Seo Jinha was swiftly employing his movement technique.
Until now, he had been masquerading as Seon Woojin, leaving a continuous trail as the leader of the Supreme Corps in the martial world.
Then, he suddenly heard that Bu Eunseol had gone missing.
Unlike Yoo Unryong, who was tormented by guilt and self-blame, Seo Jinha wasn’t particularly worried.
Bu Eunseol was a genius.
A man like him would never die in vain, for he carried too many responsibilities on his shoulders.
For that reason, when Bu Eunseol safely returned, obliterated Daeyun Forest and Hell’s Blood Fortress, and summoned him to a secret hideout in Henan, Seo Jinha wasn’t surprised.
Creak.
Upon entering the hideout, he saw a man with deep, soul-piercing eyes.
However, his usual drab gray robes gave off a lonely, distant aura.
It was none other than Bu Eunseol.
“You’re back.” Seo Jinha smiled, spreading his arms wide.
Though his mind had thought he wasn’t worried, his body seemed to disagree.
He impulsively pulled his friend into a tight embrace.
“You went through a lot.”
“A lot? You had it harder.”
After savoring the joy of their reunion, Seo Jinha asked with a serious expression, “It was Protector Hyeok, wasn’t it? They say he’s a key figure in the Three Realms.”
Seo Jinha had heard through the Death Spirit Corps that Hyeok Ryeon-eung had attacked Bu Eunseol, causing him to lose his memories and live as a beggar.
“That’s how it turned out.”
“The martial world is such a mess. To think even the leaders of both righteous and demonic factions are spies for the Three Realms,” Seo Jinha said, sighing and shaking his head. “Why not just announce everything and hunt them down with the Demon Emperor?”
The Three Realms’ influence remained largely unknown.
Seo Jinha believed it would be better to leverage Majeon’s power rather than let Bu Eunseol fight them alone.
“I considered that,” Bu Eunseol said, shaking his head as he recalled Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon’s deep, dark gaze. “But aside from Hyeok Ryeon-eung, we still haven’t uncovered any key figures or core factions of the Three Realms. If we proclaim that spies are embedded in both righteous and demonic leadership without solid evidence, it’ll only cause chaos.”
“Hmm.” Seo Jinha nodded, letting out a low groan.
The Three Realms manipulated various figures and factions but never appeared openly. Their true intentions remained unknown.
In such a situation, mobilizing Majeon would yield nothing.
‘Perhaps chaos is exactly what they want.’
As Seo Jinha shook his head, Bu Eunseol asked, “Did the Martial Alliance issue an order?”
“Oh.” As if just remembering, Seo Jinha nodded. “Yes, I sent a messenger pigeon to Yoo Unryong.”
Only Yoo Unryong knew of Seo Jinha’s existence as a shadow.
“The Martial Alliance ordered your return.”
The reason Seo Jinha summoned Bu Eunseol was that the Martial Alliance had suddenly ordered Seon Woojin, who was gathering information on the Three Poison Sect while roaming the martial world, to return to the alliance.
“According to the Supreme Corps’ intelligence, it’s related to Yeolha Holy Palace.”
“Yeolha Holy Palace?” Bu Eunseol stroked his chin.
As the leader of the Supreme Corps, his first mission had been to investigate the theft of the Fire Ring Crystal, uncovering Elder Gwang Yangja’s misdeeds. He had returned the Fire Ring Crystal to Yeolha Holy Palace, which expressed gratitude to both the Martial Alliance and Bu Eunseol, providing ample rewards.
So why was Yeolha Holy Palace being mentioned again?
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it feels like you should go instead of me,” Seo Jinha said.
“Well done.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
Unless it was an urgent situation, it was best for him to take on Seon Woojin’s role.
The Martial Alliance was a den of tigers and dragons, too perilous for him to let his guard down.
“Here.” Seo Jinha handed over an envelope from his robes. “This contains the activities I’ve carried out and the intelligence from the Supreme Corps. Read it before heading to the Martial Alliance.”
Bu Eunseol carefully read the letter and burned it with his Three True Flames.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Hard? Not really.”
“Now, let’s switch identities.”
Crack.
Seo Jinha used the Face and Bone Shifting Art Technique to transform his appearance back to Bu Eunseol’s.
His striking features, often praised as extraordinarily handsome, made it easy to mimic Bu Eunseol’s appearance without much difficulty. Moreover, he perfectly replicated Bu Eunseol’s lonely gaze, to the point that even the leaders of the Death Shadow Corps couldn’t tell them apart if he changed clothes.
“Unless there’s something urgent, don’t return to Majeon. Lead the Death Shadow Corps or roam the martial world. The details are in here.” Bu Eunseol handed over an envelope.
It contained detailed instructions on what Seo Jinha should do as the Martial Soul Command Lord in the martial world.
“You don’t have to handle everything in there. The important thing is to leave a trail as the Martial Soul Command Lord.”
“What’s that?” Seo Jinha asked, pointing to a large chest on the table.
“Oh.” As if just remembering, Bu Eunseol opened the chest.
Click.
Inside was an ordinary iron sword.
“What’s with the sword?”
“It’s the Ice Soul Sword,” Bu Eunseol said, handing the iron sword to Seo Jinha. “It was bestowed by the Demon Emperor, but it developed a crack, so I sent it for repairs.”
Bu Eunseol had entrusted the sword’s repair to Master Wang Geol, with specific instructions:
‘Make its appearance plain and remove its distinctive white glow.’
Wang Geol had responded in disbelief:
‘If that’s the case, just get a new sword.’
But Bu Eunseol insisted on repairing it—not because it was a gift from the Emperor, but because the Ice Soul Sword felt right in his hand.
Finding a sword that suited one’s hand was no easy task in the martial world.
“Master Wang mixed black steel and kun jade to remove the glow. However…”
Zing.
When Bu Eunseol infused energy into the Ice Soul Sword, a brilliant white glow emanated from its dark blade.
“He said this couldn’t be helped.”
Seo Jinha nodded. “So, the Ice Soul Sword will be the Martial Soul Command Lord’s cherished weapon from now on.”
“How’s your Frost White Divine Art?”
“I’ve reached the third level.”
To make Seo Jinha a perfect double, Bu Eunseol had taught him the Frost White Divine Art.
The Heavenly Glacial Secret was the core martial art of the North Sea Ice Palace, which Seo Jinha couldn’t learn, so Bu Eunseol taught him the Frost White Divine Art instead.
Though he couldn’t wield yin-yang energy like Bu Eunseol, Seo Jinha could use both the lower and upper dantian, making it easy to learn another extreme yin technique.
“Then you should be able to wield it.” Bu Eunseol gazed at the Ice Soul Sword. “Since the Ice Soul Sword constantly emits extreme yin energy, prolonged use by someone untrained in ice techniques would harm their body.”
Having mastered the Heavenly Glacial Secret, the essence of extreme yin, Bu Eunseol could wield the Ice Soul Sword without harm, using its yin energy to execute even more powerful sword techniques.
“Oh, you should use this sword too.” Seo Jinha handed Bu Eunseol an iron sword from his waist.
“It’s an iron sword I bought from a forge. I figured Seon Woojin would need a sword too.”
“Well done.”
As the leader of the Supreme Corps, Seon Woojin handled various covert tasks in the martial world. To conceal his identity, Seo Jinha had purchased a plain, unremarkable iron sword.
“Another farewell for a while, huh?”
Bu Eunseol’s lips carried a trace of weariness and guilt.
Until he resolved everything and shed his dual identities, the two would have little time together.
“Farewell? Nonsense,” Seo Jinha said, forcing a bright expression.
“You are me, and I am you.”
He extended a hand.
“So, we’re always together.”
Bu Eunseol gave a faint, dry smile and firmly grasped Seo Jinha’s hand.
The Three Realms, an endless enemy.
The reason Bu Eunseol could continue fighting, relentlessly pursuing the unseen culprits, was because of a friend like Seo Jinha, who devoted his life to helping him.
***
Martial Alliance, Ascendant Martial Hall. Yuk Jangcheon’s office.
A letter lay on the table, and across from Yuk Jangcheon sat Bu Eunseol, disguised as Seon Woojin.
“The martial world’s been in an uproar lately, thanks to that Majeon heir,” Yuk Jangcheon said, sipping tea and shaking his head. “It’s caused quite a stir in the alliance.”
“Can’t the alliance control that madman’s rampage?” The madman in question, Majeon’s heir himself, shamelessly continued. “If he keeps stirring up the martial world like this, the factions under the alliance will lose momentum and shrink back.”
Yuk Jangcheon, pleased yet troubled by Bu Eunseol’s indignant tone, replied, “After thorough investigation, we found that the Jangbaek Merchant Guild not only funded Daeyun Forest’s puppets but also actively worked to cut off Affectionate Blossom Sect’s finances.”
“Hmm.”
“And the lord of Sword Scale Valley, once revered after switching from demonic to righteous, seems to have gone senile in his later years, leading puppets to attack Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.”
Shaking his head, Yuk Jangcheon continued, “It’s one of the Ten Demonic Sects. They attacked preemptively without a declaration of war, so the alliance can’t fault their retaliation.”
“Still, there must be someone behind it.”
“Indeed. But no matter how much we investigate, we can’t find their backers…”
Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes.
From Yuk Jangcheon’s response, it was clear he had no connection to the Three Realms.
This was both disappointing and fortunate.
If he were a Three Realms spy in the Martial Alliance, Bu Eunseol could have quickly caught their tail—but it would mean revising all his plans.
“We got sidetracked,” Yuk Jangcheon said, shaking his head and placing a letter on the table. “You’ve probably heard, but read it.”
“Did the lord of Yeolha Holy Palace really invite me?” Bu Eunseol asked, feigning confusion.
The letter stated that Hwa Jeong, the lord of Yeolha Holy Palace, had invited Seon Woojin, the benefactor who recovered the Fire Ring Crystal, to the palace.
“They already rewarded the alliance handsomely. I don’t understand why they’d invite me.”
In terms of seclusion, Yeolha Holy Palace was far more extreme than the North Sea Ice Palace.
Located on the remote island of Chukyung, it strictly prohibited outsiders. Even those close to the palace lord couldn’t enter without the elders’ and hall leaders’ consent, a bizarre rule they upheld.
Yet they invited a third-rank Martial Alliance leader?
This meant not only the palace lord but all elders and hall leaders wanted Bu Eunseol to come.
“The letter mentions a desire for friendship with the alliance, but…” Yuk Jangcheon said, stroking his chin as he looked at the letter. “It feels like there’s another motive. If they truly wanted friendship, they wouldn’t invite a third-rank leader.”
Yuk Jangcheon’s words were clear.
If Yeolha Holy Palace genuinely sought friendship, they would have invited someone with authority to negotiate, not a third-rank leader.
“If the letter didn’t mention wanting to hear the details of how you obtained the Fire Ring Crystal, I’d have doubted the invitation itself.”
The Fire Ring Crystal, a treasure of Yeolha Holy Palace said to contain primordial heat.
Bu Eunseol had returned the crystal taken by Gwang Yangja without issue.
So what was the problem?
“I simply recovered the Fire Ring Crystal from Gwang Yangja and returned it,” Bu Eunseol said.
“They don’t seem to take issue with that. They just want to hear the details, which is why the alliance ordered you to accept the invitation.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression turned puzzled.
If the alliance had ordered him to accept, why bother with this private meeting and all this talk?
“This is a great opportunity for you,” Yuk Jangcheon said, smiling as if reading Bu Eunseol’s doubts. “The North Sea Ice Palace, one of the largest neutral factions, has aligned with Majeon. So, the alliance quietly hopes to form ties with Yeolha Holy Palace.”
Both the North Sea Ice Palace and Yeolha Holy Palace were among the largest neutral factions, sharing a stance of neutrality between righteous and demonic.
With the North Sea Ice Palace aligning with Majeon, the Martial Alliance sought friendship with Yeolha Holy Palace.
“If you make a good impression there, you could pave the way for friendship between the palace and the alliance.”
Regardless of their intentions, Yeolha Holy Palace, which rarely allowed outsiders, was opening its doors to Seon Woojin.
The Martial Alliance couldn’t let this opportunity slip.
“Do you understand?” Yuk Jangcheon’s subtle voice carried a strange ambition. “If you resolve this well and achieve good results with Yeolha Holy Palace, you could immediately become a second-rank leader.”
His eyes burned with fervor.
“That would make the Supreme Corps an official part of the alliance.”
‘He’s trying hard to bring me under his wing.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed, seeing through Yuk Jangcheon’s intentions.
If he facilitated friendship between the Martial Alliance and Yeolha Holy Palace, he could rise to second-rank leader.
That would qualify him to lead Ascendant Martial Hall or become a full-fledged member of the Holy Guard Corps.
Yuk Jangcheon was laying the groundwork to secure Bu Eunseol, a potential second-rank leader, under his command while assigning this mission.
‘An exciting situation.’
Yuk Jangcheon, the Palm King.
As one of the Four Gods and Seven Kings’ aides, he was a latecomer to the Martial Alliance.
His sole reason for joining was to become the next Martial Alliance Leader and rule the martial world.
Fortunately, unlike Majeon, the Martial Alliance didn’t select young heirs.
Leading the entire righteous faction required seniority, honor, and a proven character untainted by greed for fame or profit. Thus, even the highly skilled Seven Commanders only became candidates for the next leader in their middle years.
With the Heavenly King stepping down, a vacancy had opened among the candidates.
Yuk Jangcheon couldn’t miss this chance.
‘I need to amass more achievements!’
The Martial Alliance valued achievements within the alliance over martial prowess or fame.
Achievements came from securing talented subordinates to handle various tasks, as their successes became one’s own.
Yuk Jangcheon aimed to secure the vacant position of Martial Spring Hall Leader, compete with the Seven Commanders, and become the top aide of the righteous martial world.
“It’s awkward to say myself, but hasn’t Ascendant Martial Hall stood by the Supreme Corps through life and death?”
“Of course,” Bu Eunseol said, clasping his hands and bowing. “How could I forget that?”
“Hahaha! Your words make my efforts worthwhile,” Yuk Jangcheon said, laughing heartily and nodding. “I look forward to good news.”
“Understood. Farewell.”
Bu Eunseol clasped his hands and left Ascendant Martial Hall.
‘This will be interesting.’ Looking at the distant sky, Bu Eunseol smiled faintly. ‘If I elevate him to Martial Spring Hall and make him compete with the Seven Commanders…’
The Seven Commanders were each amassing achievements to become the leader.
If Yuk Jangcheon became Martial Spring Hall Leader and a strong candidate, Bu Eunseol could get closer to the Martial Alliance’s core and unmask the Seven Commanders.
“I’ll depart immediately.”
“Do so.”
“Farewell.”
Clasping his hands, Bu Eunseol left Ascendant Martial Hall.
Gazing at the distant sky, he took a deep breath, preparing to head to Namman to answer Yeolha Holy Palace’s invitation.
***
Countless stars adorned the vast night sky, flowing like the Yangtze River.
The fierce wind howled like sharp fangs scraping the earth.
The sound of birds somewhere echoed like the grim voice of a reaper guiding souls to the underworld.
At the midpoint of a deep mountain, beautiful flowers glowed with light.
Before them stood a uniquely shaped shrine.
On an altar inside was a hemispherical metal dish, filled with a dark, writhing liquid.
The shrine’s pillars gleamed with gold, inscribed with oracle bone script and the Four Symbols in a chaotic pattern.
Below the altar, a masked figure knelt, head bowed deeply, as if lifting it would mean death.
[“The Martial Soul Command Lord has safely returned and even destroyed Daeyun Forest.”]
A low voice, neither male nor female, resonated within the shrine.
[“From our perspective, we can no longer stand idly by.”]
Another voice responded.
[“But the Clear River Realm is resisting. Perhaps they’ve chosen him as a fallback.”]
The same voice echoed repeatedly.
[“The Infinite Realm has tried to eliminate him several times, but the Clear River Realm keeps interfering.”]
Silence filled the shrine for a moment.
[“What about Yeolha Holy Palace?”]
The masked figure, still bowing, spoke respectfully, “It’s nearly complete. Soon, we’ll create a perfect artificial inner core without side effects.”
[“Ensure it proceeds without issues. Once it’s complete, we can eliminate everything else, including Bu Eunseol.”]
The shrine continued to buzz with endless discussions.
These were the masterminds of the martial world, orchestrating the heavens.
Yet, they were unaware of one critical fact: Bu Eunseol was also Seon Woojin, the leader of the Supreme Corps.
