Chapter 225
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned icy as he looked down at the letter.
'The Pavilion Lord has ended his closed-door training?'
Coincidentally, around the same day Bu Eun-seol had dealt with the Beggar King, the Lord of Langya Pavilion had also emerged from seclusion.
And now, having been briefed on all recent events, the Pavilion Lord had issued an immediate order for Bu Eun-seol to return to Langya Pavilion.
The Human Demon, Ak Mu-ryeong.
One of the Three Demons and Three Venerables, a being whose martial prowess surpassed imagination—enough to stand alone against even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
—Neither fully demon nor human, an aberrant existence defying categorization.
Such was how the murim spoke of the Human Demon, Ak Mu-ryeong.
He had been born with inhuman strength and a physique beyond mortal limits.
And long ago, his martial arts had transcended the boundaries of humanity, earning him the title of Human Demon.
'I had longed for the day I would meet him... but for it to be now, of all times.'
Truthfully, ever since joining Langya Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol had always hoped to see the Pavilion Lord in person.
But with the man in seclusion, he had momentarily forgotten about his existence.
Yet now, at this critical juncture—when he was supposed to return to the Demon Hall after completing his duties as a successor candidate—he was instead being summoned back to Langya Pavilion.
'I have a very bad feeling about this.'
Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
Not that he had a choice. The Pavilion Lord himself had ordered his return, so he had to head back to Langya Pavilion immediately.
Leaving Chengdu behind, Bu Eun-seol immediately activated his movement technique, speeding toward Sword Brow Mountain.
His figure, slicing through the air, finally descended to the mountainside before landing on solid ground.
At last, he had arrived at Langya Pavilion.
Outwardly, it appeared as peaceful as any ordinary village, but Langya Pavilion was a gathering place for some of the most terrifying masters in the Demonic Path Murim.
'What is this?'
Yet the moment Bu Eun-seol stepped into the pavilion's entrance, he couldn't hide his bewilderment.
A towering, thick wall—never there before—now stood at the entrance, and at its center was a massive iron gate, thirty feet high.
At a glance, it looked no different from the exterior of the Demon Hall.
"To erect such a grand gate yet station no guards..."
With a hollow smile, Bu Eun-seol stepped through the iron gate.
And in that instant, his pupils gradually widened.
The rustic, village-like scenery of Langya Pavilion was gone.
In its place stood gleaming pavilions on all sides, and the once uneven paths had been paved smooth enough for carriages to pass through.
It now resembled nothing less than the dazzling streets of the Imperial Capital.
'Did the main pavilion relocate? Or has another sect taken over?'
Not a single passerby was in sight.
Even the forge where Master Blacksmith Wang Geol once crafted weapons—along with the blacksmithy itself—had vanished.
Just as Bu Eun-seol, sensing something amiss, hurriedly moved further inside—
"You've arrived."
From the opposite end of the path, a middle-aged man dressed in scholarly robes slowly walked forward.
It was Baek Yeon, the head of the Wind Cloud Brigade.
"Great Leader."
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply.
When he raised his head, he was met with a face as cold as carved ice—one that seemed like it wouldn't bleed even if stabbed.
Yet in truth, this was a man of deep affection, one who had always looked after Bu Eun-seol with the utmost care.
"Have you been well all this time?"
"You've become unrecognizable."
As Baek Yeon nodded with a faint smile, his frozen-lake expression softened as if spring had arrived.
"Now you've truly become the successor of our pavilion."
His gaze fixed on Bu Eun-seol, Baek Yeon's face was flushed with pride.
A disciple who had joined Langya Pavilion only a few years ago had slain one of the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
Such a rate of growth was unprecedented in the murim.
"You've endured much hardship."
Baek Yeon gave Bu Eun-seol's shoulder a firm shake.
Though he usually restrained his emotions, this time, he couldn't hide the overwhelming pride in his heart.
Gu Hong-cheong, the Beggar King, had mercilessly slaughtered eight of the unit members Baek Yeon had personally raised.
Blood must be repaid with blood.
Yet Langya Pavilion had been unable to retaliate, as they couldn't refute the accusations that Bu Eun-seol had conspired in the attack.
And then, as if to defy all expectations, Bu Eun-seol had single-handedly slain the Beggar King.
Not only had he avenged the fallen disciples, but he had also restored Langya Pavilion's prestige—
For Baek Yeon, this was nothing short of a moment of pure elation.
"What exactly happened here?"
"What do you mean?"
"I thought I'd arrived in the capital."
"Hahaha. That's all thanks to you."
Unable to hold back, Baek Yeon burst into hearty laughter.
"The Fleeting Moment Boat poured an unimaginable fortune into our pavilion—more than we could ever spend."
Then, shrugging, he continued.
"Thanks to that, our disciples no longer need to engage in menial labor and can focus entirely on martial arts. And with our finances secured..."
—Haaap!
Just then, the vigorous shouts of young boys echoed from afar.
As Bu Eun-seol tilted his head in confusion, Baek Yeon grinned.
"Countless youths and boys have flocked here, seeking to join our pavilion."
Baek Yeon wore a smile as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Thanks to that, we've installed ten Grand Martial Training Grounds in our pavilion. And now, our masters are so busy teaching disciples they can barely catch their breath."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize why he hadn't seen any figures from Langya Pavilion around.
They had been sifting through the flood of newcomers, accepting them as disciples and instructing them.
"Did you truly know nothing of the pavilion's current state?"
"My apologies."
Bu Eun-seol bowed his head with an embarrassed expression.
"I could barely manage my own affairs, so... I never received any reports about the pavilion's situation."
"You've been occupied with many things. There's no need to feel guilty over that."
Then, as if suddenly remembering, Bu Eun-seol spoke with a serious expression.
"I heard the Pavilion Lord has returned from his closed-door training."
At that moment, Baek Yeon's eyes darkened.
"Correct. You must go see him now."
"It doesn't seem like he's summoned me for good news."
"Hmm."
Baek Yeon let out a thoughtful hum and nodded.
"As you know, the Pavilion Lord harbors considerable competitive spirit toward the leader of the Demon Hall."
His expression grew grave as he gazed at the distant sky.
"And yet, you—the most outstanding talent of our pavilion—are struggling to become the successor of the Demon Hall..."
The unspoken words were obvious.
The Pavilion Lord of Langya, Ak Mu-ryeong, was furious, believing the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had stolen his disciple.
"Would it be alright to see him now?"
"No, the Deputy Pavilion Master will be here shortly. You must go together."
Baek Yeon's eyes were tense.
That alone was enough to understand the kind of temperament the Pavilion Lord—no, the Human Demon Ak Mu-ryeong—possessed.
"Where is the Deputy Pavilion Master? I'll go see him myself."
"He's overwhelmed—too many disciples have poured in, and the pavilion's scale has expanded. Not to mention, the Fleeting Moment Boat has sent elite disciples to be divided between our sect and the Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying Sanctuary."
"The Fleeting Moment Boat?"
"Geuk Hye-ryeong—who knows how they managed to persuade that eccentric old woman—but they've given us their full support."
Baek Yeon let out a sound somewhere between a sigh and admiration.
"Not just funds, either. They've even shared the Fleeting Moment Boat's intelligence network with us."
"Their intelligence network?"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his astonishment.
An intelligence organization was the most closely guarded secret, the very core of a sect.
And yet, they were offering even that? It was practically handing over their entire sect.
"Indeed. In return for their generosity, the Deputy Pavilion Master sent our disciples to the Fleeting Moment Boat to deepen ties between our factions. Then, in turn, they sent their disciples here."
The masters of Langya Pavilion were peerless experts, each worth a thousand men.
With such figures now exchanging knowledge with the Fleeting Moment Boat, the prestige of both factions would rise in tandem.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol wore a dazed expression. Even he hadn't foreseen this development.
Interactions between sects were different from personal relationships.
Simply opening their hearts to exchange knowledge could lead to dazzling progress and expand their influence.
"However, the Pavilion Lord dislikes this kind of exchange, so we've been trying to persuade him. Then he heard news of you and issued a recall order."
"Bu Eun-seol."
A low voice called out, and a tall, middle-aged man appeared.
His face was as languid as ever, but a sharp glint flickered intermittently in his eyes. It was none other than Deputy Pavilion Master Dan Cheong.
'The Deputy Pavilion Master's martial prowess has advanced yet again.'
Dan Cheong's qi and aura had grown even smoother than before.
Yet beneath that softness lay a deeper, stickier power coiled throughout his body. Bu Eun-seol could sense that his martial understanding had reached new heights.
"Deputy Pavilion Master."
As Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply, Dan Cheong chuckled and nodded.
"We nurtured you with such care, and now you've repaid us like a swallow bringing treasures in its beak."
Though his words were light, Dan Cheong's expression remained somber.
"Thanks to you, our pavilion has expanded, and disciples swarm in like clouds. So much so that none of us have had a proper night's sleep in months."
An ordinary martial artist would have been overjoyed.
But for Dan Cheong, who found everything outside martial training a nuisance, the pavilion's growth didn't seem entirely welcome.
'We're alike.'
Unconsciously, Bu Eun-seol let out a faint smile.
Only now did he realize how much Dan Cheong's personality resembled Hyeok So-jin's.
Then, Dan Cheong turned to Baek Yeon.
"The Pavilion Lord is waiting. Will you be joining us?"
"I must respectfully decline."
"Hmm, you haven't told him yet?"
"No."
"Then I'll handle it. You go attend to your duties. Weren't you busy reassigning the Wind and Cloud Corps anyway?"
To save Bu Eun-seol, eight outstanding members of the Wind and Cloud Corps had been left vacant.
Because of this, Baek Yeon seemed to be pouring his heart and soul into finding replacements for them.
"Understood."
Baek Yeon lightly patted Bu Eun-seol's shoulder once more and spoke.
"Bu Eun-seol."
"Yes."
"Deputy Pavilion Lord Dan Cheong will explain, but never question the Pavilion Lord's words."
Though Bu Eun-seol couldn't fully grasp the meaning behind the words, he answered respectfully.
"Understood."
"Good. I trust you'll handle it well."
As Baek Yeon nodded and turned away, Dan Cheong spoke.
"Let's go now."
"Where is the Pavilion Lord?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked, Dan Cheong replied flatly.
"Iron Palm Peak."
Bu Eun-seol walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Dan Cheong, passing through the heart of Langya Pavilion.
Beyond the vast and grand halls, disciples sparring in a large training ground could be seen scattered about.
And beyond the forest, there were those honing their movement techniques or training in various martial arts.
Finally, as they passed through the center of Langya Pavilion and reached the path leading up Iron Palm Peak, Dan Cheong opened his mouth.
"You must have heard the rumors in the martial world—the Pavilion Lord's temper is not the best."
Dan Cheong spoke in a low voice as he slowly walked.
"And he is... not particularly pleased that you are to become the heir of the Demon Hall."
"Was I summoned because of that?"
"If that were the only reason, I would have persuaded him myself."
Dan Cheong sighed as he gazed at the distant sky.
"The reason the Pavilion Lord is so furious is because you personally requested the position of Chief of the Demon Hall."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol let out a small sound of realization.
To deal with the Beggar King and to continue the struggle for succession... he absolutely needed dozens of skilled subordinates.
But it seemed that by choosing to become Chief of the Demon Hall himself, he had inadvertently provoked the Pavilion Lord's displeasure.
"Are disciples of Langya Pavilion forbidden from becoming Chiefs of the Demon Hall?"
"Being Chief of the Demon Hall is, by nature, a rather political position, don't you think?"
Dan Cheong smiled bitterly.
"Securing a position where you wield the authority of the Demon Hall while roaming the martial world also means you bear the duty of preserving that authority."
Langya Pavilion's true duty was to achieve the pinnacle of martial arts.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had declared his intent to become the heir of the Demon Hall and even requested the position of Chief...
From the Pavilion Lord's perspective, it might seem as though Bu Eun-seol had become obsessed with power or had strayed into the Heretical Path.
"I..."
"I know. If you were the type to crave power, you wouldn't have chosen this pavilion in the first place."
Dan Cheong sighed as he stared at the distant sky.
"I tried to reason with the Pavilion Lord in my own way, but it was useless."
Before long, the summit of Iron Palm Peak came into view.
But suddenly, a voice like thunder echoed from the distant sky.
[I will speak with the boy alone.]
The voice resonated in all directions like the Six Harmonies Voice Transmission, yet it also rose from the earth itself.
Moreover, there was a strange, eerie power in the voice, and Bu Eun-seol momentarily felt dizzy.
"Pavilion Lord. This child is—"
[I said alone.]
A cold reply returned, and Dan Cheong bit his lip.
Then, with a look of resignation, he turned to Bu Eun-seol and spoke.
"Bu Eun-seol. It seems you must go up alone."
And with a voice transmission, he added:
「The Pavilion Lord will likely order you to abandon your candidacy as heir of the Demon Hall. Do not argue—just say you understand. I will handle everything afterward.」
[Dan Cheong!]
An angry voice rang out, as if the Pavilion Lord had detected the voice transmission.
"Understood, Pavilion Lord."
Dan Cheong forced a bitter smile and patted Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
"Go on up."
Bu Eun-seol ascended to the summit of Iron Palm Peak without a word.
'Why is the Pavilion Lord waiting here, of all places?'
This was where Blood Vajra, who taught him the Reverse Extremity Heart Method, resided—a place of deep significance to Bu Eun-seol.
So why had the Pavilion Lord summoned him here instead of the perfectly intact main halls?
Swish.
When Bu Eun-seol finally reached the summit, he saw a massive figure standing at the cliff's edge, hands clasped behind his back.
His back, three times broader than an average man's, was imposing, and his arms were thick as logs.
His hair was roughly tied up with a wooden stick, and he wore a tattered martial uniform with both sleeves torn off.
He looked like a lone warrior who had descended from deep mountain seclusion.
[Hmm.]
With a low hum, the figure finally turned around.
Then, Bu Eun-seol saw the face of a middle-aged man—eyes as commanding as a lion's, a straight and prominent nose.
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol drew a sharp breath.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor, Sado Mu-myeong.
The Blood Demon, Jeok Bung.
The Dark King, Yeop Hyo-cheon.
Until now, the supreme martial experts who had reached the pinnacle of the martial world—those who had shaken the heavens—had all still carried the flesh and blood of men.
But the being before him was not human.
It was as if the ruler of demons from another world had descended upon this land.
Nothing else could exude such terrifying, otherworldly presence.
Flash.
Finally, the piercing gaze of Langya Pavilion's lord—Ak Mu-ryeong—landed on Bu Eun-seol.