The carriage, having left the sacred city, raced tirelessly and soon reached the Yellow River.
The region’s famed attraction was the roadside tavern overlooking the tranquil riverbank. Though it was broad daylight, many people were drinking at the tavern, enjoying the cool river breeze.
Hyeok Sojin, gazing out the window, grinned broadly and said, “They say the liquor drunk by the Yellow River’s banks is sweeter than wine poured by a beauty.”
Bu Eunseol had no interest in such pleasures. Knowing it was a long shot, Hyeok Sojin still spoke with enthusiasm. “Especially since the name ‘Yellow River’ belies the many fine springs around here, attracting countless travelers…”
“Let’s go,” Bu Eunseol said with a brief nod. “Since we’re already here.”
“Really?” Hyeok Sojin exclaimed, clapping his hands in surprise. “Then we’d better hurry!”
Bu Eunseol ordered the coachman to stop the carriage and rose from his seat.
Watching him, Hyeok Sojin said in a playful tone, “What’s gotten into you? You’re the one suggesting it first…”
His lively expression darkened as he recalled something.
This was Hyeok Sojin’s final journey through the martial world.
Bu Eunseol, aware of this, was trying to spend as much enjoyable time with him as possible.
Swish.
At that moment, a young man brushed past Bu Eunseol. For a fleeting instant, the youth’s lips moved subtly, but it was so brief it could barely be noticed.
“The scenery over there looks nice,” Bu Eunseol said, pointing to the tavern.
Hyeok Sojin followed without protest.
As they walked toward the tavern with a clear view of the riverbank, Bu Eunseol scanned the surroundings and spoke in a low voice. “Elder Sect Leader has almost fully recovered, I was told. Along with a message not to worry.”
Bu Eunseol had just received a report on the status of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect from the young man who passed by.
Thanks to the Affectionate Blossom Sect’s intelligence network merging with the Peongan Corps, Bu Eunseol could send or receive information from anywhere.
“That’s a relief,” Hyeok Sojin said.
“Your return must have given Elder Sect Leader strength,” Bu Eunseol said, his words unusually warm.
Both men shared the commonality of having been raised by their grandfathers, so Bu Eunseol understood Hyeok Sojin’s feelings well.
Looking a bit embarrassed, Hyeok Sojin rubbed his nose.
“You don’t need to keep me updated like that.” He flashed a bright grin, showing his white teeth. “Grandfather is strong. I wasn’t worried to begin with.”
Shoulder to shoulder, the two entered a roadside tavern near the riverbank. There, the tavern owner, with a cloth wrapped around his head, was roasting peanuts in a large pot.
“This is all you have for snacks?” Hyeok Sojin asked, his expression disappointed.
The owner grinned. “Not just us—every tavern around here only serves peanuts roasted with dried chilies and spices.”
“Hm,” Hyeok Sojin muttered.
“Take a gulp of Yellow River wine and pop a spicy roasted peanut in your mouth—you’ll envy even the immortals,” the owner said vividly.
Hyeok Sojin, salivating, nodded eagerly. “Can’t pass that up. Bring us three jugs of Yellow River wine and a heap of roasted peanuts.”
“Right away, sir,” the owner replied, quickly bringing three bottles of wine and a plate of roasted peanuts.
“Brother Bu, have a drink,” Hyeok Sojin said, filling Bu Eunseol’s cup to the brim.
But then, as if deep in thought, he furrowed his brow. “Three cups should be enough time to get there.”
“Your senses have sharpened,” Bu Eunseol remarked.
“All thanks to you, Brother Bu,” Hyeok Sojin replied.
Gulp.
As Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Sojin downed their third cup of wine, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.
Whoosh!
Soon after, dozens of warriors appeared around the tavern where Bu Eunseol sat. Hyeok Sojin, tilting his cup, frowned upon seeing the character “Xuan” embroidered on their robes.
“The Mysterious Heaven Gang?” he muttered.
The Mysterious Heaven Gang was a dark faction with influence spread across the Yellow River region. However, because they had ties with the government and exerted influence in the martial world’s underworld, they weren’t recognized as a true demonic faction.
So why had they come here with dozens of subordinates?
“I am Kwak Seung, leader of the Mysterious Heaven Gang,” said a robust man in ornate martial robes, stepping forward from among the warriors and clasping his hands. “Are you Bu Eunseol, Young Master Bu?”
Though the Mysterious Heaven Gang wasn’t a major faction, Kwak Seung was still a regional overlord. Yet his demeanor toward Bu Eunseol was exceedingly respectful.
“That’s me,” Bu Eunseol said with a nod.
Kwak Seung beamed. “It was worth investing all our funds to buy that information.”
When Bu Eunseol looked puzzled, Kwak Seung’s eyes gleamed. “I, Kwak Seung, leader of the Mysterious Heaven Gang, challenge you.”
Bu Eunseol was momentarily speechless.
A sudden challenge out of nowhere?
As silence lingered instead of a response, Kwak Seung calmly began his explanation. “I’ve long had an unresolved grudge with the Beggar King. I tried for years to track him down, but the Beggars’ Sect’s interference made it impossible.”
To summarize Kwak Seung’s lengthy explanation: he had been humiliated by the Beggar King long ago and had since trained tirelessly to seek revenge. Unable to find the Beggar King despite mobilizing intelligence networks, he had nearly given up when he heard Bu Eunseol had killed him. Now, Kwak Seung wished to challenge Bu Eunseol with the skills he had honed to face the Beggar King.
‘Ridiculous. He’s just trying to steal Brother Bu’s fame.’ Listening from the side, Hyeok Sojin’s expression turned incredulous.
Kwak Seung’s story was merely an excuse.
He had been too afraid to challenge the Beggar King until now.
—Bu Eunseol killed the Supreme Elder with the help of an aide.
—He saw through the Supreme Elder’s weakened state due to illness and challenged him.
—Lucky King Bu Eunseol. He’s just lucky.
Kwak Seung must have heard the humiliating nickname and rumors spread by the Beggars’ Sect. Believing them to be true, he was boldly challenging Bu Eunseol.
A victory in this duel would bring him immense fame in an instant.
“Young Master Bu appeared like a comet in the martial world, defeating great masters in succession and even slaying the Beggar King, carving a legendary path,” Kwak Seung said, praising Bu Eunseol extravagantly.
The sweeter the praise, the greater the reward of victory would be.
“Since then, I’ve had a small wish—to cross blades with a young grandmaster like Young Master Bu.”
Though his faction was small, a regional overlord’s challenge carried significant weight. It meant Bu Eunseol held a prestige that even such a figure aspired to and desired.
“Very well,” Bu Eunseol said, nodding readily and pointing to the riverbank. “This place is too cramped. Let’s move over there.”
Clatter!
At once, countless people drinking at the nearby taverns stood up. Bu Eunseol was the rising star stirring the greatest storm in the martial world. To witness his fight firsthand? They couldn’t miss this chance.
Boom!
But something absurd happened.
Before the crowd could even rise to watch, the duel was decided.
“Ugh…” Struck by Bu Eunseol’s Seven Demon Fists, Kwak Seung collapsed, spitting blood.
“Urk…”
“You haven’t trained your body in a while,” Bu Eunseol said calmly, looking down at the bloodied Kwak Seung. “A stiff body can’t execute proper techniques. Train again and then challenge me.”
“…I’m ashamed,” Kwak Seung muttered, his face flushed red from his defeat in a single strike.
With that, he clasped his hands, turned, and left with his subordinates using lightfoot techniques, without looking back.
“That was unexpected,” Hyeok Sojin said, blinking. “I didn’t know you could be so lenient, Brother Bu.”
Normally, Bu Eunseol wouldn’t let an opportunist like Kwak Seung walk away on two legs. Yet this time, he had inflicted only a light internal injury and let him go.
“Though the Mysterious Heaven Gang is a small faction, he’s still a regional leader. He challenged me respectfully and with courtesy,” Bu Eunseol explained.
“I see,” Hyeok Sojin nodded. “As someone destined to become the successor of Majeon, you showed magnanimity.”
“He’s friendly toward Majeon. There’s no need to crush him and humiliate him,” Bu Eunseol said.
In other words, he had deliberately shown leniency to gain the favor of the Mysterious Heaven Gang’s leader.
‘Wait… could it be?’ A sudden thought flashed through Hyeok Sojin’s mind as he blinked.
Bu Eunseol was a true warrior who cared little for factional politics or sparing his opponent’s pride, walking only his own path.
Yet now, he was acting like a successor of Majeon, making calculated political moves.
‘That’s what it was.’ Looking at Bu Eunseol’s expression, Hyeok Sojin finally understood. He realized why Bu Eunseol had acted this way.
‘It was to teach me.’
As the future leader of Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, Hyeok Sojin could no longer act like a wandering warrior. Every move he made represented his faction, and he had to choose what benefited it most. Bu Eunseol was teaching him, until the very end, how to be a worthy leader of a faction.
“Why are you going this far?” Hyeok Sojin asked, his voice choked with emotion. “Why do so much for me…?”
“It was my promise to the Elder Sect Leader,” Bu Eunseol said, turning away impassively.
“Now, let’s get moving.” Once again, Bu Eunseol hid his kindness behind the excuse of his promise to the Phantom Demon.
A man’s heart isn’t conveyed through words.
Knowing this well, Hyeok Sojin swore silently to himself. No matter what happened, he would protect the man before him.
Even if it cost him his life.
Step, step.
But then, another unexpected situation arose. The sound of dozens of footsteps echoed, and thirty sword-wielding warriors approached the tavern.
‘Who are they?’ Hyeok Sojin’s eyes widened.
All the warriors wore white headbands, the mark of the Martial Alliance’s warriors.
They were masters of the Martial Alliance.
At the forefront stood a haughty-looking young man and a solemn middle-aged man, both exuding an extraordinary presence, clearly formidable masters.
“Well, well,” the haughty young man said, staring at Bu Eunseol’s striking appearance. “Are you Bu Eunseol?”
When Bu Eunseol didn’t respond, the young man smirked. “I am Jo Bi-un.”
The Flawless Sword, Jo Bi-un.
A rising star among the Seven Dragons and Three Phoenixes, he was a master of swift swordsmanship.
Since the age of fifteen, he had been unmatched in the Shaanxi region, and now, well past his prime, he was said to rival the great masters of the Martial Alliance.
Moreover, he was the only son of Jo Cheonwang, the Imperial Dragon Sword, leader of the Martial Heaven Corps, one of the Martial Alliance’s seven great divisions. The Martial Alliance always provided escorts for the immediate families of its leaders, so he was constantly guarded.
“I heard you defeated great masters in succession and even took down the Beggar King. Is that true?” Jo Bi-un asked, his expression arrogant.
It was understandable—Jo Bi-un had never tasted defeat. Having just witnessed Bu Eunseol’s fist technique against Kwak Seung from afar, he thought it was merely powerful, not as impressive as the rumors suggested.
When Bu Eunseol remained silent, Jo Bi-un spoke again. “How about it? Care for a bout?”
With a cold smile, he glanced at the sword at his waist. “If you can withstand a few moves of my swordsmanship, your fame will grow even greater.”
‘Using the Martial Alliance’s escorts as a shield to gain fame by driving Brother Bu away.’
Hyeok Sojin instantly saw through Jo Bi-un’s intentions.
The Martial Alliance’s peak masters around Jo Bi-un were glaring intently.
With the backing of the leader of the Martial Heaven Corps, he knew Bu Eunseol wouldn’t fight and was deliberately picking a quarrel.
Even gaining fame for making Bu Eunseol back down would be a significant advantage.
“Hm,” Bu Eunseol grunted, turning away as if he hadn’t heard.
“Afraid, Lucky King?” Jo Bi-un taunted, boldly using the humiliating nickname coined by the Beggars’ Sect. “Killing the Beggar King with dirty tricks only to earn such a pathetic title.”
Despite Jo Bi-un’s mockery, Bu Eunseol didn’t respond and began walking away.
“Hmph, tucking your tail and running? Seems the rumor about killing the Beggar King was a lie after all. Haha!” Jo Bi-un laughed.
Bu Eunseol turned his head and gave a faint smirk.
Instantly, Jo Bi-un’s face hardened.
The scornful look in Bu Eunseol’s striking eyes filled him with an indescribable sense of humiliation.
“You!” Jo Bi-un shouted, trembling with rage.
But Bu Eunseol didn’t look back, quickening his steps.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Enraged, Jo Bi-un drew his sword and unleashed a gust of sword wind toward the back of Bu Eunseol’s head.
It was a feint to force Bu Eunseol to dodge and face him.
And that… was the last move Jo Bi-un made in his life.
Shing!
As the sword wind surged, a black sword appeared in Bu Eunseol’s hand, accompanied by the hum of steel.
Flash!
Without turning, he unleashed a brilliant streak of light.
The Meteor Chasing the Moon Technique unfolded like lightning.
“…”
Jo Bi-un stood frozen, eyes wide.
Drip, drip.
Blood trickled from his forehead, painting crimson flowers on the ground.
His brow had been pierced in an instant by the Meteor Chasing the Moon Technique, killing him instantly.
Thud.
As he collapsed, the Martial Alliance masters screamed in horror.
“No!” Simultaneously, the leader of the escort team, Gu Dong-ak, drew his sword.
“Stop right there!” he roared like thunder, moving like lightning to block Bu Eunseol’s path.
