“Lady Rin.”
Bu Eunseol asked with an almost desperate, hopeful expression.
“Are you certain the Baekri Clan truly vanished?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking whether they might still be secretly continuing their lineage and operating in the martial world, just like the Yangseol Clan.”
“Hmm… As far as I know, the Baekri Clan definitely self-destructed.”
Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow. “Then is there any immediate way to identify this Heaven-Dark Star?”
Yangseol Rin shook her head.
“No. The Heaven-Dark Star does not emit light from the very beginning. The only times it shines are when it unleashes its power… or when it awakens to its own destiny.”
“When it unleashes its power… and when it awakens to its destiny.”
“Exactly.” She continued calmly. “But the Earth-Killer Star will be found soon enough. The more slaughter they commit, the stronger their aura will grow. Of course, that also means they will become far more powerful.”
“I see.”
The explanation about the Earth-Killer Star was unimportant to him.
Bu Eunseol’s interest lay solely with the Heaven-Dark Star.
Because that person might very well be the one who killed his grandfather.
“Then if the Heaven-Dark Star never uses its power or never awakens to its destiny… could it remain hidden forever?”
“No, that won’t happen.”
“Why not?”
“Because it bears the fate of the Heaven-Dark Star.”
Yangseol Rin declared with absolute certainty.
“No one can ever escape their destiny.”
Bu Eunseol stared into the void with sunken eyes.
Every super-expert and faction he had encountered so far believed fervently in fatalism.
Was destiny truly something that could not be escaped?
‘Even if Commander Baekri is the Heaven-Dark Star…’
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
Even if the Baekri Clan had secretly continued their bloodline and Baekri Mujo was the Heaven-Dark Star, there was no way to confirm or distinguish it right now.
Moreover, if Baekri Mujo were truly a descendant of the legendary Baekri Clan, would a man who pursued perfection still carry the surname “Baekri” unchanged?
The chances were extremely slim.
‘In the end, everything circles back to a single answer.’
The movements of the Seven Commanders were perfectly concealed by the Martial Alliance.
Even the presumed Alliance Leader, Divine Mountain Sage, could not find the true culprit.
Thus, Bu Eunseol himself had no choice but to rise to the position of Commander, combine the highest intelligence of the Martial Alliance with the Death Spirit Corps through that immense authority, stand on equal footing with them, and hunt down the criminal.
‘Still…’
Baekri Mujo had treated him exceedingly well and was, in himself, a likable man.
Bu Eunseol could not imagine him as the fiend who had cruelly murdered his grandfather.
‘Since I don’t even know when I might become a Commander, I must set personal feelings aside.’
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
He decided that once he had dealt with all the tangled matters before him, he would prioritize investigating Baekri Mujo.
“I understand.” Erasing those thoughts, Bu Eunseol spoke with a calm face. “Head west along this road to Xi’an and plant a single black flag at the Dae-an Inn. It’s the largest inn in the province, so you won’t have trouble finding it. Once you do that…”
He explained in detail how Yangseol Rin could contact his subordinates.
Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he added, “However, if you use my intelligence network, the fact that you are pursuing the Earth-Killer Star may leak to the outside. Therefore…”
“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t exactly come out in secret.”
A flash sparked in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Her words were tantamount to admitting that the Yangseol Clan was not merely a reclusive family, but had been operating covertly in the martial world all along.
“Even if the righteous and evil sects, or both sides, learn that someone is chasing the Earth-Killer Star, it’s fine.”
Yangseol Rin declared confidently.
“In the end, I’m the only one who can find him anyway.”
He could not be certain, but it seemed finding the Earth-Killer Star was not something that could be done simply by mobilizing an intelligence network.
“What if someone else kills him? Would that be acceptable?”
“Of course the best outcome is to capture and imprison him alive. Those born under the Earth-Killer Star possess extremely long lifespans. But…” Yangseol Rin shrugged as though recalling something. “If he dies, that’s fine too. It will take twenty or thirty years for another Earth-Killer Star to appear.”
“I see.” Bu Eunseol nodded, yet her words did not sit well with him.
He could not bring himself to believe that beings with vicious natures and monstrous powers endlessly died and were reborn in an eternal cycle.
“I pray everything resolves smoothly.” Swallowing many thoughts, Bu Eunseol respectfully brought his hands together. Yangseol Rin smiled brightly.
“We will meet again.”
Her eyes were not looking at Bu Eunseol’s face, but at the sky above.
For a moment, he felt something strange.
“Don’t tell me… I also bear some star or another?”
“Who knows.”
She wore an enigmatic smile.
In the moonlight, her eyes looked both pure and bewitchingly captivating, as though they held secrets deeper than the darkness itself.
Saa…
A gentle breeze brushed past her hair.
And in that instant, Yangseol Rin’s figure vanished.
***
Having resolved the matter with the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect, Bu Eunseol immediately returned to Majeon.
Yet as soon as he entered the vicinity of Sichuan, he received an urgent summons from the Death Spirit Corps.
It was an emergency call from Seo Jinha.
“Baek Museong has already become a first-rank Captain.”
Seo Jinha’s expression was somewhat heavy when they met at a secret safe house in Sichuan.
“Because of that, the Lord of the Ascending Martial Hall has ordered an immediate return to the Martial Alliance. He must be furious.”
While Seo Jinha had been roaming the martial world under the name Seon Woojin gathering information, Baek Museong had racked up massive merits and risen to first-rank Captain.
At this rate, becoming a Hall Leader was only a matter of time.
For Yuk Jangcheon, this was enough to make his blood boil.
“What should we do?” Seo Jinha looked troubled. “If I return this time with nothing to show, he might start putting restrictions on my future excursions into the martial world.”
Until now, because Bu Eunseol had always produced results on his own, Yuk Jangcheon had paid little attention to Seon Woojin’s wanderings for information gathering.
But in this situation, he certainly could impose sanctions.
‘Lucky for us.’ Something flashed in Bu Eunseol’s mind.
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
“How?”
“There’s a way. Leave it to me.” Bu Eunseol declared firmly. “I will go to the Martial Alliance. You return to Majeon and finish cleaning up the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect affair.”
“Ah, I heard something about that. What exactly happened?”
Bu Eunseol explained everything that had transpired at the Hyeoncheon Sword Sect in detail, including the story of Yangseol Rin.
“That’s troublesome.” Seo Jinha clicked his tongue, clearly shocked. “If everything she said is true, we’ve been flailing about knowing absolutely nothing.”
He frowned.
“And it’s far too coincidental.”
“What is?”
“Even granting that the Hyeoncheon Sect Leader’s Childlike White Bones was mistaken for the aura of an Earth-Killer Star… if she really is from the Yangseol Clan, couldn’t she have known everything and lured you in on purpose?”
Seo Jinha’s eyes deepened.
“It’s also extremely strange that she would spill such secrets to a complete stranger like you without hesitation.”
“I don’t believe everything she said either. Even if our meeting was part of an elaborate plan, or if there is another mastermind behind it…” Bu Eunseol took a deep breath and shook his head.
“I simply did not get the feeling she was telling blatant lies.”
“Hmm.” Seo Jinha let out a low groan.
At first he had thought this was merely an act of revenge.
He had assumed they only needed to help Bu Eunseol and uncover the true nature of the forces shaking the martial world. But as time passed, it felt as though a colossal monster whose size could not even be fathomed was slowly approaching.
“Well, there will be an ending either way.” Seo Jinha shook his head and forced a bright expression.
There was no need for him to add more dark tales when Bu Eunseol was already the kind of man who untangled a thousand worries and devised ten thousand plans.
“Let’s settle the Martial Alliance matter first.”
Crack.
Seo Jinha instantly transformed into Bu Eunseol’s appearance.
“I’ll go ahead. Good luck.”
With a cheerful face, he left the safe house first.
“…”
Left alone, Bu Eunseol stood for a long while staring blankly into empty space.
“The tip of the iceberg.”
Even if what he saw was only the tip, it did not matter. He was not curious what secrets lay hidden in the abyss below.
Yet fate itself seemed to want him to descend deeper.
“I will shatter fate itself.”
Crack.
Having transformed into Seon Woojin, Bu Eunseol immediately headed for the Martial Alliance.
The moment he returned, just as Seo Jinha had predicted, Yuk Jangcheon summoned him at once.
“Captain Seon, what on earth have you been doing?!”
In the Ascending Martial Hall, inside Yuk Jangcheon’s office.
Yuk Jangcheon was roaring louder than ever before.
“In such a critical time, why do you keep wandering the martial world for no reason? You should be taking missions and handling them nonstop!”
His face was twisted with rage.
He had believed he was steadily widening the gap with his longtime rival, the Dragon Coiling Hall Leader.
But Baek Museong’s sudden rise had turned the tide.
While Bu Eunseol was away, Baek Museong had continuously earned great merits and climbed the ranks rapidly—Yuk Jangcheon could not help but feel frantic.
“While you wasted time in the martial world, Baek Museong steadily built merits under the Dragon Coiling Hall Leader and has already become a first-rank Captain!”
“…”
“Rumors are even spreading that he’ll soon rise to Hall Leader level. What exactly do you plan to do about it?”
Bu Eunseol, who had been listening silently, finally spoke.
“Please do not worry. The reason I kept traveling the martial world was precisely because of that.”
“Because of that?”
“I cannot instantly surpass Captain Baek’s original status, connections, reputation, or fame, can I?”
“Well… no.”
“And I already expected that even for the same achievements, his promotions would be far faster than mine.”
As Bu Eunseol’s clear eyes sparkled, Yuk Jangcheon’s expression softened and he nodded.
He recalled that whenever this subordinate had earned merits, it had not been solely through martial prowess, but through extraordinary schemes and stratagems.
“Then… you went to the martial world to solve that very problem?”
“Exactly.”
“How?”
“While pondering whether there was any way to surpass Captain Baek’s merits in one stroke, I happened to obtain new information.”
Bu Eunseol glanced around, then lowered his voice.
“A Great Murder Star that will soon cause a massive bloodbath in the martial world has appeared.”
“A Great Murder Star?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eunseol put on an extremely cautious expression.
“A person from the Yangseol Clan has emerged.”
He explained that the legendary Yangseol Clan had appeared, that they had been imprisoning those bearing the Earth-Killer Star for generations, and that one such Earth-Killer Star had now escaped and was secretly committing slaughter.
‘They have been active in the martial world for a very long time.’
That was something even he, the successor of Majeon, had not known before meeting Yangseol Rin.
If the higher-ups of the Martial Alliance already knew these things, every plan he had made until now would need complete revision.
Thus, Bu Eunseol intended to test it through Yuk Jangcheon.
“Good heavens, is that even possible?” Yuk Jangcheon frowned. “I have heard legends of the Yangseol Clan… but for them to suddenly appear, read the heavens, and claim they imprisoned Earth-Killer Star for the sake of the martial world… it sounds rather far-fetched.”
“I didn’t believe it either at first. Yet a person presumed to be from the Yangseol Clan truly sealed an entire sword sect in Qinghai.”
“That sword sect in Qinghai?”
“Yes.”
“Are you certain?”
“It is confirmed intelligence from the Demonic Path.”
Bu Eunseol revealed everything without holding back, both to leave no loose ends in case of investigation and, more importantly, to observe Yuk Jangcheon’s genuine reaction.
“Hmm.”
After hearing the full story, a flicker of displeasure passed through Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes.
As a high-ranking member of the Martial Alliance, he secretly operated an excellent intelligence network of his own. Yet neither the Alliance’s network nor his personal one had ever caught even a hint of anything similar.
That meant the man called Seon Woojin had built an independent intelligence network of considerable scale.
Instead of rejoicing at his subordinate’s competence, Yuk Jangcheon felt wary.
“Captain Seon, you must have worked very hard. So?”
‘He doesn’t know.’
Bu Eunseol was now certain.
Yuk Jangcheon was not someone who had peered into the abyss of the martial world. If he had, he would never have reacted this way upon hearing of the Yangseol Clan.
Seon Woojin was never meant to gaze into or even approach that abyss.
‘This is actually better.’ Bu Eunseol inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
If Yuk Jangcheon had known about the Yangseol Clan or the Hundred and Eight Stars, he would have had to proceed with extreme caution in all future plans.
“Furthermore, they say the Earth-Killer Star grows stronger with every person it kills. If that is true, great upheavals will soon shake the martial world.”
“Grows stronger the more it kills…” Yuk Jangcheon gave a faint nod.
Among martial world warriors there were many with special constitutions, severed meridians, or innate energies and abilities. Were there not even the Four Divine Gods who were born carrying the power of nature within their bodies?
Growing stronger through repeated slaughter did not sound all that implausible.
“Then wouldn’t this be something the Seven Great Divisions should handle instead of our Hall?”
If a being called the Earth-Killer Star truly appeared in the martial world and grew stronger by endlessly killing, the incident would balloon uncontrollably. The Martial Alliance would declare it a public enemy of the martial world, and then it would fall to the Seven Great Divisions, not the Ascending Martial Hall.
“Correct. That is why the Hall Leader must mobilize the intelligence network in advance to track the suspected Earth-Killer Star’s movements.”
“Hmm.”
“Then, once the matter has grown large enough, convene the Grand Justice Assembly.”
“The Grand Justice Assembly?”
“Yes. We will reveal that our Hall had sensed something amiss for some time and had already gathered all this intelligence.”
“The Grand Justice Assembly is not easily convened. Unless the Alliance Leader himself hosts it, it takes at least a month.”
Bu Eunseol nodded. “That is precisely what we will use.”
“What?”
“When the Hall Leader requests a private audience with the Vice Leader to propose the agenda, it will still be manageable. But by the time the Assembly actually convenes… the martial world will already be engulfed in a massive bloodbath.”
“Oh.” Yuk Jangcheon let out an exclamation of admiration.
But then he frowned as another thought struck him.
“If things go as you say… by that time the Earth-Killer Star will have become a terrifyingly powerful expert. Can someone at the Peak Realm level handle it?”
“This time it will not be me.”
“Hm?”
A glint flashed through Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“The Hall Leader himself will descend into the martial world and subdue the culprit.”
“Oho, indeed!” Yuk Jangcheon slapped his knee.
If a Great Murder Star that overturns the martial world appears and causes a bloodbath, and he personally subdues it?
Even if the Martial Alliance does not acknowledge it, the entire martial world would recognize it as an enormous merit.
That would stamp him firmly as the leading candidate for the next Commander position.
“You’ve worked hard. And I’m sorry.” Yuk Jangcheon personally approached and grasped Bu Eunseol’s shoulders with both hands. “I spoke harsh words out of impatience, not knowing how tirelessly you were working.”
“Not at all.” Bu Eunseol replied politely. “I merely do my utmost because the Hall Leader trusts me.”
“Heh heh heh.” Yuk Jangcheon nodded with a broad smile. “Submit a detailed report on everything you learned about the Yangseol Clan and the Earth-Killer Star. And immediately report whatever the Absolute Realm squad has discovered.”
He continued calmly.
“I will compile all of it and begin searching at once for anyone matching the Earth-Killer Star. And when the matter grows large, I will immediately report to the Vice Leader.”
“Understood. I will return to my post at once and submit the full details.”
“Yes, good work.”
Bu Eunseol turned and swiftly left the office.
‘Still the same sly old fox.’
A cold smile tugged at Bu Eunseol’s lips.
If Yuk Jangcheon truly trusted him completely, he would have disclosed all his intelligence networks without hesitation and entrusted their command to him.
Yet he had only asked for reports.
Deep in his heart, Yuk Jangcheon still harbored distrust and unease.
‘That actually works in my favor.’
If he had not made that secret pact with Gongsun Dankyung, he would have desperately struggled to earn Yuk Jangcheon’s trust.
But now it did not matter.
To become a Commander himself, Yuk Jangcheon was merely another rival to surpass.
‘This is a good chance to purge Yuk Jangcheon’s loyalists as well.’
Bu Eunseol planned to exploit Yuk Jangcheon’s lingering distrust, sow suspicion toward his intelligence network and close aides, and execute that plan.
And there was one person perfectly suited to carry it out.
Commander Gongsun Dankyung.
***
Butchers slaughter beasts and carve meat every day.
The martial world is a place where blades are drawn against human beings just as routinely.
Life and death hang on the edge of a sword and today’s victor may become tomorrow’s defeated.
There are no eternal winners, no eternal losers.
Those who live such precarious lives are the people of the martial world.
Because of that unique nature, individuals called “slaughter demons” appear periodically.
Slaughter demons.
Those who, after endless battles, become addicted to the ecstasy of killing.
That ecstasy is more addictive than opium and eventually they suffer from slaughter mania—if they do not kill regularly, they go completely insane.
―A slaughter demon has appeared!
As always, a new slaughter demon had emerged.
It was first discovered in a small region of Qinghai.
Every night the slaughter demon visited minor martial schools and massacred the warriors within.
After that, as if ordinary people were not worth killing, it targeted only martial artists.
As time passed, its crimes grew bolder—it began attacking renowned figures or wiping out entire large schools.
―Catch that bastard!
As the number of dead at its hands continued to rise, the families and close friends of the victims hired warriors and wanderers to hunt it down.
Yet this slaughter demon’s martial arts were extraordinary.
Not a single pursuer succeeded and instead they were slaughtered in droves.
Meanwhile, as rumors of the slaughter demon spread through the mouths of martial world people, Yuk Jangcheon inwardly rejoiced.
―That is the Earth-Killer Star.
It is said that one born under the Earth-Killer Star grows stronger with every kill and the slaughter mania intensifies.
Soon the entire martial world would be turned upside down.
He had continuously mobilized his intelligence network and already tracked the creature’s movements. Now all that remained was to convene the Grand Justice Assembly, reveal the information he had gathered, descend into the martial world, and slay it.
―The slaughter demon annihilated the Yegeom Sect.
By now the slaughter demon had moved to Sichuan and wiped out the Yegeom Sect, one of the orthodox factions.
Though only a second-rate sect, it was registered with the Martial Alliance.
Interest in the slaughter demon among martial world people had grown appropriately, and a justification for the Alliance to intervene now existed.
If he requested the Grand Justice Assembly, discussed the issue, and appeared in the martial world when the time was right… that would be the moment the Earth-Killer Star unleashed uncontrollable slaughter.
If Yuk Jangcheon stepped forward and captured it?
He would instantly become a hero who saved countless lives and a seeker of the stars (a future leader recognized by all).
Martial Alliance, Hall of Justice.
That was the residence of Vice Alliance Leader Buk Ri-seung.
In his youth he had been a destroyer of evil factions that secretly rooted themselves in the martial world and threatened the Martial Alliance and orthodox martial world; he rose from the Annihilation Division to Vice Leader through endless military achievements—an inspirational success story.
Yet now he looked little different from a civil official.
This was because Alliance Leader the Heavenly Emperor was constantly absent.
Acting in the Leader’s stead, managing the six Hall Leaders (excluding the Seven Great Divisions) and other Hall-Leader-level figures, he worked himself to the bone.
As if proving the crushing workload, Buk Ri-seung’s face was gaunt and shadows lay beneath his eyes.
The only saving grace was that the newly appointed Commander, Gongsun Dankyung, handled most ordinary matters herself, preventing him from collapsing from overwork.
“Hmm.” Buk Ri-seung blinked weary eyes at Yuk Jangcheon of the Ascending Martial Hall, who had requested an audience. “What a peculiar coincidence.”
Taking a deep breath, Buk Ri-seung spoke.
“This very morning, the Dragon Coiling Hall Leader came and expressed the exact same opinion as you.”
Yuk Jangcheon’s face looked as though he had been struck from behind.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. The Dragon Coiling Hall Leader also claimed that the slaughter demon could become a Great Murder Star capable of plunging the martial world into a massive bloodbath.”
Stroking his chin, Buk Ri-seung continued.
“And that we must deal with it before it commits greater slaughter.”
“The Dragon Coiling Hall Leader said that personally?”
At Yuk Jangcheon’s urgent question, Buk Ri-seung shook his head with utmost calm.
“No.”
‘Thank goodness.’
Just as Yuk Jangcheon exhaled in relief, Buk Ri-seung delivered a shocking blow.
“He said he is sending Baek Museong, Captain Baek, into the martial world.”
Dang I was wrong