Chapter 819
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as he fully grasped the situation.
Even if Mu-Gyeol hadn't hired the black-masked man, he was at least connected to that faction.
"Of course, one couldn't oppose a figure like the Martial Venerable alone."
When he'd first come asking for help, Bu Eun-seol had wondered if Mu-Gyeol might be struggling alone to uncover the truth behind his master's suspicious death.
But that couldn't be.
To oppose a heavyweight like the Martial Venerable required either large numbers or an organization's backing.
Most likely, the black-masked men either shared Mu-Gyeol's purpose, or were spies planted by a faction aiming to overthrow the Martial Venerable.
"I must search this Secret Cave before the Martial Venerable arrives."
Having already allowed one intruder, the Martial Venerable would have prepared completely different, thorough security measures this time. Moreover, he might already sense something amiss and come here any moment.
Zzziiing.
Drawing upon his Empty Mind Spirit Perception, Bu Eun-seol began searching the office. But unlike before, there were no special stone chambers or storage warehouses to be seen. Even using his Wind & Cloud Divine Qi yielded nothing.
"No—of course I wouldn't find it."
A faint smile crossed Bu Eun-seol's face as realization dawned. He recalled a story from a book he'd read long ago.
As a child, he'd often read the Buddhist scriptures his grandfather kept, fascinated by their many interesting parables. One scripture contained a particularly memorable tale:
A man once obtained an extremely rare and valuable orb that could make him instantly wealthy. But fearing thieves might steal it, he lived in constant anxiety.
"Do you know how to hide treasure most perfectly?"
Eventually, the man sought out a sage renowned for wisdom and asked how to conceal his treasure flawlessly.
The sage replied: "Build a treasure vault—then store the treasure not within it, but rather in a place where people frequently pass by."
Marveling at the sage's ingenious solution, the man immediately returned home and constructed an extremely sturdy treasure vault in his manor. Then he casually placed the orb in the guest hall where people came and went most often.
After the manor lord built his treasure vault, thieves endlessly ransacked it—yet never found the treasure.
But the man remained uneasy. Though he'd hidden the treasure perfectly as the sage advised, leaving it where people passed daily filled him with constant anxiety.
Finally, the man fell ill from worry and sought the sage's counsel again.
The sage answered: "You've already become wealthy, and countless passersby now guard your treasure—what remains to worry about?"
Enlightened by these words, the man reportedly took the orb from his house and threw it into the river.
When Bu Eun-seol first read this scripture, he couldn't help but marvel. Beyond offering profound insights, the sage's initial solution contained a brilliant core principle—to hide something, you must exploit the blind spots in people's assumptions.
"To perfectly conceal treasure, don't keep it in the treasure vault."
Smiling faintly, Bu Eun-seol immediately went outside and expanded his Empty Mind Spirit Perception. The forest path leading here was completely isolated from the outside world—secure enough that only by clashing Three Divine Powers could one enter. That alone provided sufficient security; there was no need to create a treasure vault that would only attract thieves.
Just as no lock exists that cannot be picked, no security—no matter how layered—can ultimately prevent theft.
"This—"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed as he discovered something on a tree by the entrance. Though an utterly ordinary tree, it bore a hair-thin line carved into its surface.
When Bu Eun-seol activated his Heavenly Robe Mind Art and reached toward the tree—
Clack.
The bark opened like a door, revealing a small space within. And there sat a small wooden box.
Click.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as he opened it.
"The Spring and Autumn Annals."
Here lay another portion of the torn Spring and Autumn Annals that Jeong Cheon-je had left behind in the past.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes shone as he carefully read the characters written on the torn paper.
"Got it."
An exclamation escaped him unbidden. Through these annals, he'd finally found the key—what would allow him to safely leave the Martial Alliance under Seon-u Jin's identity—that had eluded him all this time.
"I shall activate the Clear-Heart Command Token."
Upon returning to the Martial Alliance, Bu Eun-seol took an utterly shocking course of action.
The Clear-Heart Command Token.
He activated this inspection token directly under the Alliance Chief's authority—one that had never been used since its creation.
"I've discovered unauthorized secret organizations within the Alliance."
Leading the Peak Realm Members and Secret Intelligence Bureau operatives, Bu Eun-seol began turning the Martial Alliance's various organizations upside down.
The investigated organizations' leaders raged and protested vehemently, but Bu Eun-seol declared:
"These secret organizations carry out brutal, unethical missions without hesitation—actions no true warrior of our Alliance would commit."
And he added one more remark.
"Moreover, there are clear indications that some of them have collaborated with external forces. If you attempt to evade this investigation... you'll only invite further suspicion."
At those words, the leaders of each organization had no choice but to cease their protests and fall silent.
The crime of colluding with external forces was no trivial matter—an offense that could never be brushed aside with mere words.
They might even be falsely accused on some flimsy pretext and punished severely.
As the protests from each organization died down, Bu Eun-seol resumed his investigation.
But the senior officials couldn't just stand by and watch.
Because for the sake of the Martial Alliance's interests—
Or for their own personal gains—
Most of the top-ranking officials within the Martial Alliance had been operating covert organizations in secret.
Especially given the sheer number of missions that absolutely could not be exposed to the outside world.
What if Seon-u Jin, the chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau, began publicly exposing them?
An uncontrollable disaster would unfold.
"Chief Seon-u. Have you lost your mind?"
Even the elders, unable to stay silent any longer, stepped forward to condemn Bu Eun-seol.
No matter that he held the Clear-Heart Command Token.
No matter that he was acting for a just cause.
He, too, was a martial artist belonging to the Martial Alliance.
Exposing the corruption of these secret organizations so openly—
Was nothing short of madness when it would only bring disgrace upon the Martial Alliance itself.
"If we don't deal with this publicly, these secret organizations won't disappear. The same atrocities will simply repeat themselves."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"If you intend to oppose the Clear-Heart Command Token, you'd best steel your resolve."
Because any opposition would only invite suspicion that you were colluding with external forces.
Every attempt to resist was met with the Clear-Heart Command Token being brandished, framing dissenters as traitors.
Soon, there was no one left in the Martial Alliance who dared to stop Bu Eun-seol's rampage.
As the situation escalated, even Gongson Dan-gyeong summoned Bu Eun-seol to express her concerns.
"Chief Seon-u. Even if you've uncovered the corruption within these secret organizations, you can't just broadcast it like this."
Her expression was grave as she called Bu Eun-seol to the Hidden Moon Hall.
"You'll soon realize that most of these secret organizations are connected to the Alliance's senior officials. Without concrete evidence to purge them all at once, recklessly provoking them will only result in a backlash."
"Including the Chief Strategist?"
"Chief Seon-u."
"You needn't worry."
Bu Eun-seol replied with a hint of coldness.
"I won't touch any organization linked to the Chief Strategist, of course."
"Do you think I'm opposing you because I fear you'll target the Chief Strategist? Right now, your actions are causing unrest among the Martial Alliance's senior officials—"
Gongson Dan-gyeong abruptly stopped speaking.
She had just noticed the icy stillness in Bu Eun-seol's gaze.
Which meant this investigation was proceeding under an extremely meticulous plan.
Given Seon-u Jin's outwardly strong but inwardly gentle nature—
No matter how much they protested—
It was as clear as day that he wouldn't stop.
"Very well."
In the end, Gongson Dan-gyeong sighed and shook her head.
"I'm sorry for taking up your busy time."
"Not at all."
Bu Eun-seol replied with composed detachment.
"Then."
He clasped his hands together and left the office.
Gongson Dan-gyeong's gaze wavered like rippling water as she watched the space where Bu Eun-seol had stood.
She knew full well that Seon-u Jin acted only after devising deep, intricate plans with thorough precision.
But she had always believed they were on the same side.
That he could never become her enemy.
Only today did she realize—
That man saw her as nothing more than a direct superior.
"In the past, I wouldn't have cared what was in your heart, but..."
Unable to continue, she lowered her long lashes.
Because of the incident with Fist Adept, Gongson Dan-gyeong had genuinely come to like Seon-u Jin.
Yet he, in turn, was only growing colder.
The expression on her face as she stared at the empty space where Bu Eun-seol had stood was one of boundless loneliness.
Martial Alliance, Heaven and Earth Pavilion.
For nearly a decade, this place had remained eerily empty unless some special occasion demanded otherwise.
Because the Martial Alliance Chief, Jeong Cheon-je, had repeatedly gone into seclusion, pushing aside his duties.
But today, for the first time in a long while, numerous martial artists bustled about inside, and attendants swept the halls.
Because, for once, the Martial Alliance Chief—
Jeong Cheon-je, Shin Do-mu-bi—had emerged from seclusion and was conducting business within the Heaven and Earth Pavilion.
The sole reason he had returned after so many years of secluded training?
It was said to be because of Seon-u Jin, the chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau, who was turning the Martial Alliance upside down.
"Chief Seon-u has arrived."
As the guard at the door announced in a low voice—
"Let him in."
An impossibly deep and resonant voice responded.
Click.
The door opened, revealing the elegant interior of the office.
Bookshelves lined with volumes filled the space, and a detailed map marking the territories and spheres of influence of various factions in the Central Plains hung prominently in the center.
Bu Eun-seol had once entered this place through a secret passage in the past.
So the scenery inside wasn't particularly surprising or unfamiliar.
The only astonishing thing was the qi emanating from Jeong Cheon-je—no, the Martial Venerable—seated in the office.
'Astounding.'
Bu Eun-seol suppressed a sharp inhale.
Had his martial arts advanced so dramatically in such a short time? Or had he been concealing his qi all along?
The qi aura of the Martial Venerable, currently playing the role of Jeong Cheon-je in the office,
was utterly different from what he had shown Bu Eun-seol until now.
His gaze was infinitely serene, yet when their eyes met, it felt as though it could pierce straight through one's soul.
His breathing was so still it seemed he wasn't inhaling at all, yet it felt as though he was drawing in the energy of the entire world.
'Does this mean I'm still not a match for him?'
Bu Eun-seol had publicly dealt with the Spear Master, sent by the Eastern Depot for Yu Un-ryong.
There was no way the Martial Venerable could be unaware of this, yet his gaze remained largely unchanged from the past.
'So he's already transcended it.'
Though the Martial Venerable had once wandered Murim alone, he was Jeong Cheon-je's sworn brother and had interacted with him extensively.
He must have long been familiar with Murim's mysterious factions.
And he, too, must have been striving for years to break free from the confines of the Martial Extreme Realm.
"Come in."
The Martial Venerable—who bore the dignified appearance of a middle-aged man, now playing the role of Jeong Cheon-je—extended his hand.
"Take a seat."
Despite the gentle smile on his face,
the moment he lightly stretched out his hand, an oppressive weight descended, as though one were gazing up at a towering mountain.
As Bu Eun-seol sat down, the Martial Venerable spoke calmly.
"You must be busy with many matters, so I'll keep this brief."
Abruptly, he abandoned the imitation of Jeong Cheon-je's voice and spoke in his own hoarse tone.
"Do not activate the Clear-Heart Command Token again."
He did not deploy an Astral Energy Barrier to block external sound or use Voice Transmission.
Instead, he employed a divine technique akin to Wisdom-Light Mind Speech, directly projecting his voice into Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"You must have already realized that not just the Three Realms, but numerous other factions are entangled within this alliance, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe."
"..."
"And this Martial Alliance has endured through generations, alongside the history of Murim itself. Do you understand what I mean?"
The Martial Venerable, too, was implying that the Martial Alliance was
not a coalition of righteous factions, but the stronghold of superlative martial experts and formidable organizations.
"The moment you start digging, something uncontrollable will unfold. It would be no different from thrusting a blade directly at them."
Just as Bu Eun-seol opened his mouth to speak, the Martial Venerable cut him off.
"Moreover, you're interfering with the organizations I've secretly nurtured. Do you understand?"
In short, the Martial Venerable was saying
that Bu Eun-seol was not just provoking various factions—he was provoking him.
"Wouldn't some degree of sacrifice be necessary to eliminate shadow forces like the Three Realms?"
Bu Eun-seol spoke with an indifferent expression.
"That must have been why you planted me in the Martial Alliance in the first place."
"Wasn't the Seven Great Leaders your target?"
Divine light erupted from the Martial Venerable's pupils.
"You once said your sole purpose was to find the murderer."
"Correct. This is merely one method to achieve that."
Bu Eun-seol continued,
"No matter how much I mobilized intelligence networks, I couldn't perfectly track the movements of the Seven Great Leaders. So in the end, I had no choice but to resort to this approach."
"It's useless."
The Martial Venerable's voice was cold and resolute.
"If this method worked, I would have succeeded long ago."
"Even if I don't find the murderer this way, wouldn't I at least be able to drive out the Three Realms, coiled within the Martial Alliance?"
"Calling it 'driving them out' is absurd."
The Martial Venerable's expression hardened.
"Those lurking in the shadows are the true entity. If anything, those visible in the light are merely parasites clinging to them."
It was a shocking statement.
In the end, even the Three Realms' headquarters was the Martial Alliance. Did that mean even the position of Alliance Leader was nothing more than a hollow facade?
"Jeong Cheon-je, Shin Do-mu-bi, managed Murim as the Number One of the Righteous Path and accomplished countless things."
Bu Eun-seol asked,
"Are you saying even he was just a puppet dancing to the tune of this monstrous alliance?"
"It seems you still don't grasp the situation."
"..."
"If you provoke me again or insult my sworn brother with such words... the covenant between us will be nullified immediately."
As the Martial Venerable's eyes flashed with displeasure, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"I understand what you mean. I'll handle things my own way."
Then he declared firmly,
"I've already devised my own method to eradicate them."
"This conversation is going nowhere."
The Martial Venerable's expression darkened to the extreme.
"Do I look like I'm making a request right now?"
His icy voice became a frigid north wind, tearing through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"If you continue acting recklessly, they will sever your limbs first."
A crimson light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
Though the Martial Venerable referred to "them," the one who truly held Bu Eun-seol's subordinates in check was him.
In other words, he was threatening Bu Eun-seol with the lives of the Peak Realm Members.
"We had an agreement from the start."
Seeing the shift in Bu Eun-seol's gaze, the Martial Venerable seemed to believe his threat had landed.
He spoke in an utterly composed tone.
"Originally, you were only to focus on finding the murderer hidden among the Seven Great Leaders."
Then his expression turned solemn.
"Don't bother with excuses about 'new methods' to find the murderer. Let me reiterate—this approach harms me as well."
The Martial Venerable drove the final nail in the coffin.
"If you continue stirring things up like this, consider our cooperation over."
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fist.
Then, with an expression that suggested he had no choice, he opened his mouth.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Then you may leave."
Bu Eun-seol bowed and exited the Heaven and Earth Pavilion's office, his fist still tightly clenched.
Thud. Thud.
Once outside, he halted his steps.
Then, gazing at the distant sky, he curled his lips into a cold smile.
'Are you still dreaming?'
His pupils burned like embers.
The plan was already being methodically carried out.
Soon, the Martial Alliance would split in two—and he would leave this place forever.
The activation of the Clear-Heart Command Token had been halted.
Officially, it was announced that all secret organizations within the alliance had been identified and corrected.
But in truth, the Martial Venerable had applied pressure, and Seon-u Jin had yielded to it.
However, the timing had been slightly delayed.
Some of the intelligence Seon-u Jin had gathered about the Martial Alliance's covert information networks had already leaked to the outside.
As this incident unfolded, the leaders of the alliance's secret organizations began to stir.
In the end, Seon-u Jin had—
Provoked the very factions lurking within the alliance.
Martial Alliance, Spring Return Pavilion.
It was an elegant pavilion within the Elders' Hall.
The Righteous Faction of Murim had always been strongly influenced by its elders. They had always been the driving force behind factions and sects.
The Martial Alliance was no exception.
Though it had a formal leader—the Alliance Chief—the elders' influence was an undeniable part of its structure.
In fact, not long ago, at the request of the Elders' Hall—
Shin Do-mu-bi, the Alliance Chief, had permitted a restructuring.
Originally, all organizations within the alliance were under the chief's ultimate command.
But now, each organization's leader could choose their own affiliation.
As a result, only about one-third of the organizations remained under the Alliance Chief's direct control.
The rest had dispersed under the authority of the Elders' Hall and other high-ranking figures of the alliance.
Crunch. Crunch.
The Martial Venerable, in the guise of Jeong Cheon-je, strode confidently toward the Spring Return Pavilion in the Elders' Hall.
Inside, an old man with an immortal-like aura sat sipping tea.
He was called Old Master, a figure who represented the opinions of the Martial Alliance's elders.
However, very few knew his true identity—
Because he was not an orthodox figure who operated openly, but rather a member of a secret organization.
"Alliance Chief."
The Old Master smiled faintly as he spoke.
"It's been a while."
"Old Master."
When the Martial Venerable bowed lightly, the Old Master chuckled.
"You must be busy, so I'll get straight to the point."
"..."
"Regardless of anything else, the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau—he can no longer be left unchecked. That was the Council of Elders' conclusion."
The Martial Venerable fell silent.
The fact that the Old Master had spoken these words meant the decision was already final.
Even the Martial Venerable, acting as the Alliance Chief, could not overturn it.
"...I see."
After swallowing his hesitation, the Martial Venerable nodded.
"There's no helping it."
As long as the Clear-Heart Command Token existed, incidents like this would repeat.
And if they did?
They could no longer be resolved with just a few words, as they had been this time.
"I will personally handle this matter with due time."
The Martial Venerable spoke smoothly.
"I was the one who granted Seon-u Jin the Clear-Heart Command Token. And he has only been fulfilling his duties diligently, has he not?"
Then he added—
"Let us deal with Chief Seon-u after some time has passed."
"Even if we leave Chief Seon-u alone for now..."
The Old Master clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Chief Strategist Gongson will become a problem."
"The Chief Strategist?"
"Is Chief Seon-u not particularly close to Chief Strategist Gongson? If things continue like this... won't history repeat itself?"
Among the secret organizations Bu Eun-seol had covertly investigated using the Clear-Heart Command Token—
Not a single one had been connected to Gongson Dan-gyeong.
That, without a doubt, had provoked their wariness.
"Of course, we must consider the Alliance Chief's standing and dignity. I'm not suggesting we immediately remove Chief Seon-u. A figure of his stature cannot be dismissed so easily."
"Then...?"
"Chief Strategist Gongson's organization is quite formidable. Especially that Blood Heaven Blood Fate Corps of hers."
The Martial Venerable's eyes flickered.
Only now did he fully grasp the Old Master's implication.
—Before we deal with Chief Seon-u, shouldn't we first dismantle the Chief Strategist's faction?
It was a valid point.
To eliminate Seon-u Jin, they would first have to eliminate her power.
After all, within the Martial Alliance, Seon-u Jin's greatest backer was none other than Gongson Dan-gyeong.
'This is moving faster than expected.'
The Martial Venerable took a deep breath.
Bu Eun-seol, acting as Seon-u Jin—
Had already been destined to leave the Martial Alliance.
And he had also intended to dismantle Gongson Dan-gyeong's secret organization—eventually.
But he had wanted to delay that moment.
Because both Bu Eun-seol and Gongson Dan-gyeong—
Were exceptionally capable and highly useful individuals.
Bu Eun-seol pursued nothing but revenge and avoided meddling in Murim's affairs, including the Martial Alliance's as much as possible.
Gongson Dan-gyeong, too, was consumed by vengeance—her sole desire being the downfall of the Jungson Clan.
'Bu Eun-seol... You've made a grave mistake this time.'
Bu Eun-seol, who had once only cried out for revenge, had changed.
Before anyone realized, he had begun influencing Murim's political landscape as Seon-u Jin—and had ultimately sought to expose the Martial Alliance's true nature.
And so, the hidden powers within the alliance—
Could no longer tolerate Seon-u Jin's reckless meddling.
Nor could they allow Gongson Dan-gyeong—who had been steadily building her own forces for revenge—to remain unchecked.
Their decision had been made.
Both would be purged.