What is the distance between life and death?
Bu Eunseol thought that boundary was equal to the thickness of a sword tip. Every time swords crossed, life and death were divided. And that difference was always about the width of a sharp sword tip.
“Huff. Huff.”
Bu Eunseol, holding his sword high in one hand, was gasping for breath.
The densely packed bookshelves had all fallen, and torn books were fluttering in all directions. Every time they clashed, blood dripped from Bu Eunseol’s body, and the strings of life fell from the assassins’ bodies.
“Huff. Huff.”
Bu Eunseol, who had repeatedly unfolded Heavenly Hegemon Saber Extreme Stance and Practical Combat Sword Art simultaneously, gasped for breath.
He had crossed numerous lines of death until now, but there had never been such a long fight.
He couldn’t even tell whose blood was flowing on the floor—his or the enemy’s.
His internal energy was depleted to the point his danjeon ached, and the sword made of Hundred Refined Steel was already chipped all over.
“This monster-like bastard…”
The remaining assassins hesitated. It was because Bu Eunseol, covered in blood, looked like he would collapse any moment, yet he kept getting up like a roly-poly toy and spraying sword moves.
“You…”
Their words did not continue.
Bu Eunseol, who had been staggering, sprayed sword moves like lightning again.
“Kuh!”
With low screams, the remaining assassins fell again.
Is it over now?
The assassins who had rushed in endlessly no matter how many he cut down were no longer visible.
But one hour had not yet passed. Closing his eyes, Bu Eunseol suddenly raised the Way of the Beast to the extreme.
No, there is something.
It could be called intuition.
Although he had defeated all the assassins… a chilling sensation remained, as if an invisible demon was baring its teeth in the darkness. Just as he stood holding his breath for about a quarter of an hour…
Rumble.
Suddenly, the inner secret room opened, and Dan So-ok ran out. Unable to bear the worry and fear when no sound was heard for a quarter of an hour, she had opened the door of the secret room.
“Are you alright?”
Just as Dan So-ok, discovering Bu Eunseol soaked in blood, hurriedly tried to approach him…
“Stand back.”
Bu Eunseol, opening his eyes wide, blocked her path and raised his sword to the middle guard.
“Not bad. To discover my presence.”
With a low voice, a black shadow slowly revealed itself amidst the fluttering paper. He wore strange clothes gleaming with ink-black luster and had his long hair loose in two strands.
Swish.
Looking at the man, Bu Eunseol felt a strange pressure.
It was an unfamiliar and peculiar pressure… as if a massive creature would jump out from behind the man appearing before his eyes at any moment.
“Hmm.”
The man, letting out a low groan, looked down at Bu Eunseol and tilted his head.
“Unexpected. You are definitely a figure who wasn’t here before.”
Bu Eunseol could infer one fact from the man’s words. That they had prepared this matter from a long time ago, and at that time, his existence was not in Yueyang.
I entered six months ago. This matter was planned long before that.
As if seeing through Bu Eunseol’s thoughts, the man smiled broadly. “Correct. If there had been a figure like you, the plan would have changed a little.” His voice contained leisure, and his movements were extremely natural.
If this man made a move, power that Shakes Heaven and Moves Earth would unfold.
“If you step back even now… there might be a future for you too.”
The man, raising the corners of his mouth confidently, suddenly raised his fist.
“For your reference, I am not advising this because there is no chance of victory!”
Suddenly, the man clenched his fist tight. In that instant, a powerful shockwave spread out like concentric circles, pushing Bu Eunseol back slightly. The man had exploded the powerful Internal Force gathered in his hand at once, revealing his profound internal energy realm.
“Now, will you step aside?”
Laughing confidently, the man looked at So Ok behind Bu Eunseol’s back.
“You just need to take one step to the side. If you do just that, no harm will come to you.”
Bu Eunseol had already suffered large and small injuries while fighting over a hundred assassins. He had bled so much that his vision was blurring.
Thud.
But Bu Eunseol straightened his back even more.
“Walk to the side, you say.”
And he slowly drew up his internal energy.
This level of injury, this level of crisis… was nothing compared to what he had experienced so far.
Crimson blood-light rose again in Bu Eunseol’s blurry eyes.
“You will not be able to take a single step forward from here!”
Whoosh!
The internal energy he drew up became a powerful wind, scattering the man’s hair in all directions.
“Oho…”
Realizing that Bu Eunseol’s internal energy realm was equal to his own, the man shook his head.
“A pity.”
And he slowly drew a sword from his waist.
It was a unique sword.
It was half an inch narrower in width than an ordinary longsword and about one foot longer. The unique luster that metal should have had disappeared from the blade.
It was a unique stance.
The man did not aim the long sword at Bu Eunseol but held it horizontally and raised it to his forehead as if trying to block light pouring from the sky.
“I yield the first move.”
This man was not an assassin.
Assassins’ swords are merely the result of the will to murder. Because they do not care about moves or the first strike.
Whish.
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol extended his sword.
It was a slow and powerless strike, but one whose path and move could not be predicted.
It was one of the sword moves of Practical Combat Sword Art he had mastered through countless real battles.
Whish!
Just as Bu Eunseol’s single strike, changed in mid-air, was about to sever the man’s wrist…
Crash!
He felt the illusion of a giant wave covering his body.
Slash-slash.
Bu Eunseol stopped the attack and swung his sword to protect his body’s vital points. But even so, he felt pressure as if his body were being torn apart.
Heavy Sword!
The blade of the longsword he was holding was bending as if it would warp.
The man in front of him was using powerful Heavy Sword techniques with a thin and long sword.
I must not clash.
As if he had trained in the Heavy Sword for a long time, the man was pouring out massive pressure even with light movements.
If sword clashed with sword, his weapon would shatter instantly.
Ziiiing.
Stepping back, Bu Eunseol turned his sword behind his back and assumed a strange stance. Then, a terrifying energy rose around Bu Eunseol, instantly stopping the man’s move. It was Heavenly Hegemon Saber Extreme Stance.
“You use quite extraordinary methods!”
The man, increasing the destructive power of the Heavy Sword, moved his sword tip repeatedly to pierce Bu Eunseol’s sword stance.
Moves digging, stabbing, and splitting swept Bu Eunseol’s skin, but Bu Eunseol defended against the Heavy Sword moves with Heavenly Hegemon Saber Extreme Stance without caring.
“Bastard! Now I see you were stalling for time!”
Realizing that what Bu Eunseol aimed for was not victory but time, the man raised his sword tip to the sky.
“Try blocking this too!”
Instantly, terrifying pressure descended as if to tear Bu Eunseol’s body apart. It was the supreme technique of the Heavy Sword art that could not be blocked by simple techniques.
I’ve waited for this!
At that moment, brilliant light blossomed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. In fact, he could also unfold the Heavy Sword. Yet the reason he had only taken a defensive stance all along was to induce the man to feel impatient and use a powerful strike.
Slash-slash!
Bu Eunseol unfolded powerful Heavy Sword techniques with the longsword in his right hand, and with his left hand, he drew the assassin’s sword stuck in his back.
Divided Mind Dual-Application Technique.
When the man created massive pressure, he unfolded the Heavy Sword with his right hand and a Fast Sword with his left.
Crash! Boom!
In that instant, with an explosion, Bu Eunseol and the man’s bodies were pushed in opposite directions.
“Ugh.”
Blood was flowing from the man’s neck, but fortunately, it wasn’t pierced.
At the moment the Fast Sword tried to pierce his neck, he instantly expanded the pressure of the Heavy Sword, snapping both Bu Eunseol’s longsword and assassin’s sword in two.
“……”
Although he barely blocked the attack, blood was gushing from his neck. But the blade hadn’t gone deep, so it was a wound that posed no threat to his life.
“Bastard, you aimed for a moment of carelessness and struck.” The man nodded as if admiring, yet blue killing intent glistened in his eyes. “You are a rascal I absolutely must not leave alive.”
Shwing.
For the first time, the man raised his sword to the middle guard.
Gooooo…
Then, a powerful wind began to rise around the sword.
It looked as if the powerful force hidden in the world was gathering in the man’s longsword.
“Try blocking this too.”
Just as the man, wearing an evil smile, revealed his canines and swung his sword…
Rumble.
From the distant sky, the sound of tearing air like a falling waterfall echoed faintly. That sound was the sound of a master with superhuman martial arts unfolding Lightness Arts.
Woo Mun-hwang!
The man trying to unfold his sword flashed his eyes.
Woo Mun-hwang was a master not lacking even an inch compared to himself. He could kill a novice like Bu Eunseol anytime. But in this situation, he absolutely must not encounter Woo Mun-hwang.
Gooooo.
As distractions entered his mind, his Mental Power scattered, and the energy gathered on the sword also faded. In the end, the result was decided.
“You are a truly lucky rascal.”
Slowly withdrawing his sword, the man looked down at Bu Eunseol. “I will kill you slowly in the future.”
Bu Eunseol stared straight at the man with coldly frozen eyes. “That is my line.”
“Hahaha.”
Laughing low, the man muttered in a gloomy voice.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
With a short remark, the man’s body slowly disappeared into the darkness.
Bu Eunseol, staring intently at that sight, as soon as the man’s figure disappeared…
Clang.
Planted the broken assassin’s sword he was holding into the ground.
Drip.
Simultaneously, dark red blood flowed faintly from the corner of his mouth.
To pour out such pressure with just the Starting Stance!
Before unfolding the sword art, just by unfolding the Starting Stance, the man had generated powerful Force and inflicted internal injury on Bu Eunseol.
“Mr. Ho!”
As Bu Eunseol collapsed, Dan So-ok standing behind him hurriedly supported him.
“Are you alright?”
Of course he was fine. Internal injury was nothing.
Bu Eunseol tried to say this.
But his mouth wouldn’t open. Because tears were welling up in the eyes of Dan So-ok staring at him.
“You’re alright, right? You can’t die.”
Dan So-ok was trembling.
Worrying that the gasping Bu Eunseol might breathe his last, might close his eyes.
If I die, will she be sad?
It was a strange thought.
The Jewel in the Palm of the Master of the Gathering Demons Manor, and the talented woman marked by the Demonic Palace. Why would she, possessing the noblest status in the Murim, be sad about the death of a mere Nine Assassination Squad member?
Useless thought.
Looking at the tears in Dan So-ok’s eyes, Bu Eunseol shook his head and raised his body.
“I am Bu Eunseol.”
“Yes?”
“That is my name.”
“Eunseol… Bu Eunseol.”
Eunseol.
It was a name that suited his pale white skin. And like his eyes harboring sadness, it was a name somewhat sorrowful yet beautiful.
“I see.”
Dan So-ok wiped her tears and smiled brightly.
“I will remember it too.”
And she stared intently at Bu Eunseol.
Her eyes were full of Affection, and a flush was rising on her cheeks.
Feeling something unusual, Bu Eunseol avoided her gaze, but a pair of eyes followed him persistently.
Dan So-ok’s eyes filled with affection.
Kaboom!
With the sound of falling thunder, a gray shadow landed in front of the old bookstore. It was Woo Mun-hwang.
Rustle!
And following him, martial artists wearing dark gray martial robes landed behind Woo Mun-hwang. Their eyes flashing in the darkness were like torches.
They seemed to be martial artists directly under the Gathering Demons Manor.
“Ok! Are you alright?”
Woo Mun-hwang, running hurriedly, paused for a moment. Because Dan So-ok, soaked in dust and blood, was looking at him while clinging tightly to Bu Eunseol’s body.
“Yes? Yes.”
Regaining her senses, Dan So-ok left Bu Eunseol’s embrace and calmly stood up.
“Thanks to Bu… Mr. Ho protecting me…”
Bang!
At that moment, the door of the old bookstore opened as if breaking again, and a thunderous voice echoed.
“Number Eighteen! We came to help!”
As Bu Eunseol turned his head, Sang Ryang and Ma Woon, their clothes turned to rags and covered in blood, ran in hurriedly.
“We defended hard, but it seemed a few slipped through! So we dealt with all of them and…” Sang Ryang and Ma Woon, running in confidently, shut their mouths seeing the scenery inside the old bookstore. Because there, corpses of assassins several times more than they had killed were piled up like a mountain.
“It wasn’t a few. Hahaha.”
“Indeed. We definitely thought we missed a few. Hahaha.”
As Sang Ryang and Ma Woon looked at each other and smiled awkwardly…
“You truly suffered much. Thank you.”
Woo Mun-hwang, discarding all pride, grabbed Bu Eunseol’s shoulder. If he had listened to Bu Eunseol, this danger wouldn’t have occurred. And even now, if he hadn’t fought risking his life… Dan So-ok would already be a cold corpse.
“It was what I had to do.”
It was a stiff answer without a grain of emotion.
If it were the Woo Mun-hwang of before, he would have been furiously angry at such an answer.
Truly a manly fellow. Says little too.
But now, even Bu Eunseol’s stiff tone felt manly and reliable.
“Has their identity been revealed?”
“Not at all. Let alone the sect, we couldn’t even distinguish whether they were Orthodox or Demonic bastards.”
When Bu Eunseol’s surprised expression faded, Woo Mun-hwang spoke bitterly, “The headquarters’ masters meticulously examined even their weapons and fabrics, yet they couldn’t even trace the source. This indicates that they had meticulously planned to avoid detection from the very beginning.” With a clenched jaw, he continued, “I will return to the headquarters and relentlessly hunt down those responsible to the end. And…”
Woo Mun-hwang’s final words were barely audible, but their meaning was crystal clear.
Another blood storm will blow in the Gangho.
The Master of the Gathering Demons Manor is a terrifying figure comparable to the Sect Leaders of the Ten Demonic Sects. And Dan So-ok, whom the Council of Elders is pushing as Chief Administrator, has tremendous influence in the Demonic Palace as well…
In the end, those who committed this act will surely pay the due price.
“You two also suffered greatly.”
When Dan So-ok smiled brightly at the Twin Demons, they grinned broadly and bowed their heads.
“You flatter us!”
“Correct. We merely did what we had to do.”
“Uncle. These people are at the Yueyang Branch…”
“I know.”
Woo Mun-hwang cut her off coldly and led Dan So-ok to the carriage.
“Let’s return now.”
At that, Ma Woon made a crying face.
“Dammit, can’t that old man speak a little nicely? Just leaving like it’s obvious.”
Sang Ryang smiled and shook his head, ”Didn’t the Young Lady already answer? She is not someone who speaks empty words, so you can wait for good news.”
Dan So-ok, boarding the carriage, kept glancing at Bu Eunseol outside the window. But Woo Mun-hwang misunderstood her attitude and said.
“The Gong Clan Twin Demons are also figures belonging to the Yueyang Branch. No need to think of this incident as special.”
“Yes. Uncle.”
Even while answering, Dan So-ok’s gaze was fixed on Bu Eunseol’s face standing in the ruined old bookstore.