Chapter 617
"Pavilion Master, are you alright?"
Bu Eun-seol supported Ok Yu-ha as she collapsed.
A sharp dagger was deeply embedded in her lower abdomen.
"I'm fine."
Ok Yu-ha staggered but spoke calmly.
"That witch is vicious. Even though A-yeon is no longer in the spirit and mind, she kept up the act all along. She deliberately created this situation to break me..."
"Pavilion Master, say no more."
Bu Eun-seol swiftly suppressed the acupoints to stop the bleeding before addressing the disciples of the Sword Pavilion.
"Take the Pavilion Master to receive treatment immediately. I will handle things here."
At his words, the disciples rushed forward in a flurry to support Ok Yu-ha.
"A-yeon is no longer in this world... You must eliminate that witch who has stolen her body."
Blood trickled from the corner of Ok Yu-ha's lips as she spoke with grave sincerity.
"That is the only way to preserve both A-yeon's honor and the dignity of our pavilion."
Bu Eun-seol gave a slow, solemn nod.
"Don't worry. Go and receive treatment."
The Sword Pavilion disciples cradled Ok Yu-ha and swiftly deployed their Lightness Skill, vanishing into the distance.
Once they were gone, A-yeon—
No, the witch Eun-ra—smiled faintly.
"If you had coordinated your attack with her from the start, subduing me would have been easy. Why didn't you join forces?"
"..."
"Did you already know that even if you forced me into submission, you couldn't restore her personality?"
Bu Eun-seol exhaled a sigh and shook his head.
Though Eun-ra possessed the skill to match Ok Yu-ha's sword techniques,
she had deliberately chosen to defeat the Pavilion Master with ease
and leave a deep wound in her heart—such was the cruelty of her methods.
"So A-yeon truly is gone."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"Then there's no other choice."
"Do you really think you can win?"
Eun-ra's smile was dazzling.
She was utterly cunning, ruthless enough to stab Ok Yu-ha—A-yeon's own master—without hesitation.
"I wonder if you have something different up your sleeve this time?"
Deliberately mimicking A-yeon's voice, she exuded complete composure.
Normally, battles between masters were fraught with tension, like a drawn bowstring.
Yet Eun-ra remained utterly at ease.
It wasn't just because her martial prowess had risen sharply—she knew Bu Eun-seol couldn't bring himself to kill her.
"Bringing the Sword Pavilion's remnants this far must mean you desperately hoped to break the brainwashing. How unfortunate."
Eun-ra's lips curled in a playful smirk.
"But why help A-yeon? You never spared her a glance before. Did you suddenly grow sentimental, like regretting a fish that slipped away?"
Bu Eun-seol didn't answer. Instead, he drew his sword.
There was no point in words with an opponent like this.
He would suppress her with martial arts immediately.
Swoosh!
Bu Eun-seol's Ink Soul Sword flashed with a fierce radiance.
Then, a cold energy—colder than ice—cascaded toward her.
Under the guise of unleashing sword techniques, he had instantly released the overwhelming power of the Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
"Impressive."
Sensing the surge of invisible energy currents, A-yeon traced a wide arc with her sword.
A violent whirlwind formed, and in an instant, the freezing energy that could have encased the entire world was deflected back.
It was a truly astonishing sword technique.
Crack!
Unfazed, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Glacier Thousand Streams Art once more.
No matter what sword techniques she employed, he seemed determined to land a decisive strike with it.
"Planning to freeze me whole and then undo the brainwashing, are you?"
With a playful laugh, A-yeon circled Bu Eun-seol at blinding speed, her sword techniques flowing endlessly.
Whoosh—!
Her swordplay was extraordinary, instantly weaving an intangible barrier around them.
But the might of the Glacier Thousand Streams Art was overwhelming—
even the slightest touch would leave skin frozen, pain like needle pricks searing through flesh.
"Your Internal Power is incredible. Truly."
Still mimicking A-yeon's voice, Eun-ra continued her swordplay.
Her techniques had reached such heights that even amid the cascading glacial energy, she could pinpoint Bu Eun-seol's openings and counterattack.
The terrifying aspect of a merged personality was this:
No matter the situation, no matter what transpired,
she could analyze her opponent's movements and the state of their spirit and mind with cold, rapid precision—from head to toe.
No matter how formidable Bu Eun-seol's sword techniques, no matter how overwhelming his True Qi Martial Arts,
she instantly found his weaknesses and retaliated.
'As expected.'
Bu Eun-seol couldn't help but admire Eun-ra's combat style.
No matter what martial arts he unleashed, she seized the fleeting instant of execution—
striking with the precision of a starving lion pouncing on prey.
Wasn't this only possible by attaining the flawless realm of the Langya Mind's Eye, something even he had yet to perfect?
'Suppression is impossible.'
Amid the chaotic interplay of Blade Light Sword Shadow, Bu Eun-seol's gaze turned icy.
He realized suppression was futile—in the end, he would have to unleash his full combat power and strike her down.
Ziiing.
Dark true qi unfurled from Bu Eun-seol's back, coiling around her body.
He had unleashed the Willful True Binding.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Infused with Water Essence Divine Qi, the Willful True Binding became as tough as raw rubber.
Yet, the moment Eun-ra swung her sword, the protective qi enveloping Eun-ra melted away like snow.
"What a bizarre technique."
Just as Eun-ra, wearing an utterly composed expression, raised her sword again—
KWAANG!
A violet-glowing fist force erupted from Bu Eun-seol's left hand without warning.
He had transitioned into the Forgetful Shattering Together form of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon, augmented by Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
BOOM!
The speed at which he switched from the Willful True Binding to the Fist Demon's technique was faster than light itself.
From A-yeon's perspective, it was as if the strange qi swords she had been deflecting suddenly gave way to a crimson whirlwind of fist energy.
In the end, with a deafening explosion, she was sent flying back fifty feet.
Tsk!
Bu Eun-seol closed the distance in a flash, lightning-quick—
Flicker!
Purple lightning began tracing a zigzag pattern from the Ink Soul Sword.
The Peerless Thunderbolt Form—a killing sword of Extreme Speed—was unleashed.
"Ridiculous—!"
A-yeon shouted defiantly, attempting to counter, but—
Swish! Swish!
The cascading sword strikes began bending unnaturally before piercing toward her throat.
Bu Eun-seol had instantly transitioned from the Peerless Thunderbolt Form into the Nine Dragons Flash Thunder Form.
"Ghk—!"
Eun-ra let out a pained groan as she staggered back.
Failing to perfectly block the Nine Dragons Island Thunder, a wound split open on her left forearm.
No matter how exquisite her martial arts were—
No matter how flawless her execution—
No matter how swiftly she could exploit an enemy's weakness—
Without matching speed and power, it was meaningless.
Once Bu Eun-seol resolved to pour out her True Void, Eun-ra couldn't even dare to retaliate.
"How dare you—!"
Screaming, Eun-ra attempted to deploy the Life-Saving Ultimate Technique from the Elegant Dream Sword.
But that was her mistake.
Because Bu Eun-seol had already learned the Elegant Dream Sword in its entirety—from A-yeon herself.
Srrring.
A crimson glow bloomed from the Ink Soul Sword, now sheathed once more.
Anticipating that Eun-ra would unleash the Sevenfold Path of Enlightenment of the Elegant Dream Sword, Bu Eun-seol seized the instant—
And prepared to execute the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form.
"This is A-yeon's body!"
Realizing that Bu Eun-seol's sword technique would kill her, Eun-ra shrieked.
"Would you really let her die?!"
Just from the Starting Stance of the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form, Eun-ra had already tasted death with her own eyes.
The woman who had been swelling with ambition to roam the murim in A-yeon's body—
Now, faced with true death, couldn't endure the terror and lashed out in desperation.
"I have no choice."
Bu Eun-seol's grip on the Ink Soul Sword twisted slightly as she spoke coldly.
"If I don't break the brainwashing, you'll never stop coming after me."
Eun-ra had no retort.
Even if she swore she wouldn't target him again, there was no trust in his eyes.
Seeing the murderous intent brimming in Bu Eun-seol's pupils, her body stiffened.
No—!
Ziiing.
Just as a crimson light surged from the Ink Soul Sword, poised to strike—
"HALT!"
A thunderous roar split the sky, followed by an overwhelming force crashing down toward Bu Eun-seol.
KWAANG!
With an explosive impact, the ground where Bu Eun-seol stood caved in, leaving a crater fifty feet wide.
Tap.
Simultaneously, a gray shadow descended beside A-yeon.
An old man with phoenix-like elongated eyes, radiating sharp energy.
And swirling at his fingertips—power capable of toppling the heavens.
'The Bullet King?!'
Eun-ra's eyes widened.
Standing beside her was none other than the Bullet King, newly appointed as the Martial Alliance's Honorary Guardian.
"Are you unharmed?"
Under Bukgung Ryeong's stern gaze, Eun-ra swiftly adjusted her expression and bowed her head.
"Thanks to your intervention, I narrowly escaped death."
Swish.
Bukgung Ryeong pointed a finger condensed with Inner Energy Bullet Art at Bu Eun-seol and bellowed.
"You! This kid appears to be a disciple of the Sword Pavilion. Why are you swinging your blade with such murderous intent?"
"None of your concern."
"What did you say?"
Killing intent radiated from Bukgung Ryeong's eyes.
Known as Murim's Lone Independent, he held extreme contempt for those of the Demonic Path.
"After assisting this old man at Ghost Island, have you no respect?"
"I didn't assist you. I pitied you, so I let you be."
Bu Eun-seol's retort was icy.
"If you have a conscience, step aside. I've done nothing wrong."
"Nothing wrong?"
Bukgung Ryeong despised arrogant youths above all else.
Even if this brat was a Grandmaster of the Demonic Path, his insolent tone instantly provoked fury.
"Disappear. Before I kill you."
A tempest of violent energy whirled at Bukgung Ryeong's fingertips.
"Don't interfere. This isn't your fight."
"What an amusing fool. Do you truly believe you have the right to give orders to this old man?"
Fwoosh.
A small pebble that had fallen to the ground rose into the air at the tip of Bukgung Ryeong's finger.
"Final warning. Get lost."
"She is a disciple of the Sword Pavilion."
Bu Eun-seol pointed at Eun-ra with an expression that said he had no choice.
"And she's currently under the brainwashing of a wicked faction. If we don't subdue her quickly, there's no telling what might happen."
"Brainwashing?"
At that, Eun-ra shook her head.
"No. He's lying."
Eun-ra spoke with an utterly innocent expression.
"I'm A-yeon, a disciple of the Sword Pavilion. Not long ago, I even reported the Martial Soul Lord's evil deeds to the Martial Alliance and my sect."
"Evil deeds?"
"He raped me, and ever since, he's been treating me like a madwoman. Claiming I've been brainwashed and such."
In an instant, killing intent surged in Bukgung Ryeong's eyes.
"You're just the same."
His voice grew bone-chillingly cold.
"Indeed, all spawn of the Demonic Path must die!"
BOOM!
With a thunderous explosion, the pebble hovering in the air pierced through Bu Eun-seol's body.
No—it appeared to have pierced him.
Having dodged with lightning speed, only an afterimage remained, making it seem as though his body had been skewered.
CRACK! RUMBLE—!
The great tree where Bu Eun-seol had been standing exploded, scattering debris in all directions.
Truly, it was the terrifying might of the Inner Energy Bullet Art.
"Quick as a rat, aren't you?"
Just as Bukgung Ryeong prepared to unleash another barrage of Inner Energy Bullet Art, a wall of dark true qi rose to encase him.
Bu Eun-seol had layered multiple Willful True Bindings to trap him.
"Fine! Let us settle the unfinished battle from Ghost Island right here!"
Bukgung Ryeong snorted and extended his index finger. With a deafening blast, the layered Willful True Bindings began shattering.
No matter how many layers of Water Essence Divine Qi he reinforced them with, they couldn't withstand the sheer destructive force of the Inner Energy Bullet Art.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions and dust filled the air as their deadly exchange continued.
Eun-ra silently observed their fierce battle.
Then, abruptly, her gaze turned icy.
'This might also be a trap.'
Eun-ra had inherited all of A-yeon's memories and information about Bu Eun-seol.
And she knew Bu Eun-seol possessed extraordinary cunning.
'The Martial Alliance's Honorary Guardian and the Heir of the Demon Hall.'
Through the Azure River Realm's information network, she had heard that the two had clashed on Ghost Island but were interrupted by interference from the Return-to-One Realm, leaving their battle unresolved.
And now, their actions aligned perfectly with that information.
'But.'
Though they were an impossible pair to collaborate, one could never be sure.
What if they were staging this battle together?
Even if they weren't...
With their dragon-and-tiger matchup raging, there was no telling who would emerge victorious.
Eun-ra decided to withdraw for now and bide her time.
But then—
Whoosh!
A distant sound of breaking air echoed from the sky as a Daoist in blue robes descended beside Bukgung Ryeong.
'Song-ak?'
Eun-ra's eyes widened as she searched A-yeon's memories.
The young Daoist was none other than Song-ak—a Master of Great Righteousness from the Wudang Sect and a leading candidate for the next sect leader.
Song-ak stood beside Bukgung Ryeong, his eyes brimming with righteous energy.
"Elder, what's happening?"
It seemed Song-ak had been traveling with Bukgung Ryeong.
"This Demonic Path bastard has been tormenting a Sword Pavilion disciple and still dares to show his face!"
Bukgung Ryeong roared in fury.
"If we don't crush him here, he'll keep harassing the children of the Righteous Path."
"Benefactor A-yeon?"
Song-ak turned to A-yeon in shock.
"What in the world happened?"
At his question, Eun-ra swiftly rolled up her sleeve, revealing the faded mark where the Cinnabar Palace Seal had once been.
"I trusted him... only to have my body ruined. Now he seeks to kill me."
"Tch."
As Eun-ra bowed her head in despair, Song-ak let out a heavy sigh.
"So this is the Demonic Path's true nature."
Shing!
Drawing the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword without hesitation, he declared—
"Elder, I shall assist you."
—and immediately unleashed a torrent of sword techniques upon Bu Eun-seol.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
While Song-ak pressed the assault with the Wudang Sect's close-quarters swordsmanship,
BOOM! CRACK!
Bukgung Ryeong exploited openings from afar with his Inner Energy Bullet Art.
Bu Eun-seol's martial arts were formidable enough to overwhelm Song-ak, but at every critical moment, the bullet qi intercepted him.
'This is a real fight.'
Eun-ra, watching from a distance, curled her lips into a delighted smile.
Bukgung Ryeong was known as the Murim's Lone Independent, a wanderer of the Rivers and Lakes—there was always a chance he might have formed ties with Bu Eun-seol.
But Song-ak was different.
The Wudang Sect stood alongside Shaolin as one of the Nine Sects' pillars, a faction that would never compromise with the Demonic Path.
There was no way he would collude with Bu Eun-seol in such a scheme.
"Ghk—!"
Under their combined assault, even the renowned Martial Soul Lord let out a strained grunt.
He wanted to retreat, but Bukgung Ryeong blocked his escape route while Song-ak unleashed the Taiji Wisdom Sword.
In the end, he was left with no choice but to defend himself desperately.
Though he deployed various martial techniques to barely fend off their attacks, his wounds only multiplied as time passed.
'But dying would be troublesome.'
Eun-ra curled her lips into a faint smile.
A-yeon's personality remained firmly sealed away, yet she always reacted violently to Bu Eun-seol.
What if something happened to him?
An outburst of uncontrollable emotion might awaken her. His death had to be prevented at all costs.
Eun-ra drew her sword and called out brightly.
"I'll help too!"
She immediately rushed forward, swinging her treasured sword wildly as she lunged at Bu Eun-seol.
Though her swordplay was sharp and agile, her attacks were erratic—
constantly disrupting the perfectly synchronized assault of Bukgung Ryeong and Song-ak.
"Stay out of this. We'll handle it ourselves."
Bukgung Ryeong's stern shout made A-yeon shake her head.
"But—"
"You'll only complicate things further!"
As Bukgung Ryeong turned to yell, the barrage of Inner Energy Bullets loosened slightly.
Seizing the opportunity, Bu Eun-seol immediately twisted his body to flee.
But Song-ak's insight was nothing to scoff at.
Anticipating Bu Eun-seol's escape, Song-ak executed Heaven and Earth Are Not Benevolent, the decisive technique of the Taiji Wisdom Sword.
Whoooosh—!
Rather than a killing strike, this unorthodox move was designed to cut off an enemy's retreat.
"Hahp!"
The moment Eun-ra intervened again, the technique's flow destabilized.
"Not a chance!"
Bukgung Ryeong unleashed his Inner Energy Bullets to block Bu Eun-seol's escape.
Thud!
Then, something bizarre happened.
Bukgung Ryeong's bullets, meant to obstruct Bu Eun-seol's retreat, collided with Heaven and Earth Are Not Benevolent—
and by sheer coincidence, struck Bu Eun-seol squarely in the back.
Bang!
The impact sent him lurching forward violently.
Squelch.
At the same time, Song-ak's sword qi pierced clean through his chest.
"Got him!"
Bukgung Ryeong cheered—
"Hahp!"
—only for a massive shockwave of internal energy to erupt from Bu Eun-seol's body.
He had unleashed the Willful True Binding once more to block their follow-up attacks.
Fwoosh!
But the moment he used it, blood gushed three feet into the air from the wound left by Song-ak's sword.
"Ghk."
A low groan escaped Bu Eun-seol's lips.
The chest wound from Song-ak's sword qi was bad enough,
but the internal energy thread embedded in the Taiji Wisdom Sword had pierced through his Body Protection True Qi and burrowed deep into his meridians.
"Ugh."
Bu Eun-seol spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees.
Blood poured ceaselessly from his chest, and the light in his eyes dimmed by the second.
"A-yeon."
Even as death loomed, Bu Eun-seol gazed at Eun-ra and spoke in a quiet voice.
"It's time to come back now."
Gurgle.
Another clot of blood spilled from his lips.
The energy thread had finally shaken and severed his heart meridian.
Thud.
At last, he toppled forward and breathed his last.
A heavy silence settled over the foot of Mount Wu.
"For a young master who once ruled the Demonic Path, this is a pitiful end."
Bukgung Ryeong nodded solemnly at Song-ak.
"You've accomplished something monumental."
Song-ak shook his head awkwardly.
"No, this was merely luck—your Inner Energy Bullet struck true."
"Still, this man was the Heir of the Demon Hall. We must dispose of him quietly."
Bukgung Ryeong scanned their surroundings.
"There's no one within 1,000 feet..."
As he spoke, he noticed something odd.
Eun-ra, standing some distance away, wore a strange expression.
"What's wrong with your face?"
"Ah, well..."
She shook her head and smiled.
"There's no way he's really dead, right?"
"What are you talking about?"
Instead of answering, Eun-ra approached Bu Eun-seol's lifeless body and examined it meticulously.
'Surely he must have used the Turtle Breath Grand Art.'
She couldn't believe it.
In A-yeon's memories, Bu Eun-seol was a divine being descended from the heavens.
How could the brilliant Heir of the Demon Hall meet such a meaningless end?
"That was an amusing plan."
She pressed her fingertips against him, observing closely.
Though she smiled, the corners of her eyes trembled uncontrollably.
"Really."
As she checked every vital sign, her pupils grew hollow.
"...He's dead."
It wasn't the Turtle Breath Grand Art, nor the Heaven-Turning Soul-Rejoining Art.
His heart meridian had been shattered by the Taiji Wisdom Sword's qi, and all traces of vitality had vanished from his body.
He was truly gone.
"Huuu..."
A sound—whether a moan or a laugh—escaped her lips.
"Ahahaha!"
Astonishingly,
even after confirming Bu Eun-seol's death, A-yeon's personality still hadn't surfaced.
"Good. This is good."
Eun-ra nodded with a relieved expression.
There had only ever been one thing weighing on her mind—
Bu Eun-seol, the man A-yeon was obsessed with.
But now that he was dead, and A-yeon's consciousness remained dormant, there was nothing left to hold her back.
Her martial arts were unmatched among female masters, and her status was secure.
Now, she could forget all about him and roam the martial world as she pleased.