Chapter 531
Bu Eun-seol suddenly found himself missing the great lords of the Death Shadow War Unit.
If this had been the Death Shadow War Unit? And if Seo Jin-ha had spouted such nonsense?
—Tch!
Just as they would have swarmed Won Se-mun—who was always spewing nonsense—and trampled him into the ground, they would have done the same to Seo Jin-ha.
'In the end, it falls on me to clean up the mess.'
But there was no point blaming Seo Jin-ha now.
If he had gone himself back then, the situation would never have been resolved.
"Can't be helped. It was my fault for hiding my identity in the first place."
As Bu Eun-seol spoke with resignation, Seo Jin-ha grinned brightly and said,
"Right. Since things have turned out this way, it wouldn't be so bad to get along well with that Zhongli girl."
Ugh.
Looking at Seo Jin-ha's infuriating smirk, Bu Eun-seol desperately wanted to use the first form of the Fist Demon Seven Forms.
Suppressing the urge to smash the Heavenly Hand Empty Wave into that face, Bu Eun-seol changed the subject.
"Anyway, first I'll return to the Demon Hall and meet with the Supreme Cult Commander immediately. Making contact with the Heir of the Demon Hall under the identity of Seon-u Jin will be a time-consuming task."
"Right."
Seo Jin-ha blinked as if something had occurred to him.
"Come to think of it, when the Chief Strategist and you meet, Seon-u Jin will also have to be there... This'll be the first time we're together in public."
Though he said it playfully, it was an extremely dangerous situation.
Gongson Dan-gyeong was a figure whose intellect rivaled Bu Eun-seol's.
The slightest misstep could expose Seon-u Jin as a fake.
"Don't worry."
Seo Jin-ha, sensing Bu Eun-seol's concern, spoke in a firm voice.
"Nothing will go wrong."
Seo Jin-ha had been working tirelessly.
Whether as Bu Eun-seol or as Seon-u Jin. No matter the situation, he would handle it flawlessly.
"I'm not worried."
Seo Jin-ha smiled.
He had become Bu Eun-seol's shadow, navigating between the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance, walking a perilous tightrope all this time.
Yet he could still maintain humor and composure—solely because of his unwavering resolve to lessen the danger to Bu Eun-seol, even if just a little.
"Then I'll go ahead."
Seo Jin-ha turned with a laugh.
"See you later. Oh, and—"
As if remembering something, he turned back.
"I heard from Yu Un-ryong that Myo Cheon-u's dantian has almost fully recovered. The master of the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace said it seems the palace master has practically become an expert in repairing shattered dantians now."
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
While teaching Seo Jin-ha the Myriad Transformations Dharma Wheel, the Splendid Beauty Palace Master had experimented with various methods to heal the lower dantian—and finally succeeded.
Of course, it was only possible thanks to the mystical herbs native to the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace. A method no sect in the Central Plains could ever hope to replicate.
Unintentionally, the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace had become a sect specialized in healing destroyed dantians.
"I'll be seeing him soon, then."
With those final words, Seo Jin-ha left with a smile.
After he departed, Bu Eun-seol changed clothes and left the safe house.
His destination was the Singular Light Pavilion of the Demon Hall—Yeop Hyo-cheon's office.
Yeop Hyo-cheon.
A terrifying master who held the highest seat among the Four Gods and Seven Kings, the shadow of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor who handled all affairs of the Demon Hall in his stead.
When Bu Eun-seol first saw him, he had been an object of curiosity and awe. The second time, he had seemed like a benefactor subtly aiding him.
But from the third meeting onward, Bu Eun-seol felt hostility—and after that, he felt nothing at all.
Only darkness.
A face without form, a figure without substance, impossible to discern what thoughts lay within.
It was like staring at a human-shaped void, an abyss that revealed nothing.
The Singular Light Pavilion, Yeop Hyo-cheon's office.
There, Yeop Hyo-cheon and Bu Eun-seol sat facing each other, sipping tea.
Bu Eun-seol had come straight to the pavilion upon returning to the Demon Hall, seeking an audience with the Supreme Cult Commander.
"The saying 'three days apart merits a fresh look' must have been coined for someone like you, Lord."
Yeop Hyo-cheon gazed at Bu Eun-seol across from him with a faint smile.
"You never fail to astonish this old Cult Commander."
It was no mere pleasantry.
Even Yeop Hyo-cheon could no longer gauge the depths of Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess.
Because Bu Eun-seol walked a path entirely different from ordinary martial artists.
Moreover, having reached the realm of Tranquil Stillness, neither his qi nor the level of his internal energy revealed itself outwardly.
To Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes, Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess seemed almost mystical.
"The same could be said of you, Supreme Cult Commander."
Bu Eun-seol, too, sensed that Yeop Hyo-cheon's strength had grown day by day.
In the past, Bu Eun-seol had once fought Yeop Hyo-cheon in a life-or-death duel.
Back then, he had thought catching up wasn't entirely impossible.
But at some point, Yeop Hyo-cheon's martial prowess became unfathomable.
Which only proved that the heights he had reached far exceeded Bu Eun-seol's expectations.
'I want to fight him again.'
Though he couldn't pinpoint Yeop Hyo-cheon's exact level, Bu Eun-seol knew the man was looking down at him from an immeasurable height.
A desire surged within him—even at the cost of his life, he wanted to wage a bloody battle.
It was the instinct of a Langya Pavilion disciple: to advance one's martial arts through combat with the strong.
"You seem to grow younger by the day."
As if piercing through his innermost thoughts, Yeop Hyo-cheon obliquely remarked on Bu Eun-seol's demeanor.
"To still possess such fiery eyes."
He took a sip from his teacup before continuing.
"The reason I summoned you, Lord, is because I believe it's time to fulfill that promise we made."
"Which promise are you referring to?"
"Back when you meddled with the Joyful Grove and Seven Immortals Tea House—secret operations of the Fire Rain Sword Sect—this Cult Leader warned you."
Yeop Hyo-cheon fixed his dark eyes on Bu Eun-seol's.
"If you continued disrupting the financial veins of this Hall, you would have to pay the price."
At the time, Bu Eun-seol had thoroughly searched the Seven Immortals Tea House and Joyful Grove to deal with Myo Cheon-u's affairs.
And the only reason he had been able to interfere with the Fire Rain Sword Sect's financial channels was because the Supreme Cult Commander had permitted and condoned it.
Otherwise, Bu Eun-seol would have truly relinquished his position as successor and gone to meet Wi Ji-hye-sang.
—If you can compensate for such losses, Lord, then it's no concern of mine.
—I will compensate you.
Yeop Hyo-cheon's swift permission had not been without reason.
In exchange for Bu Eun-seol disrupting the Fire Rain Sword Sect's finances, he had promised to make up for the losses incurred.
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol replied calmly.
"If you tell me how much damage was done, I will repay you at least twice that amount."
"Hohoho. What this Cult Leader requests has nothing to do with monetary losses. The matter of Lord Dan has already compensated for much of the financial deficit."
Thanks to Dan So-ok's control over the Jeoksu region, the Demon Hall had been receiving substantial tribute.
Though it was merely a nominal territory under their rule, they had struck an unprecedented deal—collecting only five pun in tribute.
Yet the merchants of the Jeoksu region had voluntarily begun sending large sums to the Demon Hall.
And surprisingly, the Supreme Cult Commander was now saying...
That the credit for securing the Jeoksu region did not belong to Dan So-ok, but to Bu Eun-seol.
As if he knew Bu Eun-seol had secretly aided Dan So-ok.
"Then what is it you desire?"
"Find the Demon Swordsmith for me."
The Demon Swordsmith.
A legendary master blacksmith of the Demonic Path, capable of forging not only Divine Swords and Demon Sabers—
But also restoring damaged ancient weapons to their original state.
He had once been the chief overseer of the Demon Hall's Weapon Warehouse, but over a decade ago, he vanished without a trace.
With his disappearance, the ancient weapons in the warehouse became unmanageable, and the restoration of damaged weapons ceased entirely.
This led to significant losses, and the Demon Hall had been searching for the Demon Swordsmith ever since.
Yet even after mobilizing the Secret Shadow Pavilion, they had failed to uncover his whereabouts.
"You want me to find the Demon Swordsmith, who disappeared ten years ago?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Yeop Hyo-cheon smiled faintly.
"Tracking down vanished figures is your specialty, is it not?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyebrow twitched.
It was a veiled reference to the multiple times he had publicly investigated the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's traces.
'In the past, I would have reacted to that.'
Before achieving the Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough, even a single word from the Supreme Cult Commander would have shaken his spirit and gaze.
And perhaps, during that time, Yeop Hyo-cheon had used that to gauge his inner thoughts.
But now was different.
Now, even if the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself came, he would not be able to peer inside.
No matter what situation arose, the fluctuations of his spirit would not leak outward.
"Specialty is too generous. All my attempts ended in failure."
"Hohoho. I believe this time will be different."
Yeop Hyo-cheon smiled.
"Consider finding the Demon Swordsmith as the condition for settling your debt regarding the Fire Rain Sword Sect."
Under normal circumstances, Bu Eun-seol would have refused such an offer and insisted on repaying the debt another way.
After all, demanding he find the Demon Swordsmith—whom even the Supreme Cult Commander, with his free reign over the Secret Shadow Pavilion, could not locate—was practically unreasonable.
But for some reason, Bu Eun-seol nodded lightly.
"Understood. I will find his trail."
"Good."
"Then I shall take my leave."
Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked:
"Is the Demonic Heavenly Emperor still in closed-door training?"
He had personally confirmed with his own eyes that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was not, in fact, in seclusion.
Yet he asked anyway.
Because he was curious how Yeop Hyo-cheon would react.
"That he is."
Neither Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes nor his voice betrayed the slightest change.
Bu Eun-seol stared at him intently before nodding.
"I see."
As he turned to leave, Yeop Hyo-cheon spoke again.
"Try not to eat too hastily. You might get indigestion instead."
'Is this his attempt to provoke me, now that he can't read my spirit?'
Unable to pierce Bu Eun-seol's mind, Yeop Hyo-cheon seemed to be trying to unsettle him through conversation instead.
"I always eat slowly."
"..."
"Though people do say I eat quickly."
With a faint smile, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together.
"Farewell."
And without another word, he turned and left the Singular Light Pavilion.
Yeop Hyo-cheon suddenly burst into delighted laughter as he watched the spot where Bu Eun-seol had departed.
"Hohohoho. What an utterly delightful matter."
For a long while, he maintained a pleased smile, his crescent-shaped eyes narrowing as he nodded.
"Continue growing stronger like this. And keep charging forward recklessly."
Within Yeop Hyo-cheon's thinly lidded eyes lingered a light darker than the deepest abyss.
"You must keep stirring things up exactly as you are now."
What thoughts occupied his mind? What hidden motives did he harbor? What could he possibly desire?
The Dark King, Yeop Hyo-cheon.
His heart was as deep and shadowed as his epithet suggested...
No one could peer into its depths.
Bu Eun-seol's gaze darkened as he exited the Singular Light Pavilion.
At some point, meeting Yeop Hyo-cheon had become an uncomfortable affair.
Every encounter felt like an invisible hand deliberately pushing him in a certain direction.
As if urging him toward the place Yeop Hyo-cheon desired.
'The problem is that I sense no malice from him.'
If Yeop Hyo-cheon truly bore ill intent?
No matter how well concealed, Bu Eun-seol should have been able to detect it.
Yet no trace of malice existed. If anything, his intentions seemed transparently pure.
That left only two possibilities.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, Yeop Hyo-cheon was either purely evil—or purely good.
'Now isn't the time to dwell on this.'
Bu Eun-seol would soon receive contact from Seon-u Jin and meet Gongson Dan-gyeong.
As the Peak Leader of the Information Warfare Unit mobilizing the elite forces, Seon-u Jin could easily arrange contact with the Demonic Path.
But the Heir of the Demon Hall was different.
The Martial Soul Lord Bu Eun-seol was known to possess exceptional strategic insight, martial prowess, and an elite intelligence network.
Approaching such a figure wouldn't be simple.
If he permitted the Martial Alliance's Information Warfare Leader to make contact? A convincing process was necessary.
Having ordered the Death Soul Squad Leader to establish a connection, only the procedure remained.
—Un-ryong, can you devise a contact method that will arouse no suspicion?
Bu Eun-seol entrusted the task to Yu Un-ryong.
He had matured into a consummate strategist, thoroughly versed in inter-sect protocols and procedures.
One capable of crafting a flawless process—
airtight enough to satisfy even the most skeptical intelligence network.
Four days passed.
Having completed his preparations, Yu Un-ryong summoned Bu Eun-seol to a hidden chamber in the Death Shadow War Unit.
"You won't listen even if I say it's dangerous, will you?"
Handing over a thin dossier, Yu Un-ryong exhaled wearily.
"With this, not even someone as formidable as Gongson Dan-gyeong could possibly suspect anything."
Bu Eun-seol opened the dossier.
Inside detailed how Seon-u Jin could secretly contact the Martial Soul Lord, the exact method for their meeting, and more.
"You've worked hard."
Closing the dossier, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Even under his meticulous scrutiny, Yu Un-ryong's plan revealed no weaknesses.
For Bu Eun-seol—who juggled too many matters to even think—
he had spent four sleepless days perfecting every detail.
'Why must my vengeance be so difficult?'
He'd assumed mastering martial arts and hunting down the murderer would suffice.
Yet achieving vengeance seemed to demand endless sacrifices from others.
Especially Seo Jin-ha and Yu Un-ryong—weren't they sacrificing everything to help him reach his goal?
'I must end this quickly.'
A sudden pang of guilt struck Bu Eun-seol.
"Let's share a drink when this is over."
"Alcohol? Really."
Yu Un-ryong's mouth twisted with wrinkles.
"Drinking severely impacts the next day's work. I'd rather not touch the stuff unless absolutely necessary."
"Hmm."
"Don't worry about me—just focus on yourself. Gongson Dan-gyeong is like a razor-sharp blade that'll take your fingers off if you grip her wrong."
"Right. Understood."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
As Seon-u Jin, he was already sharing a boat with Gongson Dan-gyeong.
Now he needed to confirm whether the Martial Soul Lord could board that same vessel.
Atop Forging Mountain in Shandong's Immortal Isle County stood a beautiful pavilion overlooking the sea.
Endless ocean stretched northward, with a scenic island visible about ten li from shore.
As Bu Eun-seol ascended the stone steps to the pavilion, razor-sharp energies surged from all directions.
Ignoring them, he reached the staircase's end—where a small shadow stood opposite him.
Seo Jin-ha, disguised as Seon-u Jin.
Following Yu Un-ryong's plan meticulously, Bu Eun-seol had established Seon-u Jin's credible connection to the Demon Hall's Death Soul Squad.
Through intelligence networks maintained by Jeong Jong-do and the Peak Realm Members operating in the martial world, they'd exchanged detailed communications.
Finally, they'd arranged this meeting between the Demon Hall's heir and the Martial Alliance's chief strategist.
"I am Peak Leader Seon-u Jin."
Seo Jin-ha's clear voice addressed Bu Eun-seol.
"Thank you for accepting our invitation. First—"
"No need for lengthy words. Escort me to her."
When Bu Eun-seol coldly cut him off, Seo Jin-ha extended a hand, guiding him inward.
"Then please follow me."
Seo Jin-ha displayed not a single discrepancy in speech, mannerisms, or gaze from the persona Bu Eun-seol had adopted as Seon-u Jin.
As they stepped further into the pavilion, a woman stood tall where the view of the shoreline stretched before her.
Though her face was concealed by a veil, her large, striking eyes—so vivid they could be seen clearly even from ten li away—marked her unmistakable presence.
This was none other than the Martial Alliance's Chief Strategist—Gongson Dan-gyeong, the Star of Great Wisdom.
"Well then."
Seo Jin-ha clasped his hands together and quietly descended from the pavilion. Gongson Dan-gyeong then offered Bu Eun-seol a light bow.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation."
This meeting could very well bring ruin to both their lives.
Yet, the look in their eyes was as indifferent as if they had merely crossed paths with a stranger.
"No need for formalities."
Bu Eun-seol and Gongson Dan-gyeong ascended the pavilion side by side.
An odd sensation settled over Bu Eun-seol.
He had always faced her as Seon-u Jin. But now, meeting Gongson Dan-gyeong in his true identity, an unavoidable awkwardness lingered.
"I won't waste words."
The moment they reached the top, Gongson Dan-gyeong cut straight to the point.
"I assume the Lord shares my sentiments. That must be why you accepted my invitation."
"If by 'same sentiments' you mean—"
"The Infinite Realm."
Her gaze was unwavering, resolute.
"You must be in opposition to them as well—wishing for their downfall. Am I wrong?"
When Bu Eun-seol didn't answer, she continued.
"I, too, wish for their ruin."
Without pause, she pressed on.
"I'm not asking for your immediate commitment, Lord. We still know too little of each other."
"Then what do you want?"
"A sliver of trust. Enough to believe we can rely on each other in the future."
Gongson Dan-gyeong met his eyes as she spoke.
"The Red Demon Gate has been absorbed by the Infinite Realm—they cultivate Human Blossoms and create Soulless Ones. But that region is the Demon Hall's territory, untouchable by force."
"The Red Demon Gate?"
"Yes. The Alliance will handle the destruction—all I ask is that the Lord opens the path for us."
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his disbelief.
The Seohwa region, where the Red Demon Gate resided, was undeniably the Demon Hall's stronghold.
And yet, she wanted the Martial Alliance's forces to march through it? The very notion was absurd.
"We've wasted enough time."
His reply was icy as he shook his head.
"I'll pretend I never heard any of this."
As he turned to leave the pavilion, Gongson Dan-gyeong spoke again.
"You won't suffer any losses from this, Lord."
"What do you mean?"
"In exchange for the Red Demon Gate's destruction, we'll cede the Hanzhong region to the Demon Hall's sphere of influence."
An outrageous claim.
To surrender the entire Hanzhong territory—just to allow the Martial Alliance passage to annihilate a single sect like the Red Demon Gate?
"You'd hand over all of Hanzhong just to eradicate the Red Demon Gate?"
"Correct."
"An amusing joke."
"Does it seem that way to you?"
Madness flickered in Gongson Dan-gyeong's eyes.
The look of someone willing to do anything to see the Red Demon Gate wiped from existence.
"You'd struggle to retain your position as Chief Strategist if this goes through."
If she truly surrendered Hanzhong to the Demon Hall, Gongson Dan-gyeong would undoubtedly be stripped of her title and cast down from power.
"I trust the Lord won't let that happen."
Her expression brimmed with conviction.
"After securing Hanzhong, you'd find me far too valuable an ally to discard so easily."
A provocative gleam, unlike anything he'd seen before, flashed in her eyes.
"Wouldn't you agree?"
Gongson Dan-gyeong was certain.
Bu Eun-seol, too, was someone who sought the Infinite Realm's destruction.
And if that were true—
Then he would never reject an ally of her caliber, especially one who held the position of Chief Strategist within the Martial Alliance.
"I can't comprehend you."
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
"You could live comfortably for the rest of your days without lifting a finger. Why take such a risk?"
"Isn't the same true for you, Lord?"
A sharp glint passed through Gongson Dan-gyeong's gaze.
"As the successor to Langya Pavilion and the next Master of the Demon Hall, you could walk an untroubled path. Yet here you are, provoking the Infinite Realm, entrenched so deeply within the martial world."
"I am a man of the Demonic Path. If something blocks my way, I break it. That is all."
"The same applies to me. The Alliance exists to uphold justice. As Chief Strategist, I merely wish to suppress those who seek to manipulate the martial world."
Her voice was soft, yet unyielding.
"If we combine our strength, we will achieve an outcome that serves both our interests."
'Did she summon me here with nothing but sheer confidence?'
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his disappointment.
For someone of Gongson Dan-gyeong's stature—
He had expected an offer too sweet to refuse, one that would bind him irrevocably.
Yet here she was, proposing something ludicrous—allowing the Martial Alliance into Seohwa in exchange for Hanzhong—
And the sole reason she presented it with such confidence?
Nothing more than their shared desire to see the Infinite Realm destroyed.
"Not even worth considering."
Bu Eun-seol scoffed and turned away.
"You expect me to risk everything I've built—just to join hands over that?"
"You wouldn't be ruined, would you?"
Gongson Dan-gyeong watched him leave, her veiled eyes curving like crescent moons.
"You, who have grown under the Azure River Realm's meticulous and thorough guidance?"