"Done."
Nariya walked with a pained expression.
The price for coveting Manwol’s power using the transcendent power of the sacred treasure was severe.
The authority that had allowed her to predict everything had scattered like a mirage.
Her life, for which she could not pay the full price, was now flowing precariously like the last grains of sand in an hourglass.
The once brilliantly shining skin on her face had melted halfway, and deep hollows had formed around her eyes. All strength had left her body, making her feel as though she would collapse at any moment, yet her footsteps did not stop.
The place she was heading to was the Xuanyao Pavilion, where Chu So—the king of the hermits who lived at the edge of the world—resided.
When the hermitage where Chu So stayed came into view, she paused for a moment to catch her breath. She took out a cloth from her bosom that could cover half her face, wrapped it around herself, and straightened her staggering waist. Then, she put on a confident smile and opened the door to the hermitage as if nothing had happened.
Creak.
Upon opening the door, a young man dressed in neat clothes was reading a book.
It was Chu So.
"Nariya."
He stood up with a bright smile when he saw her enter.
"Welcome."
But that smile was extremely artificial and cold. It was as if he had already seen through her failure.
"Oh dear. You’re badly hurt."
Chu So made a pitying expression as if only now noticing Nariya’s half-melted face.
"Unfortunately, no medicine will work on wounds like that."
Nariya spoke in a desperate voice.
"Brother, there is still a ‘chance.’"
"You’ve already used the Harmony of Sun and Moon, and your power has vanished?"
Chu So spoke firmly.
"So what chance could there be?"
"Manwol can never fully possess the power of the Star God."
"What do you mean?"
"Because I have experienced that power myself."
Nariya spoke with eyes full of conviction.
"Manwol’s body is utterly ordinary. She cannot fully accept the power of the Star God."
Chu So narrowed his eyes.
Except for the first Holy Maiden of the beginning, only the Holy Maiden Saha had been able to contain the power of the Star God in one body.
He knew well that no one else could do so.
"And so?"
"She didn’t die."
Nariya spread both arms.
"Since a trace of power still remains in my body, she must have entered a state of suspended animation by opening the Heavenly Gate and performing the Sacred Dragon God ritual to slowly absorb the Star God’s power."
"Even so, it’s useless." Chu So shrugged. "There’s no way you could find where Manwol is hiding."
"No. I can find her."
Nariya’s eyes flashed.
"Someone helped her. A strange man enveloped in purple radiance."
"Purple radiance."
"If we find him, we will definitely find Manwol."
Nariya clasped her hands together.
"There is still time. If we find her again and kill her, the effect of the Harmony of Sun and Moon can be maintained."
"It will benefit me, right?"
"Give me one of the Twelve Guests."
Twelve Guests.
After investing enormous wealth and time, Chu So had investigated and analyzed the traces of the supreme masters who dominated the martial world. They were the ultimate troops created by perfectly recreating their specialties and strengths.
Because they were made by analyzing figures renowned throughout martial history, they were on a completely different level from the artificially created Divine Energies or puppets.
They could even defeat Holy Ones who combined the power of both major families. Considering that Holy Ones could only be created by the True Demon, one could guess how powerful the Twelve Guests were.
However, even with Chu So’s ability, completing them was extremely difficult, and he had only managed to create a few so far. Moreover, because they were the final pieces needed to accomplish his great cause, he had kept their existence extremely secret.
Yet Nariya had figured it out and asked for one.
"You must have confirmed it with your future sight."
Chu So’s expression turned icy. He was displeased that Nariya had used her future sight to uncover all the secret cards he had hidden.
"It’s a misunderstanding. Because it wasn’t the complete power of the Star God, while looking into things related to it, I happened to learn about the Twelve Guests by chance."
Nariya looked straight into Chu So’s eyes.
"If you think I’m lying, you can kill me right now."
"I believe you."
"Thank you."
"Believing you is one thing, but why should I help you?"
Chu So spoke coldly.
"From what I see, the probability of success in this matter is extremely low. In short, it’s a gamble."
And Chu So never gambled.
He only believed in perfectly calculated, thorough, and meticulous schemes.
"Why do you call it a gamble?"
"Because you have not proven your ability."
Chu So never kept useless people by his side. There was no need to deliberately help Nariya, who had even tried to uncover some of his secrets.
"Go back."
As Chu So turned away,
"Weren’t there several young figures capable of ruining your plans?"
Nariya said clearly.
"The one who interfered with me this time is surely one of them."
She was certain.
The man whose face was obscured by flames was extremely young.
"So?"
"Have you forgotten?"
Nariya smiled confidently.
"That the Harmony of Sun and Moon were originally a pair of treasures."
Chu So crossed his arms and his eyes flashed.
"Nine Heavens Cloud Splendor?"
Nine Heavens Cloud Splendor.
A treasure that could read memories through information engraved in the blood, the source of life, or inherit the karma accumulated in the bloodline.
In simple terms, it allowed one to gain the joys and sorrows, experiences, and even the martial arts and sensations of one’s ancestors.
It was the greatest treasure for martial artists.
And Chu So had been desperately searching for the Nine Heavens Cloud Splendor. With it, he believed that by capturing just one blood relative of the True Demon, he could read the True Demon’s knowledge and karma to create the chain of reincarnation.
"The reason you tried to create the chain of reincarnation was also because you thought it would be possible once you obtained all of the Nine Heavens Cloud Splendor."
Chu So’s gaze became endlessly cold.
Only then did he realize why Nariya, despite obtaining the power of the Harmony of Sun and Moon and the Star God’s power, had failed.
‘You looked into my future instead of Manwol’s.’
The future sight obtainable through the Harmony of Sun and Moon was limited.
Nariya should have naturally looked into Manwol’s future and the futures of those closely related to her.
But foolishly, she had looked into things about him instead.
All to earn his affection.
‘Foolish. So very foolish.’
Chu So felt disappointment but did not show it, instead asking gently.
"Alright. Where is the Nine Heavens Cloud Splendor?"
"You’re quite impatient, Brother."
Nariya, sensing the change in Chu So’s emotions, regained some composure.
"Shouldn’t paying the price come first? If I die, you will never be able to find the Nine Heavens Cloud Splendor."
“Of course I must help.”
Chu So approached her affectionately, as if he had never been cold.
"Your life is hanging by a thread. How could I stand by and do nothing?"
It was the attitude of an extremely wicked schemer, but Nariya, who loved him deeply, even saw this as the dignified bearing of a hero who followed the flow of the times.
"Anyway, you cannot step forward yourself."
Nariya snorted.
"Since I was the one who used the Harmony of Sun and Moon, only I can kill her."
Even if Chu So stepped forward and killed Manwol, Nariya’s life would still be severed in the end.
Because the price of the Harmony of Sun and Moon had to be paid by the same person who used it.
"Right. That’s correct."
Chu So spoke as if he had no choice, even though he knew it full well.
"Alright. I will give you one of the Twelve Guests."
"Thank you."
Nariya spoke calmly.
"I will definitely find the one who ruined this matter, locate Manwol, and reclaim the power of the Star God."
"That would be best."
"Then please tell me now."
Nariya’s eyes flashed.
"Who is the person capable of disturbing the heavenly secrets enough to shatter your plans."
No matter how vast the world was, the number of people capable of instantly destroying Chu So’s plans, which calculated the heavenly secrets, was extremely limited.
The man enveloped in flames who hid his face was surely one of them.
"There are three."
Chu So answered honestly.
"Sword King Seon Woojin, Martial Soul Society Lord Seolso, and Martial Soul Command Lord Bu Eunseol. These three are deviating from the flow of heavenly secrets."
"That’s quite a few."
When Nariya looked somewhat surprised, he continued.
"They are all individuals who have reached incredible martial prowess. They cannot be underestimated."
"Among them, who is the one who barely engages in martial world activities and keeps a low profile?"
"Sword King Seon Woojin."
"Sword King Seon Woojin."
Nariya nodded and muttered quietly.
She had already decided in her mind who to kill first.
* * *
Seo Jinha was still acting as Bu Eunseol’s shadow.
However, unlike in the past, he no longer hid his tracks as fiercely.
Recently, because it was a period of expanding the information network, he had gone to the Azure Heaven Alliance to command the Supreme Corps in Bu Eunseol’s stead, presided over strategy meetings, and helped ensure the corps ran smoothly. He also handled the delivery of refined information.
—I will soon transfer the Supreme Corps to the Martial Soul Society.
No matter how much information they shared, the Azure Heaven Alliance belonged to the orthodox factions. On the other hand, although it was within the Azure Heaven Alliance, the Supreme Corps was an independent organization under Bu Eunseol.
Bu Eunseol had originally planned to pass on only the secret to the Supreme Corps’s growth for the independent operation of the Azure Heaven Alliance and then move them to the Martial Soul Society.
But surprisingly, Bukgung Ryeong had dissuaded him.
—Isn’t it fine? At a time like this.
If it had been in the past when the orthodox and unorthodox factions were clearly divided, he would have excluded the Supreme Corps to maintain the sect’s legitimacy and for the sake of the Azure Heaven Alliance’s warriors, no matter how close he was with Bu Eunseol.
But the current martial world was truly a crucible of chaos.
The distinction between orthodox and unorthodox had become blurred, and all kinds of hidden forces were emerging. Moreover, since the Azure Heaven Alliance was sharing information with the Martial Soul Society’s main intelligence unit, the Death Spirit Corps, there was no need to remove the Supreme Corps that served as a bridge.
—If it’s because of me, it’s fine.
In truth, Seo Jinha’s body and face had been greatly damaged while acting as Bu Eunseol’s shadow all this time. For that reason, Bu Eunseol no longer wanted to keep him as his shadow and intended to quietly erase the existence of Seon Woojin altogether.
—Anyway, even if I return to the Death Shadow Corps, I have nothing to do.
Because Seo Jinha had lived as a shadow for a long time, there was nothing particular for him to do even if he returned to the Death Shadow Corps.
In the past he would have taken charge of training the warriors, but the warriors of the Death Shadow Corps now were all battle-hardened veterans. They had reached the point where each trained and tempered themselves, making group training unnecessary.
—Understood. I’ll leave it to you for the time being.
Bu Eunseol had reluctantly agreed, and for the time being, he had Seo Jinha live as Seon Woojin within the Azure Heaven Alliance to maintain a smooth information-sharing system with the Death Spirit Corps.
* * *
"Thank you for your hard work."
Azure Heaven Alliance, Supreme Corps.
After the regular monthly meeting ended, all Supreme Corps members, including Tae Muryong and Jeong Jongdo, bowed to Seon Woojin—no, to Seo Jinha.
Ever since their time in the Martial Alliance, Seo Jinha had spent a long time with them in place of Bu Eunseol. Because of that, the bond between Seo Jinha and the Supreme Corps members was as deep as the one with Bu Eunseol, and the members showed him profound loyalty as well.
"You always work hard, Captain."
"Not at all."
Seo Jinha showed a calm smile.
He had spent more time with the Supreme Corps than with the Death Shadow Corps, so he now felt more comfortable at the Supreme Pavilion than at the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
"Since it’s been a while, how about having a drink?"
Seeing the tired faces of the members, Seo Jinha spoke in a gentle voice.
"Things have gotten a bit leisurely lately."
The Supreme Corps had recently become relaxed enough to catch their breath, precisely because the information system Bu Eunseol had planned was more or less complete.
—The ultimate goal of the Death Spirit Corps is an information system that takes only the advantages of the Beggar Sect.
Bu Eunseol had modeled it after the Beggar Sect’s information system, recruiting merchants and wanderers from various regions as informants, then selling the information they obtained to the Martial Soul Society’s information merchants.
Thanks to diligently training carrier pigeons in the meantime, the scale had tripled, and operating costs had increased significantly. They had established branches in various regions and gradually increased the number of informants.
Thanks to this, the Supreme Corps members, who had been running around the regions, could finally breathe a little easier and focus solely on refining high-quality information.
"We’ve been waiting for you to suggest drinks, Captain. The worms in our stomachs have been screaming."
At Jeong Jongdo’s joke, the members all broke into bright smiles.
Drinking with Seo Jinha was always very enjoyable. Not only did he have a natural talent for putting people at ease, but he was also an excellent conversationalist.
"Then let’s go."
Seo Jinha tapped the table and said.
"Let’s drink until our noses go crooked for the first time in a while."
Seo Jinha and the Supreme Corps members stopped at a small tavern in a secluded area slightly outside the city.
This was a place they often visited.
There were only about six tables and a single old owner running the place, so it was impossible to enter during busy hours, but the snacks were neat and the liquor—sourced from the famous Yangha Laobai—was excellent.
"Hahaha."
"Indeed. I really thought I was going to die back then."
As the drinks went around several times, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
In a way, Seo Jinha and the Supreme Corps members were in very similar situations.
After meeting Bu Eunseol, their lives had changed completely, and they had sworn to devote the rest of their lives to him. Yet they could not stay by his side and could only help from afar.
Seo Jinha understood and empathized with that melancholy better than anyone, so he carefully played the role of captain so that the members would not feel disappointed or regretful.
"I’ll step out for some fresh air."
When the alcohol started to take effect, Seo Jinha stood up.
Tae Muryong followed him.
"Let’s go together."
The wind beyond the mountain was quiet, and stars seemed to hide above the tavern roof. The occasional sound of insects and the lantern hanging from the eaves created a mysterious charm.
Looking up at the night sky while drunk, human affairs felt as small as dust.
Huu—
Seo Jinha and Tae Muryong took deep breaths as if by agreement.
The moon had not yet risen, and starlight poured down from the vast sky.
"It’s nice."
Tae Muryong suddenly spoke in a low voice as if something had occurred to him.
"Once the Command Lord completes his great cause, what do you plan to do, Captain?"
At some point, all the Supreme Corps members had intuitively sensed it.
That everything Bu Eunseol was planning would soon come to fruition. That the end was slowly approaching.
—Then what will become of us?
The Supreme Corps members had fallen into deep thought.
They had sworn lifelong loyalty, but Bu Eunseol was not someone who would remain in the martial world.
So what would happen to them?
"Wouldn’t it be good to build a large manor and live like the overlord of the martial world?"
Seo Jinha smiled.
"Or open a small brewery in a scenic valley and enjoy a leisurely life. That doesn’t sound bad either."
The Supreme Corps members had grown strong enough to dominate an entire region if they left right now.
Bu Eunseol had also entrusted a massive sum of money to the Shaanxi Silver Tiger Hall so that the members could retire whenever they wished. If they wanted, they could leave the martial world right now and live comfortably without any worries.
"What about you, Captain?"
Seo Jinha spoke honestly in a low voice.
"In truth, I have decided to become that friend’s vassal. If he becomes a farmer, I’ll carry the rice; if he becomes a merchant, I’ll carry the abacus."
Vassal.
"That’s right. The reason I’m in the martial world is because that friend is currently in the martial world."
Tae Muryong looked surprised.
Seo Jinha appeared playful and relaxed in personality, but he was a born martial genius. His understanding and talent in martial arts, combat sense, adaptability, strategy, as well as his unshakable mental strength and the charisma to move people’s hearts—he possessed all of it.
Yet he said he was in the martial world only because Bu Eunseol was there.
"I see."
After thinking silently for a long time, Tae Muryong opened his mouth.
"But I’m worried that the Command Lord won’t be able to live such an ordinary life."
In truth, what everyone who knew Bu Eunseol earnestly wished for was that after finishing everything, he would form a family and live happily. But somehow, they had a feeling that such a thing would not happen.
—Because the Command Lord is not someone who can turn his back on karma.
He had entered the martial world for revenge, done the right thing, and sacrificed for countless people. But as a result, he had become entangled in countless grudges and carried the karma of blood.
—If those who live by the sword enjoy a happy retirement, there could be no greater irony.
It was something he often said.
Bu Eunseol believed that martial artists who lived by the sword could only be unhappy and did not even deserve a happy life.
Tae Muryong and the Supreme Corps members always worried about Bu Eunseol’s future as he habitually said such things.
"Of course, that may be the case."
Seo Jinha also looked toward the distant sky.
Bu Eunseol living an ordinary life was merely a hope. No one could guarantee what would happen next.
"But if I am with him, I won’t regret any kind of life."
Tae Muryong nodded deeply, greatly moved by Seo Jinha’s words.
"In fact, I had the same resolution as you, Captain."
And he spoke honestly as well.
"I have decided to follow the Command Lord’s footsteps to the end."
"I see."
Seo Jinha patted his shoulder and joked, "But the first vassal is me. When that time comes, let’s clearly settle the hierarchy."
"Who knows? We’ll have to wait and see when the time comes."
Tae Muryong laughed and said, "In truth, if we exclude martial arts, I am better than you in many—"
But at that moment, a faint thunderous sound came from the distant sky.
If they had been ordinary martial artists, they would have thought it was going to rain, but the moment Seo Jinha and Tae Muryong heard the sound, their expressions changed drastically.
Because that was not the sound of thunder.
It was the sound that spread when an extremely powerful expert unleashed movement techniques beyond imagination.
"Killing intent."
Seo Jinha’s eyes flashed.
Judging by how faintly the thunderous sound spread, the distance to the expert was at least several dozen li. Yet an overwhelmingly massive killing intent capable of covering the sky was spreading all the way to where they stood.
"Something has happened."
Piii—
Seo Jinha blew a long whistle. The sound traveled far.
But there was no response.
The Death Spirit Corps’s information network had reached a level comparable to the Beggar Sect in its prime. Their informants were spread across the entire Central Plains, with branches densely installed in major regions. Moreover, because they had black faction figures as well as merchants and wanderers engaged in regular businesses as informants, when an urgent signal was sent by infusing internal energy into a whistle, a responding sound or signal flare would always rise from any region.
But there was no reaction at all?
"Someone has completely wiped out all the information organizations in this area."
Tae Muryong swallowed dryly with a tense expression.
If the nearby Death Spirit Corps and the main force’s information network had collapsed all at once, it meant an incredibly powerful enemy leading an unimaginable information organization had appeared.
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