Chapter 290
"Anyway, I'd like to apologize once again."
Yeon So-ha bowed her head respectfully.
"Though the Lord urged me repeatedly to return, it was my own stubbornness that kept me here."
When she raised her head, her expression remained composed as she spoke.
"Everything is this humble one's fault, so please do not blame the Lord."
Jin Seol's eyes grew even colder.
The term "humble one" was what a married wife would use to humble herself before her husband.
Not only was Yeon So-ha deliberately referring to herself in this grammatically incorrect manner...
Wasn't she presenting herself as a woman coveting another woman's man?
"I didn't come here solely to place unconditional blame on the Lord."
Having regained her composure, Jin Seol spoke in a gentle voice.
"It's just that the Martial Soul Lord is the successor of our hall and has many complicated ties with me. So I ask for the Young Palace Lord's understanding."
In that instant, Yeon So-ha's delicate brows arched sharply.
—This is a matter between the two of us who belong to the Demon Hall. Outsiders shouldn't interfere.
Though her tone and expression remained polite, wasn't this essentially what she meant?
Throb.
A thin vein appeared on Yeon So-ha's forehead as she waved both hands with a troubled expression.
"No, no. The Lord may face many difficulties because of me in the future... How could I dare to do such a thing?"
At that moment, Jin Seol's long, slender eyebrows sharply rose.
—He and I have a relationship that will continue indefinitely, so don't keep interfering.
That was what Yeon So-ha was implying.
"Young Palace Lord, you're being unnecessarily meticulous. There's no need to trouble yourself so much."
—How presumptuous. Do you really think that could ever happen?
"No. In the past, the Lord risked his life to meet me... I'm merely responding in kind."
—Our relationship is different from yours. Ours is destined to be, don't you know?
For a while now, Bu Eun-seol had been hearing phantom voices in his ears.
Though the words exchanged were polite, entirely different meanings echoed in his mind.
"I must take my leave now, as urgent matters await."
True to a master who had stepped into the Extreme Heaven Realm, Bu Eun-seol seized the briefest opening to swiftly withdraw.
But his attempt ended in vain failure.
Because from the opposite path, another woman was approaching.
Dressed in a long robe that reached her knees, with a black sash tightly cinched around her waist, she resembled a scholarly gentleman from afar.
Yet as she drew closer, her peerless beauty—as if carved from translucent jade—gradually revealed itself.
It was none other than Dan So-ok, the Jewel in the Palm of Dan Wol-hon, the Secret Order Lord of the Demon Hall, and a candidate for the next Chief Commander.
"Lord Bu."
The beauty in scholar's robes revealed pearly white teeth as she looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"It's been a while."
"Who might you be?"
"It's me, Dan So-ok."
Startled, Bu Eun-seol scrutinized her face again.
Having absorbed the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit and fully recovered, Dan So-ok's appearance had completely transformed.
She had become so beautiful one might mistake her for a celestial maiden descended from heaven.
"You're Dan So-ok?"
As Bu Eun-seol widened his eyes in surprise, Dan So-ok bowed so deeply her head nearly touched the ground.
Thank you. For giving me the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit, as precious as life itself, without any conditions.
Since Yeon So-ha and Jin Seol were present, she conveyed her gratitude through telepathic transmission.
No one could know she had consumed the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit.
It's nothing. I was merely repaying the debt for rendering the Azure Blossom Soft Jade useless.
Responding telepathically, Bu Eun-seol then spoke aloud.
"But what brings you here?"
"I came to apologize for my father's mistake..."
Dan So-ok glanced at Yeon So-ha and Jin Seol with a faint smile.
"And having heard the Lord was in trouble, I thought I might help resolve it."
After this cryptic remark, she turned to Jin Seol and greeted her.
"Upper Flower Jin Seol. It's been a while."
"Lord Dan."
Jin Seol reflexively returned the greeting.
"I heard you've returned from recuperation. Are you well now?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
Then Dan So-ok turned to Yeon So-ha and spoke again.
"I'm Dan So-ok, serving as the Secret Order Lord in our hall."
"So you're the Silver Scale Jade Leaf, Lady Dan."
Yeon So-ha also nodded.
"I'm Yeon So-ha."
"Pleased to meet you, Young Palace Master Yeon."
Then Dan So-ok studied Bu Eun-seol's tense profile, now beaded with cold sweat, and allowed a faint smile to grace her lips.
"Lord Bu. There's something I'd like to say to these two ladies—would that be alright?"
"Of course. Take your time."
For the first time in his life, Bu Eun-seol resorted to the Thirty-Six Stratagems—the best being to flee.
"I must take my leave now, Lord. Urgent matters await."
And as he hastily turned to leave, a shocking statement struck his ears like thunder.
"Forgive my boldness, but Lord Bu and I have already exchanged betrothal gifts. We are formally engaged."
Thud.
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol's body, which had been halfway out of the guest hall, froze like a statue.
'You said you'd handle this...'
Slowly, he turned his head, his pupils widening as if they might tear apart.
'Isn't this just pouring gunpowder onto a house already on fire?'
The moment he regained his senses and spun around to intervene, Dan So-ok pointed triumphantly at Bu Eun-seol's neck.
"Look. The necklace Lord Bu wears is the very betrothal gift I gave him."
Twist.
For an instant, Yeon So-ha swayed as if struck by dizziness.
Jin Seol maintained an indifferent expression, but her gaze was razor-sharp, locked onto the necklace around his throat.
Indeed, a delicate necklace hung from Bu Eun-seol's neck.
It was merely something he had grown so accustomed to that he never thought to remove it—
But in the eyes of these women, it could only be seen as a betrothal gift he refused to part with.
"My apologies. Had I spoken of this sooner, such an awkward scene could have been avoided."
Dan So-ok clasped her hands together with a remorseful expression.
"From now on, I will ensure no further rumors trouble Lord Bu."
Then, winking at him, she sent a voice transmission:
「Don't worry. This lie is only to prevent future complications for you, Lord.」
Truly, she possessed the cunning befitting a candidate for chief strategist.
Under the pretense of helping him, she had instantly eliminated her rivals while spreading the rumor of their engagement—
A move to kill two birds with one stone.
「Just say you agree. I promise I won't trouble you further.」
Dan So-ok was a terrifying woman.
If Bu Eun-seol gave his assent, all the troublesome rumors would vanish cleanly.
But from this day forward, willingly or not... he would be recognized as Dan So-ok's betrothed.
It was nothing short of threading an invisible needle through his nose.
Bu Eun-seol hesitated.
For a moment, the image of Dan Wol-hon—face twisted in rage, as if breathing fire—flashed through his mind.
'But right now, dispelling these tangled rumors is more important.'
Even knowing the apology Dan So-ok offered was laced with poison, he had no choice but to accept.
He needed to escape this scandal quickly and focus on what lay ahead.
'She is wise. She won't use this promise to pester me.'
Just as Bu Eun-seol, who hadn't even considered the possibility of Dan So-ok's true heart, was about to nod—
"Then, what betrothal gift did you receive from him?"
A woman's voice, loud and clear, cut through the air.
Standing at a distance, her treasured sword—sheathed in a scabbard so pale it seemed bleached—rested at her waist.
It was A-yeon, the Sword Pavilion's successor.
"Ah, forgive my sudden interruption."
A-yeon, feeling the sharp gazes of the other women pierce her, pointed at Bu Eun-seol and spoke coldly.
"I grew tired of waiting for the Lord."
She had promised to duel Bu Eun-seol at the Small Training Ground during the Mi period.
Yet now, as the Sin period approached, he still hadn't appeared.
Unable to wait any longer, she had come to the guest hall of the Hidden Demon Pavilion.
And there, she found Bu Eun-seol at the center of a battle of wills between these women.
Truthfully, A-yeon had not intended to interfere.
But seeing Dan So-ok's scheme to crush the other two in one stroke, her sense of justice flared.
"And you are?"
At Dan So-ok's question, A-yeon politely clasped her hands.
"A-yeon, disciple of the Sword Pavilion."
Dan So-ok's pupils dilated slightly as she realized A-yeon was the Sword Pavilion's true successor.
Having only recently returned to the Demon Hall from Hangzhou, Dan So-ok had only vaguely heard of the Sword Pavilion's disciple entering the palace—she hadn't known she was their heir.
"Betrothal gifts are meant to be exchanged, are they not?"
A-yeon met Dan So-ok's gaze with unwavering confidence.
"May I see the gift he gave you?"
Dan So-ok's eyes wavered at the repeated question.
A-yeon's gaze was still, like the surface of a clear lake.
That alone told Dan So-ok this woman's wisdom was no lesser than her own.
If she failed to answer properly—
This lie would be exposed in an instant.
"I cannot show you."
"Why not?"
"Because I swore not to speak of it."
Dan So-ok truly believed the "gift" Bu Eun-seol had given her was the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit.
After all, why else would he have handed her a legendary elixir capable of granting 120 years of internal energy in an instant?
Dan So-ok was thoroughly ignoring the fact that Bu Eun-seol was not the type to care for elixirs or treasures in the slightest—that he had merely been repaying his debt for the Azure Blossom Soft Jade.
"Pfft."
At that moment, Yeon So-ha burst into laughter.
Only then did she realize how riddled with holes Dan So-ok's words were—how utterly unbelievable the lie was.
"Lord Bu."
Yeon So-ha took a step forward, staring straight at Bu Eun-seol.
"Is what she said true?"
Her eyes, reflecting the sunlight, shimmered like crimson-stained jade.
"Please give me a clear answer—is Lord Dan truly your betrothed?"
Boldly stepping closer, she locked her gaze onto his.
"If that's the case, I won't trouble you again."
Bu Eun-seol did not answer. No—he couldn't.
If he lied just to escape this situation...
He couldn't even begin to imagine the storm of consequences that would follow.
"My apologies."
Bu Eun-seol lowered his head, his gaze unfocused.
No solution came to mind—no way to break through this deadlock.
Even he, who excelled at quick thinking and was stronger than anyone in a crisis,
had no choice but to raise the white flag.
Inside the Hidden Demon Pavilion's banquet hall.
Gathered around the table were Yeon So-ha, Jin Seol, Dan So-ok, and A-yeon.
"...That's how it happened."
Yeon So-ha explained in detail how she had met Bu Eun-seol and when they had become engaged.
Of course, she conveniently left out the part where Yeon Ja-mi, the Divine Maiden Palace Lord, had altered the betrothal gifts to drive Bu Eun-seol away.
"I absolutely did not lie. If you doubt me, feel free to mobilize the Demon Hall's entire information network to verify it."
Yeon So-ha had mixed a tiny falsehood into the truth.
If she didn't drive the spike deep into place now, troublesome incidents would keep cropping up later.
"So what exactly are you trying to do?"
Dan So-ok asked with a face full of displeasure, to which Yeon So-ha responded with a confident smile.
"Lord Bu is a hero—it's only natural that many women admire him. And I'm not so unreasonable as to deny that."
Taking a deep breath, she continued.
"Of course, I'd prefer if such things didn't happen... but if they do, I just hope you won't forget that I am the main wife."
Thud.
Dan So-ok's expression froze instantly. Yeon So-ha's words were no laughing matter—they were outright provocation.
"Are you telling me to enter as a concubine?"
Dan So-ok snapped, unable to hide her inner thoughts. Yeon So-ha covered her mouth and laughed.
"I already told you—I'd prefer if that didn't happen."
"Worthless words. I've wasted my time here for nothing."
As Dan So-ok stood up and coldly spat out those words, Yeon So-ha spoke again.
"If we part ways like this without an agreement, women seeking marriage will keep lining up, and Lord Bu will suffer endless humiliation."
Her crimson-glinting eyes fixed on Dan So-ok.
"I will save him from this crisis—just as you did, Lord Dan."
Dan So-ok shut her mouth.
If she left now, Yeon So-ha would truly use the same method she had—to stop the spreading rumors.
And if that happened, Bu Eun-seol's betrothed would be confirmed as Yeon So-ha.
"What do you want?"
"I want us to settle this clearly among ourselves."
Yeon So-ha laid her cards on the table.
"Frankly, I don't want any more competitors. You all are already more than enough."
Though the world's judgment had given rise to the title of the Three Beauties of the World,
all three women were equally peerless beauties who could stand toe-to-toe with Yeon So-ha.
Jin Seol commanded the Demon Hall's high command and had the Chief Doctrine Commander actively backing her.
Dan So-ok was the Demon Hall's next Chief and the Jewel in the Palm of the Jipma Manor Lord.
And what of A-yeon?
Not only was she beautiful enough to make the moon hide in shame,
but she was also the rising star of the new generation—one who could surpass the Number One Woman in the World and challenge for the title of the Foremost Sword of the Righteous Faction.
Yeon So-ha wanted no more competitors.
"What I'm saying is—let the four of us put an end to the rumors and prevent any further rivals."
"I'll pass."
At that moment, Jin Seol stood up and spoke.
"I have no intention of marrying the Martial Soul Lord."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. But..."
A faint, confident smile played on Jin Seol's lips.
"Someday, when the Lord seeks to become the ruler of the Demon Hall..."
"He will kneel before me and beg for my hand."
Leaving behind those profound words,
she turned with a meaningful smile and walked out of the banquet hall.
What kind of confidence is that?
Why is she so certain that Bu Eun-seol will propose to her when he aims to rule the Demon Hall?
"Very well."
Yeon So-ha's clear voice shattered the contemplative silence of those gathered.
For her, distant future matters held no importance.
Right now, she had to deal with the immediate problems scattered before her.
"Since Senior Jin Seol has withdrawn her intentions, only three remain now."
"I feel the same."
A-yeon rose to her feet as she spoke.
"I came only to duel the Martial Soul Lord. I have no intention of regarding him as a romantic interest."
"Even if the Lord were to kneel and propose to you?"
In an instant, A-yeon's cheeks flushed red.
The image of Bu Eun-seol kneeling before her with a solemn expression as he gazed at her had surfaced in her mind.
It was a delusion she, as a disciple of the Mystic Path, should never have even entertained.
What am I thinking?
Shaking her head vigorously, A-yeon hardened her gaze and replied,
"Of course."
"Then that's settled. As a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, I trust you will honor those words."
A-yeon did not respond to Yeon So-ha's remark. Instead, she turned away coldly and strode out of the banquet hall.
"Then it seems it's just the two of us left to decide?"
At Yeon So-ha's words, Dan So-ok hesitated repeatedly before finally answering in a low voice,
"But there's a condition."
From that day onward,
The rumors about the Heir of the Demon Hall searching for a bride were swiftly silenced.
Because word had spread like wildfire that Bu Eun-seol had exchanged betrothal gifts with both Yeon So-ha, the Young Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace, and Dan So-ok, the Lord of the Secret Order of the Demon Hall.
—As expected of the Heir of the Demon Hall! Truly remarkable!
Bu Eun-seol, snatching up the two most coveted flowers representing both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions in each hand?
When news broke that he had simultaneously promised marriage to two beauties, the figures of the Demon Hall could scarcely conceal their shock and astonishment.
—Well, Dan So-ok is one thing, but to also be betrothed to the Young Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace, a sect deeply rooted in the Righteous Path?
The members of the Demon Hall expressed amazement at Bu Eun-seol's bold and unprecedented decision.
—Truly, the Martial Soul Lord. He never fails to stir the winds and clouds!
By this point, only one question lingered in the minds of the people:
—So, who's the main wife?
Though the figures of the Demon Hall burned with curiosity over who held the position of the primary spouse, no information on the matter ever surfaced.
Yeon So-ha had already departed, and Dan So-ok remained tight-lipped about it.
—That brat. No matter what, he should've at least discussed this with me before making such a decision.
Upon hearing the rumors, Baek Yeon of Langya Pavilion suppressed his disappointment and sent a letter, while—
—This bastard is openly taking concubines now?!
Dan Wol-hon, who had also caught wind of the news, stormed into the Hidden Demon Pavilion and raised another objection.
—Mobilize the Myriad Demons Faction to the front of the Hidden Demon Pavilion at once! This time, I'll tear that bastard's residence to the ground for good!
But when Dan So-ok angrily declared that she would refuse to face him ever again if he took such action, Dan Wol-hon, terrified at the prospect of never seeing his daughter's face, ceased all visits to the Hidden Demon Pavilion from that day forward.
Yet, in truth, Bu Eun-seol remained utterly silent on the matter...
***
In Yu Un-ryong's office,
Yu Un-ryong was in the middle of drafting a letter, while all the Great Leaders, including Myo Cheon-u, had gathered and made themselves comfortable.
"What kind of man announces his engagement to two people at once?"
Won Se-mun sighed as he spoke.
"I truly can't fathom what our Lord is thinking."
"How should I know?"
Jo Nam-cheon leaned back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head.
"Still, rejecting Upper Blossom Jin was unexpected. She would've been the most helpful."
"The most helpful would've been A-yeon of the Sword Pavilion. Her martial arts are the strongest, no?"
As Myo Cheon-u spoke, Wi Cheon-gyeong shook his head.
"Honestly speaking, I believe he should've taken all four."
At Wi Cheon-gyeong's bold remark, all the Great Leaders gaped, their eyes widening.
"Wait... you're into that sort of thing?"
"What sort of thing?"
"I mean, such audacious words are unprecedented in martial arts history—"
Just as Won Se-mun grinned and began to speak,
"Hey, you bastards!"
Yu Un-ryong, who had been writing his letter, shouted angrily, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Is my office a damn teahouse?!"
The Great Leaders stared at him blankly for a moment before promptly ignoring him and resuming their chatter.
Watching this, Yu Un-ryong lowered his head in defeat.
The reason he had passionately advocated for A-yeon, the successor of the Sword Pavilion, to be chosen by the Great Leaders—
Truthfully, it was because he had hoped those dark-hearted bastards would stop crowding his office.
'In the end, Bu Eun-seol—that bastard isn't even planning to marry anyone!'
Yu Un-ryong already knew.
The rumors of exchanged betrothal gifts were nothing more than Bu Eun-seol's ironclad resolve to put an end to this "bride search commotion."
Combined with the ceasefire agreement between Yeon So-ha and Dan So-ok.
Yet despite the circulating rumors of Bu Eun-seol's betrothal gifts,
These damned bastards still huddled together in his office, chattering away.
'Aren't you leaving?!'
Yu Un-ryong shouted again, but the Great Leaders paid him no heed, their heads bent together as they whispered conspiratorially.
Thud.
Slumping into his seat, he stared despondently at the Ten Ultimate Staff Techniques manual shelved nearby.
Then, in a voice thick with resignation, he muttered weakly,
"Please... just go somewhere else."