Chapter 790
The woman from the Needle Immortal Pavilion stared at Bu Eun-seol with an unblinking, expressionless gaze.
Peering around cautiously, Bu Eun-seol craned his neck to survey his surroundings.
But there was no one else nearby.
'Did she come here alone just to see me?'
No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason for a physician in charge of managing martial uniforms to visit this remote pavilion in the North Gate Bamboo Grove at such a late hour—let alone fixate on his office where he sat.
[Do you have something to say?]
After a moment of deliberation, Bu Eun-seol sent a Thousand-Li Voice Transmission.
Nod.
As if she had been waiting for it, the physician nodded slowly, her piercing gaze never wavering.
'This is strange. If she went out of her way to come here, she should have announced herself before entering.'
Though he sensed something amiss, Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to step outside.
The moment he emerged, the physician abruptly turned and walked deeper into the bamboo forest at a measured pace.
After a long walk, they finally arrived at a secluded clearing. She turned around and spoke in a low voice.
"You're quite perceptive. Then again, with skills like yours, it's no wonder you survived Fist Adept's hands."
Though her voice was soft and clear, her eyes were unfocused—as if she were sleepwalking with her eyes wide open.
'Mind-Seizing Art?'
It was clear that someone had cast a Mind-Intrusion Art on the physician, borrowing her mouth to speak to him.
"An unusual variant of the Mind-Seizing Art, I see."
"It's slightly different from the Mind-Intrusion Art. You could call it a Secret Art unknown to Murim."
Surprisingly, the woman wasn't mechanically reciting memorized words from her mind.
Instead, it was as if someone's consciousness had possessed her body and was conversing with him directly.
'This is impossible.'
Bu Eun-seol was deeply startled.
No matter how skilled one was in the Mind-Seizing Art, it should only allow for issuing commands or relaying messages—not engaging in real-time dialogue like this.
"There's no need to be surprised. Murim is filled with Great Arts that defy imagination."
"Are you speaking through her mouth?"
The physician—no, the mysterious figure controlling her—seemed to read Bu Eun-seol's thoughts and continued leisurely.
"Correct. I'm listening through her senses and responding in real time."
Flicker.
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol's pupils turned stark white.
He had assumed that whoever sent the physician was hiding nearby, casting the Mind-Seizing Art from concealment.
But within about a thousand feet, he couldn't detect a single hidden presence.
"It's useless. I'm not in this vicinity."
"If you wish to speak with me directly, reveal your identity."
"There's no need to be so hostile. I merely came to offer you some advice."
"I have nothing to discuss with someone who hides their true self."
As Bu Eun-seol turned to leave, the physician spoke coldly.
"Gongson Dan-gyeong. Are you really going to walk away when her life is at stake?"
Halt.
At those words, Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to stop.
"Why are you targeting the Chief Strategist?"
"Oh, far from it. I'm not the one targeting her."
A hint of mischief laced the physician's voice.
Whatever mysterious trick had been used, the woman was even conveying the emotions of the user of the Mind-Seizing Art.
"Then who is?"
"You already know, don't you?"
"Incheon? Or are you referring to Fist Adept?"
"Heh. It seems she's told you quite a bit."
The physician shook her head.
"Gongson Dan-gyeong isn't the type to share information with just anyone."
"..."
"In any case, if you want to keep her alive, it would be best to distance yourself from her from now on."
The physician spoke again.
"If you keep unsettling her heart, she'll eventually be killed for it."
"I don't understand what you mean."
"I don't take you for a fool who wouldn't grasp the implication."
Of course, Bu Eun-seol understood exactly what the physician was implying.
But it couldn't be true.
Hadn't Gongson Dan-gyeong always treated him with nothing but cold, composed detachment?
She had never once shown him any personal emotion.
And yet, to claim she had fallen for him? That was absurd.
"You seem to be under some misunderstanding."
Bu Eun-seol replied calmly.
"The Chief Strategist and I share no personal sentiments. Ours is a purely professional relationship."
"That may be what you believe."
It was only then that Bu Eun-seol discerned the true identity of the one controlling the physician.
"You're the one who lured the Chief Strategist out this time. Someone close to her."
"Oh? Did she speak of me?"
"No, she didn't."
Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"She tried to conceal your identity. Even at the risk of her own life."
The response seemed to catch the other party off guard.
After a brief silence, the physician spoke again.
"Since you've spoken honestly, I shall return the courtesy."
Her voice turned resolute as she continued.
"If you continue to shake the foundations of her heart..."
The physician woman paused briefly before finishing her thought.
"Then I dare prophesy—she will die. Because of you."
Bu Eun-seol's face hardened.
This was far too ominous a warning to dismiss lightly.
"You must engrave this in your mind."
"Why would she die because of me...?"
Instead of answering, the physician woman extended a single shimmering orb.
"What is this?"
The moment Bu Eun-seol's gaze fell upon it—
Crack!
The orb abruptly vanished, scattering into millions of pinpricks of light.
In an instant, the radiance flooded the entire Bamboo Forest—only to disappear completely, as if it had never been there at all.
"What was that?"
Bu Eun-seol demanded, but the physician woman's eyes had gone hollow and vacant.
Step. Step.
Then, as though nothing had happened, she slowly began walking away, leaving the Bamboo Forest.
Just as Bu Eun-seol, sensing something amiss, moved to pursue her—
"This—"
He finally noticed it.
A faint, shimmering glow clinging to his own body.
The same mysterious light that had woven through the darkened forest now lingered upon him.
Zzzing—
Simultaneously, inside his mind—
An indescribable, foreign presence seemed to force its way in, as if being poured into him.
It felt eerily similar to when Yang Seol-rin had given him the Boundary-Prosperity Jade, infused with the Heavenly Favor Star's power.
"A trap."
His extrasensory perception rang with faint alarms.
He had let his guard down, assuming she was merely relaying a message through the Mind-Ensnaring Art.
But then she abruptly unleashed some unknown Grand Method?
Fwoosh.
The light vanished as quickly as it had come.
Yet the physician woman's unsettling words still echoed in his mind.
"Because of you, she will die."
Bu Eun-seol stared blankly into the darkness.
He had never shaken Gongson Dan-gyeong's heart.
Nor had she ever revealed any emotions toward him.
'Someone with that level of ability wouldn't spout nonsense.'
Had there been a change in her state of mind—one he had failed to perceive?
"Is this person within the Martial Alliance?"
No matter how formidable one's martial prowess, infiltrating the Martial Alliance to cast the Mind-Seizing Art on a physician woman was no simple feat.
But if they were an insider?
They could easily approach her and covertly deploy the Mind-Intrusion Grand Method without difficulty.
"It can't be the Three Realms."
If it were someone from the Three Realms—
They could mobilize the countless hidden factions embedded within the Martial Alliance.
There'd be no need to go through the trouble of manipulating a physician woman with the Mind-Seizing Art just to deliver a message.
"The fact that they went out of their way to warn me like this means..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
This was undoubtedly the emergence of a new faction—one that had taken notice of the persona Seon-u Jin.
"And my clash with Fist Adept was also part of their design."
Whoever had borrowed the physician woman's voice—
They knew something no intelligence network in the Murim should have been able to uncover:
That Seon-u Jin had crossed paths with Fist Adept... and survived.
Which meant—
Not only had they set a trap for Gongson Dan-gyeong, they had orchestrated his confrontation with Fist Adept.
'I'll catch them.'
Returning to his office, Bu Eun-seol
mobilized the Death Soul Squad and the elite unit to investigate the physician woman who had approached him.
If the Mind-Seizing Art had been used, someone must have covertly made contact with her.
Through that person, he would uncover the faction behind this.
—No one had made any unusual contact with the physician woman.
Yet the one who had controlled her
had erased all traces of their presence, leaving no evidence behind.
Of course, considering this was a faction that had remained hidden in the Murim until now,
it would be stranger if they had left an obvious trail.
But why go through the trouble of using the physician woman to deliver such a warning?
'That light.'
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol realized.
Their true objective had never been the warning.
They had used someone he did not know to pour that light into him.
Knock. Knock.
Just then, Tae Mu-ryong entered the office.
"Unit Leader. Orders have come down for an inspection of the Martial Alliance's branch offices."
He spoke in a low voice.
"It's a routine matter, so there's no need for you to attend personally."
Given Bu Eun-seol's many responsibilities, Tae Mu-ryong had come to suggest sending Seo Jin-ha in his stead.
"No, I'll go myself."
"You'll attend personally?"
"That's right."
Right now, Seon-u Jin
had drawn the attention of an unknown faction with inscrutable motives.
Then he absolutely must not switch identities with Seo Jin-ha.
"The work should be finished by tomorrow, so let's go out together."
"Me as well?"
For a moment, Tae Mu-ryong's face brightened.
The only official mission he had undertaken with Bu Eun-seol was when they had gone to negotiate with the Hell-Blood Saint long ago.
But now, he would be going out into the martial world with him?
'A tour of inspection with the Unit Leader...'
A smile crept across Tae Mu-ryong's lips.
It was something he had longed for desperately, though he would never dare to ask.
"Truthfully, such a task could be handled by the Vice Chief. As the deputy leader of the Secret Intelligence Bureau, Vice Chief Tae holds the rank of a Hall Master."
"W-well, that's true."
Tae Mu-ryong had risen swiftly alongside Bu Eun-seol and now enjoyed the status of a Hall Master-rank figure in the Martial Alliance.
Given his position, no one would question him if he conducted the inspection of the Martial Alliance branches in place of Seon-u Jin.
Thud. Thud.
But then, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from somewhere.
Puzzled, Tae Mu-ryong turned his head—only to find the tightly shut door now wide open.
"When did this open...?"
Just as he reached out to close it—
Boom. Boom.
A tremor shook the earth beneath their feet.
Creeeak.
At the same time, the open door swung wider, and an enormous shadow, tall enough to scrape the ceiling, loomed before them.
"Huh?"
Tae Mu-ryong raised his head.
There stood an old man—his age impossible to guess—with bulging muscles and taut skin, towering over them.
"Who are you?"
At Tae Mu-ryong's question, the old man grinned and lightly patted his shoulder with a hand as large as a pot lid.
"You stay out of this."
Pfft.
Instantly, Tae Mu-ryong spat out a mouthful of blood.
Just from that casual touch, his meridians felt as though they were tearing apart, and excruciating pain wracked his body as he suffered severe internal injuries.
"Will you do it here? Or will you come quietly?"
Bu Eun-seol's pupils trembled violently.
Fist Adept.
The leader of the Fist Adept Heaven—the same man who had once tried to kill Gongson Dan-gyeong and himself.
He had suddenly barged into the Supreme Peak Hall's office.
"Do you know where you are, acting so recklessly?"
Bu Eun-seol's gaze turned icy.
"Have you come here to bury your bones?"
No matter how formidable Fist Adept's martial arts were, this was the Martial Alliance headquarters.
There was no way he could wreak havoc here alone.
"Hohoho."
But Fist Adept only laughed louder.
"It doesn't matter. Sound the alarm if you wish. Call the Seven Great Leaders—or even the Alliance Leader."
Baring his yellowed teeth in a wide grin, he added,
"By the time they arrive, every last one of your subordinates in this hall will be dead. And this Lord of Heaven will simply slip away unharmed."
Fist Adept seemed to have confirmed the intelligence that Seon-u Jin cherished his subordinates as if they were his own body.
"You have no sense of boundaries."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes burned crimson.
For a master of the Martial Extreme Realm, infiltrating the Martial Alliance wouldn't be difficult.
And threatening him without regard for consequences was certainly possible.
But Fist Adept had crossed a line he should never have crossed.
He had threatened not Bu Eun-seol himself—but the lives of his subordinates.
"Fine. Let's step outside."
"Unit Leader, you can't!"
Realizing the old man was a master beyond imagination, Tae Mu-ryong tried to stop Bu Eun-seol.
"You must not face him alone."
"It's fine."
Bu Eun-seol gently rested a hand on Tae Mu-ryong's shoulder.
Huum. A surge of scorching energy spread through his body, realigning his displaced organs in an instant.
The Tendon Transformation Sutra's dual restorative functions—Clear the Heart and Nourish the Meridians and Cleanse Impurities and Strengthen the Sinews—had healed him in a flash.
"Do not inform the subordinates or anyone outside. I'll return after dealing with that old man."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was firm.
"This is an order."
If Tae Mu-ryong summoned the Death Soul Squad, the Supreme Peak Unit, or the Martial Alliance's troops—
None of them would survive Fist Adept's hands.
"...Understood."
As Tae Mu-ryong bowed his head, Bu Eun-seol turned to Fist Adept and spoke coldly.
"Follow me."
"Hohoho, a wise decision."
Once they had left the Martial Alliance, Bu Eun-seol immediately unleashed his movement technique.
In moments, they had crossed Henan and arrived at a desolate plain where no one would disturb them.
Whoosh.
Halting his movement, Bu Eun-seol faced Fist Adept and asked,
"Why have you come for me?"
"You... are the Heavenly Mechanism Star."
Fist Adept smiled faintly.
"The very Heavenly Mechanism Star this Lord of Heaven has been searching for so desperately."
In that instant—
Bu Eun-seol realized what the light sprayed by the physician woman of the Needle Immortal Pavilion had been—and what its function was.
'So that's what it was.'
Manipulating the physician woman to appear before him—
It might have been intended for conversation, but more than that, it was to give Fist Adept another chance to kill him.
To set up some kind of scheme.
"You think I'm the Heavenly Mechanism Star?"
"Are you afraid?"
"How idiotic."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned hollow.
"The Human Demon isn't much either. To be toyed with so easily by others."
"Hahaha! Quite the sharp tongue you've got. Skilled at twisting words to insult, aren't you?"
Fist Adept cackled as he nodded.
"I know. A runt like you couldn't possibly be the Heavenly Mechanism Star."
"..."
"Someone must have played a trick. Borrowing this Lord of Heaven's hand to kill you."
Bu Eun-seol couldn't understand.
Now that he thought about it, Fist Adept had come to the Martial Alliance, staking his life, even though he knew Bu Eun-seol wasn't the Heavenly Mechanism Star.
"If you knew, why come?"
"Because the possibility still exists."
Fist Adept smiled contentedly.
"If a brat like you can survive against me, you must be concealing a measure of genuine martial prowess, no?"
He licked his lips with relish.
"And I've heard rumors you're clever. Even if you're not the Heavenly Mechanism Star, you might still be one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, concealing your energy."
"Is your goal the Heavenly Mechanism Star and the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars? Or is it to break the True Demon's seal?"
"Hohoho. Still trying to fish for information in the middle of this. Clever little thing."
Fist Adept diverted the topic.
"This Lord of Heaven's goal is you. The most delicious-looking morsel to appear in the Martial World in recent memory."
Madness flickered in his pupils.
It was a madness similar to that of Ak Mu-ryeong, who pursued the Martial Way.
Fist Adept had discerned that Bu Eun-seol had cultivated extraordinary martial arts—and had come with the genuine intent to crush him to death.
"Fine."
Realizing further conversation was pointless, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"Let's fight. Until one of us dies."
"Hahahaha!"
Fist Adept burst into mad laughter, his face alight with glee.
"Excellent. In a hundred years, you're the first brat to act so stiff-necked before this Lord of Heaven."
Still cackling, he added,
"You're not just saying that while planning to run, are you?"
"Does it seem that way?"
"It might."
A flash of light erupted from Fist Adept's pupils.
"Let me warn you—if you flee, I'll immediately head to the Martial Alliance and rip the heads off every last one of your subordinates."
"Hohoho."
A low laugh escaped Bu Eun-seol as killing intent, sharp enough to rend flesh, poured from his eyes.
"Do you think the whole world fears you?"
"What?"
"Quite the opposite."
Thud.
His laughter cut off, Bu Eun-seol raised his internal energy.
Hundreds of stones floated into the air before him.
"I'll set up a battle formation. One that neither of us can escape until one of us dies."
"A battle formation?"
"Yes. So no one can interfere from the outside, and neither can flee midway. Do you agree?"
Bu Eun-seol spoke coldly.
"Given your slippery nature, I figured you'd run like hell the moment death loomed. That's why I'm asking."
"Hohohoho."
Fist Adept pointed a finger at Bu Eun-seol's face and burst into raucous laughter.
"Kahahaha! So you're a madman after all!"
Then he nodded cheerfully.
"Fine, very well. Let's do it that way."
"It'll take half a quarter—no, a single quarter at most. The formation must not break until one of us dies."
"Hohoho. Do as you please. I'll wait."
"Good."
Bu Eun-seol stretched out his hand.
Snap!
The hundreds of stones scattered in all directions, forming a wide circle spanning dozens of yards.
Crunch, crack—
As Bu Eun-seol channeled more internal energy, the positions of nearby rocks and trees shifted.
This was the Langya Pavilion's Secret Formation Arts.
A formation from which neither could escape until one died, and no outsider could witness the battle—
The Life-and-Death Combat Formation.
Whoooosh—
As the formation activated,
The sky darkened.
Towering boulders erupted from the ground, the earth split with fissures, and a desolate landscape of swirling gray sand took shape.
"How peculiar."
Fist Adept narrowed his eyes as if realizing something.
"The chief of the Martial Alliance's Secret Intelligence Bureau, using the Demonic Path Ten Gates' formations...?"
BOOM!
His words were cut short.
Because in an instant, Bu Eun-seol's fist smashed into his face.
"You talk too much."
Bu Eun-seol's pupils flashed with violet light, and a dark heat haze began to rise from his entire body.
For so long, he had been restrained by the identity of Seon-u Jin—
Now, he would unleash all of his true martial arts.