Chapter 35
Moonlight danced upon the surface of Spirit Dragon Lake, where darkness had fallen.
Splash. Ripple.
A black shadow raced swiftly across the water, stepping on the branches floating on the surface.
It was Bu Eun-seol, clad in worn martial robes.
Whish. Tap.
With every leap, a hazy afterimage of his feet scattered through the darkness.
He appeared to be running in a straight line, yet from a distance, his movements crisscrossed the lake in an unpredictable manner.
"That is Master Go's Ultimate Speed Shadowless."
Baek Yeon's eyes, which had been watching from afar, wavered greatly.
"Ultimate Speed Shadowless is a Body Movement Martial Art that cannot be mastered in a short time even with good talent..."
Tilting his head, he muttered with a dumbfounded expression.
"Surely he has been practicing nothing but movement techniques since arriving at the Main Pavilion."
"How could that be."
Dan Cheong chuckled and shook his head.
"That boy entered three months ago. And as of two months ago, he was still learning the Internal Energy Method on Iron Staff Peak."
"Iron Staff Peak, you say..."
"He is currently receiving instruction in the Reverse Polarity Heart Method from Blood Vajra."
"The Reverse Polarity Heart Method, you say?"
As utterly unbelievable stories poured forth, Baek Yeon furrowed his brows.
"Then the rumor that he mastered the Way of the Beast in fifteen days on Hell Island..."
"It is not a rumor, but fact."
Dan Cheong, recalling the leather pouch that Sa-u had always carried around, wore a bitter smile.
"It seems his Supernormal Nerve Network opened quickly because he drank all of the Supreme Heavenly Spirit Elixir that Sa-u possessed."
"This is absurd."
Baek Yeon shook his head.
The Way of the Beast is not so much a martial art as it is a realm of realization.
Even if one had consumed not the Supreme Heavenly Spirit Elixir but the legendary Golden Spirit Immortal Fruit, one could not comprehend the Way of the Beast.
"Then the rumors must all be true."
"What do you mean?"
At Dan Cheong's question, Baek Yeon spoke with a vacant gaze.
"The rumor that, because that boy possesses such extraordinary talent, the Ten Demonic Heirs—which should have remained at twelve—was adjusted to fourteen."
"That is also true. That is why old Hyeokryeon, who was the Chief Instructor, received disciplinary action and returned to the Demon Hall."
Dan Cheong could not hide his pleased expression.
"I had not expected much. But thanks to the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament, the Main Pavilion has effectively gained an excellent successor."
He thought of Bu Eun-seol not as one of the Ten Demonic Heirs, but as the successor who would lead Langya Pavilion.
"It is not a matter to be viewed so simply."
"A matter?"
"Because that child has caused a considerably troublesome situation."
"A troublesome situation?"
Baek Yeon, who had paused for a moment, suddenly changed the subject.
"When exactly does the Pavilion Lord intend to end his Closed Door Training?"
"Indeed."
Dan Cheong shrugged his shoulders and spoke listlessly.
"Thanks to that, I am stuck on Sword Brow Mountain handling all manner of miscellaneous affairs."
"Hmm."
After thinking for a moment, Baek Yeon brought up the main point.
"Originally, the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan was a plan pushed forward by the Demon Hall, so there was widespread discontent among the Demonic Path Ten Gates."
Dan Cheong immediately picked up the thread.
"Is that not only natural? Other sects have many complicated issues such as factions. Therefore, they must select their successors well in advance to avoid future disputes."
Unlike other sects, Langya Pavilion had no need to decide on an inheritor or successor.
Only the strong. The strongest would become the next Pavilion Lord.
"But what is this troublesome matter you speak of?"
"In truth, the Demonic Path Ten Gates, excluding the Main Pavilion, had long been selecting those who would inherit their martial arts legacies. But when the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan was announced, they could not help but be thrown into confusion."
"That is understandable. However..."
A sharp light burst from Dan Cheong's long eyes.
"Was the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan not the Demon Hall’s plan to create swordsmen to strike down and kill the Great Righteous Experts?"
"So you were aware."
Baek Yeon nodded.
Currently, the power structure between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions stood at roughly six to four, with the Demonic Path at a disadvantage.
Moreover, when the Martial Alliance raised joint heirs called the Great Righteous Experts to cultivate the next generation of Grandmasters of Martial Arts, the Demon Hall came to regard them as thorns in their eyes.
"However, among the Demonic Path Ten Gates, several sects that did not know the Demon Hall Lord's true intentions made unavoidable choices."
"Choice?"
"They entered the disciples they had marked as successors into the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament."
"Not a bad choice."
As Dan Cheong stroked his chin, Baek Yeon nodded.
"If they are successors of the highest caliber who have long been taught the martial arts of the Demonic Path Ten Gates, then no matter where you place them, they would be selected as one of the Ten Demonic Heirs."
"That is correct. Rather, since the successors could prove their skills, from their standpoint, the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament was not necessarily a bad thing."
Baek Yeon pointed at Bu Eun-seol, who was running across Spirit Dragon Lake.
"But because of that child, their plans have gone awry."
"Gone awry... is it."
"At that child's hands, the grandson of the White Horse Monastery leader—his only blood relative, Kang Mu-ryun—breathed his last."
Only then did Dan Cheong nod, as if he now grasped the whole situation.
It was clear that a successor sent by the Demonic Path Ten Gates—a direct blood descendant, no less—had lost his life to Bu Eun-seol.
"Their confidence was excessive."
"What is fortunate, at least, is that the Third Trial was created with the approval of the Demonic Path Ten Gates. Even the Chief Instructor did not know that the White Horse Monastery leader's grandson was among them."
"Well, losing a grandson is a regrettable thing, but... it does not seem to be something to blame others for."
"There is another problem."
"What problem do you mean?"
"The Fire Rain Sword Sect is also raising objections."
"The Fire Rain Sword Sect?"
In that moment, the words that the Sword Demon, Wi Hyeok-gun, had spoken back on Hell Island surfaced in Dan Cheong's mind.
—Not only Hall Leader Jin, but even Elder Dan praised him highly. And on top of that, he was even taught the True Body Secret Art of Hall Leader Cheon?
"Don't tell me... they are finding fault with the sword studies that child learned."
"That is correct."
Baek Yeon shook his head with a bitter expression.
"They have requested sanctions from the Demon Hall, saying that someone who is not even a disciple of the Fire Rain Sword Sect is learning the sect's Advanced Sword Studies."
"That is unreasonable. Was it not an agreed-upon matter from the beginning that the gates were established so that one could freely learn the ultimate techniques of the Demonic Path Ten Gates?"
Dan Cheong spoke as if dumbfounded.
"Moreover, the Peerless Thunderbolt is not an orthodox sword art of the Fire Rain Sword Sect, but a Killing Sword that Cheon Un-gwang, Killing Sword Breaks Heaven, personally created."
"The Demon Hall explained it that way as well, but the Fire Rain Sword Sect side... to be precise, the Sword Demon Wi Hyeok-gun is strongly insisting on sanctions."
"Wi Hyeok-gun... Is that man truly so narrow-minded?"
Bu Eun-seol had refused Wi Hyeok-gun's offer to become a successor of the Fire Rain Sword Sect.
Could it be that he had harbored a grudge over that matter and was now stirring up such trouble?
"It is not merely a matter of pride."
At Dan Cheong's words, Baek Yeon shook his head.
"Wi Hyeok-gun is a man who fiercely reveres the Fire Rain Sword Sect. No matter how much it is a collateral-line sword art created by Cheon Un-gwang, he will not tolerate it being passed on to a successor of another sect."
"He is spouting nonsense. If that is his complaint, he should take it up with Cheon Un-gwang, who taught the sword art."
"Cheon Un-gwang has already been stripped of his position as Hall Leader and is enduring the Wall Gazing Penalty for the crime of arbitrarily transmitting the secret arts of the Fire Rain Sword Sect."
A hollow smile touched Dan Cheong's lips.
"So they punished the one who taught the sword techniques, and now they intend to punish the one who learned them as well?"
"That is correct."
"So then. What is it that the White Horse Monastery and the Fire Rain Sword Sect are demanding?"
"The White Horse Monastery says they will summon that child to the Demon Hall and verify once more whether he truly possesses the qualities to become one of the Ten Demonic Heirs."
"The one who made such an absurd demand... must certainly be the White Horse Monastery leader, Gang Yang-cheon."
"That is correct. Under the pretext of verifying his qualifications, his hidden scheme is to summon the child who is here at Langya Pavilion and take revenge for his grandson."
"And the Fire Rain Sword Sect?"
"The Fire Rain Sword Sect..."
Baek Yeon paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"They are demanding that the child be prevented from using a sword from now on. That he not use the Peerless Thunderbolt."
"Ha ha ha!"
Having heard the whole story, Dan Cheong looked up at the sky and let out a hearty laugh, as if utterly dumbfounded.
"Wi Hyeok-gun. That man is still young, yet it seems he has gone senile. He demands that a disciple of our pavilion not use a sword? Ha ha ha!"
Dan Cheong stopped laughing abruptly and spoke in a cold tone.
"These words are not even worth hearing."
"Deputy Pavilion Lord."
"Refuse both demands. Tell them that if they have complaints, they may come find me."
Whirr.
At that moment, with the sound of breaking air, twelve afterimages poured forth from the empty sky.
Thud.
At the same moment, the twelve afterimages scattered through the air merged into one, revealing a young man in martial attire.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
"Deputy Pavilion Master."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been looking at Dan Cheong, brought both hands together and bowed deeply.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been practicing the Ultimate Speed Shadowless, had sensed the two people observing him.
Then, when the sound of laughter—"Ha ha ha!"—shook Spirit Dragon Lake, he could no longer feign ignorance and had approached.
"So you received the Ultimate Speed Shadowless from Old Master Go."
"That is correct."
"That is something to celebrate."
"Thank you."
As Bu Eun-seol lowered his head at Dan Cheong's words, Baek Yeon stepped forward.
"So you are the Ten Demonic Heir of the Main Pavilion."
Bu Eun-seol hesitated for a moment.
The middle-aged man before him was not only dressed in a most peculiar manner, but the qi flowing through his entire body was no less than Dan Cheong's.
"This is Baek Yeon, Commander Baek, who leads the Wind and Cloud Corps of the Main Pavilion. Greet him."
At Dan Cheong's words, Bu Eun-seol lowered his head once more.
"Bu Eun-seol greets the Commander."
"Hm."
Baek Yeon, who had nodded, quickly swept his gaze over Bu Eun-seol's body.
'His bone and muscle structure doesn't look particularly remarkable...'
But then, seeing the eyes gleaming in the darkness, he nodded.
'But his eyes... are the very essence of a warrior spirit.'
"Well met."
As Baek Yeon moved to relay the story so far, Dan Cheong shook his head.
"Commander Baek. It is talk not worth hearing. There seems to be no need to pass it on to this child."
"I am also a disciple of Langya Pavilion."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a resolute voice.
"I do not avoid a fight that comes to me."
In an instant, Baek Yeon's eyes slowly widened.
"You heard everything we said just now?"
"I apologize."
"Are you saying your internal energy has already reached the Summit of Mastery?"
The distance from Spirit Dragon Lake to this place was at least a hundred jang.
To eavesdrop on a conversation while madly executing movement techniques? Was Bu Eun-seol's internal energy realm already approaching that of Blood Vajra?
"This vast lake became my ears."
At Bu Eun-seol's answer, a thought suddenly flashed through Baek Yeon's mind.
"Did you apply the principles of the Way of the Beast's Resonance Mind Eye?"
Resonance Mind Eye.
It was one of the practical techniques of the Way of the Beast that allowed one to extend extrasensory perception by vibrating surrounding objects.
Bu Eun-seol had used the vast lake as a medium, eavesdropping on Dan Cheong and Baek Yeon's words even while executing the Ultimate Speed Shadowless.
"That is correct."
At Bu Eun-seol's answer, Baek Yeon's eyes became dyed with astonishment.
"The principles of the Resonance Mind Eye can only be manifested by concentrating the mind in a very still state. Yet you say you manifested it while executing a movement technique?"
"The Ultimate Speed Shadowless that Old Master Go Wol taught me requires changing direction mid-course anyway..."
"And so?"
"Each time I kicked off a branch on the water, I raised the Way of the Beast along the ripples spreading across the surface."
The focus was disappearing from Baek Yeon's eyes.
"You raised the Way of the Beast along the ripples spreading across the water's surface?"
"That is correct."
Unable to hide his surprise, Baek Yeon looked at Dan Cheong standing beside him.
Then Dan Cheong opened his mouth with an indifferent expression.
"When this brat learns something, it's generally like this. The one doing the teaching is always the one left astonished."
"...I see."
Only then could Baek Yeon fathom Dan Cheong's mind.
—Refuse both demands. Tell them if they have complaints, to come find me.
Bu Eun-seol was a peerless prodigy of martial arts who would make Langya Pavilion's Practical Combat Martial Arts bloom.
And Dan Cheong, in order to protect a prodigy that would never come again in a thousand ages, was willing to risk conflict not only with White Horse Temple but even with the Fire Rain Sword Sect, the foremost sect of the demonic path.
"I will take responsibility."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol put strength into his eyes and spoke.
"I will go to the Demon Hall and take the test, and I will no longer use the sword. All of that, I will..."
"Ha ha ha, look at this impudent brat."
But Bu Eun-seol's words did not continue. Dan Cheong had heavily clapped him on the shoulder.
"Bu Eun-seol. You are already a disciple of the Main Pavilion."
"Deputy Pavilion Master."
"A disciple of the Main Pavilion must not yield to any external force. Do you understand?"
Dan Cheong cut him off with a solemn gaze.
"Does the Main Pavilion look so weak to you that we would make a child like you bear such responsibility?"
He let out a short laugh and spoke in a low voice.
"There is no need for you to concern yourself with such matters. All you need to do is diligently train your martial arts."
But then Baek Yeon stepped forward and said something unexpected.
"Deputy Pavilion Master. Why not trust this child instead?"