Yuhongok
Located in Gwangjeongsan, Yiwu, this valley was once home to the Green Blood Sect.
The Green Blood Sect crafted small poison pools from toxins gathered in Gwangjeongsan, honing their poison arts. At the peak of their poison mastery, their blood turned green, and they used it to create the Five Waters Blood Crystal, the most lethal poison in the martial world. With a single drop capable of killing hundreds, the Green Blood Sect amassed power and disrupted the martial world.
But they incurred the wrath of both righteous and demonic factions, becoming a public enemy and facing swift annihilation. Now a forgotten tale told by elders to their grandchildren, the Green Blood Sect’s land became a valley of the dead, named Yuhongok.
“Poison-using sects never end well,” Hyeok Sojin said, frowning as they approached Yuhongok. “The sect perished long ago, but its stench lingers through generations.”
The deeper they ventured, the more a sour smell assaulted their noses.
An indescribable, ominous aura seemed to envelop the surroundings.
“A trait shared by poison masters and villains,” Bu Eunseol murmured. “Even if their bodies rot into dust, their vile reputation lingers like a stench.”
His words sounded like a sage’s reflection on life’s truths.
Savoring the remark, Hyeok Sojin noticed Bu Eunseol’s serious expression and chuckled, tossing a jest. “Isn’t that stench different from this one?”
But Bu Eunseol took even the jest seriously. “Not much different. The bodies of villains and poison masters are handled the same way.”
“How so?” Hyeok Sojin asked.
“Poison masters’ corpses are toxic themselves. Burying them pollutes the land, and burning them creates poisonous smoke that devastates the area.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes deepened, as if recalling his time in Hell Island. “To dispose of a poison master, you must burn their body in a remote place, far from human reach.”
“And how does that relate to villains?”
“Villains commit so many wrongs that even after death, their graves are desecrated by those seeking revenge.”
“Hm.”
“So, like poison masters, villains must be buried secretly in places untouched by people.”
“Ah,” Hyeok Sojin nodded, clapping his hands. “Indeed, the ways of the world are all connected.”
He grimaced, looking around. “And since the Green Blood Sect was both poisonous and villainous, its stench is even worse.”
Myo Cheonwoo, listening silently, gave a faint smile.
‘He’s changed a lot.’ In Hell Island, Bu Eunseol was cold and taciturn. Now, he not only conversed well but used a unique, engaging style of speech.
‘Come to think of it…’ Myo Cheonwoo recalled Bu Eunseol fighting back-to-back with Seo Jinha in Hell Island, their eyes meeting.
“Bu Eunseol,” Myo Cheonwoo said, approaching with a serious expression. “Do you trust me?”
It was an abrupt question.
Bu Eunseol frowned, puzzled. “Trust?”
“You included me in your mission to kill the Beggar King. Doesn’t that mean you trust me to some extent?”
Bu Eunseol shook his head at the unexpected question. “No.”
“No?”
“It’s just a hollow word.” Fixing his gaze on the distant sky, he said in a low voice, “In the martial world, all you need is enough faith that someone won’t stab you in the back.”
“That’s it, huh?” Myo Cheonwoo said.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” Myo Cheonwoo realized it then.
Bu Eunseol’s core hadn’t changed since Hell Island.
‘The selection process in Hell Island awakened madness and bloodlust.’ Most in Hell Island lost their sanity, consumed by madness and destructive urges.
But Bu Eunseol was different.
He wasn’t swayed by madness, always viewing things cynically and rationally. Even when fighting alongside Seo Jinha, and now…
Bu Eunseol still didn’t believe in loyalty or trust.
‘It makes sense.’ In Hell Island, Bu Eunseol focused solely on survival.
Seo Jinha’s character or trustworthiness didn’t matter.
All he needed was assurance that his back wouldn’t be stabbed.
‘But this isn’t Hell Island.’ Myo Cheonwoo gave a bitter smile.
Bu Eunseol still lived as if in Hell Island, holding the same values.
‘He must have a purpose. A reason to survive and grow stronger.’ Their conversation on the way to Yuhongok barely reached ten sentences.
Yet Myo Cheonwoo felt he understood Bu Eunseol as if they’d been friends for decades. That was possible because he genuinely liked Bu Eunseol.
Friendship.
Many heroes proclaim its virtues.
But most turn away the moment it costs them.
Some even push struggling friends into despair or wish them failure.
Myo Cheonwoo was different.
He was a true man who held the noble emotion of friendship steadfastly.
‘Maybe we’ll become close quickly.’ Myo Cheonwoo grinned.
Bu Eunseol had no expectations of others. But that meant even a small show of trust could bring them closer.
‘Then Yoo Unryong…’ Myo Cheonwoo’s face hardened. He realized why Bu Eunseol sought Yoo Unryong so boldly.
‘He can bring him because he doesn’t trust him.’ Bu Eunseol didn’t seek Myo Cheonwoo out of trust or deep friendship. He offered compelling reasons and benefits that made following him inevitable. And he’d surely use a similar approach with Yoo Unryong.
‘But…’ Myo Cheonwoo resolved inwardly.
He’d make Bu Eunseol feel trust someday.
“We’re here,” Wi Cheongyeong said, stopping.
Among the three captains, Wi Cheongyeong was the fastest and most cautious, always taking the lead in dangerous areas.
“This is Yuhongok.”
Despite its name suggesting scattered corpses, Yuhongok was lush with greenery and blooming plants. But the stench was overwhelming, requiring strong inner energy to avoid nausea. After winding through twisting paths, they reached a large bamboo forest tinged with green.
“Looks like someone’s been practicing martial arts,” Wi Cheongyeong said, narrowing his eyes at the split bamboo. “Impressive skill to split bamboo like this.”
The bamboo was split vertically, not horizontally, into hundreds of uniform pieces.
“Hm,” Bu Eunseol said, closing his eyes after examining the bamboo Wi Cheongyeong pointed out.
In his mind, he saw a long whip moving like a living creature, weaving sixty-one variations in a single motion.
“Divine Skill of Creation…” Bu Eunseol murmured, recognizing it as one of the White Horse Whip Sect’s supreme techniques.
“No need to look further. This is Yoo Unryong’s mark,” Myo Cheonwoo said.
Bu Eunseol shook his head. “No, this isn’t Yoo Unryong’s doing.”
“What?”
“He mastered the more complex Whip-Protecting Armor long ago. He wouldn’t create just sixty-one variations.”
“You can tell the number of variations from split bamboo?” Myo Cheonwoo asked.
“It’s not difficult,” Bu Eunseol replied casually, frowning as he looked down the path into the bamboo forest.
Whoosh!
With a piercing sound, about thirty figures descended from the air.
They wore snow-white robes, with gleaming white whips coiled at their waists.
“Bu Eunseol,” the leader said, his eyes flashing.
It was Go Gunpyeong, the Black Dragon Corps Leader of Majeon, who once tested Bu Eunseol with five moves.
“Been a while,” he said.
“Leader Go,” Bu Eunseol replied, bowing lightly.
Though they’d met as enemies, Go Gunpyeong was a prideful martial artist.
When testing Bu Eunseol with five moves, he’d held back. If he’d intended to kill, he would have used a lethal technique from the first move.
“You’re here for Yoo Unryong?” Go Gunpyeong asked.
“Yes,” Bu Eunseol confirmed.
“Go back,” Go Gunpyeong said coldly. “Yoo Unryong defied the sect leader’s order to return and is hiding in this area.”
“Why is a Majeon leader chasing the White Horse Sect’s Ten Demon Warrior?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Hmph, that’s our sect’s business, not yours.”
“It is my business,” Bu Eunseol said firmly. “He must come with me.”
“Hahaha!” Go Gunpyeong laughed, looking at the sky with a mocking expression. “Bu Eunseol, getting a third-rank leader’s position has gone to your head.”
His laughter stopped, and he said coldly, “Yoo Unryong is our sect’s disciple. If you want to interfere, become Majeon’s heir first.”
“No need for that,” Bu Eunseol said, pulling a token from his robe. “I have the authority now.”
The token, shimmering with five-colored light, bore the character for “Chief”, symbolizing Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon.
“Why do you have the Chief Instructor’s token?” Go Gunpyeong asked, startled.
“The Chief Instructor permitted it,” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “He allowed me to take Ten Demon Warriors from sects without heir candidates.”
“The Chief Instructor allowed that?” Go Gunpyeong asked.
“Yes.”
‘I have a request.’ Before leaving Majeon, Bu Eunseol had secretly asked Yeop Hyocheon for the power to free the remaining Ten Demon Warriors from the Ten Demonic Sects’ shackles.
Yeop Hyocheon granted him conditional authority.
‘I’ll allow it for sects currently without heir candidates.’
“Currently” meant sects like Hell’s Blood Fortress, White Horse Sect, and Death Command Sect.
But Hell’s Blood Fortress’s Ten Demon Warrior, Seo Jinha, had become a Cheonsal warrior, freeing himself.
And Death Command Sect’s Ten Demon Warrior had long been a cold corpse at a righteous master’s hands.
Thus, the token’s authority applied only to Yoo Unryong.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Go Gunpyeong shouted. “Even the Chief Instructor has no right to take a Ten Demon Warrior we raised!”
“The Ten Demon Warriors have suffered endlessly from the Ten Demonic Sects’ schemes,” Bu Eunseol said solemnly. “Enough is enough. Let him go.”
“Hmph, nonsense.”
“You’d defy the Chief Instructor’s order?”
“Heh heh,” Go Gunpyeong sneered cruelly. “If this were Majeon, I couldn’t. But this is a desolate valley, and the dead don’t speak.”
“A good plan,” Bu Eunseol said, nodding calmly. “Yuhongok, untouched by people, is perfect for murder and silencing.”
“You understand well,” Go Gunpyeong said.
“Are you confident?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Confident?”
“That you can kill my entire team.”
Go Gunpyeong burst into mocking laughter. “Hah, you think you’re invincible after wiping out the Marauders rabble? You dare challenge my Black Dragon Corps?”
The Black Dragon Corps was among the elite second-rank teams, trained personally by Go Gunpyeong with handpicked White Horse Sect disciples. Each member was a peak-level master, seasoned by countless missions.
“I know your martial prowess has grown,” Go Gunpyeong said, nodding coldly.
His Black Dragon warriors stepped forward in unison.
“But these are all peak-level masters. Understand?”
Boom!
A sudden explosion shattered a large boulder beside Bu Eunseol.
Furious at Go Gunpyeong’s arrogance, Myo Cheonwoo had unleashed a Blade-Destroying Palm.
“Are we going to keep listening to this chatterbox, Bu Eunseol?” Myo Cheonwoo asked, staring at the shattered boulder.
Go Gunpyeong’s eyes widened, noticing fine holes riddling the boulder’s surface.
“Blade-Destroying Palm…?” He stared at Myo Cheonwoo. “Extinction Palace’s Ten Demon Warrior?”
“Hmph, Ten Demon Warrior, my foot. If you’re itching for a fight, I’ll take you on.” Go Gunpyeong’s expression changed.
A Ten Demon Warrior rivaled Bu Eunseol’s Transcendent Realm prowess.
With Hyeok Sojin, Heaven and Earth Severing Sect’s heir, also present, the Black Dragon Corps stood no chance, no matter their efforts.
“Leader Go, I have a proposal,” Bu Eunseol said, smiling at the sweating Go Gunpyeong. “Why sacrifice your innocent Black Dragon warriors?”
“What do you mean?”
“Endure five moves from me. Then I’ll leave.”
Go Gunpyeong’s body trembled, recalling the five-move test he’d forced on Bu Eunseol in the past.
