Chapter 108

Looking down at Wang Jeong, who had died with a miserable expression, Bu Eunseol also wore a bewildered expression.

A master like Wang Jeong died instantly from a lightly extended Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist?

‘Is it because I hit his Gate of Life Acupoint?’

Gate of Life Acupoint. Also known as Mingmen.

Literally meaning the Gate of Life.

As the most important acupoint of the Governor Vessel overseeing all Yang meridians, it was the place that regulated all qi and blood in the human body and even governed the state of the kidneys and spirit.

In reality, the power of the Seven Forms of the Demonic Fist was simply so immense that the internal energy had been transmitted all the way to his Governor Vessel. But Bu Eunseol mistakenly thought it was merely because he had struck the Gate of Life Acupoint wrong.

“Is… is he dead?”

At Black Leopard’s words, Bu Eunseol nodded. “Since the matter is resolved, let us return.”

“Mmph!”

At that moment, the masked man whose paralysis acupoint was sealed, Namgung Woon, shouted loudly.

“Mmmph!”

Looking blankly at him shouting at the top of his lungs, Bu Eunseol flicked his finger.

Thud-thud-thud!

As his acupoints were released in an instant, Namgung Woon, wiping cold sweat, rose from his spot.

“Thank you. Thanks to you…”

He clasped his hands, but Bu Eunseol was already leaving the gorge.

“W-wait a moment!”

Namgung Woon ran hurriedly toward Bu Eunseol and spoke, “Brother. Let’s talk for a moment.”

When Bu Eunseol gave no answer, he asked again, “Where are you from, brother?”

“……”

When Bu Eunseol didn’t even reply, this time he sidled up to Black Leopard and chatted him up.

“The young hero was here too! I am Namgung Woon of the Namgung Clan. If it’s alright, I’d like to introduce myself properly.”

Black Leopard scratched his head.

In any case, he was a scion of the Namgung Clan. Since such a person was sticking to them like a waiter soliciting customers, he spoke with due politeness.

“I… I am merely the Young Master’s servant.”

“Aha, is that so. Then where is that gentleman from?”

“Our Young Master is… a wandering vagrant of Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.”

“A wandering vagrant?”

“Yes. Though he only registered yesterday.”

Namgung Woon blinked.

To think such a young and outstanding master became a wandering vagrant selling his martial arts?

“If he’s a wandering vagrant of Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth… is he returning there now?”

As Namgung Woon asked persistently, Bu Eunseol, seemingly very annoyed, suddenly unleashed his lightness skill.

“Y-Young Master!”

As Bu Eunseol executed his lightness skill rapidly, Black Leopard also ran quickly. Although he heard some sound from behind, Black Leopard ignored it and ran after Bu Eunseol.

***

Third floor of Hall of Receiving Scriptures, the Hall Master’s office.

When Bu Eunseol returned, Dam Yu-yeon could not hide a slightly surprised expression.

Wang Jeong, who had made countless wandering vagrant and masters drink the bitter cup of defeat until now. He dealt with him in a single journey?

“I thought you were a Gangho novice… but it seems you have quite some experience.”

Dam Yu-yeon knew. The reason Wang Jeong was so elusive wasn’t just his quick wit and cunning, but also his extensive experience in Gangho. She had underestimated Bu Eunseol, believing her to be a mere martial arts expert. Consequently, she had forced him to fight Wang Jeong, who employed various schemes and traps. However, seeing him handle the situation unexpectedly, her face turned ashen, as if she had been caught off guard.

“It was nothing special.”

“You are amazing.”

Swallowing a bitter smile, she picked up a purple tassel from the table that could be worn at the waist and held it out.

“What is this?”

“It’s a tassel proving that Young Hero Seol is a High-grade wandering vagrant of this Hall. If you go to the counter downstairs, you will receive the reward for dealing with Wang Jeong.”

“Understood.”

Attaching the tassel to his waist, Bu Eunseol nodded.

“Then give me the next job.”

“You intend to handle the next job immediately?”

“Correct.”

Dam Yu-yeon wore a peculiar smile. “You really have an impatient personality.” But soon, as if she had been waiting, she pointed to one of the envelopes piled on the table. “In that case, please handle this matter.”

Looking at the envelope she held out, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened. “Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl?”

While working for the Nine Assassination Squad, Bu Eunseol was well-versed in not only the Gangho situation but also information on each sect. But the treasure called Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl was something he heard for the first time in his life.

“The Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl is not a treasure well known in the Murim.”

Dam Yu-yeon wore a faint smile.

“Because it is kept in the Divine Maiden Palace, one of the Seven Great Secret Palaces of the Murim.”

Divine Maiden Palace.

As one of the Seven Great Secret Palaces of the Murim, it was one of the mysterious sects composed of women. But the Divine Maiden Palace was a place that absolutely forbade the approach of outsiders, so it was a place Bu Eunseol couldn’t even approach.

“Surely you aren’t telling me to steal a treasure of the Divine Maiden Palace.”

The Divine Maiden Palace didn’t belong to the Seven Great Secret Palaces for nothing. Although called a sect of women, their martial arts were very outstanding, and the Palace Mistress was a tremendous master who had reached the Supreme Heavenly Realm. No matter how strong Bu Eunseol was, he couldn’t break through the Divine Maiden Palace alone.

“Of course not.”

Dam Yu-yeon said with a smile.

“The method to obtain the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl is simple. You just have to pass the test provided by the Divine Maiden Palace.”

Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow.

“You mean they give that item just by passing a test?”

“Of course. It’s just that the test is quite difficult and opportunities are hard to come by. That’s why no one has obtained the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl until now.”

“No matter how difficult, it’s just obtaining a pearl. Is that a difficult job?”

She spoke as if stating the obvious. “The reward alone is a whopping three hundred thousand taels. Just looking at the amount, you can tell the difficulty, right?”

“I can’t understand. With three hundred thousand taels, one could buy even the most precious pearl, no?”

“The Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl clears the skin and smooths fine wrinkles just by holding it for a moment. In short, it has a considerable rejuvenating effect.”

‘Spending three hundred thousand taels just to smooth a wrinkle?’

As if grasping Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts, Dam Yu-yeon wore a sweet smile. “Those with high status and honor don’t care about costs. If they think it’s worth it, they spend money without hesitation.”

Seeing her smile that seemed ready to melt, Bu Eunseol could intuit one fact.

That Dam Yu-yeon definitely did not want him to succeed.

‘Her intentions are transparent.’

But without showing it, Bu Eunseol put it in his bosom and spoke calmly.

“Understood. I will handle it immediately.”

***

Daeso Inn near Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.

Seated by the second-floor window, Bu Eunseol ate lunch with Black Leopard. As Black Leopard picked at his noodles with chopsticks, he kept stealing glances at Bu Eunseol, whose expression had remained dark ever since receiving the envelope.

“Young Master.”

Black Leopard asked cautiously to Bu Eunseol, who was tilting his wine cup with a hardened face.

“Perhaps the food doesn’t suit your taste?”

“It’s fine.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Even so, Black Leopard glanced at Bu Eunseol again and said, “Your expression is not good, Young Master. I wondered if something bad happened.”

“Was it?”

For the first time in a while, Bu Eunseol was turning his consciousness inward, not outward.

He longed to become infinitely strong. To achieve that, he needed a duel with an exceptional master—someone neither far stronger nor weaker than himself, but just enough to push him beyond his current limits. As if guided by fate, he encountered Jeong Cheon at the wandering vagrant market. Bu Eunseol sensed that Jeong Cheon’s skills surpassed his own, and if they were to engage in an extreme duel, he was certain he would reach a higher realm.

‘Working for the wandering vagrant market to fight that man… hmm.’

In fact, this action didn’t align with Bu Eunseol’s character. Whether employing schemes or resorting to force, he would have inevitably sought a duel with Jeong Cheon within a short span of time. However, this time, Bu Eunseol was diligently handling various tasks to fulfill the request of becoming a Special-grade wandering vagrant. The issue was that even he couldn’t comprehend the reason behind his actions.

“I was thinking for a moment.”

“About what?”

“Should I provoke Jeong Cheon and force a duel? Or should I continue handling this job?”

“I see.”

Only then did Black Leopard nod as if realizing everything.

“So you are deliberating whether to continue this work, Young Master?”

“Correct.”

“Why not just continue handling the jobs?”

Black Leopard spoke in a calm voice.

“With your skill or intellect, Young Master, you could surely force a duel with the Head of Transverse Sky Hall at once. But you didn’t do that.”

“……”

“I thought it was because you instinctively knew that you can become stronger through various methods, not just head-on duels.”

“Becoming stronger through various tasks?”

“Yes.”

Black Leopard explained fluently.

“I have also lived as a wandering vagrant since I was young. And what made me strong was not just combat, but diverse experiences.”

—Couldn’t you develop your martial arts with insights gained through various diverse experiences?

Black Leopard wanted to say this to Bu Eunseol.

“That could be possible.”

Hearing Black Leopard’s words, Bu Eunseol’s complicated mind cleared up.

There was no need to insist only on combat. He could develop his martial arts with insights gained while experiencing and solving various matters.

“Huhu.”

Laughing low, Bu Eunseol said, “Sometimes you talk like an old man who has mastered worldly affairs.”

“Is that so? Even when I was at the East Drifter, West Wanderer, I heard I was an old soul often. Hehe.”

Black Leopard, chatting cheerfully, suddenly frowned as if recalling something.

“By the way, it seems my hunch is correct.”

“About what?”

“The Hall of Receiving Scriptures Hall Master. She looked like she didn’t want you to succeed, Young Master.”

Black Leopard had already noticed too.

That Hall of Receiving Scriptures Hall Master Dam Yu-yeon knew Bu Eunseol’s martial arts were formidable and was deliberately throwing him jobs that couldn’t be solved by martial arts alone.

“Somehow, talk of tests and such makes me anxious. Why don’t we just sneak into the Divine Maiden Palace carefully and become Gentlemen on the Beam (thieves)?”

“Impossible.”

Bu Eunseol shook his head.

“The Divine Maiden Palace is a place where masters not only skilled in martial arts but also versed in mechanisms and traps are gathered. If we recklessly search for a treasure whose location is unknown, we’ll be discovered or trapped.”

“Will we?” Black Leopard slumped his shoulders weakly.

“There is another problem. Even if you want to take that test, doesn’t the Divine Maiden Palace refuse to accept outsiders at all?”

Around that time, a clear voice came from somewhere.

“Oh my? Brother!”

Turning his head, a man dressed in white clothes with his face also covered by a white cloth was pointing at Bu Eunseol. It was Namgung Woon, whom they had seen just a while ago.

“To meet again here? What a coincidence!”

“A coincidence you created, no doubt.”

Bu Eunseol sensed that he had been persistently following them all the way from Mount Fuding. He had only left him be because he followed at a constant distance and seemed to have no particular ill will.

“So you knew.”

At Bu Eunseol’s cold answer, Namgung Woon cleared his throat and said, “You helped me back then, but I couldn’t even thank you properly. So…”

“I didn’t intend to help you, so no need to worry about it.”

As Bu Eunseol tried to rise from his seat, Namgung Woon spread his hands to stop him.

“Wait a moment.”

And pointing to his waist, he said, “As of yesterday, I also became a wandering vagrant of Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.”

A purple tassel hung at his waist. Like Bu Eunseol, it was a mark signifying a High-grade wandering vagrant of Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.

“I passed a few tests, and they gave me this tassel on their own.”

The prodigy of debauchery of the Namgung Clan was certainly different. To just register as a wandering vagrant, something even servants of the Eight Great Families wouldn’t do?

But Bu Eunseol stood up as if uninterested.

“Wait a moment, brother. I still have something to say…”

“If you have something to say, say it directly without beating around the bush. And don’t cover your face.”

Meeting Bu Eunseol’s cold gaze, Namgung Woon lowered his head. “Understood.” Sighing, he removed the cloth covering his face.

Was he just past twenty?

The handsome face of a young man who had barely shed his boyish looks was revealed.

“Ahem, due to various circumstances, I came out alone to travel the Gangho, but…” Namgung Woon spoke with an embarrassed expression. “I learned something from this incident. That matters of the Gangho cannot be done with martial arts alone. That above all, I must accumulate Gangho experience.”

Namgung Woon spoke to Bu Eunseol with an extremely serious expression.

“I wish to accompany you, brother.”