The Executioner first confirms the target individual.
It is said that he then turns those in the immediate vicinity of the target into puppets and has them attack. But is there truly no limit to the distance when creating these puppets?
Could the Executioner exert his power and create puppets even from thousands of li away?
And if he cannot clearly distinguish the target—or if two appear at once—what then?
The sages of the martial world conducted endless research to unravel these questions.
Through numerous experiments and studies, they eventually uncovered part of the secret.
The Executioner uses the unique human qi called “soul fragrance” to identify the target.
And he deals with only one target at a time.
Knowing this, Han Sangja prepared a plan to reveal the true form of the Executioner by utilizing the Heavenly Fragrancer Physique.
The only problem was distance.
Bu Eunseol’s soul fragrance was simply too powerful. When placed side by side, it became unmistakably clear that Geuk Hyebin was merely imitating it. This is similar to how even the most exquisite counterfeit becomes obviously inferior when placed next to the genuine article.
“I’ll need to keep the distance much greater than I initially thought.”
To prepare for such a situation, Han Sangja brought the Immeasurable Light Secret, one of the prized artifacts of the Sage Forest.
It was a treasure that allowed its owner to measure anything existing in the world.
And after measuring with the Immeasurable Light Secret, he discovered that the two individuals needed to be at least roughly 630 li apart to prevent their qi from influencing each other.
“630 li at minimum… truly?”
Han Sangja shook his head wearily.
Even with perfect disguise, reversed appearance, and complete concealment of identity and traces, he had wondered how the Executioners could still find them…
It turned out that soul fragrance spread this widely.
After much deliberation, he finally decided on the following plan.
He selected two vast plain regions far from the Affectionate Blossom Sect.
He would install fifteen of the most profound formations passed down in the Sage Forest—including the Heaven-Origin Reversal Step Formation, which causes one side’s formation to collapse if the other collapses—allowing Bu Eunseol and Geuk Hyebin to hide their bodies respectively.
With such distance, the Executioner would surely attempt to confirm both identities and because the collapse of one formation would be instantly detected by the other, Bu Eunseol could immediately rush to aid Geuk Hyebin.
“Now we must measure how long it takes the Command Lord to cross this distance.”
Han Sangja explained, “You should run only at a pace that conserves stamina. If you arrive exhausted and depleted, you may instead be counterattacked by the Executioner.”
True to his nature as a sage, he always planned for the worst possible outcome when devising strategies.
Whooooosh!
Bu Eunseol unfolded his light-body technique at a level that preserved strength and stamina.
When he finally returned, Han Sangja nodded.
“If the Lord preserves full combat power while crossing 630 li, it takes approximately one gak (around 15 mins).”
The maximum speed of Swift Beyond Shadow while conserving stamina was roughly 625 li per gak. When unleashing the Thunder Spirit Energy and every ounce of internal force into the light-body technique, he could cover 1,000 li in one gak.
However, the latter method consumed enormous true qi.
Even if he arrived quickly, the chance of being counterattacked by the Executioner would be very high.
“Can this formation hold against the Executioner for one full gak?”
Bu Eunseol asked with a worried expression.
He wanted to station large numbers of troops in advance to protect Geuk Hyebin.
But doing so would only increase the number of puppets the Executioner could create… there was no solution.
“It should be possible.” Han Sangja spoke firmly. “The formations of our Forest possess the ability to nullify all powers scattered across the world.”
“And if something goes wrong?”
“I’ll stake my head on it.” Han Sangja made a somewhat excessive guarantee. “If the Young Lady is harmed, I will offer my neck.”
Bu Eunseol sensed something off but shook his head.
“There’s no need for that.”
Han Sangja smiled as if to change the subject.
“Honestly, I’m more worried about whether the Lord can actually defeat the Executioner than about whether the formation can hold.”
Bu Eunseol had defeated countless powerful enemies up to now.
But the Executioner was completely different.
He imposed bizarre laws and wielded unknowable power.
Even the supreme masters who commanded the world could not detect his presence, leaving them helpless.
For long ages, these beings had perfectly concealed their true identities.
“I’m not thinking of winning.” Bu Eunseol spoke frankly. “But I am confident I can die together with him.”
If the Executioner could not be eliminated?
Then those around him would forever be threatened with death. Even if it meant mutual destruction, Bu Eunseol intended to eliminate the Executioner this time.
And if he succeeded… he would seize the tail of whoever stood behind them.
“You always seem so confident, Lord.”
“I’m just living one day at a time.”
“Doesn’t everyone live one day at a time?”
At Han Sangja’s words, Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky and said, “I simply live only that single day, every single day.”
His voice carried a profound, bitter loneliness.
“Living only one day, every day.”
Only then did Han Sangja fully grasp the meaning, and said, “That’s quite similar.”
He nodded with a subtly moved expression.
“Indeed, only with such a mindset can one accomplish what others call impossible.”
Han Sangja’s gaze as he looked at the distant sky was so deep that one could not tell what thoughts lay behind it, nor where exactly he was looking.
“Haha.”
Sensing Bu Eunseol’s direct stare, he gave a light laugh and spoke in a louder voice.
“Time is truly running short now… shall we begin?”
Bu Eunseol felt a slight unease at Han Sangja’s demeanor.
‘He seems to have some other motive.’
In matters where lives are staked, even the boldest person would naturally become grave. Yet Han Sangja acted relaxed—almost delighted—as though the matter had nothing to do with him.
‘Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.’
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
This was not the time for such thoughts.
He had to eliminate the Executioner this time—no matter what. Otherwise, he would have to completely abandon the martial world.
* * *
For ten full days and nights without sleep, Han Sangja installed the fifteen supreme formations inherited by the Sage Forest across the vast plain.
It was no easy task, so the outstanding female martial artists of the Affectionate Blossom Sect assisted him.
As he had boasted, the completed formations were so solid that not even Bu Eunseol—or any other power—could easily break them.
Even repeatedly unleashing Harmonies comparable to the Infinite Reversal Power would not readily destroy them. Moreover, they could resist all kinds of supernatural powers, so even if the Executioner used strange sorcery, they could withstand it.
Most importantly, because the formations on both sides were linked, an attack on one would be instantly sensed by the other.
Thus Bu Eunseol could respond immediately.
‘Impressive.’
Even Bu Eunseol, who had faced and broken countless formations, found the ones Han Sangja deployed incomprehensibly complex and extraordinarily powerful.
They were comparable to the formation that the Heavenly Mechanism Star had once installed in the valley the Blood Heaven and Fate Corps had trained using the Fist Man to trap him and Gongsun Dankyung.
‘This is not a formation passed down through generations.’
Bu Eunseol, recognized as the foremost formation-breaker in the martial world after destroying so many arrays, was certain that what Han Sangja had set up was neither an ancient Sage Forest inheritance nor a mere reinterpretation of existing formations.
It was undoubtedly a brand-new formation never seen before.
‘This level… isn’t it beyond even the Chief Inspector’s skill?’
Gongsun Dankyung’s formation mastery rivaled that of Gongsun Hwa-uk, and his intellect was second to none. Yet everything Han Sangja did astonished even Bu Eunseol—unprecedented, radical, and revolutionary.
“I will now install the formation to conceal my own body.”
The reason Han Sangja was helping Bu Eunseol was to personally confirm the existence of the Executioner, whose true nature had never been properly revealed.
When one of the two formations collapsed, he intended to rush there immediately and observe it.
That was why he began installing a formation to hide his own presence as well.
“Not only must my aura be perfectly concealed, but I also need to sense when either formation collapses… so I will try installing a slightly different one.”
Han Sangja made a somewhat eccentric request.
“Please lend me thirty-two martial artists—either from the Affectionate Blossom Sect or under the Lord’s command. I need them to establish the Ghost Seclusion Infinite Formation.”
The Ghost Seclusion Infinite Formation.
It was a unique formation exclusive to the Sage Forest—one that used living humans as formation materials to reverse the natural order and return to the primordial origin state.
“I can never permit using people as formation materials.” Bu Eunseol stated firmly. “What if the Executioner’s power manifests and turns them into puppets?”
“Rest assured, that will not happen.”
“What about the one-in-a-million chance?” Bu Eunseol said decisively. “I cannot gamble thirty-two lives.”
“This formation alone possesses the energy of the Extreme Heaven Primordial Chaos.”
Han Sangja shrugged.
“And what great deed can be accomplished without any risk?”
“The risk should be borne only by us.”
“Then this matter ends here.”
Han Sangja’s eyes appeared pure like Geuk Hyebin’s, yet a strange fervor constantly flowed from them.
Though he looked innocent, he was a sage of the Sage Forest.
When it came to uncovering truth, he was prepared to sacrifice anything—a touch of madness.
“I’m not interested in whether this succeeds or fails.” Han Sangja said somewhat coldly. “I simply want to know whether the Executioner is truly a supernatural being… or merely an agent of some mysterious force that even our Forest could not discover.”
“I understand.”
“Then I will use the next best option.”
Han Sangja spoke in a low voice.
“Something like this can be solved with money.”
“You plan to hire mercenaries?”
“Exactly.” Han Sangja said calmly. “The martial artists used as materials for the Ghost Seclusion Infinite Formation only need to have at least one jia (60 years) of internal energy. There is no need for the Lord’s subordinates or the Pavilion’s disciples.”
On the surface, it seemed reasonable.
But Bu Eunseol did not wish to gamble not only his own subordinates’ lives, but even innocent mercenaries’ lives, for this matter.
“That won’t do either.”
“This is quite a restriction.”
Han Sangja let out a deep sigh.
He had never imagined Bu Eunseol would hesitate even over mercenary lives.
“Lord, mercenaries are people who exchange their lives for money anyway.”
“…”
“Among mercenaries, many believe that if the pay is sufficient, they are willing to offer their lives at any time. Simply choose them.”
Yet Bu Eunseol’s expression did not change.
Of course he disliked sending mercenaries to near-certain death for money, but more than that, he instinctively sensed that Han Sangja harbored another intention.
‘But I can’t figure out what it is.’
While Bu Eunseol wore a complicated expression, Han Sangja spoke.
“If you truly refuse, then this matter ends here. I can help no further.”
Han Sangja’s goal was to witness the truth of the Executioner with his own eyes.
If that was impossible, there was no reason to assist Bu Eunseol.
“And if I may boldly advise—every matter has priorities and degrees of importance.”
“I know.”
“You know? Even knowing that failing to resolve this could cause grave harm to those around you?”
He was not wrong.
If this chance to deal with the Executioner was lost, his precious acquaintances could be lost at any moment.
“Then I wish you luck.”
As Han Sangja turned to leave,
“Wait.”
After deep contemplation, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Fine. I will dispatch thirty-two martial artists from the intelligence organization I lead.”
“Then I must ask for a promise.”
Han Sangja spoke with utmost firmness.
“That no matter what happens, you will not resent me.”
“I will not resent you.”
The elite of the Death Spirit Corps were warriors Bu Eunseol had raised with utmost care.
Moreover, some had partially mastered the Heart Mirror Technique created by Yoo Unryong, which allowed deployment of the mind-world…
Even in the worst case, they should be able to escape with their lives.
“Good.”
Han Sangja sought confirmation once more.
“Then please swear it.”
There was no smile on his face.
“Right here and now, swear that no matter what occurs in the future, you will not resent my choice.”
‘There definitely is something.’
Not “do not resent me,” but “do not resent my choice”?
And his expression was so resolute that he truly seemed prepared to refuse to proceed until the oath was given.
‘Hmm.’
Even Bu Eunseol, whose resourcefulness yielded to no one, could not fathom Han Sangja’s heart.
‘I still cannot grasp his true intention.’
The only thing he vaguely sensed was that Han Sangja had no intention of harming him.
“I swear it. No matter what happens because of this matter, I will not resent you.”
“Good.”
Satisfied with the oath, Han Sangja nodded.
“If we succeed, one of the martial world’s secrets will be unraveled.”
His eyes sparkled as though holding stars.
He appeared genuinely excited at the prospect of confirming the Executioner’s true nature.
‘Such a strong spirit of inquiry… no wonder he entered the Sage Forest.’
Sages were the somewhat dangerous type who would accept any sacrifice if it meant uncovering truth or solving mysteries that had remained unsolved.
‘None of it matters. As long as the Executioner is eliminated.’
He had to find and eradicate the Executioner as soon as possible.
Only then could he prevent further harm to those around him and put an end to their evil deeds.
Finally, two months after the Executioner’s attack began, the day of the full moon prophesied by Manwol arrived.
Within the formation created by Han Sangja, Geuk Hyebin began enveloping Bu Eunseol’s soul fragrance with her own qi.
It was Geuk Hyebin’s warm, pure soul fragrance—possessing its own unique aura.
Wooong.
As their soul fragrance perfectly synchronized, a faint light flowed from the bodies of Bu Eunseol and Geuk Hyebin.
“I pray for your success.”
At Han Sangja’s words, Bu Eunseol nodded.
Then, looking at Geuk Hyebin, he spoke gently,
“Nothing will happen. Don’t worry—just wait for me.”
As though resonating with Geuk Hyebin’s warm soul fragrance, Bu Eunseol showed an unprecedentedly soft and affectionate smile.
“Yes.”
At Geuk Hyebin’s bright reply, Bu Eunseol shot into the sky in an instant.
He unfolded his light-body technique at full speed and ran for one gak.
After covering roughly 600 li, he immediately entered the formation Han Sangja had prepared in advance.
Light poured from all directions, and the surroundings grew hazy.
“Truly mysterious.”
It became clear why the sages of the Sage Forest could even investigate the leadership of various martial sects.
Infiltration techniques that could enter anywhere, disguise arts that could fool anyone, and bizarre sorceries and mysterious knowledge unknown to the martial world.
Gaining even one strategist from the Sage Forest was equivalent to acquiring an entire massive intelligence organization—or more.
‘The old Sage Forest truly walked the wrong path.’
Stagnation breeds decay.
Once power is grasped, one wants to wield it.
The common perception of sages was merely wise men possessing outstanding knowledge and intellect. But the actual sages of the Sage Forest possessed abilities rivaling martial artists, along with mysterious knowledge.
In the end, they attempted to artificially create the King of Sages, the Heavenly Mechanism Star, using that power and knowledge and because of it, they walked the path of destruction.
His mind growing complicated, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
‘Right now, think only of the Executioner.’
He had never been interested in unknown mysterious forces within the martial world to begin with.
Whatever they did was none of his concern.
But simply because he had become stronger a little faster than others, they imposed incomprehensible laws and threatened not his own life, but the lives of those around him.
He could no longer tolerate such an existence.
“To enforce their so-called ‘laws’ by arbitrarily…”
While muttering lowly, in that instant a flash of insight crossed his mind.
Only then did he realize what Han Sangja truly desired.
“To uphold the laws…”
The Executioner’s sole purpose was to “uphold the laws.”
And to protect those laws?
Their true form must never be revealed.
―That will not happen.
Strangely, Han Sangja had confidently declared that nothing serious would happen to Geuk Hyebin or himself.
Yet when it came to the Ghost Seclusion Infinite Formation—deployed using thirty-two humans as materials to avoid the Executioner’s attack—he showed an attitude that could not guarantee the martial artists’ lives.
‘He made himself the bait.’
At last he understood.
The Executioner was literally a mysterious existence with the power to manipulate humans.
If such a being existed, then surely someone attempting to uncover his existence and grasp his true nature would be judged far more threatening than someone merely refusing the laws.
―Swear right here and now that no matter what happens, you will not resent my choice.
Suddenly, Han Sangja’s voice seemed to echo in his ears.
The “choice” he referred to was precisely making himself the bait.
And there was one reason for it.
‘To summon not the Executioner, but someone higher.’
Even if the Executioner were eliminated, another could come.
But if an act occurred that shattered the Executioner’s secret or broke their laws?
Then it would not be a mere Executioner who arrived, but rather the one who managed the Executioners—or the one who oversaw these laws.
Han Sangja was staking his life to summon someone who could clearly explain the Executioner’s existence and possessed the authority to break the covenant.
Only then could this matter truly be resolved.
Ziiing.
At that moment, a very strange sensation flowed within the formation.
It felt as though something inside his body was being pulled—an unfamiliar and somewhat unpleasant feeling.
‘These fifteen layered formations must also be a method to draw mine and Geuk Hyebin’s qi together.’
Han Sangja—who was not particularly fast in qinggong—had insisted on creating and waiting at the midpoint between himself and Geuk Hyebin under the pretext of confirming the Executioner.
He claimed it was because he did not know which side the real one would appear on.
But most likely, it was a means to draw the qi of Bu Eunseol and Geuk Hyebin inside the formation toward himself.
Whether the Executioner came or the one who managed the Executioners came, they had to be lured toward the side where the unbreakable formation was installed.
‘For a fundamental solution.’
Han Sangja was not merely a curious young sage.
From the moment he proposed this plan, he had intended to summon someone who could fundamentally resolve—or at least explain—the covenant issue.
But knowing Bu Eunseol would never allow him to become bait, he concealed that fact.
‘Is he the successor destined to lead the Sage Forest’s future?’
The Sage Forest had artificially tried to create the Heavenly Mechanism Star, and the Ghost Exterminator called it a “calamity.”
If Chu So was absolute evil, then naturally they would try to nurture an outstanding, virtuous divine being to oppose him.
Perhaps that person was Han Sangja.
“But this plan is far too dangerous.”
If a terrifying figure at the level of commanding the Executioners appeared on that side?
Bu Eunseol might be able to confront him, but the thirty-two Death Spirit Corps members he lured, and Han Sangja himself, would have virtually no chance of survival.
Crackle.
Bu Eunseol tried to exit the formation.
But as though blocking him, strange sparks flew from the formation, and an invisible transparent wall barred his way.
These fifteen overlapping formations were said to possess the ability to nullify any external force.
But now it was clear—Han Sangja had subtly reversed the formation’s direction.
So that Bu Eunseol could not easily leave.
“Brother Han.”
Srrrng.
With a sigh, Bu Eunseol drew the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
“Was I really that untrustworthy?”
If even he could not break the formation Han Sangja installed, then even if Bu Eunseol arrived, the chance of losing his life would be high.
That was why Han Sangja had taken one more measure—to prevent him from dying in vain.
Giiiiing.
In an instant, five-colored radiance surged and concentrated on the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Flash!
He had used Harmony.
Flash! Flash!
He unleashed Harmony three times in succession, yet there was no sign of collapse.
This was not designed to block an incoming Executioner from outside, but to lock someone inside—built even more sturdily inward.
“Is my formation knowledge still lacking after all?”
The formations Han Sangja deployed were the essence of the Sage Forest.
Even Gongsun Dankyung might not have noticed their strangeness yet Bu Eunseol was blaming himself for being inadequate.
“Huu… huu…”
Breathing heavily, he forcibly suppressed the searing pain throughout his body.
Unleashing Harmony consecutively had placed a heavy burden on him.
“I don’t necessarily have to destroy it completely.”
A sudden idea flashed through his mind, and he concentrated his energy once more.
“He must have made it impossible to destroy from the inside.”
Saaaa.
A faint mist began to rise around Bu Eunseol’s body.
“Just very naturally… create only enough space for my body to slip through.”
In this moment of crisis, he instantly created a new technique, stacking Harmony onto the orthodox martial way of returning everything to a natural state.
Grrrrrrrr.
Space twisted, and a pulse-like vibration rang from the walls and floor.
The interior space began emitting dazzling fragments like the collapse of a star.
Kukukuku.
It began shaking violently as though an earthquake had struck.
At the same time, red, turquoise, purple, and other five-colored radiances danced around Bu Eunseol’s body.
Kwarrrrrr.
Space slowly twisted once more.
BOOM!
A tremendous roar erupted from within the formation, and a world-destroying wave surged outward.
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