Yellowish killing intent spread from Ak Muryeong’s eyes.
To boldly propose a joint attack together with Bu Eunseol, who possessed terrifying latent potential?
Truly, the Demon Emperor was the Demon Emperor.
Once again, he had turned a crisis into an opportunity.
‘Does he truly regard even his own life as nothing more than a game?’
‘Or has he already completed meticulous calculations proving that he can surely defeat them even if they attack together?’
‘Or perhaps, knowing full well that this youngster would refuse to join the attack, he simply intends to plant despair in my spirit at this moment?’
All sorts of thoughts swirled through Ak Muryeong’s mind.
In the end, the Demon Emperor’s actions had caused him to become divided in heart.
‘I can no longer guarantee victory.’
From the very moment the Demon Emperor proposed the joint attack, Ak Muryeong had suffered the equivalent of a blow to his spirit from the Demon Emperor’s psychological assault.
In other words, he was now beginning the fight in a disadvantaged position.
Swoosh.
At that moment, Bu Eunseol stepped forward.
Instantly, Ak Muryeong’s gaze turned terrifyingly cold.
“Do you truly believe you have the qualification to take the first move?”
Yet Bu Eunseol shook his head with an utterly innocent expression and said, “I won’t fight.”
“What?”
“Didn’t the Pavilion Lord tell me that the Demon Emperor has suffered deep injuries?”
“So?”
“It cannot be done.”
Bu Eunseol spoke in the most courteous tone and posture imaginable.
“If he uses inner energy in that condition, the Demon Emperor’s wounds may worsen… How could I possibly dare to do such a thing?”
For a moment, both the Demon Emperor and Ak Muryeong wore stunned expressions simultaneously.
A deathly silence flowed for a brief while.
“Heh heh heh.”
Ak Muryeong pointed at Bu Eunseol’s face with one finger,
“Hahahaha!”
Then clutched his stomach and burst into roaring laughter that seemed to shake the heavens.
Though he pointed at Bu Eunseol, the angle of his finger also encompassed the Demon Emperor.
In truth, Ak Muryeong was mocking the Demon Emperor.
“If my words were presumptuous, I apologize.”
Bu Eunseol bowed with utmost politeness and respect toward the Demon Emperor.
The Demon Emperor stared fixedly at Bu Eunseol without giving any reply.
Whether treating him like an invalid or stepping forward insolently… on the surface, he was maintaining the attitude of a devoted successor worried that the supreme master of the Demonic Path might suffer harm to his body.
If he were to become angry here or mete out punishment?
It would only damage his own dignity.
“Let us set another day.”
The Demon Emperor turned away.
Without waiting for a reply, he immediately unfolded his divine movement technique and vanished into the distant sky.
“Huu…”
Once the Demon Emperor disappeared, Bu Eunseol wiped away cold sweat.
In truth, both the Demon Emperor and Ak Muryeong had entered genuine battle readiness.
Caught between them, Bu Eunseol had forced himself to maintain a calm expression, but in reality he had been desperately enduring the sensation of his bones being crushed and his skin being torn apart.
“Fortunately, he changed his mind.”
Bu Eunseol smiled toward Ak Muryeong.
“He must have realized that if the fight truly began… I really would have joined the attack.”
The Demon Emperor had genuinely intended to strike Ak Muryeong.
And if the battle had started?
No matter what curses Ak Muryeong hurled at him, Bu Eunseol had resolved to combine his strength with the Pavilion Lord and fight the Demon Emperor together.
Whether he had seen through that intention, or whether the psychological tactic had simply failed to work… the Demon Emperor changed his plan and left.
“Hmph. Do you really think anything would change just because a brat like you joined the attack?”
Ak Muryeong snorted.
“He was flustered for the first time. He thought you had mastered the Great Natural Qi.”
To be precise, the Demon Emperor had not been surprised by Bu Eunseol’s appearance itself, but by a misunderstanding of his martial realm.
While comprehending the Sword Venerable’s martial arts, Bu Eunseol had temporarily imitated the Way of Non-Action inherent in the Natural Sword. In doing so, for a very brief moment, he had achieved perfect unity with nature, as though manifesting the Great Natural Qi.
But the Demon Emperor—having no way of knowing this—mistook Bu Eunseol for having reached the realm where the body completely merges with nature.
“Ah, so that was it.”
As Bu Eunseol scratched his head, Ak Muryeong asked, “Your insights?”
“This disciple is lacking in talent, but by partially comprehending the mysteries of the Natural Sword, I was able to add one new sword form to our Pavilion’s sword arts.”
“A sword form?”
“Yes.”
Ak Muryeong’s eyes narrowed.
Adding even a single sword form to Bu Eunseol’s martial arts was an extraordinarily difficult feat.
Flick.
When Ak Muryeong crooked his finger, Bu Eunseol—understanding the meaning—drew his Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
“I borrowed the principle of ‘the Way follows Nature’ from the Natural Sword. Since the form resembles the scenery of great nature itself, I have tentatively named it Martial Mist and Waves.”
Just as Ak Muryeong had expected.
Not only had Bu Eunseol invented a new martial art—indeed, an actual sword form—during meditation, but he had also mastered the technique without moving a single finger.
Srrrng.
Drawing the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol immediately unleashed a barrage of sword techniques toward Ak Muryeong.
Twitch.
Instantly, Ak Muryeong’s thick eyebrows shot upward.
Ak Muryeong had created a counter-form that changed according to the enemy’s martial art by using the mysteries of the Natural Sword. Yet Bu Eunseol had pierced straight through the mysteries of the Natural Sword itself, attempting to shatter the very essence possessed by the opponent.
It was even a sword art that stood one level higher than even the Sword Venerable’s Natural Sword?
‘This crazy bastard…’
Moreover—without even considering his own rapid growth in power—he had assumed Ak Muryeong could easily block it, and had poured real inner energy into truly unfolding the sword form.
Brrrr.
As the sword tip trembled lightly, it was as though the surrounding air evaporated; the entire world fell silent.
As if responding to the will of Bu Eunseol who had unleashed the sword art, clouds lingering in the sky parted of their own accord. Suddenly a gentle breeze blew in and enveloped Ak Muryeong’s body.
Then, accompanied by the sensation of his skin burning fiercely and a wailing cry rising from deep within the earth, an invisible hand seemed to reach out and suck every last drop of inner energy from his body.
Whirl, whirrrl!
Bu Eunseol danced a sword dance with eyes closed, as though lost in a trance.
The problem was that the black energy coalesced at the tip of that dark sword had not yet been released.
‘I cannot let him complete it.’
Paaaaang!
Suddenly, an earth-shaking explosion erupted.
Ak Muryeong had used his inner energy to block Bu Eunseol’s sword form.
“Daring to leisurely display your sword dance in front of the enemy!”
With a thunderous shout, he concentrated the qi of heaven and earth into a single fist and smashed it toward Bu Eunseol’s Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Shuuuu.
From Ak Muryeong’s grip rose a mist of ultra-high heat capable of melting iron.
Though his shoulder blade felt as though it had shattered, he snorted expressionlessly.
“Hmph.”
“I apologize.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol come to his senses and halt the sword form.
“It was the first time I unfolded what I had held in my mind… I was too leisurely.”
Bu Eunseol’s face had turned pale.
Without having truly mastered the Great Natural Qi, unfolding a sword art with principles similar to the Natural Sword had consumed enormous amounts of inner energy and mental power.
“Is this your full power?”
Bu Eunseol bowed his head in shame.
“When I actually unfolded it… it seems I have only mastered about thirty percent.”
“What?”
“But I will definitely reach the twelfth level of mastery and show it to you.”
Gush.
At the same moment, Bu Eunseol spat out a clot of blood the size of a pebble.
The energy extending from the Martial Mist and Waves form had—for an instant—reduced not only Ak Muryeong but even Bu Eunseol’s own body to the state of a newborn infant.
Only then did Ak Muryeong realize just how lofty and distant the realm Bu Eunseol aimed for truly was, and how absurdly far away that destination lay.
“Are you saying you would become an ordinary mortal and perish together with him?”
He had seen through the truth:
Bu Eunseol’s martial goal was to reduce not only the enemy but even his own martial realm to a state of complete emptiness and nothingness—an unprecedented act of utter madness.
“If we both became ordinary mortals, wouldn’t the younger one have the advantage by even a single year?”
Bu Eunseol smiled.
“If the Demon Emperor became an ordinary old man and had to brawl with me hand-to-hand, I can’t imagine anything more entertaining.”
For a moment, a strange light flickered in Ak Muryeong’s yellowish eyes.
“Hahahaha!”
Once again he burst into hearty laughter that reached the heavens.
The idea of the invincible Demon Emperor becoming an ordinary old man…
It was something neither Ak Muryeong nor any martial artist in the entire world had ever even conceived of.
“Well… if he had been perfectly fine from the start, he wouldn’t have crawled up to our Pavilion of his own accord anyway.” Finishing his laughter, Ak Muryeong turned away and spoke coldly. “I now understand that you are even more insane than this Pavilion Lord. But never step forward on your own like that again.”
Ak Muryeong’s eyes radiated an aura capable of tearing mountains apart.
“If you act presumptuously once more, then I really will break both your legs.”
Human Demon Ak Muryeong was not a man who spoke empty words.
Having warned that he would break his legs, if such a thing happened again, he truly would shatter Bu Eunseol’s legs.
Kwaaaaa!
With an eardrum-shattering explosive sound, Ak Muryeong’s massive figure vanished into the distant sky in an instant.
“Pavilion Lord…”
Watching his departing back, Bu Eunseol murmured lowly.
“…As expected, this Pavilion does not suit the Demonic Path.”
His gaze remained fixed on the place where he had been meditating.
There, the stones Ak Muryeong had piled up lay scattered.
“The title of Human Demon does not suit the Pavilion Lord either.”
Those stones had been raised using inner energy to shield him from external interference during meditation and to protect him in case an enemy appeared suddenly.
“The Pavilion Lord telling me to walk the great path and never step forward again…”
Gazing at the distant sky with lonely eyes, Bu Eunseol murmured,
“…was a warning never to provoke a supreme master like the Demon Emperor again.”
He shook his head.
“Of course, not because he cherishes me, but for the future of the Nangyang Pavilion.”
Deputy Pavilion Lord Dan Cheong was a master of peerless martial arts, yet his personality was far too relaxed and he enjoyed the luxury of drinking tea, making it somewhat difficult for him to reach the ultimate pinnacle of Nangyang Pavilion martial arts.
Instructor So Jeon had mastered the essence of practical combat martial arts, yet he extremely disliked comprehending martial principles with his mind.
Baek Yeon possessed a genius-level intellect, but conversely—unlike So Jeon—his ability to apply practical combat martial arts was somewhat lacking.
There were countless other genius martial artists as well but the only talent capable of mastering and advancing the complete synthesis of Nangyang Pavilion martial arts was one alone:
Bu Eunseol.
Ever since realizing this fact, Ak Muryeong had been concerned for his safety for the sake of the next generation of the Nangyang Pavilion.
“Let us return.”
Through the insights gained this time, Bu Eunseol had once again found the path he must climb. Though it still felt somewhat distant now, if he walked steadily, he would eventually arrive at his destination.
Having experienced many things, he now intended to return to Majeon for the time being.
***
The Martial Alliance was placed on high alert.
They had just re-elected the Martial Heaven Corps Leader, restored the Martial Heaven Corps, and reestablished the might of the Seven Great Divisions—yet the Star Guard Division Commander and the entire Divine Might Corps had been completely erased by the Demon Emperor.
Moreover, because the Heaven-Piercing Division Commander Yang Daeryang had become an idiot, the deputy corps leader was currently in charge meaning in reality, only five corps remained fully intact, and only five candidates for Alliance Leader remained.
In particular, Star Guard Division Commander Baek Incheong had accumulated numerous achievements over the years and had long been considered a leading candidate for the next Alliance Leader. For such a man to vanish entirely along with his corps left the Martial Alliance so dumbfounded they felt like fainting.
—We must somehow restore the complete Seven Great Divisions even if we overextend ourselves.
The high-ranking members of the Martial Alliance proposed once again reorganizing to recreate the Seven Great Divisions.
However, the Heavenly Emperor—no, the Martial Sovereign—announced that they would leave the vanished Divine Might Corps as it was and maintain only six corps.
—If we forcibly maintain seven corps, the situation of this Alliance will only worsen further.
Merely replenishing manpower does not create a corps.
In particular, each of the Martial Alliance’s Seven Great Divisions possessed its own unique training methods, and only through long periods of dedicated effort could their true power be displayed.
—Are you saying we should turn the symbolic Seven Great Divisions of this Alliance into the Six Great Divisions?
Some of the high-ranking members opposed it, but in the end even they had no choice but to concede.
A symbol is merely a symbol.
If they forcibly created a corps in such a situation, it would ultimately become a useless organization with no real power.
***
The secret chamber admitted not a single ray of light.
It felt as though time and space had frozen in place.
The walls all around were made of rough stone, densely engraved with incomprehensible patterns.
In the center of the room sat a reddish-brown chair, its surface also covered in intricate designs.
On top of it rested shabby clothing, standing upright as though worn by an invisible man.
Opposite it stood a masked shadow, calm and composed.
[Baekri Mujo. Now he has become a strong candidate for Alliance Leader.]
A gloomy, low voice suddenly echoed from the shabby clothing.
[Judging from the results so far, the probability that he is Inbiin is extremely high. We cannot leave him be like this.]
The voice flowing from the clothing grew utterly frigid.
[Kill him.]
The masked man opposite shook his head.
“To kill him would require an outstanding intelligence organization. Within the Alliance, he absolutely cannot be touched.” He continued, “We still do not have the power to kill him. The Heavenly Emperor is not yet the complete authentic version either.”
[Do not worry.]
A low voice flowed from the clothing.
Thud.
A single thin sheet of paper fell in front of the masked man.
[It is a dismantling form created based on traces of the sword arts he has used so far.]
“Dismantling form…”
The murmur carried deep regret.
As if sensing it, the voice from the clothing softened slightly.
[Do not worry. There are stages to these things anyway.]
“But how much longer must I remain buried here doing nothing?”
[Do not worry. You will soon become the Alliance Leader… and you will be able to fulfill your wish.]
A voice filled with conviction came from the shabby clothing.
[Until then, simply do as you are told and exercise restraint.]
The masked man clasped his hands together.
He had no choice but to obey their will.
Even if—when the time came—he cut down everyone who had strung threads through his body, until he fulfilled the wish he had longed for so desperately… he absolutely could not act rashly.
[You are still not fully dyed. You are still pretending to be dyed.]
After the masked man disappeared, a tongue-clicking sound came from the shabby clothing.
[But when facing a superhuman like him… in the end, you will complete a perfect personality.]
The voice from the shabby clothing carried thick, viscous conspiracy.
[Do you think I do not know that he is trying to preserve his original personality?]
With those final words, the shabby clothing that had stood upright in the darkness collapsed limply to the floor once more.
***
Lotus Courtyard.
This was an orphanage that accepted only children whose bodies were not whole.
Though the facilities were not luxurious, a generous philanthropist provided ample support every year.
Thanks to this, even with their imperfect bodies, the children could live with bright smiles.
Click-clack.
Around the hour of Shen, a small cart entered Lotus Courtyard. It was loaded full of rice and various daily necessities.
Walking in front was a middle-aged man with the bearing of an immortal.
“Director!”
An old man who looked after the children in Lotus Courtyard ran toward the middle-aged man with delight.
It was none other than the philanthropist who had personally established Lotus Courtyard and donated vast sums of money every year to care for the children—the very director of Lotus Courtyard.
“The Director has come!”
Seeing the cart and the middle-aged man, the children ran over excitedly.
“Hahaha.”
The Lotus Courtyard Director spread both arms wide and warmly embraced the rushing children.
Most of the children were missing an arm or a leg; some lacked one eye or one ear.
Yet the Director paid no mind—meeting each child’s eyes and hugging them one by one.
“Take these.”
He handed out precious toys and trinkets from the cart one at a time.
“Wowww!”
The children beamed so widely their mouths nearly split, delighted by the toys.
Whenever the Lotus Courtyard Director visited like this, the children overflowed with energy. They followed him around, chattering endlessly.
“Director, why did you bring so much again?” The old man gaped at the goods piled high on the cart. “We still have plenty of the food you sent last time.”
“You can’t let them go hungry, can you? I brought a little extra so they can eat their fill.”
Smiling gently, the Lotus Courtyard Director noticed a child standing awkwardly in the distance, wearing a prosthetic leg.
Perhaps because he had only recently arrived at Lotus Courtyard, everything still seemed unfamiliar to him.
“Where did such a clever-looking child come from? What is your name?”
The Director approached, knelt down, and gently stroked the child’s head.
“My name is So Bora.”
As the child bowed awkwardly, the Director clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, you’re wearing a mismatched prosthetic leg.”
He immediately brought wood and tools and began crafting a new prosthetic leg himself.
He worked like a skilled carpenter, swiftly and precisely.
“Here, try wearing this one.”
When the child put on the prosthetic leg made by the Director, his eyes widened.
Once the new leg was fitted, the body that had been crooked and unbalanced suddenly stood straight and firm.
“Th-thank you. It’s much easier to stand now.”
“I’m glad.” Stroking the child’s head, the Director said, “Now go play with the other children. You can’t stay alone like this.”
“Yes!”
With an excited expression, the child moved his new prosthetic leg and walked toward where the other children were gathered.
The Lotus Courtyard Director and the old man stood side by side, watching the scene with warm satisfaction.
Then the two entered the Lotus Courtyard building, sat down to drink tea, and began to talk.
The day gradually darkened, and cheerful shouts from the children echoed pleasantly from outside the window.
Soon it became the hour of the third watch.
A desolate autumn wind swept past with a whooshing sound.
The Lotus Courtyard Director and the old man—who had been staying in the annex—carefully entered the place where the children slept.
The Director carefully examined the sleeping children, then pointed to a few of them.
The old man nodded and wrote something on the paper he was holding.
Flash.
Suddenly, the Director’s eyes gleamed in the darkness.
“I need to step out for a moment.”
The old man also seemed to sense something and nodded.
“Be careful.”
Swoosh.
After glancing once more at the sleeping children, the Director stepped outside.
He slowly walked toward the entrance of Lotus Courtyard.
His eyes, walking through the darkness, blazed like torches and his expression had hardened into that of a beast harboring killing intent.
Swoosh.
His leisurely steps suddenly began to glide forward at terrifying speed.
He had unfolded a ghost-like divine movement technique.
“Hmm.”
Finally reaching a small grove near Lotus Courtyard, he halted his light-body skill and surveyed the surroundings.
[Your senses are impressive.]
Shuuuk!
A bizarre voice rang out. A streak of azure radiance shot toward the heavens, and suddenly a black shadow appeared before the Lotus Courtyard Director.
The form was hazy and indistinct like a ghost, slowly approaching like drifting smoke.
Gradually the dark center became clearer, eventually coalescing into the shape of a masked man dressed entirely in black.
[A man who has committed all sorts of evil deeds is running an orphanage.]
The masked man scanned the Director up and down and gave a smirk.
[Are you trying to atone for the sins you have committed so far?]
The Lotus Courtyard Director gave no reply. He merely swept his gleaming eyes over the masked man’s body in the darkness.
[You could kill with a glare alone.]
The masked man narrowed his eyes into crescents.
[Star Guard Division Commander, Baekri Mujo.]
