Chapter 918
"Hmm."
At that moment, accompanied by a soft murmur, Yeon So-ha's delicate eyelashes fluttered lightly before her eyes—imbued with a radiance like the morning sun—slowly opened.
As she tilted her head slightly, her silken hair, tousled as if she had just awakened, cascaded over her shoulders.
Yet, the translucent pupils visible through those silk-like strands still seemed to linger at the boundary between dream and reality.
"Young Palace Lord, have you regained your senses?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked eagerly, she responded with a drowsy yet bright smile.
That fervent gaze and smile shook Bu Eun-seol's heart like nothing else.
Thud.
But just as Yeon So-ha half-opened her eyes, she fainted once more.
"It seems the Young Palace Lord's condition is far from normal."
Yu Un-ryong spoke urgently with a grave expression.
"This doesn't appear to be a simple case of damage to her vital essence. You must take her to the Medicine King Faction at once. The Hall Lord will surely be able to treat her."
Gyo Jung-hak, the Lord of the Medicine King Faction.
He was one of the few renowned Divine Physicians in Murim.
If anyone could swiftly heal Yeon So-ha, no matter the injury, it would be him.
"Understood."
Tap.
Bu Eun-seol hastily lifted Yeon So-ha in his arms and, with a movement technique swift as flight, arrived at the Medicine King Faction.
Fortunately, the Hall Lord was present and, as if expecting them, immediately began examining her pulse.
"It seems she used some forbidden treasure or Dharma Instrument."
Gyo Jung-hak spoke in a low voice, his expression severe as he assessed Yeon So-ha's condition.
"Her true yang energy has been drained from her body."
True to his reputation as one of Murim's most extraordinary physicians, Gyo Jung-hak had not only discerned the reason for her collapse but also understood exactly why it had happened.
"She used a Divine Weapon from the Divine Maiden Palace."
Since his days as one of the Ten Demonic Heirs, Bu Eun-seol had owed Gyo Jung-hak many favors. Thus, he addressed him with the respectful tone one would use toward an elder of their sect.
"That is likely the cause."
"I see."
"Then what should be done?"
"Simply replenish it. If you infuse her with yang qi, she should recover soon."
"Infuse her with yang qi...?"
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
The phrase "infuse yang qi" was less a term from martial arts or medicine and more akin to the language of grand rituals or mystical arts.
"How exactly does one infuse yang qi?"
"What do you mean, 'how'?"
The Hall Lord looked at him as if the question were absurd.
"Do you only use your mouth when eating?"
"Through the mouth?"
"Is there some other method to infuse yang qi? If so, do enlighten me."
Bu Eun-seol was bewildered.
Infusing yang qi through the mouth was the kind of thing one only read about in bizarre folktales or obscure texts.
For Gyo Jung-hak—a man counted among the greatest physicians in the land—to recommend such a superstitious method?
"Treasures and Dharma Instruments are objects that interfere with the natural order of yin and yang. Naturally, using one would lead to this outcome."
Only then, after staring blankly for a moment, did Bu Eun-seol nod in reluctant understanding.
There were legends that the Founder of the Divine Maiden Palace was an immortal, and artifacts like the Demon-Summoning Banner had been passed down.
Perhaps this wasn't entirely baseless nonsense.
"Do as you see fit."
As Bu Eun-seol hesitated, Gyo Jung-hak shook his sleeves and stood.
"Well, she's not one of our Demonic Path women. Even if she dies, it's no great loss."
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol grabbed the Hall Lord's sleeve.
"How much yang qi must be infused?"
"Until she regains consciousness."
Then, shaking his head, Gyo Jung-hak stepped out of the chamber.
"Hmm..."
With a quiet sigh, Bu Eun-seol gazed at Yeon So-ha, still deep in slumber.
With her long lashes lowered and her consciousness lost, she looked like nothing less than a celestial maiden descended to earth.
"This is to save the Young Palace Lord. I beg your understanding."
Hiding his wavering gaze, Bu Eun-seol leaned in closer.
Then, a sweet yet dizzying fragrance reached him.
Carefully, he brought his lips to hers.
Is a first kiss something one never forgets?
Suddenly, the memory of Hyeokryeon Yu-baek—no, Yu Seol—kissing him flashed through his mind.
If that moment had been dizzying, now his heart felt as though it might burst.
At last, as their lips met, Bu Eun-seol poured all his strength into breathing his energy into her.
Yet she showed no sign of awakening.
With no other choice, the kiss lingered on.
At the very moment Bu Eun-seol and Yeon So-ha's lips met, Yu Un-ryong gazed up at the roof of the pavilion where the two were.
The sky was unusually clear.
A faint smile touched Yu Un-ryong's lips.
—I have a request.
Some time ago, Yeon So-ha had made an earnest plea to him.
—If I use the Divine Maiden Palace's Immortal Artifact, my yin energy will surge, or I may lose my true yang energy in an instant... In that case, yang qi must be infused, or the yin energy must be neutralized.
Yu Un-ryong had nodded and replied:
—I'll prepare elixirs in advance to replenish yang qi.
—No, that's not what I mean.
Yeon So-ha had spoken with utmost seriousness.
—The Demon Hall must not have any elixirs that can replenish yang qi.
—What?
—There must be no elixirs capable of replenishing yang qi. None at all.
Yu Un-ryong was not only an outstanding talent but also an intelligent man skilled at reading others' emotions.
Understanding the implication behind her words, he replied respectfully.
—"I will relay those exact words not only to our hall's martial artists but also to the Medicine King Faction Master."
—"Thank you."
At that, Yeon So-ha beamed.
Her pear-blossom smile was indescribably beautiful.
'I kept my promise, Young Palace Lord.'
With a proud expression, Yu Un-ryong gazed at the distant sky.
It almost seemed as if Yeon So-ha's radiant smile was reflected in the faraway clouds.
Even after infusing her with yang qi, Bu Eun-seol continued to nurse Yeon So-ha with utmost devotion.
Fortunately, she regained consciousness and safely returned to the Divine Maiden Palace.
—"I'm satisfied as long as you've returned unharmed."
She was a wise woman.
She knew that now that he had regained his senses, a mountain of matters awaited his attention.
So as not to hinder his work, she immediately returned to the Divine Maiden Palace.
—"I must clean up the mess quickly."
Bu Eun-seol began addressing all the affairs he had stirred up until now.
But there was one problem too massive to resolve easily.
Namely, persuading the hardline Great Demons who hungered for blood and war.
—"They've already poured everything into preparing for war."
—"If we try to sweep it under the rug now... you'll have to step down as the Heir of the Demon Hall."
Yu Un-ryong offered his counsel with utmost seriousness.
—"Since we can't pretend it never happened, why not reduce the scale and proceed with the subjugation? Wouldn't that work?"
In the second layer of the Mind's Eye Mirror, Bu Eun-seol had made such a choice.
And he had received modest victory and modest praise in return.
But now, that was impossible.
Because another variable had emerged.
—"Then we can't afford to stay out of it either."
Once rumors spread that Bu Eun-seol was sincerely organizing a campaign to crush the pride of the Righteous Faction,
certain Great Demons—those who had been lying low in the Demon Hall, even ones the Demonic Heavenly Emperor couldn't fully control—
stepped forward, declaring they would join this subjugation.
—"We'll participate too!"
The demonkin of the Remnant Blood Black Tree and the Crimson Demon Black Well.
Demons who had inherited the legacy of the Demonic Path for generations.
No—they were demonkin as vile as yokai, battle maniacs incarnate.
Some of these demonkin, who had been sealed away in forbidden domains because even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor couldn't restrain them once their bloodlust was roused,
suddenly burst out of the Demon Hall and announced their participation in the subjugation.
Hidden Demon Pavilion, Grand Conference Hall.
—"Now... there's no turning back."
Yu Un-ryong and the martial artists of the Death Shadow War Unit wore expressions of despair.
If members of the Remnant Blood Black Tree and Crimson Demon Black Well joined the battle?
And if they weren't allowed to slaughter the Righteous Faction to their heart's content?
It was blindingly obvious where their fury would be directed—straight at Bu Eun-seol.
—"Actually, this works out well."
When Bu Eun-seol instead smiled, Myo Cheon-u's jaw dropped.
—"Works out well?!"
Then, as if exasperated, he continued.
—"Do you even know what kind of demonkin gather in the Crimson Demon Black Well and Remnant Blood Black Tree? They're genuine lunatics who drink the blood of the righteous and chew on their flesh!"
—"I know."
Bu Eun-seol replied flatly.
—"And I also know that if we let them loose in a minor skirmish, it'll only make them thirst for more."
—"Then...?"
—"They're Great Demons who fear neither death nor hell. So this is for the best."
Yu Un-ryong asked in surprise.
—"You have a plan?"
—"I do."
—"How?"
—"We let them spill blood exactly as they desire. Gloriously."
—"Explain how."
Bu Eun-seol's lips curled faintly.
—"Just watch this time. Since it's my doing, I'll handle it myself."
And with that, he stood up.
—"This Lord is not content with merely crushing minor factions of the Righteous Path—he is preparing to eradicate the entire Martial Alliance."
—"However, I do not wish to see the brave warriors of our hall die in vain."
Bu Eun-seol reorganized the demonkin troops preparing for battle into two divisions: Blood Heaven and Blood Earth.
This division was not based on seniority or affiliation, but solely on pairing martial artists whose techniques were mutually incompatible.
Then he ordered them to engage in mock battles so fierce they mirrored reality.
—"Only the martial artists who demonstrate the most outstanding strategy and martial prowess shall become warriors of the Blood Heaven Division and lead the subjugation of the Righteous Path."
—"And those selected for the Blood Heaven Division will be promised a promotion by this Lord's authority."
Once Bu Eun-seol's command was issued, the two divided divisions began a blood-soaked competition.
Since ancient times, the Demonic Path had regarded not only external enemies but even internal rivals as foes.
Authority was inherently limited—even allies standing back-to-back could never share it.
The Demonic Path was, from the beginning, a path of trampling over everything in one's way to rise to the top.
—"The Martial Soul Lord is resorting to tricks."
—"But it's too late to turn back now."
The Secret Shadow Pavilion Master Hwa Jung-cheon and several other high-ranking figures
saw through Bu Eun-seol's intent as they watched him split the already-organized troops into two and pit them against each other in training.
They sneered.
—"At best, they'll last half a month—a month at most."
No matter how intense, training was still just training.
Training could never fully sate their bloodthirst and craving for slaughter; only actual battle could their bloodthirst and craving for slaughter.
What if he dragged this out too long?
Eventually, their hunger for carnage would become unbearable, and those fangs would turn toward Bu Eun-seol himself.
—Then he'll be driven from the successor's seat.
Hwa Jung-cheon, Lord of the Secret Shadow Pavilion, watched the situation unfold with a sneer.
—Do they not realize what these beasts truly crave is the blood of the Righteous Faction?
Just as their mocking grins widened—
Bu Eun-seol appointed Naenggung Cheon, the Ghost Sword Death Shadow of Janhyeol Heuksu, as deputy commander.
Then, he handpicked only the most elite warriors from Janhyeol Heuksu and the Crimson Demon Black Well assigned to the Blood Heaven Order and led them Beyond the Pass.
—What difference does it make where they train?
But before their smirks could fully fade—
Bu Eun-seol launched a brutal massacre against the Blood Cult's branches and sub-branches.
—These madmen!
The Blood Cult had already been closely monitoring Bu Eun-seol's movements.
They thought he had fled the Demon Hall to train Beyond the Pass after taking so much abuse—
Yet here he was, wantonly tearing through their branch strongholds?
—Have you forgotten our non-aggression treaty?
When the Blood Cult protested, Bu Eun-seol offered a polite apology.
—My apologies. These fiends from both factions are beyond even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's control.
As compensation for the damages, he sent an extravagant tribute to the Blood Cult's headquarters.
Pae Reuk-gyeol seethed with fury—but in truth, the warriors of those two factions were irredeemable monsters even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor couldn't restrain.
More importantly, they had previously provoked the Divine Maiden Palace, so this time, the Blood Cult had no choice but to let it slide.
—Clever maneuvering.
Hwa Jung-cheon realized Bu Eun-seol was using the Blood Heaven Order—originally formed to suppress the Righteous Faction—
To redirect blame onto sacrificial lambs like the Blood Cult, the Unorthodox Path, and the Black Path.
So he took preemptive measures to ensure such tricks wouldn't work again.
—What if the Martial Soul Lord keeps using the Blood Heaven Order to attack irrelevant factions like the Blood Cult, the Black Path, or the Unorthodox Path?
Then he'll become nothing more than a figure who never lifts a hand against the Righteous Faction!
Once this narrative spread, most warriors of the Demon Hall agreed.
—He's right. The Martial Soul Lord has always been lenient toward the Righteous Faction. Hell, you could even say his actions align with theirs!
As the demonic warriors voiced their approval, Hwa Jung-cheon allowed himself a triumphant smile.
He had long since discerned Bu Eun-seol's tendency to spare those from the Righteous Path.
By fueling this rumor, he ensured Bu Eun-seol couldn't quietly target the Unorthodox Path, the Black Path, or the Blood Cult—
And instead had to strike the Righteous Sects.
—What will you do now?
Hwa Jung-cheon could never forget the humiliation Bu Eun-seol had dealt him during the previous Demonic Governance Council.
That's why he had meticulously studied Bu Eun-seol's inclinations—
And now, he was steering the situation to force him into a corner where he had to attack the Righteous Sects.
Bu Eun-seol gave no reaction to Hwa Jung-cheon's scheme.
And once the Blood Heaven Order's training concluded, he mobilized them as planned.
—Prepare the war battalion!
With the massive Blood Heaven Order assembled, Bu Eun-seol delivered a shocking declaration:
—Our targets are the Martial Soul Society and the Azure Heaven Alliance!
The announcement sent shockwaves through the ranks.
—RAAAAAAAAH!
Not just the Great Demons of the war battalion—all warriors of the Demonic Path roared in frenzy.
The successor of the Demon Hall, who had always walked a moderate path—
Had just declared he would crush the Martial Soul Society, Shaanxi's reigning power, and the Azure Heaven Alliance, the Righteous Faction's new coalition.
—This is absurd!
But the Demon Hall's veterans refused to believe it.
No—they couldn't believe it.
Attacking the Martial Soul Society or the Azure Heaven Alliance with a mere thousand troops was nothing short of suicide.
—Is he planning to lose on purpose?
They knew little of the Azure Heaven Alliance, but the Martial Soul Society was rumored to have ties to Bu Eun-seol.
After all, it housed Do Cheon-rin and sect leaders from Beyond the Frontier—all known to be close to him.
If so, perhaps this entire Blood Heaven Order was a ploy to engineer his own defeat.
—If that's the case, we must sanction him immediately!
The veterans urgently convened a Demonic Governance Council, summoning Bu Eun-seol to debate the campaign.
Singular Light Pavilion, Grand Assembly Hall.
Under the Chief Doctrine Commander's supervision, the Demon Hall's highest-ranking veterans gathered for the council.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor, currently in seclusion, did not attend.
"A fine start, but what's the point if you annihilate our finest warriors?"
The veterans who held grievances against Bu Eun-seol united in their pressure.
"If the Lord returns from this campaign in defeat, we'll lose the core of our military strength. How will you take responsibility for that?"
The entire martial world knew Bu Eun-seol had always walked the Middle Path—
And worse, he was notoriously sympathetic to the Orthodox Murim.
The veterans feared this campaign would only weaken the Demon Hall's forces and, by extension, the entire Demonic Path.
"Ah."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening quietly, finally smirked at the assembled veterans and spoke.
"So what you're implying is... that this Lord is deliberately planning to lose and return defeated?"
To treat the Heir of the Demon Hall like some external spy?
Had it been his usual temperament, he would have glared at the senior members with utmost displeasure and demanded an explanation.
But given his recent actions... Bu Eun-seol maintained an unnervingly gentle expression and tone.
"Martial Soul Lord, this is not just our concern—many within the Demonic Path have long worried about this very issue—"
"Right, right."
Bu Eun-seol chuckled darkly.
"You're saying this because you've always had problems with this Lord's moderate approach, aren't you?"
The unexpected remark made the senior members tense further.
—What is he planning to do today?
Since the Martial Soul Lord's temperament had shifted so drastically—now prone to sudden rages and executions—they had entered the conference hall armed and on edge.
Yet this time, he was being so excessively polite... it only made them more uneasy.
"Ahem."
The senior members coughed awkwardly, none daring to speak further.
Truthfully, their concerns weren't unfounded.
After all, Bu Eun-seol's reputation had been questioned for far longer than just today.
"Very well."
Bu Eun-seol stood and made a declaration so shocking it silenced the room.
"If I lose even thirty percent of our forces or return in defeat... I will relinquish my position as heir."
For a moment, those who had opposed the expedition—or those who had doubted and criticized Bu Eun-seol—were struck dumb.
Never once had he made a promise he didn't keep.
—Does he truly intend to crush them?
—Ah, I see his game now.
But the senior members of the Demon Hall were no fools.
They quickly saw through his ploy and shook their heads.
—He's using our opposition as an excuse to call off the expedition!
This campaign was far too great a gamble.
As the heir, Bu Eun-seol had already proven his competence in every way.
Unless something went terribly wrong, his succession as the next leader of the Demon Hall was all but assured.
But if he failed here?
Forget succession—he'd likely be stripped of his position as heir for losing their forces.
Knowing the risks were too high, he was clearly using this moment to back out under the pretense of yielding to their objections.
—You cunning fox. We'll see about that!
Having reached this conclusion, the senior members smirked in satisfaction.
And then, with exaggerated magnanimity, they granted permission.
"Very well. Since the Lord has spoken thus, we can no longer oppose the expedition."
Then they added one condition.
"But only if you swear to crush both the Martial Soul Society and the Azure Heaven Alliance."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly at their demand.
"Agreed."
Rising from his seat, he then posed a question of his own.
"And what will you stake in return?"
"...What do you mean?"
As the Soul Reaper War Division Leader, Hyuk Se-gi, spoke up, Bu Eun-seol's lips curled.
"This Lord has sworn to relinquish his position as heir if he loses even thirty percent of our forces or returns defeated."
"..."
"Yet you, the senior members of the Hall, sit comfortably in your chairs, nitpicking every move this Lord makes."
The moment madness flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes—so abruptly that the air itself turned frigid—the atmosphere froze.
Bu Eun-seol was still only the heir, not the Hall's true leader.
And those gathered here were the pillars of the Demon Hall.
Yet he dared speak as arrogantly as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself?
"You overstep. This Division Leader, along with all senior members, merely seek to prevent unnecessary losses due to the Lord's unilateral—"
"Just a thought."
Bu Eun-seol smiled as he stood.
"Isn't the position of heir one of constant trials? Your concerns are only natural."
The way he switched between provocation and placation was like handling a petulant child.
Just as the infuriated senior members rose to their feet—
"Then this Lord shall take his leave to prepare for the expedition."
Without so much as a backward glance, Bu Eun-seol strode out of the conference hall.
And so, the campaign began.
The Blood Sky Battalion—comprising thirteen hundred warriors, including those from the Death Shadow War Unit—was not vast in number.
But most were hardened extremists of the Demonic Path, barely restrained even by the Hall's usual discipline.
Among them were even warriors from the Crimson Demon Black Well and the Remnant Blood Black Tree, whom even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had struggled to control.
—First, we crush the Martial Soul Society!
Under Bu Eun-seol's command, the Blood Sky Battalion immediately marched toward Shaanxi.
The Martial Soul Society had been closely tied to Bu Eun-seol since its founding.
Though never officially confirmed, many believed they still maintained deep connections—after all, their very name echoed his title, Martial Soul Lord.
Yet now, to secure his position as heir, he would cast aside even that bond and destroy them?
—Has the Martial Soul Lord grown blind with ambition?
The Martial Soul Society immediately denounced him, but Bu Eun-seol pressed forward without hesitation.
—He's serious.
Though recently acknowledged as a force in the Central Plains, the Martial Soul Society had yet to forge strong ties with either the Righteous Faction, the Black Path, or the Unorthodox Faction.
They had no choice but to face this threat alone.
—Hold the line!
In desperation, the Martial Soul Society assembled three thousand warriors from their elite Four Great Divisions to oppose the Blood Sky Battalion.
But most of Bu Eun-seol's forces were bloodthirsty berserkers—true Mad Demons who reveled in slaughter.
Coupled with Bu Eun-seol's brilliant strategy and tactics, the Martial Soul Society's forces fell like autumn leaves before a storm.
Now... there was truly no turning back.