Bu Eunseol continued reading the letter.
“And finally, we obtained a clue about the culprit. The one who stole all of our assembly’s sword arts and killed the Sect Leader along with the Ten Great Swordsmen was none other than one of the Seven Great Division Commanders of the Martial Alliance.”
“One of the Seven Great Division Commanders?”
A strange light flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Could it be that the culprit who killed his grandfather and the demon who destroyed the Thousand Swords Society were the same person?
“After obtaining the clue, our assembly investigated the movements of the Seven Great Divisions and at last, we found the trail of the one suspected to be that demon.”
Bu Eunseol’s gaze grew colder as he read on.
“Heaven-Piercing Division Commander, Yang Daeryang. After taking a leave of absence, he hid his identity and secretly wandered the martial world, engaging in secret duels.
And we found even more conclusive evidence—the sword marks left by my martial uncle Seok.”
In the past, Yoo Hwaryeong had traveled with his master, Woo Hak, and the Second Seat of the Thousand Swords Society, Seok Song, visiting villages plagued by epidemics in search of the culprit.
One night, while Yoo Hwaryeong slept at an inn, Woo Hak and Seok Song investigated a village.
The two were ambushed by an overwhelmingly powerful expert.
With Seok Song’s help, Woo Hak barely returned to Yoo Hwaryeong.
Before passing, he left two final words: the culprit was an Eastern Division agent who appeared in plague-stricken villages, and he had left traces of the Radiant Sword Control on the culprit’s hand and scabbard.
Hearing this dying message, Yoo Hwaryeong sought out Bu Eunseol.
Together, they discovered the Infinite Realm’s underground holy land in a plague-ridden village in Sichuan.
They killed one Eastern Division spy, but regrettably, he was not the culprit.
Yet now it turned out the true perpetrator was not an Eastern Division official, but a Division Commander of the Martial Alliance?
‘Heaven-Piercing Division Commander, Yang Daeryang.’
He was a self-made man who had risen from the lowest ranks of the Martial Alliance to become one of the Seven Great Division Commanders.
From his days as a lowly warrior, he had continually obtained fortunate encounters.
In his youth, he even earned the rather whimsical nickname “Instant Success.”
Yet this was the man who had killed the Thousand Swords Society’s leader and the Ten Seats?
‘Coincidence?’
On Bu Eunseol’s orders, the Supreme Corps had been tracking the Seven Great Division Commanders. Though their current status was too low to fully uncover the lords’ movements, they had discovered one highly suspicious circumstance.
Among the Seven Great Divisions, the Heaven-Piercing Division was being run entirely by the Vice-Commander, Ma Un.
Of course, in most sects and organizations, operations were handled by second-in-commands rather than the leaders.
But in the Heaven-Piercing Division’s case, the lord Yang Daeryang had completely withdrawn from all duties, leaving Vice-Commander Ma Un with full authority.
Moreover, there were records of him frequently visiting the Huangfu Region where Bu Eunseol’s grandfather had lived.
Those visits were public, with the clear excuse of patronizing a favorite inn but no one knew if he had switched identities midway.
Thus, once the Ghost Children crisis was somewhat handled, Bu Eunseol had planned a discreet investigation into the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander.
Yet now, this man overlapped with the demon sought by the Thousand Swords Society.
‘If he is the demon the Thousand Swords Society sought, the likelihood he is also my grandfather’s killer rises significantly.’
The demon who destroyed the Thousand Swords Society was said to be a merciless devil devoid of blood or tears, wielding ruthless swordsmanship.
Bu Eunseol’s grandfather had been brutally murdered as well, and he belonged to the Seven Great Division Commanders mentioned by the Divine Mountain Sage…
The probability he was the culprit was extremely high.
“Our assembly investigated Yang Daeryang from every angle and we discovered evidence suggesting that the fortunate encounters he was known for were in fact seized from others.”
According to the letter, the tales of endless fortunate encounters attributed to Yang Daeryang were likely rumors spread to cover up his thefts of others’ gains.
‘That makes sense. But…’
The greater suspicion lay not with the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander, but with the Divine Mountain Sage’s intentions.
‘The Thousand Swords Society fell and became a ruined sect long ago, did it not?’
As the one called the greatest sage of the martial world, the Divine Mountain Sage would never act impulsively.
Why now, of all times, had he arranged for the Thousand Swords Society to obtain the long-desired Boeun Coin and revealed that one of the Seven Great Division Commanders was the culprit?
‘It is far too contrived.’
A chilling hypothesis flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind.
The reason the Divine Mountain Sage created the Boeun Coin—could it have been to manipulate martial artists according to his will?
‘Moreover, the Divine Mountain Sage’s original identity was the Martial Venerable, was it not?’
Recalling the overwhelming auras of the six Commanders present at the unveiling of the Bukgung Hero Monument, Bu Eunseol entertained another eerie thought.
‘Could all Seven Great Division Commanders be agents of the Three Realms or infiltrators from outside?’
‘Is the Divine Mountain Sage using me to deal with them?’
As the Martial Venerable, who served as the Martial Alliance Leader, his actions were necessarily cautious.
Thus, he might be using Bu Eunseol to investigate and dismantle the Seven Great Division Commanders one by one.
‘If that is the case…’
Lightning flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Then the true purpose behind manipulating the Thousand Swords Society might be to once again exploit Yoo Hwaryeong’s desire for revenge and topple another of the Seven Great Division Commanders.
‘Am I being overly suspicious?’
According to the Thousand Swords Society’s investigation, they had uncovered evidence supporting the Divine Mountain Sage’s claim that the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander was involved in the Sect Leader’s death.
In that case, it could simply be a coincidence that both his grandfather’s killer and the Thousand Swords Society’s demon belonged to the Seven Great Divisions.
‘One should always leave possibilities open.’
The greatest sage of the martial world.
In hindsight, such a title was terrifying and dangerous, for it allowed him to easily manipulate countless people…
And turn falsehoods into truths.
“I became Sect Leader to deal with him.”
According to the letter, Yoo Hwaryeong—the only one to inherit his master’s dying wish—had become the Thousand Swords Society’s leader to prepare for revenge.
“And you are our sect’s benefactor and the one who mastered our highest sword arts… in truth, a former member of our sect, are you not? The reason I write this letter is to ask that, should our sect fall… you continue our lineage with this.”
Enclosed at the end of the letter was a map.
Bu Eunseol immediately recognized its meaning.
A treasure map.
It marked the location of the vast treasures accumulated by the Thousand Swords Society over generations.
“I never said it, but I always thought of you as a martial brother. I am sorry to burden you with this.”
Even if his revenge succeeded, touching a former Division Commander of the Martial Alliance meant certain death for both the Thousand Swords Society and Yoo Hwaryeong.
Knowing Bu Eunseol’s upright and selfless nature, Yoo Hwaryeong had left him the assembly’s immense wealth, hoping he would carry on the Radiant Sword Control and the Thousand Swords Society’s lineage.
‘A task doomed to fail from the start.’
Yoo Hwaryeong was mistaken.
Contrary to what was known in the martial world, the Seven Great Division Commanders possessed strength beyond imagination. No matter what secret trump card the Thousand Swords Society deployed, success was impossible.
They would simply die in vain.
“Soyo!”
His expression was urgent.
The letter had been sent days ago at the very least.
Yoo Hwaryeong had surely already completed preparations to strike the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander and was now carrying it out.
“Track the movements of the Thousand Swords Society experts and Yoo Hwaryeong…”
He shook his head as a thought struck him.
Even mobilizing the orthodox-demonic intelligence network, finding the little-known Yoo Hwaryeong in such a short time was impossible.
“Contact the Supreme Corps and have them locate the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander! Immediately!”
It was far more likely that the Supreme Corps, affiliated with the Martial Alliance, could track a Division Commander’s movements.
Bu Eunseol intended to find the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander at once and rescue Yoo Hwaryeong.
***
Every year on the Qingming Festival, Heaven-Piercing Division Commander Yang Daeryang quietly visited the Banya Temple on Mount Geumjeong.
There, he had enshrined the memorial tablet of his deceased mother.
Yang Daeryang had grown up under a widowed mother who peddled goods.
Their family circumstances were exceedingly difficult, yet recognizing her son’s outstanding talent, his mother worked herself to the bone to pay for his literary studies and send him to a martial school.
Yang Daeryang had striven hard to meet her expectations.
Eventually, he became a low-ranking warrior in the Martial Alliance.
Though his martial arts were not exceptional, his excellent memory and agile body made him a lowly messenger traveling between various branches to deliver news.
Then something miraculous happened.
After becoming a warrior wandering the martial world, his martial arts began rising rapidly.
It was due to fortunate encounters.
Wherever he went, fortune followed.
He would pick up secret manuals while walking mountain paths, or catch the eye of a previous-generation master at an inn and learn martial arts.
As if the entire world conspired to aid him, fortunate encounters came in steady succession without cease.
After years of such unbroken fortune, Yang Daeryang became a renowned expert.
Rising through promotion after promotion, he finally became lord of the Heaven-Piercing Division, commanding the Martial Alliance’s elite intelligence agents.
Starting as a lowly warrior and reaching Division Commander status, Yang Daeryang had become a figure etched in Martial Alliance history.
Chirp chirp chirp.
Arriving at Mount Geumjeong, Yang Daeryang began climbing the mountain path filled with birdsong.
Visiting Banya Temple alone each year on his mother’s death anniversary was his most solemn and important ritual.
His widowed mother had passed without seeing his success.
From Yang Daeryang’s perspective, it remained a lifelong regret.
He eased that regret by performing memorial rites at the temple each year.
Thanks to his massive annual donations, Banya Temple always held a grand memorial service for him.
Once all rites concluded, Yang Daeryang chatted with the abbot, Won Gyeong, then he descended Mount Geumjeong once more.
“Hmm.”
Pausing briefly to gaze at the distant sky, Yang Daeryang’s eyes grew hazy.
In truth, all the tales known about him were lies.
He had never obtained fortunate encounters, nor learned martial arts from previous-generation masters.
But one thing was true.
His family had been desperately poor, and his mother had worked herself to exhaustion for his sake.
Visiting Banya Temple alone each year without escorts to hold his mother’s memorial might stem from guilt—that instead of becoming the upright pillar of the martial world she had wished for, he had allied with a hidden power and schemed in the shadows.
Step step.
Nearly reaching the foot of the mountain, Yang Daeryang suddenly halted.
“You must have plenty of money.”
Shaking his head as he looked at the distant sky, he continued,
“To have laid formations across this entire area in advance.”
Swish swish.
No sooner had he spoken than the sky darkened and the surrounding scenery began to change.
Not just the view before him, but the entire mountain slope transformed.
Someone had invested enormous wealth and time to overlay multiple mysterious formations across the whole slope.
“The only ones who waste money like this on pointless extravagance are one group.”
Yang Daeryang smirked.
“The Thousand Swords Society, I presume.”
Hiss.
In that instant, mist seemed to rise, and a gray shadow slowly emerged before him.
His features were amiable enough to inspire goodwill in anyone, yet his eyes brimmed with deep sorrow.
It was Yoo Hwaryeong, now Sect Leader of the Thousand Swords Society.
“Yang Daeryang! You know your crimes!”
“What are you talking about?”
At Yang Daeryang’s leisurely reply, Yoo Hwaryeong cried out in fury.
“You infiltrated our assembly pretending to be a disciple, stole the sword arts of the Ten Seats, and then brutally murdered our leader and the Ten Seats. How can a human commit such acts?”
Yoo Hwaryeong drew his sword and flung the scabbard aside.
A clear display of lethal intent showing that he would surely kill Yang Daeryang.
“I don’t understand.” Yang Daeryang smacked his lips with a bored expression. “With that vast fortune inherited, you could live quietly in seclusion. Why leap about in rage seeking revenge?”
“What did you say?”
“Does anything change by taking revenge?”
Yang Daeryang curled his lips as if genuinely puzzled.
“Will the dead come back to life?”
Flames of rage surged in Yoo Hwaryeong’s eyes but he forcibly suppressed them.
There was something he absolutely needed to ask this vile man.
“Why did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Why did you kill our sect’s experts!”
Yang Daeryang calmly shook his head.
“I didn’t kill them.”
“You dare lie brazenly when there is evidence!”
“Then take that evidence to the Martial Alliance. Why come to me?”
At Yang Daeryang’s words, Yoo Hwaryeong fell silent.
In truth, there was no decisive evidence.
What they had found based on the Divine Mountain Sage’s words were only circumstantial clues from the time.
They had uncovered no clear proof that he killed the Sect Leader and the Ten Seats.
“This is amusing. You came to strike this Division Commander without proper evidence?”
“Perhaps you are not the one who killed our Sect Leader and the Ten Seats.”
Yoo Hwaryeong bit his lip.
“But there is evidence that the masked man who ambushed and killed my master was you.”
“Is that so? Then why not report it to the Martial Alliance?”
Yang Daeryang grinned.
“If there were clear evidence, this Division Commander would immediately be stripped of rank and imprisoned, no?”
When Yoo Hwaryeong offered no reply, he smirked as if he knew everything.
“You couldn’t obtain the evidence. The decisive proof isn’t in your hands.”
“…”
“But it is strange nonetheless. You must know that merely attempting to assassinate this Commander means the Thousand Swords Society can no longer exist in the martial world. Attacking without evidence…”
Yang Daeryang tilted his head as he gazed at Yoo Hwaryeong.
Then, as if suddenly understanding, he nodded.
“You saw something left by the dead. That’s why you attacked with certainty despite lacking evidence. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes. Martial Uncle Seok said that he deliberately left traces of our sect’s sword style on the ambusher.”
Yoo Hwaryeong spoke as if spitting blood.
“On your scabbard!”
Yang Daeryang narrowed his eyes.
Only then did he grasp everything.
“You confirmed the sword marks but ultimately failed to seize this Division Commander’s scabbard.”
As Yang Daeryang smiled, Yoo Hwaryeong trembled.
It was exactly as he said.
Yoo Hwaryeong had bribed a servant girl in the Heaven-Piercing Division by winning over a Martial Alliance member. Through her, he obtained thin paper impressions made of the marks on Yang Daeryang’s highly suspicious scabbard.
He discovered traces of the Radiant Sword Control on the paper she delivered but no method existed to steal the scabbard stored in the Heaven-Piercing Division.
In the end, he abandoned securing evidence and resolved to kill Yang Daeryang for revenge instead.
“I am prepared.”
“Tracking this Commander’s movements to ambush me is commendable, but…”
He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“To think this formation could trap me is a bit disappointing.”
“This is a formation my master specially devised to kill you.”
Gripping his sword, Yoo Hwaryeong cried out as if vomiting blood.
“Even if you kill me, you will never escape!”
Seventh Seat Woo Hak and Second Seat Seok Song had created the Radiant Sword Control—an absolute defensive sword art—to kill the demon who destroyed the Thousand Swords Society.
But no disciple possessed the innate killing intent required to learn it.
In the end, it was passed to Bu Eunseol… yet the two realized the need for a secret art ordinary disciples could wield.
By chance, they discovered the remnants of the ancient Heavenly Mechanism Elder’s formation and used it as a basis to create a peerless mystical sword formation.
The Heart Prison Formation.
This formation imprisoned not only the enemy’s body but their mind as well.
Once fully activated, even if every caster died, the victim could never escape—a terrifying absolute formation.
Having investigated that Yang Daeryang visited Mount Geumjeong every year, Yoo Hwaryeong mobilized immense wealth and manpower to lay the Heart Prison Formation across the entire mountain slope.
“You must be prepared.”
As Yoo Hwaryeong approached, Yang Daeryang merely smirked.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”
Narrowing his eyes into crescents, he sent a sound transmission.
「For mere disciples of Seok Song and Woo Hak—who couldn’t last ten moves—to dare challenge this Division Commander.」
“Yang Daeryang!”
The Thousand Swords Society’s supreme art, the Falling Leaf Swordsmanship, exploded from Yoo Hwaryeong’s blade.
Yet Yang Daeryang stood motionless, easily parrying the strikes with a single finger.
Clang clang clang.
Deflecting Yoo Hwaryeong’s sword moves with a bored expression, Yang Daeryang said, “A pity. The swordsmanship is fine, but your talent is lacking.”
Swish!
Seizing the moment he spoke, Yoo Hwaryeong changed his sword form and stabbed at Yang Daeryang’s throat.
Shhk!
But the strike halted instantly.
Yang Daeryang had clamped the treasured sword between his left index and middle fingers.
Immortal Thread Finger Art.
His unique supreme technique.
The most powerful and distinctive finger art in the martial world unfolded.
“It was inevitable the Thousand Swords Society would fall. They raised disciples this poorly.”
“Silence!”
No matter how Yoo Hwaryeong struggled, the sword clamped between Yang Daeryang’s fingers would not budge.
“And foolish.”
Yang Daeryang sighed.
“If you were going to deploy a formation, you shouldn’t have revealed its function.”
He lightly flicked his right hand toward Yoo Hwaryeong, who strained before him.
Boom!
Yoo Hwaryeong’s body shot backward like an arrow, soaring into the sky.
Crack.
As his body struck the heavens, a shattering sound rang out.
Hiss…
The sky that had dyed the world black slowly regained its color, and the formation began to collapse.
At the same time, the figures of over three hundred warriors surrounding the area to maintain the formation became visible.
“How…”
Yoo Hwaryeong’s eyes widened as Yang Daeryang smirked.
“You said that even if I killed you, I could not escape the formation—which means that if you live, I can escape, does it not?”
Yoo Hwaryeong’s eyes bulged.
He had boasted that even his death could not break the formation.
Yet with that single sentence, Yang Daeryang instantly grasped that the formation’s completion required Yoo Hwaryeong’s death.
‘Impossible.’
Focus vanished from Yoo Hwaryeong’s eyes.
To complete the Heart Prison Formation, roughly one ke (fifteen minutes) was needed after the enemy entered. Then, if he immediately committed suicide… even if Yang Daeryang could fly, he would die trapped within the Heart Prison Formation.
But as befitted a world-shaking Commander, Yang Daeryang instantly saw the formation’s flaw in Yoo Hwaryeong’s words.
Realizing that Yoo Hwaryeong’s body itself was both the formation’s axis and its life gate, he used the Immortal Thread Finger Art—not to kill him, but to hurl him outside the formation.
