Chapter 594
The corner of Bu Eun-seol's eye twitched faintly.
Bukgung Ryeong. Wasn't he the ageless friend—mangnyeonjiu—with whom he had shared a deep bond, transcending both the orthodox-unorthodox divide and age itself?
'Why is the name of an old man who should be perfectly alive written here?'
With a bewildered expression, Bu Eun-seol stared once more at the characters beneath the glass tube.
'A namesake? No, that can't be.'
In the annals of martial history, there was only one person who bore the epithet Bullet King.
Bukgung Ryeong, the sole master who had honed the Inner Energy Bullet Art to Grand Perfection.
'Old man.'
Bu Eun-seol's gaze trembled slightly.
Had Bukgung Ryeong already died, his body dissected?
Or had the Great Art already been performed on someone with a similar constitution?
'No, he might still be alive.'
Unlike the other glass tubes, the one labeled Bullet King still contained no liquid.
'I need to investigate this place quickly.'
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had planned to cremate the remains in the glass tubes, then immediately destroy this entire Underground Castle and leave.
But what if Bukgung Ryeong had fallen into the hands of the Three Realms?
Then he had to rescue him—fast.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Bu Eun-seol immediately stepped outside and scanned his surroundings.
Since everyone inside was already dead, there was no one to question for the inside story.
Moreover, this Underground Castle was far too vast.
And rather than being filled with Mechanism Study traps, it was layered with Great Arts and Arts of Spells, many of which even the Way of the Beast couldn't detect.
In a place like this, there were bound to be fail-safe mechanisms to destroy the facility if necessary.
If he recklessly searched every corner without a plan, he might end up sealing this place shut without even confirming whether Bukgung Ryeong was alive or dead.
'I need to find where they keep their records.'
If there was a place for important documents, it would be at the heart of this facility—somewhere with the least foot traffic.
Given how expansive this Underground Castle was, the highest-ranking figures would likely reside in the central area to oversee operations.
And those of such high standing wouldn't bother meeting many people, leaving minimal traces of movement.
Zzzzzzzzzz.
Drawing upon Empty Mind Spirit Perception, Bu Eun-seol entered one of the few buildings in the central area that showed almost no signs of entry.
Inside, he was met with utter silence.
Not a single ray of light penetrated the darkness.
A wide passageway stretched before him—about 200 feet in width and about 100 feet in height—lined with multiple doors on either side.
Ssshhhk.
Carefully opening one door, he saw a stone chamber shrouded in darkness, furnished with nothing but a single bed.
The opposite door revealed the same.
'Breathing.'
Bu Eun-seol opened the door at the far end of the passageway.
Inside this stone chamber lay a person wrapped head to toe in bandages.
The bandages were soaked in blood, and the figure lay motionless, as if dead, lost in a deep slumber.
'So it's him.'
Bu Eun-seol recognized him.
This strange figure, tightly bound in bandages, was none other than the disheveled man he had seen at the guest inn.
Even beneath the bandages, that wild, unkempt hair was unmistakable.
'Did the ritual fail?'
The man's breathing was so faint it seemed he might stop at any moment, and his fingertips trembled slightly.
For some reason, he was clearly enduring relentless pain.
"May you be reborn as an ordinary commoner in your next life."
Bu Eun-seol extended his index finger.
He intended to press the Death Point, granting him a swift end to his suffering.
Krrrrrr.
But just then, a faint metallic sound reached his ears, followed by the presence of someone approaching.
Bu Eun-seol immediately concealed himself in the shadows of the stone chamber, masking his presence.
"Hmm."
The ones who entered were none other than a very young boy and a youth.
'Was there a hidden mechanism here?'
Bu Eun-seol frowned in confusion.
Hadn't the passage leading outside been blocked?
'Is there a separate passage that leads directly here from outside?'
Even if there were a mechanism allowing immediate access from the outside,
they couldn't possibly be unaware that everyone inside had been slaughtered.
So why were they calmly entering this place to examine a patient?
'No matter.'
At least he now had someone to question about the Bullet King's whereabouts.
Hiding for the moment, Bu Eun-seol studied their appearances and demeanor closely.
'Even younger?'
The boy who had suddenly appeared looked at least five or six years younger than Dae-bo.
Yet despite his youthful face, his eyes carried the gravity of an eighty-year-old elder.
'I see. Here, the younger one holds the higher status.'
Just as Bu Eun-seol sank deeper into thought—
"Wrong."
The boy, who had been examining the bandaged man on the bed, shook his head.
"He's beyond saving. Dispose of him immediately. And—"
The boy turned his body and spoke indifferently.
"This place is no different."
"Underst—"
Just as the young man standing behind him bowed his head to respond—
Thud.
He couldn't finish his words before collapsing to the ground.
At the same time, a shadow flickering with bloody light slowly emerged from the darkness.
It was Bu Eun-seol, disguised as So Jin-cheon.
The moment the two seemed about to flee, he had instantly beheaded the young man standing beside the boy and revealed himself.
"Hoh, to deceive even my eyes."
The boy showed no surprise at Bu Eun-seol's sudden appearance.
"Another fool sneaking around like a moth drawn to the Main Realm, I see."
How strange.
The Heavenly Human Cult had only established the Demon Sword Tomb a few years prior.
Yet the boy spoke as if many had already come to spy on Cold Moon Island.
"So this isn't the first time."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
"You've been conducting experiments here for a long time."
"Heh heh heh. There have always been flies buzzing around, trying to peek into the Main Realm."
The boy grinned brightly, his voice laced with childish amusement despite the cruelty of his words.
"And each time, the Main Realm quietly crushed them to death."
The contrast between his innocent face and his murderous tone made the scene all the more grotesque.
"You seem to have questions."
"You're quite perceptive."
The boy's eyes sparkled mysteriously.
"Not perceptive—observant."
Shifting his gaze to the bandaged man on the bed, the boy smiled faintly.
"Eyes, expression, body temperature... I detect and analyze everything your body reveals."
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened.
'Is this the kind of person Hyeokryeon Eung spoke of—one who can perceive the Three Treasures?'
Hyeokryeon Eung, who had tried to recruit him into the Infinite Realm, had said that to enter the Three Realms, one must be able to see the Three Treasures that compose the human body—
Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
And that there existed a Great Art capable of perceiving them.
Perhaps this boy had mastered such an art, allowing him to glimpse the depths of a person's mind just by facing them.
"What's the purpose of all this?"
"Purpose?"
The boy chuckled softly before turning his attention to the bandaged man.
"Does death truly mean the end?"
"..."
"Or does nothing truly change, and this vast universe continues endlessly?"
As he spoke, the boy reached out toward the man's body—
Flash!
A streak of cold light flickered through the air, and the boy's left hand dropped to the floor with a soft thud.
Bu Eun-seol had drawn the Moon Shadow Demonic Sword like lightning, severing his wrist.
"Enough nonsense."
"What an exquisite Fast Sword. Truly remarkable."
Was it because he could perform a Great Art capable of altering the human body entirely?
No blood spilled from the severed wrist, and the boy merely continued speaking as if he had merely dropped something unimportant.
"The answer is the latter."
His voice was unhurried.
"People may seem to be born anew, but in truth, they are reborn in an endless cycle."
"..."
"In the past, there was someone with features and temperament nearly identical to yours. And in the future, another just like you will be born again."
Crack.
At that moment, the sound of bones shifting echoed from the man on the bed.
"Haa... Haa..."
The man's dying breaths grew rough, like a beast's, and thick veins of blood surged beneath his skin.
It was as if some Great Art had forcibly ignited his latent potential.
Bu Eun-seol tensed, channeling his Internal Power, but no further movement came.
"Upon reaching the Martial Extreme Realm, one not only manipulates the flow of time but controls its very passage."
Then, the boy said something unexpected.
"By then, martial artists no longer obsess over techniques. Instead, they contemplate life and death, truth and falsehood... and the legacy they've built."
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes.
Was this boy implying he had reached the Martial Extreme Realm?
"Are you the Realm Lord?"
"Heh heh heh. Hardly."
The boy shrugged lightly.
"It's just been a long time since I've seen someone with such perfect control over their Spirit and Mind. I ended up rambling."
Judging by his tone and demeanor—
This boy likely held a high position not just in Cold Moon Island but within the Return-to-One Realm itself.
Shiiing—
The demon sword in Bu Eun-seol's hand erupted in a dazzling silver light.
The thought that the boy's Martial Prowess might surpass his own made him strike first.
Thwish.
At the same moment, the tip of the sword, sharp as frost spikes, halted a hair's breadth from the boy's carotid artery.
"Where is the Bullet King, Bukgung Ryeong?"
"Hmm. That doesn't seem to be it."
The boy murmured languidly.
"Judging by your expression... there's something else you're really curious about, isn't there?"
As the boy sneered, Bu Eun-seol pressed the demonic blade harder against his throat.
The razor-sharp edge should have split skin, pierced the artery, and sent blood spurting out.
But the boy's flesh merely caved in deeply—no blood flowed.
"Pity. Your martial arts seem quite impressive, though."
Now it was clear—the boy's body was hollow inside, like a doll crafted from human skin.
Yet Bu Eun-seol wasn't particularly surprised.
Nothing the Return-to-One Realm did was ordinary. Even if the boy's body dissolved into mist and flew into the sky, it wouldn't be shocking.
"I asked where the Bullet King is."
"Think carefully before you ask."
The boy grinned wickedly.
"Are you truly curious about the Bullet King's fate—or is there something else you want to know?"
Then, grinning, he added:
"Because my mouth will only give you one answer."
For an instant, Bu Eun-seol's gaze wavered.
That sounded like someone who had peered straight into his heart.
The resting place of his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang's remains.
And the fate of the Bullet King, Bukgung Ryeong.
These were the two pieces of information he absolutely needed. But this boy was saying he'd only answer one question.
'Then this bastard...'
A flurry of thoughts flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"You're making me repeat myself."
Finding his grandfather's remains was important, but right now, the living took priority.
Moreover, having seen through the boy's cunning ploy, Bu Eun-seol asked about the Bullet King's fate without hesitation.
"—My mouth will only give you one answer."
If he had changed his question after hearing that?
The boy would have instantly grasped why Bu Eun-seol was here—and what he truly wanted.
"So you really came to save the Bullet King."
The boy's eyes glittered before he let out a stifled laugh.
"Too bad. The Bullet King's already been captured and dissected. No matter how hard you look, you won't find him."
A despairing answer.
Yet Bu Eun-seol bared his teeth in a cold smile.
"Ah, is that so?"
"..."
"You could've just said you couldn't take him alive and killed him instead."
Bu Eun-seol's laugh was frigid.
"I might've believed that."
The boy's thin brows twitched.
He was curious—how had Bu Eun-seol seen through his lie?
"How did you know?"
"I take it my words didn't translate for you just now."
Bu Eun-seol smirked coldly.
"Or was everything you said earlier a lie?"
—Eyes, expression, body temperature... detecting and interpreting everything the body reveals.
The boy had claimed he could discern vast amounts of information just by looking.
Yet now, he couldn't even determine the truth behind Bu Eun-seol's words.
"You pinpointed my flaw with just that one remark?"
"If you could truly see through everything, you wouldn't have needed to bait me with a probing question."
Bu Eun-seol spoke flatly.
"From the looks of it, you only read physical reactions to a certain degree. In reality, you must deduce information from the other person's answers."
Even Hyeokryeon Eung, a master of the Mind-Seizing Secret Art who could easily peer into an enemy's heart—
Had to constantly lie to throw Bu Eun-seol into confusion. And even he needed extensive preparation to unleash his divine Great Art.
If this boy from the Return-to-One Realm could wield such a miraculous technique—if he could truly extract information from bodily reactions—
He wouldn't have bothered with questions designed to uncover motives in one go.
"Heheh. Clever."
The boy shrugged and readily admitted his deception.
"You're right. We haven't captured Bukgung Ryeong yet. But we'll have news soon."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.
If the Bullet King hadn't fallen into the Return-to-One Realm's hands yet, there was still ample opportunity to save him.
"Enough talk."
A bloody light ignited in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Capturing the boy was impossible, and asking about his grandfather's remains would be pointless.
That left only one thing to do.
Sssss—
In that instant, black fog unfurled around the boy's body, and from its depths bloomed sword rings of infinite darkness.
Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
The absolute sword art that delivered death to all living things—now unleashed upon the boy's hollow shell.
And upon the one controlling it, an impartial death would be delivered as well.
—Ugh!
But then, something unexpected happened.
The man lying on the sickbed roared like a spring uncoiling, suddenly launching himself at Bu Eun-seol.
It seemed the boy had set something in motion earlier, when the man's bones had been made to crack.
"Wish me luck."
Seizing the opportunity, the boy vanished like a ghost in an instant.
KWAANG!
As Bu Eun-seol sidestepped, the charging man crashed straight through the wall and tumbled outside.
Ignoring the man, Bu Eun-seol activated his Movement Technique to track the fleeing boy.
KWAOO!
In that instant, an intangible force of Finger Wind gouged into Bu Eun-seol's back.
The man had unleashed a devastating attack without warning.
'No need to engage him.'
PA-PA-PAK!
Dodging the Finger Wind effortlessly, Bu Eun-seol sprinted past the man to pursue the boy.
KWAOOOONG!
But the man's Finger Force curved through the air, cutting off Bu Eun-seol's escape route.
SWISH!
Bu Eun-seol twisted mid-air, evading the strike—but by then, the boy's presence had vanished completely.
'I lost him.'
THUD. THUD.
Meanwhile, the man slowly advanced, his bloodied bandages tightly wound, his eyes glazed with madness. An overwhelming, tyrannical energy radiated from his entire body, as if he could tear the heavens apart. His pupils burned with the predatory glee of a beast locking onto prey.
"So it must come to this."
Bu Eun-seol sighed.
This man, too, had been born with an Empty-Spirit Body and gifted with extraordinary talent in Martial Arts. Yet the Great Art had failed, reducing him to little more than a Soulless One—another puppet of the Infinite Realm.
"Why do those of Murim crave what they cannot possess?"
"Uuugh—"
Meeting Bu Eun-seol's pitying gaze, the man clutched his hair and let out a furious groan.
"KAAAH!"
With a roar, he splayed all five fingers wide.
KWAOOOOH!
Crimson streaks tore through the air as a storm of Red Blood Demon Finger Art erupted—far surpassing his previous attacks in sheer destructive force.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Bu Eun-seol deflected the strikes with his sword, the Moon Shadow Demon Blade ringing violently from the impact.
'To channel such power through Finger Wind...'
Though the sword's mystical properties remained unknown, its durability and sharpness rivaled even the legendary Divine Swords and Treasured Sabers. Yet the man's Finger Art struck like hundreds of Masters attacking at once, relentlessly shaking the blade's foundation.
If this continued, the Moon Shadow Demon Blade would shatter.
TAP!
Bu Eun-seol activated his Movement Technique, attempting to escape the barrage.
"KAAH!"
But the man's fingers danced, unleashing waves of Finger Wind from all angles—each strike varying in speed and trajectory. From afar, it looked as though crimson Blood Lines were being woven into the air.
CLANG! CLANG! THUD!
Blocking the relentless assault, cracks finally began spiderwebbing across the demonic blade.
"Hm."
Bu Eun-seol abruptly leapt skyward.
FLASH!
Soaring to the ceiling, he unleashed the Transcendent Waning Moon and Morning Star—a storm of colossal Sword Qi in intersecting cruciform slashes. Dozens of radiant blades descended like divine judgment.
"HOO!"
But though the man's mind was broken, he had perfectly inherited the Red Blood Demon Emperor's martial prowess.
SWISH! SWOOSH!
With a flick of all ten fingers, the crimson Blood Lines interlaced into a vast net, dissolving the falling Sword Qi as if swallowing rain.
KWAOOOH!
Undeterred, the man hurled hundreds more Blood Lines at Bu Eun-seol as he landed.
'A direct confrontation is unwise.'
The Red Blood Demon Finger Art had transcended the limits of conventional Finger Techniques, filling the broad passageway with crimson lines as its force lingered in the air.
Whirl!
Bu Eun-seol immediately used his footwork to evade, and the attack that swept past him left deep gouges in the iron floor.
This astonishing Finger Art could be released in isolated bursts or extended into a long whip.
This was no mere Finger Art. It was an otherworldly Demonic Martial Art, capable of morphing into dozens of lethal forms.
"Impressive."
A chill ran down Bu Eun-seol's spine.
Witnessing this man, he understood why the Return-to-One Realm sought to inherit the power of past Masters.
If a mindless vessel, transformed through the Grand Ritual, could wield the Red Blood Demon Emperor's strength to this extent—what if they perfected the ability to master and wield the powers of legendary martial masters?
If they could control such beings at will...
The Return-to-One Realm...
Would become unstoppable.