Chapter 900
Hae-yeon forcibly suppressed her overwhelming emotions and spoke calmly.
"But how did you know about the Wind Person's movements?"
Once her feelings for Bu Eun-seol had solidified, Hae-yeon no longer maintained the solemn expression of an elder.
After all, she was his woman now.
Age no longer mattered.
Yet Bu Eun-seol, completely oblivious to such feelings, explained indifferently.
"I noticed from the palace lord's expression that something was amiss, so I immediately mobilized all intelligence networks to assess the situation."
"All intelligence networks?"
For a moment, Hae-yeon wore a dazed expression.
The Wind God Palace was a mysterious sect located in Yunnan, one that had long remained hidden from the world.
Tracking the movements of a sect in such a remote place required an enormous amount of wealth.
And to detect the advance of the Eight Heavenly Servants' forces beforehand? That would have demanded not just vast financial resources but also a tremendous mobilization of manpower.
Bu Eun-seol had done this—for the Wind God Palace.
Literally deploying all intelligence networks, funds, and personnel.
"Why?"
Hae-yeon shook her head, suppressing the surge of emotion rising within her once more.
"You said I was someone with no connection to this palace."
"I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."
Bu Eun-seol apologized with utmost sincerity.
"For being so cold."
He didn't offer any excuses—that he had been in a bad mood, or that there had been complicated circumstances.
He simply conveyed his genuine remorse to her.
"It won't happen again."
"Why are you apologizing to me?"
"Thanks to the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi of the Wind God Palace, I recovered completely. And because of you, Palace Lord Hae, I obtained a new poison to treat my subordinates."
Bu Eun-seol spoke earnestly.
"I still have many debts to repay—how could I say we have no connection?"
"You..."
Only then did Hae-yeon recognize the emotions swirling in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
He didn't love her.
But within those frozen, lake-like pupils, still and cold...
Deep within them... a warm and gentle energy still lingered.
"Just because of that?"
Trickle.
Finally understanding what kind of person Bu Eun-seol was, tears of joy streamed down her face.
"Just because you owed a debt, you risked your life to come and save me and the Wind God Palace?"
That young man would remain indifferent to all women.
Because he couldn't be honest with his own emotions.
Yet he would undoubtedly strive to protect every person who gathered around him.
"That's..."
As Bu Eun-seol hesitated, unable to answer—
Snap.
Hae-yeon pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Why... do you make me cry like this?"
"Palace Lord."
"I was scared."
She trembled lightly in his arms like a young bird.
"That monstrous androgynous person."
No matter that she was over a hundred years old.
She had merely been asleep in suspended animation.
She was still a woman of twenty.
That youthful woman had clashed alone against the vicious Wind Person—
Her clothes torn, nearly subjected to unspeakable horrors.
No matter how bold her personality, she must have felt wretched and terrified.
Sniff...
Bu Eun-seol gently patted Hae-yeon's back as she cried in his arms.
The woman before him was neither the palace lord leading the Wind God Palace nor the Wind God who commanded the era.
She was simply—
A twenty-year-old woman who had tried to shoulder all the fates thrust upon her alone.
"Ah."
After crying for a while, Hae-yeon finally regained her composure and spoke urgently.
"We must return to the palace immediately."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been gazing at the distant sky, spotted crimson smoke rising near Haba Snow Mountain.
The signal of victory—it seemed the battle was already over.
"It's fine. Since our society has won, there shouldn't be any trouble."
"Still, I must see with my own eyes that my disciples are safe."
Though she had been out of her senses, she hadn't forgotten her responsibility as the leader of her sect.
Wiping her tears, Hae-yeon hastily activated her movement technique and headed for the Wind God Palace.
The path to Haba Snow Mountain was littered with countless corpses piled like mountains.
All of them wore bizarre armor like the Wind Person, their faces concealed behind crimson masks.
Likely warriors of the Wind Person's faction.
Finally arriving at the base of Haba Snow Mountain, they found an encampment spread out before them—
And standing solemnly in formation were thousands of troops.
The Four Great Divisions of the Shadowless Society, along with the chiefs of the Death Shadow War Unit.
"Palace Lord."
As Hae-yeon arrived, the Jade Mystic Pavilion Master, appointed as deputy palace lord, approached her.
"The warriors of the Shadowless Society have protected our palace."
"I know."
While Hae-yeon spoke with her, Bu Eun-seol followed behind and arrived as well.
Then the division leaders of the Four Great Divisions—drenched in blood—
Noe Bi-hon, Bing Han-pung, Dae Gu-hwi, and Do Cheon-rin stepped forward to greet him.
"You're a little late, Lord."
As Bing Han-pung spoke impassively, Noe Bi-hon curled his lips into a peculiar smile.
"Well, saving your wife does take priority."
Dae Gu-hwi grinned foolishly as he took in Hae-yeon's ethereal beauty.
"As expected, sister-in-law is a stunning beauty."
At that, Do Cheon-rin beside him deliberately put on a solemn expression.
"Bu Eun-seol. Normally, I wouldn't let this slide... but given the circumstances, I'll keep it a secret from your women."
Each of them cracked a joke, laughing.
And it wasn't to tease Bu Eun-seol—
But to ease the heart of Palace Lord Hae-yeon, who might have felt burdened by this battle.
"What about the Wind Person?"
As Do Cheon-rin approached and asked, Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently,
"Annihilated without a trace."
"Well done."
At that moment, Bing Han-pung gestured toward the squad leaders of the Death Shadow War Unit.
"The Demon Hall's squad leaders are not only valiant but also deploy formations with uncanny precision."
He let out an admiring sigh as he spoke.
"Thanks to them, we were able to eliminate ten thousand of Wind Person Heaven's troops without significant losses."
When Bu Eun-seol turned his head,
he saw Myo Cheon-u, Won Se-mun, Wi Cheon-gyeong, and Jo Nam-cheon—battered and bruised, their teeth bared in grins.
Nod.
Bu Eun-seol silently inclined his head.
That single gesture conveyed more trust than a hundred words of praise.
—I knew you could do it.
The moment that unspoken meaning reached them, the squad leaders puffed out their chests with pride.
—Of course.
All of this was possible because Bu Eun-seol had relentlessly trained them and guided them toward greater heights.
And for them,
seeing the faint smile of that divine being was more satisfying and pride-inducing than the victory itself.
"Thank you for saving this palace from crisis."
Hae-yeon bowed deeply to the four division leaders and the Death Shadow War Unit leaders.
"I don't know how I can ever repay this debt."
"Don't mention it."
Noe Bi-hon stepped forward with a grin.
"Isn't the Wind God Palace one of the Central Plains' Four Divine Figures? We help each other in times of need."
"Still, how could I possibly—"
Bing Han-pung chuckled beside him.
"Though the Martial Soul Society Leader position is nominally rotated between Brother Gu-hwi and Brother Noe, in truth, it is our Lord who leads us. We're all family here... You needn't feel burdened."
At those words, Hae-yeon's face flushed crimson.
Though she was usually bold,
hearing martial grandmasters like Noe Bi-hon and Bing Han-pung casually refer to them as family...
She was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a mouse hole.
"It seems we've accomplished what we came for... We'll take our leave now, Palace Master."
As Noe Bi-hon spoke, Hae-yeon protested.
"How can you leave like this? You've traveled so far—at least rest and tend to your injuries before departing."
"It's fine."
Bing Han-pung shook his head.
"The Wind God Palace is a women's sect. If we linger too long, it may tarnish your pristine reputation."
"But—"
Dae Gu-hwi, standing beside Noe Bi-hon, smirked.
"Don't worry, Palace Master. Today's battle was valuable experience for our society too."
Then he declared proudly,
"We've eliminated an evil force that sought to devour the Wind God Palace, which has long walked the Righteous Path. Now, our society has undeniable justification to mobilize large forces anywhere in the Central Plains."
Hae-yeon's head spun as the four squad leaders took turns speaking to her with warm familiarity.
After steadying her breath,
she bowed deeply when she realized they truly intended to leave.
"Once this palace has settled its chaos, I will surely visit the Martial Soul Society again."
She intended to join them.
If she and the Wind God Palace—one of the Four Divine Figures—joined, the Martial Soul Society would gain even greater influence as a Central Plains faction.
Understanding her unspoken intent, the four squad leaders clasped their hands and bowed in unison.
"We eagerly await your visit, Palace Master."
With shared smiles, they turned to leave.
"Then—"
The Martial Soul Society's forces withdrew like a receding tide.
The Death Shadow War Unit chiefs also bowed respectfully to Bu Eun-seol and Hae-yeon before turning away.
"Take care, Palace Master."
Just as Bu Eun-seol prepared to leave,
Tug.
Hae-yeon hesitantly grasped the collar.
"Thank you."
Her face still flushed, she added,
"And... I have one request."
"Speak."
"Not here."
After instructing her palace disciples to oversee the cleanup, Hae-yeon led Bu Eun-seol to the summit of Haba Snow Mountain.
The peak was encased in ice, the world below blanketed in white—like a mystical realm where spirits dwelled.
"From now on, lead this palace in my stead."
Hae-yeon, who had been gazing at the endless vista, turned and fixed Bu Eun-seol with an intense stare.
"Only today did I realize... I am unworthy of being Palace Master."
Her voice was solemn.
"I am nothing more than a twenty-year-old child."
She had underestimated Wind Person Heaven, believing her own death would be the end of it.
And that was an extremely foolish thought for a sect leader.
Had Bu Eun-seol not foreseen everything and intervened—
the Wind God Palace's three thousand disciples would have been slaughtered en masse.
"Palace Master. I am a man. I cannot become the Wind God Palace's master."
"You can be welcomed as the Retired Palace Master."
Hae-yeon pleaded earnestly.
"I'm not trying to bind you. But since you are acknowledged as both the Wind God and this palace's Grand Duke... I'm asking you to guide us properly."
"Palace Master."
"Please."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled slowly as he studied her desperate expression.
"I've heard that throughout history, Wind Gods and Grand Dukes were always assassinated together."
His voice was calm.
"That wasn't because one person sacrificed themselves—but because the two wanted to prevent such tragedies."
"It's not just that."
Hae-yeon explained quietly.
"This palace has a wretched history."
And then she revealed everything—
why Wind God Palace masters and Grand Dukes had been assassinated,
why the palace itself had become a breeding ground for the Wind Person.
"...Moreover, the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi is a power that no human of flesh and blood should ever contain."
Unless one reached the realm of the Wind God.
The Wind & Cloud Divine Qi was an absolutely forbidden force to harbor, and if one failed to dispel it, they would eventually go mad—this much she made clear.
"In the end, it seems this palace has only poured malignant energy into you."
Hae-yeon wore an apologetic expression.
Truthfully, Bu Eun-seol had acquired the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi entirely on his own within the Wind God's Path.
Yet she blamed herself as though it were all her fault.
She's unexpectedly tenderhearted.
Outwardly, she always carried herself with unshakable confidence, the very image of a heroic woman.
But Hae-yeon's inner heart was endlessly soft and pure.
"If this problem isn't resolved... Soon enough, your nerves will deteriorate until you can no longer move your body, or the Wind Energy will drive you to madness."
Having heard everything, Bu Eun-seol replied with utter nonchalance.
"That's an easy matter."
"What did you say?"
"For centuries, the Wind God Palace must have sought a solution and failed. But I can do it."
He extended his palm.
"Because, from the very beginning, I've never been affected by Wind Energy."
Then, as he summoned Harmonization, a dazzling spectrum of light pooled in his hand.
"Starting now, I'll infuse you with a power rivaling the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi. Let's try controlling the Wind Energy."
"A power rivaling the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi?"
"Indeed. My body contains not just the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, but also Water Essence Divine Qi, Thunder Essence Divine Qi, and the combined forces of the Orthodox, Unorthodox, Demonic, and Buddhist Arts."
"...What?"
"And because these powers are balanced on a razor's edge, the Wind Energy of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi can't even approach me."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"Moreover, in the past, by sheer coincidence, I obtained a method that combines Hua Tuo's Five Animals Frolics with the Quanzhen Sect's Taoist Cultivation Secret."
Sluurp.
Instantly, he formed an arm of translucent Water Essence Divine Qi and pressed it against Hae-yeon's Life Gate Acupoint.
"I'll recite the method for you. First, accept the Water Essence Divine Qi."
Hae-yeon, who had been staring blankly, shook her head.
"This palace lord is the Wind God of this era. How could I covet the power of another Death God?"
The Water Essence Divine Qi was akin to the Divine Beast Palace's greatest treasure.
No matter who Bu Eun-seol was, carelessly imparting it to another was absolutely forbidden.
"Lord Neung-gyeong would have permitted it."
Neung-gyeong, the Divine Beast Palace Lord, was a tenderhearted figure who had spent decades weeping, unable to forget her grandfather, Bu Jan-yang.
If it was to save Hae-yeon's life? She would have undoubtedly given her consent.
"How could you possibly know that?"
"I'm slightly acquainted with Lord Neung-gyeong."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with confidence.
"She is a living bodhisattva. She would never oppose using the Water Essence Divine Qi to save another's life."
"Even if that were true, I cannot recklessly accept another's Divine Energy."
Hae-yeon smiled bitterly.
"This palace has its own mental cultivation method, and the Divine Beast Palace has theirs. If I carelessly absorb foreign energy, it could harm my body instead."
The Wind God Palace must have considered this method long ago.
But to merge energies of opposing natures, their mental cultivation methods would need to be perfectly unified.
Creating such a method was nearly impossible.
Attempting it blindly? It would be no different than hoping to survive a lightning strike unscathed.
I judged things too much by my own standards.
Bu Eun-seol stroked his chin.
The Reverse Extreme Inner Method he had mastered possessed a nature that could embrace all things.
Above all, thanks to the consideration of his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang—who had wished only for an ordinary life—
He possessed a physical body capable of harmonizing diverse energies.
Thus, he could freely absorb Divine Energies from the start, but Hae-yeon could not.
No—she can.
Suddenly, Bu Eun-seol recalled one of the great legacies his grandfather had left him.
The secret art of the Heavenly Sovereign, allowing one to peer into another's Qi Circulation as if reading an open book.
The Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
With this, I can infuse the energy even without unifying the mental cultivation methods.
"Palace Lord, do you trust me?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Hae-yeon's expression turned blank.
Then, seeing the blazing sunlight in his eyes, she lowered her head as if embarrassed.
"Of course."
Her voice was small.
"Enough to follow you even into hell."
"There's no need to go that far."
Before Hae-yeon could respond,
Bu Eun-seol activated the Heavenly Robe Mind Art, scrutinizing her Qi Circulation and body.
"Forgive my rudeness."
Retracting the hand formed of Water Essence Divine Qi,
He pressed his bare palm against her Life Gate Acupoint and began infusing pure, majestic Water Essence Divine Qi directly into her.
KWA-UUUUNG!
As the energy poured in,
The Wind & Cloud Divine Qi within Hae-yeon's body erupted violently, spreading outward as if enraged—
Like a wild beast expelling an invader.
Hmm.
Having analyzed the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi's flow through the Heavenly Robe Mind Art, Bu Eun-seol lightly withdrew his hand, halting the infusion.
Immediately, the rampaging energy subsided.
Then, calculating the Counterforce, he repeated the process—attaching and detaching his hand—gradually filling her body with Water Essence Divine Qi.
Her body is frail.
Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue as he examined Hae-yeon's Qi Circulation through the Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
For over a century, she had been suspended between life and death by the Crystal Coffin's mysterious power and the Extreme Poison.
Though she had awakened and recovered, the poison that had spread through her body for so long had damaged her bones and internal organs.
Moreover, whether it was due to the immense mental anguish she had endured all this time or the Wind Energy within the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi—
Even her Middle Qi had weakened significantly.
'The Wind Energy wasn't the real concern.'
Had he not intervened immediately—
She would have lost her life within a year.
Whoosh.
As if growing accustomed to the Water Essence Divine Qi, the Counterforce of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi subsided.
Bu Eun-seol began burning away the lingering toxins in her body using the pure Reverse Polarity True Qi.
Hiss—
Along with a foul stench, the malicious toxins that had been gnawing at her body gradually evaporated.
But the poison absorbed into her bones remained.
'Even blending one type of Spirit Energy isn't enough, it seems.'
Bu Eun-seol drew upon the Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
Thunder Qi was the purest force under heaven, capable of purging all impurities. With this, he could certainly burn away the poison embedded in her bones.
Crackle—!
But as the Thunder Essence Divine Qi was infused, her complexion abruptly worsened.
Even with the Taoist Cultivation Secret he had learned from Gongson Dan-a, harmonizing two or more types of Spirit Energy was impossible.
'Still, this alone has bought her about five more years.'
After a brief hesitation, Bu Eun-seol reverted to infusing only the Water Essence Divine Qi.
Hum.
Before he knew it, Hae-yeon's body had floated nearly ten feet into the air.
Thanks to the vast amounts of Reverse Polarity True Qi and Water Essence Divine Qi he had infused, cleansing her body—
The Heaven-Earth Interchange had opened.
Swoosh—
Finally, having regulated the energy within her body, Hae-yeon slowly opened her eyes.
A mysterious radiance lingered in her pupils, and her skin had turned whiter than snowflakes.
"My abilities are still lacking, so I couldn't fully purify Your Majesty's body."
Bu Eun-seol spoke apologetically.
"But you should have no trouble lasting another five years."
Hae-yeon looked down at herself.
After receiving the Reverse Polarity True Qi and the Water Essence Divine Qi, her once-murky qi and blood had cleared completely.
Hadn't her skin grown even cleaner than before?
"Five years... That means I've gained four extra years for free."
As it turned out, Hae-yeon had already known she had barely a year left to live.
"Your Majesty."
Bu Eun-seol let out a long sigh.
Only now did he realize what kind of life she had been living.
'She had been feeling abandoned by the world all this time.'
"Don't worry. That won't happen."
Bu Eun-seol made a promise.
"Within three years, I will obtain all Four Divine Energies and unify them. With the complete Four Divine Energies, I'll be able to fully restore Your Majesty's body."
"Four Divine Energies..."
"I swear it to you."
Hae-yeon smiled faintly.
She didn't thank him again. After all, she would remain by his side for the rest of her life to repay that debt.
"Very well, I understand."
"Then let's go clean things up properly now."
When Bu Eun-seol extended his hand, Hae-yeon's eyes widened.
"Clean? Clean what?"
"The filthiest place in the Wind God Palace."
Crash—! Rumble—!
The Wind God Pavilion, which housed the ugly covenant and advice of collaborating with the Wind Person to offer the Grand Duke—
Was thus reduced to rubble under Bu Eun-seol and Hae-yeon's hands.
Hae-yeon looked at Bu Eun-seol standing beside her and smiled.
—First, shatter the wicked thoughts.
She understood why he had insisted on destroying the Wind God Pavilion together.
If she could cleanse the centuries-old corruptions and atrocities of the past—
The deep loneliness in her heart would fade all the more easily.
And the fact that they had demolished it together—
—And you are not alone.
Meant that Bu Eun-seol was no longer an outsider.
Just as he had promised from the beginning—
It was his way of reaffirming that he was her Grand Duke.
"This feels refreshing."
Hae-yeon smiled.
"I've never felt this exhilarated in my life."
Then, with a suddenly worried expression, she asked:
"Now that the Wind Person is dead, might another of the Eight Heavenly Servants attack our palace?"
"That won't happen."
"Why?"
"An old man who knows the True Demon well once told me—even the True Demon delights in watching his familiars fight amongst themselves."
Bu Eun-seol spoke confidently.
"I also killed the Fist Adept and the Spear Master, yet there was no sign of retaliation."
"Ah, I see."
Hae-yeon didn't doubt his words in the slightest.
Before she knew it, Bu Eun-seol had become someone she trusted absolutely.
"Even if such a thing were to happen, as long as I live, the Wind God Palace will never fall."
It was an oath more unshakable than any other.
Hae-yeon wanted to embrace Bu Eun-seol tightly again.
She had long discarded the dignity of a palace lord.
But now was different.
The deeper her love for him grew—
The more she realized that the more precious and irreplaceable someone was, the less she could treat them carelessly.
"Thank you."
Then, with both hands clasped together respectfully, she said:
"From now on, this palace will share life and death, joy and sorrow with the Mourning Souls Society."
And she added:
"Once matters are settled, I will personally go to the Mourning Souls Society to join."
This meant breaking the Wind God Palace's long-standing rule of remaining hidden from the martial world and publicly declaring itself as a sect of the Central Plains.
And it was solely to aid Bu Eun-seol and the Mourning Souls Society.
"I'll take my leave now."
Understanding her consideration, Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply in return.
"Very well."
Then, in an instant, he activated his Movement Technique and vanished into the distant sky.
"And..."
Hae-yeon gazed endlessly at the spot where Bu Eun-seol had disappeared. Then, in a low voice, she murmured:
"And I, the palace lord, will share life and death, suffering and joy with you for the rest of my days."
All this time, she had lived with the belief that she had been abandoned alone in a world a hundred years ahead of her.
She had thought her life would never shine beautifully again or be painted in vibrant colors.
Once everything was settled, she had planned to end her life alone in a place where no one existed.
"But now, that's impossible."
No longer—she was no longer alone.
Bu Eun-seol had not only saved the Wind God Palace... he had also given Hae-yeon the strength to keep living.