The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign – Chapter 112

Black Leopard’s wide eyes darted nervously, causing the maid to lower her head in fear.

“I-I need to get back quickly,” she stammered.

“Wait, hold on! Miss!” Black Leopard called out, but the maid hurriedly turned and fled the Purple Mist Cave.

“Young master,” Black Leopard said, turning to Bu Eunseol with sweat beading on his forehead. “From what the maid said, it seems you’re now engaged to the Young Palace Master.”

“I heard,” Bu Eunseol replied, remarkably calm despite the unexpected situation. “We need to clarify the details.”

Exiting the Purple Mist Cave, Bu Eunseol stopped another passing maid from the Divine Maiden Palace and asked for specifics about the Divine Origin Pearl.

The Palace Master declared that the Young Palace Master’s husband must excel in both wisdom and martial arts, so she created the Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formations. She gave the Divine Origin Pearl to the Young Palace Master, instructing her to choose a worthy hero who passes the formations. Until two years ago, young masters from the Seven Secret Palaces and prominent sect heirs flocked to the palace, but none passed the test.

Bu Eunseol finally grasped the situation.

In short, the Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formations were a trial to find a suitable match for the Young Palace Master. The Divine Origin Pearl was a betrothal gift for the hero she deemed worthy among those who passed.

“It seems I fell into the Crystal Hall Master’s scheme,” Bu Eunseol said, realizing for the first time he had made a grave mistake.

During his time with the Nine Deaths Squad, he always gathered extensive information before acting, even for minor tasks. But now, eager to face Jeong Cheon, he had rushed into this job without proper investigation—a painful misstep.

“What do we do now?” Black Leopard asked.

Bu Eunseol glanced at the path leading out of the Divine Maiden Palace, narrowing his eyes. For the first time since entering the martial world, he resolved to employ the thirty-sixth stratagem: retreat.

But his resolute decision was doomed to fail. Before he could move, Namgung Sea approached briskly, dressed in splendid blue robes.

“There you are,” she said.

Rustle.

Behind her, a woman in white robes, accompanied by maids, walked toward them. Her hair was elegantly pinned up like a cloud.

“Is that him?” the woman asked, standing beside Namgung Sea.

Clad in pristine white, she exuded a noble yet stern aura, like a white plum blossom. Bu Eunseol recognized her instantly.

The Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace?

Her commanding presence and eyes, strikingly similar to the Young Palace Master’s, confirmed her identity.

“Seolso,” Namgung Sea said, approaching and gesturing to the woman. “This is the Palace Master. Pay your respects.”

The Palace Master, Yeon Jami, was not only a martial arts prodigy but also a peerless master of formations, now standing before them.

“I, Seolso, a mercenary, greet the Palace Master,” Bu Eunseol said, bowing deeply but not kneeling.

Namgung Sea looked startled, but Yeon Jami waved her hand coldly. “Enough.” Frowning, she studied Bu Eunseol. “You passed the Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formations?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Jami regarded his curt reply with displeasure, then turned to Namgung Sea with a hint of irritation. “Where’s Soha?”

“She’s resting in her quarters.”

“Hmm.” Letting out a soft hum, Yeon Jami spoke coldly to Bu Eunseol. “Let’s move to another place to talk.”

Guided by Namgung Sea, Bu Eunseol relocated to a pavilion in the palace’s outer guest quarters. The beautiful garden basked in warm sunlight, filled with exotic flowers and a small pond.

…

Inside the pavilion, Bu Eunseol and Yeon Jami sat across from each other. Fragrant tea sat on the table, but Bu Eunseol stared straight ahead, ignoring it.

“What is your sect?” Yeon Jami asked, breaking the long silence.

“Due to certain circumstances, I cannot say.”

Hiding one’s origins was common in the martial world, but Yeon Jami’s eyes narrowed disapprovingly. “I hear you specialize in fist techniques?”

“Yes.” Her sharp, guarded tone suggested she was even dissatisfied with his use of fist techniques.

“You’re living as a mercenary?”

“Yes.”

Sipping her tea, Yeon Jami muttered, “If your sect allows you to live as a mercenary, it must be insignificant.”

Bu Eunseol’s eyes flickered, not in anger but because he saw an escape from this trap.

She doesn’t like me from the start. This makes things easier. With this realization, Bu Eunseol felt at ease, regaining some composure.

“Where did you hear about the Divine Origin Pearl?” Yeon Jami asked.

Bu Eunseol’s mind raced. If I mention the Red Sky Veil’s job, it’ll anger her. Though renowned for its formations, the Divine Maiden Palace was still one of the Seven Secret Palaces. Yeon Jami, a supreme master on par with the martial world’s elite, could crush him if provoked.

“I heard by chance,” he said.

“By chance? Be specific.”

“The mercenary market is full of high-quality information. I was fortunate to hear about the Divine Origin Pearl from an old info broker.”

“Hmm.” Her brow furrowed at the vague explanation. “Soha was frail as a child and stayed within the palace, so she’s still as innocent as a child, unfamiliar with the ways of the world.”

“I see.”

“That’s why I created the Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formations—to find a match worthy of her.” Sipping her tea, she continued coldly, “I told her to give the Divine Origin Pearl to a hero she deems worthy among those who pass.”

Staring at Bu Eunseol’s disguised, blurred face, Yeon Jami frowned again. “But that was my intention, not Soha’s.” Pausing, she added, “I heard you used inner power to move the statues and break the formation. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“I see. But that method doesn’t truly prove your martial skill.”

Bu Eunseol understood her intent. She was making excuses.

This is fortunate. Truly fortunate.

The more displeased Yeon Jami appeared, the happier he felt. Without her approval, the marriage to the Young Palace Master wouldn’t proceed.

“You don’t seem to like me,” Bu Eunseol said, sipping the cold tea with newfound ease.

Yeon Jami gave a cold smile and shook her head. “Don’t worry. I’m not one to go back on my word. I’m merely saying your martial skill hasn’t been proven.”

A glint sparked in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. She wants something else from me.

“What should I do?” he asked.

Yeon Jami replied swiftly, “Are you willing to face the Purple Spear Technique?”

“The Purple Spear Technique?”

“One of our sect’s guardian martial arts, mastered by the three hall masters: Sujeong, Muryeong, and Jabu.”

“The three hall masters share one technique?”

“No, the Purple Spear Technique is designed to be performed by three people together.”

Bu Eunseol had never encountered the Divine Maiden Palace’s martial arts. The prospect of facing a spear technique performed by three masters made his mouth water, like seeing a feast.

“You want me to fight them?”

“Yes. Not to determine a winner, but to prove your martial skill.”

“I’ll do it,” Bu Eunseol answered without hesitation.

A sweet smile spread across Yeon Jami’s lips. “Truly?”

Bu Eunseol mirrored her smile brightly. “Gladly.”

***

Inside the Medicine Hall of the Divine Maiden Palace.

At its center stood a transparent bed, where Namgung Un sat cross-legged, his body bristling with acupuncture needles.

“What kind of nonsense is this? A duel?” he shouted, leaping up upon hearing Bu Eunseol and Black Leopard’s conversation. “You passed the formation, and now they want a duel? That’s outright unfair!”

His sudden movement caused the needles to fly off, prompting an old woman arranging acupuncture tools to storm over, fuming. “You wretched boy! How many times will you make me reinsert these needles?”

“Ah, my apologies,” Namgung Un said.

“Move again, and I won’t use the Mixed Origin Golden Needles!” the old woman snapped, reinserting the needles as Namgung Un sat still, cautiously moving only his lips.

“Seol, drop it. Once these needles are done, I’ll go confront my aunt.”

Black Leopard shook his head at Namgung Un’s agitated, needle-spraying outburst. “Sir, you can stay put.”

“What, you’re not worried?”

“My young master… he loves to fight.”

“Loves to fight?” Namgung Un’s eyes widened, looking up at Bu Eunseol.

The faint smile on Bu Eunseol’s face suggested Black Leopard’s words weren’t empty.

“Hmm?” Namgung Un’s gaze caught a circular disc wrapped around Black Leopard’s wrist, and his eyes widened further. “Isn’t that the Chain Bullet Needle Launcher, a hidden weapon of the Tang Clan?”

Black Leopard quickly hid his sleeve, embarrassed. “You recognize it, sir.”

“That’s a weapon used by the Tang Clan. Are you from the Tang Clan?”

“No, the third young master taught me how to use the Chain Bullet Needle Launcher and its techniques.”

“The third? You mean Tang Gon?”

“You know the third young master?” Black Leopard asked.

Namgung Un nodded slightly. “I met him a few times at clan gatherings when we were young. But his quiet nature kept us from becoming close.” Blinking, he looked at Black Leopard. “I heard he became the young clan leader recently… You’re not the Black Tempest who stormed Blood Poison Valley with Tang Gon, are you?”

“Black Tempest?” Black Leopard echoed.

“They say a boy led Tang Clan masters with Tang Gon to attack Blood Poison Valley.”

That’s become a rumor? Startled, Black Leopard waved his hands in denial. “No way! I don’t have that kind of skill.”

“But they said that boy’s movement techniques were incredibly fast.”

“No, sir, my movement skills are terrible.” Black Leopard broke into a cold sweat. Rumors always reached their subjects last, just as those losing fame often failed to notice.

“Why do you keep calling me ‘sir’? Just call me brother,” Namgung Un said, laughing. “Titles don’t matter. We’ll be traveling together for a while, haha.”

Unlike a typical clan heir, Namgung Un cared little for martial world hierarchy or propriety—a trait fitting a free-spirited mercenary but at odds with the solemn Southern Palace. Perhaps this easygoing nature earned him the title of the clan’s wastrel.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll call you young master,” Black Leopard said.

“If you insist, fine. Do as you like,” Namgung Un said, smacking his lips regretfully. Turning to Bu Eunseol, he added, “Since we’re at it, let’s drop formalities too.”

Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened, and Namgung Un grinned. “I’m twenty-one this year, so I’ll call you Brother Seol. How’s that?”

“No,” Bu Eunseol replied.

Namgung Un’s expression stiffened slightly. To think someone would refuse camaraderie with a Southern Palace heir.