old crone might have another fit.'
Since he was accompanying Bu Eun-seol, Hyeok So-jin was effectively already entangled in the Successor's struggle.
In this battle of heirs, his status as the successor of Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary was no shield at all.
'Well, hadn't our sect already decided to support Brother Bu anyway? Might as well see it through to the end.'
"That's correct. I will personally guarantee it."
"Hmm, not a bad proposal, but still lacking."
Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes flashed with killing intent.
"Even if I covet the demonic manuals from the Ten Thousand Demonic Secret Archive, there's no need for me to take on unnecessary risks by supporting a candidate from Langya Pavilion."
She shook her head.
"I refuse your offer."
"I said for now."
"What do you mean?"
"There's one more thing I can offer."
"Speak."
Bu Eun-seol continued unhurriedly.
"You summoned me here as an investment in the future, did you not?"
"So?"
"Then I, too, shall invest in Fleeting Moment Boat's future."
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a solemn voice.
"If I become the Successor of the Demon Hall, I will lift the Restrictive Seal—so that Fleeting Moment Boat's successor may also become the Demon Hall's Successor."
Thud.
The proposal was so shocking it felt like a blow to the back of the head. Geuk Hye-ryeong blinked rapidly, as if struck dumb.
Fleeting Moment Boat, an all-female sect for generations, had never even possessed the qualification to contend for the Demon Hall's Successorship.
But if they could obtain powerful demonic manuals—and if they could challenge for the Successor's seat—
Fleeting Moment Boat would stand unrivaled in the Murim, no longer needing to fear external threats.
Bu Eun-seol's offer was one that could resolve the long-held grievances of Fleeting Moment Boat, which had always harbored dissatisfaction with the Demon Hall's ways.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Geuk Hye-ryeong's eerie laughter echoed through Solitary Moon Cavern.
A grating, dissonant sound—as if male and female voices were intertwined—that made one's hair stand on end the longer it was heard.
"Hye-seon!"
At Geuk Hye-ryeong's call, a middle-aged woman stepped forward and bowed.
"You summoned me, Pavilion Master?"
Her voice, as she stared intently at Bu Eun-seol, was uncharacteristically gentle.
"Escort these two to the Heavenly Moon Pavilion."
The bright moon bathed the darkened earth in pure white light.
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin sat facing each other in a high pavilion where the moonlight could be seen in full.
The open surroundings afforded a beautiful view, and at the center of the pavilion, a modest table had been set with fruits, rice cakes, and wine.
Bu Eun-seol sipped his wine quietly, while Hyeok So-jin kept smacking his lips as if dissatisfied.
"Bit unexpected," he muttered in a low voice, scanning the scenery around the pavilion.
"With a name like Heavenly Moon Pavilion, I thought we'd be treated to a grand feast—rare delicacies, beautiful women dancing and singing."
The wine wasn't bad, but the side dishes were precisely the kind that would suit the delicate palates of noblewomen.
"She didn't bring us here just to drink."
"Then why seat us in a place like this?"
"The Pavilion Master hasn't fully accepted my proposal yet."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was low.
"She's likely investigating my past actions and tendencies in detail right now. And she'll be weighing whether my proposal is feasible—and how much it's truly worth."
"How meticulous. Fleeting Moment Boat is."
"No different from Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary."
"Huh?"
Bu Eun-seol downed his wine and spoke.
"Didn't the Sanctuary Master impose two conditions on me as well?"
"But Grandfather didn't nitpick like this, did he?"
"He scrutinized me enough."
Clink.
Setting down his cup, Bu Eun-seol's expression turned grave.
"I spent two months in Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary just to earn the Sanctuary Master's support. And even if I fulfilled every demand, had he judged me unworthy..."
His voice was resolute.
"He would never have honored his promise."
Hyeok So-jin protested.
"My grandfather isn't the type to haggle over every little thing or betray his word!"
"Honor only applies in relationships between people. The leader of a sect must be colder and more calculating than anyone when weighing gains and losses."
Hyeok So-jin could argue no further.
Hyeok Gong-baek was a kind grandfather—but to others, he was nothing more than a terrifying, ruthless Great Demonic Person.
A sect leader. That position demands maintaining a level of ruthlessness so severe it borders on cruelty.
"If that's the case, then Brother Bu, you must be a born leader."
Hyeok So-jin downed another cup of wine and smirked.
"Well, it doesn't matter what the Pavilion Master decides anyway. We still have a final resort."
"What do you mean?"
"Even if the Pavilion Master is over a hundred years old, the successor of the Fleeting Moment Boat must still be young, no?"
Hyeok So-jin spoke with utmost seriousness.
"If Brother Bu were to put on a sorrowful expression and make a request, what woman could possibly refuse—"
At that moment, the sound of rustling footsteps approached the pavilion, followed by two figures.
The first to reveal herself was the Pavilion Master, Geuk Hye-ryeong.
"Pavilion Master."
Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin rose and clasped their hands in respect.
But then, trailing behind her, an extremely small figure stepped into view beside Geuk Hye-ryeong.
She couldn't have been more than ten years old.
With plump, childlike cheeks and large, dark eyes that stood out strikingly, she was an adorable little girl.
"This is my granddaughter, Geuk Hye-bin. She is also the successor who will inherit this pavilion."
'The next successor of the Fleeting Moment Boat is this young of a girl?!'
Hyeok So-jin's face twisted as if he had bitten into a rotten persimmon.
If this was the case, then their last-ditch plan—the honey trap—was as good as sunk.
While Hyeok So-jin was lost in absurd thoughts, Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow, sinking into deep contemplation.
'The next successor of the Fleeting Moment Boat is this young granddaughter... Why hasn't such a rumor spread through the martial world?'
Just then, Geuk Hye-bin bowed her head toward Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin.
But no voice came out.
"..."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been studying her intently, suddenly fixed his gaze on her throat—then his eyes flashed with realization.
"Her larynx is severely injured."
"How did you know that?"
Geuk Hye-ryeong's eyes widened in disbelief.
Geuk Hye-bin's neck was covered by her clothes, making it impossible to see. Yet he had discerned the injury in an instant?
"Where did you hear that Bin was injured? This fact has never been revealed to the martial world."
Bu Eun-seol calmly explained.
"Producing sound is no different from moving the muscles of the vocal organs."
"And?"
"When those muscles contract with the right pressure and intensity, air from the lungs vibrates the vocal cords. That vibration resonates through the oral and esophageal cavities before emerging as voice from the mouth."
He pointed to Geuk Hye-bin's throat.
"But this child moved her muscles diligently, yet no sound came out. That's how I deduced her larynx was injured."
Geuk Hye-ryeong's mouth fell open.
Not only had he scrutinized the movement of muscles hidden beneath clothing, but his knowledge of human anatomy was this profound?
"I heard you were once an undertaker."
Her eyes gleamed with interest, as if she had already investigated Bu Eun-seol thoroughly.
"Or were you actually from the Forest of Medicine?"
"I was indeed an undertaker."
"Unbelievable. That those who merely dress corpses would be as well-versed in anatomy as the Forest of Medicine."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned bitter.
"That's because I specialized in preparing those who died far from home or had no kin."
"What do you mean?"
"Most of those who died away from home or without relatives were martial artists. And very few of them had intact bodies—many had been torn apart by scavengers."
His gaze darkened, as if recalling those times.
"If I wasn't thoroughly familiar with anatomy, I couldn't restore them to their original appearance. That's how I came to know it so well."
"I see."
Geuk Hye-ryeong nodded lightly, exhaling deeply.
Not only was it astonishing that a long-time undertaker had become the Ten Demonic Heir, but he had also cultivated such terrifying internal energy.
'A mysterious man indeed.'
Shaking her head slightly, she steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Do you know why I summoned you here?"
"I have an idea."
"And what might that be?"
Uncharacteristically, Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile and pointed at Hyeok So-jin.
"Because we visited Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary first."
"Hohoho, so traveling with him was the result of solving the problem they gave you?"
"Correct."
As the conversation continued, the creases in Geuk Hye-ryeong's brow gradually smoothed.
Strangely, she didn't find Bu Eun-seol's blunt speech as displeasing as she had expected.
Moreover, his low, subdued voice carried an inexplicable magnetism.
"Let me be direct."
Geuk Hye-ryeong looked at Bu Eun-seol and spoke.
"I hold your abilities in high regard. And I also believe you are a man who keeps his promises."
"I'm grateful."
"But the world rarely goes as one wishes. That's why this Pavilion Master has a proposal for you."
"Name it."
"Hye-bin has deeply mastered the secret arts of this pavilion, but she has yet to learn a single killing technique."
Geuk Hye-ryeong's voice grew heavy as she gazed at Geuk Hye-bin's innocent face.
"Teach this child one brutal, venomous Demonic Killing Art. One so ruthless she could be called a Witch."