Chapter 125

After Namgung Woon returned to his clan, Black Leopard seemed somewhat downcast. The absence of the man who had clamored noisily every day made the silence feel all the heavier.

“Young Master. Where will you go now?”

Black Leopard asked Bu Eunseol, who was sitting at a table writing something with brush and ink.

“Where, indeed…”

At the question, Bu Eunseol set down his brush and gazed out the open window.

It had been nearly a year since he began his journey through the Gangho. Although he had fought numerous strong opponents, he couldn’t gauge exactly how much stronger he had become. He had simply done his best at every turn.

Seeing Bu Eunseol standing there blankly, Black Leopard asked cautiously, “How about we rent a carriage first?”

“Let’s do that.”

Leaving the inn, Bu Eunseol headed toward the relay station to hire a carriage. Since haggling over prices was always Black Leopard’s job, he confidently took the lead.

However, as they arrived near the relay station, a man approached Bu Eunseol and politely pointed to a carriage in front of him.

“Please take this carriage, Young Master.”

The man’s appearance was ordinary, but his physique was sturdy, and his eyes were sharp. He stepped in close to Bu Eunseol and whispered in a very low voice.

“The Captain has ordered your return to headquarters as soon as possible.”

Bu Eunseol’s eyes twinkled.

Now that he looked closely, this man was a member of the Wind and Cloud Squad, the intelligence division of the Wolf Fang Pavilion.

The Captain has been tracking my movements thoroughly.

For a moment, the face of Baek Yeon, the Wind and Cloud Squad Captain, flashed through his mind—a man whose appearance was cold as ice, yet who always worried about him.

“Must I go right now?”

At Bu Eunseol’s question, the man muttered softly.

“Yes. A driver has already been arranged.”

Hearing this, Bu Eunseol fell into deep thought.

“Black Leopard.”

“Yes.”

“I will be handling matters at headquarters for a while.”

Bu Eunseol took a booklet from his bosom and held it out to Black Leopard.

“In the meantime, return to East Drifter, West Wanderer and master this.”

As Black Leopard accepted the manual, he saw the title written on the cover: ‘Essentials of the Short Sword.’

“This is…”

“I noticed you mainly use a short sword aside from hidden weapons.”

Knowing that Black Leopard favored the short sword, Bu Eunseol had written down the secrets of short sword techniques based on the martial arts he had learned so far.

“You wrote… another manual just for me?”

“It was for my sake.”

It was half true. Researching what he had learned and ruminating on it was an act that deepened his own understanding of martial arts.

“I understand. I will practice diligently.”

Black Leopard respectfully tucked the manual into his robes.

He didn’t say things like ‘thank you’ or ‘I pledge my loyalty.’ After all, every ability gained from this manual would be used to help Bu Eunseol.

“Take care until we meet again, Young Master.”

Bu Eunseol nodded and boarded the carriage, and the man drove the horses with practiced skill.

As Black Leopard watched the carriage depart with the clattering of hooves, his gaze grew deep. He had a premonition that it would be a long time before he met Bu Eunseol again.

“I must become stronger.”

Black Leopard gripped the manual in his bosom.

The only thing he could do now was to train hard so that he could be of strength when he reunited with Bu Eunseol.

***

Rattle, rattle.

The speed of the fast-moving carriage gradually slowed.

It was a long journey of fourteen days from Lake An to Mount Geommi. During that time, Bu Eunseol had been ceaselessly circulating his energy within the carriage.

Wooooong.

As his cultivation reached its peak, faint red points of light floated around his body.

As the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art reached the tail end of the third stage, the Reversal of Extreme Fiery Radiance that had formed in his eyes began to dwell within his physical body as well.

My internal energy has deepened.

Not only had the internal injuries sustained in the battle with the masked man healed completely, but his internal energy had also become even more profound.

It is strange.

For internal energy to deepen every time one recovers from an internal injury is close to impossible according to the common principles of martial arts. While bones and muscles harden with repeated injury and recovery, internal organs lose resilience and are easily displaced the more they are damaged.

This is precisely why martial artists often fail to recover after suffering deep internal injuries.

Have I already entered the fourth stage?

When one reaches the fourth stage of the Polarity Reversal Cultivation Art, true power surges forth endlessly. One can refine Physique Protection True Energy and recover instantly even from internal injuries.

But Bu Eunseol’s level was still at the third stage. So why was this happening?

Chirp, chirp.

In the meantime, the sound of chirping birds drifted in from outside the window. They had arrived near Mount Geommi before he knew it.

“We have arrived.”

At the voice from the driver’s seat, Bu Eunseol slowly stepped out of the carriage.

Even though he had driven the carriage ceaselessly for fourteen days, excluding time to rest the horses, the driver’s eyes were clear and alert. He was no ordinary driver, but likely a martial artist with deep internal energy.

“Thanks to you, I arrived comfortably.”

Bu Eunseol took a bill of credit from his bosom and held it out, but the driver waved both hands.

“I have already received all payment.”

“I am giving this simply because I wish to.”

When Bu Eunseol held out the bill again, the driver bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

Rattle. Rattle.

As the carriage turned back, Bu Eunseol looked up at Mount Geommi with fresh emotion.

It has been a year.

After indulging in sentiment for a moment, he unfolded his light footwork and began to ascend the mountain.

Swish.

Bu Eunseol’s form became a faint shadow as he ascended in a single breath to the mountainside where the Wolf Fang Pavilion stood.

Passing through the wide-open gates, a landscape resembling a small fortress city came into view. Passing the marketplace and entering an alley, he saw the small house he had repaired himself.

Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.

I’m back.

It felt like returning to a cozy home that had been left empty for a long time.

In reality, the Wolf Fang Pavilion was Bu Eunseol’s home.

Here was a nest where he could rest comfortably. No one regarded him with hostility, and there were elders who would become his shade in times of hardship or difficulty.

“You’ve come.”

A low voice came from behind Bu Eunseol as he stood in front of the house.

Standing in the empty smithy was an old man in his early twilight years with a stiff impression.

It was Iron Master Wang Geol.

“Have you been well all this time? Iron Master.”

When Bu Eunseol respectfully gathered his hands, the Iron Master stared at him intently before nodding.

“It seems you had a proper journey through the Gangho.”

His voice was quite gruff, but his eyes were full of interest.

Just then, accompanied by boisterous noise from the opposite alley, a dozen shadows came rushing out.

“Iron Master! Is the weapon maintenance still not finished?”

At the head of the group stood a man with a magnificent physique and a scrawny man side by side. They were the Trailblazer Squad Captain So Jeon and Vice-Captain Je Woon.

“Huh?”

Je Woon spotted Bu Eunseol and tapped his shoulder with a delighted expression.

“Bu Eunseol, you’ve returned.”

“Vice-Captain.”

When Bu Eunseol bowed with clasped hands, Je Woon nodded.

“Have you finished your journey?”

“I have.”

At that, all the members of the Trailblazer Squad surrounded Bu Eunseol, each tossing in a word.

“Wow, your aura has changed unrecognizably in the meantime?”

“You could become an official Trailblazer Squad member now.”

Because they had risked their lives together on a mission in the Wind and Thunder Valley in the past, they treated Bu Eunseol very familiarly.

“Thank you.”

After bowing to the members, Bu Eunseol greeted So Jeon, who was standing to the side.

“Bu Eunseol greets the Captain.”

In the past, it would have been difficult to face So Jeon’s terrifying momentum head-on. But now, Bu Eunseol was calmly and easily withstanding So Jeon’s chilly yet sharp aura.

“Hmm.”

So Jeon let out an exclamation, looked Bu Eunseol up and down, and licked his lips. He looked just like a drunkard smacking his lips while looking at a delicious table of alcohol.

“You went on a trip to the Gangho a few times and… you certainly have changed.”

Exclaiming in admiration, he tapped the great saber on his shoulder and said, “How about it? Why don’t you have a sparring match with this Captain now? For real, of course.”

Before Bu Eunseol could answer, Je Woon scolded him.

“Captain, is that something to say to someone returning after a year?”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with sparring?”

“Treat him to a warm meal first before saying such things. And you keep asking the members to spar and then use your true power every time—there isn’t a single member left intact, is there?”

“Hmph, originally, the martial arts of our pavilion are learned while getting hurt.”

“Is that getting hurt? That’s beating them to a pulp.”

“Ah, it seems I got the order wrong. I think I should beat you to a pulp first, since your snout is still perfectly fine.”

While So Jeon and Je Woon bickered uselessly, Wang Geol spoke.

“Don’t mind those guys and go to Clear Wind Study. The Deputy Pavilion Master is looking for you.”

“Understood.”

Bu Eunseol bowed his head and greeted So Jeon and Je Woon as well.

“Then, I will take my leave first.”

“Bu Eunseol! Don’t forget to spar with this Captain next time.”

“Oh honestly, stop recommending sparring!”

Watching the two bickering ceaselessly, Bu Eunseol wore a faint smile and slowly headed toward Clear Wind Study.

While walking to Clear Wind Study, he encountered countless people in the Wolf Fang Pavilion. They sent him gazes that were sometimes surprised and sometimes full of curiosity.

Something is strange.

When he first came to the Wolf Fang Pavilion, whether he met their eyes or passed by, they always maintained an indifferent attitude. But now, their eyes seemed to say, ‘A new disciple has arrived at the Wolf Fang Pavilion?’

In truth, it was because Bu Eunseol’s aura and martial might were not only sufficient to be recognized as a disciple of the Wolf Fang Pavilion but had become surprisingly strong.

However, Bu Eunseol, unaware of this fact, simply wore a puzzled expression.

“How may I help you?”

Finally arriving in front of Clear Wind Study, a passing maidservant asked Bu Eunseol.

“I am disciple Bu Eunseol. I have come to see the Deputy Pavilion Master.”

“Please follow me.”

Entering the pavilion under the maidservant’s guidance, he saw a flower garden blooming with exotic plants and an antique pavilion. After guiding him past the flower garden to the office where Dan Cheong was, the maidservant spoke in a small voice.

“Deputy Pavilion Master. Young Hero Bu has visited.”

“Let him in.”

When the door opened, piles of books were stacked on the table, and Dan Cheong could be seen moving his brush incessantly.

Being the head of a sect meant there were various tasks to handle. Although the Wolf Fang Pavilion was small in scale, it was still one of the Ten Demonic Sects. The workload pouring in every day was beyond imagination.

“Deputy Pavilion Master.”

“You’ve returned.”

As Bu Eunseol bowed respectfully, Dan Cheong smiled brightly and nodded.

“You have become a complete and imposing man. I heard about all your activities through the Wind and Cloud Squad.”

Even hearing that, Bu Eunseol was not particularly surprised.

If his tracks hadn’t been thoroughly reported, they wouldn’t have been able to have a Wind and Cloud Squad member waiting at the relay station right when he needed a carriage.

“Sit for a moment.”

Dan Cheong smiled and pointed to the seat opposite him.

“I just need to write a few letters. Bring another cup of tea here.”

“Yes, sir.”

The maidservant brought steaming hot tea to the table where Bu Eunseol sat.

He drank a few sips of tea, but there was nothing in particular to do. Looking around, Bu Eunseol soon gazed at Dan Cheong, who was working.

Flip. Scritch-scratch.

Dan Cheong was turning pages with his left hand while writing with his right. He was naturally using the technique of Divided Mind Dual-Application Technique not just in martial arts, but in daily life.

Furthermore, the speed at which he turned pages and wrote was three or four times faster than an ordinary person. Yet, his handwriting was neat, and the speed at which he turned pages was constant.

It is possible because the Deputy Pavilion Master’s martial arts are high.

Dan Cheong’s reflexes and senses were several times superior to ordinary martial artists. Therefore, he could split and use the same amount of time several times over.

“I kept you waiting for a long time.”

As if he had finished all his work, Dan Cheong rose from his seat.

Wearing a faint smile, he suddenly looked Bu Eunseol up and down, then let his jaw drop.

“Just what on earth has happened to you?”