Chapter 610
Shudder.
The masters of the Flying Demon Palace, who had been rushing forward at full speed, came to an abrupt halt the moment they entered the manor, their eyes widening in shock.
Inside, corpses were piled high like a mountain, and the floor was so drenched in blood that their feet would get wet.
Never in their lives had they witnessed such a hellish scene.
"Who's the leader here?"
Yet Bu Eun-seol strode forward calmly through the gory mire.
Not because he had spent his childhood surrounded by corpses.
But because he believed the lives of evil men held less value than leaves scattered by the wind.
"I won't ask twice."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, the man standing at the front cautiously stepped forward.
"That would be me."
"Your name?"
"Eun Jung-hwi."
"Even if the Vanished Sect has fallen, why would a faction of the Demonic Path stoop to cleaning up after the wicked deeds of the Righteous Faction?"
The man, Eun Jung-hwi, averted his gaze as he spoke.
"What use is distinguishing between the Righteous and Unorthodox Paths when all of us disciples were on the brink of starving to death?"
"If you didn't want to starve, you could've become wanderers and sold your martial skills."
"Who would hire the likes of us as wanderers?"
"What do you mean?"
Eun Jung-hwi lowered his head.
Then, he briefly recounted the events that had led them here.
Tak Il-hon, the Flying Demon, had committed countless thefts to steal martial arts manuals and slaughtered the orthodox and unorthodox masters who pursued him without hesitation.
Thus, Tak Il-hon became the Enemy of the Murim, yet he roamed the martial world without a care.
But one day, he vanished without a trace, and the Flying Demon Palace disbanded.
Most of its members disappeared, hiding their names, but Eun Jung-hwi couldn't abandon the subordinates who had followed him.
He also believed that Tak Il-hon, their palace lord, would return someday.
—"Let's somehow keep the legacy alive."
He named the thirty followers who remained with him the Flying Demon Unit and headed to the Wanderers' Market.
But the stigma of being disciples of the Flying Demon Palace—once led by Tak Il-hon, the Enemy of the Murim—couldn't be erased.
The Wanderers' Market rejected them, refusing to offer them even a single job.
Then, a middle-aged man took notice of them and made a discreet proposal.
—"If you're from the Flying Demon Palace, your Lightness Skill must be exceptional. How about taking on our work?"
Their "work" involved transporting people—specifically, kidnapped women.
—"We refuse."
—"Suit yourself. But even if you roam all one hundred eighty thousand li of the Central Plains, no one will hire you."
When Eun Jung-hwi refused, the middle-aged man smirked.
—"Rather than turning to banditry later, this might be the better option. All you have to do is move people."
Eun Jung-hwi wouldn't even entertain the thought, but in the end, things unfolded just as the man had said.
Unless they resorted to robbery, as martial artists, they had no choice but to starve.
After hearing the full story, Bu Eun-seol let out a cold laugh.
"Do you think committing evil deeds to survive is justifiable?"
"I never thought it was justifiable. But for the descendants of a fallen sect who couldn't even beg for a meal, there was no other choice."
"You could've become hermits and farmed, or at the very least, joined the Black Syndicate in the back alleys to extort merchants. That would've been better."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with a stern expression.
"In the end, you're just making excuses."
"You're right. They're all just excuses."
Eun Jung-hwi hung his head in shame.
"I have nothing more to say, so kill me. However... my subordinates merely followed my orders. Even if you cripple their martial arts, I beg you to spare their lives."
Bu Eun-seol sighed.
He was not one to show mercy to evil men.
But Eun Jung-hwi acknowledged his wrongdoing.
That was why he had only handled the transportation of the women, refrained from further involvement, and waited outside the manor.
Above all, they were like disciples Tak Il-hon had painstakingly trained...
Making it difficult to act against them outright.
"And please take this."
At that moment, Eun Jung-hwi handed Bu Eun-seol a small booklet.
Inside were detailed records of the locations and scale of numerous subordinate organizations that had supplied women to Chae Ju-hong.
"Were you preparing to betray them?"
"How could I? I simply believed this evil would one day come to an end. And when it did, those involved would need to be punished thoroughly..."
'There's no other choice.'
Bu Eun-seol made up his mind as he took the booklet.
'I'll have to leave them to Protector Tak.'
Though Tak Il-hon had become the Great Killing Star in his pursuit of martial arts manuals, slaughtering countless people...
He had never committed acts of wickedness or depravity.
These men, too, claimed they had merely transported the women, but they couldn't have been unaware that the women were being delivered to the Flower-Plucking Lecher.
If Bu Eun-seol judged them irredeemable, he would've annihilated them without hesitation.
But seeing how they had meticulously recorded the sins of evil men and were prepared to die willingly...
It seemed this matter was best left to Tak Il-hon.
"Take your subordinates and ensure all the women remaining here are safely returned to their homes."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with a solemn expression.
"After that, go to Chengdu in Xi'an Prefecture and hang a black flag above the Pure Heart Inn. Then, the person seeking you will appear."
As Eun Jung-hwi blinked in a daze, Bu Eun-seol added in a low voice,
"Your judgment will be decided then."
There was an undeniable force in Bu Eun-seol's tone.
The masters of the Bima Palace could feel it.
Unless they abandoned their identities and fled the murim entirely, there was no escaping his grasp.
"Understood."
Eun Jung-hwi ordered his subordinates to begin leading the remaining women, one by one, out of the compound.
They were all women who had been abducted and brought here.
"Is there a woman here by the name of Jo Chu-su?"
At Bu Eun-seol's call, a somewhat haggard but beautiful woman stepped forward from the side.
"I am Jo Chu-su."
"Good."
Bu Eun-seol showed a relieved smile.
"Your sister has come to rescue you. She's in that pavilion over there—go and return with her."
"Sister... my sister?!"
Jo Chu-su immediately dashed toward the pavilion.
Watching her, Bu Eun-seol spoke sternly to Eun Jung-hwi.
"Not a single one must be left behind. Return them all safely."
Pahng!
Then, in an instant, he soared into the sky.
If word spread that this hidden manor had fallen, the remaining lower factions would scatter into hiding in the blink of an eye.
Mobilizing the Martial Alliance's forces would take too long—so he would immediately deploy the Death Soul Squad to eradicate the abduction ring in one swift strike.
After leaving Chae Ju-hong's hidden manor, Bu Eun-seol handed the ledger he had received from Eun Jung-hwi to So-yo, instructing her to annihilate all related factions.
Then, he returned to the safe house in Hanzhong Prefecture nearby.
Before handling this matter, he had stored the Ink Soul Sword in the safe house in Shaanxi's Hanzhong Prefecture.
Now that everything was settled, he intended to retrieve it and destroy the black divine artifact in the form of a protective sheath.
Oooong...
As Bu Eun-seol approached the Ink Soul Sword, the blade emitted a low sword resonance.
At the same time, mysterious emblems began to glow on the scabbard, light flowing from its surface.
"I haven't done anything yet."
A strange thought crossed Bu Eun-seol's mind.
The Ink Soul Sword was unleashing an intense force in response to the black divine artifact—
As if it intended to break the seal engraved upon its blade.
"So this was what it wanted to destroy all along."
Bu Eun-seol drew the Ink Soul Sword.
Srrrling!
A resonant sword cry echoed as a sharp light swirled around it, and a greedy energy began to seep out.
Simultaneously, an even fiercer radiance poured from the scabbard.
This was a tremor and brilliance on an entirely different level from when it had shattered demonic swords.
The Ink Soul Sword...
Had it never been a blade meant to destroy demonic swords, but rather a Divine-Artifact-Slaying Weapon crafted to annihilate black divine artifacts?
"Good."
Bu Eun-seol gave a slow nod.
"These abominations shouldn't exist in this world anyway."
Oooong!
He levitated the protective sheath into the air.
Then, with all his might, he swung the Ink Soul Sword.
Pahng!
Light exploded in all directions, and a transparent shockwave rippled outward, spreading even beyond the safe house.
The protective sheath had vanished as if evaporated—
Melted away like snow under the sun.
Zzzzing...
But suddenly, a faint vibration pulsed from within Bu Eun-seol's robes.
It was the small orb Chae Ju-hong had dropped earlier.
"This... I should visit the Demon Swordsmith."
The Demon Swordsmith was not only knowledgeable about ancient weapons but also well-versed in the many treasures scattered throughout the murim.
He would surely know what this orb was. Bu Eun-seol decided to head straight to Langya Pavilion to ask him.
Swoooosh...
Leaving Hanzhong Prefecture, Bu Eun-seol boarded a boat—a rare occurrence.
He had heard that the Demon Swordsmith wasn't at Sword Brow Mountain but had gone to Kaifeng Prefecture with Master Cheol for leisure.
Bu Eun-seol relaxed aboard the vessel as it leisurely made its way to Kaifeng.
The incident with the Jade Wall Hall Master had made him realize that switching identities could leave vulnerabilities.
There was always a risk of his information network being compromised, so rather than using high-speed movement techniques to meet and part quickly—
It was far safer to travel slowly like this, leaving a traceable path before covertly changing identities.
Swoooosh...
The boat carrying its passengers drifted steadily along the waterway.
Bu Eun-seol stood on the deck, gazing at the scenery around him.
Before he knew it, the boat had reached the docks.
Zzzzing...
But then, a strange sensation prickled at him.
Checking his robes, he saw the small orb from the protective sheath emitting an eerie glow.
The closer they got to the docks, the deeper the light pulsing from the orb grew.
"It resonates with something..."
Bu Eun-seol felt a spark of interest.
Thus far, he knew nothing about the Black Divine Artifact.
He was unbearably curious about what might lie ahead if he followed this orb.
Whoosh.
The moment he disembarked from the boat, he immediately activated his Movement Technique.
The further east he went, the deeper the glow emanating from the orb became.
Before he knew it, he had ventured deep into the mountains.
Lush vegetation surrounded him, and rare flowers bloomed in full splendor.
It wasn't long before he reached a flat expanse at the mountain's summit.
"In a place like this..."
There stood a massive Stone Gate.
Its surface was carved with eerie emblems, as if opening it would unleash a flood of demons from hell.
"No signs of it ever being opened."
At the center of the Stone Gate was only a deep, circular hole—no mechanism to open it anywhere in sight.
Just in case, he tried inserting and twisting the Glacier Thousand Streams Art into the hole, but there was no locking device inside.
"Wait a moment."
Bu Eun-seol retrieved the orb from his robes.
It was shining brilliantly now, its size a perfect match for the circular hole in the Stone Gate.
"Could it be...?"
Click.
The moment he placed the orb into the hole, a crisp friction sound echoed, and the gate began to slowly open.
Fsssh.
At the same time, the orb inside crumbled into dust, scattering into the wind.
"A Single-Use Key to open such a gate..."
Bu Eun-seol couldn't suppress his astonishment.
Though he had roamed the Martial World and accumulated countless experiences, he had never seen a mechanism that used such a mysterious orb as a key.
Which meant—whatever lay beyond was filled with things he had never encountered before.
Crunch, crunch.
After staring at the scattered remnants of the orb, Bu Eun-seol cautiously stepped inside.
Beyond a long passageway, a village built within a vast valley came into view.
The scenery was serene, like any remote mountain village, with numerous people coming and going.
"What in the world...?"
Hiding in the shadows to observe, Bu Eun-seol doubted his own eyes.
Every single person walking around had their shoulders pressed together—as if two bodies were bound into one.
Children, adults—regardless of age or gender, they all moved as if fused in pairs.
"A Heretical Sect, perhaps?"
Heretical sects in the Murim often committed incomprehensible acts to perform bizarre Great Arts.
Perhaps these people, too, were engaging in such eccentricities for the sake of some unique ritual.
"Hmm."
Fortunately, they didn't seem to possess formidable Martial Arts or Acute Senses.
Moreover, the village, nestled deep in the valley, offered plenty of hiding spots.
Bu Eun-seol could observe the villagers without much difficulty.
—The time has come!
Then, something strange happened.
One of the boys, who had been walking fused with another, suddenly shouted loudly.
At once, people began gathering in a rush.
—The time has come!
When the boy shouted again, a figure clad in White Garments, wearing a white mask, approached.
"Hmm."
The masked figure carefully examined the face of the boy fused beside the one who had shouted.
The boy's eyes were hollow, his expression lifeless—like an empty shell.
Nodding, the Masked Man drew a sharp dagger from his robes and extended it.
The boy took it without hesitation—
Thunk!
—and plunged it straight into the heart of the boy beside him.
Thud.
The stabbed boy collapsed instantly, dead on the spot.
Immediately, those standing behind the Masked Man swiftly carried the corpse away.
"Follow me."
Then, the Masked Man led the remaining boy away, disappearing into the village.
"Why would they do such a thing?"
Hidden in the shadows, Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened in disbelief.
He couldn't comprehend this grotesque spectacle.
Shhh—
Without delay, he stealthily followed the Masked Man and the boy.
The two entered a large stone-walled house at the village's center.
"Could this be the Return to Unity Realm's doing?"
The Return to Unity Realm had once used an ordinary village house as a hidden passage leading underground.
If so, did that mean this village was also their creation?
Rumble.
Shortly after the two entered the stone house, a low mechanical sound echoed.
There was undoubtedly a Secret Passage inside.
"No choice, then."
Two masked guards stood at the stone house's entrance.
Even if he infiltrated stealthily, subduing them was unavoidable.
Flick.
A burst of concealed finger force struck, freezing the guards in place.
Bu Eun-seol swiftly slipped inside and descended into the hidden passage.
Beyond, a wide corridor embedded with Night Luminous Pearls stretched before him.
To the sides were multiple doors, each fitted with transparent windows.
Peering through one, he—
Bu Eun-seol discovered the room where the boy and the masked man he had seen earlier were located.
"Retreat, lake, sea, sword."
However, the boy was lying down with his eyes closed, while the masked man was uttering bizarre words.
"...Secret Manual."
When the masked man finally spat out the last word, the boy lying down abruptly opened his eyes.
'How is this possible?'
Bu Eun-seol rubbed his eyes.
Just moments ago, the boy's face had been perfectly fine—yet now, it had transformed into the face of the boy whose heart he had personally stabbed to death.
"You may return now."
At the masked man in white's words, an eerie glimmer flickered in the eyes of the boy, whose expression had been as blank as a corpse's.
"Yes."
As if regaining his emotions, the boy answered with a lively expression before swiftly exiting the stone chamber.
'I can't uncover the truth just by seeing it with my eyes.'
Bu Eun-seol expanded his Void-Breaking Mind's Eye, scanning his surroundings. Once he confirmed no one else was nearby, he immediately stepped into the stone chamber and subdued the masked man in white's pressure points.
Pak! Pak! Pak!
Though the masked man's martial arts seemed quite formidable, he couldn't withstand Bu Eun-seol's technique and stiffened on the spot.
"What exactly are you people doing?"
Bu Eun-seol boldly revealed his true identity.
Given their actions, there was a high probability they were affiliated with the Three Realms.
Appearing as the Martial Soul Lord, who had repeatedly clashed with the Three Realms, would minimize complications.
"Martial Soul Lord."
Rather than alarmed, the masked man in white greeted him warmly.
"What brings such a busy figure all the way here?"
"The Azure River Realm... was it?"
Bu Eun-seol had the ability to distinguish people based solely on their eyes and physique.
Just by observing the masked man's gaze and build, he instantly recognized him as the envoy of the Azure River Realm he had encountered after concluding matters with the Sichuan Tang Clan in the past.
"Impressive. Even with a mask, you can identify someone."
The masked man in white, having immediately grasped Bu Eun-seol's ability, spoke with a composed expression.
"Now that you know I'm from the Azure River Realm, shouldn't you release my pressure points?"
While the Infinite Realm had always treated Bu Eun-seol with hostility, the Azure River Realm was different.
Thus far, they had never once acted antagonistically toward him.
Hadn't Gongson Dan-gyeong even mistaken Bu Eun-seol for an agent of the Azure River Realm?
"I asked what you're doing."
Whoosh!
As Bu Eun-seol channeled his internal energy, the white-masked man's face covering was instantly sucked into his palm.
"An unfamiliar face."
Beneath the mask was a refined-looking middle-aged man—someone Bu Eun-seol had never seen before.
In fact, his demeanor and gaze gave off the impression of a government official rather than a martial artist.
"It'll be troublesome if you keep acting like the Supreme Martial Lord."
The middle-aged man deflected.
"If you make an enemy of our realm, Martial Soul Lord... you'll find yourself in a difficult position as well."
"If you give me another nonsensical answer—"
A bloody light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"—I'll cut off your head immediately."
"Hah."
The middle-aged man sighed before speaking in a low voice.
"We are sealing away those destined to become Great Demons or Great Evils who would plunge the world into chaos."
"Sealing?"
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
"Explain clearly. Enough for me to understand."
"The boy who just died was fated to become the Greatest Demon Under Heaven."
The middle-aged man continued his explanation.
"But as you know, those destined to become Great Evils or Great Demons... are born with extraordinary talents and overwhelming killing intent, no?"
"So?"
"Wouldn't it be a terrible waste to simply kill such individuals?"
A flash of insight crossed Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
A somewhat bizarre imagination flickered through his mind.
"Then... the surviving boy took the dead boy's talents and killing intent?"
"Sharp. Or should I say, imaginative?"
The middle-aged man smiled faintly.
"That must be because you've repeatedly clashed with the Infinite Realm and the Return-to-Unity Realm."
"This is impossible."
"There is no such thing as 'impossible' in our realm, Martial Soul Lord."
The middle-aged man's faint smile remained.
"Where there is orthodoxy, there is demonicity; where there is yin, there is yang. This universe is designed so that all things maintain perfect balance."
He continued calmly.
"Likewise, where there are evil people, there are good people. What if we harmoniously combine the two? Wouldn't an extraordinary figure be born?"
Staring straight into Bu Eun-seol's eyes, he said:
"In other words, if we capture those with opposing dispositions and fuse their personalities... they can become superhumans of immense power."
Seeing that Bu Eun-seol still didn't fully grasp it, the middle-aged man began a lengthy explanation.
According to him...
The Azure River Realm possessed a method to identify those with the disposition to become Great Demons or Great Evils who could shake the martial world.
Moreover, they could also locate good people who stood at the exact opposite end of that spectrum.
Using special medicines and the Great Art, they would suppress the violent tendencies in the evil person's brain before binding the two together and subjecting them to relentless brainwashing.
In this way, the good person would absorb the evil person's disposition, personality, and everything else into their mind.
Once the evil person's traits had fully taken root in the good person's consciousness...
The good person would kill the evil one.
Thus, the good person's mind would house the evil person's vivid, living personality—
And they would become a being of overwhelming power.