Chapter 281
The Swift Shadowless technique he had mastered was the body-locomotion martial art of Go Wol, the former Great Thief. It was an unparalleled movement technique for covert infiltration and concealing one's presence.
Yet after leaving Neung Jo-un's quarters, Bu Eun-seol did not employ any movement technique. Instead, he walked with deliberate boldness.
I must appear to be naturally touring the premises.
The very reason Bu Eun-seol had used Jongjeong Yak to infiltrate the Martial Alliance was to obtain this kind of unimpeachable status that allowed him to move about openly.
This was the Martial Alliance, after all.
The orthodox faction's central organization, gathering countless talents and masters wielding terrifying martial arts.
Had Bu Eun-seol recklessly wandered about relying solely on his martial arts and movement techniques?
He might have been instantly detected—or worse, attacked—by masters superior to himself.
I don't have much time left.
Moreover, the duration Bu Eun-seol could remain within the Martial Alliance was severely limited.
Within that span, he needed to thoroughly survey the Alliance's surroundings to confirm any possible connection to Wicked Incense.
Clop, clop.
Bu Eun-seol strolled leisurely as if on a casual walk, occasionally glancing at the surrounding pavilions and buildings, sometimes approaching just close enough.
Occasionally, when he ventured too deep into certain areas, guards would stop him.
But as long as he didn't approach the pavilions directly and merely wandered slowly, they soon lost interest.
The Martial Alliance's scale was even vaster than the Demon Hall's. Investigating every nook and cranny would take more than a month.
Furthermore, areas like the martial arts manual repositories or the High Command's quarters were strictly off-limits from the outset.
Thus, Bu Eun-seol moved about as if on a stroll, selecting locations where he could come and go—or investigate—without drawing attention.
Whenever he found a suspicious spot, he employed the Empty Mind Spirit Perception to check for hidden mechanisms.
I can't rely solely on prior intelligence.
In truth, he had already memorized a detailed map of the Martial Alliance's internal layout, obtained through the Kill-Seeking Unit' leader, So Ja-myeong.
But that was only to avoid venturing near areas where the Alliance Leader or High Command might reside.
He deliberately ignored that knowledge, trusting his instincts as he surveyed the interior.
An abandoned warehouse?
Having quickly scanned the buildings, Bu Eun-seol's gaze settled on a large structure in the distance.
It was a derelict warehouse storing broken weapons and damaged equipment.
A place where not only the Alliance's martial artists but even ordinary laborers could enter freely—hardly suitable for hiding anything.
But Bu Eun-seol saw it differently.
"The foundation of searching is investigating the least suspicious places first."
Neung Jo-un's words from before.
And it was true. Beginning the search where no suspicion fell prevented wasted time.
Approaching the warehouse, Bu Eun-seol activated the Empty Mind Spirit Perception to scrutinize the building's exterior in detail.
There's something here.
Sharpening his hearing, he detected the faint sound of mechanisms—springs coiling or chains shifting.
Entering cautiously, he examined the interior thoroughly.
Something's off.
The space inside was vast, with separate rooms categorizing the stored items.
Despite the layout allowing for efficient use of space, the haphazard arrangement left many areas unnecessarily empty.
This kind of structure usually hides secret compartments.
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol focused his mind.
Once more, he employed the Empty Mind Spirit Perception to locate concealed mechanisms.
Found it.
He opened the stone door of a small chamber at the warehouse's far end.
The room was completely empty, its floor paved with blue stone slabs.
The floor, then.
At a glance, they appeared identical, but with his Empty Mind Spirit Perception active, Bu Eun-seol saw several slabs glowing in entirely different hues.
A sequence to step on.
Noticing faint footprints, he stepped on the blue slabs in order.
Creak—
With a groan, one side of the stone chamber sank, revealing a narrow passage.
The moment he moved to enter—
...
His Resonance Mind Eye triggered an alarm.
Bu Eun-seol immediately retraced his steps on the slabs in reverse.
The wall reassembled itself, sealing the passage shut.
Tap.
Exiting, he concealed himself behind a pillar facing the stone chamber.
Clank.
Simultaneously, the sound of a door opening echoed as someone approached the chamber where Bu Eun-seol had been.
Thud, thud.
The figure was clad entirely in white garments, face obscured by a white mask.
Though features were invisible, the aura radiating from their body was sharp as ice—piercingly cold.
Just as the masked figure was about to enter the stone chamber with the hidden passage—
"How peculiar."
Tilting their head, they suddenly unleashed a barrage of Finger Winds toward the pillar where Bu Eun-seol hid.
Whizz—whizz—whizz!
Eighty-one Finger Winds rained down in succession.
Swirling through the air like a storm, the winds twisted violently before piercing straight through Bu Eun-seol's hiding spot.
"...Must have been my imagination."
The masked figure stared into the darkness, head tilted in puzzlement.
Then they entered the stone chamber and began stepping on the blue slabs in sequence.
With a deep rumble, the arrangement of the engraved slabs began shifting.
"Annoying how everything sets me on edge."
Muttering irritably, they exited the warehouse.
"Haa."
Once the masked figure left, Bu Eun-seol emerged from the shadows.
Zzziiing.
A massive shroud of black True Qi had condensed in the air before him, large enough to conceal his entire body.
He had deployed the Willful True Binding to silently block the masked figure's devastating Finger Winds.
"Had I not possessed the Willful True Binding, I would have been discovered instantly."
The single flick of Finger Wind unleashed by the masked man was nothing short of a pinnacle technique in the martial world.
Moreover, the ability to release eighty-one finger winds in a single breath was a skill possessed by only one man in all of murim.
"The Silver River Heavenly Dragon Finger. So he was the Deputy Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall."
The only person capable of unleashing eighty-one finger winds in a single motion was none other than Danri Muk—renowned as the Ten Fingers Unrivaled, a master of the Finger Flick Art, and the Deputy Hall Master of the Murim Alliance's Law Enforcement Hall.
"Is he connected to Wicked Incense as well? Or..."
Bu Eun-seol's heart pounded.
If Danri Muk is tied to Wicked Incense... If what he's hidden here are Wicked Incense's concealed weapons...
He might have just stumbled upon the key to unraveling Wicked Incense's trail.
"I should return for now."
Martial artists with deep internal energy could sleep deeply for at most about two hours.
If he kept Neung Jo-un unconscious for too long by striking his sleep acupoint, the man would immediately sense something amiss.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.
Returning to Neung Jo-un's quarters, Bu Eun-seol gently released the sleep acupoint with a flick of the Willful True Binding.
"Mmm..."
Neung Jo-un's eyelids fluttered open as he slowly took in his surroundings.
"Did I doze off for a moment?"
Cautiously rising, he peered through the gap in the door, scanning the room.
There, he saw Bu Eun-seol sleeping peacefully. Judging by the moon outside, it seemed only an hour had passed.
"Honestly, there's no need to be wary of him."
A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head.
"Or perhaps I'm becoming more like the Law Enforcement Commander."
Bu Eun-seol was a Special-Grade wandering martial artist under the Red Sky Curtain Branch.
Not only was he personally vouched for by Dam Yu-yeon, the Hall Master of the Scripture Instruction Hall, but it was Jongjeong Yak herself who had pleaded for him to join the Murim Alliance.
The idea that all of this had been premeditated was far too elaborate.
Besides, anyone with ill intentions wouldn't go through such convoluted means to infiltrate the Alliance.
"Given the nature of the case, I suppose caution is warranted."
Shaking his head once more, Neung Jo-un settled back into his chair.
The Next Day
Jongjeong Yak arrived at Neung Jo-un's quarters early in the morning.
"Did you rest well?"
Though she wore no makeup, the clean martial uniform enhanced her striking beauty.
"Commander."
Neung Jo-un, seated at the table with a cup of tea, clasped his hands together.
"How did things go?"
A confident smile played on Jongjeong Yak's lips.
"The Bureau Chief has agreed to persuade the Hall Masters to convene the Ten Justice Assembly."
"Ah, that's a relief."
Neung Jo-un exhaled deeply.
The mere rumor of the Assembly's convening would prevent Danri Muk from pressuring Jongjeong Yak so easily.
And if Bu Eun-seol's testimony was accepted during the Assembly, the Inspection Hall would be forced to investigate Danri Muk.
"Where is Young Hero Seol?"
"Still resting in his room."
Jongjeong Yak rapped lightly on the door.
"Young Hero Seol. Are you awake?"
Bu Eun-seol, who had been meditating on his bed, slowly opened his eyes.
"Come in."
"Good news. The Ten Justice Assembly—"
"I heard from outside."
"Ah, I see."
Her expression brightened as she addressed him.
"Then let's go eat."
The Murim Alliance, vast as it was, had multiple dining halls—much like the Demon Hall.
The difference, however, was stark.
In the Demon Hall, meals were strictly assigned based on rank and authority.
But in the Murim Alliance, anyone could dine wherever there was space, as the same food was served regardless of status.
'This, at least, I can appreciate.'
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly to himself.
The Demon Hall, which enforced loyalty through strength and authority, even rationed food based on hierarchy.
But the Murim Alliance, founded on the righteous cause of defending justice, had to maintain at least the appearance of humility—especially for its higher-ranking members.
"Sit here."
Jongjeong Yak guided Bu Eun-seol to an empty table.
A large plate of rice, side dishes of tofu and greens, and a pot of rich broth—sparing on meat but generous in flavor—were laid out.
Gulp, gulp. Slurp, slurp.
Having exerted himself multiple times in the martial world, Neung Jo-un devoured his meal ravenously.
But Bu Eun-seol only took a bowl of broth, sipping it slowly.
'Strange.'
A flicker of light passed through Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he ate in silence.
An inexplicable, sticky gaze clung to the back of his neck.
'A master even I can't detect?'
A chill ran down his spine.
Even when pushing his Way of the Beast senses to their limit, he couldn't pinpoint the source.
'Someone from the upper echelons is watching me.'
Just as he faintly nodded in realization—
"Well, well, if it isn't you."
Five men in blue martial uniforms approached, pointing at Neung Jo-un.
They were martial artists under Danri Muk's command—members of the Law Enforcement Hall.
"Isn't this the oh-so-great Law Enforcement Commander and her adjutant?"
The Law Enforcement Hall wielded immense authority, and most of its members hailed from the Nine Great Sects and One Gang or the Eight Great Families.
So when upstarts like Jongjeong Yak and Neung Jo-un—backed by neither lineage nor influence—wielded the same authority as them, it rubbed them the wrong way.
Especially since the two had no powerful backers, they were frequent targets of scorn.
Moreover, rumors had spread that Jongjeong Yak was investigating the Law Enforcement Hall while maintaining close ties with the Head of the Nectar Bureau...
As a result, the martial artists of the Law Enforcement Hall had been openly disregarding and ostracizing Jongjeong Yak and Neung Jo-un.
"Go mind your own business."
Neung Jo-un spoke irritably, his mouth still full of rice.
"They say even dogs don't bother others while they're eating."
At that, Baek Yeong-do, the apparent leader of the five men, smirked as he looked at Neung Jo-un.
"Well, I can't quite tell if you're a dog or a person."
Then, pointing at Bu Eun-seol across from them, he added,
"Is that guy the wandering swordsman from the rumors?"
"What, are you planning to start something here?"
Neung Jo-un retorted coldly.
"Afraid an investigation might expose your misdeeds later?"
"Nonsense!"
Baek Yeong-do's fist clenched tightly for a moment, but he soon relaxed it.
This was the Martial Alliance. No matter how much they despised them, they couldn't openly cause trouble here.
"Don't pay them any mind."
Jongjeong Yak, who had remained silent until now, waved her hand dismissively at Neung Jo-un.
"Who knows? They might be the ones getting dismissed soon."
"What did you say?!"
Baek Yeong-do, enraged, raised his voice and stepped toward her, but—
"Thanks for the meal."
Bu Eun-seol abruptly stood up, blocking his path.
"W-what the—?"
"Move aside."
Bu Eun-seol held his empty bowl toward Baek Yeong-do's chest.
With no choice, Baek Yeong-do grudgingly stepped aside.
"Let's go together."
As Neung Jo-un made to rise, Bu Eun-seol raised a hand to stop him.
"No need. Take your time."
Then, carrying his dishes, he ambled away.
Watching his retreating figure, Baek Yeong-do exchanged glances with his group.
With sinister smiles, they slipped outside the exit while Bu Eun-seol was putting away his bowl.
—Let's see if that bastard can still smile after this.
Thud. Thud.
Just as Bu Eun-seol finished and turned to leave, Baek Yeong-do and Eun Jung-hwi, another martial artist from the Law Enforcement Hall, channeled their internal power throughout their bodies.
Both were masters of the external martial art Golden Bell Shield, which hardened their entire bodies like steel.
No matter how skilled a martial artist was, a direct collision like this would leave no one unscathed.
'Here he comes.'
As Bu Eun-seol stepped outside, Baek Yeong-do and Eun Jung-hwi reinforced their power.
Then, channeling their pent-up frustration toward Jongjeong Yak and Neung Jo-un, they deliberately rammed their shoulders into him.
Their plan was to humiliate Jongjeong Yak and Neung Jo-un by making Bu Eun-seol stumble pathetically.
"Young Hero Seol!"
Jongjeong Yak, belatedly realizing their scheme, shouted urgently—but it was already too late.
Thud.
Shoulder met shoulder, and a low vibration rippled through the air.
Simultaneously, with a loud crash, two men tumbled to the ground in an undignified heap.
But the ones who fell weren't Bu Eun-seol—it was Baek Yeong-do and Eun Jung-hwi, who had intentionally rammed into him.
"Ughhh..."
Groaning in pain, the two writhed on the floor, tears welling in their eyes.
The impact had been so severe that their shoulders had dislocated.
'Did Young Hero Seol also train in external martial arts?'
Jongjeong Yak and Neung Jo-un, who had rushed over, exchanged bewildered glances.
How could he have dislocated the shoulders of two external martial arts masters who had reinforced their bodies with internal power?
"Are you two alright?"
As their comrades moved to help them up—
"Gahh!"
The two let out agonized screams.
The moment they were lifted, it felt as if the meridians around their dislocated shoulders were tearing, sending searing pain through them.
"A-are you okay?"
"Uuuugh..."
Despite their comrades' concern, the two could only sob pitifully, overwhelmed by pain.
The onlookers stared in a mix of shock and disbelief.
Baek Yeong-do and Eun Jung-hwi—known as rising talents among the younger generation—were crying like children, unable to endure the pain?
"Enough of this. Let's get them to the Physician Immortal Grotto first."
Their comrades barely managed to support the weeping duo as they staggered out of the dining hall.
Thump. Thump.
Then, with heavy footsteps, a middle-aged man of formidable build and a round face approached Bu Eun-seol.
His chest and back muscles were so massive that, from the side, he resembled a towering block of stone.
'A master.'
A flicker of lightning passed through Bu Eun-seol's gaze.
The middle-aged man's martial prowess loomed like a mountain, and an energy capable of splitting heaven and earth coursed through his hands.
"Your hands are remarkably fast."
The middle-aged man studied Bu Eun-seol, his voice low.
"What is your connection to the Seven Core Sect?"
"What do you mean?"
"Heh. The energy technique you just used—wasn't that the Blazing Hand Blade Line of the Seven Core Sect?"
Bu Eun-seol feigned surprise.
"How do you know that?"
The Seven Core Sect.
Once, it had been a prominent orthodox sect in the Yanggwang Murim.
But internal strife had wiped out its core masters in an instant.
With no one left to pass down its finest techniques, the sect gradually declined into obscurity—now remembered only as the Vanished Sect.
And Bu Eun-seol had learned its martial arts from the Martial Emperor Secret Vault.
"Heh. So you're a disciple of the Seven Core Sect. No wonder your skills are formidable."
The middle-aged man nodded as if everything now made sense.
In the past, the Seven Core Sect's masters had been exceptionally strong.
He mistakenly assumed that the long-lost sect had finally restored its secret techniques and produced a disciple like Bu Eun-seol.
"You seem to be a legitimate figure of the orthodox lineage. I'll let today's matter slide."
"But if you dare use martial arts recklessly within our alliance again..."
His voice darkened.
"Next time, both your shoulders will be shattered."
As his final words hung in the air, an overwhelming pressure erupted from the middle-aged man's body, bearing down on Bu Eun-seol like an avalanche.
'Formless Qi.'
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol's pupils flashed crimson.