Won Semun stood with his mouth agape, eyes blinking rapidly.
“Who the hell pulled this off?”
“Most likely that old Hyeok fox set the trap with meticulous care.”
“Hyeok Ryeon-eung? That filthy bastard?”
“If it weren’t him, do you think the Punishment Hall would dare throw the Command Lord into the Iron Prison?”
Yoo Unryong’s eyes darkened to pitch black.
He had already guessed that Hyeok Ryeon-eung would counterattack.
Yet because Bu Eunseol had remained completely silent on the matter, Yoo Unryong had simply waited calmly.
But the fact that an arrest warrant had been issued, and he had known nothing about it until now, meant one thing clearly:
Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s scheme had won the sympathy of a considerable number of Majeon’s high elders.
If the majority of those elders demanded punishment… even somewhat insufficient evidence could become enough to make punishment unavoidable.
‘Even with preparations, this will be difficult.’
Hyeok Ryeon-eung had spent decades as a pillar of Majeon and knew every weakness in its structure far too well. Considering that, this trap would not be one they could simply slip out of.
‘Since he cannot face me head-on, he intends to clip his wings first.’
Especially since the man who once partly led the Majeon had orchestrated this, and the Punishment Hall Lord had personally come to drag him to prison—this was no light matter that could be brushed aside.
“It won’t be easy,” Wi Cheongyeong muttered, shaking his head as though reading Yoo Unryong’s mind. “If the former Hyeok Lord moved with such certainty, he must be absolutely confident there is no escape route.”
Yet he added, puzzled, “But the Punishment Hall Lord specifically said ‘Martial Alliance Lord,’ not just ‘Martial Alliance.’ That title cannot be uttered without at least some basis, can it?”
“Are you saying our Command Lord really met the Martial Alliance Lord?” Won Semun blurted.
Wi Cheongyeong shook his head.
“I don’t know. But they clearly possess evidence they believe is sufficient.”
The captains all fell silent.
No matter what anyone said, they were true men of the Demonic Path.
If Bu Eunseol had truly met the Martial Alliance Lord and acted as a spy…
They could no longer offer their lives in loyalty.
“How laughable. Is that the extent of your faith?” Jo Namcheon suddenly spoke. “You truly believe the Command Lord would betray us and run to the Martial Alliance Lord to play spy?”
The operatives shut their mouths again.
Hearing those words, Yoo Unryong felt a needless stab of guilt.
Bu Eunseol had abandoned the very concepts of orthodox and demonic long ago. Had he not personally met a Martial Alliance Commander just a short while back?
If it served his revenge, Bu Eunseol was the kind of man who would meet the Martial Alliance Lord without a second thought.
‘What the hell is going on, Bu Eunseol?’
Yoo Unryong bit his lip.
From his own standpoint, it did not matter in the least whether Bu Eunseol had met the Martial Alliance Lord or an immortal from the heavens.
Though a demonic artist, he was Bu Eunseol’s closest friend and lieutenant.
He had long ago resolved to follow whatever choice the man made.
But the men of the Death Shadow Corps were different.
If such a thing were proven true, they might no longer understand or follow Bu Eunseol’s actions.
‘If it is proven he spied, I must immediately get Bu Eunseol out and leave Majeon without regret.’
Yoo Unryong made his decision.
If Bu Eunseol’s charges were all proven and punishment became inevitable, he would break him out without hesitation and abandon Majeon.
***
Creaaak—groooan.
The iron door, painted blood-red, opened with a thunderous screech.
It was a massive gate more than one zhang thick.
Majeon’s underground Iron Prison—the Bottomless Prison.
The place where only the gravest, unforgivable criminals were confined.
As the door swung open, a tall shadow stepped forth.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Command Lord, come out.”
Yang Geung led Bu Eunseol from the cell to the interrogation chamber.
The chamber was a sealed room roughly three zhang on each side; a table and chairs sat in the center, while instruments of torture lined both walls in plain, menacing view.
“Have a seat, Martial Soul Command Lord.” Yang Geung offered him a chair.
Bu Eunseol’s inner energy had not been sealed, nor had he been forced into prisoner garb.
Yet his hands were bound.
It was a deliberate, symbolic binding to show that Bu Eunseol was now a criminal.
“I cannot help but feel regret that the newly appointed Martial Soul Command Lord has fallen to this state.” As soon as Bu Eunseol sat, Yang Geung’s lips curled into a thick sneer. “But at present, you are a criminal. I would appreciate it if you kept that in mind.”
He had interrogated countless people over the years, including high elders on Bu Eunseol’s level. Yet not a single one who entered this chamber had ever left with their position intact.
Because without irrefutable evidence, no elder would ever be confined in the Iron Prison.
In short, Yang Geung was fully prepared to bring Bu Eunseol down.
“Do you admit to meeting the Martial Alliance Lord?”
“I have never met the Alliance Lord.”
“Tsk.” Yang Geung clicked his tongue. “Command Lord.”
He continued in a soft, coaxing tone.
“Do you truly not understand what it means that I personally brought you here?”
Leaning back in his chair, Yang Geung wore a leisurely expression.
“I did not summon you to extract a confession through interrogation. This is merely the final formality to obtain your signed statement.”
In other words, all proof was already prepared. He had only brought Bu Eunseol here for a confession.
When Bu Eunseol remained silent, Yang Geung continued.
“If you confess willingly, I will leave the Death Shadow Corps untouched.” He slid a sheet of paper forward with a gentle smile. “But if you keep resisting… I will have no choice but to charge them as well—for conspiring with you in treason.”
Silence persisted.
Yang Geung’s lips curved higher.
“You think it’s impossible?” He glanced down at the confession form and went on. “Of course, as Majeon’s designated successor, you cannot be punished until the disciplinary council confirms your guilt.”
“…”
“But your subordinates can be thrown into the Iron Prison right now with the evidence I already possess.”
At last, Bu Eunseol’s tightly closed lips slowly parted.
“Show me this so-called evidence first.”
Yang Geung smiled and handed over several letters.
“Do not even think of tearing them. These are merely copies.”
Bu Eunseol silently examined the letters.
‘So that’s how it is.’
From the contents alone, he was certain.
There were still many factions inside Majeon that answered Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s call.
And Hyeok Ryeon-eung understood Bu Eunseol’s personality and the characteristics of his secret units perfectly.
If these letters were taken at face value, Bu Eunseol had been caught with evidence he could not escape.
No matter how he looked, there was no loophole.
“Do you admit to everything written here?”
At Yang Geung’s question, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“I admit to some of it.”
Yang Geung’s face brightened.
“Some is enough. Then will you sign the confession?”
Bu Eunseol carefully read every word on the form.
It stated that he acknowledged everything written in the accompanying letters.
“Just sign here, and the men of the Death Shadow Corps will live.”
“I admit that I moved according to these records.” With bound hands, Bu Eunseol pointed to one section.
“But I cannot admit to meeting the Martial Alliance Lord at this location.”
Yang Geung stared blankly for a moment, then let out a short laugh.
‘So he thinks if he only denies meeting the Alliance Lord, he can evade the charge.’
He sneered inwardly.
Actually, the most crucial point was that Bu Eunseol had been at Nine Palaces Mountain at that time. Proof that he had met the Alliance Lord existed separately.
‘That can be revealed at the disciplinary council.’
“Heh heh heh… Very well.” Yang Geung hid his thoughts behind a satisfied smile. “Fine. I will revise the confession. We will remove the part about meeting the Martial Alliance Lord and state only that you moved along this route and were present at these locations.”
He ordered a subordinate to rewrite it immediately and presented the new version to Bu Eunseol.
“There. Now you can sign, yes?”
“Of course.” Bu Eunseol took the brush without hesitation and signed.
‘Done.’ Yang Geung inwardly exulted.
With a signed confession, not even the Demon Emperor could change these facts now.
No matter what happened, Bu Eunseol losing his position was inevitable.
“Lord Yang.” Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “I bear you no particular grudge. You are merely a man who follows orders.”
“What are you saying?”
“Keep your promise not to touch the Death Shadow Corps.” A crimson gleam flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“If that promise is broken… I will have no choice but to bear a grudge against you.”
“Heh heh… Ha ha ha!” Yang Geung laughed coldly. “Still dreaming, are we? Do you still think of yourself as the Martial Soul Command Lord?”
“…”
“I had intended to honor the promise. But after that arrogant tongue of yours, I find I no longer wish to.”
Rising from his seat, Yang Geung looked down at Bu Eunseol.
“Are you truly dreaming that you’ll keep your position?”
He had dropped all honorifics.
“Lord Yang.”
Bu Eunseol met his gaze squarely.
“I warn you a third time: do not do something you will regret.”
“Hah ha ha ha!” Yang Geung threw his head back and laughed. “You really are dreaming. All that arrogance, and you still don’t grasp your situation.”
Walking toward the door, he muttered, “Treasonous dog.”
Ptui!
He spat on Bu Eunseol’s chest.
Then, striding proudly out of the chamber, he bellowed,
“Throw the traitor Bu Eunseol back into the Iron Prison! And drag every last remnant of the Death Shadow Corps to the interrogation rooms! I will personally question those mongrels!”
“…”
Bu Eunseol silently stared at the door Yang Geung had exited.
His expression was so calm that no one could guess what he was thinking.
***
The disciplinary council proceeded with lightning speed.
The designated successor of Majeon had secretly met not just anyone from the Martial Alliance, but the Martial Alliance Lord himself.
Before this unprecedented scandal could leak outside, Majeon intended to convene the council immediately, confirm the facts, mete out punishment, and silence all gossip.
Murmur, murmur.
A great crowd gathered at the Solitary Light Pavilion where the Chief Instructor resided.
Every hall lord in Majeon had assembled to discuss the punishment of the Martial Soul Command Lord.
Only those absent on external duties—like the Vice-Master of the Execution Demon Division and Baek Jeoncheon—were missing.
The chamber quickly filled with Hall captains.
Shockingly, seated on one side were figures who had not shown themselves in ages: the Lord of Hell’s Blood Castle and the White Horse Temple Master.
Their presence at a full hall lords’ council meant one thing—they had received word that Bu Eunseol’s fall was certain.
Otherwise, knowing Bu Eunseol’s nature of repaying grudges tenfold, they would never have dared appear just to provoke him.
Murmur, murmur.
As the Hall captains whispered among themselves, the doors opened and Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon entered, taking his seat.
A council to punish Majeon’s successor for a grave crime—an extraordinary event—yet his expression remained utterly serene, as if he had simply come to drink tea after a meal.
“Chief Instructor.”
All the hall lords rose and cupped their hands the moment he appeared.
Yeop Hyocheon calmly raised a hand, sat, and Punishment Hall Lord Yang Geung spoke in a clear, ringing voice.
“Punishment Hall Lord Yang Geung reporting.”
Bowing deeply to the Chief Instructor and the assembled captains, he declared loudly,
“As everyone knows, today’s full council has been convened to determine the severity of punishment for the traitor of our faction, Bu Eunseol.”
Turning, he nodded, and Punishment Hall warriors placed thick stacks of documents before the Chief Instructor and every Lord.
They were the proof that Bu Eunseol had secretly met the Martial Alliance Lord at Nine Palaces Mountain.
“Please examine the letters we have distributed. You will find clear and indisputable evidence that our faction’s successor, the Martial Soul Command Lord, held a clandestine meeting with the Martial Alliance Lord.”
Murmur, murmur.
As the captains read through the letters, their mouths fell open and voices rose in uproar.
Many had attended still half-doubting, yet the letters plainly recorded Bu Eunseol’s movements toward Nine Palaces Mountain and eyewitness testimony of his meeting with the Alliance Lord.
“Bring in the criminals from the Death Shadow Corps.”
At Yang Geung’s command, the doors opened again, and the bound captains of the Death Shadow Corps were dragged in like common prisoners.
Their bodies bore clear traces of brutal torture.
“Even with such overwhelming evidence, the Death Shadow warriors continue to defend their Lord. No doubt they too conspired with him in treason against the faction.”
“You son of a bitch! Stop spouting bullshit!”
Bound Won Semun roared, and Yang Geung smiled coldly.
“No rush. The main event hasn’t even begun.”
Sweeping his gaze across the assembly, he asked,
“Is the Martial Soul Command Lord still not here?”
Thump, thump.
With steady footsteps, a martial artist clad in resplendent robes entered through the opened doors.
His glossy dark-grey ceremonial robe was embroidered from shoulders to sleeves with twin golden dragons locked in combat.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Heh heh.”
Yang Geung let out a hollow laugh at the sight of Bu Eunseol’s attire.
To appear at a punishment council wearing the formal ceremonial robe of the Martial Soul Command Lord—one worn only on official occasions?
“I permitted him to change clothes, and this is how he chooses to show off one last time before punishment?”
Yang Geung sneered openly.
“But no matter what robe you wear, you have already lost the position of Martial Soul Command Lord. That attire will only make things worse for you here.”
From one corner came mocking laughter.
It came from Gong Yageuk and Gang Yang-cheon, watching from afar.
Yet the laughter died instantly.
Because Bu Eunseol was smiling as well—revealing his teeth.
That smile was so confident and icy that every mocking face in the hall froze.
“Martial Soul Command Lord.”
Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon looked straight at Bu Eunseol and asked in a low voice,
“Do you acknowledge everything written here?”
The chamber fell deathly silent.
Perfect evidence already lay stacked before them.
Whether Bu Eunseol admitted it or not, the outcome would be the same.
The Chief Instructor was simply confirming one final time.
And upon Bu Eunseol’s answer, his fate would be sealed.
“I do.”
Murmur—!
An enormous uproar swept the hall.
Everyone had expected him to deny everything and buy time to find some way out.
Yet he admitted it so readily?
Yang Geung shouted at Bu Eunseol,
“Then you also admit to the act of treason?”
An unexpected reply came.
“No.”
“What did you say?”
Yang Geung furrowed his brow and spoke sternly.
“Are you trying to trade jokes with me right now?”
“Hardly.” Bu Eunseol answered calmly.
“I said I acknowledge what is written in the letters. I never admitted to treason.”
As if finding it absurd, Bu Eunseol now addressed Yang Geung without honorifics.
“You say you did not commit treason?” Yang Geung looked incredulous. “You went to Nine Palaces Mountain and had a private audience with the Martial Alliance Lord—yet that is not treason?”
“Well said.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“I went to Nine Palaces Mountain on personal business. I never met the Martial Alliance Lord.”
“Did you not sign the confession?”
“It’s written right there. Everything except meeting the Martial Alliance Lord is true.”
Murmur, murmur.
The hall buzzed once more at Bu Eunseol’s words.
‘So that’s how he’s playing it.’
Yang Geung snorted inwardly.
He had anticipated this kind of denial from the start.
“Heh heh heh heh!” Yang Geung let out a low, mocking laugh. “Very well, if that is how you wish to proceed.”
Turning, he cupped his hands toward Yeop Hyocheon and declared loudly,
“I shall now call a witness who can prove that the person the Martial Soul Command Lord met was indeed the Martial Alliance Lord.”
Yeop Hyocheon nodded.
At the signal, Yang Geung’s aide Jeong Guk opened the doors.
A gaunt middle-aged man limped in, supported on both sides by warriors.
It was Flying Killer Hall Lord, Geum Jangcheon.
Yang Geung pointed at him and shouted,
“The man who discovered the Martial Soul Command Lord’s suspicious movements at that time and led the investigation—Flying Killer Hall Lord Geum Jangcheon!”
Then, to Geum Jangcheon: “Lord Geum, please explain the situation in detail.”
Geum Jangcheon nodded, voice trembling.
“My hall received intelligence that the Martial Soul Command Lord was contacting high elders of the orthodox sects at Nine Palaces Mountain. I led my men there after thorough preparation.”
His complexion worsened with every word; he was clearly in poor health and breathing heavily.
“Finally, inside one of the caves of Nine Palaces Mountain, we discovered the Command Lord emerging alongside a masked figure. All my experts had concealed themselves using the Black Ghost Phantom Stalking Art.”
Fear flashed across Geum Jangcheon’s face as he continued.
“But the masked man instantly saw through our concealment and attacked.”
“Who was he?”
At Yang Geung’s question, Geum Jangcheon shuddered as though reliving the terror.
“The Divine Blade Without Equal… That masked man was none other than the Martial Alliance Lord, the Heavenly Emperor.”
