Chapter 48
When he opened the door in the corner of the forge, a small office furnished with a table and various implements came into view.
Wang Geol, seated at the square table, looked at Bu Eun-seol and asked,
"When you say the state of the martial world, what exactly do you mean?"
"The fundamental knowledge that anyone who calls themselves a martial artist ought to know."
"I see."
Wang Geol pulled a thick volume from one side of the office bookshelf and placed it on the table.
"What is this?"
"The things you want to know."
Judging by the condition of the book, it had clearly been made not long ago.
As Bu Eun-seol carefully opened the book, his eyes widened greatly.
For within it was written not only the general state of the martial world, but also the characteristics and information of each sect. And the personal details of masters renowned throughout the martial world, roughly recorded.
'It was made recently.'
The volume even contained detailed entries on the Ten Demonic Heir.
'Surely it wasn't made for me.'
Wang Geol was someone who carved out time every single day to produce weapons and tools. If he had written the book himself, he would have had to carve out time from his sleep to do so.
And yet, the contents of the book precisely pinpointed and explained only the things Bu Eun-seol was curious about.
"Are you planning to go out into the martial world?"
At Wang Geol's question, Bu Eun-seol did not hide his startled expression.
"How did you know?"
"Because you have no time."
Wang Geol, too, like Blood Vajra and Baek Yeon, could see right through Bu Eun-seol.
"If you read all of that, you will at least not suffer hardship from not knowing something. After you have read it all, burn it."
"Understood. Thank you."
The moment he gathered up the book and turned around, Bu Eun-seol was suddenly struck by a strange feeling.
It was intuition.
Master Cheol, Wang Geol, who seemed to know everything.
If that were so, then perhaps he might also know about the murderer who had killed his grandfather.
And even if he were to ask such a thing, it seemed Wang Geol would not ask for the reason.
"There is one more thing I would like to ask."
Bu Eun-seol forcibly calmed his ragged breathing and stared at Wang Geol.
He was about to ask about the characteristics of the murderer—something he had never asked anyone until now.
If he were to ask Dan Cheong or Baek Yeon about the murderer, they would certainly either persistently demand the reason, or conduct a background investigation.
But if it was Master Blacksmith Wang Geol, it seemed he would answer without asking such things.
"...Someone who freely uses bone and muscle to execute a sword stroke that surges upward from below, and possesses the skill to sever both hands of a moving target with not a single inch of error."
Wang Geol spoke with an expression in his eyes that Bu Eun-seol had never seen before.
"On top of that, he uses the Rotting Flesh Splitting Heat Poison—a poison only human butchers would employ—and even the hidden weapons of the Death Incense."
For a time, silence hung over the study.
After about eight minutes had passed, Wang Geol parted his lips in a low voice.
"If such a person truly exists, then even considering their level of martial prowess or their affiliated sect may be meaningless."
"Why is that?"
"Because if someone possesses such fearsome sword studies and yet still resorts to hidden weapons and poison... there is a high probability that they are a spy conducting espionage without ever revealing their identity to the martial world."
As Bu Eun-seol chewed over Wang Geol's words, his eyes wavered like ripples on water.
'The murderer who killed my grandfather might not be a renowned master of a Demonic Path faction... but a spy?'
He had simply assumed it was a master of the Demonic Path possessing extraordinary sword techniques.
He had also thought that after achieving Great Completion in Langya Pavilion's martial arts, he could simply go through the renowned Demonic Path masters and find him without much difficulty.
But to think the killer might be a spy who never revealed his identity to the martial world?
"Of course, that is only a conjecture."
Wang Geol continued in a calm tone.
"Even if he is a spy, with that level of martial prowess, he would certainly be in the upper echelons, or repeatedly receiving rapid promotions."
In short, it meant there was a high probability he was a figure of considerable importance.
And those words also served as circumstantial evidence that Bu Jan-yang, too, might have been an enormous figure.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol quietly swallowed the shock he had received inwardly and clasped his hands together.
"Then I shall take my leave."
And just as he was about to step out the door,
"Wait."
Wang Geol spoke in a low voice.
"I have a proposal for you."
Clear Breeze Studio.
This was the residence of Dan Cheong, the Deputy Pavilion Lord of Langya Pavilion.
Because the current Pavilion Lord was in Closed Door Training, the amount of work Dan Cheong had to handle was considerable.
Even though Langya Pavilion occupied the lowest rank among the Demonic Path Ten Gates and had no disciples, that only meant they had fewer than the great factions of the Demonic Path.
In terms of scale and affiliated personnel alone, it was no less than any of the great sects of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
Hmm.
Sitting in his office, Dan Cheong, who had been examining the piled-up letters, scratched his head.
Even I think it's a bit lax. Anyone who wants to can just barge in and be escorted... tsk.
Seeing Bu Eun-seol suddenly enter his office through an attendant, Dan Cheong resolved to change the reporting system one day.
"So. What business brings you here?"
"I wish to venture into the Martial World."
"The Martial World?"
As Dan Cheong blinked, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"That is correct."
"Why."
"Because to quickly complete Practical Combat Martial Arts, I must gain realization through real combat, after all."
"Well, that's not wrong, but it is not permitted."
Dan Cheong said firmly.
"To go out into the Martial World, you must be affiliated with a hall or unit of the Main Pavilion. And you must receive permission from the hall leader or unit commander of where you are affiliated. That is the law of the Main Pavilion."
Dan Cheong picked up the documents stacked high on the table and spoke.
"Even though I am the Deputy Pavilion Lord, I cannot simply send you out as I please."
"I am aware."
"You are aware?"
Bu Eun-seol spoke as if he had been waiting.
"I will join the Slaughter-Seeking Squad. Please grant permission."
"What did you say?"
Dan Cheong, who had been reading a letter he had picked up, flashed his eyes and stood up from his seat.
"Where did you hear the name Slaughter-Seeking Squad?"
His voice was solemn, and his gaze seemed slightly angered.
"I heard it from Master Cheol."
The 'proposal' Wang Geol had made to Bu Eun-seol.
It was to join the Slaughter-Seeking Squad, which handled the secret missions issued by the Demon Hall.
Dan Cheong, who had paused for a moment, furrowed his brow.
"Master Cheol spoke of unnecessary things."
"Will you grant permission?"
"Do you even know what the Slaughter-Seeking Squad does, saying such a thing?"
The Slaughter-Seeking Squad.
Assassination, kidnapping, destruction, or theft of important resources, and so on... It was the place that carried out secret missions the Demon Hall did not officially acknowledge.
The sects affiliated with the Demon Hall were, regardless of reason, conscripting a certain number of personnel into the Slaughter-Seeking Squad.
"I am aware."
Bu Eun-seol nodded heavily.
"That the moment I enter the Slaughter-Seeking Squad, my existence will disappear, and I must carry out missions where I risk my life each time."
In fact, Master Cheol, Wang Geol, was a former commander of the Slaughter-Seeking Squad who had led it in the past.
He knew that Bu Eun-seol not only possessed outstanding qualities but also desired a journey into the Martial World where blood and flesh would fly, and so he had recommended he become a unit member.
"Listen carefully to what this Deputy Pavilion Lord says from now on."
Dan Cheong spoke with a very serious gaze.
"All sects of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths professionally train spies. Not to mention alliances such as the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance."
"You mean spies?"
"That is correct. If it is a fight between individuals, it depends on who can unfold their sword faster. But a fight between sects or factions depends on who operates a superior intelligence organization."
After catching his breath for a moment, Dan Cheong spoke again.
"With a single piece of high-grade information, one can topple the livelihood of a perfectly sound sect, or turn a sect that was in a friendly relationship into a hostile one. Not only that, but outstanding spies can easily infiltrate enemy lines, or assassinate the high command."
Dan Cheong, who had been looking at Bu Eun-seol, continued speaking.
"In the past, the Demon Hall trained spies directly under its command. But the spies professionally trained in one place like that had various problems."
"What kind of problems?"
"Since they were trained in one place, there existed rosters of the unit members. And if a traitor appeared, the damage would manifest across all the spies."
Dan Cheong let out a sigh.
"To supplement that point, the Demon Hall began conscripting outstanding masters from each sect and giving them secret missions."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
If they were not spies belonging to one place, but nameless agents conscripted from various sects, there would certainly be no repercussions.
"Instead, they do not even ask who the handling agent is, or even which sect they are from. The place that handles such missions is precisely the Slaughter-Seeking Squad. Do you understand what I am saying?"
The Martial World was not a place where one won simply by having strong martial arts.
Hearing Dan Cheong's words, Bu Eun-seol realized that there was another side of the Martial World that he did not know well.
"Above all, the reason I, the Deputy Pavilion Lord, oppose this is that the moment you enter the Slaughter-Seeking Squad, you will no longer be a disciple of Langya Pavilion, nor will you belong to the Demon Hall... You will become someone who is nothing."
In short, it meant that even if something went wrong, no place would take responsibility for him.
"The only situations in which a disciple of the Main Pavilion voluntarily enters the Slaughter-Seeking Squad are two. Those who have committed grave sins, or those who need a great deal of money."
Dan Cheong spoke in a low voice.
"If you carry out the Slaughter-Seeking Squad's missions, you can have a certain amount of your sins absolved. Also, since the Demon Hall pays a large sum of money for each mission, those who need a great deal of money go to the Slaughter-Seeking Squad."
Dan Cheong spoke again.
"But you will become a personage who represents the Main Pavilion in the future. There is no need for you to become an enforcer of the Slaughter-Seeking Squad, taking on harsh work."
"It does not matter."
"You, the Ten Demonic Heir of the Main Pavilion, intend to become a Slaughter-Seeking Squad member?"
"I want to become stronger."
"You can become sufficiently stronger even from the position of Ten Demonic Heir."
Bu Eun-seol resolutely shook his head.
"I must become stronger quickly."
Bu Eun-seol had already built the foundation of Practical Combat Martial Arts.
The more he repeated real battles that crossed the line between life and death, the faster he would become stronger.
"I have heard that rather than wandering the martial world aimlessly, being a Slaughter-Seeking Squad member who receives official missions, even if dangerous, is better."
Dan Cheong had nothing to say.
Certainly, it was true that one became stronger faster than anyone else through real battles that crossed the line between life and death.
"Is there a reason you wish to become stronger so quickly?"
At Dan Cheong's question, Bu Eun-seol shut his mouth tightly.
Realizing that Bu Eun-seol would not answer no matter how many times he pressed him, Dan Cheong let out a sigh.
"Very well. Let me tell you one more thing."
Dan Cheong spoke in a low voice, as if he had resolved something.
"The Ten Demonic Heir is a plan that the Lord of the Demon Hall pushed forward. From the standpoint of the Demonic Path Ten Gates, even if an outstanding Ten Demonic Heir is born, they cannot discard the loyal disciples they have raised until now, or their direct blood relatives."
After pausing briefly to catch his breath, Dan Cheong spoke again.
"The Ten Demonic Heir is nothing more than the forging of a single blade that can be used without hesitation to deal with the Great Righteous Experts of the Righteous Faction."
"I know."
"You know?"
Bu Eun-seol, recalling the story that Baek Jeon-cheon had told him at the Demon Hall, answered.
"The head of the Myriad Talents Hall of the Demon Hall told me the same story."
"If it is the head of the Myriad Talents Hall... you mean Baek Jeon-cheon?"
"That is correct."
Dan Cheong, who had been briefly puzzled, soon nodded.
'So that is how it is. He too has taken a liking to this one.'
Bu Eun-seol possessed a talent that made the heart of anyone with a Martial Soul race.
It was the feeling as if something one had sought for a lifetime was standing right before one's eyes.
"Is that so."
Dan Cheong, clearing his throat with a cough, stared intently at Bu Eun-seol.
"But the Main Pavilion is different."
Dan Cheong's eyes, fixed on Bu Eun-seol, blazed like the sun.
"Because the Main Pavilion intends to make you a true inheritor."
Dan Cheong thought of Bu Eun-seol not as a consumable called the Ten Demonic Heir, but as the successor who would bear responsibility for the next generation of Langya Pavilion.
After pausing his words for a moment, Dan Cheong asked Bu Eun-seol.
"Even so, do you still intend to become a Slaughter-Seeking Squad member?"
"That is correct."
Dan Cheong had nothing more to say.
Even the governorship of Pyeongan is no good to someone who does not want it. If he would not listen even after all this talk, there was nothing Dan Cheong could do.
"Dangerous trials make a martial artist strong. But the missions the Slaughter-Seeking Squad undertakes are closer to gambling with your life than to trials."
Dan Cheong, who had sighed, spoke.
"The original name of the Slaughter-Seeking Squad was the Death-Seeking Squad (to seek death). It is because the members carry out their missions without any thought of returning alive."
"I understand well what the Deputy Pavilion Lord is trying to say."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with unwavering eyes.
"But I only intend to become stronger quickly; the things the Deputy Pavilion Lord worries about will not happen."
"Why do you say that?"
"I am not the Ten Demonic Heir, but a disciple of Langya Pavilion."
—A disciple of Langya Pavilion is not weak.
Those were words Dan Cheong had spoken in the past.
Bu Eun-seol, too, must have wanted to say the same.
"I cannot understand it."
Dan Cheong chuckled.
Langya Pavilion had, from the beginning, no master-disciple relationships or close bonds.
It was merely a place where wolves who wished to become stronger gathered, repeatedly passing down and inheriting each other's ultimate techniques.
So why did Bu Eun-seol devote his loyalty to Langya Pavilion?
This time, as if he had seen through Dan Cheong's thoughts, Bu Eun-seol answered calmly.
"Because Langya Pavilion is now my home."