“Heh heh heh.”
Nae Bihon drooled as he stared at the Emissary, paying no attention to Bu Eunseol, who had disguised himself as Seon Woojin.
“There really was an Emissary of the Three Realms.”
The moment Bu Eunseol accepted Gongsun Dankyung’s proposal, he mobilized the Death Spirit Corps to track down Nae Bihon’s whereabouts.
He knew the general region but couldn’t pinpoint the exact location, so after much deliberation, Bu Eunseol used Soyo.
Her movement art was strikingly similar to the Flying Stream Bullet used by the Emissaries of the Three Realms. Nae Bihon had been identifying and detecting that art to pursue the Emissary.
—In three days, the Three Realms will appear in Soho’s warehouse.
Finally, Soyo located Nae Bihon and relayed this message.
—And so will their Emissary.
—Emissary, Emissary…!
Though his mind wavered, his hatred for the Three Realms remained unchanged. When she mentioned it was a message from the younger brother who had once hunted the Three Realms with him,
—Younger brother… I see.
Nae Bihon nodded as if recalling and agreed.
‘A relief.’
Watching Nae Bihon reveal the perfect majesty of the Thunder God, Bu Eunseol inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Only his appearance could save him from the Emissary’s hands while disguised as Seon Woojin and avoid suspicion from the Martial Alliance and the Three Realms.
‘But.’ Bu Eunseol’s eyes darkened briefly.
At a glance, Nae Bihon’s madness had worsened far beyond what he had seen before.
“Rat-like bastards. I’ve finally caught your tail.” Pure white Thunder Spirit Annihilation began streaming from Nae Bihon’s body.
He hated the Three Realms.
Because it was their Emissary who had mercilessly slaughtered and experimented on his beloved family.
[Nae Bihon.] The Emissary frowned, recognizing the Thunder God, Nae Bihon.
Before the attack could pour out, he immediately extended both hands. In that instant, an immense force surged toward Nae Bihon,
Jijijik!
But the formless power was perfectly extinguished by Thunder Spirit Annihilation.
Paat!
In a flash, the Emissary leaped into the air.
Nae Bihon, an immortal who constantly healed using Thunder Divine Energy, charged relentlessly. With his frenzied madness, he would bite his opponent to death rather than retreat.
In the end, as the raging Nae Bihon began to act in earnest, the Emissary chose to flee without regret.
“Stop!” When the Emissary fled, Nae Bihon roared and immediately pursued.
“Phew.” Once they were gone, Bu Eunseol exhaled.
If Nae Bihon hadn’t arrived at the right moment?
The Emissary would have killed Bu Eunseol with full force, forcing him to abandon Seon Woojin’s identity.
But his timely appearance allowed the crisis to pass.
‘No. It’s not over.’
Though the Emissary had left, the assassins around remained. Their eyes flashed as they raised swords at Bu Eunseol.
‘Is it impossible as Seon Woojin?’
His current inner force was halved, and his true art was limited to the Boundless Master’s ultimate technique. He had the excellent counterattack form, Thirteen Iron Sword Forms, but that alone couldn’t build a renowned name.
The martial world cheered only for victors in battle. Defensive arts were not highly valued.
‘Even as Seon Woojin, I must build a grand reputation.’
Sreung.
Bu Eunseol drew his iron sword once more.
—Kaat!
At the same time, the assassins charged at Bu Eunseol. It felt like a black tidal wave engulfing the world.
Bu Eunseol did not dodge and immediately unleashed Thirteen Iron Sword Forms.
Without using the subtlety of Grafting Flowers onto Jade, he transformed the gentle forms into killing sword forms.
It was from the time he learned martial arts in Hell Island, a period filled with killing intent.
Back then, any sword art he learned, any initial move he executed, turned into killing forms. Because he harbored a desperate killing intent to overturn the world.
It was shortly after witnessing his grandfather’s tragic death, so an immense killing intent that never dried up flowed naturally.
‘Like back then… I’ll try!’
Shwaek!
Stab, twist, sever, pulverize.
The essence of Thirteen Iron Sword Forms was to deflect the enemy’s attack with Grafting Flowers onto Jade and counter at the right moment. But Bu Eunseol initiated the attack, eliminating the need for defense.
Since Thirteen Iron Sword Forms lacked killing forms, he stabbed wildly in all directions like a madman, relentlessly forcing the enemy back.
‘To a madman determined to kill, what use are orthodox or killing forms?’
It was a momentary excitement.
Not transforming Thirteen Iron Sword Forms into killing forms, but desiring to dance a sword dance amid a storm of blood.
Instead of a powerful sword art backed by vast inner force, he wanted an unending, continuous assault.
Hwiing.
Soon, a blue aura flowed from Bu Eunseol’s body as he swung his sword.
It was the small amount of Water God Energy that Gongsun Dana had injected earlier.
Though tiny, it wrapped around Bu Eunseol, smoothly circulating his true qi.
‘So that’s it.’ As the Water God Energy flowed endlessly like water, Bu Eunseol realized what he lacked.
He had yet to purely create his own martial art.
Broad but not refined.
He had learned various martial studies from orthodox, evil, and demonic paths but mastered none.
He created the Supreme Heavenly Flow, but it was merely the essence of sword artistry passed down by Nangyang and Dan Cheong.
He often used Wishful True Binding but hadn’t deeply practiced it, and it wasn’t his best ultimate.
The Martial Emperor’s Tranquil Awakening and Thirteen Guiding Energies went without saying.
He refrained from extreme yin and yang arts like Heavenly Glacial Secret and Yeolha Great True Energy due to qi clashes.
Even sword arts reaching the pinnacle of a sect, like Sky-Soaring Sword and Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder, were used only when needed.
Because he hadn’t harmonized the martial arts or transformed them into his own.
‘Wasn’t the Boundless Master’s martial arts the same?’
The Boundless Master’s secret sword techniques like Grafting Flowers onto Jade and Thirteen Iron Sword Forms inspired orthodox martial arts but weren’t deeply practiced.
In the end, Bu Eunseol had no unique martial art of his own.
—Where in your techniques is the martial art of this pavilion?!
The voice of Ak Muryeong, who had scolded him at Nangyang, flashed through his mind.
Even after that, he still hadn’t founded his own martial art.
No, he couldn’t.
The martial arts he learned were created by grandmasters who had reached the pinnacle. Unable to touch them, he tried to unify them through ‘harmony.’
But Seon Woojin couldn’t even do that. Because he couldn’t use Bu Eunseol’s abilities.
‘But Seon Woojin’s martial arts can be transformed.’
Seon Woojin’s martial arts were different.
Not at the pinnacle, so with Bu Eunseol’s skill… he could freely transform them into his own.
Shwaek! Chwaaaak!
Bu Eunseol’s swordsmanship, lost in transcendence, grew faster and more profound.
Whenever a martial technique flashed in his mind, the Thirteen Iron Sword Forms transformed and unfolded accordingly.
Sword dance.
Unknowingly, Bu Eunseol was freely performing the near-lost sword dance technique of the martial world.
Hududuk.
Soon, silence descended.
Both in Bu Eunseol’s mind and in reality, stillness arrived.
Kuang.
At the same time, the two hundred assassins surrounding Bu Eunseol collapsed.
Sword dance.
In a state of transcendence, Bu Eunseol pursued the martial path endlessly, and that deep cultivation manifested in his swordsmanship.
‘Divine Sage. No, Heavenly Emperor.’
Bu Eunseol’s feelings, gazing at the piled corpses, were indescribably complex.
‘Just what were you thinking, passing such martial arts to me?’
If he cared this much about Seon Woojin’s identity and martial arts, there must have been someone else meant for this role.
Yet why give it to him?
He wasn’t foolish enough to give away decades of preparation on a whim.
Sseusseuk.
But this was no time for sentiment. Soon, Bu Eunseol’s surroundings filled again with black-clad assassins.
Roughly a thousand had gathered here.
Bu Eunseol had only dealt with the first wave.
“…….”
The encircling assassins were suffocating just to behold.
Yet Bu Eunseol felt a subtle excitement.
Even if there were two thousand, it wouldn’t matter. He simply wanted to dance the sword again and again.
‘Shall I dance Thirteen Iron Sword Forms’s sword dance… once more.’
In truth, considering their numbers, even Thirteen Iron Sword Forms’s sword dance made survival uncertain. Yet Bu Eunseol prepared to unleash Thirteen Iron Sword Forms again, not his true art.
Shwaaaa.
Suddenly, a strange sound echoed from all directions.
Like serene waves at the shore.
How could wave sounds come from a remote place far from Chengdu?
Shwaaa! Kwang!
The wave sound suddenly became a massive explosion. Like compressed air bursting or stacked gunpowder detonating.
Kuang.
At the same time, one side of the human wall of assassins surrounding Bu Eunseol collapsed entirely.
Thud thud.
Through the fallen wall, a middle-aged warrior slowly emerged, holding a white treasure sword glowing softly. Eyes like a dragon, aura like a divine spirit descended from heaven.
Sacred Sword, Baekri Mujo.
He had finally appeared.
Jumcheom.
The assassins had never feared death.
But at Baekri Mujo’s appearance, they involuntarily stepped back in fear.
The authority of a superhuman.
They instinctively felt it.
‘Baekri Mujo.’ Bu Eunseol swallowed hard.
He was completely different from when seen at the Star Guard Pavilion.
Back then, he had exuded a holy and sacred aura befitting the title Sacred Sword…
Now, he displayed the majesty of a destruction god who would turn invading demons of the sacred realm to ashes in an instant.
Saaaah!
White shadows began filling the warehouse interior.
The elite warriors of Star Guard Division.
Sasasasak!
The Star Guard Division warriors immediately drew swords and began cutting down the assassins. Each one’s martial prowess was extraordinary, driving out the gathered assassins in moments.
“Commander.” As the blood-soaked Bu Eunseol cupped his hands, Baekri Mujo’s profound eyes lingered on him.
“Did you handle all these assassins here?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, a strange light gleamed in Baekri Mujo’s eyes.
Grrrrr.
Just then, Deputy Leader Seo Muk opened the mechanism door leading underground.
Gongsun Dankyung, who was inside, slowly emerged.
Since Seo Muk opened the door naturally without breaking the mechanism, she recognized him as an ally.
“Commander Baekri.” Gongsun Dankyung spoke.
“Commander Gongsun.” Baekri Mujo nodded lightly in greeting.
Gongsun Dankyung had falsely requested leave, completely concealed her tracks using the intelligence network, and had come to the Myriad Goods Store. But Baekri Mujo had been monitoring her every move and, upon crisis, led forces here in an instant.
Jijik.
When Gongsun Dankyung and Baekri Mujo’s gazes met, sparks seemed to fly in the air.
But it was only a fleeting moment.
As if nothing happened, they smiled amicably at each other.
“Commander Gongsun.” Baekri Mujo pointed politely to the carriage Star Guard Division had brought. “Please return to the Alliance immediately.”
Normally, he would have asked why she left the Alliance secretly.
But he asked nothing.
He simply gazed softly, relieved she was safe.
“I will.” Gongsun Dankyung replied briefly and walked slowly toward the carriage.
‘Their relationship isn’t good.’
Bu Eunseol could feel it.
Gongsun Dankyung and Baekri Mujo.
They hid their true feelings meticulously, without a single gap.
Swiik.
Then Baekri Mujo turned and closely examined the wounds on the assassins Bu Eunseol had slain.
“Sword dance.” He instantly recognized it as the near-unused sword dance technique of the martial world. “Not something learned beforehand, but executed on the spot.”
He even saw that Bu Eunseol gained enlightenment mid-battle and performed sword dance improvisationally.
One who advances in a life-or-death fight.
Wasn’t that possible only for chosen, exceptional warriors?
“Commander. Look here.” Seo Muk spoke gravely, pointing to a burned boulder on one side.
“Traces of Thunder Divine Energy.”
As Baekri Mujo’s gaze met Bu Eunseol’s face, he quickly explained.
“A masked man with incredible martial arts appeared here. I couldn’t handle him and fell into danger, but suddenly the Thunder God arrived.”
“Hmm.”
“When the masked man fled, the Thunder God pursued immediately.”
Bu Eunseol’s words were pure truth, without a lie.
Deep in thought, Baekri Mujo approached Bu Eunseol and lightly checked his pulse.
The motion was so natural and concise that there was no time to evade.
‘This.’ Bu Eunseol inwardly gasped.
If a master like Baekri Mujo checked his pulse, wouldn’t he detect his true martial realm? Anxiety surged.
“Your inner force is solid.”
Fortunately, Bu Eunseol had condensed half his power into his inner core beforehand, so Baekri Mujo didn’t notice.
Uuuung.
Holding the pulse, Baekri Mujo briefly injected inner energy, healing the internal injuries from Bu Eunseol’s sword dance.
“Commander.” Watching, Seo Muk was greatly shocked.
Sacred Sword, Baekri Mujo.
He pursued perfection and trained his subordinates harshly to match.
Yet he personally injected inner energy to heal someone’s injuries?
“You worked hard in place of this Commander.”
Star Guard Division’s duty was protecting the Martial Alliance’s highest leaders. Naturally, Bu Eunseol risked his life to fulfill it, deserving such reward.
Still, Seo Muk’s expression was sour.
Because Bu Eunseol had refused to join the Star Guard Division.
Rejecting the proposal of the Commander he revered like heaven irked him.
Uung.
Baekri Mujo’s inner energy was unimaginably deep and pure.
In an instant, it settled boiling blood qi and healed internal injuries. Bu Eunseol cupped his hands.
“Thank you.”
“How’s your body?”
“Fully recovered.”
Baekri Mujo nodded and told Seo Muk. “Escort Commander Gongsun and return immediately.”
Boarding the carriage, Gongsun Dankyung nodded at Bu Eunseol.
It was gratitude and trust for risking his life to protect her until now.
Bu Eunseol cupped his hands. Having earned her trust, he could do much more going forward.
Dalkak dalkak.
Gongsun Dankyung, gazing out the carriage window, narrowed her eyes.
‘He’s an outstanding martial talent.’
She knew.
Baekri Mujo checking Bu Eunseol’s pulse.
It was to test if the sword wounds on the assassins matched his inner force level. Fortunately, there were no issues, so he injected his inner energy. If there was a problem, he would have subdued Bu Eunseol instantly.
‘I like him.’ Gongsun Dankyung nodded.
Excellent in martial arts and strategy, loyal, fearless and brave.
And his steadfast heart, unmoved by her beauty, pleased her.
—Isn’t it rare to miss the magnolia hidden by the peony?
Recalling Bu Eunseol’s praise, Gongsun Dankyung smiled.
She had received much flattery, but none so unique and pleasing.
“Missing the magnolia hidden by the peony…”
She smiled faintly and looked out the window.
In a small voice, “Soon, without fail…”
But her voice was too soft, buried quietly in the carriage’s rumble.
“This unit will now begin the investigation.”
Meanwhile, as Baekri Mujo turned after organizing the scene, he lightly patted Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
“Return carefully.” His tone and eyes were warm and friendly.
Bu Eunseol cupped his hands politely.
“Thank you.”
He then turned around.
But Bu Eunseol’s face, once away, hardened like ice.
‘So that’s how it was.’ He bit his lip to suppress surging emotions.
With everything over, a strange thought flashed through his mind.
Was Baekri Mujo also part of what Gongsun Dankyung wanted to test?
Even if mistaken, one thing was certain.
Baekri Mujo had tested him here too.
That final shoulder pat.
Pretending to pat, he measured the reaction force of inner energy, in case undetected levels remained.
‘Just what.’ Bu Eunseol bit his lip. ‘What kind of place is the Martial Alliance to test people this thoroughly?’
Why do Gongsun Dankyung and Baekri Mujo guard against each other?
Why test him again despite liking him?
Because Seon Woojin is from the merchant world? Or a test to use him heavily?
Even so, wasn’t this suspicion excessive?
Just what… are they guarding against.
‘Is this place the same in the end?’
Bu Eunseol realized.
The Martial Alliance was far more perilous than Majeon, called the Demon Palace…
A bloody place of smiling killers, rife with schemes and plots.
It was by no means a guardian of martial justice.
