Boom! Boom!
Unleashing the Demon Fist Manifestation Technique, Bu Eunseol struck Gu Juhon’s Danzhong acupoint.
“Kuhuhuhu.” For an ordinary martial artist, this would have been a fatal blow, causing them to spit blood and die instantly. Yet, Gu Juhon let out a sinister laugh and charged at Bu Eunseol.
“A Bound Asura?” Watching Gu Juhon, Jongri Sayu let out a cry of shock. “To think they could create a Bound Asura.”
“Bound Asura? What’s that?” Yoo Hwaryeong asked urgently.
Jongri Sayu explained, “In medicine and toxicology, they’ve long studied ways to delay death. That’s what a Bound Asura is…”
Her face filled with fear, she continued, “It’s only been theorized, never actually created.”
“Then, is he a jiangshi?” *(Chinese hopping vampire – part vampire, part zombie)
“No, it’s different from a jiangshi. Simply put, it’s a being engineered to keep bodily functions active despite fatal injuries, forcibly sustaining life.” Though she said it simply, Yoo Hwaryeong couldn’t comprehend it.
“If it’s a dead body with a living spirit… is there no way to kill him?”
“Cut off his head.”
“His head…” Yoo Hwaryeong’s jaw dropped.
Despite sustaining fatal wounds, Gu Juhon moved like lightning, wielding the Blood Chain Sword. To sever the head of someone displaying the prowess of the Heavenly Realm seemed impossible, even for Bu Eunseol.
“Is there no other way?” Yoo Hwaryeong asked desperately.
Jongri Sayu shook her head. “The other way is to remove the drug being injected into his body. His ability to move despite fatal wounds must be due to that drug.”
“Injected drug? But he’s bleeding congealed blood, not liquid.”
“The Bound Asura is like a legend passed down for ages. I don’t know how they succeeded, but…” Trailing off, she shook her head again. “They must have a device somewhere to inject the drug.”
“I see.” Having heard the explanation, Yoo Hwaryeong drew his sword with a grim expression.
All he could do now was fight with his life on the line. He had to create even the slightest opening for Bu Eunseol to sever Gu Juhon’s head.
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol’s body was becoming drenched in blood.
In terms of skill, Gu Juhon’s abilities couldn’t match Bu Eunseol, who had entered the Heavenly Realm. But reborn as a Bound Asura, he possessed unnatural strength, energy, and a tenacious life force that allowed him to survive a pierced heart.
For Bu Eunseol, it was like facing an unkillable monster relentlessly attacking him.
‘A Bound Asura.’ Bu Eunseol overheard the conversation between Yoo Hwaryeong and Jongri Sayu.
A being that could move as if unharmed despite fatal wounds. To stop this demonic creature, he needed to either sever its head or remove the drug sustaining its body.
‘It must be hidden somewhere in his body.’
Whoosh!
Raising his Beastly Way to its peak, a white light glowed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Void Heart-Sensing Command.
By tracing the energy emanating from Gu Juhon with each clash of weapons, he aimed to glimpse his emotions and psyche.
Zing. Zing.
With each clash, subtle emotions flowed into Bu Eunseol’s mind.
‘So that’s it.’ Amid the onslaught of the Blood Chain Sword, Bu Eunseol sensed a thread of bitter sorrow.
Gu Juhon was a natural martial arts prodigy but never received proper training.
By chance, he encountered the chain sickle, transforming it into the Blood Chain Sword with his unique methods. Yet, because he wielded a weapon considered bizarre even in Dongying (*probably Japan here), he was scorned by the martial world.
Moreover, without timely training in internal energy techniques, his internal energy remained shallow compared to his martial skills.
‘That’s why he ended up here, to resolve his resentment.’ Tracing just a strand of energy, Bu Eunseol vividly saw Gu Juhon’s life flash through his mind.
“Grrrroar!” Gu Juhon, swinging the Blood Chain Sword, let out a ferocious roar.
It was the anguished cry of a martial artist who failed to become a master due to lack of proper guidance.
Pop!
Retreating swiftly, Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“That doesn’t justify choosing such a crooked path.”
Clank.
Sheathing his dark sword, he said coldly, “You should have walked your own path, heedless of others’ gazes.”
“Graaah!” Gu Juhon, emitting a guttural growl, gripped the Blood Chain Sword and radiated a white, murderous aura.
His demeanor seemed to scream, ‘What would you know, you wretch!’
Bu Eunseol looked at him impassively and said coldly, “Now, I’ll prove you were wrong.”
“Urrr!” Enraged, Gu Juhon roared again and swung the Blood Chain Sword.
With full force, his movements were invisible. Even the trajectory of the Blood Chain Sword was undetectable.
Snap!
Then, something extraordinary happened.
From Bu Eunseol’s left hand, golden ripples formed a net-like light.
Thud.
The vanished Blood Chain Sword was now halted in Bu Eunseol’s palm.
The Wishful True Binding.
A peerless technique that could shape energy into any desired form. Using it, he had caught the invisible Blood Chain Sword barehanded.
Shing!
With a low sword hum, Bu Eunseol drew his dark sword. He struck the blade of the Blood Chain Sword in his grasp with full force.
Crack!
Instead of a metallic clang, a grotesque tearing sound echoed as the sword split. From the shattered blade, a thick, dark green liquid sprayed like a fountain.
“Arghhh!” As the liquid gushed out, Gu Juhon writhed in agony, screaming.
The Bound Asura.
The mysterious liquid sustaining his dead body’s life force was hidden within the Blood Chain Sword itself.
“Unable to abandon your obsession with your weapon even as a Bound Asura—how could you ever progress?”
Through Void Heart-Sensing Command, Bu Eunseol had deduced that Gu Juhon’s vital essence was concealed in the sword. Using the Wishful True Binding, he had grabbed and shattered it in one strike.
Thud.
As the vital essence drained, Gu Juhon collapsed to his knees, exhausted.
“Are you alright?” Yoo Hwaryeong, who had been ready to risk his life to aid Bu Eunseol, approached with a mix of joy and astonishment as Bu Eunseol subdued Gu Juhon by destroying the Blood Chain Sword. “You’re… incredible. How did you know the drug was in his weapon?”
“I found a clue from your conversation.”
“You heard us while fighting so fiercely?” As Yoo Hwaryeong gaped in amazement,
“Ahh.” A human groan came from Gu Juhon, kneeling on the ground. With his vital essence drained, his body was dying, but he seemed to have regained a clear mind.
“You’re right.” Leaning against the wall, Gu Juhon looked straight at Bu Eunseol. “I gained fame through my weapon, so I couldn’t help but cling to it.”
A bitter smile crossed his bloodied lips.
“But I lacked the courage to let it go… and start anew.” Astonishingly, Gu Juhon had heard everything Bu Eunseol said. “Whether fame is high or low, a martial artist’s final resting place is the cold earth…”
With a faint smile, blood began to trickle from his eyes.
“If I had strived without regret each day, death wouldn’t feel so empty…” Gu Juhon closed his eyes.
As if his past regrets melted away, a single clear tear rolled down his cheek.
A prodigy who shook the martial world with the Blood Chain Sword but suffered for failing to achieve the fame he desired. Instead of starting anew, he chose a shortcut through crooked means.
And now, he faced a resentful end.
Crunch.
Bu Eunseol clenched his fist, staring into the darkened tunnel.
Up above, they were likely still experimenting on martial artists like Gu Juhon, consumed by resentment or ambition. Unless this place was destroyed, more like him would be created.
Thud, thud.
Without looking back, Bu Eunseol walked past Gu Juhon into the darkness.
Ssss.
A haze-like energy began to rise from his body as he moved. He was recovering his energy with each step.
“Let’s go together.” Yoo Hwaryeong, snapping out of his daze, hurriedly followed, and Jongri Sayu, who had been standing blankly, rushed after them.
Outside, the underground facility was collapsing.
Upon detecting Bu Eunseol’s group, they had begun destroying the facility without hesitation. As they exited, a rumbling sound shook the ground.
“If we had been a moment late…” Yoo Hwaryeong muttered.
Jongri Sayu nodded. “We’d have been buried alive.”
Flutter.
Bu Eunseol, closely inspecting the ground, suddenly dashed forward with qinggong.
Tap! Swoosh!
Using Swift Beyond Shadow, he sped through the forest, crossing several mountains in an instant. After running for about an hour, he spotted dozens of warriors carrying boxes, fleeing through a reed field.
They all wore Eastern Division uniforms.
Shwaak!
Seeing them, Bu Eunseol unleashed a sword strike without hesitation.
“Argh!” With screams, two officials’ heads fell to the ground.
Several boxes within the sword’s range shattered, and books spilled out. Their pristine condition suggested they recorded the underground facility’s experiments.
“Ambush!” As the officials scattered to evade the raining sword energy, a masked middle-aged man stepped forward.
“You all go ahead.” He slowly drew his sword, saying, “I’ll handle this one.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Astonishingly, this man’s scabbard also bore traces of Radiant Sword Control.
‘What’s going on?’ As Bu Eunseol hesitated, the middle-aged man attacked first.
Shwaak! Ssak!
He wielded his sword while simultaneously launching sharp claw techniques with his left hand, targeting Bu Eunseol’s vital points.
Shing!
Bu Eunseol countered with the Supreme Heavenly Flow.
Clang!
As the weapons clashed in mid-air, a sharp claw shadow grazed Bu Eunseol’s chest.
Ching! Pop, pop!
In a brief moment, they exchanged over a dozen strikes.
The man’s skill was impressive, but there was a significant gap compared to Bu Eunseol. The reason he could hold his own was singular.
His swordsmanship shocked Bu Eunseol.
‘Orthodox?’ Astonishingly, the man’s sword techniques were derived from the orthodox Mount Hua Swordsmanship.
‘Orthodox after all.’ The assassins of Sahyang had also used modified orthodox swordsmanship as their vacuum techniques. And now these people…
Pop!
Lost in thought, Bu Eunseol narrowly dodged a hidden dagger thrown by the man, which grazed his mask.
“Impressive martial arts,” the man muttered. “You won’t survive.”
His voice and eyes suggested a seasoned veteran who had weathered countless storms. Even if subdued and tortured, he would reveal nothing.
Chik, chik, chik!
Resolving himself, Bu Eunseol unleashed a barrage of arrow-like sword strikes. The man dodged casually and countered, but that was his final move in this world.
Shwa, shwa, shwa!
With sharp sounds, the sword energy that grazed the man returned, striking his body.
The fourth technique of the Supreme Heavenly Flow, Caged Bird Yearning for Clouds.
Its intricate technique was unleashed.
Pop, pop, pop!
Dozens of sword energies pierced his vital points, and the man collapsed to his knees.
But it wasn’t over.
Shwaak!
With a slight delay, a single sharp sword energy, like a low-flying hawk, sliced through his neck.
Thud.
A red line appeared on his neck, and his head fell to the ground.
Shwoop!
Bu Eunseol flicked his finger lightly.
The mask flew off, revealing the face beneath. A typical military official’s face with short eyebrows and a hooked nose.
Shwiik!
Bending his palm to use Void Grasp, Bu Eunseol caught the man’s iron scabbard.
‘Imitating Radiant Sword Control?’ The marks on the scabbard were a meticulous imitation of Seok Song’s Radiant Sword Control.
“They didn’t know it was a defensive sword technique, so they left such marks.”
The culprit was unaware that the Radiant Sword Control marks reacted to killing intent as a defensive technique. They had perfectly mimicked Seok Song’s marks but failed to capture the sword’s intent.
Instead, the marks resembled offensive techniques.
‘They deliberately left marks on the scabbard to use it against me.’ The culprit was not only highly skilled but also extremely confident.
They had intentionally left marks on the scabbards of multiple Eastern Division officials. This suggested they were either the Eastern Division Admiral or someone of higher status.
‘Or it could be a trap.’ Not only had they built a facility deep underground, but they also used martial artists like Gu Juhon as test subjects.
This implied connections to the martial world’s top figures.
‘They might have used the Eastern Division to hide their identity.’ Skilled spies often used their allies’ identities to conceal their own. The only certainty was that the culprit who annihilated the Thousand Swords Society’s ten masters was colluding with the government.
Flutter!
Yoo Hwaryeong and Jongri Sayu arrived amid the sound of rushing air.
Seeing the fallen official and the scabbard in Bu Eunseol’s hand, Yoo Hwaryeong cheered and rushed over.
“You did it!”
“He’s not the one.”
“What?”
“Look closely. The marks are different.” Bu Eunseol handed the scabbard to Yoo Hwaryeong.
Examining it, he shook his head. “Honestly, I can’t tell. They look the same as my master’s marks.”
Lacking killing intent, Yoo Hwaryeong hadn’t mastered the Radiant Sword Control or the Storm Harmony Secret. Thus, he couldn’t comprehend the sword intent of Weak Overcoming Strong, Sensing Killing Intent, Adapting to Control, or Acting Without Flow.
“They’re not the same. They likely etched subtle marks on the swords of all Eastern Division officials, or those related to them.”
“How is that possible?”
“They’re likely the Eastern Division Admiral, someone of higher status, or a top martial artist with close ties to them.”
Yoo Hwaryeong felt his vision darken.
The culprit who annihilated the Thousand Swords Society held such a high position.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find them,” Bu Eunseol said calmly, looking at Yoo Hwaryeong. “Even if not now, we’ll cross paths eventually. I’ll track them down.”
Yoo Hwaryeong’s hands trembled with emotion.
Bu Eunseol could have claimed this man was the culprit, as Yoo Hwaryeong couldn’t verify it. Yet, knowing the culprit was tied to the government’s elite, Bu Eunseol was willingly fulfilling his promise.
“But you’re soon to become the heir of Majeon,” Yoo Hwaryeong said.
“It doesn’t matter.” Looking at Yoo Hwaryeong, Bu Eunseol said firmly, “I’ll find them and keep my promise. Return in peace.”
Bu Eunseol sensed it.
The mysterious forces he’d encountered were linked to the culprits who destroyed the Thousand Swords Society’s ten masters. Even without Yoo Hwaryeong’s promise, he had to find them.
“Thank you.” Yoo Hwaryeong bowed deeply, then said resolutely, “But this is enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“You… risked your life to fulfill our sect’s promise. How could I ask for more?”
Yoo Hwaryeong was a noble man of chivalry.
Bu Eunseol had chased a Eastern Division official and dealt with him, doing more than enough. He didn’t want Bu Eunseol to face further danger under the guise of a promise.
‘A good man.’ Most prioritize their own interests and readily accept help.
Especially for a master’s revenge, they’d be even more so. But Yoo Hwaryeong valued Bu Eunseol’s safety above the promise.
‘As long as such people exist, the martial world isn’t entirely corrupt.’ Demonic practitioners moved by power and interest, while most orthodox practitioners were selfish.
Good people were rare, but some, like Yoo Hwaryeong, knew righteousness and chivalry. Perhaps that’s why Bu Eunseol, who viewed the martial world cynically, still retained human emotions in his journey.
Flutter.
Jongri Sayu, arriving late, gasped upon seeing the middle-aged man’s face.
“Bang Daeyun?”
“You know him?” Yoo Hwaryeong asked.
She nodded. “He’s the head of the intelligence network in this region for the Eastern Division.”
The Eastern Division oversaw everything, even monitoring vegetable prices and their allies, the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They placed intelligence networks across regions, managed by heads like Bang Daeyun, whom Bu Eunseol had killed.
“I see,” Yoo Hwaryeong said gravely, nodding.
Thud.
Suddenly, the cloth covering Bu Eunseol’s face fell, loosened by Bang Daeyun’s dagger. Under the moonlight, Bu Eunseol’s stunning features were revealed.
“Oh?” Jongri Sayu froze, her eyes wide.
Bu Eunseol’s beauty was as shocking as his martial prowess.
‘How can a person… look like that?’ Seeing his face reflected in the moonlight, her heart swelled as if hearing a poignant melody.
“Brother Yoo, until we meet again.”
With Jwa Dae-Baek, the Blood Martial Corps leader, soon returning to Majeon, Bu Eunseol would also return to lead the Shadow Corps and join the Blood Martial Corps to annihilate the Black Alliance.
Nod.
As Yoo Hwaryeong nodded firmly, Bu Eunseol’s form vanished into the night sky.
Jongri Sayu, standing dazed, snapped out of it moments later.
“Who… is that man?” Turning, she gasped.
Yoo Hwaryeong had quietly left as well.
“Thousand Swords Society…” Jongri Sayu murmured as if waking from a dream.
She had much to do—track the forces her Needle King clan pursued and master the Needle King’s Secret Arts.
And she added one more goal to her heart.
“I’ll definitely…”
She vowed to find that handsome young man from the Thousand Swords Society.
