“Ugh…”
Seok Chi-haeng bit his lip.
The sword energy created by Bu Eunseol still encircled him, perfectly mirroring his own posture.
If he moved even slightly, those razor-sharp strands would instantly envelop his body.
“Surrender.”
After neutralizing Seok Chi-haeng’s move, Bu Eunseol had not unleashed the sword energy shaped in the man’s form—instead, he held it suspended in midair, using his terrifying inner force.
Tremble.
Bu Eunseol’s hand, gripping the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, shook lightly.
Even with his immense inner force, maintaining the Heon Won Bright Sword sword energy for long was straining.
“Surrender, you say…”
Seok Chi-haeng’s eyes, momentarily blank, suddenly burned with deep resentment.
“I haven’t even taken my revenge—how can you ask me to surrender!”
Without hesitation, he stepped straight through the transparent sword energy surrounding him.
Slash!
As he passed through the sword energy shaped like himself, bright red blood sprayed from his back.
The bloodstains on the ground perfectly traced his posture as well.
Heon Won Bright Sword.
The profound essence of this transcendent sword art, which contained all changes in the world, was to create sword energy perfectly modeled after the enemy’s body and movements—
An absolute sword move that could neither be evaded nor blocked. Once struck, survival was impossible.
“I will definitely kill you!”
Fortunately, thanks to the black elixir he had drunk earlier, Seok Chi-haeng did not die instantly.
There were no side effects; he retained his sanity. If anything, his mind felt clearer than before.
Yet… his thirst for vengeance remained undiminished.
Boom!
An explosive sound erupted from Seok Chi-haeng’s body.
He was squeezing out the very last drop of his life force to land one final blow on Bu Eunseol.
Crack.
Yet a strange cracking sound echoed from his body.
At the same moment,
Crunch.
His once-hardened, glossy black body began to shrivel.
Even the flesh strengthened by the black elixir could not withstand the Heon Won Bright Sword sword energy; collapse had begun from within.
Thud.
In the end, he fell to his knees.
His body was slowly dying, yet his eyes still blazed with resentment.
“Why!”
Seok Chi-haeng spat blood as he shouted.
“Why did you destroy that place! Why!”
‘She wished for it herself.’
Seeing that Seok Chi-haeng had regained enough clarity to converse, Bu Eunseol sent a compassionate transmission.
‘Everyone in Ancient Sword Forest, including her, longed for death. They said they had lived far too long…’
He briefly explained the events of that time.
Hearing the full story through transmission, Seok Chi-haeng’s eyes turned strange.
He could not witness Ancient Sword Forest’s fall with his own eyes, but he instinctively knew Bu Eunseol spoke the truth.
‘So that’s how it was.’
He had thought this young bastard had cruelly killed the woman he loved and destroyed the tower…
But in reality, she had brought it all down herself.
“Haha.”
Seok Chi-haeng let out a hollow laugh.
With his resentment gone, he finally understood.
He had been content simply to remain by her side for so long—he had desired nothing more.
Yet throughout those endless years… he had failed to notice what the woman he loved truly wished for.
“I adored her so deeply, yet I never grasped what she truly wanted…”
Regret filled Seok Chi-haeng’s face as he gazed at the distant sky, his mind now completely clear.
“After paying for my sins in hell…”
He murmured softly, as if making a vow.
“I will be reborn by her side once more. Whether it takes a hundred years or a thousand… forever.”
Though they had not been united in this life, Seok Chi-haeng swore that through countless rebirths and reincarnations…
He would return to her side.
Thump.
With an expression free of regrets, he closed his eyes.
That was the final moment of Seok Chi-haeng, the Fist King of the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
***
—The Fist King, who had rampaged in slaughter, was felled by Seon Woojin, a first-rank captain of the Martial Alliance!
A great upheaval swept the martial world.
Following the heir to Majeon, Bu Eunseol, who at a young age single-handedly slew the Beggar King…
Seon Woojin, a first-rank captain from the merchant world and Martial Alliance, had now single-handedly slain the Fist King, who had fallen into bloodlust and massacred martial artists.
—Who on earth is Seon Woojin?
The martial world was stunned.
Seon Woojin had only earned great merits within the Martial Alliance; he was hardly renowned in the wider martial world.
Usually, masters who shocked the world made their names known from childhood.
But for someone nearly unknown like Seon Woojin to defeat the Fist King, the martial world reeled in shock.
—Investigate him!
Everyone rushed to uncover details about Seon Woojin.
Soon, astonishing facts emerged.
He was unknown only in the wider martial world.
Within the Martial Alliance, he had repeatedly achieved massive feats, rising to first-rank captain in record time—a new-generation grandmaster.
—He felled Seok Chi-haeng in a single strike with terrifying swordsmanship.
—A Sword King! A new ascension to the Four Gods and Seven Kings!
Seon Woojin. His name now shook the martial world.
Martial Alliance, Silver Moon Pavilion. Gongsun Dankyung’s office.
“You did it.”
Gongsun Dankyung could not hide her amazement as she looked at the returned Bu Eunseol.
She had suspected that Seon Woojin had always concealed roughly half his true strength, but to single-handedly defeat Seok Chi-haeng—an absolute master on par with the Palm King Yuk Jangcheon—in front of countless martial artists…
And instantly ascend to the Four Gods and Seven Kings?
“It was merely good luck.”
Bu Eunseol replied calmly.
“In truth, he was consumed by bloodlust, so while his martial power was immense, its subtlety had greatly diminished.”
“I see.”
Gongsun Dankyung smiled faintly.
Even if a master like Seok Chi-haeng suffered from bloodlust and even if the subtlety of his arts had somewhat declined, he was not someone who could be defeated by luck alone.
“With this, you should qualify as a candidate for Commander.”
“Of course. More than enough.”
Seon Woojin had proven outstanding strategy, military tactics, and command through numerous missions and now he had defeated the Fist King Seok Chi-haeng.
No one could object to placing him as a Commander candidate.
The gossip-loving experts of the martial world were even saying:
If Majeon has the Martial Soul Command Lord as heir, then the Martial Alliance now has Seon Woojin as its representative new-generation grandmaster.
“It was extremely close, though.”
Gongsun Dankyung took a deep breath.
“The meeting to select the successor to the Martial Heaven Commander begins in two days. Captain Baek has already become Heavenly Order Hall Leader under the Elders’ Council, and Hall Leader Yuk has finished his underground preparations to become a candidate.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Bu Eunseol also exhaled heavily.
If the Fist King had not turned into a killing demon at exactly this moment, and if the Death Spirit Corps and Supreme Corps had not detected it immediately?
Becoming a candidate would have been impossible.
‘The Divine Mountain Sage, Martial Venerable. He truly cannot be trusted.’
He had once considered the Divine Mountain Sage an ally of sorts… but this incident made it clear.
There were no true allies within the Martial Alliance.
If it no longer served their interests, one could be abandoned—or must be ready to abandon—at any moment.
“I know.” Gongsun Dankyung sighed, seeing the coldness settle in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. “But the elder is striving to protect the righteous martial world. He works in secret, so he must have burdens he cannot speak of.”
Bu Eunseol immediately defended himself.
“I merely considered who among the factions or individuals might trouble the Alliance Lord.”
Martial Venerable’s current identity was the Martial Alliance Lord.
Thus, those capable of troubling him were extremely limited.
“That’s impossible to know. But don’t worry.”
As the mood grew heavy, she quickly changed the subject.
“If Captain Seon becomes Commander, you’ll no longer need to mind anyone’s gaze—you can freely display your talents.”
“Then I no longer need to worry about the candidacy selection?”
“Ah, there is one thing.”
Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes sparkled.
“Captain Seon—your true sect origin.”
Seon Woojin’s foundational martial arts were known to stem from the outsider master the Boundless Master.
But after killing the Fist King, that story had become absurd.
“The Martial Emperor.”
Bu Eunseol continued the explanation he had prepared.
“I accidentally unlocked the Martial Emperor’s secret repository.”
“The Martial Emperor among the Eight Emperors and Three Stars… you mean?”
“Yes.”
He had planned this from the moment he killed Seok Chi-haeng.
By setting Seon Woojin’s martial origin as the Martial Emperor, not only would he gain another true technique besides Heon Won Bright Sword, but no one could question him even if he mixed various orthodox martial arts.
“So that’s why.”
Gongsun Dankyung nodded.
The abnormal level of Seon Woojin’s martial arts now made perfect sense with the single word “Martial Emperor.”
“No other issues?”
“Of course not.” Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes gleamed. “I met many people for this, spent enormous sums, and mobilized countless intelligence networks.”
She smiled prettily.
“I hope Captain Seon appreciates that.”
After the Solitary Enlightenment Hall secret passage incident, she no longer showed any suspicion toward Bu Eunseol and had promised they were in the same boat.
To prove it, she never once acted doubtfully and this time, she had done her utmost in underground work to raise him as a Commander candidate.
“I look forward to the meeting’s outcome.”
Gongsun Dankyung nodded with a smile at Bu Eunseol’s words.
“Then let us meet at the conference in two days.”
Two days later, Justice Pavilion. Grand conference hall.
Present were Vice Alliance Lord Buk Ri-seong and Chief Inspector Gongsun Dankyung, along with the heads of the Hall, Garden, Pavilion, Forest, and Tower organizations and hall-leader-level figures.
The Commanders who were obviously ineligible to participate in selection were absent.
Since the Dragon Coiling Hall leader position remained vacant, Yuk Cheongah attended in his stead.
In effect, this was nearly a grand council meeting—only the Alliance Leader and current Commanders were missing.
“We will now formally select the candidates for the next Martial Heaven Commander.”
At Buk Ri-seong’s words, everyone took a deep breath, eyes gleaming.
The Seven Great Divisions symbolized the Martial Alliance’s power.
They were about to officially choose candidates to succeed the Martial Heaven Commander.
“If anyone wishes to nominate themselves or another for Martial Heaven Commander candidate, speak now.”
At Buk Ri-seong’s prompt, the senior figures exchanged glances.
All present were heads of organizations or held hall-leader status so every one of them technically qualified for Martial Heaven Commander.
Yet the position required not only martial and literary prowess but also mastery of strategy and command.
Among the current organization heads, only one had proven capability worthy of the role.
“I nominate the Ascendant Martial Hall Leader.”
Yuk Cheongah, acting vice leader of Dragon Coiling Hall Hall, spoke while looking at Buk Ri-seong.
“Hall Leader Yuk’s martial renown needs no mention, and the Ascendant Hall was once the place that trained our Alliance’s lower-ranked warriors. Even after reorganization, it has earned the most merits within the Alliance.”
Everyone nodded at her words.
With Dragon Coiling Hall Leader Yong Myeong absent, the only suitable candidate was Yuk Jangcheon.
“We will decide on candidacy registration by raise of hands.”
Buk Ri-seong spoke calmly.
“Those in favor of Ascendant Martial Hall Leader becoming Martial Heaven Commander candidate, please raise your hand.”
At that, roughly half the room raised their hands.
Watching, Yuk Jangcheon inwardly sighed in relief.
The connections and favors he had cultivated were paying off.
“Good. Ascendant Martial Hall Leader is hereby officially a Martial Heaven Commander candidate.”
‘It worked.’
Yuk Jangcheon inwardly cheered.
No one else could realistically be called a candidate.
If he stood alone, there would be no need for lengthy verification—he could be appointed immediately.
“Are there no other candidates?”
Silence filled the hall, and Yuk Jangcheon felt like dancing with joy.
But then a low voice rang out.
“I nominate Heavenly Order Hall Leader Baek Museong.”
It was Hwa Munseong, leader of Cheonhye Garden.
Pointing to Baek Museong seated in the corner, he continued.
“Hall Leader Baek possesses more than enough ability to become Martial Heaven Commander.”
At that, the Gyojin Pavilion Leader Yu Jeongbong frowned.
“He lacks the qualifications to be a candidate.”
“Lacks? Captain Baek captured Hyeok Ryeon-eung, one of Majeon’s ringleaders, earning him the position of Heavenly Order Hall Leader under the Elders’ Council.”
Yu Jeong-bong frowned again at Hwa Munseong’s words.
“But that is merely a nominal qualification. There is no precedent of a hall-leader-level figure rising to Commander.”
Though rules allowed hall-leader-level and above to qualify, in practice, only those of higher status had ever become Commander.
“As long as it doesn’t violate Alliance regulations, what’s the problem?” Hwa Munseong swept his gaze across the room. “Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s hands were stained with the blood of countless orthodox warriors. That merit alone qualifies him as a candidate, I believe.”
Everyone nodded.
Hyeok Ryeon-eung.
He had slaughtered numerous orthodox heroes.
The righteous faction gnashed their teeth, but when he suddenly joined Majeon and rose to elder, they could not touch him.
Yet an opportunity returned.
Hyeok Ryeon-eung became a traitor to Majeon and was hunted by demonic forces.
The Martial Alliance mobilized every intelligence network but failed to locate him.
Then Baek Museong, wandering the martial world, found and beheaded him.
That merit was undeniably enormous.
“Moreover, Hall Leader Baek is the disciple of the Buddha Venerable and has done much good in the martial world. As a leader in our Alliance, he has proven his ability to command and lead large forces through numerous missions.”
Clearing his throat, Hwa Munseong continued.
“Even Majeon appointed the unknown new star Martial Soul Command Lord as successor. There is no rule saying our Alliance cannot produce a young Commander.”
Suddenly looking at Gongsun Dankyung, he added, “Our Alliance has long tended to underestimate the abilities of young talents.”
At that, everyone followed his gaze to Gongsun Dankyung.
Initially, many grumbled that her appointment as Chief Inspector was the Alliance Lord’s unilateral decision, but seeing her perform, she proved among the most capable administrators in history.
Considering this, even the seniors obsessed with factional balance and status were gradually feeling the need to eliminate the Alliance’s ills and bring renewal.
“Very well. We will decide by raise of hands.”
Buk Ri-seong finally gave approval.
Watching, Yuk Jangcheon smirked inwardly.
No matter how talented, the Martial Alliance ultimately ran on connections and factional balance.
They would never elevate a young figure like Baek Museong to candidacy.
‘What?’
Looking around the hall, Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes widened.
An unexpected result had emerged.
‘Unanimous?’
Even the Gyojin Pavilion Leader Yu Jeongbong, who had opposed earlier, was now in favor.
‘He pretended to object on purpose.’
Yu Jeongbong had not hindered Hwa Munseong’s argument—
He had merely spoken to draw out the justification for Baek Museong’s candidacy.
‘But unanimous?’
That meant Baek Museong had prepared and laid groundwork for candidacy long before returning to the Alliance.
‘I suppose it can’t be helped.’
He had somewhat anticipated this when Baek Museong returned with Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s head.
“Then two candidates will suffice?”
As Buk Ri-seong scanned the room—
“I too have a nomination.”
Gongsun Dankyung stepped forward with a clear voice.
“I nominate Captain Seon as a Commander candidate.”
Murmur.
The hall buzzed at the sudden statement.
“Chief Inspector.”
Jaegyeong Pavilion Leader Geon Myeong shook his head.
“He is a first-rank captain, not even at hall-leader level.”
“He is the same as Hall Leader Baek.”
Gongsun Dankyung replied calmly.
“Captain Seon recently slew the Fist King turned slaughterer, earning great merit. At a young age, he ascended to the Four Gods and Seven Kings.”
She looked around calmly.
“As I mentioned, he is also the successor to the Martial Emperor.”
In truth, within the Martial Alliance, Seon Woojin killing the Fist King had seemed too implausible to believe but according to Gongsun Dankyung’s report, before becoming first-rank captain, he had accidentally inherited the Martial Emperor’s true teachings and kept them hidden until now.
Vice Alliance Lord Buk Ri-seong immediately verified the claim and confirmed that Seon Woojin had indeed mastered the Martial Emperor’s secret arts.
“Without going through the general hall leader meeting, I issued a Chief Inspector order promoting him to hall-leader level. His qualifications are sufficient.”
The room fell silent.
If Baek Museong qualified, it made no sense to exclude Seon Woojin.
“But that is merely the Chief Inspector’s opinion, is it not?” Yuk Jangcheon said calmly. “He is a leader under my hall. I have no intention of placing Captain Seon as a candidate.”
“I told you—he was promoted to hall-leader level by a Chief Inspector order.”
“Surely not.”
“It’s true. A new intelligence organization was recently created under the Chief Inspector Pavilion. Through the Chief Inspector order, Captain Seon and the entire Supreme Corps were transferred.”
Yuk Jangcheon’s expression hardened.
As Chief Inspector, Gongsun Dankyung held personnel authority over hall leaders.
Especially when vacancies arose in the Chief Inspector Pavilion, she could use Chief Inspector order to bring in anyone from any organization except the Seven Great Divisions.
Yet no previous Chief Inspector had ever exercised it to fill vacancies without the original organization head’s consent.
The Chief Inspector Pavilion naturally attracted the most talented administrators.
Moreover, given the Alliance’s nature—run on factional balance and connections—absorbing an entire organization via Chief Inspector order could damage harmony among the leadership.
“Even so, you should have at least informed me beforehand.”
“I hope Hall Leader Yuk will generously understand. It was an extremely urgent matter.”
“Urgent, you say?”
“The elimination of the Fist King turned slaughterer. It was executed as an emergency operation by my operatives.” Gongsun Dankyung said calmly. “I intended to seek your understanding afterward, but you have been frequently absent lately.”
Yuk Jangcheon had been constantly working underground for this candidacy meeting.
He had no time to leisurely remain at the Ascendant Martial Hall.
“Captain Seon leads the Supreme Corps, acquiring martial world news faster than anyone and acting immediately. That would be impossible at the Ascendant Martial Hall…”
“Very well.”
Yuk Jangcheon cut her off.
If he continued arguing with Gongsun Dankyung, it would appear as if he was suppressing a talented young master to secure his own position.
“I acknowledge Captain Seon as part of the Chief Inspector Pavilion.”
“Then may we place him as a candidate?”
“Today’s meeting has been exercising many nominal rights directly.”
At Yuk Jangcheon’s sarcastic remark, Gongsun Dankyung smiled.
“If Hall Leader Yuk opposes, I will not proceed with this.”
“Perish the thought. I gladly consent to Captain Seon becoming a candidate.”
Yuk Jangcheon smirked inwardly.
In fact, following Yuk Cheongah’s advice—who had predicted this—he had already swayed the seniors.
The Alliance seniors were extremely wary of placing young talents in high positions.
Baek Museong was an exception.
As a Shaolin graduate who had built deep ties with seniors from childhood, he was incomparable to Seon Woojin.
“Very well. Let us vote by raise of hands.”
As Buk Ri-seong scanned the room, Yuk Jangcheon smiled.
No one would permit Seon Woojin.
Whoosh.
Yet something strange happened.
Hands began rising one by one—soon nearing a majority.
Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes widened.
How could Seon Woojin garner such support?
‘The Chief Inspector pulled strings after all.’
Yuk Jangcheon bit his lip.
Yuk Cheongah had been right. From long ago—no, from the very beginning,
She had intended to make Seon Woojin the Martial Heaven Commander.
“Hmm. Two short.”
At that moment, Buk Ri-seong murmured while looking around.
Exactly two votes shy of a majority.
‘Semyeong Hall Leader, Seong Pavilion Leader.’
Gongsun Dankyung looked at the two who had not raised their hands.
Originally, she had arranged underground support so that exactly a majority would back Seon Woojin.
Few seniors genuinely supported him yet.
More than a majority would make her influence far too obvious.
Yet Se Myeong Hall Leader and the Seong Pavilion Leader—whom she had won over—had broken their promise and kept their hands down.
“Regrettably, Captain Seon becoming a candidate…”
As Buk Ri-seong began to speak,
Swish.
A figure seated at the very back raised his hand.
“I support him.”
It was Baek Museong.
