Yoo Hwaryeong’s eyes were filled with distrust.
Throughout his life, he had heard many rumors dismissed as mere ghost stories, but he had never encountered a tale as eerie as this.
Hwarak!
Enraged, he swiftly tore away the large cloth, three jang in height, covering something in front of him. Inside was a transparent liquid filling the space, with a corpse floating within.
“Ugh!” At the grotesque and terrifying sight, Yoo Hwaryeong stumbled back and collapsed to the ground. “Why are they keeping corpses in a place like this?”
“They aren’t corpses. They were likely living people.”
“Living people… deliberately drowned to death?”
“Not drowned. It’s more like brewing wine—they extracted every drop of their vital essence.”
Crack!
Unable to contain his erupting anger, Yoo Hwaryeong sprang to his feet, clenching his fists. Not only were they creating elixirs by injecting human blood, but they were also draining the essence of living people? Was this something a human could do?
“Why would they commit such heinous acts? Why?”
She slowly picked up the fallen cloth and spoke.
“If you look back at the history of the martial world, it’s not uncommon for heretical sects or poison clans to conduct human experiments.” With a light leap, she covered the glass container with the cloth again. “But such atrocities are usually exposed quickly and lead to their extermination as public enemies of the martial world.”
“Are you saying they can do this freely because they’re backed by the court?”
“More precisely, the military.” Jongri Sayu stared into the darkness with sunken eyes. “They’ve been researching drugs to modify the human body or enhance strength for a long time.”
In that moment, a single word flashed through Yoo Hwaryeong’s mind.
‘Eastern Division.’
It couldn’t be the military. Only the Eastern Division, with its unparalleled authority, could boldly carry out such cruel acts.
Grrrr.
At that moment, the sound of a metal door creaking open echoed, accompanied by soft footsteps. The group exchanged glances and hurriedly hid in the darkness.
Thud, thud.
As the footsteps grew closer, two figures emerged near the glass container. One was an old man with hollow eyes and a gaunt frame, dressed in the typical garb of a wanderer. Beside him stood a masked figure draped in a windbreaker adorned with intricate embroidery. Though their face was hidden, their piercing eyes seemed to see through the darkness.
‘That person…’ Hiding in the shadows, Bu Eunseol’s gaze sharpened like a blade as he observed the masked figure. He noticed faint scratches on the scabbard the masked figure wore.
Those were traces of Radiant Sword Control, unleashed with all its might by Seok Song.
‘Is that the one who annihilated the Thousand Swords Society?’
Something felt off.
The incident where the Thousand Swords Society, including its leader and ten masters, was wiped out happened over twenty years ago. Even if the culprit was in their twenties back then, they would now be well into their forties.
Yet, the skin and eyes visible through the mask suggested a youth barely past their prime. At that moment, the gaunt old man removed the cloth covering the glass container and spoke.
“It’s already about seventy percent complete.” Examining the contents with a satisfied smile, he continued. “Within a month, we should reach eighty percent completion.”
“Completion doesn’t matter. Increase the quantity.” The voice was cold, but unmistakably that of a young man. “They’ll be contacting us soon.”
“Understood.” After conversing while inspecting the area, the two headed toward the iron door.
Just as the old man stepped out,
Thud.
The masked figure stopped abruptly and turned around.
“What’s wrong?” the old man asked.
The masked figure nodded.
“I’m going to check the mechanisms. Go on ahead.”
“Alright.” As the old man left, the masked figure reentered the room.
Clang! The iron door slammed shut.
Thud, thud.
The masked figure walked back inside, scanning the surroundings before stopping.
Whoosh.
A faint breeze seemed to emanate from the masked figure, surging toward the dark interior.
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened. He realized the masked figure was expanding their heightened senses, meticulously searching the area.
“Don’t look at them.” Bu Eunseol quickly sent a telepathic message, but it was too late.
The man’s sharp senses had already swept over the spots where Yoo Hwaryeong and Jongri Sayu were hiding.
“Quite a big rat we have here.”
Clank.
A loud metallic sound echoed as the floor beneath Yoo Hwaryeong and Jongri Sayu split open.
“Argh!” With a short scream, the two were swallowed into the dark abyss below.
Flash!
At that moment, a streak of light flared in the darkness. Bu Eunseol, hidden in the shadows, unleashed a sword strike toward the masked figure.
Clang!
As the swords clashed in the air, a tremendous shockwave radiated outward. Sparks flew as the blades locked, their edges grinding against each other like magnets.
A faint glow emanated from the masked figure’s forehead. Moreover, Bu Eunseol noticed their eyes faintly glowing blue.
‘Not a Central Plains internal energy technique.’ When Bu Eunseol trained under Blood Vajra, he had learned the strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics of various internal energy techniques.
– “Unlike the orthodox internal energy methods of the Central Plains, external techniques focus on cultivating the upper dantian. Their progress is slower, but…”
Once they reached the Three Origins and Three Harmonies or the state of Primordial Spirit Emergence, they could unleash mystical powers beyond human limits.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed as he recalled Blood Vajra’s teachings. Could the masked figure’s talent be so extraordinary that they reached Primordial Spirit Emergence at such a young age?
‘No, they’re using externally infused energy.’ The masked figure’s internal energy was powerful but short-lived. It was clear they had consumed elixirs or drugs to temporarily boost their internal energy.
“Tch.” Unable to withstand Bu Eunseol’s deep internal energy, the masked figure began to retreat, step by step.
“Argh!”
“Ugh!” At that moment, pained screams from Yoo Hwaryeong and Jongri Sayu echoed from the pit below.
Clang! Clang!
Metallic sounds rang out in rapid succession, indicating something was happening below.
‘Are there enemies beneath the mechanisms as well?’ As Bu Eunseol’s focus wavered, his internal energy faltered.
Whoosh!
Seizing the opportunity, the masked figure leaped back with full force.
“Release the mechanisms,” Bu Eunseol commanded sternly.
The masked figure let out a low chuckle.
“Say that after you’ve subdued me!”
Click.
A large hole opened where Bu Eunseol stood, but he had already leaped three jang back, anticipating the vibration and sound of the mechanism.
“Hmph.” The masked figure sneered, lightly brushing the floor with their left foot.
Click. Another hole opened where Bu Eunseol had been standing.
‘Not the floor, but their shoes?’ It was impossible to install mechanisms across the entire hall to trigger at will. The masked figure had a device in their shoes, allowing them to activate mechanisms freely.
“Subdue, you say.” Bu Eunseol nodded, looking down at his dark sword.
“So be it.”
Whoosh!
With a sharp sound, Bu Eunseol closed the distance to the masked figure in an instant.
He lightly extended his sword.
It appeared to be a simple thrust, but the faint light on the blade expanded, transforming into a myriad of unpredictable sword strikes.
Shwaak!
A swift sword strike shot forward like a beam of light, while a massive cross-shaped sword aura descended from above.
Simultaneously, eighty-one intricate sword patterns erupted from his left and right.
Realizing the masked figure’s swordsmanship was refined, Bu Eunseol applied the Thirteen Guiding Energies, unleashing three distinct sword strikes with a single motion.
“Hah!” As countless sword strikes enveloped them, the masked figure gasped.
The simultaneous release of three sword patterns was like a storm unleashed. The speed and unpredictability were impossible to counter.
“Haap!” Realizing they couldn’t block it, the masked figure swung their sword with full force, creating a transparent sword barrier.
It was a life-saving technique meant to ensure survival in any situation.
But then, something strange happened.
Shwiik!
As if sucked into a vortex, the sword auras vanished with a sound.
Click.
At the same moment, Bu Eunseol’s dark sword was pressed against the masked figure’s neck. The moment the sword strikes disappeared, Bu Eunseol had closed the distance and placed his blade at their throat.
“It was all a feint.” The masked figure’s voice carried a sense of defeat.
In truth, Bu Eunseol hadn’t yet mastered the Thirteen Guiding Energies to the point of dividing them into three distinct strikes. The three simultaneous strikes were merely sword shadows.
Unaware of this, the masked figure had used their life-saving technique to counter the feint, leaving an opening that Bu Eunseol exploited to subdue them instantly.
“I won’t say it twice,” Bu Eunseol said coldly.
“Release the mechanisms.” Any false move would result in their neck being severed. The masked figure raised both hands cautiously and spoke.
“Alright. But I need to move my foot.” Bu Eunseol nodded, and the masked figure carefully moved their left foot.
Rumble.
A low vibration echoed, and the entire hall began to shake.
Boom. Boom.
Heavy tremors emanated from the area where Yoo Hwaryeong and Jongri Sayu had fallen.
It sounded as if an enormous, unknown creature was moving.
“What is this…?” As Bu Eunseol turned toward the dark pit,
Shwoop.
The masked figure’s body sank into the floor, only to reappear near the entrance. The mechanisms installed here could not only open the floor but also allow free movement across it.
“Quite meticulous,” Bu Eunseol muttered, impressed.
It wasn’t surprising that the masked figure had moved dozens of jang in a moment of distraction.
What was remarkable was that they had moved from under the mechanism to the entrance in an instant. This implied countless rehearsals to escape any situation.
“Hahaha!” The masked figure, standing at the exit, let out a triumphant laugh. “No matter how skilled you are, you’ll never defeat that.”
‘That?’
Clank.
Suddenly, the floor within dozens of jang around Bu Eunseol turned into a dark pit.
“What a pity. I won’t get to witness that entertaining spectacle myself.” Leaving cryptic words, the masked figure laughed heartily and vanished.
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol fell into the darkness below.
Pop.
But his body stopped mid-air. He had immediately used the Floating Step Technique to hover, then adhered to the wall with the Tiger Claw Wall Technique.
Such traps posed no threat to Bu Eunseol.
“Hup.” Adjusting his internal energy, Bu Eunseol was about to soar to the ceiling with the Sky-Soaring Technique when,
“Argh!” Yoo Hwaryeong’s desperate scream echoed from below.
After staring into the pitch-black depths for a moment, Bu Eunseol dove downward without hesitation. Saving Yoo Hwaryeong’s life took precedence over capturing the masked figure.
If he died, revenge would be meaningless.
Tap.
Landing lightly, Bu Eunseol raised an eyebrow.
The surroundings revealed countless branching tunnels, like a spider’s web. Deep beneath the mountain, they had constructed such an intricate cave system?
‘This isn’t a man-made structure.’ This underground space likely existed naturally, with the authorities adding mechanisms to it.
Flutter.
Expanding his heightened senses, Bu Eunseol pinpointed the source of the scream and darted forward with qinggong.
“Rooaar!” At the tunnel’s end, a massive figure loomed before Bu Eunseol.
It was a monster unlike anything he had seen.
Over eight cheok tall, its body was covered in golden scales, with razor-sharp claws protruding from its hands.
Its large eyes gleamed black.
It resembled a hybrid of a giant bipedal mole and a turtle.
“Haa, haa.” Yoo Hwaryeong and Jongri Sayu stood before the monster, bleeding and breathing heavily.
Shing.
Without hesitation, Bu Eunseol drew his sword and slashed at the monster’s neck.
Chik!
Sparks flew where the dark sword struck. Astonishingly, the monster’s hide was so tough it could withstand even the divine black blade.
“Be careful! Blades don’t work on this monster!” Yoo Hwaryeong shouted.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed.
Whooosh.
A faint light gathered in his left fist.
The surrounding air began to swirl toward it with a low hum.
“It’s useless,” Jongri Sayu shouted, recognizing Bu Eunseol’s intent to use a mountain-shattering fist technique. “We tried multiple times, but its hide is too thick…”
Her words trailed off.
Whooom!
A blinding red light, like the sun, erupted from Bu Eunseol’s left hand.
The Heaven Hand Void Break, the fourth technique of the Seven Demonic Fists. It was the pinnacle of destructive fist techniques, capable of obliterating anything in its path.
“Kieeeek!” The monster screamed as the Heaven Hand Void Break struck its abdomen.
The sound was closer to a human’s than an animal’s, sending chills down their spines.
“Keeeek!” The monster writhed in pain, eventually spewing thick fluid from its mouth.
Struck directly in its organs by the Heaven Hand Void Break, capable of demolishing an entire hall, its insides were likely pulverized, despite its tough hide.
Thud.
The monster collapsed, red blood pouring from its mouth.
“Such a formidable fist technique,” Yoo Hwaryeong exclaimed, his expression a mix of awe and relief as he bled. “Thanks to you, we survived.” His body was soaked in blood and bruised, but fortunately, he had no fatal injuries.
“This monster…” Bu Eunseol muttered.
Jongri Sayu responded, “It seems they used spiritual herbs and human essence to artificially create a spirit beast.”
“They can even modify animals?”
“It’s not entirely impossible if they use human essence.”
Yoo Hwaryeong’s jaw dropped.
He prided himself on his broad knowledge, but medicine and toxicology were entirely different fields. Listening to their conversation, Bu Eunseol recalled the humans submerged in the transparent liquid.
‘So they can create not only elixirs but also spirit beasts using human essence.’
“By the way, your fist technique is incredible,” Jongri Sayu said, staring into Bu Eunseol’s eyes. “You’re not a swordsman but a fist master? That was a technique as powerful as the Dragon Subduing Palm of the Beggars’ Sect.”
Though skilled in medicine and martial arts, her knowledge of fist techniques was limited.
She sensed Bu Eunseol’s prowess was extraordinary but failed to recognize he had reached the early stages of the Heavenly Realm. Moreover, the indistinct nature of his Nangyang techniques made it impossible for her to suspect he was a master of the demonic path.
“Is the sword on your back just a decoy…?” As she continued speaking to Bu Eunseol,
Clank, clank.
The sound of metal clashing and slow footsteps echoed from deeper in the dark tunnel. As the sound grew closer, a heavy, sinister air seemed to pierce the darkness.
Thud.
Finally, a figure emerged—a disheveled man in a gray robe stained with grime, his hair wild and unkempt. His angular face and sharp eyes were striking, but his pupils were vacant, and his steps sluggish.
He didn’t appear entirely human. The clanking came from a short sword connected to a chain dragging on the ground.
“You…” Yoo Hwaryeong’s eyes widened as he stared at the man.
The aura emanating from him, combined with the unique weapon—a sword linked to a chain—was unmistakable in the martial world.
“Blood Chain Sword… Gu Juhon?”
