The experts from the Flying Demon Palace, who had been rushing forward at breakneck speed, halted the moment they entered the manor.
Their eyes widened in shock.
Inside, corpses were piled like mountains, and the ground was so soaked in blood that their feet were drenched with every step.
Never in their lives had they witnessed such a hellish scene.
“Who is your leader?”
Bu Eunseol strode calmly through the squelching pools of blood.
It was not because he had spent his childhood among the dead. No—he simply believed that the lives of evildoers were worth less than fallen leaves scattered by the wind.
“I will not ask twice.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, the man standing at the front cautiously stepped forward.
“That would be me.”
“Your name?”
“Eun Junghwi.”
“Even if it has fallen into disgrace, how can a demonic sect stoop to doing the dirty work of the righteous factions that commit atrocities?”
Eun Junghwi averted his gaze as he replied. “With all the palace members on the verge of starving to death, what difference does it make whether we are righteous or demonic?”
“If you do not wish to starve, become a mercenary and sell your martial prowess.”
“Who would hire people like us as mercenaries?”
“What do you mean?”
Eun Junghwi lowered his head.
He briefly explained everything that had happened.
The former palace lord, Tak Ilhon, had committed countless thefts to steal secret manuals and mercilessly killed any righteous or demonic experts who pursued him. Thus, Tak Ilhon became a public enemy of the martial world, yet he continued to ravage it without a care.
But one day, he suddenly vanished without a trace, and the Flying Demon Palace was disbanded.
Most of its members changed their names and scattered, but Eun Junghwi could not abandon the subordinates who followed him.
He also believed that Palace Lord Tak Ilhon would one day return.
‘Somehow, I must keep the lineage alive.’
He named the thirty subordinates who followed him, the Flying Demon Squad, and headed to the mercenary market.
Yet they could not escape the stigma of having served under Tak Ilhon, the public enemy and former leader of the Flying Demon Palace.
They were rejected at the market and could not secure a single job.
Then, a middle-aged man who had been watching them made a secretive proposal.
‘If you are from the Flying Demon Palace, your qinggong must be exceptional. Would you take on our work?’
Their work was transporting people—all of them women who had been kidnapped.
“I will refuse.”
“Do as you wish. But even if you travel all eighteen thousand li of the Central Plains, no one will hire you.”
When Eun Junghwi refused, the middle-aged man smiled faintly.
‘In the future, it might be better than becoming bandits and plundering. You only need to transport people, after all.’
Eun Junghwi ignored him, but in the end, the man’s words came true.
Unless they turned to robbery, as martial artists they had no choice but to starve.
After hearing the entire story, Bu Eunseol let out a cold sneer.
“Do you believe it is justified to commit evil deeds just to survive?”
“I never thought it was justified. It was simply that, as the remnants of a ruined sect who could not even beg for a meal, we had no other choice.”
“You could have become wild warriors and farmed the land, or at the very least become back-alley thugs extorting money from merchants.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with a solemn expression.
“In the end, you are merely making excuses.”
“That is true. They are all excuses.” Eun Junghwi lowered his head with a shameful expression. “I have nothing more to say, so kill me. However… my subordinates merely followed my orders. I only ask that you spare their lives, even if you cripple their martial arts.”
Bu Eunseol sighed.
He was a man who showed no mercy to evildoers.
Yet Eun Junghwi knew his own wrongdoing.
That was why he had only handled the transportation of the women and had waited outside the manor without going further.
Above all, they were like disciples personally trained by Tak Ilhon…
It was difficult to strike them down immediately.
“And please accept this.”
At that moment, Eun Junghwi handed Bu Eunseol a small booklet.
It contained detailed information on the locations and sizes of numerous subordinate organizations responsible for offering women to Chae Ju-heung.
“You were preparing for betrayal.”
“How could that be? I merely thought that one day these evil deeds would come to an end. If so, those involved should be properly punished…”
‘It cannot be helped.’
Having accepted the booklet, Bu Eunseol made up his mind.
‘I have no choice but to leave them to Protector Tak.’
Though Tak Ilhon had become a mass murderer to obtain secret manuals, killing countless people, he had never committed sexual atrocities or other vile acts.
While these men had only transported the women, they could not possibly have been unaware that the women would be offered to Chae Hwa-eumjeok.
If he judged there was no hope of repentance, he intended to massacre them without hesitation.
Yet seeing them record the crimes of evildoers in detail and prepare willingly for death, it seemed best to leave the matter to Tak Ilhon.
“Take your subordinates and safely return all the remaining women here to their homes.” Bu Eunseol spoke with a solemn expression. “Afterward, go to Seobu Seongdo and hang a black flag above the Jeongsim Inn. Then, someone will come to find you.”
When Eun Junghwi blinked in confusion, Bu Eunseol added in a low voice,
“Your punishment will be decided then.”
There was an irresistible power in Bu Eunseol’s voice.
The experts of the Flying Demon Palace could feel it.
Unless they hid their identities and fled the martial world entirely, they could not escape his grasp.
“Understood.”
Eun Junghwi ordered his subordinates to begin leading the remaining women out one by one.
They were all women who had been kidnapped and brought here.
“Is there a lady named Jo Chusu here?”
At Bu Eunseol’s shout, a woman with a somewhat haggard but beautiful appearance stepped forward from one side.
“I am Jo Chusu.”
“Good fortune indeed.” Bu Eunseol smiled with relief. “Your sister came to rescue you. She is in the pavilion over there—go find her and return home together.”
“Sister… my sister!”
Jo Chusu immediately ran into the pavilion.
Watching her, Bu Eunseol spoke sternly to Eun Junghwi.
“Ensure that not a single one is missing and return them all safely.”
Whoosh!
Then, in a single leap, he soared into the sky.
Once news spread that this secret manor had fallen, the remaining subordinate organizations would vanish in an instant.
Mobilizing the Martial Alliance would be too slow, so he planned to immediately deploy the Death Spirit Corps to eradicate the kidnapping network in one strike.
***
After leaving Chae Ju-heung’s secret manor, Bu Eunseol handed the booklet he received from Eun Junghwi to Soyo and ordered the complete annihilation of the related organizations.
He then returned to a safe house of the Hanjungbu in the nearby area.
Before dealing with this matter, he had stored the Silent Tiger Soul Sword at the safe house in Hanjungbu, Shaanxi.
Now that everything was resolved, he intended to retrieve the Silent Tiger Soul Sword and destroy the Black Divine Artifact in its protective arm guard form.
Hummm.
As Bu Eunseol, with the arm guard in his bosom, approached the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, it let out a low resonant hum.
At the same time, mysterious patterns etched on the scabbard began to glow with light.
‘I did nothing.’
A strange thought crossed Bu Eunseol’s mind.
The Silent Tiger Soul Sword was emitting intense power upon encountering the Black Divine Artifact.
As if it were about to break the seal engraved on the blade.
‘Was its original purpose to destroy this?’
Bu Eunseol drew the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Shiiing!
With a resounding sword cry, sharp light swirled around it, and a greedy aura began to flow out.
At the same time, even more intense light poured from the scabbard.
This tremor and radiance were on a completely different level from when it had destroyed a demonic sword.
Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Could it be that this was not merely a Demon-Killer Sword meant to slay demonic blades, but a God-Killer Artifact designed to destroy the Black Divine Artifact?
“Good.” Bu Eunseol nodded. “Such demonic objects should not exist in this world anyway.”
Hummm!
Bu Eunseol floated the arm guard from his bosom into the air.
Then, with all his strength, he swung the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Boom!
Light exploded in all directions, and a transparent shockwave spread even beyond the safe house.
The arm guard vanished as if it had evaporated.
It melted away like snow under the sun.
Bzzz.
Suddenly, a low vibration came from Bu Eunseol’s bosom.
It was the small bead that Chae Ju-heung had dropped earlier.
‘This… I must meet Elder Demonic Sword Master.’
The Demonic Sword Master knew not only ancient divine weapons but also many treasures scattered throughout the martial world.
He would surely know what this bead was. Bu Eunseol intended to visit Nangyang Pavilion directly and ask.
Swish.
Leaving Hanjungbu, Bu Eunseol boarded a boat for the first time in a while.
He had heard that the Demonic Sword Master was not at Iron Staff Mountain but had gone to enjoy himself in Gaegyeongbu with Master Iron.
Thus, Bu Eunseol leisurely took a boat toward Gaegyeong.
Due to the Byeokyudang incident, Bu Eunseol had realized that changing identities could reveal flaws. Since information networks could be breached at any time, rather than quickly meeting and parting in one place using high-speed movement techniques, it was far safer to travel slowly, leaving traces, and then secretly switch identities.
Swish.
The boat carrying passengers moved slowly along the waterway.
Bu Eunseol stood on the deck, gazing at the surrounding scenery.
Soon, the boat reached the dock.
Bzzz.
Yet a strange sensation came over him.
Checking his bosom, he saw that the small bead from the arm guard was emitting a faint glow. The closer they got to the dock, the slightly deeper the light from the bead became.
‘It is resonating with something.’
Bu Eunseol grew interested.
He still knew nothing about the Black Divine Artifact so he was immensely curious what following this bead would reveal.
Flutter.
Disembarking, Bu Eunseol immediately employed his qinggong.
The farther east he went, the deeper the light from the bead grew.
Before long, he entered deep into the mountains.
Lush vegetation surrounded him, with rare flowers and plants blooming vividly.
Soon, he reached a flat area at the mountain peak.
‘In a place like this.’
There stood a massive stone gate. Strange patterns were carved on its surface, making it seem as though opening it would unleash hellish demons.
‘No traces of it being opened.’
In the center of the stone gate was only a deep, round hole—nowhere was there a mechanism to open it. Just in case, he inserted his Crystal Divine Energy energy and tried turning it, but there was no internal lock.
“Wait.”
Bu Eunseol took out the bead from his bosom.
It was shining very brightly, and its size matched the round hole in the stone gate exactly.
‘No way.’
Click.
When he inserted the bead into the hole, a pleasant friction sound rang out, and the gate slowly began to open.
Grind.
At the same time, the inserted bead turned to powder and scattered in the wind.
“A one-time key to open such a gate…”
Bu Eunseol could not hide his astonishment.
Though he had traveled the martial world and experienced countless things, he had never seen a mechanism using such a mystical bead as a key.
That meant whatever was inside had never been seen before—filled with entirely new things.
Step, step.
Watching the powdered bead scatter, Bu Eunseol cautiously entered.
Passing through a long corridor, he arrived at a village built in a wide valley.
It was a serene landscape like any remote mountain village, with numerous people coming and going.
‘What is this now?’
Hiding and observing the village, Bu Eunseol doubted his eyes.
The people walking around here were all moving shoulder-to-shoulder, bound together. Whether children or adults, men or women, young or old—every pair appeared as two bodies tied into one.
‘A heretical cult?’
Heretical cults in the martial world sometimes performed incomprehensible acts to execute bizarre great methods.
Perhaps these people were also committing such eccentricities to practice a unique great method.
‘Hmm.’
Fortunately, they did not seem to possess exceptional martial arts or keen senses.
Moreover, the village built deep in the valley had many hiding places.
Bu Eunseol could observe the villagers secretly without much effort.
“The time has come!”
Then, something strange happened.
One of the boys walking bound together shouted loudly.
People began gathering in droves.
“The time has come!”
When the boy shouted again, a figure in white robes wearing a white mask approached.
“Hmm.”
The masked figure closely examined the face of the other boy bound to the shouting one.
The boy’s eyes were empty, like a soulless shell.
Nodding, the masked figure drew a sharp dagger from his bosom and handed it over.
The boy accepted the dagger and,
Stab!
Without hesitation, plunged it into the heart of the boy beside him.
Thud.
The stabbed boy died instantly.
Those standing behind the masked figure immediately removed the corpse.
“Follow me.”
The masked figure then led the remaining boy somewhere in the village.
‘Why would they do such a thing?’
Watching from hiding, Bu Eunseol widened his eyes. He could not comprehend this bizarre spectacle.
Rustle.
He immediately followed the masked figure leading the boy in secret.
The two entered a large stone-walled house in the center of the village.
‘Could it be the Returning to One Realm?’
The Returning to One Realm used a single ordinary village house as a secret passage underground. If so, this village might also have been built by the Returning to One Realm.
Rumble.
Shortly after the two entered the stone house, a low mechanical sound echoed.
There was definitely a secret passage inside.
‘No choice.’
At the entrance to the stone house stood two masked guards. Even if he infiltrated secretly, he would have to subdue the two guards.
Whoosh.
Sending out concealed finger force, the guards’ bodies stiffened instantly.
Bu Eunseol quickly entered the stone house and descended into the secret passage.
Inside was a wide corridor embedded with night-luminous pearls. On both sides were several doors, each with transparent windows above them.
Peering through the windows, Bu Eunseol found the room with the earlier boy and masked figure.
“Retreat method, lake, sea, sword.”
The boy lay with eyes closed while the masked figure uttered strange words.
“…secret manual.”
When the masked figure spoke the final word, the lying boy suddenly opened his eyes.
‘How is this possible?’
Bu Eunseol rubbed his eyes.
The face of the boy, who had been perfectly fine moments ago, had changed to that of the boy he had just stabbed to death.
“Now return.”
At the white-masked figure’s words, a strange gleam appeared in the previously expressionless boy’s eyes.
“Yes.” The boy replied with a lively expression, as if his emotions had returned, and quickly left the stone chamber.
‘I cannot uncover the truth just by watching with my eyes.’
Using his penetrating Mind’s Eye to scan the surroundings, Bu Eunseol confirmed no one was nearby.
He immediately entered the stone chamber and struck the white-masked figure’s pressure points.
Tap-tap-tap!
The masked figure’s martial arts seemed quite high, but he could not block Bu Eunseol’s technique and froze in place.
“What are you people doing?”
Bu Eunseol boldly revealed his true appearance.
Given what they were doing, they were highly likely part of the Three Realms.
Appearing as the Martial Soul Command Lord, who had repeatedly clashed with the Three Realms, would cause the least complications.
“Martial Soul Command Lord.”
Seeing Bu Eunseol, the white-masked figure spoke with unexpected delight.
“Why has such a busy person come all the way here?”
“The Clear River Realm… is it?”
Bu Eunseol could distinguish people by their eyes and physique alone.
Looking at the masked figure’s eyes and build, he instantly recognized him as the Emissary from the Clear River Realm he had encountered when resolving the Sichuan Tang Clan incident.
“Impressive. You can identify people even through a mask.” Having immediately grasped Bu Eunseol’s ability, the white-masked figure spoke with a relaxed expression.
“If you know I am from the Clear River Realm, should you not release my pressure points?”
The Infinite Realm had always treated Bu Eunseol with hostility, but the Clear River Realm was different.
They had never once acted hostile toward him.
Because of that, Gongsun Dankyung had mistakenly thought Bu Eunseol was a spy for the Clear River Realm, had he not?
“I asked what you were doing.”
Whoosh!
When Bu Eunseol circulated his inner energy, the white mask instantly flew into his palm.
“Not a face I know.”
The unmasked figure was a refined-looking middle-aged man, someone Bu Eunseol had never seen before. Moreover, his aura and eyes felt more like a government official than a martial artist.
“You will have trouble if you keep acting like the supreme master of the martial world.” The middle-aged man changed the subject. “If you make an enemy of our realm, Martial Soul Command Lord, you will find yourself in difficulty as well.”
“If you give another irrelevant answer…”
A bloody gleam appeared in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“I will immediately sever your head.”
“Sigh.”
The middle-aged man sighed and spoke in a low voice.
“We are sealing those destined to become great demons or great villains who will disturb the world.”
“Sealing?” Bu Eunseol frowned. “Explain clearly. Enough for me to understand.”
“The boy who just died was destined to become a great demon of the world.” The middle-aged man continued his explanation. “As you know, those destined to become great villains or great demons… are born with exceptional talents and overwhelming killing intent.”
“So?”
“Is it not a waste to simply kill such individuals?”
A flash passed through Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
A rather bizarre imagination crossed his mind.
“Then the surviving boy absorbed the talent and killing intent of the dead one?”
“Sharp mind. Or should I say rich imagination?” The middle-aged man smiled faintly. “That must be because you have repeatedly clashed with the Infinite Realm and Returning to One Realm.”
“You speak of impossible things.”
“Nothing is impossible in our realm, Martial Soul Command Lord.”
The middle-aged man smiled faintly again.
“Where there is righteousness, there is evil; where there is yin, there is yang. The universe is designed so that everything achieves perfect balance.”
He continued calmly.
“Likewise, where there are villains, there are virtuous people. What if we harmoniously combine the two? Would not an extraordinary figure be born?”
Staring directly into Bu Eunseol’s eyes, he said, “In other words, by capturing those with opposing natures and merging their personalities… we can create a supreme transcendent being.”
When Bu Eunseol seemed not to understand, the middle-aged man began a lengthy explanation.
According to him…
The Clear River Realm possessed a secret method to identify those with the disposition of great demons or great villains who would shake the martial world.
They could even find virtuous people who were their exact opposites.
Using special drugs and great methods, they suppressed the violence in the villain’s brain, then bound the two together and continuously brainwashed them.
Thus, the virtuous person absorbed the villain’s disposition, personality, and everything else into their mind.
When the villain’s disposition fully settled in the virtuous person’s mind, the virtuous person killed the villain.
At that moment, the villain’s vivid personality came alive and breathing within the virtuous person’s mind.
And they could become an immensely powerful expert.
