Chapter 388
A flicker of bewilderment passed through Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
'And with such overwhelming numbers...'
The assassins of the White Rank Assassination Sect were so exceptionally skilled that even for the most difficult missions, they never dispatched more than five operatives in a small team.
Yet now, wasn't an entire group of fifty-some assassins moving as one?
II II II IX |
At that moment, a barrage of needle-like projectiles from the Baekryeol Bolts came pouring toward Bu Eun-seol's face.
Apparently considering them witnesses, they seemed intent on killing both him and the girl called So-yo.
Swish!
So-yo's movement technique was extraordinary—in an instant, she had escaped the rain of Baekryeol Bolts.
Thunk! Thunk!
Simultaneously, she nocked and released a flurry of extremely short arrows from her silver shortbow.
She wasn't using the White Rank Assassination Sect's signature Baekryeol Bolts, but rather the plain arrows commonly employed by assassins of the Central Plains martial world.
Thwip! Thwip!
So-yo's arrows never missed their mark.
Each shot she loosed unfailingly pierced an assassin's vital acupoint, sending them crumpling to the ground.
Thunk!
Moreover, her arrows didn't fly in straight lines but curved through the air like living creatures, tracing unpredictable arcs.
'Her archery is remarkable.'
Rather than joining the fight directly, Bu Eun-seol remained passive, deflecting the incoming Baekryeol Bolts while observing So-yo's martial prowess.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
As Bu Eun-seol stood motionless, casually batting away projectiles while spectating the battle, the assassins' focus and mental power became divided between two fronts.
So-yo seized this opportunity without hesitation, flitting about like a butterfly with her unpredictable movement technique as she systematically took down the assassins one by one.
Though the White Rank assassins continued firing volleys of Baekryeol Bolts, her movements were far too erratic and swift—none could touch her.
"Deploy the Blood Hair Formation to encircle her!"
Seeing So-yo darting unpredictably across the battlefield, the assassins scrambled to reorganize into battle formation.
Thunk! Thunk!
Those forming the Blood Hair Formation raised their shortbows skyward, unleashing another wave of Baekryeol Bolts.
The descending arrows didn't just cage her within a dome-like barrier—they completely sealed off all directions, preventing her from employing her elusive movement technique to slip away.
Clang! Clatter!
Drawing a dagger, she desperately parried the relentless hail of projectiles.
Though the arrow storm grew more intricate and the formation's power intensified, So-yo continued blocking the attacks without visible strain.
"Th-that..."
The lead assassin's voice burst forth in stunned disbelief.
The reason So-yo could hold out so comfortably while trapped within the Blood Hair Formation's boundary?
It was because of Bu Eun-seol—standing utterly unconcerned as he lazily deflected the Baekryeol Bolts with a bored expression.
"It's because of that bastard!"
The Blood Hair Formation was originally designed as an absolute formation to entrap a single exceptional master.
But with Bu Eun-seol nonchalantly batting away the Baekryeol Bolts beside So-yo...
Its power and functionality had deteriorated to the level of some third-rate martial arts school's pathetic formation.
"The arrows are endless."
Meanwhile, even Bu Eun-seol frowned as he continued deflecting the unrelenting barrage.
He'd assumed their arrows would run out quickly.
Yet the storm showed no signs of diminishing—if anything, it seemed infinite.
"No helping it."
Shhhhk.
Drawing the Ink Sword in one fluid motion, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Crescent Moon technique.
"Scatter!"
When the assassins saw the building-sized wave of sword qi descending toward them, they recoiled in terror, scrambling backward.
But the massive cruciform sword energy showed no mercy for their retreat.
Flash!
With a brilliant burst of light, the cascading sword qi shattered the Blood Hair Formation's sturdy walls in an instant.
Boooom!
Like thunder, the boundary formation ruptured—the meticulously arranged battle lines collapsing like dominoes.
So-yo didn't waste the opportunity, spinning like a top as she fired arrow after arrow from her shortbow, systematically eliminating the assassins.
"Gahk!"
"Urk—!"
One shattered formations at close range while the other picked off targets from afar—their coordination was flawless.
Thud. Thud.
Eventually, over half of the fifty-some assassins lay cold and lifeless on the ground.
At this rate, total annihilation was merely a matter of time.
"Retreat!"
At their leader's command, the remaining assassins executed their movement techniques with mechanical precision, fleeing the battlefield.
Bu Eun-seol made no move to pursue them, simply watching their retreat with detached indifference.
"Whew..."
As the last assassin vanished, So-yo gasped for breath, her chest heaving.
Truthfully, her skills weren't sufficient to perfectly handle fifty-some elite assassins alone.
Had Bu Eun-seol not joined the fray, she would've either suffered grave injuries or been forced to flee immediately.
Click.
Bu Eun-seol slowly sheathed the Ink Sword and asked her:
"Why are assassins from your own sect chasing you?"
"None of your business."
Despite his help, So-yo showed no gratitude, her expression icy.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol nodded at her cold, indifferent reply.
After all, this was merely a fleeting encounter. There was no need to show interest or learn her circumstances.
"Then."
With that brief word, Bu Eun-seol indifferently stepped away and left the Dharma Hall.
He moved without rest toward the Nanan Prefecture where Grave Village lay.
Under normal circumstances, one might stop at a village or Chengdu to enjoy good food and a comfortable inn bed.
Yet he stubbornly avoided populated areas, sticking to the less-traveled paths.
The journey to Grave Village was not short.
And the assassins who had attacked him earlier wouldn't give up—they would be watching for any opportunity.
What if he entered Chengdu or a village?
They would undoubtedly use civilians as shields to attack him without hesitation.
'They should have shown themselves by now.'
The assassins' goal was clear: to prevent Bu Eun-seol from passing through populated areas.
In other words, they were waiting for the chance to mobilize a large force and eliminate him in one fell swoop.
Yet they still hadn't revealed themselves.
'They must be waiting for the right moment.'
But when Bu Eun-seol deliberately chose deserted paths, the ambushes ceased entirely.
'Which means they have another objective. What could it be?'
Lost in thought as he continued his Movement Technique, Bu Eun-seol gradually slowed to a stop.
In the distance, he spotted a crumbling abandoned house.
Passing through the half-collapsed Great Gate, he saw a front courtyard overgrown with weeds.
Though the interior structures were mostly ruined, they were enough to shelter from the night dew.
"Perfect."
Nightfall was approaching.
Bu Eun-seol decided to rest here for a while.
Whoosh.
Gathering broken wood from the surroundings, he lit a fire and leaned against a discarded garden stone, closing his eyes.
He didn't feel the slightest bit of fatigue.
Even if he maintained his Lightness Skill for four days straight, it wouldn't strain him.
But enemies could appear at any time, anywhere.
If he exhausted his stamina and Internal Power before reaching Grave Village, he wouldn't be able to handle unexpected situations.
Especially since the Divine Calculator was closely tied to the Righteous Faction.
Even if Bu Eun-seol brought the Gratitude Coin, the man might refuse to meet him—or this could all be a trap.
That's why Bu Eun-seol wanted to arrive at Grave Village with his Internal Power and stamina fully preserved.
Whoosh.
Just then, the Sound of Breaking Air echoed from the distant sky. Simultaneously, a small shadow slipped through the gate.
It was the same girl he had fought alongside earlier—So-yo, the one who had battled the White Rank Assassination Sect's killers.
II 0 //
When So-yo saw Bu Eun-seol sitting by the fire, she let out a low sound and halted.
Swish.
As she turned to leave,
"No need."
Bu Eun-seol's lips moved, though his eyes remained closed.
"I won't bite you."
At that, So-yo whipped her head around and glared at him.
Her silver-tinted eyes flashed with a murderous glint, but Bu Eun-seol simply lay there, eyes shut.
"If you're scared, you can just leave."
An ordinary martial artist might have comforted her with kind words like, "You can rest here."
But Bu Eun-seol had instantly read her personality and deliberately provoked her.
If he hadn't, she would have stubbornly forced herself to keep walking through the night.
Thud. Thud.
Expression cold, So-yo walked past Bu Eun-seol.
She gathered firewood some distance away and lit her own fire.
'Was this inevitable?'
After a moment of thought, Bu Eun-seol realized why their paths kept crossing.
She, too, was being pursued by the White Rank Assassination Sect. And that sect favored overwhelming their targets with volleys of arrows.
If a fight broke out in a village, countless innocent civilians would undoubtedly suffer.
So she, too, was avoiding villages and Chengdu to prevent collateral damage.
Crackle.
Only the sound of burning wood echoed through the night sky.
Most martial artists would have called this fate and asked each other's circumstances.
But neither Bu Eun-seol nor So-yo spoke a word.
And so, time passed.
Yet, strangely enough—
Even though they were strangers sharing this abandoned house in the middle of nowhere, neither felt the slightest discomfort.
Same Kind.
Somehow, their personalities and auras resonated.
That's why, despite occupying the same space, neither felt any unease at all.
Swish!
But then, the sound of breaking air echoed from the distant sky.
At the same time, over fifty martial artists clad in pitch-black assassin's outfits descended into the courtyard, surrounding the area.
Swoosh.
Soyo, who had opened her eyes, slowly rose to her feet, about to step forward toward the assassins—
But this time, Bu Eun-seol moved in front of her.
"Seems like they're my guests this time."
The assassins who had appeared now exuded an entirely different aura from those of the White Rank Assassination Sect.
Bu Eun-seol immediately recognized them as the same assassins who had been relentlessly targeting him.
"Still not at full strength, I see."
His voice was indifferent as he observed them.
"Are they still unprepared? Or are they just thinking too hard?"
Shing!
Instead of answering, the assassins drew their poisoned swords and lunged without hesitation, unleashing razor-sharp sword strokes.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
It was astonishing.
These fifty-odd assassins were not only exceptionally skilled in sword techniques—they also moved with ghostly movement techniques eerily similar to those of the White Rank Assassination Sect.
The moment Bu Eun-seol attempted to unfold his swordplay, they dispersed like mist, instantly evading his range of attack.
'These guys...'
The movement techniques they employed—weren't they the Wave-Propelling Steps of the Suyoung Sect, renowned for its superior body techniques?
'So it's the Martial Alliance.'
The Suyoung Sect, a mysterious faction that rarely revealed itself in the martial world, would never suddenly turn into an assassination sect.
Besides, the Suyoung Sect had no prior grudges or favors with Bu Eun-seol.
Yet, these assassins were using the movement techniques of the orthodox Suyoung Sect—
Which meant they weren't disciples of the sect, but rather assassins of the Martial Alliance who had been trained in its techniques.
Sssk!
Meanwhile, the assassins launched another sword assault at Bu Eun-seol.
'Are they trying to trace the remnants of my martial arts?'
Though their movement and sword techniques were formidable, they weren't strong enough to trouble Bu Eun-seol.
Which meant they, too, were disposable pawns.
Given that they had sent assassins with such refined techniques, their goal was likely to observe his True Void—
Or perhaps to analyze his fighting style and habits.
'Someone could be watching from somewhere.'
Shing!
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol drew his sword and unleashed the Formless Heavenly Flow.
There was no need to expose his trump cards—the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, the Willful True Binding, or even the Thirteen Night Techniques.
But then—
Swish!
A sharp sound of breaking air tore through the assassins, who were weaving through their movement techniques like phantoms.
Thud!
A dull impact followed as an arrow buried itself deep into the forehead of an assassin who had been fading like mist.
Soyo, standing behind Bu Eun-seol, had just taken down one of the Martial Alliance assassins with her short bow.
Thwip! Thwip!
This time, two arrows shot out in rapid succession.
Instantly, the shadows of two assassins, who had been circling Bu Eun-seol like mist, were abruptly exposed.
Flash!
Seizing the opportunity, Bu Eun-seol executed the Meteor Chasing Steps.
Swish!
His swordplay had already reached a sublime realm, where even the simplest martial forms contained countless variations.
As the tip of his Ink Sword flickered unpredictably, the sword shadows he conjured followed an untraceable sword path.
Thwip! Thwip!
Bu Eun-seol altered his swordplay, embroidering the air with dazzling sword flowers.
With each stroke, blood blossoms bloomed from the throats of the assassins who had been moving like mist.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Soyo's arrows flew relentlessly, sealing the assassins' movements.
And each time, Bu Eun-seol's Ink Sword pursued them mercilessly.
Thump. Thump. Splat.
The assassins, who had been circling Bu Eun-seol like ghosts, now lay scattered across the ground—lifeless corpses.
Click.
Having dealt with all the Martial Alliance assassins, Bu Eun-seol sheathed his sword and turned around.
"Why did you interfere?"
"Earlier. Debt."
A short answer.
She likely meant, 'I repaid the debt from before.'
Slinging her short bow back onto her shoulder, Soyo turned away indifferently. Then, as if nothing had happened, she left the abandoned house.
'They're coming again.'
Since the assassins he was chasing had appeared here, those from the White Rank Assassination Sect pursuing Soyo would soon arrive as well.
She had left quickly to ensure Bu Eun-seol wouldn't be caught in the crossfire.
Watching her retreating figure, Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
'She won't shake them off alone.'
The White Rank Assassination Sect was one of the most formidable assassination factions Beyond the Frontier.
"Being hunted so relentlessly... there's a chance So-yo might be pursued endlessly until the day she dies."
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol let out a contemplative hum.
For someone so young to join the Killing Sect, there were only two possible reasons.
Either she had entered willingly, driven by starvation beyond endurance—
Or she had been kidnapped by the sect's masters after displaying talent too exceptional to ignore.
Of course, neither scenario was likely the life that little girl had wished for.
"Can't be helped."
The martial world was ruthless.
No one in their right mind would dare help a girl being hunted by the terrifying White Rank Assassination Sect.
Doing so would not only risk their own life but could even jeopardize the survival of their entire sect.
But fortunately, there was someone who could help her.
Someone not only sane but also powerful enough to help without risking their sect's survival.
"Why are you being chased by your fellow assassins?"
Bu Eun-seol followed after So-yo.
He had made up his mind—he would help her.
If someone throws a stone at you, retaliate with a mountain. If someone offers a sip of water, repay them by digging a well.
That was the ironclad rule of the Demonic Path Ten Gates—the creed of Langya Pavilion.
"I'll help you."
But So-yo ignored his goodwill, continuing forward in silence.
"Don't believe me?"
"Mind your own business."
Even as her icy reply cut through the air, Bu Eun-seol's lips curled into a faint smile.
When it came to cold, ruthless personalities, he was second to none.
Had this been the Bu Eun-seol of the past? He would have walked right past her without a second thought.
Forcing help upon someone who didn't want it was just another form of coercion.
But now, he didn't hesitate to save this frozen girl.
This wasn't the demeanor of a ruthless Grandmaster of the Demonic Path—it was the bearing of a Renowned Chivalrous Hero, walking the path he believed was right.
"You don't have to explain your circumstances. I'll help you regardless."
"Why?"
"Repaying a debt from earlier."
"Not that."
—The real reason you want to help me.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through him, demanding an answer.
As So-yo's eyes locked onto his, Bu Eun-seol hesitated briefly.
He was no righteous faction figure, nor did he care for chivalrous codes.
"...I don't know."
He meant it.
It wasn't out of a desire to be a hero, nor was it about repaying a debt. There was no absolute reason he had to help her.
He truly didn't know the real reason himself.
Recognizing the sincerity in his words, a strange light flickered in So-yo's eyes.
"How old are you?"
"Roughly... past twenty."
Abandoned too young, Bu Eun-seol didn't know his exact age.
So-yo's eyes sparkled.
"You're young."
"Young?"
"I'm... around thirty."
The unexpected answer made Bu Eun-seol's eyes widen.
Even being generous, she looked no older than fifteen. Yet she claimed to be well into her thirties?
"Are you joking?"
"Does it sound like a joke?"
As So-yo blinked her large eyes, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
They were of the same kind.
Neither was the type for jokes or idle humor, nor did they have any reason to lie.
'Did she consume the Youthful-Complexion Fruit?'
So-yo's youth wasn't just due to a unique constitution or delicate features.
Her skin was that of a young girl—something a woman in her thirties could never naturally possess.
A thought flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"Are you connected to the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace?"
Those who consumed the spiritual herbs growing atop Gorap Mountain—disciples of the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace—ceased aging in their teens.
Their physique and skin remained unchanged for life.
Perhaps So-yo had lived near Gorap Mountain and become a disciple of the palace.
Or maybe, like them, she had ingested the mountain's spiritual herbs?
But no answer came.
As silence stretched between them, Bu Eun-seol spoke again.
"First, let's shake off these persistent pursuers."
The White Rank Assassination Sect showed no signs of abandoning their hunt for So-yo.
And Bu Eun-seol himself still had Martial Alliance assassins dogging his steps.
Using that, they could buy enough time.
Yet So-yo remained silent.
It was a clear refusal.
'Can't be helped.'
There was no way to forcibly help someone who didn't want it.
Besides, she was older than him.
A fully grown adult, capable of taking responsibility for her own choices—there was no need for Bu Eun-seol to interfere.
"Fine. Then I suppose—"
Just as Bu Eun-seol was about to relent—
Whoosh!
The sound of breaking air echoed once more from the distant sky.
This time, a hundred assassins surrounded them.
The White Rank Assassination Sect's hunters had arrived.
"So-yo!"
The lead assassin shouted furiously.
Bu Eun-seol considered ignoring them and pressing on.
But in the end, he had to stop.
Because the leader had roared one crucial demand:
"Hand over the Gratitude Coin—now!"