Chapter 204
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed up at the Singular Light Pavilion.
'This makes no sense.'
The Demon Hall had always encouraged conflict among successor candidates.
Yet now they were gathering everyone together in one place? Surely they didn't intend to hold a martial arts tournament here in the Singular Light Pavilion?
"You've arrived already."
Hyeok So-jin, standing before the pavilion, halted his steps.
He wasn't a successor candidate.
He had merely sensed that something significant was about to unfold and had escorted Bu Eun-seol this far—hoping to offer whatever small support he could.
"Go and return safely, Brother Bu."
Understanding his intent, Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod.
"Understood."
As Bu Eun-seol approached the Singular Light Pavilion, one of the solemnly stationed guards moved ahead and clasped his hands together.
"Please follow me."
The martial artist carefully took the lead, guiding Bu Eun-seol inside.
However, instead of leading him to the grand hall at the pavilion's center, the guard directed him toward the western corridor.
After passing through a modestly arranged garden, a small annex came into view in the distance.
"You may enter here."
Bu Eun-seol nodded and, without hesitation, pushed open the annex's door.
Inside, the space was as plain as earthenware—a simple interior with a wide table and bookshelves neatly lined up.
It seemed to be a meeting place for the heavyweights summoned to the Singular Light Pavilion.
Swish.
The moment he stepped inside, the tranquil air within instantly condensed into something icy.
A teacup emitting faint steam sat on the large table, and four young men were already seated within.
Bu Eun-seol had removed his Demon Hall robe, symbolic of his status as a Great Lord, and was dressed in ordinary clothes.
In contrast, they wore martial uniforms so opulent and luxurious that they stood out even from a distance.
These were the orthodox successors of the Demonic Path Ten Gates—acknowledged by the Demon Hall as legitimate candidates.
Four pairs of piercing eyes.
Bu Eun-seol regarded the four men, their gazes gleaming, with detached calm.
For a moment, tension as violent as a collapsing sky and quaking earth surged through the room.
'They're strong.'
Bu Eun-seol realized something anew.
These men were strong.
As strong as he was, having grown through countless trials.
'So this is what it means to be an orthodox successor of the Demonic Path Ten Gates.'
Each of them had inherited innate talent and received elite training since childhood.
Beyond that, they must have endured bone-grinding hardships to constantly refine their skills.
And considering their long-standing status as officially designated successors...
They held far more advantages than Bu Eun-seol in many ways, not just in martial arts.
Thud. Thud.
Bu Eun-seol moved toward the table.
The atmosphere grew even more hostile.
If anyone so much as twitched a finger, a blood-soaked battle would erupt instantly.
Swish.
With an unperturbed expression, Bu Eun-seol took his seat.
The precarious tension vanished in an instant, and the leaden air returned to peace.
"Finally, you've come."
The one to break the long silence was Do Cheon-rin, seated across from him.
"I had hoped you wouldn't show up."
Do Cheon-rin.
He had never openly displayed his martial prowess.
Yet, from Hell Island onward, he had manipulated people and orchestrated events from the shadows—always with an air of relaxed composure.
Like a mastermind controlling every situation at will.
"It's been a while."
Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile in greeting.
"I received the hospitality sent by the Bloodflame Blade Family quite thoroughly."
"..."
"Though I doubt it was your doing."
"That unruly little sister of mine has thoroughly shamed her elder brother."
Do Cheon-rin sighed as if he had expected those words.
"That girl's actions have long been beyond my control."
From Do Cheon-rin's perspective, the ambush led by Do Chae-ryeong had only tarnished his own reputation.
Perhaps because of that, though he still wore a smile, much of his usual ease had faded.
"Langya Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol."
At that moment, the man seated opposite Do Cheon-rin spoke, fixing his gaze squarely on Bu Eun-seol.
"I've long awaited this meeting. To finally see you like this."
His features were immaculate, and his clear eyes and voice gave him the air of an innocent child.
Yet, seated across from Do Cheon-rin—whose beauty carried a decadent edge—he created a strange contrast.
It was as though the gods had sculpted Do Cheon-rin, then crafted his polar opposite.
"Who are you?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, the man revealed pearly white teeth. With an utterly radiant smile, he clasped his hands together.
"Successor of the Fire Rain Sword Sect, Wi Ji-hye-sang, at your service."
Surprisingly, the successor of the foremost sword sect of the Demonic Path was a delicate-featured youth with an almost ethereal purity.
When his gaze met Bu Eun-seol's, Wi Ji-hye-sang curved his eyes into crescents like a pair of half-moons.
"Sword Demon-nim spoke of you often, Deputy Bu."
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes.
Sword Demon Wi Hyeok-gun.
That man had erupted in fury when Bu Eun-seol refused to join the Fire Rain Sword Sect, unleashing his Formless Qi in retaliation.
Had Deputy Pavilion Master Dan Cheong not intervened, Bu Eun-seol would have suffered irreversible internal injuries.
And now, this man was casually mentioning Wi Hyeok-gun's well-being with a cheerful expression?
"And you are the sole successor of Hall Leader Cheon Un-gwang's secret sword art, the Peerless Thunderbolt."
"Sole?"
"Ah, you weren't aware?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang laughed brightly.
"Hall Leader Cheon's Peerless Thunderbolt... its true essence was passed down only to you, Deputy Bu."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand.
Why Sword Demon Wi Hyeok-gun had been so enraged at him.
And why Cheon Un-gwang had been severely punished for teaching him the Peerless Thunderbolt.
'So that's how it was.'
As Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened, Wi Ji-hye-sang continued with an utterly innocent look.
"Ah, don't misunderstand. I merely repeated what I heard."
"It's fine."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly and nodded.
"Everything you said is true."
Even if those words had been spoken with malice, Bu Eun-seol could only laugh.
Not just Cheon Un-gwang—even Jin Gak, the instructor of the Beginner Hall, had taught him foundational sword principles.
And Dan Cheon-yang, an elder of the Fire Rain Sword Sect whom he met in the Upper-Level Hall, had instructed him in the Advanced Sword Studies' law texts.
Though it had all been part of selecting the Ten Demonic Heirs...
Bu Eun-seol owed the Fire Rain Sword Sect a great debt.
"How amusing. Anyone watching would think this was a gathering to foster camaraderie with that Ten Demonic Heir."
The man seated to Wi Ji-hye-sang's left snorted derisively.
His gaze and aura were razor-sharp, yet his robes were unusually loose and voluminous.
Bu Eun-seol recognized him instantly—the successor of the Extreme Killing Secret Pavilion.
Assassins always wore loose clothing. It concealed hidden pockets and countless hidden weapon devices.
"No need to bare your fangs so soon, Yong Jeok-bi."
The young man beside Yong Jeok-bi chuckled softly.
His long, unruly hair draped over his shoulders, and his hands were disproportionately large.
This was Sindo Un-hwi, successor of the Extinction Palace.
"After all, we'll never have to see that bastard again."
A peculiar statement.
Just as Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brows—
Tap. Tap.
The sound of slow footsteps echoed before the chamber doors slid open.
An elderly man with neatly combed-back silver hair entered.
At a glance, he seemed like any ordinary old man—but in truth, he was a terrifying master who had cultivated the darkest of demonic arts.
The Supreme Cult Commander, Yeop Hyo-cheon, second only to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself.
"Everyone is here, I see."
Yeop Hyo-cheon swept his gentle gaze over the gathered successors, a faint smile on his lips.
"To see the successors of the Demonic Path Ten Gates gathered like this... it stirs the heart."
Yet an unreadable regret lingered in his expression.
Having spent his life at the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's side, perhaps he was reminiscing about the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's days as a successor candidate.
"The future of the Demon Hall now rests in your hands."
Suddenly, Bu Eun-seol felt something amiss.
Hadn't it been said that successor candidates could be chosen not just by the Demonic Path Ten Gates, but also by the Elders' Hall and the Demonic Heavenly Emperor?
Then why had only the successors of the Ten Gates been summoned?
At that moment, Yeop Hyo-cheon spoke in a low voice.
"To become the Demon Hall's successor, one must possess the talent and qualifications to lead the entire Demonic Path. And you... have all passed the trials set before you."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Thus, from this moment onward, we shall test your capabilities under the assumption that you are already the Demon Hall's successor."
The Dark King nodded toward the space behind him.
A warrior stepped forward carefully, carrying a large wooden box, and placed it on the table with reverence.
Click.
When Yeop Hyo-cheon opened the box, it was filled to the brim with assignment slips.
"These slips contain the various tasks that the Demon Hall's successor must undertake in the future."
His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible as he gazed at the slips.
"Each of you need only select one and fulfill it."
The standing warrior began carefully unfolding the slips one by one.
"Is there no time limit?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked, Yeop Hyo-cheon nodded.
"None of these tasks can be completed swiftly enough to set a deadline. Merely determining success or failure would take... an exceedingly long time."
He then added,
"However, if you succeed faster than the others, there will naturally be advantages."
In short, the sooner one completed their assigned task, the more advantageous it would be in becoming the successor.
As the warrior placed the slips on the table—
"This one will do."
Do Cheon-rin, who had been swiftly scanning the slips, snatched one up in an instant.
"For the main house, there's no better task than this."
At the very moment Bu Eun-seol's question drew attention, he had already discerned the contents of the slips and taken the one most favorable to him.
In fact, he had even subtly rearranged the order of the slips so no one could tell which one he had taken.
"Truly befitting the Young Clan Head of the Bloodflame Blade Family—your hands are quick."
Wi Ji-hye-sang praised with a nod.
"Since the order isn't fixed, it's best to quickly find and take the most advantageous one."
Yong Jeok-bi snorted in response.
"Hmph. What does it matter what others choose? In the end, all that matters is completing my own task."
Then, he picked up one of the slips on the table.
—Eliminate all members of the Twelve Earthly Branches.
The Twelve Earthly Branches.
That place was a group of fixers who handled all manner of covert affairs for both the Upper and Lower Realms.
Since they would do anything for money, one could say they were no different from unprincipled assassin factions.
And the Demon Hall had long sought to eliminate the Twelve Earthly Branches.
However, the Twelve Earthly Branches operated as a cell organization, deeply entwined with the lowest dregs of the underworld, making their complete eradication difficult.
"As expected! The Ultimate Assassin Pavilion, hailed as the grand sect of assassins, would naturally have an advantage in dealing with factions lurking in the underworld."
Wi Ji-hye-sang never missed an opportunity to voice his admiration whenever others chose their slips.
Watching this, Sindo Un-hwi made a subtle expression.
"Wouldn't it be advantageous to choose as quickly as possible? Aren't you being too leisurely?"
"Who knows?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang smiled faintly.
"If one isn't the first to choose, then observing what others have selected before making a decision isn't a bad strategy either."
At this sharp retort, Sindo Un-hwi's eyes flashed.
Even if he seemed absent-minded, Wi Ji-hye-sang was making terrifyingly cold calculations.
"But this isn't the kind of task that can be solved by overthinking."
Sindo Un-hwi, withdrawing his gaze from Wi Ji-hye-sang, carefully examined the slips before picking one up.
Written on it was a mission concerning the resolution of conflicts among minor factions that had been absorbed into the Demon Hall but failed to integrate.
"You've chosen quite the difficult task."
Once again, Wi Ji-hye-sang offered praise—and this time, it wasn't empty flattery.
Resolving the deep-rooted issues of each faction and ensuring their smooth assimilation into the united body of the Demon Hall—
In other words, it was a matter of managing sects and expanding influence.
And this was far more challenging than simply destroying a single faction.
"You've picked something quite troublesome."
Even Yeop Hyo-cheon couldn't help but voice his admiration, prompting a faint smile from Sindo Un-hwi.
"I suppose I lack confidence in martial arts."
Though he said so, he was the successor of the Extinction Palace, capable of standing toe-to-toe with first-class masters.
Sindo Un-hwi, too, was clearly a genius who concealed his true strength beneath an unassuming exterior.
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol, who had been approaching the spread-out slips, suddenly turned his head to look at Wi Ji-hye-sang.
"Still planning to yield your turn?"
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol smiled coldly in response.
"You don't intend to choose today, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
Bu Eun-seol stared straight at Wi Ji-hye-sang.
"The Chief Doctrine Commander said there's no deadline for this... meaning there's no need to choose a task immediately."
At this, Yong Jeok-bi and Sindo Un-hwi's expressions darkened, while Do Cheon-rin wore a faint, thread-like smile.
Wi Ji-hye-sang's scheme and this loophole—he had already seen through them as well.
Yet he had been the first to pick a slip...
Most likely, Do Cheon-rin had chosen the most advantageous and easily manageable task among those present.
"Then Young Hero Bu won't be choosing either?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang's eyes gleamed.
Having discerned this loophole, he assumed Bu Eun-seol would either return later to pick a task when no one was around or wait to observe the situation before making his choice.
"No, I'll choose now."
But Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Because no one else can be allowed to take this task."
Wi Ji-hye-sang blinked at those words.
No matter how he looked, there was no task that seemed easily manageable—nor one that would tempt the other successors.
Swish.
Bu Eun-seol stepped forward and, without hesitation, picked up a slip.
The atmosphere instantly turned icy.
Even Yeop Hyo-cheon, who had been silently observing, stiffened.
Because the slip Bu Eun-seol had chosen bore these words:
—Assassinate one Righteous Faction figure belonging to the Four Gods and Seven Kings.