Chapter 450
Flash!
At the same moment, a silver radiance dyed the entire world.
It was the full-powered release of the palm technique he had single-handedly devised and honed until now.
Silver Flame Palm.
This was the essence of the Art of Total Annihilation, a technique that turned everything touched by its palm into silver flames.
Moreover, having poured his very life force into it by unleashing his Primordial Essence True Qi, cultivated over two hundred years...
Its might was at a level where it could shatter even Mount Taishan and still have power to spare.
Whoooosh—!
A gale strong enough to swallow the world roared forth, sending clouds of dust surging in all directions.
Yet, nowhere among it could Wi Ji-hye-sang's figure be seen.
"Did I do it?"
Myo Cheon-u drew a deep breath.
Having expended his Primordial Essence True Qi, his face now looked a decade older, and streaks of white had appeared at his temples.
But at the corners of his lips, a satisfied smile had surfaced.
After all, he had just eliminated none other than the successor candidate of the Fire Rain Sword Sect.
"Now, I must undo what I tied."
Myo Cheon-u drew a dagger from his robes. With no Internal Power left, he couldn't sever his own Heart Meridian, so this would have to suffice.
Having been granted life, it was only right to return it.
From the very beginning, he had intended to end his days alongside the Hidden Mastermind who had manipulated the Killing Ghost.
"Wow, so you did have another trick up your sleeve?"
But just then, a low voice rang out from behind Myo Cheon-u.
It was unmistakably Wi Ji-hye-sang's.
"How...?"
As Myo Cheon-u asked in a trembling voice, Wi Ji-hye-sang grinned and glanced around.
"As you can see."
Only then did Myo Cheon-u survey his surroundings.
It wasn't that Wi Ji-hye-sang had dodged—he had simply poured his Silver Flame Palm into empty air, striking nothing.
"Was what I saw... an illusion?"
"Who knows?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang shrugged.
"In any case, when delivering the final blow to an enemy, never let your guard down. That's a truth passed down through generations in Murim."
Myo Cheon-u's hands and head slumped.
This was utter defeat.
Wi Ji-hye-sang was a figure whose martial prowess and wisdom surpassed anything he could fathom.
"I truly can't understand."
Wi Ji-hye-sang frowned slightly, as if sensing something amiss.
"You're someone who has accomplished numerous feats by his side. Why would you do something so... sloppy?"
Myo Cheon-u was a talent exceptional enough to be chosen as one of the Ten Demonic Heirs, a man who had carried out countless operations under Bu Eun-seol, the Wise General.
There was no way he wouldn't know that no scheme of his could defeat Wi Ji-hye-sang.
He had to know that no matter what method he used, no evidence linking Wi Ji-hye-sang could ever be found.
So why? Why resort to such a foolish, pathetic move?
"I may not find it, but..."
A glint flashed in Myo Cheon-u's eyes as he exhaled through his nose.
"Bu Eun-seol—that bastard will uncover it without fail."
Myo Cheon-u knew.
In the current situation, with his own ability...
No, even if he mobilized the full might of the Death Shadow War Unit,
Even if he hunted down the Killing Ghost... he could never find a shred of evidence.
But what if he staked his life to confront the Fire Rain Sword Sect?
If only to satisfy his curiosity, those connected to the Killing Ghost would have to appear before him.
And whether he fought them to mutual destruction or lost his life in the attempt—if he stirred up enough chaos?
Bu Eun-seol would grow suspicious.
And without a doubt... he would eventually uncover every last piece of evidence.
"You went this far... just to arouse the Martial Soul Lord's suspicion?"
"There's no evidence otherwise."
Myo Cheon-u laughed weakly.
"With my ability... I had no other choice—"
"Absurd."
"I've nothing left to say. Kill me."
Myo Cheon-u spoke with a hollow expression.
"I never intended to survive this anyway."
BOOOOM!
Just then, an earth-shaking explosion resounded.
It was a thunderclap so violent it seemed to tear the heavens apart. The sound grew nearer, echoing in rapid succession.
CRACK! BOOOOM!
The thunder finally roared directly overhead, and a faint silhouette descended from the sky.
Wi Ji-hye-sang observed this, then nodded at Myo Cheon-u.
"Unfortunately, it seems your wish to atone through death won't be granted."
Myo Cheon-u's eyes widened.
Because the worst possible outcome he had imagined flashed through his mind.
'Bu Eun-seol...?'
THUD.
At the same time, a gray figure landed on the ground from above.
Cloaked in the shockwave of True Qi, his pupils burned like embers with a bloody light.
It was none other than Bu Eun-seol.
"Martial Soul Lord."
Wi Ji-hye-sang beamed the moment he saw Bu Eun-seol and clapped his hands in silent applause, like a mute.
"As expected, the protagonist always makes their entrance at just the right moment."
Wi Ji-hye-sang didn't seem the least bit surprised by Bu Eun-seol's appearance.
Rather, he greeted him with an almost eager warmth, as if he had been waiting for this very encounter.
"To think we'd meet again like this because of a subordinate causing trouble."
Myo Cheon-u had sought out the Fire Rain Sword Sect not with solid evidence, but based on intuition and circumstance alone.
And from Bu Eun-seol's perspective, this reckless act had only complicated matters further.
Wi Ji-hye-sang was making sure to drive that point home once more.
"What a predicament. Considering our past acquaintance—"
Thud.
Before Wi Ji-hye-sang could finish, Bu Eun-seol pulled out a bloodstained mask from his robes.
It was the same kind of mask the Killing Ghosts had once used on Hell Island.
Bu Eun-seol.
He had moved far faster than Myo Cheon-u had anticipated.
He had already investigated the entire situation and, in the end, had even tracked down the very Killing Ghost who had given Myo Cheon-u his orders.
Yet, Wi Ji-hye-sang's expression remained unchanged.
He was confident.
Even if Bu Eun-seol had captured a Killing Ghost, he had no proof linking it back to him.
"And what is that supposed to be?"
When Wi Ji-hye-sang feigned ignorance, Bu Eun-seol replied flatly,
"One of the Sword Instructor Division of the Fire Rain Sword Sect—apparently, he used to play the role of a Killing Ghost on Hell Island in the past."
"Did he confess? Unlikely."
Wi Ji-hye-sang's eyes and expression brimmed with certainty.
Certainty that the Killing Ghost had not confessed.
"Correct. He didn't confess."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was indifferent.
"Even the main hall didn't know the identities of the Killing Ghosts sent to Hell Island back then. So I had to track them down one by one to confirm."
Bu Eun-seol glanced down at the bloodied mask, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Now, all that's left is to verify whether the Killing Ghost sent by the Fire Rain Sword Sect is still alive."
A brief silence fell.
Though he hadn't found definitive proof linking Wi Ji-hye-sang to the scheme,
he had still uncovered that the one who had manipulated Myo Cheon-u was indeed a member of the Fire Rain Sword Sect.
"So it seems Elder Myo was telling the truth? He claimed he'd been recruited by someone from our sect to act as a spy."
"Anything to say for yourself?"
"You're not seriously treating me as a criminal over something like this, are you?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang smiled sweetly, as if savoring candy.
"Not just our sect—many Masters of the Demonic Path Ten Gates keep informants to monitor the Demon Hall's movements."
Then, with perfect composure, he continued,
"Though I can't imagine why someone in the Sword Instructor Division would be so curious about the Lord's activities... But if that's a crime, then by all means, punish him swiftly."
Wi Ji-hye-sang's expression remained unreadable.
He was drawing a clear line—this was the Killing Ghost's own doing.
"Or would you like to visit our sect now and investigate whether there are others involved in espionage? Or perhaps you'd prefer to execute Elder Myo first, since he acted as a spy?"
"Ah, but since he was your subordinate, it must be difficult for you to strike him down yourself, no? Should I do it for you?"
When Bu Eun-seol gave no response, Wi Ji-hye-sang shrugged, his face twisting into a look of exaggerated disappointment.
"Surely you're not thinking of forgiving him?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang.
This inscrutable man—who seemed to regard even matters of life and death as mere playthings.
"Why did you do it?"
A volcanic light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
There was no proof.
But Bu Eun-seol could feel it with absolute certainty—Wi Ji-hye-sang was behind all of this.
And he was genuinely furious.
"Well, who knows? We'd have to investigate to find out why one of our sect's members did such a thing. But perhaps..."
Wi Ji-hye-sang met Bu Eun-seol's enraged gaze squarely and spoke with deliberate calm.
"It was because we wanted you to grow stronger?"
His eyes were utterly serious, as if he truly meant it.
"A man like you needs proper trials. Only then can you become stronger."
"Why would you want me to grow stronger?"
"Because we wish for the Martial Soul Lord to protect Murim."
Even as Bu Eun-seol's expression turned glacial, Wi Ji-hye-sang grinned playfully and winked.
"As you know, there are many in Murim who hide their true selves and commit wicked deeds, no?"
"And the position of Heir of the Demon Hall is perfectly suited for dealing with such matters. Isn't that right?"
Bu Eun-seol stared straight at Wi Ji-hye-sang.
At a glance, it almost sounded as if the Fire Rain Sword Sect's Killing Ghost had uncovered information about the Three Realms... and had acted to help Bu Eun-seol stand against them.
But it was impossible for someone holding a position in the Fire Rain Sword Sect's Sword Instructor Division to know such facts.
Clearly, the Fire Rain Sword Sect's high command—Wi Ji-hye-sang—was behind this.
Yet even if Wi Ji-hye-sang was the mastermind, the question remained:
Why?
Was it purely to defeat the Three Realms?
Or was it because he stood in opposition to the Infinite Realm? Did he want someone to constantly clash with them, stirring chaos in their wake?
There was no answer.
Wi Ji-hye-sang was not the kind of man to reveal his true intentions.
So Bu Eun-seol took action to uncover the truth himself.
Thud. Thud.
He walked straight toward Wi Ji-hye-sang.
With every step, uncontrollable killing intent poured from him like a flood.
He was serious—prepared to cut Wi Ji-hye-sang down with everything he had.
"No! You can't!"
Myo Cheon-u, still on his knees, crawled forward with all his might, shouting desperately.
"You must not fight him."
His meridians were severed, leaving him unable to even stand, yet he strained every muscle to block Bu Eun-seol's path.
"You have to endure this."
There was no proof that Wi Ji-hye-sang was connected to the Three Realms.
Though he had manipulated the Killing Ghost, it was Myo Cheon-u—the spy—who had exposed Bu Eun-seol's movements.
In other words, Bu Eun-seol had no justification to strike Wi Ji-hye-sang.
If he fought him recklessly?
Regardless of victory or defeat, Bu Eun-seol would struggle to maintain his position as the Heir of the Demon Hall.
To attack the successor of the foremost sect of the Demonic Path meant collapsing the very pillar that supported the Demon Hall.
Hadn't even Supreme Cult Commander Yeop Hyo-cheon already grown displeased with Bu Eun-seol's repeated provocations against the Demonic Path Ten Gates?
Under these circumstances, clashing with the Demonic Path Ten Gates without justification was absolutely unacceptable.
"This is all my fault!"
Myo Cheon-u spoke with desperate sincerity.
"He's right. I shouldn't blame others—I should blame myself!"
He slammed his forehead against the ground and shouted.
"I was the one who reported all your movements to him. And then—"
—Hngk!
At that moment, a bloody light flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Simultaneously—
Flick-flick-flick!
He moved his fingers, unleashing Finger Wind.
As if playing a furious melody on a zither, he sent wave after wave of Finger Wind toward Myo Cheon-u, striking him relentlessly.
Shhk—zzzt—shhk!
For a brief moment, Myo Cheon-u's body frosted over, then melted, over and over.
"Guh—ack!"
In the time it took to draw a single breath, he had been struck a little over a hundred times. He collapsed, vomiting a mass of black blood.
Hssss—
A foul stench rose from the black blood as pale steam curled upward.
That was the very energy Wi Ji-hye-sang had boasted could never be expelled.
The Glacier Thousand Streams Art and the Ten Great Supreme True Qi—
Bu Eun-seol had once again wielded the two supreme forces of Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang, annihilating the sword energy that had seeped into Myo Cheon-u's meridians in a single breath.
—From now on, do not use that Extreme Yin Qi and Extreme Yang Qi.
The warning of Ak Mu-ryeong seemed to echo in his ears once more.
The Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang Qi flowing through Bu Eun-seol's body were like bombs that could detonate at any moment.
Yet to save Myo Cheon-u, he had used that power without hesitation.
"Impressive martial arts. It seems you've infused opposing True Qi simultaneously. Have you mastered yet another new discipline?"
At Wi Ji-hye-sang's words, a sharp killing intent rose like heat haze in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Myo Cheon-u had staked his life on this gamble, and Bu Eun-seol had grasped the full situation.
Now, only two choices remained:
Would he gather evidence and annihilate them all later?
Or would he settle things with Wi Ji-hye-sang here and now?
Seeing Wi Ji-hye-sang maintain his playful demeanor, Bu Eun-seol had chosen the latter.
But when Myo Cheon-u desperately intervened, he reconsidered.
"Tsk, if you've already made up your mind, shouldn't you see it through to the end?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"If you want a duel, that's fine too. Shall we start a personal match right now? Or will you rally your supporters and wage all-out war?"
A fierce longing burned in his eyes.
"Anything is fine. Go ahead."
He was ready—
Whether it was a duel with Bu Eun-seol or a full-scale war between the Fire Rain Sword Sect and Langya Pavilion.
For a cautious man like Wi Ji-hye-sang to speak like this meant he was confident in his victory.
Then—whether intentionally or not—Myo Cheon-u let out a pained groan.
Bu Eun-seol stared coldly at Wi Ji-hye-sang and spoke in a voice like ice.
"We'll settle this next time."
Though he had extracted all the sword energy, Myo Cheon-u's condition was critical.
His meridians were completely severed, and he had suffered devastating internal injuries.
"If time passes like this, even if he survives, he'll end up a cripple."
"Don't worry. There's a way to treat him."
Bu Eun-seol spoke while supporting Myo Cheon-u.
"We've already seen what happens when meridians are severed. It will take time, but he can recover completely."
Seo Jin-ha, his dantian still destroyed, had his severed meridians sutured by the Medicine King Faction's master.
Through training at the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace and Langya Pavilion, he fully restored his body.
Though Myo Cheon-u's injuries were worse than that, he could undoubtedly be perfectly healed.
"Huh? So you're really not going to fight?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang pouted with a disappointed expression.
"Doesn't this seem a little ridiculous? For someone who made such a grand entrance, this is a terribly anticlimactic conclusion."
"Don't worry. It's already begun."
"Begun, you say?"
Just as he blinked in confusion—
Whoosh.
From the direction of the Fire Rain Sword Sect, the Sound of Breaking Air echoed, and a martial artist clad in black robes appeared, prostrating before Wi Ji-hye-sang.
"Disaster has struck!"
"What happened?"
"All branches of the Joyful Grove have been forcibly shut down at once!"
The Joyful Grove was a lavish gambling hall established in every major city.
It housed every conceivable form of gambling known to man. It also featured high-end lodging and courtesan houses.
If one had enough money, they could stay there, losing themselves in wine, pleasure, and gambling, forgetting the passage of time entirely.
Moreover, the Joyful Grove was both an intelligence network managed by the Fire Rain Sword Sect and a massive financial pipeline.
Wi Ji-hye-sang's influence within the sect surpassed even that of Wi Hyeok-gun, the Chief Instructor who oversaw all affairs in place of Wi Ji-mua.
The reason Wi Ji-hye-sang's authority was so formidable was precisely because he controlled the Joyful Grove.
And now, it had been shut down all at once?
Crack.
A fissure seemed to form on Wi Ji-hye-sang's face, which had been smiling until now.
And for the first time, a murderous expression surfaced.
It was as if his true self, hidden beneath a shell, had finally been exposed.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, the Demon Hall—the Martial Soul Lord's forces suddenly swarmed into Joyful Grove and—"
"I wasn't asking you."
Wi Ji-hye-sang glared at Bu Eun-seol, veins bulging at his temples.
"By what authority did you shut down the Joyful Grove? Because a unit commander of the Death Shadow War Unit was recruited by this sect’s Killing Ghost and turned traitor? Over something that trivial?"
"The funds flowing from the Joyful Grove weren't just going to the Fire Rain Sword Sect—they were also being funneled to the Unorthodox Faction, the Black Path, the Government Office... and even the Martial Alliance."
Bu Eun-seol smiled coldly.
"For the Fire Rain Sword Sect, a pillar of the Demonic Path Murim, to be funding the Martial Alliance—an act of aiding the enemy—is utterly unconscionable."
"Do you have proof?"
Wi Ji-hye-sang scoffed.
He was a man who pursued perfection—he never left evidence behind. No matter how capable Bu Eun-seol was, he was confident nothing could be found.
"I do."
Bu Eun-seol glanced at Myo Cheon-u as he spoke.
"More than enough to overturn the Joyful Grove."
"What are you talking about?"
"The Seven Immortals Tea House."
The Seven Immortals Tea House was established by Jinan's wealthy merchant Man Gi-ryung, renowned for its affordable prices and high-quality tea.
It was a chain so ubiquitous that every city and marketplace had at least one branch.
"You must've been confident it was beyond suspicion. And there were others operating under different names too."
"After all, Myo Cheon-u enjoys a cup of tea every time he visits the city."
Wi Ji-hye-sang's face instantly darkened.
Just as Bu Eun-seol said, he knew Myo Cheon-u had a habit of drinking tea whenever he traveled.
And he had maintained contact through the Seven Immortals Tea House.
Though it was registered under Man Gi-ryung's name, Wi Ji-hye-sang was the one secretly managing it.
Since it doubled as an intelligence hub, security was thorough, and leaks were impossible—
Making it the perfect rendezvous point.
But Myo Cheon-u had always been suspicious.
Just because he loved tea, just because it seemed like an unsuspicious location—
He knew Wi Ji-hye-sang couldn't possibly control every teahouse scattered across the Central Plains.
So he deliberately changed the meeting spots multiple times.
His reasoning was that to avoid suspicion, they should only meet in places related to the Demon Hall's official business.
And if the rendezvous points were tied to the Killing Ghost's backers...
He trusted Bu Eun-seol would investigate.
That effort and faith were not in vain.
Bu Eun-seol left no stone unturned, scrutinizing even the teahouses Myo Cheon-u frequented—
Until he finally uncovered that Wi Ji-hye-sang was running the Seven Immortals Tea House.
"That guy will definitely find it."
For a moment, Wi Ji-hye-sang recalled Myo Cheon-u's words.
Trusting in Bu Eun-seol's ability, Myo Cheon-u's gamble had paid off.