Chapter 196
Wi Cheon-gyeong couldn't hide his astonishment.
'Only masters who've broken through to the Extreme Heaven Realm can gauge someone's martial prowess or internal power just by glancing at them.'
In truth, he was gravely mistaken.
Having worked as an undertaker for years, Bu Eun-seol could discern a person's physique and muscle structure as if seeing through their clothes—memorizing them as clearly as one would a face.
He had already deduced that the Second Squad members, including Wi Cheon-gyeong, possessed exceptionally developed thigh muscles.
'That particular muscle formation allows not only explosive bursts of maximum strength but also outstanding muscular endurance.'
Bu Eun-seol, who had been studying the muscles of the Second Squad members, turned his head.
There stood Hyeok So-jin, Jo Nam-cheon, and the unit members who hadn't yet been assigned to a squad.
"As for the Third Squad's leader..."
In that instant, Hyeok So-jin smirked as he glanced at Jo Nam-cheon.
Since he was known as Bu Eun-seol's subordinate, he naturally assumed he would be appointed leader of the Third Squad.
"Jo Nam-cheon, you'll take charge."
Hyeok So-jin's face immediately twisted in displeasure.
"B-Brother Bu? Then what about me...?"
"Heh heh heh, as expected, you have an eye for talent."
Jo Nam-cheon grinned at Hyeok So-jin.
But his smile vanished completely at Bu Eun-seol's next words.
"And So-jin, you'll be the deputy unit leader. From now on, you'll assume full command in my absence."
Jo Nam-cheon's face crumpled mercilessly.
"Pfft heh heh heh."
Hyeok So-jin, his eyes curved into crescents, leaned in close to Jo Nam-cheon and declared with solemn gravity,
"From now on, I'll be calling you Hasty Fuss."
Then, as if nothing had happened, he beamed with sparkling eyes—his expression the very picture of smugness.
"Quit your nonsense and move aside."
Just as Jo Nam-cheon, trembling with rage, was about to explode with veins bulging on his forehead—
"By the way."
Wi Cheon-gyeong, who had remained silent until now, fixed his bangs-covered eyes on Bu Eun-seol and spoke up.
"Why do you call Squad Leader Jo—no, Third Squad Leader—by his proper name?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why am I 'Bangs,' but he's 'Jo Nam-cheon'?"
The moment Wi Cheon-gyeong challenged him in a rebellious tone, the surrounding unit members all wore expressions of shock.
He was known for being taciturn and rarely speaking at all.
"When we spoke, he alone gave his name and greeted me."
Bu Eun-seol swept his icy gaze over Wi Cheon-gyeong and the others.
"Aside from refusing the squad leader position, what exactly have you done?"
Wi Cheon-gyeong, momentarily at a loss for words, lowered his head and fell silent.
Then, oblivious to the tension, Won Se-mun stepped forward.
"My name is Won Se-mun."
"Too late, Twin Swords."
The moment Bu Eun-seol cut him off, Won Se-mun's face flushed red and then paled.
But perhaps out of respect for his position as squad leader, he bit his lip and didn't press further.
"But why are you reorganizing the squads now?"
At Jo Nam-cheon's question, Bu Eun-seol answered.
"Unless we're engaging in a full-scale war, there's no reason for all thirty of us to mobilize at once. From now on, each squad will take on separate tasks."
"But are you sure this is alright?"
Suddenly, Han So-ung, standing behind Won Se-mun, rapped his Copper Plate Armor and spoke up.
"Going to Shaanxi in this state, I mean."
"What do you mean?"
When Bu Eun-seol questioned him, Han So-ung smirked and flashed a challenging grin.
"It's already a mission with next to no chance of success, isn't it?"
Then he gestured toward the unit members, who were either grinding their teeth or glaring at Bu Eun-seol as if they wanted to kill him.
"There's no need to go out of your way to handle things like this and earn the unit's resentment on top of it."
Truthfully, aside from Jo Nam-cheon, Won Se-mun, and Wi Cheon-gyeong, most of the unit members were openly wearing expressions of discontent.
The reason these troublemakers had survived in the Demon Hall despite their antics was simple—
Most possessed Peak Realm skills, capable of handling missions alone.
These were Rootless Squad members whose pride had soared to the skies, men even the Demon Hall hesitated to discipline lightly...
And yet, despite being appointed unit leader by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's decree, Bu Eun-seol was treating them like neighborhood mutts?
The majority still couldn't accept his attitude.
"It doesn't matter."
But Bu Eun-seol only smiled coldly in return.
"Because unity isn't what this fight demands."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Even if we had ten times the number of Rootless Squad members, we couldn't defeat the Demon Rebel Gate in a head-on confrontation."
Han So-ung's mouth fell open.
Could it be that Bu Eun-seol had already given up, heading to Shaanxi with a reckless "whatever happens, happens" mindset?
"Then why bother leading the unit to Shaanxi at all? If it's a fight we're bound to lose anyway?"
Then Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky and smiled faintly.
"Do as I command."
At that moment, all the members of the Rootless Squad wore puzzled expressions.
—Just who is this man?
Until now, every superior they'd had either tried to dominate them with martial prowess or issued orders while flaunting their authority.
But Bu Eun-seol, despite his exceptional martial skills, did not rely on force, nor did he assert his high status.
He had an indifferent, cynical personality and keen observational skills. And beneath it all, a strange charm that subtly bent people's wills.
There was even something inexplicable about him—something that stirred curiosity within them.
Curiosity.
The relationship between people begins with curiosity.
Because the desire to know the unknown is an instinct shared by all humans.
'For now, this much is enough.'
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly as he observed the doubtful gazes of the unit members.
'They'll follow my orders to some extent. If only out of curiosity—about what kind of person I am, and what consequences my commands will bring.'
"Let's move."
As Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin turned, the Rootless Squad members, as if entranced, blinked rapidly before hastily following behind them.
Falling Goose Pavilion.
The most famous tavern in Xi'an Prefecture.
Not only was the surrounding scenery beautiful, but it was also renowned for selling cheap baijiu brewed by the master artisan of the West Peak Wine House, famous for its fine liquor.
Bustling noise.
The three-story pavilion was packed not only with sightseers but also with notable figures who had come to enjoy a drink.
"..."
At a table by the upper-floor window, five martial artists sat with stiff expressions, silently drinking.
All wore plain blue martial uniforms, and at their waists hung swords adorned with two tassels bearing plum blossom patterns.
They were none other than the second-generation disciples of the Mount Hua Sect.
Gnashing teeth.
The martial artists, without exception, clenched their jaws as they glared toward the banquet hall deeper inside the third floor.
From there, absurd nonsense was pouring out.
"You know what? I heard Baek Mun-ryong, the third of the Ten Swords of Mount Hua, used to be a stable cleaner at my family's estate."
"Pfft. That's nothing. Elder Gu Dae-won of the Mount Hua Sect? He used to collect debts under my father, who ran a moneylending business."
As the voices from the banquet hall grew louder, the Mount Hua disciples clenched their fists.
Just what kind of lunatics with gall like that are in there...?
To spout such nonsense—not just anywhere, but in Xi'an Prefecture, which could practically be called the Mount Hua Sect's territory?
"Let it go. They say even the king gets cursed behind his back."
Bang Wook, the eldest among the seated second-generation disciples, spoke quietly.
"For disciples of the great Mount Hua Sect to lose their temper over the drunken ramblings of fools... That would be the most laughable thing of all."
At his words, his junior martial brother Gok Sang-cheon forced a laugh and agreed.
"Senior Brother is right. There's no need to react to the nonsense of madmen like—"
But his words never reached their end.
Because another utterly unbearable remark flowed out from the banquet hall.
"Oh, that's nothing. You know what? The current sect leader of Mount Hua, Pung Won-san—he served as a servant in our household for generations..."
The moment the sect leader's name was dragged into this, the Mount Hua disciples could no longer contain their fury and shot to their feet.
"What kind of lunatic dares spout such nonsense in broad daylight?!"
Bang Wook, enraged, strode toward the banquet hall and shouted.
"The one who just uttered the sect leader's name—come out this instant!"
Then, the banquet hall's door swung open, and a man with flushed red cheeks staggered out, reeking of alcohol.
"Who'sh callin'?"
"We are disciples of the Mount Hua Sect!"
"Disciples of Mount Hua...?"
At Bang Wook's shout, the man blinked dazedly before suddenly clapping his hands.
"Then we're all one big family, aren't we?!"
"One big family? What nonsense are you spewing now?"
The man grinned, browning teeth on full display.
"If you're disciples of Pung Won-san, who used to be our family's servant, then you're all just more servants—"
His words were cut short.
Bang Wook, unable to endure it any longer, threw a punch straight at the man's face.
"Hmph."
But the man dodged the fist effortlessly, letting out a mocking snort.
"Pathetic punch—just what I'd expect from a bunch of servant disciples."
As the man sneered while picking at his nose, Bang Wook's eyes blazed like torches.
"Death is the only fate for those who insult our sect!"
Shing!
Bang Wook drew his sword, and the second-generation disciples behind him unsheathed theirs in unison.
But the man only smirked before sticking his head into the banquet hall and calling out,
"Hey, these servant-house disciples say they'll kill us and have drawn their swords!"
At that, armed men began filing out of the banquet hall one by one.
Nine in total.
And every single one of them had sharp, gleaming eyes and a stance exuding stability.
Only then did Bang Wook realize that the group before him weren't mere drunken troublemakers—they were martial masters of the Murim.
"Who are you people?"
"Our answer is this."
Crash! Thud!
The inside of the guest inn descended into chaos.
Bang Wook and the five other Mount Hua Sect disciples raised their swords and stood their ground.
What should have been a fierce battle ended far more anticlimactically than expected.
"Ugh—"
It hadn't even been a quarter of an hour.
Bang Wook and his fellow disciples lay battered and sprawled across the floor in a pitiful state.
"You dare lay hands on our sect... Do you truly believe you'll leave Shaanxi unharmed?"
The man only grinned at Bang Wook's rage-filled words and shook his head.
"We're not leaving."
"What?"
"What fault could fledglings like you possibly have? The blame lies entirely with that servant who failed to teach his disciples properly."
Chuckling, the man knelt beside the fallen Bang Wook and forcibly yanked the sword from Bang Wook's waist.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Make sure to deliver this to your servant. We'll be touring Shaanxi for the next four days—if you want this sword back, tell him to come retrieve it himself."
"Servant?!"
"I mean Pung Won-san."
Whoosh—
A blue flame, sharp as a blade, erupted in Bang Wook's eyes.
This man was still referring to the Mount Hua Sect Leader as a servant, mocking him to his face.
"Fine. We'll be sure to pay you a visit."
Bang Wook swallowed the rage and killing intent boiling in his throat before growling,
"And if you've got any pride as men, don't you dare flee Shaanxi!"
"Hohoho. What an amusing worry."
The man—Won Se-mun—sheathed the stolen sword at his waist and grinned.
"This old man keeps his promises. So when you come, make sure to bring that servant with you."
Zhongnan Sect, Jade Purity Pavilion
This small Daoist hall stood about ten li from the Zhongnan Sect's main mountain.
Originally, the Jade Purity Pavilion had been a place for wall-gazing meditation and deep spiritual cultivation. But now, it served as the residence of Jin Ga-ryeong, the grand-uncle of the Zhongnan Sect Leader.
Having long since retired, he had freed himself from the sect's trivial affairs and lived here in seclusion, enjoying an immortal-like existence.
"Shall I study the Lishan Go Manual today—the records of the immortals' games?"
For the centenarian, the sole joy in life was the game of Go.
He had even built a dedicated Go room within the pavilion where he played.
Murmur... murmur...
But then, from the direction of the Zhongnan Sect's main mountain, the clamor of countless voices reached his ears.
Faint shouts and curses mixed together—clearly not the voices of Zhongnan disciples.
"Where has everyone gone?"
Nearly all the disciples who should have been around the pavilion were absent, leaving only So-dong, a young errand boy, shuffling about the courtyard.
Puzzled, Jin Ga-ryeong called out to the boy sweeping the front yard.
"What's happening?"
"Since noon, ruffians have been appearing one after another, throwing tantrums and demanding to test their martial arts against our first-generation disciples."
"What? Martial arts?"
Jin Ga-ryeong frowned.
Occasionally, there were young martial artists who roamed sect to sect, seeking duels to make a name for themselves.
But those challengers usually sought out reclusive masters or sects that dominated a region.
No sane person would demand a duel from one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang—a major orthodox faction.
"So the disciples from the main hall have gone to deal with it?"
"The elders said most of the main mountain's disciples are away on Jianghu business, so..."
"Hmm. I see."
Waving a hand dismissively, Jin Ga-ryeong decided not to dwell on it. He had long since withdrawn from sect affairs, after all.
Returning to his Go room, he carefully opened a nearby cabinet.
Inside lay a Go board carved from five-hundred-year-old ginkgo wood and a set of jade stones.
Though he had long abandoned even his beloved sword from his days roaming the Murim, he cherished this Go set so dearly that he polished it meticulously every single day.
Creak—
His pleased smile froze.
"..."
His mouth fell open like a fish hooked on a line, eyes bulging.
The antique box that should have held his treasured Go board and stones was gone.
In its place was a dark lump emitting a foul stench.
Its shape was unmistakable—
It looked exactly like cow dung.
And it smelled exactly like cow dung.