Chapter 995
Bu Eun-seol had to suppress the hysterical laugh threatening to burst from his lips.
This was no different from a foolish child plucking a whisker from a sleeping lion.
And considering the opponent in question was none other than the Empress Dowager herself... the repercussions that would follow were as clear as day.
"Hehe."
Hye-ga, seemingly aware of the gravity of the situation, scratched his cheek awkwardly and let out an embarrassed chuckle.
'But the fact that the Imperial Palace's masters are this strong is unexpected.'
According to what had been known until now, the martial arts of the Imperial Palace lagged far behind those of the murim.
Because of this, Imperial Palace martial arts had supposedly developed in a direction focused on suppressing the internal energy of murim practitioners.
Bu Eun-seol had even assumed that the reason the Empress Dowager had consistently colluded with murim factions was precisely because the Imperial Palace lacked masters of such formidable martial prowess.
However, judging by the strength of the Yellow-Robed Agents who had just appeared, as well as the skills of the palace masters who had attacked Hye-ga...
Contrary to common knowledge, they had reached a level of overwhelming martial prowess that far exceeded expectations.
'The Imperial Palace will become a major variable moving forward.'
The fact that the Imperial Palace possessed such formidable martial power was something almost entirely unknown to the current murim.
In other words, this was critical information—a variable that would significantly impact the various plans Bu Eun-seol had been laying out.
Whoosh.
At that moment, Sama Gwang appeared with the Sound of Breaking Air, his sword at his waist.
He had likely hidden Su-wol in a safe place before returning to assist Bu Eun-seol.
"What in the world happened here?"
Sama Gwang looked at Bu Eun-seol and Hye-ga standing beside him with a puzzled expression.
"They weren't targeting you, Elder."
Bu Eun-seol pointed at Hye-ga and explained the situation up to this point.
Sama Gwang listened with a dazed expression for a long while before suddenly bursting into laughter and nodding.
"Well done! You've severed one of that wretched Empress Dowager's funding streams."
Upon hearing that this young monk had been the one to rescue his granddaughter from the clutches of that devilish Flower-Plucking Lecher, his gaze turned exceedingly favorable.
But then, noticing Hye-ga's injuries, he spoke in a concerned voice.
"Your wounds are severe. Continuing your journey through the martial world would be unwise."
Sama Gwang suggested,
"Why not come to my hideout first and recover? The Imperial Palace's pursuers won't give up easily—they'll hunt you down relentlessly."
"You have another hideout?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked, Sama Gwang's expression turned bitter.
"If you want to survive while evading the grasp of that monstrous woman, you have to dig dozens of burrows."
As it turned out, this mountain cabin was merely one of dozens of hideouts he had prepared.
In anticipation of potential attacks from the Jeongcheonje or the Shadow Force, he had created multiple safehouses and constantly moved between them.
"No, this humble monk must go."
Hye-ga's expression grew solemn.
"The name of our sect has been exploited repeatedly to lure numerous prodigies and even the successors of various mysterious sects."
"Your sect?"
Sama Gwang tilted his head in confusion.
Bu Eun-seol assumed that, since Sama Gwang had never peered into the murim's abyss, he wouldn't even know about the ordinary Three Realms, let alone the Purifying Three Realms.
"He belongs to a secret organization that protects the murim."
Bu Eun-seol vaguely glossed over it.
After all, since ancient times, many of the murim's sacred lands had originated from Buddhist sects.
"You don't mean the Purifying Three Realms, do you?"
An unexpected response spilled out.
Sama Gwang—he knew about the Purifying Three Realms?
"You're aware of our sect?"
At Hye-ga's question, Sama Gwang nodded while looking at Bu Eun-seol.
"My younger brother Baekri told me. He said there's a secret organization in the murim called the Three Realms, and that he would soon become its leader—the Realm Master."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
It was a shocking revelation.
His father, Baekri Mu-ha, was supposed to become the Realm Master of the Three Realms?
"My father was to be the Realm Master of the Three Realms?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked, Sama Gwang nodded.
"To be precise, he said he was something like a successor. That it would happen in the future."
When Bu Eun-seol fell silent, Sama Gwang was the one who seemed surprised.
"You didn't know?"
"No, I didn't."
Bu Eun-seol admitted honestly.
"In truth, all my childhood memories were erased... I've only recently managed to recover a few fragments."
Then he pressed urgently,
"Did you hear anything else from him?"
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had planned to sit down quietly with Sama Gwang and ask separately about his father and the Saha Manor.
But now that such a shocking truth had surfaced, he couldn't stop himself from probing further.
"I don't even know why my father, as a blood relative of the Baekri Clan, lived separately in the Saha Manor."
"I see."
Sama Gwang let out a sigh.
"My sworn brother told me this: The people of the Baekri Clan, who vanished from the murim three hundred years ago, were actually those permitted to roam the martial world—the figures of the Baekri Side Family."
And he added,
"Moreover, he said he had entered the Martial World to become a member of the Baekri Side Family himself."
However, Hye-ga, who had been silently listening, suddenly let out an "Ah!" and spoke up.
"Then that means the Lord's late father was a blood descendant of the Baekri Clan—someone who had even tried to unite the Three Realms and our Purifying Three Realms."
In an instant, flames seemed to flicker in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
"That's what my master told me."
Hye-ga blinked his large eyes as he spoke.
"In the past, the Young Clan Head of the Baekri Clan, Baekri Mu-ha, went to great lengths... to unite the Three Realms and our Purifying Three Realms."
Thud.
Bu Eun-seol's expression was as if he had been struck in the back of the head.
His father, a blood descendant of the Baekri Clan, was supposed to be the successor of the Three Realms? And he had tried to merge the Purifying Three Realms with the Three Realms?
Gulp.
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath, struggling to regain his composure.
Just like the murderer who had killed his grandfather, his parents' whereabouts had been utterly impossible to trace.
And now, this sudden revelation—
That his father had been the successor of the Three Realms? It was such shocking information that he couldn't help but be stunned.
"So, if what you're saying is true..."
After steadying himself with another deep breath, Bu Eun-seol turned to Sama Gwang.
"My father was originally from the main house of the Baekri Clan, but later joined the Baekri Side Family—which, like the Servants of the True Demon, was permitted to operate in the Martial World?"
"The True Demon?"
Sama Gwang frowned.
"What is this 'True Demon' you speak of?"
"You've never heard of the True Demon?"
"This old man has only ever heard the name 'Three Realms' in passing. And even that was only because my younger brother and I happened to have a frank conversation while designing the Saha Manor."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol grasp the situation.
His father hadn't told Sama Gwang about the Baekri Clan's ancient struggle against the True Demon.
He had only mentioned that they were one of the legendary Three Clans who had left their mark on the Martial World.
And regarding the Three Realms, it seemed his father had given Sama Gwang a vague explanation during their discussions about the Saha Manor's construction.
"What a strange twist of fate."
At that moment, Hye-ga brought up another astonishing revelation.
"The reason I entered the Martial World was because, just as the Divine Being Baekri Mu-ha once gathered prodigies under the name of the Purifying Three Realms..."
Hye-ga blinked his large eyes as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"Someone has been luring people by impersonating our faction."
"Luring them?"
"Yes. I was sent by my master to uncover this sinister plot."
"Using the name of the Purifying Three Realms to attract prodigies? How is that even possible?"
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned incredulous.
The Purifying Three Realms was a secret organization so covert that even the Martial World's most prominent figures knew little about it.
Moreover, its members were scattered, solely focused on restoring the original forms of the martial arts left behind by the Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
In truth, they held no influence over the Martial World whatsoever.
So why would anyone lure martial artists under their name?
It was bizarre and deeply suspicious.
"There's no benefit to be gained from exploiting the Purifying Three Realms' name."
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Hye-ga sighed and replied,
"I don't know either. But according to my master, there are those who periodically lure young people under our name."
"Young people?"
"Yes. Even disciples from obscure and mysterious sects that rarely appear in the Martial World."
Hye-ga continued his explanation.
"My master wandered the Martial World for a long time to uncover their conspiracy. And finally, he managed to grasp a lead."
According to him,
His master, the Longevity White Ancestor,
Had spent years using the name of the Purifying Three Realms and parts of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars' martial arts to lure people, thereby uncovering the factions—
And who were weaving some unknown scheme.
After relentless pursuit, he had discovered the location where these young people were being taken—
And obtained a mysterious orb that could lead him there.
However, he had suffered severe injuries in the process.
Moreover, infiltrating that hidden place required a young person who had partially mastered the martial arts of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
Thus, he had ordered his disciple, Hye-ga,
To investigate what kind of sinister plot they were orchestrating.
But Hye-ga, unfamiliar with the affairs of the Central Plains, had ended up burning down all the fields under the Empress Dowager's control on his way there.
And now, he was being relentlessly pursued by masters trained in the Imperial Palace's martial arts.
"Can't you seek help from the other Purifying Three Realms factions?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Hye-ga shook his head.
"We remain scattered and never unite. Because if we gather and form a large faction, corruption is inevitable."
His expression darkened as he spoke.
"Moreover, recently, the Purifying Three Realms factions in each region have been attacked by a certain individual. So we've had no choice but to retreat into even deeper hiding."
"A certain individual?"
"Yes. Someone whose origins and martial arts are completely unknown has been single-handedly tracking down and exterminating the Purifying Three Realms."
'Just like what happened with So Gyodu.'
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
Hadn't it been said that the sect of So Ok-rim, the successor of the Purifying Three Realms in Tibet, was also wiped out when a certain individual invaded and annihilated them all?
'The Purifying Three Realms is an organization so deeply concealed that even my Death Soul Squad's intelligence network couldn't detect them—an organization shrouded in absolute secrecy.'
And yet, someone was not only tracking them down but eliminating them alone.
That meant this person possessed martial prowess and an intelligence network beyond imagination.
"If you know such incidents are repeating, shouldn't you join forces now to hunt down that murderer and protect the disciples of the Purifying Three Realms?"
"Our sect was created after witnessing how the Three Realms fell into corruption. How could we possibly repeat the same mistake?"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his disbelief.
No matter how much they wanted to prevent corruption—
No matter how much they wanted to uphold justice in the martial world—they had to stay alive first to make it possible.
If someone unstoppable was systematically exterminating them, the only option left was to unite and counter them.
Yet the Purifying Three Realms stubbornly clung to their beliefs, to the point of foolishness.
"I see."
But Bu Eun-seol didn't argue further.
Martial artists guarded their sect's principles and beliefs as fiercely as their own lives.
Because if they abandoned them, their very existence would be denied.
The same went for the Demonic Path and the Righteous Path.
Hadn't they been in conflict since the beginning of time, precisely because their beliefs and ideologies were irreconcilable?
Moreover, the Purifying Three Realms had personally witnessed the corruption of the Three Realms, so even in this situation, they would never consolidate their forces.
"I need to reach the Immortal Valley in Pyeongnam within three days, but..."
Hye-ga shook his head, staring at his tattered leg muscles.
"In this state, it's impossible."
Naturally, his injuries were too severe to use Lightness Skill.
Even if Bu Eun-seol carried him there, with legs like these, he wouldn't be able to conduct any investigation.
"But is there really a place called the Immortal Valley in Pyeongnam?"
Though well-versed in the geography of the Central Plains, Bu Eun-seol had never heard of such a name.
"Immortal Valley is just what they call it."
Hye-ga took out an orb from his robes and placed it on his palm.
"They said if you follow where this orb leads, you'll arrive there."
A glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
That orb, emitting a mysterious glow—
Wasn't it strikingly similar to the one the Martial Venerable had given him to break through the boundary formation on the island where the Wooden Buddha was hiding?
'Could the Wooden Buddha be there?'
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
There was no way the Wooden Buddha would waste his efforts luring young people.
If anyone was involved, it would more likely be the Martial Venerable.
'But the Martial Venerable would never orchestrate such a sinister plot.'
The Martial Venerable was still acting as the Martial Alliance Chief, commanding a considerable secret faction.
Would he really risk his hard-earned status and reputation just to lure young disciples of a mysterious sect?
'What's certain is that whoever is using these orbs to lure the young—and even exploiting the name of the Purifying Three Realms—is no ordinary faction.'
According to Sama Gwang, Bu Eun-seol's father had attempted to unite the Three Realms and the Purifying Three Realms.
Perhaps that was why the Saha Manor was annihilated.
And if this faction was impersonating the Purifying Three Realms...
They might even be connected to his father's death or the Saha Manor Blood Eye incident.
'I must verify this.'
"Fine. I'll investigate that place for you."
"Huh?"
"I'll go there myself and look into those who are exploiting the name of the Purifying Three Realms."
"You, Lord?"
Hye-ga blinked in surprise.
"Why would you?"
"Well... since I'm also opposing the Three Realms, you could say the Purifying Three Realms and I are... friends, no?"
It was a somewhat awkward excuse.
But the naive Hye-ga merely blinked his large eyes before breaking into a moved expression.
"Lord, you truly are a righteous hero of the martial world!"
Any ordinary martial artist would have at least questioned his motives.
But Hye-ga had a personality as pure as a newborn baby.
He genuinely believed Bu Eun-seol was risking his life to help him and was deeply touched.
'This guy needs to drink a bit more of the martial world's harsh waters.'
Just as Bu Eun-seol forced a bitter smile—
"Thank you."
Hye-ga immediately handed him an orb.
"Then I leave it to you. Please go to the Immortal Valley in Pyeongnam and crush their conspiracy."
Then, calmly, he explained:
"If you channel your internal energy into the orb, it will guide you."
When Bu Eun-seol took the orb and infused it with a trickle of energy, a low vibration spread out, and the light immediately leaned in one direction.
It seemed that direction was where he needed to go.
"I will uncover their true identities and sinister schemes, then return to find you."
"And how would you know where to find this humble monk?"
Bu Eun-seol turned his head to look at Sama Gwang.
"Didn't the old man say it earlier? The Imperial Palace's pursuit is relentless, so stay with him for the time being."
Then, with unwavering resolve, he added:
"Once everything is over, I will seek out your hiding place myself."
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze back to Sama Gwang.
"Before I go... might I hear the rest of the story?"
He still hadn't heard everything about his father.
Before leaving, he wanted to exchange a few more words with him.
KWA-WOONG!
Bu Eun-seol became a streak of lightning, splitting the heavens as he raced endlessly southward.
He wore a cloth mask over his face, and through the Darkness Secret Arts, his features had transformed into those of an utterly ordinary young wanderer.
Since he didn't know what kind of place Immortal Valley was, he had abandoned his known identity entirely—
Instead, he had assumed a completely new persona through a disguise.
Before departing, he had spoken at length with Sama Gwang and obtained several additional pieces of information.
The period when the mechanisms of Saha Manor were designed coincided with the time just before his father and mother married.
And back then, his father had introduced his mother to Sama Gwang—
Concealing the fact that she was the Saintess of the True Demon Family, presenting her instead as an ordinary woman.
'One thing is certain—Jeong Cheon-je had been watching my father for a long time.'
But the truly shocking revelation came later.
According to Sama Gwang, his father had wandered the Martial World in utmost secrecy, performing good deeds—
Until someone gradually began exposing those chivalrous acts, earning him the name "The First of the Rivers and Lakes."
Eventually, the fame of "The First of the Rivers and Lakes" shook the Murim in an instant, and once his preferred attire and a description of his appearance became known—
He unwittingly formed connections with figures of the Righteous Path.
In other words, the one responsible for this could only have been Jeong Cheon-je.
—"Surely, it was Jeong Cheon-je who dragged your father into the light!"
Sama Gwang had said that his father never intended to reveal his actions—
And that his chivalrous deeds in the Martial World had been entirely accidental.
Clearly, Jeong Cheon-je had tracked his father's movements and spread word of them throughout the Murim, which was how he gained the reputation of "The First of the Rivers and Lakes."
'But could Jeong Cheon-je really have tracked my father's movements back then?'
Something didn't add up.
His father, who wielded the power of the Baekri Clan, must have been dozens of times stronger than he was now.
Yet Jeong Cheon-je had managed to uncover his father's whereabouts and broadcast his good deeds to the Murim?
'Then... is this the True Demon's scheme?'
Could Jeong Cheon-je be someone's puppet?
Even Shin Do-mu-bi, the Righteous Path's Number One, would seem like a mere child in the eyes of the True Demon.
'One thing is certain—this is all part of a meticulously planned conspiracy.'
The reason his father had maintained such close friendships with Righteous Path figures like Sama Gwang—
Was because someone had orchestrated those connections.
And the purpose behind it?
Perhaps to use one of those many friendships to lure his father into a trap.
But the most crucial piece of information was this:
'At the time, Jeong Cheon-je might not have been the real Jeong Cheon-je—but the Martial Venerable.'
At the very end, Sama Gwang had shared a shocking revelation.
—"Shin Do-mu-bi... Ten years ago in Jinan, he saw me once, yet he treated me as if we were meeting for the first time."
His voice was thick with bitterness.
—"Perhaps he had already fallen to his Demonic Nature by then... or his mind was slipping in and out of awareness."
Hearing those words, Bu Eun-seol could sense it.
From that time onward, Jeong Cheon-je must have alternated with the Martial Venerable in his travels through the Martial World.
Otherwise, a man with Jeong Cheon-je's legendary memory would never have forgotten meeting Sama Gwang.
In the end, the one who had carried out those cruel acts against Sama Gwang—
Could have been either Jeong Cheon-je himself or the Martial Venerable.
'If so... this might be easier to unravel than expected.'
His father's past movements had been so secretive that even his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang, had struggled to trace them.
But thinking about it—his father must have had friendships with several Righteous Path figures, just like Sama Gwang.
Meaning, if he could track down those who had been close to his father... he might uncover the truth more easily than he thought.
'The Martial Venerable would never leave a trail.'
Currently, the Martial Venerable was said to be secluded within the Martial Alliance—
But his whereabouts were so obscure that it was impossible to confirm whether he was truly there.
But it didn't matter.
Now that it was clear the one who attacked Saha Manor was either Jeong Cheon-je or the Martial Venerable—
If he relentlessly investigated the past movements of both while tracking down those who had ties to his father—
He would inevitably uncover the truth.
'I'll find something in Immortal Valley too.'
He was certain of it.
The conspiracy behind Immortal Valley was no mere force within the Martial World.
Here, he would undoubtedly obtain more information about his grandfather... or his father.
Flash—
Following the light emitted by the orb, Bu Eun-seol continued his Lightness Skill—
Until, before he knew it, the scenery before him shifted to a towering mountain, its peak stretching into the heavens like an entrance to the sky.
He had arrived at Immortal Valley.