The next day.
Having slipped out of the Martial Alliance for his journey through the martial world, Bu Eunseol immediately switched identities with Seo Jinha.
Then he headed straight for Hubei.
Unleashing his qinggong without pause, he soon arrived near Songlim Mountain.
As he passed through the dense forest and ventured deeper inside, a dilapidated, crumbling abandoned temple gradually came into view.
“I have no idea what kind of ghost game this is.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky.
He had come here for no other reason than a promise with Bukgung Ryeong.
“As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, leave the Martial Alliance at once and revert to your true identity. Then wait for me in front of the abandoned temple on Songlim Mountain.”
Bukgung Ryeong had spoken with utmost confidence.
“I’ll bring someone who can perfect your plan.”
Bu Eunseol didn’t understand, but he followed the instructions anyway.
He had no better alternative, and the old man wasn’t the type to speak nonsense.
Chirp chirp chirp.
Only the faint cries of birds echoed around the quiet abandoned temple.
After waiting for quite some time with no sign of anyone, Bu Eunseol grew bored.
He entered the temple, sat cross-legged for a rare moment, and began circulating his energy.
Hummm.
As he operated his mind method, a layer of radiance began to bloom across his entire body.
He had already reached the sixth level of the Ban-Geuk Method.
Having attained the realm of Spirit Regulation Harmony and defying Heaven’s infinity[i], in truth, he no longer needed to deliberately circulate his energy.
Even so, whenever he wasn’t researching martial arts, he made time to cultivate.
‘Anything requires a solid foundation.’
If delicious dishes kept appearing before you without any effort?
It would be extremely convenient for a while.
But eventually, you might even forget how to cook.
Thanks to the abilities of Spirit Regulation Harmony, Bu Eunseol could achieve the effect of constant cultivation whether sitting or sleeping.
Yet he still actively circulated his energy and examined his inner state.
Because of this habit of constantly honing the basics, he would one day break through the limits of martial arts and attain an inner force unmatched in martial history. But that was still far in the future.
How much time had passed?
Flash.
His eyes snapped open.
He sensed two presences rapidly approaching.
‘Two people?’
One was unmistakably the old man Bukgung.
But wasn’t there another presence rushing toward him with qinggong just as swift and lively?
Creak.
As Bu Eunseol opened the door and stepped outside, two shadows descended from the air.
“You are…”
Bu Eunseol paused.
The man standing beside Bukgung Ryeong was none other than Song Ak, the great master of the Wudang Sect.
“I heard you two already know each other.”
Bukgung Ryeong said nonchalantly.
“Since it’s been a while, why not greet each other properly?”
“Old man.” Bu Eunseol frowned as he spoke. “Are you already planning to give up your position as Lord Bukgung in the Martial Alliance?”
Bu Eunseol was the heir of Majeon.
Bukgung Ryeong was a renowned orthodox hero whose name was engraved on the Hero’s Monument—and now a lord of the Martial Alliance.
If word got out that the two were close?
His lordship would naturally be stripped, and irreversible consequences could follow.
“If you two keep your mouths shut, who in the world would know?”
Bukgung Ryeong’s words carried deep trust.
He trusted Bu Eunseol—and he trusted Song Ak just as firmly.
“It’s been a long time.”
Song Ak greeted Bu Eunseol with a slightly surprised expression.
“In such a short time, you’ve shattered the shackles of the flesh and attained true enlightenment. Truly a boundless achievement.”
Bu Eunseol wore an odd expression.
Song Ak had described his realm as “true enlightenment.”
It was a subtle acknowledgment that he had mastered the profound principles of both orthodox and demonic arts without falling into demonic ways.
“You flatter me.”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly and replied, “Brother Song has also reached Harmonizing Light with Dark, entering the realm of the martial path. A cause for congratulations.”
Song Ak’s face stiffened for a moment.
He had vaguely summed up Bu Eunseol’s realm with the term “true enlightenment.”
But Bu Eunseol had precisely pinpointed the exact stage of his own martial attainment.
“Haha, I cannot match the Benefactor.” Song Ak shook his head and gave a clear smile.
His nature was as pure and refreshing as water.
He gazed at Bu Eunseol—who had far surpassed him—with nothing but admiration. There was no envy or jealousy, nor any prejudice between orthodox and demonic.
‘The people of Wudang are generally decent.’
Bu Eunseol let a faint smile touch his lips.
Throughout his travels in the martial world, he had witnessed the twisted beliefs and greed of orthodox practitioners, but every Wudang member he had met was upright and honorable.
Just like Song Ak.
“I’ve heard the story.” Song Ak said, “Lady A-Yeon has fallen into demonic possession… and it can only be broken by Benefactor Bu’s death.”
Bukgung Ryeong seemed to have simplified the matter of the Three Realms by calling it demonic possession.
“That’s correct.”
“Even without Lord Bukgung’s request, I share a brief connection with Lady A-Yeon. Of course I will lend a hand.”
As Bu Eunseol made a strange expression, Bukgung Ryeong added, “Wudang’s non-lethal techniques are the finest among the Nine Great Sects.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol let out an “Ah.”
Wudang swordsmanship fundamentally embodied the sword intent of non-killing.
Many of its supreme techniques inflicted no fatal wounds even when striking true.
As the next-generation master representing Wudang, Song Ak would be well-versed in various non-lethal sword methods.
“Besides, having this fellow join me to attack you together will make the deception far more convincing than if I fought you one-on-one.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
Indeed, with Song Ak’s help, it would be much easier to fool the sharp eyes of A-Yeon, now a demoness.
“This place is secluded and perfect for practicing martial arts.”
Song Ak grinned, revealing white teeth.
“Shall we begin, then?”
***
—Her whereabouts have been located.
A message from the Death Spirit Corps reached Bu Eunseol via Soyo.
The Flying Demon Corps led by Eun Junghwi surpassed even the Death Spirit Corps members in qinggong alone.
It was perhaps only natural.
They had spent years carrying people on their backs while constantly using qinggong.
Under the Death Spirit Corps’ command, the Flying Demon Corps members—who had been monitoring the Wushan area around the Divine Maiden Palace with their superior qinggong—had finally tracked A-Yeon’s movements.
—As expected, she’s heading for the Divine Maiden Palace. But since she’s moving alone without troops or subordinates, it seems she intends to infiltrate secretly.
Upon receiving the news, Bu Eunseol immediately unleashed a gale-like movement art and raced toward the Divine Maiden Palace.
‘She believes that if she eliminates my fiancée, she can have me.’
A-Yeon’s martial arts weren’t the only thing that had advanced dramatically—her intellect had as well.
Yet if she was heading straight for the Divine Maiden Palace exactly as he predicted?
Either she was hiding another plan or she was confident she could overpower anyone in a direct confrontation.
‘It doesn’t matter either way.’
If everything went according to plan… the personality of A-Yeon sleeping within the demoness would awaken.
‘At least it’s fortunate she hasn’t committed separate atrocities.’
As Bu Eunseol pressed forward with his movement art, he felt inward relief.
A-Yeon’s original nature was solemn and upright. If the evil personality had used her body to commit wicked deeds?
Even if the brainwashing were undone, like the Heavenly Wanderer, she might not forgive herself and choose suicide.
Whoosh.
Arriving at the foot of Wushan, where the Divine Maiden Palace stood, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
He had sent even Soyo far away, knowing A-Yeon would flee immediately if she sensed anyone else.
How much time passed?
From afar, a faint whistling of air accompanied a beautiful woman in violet robes as she rapidly approached.
It was A-Yeon.
Tap.
Spotting Bu Eunseol, she halted three chang away, facing him.
“How devoted.”
A demonic gleam flashed in A-Yeon’s eyes.
“Waiting here, worried sick that your precious fiancée might get hurt.”
Her face remained unchanged, but the occasional sharp demonic light and violet-tinged lips gave her an unmistakably sinister aura.
“You’re not Lady A-Yeon.”
Bu Eunseol deliberately provoked her.
“Seeing how your face turned raven-black before, it seems some hideous creature has taken over the body.”
“Heh heh heh.” A-Yeon smiled, her violet eyes sparkling. “There’s no real difference right now.”
“Your name?”
“A-Yeon.”
She gave a provocative smile.
“And Eunra.”
The name of the demoness fused with A-Yeon appeared to be Eunra.
“Then Lady A-Yeon is still in there.”
“That’s right.”
“Then I’ll ask, assuming Lady A-Yeon can hear me.”
Bu Eunseol asked calmly, “Have you changed your mind?”
“Does it look like I have?”
“Then why show yourself so boldly before me? You couldn’t have been unaware I was guarding this place.”
A-Yeon smiled faintly.
“Who knows.”
“You must have a better plan.”
“You caught me.” A-Yeon said playfully. “You’re actually a young demonic master, aren’t you? There’s no need for us to fight directly.”
She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a pale forearm.
“I’ve already spread word to the Martial Alliance that you’ve ruined my body.”
The Sword Pavilion only accepts pure maidens, marking their arms with the Palace Guardian Cinnabar.
That mark can only be removed through union between man and woman—yet her arm was spotless.
“I told the Sword Pavilion too. That you lusted after my body, yet treated me like a madwoman and tried to capture me.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol understand why the Sword Pavilion’s response had been so cold.
Every disciple knew A-Yeon harbored feelings for him.
Even if they wanted to believe Bu Eunseol, with the cinnabar gone, they couldn’t help but believe her.
“I’m looking forward to it—how you’ll prove your innocence.”
No one would dare ask Bu Eunseol to his face if he had stolen a Sword Pavilion disciple’s chastity.
But if A-Yeon spread the rumor across the martial world with a sorrowful expression?
Regardless of the truth, Bu Eunseol’s reputation would plummet.
“Why would I bother proving anything?” Bu Eunseol smiled faintly. “You’ve already proven it for me.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, he turned around.
From among the trees, dozens of shadows emerged.
It was Ok Yuha and the disciples she had carefully trained over the years.
“How…”
The Sword Pavilion’s location and movements were already completely in Clear River Realm’s grasp with their aid.
How had Bu Eunseol brought them here without a trace?
And how had they hidden, deceiving even her superhuman senses?
“If you were the real Lady A-Yeon, you wouldn’t have devised such a shoddy plan. You’d know it wouldn’t work on me.”
Over time, Bu Eunseol had lost precious people to the Three Realms and witnessed all their filthy methods.
If A-Yeon were in her right mind, she would have known such a plan could never succeed.
But Eunra’s personality failed to recognize that and devised this crude scheme.
“Those stained by evil believe they can win simply by exploiting weaknesses. That’s why you failed to notice the Sword Pavilion’s reaction—or my plan.”
A-Yeon merely glared coldly, saying nothing.
Through her dual personality, she unhesitatingly employed vile and insidious tactics… but such ploys did not work on Bu Eunseol.
In other words, A-Yeon’s personality was not aiding her.
“Good.”
A-Yeon smiled icily.
“Then I’ll just sweep you all away.”
Whoosh!
Drawing her sword in an instant, A-Yeon unleashed dozens of strands of sword qi toward Bu Eunseol.
Ok Yuha stepped forward in front of him.
Swish.
With a light flick of her sleeve, the sword qi A-Yeon had sent melted away like snow.
“A-Yeon. I know you can hear me.” Ok Yuha spoke earnestly. “You are strong. No matter the situation, hold onto your consciousness…”
Whoosh!
Her words were cut short.
A-Yeon had instantly slashed sword qi across her cheek.
“So much chatter.”
Shing.
Ok Yuha drew her sword.
“My Lord. She is a disciple of our pavilion—I’ll handle her myself.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
From the beginning, having the Sword Pavilion subdue and take her was the best outcome.
“Form the Saint-Slaying Responsive Transformation Sword Array!”
At Ok Yuha’s command, thirty disciples moved like scattered petals, and encircled A-Yeon.
Most sword arrays aim to subdue the enemy.
But the Saint-Slaying Responsive Transformation Sword Array was different.
Unlike other Sword Pavilion arrays, it was created solely for killing.
“Talking about your precious disciple, yet deploying a killing array in the end.”
As A-Yeon shouted coldly, Ok Yuha replied calmly, “With your swordsmanship enhanced to this degree, how could we attempt a half-hearted capture?”
Clang clang clang!
Meanwhile, the circular formation expanded and contracted repeatedly, the array unfolding chaotically.
Yet A-Yeon’s swordsmanship was flawless in every move.
Even standing at the center of the Saint-Slaying Responsive Transformation Sword Array, which absorbed all external force, her sword power did not diminish at all.
“You thought you could catch me with this pathetic excuse for an array!”
Unaffected by the array’s effects, she began felling Sword Pavilion disciples one by one.
“Ahh!”
Short screams rang out in succession as the formation began collapsing uncontrollably.
“Stop!”
Finally, Ok Yuha roared and stepped forward.
Clang clang clang clang!
As the two master and disciple clashed swords at the array’s center, a storm erupted in all directions, and waves of true qi soared to the heavens.
“You think you can subdue me with such inner force?”
A-Yeon wore a cold smile.
Ok Yuha’s swordsmanship was superb, but her inner force was far too weak.
It had greatly diminished after performing the Green Veil Flower Charm Great Method while awaiting the Seven-Finger Demon Blade Bu Zhanyang.
Slash!
In the end, A-Yeon’s sword spun widely and sliced toward Ok Yuha’s throat in one stroke.
Clang!
Ok Yuha blocked repeatedly but was steadily pushed back step by step. She could not withstand the overwhelming power in A-Yeon’s sword.
Yet Ok Yuha paid it no mind and continued exchanging blows with A-Yeon.
Clang clang clang!
They had already traded over forty moves.
Ok Yuha kept retreating, but her expression remained calm.
In contrast, A-Yeon—pressing forward and seizing the advantage—grew increasingly distorted.
“How?”
Focus faded from A-Yeon’s eyes.
Ok Yuha’s swordsmanship was neither perfect nor powerful. Yet the more they clashed, the more it exposed flaws in her own flawless technique.
“You cannot fully control your mind.” Ok Yuha smiled coldly.
She sensed that the evil personality had not completely dominated the spirit—A-Yeon’s personality lay dormant within.
With each exchange, A-Yeon’s body was instinctively reacting to Ok Yuha’s moves.
“Don’t make me laugh!” A-Yeon shouted loudly and unleashed another flawless sword technique.
Thud thud thud!
The gap in inner force was vast, yet Ok Yuha’s swordsmanship had reached Still Mind, Solid Hand.
Regardless of power, she could dismantle any technique.
Watching from afar, Bu Eunseol could not help but marvel.
‘As expected.’
The Sword Pavilion, as the orthodox sword sect, had long protected the martial world. Whenever trouble arose, sending down a single sword-wielding disciple resolved countless issues.
That was only possible because of their extraordinary swordsmanship.
‘So that’s why they put such effort into choosing an heir.’
The profound meaning of Sword Pavilion swordsmanship could be summed up in one word: stillness.
From tranquility, they unleashed the pinnacle of the sword and defended, thereby attacking the enemy.
Having regained clear mindedness, Ok Yuha poured out the highest swordsmanship of the Sword Pavilion—Dreamlike Enlightenment Sword—without reservation.
A-Yeon’s body, eroded by the demoness Eunra, gradually responded to her technique.
Whirr.
As Ok Yuha’s sword gently spun and wrapped around A-Yeon’s,
Clang—a clear sword cry rang out, and A-Yeon’s blade was flung away.
Step.
Ok Yuha aimed her long sword at A-Yeon’s throat.
“Remember the times you trained swordsmanship with this master.”
A sharp light gleamed in Ok Yuha’s eyes, and a transparent aura spread from her body.
It was a kind of mind sword.
Striking directly at her spirit, attempting to awaken the A-Yeon within.
“M-Master.”
For a moment, A-Yeon’s eyes wavered like ripples.
At the same time, her violet-tinged lips and eyes began returning to their original color.
Thanks to Ok Yuha’s mind sword, she had finally regained her senses.
“Are you coming to your senses?”
“Master.” A-Yeon approached with a trembling voice and knelt. “With Master’s help, this disciple… has only now been able to dispel the delusion in her heart and awaken.”
Ok Yuha let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
“Thank goodness…”
But her words did not continue.
Stab.
A-Yeon, still kneeling, suddenly drew a dagger from her sleeve and plunged it into Ok Yuha’s lower abdomen.
“She’s already gone, I told you.”
A sinister laugh burst from A-Yeon’s mouth.
She had not truly regained her senses.
To exploit Ok Yuha’s opening, she had merely pretended to awaken.
Flash!
At that moment, brilliant sword light cleaved between A-Yeon and Ok Yuha.
Unable to watch any longer, Bu Eunseol had finally made his move.
[i] He means the part where he rejected going on to the next martial level in order to forge his own path.
