“North reveres Shaolin, South honors Wudang.”
In the north, Shaolin martial arts are venerated; in the south, Wudang’s martial arts are respected.
In other words, the orthodox martial world has long been firmly upheld by Shaolin and Wudang together.
However, in the current generation, the Wudang Sect had been maintaining a remarkably quiet presence.
They no longer sent disciples into the martial world, and even Song Ak, who had been active as a grandmaster, was summoned back to Mount Wudang for secluded cultivation. In truth, this was because they knew the current martial landscape was chaotic and wished to quietly build their strength.
To outsiders, however, it merely appeared as though Wudang was avoiding involvement in worldly affairs and living in leisurely seclusion.
Having alighted from the carriage, Bu Eunseol, Bukgung Ryeong, and Song Ak were ascending Mount Wudang. Passing by the beautiful scenery of winding streams and lush forests, they arrived at a complex of halls shrouded in faint mist.
Mount Wudang, structured around the seventy-two peaks encircling the main peak, Tianzhu Peak, was dotted with countless Taoist halls and buildings.
As they entered, a guest-receiving Taoist—apparently informed in advance—came out to greet them. It was a gray-haired Taoist: Elder Jin-in Chungyeop, who had once shown great righteousness during Elder Blood Vajra’s atonement campaign.
“Welcome, my Lord.”
Jin-in Chungyeop bowed respectfully to Bukgung Ryeong.
“It is an immense honor to have you grace our sect.”
“Why speak so formally? I merely joined the Martial Alliance. Call me as you did before.”
Jin-in Chungyeop smiled faintly. “How could I dare, now that you are a Martial Alliance Lord?”
He paused, then let out a heavy sigh and bowed his head.
“I am merely ashamed to have to ask for your help in such a matter.”
Wudang disciples occupied numerous high positions not only in the martial world but also in commerce and government. Thus, Wudang rarely needed to seek outside aid—and even if they did, they could easily summon countless influential figures.
Yet they had sought only Bukgung Ryeong for one reason: for decades he had roamed the martial world alone, forming few close ties, and he never spoke of what he saw or heard, nor spread rumors. His lips were heavy.
“Don’t worry.” Bukgung Ryeong, sensing Jin-in Chungyeop’s concern, nodded. “Nothing that happens here will ever leak outside.”
“But who is this young man?”
Only then did Jin-in Chungyeop point to the man standing beside Song Ak.
It was Bu Eunseol, disguised as mercenary Seolso.
“My disciple.”
“Your... disciple?”
Jin-in Chungyeop couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
Bukgung Ryeong was known to roam the martial world alone, never taking disciples. Yet he had suddenly brought one—and to such an important occasion?
“This disciple, Seolso, greets Elder Jin-in Chungyeop.”
“He has lived as a mercenary for many years without revealing he is my disciple.”
Jin-in Chungyeop showed clear displeasure.
Bringing a disciple increased the risk of secrets leaking.
Reading his thoughts, Bukgung Ryeong quickly continued.
“I swear on my honor: no matter what troubles Wudang, the details will never escape.”
“But...”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol stepped forward.
“For over a decade, I have lived as a wanderer without ever mentioning I am the Lord’s disciple.”
With hands clasped, Bu Eunseol spoke respectfully with clear eyes.
“Surely you can trust me on that alone?”
Seizing the timely moment, Bukgung Ryeong added, “This fellow has mastered the Inner Bullet Technique to the seventh level or higher, and his mind is exceptionally sharp. He will surely be of help in this matter.”
The Bullet King’s Inner Bullet Technique Technique was the pinnacle of internal energy arts, requiring immense inner power.
Yet this young man, who looked barely thirty, had mastered it to seven stars or more?
He must possess extraordinary talent.
“I see.”
Considering Song Ak had brought him together, he must have been briefed in advance.
As Bukgung Ryeong’s disciple and a wanderer, he would have broad experience beyond ordinary martial artists.
Jin-in Chungyeop nodded reluctantly.
“If things can be resolved, that would be best.”
Guided by Jin-in Chungyeop, the two entered the Purple Sky Palace.
They met the Wudang Sect Leader, Yeong Cheong, in front of the main hall, the Purple Sky Hall.
“You have come in person, my Lord.” Yeong Cheong greeted Bukgung Ryeong with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
As sect leader, he was ashamed that he could not resolve this issue himself.
“Don’t worry too much, Sect Leader.” Bukgung Ryeong spoke confidently. “This old man will quickly find the cause and resolve this matter.”
“Thank you.”
Yeong Cheong knew well how vast Bukgung Ryeong’s knowledge was from years roaming the martial world alone. He had permitted Jin-in Chungyeop and Song Ak to summon him precisely because he trusted that erudition.
“Then let us begin at once.”
Bukgung Ryeong took a deep breath, eyes flashing.
“We must resolve this swiftly.”
* * *
Bukgung Ryeong and Bu Eunseol began a thorough investigation of Wudang.
As Song Ak had said, the sect elders were suffering from sleepwalking sickness in turns. The problem was that when they awoke, they remembered none of their actions.
‘Sleepwalking sickness cannot strike in rotation.’
Sensing something was wrong, Bu Eunseol and Bukgung Ryeong scoured Mount Wudang inside and out.
At night, they waited to observe the afflicted elders.
But for two days, nothing happened.
On the third night, around the third watch, Song Ak rushed to their quarters.
“It has begun!”
Bu Eunseol and Bukgung Ryeong exchanged glances and hurried outside.
In front of the Clarity Hall stood dozens of Taoists, and nearby, an old man in thin robes staggered along.
It was Yeong Geum of Wudang.
“Won’t he wake if we try?” Bukgung Ryeong asked softly, and Song Ak whispered in reply.
“If forced awake, he will rise, but the symptoms won’t improve. Shall we wake him?”
“Hm, let’s observe first.”
Bukgung Ryeong and Bu Eunseol quietly followed Yeong Geum as he wandered.
‘Look at that.’
After wandering for a while, Yeong Geum began scratching the ground beneath a tree with his hands.
Soon, he caught several large centipedes.
Crunch, crunch.
Without a word, Yeong Geum stuffed the centipedes into his mouth and began chewing.
For a time, he caught and devoured all the centipedes hidden under the tree. But still unsatisfied, his empty gaze scanned the surroundings.
Flap.
At that moment, a large bird began fluttering in the branches above him.
A hidden owl took wing toward the opposite side.
Whoosh!
But Yeong Geum swiftly fired a finger wind.
Thud.
The owl struck by the finger wind fell instantly to the ground.
Thud, thud.
Yeong Geum slowly walked toward the fallen owl.
His face was expressionless, yet it was clear: once caught, he would tear it apart with his teeth.
“Shouldn’t we stop him now?”
As Song Ak whispered and Bukgung Ryeong began to nod,
“No, we must see it to the end.” Bu Eunseol, disguised as mercenary Seolso, said in a low voice.
“Didn’t you say the elders all behave the same way?”
Song Ak blinked, and Bu Eunseol continued.
“We need to see exactly how he does it to find the answer.”
Unable to argue, Song Ak nodded.
Rip! Tear!
Meanwhile, Yeong Geum began biting and chewing the owl.
Watching for a while, Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes.
‘It’s not the meat.’
Yeong Geum seemed to devour the owl mindlessly.
In reality, he was tearing off fur and skin with his teeth, greedily drinking only the flowing blood.
Thud.
After crushing the owl with his teeth, Yeong Geum staggered back toward the Taoist halls.
“It seems best to wake the elder and clean him now.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Bukgung Ryeong said, “Yes, we’ve seen enough. Let’s wake him.”
Rustle.
At Bukgung Ryeong’s command, the watching young Taoists shook and woke Yeong Geum.
“No...” Awakening in that state, Yeong Geum saw the blood on his lips and feathers on his clothes—and cried out in horror. “So I did this too?”
Coming to his senses, he looked around and ran off to wash.
“Do you have any idea why this is happening?”
At Jin-in Chungyeop’s question, Bukgung Ryeong swallowed a groan.
They had watched closely, yet it was merely bizarre—no clues emerged.
‘How is it? Did you notice anything?’
Bukgung Ryeong asked Bu Eunseol via transmission.
Even Bu Eunseol had never seen such a case and found nothing unusual.
Had they not heard it was recurring among the elders, they might have dismissed it as severe sleepwalking.
Slightly.
Bu Eunseol shook his head faintly.
‘I think we need to see it once more.’
“It seems we must confirm again.”
At Bukgung Ryeong’s words, the Wudang Taoists nodded with dark expressions.
The next day was quiet.
But the day after, Elder Yeong Seong fell to the sleepwalking sickness.
This time, at Bu Eunseol’s instruction, Bukgung Ryeong immediately woke him.
Yeong Seong, who had been wandering madly, snapped awake and returned to the hall.
At dawn, Bu Eunseol secretly transmitted to Bukgung Ryeong.
“Is that so?”
After listening to Bu Eunseol for a long while, Bukgung Ryeong’s eyes gleamed as if realizing something.
“This old man will go check personally.”
As Bukgung Ryeong left, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath and gazed out the window. His eyes sparkled ceaselessly, deep in thought.
‘I roughly understand why the elders are getting sleepwalking sickness.’
After observing them for days, Bu Eunseol had already guessed the cause.
And he realized this was all deliberately orchestrated by someone.
‘But why?’
Yet the fundamental reason remained unclear.
Click.
The door opened, and a haggard Taoist and a gray-haired elder entered.
It was Song Ak and Bukgung Ryeong.
“It was as you said.”
He had checked Yeong Geum’s condition at Bu Eunseol’s request.
“The body shows no abnormalities, but his internal vital essence has been greatly depleted.”
Bukgung Ryeong wore an incredulous expression. “How did you know their vital essence was drained?”
Vital essence is the source of all creation, the energy sustaining life.
All the afflicted elders had severely depleted vital essence.
“Our sect has continually examined their bodies but never noticed such extreme damage to their essence.” Song Ak asked curiously. “What exactly happened?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
With only the three of them in the room, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly in his normal tone.
“When the elders first wandered at night and were woken immediately, no detailed pulse diagnosis was done—because it was thought to be simple sleepwalking.”
“That makes sense.”
“But when they were sucking blood or acting strangely, naturally they suspected something wrong with the body and checked the pulse, right?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Bukgung Ryeong nodded as if everything finally clicked. “Since they’ve already sucked blood, their vital essence has been somewhat replenished.”
“Precisely.” Bu Eunseol nodded.
He had noticed that while Yeong Geum caught centipedes and the owl, he wasn’t eating the flesh.
He wanted only the blood or vital fluids.
Wudang did not strictly forbid meat.
But elders who practiced Taoist secrets like the Jade Dew True Qi avoided meat as much as possible.
This kept their bodies vigorous regardless of age, but any leakage of essence—through intercourse or other sexual activities—would cause significant loss of vital essence.
The fastest way to replenish it was through blood absorption.
In other words, drinking another creature’s blood could restore some vital essence.
“But why?” Bukgung Ryeong shook his head. “The elders and sect leaders of Wudang have all deeply practiced Taoist secrets. Surely they haven’t been indulging in any sexual activities at their age?”
“Of course not.”
Bu Eunseol said calmly.
“Someone has been secretly draining their vital essence.”
“Drained? Possessed by a virgin ghost?”
Aside from sexual activites, the only known way for a man to lose vital essence is possession by a ghost.
So were the elders truly possessed by spirits or demons?
“That’s one possibility.”
Though Bu Eunseol spoke jokingly, Bukgung Ryeong looked seriously at Song Ak.
“Can Wudang use talismans and incantations to exorcise demons?”
Song Ak couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“Our sect has no such secret arts.”
“But you’re Taoists—surely you can recite spells to drive away lesser ghosts?”
“That’s the Mosan Sect’s specialty.”
While the two chatted idly, Bu Eunseol pondered deeply.
‘That’s strange. Is there another way to absorb human vitality?’
The Infinite Realm extracted human essence blood to create human elixirs but even they only extracted blood to gather essence blood.
It was impossible to extract vital essence from a healthy person.
Moreover, those afflicted on Mount Wudang are all highly skilled Wudang elders.
“No matter how I think, for such a method or tool to exist…” Muttering lowly, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
‘A tool?’
He recalled the wrist guard of Mount Hua elder Chae Ju-heung.
‘The Black Divine Artifact.’
Bu Eunseol touched his forehead.
If the Black Divine Artifact possessed absurd powers, might it also have the ability to absorb human essence blood?
“Can you bring my sword right now?”
Before entering the hall, Bu Eunseol had entrusted his Silent Tiger Soul Sword to the guest-receiving Taoist. The old sword-dismounting pool at the base of Mount Wudang had vanished, but in respect for Wudang, Bu Eunseol had not carried his weapon and left it with Song Ak.
“Have you found the culprit?”
Song Ak asked eagerly, but Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“No. But to find the cause, I think I need my sword.”
“With the sword?”
“Yes.”
Bukgung Ryeong and Song Ak blinked.
Did Bu Eunseol’s ever-present iron sword possess some holy power to repel ghosts?
“Trust me once. If my guess is right... we might find it.”
Bu Eunseol was not one to speak nonsense.
Realizing there must be a way, Song Ak nodded.
“I’ll bring the sword immediately.”
Song Ak sent a disciple and soon returned with the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Strapping on the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol began visiting each elder’s quarters.
‘The Silent Tiger Soul Sword will definitely react.’
The Black Divine Artifact does not react to demonic swords simply by proximity.
But through Chae Ju-heung’s wrist guard, Bu Eunseol had confirmed the Silent Tiger Soul Sword was not merely a Demon-Killer Sword.
It might be a God-Killer Artifact.
If a Black Divine Artifact existed in Wudang?
And if it was tormenting the elders?
The Silent Tiger Soul Sword would surely react.
Bu Eunseol checked every elder’s room.
Unfortunately, no Black Divine Artifact was detected.
‘Was I wrong?’
Shaking his head, Bu Eunseol turned to leave the Purple Sky Palace.
Zing.
But a very faint, subtle energy was felt.
It was the Silent Tiger Soul Sword emitting a low, thin hum.
Bu Eunseol approached where the sword pointed.
It led to the storage room where Wudang Taoist robes were kept.
“Can we check over there?”
Song Ak nodded at Bu Eunseol’s words.
Inside the storage room lay piles of Taoist robes and various items.
Zing.
As Bu Eunseol drew near the area with scattered robes, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword vibrated softly.
‘I see.’
At last, Bu Eunseol realized.
The Silent Tiger Soul Sword was not reacting to ordinary Taoist robes, but specifically to those worn by Yeong Geum and Yeong Seong.
In other words, while the possessor of the Black Divine Artifact was not found, the residual energy of its use had been detected.
That meant...
Just like Mount Hua elder Chae Ju-heung, someone had infiltrated Wudang under a disciple’s identity and was using the Black Divine Artifact to drain the elders’ vital essence.
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