Chapter 461
Yuk Cheong-a led the warriors of Yeonseong Hall toward the Jongni Clan, where the Needle King, Jongri Sa-hyeon, resided.
And Bu Eun-seol followed alone behind them.
The Peak Squad members were recovering from their injuries sustained in the bloody battle against the Ghost-Effigy Hall. Moreover, persuading the Bullet King, Bukgung Ryeong, wasn't a task that required their assistance in the first place.
Before they knew it, they had entered Chengdu, where the Jongni Clan was located. Yuk Cheong-a called Bu Eun-seol over and had him board the carriage with her.
The remaining members followed behind, using their Lightness Skill.
'This feels a bit unsettling.'
Bu Eun-seol's expression was slightly troubled as he gazed out the window.
And for good reason—he had deceived the Needle King, Jongri Sa-hyeon, and his granddaughter, Jongri Sa-yu, about his identity in order to trace the movements of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
Not just any deception, either. He had posed as Baek Mu-seong, the disciple of the Buddhist Venerable—a figure said to roam the martial world mysteriously, leaving no traces behind.
—In the end, the young lady of the Jongni Clan came all the way to the Martial Alliance to protest. And finally realized she had been tricked...
Suddenly, the words Cheon Hwa-in had spoken during the past Martial Alliance's Celebrity Tournament resurfaced in his mind.
Unable to wait any longer, Jongri Sa-yu had reportedly sought out the Martial Alliance after hearing rumors and demanded to know Baek Mu-seong's whereabouts.
And upon learning the truth about Baek Mu-seong, she realized she had been utterly fooled.
But now, heading toward the Jongni Clan once more under the identity of Seon-u Jin, he couldn't help but feel a prickling sensation on his conscience.
"Whoa, whoa."
The carriage came to a halt at the coachman's shout.
Lost in deep thought, he hadn't realized they had already arrived at the Jongni Clan.
"Commander Seon-u."
Just then, before stepping out of the carriage, Yuk Cheong-a spoke to Bu Eun-seol.
"There's no need to agonize over it so much. If something isn't meant to be, it simply isn't."
She seemed to think his grave expression was due to the pressure of this mission.
"Understood. Thank you."
"Good. Shall we go, then?"
After stepping out of the carriage, Yuk Cheong-a clasped her hands together upon seeing the Jongni Clan's guards.
"I am Yuk Cheong-a, Hall Master of Yeonseong Hall under the Martial Alliance."
"This way, please."
Thanks to the prior notice they had sent, the guards quickly ushered her inside.
Upon entering the guest hall, an old man with the bearing of an Immortal Wind Daoist stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
He stood over six feet tall, with phoenix-like, elongated eyes and an imposing presence.
It was the Needle King, Jongri Sa-hyeon.
"Murim Junior Yuk Cheong-a greets the Family Head."
Instead of addressing him by his epithet, the Needle King, Yuk Cheong-a deliberately used the title of Family Head.
The Needle King had been endlessly pestered by young martial artists begging him to perform the Primordial Golden Needle Art, a technique that could enhance in a short time one's internal energy.
Thus, she made it clear that she was addressing him not as the Needle King, but as the head of the Jongni Clan.
"Brother Yuk must have raised his child well."
Gazing at Yuk Cheong-a's spirited appearance, Jongri Sa-hyeon let out a sigh and offered an unexpectedly whimsical greeting.
"This old man failed at raising children and suffers in agony every single day."
Shaking his head ruefully, he pointed at the Yeonseong Hall warrior standing behind Yuk Cheong-a, laden with gifts.
"Take those gifts back with you. That old man isn't here."
"What do you mean?"
"Too many Martial Alliance folks kept coming to the main house, so he said he was sorry and went into Gold King Mountain."
Letting out another deep sigh, Jongri Sa-hyeon turned away as he spoke.
"Go up near Pine-Glow Peak. He built a thatched cottage there and has been living in it. Though, I doubt he'll stay much longer..."
Bukgung Ryeong, who had been living quietly, seemed to have grown weary of the constant visits from Martial Alliance figures and was now planning to leave altogether.
"Understood. Thank you."
Grasping the situation, Yuk Cheong-a hastily bowed and immediately left the Jongni Clan.
'We can't return without even attempting.'
If they couldn't even meet the Bullet King, this entire journey would have been for nothing.
She and Bu Eun-seol urgently led their subordinates toward Gold King Mountain.
Then, combing through the area around Pine-Glow Peak and every possible place the Bullet King might have stayed, they searched meticulously.
But no matter how hard they looked, not even an ant could be seen—let alone the Bullet King.
Even as the sun began to set, they found no trace of him. Yuk Cheong-a shook her head.
"In the end, it's come to this."
Gazing at the fading sunset, Yuk Cheong-a sighed and shook her head again.
"Well, if a senior like him wanted to hide, it's only natural we wouldn't find him."
It was strange.
Even though they had come all this way from the Martial Alliance and failed to catch even a glimpse of Bukgung Ryeong's shadow...
Not a hint of regret showed on her face.
"But, Commander Seon-u, you made quite an unexpected decision."
Glancing sideways at Bu Eun-seol, Yuk Cheong-a brought up an old topic.
"You refused the offer to join the Star Guard Corps and chose the main hall instead."
"It wasn't so much a refusal. I was originally assigned to the Hall of Martial Ascension for missions and management."
Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
"It's also true that during this time, the Hall Master has continuously given me and my unit opportunities to achieve merits. How could I possibly go elsewhere?"
"Hohoho. You're more glib-tongued than I expected."
"What do you mean?"
Yuk Cheong-a stared intently at Bu Eun-seol as she spoke.
"Even if Commander Seon-u demonstrates outstanding achievements, if you were to join the Star Guard Corps, you'd remain a first-grade Sword Captain at best. That place is filled with figures who've accumulated merits over many years, after all."
She was pointing out that Bu Eun-seol had come to the Hall of Ascending Martial Arts precisely because he sought to rise higher—driven by ambition.
"The opposite could also be true."
Bu Eun-seol replied calmly.
"If the Hall Master fails to climb higher, wouldn't I just remain one of the insignificant commanders in the Hall of Ascending Martial Arts?"
Yuk Cheong-a, mulling over his words, curled her lips into a faint smile.
"Indeed, it seems I didn't misjudge you."
Bu Eun-seol had gambled on an extremely slim probability—an adventure.
And that was because he trusted in his own abilities.
Outwardly, he gave no impression of ambition whatsoever... yet in truth, he burned with aspirations as fierce as the blazing sun.
A person of the same kind as herself.
Thud. Thud.
Just then, a gray-clad shadow ascended toward where Bu Eun-seol and Yuk Cheong-a stood.
Though dressed in shabby robes, his gaze was piercing, and an indomitable aura radiated from his entire being.
It was none other than the Bullet King, Bukgung Ryeong.
The moment Yuk Cheong-a saw him, her expression flickered with surprise before she hurried forward.
"Esteemed Elder."
With the utmost deference in both tone and expression, she bowed deeply.
"Yuk Cheong-a of the Martial Alliance humbly greets the Elder."
Bu Eun-seol, following suit, also bowed.
"Seon-u Jin pays his respects to the esteemed Bullet King."
Bukgung Ryeong alternated his gaze between the two before furrowing his brow deeply.
"I wondered who would wander this desolate place—so it's the Martial Alliance again."
After countless visits from Martial Alliance figures to the vicinity of Pine-Glow Peak, where he resided, he had relocated to a remote spot far removed from it—just to avoid such disturbances.
Yet when Bu Eun-seol and Yuk Cheong-a wandered all over Gold King Mountain, he had immediately sensed their presence.
Having secretly observed them and realizing they wouldn't give up easily, he had deliberately revealed himself.
If he didn't make his stance clear this time, the Martial Alliance would just send more people.
"This old man will depart Gold King Mountain in three days."
Bukgung Ryeong looked between Yuk Cheong-a and Bu Eun-seol as he spoke.
"My stay here was only because the scenery and jagged cliffs of this mountain helped cleanse my troubled mind. But now, it has become nothing but a place of noise and bustle."
Then, with a solemn expression, he continued.
"Deliver this message clearly to the Martial Alliance: I am leaving the martial world entirely. Do not seek me out again."
Yuk Cheong-a couldn't hide her shock.
Bukgung Ryeong still possessed immense internal power and martial prowess—he remained in his prime.
For such a master to suddenly abandon the martial world?
Moreover, the unjust accusations against him during the Ghost Island incident had already been cleared—didn't the Martial Alliance know the truth?
Yet he intended to cast everything aside and leave. This defied all common sense.
'Elder... do you perhaps remember me?'
Yuk Cheong-a spoke urgently.
'Four years ago, in Four-Eyes Prefecture, we dealt with the Four Evils Gang together...'
'I know. Back then, you were investigating the murders of Kwae Yeong-sak and Jin Won-gyeom.'
"You remember."
Yuk Cheong-a spoke carefully.
'When I discovered the Four Evils Gang's hideout—the one you were searching for—you praised me quite generously. You even told me to ask for help whenever I needed it.'
"What are you trying to say?"
"I've come to formally invite you to serve as an honored guest of the Alliance."
Bukgung Ryeong's brow creased.
"Foolish talk. What good would that do you?"
"The Hall of Ascending Martial Arts, to which I belong, is currently facing a difficult situation."
"And?"
"If I succeed in recruiting you, that difficulty could be easily resolved."
"Hmph."
At Yuk Cheong-a's blunt honesty, Bukgung Ryeong shook his head and replied in a low voice.
"That won't happen. Leave."
Despite his cold dismissal, Yuk Cheong-a's eyes gleamed.
"I will fully restore your honor."
Then, with perfect composure, she continued.
"Even if the martial world knows you were falsely accused, the incident must have deeply wounded your spirit."
"Rumors in the martial world are vicious, but they fade quickly. Yet relics are different."
"What are you getting at?"
Yuk Cheong-a's eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"I will see to it that a Hero Stele is erected in your honor."
A Hero Stele.
It was a monument raised to commemorate a Renowned Chivalrous Hero who had left behind outstanding achievements and performed countless great deeds as a martial artist.
To this day, the Martial Alliance had erected only eight such steles.
Each of them honored a peerless hero whose name would be remembered for generations.
So much so that among the Righteous Faction, it was said that the highest honor one could attain was to have their name carved upon a Hero Stele.
"You're joking. Are you telling this old man to die now?"
Bukgung Ryeong snorted derisively, and Yuk Cheong-a responded,
"You have spent your entire life roaming the martial world alone, accomplishing great deeds. And at Ghost Island, you abandoned all the honor you had earned to protect the dignity of countless renowned heroes of the orthodox faction."
Her eyes burned with conviction as she continued,
"That alone is enough to qualify you for a place on the Hero Stele."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening, gave a faint nod.
So this was why someone as sharp as Yuk Cheong-a had taken on a task that even the Martial Alliance's High Command had failed at—she had this plan in mind all along.
A Hero Stele.
It was the greatest glory a martial artist of the orthodox path could achieve.
Even someone as detached from fame and profit as Bukgung Ryeong would find it difficult to refuse.
"Do you take this old man for someone who lusts after glory?"
Yet Bukgung Ryeong only sneered in response.
"Do you think a mere slab of stone could sway my heart?"
Surprisingly, he was as utterly detached from worldly reputation as a Buddhist monk who had transcended all desire for fame and gain.
"Elder."
"Useless. No matter what you say, this old man's mind will not change."
With those final words, Bukgung Ryeong turned away.
Then, unfolding a ghostly Movement Technique, he vanished without a trace.
Yuk Cheong-a stared blankly at the spot where he had disappeared, her expression dazed.
A martial artist of the orthodox path refusing the highest honor—the erection of a Hero Stele?
This was an outcome she had never anticipated.
"It's a failure," she muttered.
Bu Eun-seol calmly offered his advice.
"There are still three days left, no? If you find a way to persuade him again within that time, there may still be an opportunity."
"I suppose so."
Though she answered, Yuk Cheong-a's expression betrayed her lack of confidence.
A martial arts master who had remained at the peak of his strength for so long had made up his mind to leave the martial world.
And he had even rejected the Hero Stele—the greatest glory an orthodox martial artist could achieve.
That meant no matter how tempting the conditions offered... his mind would not change.
That night.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been quietly resting at the guest inn, slipped out unnoticed.
"Soyo. Cover my tracks."
Though he was ostensibly with the Yeonseong Hall, there was no telling whether the Martial Alliance had Watchers stationed somewhere.
After entrusting Soyo with concealing his movements, Bu Eun-seol stealthily left Chengdu.
The place he arrived at was a distillery slightly removed from the city.
"Give me this."
Purchasing the most expensive jar of Yellow Rice Wine available, he immediately unfolded his Lightness Skill and headed toward Pine-Glow Peak.
Whoosh.
As he moved with his Lightness Skill, Bu Eun-seol activated the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art, restoring his original appearance.
Then, with a slight twist of his body, the outer and inner layers of his robes reversed, transforming into an entirely different outfit.
Bu Eun-seol had endured many hardships alongside Bukgung Ryeong in the past.
Though unspoken, through those trials, they had formed a bond as strong as lifelong friends.
And Bu Eun-seol did not wish for Bukgung Ryeong—a man capable of leaving a profound mark on the martial world—to leave it like this.
Which was why he intended to meet him in his true identity.
Swish.
Finally reaching Pine-Glow Peak, Bu Eun-seol heightened his senses.
The surrounding scenery flashed through his mind in an instant, and soon, he detected a faint presence at the edge of the opposite cliff.
Shh—
Unfolding the Ultimate Speed Shadowless technique, he stealthily made his way toward the Secluded Valley on the other side.
After several leaps and glides, a small thatched cottage came into view under the bright moonlight.
And there, an elderly man sat gazing blankly at the night sky.
Bukgung Ryeong.
'His Internal Power has declined.'
Under normal circumstances, he would have sensed Bu Eun-seol's presence the moment he used his Lightness Skill.
But this time, he only noticed when Bu Eun-seol was nearly upon him.
"And why have you come?"
"Did you eavesdrop on the Martial Alliance's information network?"
As Bukgung Ryeong turned his head with an irritated expression, Bu Eun-seol smirked and set down the jar of wine.
"I couldn't care less about the Martial Alliance."
Plopping down where the moonlight shone brightest, he uncorked the jar.
Instantly, an intoxicatingly fragrant aroma filled the air, enough to make one's mouth water.
"Hmph."
Bu Eun-seol, eyeing the clear liquor, pulled a wooden cup from his sleeve.
Gulp, gulp.
And like an ox gulping water, he downed the liquor without hesitation.
Bukgung Ryeong stared fixedly at Bu Eun-seol, bewildered by this situation.
Yet whether the old man watched or not, Bu Eun-seol continued drinking heartily, occasionally glancing at the moonlight.
"Indeed, the scenery is fine. Liquor tastes even better in a place like this."
This bastard?
Bukgung Ryeong, who had been silently observing, grew furious.
Until now, he had been trapped in anguish, fasting like an ascetic monk in deep meditation.
And here was Bu Eun-seol, guzzling fragrant liquor right before his eyes—liquor so enticing it made his mouth water.
"Did you come here just to mock me?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Then why the hell are you drinking here?"
Bu Eun-seol answered shamelessly.
"I was looking for a place to drink alone when I saw the nice view here and decided to settle down."
"Go stuff yourself somewhere else."
"Hah, are you seriously claiming all of Gold King Mountain belongs to you, old man?"
"Hmph."
Bukgung Ryeong snorted coldly and rose to his feet.
Then, without another word, he strode off into the distance.
Bu Eun-seol muttered in relief.
"Thank goodness. I almost had to share this hundred-year-aged yellow rice wine I barely managed to get."
"You wretched brat!"
Instantly, Bukgung Ryeong reappeared.
Huffing, he marched over and snatched the wooden dipper from Bu Eun-seol's hand.
Then, like a man dying of thirst, he began gulping down the liquor from the jar in a frenzy.
"Haaah."
After downing three full dippers in a row, Bukgung Ryeong slammed it down and snapped irritably.
"You little devil! You ruined years of my discipline!"
He took another swig, then scowled in disbelief.
"You shameless punk! Were you really going to hog all this fine liquor by yourself?"
Bukgung Ryeong loved liquor just as much as Bu Eun-seol did.
But he had abstained from food and drink to clear his mind of worldly attachments.
Yet seeing Bu Eun-seol so casually enjoying century-old yellow rice wine had shattered his resolve.
"What? Did you come here to drag me into the Demon Hall now? Because my reputation couldn't possibly get any worse?"
"That's a rather dull joke."
Bu Eun-seol replied flatly.
"Who would recruit a foul-tempered old man like you?"
"Wh-what?"
"Besides, didn't you already clear your name back on Ghost Island?"
Then he snatched the dipper back from Bukgung Ryeong and took another long swig.
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply, smacking his lips before asking:
"Discipline or whatever—why are you moping around the back mountain where another family's estate is?"
"Hmph. I was wandering quietly through Murim when I heard there was a place here where an old man skilled in acupuncture could resolve worldly attachments."
"Attachments?"
"Over there."
Bukgung Ryeong pointed toward the cave behind his thatched cottage.
Faint traces of saber techniques, carved by a sharp blade, remained on its walls.
This was where the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang and the Needle King, Jongri Sa-hyeon had first crossed paths.
Bu Eun-seol swept his gaze over the stone wall indifferently before asking:
"So? Did you gain anything?"
"Gain? Bullshit. All I got was more attachments."
"How so?"
Bukgung Ryeong's eyes darkened as he stared at the sharp grooves in the cave.
"There's a reason for it."
"I see."
An ordinary person would have pressed for details.
But Bu Eun-seol asked nothing further.
They simply drank, passing the dipper back and forth until the jar was empty.
After some time, Bukgung Ryeong, who had been blankly gazing at the moonlight, let out a sigh.
"Why aren't you asking anything?"
"What do you mean?"
"Since you came all this way, shouldn't you at least say something? Like offering advice or telling me to follow you?"
He cleared his throat before continuing.
"Didn't you come here after hearing rumors that I was leaving Murim?"
"What nonsense. Whether you leave Murim or not—what does it matter to me?"
Bu Eun-seol tilted his head toward the moonlight.
"Besides... Weren't you always roaming Murim alone to begin with? Why make a fuss about leaving now?"
"Huh?"
"Those entangled in favors and grudges can never truly leave Murim. That's why I'm still here."
Bu Eun-seol's voice softened as he gazed at the distant sky with a lonely expression.
"But you—you could leave anytime you wanted, couldn't you?"
This kid.
Bukgung Ryeong felt something strange stir inside him.
Bu Eun-seol, a young grandmaster of the Demonic Path, had instantly grasped what he had kept hidden his entire life.
That Bukgung Ryeong had walked Murim alone, doing good deeds—
All so he could avoid entanglements and leave freely whenever he wished.
Leaving behind nothing but the pride of having upheld Murim's justice.
"You've got a knack for crawling into people's heads and rummaging around."
Taking a deep breath, Bukgung Ryeong exhaled with the air of someone who had made a decision.
And for the first time in his life, he began to voice the thoughts he had kept buried—
Not to someone within the righteous faction he had always trusted, but to a young grandmaster of the Demonic Path.