Chapter 5
There was a sailing ship cutting through the vast open sea.
Its outward appearance was no different from an ordinary sailing ship, but its sail, sixteen widths wide, was dyed pitch black.
Swooosh.
Upon the deck of the ship that cleaved through the wind stood an old man, his lion-mane-like hair billowing.
He was the leader of the Demon Hall's Guardians' Faction, the Chief Instructor of the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan—Hyeokryeon Eung.
"Hm."
Gazing at the remote island visible in the distance, he spoke in a low voice.
"I simply cannot understand it."
"What is it that you cannot understand?"
When Baek Jeon-cheon, who had been following at his side, asked, Hyeokryeon Eung shook his head.
"That child named Bu Eun-seol."
"Ah."
"His bone and muscle structure is nothing exceptional, and he does not even bear the traces of having trained in martial arts. Yet he dispatched a practitioner of Muk-hon's saber technique in a single move."
Hyeokryeon Eung was a master of Practical Combat Martial Arts who had survived countless decisive battles.
But even he did not know the reason why Bu Eun-seol had been able to defeat Neung Un-gang.
"Judging from his movements, he already knew the counter to the technique. Which is utterly nonsensical, is it not?"
Baek Jeon-cheon, standing beside him, smiled faintly.
"From what I observed, it seemed he studied Neung Un-gang's saber forms at the training ground and researched a method to dismantle them."
"How could that be possible?"
Hyeokryeon Eung shook his head.
"If a child could find the flaws in martial forms merely by watching, he would be a peerless prodigy surpassing even the legendary Heavenly Demon Emperor."
"No. It is because there were times when he gazed intently at those who had fallen."
"To grasp an enemy's martial forms by reading their scars is something only old veterans who have roamed the Rivers and Lakes for decades can do. And even then, they must be well-versed in the martial arts of both the Righteous and Demonic Paths."
"That is certainly true."
Hyeokryeon Eung and Baek Jeon-cheon were masters with exceptional discernment.
But they could never have dreamed that Bu Eun-seol had followed Bu Jan-yang since childhood, studying the causes of death of corpses.
"Even supposing he knew the weakness, counterattacking with a single move was tantamount to suicide. And if Neung Un-gang had not let his guard down and had continued to unfold his forms in succession? No matter how I think about it, it makes no sense."
"Regardless, did he not succeed?"
Baek Jeon-cheon smiled calmly.
"Perhaps he gambled with his life on the line."
"A gamble, you say."
Hyeokryeon Eung shook his head.
"In a contest where one's life is at stake, there can never be such a thing as luck. That child definitely has something."
Though he did not say it aloud, Hyeokryeon Eung appeared dissatisfied that Bu Eun-seol had defeated Neung Un-gang and entered the Ten Demonic Heirs candidacy.
"Whatever he has, it will be revealed this time."
Baek Jeon-cheon shrugged his shoulders.
"All we need to do is produce a Ten Demonic Heir."
Before they knew it, the ship had nearly reached the remote island.
Hyeokryeon Eung, who had been deep in thought about something, nodded.
"Indeed."
Bu Eun-seol opened his eyes.
He slowly rose and surveyed his surroundings, and his expression turned strange.
It was for two reasons.
The wounds.
Having suffered large and small wounds all over his body, he had passed through the second gate and immediately lost consciousness without realizing it.
But now, the wounds that had been torn and split open by the Essence-Shaving Blade were meticulously stitched, and Golden Wound Salve had been applied with bandages wrapped over them—was it not so?
Given that there was no pain and his body felt light, it seemed a renowned healer had personally treated him.
I was on a ship heading somewhere.
The second reason for his surprise was that the place where he lay was a cabin inside a ship.
From all directions, boys and girls wearing martial uniforms of every color and style were staring fixedly at him.
Judging by the fact that some of their faces were familiar, they were likely participants who had passed the First Gate due to their excellent bone and muscle structure.
"..."
Bu Eun-seol calmly sat up, but the expressions of the boys and girls in the cabin were not pleasant.
Occasionally there was a glimmer of curiosity, but for the most part, their gazes were filled with dismissal and contempt.
Such gazes are familiar to me.
An ordinary person would have shown a slightly flustered expression at such piercing stares.
But Bu Eun-seol had been despised by countless people beyond measure while working as an undertaker all along.
Even if hundreds of times more people stared fixedly at him, it would not bother him in the slightest.
Thud.
At that moment, along with a low vibration, a deep voice came from outside the cabin.
"Disembark."
The boys inside the cabin descended from the ship with mechanical movements.
Then, the desolate landscape of the island revealed itself before their eyes.
"This place is."
As someone muttered, the black-clad warrior leading the boys at the very front spoke.
"Hell Island."
Hell Island.
It was a name that perfectly matched the island's landscape.
A remote island that could not be left without a ship. At its center, an enormous Stone Mountain where not a single blade of grass or a single tree had been planted.
Gazing at the desolate island scenery, it felt as though one had stepped into Hell to pay for the sins of one's life.
"What are you spacing out for?"
The black-clad warrior standing in front tapped the shoulder of Bu Eun-seol, who stood dazed at the very back.
"Move quickly."
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
It was to this extent?
The shoulder the black-clad warrior had tapped was a spot where not only the flesh but chunks of muscle had been torn away.
Yet his shoulder had recovered so perfectly that even when tapped, he could feel no pain whatsoever.
—As long as you do not die, there is a healer here who can perfectly treat even the most severe wounds.
This point was a very important fact.
And it was known only to Bu Eun-seol, who had survived the Second Trial.
"This is your living quarters."
The place they arrived at, following the procession that stretched out like a snake, was the great Stone Mountain they had seen when disembarking from the ship.
Looking closely, numerous caves were visible all over the Stone Mountain.
'Was this made by people? No, that can't be.'
The great Stone Mountain was too large to have been made by people, and there were too many caves for it to have formed naturally.
"Leave all the clothes and weapons you currently have, and take one set of clothes and one sword from here."
The black-clothed warrior pointed to a wide table beside him.
On the table lay dull-colored clothes with a loose fit.
The sizes were not varied, but there were strings to tighten the waist and the chest, so they could be worn somehow.
And beside them lay ordinary iron swords that could be bought for twenty taels at any forge.
"Enter whichever cave you wish. The choice is free."
Scramble.
As soon as the black-clothed warrior finished speaking, the boys in the ranks hurriedly grabbed clothes and ran into the caves.
The locations and structures of the caves were each different at a glance.
The difference between a pleasant cave and a filthy cave is great. Cleaning could take time, or a cave could be so dirty that cleaning could not even be attempted.
Above all, since this was where they would rest, they wanted to choose a place that was even slightly better.
'Caves...'
But Bu Eun-seol did not rush, and slowly climbed up the Stone Mountain.
Having lived in the single-room dwelling of Peaceful Burial House on the outskirts of the Bu Estate, he did not care where he stayed as long as he could lie down.
"This place looks good."
"I thought caves would be damp, but it's quite pleasant?"
The caves that were spacious and cozy inside had already been taken by the quick-footed participants.
The problem was that in the few remaining caves, a commotion had arisen over who would get the better spots.
"Hey, why don't you yield? I'm going to use this place."
"Wouldn't it be better for me to use this side, since I'm a woman?"
As the argument grew louder, one boy who could not bear to watch any longer pointed to his own cave.
"Don't fight. I'll go somewhere else instead."
As he watched this scene, a strange light rose again in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
'These people do not know what happened in the Second Trial!'
If they had known what happened in the Second Trial? If they had known the outcome of that bloody fight?
There was no way such gentle conversation could take place.
But the attire of the participants here was all luxurious, and some of the boys even carried an air of elegance or nobility.
'Are these all descendants of renowned clans?'
Only then did Bu Eun-seol recall one terrifying fact.
Now that he thought about it, those who had remained in the Second Trial were mostly those who had learned martial arts alone or were figures from minor sects.
In short, they were only those who could die without consequence.
Grind.
Bu Eun-seol clenched his teeth.
'I will survive.'
The faces of those who had died in the Second Trial still rose in his mind.
The Demon Hall discriminated even against death, the one thing that was supposed to be fair.
"Still haven't chosen?"
But then a low voice came from behind him.
Turning his head, he saw the black-clothed warrior looking down at him with solemn eyes.
"You have been sluggish since earlier."
When Bu Eun-seol bowed his head, the black-clothed warrior waved his hand.
"There is no time. Choose quickly."
"Then... I will take this place."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been examining the inside of each cave one by one, pointed to the most remote and secluded corner.
There, there were piles of dirt and filth, and the entrance was so narrow that one had to lower their body to enter.
"You're choosing that place?"
The boys nearby sneered.
It was not a good spot, and there were many caves more pleasant than that one remaining.
Yet he insisted on going into a dirty, narrow cave.
"He must like dirty places."
"Seeing that he's wearing a vestment, maybe he's used to dirty things."
Despite the mockery around him, Bu Eun-seol calmly walked into the cave.
Then the black-clothed man's eyes flashed.
'A prodigy.'
The cave Bu Eun-seol had chosen looked dirty and narrow, but in reality, it was a place with many advantages.
The entrance was so narrow that there was no worry of being ambushed, and inside, there was a space wide enough to practice martial arts alone.
Not only that, but because no light entered, one could also sleep deeply.
"Come out once you've all changed."
At the black-clothed man's words, the candidates who had changed clothes in the caves lined up again in the clearing.
"On this Hell Island, ten martial halls have been established where you can learn the martial arts of the Demonic Path Ten Gates."
The black-clothed man said, sweeping his gaze over the assembly.
"You may learn all of them, or choose just one. That is up to you."
The boys stirred.
Even if they could not master everything, was it not a good thing to learn the martial arts of the Demonic Path Ten Gates?
"Furthermore, your daily schedule is also free."
The black-clothed man spread a large parchment over the table.
It was a map detailing the locations of the ten martial halls established on Hell Island.
"If you want to sleep, sleep. If you want to learn martial arts, learn martial arts."
At this, the expressions of the gathered participants brightened.
They could learn whatever martial arts they wished to their heart's content, and use their time freely without a set schedule.
'Something is strange.'
But Bu Eun-seol's expression hardened coldly.
These were cruel people who had devised a plan to make the participants kill each other.
There was no way they would train the Ten Demonic Heirs—on whom, it was no exaggeration to say, the fate of the Demon Hall rested—in such a lax manner.
"Then, I wish you good fortune in battle."
With those final words, the man in black turned and vanished somewhere.
"Let's go quickly."
The gathered participants looked at the map, and most of them ran off in one direction.
That place was where the martial hall of the Fire Rain Sword Sect was installed—the strongest power among the Demonic Path Ten Gates, and the place where one could learn the Absolute Sword Art.
"I've trained in saber techniques, so I'll go to the Bloodflame Blade Family."
"I've long wished to learn the White Horse Whip Art of the White Horse Temple."
"This body's specialty is palm techniques, so I should go to the Extinction Palace."
"They say the Poison Technique of the Hell Blood Citadel is harmless to the human body."
Several boys chose martial halls that matched what they had already trained in.
Before long, all the participants who had gathered before Stone Mountain had disappeared, and only Bu Eun-seol remained there alone.
What I need to learn right now is not Superior Martial Arts.
Bu Eun-seol had never learned systematic martial arts.
And there was no knowing what would happen on Hell Island from now on.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been staring blankly at the parchment marked with the locations of the martial halls, suddenly flashed his eyes.
Step, step.
And he moved his feet toward the northern direction, where no one else was going.
The place Bu Eun-seol arrived at was in front of a small thatched cottage.
This is a martial hall?
The man in black had clearly said that a martial hall was installed here.
But upon actually arriving, there was no martial hall at all—just a single thatched cottage built on an empty field.
"Excuse me."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been looking around, approached the front of the thatched cottage.
"Is anyone there?"
Gulp.
At that, the front yard of the thatched cottage moved like the belly of a beast, and then a large head popped out from underground.
"What is it?"
With eyes torn upward like a wolf's, his cheeks and sideburns were entirely covered in sharp bristles.
The man who had suddenly thrust only his head out from underground had the appearance of a single wolf.
"I have come to learn the martial arts of Langya Pavilion."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, the man furrowed his brow and asked.
"Did you come because you want to become one of the Ten Demonic Heirs?"
"That is correct."
"Then leave."
The man, his whole face scrunched up, spoke as if muttering.
"Learning the martial arts of the Main Pavilion is a waste of time. Don't waste your energy for nothing."
He's an honest man.
Bu Eun-seol knew it too.
Langya Pavilion had fallen to the point where even belonging to the Demonic Path Ten Gates was precarious.
The reason it still occupied the lowest rank of the Ten Gates was because of the glorious splendor of its past, which had produced numerous supreme masters under heaven.
But I need the martial arts of Langya Pavilion.
Bu Jan-yang, while teaching him how to determine the cause of death of corpses, had told him many stories about the factions of the martial world and its notable figures.
Naturally, those stories had included tales of the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
"I will learn the martial arts of Langya Pavilion."
"You seem to think I'm joking."
Even at Bu Eun-seol's resolute answer, the man yawned as if annoyed.
"And don't get the wrong idea. The time you have to learn martial arts on Hell Island is not infinite."
The man yawned once more, long and deep, and clicked his tongue.
"If you understand, go somewhere else and learn martial arts. Don't waste your time."
"I will learn the martial arts of Langya Pavilion."
Bu Eun-seol spoke seriously.
"Please teach me the martial arts."
The man stared at Bu Eun-seol with a puzzled look.
"Why? If you wanted, you could learn the Sword Studies of the Fire Rain Sword Sect, said to be the strongest martial art among the Demonic Path Ten Gates. If the sword doesn't suit your aptitude, you could learn the Bloodflame Blade Art, which rivals the Fire Rain Sword. There's no need for you to insist on learning the Main Pavilion's martial arts."
At the man's question, Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"Because surviving comes first."
"Surviving?"
"The martial arts of the Demonic Path Ten Gates are not things that can be learned in an instant."
Bu Eun-seol put strength into his eyes and spoke.
"I heard that if you learn the martial arts of Langya Pavilion, you can possess the most tenacious vitality under heaven."
At that, the man let out a short laugh.
"Correct. The Main Pavilion's martial arts begin with remodeling the body. Because in order to use Practical Combat Martial Arts, you must obtain a body stronger than anyone else's."
The man's expression turned solemn.
"But that is all. Just because you possess a more tenacious vitality than others does not mean you can become the supreme master of the demonic path. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I understand perfectly."
"I'm glad you understand."
As the man tried to put his head back into the ground, Bu Eun-seol threw himself flat on the ground.
"Please, teach me the martial arts of Langya Pavilion."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes were blazing as if the sun had been driven into them.
"You're insane..."
The man realized that Bu Eun-seol was not joking, but truly intended to learn the martial arts of Langya Pavilion.
"Fine."
"Thank you."
As Bu Eun-seol tried to prostrate himself again in a bow, the man waved his hand.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm only teaching you because of the Demon Hall's orders."
"Understood."
Sssss.
At that moment, the ground around him melted like ice, and the man's body, which had been embedded in the earth, slowly revealed itself.
Thud.
The man who rose onto the ground had shoulders that looked twice as broad as an ordinary man's, and his height was close to seven cheok.
"While learning the Main Pavilion's martial arts, nine out of ten die."
"Understood."
When there was no wavering in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, the man bared his fangs and chuckled.
"Your name."
"It is Bu Eun-seol."
"No, your name is merely Langya Pavilion Trainee No. 1. Understand?"
The man clicked his tongue again.
"Though I'm not sure if there will ever be a No. 2."
"Understood."
As Bu Eun-seol nodded, the man pointed at his own face with his thumb.
"This body is the Secret Transmission Hall Master of Langya Pavilion, Sa-u. From now on, call me Elder Sa."