“No need to be so shocked.”
She smiled softly as she spoke.
“We’re trying to make them, but we haven’t succeeded yet.”
“…”
“Black Divine Artifacts have existed since the primordial beginning. They aren’t things that humans could have created in the first place.” She said it with an indifferent expression. “We’re researching ways to recreate them. But so far, we haven’t succeeded.”
Bu Eunseol could not understand it. Why was she so readily revealing such secrets to him?
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Are you done with your questions?”
If he said yes, she seemed ready to unleash a barrage of her own.
Bu Eunseol immediately asked again.
“Who are you? What is your position here?”
“My name is Biyeon. I research Black Divine Artifacts in this place…”
She continued calmly.
“And I’m trying to bring this place down.”
Bu Eunseol wore a complicated expression.
“Why do you want to destroy it?”
“Because it must be destroyed.”
The woman—Biyeon—spoke serenely.
“From the look of it, you seem to know a lot about Black Divine Artifacts. Would you really want more of those terrifying artifacts to exist?”
In that moment, a thought struck Bu Eunseol.
“There isn’t just one Ancient Sword Forest.”
“Hmm. You really are clever.” Biyeon gazed out the window at the forest as she spoke. “There are Ancient Sword Forests scattered across various places in the Central Plains. Each one is independently researching Black Divine Artifacts.”
“Who is the Forest Lord of the Ancient Sword Forest? Why are they trying to create Black Divine Artifacts?”
“Well…” She answered nonchalantly. “It’s different for each Ancient Sword Forest.”
Bu Eunseol was about to say something when he suddenly noticed the dense scars covering Biyeon’s nape.
“Were you perhaps forcibly brought here?”
“You think I’m seeking revenge because I was dragged here against my will?”
“Is that not it?”
“No, that’s not it.” Biyeon said calmly. “I told you. This place simply needs to be destroyed.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s my goal.”
Biyeon’s eyes looked somewhat forlorn.
“So that’s why you helped me?”
“Yes. I thought you had come here to destroy it.”
“I truly didn’t even know what this place was. And even if I were to destroy it, I don’t wish for innocent people to be harmed.”
She stood up and brought her face close to Bu Eunseol’s disguised as Seok Chi-haeng.
“Innocent people?”
Her gleaming eyes drew near enough to meet his own.
“Among the martial artists who live drenched in blood, there are no such people.”
“…”
“Martial artists spend their lives fighting others, sometimes even taking lives.” Biyeon spoke in an utterly cold voice. “Once one learns martial arts—weapons meant to harm others—no one is free of wrongdoing or fault.”
Bu Eunseol unknowingly nodded.
“I generally agree with that. But…”
Step, step.
At that moment, heavy footsteps sounded from outside.
Biyeon’s eyes sparkled, and she suddenly grabbed a mask standing to the side.
“Put this on.” Whispering low but urgently, she thrust a perfectly spherical iron mask toward Bu Eunseol. “And don’t say a single word.”
Creak.
The door opened.
Without hesitation, Bu Eunseol quickly pulled the iron mask over his head.
Instantly, a pungent stench of blood assaulted his nose, and a stinging pain pricked his neck.
“What are you doing?”
The man who entered was so massive that passing through the wide door seemed difficult.
Looking at him through the mask’s openings, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
The face of this gigantic man—was it not covered in thick, long hair so dense that even calling it “furry” felt insufficient?
“What brings you here?”
When Biyeon asked, the furry man sniffed the air, then approached Bu Eunseol standing to the side.
“I smelled something unfamiliar.”
The man’s height far exceeded seven feet, enough to look down at the masked Bu Eunseol.
“Who’s this guy?”
“I asked to have him brought in. I wanted to try a new approach.”
“No more.” The man bared sharp fangs as he spoke. “What do you plan to do by increasing the number of Ghost Children? Anyway…”
“He’s not a Ghost Child.” Biyeon confidently pointed at Bu Eunseol. “See for yourself.”
The man tilted his head, then stepped closer to Bu Eunseol. He leaned in and intently examined Bu Eunseol’s eyes through the iron mask.
“What is this?” The man opened his mouth in surprise. “You actually completed it?”
“To a certain extent. Don’t you see the possibility of success?”
“Heh heh heh.” The man let out a hearty laugh and nodded. “Good. Good.”
Grinning and nodding, the man then let out a long sigh.
“It really feels like the end is in sight.”
It was strange.
His eyes were smiling, yet the furry man’s gaze seemed tearful.
Joy and sorrow.
He was displaying two opposing emotions at once.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Yes.”
The furry man left the building.
Once he was gone, Bu Eunseol tried to remove the iron mask clinging to his head.
But it would not come off.
As if connected to the nerves around his neck, forcing it caused waves of pain.
“How do I take this off?”
When Bu Eunseol asked, Biyeon shook her head.
“Don’t remove it for a while. If you want to stay here.”
“You’re saying not to take it off?”
“You’re planning to spy anyway, aren’t you? As long as you wear that, no one will say anything.”
“Now that you mention it, I was curious.” Recalling that everyone in this forest wore iron masks of various geometric shapes, Bu Eunseol asked. “Why does everyone here wear such bizarre masks?”
“For identification, defense against mind-control arts, and control of power.”
Identification and protection from mind-control arts made sense.
But what did “control of power” mean?
“What does control of power mean?”
“Are you going to keep chatting with me? Don’t you need to look around quickly if you want to destroy this place?”
At Biyeon’s words, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“I’ll spy, but destroying it comes later. I might not even have the ability to destroy it.”
“Smart and humble too.”
Biyeon shrugged.
“First, look around. Then you’ll find your answer.”
“Understood.” Bu Eunseol cupped his hands. “And thank you.”
Aside from demanding he destroy the Ancient Sword Forest, everything Biyeon said was reasonable. Above all, she was helping him spy effectively.
She was showing considerable kindness in her own way.
“Then I’ll go explore the interior a bit.”
“Yes, look as much as you want and come back here. But don’t go up the tower yet.”
“Why not?”
“If you try, you’ll be in serious trouble. Your identity will be exposed.” She smiled. “Anyway, just looking around the forest will be enough for you to make up your mind.”
“Make up my mind about what?”
“Just look around first.” Biyeon spoke confidently, as if seeing the future. “Then you’ll understand.”
“Understood.”
Bu Eunseol immediately stepped outside and thoroughly examined the interior of the Ancient Sword Forest.
In this bizarre forest cut off from the world, only trees, exotic flowers and plants, and masked people wandered about.
‘A formation?’
No matter how far he went, the forest scenery repeated.
Most of the mushroom-shaped trees and buildings resembled Biyeon’s dwelling, and faint smoke invariably rose from them.
‘Each one of those places is researching Black Divine Artifacts.’
Observing the forest scenery closely while masked, Bu Eunseol suddenly frowned.
A thick scent of blood continuously wafted from somewhere.
‘This is strange.’
How exactly were they creating Black Divine Artifacts in this forest? Why were there so many of those mushroom-shaped trees?
“…”
Bu Eunseol carefully examined the buildings fused with the trees scattered throughout.
The scent of blood grew stronger, and a strange energy could be felt.
He gathered energy at his fingertips and peeled away the outer surface of one tree.
Inside the gap were countless severed hands, legs, and eyeballs piled high. Moreover, whether subjected to some great art or pickled in drugs, all the dismembered limbs and eyes were dyed black.
‘All of these…’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes trembled as he looked around.
If every mushroom-shaped tree densely packed throughout this vast forest was filled with human remains?
Then the Ancient Sword Forest had slaughtered at least tens of thousands of lives.
Grind.
Long streaks of bloodlust rose in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
―You’ll understand once you look around.
Recalling Biyeon’s words, Bu Eunseol immediately used his qinggong to return to her dwelling.
Crash.
He burst through the door roughly, and Biyeon stared at him as if she had been waiting.
“That’s some intense killing intent.”
“Why on earth.” Bu Eunseol spat out each word as if chewing it. “Why are you doing such things?”
Biyeon answered with an indifferent expression.
“I told you. To create Black Divine Artifacts.”
“The materials are human beings?”
“Just one of the ingredients.” Biyeon spoke with utter calm. “Black Divine Artifacts are divine artifacts that grant power transcending human limits simply by possessing them. Did you think they could be made easily?”
The Three Realms treated human life lightly, harming others without hesitation to achieve their goals.
And the Ancient Sword Forest, belonging to the forces of the abyss, was the same.
They were trying to create Black Divine Artifacts by killing countless people.
Fwoosh.
Flames ignited in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
In the end, there was no good in the martial world.
Neither Majeon nor the Martial Alliance.
Neither the Three Realms nor the Ancient Sword Forest.
They all killed innocent people for different purposes.
The martial world was ultimately a hell filled with demons.
“I told you.” Biyeon, reading Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts, spoke calmly. “There are no innocent people among martial artists.”
“Did you participate in their deaths?”
“What? You think I didn’t?”
Sizzle.
As Bu Eunseol extended his fingertips, flames erupted, splitting the workbench laden with metal into two pieces. His diminished inner energy surged back from anger, drawing forth the Yeolha Great True Energy hot enough to melt iron.
“I won’t ask twice.”
Biyeon gazed steadily at Bu Eunseol with silent eyes.
“Who would tell the truth if threatened like that?” She took a deep breath and shook her head. “No, I didn’t. Everyone in this forest is the same. We were all too busy researching Black Divine Artifacts.”
Then, in a low voice, she continued. “But preserving them in that state was all done by the Hidden Abyss People.”
“Hidden Abyss People.”
“Yes. They pickled the severed limbs using special great arts.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed.
Hidden Abyss People.
The term for the abyssal forces or individuals lurking hidden throughout the Central Plains—spoken from Biyeon’s mouth?
Then did that mean this Ancient Sword Forest was ultimately connected to the Clear River Realm?
‘It can’t be a mere coincidence in terminology.’
“What exactly are these Hidden Abyss People? What connection does the Ancient Sword Forest have to the Clear River Realm?”
From her eyes, her claim of not participating in the killings seemed truthful.
Thus, Bu Eunseol asked again politely, though his killing intent did not subside.
“Answer clearly.”
Even if Biyeon hadn’t personally abducted and killed people, the fact that human bodies were used as tools remained unchanged.
If she spouted nonsense, he intended to strike her neck immediately.
“I don’t know about the Clear River Realm. But the Infinite Realm has constantly clashed with this forest.”
“Why do they clash?”
“Well…”
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol pressed a finger charged with Yeolha Great True Energy against Biyeon’s forehead.
“I need to know.”
“If you want to kill me right now, that’s fine too.” Even facing the Yeolha Great True Energy hot enough to melt flesh, she showed a gentle smile. “Since you’re going to destroy the Ancient Sword Forest anyway. Right?”
Bu Eunseol’s strength faltered.
Biyeon had already transcended death.
No threat would work on her.
‘It’s better to soothe her and extract as much information as possible.’
Changing his mind, Bu Eunseol asked calmly.
“Then what about the Hidden Abyss People? What are they?”
“The Hidden Abyss People are also martial artists. Just like you all.”
It was an odd answer.
Moreover, by saying “you all,” she implied she herself was not a martial artist.
“The only difference is whether they strut openly or hide endlessly in the deepest places, never revealing themselves.”
“Hiding endlessly in the deepest places…”
Originally, Bu Eunseol had thought the term “Hidden Abyss People” referred to the abyssal forces or figures that had continued their lineage without ever showing themselves. But the Ancient Sword Forest itself was also a force that had never revealed itself to the martial world.
Thus, “Hidden Abyss People” did not collectively refer to all abyssal entities.
It was a term for a specific force or individuals.
‘If they are so secretive that even the people creating Black Divine Artifacts in the Ancient Sword Forest don’t know their identity…’
Bu Eunseol felt both absurdity and a terrifying imagination.
The Three Realms had always claimed to protect the martial world. He had often wondered what exactly they were protecting it from.
If his imagination was correct…
The Three Realms, which he had thought were constantly disrupting the world and committing evil, might actually have been protecting the martial world from the Hidden Abyss People among the abyssal forces.
Recalling A-Yeon’s words—They are hidden throughout the Central Plains. Soon… they will probably reveal themselves—Bu Eunseol wore a hollow expression.
If all these assumptions were true, not all abyssal forces in the martial world were evil; there was a separate, cruel and vicious specific force.
‘I am not the supreme of the martial world.’
Whether abyssal or Three Realms, from Bu Eunseol’s perspective, avenging his grandfather and parents was all that mattered.
He didn’t care which forces tore apart or devoured the martial world.
‘But.’
Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
The problem was that every single one of them—without exception—was harming innocent commoners.
He would rather die than stand by and watch that.
‘It disgusts me to the core.’
Saaaa.
Black energy began pouring thickly from his body.
‘The martial world seems to have no reason to exist from the start.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes darkened endlessly.
If all martial artists, all forces in the martial world, were like this…
Wouldn’t it be better to sweep them all away cleanly?
Crack.
As incomprehensible rage surged, cracking sounds echoed from his bones, and his eyes began dyeing in deep darkness.
‘The Ancient Sword Forest, the Three Realms… Majeon, the Martial Alliance—all of them…’
And that darkness began spreading uncontrollably, as if to swallow the entire world.
But then,
Flash!
Something hot surged from the Baihui acupoint at the back of his head, and an unknown energy began circulating through his body.
His mind cleared as if doused with ice water, while a warm energy filled his body instead.
It felt like someone pouring cold water over him while he gasped from severe heatstroke.
Shuuuu.
At the same time, the spreading black energy vanished completely, and Bu Eunseol’s eyes returned to normal. The energy rising from the Baihui acupoint had been implanted by the Tibetan lama in his childhood.
But realizing that would come much later.
“What are you doing?”
Bu Eunseol was wearing the iron mask.
The spreading black energy was intangible, invisible to others. Thus, to Biyeon, it merely looked as if Bu Eunseol had flinched in front of her.
‘The Three Realms and Hidden Abyss People can wait.’
Regaining his composure, Bu Eunseol spoke coldly.
“Not participating in killing commoners doesn’t erase your guilt.”
“Of course.” Biyeon showed a relaxed smile. “Did you think I meant ‘destroy the Ancient Sword Forest excluding me’?”
She thrust out her chest and said, “If you want to kill me, do it now. I don’t mind.”
An old man who has tasted both sweet and bitter in life might let go of attachment to living. But for Biyeon, who appeared barely twenty, to show such detachment from death was no easy feat.
“But if you do, destroying the Ancient Sword Forest will be difficult, so think carefully.”
‘Has she consumed the Death-Defying Wine?’
Bu Eunseol felt something strange.
Biyeon was young in appearance only. She carried the aura and attitude of an elder who could calmly accept death at any moment.
“Why did you end up creating Black Divine Artifacts here?” Bu Eunseol asked. “What circumstances led you to join a place like the Ancient Sword Forest?”
“Why? Are you worried I have some unspeakable story? Having trouble finding a reason to spare me?”
“I’m no judge.” As if struck at his core, Bu Eunseol avoided her gaze. “Everyone has circumstances they can’t speak of in life, don’t they?”
“Does it matter what circumstances I have?” Biyeon said calmly. “I’m part of a cruel organization that abducts people.”
Bu Eunseol sighed.
Biyeon was not someone who could be judged simply by good and evil. Moreover, since she constantly wished for death, there must be complicated circumstances.
“If you think so, I have nothing more to say.” Bu Eunseol steadied his mind and spoke. “Since I’ve infiltrated this far, I’ll capture people here, extract information about the Ancient Sword Forest, and…”
Yet for some reason, he could not say he would slaughter everyone here.
Though the Ancient Sword Forest had committed evil for a long time, seeing Biyeon made him feel there were special circumstances.
“You have a soft heart.” Biyeon wore a benevolent smile, as if looking at a naive grandson. “But the martial world is a place where right and wrong cannot be judged. Only the ruthless survive.”
In the past—or even moments ago when enraged—he would have thought those words absolute truth. But perhaps due to the clear energy surging from the Baihui acupoint, or because of the people he had met and bonded with in the martial world, he could no longer fully agree.
“That’s for me to decide.” Bu Eunseol immediately changed the subject. “However, abducting people and committing such atrocities means the Ancient Sword Forest must be eradicated.”
“I think so too.”
“Then where is the Forest Lord?”
“You’ll find him at the very top of that tower far away. But not now.”
“Why not?”
Biyeon said calmly. “With your level, you absolutely cannot reach the top.”
“Are there traps?”
“Yes. Those traps cannot be broken through no matter how great one’s martial arts.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle that.”
“Don’t think of bringing forces from outside.” Biyeon said firmly. “I don’t know how you got in, but infiltrating alone was only possible because you were by yourself.”
“If you had brought multiple people, you would have been discovered immediately?”
“Yes, and annihilated.” Biyeon said nonchalantly. “How many experts like you are there in the martial world?”
In short, unless at Bu Eunseol’s level—having reached the transcendent realm—any force brought would be slaughtered.
“Then how do we destroy the Ancient Sword Forest?”
“From today, stay with me day and night.”
Biyeon’s eyes sparkled like red gems.
“For one hundred days—three months and ten days. That’s all.”
“Why?”
“The Yin-Yang Great Method.”
Winking with her flushed eyes, she said playfully.
“I’ll transmit power to you through it.”
