Chapter 325
"Give up."
The Sword Sovereign, Heonwon Dam-cheong, spoke with a bitter expression.
"Is there any need for you to die painfully by crossing swords with this old man?"
His gaze remained calm as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"Take your own life. That is the mercy I grant you."
Even under the threat of such a terrifying existence as the Sword Sovereign, Bu Eun-seol's eyes remained composed.
"Do I look like the type to sit quietly and wait for death?"
"So you insist on fighting after all."
The Sword Sovereign's expression darkened.
Truthfully, for him to personally take action against Bu Eun-seol was akin to a grown adult attacking a newborn.
Bu Eun-seol was now a prodigy who had entered the Extreme Heaven Realm at a young age.
But had not the Sword Sovereign himself long ago reached the Martial Extreme Realm as a Grandmaster of Martial Arts?
"When I first discovered the Heavenly Sword, that child, I was wandering the world in search of a quiet place to retire, far from Murim. At the time, I had no intention of taking on any disciples."
The Sword Sovereign's face twisted in pain.
"But the Heavenly Sword—that child was too pitiful. His parents had been slaughtered by a band of bandits, and he had suffered a head injury so severe he could no longer remember their faces, nor even his own name."
His pupils darkened as if recalling the wretched scene from back then.
"And so, I named him Heavenly Sword. In the hope that he would become a sword of the heavens, bringing justice to this world."
Bu Eun-seol no longer cared about the Heavenly Sword's past.
Yet he listened silently, for he understood the anguish of one who had come seeking revenge.
He, too, lived for vengeance, and even now walked that path.
"But before he could become the righteous sword that would stand in heaven's stead, he fell into your sinister plot and became a wandering spirit."
The Sword Sovereign's eyes brimmed with sorrow.
"Even as a cold corpse, his honor was trampled into the dirt, and the name 'Heavenly Sword' became one even the Righteous Faction turned away from."
Though his tone remained composed, from start to finish, he placed the blame solely on Bu Eun-seol.
Only now did Bu Eun-seol understand why the Heavenly Sword had grown up so warped.
'He only pitied and coddled him, never disciplining him strictly.'
A disciple, like a child, must be raised with love—but wrongdoing must be met with stern correction.
Otherwise, they grow up believing the world will bend to their will.
"Was it truly necessary for you to do that?"
The Sword Sovereign had trusted that the Heavenly Sword, who inherited his sword techniques, would prevail, and thus did not ascend to Seok Gwang-pyeong.
But when he heard that the Heavenly Sword had been beheaded in defeat, he immediately pursued Bu Eun-seol, convinced that he had won through some vile scheme.
Yet when he saw Bu Eun-seol draw his sword, he realized the truth—his genuine martial prowess surpassed the Heavenly Sword's.
And so, finding no justification for revenge... he was now grasping at straws.
"Master and disciple truly are cut from the same cloth."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was icy.
"No need for lengthy words. Draw your blade at once."
An overwhelming aura, befitting a grandmaster who looked down upon the world, radiated from Bu Eun-seol's entire being.
That majestic and imposing presence refuted the Sword Sovereign's obstinacy more powerfully than a hundred words ever could.
In truth, the Sword Sovereign already knew.
That it was the Heavenly Sword's way to resort to petty cunning without hesitation for the sake of victory.
But he could not bear the sorrow of losing his beloved disciple and sought only an outlet for his rage.
"You... were raised properly."
The Sword Sovereign's expression was both apologetic and tormented.
"I admit that I failed in raising my disciple."
Then, staring straight into Bu Eun-seol's eyes, he continued.
"And I know well that even laying a hand on someone like you goes against the laws of Murim."
With a deep sigh, the Sword Sovereign finally spoke honestly.
"But... I simply cannot let that pitiful child's death go unavenged."
"Then do it."
Hearing his honesty, Bu Eun-seol replied in an even tone.
"There is no one here to condemn you for it."
The Sword Sovereign realized that not only was Bu Eun-seol's spirit lofty and noble, but his spirit and mind had not fallen into the Demonic Path.
The Middle Path.
Astonishingly, the Heir of the Demon Hall's spirit remained not in the Demonic Path, but in the Middle Path.
"Very well."
As if making a grave decision, the Sword Sovereign picked up a fallen branch from the ground.
"Since this is all my obstinacy, I shall not take your life."
Holding the branch at mid-level, he spoke calmly.
"Instead, I will take one of your arms."
That was the greatest mercy the Sword Sovereign could offer.
With Bu Eun-seol's talent, he could likely recover his strength swiftly even with the Left-Hand Sword.
"I don't care. Just attack properly."
"What?"
"You're only imposing this restriction on yourself because you know how shameful this is."
Bu Eun-seol gripped the Ice Soul Sword and spoke indifferently.
"Draw your blade."
The Sword Sovereign had long broken through the Extreme Heaven Realm and attained the pinnacle of the sword's truth.
But when it came to the ways of human nature, his enlightenment seemed lesser than even Bu Eun-seol's.
"Shameful. Truly shameful."
Holding the branch, the Sword Sovereign shook his head.
"After severing your arm, I shall leave Murim forever. Never to show my face in this world again."
Then, calmly, he added:
"Make your move. If I strike first, you won't even have the chance to wield your sword."
It was not a threat, but genuine consideration.
Bu Eun-seol nodded and gathered his full strength, raising his internal power to its peak.
Without hesitation, he unleashed the essence of the Formless Heavenly Flow.
Shiiik!
A jet-black sword qi coiled around Heonwon Dam-cheong's body like a ferocious Evil Dragon.
"An excellent sword technique."
The Sword Sovereign let out an admiring exclamation.
Bu Eun-seol's Sword Stroke contained not a single flaw or break in its execution.
For someone his age to wield such a stable and exquisite sword technique was an exceedingly rare feat.
The Sword Sovereign did not counterattack but remained standing in place, effortlessly evading the strikes.
KRA-BOOM!
Anticipating that the Sword Sovereign would dodge with ease, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Mountain-Breaking Fist with his left hand.
Swiik! Swiik!
Two razor-sharp streams of force pierced toward the Sword Sovereign's flanks.
"A remarkable hand technique."
Yet the Sword Sovereign remained unmoved.
And just like that, both the Formless Heavenly Flow and the Thirteenfold Qi Induction melted away as if they had never existed.
"This resembles the techniques of the Righteous Faction..."
The Sword Sovereign tilted his head slightly, studying Bu Eun-seol.
His eyes reflected nothing but curiosity—not even a trace of vigilance toward the Thirteenfold Qi Induction.
'It's not working.'
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip at the Sword Sovereign's composed demeanor.
He had encountered many Masters who had reached the Martial Extreme Realm—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, the Elders' Hall Master, the Langya Pavilion Master, even the Buddhist Venerable.
All of them possessed martial prowess beyond imagination, yet they still retained the form of humans dwelling in the mortal world.
But the moment the battle began, the Sword Sovereign felt like an immortal who had descended from the Celestial Realm, merely borrowing a human shell for a brief visit.
No matter what martial art Bu Eun-seol employed, it simply did not reach him.
Though he stood right before him, it was as if he were millions of miles away.
Saaht.
Then, the tree branch in the Sword Sovereign's hand moved smoothly.
At the same time, a faint glimmer of light descended toward Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
It was an incredibly slender thing, yet brimming with dense vitality.
Though it did not physically touch his skin, merely seeing it made him feel as though it had seeped into his flesh and passed through his bones.
'A living Sword Stroke.'
In that single move, Bu Eun-seol grasped the Sword Sovereign's greatness.
The Myriad Forms One Style he had created was not merely an amalgamation of the Righteous Faction's sword techniques—it encompassed all phenomena of the natural world...
He had forged a living sword art.
Tok.
Finally, the glimmer touched Bu Eun-seol's shoulder—but it did not pass through.
Zziiing.
Bu Eun-seol had already activated the Willful True Binding, shielding his forearm completely.
Even so, blood seeped from his shoulder, and deep gashes split his flesh.
'Now.'
A brilliant light flared in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The Sword Sovereign had already declared he would sever Bu Eun-seol's right arm—so he knew the next strike would be aimed there.
And so, he had prepared the Willful True Binding for his final counterattack.
—Seek victory in the midst of crisis.
Recalling one of the core tenets of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, a surge of fiery resolve welled up in Bu Eun-seol's chest.
There was no way he could win against the Sword Sovereign.
Then why not go mad and drag him down with him?
Life is a Sojourn, Death is a Return.
The supreme blade art of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, the first form of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, unfolded once more from Bu Eun-seol's hand.
Uuung!
Hundreds of Sword Rings materialized around Bu Eun-seol and the Sword Sovereign.
'This world is but a temporary lodging.'
As the essence of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms resonated in his mind, a wave of desolate loneliness welled up within him.
And like a man yearning for death, he threw himself without hesitation into the storm of Sword Rings.
Flash!
His weapon and body merging into one, Bu Eun-seol transformed into a radiant light aura—then passed straight through the towering figure of his opponent.
At point-blank range, he executed the Swift Shadowless to its Grand Perfection, pouring forth Life is a Sojourn, Death is a Return—and in the blink of an eye, he cut down the Sword Sovereign.
"..."
A momentary silence fell upon Seven Sword Peak.
Zzreong!
A strange sound rang from the Ice Soul Sword in Bu Eun-seol's grip as he steadied his stance.
At the same time, spiderweb-like cracks began spreading across the sword blade.
Tzzik.
And then—the Sword Sovereign's right sleeve tore slightly.
Even after pouring everything he had into that single strike, all he had managed was to graze his sleeve.
"Impossible."
Yet the Sword Sovereign's eyes had widened to their limits.
Not because Bu Eun-seol had landed a blow—but because he had realized that the technique Bu Eun-seol had used was not a sword technique at all.
It was a saber technique—the blade art of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
"Who are you?"
Heonwon Dam-cheong's expression twisted strangely.
"The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade—is he still alive?"
Bu Eun-seol was not particularly surprised.
The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang was a contemporary of the Sword Sovereign. It was entirely possible the two had clashed before.
"Are you his disciple?"
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, Heonwon Dam-cheong pressed again.
"Or are you his blood relative?"
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned peculiar.
The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade had been the strongest of the Demonic Path in his era—so logically, the Sword Sovereign should have been his enemy.
But the look on Heonwon Dam-cheong's face wasn't hostility. Instead, it was tinged with something like longing and astonishment.
"How is it that you can wield his saber techniques?"
"That's none of your concern."
Bu Eun-seol had no intention of explaining how he had learned the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
Heonwon Dam-cheong's expression darkened.
"I see. Then I'll have to ask your body directly."
He raised the tree branch once more.
Dozens of living glimmers of light materialized before Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Each one possessed its own spiritual awareness, adjusting their angles and speeds in response to his movements.
Thud.
Bu Eun-seol poured all his strength into annihilating them.
That moment of time stretched endlessly.
But the points of light did not vanish—rather, as they touched his sword strokes, they seemed to coalesce into dark, ink-like storm clouds.
'So they transform when countered.'
A flash surged in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Simultaneously, the tip of the Ice Soul Sword began to tremble faintly.
Myriad Forms One Style.
He was about to deploy the Move Heaven Exchange Force, a principle he had learned from the Heavenly Sword, to oppose the Sword Sovereign.
Sssshk—
Even as sword technique clashed against sword technique, light against light, the sound of silk tearing echoed through the air.
When the radiance that had enveloped the world faded—
Thud.
Bu Eun-seol's robes, now revealed, were torn in multiple places, with his pockets fully exposed.
The Sword Sovereign had not aimed to take his life—he had merely sought to strip away every weapon and item concealed within his clothing.
"This is?"
The Sword Sovereign's gaze fixed on the small sword hanging at Bu Eun-seol's waist.
Though it was no larger than an ordinary dagger, its hilt was grotesquely oversized, resembling that of a great saber.
"Journey?"
The Sword Sovereign exclaimed as if startled.
"You—you are his successor."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
Unbelievably, the man had recognized even the sword of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
"To think even the successor of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade would appear..."
The Sword Sovereign had said "even."
But Bu Eun-seol, too stunned, had no presence of mind to catch that nuance.
After all, tracking the movements of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang had been one of his objectives.
"How do you know him?"
"Perhaps this, too, is heaven's will."
Heonwon Dam-cheong's expression was inscrutable.
There was worry in it, yet also something akin to delight.
The Sword Sovereign lifted his head, his gaze steady as he studied Bu Eun-seol's unshaken eyes.
Not a flicker of hesitation—only an aura of lofty dignity radiating from his entire being.
After a long moment of observation, the Sword Sovereign let out a deep exclamation and abruptly changed the subject.
"Then again, heaven never sends down a Divine Being alone—it always provides worthy rivals to match them."
The Twin Heavenly Emperors of Righteous and Demonic, the Three Demons and Three Venerables...
The martial world had always been a place of rivals, some emerging from the most unexpected corners.
Hadn't it often been said that the rivers and lakes were as thick with eccentric masters as grains of sand?
"You may be called the Number One Genius of the Demon Path, but the martial world holds many prodigies who could stand as your equals."
The words seemed abrupt, but their meaning was undeniable.
The Heavenly Sword had been a talent on par with Bu Eun-seol. And if that were so, then the disciples of the Martial Alliance Leader, his blood relatives, and the successors of the other Three Demons and Three Venerables would surely be of comparable caliber.
"At least ten or more."
Yet Bu Eun-seol frowned at his next words.
No matter how vast the world was, the idea that there were over a dozen individuals like him was difficult to believe.
"You will learn soon enough."
The Sword Sovereign's eyes turned toward the distant sky.
"Why the successors of those once-renowned superlative martial experts... have remained hidden from the martial world until now."
The words were cryptic.
Unconsciously, Bu Eun-seol followed the Sword Sovereign's gaze upward into the night sky.
There, stars blazed with dazzling brilliance, each reflecting the other's light.
"Perhaps even the emergence of a prodigy like you... is nothing but fate."
Muttering emptily, the Sword Sovereign shook his head.
"Not that it matters. This old man will soon leave the martial world behind."
With those incomprehensible words, Heonwon Dam-cheong tossed aside the branch he had been holding.
"I take my leave."
Suddenly turning away, he spoke in a low voice.
"With this, there is no debt left between him and me."
And then he was gone.
"Sword Sovereign!"
Bu Eun-seol shouted, but the presence of the Sword Sovereign had already vanished.
"The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade... Just who was he?"
Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang.
That he was not the cruel Killing Star as rumored—that another side of him existed—Bu Eun-seol already knew that much.
But to think he had put not only the Needle King Jongri Sa-hyeon, but even the Sword Sovereign in his debt, a paragon of the Righteous Faction...
Could it be that he had deliberately donned the mask of a ruthless assassin to fulfill some hidden purpose?
'No. The Demon Hall is not so easily deceived.'
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor possessed the ability to peer into the hearts of others.
And besides him, there were figures like Jeok Bung and the master of the Fire Rain Sword Sect, and the leader of Langya Pavilion.
Not to mention the Great Demons still lurking in the shadows of the Demon-Subduing Palace, their true forms and abilities yet unknown.
If the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade had truly sought to conceal his identity at all costs, he should never have risen to become the Deputy Hall Lord of the Demon Hall.
"..."
No matter how much he pondered, no answers came.
Bu Eun-seol reached down and picked up Journey, which had fallen to the ground.
If Bu Jan-yang the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade was also Bu Jan-yang the Undertaker... then this blade was his grandfather's memento.
"Grandfather."
Tucking Journey carefully into his robes, Bu Eun-seol gazed up at the night sky with clouded eyes.
The circumstances entangled within this were far too complex—he couldn't even begin to guess what deeper truths lay beneath.
"I don't understand. Not at all."
His head drooped.
Why did the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, known as the Killing Star, have another side to him?
If his grandfather had truly been the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, why had he abandoned all glory to live in hiding as an undertaker?
And who—for what reason—had killed him?
'If the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade had done many good deeds contrary to his reputation, why had none of it come to light?'
No matter what anyone said, Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang had been the Great Killing Star acknowledged by the martial world—a Great Demon who had mercilessly slaughtered countless masters of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths.
Even if Jongri Sa-hyeon had rarely shown himself in the martial world...
If the Sword Sovereign, who had been active at the time, had witnessed another side of Bu Jan-yang—how could such a truth have remained hidden?
"Let's go back."
No matter how much he thought, no answers came.
With a deep sigh, he slowly turned his steps homeward.
Thanks to the sword of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, he had managed to escape the Sword Sovereign's assault with his life—and an arm to spare.
But Bu Eun-seol felt no joy whatsoever.
He would have been truly glad—even if it meant losing an arm—if only he could have learned the full inside story...