Chapter 556
Dam Yu-yeon's acupuncture skills were renowned.
Do Cheon-rin, most of whose Twelve Main Meridians had been damaged, had nearly recovered his physical condition.
However, treating the external injury on his side would take about a month, even with the use of Spirit Medicine.
"So, what is it you wanted to say?"
Do Cheon-rin, seated on the treatment bed in the Hall of Rejuvenation, turned to Bu Eun-seol and asked.
The fact that Do Cheon-rin, who had no attachment to life, had accepted Dam Yu-yeon's treatment—
It was because they had agreed that after hearing Bu Eun-seol's circumstances, he would decide whether to end his life or not.
"Before I explain my situation, there's something I need to say first."
Bu Eun-seol looked at Do Cheon-rin with an expression of utmost seriousness.
"Given my identity, I can't participate in the Demon Sword Contest..."
Then, he cut straight to the point.
"Help me."
"What do you mean?"
"The reason the Three Realms scattered the demon swords was to select a successor."
Bu Eun-seol calmly relayed to Do Cheon-rin the conversation he had overheard between the wandering martial artist Wang Cheol and the Messenger of the Three Realms.
"Hmm."
Do Cheon-rin wasn't particularly surprised to learn that the ones who had scattered these mysterious demon swords across the martial world were the Three Realms.
As the successor of the Bloodflame Blade Family, deeply involved in the affairs of the Murim, he already knew something about the Three Realms.
But why they had scattered the demon swords—
He simply hadn't known their exact purpose.
"That's a plausible enough possibility."
Each demon sword was imbued with a unique ability, and only the chosen could manifest them.
That meant they were selecting individuals with specific constitutions—
And from among them, searching for the most exceptional figure was an all too obvious conclusion.
"Given that I've openly opposed the Three Realms all this time, you're saying it's impossible for me."
Do Cheon-rin, having grasped Bu Eun-seol's predicament, continued.
"But if you become the successor of the Three Realms, wouldn't that make the position of the Demon Hall's heir seem trivial in comparison? Even if you changed your mind, who would even notice?"
"I have no interest in becoming an emperor."
After taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol briefly recounted his personal history.
That his adoptive grandfather had been killed by masters affiliated with the Three Realms.
And that his parents' deaths were also connected to the Three Realms.
However, he concealed the fact that his grandfather was the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang and his father was Baekri Mu-ha.
"Your grandfather... you mean the undertaker who raised you?"
"Yes."
"Why would an ordinary undertaker be killed by masters of the Three Realms?"
Do Cheon-rin was a man of sharp discernment. A vague explanation would never satisfy him.
'After all, didn't I openly declare that my grandfather was the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade to figures of the orthodox faction?'
During his travels in the martial world, Bu Eun-seol had boldly revealed to the Sword Sovereign and the Divine Beast Palace Lord that he was Bu Jan-yang's grandson.
Not only that, but he had also publicly searched for traces of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade—so it wasn't exactly a well-kept secret.
"The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade."
Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to disclose his grandfather's background.
"The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, Bu Jan-yang, was my grandfather."
Do Cheon-rin's expression twisted as if he had been struck on the back of the head.
"Your grandfather was the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang?"
"Yes."
"That's hard to believe."
Do Cheon-rin spoke with an extremely grave expression.
"Why hasn't such a fact been known in the Demonic Path?"
The whereabouts of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade had been one of the greatest enigmas in the Demonic Path—
No, in the entire martial world.
And yet, he had been the undertaker who raised Bu Eun-seol?
"He lived quietly, concealing his identity while working as an undertaker. There were those who helped him keep his secret."
The Nameless Old Man, Gwan Hae-geum.
And countless other righteous individuals who had obscured and scattered traces of Bu Jan-yang's movements.
Thanks to them, his grandfather had been able to live an ordinary undertaker's life.
"I see... so that's how it was."
Do Cheon-rin muttered with a bitter expression.
Only now did he understand why Bu Eun-seol was so strong.
If he was the grandson raised with the utmost devotion by the legendary blade-wielder, the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang—
Then surpassing the successors of the Demonic Path Ten Gates was only natural.
"Right."
Bu Eun-seol didn't deny it.
Though his grandfather had only intended to raise him as a fine undertaker—
The process had been more akin to laying the foundation for nurturing the greatest master of the Demonic Path.
"But... I only learned later that my grandfather was a martial artist."
A deep shadow fell over Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Do Cheon-rin sensed there was more to the story but didn't press further.
"So, you want to infiltrate the Three Realms? To gather information?"
"Yes. But with my identity, there's no way I can enter that place."
"You said you'd explain, but you're still keeping the crucial details tightly hidden."
Do Cheon-rin had noticed all along that Bu Eun-seol was withholding key information and spoke coldly.
"Someone of your caliber could forge a new identity, create a shadow persona—couldn't you?"
Realizing he couldn't persuade Do Cheon-rin without revealing the full truth, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"Fine. But under that identity, I'm investigating the Righteous Faction."
"What?"
"I've been moving between the Demon Hall and the Orthodox Murim under a newly fabricated identity. That's why I no longer have the capacity to infiltrate the Three Realms as well."
Do Cheon-rin's eyes widened.
Though Bu Eun-seol hadn't explicitly stated his exact status, this was tantamount to declaring he had was affiliated with the Martial Alliance.
"I can see you're desperate, but this is too reckless."
Do Cheon-rin let out a cold laugh.
"Do you not realize that if I so much as breathe a word of this, you'll not only be stripped of your position as the Heir of the Demon Hall but also become a public enemy of the Demonic Martial World?"
"That won't happen."
"Hah. Are you saying you trust me that much?"
"It's not about trust. It's about knowing."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"If you were the type to resort to underhanded means, you wouldn't have even brought this up in the first place."
"Underhanded means?"
"When the Blood-Lightning Thunder Qi from the Blood-Lightning Demon Sword rained down, you had more than enough opportunities to kill me. But you didn't."
Do Cheon-rin's cheeks flushed.
So this bastard had seen everything and still pretended otherwise.
"I just didn't want to dirty my hands."
Do Cheon-rin replied irritably.
"If I'd done something like that, I'd never reach the pinnacle of the Martial Way."
"It's the same for me."
Bu Eun-seol's voice remained steady.
"For the sake of revenge, I can do anything—abandon anything. Whether it's being the Heir of the Demon Hall or whatever else."
Bu Eun-seol lived solely for vengeance.
Do Cheon-rin, too, had devoted his entire life to attaining the pinnacle of the Martial Way.
Those who run toward a single goal cast aside all else in their path.
And precisely because he understood this so well—
Bu Eun-seol could trust Do Cheon-rin.
"Fine."
Do Cheon-rin nodded and asked,
"So what exactly do you want me to do?"
"First, keep winning in this Demon Sword Contest. If you do, the Three Realms will inevitably make contact with you."
"You plan to use me to infiltrate the Three Realms."
"Correct."
The "Sword of the Three Realms" that the messenger had mentioned—
Bu Eun-seol intended to use Do Cheon-rin to uncover what they were plotting.
"That's something I want as well, but—"
Do Cheon-rin's expression turned bitter.
"There's no guarantee I'll keep winning."
It was often said that the Murim had more Eccentric Masters than grains of sand.
Though Do Cheon-rin had defeated countless formidable opponents during his travels, some victories had been sheer luck.
That was how many hidden masters existed in the martial world.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you do."
"Make sure?"
"Do Cheon-rin. You're already strong enough. But the obstacles in your heart are holding you back."
"Obstacles?"
"Your sword techniques are saturated with a fierce determination to reach the pinnacle of the Martial Way."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath as he studied Do Cheon-rin.
"And because of that, you treat even your own life as insignificant."
"That's... no different from you."
"Similar, but not the same. I've staked my life—but I've never treated it as worthless."
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes, his words heavy with meaning.
"Because if I did, I wouldn't be able to take my revenge."
For a moment, Do Cheon-rin looked dazed.
"Staking your life, but not treating it as worthless..."
A glimmer of realization flashed in his eyes.
"There is a difference. Alright, what next?"
"I'll help you break free from the shackles hindering your growth."
Bu Eun-seol clenched his jaw briefly before continuing.
"Then, I'll impart some of my insights to make you stronger. Finally, I'll forge a scabbard for your demon sword."
"You're planning to seal the sword's energy. That way, you'll prevent ambushes from other demon sword wielders."
Do Cheon-rin was sharp.
After hearing this much, he immediately grasped the outline of Bu Eun-seol's plan.
"You're trying to turn me into your shadow. To create a link to the Three Realms, who distribute these demon swords."
"Close enough."
Bu Eun-seol admitted frankly.
Maintaining his current identity as Seon-u Jin was already taxing enough.
Directly participating in the Demon Sword Contest was impossible—so he needed to create another perfect shadow to fight in his stead.
And that shadow would be Do Cheon-rin.
"Why should I take on that kind of risk?"
Do Cheon-rin's voice turned icy.
"Martial Arts can be mastered slowly. I have no intention of risking my life to become the Three Realms' sword."
"Because you want to grow stronger. And you know I can help you do that faster."
Bu Eun-seol's tone was resolute.
"And because you don't want to become the Three Realms' puppet either."
The "sword" they spoke of was said to be "a position close to that of a successor."
In other words, even if Do Cheon-rin became the final victor of this Demon Sword Contest.
The ultimate outcome would most likely be becoming a puppet of the Three Realms rather than their true successor.
"Not only will you make me stronger, but you'll also free me from their clutches... Huhuhu."
Do Cheon-rin let out a hollow laugh.
"A sweet proposal indeed. No downsides whatsoever."
After a brief pause, he glared coldly at Bu Eun-seol.
"But you've left out the real reason behind this offer, haven't you?"
"..."
"It's because this way, you can stop me from taking my own life."
—Even if you die, hear my proposal out first. After that, I won't stop you.
Do Cheon-rin knew exactly why Bu Eun-seol had made this offer.
That he had come up with this proposal while searching for a way to prevent his suicide.
It wasn't a calculated thought—more like an instinct.
Having considered Bu Eun-seol a rival for so long, he had studied him well enough to understand.
"Deny it if I'm wrong."
Bu Eun-seol didn't deny it.
Because he knew Do Cheon-rin's resolve to end his life was absolute. That he would never waver from it.
"Either way, I needed your help."
"Why the hell are you doing this to me?"
Do Cheon-rin's voice was icy.
"There's never been any connection between us. So why are you suddenly acting so friendly?"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't answer that.
He couldn't say it was because of Seok U-haeng and Jeong Cheon—men who had devoted their souls to the Martial Way after encountering him, only to meet miserable ends.
"If you don't answer, I'll report everything you've said so far to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
Left with no choice, Bu Eun-seol finally spoke.
"The reason they suddenly became obsessed with the Martial Way... I thought it might have been because of me."
For a moment, deathly silence filled the Hall of Rejuvenation.
'You really are an incomprehensible bastard.'
Having seen through Bu Eun-seol's heart, Do Cheon-rin slumped against the wall with a drained expression.
'That eternally cold face of yours... Did you actually have a heart all along?'
He had always wondered why cold, ruthless figures like Yu Un-ryong, Myo Cheon-u, and Seo Jin-ha remained so fiercely loyal to Bu Eun-seol.
He had assumed Bu Eun-seol was just another merciless figure of the Martial Way.
But wasn't he more like a child biting back tears, walking forward solely for revenge?
Just like when he had seen him on the ship to Hell Island—
Dressed in his undertaker's robes, lips tightly pressed together, his expression shadowed.
'Damn it!'
An indescribably complicated emotion surged in Do Cheon-rin.
Seeing the true face hidden beneath Bu Eun-seol's mask of ruthlessness—
Didn't it stir something inexplicable in his own heart as well?
"Don't make me laugh!"
Irritated by the emotions rising within him, Do Cheon-rin snapped.
"You think I threw myself into the Martial Way because of you?"
"You wouldn't be the first."
Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"Seok U-haeng was like that. Jeong Cheon too. Neither of them were the type to devote themselves to the Martial Way, and yet..."
"They died because they were weak."
Do Cheon-rin's voice was cold.
"The Murim has always been about the strong preying on the weak. If you're not strong enough, you're weeded out. If you lose, you fall—or die."
"..."
"If you plan to seek revenge with half-hearted resolve, just quit now. You won't succeed."
Though his words were sharp and scathing—
They were also meant to ease Bu Eun-seol's guilt over their deaths.
"Unless you want to drag me down to hell with you."
Surprise flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Didn't that mean he was accepting the offer?
"Don't look at me like that."
Do Cheon-rin scoffed.
"I'm only agreeing because there's no downside for me."
Though his tone was frigid, his eyes betrayed a hint of warmth.
Do Cheon-rin—in the end, even he felt a faint thread of friendship toward Bu Eun-seol.
"Fine. Understood."
Bu Eun-seol didn't bother with thanks.
Instead, he simply pulled out a booklet from his robes and handed it over.
"What's this?"
"Things I wrote while you were being treated."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"Read these while you recover here. In the meantime, I'll forge a scabbard suited for the Phantom Demon Sword."
"How?"
Unlike divine swords, crafting a scabbard for a demon sword was no simple task.
It required materials matching the sword's exact composition and durability—
And to block its Demonic Energy, one needed metallurgy skills bordering on the divine.
"To forge a scabbard for this Phantom Demon Sword, you'd need someone like the Demon Swordsmith—once called the Divine Craftsman."
The Phantom Demon Sword was forged with fluid curves, its blade impossibly hard.
Creating a scabbard for such a demon sword was nearly impossible.
"Correct. So I'm going to the Demon Swordsmith."
"That Demon Swordsmith who disappeared ages ago? How?"
"Some time ago, I found him. He's currently staying at the main pavilion."
Do Cheon-rin's mouth fell open.
The Demon Swordsmith had been missing for ten years, with no intelligence organization able to locate him.
And yet, Bu Eun-seol had not only found him but brought him to reside at Langya Pavilion...
"This should be interesting."
A faint smile crossed Do Cheon-rin's lips.
The thought of tearing through the martial world alongside Bu Eun-seol—someone whose limits he couldn't even begin to fathom—didn't seem so bad after all.
Bu Eun-seol departed for Langya Pavilion to have a scabbard forged for the Phantom Demon Sword.
Meanwhile, Do Cheon-rin remained in the Hall of Rejuvenation, reading the book Bu Eun-seol had left for him.
It wasn't a martial arts manual, but rather a treatise—a collection of short directives and teachings.
The book detailed what he needed to discard, how he should engage his enemies, and ultimately, what he should strive for.
With each page, Do Cheon-rin felt a mix of astonishment and an odd, indescribable emotion.
A treatise filled with guidance—it was the distilled essence of a martial artist's spirit.
And to read it, to gain enlightenment from it—wasn't that akin to inheriting that very spirit?
'It's almost like becoming his disciple.'
For some reason, he felt as though he were bowing his head to Bu Eun-seol, submitting to his leadership.
But then he shook his head vigorously.
'What does it matter? As long as I grow stronger, nothing else is important.'
In the past, he would never have entertained such thoughts.
But now, because he no longer felt any competitive drive toward Bu Eun-seol, he could read it without reservation.
After a long while, Do Cheon-rin nodded to himself.
'So this is why he was so strong.'
He had only crossed blades with Bu Eun-seol twice.
Yet it was as if the man had dissected his entire life—his combat habits, his techniques, even his daily routines and core values—all laid bare.
'Is this the nature of Langya Pavilion's martial arts?'
Langya Pavilion's masters observed their opponents' techniques, absorbed their essence, and refined their own martial arts accordingly.
Their observational and analytical prowess was unmatched—something no other sect among the Demonic Path Ten Gates could replicate.
'No... it's not just that.'
While martial habits could be observed, there was no way to discern someone's innate temperament or personal quirks.
Which meant Bu Eun-seol's insight wasn't just extraordinary—he must have been watching Do Cheon-rin far longer than expected.
'Because he considered me a rival?'
A pleased smile crept onto Do Cheon-rin's face.
'I thought he never even looked at me. But he had been observing me—and everyone else he deemed worthy of being called a rival.'
Knock, knock.
Just then, there was a rap at the door.
"Come in."
At Do Cheon-rin's voice, a woman in a deep blue palace dress entered, carrying medical supplies.
It was Dam Yu-yeon.
"How are you feeling?"
Ever since performing the Heaven-Restoring Divine Needle Grand Rescue Art, she had been checking on him daily, like a physician making rounds.
"Much better, thanks to you."
"But what were you reading just now?"
Her gaze lingered on the book in his hands. Flustered, Do Cheon-rin waved dismissively.
He was embarrassed to admit he had been reading a martial treatise written by Bu Eun-seol—his supposed rival.
"Nothing important."
He quickly tucked the book into his robes.
Then he noticed the ink stains—still fresh.
He had only been unconscious for a day.
Which meant Bu Eun-seol must have stayed up all night, painstakingly writing this for him.
'There's nothing to be ashamed of...'
Letting out a soft exhale, Do Cheon-rin straightened with pride.
"It's a treatise he wrote to help refine my martial arts. A guide on how to grow stronger, you could say."
Dam Yu-yeon's chest tightened at the sight of his smile.
It was a smile that seemed to hold worldly wisdom—languid, yet dignified.
It reminded her so much of Jeong Cheon's.
—What do you know, acting like you understand anything?!
Suddenly, she recalled herself shouting those words at Do Cheon-rin.
She had believed Bu Eun-seol had ruined Jeong Cheon's life.
—Do you know what all those people have in common, the ones whose lives were upended after meeting him? They were self-proclaimed geniuses who overestimated their own abilities.
When Do Cheon-rin, a complete stranger, had rebutted her as if he knew about Jeong Cheon, his words had festered in her heart like a thorn.
But now she realized—
Do Cheon-rin, like Jeong Cheon, had met Bu Eun-seol and devoted himself to the Martial Way, risking his life to wander the martial world.
And he, too, had been defeated by Bu Eun-seol's hand, was dying.
The only difference was—
Jeong Cheon had been left in such a critical state by the Three Realms that nothing could be done, and he had died alone...
While Do Cheon-rin had been brought back to the Red Sky Curtain Branch with Bu Eun-seol's help, given a chance to recover.
'If my brother were still alive... we would be sitting face to face like this, wouldn't we?'
A deep shadow passed over Dam Yu-yeon's eyes.
Do Cheon-rin frowned slightly.
"Is something troubling you?"
For a moment, Dam Yu-yeon nearly burst into tears.
That gentle voice. Those languid yet noble eyes.
Everything about him was so much like Jeong Cheon.