Time flowed as swiftly as water.
The Momentless Fleet was a sect forbidden to men, and there had never been a history of men staying in the sect for long. But Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin not only broke that taboo but also created a small change here.
Buzz, buzz.
Disciples of the Momentless Fleet were gathered in lines at the White Lotus Pavilion, where the training ground and secret manuals were located. This was because demonic supreme arts that could easily display power were newly placed in the martial arts library, which had been filled mainly with female secret arts, movement techniques, and sound arts.
“Since the Pipa Flash Hand is a move that mainly uses sleeves, you must not use excessive true energy. ‘Returning Heaven Exhausting Force’. In other words, you must focus on returning the enemy’s attack and consuming their strength…”
And in front of the training ground, disciples who had read through the secret manuals were lined up in front of Hyeok So-jin, learning practical application formulas and moves directly.
Unlike the light female martial arts they had learned until now, to be taught solemn and domineering demonic martial arts directly by a successor of the Ten Demonic Sects!
Lest they miss this golden opportunity, not only the martial arts instructors of the Momentless Fleet but even ordinary disciples flocked like clouds.
Damn it all.
Hyeok So-jin wore a look of dismay as he watched the increasingly flocking disciples.
I don’t even have time to train my own martial arts.
The reason he could escape laziness was entirely due to his desire to develop his martial arts and become stronger.
But to become a martial arts instructor, something not in his fate, and teach others?
“Hmm.”
Only when the sun began to set did the long line disappear.
“Phew.”
Sighing, Hyeok So-jin drank tea from the table placed on one side of the training ground with an exhausted face.
“Young Master, I don’t understand the formula of Non-Existence Immovability in the Ice Soul Illusion Killing Sword Manual…”
But before he could finish his tea, another disciple of the Momentless Fleet approached, even holding the sword manual.
Haha…
The focus disappeared from Hyeok So-jin’s eyes as he looked at the setting sun.
And like a bell that rings when shaken, he began to interpret the formula mechanically again.
***
—But what is that man from Wolf Fang Pavilion doing?
Contrary to Hyeok So-jin, Bu Eunseol’s daily routine was leisurely.
Every day, he took Guk Hye-bin out to look around the Momentless Fleet or sometimes squatted together observing insects.
—I heard he was teaching martial arts to the Young Mistress?
—But why is he doing that every day?
The disciples of the Momentless Fleet whispered and cast strange glances as Bu Eunseol went around playing with Guk Hye-bin as if on a sightseeing tour.
Guk Hye-ryeong, who was listening to Bu Eunseol’s daily routine from her confidant in her residence, Refined Gold Pavilion, also wore a puzzled expression.
“The guy who said he would teach Demonic Killing Methods is playing around every day?”
“That is so.”
“Hmm.”
Guk Hye-ryeong let out a murky sigh. Before she knew it, almost a month had passed. Demonic Killing Methods, which could be considered finishing moves to definitively cut off an enemy’s breath, were incredibly difficult to learn because several moves overlapped. Even daily training would be challenging, but to play around leisurely until now, when a month was almost up?
Wait, perhaps this guy?
In that instant, a strange thought flashed through Guk Hye-ryeong’s mind.
Is he trying to win favor by playing around every day?
Bu Eunseol possessed looks and an atmosphere that any woman would fall for. No matter how pure a girl she was… there was no law saying she wouldn’t fall for him.
This rascal! Surely he didn’t gain the forces of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying this way?
Thinking about it, traveling the Gangho with the grandson of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying was strange to begin with. It was clear he was plotting something using that enchanting appearance.
“This guy!”
As her thoughts reached that point, Guk Hye-ryeong jumped up and shouted, “Where is that man named Bu Eunseol right now!”
***
Near the West Garden of the Momentless Fleet.
In that area with beautiful scenery, there was a valley cascading down below a low cliff. And below it, Guk Hye-bin was splashing in the water with her pants rolled up, while Bu Eunseol stood watching from a distance.
Thud, thud.
Just then, a small shadow approached with low strides from afar. The outer skin was a hard old woman like an ancient tree, but her gait and eyes were as fast and agile as a young man.
It was Guk Hye-ryeong.
So you found the promise made with this Fleet Master amusing, did you!
Sparks flew from her eyes as she discovered her granddaughter playing in the valley with her pants rolled up. Just then, Guk Hye-bin, standing in the water, spotted her and approached her smiling.
“Ah…”
Seeing her smiling brightly with large eyes, Guk Hye-ryeong forcibly swallowed her rising anger.
“Right. You look like you’re having fun.”
“What brings you here?”
As Bu Eunseol approached with a calm expression, Guk Hye-ryeong’s face hardened stiffly.
“What are you doing here?”
“Training.”
“Training?”
In that instant, the suppressed anger surged to the top of her head. If Guk Hye-bin hadn’t been holding her sleeve, she would have struck Bu Eunseol’s head immediately.
“I see. It seems Wolf Fang Pavilion had a secret method of practicing martial arts underwater.”
“It is not martial arts practice.”
“Not martial arts practice? Then what are you doing here?”
“If I had to say, it could be called character education.”
“Character education?”
“Correct.”
Bu Eunseol pointed to the valley water and spoke calmly.
“That child seems upright on the inside, but in reality, she didn’t know how to live in harmony with people at all.”
“What does that mean?”
“Personality does not mature automatically just by aging. Especially for children, you must instill correct values according to their tendencies.”
Guk Hye-ryeong’s eyes widened at the unheard-of remarks.
It sounds somewhat serious yet bizarre.
But Bu Eunseol’s eyes were very clear, so it didn’t seem like he was talking nonsense.
Pondering for a moment, Guk Hye-ryeong asked again, “I don’t understand what you’re saying at all. Can’t you explain it simply?”
Bu Eunseol spoke with a serious expression, “That child’s limited vision and hearing prevented a proper personality from developing. Raising a child effectively requires immense attention, but unfortunately, the Momentless Fleet failed to provide it.”
Guk Hye-ryeong, unable to accept the accusation, exclaimed, “Nonsense! Are you suggesting that this Fleet Master raised this child incorrectly?” She continued, “Our dear Bin has always been surrounded by exceptional individuals from the Fleet and renowned celebrities in various fields. How can you claim that she wasn’t raised correctly?”
“They merely taught knowledge in each field, not refined this child’s inner self, did they?”
“Refine her inner self? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Children are bound to emulate those they spend the most time with.”
Then Bu Eunseol’s eyes deepened as if recalling memories of the past.
“A child raised by a grandfather’s hand resembles the grandfather, and a child raised by parents’ hands resembles the parents. But this child had no such thing.”
In that moment, Guk Hye-ryeong’s mind became complicated. Excluding the nanny who took care of her during eating and sleeping times, Guk Hye-bin received teachings from the best teachers in each field.
But that was all.
Guk Hye-ryeong, managing the Momentless Fleet, could not take care of Guk Hye-bin often due to busy work.
“Then, our dear Bin…”
“Despite receiving excellent education, she possesses a nature that is rather inhuman. Since there was no one to influence this child.”
Originally, Bu Eunseol’s plan was to significantly alter Guk Hye-bin’s gentle nature by exposing her to the laws of nature. However, only after recalling her act of saving the rabbit hunted by the hawk did he realize that it wasn’t merely innocence or sympathy driving her actions.
Without any empathy whatsoever, she was simply doing it. If she had felt pity for the rabbit and attempted to help, at the very least, she would have carefully removed the hawk’s claws embedded in the rabbit’s back. But Guk Hye-bin forcefully pulled out the claws the hawk was gripping without hesitation. Consequently, the rabbit’s skin was completely peeled off, and blood flowed profusely.
At first, Bu Eunseol also thought little of it. But belatedly, he realized that such an action was something a child with sympathy could never do.
“This child lacks empathy significantly.”
“Empathy?”
“Correct. Simply put, she was helping others habitually without having any feelings.”
“Why on earth…”
“Only then would she receive attention from the Fleet Master or people around her.”
Guk Hye-ryeong trembled as if shocked.
Her lovely granddaughter holding onto her sleeve tightly.
To think the child she thought was helping others due to a noble heart was actually devoid of emotion?
“If even one person had given her warm love properly, it wouldn’t have come to this.”
A corner of Bu Eunseol’s heart ached as he said that.
Actually, I was like that too…
Bu Eunseol, an orphan who had never experienced love, struggled daily to avoid starvation. Abandoned in a bleak world, he lived an isolated life, where emotions were a luxury he could scarcely afford.
If he hadn’t met his grandfather Bu Jan-yang.
If he hadn’t received that infinitely warm love.
Bu Eunseol would still have been an emotionless human… to others and to himself.
But now…
Bu Eunseol shook his head inwardly.
When Bu Jan-yang met a miserable death, his personality was gradually reverting to his childhood.
If he hadn’t formed relationships with people like Black Leopard, Tang Gon, Namgung Woon, and others, in the Gangho…
Bu Eunseol would have completely returned to the nature of his orphan days when his emotions were frozen.
“So, you played around with our dear Bin?”
“Rather than playing, I instilled correct values. How to appreciate the beauty of nature and the appearance of animals living in the wild…” Pausing briefly, Bu Eunseol spoke again. “And I merely showed her how people live mingling with people.”
His eyes looking at the distant sky were deepened infinitely with longing. Because all these educations were received from his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang.
“I see. So that was it.”
Realizing her great mistake, Guk Hye-ryeong hugged Guk Hye-bin, who was holding her sleeve, tightly.
“This grandmother has done a terrible thing to you.”
Rather than managing the Momentless Fleet, she should have spent even a little more time with her granddaughter.
Rather than attaching celebrities to educate her, rather than dressing her in good food and clothes…
She should have held her hand and gone sightseeing outside at least once.
“Ah…”
Then Guk Hye-bin shook her head and wore a sullen expression. Guk Hye-bin, who always habitually smiled brightly. However, thanks to Bu Eunseol’s help for a month, she became able to empathize even a little with others’ hearts.
“Sorry, I am sorry. our dear Bin.”
Eventually, tears flowed from Guk Hye-ryeong’s eyes, which had been frozen like a glacier.
Since her son and his wife died unnatural deaths, Guk Hye-ryeong had expanded her influence through secret exchanges with the strong of the Orthodox and Demonic factions.
It was to pass down a stronger Momentless Fleet to Guk Hye-bin in the future.
To think that would eventually become the thing that ruined the child.
“Ah… Ah…”
As Guk Hye-ryeong cried, tears also flowed from Guk Hye-bin’s eyes. She too was finally feeling that she was receiving Guk Hye-ryeong’s utmost love.
The valley became a sea of tears in an instant.
“…”
Watching the scene, Bu Eunseol quietly turned and left the valley. His back looked infinitely lonely, but because Guk Hye-ryeong and Guk Hye-bin were hugging each other, no one saw that appearance.
***
Bu Eunseol achieved the best results without teaching Guk Hye-bin how to kill. However, Guk Hye-ryeong made no promises to support Bu Eunseol or send a message to the Demonic Palace. Nevertheless, since that day, substantial funds were injected into the Wolf Fang Pavilion and Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying.
Neither sect was particularly well-off financially.
Especially the Wolf Fang Pavilion, which focused on the Martial Way without maintaining forces at all, suffered from chronic deficits.
Guk Hye-ryeong had essentially announced to the entire Murim that she supported Bu Eunseol by providing ample funds to the two sects.
Thud, thud.
Leaving the valley, Bu Eunseol walked toward the center of the Momentless Fleet. Despite his calm demeanor, he was internally drawing up energy after calming his spirit. His body and mind merged, and a haze of genuine energy emanated from his entire being.
Finally, his steps stopped in front of the training ground of the White Lotus Pavilion.
Having resolved everything, he would soon leave the Momentless Fleet. But before that, he intended to restart the duel he had postponed.