Chapter 288
Myo Cheon-u stood side by side with Won Se-mun and Jo Nam-cheon, trembling with rage.
It was clear that he, too, had taken Yeon So-ha's words at face value.
Of course, it wasn't unreasonable.
Yeon So-ha's eyes and voice not only surpassed the beauty of the mortal world but also made her character appear as noble and pure as a saintess.
Even if someone had said ivory grew from a dog's mouth, one wouldn't have doubted her for a second.
"Deputy Leader Yu."
At that moment, Wi Cheon-gyeong spoke in a low voice.
"Perhaps I should first explain the situation to the Lord. If we send her back like this, I fear it may tarnish the Lord's reputation."
Fortunately, like Yu Un-ryong, Wi Cheon-gyeong at least maintained an Immovable Mind.
'A reasonable point.'
"Young Palace Lord. Since you've come all this way, please have some tea while you wait."
Yu Un-ryong, who had quickly composed himself, spoke to Yeon So-ha and the women standing behind her.
"I will immediately find out when the Lord is expected to return."
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol sat in his office, continuously writing letters.
The extermination of the Five Poisons Sect had sent shockwaves not only through the Demonic Path but throughout the entire martial world, including the orthodox factions.
It had brought to light the series of child disappearances occurring across the Central Plains.
As a result, not only the Martial Alliance but also various orthodox sects, the Black Path, and even the Unorthodox Path had reached out to the Demon Hall, seeking cooperation.
This phenomenon, transcending the divide between orthodox and unorthodox factions, was a marvel born from Bu Eun-seol's emergence as an exceptional successor.
Then, a familiar voice sounded as the door was knocked.
"It's Yu Un-ryong."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been writing letters absentmindedly, responded quietly.
"Come in."
When Yu Un-ryong entered, his expression was grim. Seeing this, Bu Eun-seol let out a sigh.
He didn't even need to ask—he already understood the situation.
"Why couldn't you send her away?"
"All the deputy leaders, including Myo Cheon-u, were in my office."
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply.
That was something even he hadn't anticipated.
He had hoped Yu Un-ryong would handle it discreetly... but who could have guessed that all the deputy leaders would be gathered in his office at that very moment?
"There's no helping it, then."
Truthfully, avoiding this wasn't an option.
But Bu Eun-seol didn't have the time to spare for this "fiancée-seeking commotion."
He had uncovered the Five Poisons Sect, a faction secretly nurtured for decades, and annihilated them in a single stroke.
From their perspective, they couldn't possibly let this slide.
'I had hoped it would pass quietly...'
But now that even Yeon So-ha had come seeking him, drawn by rumors, he could no longer ignore it.
Moreover, he needed to find out how she had discerned his true identity.
"Very well. I'll go myself."
With another sigh, Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat.
Flower Red Pavilion.
That was the name of the pavilion built within the inner garden of the Hidden Demon Pavilion.
Following a path lined with rare and exotic flowers, one would come across a small footbridge and a beautiful lotus pond.
And before them stood the Flower Red Pavilion, designed for enjoying tea and scenery on sunny days.
When Bu Eun-seol arrived at the pavilion, he saw a beautiful woman in white gazing up at the sky from the small bridge over the pond.
She was dazzlingly beautiful—almost painfully so.
Between strands of hair that shimmered like satin under the sunlight, her dark eyes seemed to hold the radiance of the entire world.
Beneath them, her delicate nose and, when his gaze lowered further, slightly parted lips the color of lotus blossoms revealed a glimpse of perfectly aligned teeth.
She was the very image of beauty that every man had dreamed of.
It was Yeon So-ha.
"It's been a while, Young Lady Yeon."
As Bu Eun-seol approached, she turned her gaze from the sky toward him.
"Young Hero Bu."
Within her large, glistening eyes, a mist of emotions swelled.
Love, hatred, resentment, and longing...
With just a single glance, Yeon So-ha conveyed everything she wished to say to Bu Eun-seol.
"No, I should address you as Lord now."
Unable to meet her eyes, Bu Eun-seol glanced away toward the pond.
In the past, when Bu Eun-seol had lived as a wandering martial artist under the alias Seol-so, he had been eager to face Jeong Cheon, the head of the Horizontal Sky Department, as soon as possible.
In his impatience, he had rashly accepted the mission to retrieve the Life-Preserving Divine Pearl without fully investigating the details.
Of course, he had managed to escape the Divine Maiden Palace by exploiting the displeasure of its palace lord, Yeon Ja-mi, toward him...
But in doing so, he had deeply wounded Yeon So-ha, who had opened her heart to him.
"But how did you find out and come here?"
As the silence stretched on, Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to ask the question weighing on his mind.
The only person who knew the true identity of the wandering martial artist Seol-so was Heuk-pyo.
If Heuk-pyo hadn't revealed his identity, Bu Eun-seol would have to completely revise his plans up to this point.
If the Divine Maiden Palace had uncovered Bu Eun-seol's hidden identity, it would mean that his past movements had been fully exposed by intelligence networks.
"A wandering martial artist named Seol-so has appeared again at the Red Sky Curtain Branch."
Yeon So-ha spoke in a trembling voice, as though barely suppressing her emotions.
"When you cut off contact and didn't return, I had no choice but to mobilize all the Divine Maiden Palace's resources to find the wandering martial artist Seol-so."
Yeon So-ha had known all along that Bu Eun-seol would eventually reappear under the identity of Seol-so.
So she had directed all her intelligence efforts toward the Shaanxi Wanderers' Market and the Red Sky Curtain Branch, searching for him.
And so, she had finally tracked down Bu Eun-seol's movements when he reappeared at the Red Sky Curtain Branch.
But after he departed for the Martial Alliance, his trail vanished once more. In the end, Yeon So-ha had no choice but to resort to her final measure.
She sought out Heuk-pyo at the Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers and pleaded with him.
—Please help me find him.
Once Heuk-pyo realized the sincerity in her heart, he reluctantly revealed Bu Eun-seol's true identity.
Not because his own resolve had weakened, but because he had sensed that she was the other half of Bu Eun-seol's soul—
Or so he claimed, adding that he insisted Bu Eun-seol hear this infuriating excuse later.
"I see."
Having heard the full story, Bu Eun-seol exhaled a sigh of relief.
Punishing that insolent Heuk-pyo would have to wait.
What mattered most was that his dual identity as Seol-so had not been exposed.
"To be honest, even after learning the truth about you, I didn't intend to seek you out."
Yeon So-ha spoke with an expression of deep hurt.
"You are now the Heir of the Demon Hall. You must have many duties ahead. I could have waited a little longer."
As she paused, glistening teardrops like pearls rolled down her cheeks once more.
"But recently, rumors spread that the Heir of the Demon Hall was selecting a bride for an engagement. As if you had forgotten every promise you made to me."
The sight of Yeon So-ha weeping so bitterly was enough to make even the cold-hearted Bu Eun-seol feel remorseful.
At the same time, for the first time, he felt a surge of resentment toward Yeop Hyo-cheon.
He didn't know what hidden motives the man had.
But wasn't it Yeop Hyo-cheon who had spread those baseless rumors, driving Yeon So-ha to seek him out?
"That rumor is false."
"Even the Demon Hall's warriors know of it. Are you saying I misheard?"
"Of course. I'd stake my life on it."
Bu Eun-seol pointed solemnly at his own neck.
His expression was so grave and resolute that—
Yeon So-ha, without realizing it, let out a small laugh despite her tear-filled eyes.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Bu Eun-seol calmly explained the situation.
That it had all started with Supreme Cult Commander Yeop Hyo-cheon's suggestion—that he had deliberately spread those rumors.
And that Bu Eun-seol himself had never entertained the thought of an engagement.
"Fine. I'll believe you."
Fortunately, Yeon So-ha chose to trust his words.
"After all, you have no reason to weave such lies just to persuade me."
"I'm grateful for your understanding."
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol felt genuine gratitude toward her.
What if she had been a woman blinded by jealousy? Things could have gotten very troublesome.
"But if the Supreme Cult Commander has ulterior motives, I can't just rest easy."
"Then what would put your mind at ease?"
Yeon So-ha replied with a composed expression.
"I'll stay here for a while and personally ensure those rumors disappear."
"You mean to reside in this pavilion?"
"You stayed at my palace before, didn't you?"
Though Yeon So-ha was gentle and poised, she was no fool who would weep and beg for love.
As the future Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace, she was meticulous and unrelenting in her pursuits.
"Or is it that a mere Young Palace Lord from a minor sect isn't worthy of lodging here?"
"Of course not. It's just—"
"If there's no room here, I'll simply ask the Demonic Heavenly Emperor or the Supreme Cult Commander directly."
That was absolutely unacceptable.
Like a waiter scrambling to please, Bu Eun-seol swiftly gestured toward the Hidden Demon Pavilion.
"There are plenty of comfortable quarters here. Since I've imposed on the Divine Maiden Palace before... Please, make yourself at home."
"Thank you. Then I'll go rest now."
"By all means."
As she turned to leave, Yeon So-ha glanced back with a determined expression.
"I don't ask for much from you, my Lord."
She smiled faintly.
"Once the rumors of an engagement vanish, I'll leave immediately. So don't feel burdened by my presence."
Bu Eun-seol was in trouble.
Even if he had to resort to force, he should have sent Yeon So-ha back to the Divine Maiden Palace at once.
Because the moment she stayed at the Hidden Demon Pavilion, strange rumors began circulating again within the Demon Hall.
—They say the Martial Soul Lord has an unmarried bride?
The rumor had originated within the pavilion itself.
And to make matters worse, Yeon So-ha herself made no effort to hide her identity or circumstances.
—That's right. I am his betrothed, his fiancée.
When she boldly announced it to everyone, the Demon Hall's members were the ones who found it hard to believe.
—Must be nonsense.
Bu Eun-seol, the heir of Langya Pavilion, was the very definition of a true demonic path practitioner.
Yet he was the son-in-law of the Divine Maiden Palace, a sect aligned with the righteous path? The obstacles between them were far too great.
—They say the Divine Maiden Palace's Lord fell ill after her Young Palace Lord ran away.
But when rumors spread that Yeon So-ha had fled the palace and that its Lord had taken ill, the Demon Hall's members began to nod in understanding.
—Ah, so it was an elopement for love.
It wasn't unheard of for figures from the demonic and righteous paths to fall for each other.
For a while, the Demon Hall buzzed with talk of Yeon So-ha.
And even within the Death Shadow War Unit, an unusual liveliness took hold.
After all, one of the Three Beauties of the World was staying at the Hidden Demon Pavilion, diligently tending to the needs of the soldiers.
She had brought with her countless treasures from the Divine Maiden Palace—gifts meant for Bu Eun-seol and his subordinates.
Not only the high-ranking officers, but even the lowly guards received generous sums of money from her.
Moreover, while staying at the Hidden Demon Pavilion, she cooked delicious meals and treated the subordinates with kindness...
To the point where even hot-tempered martial artists had already begun calling her "Madame!"
Yu Un-ryong's Office
As always, Yu Un-ryong was seated at his desk, organizing documents.
And gathered around the table in front of him were the high-ranking officers of the Death Shadow War Unit, including Myo Cheon-u.
"Jin Sanghwa is beautiful, sure... but compared to Young Palace Master Yeon, one of the Three Beauties of the World, she falls a bit short," Myo Cheon-u remarked.
Won Se-mun nodded in agreement.
"Right. And the Young Palace Lord has wealth that rivals even the Fleeting Moment Boat."
Jo Nam-cheon clapped his hands.
"Not to mention her cooking skills are outstanding. The tofu dish she made the other day was truly the best."
"Her personality is so gentle too—unless she makes a major mistake, there's no reason for the Lord to scold her," Wi Cheon-gyeong added.
Seeing everyone in agreement, Myo Cheon-u put on a serious expression.
"Then, since we all agree, let's settle on Young Lady Yeon as the Lord's wife."
Clap clap clap.
As they applauded, Yu Un-ryong waved his hand irritably.
"If you're done, get out."
"Yu Un-ryong, you agree too, right?"
At Myo Cheon-u's earnest question, a thick vein bulged on Yu Un-ryong's forehead.
"I'm busy enough to die—stop spouting nonsense and leave."
"Why are you so annoyed? Fine, we'll go."
Grumbling, Myo Cheon-u left, and the rest of the officers followed in a noisy rush.
Sigh.
The moment those dark-hearted bastards left, the air seemed to clear.
Yu Un-ryong took a deep breath and regained his composure.
Though he hated to admit it, he was more suited to being a civil official than a martial one.
'Is bloodline really that decisive?'
At first, when Bu Eun-seol assigned him all the paperwork and administrative duties, he had been extremely dissatisfied.
But once he actually started, he found it surprisingly suited him.
Whenever he worked on documents, it was like meditation—his spirit grew tranquil, and his willpower sharpened.
Of course, that didn't mean he neglected martial training or teaching his subordinates.
Unlike other martial artists, he was tempering his spirit through paperwork.
'Maybe I should start writing the Ten-Section Staff Diagram soon.'
Lately, he had even found a rather enjoyable hobby—writing a martial treatise called Ten-Section Staff Diagram.
The Ten-Section Staff was a weapon Yu Un-ryong had devised after much deliberation, but its unique properties still hadn't fully adapted to his hands.
'Bu Eun-seol. You may be a step ahead in martial arts, but one day, this treatise will surpass yours.'
He knew Bu Eun-seol was also writing a martial treatise.
And so, he intended to leave his own mark on the martial world with Ten-Section Staff Diagram.
Just as he pulled out the manuscript and raised his brush—
Knock knock.
"Great Officer."
His adjutant, Mu-gwang's voice came through the door.
"It's Mu-gwang."
"Enter."
Mu-gwang stepped in cautiously and clasped his hands.
"What is it?"
"The successor of the Sword Pavilion has requested a duel with the Lord."
Thud.
Yu Un-ryong dropped his brush.
What kind of thunderbolt out of a clear sky was this?
"What nonsense is that? Why is the Sword Pavilion's successor even in the main hall?"
As Yu Un-ryong widened his eyes, Mu-gwang calmly explained.
"Due to the Five Poisons Sect incident, multiple sects have been sending requests for cooperation, haven't they?"
"So?"
"The Sword Pavilion directly dispatched their next successor to the main hall."
The Righteous Faction had been investigating cases of child abductions across the Central Plains.
Many sects had requested information-sharing regarding the Five Poisons Sect to trace the leads.
"And?"
"But the Lord holds exclusive information on the Five Poisons Sect, doesn't he? So when she was guided to him, she suddenly requested a duel."
"She just casually asked for a duel?"
"From what I heard, she and the Lord had met before. She was shocked by how much his martial prowess had improved and immediately challenged him."
Yu Un-ryong furrowed his brows in disbelief.
"Then they can just duel. Why come to me?"
"Well..."
Mu-gwang scratched his head.
"The Lord told her, 'First defeat all the masters of the Death Shadow War Unit, then come back.'"
"What?!"
"Just now, Great Officer Myo said Great Officer Jo was utterly crushed, so he told you to come to the training grounds immediately."
Thud.
Yu Un-ryong set down the book and slumped into his seat.
'These damn troublemakers!'
Why couldn't they just fight half-heartedly and lose or collapse like normal people?
Why drag him into this when he was peacefully working in his office?!
'Why are they doing this to me?'
With a gloomy expression, he stared at the manuscript.
Writing the Ten-Section Staff Diagram in his spare time was his joy.
But lately, he hadn't even had a moment to sit comfortably in his office.
"Tell them I'm not going."
"Huh?"
"Say this Great Officer is currently borrowing books from the History Classics Institute—"
Burst!
Just then, Won Se-mun's direct subordinates barged into Yu Un-ryong's office.
"Great Officer Yu! Hurry! Right now, even Great Officer Wi is barely holding on!"
From the sound of it, the Sword Pavilion's successor had already defeated Won Se-mun and was now fighting Wi Cheon-gyeong.
"Ugh—!"
Yu Un-ryong clenched his fists.
No wonder they were Won Se-mun's subordinates—charging into his office like reckless brutes!
"Tell Myo Cheon-u to go first!"
Finally, his patience snapped.
"I'm a civil official! I don't do duels, damn it!"