Chapter 144

—The Master of Great Righteousness of the Kongtong Sect has been assassinated!

Shocking rumors spread rapidly through the Murim community. Just a month after Yeo Hwan-jin, the Master of Great Righteousness from the Zhongnan Sect, met his untimely demise, another Master of Great Righteousness was found dead.

—The culprit is undoubtedly an assassin!

Upon discovering Pyeong Seo-woon, the Master of Great Righteousness of the Kongtong Sect, dead in his quarters, authorities found a disturbing array of hidden weapons and deadly poisons on his body. Notably, five types of Internal Energy Dispersing Powder, which significantly reduces internal energy, were detected. However, the most crucial cause of death was a stab wound approximately an inch deep near the neck. The carotid artery had been severed by a sharp and narrow sword.

This method bore a striking resemblance to the scar of the Demon Subduing Blood Flash, the assassination sword art of the Extreme Assassination Pavilion. It was also reminiscent of the killing sword used to assassinate Yeo Hwan-jin.

—We will undoubtedly apprehend the culprit!

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Following the Zhongnan Sect’s lead, the Kongtong Sect swiftly dispatched numerous disciples into the Gangho to apprehend the perpetrator.

The world was enveloped in a mist-like drizzle. Perhaps due to the incessant rain or the fact that most patrons were martial artists, numerous individuals began ordering wine as soon as the morning light broke.

Martial artists don’t skip wine during meals. Cultivating internal energy, they experience less intoxication and find relief from the fatigue of swordplay through wine.

A young man sat alone by the window on the second floor of the inn, filling his wine cup. His long, thin hair fell over his face, obscuring his features. A rusty long sword hung on his back, exuding the aura of a somewhat impoverished martial artist.

This was Bu Eunseol.

The mysterious luster emanating from the Dark Sword stood out wherever he went, so he had deliberately made it appear rusty.

Suddenly, a faint sword cry resonated from the Dark Sword. It sounded frustrated, as if stifled by something covering its surface.

“Wait a little longer,” Bu Eunseol said in a low voice, having drunk a cup of wine. “I’ll soon find you an opponent worthy of your skill.”

As if comprehending his words, the low-ringing sword cry gradually subsided. With a thread-like smile on his lips, Bu Eunseol filled his wine cup once more.

“Somehow, I ended up here.”

After defeating Yeo Hwan-jin and leaving Jinyang, he had initially intended to return to the Wolf Fang Pavilion. However, a sudden realization prompted him to change his course.

If I return to headquarters, Captain Baek will undoubtedly provide me with an easy path.

Bu Eunseol was the successor entrusted with the future of the Wolf Fang Pavilion, so Baek Yeon prioritized his safety excessively. If he returned to the Wolf Fang Pavilion, Baek Yeon would likely devise a plan to easily deal with the Masters of Great Righteousness.

Bu Eunseol was determined to avoid such a situation.

He wasn’t an assassin and didn’t want to study fighting from an advantageous position. Even if defeated, he aspired to face them head-on and unleash his full potential. Of course, failure would mean certain death, but if he could survive, he would gain a foothold to rebuild his strength.

Pour.

Finishing his thought, Bu Eunseol refilled his wine cup once more.

“Hmm.”

However, something felt amiss. Despite having only consumed one bottle of wine, he felt a warm sensation on his cheeks and a slight heaviness in his body. Not long ago, he felt light even after drinking three or four bottles of potent fire liquor. But now, even after emptying just one bottle of white liquor, drunkenness was setting in.

Was this a result of entering the realm of Returning to Simplicity?

Bu Eunseol had reached the fourth stage of the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art. Consequently, the phenomenon of Returning to Simplicity had occurred—an extraordinary state where extraordinaryness reached its peak and then reverted to ordinary. The problem was that not only his aura but even the True Energy coursing through his body settled down in an ordinary manner.

If he hadn’t consciously drawn upon his internal power, no one would have noticed that Bu Eunseol possessed internal energy levels exceeding two gapja (120 years).

While getting drunk was inconvenient, he couldn’t help but think…

Just as Bu Eunseol was about to discreetly draw upon his internal power to dispel the alcohol poison—

No, it would be more economical to drink wine.

Snorting, he shook his head.

Suddenly, a group clad in indigo blue martial attire burst into the inn. Their short swords at their waists resembled assassin swords, and their martial attire exuded an aura reminiscent of Taoists.

Bu Eunseol scrutinized them closely, narrowing his eyes.

Kongtong Sect.

They were none other than Taoists of the Kongtong Sect.

Swish.

Looking around the inside of the inn, the Taoists of the Kongtong Sect divided into several groups and surrounded the inn.

“Sorry to disturb your meal. This poor Taoist is Kang Jung-ryang, serving as a Guardian of the Kongtong Sect. We are looking for the culprit who harmed a disciple of our sect, so we ask for your cooperation.”

Bu Eunseol frowned. To think a single sect was investigating martial artists when they would snort even if officials of the constabulary asked? In fact, this was close to unreasonable tyranny. But the Kongtong Sect belonged to the Nine Great Sects. Along with that immense potential, this was possible because this place was Jinan, where Orthodox power was dominant.

That Seok Woo-haeng. Did he stay here?

The moment Bu Eunseol heard the rumor that a Master of Great Righteousness from the Kongtong Sect was murdered by an assassin, he intuitively sensed it was Seok Woo-haeng’s doing. He probably obtained information from Yoo Woon-ryong’s defeat and killed Pyeong Seo-woon. Seok Woo-haeng killing Pyeong Seo-woon wouldn’t be for something like Yoo Woon-ryong’s revenge.

He must have secretly witnessed the duel between Yoo Woon-ryong and Pyeong Seo-woon and planned Pyeong Seo-woon’s death based on that.

The intelligence power of the Nine Great Sects and One Faction must be no less than the Nine Assassination Squad. Seeing them investigating this place, it was clear that Seok Woo-haeng had been in this vicinity.

Even so, it is strange. Bu Eunseol felt puzzled watching the Kongtong Sect disciples searching every corner of the inn. Just what do they intend to find the culprit with?

Seok Woo-haeng was a natural assassin chosen by the Extreme Assassination Pavilion. When killing Pyeong Seo-woon, he didn’t use the unique killing arts of the Extreme Assassination Pavilion but left traces of a universal and ordinary assassin. Although they said traces like using the Demon Subduing Blood Flash remained, that was only a guess.

But how did the Kongtong Sect intend to find the culprit?

“Excuse us for a moment.”

At that moment, two disciples of the Kongtong Sect approached a man in the seat in front of Bu Eunseol.

“We know it is a rude request, but… could you show us your palms?”

“Palms?”

The sitting man made a puzzled expression but obediently showed his palms. Then, the Kongtong Sect disciples examined his two hands intently for a long time. And exchanging glances, they gathered their hands simultaneously.

“Excuse us.”

Indeed. So that was it.

Only then did he realize what method the masters of the Kongtong Sect were using to find Seok Woo-haeng.

An assassin’s hands. They are like the swords of swordsmen.

If one trains in secret assassination techniques for a long time, unique traces different from ordinary martial artists remain on the hands.

But it is a reckless method.

Finding traces of highly trained martial arts through traces left on hands. That was impossible at the level of an ordinary martial artist. One could only barely find them by reaching at least the tail end of the Peak Realm. But could the seemingly ordinary disciples of the Kongtong Sect find such traces?

“There were no traces on the index finger and thumb.”

Hearing the voices of the Kongtong Sect disciples reciting low at another seat, Bu Eunseol nodded only then.

I see. They learned how to professionally find traces of assassin martial arts.

The potential of the Nine Great Sects was felt once again. While rooting themselves in the Murim for generations, the Nine Great Sects had experienced and overcome countless crises. Even if it took years, they would pursue Seok Woo-haeng to the end.

“Excuse us.”

At that moment, the disciples of the Kongtong Sect approached Bu Eunseol this time.

“……”

But staring intently at Bu Eunseol’s face, they shook their heads and gathered their hands.

“No, sorry.”

And they turned away without lingering attachment. Seeing Bu Eunseol’s face with both cheeks flushed red from a bottle of white liquor, they were convinced he wasn’t a martial artist at all.

This helps at times like this.

Bu Eunseol burst into a hollow laugh. To think the phenomenon of Returning to Simplicity, which felt somewhat inconvenient, would help at a time like this.

Shaking his head, Bu Eunseol poured the last remaining cup of wine into his mouth. And just as he was about to leave the inn—

“Hey, did you hear that? They say Seong Ryun, a Master of Great Righteousness from the Beggar’s Clan, will attend the True Martial Banquet held this year.”

The conversation of two martial artists sitting behind stopped his steps.

“Huh? Isn’t he the candidate for Young Clan Leader who will succeed the Clan Leader anyway? Why attend the True Martial Banquet?”

The Beggar’s Clan had so many members and made begging their profession. Because of that, the transmission of martial arts to disciples was often unsystematic and disorderly. Due to that, they missed many outstanding talents, which soon became the cause of the Beggar’s Clan’s weakening power. After much deliberation, the Beggar’s Clan created a banquet called the True Martial Banquet, which only young disciples below the Third Knot (rank) could attend. And every year, they discovered outstanding disciples from various regions or adjusted ranks according to martial arts.

“Obviously because of the Ten Demonic Successors who are causing a stir these days! Didn’t they already kill two Masters of Great Righteousness?”

“No, what does that have to do with the True Martial Banquet?”

“It’s a provocation. Isn’t the Beggar’s Clan’s intelligence power counted among the best in the world? The fact that he, who hasn’t revealed himself all along, is making a public move… is showing off to the Ten Demonic Successors.” Pausing for a moment, the martial artist drained a cup of wine and said, “Like saying, ‘Come at me if you dare.’”

So that was it.

Staying long in an inn, one sometimes luckily obtains high-class information.

Just like now.

Bu Eunseol, who had been listening silently, rose from his seat. He intended to verify the truth of the information.

***

A brewery nestled in an alley of the marketplace.

As Bu Eunseol ascended the main gate and stepped inside, the front yard was a sea of sorghum. The brewery workers would steam the piled-up sorghum, mix it with yeast, and let it ferment. Through this meticulous process, it would transform into an exceptional white liquor.

“Please follow me.”

At that moment, a middle-aged man with a commanding presence guided Bu Eunseol to a wine storage filled with large jars.

Thud.

As the door closed with a low sound, the middle-aged man spoke in a hushed tone, “It’s all true.”

This brewery was, in fact, a branch of the Nine Assassination Squad in the Yanzhou area, and the middle-aged man was the Branch Leader responsible for managing information.

“Seong Ryun is currently traversing the Henan region to participate in the True Martial Banquet held in Kaifeng.” The Branch Leader paused for a moment, lowering his voice, “I’m not sure what mission you’ve been entrusted with, but I advise you to abandon it.” He stared at Bu Eunseol for a while before continuing, “The Beggar’s Clan is, in fact, the world’s most formidable intelligence organization. Until now, information or traces of individuals above the Hall Master level have never been exposed.”

Low and secretive voices echoed continuously within the hidden storage within the brewery.

“He deliberately revealed his moves. There must be a hidden motive behind it.”

Bu Eunseol nodded, his thoughts aligning with the Branch Leader’s judgment. However, the lingering question was, “Why?” Seong Ryun, a Master of Great Righteousness destined to become a pillar of the Orthodox Murim and a candidate for the Young Clan Leader of the Beggar’s Clan—the Number One Clan in the World—raised doubts. Was such an action necessary?

“Candidate. Candidate…” Bu Eunseol mused, as if a thought struck him. “Is it certain that he has been chosen as the Young Clan Leader of the Beggar’s Clan?”

“Not necessarily,” the Branch Leader replied calmly. “He was merely selected as a Master of Great Righteousness due to his natural martial arts talent; he wasn’t originally a candidate for Young Clan Leader.” The Branch Leader continued, “After becoming a Master of Great Righteousness, his status transformed significantly. He, who was a Second Knot disciple, ascended to become a candidate for Young Clan Leader in a single breath.”

As I thought, Bu Eunseol finally understood Seong Ryun’s intentions. Seong Ryun, originally a Second Knot disciple with limited status and martial arts prowess, had risen to become a joint successor of the Martial Righteous Alliance and a Master of Great Righteousness solely due to his exceptional martial arts talent.

While his outstanding martial prowess had propelled him to the position of a candidate for Young Clan Leader, his foundation was not particularly solid.

Seong Ryun’s plan was to eliminate one of the Ten Demonic Successors, thereby elevating his fame and solidifying his position as Young Clan Leader.