Chapter 273
Killing intent surged violently within Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
Even if it were a personal matter, how could the Secret Shadow Pavilion Lord presume to make such definitive judgments?
"Isn't it only natural?"
Yet the Secret Shadow Pavilion Lord wore a composed smile.
"You investigated the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's movements at the Fleeting Moment Boat, did you not? And you mobilized intelligence networks to track down Wicked Incense's trail."
The Demon Hall's supreme intelligence organization, the Secret Shadow Pavilion.
Astonishingly, not only did they meticulously monitor the movements of the Demonic Path Ten Gates and the flow of intelligence networks...
They had also scrutinized Bu Eun-seol's every action in detail.
"This is the Secret Shadow Pavilion, Martial Soul Lord."
Hwa Jung-cheon let out a cold sneer.
He had clearly expected Bu Eun-seol to be at a loss or flustered.
But the reaction he received was entirely contrary to his expectations. Instead, the young man merely narrowed his eyes slightly and gave a faint nod.
'As I suspected.'
The reason Bu Eun-seol had provoked Hwa Jung-cheon over Wicked Incense's matter—
It was to test the Secret Shadow Pavilion's intelligence-gathering capabilities and determine their limits.
'If even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and the Chief Doctrine Commander could monitor my movements as if reading the lines of my palm, it must have been because of the Secret Shadow Pavilion.'
And just as Bu Eun-seol had anticipated, the Secret Shadow Pavilion operated without any restrictions in gathering intelligence.
Even the Fleeting Moment Boat, which possessed the most formidable intelligence network among the Demonic Path Ten Gates, was included in their surveillance targets.
Which meant that no matter what Bu Eun-seol did, no matter which intelligence networks he mobilized... he could not escape the Secret Shadow Pavilion's watchful eyes.
'Then it's necessary. Absolutely.'
Having resolved himself, Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed further.
Hwa Jung-cheon's answer had solidified a plan he had long contemplated in his heart.
After organizing his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol provoked Hwa Jung-cheon once more.
"And what if Wicked Incense's affairs were not merely this Lord's personal business?"
At his continued insolent tone, a flicker of disappointment passed through Hwa Jung-cheon's eyes.
"Given my position as the Secret Shadow Pavilion Lord, I am well aware of the matters this Hall is currently handling."
His expression remained impassive as he continued.
"If the things you seek are related to the Hall's ongoing affairs, naturally, I would have cooperated. Does that answer your question?"
A brief silence followed.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been staring intently at Hwa Jung-cheon, gave a light nod.
"That's a relief."
"Relief of what?"
"That at the very least, the Pavilion Lord is not this Lord's enemy."
The killing intent that had shrouded Bu Eun-seol's body had already vanished without a trace, replaced by a soft smile curling at the corners of his lips.
"Within this Hall, there are many who do not look favorably upon this Lord's ascension as successor."
Hwa Jung-cheon's expression stiffened.
That smile was like the razor-sharp edge of a blade—cold and lethal.
"Had the Secret Shadow Pavilion Lord, who holds the reins of this Hall's intelligence, harbored such sentiments... this Lord would have had no choice but to draw his sword with tears in his eyes."
Only then did realization dawn upon Hwa Jung-cheon, his eyes widening.
"Were you testing me just now?"
"Indeed."
Bu Eun-seol had been testing Hwa Jung-cheon.
And had the man remained steadfast in an adversarial position... he would have genuinely intended to sever his head.
"Heh heh heh. Hahahaha!"
Hwa Jung-cheon suddenly burst into laughter.
"They called you the Mad Sword, but it seems this Hall has welcomed a lunatic as its successor!"
Despite his words, a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
"Then again, one would have to be mad to achieve such feats at such a young age."
Cutting off his laughter abruptly, he fixed Bu Eun-seol with a piercing stare.
"Now that you've become the successor, you're sorting out who stands on your side—is that it?"
"Precisely."
As Bu Eun-seol nodded obediently, Hwa Jung-cheon's lips curled into a smirk.
"But this Pavilion Lord stands on no one's side."
"Good. Then I ask that you maintain your neutrality, just as you have now."
A bloody light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
"Others may be different, but if the Pavilion Lord were to turn against me... no matter the risk, I would have to cut you down first."
Hwa Jung-cheon was the Secret Shadow Pavilion Lord, the one who governed all intelligence within the Demon Hall. If he were to oppose Bu Eun-seol?
Even if it meant relinquishing his position as successor, he would have no choice but to eliminate him.
"Heh heh heh. The Lord should also mind his conduct."
Hwa Jung-cheon let out a low chuckle.
"Lest this Pavilion Lord does change his mind."
A terrifying momentum erupted from his body—one potent enough to instantly obliterate the killing intent Bu Eun-seol had exuded.
"If this Pavilion Lord truly sets his mind to it, even the Demon Hall's successor can be reduced to a cold corpse."
A bloodthirsty threat.
Yet Bu Eun-seol only smiled in delight.
"Gladly."
Then, with perfect courtesy, he clasped his hands together.
"Thank you for sparing your precious time. Then, I shall take my leave."
As Bu Eun-seol departed, an enigmatic light shimmered in Hwa Jung-cheon's eyes.
"Whether this is for the best... or if everything will spiral into chaos, only time will tell."
His voice carried a multitude of emotions—like a mastermind concealing countless secrets within a grand conspiracy.
Slaughter-Seeking Squad Leader, So Ja-myeong.
A former Blood Lord of the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion, he was once an elite Kill-Seeking operative who exclusively handled Grade A Missions in the past.
"So the Martial Soul Lord was none other than Eighteen, the legendary operative of the Yueyang Branch."
A faint smile curled at the corners of So Ja-myeong's lips as he faced Bu Eun-seol.
He was from the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion and held no particular grudge against Bu Eun-seol.
Moreover, he knew that Bu Eun-seol was the infamous Eighteen, the one who had once shaken the Yueyang Branch to its core.
Perhaps that was why he was showing such unexpected warmth toward Bu Eun-seol, who had arrived unannounced.
"But what brings you here now? Officially, the Slaughter-Seeking Squad doesn't even exist."
So Ja-myeong's smile was faint, almost ghostly.
The Slaughter-Seeking Squad was an unacknowledged special force, its operatives' identities meticulously erased.
Even So Ja-myeong, as its commander, was officially recorded as nonexistent within the Demon Hall.
"Being the heir does have its perks. I never thought I'd get to meet the Slaughter-Seeking Squad's commander in person."
"Speak freely, Lord. There's no need for formalities."
So Ja-myeong chuckled as Bu Eun-seol offered polite words.
"After all, you're currently conversing with a man who, by all records, does not exist."
"Good."
Bu Eun-seol nodded slowly, his voice low and deliberate.
"I want the Slaughter-Seeking Squad under my direct command."
"Direct... command?"
So Ja-myeong's expression twisted in confusion.
"You wish to place the Slaughter-Seeking Squad under the authority of the Martial Soul Lord?"
"That's right."
The Slaughter-Seeking Squad was not an organization that dealt in honorable affairs.
Its missions were shrouded in secrecy—clandestine struggles against the Righteous Faction, covert operations that left no trace.
And if one were to trace its chain of command, it technically fell under the jurisdiction of the Chief Doctrine Commander.
For it to suddenly shift allegiance to Bu Eun-seol was absurd.
"Direct command... I see."
Yet, So Ja-myeong nodded as if he had just grasped something profound.
The Slaughter-Seeking Squad belonged to the Demon Hall, yet it was the only force exempt from the Secret Shadow Pavilion's surveillance—because it could not be surveilled in the first place.
Its very existence was denied. No matter what atrocities it committed, the Demon Hall would never claim responsibility.
Bu Eun-seol had witnessed firsthand the terrifying reach of the Secret Shadow Pavilion during his meeting with Hwa Jung-cheon.
And so, he sought a force that could completely erase his tracks, a secret unit beyond the reach of any intelligence network.
He wanted the Slaughter-Seeking Squad under his thumb.
"What does the Slaughter-Seeking Squad stand to gain by submitting to you, Lord?"
"Within five years, I will have the Slaughter-Seeking Squad officially recognized as a legitimate force of the Demon Hall, with all the privileges that entails."
"I fear you've misunderstood something, Lord."
So Ja-myeong shook his head.
"In exchange for having our existence denied, Kill-Seeking operatives are paid exorbitant sums."
He continued slowly, deliberately.
"That's why disciples from the Demonic Path Ten Gates—and even people from all kinds of martial sects—flock to join us. So tell me, why should we care about official recognition?"
"I've heard the payment per mission has been dwindling."
Bu Eun-seol's tone remained indifferent.
"And it will only decrease further. The martial world is stabilizing—the struggle between the Righteous and Demonic Paths is fading. Covert power plays will soon vanish entirely."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Even now, the Slaughter-Seeking Squad's place in the world is shrinking. Isn't that so?"
So Ja-myeong's smile vanished.
Bu Eun-seol was right. The Slaughter-Seeking Squad's operations were dwindling, and its funding had been slashed dramatically.
The operatives, who risked their lives without recognition or rank, cared only for money.
And once they joined the Slaughter-Seeking Squad, they effectively severed ties with their original sects. Many had nowhere to return to.
The bigger problem?
Even So Ja-myeong himself, the commander, was in the same predicament.
"You left the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion long ago to lead the Slaughter-Seeking Squad. You're no different from your operatives."
"If you already know that much, then fine."
So Ja-myeong's expression darkened.
"Tell me, Lord. What exactly do you want from us?"
Bu Eun-seol had dangled an irresistible prize before him—sweet, tantalizing, impossible to refuse.
But that meant his demands would be equally impossible.
"Information."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was calm.
"The Demon Hall's Secret Shadow Pavilion monopolizes intelligence, swearing loyalty only to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
So Ja-myeong frowned.
"But surely you have your own intelligence networks, Lord? The Wind and Cloud Corps of Langya Pavilion, the Fleeting Moment Boat's information web—I've heard you've been mobilizing them."
"The information I seek cannot be obtained through ordinary channels."
Bu Eun-seol's voice dropped lower.
"The kind of intelligence that requires operatives to risk their lives, to fight, to seize, to strive endlessly—dangerous knowledge."
"Hmm. In other words, the same kind of missions the Slaughter-Seeking Squad already undertakes."
"Not just that."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed with lightning.
"You must ensure that my movements remain completely hidden—untraceable by any intelligence network, any individual."
A pause.
"Even if that individual is the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself."
So Ja-myeong studied Bu Eun-seol with newfound interest.
Why would the newly anointed heir of the Demon Hall need a covert special forces unit?
What kind of information was he after—that he would dare to slip beyond the gaze of the Number One of the Demonic Path?
"What matters do you need investigated?"
"That will be revealed once you pledge allegiance to me."
"Loyalty isn't something to be sworn with mere words."
Like all of the Demonic Path, the Slaughter-Seeking Squad members remained loyal only to money and profit.
Even if they swore oaths hundreds of times, those vows held less value than fallen leaves scattering in the wind.
"What Slaughter-Seeking Squad operatives ultimately pursue is their own benefit. You're well aware of this, aren't you?"
"Heh heh heh. If that's how you see it, so be it."
Bu Eun-seol bared his white teeth in a smile.
But that smile was so bloodthirsty that So Ja-myeong couldn't bring himself to return it.
—Loyalty or death.
Bu Eun-seol's gaze spoke those words clearly.
"I'd heard rumors that the Lord had a cold personality, but I never imagined you'd be this tyrannical."
So Ja-myeong openly described Bu Eun-seol as "ruthless" to his face.
And that was an utterly sincere sentiment.
"I await your answer."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, So Ja-myeong shook his head with a grave expression.
"For the Lord—who understands the Slaughter-Seeking Squad's nature so well—to offer substantial support while seeking to bring us under his command... I can only feel deeply honored."
Then he continued flatly:
"However, I must decline the Lord's proposal."
Though the refusal came like a cleaving blade, Bu Eun-seol's expression remained impassive—as if waiting for So Ja-myeong's follow-up.
"Given our unit's nature, we cannot pledge eternal loyalty to the Lord."
"A fair point. Then?"
"Provide us with ample funding. For as long as the funds flow generously, we shall serve as your loyal subordinates."
—If you want to buy our loyalty, pay for it. With an exorbitant sum.
"In simpler terms, you'll remain faithful subordinates until the money runs dry."
"Precisely."
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
This answer was thousands of times more reliable than any hollow oath of loyalty.
"Very well."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"Starting now, I'll pay double the standard fee per operation."
"D-double?"
So Ja-myeong's jaw dropped.
Even now, Supreme Cult Commander Yeop Hyo-cheon was complaining that the Slaughter-Seeking Squad's mission rewards were excessive and cutting their payments.
Yet Bu Eun-seol was offering double from the outset?
"You're serious?"
"Of course. Depending on future missions, I may raise it to triple."
"How does that make sense? With what funds—"
So Ja-myeong, who had been studying Bu Eun-seol's confident expression, suddenly gasped.
'Ah, of course.'
Only then did he remember one crucial fact he'd forgotten.
Bu Eun-seol enjoyed the limitless financial backing of that eccentric Fleeting Moment Boat's leader, Geuk Hye-ryeong.
The Fleeting Moment Boat's wealth rivaled that of the entire Demon Hall itself.
In other words, though not the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, Bu Eun-seol wielded financial power on par with the Demon Hall's mightiest.
"Heh heh heh! Hahaha!"
So Ja-myeong burst into raucous laughter.
He'd long been dissatisfied with the Demon Hall's stubborn old men and their antiquated factions clinging to power...
Contenting himself with merely leading the Slaughter-Seeking Squad.
But now this exceptional successor had appeared—one who might overturn the entire Demon Hall... He could scarcely contain his delight.
"Agreed."
So Ja-myeong replied with a faint smile.
"As long as the funds flow, the Slaughter-Seeking Squad shall be the Lord's loyal force."
"Then I'll brief you on an urgent mission."
A solemn light kindled in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Starting from the mysterious headquarters of Wicked Incense...
To those masked figures who burned the strange medicines and Seong Family Ironworks—he intended to hunt down every last thread of that organization.
The Sect Master Assembly.
A conference where the Demon Hall's successor convenes and presides over the Demonic Path Ten Gates' leadership.
But this assembly existed only as a nominal authority.
Throughout the Demon Hall's long history, no successor had ever convened it.
Because the supreme council—the Demonic Governance Council —already gathered the Ten Gates' leaders under the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's supervision.
The successor's position remained too precarious to comfortably issue commands to the Ten Gates' leadership.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had abruptly convened the Sect Master Assembly, summoning the Demonic Path Ten Gates' high command.
Within the Hidden Demon Pavilion's meeting hall...
Seven figures sat with expressions like they'd bitten into unripe persimmons.
They were hall master-rank figures from seven of the Demonic Path Ten Gates—excluding only Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sanctuary and Fleeting Moment Boat, plus the temporarily sealed Ultimate Assassin Pavilion.
Though nominally a Sect Master Assembly, protocol dictated that vice sect leaders should attend when convened.
But these leaders—all displeased with Bu Eun-seol—had seemingly coordinated to send hall masters instead.
"I am Martial Soul Lord Bu Eun-seol."
Seated at the chamber's center, Bu Eun-seol surveyed the hall masters as he spoke.
"The hall masters have gathered, I see."
His low voice carried a faint smile.
"Do the hall masters possess decision-making authority regarding this assembly's agenda?"
At this, White Blood Faction Leader U Seok of White Horse Monastery replied with clear distaste:
"Naturally."
"The same for the others?"
When Bu Eun-seol posed this question, the hall masters all nodded with expressions of annoyance.
"Indeed."
"Good."
Bu Eun-seol withdrew a ledger from his robes.
"My investigation uncovered rampant corruption throughout the Demonic Path Ten Gates."
Thud.
After slapping the ledger onto the table, Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze to Red Blood Faction Leader Un Sa-dok of Hell Blood Citadel's faction.
"Thus, first order of business—we begin auditing Hell Blood Citadel."