Chapter 641
"Ugh."
Seok Chi-haeng bit his lip.
Bu Eun-seol's sword qi, shaped exactly like his own stance, still encircled him.
If he so much as twitched, those razor-sharp blades of energy would engulf his body in an instant.
"Surrender."
After halting Seok Chi-haeng's martial forms, Bu Eun-seol did not release the terrifying sword qi he had shaped in his opponent's likeness.
Instead, he held it suspended in midair.
Tremble.
Bu Eun-seol's hand, gripping the Ink Soul Sword, shook faintly.
Even with his monstrous internal energy, maintaining the sword qi of Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan for long was pushing his limits.
"Surrender...?"
For a moment, Seok Chi-haeng's expression went blank—then a light of deep-seated grudge spilled from his eyes.
"I haven't even taken my revenge yet! What do you mean, surrender?!"
Without hesitation, he lunged forward—straight through the transparent sword qi shaped like himself.
Sschk—!
As Seok Chi-haeng passed through his own mirrored blade, crimson blood sprayed from his back.
The droplets that hit the ground perfectly traced the outline of his stance.
Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan.
The ultimate art of Outer-Heaven Sword Studies, said to contain all transformations of the world.
It forged sword qi that perfectly mirrored the enemy's body and movements, unleashing an absolute sword strike—one that could neither be dodged nor blocked. To be struck by it meant you could never emerge unscathed.
"I will kill you!"
Miraculously, thanks to the Black Essence Pill he had taken earlier, Seok Chi-haeng did not die instantly.
There were no side effects—no loss of sanity. If anything, his mind had grown clearer after consuming it.
Yet... his thirst for vengeance remained undiminished.
BOOM—!
An explosive force erupted from Seok Chi-haeng's body.
He was squeezing out the last dregs of his life force to deliver one final strike at Bu Eun-seol.
Crack.
But then—an eerie bone-splintering sound echoed from within him.
At the same time—
Crrrrk—
His body, once hardened to a blackened sheen by the pill, began to shrivel.
Even reinforced by the Black Essence Pill, his flesh could not withstand the sword qi of Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan.
His body was collapsing—from the inside out.
Thud.
Finally, he fell to his knees.
Though his flesh was slowly dying, his eyes still burned with resentment.
"WHY?!"
Seok Chi-haeng coughed blood as he screamed.
"Why did you destroy that place?! WHY?!"
「Because she wished for it.」
Only now, sensing that Seok Chi-haeng had regained enough clarity to converse, Bu Eun-seol sent a telepathic message—his gaze tinged with pity.
「She, and all the people of the Ancient Sword Forest, longed for death. They said... they had lived too long.」
He then relayed the events concisely.
As the words reached him, Seok Chi-haeng's expression twisted strangely.
Though he hadn't witnessed the fall of the Ancient Sword Forest himself, he knew—Bu Eun-seol spoke the truth.
'So that's how it was.'
He had assumed this young man had slaughtered the woman he loved and toppled the tower in cold blood...
But in truth, she had orchestrated its destruction herself.
"Hah."
A hollow laugh escaped Seok Chi-haeng's lips.
With his resentment fading, realization finally struck.
He had been content just being by her side all those years—never daring to ask for more.
Yet in all that time... he had never understood what she truly desired.
"Even as I adored her... I failed to grasp what the one I loved truly wanted."
Now fully lucid, Seok Chi-haeng looked up at the distant sky—his face etched with regret.
"After paying for my sins in hell..."
He murmured like a vow:
"I will be reborn at her side again. Be it a hundred years... or a thousand. For eternity."
Though this life had denied him union with her...
Seok Chi-haeng swore that through countless cycles of reincarnation, he would return—
To stand by her once more.
Thump.
Then, with a look of quiet acceptance, he closed his eyes.
That was the final sight of Seok Chi-haeng—once known as the Fist King among the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
―The Fist King, a Slaughterer of Men, Falls to the Martial Alliance's First-Grade Commander, Seon-u Jin!
A great cataclysm had occurred.
First, Bu Eun-seol—Heir of the Demon Hall—had single-handedly slain the Beggar King at a tender age...
Now, Seon-u Jin—a First-Grade Commander of the Martial Alliance, rumored to hail from the commercial world—
Had solo-killed the Fist King, a mad butcher lost to Slaughter Frenzy.
―Just Who Is Seon-u Jin?!
The martial world reeled in disbelief.
Seon-u Jin had only ever distinguished himself within the Martial Alliance—never making waves in the wider Rivers and Lakes.
True masters who shook the world usually built their reputations young.
Yet here was Seon-u Jin—a man so obscure he was nearly nameless—felling the Fist King? The murim was stunned.
―Investigate Him at Once!
Factions scrambled to uncover details about this mysterious figure.
And soon, they made a startling discovery:
Though virtually unknown in the martial world...
Within the Martial Alliance, he had achieved legendary feats—rising to First-Grade Commander in record time as a grandmaster of the new generation.
―With a Terrifying Sword Technique, He Felled Seok Chi-haeng in a Single Strike!
"—The Sword King! A new ascension among the Four Gods and Seven Kings!"
Seon-u Jin. Before anyone realized it, his name had begun to shake the martial world.
Martial Alliance, Hidden Moon Hall. Gongson Dan-gyeong's office.
"You've done it."
Gongson Dan-gyeong couldn't hide her astonishment as she looked at Bu Eun-seol, who had just returned.
She had suspected that Seon-u Jin had been concealing a portion of his true strength all along.
But to single-handedly defeat Seok Chi-haeng—a peerless grandmaster on par with the Palm King, Yuk Jang-cheon—before the eyes of the entire martial world...
And then instantly ascend to the ranks of the Four Gods and Seven Kings?
"It was merely luck," Bu Eun-seol replied calmly.
"In truth, he was suffering from Slaughter Frenzy. Though his martial might was formidable, the intricacy of his techniques had greatly diminished."
"I see."
Gongson Dan-gyeong smiled faintly.
Even if a master like Seok Chi-haeng had been afflicted by Slaughter Frenzy...
Even if the sophistication of his martial arts had somewhat declined...
He was absolutely not an opponent one could defeat through mere luck.
"At this rate, he should qualify as a candidate for Hall Master."
"Of course. More than enough."
Seon-u Jin had already proven his exceptional strategic mind, military tactics, and troop deployment through numerous missions.
And now, having defeated the Fist King, Seok Chi-haeng... No one would dare object if he were nominated as a Hall Master candidate.
In fact, the martial world's gossipmongers—who loved nothing more than spreading rumors—were already chattering:
If the Demon Hall has its Martial Soul Lord...
Then now, the Martial Alliance has Seon-u Jin—the foremost representative of the new generation of grandmasters.
"It was truly a close call, though."
Gongson Dan-gyeong took a deep breath before continuing.
"In two days, the meeting to select the next leader of the Heavenly Martial Brigade will begin. Brigade Leader Baek has already been appointed as the Hall Master of the Heavenly Martial Hall under the Elders' Hall, and Hall Chief Yuk has also completed his preparations to become a Hall Master candidate."
"A relief."
Bu Eun-seol also exhaled sharply.
What if the Fist King had turned into a Killing Ghost at just the right time?
What if the Death Soul Squad and the Supreme Division hadn't immediately uncovered the news?
Becoming a Hall Master candidate would have remained nothing but a dream.
'The Divine Calculator, the Martial Venerable... He truly is an unreliable figure.'
He had always considered the Divine Calculator an ally of sorts... but this incident made one thing clear.
There were no true allies within the Martial Alliance.
If the scales of profit and loss tipped unfavorably, one could be discarded—or must be prepared to discard others—at any moment.
"I know."
Gongson Dan-gyeong sighed as she met Bu Eun-seol's cold, hardened gaze.
"But the elder is striving to protect the Orthodox Murim. He acts in secrecy, bearing burdens he cannot speak of."
Bu Eun-seol immediately countered.
"I was merely considering which factions or individuals might pose trouble for the Alliance Leader."
Currently, the Martial Venerable's identity was that of the Martial Alliance Leader.
Meaning, those capable of causing him difficulties were extremely limited.
"That's impossible to know. But don't worry."
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, she swiftly shifted the topic.
"Once Commander Seon-u becomes a Hall Master, he'll no longer need to mind anyone's scrutiny. He'll be free to unleash his talents to their fullest."
"Then, regarding the candidate selection... I no longer need to be concerned?"
"Ah, there is one thing."
Gongson Dan-gyeong's eyes gleamed.
"Commander Seon-u's true martial origins."
Seon-u Jin's foundational martial arts were publicly known to be those of Master Unhindered, a master from Beyond the Frontier.
But after slaying the Fist King, that explanation had become utterly implausible.
"The Martial Emperor."
Bu Eun-seol continued with the explanation he had prepared in advance.
"I happened to open the Martial Emperor's Secret Vault."
"The Martial Emperor... one of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars?"
"Correct."
He had planned this ever since killing Seok Chi-haeng.
If they now established Seon-u Jin's martial foundation as originating from the Martial Emperor?
Not only would it provide another source for his True Void besides Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan...
But even if he freely mixed various orthodox martial techniques, no one would dare question it.
"So that's why."
Gongson Dan-gyeong nodded in understanding.
With just the name Martial Emperor, the abnormal level of Seon-u Jin's martial prowess became entirely plausible.
"Are there any other concerns?"
"Of course not."
Her eyes sparkled.
"For this matter, I've met countless people, spent vast sums of money, and mobilized numerous intelligence networks."
She smiled prettily.
"I do hope Commander Seon-u appreciates that."
Ever since the incident with the secret passage in the Pratyekabuddha Hall...
She had ceased all suspicious behavior toward Bu Eun-seol, signaling that they were now on the same side.
True to her word, she had never once shown doubt—and this time, she had done everything in her power to secure his position as a Brigade Leader candidate.
"I look forward to the meeting's outcome."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Gongson Dan-gyeong smiled and nodded.
"Then let us meet again at the conference in two days."
Two days later, Justice Pavilion. The Grand Conference Hall.
Present were Vice Alliance Leader Bukri Seung, Chief Strategist Gongson Dan-gyeong...
As well as the leaders of the Hall, Garden, Pavilion, Forest, and Tower factions, along with all Hall Master-ranked figures.
However, current Brigade Leaders ineligible for the selection process did not attend.
Additionally, since the position of Dragon Coil Hall's leader remained vacant, Yuk Cheong-a attended in their stead.
In essence, this gathering was equivalent to a grand council—with only the Alliance Leader and current Brigade Leaders absent.
"We will now formally select the candidate to become the next leader of the Heavenly Martial Brigade."
At Bukri Seung's declaration, the assembled members took deep breaths, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The Seven Great Battle Corps—symbolizing the Martial Alliance's might.
Among them, they were now formally selecting a candidate to succeed as leader of the Heavenly Martial Brigade.
"If anyone wishes to nominate themselves or recommend another for the position of Heavenly Martial Brigade Leader, speak now."
At Bukri Seung's words, the assembled veterans exchanged cautious glances.
Every person present held the rank of either a sect leader or a Hall Master—each fully qualified to ascend to the position of Brigade Leader.
But the role of Brigade Leader demanded not just martial and literary prowess, but also mastery of mercenary arts and military strategy.
Among the current attendees, only one had proven themselves capable enough to hold such a position.
"I nominate the Hall Master of the Hall of Martial Ascension."
Yuk Cheong-a, acting as Deputy Hall Lord of the Dragon Coil Hall, spoke while looking directly at Bukri Seung.
"There is no need to even mention Hall Master Yuk's reputation. The Hall of Martial Ascension was originally responsible for training our alliance's lower-ranked martial artists. Even after reorganization, it remains the hall that has contributed the most to our alliance."
At her words, the gathered leaders all nodded in agreement.
With Yong Myeong, the Hall Master of the Dragon Coil Hall, absent, Yuk Jang-cheon was the only plausible candidate.
"Very well. We shall decide the nomination by vote," Bukri Seung said calmly.
"If you approve of the Hall Master of Martial Ascension becoming a candidate for Brigade Leader, raise your hand."
At this, just over half of those present raised their hands.
Watching this, Yuk Jang-cheon inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
The connections and goodwill he had painstakingly built were finally paying off.
"Good. The Hall Master of Martial Ascension is now officially a candidate for Heavenly Martial Brigade Leader."
'It's done.'
Yuk Jang-cheon inwardly cheered.
There was no one else even remotely qualified to challenge his nomination.
If he were the sole candidate, he wouldn't need to undergo further evaluations—he could be appointed Brigade Leader immediately.
"Are there no other candidates?"
As silence filled the meeting hall, Yuk Jang-cheon felt so elated he could dance.
But then, a quiet voice cut through the stillness.
"I nominate Baek Mu-seong, Hall Master of the Heavenly Martial Hall."
It was Hwa Mun-seong, leader of the Heavenly Blessing Garden.
He pointed to Baek Mu-seong, seated in a corner, and continued,
"Hall Master Baek possesses more than enough ability to serve as Brigade Leader."
At this, Yu Jeong-bong, leader of the Teaching Truth Pavilion, frowned and interjected,
"He lacks the qualifications to be a Brigade Leader candidate."
"Lacks qualifications? Hall Master Baek captured Hyeokryeon Eung, one of the Demon Hall's Head Leaders, and was rewarded with leadership of the Heavenly Martial Hall under the Elders' Hall!"
Yu Jeong-bong's brow furrowed further.
"But that was merely a Hall Master-level appointment. There has never been a case where a Hall Master was promoted directly to Brigade Leader."
Though the regulations stated that Hall Masters were eligible for promotion to Brigade Leader, in practice, only those of higher rank had ever attained the position.
"Isn't it enough if it doesn't violate alliance regulations?"
Hwa Mun-seong swept his gaze across the assembly before continuing.
"Hyeokryeon Eung's hands were stained with the blood of countless righteous faction warriors. His elimination alone should be enough to warrant candidacy."
At this, many nodded in agreement.
Golden Arm Blood Eye, Hyeokryeon Eung.
He had slaughtered countless righteous faction experts.
The orthodox factions had seethed with hatred, but when he suddenly joined the Demon Hall as a high-ranking officer, they had been unable to touch him.
But now, the opportunity had returned.
Hyeokryeon Eung had turned against the Demon Hall and was hunted by demonic factions.
The Martial Alliance mobilized all its intelligence networks but failed to locate him—until Baek Mu-seong, wandering the martial world, tracked him down and beheaded him.
A feat no one could deny.
"Moreover, Hall Master Baek is a disciple of the Buddhist Venerable and has done much good in the martial world. As one of our alliance's great leaders, he has repeatedly proven his ability to command and control large forces in numerous missions."
Hwa Mun-seong cleared his throat before adding,
"Even the Demon Hall appointed Martial Soul Lord, a rising star, as their successor. There's no reason our alliance should be incapable of producing a young Brigade Leader."
Then, abruptly, he turned his gaze to Gongson Dan-gyeong.
"Our alliance has long had a tendency to underestimate the abilities of young talents."
At this, the others followed his gaze toward the Chief Strategist.
Initially, many had grumbled that her appointment was the Alliance Leader's arbitrary decision.
But once she took office and began handling affairs, she proved herself one of the most capable strategists in the alliance's history.
Considering this, even the senior leaders—who had always obsessed over rank and privilege—were beginning to recognize the need to reform the alliance's outdated practices.
"Very well. Then we shall decide by vote."
Finally, Bukri Seung gave his approval.
Watching this, Yuk Jang-cheon suppressed a sneer.
No matter how talented someone was, the Martial Alliance ultimately ran on connections and seniority.
There was no way they would nominate a young upstart like Baek Mu-seong as Brigade Leader.
'What?'
Yuk Jang-cheon's eyes widened as he scanned the room.
An unexpected result had emerged.
'Unanimous?!'
Even Yu Jeong-bong, who had earlier opposed Hwa Mun-seong's suggestion, was now raising his hand in approval.
'He was pretending to object.'
Yu Jeong-bong hadn't been obstructing Hwa Mun-seong's argument—he had been setting the stage, ensuring Baek Mu-seong's candidacy would appear justified.
'But a unanimous vote...'
This meant Baek Mu-seong had not only prepared for this moment but had also secured all the necessary groundwork long before his return to the Martial Alliance.
'There's no helping it, then.'
Truth be told, he had anticipated this situation to some extent ever since he brought back Hyeokryeon Eung's head.
"Then would two candidates suffice?"
As Bukri Seung scanned the room and added his remark,
"I, too, shall nominate someone."
At that moment, Gongson Dan-gyeong stepped forward with a clear, resonant voice.
"I nominate Commander Seon-u as a candidate for the Brigade Leader position."
Murmurs erupted.
The unexpected declaration sent a ripple of unrest through the assembly.
"Chief Strategist."
Geon-myeong, the head of the Finance Pavilion, shook his head in objection.
"He is a first-grade commander, not yet of hall master rank, is he not?"
"The same applies to Hall Master Baek."
Gongson Dan-gyeong replied calmly.
"Commander Seon-u recently slew the Fist King, who had transformed into a Killing Ghost, achieving a great feat. Moreover, despite his youth, he has ascended to the Seat of the Four Gods and Seven Kings."
She swept her gaze across the room as she continued evenly.
"As I mentioned earlier, he is also the Martial Emperor's inheritor."
In truth, the claim that Seon-u Jin had slain the Fist King had struck the Martial Alliance as utterly abrupt and difficult to believe.
However, according to Gongson Dan-gyeong's report, before becoming a first-grade commander, Seon-u Jin had coincidentally inherited the Martial Emperor's legacy—
And had kept it hidden all this time.
Upon receiving this report, Vice Alliance Leader Bukri Seung immediately verified its authenticity.
And indeed, he confirmed that Seon-u Jin had mastered the Martial Emperor's Secret Arts.
"Through a chief strategist's decree—without convening the Chief Department Heads Conference—he was promoted to hall master rank. His qualifications are more than sufficient."
The assembly fell silent.
There was no logical reason why Baek Mu-seong could be eligible while Seon-u Jin could not.
"But that is merely the Chief Strategist's opinion, is it not?"
Yuk Jang-cheon spoke dispassionately.
"He is a commander under my jurisdiction. I have no intention of nominating Commander Seon-u as a candidate."
"I already told you. He was promoted to hall master rank by chief strategist's decree."
"Surely not—"
"Indeed. A new intelligence unit has been established within the Strategy Pavilion. Through the decree, Commander Seon-u and the entire Absolute Peak Unit were transferred wholesale."
Yuk Jang-cheon's expression hardened.
As the Martial Alliance's chief strategist, Gongson Dan-gyeong held authority over personnel appointments among hall leaders.
Especially in cases of vacancies within the Strategy Pavilion, she could invoke the chief strategist's authority to requisition personnel from any organization—except the Seven Great Battle Corps.
However, no chief strategist in history had ever exercised this authority to fill a vacancy without first consulting the organization's leader.
After all, the Strategy Pavilion naturally attracted only the most exceptional talents.
Moreover, given the Martial Alliance's reliance on factional ties and personal connections, forcibly absorbing an entire unit under the chief strategist's decree—
Could disrupt harmony among the high command.
"Even so, you should have at least given me prior notice, should you not?"
"I ask for Hall Master Yuk's generous understanding. It was an urgent matter."
"Urgent, you say?"
"The elimination of the Fist King, who had become a Killing Ghost. The Strategy Pavilion executed it as an emergency operation."
Gongson Dan-gyeong's tone remained composed.
"I intended to seek your understanding afterward, but you have been frequently absent from your post as of late."
Yuk Jang-cheon had been tirelessly working behind the scenes in preparation for this nomination meeting.
Thus, he hadn't even had the leisure to remain at the Hall of Ascending Martial.
"Commander Seon-u leads the Absolute Peak Unit, gathering intelligence from the Martial World faster than anyone else and acting upon it immediately. Such efficiency would be impossible if he remained at the Hall of Ascending Martial..."
"Enough."
Yuk Jang-cheon cut her off.
If he continued to bicker with Gongson Dan-gyeong—
It would only paint him as a senior leader suppressing a rising prodigy for his own ambitions.
"I acknowledge that Commander Seon-u is now a member of the Strategy Pavilion."
"Then may he be nominated as a candidate?"
"Many at today's meeting are exercising their formally granted rights in person."
At Yuk Jang-cheon's sardonic remark, Gongson Dan-gyeong smiled faintly.
"If Hall Master Yuk opposes it, this matter will proceed no further."
"You flatter me. I gladly consent to Commander Seon-u's nomination."
Yuk Jang-cheon inwardly sneered.
In truth, he had anticipated this scenario after hearing Yuk Cheong-a's counsel and had already swayed key figures in advance.
The Martial Alliance's senior leaders were inherently wary of appointing young prodigies to high-ranking positions.
Baek Mu-seong, however, was an exception.
As a Shaolin disciple who had cultivated deep ties with the Alliance's leadership since childhood, his case was incomparable to Seon-u Jin's.
"Very well. Let us proceed to a vote."
As Bukri Seung surveyed the assembly, Yuk Jang-cheon allowed himself a small smile.
There would be no one willing to endorse Seon-u Jin.
Whoosh—
But then, something strange happened.
One by one, hands began to rise—until, before anyone realized, nearly a majority had voted in favor.
Yuk Jang-cheon's eyes widened.
How could Seon-u Jin command such support?
'So the Chief Strategist has played her hand.'
He bit his lip.
Yuk Cheong-a had been right. From the very beginning—no, long before—
She had intended to elevate Seon-u Jin to the position of Heavenly Martial Brigade leader.
"Hmm. Two votes short."
Bukri Seung muttered as he scanned the room.
They were precisely two votes shy of a majority.
'The Three Lives Hall leader. The Five Stars Pavilion leader.'
Gongson Dan-gyeong's gaze settled on the two who had not raised their hands.
She had meticulously orchestrated the behind-the-scenes maneuvering to ensure Seon-u Jin's supporters numbered exactly a majority.
None among the senior leaders genuinely supported Seon-u Jin yet—
If he received more than a majority, her influence would become far too conspicuous.
Yet, contrary to their agreement, the Three Lives Hall leader and the Five Stars Pavilion leader had withheld their votes.
"Regrettably, it seems Commander Seon-u's nomination will not—"
Just as Bukri Seung began to conclude—
Swish.
A shadow seated at the very back raised his hand.
"I support him."
It was Baek Mu-seong.