Opening the door in the corner of the smithy, a small office with a table and furniture appeared.

Sitting at the square table, Wang Geol looked at Bu Eunseol and asked, ”By ‘situation of the Gangho’, what exactly do you mean?”

“Basic knowledge that a martial artist should naturally know.”

“I see.”

Wang Geol took out a thick booklet from a bookshelf in the office and placed it on the table.

“What is this?”

“The things you want to know.”

Judging by the condition of the book, it was clear it had been made recently.

Bu Eunseol carefully opened the book, and his eyes widened.

It contained not only the general situation of the Gangho but also the characteristics and information of each sect, and rough profiles of famous masters in the Murim.

It was made recently.

The booklet even detailed information about the Ten Demonic Successors.

Surely he didn’t make this for me?

Wang Geol was someone who split his time every day to make weapons and tools. If he wrote the book himself, he must have carved out time from his sleep. Yet the contents of the book pinpointed exactly what Bu Eunseol would be curious about.

“Are you going out into the Gangho?”

At Wang Geol’s question, Bu Eunseol did not hide his surprise.

“How did you know?”

“Because you have no time.”

Like Hyeol Geum-gang and Baek Yeon, Wang Geol also read Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts clearly.

“If you read all that, at least you won’t suffer from ignorance. Burn it after reading.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

As he put away the book and turned around, Bu Eunseol suddenly felt a strange sensation.

It was intuition.

Iron Master, Wang Geol, who knew everything. Then perhaps he might know about the murderer who killed his grandfather. And even if he asked such a thing, he felt Wang Geol wouldn’t ask for the reason.

“I wish to ask one more thing.”

Bu Eunseol stared at Wang Geol, forcefully calming his rough breathing. He was about to ask about the characteristics of the murderer, something he hadn’t asked anyone until now. If he asked Dan Cheong or Baek Yeon about a murderer, they would surely ask persistently for the reason or conduct a background check.

But he felt Iron Master, Wang Geol, would answer without asking such things.

“……Someone who uses bones and muscles freely to execute sword moves soaring from below, with the skill to sever a moving person’s two hands constantly without an inch of error.” Wang Geol spoke with eyes Bu Eunseol had never seen before. “Furthermore, using the Rotting Flesh Decaying Poison, which only human butchers use, and even musk-scented hidden weapons.”

Silence hung in the study for a while.

After about half a gak, Wang Geol opened his mouth in a low voice. “If such a person exists, discussing martial arts level or sect affiliation itself might be meaningless.”

“Why is that?”

“If someone possesses such terrifying sword arts yet uses hidden weapons and poison… there is a high probability they are a spy operating without revealing their identity in the Murim.”

Chewing over Wang Geol’s words, Bu Eunseol’s eyes wavered like ripples.

The murderer who killed Grandfather isn’t a famous master of a demonic sect… but could be a spy?

He had simply thought it was a demonic master with incredible sword arts.

He had thought he could find them without difficulty if he scanned famous demonic masters after mastering the martial arts of Wolf Fang Pavilion.

But to think they might be a spy who doesn’t reveal their identity in the Murim?

“Of course, it is only a guess.”

Wang Geol continued calmly, ”Even if they are a spy, with that level of martial prowess, they would surely be a high-ranking official or rising rapidly through the ranks.”

In short, it meant there was a high probability they were a big shot. And that statement was also proof that Bu Jan-yang might have been a tremendous figure as well.

“I see.”

Quietly swallowing his internal shock, Bu Eunseol gathered his hands.

“Then I will take my leave.”

And just as he was about to step out the door…

“Wait.”

Wang Geol spoke in a low voice.

“I have a proposal for you.”

***

Clear Wind Study.

The place where Dan Cheong, the Deputy Pavilion Master of Wolf Fang Pavilion, resided. Because the current Pavilion Master was in closed-door training, Dan Cheong had a considerable amount of work to do. Although they occupied the last seat of the Ten Demonic Sects and had few disciples, that was only fewer than the great sects of the Demonic Path. In terms of scale and affiliated personnel, they were no less than any sect of the Nine Sects and One Faction.

Hmm.

Sitting in his office examining the piled-up letters, Dan Cheong scratched his head. ‘Even I think it’s a bit too loose. Guiding anyone in just because they want to… goodness.’

Seeing Bu Eunseol barge into his office through a servant girl, Dan Cheong resolved to change the reporting system someday.

“So. What brings you here?”

“I want to go out into the Gangho.”

“Gangho?”

As Dan Cheong blinked, Bu Eunseol spoke, ”Yes.”

“Why?”

“To complete Practical Combat Martial Arts quickly, I need to gain enlightenment in real combat.”

“Well, that’s not wrong, but it is impossible.”

Dan Cheong spoke firmly, ”To go out into the Gangho, you must belong to a Hall or Squad of the Pavilion. And you must receive permission from the Hall Master or Squad Captain of your affiliation. That is the rule of the Pavilion.” Dan Cheong picked up the documents piled high on the table and said. “Just because this body is the Deputy Pavilion Master doesn’t mean I can send you out as I please.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

Bu Eunseol spoke as if he had been waiting.

“I will enter the Nine Assassination Squad. Please grant permission.”

“What?” Dan Cheong, who had been reading a letter he picked up, flashed his eyes and stood up from his seat. “Where did you hear the name Nine Assassination Squad?”

His voice was solemn, and his eyes looked slightly angry.

“I heard it from Iron Master.”

The ‘proposal’ Wang Geol had made to Bu Eunseol.

It was to join the Nine Assassination Squad, which handled secret missions handed down by the Demonic Palace.

Pausing for a moment, Dan Cheong frowned. “Iron Master said something useless.”

“Will you grant permission?”

“Do you even know what the Nine Assassination Squad does to say that?”

Nine Assassination Squad.

Assassination, kidnapping, destruction, or theft of important resources… a place that performed secret missions the Demonic Palace did not officially acknowledge. Sects affiliated with the Demonic Palace were drafting a certain number of personnel into the Nine Assassination Squad regardless of the reason.

“I know.”

Bu Eunseol nodded heavily.

“That the moment I enter the Nine Assassination Squad, my existence disappears, and I must perform missions where I risk my life every time.”

In fact, Iron Master, Wang Geol, was the former Captain of the Nine Assassination Squad. Knowing that Bu Eunseol’s talent was excellent and that he wanted a Gangho journey where blood and flesh flew, he had recommended becoming a member of the Nine Assassination Squad.

“Listen well to what this Deputy Pavilion Master says from now on.”

Dan Cheong spoke with very serious eyes.

“All sects of the Orthodox and Demonic paths train spies professionally. Needless to say for coalitions like the Demonic Palace and the Martial Righteous Alliance.”

“Spies, you say.”

“Correct. If it’s a fight between individuals, it depends on who draws their sword faster. But a fight between sects or forces depends on who operates a superior intelligence organization.”

Pausing to catch his breath, Dan Cheong spoke again.

“With a single piece of high-level information, one can tilt the fortunes of a perfectly fine sect, or turn a friendly sect into a hostile one. Not only that, excellent spies can easily infiltrate enemy camps or assassinate leadership.”

Looking at Bu Eunseol, Dan Cheong continued, ”In the past, the Demonic Palace trained spies directly. But spies trained professionally in one place like that had several problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“Since they were trained in one place, rosters of members exist. And if a traitor appears, the damage extends to all spies.”

Dan Cheong sighed.

“To compensate for that, the Demonic Palace began drafting excellent masters from each sect and giving them secret missions.”

Bu Eunseol opened his eyes wide.

If it was a nameless spy drafted from various sects rather than belonging to one place, there would certainly be no aftermath.

“Without even asking who the agent handling it is, or which sect they are from. The place that handles such missions is the Nine Assassination Squad. Do you understand what I mean?”

The Murim was not a place where one won simply because their martial arts were strong.

Hearing Dan Cheong’s words, Bu Eunseol realized there was another side to the Gangho he didn’t know well.

“Above all, the reason this Deputy Pavilion Master opposes it is that the moment you enter the Nine Assassination Squad, you are no longer a disciple of Wolf Fang Pavilion, nor affiliated with the Demonic Palace… you become a nobody.”

In short, it meant that even if something went wrong, no place would take responsibility.

“There are only two situations where a disciple of the Pavilion voluntarily enters the Nine Assassination Squad. Those who have committed a grave crime, or those who need a large sum of money.”

Dan Cheong spoke in a low voice.

“If you perform the missions of the Nine Assassination Squad, you can have certain crimes pardoned. Also, since the Demonic Palace pays a large sum for each mission, those who need money go to the Nine Assassination Squad.”

Dan Cheong spoke again.

“But you will become a figure representing the Pavilion in the future. There is no need to become an executioner of the Nine Assassination Squad who takes on dirty work.”

“It does not matter.”

“You, the Ten Demonic Successor of the Pavilion, intend to become a member of the Nine Assassination Squad?”

“I want to become strong.”

“You can become strong enough in the position of Ten Demonic Successor.”

Bu Eunseol shook his head firmly.

“I must become strong quickly.”

Bu Eunseol had already built the foundation of Practical Combat Martial Arts. He would become stronger faster the more he repeated real combat crossing life and death.

“I heard that rather than wandering the Gangho aimlessly, it is better to become a Nine Assassination Squad member receiving official missions, even if dangerous.”

Dan Cheong had nothing to say.

Certainly, it was true that one became strong faster than anyone else by experiencing real combat crossing life and death.

“Is there a reason you want to become strong so quickly?”

At Dan Cheong’s question, Bu Eunseol kept his mouth shut tight.

Realizing that Bu Eunseol wouldn’t respond no matter how many times he pressed, Dan Cheong sighed. “Fine. I’ll tell you one more thing.” Dan Cheong spoke in a low voice, as if making a solemn decision. “The Ten Demonic Successor is a plan orchestrated by the Demonic Palace Master. From the perspective of the Ten Demonic Sects, even if an exceptional Ten Demonic Successor emerges, they cannot abandon the loyal disciples they’ve nurtured over the years, nor their direct blood relatives.”

Pausing for a breath, Dan Cheong spoke again, ”The Ten Demonic Successor is merely making a single sword that can be used without hesitation to deal with the Masters of Great Righteousness of the Orthodox factions.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

Recalling the story Baek Jeon-cheon had told him at the Demonic Palace, Bu Eunseol answered, ”The Hall Master of Ten Thousand Knowledge of the Demonic Palace told me the same story.”

“Hall Master of Ten Thousand Knowledge… you mean Baek Jeon-cheon?”

“Yes.”

Puzzled for a moment, Dan Cheong soon nodded, I see. He also liked this rascal.

Bu Eunseol had a talent that made the hearts of those with martial souls race.

It was the feeling that something they had searched for their whole lives was standing right in front of them.

“Is that so.”

Clearing his throat, Dan Cheong stared intently at Bu Eunseol.

“But the Pavilion is different.”

Dan Cheong’s eyes staring at Bu Eunseol burned like the sun.

“Because the Pavilion intends to make you a true successor.”

Dan Cheong thought of Bu Eunseol not as a disposable item like a Ten Demonic Successor, but as a successor who would be responsible for the next generation of Wolf Fang Pavilion.

Pausing for a moment, Dan Cheong asked Bu Eunseol, ”Even so, will you become a member of the Nine Assassination Squad?”

“I will.”

Dan Cheong had nothing more to say.

Even the Governor of Ping’an cannot force someone who is unwilling. If he didn’t listen even after talking this much, there was nothing he could do either.

“Dangerous trials make a martial artist strong. But the missions done by the Nine Assassination Squad are closer to gambling with one’s life than trials.”

Sighing, Dan Cheong said, ”The original name of the Nine Assassination Squad was the Seeking Death Squad Because the members perform missions without thinking of returning alive.”

“I understand well what you are trying to say, Deputy Pavilion Master,” Bu Eunseol spoke with unwavering eyes. “But I only intend to become strong quickly; the things you worry about will not happen.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I am not a Ten Demonic Successor, but a disciple of Wolf Fang Pavilion.”

—A disciple of Wolf Fang Pavilion is not weak.

It was what Dan Cheong had said in the past.

Bu Eunseol likely wanted to say the same.

“I can’t understand,” Dan Cheong chuckled.

Wolf Fang Pavilion had no master-disciple relationships or strong bonds from the start. It was just wolves who wanted to become strong gathering, repeating the cycle of passing down and inheriting their supreme techniques.

But why was Bu Eunseol giving his loyalty to Wolf Fang Pavilion?

This time, as if looking into Dan Cheong’s heart, Bu Eunseol answered calmly, ”Because now, Wolf Fang Pavilion is my home.”