Chapter 589
Baekri Mu-jo spoke calmly.
"It seems you've blended some other sword forms into the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms."
Bu Eun-seol nodded slightly, his expression faintly surprised.
"That's correct."
"Don't tell me... you learned martial arts from the Hidden Forest Pavilion Master?"
A glimmer of admiration flickered in Baekri Mu-jo's eyes.
"Otherwise, there's no way you could have twisted the orthodox sword studies of the Righteous Faction into something so saturated with killing intent."
'Does the Leader not know the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan style?'
If Baekri Mu-jo were the murderer who killed Grandfather, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan style.
A flash of insight crossed Bu Eun-seol's eyes, but he replied evenly.
"No, that's not it."
"Impossible."
Baekri Mu-jo furrowed his brow.
"If not him—the very man who taught demonic sword arts to the Great Righteous Experts—then who in the world could have passed down such Strange Sword Study?"
Bu Eun-seol was inwardly startled.
Until now, he had only heard rumors that there was a master within the Martial Alliance well-versed in demonic sword arts, and he had privately wondered about their identity.
But for it to be the Hidden Forest Pavilion Master, Mok Do-in?
'Then, was the Divine Calculator mistaken?'
Bu Eun-seol had always believed that the murderer had either mastered the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan style or stolen its secret manual.
The demonic sword arts used to attack Grandfather—
They were a grotesque distortion of the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan style into a demonic sword art.
Yet the Divine Calculator had said that the murderer was likely one of the Seven Great Leaders.
That was why Bu Eun-seol had focused solely on them.
'But if it's Mok Do-in... it's possible.'
If it were Mok Do-in, who managed the Pratyekabuddha Hall, the probability that he had seen the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan manual was high.
Moreover, not only was he deeply knowledgeable about various orthodox sword studies, but he was also said to be skilled enough to teach demonic sword arts to the Great Righteous Experts... There was more than enough possibility for him to be the murderer.
'Then, was the elder who fled the Namgung Clan in the past actually Mok Do-in?'
The elder who had infiltrated the Namgung Clan as a spy also used a sword style eerily similar to the scar left on Grandfather's body.
'Every possibility is open.'
Having sorted his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol answered.
"Truthfully, I happened upon a secret manual while wandering the martial world and gained insight from it, allowing me to create a new version of the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms."
"You created it anew? Entirely on your own?"
"Yes."
"If you're already at a level where you can unleash such sword strokes in a single breath, then my teachings would be meaningless."
Baekri Mu-jo nodded approvingly.
"With your talent, you could become a grandmaster of the sword, dominating the murim within ten years."
His expression was almost pleased.
It was as if he genuinely delighted in Seon-u Jin's exceptional skill.
This demeanor fit perfectly with the image of the Star Guard Corps Leader, revered as the Sacred Sword—so much so that it was hard to believe he had been radiating killing intent just moments ago.
"I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in the future."
"Thank you."
Baekri Mu-jo nodded again.
"You may go now."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Bu Eun-seol bowed respectfully and turned.
Click.
The moment he stepped out of the office, Baekri Mu-jo's face—which had been smiling warmly—instantly hardened into icy severity.
"The Heavenly Robe Mind Art..."
Baekri Mu-jo let out a faint chuckle.
"Just how many hidden disciples does he have?"
The gamble Bu Eun-seol had taken—
It was none other than the secret technique of the True Heaven Emperor: the Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
During their final exchange of sword strikes, Bu Eun-seol had synchronized his energy with Baekri Mu-jo's True Qi Circulation using the Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
Of course, considering Seon-u Jin's supposed abilities,
he had deliberately lowered the technique's proficiency, only aligning with a fraction of Baekri Mu-jo's energy flow.
"A shame. Had I captured that woman of the Yangseol Family, I could have peeled back every suspicious layer of her."
Shaking his head, he muttered in an impossibly low voice.
"I'm afraid you won't get your way, Alliance Leader."
As the image of the True Heaven Emperor surfaced in his mind, a confident yet bloodthirsty smile curled at the corners of Baekri Mu-jo's lips.
Step. Step.
Outside the Thousand Weapons Pavilion, a single drop of cold sweat trickled down Bu Eun-seol's back.
'That was too close.'
After observing the layout of the office, Bu Eun-seol had deduced that Baekri Mu-jo was deeply unsettled by Seon-u Jin's existence.
Even if he had completely dispelled all suspicion, he knew Baekri Mu-jo would have disposed of him regardless.
The Martial Alliance was a den of demons worse than the Demon Hall.
Whether it was the coiled influence of the Three Realms or the machinations of the high command clinging to power,
they wouldn't hesitate to cut down any rising star who displeased them.
Sure enough.
Baekri Mu-jo had exuded killing intent, as if planning to eliminate him under the pretext of sparring.
Before coming here, Bu Eun-seol had anticipated all of this, and the moment Baekri Mu-jo's sword intent shifted,
he had immediately activated the True Heaven Emperor's Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
After all, the Martial Alliance Leader was the Divine Calculator. And he had remained in seclusion, never appearing except for extraordinary circumstances.
But in truth, he had been secretly active in the martial world.
And he had a disciple named Mu-gyeol, whose true identity remained hidden from the world.
Baekri Mu-jo, the leader of the Star Guard Corps, couldn't possibly be unaware of these facts.
Bu Eun-seol had predicted that if he used the Heavenly Robe Mind Art in a crisis, Baekri Mu-jo would mistake him for the Martial Alliance Leader's disciple.
Even if Baekri Mu-jo had a close enough relationship with the Alliance Leader to report this, he might be astonished by the display of the Heavenly Robe Mind Art—but the Divine Calculator would never expose Bu Eun-seol's true identity.
After all, the identity of Seon-u Jin had been given to him by the Divine Calculator himself.
'But all of this was merely my speculation.'
The biggest problem was that Baekri Mu-jo might not even detect the Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
Though they had briefly clashed before, Baekri Mu-jo's martial prowess had long surpassed conventional stages of martial arts.
It was impossible to guess just what realm he had reached.
—No, he would be able to sense it.
In the end, trusting his intuition, Bu Eun-seol took the gamble.
And that gamble paid off.
Grit.
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
Baekri Mu-jo.
His first impression had been that of a man who lived up to his epithet, Sacred Sword—gentle, warm, and disarmingly likable.
But that had all been a mask.
Rather than spare someone he found suspicious, he had tried to eliminate him under the pretense of a martial demonstration.
Wasn't that no different from the actions of those who pursued domination on the Demonic Path?
'I'll have to investigate Mok Do-in, the Hidden Forest Pavilion Master, as well...'
If, as the Divine Calculator had said, one of the Seven Great Leaders was the culprit behind his grandfather's death... then at this moment, Baekri Mu-jo was the most suspicious.
'I need to find definitive proof—and I need to grow stronger.'
A frigid chill seeped from Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Though he hadn't fought with his full strength... that final Sacred Sword Baekri Mu-jo had unleashed—
It had been the first time Bu Eun-seol had ever felt despair before an Absolute Sword Art.
Having completed all his duties at the Martial Alliance, Bu Eun-seol returned to the rivers and lakes and switched back to his identity as Seo Jin-ha.
There was urgent news he needed to attend to immediately.
—We've received word from the Peak Squad.
Tae Mu-ryong had secretly relayed intelligence from the Peak Squad.
By now, all Peak Realm Members knew Bu Eun-seol's true identity.
Rather than risk exposure through letters, they now delivered messages directly through intermediaries.
—A man named Do Cheon-rin seems to have located the gathering place of those who wield the demon sabers. He's summoning the Great Leader.
Shockingly, Do Cheon-rin had discovered the hideout where the wielders of the demon sabers gathered.
Xi'an Prefecture—a secret safehouse of the Demon Hall.
"The Three Realms truly are filled with remarkable individuals."
In the dimly lit chamber, Do Cheon-rin, facing Bu Eun-seol, let out an admiring sigh as he drew the sword at his waist and placed it on the table.
The demon saber he wielded—the Phantom Demon Saber.
Having drunk deeply of countless enemies' blood during the battle at Red Sky Curtain Branch, the blade now exuded a sinister glow.
"I have no idea what kind of trickery makes these characters appear like this."
"Characters?"
"Channel your True Qi into it."
Sensing something strange, Bu Eun-seol infused the blade with his True Qi. Suddenly, faint characters began to emerge on the sword's surface.
Supreme Martial Lord, If You Desire, Come to Gangok District.
The characters were extremely faint, written in a calligraphic style as though swept by the wind, requiring him to focus his Enhanced Vision for a long moment to decipher them.
"It's telling us to go to Gangok District."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
Gangok District. A den where vagrants and criminals gathered.
"Most likely, yes."
Do Cheon-rin, arms crossed, stroked his chin as he stared at the Phantom Demon Saber.
"But no matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense."
"What do you mean?"
"If this is a genuine demon saber... then whoever collected the countless demon sabers scattered across the martial world and orchestrated this must possess extraordinary means."
Do Cheon-rin frowned deeply.
"A faction with this much power... Why scatter the demon sabers and go through such a convoluted process? If they wanted, they could find any individual they desired immediately."
"We'll only know after investigating."
"Investigating..."
Do Cheon-rin muttered under his breath before his eyes suddenly sharpened.
"Why not lead the Demon Hall's main force there instead? We could uproot one of the factions toying with the martial world in one stroke."
"No."
"Why not?"
"This place wouldn't be the main stronghold of the Ghostly Unity Realm."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"If it were their headquarters, they wouldn't engrave its location on demon sabers that could fall into anyone's hands."
"If it's not their headquarters..."
"Then it's likely a testing ground of some sort. To see if someone meets their conditions—or to verify if they do."
"Hmm. That does sound plausible."
Do Cheon-rin clicked his tongue.
"I've always prided myself on being second to none in strategy... but whenever I'm around you, I end up feeling like a fool."
"No need for self-reproach. I've clashed with the Three Realms multiple times now—I've simply grown familiar with their methods and patterns."
"Hmm."
Do Cheon-rin let out a long sigh.
The Three Realms had always lurked in the shadows, manipulating the factions of the Murim as they pleased.
Even his father, Do Mu-jeok—a peerless swordsman who feared nothing under heaven—had deliberately turned a blind eye to them.
When he was young, Do Cheon-rin had once asked his father why they didn't just eliminate them.
—They're like the air itself. You can't destroy them, and even if you did, they would inevitably reform.
Do Mu-jeok's expression as he explained had been deeply troubled and complex.
After that day, Do Cheon-rin never questioned their existence again.
If the Family Head himself had spoken so, then nothing would change, no matter what.
But Bu Eun-seol was different.
He was confronting head-on the very force that even Do Mu-jeok—a swordsman who commanded the world's respect, said to rival the Sword Demon—had deliberately ignored. Slowly, bit by bit... he was tearing them apart.
'He'll have to see this through to the end.'
Do Cheon-rin made a silent resolution.
No matter how Bu Eun-seol's journey ended, he would stand by his side until then.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"I'll go to Gangok District myself."
"Then you'll need to take my sword."
"That was my initial thought."
"What do you mean?"
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
"I don't believe they scattered swords randomly across the Murim. They likely kept track of who ended up with them."
"Even so, a disguise would suffice."
"Disguises aren't foolproof. If I take the Phantom Demon Sword and an unavoidable battle breaks out there—what if even a single underling survives?"
Bu Eun-seol spoke with utmost solemnity.
"The Return-to-One Realm would immediately suspect and hunt you down."
The Return-to-One Realm was known as the most terrifying of the Three Realms.
In the end, Bu Eun-seol was worried—what if Do Cheon-rin ended up in danger because of this?
"Enough."
Do Cheon-rin snorted and waved his hand dismissively.
"Do you think I joined hands with you without that much resolve?"
"This is my fight, and I'm only asking for your help. If someone has to be sacrificed in the process... I'd rather give up."
Do Cheon-rin's expression darkened.
He had heard much about Bu Eun-seol's actions and had witnessed them firsthand.
When the Red Sky Curtain Branch was in crisis, hadn't Bu Eun-seol pretended to turn away on the surface—only to protect them with meticulous care?
'His heart is too soft.'
Bu Eun-seol was now one of the key figures shaping the Demonic Murim.
Those who sought to rule the world inevitably had to sacrifice the small for the greater good.
Yet he still—
Valued those around him more than his own life, running forward with nothing but vengeance driving him.
'There's no helping it.'
Yu Un-ryong and Seo Jin-ha blindly followed and pledged loyalty to Bu Eun-seol, but they lacked the ability to harden his tender heart.
In the end, only Do Cheon-rin could change him.
'I'll have to be the one to help him.'
Having silently resolved himself, Do Cheon-rin nodded.
"Fine. Suppose you go yourself—what then?"
"Do you remember those you fought before?"
Understanding his meaning, Do Cheon-rin smiled faintly.
"Right. They all fell off the cliff."
"Exactly. That place was remote and secluded... so the swords they dropped might still be there."
Do Cheon-rin, who had been listening intently, shook his head.
"But there's also a chance the locations inscribed on each sword are different."
The number of demonic swords the Three Realms had scattered was far from small. Because of that, the chances of the inscriptions being exposed to outsiders were also high.
Given that, it was unlikely the Return-to-One Realm had designated only Gangok District as the destination.
"If they had standardized it to one location, anyone who learned the information would flock there."
"That makes sense."
"Besides, even if we obtain another demonic sword, there'd be prerequisites."
The reason words had suddenly appeared on Do Cheon-rin's Phantom Demon Sword—
It was because he had cut down countless enemies at the Red Sky Curtain Branch.
Meaning, even if they obtained another demonic sword... they would have to repeat the same slaughter.
"No, there must be another way."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes burned with conviction.
"After hearing your story, I kept thinking—would the Return-to-One Realm really have awakened the inscriptions by killing countless people?"
"What are you getting at?"
"What they wanted was for the sword wielders to fight each other, wasn't it?"
"That's true."
"If they had triggered the inscriptions through mass slaughter, wouldn't the sword's wielder risk being branded a Public Enemy of the Martial World?"
Do Cheon-rin nodded.
This battle had been a clash between the Red Sky Curtain Branch and the Black Banner Society—two factions.
For an ordinary martial artist, large-scale battles like this were rare to begin with.
"I see."
Do Cheon-rin nodded again.
"There's no way an organization like the Three Realms wouldn't have considered that point."
"So you're saying the inscriptions on the demon swords didn't appear because we slaughtered a large number of enemies in the Red Sky Curtain Branch battle... but because we fulfilled some condition they established?"
"Exactly. That's why they made the sword wielders fight each other."
"Hmm."
Do Cheon-rin nodded deeply, lost in thought. He desperately tried to recall the circumstances of the Red Sky Curtain Branch battle.
"Then perhaps..."
Do Cheon-rin spoke as if remembering something.
"It seems they want the blood of warriors above a certain level."
His eyes flashed with realization.
"The Phantom Demon Sword reacted particularly violently when we wiped out the entire Insect-Flying Sword Unit."
"The blood of strong warriors."
Bu Eun-seol nodded in agreement.
"That could make sense."
Having demon sword wielders fight each other was also a process of identifying strong warriors. The most logical condition would be making the swords react when they drew blood from warriors above a certain threshold.
"But this is just speculation."
Do Cheon-rin shook his head uncertainly.
"The concept of 'a strong warrior's blood' is too abstract. The very idea that they could distinguish such things doesn't make sense."
"For them, it might be entirely possible."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"Just look at the Infinite Realm - they actually created the Human Blossoms that were only spoken of in legends, and accomplished the impossible with body modification. Creating conditions for sword inscriptions to appear would be within their capabilities."
"Through something like the Great Art or Esoteric Ritual Arts?"
"Most likely."
"Hmm."
Do Cheon-rin fell into deep thought. As a successor of the Demonic Path Ten Gates, he had studied extensively. He knew well how such rituals and arts could produce seemingly impossible abilities and effects.
"Fine then."
Wiping away his swirling thoughts, Do Cheon-rin spoke firmly.
"First, let's retrieve the sword again."
Bu Eun-seol accompanied Do Cheon-rin to the cliff where they had slain the three demon sword wielders. At that time, one sword had clearly fallen over the cliff... With luck, they might still find it.
"Here it is."
After descending the cliff and searching thoroughly, Do Cheon-rin let out an exclamation. The demon sword hadn't fallen all the way down but was wedged deep in a protruding crevice. Only a sliver of the hilt remained visible, but with his Empty-Spirit Body constitution, he could easily sense the sword's energy.
Scrape scrape
Retrieving the sword from the rocky crevice, Do Cheon-rin climbed back up.
"Hmm."
He examined the sword carefully in the sunlight. Despite enduring wind and rain, the blade still gleamed sharply.
"The Moon Shadow Demonic Sword of the Moon Shadow Demon Venerable. No wonder it unleashed those crescent-shaped sword energies back then."
"Let's test it."
Taking the sword from Do Cheon-rin, Bu Eun-seol immediately drew it across his forearm.
Sssss
The sword seemed to instantly evaporate the blood that flowed from the wound. The blade trembled faintly before emitting a mysterious glow.
"Incredible."
Do Cheon-rin gasped. Just from that shallow cut, the sword was already radiating such light.
Hummm
But the sword only produced a faint vibration - no inscriptions appeared.
"Not enough, it seems."
Reluctantly, Bu Eun-seol deepened the wound to let more blood flow. The sword's glow intensified, yet still no characters appeared.
"Hmm."
Finally, Bu Eun-seol pressed the blade deeper, drawing clear blood.
"Stop. Any more would be dangerous."
Do Cheon-rin immediately restrained him. He'd already lost at least a bowl's worth of blood, yet the sword's greed remained unsated, endlessly demanding more.
"Why not have your subordinates provide blood instead?"
"That would mean all Death Shadow War Unit subordinates would learn about the demon swords."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head firmly and spoke flatly.
"With this much glow, the inscriptions should appear soon. Let me try a little more."
But no matter how much blood he shed, only the glow intensified - no characters emerged.
"Maybe it requires more than one person."
Suddenly remembering something, Do Cheon-rin snatched the sword.
"Though not at your level, what if we add my blood too?"
He immediately began feeding the sword his own blood.
Sssssss
After drinking deeply of Do Cheon-rin's blood, the sword's glow grew even more vivid. Simultaneously, faint characters began gradually appearing.
"So it needed two people's blood after all."
Do Cheon-rin nodded with relief. Apparently the sword's condition required multiple warriors above a certain level.
—Cold Moon Island.
As the characters finally appeared, Bu Eun-seol and Do Cheon-rin exchanged sharp glances. As expected, each sword had its inscription in a different location.
Ultimately, the Three Realms weren't selecting all demon sword wielders at once. They were summoning them to different locations as each sword's conditions were met.