Chapter 504
Noe Bi-hon suppressed the surge of emotion welling up within him and continued to feign ignorance as he shouted,
"What nonsense are you spouting? You two brats—"
"I know."
Bu Eun-seol spoke decisively.
"I know that you remember everything, Noe Elder Brother."
"What are you—"
"If you had truly lost your memories, there would have been no need to personally teach Gu-hwi the Divine Art at All Swords Land."
Back then, Bu Eun-seol had seen through Noe Bi-hon's act the moment he witnessed him saving Dae Gu-hwi.
Because he had imparted the Thunder Spirit Art's secret techniques to Dae Gu-hwi.
If his only goal had been to save his life, stabilizing the Thunder Essence Divine Qi would have been enough.
But Noe Bi-hon had gone further—he guided the Thunder Essence Divine Qi permeating Dae Gu-hwi's body and personally taught him the Thunder Spirit Art to wield it.
Perhaps it was because he hoped Dae Gu-hwi would grow stronger with the power of Thunder Essence Divine Qi and one day become the Lord of Beast Palace.
"Hmph."
Noe Bi-hon, realizing his true feelings had been exposed, exploded in anger and tried to deflect.
"I just thought it'd be useful to have another person who can wield Thunder Essence Divine Qi! If I lose my strength again, I can just use that kid, can't I?"
For someone hailed as the Thunder God whose name shook the world, it was a pitiful excuse.
Bu Eun-seol dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"Fine, fine. Let's relocate first."
"Relocate? Why?"
"If you charge into the Paeng Clan recklessly like this, wouldn't you just be repeating the same mistake?"
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"This matter requires caution. If things go wrong, you might end up being branded a public enemy of the Murim."
"I'm not afraid of being labeled a public enemy."
"Of course not."
Bu Eun-seol smiled softly.
"But shouldn't you also consider the dignity of this younger brother of yours—and the standing of Gu-hwi, who will soon be your disciple?"
Those words sent ripples through Noe Bi-hon's heart.
These were people who should have had no connection to him. The heir of the Demon Hall had lowered himself to call him brother.
Dae Gu-hwi, the youngest son of Beast Palace's lord, revered and followed him like a master.
As something hot surged in his chest, Noe Bi-hon sharply turned his head away.
"Hmph."
Snorting coldly, he spat out bitterly,
"Of all people, the heir of the Demon Hall becomes my brother, and the Beast Palace Lord's youngest son becomes my disciple. My fate is truly twisted."
Though his voice was icy, his eyes trembled faintly.
Bu Eun-seol and Dae Gu-hwi.
Could they be gifts from the heavens, sent to compensate for the lonely years he had endured?
Noe Bi-hon followed Bu Eun-seol into the Demon Hall's safe house near Hebei.
Safe houses always had secret chambers, making them useful for confidential discussions.
"Now, tell me what happened back then."
Once inside the hidden chamber, Bu Eun-seol addressed Noe Bi-hon.
"We need to start planning how to bring them down."
Noe Bi-hon immediately recounted in detail his battle with the Strange Old Man.
After listening carefully, Bu Eun-seol stroked his chin.
"...I see."
The Eight Emperors and Three Stars were masters who had appeared four hundred years ago, and since then, their inheritors and descendants had never publicly emerged in the Murim.
Moreover, aside from So Ok-rim, it was highly likely that all successors of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars were figures tied to the Three Realms.
If the Peng Clan's members were successors of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars...
Then the current successors likely all held different identities and were likely part of the Murim's high command.
'Does that mean the Heir of the Blade Emperor created the Peng Clan?'
The Peng Clan's history wasn't particularly long—their first appearance had been after the era of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars four hundred years ago.
That could mean the Peng Clan itself was a family created by the Heir of the Blade Emperor.
"But something's strange."
Bu Eun-seol tilted his head.
"He was resentful that he couldn't face the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade. If he were the Peng Clan's Family Head, there's no way he wouldn't have been able to challenge the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade."
"Could've been orders from the Three Realms."
"That's possible. But there's something even stranger."
Bu Eun-seol then recounted what he knew about the Southern Heaven Great Hero.
"If he were the Peng Clan's Retired Family Head, he absolutely couldn't have pursued the Southern Heaven Great Hero for so long. He would have had duties as a member of the Peng Clan, and his movements would have been exposed."
"He could've used a puppet. All the big shots in the Murim have multiple identities."
"That's true, but..."
Bu Eun-seol stroked his chin again.
"We'll need to investigate thoroughly. This is the Peng Clan we're talking about—one of the Eight Great Clans."
Even if they had solid evidence, the Demon Hall couldn't possibly send a large force into Hebei territory.
That was why they had to proceed with extreme caution.
"First, we'll have our subordinates gather information on the Peng Clan's situation. Then we'll discuss how to bring them down."
Noe Bi-hon let out a deep sigh.
For years, he had endured hardship, searching for his enemy, sharpening the blade of his vengeance.
And now, the nest of his nemesis was right before his eyes... In the past, he would have charged in without hesitation, consequences be damned.
But now, Noe Bi-hon's madness had been completely cured, and he maintained a clear mind. That was why he refused to act recklessly.
"Fine."
Noe Bi-hon nodded.
His vengeance had already begun, one way or another.
"Then we must thoroughly grasp the enemy's situation before crushing them completely."
Under Bu Eun-seol's orders, the Death Soul Squad and the elite intelligence networks sprang into action.
The intelligence forces of the Demonic Path were generally well-versed in the affairs of the orthodox factions, while the orthodox factions' intelligence networks specialized in demonic matters.
But the more Bu Eun-seol investigated the Paeng Clan, the more something felt off.
Unless they were hostile factions, demonic intelligence forces rarely paid attention to other demonic sects.
The Martial Alliance's intelligence network, however, was different.
They invested considerable resources and time not only in gathering information on the Demonic Path but also on internal affairs within the orthodox factions.
This suggested a high probability that many among the Martial Alliance's high command and core members were likely figures from the Three Realms.
After all, they craved intelligence that could influence the entire martial world.
And the oddities didn't stop there.
The Paeng Clan was completely sealed off by an exceptional intelligence organization—no matter how much they investigated, they couldn't properly grasp the internal situation.
—The current Family Head of the Paeng Clan has refrained from public appearances.
Only one piece of information was certain:
The Paeng Clan's Family Head, Paeng Mun-cheon, was suffering from a mysterious illness and had secluded himself.
"This is strange."
Noe Bi-hon stroked his chin as he listened to the intelligence Bu Eun-seol provided.
"Does that mean the Retired Family Head, Paeng Ak, still holds real power?"
A Retired Family Head was merely an honorary position—bestowed upon former leaders who had achieved great fame or accomplished remarkable feats in the martial world.
The fact that the clan operated smoothly despite the Family Head's seclusion was proof that Paeng Ak still held actual authority.
"That could be the case, but the Paeng Clan has always granted considerable autonomy to its organization leaders. It was designed to function even without the Family Head's direct oversight."
The reason the Paeng Clan had risen so swiftly to become one of the Eight Great Families, despite its relatively short history, was precisely because of this structure.
For matters concerning their respective organizations, the leaders could act independently without the Family Head's approval.
Thus, the Paeng Clan could manage even in the absence of its leader.
"However, the fact that intelligence is completely blocked suggests something unusual has happened within the Paeng Clan."
Bu Eun-seol could sense it.
The Paeng Clan was not in a normal state.
Otherwise, the Death Soul Squad and elite intelligence forces would have uncovered something by now.
"Then infiltration is our only option."
Dae Gu-hwi, who had been silently listening, finally spoke.
"Beast Palace's martial arts specialize in stealth. What if I scout the Paeng Clan's internal situation?"
Beast Martial Arts, derived from the abilities of various animals, excelled not just in combat but also in infiltration.
Moreover, Dae Gu-hwi could wield Thunder Essence Divine Qi, making him far more capable than any ordinary intelligence operative.
"No."
But Bu Eun-seol rejected the idea outright.
"The fact that intelligence is completely blocked means the Paeng Clan is as fortified as an impenetrable fortress."
Even among the Eight Great Families, gathering intelligence through spies was usually possible.
But total blackout suggested the place had been transformed into a near-perfect stronghold.
"Furthermore, the Paeng Clan has stood tall in the martial world for generations. They must have countless hidden mechanisms to detect intruders. If we recklessly attempt infiltration, we'll only alert them prematurely."
"Then we have no options left."
Noe Bi-hon spat out his words as if expelling something bitter from his mouth.
"Damn it, I should've snatched that Supreme Patriarch Token back then. If I had, that bastard Paeng Ak would've crawled out of his den to retrieve it."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed at those words.
A brilliant plan had just occurred to him.
"The Demon Hall's warehouse holds many treasures—among them, spoils of war taken from orthodox sects."
He recalled a ledger Yu Un-ryong had once written for him.
It listed all the treasures the Martial Soul Lord could access or dispose of.
And at the very end, one entry stood out:
Five Tigers Saber.
Paeng Seo-un, the Paeng Clan's Chief Steward, couldn't hide his bewilderment.
The Martial Soul Lord of the Demon Hall had suddenly requested an audience.
Bu Eun-seol, the Martial Soul Lord.
It was true that he had done many commendable deeds in the martial world.
But that didn't mean the Demonic Path and orthodox factions could coexist peacefully.
Especially the Paeng Clan—they maintained a more hostile stance toward demonic sects than any other faction.
Hadn't they even sent assassins during the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament to eliminate promising prodigies?
So why would the Heir of the Demon Hall want to visit the Paeng Clan? It made no sense.
At least, not until he reached the end of the letter.
—I have recently realized that the Demon Hall has been safeguarding theFive Tigers Saberall this time. I wish to visit the Paeng Clan to discuss its return.
Shockingly, the Martial Soul Lord's reason for visiting was to return the Paeng Clan's treasured blade—the Five Tigers Saber.
A saber capable of slicing iron like tofu, and one that contained the essence of the Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Saber Method, the foundational art of the Paeng Clan.
If they could reclaim it...
The Paeng Clan's saber techniques could advance by leaps and bounds.
"I don't understand why he'd return it."
As Paeng Seo-un muttered, his adjutant Seo Uk cautiously interjected.
"He is a figure destined to lead the Demon Hall as its future Hall Lord. Moreover, his relations with the Righteous Faction aren't unfavorable either. It seems he intends to forge connections with our main house as well."
"Hmm."
"In fact, I've heard he recently returned the Jade Fan, a treasure of the Zhuge Clan."
Paeng Seo-un stroked his chin.
It was widely known that the Heir of the Demon Hall had been building unimpeded friendships with the orthodox factions while walking the righteous path.
For such a man—who clearly had no desire to accumulate ill will with the orthodox sects and was acting with the foresight of a future Hall Lord—to return the treasures of the Righteous Faction, there was undoubtedly his own justification at play.
"Then why not simply return it? Why insist on a private meeting?"
"Perhaps to confirm whether he can establish ties with our main house. It seems he wishes to decide whether to return the Five Tigers Saber only after verifying that."
"As the rumors say, he's a shrewd individual. First confirming whether it's beneficial or not, then returning the treasure... I see."
Paeng Seo-un nodded.
Moreover, the man wasn't requesting an official visit but a secret one.
That alone suggested he had considered the Paeng Clan's longstanding stance of rejecting the Demonic Path.
After all, if word spread that the Heir of the Demon Hall had visited, the Paeng Clan's position would become precarious.
"Not a single flaw to pick at."
Paeng Seo-un shook his head.
"This is not a matter I can decide alone."
Rising from his seat, he declared:
"I must consult the Retired Family Head and seek his judgment."
Paeng Seo-un entered the opulent hall at the heart of the Paeng Clan.
Running his hand along a concealed mechanism, a passageway leading underground opened with a low grinding sound.
Thud. Thud.
After walking deep inside, a spacious Great Hall bathed in faint light came into view.
Passing through it and entering a narrow corridor, a small door appeared.
"Chief Steward Paeng Seo-un, requesting an audience."
As Paeng Seo-un bowed respectfully, the door swung open on its own.
Stepping inside, he heard the rustling of beaded curtains parting before a small shadow emerged from within.
Though not tall, the figure's gaze was sharp, and an aura as cold as winter radiated from them.
It was none other than the Retired Family Head of the Paeng Clan—Paeng Ak.
Paeng Seo-un immediately lowered his head to pay respects, but—
Whoosh.
Paeng Ak strode past him without a second glance.
Watching this, Paeng Seo-un let out a soft sigh and shook his head.
"It seems the Retired Family Head is not in residence."
He then bowed courteously to Paeng Ak and turned away.
"Nothing to be done."
Emerging outside, Paeng Seo-un wore a bitter expression.
"With the Retired Family Head absent... I'll have to make the decision myself."
Stepping out of the hall, he gazed at the distant sky.
"No matter his ulterior motives, the fact that the Martial Soul Lord is making the first move proves our main house holds the advantageous position."
Narrowing his eyes, he muttered:
"First, I must discern what he truly wants."
Several days later.
A secret guest arrived at the Hebei Paeng Clan.
The Heir of the Demon Hall—the Martial Soul Lord, Bu Eun-seol.
However, since this was a private meeting, no word of it leaked to the outside world.
So this is the Paeng Clan.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he stepped inside.
The interior of the Hebei Paeng Clan—regarded as a symbol of orthodox saber techniques—resembled not a lavish noble estate but a massive martial training ground.
Most structures were either training halls, scripture archive pavilions, or armories, with scarcely any living quarters in sight.
"I am Chief Steward Paeng Seo-un."
Rather than delegating the task to a servant, Paeng Seo-un personally welcomed Bu Eun-seol.
"Bu Eun-seol."
Bu Eun-seol responded with a faint smile.
"Please, this way."
Paeng Seo-un took the lead, guiding him forward.
Yet the destination wasn't a guest reception hall but a private tea room reserved for the clan's high command to discuss confidential matters.
"My apologies."
After ushering him inside, Paeng Seo-un spoke with a slightly apologetic expression.
"Under normal circumstances, the Family Head should be the one receiving you, but due to his illness, I, the Chief Steward, have been tasked with hosting you, Lord."
"No matter."
Bu Eun-seol waved it off casually, though inwardly, he found it strange.
If the Family Head was unavailable, someone of equivalent authority should have taken his place.
Bu Eun-seol had come to negotiate the return of a long-lost treasure of the Paeng Clan—one that could elevate their saber techniques to new heights.
For such a critical meeting, why was the Chief Steward—responsible for managing the clan's household affairs—the one presiding?
"It's because overseeing the clan's treasures falls under my duties as Chief Steward."
Paeng Seo-un cleared his throat, having sensed Bu Eun-seol's unspoken thoughts.
"As you may know, our clan grants considerable discretionary power to the heads of each department regarding their respective responsibilities."
"I see."
"Retrieving the Five Tigers Saber naturally falls under my purview. Hence, I was assigned to receive you, Lord."
"It makes no difference."
"Pardon?"
Bu Eun-seol's lips curled into a faint smile.
"To be frank, it wouldn't have mattered who came to meet me."
"I'm afraid I don't follow."
"The Paeng Clan holds deep-seated animosity toward the Demonic Path, does it not? One cannot expect to be full after the first spoonful. I, too, intend to proceed step by step, cautiously."
As he spoke, the flames of burning ambition flickered fiercely in his eyes.
"Does not the current martial world teem with unfathomable forces running rampant? Rather than dividing factions simplistically into orthodox and unorthodox, I believe we should categorize them based on whether they can envision the same future as us."
Understanding his implication, Paeng Seo-un allowed a faint smile to surface.
"Then the reason Lord proposed returning the Five Tigers Saber was to open the door for future exchanges, I presume."
"Precisely."
"Yet I find this difficult to comprehend."
Paeng Seo-un tilted his head slightly.
"The main house is among the most disdainful of the Demonic Path within the Eight Great Clans. As the Lord, you could easily build connections with many orthodox sects—why go through the trouble of forging ties with our clan?"
"That is exactly why."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"If I can establish relations with the Hebei Paeng Clan, who despise the Demonic Path to the extreme, then wouldn't that mean I could engage with any sect?"
Paeng Seo-un's eyes widened.
'A terrifying man.'
If he could open negotiations with the Hebei Paeng Clan, who openly scorned the Demonic Path, then Bu Eun-seol could effortlessly form ties with any orthodox faction.
If even the Paeng Clan, who loathed the Demonic Path, acknowledged him... then no one would hesitate to associate with Bu Eun-seol.
"Very well. Since Lord has spoken so frankly, I shall be equally candid."
Having grasped Bu Eun-seol's intent, Paeng Seo-un replied calmly.
"Even if you return the Five Tigers Saber, the main house's stance will not change."
"Is that so? A pity."
"However..."
A subtle smile curled at his lips.
"...you can build a personal connection with me."
'An old fox.'
Bu Eun-seol sneered inwardly.
In short, while he couldn't forge ties with the Paeng Clan as a whole, he could establish a relationship with Paeng Seo-un.
'All he wants is to reclaim the Five Tigers Saber and claim credit for it. After that, he'll wash his hands of me.'
"Can one be satisfied with just the first bite?"
Suppressing his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol chuckled.
"If we gradually deepen our ties, perhaps even the Paeng Clan's tightly shut gates may open one day."
"Hohoho, indeed, Lord is a man who understands conversation well."
Though his expression was amiable, Paeng Seo-un couldn't help but scoff internally.
'This young man's ambitions are quite bold.'
Whether or not he built a friendship with Bu Eun-seol was irrelevant. As long as he retrieved the Five Tigers Saber, this negotiation would be a success.
"It sounds as though we share the same thoughts."
"Of course."
Paeng Seo-un smiled warmly.
"For Lord to offer the return of the Five Tigers Saber merely to establish a personal connection with me—such generosity is humbling."
After all, friendships could be made and broken at will.
Even if Bu Eun-seol brought the saber to initiate relations, he would ultimately gain nothing.
Yet, as if completely oblivious to Paeng Seo-un's thoughts, Bu Eun-seol beamed brightly.
"Then, I shall bring the Five Tigers Saber on my next visit."
"My gratitude."
As Paeng Seo-un clasped his hands together with a wide smile, Bu Eun-seol returned a respectful bow.
"Until then."
Without delay, Bu Eun-seol took his leave from the Paeng Clan.
Outwardly, it seemed he had gained little.
Though he had met with the Chief Steward, he had neither infiltrated the clan nor uncovered any internal affairs.
In the end, the only conclusion reached was the unconditional return of the Five Tigers Saber.
Yet, as he boarded the carriage, a faint smile lingered on Bu Eun-seol's lips.
'The Paeng Clan is certainly not normal.'
His visit had not been for the purpose of gathering information under the pretext of returning the saber.
Because even if he visited hundreds of times, the Paeng Clan would keep their affairs tightly sealed.
There was only one thing Bu Eun-seol sought.
—If a mishap had occurred within the Paeng Clan, wouldn't there be someone trying to resolve it?
The fact that the Retired Family Head was the Heir of the Blade Emperor could be interpreted in two ways.
Either the entire Paeng Clan had submitted to the Three Realms—or Paeng Ak, the Retired Family Head, had pledged himself to them.
Coincidentally, the current clan head, Paeng Mun-cheon, had secluded himself for over a decade under the pretext of illness.
This suggested that something had gone wrong within the clan, and Paeng Mun-cheon was likely hiding due to it.
—If not the entire clan but only the Retired Family Head and a few others were aligned with the Three Realms... wouldn't there be someone within the Paeng Clan trying to oppose them?
Bu Eun-seol had formed this hypothesis.
The clan head had been in seclusion for over a decade.
Hadn't someone, during that time, rebelled against Paeng Ak and sought outside help to restore the clan?
And if nothing had changed, didn't that mean all attempts had failed?
When he voiced this thought, Noe Bi-hon had replied:
—Perhaps failure was inevitable. The Three Realms stand behind them.
Paeng Ak was not only a terrifying wielder of the Blade Emperor's techniques—he also had access to the Three Realms' vast intelligence network.
Even with outside aid, failure was only natural.
But then, Dae Gu-hwi had interjected:
—Then what if a formidable figure from the Demonic Path approached them?
His gaze had fixed on Bu Eun-seol.
If the Heir of the Demon Hall, the Martial Soul Lord—who had repeatedly clashed with the Three Realms—were to appear before the Paeng Clan...
Wouldn't they, in desperation, reach out to him?
—An intriguing suggestion.
Noe Bi-hon had nodded.
If the Paeng Clan was under the control of Paeng Ak or the Three Realms...
And if Bu Eun-seol, their adversary, entered their domain under the pretense of building goodwill...
Wouldn't those within the clan who opposed them seize the opportunity?
—Very well. Let's test it.
Using the Five Tigers Saber as an excuse, Bu Eun-seol had entered the Paeng Clan and expressed his desire for friendly relations.
'Will they come?'
Finishing his recollection, Bu Eun-seol did not return immediately to the Demon Hall. Instead, he headed for Chengdu.
He wandered through the bustling marketplace, feigning idle sightseeing.
How much time had passed?
"...!"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
Someone had sent him a telepathic transmission.