Chapter 446
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
Now was not the time for despair.
What mattered was Blood Vajra's safety.
'If this is an enemy I cannot defeat, I must ensure the elder can retreat safely as well.'
Blood Vajra was in critical condition, his body covered in wounds with scarcely an unharmed spot left.
"Elder, you have already left the Martial World and are in the process of returning to your original place," said Bu Eun-seol, clasping his hands together as he concealed his tangled, anguished thoughts.
"Please, while this disciple handles these troublesome matters, retreat for now."
Without another word, he drew the Ice Soul Sword in one swift motion.
The Ice Soul Sword, repaired by Master Cheol and Wang Geol, now resembled a crude, blackened iron blade.
Yet it was sturdy enough for Bu Eun-seol to wield freely, and when he channeled his internal power into it, a white sword qi naturally bloomed from the blade—a testament to its restored function.
Swoosh—
As Bu Eun-seol stepped calmly into the center of the clearing, the assassins encircled him as if they had been waiting for this moment.
With over a hundred assassins forming a ring around him, it was as though dark walls had risen on all sides.
Flash!
Then, as Bu Eun-seol poured his internal energy into the Ice Soul Sword, a massive cross-shaped sword qi erupted.
Slash—!
A sound like a cascade of cool water filled the air as towering trees were cleanly severed, as the attack cut down the assassins.
Crash—!
But these were assassins the Three Realms had sent with absolute determination to eliminate him.
Moving with mechanical precision and discipline, they swiftly swung their swords, effortlessly deflecting the unpredictable, chaotic storm of cross-shaped sword qi from every angle.
Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Shooting Star Chasing the Moon and Caged Bird Longing for Clouds techniques in rapid succession, cutting down assassins as he advanced.
Yet they retreated and advanced with perfect coordination, their sword strokes forming an impenetrable defense.
'Has the elder managed to escape safely?'
As the relentless exchange continued, Bu Eun-seol grew impatient.
The assassins had him surrounded, and the strange energy they emanated made it impossible to sense Blood Vajra's location.
'They might target the elder. He must retreat first.'
If this dragged on, the assassins might shift their focus to Blood Vajra.
'Don't tell me... all of this was your plan.'
Feeling his mental power wavering, Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
When executing martial techniques, body and weapon must merge as one, and the mind must focus entirely on subduing the enemy.
But his worry for Blood Vajra had fractured his concentration, scattering his thoughts.
There was only one group who could understand Bu Eun-seol's temperament and combat style so thoroughly—
The subordinates of the Death Shadow War Unit.
'I must end this quickly!'
Whoooosh—!
A strange Sound of Breaking Air rippled from Bu Eun-seol's left hand as he unleashed his swordplay.
A whirlwind infused with crimson energy raged violently from his shoulder down to his fist.
BOOM!
Hundreds of red streaks fanned out like the ribs of an unfolding paper screen, and a mountainous force of fist energy surged forth.
He had unleashed the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon at full power.
CRASH! KABOOM!
The torrent of fist energy became a storm that devoured everything in its path, then coiled through the air like a leisurely dragon, piercing deep into the assassins' bodies.
CRACK! SNAP!
Thick trees shattered endlessly around them, the dense forest rapidly transforming into an open clearing.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had never used the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon consecutively.
Not only was its power overwhelmingly destructive, but its variations were so profound that no adversary could easily defend against it.
Hiss—
White smoke rose from Bu Eun-seol's scorched left fist as he halted his assault.
Yet his expression remained grim.
'Nine.'
Even after unleashing the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon at full strength, he had only managed to take down nine assassins.
Worse, those nine had been operating outside the main formation, attacking separately.
The remaining assassins, maintaining their battle formation, moved as one—flawlessly coordinated, they had completely neutralized the fist energy of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon.
'They've studied all the martial techniques I've revealed until now.'
Before mastering the Glacier Thousand Streams Art—
During his travels through the Martial World, he hadn't been able to completely erase the traces of techniques left on the corpses' scars.
Especially the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon, which he had used carelessly on multiple occasions, leaving behind many clues.
In the end, it seemed the Three Realms had meticulously analyzed and deciphered every variation and opening of the technique Bu Eun-seol had displayed thus far—perfecting a countermeasure against it.
Otherwise, the assassins wouldn't have been able to pool their Internal Power and erect such flawless defenses.
Swish!
Unfazed, Bu Eun-seol unleashed over a dozen more sword techniques in rapid succession.
Meteor Chasing Moon. Waning Moon Morning Star. And even the foundational stances of Caged Bird Longing for Clouds...
He layered his strikes to amplify their force, weaving in variations to keep his movements unpredictable.
But it was futile.
The assassins perfectly countered all three Sword Forms of the Formless Heavenly Flow that Bu Eun-seol favored, even retaliating at times.
'They're demanding I reveal a new technique.'
So far, the assassins had focused solely on defense, never launching an aggressive assault.
Meaning—they were waiting for him to unveil a new martial art.
'As if to say, if I want to protect the old master, I must lay all my cards on the table.'
Bu Eun-seol's brow arched sharply.
He had his trump cards—the Willful True Binding and the Thirteenfold Qi Induction.
He possessed Outer Lands Martial Arts, the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, and the Hot River Great Essence True Qi, all fueled by his monstrous Internal Energy.
And then there was the final gamble—the Bloody Tears Seven Forms of the Seven-Finger Demon Sword.
But if he revealed these now?
It would be like handing the Three Realms a complete dossier of his martial prowess and techniques.
Yet, if he didn't eliminate these assassins swiftly—Blood Vajra might be in grave danger.
'Fine.'
A radiant, multicolored glow surged from Bu Eun-seol's body.
No need to tediously cycle through different martial arts—he would sweep them all away in one stroke.
By merging Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang Martial Arts, he would unleash the Heaven-Shattering Form—Harmonization in its most devastating manifestation.
Crack.
The moment he drew upon this incomplete technique, his qi vessels twisted violently, muscles and bones wrenching as if being torn apart.
This reckless attempt would further ravage his already battered body.
But it didn't matter.
Bu Eun-seol had come here for one purpose—to escort his master, Blood Vajra, safely back to Heavenly Dragon Temple.
And yet, because of him, the old monk was now in peril? That was utterly unacceptable.
BOOOOM!
A storm-like roar erupted—
CRASH!
—followed by a deafening explosion as one of the assassins' Flesh Walls crumbled into ruin.
Turning, Bu Eun-seol saw Blood Vajra, his severed left hand still dripping blood, unleashing a devastating surge of Palm Energy.
"Old Master."
"It seems... they underestimated this humble monk's combat strength."
The Three Realms prided themselves on their intelligence network—they knew Blood Vajra's body was in ruins, half-dead already.
So they hadn't considered him a threat, treating him as little more than dead weight for Bu Eun-seol to carry.
But that was a fatal miscalculation.
BOOM! CRACK!
With each blast of Blood Vajra's Palm Energy, assassins were sent flying before they could even scream.
Though he refrained from lethal techniques, his overwhelming Internal Power shattered bones in an instant.
Even in his crippled state, Blood Vajra's mastery of the Counter-Polar Internal Art had forged an Internal Energy so profound it could split heaven and earth.
The freedom and profundity of his energy emission surpassed even Bu Eun-seol's comprehension.
'The old master can still wield martial arts in that state?'
Bu Eun-seol could scarcely believe it.
Blood Vajra had been on the brink of death, barely able to walk—yet now, he was unleashing martial arts of such terrifying magnitude?
CRASH! THUNDER!
Blood Vajra poured out his True Qi without restraint, executing Palm Techniques with relentless force.
He had returned to the Martial World to settle old grudges, never intending to wield martial arts again.
Yet here he was, expending his Internal Power without hesitation—all to save Bu Eun-seol.
'To think the old master's martial prowess was at this level.'
Bu Eun-seol was stunned anew.
He had known Blood Vajra's Internal Energy was deep, but he had never imagined his martial arts had reached such heights.
'Had the old master not lived in seclusion, the balance of power in the Martial World would have shifted entirely.'
A lifetime devoted solely to martial cultivation, never straying from his monastic vows, never squandering his essence—
Blood Vajra's pure Internal Energy now manifested with the force of a thunderous avalanche.
The Great Heavenly Dragon Seal, one of the most ferocious Palm Techniques of Heavenly Dragon Temple, was an Ultimate Art revered across the Martial World.
And as Blood Vajra channeled his Reverse Polarity True Qi into it—
The resulting power was like hurling an entire mountain.
Violent. Savage. Unstoppable.
"This should be enough."
Bu Eun-seol twisted his grip on the Ice Soul Sword.
The assassins had trained like machines, mastering only the techniques to counter Bu Eun-seol alone.
But now that Blood Vajra—a supreme master—had intervened in the battle, they were utterly incapable of responding.
BOOM! CRASH!
As Blood Vajra's palm energy sent the assassins flying,
FLASH!
Bu Eun-seol unleashed a rapid succession of strikes from the Formless Heavenly Flow.
The martial arts displayed by the master and disciple not only harmonized offense and defense flawlessly but were also backed by the supreme internal energy of the Counter-Polar Internal Art—
Truly, they were unleashing the power of the Limitless Realm.
'All this time... I've relied too much on my internal energy.'
Blood Vajra could unleash strikes from over three hundred feet away with just a single breath of True Qi, each precisely aimed at vital points.
'Because I've only mastered martial arts that emphasize brute force, my movements have become too rigid. Even now, my body feels stiffer than the old monk's.'
Not only that, but by observing Blood Vajra's profound palm techniques and vast combat experience—
Bu Eun-seol was indirectly learning his master's tactical brilliance while recognizing his own shortcomings.
'I've been acting like a spoiled rich young master. Even drinking a cup of tea—I've been paying in gold for it.'
Bu Eun-seol had reached the pinnacle of internal energy far too quickly and had learned far too many overpowering martial arts.
Because of that, he never needed to employ intricate techniques or tactics—
He could simply overwhelm his enemies in an instant.
But Blood Vajra, despite possessing immense internal energy, wielded it with precision and subtlety.
Even when executing martial techniques, he enhanced their power through intricate variations—
It was like the wisdom of a wealthy man who could enjoy a lavish banquet while spending little.
"Huff... Huff..."
Back-to-back, Bu Eun-seol and Blood Vajra gasped for breath.
By the time a meal's time had passed, the forest was littered with fallen assassins.
With Blood Vajra's help, Bu Eun-seol had effortlessly defeated formidable enemies using ordinary martial arts and straightforward techniques.
And to avoid disrupting Blood Vajra's Penitential Journey, they had refrained from killing the assassins—merely rendering them unconscious.
"The stench is unbearable."
Blood Vajra frowned as he observed the fallen assassins.
Their blood reeked of a foul, poisonous odor—as if they had ingested some kind of toxin rather than an Artificial Inner Elixir.
Had the two not mastered the Counter-Polar Internal Art, which repelled all venomous energies—
Even if they had won, they would have succumbed to the poison.
"What a fine trick!"
Blood Vajra, having caught his breath, glared at Bu Eun-seol with wide eyes.
"To think they'd give this old monk—who sought to settle all grudges before his return—such a memorable farewell!"
His face twisted in fury as he spat out the words.
"What kind of send-off is this?!"
"Your epithet is Blood Vajra, is it not?"
Bu Eun-seol replied with shameless composure.
"Since this is the path of blood repayment, shouldn't your return journey also be paved in blood?"
Blood Vajra blinked in momentary bewilderment—
Then, "Pfft—HAHAHAHA!"
He burst into laughter, nodding his head in amusement.
Gazing at the distant sky, he roared with hearty laughter for a long while.
"Of course! If I'm Blood Vajra, then the path I walk can only be one of blood! WAHHAHAHA!"
As he cackled, thick blood trickled from his chest and back.
After enduring countless wounds during his Penitential Journey, his body was already battered.
And the assassins sent by the Three Realms this time weren't just targeting Bu Eun-seol—they were powerful enough to eliminate any martial master.
Yet despite fighting in such a broken state, he had still faced them head-on. His body couldn't possibly remain unscathed.
"Old monk."
"It's fine. As you said—wasn't I always Blood Vajra?"
Blood Vajra smiled faintly.
Then, with great effort, he rose and took a step forward.
"I will take you to the Heavenly Dragon Temple at once."
"Enough."
Blood Vajra spoke calmly.
"If I were to use a movement technique now, how would I ever wash away this blood?"
"Old monk—"
As Bu Eun-seol's eyes darkened, Blood Vajra forced another smile.
"Only by shedding all the blood in my body... can Blood Vajra become Iron Vajra once more, no?"
And so, still bleeding, he took another step forward.
Bu Eun-seol wore an anguished expression, yet dared not stop his steps.
Blood Vajra had already suffered grave wounds even before entering Dali, disregarding his own life as he sought to wash away the blood staining his body.
But how could anyone possibly stop him?
With a pained expression, Bu Eun-seol followed silently behind him.
Thud. Thud.
The sun set, night fell, and dawn broke again.
After walking endlessly, an enormous temple came into view before Blood Vajra and Bu Eun-seol.
Heavenly Dragon Temple.
At last, Blood Vajra had returned to the place he had longed for—his own treasured home.
"Hmm..."
Blood Vajra hesitated briefly as he gazed up the stone steps.
Did someone as drenched in blood as he have the right to ascend to Heavenly Dragon Temple? Was it truly permissible for him to return here?
Creeeak—
At that moment, the temple gates, which had been shut tight, swung open.
As if they understood his suffering and torment.
Thud. Thud.
Seeing this, Blood Vajra gathered his courage and began climbing the stone steps.
Huff... Huff...
His body had turned deathly pale, as though all the blood had drained from him, and his gaze had grown dim.
Yet the reason he could still ascend to Heavenly Dragon Temple—
—was his desperate wish to die here.
When he finally reached the top of the steps, an elderly monk with snow-white eyebrows stood before the Great Hero Hall.
Great Master Jeong-yeong—Blood Vajra's master and the abbot of Heavenly Dragon Temple.
Thud. Thud.
With trembling steps, Blood Vajra stood before Great Master Jeong-yeong.
And then he knelt.
"Th-This lowly one..."
Blood Vajra could not bring himself to call himself a disciple before Jeong-yeong. Instead, he pressed his forehead to the ground and spoke.
"I have committed far too many sins. I have come to wash them away with my death."
He spoke with all the strength he had left.
"Though I can never again be a disciple of Heavenly Dragon Temple... though I cannot atone for my past sins..."
"I beg... that this temple... that you, Great Master... will punish me..."
His voice choked, unable to continue.
Shame and regret overwhelmed him.
Even if he bled out now, how could he ever wash away the sins of the past?
Had he only come here to burden his master's heart with more suffering?
Yet Blood Vajra steeled himself and spoke once more.
"I earnestly beseech you... to punish me."
Great Master Jeong-yeong let out a deep sigh, then looked at Blood Vajra.
"Goeng-deok."
Placing a bony hand on Blood Vajra's shoulder, Jeong-yeong smiled with boundless compassion.
"You are already a disciple of this temple."
Drip.
At those words, clear tears spilled from Blood Vajra's eyes.
Great Master Jeong-yeong had already forgiven him—forgiven Blood Vajra, no—
—forgiven his disciple, Goeng-deok.
"M-Master... Master!"
Goeng-deok wept tears of blood at Jeong-yeong's feet.
Images of his foolish past flashed through his mind.
And in those memories, his master's compassionate gaze had always been watching over him.
"Master! Master!"
Seeing Goeng-deok's wracking sobs, Great Master Jeong-yeong pressed his palms together.
"Amitabha."
Then, with that same gentle expression, he placed a hand on Goeng-deok's back.
"The sea of suffering is boundless... yet if you turn your head, the shore of salvation awaits..."
Hearing those words, Goeng-deok smiled brightly, as though he had attained enlightenment.
And then, as though all life had left him, he toppled backward.
"Elder!"
Bu Eun-seol, who had been waiting outside the gates, rushed forward to catch him.
Immediately, he channeled Reverse Polarity True Qi into him.
Whoosh—
Goeng-deok's eyes fluttered open again, and he smiled tenderly at Bu Eun-seol.
"Severing one's ties to the Martial World... is harder than I thought."
"Elder... Elder..."
Tears streamed from Bu Eun-seol's eyes as well.
Blood Vajra's peaceful, compassionate smile overlapped in his mind with the death of his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang.
"Poor child. You've always hidden your tender heart behind cold indifference, haven't you?"
Goeng-deok reached out and wiped away Bu Eun-seol's tears.
"I pray you achieve your aspirations... and reach the Great Origin Realm."
"Elder..."
"...And if, one day, you can return the complete Counter-Polar Internal Art to this temple... even from the depths of hell, this humble monk will be grateful to you..."
With those final words, he closed his eyes, leaving behind a gentle smile.
Bong... Bong... Bong...
The temple bell tolled, announcing his passing.
Bu Eun-seol held Goeng-deok tightly, stifling his sobs.
After some time had passed, the senior monks of Heavenly Dragon Temple approached and carefully lifted his remains.
Though Goeng-deok had accumulated countless debts and grudges in his youth, he had finally resolved them all.
And at last, he had become a disciple of Heavenly Dragon Temple once more—the place he had so longed to return to.
What regrets could remain?
Upon the face of Blood Vajra, who had breathed his last, was painted a smile—one of enlightenment, like that of the Buddha.