Chapter 897
The Wind Gods who had been passed down through generations in the martial world had all met untimely deaths—whether by dying young for no apparent reason or by assassination.
Yet such truths had always been shrouded in secrecy.
Thus, the martial world believed the Wind Gods simply chose to remain aloof, rarely revealing themselves, and that their noble lineage continued unbroken.
Even Hae-yeon—the current Wind God, who had just completed her palace lord inauguration ceremony—was no exception.
"Now that you have formally registered the Grand Duke, you may enter the Wind God Pavilion."
A century ago, Hae-yeon had held the title of Young Palace Lord.
But when the previous Wind God Palace Lord and her consort met an inexplicable death, she had abruptly inherited the title of Palace Lord.
Even so, she could not enter the Wind God Pavilion, accessible only to Palace Lords.
Because only after taking a husband—the Grand Duke—and formalizing that vow in writing...
Could one enter the Wind God Pavilion, where the insights of past Wind Gods...
And the records they left behind were stored.
Moreover, at the time, Hae-yeon had not even inherited the complete power of the Wind God.
Her foremost priority had been to obtain the Wind God's power through the Wind God's Path.
But now, she had become a true Wind God and formally taken a Grand Duke as her consort.
Thus, following the inauguration ceremony...
She could finally enter the Wind God Pavilion, where the insights and records of past Palace Lords were preserved.
Rumble—
As the stone door opened, a sight of countless bookshelves came into view.
Because the Palace Lords and Grand Dukes of the Wind God Palace had rarely lived to old age...
There was a rule that every new Palace Lord must read the memoranda left by their predecessors—records containing their insights and realizations.
With a joyful heart, Hae-yeon began examining the shelves.
Krrr—
But the moment she stepped into the study, the bookshelves shifted endlessly...
Until a transparent door materialized before her.
It was the same kind of door that had appeared in the Wind God's Path—one that only the Wind God could pass through.
A door that allowed the body to slip through even the narrowest space, so long as one was in perfect harmony with nature.
Whoosh—
Without hesitation, she stepped inside.
A small stone chamber came into view, with a lone table holding an ancient wooden box.
Likely, this was the text she was meant to read first...
Before all other records.
Flick—
Hae-yeon picked up the book without hesitation and began reading.
After obtaining the complete Wind & Cloud Divine Qi...
Not only had her reflexes sharpened, but her memory had also improved.
Thus, with just a glance, she could swiftly grasp the contents of the text.
"So... that's how it was."
She slumped against the wall as if her legs had given out.
The book contained a truth more shocking than anything she could have imagined.
Why the past Wind Gods and Grand Dukes had met inexplicable deaths...
And why those deaths had been glossed over without thorough investigation.
"And why we must take a Grand Duke..."
In truth, the lineage of the Wind Gods had been severed long ago.
Though the Wind God Palace had forcibly created Wind Spirit Constitutions through the Wind and Cloud Energy flowing within the palace and the trials of the Wind God's Path...
That, too, was only temporary.
If one failed to transcend the Wind Spirit Constitution and obtain the perfect body of a Wind God?
They would inevitably succumb to madness—a tragic fate impossible to avoid.
Because... the human body was never meant to contain the energy of wind for long.
―...[Previous section omitted].
The problem lies in the fact that the human body is structurally incapable of bearing the Wind God's power.
Sustaining Wind & Cloud Divine Qi for prolonged periods damages the liver and brain due to wind-chill and wind-heat.
Though it amplifies reflexes, the five senses, and allows rapid movement...
It also causes excessive damage to the nervous system.
Thus, to obtain the complete power of the Wind God...
One must either possess powerful forces within the body that can suppress even the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi...
Or transcend the Wind Spirit Constitution and reach the Wind God Realm—
A state where one can naturally generate and command wind without absorbing Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
But the lineage of the true Wind Gods...
And the secret methods to reach the Wind God Realm had long been lost... [Remaining section omitted].
"So that's why they made a deal with the Demon."
In the end, the Wind God Palace had struck a bargain with one of the Servants of the True Demon—
The Wind Person of the Eight Heavenly Servants.
The Wind Person was, in truth, the natural adversary of the Wind God—a counterpart of sorts.
As nature always does, it maintains balance by creating opposing forces that harmonize with one another.
Just as towering mountains give rise to deep valleys...
Just as the birth of great evil begets corresponding good...
The Wind God and the Wind Person were like yin and yang.
Opposing yet complementary existences.
Upon learning of the Wind God Palace's plight—the severed lineage of the Wind Gods—the Wind Person had secretly proposed:
"If we combine our strengths... we could produce favorable results."
And so, to preserve the Wind God's lineage, the Wind God Palace accepted the deal.
In exchange for providing the Wind Person with a full share of Wind & Cloud Divine Qi...
The Wind Person would grant the Palace Lord the power to transcend the Wind Spirit Constitution and forge the perfect body of a Wind God.
Thus, both would obtain the power they sought.
"The position of Grand Duke... was meant to be a sacrificial lamb in place of the Palace Lord."
But sacrificing the Wind God Palace Lord to create the Wind God was unthinkable.
After much deliberation, the Wind God Palace made it mandatory to welcome a Grand Duke—
a sacrificial offering who would provide the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi to be given to the Wind Human Heaven.
And yet.
There were times when the Wind God and the Grand Duke genuinely fell in love.
Sometimes, the Wind God would sacrifice themselves instead of the Grand Duke.
Other times, the two would join forces to resist the Wind Human.
But the victor was always the Wind Human Heaven.
What if they refused the deal?
Then, inevitably, they would go mad under the influence of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
"So the history of the Wind God... was all fabricated in the end."
Just as Hae-yeon was turning the final page—
Zzzing.
A low vibration suddenly resonated through the stone chamber, followed by a sensation as if something had shot up into the sky.
And when she flipped to the last page, she found a shocking revelation written there.
"'The Wind Human will soon come looking for me'?"
The moment she entered this stone chamber—
a mark signaling the birth of the Wind God had spread through the heavens, and the text stated that within a month, the Wind Human would come to claim the Wind God.
"All to prevent the Wind God from growing attached to the Grand Duke...?"
If the Grand Duke, welcomed as a husband—
spent years together with the Wind God, building a bond as husband and wife...
Eventually, deep affection would form, making them hesitate to uphold the deal with the Wind Human.
So the Wind God Palace had arranged it so that—
the moment a new Palace Lord was formally enthroned and entered the Wind God Pavilion—
an immediate signal would be sent to the Wind Human Heaven.
"Hah."
A hollow laugh escaped Hae-yeon's lips.
To think the Wind God Palace had such a vile rule?
Was this why there were always mysterious deaths, why no couple ever lived to grow old together?
"'If I want to survive without going mad... I must sacrifice the Grand Duke'?"
Her eyes narrowed to slits.
What if she refused to offer the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi to the Wind Human? She would go mad and eventually die.
Then what if she and Bu Eun-seol joined forces to eliminate the Wind Human?
"Useless."
If she didn't offer the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, the Wind God Palace would be attacked as punishment for breaking the pact.
Even if they could repel the assault, the Wind God Palace's lineage would end with this generation.
Without the Wind Human's aid—
she, too, would succumb to madness under the power of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
In the end, if she refused the deal with the Wind Human... neither the Wind God Palace nor the Wind God could continue to exist.
"Bu Eun-seol."
Hae-yeon stared blankly into the air.
She now understood what she had to do.
"All operatives of the Death Shadow War Unit are granted four days of Demon Leave."
Upon hearing that the Death Shadow War Unit operatives had pushed themselves to the brink of death to complete the Mind's Eye Mirror—
Bu Eun-seol forcibly ordered them on leave.
They had abused their bodies and spirits, training as if life and death depended on completing the Mind's Eye Mirror.
So even if by force, he sent them away to recover their vitality.
Thanks to that, the only ones remaining in the Hidden Demon Pavilion were Bu Eun-seol, Yu Un-ryong—
and a handful of operatives and attendants.
"I had originally planned to visit the Heavenly Martial Brigade..."
While handling documents in his office, Bu Eun-seol muttered regretfully under his breath.
Unable to find any trace of Baek Mu-seong—
he had formally sent a letter to the Martial Alliance requesting a private meeting with the Heavenly Martial Brigade Leader to discuss martial world affairs.
But the reply from the Martial Alliance stated—
"Brigade Leader Baek Mu-seong is currently occupied with a classified mission and is not present at the Martial Alliance. A private meeting is impossible at this time."
Whether that was the truth or a lie, he couldn't tell.
The only certainty was that meeting Baek Mu-seong through official channels had become far more difficult.
The Three Realms, the shadowy organization backing him, were hostile toward Bu Eun-seol.
And now that he had publicly requested a meeting with Baek Mu-seong—
The Three Realms would undoubtedly investigate every possible reason for it.
Unless they found it advantageous to them, they would never allow the meeting to happen.
Moreover, the Martial Alliance was soon to elect its next Alliance Leader.
If Baek Mu-seong—one of the top candidates alongside Baekri Mu-jo—were discovered meeting secretly with a high-ranking member of the Demon Hall?
It would have an extremely detrimental effect on the election.
A public meeting was now impossible.
"But I must meet him no matter what."
Bu Eun-seol needed to confirm whether Baek Mu-seong also bore some kind of Restrictive Seal on his mind—
and if so, whether there was any clue that could help them break it.
"And I must restore his memories as well."
The seal on Baek Mu-seong was likely not as severe as his own.
More than anything, ever since fragments of memory surfaced—of him being his shadow, of them growing up together—
A deeper, more tender emotion had taken root in his heart.
In the end, Baek Mu-seong... had sacrificed himself for his sake, only to have his life ruined because of it.
Knock knock.
Just then, the sound of knocking echoed, followed by the voice of Mu-gwang, Yu Un-ryong's adjutant.
"My Lord, it is Mu-gwang."
"Enter."
Mu-gwang bowed before scratching his head awkwardly.
"A guest has arrived to see you."
"A guest?"
Bu Eun-seol blinked.
Visitors who would seek him out at the Death Shadow War Unit were few and far between.
"Who is it?"
"Not here."
Mu-gwang carefully placed a small envelope on the table.
Then, he bowed respectfully.
"Well then, I hope you have a pleasant time."
The moment Mu-gwang delivered that absurd greeting—like a sly servant facilitating a spontaneous rendezvous at a matchmaking teahouse—Bu Eun-seol blinked and turned his gaze to the table.
There, resting atop a pink envelope of the kind used for love letters, was the elegant handwriting and the seal symbolizing the Wind God Palace.
Under the radiant glow of moonlight, the bustling marketplace brimmed with life.
The aroma of savory oil from street food stalls halted passersby in their tracks.
Turning his head, Bu Eun-seol saw sizzling flatbreads on one side and steaming dumplings and hot noodle soup being sold on the other.
Occasionally, carriages and mules laden with goods squeezed through the crowd, while merchants loudly called out to potential customers.
After surveying his surroundings, Bu Eun-seol stepped into a wide alleyway.
Herbal medicine shops lined the street, their dried herbs neatly hung in rows.
After walking for a while longer, a large teahouse came into view.
In front of it, a clown and an acrobat performed tricks, drawing a crowd, while the lively sound of bamboo flutes played by musicians filled the air with cheer.
'Strange. Why in a place like this...'
Shaking his head, Bu Eun-seol entered the teahouse.
Inside, the warm glow of lanterns illuminated the wooden pillars, casting an orange hue across the space.
Upon ascending to the upper floor, he found it completely empty—save for a woman in white robes sitting with her chin propped on her hand.
It was none other than the Wind God Palace Lord, Hae-yeon.
"Palace Lord."
As Bu Eun-seol approached, Hae-yeon smiled brightly.
"Come here."
Strangely, there were no other people—not even servants—on this floor.
Hae-yeon had rented out the entire teahouse.
"What brings you here?"
The Wind God Palace was located deep within the distant Haba Snow Mountain, making the journey to the Central Plains no easy feat.
Moreover, why would she suddenly seek him out during such a busy time for palace affairs?
"I have something to discuss."
With that, Hae-yeon turned her gaze back to the window.
She seemed utterly fascinated by the lively marketplace, resting her chin on her hand as she stared absentmindedly at the scene below.
The sight was less that of a hundred-year-old elder and more like a twenty-year-old maiden brimming with curiosity.
"Palace Lord."
Bu Eun-seol frowned in bewilderment as she remained entranced by the outside world.
After summoning him all this way, was she really just here to watch the street?
"My apologies."
Hae-yeon chuckled and shook her head.
"Come to think of it, I believe I've only ever seen such sights in books."
"What is it you wished to discuss?"
At his question, Hae-yeon responded with something unexpected.
"Did it bother you greatly when I forced you to become the Grand Duke?"
"Not particularly."
"Truly?"
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"I am not the type to regret decisions once they're made."
He never dwelled on things that had already happened—because doing so was a waste of time.
He refused to expend mental energy or time on meaningless matters.
"Is that why you came?"
"After some thought, I realized that having a figure from the Demonic Path serve as the Grand Duke of our main palace was too unreasonable."
Hae-yeon shrugged as she spoke.
"I was thinking of revoking your position. What do you think?"
Though he didn't fully understand, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"That is for the Palace Lord to decide."
"And if I were to cancel it?"
"Then so be it."
The moment Bu Eun-seol answered curtly, Hae-yeon pouted.
"How cold. After all the time we've spent together, you decide so easily?"
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brows.
Truthfully, his emotions at the moment were too complex to put into words.
Because of him, Jin Seol had left the Demon Hall.
Though he had discovered the Divine Message of the person believed to be the successor of the Sacred Realm—someone even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor couldn't find in the false Saha Manor—he still didn't know what the Creation Sun and Moon was, nor why that person had abandoned everything and left.
Most of all, though he had barely regained his memories of Baek Mu-seong, the man had refused a public meeting, making any future reunion uncertain.
He had neither the heart to humor Hae-yeon's whims nor the energy to entertain her jokes.
"You're the one who proposed this, yet you call me cold for agreeing without protest? That doesn't make sense."
His sharp retort made Hae-yeon look apologetic.
"You're right. My words were contradictory."
"Is that all you came to say?"
As Bu Eun-seol moved to stand, Hae-yeon grabbed his arm.
"In exchange for revoking your position as Grand Duke, I have a request."
"Speak."
"Could you spend just one day with me?"
Hae-yeon turned her gaze back to the window.
"When will I ever have the chance to come to the Central Plains and enjoy time like this again?"
"I don't understand what you mean by 'spending a day together.'"
Bu Eun-seol replied coldly.
"Be precise. What do you want?"
"Just one day—pretend to be my lover. And let us pass the day without incident."
"..."
"We could eat something delicious and visit scenic places..."
Hae-yeon spoke with bright enthusiasm.
"On my way here, I noticed a place where you can float a boat on the lake and drink all night. It would be lovely to share stories while gazing at the moon there."
"Palace Lord."
Bu Eun-seol let out a deep sigh.
"If you need company, I can call someone else for you."
"Someone else?"
"That friend is eloquent and knows how to entertain people. You won't feel lonely."
"Bu Eun-seol."
Hae-yeon couldn't hide her disappointment.
"Do you truly believe I summoned you because I had no one else to spend time with?"
She bit her lips hard before continuing.
"From now on, I'll be fully occupied with official duties and rarely step outside."
"The same goes for me."
Bu Eun-seol replied firmly.
"Right now, all the warriors of the Death Shadow War Unit have left on Demon Leave. Only a handful remain at the Hidden Demon Pavilion, myself included."
Hae-yeon's face lit up instead.
"Perfect. In that case, since things have worked out this way, why don't you take a break from your duties and spend some time outside with me?"
At her somewhat childish words, Bu Eun-seol sighed deeply again.
"Palace Lord. You should return to the palace soon and focus on raising a capable disciple."
"Hmm?"
"And if you delegate some duties to her, you'll soon have enough leisure time to travel the Central Plains."
Hae-yeon shook her head with a gloomy expression.
"Unfortunately, that won't happen."
"Is that so?"
Bu Eun-seol stood up, as if losing interest.
"Regardless, I'm busy and must take my leave now."
"Bu Eun-seol."
Hae-yeon spoke with a hurt expression.
"I don't know how it seems to you... but I am absolutely not some hundred-year-old hag."
Then she wore an expression of profound sorrow.
"I've only experienced this world for a little over twenty years."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"What I mean is, I'm not the twilight-aged elder you imagine me to be... I can be hurt by careless words and feel upset, just like any ordinary woman."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"I've never thought of you as an old woman."
"Then couldn't you speak to me more gently and kindly? The way you would with other women."
Under normal circumstances, he might have humored her complaints.
But ever since discovering the newly created Saha Manor and retrieving fragmented memories of Baek Mu-seong there,
he had grown impatient—frustrated with his own inability to fully recover his memories.
And now, with her childish behavior demanding his attention, he found it not just bothersome,
but downright unpleasant.
"Palace Lord, you may have lived prioritizing only your own feelings, but I am different."
Bu Eun-seol's voice came out colder and more detached than usual.
"I have never once lived or acted on whims. That's nothing but a luxury."
...Words he would never have spoken under normal circumstances.
"On top of that, I don't even have the complete memories that everyone else takes for granted. How could I possibly have the capacity to consider others?"
Memories of his childhood with Baek Mu-seong that still refused to fully surface,
and the absurd twist of fate that had led them down opposing paths—Orthodox and Unorthodox.
Unable to contain his frustration and anguish, he poured it all out at Hae-yeon.
"Then talk to me about it."
In response to Bu Eun-seol's sharpness, Hae-yeon instead softened her expression.
"Speaking about it might make you feel a little better, don't you think?"
"I have nothing to say to you, Palace Lord."
"How can you be so cold and dismissive?"
Hae-yeon couldn't hide her hurt.
"Is the distance between us truly that rigid and unfeeling?"
"If you want to enjoy yourself with others, go ahead."
Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the capacity to humor your whims."
At his utterly heartless attitude, Hae-yeon's expression stiffened.
Then, as if realizing something, she resigned herself with a quiet look.
"...Very well, I apologize."
Hae-yeon forced a dry, disappointed smile.
"But don't misunderstand. It wasn't that I wanted to socialize with others..."
She shook her head before finishing.
"I'm sorry. I've said too much."
With another deep sigh, Hae-yeon stood and offered a faint smile.
"I'll take my leave now."
"Take care."
"May I ask one last thing?"
"Speak."
"You are the second Wind God—the only one besides myself who can wield the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi."
Hae-yeon spoke in a low voice.
"If misfortune were to befall my palace... what would you do?"
Bu Eun-seol frowned briefly but then nodded.
"Of course I would assist."
Not only had he gained the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi from the Wind God Palace, but he had also acquired the poison that elevated him to Sage Among Poisons.
Moreover, Hae-yeon had understood his heart and even offered to release him from the position of Grand Duke...
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, he still owed her an unrepayable debt.
"Yes, you've always been so dutiful."
Hae-yeon wore a lonely smile.
She understood—even his promise to help stemmed purely from a sense of obligation, a debt he felt bound to repay.
"I won't trouble you again from now on."
Turning away, she murmured while gazing at the sky.
"May all you desire come to pass."
An odd farewell.
Just as Bu Eun-seol opened his mouth to respond—
With a surge of Wind & Cloud Divine Qi,
Hae-yeon dissolved into a wisp of translucent mist, vanishing through the Daru Tea House's window into the distant sky.