Hyeok Gongbaek’s eyebrows shot skyward at the unexpected, shocking response.
“A chaotic mess?” he echoed.
“Yes,” Bu Eunseol confirmed.
Humm.
At that moment, the faint murderous aura emanating from Hyeok Gongbaek surged uncontrollably.
“Why?” he demanded.
“For a place called one of the Ten Demonic Sects, it’s treated abysmally,” Bu Eunseol replied.
Despite the terrifying aura Hyeok Gongbaek exuded, Bu Eunseol maintained a relaxed expression. “It’s called a haven for demonic masters, but it’s no different from being abandoned.”
Hyeok Gongbaek stared blankly for a moment before his eyes curved into crescent moons. “Heh heh heh. Hahaha!” Chuckling softly, he nodded. “You’ve got guts. As expected of a Nangyang Pavilion disciple.”
Pleased with Bu Eunseol’s response, the murderous aura dissipated like melting snow. “If you had spouted flattery, this leader would have expressed displeasure.”
In true demonic master fashion, he referred to nearly killing someone as merely “expressing displeasure.”
With a faint smile, Hyeok Gongbaek continued, “But you spoke honestly about what you saw. You saw it correctly.” He let out a deep sigh. “Those here are all great demonic masters who once shook the martial world. Even though they’ve reached the Extreme Demon realm, they’re like ticking bombs, ready to explode at any moment.”
As they walked through a leaf-strewn path in the village, Hyeok Gongbaek said, “That’s why Majeon created this place to manage them. But in truth, it’s little more than an exile. They extract their secret techniques and then leave them to rot.”
“Have you ever formally protested?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Protest? We should be grateful they even made this place. It’s not like we’re a righteous sect that meticulously honors its elders and maintains master-disciple bonds,” Hyeok Gongbaek said, inhaling the crisp forest air before continuing. “But whenever Majeon selects successor candidates, the Ten Demonic Sects’ successors suddenly visit this place.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol understand why the young man at the entrance and the Go-playing elder had been so dismissive. Normally, Majeon paid this place no attention, but when a successor struggle arose, they acted as if they cared.
Since Heaven and Earth Severing Sect was created to manage demonic masters, its own successors were excluded from Majeon’s succession structure, making visits from candidates unwelcome.
“You came to gain this place’s support, didn’t you?” Hyeok Gongbaek asked.
“Yes,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“Then I’ll be blunt. To gain Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s support, you must first win the approval of the old men in Peach Blossom Paradise.”
By now, Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Gongbaek had reached a hill overlooking the village.
“There are about eighty old men here,” Hyeok Gongbaek said. “They may seem gentle, but they’re all demonic masters who once turned the martial world upside down.”
After gazing at Peach Blossom Paradise for a while, he added, “By the way, before you, a successor from Hell’s Blood Fortress visited.”
“I see,” Bu Eunseol said.
“He brought laborers to rebuild the old halls here and even arranged for young maids to serve the old men for a time.” Bu Eunseol finally understood why the interior halls were so pristine compared to the dilapidated exterior.
“So that’s why the inner halls were newly built,” he remarked.
Hyeok Gongbaek gave a wry smile. “He promised that if he became Majeon’s successor, he’d make the exterior grander and provide young men and maids to serve here for life.” Lowering his voice, he added, “Thanks to that, over half the old men decided to support Hell’s Blood Fortress’s successor.”
“…”
“Honestly, it’s a tough task for you,” Hyeok Gongbaek said with a bitter smile, well aware of Nangyang Pavilion’s circumstances. “Even if you emptied Nangyang Pavilion’s coffers, you couldn’t match that. Isn’t that right?”
Bu Eunseol could only nod.
Despite its formidable strength, Nangyang Pavilion avoided building influence and was self-sufficient. No matter how much they scraped together, they lacked the resources to satisfy these demonic masters.
Moreover, Hell’s Blood Fortress had already provided young maids to serve them, even briefly. Even if Bu Eunseol personally cooked or served them, the masters here wouldn’t bat an eye.
“Let me ask you again,” Bu Eunseol said after a moment of deep thought. “Even if I gain the support of the elders here, it doesn’t seem like that would secure Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s backing.”
“Of course, there’s a second condition,” Hyeok Gongbaek said, his eyes clouding. “But I’ll tell you about it after you’ve fulfilled the first condition—gaining the support of all the old men here.”
Looking at Bu Eunseol with pity, he shook his head. “Since the first condition alone may be impossible for you.” Bu Eunseol finally grasped the situation.
“Then the successor from Hell’s Blood Fortress returned because he couldn’t fulfill the second condition,” he said.
“Sharp as expected. You’re correct,” Hyeok Gongbaek confirmed.
After another moment of thought, Bu Eunseol asked, “Then may I stay in Peach Blossom Paradise for a while?”
“Of course. The old men would enjoy having a young person around. We don’t get many here,” Hyeok Gongbaek said with a bitter smile, shaking his head as if recalling something. “Do you remember the small hut at the foot of the mountain before entering this forest?”
“I do,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“It’s empty and unused. You can stay there if you’d like.”
“Thank you,” Bu Eunseol said.
Hyeok Gongbaek nodded, chuckling softly as he turned away. “Do your best, then.”
***
From that day, Bu Eunseol stayed in an old hut at the foot of the mountain, a short distance from Peach Blossom Paradise.
His every move became a hot topic among the demonic masters in the village.
“What could that Nangyang Pavilion kid possibly do to win us over?” Everyone in the demonic world knew Nangyang Pavilion’s finances were tight.
“He plans to stay in Peach Blossom Paradise? Hmph, just the kind of thing a penniless disciple would think to do.”
“Exactly. He’ll probably linger here, groveling and serving us!” But most of the demonic masters were skeptical of Bu Eunseol’s approach.
The Ten Demonic Sects’ disciples usually ignored this place, only visiting to gain support during successor struggles.
The masters of Peach Blossom Paradise resented this.
“At least the Hell’s Blood Fortress guy threw money around generously. This one seems to think he can make up for it with his body—don’t even give him the time of day!”
“Right. No matter what tricks he pulls, don’t pay him any attention!”
The eighty or so elders in Peach Blossom Paradise were united in their resolve. How dare a penniless disciple from Nangyang Pavilion come to win their support?
They vowed not to care, no matter what Bu Eunseol did. But their expectations were completely wrong.
A day passed, then two, and Bu Eunseol stayed in his hut, not once approaching the demonic masters in Peach Blossom Paradise.
“What’s that guy doing?”
After three days without so much as a glimpse of him, the masters grew curious.
Unable to contain their curiosity, one of the masters, the Blood Hand Demon, Bang Gak, visited Bu Eunseol’s hut.
“Ahem,” Bang Gak coughed loudly, pacing around the hut, but there was no response.
Scrape. Swish, swish.
From inside came the relentless sound of wood being worked.
‘What’s he doing?’ Bang Gak wondered, unable to resist any longer. He slipped into the hut.
“Huh?” His eyes widened as he stepped inside.
The front yard was piled with stacks of wood, and Bu Eunseol, holding a saw, was diligently shaping planks. Tools like hammers and axes, likely borrowed from Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s warriors, were scattered around.
“What are you doing here?” Bang Gak demanded.
Bu Eunseol didn’t even glance at him, continuing to saw the wood silently.
“Are you deaf?” Bang Gak snapped.
Clack.
Bu Eunseol set down his hammer and looked at Bang Gak. ‘What kind of eyes…’ The mere act of meeting his gaze sent a chill down Bang Gak’s spine.
‘Could this young man’s inner energy surpass mine?’ He shook his head. No matter how talented a successor of the Ten Demonic Sects, there was a limit to the inner energy one could achieve in their twenties.
Thinking it a mistake, he coughed and repeated, “I asked what you’re doing.”
“Making something,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“What?” Bu Eunseol pointed to a stack of wooden planks.
Frowning, Bang Gak closely examined the planks. “What… what are those?”
His eyes widened to the point of tearing as he stared at the planks. They were about one and a half feet wide (roughly 40 cm) and six feet long (roughly 180 cm).
One side had holes carved in the shape of the Big Dipper. A flat plank with seven holes—there was only one such object in the world.
“Are you… making Seven Star Boards?” Bang Gak asked, incredulous.
Seven Star Boards.
Thin planks placed at the bottom of coffins to secure the body. It was the very board referred to when people say, “to lie on a Seven Star Board” at death.
“Yes,” Bu Eunseol confirmed.
Unable to believe the response, Bang Gak’s eyes bulged. “Why are you making Seven Star Boards here?”
No answer came this time.
“Answer me!” Bang Gak shouted.
“Be quiet,” Bu Eunseol said.
“What?”
“I’m working. Leave.”
“What did you say?” Bang Gak was about to yell in disbelief but stopped.
The cold, steady gaze of Bu Eunseol, focused on his work, was solemn and serious enough to inspire reverence.
“Madman,” Bang Gak muttered, realizing further talk was pointless. He stormed off in a huff.
“He’s making Seven Star Boards?” The rumor that Bu Eunseol was crafting coffin bases spread like wildfire through Peach Blossom Paradise.
“No way. That crazy old Bang Gak must be spouting nonsense.” But an even more outrageous event followed.
They discovered Bu Eunseol cutting down all the paulownia trees on the back mountain to make rectangular boxes.
“That lunatic!” A long, rectangular box made of paulownia wood.
Even without seeing the finished product, it was obvious what it was.
“He’s making coffins?” The demonic masters of Peach Blossom Paradise were outraged.
This madman from Nangyang Pavilion was building coffins out of paulownia wood.
“Is he telling us to lie in our coffins since our time is near?”
The rumor that Bu Eunseol was making coffins spread rapidly through Heaven and Earth Severing Sect. Some masters were so furious that, despite having reached the Extreme Demon realm, they radiated killing intent.
“No matter that he’s a disciple of the Ten Demonic Sects, isn’t this going too far?” Eventually, some masters grabbed weapons and sought out Bu Eunseol.
“Let’s kill him before we die!” As their ferocity threatened to erupt, Hyeok Gongbaek and his close friend, the Mad Master, Pung Yeoryang, intervened.
“We’ll go see him first.”
“What’s going on here?” Hyeok Gongbaek said, shaking his head as he walked toward the hut with Pung Yeoryang. “Making coffins while staying here? It can’t be true.”
“Can’t be true?” Pung Yeoryang growled, grinding his teeth. “If I hadn’t stopped that old Yin Monster Scythe from rushing out with his blade, this would’ve escalated.”
“Hmm,” Hyeok Gongbaek murmured, swallowing hard.
The Bu Eunseol he had seen was clear-minded and resolute, not the kind of madman who would build coffins in a place full of elders.
Creak.
As they opened the hut’s door, a curse escaped Pung Yeoryang’s lips. “That lunatic…”
It was true.
As rumored, the front yard was filled with coffins made of paulownia wood.
“He’s a dead man! Where is he?” Pung Yeoryang shouted, rolling up his sleeves and scanning the area.
Hyeok Gongbaek shook his head. “Hold on, calm down. This isn’t something to handle rashly.”
“Not handle rashly?” Pung Yeoryang snapped.
“He’s the legitimate successor of Nangyang Pavilion and a candidate officially recognized by Majeon Lord.”
“Hmm,” Pung Yeoryang muttered.
“Let’s hear what he has to say before deciding how to deal with him,” Hyeok Gongbaek said.
Though he spoke calmly, purple mist began to rise from his eyes. If Bu Eunseol gave a foolish answer, Hyeok Gongbaek would personally end him. The Phantom Demon, Hyeok Gongbaek, was no kindly old man. He was a great demonic master ruling Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, one of the Ten Demonic Sects.
Creak.
At that moment, the hut’s door opened, and Bu Eunseol, carrying a load of paulownia wood like a lumberjack, stepped through the wicker gate.
“What brings you here?” he asked calmly.
Pung Yeoryang’s eyes blazed with fury. “What brings us here?” he roared, storming toward Bu Eunseol as he set down the wood. “What are you doing?”
With a voice dripping with killing intent, he demanded, “Why are you making coffins here?”
