Chapter 846
He had declared that the deaths of the unit chiefs meant nothing to him.
Yet, as a precaution, he had arrived here ahead of them and concealed himself.
But when he arrived, Sindo Un-hwi was already leading martial artists in an assault on the Red Emperor Cult.
After eliminating all the cultists, he had—astonishingly—even detected Bu Eun-seol's hidden presence.
'There's something off about this.'
No matter how much Sindo Un-hwi's martial prowess had improved, Bu Eun-seol doubted he had reached a level where he could detect his presence.
What was even more suspicious, however, was Sindo Un-hwi's qi.
'He doesn't... feel human.'
It was as if Sindo Un-hwi had grafted something foreign onto his body.
His aura was awkward, discordant—lacking harmony.
And wasn't one of his pupils unnaturally dilated, sharp like that of a furious beast?
"Young Palace Lord."
Erasing his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands and bowed in greeting.
Despite their past grievances, Sindo Un-hwi was still the next lord of the Extinction Palace.
"It's been a while, Lord. Have you been well?"
Sindo Un-hwi returned the greeting warmly, then—as if noticing Myo Cheon-u for the first time—let out an exaggerated gasp.
"Cheon-u! You're here too. How have you been?"
In the past, he had tortured Myo Cheon-u to prevent him from leaving the Extinction Palace to live freely.
But Myo Cheon-u endured it all, and with Bu Eun-seol's timely intervention, he was ultimately forced to release him.
One might expect lingering resentment, yet Myo Cheon-u showed none, smiling as he clasped his hands in return.
"It's been a while, Young Palace Lord."
Myo Cheon-u was not the type to dwell on the past.
Besides, in the end, he had followed Bu Eun-seol, and things had turned out well... so he bore no grudge.
"Did you come here alone?"
At Myo Cheon-u's question, Sindo Un-hwi smiled faintly.
"The Blood Cult was rumored to be backing these people. Our palace had been keeping an eye on them."
'He's lying.'
Myo Cheon-u's eyes darkened.
The Extinction Palace and the Red Emperor Cult were thousands of li apart—too distant to monitor even if they wanted to.
He was deliberately trying to provoke Bu Eun-seol and himself.
"Right. A lie, then."
Sindo Un-hwi seemed to read Myo Cheon-u's thoughts from his expression, grinning crookedly.
"The Lord here once came to our palace and thoroughly humbled me. So this time, I thought I'd return the favor by dealing with the Red Emperor Cult myself."
It was, in its own way, an honest answer.
"Were you spying on our hall?"
Myo Cheon-u asked with utmost seriousness.
If information had leaked, it would mean another spy had infiltrated the Death Shadow War Unit.
"Spying? Hardly."
Sindo Un-hwi tapped his temple with a finger.
"You still don't seem to use this much, do you?"
Then he sneered.
"Once word spread that the Red Emperor Cult was gaining strength, wasn't it obvious the Lord would come? He is the one who personally negotiated with the Blood Cult's leader."
It was a plausible excuse.
But Myo Cheon-u didn't believe him.
'If he didn't plant a spy in the Death Shadow War Unit... then he must have ties to another faction.'
The martial artists standing in formation behind him didn't resemble disciples of the Extinction Palace at all.
No matter how many talented individuals the Extinction Palace had, or how vast their information network was, they wouldn't have the leisure to predict the Red Emperor Cult's motives and Bu Eun-seol's movements just to play a prank on him.
"I see."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward and nodded.
"We came here because these cultists seemed to be causing trouble for our hall..."
Then, despite knowing Sindo Un-hwi was lying, he spoke with perfect nonchalance.
"But thanks to the Young Palace Lord, the matter is already resolved. We're grateful."
"Hohoho, no need for thanks."
Sindo Un-hwi smiled triumphantly.
"Humiliating the Martial Soul Lord, who shakes the very heavens—shouldn't such labor be expected?"
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned puzzled.
The Martial Soul Lord had secretly brought the unit chiefs to handle a mission... only for Sindo Un-hwi, the Young Palace Lord of the Extinction Palace, to take care of it first?
In the past, such rumors might have slightly tarnished Bu Eun-seol's rising prestige.
But now, he had firmly secured his position as successor.
Moreover, he had recently executed key figures, including the Secret Shadow Pavilion's Deputy Lord, demonstrating the might of his Demonic Hegemony to the entire murim.
An incident like this wouldn't damage his reputation in the slightest.
Why go through all this trouble? Could he truly have failed to consider this?
"Well then, we'll be on our way."
When Bu Eun-seol casually offered a farewell gesture,
"Indeed."
Sindo Un-hwi reciprocated without hesitation, then vanished using a movement technique.
In an instant, the hundreds of martial artists standing solemnly in formation followed suit.
For a while, heavy silence filled the surroundings.
Whoosh—
Then, belatedly, Won Se-mun and Jo Nam-cheon arrived, panting heavily as they rushed over.
"Just what in the world happened, Lord?"
Bu Eun-seol did not answer the question, lost in deep contemplation.
The same could be said for Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u.
"The Young Palace Lord of the Extinction Palace stormed in and dealt with them."
When Wi Cheon-gyeong calmly explained in their stead, Won Se-mun and Jo Nam-cheon jumped in shock.
"The Young Palace Lord of the Extinction Palace?"
"How does that make any sense?"
While the two were still muttering in disbelief, Myo Cheon-u spoke to Bu Eun-seol.
"I don't understand what's going on here."
He looked at Bu Eun-seol with an expression that said he couldn't make sense of it.
"Shin Do-un-hwi. His martial talent wasn't supposed to be at this level."
Yu Un-ryong also chimed in with a doubtful expression.
"Moreover, the reason our Death Shadow War Unit came here was because of your sudden suggestion. Yet he predicted it in advance?"
He stated firmly,
"That's impossible for the Extinction Palace's intelligence network."
Prediction.
A foreboding feeling crept over Bu Eun-seol.
Because a certain figure—one who could foresee all worldly affairs—came to mind.
"There's no need to analyze his actions right now."
Bu Eun-seol, having shaken off his thoughts, finally spoke.
"Since they're the ones trying to provoke our hall, they'll eventually reveal their true colors."
His gaze swept over the assembled leaders as he spoke calmly.
"First, we return to the Demon Hall. And as for Shin Do-un-hwi—investigate every trace of his recent movements thoroughly."
Demon Hall, Hidden Demon Pavilion, Grand Conference Hall.
"That bastard, he's definitely not normal."
Having returned from the Red Emperor Cult, Yu Un-ryong had used the Evil Soul Squad's intelligence network to meticulously track Shin Do-un-hwi's movements.
And now, he was relaying everything he had uncovered to Bu Eun-seol.
"His past activities have been completely erased. To this extent, it means an intelligence organization on par with the Evil Soul Squad has been managing his tracks."
No matter how skilled an intelligence organization is at covering tracks, some traces always remain.
But Shin Do-un-hwi's past movements had been wiped clean, as if he had evaporated into thin air.
Even if a seasoned assassin had perfectly erased his past and gone into seclusion... the Evil Soul Squad should have been able to uncover his trail.
Yet no matter how much they investigated, they couldn't find anything.
Which only proved one thing—an intelligence organization of terrifying skill had meticulously erased all of Shin Do-un-hwi's past.
"I see."
This confirmed Bu Eun-seol's suspicions.
That Shin Do-un-hwi had pledged himself to an external faction.
"Considering the series of incidents that have occurred recently... it wouldn't be strange if he had joined a faction like the Three Realms."
Yu Un-ryong, having read Bu Eun-seol's thoughts, spoke up.
"After all, the Demonic Path Ten Gates have weakened considerably."
Ever since Bu Eun-seol entered the Demon Hall, the authority of the Ten Gates had plummeted.
The White Horse Temple and Hell Blood Citadel had provoked him—and now, they were practically sealed off.
The Spectral Sect, the Ultimate Assassin Pavilion, and the Extinction Palace—all overshadowed by Bu Eun-seol—
Had been criticized for failing to produce proper successors.
Even the famously brilliant successor of the Fire Rain Sword Sect, Wi Ji-hye-sang,
Had suffered heavy losses after provoking Bu Eun-seol and had since gone into seclusion.
The only factions gaining momentum were those supporting Bu Eun-seol—Langya Pavilion, the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary, and the Fleeting Moment Boat.
And the Bloodflame Blade Family, where Do Cheon-rin—now renowned as the leader of the Rogue Vanguard—belonged.
"Does it really matter what he does?"
At that moment, Won Se-mun interjected.
"At the end of the day, he's just a heir to one of the Ten Gates among the Ten Gates."
"That's precisely why it's frightening—because he is an heir to one of the Ten Gates."
Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"The martial arts of the Ten Gates are all extraordinary. Until now, excluding the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, every Number One of the Demonic Path has emerged from the Ten Gates."
Then he added,
"If they have talent, the successors of the Ten Gates can become superlative martial experts capable of shaking the world at any moment."
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong nodded in agreement.
As Ten Demonic Heirs themselves, they understood all too well the greatness of the Ten Gates' martial arts.
"That much?"
Wi Cheon-gyeong asked in surprise, to which Myo Cheon-u replied,
"Originally, the martial arts of the Ten Gates were beyond comparison. The only difference lies in the talent of the practitioner."
Yu Un-ryong, with an utterly grave expression, supported his words.
"That's correct. If their talent blossoms, the successors of the Ten Gates can grow powerful at any time."
He looked at the assembled leaders and spoke with utmost seriousness.
"Think about it. Why is the Lord so strong?"
For a moment, the leaders wore blank expressions.
Truthfully, they had always looked down on the successors of the Ten Gates.
Compared to Bu Eun-seol—who had transcended generations and was rapidly catching up to the existing superlative martial experts—
Their level had seemed utterly pathetic.
But they had overlooked one thing all along.
The reason Bu Eun-seol had grown so strong.
It was because his foundation lay in the martial arts of the Ten Gates—specifically, Langya Pavilion.
"Whatever it is, they're going to make a move."
After a long silence, Wi Cheon-gyeong stroked his chin and spoke.
"There's no way they'd go to such lengths just to startle the Lord for a mere moment."
The gathered men all nodded in agreement.
Shin Do-un-hwi's sudden surge in martial prowess was undoubtedly the result of external assistance.
And now, he was deliberately provoking Bu Eun-seol... which meant he was undoubtedly preparing for another move.
"A lure."
At Wi Cheon-gyeong's words, Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
The term "lure" had triggered a realization.
'It really might be that man.'
Knock knock.
Just then, the sound of knocking echoed, followed by Wi Cheon-gyeong's voice.
"Lord, Mu-gwang is here."
"Let him in."
The door opened, and Mu-gwang entered, handing Bu Eun-seol a letter.
"A letter addressed to you, Lord."
"From whom?"
"A person from the Yang Seol family—Yang Seol-rin, the young lady. She secretly sent it."
In the past, Bu Eun-seol had obtained much information from Yang Seol-rin.
In return, he had granted her access to the Evil Soul Squad's intelligence network while she roamed the martial world.
That was why she could now send a letter directly to Bu Eun-seol through the squad's channels.
Rustle.
Bu Eun-seol unfolded the letter.
What was written inside was shocking.
—I've accidentally obtained information about a facility where they seem to be experimenting on the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
True to Yang Seol-rin's bold personality, the handwriting was forceful and dynamic.
—But the security is as tight as the Imperial Palace's, and of all places, it's near the Extinction Palace... one of the Demonic Path Ten Gates. I've hit my limit in investigating further.
'The Extinction Palace.'
A sharp glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes before he continued reading.
—Of course, if I used the main family's power, I could easily uncover the situation... but I'd rather have your help.
The handwriting grew increasingly erratic and sharp, as if she was struggling with confusion.
In the past, the Earthly Killing Star had said with his dying breath: "The Yang Seol family captures the One Hundred and Eight Stars and experiments on them."
After that, Bu Eun-seol had met Gongson Dan-gyeong.
And Yang Seol-rin had begun to question whether she had lost her memories—and had begun to question the direction her family was taking.
That was why she wasn't using the Yang Seol family's resources to investigate but was instead entrusting the task to Bu Eun-seol.
'Even for the Yang Seol family, clashing with the Demonic Path Ten Gates would be troublesome.'
Bu Eun-seol stroked his chin.
The Yang Seol family maintained a low profile, but in truth, they were secretly continuing their activities in the martial world.
If they were caught investigating the Demonic Path Ten Gates? A major conflict could erupt—or worse, their true base might be exposed.
—And this isn't the third request from our previous promise. You can refuse if you want.
Bu Eun-seol had once promised Yang Seol-rin that he would fulfill three requests for her.
The first two had been trivial, so he had fulfilled them immediately. But for the third, he had told her they would discuss it later before leaving.
And now, she was preemptively clarifying that this wasn't that third request—likely fearing he might see it as such.
'How childish.'
A faint smile touched Bu Eun-seol's lips before he handed the letter to Yu Un-ryong so the other leaders could read it.
"A trap. A well-laid scheme."
Yu Un-ryong's expression darkened.
"First, Shin Do-un-hwi attacks the Red Emperor Cult, and now a member of the Yang Seol family sends a letter about suspicious facilities near the Extinction Palace?"
His voice was grave as he addressed Bu Eun-seol.
"Do you really think this is a coincidence?"
"No. There's almost no such thing as coincidence in this world."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath before continuing.
"But we still have to go."
"Why?"
"The probability of this letter being false is near zero. If it were a lie, they'd have no way of drawing me in."
Bu Eun-seol was not only highly perceptive but also never acted without evidence.
Whoever was orchestrating this scheme would know that.
They must have planted a surefire lure within the Extinction Palace.
"You're going alone again, aren't you?"
Yu Un-ryong knew Bu Eun-seol's intentions all too well.
When it came to dangers like this, he would never allow his subordinates to step forward.
"This trap was designed with me in mind. It's beyond what any of you can handle."
"Hmm."
A low sigh escaped Yu Un-ryong, but he couldn't argue.
He understood Bu Eun-seol's heart better than anyone.
The enemy wanted only Bu Eun-seol—and had tailored the trap accordingly.
If he sent his subordinates to investigate, the outcome would be as predictable as he had said.
"Fine. Understood."
In the end, Yu Un-ryong could only offer a faint smile.
There was nothing else he could do for now.
And it pained him deeply.
'Won't he collapse one day if this continues?'
From a martial artist's perspective, Bu Eun-seol was not a martial artist.
No—he was someone who shouldn't exist in the martial world.
He should have been an ordinary man, tilling fields or continuing his work as an undertaker, finding fulfillment in the toil of daily life.
But instead, he was caught in an endless storm of schemes, risking his life at the edge of blades, cutting down countless enemies.
Moreover, he only appeared cold on the surface—in truth, he was constantly watching over and considering countless people.
Such burdens were far too heavy for any single person to shoulder or endure.
"There's no need to worry."
As if understanding Yu Un-ryong's feelings, Bu Eun-seol stepped out the door with indifference.
"I'm just going to scout for a moment and return."
"Right, understood."
When Yu Un-ryong answered as though his throat were tightly clenched, Bu Eun-seol did something uncharacteristic—he allowed a faint smile to linger.
He, too, understood Yu Un-ryong's heart. And at this moment, the only thing he could show was that smile.
"Haah..."
Once Bu Eun-seol left, Yu Un-ryong let out a sigh deep enough to shake the earth.
'I want to help him somehow, but right now, there's nothing I can do.'
"Chief."
It was then that Wi Cheon-gyeong spoke.
"A compassionate person grows stronger."
"..."
"Hasn't the Lord always proven that?"
And it wasn't just Wi Cheon-gyeong.
All the unit chiefs shared the same thoughts as Yu Un-ryong.
They constantly fretted over Bu Eun-seol, worried for him, understood him, and believed in him.
"Yes, you're right."
Yu Un-ryong's hardened expression softened.
Bu Eun-seol was strong.
Because he was not of Murim—because he was someone who did not belong in the martial world—
No matter what trials came, no matter how deep the vicious conspiracies dragged him, he would undoubtedly survive.
Emerging from the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol immediately unleashed his movement technique and headed for Suzhou.
The place rumored to hold the One Hundred and Eight Stars for experimentation was none other than Suzhou—specifically, the deep Secluded Valley near Heavenly Balance Mountain, close to the Extinction Palace.
'The Young Palace Lord's martial power suddenly increased, and near the Extinction Palace, there's a facility experimenting on the One Hundred and Eight Stars...'
This couldn't be a coincidence.
There was no such thing as coincidence in this world.
He could only hope that Yang Seol-rin hadn't been ensnared in someone else's meticulously woven plot.
'According to the chief strategist, the Heavenly Mechanism Star controls the Jungson Clan.'
If that was true, then the Yangseol Clan might also be under someone's manipulation.
Perhaps even sending this letter had been part of someone's carefully laid trap.
[We've searched everywhere except the restricted danger zones, but found nothing unusual.]
At the telepathic transmission from U Gyeong, a member of the Evil Soul Squad, Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod.
They had scoured Heavenly Balance Mountain thoroughly but found no trace of a facility experimenting on the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
That left only one possibility—the Extinction Palace.
They would have to investigate the sect renowned among the Demonic Path Ten Gates for its supreme palm techniques.
'No choice but to check.'
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol headed toward the Extinction Palace.
The path was treacherous, not just in terrain but also due to the invisible surveillance systems scattered throughout.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
But with the Ultimate Speed Shadowless technique activated, Bu Eun-seol effortlessly evaded the mechanical traps and hidden watchers, slipping undetected into the heart of the Extinction Palace.
Then, a strange thought struck him.
What if they were conducting experiments on the One Hundred and Eight Stars inside the palace?
They would need additional troops to control the stars and facilities to carry out the experiments.
Given the Extinction Palace's scale, constructing a secret experimental facility wouldn't be difficult.
But keeping the One Hundred and Eight Stars—
Individuals with terrifying supernatural abilities—inside the palace?
That would be no different from burying thousands of pounds of gunpowder beneath the palace's headquarters, ready to explode at any moment.
'Unless the palace lord is a fool, that's impossible.'
Unless they were determined to destroy the Extinction Palace from within,
Building such a facility inside was unthinkable.
'No... there is one way.'
The One Hundred and Eight Stars were deeply connected to the Three Clans, especially the Jungson Clan.
And the Three Clans had always concealed their true nature through special means.
'Absolute Boundary.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
If they used an Absolute Boundary—a mystical force that could perfectly isolate space—
They could keep the dangerous One Hundred and Eight Stars near the Extinction Palace while maintaining complete separation.
Whooosh.
As Bu Eun-seol drew upon the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, his pupils turned transparent.
Then, from a forest not far from where the Extinction Palace stood, an eerie sensation spread outward.
'That way.'
He activated his movement technique and headed toward the forest where the strange shockwave was detected.
'Hmm.'
To the naked eye, there was nothing unusual.
But Bu Eun-seol, continuously dispersing the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, could sense something distinctly other in the distance.
A solid wall.
'It's... open?'
After approaching and observing for a long while, a realization dawned on Bu Eun-seol.
An Absolute Boundary was usually sealed like an impenetrable wall.
And without unleashing a force comparable to the Three Divine Powers in one go, breaching it was impossible.
Yet here, one side of the boundary was completely open.
Meaning—if one could detect the boundary, they could walk right in.
'So it really was an elaborate trap.'
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
From Yang Seol-rin's letter to everything that had unfolded until now—it was all clearly an intricately designed snare to lure him in.
And there was only one person in this world who would orchestrate such a thing.
'Let's see how you plan to play this.'
Just as Yu Un-ryong had said, this was all part of someone's carefully arranged scheme.
Yet the reason Bu Eun-seol pressed forward without hesitation was singular.
To see how 'he' manipulates people.