Chapter 307
"Ah, so it's not you?"
The man's expression turned disappointed as Bu Eun-seol calmly withstood the formless qi he had emitted.
"Not one of the Black Wind Fortress bandits. Then why are you here?"
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, the man tilted his head again.
"Did you come because you heard the noise?"
"..."
"Your momentum surpasses the Transcendent Realm... yet I sense neither demonic energy nor orthodox qi. Truly a state of 'halfway unsettled.'"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't help but inwardly marvel.
Halfway unsettled—a term meaning one had come halfway along the path but had yet to make a definitive choice.
This man, with his simple and honest appearance, had instantly discerned from Bu Eun-seol's aura that his spirit and mind were neither aligned with the Demonic Path nor the Orthodox Path... but suspended somewhere in between.
'A figure from the Righteous Faction, then. And one of considerable standing.'
Bu Eun-seol, too, analyzed the energy flowing from the man's body.
Soon, he deduced that the man had trained in orthodox Righteous Faction martial arts, with a focus on cultivating qi.
"Aha, so you're also here to deal with the Black Wind Fortress?"
Moreover, his naturally commanding tone and demeanor—despite his unassuming appearance—made it clear he held a position of considerable authority.
"Are you mute?"
At the man's question, Bu Eun-seol slowly parted his lips.
"Do you hold a grudge against Black Wind Fortress?"
"Huh?"
"You could have killed them painlessly. Yet you deliberately avoided their death points to make them suffer."
"No, I don't have any grudge against them?"
The man answered with an innocent expression.
"If they committed evil deeds, they should suffer in proportion, no? Surely you don't think these bastards deserved to die peacefully?"
Wagging a finger, the man spoke earnestly.
"You must not know, but these scum kidnapped women and slaughtered innocent villagers. They weren't your average bandits, understand?"
"..."
"Or do you believe that if a butcher lays down his knife, he becomes a Buddha? It's because those stuffy old men from the Buddhist Order and Taoist sects drone on with such sermons that these wicked bastards keep multiplying."
The man's incessant chatter was accompanied by eyes not only clear and pure but brimming with unshakable conviction.
It was obvious he took pride in believing everything he did was righteous.
'Not my concern.'
Bu Eun-seol had no intention of debating the man's beliefs.
"I'll be leaving now."
As Bu Eun-seol turned away, the man tilted his head and leaned forward.
"Hey, aren't you even curious who I am?"
When no answer came, he grinned and tapped the greatsword on his back.
"How about a spar? You seem quite skilled."
Had this been the usual Bu Eun-seol, he would've gladly crossed blades with the man.
But now, he was someone responsible for the Demonic Path's affairs—his every action represented the Demon Hall.
Moreover, he had to uncover the truth behind the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade and swiftly eliminate those who had disturbed his grandfather's eternal rest.
There was no need to cross swords with a Righteous Faction figure—especially one of considerable standing.
"Another time."
Having made up his mind, Bu Eun-seol turned without hesitation and leapt into mid-air.
"Is that so? A shame."
The Heavenly Blade, hands clasped behind his head, watched Bu Eun-seol disappear before eventually turning away himself.
But who could have known?
This encounter between two peerless prodigies would blossom into a karmic bond—one that could never coexist under the same sky.
Upon entering Chengdu, Bu Eun-seol made his way through the bustling marketplace and ascended to a guest inn.
His criteria for selecting an inn had nothing to do with luxury or extravagance.
Bu Eun-seol always sought establishments large enough and reasonably priced to attract not just martial artists but all manner of patrons.
Only such places offered not just news of the martial world but also the swirling rumors of the day.
"Welcome!"
Guided by a waiter, he took a seat by the window on the third floor and ordered a simple meal and a bottle of wine.
'I'll need to find another approach.'
Gazing out the window, Bu Eun-seol sank into thought.
Originally, he had planned to return immediately to the Demon Hall and, as the Martial Soul Lord, lead the inspection unit to confront the Death Command Gate and White Horse Temple.
But upon deeper reflection, it was unlikely the White Horse Temple or Spectral Sect would willingly divulge forty-year-old information to him.
'Could I force their cooperation under the pretense of an inspection?'
Yet another problem arose here:
There was no guarantee they would speak the unvarnished truth like Jongri Sa-hyeon had.
If they fed him false information, it would only plunge him deeper into confusion.
This matter required a more cautious approach.
Gulp.
As Bu Eun-seol drained his cup and reached to refill it,
a faint voice transmission brushed against his ear.
「Lord. It's No Trace.」
No Trace was a member of the Kill-Seeking Unit, specializing in erasing traces and delivering intelligence to Bu Eun-seol.
He was also a seasoned operative capable of undertaking Grade A missions.
「I have urgent news to report.」
「Proceed.」
While transmitting his reply, Bu Eun-seol naturally refilled his empty cup. Just as he was about to raise it to his lips—
「We've found a survivor of the Ten Demonic Heirs.」
Bu Eun-seol's hand froze mid-motion.
Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, and Seo Jin-ha aside, all other Ten Demonic Heirs were said to have perished.
But Bu Eun-seol had always believed otherwise.
The finest prodigies to survive Hell Island would never fall so easily to the hands of the Great Righteous Experts.
That was why, long ago, he had issued a First-class Secret Order through the Kill-Seeking Unit—a mission to track down surviving Ten Demonic Heirs, backed by an enormous reward.
Just in case there might be survivors.
For those who, unable to shed the shackles of the Ten Demonic Heirs, had hidden their identities and lived wretched lives.
And at last, a survivor of the Ten Demonic Heirs had been found.
"Where is it?"
"Near Seven Sword Peak. I'll guide you."
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol left the guest inn.
In a single breath, he activated his Lightness Skill and departed the village.
Then, near the Reed Field on the outskirts, a man clad in plain black martial robes stood waiting in secret.
It was No Trace, a member of the Kill-Seeking Unit.
Whoosh.
The moment he spotted Bu Eun-seol, he immediately unleashed his Lightness Skill.
Bu Eun-seol silently followed No Trace as he executed his Movement Technique.
No Trace's shadow streaked endlessly northward.
Not only were his legs long for his stature, but his physique was also agile.
Though it couldn't compare to Bu Eun-seol's Swift Shadowless, his speed and stealth were still at a level that could make a name for itself in the martial world.
'The Kill-Seeking Unit has no shortage of prodigies.'
Though they were operatives whose names and existences had been erased, their skills were on par with those of Special-Grade unit members.
But for their own reasons—to earn vast sums—they had erased not only their names but their very existences...
Wandering the martial world in secrecy, carrying out perilous missions.
'Which sect's disciple was No Trace, I wonder?'
The moment one joined the Kill-Seeking Unit, even their sect affiliation was erased.
Unless the operative themselves revealed their identity, no one could ever know their background.
"With skills like these, you could've just gone to the Wanderers' Market."
Bu Eun-seol subtly redirected his curiosity about No Trace in another direction.
"No need to risk your life—you could've made plenty of money there."
If money was all he wanted, the Wanderers' Market was an option.
With No Trace's skills, he could've risen to Special-Grade mercenary status by around age thirty.
There, he wouldn't have needed to erase his identity, nor would he have had to undertake life-threatening missions.
Yet he had deliberately chosen the perilous Kill-Seeking Unit—why?
Then, No Trace sent a brief Voice Transmission.
"Because I didn't want to have comrades."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol give a faint nod.
Jobs in the Wanderers' Market rarely involved solo work—most required forming groups.
But the Kill-Seeking Unit allowed operatives to choose missions suited to their abilities, most of which could be carried out alone.
In other words, joining the Kill-Seeking Unit was the choice that allowed a lone warrior to earn the most money.
'Everyone has their own circumstances.'
Bu Eun-seol said nothing more and simply followed No Trace.
How long had they traveled?
No Trace finally came to a halt at Seven Sword Peak.
Without delay, he headed toward the rightmost of the seven sharp peaks.
Upon arriving in the vicinity, a roughly built thatched cottage came into view in the clearing ahead.
It was barely large enough to lie down in, and the yard was strewn with various drying medicinal herbs.
To any observer, it was clearly the cottage of a herb gatherer who lived in the mountains, collecting and selling herbs.
"That's the place."
At No Trace's Voice Transmission, Bu Eun-seol fixed his gaze intently on the cottage.
Creak.
Just then, the cottage door opened, and a tall man limped out weakly, his legs unsteady.
His clothes were ragged, his body pitifully emaciated.
Had it not been for his chillingly frozen eyes, Bu Eun-seol might have mistaken him for an ordinary herb gatherer.
'Yeong Mun-ho.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed as he took in the man's face.
The ragged, limping man was none other than Yeong Mun-ho—a Ten Demonic Heir of the Death Command Gate...
And one who had been said to have been killed by a Great Righteous Expert of the Mount Hua Sect.
No Trace, who had been observing Yeong Mun-ho carefully, sent a cautious Voice Transmission.
"Shall I verify his identity once more?"
"No need."
Bu Eun-seol transmitted back.
"From here on, this lord will handle it. You may leave."
The bounty Bu Eun-seol had placed on finding a Ten Demonic Heir was a staggering five hundred thousand taels.
Now that No Trace had succeeded, he would receive a fortune so vast he could spend it like water for the rest of his life and never run out.
And with such wealth secured, naturally, No Trace would retire.
Bu Eun-seol gave a detached farewell.
"You've worked hard."
But No Trace replied in an awkward voice.
"I have many dependents, and there are still plenty of expenses to cover."
Understanding the implication behind his words, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"I see. Return at once, delete your registry, and collect your reward."
"Thank you. Then, farewell."
No Trace departed quietly.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been standing at a distance, slowly stepped out from the forest.
But Yeong Mun-ho, unaware of Bu Eun-seol's presence, remained crouched, slicing dried herbs.
A long scar ran from his left cheek down to his jaw, and beneath his neck was a deep wound from a sharp object.
His skin had even taken on a purplish hue, a testament to how severe his injuries must have been.
"Yeong Mun-ho."
At Bu Eun-seol's quiet voice, Yeong Mun-ho's hands stilled.
But he did not lift his head to look at him.
Instead, as he had been doing, he continued slowly slicing the dried herbs with his cleaver.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Though his gaze remained fixed on the herbs, a quiet smile curled at the corners of his lips.
"The Heir of the Demon Hall gracing this humble abode."
"You knew."
Bu Eun-seol's expression flickered with surprise, but Yeong Mun-ho shook his head.
"Hahaha. Everywhere I go, it's nothing but talk of you. How could I not hear it even if I tried?"
"If you heard the news, why didn't you come?"
Bu Eun-seol had always considered the Ten Demonic Heirs as his own kind.
And to break the shackles imposed upon them, he had incorporated Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong into the Demon Hall, making them his adjutants.
If Yeong Mun-ho had heard the rumors, he couldn't have missed the news about Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong achieving merits alongside Bu Eun-seol.
So why hadn't Yeong Mun-ho returned to the Demon Hall?
"I couldn't return."
Yeong Mun-ho wore a dry smile.
"I lost seventy percent of my Internal Power."
"Did you actually cross blades with a Great Righteous Expert from the Mount Hua Sect?"
"Of course. How else could I have escaped the pursuit of the Extermination Unit?"
He turned his head slightly to glance at Bu Eun-seol.
"The Mount Hua Sword Techniques are exquisite, but the Purple Mist Divine Art truly lives up to its reputation. Just the slightest graze of its sword tip sent Internal Energy threads searing through my meridians as if melting them."
As if reliving the memory, Yeong Mun-ho's pupils darkened with pain.
"I intended to sustain just enough of a fatal wound... but this is what happened."
"You prepared an escape in advance."
"Correct."
Yeong Mun-ho crouched down again, slicing dried herbs with his cleaver.
"At the time, I hadn't yet grasped the ultimate principle of the Death Command Spear technique. I knew full well that fighting a Great Righteous Expert in this state would be suicide."
Swish, swish.
With each stroke of the cleaver against the dried herbs, crisp cutting sounds rang out.
"But staying put would mean death at the hands of the Extermination Unit... So in the end, I devised a plan. To kill myself and disappear completely from the martial world."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening quietly, nodded.
"You procured a corpse in advance and staged a battle with the Mount Hua expert."
"Exactly."
When Bu Eun-seol deduced the method instantly, Yeong Mun-ho let out an admiring sigh.
"Thinking back, you were always sharp. You survived because you anticipated things others never considered."
Bu Eun-seol possessed extraordinary talent, but he always predicted situations and prepared accordingly.
Had he not, he wouldn't have survived until the final stages alongside Seo Jin-ha while refusing to form factions.
"Immediately after leaving the Demon Hall under the Chief Doctrine Commander's orders, I secretly infiltrated near the Mount Hua headquarters."
Yeong Mun-ho stopped chopping, brushing off his hands as he stood up.
"There, I stole and learned the Pure Fragrance Cliff Pine stance—one of the Hidden Fragrance Sparse Shadow Sword's ultimate techniques."
"To leave a proper sword mark on the corpse."
"Right."
Yeong Mun-ho smiled as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"I hid a corpse bearing the Hidden Fragrance Sparse Shadow's sword mark near the Blue Stone Pavilion in advance. Then I laid various traps and boundary formations along the path."
"Hmm."
"A few days later, I ambushed Cheon Hwa-in, a Great Righteous Expert of the Mount Hua Sect, while he was training masked."
As if recalling the tension of that moment, Yeong Mun-ho's breathing grew rough.
"Cheon Hwa-in... His swordplay was truly formidable. Even when executing basic Mount Hua Sword Techniques, he effortlessly parried my opening strikes with the Evil Spirit Spear."
After taking a deep breath, he continued.
"When our initial exchange dragged on, he seemed to make up his mind and unleashed the Hidden Fragrance Sparse Shadow Sword. After about ten exchanges, he finally executed the Pure Fragrance Cliff Pine stance."
"..."
"I deliberately exposed a flaw and took that strike. Pretending to be mortally wounded, I desperately fled toward the Blue Stone Pavilion."
Bu Eun-seol nodded as he listened.
Cheon Hwa-in was a Mount Hua Great Righteous Expert.
Whether he employed orthodox techniques learned from the Martial Alliance or hidden sword arts... he would first attempt to defeat Yeong Mun-ho using the Mount Hua's supreme sword studies.
Yeong Mun-ho exploited this, having stolen and learned the Pure Fragrance Cliff Pine stance—one of the Hidden Fragrance Sparse Shadow Sword's ultimate techniques in Mount Hua's sword arts.
When Cheon Hwa-in executed that stance, Yeong Mun-ho intentionally took the hit and staged his escape.
"Cheon Hwa-in pursued me with terrifying speed using his movement technique, but couldn't close the distance due to the traps and formations I'd prepared in advance."
After breaking through countless traps, Cheon Hwa-in finally reached the Blue Stone Pavilion—only to find a corpse slain by the Pure Fragrance Cliff Pine stance.
The very corpse Yeong Mun-ho had prepared.
Overjoyed, Cheon Hwa-in immediately reported this to the Mount Hua Sect.
"Cheon Hwa-in became the first to slay a Ten Demonic Heir. He must have been ecstatic."
Yeong Mun-ho chuckled dryly.
"And with the sword marks on the corpse being unmistakable... the Mount Hua Sect didn't investigate deeply, simply ordering an escort bureau to deliver the body to the Spectral Sect."
Bu Eun-seol nodded again.
In the past, Yeong Mun-ho was known as the first among the Ten Demonic Heirs to be killed.
But in truth, he had ingeniously faked his death and became the first to cast off the shackles of a Ten Demonic Heir.
"Did you lose your Internal Power then?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Yeong Mun-ho smiled bitterly.
"Yes. Taking that hit intentionally was bad enough, but Cheon Hwa-in's Internal Energy was profoundly deep. When I received that single strike of Pure Fragrance Cliff Pine, my meridians were severely damaged, and I lost seventy percent of my Internal Power."
Shaking his head, he looked at Bu Eun-seol with a smile.
"Well, that's how it turned out."
"No need to worry. You can return now."
"Return, you say?"
"Yes."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with conviction.
"Don't fret. I'll restore your Internal Power too."
"Hahaha."
Yeong Mun-ho laughed softly.
"If the Heir of the Demon Hall says so, then I suppose my Internal Power really will be restored, and I can return."
For a moment, he gazed at the distant sky as a faint spasm flickered across his face.
Quickly masking the pain in his eyes, Yeong Mun-ho spoke in a resolute voice.
"But I won't go back."