Chapter 344
"Even so, that's going too far."
But So Ok-rim shook her index finger and objected.
"No matter how much a man cross-dresses, there's still an unmistakable masculine aura. It'd be better if I did it."
Won Se-mun scoffed at her.
"Instructor So, are you trying to ruin everything?"
"Huh?"
"Your build is too bulky for this, that's what I'm saying."
So Ok-rim's eyebrows twitched in irritation before she snapped back.
"I can just use the Bone Shrinking Art!"
Crunch.
As soon as she activated the technique, she shrank to about five feet tall.
However, her frame was naturally broad and robust, so when she compressed her height, her muscles became even denser, and her physique rounded out like a snowman.
"...If we pushed her down a hill, she'd probably roll all the way to the North Sea."
At Bu Eun-seol's muttering, the squad leaders all nodded in agreement, their expressions perfectly synchronized.
"I still say I'd be better at it."
As So Ok-rim stubbornly insisted while reverting to her original form, Myo Cheon-u shrugged and said,
"Bu Eun-seol. I think you'll have to show her yourself."
"We can't let all our careful planning go to waste."
After a brief moment of hesitation, Bu Eun-seol reluctantly activated the Bone Shrinking Art.
His tall, imposing stature shrank into a petite and delicate frame.
"Hmm. With skin this pale and lips this red... We wouldn't even need makeup—just a slight trim of the eyebrows."
Myo Cheon-u pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and carefully thinned Bu Eun-seol's sharp brows.
"What if we did the hair like this?"
Then, he gathered the long locks and pinned them up like a cloud, exposing the nape of his neck.
Under the sunlight streaming through the window, the figure that emerged was that of a peerless beauty—long lashes lowered like the Moon Palace's fairy maiden.
"Ooooh!"
Gasps erupted inside the room.
The Demon Hall had no shortage of beautiful women, including absolute stunners like Jin Seol and Dan So-ok.
But even they paled in comparison to Bu Eun-seol's cross-dressed appearance, coming off as somehow plain next to him.
His beauty was so captivating that even Won Se-mun and the others—and even Wi Cheon-gyeong, who was notoriously indifferent to women—flushed red to the tips of their ears.
Crunch.
When Bu Eun-seol reverted to his original form, another wave of gasps filled the room.
The squad leaders all wore identical expressions of regret as they sighed in unison.
If they had their way, they'd summon a painter to immortalize Bu Eun-seol's cross-dressed form on canvas.
That was how breathtaking his beauty was—enough to send the three souls and seven spirits of onlookers soaring into the heavens.
'Well? Instructor So.'
At Myo Cheon-u's words, So Ok-rim puffed out her cheeks in frustration and shouted,
"Fine, do whatever you want!"
Bu Eun-seol and So Ok-rim left the Demon Hall and headed toward Shandong.
This mission absolutely could not be leaked to the outside.
Officially, Bu Eun-seol had announced that he was conducting inspections of the Demon Hall's branch offices scattered across the land before slipping away.
And immediately, he disguised himself as Seol-so.
Not only had his face become widely recognized after his duel with the Heavenly Sword, but more importantly, his tracks had to be completely concealed.
Bu Eun-seol was the heir of the Demon Hall—a position that drew the attention of every intelligence network.
Hiding his movements was no easy task and required considerable resources.
But by taking on the identity of the wandering martial artist Seol-so once more, masking his appearance and status, he could easily obscure Bu Eun-seol's tracks.
—This journey through the martial world must remain secret. Under no circumstances are you to follow me.
Moreover, Bu Eun-seol had strictly forbidden any covert escort, ordering only the erasure of his trail.
The Black-White Witch was a master who had evaded countless pursuits.
There was always the risk that she might detect the movements of the Kill-Seeking Unit or other covert intelligence operatives.
Before long, Bu Eun-seol and So Ok-rim arrived near Pyeongdo, where the Black-White Witch was frequently sighted.
As dusk fell, the two entered a guest inn for dinner.
Bu Eun-seol ordered three bottles of yellow rice wine.
So Ok-rim, meanwhile, only sipped sparingly at the warm broth of her chicken noodles.
'She must have also reached the state of Five Qi Returning to Origin.'
When one's internal power reaches its peak, the five energies that compose the body condense into liquid and gather in the dantian.
Upon entering this realm, one can generate the energy the body needs, allowing them to survive with little to no food without any harm to their vitality.
Bu Eun-seol had long since attained this state and thus ate very little.
Given that So Ok-rim also barely touched her food, it was clear she had reached the same level of mastery.
'Her strength is definitely not beneath mine.'
Among the young talents Bu Eun-seol had encountered, So Ok-rim was the strongest.
Strength here didn't just refer to martial prowess—it encompassed wisdom, innate talent, and all other abilities combined.
Despite her rough exterior, So Ok-rim was sharp-witted and deeply perceptive.
In fact, while Bu Eun-seol had been dealing with the traitors of the North Sea Ice Palace's five clans and planning the peace agreement, she had pieced together his plans without hearing a single word about them.
That alone was proof enough that her intelligence and quick-wittedness were in no way inferior to Bu Eun-seol's.
"But I still can't trust her completely."
Yet even now, Bu Eun-seol couldn't bring himself to fully believe in So Ok-rim.
Her existence was virtually unknown in the murim, and above all, she had appeared far too abruptly in the martial world.
When someone makes a dramatic entrance to leave a strong impression on people, it's usually a technique employed to create a false identity.
The only reason he continued traveling with her was because she knew more about the descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars than anyone else.
"Why are you drinking so much?"
When Bu Eun-seol emptied five jars of yellow rice wine in one go during their brief stay, So Ok-rim's eyes widened as she asked.
"Did something bad happen?"
"Asking why someone drinks at an inn—"
Bu Eun-seol refilled his cup as he murmured.
"—that's the epitome of a foolish question."
"No, I mean... you're drinking more than I expected."
"It's good wine."
"The wine tastes good?"
He didn't understand why she was asking such questions, but her round eyes seemed filled with genuine innocence.
"Don't tell me you've never had alcohol before."
"Just once."
"Just once?"
As Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brows, she sniffed and said:
"I promised my next drink would be Marriage Wine shared with my destined partner."
"Your next drink being Marriage Wine..."
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had no intention of paying attention to her words.
But So Ok-rim's statement was so bizarre that he couldn't help but ask.
"My master said that since the first cup I drank was given by you, the next one must absolutely be Marriage Wine for the first toast."
Bu Eun-seol asked, sensing something:
"So you've shared drinks with your master before."
"Mhm."
"Do you remember that time?"
"Nope."
Bu Eun-seol nearly burst out laughing.
Only then did he understand why her master had said such a thing.
'She must turn into a complete mess when drunk.'
Even sober, So Ok-rim had a temperament where if something irritated her—whether person or object—her fists would fly first.
If she had gotten completely wasted, she must have caused quite the scene.
Her master, likely fed up with it, had probably given her that warning.
"But watching you enjoy the wine makes me want a drink too."
Instantly, Bu Eun-seol felt a chill run down his spine.
The inn was crowded, and he even spotted a merchant dining with his child.
"A master's warning must be heeded."
"Hmm. Maybe just one cup, then?"
"One cup becomes two, two becomes a bottle. If you truly intend to keep your promise, it's best not to touch it at all."
When Bu Eun-seol spoke firmly, she thankfully seemed to understand, clicking her tongue.
"Fine, then."
"As it's getting dark, let's scout the nearby area."
According to the Kill-Seeking Unit's intelligence, the Black-White Witch frequently appeared in deep mountains or places where travelers rested.
Thus, Bu Eun-seol planned to first investigate the Guan Yu temples and abandoned temples around Pyeongdo.
After that, he intended to disguise himself as the Black-White Witch, stir up trouble in the area, and lure out the real one.
Murmur murmur.
Stepping outside the inn, the surroundings seemed oddly chaotic.
Scanning the area, he spotted a middle-aged man in lavish martial robes striding confidently toward them, leading dozens of young martial artists.
It was Guyang Chun, the famous swordsman from Shandong who had amassed great wealth by founding the Azure Cloud Martial Arts Hall.
But Bu Eun-seol, as if witnessing something astonishing, stared intently at Guyang Chun's surroundings and let out an impressed sigh.
"Incredible."
Beside him, So Ok-rim also widened her eyes and nodded.
"Wow, that's really amazing!"
The moment the two murmured in unison—
"Uwaaah!"
Guyang Chun, who had been walking just fine, suddenly screamed.
"Thief!"
Only then did he realize the treasured sword at his waist had vanished.
"Find the sword!"
At his shout, the martial artists began frantically scouring the area.
But the surroundings were filled only with merchants and onlookers blinking in confusion.
No one could even identify who had taken the sword.
'Pickpocketing Art and Earth Escape Art—undetectable to the naked eye.'
As Bu Eun-seol stepped outside the inn, he had seen a shadow swiftly brush past Guyang Chun as he approached with his entourage.
In the split second the shadow grazed him, its hand moved like lightning, slipping the sword into its robes. Then, it activated Earth Escape Art and fled in an instant.
However, the figure moved at such blinding speed that its features were impossible to discern.
"To steal so boldly right under dozens of people's noses... Truly remarkable."
So Ok-rim, who had witnessed everything, also gasped in admiration.
"Such rapid Movement Technique, and Earth Escape Art without leaving a trace..."
She stroked her chin as if deep in thought.
Earth Escape Art involved using internal power to soften the earth and burrow through it like a mole. Thus, using it always left clear traces in the ground.
But despite the thief having used the Earth Escape Art, there wasn't a single trace left behind, was there?
"This is going to be fun."
So Ok-rim, as if struck by an amusing thought, turned to Bu Eun-seol and said:
"Let's catch him first."
Without hesitation, she leapt into mid-air and began pursuing the traces of the Earth Escape Art.
Bu Eun-seol, as if resigned, followed her, unleashing his Movement Technique.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol and So Ok-rim chased the fleeing thief's trail all the way to the outskirts of the village.
Soon, a quiet Reed Field came into view, and the figure using the Earth Escape Art abruptly halted.
In response, Bu Eun-seol and So Ok-rim concealed themselves atop a great tree overlooking the Reed Field.
Gloop.
Suddenly, the ground of the Reed Field writhed like a living serpent, and a small gap opened up.
Swish.
A small head popped out from the dark hole, scanning the surroundings before—
"Hah."
—slowly revealing itself under the moonlight.
He was a lean man, not particularly tall, with a build that could easily be mistaken for a woman's from afar.
Though his face was covered in scruffy stubble, his eyes were clear and his skin unblemished. Yet there was something mischievous and eccentric about his expression, giving off a crude air.
After another cautious glance around the Reed Field, the man drew the stolen Treasured Sword.
Shing!
Under the moonlight, the blade shimmered with a dazzling glow.
Moreover, the scabbard and hilt were studded with several diamond-like vajra stones, each the size of a jujube seed.
"Just how desperate was he to flaunt his wealth that he had to embed vajra stones into the scabbard and hilt?"
The man smirked, pulling out a sharp dagger from his sleeve.
Then, he began prying the vajra stones from the hilt and scabbard.
"Hehehe. This job's practically free."
Just as the delighted man was busily digging out the gems—
Whoosh!
So Ok-rim descended from the great tree and strode toward him, her footsteps heavy.
"Hey. Having fun?"
The man's face stiffened instantly.
How had this giantess slipped past his senses and gotten so close?
'A master. An enormous one.'
Realizing that So Ok-rim possessed martial prowess far beyond his ability to handle, the man swiftly pocketed the extracted gems and clasped his hands together respectfully.
"Who... might you be?"
"Who do you think?"
"This lowly one dares not—"
As he spoke with deference, his hands still pressed together—
Swish!
—he vanished in an instant, accompanied by the Sound of Breaking Air.
Pretending to converse casually, he had fled in the blink of an eye.
"Huh?!"
But he didn't get far before stopping abruptly at the edge of the Reed Field.
Before he knew it, a figure with a sword slung across his back stood blocking his path.
Bu Eun-seol.
"Y-Your Movement Technique is terrifyingly fast!"
The man threw out a compliment before attempting to escape skyward with another burst of Movement Technique.
But his legs refused to budge, as if rooted to the ground.
Unnoticed, the towering shadow of the giantess had closed in behind him, unleashing an invisible pressure.
"Go ahead and run if you want."
So Ok-rim crept right up behind him and grinned.
"I'll just shatter your legs so thoroughly you won't be able to use Movement Technique for a while."
The man gulped.
Though it sounded like a joke, he had no doubt she'd actually do it if he tried to flee.
'Did Guyang Chun really hire someone of this caliber?'
The man's expression shifted as he realized the man and woman before him not only possessed overwhelming martial prowess but also surpassed him in Movement Technique.
"Hehehe. I just stole it out of curiosity."
Blustering, the man quickly pulled out ten vajra stones from his sleeve and offered them.
"I'll return them. My sincerest apologies."
"Don't need 'em."
"Huh?"
"Keep that junk for yourself."
At So Ok-rim's words, the man scratched his head.
"Then why did you chase me?"
"What's your name?"
"This lowly one is Jin Baek-rim."
Whack!
So Ok-rim's pot-lid-sized fist slammed into his head.
"This Lady can detect every lie."
"Forgive me! Actually, it's Sa Jin Baek—"
Whack!
"Jin Cheong-un... Ok Ja-myeong... Yun Gwang-seo."
Whack! Whack! Whack!
"I-It's Yu Cheong-rim!"
Whack!
"It's the truth!"
"This Lady said she has a method to distinguish lies!"
Whack!
As she raised her fist again as if to crack his skull, the man clutched his head and began to sob.
"It's true! I swear on my life!"
Then, he dropped to his knees before her and clasped his hands in desperate plea.
"My name really is Yu Cheong-rim! Heroine! Spare me!"
"Oh, so it was true?"
Only then did the man—Yu Cheong-rim—realize.
She had no method to detect lies. She had simply beaten him until his expression turned truthful.
"Hmm, Yu Cheong-rim?"
So Ok-rim hummed, tilting her head as if recalling something.
"Yu Cheong-rim? Where have I heard that before?"
Then, as if it had just come to her, she nodded.
"So you're that thief they call the Thousand-Face Divine Thief!"
Thousand-Face Divine Thief Yu Cheong-rim.
He was one of the Four Great Divine Thieves, renowned in the current murim as the most skilled thief.
The name "Thousand-Face Divine Thief" was given to him because he left almost no traces when stealing, and he had mastered the Thousand Changes Art, allowing him to alter his appearance in an instant.
Yu Cheong-rim, the Thousand-Face Divine Thief, was known as the hardest thief to catch among the Divine Thieves due to his astonishing movement techniques and disguise skills.
Who would have thought he was such a young man?
"Someone like me, a Divine Thief? Please—"
Before he could finish—
Whoosh!
Once his identity was exposed, he immediately activated his movement technique, staking his life on escape.
'If I get caught, I'm dead!'
Up until now, he had stolen countless treasures not just from the wealthy but also from murim factions.
He assumed So Ok-rim and Bu Eun-seol were pursuers sent to capture him.
Swoosh!
Yu Cheong-rim's shadow swiftly escaped the Reed Field.
Thieves bearing the title "Divine Thief" each possessed exceptional movement techniques.
In particular, Yu Cheong-rim had mastered one of the legendary Eight Great Movement Arts, once celebrated throughout the murim—the Extreme-Speed Divine Movement Art.
Great Lightning Shadow.
A demonic movement technique that discarded stealth entirely, focusing solely on speed.
His other specialty was the Thousand Changes Art.
With just a brief moment, he could alter both his face and attire, so he relied solely on movement techniques to widen the distance between himself and his pursuers.
Kwa-woooom!
Tsuuuuu!
But then, two streaks of shadow shot up side by side from the void and instantly latched onto Yu Cheong-rim's shoulders as he ran.
"Your movement technique is quite impressive."
Bu Eun-seol, running on Yu Cheong-rim's left, nodded in acknowledgment, and So Ok-rim blinked in amusement.
"Right? He really must be the Thousand-Face Divine Thief."
As the two casually chatted while keeping pace with him on either side, terror welled up in Yu Cheong-rim's eyes.
Even as he pushed his Great Lightning Shadow—one of the Eight Great Divine Movement Arts—to the point where his entire body felt like it would burst,
these two were talking while executing their own movement techniques?!
"Hey, you."
Just then, So Ok-rim, running alongside him, thrust a fist right in front of his face.
"You wanna get pummeled?"
Yu Cheong-rim lost all will to fight the moment that pot-lid-sized fist loomed before his eyes.
Whoosh.
Finally stopping his movement technique, Yu Cheong-rim bowed his head as if in prayer.
"Spare me! I'm just trying to scrape by day by day—"
BAM!
Before he could finish, So Ok-rim's fist shot forward.
At the same time, an enormous gale swept in, tearing through Yu Cheong-rim's clothes as they flapped violently.
Rustle, rustle.
Along with it, a hidden pouch ripped open, spilling out a cascade of secretly stashed jewels.
"You spend hundreds of thousands of taels just to scrape by?"
Yu Cheong-rim lowered his head and shut his mouth.
Beads of sweat, large as grapes, dripped from his forehead.
He had roamed the murim freely until now, but he had never heard of such terrifying masters appearing out of nowhere.
"Ugh, gross. You sick or something? Why are you sweating so much?"
"My apologies. I'm just... terrified."
"Terrified of what? Who's gonna eat you?"
Yu Cheong-rim quickly adjusted his expression and clasped his hands together.
"Might I ask for the honorable lady's name?"
"Why do you want my name?"
"Well, you seem like an eminent martial artist, so I can't properly pay my respects without knowing—"
"You've been rolling around the murim all this time, yet you still have no sense of perception?"
"Huh?"
So Ok-rim flicked her long hair back with a thick arm and crossed them.
"Looking at this beauty, doesn't anyone come to mind?"
"Well, Gwan-un—"
"I'm the Silver River Goddess."
Yu Cheong-rim's eyes widened instantly.
"Don't tell me—the one who smashed the Liangguang Murim—Crashing Heaven—"
WHAM!
So Ok-rim's fist shot out, and Yu Cheong-rim's head was nearly driven into his neck.
"Who the hell said Crashing Heaven?! It's Silver River Goddess!"
"S-sorry!"
Yu Cheong-rim was dazed.
Two years ago, Heaven-Crashing Hand So Ok-rim had beaten even the previous generation's Liangguang masters like she was catching mice before vanishing.
Why had that terrifying master suddenly appeared here?
"So? Think he'll be useful?"
So Ok-rim flashed a bright grin at Bu Eun-seol.
"Seems like we got ourselves a better bait, no?"
"Seems so."
No matter how much one reached Return to Plainness, where martial prowess no longer outwardly manifested, one couldn't conceal their innate disposition.
Even when disguised as a woman back in the Hidden Demon Pavilion's meeting hall, an inexplicable dignity and an untouchable majesty had radiated from him.
But Yu Cheong-rim had spent his whole life evading suspicion and pursuit, disguising himself as an ordinary person.
Because of that, not only was his presence unremarkable despite his martial arts, but he even exuded an air of simplicity.
On top of that, he wasn't particularly tall and had a slender build—perfect conditions for disguising as a woman.
"B-bait? What do you mean?"
Sensing something ominous, Yu Cheong-rim trembled as he asked. So Ok-rim waved her hand dismissively.
"Ah, it's nothing much."
Hearing that only made Yu Cheong-rim more uneasy.
Coming from someone like her, "nothing much" usually meant something extremely bizarre and disastrous.
"Hey, you."
So Ok-rim wrapped an arm around his shoulder with an overly friendly expression.
"Let's you and me do a little job together."