Hong Hyeon.
He was the disciple of the former Shaolin leader, the most senior figure in the righteous martial world, revered as a living Buddha. Moreover, it was said that he had mastered the Muscle-changing Sutra to a divine level, maintaining the youthful vigor of an immortal despite being over two hundred years old.
The Three Demons and Three Venerables.
Excluding the Twin Heavenly Emperors, he was one of the Three Venerables, a living legend who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts.
The Buddha Venerable, Master Hong Hyeon.
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s nothing.” Bu Eunseol shook his head.
Yet, the words of the old monk from the previous night echoed loudly in his ears.
‘When a crisis comes, be an unshakable pillar. No matter where you stand.’
The monk’s request was not to protect the righteous martial world.
It was to stand as a pillar in the place where Bu Eunseol stood when a crisis befell the martial world.
‘Could he have seen through my true identity?’ From Bu Eunseol’s perspective, keeping the promise made to Master Hong Hyeon was not particularly difficult.
‘No matter where you stand…’ It was as if the monk had considered Bu Eunseol’s position. A promise that favored him without imposing any burden.
Bu Eunseol was the successor of Majeon.
If the martial world truly faced a crisis?
As Majeon’s successor, he could become the pillar of the martial world.
At that moment, Jong Jeongyak spoke again.
“Young Master Seol, we’ll likely be late today as well, sorting through documents.”
With the Ten Righteous Conference approaching, Jong Jeongyak and Neung Joun were busy compiling evidence of Danri Muk’s misconduct. Since they hadn’t found decisive proof yet, they needed to make the Hall Leaders suspicious of his actions as much as possible.
“Soon, the Ten Righteous Conference will be held. Please bear with the inconvenience until then.” Bu Eunseol nodded.
“No need to worry about me. Take care of your business.”
Night fell once more.
Slipping out of the quarters stealthily, Bu Eunseol employed his movement technique to head toward the northern gate’s outskirts. He intended to investigate the abandoned warehouse he hadn’t fully explored before.
Whoosh.
This time, he used his movement technique to enter quickly. Evading the guards patrolling the area, he stealthily passed between buildings and finally arrived inside the abandoned warehouse.
‘As expected, someone entered.’
Using his Mind-Piercing Technique, he examined the blue stone tiles and saw fresh footprints clearly imprinted. It seemed that, with no further signs of intrusion, someone had returned, feeling safe.
Grind, grind.
Cautiously entering, Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow deeply.
He had expected to find elixirs, poisons, or hidden weapons of the Sahyang Clan. Instead, the shelves were lined with expensive luminous pearls and promissory notes—mere valuables.
‘I don’t understand.’
If Danri Muk was embezzling money for personal gain, he would have stored it in his private quarters or a secret location. Why, then, would he keep such vast wealth in this abandoned warehouse, a place even low-ranking warriors could freely enter?
‘Could it be…’
As Bu Eunseol’s mind raced,
Creak, creak.
The sound of the door opening echoed, and five shadowed figures entered.
They all wore masks, but Bu Eunseol could tell from their builds that they were the Law Enforcement Hall warriors who had provoked him earlier.
“Damn, what a hassle every time.”
Each held a cloth bundle in their hands. Glancing around, they inspected an empty shelf and placed their bundles on it. The clinking sound suggested that the bundles contained valuable jewels or money.
“Done. Let’s go.”
“My body’s aching. I could use a drink before bed.” Muttering quietly to one another, they left the secret warehouse.
Observing them from the shadows, Bu Eunseol nodded faintly. He finally understood the situation.
‘They’re using this secret warehouse like an escort agency.’
The abandoned warehouse was a place anyone in the Martial Alliance could enter without restriction. In other words, because anyone could come and go, it was easy to deposit or retrieve items.
‘I can catch their tail.’ Since they had left money here, someone would soon come to collect it.
Hiding his presence in the darkness, Bu Eunseol patiently waited.
How much time had passed?
Creak, creak.
The sound of the mechanism moving echoed again as the secret warehouse’s door opened.
Two men, dressed in Martial Alliance uniforms, entered.
‘They’re not Martial Alliance warriors.’ Bu Eunseol instinctively knew. Though they wore the uniforms of low-ranking warriors, their gait and aura approached the Supreme Heavenly Realm.
“Hmm.” The two inspected the bundles left by the Law Enforcement Hall warriors, then tucked them into their robes.
As if nothing had happened, they exited the secret warehouse.
‘I need to follow them.’ Bu Eunseol stealthily trailed the two men.
Emerging outside, they walked for a while and stopped in front of a building near the northern gate. It was a common lodging used by merchants or outsiders visiting the Martial Alliance. Entering the lodging, they changed clothes with practiced ease. Now dressed as merchants, they passed the guards at the northern gate and left the Martial Alliance.
‘They’re skilled. This isn’t their first time.’ Following them, Bu Eunseol was questioned by a guard at the northern gate.
“Where are you headed?”
“Just going for a drink nearby.”
“I see. Please write your name here before leaving.” Bu Eunseol swiftly scribbled his name.
Meanwhile, the two men who had left the Martial Alliance immediately employed their lightness skills.
Bu Eunseol followed them discreetly.
Whoosh. Thud.
The two quickly passed through the village. Judging by their speed and direction, they weren’t heading to a rendezvous but to another city.
‘I have no choice.’ Bu Eunseol had to return to the Martial Alliance by tonight.
He couldn’t blindly chase them to their destination. Making up his mind, he doubled his movement technique’s speed, overtaking them and blocking their path.
“Stop.” The two men, startled, landed on the ground.
“…” After staring at Bu Eunseol’s appearance for a moment, they exchanged glances and nodded. Without hesitation, they split to the left and right, suddenly thrusting out their palms.
Boom!
Their martial arts were highly unusual.
The man on the left extended both palms toward Bu Eunseol, while the one on the right assumed a defensive stance, as if preparing to absorb an attack.
Crash!
At the same time, an incomprehensible, immense force slammed into Bu Eunseol’s body.
It felt as though an invisible hammer had struck him.
Whoosh.
As dust rose around them, the two men smirked triumphantly.
“This isn’t a martial art of the Central Plains.”
Tap, tap.
As the dust settled, Bu Eunseol casually brushed off his clothes, and the two men’s eyes widened in shock.
“Its power matches its bizarre form.” Looking at the torn fabric on his chest, Bu Eunseol nodded. “An ordinary master would have had their chest crushed by that single move.”
Crack!
The startled pair attempted to unleash their dual palm strikes again.
But their movements froze.
Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol had vanished from their sight.
Boom! Boom!
With two explosive sounds, the men collapsed forward unceremoniously. Bu Eunseol, having moved behind them in an instant, had struck each with a single fist.
“Urgh.” The two spat out black blood, writhing in pain as if their insides were twisting.
It seemed like a light strike, but it felt as though they had been hit by a house-sized boulder. Moreover, the inner energy in the strike was so powerful that their protective energy shattered instantly, leaving them with significant internal injuries.
“Who are you?” Hearing their voices, Bu Eunseol’s brow furrowed slightly.
Though they spoke fluent Chinese, there was a distinct, peculiar accent mixed in.
“I’m the one asking questions.” Raising his energy, Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“Where are you from?”
The two glared at Bu Eunseol with venomous eyes.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, their figures vanished from sight. But Bu Eunseol’s heightened senses had already locked onto their positions as they leaped into the air.
“Die!” The two simultaneously thrust out their dual palm strikes.
The ground where Bu Eunseol stood split open, and a storm-like palm force rained down like a torrent.
‘Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm?’
Their palm technique faintly resembled the Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm that Master Hong Hyeon had used. In that moment, Bu Eunseol instinctively raised his Martial Emperor’s ultimate technique and unleashed the Thirteen Guiding Energies.
Originally, he intended to use the Peak Realm Single Fist with his left hand and the Autumn Mountain Immortal Steps with his legs.
But the enlightenment imparted by the Buddha Venerable flashed through his mind.
‘With one martial art, create another anew…’
All phenomena are impermanent.
Everything flows and changes, never remaining in one form.
Like the natural law of creation and destruction, must a martial art’s technique be fixed in one form?
Flash!
With newfound enlightenment, Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed as he thrust out his fist.
It seemed like a simple punch, but it contained the transformations of both the Peak Realm Single Fist and the Autumn Mountain Immortal Steps in a single strike.
Crack!
A massive, crescent-shaped force surged from his left shoulder.
Whoosh!
It obliterated the incoming palm force entirely. Then, it carved a red line across the necks of the two men floating in midair, sending them flying far into the night sky.
Thud. Spurt!
As they landed, blood gushed from their necks like a fountain.
“A Martial God…”
With a brief exclamation, they collapsed with a thud, dead. Despite unleashing tremendous palm force, they couldn’t withstand the single thread of energy Bu Eunseol had released.
“Hmm.” Bu Eunseol looked surprised at the unexpected power.
He had only intended to deflect their palm force lightly… Why had such an immense force erupted?
‘The Thirteen Guiding Energies holds such power.’
Only then did Bu Eunseol understand why the Martial Emperor, despite using simple bare-handed techniques, had dominated the world. Unlike Yeop Hyocheon, who used different body parts for his techniques, the Martial Emperor layered thirteen martial arts into a single strike.
‘The Martial Emperor, like the Buddha Venerable, reached a realm where he could transform the principles of martial arts.’
Bu Eunseol finally grasped the essence of the Thirteen Guiding Energies left by the Martial Emperor. Not only could it unleash overwhelming force surpassing the sharpness of divine weapons, but its perfect balance of offense and defense eliminated the need to guard against counterattacks.
This was the Martial Emperor’s unique martial art, the Thirteen Guiding Energies.
‘If I had only mastered righteous martial arts, I would have thought the Martial Emperor’s techniques were the pinnacle.’ Within Bu Eunseol’s spirit, the insights of the greatest masters of both righteous and demonic paths coexisted. Thus, he wasn’t fixated on the ultimate realms of either demonic or righteous martial arts.
His goal was to unite both paths and reach a new realm.
‘Someday, I will achieve it.’
But now wasn’t the time to delve deeply into martial arts theory. Taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol began thoroughly searching the two men’s bodies.
‘Masters from beyond the Central Plains?’
The inner energy methods of those from beyond the Central Plains primarily used the upper dantian, not accumulating vast true energy in the lower dantian. In retrospect, there were no signs typical of inner energy use—no dilated pupils or accelerated blood flow.
“They boosted their power with drugs like Human Harmony.” Their prowess hadn’t reached the Supreme Heavenly Realm. They had merely amplified their strength significantly with special drugs.
“They don’t seem to be Han Chinese. Where did they come from?”
No matter how closely he examined their martial arts, clothing, or belongings, there were no clues. Even the bizarre palm technique they used was something Bu Eunseol had never seen before.
“No choice, then.” Smacking his lips, Bu Eunseol stood up.
Even if he couldn’t find clues from them, there was still a lead.
The Ten Righteous Conference was approaching.
If Danri Muk’s true nature was fully exposed, their identities might also come to light.
“It’s just a matter of following the steps.” Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
Though Jong Jeongyak was an exceptional martial artist, it was unlikely she’d find conclusive evidence to fully ensnare Danri Muk. From the start, Bu Eunseol had resolved to find direct evidence of Danri Muk’s misconduct himself.
Because this investigation into the Martial Alliance wasn’t just about uncovering ties to the Sahyang Clan—it had another purpose.
***
A few days later.
Bu Eunseol, along with Jong Jeongyak, headed to a place marked with a plaque reading Inspection Hall.
The Ten Righteous Conference was finally being held.
Upon entering, seven people were seated at a table inside the Inspection Hall.
They were the Inspection Hall Leader, the Secret Flower Garden Master, and five other Hall Leaders summoned for the conference.
Standing prominently before them was a middle-aged man in a white martial uniform. He sported a well-groomed beard and had an imposing presence. But his eyes were narrow and elongated, giving a slightly sinister impression.
It was none other than Danri Muk, the Deputy Leader of the Law Enforcement Hall.
“Everyone is here.” The Inspection Hall Leader, Jeong Jiryong, seated in the center, nodded and spoke.
“Then, let us begin the Ten Righteous Conference.”
Looking down at the papers on the table, he asked Jong Jeongyak, “Is everything written here true?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have evidence to prove it?”
Pointing to Bu Eunseol, Jong Jeongyak said, “Regarding that, Young Master Seol, a mercenary from the Red Sky Veil, will testify.”
Bu Eunseol stepped forward, clasping his hands.
“I am Seolso, a mercenary from the Red Sky Veil.”
“Hmm.” Perhaps having heard all about Bu Eunseol’s background, Jeong Jiryong spoke in a low voice. “Tell us everything you witnessed.”
Nodding, Bu Eunseol detailed everything—from the events at the Woo River Escort Agency to those in Milmilsi and the Song Family Estate.
Jeong Jiryong then turned to Danri Muk. “Do you have anything to say?”
“Young Master Seol, as a mercenary, you must have come here for money.”
“That’s correct.”
“How much were you paid?”
“By contract, I cannot disclose that to others.”
Danri Muk smiled thinly.
“As an elite-grade mercenary, you must have been paid at least ten thousand taels, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Then how can we trust the testimony of a mercenary swayed by money?” Casting a cold glance at Bu Eunseol, Danri Muk continued, “If I had offered you more money, wouldn’t you have given a different testimony?”
“That’s possible.”
“You’re honest, I’ll give you that.” Turning to Jeong Jiryong, Danri Muk said, “This deputy leader has served the Martial Alliance for twenty years.”
Then, looking at Jong Jeongyak with a sigh, he added, “And I supported the policy of selecting talented young individuals to let them shine, as per the Law Enforcement Officer’s directives. But this is the treatment I receive in return.”
As expected of the Deputy Leader of the Law Enforcement Hall.
His voice carried strong persuasiveness, his logic sound and unforced.
‘Damn, this is bad.’
Watching from a distance, Neung Joun swallowed hard.
If the conference ended like this, not only would Danri Muk avoid investigation, but Jong Jeongyak might have to relinquish her position as Law Enforcement Officer.
“Do you have any other evidence?” Jeong Jiryong asked, turning to Jong Jeongyak.
Confidently stepping forward, she presented a ledger.
“Of course.” She hadn’t merely waited for the Ten Righteous Conference since entering the Martial Alliance.
She had deliberately spread rumors of the conference and brought a witness to provoke Danri Muk into destroying evidence. With the Secret Flower Garden Master’s help, she had secured proof that Law Enforcement Hall warriors, under Danri Muk’s orders, had embezzled funds.
“This is evidence that the Deputy Leader has been siphoning off the Alliance’s assets.” Jeong Jiryong took the ledger Jong Jeongyak handed him.
Watching this, Danri Muk let out a scoff.
“Law Enforcement Officer, does that ledger prove I did anything?”
“What do you mean?”
“It likely shows that Law Enforcement Hall warriors embezzled money, doesn’t it?” Astonishingly, Danri Muk seemed to know exactly what evidence Jong Jeongyak had submitted.
“Are you saying they didn’t act on your orders?”
“Absolutely not.” Danri Muk’s eyes, fixed on Jong Jeongyak, brimmed with confidence. “It was their misconduct. If I were embezzling, I’d take the money myself. Why would I use subordinates?”
Watching this, Bu Eunseol nodded faintly.
He finally understood why Danri Muk hadn’t stored the money in his personal quarters or a private warehouse but in a secret mechanism in the abandoned warehouse. It was not only for convenient transactions but also to make it easier to deflect blame if discovered.
“I admit I failed to manage my subordinates properly,” Danri Muk said, looking at Jeong Jiryong with an aggrieved expression. “But to say that’s evidence of my involvement…”
“Here is that evidence.” At that moment, Bu Eunseol pulled several letters from his robe. “These contain proof that the Deputy Leader of the Law Enforcement Hall gave the orders.”
“What? What nonsense is that?” Ignoring Danri Muk’s outburst, Bu Eunseol handed the letters to Jong Jeongyak.
“These are the documents you asked me to find, Law Enforcement Officer. I happened to discover them in the abandoned warehouse.”
Jong Jeongyak blinked in confusion.
She couldn’t comprehend what Bu Eunseol was talking about.
“What do you—”
“Take them. Helping you was part of the additional contract.”
Hearing Bu Eunseol’s telepathic message, Jong Jeongyak was stunned. But as she scanned the documents he handed her, her expression turned to shock.
She immediately passed them to Jeong Jiryong, the Inspection Hall Leader.
Murmur, murmur.
Jeong Jiryong and the Hall Leaders’ expressions hardened as they examined the documents.
The papers clearly detailed, in Danri Muk’s own handwriting, how he had embezzled funds and instructed his subordinates to store the money in the abandoned warehouse.
‘That bastard…’ As Danri Muk glared at Bu Eunseol with bloodshot eyes,
Smirk.
Bu Eunseol flashed a faint smile, revealing white teeth.
Though disguised, his smile carried an air of refined elegance.
To Danri Muk, however, it looked like the sinister grin of a water demon dragging someone to hell.
