Bu Eunseol had been serving continuously under Yuk Jangcheon and Yuk Cheongah, handling various missions.
More than anyone else, he understood the personalities of this father and daughter pair very clearly and he also perceived in minute detail the subtle, strained emotions that had been building between the two of them.
And so Bu Eunseol decided to use Mu Gyeol.
He laid out a meticulous plan to completely shatter the relationship between father and daughter.
***
A few days earlier, at Cheongmyeong Hall, in Mu Gyeol’s office.
“Approach Yuk Cheongah, the Vice-Leader of the Dragon Coiling Hall, and inform her that you have gathered evidence that will allow Yuk Jangcheon to strike her in the back at any moment.”
Bu Eunseol, who had come to Cheongmyeong Hall, spoke boldly to Mu Gyeol.
“If someone who was supposedly sent by the Alliance Leader to remove me from the candidacy for Commander comes and proposes that we join hands… she will believe it, at least halfway.”
Mu Gyeol remained silent with a dazed expression.
Only after a long while did he finally speak, wearing a puzzled look.
“How strange. Why would you make such a request to me?”
“Because you are showing a different path from the Martial Venerable.”
‘Be careful. The elder never lets go of a piece he holds in his hand.’
Previously, when they met at Silver Moon Pavilion, Mu Gyeol had secretly sent Bu Eunseol this transmission.
Those words revealed that, despite being in a master-disciple relationship with the Martial Venerable, Mu Gyeol was not following his master’s will.
“You made that judgment just from that one transmission?”
“You called him ‘Elder’ even though you’re supposed to be master and disciple.” As Mu Gyeol was about to reply, Bu Eunseol cut him off. “Of course, if you weren’t a named disciple, you might call him Elder.”
“…”
“But there wasn’t the slightest trace of respect in it.”
“Respect?”
“In the very word ‘Elder’.”
A brief silence fell.
“Huhuhu.”
Mu Gyeol chuckled as if something was very amusing, then—
“Hahahaha!”
He suddenly burst into loud laughter.
“Then it seems I’ll have to be the one who lays down the mat.”
In the end, just as Bu Eunseol had predicted, Mu Gyeol admitted that he not only refused to obey the Martial Venerable, but also harbored his own separate goals.
“Why aren’t you asking?”
“Asking what?”
“Why I don’t serve the Elder. Aren’t you curious about the reason?”
“If I asked, would you tell me?”
“Huhuhu.”
Mu Gyeol showed a refreshing smile and nodded.
“That single sentence alone… is enough to make your request worth considering.”
With a friendly smile still on his face, Mu Gyeol asked again.
“But I should still hear the conditions, shouldn’t I?”
“…”
“If I accept your request, what will you give me in return?”
Mu Gyeol didn’t refuse outright—he presented conditions instead.
It meant he would accept depending on the value of the card Bu Eunseol was offering.
“Tell me what you want. Anything.”
An incredibly bold offer.
Mu Gyeol, on the contrary, furrowed his brows and spoke.
“Anything… Are you sure you can handle that?”
“If it weren’t at least this level of condition, I wouldn’t even have considered trying to move a person like you.”
At Bu Eunseol’s resolute answer, Mu Gyeol nodded and laughed.
“You really know how to negotiate.”
Then, with a satisfied expression, he rose from his seat.
“For now, I’ll carry out your request. As for what I want… I’ll tell you after everything is finished.”
“Very well.”
And from that day onward, Mu Gyeol kept his promise.
He approached Yuk Cheongah exactly as Bu Eunseol requested, and ultimately drove the father-daughter relationship into complete ruin.
***
“Tell me.”
Having finished reminiscing, Bu Eunseol asked.
“What is it that you desire?”
“There’s no rush.”
Mu Gyeol smiled and raised his wine cup.
“Let’s drink a bit more.”
“…”
“This is a golden opportunity to analyze you once again,” Mu Gyeol flashed his white teeth in a grin as he continued. “If you want to understand what kind of man someone is, watch what kind of place he chooses to drink in, what kind of alcohol he drinks, and how he behaves after drinking.”
After emptying his cup, Mu Gyeol spoke calmly.
“Drinking alcohol surprisingly reveals a great deal of information about a person.”
“That’s quite plausible.”
Bu Eunseol grew interested in Mu Gyeol’s words.
“So… what about me?”
“Do you want to hear it?”
“Yes.”
Until now, Bu Eunseol had never once heard someone openly analyze him like this.
Naturally, his curiosity was piqued when a man like Mu Gyeol said he would do exactly that.
‘Hmm.’
Mu Gyeol had originally intended not to answer.
But when Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparkled like a child’s, he spoke as if he couldn’t help it.
“You found a place that sells good liquor at a cheap price so you’re practical-minded, with no unnecessary formality. Even in a quiet place like this, you chose a window seat meaning you’re constantly vigilant of your surroundings and fond of observing others.”
Mu Gyeol listed his observations one after another.
“Also, the way you boldly drink from a large cup shows you have strong tolerance, aren’t picky about food, and don’t care much for gourmet tastes.”
“Correct.”
When Bu Eunseol readily admitted it, Mu Gyeol continued.
“Moreover, even after drinking this much, there’s no change in your speech or eyes which shows exceptional mental strength. You don’t show your emotions easily, and you’re strict with your own mistakes.”
Surprisingly, with just one drinking session, he had grasped a considerable part of Bu Eunseol’s temperament and personality with great accuracy.
“Half right, half wrong.”
“Wrong?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eunseol answered indifferently.
“I haven’t actually started drinking properly yet. I simply cannot allow myself to get drunk because there are still many things I must do.”
Mu Gyeol opened his mouth wide and looked under the table.
There stood twenty tightly packed wine jars.
Even for a martial master, that much alcohol would normally bring intoxication.
And he says he hasn’t been drinking properly?
“I see… so that’s how it is.”
Mu Gyeol shook his head as if he realized something.
“However, even in this good atmosphere with fine liquor, the mood remains so stiff… probably because I’m not your close friend.”
Bu Eunseol emptied his cup without responding to that remark.
Mu Gyeol stared at him for a while before speaking again.
“But it’s strange. If you were going to crush Hall Leader Yuk anyway, wouldn’t it have been better to destroy him completely? Why leave such a gap?”
Mu Gyeol tilted his head.
“Wouldn’t it have been easier to open the secret vault in the hidden chamber and hand perfect evidence to Yuk Cheongah? She would have self-destructed on her own.”
“There is no such evidence.”
“What?”
“I didn’t even know such a vault existed. How could I know what’s inside?”
Mu Gyeol gaped in disbelief.
“So you had me tell her that Hall Leader Yuk had a secret vault and that she should search it? That there was fatal evidence of betrayal?”
Choruruk.
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol quietly refilled his cup.
Mu Gyeol could only stare blankly at his leisurely movements.
“Would a man as suspicious as Yuk Jangcheon really not have a secretly hidden vault? And would he obediently open that vault for his own daughter?”
Bu Eunseol downed the cup in one go and continued.
“If Hall Leader Yuk had nothing to hide even from his daughter, then the rift between them wouldn’t have occurred in the first place because of a person named Seon Woojin.”
“You sowed discord between father and daughter with just one suspicion?”
“When trust is already absent, even the tiniest crack can shatter the relationship.” While refilling his cup, Bu Eunseol spoke. “Moreover, the relationship between those two has been broken for a very long time.”
“Broken? What happened between them?”
“Something must have happened.”
Once again, Bu Eunseol gave a very irresponsible answer.
“I don’t know what.”
Mu Gyeol felt something beyond absurdity—something almost eerie.
He had thought Bu Eunseol must have some incredibly elaborate plan since he boldly set such a trap for Yuk Cheongah.
But to think he destroyed their relationship with just one trivial suspicion, without even knowing the details of their past…
“Living long enough, I’ve realized one unchanging truth.”
After downing another full cup, Bu Eunseol exhaled through his nose.
“Most humans never reflect on their past mistakes. Instead, they endlessly repeat them.”
Tak.
Setting down his cup, he took a deep breath.
“The relationship between father and daughter was never normal, never close. That means something happened in the past… and this time too, they undoubtedly repeated the same mistake.”
Only then did Mu Gyeol finally grasp the entire situation.
Bu Eunseol hadn’t recklessly thrown out a gambling trap.
He had simply used the truth that foolish humans repeat their mistakes, creating another opportunity for the two to turn against each other once again.
“Well… the father treats his child like an expendable item, and the daughter is using her father. In that sense, it’s almost the natural outcome.”
Mu Gyeol gave a faint nod.
The fact that Yuk Jangcheon and Yuk Cheongah weren’t particularly close was something even the higher-ups of the Martial Alliance were well aware of.
“Then Hall Leader Yuk will self-destruct from here on out.”
“Not at all.”
A sharp glint passed through Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“He’s not the type to collapse here. On the contrary, the more trials he faces, the more he rises like a roly-poly toy.”
Even after the Nine Heavens Society he devoted his entire life to collapsed from internal strife, he didn’t break. Instead, he planted new roots in the Martial Alliance together with Yuk Cheongah.
To prove himself once again in this demonic pit called the Martial Alliance… Yuk Jangcheon could never be an ordinary man.
“I see.”
Only then did Mu Gyeol instantly understand Bu Eunseol’s true plan.
“So now only the third test remains… You intend to raise him high and then make him fall spectacularly?”
“Exactly.”
“Why? Do you have a personal grudge against Hall Leader Yuk?”
“It’s simply something I decided long ago.”
Yuk Jangcheon not only treated his subordinates as expendables, but in order to look good in front of the Martial Alliance’s higher-ups, he coldly rejected Bu Eunseol’s earnest request to protect Tae Muryong’s safety.
At that moment, Bu Eunseol vowed to one day raise Yuk Jangcheon to the highest position possible… and then drop him.
Chorurur.
Refilling his cup once again, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“I have one question for you as well.”
“Go ahead.”
“What do you plan to do from now on?”
Through this incident, Bu Eunseol intuitively realized:
Mu Gyeol also had his own plan, and that plan included Bu Eunseol himself.
“Not yet. I still haven’t figured everything out.”
Mu Gyeol spoke in an enigmatic tone.
“Once I learn how to enter that place, I’ll ask you for one favor.”
“Learn how to enter?”
“There is such a thing.”
An incomprehensible statement.
But one thing was clear: Mu Gyeol regarded the Martial Venerable not as a master, but as an adversary.
“I have one more request.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Mu Gyeol made an incredulous face.
“I haven’t even fulfilled your request yet, and you already have another?”
“Since I’ve already incurred a debt, one more shouldn’t make much difference.”
At Bu Eunseol’s shameless remark, Mu Gyeol frowned but still asked.
“What is it?”
“I want to meet the Martial Venerable alone. By any means necessary.”
“Why?”
‘I don’t need to mention yet that the Heavenly Emperor might still be alive.’
After brief consideration, Bu Eunseol answered shortly. “I have something to ask him.”
Mu Gyeol stared intently at Bu Eunseol for a moment, then shook his head.
“Since I’ve entered the Martial Alliance, even I can no longer meet the Elder.” He smiled bitterly. “I’ve now stepped into the light. He will probably avoid appearing before me as much as possible from now on.”
Having obtained the position of Heavenly Rain Forest Lord and worked in the shadows under the Martial Venerable’s orders, Mu Gyeol had now become the Lord of Cheongmyeong Hall under Mankyeong Hall.
With his name and face revealed under the sun, and able to freely interact with Martial Alliance members including Bu Eunseol…
It meant the Martial Venerable would never show himself before him again.
“I see.”
From that answer, Bu Eunseol grasped one truth.
The Martial Venerable either did not consider Mu Gyeol a true disciple… or he suspected him.
Otherwise, he never would have pushed a reliable disciple who could handle countless tasks in the shadows out into the bright, open daylight.
‘Then should I just ask directly?’
If Mu Gyeol and the Martial Venerable were truly at odds, then at the very least to Mu Gyeol, Bu Eunseol could ask:
“What is the Martial Venerable’s true purpose?”
“Is the Heavenly Emperor still alive?”
“If he is, where has he been hiding all this time, and what has he been doing?”
But he didn’t ask.
Mu Gyeol wouldn’t answer.
Some things even his disciple Mu Gyeol wouldn’t know.
And above all… even this apparent rift could still be part of the Martial Venerable’s scheme.
“You have a complicated look on your face. Then let’s just drink for now.”
As if reading Bu Eunseol’s mind, Mu Gyeol extended his cup.
“I’ve finished my evaluation of you.”
“There was a reason for the evaluation?”
“The favor I must ask of you is the most important thing in the world.” Mu Gyeol spoke with a grave expression. “That’s why I absolutely had to understand what kind of person you are.”
Unexpected words.
Bu Eunseol fell silent for a moment.
But he didn’t ask what the favor was.
After all, Mu Gyeol would entrust it to him eventually.
After that, Bu Eunseol and Mu Gyeol each emptied ten jars of liquor.
With a slightly flushed face, Mu Gyeol rose from his seat.
“I enjoyed the drinks.”
He waved lightly and left the inn.
“I sincerely hope you become Commander.”
Bu Eunseol stared blankly at Mu Gyeol’s departing back.
What was true, and what was false?
According to Dam Jeung, the Heavenly Emperor was alive.
Dam Jeung was an outstanding master who had seen the Martial Venerable for many years. He couldn’t possibly have mistaken the Heavenly Emperor for the Martial Venerable.
If so, then… the probability that the Heavenly Emperor was alive was very high, just as Dam Jeung said.
Then why create the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin and place a fake corpse inside?
Did he wish to completely disappear through a faked death?
‘If he’s alive… that would actually be better.’
If the Heavenly Emperor was truly alive, then everything would become clear once he was found—even without meeting the Martial Venerable.
“First Grandfather… now Father as well…”
He had originally come to the Martial Alliance simply to find the one who killed his grandfather.
But swept up in the storms of the martial world, he finally learned even about his complicated lineage… and now he had to uncover not only his grandfather’s killer, but also the truth behind his father’s death.
***
Because of the second test, the evaluation of Seon Woojin within the Martial Alliance changed completely.
“Captain Seon… he possesses not only outstanding martial arts and intelligence, but also excellent personal charisma that attracts people from above and below.”
No matter how capable someone is, if they cannot draw people to them, they cannot become Commander.
Even at his young age, Seon Woojin was now being evaluated as fully qualified to become Commander.
“Our Alliance has truly produced an exceptional talent.”
A man who, at a young age, became one of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, and was now in the challenge to become the youngest Commander ever.
No one called him “the hidden dragon of the merchant world” anymore.
He had become a representative new-generation master of the Martial Alliance, and a strong candidate for the next Martial Heaven Commander.
But this brought an unexpected side effect.
“Good things should be taken first.”
Among the young orthodox masters, Seon Woojin became the number one marriage prospect, and soon many people began salivating over him.
However, because he had long been rumored to be involved with Gongsun Dankyung, no one dared to propose marriage rashly.
Moreover, wasn’t it Gongsun Dankyung herself who had him transferred from the Ascendant Martial Hall to the Office of the Chief Inspector, thereby raising him to Commander candidacy?
Although nothing was said officially, it had already become an established fact among everyone that the two were lovers.
But then something unexpected happened.
Suddenly, rumors began circulating that Seon Woojin and Gongsun Dankyung had no relationship whatsoever.
“Captain Seon and the Chief Inspector are merely in a professional relationship.”
The source of the rumor was none other than Baek Museong.
Since Baek Museong was known to be on good terms with Seon Woojin, the rumor carried considerable credibility.
Moreover, even as the rumor spread, Seon Woojin remained completely unresponsive, causing confusion among the Martial Alliance members.
But as time passed and both Seon Woojin and Gongsun Dankyung continued to remain silent, the situation finally exploded.
“So they really have no relationship at all!”
From the perspective of the public, the long, continued silence of the two was interpreted as nothing less than a complete denial of any personal relationship.
After that day…
Rumble rumble—
The members of the Supreme Corps became incredibly busy.
“Deputy Captain! More have arrived!”
Because endless streams of marriage proposals were pouring in from various sects and noble families.
Since he was already part of the merchant world, rather than trying to persuade distant merchant families with no connections, many chose the more direct route of targeting him within the Martial Alliance itself.
In this situation, Bu Eunseol found himself in a difficult position.
In Majeon, he could decisively cut off marriage talks according to his own will.
But the Martial Alliance was different.
Because of the heavy emphasis on rank and seniority, one could not carelessly refuse proposals from superiors.
Those bringing marriage talks to Bu Eunseol were at minimum Hall Leader-level figures within the Alliance.
There was a limit to how bluntly he could refuse, and eventually he was forced into the troublesome position of having to meet and personally reject each woman one by one.
Silver Moon Pavilion, Gongsun Dankyung’s office.
Having suddenly summoned Bu Eunseol, she spoke in a calm tone.
“I’ve heard that the profits of the Myriad Goods Store have dropped significantly recently.”
Then, coldly, she continued, “I think we should inspect the Myriad Goods Store and find out what the problem is.”
“Please go ahead.”
“No. Captain Seon must go.”
“Me?”
Bu Eunseol was somewhat dumbfounded.
At a time like this, to go inspect the merchant group and investigate the cause of declining sales?
Moreover, analyzing the trend of falling sales was something almost anyone could do—it didn’t require Bu Eunseol specifically.
“You don’t want to?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to…”
“If you don’t want to, just say so. I won’t force you.” Gongsun Dankyung spoke in a voice that seemed to scatter ice shards. “Didn’t Captain Seon say it himself? That now, this Chief Inspector is no longer in a position to give you orders.”
Bu Eunseol swallowed.
Though he didn’t know why, he could sense that Gongsun Dankyung was extremely sensitive at the moment.
‘I cannot make an enemy of her at a time like this.’
Bu Eunseol had to become Commander, and for that, he needed her power.
“Understood. Then… I’ll depart the day after tomorrow.”
The next day, Bu Eunseol had already promised to meet the daughter of the Northern Heavenly Merchant Group at the request of the Heavenly Phoenix Hall Leader.
That was why he suggested the day after.
“No. It’s urgent.”
Gongsun Dankyung said, “The profits of Myriad Goods Store are practically the financial lifeline of our Alliance. The longer we delay, the more difficult our finances will become.”
A slight drop in sales at Myriad Goods Store wouldn’t cause the entire Martial Alliance to collapse.
Faced with Gongsun Dankyung’s absurd logic, Bu Eunseol swallowed again and spoke honestly.
“Actually, at Heavenly Phoenix Hall Leader’s request, I have some business at the Snowflower Pavilion tomorrow.”
“The Heavenly Phoenix Hall Leader?” Gongsun Dankyung spoke coldly. “Is the Heavenly Phoenix Hall Leader’s position higher than this Chief Inspector’s?”
“That’s…”
Bu Eunseol was flustered, but soon nodded.
Actually, this was fortunate.
He could use the Chief Inspector’s order as an excuse to cancel the meeting.
“Understood. Then I’ll ask the Heavenly Phoenix Hall Leader for understanding and depart for Myriad Goods Store immediately.”
As Bu Eunseol clasped his hands and turned to leave,
“Wait.”
Gongsun Dankyung spoke.
“I’ll go with you.”
“With… me?”
“Yes.”
Rising from her seat, Gongsun Dankyung said.
“Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since I last inspected Myriad Goods Store.”
“I can go alone. There’s really no need for you to—”
“There is a need.”
Gongsun Dankyung said firmly.
“After all, it is also part of this Chief Inspector’s duties.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
To insist on accompanying him to inspect the merchant group at a time like this? Was she really that free?
‘So that’s it.’
Only then did Bu Eunseol understand Gongsun Dankyung’s intention.
‘She intends to use this opportunity to cut off all the marriage proposals coming my way.’
Lately, Bu Eunseol had been unable to decisively refuse the flood of marriage proposals and had been dragged along.
But if he were to openly go to Myriad Goods Store with Gongsun Dankyung on a seemingly trivial mission?
In effect, Gongsun Dankyung would be directly contradicting Baek Museong’s earlier statement that “there is no relationship between them.”
‘From the Chief Inspector’s position, it must have been difficult to say it outright.’
If she wanted to cleanly cut off the incoming marriage proposals, acknowledging that the two were in a romantic relationship would be the most effective way.
Other places might stay quiet, but the Gongsun family definitely would not.
So Gongsun Dankyung was indirectly expressing her feelings for Seon Woojin while simultaneously shutting down the marriage talks.
“Thank you.”
Finally understanding the whole situation, Bu Eunseol clasped his hands together.
“I won’t forget your consideration.”
Only then did Gongsun Dankyung slightly soften her previously sharp gaze.
“Captain Seon, you’re so intelligent in many ways… yet when it comes to relationships between men and women, you really seem to know nothing at all.”
Feeling awkward, Bu Eunseol scratched his nose.
“I… hear that a lot.”
Knock knock.
At that moment, along with a knock, the low voice of adjutant Seong Ryeong came through the door.
“Chief Inspector. It’s Seong Ryeong.”
“Come in.”
After greeting Gongsun Dankyung, Seong Ryeong spoke cautiously.
“A guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes sparkled.
She was the Chief Inspector.
In other words, one of the top ten highest-ranking positions in the Martial Alliance’s ceremonial order.
No one could simply barge in to meet her without a prior appointment.
“Someone came without an appointment and was allowed into my office?”
Gongsun Dankyung spoke coldly.
“Send them away.”
“Well… it’s your younger sister who has come, Chief Inspector.”
One of the Three Great Beauties of the Martial World—Gongsun Dana, said to possess transcendent beauty beyond the mortal realm, one of the most alluring and mysterious women in all of the martial world, had suddenly come to visit the Martial Alliance.
Interesting