“Here, let’s fight without a single regret!”
Ban Muryeok laughed boisterously, brimming with leisure as Bu Eunseol approached, and began gathering his inner energy.
Crack.
But something was wrong.
Bu Eunseol was merely walking forward with a calm expression… yet Ban Muryeok felt his breath catch in his throat, as though his very bones were twisting in agony.
“What is this?”
Ban Muryeok tried to summon the power he had gained through the Six Spirits Body Exchange. But his energy and blood were blocked as if sealed; no strength rose within him, and the cracking of his bones only grew louder.
“No…” Ban Muryeok’s eyes widened in horror.
Somehow, his body had shrunk to the size of a dwarf.
Bu Eunseol was unleashing a tremendous surge of inner force, crushing him from all sides.
“Ugh…” Ban Muryeok immediately invoked the power of the Six Spirits Descent to resist Bu Eunseol’s inner energy.
Though he had not yet filled all the Childlike White Bones and could only wield seventy percent of its might, even that was enough to overturn the heavens and earth.
If he eliminated the Martial Soul Command Lord and survived this crisis, he would become a supreme master capable of dominating the martial world.
That was what Ban Muryeok believed.
Crack. Crack.
Yet realizing it was nothing but delusion did not take long.
“H-how…?”
Even though Bu Eunseol had not lifted a single finger and was merely pressing down with inner force alone, Ban Muryeok could not even resist that power.
“The level of your inner energy is…?”
The torrent of inner force pouring forth was beyond measurement even by the Ban-Geuk Method. The martial might of the Martial Soul Command Lord, who shook the world, was on a plane that even a perfected Six Exchange Secret Records could not hope to oppose.
“So this is the power you gained by murdering children?”
A bloody light blazed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes like twin suns.
An indescribable pressure crashed down, and Ban Muryeok felt every bone in his body shatter at once.
Only as death drew near did clarity finally return to his mind.
‘I was wrong.’
Ban Muryeok regretted.
There were countless orthodox arts in the martial world even without such a demonic method. He had possessed the ability to restore the martial teachings of the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect; with patient effort, he could have fully revived its former glory.
Yet in his impatient greed to make a name for himself quickly, he had reached for a devil’s art.
That haste had led him to the wrong choice.
Crack—BOOM!
In the end, Ban Muryeok’s body could not withstand Bu Eunseol’s inner force and burst apart, reduced to a lump of bloody pulp.
Ban Cheolseong could not even mourn his father’s death.
Because of the atrocities his father had committed, the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect could no longer show its face in the martial world.
“Martial Soul Command Lord. From this day forward, our sect shall seal its gates for a hundred years.”
Ban Cheolseong bowed his head and spoke to Bu Eunseol.
“Though our crimes cannot be washed away by this, I beseech you to at least preserve the lineage of our sword sect.”
Bu Eunseol let out a deep sigh.
By all rights, a sect that had committed such atrocities should have been exterminated root and branch. Yet when he looked at Ban Cheolseong, he was reminded of the former Pang Muncheon.
That man, too, had been ashamed of his father’s actions, accepted the sealing of the Pang family as natural, and yet fervently wished one day to cleanse their sins and stand tall in the martial world once more.
Just because a father sinned did not mean the son had to bear that burden forever.
“I permit it.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Ban Cheolseong bowed deeply.
In that brief moment, the people of the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect swiftly cleared away the remains of Ban Muryeok. As Bu Eunseol, the masked woman, Guyang Cheongjeong, and the warriors of the North Wind Sect stepped outside, Ban Cheolseong bowed once more to Bu Eunseol.
Then the great gates of the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect closed firmly behind them.
Only after Ban Cheolseong died and his descendants bore children who grew to adulthood—perhaps a hundred years hence—would they be able to reappear in the martial world.
At that moment, the masked woman spoke to Bu Eunseol.
“Now you understand why I did it, don’t you?”
Bu Eunseol could not raise his head. Even though she had known of Ban Muryeok’s evil deeds, she had given him a chance—three whole days of it.
Moreover, despite bearing countless large and small wounds all over her body from Bu Eunseol’s swordsmanship, she uttered not a single word of resentment.
“I am sorry.” Bu Eunseol clasped his hands with utmost courtesy. “I failed to realize that the heroine was acting with perfect righteousness, and that, as you said, she had bestowed enormous grace upon both Majeon and the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect.”
In truth, part of the blame lay with her for acting arrogantly without explaining the full circumstances. Yet Bu Eunseol did not reproach her for it; he simply apologized with complete sincerity.
“Please accept this.”
He drew a small vial from his robes—the very Devil-Subduing Divine Pellet that the Medicine Hall Lord had refined using the spirit herbs of Azure Cloud Sea Palace.
“If you take one, both internal and external injuries will heal swiftly.”
The Devil-Subduing Divine Pellet was the culmination of the Medicine Hall Lord’s alchemical mastery combined with the miraculous herbs of Azure Cloud Sea Palace; ingesting it would grant an entire cycle (sixty years) of inner energy cultivation.
It was a legendary divine elixir, offered now as sincere apology.
“Fine.” The woman smiled brightly and tucked the vial away without hesitation. “I’ll accept it.”
Bu Eunseol clasped his hands again, his demeanor impeccably polite and gentle.
“I am deeply grateful for the heroine’s magnanimity and noble heart.”
He had no choice but to be so.
Even if the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect sealed itself, should rumors spread that they had practiced the Childlike White Bones?
Not only the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect, but Majeon—and his own reputation—would be irreparably tarnished.
In a way, he had bought her silence rather cheaply.
“Heroine, may I ask one thing?”
Recalling Wi Cheongyeong’s claim that she was from the Yangseol Clan, he asked cautiously,
“Are you truly of the Yangseol Clan?”
“Yes.”
“Then has the Yangseol Clan finally begun moving in the martial world?”
“No.” She gazed at the distant sky and spoke in a strange tone. “In the end, that bastard made me misread the heavenly signs.”
“What do you mean?”
“I sensed the presence of the Earth-Killer Star at the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect. I must have mistaken it for the aura of the Corpse God Bones.”
“The Earth-Killer Star? Who is that?”
“Not a person—one of the Hundred-and-Eight Stars.”
When Bu Eunseol frowned, she crossed her arms and continued, “Then you know of the Heaven-Killer Star?”
“I do.”
“Right, the Earth-Killer Star is its twin counterpart.”
The Heaven-Killer Star referred to one born with an overwhelming murderous aura, growing stronger with every life taken—a being cursed by heaven with bloodlust and madness.
But that term had last been used three hundred years ago, for the great calamity known as the Bloody Massacre.
Since then, no one in the martial world had ever been called by such a name.
And now suddenly Heaven-Killer and Earth-Killer Stars?
“So the Earth-Killer Star truly exists?”
“Yes. I came to catch him. He should definitely be somewhere near the Qinghai region.”
“How do you know that?”
“Well… let’s just say I read the heavens.”
Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow.
Ever since the ancient diviner Moryun, no one in the martial world was known to read the heavenly signs. At best there was the current Divine Mountain Sage, but whether he truly could read the heavens was unknown.
“So… you are of the Yangseol Clan, and because the Earth-Killer Star has appeared, you have entered the martial world.”
When Bu Eunseol roughly pieced it together, the woman nodded.
“Exactly. My original target was actually the Heaven-Dark Star.”
She sighed deeply.
“But the Heaven-Dark Star appeared only briefly before vanishing again. It might be because the Boundary Prosperity Jade was shattered.”
“The Boundary Prosperity Jade?”
Bu Eunseol intuitively understood. Everything this woman spoke of so casually was part of the hidden history of the martial world.
“I would like to hear the details.”
“These are not tales to be told to outsiders.”
“I’m not asking to hear them for free.”
Bu Eunseol had no choice but to offer a deal.
“Name your price. I will give you a satisfactory answer.”
“A satisfactory answer, hmm.” She looked at him for a moment, pondering, then nodded. “Very well. Let us change locations first.”
“Agreed.”
Just as Bu Eunseol and the woman turned to leave, Guyang Cheongjeong, who had been standing beside them, hurriedly spoke up.
“Martial Soul Command Lord! There are no teahouses or taverns nearby. If it pleases you, why not come to our North Wind Sect to talk?”
Then she turned to the woman.
“We of the Seven Sword Sects wronged you, not knowing you acted for justice. Please allow us to make amends.”
“Justice?” The woman curled her lips into a peculiar smile. “Do you really think such a thing exists in this world?”
That smile was so cold and filled with contempt that Guyang Cheongjeong’s face stiffened.
“Then why did you track down the sect leader who committed those evil deeds?”
“I told you—I mistook him for something else.”
“You still gave him three days.”
“Well… that was deliberate. I had something to confirm.” She grinned. “If I hadn’t, I would have just sneaked in and cut his throat.”
Guyang Cheongjeong’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
Only now did she realize: this woman was not righteous. She was a being of unpredictable joy and fury, tinged with wickedness.
“You seem like a rather kind child, so let me give you one piece of advice.” She flashed her white teeth in a smile. “If you want to survive from now on, abandon the notion that justice exists in this world.”
Only then did Guyang Cheongjeong understand.
The reason she had granted Ban Muryeok three days despite knowing his crimes was not out of kindness or righteousness.
She had simply needed time to verify something.
“My mood is ruined.” The woman glanced at Guyang Cheongjeong with a sour face and spoke to Bu Eunseol. “I’ll talk with someone else. I’m leaving.”
“Young lady, please—just a short conversation.” Bu Eunseol pleaded once more. “I won’t take much of your time.”
Suddenly, a playful smile appeared on her face.
“Fine. Catch me, and I’ll tell you.”
Whoosh!
In an instant, she vanished as though by sorcery.
Yet Bu Eunseol’s keen senses detected that she had simply executed an extraordinary movement art.
Shrrrk!
He immediately unleashed Swift Beyond Shadow.
Yet it was still not enough to catch the fleeing woman.
BOOM!
Pouring Thunder Spirit Energy into the technique and discarding all stealth, Bu Eunseol shot forward as a streak of violet lightning accompanied by deafening thunder.
In the blink of an eye, he caught up to the woman who was racing ahead cloaked in azure light.
“Hmph.” Seeming displeased that Bu Eunseol had actually caught her, she abruptly changed direction.
Her movement art did not rely on repeated footing and leaps like ordinary martial artists; she flew freely through the sky as if an immortal soaring at will.
‘Good.’
The movement art fueled by Thunder Spirit Energy was incredibly fast, but it could not change direction as instantaneously as hers. Bu Eunseol channeled the Crystal Divine Energy, and each time he needed to turn, he expelled tangible cold energy in the opposite direction.
Crack—shaaaa!
As he scattered the Heavenly Glacial Secret combined with Crystal Divine Energy, every tree and patch of forest he passed froze solid in an instant.
Thanks to that, he could now change direction freely.
BOOM!
Unable to shake Bu Eunseol’s pursuit, the woman finally halted her movement art and descended into a deep forest beside a small waterfall.
Splash.
She approached the water’s edge, suddenly removed her shoes, and began washing her feet.
As the cold water touched her skin, red blood flowed from the gashes left by sword qi.
The wounds inflicted by the Waning Moon, Dawn Star sword qi were surprisingly deep.
“Ugh…”
She frowned in pain, and Bu Eunseol spoke with an apologetic expression.
“I will treat the wounds on your back.”
Her eyes gleamed in the darkness. “Why?”
Under the moonlight, they shone with an oceanic azure.
“Because it is my mistake.” Bu Eunseol scratched his head in embarrassment, and she nodded, seemingly satisfied.
“Fine.”
She sat on a rock and lifted her skirt.
Smooth, lustrous white thighs were instantly revealed.
The inner parts were also caked with blood from sword-qi cuts.
“Tend to them.”
He had specified he would only treat the back where hands could not reach, yet she deliberately bared her pristine legs with a smile—as if daring him to try.
“Very well.”
An ordinary martial artist would have either given up or been forced to touch her directly.
Fortunately, Bu Eunseol possessed the Crystal Divine Energy.
He took a deep breath.
Whoosh.
Clear water droplets rose from the stream, forming two transparent hands—exactly as the former Divine Water Palace Lord Neung Gyeong had once done.
He had shaped tangible hands from Crystal Divine Energy.
Swish…
The transparent hands gently wiped clean the wounds on her legs. Then, using inner energy to tear strips of cloth, he bound her injuries securely.
“Liar.” She smiled as she looked at Bu Eunseol. “That’s the Divine Water Palace’s Crystal Divine Energy, isn’t it?”
Her long lashes lifted, her eyes slightly upturned—somehow both provocative and bewitchingly charming.
“Why did you lie?”
“If I reveal all my cards at once, what’s left?” Bu Eunseol answered calmly. “To survive in the martial world, one must always keep at least a few tricks hidden.”
“How did you obtain it?”
Her voice was soft and alluring.
“I’ve heard the Crystal Divine Energy contains pure yin energy and can only be wielded by women.”
After a moment of thought, she let out a small “Ah.”
“You mastered an ice art to the absolute realm, didn’t you? By using extreme yin energy, you can harbor it within your body.”
Bu Eunseol inwardly admired her insight but evaded the question. “I merely obtained it by chance.”
“Hmph, obtaining the Crystal Divine Energy that the Divine Water Palace treats as their greatest treasure—by chance, and without the martial world ever hearing of it?”
She put on a deliberately wicked expression and continued teasing, causing Bu Eunseol to sigh.
Normally he was not one for such banter, but he had too many questions and had no choice.
“I can swear an oath if needed. I simply did not speak of it because it might tarnish Palace Master Neung’s pure reputation.”
“She’s just a seventy-year-old hag—what pure reputation?”
She pouted, and Bu Eunseol gave a wry smile.
He too had thought the Divine Water Palace Master was a white-haired crone, but in reality she maintained a youthful beauty rivaling Gongson Dana.
“May I hear the story now?”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, she sighed and shook her head.
“You’re incredibly persistent. And stubborn.”
“I hear that often.”
“Hmph.” She spoke as if she had no choice. “You’re the successor of Majeon, Bu Eunseol—correct?”
“That is right.”
She nodded, clearly well-informed about the current martial world.
“Good. You seem quite useful, so here’s the deal: promise to grant me one favor, and I’ll tell you.”
“I promise.”
“You didn’t even ask what it is?”
“What could be too difficult?”
“I heard you were cautious, but you seem rather rash right now.”
“What you want is an intelligence network, is it not?”
“Huh? How did you know?” When she looked surprised, Bu Eunseol gave a faint smile.
“You said earlier you were searching for the Earth-Killer Star and Heaven-Dark Star. Your goal is obvious.”
“Hahaha, perfect! I really like you.”
She laughed and nodded.
“My name is Yangseol Rin. Just call me Rin.”
“How could I casually address a lady I’ve met for the first time by her given name?”
“Ugh, fine. If you’re going to ignore even that small request, how are we supposed to talk?”
Her manner of speech was as unique as her striking appearance.
“Wait.” As she turned to leave, Bu Eunseol quickly stepped in front of her. “Very well. Lady Yangseol Rin.”
“Drop the family name.”
“Lady Rin.”
“Mmm.”
Yangseol Rin let out a sound of reluctant acceptance, nodding as if making a great concession.
“I don’t particularly like ‘Lady’ either… but I’ll let that much slide.”
“Thank you.”
“So, what are you curious about?”
Countless questions flooded Bu Eunseol’s mind at once.
But knowing she might not answer everything, he chose the one that intrigued him most.
“Earlier you mentioned searching for the Heaven-Dark Star and Earth-Killer Star.”
“Yes.”
“How exactly do you find them?”
“Look at the night sky.” Yangseol Rin extended her hand.
As if it had been waiting, a gentle breeze brushed her hair like tender fingers.
“Those of our clan are born with the Bridge of Heaven and Earth already open. From childhood we train to read the heavenly signs.”
“Then everyone in the Yangseol Clan can read the heavens?”
“Of course not—only those born with the special aptitude can.”
He had been half-doubting it.
Her martial arts were certainly unique, but that alone was not proof she was from the Yangseol Clan.
Yet after hearing her explanation, it seemed credible.
“So Lady Rin has entered the martial world to find the Heaven-Dark Star and Earth-Killer Star?”
“Something like that. Originally I only intended to deal with the Earth-Killer Star, but I felt his energy again.”
“Again?”
“Yes—like when the Baekri Clan appeared.”
Bu Eunseol’s heart pounded.
“Baekri Clan? The legendary Baekri Clan?”
“Exactly.”
Yangseol Rin spoke calmly.
“I’ve heard the people of the Baekri Clan can reverse the flow of time or manifest mind-worlds into reality… mysterious powers.”
“What does that have to do with the Heaven-Dark Star?”
“It’s directly related.”
Her expression turned utterly serious.
“Such abilities are precisely the characteristic of those who can manifest as the Heaven-Dark Star.”
