What if he lied?
Wouldn’t Bu Eunseol be manipulated by the Divine Sage’s words?
‘The Demon Emperor.’
Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
The Demon Emperor had enlightened him to great truths but also made him unable to fully trust anyone’s words.
‘For now, I have no choice but to believe.’
In truth, these doubts had plagued him since he set out to find the Divine Sage. Realizing he had no other choice, Bu Eunseol slowly spoke.
“Who killed Bu Zhanyang, the coroner of the Huangju Prefecture?”
A brief silence followed from within. After a long pause, the hoarse voice answered.
“Himself.”
Anger flared in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
He already knew his grandfather had deliberately allowed himself to be killed to protect him.
But that wasn’t the intent of his question. He was clearly asking for the identity of the murderer who brutally attacked his grandfather.
“Are you playing word games with me?”
“It’s the truth,” the voice behind the door replied with quiet conviction.
“He gave up his life to protect someone.”
“I already know that,” Bu Eunseol said coldly, suppressing his surging emotions. “I’m asking who attacked Bu Zhanyang.”
“Regrettable,” came the voice, tinged with a sigh.
“But your question is over.”
“I see.” Surprisingly, Bu Eunseol nodded calmly.
“It’s done?” Soyo asked.
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“Not yet.”
With that, he threw a punch, striking the sturdy wooden door before him.
Boom! Crash!
With a loud explosion, the solid door shattered like brittle candy.
Crackle.
A strange energy flickered in the air and dispersed in all directions. The door had been imbued with an extraordinary formation.
Inside, an old man sat hunched over.
Step, step.
As dust swirled in the thatched hut, Bu Eunseol, cloaked in dark energy, stepped inside.
His eyes were completely black, and sharp waves of energy surged skyward.
“If you know that much, you must also know who the murderer is.” Approaching the old man like a god of death, Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“Who is the murderer?”
There was no need to say things like “Speak, or die.”
His eyes and voice conveyed enough intent to make it clear that if the truth wasn’t told, the old man would neither live nor die in peace.
Tremble, tremble.
The hunched old man shivered and slowly raised his face.
A face covered in liver spots, one you’d see at least once at the village entrance, utterly ordinary.
“Please spare me!” the trembling old man cried out unexpectedly. “I only answered as I was told.”
Bu Eunseol’s black eyes wavered.
What was going on?
“I was swayed by a single piece of gold and dared to do such a thing.” Unable to meet Bu Eunseol’s gaze, the old man stammered while prostrating himself. “I’m just a wandering fortune-teller… A month ago, an old man who looked like an immortal gave me a piece of gold and told me.”
“…”
“He showed me a coin identical to the one you have… and said that a month from now, in this place, I should read fortunes for those who present that coin.”
Raising his head, the old man saw Bu Eunseol’s blackened eyes, quickly lowered his head again, and pointed to the left wall.
There, written in dense script, was the method to cure the Supreme Yin Severed Meridian that he had given to Soyo.
And also the answer about the death of Bu Zhanyang, the coroner of Huangju Prefecture.
“Where is that old man now?”
“I-I don’t know.”
Bu Eunseol looked down at the old man.
If everything he said was true, then the Divine Sage had predicted his and Soyo’s visit a month ago and deliberately set up a decoy.
‘He gave a proper answer to Soyo but a nonsense one to me?’
A glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Did the Divine Sage disapprove of him using the Boeun coin? Was he trying to retrieve it? Because he was a demonic figure? If so, what was this farce? He must have known Bu Eunseol wouldn’t accept such a ridiculous answer and leave.
“Here, I’ll return this.” The old man, with a trembling voice, respectfully offered the Boeun coin back to Bu Eunseol.
Bu Eunseol stared at the coin.
In that moment, a subtle gleam passed through his eyes, unnoticed by the old man.
“Where did you meet that old man?”
As Bu Eunseol’s terrifying aura dissipated and his tone softened, the old man looked slightly relieved and answered, “In a small village in Dengfeng County.”
“Dengfeng County.”
Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes.
A coincidence? Dengfeng County in Henan is where Shaolin, the leader of the righteous sects, is located on Mount Song.
Could the Divine Sage be hiding in Shaolin?
Bu Eunseol stared at the Boeun coin on the old man’s wrinkled palm once more.
Then he slowly took it.
‘As expected.’ Realizing something, Bu Eunseol heightened his Beast Way to its peak.
His pupils dilated, and a white light began to emanate from them. Using the supreme senses of the Mind’s Eye, he examined the Boeun coin closely.
‘This is…’ A glint shone in Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he traced the patterns on the coin.
Two hundred fifty.
Astonishingly, the coin he received back had characters so finely etched they seemed carved with a needle.
Bu Eunseol stared intently at the still-trembling old man.
After a moment of thought, he clasped the old man’s hands.
“I’m sorry. I almost harmed you without knowing your situation.”
“N-no, it’s nothing.” The old man gave an awkward smile, and Bu Eunseol’s lips curved slightly.
Without further words, he left the hut with Soyo.
Step, step.
As they exited Myogaso, Bu Eunseol asked Soyo, “Are you going to save the child with the Supreme Yin Severed Meridian?”
Nod.
She nodded, and Bu Eunseol continued, “And then?”
Shake, shake.
Soyo shook her head.
She had no plans beyond that. Moreover, the Hundred-Split Assassin Sect would never leave her alone.
As long as she was alive, she would face their relentless pursuit.
“Come to Majeon,” Bu Eunseol said calmly, looking at her. “Gathering five masters with sixty years of internal energy in the Central Plains, where you have no connections, will be difficult.”
A faint smile crossed his lips. “You saved me with that in mind, didn’t you?”
She hadn’t left during his fight with King Jo, staying until the end, and risked her life to help when the assassin appeared.
It was because she foresaw that the Boeun coin alone might not cure the Supreme Yin Severed Meridian. If she couldn’t meet the Divine Sage, or if his answer came with impossible conditions, the heir of Majeon would surely be able to help.
In other words, despite her youthful appearance, Soyo possessed insight and cunning on par with Bu Eunseol.
“It wasn’t just for that,” Soyo said in a low voice. “It was to repay a debt.”
“I see.” Bu Eunseol nodded and said, “Bring the child to Majeon. We’ll cure the Supreme Yin Severed Meridian… and ensure their safety for life.”
“For life?”
“Yes. Even if I’m gone, even if I die, I’ll take responsibility for ensuring that child’s life is peaceful.”
“Why?”
“Because you saved me. Don’t I have to repay the debt of my life?”
“You.” Soyo turned her head sharply and muttered in a low voice, “You’re… pretty sly.”
She knew.
Taking responsibility for the child she saved for life meant bringing her to Majeon. The only places where she could escape the pursuit of the strongest assassin sect in the Western Regions were the Martial Alliance and Majeon.
“Sly?”
“You’re making it so I can never leave your side.”
“You’ve misunderstood. That’s not what I meant…” As Bu Eunseol waved his hands, Soyo’s silver eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed.
“It’s fine.”
“What do you mean?”
“I won’t leave your side for life.”
A touching statement.
But Bu Eunseol’s expression darkened considerably upon hearing it.
In a deeply serious tone, he said, “I’m sorry. Forget everything this lord has said so far…”
“You need me.” Soyo wasn’t his kindred spirit for nothing.
From his expression and gaze alone, she could tell Bu Eunseol needed her abilities.
“I’ll help you.” Soyo’s voice was flat and cold as a northern winter wind.
Like Bu Eunseol’s voice in his childhood.
But her eyes seemed to carry the warmth of a spring breeze. Bu Eunseol avoided her piercing gaze and cleared his throat.
“Then let me explain clearly. I’ve created a secret intelligence unit, but we lack a deputy leader to command the field…”
“I’ll do it.” Soyo nodded. “That settles it, right?”
Bu Eunseol couldn’t refuse.
Even if he searched the entire martial world, he wouldn’t find a deputy leader for the Death Spirit Corps as capable and in tune with him as her.
“Then take this.” Bu Eunseol handed her the command token he carried. “With this, go to the nearest relay station, and Majeon’s subordinates will come to meet you.”
He continued, “I’ll inform them to ensure you face no inconvenience at Majeon. Rest there comfortably.”
Looking at him, Soyo said in a low voice, “You’re going to Mount Song to catch the Divine Sage?”
Astonishingly, Soyo had seen through even his thoughts.
“You knew?”
“No matter how much his clothes reek of an old man, the scent of a young person’s flesh is different.”
Her sense of smell was almost canine.
To think she detected the true scent of flesh beneath the old man’s clothes.
“There was no need to mention meeting him in Dengfeng County.”
“Hmm.” Bu Eunseol nodded in agreement. “He’s probably testing me.”
Only after receiving the coin from the fake Divine Sage did Bu Eunseol realize he was a martial arts master.
Two hundred fifty.
The Boeun coin he received back had minute characters etched on it, detectable only by the Mind’s Eye.
In other words, the Divine Sage had, through the fake, given Bu Eunseol a new Boeun coin.
And by leaving the clue about Dengfeng County, he was clearly inviting Bu Eunseol to find him again.
“Even with your remarkable abilities, you’ll need training to become a member of the intelligence unit.” Bu Eunseol changed the subject. “Go to Majeon and rest for now. We’ll discuss the rest later.”
“Okay.”
The two parted ways.
Bu Eunseol headed to Shaolin, and Soyo to Majeon.
At that moment, in the thatched hut where the fake Divine Sage had been, a voice spoke.
“Master, you’ve chosen quite a difficult opponent.” The fake Divine Sage murmured softly, gazing at the distant sky. “He doesn’t seem like someone who’d move according to your intentions.”
The voice was not that of a hoarse old man but of a strong, clear man.
“Well, if it’s fate, it’s fate.” Stretching, the fake Divine Sage slowly removed the human skin mask from his face.
A dazzlingly handsome middle-aged man’s face was revealed.
His thick eyebrows rose like Mount Tai, and between them, a pair of eyes stretched long like a phoenix’s and gleamed with the majesty of a dragon.
And his appearance and aura… were somehow strikingly similar to Bu Eunseol’s.
***
Arriving in Chengdu, Bu Eunseol immediately relayed information about Soyo to Yoo Unryong.
There was no guarantee the Hundred-Split Assassin Sect wouldn’t attack again, and he needed to prepare to treat the child as soon as he returned to Majeon.
Additionally, Bu Eunseol gave Yoo Unryong one more secret order.
It was a matter known only to Bu Eunseol and Yoo Unryong… a critical issue to be resolved at Majeon.
Whoosh.
Having relayed all the information, Bu Eunseol used his movement technique to head straight for Mount Song, where Shaolin was located.
After meeting the fake Divine Sage, he had an intuition.
The Divine Sage was testing him.
The fake Divine Sage in Myogaso was no ordinary fortune-teller but a peerless master with astonishing prowess.
‘To engrave characters finer than a hair on the Boeun coin so discreetly…’
Otherwise, he couldn’t have left such a subtle mark on the coin’s surface, detectable only by the Mind’s Eye.
‘I’ll gladly take the challenge!’
The Divine Sage was no deranged old man. He must have had a clear purpose in orchestrating this.
And only by passing this test would he meet Bu Eunseol.
‘I don’t know what his purpose is, but I’ll definitely get answers.’
Bu Eunseol was filled with anticipation.
The question he had carried all along. The Divine Sage would surely provide the answer to who killed his grandfather.
Otherwise, how would he know about Bu Zhanyang, a coroner working in a remote village in Huangju Prefecture?
And if he could get that answer… even if the Divine Sage dragged him to hell, he would willingly follow.
Whoosh.
Running day and night without rest, Bu Eunseol finally arrived in Dengfeng County, where Shaolin was located. Without taking a moment to rest, he immediately ascended Mount Song. However, he hid his black sword in a secret location to conceal his identity.
“…”
Near the entrance to Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, he saw countless people walking about.
They were pilgrims coming to offer incense and pray for blessings.
‘Perfect timing.’
Shaolin was currently, unusually, accepting a large number of pilgrims.
As a result, Mount Song was bustling with people heading to Shaolin to offer incense.
The Divine Sage had likely predicted when Bu Eunseol would arrive at Myogaso and Shaolin, orchestrating this situation.
Crunch.
Standing before the stone steps, Bu Eunseol transformed his appearance into that of Seolso. Entering Shaolin Temple, he saw its grand interior alongside numerous pilgrims.
‘Normally, I could never have entered Shaolin like this.’
Though Shaolin’s grounds were vast, they weren’t like the Martial Alliance, where a sprawling estate hosted a mix of various figures.
Infiltrating alone to investigate while concealing one’s identity was a daunting task.
Shaolin’s security was stricter than the Martial Alliance’s, and it was filled with formidable masters.
Attempting such a feat in Shaolin would have been impossible. But with the temple filled with pilgrims, he could move about freely even in broad daylight.
‘This is Shaolin.’
As he surveyed the temple grounds, Bu Eunseol felt an odd sensation.
Originally, he had no connection to Shaolin.
But his grandfather, Bu Zhanyang, was undoubtedly from Shaolin. And within Bu Eunseol’s body resided the Prajna Great Power, Shaolin’s supreme technique.
Since entering the martial world, Shaolin had become a sect inextricably linked to him.
Buzz, buzz.
Arriving at the Great Hero Hall, he heard the murmur of countless people.
The main gate was wide open, and numerous pilgrims were entering. Bu Eunseol naturally joined them, entering the hall to offer incense.
‘The security isn’t too strict up to this point.’
The area around the Great Hero Hall, where pilgrims entered, was accessible without much restriction.
‘Let’s see how far I can go.’ Wandering the temple grounds like a tourist, Bu Eunseol gradually moved deeper inside.
After passing two courtyards, he reached a place where a large monks’ quarters stood. Suddenly, two monks in robes appeared on either side of him, clasping their hands together.
“Amitabha.” The monk on the left spoke politely, “This is where our temple’s disciples practice. Outsiders are not permitted.”
“My apologies. I got carried away sightseeing.” Bu Eunseol bowed politely and turned away.
Spreading his heightened senses, he scanned his surroundings as he walked slowly.
‘The security is tight.’
As he extended his sensory range, he felt the presence of monks in the halls and quarters. Each one seemed to have mastered profound techniques, exuding calm yet viscous waves of energy. As long as they were vigilant, even the stealthiest movements were likely to be detected.
‘I’ll have to wait until night.’ No matter how skilled the warrior monks were, they would sleep at night. Infiltrating at night would be far easier than during the day.
“No trouble at all.” At that moment, a clear female voice came from the opposite direction.
Looking up, he saw an old monk with long eyebrows and a beautiful woman in a blue-green outfit walking together, chatting.
“My father always regrets not being able to come in person,” the woman said.
She seemed close to the old monk, speaking without pause.
‘That’s her.’
Spotting the woman’s face, Bu Eunseol paused briefly. He didn’t recognize the old monk, but he knew exactly who the woman was.
The precious jewel of the Sichuan Tang Clan, his first true friend, Tang Gon’s younger sister, Tang Cheong.
“You must be busy, so please attend to your matters.” Quick-witted, Tang Cheong sensed the monk had urgent business and extended her hand. “I’ll look around the temple grounds while my attendants handle the luggage.”
It seemed Tang Cheong hadn’t come just to offer incense but to make a significant donation in the Tang Clan’s name.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.” The old monk smiled faintly and left.
Bu Eunseol watched calmly and passed by her.
“…!” But as he did, Tang Cheong’s expression stiffened slightly. A strange mix of emotions flickered in her eyes.
“Wait.” Approaching Bu Eunseol, Tang Cheong clasped her hands in a salute. “Pardon me.”
With utmost courtesy but a sharp gaze, she scanned him and said, “I am Tang Cheong from the Tang Clan.”
Bu Eunseol found it odd that she spoke to him but responded with a nonchalant expression, “What’s the matter?”
“This may be presumptuous, but may I ask your name, young hero?”
Bu Eunseol felt a strange sensation.
To enter Shaolin, he had hidden his black sword and worn wide-sleeved robes typical of a merchant. Merchants often donated heavily to temples for greater wealth and blessings, making them a common sight among pilgrims.
With his mastery of the Bang-geuk Method, Bu Eunseol exuded the aura of a merchant.
Yet Tang Cheong had addressed him as “young hero.”
“That’s quite a presumptuous question,” Bu Eunseol said, intending to give a false name.
But Tang Cheong’s eyes were too bright. He had a gut feeling that lying would be seen through.
“I don’t know what this is about, but I’ll have to decline.”
“You can’t even share your name?” Tang Cheong asked, stepping closer with sparkling eyes and taking a deep breath.
“Then may I ask what you do?”
“I run a small shop near the Namgang River. Excuse me.” With a brief reply, Bu Eunseol quickly walked past her.
But a cold voice transmission reached his ears.
“Just because our paths differ, you won’t even acknowledge me now?”
Pretending not to hear, Bu Eunseol quickened his pace, but Tang Cheong’s confident voice transmission came again.
“Martial Soul Command Lord. Bu Eunseol.”
Bu Eunseol rarely got surprised. But this time, he was genuinely shocked.
His Face and Bone Shifting Art was flawless, and he had perfectly mastered the Ban-geuk Method.
How could she recognize him at a glance?
