Chapter 924
Step. Step.
Bu Eun-seol walked forward with steady strides, blood dripping from his body.
Though he had cut down over a hundred of the Flame Emperor's elite forces, his own body was far from unscathed.
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms could annihilate the Flame Emperor's qi, but it couldn't completely block their desperate counterattacks.
Yet he neither halted his steps nor called for his subordinates.
He simply dragged his wounded body forward alone, slowly making his way toward the Demon Hall.
It didn't matter if another attack came.
No matter what formidable enemies emerged or what trials awaited him... he would never retreat. He would handle it all alone.
Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang.
Because he was the grandson of that peerless martial master.
Whoosh.
From the sky, where the biting north wind had been howling, thick snowflakes now poured down.
But the white snow melted before it could even touch Bu Eun-seol's body.
A wisp of pale steam rose in a straight line from the crown of his head.
The Reverse Extreme Inner Method allowed qi circulation in any posture.
Even as he walked slowly, he was healing his body.
Huum.
Before long, a heat haze began to rise from his body.
His flesh and spirit had become one, and though he walked through the mud, not a single footprint was left behind.
Kurung.
Then, from far away, the sound of shattering air shook the very earth.
'An extraordinary movement technique.'
That tremendous sound of breaking air was the noise produced when a master of incredible movement techniques tore through the atmosphere at extreme speeds.
'They've locked onto me.'
Realizing that the one who had unleashed this movement technique was heading straight for him, Bu Eun-seol tilted his head slightly.
For someone to charge directly toward him, despite the Information Warfare Unit of the Death Soul Squad constantly erasing his trail...
This was likely not an enemy.
Rather, it was probably someone who had tracked him down through the Death Soul Squad's intelligence network.
Thud.
Bu Eun-seol stopped walking and stood still.
Then, finally, a kaboom echoed from the sky before—
Swish— Thud!
A black shadow descended before him, swirling like a vortex as it landed.
The figure wore a tattered, coarse black robe, his face covered with the cloth mask favored by wandering fighters. Over his shoulders, he wore dark metallic pauldrons.
It was none other than Heuk-pyo, who operated Beyond the Frontier.
"Lord!"
"Heuk-pyo?"
Heuk-pyo, who had rushed forward eagerly, gaped upon seeing Bu Eun-seol's state.
"H-how...?"
His appearance was that of a blood-drenched man—no, more like a Demon King from the underworld who had crawled out of hell to annihilate the human world.
"What in the world happened?"
"There was a battle."
"A battle...?"
At Bu Eun-seol's indifferent reply, Heuk-pyo stood frozen like a block of ice, seemingly in shock.
He, too, had been engaged in constant battles Beyond the Frontier.
But never in his life had he fought to the point of looking like this.
"I see... So this is why I'm still lacking."
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, no, never mind."
Snapping out of his daze, Heuk-pyo finally bowed respectfully.
"Lord. I hope you've been well all this time."
"What brings you here so suddenly?"
"I wished to see you, Lord. So I tracked you down through the Death Soul Squad's intelligence network."
Heuk-pyo scratched his head awkwardly.
Judging by his expression, it wasn't just because he missed seeing Bu Eun-seol's face.
"You may speak frankly."
After hesitating briefly, Heuk-pyo lowered his head.
"It seems... I've hit my limit again."
Avoiding Bu Eun-seol's piercing gaze, he continued.
"No matter how hard I tried, I felt like I wasn't improving."
"No improvement?"
"Yes. But now that I see you like this... I realize I wasn't truly giving it my all."
Heuk-pyo looked at Bu Eun-seol, drenched in blood, with a shameful expression.
"While you, Lord, still traverse the line between life and death... I've just been clinging to luck."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned slightly baffled.
Back when he had been shaken by Ak Mu-ryeong's true martial prowess, losing confidence and floundering...
He had met Heuk-pyo near Jade Gate Pass.
At the time, Heuk-pyo had also lamented that he wasn't improving.
And yet, less than half a year later...
Heuk-pyo's martial prowess and qi had risen to levels incomparable to before.
And yet he claimed he wasn't improving?
"What led you to that conclusion?"
"While leading the Ronin Corps on a mission in the Qingtang Gula Mountains, I encountered an oddity clad in metal."
"A metal-clad oddity?"
"Yes. That person had reached an extraordinary level of martial prowess—far beyond what I could hope to match."
The reason Heuk-pyo was called the Wandering King wasn't just because of his leadership, cold rationality, and willingness to sacrifice.
Above all, it was because he possessed the overwhelming martial prowess needed to lead impossible missions to success.
Moreover, his combat experience was as vast as Bu Eun-seol's—among masters his age, none could compare.
And yet, he couldn't even handle a single oddity wearing a metal suit?
"You lost?"
"Yes."
Heuk-pyo took a deep breath.
"I fought to the brink of death, but in the end, I was utterly defeated and barely escaped with my life."
"Hmm."
"If it had been an ordinary human, I could've accepted it. But the fact that it was made of metal means it was nothing more than someone's puppet."
Heuk-pyo hung his head low.
If it had been a master who had honed their martial arts through sheer effort?
He would've accepted the defeat wholeheartedly and trained harder.
But losing to a mere metal-clad oddity was something he simply couldn't stomach.
"I think... the way I've been training until now has been completely wrong."
Heuk-pyo's expression grew earnest.
"I've tried to find another way, but nothing has worked out... After much deliberation, I've come to seek your guidance, Lord."
"Hmm."
Having grasped the situation, Bu Eun-seol finally spoke.
"I don't know how strong that oddity is. But—"
And then he told him frankly.
"I can say with certainty that no one your age stronger than you exists. Even if you scoured all one hundred eighty thousand leagues of the Central Plains, you would never find such a person."
"Being the strongest among my peers is meaningless."
Heuk-pyo's eyes burned with fierce aspiration as he replied.
"I want to become endlessly strong, like you, Lord."
Bu Eun-seol's face twisted slightly in discomfort.
Truthfully, the only difference between them was time.
Heuk-pyo's growth rate was already on a level that could rival his own.
But the fact that he had lost to a mere puppet of metal, controlled by someone else, had made him impatient.
"But now I understand."
Heuk-pyo suddenly smiled, his gaze distant and unfocused.
"Perhaps I, too, should stake my life and fight alone like you, Lord."
Then, looking up at the far-off sky, he declared with vigor:
"Maybe I should just head to the Blood Cult. Either they die, or I do."
'Hmm.'
Bu Eun-seol exhaled a sigh.
Heuk-pyo had come to him after much deliberation, in his own way.
And after witnessing Bu Eun-seol standing alone against overwhelming forces, reigning supreme, he had felt ashamed—
So much so that he had reached the wrong realization and was now making a self-destructive choice.
"That's a poor judgment."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"That wouldn't be a battle. It would be suicide."
"But isn't that what you do, Lord?"
Heuk-pyo countered.
"You don't assess the enemy's combat power, guarantee victory, and then stake your life on the fight, do you?"
"..."
"I, too, will start with the battles others deem impossible—just like you, Lord."
Bu Eun-seol swallowed his words.
Heuk-pyo was brave, but still far too young.
Having soared to prominence under the name Wandering King, roaming freely beyond the frontier, only to suffer an unexpected defeat—
He was now drowning in frustration and despair beyond his ability to bear.
'And if the one who defeated him was some unknown oddity made of metal, controlled by another...'
He could well understand Heuk-pyo's feelings.
It was no different from a martial artist who prided himself on being among the world's finest suddenly losing to a mere Diamond Bronze Man—a puppet moved by mechanisms.
'But as things stand, there's nothing I can teach him.'
In Bu Eun-seol's eyes, Heuk-pyo was already strong enough, and at present, there was nothing obvious that needed improvement.
'Ah. There was that method.'
Suddenly, he recalled a way he himself had once used to advance rapidly in the past.
Surely, if Heuk-pyo used that method, he would be able to identify his own shortcomings and achieve a dramatic breakthrough.
'But for that to work, the right connection must be made.'
As if sensing Bu Eun-seol's hesitation, Heuk-pyo—with uncanny perception—dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Please grant me your teachings, Lord."
He clasped his hands together in desperate plea.
"I'll do anything you ask."
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol let out a sigh.
"Heuk-pyo."
"I beg of you."
Seeing Heuk-pyo's fervent plea, Bu Eun-seol fell silent.
If he refused to teach him now—
He would only plunge him deeper into despair.
"Very well. First—"
Just as Bu Eun-seol nodded and began to speak—
Whoosh.
A soft Sound of Breaking Air whispered past, followed by a faint Thousand-Li Voice Transmission that pierced his ears.
[Lord. It's Naeng-hwan.]
It was none other than Naeng-hwan—one of the most capable members of the Death Soul Squad.
[The Mount Heng Sect's leader seeks your aid.]
[Myeong-un, you mean?]
In the past, the Mount Heng Sect's peerless techniques had been lost.
The remaining disciples barely scraped by, taking on escort missions and petty errands for other sects just to survive.
Back then, while still serving as a member of the Kill-Seeking Unit, Bu Eun-seol had briefly crossed paths with Myeong-un, the youngest disciple of the Mount Heng Sect.
But later, while escorting a shipment for the Emei Sect, the Mount Heng disciples had all perished—
And Myeong-un, the sole survivor, had pursued strength only to end up as a puppet of the Three Realms.
Even knowing he would lose, Myeong-un had obeyed the Three Realms' order to attack Bu Eun-seol.
Because he had to rebuild the Mount Heng Sect.
Because he, who had tainted himself by joining a filthy faction, could never return to the sect himself.
Breathing his last under Bu Eun-seol's blade, he had entrusted him with a Martial Arts Manual containing the restored techniques of the Mount Heng Sect, begging him to find a successor.
Honoring that desperate plea, Bu Eun-seol, while wandering the Martial World, had encountered a nameless wandering boy who controlled puppets—
And in him, he had discovered an extraordinary talent capable of mastering the Mount Heng Sect's martial arts to Great Completion.
He had passed on the name Myeong-un and the sect's techniques to the boy, entrusting him with the task of rebuilding the Mount Heng Sect.
According to later reports from the Death Soul Squad,
The boy, Myeong-un, had been steadily restoring the Mount Heng Sect's former glory through his exceptional talent and remarkable leadership.
So why was he suddenly asking for help now?
'Given Myeong-un's personality, he wouldn't seek me out unless it was something serious.'
Sensing that something had gone wrong at the Mount Heng Sect, Bu Eun-seol sent a Thousand-Li Voice Transmission in reply.
[Understood. I'll head there now.]
Seeing the shift in Bu Eun-seol's expression, Heuk-pyo smiled faintly, realizing he had received a transmission.
After all, he was well aware of the presence of So-yo, who always lingered in Bu Eun-seol's shadow, following him like a ghost.
"It seems Vice Chief So has sent you a transmission."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"She's currently training in martial arts at Mount Jangbaek. Right now, there's no unit member on standby—only information is being exchanged."
"Ah, I see."
Heuk-pyo cautiously inquired.
"Is something the matter?"
"It seems there's been a mishap at the Mount Heng Sect."
Bu Eun-seol briefly explained the situation involving Myeong-un and the sect.
Then, as he drew upon his internal energy, he said,
"Fortunately, we're close to Mount Heng. We'll head there immediately."
"Understood."
KWA-RUNG!
Bu Eun-seol unleashed the full extent of his Swift Shadowless movement art.
In an instant, he became a streak of violet lightning, splitting the air mid-flight.
Heuk-pyo immediately realized this was a test of his own Lightness Skill and poured all his strength into raising his internal power.
SWIIIIISH!
He transformed into a black streak, cutting through the void.
But before even eight minutes had passed, a crushing sense of frustration and despair coiled around him.
'I can't catch up.'
He bit his lip.
'Lightness Skill is my specialty. If I'm still like this, how can I ever ask the Lord for guidance?'
Forgetting that Bu Eun-seol's Lightness Skill was among the finest in the world, he strained every ounce of his internal power to push forward.
Then, from the Blood Rain Heaven Feather—no, the Black Wing—attached to his left shoulder—
WHOOOSH!
A sound like an enormous suction of air erupted, followed by—
KWAAAAA!
A thunderous explosion as Heuk-pyo began closing the gap between himself and Bu Eun-seol.
KOO-RUNG! KWANG!
But then, Bu Eun-seol abruptly unleashed another explosive burst, accelerating even further beyond his previous speed.
'Even with the Black Wing, I can't reach him.'
Heuk-pyo's vision blurred as he watched Bu Eun-seol's figure grow endlessly distant.
Since obtaining the Black Wing, his Lightness Skill had more than doubled in speed. He had even believed that, if he truly exerted himself, no one in the world could outpace him in movement techniques.
Yet here he was, not only failing to keep up with the violet lightning-wreathed figure ahead but losing sight of him entirely.
In contrast, Bu Eun-seol sensed how far behind Heuk-pyo was and inwardly marveled.
'He's doing well, just as I expected.'
'Even with the help of a precious artifact, at his age, I hadn't yet mastered Body-Locomotion Martial Art to that degree.'
Heuk-pyo was naturally suited for Body-Locomotion Martial Art, possessing both the physique and disposition for it.
The only difference lay in their internal energy levels and the unique power of the Three Divine Powers.
But in pure movement technique alone—
Heuk-pyo had already surpassed Bu Eun-seol's own talent.
'That freak in the metal armor must be formidable indeed.'
If someone capable of such movement techniques could be utterly crushed by that armored freak—
Not only was his martial prowess extraordinary, but he must have also mastered a terrifying Lightness Body Art capable of neutralizing Heuk-pyo's techniques.
'The martial world is vast, and eccentric masters are countless.'
Even those whose names remained unknown—
Possessed abilities and martial prowess beyond imagination, as numerous as grains of sand.
KOO-RUNG. SWIIIIK.
Before long, Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo arrived at Mount Heng.
Known as the Southern Peak among the Five Great Mountains, its slopes were gentle yet interspersed with sheer cliffs, exuding a majestic energy that coiled like a dragon embracing heaven and earth.
The Mount Heng Sect's headquarters lay near Huiyan Peak on the southern side.
The interior, meticulously reconstructed to mirror the sect's former glory, not only harmonized with the surrounding landscape but also embodied the Mount Heng Sect's pursuit of balance—
And the fluid elegance of their sword techniques, which mirrored the natural flow of the world.
TAK.
Rather than entering directly, Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo deliberately arrived at the base of Huiyan Peak and ascended slowly.
Though the sect's influence had waned, the Mount Heng Sect was still a prestigious orthodox faction—
One did not barge in unannounced.
After walking along a path dense with trees for some time, they spotted a white-walled enclosure nestled against the mountainside.
The entrance to the Mount Heng Sect.
As they approached, a middle-aged man carrying a basket of vegetables—more resembling an herb gatherer or a kitchen worker than a disciple—walked over and asked,
"How may I assist you?"
Though his appearance suggested otherwise, Bu Eun-seol immediately discerned that he wore the Mount Heng Sect's attire and bowed respectfully.
"I am Seol-so, a wandering martial artist, and this is my attendant. I have an appointment with Sect Leader Myeong. Please deliver this name card."
"With the Sect Leader?"
Even disguised as Seol-so, the aura and bearing of a martial master who looked down on the world could not be concealed.
The middle-aged man carefully set down his basket and said,
"Please wait a moment."
Then, hastily taking the name card, he hurried inside.
Soon after, a boy in blue martial robes came sprinting out—
None other than Myeong-un, the current Sect Leader of Mount Heng.
"Eun-gong!"
Myeong-un had taken on the spirited demeanor of a righteous faction's rising star.
"First, allow me to bow!"
He recognized Bu Eun-seol despite his disguise as Seol-so and immediately dropped to his knees to prostrate.
"How could the leader of a great sect perform such a grand gesture?"
Bu Eun-seol channeled his internal energy, preventing Myeong-un from completing the bow.
WUUNG.
Under that force, Myeong-un could only lower his head.
'Eun-gong's level of internal energy is truly peerless in the world.'
Myeong-un was naturally gifted in accumulating internal energy, and after recently consuming the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng King by chance—
His internal energy had reached a realm where even the masters of previous generations could not surpass him.
Yet here he was, rendered immobile without Bu Eun-seol so much as lifting a finger.
'You've improved quite a bit in that time.'
Bu Eun-seol was, in his own way, deeply astonished.
Seeing the level of Myeong-un's internal power, he could guess that the young man had encountered some fortuitous opportunity.
But what truly surprised him wasn't the depth of Myeong-un's energy—it was his extraordinary instinct.
The moment Bu Eun-seol's power surged toward him, Myeong-un had instinctively struggled to divert it with remarkable finesse.
That wasn't due to sheer internal energy.
It was a natural movement born from profound comprehension of the principles of swordplay.
"You've been well, Sect Leader Myeong."
When Bu Eun-seol offered his greeting, Myeong-un bowed once more.
"Of course. Thanks to the aid you once granted me, both I and our sect... have been safe and sound."
Though he had only just shed the last traces of boyishness,
his natural brilliance and the bitter and sweet lessons learned from years of wandering the marketplace
allowed him to lead the Mount Heng Sect with surprising competence despite his youth.
"You've taken in many disciples, I see."
Within the Mount Heng Sect, there were numerous young boys, as well as elderly men and middle-aged individuals.
"They aren't martial artists... just members of our sect's household."
Myeong-un spoke with an embarrassed expression.
"Those who wish to train in martial arts do so, and those unsuited to it contribute to the sect's livelihood."
While diligently honing his own skills, Myeong-un had also taken in those with nowhere to go—just as he himself had once been.
"That's how it should be."
Bu Eun-seol nodded with an approving expression.
"A sect is a sanctuary, a place to find new family."
Langya Pavilion was like that too, but
righteous sects that emphasized the bond between master and disciple inevitably fostered familial ties.
Eating together, sleeping together, growing together—
joining a sect meant welcoming a new family.
Without needing to be taught,
Myeong-un was steadily laying the foundation of his sect from the very beginning.
"But this gentleman here...?"
When Myeong-un pointed to Heuk-pyo and asked,
"This is Heuk-pyo. Sect Leader."
Heuk-pyo, too, bowed respectfully to the young sect leader.
"He leads a wandering mercenary band beyond the frontier, scraping by as best he can."
"The—the Wandering King?!"
Myeong-un's mouth fell open in awe.
"You mean the Great Hero before me is the Wandering King himself?"
"It's just an undeserved title I happened to acquire."
Despite Heuk-pyo's modesty, Myeong-un's cheeks flushed bright red, his mouth still agape.
The Wandering King, Heuk-pyo.
His name was an object of admiration not just among martial artists, but even among the street thugs and drifters.
The tale of how a young information runner from the Wandering Drifters had met the successor of Langya Pavilion and journeyed with him through the martial world,
amassing extraordinary martial prowess along the way.
How that boy later struck out on his own as a wandering mercenary, earning immense renown beyond the frontier,
not only refining martial arts that shook the heavens but also
becoming the leader of a band of unruly, terrifyingly skilled wanderers—
this legendary saga had, for young boys just beginning to dream of greatness,
surpassed even the Martial Soul Lord as the ultimate object of admiration.
"This is an honor. A true honor!"
Myeong-un waved both hands excitedly, his face burning red.
His excitement now was ten times greater than when he had greeted Bu Eun-seol.
'Even as a sect leader, he hasn't fully outgrown his boyishness.'
Just as Heuk-pyo suppressed a wry smile—
"But how did you contact the Death Soul Squad?"
Bu Eun-seol's voice turned solemn.
"Reaching out to our intelligence network is a matter that risks the survival of your sect."
No matter his personal feelings, Bu Eun-seol was a figure of the Demonic Path.
If it became known that Myeong-un was connected to him?
Nothing good would come of it—it might even tarnish the Mount Heng Sect's reputation.
That was why, when Bu Eun-seol had shared the Death Soul Squad's intelligence channels,
he had strictly warned Myeong-un to refrain from contacting them unless the sect's survival was at stake.
"It is a matter of the sect's survival."
Myeong-un took a deep breath before continuing.
"And more than that... I thought it might be of help to you, Lord."
"Help?"
"Yes."
Like the chief steward of an inn welcoming an important guest, Myeong-un gestured toward the Mount Heng Sect's entrance.
"Please, come inside first so we may speak properly."
Myeong-un led Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo to the guest hall, serving them tea before explaining in detail.
"Our sect's Polishing Mirror Terrace was originally a place for seated meditation. But thanks to the mental cultivation method you restored for us, Lord..."
"Just call me Lord, Sect Leader."
"Ah, yes. Since the method you restored made it unnecessary to visit the terrace... I decided to dismantle the rocks there and turn it into a training ground while practicing my swordplay."
"You dismantled the rocks?"
"Yes."
Surprised, Bu Eun-seol glanced at Myeong-un's sword.
The Mount Heng Sect's swordsmanship relied on extremely precise and swift techniques,
so their blades were as thin as the Namgung Clan's Golden Needle Swords.
Moreover, the sword Myeong-un carried now was a cheap iron blade—the kind one could buy for two taels at any blacksmith.
And yet he had shattered the massive boulders of the Polishing Mirror Terrace?
'He's already grasped the profound depths of the Mount Heng Sect's sword studies.'
Shattering rock with a thin blade wasn't a feat achievable through brute internal energy alone.
Realizing that Myeong-un's swordsmanship had reached a considerable level, Bu Eun-seol nodded with satisfaction.
"Continue."
"But as I broke the rocks, I discovered something strange. A place like a cave... and at its end, a transparent wall that wouldn't let me pass further."
"A transparent wall."
"Yes. Curious, I examined it closely and noticed a part of the wall that seemed... broken, somehow."
In that instant, flames flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
From the description, what Myeong-un had found was undoubtedly an Absolute Boundary.
Which meant that somewhere within Mount Heng—
"...It could be the Baekri Clan's treasure vault."
"Or perhaps a secret location where the Three Clans are covertly carrying out some hidden operation."