Chapter 200

“What in the blaze is that?”

Jeon Il-hon, who had been biding his time to deliver a fatal blow to Bu Eunseol, arched a brow in sheer disbelief. To materialize internal energy through a sword was one thing, but to reshape it into an entirely new form mid-combat?

He is a calamity in human form.

The only mercy was that Bu Eunseol’s gaze appeared vacant, unfocused on his opponent even as he manifested such power, as if his soul had drifted elsewhere.

I must kill him now.

A terrifying urgency seized Jeon Il-hon. If he did not sever this monster’s breath immediately, he felt with chilling certainty that those formidable tendrils of energy would pierce his own body.

Shweek!

In an instant, his figure dissolved from Bu Eunseol’s line of sight as he unleashed the ultimate secret technique of the Afterimage Ghost Blade: Crimson Bloodless.

Swaaak!

Jeon Il-hon, having seemingly vanished into the ether, surged upward from directly beneath Bu Eunseol’s guard. The Crimson Bloodless was a vicious technique that feigned disappearance only to approach low along the ground like a sweeping shadow, intended to pierce the opponent’s vital points with a flurry of scattering sword strikes at extreme speed.

“Die!”

Just as the Ghost Soul Blade, split into dozens of points of light, threatened to riddle Bu Eunseol’s body—

Snap.

The blade halted abruptly, frozen less than half an inch from Bu Eunseol’s brow. The tangible energy flowing from Bu Eunseol’s body and sword had ensnared the Ghost Soul Blade like a spider’s web, holding it fast.

“H-How can this be…?”

Jeon Il-hon’s eyes bulged.

It was common knowledge that masters who reached the Transcendence Realm could materialize their internal energy, but such manifestation was typically limited to reinforcing weapons or forming simple, sharp edges; creating complex, free-form structures at will should have been impossible.

Fwoosh.

Then, with the sound of steam escaping, the web of tangible energy binding the Ghost Soul Blade melted away into the void.

Puk!

In that same heartbeat, the Dark Sword dug softly into Jeon Il-hon’s chest like the sweet, treacherous tongue of a devil.

Thud.

Jeon Il-hon slowly sank to his knees, an expression of utter futility washing over his face. Outwardly, it appeared as though the sword tip had merely grazed the skin of his chest, but within, the terrifying Polarity Reversal True Energy imbued in the Dark Sword had crushed his meridians with overwhelming pressure, detonating them from the inside out.

“You… you have surpassed the Transcendence Realm.”

Jeon Il-hon wore a hollow, empty expression. To materialize energy at will was one thing, but to possess the overwhelming internal power to rupture meridians in a single breath… this was a technique that defied the logic of the Transcendence Realm entirely.

Chiiii.

White smoke began to rise from Bu Eunseol’s body as he unleashed the True Knot of Will Manifestation. Without the stabilizing influence of the Secret Art of Severing Emotions, executing the True Knot of Will Manifestation caused his blood and qi to boil instantly.

“I have not surpassed it.”

Bu Eunseol shook his head calmly.

“Not yet…”

He had merely utilized the secrets of the True Knot of Will Manifestation, derived from the Divine Demonic Emperor’s Secret Art of Severing Emotions, to momentarily shape his internal energy. The duration he could maintain this form was fleeting, lasting not even half a gak.

“I can only maintain it for an extremely short time.”

But Jeon Il-hon breathed his last before the words could reach him, closing his eyes without regret, likely believing he had met his end at the hands of a supreme master of the Supreme Heavenly Realm.

“Aaaagh!”

Simultaneously, a desperate scream tore through the air nearby as Go Ryong-pung’s head was severed by the Steel Wire Blood Thread unleashed by Hyeok So-jin.

With the deaths of Sect Leader Jeon Il-hon and Deputy Sect Leader Go Ryong-pung, further resistance was rendered meaningless. Witnessing Hyeok So-jin dispatch Go Ryong-pung shattered the remaining morale of the Streaked Demonic Sect disciples who had been fighting with all their might—victory was an impossibility against such monsters.

Pa-at! Push-sh-shut!

As the enemies’ movements grew sluggish, the hidden weapons of the Second Team, led by Wi Cheon-gyeong, shone even brighter, disrupting the Streaked Demonic Sect disciples’ formations and allowing the remaining squad members to cut them down in an instant.

“We surrender!”

Several Streaked Demonic Sect disciples dropped their weapons and gave up the fight, but the Rootless Squad’s onslaught did not cease. Bu Eunseol had ordered them to erase the enemy, and the squad members were faithfully executing that command.

Clang.

Finally, the weapon of the last resisting disciple hit the ground, signaling the end of the fierce battle.

“Haa, haa.”

Though the fighting was over, the Rootless Squad members stood gripping their weapons, gasping for breath, their bodies still radiating fighting spirit. Not a single one was unscathed; injuries ranged from light flesh wounds to severed fingers and chunks of flesh sliced away to reveal bone.

But there were no fatalities. Everyone had survived.

One hundred against thirty. In this impossible match, they had achieved an overwhelming victory—not only against their enemies, but against themselves.

“It is finished.”

A low voice cut through the haze, awakening their minds. Turning their heads, they saw two figures standing shoulder to shoulder, looking down at them. Though drenched in blood, an unapproachable dignity flowed from their entire beings, like Martial Gods descended from the heavens. They were Bu Eunseol and Hyeok So-jin.

Tremble.

A shiver ran through the squad members. For the first time in their lives, they had poured everything they had into a fight, their blood boiling and their souls burning white-hot into ash.

And following that sensation came… the ecstasy of victory.

“Wooooaaaaah!”

The Rootless Squad members let out a massive roar, howling like wild beasts. The sky vibrated and the earth trembled with the cry of warriors who had, for the first time, completely incinerated their bodies and souls in battle.

***

—Mount Hua and Zhongnan have driven the Streaked Demonic Sect out of Shaanxi!

The Streaked Demonic Sect, having fearlessly slaughtered disciples and razed martial halls within the territories of Mount Hua and Zhongnan, finally met their wretched end: annihilation.

However, a strange rumor began to circulate in the aftermath.

—But the ones who dealt with the Streaked Demonic Sect Leader and his leadership were experts sent from the Demonic Palace!

While Mount Hua and the Zhongnan Sect were sweeping through the Streaked Demonic Sect’s headquarters, the Sect Leader Jeon Il-hon and about a hundred of his elite confidants had fled north. Masters from Zhongnan and Mount Hua had hastily pursued them, only to find them as gruesome corpses in front of a cave in an unnamed mountain. On the corpses were wounds all inflicted by exquisite Demonic Path swordsmanship and hidden weapon techniques.

—When did the Demonic Palace send down such experts?

The martial world could not hide its shock and astonishment. To track the escape route of a hundred elite masters, including a Sect Leader, and eliminate them perfectly would require a force of at least two or three hundred experts, yet no such force had ever been reported entering Shaanxi.

—Was this all a ploy by the Demonic Palace?

Impossible.

If the Demonic Palace had dispatched a large corps capable of wiping out a master of the Transcendence Realm like Jeon Il-hon and a hundred first-rate experts, other intelligence organizations might have missed it, but Mount Hua and Zhongnan certainly would not have.

—Does the Demonic Palace possess a combat squad capable of deceiving the intelligence networks of Mount Hua and Zhongnan within Shaanxi itself?

Various rumors swirled, but the Demonic Palace maintained its silence, offering no response.

The ones who lost face were Mount Hua and Zhongnan. They had formed a subjugation force to exterminate the Streaked Demonic Sect and behead Jeon Il-hon to proclaim their prestige to the world, only to end up like a dog chasing a chicken over a roof, thanks to the sudden appearance of the Demonic Palace experts.

However, on the surface, there was no concrete proof that the Demonic Palace had directly intervened. All they had done was eliminate the fleeing elite forces of the Streaked Demonic Sect, appearing as though they had aided Mount Hua and Zhongnan, leaving the Orthodox sects with no grounds to protest.

***

Dawn was breaking in the eastern sky.

Silver Copper Winery.

This small brewery, located in a remote mountain valley of De’an Prefecture, was surrounded by beautiful forests and large stone warehouses scattered throughout the grounds. In front of it stood an old manor with a signboard reading “Hidden Star Manor”, the residence of the owners and servants.

But now, every corner of Hidden Star Manor was filled with grim-faced martial artists.

Most were severely wounded, either receiving treatment from physicians or lying in bed recuperating—the Rootless Squad members, just returned from disposing of the Streaked Demonic Sect. Bu Eunseol stood in the courtyard, silently watching his squad receive treatment.

An old man dressed in patterned robes approached Bu Eunseol and asked, “What on earth did you do to sustain injuries of this magnitude?” It was Jin Yu-hwa, the master of Hidden Star Manor and the Branch Manager of the Nine Assassination Squad’s De’an Branch.

Since the squad members’ injuries were too severe for an immediate return to the Demonic Palace, Bu Eunseol had sought out the nearest secret branch of the Nine Assassination Squad, the Silver Copper Winery, where Jin Yu-hwa had brought them in for treatment.

“We merely fought against a hundred or so experts.”

“A hundred?”

Jin Yu-hwa blinked at the distant sky, then jumped as if startled.

“Don’t tell me these are the experts of the Demonic Palace rumored to have wiped out the Streaked Demonic Sect Leader and his elites a few days ago?”

Bu Eunseol maintained a stoic expression, offering no answer, but Jin Yu-hwa, unable to contain his curiosity, pressed on.

“Where on earth did you come from? Are you perhaps the Heavenly Assassination Squad?”

Flinch.

The squad members passing by, hearing this, uniformly broke into grins or puffed out their chests with pride. The Heavenly Assassination Squad was the gathering place of the most cruel and powerful members among the Demonic Palace’s Three Great Combat Squads. To think that the Rootless Squad, known as a dumping ground for hooligans, was now being mistaken for the Heavenly Assassination Squad…

“We are the Rootless Squad.”

“Rootless Squad?”

Jin Yu-hwa asked with an incomprehensible expression. “If it’s the Rootless Squad… you mean that Rootless Squad where all sorts of ruffians are gathered?”

Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.

There will be no need to spread rumors ourselves.

Since he had informed the Nine Assassination Squad, an intelligence organization, of this fact, the reputation of the Rootless Squad would soon spread beyond Shaanxi to engulf the entire martial world.

The name will soon change.

The Rootless Squad, who wiped out the Streaked Demonic Sect Leader and his core forces with only thirty members, would no longer be called by that name in the same disparaging way again.

As Bu Eunseol was lost in thought, Jin Yu-hwa blinked as if recalling something.

“Wait, if you’re not from the Nine Assassination Squad, then…”

“I am Bu Eunseol of the Wolf Fang Pavilion. And now, I have become the Captain of the Rootless Squad.”

“Gasp.”

Jin Yu-hwa forgot his dignity and widened his eyes. Because the young man had shown a seal known only to Branch Managers managing the Nine Assassination Squad, he had assumed him to be a manager from another branch… but to think he was one of the Successor Candidates who had thrown the quiet Demonic Palace into turmoil. One of the Ten Demonic Successors of the Wolf Fang Pavilion?

“I heard the candidates received missions and went out into the Gangho… You mean to say you went and beheaded the Streaked Demonic Sect Leader?”

As Jin Yu-hwa’s questions grew longer, Bu Eunseol turned away coldly.

“Thanks to you, we have been treated well and rested. I will report the cooperation of the De’an Branch later and ensure you are sufficiently rewarded.”

“Th-thank you.”

Bu Eunseol was not merely one of the Ten Demonic Successors; he was the orthodox successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion, a candidate so significant that even the Ten Demonic Sects and the Council of Elders were wary of him. Just one word from him to the Demonic Palace could change Jin Yu-hwa’s fate forever.

“Captain. Instead of waiting, why don’t you return first with the Vice-Captain?”

At that moment, Won Se-mun, his shoulder heavily bandaged, approached Bu Eunseol. “There’s no need for you to return with us, is there? You just need to report the situation to the Divine Demonic Emperor.”

The squad members receiving treatment chimed in, agreeing with his words.

“Hmm.”

Bu Eunseol crossed his arms in thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“We will return together.”

“Why, sir?”

Bu Eunseol swept his gaze over them for a moment before speaking briefly.

“Because I am the Rootless Squad Captain.”

A heavy silence hung in the air. The squad members looking at Bu Eunseol clenched their teeth or felt the corners of their eyes twitch.

Because I am the Rootless Squad Captain.

That single phrase filled the final void of regret that had remained in the hearts of the squad members—a sense of belonging. He had distinctly called them ‘chunks of meat to execute orders,’ yet, contrary to those past words, Bu Eunseol was acknowledging them as subordinates under his command even now, after the mission was over.

“Damn it.”

Won Se-mun turned his body sharply, his eyes trembling.

“He sure keeps his words short.”

Though he spat the words out with feigned annoyance, he repeatedly wiped his eyes and nose. That brief statement had become a comfort that blew away all their past sorrows in a single breath. There was no longer a disparate Rootless Squad of individual personalities; from now on, they were all Bu Eunseol’s confidants, members belonging solely to his command.

***

Splash.

A large wooden tub was filled to the brim with warm, steaming water.

Rustle.

Bu Eunseol stripped off his clothes, gazing at the tub. His naked body appeared lean but was packed with dense muscle, his skin covered in a dense tapestry of scars. Hundreds of scars interlocking with a body forged to the limit did not look hideous; rather, they resembled patterns carved onto a beautiful sculpture.

“Mmm.”

As he lowered himself into the warm water, thin streams of blood clouded the bath from wounds that had not yet closed, spitting out drops of blood with every movement.

Knock, knock, knock.

Along with the sound of knocking, a woman’s low voice came from the door.

“Excuse me, My Lord.”

“What is it?”

“I have come to attend to your bath.”

A sweet, soft voice melted into his ears. Bu Eunseol, eyes closed, spoke quietly.

“I do not need it. Go back.”

“My Lord.”

At the unexpectedly cold response, the woman outside the door spoke with a trembling voice.

“The Manor Master said that if I cannot serve the Young Master… I must leave the manor immediately.”

Jin Yu-hwa, the Master of Hidden Star Manor and Branch Manager of the Nine Assassination Squad, had immediately changed Bu Eunseol’s accommodations upon learning his identity to the Wind and Flow Pavilion.

This pavilion, reserved only for distinguished guests, was staffed with resident servant girls, and the name ‘Wind and Flow’ was not given in vain—as soon as Bu Eunseol went to wash, they had sent a beautiful servant girl as if they had been waiting, intending for her to serve him in the bath.