‘Yeon Wol… that person’s memories.’
The memories he was witnessing right now were not his own but Yeon Wol’s.
He realized that this place was Yeon Wol’s Mental Realm.
‘So this person was also present when Saha Manor fell?’
If so, then although Yeon Wol had the face of a young man, he must actually be very old…
There was a high probability that the Inbiin had been involved in the deaths of his father and mother.
Mumble mumble mumble.
At that moment, the eerie voices of the mages chanting around him grew so loud they seemed to tear at his eardrums, and then—
Roar!
The flames spreading around his mother, who was bound to the pillar, intensified dramatically.
KWAAAAA!
Finally, the fire soared into the sky as though it would dye the entire world crimson, then transformed into an indescribably beautiful radiance that began to color everything.
—Waaah!
From somewhere came the powerful cry of a newborn infant.
Bu Eunseol instinctively sensed that the sound was coming from the opposite side of the chanting mages, from another group gathered elsewhere.
Then the soaring flames slowly began to die down, and the face of his burning mother gradually became visible.
Whoosh!
But suddenly, the image of his mother that Bu Eunseol was seeing and the entire scenery of Saha Manor began to burn like paper.
It seemed Yeon Wol’s life had finally run out, and the Mental Realm within his memories was collapsing.
‘No!’
He didn’t know when another memory might return.
Moreover, since these were Yeon Wol’s memories, from this angle he might be able to clearly see his mother’s face once the flames died down.
‘Just once…’
Unconsciously, Bu Eunseol poured every ounce of energy within his body into stopping the flames that were devouring the scene.
‘It’s working!’
Somehow, by forcing power outward, the momentum of the burning flames began to weaken.
‘A little more.’
He couldn’t explain why, but he could feel it: he possessed the ability to forcibly reconstruct a collapsing Mental Realm.
Swoooosh.
As the flames extinguished, the image of his mother and the surrounding scenery began to reappear.
‘Ughhh…’
As the surroundings gradually restored themselves, Bu Eunseol writhed in agony.
Forcibly reconstructing the Mental Realm of a dying person tore his body apart and made it feel as though his mind would explode.
‘Please…’
Even as his spirit was ripped to shreds and his body collapsed, Bu Eunseol did not stop pouring out power. He stared fixedly at the face visible through the flames.
And finally… the face of the mother he had so desperately longed to see began to emerge clearly.
‘Ah—’
Bu Eunseol let out a choked cry.
The face visible amid the burning flames looked exactly like Manwol, the shaman of Inbiin.
‘How…?’
How could his mother’s face resemble hers so closely? Was he hallucinating?
‘They’re similar.’
Upon closer inspection, the features weren’t identical.
But that could be due to differences in age and atmosphere.
If his mother had been just a little younger… they would have looked almost like twins.
Sizzle.
Then, suddenly, indescribable pain surged through him.
Was it because he had poured all his power into the Mental Realm? Or was this the price for forcibly peering into the memories of someone already dead?
His mind felt as though it were blazing, his organs melting.
‘Ughhh…’
Bu Eunseol let out a pained groan.
It was agony beyond what even the most enduring person could bear.
Crack.
In that instant, the scenery of Saha Manor before his eyes split apart, and—
Roarrrr!
It began burning once more like a paper set ablaze.
Slowly, everything faded away—even the image of his mother swallowed by roaring flames.
“Pfft!”
Ejected from the collapsing Mental Realm, Bu Eunseol vomited a mouthful of dark blood.
“Mother…”
Forgetting even the pain, Bu Eunseol dropped to his knees and murmured softly.
If his guess was correct… then while she was still in the Demon Cult, some bizarre sorcery had been performed on his mother.
“Or… did my own memories interfere?”
She was the mother he had longed to see so desperately.
He had thought that just seeing her face once would be enough.
Yet now her face resembled Manwol’s so closely…
Accounting for the difference in age and aura, they felt almost like sisters.
Could it be that, within Yeon Wol’s Mental Realm, his own memories had somehow overlapped?
Even so, why would his mother’s appearance be so similar to Manwol’s?
‘Could Manwol be connected to my mother?’
Sizzle.
But right now, none of that mattered.
The pain he had endured in the Mental Realm was now becoming vividly real in his body as well.
His head felt like it was on fire and every organ seemed to be melting. The sky and earth spun wildly and hot blood surged in his chest.
With another “Pfft,” he spat out another arrow of blood.
‘Something’s wrong.’
There was no strength left in his body.
Only about ten years’ worth of internal energy remained.
Due to the severe internal injuries, he felt utterly powerless.
His body was heavy as though soaked with water; it felt as though he had returned to the days before he ever learned martial arts.
Crack crack.
A sound of breaking bones echoed from Bu Eunseol’s face.
As his internal energy fell below thirty years, the Face and Bone Shifting Art shattered.
Woooong.
He tried to forcibly circulate his energy, but the remaining internal power was so pitiful that it was not even enough to perform basic circulation.
Swoooosh.
In the end, even the deepest-sleeping Divine Energies vanished from within him.
Only then could Bu Eunseol faintly grasp the situation.
‘Because I forcibly sustained the Mental Realm of someone on the verge of death.’
The price for forcibly maintaining a dying person’s Mental Realm was brutal.
By expending every ounce of his power to hold together Yeon Wol’s collapsing Mental Realm, Bu Eunseol’s body and spirit—which had withstood any blow—were completely shattered, and he had suffered irreversible, fatal internal injuries.
‘Even the Potential Demon Divine Pellet has no effect.’
He swallowed one of the pills from his robes, yet the blocked energy showed no sign of clearing.
‘This isn’t ordinary internal injury.’
He had unleashed all his power at once to sustain the collapsing Mental Realm, but midway through, Yeon Wol died, and the flow of power was abruptly cut off, returning violently to his own body.
In simple terms, the full force of Harmony he had unleashed had recoiled and struck his own body.
“A natural consequence, I suppose.”
To peer into the memories of the dying is to defy the natural order.
That backlash sealing all his internal energy was only to be expected; surviving at all was already fortunate.
“This is bad.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky and bit his lip.
‘Should I head to Nangyang Pavilion?’
If it was Ak Muryeong, the Pavilion Lord who was versed in the martial arts of every sect under heaven, surely he could identify the cause of this phenomenon sealing his energy and immediately treat the injuries.
‘No… I can’t.’
After thinking carefully, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
Unlike in the past, Nangyang Pavilion had now grown into a massive sect comparable to the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
There might be spies from external forces like the Three Realms, or even agents planted by hostile demonic sects among the Ten Demonic Sects.
And if his injuries were so severe that even Ak Muryeong could do nothing?
Even if his body could not be healed, word that he had suffered irreversible damage would spread through various intelligence networks.
The forces lurking in the shadows would never let such an opportunity pass.
‘I’ll move secretly to a safe house first.’
Right now, the Death Spirit Corps and Supreme Corps were in the midst of reorganizing their intelligence network as part of the integration with the Martial Soul Society.
In other words, Bu Eunseol’s current information channels were highly vulnerable to detection by external organizations. Even to Soyo, he could not reveal that he had suffered life-threatening internal injuries.
Thud, thud.
But at that moment, a figure wearing a large bamboo hat slowly approached from the opposite direction.
He wore tattered monk’s robes, and not only his face but every patch of exposed skin was wrapped in bandages soaked with clotted blood and pus. His features were impossible to discern and even his age could not be guessed.
‘This is no ordinary person.’
With one glance, Bu Eunseol could tell the approaching monk was far from ordinary.
Those perfectly still pupils held the complete state of tranquility seen only in grandmasters who dominated the martial world.
If this monk were an enemy, today would mark the end of Bu Eunseol’s short life.
“Haa.”
The monk looked at Bu Eunseol and let out a sigh before speaking.
“Your body is gravely damaged. You’ve suffered severe internal injuries.”
Thank the heavens—the monk was not an enemy.
Moreover, with just one look, he possessed the mysterious ability to instantly discern that Bu Eunseol had sustained fatal internal damage.
“Your internal energy has reversed and become blocked. Unfortunately, you may become a cripple.”
Shock after shock.
Not only had the monk recognized the injuries, he had also seen through the exact cause and process in an instant.
“Great Master.”
Realizing the monk before him was a hidden dragon-like transcendent being who had yet to reveal his identity, Bu Eunseol asked respectfully, “If you know the cause of the illness, shouldn’t you also tell me the way to survive?”
“Do you wish to live?” Pus oozed from the monk’s bandaged eyes, yet a mystical light dwelled within his pupils. “You don’t seem like an old man facing twilight, clinging desperately to life.”
“There is still work I must do.”
“Work that must be done. Is that reason enough to keep living?”
“It is not the reason I must live—it is the reason I have been able to live until now.”
At Bu Eunseol’s reply, the monk gazed at the distant sky and nodded slowly.
“If there is work that must be done, then it must be done.”
Letting out a deep sigh, the monk slowly approached Bu Eunseol.
Then, in a very low murmur, he said, “The human body was modeled after the universe filled with countless stars.”
“…”
“And in this world, there exists a space modeled after that universe filled with countless stars.”
The monk continued as he walked slowly.
“In such a space dwells the energy of the cosmos… and that may be enough to clear the blockage in your body.”
‘A space modeled after the universe filled with countless stars.’
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s eyes rippled.
He immediately understood where the monk was referring to.
The Martial Venerable’s secret vault.
Not long ago, inside the Martial Venerable’s secret vault, hadn’t there been a stone chamber that seemed to have transplanted an entire starry universe?
‘Who exactly is this person?’
How could an ordinary monk know about the Martial Venerable’s secret vault?
Could there be another space elsewhere that replicated the cosmos?
If Bu Eunseol’s guess was correct, the space hidden in the Martial Venerable’s vault contained cosmic energy, and that power could clear his blocked meridians and restore his body.
“Amitabha.”
By then, the monk had already passed by Bu Eunseol while reciting the Buddha’s name.
Srrrk.
The bandages covering his face slowly began to slip away.
Yet the monk continued walking with his back turned, never looking back.
“Thank you…”
Bu Eunseol bowed in gratitude and then froze in shock.
When he turned around, the slowly departing monk had already vanished.
‘My sensory range has shrunk.’
Though his body was far from normal and blood continuously boiled within him, the Beast Way still lingered in his body.
But with his internal energy unable to extend far, the scope of his extrasensory perception had drastically narrowed.
‘No… even if my body were intact, I doubt I could have sensed him.’
The monk had been only three zhang behind him when he turned away.
Even if Beast Way had been at full strength, the monk must have used some transcendent power beyond ordinary perception to disappear silently.
“It feels almost as though he left it on purpose.”
Where the monk had stood now lay the blood and pus-stained bandages and the bamboo hat.
Swish.
Without hesitation, Bu Eunseol picked up the bandages and wrapped them around his face, then placed the hat on his head.
With pus and blood-stained bandages covering his features, no one—no matter how skilled—would ever recognize him as Bu Eunseol.
‘I’ll head to the Martial Venerable’s secret vault like this, concealing my identity.’
Ever since entering the martial world, Bu Eunseol had always used his intelligence network to hide his movements.
But this time, without any help from those networks, he would travel alone, disguised as a sickly third-rate martial artist.
***
From the shadows, the monk watched Bu Eunseol stagger toward Chengdu and shook his head.
“There was no other choice.”
When he lifted his head, his bark-like skin and the hideous clumps of clotted blood around his mouth were revealed.
The one who had told Bu Eunseol the method of treatment was none other than the Wood Buddha.
“That child cannot die now.”
Drip drip.
Black, pebble-sized blood clots tumbled from the Wood Buddha’s mouth.
“Please forgive this humble monk.”
Gazing at the sky and murmuring those words, the Wood Buddha bowed his head and pressed his palms together.
Then, as he turned, a space enveloped in radiant light appeared before him.
Inside lay the scenery of a mysterious forest unknown to the people of the world.
Thud, thud.
The Wood Buddha slowly stepped into the light and vanished.
***
—I will now enter secluded training. Make sure my whereabouts are properly arranged.
Upon arriving in Chengdu, Bu Eunseol sent these instructions through Soyo.
—Furthermore, after all intelligence operatives return to headquarters, continue the work of integrating the information network.
And he added one more directive.
—Also, rebuild the building of the mortician Seo An in Xi’an and provide support so he can hire young embalmers and servants.
The old man Seo An was an extremely honest person.
Even if offered large sums, he would refuse and forcing money on him might only make him a target for villains.
Therefore, Bu Eunseol simply arranged for Seo An to live comfortably—repairing the mortuary building and providing enough support to hire young embalmers and servants to assist with miscellaneous tasks.
‘This much information, even if leaked to external organizations, should be safe.’
Even if hostile forces learned of this, they would merely assume he had gone into secluded training and try to locate the place.
With blood-stained bandages wrapped around his face, no one would ever discover the true identity of this sickly third-rate wanderer drifting through the martial world.
‘I’ll have to take a carriage all the way to Henan Province.’
Only about ten years of his internal energy remained.
Moreover, due to the grave internal injuries, he had no strength left in his body.
Executing any lightness skill was now a distant dream.
Immediately upon reaching Chengdu, Bu Eunseol headed straight to the post station.
“Cough, cough.”
But as soon as he entered, the coachmen’s gazes turned cold.
Already wrapped in blood-stained bandages and clearly suffering severe internal injuries, he naturally gave off the appearance of a sickly, low-grade martial artist.
“Ahem.”
Seeing his shabby state and the blood-soaked bandages covering his face, the coachmen instinctively sensed there would be little profit and either turned away or avoided his gaze.
‘Hmm.’
Unperturbed, Bu Eunseol carefully scanned the interior of the post station.
His eyes settled on an old coachman in the corner.
Calluses covered his hands and his back was bent.
His carriage was the oldest and most worn-out.
Yet Bu Eunseol approached the old man in the corner as though he had discovered a treasure and spoke.
“I’ll pay generously, so let me rent your carriage.”
“I can take you, but…”
The old coachman sighed and pointed toward a long procession heading out of Chengdu.
“If we leave now, we’ll have no choice but to follow that merchant caravan.”
He gestured toward a large group of merchants currently departing the city.
They weren’t from a single massive trading company, but a coalition of small-scale merchants.
Less wealthy caravans couldn’t afford to hire powerful escorts, so when passing through areas outside the control of orthodox or demonic forces—or bandit territories—they traveled together like this.
Numbers were as good as troops.
Even small caravans banding together could defend against bandit raids.
‘This actually works out better.’
No one would ever imagine that the Martial Soul Command Lord of the world was traveling by attaching himself to a merchant caravan.
Bu Eunseol nodded readily.
“Let’s go with the caravan.”
“You seem to have trained in martial arts. Why not ask to join that larger group instead?” The old coachman spoke cautiously after noticing the ink-black sword that looked like an ordinary iron blade. “Then you could earn money and travel more comfortably.”
Bu Eunseol gave a small smile.
He liked that the old man was not only honest but also considerate.
“Then the deal is made.”
He took out a money pouch containing twenty taels of silver and handed it over entirely.
“That’s far too much, sir.”
“It’s at least a fifteen-day journey to Henan Province. Shouldn’t I pay a fair price?”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“And your skill will surely be top-notch.”
With one glance, he could tell this old man possessed the greatest experience among the coachmen here and maintained his carriage with utmost care.
“Cough… cough.”
After speaking, he coughed violently again.
The internal injuries he had sustained this time were so severe that even talking for long was exhausting.
“Please get in the carriage quickly, warrior.”
Sensing Bu Eunseol’s poor condition, the old coachman prepared a warm blanket for him to rest comfortably.
Just as Bu Eunseol was about to climb aboard—
“I need a long-distance carriage.”
A clear yet somewhat cold voice rang out as a woman in white light robes entered the post station.
She wore a face veil, but her eyes were strikingly clear, and twin swords were strapped to her back.
‘A merchant family’s daughter.’
The scabbards of her twin swords gleamed with dazzling silver, and large gems were embedded in the hilts.
Anyone might mistake her for a martial artist, but Bu Eunseol instantly recognized her as the daughter of a wealthy merchant family.
‘A true martial artist would never wear such ornaments.’
She wore a silk face veil woven from heavenly silkworm thread and adorned her ears and fingers with expensive jeweled accessories.
While women generally enjoy adornment, women of the martial world are different.
They never wear ornaments that would interfere with martial techniques.
But daughters of rich families or merchant houses—even after learning martial arts—still flaunt their wealth and dress extravagantly.
“I’ll take you, miss.”
When one coachman stepped forward, the woman shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed at the carriage Bu Eunseol was about to board.
“I want that one.”
“Miss, that carriage has already been rented by this warrior.”
When the old coachman pointed to Bu Eunseol, the woman frowned and opened her mouth to speak—but then saw the blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his face, let out a sigh, and tossed a money pouch toward Bu Eunseol.
“This should be more than enough to cover the cost of another carriage.”
The pouch contained roughly eighty taels of silver.
She spoke generously.
“Use the extra for medicine.”
To give up the carriage and earn sixty taels in the process?
Even the most money-indifferent martial artist would find it impossible to refuse.
Swish.
But Bu Eunseol caught the pouch without even opening it and tossed it back to the woman.
“I decline.”
