Bu Eunseol’s gaze naturally settled on Dan So-ok.
It was the only way to smoothly avoid the burning, relentless stare of Dan Wolhon.
“Then I’ll take my leave,” Bu Eunseol said, turning and clasping his hands in farewell.
Dan Wolhon, as if waiting for this moment, quickly responded, “Yes, go on then.” He waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away an annoying fly. “This lord has a mountain of work to do.”
“You’re leaving already?” Dan So-ok asked, oblivious to her father’s simmering frustration.
She approached Bu Eunseol warmly and said, “Since you’ve come all this way, why not stay a little longer?”
At that, Dan Wolhon’s eyes, which had softened momentarily, began to blaze once more.
Catching the fiery glare, Bu Eunseol firmly shook his head. “No, thank you. I, too, have much to attend to…”
“Not even time for a meal together?” she pressed.
“I’m sorry. Let’s do it next time,” he replied.
Despite Dan Wolhon’s glaring, Dan So-ok continued to speak to Bu Eunseol with familiarity, causing the corners of Dan Wolhon’s eyes to twitch upward.
‘No matter how preciously I raised her, it’s all for naught. Utterly useless!’ he thought.
Yet, strangely, he felt conflicted.
Dan So-ok’s flower-like beauty and Bu Eunseol’s striking appearance under the sunlight—they looked like a perfectly matched pair of lovers.
‘Foolish thoughts. He’s just a lowly disciple from Nangyang Pavilion, after all,’ Dan Wolhon told himself. From the perspective of the Lord of Majeon’s Strategic Department, who controlled Majeon’s forces, Bu Eunseol was merely a skilled martial artist.
He was nothing more than a disciple from the weakest of the Ten Demonic Sects, with neither influence nor wealth.
“Then,” Bu Eunseol said, clasping his hands in a respectful farewell before turning to leave.
Dan Wolhon, watching him silently, turned to Dan So-ok. “So-ok.”
“Yes?” she replied.
“Do you like him?”
Her cheeks flushed at the blunt question. “What do you mean by that…?”
“Oh, no, no. Your father was just curious. You seemed so friendly with him,” Dan Wolhon said.
“His martial arts and inner energy are profound… and above all, he risked his life to protect me,” she answered.
“He seemed a bit arrogant,” Dan Wolhon remarked.
“He has the boldness of a true man,” she countered.
“Weren’t his actions and speech rather presumptuous?”
“It’s because his presence and dignity are always evident.”
“He looks a bit… like a pretty boy. From a distance, he could almost pass for a tall woman,” Dan Wolhon said.
“They call that kind of man a peerless beauty,” Dan So-ok replied.
‘Just say you like him already!’ Dan Wolhon thought, his lips creasing with frustration. His precious daughter, whom he cherished above all, had never seemed so infuriating.
“I have some matters to attend to… I’ll take my leave,” Dan So-ok said, hurriedly bowing before rushing after Bu Eunseol.
“Hmm,” Dan Wolhon muttered, shaking his head as he watched her go.
Then, he suddenly recalled Bu Eunseol’s display of formidable inner energy.
“Well, his inner energy is likely the best among the successor candidates,” he admitted.
His steps back to Majeon’s Strategic Department were slow and heavy.
“I suppose I’ll need to keep a closer eye on this successor struggle,” he said, gazing into the distant sky with a profound look before turning away.
As Bu Eunseol left the inner courtyard of Majeon’s Strategic Department and passed through the garden, heading outward—
“Are you leaving already?” a clear voice called from behind.
Turning, he saw Dan So-ok approaching, slightly out of breath.
“Young Master Bu, you walk so fast. It looks like you’re strolling, but you keep getting farther away,” she said.
“Is there more to say?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied with a gentle smile, gesturing to the sprawling garden. “Could we walk and talk for a bit?”
Dan So-ok had gone to great lengths, even moving her father, the Lord of Majeon’s Strategic Department, to show Bu Eunseol such kindness. Refusing a simple request to talk was unthinkable.
“Of course,” he said.
He walked side by side with Dan So-ok through the garden.
After a couple minutes, Dan So-ok, who had been deep in thought, slowly spoke.
“I heard you met with the Demon Heavenly Emperor.”
“Yes,” Bu Eunseol confirmed.
“Did he advise you to seek out Heaven and Earth Severing Sect or Affectionate Blossom Sect?”
Even Bu Eunseol, who rarely showed emotion, couldn’t hide his surprise this time. “How did you know?”
“It’s no secret that you lack the foundation other successor candidates have,” she said with a soft smile, lowering her voice. “Before you arrived at the main hall, the Demon Heavenly Emperor summoned all the other candidates to the Sacred Demon Hall at once.”
“I see,” Bu Eunseol said.
“I thought about why he called you to the Sacred Demon Hall alone,” Dan So-ok continued, her eyes sparkling. “Perhaps it wasn’t just to acknowledge you as a candidate but to guide you on how to secure the successor position.”
‘As expected of a candidate for Chief Inspector,’ Bu Eunseol thought.
Dan So-ok had deduced so much from so little information. Her intellect and ability to read people’s personalities and actions made it possible.
“You’re correct. The Demon Heavenly Emperor instructed me to seek support from those two places,” he said.
“I knew it. Will you go to Heaven and Earth Severing Sect first?”
“Yes.”
“I see,” she said, nodding, as she unclasped a necklace from her neck. “I don’t know about other places, but Affectionate Blossom Sect is wary of men. They demand grueling tests to enter.”
She held out the necklace to him. “The leader of Affectionate Blossom Sect and I have a slight connection. If you show her this, she’ll treat you kindly.”
The necklace had a small jade pendant that shimmered with a faint blue glow. Even at a glance, it appeared to be a rare treasure.
“This is…” Bu Eunseol began, intending to refuse.
But Dan So-ok’s gaze was so clear and resolute that he couldn’t bring himself to reject it outright.
“Understood,” he said, reluctantly accepting the necklace and placing it around his neck.
Dan So-ok’s face flushed. She hadn’t expected him to wear it so readily.
“Come back safely,” she said.
Come back.
Her words carried a heartfelt sincerity.
But Bu Eunseol, thinking it was merely a formality due to their location in Majeon, nodded calmly. “I will.”
***
Aging is a natural process.
But from the perspective of demonic sects, which pursue power and profit, growing old means losing strength. Unlike the righteous factions, which maintain close, family-like bonds, demonic sects gather and scatter based on gain.
As proof, unless a faction is of considerable size, demonic sects rarely establish an Elder Council. Recognizing this issue, Majeon created a sanctuary for demonic masters who once dominated the martial world.
This was the origin of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, one of the Ten Demonic Sects and a haven for great demonic masters.
To enter, two conditions must be met.
First, one must leave all their supreme martial arts techniques with Heaven and Earth Severing Sect. These techniques would be used to train future demonic prodigies.
Second, only those who have reached the Extreme Demon realm, capable of suppressing their killing intent, may stay. If demonic masters unable to control their bloodlust gathered in one place, it would lead to a massive slaughter.
Clatter, clatter.
Bu Eunseol, who had set out from Majeon in a carriage, finally arrived at Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.
A remote mountain valley.
Following a path along a flowing river and winding through a maple-laden mountain trail, he spotted a large, weathered palace.
This was the Demon-Suppressing Hall of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, the resting place of retired great demonic masters.
‘It looks peaceful,’ Bu Eunseol thought, stepping out of the carriage and gazing up at Heaven and Earth Severing Sect. Despite its essence, it appeared serene, like the tranquil scenery of a mountain temple.
Creak.
No guards were visible at the palace’s entrance. With no other choice, Bu Eunseol opened the gate himself and stepped inside.
“…!” He couldn’t hide his astonishment at the interior.
Though the exterior was a crumbling, dilapidated manor, the inner halls were pristine, as if newly built, with grand sculptures scattered throughout.
“Hmm,” Bu Eunseol murmured, frowning as he surveyed his surroundings.
He could hear faint chatter here and there, but not a single person was visible outside. ‘Even worse than the main hall,’ he thought, using a polite phrase to describe the chaotic state.
He walked deeper inside. In the distance, he spotted a single-story building with its doors wide open. Inside, young men in guard uniforms were gathered, a table piled with gambling tiles and coins.
They were likely gambling during duty hours.
‘Guards gambling on duty?’ Bu Eunseol thought, standing there dumbfounded.
At that moment, a young man in blue robes emerged from the building. He appeared to have just passed his twenties. His features were strikingly handsome, but his eyes lacked vitality, and his expression was melancholic.
‘He’s not a guard,’ Bu Eunseol noted.
“May I ask something?” Bu Eunseol called out as he approached.
The young man frowned, clearly annoyed. “Who are you?”
“I’m looking for someone to guide me,” Bu Eunseol said.
The young man’s expression soured further, as if he’d bitten into a bitter pepper, muttering to himself, “Another one? So annoying.”
‘Another one?’ Bu Eunseol thought.
“Where are you from?” the young man asked.
His eyes glinting, Bu Eunseol replied, “Nangyang Pavilion.”
“Ah, Nangyang Pavilion,” the young man said, showing no surprise despite a disciple from one of the Ten Demonic Sects standing before him. He merely maintained his air of indifference.
“Hmm. Let’s see. Right now, the only one available to guide you…” He glanced at the guards gambling inside the building, then slumped his shoulders. “Is me.”
With a resigned gesture, he beckoned Bu Eunseol. “Follow me.” Striding ahead, the young man pointed to a large gate at the eastern end. “Go through there, and you’ll find a bunch of old fogies clinging to life.”
“Is the leader there as well?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Who knows,” the young man replied, yawning and waving his hand like a tavern server. “Go see for yourself.”
Before Bu Eunseol could respond, the young man turned and sauntered back into the palace.
‘He’s no ordinary person,’ Bu Eunseol thought. Despite his bored demeanor, the young man’s steps were steady, and a sharp glint occasionally flashed in his eyes.
Moreover, calling the demonic masters of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect “old fogies” suggested he held a significant status.
“Hmm,” Bu Eunseol murmured, stepping through the open gate.
A wide path lined with trees came into view. Following it, he soon reached a small village. At the village entrance stood a pavilion, where two elderly men were leisurely playing a game of Go.
“Excuse me,” Bu Eunseol said.
“Who’s this?” one of the men, a refined-looking elder, blinked at Bu Eunseol.
The other, a surly-looking elder, glanced at him and said, “Who else? Looks like another sect sent a successor candidate.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes sharpened. Judging by the situation, it was clear other successor candidates from the Ten Demonic Sects had already visited.
“I am…” Bu Eunseol began, clasping his hands to introduce himself.
But the surly elder tossed a Go stone aside, grumbling, “Damn it, there goes my peaceful game. I’ll come back later.”
“Indeed,” the refined elder agreed.
As the surly elder left, the refined elder stepped out from the pavilion to stand before Bu Eunseol.
‘A giant,’ Bu Eunseol thought. The elder before him exuded a simple, leisurely demeanor. Yet, behind him, it was as if the shadow of a purple demonic statue loomed. If the Demon Heavenly Emperor embodied nature itself, encompassing all things, this elder felt like the ruler of an underworld, concealing all evils.
“Heh heh heh,” the elder chuckled, smiling at Bu Eunseol’s startled expression. “Impressive. To sense my aura at your age.”
“Are you Elder Phantom Demon?” Bu Eunseol asked.
The elder nodded. “Indeed. I am Hyeok Gongbaek, the leader of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.”
The Phantom Demon, Hyeok Gongbaek.
Sixty years ago, he was a great demonic master and one of the Ten Demonic Heroes. In today’s terms, he was on par with the Four Gods and Seven Kings—a true titan.
“Bu Eunseol, disciple of Nangyang Pavilion, greets the Leader,” Bu Eunseol said, bowing.
“Nangyang Pavilion, eh?” Hyeok Gongbaek said, smiling faintly as he looked at Bu Eunseol. “Indeed, among the Ten Demonic Sects, only Nangyang Pavilion exudes such freedom.”
Chuckling softly, he continued, “Shall we walk through this Peach Blossom Paradise and talk?”
Peach Blossom Paradise.
It referred to an idyllic realm where immortals dwell.
Seeing Bu Eunseol’s puzzled expression, Hyeok Gongbaek explained, “This place was originally called the Palace of Ten Thousand Demons, a rather ominous name. It didn’t suit a resting place for old men, so we changed it.”
“I see,” Bu Eunseol said.
As he followed Hyeok Gongbaek through the village, he couldn’t hide his amazement.
Everyone in Peach Blossom Paradise was a white-haired elder. Some were fishing, others reading leisurely. He had heard that those residing here were great demonic masters who once shook the martial world.
Yet they all lived leisurely, indistinguishable from ordinary old men.
“What do you think of Peach Blossom Paradise?” Hyeok Gongbaek asked.
Bu Eunseol hesitated before answering, “It’s completely different from what I expected.”
“How so?” Hyeok Gongbaek asked, stepping closer with a friendly expression.
His aura remained calm and peaceful as he gazed at Bu Eunseol. But that serene demeanor was more heart-stopping than the ferocious presence of a great demonic master.
‘He can subdue others without exuding his aura and take lives with a peaceful smile,’ Bu Eunseol recalled. That was the description of Hyeok Gongbaek, the Phantom Demon, one of the former Ten Demonic Heroes.
“Answer me,” Hyeok Gongbaek said, stepping closer with the same friendly expression. “How is it different?”
Humm.
At that moment, Bu Eunseol’s heightened senses sounded an alarm.
Having reached the Mind-Unity Realm and mastered the Storm Transformation Technique of the Radiant Sword Control, he was extremely sensitive to killing intent.
The air around him grew heavy, and a faint murderous aura seemed to constrict his throat. In that instant, he recalled meeting Jeok Bung, the former Elder Council Leader.
‘Like the Elder Council Leader, he’s a demonic master whose emotions are impossible to read,’ Bu Eunseol realized. If his answer was unsatisfactory, Hyeok Gongbaek would not hesitate to strike him down.
Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.
This was no tranquil haven for retired old men.
It was a sanctuary for demonic masters who once dominated the world, and its leader, Hyeok Gongbaek, was an unparalleled demonic lord surpassing even them.
‘He’d kill a Majeon successor candidate over a single answer…’ Bu Eunseol thought, his gaze growing colder as he stared at Hyeok Gongbaek.
“Answer me,” Hyeok Gongbaek pressed.
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol spoke in a firm, resolute voice. “It’s a chaotic mess… utterly deplorable.”
