Chapter 493
"Is that so?"
Having regained his composure, Bu Eun-seol responded to Noe Bi-hon's words with a gentle expression.
"How is your body feeling?"
"Thanks to you, I'm perfectly fine."
Noe Bi-hon offered a calm smile.
"My appetite's returned, and all the pain is gone."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes grew distant.
Seeing him smile so serenely, unaware that he was the Thunder God, stirred strange emotions within him.
If Noe Bi-hon hadn't been living solely to avenge his son... Bu Eun-seol would never have considered restoring his memories.
The current Noe Bi-hon looked utterly at peace—more than ever before.
"But this is quite the predicament."
At that moment, Noe Bi-hon set down his chopsticks, folded his arms, and spoke.
"I have no memories, no knowledge. What should I do?"
"Don't worry."
Bu Eun-seol replied evenly.
"We'll soon set out to restore your memories and power."
"My memories and power?"
"That's right."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"To recover your memories, you must first regain your original strength."
"Hmm."
Noe Bi-hon stroked his chin.
Then, with an expression of utmost seriousness, he said:
"Before that, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"You keep calling me 'Brother Noe,' 'Brother Noe'..."
A faint light flickered in Noe Bi-hon's eyes.
"What exactly is my name?"
Bu Eun-seol drew a deep breath.
And so, he began explaining everything.
That he was Noe Bi-hon, the Thunder God who once stood above the Martial World, and that he had lost his memories after being defeated by a formidable foe.
However, he omitted any mention of the Three Realms.
Because that would require recounting the brutal deaths of his family.
"So I was a figure who looked down on the Martial World?"
Noe Bi-hon shook his head as if unable to believe it.
"Hard to imagine."
His voice was gentle, his eyes calm and composed.
Perhaps this was Noe Bi-hon's true nature.
But after witnessing his family's horrific demise at the hands of the Three Realms, he had succumbed to madness.
Seeing the amnesiac Noe Bi-hon display such warmth and tranquility only deepened Bu Eun-seol's sorrow.
Yet Noe Bi-hon had desired revenge—enough to abandon everything and wander the Martial World.
That was why, reluctant as he was, Bu Eun-seol had to restore his memories.
"Was I truly that powerful?"
"Yes. In your era, few masters could rival you."
"And yet I lost, and lost my memories."
At Noe Bi-hon's self-deprecating words, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"That... was likely because your state of mind had deteriorated recently. If you regain your strength, you'll surely win."
"But is it necessary to reclaim that power?"
"What do you mean?"
"There's no such thing as an eternal victor. Just because I lost, does that mean I must regain my strength?"
Such words were unimaginable coming from the mouth of the man once known as the Thunder God, an Absolute Master.
And if possible, Bu Eun-seol, too, wished Noe Bi-hon could live peacefully like this, free from his past.
'Wouldn't this be better?'
The man who had relentlessly pursued the Three Realms, consumed by vengeance and madness, was now questioning whether he even needed his power back.
Bu Eun-seol's resolve wavered again.
'I can hunt down that Strange Old Man myself.'
Noe Bi-hon had the right to forget.
If he himself didn't want to remember.
If he didn't care.
Was it right for an outsider to dredge up his past against his will?
What if this amnesia was a gift from his family in the afterlife, unable to bear his suffering?
If someone forgets their past.
Shouldn't others respect that forgetting?
"Brother Noe."
Just as Bu Eun-seol, having made his decision, opened his mouth to speak—he realized.
That his judgment had been wrong all along.
"...You're no different, Brother Noe."
"How so?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol offered a lonely smile.
Noe Bi-hon hadn't forgotten. He simply couldn't remember.
Even as his lips smiled.
His eyes were steeped in boundless sorrow.
'He's just like me.'
Noe Bi-hon harbored a grudge that made coexistence with the Three Realms impossible.
Just like himself.
Though momentarily forgotten, what he truly desired was revenge.
"Either way, we must recover them."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with firm resolve.
"If those words had come from your heart, Brother Noe, I would have gladly agreed."
"..."
"But they didn't. If you regain your memories, you'll deeply regret what you just said. That's why we must restore them."
"Regret, you say."
"Yes. Because there's something you must do—even at the cost of your life."
Noe Bi-hon fell silent.
Judging by Bu Eun-seol's gaze, those words held undeniable truth.
"But the path won't be easy. Even with my abilities, success isn't guaranteed."
While Noe Bi-hon was unconscious, Bu Eun-seol had immediately summoned So-yo and the Death Soul Squad.
He had assessed the situation of the sects as described by Jongri Sa-hyeon.
And though he had devised plans to obtain all three treasures...
He couldn't be certain of success.
"Sounds interesting."
Noe Bi-hon stroked his chin.
"The harder the trial, the sweeter the fruit."
Though his memories were lost, his indomitable spirit remained.
For Bu Eun-seol, that was a relief.
"Shall we depart, then?"
At Noe Bi-hon's words, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"First, rest and recuperate. Once preparations are complete—"
But then—
Flutter.
A faint sound of flapping wings came from outside.
That was So-yo urgently summoning him.
"First, once all preparations are complete, I will come to escort you, Brother Noe."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Noe Bi-hon nodded.
"Very well."
Immediately stepping outside, Bu Eun-seol activated the Thousand-Li Voice Transmission.
[So-yo.]
Then, a faint voice transmission pierced his ear from somewhere.
[Langya Pavilion—Master Blacksmith has summoned you.]
[Master Blacksmith?]
[He received reports from the Wind and Cloud Corps about everything that's happened so far. About saving the Thunder God. And about clashing with the Heir of the Blade Emperor.]
So-yo's voice transmission was deadly serious.
[He said you absolutely must not confront the Heir of the Blade Emperor. And that you should come hear the rest in person.]
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned puzzled.
Master Blacksmith Wang Geol knew about the Blade Emperor?
'In any case, to execute this plan, I'll need intelligence from the Death Soul Squad as well as other preparations.'
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Before departing Beyond the Frontier, he would meet with Master Blacksmith Wang Geol and hear what he had to say about the Blade Emperor.
Sword Brow Mountain, Langya Pavilion.
Leaving immediately from the ancestral residence, Bu Eun-seol arrived at Langya Pavilion in a single breath and sought out Master Blacksmith Wang Geol.
Wang Geol, who had once repaired weapons at the entrance of Langya Pavilion, had now risen to become the Chief Instructor, responsible for all the pavilion's disciples.
Thud. Thud.
After briefly reporting his return to Pavilion Lord Dan Cheong, Bu Eun-seol headed toward the hall where Wang Geol awaited.
The moment they met, Wang Geol spoke in a firm, decisive tone.
"You absolutely must not confront the Heir of the Blade Emperor."
"What do you mean—?"
Before Bu Eun-seol could finish questioning, Wang Geol lifted his robe.
A long scar, stretching from his shoulder down to his navel, came into view.
The purple-tinged scar was unmistakably a life-threatening wound—one that had nearly claimed his life.
"Because the saber technique wielded by the Heir of the Blade Emperor is something you cannot block at your current level."
Wang Geol spoke with a pained expression.
"That man's saber technique annihilates any martial art, any force, in an instant. Worse—if struck by his saber qi, it affects not just your internal energy but your very vitality."
"You fought him?"
"I did."
Wang Geol took a deep breath before continuing.
"The reason I abandoned my travels through the martial world and remained at Langya Pavilion was because, after facing him, I lost all confidence in my martial arts."
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his astonishment.
Master Blacksmith Wang Geol was a man of exceptional insight and wisdom—not only had he led the Kill-Seeking Unit in his youth, but he had also earned immense renown as a master.
Yet, after encountering the Heir of the Blade Emperor, he had lost his confidence and had remained at Sword Brow Mountain ever since?
"In the past, this old man prided himself on being invincible—believing none could rival me save for the Pavilion Lord. Then, I crossed blades with a figure I suspect to be the Heir of the Blade Emperor, one of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars. In the end, the match was left undecided."
Bu Eun-seol couldn't understand.
An undecided match meant they were evenly matched. So why had Wang Geol lost his confidence?
"That man's saber technique had no openings. No matter what technique I used, I couldn't bring him down."
Wang Geol's face twisted in agony.
"No matter what martial art I deployed, no matter what move I struck with—all of it was rendered useless. To the point where every martial art I had painstakingly mastered felt like a child's play."
It was staggering.
Master Blacksmith Wang Geol was not only the most erudite figure in Langya Pavilion but also a master of countless martial arts.
In his youth, he had earned the name "Great Thief of the Martial Gate" for instantly mimicking his enemies' techniques while simultaneously grasping the underlying principles of their arts.
Yet his martial skills had been made to feel like a joke?
Wang Geol's expression darkened further as he spoke.
"I heard you intend to kill him—both to help Noe Bi-hon and to avenge Gwan Hae-geum, the Southern Heaven Great Hero, who once aided you."
"That's correct."
"A gentleman's vengeance is never too late, even after ten years. If you wish to fight him, spend the next decade honing your martial arts further."
Before Bu Eun-seol could respond, Wang Geol pressed on.
"I know you've achieved martial arts mastery far beyond what's possible for your age. But that man's saber technique exists entirely outside the boundaries of conventional martial arts..."
He paused briefly before declaring firmly:
"He employs a bizarre combat style—one that renders his opponent's martial arts useless and instills utter despair."
Wang Geol locked eyes with Bu Eun-seol.
"You've now ascended to the gentle slopes of the Extreme Heaven Realm. And to one day break through to the Martial Extreme Realm, you must never allow doubt to taint your faith in your own martial arts."
"..."
"If you feel confusion in your current state—like waves surging and clouds scattering in chaos—then all the internal power and martial arts you've accumulated will crumble in an instant."
This was Wang Geol's own regretful past.
During his travels through the martial world, he had emerged victorious in every battle. His pride had swelled, and he had been confident that none could defeat him.
But when faced with the Blade Emperor's saber technique—
He could neither withstand it nor unravel it. The despair of realizing his lifelong martial arts were utterly useless consumed him.
In the end, as confusion and emptiness festered, the pinnacle of his martial prowess—once soaring at the highest levels—plummeted to the depths.
"If you fight him now, you too will suffer the same fate as this old man. That is the nature of the Blade Emperor's saber technique."
"Master Blacksmith—"
"I know you never shy away from trials—that you grow stronger through them. You are this pavilion's proud successor."
Wang Geol knew.
Knew that these words were not the right ones to say. That, as a disciple of Langya Pavilion, this was not the counsel he should be giving.
But he couldn't remain silent.
Because that proud successor must never endure the same fate as he had.
Before one can prepare to soar into the heavens, their wings may already be broken.
'So you've been worried all this time.'
Bu Eun-seol understood Wang Geol's heart.
He was anxious that Bu Eun-seol might repeat the same agonizing experience he himself had endured.
The Thunder God, Noe Bi-hon.
Even a powerhouse who once looked down on the martial world had been defeated in an instant, stripped of even his memories.
'That man's saber technique doesn't just sever vitality—it bestows an indelible sense of despair upon his opponents.'
A strange feeling welled up in Bu Eun-seol's heart.
'Is the Blade Emperor's martial arts truly that formidable?'
A martial art capable of shattering the confidence of a master like Master Blacksmith Wang Geol in an instant—just how extraordinary was that saber technique? It made him all the more curious.
"I understand."
Washing away his tangled thoughts, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together.
The fact that a figure like Wang Geol had shared his humiliating past—it was because he cared deeply for Bu Eun-seol.
And so, with unwavering resolve, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"From now on, I will ensure that you can forget such a past, Master Blacksmith."
"What?"
"This is neither recklessness nor blind confidence."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was firm.
"I have trained in many martial arts until now. And though I failed to wield them properly, with the Pavilion Lord's help, I realigned my qi vessels."
"Hmm."
"This time, I will truly have the opportunity to refine what I possess into martial arts that are uniquely my own."
Wang Geol exhaled a sigh as he studied the glint in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
As he had said, it was neither arrogance nor foolish confidence. It was the determination of a disciple of Langya Pavilion—to use crisis as a stepping stone and ascend to greater heights.
"Very well, I understand."
Realizing he could not dissuade Bu Eun-seol, Wang Geol nodded.
"Then let me offer you one piece of advice."
After a brief silence, he spoke in a low voice.
"How does a disciple of our pavilion engage their enemies?"
Though the question seemed abrupt, Bu Eun-seol answered immediately.
"Our pavilion's combat doctrine is to advance one's own martial arts through the enemy's techniques, dismantle their martial arts, and deliver a decisive strike."
"Do not fight that way."
Wang Geol's tone was absolute.
"Forget our pavilion's combat doctrine and martial arts. Only then can you win."
"You mean... I should abandon the pavilion's combat doctrine and martial arts?"
"That's right. You're a clever lad—I know you can do it."
As if he had nothing more to say, Wang Geol turned away.
Bu Eun-seol, lost in thought for a long moment, finally nodded.
"Then, I shall take my leave."
Wang Geol merely waved a hand without looking back.
But even from his retreating figure, one thing was clear.
He was proud of Bu Eun-seol—and believed in his victory.
Click.
Stepping out of the hall, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
Now, all that remained was to restore Noe Bi-hon's memories and martial arts. Only then could he uncover the identity of the Heir of the Blade Emperor and eliminate him.
"I must begin now."
He had already devised several plans for this purpose, and executing them required extensive preparation.
There was no more time to waste.
Southern Barbarian Region, Beast Palace.
It was said that the Founder, the Ten Thousand Beasts Golden King, could not only converse with animals but freely wielded the power of all beasts through Beast Force.
However, as generations passed, no one in the Beast Palace ever manifested such superhuman abilities again.
Instead, the Beast Palace devised and established martial arts that could emulate similar powers.
The method to communicate with animals became the Control of Ten Thousand Beasts—a technique to subjugate all creatures.
The means to harness the strength of beasts was refined into the Beast Force technique, a path leading to the Way of the Wild Beasts.
Bu Eun-seol traveled to the Southern Barbarian Region with Noe Bi-hon.
This matter demanded utmost caution, and they would have to infiltrate a sect beyond the frontier. For that reason, So-yo did not accompany them.
Throughout the journey, Noe Bi-hon ceaselessly struggled to recover his memories.
Though he failed to recall his past, fragments of the Thunder Spirit Gate's martial scriptures occasionally surfaced in his mind.
But that was all.
No matter how much time passed, his Thunder Essence Divine Qi never reactivated, and he remembered nothing about the Blade Emperor.
Bustle, clamor.
Arriving near Sun Valley in the Southern Barbarian Region, Bu Eun-seol and Noe Bi-hon entered the marketplace.
Bu Eun-seol had disguised himself as the wandering martial artist Seol-so.
Since this mission required visiting an outer-region sect, he could not—and should not—use his identity as Bu Eun-seol or Seon-u Jin.
In contrast, Noe Bi-hon was dressed like a scholar, clad in a blue robe with a long coat covering his knees.
Even if someone who recognized his face were to see him, they would never guess he was the Thunder God.
The streets teemed with merchants and onlookers, while peddlers crowded the narrow pathways.
Bu Eun-seol walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Noe Bi-hon, weaving through the market as they observed their surroundings.
Eventually, they entered a guest inn with a good view of the scenery and leisurely drank wine.
"You said we must go to the Beast Palace—so why have we come here?"
Noe Bi-hon tilted his head in confusion.
This Sun Valley was quite far from the Beast Palace—a place entirely unrelated to it, wasn't it?
Clink.
Bu Eun-seol set down his emptied cup and replied calmly.
"The Beast Palace absolutely does not permit outsiders to enter."
"With your martial arts, that shouldn't be difficult to overcome."
Though Noe Bi-hon had lost all his Thunder Essence Divine Qi, he hadn't lost his senses.
He had some inkling that Bu Eun-seol was an extraordinary master.
"This matter cannot be resolved through martial arts or status."
Bu Eun-seol explained patiently.
"The Beast Palace is the most unique sect even among those beyond the frontier. They are fiercely proud and prioritize their own rules above all else."
"Hmm."
"If we approach them through status or martial arts, they will only resist and reject us all the more."
"Then why don't we just borrow it discreetly and return it later?"
Though Noe Bi-hon had been acting refined since losing his memories, he was no saint at heart.
If a good plan presented itself, he wouldn't hesitate to use it—even if it strayed slightly from righteousness. He had a free-spirited nature like that.
Of course, Bu Eun-seol was no saint either, and his temperament was similarly unrestrained.
"I've considered that, but the masters of the Beast Palace possess strength and senses far surpassing ordinary martial artists. To put it simply, they're on par with the Martial Alliance or Shaolin."
"Hmm."
"Moreover, they are relentless by nature. They would send pursuers to the ends of the earth... and since we have multiple sects to visit, having hunters on our trail would only hinder our movements."
At Bu Eun-seol's explanation, Noe Bi-hon faintly smiled.
"So you already have another method in mind."
Noe Bi-hon nodded slightly.
With his madness gone, he had not only become far calmer but had also transformed into a man of sharp insight and wisdom.
Realizing Bu Eun-seol had already prepared a solution, Noe Bi-hon relaxed and leisurely sipped his wine.
"Heh heh heh, now that's making my mouth water."
Just then, a small commotion arose from the corner of the guest inn.
Turning his head, he saw a repulsive-looking man harassing a beautiful woman.
"Even if I devour you raw, you wouldn't stink of fish."
Why did lust-crazed degenerates always spout the same vulgar lines?
"What kind of nonsense is this in broad daylight?"
Eventually, a few righteous individuals stood up to block the man's path.
But they were all knocked down in a single strike.
Crash! Thud!
As it turned out, he was no ordinary man—he was a martial arts master of considerable skill.
A few furious martial artists drew their weapons and charged, but—
Clang!
Even when struck by blades, not a single scratch appeared on his body.
Not only had he refined formidable palm energy, but it seemed he had also mastered external arts that hardened his body like steel.
"Ugh!"
The martial artists beaten by the repulsive man collapsed to the floor in pitiful states.
"Hahaha. Come here."
Finally, the man pulled the beautiful woman onto his lap.
But no one else in the inn dared intervene—there were no more masters left who could oppose him.
"Hmm."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol stood up calmly.
He slowly walked toward the man tormenting the woman.
"And who the hell are you?"
Sssk.
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol smirked.
The man, visibly irritated, shoved the woman aside and thrust out his palm.
"Get lost!"
The sheer force of his palm energy was impossible to evade.
Yet Bu Eun-seol twisted his body at an angle, as if he had anticipated the attack.
"Not bad, brat."
Realizing Bu Eun-seol was no ordinary fighter, the man unleashed three consecutive palm strikes this time.
As axe-sharp palm energy surged forward, Bu Eun-seol traced a circle with his left arm while slowly extending his right.
His left hand moved as lightly as a feather, while his right pushed forward with the weight of Mount Tai.
Whoosh.
A soft yet overwhelming force dispersed the razor-sharp energy without a trace.
Simultaneously, Bu Eun-seol took a single step forward and struck with a single palm.
It contained no special technique or variation—just sheer, impossible speed.
Boom!
The moment his palm connected, a deafening explosion erupted.
"Heh heh."
But the man only had his clothes torn—he didn't even flinch.
A faint glow shimmered across his skin, suggesting he had refined a body-hardening qigong technique.
"Your fist technique is impressive, brat. But you'll never take me down!"
The man wildly swung his arms, pouring out a storm of palm energy.
The force was so immense that even before the strikes landed, the sheer wind pressure sent tables and chairs flying.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol smoothly shifted his hands, dismantling each surge of energy one by one.
When the man closed in with brute force, Bu Eun-seol countered with sticky, fluid fist techniques, pulling him forward instead.
When the man widened the distance to retreat, Bu Eun-seol unleashed dozens of fist shadows in a tempest-like offensive.
At a glance, his fist techniques seemed simplistic—yet every movement contained profound martial principles.
Like a rock wrapped in cotton, his strikes appeared soft but carried devastating power.
Boom boom boom boom!
Despite the man's formidable qigong and palm techniques, he was helpless against Bu Eun-seol's intricate fist arts.
After twenty-six strikes, he finally coughed up blood with a choked "Ugh!"
"Y-you'll pay for this!"
He swiftly activated a movement technique and fled the inn.
Bu Eun-seol didn't pursue. He simply turned away, then extended a hand toward the woman.
"Are you unharmed?"
"Yes."
As she bowed her head, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together.
"The world is dangerous these days. Avoid traveling alone if possible."
Just as he turned to leave—
Clap clap clap.
Sudden applause echoed from behind.
Turning, he saw a young man clapping at the entrance of the banquet hall.
He was lean but tall, with sharp eyes and dark skin.
His lavish attire and the attendants standing nearby suggested he held considerable status.
"Your martial arts are extraordinary, sir. To unleash such power without even using internal energy... I've gained new insight."
"You flatter me."
Bu Eun-seol began to turn away, but the young man spoke again.
"Since fate has brought us together, why not share a drink? It seems you can't stay here any longer."
The third-floor hall was in ruins after Bu Eun-seol's fight with the repulsive man.
"I have my sworn brother with me."
"Your sworn brother must be no ordinary personage."
The young man nodded brightly with a radiant smile.
"I would be honored to have you both join me."
'Got him.'
Bu Eun-seol curled his lips in a soundless smirk.
The reason he had summoned that lecherous man from the guest inn—a Unit Member of the Death Soul Squad—to stage this farce...
Was precisely to draw the attention of this very youth: Dae Gu-hwi.