Chapter 20
Whiriririk.
Hesitation could be felt in the eyes of the boys swinging their White Horse Whips.
Judging by the sound of footsteps, the group approaching this way numbered at least ten or more.
If they foolishly continued fighting Bu Eun-seol here, they themselves could become prey for that group.
Fwoosh. Tak.
The light sound of breaking air and the sound of feet striking the ground drew closer.
"You're lucky!"
The White Horse Monastery boys, who had been weighing their options, hastily broke their formation.
"Let's go!"
With a short shout, the boys gripping their White Horse Whips vanished into the forest, unleashing their Lightness Art like a fierce gale.
Swish.
Bu Eun-seol, having retrieved the iron sword that had fallen to the ground, calmly gazed at the place where the White Horse Monastery boys had disappeared.
"They haven't properly mastered the White Horse Whip."
Trapped within the Blue Scale Golden Snake Formation, Bu Eun-seol had deliberately refrained from counterattacking and had only evaded their offensive.
He had been observing the White Horse Monastery's peerless martial skill in detail, identifying its weaknesses.
"Perhaps I should have just killed them."
When struck by the White Horse Whip, not only flesh but even muscle bursts apart.
Even a few hits would render one unable to move, but Bu Eun-seol, who had mastered the Way of the Beast, had predicted every martial form and avoided fatal wounds.
"No, an opportunity will arise again soon."
Bu Eun-seol could be certain of it.
That those who had judged him an easy opponent would surely pursue him.
For avoiding the strong and hunting the weak is how one survives in a slaughter.
Rustle.
At that moment, the sound of Lightness Art that had been reaching his ears drew close, right to the tip of his nose.
'There's no need to push myself.'
Because he had endured within the Blue Scale Golden Snake Formation without counterattacking at all, his stamina had dropped considerably.
With so many still remaining, there was no reason to deliberately engage in a bloody battle against a large group.
Whoosh.
As Bu Eun-seol flung his body into the darkness-stained bushes,
Tap. Fwoosh.
In that interval, a group of ten or more swiftly executed their Lightness Art, passing by the bushes where Bu Eun-seol had been.
"..."
Once the group had departed, Bu Eun-seol, rising to his feet again, suddenly felt a fierce hunger.
It was already the third day since the Third Trial had begun.
All he had eaten during that time was clear water. Since the Third Trial would not end within a day or two, he absolutely had to eat.
'I must go to that place.'
Having recalled a location in his mind, Bu Eun-seol moved his feet at a rapid pace.
Kung kung.
Even in the midst of this, Bu Eun-seol would occasionally stop running to strike a stone, or press his ear to the ground.
If he ran recklessly to avoid the Killing Ghosts, he might be ambushed. That was why he expanded the sensory range of the Way of the Beast to survey his surroundings.
Hwiiiing.
A cool wind brushed past his ears.
The place Bu Eun-seol arrived at after emerging from the forest was none other than the Fire Rain Sword Sect's martial hall.
Kkiii.
When he opened the door, a large martial hall divided into three sections, a training ground, and training rooms came into view.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been examining the empty martial hall, walked into the large main hall without hesitation.
Passing the place where the signboard hung, a long corridor came into view. Going deeper inside, rows of densely arranged rooms stretched out.
This was the individual training room where trainees who had entered the Fire Rain Sword Sect could hone their martial arts alone.
Clank.
Bu Eun-seol forcefully opened the iron door of the training room installed in the most secluded corner.
Then, after pushing aside the place where a table stood, he pried up one of the wooden floorboards.
Dried meats were packed full beneath it.
Swish.
Bu Eun-seol, having taken out a piece of dried meat, began to chew it slowly.
He had surveyed the terrain throughout Hell Island and occasionally hunted small animals to make jerky.
"Chomp chomp."
The dried meat was unseasoned, but it was sufficient to fill his hunger.
Bu Eun-seol chewed the meat slowly with a reverent posture, as if a high monk were reciting scriptures.
After eating his fill of dried meat, he leaned against the training room wall and closed his eyes.
How much time had passed?
"Haa."
Bu Eun-seol, feeling his mind clear and vitality surge anew through his stiffened body, slowly opened his eyes.
Although he had lost a great deal of blood, it was ultimately only a flesh wound. With a brief rest, Bu Eun-seol had completely recovered his stamina.
'I wonder if the sun has risen by now.'
Slowly rising to his feet, he tucked a few pieces of the dried meat that had been laid on the wooden floor into his chest.
And then he walked out of the training room again.
When he raised his head, the distant sky was beginning to brighten clearly.
Though the radiance that bestows life was pouring down upon the earth, only a murderous air lingered over this Hell Island.
"The end of this slaughter... is still far off."
There was not even a guarantee that the Ten Demonic Heirs would necessarily number ten.
In fact, Chief Instructor Hyeokryeon Eung had not even said, "Kill until a certain number remain."
He might have meant kill until one remains, or until five remain.
Thud.
At that moment, a vibration kicking off the earth brushed past Bu Eun-seol's ears.
The number was four. Judging by the fact that they were running at a fixed distance from one another, they were clearly a group belonging to the same faction.
"It's those bastards."
Bu Eun-seol slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
From the sound of their footsteps alone, he had guessed that the ones employing lightness skill were the White Horse Monastery's gang.
Swish.
Unconsciously, he stroked the hilt of the black sword strapped to his back.
This black sword was not only extremely light, but it had also been doing its full duty as a backup weapon.
And now, Bu Eun-seol was about to acquire one more weapon.
The peak of Stone Mountain, which overlooked Hell Island at a single glance.
There, a muscular old man with a grave expression and a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar stood side by side.
They were Chief Instructor Hyeokryeon Eung and the head of Myriad Talents Hall, Baek Jeon-cheon.
"What is the situation?"
At Hyeokryeon Eung's question, Baek Jeon-cheon unfolded a parchment on which the terrain of Hell Island was drawn and spoke respectfully.
"Of the eighty-six trainees, forty-one are currently alive."
"Forty-one, even after three days have passed..."
"Given that so many prodigies have gathered, it seems they anticipated this situation. Those engaging in fierce fights are rare; most are moving in groups or establishing bases."
Hyeokryeon Eung nodded with a leisurely expression.
"I see."
"In truth, I simply cannot understand..."
Baek Jeon-cheon's gaze as he looked down upon Hell Island deepened.
"If the area had been restricted to the vicinity of this Stone Mountain from the very beginning, it would have been settled quickly without dragging on."
"You are asking why we do not gather them all at once to fight, but instead drag out the time by gradually expanding the area restriction."
"That is correct."
Turning his gaze, Hyeokryeon Eung looked down at the scenery of Hell Island instead of answering.
At a glance it seemed peaceful, but slaughter was unfolding everywhere, killing and being killed.
Taking a deep breath, the blowing wind seemed to carry the scent of blood.
"If we did that, we would end up with the same outcome as the Second Trial again. Like how a brat who had not even properly learned martial arts survived."
"Bu Eun-seol... Are you speaking of that child?"
"Yes. Thanks to that bastard, I came to realize that with a melee taking place in a narrow area, it is difficult to properly assess true skill."
Letting out a low snort, Hyeokryeon Eung narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"It is a conclusion reached after a long conference with the elders and the high command of the Demonic Path Ten Gates."
Recalling that time, Hyeokryeon Eung spoke coldly with a displeased expression.
"Rather than blindly thinning them out, even if it takes a little more time, let them demonstrate all their abilities—martial arts, wisdom, leadership, adaptability, quick thinking, and so on."
"So that is what happened."
Baek Jeon-cheon nodded.
Even though he was the head of Myriad Talents Hall, he had not dared to attend the meetings concerning the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament.
Only the Demon Hall Lord, the elders, the high command of the Ten Demonic Heirs, and finally the Chief Instructor Hyeokryeon Eung could attend that place.
"Now it seems only the proper children remain, so it is time to tell them to gradually reveal their skills."
Hyeokryeon Eung pointed to one spot on the parchment that Baek Jeon-cheon held in his hand.
"First, restrict this place as well so that it cannot be traversed."
The place Hyeokryeon Eung pointed to was the vicinity where the Fire Rain Sword Sect's martial hall had been erected.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes, having returned to the Fire Rain Sword Sect, gleamed with unusual brilliance.
He had not learned concealment art or movement technique, but because he had mastered the Way of the Beast, he was skilled at hiding his presence.
His figure, silently creeping toward the training room without making a sound, was like a wild beast that had caught sight of its prey.
'They found the traces I left behind quite well.'
Bu Eun-seol had left a trail of fallen blood droplets to make it easier for the White Horse Monastery boys to pursue him.
Sure enough, they had followed the traces he left behind all the way to the Fire Rain Sword Sect.
"That bastard, looks like he went this way."
Following the bloodstains scattered here and there, the boys finally entered the passageway where the training room was located.
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol slowly revealed himself from behind them.
There was only one exit leading out of the training room.
Since he had blocked the passage leading outside, the four boys were now trapped like rats in a jar.
"You crazy bastard."
But the boys instead sneered as they looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"Did you think you'd win just by luring us into a narrow passage?"
Whiririk.
Summoning White Horse Whips about 30 feet long, they wore confident smiles.
"Today, you die!"
There was no need for further conversation now. All that remained was a contest of blood and flesh.
"Take this!"
With a thunderous shout, the four boys surrounded Bu Eun-seol and swung their White Horse Whips.
Hwik!
The four strands of White Horse Whips stretched and contracted repeatedly every time they cut through the air.
What made the White Horse Monastery's whip techniques fearsome was that the length could be extended freely, and at times, unpredictable, fluid forms would pour forth that even the wielder could not foresee.
Ping! Pang!
The White Horse Whips, moving like living snakes, writhed freely through the air, aiming for Bu Eun-seol's vital points.
"What?"
But Bu Eun-seol did not move from his spot.
No—even though he appeared not to move, he was perfectly evading every single form.
The Beast Path.
The profound functions of this mysterious art were being displayed without reservation.
Shing!
Bu Eun-seol's sword, narrowly avoiding the White Horse Whips by a paper-thin margin, was finally drawn.
"Aaack!"
With a gruesome scream, a fountain of blood erupted from the neck of one of the boys swinging his White Horse Whip.
"What kind of sword technique is this?"
What Bu Eun-seol had unleashed was the second form of the Fire Rain Thunder-Splitting Sword, Rising to Heaven and Entering Earth.
But when executed combined with the Beast Path and killing intent, it transformed into a sharp, cruel quick sword form.
Flash!
With a brilliant flash, Bu Eun-seol's iron sword created another bloom of blood.
"Ghk!"
Once again, a scream burst forth without fail.
He had stabbed the elbow joint of the boy who had been moving in sync with the White Horse Whip's speed.
That was the only joint the White Horse Whip could not cover.
Whoosh!
Following the quick sword, the Linked Ring Sword Form continued, and the black sword that had stabbed the elbow now sliced through the boy's carotid artery.
Pushyut!
As another fountain of blood erupted,
"You wretch!"
The two enraged boys shortened their White Horse Whips further and pressed in on Bu Eun-seol.
But without being able to use the Blue Scale Golden Snake Formation, the might of their White Horse Whips had diminished greatly compared to before.
Their individual skills were simply not that good.
"Urgh!"
Another scream rang out, and one of the boys swinging his White Horse Whip collapsed.
No matter how frantically they swung their White Horse Whips, they could not hit Bu Eun-seol, who predicted every direction and path of their forms.
—This bastard lured us here on purpose!
Only then did the boys realize.
That it was not they who had cornered Bu Eun-seol here, but Bu Eun-seol who had lured them here.
That he had merely been observing their techniques while hiding his true skill.
"Move aside!"
They swung their White Horse Whips like madmen, but they could not so much as graze a single hair of Bu Eun-seol, who was blocking the exit.
Hiss!
At that moment, with a strange sound, something rapidly burrowed into Bu Eun-seol's side.
Whiririk.
Bu Eun-seol quickly spun his body into the air.
What grazed past his shoulder was a White Horse Whip dyed white.
Hiss!
In that instant, the White Horse Whip that had been grazing past his body suddenly changed direction and struck Bu Eun-seol's back.
Ting!
He blocked the White Horse Whip with the iron sword he had drawn while spinning, but because he was suspended in midair, his body was sent flying all the way to the end of the passage.
"Now's our chance!"
In that gap, the two boys who had been trapped in the passage, unable to go forward or back, quickly dashed toward the exit.
"Hm."
At that moment, a large shadow suddenly leaped out and blocked their path.
"What do you two think you're doing?"
The shadow was a boy of massive build, with White Horse Whips wrapped around his waist and arms.