Chapter 738
"Your martial arts are extraordinary."
Ma Deung swallowed his surprise and bewilderment as he drew his blade.
"You've concealed all your martial forms."
Ma Deung was the First Assassin of the Blood Claw Sect.
Not only was his martial prowess formidable, but he was also deeply versed in the Principles of Martial Arts.
He had discerned that Bu Eun-seol's seemingly sluggish sword techniques weren't actually slow—
Rather, they appeared that way because he had concealed all his forms using profound Sword Principles.
"It seems I'll have to stake my life on this."
Finally tossing aside the woman he'd been carrying, Ma Deung unleashed—
Flash!
—a lightning-fast killing move toward Bu Eun-seol, swift as a bolt of fire.
Bu Eun-seol immediately moved to counter, but Ma Deung had already vanished.
Ma Deung, who bore the epithet "Red Owl" for his elusive movement techniques, was not only a master of stealth—
But also an orthodox assassin thoroughly trained in the Hundred-Kill Secret Techniques.
From the moment he appeared before Bu Eun-seol,
He had already released dozens of hidden weapons before instantly circling behind to strike at his blind spot.
Clang!
Bu Eun-seol, lacking the strength to turn his body,
Twisted his sword-wielding arm behind his back to block Ma Deung's attack.
Stagger.
Yet he lurched violently, seemingly unable to withstand the rebellious force imbued in Ma Deung's blade.
Ma Deung's eyes flashed when Bu Eun-seol staggered and gasped for breath from the mere clash of their weapons.
"You're internally injured!"
Having instantly grasped Bu Eun-seol's condition, he let out a sinister smile.
"If I drag this out, you'll collapse on your own."
Recognizing that Bu Eun-seol's body was far from normal, he widened the distance, circling while pelting him with hidden weapons.
A quarter-hour, then a meal's time...
Yet the young man, who should have fallen at any second, endured like an unyielding jiangshi, holding on to the very end.
Though his breath seemed ready to give out at any moment, his eyes remained still as a frozen lake, radiating a chilling coldness that threatened to spill over.
When their gazes met, a shiver ran down Ma Deung's spine.
'This is no opponent I can face head-on.'
In any case, he was an assassin—his only duty was to complete the contract.
Swiftly retreating with his movement technique, Ma Deung pressed his blade against the neck of the woman who had collapsed from the Demon Blood Point and shouted,
"Drop your sword!"
Fearing Bu Eun-seol might attempt something, he didn't hesitate to slice a shallow cut into her neck.
Bright crimson blood immediately trickled down the blade.
"If you don't drop it, I'll behead her right now."
Thud.
With no other choice, Bu Eun-seol let the Mourning Soul Sword clatter to the ground.
"Hahaha!"
Seizing the opportunity, Ma Deung lunged forward in an instant, thrusting his blade toward Bu Eun-seol's throat.
Schlick.
Then, something astonishing happened.
Bu Eun-seol, who shouldn't have had even the strength to twist a chicken's neck, suddenly—
Used the Empty-Handed Blade Seizure technique to grab the blade.
Drip, drip.
Though he barely managed to grip the blade, his near-total lack of internal energy meant he couldn't fully secure it, and his hand was cut in the process.
"Heh heh heh."
Seeing Bu Eun-seol grasp the blade, Ma Deung sneered,
"A man with no internal energy shouldn't try such tricks."
Instead, recognizing this as the perfect opening, he channeled his full power and forced the blade deeper.
Tap, tap, tap.
The Empty-Handed Blade Seizure technique allowed one to seize a weapon barehanded by exploiting a precise moment—but that was all it could do.
As Ma Deung pushed with overwhelming force, the blade in Bu Eun-seol's grip gradually slipped free, inching perilously close to piercing his chest.
"Die!"
When their faces were nearly touching, Ma Deung roared, unleashing his full power.
But then, something bizarre occurred.
Snap.
Suddenly, the blade clenched between Bu Eun-seol's palms shattered.
Using every last drop of the decade's worth of internal energy still within him,
He had executed the Metal-Breaking Blade-Severing Technique, snapping the blade in an instant.
Swish!
Bu Eun-seol immediately snatched the broken blade fragment and slashed with the speed of a lightning strike.
The motion was so fluid and swift that Ma Deung had no chance to evade.
Thunk.
"You...!"
Ma Deung's eyes bulged as he stared at the blade fragment embedded in his throat.
"You... are one of them—a true master."
The Metal-Breaking Blade-Severing Technique—
Wasn't that a technique created by the Human Demon Ak Mu-ryeong over thirty years ago,
When he roamed the martial world unarmed, engaging in martial contests with bare hands?
Squelch!
As Bu Eun-seol yanked the blade fragment free, a fountain of blood erupted.
Ma Deung's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, lifeless.
Thus met his end the First Assassin of the Blood Claw Sect, a man who had once plunged the martial world into terror.
"Huff... Huff..."
Bu Eun-seol gasped for breath.
That final strike with the Metal-Breaking Blade-Severing Technique had drained every last drop of his remaining energy.
In other words, he had completely exhausted all the internal power left within him.
'I can't stay with this merchant group.'
Having eliminated Ma Deung and his assassins, the Blood Claw Sect would undoubtedly seek revenge.
He absolutely could not continue traveling with this caravan.
Stagger.
Picking up the Mourning Soul Sword from the ground, Bu Eun-seol moved to leave the caravan behind.
Then, his gaze abruptly locked onto the woman lying paralyzed on the ground, her Demon Blood Point still sealed.
All the caravan's guardian warriors trained in martial arts had been slaughtered by the Blood Claw Sect's assassins.
Right now, he was the only one here who could release her pressure point.
'No choice.'
Bu Eun-seol approached her again, gripping the Mourning Soul Sword upside down.
"Endure the pain for a moment."
He lacked the internal energy needed to strike the acupoint forcefully.
With no alternative, he drove the sword's pointed pommel forcefully into her Demon Blood Point.
"Agh!"
With a cry of pain, the seal on her pressure point released.
But she immediately curled up, tears welling in her eyes.
Being struck so harshly with the sharp pommel had hurt enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes.
"You."
The woman, now freed from the pressure point, called out to him.
But already, he was walking away with feeble steps.
"To think he truly has no internal energy..."
The woman stared blankly at Bu Eun-seol's retreating figure.
A master of his caliber, forced to strike a pressure point with the hilt of his sword to undo the Demon Blood Point?
Did that mean he truly had no internal energy at all?
"Just who is that man...?"
Though she had been paralyzed by the pressure point,
she had witnessed his bloody battle against Ma Deung with her own eyes.
Bu Eun-seol's sword techniques were unlike anything she had ever seen in all her years of martial training—terrifying, beyond comprehension.
And yet, he didn't possess a single thread of internal energy? How was such a thing even possible?
"G-Great Hero!"
At that moment, the merchants bowed deeply toward Bu Eun-seol as he walked away.
"How can we ever repay this debt?"
Bu Eun-seol didn't even glance at them as he continued forward.
His frigid, indifferent demeanor left the merchants unable to speak further, only lowering their heads in silence.
"Cold words, but a warm heart, I see."
A clear, melodious voice suddenly rang out in front of Bu Eun-seol as he struggled up the mountain path.
She had used her lightness skill to overtake him and was now waiting ahead.
"You acted cold toward the merchants because you didn't want them to suffer any harm, didn't you?"
"..."
"Because it's obvious the Blood Claw Sect will come after you."
Bu Eun-seol didn't answer, silently continuing his steps.
Unable to use lightness skill, he needed to put as much distance as possible between himself and the merchant group.
Otherwise, the Blood Claw Sect's assassins might target them instead of him.
"I can't understand how someone with such mastery of the sword could have no internal energy at all."
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, she sighed and spoke again.
"Sorry for bothering you. I just... wanted to repay my debt."
Then, she pulled out a small command plaque from her sleeve.
"My name is Ye Eo-ryeong."
Receiving no reaction from Bu Eun-seol,
she had no choice but to press the plaque into his hand.
"No matter where you go, show this, and they'll give you whatever money you need."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the plaque in his hand.
'So she's from the Dragon Splendor Merchant Guild.'
What she had handed him was the insignia of the Dragon Splendor Merchant Guild, one of the Ten Great Merchant Houses of the Central Plains.
'Given her age and surname, she's likely the guild leader's only daughter.'
It was said that Ye Dae-am, leader of the Dragon Splendor Merchant Guild, had only one daughter.
A beauty known for her mischievous nature, often wandering around disguised as a man.
This woman was undoubtedly Ye Eo-ryeong.
"Are you the daughter of the Dragon Splendor Guild Leader?"
"That's right. And you?"
"Just a wandering vagabond."
"Even vagabonds have names, don't they?"
Bu Eun-seol immediately shifted the topic.
"Judging by the fact that the Blood Claw Sect—that ragtag bunch of killers—was hired, the contract wasn't placed with just one group."
He spoke calmly, advising her.
"Rather than wasting time giving me this plaque, you'd be better off hurrying to Chengdu and hiring guardian warriors. That's the only way to increase your chances of survival."
"Aren't you going to ask why they attacked me?"
"If the daughter of a merchant guild leader is being hunted by assassins, the reason is obvious."
"Obvious?"
Bu Eun-seol replied evenly.
"Rebellion."
Ye Eo-ryeong lowered her head, having nothing to say.
Just as he had guessed, her uncle, Ye Dae-gwang, had staged a coup, taking her father and the rest of the family hostage.
Amid the chaos, she alone had barely escaped and was on her way to seek help from Song Gang, master of the Golden Saber Sect and her father's sworn brother.
But Ye Dae-gwang had already stationed assassins along the road to the Golden Saber Sect, determined to hunt her down.
"Young in voice, but you speak like an old man who's weathered countless storms."
At her words, Bu Eun-seol—who had been lost in deep thought—suddenly reached out.
"Take off your outer robe."
"Excuse me?"
"I said take it off."
Ye Eo-ryeong recoiled in shock, clutching her clothes.
"What are you saying all of a sudden?"
"Just take it off."
There was not a trace of lust in Bu Eun-seol's eyes—only solemnity.
'He must need the robe because he's unwell.'
Despite her rough tone, Ye Eo-ryeong was a kind-hearted person.
She removed her outer robe and handed it to him. Bu Eun-seol took it without a word and turned away.
"You should go now."
"But you're not even going to wear it...?"
Seeing that she still didn't understand, Bu Eun-seol sighed.
"Take this road to Chengdu and trade these clothes with a beggar or a vagabond."
His voice was grave.
"If you want to live."
Then he turned away immediately.
Ye Eo-ryeong stood frozen for a long moment before finally furrowing her brow.
"Change my clothes...?"
In the end, she had only called out to this bandaged man to repay the debt of her life.
She had given him the Dragon Splendor insignia and even her robe... Wasn't that enough?
Thud.
Ye Eo-ryeong immediately activated her movement technique and vanished down the mountain.
Ptui.
Once she was gone, Bu Eun-seol spat out the blood he had been holding in his mouth.
The fight with the Blood Claw Sect had worsened his internal injuries.
But it didn't matter.
Trials only made him stronger.
Even during his time as a Ten Demonic Heir, he applied without knowing a single martial art.
From then until now,
he had never once begun a task with ample preparation or solid backing.
Trials had always poured down upon him,
and he had always pursued victory in the face of extreme crisis.
Because he had walked such a thorny path all his life,
even now—with all his strength gone—
he felt neither fear nor despair.
"Kind-hearted, but far too inexperienced in the martial world."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head as he gazed at the spot where Ye Eo-ryeong had disappeared.
The most common tool of pursuers was hounds.
The assassins had been able to track Ye Eo-ryeong precisely because they had likely imprinted her scent on hunting dogs.
What if he took Ye Eo-ryeong's clothes and moved separately while she changed into new ones?
Then perhaps Ye Eo-ryeong would have a much higher chance of reaching her destination safely. That was why he had immediately asked for her clothes.
'After all, I'll be the one hunted by the Blood Claw Sect either way.'
Ye Eo-ryeong had repaid his kindness by giving him the Command Plaque, and though she didn't understand his reasoning, she had handed over her clothes without hesitation.
That alone was enough for Bu Eun-seol.
He had judged her to be a good person—someone worth helping.
Repay a debt of a single sip of water by digging a well. That was Bu Eun-seol's ironclad principle.
Before he knew it, three nights had passed.
During that time, Bu Eun-seol had moved at an extremely slow pace, taking frequent rests.
Just a little further, and he would enter Henan Province.
But there was no telling what might happen once he did.
Even if he couldn't recover his strength, he had restored his stamina to full capacity—just in case.
"Haa, huu..."
Even though he had reached Chengdu, he deliberately avoided entering the village, instead traversing the mountains.
Assassins like those of the Blood Claw Sect, who took on dirty jobs without hesitation, would surely have prepared countermeasures in case of failure.
'I killed Ma Deung and over a hundred assassins. They'll definitely come after me.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as a thought struck him.
'It'd be fortunate if only the Blood Claw Sect pursues me.'
Ye Dae-gwang, determined to ensure the success of his rebellion, would have spared no expense.
There was a high probability he had not only hired the Blood Claw Sect but also placed contracts with other assassination sects.
Sssss—
Then, the sound of wind reached him from afar.
Instantly, Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
It might have sounded like branches rustling in the wind, but—
He could tell it was actually the sound of numerous masters simultaneously employing Lightness Skill.
'Four days is more than enough time to track my trail. But—
Bu Eun-seol's gaze darkened.
The ones approaching now—
He could sense their momentum was on an entirely different level from the Blood Claw Sect he had faced before.
"The years I've lived for revenge... Death and life alike feel distant now..."
Drawing the Ink Soul Sword, Bu Eun-seol looked up at the distant sky.
"All I have left is this single blade."
The ordinary undertaker boy—
Had, before he knew it, become a grandmaster capable of shaking the Demonic Path Murim.
Yet his revenge remained unfulfilled.
Bearing deep internal injuries, he wandered the martial world alone.
And now, with his battered body, he had to fight a life-or-death battle.
"..."
The forest looked no different than before, but the air hung heavy as lead.
Though invisible to the eye—
The assassins had already concealed themselves densely within the woods, poised to strike.
Whoosh—
Then, a faint wind blew toward Bu Eun-seol's front.
At the same time, a shadow wielding a sharp sickle emerged from the ground as if sprouting from the earth.
"..."
Bu Eun-seol silently stared at his opponent.
Because, though the man wore an assassin's mask, his clothing was that of an herb gatherer.
He even carried a bundle of freshly picked herbs on his back.
Had he not been wearing the mask, Bu Eun-seol might have genuinely believed he was just an herb gatherer.
"Strange."
A faint heat haze shimmered in the assassin's eyes.
"A man with no internal energy wiped out the Blood Claw Sect?"
Shockingly, the assassin had instantly discerned Bu Eun-seol's condition.
"Truly, the world has fallen into ruin."
Bu Eun-seol let out a low, mocking mutter.
"So desperate for money that herb gatherers have become assassins?"
Flick—
The assassin's eyes flashed white, clearly irritated by the remark.
"Don't spout nonsense."
"..."
"We were merely herb gatherers until the Extermination Order was issued."
"An Extermination Order... for herb gatherers?"
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol's pupils rippled like disturbed water.
His mind raced through the assassin factions of the martial world.
"Assassins of the Short Life Sect, then."
The Short Life Sect.
A centuries-old traditional assassination sect that sought out children with exceptional talent and trained them into Special-Grade Assassins from an early age.
What set them apart was that once these assassins reached Special-Grade, they were returned to the world to live ordinary lives.
Sometimes as butchers, sometimes as beggars.
And when the time came—
They selected the most suitable among them to carry out missions, ensuring success.
Unlike other sects that relied solely on vicious hidden weapons and poison-laced blades, they were the orthodox assassination sect of the Central Plains—a cut above the rest.
"Impressive. You recognized our sect just from my attire."
At the assassin's words, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
Though rumors abounded—
The elusive assassins of the Short Life Sect, whose true nature had never been revealed, now stood before him.
Bu Eun-seol nodded as if realizing something.
"Because I've been moving only through deep mountains, the contract was given to you—herb gatherers."
Assassins of the Short Life Sect didn't merely disguise themselves as attendants, waiters, merchants, copyists, or beggars for missions—
They truly lived as lower-class citizens.
And when an Extermination Order was issued, they mobilized instantly.
No matter how skilled a master was, it was said none could withstand their attacks.
Because it was impossible to know who among them were assassins, making defense difficult—
And they knew the geography and circumstances of their mission areas inside out, ensuring an extremely high success rate.
"Correct."
The assassin nodded.
The Short Life Sect had deduced that Bu Eun-seol was moving exclusively through deep mountains.
So they had issued his Extermination Order to assassins living as herb gatherers—those most familiar with the local terrain.
"To single-handedly cut down the Blood Claw Sect's assassins, you must possess extraordinary sword techniques."
The assassin's cold eyes bore into Bu Eun-seol.
"But martial arts and assassination arts are fundamentally different."
"..."
"No matter how extraordinary his martial arts may be, there's no way he could withstand the assassins of our sect who have mastered the One Hundred and Eight Killing Methods."
A sharp gleam radiated from the assassin's eyes.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
At the same moment, a flurry of black concealed weapons came pouring from behind the assassin.
Though only one enemy stood visible before him,
in truth, every assassin disguised as an herb gatherer in the vicinity had already mobilized—all converging to kill Bu Eun-seol.