Hyeok Ryeon-eung stared at Bu Eunseol’s rigid expression and smiled coldly.
“You always pretend to be cold-hearted, but in truth you’re weak when it comes to affection.”
He knew it well.
Though Bu Eunseol always maintained an air of indifference, he actually watched over and cherished those around him with meticulous care.
And using that very weakness, Hyeok Ryeon-eung had completed a cruel trap.
He had slipped secretly into Majeon, infiltrated the Death Spirit Corps, and cast the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words upon its warriors, turning them into puppets.
His ultimate goal: to make Bu Eunseol and his own subordinates destroy each other, shattering Bu Eunseol’s spirit so thoroughly that he could never rise again.
Step. Step.
The Death Spirit Corps’ warriors who had been encircling the reed field advanced toward Bu Eunseol with unfocused eyes.
“Do you wish to fight me?”
Hyeok Ryeon-eung curled the corner of his mouth at the motionless Bu Eunseol.
“Then first you will have to cut down every subordinate you hold dear.”
By now the Death Spirit Corps’ warriors had drawn right up behind Hyeok Ryeon-eung.
Clack.
With no other choice, Bu Eunseol reversed his grip on his sword—an aggressive stance ready to strike the moment they came closer.
“It seems you’ve made up your mind.”
Hyeok Ryeon-eung nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Well, you can always recruit new subordinates later… It might not be a bad choice.”
Yet even as he said it, Hyeok Ryeon-eung was certain:
Bu Eunseol would never be able to cut them down easily.
If he were truly that ruthless, he would already have stepped onto the Demonic Path and become an Emperor who ruled the world.
Step. Step.
Just as the Death Spirit Corps’ warriors were about to pass Hyeok Ryeon-eung,
Paaat!
Something astonishing happened.
Won Semun, Jo Namcheon, and Wi Cheongyeong—the three leading the advance—suddenly spun like lightning and attacked Hyeok Ryeon-eung simultaneously.
Pak!
But their strikes only sliced through empty air.
With terrifying superhuman senses, he had detected the killing intent the instant it formed and leapt high into the sky to evade.
“What is this?”
He had dodged effortlessly, yet Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s face hardened.
These men should have lost their reason under the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words and obeyed only his orders.
How could they suddenly regain their senses and attack him?
“You broke the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Bu Eunseol looked at the flustered old man and curled his lips.
“When the master of Soul-Seizing Spirit Words has been targeting me all this time, of course I prepared countermeasures.”
The day Bu Eunseol regained his memories as the beggar Mumu and returned alive, he had learned that Hyeok Ryeon-eung possessed Soul-Seizing Spirit Words surpassing even the Illusion King.
From that day forward, he had ceaselessly researched ways to defend against Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s attacks.
If a man like Hyeok Ryeon-eung infiltrated Majeon, not only high-ranking members but even the Death Spirit Corps’ subordinates could be turned into puppets—he had never overlooked that possibility.
“It was quite difficult.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, the captains surrounding Hyeok Ryeon-eung shuddered as they glanced at one another.
‘It wasn’t just difficult…’
And at the same moment, they all recalled the past.
***
Suppressed Demon Pavilion, Grand Conference Hall.
Bu Eunseol and the captains were holding an extremely grave meeting.
“…In other words, with Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s abilities, he could infiltrate the Death Spirit Corps at any time and turn every warrior into a puppet.”
Even though his martial prowess had reached the Supreme Heavenly Realm, Bu Eunseol had been utterly powerless against Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s Soul-Seizing Spirit Words.
He had only regained his memories thanks to the help of the fatty Bu Bok-un—pure luck.
Had that chain of events not occurred, Bu Eunseol would have lived the rest of his life as the beggar Mumu.
‘Yet it turned misfortune into fortune.’
When Bu Eunseol, whose body had been completely emptied after total memory loss, regained his memories, his inner energy exploded within that clean vessel, producing an effect similar to an artificial Rebirth Cleansing.
As a result, he underwent a complete transformation, his power surged dramatically, and he reached the sixth layer of the Ban-Geuk Method.
Thanks to that, he even achieved perfect circulation of energy and blood.
He no longer needed to fear Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s Soul-Seizing Spirit Words… but the problem was that his Death Spirit Corps’ subordinates could not do the same.
“If he decides to target me, he will surely try to crush the Death Spirit Corps first.”
Just as Hyeok Ryeon-eung understood Bu Eunseol perfectly, Bu Eunseol understood Hyeok Ryeon-eung just as well.
The old man knew all of Bu Eunseol’s tendencies. His first move would inevitably be to extend his demonic grasp toward Bu Eunseol’s subordinates.
“Soul-Seizing Spirit Words, Soul-Seizing Spirit Words…”
“That’s tricky.”
Murmur, murmur.
Yoo Unryong and all the captains frowned gravely and muttered.
No matter how much they thought, they could find no way to block an attack from a soul-seizing master of Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s caliber. After long, fruitless meetings, they sought counsel from Medicine King Hall Master Gyo Junghak and other renowned physicians and soul-seizing experts within Majeon.
Yet the conclusion was the same:
If someone capable of wielding Soul-Seizing Spirit Words at Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s level decided to infiltrate secretly, defense itself was impossible.
‘No answer.’
After days of meetings yielded nothing, the captains grew despondent.
There were plenty of ways to kill Hyeok Ryeon-eung outright, but if he slipped in like a ghost and used his Soul-Seizing Spirit Words?
Only Bu Eunseol could stop him.
“Damn it all.” Won Semun scratched his head furiously. “If defense is meaningless, why not just find a way to bite our own tongues the moment we’re seized?”
At those words, every captain’s eyes flashed.
‘Not defense—awakening?’
Seizing upon Won Semun’s grumbling as a clue, they all nodded in surprised agreement.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?” Won Semun blinked when the stares turned strange. “Is my idea weird?”
“No.”
Jo Namcheon sighed and spoke for everyone.
“It’s just that a muscle-head like you actually being useful… it’s so moving I could cry.”
“You little—! Even when you speak—!”
As Won Semun began to roar, Yoo Unryong nodded.
“Won Semun, you’re exactly right.”
He continued calmly, “Unless one possesses an exceptional Soul-Seizing Spirit Words or a barrier of the mind, the only thing that can break Soul-Seizing Spirit Words is ‘pain.’”
Then Wi Cheongyeong spoke.
“But we don’t know when or where he might appear like a phantom and seize our men. We can’t exactly endure constant pain just in case.”
“Hmm.”
At that moment Bu Eunseol had a flash of inspiration.
“Then why don’t we develop a device that inflicts pain the instant someone falls under Soul-Seizing Spirit Words?”
‘Ooh!’
The conference hall came alive with energy—Won Semun’s words had given them the spark, Bu Eunseol the method.
They immediately began developing a device that would awaken anyone seized by Soul-Seizing Spirit Words.
But that, too, was no easy task.
The moment one fell under Soul-Seizing Spirit Words, reason vanished instantly.
There was no way to voluntarily feel pain in that state.
‘Then just torture ourselves every hour?’
At Won Semun’s next idiotic outburst,
‘Ooh!’
‘That’s it! There was that method!’
‘This guy… is he a genius pretending to be an idiot?’
The captains rushed to Won Semun in delight, shaking his shoulders, ruffling his hair, and pinching his cheeks.
‘Complete!’
And finally, it was finished.
With the help of Medicine King Hall Master Gyo Junghak, Nangyang Pavilion’s Master Iron Wang Geol, they created a unique mechanical device that could awaken someone even under Soul-Seizing Spirit Words.
It looked like ordinary metal wrist guards that warriors wore at all times. But inside lay an intricate mechanism… every half-hour, a button would pop out.
If the button was not pressed within fifteen breaths, a special short needle co-developed by Wang Geol and Gyo Junghak—the Gale-Tail Short Needle—would shoot out and deliver excruciating pain.
“When under the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words, one won’t even think to press the device.”
Yoo Unryong smiled warmly at the captains.
“But at most within half an hour, they’ll snap awake instantly.”
As Yoo Unryong proudly explained while pointing at the wrist guard, Won Semun blinked.
“Just a little needle like this can break that incredible Soul-Seizing Spirit Words?”
“Good question.” Yoo Unryong approached with an admiring expression.
Clack.
And without warning, fastened the wrist guard onto Won Semun’s arm.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Instead of answering, Yoo Unryong pulled a pill from his robes and held it out.
“Eat this.”
“What is it?”
“Hundred-Fold Bear Gall Pill. A miraculous elixir.”
The Hundred-Fold Bear Gall Pill was said to increase inner energy, but it had two major flaws:
despite the grand name, the increase was pitifully small, and the medicine was so potent that the moment its effects spread, one would faint dead away for four hours.
In short, a miraculous elixir in name only—closer to a knockout drug.
“Captain Yoo, you’re using me as a test subject right now, aren’t you?”
“This isn’t a test.”
Yoo Unryong clapped Won Semun’s shoulder vigorously.
“You’re about to become the hero who saves the Death Spirit Corps.”
The hero who saves the Death Spirit Corps.
At those words, Won Semun’s face lit up with a radiant smile.
And he cheerfully shook his head.
“No thanks. I refuse.”
Rumble.
In the end, every captain pounced on Won Semun, forcibly prying his mouth open.
After a while of muffled struggling, Won Semun was forced to swallow the Hundred-Fold Bear Gall Pill.
Moments later his head lolled sideways and he collapsed unconscious.
The captains watched with tense expressions.
Finally, half an hour passed.
Click.
When he failed to press the button, the device in the wrist guard activated silently.
Shik!
The Gale-Tail Needle shot deep into his wrist, spreading countless microscopic barbs.
BOLT UPRIGHT!
Won Semun sprang up like a freshly forged zombie, bouncing as though on springs.
“He’s awake?”
Jo Namcheon approached the now-calm Won Semun, whose eyes were wide and clear.
“You okay? Does it hurt?”
Won Semun looked down at his wrist blankly. “No, I’m fine?”
Bubble bubble.
Yet contrary to his calm reply, white foam was pouring from his mouth.
“Lord, this thing works. Doesn’t even hurt.”
Bubble bubble.
Foam continued to gush endlessly as he spoke nonchalantly.
“Huh, weird… why am I floating in the air?”
The captains’ eyes widened.
Won Semun wasn’t unhurt.
The pain had been so intense that his soul had briefly left his body.
“Whoa! Amazing! Can you guys see this? I’m flying!”
Gulp.
Watching Won Semun babble nonsense with a blissful smile, the captains swallowed hard, faces pale.
The effect was undeniable.
Even if Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s grandfather cast the Soul-Seizing Spirit Words, they would wake up.
‘Please, let Hyeok Ryeon-eung never come.’
Clasping their hands, the captains stared at their wrist guards and prayed fervently that Hyeok Ryeon-eung would never appear and cast his arts upon them—so they would never have to experience the agony of that Gale-Tail Needle.
***
Yet in the end, they had tasted the full flavor of the Gale-Tail Needle!
Hellfire blazed in the eyes of the Death Spirit leaders as they returned from the memory.
Thanks to the mechanism on their wrists, they had awakened from Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s Soul-Seizing Spirit Words in less than half an hour.
But that pain…
Words could not describe its ferocity.
If forced to describe it: invisible needles piercing the wrist scattered into hundreds, burrowing through the meridians, turning every blood vessel in the body into burning coals.
It felt far less agonizing to be burned alive.
Wiping away surging tears, the captains swore:
With this Gale-Tail Needle, even corpses would leap from their graves in agony.
To break the formidable Soul-Seizing Spirit Words, a master artificer like Master Iron and a physician like Gyo Junghak had spent three months researching with one single goal: ‘Pain alone!’
“T-this… how…”
While Hyeok Ryeon-eung stood dumbfounded,
“Kill him!”
“Grab that damned old geezer first!”
“Let’s strap one of those on him too!”
Burning with madness, the Death Spirit leaders charged at Hyeok Ryeon-eung.
“You insane bastards!”
Hyeok Ryeon-eung was an outstanding expert, but even he felt a chill when he saw warriors rushing at him with rolled-back eyes and foaming mouths.
“Don’t make me laugh. Did you think this old man trusted you a lot?”
Though publicly known as a master of practical martial arts, that was merely the image crafted for the world. In truth, he was closer to a strategist who commanded subordinates using Soul-Seizing Spirit Words, brilliant tactics, and strategy.
He had prepared another card in case the Death Spirit Corps’ warriors broke free of his control.
Peeee!
At the whistle from his lips, black shadows slowly rose from the ground of the reed field.
They were puppets he had stationed underground in this area long ago.
“Not ordinary puppets—these are on the level of Bound Asuras. I infused them with superior martial arts…”
Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s words were cut short.
BOOM! SPLAT!
Enveloped in rage and killing intent, the Death Spirit Corps’ warriors looked more like puppets than the actual soulless puppets.
SPLAT! SHHK! BOOM!
As they began slashing in frenzy, the wall of puppets hidden in the reeds collapsed in an instant.
“Heh heh heh! You know the taste of the Gale Needle now?”
Having lost all reason, the Death Spirit Corps’ warriors not only used martial arts—they bit the puppets and even spat at them.
At that unrelenting madness… even the fearless puppets faltered, unable to display their full strength.
“Where do you think you’re looking?”
SHHHK!
A colossal sword aura suddenly wrapped around Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s neck.
Bu Eunseol had closed in and unleashed the Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds Style.
“Futile.”
Whirr.
Hyeok Ryeon-eung waved his hands chaotically.
The sharp sword aura of the Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds Style melted away like snow.
It was the overwhelming power of his true secret art, the Overlord’s Golden Wall Fist.
‘No need to fight this monster head-on.’
Bu Eunseol possessed immeasurable martial prowess and had inherited all of Nangyang Pavilion’s purified martial learnings. There was no reason to risk his life against someone who only grew stronger during battle.
“Let us meet again next time.”
Paat!
At Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s raised hand, more black shadows appeared around the reed field.
They were Bound Asuras—each over seven cheok tall with bodies like mountains.
SHHK!
Bu Eunseol instantly severed their throats,
JIIING.
But accompanied by the ringing of massive iron, only deep gashes remained on their necks.
They had clearly mastered powerful external arts like the Iron Body.
‘In the worst case, these are meant to buy time for escape.’ Bu Eunseol clicked his tongue at Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s thoroughness.
‘Fine!’ Gathering his power, Bu Eunseol swung his sword once more.
SHHK.
Another strike, and a Bound Asura’s neck was half-severed.
Yet they still charged at Bu Eunseol without hesitation, as though to crush him to death.
A sharp glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
WUUUNG!
Pouring immense inner energy into the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, pure white sword light flowed forth.
ZIIIIING!
At the same moment, razor-sharp sword qi spread in all directions.
He combined the sword qi with the Wishful True Binding to pulverize their bodies in one stroke.
HWAAAAA!
Like a waterfall crashing down, the sharp sword qi enveloped the Bound Asuras like a net.
Thud. Thud thud thud.
They tried to counter with their own martial arts, but in the end they were reduced to neatly sliced chunks of meat.
By then, Hyeok Ryeon-eung had vanished without a trace.
“Truly meticulous.”
Clack.
Sheathing the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol wore a bitter expression.
Despite appearances, the man knew how to use his head and had prepared for every contingency. Moreover, his skill at fleeing seemed second only to his Soul-Seizing Spirit Words.
“How fleeting the years are.”
Yoo Unryong approached Bu Eunseol.
“On Hell Island he looked like an absolute master rivaling the Demon Emperor.” Shaking his head with a sigh, he muttered, “And now he’s become a rat that doesn’t suit his imposing frame. Right?”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
Hyeok Ryeon-eung, Hyeok Clan Master of Majeon and famed master of practical martial arts.
In the past, even Bu Eunseol had seen him as a supreme expert who dominated the Demonic Path.
Now, however, only his brilliance in Soul-Seizing Spirit Words and scheming stood out—he looked more like a cunning strategist.
That was proof of how far Bu Eunseol himself had come.
“But he is still strong.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Yoo Unryong snorted. “A strong man runs away that well?”
“He probably has too much to lose.” Wi Cheongyeong, wiping blood from his face with his sleeve, spoke calmly. “That old man holds a high rank in the Three Realms, doesn’t he? There’s no need for him to risk his life in a direct duel with the Lord.”
Bu Eunseol, who had been listening silently, shook his head.
“No, it’s the opposite.”
Gazing in the direction Hyeok Ryeon-eung had fled, Bu Eunseol declared firmly, “His position in the Three Realms has likely fallen.”
“What? No way.”
“If he still held power in the Three Realms, he could have attacked me in countless ways using their resources. Yet he eavesdropped on the Death Spirit Corps’ information network and set this elaborate trap.” Bu Eunseol spoke with certainty. “He knows Majeon’s structure inside out. The Three Realms’ intelligence network surpasses ours—yet he went through this complicated process to lure me. It’s obvious.”
“That… could be.” Yoo Unryong nodded. “If he still held a key position, he would have at least brought Emissaries. He wouldn’t have dragged around those puppets as subordinates.”
“Exactly.”
“But something’s strange.”
Yoo Unryong tilted his head, unable to understand.
“When he infiltrated and seized the captains one by one with his Soul-Seizing Spirit Words… with that much control, couldn’t he have simply taken us hostage and threatened you into submission?”
If he had subdued every Death Spirit Corps’ warrior with his arts, he could have used that leverage to blackmail Bu Eunseol, or mobilized a massive force to finish him off for good.
Yet he had tried to make Bu Eunseol and the Death Spirit Corps’ warriors destroy each other?
It might feel satisfying, but for the Infinite Realm’s scale and power, it was a rather shabby plan.
Yoo Unryong cocked his head, utterly baffled.
“Why go to the trouble of using the emergency signal system to lure you here?”
“Deputy Master Soyo…” Something flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind, and his eyes widened.
He had assumed only Soyo could send such a signal.
‘She’s in danger!’
But there was one other person.
The very creator of this emergency contact system…
The former Nine Deaths Squad leader, So Jamyeong.
