Chapter 247
It was an utterly incomprehensible order.
Yet Gok Jin-dong clasped his hands together without question. After all, it was obvious he wouldn't get an explanation even if he asked.
'Ah, I see.'
Suddenly, Gok Jin-dong understood.
Why Bu Eun-seol had issued such an order.
Before he knew it, night had deepened.
Tap tap tap.
At the location where the Life Ending Squad and the Poisonous Eye Squad were stationed, a bonfire crackled to life.
Their mission wasn't stealth or reconnaissance—merely guarding this mountain pass.
All they needed to do was make it known that this route was under watch.
"Commander, are you really sure about this?"
At that moment, Oh Deung-ryong, leader of the Poisonous Eye Squad, spoke cautiously.
"Even so, we're in wartime. If the Death Shadow Squad Commander really drinks just because he was told to..."
"You know nothing."
Gok Jin-dong scoffed.
"This place is far removed from Oji Mountain. Even if the Murim Alliance wanted to clash with us, they couldn't reach here."
Clutching a glass bottle filled with liquor, he let out a hollow laugh.
"If the Murim Alliance bastards make it this far, it means the Empty-Handed Divine Thief has already been captured or killed."
"Then..."
"The Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander has sidelined the Death Shadow Squad Commander. He's ensuring he doesn't get even a scrap of merit."
Gok Jin-dong spoke with absolute confidence.
"The Death Shadow Squad Commander knows it too. That's why he's given up like this."
"Ah, I see."
As Oh Deung-ryong nodded, Gok Jin-dong downed a deep swig of liquor and sighed.
"Damn it. To think the Rootless Squad bastards would rise so high."
The Rootless Squad had been a gathering of reckless ruffians—so pathetic that even low-grade martial artists of the Demon Hall looked down on them.
But thanks to meeting the right superior, they kept racking up achievements, and now they'd even secured the status of a first-tier unit?
'And that man...'
Gok Jin-dong didn't like the look in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
If he was a successor of the Demonic Path Ten Gates, he should act like one.
Why lust after the position of Demon Hall Commander and disrupt the chain of command?
"It's so damn disgusting I ought to quit."
Gok Jin-dong was already already in his forties.
At this rate, it was certain he'd remain a second-tier commander forever—never reaching first-tier even by fifty.
"Damn it."
He drowned his frustration in gulp after gulp of liquor.
But there were those watching from the shadows as the Life Ending Squad and the Poisonous Eye Squad indulged in their drinking.
"..."
They observed the scene indifferently, completely merged into the darkness.
Their forms were indistinct, as if they had employed some profound Concealment Infiltration Art.
Even if they stood right beside the bonfire, they would have been nearly impossible to detect.
Swoosh.
With silent movements, they slipped past the Life Ending Squad and ascended toward where the Death Shadow Squad was stationed.
At that moment, the Death Shadow Squad's garrison.
On the slopes of Gwanmo Peak, leather-canvas barracks had been erected in various places.
Originally, Bu Eun-seol hadn't planned to set up barracks at all.
But Won Se-mun had seized the ones belonging to the Life Ending Squad and the Poisonous Eye Squad and installed them here.
—It's not like this mission will end quickly, right? You should at least have a proper barracks, Commander!
...Or so he claimed, but Won Se-mun had taken every last one of the other squads' barracks too.
All so the Death Shadow Squad members could rest comfortably.
Thanks to that, the Life Ending Squad and the Poisonous Eye Squad now had to sleep under the open sky, exposed to the night dew.
Swish swish.
Inside the barracks, Bu Eun-seol sat cross-legged on a table, deep in meditation.
Whenever he had even a moment to spare, he devoted it to studying the principles of the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art.
Unlike the Emotion Severing Secret Art, which had branded themselves onto his spirit and mind like a Fire Brand, the teachings of the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art refused to integrate easily.
This was proof that Bu Eun-seol's temperament aligned more with the Emotion Severing Secret Art than the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art.
'I will assimilate the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art.'
An ordinary martial artist would have unhesitatingly chosen the Emotion Severing Secret Art, which allowed for swifter advancement to higher realms.
But Bu Eun-seol refused to abandon the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art, relentlessly researching it.
Rather than blindly following the mind-training formulas left behind by two peerless grandmasters, he sought to use them as stepping stones to reach an even higher realm.
'Learning the Internal Energy Method from Elder Blood Vajra was a stroke of great fortune.'
Along with teaching him the Reverse Extreme Inner Method, Blood Vajra had meticulously explained the profound intricacies of the mental principles governing internal energy cultivation.
Because of this, Bu Eun-seol could independently interpret and master high-level mind techniques like the Emotion Severing Secret Art and the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art.
'It's not easy.'
As he delved deeper into meditation, studying the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art—
Piiing.
An extremely faint Sound of Breaking Air reached his ears from outside the barracks.
It was a sound so delicate that only Bu Eun-seol could have detected it. And it lingered, stretching out for a long, long time.
The sound wasn't meant for an attack—it was deliberately drawn out so Bu Eun-seol could pinpoint its origin.
'Interesting.'
Who could possibly understand the workings of the Way of the Beast this well?
Bu Eun-seol immediately slipped out of the barracks and silently activated his movement technique.
Whoosh.
In the distance, a shadowy figure was swiftly darting away.
The speed was considerable, but the trajectory was fixed—deliberately running in a straight line to make it easy to follow.
Finally, deep in a secluded part of the forest, the figure ahead came to a halt.
Tap.
Moonlight filtering through the branches revealed only the silhouette.
Though the face remained obscured in darkness, the figure was tall and robust.
Bu Eun-seol recognized the identity from physique alone.
"Seo Jin-ha."
"Hahaha."
A low chuckle answered as the figure stepped out from the shadows into the moonlight.
A strikingly androgynous face, incongruous with the rugged build.
The only comrade who had fought back-to-back with Bu Eun-seol on Hell Island, now a member of the Celestial Slaughter Corps—the Ten Demonic Heir of Hell Blood Citadel.
Seo Jin-ha.
"You couldn't even see my face. How'd you know?"
"Your distinct body line."
"Hahaha. Still spouting nonsense as always."
Seo Jin-ha approached without hesitation, smiling at Bu Eun-seol.
"You've been well."
He was the only one who had joined forces with Bu Eun-seol to survive Hell Island.
Because of that, he was the only one from that place who held no resentment toward Bu Eun-seol—the first to share a bond of friendship.
"You've become a group leader."
Seo Jin-ha was taken aback by Bu Eun-seol's words.
"How'd you know? The main unit doesn't have any markings for group leaders."
"Even if you're a Celestial Slayer, you wouldn't be moving alone in the current situation."
Right now, they were in a state of extreme confrontation with the Martial Alliance's sword units.
Even a member of a Special Grade unit, no one would be operating solo under these circumstances.
"Besides, if you could pass through countless squads unhindered on your way here... you'd have to be at least a Celestial Slayer group leader."
The Celestial Slaughter Corps was the Demon Hall's finest.
A group leader of that rank would hold more authority than even a first-rate commander.
"I can't win against you."
Seo Jin-ha chuckled low and shook his head.
"You always deduce so much from the smallest clues."
Then, after scrutinizing Bu Eun-seol's body, he let out a sigh.
"But seriously, how do you live like that?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've gone through countless life-and-death situations in the main unit to develop my martial arts, yet..."
His voice carried deep frustration and envy.
Though he had become Hell Blood Citadel's Ten Demonic Heir, Seo Jin-ha had always prided himself on being among the most talented of his generation.
Moreover, after joining the Celestial Slaughter Corps and completing numerous missions, he had reached one conviction:
—My martial arts have surpassed the level of a Ten Demonic Heir!
His skills had advanced rapidly through countless battles.
And his prowess had earned him the position of Celestial Slayer group leader—
Yet in that same time, Bu Eun-seol had captured one of the Four Gods and Seven Kings and now stood as a first-rate commander of the Demon Hall.
"I can never catch up to you."
Admiration and envy laced his voice.
"Why did you call me here?"
Bu Eun-seol, watching Seo Jin-ha's envious gaze, redirected the conversation.
"You wouldn't have summoned me just to see my face."
"Bu Eun-seol."
Seo Jin-ha's sharp eyes locked onto him as his lips slowly parted.
"The Empty-Handed Divine Thief incident—it's clearly the Fire Rain Sword Sect's doing."
"Wait, what's that thing sticking out of your chest?"
Just as he delivered the shocking statement, Seo Jin-ha suddenly let out a startled Ah!
"Right, my mind's slipping."
He pulled a glass bottle from his robes and tossed it to Bu Eun-seol.
"Before we talk... let's have a drink first."
"Talk first."
"No. You'd just leave otherwise."
Seo Jin-ha snorted softly.
He knew Bu Eun-seol's personality better than anyone.
The two leaned side by side against a rock.
Moonlight bathed them softly, and the distant chirping of insects echoed through the tranquil forest.
In silence, they passed the bottle back and forth.
Gulp, gulp.
After taking a swig, Seo Jin-ha spoke in a low voice.
"For some reason, the Fire Rain Sword Sect's been tracking the Empty-Handed Divine Thief for a long time."
He tossed the bottle back to Bu Eun-seol.
"And the fact that his whereabouts were exposed to the world—that's their scheme too."
"Scheme?"
"More precisely, Wi Ji-hye-sang's doing. That guy's machinations."
Seo Jin-ha gazed at the distant sky with a heavy expression.
"You killed the Beggar King single-handedly. Doesn't that practically confirm you as the successor?"
Bu Eun-seol had pierced through the Beggars' Sect's intelligence network and slain one of the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
In doing so, he had proven beyond doubt that his martial prowess and tactics surpassed all other candidates.
"That's why Wi Ji-hye-sang orchestrated this—to disrupt the succession."
Seo Jin-ha continued calmly.
"From the start, the Empty-Handed Divine Thief was a mysterious figure who had evaded pursuit from both the orthodox and unorthodox factions for decades. Capturing him alive was never a possibility."
"Hmm."
"Wi Ji-hye-sang must have deliberately leaked information. To ensure the Demon Hall's involvement in this matter."
As he spoke, Seo Jin-ha noticed something strange.
Despite the shocking revelations, Bu Eun-seol's expression remained completely unchanged.
"Don't tell me... you already knew?"
"I had my suspicions. To some extent."
Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
"He was cautious enough not to even pick his assignment slip immediately. There's no way he'd let such a mission reach the Martial Alliance's ears."
From the moment Baek Jeon-cheon had told him about the Empty-Handed Divine Thief, Bu Eun-seol had anticipated this turn of events.
Moreover, the mission Wi Ji-hye-sang had chosen was one that demanded absolute secrecy. If such information had spread to the Martial Alliance, there could only be one reason—
Wi Ji-hye-sang had leaked it himself.
"The Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander must be in league with him."
A faint smile touched Bu Eun-seol's lips.
"He knew full well he couldn't send more forces, yet he requested a first-tier unit. And then had the main force stationed at Gwanmo Peak."
"Hmm."
"If I were to make a critical mistake here, the already tilted succession could be overturned in an instant."
Seo Jin-ha's mouth fell open in astonishment.
"You foresaw even that?"
"Consecutive coincidences are rare."
Bu Eun-seol spoke matter-of-factly.
"Suddenly ordering us to guard Gwanmo Peak. Then assigning the Life Ending Squad, who have no love for the main force, under my command."
Seo Jin-ha, who had been listening silently, exhaled sharply.
"You're right. There must be some tacit agreement between our Unit Commander... and the Fire Rain Sword Sect."
Then, with a regretful expression, he added,
"Or perhaps it's because you refused to relinquish the Spirit Divine Sword during the Martial Refinement Tournament. If you had given it up..."
"Pointless."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head firmly.
"Even if I had surrendered the sword, the rift between the Heavenly Slaughter Unit's Deputy Commander and the Hell Blood Citadel wouldn't have changed. The same goes for the Unit Commander himself."
He fixed Seo Jin-ha with a piercing stare.
"Sooner or later, something like this would have happened."
"Now that you mention it... you're probably right."
Seo Jin-ha smiled bitterly.
He realized now that his worries had been unnecessary.
Bu Eun-seol—the only person on Hell Island with whom he had felt genuine friendship.
Now, he stood firmly at the forefront of the successor candidates, towering over the entire Demonic Murim.
And it wasn't just because of his martial prowess.
Strategic depth. Bu Eun-seol's depth of insight and strategic brilliance surpassed all others—that was what made this possible.
"Ah, the gap between us just keeps widening."
"What do you mean?"
"You're too outstanding. It's making me jealous."
For once, Bu Eun-seol let out a quiet chuckle.
Those who revealed their true feelings without pretense were straightforward, without ulterior motives.
It was the ones who acted tough or put on airs of grandeur who were more likely to stab you in the back.
Then Seo Jin-ha spoke again.
"I heard you took Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong as unit members?"
"That's right."
"So you're trying to free them from the shackles of being Ten Demonic Heirs. To ensure no complications arise."
The Demonic Path Ten Gates were as relentless as they were powerful.
For a Ten Demonic Heir to truly break free, the only way was to be affiliated with the Demon Hall itself.
Just as Seo Jin-ha had done.
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol tossed the nearly empty glass bottle back to Seo Jin-ha.
"You drank sparingly."
Seo Jin-ha drained the last drop in one gulp, then slowly rose to his feet.
"I know you'll handle things well, but still—don't clash with our Unit Commander yet."
"..."
"I know you're strong. But our Unit Commander... is on another level. Beyond imagination."
Seo Jin-ha's expression was grave.
"What you've seen of his martial prowess isn't everything."
If it came to hiding one's true strength, Bu Eun-seol was no different. And he had no intention of backing down, even against the Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander.
Yet he answered obediently.
"Understood."
Seo Jin-ha had come all this way out of concern for him.
The only proper response to that goodwill was compliance.
"Once this mission is over, things should calm down a bit."
Seo Jin-ha grinned.
"Next time we meet, let's share a drink at a decent tavern."
Then, gazing into the darkness, he wore a peculiar smile.
"All of us together."
"Understood."
"Then I'll take my leave."
With those words, Seo Jin-ha activated his movement technique in an instant.
Whoosh—
In a single breath, he vanished over the blacksmith's rooftop.
Bu Eun-seol watched him go, then turned away.
"Come out now."